my face, your fist [fernando]

[grey]

If there was anything he was good at, it was sneaking around. Course, it was never one hundred percent sure, but that was what motivated him to try anyway. The thrill, the gamble, the alcohol, the only things that drove his life nowadays. He would be lying to say he wasn't a wee bit intoxicated right now, not the best decision, but he was sure as hell not doing this right now while sober.

This being sneaking back into the Silph estate, past guards and evading known camera spots. He was certain there were a lot more inside, and it would take days of preparation before he could actually get in without tripping any alarms. In fact, his stealth wasn't all too needed, not when he was expected to drop by anyway. Suited up, from head to toe, dark clothing and tinted goggles, it was almost certain that if any of the guards did see him, he would be tackled to the ground and taken off to wherever they saw fit. But he needed it, the special kind of therapy, that made him feel like himself. He needed this, he had told himself, especially after the affair a few days ago.

He clambered up a window of a room that resembled an office. Politely closing the window shut, he settled into a seat and fished out his flask and took a swig of the vodka concoction inside.

Now to wait.

[zubatman]

No one snuck up on Fernando. Not with little, dainty surprises. If you were going to catch him off guard then you’d have to go all in. Something that Azel failed to do, especially since he expected the burglar to arrive around any moment. From Fernando’s standpoint, Azel had two choices: come through the front door or try and test his might with sneaking onto the premises once again.

Not much had changed since the last time Azel had scaled the mansion’s walls. Fernando found little reason to bulk up the security seeing as he expected even more guest, not counting Azel. Instead, he would add his own little traps onto his most prized possessions, sending a strict message to anyone who dared to overstep their bounds. As for the standard set of guards and cameras, they were told not to rough up any intruders too hard. He wanted the said intruder brought to him so he could personally attend to the unwanted trespasser. Just because Azel was expected didn’t mean he wouldn’t use this chance to point out just how incompetent the security team his father prided himself on was. Always felt good to stick it to the old crone.

A disgruntled mumble from his Lucario told him everything he wanted to know. Why trust security cameras when you had a pokemon that have infrared vision? The Aura pokemon only gave a solemn nod before plodding toward the secondary office, hauling a large sack over it’s shoulders as Fernando followed behind.

Azel wouldn’t have to wait long before the door creaked open. Fernando’s Lucario simply stood there, awaiting further orders as the mastermind stood behind the ever so obedient pokemon.

“Welcome. Anything I can get you?”

[grey]

He regarded the fighting type for a while, and then shrugged. "I had hoped you'd be just a tiny bit surprised~ And no thank you, I'll just take the money and leave by how I came." He said easily enough, a smile on his face just for good measure. Yep, stealth had definitely not been needed. Course, that didn't mean he had to look disgruntled, if only disappointed with how Fernando didn't seem the least bit fazed of his appearance. Then again, he wasn't one to miss appointments. "I expect a bonus from the unexpected turnabout."

[zubatman]

“I wasn’t too sure what your preference was.”

On cure, the Lucario plopped the bag onto the desk. Without anyone to hold it, the bag fell towards Azel, revealing several bundled up wads of cash. As if that wasn’t enough, Fernando plucked a small card from his breast pocket, tossing it towards the hired hand.

“So I figured it was better to be safe, rather than sorry. Feel free to leave the cash here if it’s too heavy. I’ll have it wired to the account the card is associated with. Your bonus is also on the card. Consider it a thank you gift for how pleased I am with the results.”

It took all his discipline to keep his mouth from twisting into a wry smile. Just recalling Anna inches away from taking a life brought an odd warmth to his bosom. He was too proud of his accomplishment.

“But don’t consider it an apology. You strayed away from the plans and got your just desserts.”

He even had to bite his tongue to stop himself from chuckling.

“It’s still a pleasure to do business with you though.”

[grey]

He caught the card with a hand, flipping it over to check the print on it. He'd have to have some other fool go withdraw the money, the raven didn't exactly have anymore trust to waste on Fernando. "Usually, in movies, they hand it over in suitcases." He commented, raising a brow at the bag, idly lifting it open to peek inside, taking out a wad of bills for inspection. "I'll be taking this with me, early celebration, you can deduct it from your deposit if you want." As if he'd actually carry the whole bag out with him. One, it would look suspicious hauling a bag through the streets this late at night, two, it looked heavy, and he didn't particularly enjoy physical labor.

"As far as I'm concerned, it was part of the unpredictable factor. Anna. You know? The one you wanted to test? I did my part, it's just that neither of us really knew what she would do in that situation, right?~"

[zubatman]

“I don’t have time to waste on PokeStar Studios and their productions.”

The stark answer came out colder than how Fernando had intended it to. Despite his indifference toward the bumbling hobo, his words had a sharp bite behind them. Somewhere, deep down, Fernando resented him from touching his precious toy. That wasn’t part of the plan.

“I knew exactly what she would’ve done. If you stuck to the plan then everything would’ve went accordingly. But what’s done is done. No point in dwelling on the what–ifs.”

[grey]

"I went in your house, I got her attention, and I got out. What part of that wasn't according to plan?~" Came the mischievous reply. After all, he hadn't quite been specific enough to tell him any limits to the task. Ahh, perhaps he should have swiped something after all.

"You... Care for Anna, right?" Azel wasn't quite sure why he wasn't asking such, most of it was curiosity, while the other parts were a mix of brooding suspicion.

[zubatman]

Fernando ignored question. It was obvious enough to him that Azel was trying to bait him into something. Get him riled up, annoyed, break his exterior. He wouldn’t give him that pleasure, the satisfaction that Fernando was so used to receiving. All he could do was try to hide the scowl on his face.

“Define care.”

The grimace on his face contorted all too quickly into some kind of sly leer. Emotions were leaking and Fernando couldn’t help but let the deviance of his mind show. Azel wasn’t the only one with suspicions; Fernando had his own theory about the noisy thief.

[/justify]

[grey]

"Care as in-" What did he mean? It wasn't as if he could claim he knew Fernando well enough to know what relation he had with other women, and if he even treated them with any gentleness. So how was he suppose to phrase a question wherein he wasn't sure what answer he wanted in the first place. "Would you keep her alive for as long as you could?"

Because that was all that was important.

[zubatman]

The break in his words betrayed him, told Fernando that Azel wasn’t quite sure what he was looking for. It proved to be a pleasant opening for him to exploit but was it worth it? Azel had done his job and that was it. Fernando saw no reason to keep the man close anymore, consorting with a meager street rat who threatened his most precious.

“I don’t plan on having her die before me, if that’s what you’re wondering.”

Vagueness was an art left for the aggressor. The deeper Azel was kept into the dark the better.

[/justify]

[grey]

He only shook his head at that. "Not the answer I was looking for but you've made your point I guess." There was little comfort in the answer, or more exactly, no comfort at all. What were his words but empty phrases without any proof of honesty. Then again, Azel couldn't be much of a judge to such, considering he was barely on the right spectrum of things. "I'll take it as a yes, until proven otherwise." But it would be too late by then. He added to himself, taking a drink from his container as he sauntered over the window and opened it again to let in the cold air. He placed a boot on the window, one hand on the meeting.

"Would you give Anna my regards when you see her again? It'd cause her some discomfort, you'd like that."

[zubatman]

“No,” comes his reply, flat and defiant. “You don’t know me, Mr. Azel.”

It was a lie but cleverly hidden behind a scornful reply. To think that Azel could know what he’d like offended him. To think someone as complex as himself could be figured out, understood, by a mere street urchin; how bold. Figures he’d try to leave on such a light-hearted foot. Fernando can only smile as Azel promises to leave.

“Take care now.”

The sarcasm is weak and Fernando almost sounds genuine— almost.

“And if you hear anything about Knights, let me know. I might have another job for you, in case you ever need another penny.”

[/justify]