A/n: This is just an excuse to write tooth-rotting fluff of my favourite, but very rare, pairing. Somewhat interconnected with my other Aurumshipping fanfic Revisit.
Sleeping is not something unusual, per se, but Ash is surprised to find Arceus' form laid on the fluffy layers of hay that they accidentally discovered to be excellent bedding for the Legendary Pokémon when they renovated the barnhouse he has bought for their use.
It takes a few seconds why he finds it odd: In all the months since he was made a consort to the Original One, he's never seen Arceus sleeps. Ever.
There have been a few moments of quiet when Ash thought Arceus has dozed off, only to be proven otherwise. Rest for the Legendary Pokémon consists of meditations wherein it remains aware of its surroundings, including Ash's puzzled staring and poking into its sides. It's also why Ash is reluctant to believe that Arceus may truly be sleeping right now until he approaches the slumped figure, the white sheen of its pelt a stark contrast to the hays and chaffs it lies upon. The sides rise and fall in calm breaths. There is no greeting offered to him, which usually comes as soon as his touch pulls it out of its meditation. He can even hear snores – quite unlike those he heard from Brock or Cilan or most of his Pokémon, because there are hints of growls in its breathiness.
"Pika-chu?"
"I don't know."
It's oddly fascinating to watch. He's used to Arceus standing proud and tall, and Arceus who lays primly beside him while it nuzzles him. This Arceus looks carefree and totally relaxed, with its limbs sprawled and its neck stretched out. Unlike its many times being together with him, the massive golden wheel remains as it is instead of temporarily absorbed into its being; it encircles its hindquarter although with the thick hay acting as Arceus' bedding, the spokes push into its fluffy thickness rather than pressed uncomfortably into the hard wood-planked floor. Ash is tempted to join it, maybe tuck himself in that crook of its body just behind its fore-limb, but that may be enough to rouse Arceus. Just the simple fact that Arceus is sleeping now when he's never seen it does this before says that this is a rest long overdue.
He scratches Pikachu's head absent-mindedly, the familiarity in the gesture helping him to think. What's a good etiquette when you find yourself a sleeping Legendary Pokémon? Most of them go hide themselves somewhere safe and secluded, so is it something scandalous to be found? Or is it just a precaution in general?
And what if the Legendary Pokémon in question is his spouse?
"I think maybe we should… leave? Let Arceus rest first and –"
Pikachu tugs at his collar and frowns. Since Ash fails to realize his friend's point, Pikachu scampers down to hang on his hips (Ash has to stifle a yell as his jeans is almost dragged down from the Pokémon's weight) and pulls out from his pocket an emerald-encrusted brooch shaped like the wheel around Arceus' abdomen.
Right. Because if Arceus doesn't want to be found, it would have chosen to plop down in its Hall of Origin instead of here.
Ash shouldn't have doubted it, not with the brooch as a solid proof of Arceus' welcome to his presence. It is a mean by which Arceus announces its presence on Earth, and that Ash is free to come to it – an arrangement devised by the Pokémon itself long before they started entertaining possibilities of romance between them. It lasts only so long as Arceus is on Earth and disintegrates with its departure, which is why Ash has come here as soon as he sees the jewellery sparkling on his study desk.
Of course, Ash didn't expect to see Arceus sleeping, of all things. Clearly, the sight laid in front of him proves how wrong he was… and also reassures him that there's nothing wrong to stay by its side if Arceus can afford to lay back here, of all places.
However, before he can make himself comfortable (he's not kidding, Arceus is warm, fuzzy and is generally a good thing to snuggle with) the Legend begins to stir.
An awakening Arceus is something he has never experienced before. It's difficult to describe the sensation in that moment despite the usual procedure of stretching, yawning, and bleary blinking as newly-opened eyes adjust into focus. The closest analogy Ash's mind can do is of someone turning on the kitchen stove; there is the initial, sudden burst before quickly calming down to a ring of steady-burning little flames. Maybe if Ash is a little more poetic-minded, he can come up with better descriptions to the feeling of Arceus' vast consciousness rousing from its slumber, but it is what it is. Ash has gotten past most of his instinctive fear of the rows of sharp teeth that are involuntarily put on display when Arceus yawns – those teeth have touched his skin before, never hurting, just enough to send pinpricks of shiver through his spine before its tongue comes to soothe. He comes to appreciate it as a spectacle as Arceus does not exhibit the existence of its physical mouth easily, aside for him. The light of Arceus' eyes brighten to its usual glow as the previously lidded eyes open all the way, revealing red pupils and green where in humans should have been white.
-Oh, Arceus says, its mental voice entering his mind as easily as it does the moment it finds Ash standing nearby, -Forgive me; I must have drifted off.
Arceus' voice also lacks the tell-tale rasps that usually accompanies sentences like Five more minutes or I'm up, I'm up. Which kind of makes sense when he thinks about it, since telepathic speech doesn't involve priming its physical voice-box to do the talking.
He shuffles up to the nearest shoulder and rests his hand on the protruding spike. Hard bone meets his fingertips but the warmth radiating from the Original One is as comforting as he remembers it. Smiling up at the face faithfully waiting for his reply, Ash says, "It's alright. I was just surprised to see you sleeping."
Then, without understanding where it has been hiding all this time, a freshly-sprung concern makes him say, "Are you okay?" faster than his mind can decide whether it's a good idea or not.
Ash realizes what has triggered the inquiry as soon as it leaves his mouth. For someone who used to be missing a portion of its very life-force and was still completely up to beating Dialga, Palkia and Giratina into submission at the same time, it's jarring to see that same person showing any sort of weakness. It doesn't sit well with Ash when the last extended rest forced upon Arceus was for its recovery from the wounds sustained from Marcus' treachery.
The wriggling, coiling fear in his stomach is immediately soothed by the careful nuzzles of its gold-tipped forehead to his chest.
-I am fine, dear one – only a little tired.
Soothed, but not entirely reassured. 'Tired' is better than 'wounded' but he rather sees Arceus as it usually does – proud, a little intimidating, but entirely affectionate when no one is looking.
"Arceus… what happened to you?"
Arceus' ears perk curiously towards him but says nothing. Ash realizes that this is yet another question that he should have filtered out – he doesn't want to sound like a mother hen but his anxiety got the better of him. Arceus is not a damned damsel in distress, not with the commands of all the Type Plates at its whims and the many ways it can make its prospecting attackers sorely regret their decision to bother the Original One.
When does worry turns to paranoia? When it comes to Legendary Pokémon, is there such thing as not caring enough, or too much?
Nevertheless, Arceus is his wife/husband/mate. Ash is not going to feel sorry for his right to be concerned about his significant other.
His expression must be telling, because Arceus unfurls a golden aura to form a slim tendril from its flank-wheel and wraps it around Ash's waist and chest in some sort of an embrace. It's not unusual for him to be treated like this, although being yanked forward by the light-coils still come as a surprise that makes him gasp; a muffled unf! escapes through clenched teeth as the hay softens his landing between the outstretched front limbs.
-I am not hurt if that is what worries you, it says, carefully nudging stray hair out of Ash's eyes with the tip of its forehead, -It is not something that a little rest cannot fix.
"Arceus, you know that's not going to –"
Now, Arceus always has one method or another to interrupt him, especially when he inevitably slips into a long rant without noticing for whatever reasons, but this one totally comes out the blue.
Arceus is kissing him.
Without warning, the dark grey face is lowered and pushed beyond his personal space. His words are stopped short by a gasp, then the gasp is muffled by the coarse fur making up its grey face; a concave surface that hides its mouth is pressed against his lips and a small portion of his cheeks. He can feel the vibrations of a soft rumble on the hide in contact with his skin, but despite the trembling from the large Pokémon, its mouth remains closed. This is mildly puzzling to Ash, knowing how fond Arceus is of using its tongue, especially in a kiss, but he surmises that this is perhaps an extension of its greeting albeit in a very shocking manner.
Ash does the only thing that makes sense, places his hands on either side of its face and holds on. It's the sort of kiss that is long, relaxed, heartfelt without being lustful – it is simply Arceus seeking comfort in its mate and Ash happily gives it all to the Legend until it pulls away with a happy sigh.
Ash stares for a few moments at the Legendary Pokémon, who manages to look adorably sheepish at the spontaneity. "…Wow," he manages finally, of all things which could be said.
-I am truly glad that you are here, Ash. I hope I am not interrupting anything important.
"You didn't. I was wondering when you're going to come anyway."He reaches out a hand to smooth the hairs his previous grasps have accidentally crinkled. In a few strokes, the fur is again aligned as to seem like a smooth surface if seen from some distance away.
Pikachu, who has leaped off Ash's shoulders just in time to avoid being dragged down alongside him, now comes padding into the small area framed by Arceus' legs where Ash is lying. The Pokémon chirps out a greeting to the Original One before proceeding to choose for himself a perch on one of Arceus' shoulder-spikes. Ash has no idea what's up with Pikachu and his preference for shoulders, but he's not going to question something so trivial when he has other pressing matters in mind.
For now, the pressing matter is, "Is there something I can do?"
The abrupt burst of light around Arceus signals to him that the Alpha is undertaking a transformation. He's not able to follow it through, being forced to close his eyes and shield them behind his hands for good measure as the brightness begins to make his head pounds strangely. Only when the warmth and light fade away does he risks a peek through his fingers and discovers what Arceus has done: Maintaining its appearance but with its body shrunken to a third its original size. There are still differences in their size, sure, but now it's not as pronounced as before. Needless to say, it's a development that Ash has nothing to object to, especially when he finds himself snuggled neatly into the curve of Arceus' body like he absolutely belongs there.
He does belong there, as Arceus' head swerves around to plant kisses all over his face, spelling out clearly what it wants. The tip of its tail plays with his feet and brushes his ankles; its breaths warm and heavy on his skin. No one would've attributed Arceus to being a touchy-feely lover – Hell, even Ash didn't even think of Arceus as someone you'll make a lover before its confession, but Arceus really is a tender partner. A warm and comfortable presence, just like Ash hopes to be to the Pokémon…
"Alright, alright – I'm already here, Arceus," he says, his giddy laughter coming out anyway despite his best efforts to appear dignified. He's never one to be associated with dignity anyway – more like crash and burn. "What else I can do?"
Arceus hums, which either means it is genuinely thinking of an answer or it's merely a distraction as it continues nuzzling against him.
-I miss you, it says seriously, the words coming out like a matter-of-fact statement rather than a heart's confession, -When I have finished with the… When I have finished my task, I thought of only coming to you. I did not plan further beyond waiting for your arrival. Perhaps you can provide suggestions as to our schedule?
"You come here to relax. We can think of something to do later."
-I AM relaxing, Arceus says with a tilted head as though to point out that its posture should be more than proof of its claim. -I do not know what impression you have of me, but I am not so diminished that we ought to be subjected to a house arrest.
"Well, think of it this way: I've just walked all the way here, we can hang around for a while until I catch my breath."
He knows that he's far from looking like someone who needs a breather – he's hardly broken a sweat since he has the help of his Gogoat to help carry him along the journey – but it serves his purpose to win his argument. It doesn't matter that Arceus too knows that it's just an excuse to get it to relent.
However, any attempt of looking disgruntled on Arceus' part is offset by the deep-chested purring when Ash circles his thumb around the green spot on its face.
"Come on, Arceus. Just let yourself lay back. It's not a crime to take a day or two off."
Arceus' agreement comes silently, in the shifting of its posture to curl itself better around Ash's body and lays its head so as to direct his stroking hands to the stretch of its neck. Of course nobody would have believed that this is the same Judgment-dispensing Arceus who once loomed over Michina town if it keeps acting not too differently than his Pikachu when in his more affectionate moods…
Embarrassingly, being the unruly thing that it is, Ash's stomach decides in that moment to disturb the peace with the universally infamous ballad of the hungry grumbling. He would've attempted to pass it off as some weird night animals' mating calls and avoid Arceus' accusatory glare, but being close as they are guarantees that all deceptions are out of the question.
"No worries, Arceus," he says instead as Arceus, without dislodging his massages, levels a one-eyed gaze questioningly at his recently musical stomach. "I've bought some food before I came down here. I can eat later."
-Ah, yes, Arceus says, directing its attention on the brown paper bag slumped listlessly on the floor nearby. With a few quick sniffs, Arceus' frown deepens critically; clearly disapproving of what passes for dinner, consisting of a now-soggy hamburger, a packet of fries and a can of soda which he ordered off the first fast food restaurant before starting off on his reunion journey.
-…You ask me to take care of myself, when you are borderline neglecting yours.
"Bit of an exaggeration there, don't you think? And, hey, at least I won't go hungry tonight."
Apparently, while food is not a concern at all for a Legendary Pokémon who is sustained by the ambient natural energies, Arceus is readily worried of his nutrition state – as though he's vulnerable to starvation or food poisoning.
In some way that Ash is not going to say out loud, the attention is… flattering.
With another heavy sigh, Arceus thankfully chooses to let go of the matter and sinks back into the comforts of his touch. With the opportunities to hold the Original One so closely, Ash wouldn't have minded missing more than just dinners when there are other people out there who would've given an arm and a leg (Cynthia easily comes to mind at this thought) for a glimpse of a Legendary Pokémon.
-One of these days, I really should acquaint myself with preparation of human food…
Ash's hand stalls in his stroking as his mind is flooded with the mental imagery of the kitchen of his apartment back where he actually lives when not spending his time with Arceus here, except with the addition of a certain Legendary Pokémon hurrying about a la Delia when she's behind schedule in preparing breakfast for the day.
It's absurd for sure… but the Ketchum knows better than to take lightly any word spoken by the Original One, even one spoken sleepily like it does just now. Arceus is already well-versed in many human activities, products of hundreds of years' worth of observations and frequent visits of Earth, even learning to mingle inconspicuously among people. Ash has no doubt that if Arceus is putting its mind on it, it's going to be able to surpass his cooking level in a day or two.
Again, a flattering rather than disturbing thought, but that's something to entertain for another day.
"You're a real sweetheart, Arceus," he says, to which he receives a grunt of obviously faked annoyance, and continues to comb his fingers through the silky fur lazily.
Arceus requests his closeness not with words, but Ash understands the tail curling around his waist just as perfectly. Happily, Ash Ketchum retreats into the crook of its neck, his hands continue to stroke whichever part of the Pokémon he can reach. Very soon, the red irises grow dim until the light fades completely, blending into the surrounding green; its contented rumble resonates in every breath even while soundly asleep.
Ash is growing sleepy himself when he realizes a warm weight settling in his lap comfortably: His Pikachu, looking far too shrewd than any Pokémon has any right to be as if saying, See? I told you shouldn't have worried.
"Yeah, yeah – I know, I was wrong, you were right, all that stuffs."
Despite himself, Ash finds himself giggling at the Pokémon's antics and surrenders to the charming black eyes that gaze up at him. Pikachu gives another delighted "Pika-Pika!" and snuggles into the jacket comfortably. Ash hugs it with one arm while the other is kept on Arceus' neck.
"'night, bud," he says as the little creature gives a wide yawn before curling into itself, falling asleep as quickly as Arceus does, perhaps from its exhaustion after the day's worth of Pokémon battling before they received Arceus' tell-tale brooch – and then, he too, follows after the two Pokémon and falls asleep himself not a few minutes later, lured by the comfortable warmth and familiarity in their companionship.