With a flick of the wrist, Shelly turned on the lights to the communication room, illuminating the various pieces of equipment found inside. "Here we are. That didn't take long, did it?"

Homura made a noncommittal noise in the back of his throat as he glanced around the communications room. He immediately recognized it as the one he had seen Matsubusa in earlier that day.

Shelly took a seat in front of the monitors and brought the system to life. "It might be best to contact Aogiri's Pokédex in case those two are busy."

Homura bristled as he turned to shoot Shelly a scowl. "...Hurry up and call him, already!"

Shelly gave Homura a droll look. "You really need to try and relax more about the idea of our bosses dating. You're going to give yourself an ulcer at this rate."

Aogiri appeared on the big screen before Homura had a chance to retort. "Yo! What's up?" He grinned as he noticed Homura, as well as Tabitha further back by Shelly. "Good news, I hope."

Homura glowered darkly at Aogiri and stepped forward. "Where is he!?"

Aogiri's gaze moved away from the monitor to the redhead sitting beside him at the table. In front of them were plates of their half-eaten dinner while the Pokémon were polishing off their meals not far away. "Hey, Masky, I think it's for you."

Matsubusa looked up at that, blinking as he had his fork half in his mouth. "Huh?"

"Matsubusa!" Homura said as he gripped the edge of the console. "Are you alright!?"

"Homura?" Matsubusa repeated as he blinked again before his eyes widened. "Yes, I-" the redhead paused when his eyes settled on Shelly's smirking face in the corner of the screen. "-Where are you!?"

"That's my question!" Homura snapped. "Where are you!?"

"How should I know!?" Matsubusa said, scowling. "A-are you fraternizing behind my back!?"

"I came to rescue you, and found you gone!" Homura said, with a wide gesture of his arm. "Enough with the bluster and nonsense! Has he hurt you!?"

The leader of Team Magma paused at the question, his expression going blank. His confusion only lasted a moment as he soon remembered that he was still a prisoner, and had been kidnapped. Homura's concerns were actually understandable. Such a realization made the redhead feel a surge of shame at his earlier anger, which became visible on his face in the form of a mortified blush. "...No. He hasn't."

Homura's expression was still fierce as he searched Matsubusa's face for any signs of dishonesty. Once he was partially satisfied, the personal assistant stepped back as he crossed his arms. "...Good."

Aogiri leaned in close to Matsubusa, slipping an arm around the other man's shoulders before he placed a kiss on Matsubusa's cheek. "Trust me, I've been taking very good care of my Masky."

Matsubusa jerked with a squeak, his blush shifting from shame to flustered embarrassment. "E-e-eh?!"

"...You'd better," Homura said, his voice sharp like a knife. "Because if you don't, I have a bullet with your name on it."

Aogiri shot Homura a wry smile. "Trust me, the last thing I'd want to do is to make the man I love unhappy."

Matsubusa's blush deepened as he let out a strangled sound of protest. The very fact that Aogiri could say such a thing not just to him but in front of other people was all the more mortifying. "I-idiot!"

Aogiri nuzzled Matsubusa's nose with his own. "See? We're calling each other pet names already."

Matsubusa's voice raised in pitch as he let out another noise of protest, reaching up to uselessly strike at Aogiri's chest.

Shelly leaned back in her seat, kicking her feet up onto an empty part of the console. "So do I get to say 'I told you so' now or after they start kissing?"

Homura's cheek twitched as he tapped his right fingers against his left arm, keeping both arms crossed. "What are your intentions to Matsubusa?"

Aogiri reluctantly turned his attention away from Matsubusa to focus on Homura. "Gee, I thought it was clear that I want to make the man I love happy." He couldn't help but snicker as Matsubusa let out another incoherent sputtering protest. "But if you want specifics, I'm planning on seducing him if he's game, or at least get some more kisses."

Matsubusa howled as he reached over to clamp both of his hands on Aogiri's mouth. "S-s-shut up! Shut up shut up shut up!"

Homura's expression deadpanned. "And I'm supposed to ignore the fact that you kidnapped him, after terrorizing him for days?"

Tabitha rushed forward to Homura's side, glaring at Aogiri. "Do you have any idea how much we were worried about Matsubusa and what you might've been doing to him?"

Aogiri tried to answer, but the words came out muffled behind Matsubusa's hands. He side-eyed the redhead and slowly quirked an eyebrow.

Matsubusa scowled at Aogiri, his face still loudly proclaiming his embarrassment. "I'm only removing them if you promise not to say anything else stupid."

Aogiri let out a quiet hum before he shrugged and nodded.

Matsubusa hesitated, not certain how to take such a response. He was about to question the pirate when he suddenly felt the tip of Aogiri's tongue flick out against his hand. The redhead yelped as he jerked his hands back, nearly falling backwards.

Fortunately, Aogiri was quick to snag Matsubusa before the redhead could tip out of the seat. He flashed a grin now that his mouth was uncovered. "Can't say I think anything I said about being wild about you was stupid, Masky."

Matsubusa held his hand to his chest, quivering as he glowered at the pirate. The anger in his expression was severely muted by his ever darkening blush. "...I-idiot..."

Aogiri kissed Matsubusa's cheek, savoring the warmth he found there. "You say the sweetest things."

Homura's cheek twitched as he glared at the screen. "...Are you finished?"

Matsubusa jerked at that before he whirled to stare at the screen, realizing that Homura and Tabitha were still watching. The redhead let out a startled yowl before he threw the Pokédex at Aogiri.

Aogiri was quick to catch the Pokédex and smiled at the two admin. "As you can see, Masky is doing much better now."

Homura continued to glower at the screen. "...Then let's get back to your intentions."

Aogiri cocked an eyebrow. "Didn't I just answer that? Seducing Masky, or at least getting some more kisses."

"And then what?" Homura asked, his voice razor sharp. "After you've got what you wanted, you throw him away like a one-use sex toy?"

Matsubusa paused at that, his eyes widening. He hesitated before he grimaced, looking down at his food. While his mortification was still present, his other emotions took the forefront.

Aogiri blinked before his expression deadpanned. "You really think I put my crew and yours through all this trouble just for a one-night stand? Masky is worth a hell of a lot more to me than that."

"Just what is he to you?" Tabitha asked, scowling.

Aogiri looked past the Pokédex to Matsubusa's anxious face, smiling fondly as the redhead looked away, pretending as though the conversation was nothing too important. "I've fallen for you, Matsubusa. Hard. I'm not into casual sex." His eyes took on a mischievous glint as his smile grew. "I'm way too greedy for that."

Matsubusa's heart beat quickly in his chest as a tremor ran through his body. A warmth was growing inside of him, and he wasn't entirely certain how to take it - if he could even believe any of it. And yet he couldn't deny that a part of him desperately wanted to. "I-is that so."

Homura glanced to Tabitha before he returned his attention to the screen. "You never even saw his face until now."

"Oh, that's not nearly as much of an issue as you think it is," Izumi said as she suddenly spooned Tabitha from behind, wrapping her arms around his neck. "There are ways to know a person, without having to see their face."

Tabitha couldn't manage more than a squeak, his cheeks turning bright, bright red, as he enjoyed the embrace far more than he felt he had any right to.

Shelly smirked. "Your cute faces are just nice bonuses." She allowed her eyes to travel along his body. "Among other parts of you."

Homura paused at that and glanced at Shelly out of the corners of his eyes, a faint blush appearing before he quickly returned his attention back to Aogiri.

Aogiri reached out to lightly stroke Matsubusa's cheek with the back of his hand, his expression softening as he drew closer to the leader of Team Magma. "All these years butting heads made me want to be with you more and more, and the more time I spend with you, the deeper I fall in love. You're the most absolutely amazing person I've ever had the pleasure of meeting, and that brilliant mind of yours, more than anything else, is what snared me, not what's in my pants. My dick is just coming along for the ride."

Matsubusa turned to look at Aogiri, his face twisted with warring emotions. After several moments, he furrowed his brow. "...If y-you're lying, I... Homura's going you shoot you. Got it?"

Homura blinked at that before he quirked an eyebrow.

Despite the threat, Aogiri couldn't help but snicker. "I can believe it." He placed a light kiss upon Matsubusa's brow. "Good thing I don't have anything to worry about. I don't believe in lying."

Matsubusa closed his eyes as the pirate kissed his brow, then opened them again to look at the pirate. "...G-good. You'd better not."

Aogiri took Matsubusa's hand in his and squeezed gently. "I know it sounds weird saying this after the trouble I caused you, but I'm willing to do what it takes to earn your trust now that I've finally got your undivided attention."

Matsubusa looked down at Aogiri's hand, his own trembling slightly in the pirate's grip. "...I'm going to hold you to that..."

Aogiri brought Matsubusa's hand to his lips. "Don't worry," he murmured against the other man's skin. "We'll take things as slow as you need."

Homura watched the exchange, his expression irritated. He could clearly see that Matsubusa had fallen for the pirate, and the pirate certainly seemed sincere. But when it came to Matsubusa, he could never be too careful. The personal assistant opened his mouth to speak when the power suddenly flickered, the screen flashing in and out before it returned to the screen. Homura jerked, his eyes darting around. "What-?"

The answer came in a low, deep rumble that vibrated through the building.

Shelly looked up towards the flickering lights. "Storm's here." Reluctantly she rose to her feet. "We better fix that door you two busted open before it gets much worse."

Izumi glanced up, still draping herself against Tabitha's back, before she let out a heavy sigh and reluctantly withdrew. "We're running out of time."

Tabitha looked to Homura, uncertain. "Things seem to be doing okay for Matsubusa, so..."

Matsubusa paused at that and turned to the screen. "What? What's happening?"

"...Nothing," Homura said, stiffly. The redhead obviously hadn't noticed, and didn't seem to be aware of the storm. At the very least, Matsubusa wasn't aware that they were in the midst of the storm. It was better to keep it that way. "Don't worry about it." The personal assistant then turned his head to glower at Aogiri. "We'll be there soon as we can, so you'd better take care of him."

"Wait, Homura!" Matsubusa said, furrowing his brow. "What's-"

Homura flicked the switch he had seen Shelly use to turn on the screen, promptly turning it off. "Let's get the door fixed."

Shelly folded her arms over her chest as she shot Homura a piercing look. "Right. And after that, we'll wait until it's gone before we all head over to join our bosses. Got it?"

Homura paused, his irritation still palpable. However, rather than arguing, he simply looked away. "...Understood."

As the admins set to work, the leader of Team Magma was left unsatisfied with the conclusion of their talk. Back at the base with Aogiri, Matsubusa grasped at the pirate's Pokédex and shook it, as if somehow it would make Homura feel the action. "Don't hang up on me, you bastard!"

Aogiri restricted his mirth to a soft chuckle and coiled a strand of Matsubusa's red hair around his finger. "I don't think he can hear you."

Matsubusa was about to snap a response when he felt Aogiri's fingers playing with his hair. The redhead paused before he glanced over to Aogiri, his hands tightly gripping the Pokédex. "I... I know that! I just... why did he hang up so suddenly!? He called me, not the other way around!"

"Maybe they wanted time alone with the ladies," Aogiri said slyly as he leaned in closer. "Just like I'm looking forward to spending alone time with you."

Matsubusa's eyes widened as he stared at Aogiri, then looked away in an attempt to hide his face as he didn't trust what the pirate'd find. "I-I never gave them permission-!"

Aogiri slid his arm around Matsubusa's shoulder and pulled the other man close. "Somehow I don't think you really have a problem with them 'fraternizing with the enemy' as much as you don't like sharing."

Matsubusa paused before he glanced at Aogiri's arm as it rested comfortably on his shoulder. The leader of Team Magma lowered his head, his hand tentatively reaching up to toy with the pirate's fingers. "...So it's better to be left behind than fight?"

The question startled Aogiri, and a moment later he understood. He pulled Matsubusa close enough that the redhead slid into his lap. "You're not being left behind. Who'd be stupid enough to even think of leaving you?"

Matsubusa knew he should've complained about suddenly being in the pirate's lap, and yet he couldn't muster the energy to. As embarrassing as it was, Aogiri's warmth and firmness seeped in to his body, bringing with it a comfort that he didn't want to admit he needed. Instead of resisting, he rested his head against the pirate's chest. "...There is a lot of stupid in this world."

"True enough," Aogiri murmured, his breath stirring up strands of hair atop Matsubusa's head. "But I don't think you have anything to worry about from your mates. They're all ridiculously loyal to you."

Matsubusa closed his eyes. "...I know."

Aogiri rubbed slow circles along Matsubusa's back. "You don't have to worry about me getting bored of you, you know. You've only made me more and more interested over the years the more time I've spent with you."

Matsubusa relaxed, allowing the pirate to slowly sooth his body - and his fears. "Which makes no sense, whatsoever."

Aogiri chuckled. "Oh really? You're trying to tell me there's nothing about you that's absolutely intoxicating?"

Matsubusa reached up to fiddle with the buttons of Aogiri's shirt as he relaxed against the pirate. "...I wouldn't know, I'm not the one that said it."

Aogiri enjoyed the feeling of Matsubusa becoming at ease in his arms. "Well, for starters, that brilliant mind of yours is always driving me to think harder and pushes me further than anyone else ever has before."

Matsubusa made a quizzical humming sound as he partially opened his eyes. "Really now."

"Yup," Aogiri said with a grin. "You one-up me, I one-up you, and we do this amazing dance of outsmarting one another that I've never gotten with anyone else."

Matsubusa glanced upwards, looking at Aogiri through half-lidded eyes. "...And because of that, you decided you..." The redhead paused before crimson exploded across his face. "...L-l-liked me."

Aogiri suppressed the urge to chuckle and traced a heart on Matsubusa's cheek. "Yup. And from there, I saw a lot more things that drew me to you, like the way you react to me, how you get flustered and love to cuddle. You're going to find I'm a cuddling fiend, so expect a lot of physical affection from me."

"I-it's not cuddling!" Matsubusa huffed, though he didn't turn away. "I'm just... sitting."

Aogiri placed a kiss on Matsubusa's temple. "It's sitting close and enjoying each other's warmth."

Matsubusa made a frustrated noise in the back of his throat before he closed his eyes, relaxing against the pirate again. "...If that's how you want to see it, I can't stop you."

"Never have, never will," Aogiri chuckled before he rested his chin atop Matsubusa's head.

Matsubusa let out a weary sigh. "What am I going to do with you?"

"Love me," Aogiri whispered, his voice a pleasant rumble as he pulled Matsubusa a little closer. "Like I love you."

Matsubusa paused at that, his heart lurching in his choice. He was silent for several moments before he blushed darkly, curling up against Aogiri as his fingers dug in to the shirt fabric. "...I-I'll see what I can do..."

"That's all I ask," Aogiri murmured as he closed his eyes and savored the moment for as long as it would last.

Courtney downed her drink of concentrated sugar and caffeine that had once been coffee before it evolved. The jolt helped push back the heavy specter of sleep that loomed over her and threatened to tear her away from her computer screens. She refused to rest until Matsubusa was safe. She hadn't even changed out of her pajamas, still wearing the same black Charizard outfit she had been wearing since Matsubusa first disappeared.

Next to Courtney, Kagari was doing her own work on the computer. While she wasn't nearly as capable as Courtney, she still knew her way around technology - at least enough to monitor various news networks and gather information. Unfortunately, that was not always a benefit, as she came across one piece of news that made her cringe and stop short.

Courtney noticed what was on Kagari's screen out of the corner of her eye. "Saw it. I added that beach to my search parameters. The police are incompetent idiots letting Matsubusa slip through their fingers."

Kagari grimaced as she reached up to cover her mouth, watching as Aogiri trotted down the street in plain view with Matsubusa on his shoulders. When the pirate reached the water, her heart clenched as Matsubusa's terrified scream pierced the air before it was silenced by the water. Yet even though she couldn't hear it, she knew that Matsubusa's terror had anything but ceased.

Courtney's fingers curled like claws against the table as she heard Matsubusa's scream, carving out eight lines in the wood with her nails. She muttered darkly under her breath before stabbing at the keys, checking social media and news websites once again even though nothing had changed within the past minute, or the minute before that, or the minute before that.

Kagari was silent before a moment before she lowered her hand, her expression fierce. "I'm going to crush his balls under my heels."

"After I electrocute them until they're roasted like chestnuts," Courtney growled.

Kagari reached up to massage her forehead. "But why? Why go through all this trouble? As much as Matsubusa may have said, he didn't say anything that wasn't already being said by everyone else - especially in law enforcement. Why was Matsubusa so important?"

Courtney wordlessly reached over to type at Kagari's computer. The busty admin blinked and watched the footage of the beach rewound to a certain point before it started to replay.

The wobbly image of Matsubusa biting his captor in frustration flickered on the screen, as Aogiri visibly flinched before chuckling. His voice was slightly garbled due to the distance and quality of the video, but his words were recognizable. "Hey now, I didn't know you were into the kinky stuff, Masky."

Kagari's eyebrows shot straight up. She quickly clicked pause on the keyboard before she stared at the screen, her expression blank. After a moment's hesitation, she replayed the footage herself as she flipped up the volume.

"Hey now," Aogiri said again, his voice much louder so that it boomed in the quiet office. "I didn't know you were into the kinky stuff, Masky."

Kagari paused the video again, with a sharp jab of her finger. Her eyes bore in to the screen as an awful realization settled in. She didn't speak for several moments before she narrowed her eyes. "Well. That explains quite a bit, doesn't it? ...He didn't kidnap Matsubusa of Kazan Industries, he took captive the Leader of Team Magma."

"Horny bastard," Courtney snarled. "If he forced himself on Matsubusa, I'll-"

The sudden ringing of the phone made Courtney twitch, jaw clenching. Before Kagari could react to such an unusual display of anger, the purple haired woman snatched the phone receiver.

"This had better be news about Matsubusa," Courtney snapped.

The weary voice of Junsar came through the line. "Hello, this is Chief Junsar of the Kanto police and-"

Courtney held the phone in both hands as though it was a neck she wanted to snap. "Fuck off you worthless sacks of shit! I know you're dragging your asses on your own shit because of the storm! Stop wasting my time and do something!" She slammed the receiver down hard against the base, not giving the woman on the other end a chance to respond.

Kagari looked at Courtney for several moments before she glanced down at the receiver, noting that the other woman hadn't properly hung up the phone. The black-haired admin reached up to pick up the phone delicately, acting as if her comrade hadn't just told off the person on the other line. "Hello, you have reached Kazan Industries. May I ask who's calling?"

Junsar responded in a halting, wary tone. "This is Chief Junsar of the Kanto Police."

Kagari smiled brightly. "Oh, hello, Chief Junsar. What a surprise! I didn't expect to hear from you."

Junsar sighed, though whether it was from relief or frustration it was hard to tell. "I called to ask a few more questions. It might help our search if we have more information about any other interactions your company or Mr. Kazan might have had with Team Aqua."

Kagari blinked before she arched an eyebrow. "But Chief Junsar, Mr. Kazan isn't a corpse. As I recall, you have no interest in helping people who are still alive."

A hiss of air slid through Junsar's teeth as she struggled to keep her temper in check. "I see you are an associate of Mr. Homura. You share so many charming traits with him."

"Considering that he is my coworker, I'd say it'd be rather hard for me not to be an associate of his," Kagari said, with a sly smile. She glanced over to Courtney. "I suppose we are the company we keep."

Courtney raised an eyebrow at Kagari before she returned her focus to the computer.

"Yes, of course," Junsar muttered. "Despite how our earlier conversation went, helping Mr. Kazan is a higher priority than soothing any bruised egos. I need all the information I can get from you about anything even remotely related to Team Aqua."

"Really? How interesting," Kagari said as she tilted her head. "I wonder what's changed? After all, you were quite convinced that Mr. Kazan deserved his situation before."

Junsar let out a quiet breath of frustration. "Look, you're taking that conversation way out of context. Can we get back to what's important here?"

"The only context I have is that you informed my associate that the situation would resolve itself once Team Aqua finished having their fun with Mr. Kazan, and you were more concerned about a group of men who, last I heard, are dead and buried," Kagari said, her tone icy. "But I suppose I digress. Yes, let's get back to what's actually important - Mr. Kazan's safe return."

The quiet tap of a pen against wood accompanied Junsar's voice. "Alright then. I've picked up on some leads that strongly suggest Mr. Kazan and the leader of Team Aqua once worked together as members of Team Rocket. I need to know if he's had any sort of connection with that syndicate, either directly or indirectly."

Kagari paused at that, blinking for a moment before she slowly raised her eyebrows. "...Excuse me?"

"If you know anything," Junsar said, "I urge you to let me know. If we follow up on this lead, it might expedite Mr. Kazan's return."

"...Chief Junsar, is this a joke?" Kagari asked, her tone taking a slight edge. "I'm not in the mood for jokes."

"I assure you, I never joke when it comes to Team Rocket," Junsar said in a dark, almost dangerous tone. "This connection to Team Rocket is the strongest lead we have right now, so I would appreciate your cooperation."

"Your 'strongest lead' is nonsense you'd find in a Pokétube comment?" Kagari asked, unable to keep her disbelief from her tone. "Is this what you consider police investigation?"

Junsar banged her hand against the desk. "The evidence I have tying Mr. Kazan and Team Rocket is far stronger than random comment on the internet!"

"Oh, is that so? Then enlighten me," Kagari said, her voice razor sharp. "Otherwise, this conversation is over."

The tapping of Junsar's pen became more rapid. "I can't divulge my sources at this time, but believe me, they've never been wrong before when it comes to connections to Team Rocket. Now I need you to stop dancing around the topic and tell me what you know."

"I know everything about Mr. Kazan, Chief Junsar," Kagari said as her expression became hard. "Which is why I can tell you with absolute confidence that you are wasting my time."

Junsar gritted her teeth for a moment. "Anything you can think of that might connect the two would be of great help in finding Mr. Kazan more quickly."

Kagari's cheek twitched. Her patience was already thin from the start of the conversation, but the chief of police had essentially reduced it to nothing but frayed threads. She didn't know what Junsar's angle was, and she didn't care. Considering that Team Rocket was a Kanto based team, she could only imagine what sort of ridiculous angle the police chief was trying to make. "Goodbye, Chief Junsar." Without waiting for a response, she slammed down the phone heavily on to its receiver.

"Worthless sacks of shit," Courtney remarked without looking up from her computer.

"Honestly, Team Rocket?" Kagari muttered as she crossed her arms, glaring at the phone. "What is that woman thinking-" She was promptly cut off by the phone ringing once more. Kagari stared at the phone before she narrowed her eyes.

Courtney snatched the phone without even looking at it. "Fuck. Off!" She threw the receiver across the room, letting it bounce off the wall before it skidded across the floor until it came to a stop against one of the table legs.

"...Well, hello to you too." came a recognizably male voice from the receiver.

Kagari jerked as she sat up and whirled to stare at the phone. As it registered what she had heard, she quickly moved to pick the phone up off the floor. "Homura?!"

"Tell that to Junsar next time you see her," Courtney said as she typed away at her computer.

Kagari glanced at Courtney before she returned her attention to the phone. "Where have you been? We've been worried sick!" The admin paused, then frowned. "And why are you calling the landline instead of our Pokédexes?"

"You wouldn't answer," Homura said, dryly. "And this was my last resort. And even then, it was busy until several seconds ago."

Kagari paused at that before she reached in to her pocket to pull out her Pokédex, and noted with no small amount of irritation that she had several missed calls from Homura - all within the past five minutes. "...I admittedly was in the process of dealing with a delightful phone call from your friend in Kanto, Chief Junsar."

Homura blinked before his expression darkened. "You should've hung up on her."

"I agree," Kagari said lightly as she reached over to press the button for the speaker phone, then relaxed back in her chair. "Now, answer my first question. Where have you been?"

"At Team Aqua's base," Homura said.

Kagari paused at that before her eyes widened.

Courtney dropped her drink to the floor, not caring how it splashed onto her pajama pants, before she leaned across Kagari to get closer to the phone. "Did you get him? Did you find Matsubusa?"

"No and yes," Homura said, his tone exasperated. "They moved him before I arrived, but I was able to talk to him on the phone afterwards. He's alright, at least for the moment. Once the storm has left, I've been told that we'll be going up to meet with him. ...And that you're welcome to join us."

Kagari opened her mouth before she closed it, unable to form a single word.

Courtney gripped the edge of the table as she eyed the phone. "Don't toy with me, Homura. I'm full of caffeine and sugar."

"I know, I have trouble believing it myself," Homura said, with a heavy sigh and a shake of his head. He paced the communications room, holding his Pokédex to his ear. "Look, I don't have much time before I lose my signal. Use your Pokédexes to track where my call came from, and meet us here in the morning. We'll be here, at least until the storm lets up." The personal assistant paused before he glanced to the doorway, where Shelly stood, leaning against the doorframe. "I'd have left despite the storm but I was informed that wasn't an option."

Shelly cracked her knuckles and raised her voice so that the ladies on the other end of the line would hear her. "If you want to whine about not running off blind on a suicide mission, take it up with the complaint department. The line starts here."

Kagari was silent for several moments before she grabbed her Pokédex, accessing the GPS tracking as Homura had suggested. It'd take several minutes, but if a storm was truly in the area, she was better off getting it while the signal was still available. "...And Matsubusa is safe?"

"Safe enough. For the moment," Homura said stiffly as he eyed Shelly.

Courtney glared at the phone. "You're sure about that?"

"...As sure as I can be without being there in person." Homura said.

"That overgrown Mankey hasn't forced himself on Matsubusa, has he?" Courtney asked.

"...If he has, I'm going to shoot him." Homura said, his voice becoming cold. "...Though I will say that Matsubusa seemed to be in a good mood when I spoke to him."

"That's because those two have been getting pretty lovey-dovey," Shelly said with a smirk.

Homura scowled. "...Something like that."

"Don't worry," Shelly said, a little more gently. "The worst thing Aogiri has ever done is this kidnapping thing, and I'm sure he regrets it after seeing how miserable it made Masky for a while. Aogiri won't lay a finger on Masky without Masky wanting it to be there."

Homura was silent for a moment before he straightened up. "Anyway, I'll see you in the morning. And make sure Courtney sleeps."

Kagari glanced at Courtney. "We'll see you then."

"If you're wrong, I'll kick you," Courtney said, her voice her usual deadpan. "In the crotch."

Homura smirked, lightly. Even though he was being threatened, it was a good thing. Courtney sounded calmer. "I'll keep that in mind."

After exchanging their goodbyes, Kagari hung up the phone. Crossing her arms again, she flopped back against the chair and closed her eyes. "...Well, then."

Courtney flopped over onto Kagari's lap, using it as a pillow as she curled up in her chair. "Sleep time."

Kagari looked down at Courtney before she quirked a smile. "Goodnight."

Minutes ticked by in silence as the two comrades rested in their chairs. Unfortunately, the peace did not last long before Courtney sat up, her mouth curled as her eye twitched.

Kagari blinked before she arched an eyebrow. "Hm?"

Courtney turned to Kagari. "I'm full of caffeine and sugar."

Kagari stared at the other woman for a moment before she cracked a sympathetic smile. "I suppose even my lap isn't good enough to overcome that."

Courtney straightened up in her chair and faced her laptop, her fingers poised over it like a pianist about to perform a great and terrible concert. "Some trolls are about to have a very bad day."

Kagari's smile grew wry as she chuckled. "Alright, but at least try to nap at some point or you'll be tired for Matsubusa."

"When I crash, carry me," Courtney said as she began typing away at her computer. "I'll wake up when we get there."

Kagari smiled. "Will do."

It wasn't much longer before the storm reached Matsubusa and Aogiri. The rumble of thunder outside and the occasional flash of lightning illuminating the dark hallways gave the empty base a creepy vibe that made the Team Magma leader stick close to the leader of Team Aqua even more than he intended.

Matsubusa trembled as he curled up against Aogiri's back, staring up over the large man's side as his eyes darted about the room. There weren't any windows, which was a blessing, but it only meant that his mind instead filled in the missing information based off of the howling that echoed through the empty fort.

Without warning, Aogiri rolled over to face Matsubusa, causing the redhead to jerk. "Easy now," Aogiri murmured as he stroked the other man's hair. "As much as I love you being the big spoon for a change, I think face-to-face might be better for tonight, don't you think?"

Matsubusa hesitated before his face turned red. "I-I'm fine! T-there's nothing..." He trailed off, unable to finish the rather obviously feeble denial.

Aogiri brushed his lips against Matsubusa's furrowed brow. "Don't worry, I'm not going to make fun of you. I had trouble getting to sleep myself."

Matsubusa felt warmth spread across his face and through his body, and with it his ever-growing embarrassment. "...Is that so..."

Aogiri flashed Matsubusa a grin that was vibrant even in the dimness of the room. "Though for me, it's more because I'm trying hard not to get a stiffy from thinking of all the things we could be doing right now."

Matsubusa paused, gaping at Aogiri. "S-s-stiff-!?"

Aogiri leaned in a little closer until his nose touched Matsubusa's. "I've lost count of how many times thoughts of you have left me rock hard and horny."

Matsubusa shivered before he scowled, with a huff. "Y-you simply can't resist teasing me, can you!?"

Aogiri kissed the corner of Matsubusa's pouting mouth. "Not when your reactions are absolutely priceless. Though that doesn't mean it's any less true."

Matsubusa's scowl faltered, his blush visible even in the dark. "...And... yet... you're not doing anything about it."

Aogiri leaned back a bit to get a better look at Matsubusa's face, eyebrows raising. "I figured after the rough day you've had that you wouldn't be in the mood to go that far, but if you're interested..." His smile widened hungrily as his eyes glinted with promises of mischief and delight. "...Then I'm more than happy to peel those clothes off you and get a taste of every inch of that sexy body of yours."

Matsubusa faltered at that, staring at Aogiri with wide eyes. "E-eh? I..."

Aogiri touched Matsubusa's temple with his fingertip then slowly traced his way down to the other man's chin, enjoying how Matsubusa shivered a little at the touch. "Of course, that all depends on what you're in the mood for. So go ahead... pick something fun and sexy for us to try. I really want to know what goes on in your head when you're dreaming things that destroy your underwear."

Matsubusa trembled at the touch. While it sent pleasant feelings through him, his stomach was beginning to churn with nervousness. It was more than a little off-putting that he had made a comment about the pirate not forcing himself on Aogiri like he had feared, only for the pirate to turn around and begin pushing for sex. "Er, I... ah..."

Aogiri drew in closer with a sultry grin. "Having trouble deciding? Then let's start off with this..." He closed the distance between them, capturing Matsubusa's lips in a smoking kiss that smoldered through both of their bodies.

Matsubusa made a startled noise, overwhelmed by the sudden taste and warmth of Aogiri. His hands fumbled to grasp at Aogiri's chest and, even as he trembled slightly with increased anxiety, heat flooded his body. "M-mn..."

Aogiri slid his hands across Matsubusa's shoulders to the red head's back, rubbing in small circles as he took his time to savor the kiss and the exquisite feeling of Matsubusa's body pressed so intimately against his.

Matsubusa's body began to relax in spite of himself, the gentle attention sending shivers of pleasure through his body. For the moment, it was becoming difficult to even remember why he was so upset and anxious in the first place.

Aogiri smiled against Matsubusa's mouth before he ran his tongue along the other man's lips, taking his time to drink in Matsubusa's flavor, as well as the way he made the redhead squeak in surprise.

With his mouth momentarily free, Matsubusa took the time to gulp down air and attempt to gather his bearings. It was surprisingly difficult, among the haze settling in his brain. "A-Aogiri...!"

Playfully, Aogiri nipped on Matsubusa's lower lip. "Mmm... I knew you'd moan my name so sweet."

The redhead blinked before his face burned bright red. "E-eh!?"

Aogiri chuckled and leaned back just enough that Matsubusa could see him waggle his eyebrows. "I can't tell you how many times I've thought of you like this." He slid his hand slowly downward along the leader of Team Magma's spine. "Listening to you moaning my name and making such cute little noises... feeling you writhe against me in my bed." His hand reached home, stroking Matsubusa's rump before giving it a squeeze.

Matsubusa jerked with a squeak before he felt a flood of panic at the touch. All at once, his warm feelings turned to chilling fear as the sheer gravity of the situation fell on top of him. "W-w-wait!"

Aogiri let go of Matsubusa's rear instantly after noticing the fear in the other man's yelp. "What? What's wrong?"

Matsubusa hesitated. He was startled, not only because Aogiri had stopped but by his own outburst. After a moment, the redhead grimaced. "I-I..."

Aogiri waited for an answer, but came to one of his own when one didn't seem to be forthcoming from Matsubusa. With a wry smile, he gently cupped his rival's cheek. "Too soon, huh?"

Matsubusa flinched slightly before he shakily reached up to grasp at Aogiri's arm, holding it tightly for support. The pirate was right - he had panicked. Unfortunately, admitting to such a thing felt like a huge defeat and a sign of weakness.

Aogiri brushed his lips against Matsubusa's briefly before pressing their foreheads together. "Hey, it's fine. Don't think you've got to get me off to get me to keep on loving you - you did that even while hurling insults and shit at me. Literally!"

Matsubusa blinked before he managed a small chuckle, in spite of himself. "You're going to keep bringing that up, aren't you?"

Aogiri felt victorious upon hearing that quiet laugh. "If you think I ever plan on letting you live that or the giant penis doodle down, you don't know me very well." He winked. "Yet."

Matsubusa paused, his eyes widening as his face turned red. "T-that wasn't-I didn't-I had no intention of-!"

Aogiri snickered and traced hearts on Matsubusa's cheek, savoring the heat he found in that flushed skin. "If you ever want to do another drawing of a big hot dick, I'd be happy to pose for you sometime."

Matsubusa's cheeks burned as he quivered, scowling at Aogiri. "I-I d-don't want to draw d-d-penises!"

"How about photos?" Aogiri asked. "If you want to snap some shots or even take some sexy videos of me, I'm all for it."

Matsubusa sputtered, making a noise of frustration before he reached up to cover Aogiri's mouth with his hands. "No! No drawings, no photos, no videos!"

Aogiri chuckled, his laughter lightly vibrating against the palms of Matsubusa's hands. When he tried to make a wry retort, but his words were too muffled to be understood, so instead he lightly stroked the back of the other man's hands and kissed the palms.

Matsubusa hesitated as his breathing hitched, realizing instantly the flaw in his plan. His hands trembled slightly but he didn't jerk them away, the anger easing from his face as he stared at Aogiri. After a moment's silence, his expression softened. "...I... you startled me."

The timid words made Aogiri pause for a moment before he resumed rubbing Matsubusa's hands tenderly, guessing that now that he couldn't speak was when the redhead was most comfortable talking candidly.

Matsubusa chewed on his lower lip as he debated how far he wanted to take the conversation, especially with Aogiri not interrupting him. After a pregnant silence, the redhead lowered his eyes to look at the pirate's hands as they touched the back of his hands. "I might have... panicked."

Aogiri nearly nodded, but decided that any sort of response might disrupt what Matsubusa wanted to say. Instead he continued his gentle stroking to offer silent reassurance.

Matsubusa trembled before he slowly lowered his hands, freeing Aogiri's mouth. "...This is... entirely new to me."

Aogiri took that as a sign that Matsubusa wanted a response. He took the other man's hand in his and kissed those slender, pale fingers, his eyes never leaving Matsubusa's. "I understand. This is the first time I've been with a man too. It's okay to speak up and let me know when I'm going too far, too fast, or whatever, you know? I like teasing you - you're so cute when you're flustered - but I don't want to go so far that you're feeling uncomfortable or bad or anything but amazing."

Matsubusa's fingers curled around Aogiri's hand, holding it tightly. "I... just need to... prepare. T-that's all."

Aogiri kissed the hand trembling in his. "That's fine. Take all the time you need. I might get carried away and forget to think at times - especially when I get horny - but I fell for you because of you, not because I just wanted to fuck. One night stands and casual sex aren't how I roll."

Matsubusa nodded his head slowly before he moved to rest his forehead against Aogiri's chest. More than anything, he wanted the comfort of feeling Aogiri's warmth. The pirate hadn't tried to run away yet, and an ever growing part of him was starting to believe that he wasn't going to.

Aogiri slid his arms around Matsubusa and held the redhead close, enjoying the way their bodies fit together so perfectly. "Just being with you like this is amazing, you know." He brushed his lips against the top of Matsubusa's head. "You excite me, and you always make life feel worth living whenever we're together."

Matsubusa felt his chest constricting. He was about to respond when he paused, noticing something jabbing in to him. The redhead blinked before he glanced down, furrowing his brow. "Hm?"

Aogiri bit back a groan when he felt Matsubusa shift and inadvertently rub up against where he was hard and sensitive. "I hate to wreck the moment," he said in a faintly husky tone, "but I'm going to need a few minutes in the bathroom to take care of that. I've been hard since we started making out, and I'm really starting to feel the blue balls setting in."

Matsubusa blinked before his blush returned in full force. He quickly jerked back with a squeak and a stammered apology.

Aogiri cut off Matsubusa's rambling with a kiss before he sat up, looming over the leader of Team Magma with a smile. "Hey, it was me who got hard, not you, so nothing to apologize for. Hell, I should probably apologize for fapping off to thoughts of you every time I get horny." His eyes took on a wicked glint as he winked. "Speaking of which..."

"F-f-fap!?" Matsubusa repeated, mortification causing his voice to raise several notes.

Aogiri hummed merrily as he eased off the bed and threw a grin over his shoulder at Matsubusa. "Jack off, masturbate, beat my meat, diddle the Diglet, going fishing with my tackle, or whatever way you want to say giving myself a mind-blowing orgasm to sexy thoughts of you."

Matsubusa struggled for words before he finally managed to let out a mortified shriek. "Shut up shut up shut up!"

Cackling, Aogiri dashed off to the bathroom and blew Matsubusa a kiss before closing the door behind him.

Matsubusa huffed as he glared at the door. "T-that idiot..."

No sooner had the redhead finished saying the words when he heard a low, rumbling chuckle. Matsubusa jerked and whipped his head about to stare at the source - Leviathan. Dante and Leviathan were both in the room, though he had been so focused on Aogiri that it hadn't noticed them. But, judging by the grin on the Feraligatr's face, she had certainly noticed. And so had Dante, his own expression deadpan. Thankfully, Aogiri's other Pokémon were sleeping elsewhere, but in that moment he found himself wishing that the Houndoom and Feraligatr had been elsewhere as well.

Matsubusa quivered before he grabbed the blanket, holding it to his chest. "That goes for you, too!"