#shalour

“What happened?” When Morgan didn’t reply, Maeva sighed and took the bottle from his hand, pulling his other arm away from his mouth. “Are you ok? I was looking for you earlier. For our drink.”

“Right. Yeah.” Morgan groaned.

Maeva took a swig from the bottle and blanched at its taste. “Mon dieu, this is terrible.”

Morgan snorted, lips twitching slightly into a smile. “Best I could do on short notice.”

Maeva set the bottle out of reach and shifted to sit perpendicular to Morgan, studying his face. “So. We have our drink.”

Right. “You won’t believe me, it’s... crazy.” He rubbed his face with both hands; Scruff whined and laid his head on Morgan’s thigh.

“Try me.”

Had his mothers – the Captain – had to go through this as well? They must have. If only he could talk to them, ask them how they’d done this. How they’d explained it.

Morgan sighed.

“Morgan.”

“I don’t know how to start,” he admitted quietly. “There’s just – so much that’s fucked up about this, and – what you saw, what I can do – I don’t know where to start.”

“The beginning too hard?” Maeva glanced at the bottle but didn’t pick it up.

“Too long ago.” Morgan shrugged and fiddled with the zip in his jacket pocket. “It didn’t start with me, it’s a... family thing.”

“Your whole family can teleport and their eyes glow blue?”

“It’s not teleporting.” Morgan shook his head, not looking at her. “It’s...” he sighed. Why was this harder than anything he’d ever done? Stealing paintings, picking locks – hell, even standing up to Calia's douchebag of a father was child's play compared to this. “I can control time,” he blurted out.

Maeva's breath hitched, and Morgan folded his hands into fists, digging his nails into his palms. Time seemed to be standing still, but he’d never been so aware of the seconds trickling past as he was now. She wasn’t so much as breathing. Hells, this was terrible. He’d lose her, lose the Kalos underground, lose–

“So... how did that happen?”

“What?”

“You can control time. How?”

He tried to focus on her face, but all he could see was a blur of barely discernible features. “Uh - it's hereditary, the Captain – my gran – made a deal with... you’re really buying this?”

“The Prince controls water and Hera has wings, controlling time isn’t too far-fetched.” Maeva laughed.

“Right.” Morgan closed his eyes, rubbing at the bridge of his nose as his headache started to build. Damn it.

“So... what has you hiding up here? What happened today?”

“I don’t know.” Morgan shrugged. “Well – we were attacked. I came back to get things we needed to defeat them, and then... I don’t know what happened.”

“What d'you mean?”

“I mean – I remember getting to the room, getting the stuff, getting back. Being… lifted. Dropped. Then I'm leaning against the alley wall coughing my lungs up and we aren’t being attacked anymore.”

“And there’s... nothing in between.” Maeva shifted beside him.

Morgan shook his head. “I don’t forget things, Maeva. I remember everything. But today, this afternoon... it's blank.”

“You must have won the fight, I mean your friends...”

Morgan shrugged again. “Yeah, our attacker wasn’t there when I... woke up.”

“Well, that’s good.”

Morgan ducked his head.

“Why don’t you just ask them what happened?”

Morgan wrinkled his nose.

Maeva laughed quietly. “Of course. Can’t have the big bad thief asking for help.”

Morgan’s lips twitched again, involuntarily.

Maeva sighed. “Come on.” She’d moved again, shoes against the rough roof below them. Getting to her feet, maybe.

Morgan blinked open his eyes, but just saw blurs.

“Morgan.”

“What?” He turned towards her voice. “The... uh, the dim lighting isn’t helping.”

“You... can’t see this? Me?”

“Blurs.” Morgan shrugged. “I took my contacts out earlier.”

Maeva's breath hitched again, and then she laughed.

Morgan smiled, looking away.

“Any other dark secrets you have hidden away?” She caught up his hand in hers, and he heard her move again.

Morgan clutched at it involuntarily, then tried to cover the movement up.

Her free hand touched hesitantly along his jaw, turning his face towards her.

She was close. So very close.

Morgan reached up his other hand and found her shoulder, her neck. The back of her head. He brought her in closer, and felt the lightest of breaths before he kissed her.

She leant forward into it, into him, running her hand back along his jaw and into his hair.

Their other hands clutched and then let go of each other.

Morgan cupped her face in both of his as he broke away to breathe.

“Well.” She laughed, the sound a whispering brush of warm air.

Morgan smiled almost apologetically. “Didn’t see that coming?”

“You’re the one with time control,” she replied. “Can you see this coming?” She leant in again, on her knees beside him as they kissed once more.

Morgan ran his hands down her body, finding warm, bare skin between her top and leggings. “Maybe we should–”

Maeva swung a leg over him, straddling his lap as she kissed down his jaw to his neck, fighting with the buttons on his shirt. “This is fine,” she said, between kisses.

Morgan bit back his reply. The roof was uncomfortable against his back, but yes. This was fine.

Morgan slipped out of the bed he shared with Pepper, untangling himself as carefully as possible. Before she could turn over, or wake up, he stopped time to get dressed, grab Skelp’s new pokeball, and leave.

Once out of the room, he let time resume and pulled out his phone.

To: Tooth

Does ure offer still stand?

Not waiting for an answer, Morgan padded down the corridor, boots held in his hands. If she didn’t answer, he’d just…

Go for a walk. Break in somewhere.

Just do something that wasn’t lying still.

From: Tooth

Shit yeah i thought youd never ask

Morgan smiled, paused long enough to pull his boots on and tie the laces loosely, and left the pokecentre.

To: Tooth

Still down the cliffs?

From: Tooth

Uh – nah, the gym.

Morgan frowned but shrugged, turning towards it.

From: Tooth

ill be outside waiting

If she had plans to break into the gym, it wouldn’t be the first time. He also wouldn’t be averse to it, either.

The city was quiet. Even the pubs had closed up. Yellowing street lamps lit the way, casting huge shadows through the alleys and tangled bushes.

When something rattled through the bins in a nearby alley, Morgan tightened his hand around the pokeball there and looked over, only to see a family of zangoose attempting to cut their way in. A lycanroc barked at them from a garden, leaping over the fence to confront them, and the zangoose scattered. It turned to face Morgan, and he saw its eyes glowing red beneath its white mohawk of a mane.

He walked on, feeling it watch him.

He could stop time to get there sooner. Would definitely stop Tooth from texting him – his phone was a constant buzz in his pocket.

But the city was so peaceful when there was no one else around. When the streets were quiet and empty.

A houndour ran across the street in front of him, two stunky close on its tail.

Well, mostly empty, then.

Shaking himself, Morgan stopped time and ran through the streets until he found the gym and Tooth before it, nose in her phone. As he let time move on, his phone buzzed once more.

“Hey.”

Tooth snapped her head up from her phone and reflexively reached out to punch him. “Shit, Morgan!”

Morgan danced back out of reach, smirking. “Why’re we here?”

There was a low throbbing beat coming from somewhere, but the windows of the gym were dark.

“There’s a club here?”

Tooth jammed her phone back into her pocket and grinned. “An underground one.”

Morgan raised his eyebrows. No one had said anything of this to him. “How did you find it?”

“Like you,” Tooth said, leading the way around the side, “I have my contacts.” She glanced back at him, hand poised over a bush. “And you don’t get to tell the others.”

Morgan nodded, studying the bush. “I know the drill.” Tooth wasn’t wearing shoes, and her toenails were glowing slightly. “Nice paint.”

Tooth grinned, and plunged her hand in.

The sound of a bell rang out, twice in sharp succession like the call for a round of boxing.

“Get closer.” Tooth reached back to drag him nearer as the ground shifted below them.

“What?” Morgan lurched as the ground opened up, the metal plate they were both standing on revealed as it pulled downwards into the ground.

“I told you it was underground.” Tooth laughed.

Morgan looked up to see the disappearing sky, and earth rolling back over it. “Nice.”

They’d barely stopped before Tooth tugged him forward and through doors into a muggy hall that was dimly lit and packed with people.

And it was loud. Morgan winced, fumbling in his pockets for ear plugs. Wrong coat, of course.

Tooth swayed, dancing before him as she tugged him through the crowd.

Morgan pulled her back and straightened himself out, beginning to swagger to the beat.

Tooth grinned and yelled something that sounded like “That’s more like it!” at him.

Morgan smirked and gestured for her to lead the way, feeling restless energy jittering through him once more.

People were bouncing, dancing, drinking all around them. Maybe some were taking drugs, too – it was a high possibility, in all fairness. This was not a place to come and think, this was a place for movement and gut feelings and Morgan was grinning, head high as he followed Tooth’s bright green hair through the pulsating mass.

She slammed through double doors into a colder room, one where the lights were a steady white and, while the music was still audible, the noise was mostly yells of bets and “get him!” “Kick him while he’s down!”

Morgan rolled his shoulders, still following Tooth. This looked promising.

Tooth slammed a hand down on the table, leaning in. “You got any fights we can get in on?” She spoke in rapid, rough Kalosian.

The man squinted up at her, chewing the end of a cigar.

Morgan stepped up beside her, hand tapping against his leg.

“For him? Maybe. You? No.”

Tooth drew in a sharp breath, shoulders rising.

Morgan set his hand on her shoulder. “Point us at it.”

“Hey–” She twisted to look up at him before back at the man. “Hey.”

He got to his feet, shifting his chair back so he didn’t knock the table with his gut. “What name do I put down?”

“Summer Storm,” Tooth snapped.

“And she’s my second,” Morgan said quickly. “The Tooth Fairy.”

The man snorted derisively, gesturing for the other person at the desk to write them down. “She have a death wish or summat?”

This level of Kalosian was so much easier for him to understand.

“We just… have a lot of energy to burn.” Morgan glanced at Tooth and grinned.

He grunted and forced his way through the crowd. “Clear out a space, a’ight?” he roared, turning. “Hammer, where you at?”

Morgan shrugged off his coat, passing it and the pokeball to Tooth, who folded it over her arm.

“Who’d you bring?”

“Skelp.” Morgan kicked off his shoes, standing barefoot on the dusty floor.

“Hey, boss, what’s doing?”

Morgan looked up. This must be Hammer, swaggering across. No top, which showed a smattering of tattoos streaking their way around his arms and across his well defined chest. Morgan hesitated, then took off his own shirt and tied his hair back up and out the way.

“Got a fight for you.” The ringmaster jerked his head at Morgan, who was wrapping strips of tape and linen around his hands.

Hammer grinned, slowly, revealing missing teeth and a piercing in his tongue.

Morgan shook his head and bounced from foot to foot, shaking his hands to make sure the wrappings would stay in place.

“Don’t pulverise him too much,” Tooth said, switching to Kanjin. “I want a shot.”

“Sing out when you want in,” Morgan replied.

“Aye.” Tooth grinned, pulling out her phone to scroll through something. Probably her music lists.

Morgan turned and stepped forward, nodding to Hammer.

Hammer hawked and spat on the ground between them and loomed over Morgan.

“We have a first timer!” the ringmaster yelled, circling them. “Back, back you dogs.” He pushed at people, making the ring wider. “From across the seas, these ones are. Facing our very own Hammer!”

Raucous cheers and whistles exploded around them as Hammer posed, flexing his muscles.

“Light as a breeze, this fellow tells me he is.”

Morgan rocked forward as the ringmaster slapped him on the back.

“The Summer Storm!”

Laughter.

Morgan cocked his head and smirked at the big guy.

“Are you ready?!” The ringmaster backed away.

Morgan brought his hands up to guard. “Whenever you feel like it, big guy.”

Hammer set his stance, still taller than Morgan.

The bell rang out.

Hammer lunged first, with an overhead smash that would have flattened Morgan, had he stood still to take it.

Morgan darted in and swung up, connecting his fist with Hammer’s jaw.

The crowd roared as he ducked away. Hammer shook his head and turned to follow after Morgan.

Another blow came in, then another and another, thick and fast and with every ounce of power that Hammer had behind each one.

Morgan deflected them or dodged altogether, offering very few in retaliation.

Boos from the crowd.

“You here to dance or fight, pretty boy?” Hammer’s voice grated like gravel.

“Well, when you put it like that.” Morgan smirked, jumping.

Hammer raised his arm to deflect and punched at Morgan’s unprotected midrift.

Morgan summoned a flash of armour to weigh himself down and land more quickly, and Hammer’s fist went shooting over his head.

Hammer stumbled forward and Morgan shuffled to the side, letting off a volley of quick jabs into Hammer’s stomach.

As he gritted his teeth and kept low, the punches became faster, harder. Morgan almost growled at one point.

Hammer grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and threw him away.

Morgan landed on his back and slid to a stop beside Tooth.

“Focus, idiot,” she hissed, tugging him to his feet.

Hammer came lumbering towards them.

Morgan shot straight at him.

Hammer raised his fists to defend and Morgan caught at one of his arms, swinging his weight to the side.

Unbalanced, Hammer stumbled and almost fell.

Morgan swung around and landed lightly on his feet behind Hammer, dealing a blow to his shoulder.

Hammer grunted and slammed one fist into the ground to steady himself.

Morgan kicked off Hammer’s back and landed lightly on the ground, bouncing from foot to foot. He almost laughed, throwing his head back, but he caught sight of Tooth and calmed that impulse. Don’t get cocky.

Hammer turned, still on his knees. He was scowling, face contorted into vicious rage.

Oops.

Hammer growled and pushed off his feet, lunging at Morgan.

Morgan twisted, dancing out of the way, and Hammer’s fist clipped his side. He let out a shout, curling in on himself. He caught sight of Tooth, who frowned and started forward, raising an eyebrow.

Then she grinned. “You see me coming!” she yelled.

Morgan laughed, skipped out of the way of Hammer’s next lunge, and ran to meet her.

“What’s this? Has the Storm blown its course?” The ringmaster yelled, derision in his voice.

Morgan offered his hand and Esther grasped his wrist. “Ready?”

“Hell yeah!” Tooth grinned.

Morgan gripped her wrist, summoned armour and strength, and whipped around to throw Tooth at Hammer.

She’s left her phone in his hand, still running. Morgan grinned and turned, holding it up to film the rest of the fight.

“And the Fairy enters the ring! Be careful she doesn’t get dust in your eyes!”

Hammer straightened and spread his arms to meet her.

Tooth turned herself and slammed a foot into his face, kicking off to flip over and land on her feet.

“What’s this? The Fairy can fly!”

Hammer shook his head and blinked, trying to focus.

Tooth went in for the kill, kicking off his knees to slam her fist into his chin and kicking into his solar plexus with a foot to push herself backwards.

He gasped, coughing out blood. Then he stumbled backwards and fell.

Tooth landed, bending her knees and bringing her fists up to guard.

Hammer didn’t get back up.

The ringmaster hurried back in, kneeling at Hammer’s head and yelling the count.

Morgan couldn’t see Tooth’s face, but she was probably smirking.

When the final count was called, Tooth lifted her hands above her head and crowed.