Gavin blinks. It's terribly anti-climactic after he'd braced himself.

"You think I don't know that?"

Gavin shakes his head, teetering between exasperation and stress.

"We failed to take Johto, to take Hoenn, because they were prepared for us and because Silas Blackwell was a fucking monster."

He's seen the shit Rocket would do to their own first-hand.

"I have been moving past it, Killian, but there's not some magical fucking switch you flip to turn an entire organization inside out. I don't need Lugia's power to inspire change; I've been doing that long before I became an avatar."

Anger threatens, but it remains controlled beneath conviction. His gaze burns.

"It's my job to keep the whole of Rocket in line, and one single approach doesn't work on them all." He shakes his head. "I'll talk to Alexandra. Talk," he repeats, to stress the meaning. "But I maintain that she should learn how to defend herself because regardless of what you think of me, I do give a shit about those who work for me. I don't ask your input for no reason; it is also my job to listen."

"Really? Because forcing someone to murder and threatening the life of their lover if they disobey, doesn't sound like change to me. It sounds like the opposite."

He sighs.

"It's too late for you to talk with her. The damage is done. You robbed her of what little choice she had left in her life. Plan and simple." Killian doesn't bother with anger. He's calm and focused, carefully articulating his point.

"Seriously, I'm done with this conversation. Don't keep pushing me. You can either leave or change the subject."

"Is that a threat?"

He sounds more disbelieving than angry.

He stands up but doesn't immediately leave.

"You can work with me or against me, but Rocket owns us both. Remember that."

He shakes his head and leaves the room.

"The opposite, actually. I'm trying to avoid a repeat of what happened with Lulu." he'd been too emotional then. It felt like he was teetering on the edge of it now.

Owned by Rocket? Killian frowned. No one but Alexandra Briarwood could claim to do that. But Killian says nothing else. Letting the underboss leave so he can get back to translating.

Gavin frowns, then nods to himself as his perspective adjusts.

"You know where to find me if you want to talk."

He leaves.