Her voice, however loud, does not penetrate the sanctuary of his basement laboratory. Sound is swallowed by the thick layers of concrete and Rocket's underboss tends to his hydroponic garden without any knowledge of his guest's arrival. A Leafeon slumbering among the leaves chirps as its rest is disturbed, lifting its head to peer blearily at Gavin as he plucks dead leaves from a Salac berry tree.

Not until he's done with the garden does he mount the stairs and bypass the false wall of the hallway closet, sliding it closed behind him and stepping out into his home.

There is light coming from the kitchen, but Serena has told him of her visit in advance. He doesn't pull his gun.

"Morning." A yawn is suppressed against his fist. "Hope you haven't been waiting long; I was in the lab."

He forgets that, despite having lived here, she doesn't know about his lab.

"Fuck, that smells good." His stomach growls agreement. "What's for breakfast?"

Serena Malcolm

Gavin looks as confused as Serena for a moment before it clicks.

"Right, I forgot to tell you." They'd both been focused on other things in the aftermath of Sootopolis. "There's a lab in the basement. Also, I have a basement. It's need-to-know only, doubles as a safehouse should the city be attacked."

She was a Beast, now, so he doesn't hesitate to divulge the information once kept close to his chest.

"And yeah, actually, a couple of the trees in my garden are ripe." A pause, and he blinks. "I also have a garden in the basement. You can come down and have a look, if you want."

He'd lead the way past the false wall and down the concrete steps. There's the garden, as mentioned, but also a fossil machine displayed prominently along one wall with the bones of what resembles an Aerodactyl partially arranged.

Gavin gestures to the berry trees. "Take whatever you want."

Serena Malcolm

A sudden, sharp laugh follows Serena's question.

"Sure, Robin."

He'd taken to keeping an indoor garden while living in Fallarbor, the ashfall proving hazardous to some of his more delicate trees. He still had all the equipment when he moved to Sootopolis so waste not, want not, right?

"If you can blow a couple hundred grand for the flex, sure."

He chuckles; she probably could.

He nods when she mentions the need for quickness, following her upstairs and closing up behind them.

Serena Malcolm

An experimental bite sees Gavin close his eyes as the flavours wash over his palette. Delicious; he'd expect nothing less from Serena. He swallows and chases the bite with a sip of water before speaking.

"Impeccable," he pronounces, "but you knew it would be."

He's always admired her confidence, her spark. It's why he'd agreed to take her under his wing in the first place.

"Wouldn't dream of it," he says of cancelling, but his expression shifts grim at her follow-up. "Katherine, still? Or...?"

Serena Malcolm

Everything?

His brow furrows, but he doesn't ask. He takes another bite, chews thoughtfully as he waits for Serena to gather herself and share as much as she wished.

"From Adrian?" His brows arch. "What happened there?"

He knows they're siblings; goodness knows his own give him gray hairs.

All I wanted was to grow stronger. Gods, couldn't Gavin relate to that. That was the thing about growing up without control — it had instilled in him an insatiable need for it, to eclipse all forces that might oppose his freedom. So few left, now, but...

He dismisses the thought. It's not about him, tonight.

"Sounds like you need to cull the things making you weaker."

Careful, as he says it. Slow.

"You can't grow strong if you let anyone hold you back."

Serena Malcolm

His brows arch higher but he doesn't press her. If she didn't want to share the troubles with her brother, that was her prerogative so long as it didn't interfere with Rocket.

Strong. The word, used to describe him, stirs something in him. He brushes it away.

"I don't know what Adrian has done," he reminds her; the suggestion hadn't been pointed toward him. "But Danny? He betrayed your trust and he put you in danger from the League and Rocket both."

If she'd not been his protégé, if he hadn't stuck up for her, who knew how that news would have been received?

"If he loved you, he'd never have done it."

The clatter of silverware against his plate seems deafening in the beat of silence he leaves after.

Serena Malcolm

Gavin's stomach clenches when he sees the distress his words bring her, but he steels himself against the stirrings of regret. Harsh as they were, these were words he felt she needed to hear.

"No," he affirms, soft. "I don't think he did."

There's a deeper sorrow in his words that suggests it's not just Danny Gavin is thinking of. He rests a hand on Serena's shoulder, squeezing tight in the hopes of offering some small comfort with his presence.

"It's one thing to say that you love someone," says Gavin heavily, "and another thing entirely to prove it. If someone really loves you, they'll not let anything come between that."

Emma had loved him, yet Gavin had allowed Theo to come between them. He had cared deeply for her, had thought she might be his soulmate, and yet it hadn't been enough. And in turn, Theo hadn't loved Gavin enough to stay with him.

"If they do, they're not worth the pain."

Serena Malcolm