He thought this part of his life was over. A call from an unfamiliar number in the night rouses him from dreams of another man’s life. Reaching for a gun that isn’t there, he sees he is in his own bed under a white roof. There is no purple sky above him, no boundless constellations showing what might be and what once was long ago.[break][break]
It’s another crime scene. It’s bloody. Mysterious. They should have gotten someone else. He’s a terrible detective. Nikita Sokolov would’ve solved the case. All he can do is follow the scent and come to the same conclusion every other man at the scene could with time: Chu-E is gone. They’re likely not dead, but the trail has gone cold.[break][break]
Running this in his mind, he reads over the file. The deeper mysteries of this night don’t matter to him. Nothing matters to him tonight.[break][break]
Nothing except one person.[break][break]
He remembers being sixteen, a young dumb kid with metal in his face. He remembers people who didn’t truly care telling him that his life was going to change forever. Eris needs him more than this investigation needs him.[break][break]
In the absence of Kingsman and anyone else that knows the girl, Navy volunteers. He’ll be the one to break the news to her. He’ll endure this night alongside her, for she can’t spend it alone.[break][break]
Shuwen walks into the room with him. The bear nods at Reiner before taking a seat on the floor. In truth, he doesn’t know why Navy picked him to come.[break][break]
“Hey, Eris.” Navy says, studying her as he smiles. He has to see how she’s doing before he dives off the deep end. “Can I get you anything?”

[break][break]

+ Eris Halla

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

“He’s alive.” Navy promises her. He hopes in vain that it will soften the blow which must soon follow. It won’t. The world isn’t that kind.[break][break]
“But we don’t know where he is. We’ve got people looking for him. We will ‘round the clock. I promise you.” He places his hand over his chest. “If here’s still in Hoenn. Heck, if he’s ran off somewhere far away like Orre, I’ll find him.”[break][break]
It’s proper to say we’ll find him. They’re both on the side of the angels know. Dyed in the wool Leaguers. It’s too impersonal.

[break][break]

+ Eris Halla

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

It’s habit that makes him study her. Navy tries not to. It’s impolite to stare. It’s impolite to intrude upon someone’s private moments of grief, but he much prefers the thought of being here to leaving her alone. She has Reiner, and that’s comforting, but he wants her to know that she has someone besides him. Everyone needs someone. He has Tsubaki, Melody, Kyle, countless people he can rely on if he needs someone…[break][break]
He wonders who she has, especially now that this person she clearly cares about is gone. That’s a tale he knows too well. He remembers being an idiot, running the roads when he was too young to drive. He remembers the feeling of steel in his face and mirth on his lips. The party would end, he’d go home. Home was never an inviting place. There was nothing normal waiting for him in the walls of the apartment his father could barely afford.[break][break]
So, he knows. He knows something of her pain. The only difference is that when he was sitting where she is now, he felt relief.[break][break]
“I’m sorry, Eris.” He says, something he seems to say a lot to her. “I’m really sorry. I…I’m here for you.”

[break][break]

+ Eris Halla

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Sadness this deep spills over. No matter how much she tries to bottle it up, a man like this can’t help but feel the pain and the grief. Looking at her, he gets the sense that they would both rather be somewhere else. Somewhere far away, with other people.[break][break]
The world isn’t so kind. This is the world they have, not the ideal world of fairy tales. They’re caught in this moment. Too many times, with Gabe, he pulled his punches. Babied him. Didn’t let him hurt when he needed to be hurt. So, he asks a question that he knows will hurt. He asks it gently, slow. Understanding, but firm.[break][break]
“What if he doesn’t?”

[break][break]

+ Eris Halla

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

All he knows about Chu-E is what the files tell him. It tells him enough. He won’t be the one to make sweeping deductions. It’s not his place to put forth theories. All he can do is prepare her for what’s to come and pray that she can find the strength to fight this battle. He can’t fight it for her. There are tribunals in each life where one’s whole being is put under fire. No one can stand in their defense. They must raise their own voice and live with what happens next.[break][break]
Chu-E will be that for Eris. All he can do is mentally prepare her for the battle. So, he speaks again. Shuwen watches the proceedings with quiet dignity.[break][break]
“Sure. You can find anything.” He believes that. She can seemingly appear anywhere with a clue. Insert herself into anything. Make a wonderful caper out of a normal day.[break][break]
“What if he’s where he wants to be?”

[break][break]

+ Eris Halla

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

“No, Eris.” That much he knows for sure. “You’re not a bad kid. Sometimes, people just…do really stupid things.” And oh how bad decisions compound and compound upon themselves.[break][break]
“I can’t say what he wants…but I think you should find that out for yourself. Don’t assume anything until you hear it from him.” He advises her. Again, Shuwen studies Navy while he talks. “You’ll find him.”[break][break]
There are vipers waiting outside this room. People waiting to question her. Beneath the sugary sweet veneer of Dahlia Goode’s league lies the harsh, bitter taste of Fernando Silph’s leadership. Likely, this room itself is bugged. He’ll stay here as long as he needs. He’ll fight them off one by one to buy her time she needs to grieve, process, and find the resolve to move forward.[break][break]

[break][break]

+ Eris Halla

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

She’s quiet. Lost in her own thoughts. Navy sighs and resolves to tell her something. He says what he wishes someone had told Gabe and him, at different times in their lives.[break][break]
“Eris,” he starts, to pull her from her thoughts, “I can’t tell you what to do. It seems like that’s all anyone ever does with you. Tell you how to think. Tell you what to do. All I can say is…you’re going to have to figure out what to do from here. I’m here for you. I support you, no matter what. Whatever you decide to do, I’ve got your back. When I was sitting where you’re sitting, I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t the next day. But…if you can just get through this shitty night, you’ll figure it out.” He gives her a faint smile.[break][break]

[break][break] Eris Halla

+

[attr="class","pokeclass"]