[attr="class","cian"]after a thought, cian shrugs.

"no."

"it could be our little secret."

[attr="class","noodles"]Roman Maher

"I don't have to give you anything?"

His hands slide into his pockets.

"That's how this works in the movies. To keep someone quiet they gotta give the other person something."

Roman had that right, didn't he? Maybe he was thinking of something else.

CIAN MAHER

[attr="class","cian"]cian shakes his head.

"this isn't a movie."

"just know i have your back if you need it. you are my nephew, after all."

[attr="class","noodles"]Roman Maher

Not a movie, right. Roman nods his head and shifts, emerald daggers narrowing hard on Cian's face.


"Do you promise?" it's hard to hide the want in his voice. The desire for a promise from a stranger.

"Cross your heart, hope to die, stick a Weedle in your eye?"

CIAN MAHER

[attr="class","cian"]"i'd never lie to you, roman."

he's lying right now.

but he smiles all the same and raises a hand. his other crosses an x over his heart.

"i promise."

[attr="class","noodles"]Roman Maher

"Okay." a smile edges at the corner of his lips.

"I believe you."

"If you're lying though, I'll find that fucking Weedle." Roman points a tiny finger at his own eye. "Poke. Uncle Cian the pirate."

CIAN MAHER

[attr="class","cian"]"and i believe you. keep that weedle to yourself for now."

with a glance over his shoulder, cian gestures towards rockier terrain.

"i still gotta get a run in but you on any social media?"

[attr="class","noodles"]Roman Maher

"No, not really." he shrugs.

"I don't even have a phone."

Maybe he should steal from one of the kids that did? Yeah. Roman smiled, that sounded like a great idea.

"But I'll get one."

CIAN MAHER

[attr="class","cian"]"you don't have a phone?"

what the fuck?

"can't believe your dad didn't get you one."

outrageous.

unacceptable.

turning, cian starts walking back to the town.

"come on. i'll get you one."

[attr="class","noodles"]Roman Maher

"What?"

Roman blinked before chasing after Cian. Po the Rockruff close behind him.

"Why would you buy me a phone?"

CIAN MAHER

[attr="class","cian"]"i think the better question is why didn't your dad buy you one?"

hands find his pockets as cian strolls along the route. the soot doesn't bother him very much, but he does cough every now and then.

"i have your back, remember? that's what family does. and we're family."

[attr="class","noodles"]Roman Maher

"I..I don't know."

Why hadn't his dad bought him one?

Roman frowned. The boy's ready to wallow in anger but stops short.

"Family." whispered under his breath like a secret. The word carried more weight than it should. Aware enough to notice, but not old to understand why. Roman struggled to grasp the mounting pressure in his chest.

Tiny legs take to a jog to reach his Uncle's side. Though Roman's expression is firm, the look inside his eyes isn't. An ocean's worth of problems swum in his emerald hues.

"Does that mean you won't leave?"

CIAN MAHER

[attr="class","cian"]"i'm not leaving you, no."

his heart would break a little if he had allowed it to. instead, he feels nothing much except for a twisted sense of duty and loyalty — not to rocket, but to his father.

"but i live in rustboro so technically i have to leave? you should visit. i'll show you around."

[attr="class","noodles"]Roman Maher