talk about reentering the scene with a bang.

a precise STONE EDGE erupts out of the ground, slamming into mars' side as two PSYCHICS wrap around his pokemon to fling them out of the way.

from behind a building, john doe emerges once again and casually strolls towards the crate.

"you little shits."

Martín del Mar

☉

He doesn’t even have time to react. The STONE EDGE is sharp and it hits with force, pushing him back and making fall to the ground.
[break][break]
”Fuck…” Disoriented and having quite literally just had the wind knocked out of him, Mars struggles for a breath – trying to figure out what’s going on as he attempts to get up. His side fucking hurts.
[break][break]
An attack? From where?
[break][break]
From who?
[break][break]
That’s when he hears the voice.
[break][break]
”Oh, you piece of shit.”
[break][break]
Should have killed this fucker when he had the chance.
[break][break]
One look around tells him his pokémon have been pushed back too, but out of all three of them, one of the Inkay manages a PAYBACK against a Solosis. Good.
[break][break]
Mars reaches into his jacket.
[break][break]
Where’s Cian though? Is he okay?
[break][break]
He looks back to where Cian was supposed to be, knowing better than to call his name in a situation like this.



[BREAK][BREAK]

+ CIAN MAHER

with one of them temporarily out of the equation, john is free to focus on the remaining one. the weaker one. the one who he should've killed back in the bar.

pointing to cian, he snarls:

"kill him."

his aggron's the first to move. it slams its tail into the ground to send two STONE EDGES rippling across the space between them. they erupt beside cian, looking to crush.

Martín del Mar

☉

’Kill him.’
[break][break]
Who the fuck does this guy think he is?
[break][break]
With a glance, Mars sees the battle begin, and if only for a second, he allows a sense of relief to wash over him. Cian’s pokémon can handle that Aggron, that much he’s sure of. Which leaves him only a couple of things to deal with…
[break][break]
There’s a whistling sound, short and sharp, and it’s immediately followed by a PSYCHIC much stronger than the previous ones being aimed directly at their attacker – courtesy of Mars’ Hatterene.
[break][break]
Relying on pokémon though?
[break][break]
Mars?
[break][break]
That’s just not something he often does.
[break][break]
This man, whatever his name is, had injured Cian, injured Mars himself, and now was trying to kill them?
[break][break]
Forget what Mars said before, this is personal now.
[break][break]
The sandstorm rages, and if anything, as he stands, Mars is grateful for it. It creates a distraction, and it muffles the inevitable sound of the gunshot when it's fired...
[break][break]
A single shot, quick and precise, the small bullet piercing straight through the gang leader’s abdomen. A painful shot. A bloody one. But, not a lethal one.
[break][break]
Not yet, at least, though it could be if medical assistance doesn't arrive within minutes.
[break][break]
The choice is purposeful, and with the gun still in hand, three simple words follow:
[break][break]
”Call it off.”
[break][break]
Cold, just like his stare – devoid of emotion.


[BREAK][BREAK]

+ CIAN MAHER

john doe isn't expecting retaliation, at least not one of this caliber, and definitely from that punk kid who looks as though he's about to pass out. so, unsurprisingly, it catches him and his pokemon off guard.

"FUCK."

both solosis aren't able to react in time to the STONE EDGES. it breaks through a PROTECT, paving the way for gliscor to down the two psychic-types with precise NIGHT SLASHES.

excadrill bursts out of the ground, DIGGING into aggron's flesh.

suddenly, whatever advantage john had gained is now rendered void.

bang!

he drops to the floor.

Martín del Mar

☉

Mars is tired, annoyed, and in pain, and while perhaps he should be numb to the weight of a gun in his hands after so many years of doing all this, he’s not, no matter how familiar it is.
[break][break]
He glances down at the barrel, and when he does there’s a sigh, his gaze then finding the now fallen gang leader.
[break][break]
When Cian had asked what things Mars is good at but hates, this is part of that answer he hadn’t wanted to give back then. The answer he had avoided giving. For, as prideful as Mars may be, this is one of the only things he holds no pride in. How many times has he been in similar situations? How many times has he done this? There is no guilt, the life of an idiot gang leader who tried to harm them couldn’t have any less meaning or worth to him, and yet, this is not the person he wants to be…
[break][break]
Cosima had once told him he could be better than this.
[break][break]
Briefly, if only for a passing moment, he wonders if he really wants to do this in front of Cian. He doesn’t deserve to see all this, he may end up hating him for it, and yet... it has to be done, and Mars knows as much.
[break][break]
‘Don’t ever allow anyone to disrespect us.’
[break][break]
‘No loose ends.’
[break][break]
One step. Two steps. Calmly, he approaches the man, a hand holding the side that was hit by the earlier STONE EDGE.
[break][break]
”You’re going to bleed out if you don’t get to a hospital soon.” The words are unemotional, matter-of-fact, just the simple truth they both are aware of by now. He’s probably barely conscious, it would be difficult to even move; the merciful thing would be to put him out of his misery...
[break][break]
Does he deserve mercy though? Is Mars capable of it?
[break][break]
”You really should have just ran.”
[break][break]
Cosima had been wrong.

[BREAK][BREAK]

+ CIAN MAHER

He should have just ran.
[break][break]
In a second, just as he reaches to load the gun, it’s all over – the Gliscor’s attack cutting through flesh as if it were a sharp blade.
[break][break]
Crimson marks the end of John Doe’s life, and Mars watches it happen.
[break][break]
”Effective.”
[break][break]
That’s the first thought that crosses his mind as he sees the blood flow upon the ground, pooling around the body of the Fallarbor gang leader. Former gang leader.
[break][break]
The blood reaches his shoes, and Mars’ gaze shifts, noticing how the attack also caused it to splatter upon his jeans. ”Annoying.”
[break][break]
This is why he prefers guns over things like these. Still, he looks at the Gliscor, giving praise even if there’s no need for him to do so and even if his voice is still as cold as it could possibly be. ”Good job.”
[break][break]
Is this the first time Cian does something like this?
[break][break]
Why did he interrupt and take the kill?
[break][break]
Probably not because he didn’t want Mars to do it. Probably because he didn’t want to be useless. Mars can understand this.
[break][break]
Through the sandstorm, he looks at him, and even though he wishes the dust-carrying winds would subside, he approaches – as if he has completely forgotten about the body.
[break][break]
He hasn’t, but that’s not the most important thing at this moment.
[break][break]
”Thank you.” For having his back when Mars needed him to do as much. For doing a good job. ”You okay?”
[break][break]
The worry is still there, but this time it’s different.
[break][break]
Cian isn’t helpless at this moment.



[BREAK][BREAK]

+ CIAN MAHER

Fuck this silence.
[break][break]
The nod is welcomed and appreciated, as is Cian’s response, even if Mars knows it may not be entirely true.
[break][break]
If Cian is feeling even slightly better, that’s what matters, no?
[break][break]
Physically though…
[break][break]
The answer to that comes quicker than what either of them probably expected it to.
[break][break]
”Cian.” His voice is quiet, and it is gentle, even if Mars’ expression remains serious and there’s no smile to accompany this word. He wraps an arm around him for support, in order to hold him up, and the moment he does there’s sharp pain at his side. Fuck!
[break][break]
Had that Aggron made him break a rib or something? It was easy to ignore the pain before, not so much anymore.
[break][break]
Still, Mars being Mars, he barely allows himself a wince – jaw clenched just as he takes a deep breath. He reminds himself he's had worse than this. Fuck this.
[break][break]
”I’ll get someone to deal with the pick up and the clean up. Stay awake.”
[break][break]
The gun has long since been put away, and this time, when Mars reaches into his jacket, he retrieves his phone instead.
[break][break]
Please, stay awake.

[BREAK][BREAK]

+ CIAN MAHER

”Cian!”
[break][break]
The way he leans against him makes everything hurt even more, but Mars withstands it, and doesn’t let go. Letting go would be even worse.
[break][break]
Something is definitely broken.
[break][break][break]
Cian is unconscious and probably has a concussion.
[break][break]
He needs to get them both medical attention as soon as possible...
[break][break]
He needs to deal with the body too.
[break][break]
He needs to deliver the pokéballs.
[break][break]
But, it’s quiet, and he’s alone.
[break][break]
Thankfully Martín Marzán is not the sort of person who has to do these sorts of things alone.
[break][break]
At least not anymore, for he has people he can rely on. People who will do as he asks. People who are there, watching his every step, and who probably report every single thing they see back to Canalave. He knows this, but he chooses to ignore it at that very moment, and he makes a call:
[break][break]
”Are you near Fallarbor? I have something for you to do.”
[break][break]
There’s no asking. This is no favour.


[BREAK][BREAK]

+ CIAN MAHER