AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey guys! There's a song referenced in here. The lyrics are to "Like Real People Do" by Hozier

xxxxx

What was supposed to be a morning sleeping in did not happen that way. Having forgotten to shut the curtains to my window, sunlight shone in bright and early just shy of seven in the morning. My eye lids fluttered open before I brought an arm over my face to spare myself from going blind.

"Ech..." I sat up in bed.

Paul was lying on his side, facing away from my bed. Carefully, I stepped on to his bed on the floor. Bathroom in sight, I braced myself to tiptoe off the guest bed. Except, when one foot touched the actual floor, there were fingers wrapped around my ankle.

"Fuuu-"

"You'll wake up your Mom that way."

"You scared the crap out of me!"

Paul let go of my ankle and I stepped away. Stretching briefly, the blanket on Paul rode down revealing he was still shirtless from the night before... just like I was. Folding his arms underneath his head, Paul's face still laced with traces of early morning disgruntlement.

"If we get ready, we can sneak out of here before anyone knows what happened." he suggested, tilting his head towards the bathroom where I originally had been trying to go. " Just gotta hit the shower."

Together we went into my bathroom, but not before I locked my bedroom door first. I stepped in first and Paul followed me in, picking up a bottle of soap sitting on one of the tub ledges. He drizzled some directly over my shoulders before pouring some in his hands and setting the bottle aside.

"So, your mom keeps both your bedroom and bathroom ready for you?" He mentioned, beginning to wash up. "Or, is she just a 'neat freak'?"

Looking over my shoulder I gave Paul a look that told him all he needed to know...or, all he already knew. My mother always had the nest open for me in hopes I'd get comfortable. I always flew away as quickly as I could.

"Mom has empty nest syndrome"

"Her trying to hatch you all over again fucking gave that away... it looks like this place is stuck in time."

"Don't I know it, Paul. "

Reaching my body out from the shower curtain, I was questioned by Paul what I was doing. After realizing I was grabbing my toothbrush from the toiletry bag, he had me pass him his, too. With one hand, I brushed. With the other, I washed my chest and shoulders with the soap Paul doused me with. Putting toothpaste on his own toothbrush he began brushing, pausing to rub soap in to my back.

"We're getting dressed and hauling ass after this." He explained to me after spitting toothpaste down the drain. "We'll stop for breakfast when we're back in Sinnoh."

"Sounds fine to me."

Xxxxx

It was easy to zone out on the ride back to Sinnoh. As happy as I was to have snuck out undetected by my sleeping mother, I was tired. It felt as if I was always tired. I groggily leaned in to my seat with the steady bump and hum of the bus driving. The radio didn't help, the music lulling me to my sleepy, tranquil state.

Paul had a book propped open in his hand, reading relaxed on the ride back home. Talking to him would have woken me up a bit. Seeing no reason to bother him, I left him to read.

Thinking about Paul, I was still amazed at how smoothly we interacted now. He portrayed himself as such a hostile person, but proved himself otherwise. I mean, I still had no doubts he was the Paul I'd first met. There was more to him, though; He could see right through people.

It was almost scary how easily he could sink his fingers in to people and pull out their flaws... right from the root of their core. He could sift out the debris and really see them, as if their problems visibly just crawled over them like vermin.

I had a thought, Dear. However, scary.
About that night. The bugs and the dirt.

It was obvious to me why he dug up Gary and my mother. They were outright toxic despite how much I denied it to cope. But, I still didn't understand how he'd gotten so good at it. Digging. Or why he felt the need to do it.

Or why he'd dug me up, specifically.

I was so buried in my own bullshit before Paul pulled me up from it. I still felt like I was drowning, coughing up remnants of soil. I'd sunk in to so deeply that I didn't think I'd ever see the sun, again. Or the moon.

He could have simply kicked more dirt on to me and let me sink deeper... Instead, he just reached in and pulled me out. Just like that. I wondered, though. Had he dug me up reflexively? Or, had he really been digging for me?

Why were you digging? What did you bury?
Before those hands pulled me from the earth?

His past was a mystery to me regardless of the small insight he'd given me the night in my room. When first being assigned to room with him at the Pokémon Center, I felt cursed. I always wondered what his story was, but I never asked. How could I?

As curious as I was to know more about him, I wouldn't pry more. And, as grateful as I was for what he'd done for me, I hoped he would give me time to adjust and quit any further digging.

I will not ask you where you came from.
I will not ask you, neither should you.

He was wonderful. Not in the conventional way, of course. I didn't care because nothing I'd ever known was conventional. If Paul was the first good thing to come my way, I wouldn't turn him away. Not for being unorthodox and rough around the edges.

Unlike Gary, he cared about me. That was all I needed. His presence, his honesty, and his own manner in which he showed affection... the way he kissed me said it all.

Perhaps Gary had just been that cold, but Paul gave me more than I'd known I was missing. Sometimes, I wondered if there was really a need to talk anymore. Kissing felt better. I'd always wanted to know real affection.

Honey, just put your sweet lips on my lips.
We should just kiss, like real people do.

Stifling a yawn, I shifted in my seat and moved in closer to Paul. Resting my head lightly on his shoulder. He peered down at me. I peeked up at him.

Those black eyes were watching me, looking through me. I knew it. He was always searching, always digging. And again, I wondered what truly had set that in motion for him. What exactly had engraved such a survivalist trait in him? Who had he dug up first?

I knew that look, Dear. Eyes always seeking.
Was there someone in that dug, long ago?

He held my stare and I leaned in him a bit heavier, nestling my chin in to his arm. His eyes, although softened around the edges how they were when he looked at me as of lately, were still those deep, black orbs I couldn't really read. He had his own shit to hide, things that prepared him for the toxicity in others.

So, I will not ask you why you were creeping.
In some sad way, I already know.

I wanted to know what it was, but it would wait. I smiled faintly at Paul, comfortable on him and with him. There was plenty of time to talk, to question. For the first time, I confidently leaned up to kiss Paul on my own.

So I will not ask you where you came from.
I will not ask you and neither would you.

I was kissed back just how I wanted in return.

Honey, just put your sweet lips on my lips.
We should just kiss like real people do .

When we parted, Paul went back to reading. The bus hummed and rattled with the drive and it was quiet except for the radio. It was soothing in an odd way, just sitting there with him. We could've talked, but we didn't. In that moment, I really didn't even want to.

I could still taste him on my lips.

I could not ask you where you came from.
I could not ask you, neither could you.

Honey just put your sweet lips on my lips.
We could just kiss like real people do.

xxxxx

After walking to the diner from the bus station, Paul was greeted with a laugh from his boss. The aged woman stacked menus with employees buzzing around tending to tables.

"You're scheduled to work tomorrow." She told Paul. "The hell are you doing here?"

"Came to eat."

"Of course, of course." She chimed. "Sit yourself, and you lovely friend, at table Three."

Paul guided me away to the table, which was actually a booth. We sat down across from each other and I looked around, never having been to the popular diner in that section of Sinnoh. Apparently, Paul and his new boss got along well... she looked familiar.

Paul's boss came waltzing up to our table The woman was fairly dark, black hair tied back tightly in to a bun. She placed menus in front of us. When she smiled, her gray eyes crinkled. According to her, the other servers were busy.

"Hey, Margaret. Mind if I get some coffee?"

"By all means, Paulie boy. Now, what can I get for you, Sonny?" Maragret turned to me with bright, expressive eyes. "I take it you don't like coffee."

She was right, I didn't like coffee. I didn't like coffee, at all.

"I'll uh, take juice."

"One glass of O.J, coming right up."

Margaret gave me a pat on the shoulder before going off to get our drinks. I watched her leave, confused. Paul was unfased and opened his menu, looking over it.

"Are you a server here?" I asked him, drawing his attention back as I opened my own menu.

"Nope, I'm a manager. "

I wasn't expecting that.

"Oh."

"Surprised?" he questioned, not looking up from his menu.

"Not so much 'surprised' as I just wasn't expecting it. This place looks family owned... figured it'd be family running it."

"Margaret had an opening. The pay is good, all I really care about. This used to be family run, by the way. She's the only one left."

I always associated being a manager with needing social skills. Paul wasn't a friendly person so I had a hard time picturing him as a manager to a diner, either way. He was a manager and his boss was his only higher up.

Paul didn't quite run the show. But, from the looks of it, he didn't have to answer to many. Which was perfect for Paul.

Skimming over the menu, I was drawn to the pancakes with fruit on them. Just as I was debating on which type, Margaret came over with our drinks. She set them down in front of us and put a hand on Paul as he sipped from his coffee.

"Paulie, I'm comin' in late tommorow so I'm gonna need you to come in a little early. Make sure everyone's on track, alright? I'll be letting you off early though, so no worries."

"Sounds fine, how early?"

"If you could come in at Seven, I'll be letting you off at three, or so."

Agreeing, Paul confirmed he would be coming in. He placed his order for eggs, toast and hashbrowns and Maggie just listened, not writing anything down. Turning to me, she pointed to the picture of pancakes on the menus laid flat in front of me.

"What topping you want with those? I'd recommend banana, they're in season. The strawberry isnt half bad either." Margaret then chortled and pinched my ear playfully. "Or, you could get both!"

"Banana... thank you."

"You've got it."

Paul shook his head as she retreated to the kitchen.

"She's eccentric. She seems to like you though."

"She seems to like you too, 'Paulie'."

"Like I said, she's eccentric. She's nice though."

It was easy to pass time chatting with Paul. He asked me about my job in the Pokémon Center because I never really talked about it with him before. He knew I was a custodian there, which he didn't judge. Although he asked about my job, I talked about the Pokémon I saw there.

"You should work with pokemon if you like them so much."

"I used to be a trainer but I've sort of taken a break from that..I washed out years ago."

"I was a trainer, too. I meant you should actually work with them."

I wished I could work with Pokémon but the choices were limited. I wasn't a researcher and I wasn't in school for it. I didn't plan on going either, didn't have the motivation or drive. Working with them in the Pokémon Center required schooling too... I wasn't faced with many options.

"I don't have the credentials to work with Pokémon..."

"One day you could." he stated, offhandedly. "You could get your foot in the door."

"I doubt that. I'm not a scholarly type...I can't see myself at a university."

Paul didn't comment further on the matter but it lingered, his remark. Our food arrived with a cheerful Margaret carrying it. She encouraged us to dig in before turning to leave. Paul stopped her to ask for the bill, more he pointed out both meals were to be charged to him. Margaret waved her hand with a wink dissmissively.

Paul never received a bill.

xxxxx

The first thing I did when we got back to our room was drop my bag with a relieved sigh. Paul swiftly closed the door behind us, just as satisfied.

"Yesssss." I wailed, arms up in relief.

Paul's bag hit the floor, landing next to mine. He threw an arm around my shoulder and pecked me on the forehead. I leaned my head back in to him, looking up at the ceiling in complete rapture. We were back to our room. No Mom, and no Gary. Paradise. My own personal Edan.

"Happy to be back?"

"Like you don't even know. Paul." I sighed contently. "I want to get out of these clothes really badly though."

"Do you?"

Paul's voice dropped suggestively and my stomach dropped with it.

"I meant I wanted to slip in to something more comfortable."

"Being naked is pretty comfortable." Paul reasoned, his mouth then right outside the shell of my ear. "So is my bed. You could get plenty comfortable in there. "

"Or, I could put on pajamas..."

Hands began roaming over my sides and I felt myself grow warmer as Paul crept his fingers under my shirt. He rubbed my hips suggestively and hot breath was hitting my ear, teeth threatening to sneak past his lips. I braced myself for a nip but didn't get one.

"You could put on pajamas."

Paul told me bluntly, thoughtful.

"...I could?"

"You could try."

There was a challenge set out right before me, one I wasn't ready for.

"Mind if I step away to use the bathroom?" I cleared my throat.

I was let go of and promptly escaped to the bathroom as casualy as I could. Locking the door behind myself, I stopped to catch my breath. I heard Paul step away, presumably to his bed. Glancing at the mirror I could see how wide eyed I was, how flush. I was getting used to Paul... but wasn't quite there yet.

At least not with sexual Paul.

Heart beating quickly and my stomach fluttering, it was obvious to myself I was excited. I could still feel his mouth and feel him, still hear his husky whisper. If I were honest with myself, I kind of liked it... Paul's attention.

All I had to do was leave the bathroom if I wanted more...

Running the faucet, I splashed my face to calm my blush before drying off. Taking a bracing breath, I hesitantly reached for the bathroom doorknob. I slowly pulled the door open. The second I stepped foot in the room I could feel Paul's eyes.

There was Paul, on his bed just as I previously assumed. That wasn't unexpected. What was unexpected were the pair of pajama pants he had folded in his lap. They were mine. He looked down at them before looking back up at me.

"Come get them."

"O-Okay...?"

Walking towards him rattled my nerves... not necessarily in a bad way. I felt the hair on my neck stand up, my skin tingling under those dark eyes of his. I couldn't pin just what he was thinking.

"Thanks, Paul..." I took the pajamas from him and set them down on the bed.

Calmly, I slipped off my shoes. My shirt came off and I undid the button to my jeans. When I slid them down, I was nervous. Paul's eyes were searing me and I fumbled, having to catch myself on the edge of the bed for balance.

I didn't know what he was playing, so I prepared myself mentally for anything as I pulled on my pajama pants. Paul didn't do anything, he just looked at me. With that stoic face of his, he looked me over with a dart of his eyes. Then he patted his thigh invitingly.

Wordlessly, I obliged. I carefully climbed up in to his lap, straddling him how he wanted. I swallowed nervously when Paul brought his face right in front of mine.

"Comfortable?"

"Yeah..."

"Yeah?"

Paul took my ass cheeks in each hand, squeezing his fingers just hard enough for me to feel. With a gentle jerk I was scooched in closer, my thighs spreading apart wider across Paul's lap. I licked my lips unconsciously, wetting them as Paul's warm hands massaged my ass.

He smoldered me silently, his fingers growing bolder quickly. One hand moved to the seam of my ass, fingers running over the split separating each cheek. I didn't know what to say or do.

So, I just turned red.

His fingers began pressing in to me from over the fabric, rubbing my entrance. I squirmed a bit, my hands on his shoulders begining to grasp harder. I was nervous and avoided looking at Paul. He kept on teasing me until I felt myself getting hard.

My bare chest was pressed right in to him, the soft material of his T-Shirt rubbing my skin. Normally such simple contact wouldn't have meant anything for me, but it turned me on. Paul was still fully dressed and he was feeling me up as I sat in his lap half naked. I felt vunerble, and I liked it. I trusted him.

"Still comfortable?"

"Mhm."

Paul's hands became more aggressive He pressed on bit of skin between my ass and testicles. Reflexively, I ground down on to his hand for more. Paul stopped.

"Hm."

His hands resumed roaming over my ass again and my skin got hot, flaring at his touch. My underwear was too tight underneath my pajamas. He leisurely groped my ass, now totally ignoring my pleasure points. Fighting the urge to pant, I leaned my chest more heavily in to him, my head craned over his shoulder.

"Paul." I spoke up, taking a ragged breath as I felt my cock throb warningly.

"Ash." Paul said back, simply.

Paul teasingly snuck his fingertips just barely under the waist of my pajama bottoms, skimming the skin of my pelvis. He moved back towards my ass, fingertip grazing the dip of my spine but exploring no lower. My erection was pressed right in to his stomach.

He could feel how hard I was. Yet, he didn't touch it. And, he didn't say anything.

"Paul?" I tried again.

"Ash?"

Like nothing, Paul brought his lips to my ear. He spoke right outside it, monotonal mimicking me. His fingers kept their light teasing, still refusing to touch me anywhere that would lessen the building ache inside me. When it became too much I groaned, pressing my pelvis in to his stomach.

"Paul."

"What?" he retorted back. "Aren't you comfortable?"

Without missing a beat, I lifted my head from his shoulder and kissed him. Finally, I understood what he was playing at.

"Don't be an asshole." I mumbled against his lips, grinding my hips for some alleviation. "This is starting to hurt."

"Should have just said so."

Satisfied, Paul gave me an opened mouthed kiss as he manevered me to pull my pants down. Naked, resumed straddling him. He sucked on my tongue and I pressed in closer to him for more.

He pulled away. I didn't get a chance to question it because then there were fingers in my mouth.

"Suck." he instructed me, watching as I sat there dumbly with his fingers in my mouth . "Come on, wet 'em."

I sucked, just as he told me to. Paul watched me intently, his lips pulling back at the edges just enough that I could see him smirking perversely. Embarrassed, I continued. With his fingers adequately wet, I expected him to pull them out but he didn't.

"You're new at this." he remarked after a moment, pressing his fingers down on my tongue.

Of course I couldn't respond, be it he had his fingers in my mouth.

"You and that pretty little mouth of yours..." he muttered, eyes narrowed as I sucked around his knuckles. "Shit."

Suddenly his fingers were pulled from my mouth, his tongue replacing it. Those wet fingers of his reappeared between my cheeks and he pressed them in to me. I breathed out raggedly in to Paul as he digitally penetrated me, already diving in deeper for my prostate.

I was poked and prodded inside, Paul's fingers moving diligently as I was allowed very limited air supply. I didn't care that I could hardly breath. His lips were what I cared about- how soft they were against mine. His wet tongue touching mine...the bulge pressing in to me from inside his jeans...

"Are you comfortable?" I asked him once I was allowed air.

"You sassing me?" Paul questioned me, voice dropping as he pressed his fingers in to me harder so I yelped. "Hm?"

"N-No! I can feel you through your jeans...I figured they were tight."

Paul nipped my chin before instructing me to un do his pants. I raised myself up off his lap a bit and balanced myself with one hand on his shoulder, reaching the other down. With some difficulty, I unclasped his belt buckle.

I pulled it from the loops before flicking open the button. I unzipped him fairly smoothly. All whilst his fingers were actively working my ass.

"Well, aren't you talented?" Paul drawled.

"I'd like to think so."

"Put your money where you mouth is then."

Next thing I knew, I was on my knees in front of Paul. I'd never been on the giving end of a blow job and wasn't really confident in what I was about to do. One thing I didn't want was to pussy out of it. Doing my best to act like I knew what I was doing, I just went for it.

Just like any man he had a light natural musk. I discovered that I liked it. With the tip of his cock at my lips, I parted them just enough to taste him. I wasn't disappointed, he tasted fine. With his flesh in my mouth, I slowly sank my lips lower, letting my tongue slide over the underside of his shaft.

"Easy there." he cautioned me as his cock neared the end of my throat. "Unless you're looking to choke."

Despite how careful I was not to gag myself, that's exactly what I did. I pulled off, taking a breath and Paul brought his finger and thumb to the hollows of my cheeks. Guiding me back to his crotch, he had me open my mouth.

"Let me see your tongue."

I crept my tongue out just as Paul wanted. He ran his thumb over it before taking my chin and guiding me to lick up his shaft. On my own, I licked up his shaft, before taking him in my mouth again and repeating. Paul watched on, eyes narrowing impressed.

"Fuck yeah, just like that."

Between bobbing mouthfuls of his cock I licked him. After tinkering around with my confidence, I brought a hand to wrap around his shaft. I stroked him, sucking on the tip. I remembered liking it when Gary did it to me, I figured it was worth a shot. My effort paid off.

"I'm starting to wonder if you actually have done this before." Paul spoke from above me, groaning as I licked around his leaking slit. "From up here, you look like a little cock slut."

His statement wasn't meant to offend, and it hadn't. I blushed, feeling a naughty sense of satisfied. Paul brought a hand to the back of my head. He smoothed down my hair before wrapping his fingers around the crown of my skull, beginning to guide my movements.

He neared the back of my throat again, warning me to relax before he jutted his hips. I gagged, but recovered, Paul pausing to let me breath. I continued and eventually adjusted to his rythym. His breathing picked up and the fingers on my head tightened.

I fully anticipated him to blow his load in my mouth, preparing myself for it to happen. I was so braced for it that when he pulled me off, I was almost dissapointed. But, I wasn't dissapointed when he picked me up and dropped me on the bed.

I immediately picked myself up and positioned myself on my hands and knees without being told. From behind me I heard Paul fully drop his pants and step out of them. Then he stepped in to my line of view, naked. He got the lotion from his nightstand and flipped open the lid, squeezing out enough to slick himself down.

"You're already wet..." I mentioned, being I'd just sucked him. "Wasn't that the point of...?"

"Nope." he replied matter of fact. "Saliva's a last resort when you've got nothing else."

Plenty of times Gary and I had supplemented lubricant with saliva. During those times, I'd never stopped to think if maybe that was rough. He handled it just fine.

"Now that we're alone..." Positioning himself behind me, Paul spread me open. "Let me hear that voice of yours."

I was penetrated quickly and cried out, much to Paul's satisfaction. He began rocking his hips in to me, using the mattress for leverage. Back and forth his thrusts moved me, his cock balls deep in no time at all. I stretched quicker than I was ready for, but it didn't hurt. Made me squirm a hell of a lot though.

I squirmed and squawked underneath him. He huffed with his thrusts, mindful of my sounds. His hands squeezed my ass as he moved, pivoting in to my sweetspot. I raised my hips higher, letting my head hang as Paul groaned with me.

My limit was approaching, quickly. The way Paul moved was insync with how I needed. Pushing off the mattress with my palms, I ground my ass in to him.

"Shit."

Paul cussed under his breath and swatted my ass, effectively startling me.

"AH!" I yelled in surprise, the cry dying off with something short of a needy whimper. "F-Fuck..."

Pleasantly surprised at my reaction, Paul offered me more.

"You like that? You want more?"

"Go ahead." I encouraged him. "Do it, again."

"You asked for it."

His palm came down on my ass sharply. It stung harshly, that time. When the pain faded it left a hypersensitive hum along my skin.

"A-Again." Losing my shy way for a moment, I requested he do it again.

"You're just a kinky little thing today, aren't you?" Paul instigated, slamming him hips in to me. "Huh? You and that misleading innocent face of yours. Pushing my fucking buttons."

"Ah-Ahh. F-Fuck, Paul." I gasped, feeling his plow my sweet spot without mercy. "Nng- Paul..."

"That's it, say my name."

Fingers clenched the back of my skull, tugging at my hair. He didn't pull hard but I could feel the tension at my scalp. Paul had me at his mercy and I was amazed to find myself in absolute rapture.

I moved with him, delighted when he scolded me. Ordered to stay still, he demanded I say his name.

"My name, Ash." He nearly growled. "What is it?"

"Paul! AH! PAUL!"

"That's right."

My stomach coiled and the pressure between my legs snapped. My release sprayed down to the bed sheets. I cried out for Paul, his skin slapping against mine.

He bucked me around harder and I could practically hear him gritting his teeth. Harder he moved, slap slap slap, until Bam. He was tense, cumming inside me.

"Jesus fucking-" he grunted, cutting himself off to groan and rock his hips in to me. "Christ...damn."

My mind and body were a gelatinous mess by the time Paul was done. I slouched my bodyweight down to catch my breath as Paul pulled out. He hooked his arm around me and dragged me down next to him.

With us rested on our sides, he loosely spooned me. My hair was swiped back from my damp forehead.

"You're okay, right?" He checked.

"I'm fine" I managed to breathe out tiredly. "Why?"

"Just checking, come here."

Arm around my waist, Paul pressed his lips to the length of my neck. He kissed there once, lingering. The room went comfortably silent.

After a bit, when I could feel my body, I rolled over to Paul. He wasn't as worn as I was, but he was satiated. Lightheaded and glowing, I tilted my face up to kiss him.

Paul was real. And to me that was still amazing.

Honey just put your sweet lips on my lips.
We should just kiss like real people do.

xxxxx