There was a moment of silence when the door shut behind her. The lump in her throat grew until she felt like she couldn’t breath. She was terrified and angry. Lex spent a week thinking she had lost him and she foolishly let hope consume her when she saw him awake. Even if only for a second, she believed she had him back and tasting that belief only to be met by an emptiness was heartbreaking.

The few steps she managed down the hall didn’t put enough distance between her and the monsters – as if there could be a distance Darkrai couldn’t cross.

Just as the lights flickered, a sudden rush of fear gripped her so hard she couldn’t move. It was overwhelming, especially since she didn’t understand why at first. Darkrai’s vengeance was swift. The realization came as the deep, loud voice shook her to her core, rattling her bones until she felt like she was melting. Lex couldn’t speak, could barely breath.

As the darkness consumed her the ground fell from beneath her feet, and a piercing scream filled the hallways outside Killian’s room in the Medical Bay.

---

This was a nightmare she has had before, only she normally watched from afar like a spectator which never made it seem real. Now she was actually playing herself, and the setting had changed. The morning sun was bathing the living room of their Lavaridge home in a warm orange glow. The large, eastward facing windows made for a great view of the sunrise. She could feel the familiar carpet beneath her bare feet, smell the freshly brewed coffee mixed with the scent of Killian’s shirt she had thrown on before going downstairs.

Kaito was there. Standing in their living with a gun pointed at Kilian and the same sadistic smile he wore before pulling the trigger. Could she make it in time? In her dreams she always could, it was no different here. A few quick strides brought her between Killian and Kaito. This time, Kaito didn’t shoot, but the same satisfied, shit-eating grin remained as he lowered the gun.

Instead of a bullet through her chest, the cool steel of a knife slid between her ribs like butter. A slow, searing pain and a warmth that spread across her left side as blood began to soak the shirt and slowly creep down her leg. The spleen, fatal – but it would take time. She would suffer, emotionally and physically. Surprise was the initial feeling. She didn’t quite realize what had happened until there was the familiar brush of his lips against her ear, “Did you really think I forgave you for what you did?”

Betrayal. Suddenly, the physical pain wasn’t the only thing tearing her apart – the heartbreak was excruciating.

His arms wrapped around her lovingly, just as they had done so many times before. Lex sank into his embrace. Not because she wanted to, but because as the blood left her body, so did her strength. She had never felt so cold.

The taste of iron filled her mouth, “Killian,” was all she could manage to gasp before she reflexively coughed up the blood threatening to drown her. The only thing she could focus on was the satisfied smile he wore as he laid her down. His eyes reflected the same cold emptiness she just witnessed in the Medical Bay.

A second figure loomed over her, leaning in until his face was clearly visible. An all too familiar rough, callused finger traced her jawline, “Only the best for our Little Dove,” they didn’t even bother to wipe the tears from her eyes or close them when she died.

Now she watched from a distance, hovering above herself as Kaito pulled back and Killian sat up straight, letting her body fall to the floor with little regard.

“Satisfied?” He asked, glancing at Kaito. The mobster thought for a moment before a sharp pop drove a bullet through Killian’s heart, “Now I am,” Kaito smiled before casually taking his leave.

And there Lex helplessly watched from above as the man she loved died beside the woman he betrayed.

---

The scene slowly faded from sight and into black. Lex was on her knees in the hallway, her eyes squeezed shut as tears streamed down the sides of her face, “No, no, no, no, no,” she sobbed as she crawled onto the linoleum floor. The thief curled into a ball, hugging her knees tight against her chest. Instead of being paralyzed by fear, she found herself consumed by emptiness, the sharp knife of betrayal driven deep into her back.

Killian Decker & Lulu Flint

Beneath the table her fingers curl back into fists. Of course Lex pissed him off, that seems to be her new found talent. It is one she regrets having formed but it feels almost second nature at this point, she has come to expect it from herself. Still, she leans back in her seat, withdrawing like a Mightyena being snapped at by the Alpha, and she finds her place.

Thankfully, his attention is drawn to Rowan Wrynn and oscar clayton. When he questions them, her suspicion that he had yet to accuse them of being the mole is strengthened. It makes her angrier, a visible tremble in her shoulders from the tension of her holding herself back. What was so damn special about these two? oscar clayton she could understand considering his track record, but the new guy, Rowan Wrynn? She didn’t see any reason to trust him more than her.

Lex keeps her eyes diverted, focused on the table rather than the others. She isn’t spoken to, so she silently stews in her resentment.

@consequences

HARVESTING:

• 1x Rabuta berry for Alexandra Briarwood (+1 Infamy - gimme that 100!! WOOOT)

PURCHASING:

• 1x Salac Berry

Lex appreciates the help and watched the weird little blob of a pokemon crawl over to the vent and hoist itself up with a hand that seemed to come out of nowhere. What the hell was that thing?!

Amber eyes turn towards Rowan Wrynn at his audacious comment. Lex was in no mood to be teased, that should have been obvious, “Yes, because this is exactly what I wanted to do today,” she spat back at Rowan Wrynn with pinched brows.

At the mention of Chu-e Choi, her shoulders tensed, “This thing is getting too dangerous,” she agrees, “Let’s hope it doesn’t get more bold,” she assumes the Underboss had other members planting similar traps throughout the submarine.

Cillian Quinn & Rowan Wrynn

Lex smiles in delight when he says he willing to play. Wonderful. If anything it would pass the time until she could break free from this whole situation. She doubted Rocket was going to send anyone after her, but she didn’t doubt Killian Decker would stand by idly for long if she didn’t show up soon. The bloody surprise of Rowan Wrynn in their living room and the news of her capture probably sent him reeling.

The thief relaxes, settling into a cross legged position in the sand to listen to Raziel Beckett as he speaks. Hm, so they did know Rocket was coming somehow. This man was a Ranger, not officer. Also, interesting.

“First time I’ve met him, I have no idea,” she says in regards to Rowan Wrynn. That was a truth. Lex had no prior experience with the man, didn’t know he existed until today. There was no use hiding Rocket anymore. Between their public announcement and the cops knowing Rocket was going to show up told her hiding would be a fruitless endeavor. So she doesn’t lie, but she also doesn’t address that she is directly involved with Rocket, “Not very long,” A few months, but he didn’t ask for specifics.

“Where did you come across so many Shadow Pokemon?” Between her conversations with Cillian Quinn and seeing his crystal beasts, she knew Razz's were most likely poisoned by Nihilego. If she could get a lead on the whereabouts of the Ultra Beast, she would be praised for her discovery. After something like this, she needed a win.

Raziel Beckett

As the pieces slowly click into place, her eyes grow wild as the paralysis starts to wear off. Her shoulders roll, shifting against the phantom SHADOW HOLD that binds her. He speaks again but her mind is too busy trying to make sense of what is going on.

Gavin hasn’t moved, she can feel his empty glare searing into her. It is met with one bursting with fury.

“What the hell is this?! Let me go!” she struggles against her capture. She’s in no position to make demands but it doesn’t make sense in her mind, not yet.

Cillian Quinn

Take care of yourself bby <3 Rest well!! We'll be here when you're ready to come back and feeling better!

Another summons. Another trip to the admin’s offices. Another Arceus damned day on this sub. Her blood boiled at the thought, hot enough to curl her fingers into fists, the painful sting of the nails digging into her palms is a strangely satisfying feeling. It reminded her she was awake and alive.

Lex is the last of the three to arrive. A cold, empty glare is all the greeting oscar clayton and Rowan Wrynn receive from her. It doesn’t stem from disdain, but from what their presence here implies. Maybe a little disdain, actually. The thief returns oscar clayton’s question with a peaked brow. Was he really that dense? The only thing stopping her from speaking out is his superiority. Lex was too intimate with the consequences to know what happened when she stepped out of line.

She doesn’t need to hold her tongue for long. Cillian Quinn’s entrance demands their attention. A sharp command to sit has her sinking into the closest chair. Gavin poses a similar question to Oscar’s. Lex waits for an answer, but it seemed Gavin didn’t know either. Interesting.

This is the first time she’s seen him since their . . . meeting. His piercing glare makes her skin crawl. She involuntarily rubs her wrists, staving off the haunting remnants of the Dhelmise’s Shadow Hold. The wounds are still fresh, fresh enough in her mind to point towards one painful realization, “This is still about the mole, isn’t it?” the words drip off her tongue like venom. There’s an obvious bitterness she holds towards the idea. It isn’t a huge leap for Lex to make considering she had the distinct pleasure of involuntarily holding the title not too long ago – and the mental scars to prove it. For some reason she doubts Gavin used the same techniques to ask her lovely partners about what happened. No, Lex got special treatment.

@consequences

The paralysis is hauntingly familiar. It is the same invisible energy that spasmed through her muscles in the Cave of Origin, making them ache and grind defiantly against her demands like the rusted gears of an old machine. It is, quite frankly, terrifying to be mentally awake with no control over yourself.

It is when Cillian Quinn enters that she is finally able to peel her eyelids apart. Her face scrunches, an involuntary swing of her head she can’t control brings it the side. Her mind is slow to put the pieces together. Even when blurred vision makes out the silhouette of the underboss she’s unable to recognize him. He says words but they sound foreign. Lex wants to speak but her tongue feels thick and numb in her mouth, “The wha- ?“ A few rapid beats of her eyelids clears her vision, “Gavin?” Her confused look leaves him to look around the room.

The pieces start to come together.

Cillian Quinn

Willing to talk? “Hmph,” she smiles with a small laugh. He was about to be very disappointed. Her eyes move from Razz to settle on the will-o-wisps of fire that surround her. Now that she’s more in tune with her remaining brain cells, her interest in piqued. It was curious strategy for keep an already tied up woman in place.

Slowly, her eyes move back towards him once he asks his first question. Logically, she shouldn’t answer but he was . . . young. Probably a bit stupid. Lex had several of her own questions about how all this went so wrong. A part of her wanted to see what she could get away with “Why should I answer your questions? What’s in It for me?” she let’s her own question linger for a moment, “I’ll answer one if you answer one,” she smiles at the prospect of the game.

“I’ll go first. No,” she answer is short and simple. oscar clayton wasn’t the leader, Walsh was. Lex’s turn, “How’d you know we were coming?” Amber eyes studied him expectantly, intrigued to see if he’d play with her.

Raziel Beckett

Bitter. Cold. She could feel the words trying to tear her apart like a rabid animal.

Just a thief.

Fine. If he didn’t want her soft touch, he’d get the cold, sharp edge of her blade.

The fingers that curled around his hand tightened and she threw it back at him with force. A purposeful step back let a cold space grow between them, “I’m disappointed you think your empty words can hurt me,” That’s all they were – empty. There was a darkness somewhere making him say it. This wasn’t Killian talking, “Do you really think that I’m that weak? That we’re that fragile?” Lex scoffed at the thought, the hint of a bitter smile on her lips, “I haven’t been ‘just a thief’ in a long time,” She wasn’t an idiot, she knew how it all started. He used her just as much and she used him before they fell in love.

Lex recognized the doubt behind his eyes because she once held on to it too. She learned two things from Darkrai’s KNIGHT OF TERROR. Once she accepted it was her doubt in Killian that gave the Nightmare its power over her it became just a dream. After all, nightmares were just dreams that fed off our doubts and fears. If you erased the doubt, they had nothing to hold on to, “Maybe you’re right, you are weak,” cold met cold, “You’re letting these nightmares define your reality,” There was a distinct difference. She waved her hand towards him as if dismissing him from her presence as she turned her back towards him.

“Pathetic,” Each syllable was articulated clearly.

When it was all over, she had two choices: Live in the nightmare, or live in reality. Everything Killian did in reality contradicted the mirage. So, she chose him, not the fallacies that poisoned her own mind. That was the cure: Getting him to recognize that his doubt in her and himself was the source of the nightmare’s power. But how?

Apparently fucking and kisses weren’t gonna do the job.

“Is that it? Is that all you have to say to me?” She glanced over her shoulder curiously before turning towards him again, there was more, she could taste it, “You sound like a bitter, scared, little boy. Don’t be a fool, you don’t need me around to hold yourself together,” She needed him, “C’MON, KILLIAN,” The urgency in her voice rose with her volume as it echoed through the night. Palms pressed against his chest and pushed back, intentionally meant to rattle the shackles that tethered him to his dreams rather than reality.

She wanted it all: All the doubt, fear, anger, and violence he refused to let go of. She was hungry for it, starving, “Stop hiding behind whatever this . . . excuse is to distance yourself from reality,” She vaguely motioned him as a whole. Give me my Killian back.

Amber eyes ablaze with a passionate fire bore into his. Behind the flames there was unwavering love. Killian was her religion, her tether to reality, her world, the reason she existed. She worshiped him like the King he was. Lex chose them above all else, it was burned into her soul. Resolute in their love, she’d be whatever he needed her to be. He couldn’t hurt her, she could take.

What Lex could do was be the target he unleashed his pain, fear, and doubts on. She’d devour it all until there was none left. “Give it to me, Killian,” an order, not a request.

As if to emphasize her demand, the dark behind her sparked with lightning as June trapped another victim in an ELECTROWEB. A pokeball consumed the Seviper.

Killian Decker
Dark/Fairy/Poison
Catching the Seviper!
7 pokeballs, 19 premier balls

It had been difficult managing her sanity recently. Between everyone telling her she was failure and feeing like Killian was slipping between her fingers it was almost too much. Despite it all she couldn’t help but feel pride swell in her chest. Authority looked good on Killian Decker.

Do I make myself clear? Why did he look at her when he said it? Did years of success and loyalty suddenly disappear beneath the weight of their recent struggles? Apparently. She’d follow him to the ends of the earth, of course she’d follow him into a cave. She opts for a simple response, “Yes,” Reassuring, quiet, submissive, nothing more.

Her backpack stirs, the pink tuft of a Happiny poking through to look over her shoulder. It’s a little cumbersome having the pokemon on her back but she had made sure she could still perform her expected duties with the extra weight.

Eyes broke from his to look past him towards the silhouette of @chloe and scan the terrain for her companions. No way only one would show up. Lex hoped they didn’t have any surprises up their sleeves like unexpected shadow pokemon and preemptive traps. It seemed to be lost on everyone that criticized her that on her last mission they were outnumbered and The League was ready for them. There was a rat somewhere, and she couldn’t wait to find them. No one seemed to recognize that she saved a life, and instead of two rockets being captured, there was only one. It just happened to be her.

Lex was only a little bitter.

There was no winning with this lot. Any failure was unacceptable. So, she stayed quiet and obedient, much to her own chagrin.

Patience was a virtue she did possess.

tl;dr: Just a short entrance post, waiting for orders like a good girl ^_^

PURCHASING

• 1x TM/TR - Happiny forgets Covet and learns Safeguard!
• 1x TM/TR - Happiny forget Sweet Kiss and learns Light Screen!
• 1x TM/TR - Happiny forgets Disarming Voice and learns Protect!
• 1x TM/TR - Happiny forgets Gravity and learns Fire Blast!
• 1x TM/TR - Happiny learns Icy Wind!

x5 TM/TR (60pd) = -300pd total