Night Shade || Archer & Petrel
Night was falling when Archer stepped up to the door of one of the rooms at a motel. He stood there in front of the door for a solid minute or two as he braced himself for what was to come. He had recently come into contact with former Executive Petrel, someone he hadn’t spoken to since their unfortunate and embarrassing failure at the Goldenrod Radio Tower. It hadn’t been easy to find him; Petrel, much like Archer himself, was not the type to hunker down and hide in one place. Instead, he traveled everywhere to curb suspicions.
The long radio silence is not what made him hesitate, however. The two had never really gotten along. It was simply a result of clashing personalities, two men who could not work well together. But they maintained a grudging respect most of the time. Archer knew that Petrel was where he was for a good reason. He was good at what he did and he had earned his role as an Executive in Team Rocket. Giovanni’s choices were always to be trusted, even if the people themselves weren’t so easy to get along with.
Having been so long and having known Petrel for several years, Archer dreaded how the Executive would feel about his reaching out. There would undoubtedly be bitterness and anger. He wouldn’t blame him, but this did not make things easy. Archer raised his hand to the door and rapped on the door with his knuckles. He stood, waiting patiently as he heard the sound of movement inside.
The locks on the door clicked and the door opened to reveal Petrel. He didn’t look happy, so far as Archer thought. But that was to be expected. That was fine. If he could accomplish what he set out to do, then regardless of how Petrel felt, they would be on the same side. Archer stood stiffly there, his face and voice betraying no worry as he spoke.
“Good evening, Petrel. I hope you’ve been well. May I come in?”
