[attr="class","jayden"] they'd been keeping an eye on him.

[break][break] team rocket was always looking for potential recruits. after all, with an organization as vast and deeply-threaded as rocket was, it was not a surprise they would keep tabs on those who struck an interest. Gerald Kaiser was one such person.

[break][break] jayden appears from seemingly nowhere, accompanied by his vaporeon and steps onto the path. there is glow of a chandelure behind him, burning it's bright blue flames.

[break][break] "you look like you need some help," he says simply.

[attr="class","noodles"] Gerald Kaiser

[attr="class","rules"]+ n/a[break]

[attr="class","pkmns"]

[attr="class","jayden"] he considers lying.

[break][break] "rocket."

[break][break] he decides against it. after all, there was no point in trying to get a loyal member under the constraints of pretense and deceit. at least — not now.

[break][break] jayden strides forwards, pinning his vibrant violet gaze on the other. he retrieves a handkerchief from his pocket, handing the cloth over to the brown-haired man. "here. you look like you need it."

[break][break]

[attr="class","noodles"] Gerald Kaiser

[attr="class","rules"]+ n/a[break]

[attr="class","pkmns"]

[attr="class","jayden"] hm. it seemed like he was going to be difficult.

[break][break] not that jayden minded any. he was trying to do this the nice way, the easy way, but if the other was determined to make it difficult, then difficult it would be. his head tilted, as the sound of police cars echoed in the distance.

[break][break] "i'm not sure if you're in the place to be declaring what rocket is or isn't concerned with." his hand lays outstretched, unwavering in it's offer.

[break][break] "i already told you. you look like you need some help — and rocket is here to help you. why not help others while we have the means to do so?" his head tilts.

[break][break]

[attr="class","noodles"] Gerald Kaiser

[attr="class","rules"]+ n/a[break]

[attr="class","pkmns"]

[attr="class","jayden"] at least he was smart. though, perhaps, rocket would have never had their eye on him if he wasn't.

[break][break] jayden smiles at the other as the offer is accepted, even though he had never doubted it once. after all, dangling a carrot in front of a starving man — there were very few alternatives. for jayden's perspective, he had never known anything else. one might say he was born in a bed of them.

[break][break] "whatever you need — food, shelter, power." his gaze flickers down towards the girl that Gerald Kaiser seemed to be clutching at him like a lifeline.

[break][break] "protection."

[break][break] that was the most obvious of choices, wasn't it?

[attr="class","noodles"] Gerald Kaiser

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[attr="class","pkmns"]

[attr="class","jayden"] a commendable reason, though not a particular novelty one. jayden is reminded of the millions of other rockets who are motivated to protect the people he loves. briefly, he thinks of bryan delarosa.

[break][break] "rockets protect their own," he says, easily as one may comment on the weather. yet, there is a blaze behind his gaze that cannot be quelled. "whether that means our new recruits, or are old ones. once you're in, you're in — "

[break][break] he pauses, head tilting at the sound of sirens in the distance.

[break][break] jayden offers a hand.

[break][break] "that is the contract."

[break][break] perhaps not so legally binding, but a contract all the same.

[break][break] "come with me. i'll give the details as we depart."

[attr="class","noodles"] Gerald Kaiser

[attr="class","rules"]+ n/a[break]

[attr="class","pkmns"]

[attr="class","jayden"] "stop right there!"

[break][break] before they can properly depart, it appears that it is too late. a car screeches into view, the bright red lights of the police siren flashing, as a man clambers out of the car. he seems rather young — perhaps a new recruit — as he and his poochyena glare at both men.

[break][break] "what's going on, officer?" jayden claims innocence - at least for now - as he walks over to stand by Gerald Kaiser.

[break][break] "arms up in the air. what are you two up to this late at night?"

[break][break]

[attr="class","noodles"] Gerald Kaiser

[attr="class","rules"]+ n/a[break]

[attr="class","pkmns"]

[attr="class","jayden"] briefly, his gaze flicks towards Gerald Kaiser.

[break][break] he notices the way the other tenses. it's lucky that in the darkness of the night, it's easy to disguise the blood stains on the other's clothes. even so, jayden steps just a little bit forward so that he can hide the bulk of it from the officer, should the flashing lights catch upon the fabric.

[break][break] "just going for a walk. is something amiss, officer?"

[break][break] "hands up in the air!" the man barked — and then did something he really, really shouldn't have.

[break][break] when both boys didn't comply, he aimed a gun. he fired.

[break][break] how foolish.

[break][break] inferno flames spiral towards the officer nearly the instant that he does, heat and fire and the smell of burning skin filling the air. a set of SMOG is enough to serve as their cover. "come on," jayden hisses to Gerald Kaiser, grabbing his hand and immediately bolting deeper into the wood. his chandelure would be fine on it's own.

[break][break] when they are far enough way, that the sirens are but a dull echo in the distance, jayden pauses. his breathing overlaps — but what is much more concerning, is the ripped fabric on his right shoulder. it pools with blood. fortunately, however, the bullet only grazed him. it didn't hit anything impactful.

[break][break] still hurt, though.

[break][break] jayden glances at the other. "are you alright?"

[attr="class","noodles"] Gerald Kaiser

[attr="class","rules"]+ n/a[break]

[attr="class","pkmns"]