The battle was over before it had even truly begun.
It was almost comical. Haley had thrown her Pokéball with such spirit, her voice pitching high as she commanded her Rattata to use "Tackle." The small purple rodent had charged forward, kicking up dust, its teeth bared in a display of meager aggression.
Kian hadn't even bothered to issue a verbal command. He had simply snapped his fingers.
Gardevoir, standing elegant and poised in the middle of the dirt path, had merely lifted one slender hand. A ripple of psychic energy, invisible to the naked eye but heavy in the air, slammed into the rushing Rattata. There was no impact sound, just a sudden, violent stop. The rodent was lifted three feet into the air, suspended in a blue glow, before being tossed aside like a ragdoll.
It hit the ground, swirly-eyed and unconscious.
"R-Rattata!" Haley gasped, her hands flying to her mouth.
She ran over to her fallen partner, falling to her knees in the dirt. She checked the Pokémon quickly, realizing it was just fainted, not dead. With a trembling hand, she recalled it into her Pokéball. The red beam swallowed the defeated creature, leaving her alone on the path.
Alone with him.
Kian recalled Gardevoir with a casual flick of his wrist. He didn't say a word as he walked toward her. His boots crunched rhythmically on the gravel, a slow, predatory tempo that made Haley's heart race.
She stood up, brushing the dirt from her knees. She looked up at him, and for the first time, the reality of the situation hit her. He wasn't just some rookie passing through. He was out of her league.
"That was... fast," Haley stammered, trying to put on a brave face, though her voice wavered. "You're really strong."
"I told you," Kian said, stopping just outside of her personal space. He loomed over her, blocking out the sun. "I don't play around."
He held out a hand, palm up. The gesture was universal.
"Good game," Kian said, his voice flat. "Now, the payout."
Haley froze. Her eyes darted from his expectant hand to his face. She bit her lip, her hands fumbling with the pockets of her pleated skirt. She patted her vest. She checked the small pouch attached to her belt.
Her face went pale.
"I... um..." She laughed nervously, taking a small step back. "This is embarrassing."
Kian didn't retract his hand. He just raised an eyebrow. "Don't tell me."
"I... I spent my last credits on Potions at the Mart this morning," Haley admitted, her face flushing a deep, humiliated red. She turned her pockets inside out to show the white lining. "I was going to earn more by battling, but... well, you won."
She looked up at him with wide, apologetic eyes. "Can I... owe you? I can catch you later! Or maybe I can give you a Potion?"
Kian stared at her. A slow, dark smirk spread across his lips.
"A Potion?" Kian repeated, letting out a short, mocking chuckle. "You think a two-hundred-dollar item covers the time I just wasted?"
"I... I don't have anything else!" Haley insisted, sensing the shift in the atmosphere. The air felt heavier. "I'm sorry!"
Kian took a step forward.
Haley took a step back.
"There are rules, Haley," Kian said, his voice dropping to that low, rumbling timbre that seemed to vibrate right through her chest. "League rules. The loser pays the winner. That's how the world works. You don't get to challenge someone, waste their energy, and then walk away because you're broke."
He stepped again. This time, Haley's heel hit a rock. She stumbled, but she didn't fall. She was trapped against the edge of the path, the thick, unyielding forest behind her.
Kian closed the distance. He invaded her space completely, standing so close that she had to crane her neck to look him in the eye. He looked down at her, his gaze raking over her panicked face, her trembling lips, and the way her chest rose and fell with rapid, shallow breaths.
"If you can't pay with money," Kian whispered, leaning down so his breath ghosted against her ear, "then you have to pay with something else."
Haley's breath hitched. She looked at him, confused, innocent, yet terrified. Her mind raced to find an answer that made sense in the world she thought she lived in. Did he want her badge case? Her backpack?
"Something... else?" she squeaked. "Like... my items?"
Kian pulled back slightly, just enough to look her in the eyes again. His gaze dropped to her mouth, then lower, to the exposed skin of her neck, and the hint of cleavage visible above her tight vest.
"No," Kian said softly. "Not items."
He reached out. Haley flinched, expecting a strike, but his hand was gentle. He hooked a finger under her chin, tilting her face up toward his. His thumb brushed against her bottom lip, dragging it down slightly.
"Think, Haley," Kian murmured, his eyes darkening with intent. "You don't have cash. But you have a body."
Haley blinked, her brain struggling to process the implication. "My... body?"
"The winner takes all," Kian said, moving his hand from her chin to rest heavily on her shoulder. He slid his palm down, tracing the line of her arm until his hand rested on her waist. He squeezed, pulling her abruptly against him. "And right now? I'm the winner."
She gasped as her body collided with his hard frame. She could feel everything—the heat radiating off him.
"Wait," Haley whispered, her voice barely audible. "You mean..."
"I mean," Kian interrupted, leaning in until their noses were almost touching, "you're going to work off your debt. Right here. Right now."