Nothing much to say here, honestly, except that the story switches point-of-view every now and then. It's all still in third-person, but I'm going for a third-person limited here, as a way to practice my POVs since I tend to have issues with it at times. So let's move right along in this little slice-of-life we got going on.
Enjoy!
Chapter One
Rays of sunshine broke through Mewtwo's subconscious when his aching body flipped over with a sigh. He blinked over at the window right across from him, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he slowly became adjusted to the light. He chose to lay there until then, fighting back the temptation for more sleep when his mind drifted off. As the dream still lingered in reach, he chuckled quietly to himself. How odd it was the one memory he cherished felt like it happened only yesterday.
On a technicality, it happened yesterday five years ago.
Realizing his right arm was tingling from numbness, Mewtwo looked beside him to find the sleeping, happy figure of Mew cuddling his limb close. While possibly more from sleep than from last night, her fur was still sticking up, but her coat otherwise had a healthy sheen. He reached up as far as he could move his arm to caress her chest, feeling like he was touching a cotton ball (which he loved to tease her about). Gentle as he was, she may have felt his touch for she began to stir and her paw blindly reached out, finding his arm and tracing it down to his intruding hand. Her eyes fluttered open, though she appeared unresponsive for several more moments as she gained consciousness.
Watching her take her time to wake brought a loving smile to his lips. "Good morning, my dear," he whispered. "Did you sleep well?"
While still continuing to nod from the little sleep that was left in her system, her vision darted up to lock with his. With a tired "mmm" gurgling in her throat, and once she could hold her eyes open longer than a few seconds, she let out a decipherable giggle, her irises sparkling. "'Morning, Mewtwo." Sluggishly hoisting herself up, she curled her arms around him to trace her fingers along his shoulders, and pressed a kiss to his nose. "I can't remember, how many times did I thank you last night?"
"Many times."
Quietly snickering, her tail inched over his thighs, sending a thrill up his lower half. "Then once again, thank you for such a wonderful night, Mewtwo."
"The pleasure was all mine."
Grinning at the double entendre and memory of the previous night, they shared a slow, deep kiss. Mewtwo lightly felt around the back of her head before sliding his hand down to rest between her shoulder blades. Mew giggled into his lips as she squirmed a little. "Think we have time for one more go?" she purred.
"Time is non-existent here," he started saying, "but unfortunately, I am not a time lord. So I do not know what time it is."
"Just a little quick one." A sly smile spread on her face when they briefly parted. "I'll let you pick."
A brow rose knowingly. "Are you sure you are up for it?"
When she giggled again, her smile turned anxious. "Well, when you put it that way..."
He playfully growled as he rolled over on top. "Do not worry, Mew," he said seductively. "You are in good hands." He wriggled a hand to emphasize, then slipped it down her body, just below the covers.
Mew threw her head back into the pillow at the touch, gripping the sheets immediately. "Why did you go with the puns?" she gasped, gazing starry-eyed up at him as her heart began to race.
Mewtwo chuckled. "They come in handy." A crooked grin then flashed when he flicked his tail into view for a brief moment, giving a wink. "I honestly did not want you to get the tail-end of it all."
"Ohh, that was awful," she moaned, though she did let out a breathy laugh. "You're terrible at one-liners."
"You know you love them." He leaned in to press foreheads, her lips dropping open with a pleasurable cry as her hips started to jerk in rhythm. Eyes squeezing shut, she shot her hands up to grasp his upper arms the moment her body made the sharp climb to its peak.
He personally loved it whenever she just breathed, either normal or aroused, quiet or rapid, he took what he could get. There was something alluring about the way her sighs carried many meanings in one puff she couldn't express in words—in this moment, from the way her moans escalated and caught in her throat at times, she was singing best she could, but hadn't had the time to prepare herself. He couldn't help smiling, yet it was from that detail alone he chose to slow his strokes. Mew reacted accordingly, gazing up at him with a silent plea for more. He could lose himself in those deep blues if he was allowed to.
Then he abruptly paused, glancing over to the door. "I sense a presence approaching."
While a little upset at the interruption, Mew looked under the covers before slipping out of bed. "I'll go greet them while you compose yourself," she sighed out.
"There is a subtle hand joke in there somewhere."
She teasingly smacked his shoulder and flew out of their bedroom. Mewtwo chuckled in her place, stretching his arms over his head as he got to his feet. He went for the window first, carefully peeking through the curtains to avoid catching any sun in his eyes. Staring out into the forest, scarcely damp from last night's microburst, he managed to spot a Pokémon jog out of sight—the neighboring Swampert was just finishing his daily morning run. It was his second-biggest clue that he and Mew slept in, which he chose to shrug off this time around.
Their anniversary night wasn't too different from other nights even after going through lengths to make it a little more special. They lasted longer than normal for taking their time with one-another, however, Mew insisted on talking to keep themselves awake, so they had rested off-and-on in between rounds. Most of it left her in a giggly mood, possibly from the combination of non sequitur and exhaustion as the night went on. It came to a halt when the microburst shook his already-sensitive mate up she kicked him in the ribs out of reflex, and almost knocked herself out hitting her head against the bedpost. It was only once she and the weather calmed down that they could turn in. Thus, their anniversary ended on a slightly awkward note, though it reminded him of their inside joke about how they love each other so much only the heavens could pull them apart.
Yes... to be so in love for divine intervention to separate them possibly sounded odd or even absurd to most other beings. But for them, it was like an achievement they wished to continue to uphold, or even trump. Such a thought brought him to smile as he pulled away from the window to check their bed. The wood frame would still hold them up, but it was about time to change the mattress from what he could feel crackle beneath the sheets. Of the many things Mewtwo was thankful for, this was one of them. It was the norm where they lived; helped lessen the embarrassment to know they weren't the only ones fixing their beds.
Having that feeling Mew was going to be a while with the visitor, he went ahead to start the morning chores.
The feline took her time getting to the front room, not wanting to make it look like she had waited for the knock by the door. Meandering to the kitchen, she fell into a slight daze in the meantime, still feeling the sensuality from moments ago. "Five years, huh?" she sighed to herself, absentmindedly glancing about. "And out of that five, only four in this place. A little hard to believe it."
A smile cracked on her face at the thought. Many things changed within the past few years since moving to the quiet forest, a site Mewtwo had found while they were still at the cave. They built the house together, got to know the neighboring Pokémon, watched their families slowly grow—few of the many memories she held for the place. She remembered it not being as big, though she was sure it was because she hadn't explored the area a lot then. All she knew from the others and her mate was it had been a community for at least a generation, the nearby surrounding mountain range making it a haven from human eyes.
Mew knew such places existed, even had visited a few in her lifetime, still she wondered why this particular one won their hearts over. Mewtwo said he had her in mind when he was looking around, which must have been good enough for her at the time. She had room to travel, had Pokémon to travel with, a lot of trees, sun and fresh air—the necessities of life she always had. There was no real reason for them to live here when she had seen much better communities.
Her thoughts were interrupted when the door hinge knocked rapidly against the wood. Pressing her cheeks briefly to check her smile, she flew into the front room to unlock the door, revealing a Mismagius hovering outside, her golden eyes notably glowing from the shade of her hat-like extension. Mew's irises lit up in surprise. "Marjorie! I didn't expect to see you here."
"I'm full of surprises." The specter chuckled a little, lifting one of her tassels to her jagged mouth. An eye ridge quirked as she scanned her. "Rough night?"
The feline sheepishly grinned, and tried to smooth down some bits of her fur. "Yeah, pretty much. These summer nights have been brutal, let me tell you."
The trademark Mismagius smile grew a little sly. "Late-night romps will do that to you."
Mew sucked in a harsh breath, feeling her face burn. "Were we really that loud?"
"Oh, I wouldn't know. But the hips don't lie, honey."
She glanced down at herself, then quickly laid her hands over them. "I told him not to hold on so tight," she hissed, scrunching her eyes shut.
Marjorie laughed. "They're not that noticeable. Besides, you're always flustering over it like a newly-mate. How long has it been again, four... four-and-a-half..."
"Our anniversary was just last night."
The specter's eyes sparkled. "Ohhh, exciting news! And Tuesday is tomorrow, so does that mean you're sticking with the weekly sche—"
"What is it you want, Marjorie?" Mew quickly changed the subject, starting to fidget in place. "I'd love to talk all day with you, but I don't have the time today."
Her mouth transitioning to a straight line for a moment, Marjorie let out a nonchalant sigh. "Oh, I was on my way back from Wigs' place after dropping off Missy—I'm taking her someplace Wednesday," she added to the side, "and since I was already out-and-about, I thought I'd come and visit."
Feeling some regret, Mew forced herself to smile. "That's very thoughtful of you to stop by."
"Thank you. Oh yes, have you heard—actually no, I haven't told anyone yet." Scrunching her face in thought, the ghost just shrugged it off. "Eh. Anyway, I found myself a new date!"
At the word, the cat's ears perked up, and her smile became more genuine. "Glad to hear that! Is he nice?"
"I don't know yet. I'm supposed to be meeting him here soon, so I'm not going to help pick Lil's strawberries today."
"When did you get a blind date?"
"I don't know, my sister hooked me up with him." The Mismagius' expression faltered in slight disappointment. "I'm not fond of her personal tastes, per se, but I can't be picky. Missy needs a father, you know."
Mew nodded, remembering clearly the day her friend's mate, after months of fighting and heartbreak over neglect and infidelity, left the forest without another word. It was believed he ran off with a mistress, as he hadn't been seen since. Missy was very young at the time, but she sometimes asked about her father and if he was coming back. Such questions were what convinced her mother to start searching for a new mate.
Breaking away from the depressing memory, she said as happily as possible, "I wish you luck, Marjorie."
Marjorie grasped her paws with her tassels in a relieved countenance. "You're such a dear, Mew," she whispered. "Thanks so much for listening. I needed to get it off my chest, but I don't want to bring attention to myself."
"I can't blame you."
With a nod, she released her and turned to leave before her eyes lit up in remembrance. "Oh, before I go, Blissey is pregnant with another egg again."
Mew blinked, surprised but confused. "Which one? There are two working at the clinic."
"The one who kept carrying her baby around before it hatched, I can't think of her name..."
"Basil," she said, then her eyes widened a little as she leaned forward. "And is it really Basil? Didn't the egg just hatch like a few months ago?"
Marjorie nodded. "That's right. But I've heard that this new egg might not be her mate's."
Mew shook her head thinking of what the Granbull's reaction to the news would be like. "No... No, that can't be right. I mean, they've been having problems lately, but..." She searched her friend's face as though it held the answer. "Are you sure, Marjorie? Grant is going to be heart-broken if that's true."
The specter shrugged, lightly tossing her head back. "I can't be sure at the moment, that's just what I learned when I was at the doctor's yesterday. I overheard the other nurses whispering about it."
The feline frowned, glancing over her shoulder into the house as if expecting Mewtwo to be nearby. "Who's believed to be the father, then?" she brought her voice down to a whisper.
"Who else could it be? Dr. Mime is the only other male in the clinic."
A tremor ran down her spine as the doctor's face came to mind. She had no personal qualms with the Mr. Mime, but while he was the community doctor, she had always found him a little unsettling. Check-ups were normally awkward as she tended to squirm a lot whenever he was in the room, and it was Mewtwo's presence that had kept her from making regrettable decisions. The last time they had a physical months back, Dr. Mime had said some flirt or tease with one of the receptionists that even made her mate embarrassed. In the exam room, she had spotted in the hazard bin what looked to be a form of contraception, though it was too hazy to make out. She put two and two together later that day, coming to the conclusion he was holding affairs in the clinic, even if there wasn't much proof.
After a quick swallow, Mew stammered out, "Y-Yeah, I'm not buying it. Besides, I don't think the two are compatible."
Marjorie nonchalantly shrugged. "You never know until you knock it. I think that's how the saying goes."
"I think that's for something else entirely," the feline sighed out, scratching at an ear.
"Eh." The ghost looked up at the sky. "Anyway, I need to get going. We both have men to attend to."
Mew looked back when she heard a clatter resound from the kitchen. "I think my man needs help making breakfast."
Snickering, her neighbor ran a tassel along her rim extension. "I'm so jealous of you two. Well, I'll talk to you later, Mew."
"See you, Marjorie." Once the Mismagius vanished with a twirl, she shut the door, her frown hardening. She wasn't a big fan of her friend's gossiping habit, but rumors were quick to spread in the forest community—and not all were debunked as misunderstandings. The longer she dwelled on it, the more Mew grew suspicious and worried.
Letting out a small breath, she started heading for the kitchen before a knock stopped her. Holding back another sigh, she backed herself to the door, spinning around when she opened it. She blinked in surprise at the sight of a Fearow with an envelope in his wing. "Oh, good morning," she politely greeted, giving a small nod.
He bowed his head in response, a smile in his eyes. "And a good morning to you, ma'am. I see you're doing well."
She blushed a little. "Thanks. Were you late doing your rounds this morning?"
"Nah, I always make two trips."
To add more to the odd neighborhood, Fearow was the messenger who usually was the connection between them and other communities. She remembered the first time they were given a message out of the blue upon moving in, though it was more-or-less a message from the whole forest welcoming them when most couldn't stop by themselves. Over time, like word had spread across the globe, he would drop off various messages from old acquaintances they never expected to hear from again. According to him, there were more messengers out there, but since they never found out if he had a mate, they suspected he had enough time to fly around himself.
Mew glanced back down at the envelope, unable to recall the last time they had gotten a written note. "This is a peculiar message," she stated, gesturing to the item.
Fearow just shrugged a little. "It's nothing urgent, even though the Pokémon that handed it to me specifically questioned if I knew Mewtwo personally." He handed it over. "It was weird, honestly. I have no idea how it knew that."
"I can't think of any other Psychic Pokémon off the top of my head who does," she mused, holding it up to the light. She recognized the markings on the front as writing, but couldn't decipher it. "Mmm, can't read it. I'm getting that feeling it's human language."
"Oh, is that what it was?" he said, leaning in for a look. "Huh. The Pokémon didn't say anything about humans."
"Who was the Pokémon, by the way?"
"A Charizard. Yeah, I was a little surprised, too," he added when he caught her brows rising. "You don't see many Charizard in these parts. Something tells me he was flying far."
"Did he have any unusual markings on him?"
He shook his head. "Looked normal to me, though he looked really powerful. Must work out or something." Fluffing his feathers, Fearow stepped back and gave a small salute. "Well, I'm off. Take care, Mew."
She waved. "Thank you, Fearow. Have a good day; don't hurt yourself."
Snorting a laugh, he flapped his wings once to shoot up over the treetops. The moment he was gone, Mew scanned the area for more potential visitors before finally retreating into the house. Making her way to the kitchen, she kept her head down at the envelope, smoothing her hands over it and wishing she could read the language.
"Was Fearow late again?" She looked up at Mewtwo, only to quickly bite back a sudden burst of laughter, bringing him to frown. "I take it was funny and I missed it, or you are bad at visual imagery. It is one of the two."
She didn't really understand what he meant to say for she was too distracted by the spot of berry jam on his face, which she confirmed from glancing at the counter was the result of him knocking over the jar earlier. Licking her hand, she reached up to wipe it away, though he backed up a little.
"Well, you're bad in the kitchen," she replied in a joking manner, tossing the envelope onto the table to get a better hold on him. "Hold still, Mewtwo, you got jam on your face."
A smirk suddenly flashed. "Is it really?"
Mew felt herself recoil, but knew better than to fall for it. "Nice try. You can't scare me like that." She happened to look down at his hands, then gave him a look. "You're handling food with these? Really?" Without warning, he grasped her face and roughly massaged it. "Mewtwo, what are you doing?!" she shrieked, flailing about in his hold.
His expression went unchanged. "There we are. Now you look better suited for the kitchen this morning."
"Noooo, it'll be a pain to wash off!" Freeing herself, she hurried to the sink and leaned into the running water, furiously scrubbing her face. When she sensed Mewtwo come up behind her, she chucked the washcloth at him, which ended up sticking to his chest. "Why would you do something like that? That's awful," she huffed, crossing her arms.
"I love you, too." Peeling the cloth off himself, he once more grabbed her face, but this time to clean her up.
She mewled a little in protest, yet a smile found its way onto her lips as she relaxed in place. Without a pause, they gazed at each other for a few moments (though they were a long few moments), a faint blush glowing on her cheeks as his eyes began twinkling. Hooking her fingers on his left hand that rested on her jawline, she slowly stroked along one of his digits, tracing out his knuckles. He squeezed back in response, letting go once he tossed the washcloth into the sink basin and moved for the envelope.
"Do you recognize this, by any chance?" he questioned, holding it up.
Still in a daze, Mew shook her head. "I can't read what's on it. It must be for you."
Brows raised in interest, Mewtwo carefully ripped it open. "Who was the first visitor, may I ask?"
"Oh, Marjorie. Just wanted to drop by, say 'hi', have a... small chat." She shrugged, watching as he pulled out a few cards. He first looked at the smaller ones, blinking down at it before turning his attention to the folded piece of paper which he opened. After scanning it and glancing up at her, he read it out loud:
"'If you receive this, then I was lucky enough to find you, so this was specially mailed. Even though I have a feeling you may not be interested in it, I am asking as a precaution anyway. I have a place in mind where, if you agree to show up—and I do not blame you if you choose not to—you can watch from the shadows away from the eyes of the guests, yet so I will be able to catch a glance. However, I will need your response as soon as possible. Signed, Ash K.'"
Mew zipped over for a look herself, though she stared upon what looked to be a photograph of a young dark-haired man accompanied by a woman hugging him from behind with a wide smile that matched his. She canted her head at it, glancing back and forth between Mewtwo and the picture, noticing his gaze having a slight far-away look to it.
"Do you know him, by any chance?"
His voice when he responded was quiet, "I do indeed."
The letter was steadily being forgotten, slipping in the clone's hold until she gently took it to set on the table. They then turned their attention to the other card still in his hand, one that Mew thought looked like a check-list judging by the two squares printed on it. Mewtwo confirmed it as such after translating:
"'Because I am aware of long-distance, I need a list of individuals who may be coming to the ceremony and reception.'"
The feline's ear twitched. "A reception?"
"A type of get-together. Judging from the photograph, this is an announcement of a human engagement."
The thought of it brought a small, dreamy smile to her face. She knew of such human activity, finding it an odd piece of nature, yet somehow she admired it. "So... are you going?"
He looked over, a faint film over his eyes of a memory being reviewed over. "I have not seen him since he was a boy," he said without hesitation. "While I have heard of his accomplishments from time to time, we are hardly acquaintances now."
Mew's eyes drifted back to the picture. "Still, if you choose to go, am I not allowed to come with you? I mean, it didn't exactly say it anywhere, but..."
"Honestly, dear, it is more on my part."
"Why?"
Mewtwo briefly tipped her chin up. "It is for your protection. If you were to be seen, it would attract a lot of attention."
She stuck her bottom lip out a little. "You stand out more, though."
"I can stay in the shadows easier and soundlessly, it is right there in black and white." He reached back to lightly tap the paper. "Besides, have you ever seen a human ceremony?"
"Sort of. But I still would like to go. I may not be familiar with him like you are, but I at least want him to know you are doing well." Mew touched his hand in a loving gesture.
"Well, I am not going." He dropped the invitation on top of the letter and stepped over to the counter to put the bin away.
She picked it back up. "He thought of you, Mewtwo. You could at least acknowledge it."
"It is a nice gesture, but I have made my decision. In the mood for rolled omelet?"
"I was going to make egg rolls—anyway, we don't know when the date is, right?" When he nodded, she flew up to him to hold out the checklist. "He just needs a list of possible guests so he can plan for the date."
"My answer will be 'no'."
Mew frowned, staring at it like it would give her helping tips. "Well... can you think about it? You don't have to come up with an answer today."
Mewtwo cocked a brow over at her. "It sounds like you really want me out of the house. Is there something going on?"
"Of course not! Though it would be a nice change of pace if you got out more." She pinched his cheeks to stretch them out, ignoring the warning glint in his eyes. "You're looking pale, and you've gained a few pounds." She giggled a little upon releasing him. "Not that I mind, since it makes the cuddling more bearable."
"Make up your mind, want me to exercise the weight off or not?"
"Whatever you want, dear. Just not to the point you get really chubby or really thin. Although..." Slyly, she trailed her eyes to his abdomen, where a smirk found its way out of her. "I hear strong abs are ideal."
"My eyes are up here, Mew."
"I know. Let me fantasize a little bit longer."
He released a small huff, turning away to get the utensils and ingredients. Mew kept him in her sights to visually study him even though he deliberately avoided looking at her. She tried to insert idealized structures, but they didn't fit him. She was delighted either way, feeling her gaze drift in a dreamlike state as she held herself. When he paused at the make-shift gas stove with the frying pan at the ready, eggs in hand over a bowl, his sigh broke her concentration.
"I will have my answer within three days."
Smiling, she hugged him tightly around the neck, and he leaned his head on hers in return. "You forgot the soy sauce," she whispered cheekily when he started cracking the eggs. Patting his shoulder, she pulled away to gather it from their shelf. "I'll get right to it. Oh, yeah, aren't you going somewhere today?"
Mewtwo perked up, his face softening. "Yes, I was asked to reassess the home that was recently finished and make any necessary renovations."
"They're the new neighbors, aren't they?" She chewed on her lip in thought as she combined and mixed the side seasonings into a smaller glass bowl. "The... Azumarill and Golduck who introduced themselves the other day?"
"The very same couple."
She giggled. "That's so sweet of you to go help them."
"We do not want any house fires or gas leakage, unless you do not mind that."
She waved off the last bit. "I'm sure this community is very happy to have you here. Spending time around human cities was worth it after all."
He puffed out his chest. "I built my own laboratory before I traveled. It would have not made a difference."
"I'm mated to a supercomputer, I forgot." She playfully stuck out her tongue when she passed on the bowl, ignoring the look he gave her while he strained the two mixes together. "Do you have an estimate of when you'll be back?"
"It should not be for a few hours unless other circumstances turn up."
"How are you going to let me know?"
"Want me to call you?"
A useful technique among the Psychic Pokémon was the ability to have a psychic connection between loved ones. While Mew remembered using it when she was a kitten, she had very few mates who were Psychics, though they rarely tapped into it either because the connection never strengthened or it was cut off once the male left. Mewtwo was new to the technique, so for the first year of them living together, part of their bonding meant tapping into it, and then exercising it. Normally, it was a way to link thoughts between one or more beings through a limited distance, but their closeness took it a step further to the point they could read each other's hearts—which they saved for their intimate moments.
Pushing back a developing blush, she shook her head. "A note will be just fine. It is not like you're going to travel very far."
He nodded. "Very well. It will be on the door if I return before you."
"Need a lunch just in case?"
"I will be fine. How about you, 'Mother'?"
Mew rolled her eyes before answering, "Of course I'm going to eat before I meet up with the girls. I have to, or else I'll be eating every single berry I pick."
Mewtwo chuckled. "And you say I am putting on the pounds."
Scowling and puffing her cheeks a little from the tease and unable to think of a comeback, the feline tidied up the kitchen and dining table in silence while Mewtwo made their breakfast. Occasionally they shot faces at each other for cheap laughs, which lasted through the rest of the morning in between more conversations when she wasn't dreamily staring at her mate. She saw him off not long afterward and finished up the remaining housework, still finding dusty corners she missed from the previous day's spring-cleaning. Then after a quick lunch, she put on a straw sunhat, grabbed an empty basket, and made her way to the forest's edge, deeply breathing in the cool air.
"Mew, you made it!" A Wigglytuff of plump stature waved frantically once she was in view, a huge grin on her face, and a bandana on her head. Her free ears twitched in the small breeze. "I thought you slept in or something."
"Kinda did," she said, scratching the back of her neck. "Had a later breakfast than usual."
Her smile grew playful. "Did you two have a nice anniversary?"
Mew blushed, having forgotten that she knew the date. "Yeah, we did. Thanks for asking."
"You're so polite, Mew. You need to loosen up a little."
"Thanks for that, Wigs."
"See, there you go again!"
A Vileplume picked her head up from the nearby bush she was occupied with. "Hey, you ladies gonna help pick or not?" Across from her, a Lilligant quietly waved in a more courteous manner.
Giving a knowing aside, Wigs hopped down to one of the unoccupied rows of strawberries, Mew following after. "Viv's as grumpy as always," she sighed under her breath, shaking her head and pushing the loose curls back under the bandana. "Vic's still sick, and we all know how 'fun' that is. At least the little sprouts are well-behaved." She began her share of the picking, slowly making her way down.
The feline glanced over toward the Flower Pokémon, whose large petals were all she could see, before plucking the first fruit of the day. She inspected its ripened shape in the sunlight, her mouth watering before she knew it. "The season's been good to them, hasn't it," she mused.
"I'd say the exact opposite, I've never seen them so cran—oh, you mean the strawberries." Her friend smiled sheepishly. "Oh, yeah, they're beautiful. You've out-done yourself yet again, Lil!"
The addressed Lilligant shyly smiled over at them, giving a bow. "It's nothing special," she said with a soft voice. "Just takes a little water and some love, is all."
Wigs threw one into her mouth, eyes glazing over with happy tears as she chewed. "Unbelievable," she muttered. "No way, there just has to be a secret method she's using."
There was a snicker from behind, belonging to that of a Raichu Mew didn't realize was there. "What're you getting so dramatic about? Did you get into the cocoa again?"
"Naw, I wish!" the rabbit expelled out, one of her ears flicking. "I'm still really happy from this morning! Iggly said his first word today!"
"And that's exciting?" The electric mouse smiled cheekily, though her dark eyes twinkled under the shade of her hat. "But that's awesome news. What'd he say?"
Gazing up at the sky thoughtfully with furrowed brows, she said, "Something like 'Madaleji'—'mah-dahyl-gee'," she repeated phonetically. When the females all glanced at each other in confusion, she added, "I think he tried to say our names at the same time."
"I swear, you have the weirdest kids," Viv grunted. "Takes after you, I suppose."
Wigs shrugged. "Better me than Wiles, honestly."
Mew smiled at the imagery as she returned to picking the fruit, knowing from experience how the young Jigglypuff were never constant. She loved them for that, the reason she always looked forward to babysitting them. The family was still small when she and Mewtwo had first moved in, with their daughter Jig being just barely a year old Igglybuff. They were the first children she had watched, and somehow or another she did well enough, for not long afterwards did word spread and she eventually became the community's go-to sitter.
"Oh, Mew?"
She turned around to face the Raichu, folding the hat's brim up. "You need something, Rachelle?"
"Of course." She placed her paws together in a pleading manner. "Sorry it's such short notice—blame Rugby—but could you look after the kids for a few hours tomorrow evening? I can drop them off at your house if you'd like."
"I'm not busy, so I'll be happy to come over. I don't think Mewtwo's willing to let children run around yet."
She bowed in relief and thanks, then her expression became crafty. "So has babysitting my brood sworn you off kids, yet?"
Mew couldn't help laughing. "I love them, you know that. I look forward to my own someday." She turned her back to quickly pluck several strawberries in a row, rubbing off a seed that stuck to her finger.
She could feel Rachelle's smile directed at the back of her head. "You've been childless for a time now. Have you two ever thought about having children?"
The feline had to think on it, slightly debating with herself whether to answer or not before she did. "Mmm... I have. I think we only mentioned it once, but Mewtwo kinda backed up from it." She shrugged looking over her shoulder. "He doesn't mind kids, that much I can say."
"Can't blame him," piped up Viv, though her gaze remained on the strawberries. "Once Vic and I started having children, our sex drive plummeted."
Mew felt her face fall. "I don't think it's because of that..."
"It's all the hard work put into raising them, it puts off a lot of couples." The Wigglytuff gave a teasing smirk. "I remember when you two watched my kids for a whole week. I had never seen you guys look so exhausted."
"Yeah, but we still enjoyed it."
"I don't think it'll hurt to ask around, Mew," Rachelle said, giving a quick wink. "A lot of us don't feel like we're spending enough time with our mates. I love spending time with my children, don't get me wrong, but I do wish we had waited a little while longer. I have to really schedule the night in advance if I want something." She rolled her eyes briefly, though she maintained her smile. "But I wouldn't put it past you guys to keep up being spontaneous. That kind of closeness will help you in the long-run for sure. I sure learned that the hard way."
Viv huffed in agreement, her face noticeably softer.
"By the way, have you heard the news?" Wigs brought up in a louder tone, looking between the small group.
Mew inwardly flinched when the thought of the pregnant Blissey came to mind. "About what?" she inadvertently asked alongside Rachelle, who snickered when they realized it.
The Balloon Pokémon raised a brow almost in surprise. "Did Marjorie not tell you about her date today?"
"Is that why she's not here?" Lil questioned, her face brightening up. "What wonderful news!"
"Looks like she's still got it in her!" the electric mouse exclaimed, thumping her tail against the ground once. "I bet she's got a looker!"
The feline brought herself to calm down and smile. "Oh, yes! Yes, she has—told me! I'm happy for her!" She quickly turned back to the fruit, hoping she didn't bring any suspicious attention toward herself.
Fortunately, none of them showed signs of having noticed. "It's been so long since little Missy had a father," Wigs sighed, sounding like she was growing more reverent. "Marjorie's just been so stressed out over this."
"I'm just surprised she hasn't hated males ever since that day," Viv stated in a solemn tone. "I sure as hell wouldn't trust another male for the rest of my days if Vic walked out on me. Though I wouldn't blame him if he did... years ago, anyway."
"Forgive me for asking this silly-old question," Lil whispered out, "but is that why you've all come here to this place? Because you're not of the norm?"
Mew then realized it was getting close to two years since the Flowering Pokémon arrived from her native region. She had never explained how or why she traveled so far, but she adapted well-enough to the forest it had slipped their minds. And as the group were friendly with her, and she recently became mates with a Tangrowth whom used to live by Mount Silver, her place in the community felt natural despite the stories from the other pairs.
"It's not like we're outcasts," Rachelle said, frowning down at her now-full basket. "We just made a decision with our mates that we wanted a place to stay. My first home wasn't too bad, per se, it was just kinda awkward. But for the most part, Rugby and I walked a lot looking for a place to raise a family. Thus, we came here."
"Sounds like our own origins," Wigs said, chuckling. "Wiles wanted to go to Mount Moon, but I was all, 'Aw, hell naw, I'm not stayin' there with all them Clefairy'. No offense to any Kanto natives, but I wasn't a big fan of that region. And I grew up on the border."
"Vic and I are jungle folks who loved where we lived, we were just flooded out." With a shrug, the Vileplume blew a petal out of her line of vision. "I was getting tired of the monsoons anyway, and the others of my species were pretty bitchy, for lack of a better word."
Lil was either surprised or too invested in their words, Mew couldn't tell from her expression. When she looked over to meet her gaze after pointing Rachelle to where the strawberries were being stored, the feline forced out a small laugh after a quick glance around. "We lived in the mountains for a year—I didn't catch the name of the range, but it was somewhere out in Johto, I think. It was Mewtwo's idea to move. I didn't mind our little cave, personally, it was by a beautiful valley."
"That was why I didn't want to go to Mount Moon, even though I know they have plains and all that." With a huff, the rabbit ate the strawberry in her hand when she couldn't find more room. "I can kinda imagine you two really living in such a place. You two look like you can adapt anywhere."
She smiled nervously. "I was a jungle kitten, too, but Mewtwo... um... he lived in the city. Or cities, since he traveled a lot."
"The mother couldn't stay still, eh?"
Her gut twisted a bit before she managed to calm herself. "He's actually an orphan like me."
"Thank Arceus above for keeping you two alive," Rachelle said when she returned, the others nodding in the same agreement. "It's as though you two were meant to be."
"I-I'd say more like a coincidence."
"Don't pretend what we're saying is just wishful thinking," Viv reprimanded, her face in a small scowl once more. "You may not be aware of it, Mew, but some of us grew up hearing about rare Pokémon. Hell, we have a few here in the community, if we're not all rare. But I remember being told stories of a mirage Pokémon living in the jungle, supposedly the rarest of us all. I consider it an honor to be your friend and neighbor—stupid petal!" She flapped it back with a glare flashing in her eyes. The other females snorted to themselves before she resumed, "Point I'm getting at is there's no such thing as coincidences. You two finding each other had to have been planned somehow, because I've never seen another like you or him. Ever. It's a blessing from Arceus for all your hard work, and you two deserve your happiness."
The Wigglytuff applauded, though one of her brows rose slightly. "That's the deepest I've ever heard from you. Did you breathe in your pollen for too long or something?"
"No, I sucked up some of your hot air last night while tending to my sick mate."
The two started spouting off petty insults back and forth while Lil and Rachelle laughed along, yet Mew, despite the scene being amusing, was too lost in thought as Viv's words sunk in. Deep down, she knew them to be true; she was a little embarrassed to speak out similar thoughts in case they didn't take it seriously. She was aware no one had the same mindset, that some would wave off events as coincidences, while others said it was fate, destiny, or whatever word they would use. For being friends as long as they were, it never crossed the feline's mind just how unique they were—or mostly just herself.
Excusing herself to go deposit what she gathered, she felt a smile slowly spread on her lips. There was something so appealing, so right about her friends that she silently thanked them, hoping they would feel that same gratitude. She felt blessed to be where she was, to be with them, and with Mewtwo.
I will be home late tonight as the repairs are taking longer than expected. Go ahead and put aside dinner, and do what you want as long as the house stays intact. I may or may not be joking with that.
— Mewtwo
Mew couldn't help letting out a snort at the last sentence, releasing it from the knocker. "He tries so hard sometimes," she sighed, rolling her eyes to the heavens as she entered, hanging up her hat on its rightful hook.
So she returned to an empty house that evening after all, though she wasn't too surprised. Mewtwo became a technician for a reason, hence why the houses worked the way they did. She had a feeling she knew where he was getting the supplies from, as much as he denied it, but she wasn't one to complain. Their own house was built with her in mind, after all, chosen for her sake. According to her mate, they moved because she was getting ill where they were living at, which she believed was the case. Why he exactly kept it a secret for so long was the question, and his answer never satisfied her.
Pulling the curtains closed, she switched on some lights for a warm glow about the house. Drifting into the kitchen to set down her share of the strawberries, she found herself hungry. Looking over what was available, she decided to make curry for dinner, wanting something simple that would be easily reheatable. Making a judgment from the shadows outside, Mew decided to go ahead and fix it to get it over with.
Waiting on the rice, she leaned against the counter, losing herself to her thoughts. "No such thing as coincidences, huh?" she muttered, stretching and curling her fingers against her cheek. "But what if the odds are against you? They were always against me... from survival rates to... mates..." She shivered and held herself, fighting back memories. "There should be no way it would come to this... I was just lucky. I got lucky my whole life."
Her small laugh sounded forced, if not empty. "They have a point, though. If anything, it's Arceus' blessing for getting this far in life. I shouldn't complain. Beggars can't be choosers, after all. Though... was I really a beggar by the time Mewtwo came along?" She frowned, glancing out the window. "How desperate was I?"
Mew, your emotions are getting the better of you again, the voice of Mewtwo echoed in her head. She hardly blinked from the sudden presence. Were you troubled by what the neighbors said?
Of course not, Mewtwo. I have to preoccupy myself, somehow. She smiled to herself to balance out her emotions. Wish you wouldn't probe me like that. What if I was thinking of something personal?
His chuckle rumbled through the void. Like I have not been caught up in it before. You are not that hard to read, Mew.
She blushed, covering her eyes. She should've seen it coming. So... you...
If you want me to work out for such muscles... He trailed off almost teasingly, like he was waiting for her to finish the sentence.
Just get back to work, she huffed, finding herself glaring down at the rice. Dinner will be on the stove when you come home.
Thank you, dear. She expected him to feel victorious, but on the next heartbeat, her anger washed away when he sincerely said with a smile in his voice, I love you.
Love you, too.
And the connection broke, leaving her alone once more.
Mew pressed her hands against her chest, her blush cooling down enough to remain warm on her cheeks. "That was embarrassing," she sighed, shaking her head a little. "I thought I was doing okay, too..." Shrugging, she started on the curry itself, humming a tune to herself to keep her mind occupied, twice sneaking a strawberry when the craving pangs hit.
When dinner was finished, she ate on her side of the table, staring at the waning sunlight. The quiet moment reminded her of the few months Mewtwo spent on building the house alone—they were painful months because she didn't know where he was then. She spent a majority of each day in solitude at the cave, unable to get a hold of him and worrying herself sick, which arguably was the sickness he had said she was developing. Following him was one of the best decisions she had made, even if it "ruined the surprise".
Mew touched the corner of her eye when a tear slipped down. She stared down at her plate with a sniffle, pretending it was from the spices in the curry. "So it's been a long time, big deal," she grumbled to herself, taking another bite while wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "Mewtwo wouldn't mope if I was out late."
Not wanting to spend another moment at the table, she shoveled the rest of it down, wincing from the inevitable heartburn, and flew for the bath. Scanning the bottom of the tub for residue, she turned the tap for a temperature she could stand, and sat back to wash herself off, watching the water slowly fill up. Whether it was the steam or a full stomach, Mew was beginning to rock in drowsiness, drifting her eyes about the cozy tiled room. More accurately, she mentally amended, it was spacious to her—yet while the space was big enough to hold a few Wailmer with room to spare, Mewtwo never liked it. He would mainly spend fifteen minutes washing up while she would stay a whole hour, most of it spent soaking in the tub that he had personally designed to accommodate the both of them. Although he had little issues bathing with her, which she suspected was held in for her sake.
She turned the faucet off once the elevated end was half-full, almost finished with her washing. She always saved her pelvic region for last, but didn't like cleaning down there, whether it was just her or whenever Mewtwo offered. Mew was worried she would rub herself raw, she almost always itched from irritation, yet she found it embarrassing to bring it up to see if she was doing something wrong. From what she gathered, while it was a sensitive area, she shouldn't be feeling any burning sensation or anything of the sort—it didn't help she kept getting soap into the folds and thus had to go deeper to clean it off.
Ironic that she knew and loved Mewtwo's body more than she did hers.
Wriggling in discomfort from the burn, she tossed the washcloth into the hamper as she carefully sunk into the water, a slow, quiet moan emitting from her parted lips. Leaning back against the headrest and taking deep breaths, she closed her eyes, allowing the warmth to envelope her into a light sleep.
"A hot bath after eating a hot dinner should never occur without supervision."
It was great while it lasted.
Mew lifted her head to look past the steam to where Mewtwo stood at the entranceway, his gaze soft. She shot him a tired smile, lazily waving a hand as the bath drew her back into her lethargic state. "Wasn't gonna stay long," she mumbled. Wiping the sweat from her brow, she forced herself to get up and crack open the window above.
"Looks like I came home in time to find my fair maiden bathing herself. For my sake, I suppose?" There was a distinct seductive purr in the last sentence.
"You keep that attitude up, Mewtwo, and I'm going to question our relationship," she shot a tease, unable to fight off a smile.
She sat back down just as he stepped to her side, sitting himself next to the bathtub. She scrunched her eyes shut while holding back a laugh, her left hand raised up in an open gesture, to which he intertwined fingers with hers in response. "I apologize for taking as long as I have."
"You were doing your job. I'm happy you were willing to put in those extra hours for someone we hardly know." She glanced up at him, noticing how his eyes drooped in faint fatigue. "At least you got home safe," she added in a whisper, running her thumb along the back of his hand. "Your share should still be warm."
He lightly kissed her paw. "Thank you for the consideration, dear, but I will eat later."
Mew squirmed when he climbed into the bathwater across from her, straightening up in place from the increased volume. "Honey, don't do that," she breathed out with a small frown.
"Is there a law that states I am not allowed to bathe with my own mate?"
She glanced at the thin film of dust on his face, then eyed the water. "No, of course not. But you're covered in dirt, and it's contaminating the bath."
He snorted with a crooked smirk. "I have contaminated worse."
Mew gave him an odd look. "What kind of lame joke is that? Whatever, Mewtwo, I'm almost done here anyway, then you can have the tub to yourself for a while."
"I cannot bring myself to sit and relax in such a bland room."
The small feline rolled her eyes about. "Why the complaints? I've asked multiple times about what motifs you want in here, and all you ever say to me is, 'I could not care less for it'." A brow quirked. "Really? Leaving it up to me to decide?"
Chuckling, he slid up to lean against the slope to take her into his arms. Mew snuggled into his chest, gently skimming her fingertips along his ribs as he stroked her back and bumped his muzzle to her temple. "How was your day?" he asked in a murmur. "I noticed you brought home a treat."
"I don't know what to do with them at the moment, though, so if you have any ideas, let me hear them."
He peppered small pecks to her skin. "Whatever you want, darling."
She smiled a little, trembling from the light touches. "So... I'll make jam, and whatever's left, I'll make a dessert out of it?"
"Sounds wonderful."
When he slipped to her neck and nipped lovingly, Mew grew flustered. "Uh-mm... Mewtwo, wait, I'm... clean and wet. And it's tight... it won't be comfortable."
A laugh rumbled in his throat. "Between the two of us, I believe you have the more 'questioning' thoughts with all of those innuendoes."
She blushed upon realizing what he meant. "I-It's not my fault! Since when have I come on to you?"
His brow rose, a smirk quirking on his lips as he met her gaze. "Need I have to remind you of a... certain event?"
Despite the fuzzy memory, her color darkened. "That wasn't my fault either!"
Laughing some more, he dipped her head back and kissed her deeply, which she hesitated to return, but gave in when she couldn't think of reasons not to. Without breaking away, Mewtwo lifted her to sit on the ledge and press her up against the adjacent tile wall where she sharply gasped from the smooth, cool surface. "You're lucky you're charming, Mewtwo," she muttered into his lips, shivering at the gleam in his eye, "you're always keeping me on my toes..." He steadied her by the neck when he pecked his way across her collarbone, her eyelids fluttering closed with a sigh. "...Just always so eager to show off, it seems... I swear I would've given up on you long ago, it's so exhausting."
"I hope you are joking, Mew."
"Ah, I don't know anymore." A small smile spreading across her face, she blindly reached out to graze her fingers along his cheek. "Quite a bit has changed over the years. A whole decade ago, none of us would've thought we'd get together, we rarely had less than six feet between us." She glanced up halfway to dreamily meet his gaze. "And five years ago, we never imagined we'd have gotten this far, and so close to one another. Ever since you opened up your heart, you've always been so persistent... but you make sure to win my heart first before you do. I feel I should know you by now, you just surprise me at times." She giggled. "It's such a strange feeling, you know?"
Mewtwo nodded in agreement. "It is the same here, Mew." One of his hands dropped down further.
Mew tensed, just barely biting back a cry. "Ahh-ha...! W-Warn me next time, hon... ohh..."
"I have to keep you on your toes, dear."
"That's not funny, Mewtwo," she breathed out in what she hoped was a mild tone before he passionately kissed her mouth, and she promptly melted into his hold.
Outside, a Golduck and Azumarill were out for a walk together, wanting to make it a habit. The temperature was still cool and they could sense moisture lingering in the air, though chances were they weren't getting rain that night. They found it peculiar the neighbors were spread out, yet still remained in sight of other houses. The aqua rabbit's ears twitched at the sound of children running around, looking over in time to see two young Pikachu go by one of the windows, pillows in hand.
"Sure is a lively community," she giggled, turning to her mate. "I'm happy we came here, Goddard."
He was going to reply until they neared the next house, one they could just recognize. The steam pouring from the window caught their eye, though what made them unintentionally slow down were the sounds of moaning. Neither of them were fazed by it.
"You're hearing that, right?" He didn't wait for a response. "Who'd have thought they were those kinds of neighbors?"
For a few moments, the Azumarill was silent while her ears pricked up at the accompanying sounds of water sloshing about. It wasn't until they passed the yard did she face the front and grumble to no one in particular, "How is it they're satisfied in such a short amount of time but we're not?"
