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Gunner sat back in his chair, turning over Shion's question in his mind. He joined the Bureau six years ago. Taking another sip of his latte, he allowed himself a moment to think back and reach for a suitable answer.[break][break]

"There's a lot more paperwork than they advertise," he answered, his lip curling at the joke. "I expected the training that prepares you for working in high risk situations, for meeting foreign contacts, the language study… but I didn't expect the report writing."[break][break]

He chuckled and set down his cup on its saucer.[break][break]

"It's not all fun and games. I would say, the majority of the time, it's not cool stuff. It's very mundane stuff, sometimes stressful, sometimes maddening. You do cool stuff maybe ten percent of the time."[break][break]

Even though he was the interviewee, he could not help but ask a question of his own as he regarded the young woman seated across from him. After all, though his job description did not involve recruitment, he could still scout for talent among the masses.[break][break]

"What interests you about the HBIC?" Gunner asked, eyebrow arched slightly.

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The sudden attack with the ringo-ame caught Gunner off guard, but he accepted the sweet treat. Sucking on the remnants of the sugary snack, he fell into step beside Mila. His long strides easily allowed him to keep up with her.[break][break]

Her concern surprised him, but he kept his expression mild. While she almost never asked him about his work, she was capable of concern for him. The last couple of days since the clash at the Ancient Tomb had proven this.[break][break]

"I'm okay, I guess. Still kind of shaken," Gunner admitted, crunching on the last of the apple before tossing the stick into a trash bin. "It's been hard to wrap my mind around everything that happened."[break][break]

The hazy memories. The strong feelings toward certain people he was convinced were friends, though they hadn't been friends before the battle.[break][break]

The silver ring he'd found in his pocket.[break][break]

"It feels like… I don't know. Like I was lost." He'd said the same thing to her when he'd stumbled into her shop that afternoon, overwhelmed by emotion and the need to confirm she was real.

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As soon as he caught sight of Shion Uehara entering the café, Gunner finished the message he was typing out and put his phone on Do Not Disturb. He placed it facedown on the table between them just as she sat down.[break][break]

"Pleased to meet you, Miss Uehara," he said, extending a hand for her to shake. "Yes, you're right on time. Would you like a coffee before we begin?"[break][break]

Though most visitors ordered at the cashier, they could also flag a barista over to their table if needed. Hanging on the wall behind the counter was a large menu, the coffee choices visible from where they were seated.[break][break]

Gunner was in no rush. Besides, he was the one being interviewed, not Shion. She set the pace.

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TAGS – Serena Malcolm[break]
NOTES – mission

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"Hey, I have feelings too, you know," Gunner shot back, grinning. "You might be amazed to hear I'm not a stoic and humorless guy all the time."[break][break]

He strolled at an easy pace next to Mila, matching her beautiful kimono with a more subdued men's yukata. Despite the plain appearance, the black fabric possessed a fine quality; the red obi around his waist was embroidered with a subtle pattern in slightly darker thread.[break][break]

Originally, Gunner was not planning to dress up in traditional clothing. But ever since he and Mila returned to some semblance of their past relationship, he found himself wanting to indulge her more. He knew she'd love it if they matched.[break][break]

At the Tanabata tree, he scribbled his own wish onto a piece of paper, then carefully folded it and tied it to a lower branch.[break][break]

[break]

Gunner chuckled at her question. His smile took on an enigmatic quality as he stepped back from the tree.[break][break]

"That's not how wishes work, Mila. If I tell you, it won't come true." Then he squinted at her. "Why, what did you wish for?"

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Gunner caught the tightness in Angelo's smile, sensing offense. But the agent did not feel sorry for causing the slight. Legendary Pokémon had minds of their own. How could he trust one unless he knew it? Unless he knew the person bound to its will?[break][break]

Thankfully, Gunner's question about the other strange Pokémon diverted Angelo's attention. Gunner rifled through his memories but could not come up with a name or explanation as to the mysterious creature's identity.[break][break]

He shook his head. "That night was my first time seeing it," he admitted before taking another sip of water. "I did file a report about it when I got back to headquarters, but haven't heard anything since. I'll do some digging, though, and let you know if I come across anything."[break][break]

Little did he know there would not be any information available to him. None at all.[break][break]

A bird called loudly nearby, interrupting the serene quiet of the training area. Gunner checked his watch.[break][break]

"Should we get back to it?" he asked Angelo.

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Returning to work in the days following the battle at the Ancient Tomb was surreal. Gunner felt like he hadn't worked in this capacity in two decades, and he possessed a real worry that he'd forgotten how to do everything.[break][break]

Somehow, thankfully, that was not the case. Only occasionally did he stare dumbfounded at something on his computer screen, taking a few seconds for his brain to remember how to find what he was looking for. Missions and operations outside of the office were much easier, on the other hand, the training of a spy ingrained into his body.[break][break]

What he had not expected, however, was a casual interview. The case handler who'd signed him up told him a prospect from the police academy was interested in learning about the Hoenn Bureau of Intelligence and Counterterrorism.[break][break]

Of course, Gunner couldn't share confidential information, but he could talk about what they look for in employees, the kind of public work they do — that sort of thing.[break][break]

At first, he protested, insisting a case handler or even someone from Human Resources would be better suited for this conversation. But he was a senior field agent with several years' worth of experience under his belt. Surely someone from the police academy would want to follow in his footsteps.[break][break]

Which was how Gunner found himself at a café, sipping a latte and waiting at a table for the cadet in question. He'd been given her name and photograph for ease of identification, but she hadn't walked through the door yet.[break][break]

With one eye on the entrance, he passed the time checking his newest AmiGo notifications and sending DMs to interesting matches.

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Relief washed over Gunner as Mila grew calm and accepted his answer. He did not know how long this fragile peace would last between them, but for the moment, the fact that peace existed at all was enough.[break][break]

He returned the slow, deep kiss she initiated, a quiet thrill rushing through his veins at the gesture, before releasing her. His grin matched hers, full of eagerness.[break][break]

"I haven't moved, so I should be pretty easy to find," Gunner said, squeezing Mila's hand and pecking her cheek in a quick farewell. "I'll text you soon. Promise."[break][break]

With a last, lingering look, he left the store with a lightness to his step that hadn't been there when he'd entered.

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TAGS – Serena Malcolm[break]
NOTES – mission

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Gunner nodded slowly as he listened. Despite access to government records, he had little firsthand experience with Legendary Pokémon or the Avatars they choose to patron. Angelo was his first encounter with such powers.[break][break]

He did not doubt, however, that the other man was telling the truth. It seemed very possible for Pokémon as powerful as Latios to use humans as vessels.[break][break]

The thought made Gunner shudder.[break][break]

"At least your connection seems… benign," he said, unable to keep the skepticism from his voice. "What about the Pokémon that attacked? You seemed familiar with it."

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