@komala-scientist​ sent:

"Carino. Bello. I've had it up to here with interpol. Do you mind if I just sue them for damages and use the recent ano- Excursion with them as evidence. I'll also be presenting my own experiences working with them and the jobs they had me do at Aether. And collecting other peoples experiences. I want them to be culpable for what they do to civilians."

Heart pounding and breath catching in his throat, Rose takes a deep breath, leaning on the kitchen counter. Breath in, one two three. It’s just anxiety. Breath out, one two three. He’s fine. Breath in, one two three. Everyone he knows are fine. Breath out, one two three. This is just his anxiety and OCD.

The sound of doorbell jolted him out of his thoughts. Wh-who?

They could wait. Rose wasn’t in a state to meet anyone. Breath out, one two three.

The doorbell continues, growing more insistent at every ring.

Rose decidedly ignores it. Breath in, one two three.

Eventually, the ringing stops, to Rose’s relief. Breath out, one two three.

Quiet steps make their way through the house. Towards the kitchen.

“Mister Rose?” a voice questions, making Rose jolt around.

“Who-”

He’s faced with an alakazam.

“How did you get in?!”

“Hypnosis,” the voice commands.

Rose tries to fight it, but to no avail. His vision starts to black out.

The last thing he sees is a blurry figure kneeling to him.

Mala watches this, and smiles softly. She puts a cup tea out for him.

Anabel stood at attention, face carefully blank. “I am aware that my actions on this mission were against the protocol,” she said. “But I think we could have avoided a lot of the problems if we would have told Rose and his acquaintances about our plans with him.”

The superior sighed. “You know that’s not how we do things here.”

“Oh, I do,” Anabel said. “We do like our secrecy around here.”

“After all, that has to be the only reason why you you didn’t tell me that I was being used as glorified UB bait on my mission in Alola.”

The superior gaped. “Who told you that? Looker?!”

“I have enough braincells to put two and two together,” Anabel spat. “UBs so conveniently appearing wherever I was during that whole mission was just one clue. The fact that parts of my file were redacted was another.” She dug out her ID and slapped it on her superior’s desk. 

“I’m done being used. I quit.”

Rose wakes up again, feeling only a little more lucid. He stares up at the ceiling before he dares to turn his head to look around. The room... looks like a hospital? He’s handcuffed to the bed.

He turns his head again and sees a woman sitting by the bed.

Back and forth, back and forth slides the iron on Rose’s clothes. Well-practised motions that Rose has repeated for decades. His little good luck ritual that has now become even more invaluable for him. For Taisto’s health. For Taisto’s quick recovery. Once more, so that Taisto wouldn’t break another bone for the rest of his life.

With shaking hands, Rose turns the iron off, sets it down. Wait. Was that enough? What if Taisto’s heart gave in next?