[attr="class","giada"]

[attr="class","giada b"]

[attr="class","giada i"]this would be easier if she had the proper tools to win...

her whip, a knife, anything. instead, she has determination and a bloodthirsty cat snarling in the wings.

her scolipede stands tall in front of cian. it glances back toward him as he begins to stir but focus needs to be required elsewhere. the quickness needed to provide a life-saving protect has to be top priority. his politoed has him, that much her team understands.

and giada, bless her heart, is wrestling on the ground with the enemy. he tries to take aim, tries to maneuver around her flailing limbs to get cian in his sights but she's moving too much for a clean shot. no matter, she's just as good a target as he.

the echo of a gunshot rings out into the night, into their ears.

and she's toppling over with a sharp yelp, hands giving up on the fight to prod at her body. blood pools out from her shoulder and she's quickly slipping in and out of blackness.

her body hits pavement and this is the final straw for her snarling luxray. the cat leaps onto the man and rips into his skin without hesitation.

CIAN MAHER
mission

it's the gunshot that finally wakes him.

"gia?"

his hand slicks across his face, wiping blood, sweat, and rain away as he rushes over to her side, past the feasting luxray.

adrenaline rushes and suddenly he sees everything clearly. the situation, the body, and what's to come.

sirens.

"gigi," he places his hands on her shoulders, "we need to go. now."

giada morgan

☉

[attr="class","giada"]

[attr="class","giada b"]

[attr="class","giada i"]agonizing pain keeps her from fully shutting her eyes.

she wants to slip into nothing, to go limp against pavement. her body’s tired, beaten down, bleeding out.

and when he jostles her shoulders, she whimpers, teeth clamping down onto her lower lip.

”fuck.”

she knows the sound.

moving, however, is difficult. her luxray snarls and rips flesh one last time before backing away. it circles her, then, and rumbles warning growls at cian.

”let’s go,” she hisses through gritted teeth. and she tries to stand. really, she does, but vision goes black before she can stabilize and her luxray is swooping beneath her, shielding her from cracking her skull against pavement… again.

CIAN MAHER
mission

cian is equally as weak, powered only by sheer will and adrenaline and the innate desire to get them the fuck out of there. he slumps against her luxray, using it to support his weight as he stands.

"go!"

finding another pokeball, he calls out his swampert, then falls right onto its back. his bloodied cheek smears across its damp skin.

"fucking go..."

and out he goes as well.

who knows where they'll wake up?

giada morgan

☉

[attr="class","giada"]

[attr="class","giada b"]

[attr="class","giada i"]she wakes with a startled gasp to pristine white ceilings.

blinking once, twice, thrice doesn’t bring any clarity. no, she finds nothing but an incessant beeping.

and when her head turns, she squeezes her eyes shut and waits for the pounding ache to slowly fade.

”cian?” she croaks, throat dry and sore. what’s beeping? where are they?

were they not just in the street? how long was she out?

CIAN MAHER
mission

the extent of his wounds, surprisingly, aren't all that bad. some burns, bruises here and there, but nothing threatening. it's why he's already up and about when she eventually wakes.

he stops mid-stride, turns, and smiles.

"gigi."

he approaches the side of her bed.

"you were out like a princess."

giada morgan

☉

[attr="class","giada"]

[attr="class","giada b"]

[attr="class","giada i"]she breathes out a soft sigh of relief at his voice.

and when he comes closer, she's shifting to sit up. well, trying to, anyway.

a pained hiss escapes with the movement. every inch of her body hurts. which is worse, the rushing in her head or the searing pain of her shoulder.

"no shit," she mumbles, clearly cranky and uncomfortable. it's not his fault, really. no, it's a sick combination of her own stupidity and the nasty actions of another at work here.

her gaze softens slightly when she finally manages to look at him without her eyes feeling like they're gonna pop out of her skull.

"are you okay?"

CIAN MAHER
mission

"so cranky."

not that he blames her. who wouldn't be? but cian understands nothing good can come from both of them being cranky, hence his more relaxed demeanor.

he sits next to her, nodding.

"nothing serious, thanks to you."

a tired breath leaves him.

"you saved my life, gigi."

giada morgan

☉

[attr="class","giada"]

[attr="class","giada b"]

[attr="class","giada i"]of course she's cranky... she was shot. men, smh.

he settles in the chair next to her bed and like clockwork, her eyes follow him. her head would, too, but it's throbbing and she doesn't want to deal with another round of pain.

"good, i'm glad."

and then, a soft sigh. her eyes retreat to stare down at white sheets.

"i just," she stops, considers, and tries to string together her best explanation. no matter how she ties it up, it's still just... vulnerable. she despises it. "didn't want to watch you die."

better her than him, right?

CIAN MAHER
mission

"yes, dying would suck."

he groans, rolling his eyes as he leans forward, planting his elbows into his thighs. his voice lowers slightly, tone changing.

"but you risked your life for mine. i owe you big time."

but then it changes right back.

"so! how would you like me to make up for it?"

giada morgan

☉

[attr="class","giada"]

[attr="class","giada b"]

[attr="class","giada i"]she shrugs.

"it's nothing, really," comes tumbling out. it's a deflection if she stops and truly thinks about it. he doesn't technically owe her anything and neither does she but... she would still do the same thing over and over again.

despite herself, her cheeks begin to radiate soft warmth. and as they color pink, she glances up toward him.

"you don't have to make up for it, you know." nor does she expect him to.

CIAN MAHER
mission

it's a deflection and it's one he recognizes. he does it as well.

"sure, sure. i don't have to, but i want to."

and he means it.

"flowers? food? chocolate? ice cream? anything, gigi. name it and i'll make it happen."

giada morgan

☉

[attr="class","giada"]

[attr="class","giada b"]

[attr="class","giada i"]"why?" comes before her mind can process. and she lets it settle between them, offering nothing more than a confused look.

why would he want to? it'd make sense for another but for her?

he fires off options and she flushes a little more with each one. "i," she starts, stops, and lets out a small sigh. in truth, gia's a very simple girl. she can steal whatever she wants, whatever she needs, but she can't steal affection.

and it's awkward, uncomfortable to ask for it.

"i don't need any of that," is what she settles on. and it's half a truth if she thinks back on it.

CIAN MAHER
mission