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it is only when he is sure that everything is stable enough on fern delaney's end that he even allows himself to leave his home, even though the burden of leaving them never quite unsettles in his chest. but mint frost is there to take care of them, and there are things he must do for rocket that he can no longer ignore.

[break][break] however upon dewford's shores, he witnisses a figure that he did not think he would see.

[break][break] one that he had not seen in many years.

[break][break] "nikkari?"

[break][break] he stands opposite his childhood friend, the rifts floating ominously between them.

[break]

there are rifts that show you visions of the deceased. some say they are the deceased. somewhere, in the back of his brain, he vaguely remembers reading about an ex-champion come back to life. so he's uncertain, as he looks at jayden's form, until the other looks just as uncertain. 

the rift ripples.

"long time, no see, old friend," he says. he pauses. "i've found myself stranded here after a job went south. have a moment to chat?"

jayden cross

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was jayden deceased?

[break][break] it would have been much easier, if that were the case. if his father and brother had survived the battle and he hadn't. would rocket have not been so much better off?

[break][break] "long time no see," he agreed.

[break][break] violet eyes flicker with surprise at nikkari hect's proposition.

[break][break] "i suppose. is this where you want to chat?"

[break][break] his tone was doubtful.

he doesn't know what to think of the rift or what might lurk just on the other side. it's probably safer to give it some distance. jayden's doubt only reinforces this idea. 

still, the area surrounding them is fairly deserted, probably due in large part to the rift. he'd rather no keen ears or prying eyes. 

"some ways away? i'd rather not have my back to this thing," he says with a sweeping motion of his hand. "how are you? better off than you would have been in galar, surely." his smile is thin-lipped. 

jayden cross

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"okay."

[break][break] walking parallel to the rifts, jayden eventually leads them away towards a place that is separate enough from the rifts to not cause unnecessary damage but also far enough away from the budding town that it is away from prying ears and eyes. behind him, the curious gaze of one of his gastly resurface in shadow, peering at the other man.

[break][break] "better off," he agrees. "but still the same."

[break][break] a pause, before he adds:

[break][break] "the organization treats me well."

[break][break] i'm back home. where i belong.

[break][break] "what brings you to hoenn? i'll admit - i didn't think i'd see you here."

it's as much as he can hope for from an old friend. nikkari is wary, though, as jayden likely is. in their line of work, people are known to change. usually not for the better. some of his old contacts, defects brought into the light, are now six feet under. kanto's influence stretches even into galar. 

'the organization treats me well.' good. nikkari relaxes somewhat. his sentiments are returned in pale eyes, the smoothing of the creases around his eyes. 

"i was overseeing a shipment of goods into harbour. we were attacked by a vigilante. i think. he may have just been a deranged idiot looking for violence." he shrugs. "i've found myself stranded, but from the reports i'm hearing, there's not much to go back to."

he taps his chin. "i find myself in the curious position of returning home, a big fish in a now-small pond or a nobody grasping at straws for opportunity."

his eyes are alight with amusement. years have lapsed, but by the curl of his lips, the timbre of his voice, his old friend would know what calls to him. 

jayden cross

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his lips presses into a frown.

[break][break] "that's not good."

[break][break] he glances over nikkari hect once more, as if he is suddenly wary. as if he is wondering if this form of his old friend is a mirage set to disappear. however, upon a onceover, he comes to the conclusion that there are no fatal wounds on his friend's person, and that the other's words are very much genuine.

[break][break] "you are not a nobody, nikkari," he says, his mouth finally curving into a smile. "you are my friend."

[break][break] a pause.

[break][break] "and there is a home here, if you ever require one."

[break][break] "you need only ask."

[break]

he's been accused once or twice of having his head in the clouds, but he's flesh and bone before jayden. no mirage would conjure him now. and yet there is a tickling at the back of his mind as the portal's shape warbles, beckoning. 

"no, it's not," he says and the conversation is snapped shut, a neat little bow stretched over it. 

he throws an arm over jayden's shoulder. years fall away between them; nikkari demands they do. and with a smile, gold eyes glittering, he looks out over dewford town's waters and thinks, perhaps i should. 

"then allow me to formally ask." 

jayden cross

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he flinches slightly as the arm is thrown over him, feeling awkward at the close proxity. however, he does not turn away, because it is nikkari hect after all.

[break][break] violet eyes flick upwards towards him.

[break][break] "ask."

[break]

this will change everything. he's been in rocket long enough to know that there's no coming back from this. you sign a deal and you sign in blood. but there's a new life here, a new beginning. new opportunity. 

"mind if i stick around and work for you, mr. cross?" 

jayden cross

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the rifts may have been reason to cause wariness or alarm, but this time, when jayden looks at nikkari hect, the fondness is genuine.

[break][break] "of course."

[break][break] "i would be glad to work alongside you again, kari."