Pete notices that you're leaving

The man certainly doesn't miss the opportunity you present him with, slapping your ass with practiced precision so as to produce a crisp smacking sound. You yelp and stand bolt upright, pack in hand. 'Ow, that one really stings!'

"So..." he says, still smirking at you as you rub your ass with a free hand. "You look like you're... going somewhere." You catch him eyeing the Pokeball you only ever carry when you're venturing out of the city. "But I happen to know you don't have any courier work today."

You turn to face him, suddenly concerned that Team Rocket may not approve of you just walking out the door without a word. Do they see you as some kind of ****? Are you not free to just leave? Fucking bastards. Not that you have much evidence that they see you as any kind of peer to begin with. You always just chalked it up to being a woman who can't battle. You decide to hedge your bets just in case, to feel it out.

"That's right. I figured I'm such a terrible trainer that I should practice with my Pidgey for a bit. Remember last month, when I got stung by that Weedle? A Weedle, Pete. Those things hurt. And I should be strong enough to take out a Weedle. I have a flying-type Pokemon. It's embarrassing. I'm going to spend a couple days in the forest training. Maybe I'll even hit the road for a while and really take my training seriously so I can help out with more Team Rocket stuff. Get a Machop or something to carry boxes. Or, at the very least, I'll be able to defend my payload better if I can battle properly."

There. You put it all out on the table, if perhaps not as boldly as you'd have liked.

Pete looks you over, his expression impossible to read. "You're serious. You want to battle? You. Vivian the orphan."

You take a breath and lift your head, prepared to defend your choice. "Yes. I do. I think I can be great at it."

He laughs, amused. "So, what, you're just going to go out into the woods and figure it out, all by yourself? That's adorable. You know what? Go ahead. Take your little pack and your little bird and go into the woods. I'm sure you'll learn plenty of valuable lessons."

You swallow nervously. Something in his tone got hard and dark, there, by the end. "Why does it sound like you're threatening me? We're on the same Team, here, Pete. I didn't mean to upset you, I just thought—"

"No one really cares what you think, Vivian. You're just a courier, and a barely competent one at that. Viridian to Pewter? A kid could handle that route. If it were my call, you wouldn't even be a courier. Some of us think the boss should just sell you to that brothel in Celadon City and be done with you, but I think you should be put to work right here. Dunno why the boss hasn't given the word yet."

You back away from him, glad that he makes no move to stop you. "I'm leaving. Don't you dare follow me."

Pete laughs and walks away from you in the opposite direction. "Don't get eaten by bugs out there, Viv. When you do come crawling back here, I'll be waiting."

Given a chance to escape, you don't wait around. You simply heft your pack and make for the exit. This place is insane, you just need to leave.