many floated over as he neared, and she noted his closeness to her as well, but he didn’t have the same gravitational pull on her. not in that moment.

she followed his finger to where the fish was buried in the sand. maybe it was was aptly named.

lulu's face went a little red, brow furrowed. it didn’t feel the same as when Tempest Quinn had told her his umbreon’s name, and as someone who didn’t typically name her pokemon, the reason for something like this was especially difficult to fathom in general.

“that’s weird. why?”

THEO BECKETT

☉

perhaps he had expected her to have called it weird. it was an adjective she so frequently used around him.

"because you gave her to me."

he shrugged.

"so she's special."

Lulu Flint

☉

he was weird. lulu didn’t sugarcoat things.

special.

“oh.”

she couldn’t bring herself to make eye contact with him after, merely staring at its protuberance sticking out from the sand.

“do you still have your um… aquarium basement in lilycove?” where she’d thrown the chair at him. the memory sent an uncomfortable, anxious feeling fluttering through her.

THEO BECKETT

☉

he also stared at the protuberance sticking out from the sand, not minding the brief silence after his comment. it wasn't a revelation, really, or at least it shouldn't have been.

"i do."

memories came back to him, too, but they didn't make him nearly as uncomfortable. still, he didn't want to dwell on them, and so reached out for her hand before gesturing towards the stairs.

"come on."

Lulu Flint

☉

she didn’t really have anything to say about it, merely having been curious. it seemed to her to be an odd location to keep or even come upon, but then again, so was a lighthouse.

when his hand found hers, it sent electricity through her, perpetuating the anxiety. up the stairs, likely where the bedroom was.

“ok.”

she followed, attention homing in on the feeling of his skin.

THEO BECKETT

☉

it was not a large house, not by any means, so the walk up the stairs was short, and they soon arrived at a door. a gentle pushed opened it, revealing a rather plain-looking bedroom. it was a huge upgrade from his old apartment in slateport, but it was by no means luxurious.

humble would be the better word.

he stepped towards a drawer, pulling out a towel before offering it to her.

"here."

Lulu Flint

☉

humble was perhaps still better than the lighthouse or the room on the sub. it, of course, didn’t compare to the penthouse in mossdeep, where she’d lived above the likes of Amor Rose . she found that she missed the luxury at times. the white marble floors, and the view of the city from up high...

but this was fine.

“thanks.”

she took the towel, unsure if she was to dry off with it or if he was suggesting a shower. regardless, she was soon dabbing overtop her clothes, which she then realized was not the most effective or sensible thing to do. she continued anyways, committed.

THEO BECKETT

☉

a slight look of amusement washed over him as he watched her dab herself with the towel. it wasn't what he was suggesting, no, so after a gesture towards another door at the end of the room, he asked:

"would you like to shower?"

Lulu Flint

☉

”hm?”

she stopped, looking up at him. did he mean together, or alone? she supposed she’d find out. either way, she it might be better than showering on the sub, as she’d been doing.

”uh… sure.”

THEO BECKETT

☉

it was definitely better than showering on the sub. here, they were allowed their privacy, which should become apparent after he led her into the bathroom.

he flicked a switch, turning the lights on. the towel was hung off to the side, and he paid her no mind as he shrugged off his shirt. it plopped to the floor, discarded.

Lulu Flint

☉

she followed him silently. when he began undressing, she didn’t. not just yet. her eyes went to his torso, gaze tracing damaged flesh.

”you have a lot of scars.”

it wasn’t something she’d typically point out, but for some reason fell out of her mouth. amber gaze glanced up at his face briefly before she removed her own shirt. her scars were far fewer, the worst only that from the bullet in her shoulder. the black and bright red ink covered most of her skin, hiding whatever was there until closer investigation.

THEO BECKETT

☉

his eyes drifted down to his own scars. he barely recognized them anymore; they all looked the same to him, they all came from the same place.

"from kanto."

it used to bother him, but not anymore.

his gaze shifted to her, to her tattoos, and he reached a hand out to trace along black and bright red ink.

"do they mean anything?"

Lulu Flint

☉

kanto. as the word left his lips, she remembered why she’d hated him. why the feeling still lingered, somewhere amidst others in the shiver his tracing fingers gave her.

she’d told no one much about her tattoos, but there were particular iconic things about them which would be identifying to most galarians, at least.

”sure. different things.” but in general, ”that i’m deadly. unafraid.” that second part had never been entirely true.

”and that i’m a dog.”

her face was solemn as she removed the rest of her clothes.

THEO BECKETT

☉