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[attr="class","textbox"]It turned out, getting along had its perks. Who knew?[break][break]

For his heroic endeavors on the resurfaced island, Isaac had gotten some proper notice from the League. If there was any doubt as to his allegiance, he'd certainly been putting up some solid arguments against it. It didn't earn him full freedom from scrutiny, but it brought him some much-needed wiggle room.[break][break]

What better use for that wiggle room than living up to an old promise? Genny was gearing up for a trip to a winter wonderland, and it would've been such a shame if she had to spend that trip by herself. Besides, it was a trip for rangers! With her seniority, and his recent induction, this was a valuable and 100% business focused chance to show him the ropes.[break][brak]

Yeah, no. They spent the whole time slacking off in a winter wonderland. But who was keeping track?[break][break]

There was always a sadness somewhere in Genny's eyes, but Isaac never dwelled on it much. Instead, he gave her chance after chance to sweep him off his feet instead. There was no time to be sad when they were too busy bouncing from activity to activity. Showing him Circhester's finest restaurants, teaching him a thing or two on the slopes, even just enjoying the winter wonderland together. His optimism fueled hers, and her warmth made this trip shine.[break][break]

Unfortunately, no sunny smile could melt the biggest snow to hit Circhester in decades. Was it because of Kyurem's descent a year ago? Or was it just a twist of fate? He couldn't say. All he knew was that, at least in theory, it was freezing out. Ever since Suicune, the thermometer was the only gauge that worked for him. The only other way he could tell was shoving his face right into the snow.[break][break]

u got that right -shivering totodile emoji-
hol up[break][break]

Were Genny to "hol up", she'd soon find a knock at her door. On the other side was Isaac, carrying as many blankets and pillows as his now-broad shoulders could manage. Finally, someone had brought over something hot and comfortable for Genny. Also, blankets. "Had a feeling you were gonna need some reinforcements," he said, shooting her a cheeky smile. "Mind if I join ya?"

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[attr="class","textbox"]The amused smirk Isaac planned on greeting Genny with was wiped off his face the second she opened the door. Who knew a pair of comfy striped pajamas could look so great? They matched her eyes, which Isaac was doing his damn best to look at so he wouldn't be distracted by all the other parts of her they flattered-[break][break]

Luckily for Genny, in his own focus, he missed the nerves in her own smile. The two were shielded from their own insecurities.[break][break]

Luckily, her invitation paved the way. Isaac eased his way in, doing that little half-squat, half-turn to make sure he could squeeze all the blankets through the doorframe with him. Sheesh, did he ransack his whole hotel room looking for all those? Maybe it was for the best. With how frigid the room was, every bit of softness and warmth he could get his hands on counted.[break][break]

Or maybe he'd done a little too much? Genny was sweating, and Isaac was pretty sure his mere presence wasn't enough to overheat her like that. She also kept stealing little glances towards the other side of the room. Wait, was she looking at her bed? Why? Was she worried about how many of the blankets would actually fit? "Ah, don't sweat it. There's plenty of room," he reassured her.[break][break]

He plopped those blankets right down on the bed without a shred of irony. "See? Only a little bit of overhang." Oh, no. He actually sounded proud of himself. Poor Genny was going to have to buckle up for a ride tonight, and apparently not that kind. "Little bit of elbow grease, and we'll have this winter's ass kicked in no time."[break][break]

"Shame, though. 'Til the storm, this might've been the nicest winter I've ever had."

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[attr="class","textbox"]Huh. Not the usual request, but hey. Isaac wasn't gonna sweat it. Instead, he slipped onto Genny's bed, pleasantly surprised by how soft and warm it was. Did she even need all those extra blankets? Okay, yeah. With how cold it was, she did. But at least the beds on this resort weren't any slouches.[break][break]

Not that he needed to think about that. Especially not when he felt Genny nestling against him.[break][break]

It was just her back, it turned out, much to a mix of relief and disappointment. It was an unusual seating arrangement for an unusual request, and at first Isaac wasn't sure quite how comfortable it would be. However, the warmth of her body, the ticklish feeling of her hair on his shoulder, and the gentle pressure as they used each other as backrests proved to be a surprisingly nice feeling.[break][break]

All this was leading up to a game, an unusual choice for this increasingly unusual request. Playing a game like this without even facing each other . . . Isaac wasn't exactly a high school gossip, but he was pretty sure half the point was getting a load of the look on each others' faces as they struggled for the truth or worked through whatever dare was thrown their way. Would it feel the same while turning a blind eye to it?[break][break]

Eh. He trusted Genny. Even if it was just an excuse to sit here like this, he sure as heck wasn't complaining.[break][break]

"Sounds like a plan to me," he said, grinning even though he knew Genny couldn't see it. "So how 'bout we kick things off with a Dare?" It was ladies first, and that meant Genny would get to hide behind the role of game-maker while Isaac had to do anything, and everything, she asked him to do.[break][break]

If only she was the type to go mad with power.

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[attr="class","textbox"]With his back turned to Genny, he didn't notice the tremble in her hand. By the time he was close enough for that, his was already securely wrapped around hers. For now, it was palm-on-palm, his fingers softly nestled along the curve of her hand. He didn't dare risk intertwining them yet. Not until he knew just what kind of handholding she had in mind.[break][break]

That said, if she were to try tucking hers between his, he would gladly join her.[break][break]

Would it ease the nerves in Genny's hand to have it so softly, caringly held? Or would that same warmth and tenderness just kick her nerves into overdrive? Perhaps, if they did continue to shake, Isaac would find himself idly stroking the length of her hand with his thumb to try and help ease her nerves.[break][break]

It would be but an idle reaction. Genny had chosen truth, and something told Isaac that this was what Genny had been looking for in the first place. Was that what this was? Some thinly veiled excuse to get him along so they could talk? Or were there specific questions dancing on the tip of her tongue, ones she could hardly wait to bring to light?[break][break]

"Are you happy?"[break][break]

She wasn't the only one with something she was desperate to know.

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[attr="class","textbox"]As her fingers tease at the fringes of his hands, and her words tease at the fringes of his mind and heart, Isaac finds himself lost for words. In truth, he had a million and one he wished he could say, but that would be breaking the rules, wouldn't it? Instead, he let his actions suffice. His fingers interlocked with hers, giving her hand a protective squeeze.[break][break]

Less noticeable, yet equally important, was the way he scooted back to match her retreat. With his back gently resting against hers, the message he wished he could say with his words was loud and clear. I'm with you. It's okay.[break][break]

With each shaky breath Genny took, his thumb ran across her own. It was a quiet, steady rhythm, almost unnoticeable if she didn't think to look for it. Nevertheless, it was there, every bit as constant as the pounding of her own heart.[break][break]

"Truth." Because it wouldn't be fair to make Genny be the only one to bear her heart after such a difficult question. How were they supposed to go from that to making Isaac eat worms or do a backflip or some goofy crud like that? If there was a time for dares to take the center stage again, this wasn't it.[break][break]

Right now, the world was their stage, and the theater was empty.

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[attr="class","textbox"]Arceus. What wasn't Isaac thinking of right now?[break][break]

The poor guy had told himself, once he'd made it out of Rocket's clutches, he'd start taking time to heal. He tried! He really did! But trying and actually doing were sometimes two very different things. The home he'd hoped to turn into a getaway was still under construction. His "time off" was now spent gearing up to join AQUA. And that wasn't even getting into the Pressure his bond with Suicune put on him.[break][break]

If he started talking about everything weighing on him, a part of him feared he'd never stop. A part of him never came back from Cillian Quinn killing him. Fuck, a part of him never came back from Maldacena killing him a year and a half ago. His path was a patchwork quilt of struggles and scars, each step more hard-fought than the last. He always bounced back, but at what cost?[break][break]

Yet, for all that lingered behind, Isaac never stopped moving forward. He never stopped turning an eye towards the future, because to let his past define him meant that he'd lost and the scars won. In this moment in time, all those thoughts swirling around in his mind didn't mean a damn thing.[break][break]

All that mattered was the hand intertwined with his own.[break][break]

"There's a lot I'm thinking of," Isaac admitted, voice soft. "But right now? I'm still kinda stuck on what you said back there. I mean, I get it. You don't gotta be happy all the time. Arceus knows how hard it is. But . . . " As if on reflex, his fingers tightened around Genny's ever so slightly.[break][break]

"I just wish I could make you smile."[break][break]

He laughed a little, part from nerves and part from how silly of a wish it was. He knew they both had way bigger problems than a smile here or there. "But I guess seeing your face would break the rules, huh? So if I manage to sneak one out of you, I'll just have to take your word for it."

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[attr="class","textbox"]Isaac didn't think Genny would actually be stubborn about some imaginary rules to an imaginary game. If anything, he expected her to peek over her shoulder and flash him a coy little smile. When instead, she walked a little lap around the bed, he wondered just what was going on upstairs.[break][break]

Maybe it wasn't upstairs he should have worried about. The girl's eyes, always the color of fire, now matched its intensity. He found himself drawn into them, not even noticing the slight change in the bed's pressure as she climbed onto it. Much more noticeable was the sudden softness and warmth as she climbed right into his lap. His face lit up, a blush that spread all the way down to his neck as her arms loosely wrapped around it.[break][break]

"Hey," he answered, the smoothness he'd hoped to be facing her with being shaken by nerves on one side and excitement on the other. His smile was practically ear to ear. His heart pounded in his chest. If he was having trouble thinking of anything but Genny before, she'd just made it so, so much harder for him.[break][break]

Her hot, heavy breaths . . . the aroma of her perfume . . . the intensity in those fiery eyes . . . the softness of her body against him, separated only by a layer of pajamas leaving just enough to the imagination. Arceus, Genny was always a looker, but this was something else. From her unkempt, just-woken-up look, to the soft light from the snow-covered windows framing her, she looked downright radiant.[break][break]

And she wasn't just some random, radiant woman. She was Genny. The kind, caring ranger who always went out of her way to find the good in others, even after she lost her smile. The fighter who only grew stronger after she broke, now making her mark on the gym circuit with an early, dazzling performance. The friend who found him time and time again, sharing festivals and holidays he had been fully prepared to spend alone.[break][break]

If there was anyone Isaac could have asked to share a moment like this, it would have been her.[break][break]

His arms, strong and supportive, wrapped around her in turn. If she was straddling him before, now they were practically melded together. Isaac could feel her heartbeat (among other things) pulsing back against his chest; despite her nerves, she'd still thrown caution to the wind. That was the Genny he knew and admired, alright.[break][break]

He leaned in close, erasing any last shred of space between them. His lips were so close to her ear that they may well have tickled her. "I dare you to let me break the rules," he breathed. It was her turn. It was her dare. She was supposed to do anything his little heart desired. Yet, if the script of the game were to be flipped . . .[break][break]

If she agreed, Isaac would trail soft kisses along Genny's jawline. Then, just before reaching her lips, he would stop, pulling back ever so slightly to admire her. His own smile set into his face, his heart swelling with joy at the picture he'd captured in his mind.[break][break]

It was all he could see as he leaned back in, rewarding her for her patience with a deep, adoring kiss.