[attr="class","cian"]it's such a stupid fucking mistake.

why would anyone ever run with more than one pokeball? where would you keep them? he's tried various pouches, most were gifts from sponsors, but none of them seemed to do the trick. the pokeballs always bounced around in there, which takes him right out of the zone.

but if he had more than one, he definitely would've fended off the rhydon with ease.

again, it's such a stupid fucking mistake.

"fuck off."

he notices the aerodactyl flying overhead and assumes the worst. he shifts on the ground, sliding until his back hits the side of the cliff. his ankle's either dislocated or broken, and his one weavile is out cold in its pokeball.

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

A click of tongue against teeth, and Aerodactyl finds purchase on the mountainside. Shards of dark crystal greedily swallow sunlight, shifting with the movement of its wings when they fold.

Gavin dismounts, cants his head.

This was not someone who'd tried to defect. This was an idiot who'd managed to end up halfway up a mountain with a broken ankle.

"What happened to your Pokemon, Maher?"

Gavin doesn't pull his gun as he draws close, which is an encouraging sign. Sun catches on the gleam of metal at his hip.

[attr="class","cian"]a solid thud scatters dirt and dust. he raises an arm to shield his eyes, then squints as he peers up at the approaching underboss and his aerodactyl.

"one's out cold, sir."

he tenses, lowering his gaze.

"only brought one with me."

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

Gavin doesn't miss the tension, nor the deference of a lowered gaze.

His brows arch, vanishing beneath a disheveled blond fringe. The urge to make some derisive remark is trapped behind his teeth as he purses his lips. When he speaks, it's carefully neutral.

"You don't need me to tell you that was a mistake."

He reaches into his blazer and tosses out a Lucario. It takes one look at CIAN MAHER and targets him with a HEAL PULSE.

"How long ago did it happen?"

[attr="class","cian"]"no, sir."

the HEAL PULSE travels, slowly mending broken bones back together. it's brutal, painful, but he manages to suppress a grunt for long enough.

"a few hours ago."

he tenses again, still refusing to raise his gaze.

"just know this wasn't intentional."

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

Gavin's sharp breath of laughter is devoid of warmth.

"I wasn't assuming you broke your ankle and stranded yourself on purpose."

After all, CIAN MAHER and his family were on Rocket's watch list. One wrong move would see their leash tighten enough to choke. It was the brother's fault, more than Cian or their father's, but that mattered little.

Gavin extends a hand, a silent offer to help him up.

[attr="class","cian"]the offer's accepted.

cian stands, avoiding putting any of his weight on his left foot. he briefly wonders how long the recovery time is for such an injury; not long, he hopes.

"just making sure you knew, sir."

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

He softens a little, at that.

"I know."

His tone softens, too, something close to empathy in its edges.

"You're not in any trouble," he assures, then amends with a frown and a glance down at Cian's ankle, "any more trouble."

Aerodactyl's wings flare, sun filtering through the blue membrane.

"Consider me your evac. Where do you want to go?"

[attr="class","cian"]the softness in the underboss' tone does not go unnoticed. cian pushes a thought away, discarding it entirely.

"mauville would be good."

foolishly, he tries to rotate his ankle only for pain to spike through his leg. the pain reminds him, so he corrects:

"sir."

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

"Mauville, then."

Though his shadow Aerodactyl is obedient in his presence, he doesn't trust the creature with others. Another pokeball is retrieved from his blazer and cracked open to reveal a second Aerodactyl, this one free of corruption.

"She'll follow us. You need help, or can you manage?"

The more docile Aerodactly shuffles closer and bends down to permit Cian to ride.

[attr="class","cian"]"think i can manage."

cian's not prideful by any means but he'd hate asking too much of the underboss. but it's more than that: he'd hate to be seen as weak.

who knows when rocket would decide he'd no longer be of use?

struggling, he climbs atop the aerodactyl, managing just fine.

"ready, sir."

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