“Well? Did you prepare at all for the job I told you about?”

Azure carefully placed a bandage over the cut on Sabrina’s cheek, one eye closed and the tip of his tongue peering from his lips in concentration. It was a very childish expression. Yet unlike with the man with the cross, it looked… wrong on him.

Besides, Sabrina knew the only reason he was tending to her wounds was because he wanted something from her.

“I thought I was plenty clear last night; I’m paid to fight Pokemon battles, not kill people.”

“Mhm, you say that as though you’ve never done it before,” Azure said in his singsong-y voice as he absentmindedly unrolled a bandage. “Do you think all those challengers we drag off the Gym in critical condition somehow make it out and manage to turn their life around, living happily ever after?”

Sabrina said nothing.

“Talking like your hands aren’t just as bloody as mine isn’t like you. Did you perhaps forget what you are?”

Stolen story; please report.

“...”

“Besides, when you learn who your target is, I’m sure you’ll be very interested,” he hummed happily, and Sabrina could perfectly imagine a heart at the end of that last word.

Yet once again, Sabrina said nothing. Seconds passed in silence, and it wasn’t until she made it clear she had nothing more to say on the matter that Azure hung his head and sighed.

“I wonder… Are you refusing because you’re worried about what he might think? Ha…”

That made the Gym leader react. With speed she didn’t know she possessed, she stood up suddenly and grabbed Azure by the collar, pulling him to his feet as well. It was an instinctual impulse, a spark of anger. She tamed it just as quickly, letting go of him and turning around, starting to walk away.

Yet Azure’s voice, as ever, reached her even as she turned around the corner, echoing inside her head as though he were whispering against her ear.

“Don’t let your guard down, Sabrina. Don’t let him weaken you. You were so beautiful before, sharp and ruthless… I miss it oh-so dearly.” Azure sighed. “If only things could go back to the way they were before…”

Sabrina didn’t need to look at him to know his expression was giddier than ever.