June didn’t even give the stranger a spare glance. Anyone who opened up like that was either a dick, arrogant, or was making small talk before an important conversation. Or all three, based on his tone. She put the last round in the revolver and closed the cylinder with a satisfying click.

Only to realize that faint glow of the protect, which blocked the last few bottles from her ameature aim. She rolled her eyes and clicked the safety on before she tossed the gun onto the table. Thankfully, all it did was rattle against the wood.

“I am in the parking lot,” she wiped her sweat-stained hands against her black pants, “because I have finished the scheduled deliveries for the day, I want to stay close for any last-minute calls, and to practice gun handling safely.”

“So, congrats, you know more than someone who’s shot a gun three times in her life– including right now,” only then did she turn to the stranger, the side of her head rested on her palm.

“Y’know, I heard the Littleroot Litleos and Mauville Meowths are playing just down the block. I’m sure those third-graders would absolutely love your amazing insight on how to shoot a basketball. Since you have nothing better to do with your life.”

She smiled big and bright to the League official. Yet her eyes told a different story, filled with annoyance. If looks could kill, Paxton would’ve died the second she turned to him. Unfortunately for June, though, they did not, and he was still there. What the hell did this guy want?

---

paxton concordas

“Great, another asshole pig…” June muttered. A vein bulged along the crease in her forehead.

“Yea, I fucked up,” she stated bluntly. “Didn’t expect that, did you? Didn’t think some fucking ‘civvy’ was capable of remorse or self-reflection? Well, I am, and I’m well aware of how badly she got hurt. Bawled my eyes out and everything. Was going to apologize when she was feeling better.”

As she tried to pull herself from her spot, she winced and gripped at her side. After a few deep breaths, she pulled her leg out with a much slower speed, “And it’s not like I got off scot-free either. So don’t say shit about karma, or whatever. This isn't the parking lot-- I'm not an idiot. Nobody comes back here: Pokemon or People.”

No wonder she felt like something was off: she’d forgotten to take her meds. Her earplugs disappeared into her pocket and the safety glasses were hung off her collar. Looked like practice had been cut short. Great. Just perfect. It took her entire willpower to not get in this guy's face and threaten him.

“So, unless you’re about to share a twenty or a box of rounds, then we don't have anything else to talk about,” she repeated her glacial movement, this time to pick up her backpack. It was unzipped aggressively, and a gun case was thrown onto the table. If she didn't leave now, then she'd get herself into real trouble. So, opened the revolver and took out the rounds one by one, and put them back into the box.

“Seriously, those kids could really use the advice. Might even lick your boots, if you ask nicely enough.”

---

paxton concordas

June silently picked up her stuff and shoved it all into her backpack as Paxton rambled on. Uncharacteristically so, given her entire demeanor up until that point. As if under a spell, she moved like a machine to collect her things and sling the backpack over her shoulder.

Up until he finished. “She was worried about me?”

Her sentence came out in unison with Paxton’s. One of her eyebrow’s raised at his comment, but she quickly discarded it to the side: who cared what he wanted anyway?

“Why would she…” she trailed off and stared at the miniature dirt mountain. After all that, and she was still worried about June? Why? It was simultaneously all-of-her-yet-not-at-all her fault. She didn’t choose to get attacked by Team Rocket, but she chose what to do during it. Sounded like she was severely fucked up because of it too.

So why send a goon to talk to her, of all people? The one she’d be the most pissed at (ignoring the obvious seething hatred for Team Rocket)?

About her well-being, no less.

“My sour attitude is reserved for you, and we all know the first part,” she finally turned back to Paxton, full of confusion and anguish. “Does she think I'm 'constantly reckless'? Or do you? You weren't there. I just wanted to protect her– even if it killed me. What, did they not put that in the report? For fucks sakes, I took a bullet for her!”

How much she suffocated underneath howard slayte ’s foot. Yet how she tried to break free all the same– to help Annalise when she needed it most. How she tried and failed. "Is it reckless to try to protect those you care about?"

---

paxton concordas

“She’s my fuckin’ friend–”

The rest of June’s sentence never materialized. Her focus instead turned to the pig, who grabbed her by the collar and forced their faces mere inches apart. She struggled hard but wasn’t able to break the vice grip.

But he wasn’t the only one who could memorize a face. The one that had no right to touch her, and even less to lecture her. It took all her willpower to not clock the fucker. That’d make Annalise mad, and that was the second-to-last thing she wanted at the moment.

The first thing was a murder charge and a life in prison.

Unfortunately, she couldn’t get even a word in. Not until Paxton let her go and confidently declared the conversation ‘over’. As if he had the right. Like he had the ability. Though he had the nerve–

“I ain’t tryin’ to be shit, you fuckin’ pig! Think you’re so fuckin’ smart and clever, huh?! Think you fuckin’ know me?! You don’t know shit! You ain’t nothing but a fucking self-righteous cunt who should rot in a cell! Protect and serve my ass, and you fucking wonder why Rocket’s still around? Look at yourself for even five fucking seconds and–”

Her stream of expletives continued, her face redder than a Magcargo and her voice a steady drone akin to a loudspeaker. Thankfully, the choice of location prevented any awkward eye contact or explanations to other personnel at the HQ.

Not that she cared. It’d take a literal earthquake to stop her, riled up and ready to attack.

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paxton concordas