The soft music hummed through the room. It was closing time and a lone figure was mopping the floor. The clock read 1:30 in the morning, it's ticking as loud as the radio playing behind the bar. It had been only a week since he started his job here and already he hated it, he hated being around humans again. Red decided that after his years without contact of the outside world he needed money, there was only so much nature could provide in the modern day world. He has gotten himself a small flat in Blackthorn City, right at the edge near the gym and the Dragon's Den. Only two days in the city he landed himself a job in a busy gastro pub that catered for tourists and locals. Blackthorn these days had become a huge destination for tourists, the town in which Red had come to before had built itself into a 'capital' city of the Johto region and rivalled that of the likes of Lilycove over in the Hoenn region.
Its main attraction nowadays was Clair, the local Gym Leader which had become one of the toughest trainers in the world, her Gym was on the point of unbeatable now, it was more a testing ground for new aspiring Dragon masters, to become like their hero, Lance the Dragon Master.
Red wiped his brown, his black t-shirt sticking to him with sweat, on his chest bore the logo and name of the establishment, The Dragonite Feast. He took the mop bucket outside and emptied it down the drain in the beer garden, the scent of exotic wild flowers and cigarettes assaulted his scene of smell. Taking a seat Red pulled out a packet of his own 'cancer sticks' and lit it up, taking the smoke deep into his lungs with one mighty pull. Leaning back the bangs fell out of his eyes and he stared out into the night's sky. No stars shone tonight, how can they with all the light pollution? Red leaned back down onto the table and took another pull before hitting the ash off the end of the cigarette into the ash tray. He had picked up smoking two years ago now, he felt it helped him with the problems he mentally dealt every day of his life. Red's hair was medium, it fell down to his the base of his neck, down by the side of his face and just hung over his eyes. Red's right ear had two piercings, both with small right hoops in the earlobe and the left had one.
Red always took time to reflect on his past, and for the last week it was always when he finished. The Kanto native remembered days of glory past, the potential he once had as a trainer, the victory he almost tasted and the heartbreak he endured to end his career. Without noticing Red was fingering his necklace that a small pokeball hung from. His brown eyes where lifeless as they stared at a couple of pink flowers, and again he took another pull from the cigarette, wondering into thought Red imaged how he lived in the wilderness, battling the elements for a good nights sleep, it was unlike what he was used to, this was the first time Red ever travelled alone. However that said, his pokemon grew to new strengths he never imagined possible. New additions to his group ended up being the most powerful he ever owned, the only older ones that were able to keep their title and remain in that circle was his powerhouse lizard, Charizard, and the overgrown sleeping mass known as Snorlax. Red had many close calls with death during his time in the wild. Running into aggressive pokemon and people didn't help either, but he learnt to defend himself and greatly improve his social skills. He was happy that the naïve little run of a boy he once was grew up, he moaned in frustration every time he thought about it, mentally kicking himself for the annoying runt that he once was. Now twenty, Red had grown into a young man.
Quenching the cigarette, Red, placed the mop bucket into the cleaning store cabinet which was located in the beer garden and returned inside. Taking one last final check, he turned off all the light switches and sighed, another nine hours and he'd be back on. Red's personality and spirit were that of someone who craved adventure, this job, this routine was a prison for him. Opening the door Red pulled out another cigarette and lit it, closing the door behind him, "I hate this shit" His voice deep and proud, yet behind it was a broken man.
The flat was small, only a hallway that ran into a kitchen, then from the kitchen was two doors, a bathroom and bedroom. Each door the wooden frame had scratches and the looks of wood worm in them, the walls where white, but now dampness had formed in the corners, the tiles around the cooker and sink had the beginnings of mould in them. The air tasted stale and the sound of a dripping tap sliced through the silent apartment. Rain banged off the glass while thunder rumbled off in the distance. On one of the wooden chairs in the kitchen saw a jackal pokemon known as a Lucario, his colouring was different to most other Lucario, he was pure black with a hint of white on his nose. Sitting there he looked the paper.
Lucario had become Red's pokemon three years ago. To him he often saw his master as a cold hearted man but behind it all there was warmth that had been locked away for whatever reason he couldn't phantom. Instead Lucario had come to accept it, it was who his master was, and he'd died for him. They met when Lucario was training near a lake in Sinnoh, Red stumbled through some bushes and fainted. Lucario was hesitant at the beginning but eventually nursed him back to health. It took many days but eventually Red come to. The days seemed like years when they first started sharing each other's company, on the fourth day they began to relax around each other and swiftly became friends, although Red never talked much, Lucario didn't need him to. Forming a strong friendship over the next three months, Lucario and Red, trained every day together and so did Red's pokemon. Lucario was amazed at their condition, perfect and beyond normal strength for their species. It was then Lucario mentioned it to Red that he should consider battling professionally, stating he would be a perfect candidate to take on Cynthia, currently the most powerful champion out there and world's strongest. Heck, Lucario even stated Red and his pokemon could take on the High Champion, also known as the pokemon Master!
Red lost it and swung for Lucario, unprepared, it hit him brutally in the face and Red continued to beat him until blood came out. It was only at the sight of the red substance that Red stopped and jumped off him. Lucario stared at Red with questioning eyes and felt his jaw was cracked. Red didn't say anything and went to bed. The next morning Red collected his pokemon and began to leave until Lucario stopped him, begging for a chance to become one of Red's pokemon he reluctantly agreed.
Lucario had been with Red ever since, he never explained to him why, but he knew could make him stronger, and not only that but Lucario always questioned what the pokeball around Red neck held. He knew that Red released him or her the odd time when no one was around but the mystery practically consumed him. Something that drove him wild, but whoever it was, they held an extreme amount of power, from inside that ball Lucario could sense an aura that he could never hope to achieve.
Lucario put down the paper he was reading and moved over to the fridge, reading the clock on the wall Lucario knew that Red would be home soon and took out some bacon. Moving over to the cooker he placed the pan on the ring and began heating up the pan, how he missed the freedom of the outdoors, living in the wild. This flat seemed like a prison, only a week and he hated it.
Red walked up the stairs, his purple hoody drenched, the badly lit hallway to his apartment made it seem like he was drunk. Placing his hands in for his keys he pulled them out with a jingle. Placing them into his door he could smell the bacon cooking and smiled, Lucario was such a good roommate, and less hassle then a human companion. Before he fully turned the key the door behind him opened. Out popped a young girl, around twenty five, her body skinny and her chest large, her black curls fell around and framed her face perfectly. Her green eyes bore into him and yet she wore a loving smile. She was the daughter of the landlord, her attire consisted of a plain large white t-shirt and small black boxers. Red turned and smiled at him, in the week that he was here she made him feel welcome.
"Hi" She murmured weakly, almost shy. Her left hand fidgeting with the end of her t-shirt, Red response was a grunt, but a soft one. "Late night?" This time she looked at him in the eye.
Nodding he answered "Yeah, but it pays the bills" She chuckled. Her voice soft and innocent, then she noticed how wet he was.
"Dear lord your soaked" Her voice full of worry. "Come in, let me give you a change of clothes and get you out of those wet ones"
Red waved it off "Thank you for your kind offer, Shirley, but I'll need to dry them anyways for tomorrow" Then he turned back to the door "Goodnight" And he stepped inside leaving her there, Red tried to keep contact with people to a minimum whenever he had to talk to them.
Lucario heard the door close and Red walked into the kitchen, bowing he pointed to the table, "Thanks" Red spoke, "But I'll leave it tonight, you eat it" Lucario nodded and helped himself, secretly he was hurt that Red didn't want any after his effort. Red stripped off and placed his wet clothes in the dryer, turning it on he stretched, lighting up another cigarette Lucario talked to him telepathically,
"Should you really still be smoking them?"
"Yeah, why not?" Red raised an eyebrow. "My choice"
Lucario didn't answer and eat away at the bacon, after his cigarette Red stubbed it out in the skin, "Night, I'm exhausted, see you tomorrow" He said out loud, and without looking back went to bed. Lucario was left alone in the kitchen eating, staring at the clock and listening to the rain outside, he hated this…