He can't help but blame himself, but the annoyance in her voice is well received.

"Understood."

A brief response. Annoying her further would be foolish. Instead, he focuses that regret into plans - means in which he'll get stronger. the Hoenn Star Tournament is days away, it's a means to test and bolster his skills. Stormy Silph, being one of the Elite 4, had obligations to enter and many Rockets had already thrown their name in the hat. It only made sense for him to join in too, it was the fastest and most efficient way to maintain, and surpass himself. He has to protect his fellow Rockets and moreover he has to maintain a level of strength to support the woman he loved. As he was now he couldn't do that.

Water stirs and Miles ducks behind a rock a Cloyster is revealed and riding it is none other than the Silph that sparked his current predicament. There was much to pay for and Miles had a number of ideas on how exactly to get his and Serena's return. He pulls a pokeball from his belt hidden in the shadows.

As he nears miles counts silently and on the next step a Pokeball flies releasing an Auroras. "Thunderwave." And so a wave of electricity would spiral towards the Silph A masked man, Viper once again revealing himself to Matias activating the comms all the while.

Regardless if the thunder wave worked as intended Miles would speak.

"Not too hard find at all."

She shivers, but she doesn't recoil, but with each motion, she becomes more accustomed to him until she truly craves his touch. She grabs his muscle tensing against him allowing him to move further - to feel. When he asks she approves, and so he continues until the sweater is gone entirely. Edging her body into the slightly worn sofa just behind them forcing her down. How she resisted this power only moments ago he doesn't know, but clearly, he's unable to follow suit too greedy to stop.

"I'm yours, always."

He begins high - lips press against each other a kiss that was long since overdue each second he relishes. All the while his fingers trace circles around her navel occasionally playing against the heavy fabric that prevents him from delving deeper. He moves down to her nape lips fiercer if only slightly, teeth glaze against her collarbone. His weaker hand moves between valleys sliding against skin teasing it before his head sinks further moving to where that hand once was. The hand having lost its home finds hers and slowly they interlock fingers grazing before tightening as she heaves. He can feel her heartbeat as he continues to push her further. All pieces are synchronous not unlike a clock each dial playing its part all for one purpose.

His hand leaves hers as he delves deeper traveling lower kisses end at the navel and the fabric once again prevents him from moving further. He looks up at her now taking his team relishing this moment, not yet moving further. He wants to hear her.

The game ends, but the fire remains.

She seems dissatisfied with the end, but he relaxes the mind understanding this is what it should be that fog fading albeit slowly, His body screams in protest Her still damp hair brushes against him as she rises. Goosebumps line his bare skin a reaction to rare coolness received from the woman, but even that is a gift.

Her stare is not as much cold as it is sad, and so she reaches to unshackle the man from himself, the look in her eyes kills any idea of resistance and slowly his grip loosens, color returns as the heat she emits travels through him as it'd done so many times before. The journey is short and soon his hand moves from fabric to skin. The drumming begins again, his heart felt by her again. Guilt still whispers to him, his flaws and sins are laid before his consciousness, but the hand guiding him supersedes any internal struggle.

His other hand free follows the first now bypassing her sweater traveling beneath it so precisely. He's unsure, but his hands begin to move. he knows her shape, He'd memorized her over the months spent together. Fingers slide deliberately up from her waist tracing her curvature so lightly grazing it at points. He's gentle.

He steps closer his head leaning down bypassing her lips moving directly to her neck.

"Do you want this Stormy Silph?" He whispers in her ear his breath is light but his voice is firm.

"Sit. Let me show you my devotion."

She flaunts her power over him, each touch, each kiss drawing him closer. Still, the mind weighs like chains on his soul and he refuses to give in. He keeps his hands behind his back as if in shackles each hand serving as a brace for the other - an ouroboros made solely to keep himself sane. Nails dig into his palms and forearms, but his eyes plead to continue as she pushes him further and further, such is the pain of guilt, of unworthiness.

Eyes watch helplessly as she continues to move around him. His heart rate increases the beat of the drum more hurried now as he follows her movements. Words evade him unable to even form at the base resulting in light rasps whenever he opens his mouth. His mind begins to fog over, what was once a physical want is slowly becoming a psychological need, but the ouroboros remains strong, painfully so.

She asks a question, each word emphasized by another action. She's enjoying this - watching him fight against himself for her.

"...You." He finally manages to say almost breathlessness no louder than a whisper.

[player]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/849319068737863730/849335243415748628/Yuzo_Koshiro_-_Theyre_Back_Streets_of_Rage_4_Official_Soundtrack.mp3[/player]

The Dynamic Punch fails but the fatigue from the myriad of blows has worn the Alakazam down enough. The rock explodes on impact, and the golem recoils slightly the clash dealing recoil to the Golem, however, the interactions have brought the ghost type and his trainer by proxy to a good place, even with their opponent recovering. "Earthquake." The giant would slam a foot on the ground sending massive shockwaves in every direction, forcing even Miles to his knees. On the sandy field, the impact would dull slightly but it'd kick up a storm of eroded rock and sand as well as deal a fair share of damage, but in the cover of the temporary storm, Miles would continue. "Phantom Force." And so the massive pokemon would disappear without a trace sinking into some otherwordly portal under its manufactured sandstorm.

Even when the dust settled the pokemon was nowhere to be found only to reappear behind the psychic type with clasped hands attempting to land a fierce double-handed strike on the Alakazam each fist imbued with ghoulish energy. It was undoubtedly the Ghost type's strongest technique.

-------

Golurk uses Earthquake | No Guard In effect
Golurk uses Phantom Force | No Guard in effect
Greyson Connors

It has its benefits..." If nothing else he still has his wit, though it's not delivered in the way that was typical of him, it's mellower, more bashful. Knowing there was no one on this planet who'd ever see him like this, not physically but in the way she made him was odd, he had become vulnerable in front of her in every sense now. He was bashful not solely out of guilt but because he could be around her and that was freeing. Miles had always been a prideful boy and he'd grown into a prideful man. Able to disengage and disconnect whenever needed, it was a mechanism to protect himself. he kept his heart close to his chest, and it was in this openness that he knows he's truly hers. In mind body and soul.

And despite the pain and hurt, they'd both gone through over the week, despite the cuts and bruises that line his form there's something it wants, something the mind won't admit out of equal parts guilt and shame. He focuses on each of her features from her scarlet eyes, to the tint of her cheeks ending on her lips.

His heart races and blood circulates as she inches closer. He remains still now, like a stone in the desert. The heart wants what it wants even if the mind protests and so his emotions are laid bare as well all for her to inspect and value as she pleased. She appraises the man up and down, not focusing on any particular detail, but in her inspection, she understands his heart's desire.

"I don't deserve...", but he finds himself inching closer to her.

Bodies glance against each other, but she can feel his heart beat against her. It's fast, but not rapid. Like a deliberate drumbeat against her daring her to pursue. She's irresistible and she knows.

"Should I?"

[player]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/849319068737863730/849335243415748628/Yuzo_Koshiro_-_Theyre_Back_Streets_of_Rage_4_Official_Soundtrack.mp3[/player]

"Good Attitude. Altor, don't hold back."

There's a fire in both trainer's eyes as the battle begins. The Shiny Golurk hones in on his target as it shores up its defense. Shadow Punch test those defenses." And so the oddly colored Golem would dash forward its legs sinking into its torso flying forward in a burst. Its massive fists glow with a shadowy aura before what looks like after images attempt to slam into the pokemon. "Follow up with a Heavy Slam."


If Greyson wanted to set up defenses Altor would simply have to break through. The Golem was nothing if not direct. And so it'd soar up locking onto the Alakazam from above before attempting to crush the Psychic-type under its massive weight.

-------

Golurk uses Shadow Punch | No Guard In effect
Golurk uses Heavy Slam | No Guard in effect
Greyson Connors

"Scorpion, you holding up?"

The infiltration's been a success, but the guilt Viper feels persists, in their last mission is carelessness led to the woman having a seizure and so over the course of the mission he'd been persistent in keeping tabs on the woman, it was as sweet as it was annoying. Still, all had gone as planned and the two found themselves in one of the cavern's rocky outcroppings.


The wetsuit drips unceremoniously on the cavern floor, Serena was in charge of setting the cameras Miles was the muscle for all that was worth. "We're still clear on my side."

Serena Malcolm MATIAS SILPH

"The power to choose..." He mulls it over for a moment. In truth, he and Rowan weren't so different, but then again the same could be said for many in Rocket. An organization of refugees people who needed to make something happen for themselves because society let them down, the world claimed their options and so they were left here, doing anything they could to survive. Miles still can't help, but feel there's something more not to Rowan's claim but to the situation the two find themselves in with Rocket.

Silence lingers for moments more, "There's always a spot open for you in the labs Rowan, I welcome you to stop by anytime. You're brighter than you give yourself credit for, and forgive me for overstepping but I see a bright future in you. I just pray you don't have to sacrifice it to find your truth." It's honest, all Miles can be as they soar through the night sky over yonder. Perhaps one day Rowan would take him up on his offer.

Muscles loosen and immediately his attention lands on the garment's owner leaving the broken man in an odd spot. Even on his already dark features, the tips of his ears flare red, a rare color rises in his cheeks. He fumbles for a moment a hand finds itself against the back of his head sliding against still damp hair.

"Sorry! I was folding, I figured..."

He pauses moving from one trap so flawlessly one would think it's intentional. "I figured I'd make myself useful." A sheepish laugh follows as he quickly folds the sweater placing it in a pile, stalling until words finally came.

I read that the scent of your partner helps relieve stress and is supposedly very comforting so I thought I'd.... Anyways I should take shower."

It doesn't help that even now in her oversized sweater and sweats he's faced with the most beautiful woman he's ever seen. A fact that led to another issue entirely.

[player]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/849319068737863730/849361494901653545/Cowboy_Bebop_OST_1_-_Bad_Dog_No_Biscuits.mp3[/player]
IT'S YA BOY DJ RILLABOOMIN WITH THE LATEST ON ALL YOUR HOENN STAR NEEDS. We got a special match for ya' comin live from the old warehouses on the other side of town..... Looks like our favorite old soul John Sullivan ran into Miles Sharp in the old warehouse district, and somethin's tellin' me this town ain't big enough for the both of 'em!

-----------------------


"Gotta say, I'm a big fan." Miles pushes himself off of a rusted container in a field of many. In the battles so far the freight containers had been moved creating a field of debris between the two, it was as good a place to fight as any.

The Researcher pulls two pokeballs releasing a Garchomp and an Armaldo, the implication's obvious.

"Sorry, but it's too good an opportunity to pass. Now show me that military might I've heard so much about."

[player]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/849319068737863730/849335243415748628/Yuzo_Koshiro_-_Theyre_Back_Streets_of_Rage_4_Official_Soundtrack.mp3[/player]
WOAH WOAH WOAH! It's ya favorite DJ RillaBOOMin comin' at ya live from the Sandy Whites of Slateport Beach! Now where there's smoke there's fire and between these boys, I feel a blaze comin' on! Miles Sharp vs Greyson Connors,

BURN IT TO THE GROUND.

-------------

Miles waits in the palm of his Golurk, eyeing the opponent, a mid-morning fight to kick off the tournament felt good. As things heat up he slides out of the pokemon's massive palm the titan mobilizing ready to fight.

He eyes the slow-growing crowd over his sunglasses, forming a smirk all the while. It was out of character to get into this, but the researcher needed to blow off some steam "Hate to keep the fans waiting Connors, How about we get this show on the road."

Greyson Connors