Author's Note: a short bonus one-shot set immediately after Routines Rewritten. Ghetsis and Colress grow used to their new dynamic and the relationship between domesticity and their evil plans.

Awakening

Ghetsis felt himself being fully enveloped by something soft and pleasantly warm, as if the wings of a Moltres were caressing his body. Normally, he became chilly during every night of restless sleep, but this time his repose had been so peaceful, he had not even experienced any scattered dreams. There was only deep comfort.

He was further burying his head into one of the sources of warmth when he felt gentle touches on his arm. He looked up and slowly opened his eye. He started at the sight of Colress gazing at him, his face tinged light pink like the underside of a Mega Altaria's plumage.

Ghetsis remembered the myriad of events that had unfolded the previous night and soon relaxed. He glanced down at his arm—Colress was slowly walking his fingers across it. Ghetsis felt his heart beat fast and he quickly looked away and back to Colress's face. His eyes were shining and fully open, and he had clearly been as refreshed by their sleep as Ghetsis had.

Ghetsis reveled in the feeling of Colress's spritely fingers on his arm as the two of them made Mareep's eyes at each other. They smiled slightly, as if reflecting on the shared knowledge of a secret.

Eventually, Ghetsis realized that it fell upon him to speak the first words. "...What would you like for us to do today, Colress? Did you have anything planned?"

"Indeed, I did!" Colress reached down to the little coffee table that stood in front of them in order to pick up his glasses. The sight of Colress's glasses sitting beside Ghetsis's eyepatch made Ghetsis blush. He followed Colress's cue and picked up his eyepatch as well, with them touching hands in the process.

Colress then stood up—Ghetsis noticed he made no move to take back his Achromatic Wearable Console, which he had draped over the two of them like a blanket. Instead, Colress held out his hand to Ghetsis. "Follow me!"

Ghetsis stood up and accepted the offer, keeping Colress's console draped over his shoulders, for he enjoyed how it reminded him of sitting with his back to a fireplace. Before, when he had only known ice, he had not ever realized he was cold—but now, everything had changed. Ghetsis held Colress's hand gently and carefully stroked it, enjoying the feeling of his surprisingly warm skin. Colress led Ghetsis to a table on the other side of the study that had various mechanical parts and papers covering its surface.

Colress put his free hand down on a map with various meticulous notes on it. "As you can see, I've plotted a research expedition of several previously-undiscovered islands that lie between Unova and Alola. There is always a possibility of unknown pokémon hiding in one of their coves!"

"Excellent... perhaps I'll find a promising Jellicent along the way. I've always wanted to capture one. The idea of a pokémon dragging unsuspecting humans to the depths of the ocean has always been such a Romantic thought to me."

"Oh, we should drag a few of the silly people who stood in the way of our..." Colress paused. "...ah, of our exploring our potential to the aphotic zone!" He giggled lightly, like the pealing of an adorable little bell.

Ghetsis smiled softly. "The thought warms my heart! We'll put our plan into action after we eat."

Ghetsis slipped the pan into the toaster oven before turning back to Colress, who was sitting at the little round table. It was clear he was unused to company, for he had no tablecloths, and no full oven in his miniature kitchen. "...We can talk while that's cooking. You have too many sweets, Colress—I could hardly find anything!" said Ghetsis.

Colress puffed out his cheek. "Oh please, I never asked you to cook—you took that upon yourself! And you could stand to eat a few more sweets—it's such a shame you're not squishy anymore!"

"It was only right after what you have done for me. And wouldn't you calm down if you incorporated more whole foods into your diet?"

"I burn all of my energy during field research. I don't need to include more boring foodstuffs into my diet."

"You are the boring one if you can't think of anything interesting to do with those 'boring' foods!" Ghetsis said, with no bite behind his words.

Colress huffed and looked askance. He ran his fingers over the table's cool, reflective surface, as if he were drawing some arcane symbol, consulting an oracle to devise a proper comeback. Though it had only been a day since this new paradigm shift in their dynamic, Ghetsis empathized, for he had felt like consulting a few oracles himself. Though the fact that he could now do anything he wanted and follow his whims was one of the new doors Colress had opened for him, and he knew that well.

"Myah-ha-ha…" Ghetsis laughed quietly.

Colress looked back at him. "Oh? Was the sound I made so amusing to you?"

"No... I'm laughing because, perhaps since we've already known each other for so many years, we've already become an old married couple!"

"If you're trying to use that as an excuse to get out of giving me all the lavish courting gifts I deserve, you won't succeed, Ghetsis!" Colress's little angular smile felt like it shone upon Ghetsis.

"Well then, I don't know about lavish, but I have noticed your phone case is far too plain and noticeably lacking in cute details." Ghetsis crossed the room and sat down across the table from Colress, so he could meet his gaze. "I was thinking I could customize it for you... I've heard you can use nail polish to decorate them."

"Oh, that would be so thoughtful of you!"

The two of them sat there for a time, the only sounds the ticking of the toaster oven's timer and their deep, relaxed breaths. Colress was tapping the table now, his fingers moving like the wings of a Butterfree, though Colress was far more a Beautifly, clad in both different grey tones and bright primary colors, in love with flitting from place to place, yet aggressively devoted to a single goal—gorgeous, adorable, vivacious, and brutal.

Colress suddenly covered his face with his hands and let out a long, drawn-out mewl. "You're right... we are an old married couple…" he murmured.

"Yes." Ghetsis carefully reached out, before gently laying his hand over one of Colress's, and Colress peeked out and took his hand. Ghetsis drew their hands closer to him and looked Colress in the eye. Ghetsis felt his face heat up as he drew in a breath. There was one thing he felt compelled to tell his other half. "I love... it," he declared.

Colress's blush doubtlessly mirrored his. "O-Oh!" he stammered, squeezing Ghetsis's hand. "I love... it, too!"