Welcome to Gaia! ::

Iah was dodging the falling debris, the fires springing up in some spots, while water sprung out of bursting pipes in others, all the while the unconscious form of Riley was held in his arms like he was breakable (and he was, was the problem), far too breakable. And precious.

Iah was consumed with getting Riley out of there safely. Well safer than he was currently. Iah was teetering still between control and madness, and only the lithe form in his arms was keeping him even remotely sane. His presence at least kept him from giving chase to any of the fleeing Rocket members. He saw Jet as he ran, and he sent out a mental You and I aren't done Giratina. I'll locate you again. it was hard to tell if that was promise or threat and it was likely it was a bit of both.

He ran hard, ignoring the chaos and destruction he was leaving behind, seeking instead somewhere safe he could set Riley down. Finally the area seemed quiet, peaceful and he found a shaded spot beneath a tree to set the golden haired Riolu down before he merely crouched down staring at him.

Look what you did. You attacked. You choked. You nearly killed. You're dangerous. Too dangerous. the sane part of his mind was chastising him as he stared down at Riley, and for once the dark had nothing to say in its defense. Riley should never have been harmed, even if he hadn't realized it was Riley!

Iah felt the fear from Riley as he was spotted, and rather than the normal thrill of pleasure he felt from such reactions from people he felt nothing but sorrow and shame. Now he's afraid of me. With reason. Too dangerous...too dangerous...

Seeing him crying though, that was a knife to his heart and he held his breath a moment as he fought with himself. He wanted to reach out and comfort but he was just sure it would cause bigger issues. Even as Riley reached out to him.

That seeking hand made him shuffle backwards, out of reach of him. It was awkward given his crouch but he did it, red eyes full of sorrow as he looked at him. He reached out...not with his hand and not with his voice, but mentally, even his mental voice subdued for once. Sad.

'I'm sorry. I have no excuse...I deserve no forgiveness.' none at all. He had never wanted to harm Riley, ever and yet...he'd wrapped his hands around that throat in glee, a smile on his face as he'd started to choke him only to realize with horror who it was.

'Too dangerous to be around you. I'll get you somewhere more populated...but safe...and I'll leave you alone forever. I won't hurt you again I promise.' his eyes closed with the pain of his words.

This wasn't how he wanted to see Riley again, but then he hadn't expected the child to be a teenager. A very nice looking one. It was that golden hair, and the scent of it that had broken through to the dark, and just barely in time. He couldn't chance losing control around him again.

Iah was more than a little startled to see Riley coming near him after all he'd done. He didn't know what to say or think for a moment and he inhaled some eyes falling shut a moment.

He opened them again after a moment staring at Riley intently, studying him and committing him to memory as best as he could. 'Just need to remember you're probably the only Riolu...or eventually Lucario...with pretty golden hair.' that was his only thought on the topic of getting to know Riley.

There was a soft intake of air, and a soft "Never wanted to hurt you...and I could have killed you. I didn't know it was you...and.." he gave a sad smile. "You grew up...you look nice. Really nice."

He refused to read Riley's mind though he was sure he could have. Nope, he'd give him that privacy to speak what he wanted, or not. But he could still read his body language, the looks on his face.

He saw the skin darken on his face at the compliment of his hair, though he gave a soft nod. "I know...but...it's just a part of who you are. Even if it changes, you don't change. Not really. I mean you will physically but..." he was rambling trying to make sense and failing.

Those words though, it brought a sad smile to his lips. "That is me though Riley. The other me. The bad me. The one I warned you about." though he licked at his lips a moment. "Had to save you. Came to find you, and you weren't around...I knew something bad happened so I had to find you."

Though there finally a soft laugh. "You always look nice." he took a deep breath and eased to his feet before finally offering his hand out to the other to help him up. He realized he couldn't refuse to touch Riley forever. Could he? Obviously not.

"It's what they made me. Team Rocket. Doctors. Scientists. Bad people made me bad." it was sweet though, that Riley saw things that way

The hand not being grabbed onto reached out and he was carefully wiping away tears, a rueful sort of smile on his face. "Yes. For you." the question of why made him pause in thought a moment, trying to find the words.

"You...accepted me. Befriended me. I had to save you, before you became me. Couldn't let them hurt you like that." oh no that would never do.

"This...is who I want to be...who I was... before...I became a monster..." words still soft. Halting. It was true he knew. He was a monster. A created one, but one none the less.

"Couldn't...let them make you a monster...too. Would have stayed...to distract them...if it meant you were free...." it was true really. He'd have willingly stayed as a test subject, to prevent Riley from being harmed. Even though he'd vowed to himself never again. This urge to protect Riley was stronger than self preservation.


The hug though, it made him look down at the golden haired teen and he was finally wrapping his arms around him, and just holding him closely, and securely. "Don't...want to hurt you again....won't hurt you again. I promise."

"Worth it... to save you." his words were soft. A little rough as one hand reached up to touch that golden hair that fascinated him. He felt terrible he'd attacked the other at the facility but how could he have known this was the same boy?

"Won't let anyone hurt you. My only friend." he wasn't sure what to make of the Giratina teen he'd met back there. Barely had met the guy so it wasn't something he could put a true label on yet. Dangerous unknown at this point worked well enough to categorize.

"Always help you Riley." his arm tightened a little more to hug him again more than a little glad the Riolu teen was safe and sound! That he was crying though was startling and he felt off balance though he kept the other held close and the hand in that hair came down to dry his cheeks gently.

"All safe now. As safe as you can be with me. I'll take you home now okay? It will take a little time, but I'll get you back home." he was sure seeing his trainer would do Riley some good at this point!

"Sorry...I didn't know it was you... that I hurt you." words soft. He didn't think he'd ever forgive himself for harming the other!

He saw Riley's hand rise to his neck and he gave a sad smile at that. He would probably never forgive himself for that. For attacking his friend. Not knowing it was him was a poor excuse to his mind.

"I know you are." words soft. He was okay because he'd managed to pull the dark back in. But for how long? Would he be able to next time? He didn't have the answers to those questions.

However the questions about helping him earned an immediate, and startled "No." from him, head shaken. "It's not safe for him. For any of them. Don't.... I don't want to hurt them Riley." far from and he couldn't promise he wouldn't want to. Wouldn't try to. "Will sleep in the same place I did, first time we met. Safe enough there." for everyone his mind supplied.

"Now, arms around my neck. I'll get you home."