"what do you possibly mean, grey boy?"

a brief lull is followed by another shot. already three shots in, it's not looking good for the lad.

but he understands greyson's reservations. where danny might be able to ignore all that's happened, he knows greyson can't.

the slice of lime falls from his mouth.

"i dunno, man. i'm just so fucking tired of fighting."

Greyson Connors
mission!

☉

it was like old times, he admitted to himself. things were simpler back then. so much more fucking simpler.

he watches danny lick the salt off his palm, doing a poor job of hiding the gross reaction. they'd competed for years about who had the strongest liver, but, at least one of them didn't need salt then, huh?

he sits in silence and downs another. despite how right everything felt, greyson still couldn't shake this weariness that seeped into his bones even just sitting here.

"how's the family?"

DANNY HALL

the question is unexpected but pleasant. it makes him smile in response, dipping his head gently as he shifts his gaze away.

"they're good. the same. both as busy as ever, dad especially more so now with everything that's been going on."

danny cannot imagine what it must be like to be a high-ranking league official right now. it only occurs to him then that he's sitting right next to one.

"they ask about you quite often."

he starts again.

"i usually just say you're busy with work. oh, how is work? i saw you're now a gym leader?"

Greyson Connors
mission!

☉

"that's good," he says, truthfully meaning it. the inevitable end of their friendship also meant they couldn't see one another's families. at least, not usually; the questions were awkward of course.

"i have been, yeah." work was busy — arceus if that wasn't the truth. "been keeping tabs on you too," a usually uncomfortable thing to admit, but the gym-leader felt only solemn.

"any reason you got a gardevoir following you?" his own pokemon had spotted the creature during its surveillance. perhaps the rocket grunt had backup he didn't know about.

amusing as that sounded.

DANNY HALL

"a gardevoir?"

it takes danny a second.

"oh! yeah, that's serena's. she's had it following me around for a while now."

serenity, if he recalls correctly.

he shrugs a shoulder, relatively indifferent to the psychic-type's constant presence in his life.

"kinda nuts, if you ask me. but whatever helps her i guess."

Greyson Connors
mission!

☉

greyson barks out an uncontrollable laugh, that he quickly suppresses beneath his own conflicted emotions. he was half-tempted to turn around and see the psychic-type standing in the middle of a crowd, watching them.

"didn't end off on the best of terms then?" his mind lingers to the punch, and confrontation, and despite confirmation he can't help but take a little pride in knowing he might've sparked their explosive end.

DANNY HALL

danny laughs as well and it's one that's genuine and pure — something he hasn't experienced in a very long time. since joining rocket, even.

"you could say that."

briefly, danny wonders if he should be sharing more considering the psychic-type's presence. he could turn around and see it t-posing on them, maybe. but fuck it.

"i was out with another friend and she didn't like how close we were."

he reaches for another shot, holding it between his fingers for a moment before laughing again.

"careful, bro, she might end up going after you."

shot.

Greyson Connors
mission!

☉

swirling the alcohol around in the small glass, he mulls over the idea of facing his ex-friends ex-girlfriend. it inevitably leads his thoughts to the soiree, and all the pain that's happened in the meantime.

"meh, not worried about it. i'm not the one she's following. maybe you and your new friend should?"

shot.

DANNY HALL

"nah, she can handle herself."

if the sootopolis takeover is anything to go by.

feeling the burn washing down his throat, he lets out a heavy sigh, then turns to bump greyson on his shoulder.

"i'm sorry again, man. love makes you do crazy shit sometimes."

phantom pain rises and he brings a hand up to rub at his jaw, laughing.

"for the record, you throw a hell of a punch."

Greyson Connors
mission!

☉

"crazy, huh? like joining an organization with a dozen or more incidents of murders, thefts, takeovers, etc." he raises an eyebrow at danny, but doesn't let heat fill his words.

he was tired. tired of being angry. just... tired.

"women make us do dumb shit."

DANNY HALL

"yes, that."

it's hard to argue against the truth. no matter how hard danny might think otherwise (not anymore), rocket is a bunch of criminals and rejects. so, yes, he does regret following his heart.

"well, lesson learned, i guess."

at what cost?

smiling, he reaches for his final shot.

"i really do hope you can forgive me someday."

Greyson Connors
mission!

☉

greyson joins him, gripping the small glass between three-fingers. with a sigh, he speaks again.

"we'll see. you can't make many more stupid ass decisions that could top that."

he downs the final one, closing his eyes tightly as he swallows. somewhere in the depths of his skull a headache forms.

DANNY HALL

"man, it's like you don't even know me."

danny making stupid decisions? to be expected.

still recovering from the final shot, danny sighs, then nudges greyson on his shoulder.

"come on. we gotta go on a few more rides and then i'll get out of your hair."

Greyson Connors
mission!

☉