The days blur together.

Even with the HST far behind him, all the days seem to lack clarity. His world is in black and white, numb to the touch. Jayden tries to burrow himself in mission after mission after mission. He tries to stay in the sub. He tries to stay at home.

None of it works.

He finds himself at the top of Mt. Chimney, staring down at the lava bubbling near the surface. He wonders if he stepped in, if it would burn, the same way his heart burned whenever he thought of Chu-e Choi , of a smile not directed at him, of eyes that were so full of affection that he had never been on the receiving end of. He swallows, thick.

There is a clatter of sound behind him and Jayden turns.

"Where do you think you're going, kiddo?"

Darkness and shadows pooling at his feet, Jayden turns. Veles is swimming in the air around him, eagerly digesting the negative emotions that seem to be swirling around him. Violet eyes train on the image of a boy thrown to the floor, a group of men crowding him. A kick to the chest.

One that Jayden feels in his own heart.

He flashes back to the memories of his childhood. Someone shoving him sideways against a wall, as if not realizing he's there. His brother's bright red glare, and sharp-toothed sneer. Fellow rockets "teaching" him right from wrong, by virtue of a blade.

It has taken years, but Jayden is only beginning to realize it. This is not education. This is —

Cruelty.

Before he knows what is happening, the dark-haired boy is grabbing the collar of one of the thug's shirts. He tugs fiercely, a white-knuckled grip. A blade presses against the other's throat. "Leave."

"What the fuck — "

Someone else reaches for him. Jayden ducks, throwing the first assailant to the grount. He swerves, throwing a punch at the other. He stabs a third one in the chest. A malicious SHADOW SNEAK curls out from beneath him, the pitch-black gloom grabbing at the assailants from the earth and wrapping around their ankles, paralyzing them.

Lightning flashing in his eyes, Jayden repeats himself. "Leave."

It happens faster than he can tell is happening. [break][break]

First, there are people there. People crowding around a boy, kicking him in the side. A sinister laugh barking out. There's nothing that Jayden can see except from the dark that's around him, the anger that he feels at seeing someone being abused in such broad daylight. [break][break]

And then, there is nothing. [break][break]

His gaze shifts to the small boy curled on his side, either by fear or by self-discipline, and it only registers to him a moment later that the boy is talking to him. [break][break]

I'm not falling for it! [break][break]

He responds before he realizes it: [break][break]

"Falling for what?" [break][break]

Jayden drops to his knees, just beside the other. His Vaporeon appears beside him and with a soft click under his tongue, the pokemon begins to use AQUA RING. Droplets of healing water spray atop of the young boy, hopefully healing any injuries he may have. [break][break]

Kill it?

[break][break] Ah.

[break][break] Jayden steps back quickly, easily out of the range of the other's lunge. It's not difficult at all — not with the years and years of assassin training that he's had due to his upbringing. There's also, of course, the fact that the other was a kid.

[break][break] It wasn't much of a fight.

[break][break] He stares down at the other, gaze unreadable, unwavering.

[break][break] "I was healing you," he said simply. With a flick of his wrist, Iris disappearing into her pokeball. He waits, watching the boy for a reaction.

[break][break] It reminded him of Alex.

[break][break]

"Why'd you do that?"

[break][break] There were many answers that Jayden could have provided to this question.

[break][break] 'Because I could'

[break][break] 'Because you needed it.'

[break][break] 'Because I had to.'

[break][break] The dark-haired man looked at the boy, considering. After a moment, he settled on, "Because I wanted to." He looked down at the other, and found himself kneeling along with him. "Are you alright?" He offered his hand. "My name's Jayden, by the way."

[break][break]

Jayden's answer had been the most honest one that he could think of. After all, there were many reasons why he had done what he did — not all of which could have been explained to the boy in that moment.

[break][break] He waits patiently for the other's response, nodding when the other gives his name. "Nice to meet you, Roman." Rocks roll under his feet as he gets comfortable in his squatting position, figuring that it'll probably be a while before they'll be able to move anywhere. Not that, of course, Jayden's not content in this moment.

[break][break] This boy is curious. He intrigues him — both reminding him of his own past, and yet being the farthest thing from it.

[break][break] He blinks with surprise at the other's words, and lets out a soft laugh. It's something that punches him in the gut as well — when's the last time he'd laughed?

[break][break] "No," he says, glancing down at him. "Are you?"

[break][break] Who knew if the boy was a booby-trap himself? Well. If he was, Jayden was sure he could deal with it.

[break][break]

Roman Maher 's honest and genuine answers reminded jayden oddly of his own youth. he wondered if this was how he had appeared to others when he'd been a child?

[break][break] probably not.

[break][break] he'd not been half as angry, even though he should've been probably.

[break][break] "well, i'm serious too," he said simply, with a shrug. "i'm not a kidnapper either." though, he could be. it would not be the first time that he was requested to do a similar task for rocket — this, however, was not one of those times. this time, jayden was here of his own accord. not rocket's, not anyone elses.

[break][break] at the other's word, he stands and offers a hand out for the other to do so as well.

[break][break] "well, i suppose i should be going." his head tilts towards the other, blinking. "would you like to come along?"

[break][break] for some reason, it seemed that the young boy might not have anywhere else to go. or maybe he did.

[break][break]