Lance may have crossed the line before, but would Lia be willing to do so?

She knows it’s there, that she’s threading near it and that it’s probably an obstacle that she cannot avoid. Does he want her to cross that line? Does she want to do it? Should she do it? If the circumstances were different, would she want something to happen between them?

”I–…”

She doesn’t get to answer.

They have forgotten that while it makes for a pretty and adorable accessory, the Comfey is still atop of her head, and it seems as if he has had enough of Lance for today. Suddenly letting go of the thread holding its flowers, it uses it to swiftly smack the ranger captain right across the face. It probably doesn’t hurt all that much, but it’s enough to make Lia take a step away in surprise:

”Wha– Lei! Oh, Arceus... Are you okay?”

She reaches to touch his cheek so very gently, both concern and embarrassment being written across her face.

LANCE VOLLANS

☉

i—

her answer is lost to the slap, perhaps never to be said. not like it even needs to be said, however, as he could've likely guessed her answer. it's one he had wanted to hear, after all.

having been hit by far worse things, the slap only makes him laugh after he catches his step.

"ouch."

her touch is surprising but it's not unwelcome. he even leans into it a little, not a lot, but enough.

"i'll be fine, i think."

Amelia Livy // [x]

☉

Could he really have guessed her answer? Maybe, maybe not. Maybe it would have been exactly what he wanted to hear, or maybe it would have disappointed him...

For now, Lia doesn’t even bother with thinking of all that, because she’s too preoccupied with feeling bad over the fact that her pokémon just slapped her new boss… or Lance? What does she see him as right now?

Looking at him, she notices the way he leans into her touch, and her fingers move just so slightly – caressing his cheek, if only a little.

”Are you sure?”

A soft smile, and her hand moves away.

”...I’m sorry.”

LANCE VOLLANS

☉

the way she lightly caresses his cheek makes him feel warm, fuzzy, and it's only then that he catches himself stepping over the line. and so, with a shake of his head, he takes a step away.

"don't be."

his smirk lingers, only slightly less prominent than before.

"come on. let's warm up, cadet."

there are better ways to warm up, as they're both aware, but a short run will have to suffice.

Amelia Livy // [x]

☉

He also steps away, and with that, that line that she had been so close to crossing is avoided…

For now, at least.

But, his smirk lingers, and it makes it all too hard for her to ignore the way she feels about it, that warm and light sensation remaining even after his next words come.

’Cadet.’

Not ‘Lia’.

It’s probably better this way.

That’s what she tells herself when she smiles at him, chuckling lightly.

”Sure, captain.”

A short run it is, then.

Good thing that, despite not having answered his question before, Lia’s actually quite fit. Then again, doesn’t he already know this?

LANCE VOLLANS

☉

is it really better this way?

he finds himself pondering over it more than he should, even after he's started running. looking for a brief distraction, he calls out his rattata who trails alongside him; the rodent's short legs carrying him as fast as they could.

a good ten minutes after they've started, he tilts his head over at her, smiling as he asks:

"how you doing?"

Amelia Livy // [x]

☉

It’s better this way.

She repeats those words to herself over and over as they run, her Comfey and Bounsweet having been called back to their pokéballs before they even began their warm up. Unlike him, she has no distractions, and running at a slower pace, she’s left with no choice but to watch him for a few minutes. Is it really better this way?

It should be, right? It has to be.

Becoming a ranger matters too much to her to let this get in the way, but… would it really get in the way? What if…

‘How you doing?’

She looks at him, having caught up by then, and smiles as well.

”Just peachy.”

And the smile turns into a smirk then, because how could she resist copying his words from earlier? Maybe it’s okay to mock him just a little, if only for today.

LANCE VOLLANS

☉

just peachy.

of course. should he have expected anything different?

almost too easily, he falls back into it, approaching the line once again as he returns her smirk.

"we can't have that, then."

his pace increases enough for him to edge ahead, soon taking the lead. his rattata continues to run beside him, somehow still able to match lance's pace.

looking over his shoulder, he throws lia a wink.

"keep up!"

Amelia Livy // [x]

☉

”Wha– Oh, come on!”

It’s surprise that paints itself in her expression when he picks up the pace and takes the lead, the pink hues that had been at her cheeks thanks to the effort of running only deepening when he winks.

Wasn’t this supposed to just be a quick warm up?

Lia chuckles, resigned, and with a deep breath, she makes sure to go catch up.

Lance may be playing a game, and she can see through that, but as much as she’s playing as well, there’s also one simple fact: she’s not going to give up. Being a ranger matters, and that means she’ll give it her all, even if it’s at an impromptu race with a captain…

A captain.

Her captain.

Lance.

What is the nature of their relationship actually going to be moving forward?

For now, Lia doesn’t think about that, her sole focus being on passing him and taking the lead.

LANCE VOLLANS

☉

maybe he shouldn't have pushed himself that hard.

a sharp pain pangs in his chest, thrumming with every step he takes. his breathing quickens in an attempt to combat it, to fight through the pain, but he soon finds himself forced to slow down.

she passes him with ease, and when she does, he slows to a complete stop. his breathing is labored as he slumps forward, resting his hands on his thighs as he catches his breath.

but, like usual, he plays it off with a grin, dismissing the pain.

Amelia Livy // [x]

☉

She takes the lead, but it shouldn’t be this easy.

If he had kept up the pace, there’s no way she could have passed him so soon, and as happy as she is to have done as much, Lia knows this. Did he slow down for her sake, then? Why, if only a few seconds ago he had challenged her? As if to answer these questions, she looks back, only to see that he has stopped and is catching his breath.

The bright smile that had illuminated her expression the moment she took the lead fades away then, and she slows down to a stop as well. Metres away.

”...Lance?”

Is it normal for him to get this tired, this fast?

That doesn’t seem right, not when they were supposed to just be warming up.

So, she steps closer, stopping only once she’s in front of him.

”You okay?”

So much for just a warm up.

LANCE VOLLANS

☉

lance.

he looks up, meeting her worried gaze but nothing escapes him but the same smile, fainter than usual. his rattata bounds up to him, nudging into his leg as he looks up at lance, curious and concerned.

at this, he reaches an arm down to scratch rattata's head.

"yeah, i'm okay."

he peers up at her, figuring she deserves somewhat of an explanation.

"i was injured during the war and my body's still recovering from it."

she's seen the marks on his body; she should be able to piece it together.

he offers her a gentler smile this time.

"i'll be fine."

Amelia Livy // [x]

☉

If only faintly, he smiles at her, but to Lia his words are nothing to be smiling about.

Injured during the war.

She remembers the scars, and the pieces come together all too easily after that.

How much had the war actually taken from everyone? How much had been lost? Too much; this seems to always be the conclusion she reaches when it comes to that. It had taken too much from her, and apparently, it had taken too much from him as well.

”Lance.”

She repeats herself, and for now, there are no thoughts of the fact that he’s a ranger captain and she’s no more than a cadet. And, as she looks at him, she doesn't match his smile, because how could she ever smile when the mention of the war brings so many painful memories?

”You should rest.”

He says he’ll be fine, but will he really?

LANCE VOLLANS

☉