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𝐃𝐈𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐆𝐔𝐄 :

hide .   hide now .

shh !!  there’s somebody in the house .

i’m not gonna hurt you !  see ?  look ,  i’m putting down the  [ weapon ] .

[ name ] ,  what were you thinking ?!

you’re being followed ,  pretend you know me .

stop , stop !  just put the  [ weapon ]  down !

drive ,  just drive fast !

you seriously think i could’ve done this ?

can you walk ?  i need you to walk for me ,  okay ?

let me handle it ,  just go !

what was your plan ??  you could’ve gotten yourself killed !

you’re just going to leave me here ?!

[ name ] ,  can you hear me ?  get out of there !

you knew and you didn’t tell me ?!

don’t you know how dangerous this is ?

you’re not going to shoot me .

move and you die .

i’m gonna come back for you ,  do you hear me ?

we have to stop the bleeding .

can you see how many fingers i’m holding up ?

i just want to go home !

don’t move a fucking muscle .

if it weren’t for you ,  we wouldn’t be in this mess .

i almost DIED back there ,  and you’re laughing ?

you’re only making this worse for yourself .

you think this is a joke ?

if i go down ,  i want you to run .

we’re gonna die ,  so what’s the point ?

this was the ONE thing i told you not to do .

i can’t promise we’re going to make it out of here .

where’s your first - aid kit ?!

just calm down and find your phone ,  we need to call the police .

someone’s been stalking me .

just listen to me for once !

i didn’t think you had it in you .

put the gun down ,  and kick it over here .

we can’t stick around here ,  let’s go .

kiss me before we die .

do whatever you need to do ,  hurry .

i can’t breathe ,  i can’t -

please ,  please  -  let me in ,  there’s someone -

i’m gonna give you one last chance .

you have to believe me ,  i didn’t do this !

run ,  and don’t look back .

this is real ,  i’m real .  look at me .

take this .  it’ll keep you safe .

follow my instructions very closely .

put your hands where i can see them .

you can’t just let me die !

i think  …  i think i need a doctor .

we need to get out of here ,  come on .

no ,  this isn’t it .  we’re getting you out of this .

you panicking is not going to help us right now .

𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 :

[ GETAWAY ]  sender acts as a getaway driver for receiver .

[ MEDIC ]  sender arrives on receiver’s doorstep ,  badly bleeding .

[ HIDE ]  sender and receiver hide from a threat together .

[ HUSH ]  sender clasps a hand over receiver’s mouth to silence them .

[ DRAG ]  sender physically hauls receiver to safety .

[ RIGHTS ]  sender calls receiver from a police precinct .

[ REALITY ]  sender helps receiver through an episode of derealization .

[ SHELTER ]  sender and receiver must find shelter from a storm  .

[ ARMED ]  sender brandishes a  [ gun / knife ]  at receiver .

[ CRASH ]  sender and receiver survive a  [ car / bike ]  crash together .

[ SEARCH ]  sender barges into the hospital demanding to see receiver .

[ BACKUP ]   sender calls receiver panicking after committing a crime .

[ CORNERED ]  sender menacingly backs receiver into a corner .

[ UNEXPECTED ]  receiver comes home to find sender already inside .

[ BREATHE ]  sender helps receiver get through a panic attack .

[ BADGE ]  sender and receiver flee from the cops together .

[ STRANDED ]  sender and receiver become stranded in the woods .

[ EMBRACE ]  sender kisses receiver thinking it’ll be the last time .

[ STRANGER ]  sender can’t remember who receiver is after an injury .

[ TOKEN ]  sender gives receiver a lucky charm before they go into battle .

As the timer in her head ticked down, the trembling of her shoulders slowed to a stop. The soft cries were replaced with deep breaths. Internally Harmony wrangled her emotions into check.

Slowly, she opened her eyes. The counter had hit 0.

Harmony pulled away and made quick work of cleaning herself up. Making herself presentable was a skill she had long since mastered.

The words Corbeau spoke into the silence made guilt settle into her stomach. She tried desperately to hear him out to the end but it became too unbearable. Before he could finish his sentence Harmony took him by his chin and pulled him to face her. All traces of the girl crying in his arms were gone, shoved back into the corners of her heart where she belonged. Her gaze was even, like the calm after the storm.

"Corbeau, I've always liked your eyes," she said "The way they shine bright with unwavering ambition has always captivated me," Harmony spoke plainly. It wasn't an emotional declaration but a fact she was presenting to him. "Don't cloud them with doubt. Not on my account and definitely not on account of men whose blood isn't even good enough to dirty your shoes,"

This was her fault. If she could have held it together. If she hadn't forced him into a position of having to comfort her, he wouldn't have hesitated like this.

Shame burned in her chest. She had to do something. "To call me might have been your mistake but the choice to come to your aid was mine. I take pride in that decision. I wanted to save you," Harmony swallowed, willing herself not to break eye contact. "I wanted to save you because the Lumiose city I've come to love wouldn't be the same without you in it,"

"... Harmony...!" He too, is fighting not to break eye contact, even with his face going warmer by the second. "I suppose you make a valid point..."

Anyone else who dared to grab his chin would have traded that hand for the privilege, but this was Harmony.

A person who understood him far better than most.

But before he can even really process her words, the thick swath of paper lands squarely in his lap, and he's almost thankful for the distraction.

She had asked for a minute because it felt like the most her pride would allow. Now she regretted not asking for 15. Even worse, there was a part of herself that knew but would never admit, that she regretted the list of demands she had given him. She regretted not asking him to just hold her.

As if reading those thoughts an awkward hand moved through her hair. It was a clumsy attempt at comfort at best. Maybe that was why it was so precious to her. Because she knew this wasn't a practiced skill he had honed. It was an attempt in spite of his inadequacy. The way she nuzzled her head into him in response was almost completely involuntary.

"I apologize that you had to witness such things that night. That you ended up in a position where this became your only option-" he growls, gesturing loosely to the bandages wrapped tightly around burned skin. "It should never have happened. If I had just been more careful, if I really had called Philippe instead of you--"

Would he still have survived if he'd delayed even a few minutes longer? Or would all have been lost? Was it even worth thinking about any longer?

The way he had worked her up, she almost wondered if this request was unneeded.

Harmony turned toward him. Corbeaus body was taut with irritation but he was still forcing himself to comply with her demands. For her sake. Her gaze softened with affection in spite of herself.

The mattress shifted as she sat down at the side of his bed. "Don't say anything," she said. "Don't move. Don't listen. Don't speak," Harmony put a hand to his closed eyes, letting it rest gently against his skin, careful to not aggravate his wounds. "Don't look. Then forget everything,"

Softly, Harmony let her head rest against his shoulder. The moment her eyes were hidden in the fabric of his clothing, her irritation melted and the dam broke.

The first tears that fell were slow and burning.

What-ifs were such a pointless exercise. Yet they cycled through her thoughts unbidden. Because what if she hadn't made it in time? What if burning his skin killed him rather than saved him? What if her pride had won and she hadn't called Philippe for help. What if anger overtook her reason and she became so preoccupied with revenge that her friend had died waiting for her?

What if he had died?

Oh Arceus he almost died.

A trembling hand gripped the front of his clothing at the thought. He was here. She could feel him. He was alive.

In spite of this, vivid images flash through her minds eye trying to convince her otherwise. Images of Corbeaus skin turning pale in her arms. A growing pool of blood spreading around the two of them. The flame of ambition in his eyes slowly fading out, possibly forever.

Did he have any idea how scared she was?

Her head sunk lower and her shoulders shook. More and more tears spilled over until she no longer knew how she'd manage to stifle them. The best she could do was keep the small gasps and sobs low and quiet and pray that Corbeau had the good sense to pretend he heard none of it.

"Thank you, for being safe," she managed to whisper. "I'm so glad you're ok,"

In the back of her mind a timer was keeping track of how much time she had left.

He's not the sort who often lingers in his own doubts. Far from it- he could not afford to.

However, at this moment, he feels like a terrible fool, because he had thought nothing of how these events must have shaken her.

She had been terrified. He'd saddled her with a terrible task, and she'd risen to the occasion admirably.

But achieving a goal didn't simply eliminate the fear. The body kept the score, and the spring wound tight inevitably had to release its tension.

He'd preoccupied his days with thoughts of revenge and work, when he should have considered her. How going from one extreme to the other would affect anyone.

He stayed frozen for a time, listening to her shaking sobs and feeling her tremble, and his stomach swoops at the sound of it. Slowly, hesitantly, he raises his hand and places it upon her head, moving his palm slowly, stiltedly downwards. His fingers card through her hair.

Corbeau would be absorbed in the stack of papers she'd left him. What did that leave her with but much needed but wholly unwanted time to process the day.

Her eyes searched the room trying to find anything that could keep her thoughts from straying into the sentimental. Instead, she found her gaze drawn Corbeau, his intimidating figure illuminated by the moonlight

The injuries he'd sustained were extensive. Even putting aside the gash she'd had to burn close, his ribs had been broken, his skull almost cracked, and they'd even left him with a black eye for decoration. In spite of that there wasn't ounce of self pity or fear reflected in his gaze. He sat tall, proud, and unwavering.

Harmony couldn't help but find him beautiful in that moment.

It was strange. She'd seen him scrutinizing a stack of papers as if he could intimate them into telling him what he wanted to know, countless times. Yet the scene felt so precious to her now.

Maybe because she had been so close to never seeing it again.

The thought gave an extra push to something that had been building in her for some time. It was almost getting impossible to force down.

When Corbeau raised his voice to get her attention it was a welcome change of pace. Maybe she could get her mind off these pointless thoughts.

Instead, the smile he affixed her with was so captivating she almost had no choice but to drink it in. The warmth it filled her with worked it's way through the cracks in her defenses until she felt them give way and crumble.

Harmony suddenly stood up and pulled her hat low over her eyes. "I apologize. I would've liked to wait until you recovered to call in this favor but I don't think it can wait much longer," In spite of her emotional state her voice was low and serious.

Harmony saved the leader of the Rust Syndicate, the debt they owed her was priceless. She should be able to ask for anything. The sky if she so pleased.

"Do what I say for one minute. I just need one. Do that for me and consider your debt paid,"

He's always prided himself in being good at predicting people, that subtle manipulation that got him where he was today- but he couldn't read her right now.

Furrowing his brow, he removes his glasses, letting them hang from their chain, and stares at her.

Harmony, what?

It's foolish to ask. A skilled negotiator such as him knew the number one rule of making deals. Never say yes before you know what you're signing up for.

He growls, shakes his head-- and caves.

Corbeau would be absorbed in the stack of papers she'd left him. What did that leave her with but much needed but wholly unwanted time to process the day.

Her eyes searched the room trying to find anything that could keep her thoughts from straying into the sentimental. Instead, she found her gaze drawn Corbeau, his intimidating figure illuminated by the moonlight

The injuries he'd sustained were extensive. Even putting aside the gash she'd had to burn close, his ribs had been broken, his skull almost cracked, and they'd even left him with a black eye for decoration. In spite of that there wasn't ounce of self pity or fear reflected in his gaze. He sat tall, proud, and unwavering.

Harmony couldn't help but find him beautiful in that moment.

It was strange. She'd seen him scrutinizing a stack of papers as if he could intimate them into telling him what he wanted to know, countless times. Yet the scene felt so precious to her now.

Maybe because she had been so close to never seeing it again.

The thought gave an extra push to something that had been building in her for some time. It was almost getting impossible to force down.

When Corbeau raised his voice to get her attention it was a welcome change of pace. Maybe she could get her mind off these pointless thoughts.

Instead, the smile he affixed her with was so captivating she almost had no choice but to drink it in. The warmth it filled her with worked it's way through the cracks in her defenses until she felt them give way and crumble.

Harmony suddenly stood up and pulled her hat low over her eyes. "I apologize. I would've liked to wait until you recovered to call in this favor but I don't think it can wait much longer," In spite of her emotional state her voice was low and serious.

Harmony saved the leader of the Rust Syndicate, the debt they owed her was priceless. She should be able to ask for anything. The sky if she so pleased.

"Do what I say for one minute. I just need one. Do that for me and consider your debt paid,"

He's always prided himself in being good at predicting people, that subtle manipulation that got him where he was today- but he couldn't read her right now.

Furrowing his brow, he removes his glasses, letting them hang from their chain, and stares at her.

Harmony, what?

It's foolish to ask. A skilled negotiator such as him knew the number one rule of making deals. Never say yes before you know what you're signing up for.

Corbeau would be absorbed in the stack of papers she'd left him. What did that leave her with but much needed but wholly unwanted time to process the day.

Her eyes searched the room trying to find anything that could keep her thoughts from straying into the sentimental. Instead, she found her gaze drawn Corbeau, his intimidating figure illuminated by the moonlight

The injuries he'd sustained were extensive. Even putting aside the gash she'd had to burn close, his ribs had been broken, his skull almost cracked, and they'd even left him with a black eye for decoration. In spite of that there wasn't ounce of self pity or fear reflected in his gaze. He sat tall, proud, and unwavering.

Harmony couldn't help but find him beautiful in that moment.

It was strange. She'd seen him scrutinizing a stack of papers as if he could intimate them into telling him what he wanted to know, countless times. Yet the scene felt so precious to her now.

Maybe because she had been so close to never seeing it again.

The thought gave an extra push to something that had been building in her for some time. It was almost getting impossible to force down.

When Corbeau raised his voice to get her attention it was a welcome change of pace. Maybe she could get her mind off these pointless thoughts.

Instead, the smile he affixed her with was so captivating she almost had no choice but to drink it in. The warmth it filled her with worked it's way through the cracks in her defenses until she felt them give way and crumble.

Harmony suddenly stood up and pulled her hat low over her eyes. "I apologize. I would've liked to wait until you recovered to call in this favor but I don't think it can wait much longer," In spite of her emotional state her voice was low and serious.

Harmony saved the leader of the Rust Syndicate, the debt they owed her was priceless. She should be able to ask for anything. The sky if she so pleased.

"Do what I say for one minute. I just need one. Do that for me and consider your debt paid,"

He's always prided himself in being good at predicting people, that subtle manipulation that got him where he was today- but he couldn't read her right now.

Furrowing his brow, he removes his glasses, letting them hang from their chain, and stares at her.

Harmony, what?

“As much as I hate your guts, we’ll die here if we don’t work together.”

“Let’s put our differences aside for now. There are bigger issues at hand.”

“Why must I stoop so low as to cooperate with the likes of you?”

“Looks like there’s someone else I hate more than you. Go figure.”

“Alright… I’ll help you, just this once.”

“Let’s get one thing straight here: I don’t like you.”

“This is a one time deal only.”

“Don’t get used to this. It won’t be happening again.”

“I’ll kill you later, when our lives aren’t in danger.”

“Look, we both want the same thing here.“

“Hey, I’m on your side this time!”

“It’s just a matter of overlooking our differences.”

“What do you say?… Truce?”

“Give it a break for once, this is more important!”

“I’ll take the left, you take the right– No arguing.”

“Stop yelling at me! I’m only trying to help!”

“Ugh! I hate having to work with you!”

“I’ll be glad to be rid of you once this is all over.”

“’Hate’ is a strong word… let’s settle for a ‘great disliking of’.”

“I don’t want to do this as much as you do… but we have to.”

“If you want to make it through this, you’re gonna have to trust me!”

“How can I trust you when not only five minutes ago you were trying to kill me?!”

“I can’t take your sass. I’m calling this alliance off prematurely.”

“Please, for once in your life, just listen to me! We’re all in danger!”

“I don’t like you, but this is for the greater good.”

“It’s either us or them, and quite frankly, I could kick your ass any day of the week.”

“As much as I’d hate to admit it, we’d be powerless on our own against them.”

“Just because I’m helping you doesn’t mean we’re friends.”

“Don’t even think about calling me your friend. We’re not. End of story.”

“Just this once, I’ll help… For a price.”

“If I’m going to team up with you, I want something worth while out of it.”

“I can’t wait til this is over… Then we can go back to killing/hating each other.”

---

It was the middle of the night when Harmony finally relaxed back into the sofa. She tossed her pen where it went clattering onto a table, and the stack of papers she'd been annotating dropped into her lap.

Philippe's investigation had proven to be more productive than she thought. As to be expected from the former boss of the Syndicate.

The next few hours were dedicated to jotting down discrepancies, offering her perspective where she felt it needed, and adding possible next moves they could make tomorrow. She'd even highlighted important information and places of note for Corbeau. They hadn't asked, but she had to do something to make herself useful while she played babysitter to sleeping beauty.

With her self-assigned work done, Harmony's eyes drift to Corbeau and to the hand that Philippe had so tenderly held. Then she looked down at her own. Was she capable of holding someone like that?

Her hand lifted off her lap and moved towards his. When Philippe held Corbeaus hand, it was painfully obvious how much he loved him. If she took his hand, she wondered what someone else might see. Harmony stopped, hand hovering inches above Corbeaus. Her gaze fell to the red lining his fingernails. A sudden thought struck her.

Actually, she could remember the last time someone held her. Unfortunately it wasn't a good memory. She had pulled Corbeau's arms around her to keep him from scratching his fingers along the pavement earlier. That could be considered 'being held', no?

Now that she thought about it, there had been a stinging sensation in her back all day. She had only barely registered it in the chaos. Harmony pulled herself in front of a mirror hanging in the room and raised the back of her shirt halfway. Along the small of her back were clear red trails left behind by Corbeaus nails.

"First time I'm held in years, this is what I get for it," she chuckled, dropping the fabric. She felt a sense of vindication for having avoided all the times Lida attempted to pull her in for a hug.

Harmony eyed the clock. It had been several hours since she'd last brewed his coffee. It was likely stale by now. She busied herself at the small kitchenette tucked in the corner of the room and began her third clumsy attempt at brewing. She had always seen Philippe grind and brew Corbeaus coffee himself. No doubt his was leagues better than her sad attempt.

Her arm stuttered through each rotation of the grinder's lever. Philippe had always spun it so effortlessly, she never realized how much strength it actually took. Brewing proved difficult as well. An errant splash of hot water hit her hand and she bit her lip to keep from yelping in pain. She hunched over, holding her hand to her chest before slowly, reluctantly, she tried again.

Philippe did this all the time?

When she finally turned to bring the newly brewed pot she was startled to find Corbeau awake, his eyes on her. "You are a little too comfortable watching me without my permission, you know," she said but her words held no bite.

She set the coffee down and traded it for a bottle of medicine. "Don't worry it won't knock you out," she reassured as she handed it to him. "I need the company,"

Before he could even ask she set down the report she edited onto his lap, along with a spare pair of glasses and a pen for him to write down his own notes. The report had been reprinted into a font that she had read would be easier on his likely concussion-addled head. His glasses had been brought over by a grunt and she had taken the liberty of asking the doctor to replace the nose pad with something that could more comfortably rest on his wounds.

It was strange. Harmony had always thought herself incapable of taking care of others, but it came so easy with Corbeau. It wasn't hard to foresee his needs. All she had to do was imagine what she would've wanted.

He accepted the medicine with a look of suspicion, but relaxed quickly when she explained. She seemed to understand him better than he thought. She didn't coddle him, and seemed to understand his need to stay occupied.

"If I'm being perfectly honest, I could use the company as well." He knocks the pills back with a swig of coffee. Holy shit, that was a strong brew. Just what he needed.

He takes the reports in hand, looking them over.

It's a shockingly thick stack given it hasn't been all that long, and he can see Harmony's handwriting all over it. He's honestly pretty touched.

"Well, Philippe still has his nose to the grindstone, I see. This is quite comprehensive, at that. These must be your handiwork, then?"

He looks back up at her, and smiles- a genuine smile, the light of which even reaches his eyes. It's unmistakably, undeniably fond.

"No, it's-- it's not that. I just..." he takes a deep breath in, then out. "No one has ever cooked something... solely for my sake before."

Cheap takeout, fancy takeout. Whatever leftovers are in the fridge. Some money on the table. No table at all.

It had taken long enough for him to convince himself that good food was not just a luxury wasted on someone like him.