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Marshall tucked his phone away into a pocket. "Nah," he said, tone casual. "Just checkin' the numbers and all that."[break][break]

He'd actually been texting Keira Torres. They were trying to schedule hot pot for dinner and a movie afterward. But no one needed to know that, least of all the employees within earshot.[break][break]

Marshall stepped into the center of the warehouse, then spread his arms. He looked at Mateo with a wide, wolfish grin.[break][break]

"Welcome to Mauville Mods and Repair. Is this your first time in here?"

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A fine day meant that the main door of MAUVILLE MODS & REPAIR had been rolled up, revealing the interior of the warehouse. Sunlight, fresh air, and the noise of the indoor city streamed inside. Hip hop music played softly on a set of Bluetooth speakers on a table flush against one wall.[break][break]

Spread out down the narrow length of the warehouse, mechanics were hard at work on three motorcycles, each one mounted on a raised platform. These people were not officially gang members; instead, Orthrus employed them for honest work.[break][break]

Mateo was a member, on the other hand; his white jacket was the badge that marked him so. When he greeted them and the mechanics glanced up from their work, they saw the jacket at once and knew its meaning.[break][break]

"Customers' bikes," said one of the body shop's employees. "If you're looking for Slade, he's in the boss' office."[break][break]

A thumb jerked toward a side door, one of three set into the same wall. It was wide open.[break][break]

"Who's looking for me?" Marshall asked as he stepped through the doorway, cell phone in hand. Blue eyes fell upon Mateo. "Oh hey, sup?"

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Marshall should not have opened this can of worms. He regretted bringing it up, even though he wanted peace among all gang members. Peace meant everyone working together for the good of the gang, whereas strife — especially left unaddressed — could unravel all their hard work.[break][break]

Yet his was a difficult position. Above all, he did not want to undermine Jack Magnus' authority in Orthrus. Taking Jasmine's side against him felt like a betrayal of Marshall's role.[break][break]

He pondered his next words as a Spheal waddled into view. A CRUNCH from Diesel injured it enough for Marshall to throw a Pokéball.[break][break]

"Is it affectin', like, your happiness in the gang?" he finally asked, deciding to ensure Jasmine still wished to remain in Orthrus.

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Marshall said nothing. Perhaps Vee did not know yet that Orthrus did kill people. Those assassination contracts went straight to ozias ambrose. And who's to say Jack Magnus and even Marshall himself hadn't left people bleeding to death in a gutter somewhere?[break][break]

Vee's compliment about his looks was the perfect topic change.[break][break]

"I think so too. If anythin', I got even better-looking," Marshall agreed with a smirk, striking a pose.[break][break]

Then he relaxed again into a comfortable slouch. "We were stealin' liquor, hundreds of Pokedollars of it. Enough for a year's jail time, anyway."[break][break]

He tilted his head at Vee.[break][break]

"You were in the foster system too, huh? For how long? I was in it since I was like, five."

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Footfalls on the floor behind him and the telltale squeak of the bar stool next to him as someone sat on it prompted Marshall to turn around. But the woman he envisioned as the Crimson Lady was nothing like the one beside him.[break][break]

The Crimson Lady was supposed to be a stranger, a new addition to his growing list of criminal contacts. She was not supposed to trigger sudden memories of a certain scrawny girl with wild white hair and stubborn crimson eyes.[break][break]

"No fuckin' way," Marshall said, a smirk spreading across his face as he took in the sight. "Is that really you, Kiki?"[break][break]

Of course, Keira Torres had changed. No longer was she the little kid who cried and yelled whenever the older teens told her to sit still and stay behind. She'd chopped off her hair and styled it into something cute, learned how to dress fashionably, and even wore makeup.[break][break]

What's more, her stick-thin figure had filled out gorgeously. Marshall couldn't help but openly eye her body in appreciation.

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THUD![break][break]

Marshall swiveled to the source of the noise while Turbine opened a single eye to regard the newcomer. A man leaned against the frame of the warehouse door, his hair a shock of bright blue.[break][break]

Something about his demeanor and the words that came out of his mouth told Marshall he was not a customer.[break][break]

"Only the best in the city," Marshall replied anyway, a smile spreading across his face. But his eyes regarded the stranger keenly, sizing him up. "How can I help ya, buddy?"

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Marshall helped Leilani clean; there was nothing better to do while they talked. Between the two of them, the kitchen was back to sparkling clean in just a few minutes, leaving them plenty of time to chit chat while the cake baked.[break][break]

However, Marshall had also forgotten to set a timer. He realized the error as soon as alarm entered Leilani's face and the smell of something burning filled his nose.[break][break]

"Oh fuck!" he shouted, leaping from his chair. But she reached the oven first. Sure enough, the cakes had burned on the outside. Could they salvage their hard work? "Yeah, that sounds like a smart idea."[break][break]

After letting the cake cool, cutting off the burnt bits, and decorating it with frosting, Marshall felt more confident about their creation. His chest puffed with pride.[break][break]

"And ruin the cake before we present it to Magnus? Fuck no. I'm sure it's fine," he insisted.[break][break]

Famous last words.[break][break]

"Just put it in the fridge and we'll surprise him with it tomorrow."

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Rest was an excellent idea. Marshall joined Vee on the rocks, stretching out his legs in front of him.[break][break]

"We met in juvie," he explained, not ashamed to confess he had been locked away. "I was sixteen and he was a year older. We were cellmates."[break][break]

A curious Stunky padded nearby, but maintained its distance. Marshall gave his Garchomp a sharp shake of his head. Downshift rumbled quietly but did not attack. Eventually, the Stunky grew bored and waddled into the shadows between buildings.[break][break]

"I was only in juvie for a year, but Magnus had been there for a long time already. He ever tell you he almost killed his dad with his own hands? That's why. Me, I was just caught stealin' somethin'."

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As much as Marshall was Magnus' best friend, he had to admit, it was unfair. But Magnus and Jasmine's situation was not too different than his and Keira's. Every time Keira flirted or slept with another man, Marshall only saw red. He wanted to pummel the shit out of everyone who so much looked at her with sexual interest.[break][break]

But he couldn't understand why Keira got so mad when he flirted or slept with someone else. They were just friends. His own reaction to her interest in others was irrational. No matter how much Marshall hated to think about it, Keira was free to do whatever she wanted.[break][break]

That was the difference between them and whatever was going on with Magnus and Jasmine. Magnus tended to view his booty calls as his property. Marshall never said anything about it because it wasn't his business; Magnus could do whatever he liked, as long as he didn't jeopardize the gang.[break][break]

"You ever, like, talk to him about it?" Marshall asked haltingly, not really sure what to say. He was half-distracted by a Magnezone swooping into view, which Diesel attacked with a FLARE BLITZ.[break][break]

The Magnezone fell to the snow, smoking. Marshall threw a Pokeball as he waited for Jasmine's answer.

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"Same! Cyclizar looks fuckin' cool. We'll both catch one someday, you'll see," Marshall reassured Vee.[break][break]

Moments later, she tripped and awakened a slumbering Hydreigon. Though the three-headed Pokemon was nearly of a height with Marshall, it towered over the young woman, turning all three of its spiteful glares upon her.[break][break]

"Oh shit, Vee!" he started to say, but she and her Dunsparce were already attacking. All he could do was stay out of the way as the Hydreigon took flight with Vee clinging to its tail and her Pokemon in its mouths.[break][break]

But before Marshall could help her, Vee had the situation under control. She managed to fall right on top of the unconscious Hydreigon and use a Pokeball on it. Incredulous, he laughed and shook his head.[break][break]

"That was somethin' else for sure. You okay though?"

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"Yeah, you're probably right. We've been here two years and we don't know enough about whatever these fuckin' Avatars are. Could be one of them caused this."[break][break]

Marshall gestured to the wide expanse of snow and ice that spread before them. They passed by a frozen Pyroar, its toothy maw open in a ferocious roar.[break][break]

A flash of red feathers in the corner of his eye caught Marshall's attention. Behind another living statue, a Delibird dug through the snow. At a look from his trainer, Diesel bounded over and surprised it with FIRE FANG. Marshall threw another Pokéball.[break][break]

"So Jazzy, what's up with you and Magnus lately? You been fightin' a lot more than usual?" Marshall asked the woman.

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Marshall chuckled and shook his head as the Frigibax skidded across the sand. "Oi, oi, don't make it too easy for us!" he yelled.[break][break]

At least the little Pokémon was tenacious. He bounced back up and retaliated with an ICICLE CRASH. Marshall's Kommo-o took the hit directly, grunting with pain.[break][break]

"Brush it off, Redline!" he called out. "You got this, girl!"[break][break]

With a roar, the Scaly Pokémon leaped at her opponent and attempted to strike with CLOSE COMBAT.

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