A/N
Thanks for reviewing, VGS2. It means a bunch!
Shallot leaned forward, his paws slamming down on the desk.
"C'mon!"
"Hmmm... I dunno, sweetie. I think it could make a nice addition to my scratching post." Basil gave a sly smile, letting her claws bright blue unsheath, All three members of Team Heroik gasped in surprise before speaking.
"Ye' wouldn't keep our results from us! It ain't allowed!"
"That shade of blue clashes with your coat! You simply must rethink your choice of pigment."
"You... Uh... Have a scratchin' post?"
The cat gave a tiny giggle, raising her paws defensively.
"Fine, fine. I surrender. You may have your results sheet."
She slid the paper she had been sitting on across the desk, where it was quickly snatched by Shallot. With a huff, the fox began to walk off. Both Salami and Tart gave polite nods before turning to follow.
The dark-type smiled to herself as she observed the three's journey to the seats lining the opposing side of the room.
Being about late in the evening, the lobby was bustling with activity. Various pokémon moved to and fro about the space, with various tasks and destinations in mind. Team Heroik's collective cries of joy and relief could be heard over the chatter filling the air.
The liepard's eyes scanned the crowd, judging each of them closely. Her sights soon landed upon a lone ponyta. She put a paw to the side of her muzzle as she called to the equine.
"Coco, babe? Could you c'mere a sec?"
The ponyta briefly jolted in alarm, with his flames becoming excited. He let them relax as he turned to Basil. He cantered over with grace. His head bowed bashfully as he made to avoid eye-contact.
"Yes, Ms. Basil?"
"Would you show team Heroik over there to their housing, please?" she gestured with a paw to the three pokémon in question. Coco turned quickly to see them, then back with a salute.
"You can count on me! Where to?" He stood tall and proud, with his chest puffed out and his flames blazing to life.
A tiny giggle bubbled up from Basil's throat, with her tail giving an intrigued swish.
"Thanks, babe. They'll be sharing a unit with your team. That's why I picked you for the errand!"
Coco's proud stature faltered for a moment, however he stood back straight after only a second. He leaned in close to Basil's face with a wide beam.
"Are you positive that it's not, perchance, just that you like me?"
Basil pulled back a bit in surprise, raising a paw to her chest.
"My, my, Coco. So forward!"
The pristine cream coat on his face soon flushed red, almost rivaling his mane in its intense color.
"I-I didn't m-mean it like that!"
"Suuuure you didn't." Basil leaned back in to brush her nose against the ponyta's cheek in a brief nuzzle. His blush only deepened at the affectionate display. With a clear of his throat, he forced his aura of bravado back on.
"Right! I didn't!" Coco returned the nuzzle with one of his own, concluded with a small lick onto Basil's forehead. "Before I depart, Ms. Basil, I must ask if you have eaten tonight."
Basil averted her gaze with a blush of her own.
"W-well, uh... I've got lots of paperwork, babe. Didn't have time to get dinner!"
"As I thought!" Coco plucked a hefty tangerine from the bag on his side, plopping it onto the desk. He turned his head away soon after, giving a small snort. "You shall not forsake your health in favor of work on my watch!"
The liepard gave a grateful nod, beginning to pile the citrus' skin with a single sharp claw.
"Thank you, Coco. I appreciate your generosity!"
"Just looking out for my friend, of course."
A nod was shared between them, before the fire-type departed toward team Heroik.
Salami, Tart, and Shallot traveled side-by-side down the corridor. Shallot moved with a skip, Salami with a prance, and Tart with a frolic. Their capes flowed proudly behind them. Salami was the first to break their silence.
"So, uh... Where are we going?"
They all stopped at once. Shallot gave a small grunt, squinting at the paper they had been given.
"2A. Dunno where that is."
"That is why I have come to assist.!"
They turned to see a ponyta approach, his head held high. His well-groomed fur seemed to almost glow in the hallway's otherwise flat lighting, his well-built frame put on full display.
An unusually large grin spread across Tart's features, much to Salami's mild interest and Shallot's complete obliviousness.
"Oh, my, my! Who might you be, kind-stallion?" Tart gave a curtsy, which Coco mirrored with a bow.
"I am known as Coconut. You may call me Coco. I am a member of Team Glamour, and it has come to my notice that you three will be sharing a room with us."
The minccino swooned. Salami moved to support her on his side before she could impact the floor.
"Team Glamour? Sounds, uh, kinda gay."
Shallot raised an eyebrow, glancing to his friends.
"What's wrong with gay? We smash all the time!"
The vulpix rolled his eyes.
"You, uh, know what I meant, Shals."
Shallot gave a nod, before turning back to Coco.
"Good t'meet ya', Coco. I'm Shallot, the scruffy one is Salami-"
"I am not scruffy!"
"-and this droolin' lass is Tart."
Coco gave a small nod.
"Charmed. Upon arrival at our unit, you will be introduced to the other three members of my team; this includes my sister."
Salami moved away from, Tart as the minccino regained her footing.
"Uh, cool. Lead the way, I guess."
The four pokémon set off down the gray hallway.
"The number of missing pokémon has increased to thirty.
"It is unknown if the disappearances are related to the unusually long storm that has been assaulting the coastal zone for nearly a week now. The powerful storm does not seem to be closer to stopping, and has been spreading at a considerable pace.
"Both the influx of water and lack of sunlight have been having a negative impact on both settlements and the wild.
"The police have advised untrained pokémon to stay inside to keep safe, and to stick together when traveling. It is not advised to leave children unattended."
A small skitty rest on a yellow chair which eclipsed her frame, Her eyes remained intently focused on the TV, with her ears swiveled to pick up as much of the news-report as possible.
"Man! Wild stuff out there, ay?"
The skitty's ears perked as they picked up the scratchy voice. She turned to the larger, scruffier luxray approaching from the kitchen to give a small nod.
Their collective attention was drawn to the end of the room as the large door creaked open. A ponyta stepped in, head held high.
"Hey, 'Nut. Grub''s almost done."
"That is wonderful. I have wonderful news myself."
The skitty's ears perked up, her small form leaping onto the arm of the chair.
"How wondufow do we be tawkin'?" she squeaked.
"I am pleased that you asked." He stepped through the door, then aside. "We have new room-mates. Meet Team Heroik"
The three new arrivals stepped through the door, feeling the blue carpet press into their paws.
The clopping, then thumping of hooves caught everyone's attention, as a second ponyta galloped into the room. Her pink and blue mane was styled in a ponytail, as was her pony tail.
"Like, oh em gee! Did you say, more new roomies?!"
Team Heroik stepped through the door, letting it close behind them. Shallot gave an impassive glance across the room, Tart smiled softly, and Salami let out a small sigh.
"I hate her," muttered the vulpix. Shallot's ear twitched, but he said nothing as no one else seemed to hear.
"Well, well. Totes McGotes radical to meet you, my dudes," chirped the luxray as she walked forward. The skitty hopped onto her back, kneading in place with a tiny purr. "The name's Peel! And, this is my girlfriend, Floss." The small cat yipped in agreement.
The white ponyta was the next to step forward, having tempered her excitement for the time-being.
"And my name's Barbie! Sooooo good to meet you all!"
Tart gave a short, pleased laugh, and Shallot let a small smile dawn his features. Salami grumbled something about hating existence.
"It is our pleasure. My name is Lady Tartar, however you may call me Tart." She clasped her paws together behind her back, looking to the three still with a grin..
"The name's Shallot! I'm the cool one." The fennekin puffed his chest out with a grin, turning to flaunt his cape with pride.
"I'm Salami."
Barbie pranced about a bit with a small whinny.
"Lovely! I'll, like, talk more during dinner, 'kay? I've gotta go, like, finish cooking!" She galloped off in a hurry, back into the kitchen.
Coco gave a nod to everyone, turning to follow his sister.
Shallot faced Peel, clearing his throat.
"Hey, I noticed earlier that yer' friend said more new roommates. Are there others livin' here, too, we should know about?"
"Totally. You're the second group today. We've got another, uh, Team Waffle I think it was? They said they'd be back by eleven, so expect to see em' within the next half hour."
Tart clapped her paws together.
"Wonderful. We have already met them, conveniently enough."
Salami gave a short sigh.
"Uh... Where do we sleep and stuff?"
Floss jumped up in excitement, landing on Peel's head. The electric-type gave an annoyed grunt, though otherwise made no protest.
"We've got fwee bedwooms! Bawbie n' Coco aw at de end of da hawway, an me n' Peew hav da next one ovuh. Guess you fwee can be in da fowmo guest woom."
Tart nodded twice, her tail giving a small swish.
"Thank you, Floss. We are quite appreciative of your accommodation."
"Yay!"
"Oookay then. I'm, uh, heading there to get us settled in. You guys have fun, or whatever."
Tart and Shallot pawed their bags off to Salami, who took them and started for the hallway.
"Yo, no offense, my dudes, but your friend there's kind of a jerk."
"Yeah, sorry 'bout him. He just doesn't like high energy pokémon very much. He'll come around."
"Can't promise I won't strike him with a little bit of pow, zap-zap action if he's mean to Floss at all." She mimed a double-kick, then tossing her head with a spark traveling across her pelt.
"I would be appreciative if you settled it with words. We do not wish for a fight, you see."
"Yeah, yeah. C'mon, let's go see if food's done."
"Awight!"
"Sure."
Tart gave a small nod, then turned away.
"I will catch up. I am going to check on Salami."
The others gave affirmative responses. Floss ran ahead as the other two followed slowly. Tart turned into the hallway. Smiles of varying degrees covered everyone's faces.
Salami placed his bag on the bottom bunk of the two-story bed with a sigh. He flopped onto his back, letting his limbs sprawl out. He didn't bother to look up as the door opened, then shut once more.
Tart made her way through the dark room, hopping up to sit on the edge of the mattress.
"Salami."
"Poptart."
"You are unwell."
"Maybe."
The two sat in silence for a moment. Tart let her tail drape over those of Salami's, which in turn curled around it.
"Am I to assume that there's more to this than our new friends annoying you?"
"Uh... Yeah."
"It is your sister's absence that is bugging you, I am assuming."
Salami's muscles tensed up, as if set with cuncrete. He rolled to his side, curled up and facing the drab gray wall.
"I... Uh... I don't wanna talk about it."
"That is understandable."
The vulpix flinched a bit upon feeling his friend embracing him from behind. With a few deep breaths, he let his body relax into her hold.
"I... Thank you."
They laid in a comfortable silence, only broken by their slow breathing and the occasional muffled roar of thunder.
"And that's when, pow! Floss came out of nowhere and saved my ass! Didn't know the little kitty was strong enough to pull me up that cliff, but boy am I glad she did."
Lemon gave a hearty laugh.
"That is of quite the impressing nature! I am shivering in excitement! I do admit, I am having the trouble of imagining such a small thing lifting someone who is of your size!"
"Yo, are you calling me fat?" Peel chucke. "Nah, bro. This was, like, fifteen years ago. I was still a shinx."
"Yeah, that makes a lot more sense," added Shallot with a grin.
Barbie levitated a few plates of food, setting them down in front of the pokémon at the table. She took her seat next to Pear, who turned away with a grunt. She simply smiled down at him.
The dinner consisted of fluffy mashed-potatoes and sauteed green-beans, both drizzled with a hot leppa-berry sauce. They ate in relative silence for a few minutes.
"Y-your cooking is g-g-great, Ms. B-Barbie..." Waffle muttered, his eyes turned down.
The ponyta gave a delighted squeal, her hooves reaching over to squish his cheeks.
"Thank you thank you thank you! It means a lot! Oh, and, you can, like, cut out the formal stuff. Just call me Barbie, 'kay?"
Waffle let out a pitiful whine, otherwise feeling completely paralyzed.
"Yo, Barbs," called Shallot. "You've got a pretty weird name. What's up with that?"
She turned to face, the fennekin, releasing Waffle with a smile.
"Oh! My mom's from a foriegn land. Everyone is, like, not named after food there. She wanted at least one kid with a name from there. Technically my name is Barbara, but that's, like, such a mouth-full."
Peel raised an eyebrow.
"Bro, since when did you have a problem with having your mouth full?"
"Pfft. Touché. It'd be, like, soooo hot if someone used my whole name in the bedroom."
Floss hopped up onto the table.
"Hey! No dawty tawk at da dinnow tabow! Youw scawing ouw guests!"
Waffle's face was flushed completely red, hidden buried within Lemon's fluffy mane. The slightly larger eevee stroked his friend's head soothingly.
"Floooooss!" whined Barbie. "Can you, like, get off the table? That's soooo unsanitary."
"You aw one to tawk! ...HEY!"
The small pink cat flailed around in the air as she was lifted telekinetically. The ponyta dropped her on the floor. Peel gave an amused snort, and Shallot's smile widened.