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"Mm-hm, of course. It gives me something to do, and I don't hate it, but that's all." It seemed simple enough to her—but clearly, there was something more on Walter's mind. She tilted her head, looking him up and down once, before she settled her eyes on his face again.

"But there's something else you're trying to ask, isn't there?"

"...No." But Bob and Bea, sensing his energy, giggled mischievously to themselves. Bea in particular waggled her 'head' at Manaka.

Walter took in account how he had seen Manaka treat her Pokemon. Not poorly but without...discipline. Only concerned with their cuteness. It made sense if she felt this was fleeting and was only interested in burning time. And it meant she wouldn't care about the labs.

It explained their relationship in a way. They had their similarities. But it was convenient. It was a passing game. When he was no longer useful or amusing or whatever it was Manaka found in him that made him convenient, it would be over.

"No?" She tilted her head to the other side, staying quiet for the space of a breath. When she spoke again, her declaration was flat in its certainty. "I don't believe you." For one thing, it had been a long time since he'd responded to her with something that felt so clipped. "Don't misunderstand. I'm only speaking of my responsibilities to Team Rocket. Ah, it's true that I never intended to stay here forever, but... Hey, you didn't get the wrong idea, did you?"

At that question, a new expression flickered across her face, eyebrows drawing together over her pouting mouth. If he really thought she meant what she thought he did...

Edited 2017-06-15 00:58 (UTC)

At her disbelief, he just met her eyes with a carefully blank look. At the question of the wrong idea, his expression didn't shift. "What is the wrong idea?"

In his lap, Claudia fanned her tails from right to left. Bea gave a haunting squeak, still clearly enjoying this little moment. What's wrong, other Trainer?

"I just said! I'm only talking about Team Rocket. None of that has anything to do with you." She met his blank look with puffed cheeks, the expression indignant and genuine in its childishness. "You're special to me. Don't you know that?"

"...I'm not sure." He lowered his eyes., the blank expression giving way to sad thoughtfulness.

"If this is just...to burn time, then why should anything matter? We have some similarities but that's all they are. There are others you have similarities with. Who offer more than I do." He lets Manaka stay and they spend time in each other's company. But he doesn't give the way others do. He doesn't laugh and talk and play the way he knows others do. He doesn't give her money or gifts or trips to places. And if this was a matter of convenience...well, he wasn't giving much that could be found elsewhere. Once there was someone else who could relate to her as he had, and give her more...then it would be done.

"Mm, maybe that's true. That doesn't change the fact that I like you, though." Still, somehow, that answer felt inadequate. She didn't love him, like she did Saber, but...

"...Um, sorry. I'm still clumsy when it comes to expressing my feelings. I didn't feel anything, for a very long time. But then there was a person, and when I met him..."

As she spoke, her own gaze drifted downward, a girlish blush rising to her cheeks. But— This was about Walter, not Saber. "W, well, the way I feel about him and the way I feel about you are completely different. But, the time you told me that someone tried to hurt you, I got upset, and when you trusted me enough to tell me about the Order, I felt happy. I think that I'd call you my first true friend."

Walter ducked his head, hiding behind his hair.

"...I haven't had a friend in a long time. I still don't know how to be a friend. With you, and certain others... I want to be. It's easier with Pokemon." Humans are untrustworthy and dangerous and he just didn't understand them very well. He'd never had the chance to build a relationship like this, not since his youth. And with Pokemon, it was easier. They weren't complicated like people. And the Pokemon he had were genuine with him. It easier to understand their wants and needs and to meet them, and receive their affection in return.

The proof was around him. Claudia gave a soft trill, pressing her cheek to his hand.

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