She hated the word 'stalking'. Truly, she did. But that was what she had been doing to her mysterious savior for the entirety of three weeks. Ever since he had saved her and all but invited her to stay on his ranch with him. There was something about Thomas Benoit that was both enthralling but dangerous, and they all knew that Andraste never ran away from the danger. She put herself at the forefront of it.

That meant figuring out just who Thomas really was... and all of his secrets.

Andraste hadn't trusted the words out of his mouth when he had played off not being the Phantom. Not a single one. She'd accepted it on the surface, but really, all she had done was bide her time until she was properly healed before she started noting all of his movements.

Today, they had brought him down into this cavern with the lake at its depths. She was stealthy; catlike, and he wasn't getting away from her this time. There was no more evasion, only answers.

Ena at her side, the Espeon carefully blocked the pathway that was both exit and entrance. Leaning into the arch of the cave wall, Andraste fixed her gaze on Thomas from the bits of shadow peppered about the cave. Her voice carried, giving the impression that she could have been anywhere around the surface of the lake. "I want some actual answers, Thomas," she said, "Because everything in this place just screams that you're the Phantom... at least to someone with a trained eye and a perception for the hidden."

Thomas Benoit

Ena shifted at her side, still using the stealth of the shadows to keep mostly out of sight. Andraste knew that she was being followed. Watched. The Zoroark that was a near constant figure in the corner of her eye was not as unobvious as he was trying to be. Ena's senses also weren't something to scoff at, and Andraste could tell when Ena knew the Pokemon was around. It left one feeling both welcome and unwelcome... and she was not sure how she was supposed to take all of it.

Eyeing Thomas from where she settled into the shadows, she skirted slowly through them, watching his every move. Of course, she was armed. She wouldn't dare corner someone dangerous like this without keeping herself safe. The Phantom was a fan of that shotgun, and with his choice of Pokemon about, Andraste couldn't put it past him to have it within hands reach at any second. All it took was a good teleport... Or a Pokemon that could meld into shadows.

"Locked doors. Parts of these tunnels that are completely blocked off in unnatural ways..." Andraste said, violet gaze assessing her opponent. "You left a few days back in the dead of night and took your more... dangerous Pokemon with you. Like the Zoroark that has been trailing my every move since you brought me here," she continued, pausing and reaching a hand casually back against the gun slipped into the back of her trousers. "Training your Pokemon in fatal tactics that only someone hellbent on causing catastrophe would dare teach, including how to take out whole structures."

"I also know that blood smells like. Call it a gift." It was hard not to when your military career was covert black ops and your assignments were never one would find on paper or in a computer system.

Thomas Benoit

- Christmas Advent: used the word 'gift'

Ena went on the defensive as soon as the Zoroark revealed herself, snarling a sharp warning. The gem on her forehead started to glow, the Pokemon's eyes never leaving her would-be opponent. Andraste didn't stop her, glad for the distance between herself and Thomas' shadow. However, it put her closer to Thomas and she wasn't sure that was something she wanted either...

The darkness in his voice was enough to send a bit of a thrill up her spine, but it wasn't fear. It was challenge. The question on her mind was whether he had wanted her to figure it out or not. Was this all purposeful? Had he hoped she would? To what end? Why?

"Why else would your hoard of Audinos be trained in trauma care..." she said slowly, taking a few more steps toward him, still piecing things together. "Why shouldn't I take this to the League?" Andraste asked, being honest in her questioning. Did he want her to? Or was he baiting her? It was hard to tell.

She reached her hand back to the gun tucked into the back of her pants, wrapping her fingers around the grip slowly.

Thomas Benoit

Lifting a perfect eyebrow, Andraste watched Thomas turn as he spoke. True, the League was generally ineffective in pretty much everything that they did in Hoenn. Especially at keeping people safe and taking care of big problems... like team Rocket. He was right, and she wasn't going to argue those points. What would be the use in doing so?

His warning was expected, but she reached for the gun anyway, starting to pull it out. Andraste started to lift the gun to inspect it, still watching Thomas carefully. "The League is good for few things... but I'm not sure they'd let a singular man go," she noted absently. "Little fish are easy to take care of in the end," she'd done her fair share of jobs like that. "And you are a little fish, Thomas."

Thomas Benoit

Andraste scoffed a little. It was no real benefit to her because the League was entirely useless in her book. They couldn't really do anything right, but she was forced to seem like she supported them. For propriety sake. And for the sake of her father, who was no doubt still feeling the same grief that she was over the death of her mother and brother.

Thomas grabbing the gun from her was no surprise. In fact, she allowed it, not moving from where she stood. "I was going to put it down, but that works," she said, observing the multiple pieces scattered in different directions. Lifting an eyebrow, Andraste crossed her arms against her chest, observing him carefully.

"It doesn't serve me at all," she countered, "You're strong, but you've also been reckless about all of this," she said, "What made you think I wouldn't figure you out, Thomas?"

Thomas Benoit