It was an eventful day.
Thanks to the recent attacks, Kamado ordered several sessions of first aid training with all the members of Galaxy Team, and even regular citizens if they wanted to attend.
The set up was difficult, but Zisu managed to turn the training grounds into Pesselle's vision of a perfect teaching area for everything medical. It was good they moved it outside too, given the number of people attending. No single room inside Galaxy Hall could fit that big of a crowd.
Everyone was outside. Kamado, Cyllene, Tao Hua, and all of their team members. Even Akari and Rei had joined in, doing their best to coach Professor Laventon through his nerves.
Apparently he was only confident at working on Pokémon, not people.
Pesselle needed more bandages for her demonstrations, and of course Zisu was happy to grab them.
Though, she definitely wasn't expecting a high pitched trill as soon as she entered the building.
Zisu paused, glancing down to see a little Eevee by her foot. It was looking up at her with its tail whipping back and forth, expression distressed.
"Hello there."
"Eeeeee!" The little Pokémon rubbed against her leg.
Zisu leaned over and lifted the Eevee off the floor, holding it at eye level. The tiny thing was giving her Baby-Doll Eyes, big and sparkling and absolutely adorable.
"… where is your human?" They were probably outside attending the class. Perhaps the little guy escaped their Pokeball and got trapped inside? Though that seemed pretty far-fetched.
"Eeee!"
"Wait… you're the little village charmer, aren't you?"
Zisu had heard about a small Eevee that delighted the townsfolk with big eyes and tail flicks, even getting a few pats from Cyllene of all people. She hadn't investigated much given the situation with Man Eater, so this was her first time meeting the popular Pokemon.
"Ev! Eev!" The Eevee cried and wiggled.
Zisu couldn't help but frown. As adorable as this was, she could tell the Eevee was trying to tell her something important. It was clearly agitated.
"Alright, let's find your owner." She set the little Pokémon down, expecting it to rush out the door once opened. Instead, she watched it run a circle around her legs before rushing past Cyllene's office.
The problem was inside?
Eevee led her past both doors to the medical bay. It stopped outside what used to be a storage closet, door slightly ajar. Peeking inside, she realized it was now completely repurposed. Two sets of rails were installed near one of the walls, some thick blanket mats and medicine balls along with oddball objects and equipment stacked on lots of shelving along the back.
There was also a man.
On the ground.
Moaning in pain.
One of those newfangled wheelchairs pushed crooked against the wall.
"Hey!" Zisu rushed to his side. The man jolted, winced and grabbed at the collarbone on his right shoulder. His expression was completely hidden by bandages.
"Sir? Are you okay? Do you need medical assistance-"
"NO!"
The answer was abrupt, the man shooting upright, nearly losing balance. Zisu caught him with a strong hand.
"Ummm, are you sure?" The redhead questioned.
"P-please don't tell them I fell." His lips were pressed tightly together, eye frantic. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to fall over."
"Hey, hey. As long as you aren't dying, I won't get the doctor. Now, why don't you tell me what happened." She gently helped him get to the wall so he had something to lean against. He relaxed with the support, giving his Eevee some ear rubs when she approached.
It took Zisu a moment to connect the dots, but she finally realized who this man was.
The new Skyfaller that survived Man Eater.
She knew very little about him, not even his name, but she was still excited to meet another one.
Maybe he'd be as skilled of a trainer as Akari and Ingo?
Heck, he might even join the Galaxy Team!
"S-sorry." The man stammered. "I knew the medical ladies had some training days this week, I was glad to not have them watching me all the time… p-please don't tell them I said that."
"I know how intense they can get. I'll be quiet." Zisu barely held in a laugh. He relaxed with reassurance.
"They left me in here, in case I wanted to try strength training, though I'm really not sure what to do other than some arm curls…" He seemed a bit embarrassed, though Zisu understood. Slow physical exercise was very important after horrific injuries and long bedrest.
The hardest part was finding doctors that knew about recovery therapy. She was honestly glad to see all the supplies for it in Galaxy Hall now, though it sounded like no one in the Medical Corps was well trained in using them.
She'd have to speak to Kamado about that.
"So they left you here alone. Seems a bit irresponsible."
"Well, Anise was with me, but she left when the classes got too big. They sound verrry important."
"I can take you outside if you'd like to attend." Zisu offered.
The man shook his head fervently.
"N-no thank you! I am perfectly fine right here!"
"Ah, the shy type. I get it," She looked back at the wheelchair. "So how did you end up on the floor?"
His hand started jittering, mouth pulling up at the side trying to word an answer.
"… s-so… I had this idea. Since Caboose really likes the ball up there, maybe I could at least train her some, but…" he got a bit sheepish. "I c-couldn't support myself reaching for it… and kind of fell…"
"You are feeling okay now, right? You didn't make your arm worse?"
He felt around the area checking for any new damage.
"No? I think I just jostled it." He started to smile, stopping himself before it turned into more than a small grin.
Zisu hummed.
So this guy was a problem patient.
Not that she could blame him. She was the same way when forced to follow the doctor's orders. Still, this did reveal a potential flaw in their Medical Corps and recovery programs.
The fact that they didn't have one.
Then again, most people this badly hurt didn't survive long enough to get medical treatment. He was a very rare case for this region.
"Since you're still here, could you please get that ball for Caboose?" The patient asked, pointing up at the medicine balls on the top shelf. She stood and grabbed one of the lighter ones. A ball made using Tarus skin stuffed with sand. They weren't the best toys for a Pokémon, though there was something else they could do.
"Here, I know a great exercise you and your Eevee can do together. You just roll the ball to her, and she pushes it back."
"That's an exercise?"
"Sure is! Once it gets easy you move up to the next weight," Zisu grinned, rolling the ball towards the Eevee. She bopped it with her face, not using enough force to roll it more than a foot. She had to push it the rest of the way back. "See? Nothing to it! You'll get a bit stronger and the Eevee can practice her tackles. It's a win-win."
"Wow! Thank you!" He gave her a tight grin.
She had no idea what the weird expressions were for. It probably had to do with all the bandages.
He rolled the ball repeatedly towards the little Pokémon. Each time she tackled it he'd have a new pointer for her.
Hit with the top of her head, not face.
Keep lower to the ground.
Use more muscle with the back legs.
Zisu's smile only increased in size.
So he was a competent trainer! It just made her sadder knowing he'd be stuck here for a while instead of getting into the world like the two Fallers before him.
This guy just had the shittiest luck.
"Thank you!" The man panted. "This is verrry useful, and tiring."
"Eeeee!" His Eevee chirped in agreement.
"Do you have any other exercises?"
"You'd like more?" Zisu asked.
"Of course!" The man grinned. "I want to be up and about as quickly as possible! So I can train Caboose properly!"
"So, you want to train Eevee to be stronger?"
"Yes! As soon as I can walk, we are going to challenge Ingo to a Pokémon battle, and the two of us will win!"
"I like your enthusiasm." The redhead laughed. "But Ingo is very tough. You'll need more than some ball pushing to beat him."
"I am aware…" the man deflated. "The last time I tried training her in attacking, Adaman threatened to take her away. I don't have many options."
"That is a problem," Zisu hummed. Well, there was still a chance he'd like to join the Galaxy Team. "Tell you what. I'll stop by when I can check in, and I'll even let your Eevee do some sparring with one of my Pokémon. As long as you don't do anything too destructive. And don't worry, I can handle the doctor." She winked. A little help with training might sway his decision to stay. She hoped it would at least. They could always use competent trainers in the Security and Survey Corps.
"Really?!" His eye lit up in excitement.
"Sure thing! I'm always down to help anyone wanting to improve their Pokémon battling! Besides, I'm curious to see if you can actually rival Ingo."
"I love winning! I will defeat him!"
Zisu snickered. He had spunk, that's for sure. "We haven't introduced ourselves yet. What's your name?"
"I am Snowflake! And this is Caboose!"
It took her a moment to realize he was being serious. A loud cackle escaped her mouth. She couldn't help it.
"Alright, Snowflake. My name is Zisu, Captain of the Security Corps."
"Security Corp? You must be verrry strong then!"
"You better believe I am," She puffed her chest out. "Who knows, maybe one day you'll be strong enough to challenge me."
"You say that as if it will never happen." Snowflake's grin increased in size. "I will defeat you too, because I am Snowflake, and I love winning."
Zisu laughed. She offered her hand forward for Snowflake to take, the man returning a firm shake.
This was going to be fun.
XxxxxxxxxxxxX
"… this is the best you could do?" Melli's voice was shaky, desperate even.
"It doesn't look bad." Mai commented. "Very abstract in a way."
"You aren't helping."
"Look," the clothing store owner growled. "I warned you the coat wouldn't look like it originally did, and somebody was stupid enough to soak the thing in hot water, setting the blood stains. I could have left it looking like filthy blood, or dye it."
"But… did it have to be this color?"
Melli was holding Snowflake's recently repaired coat. Well, repaired wasn't the right word.
The torn pocket looked as good as new, but he could see the patch work in the chest too damaged by claws and teeth to completely close. The collar had clearly been torn and dented in multiple places, but with the new color it wasn't as noticable.
The upper section of the coat above the second stripe had been dyed pink, the thick brown band gradienting from dark brown to its original burnt sienna color. The blood stains reacted with the pink dye, causing them to look more of a dark crimson than bloody. In short, the top started off a very deep red, turned into a camo pattern of crimson splotches and brighter pink, before turning solid pink to white and brown.
It reminded him of a pecha berry.
"… can I-"
"No refunds." The woman stated. The ice in her voice cut through his nerves like a sharp knife to a mushroom stem.
"B-but what about-"
"You can either pay for me to make a new one, or take what you have now. End of discussion."
"I want to know about the straps!" He flicked two dark colored loops installed around the armholes inside the coat. The woman got less defensive at the genuine question.
"I heard his arm is broken. Figured he might want to wear his coat over his shoulders like Kamado does."
"Wait…. Kamado's coat has these straps too?" Melli blinked.
"How else did you think it stays in place when he's flipping people across his office?"
Melli didn't know Kamado threw people across his office either.
He was never around Jubilife long enough to notice how crazy the people here were.
"I can switch out the strap colors if needed. I won't charge you for that." Her face softened a bit. "Oh, this is for his adorable Eevee." She handed him…. A little scarf dyed to match the colours of Snowflake's coat.
"Uh-"
"It was my tester piece of fabric for the dyes. If you bring me photos of the little baby wearing it, I'll give you a major discount for any future purchases." Her eyes narrowed. "I expect photos."
And there it was.
"… I'll see what I can do." Melli took the small scarf and started walking, feet dragging in the dirt. Mae was walking right beside him.
"Huh. I knew Caboose had been charming her way throughout Jubilife. I didn't realize she'd be so popular though."
"That Eevee is a menace that just hasn't used her cute looks for evil yet." Melli droned.
"Come on, Melli. Snowflake's going to be really happy to see his coat again."
"You don't know that. Heck, he doesn't know that!" The panic was real. Sure, the shop owner said it wouldn't look how it used to, but did she REALLY need to add the dye?!
"You tried really hard to fix it." She put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "I know he will appreciate that. Far more than learning it was thrown away."
"I mean… I guess you have a point there." The Warden mumbled. "But what if he hates what's happened to it? What if he gets really mad at me for even trying to help? He might never want to see me again-"
"I highly doubt that will happen."
Melli stopped right outside of Galaxy Hall, trying to run through all of his options. Anything to delay the inevitable.
"Maybe I can just hide this and never bring it up ever again! Then he will never even remember it existed-"
"Come on, Melli." Mae grabbed her friend by the arm and dragged him through the door, several Security Corps members looking up at the commotion. Even Cyllene was eyeing them from her desk, a warning in her expression.
Mae didn't stop, continuing to yank a very reluctant Melli to the medical office.
Snowflake was in his bed, lifting his brick in an up and down motion while Caboose napped on his lap. He was looking out the window, not even noticing anyone was watching him.
Melli couldn't do this.
He turned to run, only for Mae to grab the back of his shirt nearly making him fall.
"What is wrong with you? Just give it to him."
"But what if-"
"No more of that." Mae pulled his necklace, forcing him down so they were eye to eye. "He's your friend, remember? I know he'll appreciate this. Please, just trust me."
Mae looked so confident, as if she had some secret insight he hadn't.
How could she be sure?
"If it helps you feel better, I'll give Caboose her surprise gift." Mae offered, already taking it from Melli.
"That doesn't help at all!"
Too late. Mae was already holding the little scarf, and she wasn't giving it up. Munchlax and Skuntank were staying out of this, sensing Melli's tension and deciding to keep a distance.
"Melli, I promise I will be right behind you, okay? We can do this together."
Melli sighed. "F-fine, but you aren't allowed to abandon me!"
"Wasn't planning on it." Mae waited for Melli to take the first steps. He eventually obliged, slowly getting closer and closer to Snowflake. He didn't notice their approach, not even when the Wardens were standing right next to the bed.
"Uhhh… Snowflake?" Melli cleared his throat.
"I am Snowflake." The man looked up from the window, Caboose waking at the noise.
"I-I… well," Melli had to take a deep breath before continuing. "When I found you, you had been wearing something that was… badly damaged. I-I figured you might like it back at some point and graciously tried to repair it!" His heart was beating a mile a minute.
Snowflake was still staring.
Judging him.
That kind eye would turn to hatred when he saw the coat.
He was going to hate Melli all because he tried to help.
"… it must be realllly heavy if it's making you sweat so badly!" Snowflake's voice cut through his frantic heartbeat. He hadn't realized he'd started sweating. Mae had to hold back a giggle at the comment. It was all too much for Melli to handle.
He had to get this over with!
"Here!" He closed his eyes and shoved the coat at Snowflake.
Then waited.
Waited for the scolding.
The anger.
…
Nothing.
Peaking one eye open, he saw Snowflake clutching the coat in his lap. Eye downcast and hand lightly trembling.
Oh no.
"I-I am sorry!" Melli bowed his head in shame. "I tried cleaning it, but did everything wrong! And the woman at the clothes shop said it was the best she could do and-"
"Melli…" his voice sounded wet. Snowflake looked up again, fat tears rolling down his cheek absorbing into the bandages.
"I-I'll leave you alone forever now I swear-" an arm grabbed and pulled him in by the shirt. Snowflake had trapped him in a hug, salty tears soaking through Melli's top.
The Warden had no clue how to handle this.
"T-thank you…" Snowflake's voice quivered. "Y-you really are the greatest~" his voice cracked with a poorly contained sob.
Melli looked back to Mae for help. She nodded and made a gesture for him to continue.
That wasn't any help at all!
He'd have to wing it then.
"H-hey! No one should cry in the presence of the Great Melli! So stop that!"
"I-I can't…" he said through a sniffle. "I'm really h-happy and confused and emotional… a-and I don't know why!"
"Well that doesn't mean you should start crying- HEY!"
Mae pushed Melli further to the ground for a proper hug. The woman betrayed him, and she was smiling the whole time!
"The Great Melli does not handle crying!"
"That's right… you ARRRRRE GREAT~"
Melli had no choice but to pat his trembling back. He gave Mae a death glare through the whole thing. She simply shrugged.
"I'm glad you're happy with it, Snowflake. Melli invested a lot into fixing that coat." Mae had already tied the little scarf around Caboose's neck, the Eevee very happy with her new attire.
Snowflake looked up, noticing the new accessory, trembling smile getting even wider.
A small yelp of pain made everyone freeze, the patient holding a hand over his cheek.
"Snowflake? What's wrong?" Melli asked, stomach dropping when he saw blood staining the wrappings.
"N-nothing!" Snowflake tried to smile, wincing even harder as more blood soaked through.
Mae's eyes widened. "I'll go get the doctor." She was rushing out of the room before Melli could beg for her help escaping. He turned back to Snowflake, unsure what to do.
"I-I think I just ripped some stitches…. Again," Snowflake gave a dry cackle. "Pesselle is gonna sew my mouth shut…."
"No she won't! Just stop talking before you make it worse."
A dark, foreboding presence entered the room, Melli feeling death mere inches away.
Mae found Pesselle, and she was pissed.
"OUT."
One simple order.
That was all it took for Melli to rip away from Snowflake and bolt.
"Wait! Melli! Don't leave me alone with her!"
"Sorry, Snowflake! I don't have a death wish-" Something tripped him in the hallway, his ear getting pinched painfully. An elderly woman in the Medical Corp held him captive.
"You were saying WHAT about a death wish?" The woman's gaze was enough to burn a hole straight through his back.
"I-I'm sorry~"
"No. You WILL be sorry."
"S-Skuntank?!" Melli cried for help, but Skuntank was cowering in the corner along with Munchlax. They were smart enough not to mess with these crazy women.
There was no escape.
Finally accepting the futility of it all, he raised his arms in surrender. Maybe if he cooperated, they'd be gentle?
XxxxxxxxxxxxX
The doctor was furious with Melli and Mae. So much that she barred them from visiting.
At least Mae. They eventually let Melli back in after Snowflake begged them enough.
Much to Melli's chagrin.
Pesselle finally took pity on Snowflake, after sewing the wound back together with zero pain killers. The elderly ladies thought that would be enough to get the fact he needed to stop smiling through his thick skull. The doctor did warn that next time he ripped his stitches she wouldn't hesitate to stitch his mouth closed.
Melli had only ever needed a gash on his leg sewn shut shortly after becoming a Warden, when he underestimated how steep a cliff was. The old Pearl Warden had done it, and he remembered being traumatized for a while after.
The large needle piercing skin, tugging of thick thread through flesh, like it was going to rip right through.
The thought made him shiver.
In short, he knew how much it sucked, and Snowflake really hadn't handled it well. Based on the way he was trying to hide under the covers with Caboose by his chest. Every time Melli looked over he just saw the top part of his head, eye watching the ceiling with a thousand yard stare.
He honestly wasn't sure I'd Snowflake had gotten painkillers after the procedure either.
Melli wanted to ask, but also didn't want another lashing by any more doctors or nurses with their belts. They were sitting at the table, glancing over at him in warning.
He was still sore from earlier.
Despite the pulsing pain in his skin, his eyes continued to drift shut, only fluttering open again when alertness suddenly returned. He was falling asleep in the worst place possible.
"… Melli?" Snowflake croaked, not taking his eye off the wood planks above their heads.
"Stop talking. You'll anger the ladies again." Melli was stern, hoping that would make a difference.
"…You are a good friend."
Of course it didn't.
"Why do you insist on making this worse?"
"I… just thought you should know…"
Caboose wiggled her way up near Snowflake's face, poking her head out of the sheets and looking at Melli expectantly.
Sinnoh damn these two.
"Yes, the Great Melli is the greatest friend anyone could ever have. You are very lucky."
"… Verrrrrry lucky."
"Now go to sleep already."
"… is it still there?"
"Yes. Your coat is still on the nightstand. And again, I won't let anyone take it." The Warden was tired of saying it. This was his third time repeating that phrase. He hoped it was just from the guy being tired and not worsening amnesia.
"… thank you-"
"Goodnight, Snowflake." He cut him off this time. It had gotten dark a long time ago and Melli was exhausted himself. Adaman should have stopped by a while ago. At least then he could leave with his clan leader as a meat shield, in case the medical team decided to lash him again.
Galaxy women were terrifying.
"… goodnight…" Snowflake finally went quiet, soft breathing turning deep and heavy when he finally drifted off.
Melli could feel himself nodding off again. He forgot how exhausting it was being terrified.
Yet he couldn't completely fall asleep, mind still plagued with questions about this whole mess.
Why did he feel so invested in this guy? Sure, he felt guilty about not helping sooner, but after so much time he thought things would go back to normal, maybe working on suppressing some memories of the carnage.
But here he was.
Sitting by a weirdo he knew barely anything about, and somehow now carried the "friend" title with.
Why did he still CARE?
Is this what "friendship" actually is? He didn't have many friends, and the suspicions still lingered about the ones he did have.
Well, the only person he would consider a friend was Mae, before Snowflake came along. He had another friend long ago, but it later became clear how off his perceptions were about his so called "friend."
Melli had dedicated so much time and effort into this guy already. It would be wrong just to abandon him, wouldn't it?
Like he himself was abandoned in the past.
He didn't want to inflict that pain on Snowflake of all people. The guy was too innocent and vulnerable.
No, He'd stay by Snowflake until he was better, or at least until figuring out why he cared so much.
Even if the decision left him with an odd sinking feeling.
That probably wasn't anything to worry about.
XxxxxxxxxxxX
Melli has accepted that yes, Snowflake is actually his friend now. It took him a while but he's reached a conclusion, after waaaay too much tomfoolery for one day.
Also Snowflake has his coat back! Granted it's not like he remembers but he doesn't remember anything so same dif.