Brenda
```CLOSED SCENE W/ILIMA```

The man finally stopped his panicked run, slumping in the familiar back alley that he had walked across once upon a time. He allowed himself to bash his head on one of the brick walls for just one time. Smoke, he needed to smoke. He needed to get this off of his mind. The loud deafening claps of the fireworks lighting up the sky could be heard and it wouldn't have mattered for how far he ran off, the loud thunderous noises always seemed to have been following him. It was those loud sounds that he usually found so comforting and welcoming that now felt very foreign, like strangers, like he didn't belong. Thats right... He didn't belong on this island whatsoever, he didn't have the slightest needs to go off romanticising about pretty strangers, he should have been back in his elite four quarters back in Unova. 

Him and that boy lived in completely different worlds, it was foolish of him to kiss him and then have the audacity to leave so quickly. Shame on him, he didn't even know what his sexuality was! Without a doubt he regretted it yet he still couldn't help but wonder how he felt, if he was okay or not. He wasn't so sure about anything anymore, the moment he got to the mansion he was going to pack his bags and go back to some place that he was mean to call home. Smoking was bad, it was terrible and he hated it. He knew the amount of fatigue it had passed up on his body in the past but sometimes he forgot the years and amounts of will power he had put invested in trying to cut these habbits. 
_ _

His vision remained almost hazy as he fumbled around for a moment more, finding a dice charm that had a semi scrunched cigar the words '*Good luck*' scrawled on the top. Just this once, he'd allow himself to dip back into that intoxicating algorithm. Just this once, he'd allow himself to sulk and sob within his own embarrassment. He was always so direct with people, he was always so calm and collected, he was always so sure about what he wanted even if he pretended he wasn't but now? He wasn't so sure... Love is for fools anyways.
Margo
```So far far away.```

It was no surprise the pink haired trial captain was left in shock and dumbfounded the moment the man landed his lips on his, it was something he wasn't preparing for and nor did he think Grimsley would like him... In this way at least. They were supposed to go watch the fireworks together, supposed to sit in the grass and discuss about everything and nothing, perhaps maybe fall asleep in each other's arms at some point out of tiredness. 

Ah... Yes he was so tired, so exhausted from his day. But he had to find him, he had to know what happened, he had to understand. Ilima hated when he didn't understand something, it was unbearable to him which is probably the reason as to why he was ever so stubborn with anything and dedicated in anything he was doing, he was a man anyone would look up to, although they did not want to know what problems was hidden behind the tan skinned man's figure. He was seen as perfect, flawless even! But it wasn't the case, oh far from there, only fools would think of him ever so greatly, people were being manipulated by the image he wanted to show of him, it wasn't that complicated after all. *Hiding behind an image wasn't so difficult, play nice, play kind, be polite and think of yourself as the greatest... Yes that was what he wanted to show, but it wasn't who he really was.* He'd hate himself for playing a role within his mother's shadow, he felt like he was the actor, and his mother was just a mere scriptwriter manipulating him indirectly. Oh yes he loved her, he loved her so much! But sometimes he wished he wasn't born in a family where this situation applied to his personality. *He wanted to be himself but he didn't even know who he himself truly was, he lied to his mind for so long now he felt like it was impossible, he wished he could think meet himself, his true self, and get to know him. He bet it'd be fun.*

** **
Even if Grimsley did fall in love with him, did he really? Didn't he fall in love with the fake him he made up his whole life? He probably did for he never truly showed his true nature to the deep blue haired man, it saddened him, it made him so upset. He felt sorry... Was it why Grimsley ran away? Did he find out about his trickery and realized who he was? Maybe... But then he found himself thinking a bit too much, ah. He was probably overthinking all of this, didn't he? Well..
Now he found himself in this back-alley where he believed Grimsley ran to, he was pretty sure he saw him take a turn here. He wanted explanations, he wanted to have a talk. And if it was even possible, give him a soft kiss back. 
Heavy breathing from running so fast trying to catch up the man, he held onto his chest as he tried to grab some air, but he had no time to waste. Peeking from the wall he glared at the tall familiar figure that stood here, holding onto his chest even more tightly.
"Grimsley. Why?" Was all he said.
Brenda
`back to being a five year old again`

Sometimes people wanted to know too much. Sometimes people were way too informed, some people were beginning to get too close to him for his comfort. He wasn't overly secretive like that or anything but here right now? He felt himself wanting to shrivel away like a flickering candle. Trust was so hard, he barely even trusted Will and heck he's known him forever after. There were even some things that Alder didn't know and that made him feel like he was committing an unspoken crime sometimes. Maybe, just maybe it was the fear of getting close to someone and opening up to them, sharing feelings, being kind, being compassionate. He had all the patience in the world but he wouldn't spend a single drop of it on himself. He was too stubborn and he would always be that way.   

 *It was the fear of becoming another version of his father.* It was that fear alone that kept him isolated from the others, it was that fear alone that made him want to reject his friends, it was that fear alone that took away countless hours of sleep, fears and worries like that which made him act that much more suspicious. He longed so much to stray away from the way his father acted and he doubted very much that he would be capable of treating anyone the right way that they deserved to be. Besides, he simply assumed that everyone around him was an enemy, that they disliked him. Anyone would feel shocked and dumbfounded to suddenly be left like that. It could have ben so sweet, they could have been sweet together.   
_ _

What did he really think of Ilima? He was far from perfect. Any normal small minded person would easily think he's a charmer, that he was always so flawless and seamless but that was something he could see past that. No one was perfect, even the happiest of people had to have some kind of issue that happened to them in the past, some kind of flaw or fault in their personality. Ilima got flustered too easily, he was the kind of man that seemed to easily be woooed by a magic show. He almost reminded him of the innocent pure youths but he felt like there was something more. He loved him, and that was the part that hurt most. Falling in love was what pained him the most.   

He was blinded by his own salty pricked tears so to suddenly have someone suddenly clutch onto his chest was a surprise. It made him instantly wipe his eyes quickly and instantly crunched up the cigar not wanting to seem rude. *Dear lords he's still trying.* "..." He stayed silent for a moment before looking away. "Because I like you dumbass." There he goes off again sounding like a troubled teenager again. He mentally kicked himself for it.
Margo
```Running away isn't an escape from your feelings.```

It happened the younger one would question himself if he'd ever find someone to make his real self come out, someone that'd open his eyes and push him to be independant. Why did he care about his mother's career and image so much anyways? It was so simple. The love of a son for his mother. She is an idol to him, the person he's looking up to, the person that cared about him when he was a kid when his father would simply be away working in another region.

These passionate eyes he had whenever he would witness something that truly pleased him was his real nature, the person he was. He was a passionate man for anything beautiful, he was a man with feelings, emotions, yes he did get sad, more often than what anyone could think if anything. Yes it'd happen from time to time he'd take a pillow and scream into it and cry himself to sleep hoping that no one would ask to enter his room at this exact moment. He was a puppet, or at least that was how he felt but he wouldn't dare to openly talk about it for who would care anyways? People loved him for his image of the perfect being! Who needs to know what he is going through? Absolutely no one! 

The reason as to why he was getting flustered so quickly was because the way he acted with Grimsley was more natural, it was like he was slightly free from his prison for once. When the taller man complimented him, he felt like he was complimenting his *Actual* Personaliy, and not his happy mask. No one ever could witness this part of him, but Grimsley did somehow. Maybe then, he was the one that could pull him out of his misery...? 

He liked the dark specialist more than anyone would guess, he liked him for being an observer, for always picking out small almost unnoticeable details. It showed that the man showed interest in something, and when he did he really focused on it, he was an interesting man to say the least.

Not only that, but he felt like he was flourishing when he was next to him, he felt like it was different. He never felt this way around anyone, not even friends. It was a warm feeling that invaded his chest whenever he went to be a little close, his stomach knotting itself as if butterflies was about to burst out of him. It was an odd comparison but it did feel like it, ah...

He decided to approach the man, and glared up at him with narrowed brows. He wasn't about to be reassuring, he felt like Grimsley had to understand and hear these next words.
"...Then why did you run away?" He questioned before shaking his head.
"You ran away without leaving me the time to react or say anything, Grimsley. How did you expect me to react?" He added to his questioning, but he quickly slapped the cigar away from the other's hand.
"Cut the crap with this, it won't save you." He snarled a little, but it was out of concern. He didn't feel like acting. He worried immensely for the other to the point tears formed up in the corner of his eyes as if he couldn't handle his concern and frustration. If anything, he even grabbed the Elite 4 member's collar and pulled him down in closer so he could look at him straight in the eyes.
"...You are the dumbass." He finally replied before tears started to run down his cheeks, visibly being upset and overwhelmed by feelings.
Brenda
`i'm a bad bitch you can't stop me! I do what i want`

He like Ilima glowered at the mention of mother. Mothers were such a sweet thing, they were always there, so loving and caring, anything and everything he ever wanted. Too bad that she no longer was around. The way she passed away fuelled him with great fury but even then, there wasn't a single thing in his power that could take back the past. No matter how much he wished on stars and prayed for some stupid jirachi to appear he could never see her again. 

It was true that he focused on things a bit too much but he always assumed that habbit of his started up when he had started working as a casino dealer. *He had been doing it for ten years and the people in the casino were always so interesting, it was impossible for him to not pay attention to them.* Of course that wasn't the only reason why he was always paying attention to his surroundings, why he always seemed so paranoid around places, why he seemed so dodgy. 
_ _

He understood very well, and he didn't wish for Ilima to stop. Being yelled at was never nice but everything that was happening was something that he without a doubt deserved. He kept quite, the areas he had slapped stinging leaving his pale white skin a gentle pink. Still, even though his eyes were slightly wet his stare was still as strong as ever, *His lips on the other hand? They were quivering.*

_ _ 
He didn't show any signs of snapping back, instead. He took a deep breath and looked to the ground again for he feared if he held his gaze for any longer he really would break out in a steam of tears. It wasn't until Ilima started crying he really was beginning to feel the cause and affect of his actions boring into his skin. "I love you so so much that it hurts." *That wasn't what he was trying to say, he was trying to say that he simply assumed that-*

_ _ 
Noting down his assumptions was only going to make him seem even more in the wrongs! Not that he wasn't in the wrongs in the first place... "Forget what i said." Grimsley quickly mustered, clearing his throat with a loud *AHEM.* "My actions throughout the evening has been utterly despicable, I have no explanation for why I did what I did but just know that I truly am sorry for hurting you." And just like that, he put back up his shields.

_ _ 
Just like that, he brought up a slender white hand and gave the poor Alolan boy a pat on the head, just like he did at the start of the night. Just like that, he gave him possibly the most sweetest but sincere smiles he could muster his tongue being heavily clamped as the ball in his throat only swelled up that much more.

_ _ 
"I'm sure I mentioned that I would disappoint."