Gave myself a bit of a challenge to take a random song and turn its lyrics into dialogue.
Diana's an OC from an AU me and my bestie @thedevilsruby been discussing for a while now
Will probably write more of these.
Will elaborate on the AU on request.
Love you, Ela, thanks for picking a song for me!
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Diana just sat there, perched atop the closet like a Murkrow, watching Arlo run his fingers along the edges of her knives. Her entire collection had been laid out on the bed covers, just so he could choose something for himself.
In any other case she wouldn't be caught dead letting someone touch them, let alone lend any to others, but, she reasoned, this was a... special occasion... of sorts. After all, it wasn't often that Arlo actually wanted to partake in any of her passions...
Life, she thought, is really, really good.
He seemed doubtful, though. And while normally Diana could attirbute it to, well, him never being the one to actually pick up a weapon and use it against a fellow human, she had a hunch this was different.
"Something on your mind?" She called out softly, not moving from her spot.
"Don't know," he replied after a slight pause, and took another before continuing. "This feels a little above my pay grade, still."
"You know you don't have to go," Diana shrugged, forgetting for a moment that he couldn't see her, his eyes still locked on the array of weapons before him. "I wasn't even expecting you to consider it, much less ask to join us..."
"Not what I mean," he shook his head with a sigh, picking up a shorter throwing knife. "It seemed... exciting... at first, especially with the perspective of not dying permanently, and right now..."
Arlo let the knife fall from his hands, a metallic clang resounding through the room with an unexpected echo when it hit its neighbours on the bed.
"Right now it seems more like something people would expect me to do. Especially those that tend to make us Rocket Leaders into characters for spooky stories. Not even me-me, but in character with the evil team Go Rocket leader."
"People always say what they wanna say and see what they wanna see," Diana shrugged, hopping off the closet in one swift, yet quiet jump. "They're close-minded like that."
She closed the distance between them in several quick steps, sitting down on the edge of the bed gently. He glanced at her with a small smile, and she smiled right back, leaning against his shoulder, close enough to make their heads touch.
"They say we are what we are," she spoke quietly, "but we don’t have to be."
That earned her a chuckle, and she pressed on, determined.
"I mean, if people are going to talk anyways, what's the point? You can't please everyone," she nuzzled against his cheek, closing her eyes. "I mean, look at me. I’m bad behavior, but I do it in the best way. And nobody seems to notice, even, unless they look a little too hard. And even then most can be... persuaded... to keep quiet..."
Diana felt more than heard him sigh as a hand closed around one of her palms.
"Sometimes I think we could've ruled the world together," he whispered, leaning against her head ever so slightly.
"That would've been boring, though," she whispered back. "A ton of responsibility and barely any fun, lest the peasants revolt. I'd much rather be one of those reclusive roles everyone has a ton of respect for and therefore doesn't bother them unless absolutely necessary. And if they do, they're respectful about it.
"That feels like something gods would do."
"Then maybe we could be gods."
"Or oracles," he added after some thought. "I could be... the watcher of the eternal flame or something..."
Diana chuckled. It was so like him, to want to be connected to something eternal and meaningful. To be important no matter what and no matter how much time passes. And, of course, connected to fire. She could bet he was still thinking of Moltres.
"Okay," she conceded. "Eternal flame sure sounds like something a lot of people would try to claim for themselves, though. You'd need a guardian."
"I'm already the watcher... and I thought you said you were going to protect me?"
She smiled at the hints of laughter in his voice. She did say that, didn't she...
"I did," she nodded. "Guess I’ll be the guard dog of all your fever dreams of people daring to steal the eternal flame from under our collective noses. I'd bet you'd freak out over others stealing it a lot, even if no one actually tries to, you're such a worrywart..."
"I am NOT!"
Diana chuckled at his frantic remark. Still so easy to wind up, he was...
"Though anything would be better than this... Stagnation."
Hm?
She opened her eyes, turning her head just enough to see his face somewhat. He looked... tired.
"What do you mean?"
"Ah, not much, it's just..." He looked away for a moment before turning back. "Everything seems so... similar, now. A routine. We take over pokestops, some team kicks us out, we take them over again and get kicked out again..."
Diana sighed as she leaned slightly forward to plant a smooch on his cheek. Sometimes he was too adorable to function.
"It's just like... like this part of my life is over. I am kind of like... the sand in the bottom half of the hourglass, just waiting there until someone much bigger than me decides to turn it over just so I could move again."
Huh. That was surprisingly philosophical of him.
"Someone like you."
Huh?
Arlo suddenly turned, finally hugging her back, his head buried in the crook of her neck.
"You're doing all those things," he mumbled. "Things nobody else I know would even dream of doing. You always find something huge to chase, to make happen. Be it making that machine you finally completed, or finding an entire region that people thought was a legend."
Diana stared at him for a few seconds before letting out a sigh as she hugged him back, her fingers tangling in his hair. She missed this.
"Can't exactly do it alone, though," she mused. "Or, rather, I can, but it's barely any fun when there's no one to share it with. I'm really glad to have you, you know. Sometimes I try to picture me without you, but I just can’t. Not since you actually chose to stay with me out of your own free will, anyways."
He chuckled, still not making any move to break off the hug, instead only nuzzling closer, shoulders hunched as though hiding, trying to make himself smaller. She sat there for a moment, playing around with his stray locks, and then continued.
"But this could be kinda fun," she said. "We could do whatever we want, and forget the consequences, 'cause we could be immortals..."
"Immortals..." Arlo sighed in a wishful tone. "Just not for long..."
"For long?" Diana echoed with a laugh. "I wish. We still have to be back at work after all of it. Even if..."
She paused. Did she really want to go and say it?
"Even if what?"
She stayed silent still, even as he leaned away, his own crimson eyes staring deep into hers. Worry was so clear on his face - that and a sprinkle of fear, and stars, he was so very adorable...
She was still not sure if she should, though. So she looked away. It's been fun so far, and she knew he couldn't escape her either way, but...
It was so much better when he actually wanted to be around...
"Dee, you're scaring me," he quietly admitted, lifting his hands to cup her face - not too strongly, gentle but firm enough to make her face him again, still looking directly at her with those eyes of his. "Talk to me, okay? What's on that brilliant mind on yours?"
Sometimes she was sure he could see everything in her. Even the things she tried her hardest not to show. And he didn't judge her for it - or at least was very, very good at hiding it. It was starting to scare her, how much she'd begun to rely on him for comfort.
"Stop," she chuckled, batting one of his hands away. "Don't patronise me."
"And still?" Arlo pressed on, moving to sit just a but closer.
If she leaned forward a little, she could kiss him and that would probably distract him enough...
But it won't make the questions go away, would it? It never did...
And if he was on her side... really and truly, despite all the crazy she put him through already and undoubtedly will put him through at some point in the future...
Should she keep secrets from him?
Diana sighed as she averted her eyes once again, shoulders slumping in defeat.
"Even if sometimes I just want to make everyone forget about me and hide away."
Arlo didn't react. At least, not in the way she feared he would. Didn't flinch, didn't move, didn't do anything. He just kept... looking at her, seemingly so sincere, and she found herself tearing up before she knew it.
"And I- I don't mean like, hide from you," she hurriedly added, as though trying to justify it. "Just... Be somewhere where I know other people won't bother me, where there wouldn't be any obligations, or appearances to keep, or anything," she paused for a moment, trying to blink the tears away. "Just, like, this cozy little place with maybe a whole pile of pillows you could just flop onto and sink in. And I could take you with me, and you could live with me forever, like now..."
Diana shrugged, looking away again. For some reason, she just couldn't bring herself to look at him.
"And I know I can't, because you have a job and I have a job and all the other responsibilities aren't going anywhere but..." She paused and took a deep breath to stop the rambling. "But sometimes I just... really, really want to just... live without having to worry about it. Or anything else."
Thick silence settled on the room.
She didn't say anything else - there wasn't much to say. She already said too much, didn't she...
Was this lazy of her? It totally was...
Would he think less of her, him being as ambitious and driven as he was? He probably would...
Was Diana currently regretting ever opening her big mouth? She certainly was.
Arlo wasn't saying anything. He was still silent, probably still looking at her. Was he judging? She didn't want to look up and find out...
...huh?
Well. She certainly wasn't expecting to be wrapped in a hug, that was for sure. Yet there she was, suddenly pressed facefirst against his chest, Arlo's arms wrapped securely around her back and waist.
She slowly blinked, reassessing her predicament. He didn't seem to be bothered. Or upset. Or angry. That had to be good, right?
Instead, he was... comforting her...?
"It's okay," came a quiet whisper.
Suddenly, his fingers were in her hair, rubbing soothing circles in her scalp.
"People suck sometimes. Well," he cleared his throat, "most of the time. That's normal."
He didn't raise his voice, still speaking in hushed whispers, as though talking to a scared child.
She would've been upset if she wasn't feeling like one at the moment.
"And it's also okay to want to get everyone to fuck off, for a change."
The profanity made Diana snort, still hiding her face in the fabric of his hoodie. Arlo didn't seem to mind, still petting her hair.
"And if you want it to be only the two of us..."
She tensed. There it was, the make or break moment. Was he maybe feeling smothered? She could definitely be overbearing at times. It had to be bad if even she herself realised it.
"I would love to join you."
Wait, what?
Did he...
"Do you... mean it?"
"Uh-huh."
She could feel his chin touch the top of her head when he nodded.
Even then, she had a hard time believing it.
She knew him. Knew how much he craved recognition, craved attention, craved power. The more people provided, the happier he was. Could he really be willing to- to basically be stuck with her, effectively forever? Just the two of them?
"Now I do know the perspective is rather unrealistic, but if you ever felt like, I don't know, creating something like a going-away space... In here, or elsewhere... We could do that."
Diana could feel herself tearing up again.
"What did you imagine it looking like? A place like that?"
She barely registered the question being aimed at her.
"I... don't know," she replied quietly, relaxing just a bit. "I never... thought about it in too much detail. Since it's, you know, just a dream and not something that's going to actually happen..."
"And if you could?"
She considered it. What would a space like that look like?
"Empty," she finally spoke. "Not completely but other than those pillows, nothing else. Maybe a carpet. And blackout curtains for the windows."
"Specifically blackout?"
"So I could close off the windows if I wanted, and there wouldn't be any light at all. Sometimes I can see light even if I close my eyes."
It felt... uncomfortable, she realised, sharing so much. She never would've thought to share most of her thoughts with others, especially Arlo, but there she was...
Strangely at peace.
"Well..."
Right before that very realisation, at least.
She tensed. Would he judge? Would he tell her if he does?
"I can't say I share the sentiment completely," he spoke, "but having a place to hide away at does sound enticing."
Yeah, that's what she tho- hold on, what?
"I don't think I can think of ways to make it happen immediately, but if we could, say, sit down at dinner and discuss it, I wouldn't be opposed to creating a space like that." Arlo didn't move away, still petting her hair as he spoke. "On the condition, of course, that it is as much yours as it is mine. So if either of was wants to hide away and, uh, pull the blackout curtains down, as it were, the other could join if they wanted, but otherwise leave well enough alone."
"Of course!"
She let out a breath she didn't realise she was holding, until now.
If- if he agreed, if they could make it happen together - of course it would be for both of them!
Just...
"Just not for long, " she chuckled. "Because responsibilities."
"Not for long," he agreed. "But it's certainly okay to want to be left alone for a bit. As someone who worked for team Rocket for, let's just say, a while, I can certainly understand the dire need to not be around idiots. But for now, we have something else to look forward to, don't we?"
"The Ordum region." Diana nodded, turning just a little bit so she could move her slowly numbing legs from under her. "And while we're there, we could be immortals."
He didn't say anything else, his hand still tangled in her hair. She didn't move, either. This, right there, what they had?
It was nice.
It was cozy.
It was peaceful and comfortable.
She didn't want to lose it. Even if the voices in her head were already picking up their annoying chatter.
She couldn't help but wonder, though. How much of it was real? Was any of it?
Her presence?
Her grip on things?
Her ability to solve problems - hers and his alike?
His trust in her to do it and not lose it on the way?
His... feelings for her, whatever they were?
"Sometimes I think you have too much faith in me," Diana spoke up before she could regret it. "I know I can seem like I got it all figured out... A lot of effort goes into having that image..."
"Understandable," his reply was. "Everyone works to create a presense about them. Some are just more successful than others. And besides," he paused to plant a soft kiss on top of her head. "If I need to have faith in something - or someone - I'd rather it be you. I already know you can do next to anything if you put your mind to it."
"Even if I just told you I just want everything to go away most of the time? You'd still rather believe in me than someone or something more rewarding?"
"Having faith is already an ungrateful hobby," Arlo merely shrugged in reply. "Sometimes the only payoff for having any faith at all is when it’s tested, again and again. I've only ever grown more certain of that with every day I spend at work. And yet somehow there are always people who want to join our ranks. Despite, you know, the inevitable reputation penalties."
"I don't know," she sighed. "I’m still... comparing your past to my future, I guess. Being a part of something, wanting more and not getting it, and then becoming someone people would fear if they don't learn to appreciate..."
She leaned away, untangling herself from him as she stretched, back slightly aching after keeping an uncomfortable position for a long time.
"I feel like I'm already going through that, in part at least. With the whole, you know. Mind control thing happening."
"So long as it's not me again, I couldn't care less if I tried," Arlo shrugged. "Just... be careful, okay? It might be your wound, but they’re my sutures too, if you think about it. We're in this together, and if what I do affects you, then it works the other way around as well."
"Someone's being awfully philosophical today," Diana chuckled, hunching again, arms resting on her knees. "Honestly, I am impressed. Like, first the whole "sand in the bottom half of the hourglass" thing, and then this other thing you just said? What's gotten into you?"
"You can't tell me that's not a massive mood, after all the talk of blackout curtains and such," Arlo responded with a telling smirk. "And besides, you can't talk, especially with your "I try to picture me without you, but I can’t", or whatever it was you said."
"Touche," she conceded. "Even if that was more cheesy than it was fancy."
She looked around, taking in the array of weapons still laying around them. All the talk, and they were still no closer to actually picking out a weapon. Not that Diana didn't appreciate the turn that distraction took.
"Anything at all catch your attention?" She spoke up, tilting her head a little. "We do kinda need to be packing sometime soon."
"Hard to pick just on sight alone," Arlo responded, "but definitely none of those bigger ones. I never learned to wield a literal sword."
"Okay," she shrugged. This was progress already.
Diana slid down on the floor to reach under the bed for the case she kept her actual swords in. Taking it out, she opened the lid and stood up, walking over to pick out the weapons that would not end up chosen.
Leaving the swords in their velvety confines, she locked the box, not bothering to push it back under just yet.
She looked up and back at him. While she was busy, he seemed to take great interest in a small array of throwing knives she had, looking at the one currently in his hand like it was something particularly curious.
...okay the idea of Arlo actually using those throwing knives shouldn't have been so hot...
Diana shook her head, trying (and failing) to not think about it.
"Anything else that's a definite no?"
She was proud of herself - her voice did not betray the sudden desire to kiss him senseless.
Meanwhile, he paused for a moment to look everything over once again before responding. "If I guessed right and these smaller ones are for throwing, then those are out of the question as well. My aim is not as good and I won't risk losing them - or the fight - due to lack of expertise."
"Okay."
There went that thirst trap.
Oh well.
She chuckled again as she went to pick up the second box from the bedside table. Normally it would have been securely hidden away in the corner of the closet she'd been sitting on top of not so long ago, but now it was just sitting there in the open, waiting for its contents to be returned.
"I could teach you, if you want," she offered, picking up the knives. "It would suit you."
"I appreciate the thought, but no thank you," he shook his head lightly. "Not quite my type there."
Diana merely shrugged, closing the latch on the box. The thought was enticing, but if he didn't want to - oh well. His funeral.
There wasn't much left on the bed now, with her taking away the swords and throwing knives. A fancy dagger she particularly liked for the spiderwebs engraved on the handle, a couple butterfly knives and several hunting knives.
"I'm honestly inclined to just go simple," Arlo shrugged, picking up one of the butterfly knives. "I already know my way around one of these, and knowing you, these are still sharp enough to get the job done. And not too clunky..."
"Oh, okay," Diana nodded, sitting by him once again to assess his choice.
A butterfly knife was indeed deceivingly simple. In the right hands, though, it could cause a lot of damage. Especially if used stealthily.
Arlo, however, was more of a loud type...
She supposed a bit of training wouldnt hurt.
"Then how about you take it and we call it a day," she suggested. "I can take you to the training grounds tomorrow after work so you can get your bearings on actually trying to hit someone with it." She noticed his worried glance and hurried to answer the silent question. "I have training dummies there. No human targets just yet, though I won't say no to some sparring."
She pretended to not notice the way he relaxed immediately, shoulders slightly sagging.
"Maybe," he nodded. "It would do me some good to get some practice in before actually going out into the fray."
He was still staring at the knife in his hands like it was a particularly rare Pokémon. Diana only chuckled as she leaned down to kiss his cheek before turning to leave.
"I'll take the rest of it away later," she said.
She took a few steps and paused, remembering something. "Wanna help me make pizza? I got mushrooms on sale at the grocery today, and that salami you like so much... And then we can just go watch something, and eat pizza, and cuddle or whatever. Just do, like, lazy night."
There was a long pause, but then...
"Actually, that sounds amazing."
Next thing she knew, Arlo was standing up next to her, the knife discarded on the bed in favour of taking her by the hand.
Diana let out a startled yelp as he pulled her in, his other hand immediately firmly locked in place around her waist...
...and suddenly realised that he was still significantly shorter than her, if the expression of his face was anything to go by.
"Curse you and your tallness..."
Yep, right on the money.
"Aw, but you like me anyway," she laughed, lifting her hand to caress his cheek, sneakily making him face her still.
For a moment he stared at her, eyes wide, before scoffing as he tried to look away, light blush forming on his cheeks.
"...damn it, you're right..."
"Love you too, shorty," she let out a chuckle as she leaned down a bit to give him a light kiss, before breaking free and almost running to the kitchen, laughing as she heard Arlo laugh too and give chase.
Life, she thought as she was pushed against the fridge and pulled into a heated kiss, is really, really good.
