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Gunner could not deny her accusation. Not when he was dressed head-to-toe in a League-issued field uniform with "HBIC" emblazoned on his chest. He narrowed blue eyes at her but eventually admitted the truth he'd been hiding for the past six months.[break][break]

"Yes. You were never supposed to find out." He gestured to his chest. "I conduct investigations on behalf of the Hoenn Bureau of Intelligence and Counterterrorism."[break][break]

He said the last word with special emphasis, as if he were jabbing a finger at her. Then he shook his head, full of disbelief at the lies that had unraveled in less than twenty-four hours.[break][break]

"I can't believe this, Summer. Your records were clean. Your company's records, too."

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"Have you not destroyed enough?"[break][break]

Gunner did not want to answer that question. He'd certainly hurt and killed many people, but enough of them? The uncertainty hung heavy in his chest, an admission he was not ready to speak out loud.[break][break]

Instead, he chose to answer Gideon's other question.[break][break]

"I like what I do." It was the truth, as shocking as it must have sounded to his brother. "I'm good at it. I feel like I have a purpose in life, like I can actually make a difference in the world we live in."[break][break]

Gunner finally raised his gaze to meet Gideon's, determined blue eyes meeting the umber ones brimming with concern.[break][break]

"And the risk is one I'm willing to take if it means preventing what happened to her from happening to you, Mom, and Dad."

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Silence returned to Circhester as the hostile Pokémon fell. The gigantic Kingler reverted back to its normal size. Dust settled, and a stillness fell upon the scene like a shroud. Gunner exhaled, feeling exhausted deep in his bones.[break][break]

The peasantry were first to react. Cheering and clapping, they stormed the street and crowded around one of the Rangers (Raziel Beckett) and Summer Atreides. Cries of "Hail the king and queen!" filled the air, and two people threw makeshift crowns atop their heads.[break][break]

Gunner's eyes locked with Summer's, and all at once, he realized he'd ripped away his own cover in an attempt to save his own skin. A mix of embarrassment and fury washed over him. Embarrassment because he'd been forced into this position, and the returning fury of her presence in the first place.[break][break]

Storming over, his boots heavy against the cobblestone, Gunner seized Summer by the arm. "We need to talk," he said in a voice that brooked no argument.[break][break]

[break]

They lost the baby.[break][break]

After their abrupt breakup on the day the Galarian Zapdos had attacked, Gunner had avoided Summer, stubbornly refusing to speak with her if he had to be in her presence. He'd made an exception when he heard news she was at the hospital. That she had miscarried.[break][break]

Their conversation had not gone well. Gunner's first reaction had not been horror or concern for her safety, but relief that he didn't have to be a father. The guilt was enough for him to drive them further apart from each other.[break][break]

Months passed. Gigantic Pokémon continued to appear and assault the city. Gunner ended up organizing and running the city watch with mikael rosenberg. Working together with angelo vestri, who scouted the area outside Circhester, and skyler dross, who helped repair and reinforce the ice walls with Kyogre, they kept themselves busy.[break][break]

[break]



Gunner eventually got to know everyone who'd also come to this false Galar through Zacian's Sword, including other members of Team Rocket. He'd even had a fleeting dalliance with Serena Malcolm, but it ended when he realized nothing could repair the hole in his heart.[break][break]

He spent the next decade commanding the city guard, catching moments of normalcy with his friends or brother GIDEON GRAVES, and wondering what mischief mila alexopoulos was up to. The peasant woman who spent nights with him looked a little bit like her, but she didn't know him like Mila did. It made him miss her even more.[break][break]

On one overcast day, Gunner stood on the city wall overlooking the destruction Necrozma had left in its wake. His men were still tallying the body count, but it was already tremendous. Frustration built up inside him, but ten years had taught him how to keep his head cool despite whatever anger brewed beneath the surface.[break][break]

He turned to Summer Atreides and Raziel Beckett. Over the last ten years, they had adapted well to being the city's leaders. And as captain of the city watch, Gunner reported to them. Thankfully, the rift between him and Summer had mended, at least to the point where they could converse amicably.[break][break]

"It will take some time to rebuild. We lost a lot of good men and women in the attack," he told them, bitterness in his tone. "I'll be reworking shifts and wall coverage today while skyler dross patches up the holes in our defenses."[break][break]

After delivering the rest of his report, he excused himself. A short walk to the city's market square brought him to the forges where blacksmiths worked tirelessly to create new weapons and armor to replace what had been lost or damaged. There, Naomi Sato stood among them.[break][break]

The woman had once been his worst enemy as a Head Scientist for Team Rocket, but circumstances had forced both sides to put aside their animosities. Her recent work designing special weapons and defensive equipment had proven valuable.[break][break]

Gunner smiled at her as he approached, but before he could say anything, one of the blacksmiths interrupted, carrying a shield. Large enough to protect his entire torso, it was styled like the shield of a knight from legend.[break][break]

"It's done, sir, as you requested," the older man said, handing it to Gunner.[break][break]

He took the shield and strapped it to his arm. It was strangely light but seemed sturdy. "Thank you," Gunner said. He smashed his fist against the front of it, and a WIDE GUARD activated, shimmering briefly around everyone present.[break][break]

Gunner smiled. "It's perfect."[break][break]

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Silence returned to Circhester as the hostile Pokémon fell. The gigantic Kingler reverted back to its normal size. Dust settled, and a stillness fell upon the scene like a shroud. Gunner exhaled, feeling exhausted deep in his bones.[break][break]

The peasantry were first to react. Cheering and clapping, they stormed the street and crowded around one of the Rangers (Raziel Beckett) and Summer Atreides. Cries of "Hail the king and queen!" filled the air, and two people threw makeshift crowns atop their heads.[break][break]

Gunner's eyes locked with Summer's, and all at once, he realized he'd ripped away his own cover in an attempt to save his own skin. A mix of embarrassment and fury washed over him. Embarrassment because he'd been forced into this position, and the returning fury of her presence in the first place.[break][break]

Storming over, his boots heavy against the cobblestone, Gunner seized Summer by the arm. "We need to talk," he said in a voice that brooked no argument.[break][break]

Then, regardless if she resisted or complied, he dragged her to the side of the street where a rundown building provided some privacy for their conversation.[break][break]

"Care to explain to me why you're here? On a battlefield? On the side of Team Rocket?" he ground out, baring his teeth.

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Gunner saw the wind seconds before his hand collided with it. It manifested with a sharpness and precision that startled him, whipping before Eva to stop his palm. His hand smacked against an invisible wall, the impact rebounding through his arm and throwing him back a couple of steps.[break][break]

"That was incredible," Gunner breathed, eyes wide as he regarded Eva with awe.[break][break]

She looked completely exhausted, though, bracing herself against her knees once more. The agent wondered how much effort it took to control such powers.[break][break]

"I'm sure it will get easier with practice," Gunner said, hoping to sound encouraging. "One day you'll be able to do it without breaking a sweat, I bet." He looked over to check on his Urshifu and Eva's Machamp, who seemed to have finished their spar.[break][break]

Then an idea occurred to him.[break][break]

"You must be hungry after all that effort. Want to get some lunch?" he offered. And then he smiled, the strict professionalism from past encounters gone and replaced with something warmer.

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Mila resurfaced mere inches from Gunner, water streaming down her body and dripping from her hair. The sun illuminated her smile in a way that made his heart skip in his chest. Had she always been so beautiful?[break][break]

Without thinking, he drew her to him, lifting her up with the help of the buoyant waves so she could wrap her legs around his waist and her arms around his shoulders. Their faces hovered inches apart from each other.[break][break]

"Maybe it's better she's not here," Gunner murmured before kissing Mila on the lips. His nose nuzzled her cheek. "I have you all to myself."

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Sweetheart.[break][break]

Mila's use of the endearment jolted Gunner out of post-coital bliss faster than he wanted. It suggested a closeness for which he was not ready, an intimacy he didn't want. He did not know yet, of course, that she used pet names for everyone, whether she was entangled in them like he was or not.[break][break]

Thankfully, the reminder of sharp glass in her heel broke the tension further. Gunner sat up, alarmed to see the blood. Checking himself, he found drying smears of blood along his legs and hips where her feet had brushed — her blood.[break][break]

Memories of the earlier fight came rushing back, though they felt distant, like it had happened another lifetime ago. Gunner's instinct to help others overrode every other feeling and misgiving. He stood from the bed, still naked.[break][break]

"Shit, hold on. Let me help with that. Do you have a first aid kit? Is it in your bathroom?" he asked.

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Angelo's eyes lit up with understanding, giving Gunner confidence that the pilot knew exactly what to do.[break][break]

And so, this time, Gunner did not notice Angelo's approach — not in the way the tall grass bended or the way low branches were brushed aside. He frowned as the time passed without any sign or sight of the other man.[break][break]

But there was nothing to do except wait. Gunner continued to scan the area, looking for clues but finding none. What were the odds Angelo was nearly upon him?

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Mila's laughter was music to Gunner's ears. He treasured the days he could hear it, knowing that dark days came soon after when all she would do was scream at him and throw things.[break][break]

She splashed him back, causing him to look away just enough so she could dunk his head underwater. Saltwater rushed into his nose and open mouth. Instinct seized him. He grabbed at Mila in an attempt to stop her, forcing himself upright at the same time.[break][break]

Gunner's head broke the surface. He coughed and sputtered, wiping seawater from his eyes with one hand. "Are you trying to drown me?!" he exclaimed, though there was no harshness or accusation in his tone.[break][break]

Instead, he chuckled and waded farther out until the water came up to his chest.[break][break]

"Come out here, it feels great," he called out to Mila, arms spread on either side as he bobbed up and down on the gentle waves.

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The way Mila curled against Gunner afterward triggered an instinctual response. His arm wrapped around her shoulders, pulling her closer. Blue eyes peered at her from beneath heavy lids, his own lazy smirk tugging at a corner of his mouth.[break][break]

"You too," he breathed, exhausted, content beyond measure.[break][break]

His gaze traveled down to the glaring red marks he'd left upon her neck, shoulders, and chest. If he'd had his way, they would mar her beautiful skin on her thighs and butt as well. The mere thought of it stoked the embers of his cooling hunger, but not enough for him to want a second round.[break][break]

Instead, Gunner brushed a blooming bruise with his thumb, his touch more gentle than it had ever been before. "Are you okay? I didn't hurt you too badly, did I?" he asked, fully aware she had left similar bruises and bite marks on him.

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Gunner needed no further urging, though he did pause a moment above Mila, his mouth going dry as he drank in the sight of her naked body. He wanted to kiss every inch of her skin. He wanted to mark her with bruises and bite marks so she and everyone else would know what they'd done together. He wanted to dip his head between her legs and make her sing with his tongue.[break][break]

But Mila was begging him so sweetly, her hips rising toward his with such lewd wantonness. And so Gunner gave in to her, uniting them in blissful ecstasy. He groaned into her neck at the delicious pleasure setting every nerve of his on fire.[break][break]

"Fuck, Mila," he gasped as they moved together, slowly at first, both of them basking in the intimate contact. He savored it all, from the way her nails scratched lines down his back to the grip of her legs around his hips.[break][break]

It was so easy to lose himself in the smell, the taste, and the feel of her. Before long, they were rocking together at a feverish pace. Mila occupied every shred of Gunner's focus, from each moan and cry to the way her hands tugged at him, urging him.[break][break]

Before long, he noticed the telltale signs she was near her peak. He waited until she finished, delighting in her sounds and the way her body shuddered under his, before seeking his own release. It hit him with staggering force, filling his vision with stars.

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