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Seamus had heard of Petalburg City's famous hot springs and had even promised Vivienne they would take a trip one day to enjoy them, but that was when they'd been younger, without the means to actually make the journey. Now that the hot springs were within reach, the dream seemed like one that wouldn't actually come to pass.[break][break]

The very thought made Seamus want to do nothing except sit in Vivienne's hospital room until she woke up, but strict visiting hours meant he had to find something to do with his spare time. He'd recently gotten in touch with Team Rocket for some work, but they didn't always need him.[break][break]

So that's how he found himself at a Petalburg City bathhouse at last, scrubbing the dirt off his body in the men's shower room. An advertisement for the bathhouse promised that the natural spring would heal not only his body's aches but also his soul's.[break][break]

It was ludicrous, but he was bored and had nothing better to do.[break][break]

After rinsing off the soap and putting on a pair of flimsy cotton shorts — the bath was co-ed, apparently — Seamus made his way down the small stone path to the pool. The bathhouse itself was built around three natural springs, which were open to the night sky above. The smallest hot spring had some privacy due to a decoration of stones and shrubbery, while the larger two pools accommodated larger crowds.[break][break]

As he was not a people person, Seamus avoided the larger baths and their occupants — a few elderly people, as well as a group of older teens — and made his way to the smallest one. He removed his flip flops and eased himself into the water that was almost hot enough to scald.[break][break]

It felt amazing. Though his body tensed at first, the heat soon seeped into his muscles, and he felt himself relax little by little. He found a rocky bit of wall to sit against and leaned back, content.[break][break]

Only then did Seamus realize he was not alone in that small bath. The shock of white hair put up into a bun was familiar, and so was the startled face of the woman sitting only a few feet from him. She wore a cotton dress that the bathhouse provided, though as a strapless garment, it exposed her creamy neck, delicate décolletage, and slender shoulders.[break][break]

Seamus cleared his throat, alarmed by Isolde's presence and the strength of his reaction toward her. "Issy," he said, momentarily at a loss for words. "I didn't see you there. Did you want to be alone? I can leave."[break][break]

He shifted in his seat, ready to exit the pool if she said yes, but part of him — a gnawing, thrashing part of him — didn't want to leave.

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