Reggie woke up with Luxtra still asleep on his feet. He smiled as he thought to himself how blessed he was to have pets (more friends than pets, he reminded himself) such as these. He was afraid to get up, not wanting to wake Luxtra up but Blaze had burst into the room, waking her anyway. She shot up in a huff and growled slightly as she purposely bumped Blaze on her way out.
"Way to go Blaze," said Reg with a laugh.
"Sorry Luxtra!" yelled Blaze down the hall before turning back to Reggie. "You've been out for about two hours now, Reg." Reggie stretched as much as he could.
"Why is that a problem?"
"I made some food for you and Amanda, that's why. Get up!" Blaze finished, laughing. Reggie was up in an instant.
"Amanda is here? When did she arrive?!"
"Not long ago. C'mon." Reggie followed Blaze as he lead him down a flight of steps to the dining room. There sat Amanda, munching at a meatloaf that Blaze had apparently made.
"Hey sweetheart, sorry I'm late." Reggie, who had forgotten he had his jacket on yet, hung it on the back of his chair across from Amanda and grabbed a plate as Blaze served the food.
"No worries," said Amanda. "Blaze cooks really well!"
"And my cooking sucks, so he's best left to do it." Reggie laughed and took a few more bites. "How was your day so far?"
"It was slow, boring really." Blaze sat next to Reg and began to eat as well while the other four Pokemon ate from their bowls.
"Nothing at all happened?"
"Not much, really. I went for a walk, that's about it. How about your day? You worked today, right?" She wiped her mouth with a cloth and finished up her plate.
"Yea, more of the same. Aturiel worries too much."
"Well I don't blame him. I know the stunts you pull."
"They're not stunts so much as...necessary activities. I don't have psychic powers like most of the workers."
"Then transfer before you get killed." Amanda was now seemingly angry, but Reggie wouldn't back down.
"I can't. I don't know if any other position pays well--"
"You can ask, Reggie!"
"I can ask, but I like what I do! I'm not gonna get myself killed." Blaze tapped Reggie's leg lightly with a claw. Reggie didn't need to look to know that Blaze was getting rather uncomfortable, as was the rest of his team. "I've got better things to do than die, Amanda. You don't have to worry."
"Yes, I do Reginald."
"MUST you call me that," asked Reggie, unable to keep from smiling. Amanda apparently ignored the good humor.
"Look at you, you say I don't need to worry but you get sick on every day off so far. You push yourself too hard, and it's costing you your health." Blaze then got up and left the table, apparently to wash his dish.
"I'll try to fix it, okay?"
Blaze coughed loudly.
"Shut up over there, you." Reggie laughed despite himself and Blaze chuckled as well, though inaudibly.
"I'd hope."
Reggie got up and got his jacket back on. "I'm gonna let Luxtra out. You wanna tag?"
"Sure."
They left the apartment together and walked down the hall over to the grav-lifts. Reg made sure to stroke each of his Pokemon in turn (excepting Blaze, of course, who got a pat on the shoulder) before leaving, and Luxtra trailed close behind as they left. They smoothly dropped to ground level and eventually made their way to the back doors of the building. After nodding to the guard at the door and making their way out onto the street, the three of them turned a corner and headed towards the city limits. Luxtra affectionately nibbled Reggie's hand and took off towards the city gate once they were in visual range. Amanda hadn't been back here in awhile, and she scowled when she saw the giant, house-sized plasma cannon that was being built. Next to the cannon were several Mewtwos, all standing silently and concentrating on using their psychic powers on the construction task at hand. Amanda's look could only be described as mortified.
"What is THIS for?!" she asked, angry all over again.
Reggie looked at the massive cannon as well, taking in its features. It was truly large, easily the size of a small household. It was built on a rotating base, the cannon barrel itself being a rough cylindrical shape with a large modular base, and was tall enough to point out over the outer wall. Cables and other sensitive electrical equipment were hovering up to it and installing themselves under the power of the Mewtwos that were orchestrating the construction. It was so large that the road had to be torn up and re-built around it. Reg sighed, knowing that Amanda was never fond of weapons to begin with, let alone a cannon of such power.
"It's an evil necessity, I guess you can call it," Reggie said slowly and carefully.
"It isn't necessary at all!" she yelled back.
"Amanda, you never know if we'll be attacked. Wouldn't you rather we be ready if there were a surprise attack?"
"But WHO would attack us? We're peaceful here, these cannons are gonna be WHY we are attacked!"
"You know how much tension has been arising between K'telle and the other nations lately! And That last part is a bit of a hypocritical thing to say, considering the States has their own defenses as well, Amanda."
"What?!" Clearly, that wasn't the best thing to say. Reggie cringed as Amanda began gesturing angrily towards the cannon, throwing her fists as she spoke. "That gives us no right to try and antagonize other countries to attack us!"
"We aren't antagonizing them! It's for our own defense!"
"No one will attack us!"
"And what if you're wrong?"
"I won't be!"
"How can you believe that? Anything at all can happen in any amount of time, Amanda!"
"Because of these damn things!"
"No, not because of those things, those things may be what SAVES us in the future! How do YOU know what'll happen, huh? You DON'T know what'll happen, you aren't psychic! Not even the Mewtwos who run this city can see very far or very clearly either, and they ARE psychic!"
"Reggie, I can't do this anymore!"
Instantly, Reggie regretted everything he said. In no time at all, he was floundering for words. "We argue about EVERYTHING anymore, and I'm sick of it! This can't work, not like this!"
"Amanda, I'm sorry, you know I didn't mean it--"
"No, Reggie, you aren't sorry. You'll just do it all over again if I change my mind. I'm done, it's not gonna work. It'll be better for both of us." She turned slowly and began to walk away.
"Amanda!" She whirled around again, furious.
"Shut up, Reggie!" And she turned and ran.
Reggie had penned a simple date in his journal that night: May 29th, 2283. He hadn't the strength to write any more than that. He wanted to rip the tear-stained page out, but he decided against it. He sat alone in his dark room, curled up sitting on his bed, looking out his window. The only sounds that occupied him were the sounds of construction as the 'Two's resumed their hard work on the cannon that had caused the mess. Blaze had left some warm soup on his bedside table. It gave Reg a small smile that he had to pick out a bit of fur.
He leaned on his window sill, his head on his wrists, as he overlooked the grassy outland. A small sigh escaped his lips, though it wasn't heard over the construction. His door slid open with a hiss, then shut shortly after. The fact that nothing was said told him immediately that it wasn't Blaze. The gentle nip at his hand told him the rest: Luxtra was his visitor. She leaped up onto the bed and rested her head on Reggie's lap before purring loudly. His hand slid to her mane absently, gently stroking her thick fur.
"Hey girl," he whispered. She looked up at him and grabbed his left hand, dragging it to her mouth as she began to lick it softly. Reggie chuckled emptily. "Thanks, you." He buried his face between her ears and sobbed for a few seconds until the door hissed open once more.
"Reg?" Blaze had come to visit yet again.
"Alive." Again, he sounded emotionless and empty. His longtime friend walked over and stood behind him.
"Barely, it seems."
"Just trying to hold myself together, Blaze," said Reggie with a long sigh. Luxtra was still licking at his hand, apparently rather content with her contribution.
"Well, for starters, you gotta get your mind off of her."
"How do you propose I do that?"
"Visit a strip club?" Reggie laughed a little—this time with feeling. "There, it always starts with a true smile."
"Blaze?"
"Yes, Reggie?" Blaze had that odd smile on again, though Reg couldn't tell.
"You're a pain."
"Thank you for the compliment." Blaze bowed low and Reg laughed again silently but, again, with feeling. Reggie gave Luxtra a squeeze as the Pokemon continued to lick at his hand. As if sensing his rising mood, she quickly nipped at Reggie's nose gently, then licked the side of his face.
"You're a pain too, Luxtra," said Reggie with another laugh. "I love you guys."
Blaze faked a choked-up voice as he replied, "I'm touched!" Blaze stepped closer and realized that Reggie was crying pretty hard suddenly. "Aw jeez, Reg, that wasn't supposed to happen..."
Reggie wrapped one arm around Luxtra, the other around Blaze, and rested his face against Blaze's shoulder as the Pokemon slowly stroked Reggie's back. Luxtra murred in her usual deep voice and pressed against Reggie.
"Jeez, Reg, I never thought I'd see you this broken up," said Blaze sadly. "It ain't like you."
"I hadn't expected to lose my first girl so fast," said Reggie between sobs. Then, with a sort of chuckle, he added, "I guess I must suck pretty bad." Even blaze chuckled slightly.
"You don't suck. She's missin' out. Leaving you over something so stupid, it's HER mess."
"She was right, though," explained Reggie, "that we fight more often than not."
"And you know something, Reggie?"
"I know lots of things, Blaze." Reggie was now looking his friend in the eye. "But not enough."
"Reggie," began Blaze, "I think you've learned something today. I think you've finally learned why there are things you must change. I think you've learned that there are things about yourself you need to change." Reggie looked down at his lap, unsure of what to say. "I have this feeling...this feeling that what has transpired today has given you a new resolve." Reggie shook his head slowly, but Blaze cut him off before he could speak. "You won't notice it right away, not until you've calmed yourself. But trust me, my friend, something in you has changed today." Reggie gave both Luxtra and Blaze another squeeze before letting go and lying flat on his back on his bed.
Several silent seconds passed before Reggie finally spoke.
"Maybe you're right, Blaze."
"I've only known you for how long now?" Blaze chuckled and sat himself on the floor next to the bed. "I know you better than you think."
"That's a scary thought." Luxtra stretched and crawled beside Reggie, then rolled so her back pressed on his side. He'd never understand how that silly Luxray could be comfortable with the ways she chose to sleep.
"Scarier than you know," replied Blaze with a laugh. "You rest, alright?"
"Alright, Blaze, I will. Like I have a choice now," he asked as he pointed to the sleeping lion-like creature. Blaze laughed once more and tucked the both of them in.
"How do I always get the role of mother?"
"Because you look out for me like the rest of these loonies that run around my house."
"And you didn't do the same for us?"
"Yea...I did, didn't I?" Reggie sounded tired, and he usually was quick to fall asleep.
"You raised us well, my friend. I couldn't have chosen a better trainer out of anyone alive." Blaze looked upon Reggie and laughed, realizing, finally, that whenever he had something touching to say, Reggie would be asleep before he could finish saying it. Blaze shook his head and began to leave, stopping as the door hissed open and Tiger, Nadien, and Kip all came rushing in to find places to sleep. "I'll be back guys," he whispered, "save a spot for me."
It was now early morning, and Reggie was already off for work. Blaze had called a 'meeting' for the other Pokemon in the household. He had found a blank bit of paper lying around, and he had folded it in half. On the front, he wrote "to our trainer". On the opposite side of the first half, he wrote "our best friend", and "Thanks for always being there!" on the facing side. Nothing adorned the back.
Blaze had located some colored paint and laid it out for the pokemon. All of them chose a color, pressed a paw in it, and then pressed it to the makeshift card. Blaze simply wrote his name on the second half. Luxtra's paw took up the majority of the first half, so Blaze needed to rewrite that section. He found it amusing for whatever reason. He left it closed on the table in Reggie's bedroom, as a surprise for when he came home. Everything was cleaned up (including the new pink pawprints all over the place from Growlithe) and they resumed their usual activities.
