Disclaimer: I own nothing!
Rok didn't mean to eavesdrop, honestly. He'd gotten into trouble with Silvo enough times for eavesdropping on the adults to know that he really shouldn't do that. It's just… well, there wasn't really anywhere to sleep other than Smoke and Rage's beds, and Rok didn't want to intrude, especially after he'd already eaten some of their food. The grass was the softest place he could find! Yes, he could sort-of hear what Reaper and Smoke were saying, but after the day he'd had, he was pretty sure he'd drop-off right away
Except as the sun fell below the horizon, and the stars and moon cast their faint glow over the dingy shacks and alleys, if anything Rok felt more energised, his heart pounding with a sudden surge of adrenaline. The darkness of the night seemed soothing for his eyes that he hadn't even realised were hurting, and he found that he had no issues picking out the finer details in his surroundings even as the last rays of sunlight faded away.
So, night vision and he was more energised at night. Looks like umbreon are nocturnal. Great.
But even if he was dead on his feet, Rok doubted that he would've been able to sleep. As darkness stretched over the village (town?), the place seemed to come to life. Or at least, this filthy sketchy part of it. Shouting and the sounds of running feet and even the occasional explosive noise of battle quickly filled the air, destroying any hope of falling asleep.
And, well, Rok's ears are quite sensitive, and Reaper and Smoke were hardly talking quietly so…
"Reaper, I understand that you've had a harder life that most, and that you're a survivor above all else, but for Arceus's sake, have some empathy!"
Reaper scoffed. "Oh please, don't pretend it's not true. Pokémon hate us! We're the big bad Dark Types that only exist to steal and murder. If he's going back home, it's better that he knows now he's not going to get a warm welcome. Arceus, we're lucky this place actually lets us live here! A lot of towns don't these days."
"He's lost and scared Reaper, in an entirely new situation, surrounded by things he knows nothing about. That last thing he needs is for you to tell him that he can't go back to the only place he knows and feels safe." Smoke told her firmly.
"But it's not safe for him anymore! You know that!"
"He didn't even know what an umbreon was before today. By Palkia's wings, he didn't even know what a Dark Type was before today! His village may not have the same prejudices as the one's we've faced."
"Then how come they don't have any umbreon?" Reaper argued snidely.
"It's likely that the opportunity simply didn't present itself to them, seeing as they probably only met the requirements to become an umbreon in order to become espeon."
Reaper snorted.
Rok heard Smoke sigh and continue in a softer voice. "Just…be gentle with the boy, alright? He's been plucked out of his old life and thrown into a dangerous world filled with things he doesn't understand. It's only natural that he'd want to go back to the way things were. I know you know what that feels like."
Reaper offered no reply, but Rok could hear her claws tearing at the dirt.
Smoke gave a quiet groan, and there was a quiet shuffle that Rok could only assume was him standing up. "Tomorrow, you'll help that boy get back to his village. You look fairly similar to an eeveelution, so they'll probably let you through once you know you're civilised."
"Why do I have to go with him?" Reaper grumbled, "He's not a kit, he can make it back on his own."
"I don't doubt it." Smoke replied calmly, "But he should have a familiar face with him if things go south."
Rok squeezed his eyes tighter and pressed his paws over his ears, trying to block them out. He didn't want to hear about "things going south". He didn't want to hear that his village, his family, might cast him away because of an evolution he didn't even want. They were just being paranoid, that's all. Sure, the pokémon here haven't exactly been the friendliest, but his village was different. He was sure of it.
They had to be.
Somehow, despite the noise and the energy bubbling in his veins, Rok must've been able to fall asleep because when he opened his eyes it was to the sun creeping steadily up and over the horizon.
Rok groaned and squinted. The bright light seemed to be burning his eyes out. Stupid umbreon with their stupid nocturnal habits.
Blinking rapidly, Rok pushed himself to his feet and half-walked, half-stumbled over to the shack. Maybe he could ask Smoke for some food before he set out for his village again. He could hear voices inside, but there was probably nothing to worry about. If last night was anything to go by, lots of pokémon came to Smoke for food.
Rok stepped into the shack…
And immediately found himself picked up by the throat.
"There he is!" a voice screeched, "This is the Giratina spawn that robbed my bakery!"
Rok gasped for air, wide eyes madly scanning the room. He was being held by that pink creature from yesterday (didn't Reaper say her name was Maud?). Rage was cowering in a corner, whimpering as he rubbed his head, and Smoke and Reaper stood near the doorway with a… okay, Rok was really getting tired of not knowing what these things were.
It looked like some sort of large cat, with light and dark brown fur and blue-green eyes, and a mane of pulsing, flickering fire. Even from across the room, Rok could feel the heat of the flames.
Maud shook him and he instinctively flailed his legs, desperately attempting to escape her grip. "This little ruffian came into my shop, acting all dumb and innocent and trying to get out of paying, and he swiped two of my finest pecha berry muffins on his way out!"
"No…I…didn't." Rok managed to choke out.
Maud snarled and shook him harder. "Don't even try to deny it! You Dark Types are all the same; trying to live your lives comfortably off other pokémon's hard work."
"Maud, please put the umbreon down." The cat-creature said.
Maud scoffed, but opened her fist, letting Rok fall to the ground in a gasping heap.
"I didn't steal anything from your shop." He repeated, "I just left."
Maud snorted. "Yeah, sure, and scarfed down my muffins on your way out."
Rok nodded weakly over to Reaper. "R-Reaper was there. She can vouch for me."
Reaper shrugged, but her scowl was softer than usual. "Sorry Kid, I've already tried. She doesn't believe me."
"Because why should I believe a walking, talking bad-luck charm? You're probably just trying to make my life harder with your silly "defence" act." Maud sneered.
Reaper bristled and took a threatening step towards the pink pokémon. "Call me a bad-luck charm again." she snarled, "Come on, I dare you."
Suddenly, the flaming cat stepped forward. "That's enough. Maud, cease these accusations. Absol, remain calm."
Maud shuffled back, arms crossed and grumbling to herself. Reaper still looked ready to tear the baker to shreds, but instead she just sat back, muttering: "I have a name, you know."
The flaming cat looked at Rok, who fought the urge to quiver. "What's your name, Umbreon?"
Rok gulped. "Rok, Sir."
The cat nodded. "Can you please tell me exactly what had happened yesterday in Maud's bakery?"
"I-I was hungry, and I could smell the bread." Rok explained, "And she was giving out food, so I thought I'd go in and ask for some. But she asked to see my, um, "money" first, and I didn't know what that was so she told me to leave."
The cat raised an eyebrow. "You…don't know what money is?"
Rok opened his mouth to reply, but Smoke beat him to the punch. "He's not from around here, Mayor Minos. He's from an eevee village in the woods, far removed from modern civilisation. He's ignorant of a lot of the things here."
Minos frowned, but it was Maud's growl of frustration that caught the room's attention. "Great, so now we've got even more Dark Types coming in from the outside. Perfect, just what this place needed."
"I'm going back home today." Rok said softly, "I only came here because I was lost."
Maud ignored him. "Just you wait Minos, soon our streets will be overrun with these troublemakers, picking pockets and making gangs. Just last week, a mismagius tried to mug Flora in broad daylight!"
"Flora had dropped her purse, Violet was just returning it to her." Smoke said calmly.
"Tch! Like I'm about to trust the word of the leader of these criminals! We won't stand for this much longer Minos, these pokémon are just taking your generosity for granted."
""Generosity"?" Reaper incredulously.
But it was as if Reaper hadn't even spoken. "Drastic action must be taken!"
Minos scowled, glancing around the tiny shack. Outside, the sound of shouting and insults broke the heavy silence, and his ear twitched back to listen.
"I must think on this some more." Minos declared finally, "I will release my decision later in the day. In the meantime, Maud, return to your bakery. And Rok, see about returning home. That is all I will say about the matter at this time."
A/N: I'M NOT DEAD AND NEITHER IS THIS STORY I'VE JUST BEEN SUPER BUSY WITH EXAMS AND STUDYING BUT I'M ALL GOOD NOW!
And holidays will be starting really soon, so I should be able to update really frequently for a while.
Please review!