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Gunner chuckled, a rare sound that faded too quickly. "I did say you're pretty good. Impressive, even."[break][break]

The compliment came slowly, as if the word had momentarily stuck behind his teeth.[break][break]

When Angelo asked for pearls of wisdom, Gunner indicated the swaying branches of a nearby tree. "The breeze here is strong, so you can tell when something moves against it. You're a pilot, right? Use it to your advantage."[break][break]

He raised a hand, summoning his Alakazam to his side again. "See you soon."[break][break]

And then he disappeared once more, teleporting to another part of the enclosed space, where he found another spot to wait.

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Gunner knocked on the unassuming door of the apartment in front of him. The loud raps of his knuckles demanded entry, reflecting the frustration roiling in his chest.[break][break]

He'd received a report from the rehabilitation program run by Raziel Beckett that one of their latest additions, mila alexopoulos, had not been showing up to meetings. And as the HBIC agent assigned to oversee her reintegration into society, Gunner was forced to do something about it.[break][break]

The apartment was hers, which she shared with a young woman named Mei Liu. He knew Mei would not be home — the woman was a professional escort who worked at night. Mila, on the other hand, should have already finished her shift at the fashion boutique, Primarina.[break][break]

It was the perfect time to confront her alone, as her rehabilitation was a private matter. Gunner didn't think Mei knew about Mila's former ties with Team Rocket.[break][break]

"Mila, are you home? It's Agent Graves. We need to talk," he called out as he knocked again.

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Gunner was not the most patient man, but years of training as a spy helped him ease into the long wait. He did not pass the time idly; instead, he listened and watched with full alertness. Every rustle of leaves and Wingull cry caught his attention.[break][break]

Which is why, when he finally recognized the signs that angelo vestri was only a couple of meters away, he was very impressed with the other man's skill.[break][break]

"You're pretty good," Gunner said, meaning it. "If you'd been sneaking up on anyone else, you might have gotten the jump on them."[break][break]

He stood, brushing the dirt off his pants.[break][break]

"I'm glad to know you weren't going to do something dumb like step on a twig," the agent added, his smile suggesting a joke even though his tone was as serious as usual.

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More people congregated around the statue in the middle of the sports field. Gunner picked up his pace, hoping to speak with PENELOPE LIVY as soon as possible and receive orders. However, something unusual caught his eye: a folded parchment caught on a bleacher, fluttering in the breeze.[break][break]

He snatched it up, curious. The fragile paper unfurled, revealing cursive words in dark ink. Gunner quickly scanned it, his brow creasing in confusion. Though the parchment itself seemed little more than discarded garbage, its message sent a chill down the agent's spine.[break][break]

He spoke into the League comms. "I just found something. Maybe it's not important, but I can't help feeling it is. It's a riddle."[break][break]

His eyes scanned the paper again as he read the words out loud: "'In stone, the fairy king's sword shelters in dream. Like a dream, we shall forget it too. Poison plagues the mental faculties and renders the tongue drunk.'"[break][break]

Folding the paper, Gunner continued across the field. Closer now, he could identify those gathered there: Councilwomen Katherine Fairburne and PENELOPE LIVY, Elite Four Greyson Connors and Callan Young, and several Rangers.[break][break]

"Does that sound familiar to anyone?" Gunner asked, still using the comms while he remained out of earshot of the larger group.[break][break]

Then his steps slowed. Among the group of Rangers was none other than Eris Halla, who'd gone missing months ago. And standing next to her was the woman he'd least expected to see.[break][break]

"Summer?" Gunner whispered to himself, incredulous. Shocked outrage swept through him. She was pregnant! She was supposed to be home, comfortable and safe, not standing in the middle of a battlefield.[break][break]

He started to storm over, only to remember he was masked and wearing a League uniform. If she recognized him, it would blow his entire cover to her and expose all of his lies. So he headed straight for the government personnel instead. A calm and measured walk brought him to their side, though rage continued to build within him.[break][break]

The appearance of the High King of Galar brushed away all personal concerns. Gunner listened carefully as the Pokémon, who called itself Calyrex, requested their aid. Though he'd read some Galarian folklore, the agent was not familiar with this 'hero of many battles'. If the High King wanted their aid, they needed more information.[break][break]

"Tell us more about this hero. Who is she?" he asked. Then he turned to the others, nodding his head at Greyson Connors's suggestion. "In that case, I'll go to Circhester."[break][break]

Glancing back toward Summer Atreides, Gunner wondered where she would go. What she would ask.[break][break]

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Despite Mila's laugh, Gunner knew his comment had cut deep. A part of him puffed with pride that he'd been able to land such a jab after suffering her acidic comments. But another part of him, the quieter part that ached to be with her, scolded him for pushing her away again.[break][break]

Especially because of the questions from her that followed.[break][break]

"Summer is not a damsel," Gunner said hotly. "She's an elegant, refined woman who wouldn't put herself in any situation where she needs saving."[break][break]

But wealth and privilege tended to make people more reckless than usual, heedless of dangers more familiar to the average person. He only hoped the recent revelation of Summer Atreides's pregnancy would make her exercise more caution.[break][break]

Little did Gunner know he was very wrong about that.[break][break]

"Anyway, leave her out of this. She hasn't done anything to you."

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Mila's pause caused Gunner's heart to drop into his stomach, and the smile on his face faltered. He inwardly cursed himself, believing he'd said the wrong thing. His brain scrambled for a way to recover from such a stupid suggestion.[break][break]

But then Mila laughed. She stood from her chair and made her way around the table to him. Gunner's heart soared back into his throat as she climbed onto his lap. Instinctively, his hands moved to her hips to steady her there.[break][break]

Her grin, so close to his face, sent a jolt of exhilaration through him. A distinct heat unfurled inside him at the press of their bodies.[break][break]

"I think I can live with that," Gunner said, matching Mila's smile with a smug one of his own. A smile full of ignorance, rising to meet a challenge he could not possibly anticipate.[break][break]

Months and years would pass before he realized the truth in both their statements. More than once, regret and gratitude would war within him at the mere thought of her. For no matter how many nights he'd regret letting her into his heart, the same thought would always accompany it:[break][break]

And I'd do it all again, for her.

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Gunner was not a religious man, yet a prayer of gratitude to Arceus ran through his mind. Gideon's burn could have been much worse. He'd managed to put it out before it could spread to the rest of his body; plus, Togekiss' healing was already kicking in.[break][break]

Still, Gunner fixed Gideon with a concerned stare before turning his gaze to the sky, as the others had.[break][break]

"That's a good idea," the special agent said, squinting at the moon's surface to see if he could identify anything odd. But of course he couldn't. The celestial object was too far away. "Perhaps there's something about the moon that's different here than the one in our world."[break][break]

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Gunner's frown deepened as the councilwoman launched into her rant unprompted. He knew that Penelope's role was to provide intel based on what the Hoenn Bureau of Intelligence and Counterterrorism had gathered.[break][break]

Unfortunately, that intel was sparse; their field agents — Gunner included — needed more time. Not only did they still have to learn the locations of the kidnapped, but they also needed to determine the best plans for their rescues.[break][break]

And judging by Penelope's mood, the rest of the Council and Elite Four had not taken that information well.[break][break]

"Are they pushing for an offensive against Sootopolis?" Gunner asked, the alarm evident in his voice. They couldn't, not yet. What was the point of field analysis if the rest of the government was going to disregard it?

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It seemed to Gunner that Mila had meant to say more before he surprised her with a strawberry, but he let that topic drop. Instead, he watched with quiet pleasure as she savored the food he had cooked for them.[break][break]

"You're right," he said, cutting another triangle from his pancakes. "I've lived alone for a long time, so sometimes I forget what it's like to eat with someone like this."[break][break]

A thought occurred to Gunner then, an idea so scandalous that his stomach flipped with nervousness. He chewed his breakfast, using the time to choose his next words carefully.[break][break]

"Actually, Mila…"[break][break]

He met her eyes, pale blue and amaranthine red.[break][break]

"I know we have our rules. No sleepovers, no… this." He gestured to the meal spread out between them, then shrugged. "Fuck the rules. Stay for as long as you want."

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Typical Mila. She didn't have the capacity to miss anyone — except her brother, who'd been dead for years. Her chaotic nature and tempestuous personality thrived on independence; missing another person was probably too much of a cage for her to bear.[break][break]

Or so Gunner thought.[break][break]

When she posed her question, he paused his work. Her expression was unreadable, though he could have sworn he'd seen it on her face in mornings past, when they'd lain in each other's arms.[break][break]

Uncomfortable with the way his chest tightened at the memory, Gunner looked down at his hands. The daisy necklaces were improving, one by one.[break][break]

"Not a chance," he said, forcing a laugh. "Maybe the dumbasses you sleep with are fooled into thinking you're some damsel in distress, but not me. Besides, I thought you didn't want to be saved by some asshole with a hero complex."[break][break]

Even with the alcohol pumping through his veins, he distinctly recalled how she'd mocked him at the bar.

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The blush that colored Mila's cheeks caused Gunner's heart to skip a beat, and the way she looked at him made him tremble with longing. He wanted nothing more than to wrap her up in his arms and protect her from every hurt.[break][break]

Without taking his eyes off her, he accepted the blueberries into his mouth. They burst with sweetness on his tongue. Gunner hummed with approval as he wiped juice from his lips.[break][break]

"Wow, these are really fresh," he commented idly. Knife and fork clanged quietly against his plate as he cut himself another piece of pancake.[break][break]

"Now, what were you saying about stealing my mom's recipes?"[break][break]

The mental image of Mila cooking a meal from his childhood for him was absurd, yet he couldn't help smiling with delight. Even if she totally messed it up, he'd love her for trying.

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Gunner snorted goodnaturedly at Mila's claim of innocence. He knew, perhaps better than anyone, that she could be a manipulative bitch whenever she felt it would benefit her. And he'd been on the receiving end of that abuse plenty of times.[break][break]

But neither was he faultless.[break][break]

So his fingers continued to add to the necklace as he said, "Oh wow, a hundred PD? What's up with your flattery? You miss me that much?" He grinned and threw her a sidelong glance.[break][break]

Gunner grew serious, however, when Mila shared the news of her previous employer's death. In the brief pause, he caught a flash of grief entering her eyes.[break][break]

"I'm sorry," he said, meaning it. "I know how much working for her meant to you, after…" Mila's defection. "…everything that happened. Are you doing okay on your own?"

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