A/N: Hey everyone! I just want to apologize really quickly for not updating as often as I would like to (or should be *chuckles nervously*) I have a home improvement project going on, lots of knitting to do, and the new job is sucking up a lot of my time and energy. I still intend to write all thirty oneshots/ficlets/drabbles for this fanfic challenge, though, and I've changed the title to more accurately reflect this development. They'll be posted when they're written as I deal with real life and maybe toss around some ideas for more multichapter projects in the future.

TEN

Character B has lost everything. Their home, their car, every possession they could not cram into a bag before it was all taken away. Unable to go to anyone else, Character B ends up going to Character A and pleading for temporary refuge until they can get back on their feet and find the money again to recover from their loss.

Augustine sat there, blanket draped around his shoulders and a cup of tea in his hand, as he stared into space. Around him, officers rushed around the police station, but he was numb to that. Only a few thoughts played in his head on a loop: it was all gone, his apartment was gone, everything he owned was gone, it had all burned down, and he didn't know what was going to happen next. He didn't want to speak to another police officer or firefighter about what happened. There were only so many ways he could recount what he witnessed: reading his book, hearing the fire alarm, and rushing out as fast as he could before flames engulfed the building.

At least he was alive, he told himself.

After sitting in the police station for an hour and a half, the front door opened to reveal Serena, looking worried and in a rush. She paused, scanned the room, and rushed over to Augustine and threw her arms around him.

"Oh my gosh, are you okay?" she asked, relieved but still frantic.

"Much better now that you're here," responded Augustine. He wasn't lying; Serena was truly a sight for sore eyes, and her embrace was a small comforting gesture that made him feel like everything would be all right.

"Good. I was a little scared when the police called me and told me what happened, but I felt a little better when they told me you were alive and they were bringing you here for the time being." Serena looked around the room some more, seeing other people who also sat with blankets and cups of tea, and on by the receptionist's desk before returning her gaze to Augustine. Her eyes clearly expressed her concern for him.

Augustine looked back at her, feeling a small hint of gratitude that at least she was here. All of his material possessions may have been gone, but he had his Pokemon, and he had Serena – all of them, especially her, were what he felt like he truly could not live without. His mouth curved slightly, trying to form a smile but stopping prematurely.

"I have nowhere to stay. Chérie, if it's not too much of a burden –"

"You're not a burden. Stay with me as long as you need to." Serena cut him off, leaning forward to kiss his forehead. "Let's go."

Although his spending the night with Serena was a common occurrence in their relationship, that evening in particular had a much different mood to it. Augustine felt exhausted, and he wanted to fall to the floor and cry when he saw he had a spare set of pajamas in her closet and a toothbrush in the bathroom. The following day would be Sunday – usually a relaxing day for him, but he imagined spending that day surfing the web to find a new apartment. Or maybe it was time for a house. It didn't matter now; he would decide in the morning. It took all of his energy to just change into his pajamas, brush his teeth, and fall into bed with Serena curled up next to him. His last waking thoughts were about the future, specifically his personal future. He couldn't imagine what his life would be like later on down the road; right now all he could focus on was that he was lying in bed, with his girlfriend next to him, and he felt anxious and uncertain.

The next day was filled with Serena taking him to buy some essentials, mostly clothes and toiletries. Once they returned to the apartment, Serena made a space in her closet for his things, even if it meant picking out roughly half of her clothes and storing them in bins for the time being.

"You don't have to do that!" Augustine objected.

"I barely wore those anymore anyway," she said simply as she shoved the bin full of her things back into the closet.

Augustine shrugged, then set to work hanging his new clothes in the space she had created for them. She was being so kind to him, he thought; of course, he would do the same for her in a heartbeat. Seeing his shirts and pants hanging up next to her clothes was like seeing one of his wildest fantasies come true, and it just looked so natural, as if the two of them were meant to share a living space.

This was only a temporary living arrangement, he reminded himself … then again, it didn't necessarily have to be.

Before he knew it, Augustine had his own spaces in drawers and cabinets for his sparse material possessions, the leftovers and products of his cooking filled the refrigerator and freezer, and he was starting to leave an imprint in the bed. Waking up next to Serena in the morning was already one of his favorite things, even if it was soon followed by a slightly lengthier walk to the laboratory. Although he spent plenty of his down-time searching for a new place to live, Serena didn't seem to be in too much of a hurry to get him out of there.

Augustine's apartment building could not have picked a worse time to burn down; things were not going well for Lumiose real estate, evident by the very few places available for sale or rent in the city. He first checked the building where Serena lived, only to find that there was nothing available for rent. From there, he stumbled upon apartment upon house upon condo that was either out of his price range or not the quality of living he wanted to experience. He was torn between hating himself for being picky, and asking himself why a man of his age and prestige should be forced to settle.

"No. I think you should live on the streets before you live there." Serena commented as she looked at pictures of a townhome with him on her laptop. This townhome in particular looked old, but had absolutely none of the charm of any of Lumiose's other historical buildings.

"Agreed. Besides, it says here that no Pokemon are permitted," added Augustine, pointing to the text on the screen. "I dedicated my life to studying and helping Pokemon, so I would like to have them in my home when I can."

"You could always buy a house in Camphrier or Santalune and commute," suggested Serena.

"Non, I enjoy big city life. And I would be too far away from you."

Serena shrugged. "It was just a suggestion."

Augustine scrolled through some more listings, until he saw one for an apartment that at a glance looked promising. He selected it and read over the details.

"Two bed, two bath, Pokemon allowed … ah, that price! I would need a roommate."

"Ooh, yeah. That's a high rent for one person to deal with by themselves," said Serena. "Is there anyone who might be interested in rooming with you?"

Augustine took her eyes off her and gazed back at the computer screen. There was someone he wanted to live with him in this apartment: her. He looked at the pictures, imagining them eating dinner at that dining table in a room with muted green walls, watching TV and cuddling on that cushy-looking couch, and sleeping under that navy blue duvet in the master bedroom – well, the duvet would need to be some color other than navy blue.

"Yes … erm, Serena … what if you moved into this apartment with me?"

Serena stared at him, confused. After a small pause she said "Are you sure about that?"

"Why not? We've been living together these past few weeks and we've gotten on just fine! I was just wondering, maybe you'd want to live with me for real in a place we can call ours. It's the next logical step for us to take as a couple. There'd be more space too."

Biting her lip, Serena looked around the living room for a moment. Augustine couldn't figure out what she was thinking just by looking at her face. Was she seriously considering it, or was she attached to this apartment and not ready to leave it yet? He started to wonder if he should have even said anything to her about it.

"I have been debating whether or not to renew my lease. It does expire next month," she said thoughtfully. Her eyes glanced at the computer screen, then looked at Augustine again. "You really want to do this? If this is really what you want, I'll do it."

Augustine smiled. "There isn't anyone else in the world I'd rather have as a roommate."

Serena returned his smile and leaned in, resting her head on his shoulder.

"We'll have to go see it first, to see if it's really as great as the pictures make it out to be."

"Of course," said Augustine, still stunned that Serena agreed. He felt like a gnawing, soul-crushing weight had been lifted off his chest, and it hadn't sunk in yet that him and Serena moving in together was actually going to happen, provided everything worked out. His smile turned into a big grin, followed by him kissing the side of Serena's head.

"That duvet in the master bedroom's gotta go. Worst shade of navy blue ever."

"Agreed," said Augustine, draping an arm around Serena and pulling her closer to him.

"And we need to make sure the building is fireproof." Serena added jokingly.

Augustine chortled in response.