It works, in a way little else could.

Beckett will feel the tension in his shoulders, the fear — and he will feel it relax, slow, as the presence of his mentor, friend, whatever they were, grounds him in reality.

He won't drown. Theo wouldn't let him.

Nor would Lugia.

The shadowed legend's red eyes gleam from further down the tunnel, but it seems to halt its approach when it notices their interaction. As if it understands that there is no need to intervene, the whites of its tail-spikes flash in retreat.

Gavin grips Theo's forearm with one hand, squeezes, then signs with the other.

Thank you.

[attr="class","beck"]he feels tension fleet under his touch and pulls his hand back not long after. there's no need to linger, and so he quickly acknowledges the sign with a nod before gesturing forward.

just like old times, he orders:

go.

[attr="class","noodles"]Cillian Quinn

It's comfortable, to let Theo take charge.

He'd have found shame in it, were it anyone else. Fought back, bared his teeth, put them in their place. He'd earned his right to lead. But Theo makes him feel safe. Right now, that's what he needs.

He nods, accepting.

Lanturn's light catches on a few small crevices in the rock, barely big enough to squeeze a camera through.

He pivots in the water, points.

[attr="class","beck"]nodding, he drifts closer to the small crevices. he slides a hand into a pouch, pulls out a camera, and slides it into the crevice, making sure to lodge it tightly in place.

he gives it a tap, then another, and the blinking green light tells him all he needs to know.

there are at least three more, so he raises three fingers, then gets to work.

[attr="class","noodles"]Cillian Quinn

Gavin signals to his Lanturn, who dims her light.

Had he not been looking for it, the small green light would have been nigh invisible. Satisfied, Gavin nods when Theo holds up three fingers.

He leads them further through the network of tunnels until they come across a similar vantage point, scouts for danger as Theo handles the installation. A school of Wishiwashi swims past, Lanturn chittering in greeting to her aquatic brethren.

[attr="class","beck"]with a camera in hand, he pauses as he notices a school of wishiwashi swim past. his head turns, giving it his full attention. for moments, he floats, watching in admiration.

briefly, he focuses on one of them in particular, looking at its eyes. they don't seem to be moist nor shining, so his suspicions soon fade.

he returns back to the crevice.

[attr="class","noodles"]Cillian Quinn

He's never seen Theo like this before. Not on a mission.

Rocket's diligent admin pauses in his work to observe a seemingly ordinary school of fish, one that Gavin might not have taken notice of if not for Theo's odd reaction. Wishiwashi, he observes belatedly.

Theo seems to scrutinize them before he returns to his work.

Gavin realizes he's smiling, fond, behind the breathing apparatus that disguises the gesture. He watches Theo for a moment before he kicks off down the tunnel to scout.