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Emma barely knows anything about herself, honestly. This is a step of personal growth for her, an uncomfortable blindsided step into the unknown. She regards him with uncomfortable curiosity, but only because she's overwhelmed. [break][break]

"I am happy."[break][break]

And honestly, that might be what scares her the most.

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"Uhh.."[break][break]

She feels uncomfortable and out of place all of a sudden, like the room is too hot or she's spinning. But he's grounded, laughing at her. [break][break]

But she finds herself smiling in return.

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For the first time in a long time, Emma's cheeks flush with emotion. She's wearing them plainly on her sleeve, or in this case the wide-eyed expression on her face.[break][break]

Because he's staring, unabashedly, his gaze warm and unwavering. It's unexpected and she doesn't know how to respond, even though just moments ago they had been tangled up in each other, unafraid of their intent or desire.[break][break]

"Are you flirting with me?"[break][break]

Her response is flat, genuine disbelief making her sound almost breathless.

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She is in and out of consciousness while they work to combat the reaction her body is undergoing from being drowned. They've hooked her up to fluids and iv medication to bring her body back to a stable condition. She's asleep when Gavin first arrives in her room.[break][break]

Her breathing is ragged and crackly, fogging up the oxygen mask that eventually gets swapped for those nose tubes. She's not in terrible condition, just severe. There's a difference, probably. [break][break]

The doctor is intent on keeping her overnight despite Emma's would-be concerns if she were alert enough to protest. The antibiotics are kicking her ass and making her drowsy. Perhaps there's a bit of a sedative in there to curb her fight or flight.[break][break]

At the end of her bed, Emma's Slurpuff wilts sadly at the poor condition of her trainer. She's unsure how to help other than to sulk.[break][break]

Emma's breath hitches and it wakes her for a moment as she sits up slightly, a hoarse cough rattling her chest. She's alarmed when she blinks the sleep from her eyes, pulling at the tubes in her nose because they tickle.

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Emma sucks in a breath subconsciously, holding it as he admits his feelings. He's not shy, not like her. She's watching him confess how deeply he cares for her in slow motion. She had already known, already feared the truth - but there was no hiding it now.[break][break]

"I--"[break][break]

For once, she's genuinely at a loss for what to say. Instinct drives her to burn the bridge where they stand, plunge back into the cold and cull whatever this had started to become.[break][break]

But she had boarded that plane with him for a reason. Crossed the threshold between... whatever they had been into uncharted territory. [break][break]

"Caring for me is a mistake."[break][break]

And yet it's one she finds herself making in return.

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Her hand is shaking when he reaches for it, and does not still even when he squeezes. She instinctively latches on, however. His comforting gesture helps her see reason in her blind rage, her fear.[break][break]

Because she is scared in the moment, overwhelmed by her own inability to acknowledge her situation. Her skin is cold to the touch, clammy even. She's likely going into some semblance of shock, violently flinching from any nurses who are eager to help her, stop her from collapsing.[break][break]

The woman's breath is rapid as Gavin insists they leave her alone. But he wouldn't have a chance for peace and quiet because she's pulling her hand from his to hold her head, fingers gliding to her throat and then her chest.[break][break]

"Fuck... it hurts to breathe."[break][break]

A wracking cough brings her to her knees and it's all the incentive the nurses have to lead her away.

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Emma regards him curiously, though her expression and posture seem stiff. The questions he's asking are beyond her realm of comfort - and yet it stirs warmth in her chest that she hadn't expected. His concern meant a lot to her, more than she'd care to admit.[break][break]

"Have you never pursued anyone before?"[break][break]

She casts her own line, baiting, waiting. If he can ask personal questions and insist transparency, she would take his bait in return.

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Emma is dressed to impress, and to blend in by being the most flippant, annoying bitch on the scene. The two Weavile that set out and retrieve the Gardevoir are neat and delicate, their strategy being that no one knows there's two of them. Where one disappears, the other remains with Emma, mimicking her dramatic poses. One might consider it a mockery- Emma sure does.[break][break]

But she's putting on a show to remain unabashedly stupid in the middle of this ranger recruitment activity. She had come here with the sole intent to look at hotties - her exact phrasing upon arriving. She made a fool of herself with ease, dropping the ball on every task and brushing it off with a flirty giggle and dismissive hand gesture.[break][break]

However, their plan is too good to be true. It goes without a hitch and Emma is unable to distract the ranger long enough to take his mind off off of his missing Pokeball. She's merely fortunate enough to cry wolf and scream in fear as the smokescreen fills her nose and they make a break for it. Of course, that, too would ultimately end in a failure.[break][break]

Mostly, anyway.[break][break]

Since everyone not officially trained to handle a stressful situation were running, it's just a shot in the dark that Lance finds the two of them specifically. [break][break]

"Ew! This smoke is going to ruin my nice clothing. I just got it dry-cleaned!"[break][break]

She plucks at her dress covered in smokescreen soot as she watches the scuffle nearby.

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It had been a fight to get him in, if only because she was angry and unreasonable. Really, it had been a struggle to let her in, what with her aggression and unwillingness to explain the situation. Because, after all, who comes rushing in with a harpoon sticking out of their shoulder?[break][break]

But the aftermath is that Gavin has the object removed. She's not allowed inside until he wakes and she's adamant that she see him. It turns out their concern wasn't for his safety but for her own. For the duration of his surgery, she had been experiencing incredible chest pain and shortness of breath. She had begun coughing harshly but refused help.[break][break]

Apparently she hadn't survived her near-drowning unscathed.[break][break]

The feeling that she needs to vomit rises but she forces it down because all of a sudden Gavin's monitor is beeping like mad. She's stifling her next round of chest-aching coughs to get to his side only for him to effectively brush her aside and encourage her to be seen.[break][break]

"I'm fine. It's you that I'm worried about."[break][break]

Worry. Attachments are dangerous. [break][break]

The thought is cold and gives her a sense of dread.[break][break]

Behind her, the nurses are insisting, asking what had happened to her. She refuses to answer, unwilling to admit she had been nearly drowned. The bruising around her neck is blossoming, making it difficult to speak or cough or breath.

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She takes the glass from him delicately, taking a moment to inhale the sweet and musty aroma.[break][break]

"Hmm.."[break][break]

He may be telling her the truth but she has reason to believe that he'd brought it up for a reason. Her eyes narrow as he eventually gets to the point, the reason behind his suggestion.[break][break]

"More experience? That's surprising, given..."[break][break]

She glances past him to the ruined shirt on the floor, her thoughts lingering on their heated moment earlier with their shirts off.[break][break]

"You're fishing, Gavin."

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She grits her teeth, bearing most of his weight despite him telling her that he was with her. But she does it because she has to and because he needs her to. Unfortunately, he eventually stumbles and brings both of them crashing against a wall. Her elbow digs painfully into the surface and she sucks in her breath, struggling to keep him steady as he slumps.[break][break]

There's that uncanny, familiar sense of fear that pricks at her stomach. It makes her hot and cold and nauseous as she looks at the man's blood smeared against the wall and gripped around the railing. He's in pain and she's helpless to stop it in the moment.[break][break]

And it feels so familiar, so fucking familiar that it makes her blood boil.[break][break]

"Just breathe, Gavin."[break][break]

But she's really talking to herself. There's no denying it, though. He needs a hospital. His injuries are too grave for her to fix herself. She couldn't put him in more danger, she wouldn't.[break][break]

"I won't lose you, too."[break][break]

She says this in a whisper, a thought slipping from her tongue before she could stop it. The woman reaches for the wallet being passed to her and caresses his face, eyes searching his face. And then she reaches down to pick it up.[break][break]

"I'll get you safe."[break][break]

And then she glances up to see that her Noivern had found them - even on the ocean. They must be close to the shores of Hoenn.[break][break]

She beckons for the beast and the giant dragon lands, a concerned noise rumbling from her chest. Her ears tremble and she glances to the bleeding man.[break][break]

"We need to get to a hospital, Eris."

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Emma smirks because she is aware that wine isn't his preferred drink. His own tastes had rubbed off on her without her realizing.[break][break]

"I like free shit."[break][break]

That, and she could only imagine what his lips might taste like when they'd polished off the bottle. Scotch just didn't have the same taste of fruit. Scotch left your lips numb, and she preferred to feel everything.[break][break]

She approaches as he pours the first glass, but her eyes lift to his teasing smile.[break][break]

"Are you disappointed?"

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