Chapter 2

Danny Lunelle sat cross-legged, rubbing his head in an attempt to soothe the pounding ache. Something or more like a someone had flew out of nowhere and conked him on the head.

"Ow ow ow!" he cried. His brain felt like it was rattling around in his head.

It was then when he noticed a low groan coming from the collapsed heap in front of him. Wide-eyed, he bum-scootched backwards until his back was against a tree.

"Fuck," grumbled the figure, as it slowly began to rise. "Ugh. Twice in a day, that's gotta be some sort of record."

Danny couldn't help but let out a frightened squeal. The person snapped around and spotted him cowering with his hands over his head against the base of the large tree.

"Who the fuck?" came the voice.

Suddenly, there were more voices shouting "Where'd that brat go?" and "Fuckin' blows man."

The person immediately scooped Danny up from behind and clamped a sweaty palm over his mouth.

"Shh," the person put a finger to their lips.

Danny's breathing was quick and heavy. His heart was racing like the hooves of a Ponyta galloping across the savannah. He held on tight to clumps of grass and earth for security, and squeezed his dark brown eyes shut. Despite the stranger's struggle to keep him quiet, Danny couldn't help but whimper through his nose.

"Marty, you hear that too?"

"It's gotta be that fuckin' kid."

Danny could hear someone stepping closer, but it was as if they were limping.

"Marty...are you sure you're alright?"

"I'm fuckin' fi- AH!"

"Ey, Ey! Take it easy, alright. When we get home, I can make you some of that tea you like. It'll make you feel better." The voice paused, "And, if you want, it doesn't have to be the only thing making you feel better."

"Sh-shut the fuck up, Tony!"

Danny could see the man called Tony putting his hands up in a surrendering pose. Tony continued on angrily despite the gesture.

"First, that little fucker went and blinded Carl, then nearly killed Ralphie with that fuckin' Frillish," started Tony, "and now the kid's gone and roughed up my precious angel." He coddled and embraced the other goon in mock-affection, or at least Danny thought they were kidding…

"Would ya cut that out? We still gotta find that kid."

"Right, and when we do, I'm gonna rip em' limb from limb."

The footsteps sounded closer, and soon the bushes near them began to shake, and rattle. The stranger's bear-grip on Danny became tighter and he could feel their body tense up. This didn't help to calm him down. His breathing increased and his heart rate sky-rocketed. He began to claw frenziedly at the stranger's hand, begging for release. The stranger wrestled him still and the hug began to feel more like an Ekans constricting him. He could do nothing but cry as the shaking and footsteps got closer and closer.

"Yo Marty! Tony! Lillipup's got a lead! The bitch went back to the city!" a third voice called out.

The shaking stopped, and Danny could hear the footsteps run off until they were nothing more than a distant memory.

"Fuckers need to get a new bloodhound. Haha-OW!" Danny bit down hard into the hand covering his mouth. This apparently worked, as the stranger jumped up, releasing him from their death hold. Danny scrambled to get to his feet, but the stranger slammed their foot down onto the long sleeve of his hoodie and pinned it to the forest floor. They pulled their arm back and clenched their fist, ready to sock him.

"Please!" he cried, "I don't have any money!"

The stranger looked at him, perplexed.

"I don't want your money, kid." Now that he had a clear view, Danny could see that the stranger was handsome. His short, red hair accented his face perfectly, and his biceps, although somewhat scrawny, were nicely toned.

"O-Oh," Danny flustered, becoming aware of the attractive stranger's intentions "I understand…" his face burned bright red as he began to lift his sweater up.

"No, man! What the fuck are you doing!?" The stranger was quick to pull Danny's shirt back down.

"Oh... right. You want to be the one to undress me…"

"No! Nobody's stripping! The hell's wrong with you, kid?"

Danny's face flushed with embarrassment, and his hands were quick to cover it.

"I'm sorry!"

"Here, just... just get up!" The stranger held out his hand for Danny.

He looked up into the stranger's dark, red eyes before tentatively placing his hand into the stranger's. The stranger's grasp was strong and firm. Danny could feel his strength, as he pulled him up to his feet. Now that they were both standing, he noticed the height difference. Danny was a good 5'7" and the stranger seemed to be several inches shorter. It didn't bother Danny, though. He was too stunned by the beauty of the boy standing before him.

"Th-thank you…" Danny said shyly.

"Don't mention it. Wait... do I... do I know you from somewhere? I feel like I've seen your face before... What's your name?"

Danny jumped. This was just like the start of the romance novel he had been reading. The dashing prince rescuing the poor, but beautiful maiden, and asking for her name.

"Um, D-danny," he managed to sputter out.

"Danny... Daaaaannnyyyy," The stranger rolled the name, as if trying to remember where he had heard it. Danny liked the way his name sounded on this stranger's tongue. It made him shiver. Or maybe that was the morning air, considering Danny was wearing shorts that stopped mid-thigh.

"OH! I remember now! You're that one kid!" Danny stared blankly at the stranger, confused. "Haha, my bros and I holla'd at you the other day!" Danny's face painted a ghastly white as he remembered the poignant memory.

-D-

It was about 3 weeks ago, when he had just moved to Castelia City from Mahogany town in the Johto region. He had been out running a few errands for his mother and was just returning home. As he neared his street, he heard the sharp sound of someone whistling. He froze in his tracks.

"Aye lil mama! You got a name, or do they just call you sweet cheeks?"

Danny was used to flushing red, but this time his face burned so badly that he had to cover it with both of his hands, thus dropping the paper bag of groceries to the floor.

"You got a number or something, baby?"

"I-I don't have a PokéGear!" Danny spurted out and then proceeded to run. As he did, he heard the voice say "what the fuck is a pokégear?"

-D-

"Yo-you're that person?!"

"I prefer Vitoya, but yeah. I'm that person."

"P-PokéGear is every trainer's essential device!"

"What?"

Danny turned crimson and covered his mouth. That was such a dumb thing to say! Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!

"Anyway, sorry 'bout the other day. My pal has a little crush on you, but fuck man, he's too much of a wimp to ask your name or your number or somethin'. I was just trying to speed up the process, you know?"

Danny kept his head down to hide his mortification, and remained silent.

"Well, Danny. What exactly is a guy like you doing out here in fuck-bottom nowhere at 4 am? You ain't a part of some secret late-night Arceus worship circle are you?"

Danny shook his head no. Then he remembered just what he was doing crouching in a bush at 4 am. Earlier that night he had lost something precious to him.

"M-my….my bag! I lost my bag!" He cried out.

"Keep it down, would you?" He raised his arms as if ready to pounce and silence him again. "Oh fuck, your bag? Another fuckin' fashionista? As if I didn't already have to deal with Selina!"

"No! I-inside! My-my-m-m-my Knight!" He stuttered out between a flood of tears.

"Your knight? Shit, kid. This isn't dungeons and dragons!"

"It is! D-dragon!" he cried. Tears continued to roll down his cheeks in fat droplets.

"Hey, calm down man," Vitoya took Danny by the shoulders, one hand on each. For a moment, his touch felt comforting. But then Vitoya began to shake him.

"CALM. DOWN. It's embarrassing, man!" His tears began to flow faster, but he tried to stifle them.

Vitoya waited until Danny had settled down to the point where he was only shaking and his sniffles were just occasional.

"Now, do you want to tell me what's up?" Vitoya tried. Danny inhaled deeply.

"My bag... my Pokémon was in there. And... and I lost it!"

"Shit man, why didn't you say so? I'll help you." Danny's eyes lit up.

"You will?"

"For a price."

"What?!"

"Chill, ya idiot, I'm kidding. Sure, why not? I'll help ya. I've got one condition though: no more fuckin' crying," he laughed minutely.

Danny nodded earnestly and jumped to his feet with new-found resolve. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a shadow jump down from a branch, and squealed. When he opened his eyes, he saw a calm-looking Pansage handing Vitoya some sort of cloth.

"Oh, my jacket. Thanks, Ses." He scratched behind the Pokémon's ear, and slipped the dark gray zip-up hoodie on.

"Is that your Pokémon?" Danny asked, taking a tentative step closer.

"No, I've just accepted a jacket from a wild Pokémon," he said, his tone flat and sarcastic. Danny felt foolish. "Kidding again. This is Sesame. He's more than my pokémon, he's my partner."

Danny nodded in understanding. Not only was this person charming, he also seemed to have a deep connection with his Pokémon. Danny felt considerably less high strung, and went to offer the Pansage his hand. Sesame looked at it for a moment, before slapping it aside.

"Sorry, he isn't too fond of strangers."

"I feel the same way you know."

"Not fond of me?" He smirked again jokingly, mirth sparkled in his moonlit eyes.

"Oh, no! That's not what I meant! I'm very fond of you! Wait that's not what I meant either!" Danny bit the inside of his lip and took a breath before starting again, "I meant about my Pokémon. My partner. Knight is my best friend." Danny took another wobbly breath before adding, "and I lost him."

Vitoya looked at the boy with something comparable to sympathy.

"All the more reason to find that bag."

-D-

Note: Yo, it's D, the co-author of this story and author of this chapter! I'd just like to clarify that Danny believes that Vitoya is a dude. Like that wasn't already obvious. Anyway, I hope you're enjoying this so far! I had my baby almost strip for ya'll ;)

V whispers: vitoya almost stripped too, you know. last chapter. heh. sort of. but not really. just kinda lifts her shirt. like danny.

Fun Fact: The third goon's name is Larson. His Lillipup is 'special.' He adores it, calls it his 'Lillibaby', and it barks like a kitten's first meow. Additionally, the three Zebstrika from the last chapter all belong to Marty.

Bonus Alternative Crack!scene:

"Ses? Ses is more than my pokemon, he's my partner!"

Danny's face paled and his heart stopped for a second. Partner? Had he stumbled upon another furry? soME ONE WHO UNDERSTANDS? O JOY! FINALLY SOMEONE HE COULD SHARE HIS PAIN WITH