“F-Four?!” He chokes on his coffee. “Nevermind the egos of your elite four, balancing out the egos of four gods sounds like a bigger chore.” He can’t even imagine having one in his corner…[break][break]
Which, he thinks, is what Kyle’s getting at. If he involves himself in these affairs, it will happen, eventually. Navy can’t begin to think of which one would want someone like him. To him, that power seems a poisoned chalice. Navy remembers the slacker that could be bribed with ice cream. He knows well the story of that man being blessed with the powers of a god.[break][break]
Quietly, he wonders: was it that drive to be involved that drew the god’s eye, or did the god’s eye drive him to be further involved? Navy suspects the truth is somewhere in the middle.[break][break]
“I sort of hope that doesn’t ever happen to me.” Navy admits. “But you don’t always get the choice to say no, do ya? Who’s the fourth? Big bird and Entei I know about. Think I’ve heard something about the third. Some detective I am.” He adds with a laugh.

[break][break]

+ kyle lopez

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

“A kid.” Navy’s voice softens at that notion. Children have always been a soft spot of his. Women and children. The innocent so often violently swept up in the storm that is this region. “Man…I need to remember to not ask questions so much.” It’s how he’s survived for so long, staying out of the loop while being friends with the eye of the hurricane.[break][break]
“But I guess it’s hard to do that after Dewford. Seeing what Rocket’s capable of…I wonder if Gabe had the same thoughts before, you know…” Before some Rocket, maybe someone important, maybe not, cut him down.[break][break]
“Met the guy who has Big Bird’s sister. Nearly did me in, too.”[break][break]
Navy wishes he could say that he was a stronger man. He wishes, knowing how many legends Kyle consorts with, that he wasn’t momentarily tempted to ask Kyle if he could have custody of one of those legends – or at least make the attempt. He simply lets the moment pass. If he wants to look this man in the eye, he can’t follow his lead. He has to find his own way.[break][break]
Champions aren’t the sort of people who chase others’ dreams.[break][break]
“Frankly, it’s a miracle Rocket’s only taken over Sootopolis if they have guys like Cillian Quinn running the show.” Navy’s no idiot. He looked the man up. He knew him by another name in the databases before Dewford – Gavin.[break][break]

[break][break]

+ kyle lopez

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

He speaks with the severity of a general pacing the ramparts when he speaks.[break][break]
…are you just dying to join the open forums concerning that topic once you get to be gym leader?[break][break]
“I’m dying to win.” His voice is decisive in a way it wasn’t before Dewford, before a Meteor hanged in the sky. Even when Hoenn was invaded by monsters from another world, when heroes bounded through cyberspace, when grand tournaments were held and small triumphs were celebrated, he stood off to the side. He smiled. He prepared another for the day they would join this tale.[break][break]
That person is gone, and he can’t stay on the sidelines any longer. That’s the moral of the story. The message left on the final page of a story still being written.[break][break]
“That’s what I like about you, Kyle. You’re so calm. It doesn’t get to you. Being real, I envy that about you.” He’s not afraid to admit that. “Even if it’s personal for you, you don’t fight with hate in your heart. Big bird was onto something when he picked you, even if you didn’t have a choice. There’s a heart of gold in there.”[break][break]
A grin. No detective worth his salt doesn’t know how cheesy that sounds. The grin adds brevity to his tone as he moves on to that final bit of intel.[break][break]
“Countin’ on you to help me with somethin’. When the grudge match kicks up, let’s make sure no civvies or dumb grunts get caught in the crossfire. Half the Rockets I fought down in Dewford didn’t know what the hell they were fighting for anymore than I did.”[break][break]
There’s something unvoiced. He thumbs the edge of a certain ultra ball subconsciously. He’s begging him with that smile, and he doesn’t even know it.[break][break]
Please help me keep the black dragon locked up.[break][break]
The creature he needs. His strongest Pokemon. Something that truly understands him. Understands he needs to fight, that he needs to fight with purpose. Something that sows discord wherever it goes.[break][break]
His strongest weapon, and something it will take him years yet to truly master. A beast that understands war.

[break][break]

+ kyle lopez

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

He’s seen firsthand this man’s fury. Every time he recalls those idiots that tried to jump them in Sootopolis, Navy hopes they rethought their lives. Even riding high off a victory, they got sent running. But all the same…[break][break]
It just feels wrong, fighting when so many people on both sides don’t even understand what’s going on. Councilwoman Levy talked about how he could use this to make a difference. Educating his side is how he hopes to make that difference.[break][break]
“Maybe, but it’ll be good knowing you’ve got my back. Feeling’s mutual, by the way.” He’s about half a tongue click away from adding a sincere not like you need it before holding back the words. Everyone, no matter how seemingly invincible, needs someone to watch your back. Sure, Big Bird’s there to keep Kyle out of the morgue, but Navy wants to save him the effort.[break][break]
“I guess if there’s one thing I’ll give Rocket…at least they make you go out of your way to show you want in. Ain’t no such thing as halfway crooks.” But there’s no point in being all doom and gloom all day.[break][break]
“Alright, let’s not talk in circles. We’ve got a whole kennel of dogs to clean. Two guys can get it done faster than one, and Hattori’s water gun can clean the grime off an Urshifu’s fist.” Finishing off the coffee, he stands up, having volunteered to help clean the pack lurking outside. Kyle sure wasn’t lying about one thing, the League’s newest gym leader has a killer work ethic.

[break][break]

+ kyle lopez

[attr="class","pokeclass"]