I sigh as I finish mashing the Oran Berries into a paste, and mix in a small amount of anti-bacterial topical medicine. It's not medical tape, but it will have to do...
I tentatively approach Gardevoir with the bowl of Oran poultice. She watches me cautiously as I kneel down in front of her.
"I have to get to your bandages," I announce. "It means you'll have to undress. I made this ointment that will help the wound seal faster. I would use a Potion, but it could cause the cut to grow into much worse of a scar than it already will be." She blinks at me. "So...if you don't mind...I'll just...yeah..." I reach for her shoulder, and gently attempt to slide the fabric off of her skin. She grabs my arm and glares at me, forcing me to pause so I don't end up hurting her, or myself. "I'm just getting to your bandages," I assure her. "I'm just trying to take care of you."
She continues to glare at me for a minute that spans to eternity, but finally lets go of my arm with a nod. I sigh in relief as I begin to tend to her bandages, gently peeling them away so I can apply the poultice. She watches me, cautious and fearful as I begin to apply it. She jumps as the cold paste makes contact with her skin. I give her a small smile to mitigate her stress as I continue to rub the past into the sutures.
Once that's done, I remove her bandages entirely, momentarily exposing the breast beneath her wound. She gasps as she immediately covers it and glares at me, and I back away as she prepares to slap me.
"Sorry," I hastily apologize. "Sorry, I just have to change your bandages..."
I get a Ziplock bag from my supplies and stuff the soiled linens into the small bag and seal it shut. It's not a biohazard disposal bin, but it'll have to do...
After preparing new bandages, I approach her with a small smile. "Hey," I announce. "Just relax, alright? I've got to get to your wound, so I'm going to put the bandages over your breast first so you can be comfortable." She stares at me in a profound lack of comprehension. I sigh as I begin to slip her dress off again, and she seems to understand this time, as she doesn't seize up. After checking the poultice, I begin to slowly and carefully slide the fabric lower, until it's just past her axillary region. The Gardevoir begins to blush as it nears her breast, and I make sure to stop before her nipple is exposed. I can't help but be intrigued - I never thought that Pokémon cared much about nudity.
I have her hold the fabric there as I begin to wrap the bandages around her shoulder, and I end up cutting the excess off and pinning it down. It's very thin and allows for mobility, so it won't be a problem.
"Alright," I announce as I let her pull her dress back up. "That should hold for a few days. I think we should actually start on our way back to my lab tomorrow - I can treat you more properly there. What d'you think?" She blinks at me. I sigh. "Of course you don't have an opinion," I grumble. I rub my eyes as I realize that I'm gonna need to sleep in soon - I'm talking to a Pokémon and expecting English in return...
Then again, she is so similar to a human. She has the features of a human, and she has the dignity of a human - that is, she values being "decent" and clothed. I make a mental note to put that down in my journal sometime. Maybe tomorrow, when I'm not delirious...
The Gardevoir hums a bit, and I turn to watch her. She hums again, and I struggle to understand her meaning.
She rubs her stomach as she hums. I breathe in realization.
"You're hungry," I muse aloud. "Alright. It's time for dinner anyway. Yes, Shinx, it's dinner time." I playfully poke at his belly as he begins to beg.
A few moments later, Gardevoir is meditating again, and Shinx is mewing into his bed. I frown as I examine the tent and realize there's nowhere for Gardevoir to sleep.
"Hey, Shinx, would you mind sharing your bed with Gardevoir?"
He hisses at me. I cock an eyebrow at him, and sigh as I fetch my emergency sleeping bag, for in case my original is damaged.
"Gardevoir," I call. She looks up. "You can sleep in this, alright? We'll be getting up pretty early tomorrow to get back to the lab, so I suggest you go to sleep early..."
She nods, and I'm surprised that she understood me at all. However, being a Psychic Pokémon, she probably sensed my intentions - or some crap like that. Psychic types are weird. There's no constant for their mind-reading abilities - it varies by species, and the magnitude of their ability varies per specimen. It's quite...annoying, really. Makes studying their powers really hard.
About a half hour later, I've ensured that everything we'll need in the morning is already prepared and/or packed. I nod to myself as I finish reviewing my bag, and let out a yawn as I lie down in my sleeping bag. I hear rustling, and I look to my right to see that Gardevoir is watching me. She blinks once, and I shiver as I turn over, trying to ignore the fact that I'm being stalked. She's probably just paranoid...
Or hell, maybe she's pulling a Gandalf. Fuck, I dunno. I guess I'll find out in the morning...