“Hm,” she grunts softly at his response. Sure, other people could watch the sunset, she didn’t own the fucking hill. Still, something weighed on her, making her feel uncomfortable and anxious. But is that how she felt most of the time? Or maybe it was just the Squirtle . . .

The sudden appearance of the flying shell did surprise her. It wasn’t enough to make her jump but the Joltik that clung to her back did spring into action as it is trained to do. However, the little bunny beat her to it. The electric-type clicked her fangs in annoyance.

“Nice catch,” Blastoise were a nice tank if you liked water-types. Their mega-evolution was quite impressive too.

Meanwhile, the Joltik decided to take its frustration out on a passing Mismagius. The bug launched forward, firing off a paralyzing electrical current so the ghost couldn’t disappear back into the phantom plane, “Good shot, June,” Lex fires off her own pokeball to scoop up the phantom.

“I’m here to hunt for pokemon, care to take a walk?” misery loves company, after all.

kepler brueshaber
Duo Wild (water/ghost)

The dry humor does coax a small smile out of her. The thought of a dozen texts a day was excessive, but she’d cherish every one if that’s what he chose to do.

With every sip he took, her heart raced. The fluctuations left her restless. How far could they push the alien until it retaliated against the poison of the whiskey? In other words, how much longer did she have with him?

She trusted he would leave if it got to be too much. Despite her worries, he seemed to be doing alright. After his largest swig from the bottle, Lex leaned forward, extending a hand across the threshold to ask for the bottle.

“Alright then, what do you want to talk about?” she’d happily change the subject if it meant more time together.

Killian Decker

“It’s fine,” she was quick to respond, not wanting to dwell on things that can’t be changed. Her grip loosened letting him take the bottle from her. There’ not much he could do, not while he’s still learning what it means to have it inside him. Cillian Quinn was right, only time would tell if this was something that could even work, if it would ever accept her, or if it would kill Killian for trying.

“Maybe some more texts? At least letting me know you wake up every day,” Letting me know it hasn’t killed you, “Have you at least seen a doctor or something?”

Killian Decker

Lex whistles, grinning to lighten the mood, “Penthouse? That sounds fancy,” she heard Maras was rich, so she wasn’t surprised. Honestly, she hadn’t spent much time with the other admin. Her circle was small. Trust didn’t come easy and she was constantly wary of the Rockets around her.

Her smile brightened in approval, “Yes, I am happy to hear that,” and for the first time in a long time, she saw that he did actually look rested, even despite everything going on.

“I’ve been,” she hesitated, no lies, “It’s been hard,” her voice lowered as she’s forced to admit it, “I’ve had a hard time staying distracted,” without an outlet, her mind spirals into the abyss, the worst case scenarios haunting her dreams.

Killian Decker

To Lex’s surprise, he was willing to try something new and moved to retrieve one of the bottles of Johtoian whiskey from the bar on the other side of the living room. Without moving, she watched as he settled on one side of the couch and took a swig. Anxiously, she watched, half expecting an explosion of alien material to consume him in distaste. Perhaps the alien liked whiskey. There’s something they had in common.

Once in the clear, Lex circled around the sit on the other end of the couch, leaning her back against the arm rest and casually pulling a knee up to be able to face Killian. Lex gland accepted the bottle, bringing it to her lips for a rather healthy pull of the brown liquid. It burned, but in a way she enjoyed. Oak and malt filled her mouth and flared through her nostrils. She’d need a little more than that.

“So, how’s it been going?” it’s a question she’s been anxious to ask. She took one more healthy swig before offering the bottle back to Killian.

Killian Decker

That may not have been his intentions but it sure as hell felt like it. Standing there in their living room, reaching for her, staying just out of arm’s length. Despite being closer than they have been in weeks, the space between them still felt like an ocean.

Of course, he didn’t mean it like that. She knew that. Lex understood to a degree how afraid he must be, how hard this all must be for him. He admitted he was scared too. Imagine how alone he must feel, despite having something crawling inside him. With a sigh she let her empathy override her frustration, “I’m sorry I’ve just –“ another sigh, “I’ve just missed you too,” and have been waiting for you to come back to me.

There’s no way in hell she trusted it, but she trusted him. He wouldn’t be here if he didn’t trust it to some degree, “It’s fine, I don’t want to push you too far we can just . . . talk,” catch up, have a drink, perhaps that would help ease her tension.

“Does it let you drink?” a finger pointed towards the whiskey bottles covered in a thin layer of dust.

Killian Decker

Lex inhaled, holding her breath as her amber hues moved towards his outstretched arm. She longed for his touch more than anything, ached for it. The tension in her shoulder remained when he stopped. Disappoint sank into her stomach. He wasn’t ready. It irritated her more than she cared to admit. She hadn’t seen him though she knew he was still working regularly and even staying with Martín del Mar. He could be around others but not her? He’s here but not staying? Her hope was crushed again, leaving her even more empty than before.

The tension fell as she settled into her disappointment. A frown pulled across her red lips to accentuate it. She ignored the comment about the house, he already knew she wasn’t staying here often, “It’s cruel to tease me like this, Killian” there was an edge to her voice that would give away her frustration.

Killian Decker

The sudden appearance of the Gardevoir almost made Lex jump. Being around so many ghosts, she’s gotten use to them just popping up out of nowhere. She was still sitting at the edge of the bed in the empty dorm, putting on her shoes when the Shadow Pokemon appeared. To her, its presence was soothing. As always, it’s empty crimson gaze peered down at her, expecting something. Without words, Lex understood and took the pokemon’s extended hand.

Suddenly, she was home, but the familiar space was foggy, covered in an ethereal haze as the two lingered in the phantom plane for a moment. The pokemon could sense her convictions, allowing her the choice of going to him or not. The Gardevoir could feel it too, stirring beneath the surface of the man – a threat. It made her uneasy and wary.

She took a moment to just watch him in silence. Lex had been waiting for this – for him to come home. Part of her thought he never would. Still, the fear lingered. Was he home, or just visiting?

With a nod of her head, she stepped through into the living room, fading in through a dark haze that disappeared behind her, “Killian,” his name comes with a small smile, though hesitant, “You’re home,” it’s a hope she wished to manifest into reality.

Killian Decker

The shuffle of footsteps behind her doesn’t go unnoticed despite not turning immediately to see who it is. After all, she always has something watching her back, hidden in the phantom realm. Plus, this is a popular spot to watch the sunset. Just look at that view.

It’s when the silene lingers and the presence grows heavier as it move closer does she finally turn slightly to see who it is. The Joltik clinging to her chest moves to her shoulder, all of its Compound Eyes blinking in turn at the man.

The way Lex’s amber gaze traces him up and down in judgment is not meant to be hidden. The thief keeps a rather stoic expression, “Can I help you?” she responds to his rather unimpressive “’Sup?”

kepler brueshaber
Duo Wild (water/ghost)

If only Lex was watching the Underboss to catch that look of sympathy. Instead, her eyes are still fixed down at the tiles of the kitchen floor. It was already uncomfortably letting Gavin peek into her weaknesses, showing she’s hurt and alone. That’s when the predator strikes – when you’re separated from the pack. Killian Decker is her pack. It’s a small pack, but strong, nonetheless. Now they’re both alone and vulnerable.

Lex appreciates Gavin’s honesty, but it does nothing to quell her angst, only stoke the fire of her fears. She get visibly agitated at the thought of things going from bad to worse. She fidgets, pushing herself from the counter to turn back towards the oven and watch the second tick down towards zero.

Gavin is right, Killian is right, space is safest but it does nothing to smother the fear and the loss she feels. It only left her alone to spiral into her own dark thoughts, “I’m not sure how to deal with it,” she doesn’t have an outlet. Baking? That obviously wasn’t working, but she slips the oven mitts over her hands just before the timer chimes zero.

Cillian Quinn

In all honesty, Lex wasn’t staying home much anymore. It felt empty without him. It reminded her too much of what she lost and the life they were on course to have. That is, until it came along and stole him from her. A bitterness still sat heavy in her chest, but it was mostly drowned out by sorrow at this point. In a way, it was more painful than when she left Johto and him behind. Back then, she had given up hope. There was no future, each day wasn’t promised to her. For a moment she left herself dream of what kind of a life they could have. Both of them, together: A house, a family, a dream. Now she just had nightmares. So, she tried not to sleep. When she did, it was mostly in an empty dorm at Headquarters. Though Killian probably knew that. He knew everything.

It would be obvious to Killian the house had barely been lived in since he left. A fine coat of dust settled onto most things, even the whiskey bottles on the bar. The same jackets hung near the doorway, untouched, and upstairs the same pile of laundry sat in the closet. The lights were off, the air stagnant, the shades pulled down.

Upon searching he’d find the house empty, but not for long. The familiar cold presence of the Shadow Gardevoir hung in the air before she disappeared to find her master.

Killian Decker

Lex finds herself wandering Route 126, just outside of Sootopolis. For a moment she looks back, taking in the glittering lights of the seaside city as the setting sun slowly sinks across the horizon. The darkening sky burns with yellow, orange, and red hues. It makes for quite the stunning photograph, but Lex doesn’t pull out her phone to capture it. Instead, she lets herself experience it in silence, staying present in the moment.

For that moment, she’s a bit happy. Her thoughts don’t wander or spiral into the darker corners of her mind. Her worries still haunt her, but for now, they are kept at bay.

@open
Duo Wild (water/ghost)

Her emotions were a mess, a violent storm cloud of fear, anger, loss, and desperation. The storm clouds her judgment and her logical mind. He speaks of not wanting to hurt her, but he already has by choosing the alien over them, by accepting its control, by taking himself away from her. Hypocrite.

More powerful than this raging storm is love. Fear threatens to smother it but it still burns true. With love comes hope, a hope that she will get him back, all of him, just him. It’s a childish hope, he’s already made it clear Deoxys is staying but the small thread of sanity she clings to is anchored by this one hope.

She didn’t move as he slowly crept closer, as if any twitch may set off the alien. Her watery gaze broke from his to watch his hand reach for her. She half expected it to transform into whatever it was that consumed her earlier. The thought made her grow tense, nervous, but the touch she felt against her skin was his, not its. Perhaps her hope wasn’t too naïve after all.

Lex closed her eyes, savoring the warmth of his breath and his scent that filled her nostrils. She wanted more of his touch. It took everything in her to not move closer and embrace him. Fear held her back, still battling for control.

“I love you,” she whispered as her fingers curled into the carpet, cementing her into place. She kept her eyes closed to savor his touch, expecting it to disappear just as quickly as he appeared in their living room.

Killian Decker