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Proton headed through the Rocket base, a satisfied smile on his face as he walked towards Giovanni's office. His mission had been a success - surely, that would put the boss in a good mood, and it also would earn him some brownie points.
Might also get that smug smile off of Archer's face.
When he rounded the corner to Giovanni’s office, momentarily lost in thought, he was abruptly pulled out of his musing. He was met with the sight of an attractive redhead leaning casually against the wall, biting her lip as she stared attentively down at her phone.
She was beautiful - she had red hair nearly to her shoulders, a slender frame, large ruby red eyes, and full, pink lips. Interestingly, she wasn’t wearing a Team Rocket uniform - just a red crop top and a pair of high-waisted jeans.
Proton smiled at the sight of her. Probably a new recruit; a gorgeous one at that. His day just got infinitely better.
He sauntered over to the redhead, offering her a charming smile. “Excuse me,” he said, “usually, the new recruits go through Archer or Ariana. I mean, I’m sure Giovanni would make an exception for someone as beautiful as you, but you really wouldn’t want to make the boss mad. I can take you to Ariana, though.”
The redhead barely looked up from her phone. “What makes you think I’m a new recruit?” She asked with a smirk.
Proton leaned against the wall beside her, quirking a brow; “You aren’t wearing a uniform, and I think I’d remember seeing someone as beautiful as you around,” he said with a wink, which earned him an eye roll from the girl. “Besides, why else would you be here?” He said curiously.
When the girl looked up at him, he swore he saw a passing resemblance to someone he knew.
She flashed a beautiful smile, and she laughed. “Okay, you got me. But I’m not a new recruit. Seriously,” she said as he raised his eyebrows. “I’m just here to talk to Giovanni. Not about Team Rocket, though.”
Protons eyebrows shot up - what would this girl possibly have to talk to Giovanni about if not Team Rocket?
“Here I was getting my hopes up that you’d be sticking around.” He said, offering her another charming smile. Usually, that alone was enough to disarm a woman, but this girl seemed stubbornly immune to his charms. She shook her head, though she did have a small smile on her face, and she tucked her phone in her pocket.
She turned to him with an amused smile. “You really don’t know who I am, do you?” She asked.
Proton’s brows pulled together as he, once again, scanned the redhead. He shook his head, “Should I?” He asked as he looked her over again, frowning slightly. He hadn’t slept with her before, had he?
“No,” she said, leaning against the wall again. “People usually figure it out, though, since I look so much like my mom.”
Her mom?
Proton paused, looking her up and down again. “You know,” he said smoothly, “maybe if you told me your name, I’d be able to put two and two together.”
She laughed again, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Marie,” she said, her eyes meeting his, “but my friends call me Mars.”
“Mars,” he said slowly. “Like, the planet?”
She nodded, “Yup.”
“Alright, Mars,” he said with a shrug. “I like it. It’s unique. Easy to remember. Care to elaborate on how you got the nickname?” He asked.
Mars laughed, shaking her head. “Nope.”
Proton raised his hands in defeat and nodded. “Alrighty then,” he said.
She leaned forward, looking at him expectantly; “And you are?”
“My friends call me Proton.” He said with a smirk.
“Proton,” she said, her eyebrows shooting up. “Like the subatomic particle?”
“I didn’t take you for a science geek,” he said playfully.
Mars rolled her eyes, “I’m not a science geek. I just passed Middle School science.”
He laughed again, shrugging. There was a small pause, before Mars turned to him again, nudging him softly,
“So,” she said, “aren’t you going to elaborate on how you got your nickname?”
“Maybe over coffee?” he said with a roguish grin. Mars flushed, a small smile on her face as she slowly nodded.
“Yeah,” she said, digging in her pocket for her cellphone. “Coffee sounds nice.”
Proton felt like throwing his hands in the air at the victory.
The victorious feeling was very, very short lived.
Mars was abruptly cut off by a shrill voice;
“Marie!” Proton winced as Ariana’s voice boomed from around the corner. Ariana flew around the corner and pulled Mars into her arms.
“Oh, Marie, what were you thinking joining that - that cult? That Cyrus, he was deranged! He would have killed you, had those two kids not stopped him. Why didn’t you at least call me? You know you’re always welcome to stay with me and your father.”
Mars winced, “Mom, you’re going to break my ribs!”
Ariana sighed, before reluctantly releasing her daughter. And suddenly, everything made sense. Proton realized why the mystery redhead looked so familiar - she was Ariana’s daughter.
Ariana scowled, turning to Proton; “Was he bugging you? Proton, I swear to Arceus, you better stay away from my daughter. She’s not going to be another notch on your bedpost.”
Mars flushed again, and mouthed “Sorry” from behind Ariana.
Meanwhile, Proton wasn’t sure what would be worse - facing the wrath of Ariana, or the wrath of Giovanni.
His eyes once again fell on Mars, and he felt his heart thud painfully in his chest. She was so beautiful. So intriguing. So sweet. Yet, judging by the look on Ariana’s face, so out of bounds.
“Relax, Ariana, I was just here to talk to Giovanni.” He said smoothly. Ariana narrowed her eyes, and turned to Mars, who nodded quickly.
“He just wanted to know what I was doing outside of Giovanni’s office. He didn’t want me getting in trouble or anything.”
Ariana pursed her lips before nodding reluctantly. She turned to Mars, affection evident in her eyes as she tucked a strand of red hair behind her daughters ear; “Well, Proton, you’ll have to wait. Giovanni and I need to have a long chat with our daughter.”
Proton nodded slowly, noticing Mars’ wince, and he felt pity for her. Ariana marched to Giovanni’s office door and yanked it open before storming inside.
Mars stalled at the door, bouncing on her heels; “Sorry about that. She can be super overprotective. It drives my brother nuts.”
Proton smirked, laughing nervously. “I can see that.”
Mars bit the inside of her cheek before nervously tucking a strand of red hair behind her ear. “I guess I’ll see you around, then?”
“Are you sticking around?” He asked, just as Ariana’s shrill voice boomed from inside Giovanni’s office;
“Marie! Do not keep your father and I waiting!”
Mars rolled her eyes again, “Coming, mom.” She shouted, shaking her head. “I don’t know, I wasn’t planning on it… I mean, I was thinking about going back to Sinnoh, but now…” She glanced at him again, a coy smile on her face, “Now I’m not so sure. I’ll see you around, Proton.”
And with that, Mars disappeared inside Giovanni’s office.
Proton paused for a moment, watching the office door click closed, before he was startled by a hand on his shoulder.
“Arceus, Proton, relax,” Petrel said with a laugh. He nodded towards the door, “Who was that?”
“Mars,” Proton said softly.
Petrel smiled, nudging him, “Well, you two looked like you were having quite the chat. I didn’t want to interrupt. She’s beautiful. Is she a new recruit or something?”
Proton pursed his lips, “No, she actually is - uh - Giovanni’s daughter.” Proton said, clearing his throat. He glanced up at Petrel, who gaped at him. “I know, right? What are the odds?” He said with a nervous laugh.
“You’re an idiot.” Petrel said, as Proton began walking around the corner and away from Giovanni’s office. “Dude, I shouldn’t have to tell you why this is a bad idea. She’s Giovanni’s daughter. She’s off limits.”
Proton didn’t respond; instead, he continued down the hallway. Petrel once again placed his hand on his shoulder;
“Proton, I mean it. She’s a bad idea. Sure, she’s pretty, but pretty girls are like Zubats. There’s plenty of them out there.”
Proton nodded absentmindedly, the thought of Mars popping back into his head. Was she a bad idea? Absolutely. Did he care? Absolutely not.
After all, Proton was never one to play by the rules.