“Stop that,” he groused back, “I would choose to do this every time. You don’t owe me an apology.” he huffed. “I won’t hear it.” Pain had a way of crowding out his thoughts now. He couldn’t seem to stay on track.[break][break]

He tutted, eyes rolling. The expression was more sluggish than he would’ve cared for. “You should. Won’t do you any good to be stuck in a cell for this.” Nor would it do Enzo any good. That sense of being untouchable felt perilously close to crumbling. How was he meant to continue keeping them safe if he went down for this too? It was a gamble. Though both prospects were grim.[break][break]

It would have been more comforting, had they been in Mossdeep. The hospital there where he knew people. He didn’t trust Slateport.[break][break]

But soon, it was too cumbersome to even think about. His head swam as Kosei babbled into his phone. He slumped harder against him. Under one hand, he felt warm, coal-dark fur. Then a cold, wet nose. Cassius. Trying to keep his senses alert.[break][break]

Darkness fuzzed at the edge of his vision. His eyelids fluttered. Were they weighted with cement now? “What’s that? You need me?” he wheezed teasingly, the corner of his mouth hitching up, though his eyes were now closed. “So pigs can fly.”[break][break]

Maybe he should’ve been more serious, but he stubbornly clung to the idea that he was fine. That he was not in dire straits. “Could get used to hearing that though,” he added with a breathless laugh.[break][break]

And then he was out like a light.

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Kosei Kiryu | owie town :')[break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-houndoom"]
[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-lycanroc form-dusk"]
[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-charizard"]

They’d made it. Relief hung heavy in his chest. “They’re good at tracking.” He pointed at Cassius as the houndoom slunk back to his side. Astra was still with Miu.[break][break]

All he wanted right then was to step closer to Kosei and sink against him. To scoop Miu up and kiss the top of her head. But his body wouldn’t allow it. He drifted down toward the ground against his will. The inside of his throat felt thick, and when he coughed to clear it, blood bubbled between his teeth. The panic and confusion filtering into Kosei’s voice made him ache. Deep and visceral.[break][break]

His abdomen burned where the bullet had buried itself, but his fingers and toes began to feel cold. It was a slow seep, bit by bit. But then Kosei was there, and he was soaking up the heat that kicked off of his body. “I know I am.” He tried to crack a grin, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes.

Is uncle enzo sick? Oh, no no. The last thing he wanted. A wildly desperate look turned upward toward Kosei, fingers curling tight in the fabric of his shirt. But the other was already on it. He let out a heavy breath. Astra followed after them, whining as it ran contrary to her want to remain alongside her trainer.[break][break]

“Coat pocket.” He couldn’t think about reaching for it himself, though. His hand did lift after a moment, pressing against Kosei’s face. Red smeared against his cheek. “It’s just a little wound, barely even feel it.” Well. That was a lie, plain and simple. Now that his adrenaline had burnt out, it was impossible to ignore the pain and the reaction of shock settling into his system.[break][break]

Enzo tried to push himself more upright, hissing at the pulse of pain radiating from his stomach. Wincing more as Kosei applied pressure to the wound. “It’s fine, I’m fine, cucciolo. Honestly.” He released a ragged breath, the reprimand immediately losing any edge he’d tried to stubbornly dig in with. His eyelids drooped and he tried to force them open again.[break][break]

“What about all…this?” Meaning the bodies left behind. He didn’t go to all this trouble just for Kosei to be locked up, after all.


[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Kosei Kiryu | owie town :')[break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-houndoom"]
[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-lycanroc form-dusk"]
[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-charizard"]

His eyes followed Astra, coaxing the little girl toward the door before the lycanroc shifted her onto her tufted back entirely. Snarling at anyone who drew too close. For a moment, his eyes connected with Miu’s, and the fear there cut through him. Almost enough to shatter his resolve.[break][break]

But not enough, in the end.[break][break]

Turning, he moved for the man Cassius had savaged. The houndoom yelped as he was kicked away, sent skidding across the floor. Not that it mattered—Enzo was there to bring the crowbar down on him in one swift blow too. That just left Kastle. He seemed to have slunk away, seizing that opportunity to be a coward, after all.[break][break]

The sound of scuffling ensued and Enzo turned to see Kosei fighting back against the guard holding him. A brief flutter of pride before the gun misfired and he had to twist away from being in range. A lucky dodge, really. He couldn’t linger long on the mess that would have made—or the phantom pain of the concept embedding in his mind. So Kastle hadn’t skulked away after all.[break][break]

“That’s a cowardly way to fight,” he remarked, voice thick and raspy, though he only figured it was the fact that he was sorely out of practice. Sneaking up from behind? Pathetic. He swung low with the crowbar, cracking against Kastle’s knees to make him fall back. Then he lost track of himself. Static noise in his mind until all fell silent.[break][break]

He tossed the crowbar to the side, breathing ragged as he tried to regain it. The metal clattered noisily against the floor in the quiet that followed. Blood pounded in his ears, heartbeat thumping. He was rustier than he thought. But still spry. “Kos?” he turned back to the other, the buzz of adrenaline dipping as relief set in.[break][break]

“Not bad, huh?” It wasn’t until he took another step forward and staggered in the process that he registered the deep pain burrowed in his gut. Frowning in confusion, his hand pressed to his stomach and the pain flared brighter. His fingers came away stained and trembling. And then he looked down to fully register the bloom of wet, dark red spreading and soaking the fabric of his shirt.[break][break]

For the first time since he’d entered the warehouse, he looked at Kosei. Really looked at him. He smiled, a breathless wheeze of laughter slipping loose. “Oh. Thought I was fast enough.” He swayed, then slumped down to his knees.

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Kosei Kiryu | owie town :')[break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-houndoom"]
[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-lycanroc form-dusk"]
[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-charizard"]

There was one thing he did before stepping inside the room to disrupt the meeting unfolding. A hand settled atop the head of his lycanroc briefly. Unexposed to violence in the same way that Cassius had been, his aim was not to direct her in that. Instead, she was given a different charge. “Astra, you will fetch Miu.” A low rumble from the back of her throat signaled her understanding. A smart girl.[break][break]

The scene that had unfolded in front of him was an ugly one. Violet eyes darted to each person in the room, assessing. One behind him, three ahead. Five, including Miu and Kosei. Not terrible odds. An intimate affair, really. Attuned to Kosei, Enzo heard the beginnings of his name, but he still did not allow himself to look, to soften. This required staying angry, staying sharp. He remained concentrated on Kastle, leaning on the long crowbar as if it were no more than a fancy cane.[break][break]

“A while? Not long enough, if I’m being honest,” he replied breezily, lip curling in irritation. A flash of teeth, cut like a warning even if his smile remained overly congenial. Kastle, in his opinion, was someone who played at big and mighty, but was no more than someone who floundered for what scraps he might cling to. A powerful loan shark? Please. He was overestimated. In need of being cut down a few inches.[break][break]

I’m in the middle of something.[break][break]

He continued and Enzo’s head tilted, smile widening. The tension that rested under the relaxed posture and nonchalant demeanor was dangerous, alert. A glint in his eyes betrayed the truth underneath the presentation. That old, unhinged nature of his fighting methods. The lack of regard for how far might be too far. And something nearing territorial fuzzed at the edges. “Are you? I hadn’t noticed.” he replied sarcastically. “See, thing is Kastel,” he began, shifting to regard the approaching lackey. His head tipped in Kosei’s direction as the crowbar slid up in his grip, then settled in position held by both.[break][break]

“His business is my business. Pronti via.” The crowbar drew back, and Enzo took a quick step. Then a second and a third before squaring up and twisting. Hips swiveling like a batter at the plate aiming for the pitch. A satisfying, crisp crack as metal made contact with the side of the guard’s head. He clicked his tongue, then whistled in imitation of a ball flying past the outfield, outta park. Homerun.[break][break]

His hounds worked in tandem, cued by the command. Both launching toward the second guard holding onto Miu. Hurtling up, Cassius latched onto the man’s leg, FIRE FANG infusing the bite with searing heat and flame as Astra waited for the moment his attention released from the little girl so that she could herd her to the side of the room.[break][break]

The intended result was a simple one - Kastle would be forced to take matters into his own hands, or the third guard would be forced to release Kosei so that the old man might have a go at saving himself.
[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Kosei Kiryu | owie town :')[break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-houndoom"]
[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-lycanroc form-dusk"]
[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-charizard"]

He had the address. But Enzo didn’t know Slateport the way Kosei did. He wasn’t familiar with the network of old port buildings, abandoned and left to deals and trades and confrontations like the one Kosei was surely now finding himself in.[break][break]

The phone rang and rang and rang. Voicemail.[break][break]

In his haste, he hadn’t brought anything along. Not a gun or dagger to be found. As he moved through the maze of storage containers, following his companions, he looked around for anything that might be of use. A heavy crowbar, left behind by a maintenance worker would have to do.[break][break]

Honestly, that was better, anyway—when he’d been younger, he’d preferred blunt force objects to do his jobs. Batons. Clubs. Bats. This wasn’t too far off the mark.[break][break]

His sense of urgency returned, though, the longer it took to find the right building.[break][break]

Astra was not a practiced attack dog. Not in the seasoned way Cassius was. Hell, she was only recently evolved. But her nose had always been good, and she knew Miu. Much of his time spent watching over her for Kosei in the last months had involved her being attached at the hip to Astra, who had been no more than a plucky little rockruff. So perhaps that was why she circled back quicker, pawing at his pant leg to point him in the right direction.[break][break]

As she led, Cassius returned to slink behind him a glowering shadow. Wisps of flame licking from the corners of his mouth.[break][break]

He wasn’t sure when, but at some point that old part of himself slipped back into place. He wasn’t sure when he’d set it loose, but maybe the point was that it wasn’t something he needed to actively do. He knew who and what he was, what he was capable of. What he’d done in the past. It felt like putting on an old, familiar and worn pair of shoes. Simple, effective, natural. Violence came easily, and despite years out of the game, he was grateful the essence of it didn’t feel rusty.[break][break]

Eventually, there were voices. A door left open. Kosei, pleading. A second, monologing. Oddly enough, it sounded familiar. He probably did business or found contacts and contracts at the hotel then. Very good.[break][break]

They weren’t on the premises. He wouldn’t be required to play nice.[break][break]

Rather than sneak inside, Enzo did what he’d always done best—derail things by making a show of it. He sauntered through the door, casually. Crowbar dragging loudly against the concrete. He leaned on it as he regarded Kastle. His glance snapped to Kosei once, then away. If he looked at either Kiryu for too long, it would shut him down. “Oh, am I interrupting something?” His smile hitched upward, sharp. Void of composure.[break][break]

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Kosei Kiryu | owie town :')[break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-houndoom"]
[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-lycanroc form-dusk"]
[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-charizard"]

His brows lifted. “Thanks for the history lesson, Kos,” he quipped. It wasn’t like he hadn’t already known bits and pieces. But of course he was going to poke at the other for willingly offering it up. “If you ever change your mind, though~”[break][break]

Ha. Like he’d ever do that.[break][break]

As much as he would’ve liked to continue enabling Kosei, he was very quickly beginning to see the folly in doing so. There was no way he wanted to be responsible for this mess waiting to happen if he turned Kosei loose and let him continue. “Go ahead.” He couldn’t help but laugh as Kosei tried and failed to smack at him. He tilted with the movement, face smushed against the other’s hand. “Wow, you really showed me.”[break][break]

Enzo continued to laugh, the more drunkenly defiant Kosei grew. “Oh, I definitely dare you to.” Said as he pulled Kosei up. Unexpectedly, the other’s face pressed against his neck as he clumsily tried to free himself. “Oh dear god.” he deadpanned as Kosei struggled with the simple task, but it didn’t distract him from the way a shiver darted along his spine as the position. How warm breath fanned over the skin there.[break][break]

“I do, huh? You coming onto me, Kiryu?” he snorted, breaking the internal tension as the corner of his mouth hitched up and he asked a question that would surely only draw indignance from his drunken work partner. “Yep. That’s where we’re headed.” Slowly, but surely, he maneuvered Kosei out of the bar and into the summer night.[break][break]

Though it was still warm, it had cooled considerably. “That help?” he glanced sideways and up at the profile of his face. A dumb laugh slipped out, in spite of himself. “You’re so out of it.” It was lucky, though, that the hotel was close. So while it took a bit longer than it should’ve, it still wasn’t a terrible walk.[break][break]

“Alright, I’m letting go now, baby deerling,” he announced once he’d hauled Kosei through the door.

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Kosei Kiryu | m: vacation time | ~10 yrs ago[break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-houndoom"]

The anger he felt wasn’t truly for Kosei. Enzo didn’t place the blame on him, though it might have sounded like it. It was just his frustration, his inability to do anything at a distance boiling over. Astride a scaly orange back, his charizard lifted up into the air, twisting in the direction of Slateport.[break][break]

“Kosei.” Sternness cut through his voice, sharp. “I’m already in the air. You can’t go busting in there. It won’t be—“ A curse slipped free as the line went silent. He’d hung up on him. “Merda!” Maximus kept an even pace. Steadied as he waited for the text to come through. It wasn’t like the charizard had a built-in GPS in his brain, but he could at least direct him toward the outskirts of Slateport, rather than Kosei’s apartment.[break][break]

Tucking in against his back, the large dragon lifted higher and picked up speed. Rumbling his dissatisfaction for the situation. It seemed Miu had her effect well rooted, even among his own pokemon. Though more often than not, she was clambering on them and irritating them, where they’d previously been unaccustomed to a child’s presence.[break][break]

It didn’t feel fast enough. But in all truthfulness, it would feel that way no matter how quickly Maximus shot through the sky. Agitation wore at the edges of his nerves. Why couldn’t Kosei wait? Surely it was what they’d wanted—for him to grow restless and try to move in on his own without thinking it through. That had to be the play, right?[break][break]

He grit his teeth, temper flaring again. It was a below the belt move, even for loan sharks and enforcers. She was just a kid. His anger diverted its course to the proper source. Kosei was acting as any parent would. And though he’d never admitted it, it was how Enzo would’ve liked to have acted on instinct as well. But he scaled back. Kept himself in his place, removed.[break][break]

It clashed with his impulses. It tasted sour on his tongue.[break][break]

Once the cityline was in sight, Maximus plummeted. Thundering against the ground to allow Enzo to descend. He was quickly replaced by both houndoom and lycanroc. “Point me.” Both knew the scents of both father and daughter. It was familiar, ingrained. Directing him through the maze of old warehouses. It was probably useless, but he acted without thought as he dialed Kosei again. Pick up. Please. “Better not have gotten yourself hurt, dumb mutt.”

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Kosei Kiryu | owie town :')[break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-houndoom"]
[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-lycanroc form-dusk"]
[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-charizard"]

It only took a few seconds, the sound of ragged breath on the other end of the line to know that this was not, in fact, an ordinary day like the rest. “Kosei?” the questioning tone was quickly swallowed by the tumult that imploded from Kosei’s side. Worse that made his stomach drop as cold nerves prickled under his skin, washing through like a tidal wave of chilled dread.[break][break]

they took her.[break][break]

His face must have paled considerably because the day manager was turning back toward him, a frown tugging at her face. The concern was evident—he was too vulnerably exposed. Too transparent. Maybe it was the sobbing on the other end, loud enough for her to hear. Normally, that would have bothered him. He would’ve given her a stern look before retreating to his office to take the call privately.[break][break]

But he was rooted in place. He wasn’t aware of it, but his own breathing had shallowed out. Because there was only one person Kosei could be referring to before it all tumbled out in more watery howls. Miu.[break][break]

“What do you mean took her? Who’s they?” he finally managed to bark out, drawing looks that earned scowls back. He knew he sounded harsh. Frantic. But that was what happened when his stress climbed. And this had just shot it through the roof. There was a sharp ache that seized him, hearing Kosei like this. Normally so stoic, so composed in his presentation. Under the panic, Enzo seethed.[break][break]

He had known Kosei was in debt. That was why he’d come back to The Nimbus in the first place. Enzo was stupid to have thought that it had all just gone away. Just like that. But life didn’t work like a snap of the fingers, did it? Why didn’t you tell me? He wanted to howl the words back. Hurl them at him in misplaced frustration.[break][break]

If this had been anyone else, Enzo would have been callous enough to shrug. Not his problem. But this was his weak spot. The one he’d allowed to grow and soften between his ribs. Foolish, he’d told himself months ago.[break][break]

Like hell, though, would he let this go. For a few moments, he was silent, mind whirring as the anger spiked. It had been a long time since he’d behaved and acted on uncontrolled emotion. He’d been young. Before Miu was born, when she was only a baby. Before new Rocket. But he wouldn’t let it loose on Kosei. Of course not. At his side, Cassius whined, sensing the unspoken climb in tension.[break][break]

“Kosei, Kosei,” it was probably a fool’s errand to try and talk him down. “I’m going to come to you, alright? Don’t do anything, not yet.” He was moving, holding the phone away to tell the manager that she was in charge for now and that his meetings were to be postponed. If any clients took issue, it was too bad. Perhaps if Yumi Hasegawa had been there at that moment, he would have asked her to try overseeing some. But he didn’t have the time to dally.[break][break]

“Kosei.” Enzo released his charizard, who already knew where to go. It was where they always went. He recalled his houndoom for the trip, pokeball tucked away along with his lycanroc’s. He waited for acknowledgement. “We’ll find her, okay? I promise.”[break][break]

He hated the way his mouth went dry. How it felt like a long shot to bank on.

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Kosei Kiryu | owie town :')[break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-houndoom"]
[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-lycanroc form-dusk"]
[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-charizard"]

Strangely, it was just reaching mid-afternoon when he realized he hadn't heard from Kosei that day. Well, of course he'd noticed sooner than that, but it wasn't terribly outlandish given that he was running on a six year old's schedule. There was getting ready, and school prep, and errands, and pick up. So losing track of time wasn't an unreasonable thing.[break][break]

He had gone straight to work himself - and soon he wasn't scrutinizing it too closely. It wouldn't have been the first time, after all. There were matters to attend to, an exhibit being hosted that needed to be checked in on. Unhappy patrons to accommodate, meetings to keep on schedule.[break][break]

It wasn't until his phone began to buzz in his pocket as he went over a budget chart with the day manager that Enzo realized he'd lost track of time entirely. A glance out toward the lobby betrayed the fact that it was now golden hour, the elaborate space lit with with rich, gold light reflecting off the marble floors and decor.[break][break]

Stepping away from his manager, a smile was already slipping across his face as he turned away to answer the phone. "I was wondering when I was going to hear from you today." A slight tease, not earnestly meant. They were both busy, it made sense.[break][break]

No reason to think anything was out of the ordinary.
[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Kosei Kiryu | owie town :')[break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-houndoom"]
[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-lycanroc form-dusk"]
[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-charizard"]

“Because you look like a pain to be the boss of,” he retorted, tongue poking out at him in a flash of pink before his lips curled into something mischievous. Feline. “I can be your boss, though. If that’s what you really want.” No more than the usual goading, of course. A curiosity to see how he’d react while in his currently shitfaced state. His own tolerance was generally high, though he hadn’t had much tonight for himself.

Let the record show that he could exert a modicum of responsibility at the right moments.[break][break]

He’d learned how to hold his liquor young. Probably too young, but it had been a means to dull the stress that had risen up in his childhood and earlier adolescence. The weight on his shoulders that never should’ve been there until he’d simply up and dropped it without a second thought. None of this was explained, of course. It wasn’t for Kosei to know. But maybe he understood to a certain extent though the situations had been different, and that was why he’d been quick to enable an effort to cut loose from the other’s typical uptightness.[break][break]

Enzo was jarred from his thoughts by the continued arguments streaming from Kosei’s mouth. He chuckled–a high, airy and amused sound. “Aw, the puppy doesn’t want to be called cute? That’s too bad.” Unfortunately, it was true. There was something cute about this, and the concept shouldn’t have even truly taken root in his mind.[break][break]

That chuckle turned into a fuller laugh. “Oh, do you? Well this has taken a turn. Save it for the hotel room, Kiryu. Don’t want to get busted for indecent exposure.” Enzo nudged him lightly, but fished his wallet out of his pocket to flag the bartender all the same. The light pressure of weight leaned against him caused him to still in place, tensing slightly as he glanced sideways. “Yeah, I can imagine. If you’re really so bent on continuing, you can get something through room service.”[break][break]

He sighed, sliding off the stool once he’d settled the bill. “Honestly, I would’ve thought you’d go easy the first time, pup. All signs of your stuck up personality pointed to it.” Despite the jab, his tone was light, and his actions countered the insult. He slipped himself up under Kosei’s arm and draped across his shoulders to hoist him up. With practiced ease, like he’d done this before. Because he had.[break][break]

“C’mon. The fresh air will help.”

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Kosei Kiryu | m: vacation time | ~10 yrs ago[break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-houndoom"]