Spencer grimaces at his childish mimicry- though the pitch of his voice brings back a flood of memories. It twists like a knife, the familiar feelings that follow close behind. She begs for it to stop, for those feelings to shrivel up and die.

But instead, she clings to him tighter. It is out of necessity, she reasons. Her fingers twist into the fabric of his shirt in order to hold her up, not because it could mean anything else.

She swallows, squeezes her eyes shut as her ankle tenses up with pain from being jostled.

"I don't think a hospital is necessary."

But given the amount of swelling already showing and the fact she can't bear any weight on her foot..

CIAN MAHER

☉

"yeah? should i just drop you off at home, then?"

asked sarcastically, of course, because the swelling on her foot tells him she definitely needs the hospital. again, it'd be much easier to just have his pokemon carry her, but this feels...nicer.

the memories that return, as painful as they are, are warm as well.

"you still living at the same place?"

Spencer Hale
mission

☉

The thought of going home, in this state, knowing full well none of her spoiled, shitty cats would help her?

"No.. maybe not."

Words die at the tip of her tongue, stubbornness unwilling to let her yield. What she might like is not what she wants, is not what she is willing to ask for. For him to stay with her.

"Yeah. Yeah, I am."

Does he still stop by her window? Probably not. He had another partner now, he didn't mean anything to her anymore- she didn't mean anything to him.

So she focuses on the throbbing in her ankle.

CIAN MAHER

☉

"it's a nice place."

even if he doesn't outright say it, he misses it. misses spending time with her.

but those thoughts belong in the past.

"how are the cats?"

Spencer Hale
mission

☉

"Sure."

She's never really thought of it that way. In fact, she had sort of come to resent the place. It felt.. empty. Full of memories, good and bad. Mostly bad, the more that she thought about it. Or maybe the bad was just more prominent, fresher.

Once upon a time, her house had been full of him, and now..

"I--" he interrupts her in her moment of weakness, with her ankle throbbing and her heart full of pain.

"They're good. They still hate the dog."

CIAN MAHER

☉

"aw, really?"

the dog.

their dog.

"i miss him."

the thought of their stoutland getting ganged up on by her cats is funny, sure, but it's also quite sad.

"will you tell him i miss him?"

Spencer Hale
mission

☉

"Yeah."

She grows quiet, grows sad, distracted by fond memories and wistful thinking. So much had changed in so little time.

Spencer swallows hard, surprised and hurt by his request.

"Why don't you tell him yourself? He likes you way more than he's ever liked me."

CIAN MAHER

☉

"i would, but..."

he swallows as well, suddenly feeling awkward.

"...do you really want me to come over?"

Spencer Hale
mission

☉

"Yes--"

She answers impulsively before warmth fills her cheeks and she glowers at the man to hide her fluster and confusion. It is not altogether convincing, but the bite to her next statement might rectify it.

"Not if you're going to be weird about it."

But the truth is she misses him. Their time apart had been painful, if expected and necessary. Spencer, unfortunately, was nothing if not impossible and prideful, and unforgiving at the best of times.

"The old boy misses you. Don't let your dislike for me prevent you from seeing him."

CIAN MAHER

☉

"i don't dislike you. i'm just not fond of you."

despite how he might act, it's an important difference. he wouldn't be here helping her if the former was true.

whatever the reason may be, he nods.

"alright. we'll go after you get your ankle checked out."

Spencer Hale
mission

☉

Somehow, that hurt a thousand times worse.

Spencer swallows, but her mouth and throat feel painfully dry. She doesn't look at him, his closeness is already painful enough. Once upon a time, they had been hopelessly, sickeningly in love with each other. Best friends, partners, devoted.

"Okay."

For a moment, tears well in her eyes and she glances away to press her cheek into her shoulder. Hopefully, he would see it as nothing more than another flash of pain from her ankle, and not her heart breaking.

CIAN MAHER

☉

thankfully(?) for her, he sees it as nothing more than another flash of pain.

eventually, they arrive at the hospital, and after an arduous wait time, her ankle gets checked out, and she's released back into the streets of rustboro.

he's still right there by her side.

"so...lead the way?"

Spencer Hale
mission

☉

Spencer swallows and glances at the ground for a moment before looking the other way. Though she tries hard to mask the disappointment she feels, she's never been good at hiding her feelings.

"Good for you."

Sorry to disappoint stings something fierce, but she chooses to ignore it. It just means she'd missed her chance, fucked it up royally and didn't deserve a second one.

CIAN MAHER

☉