The first trailer for Lets Go Pikachu and Lets Go Eevee was out. Fans were in an uproar. Speculation and rumors of the knew titles were spreading. Even the most casual fans were aware that Pokémon was coming to switch.

But while the fans were more active than they had been for over a year, one of the games stars could only describe herself as exhausted.

Eevee slumped against the wall. She had only just been let out the press conference and the two hours of grueling questions had drained her like she had been hit by a leach seed. All she wanted to do was return to her home and sleep for about a day. Or, until the advertising campaign needed her. Probably the latter, to be honest.

That being the case, she was now wandering why she had ended up here; standing frozen outside the door of her knew costar with one paw rased.

"Come on," she growled to herself. A faint thump was heard as she dragged a paw down her face. "He's your costar. You've worked together before. What you worrying about?"

In truth, she knew full well what she was worrying about. The sign facing her made it clear enough.

A picture of a rosy cheeked yellow mouse beamed out at her. The name "Pikachu" made the rooms occupant clear to anyone who hadn't already gotten the hint.

On her way from the press conference, some part of her had thought it a good idea to catch pikachu before he was swept up with his work once more. Her thinking had been they should talk more now they would be working together. Now, however, she was just left staring at the face of Pokemon's mascots and having second thoughts.

"He's ... probably gone by now." She stepped away with a weak chuckle before she turned tail and fled.

She had only made it to the corner when she heard a noise that made her stop in place. A click, followed by a soft *swoosh* signaled the door opening. Eevee's mind raced. She could just keep walking, risking being seen but avoiding any kind of interaction. She could turn back and still be the one to aniciate a conversation, coming across as more confident and proactive ...

"Eevee? What you doing here?"

Or she could freeze in place half way round the corner with her face terrified look on her face and her legs still in the pose of walking. That worked, too.

"Eevee? Are you okay?"

And she was still stood there. Why was she still stood there? She jumped into motion, spinning on a paw and giving the yellow mascot her most reassuring and winning smile. It didn't work, if the surprised step back he took was anything to go by.

"Pikachu!" she exclaimed, a bit too loudly. "How are you!"

Pikachu blinked at her from under the bill of the cap he was for some reason sporting. It was Ash's Sinnoh one, if she wasn't mistaken.

"I'm fine, thank you," he said slowly, moving back.

"Good!" Eevee kept the smile on her face but didn't move otherwise.

Pikachu rubbed the back of his head. He stared at her oddly.

"Sooo ... What are you doing here?"

"Oh! Well ... I ... am lost?"

"Right." Pikachu sounded less than convinced. "Well, I think your room is just round the corner on the other side."

"Oh, thanks." Eevee tried to turn away to run. However, pikachu's voice stopped her.

"Before you go, though ..."

She looked back and indicated he should continue through a raised eyebrow. She was surprised to see him shuffle. Did she make him uncomfortable?

"Well, would you just like to talk for a minuet? We're going to be working together closely so it could be a good idea."

Eevee's eyes widened. She felt her heart fluttering and she told herself it was because he had had the same thought as her. Nothing else. That wasn't true and she knew it. It just made things easier.

"Sure! Sounds like a plan."

Pikachu opened his door slightly. Eevee brushed past him, trying to not simper too much.

Pikachu's room was ... Well, she would have liked to have said it was not what she had expected; but it was totally what she had expected. The walls were yellow, various costumes and hats lined one wall. Another was adorned with posters of the mouse with various trainers he had worked with through the years.

It amused her that this wasn't even his room. This place had been rented so the owners had obviously just gone overboard. It was less a dressing room and more of a lounge. She definitely hadn't gotten this treatment.

They sat in two oversized yellow chairs facing each other over a coffee table.

Pikachu smiled at her.

"Would you like a drink?" He offered, gesturing at a drinks machine in the corner. He even had a drinks machine?

"Do you have a bowl?" She asked.

"Uh, no."

"Well, I cant really." Eevee sheepishly showed him her paws.

"Ah, right," said Pikachu.

Well, that had put things to a great start, hadn't it? They just kind of stared at each other for a bit after that.

"So, I thought that went question well. How about you?"

Of course it was pikachu who had to start the conversation in the end.

"Oh." Eevee found herself looking down at the wood of the table. She traced one claw along the grain. "Yeah? The people seamed excited."

She glanced up to see pikachu frowning at her.

"You don't sound sure?"

Eevee hesitated. She considered just waving it off but something had actually bugged her. Facing him now, though, it was feeling less and less like an issue. But... He had asked.

"Well ... I thought that I should have done more, you know? Like talking and answering the questions and things."

Waving a paw dismissively, he said "I thought you did fine."

"Well, I don't," said Eevee, frowning. "I hardly said a thing."

"They weren't asking you many questions, though." He looked away bashfully. "I think that's kind of my fault?"

That was true. It seamed all anyone wanted to hear was news on the Pokémon franchise's most beloved electric mouse. She wasn't even sure if half of them were aware that the first Pokémon game for the nintendo switch had just been announced. Most of them definitely didn't realise she was there.

So she didn't reassure him that it wasn't his fault. In fact, she didn't say anything. Unless a non committal Hmm counted. But if that was the case then she'd be known as much more of a conversationalist.

And so the conversation slipped into silence. Not a good, -comfortable silence, either. More the kind of silence ever their eyes were left scanning the room for something to talk about while avoiding the gaze of the other.

"Are ... Uh ... Are you ready for the next few months?"

Eevee mentally kicked herself for letting him speak first. She was trying to make a good impression, dammit!

"Uh, yes? I think? not sure, really."

"What's wrong?"

Grimacing, Eevee explained.

"I don't know what to expect."

Pikachu looked surprised at that.

"Really? But what about when all the knew Eeveelutions came out? There would have been promotion for them."

Eevee shrugged. "I didn't have to do much there. It was more them who did most the press stuff."

"And your Z Move?"

Eevee gave him a deadpan stare.

"No one cares about Z Move."

"What?" Pikachu's sparkling black eyes widened in shock. "Of course people care about Z moves! A super strong move that any Pokémon can use! What don't people like?"

Eevee raised an eyebrow at him. She didn't know he liked them so much. She'd never really cared her own Z Move. After all, it wasn't good for much outside of baton pass.

"I guess it's because you have two, huh?" she asked; and was surprised to see him blush. Not just because she thought the red cheeks would hide it, either.

"Maybe? They're fun, aren't they?" he defended. She had to admit, it was cute.

She giggled and raised a paw to cover her mouth. "Okay. I suppose they can be fun," she said and decided to change the topic. She was suddenly feeling a whole lot more comfortable with this.

"So, what do you normally do on the build up to knew games?"

"Well, it's a lot of work."

Eevee sighed. "I supposed so. Let me guess, photo shoots and interviews, right?"

"Well, yes but there is quite a bit of battle training."

"Really?" Eevee's ears pricked up and she rubbed a paw along the table in anticipation. "Like what? Oh my god! Will I get to learn to surf? What about fly? You did that, right?" Her eyes sparkled as she thought about the possibilities. She just loved this kind of thing: something that apparently surprised Pikachu.

"I don't know what you'll be doing," he admitted. "I know they want me to learn double kick. They're getting Jolteon to help me and everything."

Smirking, Eevee said, "Good luck with that, then."

"What do you mean?" Pikachu looked suddenly aprahensive.

"Oh, nothing." She waved it aside. It's just that he can be a bit ... Well, you'll see."

"Okay ..."

A few seconds passed as Eevee let her smile slip away.

... ... ...

How had she let the conversation die again? It was going so well! She racked her brain for something. Uh ... What had they been talking about?

"I don't know much about promotion!" she blurted.

Not bad, she thought. On subject and it's something he knows about. Good job, Eevee.

Pikachu looked a bit unsure.

"Well, there's not much to it. Just ... Do what they say and look cute. You can do that."

They both stared. And then they both blushed.

"I meant ... I'm not saying ... Well ... You know."

And now things were awecuard for a whole new reason. Best just to ignore it.

"So, what about interviews?" she asked, and Pikachu looked relieved.

"They're easy enough. I think you'll know what they want to hear."

"But ..." Eevee realised this was the perfect opportunity to ask something she'd actually come for. "You're quite good in interviews, aren't you?" She widened her eyes and battered her lashes pleading; before remembering the moment that had just passed and stoping. "Mind giving me some pointers?" she asked.

"Okay." Pikachu shrugged and smiled at her. "Just ask if you think I can help."

"Thank you!" Eevee said. Inwardly, she was cheering. She'd done it! Whatever it was. Getting his help, maybe? Starting some kind of partnership?

She jumped down from her chair and beamed at him.

"Well, I should probably get going. Bye, Pikachu!"

"Goodbye, then." He chuckled, but sounded a bit confused. Probably at her cheeriness.

Eevee waved and, in a few bounding steps, reached the door and let herself out. She got about half way down the corridor before she froze in place.

What had just happened? She'd spoken to Pikachu (the Pikachu!) and he'd said that he'd help her. He'd also called her cute? Maybe? Not to mention how she wasn't sure if she'd been flirting towards the end there.

The shock only lasted for a short while. A second later, Eevee let out a tiny squeak and sprinted the rest of the way out of the building.