Eeling their way through the abysmal security measures was no issue at all. If anything, it came second nature to the two men, who'd spent the better part of the recent years rummaging through the shadows.

Felix had already sent out his Gallade and Dragapult to maintain watch of the outer ring of the bunker; if there were to be any unexpected visitors, he wanted to be prepared. Readied in the he hadn't been with Ashley Shepard.

"Nothing of interest."

Whoever owned this hunk of steel certainly held plans of bringing his work home with him, should the region fall ill to the Meteor's trajectory, as instead of the typical rations and generators one would find in one of these, he'd chosen to decorate his space with pieces that better suited an office than an underground bunker. Metal cabinets, a desk, filing cabinets, stuffed binders. It made him wonder whether the bunker's original reason for creation was truly tied what they'd previously called doomsday.

"Here."

Releasing his KLEFKI out from it's pokeball, the steel and fairy type was immediately directed to pick the lock. And it did. With it's long, moldable key hands, it glued itself to the cabinet's forefront and began jiggling itself into the keyhole, morphing it's metal until a crisp CLICK could be heard.

BARNABY FINCH

Powerlessness was a bitter feeling. One that never tasted any sweeter, especially now, after years of escaping its touch. The cold metal of the pistole's muzzle not only stripped Felix of his power but his ability to defend. Barnaby was just as in danger as him, and there was nothing he could do about it.

Wide-eyed, he looked back at the other admin, speaking through his tight-lipped expression.

'I trust you'

Because, they both knew if it'd been left to Felix, the trigger would've been pulled almost instantaneously.

"Then wh-why are you here, huh?!"

BARNABY FINCH

A flurry of movement blurred the world in a whirl of color. In one second there was only vacant darkness, then the next, struggle. A fight for survival. By the time Felix could react to anything, Barnaby had already kicked into gear, lunching at the man who held the admin's life behind a single trigger.

There was fighting, grunts, and yelps of pain, but in the end, it was all silenced by one singular bang.

Blood soon followed its melody, pooling all around.

Felix didn't hesitate - he reached out for his partner, immediately pulling him off from the other, eyes widening with an unknown rush of racing fear.

It'd been years since they'd shared that kiss beneath the twinkling stars of Remiel Calcifet 's mansion, and yet, in this moment of blanket cruelty, those spanning years felt like seconds. Seconds that burned into his chest, filling it up with a raging ball of heat; heat that festered and reached and stung.

He has to be okay, he told himself, there's no way...

"Barnaby," his deep voice bellowed out, uncertainty rising between each word, "are you okay?"

BARNABY FINCH

The confirmation drew a sigh of heartfelt relief.

"Good."

Still, the admin's worried eyes gave him one last check. One last measure to ensure no stray bullets marked his skin, nor dangers puncture his organs. Once satisfied, he finally pulled himself back, his expression returning to the natural stoicism Felix was known for.
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Only, a glimmer of gentleness still shined its way through. It was faint, almost indistinguishable between his frown and thickly furrowed eyebrows, but it was there, brightened by the glossy sheen that coated his eyes.

"I'm alright," he returned. "Sorry. I should've seen him coming."

'I should've been the one to protect you.'

BARNABY FINCH