"Oh fuck off," She growled.

This was bad. Where was the key again? A mirage of various items flashed in her head, ranging from her dashboard to her back pocket to the bag she left in the trunk of her car.

And it wasn't in option 2.

Soleil closed her eyes, pinched the bridge of her nose, and let out an exhausted groan. Only after did she even start to get up.

"Let's go."

The faster she escaped this dimwit, the better.

The car's sudden thrust forward earned a widened eye as she gripped tightly onto the passenger's handlebar.

When the car came to a screeching halt, Soleil kicked open her door with a grunt, her spare hand immediately going for her weapon as well. The cool touch of metal sent a shiver down her spine as she crept up near the car, eyes set straight forward.

"Watch my back."

Slow and cautious, she approached the suspect's car, hand still hovering over the handle of her pistol.

She gave a window a knock.

"Do me a favor and turn off the car."

Inside, the scrawny man silently looked back up at her, eyes wide and jaw slacked.

"I said turn off the car."

"Frye."



The name stung more than the memories it held, but when it came to work, there was no avoiding it. It was just one of many ghouls she was forced to bear on a daily basis.

Hard eyes glanced back over to the family friend. She looked kind-- kinder than herself, but that was no grand accomplishment worth praising. Reaching out, the officer gave Willow a firm handshake, then retracted her hand back to her side, allowing it to comfortably rest on her hip.

"Pleasure to meet you both. Mind directing me to the infestation?"

POST

Bug infestation wreaking havoc in nearby berry farm. A typical mission for a nearby Ranger base to receive, but as most were occupied by a raging fire that broke out in a nearby forest, it was left up to Soleil to fix. 

Normally, she'd be annoyed with being given another task unrelated to her post back at Lilycove. She was a cop, not a damn servant. But, unlike those ghastly trips to Slateport, this mission was one she was a little excited to accomplish.

Berry farms were always huge comforts for the woman. There was nothing in this world that could quite beat the giddiness of adolescence that came from running around your local berry farm during the peak of their oran berry season.

When Soleil initially approached the farm, she noticed what looked to be an old woman already talking to another person. Was she a neighbor? A local ranger?

"Hello ma'am," She called out, her voice giving off a natural raspy sound, "Lilycove PD. We got a call about a bug infestation?"

As weak as it might've been, she wound up her fist and sent it slamming against his cheek. 

"Go fuck yourself, Avery," she spat. "what's your fucking problem?"

The snarl, the look of desperation -- it wasn't for her.

That much was clear.

She gripped her hands around his wrists, pulling them off, one by one, till she was free from his grasp. Only then did she respond.

"You're talking to the wrong person.  My comrades... they would understand."


She couldn't say the same about his.

"Stay down, mutt," She growled, gritting her teeth as her hands worked at his wrist, bringing them together, inch by inch, until they were in cuffing range.

Click!

She managed to secure the first loop around his right wrist. Swiftly, she moved on to the next, ready to put this terrible grocery trip to an end. That is, until she felt a sudden bump behind her, causing her to fall forward and topple back on top of Caspian.


Click!

"Get the fuck off of me." Pushing off the man, Soleil attempted to return to her feet, but when she did, she felt a bit of resistance on her wrist. "No fucking way..."

"So it is."

An attentive eye stared out through the windshield, following close behind the shadowy figure. From where they sat, she could tell his clothes looked a bit rugged, and his hair had a disheveled look to it.

Bad sign number one.

"Looks like he's getting into his car."

And so he was, but only after looking over his shoulder 10 times over, and making sure no one was stowed away in his back seat.

Bad sign number two.

"Don't lose him."

why do you care so much?

That was the only thought that ran through her mind, as he held her up by the collar and pinned her up against the wall.

Why does it matter?

She already heard what she needed to from the other guards-- kanto was rocket's. No mattered how much she barked, or kick up a storm, there was no changing that. Was dying easier? There was no doubt about it. But, after everything, didn't she at least deserved to rest?

Soleil's head rolled backward, resting against the cool cement wall, as her only eye peered down at him, dully.

"Stop acting like you know me," she sighed, "You don't. "

The woman paused, gave it a second of thought, then continued, her voice colder than before, but just as slow. 

"Get the fuck over yourself. I don't want your pity, or your opinion, okay? I fought, I did what i fucking could, so just let me rest"

"I didn't leave!" Her voice went hoarse.

She might've chosen to stay in Johoto.

She might've chosen to conceal her return from Callie.

But she didn't choose to leave them -- she would never choose to leave her.

Fists curled up at her sides as she took a step forward, a step closer to Callie. "Back then, when we got overran, Rocket... They got me. Kept me captive for a year. It's how I got this," she pointed to her eye, "it's why I 'left'"

The rest of her questions were easier to ignore.