Techz: Welcome to another story in the works that me and ThisGuyLovesSubbyLucario have been developing and writing for a while. All we can hope is that you enjoy this interpretation of a modern relationship
The day starts off like any other. I look at my hair as I try to comb it after a shower; it won't go down. Prepared for college I run out the door. I hop on the bus and make it just in time to the large set of buildings that make up Kalos university. The three buildings that are on campus are the dorms, the main education building, and finally the sports stadium. I run up, passing through other students and professors of the like as I made my way to the middle buildings. As I passed other Pokémon and sped through winding corridors, main my way into a large auditorium of the college, I look around. I spot my friends, Damien and Sirius and promptly seat myself next to them.
I recall that half the year has already passed; time has flown by. I decide to converse with my friends. Their words fall on the topic of a new student. I open my mouth to talk but an Alakazam cleaning the marker board speaks up.
"Right! Today class, as some of you already know, there is a new student who has transferred here recently! I would like you to welcome Layla to this class, treat her like you would want to be treated etcetera, etcetera."
A Zoroark, obviously womanly given her shape, stands holding her own hands while nervously glancing around the room. Her eyes shine a bright cerulean that illuminate the room with a shy but passionate character hidden under her well-kept fur.
"Dude… you should totally ask her out. She looks like your type, if you get what I'm saying." Damien jokes while doing some probing of his own.
"She is looking right at you dude!" He adds. I go to look but she had already turned away and is waving at a female Arcanine sitting in a group of girls.
The professor then asks everyone "Who would like to show Layla around the campus today, any volunteers?" The professor bellows, his voice resounding around the room like a siren.
A Ninetales hand shoots up but Sirius jumps up and cuts in.
"This guy right here is the one who should do it!" Everyone is looking at me as they await my choice. I'm one of only two Lucario (the other being my friend Damien) that go to this university, adding to the awkwardness of several hundred sets of eyes upon me.
I stutter a bit on my words in my nervousness at first, but I come to attention with more confidence, trying to seem like my normal self; my nice self.
"Y-yeah, I'd love to," I say in a shy, but collected voice.
"As long as you don't mind, anyways." I suddenly scratch the back of my head, ruffling through my four dreadlocks slowly, forwarding my gaze to the floor on my right.
The teacher rolls his eyes at me and my friends outburst.
"Well, take a seat anywhere you want." The teacher says while moving to his desk. Layla looks to me and then the Arcanine. She walks up the steps for the rows... going right past the other girls and right up to my row!
My friends give each other a fist bump before the classic:
"Oh yeaaah."
She seats herself next to me and smiles before stating,
"I hope I'm not intruding your group of friends. I just don't want to hang out with miss popular." She stares at her bag and unzips it. I note how her hair flows with her head movement in ripples and is held by a hair bead that matches her eyes perfectly.
She places a few items on the desk in front of her before placing her bag at her feet. We are about half a meter apart. I feel myself staring right at her. She looks back at me and notices me smiling.
"Umm... Can I help you?" Confusion is riddled in her voice.
I feel my face fluster a bit before I come to my senses, shaking my head a bit.
"N-nah, I'm good. And hey, you're not intruding." I give a smile as sincere and sweet as I can.
"My name's Leo. It's nice to meet you. It's good to see that you don't like to hang out with that kind of college clique-" I point a thumb out to the peppy-looking anthro Ninetales, who is currently renewing a shade of black lipstick to her luscious, obviously-too-perfect-to-not-be-fake lips.
"Trust me, that girl, Natasha? She does nothing but gossip." I realize that I got a bit carried away, and decided to change the conversation.
"So... What are you studying for? I'm aiming for computer software design." I stare at my paper, and the tips of my eyebrows tilt downward.
"Gosh... This Calculus, though..." I return my shy, yet knowing look at her, giving her my attention once again.
She casually thinks and replies "I came here to do engineering as I'm trying to make a revolutionary idea" She pulls out a notebook and flicks through the pages.
"Here" she holds up a very detailed picture of a wrist computer.
"I found one before but it wasn't very good..." She seems to mull something over.
"Would you be able to design an operating system for it?" She looks woefully and continues "I could make it but I'm not really good at the programing bit." Layla looks down embarrassed as she admits her weakness.
"Never mind" she quickly dismisses the idea as she focuses on the lesson at hand.
"Excuse me sir, but you subbed in the equation wrong at the fourth part. You forgot the function should equal zero." She looks back at me with a smile as the teacher goes over the question to find that he was in fact wrong. Layla seems to have quickly redeemed herself from her dimness.
"I don't know if it would be too much to ask but could you show me around the campus? I don't know any places around here and I don't have anything to do after this class, would that be ok?" She looks somewhat nervous as she asks but her voice never falters.
I look at her, amazed at her ability to react so quickly to the equations. I close my agape mouth and speak.
"Y-yes, I can absolutely help you with the programing! Maybe we can meet at my dorm so I can help you with that. As for the campus, I could certainly show you around after class. There's actually a good bit to do here." I start smiling goofily again, and subtle chuckling could be heard, though I paid no attention to it. The jock group, who usually sat near the middle of the room, were looking back at me and Layla and laughing.
"Great. you show me around a bit then we go to yours." She looks happily towards me and then her notebook. She scribbles some notes down.
"So, have you and missy up there planned on how to get down!?" He was holding a chortle in. A classic asshole move from the guy who thinks he's still in high school. He would resort to petty things in order to get attention. She looks towards me, misinterpreting. I only wished I weren't smiling when she looked at you.
"Are you kidding me?" She sounded hurt. She didn't know that he was stirring things up and looks between he and I. Before I could respond He adds,
"He's trying to play you like a board game, Hun."
She snapped. The bell was too well timed as it signalled her departure. Layla quickly packed and left, breaking into a run at the exit. The idiot that started this sits with a shit eating smile on his face.
I subtly grumble at him without making eye contact and pursue Layla. "H-hey, wait up!"
I didn't have much with me, just by olive-drab canvas messenger's back slung over my shoulder. I got told all the time, even by people that I didn't know, that it seemed as if it were my man-purse. It was kind of fitting, seeing as I was bisexual and all.
By the time I had caught up to her we were nearing the junior hallway.
"I'm sorry for what happened back there..." I said nervously. Even with the fact that I was a Lucario, I wasn't the most fit out of them. In fact, over the summer, I seemed to have gained a few pounds. Good thing for my amazing metabolism though or I wouldn't have half of the curves or the regular-looking-with-clothes-on body that I had. Anyway, I was lightly panting as I looked at her, with an apologetic look, my purple eyes looking with worry.
"I still don't see why, out of everyone, they fucking choose me as a target." I say that last part a bit more quietly, and I look to the left slightly, regaining my posture.
I think back to the situation, still looking away, and I blush out of embarrassment.
Layla looks at me with puffy red eyes. She had been crying. A few people noticed you both but none approached.
"What do you mean target? You're friends with him, are you not?" She waits as I half say half mutter my denials. she looks with regret as she realises she had created a scene.
"Oh Arceus, now look what I've done! it's my first day and already I have gone and messed everything up! I need to keep my thoughts in check." Layla sighed as she rubs her face on her arm to get rid of any evidence of what just happened before, taking a deep breath before calming down.
"Look... I'm sorry. I-I just don't know what's happening right now, it's all new for me and I just feel stressed right now." she looks towards me and sees my discomfort. "How about we forget about all that and just… go grab some coffee or something?" I stand there for a bit before processing what she said.
"O-of course." I say, softening my look of worry a bit with a subtle smile, but wanting to make sure I didn't fuck anything else up before I had the chance to befriend this girl. I could already tell she was just shy and nervous, and I didn't want to ask her why she was stressed. I figured it was because all the moving she must have had to do. I thought back to the jocks that made fun of us earlier; They would get what was coming to them. I brought myself back to reality and spoke up.
"So, there's an on-campus café, or we could take my car and go to the better one a few roads down... If you want?" I nervously tap my fingertips together, looking like a child asking his mom for something from the store. I anxiously awaited her response, seeing as this was my first interaction with a woman for a long time.
"I think I would prefer to get away from here for a while, let's go to the second one." She seems to be shaky as I show her to my car, red and sleek like most medium end but it still had a polished shine. cars Layla looks around the interior, a little clutter but nothing overwhelming. I start the engine and pull out of my spot, slowly navigating the parking lot.
"I swear they built this car-park just to test people's patience." Layla remarks and all I could do is agree with her, had I not put the cheeky sign up that declared that spot as my own, I would have been forced to park on the roof.
It didn't take long to reach the cafe, around twenty minutes was all it took. She gets out first followed shortly by yourself. It had been a long time since either of us had said anything. I make nothing of it as I enter the cafe.
"Ah, finally" Layla sighs with relief.
"I'm not a fan of crowds, I much prefer small quiet places." I note the irony in her outburst.
"So, I'm paying, whatcha going to get?" She stares at me with a rushed patience about herself.
"Please, allow me to pay." I pull out a wallet from my back pocket, withdrawing $30.
"I'm sure that with you moving and all, you're pretty low on funds. Besides, it's not exactly polite to let a lady buy anything while we're out." I chuckle slightly, seeing her face light up a bit with relief. I choose a simple latte and get a small chocolate pastry, somehow managing to get both under $10. I eagerly await Layla's decision.
"Choose anything you like. Lots of picks compared to what the school has." I note to try not to over-do my nice profile as to avoid looking creepy and miss-lead her into thinking that I'm trying to get in her pants. I remind myself that I just got out of a relationship and needed a break so that schoolwork and building steady friendships could become normal for me. However, there was something about this Zoroark... The way her hair seemed to glisten, as well as her eyes; Her perfect body, and, taking from cliché romance movies, her shy, but possibly great personality once she got more used to me. I looked forward to that happening... But I had to wait. Had to be patient. I don't want to seem weird. I did a good job preoccupying myself with the menu, only taking small glances at her while I knew she wasn't looking. She does seem very nice... I hope she feels the same about me.
"I will have a Frappuccino if that's ok?" She looks between me and the Seviper serving us. Nodding subtly the employee goes over to make the order.
"So... where are we going to sit?"
I look out the window while picking a chocolate chip off my snack. It was a habit of mine that seemed second nature. I try to make small talk
"So, where are you staying?" Nice one doofus, real smooth. Way to not be creepy.
"Umm... I stay on campus in building two" Great that's my building. It could feel ghostly at times with the contrast from the bustling college.
"I stay on the fourth floor, in a room by myself. Gets a little lonely at times having not met many people. Where do you stay, on the grounds or a hotel or something?"
I explain to her that I stay two floors below her and also live by myself but have my friends Sirius and Damien sharing a room down the hall. She looks pleased to hear about my proximity to her dorm.
"So, we have about twenty minutes before I need to head out somewhere. Anything you want to talk about before then?"
Layla takes a large gulp of her Frappuccino, leaving a large ring of cream around her mouth. adorable and funny at the same time. her arm makes light work of her slipup as if she knew what I was about to say. Feeling a little bolder, she sits a little less strictly, she isn't so careful around me anymore. I wonder if I should take it further and...
"So? whatcha want to talk about?"
"Hmm..." I take a look outside and see a human couple; One is a male with a duck-bill cap hung to the left side of his head, and a blonde female who wore the ugliest looking short-shorts and a very lacey and revealing tank-top.
"Gosh... Kids today, huh?" I chuckle a bit, thankful that I didn't have that taste, and from what it seemed, neither did Layla. I soaked in her beauty again and realized just how lucky I was to be able to talk to her. I loosened up my posture a bit, feeling like I was with a good friend. I told her about an incident a year before at Damien's block party, as well as what happened afterwards (school administrative got involved) and it made her laugh a bit; something that I was happy to see out of her. Her smile was so pretty. I could feel sweat dribble underneath my fur…
Why was I so nervous? I took a gaze down at my watch that I got for my 17th birthday that I miraculously still had. It was 12:45. She was almost late. I cursed under my breath and got up, getting both my drink and hers.
"You're gonna be late! Let's get out to the car."
As we made our way, I thought about asking her out while working on her smart-watch tonight, if everything worked well. I hoped then that it would.
I closed her passenger side door and got into the driver's seat. The keys slot into the ignition with a dull clatter. "We need to get back to campus quickly, I have something important to show you." She stated casually. It was a quiet trip as it was getting late. Layla gives out a quick yawn, bearing rows of strangely lovable fangs.
It felt like forever just to get up to her apartment but here we are, standing just outside of her door as she messes around with her keys. Layla drops the set before lifting the bundle and shoving the right one in by chance. She opens the door and gaits into the apartment.
"C'mon!" She tells me as I gaze into her place. Blue walls with a white carpet, various items around the place, decorating the place in a natural style to make everything so peaceful. I notice the king size bed.
"Well, I have to change quickly, so… if you want, you could get started on the operating system." She strode over to a closet and secretively picked out something before moving to the furthest door. Layla locked the bathroom and I am still just standing there. It would be a good idea to check her workspace I guess.
Her desk was quite good as I stood behind a monitor asking for a password. There is paper and sketches of different machines but I manage to spot the right one. Her idea wasn't like most before where it would be small and minimal like a watch, if anything it looked like Apple had remade the pipboy. Reminiscing on my memories of Fallout I press on. It spanned slightly shorter that a forearm and the display looked to curve with the users arm. Maybe some smart adjustments of a tablet's O.S would do the trick.
"Right, I'm coming out." Her voice sounded like a melody as the door revolved out to reveal Layla. A stunning cherry dress hung from her shoulders, ending just above her knees. The dress hugged her as she swayed over, her hair was no longer constrained by the usual band and now seemed animated as it moved this way and that majestically. She tapped out a melody on the keyboard of the computer and asked with a cheery tune in response as it unlocked.
"So what do I think of it?" She looks at me expectantly as I stare dumbfounded at her.
I glaze my hands across the device again, examining its hull and some interior widgets before responding.
"It's marvellous...! And you did this by yourself?" I begin to rustle through my bag, pulling out a CD marked 'Beta Utility Operating System'. I made it a long time ago and I was glad I held onto it since I originally planned on throwing it out since I had nothing suitable to test it on, until now, of course. It made me that much more thankful that I met Layla. I popped the CD into the receiving tray of the computer in front of me and after plugging in necessary wires, adding another one that was crucial to installing the software; A specially-ported USB-to-hexagonal-series-port that was a pain in the ass to make, and even harder to bring about the new port, but eventually came around to be a decent final product. After that, I booted up the mainframe to both systems, and programming could begin.
"This is bound to be spectacular..." I half-whisper to Layla, smiling. I began to type in specific codes for the program, and the machine beeped and booted up, with a retina-looking logo and a loading circle in the middle of said retina.
"Wow... It's working...!"
I continued to make progress until the main menu was finally processed. I checked the time- Holy hell! It was almost 2:00!
"Oh gosh, I've got to go!" I begin packing my things, but then I think it over.
"Hey, uh... If you want, I'll leave my stuff here, so that progress won't be interrupted, as long as you're okay with it. I really don't want to ruin everything we've done so far."
I nervously awaited her answer, all the while feeling a bit happy, mixed with a little sadness, knowing that I had a really good time doing this with her and I didn't want to leave her... But I couldn't keep her up all night, let alone stay up myself. We both had lots of classes tomorrow.
It took a while and a rub of an eye for Layla to come to a decision.
"Well, if your stuff is going to be here, I don't see why you can't just stay here. I mean, you could take the bed and I could bunk out on the sofa, it's a pull-out bed." After finishing her speech, I begin to protest but to no avail. She goes over to the sofa and pulls the main cushions off before folding the contraption flat out.
"Go on, make yourself at home." I stand in an uncomfortable dilemma. Accept her and sleep in her bed which is super weird, but looks comfy, or go back to my own room to be in isolation…
Tough choice.
I shrug and move towards the bed, it's cool blue reflecting the moonlight that shone in through the open blinds.
"Let me get that." She strides over to the blinds and yanked the toggle. I stare as the streaking light seems to glimmer off her fur but also her dress. The blinds drew over and the room dipped into almost pitch black as I sat upon the bed.
"See yah tomorrow, goodnight."
"Wait!" I blurt out. I suggest that I take the sofa bed. Layla seemed to struggle on what I intended.
"Or we could both use the regular bed if that's what you meant?"
What? I never responded as I was budged over and Layla shuffled in. my awkward level was way over nine thousand as she faced away from me in her lying position. She was either really naïve or was up to something… It took me a while to fall asleep as I found myself getting lost in her silky hair, many thought buzzing through my mind all revolving around Layla.
Next day
Sunlight tears through gaps in the darkness and pierces my eyelids. I feel at peace, rolling over to get out of bed ended badly as I bump into Layla. She rolls over, her blue eyes shone while staring at mine, her mouth agape with an expression of confusion as Layla wasn't fully aware of what was happening.
I stutter as I move away from her, fast enough to let her know that it was an accident.
"O-oops..." My face was flustered, having those dreams that I did of her last night, and then making abrupt contact like that with her; Accidental or not, it was very embarrassing.
"I'm sorry, I probably just m-made that really, heheh... Awkward..."
I began to make my way out of the bed, my left foot making contact with the ground. Both paws touch the floor, it's cold laminate and feels uncomfortable. I was about to get up but paused when I felt a warm fuzzy hand gently rest on my shoulder. She was looking at me with a worried gaze. Layla goes to say something, clearing her throat before beginning.
"Please don't leave, I enjoyed just lying here. Please stay for just five more minutes." I sat there with my legs crossed for obvious reasons and pondered whether it was a good idea to get back in bed or leave for my own sake. Layla waits patiently for my answer, looking between my back and the unoccupied side of the mattress.
I slowly lean back onto the bed next to her, my blush fading slightly.
"So... you enjoyed it as well?" I look back at her with a look that had mixed emotions of worry and happiness in it.
"Alright... Just for a bit more but only because you insist." I continue to smile while looking at her, then after a while my face goes to a neutral look as I turn to face the ceiling.
One in a million. That was the chances of everything that had just happened to me in one day. I mentally go through the events leading up to now. From the encounter, to the coffee shop, and now we were inseparable. She presses her forehead against my shoulder. She emits a comforting warmth with each breath.
"As great as all this is... We need to get ready for today." Layla's statement cut through my mind and broke my train of thought. As much as I wish it weren't, it was true. We both had classes today, ruining the possibility of just lying there until the end of time.
"You can use the shower here or the one in my room if I want." She stayed in her position while breathing gently on my arm with eyes closed, sighing deeply before rolling away and sitting in reverse of earlier.
I feel nervous to ask but I felt like it was time to start opening up. Maybe it wouldn't be too bad being not so shy and more accepting.
"Well... You wouldn't really mind me taking one here, would you?" I still remember my manners, as it is a bit unusual for a man to ask to use a woman's shower.
'Today, I make changes to myself... I'm gonna open up a bit more...' I think to myself as I await her answer.
"Sure, through there... Use the blue towel." Simple enough. The cool air met my chest as I got up. Layla had moved towards the room's mini kitchen and put some slices of bread in the toaster, her ear twitching in time to the click as she pulled the lever down.
'Cute' was all I could comment on her mentally as I made my way to the bathroom.
One simple light illuminated the various appliances that adorned the room. It all had a modernised look and every bit was spotless, to be fair she hadn't been here long. I grab a clean towel off the stack sitting in the basket, putting it on the shower rail next to a bright pink towel.
Temperature was something important if I wanted a decent shower, having it really hot, but not burning. Taking a hand out the water, I take my boxers off and jump in. I felt great as the water hits my shoulders and back, wetting my fur and working wonders on the pink areas of paw that separated me from the ground.
Five minutes was all it took me. I couldn't see thanks to my fur grabbing every drop of moisture. Feeling for a towel I find one and yank it off the rail, rubbing most of the water off my body before drying my face. My eyes stare back at me from the bathroom mirror, but that wasn't the problem... The pink towel that I am holding is! Folding it and placing it back on the rail in panic was all I could do before taking the blue towel. Layla is totally going to know that I used it.
The hair dryer spins down as I place it back in its holder. Wrapping the large blue cloth around my waist, I unlock the door. Layla was watching something on her phone with earbuds in. She laughed before glancing up at me then back at the screen.
"Walk of shame, ehh? Give me your keys and I will go." I realise that she is right, I have no other clothing with me and its either let her go or go yourself.
Half an hour later, one set of clean garments, one walk of shame and one shower for Layla later, the two of us are finally ready to leave.
"We've got an hour before class. Shall we go now or just chill here, it's your choice?"
"Whatever you're up to, really. I mean, I'm usually early for class, I've never thought about doing anything else before classes except for getting ready, eating breakfast, and heading out the door." I chuckle at the thought of actually having some free time, especially with another person, so early in the day. Even with previous partners I had never done anything like this before.
I figured I'd start trying to get to know her a little better; Possibly even see how far I could get with her, if events lead to such thing.
"So," I gently took a seat on the couch, in a feminine, as my friends put it, 'signaturely effeminate', way.
"What other things do you like to do, besides tinker with gadgets?" I gave her a friendly smile as I awaited her response.
"Eh?" Layla sat down on the other side of the couch, turning to face you.
"Well... Hmm... There is the whole inventing thing, writing and a little bit of drawing. I'm the creative type really but other than that and the good old retro game there's nothing else I can think of off the top of my head." She seems disapproving of her answer.
"So what do you do when I'm not dragging you around?" The same grin as ever, it will never lose its novelty.
"Well... I'm big on video games- I've been working on one myself, a post-apocalyptic simulator, I like to go out on walks, shoot guns, build and program computers... Sleep... And, uh... That's it." I give a nervous laugh afterwards.
"It's... Kind of a weird combination, I know, but I have a lot of mixed interests. Ooh, I just thought of something..." I shuffled over to my bag and take out some wires and gadgets and head towards Layla's watch, and I open my laptop. I then check my watch.
"Alright, still have 56 minutes... Would you like to learn a bit on how to boost a sensor? I saw that your watch had one and my software has some user-activated responses built in to accommodate some specific software that, luckily, I have. Maybe you and me could figure out some things together along the way." I get excited on that last part, wondering what kinds of things me and her could uncover. I had barely even touched any of the data on the disk due to there being so much. Things with Layla were off to a great start.
Techz: That's the end of chapter one of this new series. We've got more chapters stockpiled so please, if you really like this series and the new take, please tell us!