Punch Drunk Kiss

7 (updated)

"So what did you want to talk about?" Tabitha asked as he sat down next to Harlan on a bench. Her partner Pokémon, Raiju the Manectric, was seated at her feet. It looked warily at Tabitha. Obviously Raiju had not forgotten Tabby's origins.

"Our escape plan."

Tabitha felt a chill go down his spine.

"I've deducted that we can't take Lantern. Blaise would know immediately, and he would hunt us down faster."

Not take Lantern? Was she out of her mind? Tabitha gaped at her.

"Blaise will be the only parent he knows," she said, voice breaking. "I can't do it, really. Lan reminds me so much of Blai."

"You still love him, don't you." Tabitha was dying to know.

"Of course I love him. He got me away from the team," Harlan said bitterly. "But he also brought me back to this shithole."

"What about me, Harley?" Tabitha begged, trying not to sound desperate. "I.. you've gotta choose, man. Between us."

"..." Harlan looked at him. "And if I don't?"

"What do you mean, you won't?"

"Tabitha." It was the first time she'd used his full name for a while. "Whether Blaise likes it or not, you're mine. It would pain me to be apart."

"What are you implying." Tabitha's question was more of a statement. "If you're saying we should be a threesome, I'm not doing it, not with him. I'd do anything for you but th-"

"Would you be quiet and let me talk?" Harlan demanded, though not angrily. "I'm saying you could live with us. Blaise can learn to like you again. It's better that way."

"..."

They were silent, staring into each others' eyes. Tabitha scratched behind his ear like he tended to do when he was nervous, trying to find the words. He needed her - he loved her more than anyone he had ever loved. And...

"I'm scared Blaise is going to lash out at you next."

"Huh?" Harlan furrowed her brow.

"Blaise has threatened to kill me twice. Tried to, failed, then a week later, just today, told me to leave you alone or he'd shoot me. He actually did shoot me. But in the arm."

Now it was Harlan's turn to gape at him. Then she scowled. "Did he, now?" she challenged.

Tabitha nodded, rolling up his sleeve so she could see the graze wound. Harlan grit her teeth.

Without warning, she reached up and kissed him, grabbing his hands. Tabitha kissed her back, then pulled away abruptly, realizing people were looking.

"Kiss me, you dumbass," she whispered against his lips, trying to get back at him, but failing. "What's wrong?"

"Harley... this is so wrong."

"Tabby. Do I care?"

Tabitha looked Harlan dead in the eye. "There are people-"

"I don't care, Tabitha," Harlan said loudly. "I love you. I love you, Tabitha Burns. I want to spend the rest of my life with you!" She was practically yelling now, and Tabitha shook his head desperately, trying to get her to stop being so erratic.

"Harlan, shush!" Tabitha begged.

"Kiss me, you dumb fuck." She tipped her head so they were nose to nose.

Tabitha was very aware of the people watching them, but Harlan seemed like she genuinely couldn't care less that she was advancing on him, despite that she was married. "Harlan-"

"Shut up, Tabby. Just shut up. Shut up and listen to me."

"Are you OK? Like actually."

"I am so tired of Blaise's shit," Harlan said, again quite loudly.

"Tell me about it but - please, Harl-"

"Tabitha, shut up!!" Harlan shouted in his face. "I want the world to know what a shit husband Blaise is. He was never fit for love. He can burn for all I care!" she continued to shout. It was like she was in mania or something. Tabitha had never seen her this erratic.

"Relax. For both our sakes, please, relax," Tabitha begged. He sat up, hugging Harlan, who was sobbing now. "I promise we'll get out of this."

"How are you so sure?!" she exclaimed.

"Because -"

Tabitha was cut off by the two Aetherian employees suddenly approaching them. Now they were really fucked. But their eyes were on the sobbing woman in Tabby's arms, not Tabby himself.

"Who sent you." Harlan had noticed them. She wiped her face, sitting up.

"Lillie, ma'am," one of the employees said.

"Wh... what's wrong?" Fear edged Harlan's tone. Tabitha was also concerned. Lillie usually never sent messengers - it was Blaise who called for Harlan through them when she was out too late. Harlan wiped her eyes, smearing her makeup.

"The Paradise is burning, ma'am."