’It could be dangerous to go in alone.’

The implication is obvious, especially when the words come accompanied by a grin, and Lia knows well that he shouldn’t be suggesting it – especially not on a mission, even if it’s one as simple as this. They teeter on the line, and how could she ever resist playing along once he starts?

For his sake, there’s a slight pout about it, her gaze meeting his.

”Yeah? Will you come with me, then?”

And then, a soft chuckle that turns into a bright smile; pink colouring her cheeks because yes, they definitely shouldn't be saying all that.

LANCE VOLLANS

☉

Route 126.

She tries to visualize it in her head, but all she ends up with is the hope that he’ll actually tell her when that happens. He could easily not do as much just to test her, and that worries her. Lia has never done well with doing poorly at things.

At least his suggestion is distracting, and her head tilts, because the implication that he has been paying attention to her attire is not missed. So, she meets his gaze, smiling softly.

”Do you think I should? You call the shots here.”

That authority that seems to matter so little between them…

Is she being serious, or just trying to tease him?

LANCE VOLLANS

☉

’We can fly together sometime.’

A vague promise of something that may never happen, and yet, it sounds nice, even if it makes Lia wonder about the reasons why he would want to go through all that trouble for her sake.

Is it the kind of thing he would do for all cadets, or the kind of thing he’d do just for her? Apparently, there’s a difference, as he had pointed out clearly on her first day…

”Sure, I’d like that.”

He turns away, and she watches him, only returning her attention to the water when he asks about the Corsola.

Right. The Corsola.

How could she let herself get so easily distracted?

Looking over the side of the boat, Lia squints at the water in search for signs of the small group of Coral Pokémon.

”They seem fine so far. Are you sure we shouldn’t have a pokémon in the water with them, though? ...Or would that spook them or something?”

It would probably help if they had a way to keep an eye on things underwater, wouldn't it?

LANCE VOLLANS

☉

Lia has spent more time looking at maps than actually exploring the world around her, and she knows that is something she knows needs to change. What’s clear on paper can often be much different when looking at it in person, and while a map of the water routes may make sense in her head, when standing on this boat it all just looks like an eternity of blue so endless that it’s kind of disconcerting.

At least there’s slight reassurance in the fact that he relates, and when he points up above, she looks at the skies, considering.

”Oh. Yeah, I guess that’d help… I might bring my Pidgeot around sometime – I like flying.”

The words come casually, and her smile remains when hearing his next reply. She doesn't look away.

Is he really glad?

She hopes as much.

LANCE VOLLANS

☉

Is this the way things will continue to be between them, or is it just because the memories of Lavaridge linger and because this is fun and new?

Lia wonders about this as she watches the waves pass by, a hand reaching to gently scratch the feathers at her Decidueye’s chest, manicured fingers digging into the soft and dense plumage.

”Mhmm… I do.”

There’s a quiet chuckle with her words, knowing well she would have never said them as easily if she had been looking at him when doing so. Her cheeks feel warm, and it’s definitely not just the effect of the late summer sun.

Perhaps she should be thankful that the conversation shifts to the water routes, even if his comment makes her sigh and pout.

”I know… I’m fine with the other routes, but it’s hard to remember things when it’s just water all around. It gets confusing.”

It’s probably because she hasn’t spent much time traveling through the water routes, but instead of explaining this, she simply turns to look at him, a soft smile on her lips:

”I’m glad you’re here to guide me though.”

LANCE VOLLANS

☉

He’s blushing.

This time, outside, under the sunlight, she can see it clearly, and it’s really way too adorable to ignore it.

It’s why his next words are wrong, because truly, despite the fact that he teases her and makes her blush too, there are things he has done that she finds as endearing as they’re cute. Sometimes, she finds herself thinking about them. Probably much more than what she should have during this last week among Lilycove’s rangers (considering that she shouldn’t have thought about them at all, that is).

”Hmm… That’s not true, though. I think you can be really adorable.”

Maybe it’s for his sake, maybe it’s for hers, but she looks at the water instead of at him when giving this answer. Maybe it’s because she smiles, and because her cheeks are also just so slightly flushed.

”One-two-nine is near Ever Grande, right? I’ve never been good with the water routes…”

Once again, no water pokémon.

Truly, Lia would rather fly than travel by boat, but this also isn’t so bad, is it?

LANCE VOLLANS

☉

It’s a little surprising to see him get defensive about the name, as if he’s offended that she dared question him. He may try to act serious, to impose his authority by calling her ‘cadet’, but how could that ever work when the lines are already so blurred between them? His reaction just ends up seeming really cute to Lia, and she can’t help but chuckle before giving him his answer:

”Nothing’s wrong with it, captain. I just think it’s adorable. I didn’t expect that from you.”

She’s honest, because she has no reason not to be, and when she meets his gaze, her smirk lingers.

”It’s also cute to hear you say Wabbit.”

Is that enough teasing? Probably.

He’s still her captain, despite everything, and they’re still on an official mission as rangers.

So, her gaze is pulled away from his in order to look at the water, watching the waves.

”Where are the corsola headed, by the way?”

LANCE VOLLANS

☉

’Have you started looking for more pokemon for your team?’

The question is met with a pout, even though she knows Lance is right: she should catch more pokémon and add some variety to her team, but it’s only been a week and training has left her exhausted for most days of that week. It also doesn’t help that Lia is picky about those things.

But, she shouldn’t give excuses, right?

”I have…”

She leaves it at that.

There’s no time to add much else anyway, since she soon finds herself catching the pokéball he tosses at her.

An Azumarill.

”Wabbit? Really?”

An eyebrow is raised when she questions the pokémon’s name, and she smirks then. Her tone is perhaps a little too teasing, but who could blame her when ‘Wabbit’ is such an adorable name?

LANCE VOLLANS

☉

Even in a region like Hoenn summer heat eventually fades into a colder autumn, and with it, Corsola seem to migrate to warmer waters. Lia had only heard of things like those passingly before the mission was assigned to her, but as expected, becoming a ranger seems to come with learning a lot about pokémon behaviour.

It was a week ago that her training began, and here she is now: clad in a white bikini with her elbows on the gunnel of a boat as she watches the water, her head resting in her hands. Even for the end of summer, it’s a warm day, and the mission specifications said they might have to go in the water. Honestly, it sounds more like a nice day on a boat than anything potentially dangerous, but she may just think that because of who she’s with today…

”Hm? Yeah.”

She turns to look at Lance and offers a soft smile, having already finished her preparations.

They haven’t really spent any time alone together since her first day, have they? Is that why she feels a little bit nervous, or is it just about the mission?

”I don’t really have any water type pokémon, though. Will that be okay?”

Her Decidueye is perched nearby, also on the gunnel, keeping an eye on both of them.

LANCE VOLLANS

☉

First impressions are important, Lia has known as much since she was a child. Things like those matter to her, so in reality, she would much rather meet the rest of the rangers after a long shower and having reapplied her makeup. The run made her sweat, and her hair’s probably a little messy, and while to most people she likely looks just fine, the thought of these things really bothers her...

”It’s not like I have much of a choice, do I?”

Her words are also a whisper, and a smirk comes with them.

In reality, she’d also much rather spend more time alone with him, because it’s fun and because she likes the way he makes her feel. But, those are thoughts she tries to push aside; thought she knows it’s better not to have.

She came here to become a ranger, right?

So, she should meet the other rangers.

The people she’ll work with. The people she’s supposed to rely on. The people she has so little faith and trust in after everything that has happened in the region…

It’s a difficult position to be in, but she tries to focus on the positive things. To be optimistic. To hope. To believe.

When she meets them, she smiles, because first impressions are important indeed.

And, maybe also because of the lingering thoughts of those moments spent with Lance earlier.

LANCE VOLLANS

☉

Lia has never been shy, nor has she ever been insecure, but even if that’s the case, it would still be incredibly hard for her to believe his words with the way things are between them as of this moment...

They have met twice. The first time they met he flirted with her despite being complete strangers, and she flirted back. They did much more than that. So, why wouldn’t she think he’d do all that with anyone he finds attractive enough?

It’s logical, and it makes sense, and it’s this thought that she uses to ground herself: this is meaningless to him, and it should be meaningless to her.

She can’t let it get in the way of becoming a ranger.

But, she still blushes, and she still smiles, and she still chuckles, even if there’s also a sigh.

”A feeling, huh?”

It’s sweet. Why does he have to be sweet?

It doesn’t sound meaningless…

”Hope you tell me when you find out the answer to that, then.”

What would be her own answer?

LANCE VOLLANS

☉