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Emma's breathing is soft and slow, each inhale measured before she exhales. Her eyes follow the guard as he falls for their lure, pulling him from his station and giving him false security. He's gullible and stupid, without a drive to perform well. Had he cared, he would have more thoroughly investigated the bins where Greninja had been. Instead, he dismisses it as nothing and returns to doing nothing.[break][break]

She glances up to the roof where the Greninja waits, biding his time. [break][break]

Gavin says something and Emma shakes her head, clearly unimpressed with the security guards lack of effort. She says nothing as the Greninja makes its way back to the pair. She does, however, let Gavin take the keys while she confirms her suspicions and her plan.[break][break]

The woman's distracted concentration is absorbed by Gavin's question. She's pulled away, her golden eyes almost haunting as they study his face, momentarily thoughtful, before she breaks the connection and nods toward the outdoor pool. There were sleeping Goldeen and Seaking within, just within reach of the prying hands of children who came to visit. Like the museum's own personal petting zoo. But the water lead to another aquarium that the fish could retreat to.[break][break]

"Hope you can swim."[break][break]

It's clear, then, that she's already wearing a black slip of a uniform, water repellant and indistinct. It made no noise as she walked and her long hair was hidden in a swimmers cap. [break][break]

Emma takes the lead, not waiting to see if Gavin is following. She had most likely warned him to bring a water-suit, but she wasn't aware if he had done so or not. Regardless, the woman quickly and quietly begins to step into the water, breaking its surface. It makes a subtle noise but nothing out of the ordinary as she slips under the surface like this is practiced.

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Once, Gavin had almost drowned.[break][break]

Perhaps it would be more accurate to say he was almost murdered: coughing and sputtering with an iron grip to the back of his neck, knees aching against cold tile. His grandfather's words echoing in his head: 'Fear is a weakness, and weakness gets you killed.'[break][break]

His childhood fear of deep water had seemingly vanished overnight, replaced by a solemn determination to outperform every other kid on the swim team.[break][break]

"I can swim," he assures her.[break][break]

He pulls the rubber cap tight over his scalp, tucking away stray hairs. His glasses are relegated to a waterproof case that he tucks away with the stolen keys before following Emma into the clear, filtered waters behind aquarium glass. His wet-suit negates whatever temperature the water might've had, and he slices through the water with a practiced stroke. They have an hour till midnight, perhaps less until the guard notices his missing keys. Perhaps the bumbling idiot wouldn't notice at all.[break][break]

The museum is dark, silent beyond the burbling of various water filters. Fish remain mostly idle, sleeping, while the nocturnal specimens show little regard for their unexpected visitors. A Lanturn's light casts long shadows across the floor.[break][break]

Gavin breaches the surface of the secondary tank with the soft sound of rippling water, pulling himself out via the maintenance ladder and stepping softly onto tiled floor.[break][break]

They're here for several things, but Gavin's attention is naturally drawn to the abomination that was Arctovish. He had one of his own — what an unfortunate species, they were, clearly a mishmash of the wrong fossils that had somehow been given life.[break][break]

With the stolen keys, Gavin slips into the security room and disables the cameras, signalling Emma as he emerged from the room.

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Emma doesn't detect and hesitation in the man, but why would she? Like she was, he was an expert at showing only what he wanted to be shown - and his fear of the water, albeit buried under years of dedication, was not something he showed her. So she was none the wiser for it.[break][break]

She emerges on the other side first, lips parting slightly in a quiet 'o' as she brushes water from her face and collects herself. She pulls herself to the surface, fingers gripping the damp stone as she stands back to her full height. With a few swipes of her hands against the slick surface of her wetsuit, water drains off of her body.[break][break]

They emerge in a cold and dark room, lit up only by the soft glow of the nearby aquariums as they simulated the underwater plants and the like. They are like ghosts, shadows in the corner of the room and she glances to Gavin briefly as he emerges right behind her. There's an extended silence between them and yet it doesn't matter because she knows what he'll do, what he's thinking.[break][break]

He moves past her immediately to the security room. The soft click of keys turning a lock breaks the silence but its faint, lost immediately in the immensity of the room. She exhales softly as she steps after him, her feet bare but quiet against the floor. She's wearing a type of slipper to prevent her from leaving distinct footprints. There would be nothing to trace back to her when all of this was over.[break][break]

"Follow me."[break][break]

Her voice is a whisper with only the smallest breath of hesitation - she had almost reached for his hand in the same manner they had their last heist. She disregards the thought as she exits the security room, turning sharply to the right and disappearing toward the containment area for the Pokemon he was looking for.

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With the cameras down, Gavin moves with a fluid confidence. It's refreshing, to work in a team without any resentment toward his counterpart. He was particular in the sorts of people he worked well with, and she was just his type.[break][break]

So when she beckons him to follow, he does so without question, his footsteps soft and light in the cavernous room. He had caught the briefest hint of pause in her voice, but does not question this, either. There will be time to ruminate on the smallest details later, when they are free of this place — for now, they are in a race against the clock.[break][break]

Emma guides them to the containment area, and Gavin observes dark shadows sliding in and out of coral formations in a nearby tank, a simulation of a tropical habitat. The Galarian predators are isolated from other species, for they would surely spell the end of lesser fish.[break][break]

A beady black eye spies their approach, and the sharp-beaked fish slams itself into the glass with a quiet thud.[break][break]

He watches with interest as it attempts to get at him once more before realizing its predicament and angrily swimming back to the safety of the coral. Gavin redirects his attention to the Arctovish's tank, the glass frosted where it's swam close. A rare, genuine fascination lights Gavin's expression — he has to restrain himself from leaning closer, from touching the glass.[break][break]

"They have trouble eating without assistance, so there's practically none in the wild — because they're clearly not meant to exist." An affront to nature, and to science, but that was Galarian history for you. "Makes them very popular on the Market, however, and I've already got one of my own..."

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Emma's eyes trail from the expression on his face, back to the glass. She hadn't flinched when it slammed up against its prison but she had been surprised. Maybe even cautious, like a drop of fear had been dropped in the bucket of Emma. She draws away from the glass where Gavin seems magnetized. She has never really cared for Pokemon, so his fascination with what he deems 'not meant to exist' is mindboggling.[break][break]

Instead of dwelling on what is or isn't meant to be, Emma attempts to pull him back into focus. He wanted this Pokemon to sell to the Market and she had obliged simply because had asked for her assistance. The reasoning behind his efforts still alluded her but she wasn't the type to pry. If he wanted it done, she would get it done.[break][break]

"Hey, genius. How, exactly, are you planning to make off with it? Are these captured Pokemon?"[break][break]

Some of them she supposed would be, like more dangerous or carnivorous ones that handlers were too afraid of to risk losing a hand to. She had seen carrier nets, however, indicating that they did from time to time transport Pokemon without the use of Pokeballs. It was hard to confirm whether or not she was right, however. [break][break]

"Whatever we're going to do, we best be quick about it."[break][break]

Sharp eyes watch the path they'd taken, mindful of whether or not anyone might be coming. For now it was just them, alone in the dark with a bizarre fish Pokemon.

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Emma's voice draws him from deep reverie, and sharp amber eyes turn to rest on hers.[break][break]

"Not this one, no. It was revived in Hammerlocke under the supervision of a trusted contact. He wants it returned for his personal collection."[break][break]

The abomination of science floats closer, and Gavin can see its jaws working uselessly behind the barrier of frost that forms between them. It's cold, this close to the chamber, but that's not the only reason Gavin shivers. Icicles crash against the theater of his mind, and he blinks them away.[break][break]

"Even if it was, they should keep the pokeballs on-site in case the specimens need to be returned due to health risks."[break][break]

From his observations, the Pokemon in the museum seem to be in good condition. He's no expert on water-types and can't say with any certainty, but the Arctovish... it was in prime condition. It was well-fed, likely by aquarium staff due to its own shortcomings, and its scales are glossy with vibrant color. His own had been wild-caught, an import dumped unceremoniously into tropical Hoennian waters, and it had struggled in its first weeks under his care. This one was thriving in comparison.[break][break]

His Greninja re-emerges, and Gavin places an empty pokeball in its sticky fingers before gesturing at the tank, at the eerie fish within. His Pokemon understands.[break][break]

Smoke billows into the water like black dye, and Greninja drops from the ceiling into the water without a sound. When it emerges, the last traces of its SMOKESCREEN dissipating in its wake, the Arctovish is gone.[break][break]

Gavin takes the pokeball in a gloved hand. It's coated in a layer of biting frost, trembling with the beast's desire to break free. It would fetch him a good price for his efforts, and he knew that it would be well-cared for.[break][break]

"If you want to make extra profit, we can find out if they store their balls on-site. Either way, I'll split this with you."[break][break]

He hefts the ball in his hand, pockets it. His Greninja vanishes into its own.

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Hammerlocke. It often slipped her mind that Gavin wasn't from here. Granted, it wasn't surprising either considering the assortment of random Rockets that had formed the organization. It was the sheer fact that the Galar region had an accent as distinct as her own, and yet Gavin possessed none of it.[break][break]

The woman blinks as he explains the situation regarding the creature, and, while she finds herself not particularly interested, she allows it. The frosted glass still worries her, as if she's worried it might shatter.[break][break]

She sighs quietly as he mentions the Pokeballs, but it remains clear that this Pokemon is not going to be simple. If it didn't belong to anyone it meant they needed to capture it first. Thankfully, it appears that Gavin is aware of this and had already come up with a solution. Greninja reappears and a Pokeball is pressed into its sticky palm. Emma remains uneasy in the face of the situation.[break][break]

It had never occurred to her to put that sort of trust in a lesser species. And yet Gavin had done just that, without hesitation. [break][break]

When the ball is returned and placed in his hand Emma watches as the frosted Pokeball grows even colder in his grasp. Frost eats up the coating of his glove and she frowns. [break][break]

"Wrap it up in something before it damages your hand."[break][break]

As she says this, however, she's reaching for a scarf from the nearby gift shop stand. She coddles the Pokeball carefully, mindful not to touch it with her own gloved hands. Topping the package with a bow, she hands it back to him.[break][break]

Her goldenrod gaze looks up from her work to catch Gavin's gaze. For a moment she holds it, her attention rapt. But she looks away and expresses nothing but indifference as she gestures for them to retrace their steps.[break][break]

"Turn the cameras back on, I'll loop the footage. Just get out of here."[break][break]

It's evident in the dismissal or lack of response to his question that she isn't particularly interested in stealing more than what was necessary. Gavin had wanted the Arctovish and they'd gotten it - she wasn't going to push their luck.

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Cold seeps through the gloves, through skin and down to bone. He's considering his options for transport when Emma surprises him with a show of concern, taking the frosted pokeball and bundling it in a scarf before handing it back. He notes the bow, amused.
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"Thank you."[break][break]

Their eyes meet for a brief moment before she's back to business, and Gavin can't help but to feel there was something more to the exchange. He could certainly have dealt with the problem himself, but she'd been so quick to notice his dilemma — and quicker than Gavin at finding a solution, no less. Hm.[break][break]

Gloved fingers ghost over the controls and leave no prints behind as Gavin re-enables the cameras before stepping aside to grant her access. Though he's no stranger to looping footage, she'd demonstrated her expertise when they'd encountered one another in a League prison. He'd kept up with the news, and they'd left no traces behind but a corpse with a single bullet wound.[break][break]

All the same, he almost hesitates in leaving her behind. What if the security guard came in for a piss? What if they'd tripped some kind of silent alarm? He forces himself to disregard the unsettling anxiety that pools in his gut.[break][break]

"Meet you at the rendezvous."[break][break]

Yet as he breaches the surface of the outside tank and finds himself home-free, he takes a risk in doubling back through blind spots to ensure the guard was right where they left him. He finds the idiot playing phone games, and deliberately holds in a sigh of relief.[break][break]

He makes it back to their meeting point unscathed and unseen, on edge as he waits.

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Emma observes, quietly, while Gavin switches on the cameras. The movement is so fluid and expert that she finds herself mildly surprised and impressed. Of course, she had seen his work before - when they'd first met. But at the time she hadn't given a damn, hadn't cared to dwell on it. He was impressive.[break][break]

The man moves away from her and she assumes his position without a word, something she's good at. Their quiet exchange with the scarf is left unsaid - she had noticed his hesitation and avoided accepting his 'thank you'. [break][break]

Instead of bringing up what she doesn't want to address, Emma refocuses her attention on looping the video footage. She feels him linger for a fraction of a second longer than she expected and it catches her off-guard. Anyone else would have taken her advice and left without another word. She would have, surely, had the roles been reversed.[break][break]

His voice is quiet but it lingers and then he leaves and she lets out the breath she didn't know she had been holding.[break][break]

Of course, she finishes her job quickly and without worry and makes her move to leave. She locks up, slips into the water and gasps quietly as she emerges on the other side. But she's aware, well aware, of the fact that Gavin should have made it to the rendezvous point sooner. [break][break]

He had backtracked, ensured the guard wouldn't discover her. The woman's eyes darken as she misreads the situation - something she never does.[break][break]

"Did you not trust me?"[break][break]

She tosses the keys at him to return them to the lazy security guard, making it a point to not linger as she makes her way out of the area, away from the museum.

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She'd noticed.[break][break]

Skin prickles along the back of his neck when he's called out for the wrong reasons, unsettling him.[break][break]

There's a hesitation in his reflex as he dwells on the darkness in her gaze; he has to stretch his hand lower to snag the keys from the air, their teeth digging hard into his closed palm. He loops the ring around his finger.[break][break]

Emma's already on the move and Gavin follows like a ghost, steps silent and deliberate. Rather than tumble over his words attempting to justify his actions, he ponders the words before they leave his mouth.[break][break]

"I was concerned about the guard." It occurs to him that he wants to be believed. He doesn't like that she's doubting his intention. "I double-checked his position."

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She doesn't wait to hear his excuse. By the time she's out of sight, her wet cap is tugged from her head and her dark purple and black hair falls in untidy waves. [break][break]

For some reason she can't fathom, she's angry. Her anger is unprecedented and rash, bitten off too soon. And yet she can't pull herself out of it, can't fathom any reason for his backtracking other than the one she had fabricated. [break][break]

He catches up to her and she waves him away, her posture stiff and unwelcoming. The strain in her shoulder encourages her other hand to massage it absently, fervently.[break][break]

"I can take care of myself. I don't need you to protect me."

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It's strange, how quickly things between them had become almost comfortable without him truly realizing it. How he'd become accustomed to companionable silences with her, and how jarring it was to be suddenly shut out.[break][break]

She's angry with him.[break][break]

Though he strives to be without weaknesses, Gavin is only human. Pride is an ugly emotion that coils tight in his chest. It wars with concern for the sudden shift in her demeanor, settles on an uncomfortable in-between. He almost forgets the keys in his hand, snapping to attention only when they jingle with a stiff movement of his hand. He relinquishes them to his Greninja, whose red eyes linger on him longer than he'd like before the Pokemon melds into the shadows and disappears from sight.[break][break]

He does not race to catch up with Emma, maintaining the distance between them while keeping his voice just loud enough for her to hear.[break][break]

"I know that." It comes out sharper than he'd like, his jaw tense. "Do you think I need protecting?"[break][break]

A challenge — a reminder.

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There's an uncomfortable distance between them, one that she would have originally preferred from any other person. She didn't get close to people, always held them at arm's length or further. Gavin had managed to breach that distance and it was strange now to keep him so far away.[break][break]

And yet she does it because she's conflicted.[break][break]

She watches the Greninja leave from the corner of her eye, is aware of the tense pause between human and Pokemon - as if it were picking up on something that the two humans could not or would not.[break][break]

Pain throbs in her arm from the stress and from the swim - she'd almost certainly overworked it. She hisses as her fist clenches and it pulls taut the still-healing muscles in her arm.[break][break]

Gavin lashes out at her in kind, but it only makes her angrier. Her eyes are cold when they meet his.[break][break]

The woman says nothing, however, and instead makes it a point to abandon the conversation, the situation, altogether. She scoffs, a short and disappointed 'tch' that speaks volumes on the confusion she faces. [break][break]

She tears her gaze away from his as she leaves, disappearing down a dark side street and only letting out the breath she'd been holding when she's certain he wouldn't hear her.[break][break]

'What is happening to me.'

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