aggro

While his face gave nothing away, Jesse swore she could hear the gears turning in his head, and that made her work as hard as his curiosity. Don’t sweat. Just eat. Her movements were almost rhythmic now: cut, stab, bite.

More questions as expected. Mouth full, she took her time chewing the crepe.

“I, uh...” She licked her lips as hesitance grabbed her. “I was goin’ ‘bout my day an’...He just thought I was reeeally weird. I do some...sketchy things sometimes, so...”

She paused, as if awaiting a scowl.

“Listen, it wasn’t my shining moment so I’m sensitive ‘bout it, alright!?”

Start crying? He’s rich though--he’d probably recognize fake tears. 

“ENOUGH ABOUT ME. Tell me ‘bout yerself, mistah.” Drop it, wouldja?

For a moment, she poked at her food. “Alright, alright. Vous avez raison. Je regrette.” 

Jesse prepared a thank you with manageable minimal reluctance, but his voice beat her again and traded reprimand with curiosity--something she handled much more easily. “Well, some spoiled brat,”

“Commented on my...lifestyle an’ my nerve...so my pride made me punch’em an’ maybe he was a pinch stronger than me, I dunno.” Well, the ninja definitely wasn’t lying about anything. Rather vague but true. “This wasn’t my first rodeo, though so I know how te’ recuperate.” Jesse took another quick bite. 

“...D’accord.” She almost sounded bored but her prance back to the counter said otherwise.

Her ‘dinner’ graciously paid for, Jesse returned to the man’s table, features wiped clean of the friendliness she afforded to the cashier. Change jingled in her woven pouch when she plopped down in her seat, gaze never leaving the well-to-do stranger even when an employee delivered her crepe. A quick merci then she turned, questioning the man.

“Yer not gon’ try to abduct me, are ya?” The Ninja Boy pulled her legs up, perched cross-legged on the chair--a great contrast against the refined man in front of her. “I promise I’m just gon’ spend more of yer money, so don’t put te’ effort in takin’ me.”

She flashed a cheesy grin before grabbing only a fork to cut up the thin pancake. Powdered sugar and Magost jelly, yum. 

But who would suspect a thing? Route 4 was full of naive beginner trainers (loaded with mommy and daddy's gift money) and unmindful old gardners. They couldn't possibly link the Boutique robbery to a sweet little girl's PokeBall stand, err, mat. Pigtails was generous, cultivated and well enough to sell the finest of PokeBalls that she, uh, just so happened to have a fair supply of.

Right.

Think of the money, she'd tell herself after every sale. But the ninja couldn't deny how draining this mundane task was. She couldn't believe that people subjected themselves to this sort of work. Stuff some excitement into your 'busy' lives, she'd scream internally with wild exasperation. Frogadier made another sound, and Jesse slowly turned her head to peer up at him. The frog pointed to his eye, seemingly cognizant of her distress, her need for hope.

Someone special was about to start their shift.

She dressed appropriately for the night, donning her prized disguise. Jesse departed 'headquarters' through her bedroom window and climbed balconies to reach the rooftop, like every other night, but that'd be it. No more ordinary, she decided. She eyed a different fate, a new purpose.

The search didn't take too long with her three partners scouring the city. Her Ninjask returned with a Juice Shoppe flyer-- the Eye was headed for Autumnal Avenue.

Upon arrival, the ninja descended onto the cobblestone. The road was quiet. With Ninjask withdrawn, she heard neither bug or French buzz-- just the faint footsteps of an elusive force. Hype over courage pushed her out of her hiding spot. The ninja emerged from the shadows of an alley and walked towards the praised vigiliante. She didn't want to jump her, didn't want to accidentally make herself an enemy. She calmly approached the hero that had yet to exhibit any awareness of her presence, but there was no telling that that was the case.

"What's on te' menu tonight?" The ninja tested daringly, eyes trained on the back of the Eye's head. "Hey, if yer on yer way to a fight, count me in. I'd be happy to crash a drug deal, too. You ain't gotta do this alone."

Almost immediately the atmosphere oddly shifted from summery to chilly-- spine-chilling was the goal. The showy streetlights flanking the stomping blonde flickered, glow pulsing weakly before they switched off completely one by one down the road. Above, Frogadier followed the pace effortlessly while Jesse was just a little bit behind, still hesitating a second or two before leaping onto the next rooftop. Though, she wasn't discouraged considering how the jumps were starting to feel easier, more fun.

She was getting better at this.

Caught up, the ninja and her Pokemon settled near the edge, the front seat.The street was dark, but contrasting golden locks were easy to pinpoint in the uninviting shadows. Jesse spared the lone girl a quick glance before locking eyes with her Ninjask. The Bug Pokemon, now joined by his elusive twin, Shedinja, was hovering behind the cover of a tree. She gave Ninjask a nod, and the Pokemon backed up. A moment of silence below before a sudden gust tore down the street towards the girl, ripping the calm and flinging leaves and perhaps lifting skirts.

Jesse pursed her lips. "Fro-bro? You wouldn't happen to know Mist, wouldja?" The frog shook his head but inched forward anyway to send out some bubbles.