Lesson 15: Damned if I do, damned if I don't

Sixty seconds made a minute. Sixty minutes made an hour. 24 hours made a day. Seven days made a week and 52 weeks made a year.

One wretched year, twelve months, four seasons.

Days of the week had to be named, months went through the same faith.
The alphabet consisted of 26 letters and formed nouns, verbs, adverbs,… That annoying habit to name things…. It made him sick.

Who decided to use the word 'Chair' for a chair? What was the point? If he felt like using the word 'table' for a chair, would it matter?
Off course it would. Otherwise there wouldn't be any lunatics.

Rules and laws added structure to the organized chaos. Society, that crazy breed.
Appointments written down with a punctuality rate that didn't leave any room for surprises.
People had even tamed nature by making it predictable, and only rare displays of its force managed to humble the wired and messed up creatures N called humans.

Did he mention it made him sick? Cause it did.

And then in the midst of the drama, the rules, the boredom, the war, hate, pain, tears, fear.
Amidst the cold concrete on which he walked were creatures that broke every rule N had ever experienced during his live. They broke every law of nature, soared through the sky, produced water, fire, ice and electricity out of thin air. Pokémon were superior in every aspect of the word, capable of so much more. They were his friends, the key to his gilded cage, his chance to be someone despite him being a human, his chance to make the most of it.

They were his friends, doing the biddings of the ones he hated! The untamable ones tamed by force. Prime numbers suffocated by the composite numbers.
Even Purrloin had fallen, with his pleading for him to open his eyes and see. The feline wanted to be named by a human, he no longer wanted to go by the name Purrloin after hearing what Zero, disguised as one, had done during their gym battle. The whole situation rung a bell, Purrloin in his sudden change of heart had resembled Zero years and years ago. So if Purrloin resembled Zero, did that mean the human girl ressembled him?

Open your eyes and see for once, the cat had said, demanding him to act as an interpreter in front of the blue eyed girl.

'I can see just fine.' N thought as he allowed the girl on top of him to pin his wrists to the ground.

'I hate her.' The thought flitted through his mind as he watched her angered face. Turning the phrase around in his mind N found himself unable to come up with another argument for hating her then her being a trainer… He had to be practical, blaming her for being human would be rather silly… That said wasn't hate a bit harsh? Maybe dislike? Yeah that had a better ring to it. Hate was such a final word after all. If he decided to like her at some point. No, no! You dislike her, dis-like her. This was giving him a head ache.

For such a tiny person the girl could produce a lot of sound, she was an avid curser too.

The image of a kitten roaring like a Liepard shot before N's eyes and he had to bite the insides of his cheeks to stop himself from snorting.

She was yelling something at him but his ears wouldn't listen. He focused on her voice, ignoring the dull pain in his head.

"Chili was practically breathing fire!"

Ah she was talking about his latest achievement. Reminiscing the red haired gym leader's baffled expression was so much better than that stupid shiny piece of metal that came with the victory.

"And you dare to act all high and mighty, but you are just like us, you even challenged the gym! And don't even get me started on what you did to Spice cause then you'll get very acquainted with my fist!"

N's hands twitched involuntary as his anger rose, the urge to turn the tables on her was growing stronger. She didn't even realize that he was consciously submitting to her. It took every shred of his self control to remain subdued, her defending that stupid red haired joke of a gym leader wasn't helping. What was so great about him anyway?

Zero, who had been trying to catch his attention, growled at the two of them, barely keeping Ashe's Pokémon at bay. They were trying their hardest to come to her aid. Loyalty was a respectable trait, however loyalty directed towards the wrong cause was nothing more than foolishness.

'Maybe that's the reason.' He thought his green eyes fixed on her majestic blue ones, 'She's oblivious to it all. I'll make her see, make her agree, if she does there might be hope for her just yet.

Sensing his sudden stillness the girl paused, N smirked at her self-conscious face.

"Wipe that smirk of your face, and explain yourself." She said tightening her grip despite her reddening cheeks.

"You shouldn't tackle a male. That and I didn't hear a word you said." He lied gingerly, giving her a blank expression.

She stared down in his calm face, not quite able to believe her ears, shaking her head she murmured through gritted teeth "You didn't even listen."

"Nope."

N noticed the chagrined look on her face and decided to add some oil to the fire by ignoring her and turned his attention on Zero who found himself in the midst of a furious fight with Purrloin and the girl's Snivy.

"Your Snivy is close to evolving." He commented as the lizard performed a rather impressive leaf tornado. Sneaking a peek as deep blue eyes glinted dangerously he raised a single brow, was she ignoring him now?

"Don't call him Snivy, that's not his name." She spat going out of her way not to move her body too often. The girl had some common sense after all, however there was much to learn when it came to addressing a king.

"Make me." He simply stated, openly challenging her. "What gives you the right to change Snivy's given name?" N continued, carefully flexing his legs, readying himself to break free, secretly curious to have her answer on that one.

The brown haired girl pondered on the question, her brow dinted with concentration "I asked if he liked it, and Marron agreed." She answered huffing at a curled strand of hair that fell in her face.

N snorted, "Course he did. Cause you understand the words he says. You're smarter than that Ashe. You only did it because it made you happy. Definitely not Snivy. You. Ashe- Boy's name - White heard what she wanted to hear."

Her face twitched at the 'boy's name' comment, blunt nails scraping his skin clarified her thoughts on the matter. "You can't even bring yourself to do such a little thing?" N asked with obvious distaste, "He'll be listening to the name Servine very soon, it's a good name, use it well."

N had to admit he grew slightly wary when deep blue eyes pinned him to the ground in every aspect of the word, and for a second he thought the girl would really attempt to hit him.

The first signs of a temper flashed on her face when she growled, "Make me."

Amused by the suggestion she offered him with, a predatorily grin appeared on his face. "With pleasure." He remarked dismissively, breaking her feeble grip on him as if it were nothing, throwing her back. She managed to pose a small challenge, fighting like a wildcat her fierce kicks and screams caught Zero, Snivy and Purrloin's attention and all three Pokémon halted their attacks to watch a power struggle between two humans.

N stop that right now! Zero yelled, when his friend dodged a fist and grabbed it with his much larger hand.

Shut up! You fight Ashe! Kick him where it hurts! Marron, who had long lost his temper hissed.

Purrloin for what had to be the very first time in his life found himself completely at a loss for words. Both he and N knew that her efforts to put up a resistance were in vain. And indeed, it didn't take long before N was the one who came out on top and pinned her to the ground.

"You insufferable bastard get off!" the girl yelled wriggling her body in an attempt to free herself from his clutches.

'God she puts up a fight.'The green haired teen thought waiting for his erratic pulse to slow down.

"Now this is better." He huffed, his words meant to taunt came to an abrupt halt when he watched her idly. N… blinked.

Covered in grass stains, chest still heaving as an aftermath from their little brawl and cheeks practically glowing with anger the girl with a boy's name rendered him speechless. Wavy chocolate colored hair had escaped her messy ponytail and cascaded down her shoulders and back. Her trade mark baseball cap had gone missing during their struggle. She was beautiful, maybe the most beautiful creature he had ever seen.

As a man he had realized the female members of his father's organization Concordia and Anthea were…rather pleasant to look at? He wasn't dense and definitely not blind, however those two qualities forced him to acknowledge that the brown haired girl was very pretty. And the strange stupid urge to touch her hair almost made him loosen his hold on her.

She looked the part of the princess from those fairy tale books Anthea loved to read him from. A badmouthed, stubborn princess with a temper. The description somehow suited her and a genuine smile tugged at his lips. He stared at the girl who was clearly distressed by his sudden closeness. He discovered he quite liked it.
Zero, not pleased with the way his friend was staring at a human barked loudly.

"Enough! We're humans not savages!" I yelled, hoping that my sudden rational act would tempt him to release me so I could kick his ass.

Saying I was angry would be a huge understatement, I was absolutely furious, pissed, on the verge of biting, something I had actually tried at a certain point.

"N, this is ridiculous." I said shaking my head. At the sound of his name, his hands twitched and I couldn't suppress a shiver.

"Are you cold?"

I blinked. "You serious?" I scoffed not meeting his gaze.

"I always am." He replied touching my lower arm with a look of interest on his face.

"Ah! Look, look! There it is again." Enjoying his new discovery like a child, he ran his index finger over my skin, a big smile appeared on his face as goose bumps marked the trail his hands made.

"You're like a Tympole." He giggled not in the least impressed by my renewed struggles.

He didn't just say that.

"Who in their right mind compares a girl to a slimy tadpole!" I growled no longer ashamed about my previous attempts to bite him.

"You don't like Tympole?" he asked tilting his head slightly. By now my emotions had flitted between anger, shock, confusion and… some more confusion.
In N's world being compared to a water Pokémon with ugly eyebrows and a stupid face seemed to be considered as a huge compliment. I decided I didn't like N-logic. That and he desperately needed some pick up lines.

I let out a sigh, "Take your whole I'm-so-innocent act and shove it you perv."

Emerald eyes the size of saucers grew even bigger. "What's this perv you're talking about?"

It was a good thing I was already lying flat on my back, if not I would've definitely fallen flat on my ass. "Very funny." I scoffed not in the mood to explain the word pervert to a guy that sat on top of me.

"Did I tell a joke?" he asked not a least bit amused.

"Do you even know what it means?" He tried when I remained silent.

"Course I know what it means!" I shouted, ignoring his innocent face.

"Then tell me!"

"Nu-uh."

"Hmpf… I bet you don't know… Perv right back at you" he muttered puffing his cheeks like a Patrat.

I couldn't help it, being a person who laughed at inappropriate times the whole situation was comical gold, and that affronted expression on his face was just too much. A loud burst of laughter escaped me, unable to wipe my tears they rolled over my cheeks and dripped in my hair, "bhahahaha. Man kill me now, you should get a show or something." I hiccupped winching as my stomach ached from laughing. "Oh don't look at me as if you just swallowed a lemon." I said when I noticed his sharp narrowed eyes.

My laughter ended with a loud gulp when his head inched closer to mine. I could see my reflection in his eyes. Even I didn't consider this as funny.

"Are you mocking me?" he asked huskily. Moving closer and closer the long haired teenager eyed me through half lidded eyes. I could feel his breath on my skin.

Great I had been mocking a weird touchy guy, with strength about thousand times mine.

"P-pervert." I squeaked wondering if a headbutt would knock him out.

"youhaveacutelaugh." The compliment came out rather slurred and his head drooped even further down.

I let out a loud 'Eep!' when his long hair touched my skin, "Are you drunk?" I yelled frowning at the sudden squeakiness of my voice. Resting his head on my chest N lifted a lock of my hair and studied it with a rather pained expression. "If you puke, I'm going to kill you!" I warned clenching my hands to fists. I could feel a vein pumping inside my forehead, 'He's definitely wasted, that or he ate some weird mushrooms.'

"G'night"

"Yeah yeah good nigh-" I snapped my mouth shut with an audible click of my teeth, "WHAT? N? NO NO! COME ON! SIT BOY, FETCH, AAGH!"

Unbelievable, how is it possible to fall asleep during broad daylight? How is it possible to fall asleep ON TOP OF SOMEONE in the middle of a conversation?

"Fuckin' awesome" I growled pushing my newly released hands against his chest.

"Ugh you heavy log!" I moaned already exhausted from my futile attempts to move N's limp body. 'Who knew he slept like the living dead', I thought craning my neck to beg Marron and Purrloin for help, even that blue eyed Pansage's vine whip would be a gift from heaven.

Muuuuuun

'What the?'

A pink, faintly glowing Munna was circling Marron, Purrloin and Pansage, eerily hovering in the air. Judging by the way they were swaying on their feet the floating floral Pokémon was performing some kind of attack on them.

"Hey!" I yelled as Marron toppled over and landed on a soft mattress of purple and green hair formed by Purrloin and the Pansage who were already miles away, snoring softly.

Mischievous red eyes met mine, the Munna delighted with her large amount of victims squeaked happily and rolled in mid air, yaaaaay another testing object!

I had to do something, and fast, squeezing my eyes shut against Munna's hypnosis powers my hand prowled the grassy area searching for anything throwable.
Hell I'd throw N if I could.

A sudden loud startled cry coming from the Munna had me peeking through my eyelashes. Sitting on top of Marron and Pansage sat a ridiculously calm Purrloin in the midst of inspecting his bared claws. Catching my gaze the feline grinned haughtily revealing wicked teeth.

I eat psychic types for breakfast.