Begin With the End in Mind

by vegetables

The end of the road is never particularly bright. - SundaeShipping, Harley/Max, Harley/Masato.

7. Part Seven

Part Seven

-Max-

Harley and I had been walking for several hours. Still harshly bright, I felt like I should have been in bed and that it was too early in the morning. I was actually tired, and, the funny thing was, I went to bed relatively early last night. It hadn't been like the night before last, where Harley and I had been up too late. I was curious as to how Harley was holding up with this, as I knew he wasn't an early bird, nor one that was regularly overexerting himself.

I was holding my PokéNav, making sure we were constantly staying on the right routes. Thankfully, however, we were making good time. We weren't halfway there or anything, but considering we had only been walking for a few hours, we had gotten pretty far away from Mahogany Town. I knew Harley was catching on to having to spend a night outside, but he surprisingly hadn't said a word about it. Even after spending so many nights at a hotel with him, I wasn't dreading it, because sleeping in the wilderness was fun and exciting—especially in an area like this, which was lush with shockingly colorful trees, nice, clean dirt paths, and stylishly swayed grass.

This morning hadn't been that different from the previous ones. I had woken up before Harley, though he awakened only a few minutes later. Like usual, he tried to hint at staying in bed a bit longer—doing things that weren't in same category as sleeping—but he gave up when I insisted my empty stomach was more important. For the first time, however, I hadn't been 100 percent opposed to the idea, and that revelation was the aspect that scared me out of agreeing. My abnormal willingness to go ahead and do what Harley wanted was very foreign, but I supposed after what we had done last night, there wasn't much left to be afraid of. It was weird because I felt myself more eager for night to arrive, and I wasn't sure if that was because it would include rest… or something else.

Sighing, I finally looked to my side, glancing at Harley. He had a half-finished cigarette in his hand, the smoke emitting throughout the air and polluting it with its gray color. We hadn't said a word in about five minutes, so this breaking of the silence was a bit complicated.

The man turned when he noticed my stare. He grinned messily, and said, "What is it?"

"Nothing," I told him with a shrug.

"Maximus, I hate to be a stick in the mud," he then went on, "but my legs are killing me, and I feel as if I'm going to faint right here and now."

I figured this was coming sooner or later, so I stopped in compliance. "We can rest," I agreed, and he exhaled some of his cigarette smoke in relief.

Harley walked towards the side of the path, taking a seat on a clean, clear patch of grass. He threw his bag to the side, leaning back on his hands and staring up to the sky. "Fuck, Max, how the hell do you walk this much when you travel?"

I took my time sitting down, but I eventually did, taking a seat adjacent to the man. I shrugged and replied, "I don't know. I never really thought about it."

"You're still a kid—full of energy and whatnot, but you'll start slowing down in a couple of years and all that laziness will start creeping up on you." He grinned and sucked in some smoke with his tightly closed lips.

"I hope not," I commented dully. "And, besides, I get tired! Especially after a whole day of walking and not having a thing to eat!"

"Speaking of which," Harley noted, "we did fail to pack some food."

"Actually," I brightly shouted, "there is a teahouse along one of these routes!" I grabbed my guidebook in my backpack, flipping it open and searching for the page. When I found it, I placed a finger on the section quickly, and read, "Watura Teahouse!"

Harley finished off his cigarette and littered the forest by rudely throwing it beside a tree. Instead of taking the book from me to read, he hovered over my shoulder, staring down at the page. "We'll be on Route 39 soon, right?"

"Yeah, maybe," I responded. "If we're fast, that is."

Harley gave me a sneer, catching onto my hint, but he craned his neck in my direction, moving closer to my face. With his hat on today, there was a smooth, thick shadow casting over his forehead and eyes. Instead of making him appear dark and creepy, it made him look enigmatic, and well, sort of handsome, if that was the right word. I blushed when I thought it, and not wanting him to see the deep redness in my face, I sped up the movement, pressing my lips against his roughly. Harley was thrown back by the force, but was very accepting. He put a hand to the back of my head, urging me closer as he opened his mouth to deepen the liplock.

Having just smoked a cigarette, the tobacco on his tongue was a very prominent taste. I knew I tasted like toothpaste and mouthwash, which probably wasn't all that exotic compared to him. When we broke apart, I licked my lips gently, getting rid of the sudden dryness.

"What do you think I should do for my Appeal, darling?" the man asked, referring to the Contest. I was glad he had mentioned it, meaning that he had every intention of still entering. "I've already decided to use Totodile."

I smiled up at him, still close to his face. "Any special talents Totodile has?" I wondered.

Harley made a musing sound, considering this. "In fact, he does!" he then exclaimed, reaching into his bag and grabbing the crocodile's Pokéball.

My expression flattened a little, thinking back to the type of Appeals Harley used to do. Most of them were dark and scary. I watched the man throw the ball, releasing the small blue Pokémon onto the dirt path. It gave a loud yawn, resembling its owner far too much with its tiredness. It then waddled its way over to Harley, searching for a hug or pat on the head.

Harley picked up the creature, placing it on his lap and petting its head. "My little Toto, how do you feel about entering a Contest, huh, hon?" When Totodile cocked its head, seeming confused, Harley continued, saying, "A Contest, darling, remember the fun you used to have?"

The change in tone made the Totodile nod and jump off of Harley's lap. It landed on its tip-toes, its crawls digging into the dirt before it leaped up, twisting in the air and shooting out a rough Water Gun directly on the ground. The water's force caused the creature to stay up in the air for a long period of time before it let the attack end and moved over in the air, repeating the tactic once more. The blue crocodile did this several times before tiring out and landing gracefully on its feet, almost appearing to bow to its two-person audience.

"Ahh, bravo!" Harley shouted, clapping happily.

I clapped, too, then turned to Harley. "That was pretty neat. I'm sure if you practice that enough, it would make a really nice Appeal." I smiled at him with assurance. "But, it's sort of different from what I'm used to from you."

Harley snorted and shook his head. "Ah, Max, most of those Appeals were to scare your sister. Though, I must admit, when I realized the judge's saw it as original and scored me better, I did use that style more often." He laughed, placing a hand on my shoulder and pulling me close, like usual.

"Totodile can't be scary," I noted. "He's too cute."

Totodile puffed out its chest, an attempt to look tough and threatening. I laughed, finding the pose cute. Harley then stood up, dusting himself off and looking down at me, an obvious sign of being ready to go. He extended a hand, too, offering it to me kindly. I took it, and the man helped me up from the ground.

"Totodile," Harley said, "you could use some exercise, so you're going to stay out with us, mmkay?"

The Totodile gave an agreeing sound, which came out in the usual friendly snarl. Harley and I began to walk now, and the man possessively placed an arm around me to ensure I was going nowhere, even though I obviously wasn't. His hand massaged against my skin, feeling comforting and warm as we watched through the forest, which was now becoming chilly.

The two of us continued walking, mostly in silence, although it wasn't the awkward sort. As we traveled deeper and deeper into the forest, most of the sky became covered by the tall, towering trees, and the sun eventually was completely blocked. I felt as if it had set already, or that it was about to rain. The cloudy, gray skies from the other day had never produced any raindrops, but I still had an odd feeling about it raining sometime soon.

Harley's arm still tightly gripping me—and never letting up, even for a second—I felt as if the man was testing how long I would put up with him. I had no problem with it, really, but the possessiveness of the touch was discomforting. I honestly didn't want him to be doing this just because he felt like I was going to run ahead and off into Olivine City, never to see him again. I had every intention of staying by his side.

Totodile, on the other hand, was way ahead, frolicking merrily and appearing hyper like Ash's. The movements weren't nearly as chipper and excited, but it was close enough. It made me think about when I had visited Oak's laboratory and first seen Ash's Totodile. Ash had so many Pokémon—it made me fear that I'd never be able to compete with him. I had never actually battled Ash despite his promise, but he was still holding it. I was glad though, because Ash was the only person I had ever been too nervous to battle—too nervous, in fact, that I put off the challenge completely until I felt I had trained well enough to compete with him. I wasn't sure when that would be, but I was working towards it, and I knew battling Ash would prove to be one of the toughest challenges I ever faced.

"What are you thinking about?"

I looked over at Harley, who was staring at me curiously. I figured I had a very apparent dazed expression on my face, seeming very distant and lost. The man's arm tightened in a nudge, urging me to answer. I blushed when his other hand reached out and combed through my hair, rubbing my chin fondly.

"Nothing, really," I answered with a shrug.

"Your sister?" he wondered blandly, an obvious distaste for the subject.

"No," I told him honestly. "I haven't even thought about her all day, actually."

"Good to hear!" he shouted happily.

"Hey, I still intend to makeup with her, just to let you know!" I defended. "So, you hating her is useless."

"How so? Because, I'd love to know what you intend on telling her about toi and moi."

I bit my lip, not ready to answer that. I had thought about May finding out more than enough times, but actually telling her about it scared the living daylights out of me. If I wasn't able to tell Kenny, or Dad, or anyone then I surely couldn't say anything to May: my sister, the person I once considered my best friend and idol. Her reaction would be unthinkable, but I knew she would be horrified.

Eventually, I was able to stammer, "I don't think that's first on my list to discuss with her."

"Is it anywhere on your list?" the man asked, rubbing his hand up and down my upper-arm.

"I, um," I stuttered some more, unsure. "I don't know. I mean, it's not really her business. I never expected her to tell me about Drew and her."

Harley made a dismissing hiss at my comment. "Ah, but I would love to see her reaction. Don't you think it'd be something to go down in history?"

"No!" I cried. "She'd be shocked, disgusted, confused—everything! I don't want to put her through that!"

"Because it's me?"

"Obviously," I snidely replied. "She's going to assume the worst about our—about this." I sighed heavily, leaning to my left so I could rest my head on his side as we walked.

"That's what makes it fun, darling," Harley insisted.

"Well, I don't think so," I muttered. "I want to talk to her about the past, about what happened when she left me. I have no intention of telling her that—"

"—we're fucking?"

I grunted loudly and put my hands in my face as I blushed. "Don't—!" I cut myself off and just continued to be embarrassed. "I don't want her knowing that!"

Harley laughed maniacally. "She's gotta find out sooner or later."

"No," I argued, "she doesn't."

"All right, all right," the man complied, but it lacked honesty. "Now, tell me: am I just blind, or do I spot a certain little teahouse up ahead?"

My mood brightened. "Great! I could use something to eat now!" I broke away from his embrace, running ahead and even passing Totodile. When I reached the teahouse, I turned around and faced Harley, waiting for him to catch up with me.

He eventually reached the teahouse, taking his time just to annoy me, I supposed. There was a small wooden bench outside, either a waiting seat or the option to eat and drink outside. It was polluted with obnoxious carvings, mostly names and messages. This teahouse, slightly rickety and very, very small, was obviously non-traditional in every sense of the word, a polar opposite compared to the one I went to in Ecruteak. There wasn't even a door—just a small, gray curtain that blocked the outside from the inside.

"I'm not sure I trust any of the tea here," Harley commented, folding his arms. Totodile was at his feet, close by and obviously just a tinsy bit possessive of his trainer all of the sudden.

"I'm sure everything is fine. But, you know, I'm not really a tea person." I shrugged and was about to walk into the entrance before Harley stopped me, grabbing my arm and wagging a finger at me in disapproval.

"No, no, let me," he said, giving me a smirk. He then guided me to sit on the small bench, and disappeared into the teahouse with Totodile.

As I waited, I took a good look at the cravings on the bench, reading several declarations of love and other weird things. There were even a few phone numbers messily engraved. Baffled, I moved on and took out my PokéNav, starting it up and searching for Route 39. When I located it, I started to map out how many miles we had left before reaching Olivine City. It didn't seem that far away, and I estimated that it would be just a couple of more miles. Apparently, we had gone about three and half today, and although I had walked far more on some days, I thought maybe it would be better to call it quits after another half mile.

After I was done, I put away the device and took out my guidebook, wondering if there was anything interesting in the city. There were a few sections about fishing routes and even some information about cruises that could take you to Cianwood Island. There was only a short paragraph about Jasmine and the Gym, but it mentioned her "star Pokémon," Steelix. I already knew what types she used, so I figured I'd just use Electric against Electric, by using Mareep. I was always thinking about transferring Slugma over, as I felt I might have an extremely difficult time with my other Pokémon on my team.

"Lookie here."

I glanced up, seeing Harley standing there with a small wooden tray of some sort of food. It looked like sishkabobs. The man sat down, making sure to get as close as possible so when he crossed his legs, his left trapped my knee tightly and his side slid against mine. He grinned, offering the tray with two very raised eyebrows.

I reached out, taking one of the things. "Thanks," I said, putting my book away. I took a bite of the sishkabob and watched Harley do the same. I noticed Totodile was nowhere to be found, and I concluded that he returned the creature into its Pokéball.

"The lass indoors said she'd bring out our tea when it was finished brewing," he informed me.

I nodded, then said, "I think we should call it quits for today." I waited for a surprised response, but the man kept chewing away, so I continued, "Maybe after we eat we should set-up, um, camp."

"Camp?" Harley echoed. "Oh, yes, and I suppose that means sleeping outdoors and getting attacked by fucking Weedle and Caterpie?"

"I have a sleeping bag, Harley," I reminded him, narrowing my eyes and hoping he wasn't going to suggest just heading off in his own direction. "Um, and… I'll share…"

Harley then laughed, wrapping an arm around me and leaning in to kiss me on the side of the mouth. "It might be cold out here, though," he whispered, gently grazing his teeth along my teeth.

"Okay," I simply said, shrugging a bit and leaning up to kiss him on the mouth fully.

Harley responded instantly, turning his head and scooting even closer to me. He broke the kiss, but still remained close to my face. He whispered, "Nice and cuddly close?"

"If that's what you want," I obliged, feeling his warm breath hit my face.

His hand gripped my thigh in a reassuring, but very suggestive and interesting way, and I felt goose bumps run up and down my body at his second kiss, firm and full on my lips. It was short, but it affected me greatly, and I realized that this was the first time that I was probably thinking about a certain something before Harley had even vocally suggested it. I wasn't even sure if he was aroused, but I was starting to feel so. Of course, I also felt a measly bit pathetic and lame for being so affected by a kiss, but it wasn't just that! It was the way he was touching me, speaking, insinuating things. I mortified myself by realizing how much I hated it wasn't night yet.

"You seem rather acquiescent today," he said, as if he read my very thoughts. "I suppose I should be glad—and, oh, I am!—but might I inquire about why?" He pulled away from me just a bit, making enough space between us so he could finish the rest of his scischkabob.

I gave a shrug and bit into the remaining portion of my food, too. "I don't know," I mumbled with a full mouth. I swallowed, and continued, "I'm just in a good mood, I guess."

"Good mood, huh?" the man echoed. "You need more of those, you fucking hormonal thing."

"Here you two are."

Instead of looking at Harley to respond, I looked towards the new voice near the entrance of the teahouse. A young woman stood there, holding a small tray with two cups of tea. She walked before us, setting down the tray next to Harley and smiling brightly. I wasn't really sure, but I felt like she was exaggerating her smile, as if to please Harley in particular. I guessed this was the person Harley dealt with inside.

"Anything else I can get you?" she asked, looking only at Harley.

"We're fine," Harley assured, dismissing her with a grin.

The lady walked away, but purposely turned right before she reentered the building, giving one, final smile. I narrowed my eyes, knowing from experience with Harley what those particular beams meant. Either Harley didn't notice, or he didn't care at all, which was more logical. I still felt a bit uncomfortable with the situation though, because I felt so out of the picture, like I didn't belong because of my age.

Harley picked up one of the cups of tea and handed it over to me. He took his own, sipping it gently. "Mmm, quite delicious!" he exclaimed happily.

I blew the steam away before taking a sip of my own. It was green tea, and it did taste fabulous: not too strong, not to weak—just perfect. I sipped some more, then decided to say something about the woman. "You know," I began, "that lady was sort of… um, well, being obvious."

"Obvious?"

Harley had to be playing dumb—I knew that much—but instead of getting annoyed about it, I just went on, telling him, "Yeah, she was obviously, um, into you."

Harley laughed rudely. "Yes, I noticed when I went in there. Too bad I'd rather die."

I furrowed my brow. I knew Harley had never been with a woman, but I found it surprising he would say that something to that extent. "Really, huh?" I wondered. "You're not even… curious?"

"Curious about what?" he questioned rhetorically, and he was completely serious. "I know I don't like it, so why should I bother?"

It was a good point, but I wasn't sure why he seemed so disgusted by it. It was admittedly different than being with a man, but actually, the more I thought about it, the more I wasn't sure I wanted to be with a girl either. Especially after having been with Harley. With Harley it seemed so whole and earnest, and I couldn't imagine what else there was to sex, albeit something less fulfilling. But, the idea of being with a girl didn't disgust me. But, I wasn't completely curious either. I was just sort of unaffected by it, as if it didn't matter if I went through or not.

"I admire that," I admitted to Harley. "I mean, I admire that you have such a firm understanding of who you are. I'm still trying to figure out who I am." I sipped my tea, avoiding looking at the man.

"You'll figure out everything one day, my little Maximus," he guaranteed. "In the meantime, enjoy yourself, eh? You know what they say: if you got one foot in yesterday and one foot in tomorrow, you'll fuck up today."

"I don't think that's quite how it goes," I argued, rolling my eyes in half-amusement, half-annoyance. As I had my eyes down for a moment, I caught a glance at the cravings on the bench again.

Harley looked down at where my eyes were, for the first time seeming to notice all of the markings. He scoffed and pointed at two names in an oddly shaped heart, declaring, "How much do you want to bet these two have long forgotten each other?"

I shrugged and returned to drinking my tea until I felt Harley's body move about, grabbing his bag from the side and digging through it. It took a while for him to fetch what he wanted, but he revealed it instantly, displaying the red-handled pocket knife in his hand. He flipped the weapon open, stabbing into the space between us and onto the chipping, wood bench.

"What are you doing! Stop!" I commanded, taking hold of his wrist to stop him from defacing the bench. "It has enough garbage written all over it!"

"Not from yours truly," the man stated. He licked his lips, moving forward and kissing me quickly before returning to moving the knife through the wood.

I watched him, his hand moving up and down, right and left as he dug the knife through it continuously. He finished with his name, written horribly messy, but then kept going, and I realized quite quickly that he was writing my name, too—and had indeed included a prominent plus sign between the titles. He finished, flipping the knife shut and smiling at me in success and fulfillment.

I blinked. "Harley…" I gaped, furrowing my brow.

The man's grin extended. "Oh, goodness—you're right! What was I thinking?"

Before I had a chance to question what he meant, he reopened the knife and finished off the message, adding the specific –imus to my name. My expression flattened, and both of us knew that was certainly not what I had meant when I called out his name in uncertainty. Nonetheless, I stared down at the craving, comparing it to the other dozens of couples' names. The only difference, to be quite honest, was that there was no heart surrounding ours, and I had to admit I was sort of hurt.

"What do you think now?" he wondered.

"Nice sentiment," I noted, and I managed to give a goofy smile despite the discontent I felt for the absence of a more romantic symbol.

"Sentiment?" Harley repeated. "Oh, no, Max, this here is graffiti."

I bit my bottom lip. "Graffiti…" I mused, knowing this labeling was his way of claiming his efforts weren't anything more than a silly rebellious gesture as opposed to something romantic and meaningful.

It was sort of odd, too, because Harley never made an attempt to hide his affection. I was boggled. As confusing as it was, did his denial of its significance mean he didn't want me to know how much I actually meant to him…? Or, was he being painfully honest with me, admitting that this sentiment meant nothing besides a silly defacement of property? But, if the latter was true, why didn't he choose to write something else instead of our names together?

"Are you ready to go?" he wondered.

"Yeah," I answered immediately. I gulped the rest of my tea, setting it down on the empty tray and getting up.

As if on cue, the lady worker came back outside. "Oh, are you leaving?" she asked, disappointment dripping in her voice.

"I'm afraid so," Harley told her, and he gathered some money and handed it to her. "I hope you have a nice day, Miss."

The lady blushed—and it was so deep and red that I wondered if my blushes were just as obvious—and gathered up the two trays and two cups of tea into her arms. "You two have a nice day as well," she replied, not even noticing the latest message on the bench.

Harley scoffed, noticing the same thing I did. He said nothing vocally though, and just dusted off possible crumbs on his clothing and gestured for us to begin walking. "All rested?" he wondered.

"You're the one that needed the rest," I told him. "But, yeah, I suppose."

"Good to know," he said. "Still wanting to call it quits for the day?"

I figured this question was more of a hint than anything else, but it was a reminder that it would be a good idea to just relax for the rest of the day, after having walked so many miles. When I had checked my PokéNav, I noticed an area that looked like a reasonable place to spend the night. It wasn't too far away either.

"Yeah, and there should be a nice place to sleep somewhere up ahead," I explained quickly.

Sure enough, it didn't take long to actually get to the area I was talking about. It was a nice, clean clearing in the forest, where the grass was flattened from the continual use of tents being set-up from frequent travelers. Trees were still spread out amongst the area, making it a cozy and comforting place to rest. I just hoped that Harley and I would be the only ones passing by on this particular night, and not because I was expecting anything perverted, but because I didn't want to deal with other people being around just for the normal, everyday reasons of discomfort.

Harley laughed at the sight of this pathetic little "campground," and just dropped his bag in the middle of the area. He scuffed his shoe around the flat, discolored grass and looked up at me with a grin. I followed him, watching as he did some sort of fancy turn and held up his arms high.

"What are you doing?" I asked, confused by his movements.

"Just trying to figure out what I can do for my Appeal," he told me. "I don't want to be too flashy, like a certain someone I know, who happens to be related to you, but really is nothing like my Maximus at all." He did a simple strut away from me, half-musing what more he could do with his Appeal.

"So, you're not going to do something dark?" I wondered.

"Nah, there's no one I need to scare," he admitted. The man practiced a bow and then turned to smile at me. "I only have someone to impress."

I blushed despite not wanting to, but busied myself by sitting on the grass and taking out my tightly wrapped sleeping bag from my backpack. When Harley saw what I was doing, he leaned onto his knees next to me, and made an exclaiming gasp at the sight of me unfurling it.

"That looks a bit more roomy than I was hoping for," he commented. "I hope that doesn't mean you've shared this thing with others."

"Of course not!" I shouted, spreading out the bag across the grass. "I've never even shared a sleeping bag with May."

Harley grunted in annoyance, mumbling, "Though, I assume you must've slept in the same bed, as most siblings tend to at some point or another."

"Yeah," I nodded along. "You know, when I was younger—like five or six—I never liked sleeping alone. I used to try and get May to agree to me sleeping in her bed. I outgrew it eventually, but for a long time, I never slept in my own bed."

"Ah, see? Practicing your faunletism when you were young!" He grinned.

I knew something along the lines of this comment was coming, so I didn't bother getting angry about it. But, I wasn't really sure why I chose to reveal that at all. I supposed sharing a sleeping bag with Harley reminded me more of an innocent act of just wanting comfort and human contact as a child with May, but in reality, it was totally different. Sleeping in the same bed with May had always been so casual and natural, but I had always taken note of some of the more bizarre aspects of it. The two of us had never allowed space between our bodies, instead just getting as close as possible. We also had a tendency to face each other, and still remain that way when we awoke. I remember some mornings, May would kiss me good morning, and only now did I really consider that to be odd. From my memory, her lips had been very different than Harley's: moistened, delicate, and a different kind of soft.

With Harley still close by, I decided I wanted some sort of comparison, so I craned my neck, pressing my lips onto his. I let it last a while, and I think I surprised Harley by my sudden forwardness. He did indeed have a questionable look on his face when we broke apart, but I don't think he was too bothered by my affection since I knew he liked it.

I undeniably enjoyed the way Harley's lips felt. They were so similar to mine, and the frankness in our kisses made things so much more comforting. I could never imagine a man kissing a woman the same way Harley kissed me. Our liplocks seemed too rough and quick compared to anything else I had seen. I suddenly became very embarrassed though, realizing I was comparing Harley's kisses to my sister's. If he had known that, I'm sure he would've been disgusted and angry—the same way May would be if she ever actually discovered what had developed between Harley and I.

Harley moved to sit on the sleeping bag, lying back on it and staring up at the sky. "Fuck, I'm exhausted," he groaned, taking off his hat and throwing it aside. "I can't wait until we get to Olivine City, and I can remember what it feels like to be among a population."

"We've barely been away from Mahogany Town for a few hours," I reminded him snidely. "I'm surprised you're even bothered by this. You're so anti-social."

"I'm not anti-social," he argued. "I mean, not in the traditional way. I don't like interacting with people, but it's comforting to know they are around. I'm not one of those old ladies with the intention of locking myself away in a log cabin."

I shrugged, not seeing the difference. "Anyway," I said, changing the subject, "if you still want to work on your Appeal, maybe we should just battle to prepare for the Contest."

"And to prepare you for your little Gym rendezvous?" the man inquired. Before he waited for an answer, he nodded, and agreed, "Sure, but don't be too, too angry if I beat you again."

"Just don't use any cheap attacks," I grunted, standing up.

"That goes for you, too, Maximus," he told me, reaching over and grabbing a Pokéball from his bag, and I knew it was Totodile's.

I chose Mareep's Pokéball. Even though it was a pretty obvious choice against a Water-type, I was doing this more for the benefit it would give Mareep in my battle against Jasmine. Harley and I spread out on the beaten grass, making enough room for our Pokémon to battle. I released Mareep first, letting the creature stand before me. Harley soon threw his Pokéball, and sure enough, it was indeed Totodile that came out.

"Don't think you can scare me with your little Electric wool thing," Harley called out, a distinct mockery in his tone.

I actually couldn't help but smile at his statement. It wasn't malicious and cruel like his conversations with May had played out, and I enjoyed that his attitude was the result of a confident, competitive spirit.

I extended my arm in preparation, shouting out, "Mareep, Thundershock!"

"Bite, Totodile!"

Totodile was quick, jumping up and already starting to dodge the attack. Mareep's wool thickened with static and her feet scuffed at the ground before it released the lightening straight onto Totodile's body. Totodile's hops stopped as he took the attack, its body shaking momentarily before he recovered. The crocodile rushed over to Mareep, sinking his long, sturdy teeth right into Mareep's body.

"Tackle!" I commanded.

Mareep shook the bite away by butting its head into Totodile's side, then running past the creature to make a trotting rush back over once enough room was between the two. But, before Mareep had the chance, Harley shouted:

"Scary Face, then Slash!"

Totodile's brow lowered and a deep shadow cast over his eyes, creating a spooky, dark grimace in Mareep's direction. This caused her to stop right in her tracks, startled by the frightening look. Frozen and unwilling to take a step forward, Totodile made the second move, leaping towards Mareep and slashing its claws back and forth against her skin.

"Mareep, Iron Tail!"

Struggling to get away from Totodile's scratching claws, Mareep simply swung her short tail directly into the crocodile's cheek, sending him flying backwards, near Harley's feet.

Harley put a hand over his mouth in a sincere gasp, but tightened his fist and growled lowly. "Totodile, use Ice Beam and hurry!"

Ice Beam? I was taken back by this command, unaware that such a small and unevolved Pokémon knew this sort of attack. It was naïve of me, of course, because I knew several Pokémon, whose size and evolutionary stage never stopped them from being an extraordinary opponent. My puzzled thoughts clouded my consciousness, and Totodile's chest puffed out as he prepared the beam of ice to head in Mareep's direction.

"Thunder!" I called out, and I bit my lip hard as my Pokémon prepared its attack, very much behind Totodile's building up of the ice beam.

Mareep's wool was puffed and full of static electricity, and she hunched her back as she threw the attack towards Totodile. Unfortunately, Totodile's attack was right on the mark, the ice flying in Mareep's direction and slamming into the creature. It cut off Mareep's attack, not even giving it the chance to hit Totodile. Mareep fell to her side, out of energy and suffering in a struggling ache.

"Mareep, you can do it—get up and use Thunder!"

"Use Bite again!" Harley ordered.

Totodile waddled at a quick pace, and with Mareep still shaking on its feet as he managed to stand, the crocodile sunk its teeth into the woolie neck. Static flew from Mareep's body, and a spark landed right on Totodile, sending the blue creature backwards. When he stood, the Big Jaw Pokémon shook, unable to move and flinching at the attempt. He was paralyzed.

"All right!" I shouted. "Mareep, now, use Thunder!"

And Mareep, sure its attack would be the final of the battle, put all its energy into the flourishing gust of Thunder. The yellow and white lights beamed from its body, hitting Totodile and causing the creature to fall instantly to the floor, dazed and soon-to-be knocked out. Harley grunted loudly, his teeth clenching as he realized the battle was over.

"Dammit!" he cursed, returning Totodile without a single positive word. He crossed his arms and huffed loudly in disappointment and aggravation.

Mareep's breathing hitched and the creature's leg buckled in a tired need to faint herself. I congratulated my Pokémon and returned it afterward with a pleased smile. This certainly made up for my loss with Harley the last time, although I knew the man was a lot more upset than the first time I beat him in Goldenrod City. I wondered if it was because he had actually made a sincere attempt at the battle. I didn't feel necessarily bad, because I knew the man was a sore loser to begin with, but still—I didn't want him upset with me.

"Your Totodile put up a great fight, Harley," I told him, walking over and trying my best to win him over with a soft smile.

The man had a considering gleam in his eye, catching my beaming smirk. He shrugged and rolled his eyes, telling me, "Well, the poor thing hasn't battled in months."

That wasn't much of an excuse, but I was it was a perfect one for Harley to feel better. And, on some level, I think he already did now that he said it. His demeanor rose, and he made another one of his performance gestures, bowing halfway and flashing his teeth in a wide smile. I watched him for a moment, allowing him to live in whatever fantasy he presently occupied, before I pushed him gently, wanting his attention.

"Hey, knock it off," I said. "There's more to your Appeal than what you are doing. Totodile still needs to practice that."

Harley did stop, but he glared at me. "You don't have to tell me that!" he argued. "I'm the coordinator, and I know not to outshine my Pokémon, dear."

"Hmm," I mused. "I'm surprised to hear that, but now that I think about it, you never did. Not like… um, what's-her-name… um, Jessie!"

"Jessie?" Harley echoed. "You mean Team Rocket Jessie?"

"Yeah, or Jesslana or whatever that was," I said. Then, after a pause and reminiscence of a certain event, I continued, "I still can't believe you worked with Team Rocket just so May couldn't get her last ribbon." I narrowed my eyes, the memory reminding me how cruel that act was and how evil Harley had been.

Harley sensed just how hurt I was by the memory and reached out to touch the side of my face. "I had no intention of hurting you. Just May!"

I rolled my eyes. "That's just as bad. She's my sister, and what if Team Rocket managed to mess her up, and she never made it into the Kanto Grand Festival?"

"Weeeell," Harley hummed, "maybe I'm just making assumptions, but if anything that devastating happened, I doubt we'd be here where we are, if you know what I mean." He smiled cooly and then sat down on the sleeping bag again.

"Regardless of whether or not you succeeded, you still did all those cruel things, and I'm still here, so something's not adding up." I made a weird face, confused myself.

I never considered it all, but how on earth did I just dismiss all those things he had done to May? Was it because I had been so upset with her myself that I subconsciously blocked out what Harley had done to her years ago? Or, did I just forgive him because I had begun to like him?

"I guess I'm just irresistible," he said, and the tone was full of assurance that I didn't even want to consider the cosmically strange similarity his statement had with my thoughts.

After the short pause, the man pulled my arm, urging me to sit with him. I fell on my knees, and Harley brought me closer to his body so I sat between his legs. He placed a kiss on the side of my nose and smirked, wanting me to say something.

"I'm not exactly the one who started this whole thing," I muttered. "You're the one who, well, um, seduced me before I even realized a single thing about what I felt."

Harley laughed and shook his head. "No, I'm just the one who let you realize what you felt."

I furrowed my brow. What would have happened if he never had made the first move? How long would I have hung around him? Much to my displeasure, I was sure what he said was the truth. Had he not done anything to begin with, I probably would've just parted ways with him, and nothing would've ever developed between the two of us.

"I think we should start a fire," I noted, changing the subject. "The sun is starting to set."

"Lucky for little Maximus neither of us will have to break our backs setting a fire!" he happily voiced, digging into his pants pocket and revealing his zippo lighter. "Not very traditional in the camping sense, but who wants to waste their time scratching rocks and sticks together?"

I took hold of the lighter, examining it for the first time since I found it underneath that couch cushion. The golden metal was faded and rusted, but it still appeared so fancy and antique-like that I thought it was neat. I appeared to mean so much to Harley, and I wondered if there was a story behind it, though when I had asked about it initially, he had just stated it was "pretty," and he liked it. I shook the lighter, hearing the fuel inside shake about. The way Harley smoked, I guessed he had replaced the fluid about a dozen times over.

"What?" the man asked, catching onto my curious expression.

"Who gave this to you?" I wondered, turning it over with the hopes of seeing an engraving or something. But, there was nothing.

"No one, really," he stated. "Although, it is an heirloom, but no one gave it to me. I just took it when my parents died. I thought it was pretty, and I took up smoking just so I could use it." He smiled with amusement.

I handed him back the lighter. "Weird," I mumbled, getting off Harley's lap. "I'm going to find some twigs and stuff for the fire," I then said, heading back on the path near some of the bushier, big trees with fallen branches.

It felt like forever since I had gathered wood for a fire. I took a variety of different twigs and sticks from the ground before I went back over to where we were staying and kicked around some loose grass to reveal the dry, rough dirt beneath. It looked like someone had already set-up a fire recently, as there were small stones in a shape of a circle surrounding the area. I started arranging the sticks in a proper way, then turned to look over my shoulder at Harley, who was lighting a cigarette as he fully reclined on the large sleeping bag.

The man eventually caught my glance and threw the lighter in my direction. Of course, not expecting this, I didn't catch the metallic item, and I mumbled beneath my breath at this. I lit several twigs on fire, letting the flames hit the rest of the wood eventually as the campfire slowly started to come to life.

I handed the lighter back to Harley, and said, "Too bad we don't have marshmallows."

"Ooh, that would be fun," the man agreed. "Roasting marshmallows with my little Maximus—oh yes, I think I would have enjoyed that!"

I brought over my backpack and sat on the sleeping bag with the man. I dug through it, looking for anything interesting. I took out several things just to be able to see the bottom of the bag, and Harley poked through my miscellaneous stuff, particularly my thin, unused sketchbook. He flipped it open to the first page, which had a few doodles on it and his eyes widened in a beaming excitement.

"Oh, look at this!" he exclaimed, pointing towards a small, rough drawing of Kirlia. "How cute."

"It's ugly, Harley—stop making fun of me," I grumbled, still searching for something to amuse myself.

Harley sat up to examine the rest of the pages—which was just two more and the rest were blank—and his smile just seemed to extend more and more. "I noticed this book before, but I didn't know you actually drew."

"I try," I said, "but I don't focus on it enough to get better. I once knew his guy—his name was Tracey—and he was like the best artist in the world. I couldn't believe how amazing his work was! Ever since then, I sort of aspired to be an artist, too, but it's not looking too bright."

"I think it is," the man noted, his eyes locked on the doodles. He pointed at one of a Ponyta and said, "Especially this one! It's lovely."

I rolled my eyes, not at all convinced. "If you saw Tracey's stuff, you'd say otherwise."

"Now how are you supposed to get better if you criticize yourself so much?" he demanded lowly, snaking an arm around me and rubbing my back. "How about you draw moi?" He posed in a ridiculous way, lifting his chin and letting his face glow in the setting sun.

"No thanks," I said, grabbing back the book and setting it on the ground again.

"Why not?" he demanded, insulted.

"Because that would… that would be weird." I blushed at the thought, watching Harley blow out some smoke through his nostrils. I then turned to look at the fire, which was still struggling to fully come to life. I could feel the heat though, and it made my glasses particularly hot, so I took them off, placing them in the front pocket of my backpack and then replacing all the items I had took out.

Harley managed to kick off his boots without sitting up, letting them drop a few feet away. I took off mine, too, and stretched tiredly. I soon felt Harley's palm lay out on my back, sliding up the back of my shirt, and it was obvious what he was hinting at. I looked at him dully, watching as he shrugged off his jacket and rested it on his bag. Before I could say anything, he swooped an arm around me again, guiding me down so our lips could meet.

Cigarette still in his hand, he asked, "Did you know I could blow smoke rings?"

"What?" I asked, confused.

"Smoke rings," he repeated. "Watch." He placed his cigarette between his mouth, inhaling a vast amount. Instead of breathing it into his lungs, he held it in his mouth for a moment and then puffed it out, his lips shaped in an odd circle and his cheeks sucked in deeply. The gray smoke flew into the air, revealing the small shapes of circular rings, before dissipating.

I blinked a couple of times, unsure whether to be impressed or not. It admittedly looked very cool, but I felt as if the odd talent was a bit too weird, seeing as how it was usually another kind of substance folks used when doing that.

"Weird," I just said.

"Wanna try?" he asked, offering the cigarette with a raised eyebrow.

"Eww, no!" I protested, slapping his hand away.

"Fine," the man shrugged, extinguishing the end of cigarette on the ground. He pulled me close afterward, forcing my head to align with his shoulder and rest there comfortably. He rubbed my back for a while before kissing the side of my face, and saying, "So, how's that little ass of yours feeling tonight?"

I beamed red and looked away from him instantly. "Harley!" I grunted, biting my lip.

"What? It was just a question, darling." He chuckled and began messing with my hair with his long, slender fingers. His other hand tapped the bottom of my chin, urging me to look at him again. When I did, he kissed me deeply with an open mouth.

"Yeah, well, don't be so embarrassing," I commented, craning my neck as his mouth began to slide down and onto my shoulder. I could already feel Harley's body heat heightening, and moreover, his pants tighten as his neediness grew. Somehow though, the scenery of the forest and campfire, really turned me off, and I couldn't feel the same desire that Harley felt.

"Something wrong?" he wondered, his hands traveling down my body and to my hips. He held me there, lifting his own hips and making us grind together momentarily.

"I'm not exactly too keen on being so out in the open like this," I admitted to him softly.

"Neither am I," he agreed. "But, being so delectable and amazing, I can't help not caring about anything else but having you."

My eyes shut, feeling the man's hands under my shirt again, sliding up the attire and eventually over my head. We kissed between that and the next removal of clothing—his own shirt—and I then felt our chests push together, mine so small and boyish, his so defined and angled. Desire rushed through me at the contact of our hips grinding again, and I gasped, letting my hands drop down his body, tugging at the belt around his pants.

"Your hands, Max…" the man mumbled, dazed, "I fucking love when they're touching me."

I looked up at Harley—our eyes meeting perfectly—and kissed him on the mouth, all the meanwhile, still messing with his belt. When I tore the thing off, I fiddled with his pants, eventually getting them unzipped. The man moaned enthusiastically, letting his head loll back as my hands urged the waist of his pants down, stopping only when Harley's lack of cooperation restrained me from pulling them off.

I looked at Harley again, wondering why he wasn't budging. He grinned sideways, and relaxed his weight back on his two hands. "I want to feel you taking off my clothes," he said nonchalantly. "And, I'm not budging one bit," he further refused.

I blinked. "Harley…" I droned flatly. "Why?"

"I already told you," he insisted. "So, come on."

The man took my hands, placing them at the fallen waist of his pants. He rose his hips only a bit so I would have an easier time sliding off the attire completely, but otherwise, he didn't move. As I moved the fabric down his long, muscular legs, he lolled his head back and exhaled, enjoying the sides of my fingers tracing down his skin. My eyes landed on the man's erection, already so… hard. Doubt flooded me at the thought of reaching out to touch him, to try and bring him to that amazing, warm completion with just my hand. So, instead, I moved myself over his body, sitting between his legs again, and pressing my hands against his chest to push up his tank-top.

Now naked and apparently satisfied with my efforts, Harley began removing my shirt, all the meanwhile, bringing me closer to his body so his exposed hardness could rub against my own, covered beneath my clothing. My eyes shut tightly, feeling his hands intentionally scrape my lower hips, tugging and pulling my shorts loose and leaving me in just my underwear.

Harley smiled fondly at the sight and clutched me closer. His hands rubbed up and down my back, eventually slipping into the waistband of my underwear and squeezing me hard. I flinched, unsure, and his traveling hand eventually lessened to a finger, rubbing me just at my entrance. I shivered and gasped, letting my eyes remained closed.

"Still sore?" he asked in a breathy whisper.

"Not really," I answered honestly after I opened my eyes. I looked at him and became very tense, feeling that needy hunger rise in both his body and mind. If he wanted me to relax, he had to, too.

I moved my hands from his shoulders, trailing them down the sides of his arms, and eventually, to his abdomen. My hand shakily reached out, encircling his length, the warmth and hardness of it making me even more nervous. Harley was surprised, and he showed it when he gasped loudly and bucked his hips outward, desperate for more.

"Fuck, Max, what's gotten into your crooked little self?" he demanded passionately, rocking his hips back and forth in my hand.

"I thought you wanted to feel my hands…?" I said, half-question.

Harley laughed, a smile forming widely. "Oh, well, of course, but I didn't think you'd be so compliant."

"Neither did I," I admitted, narrowing my eyes. It was something about the way he felt beneath me, the way he reacted to what I thought were novice and unskilled touches. I was trying my best to remember how Harley had begun with all of this, and so far, I supposed some of it was working.

"Then more, Maximus," he urged, throwing his head back in a grin. He used a hand to push me further down his body, making contact between my hand and his erection even greater.

Nervously, I pursed my lips, but it was at that instant I remembered Harley doing something similar—but, instead, pursing his lips around his teeth—before he enveloped my own hardness into his mouth. The thought of doing that to Harley frightened me. I didn't think I could. If it had been too personal for me to experience, it would be ten times more personal to return the favor. And, above all else, I didn't think I could be any good at it.

But, it was too late. Harley caught onto my thoughts and started laughing. He placed a hand behind my neck, gently pushing me down again, but this time, with the intentional destination between his thighs. My entire body shook, and I felt my lust die out a bit as I started to realize not only did he want me to do this, he was also completely convinced I would. I didn't know what to do—I was too nervous. But, I remembered, faintly, that he had licked his lips fully before anything else. So, I copied that technique.

"Ahh, Max, if you don't get a move on, I'm going to fucking die!" he complained as his head fell back, but this time, not in lusty anticipation.

I closed my eyes, wrapping my hands around his length and moving forward. With Harley lying down, it made the position uncomfortable, but I managed to adjust my neck, pushing closer and taking him in a few inches. His erection felt weird in my mouth—completely different than when I held it in my hands—and as I carefully slid my tongue along it, I felt a vibration in the man's body, a soft moan that escaped his lips and shook his whole self.

I thought back to when Harley did this, recalling the thrusts of the neck and the ministrations of the fingers. I imitated this combination, taking in his hardness as deep as I could and massaging my fingertips against the warm, trail of saliva I left. I repeated this several times, pumping it in and out. Harley's hand rested behind my neck again, coaxing me to still continue.

"Max, you delightful little faunlet!" he beamed, his hips rising to my thrusts. The muscles in his thighs constricted, and I felt his breathing pitch considerably.

Driving his erection deeper into my mouth this time, I heard him grunt loudly, and remembering how he hollowed his cheeks, I allowed the velvety wetness of my mouth to tightly compress his length. Feeling so warm and solid, I couldn't help but feel my arousal return, amazed by how good I felt doing this for Harley. Hearing his moans, hearing my name from his lips, feeling his muscles cramp, feeling sweat form on his legs—I became ecstatic and eager. I plunged forward, feeling the very tip of his length push against the back of my throat right before a yell from the man, one that was followed by a powerful tightness of his muscles and a surprising completion straight into my mouth.

Not expecting such a strong impact in my mouth, I gagged, letting the softening length drop from my mouth as I tried to clear my throat. Harley lied there, breathing heavily as he fell straight on his back. I coughed several more times, not letting my lips meet as I struggled to allow myself to swallow what was in my mouth. When I did, I gagged more, closing my eyes and repeating the gulping motion as if it would send the taste out of my mouth.

"Max," the man panted, a sloppy smirk basically polluting his face with a selfish bit of satisfaction. "Goddamn!"

Despite the weird taste in my mouth, I managed to smile. His gratification was only for himself, but I felt an ultimate sense of pride, knowing I had driven him to completion the same way he did for the first time in Goldenrod City. And, I knew it couldn't have been the best "favor" he had been given—he had a tendency to say when experiences were grand—but I knew I had done quite all right for my first time. And, oddly, I was determined to get better… which meant this wasn't exactly the first and last time.

Harley clutched his hand around my wrist, pulling me upward so I straddled his lap again. He fused our chests and lips, slipping his tongue into my mouth and exploring it deeply. He laughed lowly even as our mouths stayed mashed together, and I brought a hand to the back of his head, feeling through his long, soft hair.

"Mm," the man mused, parting our lips, "I taste fucking good."

I rolled my eyes, not exactly agreeing. "I'm sorry if I wasn't…" I trailed off, shrugging, "you know, an expert."

"Don't you worry!" the man radiated. "It was as if my cock belonged right into that mouth of yours."

I blushed heavily but allowed his mouth to travel down my neck, sucking at it fervently. "I tried to think about when you did it to me the first time," I revealed, feeling the man's palm glide downward, patting my thigh and pushing my thighs apart so he could take hold of my hardness.

Harley grinned with a flash of his teeth. "Ah, so you were paying attention even way back then!" He kissed me directly on the lips, and added, "I knew it all along."

I smiled back, allowing a grind in our bodies created by Harley beneath me. I groaned very softly, his arousal reforming as we kissed wantonly. His hands then set on my hips, pushing upwards before he brought me close to his chest, rolling us both over so he mounted over me. The coldness of the fleece sleeping bag startled me, but now facing the other way, I noticed the sparkling yellow and red fire burning excitedly, looking lovely in dusky light.

Harley gently pressed his weight down onto me, stamping full kisses down my shoulders and arms. He straightened his back, hooking an arm under the crook of my leg and sliding me forward to him. This felt like it was going a lot faster than normal, and it was either because it was or because I felt much more relaxed this time.

Needy myself, I turned his face to align with mine, looking at him fully before Harley wet his hand abundantly, bringing it back behind me, away from my sight. He picked up where he left off before, letting a finger press into my body—slowly at first, but struggling to stay that way—before adding more moisture. Feeling the digit enter me, my back jerked, but despite the intruding pressure, I pushed down onto it, desperate for more. I moaned with more volume, squirming more and more as his other hand began stroking my length.

"Seems like it's been a lifetime since I started wishing for us to fuck like this," he growled, rubbing our bodies together with a heated force.

I breathed out heavily, adjusting my back so I could lie down. Harley removed his finger timidly, but settled his weight on his knees and lifted my legs further up with his arms. I rose my hips as I felt his open-palmed hand move against my inner thigh, teasing me immensely. I grunted to get his attention, wanting so badly to feel that odd pressure in my body, to have him in my body the way I knew I could never let another person.

Harley wet his hand again, rubbing himself with his saliva half for preparation, half for a greedy pleasure. Afterwards, he moved forward, spreading my legs apart and pushing the tip of his length against my entrance. I squeezed my eyes shut, preparing for the strain. It began, slowly, the man taking some sort of precaution before he enveloped his entire hardness into my body.

"H-Harley…" I breathed, my mouth falling open.

The man looked down at me, clutching his arms tighter around my thighs as he kept them lifted. He smirked, and assured, "It's all right, Maximus. Just relax." He shook with a seizure-like pleasure and leaned his body over me more, urging my legs to wrap around his hips so he was directly above me.

"Mmph, Harley," I moaned, this time with yearning as his length moved.

"Max!" the man yelled, his hips winding and his erection pushing out of my body before thrusting fully back into me. He gasped, throwing his head back, and continuing, "You are so amazing, darling."

I turned away in a blush, knowing his babble was half-conscious. But, despite it, it was nice to hear. I rose my hips into his driving motions, clenching my muscles to add to that tightening pressure. And, beginning to writhe with an increase of speed, Harley leaned his chin on my shoulder, pulling me closer as he thrust. I gave a gentle cry of delight, and I felt a vibration on my shoulder as the man moaned, too, still sucking at the skin there.

Still so compressed against his body, my own erection rubbed onto his stomach, and the feeling caused Harley's hand to wrap around it. He pumped the length into an enclosed and heated palm, still managing to keep the pace going with his own thrusting into me over and over. With a few more twists of his hips, I arched my back, biting my lip painfully as I grunted and let out my release. Harley came just after—if not, simultaneously—and instead of shouting my name, his teeth clamped onto the jutting bone of my shoulder, digging deep and rough as he grunted.

Drained, his weight automatically collapsed, but he was mindful enough to stop from completely falling down on me. He stayed where he was at, still inside me, and caught his breath, smiling messily. And, just as the previous times, Harley licked away my release from his palm, his tongue flicking between every finger. I had no idea how he could just lick all of it off, not even seeming to be bothered by the taste—just the opposite, in fact. Afterward, his fingers rubbed where he bit me, and just gave a goofy shrug, no explanation why he had sunk his teeth into my skin.

I panted beneath him, letting my legs drop to his sides, but keeping my arms wrapped around him tightly. "That really hurt," I complained, twisting my shoulder in discomfort.

Harley leaned down and kissed the bite mark. "Sorry, Maximus," he apologized. "I just got excited." He caught his breath fully and removed himself from on top of me, pulling out of my body and causing me to grunt uncomfortably.

"So, you bit me?" I questioned, furrowing my brow and turning my body to face him. "That makes no sense."

Harley laughed as he relaxed on his back. His stare lingered around the now sunless surroundings, eventually setting on the blazing fire, which I heard crackling and snapping as the wood broke in the flames. It was silent between us for the time being, but Harley squirmed against the fleece sleeping bag, making his way underneath it and coaxing me to do the same with a tug of his hand. I went underneath, too, and I vaguely noted how weird it was to have done such an act on top of the sleeping bag my father had given me.

Harley pressed his face into my neck and wrapped his arms around me. "Let me do it again." He ran a finger against the bottom of my neck. "Right here."

"Harley…?" I called out, confused. I was completely dumbfounded by his attitude, which had come out of nowhere. But, somehow, the pain from my shoulder already subsided and what was left was only a throbbing tap that felt faintly odd. It sent something down my body, a small static of thrill.

The man's eyes shifted up to look at my face, seeing I was staring back at him and not refusing. He grinned and his teeth showed in a feline way before he sunk them into my skin again, starting very slowly. He moaned into my flesh, and the warmth breathing down onto me caused me to emit a moan. When he bit harder, even rubbing my skin between his teeth, I jumped, a surge of pain forming.

"Oww, Harley!" I cried, pushing him away.

But, Harley did not stop. He kept his mouth there, pulling at the flesh with his sharp, solid teeth. "I love the way your skin feels," he muttered, half-understandable. He finally stopped though, and smiled through his next words: "Want to bite me?"

I flushed and rubbed the area where his teeth had been planted. Harley urged my hand away and massaged it himself with his palm. This time, the bite hurt immensely, and I couldn't imagine doing the same to Harley. But, he was extending his arm, offering his forearm to me happily.

"Come on," he urged.

"Why, Harley?" I asked.

"Because it feels good," he stated. "A different kind of good."

"I don't want to," I said, turning away from his arm.

Harley gave a flat expression, but it disappeared quickly and he smiled. "All right then," he voiced, kissing the newest bite in what was supposed to be a sweet way. "But, I think you like it, too."

"Like what? Pain? Are you sick, Harley?"

The man laughed and kissed me on the mouth. "I'd like to think not, but who knows."

I rubbed my shoulder again. "It feels funny now," I admitted. "It feels like it—"

"—needs to be licked?" he completed for me, grinning.

"No, I was going to say that it feels like it's going to bleed." I jutted my shoulder out, trying to get a look at the bite. "God, Harley, why did you do that?"

"There are certain things, Max, that I like," he revealed smoothly, "and this happens to be one of them."

I gave an unsure look, but figured since Harley was no longer trying to get me to bite him—or bite me—that it was better to drop the conversation. I looked at my shoulder one more time, and to comfort me, Harley kissed it, being sure to lap his tongue across my skin the way he had hinted at before. The sensitive skin tingled beneath his wet tongue, and again, I felt that shiver of delight, which I did not want to admit. What was he, a vampire? Biting other people was certainly not normal, and his desire to be bit seemed even stranger.

"Good night, darling," he whispered in a slur, pulling me against his chest to rest.

Still slightly boggled, I bid a good night anyway, but continued to wonder why such a weird sting of pain managed to leave a curious wave of thought in my mind.

xxxxx

-Harley-

Olivine City hadn't changed a goddamn bit. In truth, I had only been once, but it was quite clear nothing had altered, and the fact it had been quite a few years since my first visit only made everything more pathetic. The seaside docks, the merchant ships, the buoys, the Wingull, the lighthouse—it was all there, and it was all exactly the same. And yet, Max was excited out of his mind, never having been here and so oblivious to the changeless surroundings.

"It's so big here!" the boy exclaimed, looking off to the lighthouse in the distance. "I can't believe we're here already!" He smiled brightly, turning to look at me and catching my bemused expression.

Instead of waiting for him to ask what was wrong, I told him right away, explaining, "Somehow, even though I missed a lot when I was first here, I feel as if I have nothing to see this time around."

Max continued smiling anyway. "Where's the Gym?" he asked.

I shrugged. "I can't remember if it's in the lighthouse or somewhere else," I answered. "But, anyway, Max, you don't want to battle the Gym Leader right away, now do you?"

"Of course I do," the boy argued. "It's only one o'clock—I don't think that's late!"

It sure felt late though! I groaned tiredly, running my hand through my hair and taking off my hat. Maximus and I had woken up late, around nine o'clock despite the fact we really hadn't spent the entire night shagging like I wanted. But, oh, last night was amazing. First, Max had sucked my cock—and fucking hell, for a boy who literally had no experience he sure seemed to know what he was doing—and then, then we fucked and I had bitten his sweet, supple skin. Poor Max hadn't expected the latter and refused to return the painfully fun favor, but it was still great. Who didn't like to have their skin sunken into?

This morning, when we had awoken, I had taken a look at the bruise I left him. The first bite was lightly colored, looking slightly green from the thrashing nip; the second, which had been a lot harder, was a sickly yellow color. If I had not known what they were from, I would assume the boy had been pounded on, but having inflicted them myself, I knew better, and it brought a thrill to my mind and body to recall how it felt to bite him. I was sure, however, Max was not pleased with the physical evidence, and I knew he was glad the collar of his shirt completely blocked the sight. Even now, he kept rubbing his shoulder, irritated by the sting.

I myself wished to be feeling the same irritation. Being bitten was one of the most erotic, playful additions to the already glorious act of shagging. It hurt, and there was no denying that, but it was the pain and the wavy aftershock of throbs and aches that made it akin to the afterglow of a powerful, amazing orgasm. Very few people understood that, but I intended to make my darling realize it quite soon. I hated to think I was hurting him, but thinking about him writhing beneath me in a confusing twist of pain and pleasure was something I wanted. Especially with Maximus.

Walking by Max, I patted him firmly on the shoulder, intentionally hitting his bruised skin. He yelped, just as I suspected he would, and quickly shouted, "Will you stop doing that!"

I laughed cruelly, giving him a very suggestive look. "All right, Max," I agreed, "but we really should get something to eat."

Max ignored me, insisting, "I want to battle Jasmine right away." He folded his arms, looking like an egotistical little prick. "It's my choice, and I think I am ready."

"Hmm, you do? Because, that would make three badges in less than two weeks, darling. Your luck has to run out somewhere."

"Luck!" the boy echoed angrily. "Luck is not what made me win at the last two Gyms. I'm strong, that's all." He kept his arms folded the whole time, turning away slightly to further make his point.

"Well, it's true that I've known people to get many badges in a short amount of time," I admitted, "but still, even I believe this is a bit much."

The boy shrugged. "It's only really because of you that I've managed to get around so quickly. Usually when I'm alone I dawdle in city to city."

"Then I'm good for you, is what you're saying," I concluded, grinning wickedly. I swept an arm around his body, bringing him to my chest. "Excellent to know, as I tend to believe you're good for me. I mean, look at me,"—I gestured to myself and then around the city—"I am going to enter a fucking Contest."

"It's not as if you're doing that just for me though," he debated. "You're doing it just in case you win and get to wave a shiny, new ribbon in my face."

I chuckled, putting the top of my wrist over my mouth as I laughed. "True, but if it weren't for you, I would never have bothered." I bent down a tinsy bit, placing a kiss on the top of his head. "And you're fantastic for that."

Max managed to smile, and I knew it was mainly because we were alone at the center of the city. Otherwise, he would be blushing and pushing me away in embarrassment. He pushed himself up on his tip-toes, hinting for more contact, and I obliged by moving my lips down to his forehead. His smile extended and he looked up to me cheerily.

"I like being with you, Harley…" the boy whispered, embarrassed. "I mean, I… I know you said it benefits us both, but what I mean is that I really think being with you also makes me, well, um, happy." He shrugged and moved away from me, frightened by his own words.

I stopped him from moving away completely, tugging on his arm and bringing him back to lean against my chest. "Don't get all flustered," I coaxed. "After the sort of things we've done together, there shouldn't be anything that makes you red."

Max gave an annoyed look, but it settled. "But, Harley," he said, "do I make you happy?"

My playful look melted into a sincere, whimsical smile. I couldn't help but kneel down to look at Max completely, pushing him further into me and then pressing our lips together passionately. "More than happy," I told him sincerely. "You make me feel downright, absolutely, utterly fan-fucking-tastic." I planted another kiss on the boy's lips, then moved my mouth down to his shoulder, kissing it beneath the fabric of his shirt.

"Really?" Max wondered, his eyebrows lifting brightly, but also, in a very uncertain way.

"Yes," I emphasized heavily. "Now, let's go find that Gym." I grabbed the boy's soft little hand, dragging him through the street.

"Wait!" he shouted. "I want to get my Slugma."

"Oh?" I said as we continued walking. "What happened to new region, new team?"

Max sighed, and replied, "Well, I don't currently have any Pokémon, besides Mareep, who will be strong against Jasmine's types." He tugged me back a little, pointing towards where he saw the Pokémon Center. "It's this way."

"I know quite a few people who would disagree with that. Aren't Pokémon more than just types that are strong against another?" I wondered statically, just to tease him.

"In all technicality, Slugma originate from Johto, so he'll fit into my team." He laughed under his breath, knowing his argument was pretty weak and he was breaking his own rules for himself.

We entered the Center, which bustled with tons and tons of trainers and seemed so much busier than any of the Centers we had been to lately. When I turned to look at Max, he had already wandered off to the phones, and I concluded that he had to call his parents to get a Pokémon transferred. Most trainers had to contact a professor, but I guess little Maximus was just special and his parents could afford to keep their children's Pokémon at their house.

I decided to go sit at one of the couches, staring off towards where Max and some others were making phone calls. When his screen came to life, I saw his father there, and oh, did he look mighty handsome: all spruced up early in the morning, finely dressed in a white, pressed shirt, and his posture looking just excellent even from the distance. I gave a gushy grin, knowing full well that just a few weeks ago I would be floored by how lovely Norman looked. And well, even though I was still was amazed, it wasn't affecting me the same way. I had Max. I had the younger, more versatile, more faunlet-y offspring of Norman. I was getting hard just thinking about how much better Max was than his father. Besides, fucking his son was a lot more scandalous!

I could tell Max suspected I was watching. He turned around, his eyes locking with mine before he rushed back to looking at the screen and his father. Norman wouldn't be able to see who his son was looking at, but even if he could, it wouldn't matter, as he didn't know me. Imagining Norman finding out didn't make me grin like a vicious bastard though, not the same way I grinned about May's discovery. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew Norman had to be some ignorant fuck, like most fathers. And I knew nothing would hurt Max more than to have his father, who he admired more than anyone, disown him. I'm sure Max wasn't even capable of wrapping his mind around this fact; he'd think his father was better than that.

I saw Max grabbing the Pokéball from the transporting machine, his father already having sent over the Pokémon. After saying goodbye to Norman, he walked back over to me, holding up the ball and smiling happily.

"Slugma's been doing great, my father said," he stated, reaching out to help me stand up. "He also said that Nurse Joy had something for me."

I rose an eyebrow, curious about the last part. "Like what?" I wondered, taking his hand and standing.

"I'm sure it has something to do with my birthday," he droned, walking over to the front desk with me following.

"Aww, so daddy sent little Maximus a birthday card," I concluded. "You know, Norman's looking deliciously fine, if you ask me." I grinned, flashing my teeth devilishly.

Max rolled his eyes, but he knew I wasn't being entirely serious with my compliment. I think the boy was far over his suspicions about me using him as a replacement. I could tell a comeback was brewing in his mind, but Nurse Joy walked over to us, cutting off both our thoughts by asking:

"How may I help you?"

"My name's Max," he said to her. "I've been told you have something for me?"

"Oh, yes, I do," she answered, turning around and flipping through a pile of mail. She located a thin, blue envelope, taking it out and handing it over to Max. "This is it."

Max looked at it, and said, "Yeah, it's from my parents." He looked at me flatly. "It's probably some stupid card."

"Thank you, Miss," I said to Nurse Joy for Max, leading the boy away to the exit. "I honestly don't know why you're being so negative, darling."

"So, can we go to the Gym now?" he asked, ignoring me as he stuffed the envelope and his newest Pokéball into his bag.

I leaned my head back, blowing my bangs out of my face. "And I suppose you want me to watch?"

Max gave a sincere glare this time. "Don't make it sound like the end of the world!" he exclaimed. "You don't have to go, if you don't want to. Just say so." He folded his arms, pretty pissed off.

"I do have a few errands to run," I told him. "I need to find us a hotel for a few days—after all, the Contest isn't until tomorrow and your birthday isn't for two days. I was thinking the two of us could just relax for a while." I smiled sweetly.

"You want us to stay in town for a while?" the boy asked, furrowing his brow. He was taken back by how I added his birthday to the mix, and despite his rude attitude towards the day, I sensed he was slightly glad I had mentioned it.

"Indeed I do," I replied. "Think about the fun we could have." Half-suggestive, the other half just pure, I smirked at the boy.

"Fine," the boy grunted. "But, if you get done with your errands early, I wouldn't mind if you came by the Gym." Max bit his bottom lip and narrowed his eyes.

"Will do," I agreed. "And, Maximus… Good luck." I kneeled down—not giving a flying fuck who was watching or if Max cared either—and kissed the boy straight on the lips, making sure he really felt it: tongue, teeth, lips.

The boy froze, becoming stiff and nervous, before backing away carefully, and turning in every direction possible to check for stares. He looked back to me, finally, seeming calm, and then a blush developed on his face. "Oh… um, thanks." He smiled fully.

I patted his head. "I mean it, darling," I assured. "Win. If you don't, I'm not touching you for a week."

"I doubt you could live up to that threat," the boy droned, but he honestly wasn't convinced.

I couldn't help but laugh. "Maybe you're right, but I still want you to win." I kissed him a final time—right on the top of his head—and then exited the Pokémon Center. Recalling where my previous visit and the hotel I had stayed at then, I automatically began heading towards that direction.

I surely hoped my Maximus would be all right. I hadn't meant to break his heart by not wanting to go to his battle, but I'm sure somewhere he understood my issue. Besides, I wasn't just avoiding the battle just because I was a selfish prick who couldn't afford an hour of his life watching a battle; I had every intention of shopping for an appropriate birthday gift for my little faunlet. Of course, I had no idea where to start shopping, or even what the fuck that boy would want!

At the very end of town, near the seaside, was the hotel I had previously stayed at. It was a large, upscale building, set off far away from other businesses to shine in its own, snobby glory. The spherical driveway looped around the entire front of the building, and the solid marquee looming over the entrance allowed the building to look even more fancy. As I walked, glancing at the various people surrounding the place, I hoped that they would have a room available for more than just one night. This hotel was definitely a tourist hot-spot, and those freaks had undoubtedly crammed themselves into every last room.

I made my way into the building, presenting myself at the receptionist desk happily as I leaned into the counter, folding my arms over it peacefully. "Hello there, Sir," I greeted, suavely smiling at the young man there.

The man stood up and walked over to me. "Good afternoon. Are you looking for a room?"

"For a few nights, actually. Four to be exact." I handed over my credit card to the man already, not even waiting for an answer on what was available.

Typing away at the computer, the man looked back up to me after a moment, and said, "Sorry to disappoint you, but the only rooms available are suites. Is that all right?"

"More than all right!" I exclaimed jovially. "You're silly to even ask."

The man accepted my card from my hand, swiping it through the small machine and then going back to typing at the computer. When everything was done, he returned my card and stated, "You'll be on the top floor, room 1211." He handed me the cardkey.

"Merci," I gratified, taking what he handed me and turning back towards the exit. I sat on an unoccupied occasional chair, situating my stuff.

Even though I had been given the time to think, I still had no idea what the fuck I was going to get Maximus for a birthday present. I knew Max well enough, and he'd probably want some geeky book or gadget, but those sort of things were too obvious for a gift. Normally, I wouldn't put so much thought and effort into getting someone a present—in fact, I couldn't really remember when I did give someone a present—but this was my little Max, and I wanted to see his face beam with a surprised and happy smile.

If I was 100 percent of a bastard, I would get Max something pretty raunchy, like his first porno rag. That would piss the boy off though, and I had seen his angry face far too many times to count. I had to get him something sweet, and I suddenly had somewhat of an idea. So, I jumped up from my seat, heading out of the hotel and to a store I had spotted on the way.

As I walked, I thought about what Maximus was doing now, whether or not he had kicked the opponent's ass or had already failed miserably. Part of me sort of wished I had gone, so I could see the delicious way Max became all frustrated and hot as he concentrated on the battle. I bit my bottom lip, remembering how Max's intense glare had morphed into a weightless, astonished expression as he realized he was victorious. I wanted to see that again.

I arrived at the small, quiet department store. I stared into the windows for a moment before heading inside and searching for what I wanted. It didn't take long to actually locate the item, but the problem was picking out a particular type. I spent a good ten or so minutes deciding, and once I did, I didn't feel as if this was all I could get the boy. He needed something a bit more fun, and although the current gift was sweet and sentimental, he most definitely deserved more.

I quickly decided what I would get him as an addition. This took longer to pick out—so long that I lost track of time—but eventually, I found what I wanted. I grinned like a bastard, holding up the item and staring at it intently. When Max saw this, he would think I was the biggest fuck in the world, but I'd find a way to persuade him into realizing I just wanted him to have some good, old fashioned fun!

Now, very, very satisfied with my choice of presents, I quickly paid for them and left the store. I had been out for about forty-five minutes, and I hoped poor Maximus wasn't feeling too, too alone as he battled. Since I was done shopping for his gifts I still had time to go to the Gym with the hope the battle was still taking place.

I stuffed my purchases in my bag as I walked towards the lighthouse casually. As I got closer and closer to the place, I could smell the sea air perfectly. There were two buildings on the very edge of the concrete dock: one, which was the actual Gym, I supposed, and the other, being the enormous lighthouse. I approached the Gym building, peeking inside the window and discovering the inside looked completely empty. I helped myself to walking inside the building, searching carefully around for where the arena was located. It was quite the fancy place, really, and I had to wonder who decided it would be crafty and unique to put a goddamn Gym near a goddamn lighthouse. Because it wasn't crafty and it wasn't unique—it was fucking lame.

I spotted a large metal doorway, revealing just a tinsy bit of a tan and white arena floor. From the room, I heard a woman's voice yelling, followed up by a release of some sort of Pokémon attack. It wasn't too long after her shout that I heard the lovely voice of my darling Max, shouting for his Mareep, apparently, to use Thundershock. After hearing such a lovely bit of cadence, I walked into the arena, very slowly making my way towards the large fleet of bleachers towards the other side.

I was to Max's back so he couldn't see me, but I was already given a full view of the battle. Max was up against a large and very angry looking Steelix, and his Mareep looked positively exhausted. Just as I was headed towards the bleachers, I spotted a small girl, looking just a tiny bit older than Max, who jumped up from her seat at the judging bench, and approached me immediately. She had dark, dark hair to her shoulders and was rather short for what I thought was her age. She looked like a pain in ass.

"Excuse me, Sir, what are doing here?" she wondered. I noticed that she had on this silly little string-strapped purse, and it made her look plain ridiculous.

I gave her an intimidating look, glaring only a little. "I'm Max's friend," I said, "and I've come to watch him."

The girl rose an eyebrow, not believing me. But, she apparently did not think I was threatening nonetheless, because she gestured for me to sit with her, which I agreed to do. As I walked, passing by Max and into his view, I heard the boy shout:

"Harley?"

I turned and waved merrily, adding a small wink before I pointed to the arena, hinting at him to stay focused on the battle. The boy blinked a couple of times, but quickly returned to looking at his Mareep, who was obviously struggling to keep its energy up. I turned back around and sat, making sure there was lots of room between the weird girl and myself.

"Your friend already knocked out Jasmine's two Magnemite," she droned unhappily, looking at me.

"I'm not surprised. My Ma—um, Max, is a very strong trainer." I flashed my teeth in a smirk. "Are you a trainer, dearie?"

The small girl glared at me. And, it wasn't the same kind of glare Max gave me—the cute and amusing sort—no, it was an annoying little scowl that made me want to hurt her. I instantly realized Max was right when he hinted at being better than kids his age, because fuck, it was true.

"Yeah," she answered. "Jasmine's training me to become the Gym Leader here. By the way, my name's Jenina."

I nodded. "That's interesting," I commented, watching the battle. Max had ordered Mareep to use Tackle, but Steelix's long, powerful tail struck the small creature as it approached, sending it flying across the arena and fainting instantly. I frowned heavily at the sight, seeing from here that Max was utterly frustrated. I hoped he didn't think I had brought bad luck.

"Return, Mareep," he said as the Pokéball summoned the creature safely away. He threw out another ball, and out came the famous Slugma I had heard about, red and full of gunky lava. "Ember!" the boy ordered.

I smiled fondly at the way Max clenched his fist and stepped forward. He looked so goddamn adorable right now—I just wanted to rush over there, pin him to the ground, and fuck him. I exhaled to calm myself, then realized this Jenina girl was staring at me.

I furrowed my brow, asking sternly, "What?"

"Nothing," she insisted, but she had a weird look on her face. "How old are you?" the girl then blurted out.

"Excuse me, missy, but is that any of your business?" I grunted, hearing Jasmine order Steelix to use Rage. "Didn't your sister ever you teach you manners?"

"It's just a question," she said, watching as Slugma zoomed across the rough arena and hide behind a rock as Steelix readied its attack.

"I'm twenty-four. What's it to you?"

The girl gave an odd look, crooking her mouth and saying, "It's pretty weird to be hanging out with a kid like him." She gestured towards Max.

I laughed, probably in a way that was all too revealing. It didn't matter anyway, because I had a feeling little Jenina here was already onto the truth about Max and I. I couldn't say I particularly cared, as she was just a girl and probably wouldn't say anything about it in her own disbelief of the revelation. Still, it was pretty impressive of her to detect anything at all, especially since Max and I hadn't even interacted. Then again, the age difference between us was a bit suspicious, and I wasn't sure there was anyone intelligent who would believe the "friends" explanation.

"Well," I began, shrugging my shoulders heavily, "we all have our opinions." I smirked at the girl, deciding it might be fun to mess with her head. I watched as Steelix took another swing with its tail, managing to hit Slugma this time and causing the lava creature to skid across the ground.

Jenina smiled pleasantly at the turn of events on the arena. "Jasmine is thinking of retiring from the Gym soon," she explained, suddenly changing the subject. I supposed she either didn't want to talk about what was going on between Max and I, or she actually didn't know.

"Max's father is a Gym Leader," I stated, smirking still. "Norman—perhaps you've heard of him?"

The girl blinked a couple of times. "Really?" she wondered. She stared at Max for a moment, obviously searching for the resemblance. "Hmm, you're right. That's amazing. I don't think I would've realized that had you not said it."

Jenina went on to explaining some more nonsense about her dear sister, going on and on about this and that until I eventually faded her voice out. I concentrated on the match, watching as Slugma's mouth opened and fire burst from its mouth, traveling over to Steelix and slamming against the tall Pokémon's body. Steelix grunted in pain, but emitted a gigantic ray of orange and yellow light from its mouth, a further result of Rage continuing on even now. This attack hit Slugma back, but the lava creature managed to endure most of the attack, shaking it off afterward.

"Slugma, use Flamethrower!" Max commanded, throwing out his arm to emphasize the urgency. "Hurry!"

Slugma was surprisingly quick, skating around and igniting a heavy storm of flames from its mouth once more. The burst of flames flew towards Steelix, wrapping around the steel body and smelting the creature instantly. Steelix growled in pain, writhing around and losing concentration on where its tail was landing. Smashing and hitting rocks, Steelix created a mess on the arena, and meanwhile, Slugma used the destruction to its advantage by sliding between the boulders, into the small creases where Steelix couldn't reach.

"Steelix," Jasmine yelled, "use Iron Tail!"

Steelix only managed to make a bigger mess, grinding down the boulders but still not being able to reach where Slugma hid. Slugma zoomed out as Steelix continued to stress, gliding around the Iron Snake.

"Ember, again!" Max yelled.

Slugma breathed in, getting ready to spurt the flames out as fast it could. The fire flew through the air, twisting and turning at its incredible speed before slamming against Steelix and making the creature grind onto the ground as it attempted to stay in place.

"Steelix, just hang on!" Jasmine soothed.

But, the hope was no use—Steelix was getting very tired, and Max still had one more Pokémon left, even if Jasmine succeeded in knocking out Slugma. This match was going very well for Maximus. I could feel the nervousness in Jenina's body next to me, and I could sense she really did not want her sister to lose. I wondered what that was like, having a sibling and all. Unconditional love and never-ending loyalty—it seemed utterly impossible yet Max seemed to have it with May, and even these two—Jasmine and Jenina—appeared very close. I honestly could not imagine it at all.

"Overheat!" Max ordered. "Come on, Slugma!"

Slugma's body glowed with a light red radiance, burning up before it shot the attack towards Steelix with frightening speed. Jenina jumped up in panic, tightening her fists and sweating bullets as she watched the attack bang into Steelix and causing the Iron Snake to fall over, collapsing into an immediate faint of tired, bleary unconsciousness.

"No!" Jenina shouted, more devastated than Jasmine.

I smiled happily, turning to look at Max, who smiled back at me. I stood up, clapping theatrically. "Bravo, Maximus!" I shouted through my smirk.

I watched Jasmine return her Steelix and then begin to walk over to Max as he returned Slugma. Jasmine was a pretty thing, really, so young and sweet looking. Her little sun dress and cutesy hairstyle made her look so childlike and innocent, and I couldn't imagine why she was thinking about retiring at her age. There was, however, something worn-out about her, and I sensed this battle went down so easily because she was starting to lose her touch. And, of course, Maximus was an excellent trainer!

"I'm very impressed, Max," Jasmine applauded sincerely. "It's been quite some time since my last battle, and you certainly showed me why I should keep up my training even when trainers aren't around to ask for battles." She smiled, reaching into her pocket and then presenting a small rock-shaped badge in her open palm.

"Thanks," Max said, taking the badge and examining it carefully. A look of disbelief flashed across his face, and for the first time, I think he realized that he only had one more badge left to go.

Jenina finally walked up to us, looking glum and very disappointed. "That was a neat match," she droned, and it lacked all sincerity.

"Jenina!" Jasmine chided. She then acknowledged me for the first time, reaching out to shake my hand. "Hello, by the way," she greeted.

I shook her hand. "Hello," I said. "Nice to meet you."

Max looked up at me suspiciously, wondering if my attitude was going to morph into something bitter and rude. But, I had no reason to be rude to Jasmine; she wasn't some cranky old man like Pryce. When Max realized I wasn't going to be a bastard, he extended his arm up, offering to let me look at the badge. I did so, admiring its dull but interesting colors.

"One more to go," I said, handing it back to my darling.

Jasmine blinked, concluding in her head what I meant. "That might be easier said than done," she stated sadly. "Clair isn't at her Gym right now."

"Clair?" Max echoed. "You mean, the Blackthorn City Leader isn't at the Gym?"

Jenina nodded. "Yeah, she's out on vacation right now." The girl then shrugged. "You could battle Liza, she's currently substituting at the Gym. She runs a valley where she trains Charizard, so she's pretty strong herself."

I looked down at Max, watching as disappointment washed through the boy's face. "Why?" he wondered, mostly to himself. "Do you know when she's going to be back at the Gym?"

Jasmine shrugged and replied, "I heard in about a month and a half. A lot of trainers are waiting until Clair comes back though, so I wouldn't be surprised if you chose that, too."

"The Johto League isn't for another five months," Jenina chimed in again. "So, it's not like you have any big rush."

Max seemed to be considering his options now, but instead of deciding for himself, he looked up to me and asked, "What do you think, Harley?"

Taken back, I stuttered a bit, unsure what to say. I collected myself quickly though, telling him, "I think the final decision is up to you, Max. But, if you want my oh-so respected opinion, I would wait until the actual Leader comes back."

Jasmine smiled once more. "Whatever you choose, Max, I wish you all the luck in the world. And good luck in the League, too. I'm sure you'll do fantastic." She reached out to shake Max's hand in a congratulatory way.

"Thank you for the match, Jasmine," Max said, turning around and beginning to walk out of the Gym.

I waved goodbye and followed Max out of the Gym building. Outside, the sea air still smelt just as strong and a cool breeze had developed, hitting against my face in a lovely, relaxing way. It was still pretty early in the afternoon, but the sun was already starting to go down, mostly hiding behind the many buildings in Olivine.

In the glimmering sun, Max held up his badge proudly. "One more to go!" he exclaimed. "Can you believe that, Harley?"

"I can honestly say I can't," I admitted. "My Maximus makes me so proud," I then cooed, bending down and sweeping an arm around the boy's thin waist. I kissed him gently on the cheek, rubbing my lips against his chin for a while.

Max squirmed away, but his giddy smile remained. "Thanks for getting me around Johto so quickly," he said as he removed himself from my grip. "But, I don't know what to do about Clair and final Gym."

"Well, you got a load of time to think about it, Maximus," I reminded him. "After all, I did indeed book us a hotel for four nights."

A small blush developed on the boy's face. "Oh," he murmured. "That's good to know."

"Indeed it is," I reaffirmed. "Now, darling, let's get something to eat. I'm fucking starved."

Max dug into his bag's front pocket, taking out his badge case and placing the Mineral Badge in the second to last spot carefully. With one blank spot left, the case already looked so complete and colorful. The sight of this reminded me how lovely my ribbon case tended to look after earning five ribbons. The thought made me wish I had some ribbons to look at and admire. Knowing my excellent history in Contests—that is, the ones that trollop didn't fuck up—I had a strong feeling I would do reasonably well in the upcoming Contest.

Max and I walked along the concrete dock, following the seaside view for quite some time. Despite the dock being busy with quite a few ships and vessels, the water looked remarkably clean and clear, although I still wouldn't swim it in, even if I was paid. I was never fond of oceans, except for the one back home in Slateport City, because I knew who and what was swimming in there.

Coming across a small shack between some tourist-y gift shops, I halted Max with a tug of the shoulder. Grabbing the wounded one I had nipped, Max grunted, but stopped anyway, knowing this was where I had chosen for us to eat. I could hear Max's stomach growling as he got a whiff of the yummy smelling food, a variation of Western and traditional foods.

I dug into my pant pocket, grabbing some money and handing it over to Max. "Order something for me, darling," I said.

"But, I don't know what to get you!" he argued. "God knows you'll complain about what I pick!"

I laughed, but shook my head. "Whatever you choose is fine," I insisted before walking off towards the edge of the dock and sitting peacefully, letting my legs dangle off. "But, don't get anything spicy!" I yelled as I placed my bag next to me and removed my hat.

I lifted my chin up into the breeze, closing my eyes and letting the wind hit my face as best it could. I swore I tasted the sea water in my mouth just from breathing it in, and I suddenly missed Slateport City terribly. I missed my fucking house and my fucking beach and my fucking neighbors, who I actually never talked to and really hated. Since I hired a housekeeper this time around, my beach house was probably spick and span, but she probably stole something, the stupid bitch. I wondered, vaguely, what my Maximus would think about my lovely little home. He'd probably think of me as a snobby fuck, and truthfully, that's what people were who owned beach houses, but at least I lived there and didn't just spend my summer there like some people.

Actually, sitting and thinking about Slateport made me realize I never really had brought someone back to see my home. Many men had been there for some good, old fashioned fun, but when I considered Max seeing my place, I sort of felt as if it wasn't right, as if that was just a bit too much. Max was my traveling lad, and I couldn't ever see myself bringing him all the way home and relaxing there with him. But, oh, Max was certainly worthy—a whole lot more worthy than the men who I had brought there for a single night. I just couldn't locate my exact problem with the situation.

Shaking my head away from the thoughts, I decided to let Totodile out of his ball and swim around in the water for a while. As I released the creature, I thought about the Contest tomorrow, and how my lack of preparation might hinder my performance. I wasn't worried about the Appeal too much, as my darling Toto had an excellent knack for balancing himself in the air as he used Water Gun; I was more concerned with the battling portion. Totodile hadn't had the opportunity to battle that much, but I knew he would give it his all no matter what.

Released from his Pokéball, Totodile helped himself to diving into the sea, swimming about happily alongside the cement dock and around the buoys. I felt Maximus linger behind me at that moment, so I turned to look at him, watching as he sat next to me carefully with a paper tray of food. Inside the tray were two corn dogs and two small drinks. The boy mimicked the way I let my feet dangle off the dock before handing me one of the drinks and corn dogs.

"This isn't exactly the healthiest lunch," he muttered as he noticed Totodile swimming.

I examined the corn dog as I held it by the wooden stick. "Fast food normally isn't," I told him. "And, out of everything on the menu, you did an excellent job choosing the most phallic-shaped of the bunch." I grinned at him crookedly.

Max blinked a couple of times, and it took a moment before my statement actually sank into the boy. At that point, he grimaced, furrowing his brow and grunting. "It's just food, Harley. Get over it!" He opened his mouth—wide, I must note—before I stopped him, putting a hand on his wrist and wagging a finger orderly.

"Let's have a contest," I stated. "Whoever can put it in their mouth furthest without gagging wins." I laughed, licking my lips and dunking my head back as I readied myself to begin.

"What?" the boy gasped. "Harley, no! What kind of game is that?"

I shrugged, looking back at the boy. "A gag reflex one, apparently," I told him. "And, you know, from personal experience, I'd say you did quite well last night, so you have nothing to be ashamed of now, Max."

Max blushed again, shrugging out his shoulders in humiliation. "I don't really understand the point."

"It's a competition," I explained. "Mark it with the tip of your teeth so we can see who gets it deeper."

Max looked at the corn dog helplessly, and I think he knew that I was undoubtedly going to be victorious. He scrunched up his face momentarily before following suit and lolling his head back. I chuckled at his compliance, holding the corn dog by the very end of the stick before I began to lower it into my mouth, subconsciously covering my teeth with my lips.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Max copying my every move. His head was dunked back a lot further though, and he was lowering the corn dog into his mouth a bit too fast. It looked incredibly erotic despite his clumsiness, especially the way his delightful chin protruded out and his eyes began to close. Ahh, Max, his mouth was made for sucking cock, I was sure of it.

Suddenly, the boy began to gag, coughing and hacking just as he bit into the soft bread and tore the corn dog out of his mouth, everything still fully intact. I continued to slowly glide the thing a few centimeters into my mouth. When I felt a tickle in my throat, I bit down, and it did not surprise me when instead of feeling the bread, I felt the wooden stick. I took the corn dog out of my mouth and laughed proudly.

Max took the corn dog from my hand, aligning it with his own and measuring the difference between how far we each got it in our mouths. His was barely halfway down the breaded crust while mine was just a few centimeters down the beginning of the stick. He gaped in disbelief, looking up at me and seeming disgusted.

"What a weird talent," he grunted, shoving the corn dog back at me. Then, "Doesn't matter. You're older, and your mouth is bigger." Envy dripped in his words.

"Maybe," I laughed, "but, I am a bit disappointed. I thought you could do better." I took a real bite from the corn dog.

Max's expression flattened. "Gee, thanks," the boy muttered. "Maybe you should just teach me if you're that concerned about it."

My smiled widened. "I could!" I exclaimed. "I mean, if you wanted, I could."

Max shook his head immediately. "No thanks," he denied, taking a bite out of the food and chewing angrily.

"I guess it's just good, old practice you need," I concluded devilishly. "But, never mind that, I think you tried wonderfully, darling." I jabbed him playfully with my shoulder.

Max rolled his eyes and finished the rest of his food. As he sipped his drink, I leaned in and kissed him on the cheek, making sure to press hard onto his body so he lost his balance just a bit. Annoyed, the boy slapped me away and turned so he could continue drinking.

"Harley, don't you think you should practice more with Totodile before the Contest tomorrow?" the boy wondered, raising an eyebrow.

"In fact, I do," I honestly replied. "Are you tired out from your little Gym match or would you care for a battle, my sweet?"

Max muttered something—most likely about the nickname I just gave him—but stood up energetically and clenched his fist. "I'm not tired at all!" he stated. "Stantler needs some training, too."

I smiled at Max as I finished my drink. "Totodile!" I shouted, calling for the creature, who was still swimming in the water. "Come back up here—we're going to have another battle with my Maximus!"

Totodile seemed very excited, hopping out of the water instantly and positioning himself for battle. I stood up and quickly threw away our garbage as Max prepared for the battle himself, throwing out Stantler's Pokéball onto the concrete dock. The dock was wide enough for us to battle and not interfere with any of the passing folks, and with the continual sea breeze still blowing about splendidly, it made such a unique spot for a battle.

Stantler's hoofs clicked against the cement as he pawed forward, and Totodile, too, already seemed to forget its opponent was a friendly acquaintance. Since the two had played together in the Ecruteak City park, one would imagine they wouldn't be too savvy battling each other, but Totodile had always had a competitive nature, and it seemed Max's Stantler possessed just the same attitude.

"Totodile," I began, licking my lips thoughtfully, "start off with Water Gun!"

"Stantler, use Tackle!" Max commanded.

Our Pokémon raced toward the other, but it was Totodile who jumped up into the air, gargling out a heavy burst of water straight onto Stantler's body. Stantler stepped back a few feet before shaking itself dry and running once more, slamming into Totodile just as the blue crocodile landed. Not expecting this, Totodile took the attack hard, and flew through the air in an aftermath of pain.

"Stop Stantler dead in its tracks with Scary Face!" I yelled.

"Avoid eye-contact and use Take Down!"

Max's order was already more successful. Stantler turned away, running back until it gained enough room between Totodile and itself. It dashed forward, head down and avoiding the grimacing glare that painted Totodile's face. Knowing I had to change my tactic, I quickly decided my best bet was to steer away from special defense mode and switch to full attacks.

"Toto, use Slash!"

Claws thrashing out, the blue creature leaned its upper-body forward, making a speedy jump from the ground and onto Stantler's back. Stantler skidded to a stop, Take Down failing, and was soon inflicted with the scratching of sharp nails over and over. It screeched in a fit of frustration, bucking its body up and throwing Totodile off its back. Totodile recovered from the fall, getting on his feet and rushing around Stantler's legs to confuse the creature.

"Stantler, Stomp!"

Between his front legs, Totodile was impacted by Stantler's hard hoofs and was immediately knocked to the left, out from underneath the Big Horn Pokémon. Stantler repeated the motion, stomping down several more times and causing Totodile into a dizzy confusion. When the blue crocodile managed to stand, he stumbled, unaware of his surroundings.

"Water Gun!" I directed despite it all.

Luckily, Totodile was facing the right direction, and the impact of the water gushing out onto Stantler was strong enough to send the brown Pokémon a couple of feet back.

"Ice Beam!" I shouted.

"Stantler, move out of the way and use Take Down!"

Totodile's beam of ice was quick, and the hard frost spun around as Totodile moved its body to meet Stantler's dodges. Unable to avoid it any longer, the beam hit Stantler in the neck, bringing it back, but also providing a safe distance away from any further damage. At this point, Stantler jolted forward, slamming all its weight into Totodile and causing the blue creature to regain its dizziness. Now, completely vulnerable, Stantler had the upper-hand, getting ready for Max's next command.

"Tackle!"

"Hydro Pump!"

Totodile breathed in all he could, sending the water right into Stantler's face and hindering the Pokémon from its Tackle. Without the ability to move any closer or manage the strength to move away, Stantler was forced to keep taking the attack. Totodile used all of his energy on the attack, spurting out all the gushes of water before leaping forward and slapping a hard, deep Slash attack onto Stantler's face. Stantler fell immediately, dizzy and unable to comprehend the powerful combination.

Max blinked in disbelief as his fainted Pokémon. He looked up to me, then to Totodile, continuing to express a dumbfounded look. I grinned proudly, calling over Totodile and bending down to pat the creature on the head. Max returned Stantler in dismay, whispering something to the Pokéball before slowly walking over to me, practically dragging his adorable little feet.

"Looks like my Toto is ready for a battle tomorrow," I noted, still grinning. Just to ensure my darling Maximus I wasn't a bastard, I leaned forward, kissing him on the forehead. "Don't worry, darling—you've had your victory today."

Max shrugged, but his mood shifted soon after. "I want a Totodile," he revealed. "Yours is so feisty and strong."

Totodile lifted its chin in an egotistical way, taking the compliment without protest. Max smiled at this, rubbing its scaly back with admiration. I leaned in, giving Max a longer, deeper kiss, but this time on his thin, smooth lips.

"I think you're going to do very well tomorrow," Max admitted.

"Why thank you," I replied, returning Totodile into his ball. I stood up, bowing obnoxiously and blowing a kiss right in Max's direction.

"Don't do that if you win," the boy discouraged, rolling his eyes.

"Why not?" I wondered. "Before I just blew kisses to my devoted and lovely supporters, but now—now—I have someone to really blow a kiss to, you know?" I smiled happily.

Max gave a softer expression, possibly considering my statement. Whatever the case, the boy remained pretty negative, simply going to the edge of the dock and grabbing his bag. "So, are you going to take me to this hotel you booked?" the boy asked.

"I sure am," I jovially answered, grabbing my bag as well. Even though the presents I had purchased Maximus for his birthday were not the heaviest in the world, I still felt a difference in the weight of my bag. I suddenly hoped Max didn't secretly snoop through my belongings when I was asleep.

Max and I walked to the hotel in record time, although truthfully, the hotel and the food shack were not that far apart. The boy was obviously amazed at the size and appearance of the hotel, as he stared in awe at every little detail even before we entered the building.

"We're on the very top floor—isn't that nice?" I told him, looking at the cardkey. "Floor twelve, room eleven."

As we entered the extravagant building Max continued to look around curiously, taking notice of the small kiosks that were spread across the lobby. There were several restaurants inside the hotel, including a nice, dim bar that I was instantly attracted to checking out. The advertisements on the glowing windows made me crave a delightfully tasty cosmo or daiquiri. Rum was sounding delicious at this moment, so I was leaning more towards the latter. Even though I knew Max would protest against me hanging around the bar for a few hours, I was almost going to go through with it until I remembered the fucking Contest. Having a hangover the day of a Contest wouldn't provide me with the best performance.

"Fuck," I muttered, still guiding Max through the lobby and to the elevators.

Max heard my mutter and wondered, "What's wrong?"

"I want to get wasted." I shrugged, not seeing a reason to lie to my darling Maximus, even if he was going to get pissed.

Sure enough, Max's expression hardened. "Why?" he asked, his brow furrowing.

"Why not?" I countered. "You like cranberry juice, don't you? If not, I could always choose lemon juice for a filler. Come to think of it, I think you would like a daiquiri. I promise I won't tell if you choose to drink it up with me, Maximus." I shined my teeth in a flashy smirk.

"No thanks," Max rejected, entering the open elevator with me once a man left. "You have a Contest to attend tomorrow, Harley." He said this rudely, so completely bratty and snide that I couldn't believe it.

I leaned back against the wall of the elevator, sighing heavily. "You're no fun," I complained, exaggerating a pout. "But, I suppose you're right."

The elevator doors swung open quickly when we reached the twelfth floor. I walked out, reading off the numbers on the doors in front of us, and turning left to head towards the room. When I located the correct number, I unlocked the room with the electronic swipe and we entered.

It was a glorious suite—I could tell even without the lights on. When Maximus decided to switch on the electricity we both were able to see the full glory of the room: the unique coloring of blues and grays, the thick and swishy curtains, the soft, plush carpeting, and the odd but lovely landscapes and still life paintings. The front of the suite was the living room, complete with every needed furniture and including a mini-fridge and a few extra pieces just for show. On the other side of the suite was the bedroom, separated by a glass door that spread out through the entire north wall. It was huge compared to the previous rooms we had stayed at, and it was definitely one of the finest suites I ever had the pleasure of residing at for a few days. I hadn't had the luck of getting such a large suite when I stayed here before either.

Max set his bag down near the sofa and removed his shoes politely. As he sat down, I swayed my way over to the sofa as well, setting down my bag and then dropping to my knees before him with a grin. Max gave me an odd and questioning stare, unsure what I was doing. But, when I extended my arm and urged him forward, he was compliant, resting into my embrace nicely as I rubbed up and down his back.

"I'm fucking beat," I admitted to him with a sigh. "Don't ever make me travel that far again, darling."

Max snorted rudely. "Compared to other distances I've traveled, that was nothing," he told me. "You really ought to rely more on your feet than public transportation sometimes," he then chided.

I laughed, waving a hand in dismissal. "Don't be silly," I said with a grin. "Why on earth should I? I'm fit and trim." I jutted out my shoulders in a pose, displaying my figure.

Max was uninterested in my statement, which I was slightly offended by, as I knew he enjoyed my body. I had seen the way he looked at me when he thought I wasn't paying attention, and more importantly, I saw the way he looked at my body when we fucked. He stared, but tried to stay polite about it, and from his open mouth expression, I knew that he was mesmerized by the view of a grown man's body. It was just the same as when I gazed at his adorable, cute, lithe body. We were so different, but dear Lord, I couldn't help wanting him no matter what.

"So," Max started, breaking the silence, "what's the plan for tomorrow?"

I smiled brightly. "Well, we need to get to the Contest Hall early so I can register," I explained thoughtfully. "Other than that, I think everything is fine and dandy."

I stood up, examining some of the contents on the coffee table. There was a menu for drinks and deserts, but nothing too, too interesting. I decided to check out the black mini-fridge over in the corner. Inside, there was a large variety of liquors, including all sorts of brands of vodka and some wine as well. I heard Max make a noise in the back of his throat before leaving and heading towards the bedroom with his bag.

Helping myself to my favorite brand of vodka, I broke open the bottle's cap and took a timid sip. It was strong and burned my throat, but it was delicious. The amazing taste made me crave nothing but more alcohol, and the desire for a daiquiri overly polluted with exotic tropical rum sparked all over again. I bit my bottom lip, then took another gulp of the vodka. At this point, I was too lazy to go down to the bar, and ordering room service would do no good, as drinks were never as good as they were when made right in front of the watching eyes of customers.

I took the bottle with me as I followed Max into the bedroom. When I walked in, Max was just finishing putting on a new shirt, and he appeared to already be dressed in his nightwear. It was the first time I had actually seen this type of clothing on him since we never winded up in bed with any clothing. He looked adorable though: his little white shirt tightly surrounding his shoulders and his dark green shorts just barely covering half his thighs, the faunlet!

"Don't worry," I assured, gesturing towards the bottle, "I have no intention of getting hammered." I smiled at him fondly.

Max threw his day clothes down on the floor next to his bed. I continued to drink the liquor, feeling some dizziness rise into my head as I took a larger gulp. I knew at this point it would be wise to stop drinking, but I couldn't help adoring the taste.

Max walked over to me slowly, sniffing the bottle from my hands and making a face. "It's hard to believe something as clear as water could make someone so stupid," he rudely noted. He then took the bottle from my hands, taking a further sniff.

"My offer still stands to let you have a taste," I told the boy.

Max looked up at me questionably, but instead of dismissing the offer entirely, he closed one eye, staring into the bottle's neck with the other eye. One more sniff, and then Max slowly—very fucking slowly—lifted the glass, placing his lips around the tip and drinking the alcohol. Not even a teaspoon later, the boy began coughing, throwing the bottle out from his mouth and pounding his chest to regain a steady breath.

"Disgusting!" he hollered, pushing the bottle back into my grip. "Why would you ever drink that?"

I laughed at his reaction, but I patted his back, trying to help him stop gagging. "Well, you're young," I explained, "so maybe your tastebuds aren't ready for this delicious drink." I took a swig from the bottle.

Max grunted again. "Ugh, I can't believe you got me to try that." He wiped his mouth, trying to get rid of the aftertaste.

"Next it's time for a cigarette!" I exclaimed. I then put up a hand to silence any protest. "Just kidding, Maximus. I have no intention of corrupting you to those extremes—I'm quite fond of your innocent, cute self." I gave a goofy grin, and it made me realize instantly that I was a bit tipsy.

Max slapped his lips together, obviously still tasting the lingering alcohol. The sight of his small, thin lips becoming wet made me smile, and it felt like I was literally forced to swing an arm around the boy's waist, pulling him up so I could carry him in my arms. Warm and small against me, lust filled my body and mind, and I turned my head, taking another swig from the bottle.

"Your breath stinks," Max complained.

As punishment for such a mean comment, I forced our lips together, making sure to jab my tongue into his mouth as well. Max squirmed and made a noise of disgust, but I continued on, beginning to slide my free hand through his soft, blue hair. I thrust my hips up, rubbing my stomach against him to urge an arousal. Not succeeding in enough contact, I bent down a little, placing down the vodka and then pinning Max onto the bed.

"Mmph, Harley!" the boy huffed, panting to catch his breath. "I'm tired!"

I sighed sadly, not feeling Max react the way I wanted. "I am, too," I admitted, "but I'm not tired enough not to fuck." I gave a pouty face.

Max rolled his eyes before squirming out from underneath me. "I just want to go to bed," he stated.

I flopped onto my back, completely beat. "I suppose that would be a better idea," I sighed out, beginning to remove my clothing as I felt Max get under the sheets. When I had successfully removed all my clothing, I went under the sheets, too, then turned to look at Max. "My head hurts," I told him.

"You're drunk," Max said.

"Not quite." I reached out, sliding a hand beneath Max's shirt and feeling his chest. "Take this off, darling," I urged, pushing the fabric up.

Max listened to me, lifting his arms and taking off his shirt and then his glasses. He then went ahead and slid off his shorts even without my request. I grinned happily at this, but couldn't help reaching out, wanting desperately to touch Maximus. The boy stopped me, grabbing my wrist and glaring.

"Let's just go to bed, okay?" he suggested. "I already wasted my time dressing, and I need sleep."

"Are you rejecting me?" I wondered, my mind still so fogged with a blurry haze.

"I guess," the boy shrugged out. But, then, he moved forward, placing a soft kiss on my lips, which I knew was for pity.

But, I couldn't accept that Max was rejecting me. How could he be more tired than me? I was more than willing for a rendezvous—maybe even two or three or eight—so, I sternly believed Max's refusal was due to being a stubborn little pest and not a disinterest. So, I sighed heavily, feeling my body's arousal only worsen as I scooted closer to my darling boy, pushing our sides together and wrapping an arm around him. This felt nice, and I supposed it made me feel better about not having my cock buried in his tight ass at the very, living moment, but whatever the case, I wanted more.

"Darling," I said, reaching down touching Max's semi-hard cock, "this won't take all night—I think you can afford to lose these minutes of sleep." I grinned in a feline sort of way, making sure our bodies were pressed hard enough against each other so Max couldn't fight away the contact.

"Harley…"

"Yes, sweet thing?" I asked, sucking at his neck, which made his breathing hitch. "You know, it feels to me like you are very much willing to participate."

Max closed his eyes, his knees bending and his hips rising very slowly in a subconscious urgency to reach into my touch. I groaned myself at the feeling of his growing erection, hard and warm in my clutched hand. Good Lord, he was so young and frisky—such an obvious recovery and willingness to get hard just by simple dirty talk. There were many pros to having such an adorable, young boy such as Maximus all to myself, but his randy, vigorous nature was at the top. Oh, yes it was.

"You know, this…" the boy trailed off and blushed incredibly bright. "This… makes me feel so incompetent. My hands don't feel nearly as good as yours."

I threw my head back in a crazy laughter. "So, you're admitting to me you are a naughty little boy who touches himself?" I grinned, watching him turn redder. "Don't worry, Maximus. Your hands feel a million times better on my cock than my own, too."

Max's brow creased in a needy haze, and he purposely lifted his hips to ensure my hand was going to start moving sometime soon. I chuckled in a crazy, tipsy way, trying turning the boy over onto his stomach. Max immediately began to struggle, turning around halfway and frowning.

"Wait," he complained, "I don't like this."

"I know," I revealed, "but it makes it easier to pound into your hot, little body, my dear."

"But, your face—I can't see it." The boy tried to roll on his back again, but I paused his movements. "Harley!" he yelled.

"I'll let you see me," I promised, mounting over the boy and placing my head by his face. I turned slightly to see him more, managing to get a glimpse of the soft smile that painted his expression. I grinned back, whispering, "You're so irresistible sometimes."

I spit into my hand, rubbing the wetness onto my seemingly aching hardness. I continued stroking myself for a moment, imagining back to the previous night when it had been Max's mouth around it, taking in as much as he could and thrusting it in and out like a quick learner. I moaned loudly, bending down and capturing his mouth on mine, exploring it quickly to get a reminder of how magical and inflamed that wet tongue of his was. Oh, he was such a faunlet, such a little delightful piece of boyish charm. I felt his tongue slither against mine in a crooked kiss and warm air breathe out of his nostrils

Mouth still on his, I moved a hand down his body, spreading apart his legs to give myself an easier time pressing down onto him. My hand felt around his thighs before I lifted my palm and squeezed the boy's ass, so round and fucking perfect that I wanted to plunge myself into it right now. But, that had to wait—I wanted to tease him just a tinsy bit more, so I slid my mouth down his back, stamping overly wet kisses down his back until I reached his hip. I licked around there for a moment, my tongue gliding around his heated skin, salty from sweat. I smacked my lips together, grazing my teeth over the flesh, hinting at what I wanted to do to him.

"Harley!" he warned, craning his neck in fear.

"I won't do it too hard," I soothed before allowing my teeth to sink into his skin, my pointy ends causing most of the first-second stings.

Max's body shivered as I waited several more moments—and, keeping my teeth sunk but unmoving, he relaxed—but, with the grip of my mouth, I pulled the flesh up, massaging it between my teeth in a soft grind. Max huffed, knowing, just as I, that I was going to cause yet another yellow or green bruise. Between this all, I kept my free hand busy, wrapping it around his cock in a tantalizingly slow speed and then beginning to thrust it against my palm.

It was a bit too soon, but I adjusted myself and began pressing into his body, my judgment only slightly hazed but clear enough to recognize Max's painful grunts and the fidgety jerks of his arms and hips. I slowed my entry, going deeper an inch at a time before I managed to fully penetrate his body. Max's fists were balled, clutching the pillow cases and pressing his forehead into the cushion. I lowered my body, laying along his back so our faces could be side by side in order to see his delightful expressions.

"Hurt?" I wondered, stroking his erection to calm the pain.

The boy's hips rose, but his eyes remained closed. "Y-yes," he answered, "but, I want you to keep going."

"Maximus likes pain then?" I concluded in a playful inquiry. I inhaled deeply, feeling his muscles constrict and tighten around my penetrated cock. Having seemingly discovered what reaction this caused, Max repeated the motion, and I moaned deeply. "Ah, Max," I whispered, right into his ear.

Max's hands continued to clutch the sheets, even more so when I began rocking my hips, pulling out of his entrance and gliding back down not so slowly. Beneath me, Max panted in a heady desperation for me to go faster, but he said nothing. I straightened my back quickly, grabbing his hips and losing contact with his cock, but allowing a wonderful combination of thrusts and grinds.

"H-Harley!" the boy groaned, folding his knees for a moment.

I smiled. So tight and heated, this boy's ass was incomparable, so unique and fucking grand that I just lost it. I began pumping into him again and again, rolling and twisting my hips to get into him deep and causing him to emit wild gasps of pleasure and surprise. Max gritted his teeth, calling out my name in a rough, almost incoherent pant. His grip from the pillowcase fell, and he searched violently for something to grab a hold to until his fingers clutched around my loose strains of hair, tugging hard. And, fuck did I love getting my hair pulled!

"Max!" I shouted, and my tone was so sultry and lusty that there was no way the boy could mistake it for a criticism. I threw my head back, groaning loudly as he continued to pull, forcing my head lower and aligning straight against his.

"You're such—" the boy struggled to complete his sentence, as my thrusts deepened and quickened in a fast rut of pumps and drives. "You're such a weirdo!" he proclaimed, but his tone was uneven.

"And, you're such a faunlet!" I countered, meaning every bit of it.

Close to his neck now, I tilted my face, keeping my thrusts going deep and hard as I nipped his skin roughly, sending a similar loll of the head into him and a grunt that was half-pain, half-enjoyment. I slammed myself even rougher into his body, making the boy whimper before his legs gave out in a final upwards thrust and he let out his release. I pumped several more times for myself, feeling our slippery, wet skin slapping together, sticking momentarily before my thrusts drove the flesh apart. I finally climaxed when his fingers tightened around the several strains of hair fallen from my shoulders, and I moaned out his sweet name loudly.

I shook with an uneven aftershock of pain and pleasure, forcing most of my weight onto the boy. I let my hand linger beneath him, feeling his wet and sticky release on his stomach, having not held him in my hand as he came. I wiped the fluid off for him with my palm, but did not remove myself from his taut ass. I kept myself buried there, enjoying so much the constricting feeling.

"Maximus likes pain then," I said again, and this time it was not a question.

Max was still panting, catching his breath as he kept his eyes shut tightly. When he opened them, they were glazed over in a wet, hurt gloss that made me fear he had actually hated every second of it. But, he quietly revealed, "I think it's pretty obvious you like pain."

I grinned. "Quite obvious indeed," I agreed. I slapped his shoulder playfully, using it as a hold when I pulled myself out of his body very slowly. "Hair pulling is amongst my favorite things, darling."

Max scrunched up his face in an aftershock of the burning withdrawal of my cock. He rolled onto his back again, sighing heavily. "My whole body hurts!" he told me, but for whatever reason, it lacked all true concern. He sounded slightly amazed, in my oh-so grand opinion.

"There is one thing this lacked," I admitted. I leaned over, kissing him fervently in a quick combination of tongue and teeth. "That." And, it was true—the two of us hadn't kissed once while fucking this time.

Max shrugged. "I guess you were too tipsy to remember."

Oh, and he was right, I knew that much. No longer in a mist of lust and desire, my dizziness returned, and I remembered that although I didn't drink that much, I had enough to make me woozy. It would wear off by morning though. I was sure of that.

"Max," I said, pressing my face into his neck, "I already thought you were one amazing kid, but knowing you're open to some good old pain and games, well, that makes you… even greater."

Max shut his eyes. "You're so weird," he repeated, turning away from me.

I wrapped an arm around his stomach, pulling him close against my chest. My little Maximus may have been twelve-fucking-years-old, but jeeesh, he was everything I needed, and moreover, wanted. He really was. If he got away from me, I wasn't sure what I would do. I was amazed that it took me so long to find a boy as complete as Max.

End of Part Seven