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“A-are the bosses.. Are they alright?” Ramses looked over to the red-head who spoke up with pleasant surprise. Cameron was often the most quiet of the bunch and if you ever did get a squeak out of him, the boy was always stumbling over his words. It was worse when it came to big get-togethers like these too. The private bar that Gear Station reserved was packed with loud chatty co-workers, full-bellied laughs and clinking glass. Little puddles of beer and scatterings of peanut shells decorated multiple tables. The smell of salt and hops permeated the room. Everyone was here, save for Jackie. Poor guy couldn't make it for personal, private reasons. A real pity, but they promised they'll make it to the next staff party. Ramses wasn’t sure if he ever saw them leave the station at all but he wasn’t going to question it. Nobody ever asks about Jackie’s schedule. Nobody. As for Cameron, this was the last place he wanted to be in, but he tagged along anyway. Jackie made him promise to drink their share of liquor. Turns out that Cameron's got a pretty decent liver on him. Ramses let out a hum as he directed his gaze to the bosses who sat at their table in the far end. Ingo and Emmet stayed side by side with each other rather than face to face, one needed the presence of the other close by. If Ramses leaned forward on the table, he could see Ingo rapidly tap against the wooden surface with a single index finger. Emmet bounced a leg from underneath the table which was not as subtle as he’d thought. Ramses hummed again. Were they really having it that bad? “M-maybe they’re not feeling well?” Cameron guessed wrong. The senior shook his head. “That ain’t it,” he muttered. “The Bosses got the jitters.” Cameron fretted. “D-don’t they like this sort of thing?” he asked. “I heard that last time.. B-boss Emmet went loose after one bottle of wine.” “Oh,” Ramses raised his brows at his junior. Did Cameron not get the memo? “Haven’t you heard?” Cameron blinked. “Heard about.. What?” Oh, this was going to be fun. Ramses gives him a lop-sided grin. “The COO of Gear Station is attending the party,” he answered with a sip of his drink. The memo was composed by Isadore who laid down the ground rules of conduct for tonight’s event. No smoking, no rough housing and anyone who wanted an entire meal that was not part of the drinks and snacks menu provided by the bar will have to pay their own tab. There was also a part where everybody must be on their best behavior once the COO arrived, but anyone who knew her well enough were not that worried. That meant Cloud and Ramses. He expected the twins would be excited, but not this antsy. Then again, it has been a while. Cameron blanked out for a few moments before suddenly he looked as nervous as the twins too. “Hhh–” Cameron wheezed. “H-her!? The COO? THE Chief Operations Officer?! Here!? Tonight?!” “Yup,” Ramses smiled. “The one and only. She's probably on her way right now.” “I’m not ready yet either then!” Cameron squeaked, his hands fluttered to his curly red hair to grip at the strands. “H-how do I look? Is my hair a mess? Aghh, I wasn’t expecting VIP Admin to visit!!” “Relax, lil’ buddy!” Ramses chuckled and brought a hearty slap on Cameron’s back. He meant it as a little friendly roughhousing but it sent the kid forward so suddenly, he almost hit his forehead on the desk. “You’ve met the Big Boss before! Just be yourself.” “Who’s this 'Big Boss'?” someone else spoke up as he scooted closer to the two. “Does she like trains?” "Oh yeah, Furze, you haven't met the COO before, huh?" Ramses turned to the newcomer. "You entered the company when the Twins took over." "She's really serious about her work," Cameron added while he fumbled with his hands. He lowered his voice, "She's got the same energy as Cloud, but more." From across the room, a tall olive-skinned woman let out a sneeze. She gives a couple of wet sniffles while looking around the room before her gaze settles on the group. She narrows her eyes at Cameron who does his best to look at anything and everything else. Furze tilted his head. He can't think of anyone more disciplined than Cloud. He got scolded by Cloud more times than his own Bosses! "But," he replied slowly, folding his hands together. "Does she like trains?" He asked again with a heavier tone. Ramses chuckled. "You know how Ingo and Emmet use a lot of Subway lingos and metaphors?" "Yeah" "She does too,” Ramses nodded to him. “They probably got it from her, actually." Furze gasped exaggeratedly. "Oh, wow," his eyes sparkled with wonder. "She sounds really important!" Cameron stared sardonically at his dark haired junior. That was Furze's defining factor for the COOs importance? Suddenly, he caught Emmet nudge and say something to Ingo and the two jump out of their seats. Ramses craned his head to the door of the private room where a few more people just arrived. "Speak of the devil." Furze had never seen the bosses so out of sync before. The two stumbled out of the table, tripping over each other just to greet this one person who exchanged brief and curt nods to those who waved her way. She’s here. 
She’s finally here.
 After so long, would you recognize them? Would you still talk to them like you used to before? There was only one way the twins can find out. If anyone asked them, Ingo and Emmet would admit that you looked stunning tonight. You dressed in formal-casual clothes. You wore a plain white blouse tucked in fitting black slacks and dark heels that clicked rhythmically against the floor. Your hair which was usually in a slick, neat ponytail was worn down in luscious bouncing curls that frame your pretty face.  If they could, Emmet and Ingo would've fallen to their knees and thanked the Dragons for bestowing them such a gorgeous piece of work for them to ever serve. Emmet almost does just that and Ingo had to catch him by the back of the collar. "You're here!" Emmet beamed after his twin pulled him up from falling flat on his face. "I am!" You smiled in a way that made your eyes light up which made him want to melt into a puddle right at that moment. Behind him, Ingo tipped his hat with a little bow, greeting you with your formal title. "No need for that, boys," you cooed at them. You trace Ingo’s chin with the tips of your fingers, the gesture meant to make him look up but it only made his knees weak. "We're not here for business. We're here to party!" The twins looked to each other, then to you before giving rapid, eager nods. "Yup yup!" "Of course! Right this way, please!" Everyone knew that the bosses Ingo and Emmet were like a two-car train, but watching them cater to this one woman was really something else. The way each of them walked her at either side, how they each held one hand from her while they led her to the table. This was rehearsed, multiple times even. When they reached the table once more, you had both bosses on either side of you at your beck and call. "What would you like to drink?" Ingo asked as he searched for the drinks list. "Or maybe you're hungry?" Emmet offered. "Oh yes, what would you like to start with? We can't have you drinking with an empty cargo." "I'll be fine, my darlings. My engine has gotten stronger than last time,” You reached for the menu from Ingo’s hands. “Do they have Oolong Highballs here?” The twins' reaction was immediate. To be called your darlings tonight after so long! Oh, the nostalgia! Oh, how nice it was! With the goofiest smiles plastered on their faces - even for Ingo - they both ordered in unison. "One Oolong Highball, please!!"  A waiter saluted them and scurried away for the drink. "So how are the Subway Boys, hm?" You asked them, leaning your weight against the table while supporting yourself with your elbows. Emmet started. "We've been.." he trails off, his honest eyes gazing far too low from your eyes. Your chest leaned against the table, full and ample for his eyes to take in. Ingo clears his throat to direct your attention to him instead of his brother who was drooling all over the table at the sight of you. "Good. We've been very good." You hummed. "Taking care of the station while I was away, I hope?" "Mhm!" With unimaginative willpower, Emmet was able to meet your gaze once more. "Safety protocols met!" "And schedules followed!" Ingo added valiantly. "Emmet and I make sure the Battle Subway runs like a well oiled machine!" You nodded approvingly, silently thanking the waiter for your drink that arrived before you spoke again. "Glad to hear my boys are chugging along quite nicely." 'My' boys.  Your boys. Not just your employees as in your 'Subway' boys. Your boys . You called just about anyone ‘darling’ or ‘sweetie’. It was already a blessing to be called your darlings , but to be called your boys .. It hits different. It felt more intimate than it should be. It felt like they were exclusively yours. Emmet and Ingo could almost hear the steam that blew out of their ears. Everyone except poor naive Furze could almost see the effects you made on the twins. It was hard to tell if you knew what you were doing. Instead, you took a slow sip from your highball and sighed in satisfaction. "Yep..” Emmet gulped with reddened cheeks. “Yep!!" Ingo thumbed the front of his cap, his gloved hand hid the blush on his face. "Indeed." You darted your tongue out to lick the stray droplet of oolong from the side of your mouth. Ingo’s gray gaze fixates there, never before did he ever wished to be a glass of tea cocktail. "Mm, haven't had a good Oolong Highball in a while," you said, unaware of Ingos open gawking. "You've always liked Oolong tea for the longest time," Emmet recalled, hoping he could distract you from his older twin. "Remember the one time when me and Ingo worked at that sandwich shop?" "And you guys ran out of my favorite Oolong tea?" You continued for him with a little giggle. Ingo spoke up again after he remembered he needed to keep up with social cues. "And then Emmet - I still couldn't believe what you did, Emm.." "What can I say," the younger twin shrugged. "I have to make sure our passengers are always 100% satisfied." "Dragons," Furze whispered in awe to Ramses. "She doesn't seem that scary at all." "That's because you've never worked for her," Cameron shot back. Furze replied with a look of doubt. "I don't know, she seems good in my books." "The Big Boss ain't that bad. She cares about her work and every single one of us at the station way back when," Ramses replied. "She's untouchable though, in case you're wondering." Furze smiled cluelessly at Ramses. "Huh?" Ramses shrugged. "Everyone and their momma knows the twins are head over heels with her," he lowered his voice for Furze. "And vice versa too." Furze 'ooh'd in recognition, then made a funny face. "Then are they all together yet?" Ramses laughed. "That's what everyone wants to know!" Back with the Twins and their beloved Boss, whatever nervous jitters the two had earlier were gone. The three of you reminisced of good times, way back when they were the Subway Bosses, before they even worked at Gear Station. It's been so long since you've seen them, it was only natural to talk about the very beginning. Once upon a time, the Subway Bosses had small, humble beginnings. When you first met them, they were the Subway Boys.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Ingo yawned. He was never an early riser. The sound of the humming fridges and fluorescent lights were like a lullaby to him. Despite all that, he was still the responsible twin. His mercury irises scanned the food buckets one more time in front of him. Little square containers of lettuce, tomatoes and meats lined up like soldiers ready for the next rush of customers. Ingo donned a new set of plastic disposable gloves while he made a verbal checklist. “Vegetables?” From behind him, Emmet chirped. “Check!” “Bread?” “Check!” Ingo pulled the hem of his stretchy gloves with a sharp snap. “Sauces?” “Double-checked!” Emmet's voice moved from behind him and all the way to the front of the counter. “Sodas? Chips?” Emmet was now at the front of the shop, his hand on the fridge handle to open and close it. “Triple checked!” Ingo nodded. “We’re ready then.” Emmet gave his brother a little salute as he marched back behind the counter. “Yep!” he confirmed. “Time to get serious. The lunch rush does not mess around!” Ingo nodded in agreement. "Because if it's not serious," "It is not fun!" Emmet continued before they took their places.  Ingo stood at the helm on the cash register while Emmet wore his own pair of disposable plastic gloves. They watch as the hand of the clock slowly straightened to twelve in the afternoon and then it starts. Lunch Rush Hour. “Welcome to Subway!” Ingo’s voice boomed. “What can we get for you?” The crowd trickled in little by little during the first couple of minutes. Manageable and easy, but the twins kept themselves on their toes, making sure not a single order takes more than two minutes to complete. By the ten-minute mark, the crunch began. Hordes of hungry customers lined up out the store, waiting to grab a sub or a salad before they returned to work to wolf it down.  “Would you like this toasted?” “What sauce would you like?” “Would you like chips with that?” “That’ll be P500, please.” “Thank you!” The twins thanked in unison before starting the whole process all over again for every single customer. Somewhere in the middle of it all, they've run out of tomatoes due to a customer who wanted extra, so Emmet had to slice up some more in between toasting more bread while Ingo juggled between the cashier to assembling sandwiches. In the end, they made it to 2pm. The crowd began to die out and the twins were able to take a moment to catch their breath. “I will never understand that one lady.” “Emmet.” “Yes, I am Emmet, and no, we do not have ‘vegan’ dried meats!” the younger twin screeched in frustration. “Why even ask for meat if you’re vegan? Just eat meat!” “Some people have..” Ingo’s voice trailed as he tried to think of a better word for it. “Different lifestyle choices.” “It does not make sense!” Emmet insisted, his knife slammed against the cutting board to roughly chop another head of lettuce. “If only I had the Joltiks tod–” “Hello?” The twins snapped their heads to the front of the shop. From behind the glass countertop, there you stood, wearing a tight-fitting green conductor’s uniform. A Gear Station worker, they deduced. And the prettiest one they’ve ever seen. “Hi,” you stepped closer, your eyes peered into the various array of ingredients available for a sandwich or a salad of your choosing. “Twins, huh? That’s pretty cute. Can I still order?" Your sudden appearance casted a spell on them. The twins took their places, enchanted by your presence. They meant to get ready for your order, but honestly, they wanted to get a closer look at you. You wore the usual uniform they’ve always seen from other depot agents - a white dress-shirt underneath a forest-green blazer and matching slacks. You wore high-heels that made you look taller than you actually are. You did not wear your hat - they later learned you took it off on your breaks, so they got to see your thick, dark curls that were tied neatly in a ponytail behind you. It was the uniform that drew them in. It was very flattering to your form, tracing the outlines of your curves to create the perfect silhouette for your waist and hips. There were a few buttons on your white shirt that were working overtime to keep your shapely bust in and it took every fibre of the boy’s being to not get lost in the sight of it. “Hello?” You asked again. Ingo gulped. Oh no, have they been staring for too long? He opened his mouth to speak, but Emmet unfortunately beat him to it. “Mamacita–” Ingo’s jaw dropped to a silent scream before he clapped a hand onto his twin’s mouth. “What my brother here meant to say was,” Ingo carefully worded. “Is what is you’d like order to?” There was a brief moment of silence before Emmet shot a roguish grin at his brother’s ‘carefully worded’ attempt at speaking. Ingo broke out into a sweat, very aware of how his sentence tumbled out like nonsense. You stared at them with raised eyebrows before you let out a snort. Followed by a giggle. Then the richest sounding laugh that sounded like music to their ears. You laughed from your belly, the sound of it was like honey in their ears. Sweet, thick and addictive. “You two are the cutest trainwreck that I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting,” your smile rose at the corners. “Guess I’ll be coming here often!” Emmet and Ingo were still at a loss for words - more so for Emmet since he still had his mouth clamped in Ingo’s hand. “Well,” you tilted your head to the side, your eyes flitted between the two of them. “Is it okay if I can still order?” “Yes!” Ingo nodded. “Yes, of course!” “Mmrfmmh!” “Ah, sorry, Emm,” Ingo apologised, remembering that he had Emmet in his grasp before letting him go. “What would you like, miss?” Emmet asked immediately, brimming with enthusiasm, the fatigue from the previous lunch hour rush melted away from his shoulders. “I want to try the Nimbasa Supreme Sub, please,” you said, pointing at the picture of it on the menu. It was brimming with lettuce, tomatoes, cheese and steak. “Coming right up!” “What bread would you like?” Ingo asked. “I recommend the Herb and Cheese.” “Then I’ll take that!” you agreed with him and the two set to work. The boys go through the motions and you couldn’t help but be impressed by the little system they got going on. Most other shops didn’t have this amount of team synchronization in them. Yet the two brothers acted as though they were one. Like two gears that turned perfectly with each other. The communication they had with each other was flawless and they read each other's movements near perfectly. “Like a two car train,” you murmured as you gave Ingo your payment. “I’m sorry?” Ingo asked. “Oh, it’s nothing,” you shook your head. “Keep the change, boys.” “Oh,” Ingo looked to Emmet in hopes for his brother’s input, but the younger twin was still helplessly admiring you from afar. “Thank you so much, miss!” “We look forward to seeing you again!” Emmet chirped and Ingo wanted nothing more than to shove him in the broom closet. “Likewise, boys,” you winked at him. Now Ingo wished he said it first instead of Emmet. “See you tomorrow!” You added before you sauntered out the door with your sandwich and a bottle of oolong tea. The twins went silent for a good long while, watching you go, their eyes glued to the way your hips swayed as you walked back to the direction of Gear Station. Emmet sighed with a dreamy look in his silver irises and slouched forwards on the counter. “She’s beeeautiful.” “She is,” Ingo agreed wistfully, but hardened his gaze. “But Emmet–” “I am Emmet,” the younger twin drawled. “You can’t just call someone ‘mamacita’!!” Ingo loudly chastised him. Emmet squinted his eyes to brace himself from the increased amount of decibels from his brother’s voice. “I couldn’t help it!” he shot back. “Admit it - you were thinking of it too!” “Yes!” Ingo admitted it with zero shame, only because he knew better than to lie to his scarily perceptive twin. “But I wouldn’t say it! There’s a difference.” “But it’s the truth!” Emmet insisted. “Besides, she doesn’t seem angry about it.” “We’re lucky she wasn’t!” Ingo groaned, throwing himself at the cash register. “Dragons, that was so embarrassing.” “You mean the way you asked what she’d like to order?” Emmet simpered. Ingo grumbled, hiding his face in his hands. “Don’t remind me..” Silence once more. “I call dibs,” Emmet smirked. “Huh?” Ingo shot an skeptical look at his smiling brother. “Since when?” “Since she winked at me first.” “Why are we even putting dibs on a woman?” “What?” Emmet smirked wider. “Wanna share? I don’t mind.” Ingo opened his mouth, then closed it. Then he opened his mouth again. “Emmet.” “We already talked about this,” Emmet raised a brow. “I am Emmet.” “She isn’t just some toy or video game we can pass around between ourselves,” Ingo tried to speak some sense. “How do you share a woman?!” Emmet stared at him with his usual angular smile. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “But I would rather not fight you for her.” Ingo leaned back on the counter. “No, yes, you’re right about that,” he muttered. It was quite obvious that the two of them were smitten for this lady. A passing crush, probably. Just some fancy, pretty, drop dead gorgeous woman who blessed the shop like an angel in disguise. One of them might fall out on their feelings. Maybe they both would. Who knows. Neither of them do. For the next couple days, you visited the Subway Shop that they manned. Every day, you ordered something new to try and each time you followed the boy’s recommendations. The Galar Special on Rye with Yellow Mustard. The Kalos-Melt on Triple Cheese Toast. Everyday, you thanked them for their suggestions and how they pampered you with their service. Sometimes they treated you with a drink. You liked the chilled bottles of tea. Sometimes, Ingo sneaked in a free cookie in your bag. And every meeting with them, they never failed to wish you a good day. “Thank you for coming!” “Have a nice day!” You always left them with a smile, a smile that always completed their day and made their shifts a little bit better and made them fall a little bit deeper for you. On one particular day after their dayoff, their manager greeted them in the morning.
“Mornin’ Trevithicks,” he said. “Someone was lookin’ for the two of you yesterday.” “Good morning, Mr Williams,” Ingo and Emmet returned the greeting, their voices harmonized with each other. “Who?” the younger twin asked first. “Some lady,” Mr Williams shrugged. “Someone from Gear Station, I think. She was asking for the both of you. Friend of yours?” The twins looked to each other. Were you their friend? Could they call you their friend? “Well, she seemed to like you two enough to ask where you both are,” their manager continued. “Keep up the good work.” “Yes, sir!” The twins replied in sync before they went to their stations. It was then that it hit them as they made the usual morning preparations. “She’s been looking for us,” Ingo murmured, unable to contain the little upright corners at the corners of his lips. “For us ,” Emmet echoed. “What do you think for?” Ingo wondered. “Let’s ask her!” Emmet resolved. “And then let’s ask her out–” “Emmet!” “I am Emmet!” Emmet proclaimed proudly as he slammed a steel bucket of tuna salad into its rightful spot on the counter. “And I will ask for her hand!” “No, idiot!” Ingo hissed. “We can’t just ask her that! We’ve only known her for..” He paused to count his fingers. Emmet watched him impatiently. “Nine days.” “Nine days!” Ingo resonated. “You can’t ask someone out for a date in nine days. We don’t even know her name!” “If you count today, it’ll be ten,” Emmet countered. “That’s more than a week. That’s four days away from a fortnight. We can ask for her number as a friendly gesture.” Ingo curled his hands into fists in front of Emmet’s face, as if to wring his brothers neck. Emmet just stared on with a placid grin. “You. Cannot. Ask.” Ingo enunciated. “You. Cannot. Stop. Me.” Emmet copied his tonation. How was he related to this goblin?! How did they even come from the same egg? Eighteen years of their life and Ingo couldn’t fathom it. He threw his hands up in the air in defeat while Emmet stood there calmly, as still as a statue before the bell at the door rang. A customer was here. “Welcome to Subway!” Emmet greeted. “Oh! Welcome back!” Ingo froze to see you standing at the door. He hurriedly shoved his hands back down to his sides. You beamed at the sight of them. “My favorite twins are back!” For a moment, Ingo and Emmet wished they could just curl up on the floor and scream in joy. Your favorite? They were your favorite?! “How was your dayoff, boys?” you asked them as you walked closer to the counter. “It was excellent,” Ingo stammered. His face felt so hot that steam could blow out of his ears. “Verrry excellent,” Emmet added with a nod, the tint on his cheeks matched the shade of his brother’s. “I am Emmet. What would you like today?” You hummed in thought. “How about the Combusken Teriyaki?” “Coming right up!” Emmet chirped before he set to work. You walked over to the fridge to grab your favorite drink, then paused after you pulled opened the door. “Is there something wrong?” Ingo asked. You went quiet for a moment then you shook your head as you closed the door. “It’s nothing,” you smiled to him, but Ingo knew better. “Please tell us!” he implored. “We pride ourselves in giving the best customer service! You especially !” Emmet glanced up at Ingo before forcing himself to return his attention in toasting your sandwich. His entire being shivered to compensate the amount of willpower he conjured to not burst out laughing at what Ingo just said. Ingo on the other hand, wanted nothing more than the ground to swallow him up. He wanted to hide behind his uniform’s visor. He wanted to slip into the broom closet and make it his coffin. Instead, he stood there, at the register, hoping you’d brush off that embarrassing thing he just said. You didn’t. Instead, you openly stared at him with widened eyes, your lips parted as if you wanted to say something. The color on your sun-kissed cheeks deepened and you tucked a stray strand of hair behind your ear bashfully. A single “Oh.” Was all you can manage to say. Ingo was about to apologize, but you continued. “It’s just that there’s no more Oolong tea,” you confessed to him, pointing to the fridge. “But it’s okay. I’ll just get a lemonade.” “Absolutely not!” Emmet raised his voice. It was not as loud as Ingo’s, but it was enough that both you and his brother flinched. “Absolutely not,” Emmet repeated in a more even tone that you both were used to hearing from him. “Iggs, watch the toaster.” “And where are you going?” Ingo tensed as he watched his brother march out from behind the counter and to the door. “What else?” Emmet asked him back. “To get more tea!” And he was off, racing out of the shop to the nearest convenience store with his arms swinging violently at his sides, leaving both you and Ingo alone together at the shop. Ingo never thought the appliances in the room could get any more louder. The hum of the fridge and the lights were no longer the comforting lullabies to him. Instead, they rang in his ears like the heartbeat that thumped in his chest, very aware of how alone he was with you. He opened his mouth to say something. He needed to say something. Anything to fill the silence in the room. Nothing comes out. “He didn’t have to do that,” you finally said with a half chuckle as you crossed your arms together. Ingo heaved a sigh. “No,” he agreed. “He didn’t. But it’s hard to stop him when he sets his mind on something.” “Yeah?” you asked. “Yes,” he answered. Ingo swallowed and braced himself. “He.. was going to ask for your number.” You raised a brow at him. “Oh, was he?” you implored with curiosity. With a teasing grin, you added, “Or is this your way to ask for mine?” Ingo trembled. “I’m just kidding,” you quickly continued to save the poor boy from turning into a puddle in front of you. “But if he really is, why are you telling me this?” “Because,” Ingo blurted out while he fumbled with his green apron that was suddenly the most interesting thing in the room. “My apologies, I don’t know. I don’t want you to get creeped out by him if he does ask.” More silence. He could feel you observe him, watching and gauging for a reaction or for any further context to why Emmet would even want your number in the first place. Ingo felt as though he had been engulfed in fire and now he must burn in it. In the corner of his eye, he caught you lightly scratching at your cheek before suddenly.. You giggled. “You boys are..” you trailed before you shook your head. “I’ve been here long enough to not be ‘creeped out’ by you two.” Ingo looked up at you demurely. “Truely?” he asked. “Promise?” You nodded with a smile in your eyes. “Promise, darling.” Ingo blinked once. Twice. Then his quivering lips parted and his face went as red as it could ever get in his lifetime. You covered your mouth to hide the laugh in your smile while Ingo was distracted by the fact that he was just called something like darling . “Ah, don't mind me,” you explained yourself quickly. “That's what I call everyone who I'm close enough with.” Ingo felt the scarlet in his cheeks fade away by the smallest margin. Of course! You were just close enough with them! That was nice! That was good! “Does that mean we’re.. Friends?” You tapped an index finger on your cheek before nodding with agreement. “Yes, I think it’s safe to say that,” you answered. Ingo swallowed his suddenly very dry throat. Friends! They made friends with you! Progress! Oh, how he badly wanted to pump his fists in the air and whoop for joy! Luckily, he was stopped by Emmet who crashed back into the shop with a plastic bag bursting with bottles of chilled Oolong tea. “I.. am Emmet,” he breathed haggardly as he leaned against the doorframe of the shop. “And I.. I have procured the tea.” He lets out a cough and Ingo watched as you fret over him. “Oh, dear,” you cooed at his side. “You didn’t have to buy so many!” “I wanted to!” Emmet declared with a beaming smile before it suddenly dropped. “What’s that smell?” He looked to Ingo and whatever leftover flush on Ingo’s face left him immediately. “The toaster!” In the midst of your little chat, Ingo had accidentally left your sandwich sitting in the toaster for a little longer than usual. Luckily, it hadn’t reach charcoal standards just yet. It was just a little crispier than most sandwiches. Ingo pulls it out of the toaster oven, ready to bin it, but you stopped him. “Ah, please don’t!” you called to him. “It’s fine - I’ll have it like that.” The twins looked to you unsurely. “But this goes against our standard protoc-” “It’s fine,” you insisted. “I still want it.” Emmet shook his head. “We can just make a new one–” “It’s fine,” you repeated. “I want that one - you two made it for me.” That shut them up. Enraptured by you, Ingo wrapped up the sub without another word before handing it to you in a bag with your tea. You reached your pocket for your wallet but this time, it was their turn to assert themselves. “It’s on us,” Ingo assured you. “The tea too!” Emmet chipped in. You stood there while you held your lunch in one hand and your wallet in the other. It was your turn to have your cheeks kissed red. “I couldn’t possibly..” “Please,” Ingo cuts you off with a short, polite bow. “Because you’re special to us!” Emmet added, which earned him an elbow to the ribs. He coughed. “Our special loyal most-favorite customer. Yup yup!” You paused in thought. Then you finally returned your wallet in your pocket. “Ingo, may I have the receipt please?” “Of course, miss,” he replied. After a few presses of a button on the POS System, a long receipt printed out before he rips it from the printer to hand it to you. Instead of taking it and folding it up in your pocket like you always do, you laid it flat on the counter and scribbled something on the back of it with your pen from your breast pocket. The boys peered at it with curiosity until you handed the receipt back to them. “You don’t have to call me ‘miss’ anymore with this,” you winked at them before you trotted out of the shop, leaving the twins stupefied. “I'll see you when I see you, darlings.” On the receipt, you had given them your number, your name and a cute, round smiley face. Ingo held the receipt as though he were holding the treasures from a lost and ancient tomb. Beside him, Emmet vibrated in place. “Did she just call us darlings ?” Ingo handed him the receipt so that Emmet can feast his eyes on it as well. “She calls everyone she’s close to that.” “I do not care,” Emmet grinned ear to ear as he raised the receipt to the light as if to make sure it was a legit P10,000 bill. It was worth more than that to him. “She called us darlings. She likes us enough to call us that.” Ingo drew his breath in slowly. He just hoped he and his brother won't set their hopes up too high.  “Hi,” your voice croaked to the speaker of your cellphone. “Sorry. I won’t make it to work today.” “...” “Yes, I’ll need today and tomorrow off.” “...” “I understand. I’ll provide the necessary documents by Saturday. Thank you and I’m sorry again.” Days and weeks used to move at a snail’s pace for you, but ever since you met the twins at Subway, it made months pass like nothing at all. Everyday (besides your day offs), they greeted you with a warmth that you sought for in your life as a Gear Station employee. You were sure that the boys had their fair share of unsavory customers, but it gets so grating at your end. Endless of self-entitled customers who complain about their Annual Pass or their card not working when they haven’t even topped it up. Your visits at the Subway Sandwich Shoppe were the highlight of your day. You were taken care of there. You were pampered. Even for just a few minutes of your day, it was enough to get you through work. They had your number now, but they had yet to call you. Emmet was the one who texted first, just to give you a heads up that it was him, as well as Ingo’s number attached to it. You saved both in your phone. Once in a while, Ingo would send you a text during your dayoff to ask how has your day been. Emmet liked to send you memes with Joltiks in them. Since the day you met them, they were still adorably, unbearably cute. They were the Subway Boys, the twins who you - without fail - saw everyday just to give yourself another reason to give it your all. Until today. You were sick today and you’ve just asked your boss for a sick leave for two days. You made another phone call for the doctor, an appointment much later in the afternoon. Right now, all you wanted was to sleep. Your head throbbed and the back of your eyes felt hot. The room spun while you desperately tried to fall back to a deep slumber when the phone rang again. Your arms flailed out of your blanket, your arms sore and damp with sweat as you reached for your phone again at your side. “Hello?” Silence. “Hello?” you repeated again, then let out a dry, heaving cough. “Oh no,” a familiar voice spoke from the earpiece. “You’re not feeling well.” You peeled the phone away from your face to check the caller. “Oh,” you realized. “Ingo. Hey, darling,” you let out a series of coughs again, each one felt like there were thorns in your throat. “I’m sorry you have to hear me like this.” You can hear his brother in the background. “Is she still alive?” There was a pause - probably Ingo swatting his unruly twin away. “No need for apologies,” Ingo reassured you. “But are you alright? Do you have anyone looking after you?” You bit your lip. “I,” you began, but stopped yourself. You wanted the boys to know you’ll be fine. You didn’t want them to worry, but god you really were not feeling ‘fine’ at all. “No,” you admitted defeatedly. “I live alone.” There was another pause before Ingo spoke slowly. “If you don’t mind,” he began. “May we please help you? My brother and I can help fetch some stuff for you. And it’s our day off. Of course, if you feel uncomfortable at al–” “Oh my god,” came Emmet’s exasperated tone before the phone was snatched away. “You are derailing, my dear brother. Hi! This is Emmet!” You couldn’t help the smile on your face. “Hello, Emmet darling,” you hoarsed.  Emmet beamed through the phone. “We will be visiting you!” he informed. “Where do you live?” You were about to say something along the lines of not wanting to impose him, but Ingo’s words echoed in your head. Once Emmet was set on something, he was unstoppable. You turned in your bed and sighed out your address. “Nimbus Nine Heights,” you answered groggily through the phone. “Apartment number 308.” “Okay!” Emmet exclaimed with vigor. “We’re on our way right now. C’mon!” There was a brief question from Ingo asking if this was truly okay, but before you could hear Emmet’s response, they’ve hung up the phone. You blacked out out for god knows how long until you were awoken by the doorbell. “Coming,” you called, but your voice was too weak. You pried yourself out of bed and crawled your way to the door. You must’ve taken so long because whoever was at the door, they’ve rung it a second time, then a third time, before you heard someone get slapped and then some bickering. You snorted. “Hey, boys,” you greeted them as you opened the door. You already knew it was them from the racket they made, but it was a welcomed kind of noise. The both of them straightened up from whatever argument they were having, their shoulders squared at their sides as they chirped your name at the same time in perfect pitch. You notice both boys carried plastic bags full of goodies. Snacks, ingredients for cooking, oolong tea and some medicine, you almost wanted to tell them you're only staying in for two days, not for an entire apocalypse. “Sorry to disturb you,” Ingo nodded to you. “We come bearing gifts,” Emmet continued as you ushered them inside your tiny apartment. “Thanks for coming, dears,” you attempted to coo at them, but your voice broke. You’re not sure if it’s from your sick or from the emotion that was overbrimming from your heart. “Let me go grab you two some drinks. You two look tired.” “No need for that,” Emmet took Ingo’s bags to find his way to your kitchen. “We just did a little bike riding, that’s all.” “And you should rest,” Ingo said, guiding you by the arm back to your room. In the haze of your cold, you were gently plopped back to bed. You didn’t realised it back then, but Ingo was turning a nice shade of beetroot the moment he stepped in your room. It felt cozy and intimate. It felt like you. You crawled under the blankets and peeked at him from underneath. “Sorry for being a terrible host,” you murmured weakly with heavy eyelids. In a moment of vulnerability, you added, “Your kindness is wasted on an old lady like me.” Ingo was about to leave to hurry over to Emmet, but stopped himself. He knelt down at the edge of the bed to get to your eye level. He wore a humble frown, his eyes brimming with concern and the most gentle tone in his voice. “No, it is not,” he replied softly, his voice almost purred. “Emmet and I want to do this. You’re our friend after all.” You gave him a lethargic blink, your entire body felt as hot as an oven. “Mm,” you buried your face in the blanket, lest you show that your face was burning too. A part of your self consciousness tells you that you don’t deserve these boys. “Yeah.”  “You boys are too good to meee,” You held the boys captive with your hands on theirs. They had just brought you back home from the doctors, settled you back down on your bed and had to leave. If they stayed any longer, they’d be tempted to spend the night and they probably shouldn’t do that when you’re this defenseless. But while you laid down, you clung to them. Your hands clasped to theirs, your right on Ingos and your left on Emmets with your body contorted on the bed. You gave them a feeble squeeze, you eyes blurry with hot tears, your senses stunted from the drowsy medicine you took. Emmet tested the waters by squeezing your hand back and you let out the smallest whimper he'd ever heard. His grin widened with giddiness. Ingo says your name as calmly as he could. The fact that you were holding them like this was enough to make his heart leap out of his chest. “Emmet and I should really be going.” “No, we don’t.” With his free hand, Ingo slapped the back of his brother’s head. Emmet yelped, then grumbled as he rubbed the sore spot. “You really think I got a shot?” you asked in a small voice. Earlier in your sickly stupor, you confided to them that there was a promotion going on at work and that you wanted to apply for it but you changed your mind. Being sick will surely lower your performance. Both twins suggested you try it out anyway, who knows what would happen? Emmet assumed you were referring to that promotion you wanted. “Yup!” he chirped confidently. “You can do it! We believe in you!” You gave a half hearted chuckle. How did you get so lucky to meet these two? It was as if you knew them your whole life already. “We’ll check in on you tomorrow, alright?” Ingo continued. “Remember, there’s more dumpling soup in the fridge. You just need to heat it up for ten minutes on medium.” “Mhmm,” you hummed. You feel Ingo’s hand quietly slip from your grasp, so you tightened your grip on him to bring it closer to your face. Ingo murmured your name again, before he sucked a breath in at the sensation of your warm cheeks against his palm. Emmet’s hand rested on your other cheek, stained with feverish tears. Both their hands felt like soothing cool compresses on your skin and you parted your lips in a sigh of satisfaction as your eyelids fluttered close. The way the twins stood over you by the bed felt a little awkward, but to see your sleeping face up close like this, the fact that their presence was comforting enough to lull you to slumber, made it all worth it. They couldn't even perceive the passage of time passed until Emmet used a free hand to trace a single finger against your bottom lip. "Emm.." Ingo warned him despite his envy. "She's out like a light," his twin hissed. "The Drow-Zee medicine she took made sure of it." Ingo watched as his brother experimentally pressed and prodded at your plump lower lip before he brought his own free hand to card through your hair. Your silky tresses ran along between his fingers like velvet. "We were supposed to call you up for a date.." Ingo whispered gravelly to your sleeping form. "Had to mentally prepare ourselves for weeks just to dial your number." You respond with a soft snore. "Do you have any idea how much we like you?" Ingo continued. "How much do we adore you? Even we cannot fathom it." "Do you really only see us as just friends?" Emmet wondered as he poked your cheek. Your face twitches involuntarily but you did not stir. "As just the cute twins from the sandwich shop?" "What will it take for us to be more than that?" Ingo sighed as he and Emmet finally, reluctantly, pulled away when your snoring took on a slow and gentle rhythm. "We will figure it out." "Make sure you get that Subway Boss title," Emmet cooed over you. Ingo nodded, despite knowing you can't see him. "Because when you do," Both twins watched you snore one last time before they tiptoed out of the room. "We'll follow right behind you."

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Thank you for riding with us on the Multi Train. We hope you enjoyed the ride. Please mind the gap between the train and the platform!”
 
You recalled Ferrothorn back into its Pokeball before showing your challenger to the doors of the train, the two of you exchanged a hearty handshake before they made their departure. As soon as the doors slid closed once more, you let out a long sigh of relief.
 
“Daaamn, look at you now, bae!”
 
You turned to look to Cloud with a sheepish grin. “Did I conduct myself alright?”
 
The curly haired woman beamed down at you. “You were stellar and we synced beautifully!” she smiled at you with pride before feigning tears of joy. “I can’t believe my beloved junior is shining so quickly..”
 
You and Cloud have become fast friends ever since she took you under her wing. Everyone warned you about how severe and harsh she was, but as soon as you proven to her that you were all about your job here at the station, that you were actually passionate about the job here, she raised you like one of her own.
 
“I’m surprised you didn’t apply for Subway Boss too,” you told her as you walked along the train cars, sweeping the area for any stray passengers. “You are far more capable for this kind of work.”
 
“Oh, it’s all the paperwork,” she groaned while she walked alongside you. “I despise desk jobs.”
 
You let out a laugh and Cloud chuckles along with you from your infectious giggles.
 
“Oh yeah, today there’ll be a bunch of fresh meat making the rounds with Isadore,” she mentioned as the train neared its next stop.
 
“Oh right!” you nodded. You weren’t in charge of new hires. That was the HR’s job, so every newcomer was a surprise. You wondered if there will be some interesting new faces. You wondered if any of them would stay. There’s been a lot of cases where newcomers leave after the first week, realising that the job wasn’t for them. “Let’s go give them a scare.”
 
Cloud snorts. “Ever the menace, aren’t you?” 
 
You gave a devilish grin. “I’ve got to make a good first impression as a Subway Boss.”
  
“I can’t believe we have to wear the same shade of green.”
 
Emmet couldn’t help but smile in amusement at his brother’s complaint. It wasn’t often Ingo had his gripes. The older of the two was usually the more cheerful one, but Emmet can see that his frown today held weight.
 
“At least it’s verrry comfy,” Emmet comforted his twin. “Not like the Subway apron that felt like wearing a slice of cardboard.”
 
Ingo sighed, giving his white cotton gloves another tentative tug. “I suppose you’re right.”
 
“Quiet back there!”
 
Twin expressions soured at the yelling from the senior who was giving them a tour around the station. Isadore ‘Is-A-Smartass’ led them as well as a group of other newcomers like a band of soldiers ready for war. They were like a school of forest green fish, swimming mindlessly from one area to the next quietly without question. So far, they’ve seen the lockers, the cafeteria, the backstage Employees Only shortcut routes and they’ve just returned back to the central lobby with its lemon-yellow lights and dark accents. Commuters rushed past them, hurrying to whatever destination they needed to reach that morning.
 
“I said no discussions until after the tour!” Their dark haired senior barked, matching eyes glared venomously at the twins in the back. Emmet and Ingo feigned innocence by looking at other directions. “If you have all the time to chit-chat, then make use of that to actually pay attention! Remember, I’m going to have to quiz you on all this.”
 
Silence fell among the crowd before Isadore continued whatever blather he had about the lobby.
 
“At least he’s competent,” Ingo muttered under his breath.
 
“Yup,” Emmet replied just as quietly. “Annoying. But competent.”
 
Isadore walked the herd of newbies around in a circle, introducing each of the trains from different platforms, but the boys were already well aware of all this. They might not look like it, but they studied for this. Of course they did. They were applying for the same workplace as you, especially now that you’re a Subway Boss.

They received the news months ago. You had called them (and gave them a heart attack in the process) to announce that you got it. You got the promotion! The amount of joy in your voice was contagious and the twins couldn’t be more proud of your endeavors. And just as they promised, even if you weren’t conscious when they made it, they sent their resumes in and switched jobs.
 
“And over here, we have the WiFi Battles where people can connect all over the world for a–” Isadore paused mid-sentence. “Everyone, line up. Now!”
 
Confused, the group of fledgling Depot Agents clumsily formed a line. Ingo and Emmet stood together shoulder to shoulder, the twins looking around curiously to look for whatever Isadore was so agitated about. Then they hear it. The rhythmic clicking of heeled boots against the goldenrod tiles. They recognized that gait anywhere.
 
Walking out of the Multi Battle Line, you emerged with a high-ranking Depot Agent at your side. She was a tall olive-skinned lady with wide shoulders and you only reached up to her height because of your combat boots. She wore an aloof frown that could almost rival Ingo’s. While she portrayed an intimidating aura, yours commanded absolute respect.
 
Your Subway Boss uniform was tailored just for you. Monochrome shades of black and white blended together, giving you an air of regal mystery. Perched on your head was a black hat with a white rim with the Gear Station badge. White blouse was tucked in a two layered ruffled skirt that leaves much of the front and sides of your warm toned thighs bare, the highlight of your uniform. The outside of the skirt was jet black while the inner fabric was pristine white. Your hands were wrapped in tight, sleek, black leather gloves, one of them rested on a handle of a dark red riding crop you kept slung at your belt. 
 
Wait, what did you need that for? They were sure there were no horses in Nimbasa..
 
Never mind the riding crop - the two were too busy swooning over you. Ingo could melt right then and there despite the air conditioning, the only thing keeping himself together was to make sure he didn't make an embarrassment of himself and for you. Emmet was shaking in place, one would think he's like a rocket about to take off, so his brother had to place a hand on his shoulder to keep him still.
 
"Good morning, Boss!" Isadore bellowed, his voice constricted in his throat, obviously nervous at the presence of two very powerful women. "Everybody, say your greetings!"
 
There was a mix of enthusiastic replies and shy murmurs from the sea of newbies, but the twins, much to their senior's chagrin, stuck out like sore thumbs.
 
Oh yes, the way they greeted you was chipper enough. It's just that when they did, they called you by

your first name

.
 
Your reaction was immediate. You stopped dead in your tracks, your head whipped to the crowd of newbies. Could it be? It had to. Who else could sing your name in such pitch perfect unison?
 
"Over here!" Ingo waved at you along the line.
 
"I am Emmet!" Emmet waved as well.
 
Cloud looked over to them as well and murmured something in your ear. You smiled and nodded before giving the two boys a little wave back before continuing on your way. Cloud raised her brows in pleasant surprise before giving the twins a courtly nod at their direction before following along.
 
The silver haired pair watched you go, your layered skirt billowing gracefully behind you with your every step. If you looked enchanting in your depot agents uniform, you were like a

goddess

in this new get up of yours. Where was the nearest platform they could worship you on?
 
"Move along!" Isadore's yelling snapped them back to the present. "We don't have all day!"
 
Without them realizing it, the rest of their batchmates were already getting a move on, leaving them behind. They jogged to catch up with them to complete the rest of the tour. The rest of it honestly went over their heads because they couldn't stop thinking about your new threads.
 
You were perfect. Whoever designed them for you, they'd kiss their feet because they knew how to accentuate your assets and flaunt your best features. Do you get to wear that everyday? Will they see you in that everyday? They hope so. The two spend the rest of the day replaying your grand entrance when Isadore suddenly dismisses the entire group. Emmet and Ingo turned around to return to their stations when their senior suddenly raised his voice.
 
"Trevithicks!"
 
Ugh. The two turned round to see four-eyes glare daggers at them, his frown digging two inches lower. "I need a word with you two."
 
Emmets' lip twitched, restraining to maintain his complaisant ‘work’ smile while Ingo tried not to mirror Isadore’s bitter expression. Regardless, the pair trudged behind Isadore until they made it to an empty meeting room, away from prying eyes and ears.
 
"What in the world was that?" Isadore hissed at them as soon as the door was shut behind the three of them.
 
Emmet and Ingo blinked in unison. "What was what?"
 
"That!" Isadore pointed at the door. "Just now!"
 
Ingo cocked his head to one side. "You closed the door..?"
 
"No, idiot!" Isadore groaned. "The way you called–"
 
"Do not call my brother an idiot," Emmet interjected, his smile twitched dangerously. "Only I can call him that."
 
“And vice versa,” Ingo added explicitly.
 
Isadore raised a finger at the other twin. "Don't interrupt me," he warned him before continuing. "You cannot call our Boss so

casually

like what you did earlier. Do you understand?"
 
The boys look at each other before facing Isadore once more. "No, not really."
 
Isadore stared at them in disbelief. "What's not there to understand?"
 
"We already know her beforehand," Ingo answered first.
 
"We even have her number," Emmet added with a sneaky grin.
 
Glass shattered in Isadore's head. "Her number..?" He echoed slowly. "You have her number?"
 
"Yup!" Emmet went on to rub the salt hard on Isadore's wounds. "Gave it to us. We used to hang out."
 
If you can call tending a sick person 'hanging out'. The truth was, the three of you hadn't seen each other much after you got the promotion. Work made it hard to let you leave your office to grab food from your favorite Subway shop and the twins missed you. So very, verrry much.
 
"Well, whatever your relationship is," Isadore cleared his throat. "I expect that the two of you will maintain respectful boundaries in a professional workplace environment.
 
Mercury eyes studied Isadore before reflecting back at each other.

He likes her too.

Or at least admires her enough and doesn’t realise his feelings.

Competition?

They look back at Isadore, the rigid senior crossed his brows at them. “Well?”
 
The twins smirked.

Hardly.

“We understand,” Ingo gave a short, courteous bow.
 
Isadore retained the stiffness in his forehead. “Are we clear, Emmet?” he snapped his gaze to the other twin.
 
Emmet flashed an unsettlingly wide grin. “

Verrry

clear.”
 
They’ll play along with the rules, but like with almost every rulebook - there’s always one or two loopholes to take advantage of..
  
Ever since the twins arrived at Gear Station, they’ve been the bane of existence of Isadore. Being the new kids, they were placed as one of the first hosts most passengers would find. However, for some reason, the two kept sweeping the poor unsuspecting challengers with their battle prowess. While their peers in the more advance cars were secretly happy about having a more peaceful day, this was not how the Battle Subway was supposed to work.
 
It wasn’t just that though. Isadore couldn’t put a finger on it but for some reason, the sight of them just makes his blood boil.
 
The passengers were meant to work their way up the train for points - that’s what keeps them coming back for their services and not to be single handedly have their team eat the dust by the very first person they encounter. And they were only on the Normal Courses too!
 
“Trevithicks.”
 
Ingo and Emmet looked up from their lunch. They were chowing down on some burgers today at the cafeteria.

Junk food

, Isadore thought with contempt.
 
“Hello, Isadore,” Ingo spoke up first after he swallowed down his bite. “Joining us for lunch?”
 
Isadore cleared his throat and brought up a clipboard and a pen. “I need to address your battle strategies on the Normal Battle Lines.”
 
He watched Emmet offer him a fry. “They’re soggy, but still good.”
 
Isadore scrunched up his nose. “I do not eat garbage.”
 
Emmet lowered down the fry to pop it in his mouth. “It’s

reaaally

good garbage!”
 
“Whatever,” Isadore rolled his eyes behind his glasses and took a seat across them. “I’ll begin with–”
 
“Oh, hey, boys.”
 
Isadore stood up so fast, he banged his knee on the table. With his glasses crooked on his nose, he settled back down on his seat in agony while Ingo and Emmet kept their soft drinks steady in their hand, eyes wide as saucers.
 
“Isadore?” you asked worriedly. “Are you okay?”
 
You stood over the table with a worried look on your face. In your hands you carried a cup of instant noodles. Spicy Seafood flavored.
 
Isadore gripped at his knee with white knuckles. He couldn’t believe he had just made a fool of himself in front of you. “I’m alright,” he insisted through clenched teeth. “I’ll walk it off.”
 
You straightened up. “If you say so. Is this seat taken?”
 
This seat? Next to him? Isadore blanked out for a second, but the twins..

The twins.

They beat him to it.
 
“Nope!” Emmet answered immediately. “Go ahead.”
 
“Sit with us!” Ingo chimed in.
 
You beamed before tucking your skirt under yourself to slide next to Isadore who was now sweating buckets. “Thanks!” You peeled off the lid of your cup noodles, letting out a vapor of crab and squid from the container. “So what were you guys talking about, if you don’t mind me asking?”
 
“Isadore was about to discuss to us about our battle techniques,” Emmet shared before he took another bite out of his double cheese burger. 
 
“Yes,” Ingo nodded before adding dejectedly, “Have we not been doing well enough?”
 
“No,” Isadore grumbled, finally recovered from his accident earlier. “You’ve been doing too well.”
 
You quietly slurped up your noodles, chewing slowly and letting the conversation flow.
 
“Oh,” Ingo blinked. “Then what do you propose we do?”
 
Isadore adjusted himself in his seat, doing his best to maintain his prim and proper disposition. “May I ask what your teams are?”
 
“Joltik and Archen,” Emmet answered promptly.
 
“Litwik and Axew,” Ingo answered after before looking to his brother. “Emm, don’t talk with your mouth full.”
 
“My bad.”
 
“Focus, please,” Isadore felt tension on his brow again. “Alright, you have the basic line-ups, good combinations– Litwick should be a good starting point with it’s Quick Claw–”
 
“Ah,” Ingo raised a hand. “My Litwick doesn’t hold a Quick Claw.”
 
Isadore paused. Then pushed his glasses up his nose. “Then what

is

it holding?”
 
“A White Herb.”
 
Isadore looked at him pointedly. “That is not the standard.”
 
“I do not remember there being a standard for Pokemon held items,” Emmet thought aloud. “I thought Quick Claw was just a reference from the guidebook.”
 
“By giving your Litwick a White Herb, you effectively remove any decreased stats your opponent gives you,” Isadore rubbed his temples. “You waste your opponent’s turn from trying to set up the battle, turning the tables in your favor.”
 
“Bravo, you got it!” Ingo smiled. Or at least, what is considered a smile to Emmet. Ingo was quite proud of his item combinations. “It keeps the challengers on their toes! Isn’t it wonderful? Axew also holds a Yache Berry instead of a Muscle Band in case we face any passengers who might think he’s an easy one-hit KO with their Ice-type–”
 
“Okay, here’s the problem see,” Isadore interrupts Ingo with a clap of his hands. “Your item combinations with your Pokemon are too advanced. You two are meant to only warm up the challengers for what’s next to come.”
 
The twins only stared at Isadore. They do not understand at all. Isadore felt as though he could pop a vein at any moment.
 
“Why don’t we just put them in the Super lines?”
 
Isadore turned to look at you. You were sipping on the broth of your cup noodles, listening in this whole time.
 
“The Super Lines..?” Isadore stuttered.

He

was in the Super Lines. He’d be damned if he had to work alongside these two! “But the Super Lines are for more advance battlers. The Trevithicks only started this month.”
 
“And from the sound of it, they’ve been showing nothing but flying colors,” you waved at Isadore’s statistics on his clipboard. “Why don’t we just file them up for the Supers and see what happens?”
 
Isadore opened and closed his mouth like a Magikarp at your compromise. “But..” He looked to the twins who sipped quietly on their drinks, their eyes went back and forth between the two of you. Mostly you. Isadore grinded his teeth together. “But they’re still

new

.”
 
“I am perfectly aware of that, darling,” you set the now empty cup of instant noodles on your tray and took Isadore’s pen and clipboard to scribble down some notes. “Let them experience it themselves! And if these two get floored, then that’s that. Just put them back on the Normal Lines, but on mid or high. We’ll adjust our tracks accordingly, re-route when needed.”
 
You returned clipboard after adding a few more pointers on recommended team combinations and poked the end of his pen on your cheek. “Any more questions, dear?” You asked with a satisfied exhale through your nose.
 
Isadore suddenly felt very warm and fuzzy in a way he could not explain. “N-no, ma’am,” he sputtered while you plopped his pen back into his hands.
 
He freezes when you gave him a hearty slap on the shoulder. “Good!” you smiled with your dimples, got up from your seat and picked up your small little meal. “Well, I better get going. Papers won’t sign themselves, you know?”
 
“Okay,” Isadore squeaked.
 
“Oh, Boss?” Ingo piped up just before you strut away.
 
You let out a little ‘hm?’ and turned your head to meet their pale gazes.
 
“Are you free after work?” Ingo asked. At the corner of his eye, he could see Isadore fume.
 
You hummed again. “Maybe? I’ll let you guys know, alright, darlings?”
 
Emmet nodded eagerly. “Yup!”
 
You gave the Subway boys a wink and Isadore could only watch after you in silence, your combat boots clacked against the tiles of the cafeteria. Then one of the twins spoke up again.
 
“You like her.”
 
Isadore snapped his head to the Trevithicks. “Excuse me..?”
 
“You like her.”
 
“Emmet Trevithick, this is highly inappropriate.”
 
“I am Emmet.” said the other twin. Isadore couldn’t care anymore at this point - not when they were both invading his privacy like this.
 
“It’s fine!”
 
“We like her too.”
 
“Verrry much.”
 
“Okay!” Isadore scrambled to get out of the table. “We are not talking about this! Ever. I do not have feelings for the Madam and it would be extremely unprofessional of me to do so.” He hoped the two would pick up the implications in his words but no. They were the Trevithicks after all.
 
Instead of saying anything more, they just looked to each other.

Oh no.

It’s the latter.

He’s going to be a headache.

An annoying headache.

They look back to him.
 
“See you at the Super Lines, Isadore,” was all Ingo could say before bundling up the empty, greasy paper bags from their lunch.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Emmet.” “Yes?” Emmet smiled. Yes, he was in trouble. Very slight trouble, but still trouble. “I am Emmet.” Ingo frowned at him. “I thought you were going with Klink and Trubbish today.” “Yup. All according to schedule.” Ingo looked at his brother square in the eye before reaching up and lifting Emmet’s bright, green hat. Underneath it, a Joltik let out a little chirp.  Emmet’s grin widened and he made no effort to hide the little runt. “We talked about this,” Ingo sternly reminded him. “Our team mates deserve a day off too.” “I know,” Emmet took his hat back. “But Lucky is not our Battle Joltik.” “Ah,” Ingo raised his brows understandingly. “Part of the clutch, then?” “Yup yup! The Littlest!” Emmet affirmed, placing the hat back on his head, hiding the fluffy little critter underneath it. “About time I took them out for walks. They’re all cooped up at home, it’s verrry unhealthy.” Ingo hummed. It’s been a week since they were shifted to the Super Lines. The learning curve was steep and their passengers were ten times more challenging, but it was fun. It was so much fun! They’ve won some, they’ve lost some, but at least they weren’t overpowering the competition anymore. “Just don’t lose Lucky, alright?” Ingo reminded him while they made their way to their stations. Emmet gasped exaggeratedly. “Me?” he scoffed. “Emmet Homfray Trevithick? Lose my Joltiks?” he echoed incrediously. “I would never.” “Ingo!! Emmet!!” The twins turned to see one of their co-workers running over to them. A mousy little thing at five feet tall. “Ah, Alexis,” Ingo greeted her jovially. “Good to see you!” Emmet nodded in greeting with a polite version of his smile. They were not that close to Alexis. She was a co-worker, an acquaintance. Emmet just saw no need to speak that much to her, that's all. Ingo took the lead in conversations with her instead. "You seem to be in a rush," Ingo observed. "What's the matter?" “Actually, could I ask you guys a favor?” she asked while she struggled to catch her breath, her hands resting on her knees. “Could one of you help me pass these to the Boss?” Alexis holds up a wad of paperwork. “I've been running left and right with all these errands, I can't keep up with them anymore. I’ll buy you a drink after work for it!” Before Ingo could reply with some sort of long-winded answer, Emmet snatches it from her hands. “One Ener-Joltik, please,” the younger brother grinned down at her.  Ingo gawked. He wanted to see the Boss too! “Emm, wait–” But Emmet spared him no chance. “All aboard!” And he marched right off, leaving Ingo and Alexis speechless while they watched him go. Can you really blame him? If there was one thing Emmet liked more than anything else, it was winning. Even he can get a little competitive with his brother. The opportunity presented itself, of course he was going to grab it. As much as he enjoyed sharing with Ingo, if the two of them went together to your office, it would be incredibly inefficient. Ingo would have to walk all the way back to the Singles Line which was the opposite way while Emmet only had to walk around the corner. Obviously, he was the better candidate to bring you these documents. At your office door, he raised a knuckle to the surface of the wood when he suddenly heard it. Or several different 'it's. A sharp yelp. The shuffling of papers. Something lightweight bounced on the floor. For a moment, Emmet hesitates. Did he step into something he shouldn't have? His mind wanders to different scenarios when he heard something else. ".. help ." Immediately, Emmet twisted open the doorknob and flung the door wide open. "I am Emmet!" He declared bravely as soon as the door slammed against the wall on the other side. "Who needs to die?" There you were, in your combat boots perched on your chair, your knees pulled together while you trembled like a leaf in a breezy day. On your desk were the spilled remains of what looked like a salad, the cup and lid strewn across the floor. The place was a mess of littered vegetables and caesar salad dressing. And on the floor amongst the salad leaves was a plump Sewaddle, dazed from being thrown across the room. "Emm–" you stuttered, pointing a trembling finger at the offending leaf-bug Pokemon. "Emmet, please. Get rid of it." Emmet stared down at it, this one, tiny, baby-sized and extremely harmless, low-leveled Sewaddle. “.. But he’s just a lil’ guy–” The Sewaddle moves to the left by a centimeter and you flinch. Your skirt hikes an inch higher.“Emmet, my dear, dearest darling,” you hastily blurted out while you clung to the back of your office chair. “ Please just take it away .”  He stared at you, his smile faltering. "Yes, ma'am." And wasted no time scooping the Sewing Pokemon out the door with the documents that were meant for you. As Emmet tossed the little caterpillar out the station, it occurred to the younger Trevithick that you might be a little scared of Bug-Type Pokemon. Maybe more than a little. Maybe even a lot. Emmet felt his stomach drop at the revelation and his shoulders drooped. While he was no Bug Enthusiast, he was very much a Joltik Enthusiast. He has a whole collection of them at home! Joltik Breeding was the one hobby he thoroughly enjoyed and invested himself in. The thought of you getting frightened or - perish the thought - even disgusted at the thought of it.. Emmet didn’t even want to imagine such a thing.  He took brief solitude behind one of the Fire Exit doors and squatted by the empty stairs to set little Lucky free from underneath his cap. The littlest Joltik skittered atop his head before hopping onto the palm of his hand. Emmet brought him down to his lap and with his other hand he stroked the top of Lucky’s head with his forefinger. “Guess we can’t show you off, Lucky,” Emmet sighed with a sad smile. Lucky, unaware of his trainer’s lament, gave a little, happy chirp. “Oh well. Can’t win them all.” He popped Lucky back on his head before placing his green cap back on. Time to go to work!  “Thank you for riding with us!” Emmet bowed at the defeated passenger with a tip of his hat. “I am Emmet! Come battle with me again next time!” He waved the passenger off the train before he rewarded himself with a nice, long stretch. Oh, it had been quite a busy day! The Super Double Lines did not mess around! He met a good amount of skillful trainers and some who were not quite ready to face him yet like the one just now. The best ones were those who were verrry good, ones that got him hyper focused. They were the most satisfying to pummel! The most fun! “Maybe I have you to thank, Lucky,” he simpered, removing his hat to retrieve his Joltik. His Joltik who should be napping on his head. His Joltik who should have been safely tucked away under his hat the entire time.  His Lucky little Joltik that was not there.  A chill ran down his spine. He’s not there. He’s not there! “Lucky?” he called, combing through his silver crop of hair before running his hands down his neck and under his collar. His hands wandered all over his uniform, groping at his pockets and under his blazer. Panic seared across his skin and cold sweat broke under his collar. “Lucky?” he called again, weakly than the first time. Emmet checked the soles under his shoe, hoping he didn’t accidentally stepped on the tiny little fuzz. Fortunately, he hadn't. Unfortunately, he still hadn’t found him. “Ingo,” Emmet concluded, fishing out his phone with trembling hands. He moves his thumb to dial him, but remembers he's probably still in the middle of a Pokémon battle. So he shoots his brother a text, informing him about the situation. Ingo would know what to do. Ingo knows best. A minute passed. Then another. Emmet bounced his heels on the floor nervously. When the third minute ticked by, he marched to the next car to see one of his seniors. He forgot their name. “I’m taking a toilet break!” Emmet declared. The senior shrugged and Emmet took that as confirmation to leave. As soon as the train stopped at the next station, Emmet hopped off and combed the platforms. Where was Lucky? Did he leave him at that Fire Exit? That was several stations down, only twelve minutes away. Add three more minutes to the clock while waiting for the next train to arrive, it’ll be a total of fifteen. But it had been almost two hours since he started his shift! What were the odds that Lucky was still there?! Oh dragons, what if Lucky was still on the train he just hopped off of? “Ingo?” Emmet spun around to see.. Another Senior. He knew this one. Jackie. Of course he’d recognise them, everyone talked about them and how they’ve never seen them leave the station. Ever . It was odd. It didn’t make any sense, but Emmet wasn’t about to ask questions about the entity that is Jackie. They stood there with their lethargic stare, hinted with concern.  Rightfully so. For the past ten minutes in his internal monologue, Emmet's entire demeanor had changed. While he paced back and forth, he had his hands balled into tight fists with his thumbs piercing the meat of his palms. His smile was strained to the point it was painful and his cheeks had gotten red from holding his breath for so long. And when he did remembered he had to breathe, it quickened, enough that you could hear the air get sucked in and blown out through his flared nostrils. “I..” he stopped. “No. I am Emmet.” “Oh yeah, sorry. One of the twins, right?” Jackie drawled, shoving their hands into the pockets of their green blazer. “You okay, lil buddy?” “Nothing’s wrong,” he folds his arms together, gripping his biceps tightly. “Fine. I am fine." There was a pause. "I am Emmet , by the way," Emmet added hastily. Jackie fell silent for a moment, as if to gauge their junior’s reaction. Emmet held his tongue, and held his arms tighter. “I didn’t ask what’s wrong, Emmet,” Jackie replied carefully. “I just asked if you were okay.” Emmet stayed quiet. “You are not okay. Or fine,” They took a step forward. “It ain’t my business but, should I phone the boss or..?” “No,” Emmet snapped, bringing his fists down to his side protectively. “No. Absolutely not. She will not like it.” Jackie blinked slowly up at Emmet. “And why not?” Emmet bit his lip so hard, he could almost taste blood on it. “She just won’t.” “What would she not like?” “Lucky. My Joltik.” Jackie nodded, one of their hands already making its way to their walkie talkie. “Uhuh? Your Joltik?” Emmet waved his hands around, unable to get a word out until he finally coughed it out of his throat. “Lost him.” Jackie was already bringing their walkie talkie to their ear. “You lost your Joltik?” The words made the tears fall from the corners of Emmet’s eyes. “.. Yes,” he finally sniffled. Jackie took a step closer and gave Emmet a few pats on the shoulder. Emmet didn’t move away from their touch, instead to bring his gloved hands to his face to brush away the continuous stream of tears that stained his cheeks. “I still need to tell the boss.” “But she does not like bugs.” Jackie raised a brow. “What does that have to do with trying to find Lucky?” “I..” Emmet paused. “I do not know.” More silence. Then finally, with a push of a button, Jackie muttered into the walkie talkie. “Boss, this is Jackie. We got a Code Yellow.”

[ The Super Double Lines are closed until further notice. We are sorry for the inconvenience. ] The past few hours had been a blur to Emmet. Right after Jackie reported the situation to you, they quickly found a substitute for the remainder of Emmet’s shift until the next break. Then there were suddenly a lot of depot agents scrambling around the platform and into the Super Double Line tunnels with flashlights and lanterns. Emmet was seated down at one of the station's benches with a cup of untouched warm water in his hands, as if that was enough to calm him down. The only thing that will calm him down right now was little Lucky back on his lap. But finding such a Pokemon in a public subway, let alone the runt of the clutch, was like finding a needle in a haystack. He had been sitting there for goodness knows how long. Poor Emmet wanted to get up and look for Lucky, but his seniors told him to stay put. He was in no condition to exert any more energy, but Lucky needed him! Lucky was skittish with strangers. How were they going to find him?  And how will they be able to differentiate between Lucky and some other random wild Joltik wandering the tunnels? What if someone already caught Lucky, thinking he was ownerless? Emmet huffed through his nostrils, wiping the snot from his sleeve when suddenly he finally hears Ingo. “Emm!” Ingo rushed over immediately and placed a hand on his twin’s shoulder. Emmet leans into it with wet eyes. “Iggs,” he croaked. “Iggs. They can’t find him.” “No,” Ingo shook his head. “They haven’t found him. That doesn’t mean they can’t. Give them a little more time.” “But it’s been hours!” Emmet bawled, the cup of water in his hands sloshed. “Hours! Lucky could be gone at this point. I might.. He might..” Ingo rubbed his younger twin’s back with a gloved hand while Emmet hiccuped and curled to his side, the water in his glass sloshed in his hands.  “.. Sync with me,” Ingo murmured, taking a seat next to his brother who nodded sullenly in response. With Emmet resting his head on Ingo’s shoulder and Ingo’s arm around his brother, the two fell into silence. Not a word was exchanged while they soaked in the sounds of the trains roaring in the distance from different platforms, the footsteps of commuters making way for their planned destinations and the occasional cries of a Pokemon.  Ingo observed the way he breathed, tuning the way his lungs expanded and contracted, how his shoulders rose and fell with every breath. In a way, guiding Emmet’s own breathing patterns. The younger twin kept his gaze low while his head rested on Ingo, his sideburns damp with tears from his sore, pink eyes. Slowly but surely, his snifflings and coughs soothed like the calm after a storm. It took a while, but with every breath, Emmet managed to time his inhales and exhales with Ingo’s. They stayed like that for a bit. It had been a long time since they last did this together and Ingo would gladly do it again for as many times as Emmet needed. “Feeling better?” Ingo asked, tilting his head forward to check on his twin. Emmet bit his lip and finally took a sip of his water. It had gotten cold. “Yup.” “Great,” Ingo nodded and took his brother’s hand. “Now, let’s go get Lucky.” The two made their way out the platform and into the closed Super Double Line tunnels with their flashlights out and ready. Emmet felt as though he were a young schoolboy again. A small, snivelling mess depending on his older twin who guided him back on his feet by the hand. While he knew Ingo was more than happy to take care of him in times like this, more voices of guilt and self-doubt ate away at him in the recesses of his mind.  What if he was a burden? If he wasn’t so stubborn to bring one of his Joltiks to work, all this wouldn’t have happened. Ingo wouldn’t have to sacrifice his shift just to do this for him. Everyone wouldn’t have to be scrambling to just find one Joltik. They wouldn’t have to shut down the Super Doubles. Emmet bit his lip once more, tears threatening to fall again when Ingo greeted someone. “Ah, Jackie!” Ingo quickened the pace, dragging Emmet along with him. “Good evening!” “Oh, you’re Ingo,” Jackie looked up from wherever they were searching in between the train tracks. “Okay, I got it. Is your brother okay?” “I am Emmet,” Emmet muttered. “He is feeling better,” Ingo replied on his twins behalf. “And he wishes to join in the search. I will help as well.” “That’s great,” Jackie straightened up and leaned to one side to take a peek at Emmet’s shrunken form that hid behind Ingo. “Don’t worry, lil buddy,” they smiled lazily. “We’ll find your Joltik in no time.” Emmet didn’t feel like talking. Too tired. So he just gave one, solemn nod. “I’ve already looked in this area,” Jackie continued to Ingo. “So I’m gonna go over that way. What about you two?” “We’ll double check over here,” Ingo nodded. “Just in case.” “Okie dokie,” Jackie gave a thumbs up. “See you guys later. Keep your ears peeled for your walkie talkie, alright?” Ingo saluted. “Yes, thank you, Jackie!” Jackie saluted back, albeit a little more casually than Ingo, before making their way deeper into the tunnel. The two fell into another silence before they crouched down to check under the metallic tracks.  “Jackie seems nice,” Ingo offered. “Mm,” Emmet mumbled. “Helped me.” “Oh?” Ingo perked up. He owed them more than a thank you now. “Did he? That’s great. It’s good to have peers looking out for us, right?” Emmet didn’t answer. Instead, he poured himself into finding Lucky, getting on all fours to peek under the tracks and unoperated train cars. He finds that if he concentrated on the task at hand, he could at least tune out the voices in his head, even for just a bit.  "It's getting late, Boss." You looked up from where you crouched to see Ramses. He shone the flashlight on the floor, illuminating the area without blinding your eyes. "I thought I'd dismissed everyone?" You looked back under the nth number of car trains that was next in line. Still nothing. Your elbows and knees felt raw from the friction of crawling on all fours for hours. "Yeah," Ramses confirmed. Almost everyone had gone home, even Ingo left. Said something about going ahead to fix up dinner for him and his brother. Speaking of his brother.. "Everyone except Emmet." You sighed. You've already paged him a number of times to go home, but the boy stubbornly refuses. Even outright ignored you after the fifth time. “Could you try paging him?” you asked. “Maybe he’ll listen to you?” “Already tried,” Ramses shrugged in defeat. You’d think Emmet would at least listen to him, since he’s known the boys the longest. Apparently he’s friends with their father back in Anville. “And I already know when that boy’s mind is set on something–” “He’s unstoppable,” you finished for him. “I know too.” The two of you fall into a sober silence with only the sounds of your shuffling echoing throughout the tunnels. “You should go home too, Ram,” you finally looked back up at him, before freezing so suddenly in place, anyone would’ve thought someone had Ice Beam’d you. Before your companion could know what’s up, you hissed, “Don’t. Move.” Ramses stilled himself while you stealthily walked around him, your hand fished into your pockets and pulled out a single Triple-A battery. You coax the little shadow that plastered itself on the wall, it’s beady little eyes trained at you with caution. You carefully held up the battery between your fingers. “.. Want a little snack?”  Emmet ran as fast as he could through the dark of the tunnels. His lungs burned in his ribcage and his heart hammered against his chest. His body screamed in defiance from the exertion after all the hours and hours of crawling and searching on his hands and knees. To hell if he couldn’t see where he was going with his flashlight jostling everywhere in his hand.  
You found him.
 His feet thundered across the tracks, once or twice he almost tripped and fell on his face, but his long, lanky legs were always just in time to catch himself before he fell on his face. His soles tore when he made a turn for the fourth tunnel and that’s when he saw you. Crouched on the floor with your knees tucked close to your body with your hands close to your chest, cupping something delicate in your palms. Behind you was Uncle Ramses who grinned the minute he saw him. You looked up, and smiled at him. “Emmet,” You looked so tired. Exhausted. Yet you still smiled, just for him. “Darling, is this your Joltik?” Speechless, breathless, Emmet took in gulpfuls of air and marched closer, his hands twitched as he swung his arms at his side. He knelt down and peered into your hands when you opened them, to reveal a ball of bright, lemon-yellow fluff. Beady indigo eyes peered up at him, in its little hands was a small, slim battery. “Tik-tik!” it chirped up at him. Emmet fell forward on his knees with his palms outstretched, the tip of his nose tingled and his lips trembled when Lucky dropped the drained battery to finally reunite with him. “You little scamp,” he choked when Lucky skittered up his green uniform sleeve and up his collar. He hadn’t realized how much he was sweating from all the effort of searching. “I was so..” He turned to you with your slumped shoulders and the smile that still retained on your face. The one that gave you those charming little dimples that dented your cheeks. You lowered yourself deeper onto the ground, as if a great weight was lifted from your back. Different things and feelings welled up inside him, things he could not describe. He thought you hated bugs? How were you able to hold Lucky? How were you able to find him? How did you know Joltiks like Lucky liked to munch on batteries? How..? “I’m glad you found him, Emmy,” you broke the silence, your eyes soft and tender when you beheld him. He hadn’t realized it, but more tears were running down his face. And he thought he’d run out of them to shed. While Lucky hid under the back of his collar, Emmet suddenly shot forward. “Emm–?” you started, but got your breath taken away when Emmet suddenly wrapped embraced you around your shoulders and pulled you flush against him. It was here you found just how tall the boy was. How manly his physique was. His outward appearance made him seem lanky and gangly, but the boy had a good well-built chest with evenly toned arms. Yet despite all that, he crumpled against you like a small child that wished for nothing but comfort. “Oh, sweetie..” “Thank you,” he trembled, burying your face against your shoulder, clutching you tighter. “Thank you..” His back shuddered between his sobs of relief, his tears flowed behind you like a waterfall. You relaxed your chin against his shoulder before your own hands tentatively rose to snake their way around his waist before settling on his lower back. Your palms gently massaged him, stroking up and down before finally reaching higher to tighten the hug. Emmet sagged against you like a weighted blanket and despite your shorter stature, you propped him up like a pillar of strength. You stayed like that for some time, unaware that Emmet had been mimicking your breathing pattern just as he does with Ingo. It was enough to calm him down. As soon as his sniffling slowed to a halt, Emmet finally pulled away with tear-stained cheeks, but you kept one hand over his left palm just in case. He still smiled, albeit a small one, but it was better. It was real.  “Feeling better?” you asked him, rubbing a thumb over his palm. He nods. Ramses spoke up. “Great!” he beamed. “How about I get us all some Kanto? I could use a midnight snack.” Emmet thought about it. “But Ingo..” “We could get some for Ingo,” you pulled him up to his feet. “Come on. Let’s get you and Lucky food.” As the three of you walked to the nearest exit, Emmet couldn’t stop himself from being curious. “I,” he began before swallowing dryly. “I thought you hated bugs.” “Hm?” you looked at him then back to where you were going. “Mm, hate is a strong word. I’m a little squeamish.” "Throwing your salad across your office is more than a 'little squeamish'." You laughed sheepishly. "Yeah, I guess so." “Then..?” “Oh, don’t worry about it,” you waved him off. “I mean, I did felt a little scared holding Lucky but..” Emmet could hear his heartbeat bang against his eardrums when you trailed off like that. “But?” You looked back to him, your eyes shining with a hint of something he couldn’t exactly place. “But it was worth seeing you happy again,” you answered. “Right?” Something shot through Emmet’s chest that night. An epiphany. A solid resolution. If this didn’t prove it, then he wasn’t sure what will. He was in love with you. Deeply, madly, head-over-heels in love. While he hadn’t tripped earlier from his sprinting, he most definitely fell face first into you and he was drowning in it. The kind where he'd never want to resurface from. It had to be love at this point, he was utterly convinced that it is. Emmet gave a silent nod in response before looking away. He could no longer see you as just a crush he and his brother admired from afar. No. He must have you, no other will ever cut it. He and Ingo have to have you .