Fern watches him as his face shifts with micro-expressions. As if his mind is whirring with several thoughts per second. Putting together puzzle pieces, though to what they aren’t too sure. But when it finally clicks, the bloom of petal pink across the bridge of his nose, seeping under his eyes and saturating his cheeks makes Fern laugh. Airy, and far from cruel. Amused. His hair is soft, they decide. It’s nice.[break][break]

Featherlight touch flits over his face and Fern stills, surprised as breath snags and flutters in his throat. Oh. He doesn’t dare move, but just as soon as it happens it’s over. Something clicks in jayden cross’s mind and he’s pulling away with sudden abruptness. Fern struggles to catch up, color erupting across his face belatedly as he remains crouched–trying to compose himself.[break][break]

They glance up, watching at a short distance as the other communicates with his dragapult. It’s then, in the wake of unexpected touch and the removal of it, that they first feel it–that pitiful, forlorn puppy-dog wanting. Bubbling up from underneath the guilt they feel to make an indiscernible something pitter-pat through their chest.[break][break]

Eventually Fern has to pull himself up again.[break][break]

Still feeling a bit shameful for all of the trouble caused, Fern avoids making a show of things as he typically does. Instead, while Jayden is distracted, he tries to urge the color to fade from his face. Though when the admin turns back toward him with the return of muddled, stormy plum, Fern can’t help the words that slip out, as if he didn’t fully realize he was speaking them aloud–[break][break]

“Ah, there you are.” Void of teasing, impossibly soft.[break][break]

They shake their head, dismissing the apology as a shoulder rises in a slight shrug. “I’m not mad with you for that. I’m a forger, disguise isn’t anything new. I’m the one who made a mess of things, anyway.”

[break][break]

+ jayden cross | mission | smh

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","jaytop"]

[attr="class","littlejay"]

color dusts across his cheeks at the other's teasing remarks, but jayden is beginning to learn that this is just who fern is. it's a strange thing indeed, that months of standing across a grocery store aisle, exchanging idle conversation, was in preparation for all of this.

[break][break] it's the other's words that sober him to the reality — they are on a mission, and despite jayden's own errors, there is a position at play here.

[break][break] still, his lips curve into a smile regardless. his brows arch. "a forger, huh, and the best name you could come up with was eeby deeby?" jayden shakes his head. he would have to go over fern delaney 's file once more, because if it was true, then perhaps there was a conversation to be had here.

[break][break] he clears his throat, face shuttering back into his admin status. "delaney, i expect a full report by the end of the day." his injured hangs at his side, with his other glancing briefly at his watch. "a week's worth of scutwork for the error, and i expect it not to happen again." his words are brief, his thoughts already catching up with him as he reminds himself of the rest of the day's schedule. as much as he would have liked to stay...

[break][break] "do you have a ride home? if not - i can arrange one for you."

[break][break] because despite the other's transgressions, they were still a rocket. and rockets took care of each other.

[break][break] they were family, after all.

[attr="class","ooc"] fern delaney

[break][break]

☉

jayden cross teases them. Them! Fern’s eyes widen, and a surprised squawk of laughter tumbles free. “Oof,” they say as they lift a hand to their chest, “I’ve been struck.”[break][break]

It’s not a genuinely offended tone they continue with, though their words are earnest. “I’ll have you know I’m capable of crafting believable aliases,” they huff, arms folding though their smile is still intact, “that ID was made as a joke. My work is quality.”[break][break]

The swerve back into formality is blunt, but expected. Still, Fern can help the pang of disappointment that shoots through them. It’s silly. Foolish, even. And so they box it up, and mask any traces of crestfallenness that threaten to show on his face. “Right, I’ll have that sent to you soon as I can sit down in my office…sir.” The formality tastes weird on his tongue.[break][break]

It’s not something they wish to disrespect, but they’re not sure they like it very much, either. “I won’t let you down.” Again.[break][break]

“Ah, no. That’s alright I can manage, I won’t inconvenience you any further,” they answer with a mild shake of their head. Their smile is rueful, still embarrassed. Fern isn’t one to henpeck, typically, unless it’s his companion pokemon. However, as he turns to slink away and lick the wounds of his mortification, he pauses.[break][break]

A hand lifts, then rests on jayden cross ’s arm, softly so. “Tend to the burn first, not work.” Their stare slants down to his hand, then drifts back up. “Take care, Michail.”[break][break]

Their touch is withdrawn, and then they retreat down the alleyway with impressive retreat speed.

[break][break]

+ jayden cross | mission | smh

[attr="class","pokeclass"]