Yawn. Thomas was the first one to wake up.
Taking care not to wake the canine still deep in sleep next to him, he tiptoed out of the room then downstairs, grabbing some "OJ" (as they call it in Unova...), toast and eggs from the fridge to prepare breakfast.
The smell of warm bread out of the toaster seemingly woke Luke up, with Thomas seeing him sniff the air all the way to the kitchen.
He waved hello, and sat down on the counter as the human started cooking scrambled eggs, which they both ate in front of each other on either side of the kitchen counter.
Thomas can't hide his smile. How can you fully realize what's happening in just a day: a Lucario was purely by his free will inviting you to stay with him for an unknown amount of time.
"What's making you smile?"
"Oh, nothing."
Luke smiled. "You really like Lucarios, don't you?" The human's gaze drifts away, and he nods slightly. "Maybe from even before coming around here?" Same gesture.
"Well, you must be aware I'm an 'independent Pokémon' – at least that's what the government calls us. We're still pretty rare, and I had the exceptional chance to learn the human language and receive proper education. So I'm far from being one hundred percent representative of our species, even if – no offense meant for other Pokémon – all Lucarios do have really high cognitive and social abilities."
"You... had the chance?"
"Yeah. I was part of a pilot program, started a year before you could acquire the independent status. Ever since I got out of my Egg, I was taken care of by a really kind human educator that taught us how to integrate in society, despite our differences."
"Wait, were you all Riolus? How many were you, even?"
"A few other species participated, and in total we were about 15 Pokémon. I have an Alakazam friend from there, he left for Kanto and now works to teach primary school kids how to respect Pokémon."
"That's incredible! So wait, let me understand correctly. You guys have every right that a human holds, correct?"
"Yeah. To the law, we are human. Every provision that applies to them applies to us, minus obvious exceptions."
"Such as?"
"Mandatory vaccinations for viruses that don't affect us, stuff like that. I'm pretty sure they're only medical-related issues."
"That's amazing! So, you have an identity card and everything?"
"Yeah, I can show you mine." He fetches his wallet on the counter's corner and gets out a credit card-format card, indeed featuring a blue and black face with crimson eyes. The last name field was empty, but a "Species" one caught the human's attention.
"Speaking of IDs, I have to call my government friend from back then. If there's someone that would believe your story and help you get registered, it's her. She'll likely have to talk to you, alright?"
He nods. "Perfect."
Luke selects the contact on his phone and presses the call button. Thomas heard the other end pick up after a couple rings.
"Hey Vic, it's Luke. Look, I have a pretty big story to tell you. You got a couple minutes?" He nodded after a second, and continued. "Okay, great. So, I've got a human here, he's called Thomas, he's at my place, and he's very, very obviously not from Unova. Or from this universe. At all. Yes, I checked his aura." He placed his free paw on the counter. "Vic, you know me, I'm not playing a joke on you... You want to-? Sure, go ahead."
He hands his phone to me.
"Hello?"
"Hi, this is Victoria with the Unovan Pokémon Bureau. So, um, let me get this right. You say you're... from another world?"
I proceed to tell her the story from the moment I woke up, then hand the phone back to Luke.
"Yes, I'm certain he's telling the truth. I was in the hospital with him, and his aura didn't lie." He stayed listening for a few seconds, before beaming with excitement. "Wait, right now? Okay, see you there, then."
I get up from my chair. "What did she say?!"
"That we have to get in the car and meet her at her office. It's ten minutes away."
We were there in the blink of an eye – and during the ride, I think I was the one acting more like an excited Riolu out of the two of us.
Luke greeted the receptionist – he knows the whole team – before making our way to Victoria's office on the building's 3rd floor.
"Wow, you really are not from here."
The Lucario laughs, and telepathically says he was the one to get me clothes, hand waving to brush the remark off.
Victoria has contacts in the Population Registry Bureau, that issues IDs for Unova. "I'm their usual contact for new independent Pokémon registration, but they should be able to help you out. First, I need you to fill this form with your details, then you'll have to go to the immigrations office to get your fingerprints taken, okay? Luke, I'll text you the appointment times."
Luke tells the human to fill his address as his own. This wasn't a temporary address, either.
"(I'm going to live with a Lucario.)"
That felt wrong to say, even in his own head.
Victoria managed to get them an appointment on the same day (a normally impossible feat for any Unovan, according to Luke), so they gobbled down a couple hot dogs and headed directly to the Immigration bureau.
They were directly taken in charge and about twenty minutes (and an interview by an utterly bewildered officer) later, Thomas was registered. As he is technically considered stateless, asylum was granted immediately, and once he receives his papers, he will be able to work and start a new life in Unova.
Of course, he didn't forget about his old one – how can you bid goodbye to your family and the friends you made over years in such a small amount of time, and without even saying bye to them? Yet his curiosity, excitement and relief took over all of his anxiousness. He was, finally, out of Earth. Still with humans and still as a human, but out of Earth. That's a very good first step. Oh, and he's living with a creature that's very much not human, that he befriended and that he can't seem to get his eyes off of.
There's good reason to be excited, no?
That night, the two talked for hours about their native worlds. Geography, politics, society, ethics, manners, culture. They decided to cut it short at 1 AM – again, Luke's initiative – but it was evident they could have went on until the sun rose.
One thing that got brought up was Lucario spikes: it turns out he, on his own accord, decided to get them removed for his integration to be easier. Let's say you can't take the metro when you constantly risk impaling everyone around you.
One thing that didn't, however, was how Luke (and generally, fully sentient Pokémon) felt about humans.
Thomas desperately tried to find a way to ask a question while hiding his intentions: whether it happens that Pokémon ever have feelings for a human.
Because there was no way he was going to let anything develop if it was to get their friendship ripped apart, let alone get someone thrown in jail.
Of course, Thomas knew of Luke's aura sensing capabilities, he experienced them first hand after all. But even when his thoughts drifted to fluffy daydreams, Luke stayed stoic. As Lucario-y as a Lucario could get: there was no telling how he felt, including if he felt anything.
It's now 1:15 AM, and the human, on his back, trying to sleep, watches his furry friend on the left doing the same.
He immediately gets lost in the Lucario's crimson eyes, illuminated by the electronic alarm clock sitting on the bedframe.
How beautiful was he? No one could explain it properly. From his adorable ears to his strong legs (and of course not forgetting the soft cream fur), he loved absolutely everything about the Lucario. Luke was fit, but not buff. Adorable, yet let out an aura of general coolness. And his personality. Thoughtful, incredibly intelligent, full of viewpoints the human could have never imagined. Really, he could spend his entire life with Luke and never get bored.
Convincing himself it felt cold in the room, he inched closer to the canine, until he reached a paw resting on the bed. He inadvertently brushed against it, taking Luke by surprise – his head jolted up, before slowly coming back to a rest as he realised what happened.
He raised it, and placed it on the human's side.
Thomas smiled from ear to ear. He inched closer again, feeling more of the soft fur, and that was enough to send him to sleep. Can't do much better than a real-size, alive version of a plush.