Lumiose's Underworld King

"W-wait, what?!"

To say she was flustered would be an understatement. The idea wasn't an unwelcome one, but- right now? With everything that was happening?

"You can't actually be serious... I couldn't possibly- with everything going on, and I have so much work I need to do...!"

Truthfully, work wasn't really her biggest concern. She simply felt guilty, she didn't feel like it was right to do anything like this with the way things were right now. How could she possibly take the time to just enjoy herself and have fun in a time like this?

He wascareful to get Mable on his Gyarados' back, before climbing on behind her. He kept an arm around her to keep her steady and to make her feel safe; not everyone was made for riding a Gyarados, after all. There wasn't much to hold onto, so if it rampaged and went nuts anyone on one would be sent flying for real.

However, his Pokemon's ascent was smooth.

"It's only for a little bit, Bluebird, I promise. But you need to be away. Whatever it is, it can wait an hour or two, all right?"

There was so much going on it was hard to keep track of everything. Honestly, there were many things worrying him and occupying his mind. So this little planned getaway was going to be good for the both of them. And it wasn't like he was taking them too far.

They were dropped off on the roof of the Rust Syndicate where his personal home was, right in the midst of the rooftop garden he kept. Since it was spring, most of the flowers were in full bloom or beginning to bloom. A table was set up with some drinks and a few plates of of finger food for them to enjoy.

"Of course I missed my wonderful boyfriend."

Everything was just...better when he was around. Everything felt like it would be okay when he was around. She was so tired, so exhausted from everything, but it was okay because he was here.

She'd gotten so used to him being here. So used to the affection and the happiness she felt with him.

"Hmm...I don't think I can wait that long. How about I kidnap you right now?"

He was smiling, but he was quite serious about that playful threat, actually. Corbeau just bent down to scoop up his girlfriend, ready to just carry her off in his arms to abscond with her. For all anyone knew, this criminal actually was just kidnapping her.

And out the large bay window, too, like the maniac that he was.

Of course, he called out his Gyarados, who was ready to carry them off somewhere that Corbeau had in mind.

"...You'd tell me if something was wrong, right?"

It was a simple question. And one she didn't really expect an honest answer to. Because if she was asked, she wouldn't be honest about it.

"I don't... I don't need to know every single thing. You're going to have your secrets. I know I have mine. But I'm going to worry about you either way. I care too much not to. And if there's anything I can do to just... I don't know, make things better or make you feel better, I want to be able to."

She loved him. Nobody had ever been this important to her. And a part of her thought maybe she was being too much.

She leans back slightly, staring up at him.

That was all Corbeau could come up with. No witty quip, no play on words or even a bark back. The man was simply at a loss, not knowing what he could say in this moment. She needed to know one day, that this was going to be fleeting. And that was why he wanted so desperately to spend whatever days he could with her.

There was nothing she could do for him. No one in this world could help him now. He was too far gone.

"I don't mean to make you worry. Honestly, it'll be fine. The only thing that can make me feel better now is knowing I get to go out with you soon. Whenever soon happens to be."

He was caressing her face, trying to ease her worry, even if it would be futile. He just wanted her happy.

"...Hey, are you okay?" She didn't want to panic and make things worse. But over time she had begun to wonder if there were things he wasn't telling her - that weren't related to his work.

She hesitates, but reaches out to gently touch his arm. Just some kind of gentle reassurance she cared.

He just needed a bit of time to breathe a bit, compose himself. Mable was worried -- he hated doing that to her. The way her brow pinched. Had seeing him like that scared her?

Carefully, he stood upright and then reached out to pull her into his chest. Just standing there and holding her for a moment, a hand smoothing down along her back.

"If you're sure... Then I would love to."

She was excited. And anxious. A little scared. But she told herself it would be alright. That everything would be alright, because she'd already been through the worst of anything that could happen to her.

And because he would be with her.

"Any weekend is fine with me. Pick one and I'll get us a ride there. You just pack what you need."

This will be a nice change of pace. Outside of Lumiose's walls, taking Mable somewhere she could relax, have a bit of fun and just enjoy her freedom. There was so much he wanted to do with her -- honestly, he was excited, too.

Perhaps a bit too excited.

"How about someplace close, but outside of Lumiose? We can go to Snowbelle. It's beautiful this time of year. Yris' family shrine is there, too. We can pass by and send a prayer for your peaceful future as a free woman."

“You really want to go somewhere with me?”

She was surprised, but it did make her feel better that she wouldn’t be alone for her first trip away in five years.

“I mean… I’m gonna be weird about things, you know that, right? I haven’t left in five years. And I’ve never been anywhere for fun, I always had some kind of work to do. You’re sure you want to put up with that?”

"We could take a short weekend trip to see how it goes."

He knew it had been a whiole and it may be strange and require some growing pains, but it would be his delight to take her out of the city. Snowbelle was quiet, to boot. With an atmosphere that would lend a little bit to some romanticism, if he had his way about it.

"Mable, I put up with this city on a regular basis. I'd very much enjoy some time away from the chaos with my girl."

And he could say that now, loud and clear and in public (almost).

Mable was his and while he did care who knew it (had to think about practical things like endangerment from enemies), he certainly had no qualms proclaiming it now. He simply just smiled fondly, arms crossed and ready to take her outside the moment she was ready to go.

"My apologies. I did not mean to upset you."

"I wanted to come here personally to secure a good relation between us. I see no reason why the Rust Syndicate and Exceed can not see eye to eye. We mean no trouble here."

As the situation unfolds, and Exceed expand across the world, it was important to keep an eye on other groups; to avoid conflict with them if possible. It's just unfortunate for Spinel that he's caught Corbeau in such a foul mood.

"We're simply investigating."

Of course that was the least of his concern right now, if he kept to strictly business. If Spinel dug any deeper into the secret of Yris and her heritage, Corbeau would then take swift action, however, for now, his anger was concentrated on proprietary knowledge.

That being the stolen data from his very own servers, traced back clumsily to Exceed.

"Bold of you to walk straight into a criminal's office with that dumb smile on your face. Cut it out. What do you really want? What? Had ripping out information from my computers not enough for you, asshole?"

All of his words were spoken evenly, quietly. There was no yelling, screaming of even violence, though because of his occupation, it would have been normal if he had threatened Spinel's life. Instead, Corbeau sat calmly in his chair, even leaning back a bit, chin in his hand. Just quietly staring at the other man.

"Listen, to me. I'm going to only say this once: it won't matter where you are in this world or what power you think you have. Unlike you, I don't have to pretend and smile pretty for the world. I can decide if you live or die at any given time or place."

If Exceed had far reach due to its connections worldwide, then the Rust Syndicate, headed by Corbeau, had equal amounts, if not more, within the criminal underworld. With more damage they could deal.