Zephyr. Green/Janine + Koga. G. 523 words. 8 Aug 2010 (edited 1 Jul 2012).
Pokémon: better than hot cars for picking up chicks.


Green can just see the childlike look of joy on Janine's face as his arcanine flies across the landscape. The pokémon throws his head back in a howl, and Janine laughs, tangling her fingers in the dog's thick mane. Green wonders if she's forgotten about him completely; then he thinks that he should fix that. He wraps his arms around her waist and silently asks Arcanine to put on a burst of speed. It does, and Janine is thrown backwards with a yelp, colliding with his chest. "Don't worry," he breathes into her ear. "I've got you."

Janine gives him a flustered glance. She's about to reply when the arcanine skids to a jarring stop. By the time Green shakes his head clear, Koga is looming over the three of them (despite the pokémon's size), armed to the teeth. Arcanine whines and crouches down, its ears going back.

"What are you doing with my daughter?" Koga asks, his voice quiet and furious.

Green licks his lips. "Um—"

"He isn't doing anything," Janine interrupts. "He just offered to let me ride his arcanine."

"He is touching you," her father says, glaring at Green over Janine's shoulder. Green instantly lets go of her waist and swallows hard. Koga steps forward, Arcanine backs up, and Green begins to fear for his continuing ability to bear children.

"Koga, I—"

"I'm old enough to handle my own affairs, Father," Janine snaps. "If his advances had been unwelcome, I would have taken care of him myself."

"It's true," Green adds. Koga's glare immediately makes him wish he hadn't said anything.

Koga considers his daughter's words, lowering his weapons by a small fraction. "This...young man is not offending you?"

Janine turns to look at Green. Green does his best to seem as charming and harmless as possible. The young woman sighs and turns back to her father, blushing slightly. "...No."

Koga rises from his battle stance. "Hmph. Very well." He shoots Green one last glare that makes him flinch. "But I'm watching you, Green," he growls—then vanishes.

Now Janine is glaring at him. "Um...thanks," Green says.

"A real man would fight his own battles," she says severely, "Instead of letting a woman fight for him."

"You're no ordinary woman, though," Green murmurs, "And your father is not an ordinary man."

Janine thinks for a moment. "Well. That's true." Green gives her a lopsided smile. She sighs, slumping back against him. "Take me home, Green."

"Yes, ma'am," he replies, immediately turning the arcanine back towards Fuchsia City.

"Well?" she demands after a moment.

"What?"

"Aren't you going to make sure I don't fall?"

Green stares at her. Janine glances at him, then looks away. The young man's face breaks into a slow grin.

"Well, if you're going to ask so nicely—"

"Just forget it," she mutters, but Green wraps his arms around her and hugs her close all the same.

Arcanine begins to run again, due west. Around them, the sunset dips the fields in gold. "You're amazing, you know that?" he breathes into her hair.

She doesn't reply, but her hands come up to rest lightly on top of his.