.
-The Comb-
January 2019. Late Morning. Opelucid City, Unova.
"Would you just hold still!?" Iris chastised, holding Lotan by the shoulder as she attempted to yank a comb through his matted hair.
Lotan scowled at her, fidgeting in her grasp. "How can I when you're pulling my hair out of my sku—!" He yelped as the comb ran through a particularly nasty knot. "Ow! That hurts!"
"It wouldn't hurt if you didn't move so much!" Iris scolded. She exchanged tired glances with the Haxorus sitting on the other side of the room and sighed. "Look, I can't have you running around looking like a Tangela right now."
"You always run around looking like a Tangela," Lotan murmured bitterly.
"This is serious!" Iris chided, pulling the comb through his hair once more. "The League is coming today to inspect the gym and I need you to be on your best behavior." She narrowed her eyes, adjusting her sitting position so she could meet his gaze. "Got it?"
Lotan rolled his eyes, offering a mock salute to his mentor. "Yes, ma'am."
Iris gave him a once over and after deciding she had seemingly done the best possible job that she could on his wild mane, she sighed, putting the comb down. "Good," she dismissed, nudging his shoulder, beckoning him to stand up. "Now go put a shirt on."
Lotan sprung to his feet and turned to Iris with a nasty grin. "Make me," he taunted, not wasting another second before bolting out the gym doors.
"Lotan!"
...And so it continues!