Pokémon PrismGold

Chapter Twenty-Five: "Honesty"

Mark cursed loudly, running a hand through his hair as he paced a bit. Rushing into the doors behind him, Pryce huffed out a bit breathlessly. "You know... have a heart. I'm not as young as I used to be... and chasing you kids around... is exhausting." Mark ignored his comment, uttering out completely distressed. "Damn it. He's gone!" Pryce straightened up with a deep breath, asking curiously. "Who is?" Mark whirled around to face him, snapping out. "Nate! I didn't think he'd... I thought I'd..." While Mark paced more, Pryce asked him in a calm collected tone. "Alright. Rewind and start from the beginning. What's happened?" Mark glanced around at the few trainers that were wandering around, reluctantly saying. "I can't say here." Pryce shrugged, gesturing to the elevator. Mark stormed over to it and ran Sean's bracelet across the scanner. Slipping inside, Mark pressed the button to close the doors quickly. Pryce waited until the doors shut, then shrugged at him.

Taking a breath, Mark leaned back against the wall and tried to keep it simple as he explained. "You know that Nate works for Giovanni. Well, he is heading off to meet him as they discussed. But reviving Mew... That is nothing compared to what that little stunt has probably done." Pryce's eyes lowered to the floor, before softly regaling aloud. "Oh... You think Giovanni will use Nate to get the jewel of Articuno?" Mark nodded, uneasily shrugging out. "It didn't click with me until just now. I don't think this was just about reviving Mew. Giovanni sent him here to get the Prism Scale... but then shows up to help? The Teams have had a truce for years... Now Team Rocket is working with Valor? Mystic and Instinct are fighting over an evolved Feebas? This just feels so..." Mark couldn't finish, but Pryce continued for him. "It feels planned out. Putting the Teams at each other throats. Making them weaker." Mark nodded, then mumbled out. "Unfortunately... Instinct only knew about the Feebas because of me... I started that. And I can't call Spark..."

Mark gestured off with his hand, adding grimly. "All the swimming destroyed my damn phone..." Pryce bit his lip, mumbling out. "Call him at one of the Pokestop's video phone stations. Warn him. The Teams need to be on alert." Mark nodded, then grumbled out uneasily. "We need to stop Nate before he gets to Ice Island. If Giovanni gets even one jewel..." Pryce exhaled out softly. "You may be able to stop Nate... but Giovanni? At least, the man I knew... He's ruthless. If he wants something... He'll find a way to get it. Hell, he might already have them." Mark shook his head, saying hopefully. "No. If he did, the storm would be much worse." The elevator dinged and Mark stepped out to lead him down the hallway. However, at the door, Mark slowed to a stop. Turning with a slight blush, Mark mumbled out. "Can you a... wait out here a minute?" Pryce blinked with a blank expression. Mark couldn't look at Pryce now as he uttered out. "It's just that... He's not... decent." Pryce's white eyebrows slowly rose with peaked curiosity.

Mark cleared his throat, turning away as he grumbled out. "Don't. Just. Stay out here." Pryce crossed his arms, leaning back against the wall as he mumbled out. "Didn't realize I was a fourth wheel to your group. Criminy, to be young..." Mark groaned, quickly opening the door with Sean's bracelet. Slipping inside, he glanced around to see if Sean was up. Peeking around the divider, he smirked. Sean was still fast asleep but had migrated to the center of the bed. Setting Sean's bracelet down on the table, Mark moved quickly to the bed. Clearly Sean was not an early morning riser. He guessed probably a noon type. Otherwise, he was just such a lightweight that the alcohol had given him a deep peaceful slumber. Climbing carefully up onto the bed, Mark touched Sean's warm cheek with the backs of his fingers, whispering to him. "Sean...? Wake up." He hated waking people. Especially, ones that looked as adorable as Sean did. Sean moaned so softly in his sleep but didn't stir. Biting his lip, Mark smiled.

Stroking Sean's bare arm that was half tucked under him, Mark called his name again. Sean moaned again in his sleep, his fingers clawing the sheets beneath him. Sliding a hand down Sean's exposed back, he said into his ear in a normal tone. "Sean. You have to get up." Sean turned his face into the pillow, trying to avoid him as he muffled out in a childish whine. "Leave me alone..." Mark heard more, but it was too muffled by the pillow. Rolling his eyes, he crawled over him on all fours. Kissing his shoulder, he said hopefully. "I didn't get the last bit... Sean... Please, get up. Don't make me carry you to the shower..." Sean didn't answer. Mark groaned, putting his forehead to Sean's shoulder before jerking his head up and snapping out in a fake panic. "Sean! The building is on fire! Get up!" Sean groaned, dragging another pillow closer to himself as he muffled out. "I'll be fine... Leave me behind..." Mark exhaled, starting to climb off him as he said. "Alright. You leave me no choice... Cold shower it is."