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Eddie nodded back at the ancient deer, because that was just the polite thing to do, [break][break]

“Oh, y'know, just soakin' up some sun,” he chuckled, his broad grin taking on a boyish quality. [break][break]

Behind him, the Kubfu charged again, little paws grabbing the Tauros' horns in a fierce hold. They were deadlocked, now, [break][break]

“Nah, hadn't been in contact with Beau fer a minute,” Eddie admitted. But as for the other two, “You tried the sheriff's station? Might find Navy and Noel there.” [break][break]

He approached the Head Ranger in long strides, and when Eddie finally closed that distance, he clapped a large hand onto Ollie's shoulder, [break][break]

“I walk ya over, if you don't mind the company.” [break][break]

It would be good to spend some time with a friendly face, especially one that Eddie didn't directly associate with war and fighting for his goddamn life.

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ollie morales [break]

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Eddie saw those emerald eyes too, the color of lush forests and rising tides when the sun hit them just-so, and followed their path up to that bit of irritated skin, [break][break]

“Yeesh,” he winced, “Yeah, it sure is.” [break][break]

The soldier didn't pull away, though, even as his sensitive skin stung from the little bit of contact. He was a tough guy – he could take it, [break][break]

“Suppose that's what I get fer not wearin' sunscreen. I swear, I didn't used ta burn like that when I was a kid.” But that would also make for the perfect excuse to remain in the Head Ranger's presence, [break][break]

“I guess the weather's had enough'a me, huh?” [break][break]

He turned to look over his shoulder at his two pugilist Pokemon, and he called out to them with a wave, [break][break]

“Hey, you two, break it up! Practice is over!” [break][break]

The Kubfu was the first to acknowledge the command, relinquishing his hold on the bull's horns and peering back at the two men. The Tauros snorted, obviously displeased, but he trotted over dutifully, his irritation only apparent by the agitated swish of his spiraling tails.

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ollie morales [break]

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Eddie took the bottle gladly, and sighed happily as he spread the cool gel across his almost ruby-red skin, [break][break]

“Suppose that's just a part'a growin' up,” he laughed, “Changin', I mean.” [break][break]

And getting picked on by brothers and sisters – at least, Eddie assumed that was the connection between Ollie and this Eva mentioned in passing. [break][break]

That line of inquiry was derailed almost immediately, though. Ollie's face brightened, and Eddie's smile turned mischievous, [break][break]

“Playin' hooky now, huh?” Eddie teased, but he was already well on his way to unbuttoning his shirt and tossing it to the sands at his feet, [break][break]

“Fine, but last one in's a rotten Exeggcute!” [break][break]

He didn't bother waiting for a reply; with the gleeful joy of a man half his age, Eddie was off, losing shoes and socks as he dashed past his Pokemon on his way to the rolling waves. Little did he know that something glowed beneath the surface, something that was making its way to the shore.

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ollie morales [break]

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Cool water, warm skin, and a pair of arms wrapped around his shoulders had Eddie smiling so hard his face hurt, made his heart feel like it was going to burst from the pure jubilation of it all. He laughed bright and booming as he stumbled against the force of Ollie's chest against his back, but the laughter subsided when the other man's voice came again, more softly, against his ear. Eddie felt goosebumps trail down his arms (that, in truth, had very little to do with whatever the Head Ranger had spied) as he turned his attention to the waters below them, [break][break]

“Huh? See what?” [break][break]

He would have rather there be nothing at all beneath the waves to distract him from the pure bliss of this boyish excursion, but Eddie would have no such luck. Some shining thing grew closer, lurking, circling in on them. The soldier swept an arm out, and tried to angle himself to put his body between whatever this was and the younger man just behind him, [break][break]

“Shit, the hell is that? Ollie, stay back – ” [break][break]

Suddenly, a glowing tentacle shot forward and wrapped itself around Eddie's ankle. With little more than a surprised yelp, he was suddenly yanked below, slipping beneath the waves with an unceremonious yank. [break][break]

From the shore, a bull lowed with fear and fury.

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ollie morales [break]

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You know what? Maybe Eddie should have seen this coming – not that he had the capacity to consider this fact as he was towed under, the air leaving his lungs with another cry that was swallowed up by the sea. Maybe it was just his rotten luck that the moment he got to enjoy the company of one of the most handsome men in Hoenn on a luxurious summer day, Eddie was being pulled to a watery grave. There was a name for this, right? Dramatic irony? Murphy's Law? [break][break]

But maybe Arceus didn't actually have it out for him after all, because with a bright flash, a DAZZLING GLEAM, the tentacle that had been wrapped around his ankle suddenly relinquished its hold. Eddie forced his eyes open to see more tentacles shooting out, thrashing angrily in the waters around him, and to see what he imagined to be an angel, silhouetted by that bright glow, descending onto Eddie to deliver him from his would-be demise. [break][break]

He reached for that angel, then, as what precious little air left his lungs with a gasp. The water that rushed in to replace it burned, but surely that would be a trivial matter for the beautiful seraph sent from on high.

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ollie morales [break]