AN- This chapter will contain suggestive hints of post traumatic stress.

-Cyclone-

Team Rocket

As it would turn out, Archie could do science.

If he read the chapter, took the notes, attended classes, paid extra attention to the instructions given, and attended the occasional tutoring session, then he could very well perform acts of science (which was more complicated equations than crazy experiments). Sure, Archie wasn't going to be that "straight A" student that most people attending the lectures and seminar's strived for, but the fact that he wasn't failing miserably in his Chemistry course was enough for him to leave his lessons with a relieved smile.

Math was math, and Archie had spent his last several months at a Rocket hideout learning specifically how to place numbers on graphs, write them out a specific way for others to record, and even some basic computer processing. Math was boring, but it was doable, and Archie knew if he put just a little more effort into studying he'd probably have an "A" in the classroom.

And what could be said about his actual marine biology courses, other than it being the most eye-opening experience ever? Oh, the class was difficult. Archie could not believe how awful he had done in the first exam, but it didn't change the fact that he absolutely loved attending it.

Slateport was an excellent city to be taking courses that involved getting acquainted with the sea. Every other week, when Archie wasn't selling his soul to Darkrai for a passing grade, he was out with his group, at some lab by the ocean, handling and examining water Pokémon from other regions. Sometimes there was less than exciting lab work for him to work on, but his growing passion for understanding sea-life helped him bear through the two-hour seminars. His professors caught on to his dedication to do well in this course, and it wasn't long before Archie was sat down and explained the importance of a curve bell, and how his participation could still help him earn a "A" in the course. And although he was still a freshman, there was already talk about potentially finding a spot for him to do some fieldwork over at the other side of the city, where the ocean was cleaner, and the currents brought strong, abundant water Pokémon.

So Archie wasn't going to have the perfect grade point average his first semester. That was fine by him. His grades were good enough, and there was still time for him to spend his weekends going out with some of the friends he had made.

Once again, there was little talking going on between Archie and Maxie. The redhead had undertaken a block schedule that left him at school all day for two days a week. The other days were spent doing lab work, which meant nights, Sundays, and the occasional Saturday would be the only time they really ever saw each other. And it wasn't like Archie was going to spend whatever free time he had at the apartment. The moment he was done working he was out with a surfboard one of his friends would loan him, taking in the last good waves before it got too cold.

He always made time to pay his half of the rent.

Early in the morning he'd run with the Poochyena. Late at night they'd get their walk.

If Maxie was around, they'd talk, usually matters revolving around school, grades, schedules, maybe even life.

It was rare, but once in awhile they managed to make a decent conversation, and get to know each other beyond superficial matter. There would be those Sunday afternoons where Archie would return early enough and decide to just relax. Sometimes it was mental fatigue from the classwork. Most of the time he had just spent his energy on the outside world, no longer afraid of being watched, and now just wanted to sit down. So Archie would show up, and the door would always be unlocked for him, or Maxie would make himself available to open the door just as he got close to it.

The smaller, fluffier Poochyena had taken a liking to him and would follow him to his room, along with his larger Zubat, while Maxie would disappear into the kitchen to finish preparing something light to eat. Archie would return wearing only sweatpants, maybe a light top, and even though it was warm inside, Maxie would bring his scarf up to cover his reddened face. The two sat, one Poochyena snuggling Maxie, the other running wherever Archie tossed the ball, and the smaller Zubat liked Maxie for not moving so much, and took refuge on the man's frail shoulder.

Archie almost always asked if Maxie had found himself a nice guy or girl worth chasing after or being chased by. Maxie shook his head, but did mention something about it being on his mind lately. He then asked the larger man if he was still too busy for a girlfriend, and he'd smile that peculiar smile when Archie insisted that he needed that precious time for studying, going out, and getting sleep.

They would stare at the cracked and barely working television screen. Archie would mention doing well in class, and Maxie would one-up him about always doing better, and then pester Archie to try harder and put in more effort, insisting Archie had it in him. The larger Zubat would make less trips on top of Archie, now perching itself on the furniture between the two men, listening as Archie asked if dinner would be filling or spicy enough for his taste.

And up until the lights went out they'd just talk. They'd bring up subject matter while eating, drinking, or just watching whatever they could through the cracked screen. Maxie might have even had a book on him, or would be going through several pages worth of note, but would nod his head, or look up at Archie to signify that he was paying attention. They're conversation wouldn't break just because of some test the following morning.

Archie almost felt like all the things from before had never existed, and he was just some ordinary guy trapped in a tiny apartment with an overly serious, but nice roommate, energetic Poochyenas, and peculiar Zubats, and that was really the closest to perfect he could ever ask for.

With finals around the corner, Archie rubbed his face and was disappointed to discover that he had gone another day forgetting to shave. He stopped walking down the hall, actually shaking his head as his hand lingered on his face, getting a better feel and measure how long his neglectful behavior was getting.

It was the last lab of the day. The sun had changed its setting schedule to about five in the afternoon, so it was already getting dark outside.

Archie stepped out of the building, waving a to few of his classmates before making his way down the campus.

It was getting cold. Not as cold as Lilycove, which was situated higher up north, but Archie was no longer donning thin tops, and now had a jacket on his person at all times. It was one of those nights that left the air tickling his ears. He had grabbed a bandana instead of a beanie, and was left with no choice but to feel sorry for himself as he carried himself down, passing through the quad while avoiding rubbing his face and neck.

There were posters everywhere, each one describing an event that any student could take advantage of. Archie had done the free movies, the parties, and the occasional farmer's market. The posters that usually got his attention were the biggest, brightest ones that usually had a Poké Ball of some kind stamped across it. Sometimes it was a sorority. Other times it was a fraternity. Most of the time it was the Trainer's Club. There were always prizes to be had, but most of all there was guaranteed fun.

Archie stopped for a second, letting his eyes linger on a few dates before he pushed the thought out of his mind. He made it another several steps, waving nervously at some girls that tried to grab his attention, but then the damn thought reentered his mind, taunting him, begging him to reconsider one more time.

He knew he'd be twenty-two soon. That would be five years since he had left Team Rocket, and surely Hoenn would allow him to get his license. There was no way the region could be so unforgiving of a mistake he had made when he was still a kid, right?

Right?

And he hadn't brought his Zubats back on campus since discovering that running around with Pokémon on campus was a no-go without a trainer's card. It was less to do with being a stick in the mud, and more to do with insurance and the safety and wellbeing of the Pokémon being taken on campus. Archie knew he really couldn't get upset over that.

So he continued down campus, stopping to get a drink on the way and maybe see if Maxie would appear on the main walkway. It was getting around that time when he finish the required work that he had for his labs, but then there were those days where he might stay an extra hour or three. Today looked like one of those days.

Not wanting to upset his Pokémon at home, Archie hurried the rest of the way down, his mind no longer on the trainer's card. Now he just wanted to get some homework done so he could have a sort of free weekend with his friends.

Because it was getting colder, the front lawn of the already neglected building was beginning to rapidly dye out. Archie walked by the front half of the complex, spotting the Zigzagoon digging a hole, burying whatever it had found during today's scavenge. It had been a few months now and Archie still had no idea who owned it. He was sure he had seen a teenage girl chase and play with a few times, but did not recognize her as one of the tenants. He was almost positive the Pokémon was either abandoned, or just incredibly friendly. If he had the means, he'd capture it and try to domesticate it more. Maxie might hate him for it, but it was better than it swimming and playing in filth all day.

He shook his head and went through the front gate, picking up some bits of trash that lingered around the bin, tossing his drink and the remains in before making his way into the pool section.

It wasn't yet seven, but now the sky was dark and there were stars littered about. It was quiet. Most sounds were coming from the insides of each little one or two bedroom apartments.

Archie spotted the back of Maxie's head when he entered the pool area, and sure enough the man was resting at a table by the pool. He would have called out to him, but noticed right away that there was something going on. Something intimate. Maxie's head was lowered, resting in his hands, and sitting with him was a young woman Archie had never seen before.

Archie was quiet when he entered the area, passing by the scene without looking directly at what was going on. He would have privately congratulated his friend for finding himself a nice girl, but in the corner of his eye he noticed that Maxie's face was covered with his long fingers, and that the girl he was with was whispering to him, and her hand was reached out, touching his shoulder and trying to console him. Neither of them was smiling. They both looked quite uncomfortable.

The girl's voice could not be heard, and Archie knew it wasn't his place to say a thing. He made it to the door and tested to see if it was unlocked. The moment he grabbed on to the door and turned the knob, there was a sound from behind him.

He looked over his shoulder and spotted the girl staring back at him. She was a delicate looking thing with long orange hair. Archie could barely make out the freckles that covered her face.

She stared at him as though he were some kind of criminal.

Archie opened the door and hurried in, stomping into his room and letting that sudden burst of anxiety rush out of his body. He dropped his things as he made his way to the couch, letting himself fall right into it, grabbing and wiping his face with his hands as he let that image of her resentment towards him sink in. He had no idea who that girl was. He was sure they had never met. But the look on her face was the kind he had grown to hate once word got around that he had been a member of Team Rocket after arriving back at Lilycove. That girl had the exact same face. How was that even possible?

He felt something rub against his leg. Archie removed his hands and stared at the two nervous looking Poochyena. The smaller one jumped up on the couch and into his lap, giving a long, hitch pitched whine as it stared up at Archie, head tilted while it tried figure where this sudden change in spirit had come from. The second continued to rub his knees with its paw, making grunts and wagging its tail.

"What the hell is goin' on?" he asked himself. He reached out and gave each Pokémon a good rub on the head, figuring some attention would help ease the tension on everyone's mind.

And then he heard Maxie's voice. And then there was another voice, this one softer. Maxie voice. The girl's voice. Archie stared at the door, not sure if this was something he should attempt to eavesdrop on. Maxie's voice again, but this time far louder. And finally, it was the girl's voice, and while she wasn't raising it with Maxie's, a feeling of fear and dread filled Archie when he realized her voice sounded as though it was getting closer.

Sensing his discomfort, the Poochyena sitting in his lap sat up and tried to lick his face. The other ran over to the door, its tail still wagging as the door was opened, the young woman making her entrance.

Archie swallowed thickly as she made eye contact with him.

She was a pretty girl. Nice hair, nice sense of style, and if she didn't have such a strange expression on her face, Archie might have been able to call her attractive.

"Hello," she muttered, walking into the living room. Archie watched her grab a small bag that was lying next to the television stand. She let it hang over her shoulder. She held on tight to the strap.

"Hey," Archie had finally managed murmur. And even then, it was barely a murmur.

"I'm Katelyn," the girl said. The larger Poochyena barked, calling her attention. She looked down and smiled calmly at the Pokémon, kneeling down and scratching it behind the ears. The other one in Archie's lap continued to pester the man, hoping to calm him down with whines and licks.

Archie wasn't having it. "Name's Archie," he said, giving himself another round of overanalyzing the girl in front of him. This was the girl Maxie had dated. She was the girl who had lived with the young man prior to his arrival.

"What's up?" he asked her.

She stood back up, lower lip quivering as though she was under some distress. "I wasn't sure what to expect when he talked about you." She shook her head, stopping herself from continuing. "Thank you for helping him gain some of the weight back," she muttered. "He lost quite a bit during summer finals, I was getting very worried." She crossed her arms, looking away from Archie. It didn't feel like it was out of modesty though. And the shakiness of her voice certainly didn't help either.

"What?" he asked.

"He can be a little obsessive with getting his goals achieved," she continued, still avoiding any kind of eye contact with Archie. "He forgets to eat all the time. I couldn't ever stand it. He's getting back to normal now." She brought a hand to cover her mouth. "A shame about the Zubat though…"

Archie grabbed the Poochyena and placed it back down on the floor. He was about to stand up when the front door opened again, and Maxie stumbled his way inside.

"Katelyn," the redhead said, fixing his ponytail before looking up at the girl with a distressed look. He extended his arms, as if he were about to reach in and grab her, but stopped halfway and let them drop to his sides. "No," he corrected himself. "No, you need to leave."

At that moment Archie brought himself to a stand, Maxie's atypical behavior setting him off and giving him enough permission to want to do something. But the moment he did, the girl noticed, and she grabbed her bag even tighter and took a step back, and once again Archie was forced to stare at that look of pure hatred.

"No!" she yelled, taking another step away from Archie. "No, no. I don't want to believe this." She looked over at Maxie and bit her bottom lip. She looked like she would cry at any moment. "Please, Max, consider what I've–"

"Katelyn!" Maxie said, staring at the girl with a sad smile. "Please…I can't do this right now. I can't have you saying these things anymore. It's just too much, ok?" He fixed his glasses into place, approaching the girl with small steps before hesitantly embracing her. His hand rested itself against the back of her head, pressing against her orange curls.

"I'm so sorry, dear," he continued. "But…you've become too intolerable."

"Maxie," Archie whispered, trying to coax the redhead out from saying anything he might later regret. This girl was his ex, not an enemy. But he felt so out of place. It was like watching a scene from some kind of drama.

"Don't worry, Archie," Maxie said. "Katelyn's leaving. She has a boat ride to Unova in about an hour…she'll be late if she doesn't head out right away."

The girl pushed the man away from her. The two stared at each other. Archie couldn't believe he was witnessing all of this.

"Consider releasing those Poochyena," she managed to say without it sounding too much like begging. "They're old enough. And Pokémon don't belong trapped in balls…"

Maxie shook his head, shutting his eyes tight. "You know I won't do that, Kate."

"And those Zubat," the girl said, her voice more frantic.

Archie's eyes went wide. "What the hell are you goin' on about?"

"Katelyn!" Maxie snapped. He grabbed the door and swung it open. He pointed a finger outside. "You need to leave, right now!"

The girl huffed, letting tears roll down her eyes as she stomped out of the apartment. She stopped just outside, turned around and stared at both men like they had committed some kind of terrible act against her. Maxie exhaled so heavily and loud that Archie stumbled back into the seat.

And then Maxie slammed the door. The door shut so hard that all sorts of things in the living room shook. It slammed so loud Archie's eyes went wide, and somewhere in the back of his mind a more graphic image rang. He flinched, bringing his hands up to cover his ears as Maxie proceeded to stumble forward, his body hitting the door and his hand smacking against it, practically struggling to breathe.

"…I apologize," he heard Maxie's voice tremble.

Archie lowered his hands, turning and looking over at the sinking form.

"She's normally not that that bad," Maxie continued. "I had always assumed that you'd get along with her. She was such an accepting, wonderful person. Today was…"

Archie forced himself to a chuckle. "We all have bad days." He got up from his seat, again. He walked over to the redhead, offering his hand to him. It took a while for the man to really notice it. He stared for what felt like minutes before shaking his head and brining himself up all on his own, walking past Archie and over to the loveseat, the Poochyena's waiting for him.

"Your Zubat," the man said as he sat himself down. He pulled two Poké Balls from his jacket pocket and placed them on top of the coffee table.

Archie stared at the balls, feeling more confused.

Maxie shook his head, looking embarrassed. "We were arguing and…I had to return them. She just wouldn't keep referring to them."

Archie told himself this wasn't a big deal, for Maxie sake. He leaned down and picked up the balls, stowing them in his pocket as he went back to his seat, thinking about what Maxie's ex had said.

"She wants you to release yer Pokémon?" he finally asked.

"She's underwent a lot of trauma, growing up," the man struggled to answer. "And she understood I had a difficult time raising them on my own, before she arrived."

"But ya like 'em," Archie said without a thought to it.

"Precisely." Maxie agreed, cupping his hands together, letting his face get assaulted by both of the Pokémon. The larger one stood up and leaned against Maxie's side, rubbing his face against his owner's, causing the glasses to go crooked and Maxie to give in and smile at the Pokémon, even breaking out of his stiff position to give it a small pat on the head.

"I think I'll apply for my trainer's card during the break," he finally said.

Archie felt the smooth, round sphered under the palm of his hand as he turned and took notice of the cracked television screen. He held on tight to the Poké Balls.

"I don't want anyone ever telling me what to do with them, ever again," the man continued, no longer holding on to himself. Both hands were now giving attention to the Poochyena. The two Pokémon were whining and wagging their tails, replying back to Maxie with whatever affection might help.

"Are you ok?" Archie asked.

Maxie didn't lift his head and let his Pokémon continue to cuddle with him. He removed his glasses and set them on the table, sinking back and giving in to the whims of his Pokémon, barely finding the energy to nod his head.

"I'm just disappointed," he managed to say. "This was her last day in Hoenn, and she spent it getting yelled at."

Archie pulled out one of the Poké Balls, letting it expand in his hand as he listened to Maxie turn his attention on the rambunctious Pokémon, politely asking them to relax and "please, not the mouth," and how the shakiness in the voice was beginning to dwindle and smoothen out. He let his finger rest against the smooth, red top and thought about that horrible glare he had been given, and wondered if it really was just because he had Pokémon on his person.

It had to be something else.

And then he heard Maxie sniff.

His eyes widened. He heard a Poochyena whine and the other yip at Maxie. Archie held his breath and looked over at Maxie, watching him frantically and helplessly wipe his face.

"You must think I'm incredibly pathetic right now," he stammered. The man let out a forced, weak laugh.

"No," Archie admitted. "She was yer girlfriend, and she just finished actin' like that…"

"It's not her fault," Maxie said.

"Of course not," Archie reassured. He smiled, hoping it might make the young man feel better. He stowed his ball away, ready to get up in case Maxie was in need of some privacy.

"She has some issues," Maxie added. The Poochyena attacked is face, licking it and wiping away any tears. Maxie closed his eyes, tying to push both of them away from his face. Archie stood up and walked over, grabbing one of the Pokémon and holding it in his arms giving his friend the opportunity to overpower the other. "We both have issues."

Maxie held on to his Pokémon, cradling it as he turned his attention up at Archie.

Archie smiled. "It's alright, Maxie, I–"

"Her parents work for Team Rocket."

He almost dropped the Poochyena when he heard those words.

Archie held in his breath again. The Poochyena whined, and Archie finally exhaled. Maxie was still staring at him, no longer looking so distressed, but incredibly serious.

"Really?" he said, feeling the edge of his forced smiling beginning to ache.

Maxie lowered his gaze. Archie bit the inside of his lips as he desperately tried to think of something to say. His heartbeat was making his chest ache.

"My mother and her parents," the man's low voice muttered. This time his heart skipped a beat. "And it's been killing her ever since she left them."

"You guys ran away?" Archie asked, barely holding in nervous excitement.

Maxie shook his head, looking almost guilty for doing so. "Just her," he answered. He let his hand under the Poochyena's chin and began to rub his fingers against the fur. "Katelyn's parents wanted her to inherit what they had worked for. She had no choice but to leave everything behind."

"And you?"

Maxie stared out, his eyes lingering on the cracked screen of the television. Archie could already tell he would regret his answer.

"My mother actually gave me the option of leaving." Maxie let his hand move down to the Pokémon's stomach. He rubbed its belly, his eyes down and not noticing how uncomfortable Archie appeared. "Sixteen years of me living with the impression that having a dream outside of criminal activity was impossible, and then she hands me an envelope with enough money to send me all the way here."

He pulled in his lips, struggling to take in a deep breath.

The Poochyena in Archie's arms began to struggle. The larger man shivered, barely holding on to it as he dropped down, letting the Pokémon go so it could jump up on the couch. The smaller Poochyena sat down and leaned against Maxie, rubbing its head against his side.

"She can never return home." Maxie closed his eyes. "And I could never bring myself to go back."

Archie dared to ask, "Why not?"

A cruel smirk grew on his face. "Were it possible, I would have that woman and everyone I know related to her work locked away," he answered, looking up and staring at Archie with cold eyes. "Team Rocket," he said in a most unpleasant tone, "is the scum of humanity. It turns people into mindless drones that sacrifice all we've hoped to accomplish as a species…for just one man's selfish desire to own everything."

The Poochyena suddenly yelped. Maxie stopped, realizing he was pressing his hand hard against the Pokémon's belly.

"Oh…" Maxie shook his head and he brought his hand back up. The little gray Pokémon jumped off of him and went over to Archie, sitting by his leg and already looking calmer than it had just moments ago.

"I…" The man closed his eyes, covering his face. "I don't know what came over me…"

Archie felt heavy. He crossed his arms as he tried to think up something to say. His mind was foggy and filled with confusion. It was clear that Maxie didn't hold high feelings for having grown up in such a strange, alienated situation.

"Did you ever try to?"

Maxie's fingers spread across his face. "Were it possible…"

Archie brushed the second Poochyena away and sat himself down next to Maxie. The first thing on his mind was consoling the poor guy. The second, wanting to tell him he was once a member of Team Rocket, the third was him scolding himself for even thinking about. The final thought was on the way Katelyn had stared at him.

"Archie?"

"Yeah?"

The Poochyena were both lying on the ground, staring at the two men who seemed to be afraid of looking at each other.

Maxie sighed. "Do you think it's bad that I could never bring myself to actually turn that woman in? Even though we all know the horrible crimes that group has committed?"

Archie shrugged. "She's yer mom. Can you really blame yerself?"

"I never stop wondering," Maxie admitted.

"Yer not Katelyn." Archie carefully lifted his hand and inched it over to Maxie's shoulder.

Archie wanted to just reach out and let him know everything that was on his mind. He was too afraid. Maxie despised the group. Archie didn't know what to really think about. Five years, and his mind was still trying to figure things out. It wasn't the best place to be. But it was his family for four years. It was home. He had nowhere else to go. Maxie would never be able to understand what Team Rocket had meant to him.

Even the bad parts…

"And there's nothin' wrong with keepin' a few secrets," Archie said, resting his hand against Maxie's back.

Maxie lowered his hands, peering over with sore red eyes.

Archie sighed. "Sometimes, people do horrible things." He rubbed Maxie's back. "All sorts of terrible things…but you can't bring yerself to hate them, because in the end they're family."

He felt Maxie lean against him. Archie nod his head, feeling slightly lightheaded as he tried to think up something more meaningful to say to his friend without giving himself away. He stared up at the ceiling, listening to the sounds of Maxie's breathing and the Poochyenas walking around the living room.

He had never considered what it might have been like to raise a family while still working for Team Rocket. Archie had only been a kid, and it wasn't like children were ever on his mind. Obviously there had to have been some higher-ups making and raising families of their own. Katelyns and Maxies, all of them growing up with the impression that Team Rocket would be their future. Maxie wanted to do cool things with volcanoes…how long did it take for him to finally accept that this was something he could actually do?

It didn't seem so strange that the guy spent so much time studying and hardly getting any eating or sleeping done. He finally had goals of his own, choices to make that would influence his future, one without Team Rocket.

Archie never had real goals until now. If it weren't for that one week, he might have never thought about any goals outside of the organization. And even then, just before he turned himself in…even after he turned himself in, was on his way home, was in the police station, again and gain, walking down the streets and being given nasty looks: he was still doubting himself and wondering if he had made the right choice.

A hand touched his shoulder. "Archie?"

"Even the ugly memories," he finally blurted out. "I still can't hate any of them! Not when they did so much fer me!"

"…What?"

He panicked. Archie pushed Maxie off of him before he could even bring himself to think of the consequences, and then he stomped off to his room, his mind reeling with too much emotion and thought.

He was sure Maxie had called out to him. He shut the door and locked it, and then let himself sink down to the floor as the past several seconds suddenly began to hit him.

"Fuck," he groaned, covering his face. His free hand dug into his pocket, and from within he pulled out his Poké Balls.

He stared at them, trying to remember the exact series of memories that led up to him leaving the organization. He fixated on the balls, remembering how excited he was when he had released the Zubat from their confines for the first time. How wonderful and painful it was to have watched them react to his touch, to fear him and the whip.

He looked upwards and remembered the executive who had loaned them to him, and what a confusing time it had been, and how the smile on his face had helped the once upset seventeen year old.

Archie released the two Zubats. The two fluttered down, detecting their owner's distress.

He leaned his back against the door, letting his arms fall to the sides so that both Pokémon could perch on his knees. The larger of the two leaned its head forward, trying to get a sense of what Archie was doing. The smaller had it's wings tucked in, its head titled as it patiently waited for the man to say something.

"I fucked up," Archie muttered. He lifted his hand up and petted the large Zubat, then the smaller one. "Guys…I don't know what the fuck I'm supposed to do." His other hand balled up, turning into a tight fist. "I don't wanna believe I just said all of that, out loud, fer him to hear!"

The small Zubat made some clicking sounds.

"Growin' up in that kind of situation must have really sucked," Archie said. The large Zubat hummed in agreement.

There was a soft knock at the door. Archie felt the vibrations and lurched forward, causing both of his Pokémon to fly away.

"Archie?" It was Maxie. "Are you feeling alright?"

He brought himself up. Archie turned to face the door. The Zubat behind him continued to hover close.

"Archie, I need to confess something," he heard Maxie's voice murmur through the door. "You see, when Katelyn and I got into a heated discussion, something odd happened."

He felt the smaller Zubat land on his shoulder. It proceeded to make rapid clicks with its tongue, alerting Archie something was wrong. He turned his head, looking at it, noticing how it held on despite his movements, and even looked back at him with a worried look.

"I became…overzealous." He heard a hand press itself against the door. "I was desperate to prove my point with her, to express my concern over her making comments about me owning Pokémon," he heard Maxie continue. His voice was getting shaky.

Archie continued to stare at the small Zubat. "Yeah?" he asked.

"…I got loud," Maxie admitted. "We both got loud, but I got louder, and I started to move about more, and my arms started swinging, and…"

Archie remembered the sound the poor Poochyena had made when Maxie had lost control. He had seen Maxie's reaction to it. His stomach twisted when he felt the Zubat land on his head, the other one still making little clicks.

"Your Zubats," Maxie uttered out. "They were so scared."

Archie looked down at the floor.

"The little one wouldn't stop screeching at us," Maxie continued. "I thought it was stressed from our yelling, but she insisted that they were in pain. She talked about them being from our regions, and then she started…"

Archie frowned. He wasn't angry with the Pokémon. The Zubat seemed to understand as it inched its way close to Archie, giving itself the small amount of space needed to lean in and rub its head against his scruffy face. The one on top lightly hummed at him.

"…I didn't realize they had hurt you," he heard the man say on the other side of the door.

His jaw dropped. Is that what Maxie thought?

Another hand pressed itself against the door. Maxie must be worried, and Archie couldn't bring himself to say anything that might be able to change it. "What an incredibly small world we inhabit," he heard Maxie mutter. He couldn't tell whether the man was astonished, upset, or relieved.

Archie closed his eyes, wishing his Zubat wasn't nesting on his head so that he could shake it. He wanted both of them to just fly away so that he could pace around the room.

He sighed. "One week," Archie said, loud enough for Maxie to hear.

"What?"

"One week, out of four long years," Archie continued, walking over to the door. The Zubats clung to him, unwilling to let go of their hold on Archie.

"Well, no," he corrected himself. "There were some other really bad days. I just keep focusing on that one week, to reassure myself, but there were other days that really blew…" He let his hand rest on the lock. "There was that time I got caught drinkin' during my night watch, and so I had to stand in the middle of the mess hall holdin' two buckets of water, an' everyone laughed." He unlocked the doorknob and could feel himself smiling. "Fuckin' embarrassing. And then that other time when the tire blew out, so our group had to wander the plains on foot…"

He opened the door and stared at a very confused looking Maxie. A Poochyena ran pass the two of them, right into Archie's room and jumped into the hammock, not detecting the disturbed presence in the air.

"Those boots are not made fer rough terrain," Archie finished.

"You're smiling?" the man noted. Without his glasses on Archie could make out every bit of the man's confusion. The thin eyebrows moving in accordance with Maxie's attempt to piece together what was being said.

"I can't help it," he admitted, bringing a hand close to his face, but stopping himself from covering his mouth. "I had fun. I had friends, n' even when I got moved 'round, it was so easy to make more of 'em." The Zubat on his head lowered itself, tying to look down at its distressed owner. Archie sighed and raised his hand up, fixing the Pokémon back into place.

He looked at Maxie. The redhead's arms hung at his sides, fingers stiff and pointed downward. It like he was anticipating the worst. And Archie knew he was about to give it to him.

"I had one really shitty week," he said. "But even in that week, I learned somethin' about myself. A lot of things." Maxie pulled in his lower lip. "And I wanna believe what you said to me a long time ago about makin' the right steps n' all…"

Maxie chuckled weakly. "Team Rocket…"

"I was never a victim of Team Rocket," Archie proclaimed, feeling the words practically heave out of him.

"…"

"Sorry, Maxie," Archie said, feeling his smile dwindle in size. "But I didn't grow up in the same situation you did."

Maxie frowned. "…But you're so–"

"I was a member of Team Rocket."

Maxie looked like he might have passed out from hearing the news. Archie almost wanted to grab him in case he did. Instead, the pale redhead just let his mouth slowly open, that look of surprise only being exposed through his red eyes. But everything else remained stiff, almost unhealthily rigid.

Archie winced when he felt his small Zubat hop off of him and watched it flutter around Maxie, trying to reach the man with hums and nudges with its head. Maxie released a long exhale, letting his eyes rest on the flying Pokémon. He smiled at it and Archie could spot that look of devastation at the corners where his lips met.

Archie lowered his head, feeling his face burn. "And yer absolutely right about what they do to people like me."

Maxie let the Zubat grab hold of his arm. He couldn't see it, but he knew the man went back to staring at him.

"Katelyn said it was incredibly suspicious that you would have non-Hoenn bred Zubat that were suffering from some kind of posttraumatic stress," he heard Maxie say. Archie's eyes opened wide when the tone of voice began to sink in. He had suspected that it would be louder, and just as stiff as the man's body when he had confessed his secret.

"Your Zubat were tools for Team Rocket…"

"Aye," Archie said, raising his glance up at Maxie. At some point, Archie didn't know when, the second Zubat and flown off of him and was now hovering above Maxie.

Maxie stared at both of the flying Pokémon. "How do you still have them?" he asked.

Archie shrugged, smiling submissively at the redhead. "They were part of the reason why I had t'leave…"

The red eyes darted back to Archie. "And you were allowed to keep them on your person?" he hastily inquired.

"Officer let me keep 'em when she realized how much they mean to me," Archie answered.

"And so now you train them?" Maxie asked, now reacting to the many nudges he was given by the larger Zubat.

Archie shook his head. "I ain't a registered trainer." He placed both hands in his pockets and felt his face burn again. "I tried, when I was twenty, and I'm thinkin' about tryin' again next year, but I don't think they want me to ever have any trained Pokémon at hand, not after everythin."

"I see," Maxie said. He turned and looked at the Zubat still clinging to his arm. He looked at the Zubat that continued to pester him with little licks and head-butting.

He looked at Archie, and the young man was still so shocked that the redhead hadn't yet begun to, at the very least, politely chastise him. He didn't want to be screamed at and told how he had ruined people's lives, the lives of so many Pokémon, like he had back at home. But having Maxie stare at him with no hostility was just as bad.

Maxie began to nod his head. "Ok." He pulled in his lips, still nodding, letting the smaller Zubat fly off of him before he ran a hand through his hair, fixing himself back up, still nodding as he turned himself around and walked away from Archie.

Archie panicked. "Where are ya goin'?"

He watched Maxie's shoulder rise as he stopped to deeply inhale. "I left my glasses in the living room," he answered stiffly. "I need them to see correctly."

"And then?" Archie asked.

"I need to take the time necessary for me to process everything that was said," Maxie answered, his back still to Archie. He watched the man's thin arm rise up, bringing itself close to his face, resting the palm on the forehead, and then lowering slightly.

"I apologize for upsetting your Zubat." The voice was less stiff, but the shakiness to it didn't make Archie feel any better about himself.

He looked up at his two Zubats. Both had their heads directed at him.

His eyes rested on Maxie's form. The breathing was speeding up. And the hands were covering the face. And he couldn't see Maxie, but he was sure the poor guy was anything but alright.

"How are ya feelin'?" he nervously asked.

Maxie took a step in the direction of the living room, shaking his head as he continued to cover his face.

"Like a fucking idiot," he heard the man spit out.

Thanks for reading. Let me know what you all think!