"That's my fault." he sighs, "I've been distracted lately." he doesn't need to explain why. Lex knew. He was telling her everything now. Too many bad things happened when they kept secrets from each other. "I should have done my usual research. Dug a bit deeper." but he'd taken the scientist at their word, and now they had more work to do.

Killian returns her smile, a warmth filling his chest that he's happy to embrace. "That sounds nice." better than that, it sounded like them. How they were before...this place, Hoenn - Rocket. He knew going back to what they had before wasn't possible. But that didn't stop him from missing it.

The number 8 flashes, and Killian steps forward. There's just enough time for him to steal a kiss, so he does. He takes her by the waist and guides her around to face him. "I love you, forever and another after that." and then their lips meet. It lasts just enough for them to enjoy it before he pulls himself away.

Mind focused back on the mission.ns at his mind like a Heatmor's flamethrower against a Durant.

Alexandra Briarwood

A frown is accompanied by the light shrug of her shoulders. He has been distracted; she understands. She should have done her due diligence as well and should have known this elevator only went to the ninth floor. It’s nothing they couldn’t work through together, “It’s fine, a little challenge has never stopped us before,” and it wasn’t going to stop them now.

When Killian steps forward, Lex glances back up at the numbers. The feel of his hand on her waist is surprising. She’s malleable to his touch, like always, and turns to face him. The frown returns, but it’s playful. He stole her line, “I love you too,” she manages before he brings their lips together for a quick kiss. It lingers when he pulls away just before the elevator doors open.

Lex pushes the warmth down and back to bring her mind back to the mission. She steps out of the elevator with confidence, turning . . . left. Because, why not? There was no room for hesitation, especially if someone was walking. She has no idea what they’re looking for but hopefully one of them would know when they saw it.

Killian Decker

On his lips, her taste remains, filling him with a craving for more. Pushing it down is always difficult, often impossible. But the door's open, and he's reminded that sometimes less is more.

Confident steps mask the fact they're wandering lost in a maze. It's a good thing too. The security presence on the ninth floor is dense, more so than the first. Killian's already spotted two guards heading down the hall towards them. They're talking and not focused on the couple, but it's still a tense moment as they pass.

Inspiration strikes him once the guards are out of sight. "Let's find the security room on this level. I can have Hijack take over their systems, and we can use the camera to the elevator and someone with the ID badge we need." he whispers, stepping to Lex's side. He should have thought of it sooner. The fact he hadn't is slightly upsetting, but the feeling will pass.

Alexandra Briarwood

Lex locks eyes, only momentarily, with a passing guard. A small smile and polite nod towards the man doesn’t elicit suspicion. If anything, the act puts him at ease. He doesn’t hesitate to return to his conversation, not even sparing a glance at the badge the rocks against her chest.

It’s after they pass her eyes start to dart around the corridor, quickly reading whatever room titles were available to try and discern any clues as to where they need to go next. It’s then that Killian, in all his expected brilliance, leans close to whisper a plan. She quickly calculates in her head and nods, “Brilliant,” she’d kiss him again if she could, “You heard him, Smoke,”a subtle movement of her hand send the shadow racing across the floor and out of sight. He’d be much faster as locating the room than them.

Meanwhile, the hall seems to be coming to an end. Most of the name plates so far have been offices with the names and titles of their occupants. She takes the next right; another hall stretches before them but with more promise. It seems to have more labs on this level. Perhaps they could get to the fifteenth floor through one of them. Her pace slows, becoming more casual as she waits for the specter to return with directions.

Killian Decker

Brillant, she says. Almost like she knew he was judging himself harshly. Leave it to the wonderful woman in his life to iron out his concerns. The flicker of movement on the floor briefly brings his eyes downward. By the time his aqua blues reach the ground, Smoke's already gone.

His heart flutters with excitement once they round the next corner. In contrast to the previous hallway's numerous offices, this corridor was composed of labs. None would contain what they were here for, but the nerd in him didn't care. They walk past glass doors, and while Lex is looking for what will take them higher. Killian can't keep his eyes off all the scientists and their work.

He's a kid in a candy store. The wealth of Space Center secrets in front of him is his everlasting gobstopper. A wet tongue runs across his lips, hungry for a taste of what he doesn't have.

Lex would know the look, what it means - how he's tempted to step inside one of the labs and pile on the charm. Drain the first person he meets dry of anything and everything they can offer. And this is only the ninth floor. The ones above must be brimming with secrets ripe for the taking.

"Smoke might be awhile..."

Alexandra Briarwood

Labs. Knowledge, Killian’s unabashed weakness. She knew it well. His thirst is often what kept him up and away from her until she enticed him with a suitable distraction. If Lex is honest, she finds herself jealous of his desire for knowledge. Sometimes, it felt like it burned brighter than his desire for her.

Regardless, she recognizes the look. Tension pulls at her stomach. A hand reaches out to firmly grip his wrist. The amber eyes that flash towards him hold a sense of unwavering, cold authority. For as much as this was their heist, this is her world. She wouldn’t let his obsession for secrets blind him to the mission, the objective. Entering would put them at risk of discovery. The badges they wore weren’t even their’s, after all.

“Focus,” it’s a command, sharp and straight forward. The firm grip on his wrist releases before they continue to casually walk down the hall, waiting for Smoke to return.

Killian Decker

He doesn't make it far before Lex grabs at his hand. Killian expects that her touch will be gentle. A soft tug or squeeze to pull him back from the brink, but she's firm. It catches him off guard, sends his head careening over his shoulder to look at her. Another surprise greets him.

Cold and Dominating. Lex is commanding him to stop with a stare that betrays their usual relationship. It's different, new - and so is the force inside her voice. There's hardly any time to adjust to it either. To question where it came from or why she feels the need to be so firm.

But it gets her what she wants.

Killian does as he's told and reels himself in without a word. He steps back so that she can lead the path forward. The world they're in is hers, and Killian's just a visitor.

They continue ahead, his eyes still feeling the pull of the labs around them. They're halfway down the hall when Smoke finds them. The Gengar knows better than to lift himself from the ground. So he leads them to their destination as a shadow along the floor. They round two corners, left and right, encountering no one along the way. That is until they reach the security room at the end of a short hallway.

Killian can already hear voices from inside. Guards on duty, chatting about one of the recent tournament matches. Lex's dominance still has Killian off his game, so his eyes dart to her.

Her world. Her rules.

Alexandra Briarwood

Lex doesn’t see how cold she is until Killian’s speechless surprise catches her attention. The tension in her stomach folds over itself, twisting into something different. Regret maybe? Being firm with him is just something she doesn’t do. Lex really isn’t the dominating type. It’s the fear of failure that drove her to such lengths. Even though this isn’t an official Rocket mission, they have instilled in her that failure is not an option.

She’s silent as she turns away, apologetic in the way her shoulder fall after a sigh as they move forward again. Eventually, Smoke finds them, and leads them towards the security office. There’s a drinking fountain across the hall, so Lex moves to stand near that instead of right in front of the door. A hand rises from the shadow with three tiny fingers held up.

“I’ll send Smoke and Gardevoir in to incapacitate the three inside,” The Gardevoir’s pokeball cracks open again. Instead of a flash of light, a dark, heavy mist oozes form the opening and onto the linoleum floor. After the command, the two ghosts slip beneath the door.

Lex watches It patiently. There’s a bit of a ruckus at the initial surprise, but it quickly fades as the security personnel succumb to their Hyponosis. A faint click is heard and the door opens slightly, inviting them in

Killian Decker

Killian gives her control though she doesn't look happy. He notes the way her shoulders slump, feels the tense silence settle around them in his bones. Haunting, it follows them to outside the security hub. Lex is the one to break the stillness. Her voice doesn't carry the same commanding presence as before. She'd shrugged off her authority when her shoulders fell.

Killian frowned. A knot in the middle of his throat is pushed down with a hard swallow. Whether or not he liked the sudden change is still up in the air. It had come from nowhere, but now that he'd seen it, Killian couldn't ignore it. What he could do, was nurture the dominating flower growing inside her. Water it into a rose before Rocket could twist it into something else.

When the door unlocks, Killian doesn't enter right away despite the urge to. He waits for Lex before heading in after her. The room looks about how you'd expect. Several CCTV monitors streaming live video of the various security cameras throughout the facility. The once conscious guards slumber in the corner of the room.

Hijack is freed from its Poke Ball. "We're looking for the elevator that will take us higher. While you're at it, make sure the cameras play on a repeated loop." with a buzz, the Rotom zips into the security system to perform its task. While they wait, Killian takes the time to water that flower he'd mentioned.

"If you're going to take charge, do it. Slouching your shoulders and sighing undercuts the order you gave." Killian's careful with his tone. Going the extra mile to make it clear he's no upset but offering advice. "Do I ever sound unsure when I issue an order? Do I apologize afterward? No. So don't." his neck stiffens, and a tight line spreads across his lips.

"Would you calling the shots make this easier, Lex? Because I'll follow your lead."

Alexandra Briarwood

They enter the security room, Lex before Killian. She pauses, taking a moment to glance at her surroundings, quickly count bodies, and make a mental note. By that time, Killian has already released Hijack. She smiles, happy to see the Rotom. She trusted it more than her own Rotom that is still learning the ropes. Hijack is far more experienced.

Lex leans over a set of monitors, glancing between the video feeds curiously. She doesn’t pull her gaze away, even as Killian begins to speak. Slowly, he catches she attention. Amber eyes move to meet him as she slowly stands up. She can tell he’s treading carefully. It’s advice he seeks to give, not criticism. There’s a part of her that appreciates it, but now? Really?

“It just-“ she pauses, searching for the right words, “Felt weird with you,” Ordering Killian, or anyone around, is not something she’s accustom to. Nor does she want to call all the shots on this heist. Science is Killian’s thing. She hesitates to respond, and a flash of the screen beside her and beeping captures her attention.

Hijack had found the elevator, “Where is this, Hijack?” she asks, peering at the video. A series of other feeds gives her directions, “Hm, looks like we’re gonna have to go through a lab, after all,” Killian would get his wish.

The elevator is located in the back of the largest lab on this floor. It’s located in the southwest corner, “Stay here and make sure they don’t wake up and no one comes in, alright?” she’s given the orders to the Gardevoir, “Find us when we get up there,” she’ll be able to see them on the camera, “Come on, Killian, let’s go,” she’s completely forgotten about the question now, and just simply begins to lead him in the direction of the lab.

Killian Decker

Felt weird with him? Killian knew he'd like to be in control, having power felt safe, securing. But he'd give it up willingly for Lex's sake. He'd assumed she knew that. "It shouldn't." there's more, but Hijack interrupts before Killian can get the words out.

It's hard to deny that he's not excited to step into the labs. Unlike before, that excitement's tempered with caution. As for his question, Lex doesn't answer it with words but with her actions. She orders him to follow as she leaves. Killian does, Rotom zipping back into its Poke Ball on the way out the door.

Their trek to the lab is without incident.

Despite being the largest on this floor, the number of scientists that occupy it is small. There are five, all spread about testing various bits of equipment. Killian's eyes are all over the place, hungry to ask questions and pick apart the experiments. He can feel the urge to break away in his legs. They pulse with desire, but he forces himself to focus. The elevator that will take them higher is easy to spot. It's unguarded at the back of the lab.

"Hmm. There's no one at the elevator. That's good. I'll have Inteleon fill the room with mist and we can head for the elevator."

Alexandra Briarwood

Lex feels incredibly out of place. The lab is foreign to her. There’s very, very little the recognizes and even less that doesn’t intimidate her. She tries her best not falter under the weight of it, walking with a sort of confident purpose as if she knows exactly where she’s going.

Eye settle on the elevator not too far away now. Strangely, it’s unguarded. Perhaps at the top instead? Killian offers a solution to the question that plagues her: How will they get up there?

“Hm, good idea,” of course it was a good idea, he’s brilliant, “I’ll grab the badge,” her delicate touch and trained fingers should go unnoticed. The mist will certainly cause a panic, which will give them time to sneak to the elevator unnoticed as well. She waits patiently for Inteleon to provide the cover.

Killian Decker

And the mist fills the room, leaking out from an unseen force to mask the couple's movements. The scientists panic, assuming a becker or something may have broken. Killian makes his way to the elevator while Lex does her thing.

Alexandra Briarwood