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"I swear to Arceus the next time I see the two of you in here that report better be flawless! Do you know how much money the company spends on you? How much of it we've wasted? And what do you have to fucking show for it? Nothing! I'm doing you a favor by not having you killed. Shape up! Or so help me, you'll regret it!"
Giovanni's gruff tone had sent chills down her spine. Jessie shuddered just thinking about it. She hated to admit her weakness. She was the strong one of their team, always holding things together. But the truth was he terrified her.
Having them killed? Would he really do that? Jessie and James weren't super social with other agents, so she only knew rumors. She'd heard of engineers and scientists being left to rabid Arcanine and unchained wild Tyranitaurs, and a few years ago an agent called Billy was rumored to have watched his partner get shot. But she didn't know who did the shooting, or if it was even true.
Jessie had never been good at anything in her life. It always went wrong. Nursing school, being a weathergirl, fashion, hairstyling...she always started out strong but then her temper got the better of her or that pesky kleptomania or whatever it was that drove her to this lifestyle. Now, she was in it and it didn't look like there was a way out.
She pulled a bottle of gin out of her purse. She had swiped it from the convenience store early while James chatted with the clerk. Pouring a generous amount into her soda, she gulped down the glass.
The warm fizzy drink pooled in the center of her body and spread out to every point.
"Jess?"
James had walked in with a bag of groceries in hand, dressed in plain clothes. She expected to see Meowth teetering in, but James shut the door behind him.
"Where's our furry little friend?" she asked.
"Oh. Dunno. Out doing Meowth stuff I guess." James set the groceries down on the table and slipped his jacket off. "I know we skipped lunch so I bought some sandwiches, in case you're hungry."
"Thanks but food is not what my brain wants right now." Jessie held up the gin bottle.
"Gin? Oh..that's a good year." James responded.
Jessie chuckled. She loved James' weird bout of knowledge. He knew about bottle caps and stamps and fancy alcohol and what year towns were founded. Yes it was boring information that Jessie had no use for, but he looked so proud when he told her, when he spouted off a random fact, and she did enjoy when he got excited about things.
"Have some." She held out the bottle to him.
"Oh, I don't think so. Like I said I haven't eaten today and I'd be wasted before midnight."
"So." Jessie poured more into her glass, then topping it with more soda. "We'll be fine by morning. Have some." She pushed the glass into his hands.
"Jessie have you already been drinking?"
"I'm an adult James."
"Yes, of course. It's just, well we've got a busy day tomorrow so maybe we shouldn't..."
"You're such a buzzkill." Jessie took a swig from the glass. "Come on, I don't want to drink alone. That's no fun." She pouted.
"Ok, ok. Just let me have my sandwich first." James waved his hands in defeat.
Jessie sank back down on the single bed in the room as James pulled out the chair at the small table provided, and unwrapped his convenience store sandwich.
"Mmm...cheese and pickle, my favorite!" He bit into it happily
Jessie continue sipping at her gin and soda.
~~~
James wiped his mouth with a napkin after finishing the last of his sandwich and a bag of chips. He patted his stomach, satisfied, and slid the chair back.
"Ok Jess, hand me the glass, I'll drink with you." He looked over at Jessie...who was more than a little tipsy right now. "Oh, Jessie."
"What? I'm fine."
"No." James sighed, "You're not. Put the bottle down. You're going to have a hangover tomorrow. Jessie!"
Jessie giggled, "I like when you talk stern to me James. It turns me on."
James blushed hotly, reaching out and grabbing her hand as she leaned toward him with the glass in her other hand. He pulled her up, taking the glass from her and setting it away from her reach.
"Hey!"
"You're drunk." He stated.
"I'm not. Just a buzzed is all."
"Yeah, you're a whole swam of Beedrill right now."
She laughed, her authentic Jessie laugh, and James smiled. He didn't hear that sound often.
"Hey James, can I tell you a secret?"
"Of course Jess, anything."
"You have to lean in closer."
He grinned, playing along. He leaned into her, their foreheads touched and he shut his eyes. Her hand moved slowly over his and clutched at his fingers, and he smiled bigger, but she didn't see.
"What are we doing?" he asked, as she was quiet.
"Shhh." Jessie's lips were next to his, breathing warm on his skin, tickling the faint shadow of his beard with the slight stickiness of her lipstick. His heartbeat quicked, and he wondered if she felt it too.
"My secret is, I wish I could kiss you every day."
James opened his eyes, but didn't move. Jessie's eyes were closed, and she took slow breaths, like she had called a stop-time. He gulped.
"I have a secret too Jess."
"Ok. Tell me."
He let out a deep breath, like he was holding in the last of it.
"My secret is, I already knew that."
James sat back and Jessie's eyes flew open. In one swift movement she grabbed him and pulled him forward as she fell back onto the comforter, pressing her lips against his. That was all the signal James needed.
The next kiss was more, it was deep and hot and sent electric pulses down her spine. James rolled over onto his back and took her with him, sliding his hands over her exposed skin, daring to slip them under the hem of her shirt to tease at her breasts. She whimpered, but it was short lived as his hands pulled away.
"Jessie, wait, you're drunk. I don't want to take advantage of you."
"You're not. I'm consenting."
"You promise?" James asked.
"Ugh!" Jessie groaned, displeased, scooting her body away from him and reaching for the half-empty glass again, "Never mind. If you're going to be that way I'd rather be drunk."
He grabbed her arm, causing her to stop.
"I just don't want you to wake up tomorrow and regret anything."
Jessie rolled her eyes, "When are you going to drop the wholesome routine James? Grow up." She gave up her bout for the alcohol, but she still turned her back and sat there stewing on the bed. She was silent as she felt James adjust his sitting position and drop his shoes to the floor. Any minute now...he'd be kissing her any minute now.
Jessie looked over her shoulder and saw she was wrong. James had moved to the far side of the bed, faced away from her.
"So that's it then?"
James heard Jessie ask.
"Jessie, I don't want to..."
"You don't want to have sex with me?!" Jessie shrieked.
"No!" James whirled around, "I didn't say that! Jessie you're worth more than a one night stand! I love you!"
"You don't love me!" Jessie scoffed.
"Don't I? I love you so much sometimes it drives me crazy! If Meowth wasn't around so much I would've made a move a long time ago!"
Now they were...arguing...so it seemed, over whether or not they loved each other. Or how much they loved each other. Or something. Jessie wasn't sure. She just kept watching James mouth. She wanted him to be kissing her, but instead he was shouting at her. He didn't shout much, usually that was her role. James shouting, felt odd, but also a bit...arousing?
"...let's just go sleep, this is stupid and we'll figure it out in the morning!"
"James?" Her voice cut through like a warm wind.
"What?!"
Jessie reached out and took his face between her hands, "I'm saying this to you 100% sober." She hesitated as she felt the wobbliness in her head, "Fine, 75% sober. But sober enough to be completely aware of what I'm doing. Please kiss me. Kiss me, and fuck me, and tell me you love me, and if I regret it in the morning, just do it all over again and remind me why I asked you to do it in the first place."
James didn't grab at her this time. He didn't force a kiss, or push her down, or do any of the things she expected. He simply reached up and brushed her hair away from her face.
"Really?" She blinked, "Even after what I said you're not gonna..."
"Shut up Jess." Then James kissed her. Soft, slow, and warm. She felt his fingers entangling in her hair, pulling her close. The lingering electric sparks under her skin danced, making her body warm. Or maybe...that was the alcohol.