Metero falls -- it was one of the few locations within the region that Felix has yet to explore. There isn't exactly a buzz of traffic within the cave system, and so, there was a natural drought of cave-related mercenary jobs. Not that it mattered much to him.

Sauntering in with a white V-neck and black jeans, the bodyguard followed along the highlighted path illeana reyes had sent him the day before. Trailing close behind him was his porygon-z, Barnaby. The small pokemon constantly fidgeted, buzzed, and clicked at random intervals, but Felix kept him out regardless. He liked the company. Besides, the robotic pokemon had its practical uses.

"Detection: low" It beeped out.

After a series of tunnels and turns, the duo found the exact person they needed to see: illeana reyes .

"Yo," He greeted, lifting his right hand into the air to give off a rigid wave. The corner of his lips curled upward into a small smile. "You look good."

- INSERT PORYGON-Z ICON

@ileana

Since their time apart, Felix had nearly forgotten the silent comfort that fell over him whenever he was around her. It was unexplainable, but always warmly welcomed.

Felix returned the hug, though, his arms instructively went for the 'light back pats' over an actual squeeze. It was a little rigid, but he was trying, and well, that's all one could hope for from him. Especially when it came to PHYSICALLY affection.

Hands shuffling back into his pockets, he offered an acknowledging nod to the waving golurk, then his gaze returned to illeana reyes. "Yeah." He assured her, shrugging. "Just lead the way-- I'll be close behind."

illeana reyes

There were so many things about Illeana that changed, but there were so many things that hadn't changed as well.

The way she spun around definitely fell into the ladder category. And, to be honest, Felix was subconsciously thankful for it.

Trailing close behind the scientist, the mercenary made sure to keep a watchful eye on their surroundings. Even with Barnaby emitting his occasional beeps of safety, he knew the state of their situation could still shift at any moment, especially given their surroundings. It wasn't until Illeana spoke up that his attention momentarily diverted itself back onto the conversation.

"That's okay," He shrugged. It wasn't like he was any better at figuring this shit out. Besides, "We'll figure it out as we go."


It wasn't the most reassuring statement out there, but for Felix, it rang true. At least for right now, they had the luxury of time on their side, so...why not use it to their advantage?

illeana reyes

Felix naturally found himself shifting the rhyme of his stride to match illeana reyes 's, allowing him to hover only an inch or so behind her. When she turned back to him, his lips slipped into a similar small smile, and his eyebrows raised with interest.

"I haven't."

The idea of entering a distortion was far too complex for him to grasp, nor did he care to do so in the first place. It was something he'd just have to experience firsthand, he had thought, and with the way things were heading, he wouldn't have to wait too much longer for an answer to that question.

Though...

His heavy gaze cast downward at her, a glint of concern hidden beneath his eyes. It didn't seem like she held the same solace he had. "People always exaggerate things, Illie," Felix murmured. Lifting his hand, he gingerly rested on her closest shoulder and gave it a comforting squeeze. "I doubt it's anything terrifying. "

illeana reyes

Concerned eyes remained tethered onto Illeana, carefully watching the shifting of her features as her mind drifted from one topic to the next. Times like these made Felix's simplistic outlook a real burden to carry. More than ever, he'd prefer to understand what went on behind those sparkling eyes of hers, and what laid hidden between the small spaces between her words.

Typically, such things were deemed unnecessary for the mercenary. But, after that night he had spent with mint frost, where he couldn't even begin to unravel the intricate details of his friend's emotional outpour, Felix grew more curious of the merit of actually peeling back the surface of someone's words. Especially when it came it Illeana.

A huff slipped from his lips. If only...

Illeana's curt stop was what Felix needed to return back to reality.

Repeated screeching beeps began to blare out from Barnaby and his entire body began to shift, stretching and contracting in the most bizarre ways. Each beep begged for his trainer's attention, in a way that screamed both urgency and importance. When Felix did look, he didn't just see the misshapen pokemon, but a new addition to their view: a large tear blackness, oozing at it ends. "..."

illeana reyes

Just as Illeana stepped closer to his side, Felix had already begun to shift slightly in front of her, allowing the woman to seek safety behind his right shoulder. The trickling of unease crept across his shoulders, feeling like a horde of spiders nestling into his skin. He ignored it, for the most part, as his determination to protect his companion outweighed the threats of danger.

The tear rippled and rivers of darkness began to pool out from it's mouth, contaminating the area around their feet. Felix tried kicking it's mist from his foot, but that only provoked the lifeless stream further, causing it curl tighter around his ankles.

"Illea-"

Thunder hissed overhead and the distortion pulled them in entirely, slurping up their bodies until they had teleported into another location. A location where a hoard of Ramparods had already begun rampaging towards them.

Barnaby, alongside the Golurk, had been quick to act. He accompanied the hammer arm with a spat of electric energy he had collected up (ZAP CANON), knocking out whatever leftover pokemon dared to inch closer.

Felix, on the other hand, had sprung into action in a similar way. But, rather than zapping out a canon worth of energy, the man had quickly released Gallade from his ball and directed him to keep on the defensive for them.

...All while keeping his right arm tightly wrapped around Illeana's back. Firm and protective, his arm had pulled the woman close to his chest, right against the drumming of his heart. When the coast was clear, he would look down and whisper into her hair, "We're okay now."

illeana reyes

The next shift in reality came with a rush of pressure.

Just as his arm began to loosen around her, the spatial pressure around them suddenly flared, pressing a heavy invisible force downward on their still tangled bodies. The sounds of draconic screeching rang in their ears, followed by a series of thunderous stomps.

Felix, whose arm was still tightened around Illeana's back, craned his head over hers to peer into the distorted environment around them, only to see a jumble of unfamiliar words and murals.

"Once there were four.
And one looked upon time's steady pace.
And one looked upon the expanse of space.
And one looked through its pane,
And one looked for disorder to maintain.
Only two did set out,
the fullness of future they did seek,
the world's far end would they greet."

He read out, slowly, in an almost possessed state. Beyond being splattered across their vision, this poem of words nearly felt projected into his mind, echoed out by a hollow, deep voice. When it finished, the pressure on their backs paused, and for a moment, they were given a chance to breathe.

"You okay," He asked, voice smothered in concern. Felix had separated their bodies enough to meet her eyes, and when her safety was confirmed, he smiled.

Until it begun again.

illeana reyes