#.. is it faze or phase? I think it’s phase.. whoops | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

myemotionalsupportcharacters · 4 years

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Mission #5

Type: One-Shot Series

Pairing: (Kingsman)Merlin x Female!OC

Summary: To celebrate their new start, the current Kingsmen take a night off to hold a small party.

Warnings: A little fluffy, drinking games, thirst

{Disclaimer: I do not own any characters except those marked as OC, I hold no rights over anything from the Marvel universe. Otherwise all content is my own and any similarity to real people, events, or any other fiction is unintentional. Please inbox me if you believe anything within my work violates this disclaimer.}

AN: Enjoy some random Merlin content on my Marvel blog because I’m going though yet another fixation faze. PSA: Mark Strong got jacked and I’m weeping at this gif.

It had taken a few months, but everyone was now settled in at the new Kingsmen Headquarters, and after all that work, they reasoned that a party was the next logical step. A small affair, just the eight of them (of course Tilde was invited) before they began their recruitment phase, once again headed up by Merlin. They had all agreed it was only right that Harry should head up the new Kingsmen, and had subsequently ascended to the title of Arthur. Eggsy had married Tilde and was now a Prince by title. Roxy had made a full recovery from the missile attack on the old headquarters and was feeling (a little like Merlin) lucky to be alive. Tequila, Ginger (she was technically now Whiskey, but as she was currently on loan from Statesman to help Merlin rebuild the technical and medical departments, decided to go by Ginger), and Vermouth had all found their groove.

Tequila mostly did what he wanted (just less recreationally) until it was go time for a mission. Vermouth walked around all day seeing where she could lend a hand and popping in to see Merlin when she could. They had developed a pattern. Harmless flirting, and secretive winks, although it was mostly Vermouth having all the fun. Merlin was a tough shell to crack, and with the lack of agents he'd been stepping out to do some recon in person. It was a party to celebrate many things.

So they gathered in the 'ballroom' as they had decided to call it. A large space in the centre of the new mansion that no one had really known what to do with until Vermouth suggested they let her do it up and make it into a ballroom. It was excellent and reminded Eggsy of his new parents-in-law's house. They'd all gotten dressed up, and hired Wilhem from the Tailors Shop to man the bar. A large jukebox in the corner linked up to the speakers and slowly they milled around, each picking a song of their own.

Vermouth had chosen a long wine red dress, with a gold belt, thin straps, and a slit that ran up the front of her thigh. Merlin had braced himself on arrival, but he hadn't been prepared for that. He still wasn't as she sauntered over to him at the Jukebox, a glass of Single Malt Scotch in one hand, and a darker liquor in the other.

"Penny for your thoughts?" She held out the scotch, and he took it, raising it with a nod to thank her.

"I wanted to pick a song, but I'm a little spoiled for choice." He mused.

"Well, a little birdy told me that you had a thing for country western music, so I just couldn't resist loading it up with a couple of classics...and a couple of new ones." Her shoulder brushed against his as she peered into the machine, he chuckled turning to face her.

"What would you chose, Ma'am?" She smiled, bumping her shoulder into him, pressing a few buttons to bring up the next songbook.

"Hmm, the ladies choice. If I pick a song, will you dance with me?" She never took her eyes away from the machine, fingers hovering over the play button.

"I think that depends on the song." He smiled, taking a sip from his drink. She chuckled, before hitting the button, the intro to Darius Rucker’s Wagonwheel playing over the speakers. She took a couple of steps back, before holding out her free hand for his.

"Care to join me?" He took her hand, neither putting their drinks down to move to the free space and face each other. Meredith changed hands, placing her right on his shoulder, and Merlin placing his right around her waist. Slowly they began to sway and spin. "Not to be the one to break up the party, but someday, we're going to have to do something about this."

"I think you might be right, lass." She looked up into his eyes, for once without glasses, and saw the smile lines next to the frown lines, the way his eyes seemed to speak for him. She smiled before stepping a little closer and resting her right cheek against his firm chest. He looked good tonight, a white shirt, unbuttoned and tucked into black slacks. His legs were so long, and she wasn't sure what it was about that, but there was something. "Good song choice." She felt his chest rumble as he spoke, and suddenly all she could imagine was falling asleep on his chest and smiled.

"Alright, that's about enough of the easy drinking. Time to get the party really started." Tequila joked. Vermouth had to give it to him, he looked good in a suit. She, however, had swapped out her denim jacket for a black leather one, not quite ready to start wearing a blazer yet.

"What you got in mind?" She asked, familiar with most of his self-created party games.

"I was thinking, Winner Takes All." Vermouth chuckled and nodded.

"What's Winner Takes All?" Eggsy asked, curiosity piqued, Tilde right with him.

"A game of my own design." Tequila bragged. "A question is posed to the group about something within the group, the group votes, and the losers take a shot." He explained.

“You’ve missed out a crucial detail, T. Bets on.” Vermouth points out as she and Merlin slowed their dancing. She quickly pilfered some bottles from Whilhem who smilled and starting collecting shot glasses.

“Right, right! So if someone calls bets on, you have to prove it.” He beams at the group, arms open as if expecting applause only to be met by confusion and amusement.

"Plead the fifth!" Tequila hollered, and Meredith smiled, placing the assorted alcohol on the table before flopping down onto the sofa next to Merlin.

"Let's get started." She grabbed one of Eggsy's empty beer bottles and spun.

“I’m not sure I understand how this works.” Merlin leant over to whisper in her ear.

“You’ll see.” She whispered back, and for a moment he got a scent of the sweet alcohol on her breath. It landed on Tequila, who whooped again.

"Alright, let me show you how it's done. We'll start tame. Which of the girls can do the most push-ups? Men vote." Slowly the votes trickled in. Tequila for Vermouth, Harry and Eggsy for Roxy, and finally Merlin also for Roxy.

"No offence Roxy, but y'all are fools. Bets on." Tequila laughed as the two women stood up, moving to the dance floor next to the couches, and onto their knees. "All right ladies, nice clean push-ups from both of you. Highest wins. Go." A quick fist bump and they were off. They both kept as even a pace as possible, not wanting to wear out too quickly, until Roxy started to slowly fall behind, the lads cheered them on, but it was too late. Vermouth beating out Lancelot by fifteen.

"Bloody hell, Di." Roxy gasped, shaking out her arms, Meredith mimicking her with a laugh.

"Alright boys, drink up and think of a question for Tequila over there." The two women stood, making their way back to their seats.

"Alright," Tilde's eyes narrowed as she looked around them. "Who is the most buff of the guys? Girls vote." Suddenly, a devious smile settled across Meredith's lips, not going unnoticed by a few of the group. All the votes pointed to Tequila, Tilda giving Eggsy an apology kiss who argued he'd say the same thing. Everyone looked to Meredith, who took a little sip before leaning back.

"Merlin." Harry chuckled from the other sofa and seconding her, and Tequila puffing out his chest.

"No way." He argued, the others joining in on the confusion. "You agree?" He asked Merlin, who sized up the other man before giving a nod. "Bets on."

Merlin gave a resigned sigh before shooting Meredith a look that sid ‘i’ll get you back for this’. Both men stood, Tequila shrugging off his jacket as Merlin unbuttoned his shirt. By the time he was done, Tequila was shirtless and waiting. Merlin shrugged off his shirt, tossing it onto the couch next to Meredith, and she got the sudden urge to crawl inside it.

"Holy shit, Merlin. You're jacked." Eggsy spluttered, Harry laughing and tipping his glass to his old friend.

"How did you know?" Tilde asked, eyes narrowing at Meredith.

"I flew out to patch him up in Columbia. You can't apply an Alpha-gel patch over clothing." She explained simply. Tequila held a hand out to Merlin who shook it, and Meredith never looked away from the rippling muscles of his back. Slowly he sat down and pulled his shirt back on, leaving a few buttons undone like before, but opting to roll up the sleeves, and suddenly Meredith's legs felt weak. "Sorry Tilds, but I think that counts as my question." She smirked. The questions were a little tamer after that, and soon got so silly that Roxy and Harry slowly began to diffuse the situation.

Merlin waited as Meredith closed the ballroom up, and walked to the residential wing together. Whilst he still had his own house, Merlin wasn't currently in a state to drive and didn't fancy the journey anyway, so was staying in one of the guest rooms. He walked Meredith to her room like a true gentleman, holding her heels for her as she clutched the nearly full glass of Dissorano she had insisted upon taking bed with her in one hand, and her now slightly too long skirt in the other. Halfway up the second staircase, she had almost dripped, catching her self on her knees, Merlin's hand under her right forearm to steady her as she peeled with laughter. Once they finally made it there, they stared at each other in silence for a moment, assessing.

Merlin made the first move, weaving a hand into her hair and cupping the side of her head as he pressed his lips to hers. She lost her breath at the sensation, strength pouring through, whilst he was met with soft and yielding. He pulled away, stroking his thumb across her cheekbone, before moving away. Meredith reached out and grabbed the front of his shirt and pulling his back to her. It was a far more intense kiss, her tongue slipping out to run across his lower lip and he nipped at hers in response. Her back pressed against the door, and somewhere in the back of her mind, she reminded herself not to drop the glass. She tasted sweet, like marzipan, where he tasted of something woody, and strong. Remnants of alcohol brushing over her tongue. They parted, panting, eyes wide and panting breaths. amidst this moment she managed to mumble out,

"That's how you say goodnight."

#merlin #kingsman #kingsmen secret service #kingsmen #kingsman secret service #merlin x oc #series #oneshot #mission

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oops-prow-did-it-again · 4 years

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Pokémon Black: The Novel - Chapter 10 (Back to You)

Prologue and more info

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Pokémon Black: The Novel on FFN

Pokémon Black: The Novel on AO3

Pokémon Retold the series on AO3

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While Hil, Cheren, and Bianca were contemplating leaving and coming back later, a young man scurried from the museum and approached them apologetically. He had deep, dirty blond hair and wore a dark suit. He waved at them. “Are you three here for the gym?” he asked in a hushed tone as he neared them.

“Well, my friend is,” Cheren answered. Hil cast a look at Bianca as she took a few steps away from them, drawn toward the crowd gathered in front of the Team Plasma display.

“You should just hurry up and come inside,” the young man said briskly. “We do apologize for the gathering, they’re… they’re really quite peaceful, even if they get fairly… boisterous,” he reassured them. Or at least, he tried. Hil wasn’t feeling very calmed by his unconvinced tone.

“You could say that again…” Cheren muttered. “Anyway, thank you… Are you the Clyde?”

“Yes, sir,” the young man smiled back at him. “Follow me.”

Cheren motioned for Hil to follow, and then hissed at Bianca, “Bianca, c’mon, we’re heading in now.”

“I’ll catch up…”

“What?” Hil found himself squeaking before he even realized it. He cleared his throat and repeated himself more clearly, “What are you gonna stay out here for?”

“I want to hear what he’s talking about,” Bianca told them, sounding a little agitated. She looked at them and sighed. “They may be acting a little crazy, but… I think they may have a point, you know?”

Cheren opened his mouth in a way that made Hil think he was about to say something he might regret, so Hil walked in front of him and nervously fiddled with his own hands. “C’mon, Cheren, let’s just go inside. We’ll catch up with her and her conspiracy theory buddies later,” he joked with a wink aimed her way. “I’m ready to go and earn my next badge.”

Cheren frowned in her direction, not that she could see it, and sighed. “Okay,” he finally breathed a little sadly.

Once inside the museum, the Clyde nervously explained the situation. “That’s Team Plasma out there, as I’m sure you recognized,” he mumbled, “they have recently been picking up the heat on their stance about fossil revitalization. It’s gotten so bad that Hawes and Gym Leader Lenora had those services called off until further notice.”

A receptionist behind a cool tan and white counter just within the entrance of the museum nodded from behind the glass shielding her small office. “It’s true,” she said through a small gap in the glass. “Gym Leader Lenora’s called the police on them a few times for fear of them getting violent, but there’s really nothing anyone can do. They’re allowed to gather like that, and they may be loud, but they’re not being violent.”

“Anyway,” the Clyde focused back on the topic at hand, “Which of you is it going to challenge Gym Leader Lenora?” He put that polite smile back on his face and clasped his hands behind his back, standing straight. He looked so clean and proper. It made Hil, in his sweatpants and raggedy blue and white hoodie, hat lopsided from where his swooping, wild hair pushed it up off his head at an awkward angle, feel embarrassed. The entire museum was just as posh as the Clyde.

“M-me,” Hil murmured. He made an attempt to smooth his hair out some and shove the hat on straight. Noodle cuddled up to his neck in the process. “I beat Gym Leader Chili of the Striaton City Gym and now I’m here to challenge Gym Leader Lenora.”

“Splendid!” the Clyde exclaimed. “May I see your badge case?”

Hil nodded and clumsily pulled it from his bag, dropping it on the floor once and having to fetch the Trio Badge from where it clattered away next to Cheren’s feet. He replaced it in its depression in the case and then awkwardly held it out to the Clyde, who scanned it carefully for a few seconds. Once satisfied, he nodded. “That’s a real Trio Badge alright,” he said and clapped his hands together. He then pulled an Xtransceiver from a pocket on the inside of his black suit’s jacket. “I’ll just call Hawes and let him know you’re here, and he’ll take you to where Gym Leader Lenora accepts challengers. What’s your name, young man?”

“Hil. Hil Whitacre.”

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“Ladies and gentlemen, Team Plasma appreciates your recognition today,” Gorm said as he dipped his head respectfully to the crowd. His ears rang and his hips ached. He had spent the better part of two or more hours in front of that crowd, and fatigue was evident in the grunts assisting him as well. The flagbearers twitched with the effort of holding their position for so long, and the guardsmen grunts behind him were growing antsy and impatient. He couldn’t be happier to finally be leaving the stage, but he knew their work was not quite done yet for that day. Oh no, this was just the beginning. “For now, we bid you farewell, and insist that you continue your passive efforts. The museum already fails to offer any more revitalization services. Please, keep your fellow pokémon in mind, and keep the heat on them so this service is not offered again. Respect for pokémon is not just a fleeting phase.”

He was met with whoops and hollers of approval as he turned to the grunts gathered about him. They looked to him with pleading eyes. With a curt nod, they eagerly formed a protective barrier around him, leading him through the crowd and to one of the studio apartments further down the road, well away from the museum. The crowd happily parted for them.

Gorm, at the orders of Ghetsis, had temporarily rented a studio for their purposes in Nacrene City. It was helpful to store some of their items, such as flags or spare uniforms, as well as provide their members somewhere to rest between rallies. But this would be the last rally for this particular day. They had bigger interests in Nacrene than simply drumming up public support. That, too, was very important: they truly did find the practice of fossil revitalization disgusting.

However, there was a gem the Nacrene City Museum held: a massive, draconic skeleton said to have come from a Dragon-type pokémon which flew around the world some thousands of years ago. Its size and stature reflected that of the pokémon Team Plasma was researching in its own laboratories and as such, they had reason to believe it was related to the ancient Dragons of Unova. This theory had led them to an unfortunate conclusion.

As they reached the studio apartment, everyone entered except for two grunts, who wordlessly understood their duties. They had been the flagbearers at the rally. They placed their flags on either side of the stairwell leading to the studio’s front door and stood tall, stilly keeping guard over the entryway. Outsiders may have wondered how the flagbearers did it, but those within Team Plasma’s allegiance knew that flagbearers, or, as they were more accurately known, ‘defensemen,’ held some of the most important jobs in Team Plasma’s organization. They were the most devoted of individuals with the steeliest of hearts. They were the eldest of all of Team Plasma’s fold. Standing at attention for hours alone at a time did not faze them. Only the most dedicated of Team Plasma became defensemen and part of becoming one included proving one’s commitment under the guidance of a Sage.

Within the studio, the grunts stripped down to their thin, white undershirts and tossed on various, more inconspicuous outfits. They fluffed out their hair and some put on glasses. Others sported jewelry. Gorm himself did not change his appearance whatsoever, but he had no reason to. He would not be taking part in this exercise. This was someone else’s mission to lead.

Once the grunts had finished, he cleared his throat, and they aligned in perfect formation in front of him without need of further prompting. He focused on one of the grunts in particular, a tanned, toned man with wild blue hair and deep, sapphire eyes. “Brother Marlon,” Gorm said quietly, “you have been a valued member of Team Plasma for over five years now. As the eldest of this flock, you will lead today’s excursion, and I will oversee your operation.”

Marlon nodded briskly and swallowed hard. “Yes, sir, Sage Gorm,” he choked out.

“It is understandable to be nervous,” Gorm conceded, “but you must remain level-headed. This is your test for becoming a defenseman. I understand this may come as a surprise to you, but I have chosen you after careful consideration of the value you have brought to Team Plasma thus far.” Marlon had always been intended to lead the heist, but the grunt had not been made aware it would be his test for the rank of defenseman. Rarely were subjects informed of the test beforehand. “As for the rest of you, you remain valued members of Team Plasma regardless of your position. Remember, every single one of us has a role to play in the protection of this world and its creatures, pokémon and human alike.” Gorm regarded each grunt carefully and was satisfied at the mix of emotions on their faces. Hopefulness, anxiety, determination. No matter what it was, nobody looked as if they regretted where they were. That was what was important. A chain was only as strong as its weakest links, after all. He turned his attention back to Marlon. “Are you ready?”

Marlon, dressed in a black tank top, baggy black pants, flicked a pair of sunglasses over his eyes. “I am,” he answered in a deep, booming voice. The anxiety in him at all but faded. He then put a dark blue bandana around his mouth, effectively covering his face. The rest of the grunts achieved similar success in hiding their true appearances in their varied attire.

“Good,” Gorm nodded. “Go. Bring forth the skull of the Dragon of Unova. Meet me at the deepest recesses of Pinwheel Forest, as we practiced. Go!”

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“We’re so glad to have you at the gym!” Hawes was gushing as he led Cheren and Hil further into the museum. He had paused at just about every exhibit in the museum to tell them about it, but Hil had honestly tuned most of it out. A giant Dragon-type pokémon skeleton, some rocks, a fossil or two, maybe… Maybe it should have intrigued him more, but he found it difficult to appreciate the models and their wordy descriptors. At least, he was bored until they came across the final exhibit.

Ironically, it was the smallest of them all, and had the shortest description. He looked over the tiny glass box, a gleaming, perfectly round stone situated inside on a velvety red fabric. He cocked his head at it. Noodle peered intensely as well. The plaque on the side of the pillar holding up the display said that it was “just an ordinary rock.”

“Oh, that,” Hawes laughed, “that’s just an anomalous rock given to us from some excavation at the Relic Castle in the desert. We can’t find anything remarkable about it, other than its perfectly spherical and, well, we keep it on display because it’s pretty.” He shrugged.

Hil leaned in as close as he could get and took in the roundness of its form. As he did, it lit up in a pale orange glow, reflecting off its glassy case. He jumped back hard, bowling into Cheren and sending them both to the floor in a cascade of fabric and arms. Noodle hissed loudly at them and leapt onto Hawes’ head prior to the landing, knocking the curator’s glasses ajar, and peered down at Hil and Cheren crankily.

“Hil, get off of me,” Cheren spat, shoving at Hil’s left arm.

“Hey, ow!” Hil batted his hands away. “Your leg’s on top of mine! You know, there’s easier ways to let me know you’re—”

“You fell on me!” Cheren shrilly cut Hil off with a murderous glare. He squirmed free from under Hil and brushed himself off once he staggered to his feet. After a few seconds, he begrudgingly reached a hand down to help Hil up. “What’d you go falling over for, anyway?”

Hil glanced back at the round stone in the display case. “You didn’t see that?” he asked dumbly.

“See what?”

“I hate to interrupt,” Hawes mumbled, “but…” He fought to replace his glasses properly and then tried to move Noodle off his head, but the Snivy growled and lashed its tail at his hands, whipping the leafy extremity across his fingertips with an audible slap. Hil rolled his eyes and plucked Noodle off Hawes’ head easily, tucking him into the hood of his jacket. Noodle trilled contentedly and snuggled into it.

“Sorry, he’s a bit anxious,” Hil apologized.

“You two really are a match made in heaven,” Cheren commented under his breath.

“Now, I’m laughing,” Hil said as he giggled, pointing a finger back at Cheren, “but that was very hurtful. Very rude. Bad Cheren.” He smirked and licked his lips. “Bad Daddy.”

“…We’re in the presence of a gym leader’s husband, can’t you have a little class?” Cheren hissed in a poor whisper, his cheeks flushing red madly. Hil thought for a fleeting second his friend might faint from embarrassment.

Hawes cleared his throat and that jerked their attention back to him. His face was sweaty and flustered. “Perhaps we should skip the rest of the exhibits and just have you challenge Lenora now,” he mused. “Lenora, honey!” he cried as he led them up a stairwell past the exhibits of the main part of the museum. He pursed his lips at a lack of a response and then pushed through a large, wooden double door and Cheren and Hil followed suit.

They had entered a library. Tall shelves lined with encyclopedias and other nonfiction material filled the room. Hawes hummed to himself as he disappeared down one aisle and flicked his wrist against a book. Once it sat ajar, he quickly strode out of the aisle and protectively put a hand in front of Cheren and Hil. The floor beneath them shuddered slightly, and then the bookshelf began to slide across the wooden floor. Hil and Cheren both eagerly peered around Hawes’ frame, awing at the dim stairwell it revealed.

“Sorry it seems so weirdly secretive,” Hawes laughed, “ah… We have had to step up security some, and my wife does most of her work in the gym battle arena nowadays. Anyway,” he moved to the side and held out his right arm in a gesture telling them to move forward. “Your battle awaits! Good luck, Hil!”

Hil and Cheren both thanked him and then descended into the poorly lit staircase. It looked even darker due to the deep maroon carpet and severe, wooden walls. Within, the room was segmented into an empty area that was primarily carpet, and then up a couple of steps, cluttered bookshelves claustrophobically encased a mahogany executive desk with a black office chair. Gym Leader Lenora was hunched over that desk with such a look of concentration on her form that she didn’t seem to notice Hil or Cheren’s entrance right away.

Cheren cleared his throat and she gave a start of surprise. “Oh, if it isn’t Cheren again!” she exclaimed. “Surprise seeing you again! This that friend of yours you were tellin’ me about?” She eyed Hil curiously and set a pen down, then plucked a pair of glasses from her face. Her voluminous, dark hair whipped and moved with every small motion of her head. She popped up from that office chair and it spun widlly. “I’m glad you could finally make it. I was worried by what you were tellin’ me!”

Hil looked at Cheren and raised a brow. He couldn’t help the smirk that crossed his lips. “Aw, you were worried,” Hil teased. “You love me~”

Cheren narrowed his eyes at him and then, to Hil’s surprise, smiled softly. “Yeah. I was worried.” Then that familiar scowl returned. “Now stop making it some weird joke. It’s not always a joke, you know.”

That ruined his entire joke and made Hil’s mouth flounder for something to say. He didn’t know what to think of that. He never meant his jokes to alienate his friends… Were they really self-isolating as Cheren’s comment had suggested?

Cheren turned his attention to Lenora. “Yeah, we’re happy to be here, Gym Leader Lenora. My friend here is wanting to challenge your gym today, if you’re available.”

Hil, flustered, was snapped back to the present by Noodle chirruping and lightly tapping the back of his head with his tail. “Y-yeah,” he mumbled in lame agreement with Cheren. He inwardly thanked Noodle for helping him focus.

“Of course I’m open for challengers right now!” Lenora boomed with a wide smile. “State your name and your challenge!”

Hil nervously looked up at her. “I, Hil Whitacre of Nuvema Town, challenge you, Gym Leader Lenora of Nacrene City, for the Basic Badge.” Man, these official challenge statements are a mouthful.

“Challenge accepted!” Lenora nodded and planted her hands on her hips. Her baggy, teal dress pants swayed slightly. “This will be a three on three battle. Whoever has three pokémon that go down first is the loser. Cheren, would you like to play referee for us? We don’t need one, of course, but they’re nice to have,” she said and winked at him.

Cheren’s face lit up and he nodded vigorously. “Y-yes, I’d love that!” He quickly cleared his throat and repeated himself more calmly, “I mean, I would be honored, Gym Leader Lenora.”

She giggled and tapped him in the shoulder knowingly. Cheren hurried to the short stairs that divided the room between office and arena, and Hil and Lenora took their respective sides of the battlefield. Just as Hil pointed for Noodle to get off his shoulder and Lenora had selected her first Poké Ball, however, a loud crash overhead sounded and screaming followed. Hil splayed his legs out like a cat catching itself from a fall and Noodle growled at the source of the noise overhead. Lenora roughly shoved the Poké Ball she had prepped to throw into a pocket and hurriedly waved at Hil and Cheren.

“Sorry boys, I’ll have to take this up again later…” she trailed off as she bolted up the stairs and out of the room. Cheren grabbed Hil’s wrist and pulled him along out of the room wordlessly. Hil wanted to bang his head against a wall. Now what? Challenging a gym leader the first time was bad enough, but now he’d have to do it again.

The thoughts were banished as he ascended back into the library. It was chaos. Black smoke billowed throughout the halls, but it lacked the harsh, tangy scent that smoke from a fire carried. It was alarmingly odorless, but he supposed that meant it wouldn’t choke him or sting his eyes at least. A few people that had been reading books from the shelves when Hawes had been showing them around were rushing through the library in a blind panic. One clipped Cheren on the shoulder and both stumbled to the ground. Distantly, voices rose in apparent anger.

“What on earth is going on out there?” Cheren asked the young girl that had tripped him up irritably.

“This group of thugs broke in and immediately set off a smoke bomb,” the young girl coughed as she waved away the inky air. “I’m sorry, I have to go,” she spluttered and bolted for the doors out of the library. Of course, as she opened them, the false smoke plumed from the entryway, deep and blinding. Hil found himself freezing as the stimuli started to overwhelm him. Cheren took note and grabbed him by his wrist, the dragging forcing Hil’s legs to move and snapping him from his stupor.

Once back into the main lobby of the museum, they really couldn’t see. The smokescreen was thick enough to cut with a knife and it was so loud… Hil cringed as he heard Lenora shrieking above what sounded like men barking orders or discussing passionately. Glass shattering then sounded and Hil dropped to his knees, covering his head. Noodle squeaked and began to twirl in Hil’s hood, wrapping the fabric around himself.

“Put that back!” He was able to pick out Lenora saying.

“No, you stay back!” came a deep, demanding voice. “This is for everyone’s own good. Stay back or we will not hesitate to defend ourselves.”

“You’re robbing my museum!” Lenora howled. “You don’t get to ‘defend yourself!’”

“Stay down,” a gentle and familiar voice suddenly interrupted Hil’s concentration. He waved madly at the darkness in the air to try and see the source of the words. He gasped when he saw N. He was leaning on one knee and pressed a hand to Hil’s left arm. He had an easygoing smile on his face though his silver eyes were as intense as ever.

Hil felt a surge of excitement at seeing him again, but almost as soon as he did, he remembered how N had bitterly declared that they couldn’t be friends last time they had met, and how he had intended to take Noodle away from him. He jerked his arm away from N’s grasp and glowered at him. How dare he show up like this and act so friendly! He had made it clear he had no intentions of it before, hadn’t he? “N! What do you want?”

“I don’t want you or anyone else innocent to get hurt in this process,” N explained. Hil once again found himself struggling to keep up with this man’s speedy dialogue. “You, your friend there, that Snivy, other innocents in this museum—it’s best if you remain out of the crossfire. You’re not part of this equation. Extraneous.”

“Okay,” Hil said awkwardly. He wasn’t sure what to make of his warning, seeing as he hadn’t intended to be a hero and figure out what was going on anyway. Part of him wanted to look away from N at that point, wanted to still be mad at him for the hostile interaction back at Accumula Town, but another part of him wanted to blow away the dense, dark fog and look over his entire form and then listen to that melodic, rapid voice all day long. Frustrated, Hil wrenched his gaze away with visible effort and shook his head. He had to focus. “Why care about us now? You were going to steal from us back in Accumula,” Hil spat defensively. Maybe it would be best if N just left.

“This has nothing to do with that,” N said matter-of-factly.

Cheren had knelt next to them and looked at them as if they had both lost their minds. He glared intensely at N. “Some nerve you have,” he growled, “you and your gang of thugs you call Team Plasma are probably behind this. And I have no idea where Bianca is. I swear, if anything’s happened to her…”

Hil couldn’t see N’s expression clearly through the smokescreen, but he didn’t need to. The barbed words told him all he needed to know. “You are very judgmental on first impressions, Cheren, was it? Sometimes there’s more to someone than face value.”

Drawn back to N despite his best efforts, Hil blinked slowly as he spoke. He wanted to snicker at what he had said but knew Cheren wouldn’t have appreciated that. He was also rather worried about Bianca… there was no telling where she was…

Cheren recoiled from N’s statement, grumbling under his breath. “Pompous little… Hil, we need to get out of here.”

“I dunno, he said it’s probably best if we stay put…” Hil looked down at his hands as he spoke. N’s advice had felt oddly soothing and the men were still shouting ahead. He remembered Wellspring Cave. Being a hero in this situation especially seemed like a poor idea.

“Hil, he’s probably at the head of this little stunt!” Cheren practically whined in exasperation. He slapped a hand to his forehead like a cartoon character and then looked around. “Though… I guess most others are just sitting tight until this is over… Fine, we can wait until we hear something from Gym Leader Lenora or Hawes, but then we’re leaving to find Bianca.”

Managing to tear his eyes away from N for a moment, Hil noted that mostly everyone else in the main exhibition room had flattened to the floor, frantically waving the false smoke away from themselves and chattering confusedly to one another. The loud voices Hil had heard earlier had died off for the most part, and to his relief, the blackness in the air appeared to be thinning. He, Cheren, and N sat in silence for a few minutes, hoping for some indication of safety.

“It’s alright, everyone, it’s safe to exit the building now!” came Hawes’ ragged, hoarse voice at long last. He must have been one of the men screaming earlier. “Everyone, please evacuate the premises!”

N was the first of them up. He marched easily and knowingly ahead of them. Hil scrambled to his feet and began to chase him, but Cheren had grabbed his jacket by his left sleeve, bringing him to a skidding halt. He whipped around and glared at his friend. Cheren was really starting to get on his nerves that day. “What now?” Hil hissed.

“Why are you following him like a lost Lillipup?” Cheren asked harshly, throwing his hands up in confusion. “Earth to Hil, do you remember what he said back in Accumula Town? He’d happily steal your Snivy if you looked away for too long, probably. I’m your friend, Hil.”

“Maybe he’s right and we’re being a little quick to judge,” Hil dodged. “I mean, really, with all the chaos, he could have just snatched Noodle out of my hood and that would have been that.” An indignant hiss caused Hil to reach a hand back to pat the Snivy’s head. “Sorry, buddy, not that I wanted him to, just…”

Cheren rolled his eyes as a slight, disbelieving smile crossed his face. “No, I see what this is now,” he groaned incredulously. “I don’t believe this.” Rubbing his temple, he pushed past Hil.

Hil, reacting a little more strongly than he probably should have, scurried to follow him. “What is it, then, huh?”

“Hil, he looks like a grown man, and you’re fourteen. Not to mention he is probably some crazy conspiracy theorist from Team Plasma!”

“What does that mean? What are you getting at, huh? Huh?” Hil demanded. He was once again being disingenuous; he knew exactly what Cheren was getting at, but the frightful idea was shoved from his mind before he had a chance to even consider it. There was no way he was really interested in N, was there? …No, of course not. He was just an intriguing, odd person. Anyone would have wanted to know more about him. He waved Cheren off as they moved to leave. “That’s not funny, Cheren, it’s not like that,” he defended himself with a note of finality, wordlessly telling his friend the discussion was over.

Hil and Cheren exited the building and joined the amorphous blob of people outside of the museum. The rush of sensation caused his train of thought to drop off, forgetting N entirely, to the point he failed to notice N had all but vanished, or that the earlier gathering of Team Plasma had dispersed as well. The false smoke flowed into the atmosphere slowly but surely after them, staining the deep, evening skies above a charcoal gray. Gym Leader Lenora and her husband, Hawes, were trying to raise their voices above the dull roar of the crowd, but between Hawes’ hoarseness and the sheer number of people, they were drowned out. At least, until one kind citizen offered a megaphone to Lenora.

“LISTEN UP!” she hollered. Hil and Cheren both clenched their teeth and winced at the screech of the megaphone. “I NEED EVERYONE TO GO HOME! RIGHT NOW! Police and officials are on their way and I need their assistance, they can’t help if y’all are standin’ around actin’ a fool! GO HOME!”

At her demands, the crowd rapidly fanned out. Nobody in their right mind would have disobeyed a gym leader, especially not one in Lenora’s stressed state. Cheren and Hil had intended to head for the pokémon Center, hoping to meet up with Bianca during all of the chaos, but Lenora’s voice came across the megaphone again and issued their names. Hil cowered at hearing his name said so loudly and glanced back at her nervously.

Cheren urged him over to where Lenora stood with her husband at her side. “Are you two okay?” she asked, without the megaphone this time, having dropped it to her side. As soon as they nodded, she added, “Good. Cheren, would you mind staying here at the museum for me to make sure nothing else goes down? You have my number on the Xtransceiver now, call me if anything new happens. Hawes will stay with you.”

“Uh, well, we were going to look for our friend…” Cheren responded with concern etched into his face. Hawes clasped a hand to Cheren’s shoulder and bent low to whisper something to him. Cheren gave a sigh and then both of them disappeared into the museum.

“And you,” Lenora said as she turned to Hil, “I want—”

“Well, I had intended to come here to relax some, but I see Nacrene City’s buzzing today,” a drawling, joking voice snickered, cutting her off.

Hil and Lenora glanced at the newcomer. A pine green, fuzzy sweater clung to his small frame, as did pink, striped pants to his legs. Thick, tawny, wavy hair spilled around his face, bringing out his pale green eyes. He had crossed his arms and tilted his head at them some. “So, where’s the fire?”

“Burgh!” Lenora exclaimed. Hil flinched at her volume. “How good to see you! Wish I had time for chit-chat, but I don’t, we need help!”

Burgh’s entire body lurched forward as he seemed to halt a bounce of excitement. “Well, what seems to be the problem?”

Burgh and Hil both shrank back at Lenora’s shrill response. “Some thugs just made off with an exhibit of mine, that’s what! I’m goin’ to check to the east exit. Can you take this challenger and check out Pinwheel Forest?” She jabbed a finger into Hil’s shoulder.

“Of course, Lenora!” Burgh clapped his hands together eagerly and glanced to Hil. In an instant, he blanched, and his pupils widened, as if he were only just realizing who this challenger was. “Hil,” he squeaked and then cleared his throat.

Hil tore his eyes away from Burgh as well, staring at the ground instead. Lenora and locals of Nacrene or Castelia City may not have been able to recognize him as the kid of that guy who shot himself in Castelia’s hostel, but Burgh would. Burgh had been at the funeral and Hil remembered keenly how he had made every effort to try and talk to Hil. It had been infuriating and depressing all at once. All he knew of Burgh was his relation to his father and that meant just seeing the gym leader brought a flood of anxious feelings and angry thoughts. A flood he worked hard to keep back most days. “Surely he can handle it on his own,” Hil muttered without looking up. “He’s a gym leader, after all.”

“There’s two paths in Pinwheel Forest,” Lenora said irritably, “I want you both to go to cover the exits, we don’t have time to argue about this. Burgh, you’re good with kids, get him to get over it? Anyway, I’m heading east!” With that, she waved her arm at them haphazardly as she darted down the dark asphalt streets of Nacrene. Something beige trailed out from her outfit behind her like a cape. Despite what she had said, Hil still refused to look up at Burgh. It felt awkward that they were alone then.

“We should get going, in that case,” Burgh breathed in a quivering tone. He began to walk away and Hil silently lagged behind him.

Truthfully, Hil thought Burgh looked like an enjoyable person to be around. He was bright-eyed and eccentric, lacing his words with subtle Bug-type puns, and his expressiveness meant it was easy to read him. Even at the funeral, he had struggled to quell his exuberance, much to the appreciation of many of Hil’s extended family members. But when Burgh’s attention fell to Hil, it was as if the gym leader was seeing a ghost; his skin would drain of color and he’d stumble over his words. The Bug-type puns would fail to land, and he would fiddle incessantly with his hands. It was so endlessly frustrating.

Making friends is really fucking hard when everyone thinks they know everything there is to know about you, Hil thought fiercely as he padded after Burgh. He heard Noodle chirp and then lean against his neck. He took a deep breath and let the anger filter out of him. “Thanks, Noodle.”

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