They had argued again. With her usual optimism, Otomé had insisted that Jet was neither as evil nor a monster like he painted himself to be. But he refused to listen. He knew what he was and her words would not change that. Believing what she said would simply give him false hope that would serve only to let him down later on and crush his fledgling faith. And he didn't need that happening. Not again.
Finally, she had given up though, stalking back into the house with a frustrated growl and leaving the dragon trainer all alone in the empty backyard. By the time the girl had started singing again, her silvery voice echoing down from the third story of the house, he had already positioned himself back upon his customary branch, his Salamence out of its Pokéball and staring down at the waters of the large, deep pond.
"It reminds me of Mossdeep… The water," The blue behemoth suddenly remarked. "We should go back there one day… And your girlfriend… Didn't she mention she wanted to travel? We could bring her along!"
Pulled from his thoughts, Jet glared down at his beast, obviously annoyed at having the water trainer be referred to as 'his girlfriend'.
"We're leaving tomorrow!" He barked in reply. "How could we bring anyone anywhere in a single day?!"
A stream of bubbles began to surface in the pond, the water beneath them slowly darkening. Curiously, the Salamence stared down at this odd space. But when a pair of red eyes abruptly appeared under the water, the dragon only had a second or two to move out of the way before that blue and yellow fish-type Pokémon from before surfaced with a noisy splash.
"I couldn't help but overhear," It explained shyly in a high-pitched, feminine tone of voice. "But… Nothing says it would have to be over the course of a single day…"
Both dragon and trainer stared at the self-conscious creature, who began to flap its front fins to and fro nervously as it awaited a response. The Bagon Evolute, however, wasn't sure what the fish was talking about while his master hadn't even understood it to begin with. After only a moment or two, what the creature was referring to suddenly clicked in the Salamence's head and he chuckled.
"She says we should stay longer," The beast translated for his master, causing the fish to take on a shocked look.
"N-No, that's no what I-!"
"Just one day," The silver-haired boy replied roughly, drawing out his switchblade from a pants pocket and beginning to toy idly with it. "We're leaving tomorrow."
"No harm in staying longer," A fourth voice added. Upon immediate observation, they found that Ai was strolling towards the trio from the front yard. "I mean, if we can't find a way to make 'Mé's wings disappear… We might be leaving soon, too…"
Moving over to the side of the pond across from the Salamence and taking a seat, the Feraligatr stretched out and dipped her clawed feet into the cool waters. Watching the fellow reptile, the dragon pondered her words for a few moments before frowning. How to make one's wings disappear? Though he knew nothing about these… Pokémorph things, he did have wings himself.
"Ah… I guess I can't help you with that," The azure beast finally admitted woefully. The massive Water-Type dismissed this apology though with a wave of a large, finned paw.
"No worries. From what Omi tells us, Pokémorphs are complex creatures. I think it would be hard to tell where the Pokémon DNA ended and the human DNA began anyway… For now, if anyone asks, we'll just say it's part of a costume or something…" She shrugged. The Salamence frowned again upon hearing this makeshift excuse.
"Hopefully it's believable," He began thoughtfully. "I mean, those are real wings and costumes… Well, you can tell those are fake… Unless you're filthy rich and can afford to have someone make you some realistic-looking wings with, like, real Taillow feathers or something. And if that's the case, then I'm all for ditching the whole 'traveling with Jet' thing and staying here…"
From his tree branch, the dragon trainer glowered down at his beast. He may not understand the maiden's watery creatures, but he sure as hell could understand his own. But neither three of the blue Pokémon paid the boy any heed. Instead, Ai grinned toothily.
"'Filthy rich'? Us?" She chuckled. "Oh, definitely not."
Confused, the Salamence tilted his head. "Then… How did you end up with a place like this? It's huge! It must've cost a lot…"
The Big Jaw Pokémon frowned as she debated the best way in which to answer his question. "Well… The house actually belongs… Belonged… To Otomé's mother. And Omi always told us that she came from a wealthy family somewhere on the other side of the world. So I guess… It's Otomé's mother who was rich… Not us."
The Dragon Pokémon was quiet as he thought this over. "'Belonged'? 'Was'? You speak as though…" He trailed off at Ai's sad nod.
"Otomé's mother is deceased," She confirmed. "Only a year ago, at the Lake of Rage…" All three Pokémon were silent, the two Water-Types reliving the memory while the Dragon-Type was left to wonder just what had happened.
"So if," The Salamence started again. "… So if her mother is… Gone, then… Wouldn't that mean... That Otomé now owns all her riches? You know, inheritance…"
"If she was of legal age," Replied the Feraligatr.
"So just how old is she?" Jet suddenly interjected, having feigned disinterest to the gossiping Pokémon, but secretly overhearing every word and attempting to decipher the topics of conversation based on his dragon's responses. Glancing up, the Totodile Evolute studied the boy for a moment, her look returned with a glare.
"She just turned sixteen a few weeks ago," She answered cautiously. "How old are you?"
"He's eighteen!" The blue beast chirped after translating the response and before the teenager could tell the other reptile to mind her own business. "But I'm older!" He was awarded a dirty look from his master.
"He better be careful, then," Ai warned.
"Oh? Why?"
"He's legal, 'Mé's not. She's jailbait for him!"
As the two behemoths roared with laugher (the blue and yellow fish was too confused to understand the joke), Jet shot them both looks of death. He couldn't comprehend what was so funny, but he had a feeling that whatever the joke had been, it had been at the expense of his integrity.
For much of the rest of the day, Otomé had been practicing her singing, locked in her room and determined to succeed. Over the course of the afternoon, the rest of her watery team had join the Feraligatr, Salamence, and Lanturn by the pond, each one stealing glances at the dragon trainer every now and then. But as the hours wore on, his dark eyes had grown increasingly dull, a frown slowly tugging at his mouth, as though he were in a daze.
If only he had gotten his fill of blood at Viridian City… If only that damned Ninetalesmorph hadn't interfered and simply allowed him to kill instead… And now he couldn't do a thing to satisfy the bloodlust welling up within him. If he slipped away to find a victim, he would surely be blamed for whatever bad that happened. And if he harmed anyone… He would never be forgiven.
"As if I would anyway," He muttered to himself, idly glancing over to the pond and finally noticing the stares of the water trainer's team.
"He may as well be a vampire the way he craves blood," Miho remarked in a smooth voice, Ai nodding in agreement. Paranoid that the creatures were passing judgment, Jet suddenly shouted at them.
"What the fuck are you staring at?!"
"He's right, you know," The Salamence agreed drowsily, having fallen asleep for an hour or two previously. "Nothin' to see here but your average dragon trainer…"
"Gah, what are you shouting at?" From the porch, Otomé stood with her arms crossed, her voice slightly hoarse from the constant singing of the past two days. "Or are you just shouting for no particular reason?"
Growling, Jet jumped down from his perch and shot the creatures of the deep a loathing glare before taking a heavy step towards the newly discovered Articunomorph. Had she not appeared at that moment, that dumb water serpent would've had her head lopped off, regardless of the consequences. But as it was, he wasn't exactly happy to see his counterpart either.
"Does it really matter what the hell I'm shouting at?!" He shot back angrily. "What do you care?!"
"Because this is my home and I will not tolerate disrespect!" She challenged boldly.
"You should have known this would happen when you invited someone like me!" The male teenager growled before whirling around. But he only got a few steps before abruptly stopping. No, running would do no good. Last time he had stormed off, he had come back to an empty house, hateful looks, and the news of the girl's kidnapping. So he stayed put, though did not turn around to face any of the sapphire-toned creatures behind him.
"I knew," She replied softly, her eyes unmoving from his back. "But I'd appreciate it if you didn't take your anger out on my Pokémon…"
"I didn't do a thing to them!" The boy protested fiercely, ignoring her suddenly docile tone. "Not a damn thing… And if I had, I would've made sure you could've seen the gore!" The sixteen-year-old narrowed her bright eyes at her counterpart's sadistic declaration, but was interrupted before she could utter a sound.
"You should really learn to control your anger…"
Spinning around, he expected to see a third person in the group now, but instead saw nothing. Just Otomé and their Pokémon. But that Dragonite of hers… Kin, or whatever… It was sitting up and staring straight at him, her teal eyes sporting a slight purple undertone. It… It wasn't the one who had talked, though… Was it?
"Not everything in this world can be controlled," He replied gingerly, eyeing the golden beast. "And it doesn't take a genius to know that my anger is one of those things."
"Everything can be controlled with enough force, enough willpower," The Dragonite replied fearlessly, causing the eighteen-year-old to stare dumbfoundedly. It... Could talk as well?! Or perhaps he was just going insane…? "But to do so for your rage would require more effort than you're willing to give, so it's easier to just do nothing and make excuses, right?"
Glaring at the Dratini Evolute for a moment, Jet suddenly and surprisingly grinned. But it was a malicious grin, with a sadistic glint in his eyes. "Oh yes. Of course. Sure it can be controlled," He agreed, glancing around with a look that spelt trouble. "To think I almost forgot…" He settled his wicked gaze on the water trainer and grinned wider.
In an instant, the four of Otomé's beasts with legs jumped up, but her whole team growled a warning as one, claws, fists, and fangs ready to strike.
"Violence is not the answer you know," A ruefully familiar voice remarked. Quickly, Omi appeared in sight as she jumped up onto the railing that lined the porch, a glow in her eyes dimming. Surveying the cat warily, the dragon trainer then looked back to Kin, whose eyes were once again completely teal.
"You're right," He replied darkly, not enjoying the fact that the Espeon had been controlling the Dragonite. "It's a way of life… … But…" He paused and sighed. "I… I wasn't going to hurt her…"
"Then why look to her in the same manner as you did back in Illex Forest when you had your sword against her throat?" The psychic feline countered sharply.
"So that you all understand what I'm going to do about this!" He raised a hand upward and glanced down at the switchblade he still held. "You say control my anger, you say don't hurt anyone… Yet I can't live like that. But you know… I can compromise with you instead… I never said a demon has to spill the blood of others…"
Dumbly, the group simply stared at him, his riddle not comprehending within their minds. But when he suddenly placed the blade against the wrist of his other hand, the boy's words suddenly made sense for Otomé. Dashing forward a few steps, she gripped the railing and leaned out far over it, almost toppling over had her wings not been there to balance her.
"Are you insane?!" She cried, eyes wide in horror. "Don't do it!"
"Why shouldn't I?" Jet replied with a mix of amusement and irritation. He paid no mind to his dragon as the beast leaped to his feet and gave Otomé a helpless look, unknowing of a way to stop his seemingly self-hating master. "What do you care?! All you want is so I don't hurt anyone else! Nobody would give a damn about me, though, so why should I?!"
"Because I do care! I really do!" The girl's Pokémon looked slightly dismayed at this confession of their mistress's. The boy was bad news for her, yet she refused to let him go. "I know I shouldn't and it's silly for me to do so, but I do care about you! You're a friend to me! You saved me from Team Rocket!"
Jet hissed at her words. "Liar! You only care about what I could become! Not what I am, not who I am…!" He pressed his switchblade harder against his wrist, though covertly took care to make sure it didn't draw blood. At least, not yet.
But oh, how stubborn that boy was! Did he truly refuse to believe that her care was not out of self-interest? Such an assumption insulted and hurt the Blackthorn native, who could feel the tears stinging her dry eyes already. Why wouldn't he believe her?
"By the grace of Suicune, I don't give a damn about what you could become!" Otomé shouted in a shakey voice, slipping under the railing of the porch in favor of standing on the ground instead. It would make reaching him faster should he decide to do anything stupid. "And as much as you try to deny it, it won't change the fact that I. Care. About. You! As a person! As who you are!"
"You only care about who you want me to be! About WHAT you want me to be!!" The dragon trainer returned angrily. In the back of his head, he was sure that the whole region of Johto could hear them screaming at one another by this point. "You want me to stop being angry, to stop being violent; every single word you say is just fucking lecturing me about it!"
But his accusation struck a nerve with the Articunomorph, who drew back slightly and took on a look of hurt. "So what? Should I stop caring?" She hissed in a voice that mirrored her expression. "That's what you want, right? To be alone? To have no one care about you? About your safety? Your wellbeing? To have no one see the good in you?"
There was nothing but a tense silence, however. How was he supposed to reply to that? What could he say? He was unsure why, but the thought of being alone now pained his heart. The girl before him had been the first person he had found himself unable to kill, no matter how hard he tried. She had been the first to stand up to him, to not recoil in fear or disgust at his past, at his genetics; the first to not reject him, to be happy to see him, the first to thank him and treat him like a normal person.
"No…" Jet answered softly, looking away as he let his switchblade slip from his grasp and fall to the dusty mountain ground with a muffled clatter. "No… That's not what I want…"
"Then what do you want?" Otomé pressed, her voice breaking. "I try to help you, but you push me away! What will it take to prove that I do care?!"
Hating how pitifully desperate she sounded, the male teenager shook his head grimly and still refused to meet her gaze. "Life's too complicated for you to worry about this… I'll be gone by tomorrow and then you can go on and live your life without hassle…"
Somewhat reluctantly, he finally glanced up, though instantly regretted it upon seeing the look his counterpart wore; it was heart-breaking, those tears shining in her cyan eyes. But he hadn't time to react, as abruptly the girl bolted, running past him and disappearing around the side of the house, eyes shut tightly.
"O-Otomé?! … You've got to be kidding me!" Frowning, the dragon trainer followed after the fleeing girl without second thought, running as well, much to the surprise of the Pokémon that had been watching the whole anxious ordeal.
"He's… Going after her?" Miho stated in a confused manner, not quite sure what to make of this turn of events. But Omi's sudden burst of laughter turned all attention to her a moment later.
"SoI am correct in assuming that he might care as well?" The cat inquired to no one in particular between her mirth.
"Of course!" The Salamence answered cheerfully. "Though… I think it's more than just simple caring…" His wicked smile brought another round of laughter to the psychic cat, both creatures oblivious to the wrath they could face should the dragon trainer ever find out that they had been referring to him and his counterpart as lovers for the umpteenth time.
"Otomé! Wait! Stop!" His command was futile, though. Not only was the Blackthorn native not listening, but he'd probably catch up with her soon enough anyway. Spending years of his life as a thief and a Rocket had given the boy a great deal of speed. But he wanted to 'ask nicely' first, as well. Judging from the look she gave him before running, she would not appreciate being forced to stop and held down.
"What in the world is wrong with you, darting off like this?!"
Much to his surprise, as the Ice Path drew nearer and nearer, Otomé slowed and then finally stopped all together, breathing heavily but abstaining from facing him as the dark entrance of the Path—still a good distance away—dwarfed her slender form. With her blue wings lifeless, she bowed her head and rubbed her eyes against a bare forearm.
"I… I don't know…" She confessed as she heard Jet come to a stop behind her, also breathing heavy but not as hard as she was.
"You don't?" He sounded disbelieving as he took a few steps closer. "Of course you know…" Frowning as the water trainer still turned away from him, the male teenager decided to step around and face the girl. "Just calm down and tell me…"
"I-It's nothing…" She insisted, not daring to meet his gaze.
"Didn't look like nothing to me," He replied, tilting his head in slight confusion. He couldn't understand why she was avoiding telling the truth. After all, people just didn't give heartbreaking looks like that then run off, all for no reason at all. But he wouldn't give up, would he? He'd keep asking until she gave him the right answer, wouldn't he? Otomé was surprised, however, at how gentle his voice had become, a stark contrast to the rageful shouting from a few minutes ago.
"It… It…" Pausing for a moment, she then sighed and finally looked up to him, her gaze a tired one. "I… Was frustrated…"
His heart sank upon hearing those words, as he knew full well just what she was frustrated with. But bravely, as if hoping to be proven wrong, he responded as cluelessly as he could, "Frustrated? At what? And tell me the truth." He added the last part in a stern voice.
"At…" She hesitated and looked away again. "At… Your faithlessness… Not you… And yes, there's a difference."
"Oh? And what's the difference, pray tell?" Frowning, he turned his head to meet her cast away gaze, having a hard time trying not to glare at the insult he perceived. In response, the water trainer turned away from her counterpart again, hands on her elbows now.
"It's frustrating when you won't believe that I care about you," She finally confessed. "And about you the person. Not you the ex-Rocket or anything like that… I just don't understand why you won't believe me… And yeah, you may be a halfling, but so too am I! So that must make us two of a kind!"
Jet simply shrugged and shook his head, frowning at Otomé's assumption. "But your other half doesn't crave blood… Your other half is… Pokémon and mine… Is demonic… We're not two of a kind. There's a huge difference between us."
Mimicking his frown, she half-turned to looked up at him again. "But we're both half human. Why focus on the differences when there's similarities, too? I mean, we're both trainers and we both have Dragonites… And my mother always told me that it's the sum that matters, not the difference."
"As if being trainers or having Dragonites means anything about who we are," The male teenager remarked with a slight roll of his ocean-colored eyes. "Differences matter and I doubt it's a good idea to compare yourself to me anyway, Otomé…"
"But you're a good person, too!" The female teenager suddenly declared in an almost pleading fashion, the remorseful look in her bright eyes forcing him to avoid her gaze. For some reason, he couldn't stand seeing her like that. "You were once part of Team Rocket, sure, but I'm a Rocket experiment! So another similarity!"
"Being a Rocket means doing bad. Being a Rocket experiment means having bad done to you," The dragon trainer rebutted, steadfast in his opinion that there were no similarities between them. He was sinful and she was sinless. They'd never be on the same level. Looking over to her, he regretted doing so again as he was met with another sorrowful look before his counterpart hung her head in a defeated manner.
Frowning, he was speechless. What could he say? For a second time, no words came to his mind even though he knew he had to do something. Finally abandoning his pursuit of a reply a few moments later, Jet resigned himself to silently reaching out and daring to place a hand against Otomé's cheek, slightly surprised at how soft her skin was. Gently, he tilted her head back upwards so he could see her bright eyes and offered a weak smile.
She, however, was caught off-guard by the action, her shock, as well as amazement, showing clearly in her cyan gaze. But in moments her surprise melted away as she returned his small smile.
"If there's one thing that's similar between us," The blue-haired girl began softly, as if speaking too loud would ruin the moment. "… It's that we both need someone, whether you want to admit it or not."
"Well," The eighteen-year-old replied loftily, dropping his hand back to his side but still wearing his uncharacteristic smile. "I guess it's too late to even attempt to argue that one… But big deal. It's one similarity." Stepping past the girl, he began to retrace their steps, pausing only briefly to allow the Articunomorph to catch on and scurry to his side.
"But I guess we better get back home," Otomé remarked, now grinning widely. Though she mentioned nothing about the agreement they had just reached. "Knowing my lot, they're probably taking bets on us for something diabolical…"
Smirking, Jet shook his head and stuck his hands in his pockets. "I have a feeling I'm not going to hear the end of this for a long time…" He complained playfully.
A/N: Awwwwww! Though I suppose it did me no good to be listening to their love songs while typing this. ::Totally spam-listened to Tonic's "If You Could Only See" for the majority of the time.::
Anyway, just a quick note. If y'all haven't checked out my profile recently, I've added up some links to a few of the many, many TDD artworks I have. So if you can't picture how Otomé or Jet or Shadowflare or whonot look, then feel free to check it out. :3