[attr="class","beck"]the phone's slid across the table but theo doesn't reach for it. there's no point to. instead, he shifts in his chair, straightening his posture as he clears his throat.

"now we take a walk."

he gestures towards the door.

"it'll be a particularly long one."

[attr="class","noodles"]Orion Lykos

Should he be scared? There is only anger, muted by his desire to ensure the Blacephalon stayed in whatever pokeball had managed to contain it. There's a hard glint in his eyes but he refrains from any action that would draw attention to them.

Slow, deliberate, he finishes his coffee before standing up.

After a moment's consideration, he decides against reaching for the phone. If Beckett wasn't going to take it, then let it be a clue.

"Am I going to survive this 'walk'?"

There's a sharp edge to his tone. Not fear, but mockery.

He remembers the Rocket of before, cruelty and bloodshed. Burning cities, slaughtered families. He doesn't buy their propaganda of peace for a second — especially not when this monster out of Kanto threatened the lives of twenty-six people like it was nothing.

[attr="class","beck"]"you sure you're orion lykos? you seem different. tougher; less like a bitch."

a shrug.

"i'm glad i could help bring out this side of you."

only now does he reach for the phone, pocketing it before gesturing towards the door. both hands stay in his pockets.

"after you."

[attr="class","noodles"]Orion Lykos

His laugh is almost snarled.

"Yes, I'm clearly the bitch in this scenario. I'm sure twenty-six people would agree with you."

Yet for all his bark, he doesn't bite. He keeps his hands out of his pockets, doesn't protest when Theo pockets his phone, and though he holds his head high and exudes confidence rarely demonstrated off of the battlefield, he still complies with the request.

The Hoenn air is humid, choking.

[attr="class","beck"]twenty-six lives spared.

but at what cost?

sometimes it's difficult to sympathize. beckett certainly doesn't understand the struggle to decide. he would've sacrificed twenty-six for the greater good.

perhaps that's what separates them.

"let's go."

[attr="class","noodles"]Orion Lykos