Well, we finally found ourselves heading back from a delicious meal as we had said good-bye to Machoke, Infernape, and Flaafy. We eventually began walking back into the Square. Sasuke had remembered that we had forgotten to talk with their aunt and uncle, but decided to do it in the morning. We began walking back towards the West Rescue Bases to go home. I chuckled as Naruto was licking his chops with a great big smile.
"MMMM! That was super good!" Naruto said wagging his tail.
"Well, I'm glad you liked it, but if I see even a speck of vomit or hear you gag tonight, you're sleeping outside," Sasuke warned with a serious face (although we all know he was kidding).
"Oh, come on, Sasuke! It was really good ramen!" Naruto protested as he whined like a little kid.
"Yes, it was, and I can't wait to go back again, but if we're gonna be taking the rescue team exams, you don't need any extra fat on your body," the Buizel said, starting to smirk.
A look of horror crossed the horizon known as Naruto's face as the puppy said, "I'm not fat! I exercise every day!"
"Oh really?" Sasuke said as he picked Naruto's front legs off the ground.
Both Naruto and I blinked as he then slowly but non-painfully pinched a bit of Naruto's fur and skin between two of his fingers. Sasuke raised an eyebrow at his younger brother, who giggled a bit too nervously. He then looked to see if nobody was there and once that was confirmed, he spoke.
"Naruto, I wasn't able to pinch that much skin before we left for the human world. You've been packing on some extra pounds you don't need, and that extra bowl of ramen and BBQ pork is just gonna add to it," Sasuke said in a constructive yet criticizing way.
"But, that was before I met Thomas and he gave me yummy Pokéfood!" Naruto said in rebuttal with a smile.
"What, so you're gonna blame this on me?" I said with a shaking head that had a grin attached on it, "I thought you two were starving, so I got a lot of food for you."
"Which I thank you for, by the way!" Naruto said, licking his lips, "That sausage sandwich things we got for breakfast were the best!"
"Naruto…" Sasuke groaned as he rubbed his forehead, "Is the only thing that goes through your head about eating?"
"No, it also thinks of ways that I can make Thomas laugh," Naruto said grinning, "I love it when he's happy and smiling."
I felt a blush sweep across my face as I smirked. It was kinda fun and nice that Naruto and Sasuke always kept their minds on how to make me happy. I guess taking them into my arms back at home made them make it their goal to take care of me here in their home. I watched as Sasuke giggled from that answer.
"Thanks, Naruto; I appreciate it," I said.
"So… um… are you guys done with your emotional moment?" We all heard.
Suddenly, in unison, we looked to our left to see where the voice was coming from. It was Zev, standing against a tree with his arms folded. He was watching us with a collected and calm look as we all froze.
"W-What the- Zev, when did you get here?" Naruto asked in shock.
"About the time when Sasuke asked you about what's in your head," he said (with us thankful he didn't hear anything about the human world), "But I'm not here to cause trouble. I actually want to talk with Thomas."
"Me?" I pointed to myself and said.
"Is there another Thomas with you guys? If not, then yes you. C'mere," Zev motioned me with his hand.
I looked to my brothers as they looked back. I trusted Zev to help me on the rescue mission, but he was free to go after it. I mean, I also did stick my neck out for him, so I don't think he'd be that low and backstab me. Naruto and Sasuke seemed to not be bothered by it… SO MUCH. But I could tell a part of them was really wondering and hesitant to let me talk to Zev alone.
"Um… hello? Thomas? Today, man, come here," Zev said, starting to get impatient.
I slowly nodded to my brothers, saying I would go over. Sasuke and Naruto immediately went on the guarding manner, just in case. They watched me as I walked over slowly to Zev. He rolled his eyes as he gave me the "You-gotta-be-kidding" look.
"Thomas, it's not like I'm gonna bite you," he said with a groan as I was over in front of him, "I ain't gonna do anything to you. I just wanna know something."
"Yeah?" I asked.
"Thomas, I know you just came here as of today, so I'm just setting you straight here about me; people here don't like me. They hate me, leave me alone, abandon me… I'm used to broken promises," Zev said, "But you… I don't get you… I take you hostage, yet you give me your word that you won't abandon me, you keep that promise, and end saving my life back-to-back. I don't get why you saved me. Why?"
I simply smiled and said, "Because it's the right thing to do. I wasn't just gonna abandon you for no reason, Zev. I made a promise, and I intend to keep promises when I make them."
I thought that I had made my point, but Zev didn't seem so impressed. He raised an eyebrow and shook his head. Leaning off the tree, he put his hands on his hips and let out a sigh.
"All right, kid. Enough is enough. What do you want?" he asked.
I blinked in shock. I wasn't prepared for that kind of answer. I mean, after Zev smiled and said thanks in his own way back at the pond, he sounded happy. During his time being away, did he think I was giving him a different message?
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Come on, Thomas," the Grovyle said, "Nobody ever does something for me without wanting something in return. So, let's hear it. What do you want from me?"
Well, I decided to be that nobody as I smiled at him and said, "Nothing."
Zev's eyes blinked in shock as he tried to recollect what I just said. Nothing was the reply I did indeed give him, but I bet it wasn't one that he was used to getting. He tried to say something, struggled to look back at me, but I think I broke him at that moment. Sasuke and Naruto were smiling in pride behind me at what I had said. They watched as Zev finally shook his head and looked at me.
"N-Nothing…? You mean I'm really free to go? No favors, errands, anything?" he asked, almost sounding like he wanted me to reconsider.
"That's right, Zev," I said smiling, "I keep my word. You're free to go."
With that, I turned right around and started to walk back to my brothers, who were smiling at me. I felt good saying that, reassuring Zev that I wasn't like everybody else. But then I heard footsteps come from behind me advancing.
"Hey! Hold it!" Zev said, as I turned around to face him, "I can't let you just walk away after you did something nice for me and expect nothing in return!"
"Huh? Why not?" I asked.
"Because… it… I… tch… grrr… IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY!" Zev struggled to say as he shook his head with disbelief.
"Don't you think it should, Zev?" Sasuke said, "That's the way it should be. We should be doing nice stuff to other people without expecting anything from others."
I don't know if he took my brother's statement the wrong way, but the ticking in Zev's head finally went beserk as he growled and yelled, "That's it! There's no way I'm letting Thomas go without me repaying him somehow!"
I felt a sweatdrop go down my head as I chuckled nervously, "Z-Zev, I'm not trying to use reverse psychology or pity. I'm being honest; you don't have to owe me anything!"
"Don't give me that!" Zev said as his eyes went into anime-angry mode (which now at the present time, I laugh every time I think of it), "Rggh…. You! You three are a rescue team, right? I want in."
All of us did a bit of a double take. That was unexpecting! Zev wanted to join our rescue team? I kinda felt bad for the guy. I mean, was he gonna regret this coming down the road? Was he gonna beat himself up, joining a team that he could hate in the future? I didn't want to say anything to encourage him to reconsider though; it appeared I already burned a hole through his head, causing him to lose it.
"W-What!? Really? You wanna join?" Naruto said, happily as he wagged his tail, completely OBLIVIOUS to Zev's irritation.
"What, are you freaking deaf? I just said that!" Zev snapped at him as he folded his arms.
"I-I'm kind of taken back at this being so sudden… but if you're really serious, Zev, we're happy for you to join our Rescue Team!" Sasuke said with a smile.
Zev closed his eyes as he grunted with a nod. I smirked at him, withdrawing from my laughter which was building inside of me. I watched as he opened his eyes and look at Sasuke.
"So, is there anything I should know? Anything at all?" he asked.
"Well, we're meeting in front of Kangaskhan Storage tomorrow morning," Sasuke said with a smile.
"Fine, I'll meet you there," Zev said as he looked at me, "I'll repay that debt. You just watch me."
With that, Zev once again showed off his agility and speed by backflipping into a branch in the nearest tree and jumping away. As he was clear out of view, the three of us looked at each other. We slowly went from a smile to bursting into tears from laughter. No offense to you, Zev, but you were absolutely ridiculous back there! We just kept laughing and laughing as the three of us leaned against each other and struggled to walk back to the base in which we lived in.
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