-A preface-
I want to thank you for taking the time here today joining me for the beginnings of this story. As I once said and will say again, literature and written works are a bit more rare of an event for me, but no less something I respect when shown time to. If you have read some of my work before, I am grateful for you sharing in those stories, and if this is your first time it is my fondest hopes that this story will delight as much as it will entertain you. This story was began as a gesture to a dear friend, and if it is indeed you who is reading this now, may it be an expression of my dearest fondness for you.
And with that, I welcome you to this world,
He'd felt it first, the brightness and warmth of the early morning light over his eyes. He'd kept them close, knowing it was more than just wanting a few minutes longer. No, there was something just a little extra in the mornings that Gabriel had come to anticipate, and he took in a soft yet drawn out breath as he felt the light weight shift in the bed. Listened to the little steps draw along the fabric until they were on his chest like he'd come to expect. Felt the small breath on his cheek and then...the absolutely wet and sloppy lashing of a tongue again and again. He'd tried to pretend, to feign still being asleep as he had last morning and all the other ones that came before that, and he broke just as easily as he had and probably always would.
His face had scrunched up, jaw clenching as he snorted in vain to keep the laughter in but it was drawn out of him by the relentless lashing he was suddenly receiving.
"Okay, oka-haha! Stop, stop, stop! I'm up!" He could hardly muster between the assault.
His throat had been dry, and his eyes were clearly not ready for the sudden opening he had sprung upon them. Even squinting he could make out the rough features of the miscreant that had come to be Gabe's unofficial living alarm clock. His hand had been resting on her head, fingers buried in the depths of her brown fur as he gently began to scritch. Watched the long, pointed ears turn and twitch before getting the same attention. He'd felt her back arch, her body tremble in the similar way that she had made him tremble. It was his way of getting Merin back for her playful shenanigans. For all the mornings, all the forced play sprung on him first thing day after day.
...Well...it wasn't that forced. Honestly, Gabe loved how much she had come to be affectionate like this. When the two of them started sharing that road together, it was anything but smooth. And it was a long road...but he came to love that Eevee with every ounce of him that could. Loved how that thick, bushy tail shook like an engine that couldn't quite rev up all the way whenever she let him touch her. That those little fangs of hers would rest on his hand with a little grazing nip whenever his petting got too heavy, than a bite looking to threaten blood. Most of all though it was those eyes she had.
Eevees in general were known for, among other things, their rather large eyes, and Merin's were a deep, brown pool that left little to be hidden when it came to her feelings. There's that rather cliche saying that eyes are like a window into the soul. While Gabe wasn't so much on the scene of asking if the soul did or did not actually exist, her feelings were seldom lost on him when it came to those eyes. When his had finally adjusted, he was an audience of one to that particular look that only she would give towards him. Half lidded and full, if gazes could talk then hers would be a welcoming, bright...
Feed me.
The steam had risen from the cup, a flowing cloudy mixture of cold rich cream mingling with bitter hot coffee. The heat had come easily through the ceramic, creeping even into the handle. The light burning helped warm Gabe's hand as he took a ginger sip from it, giving his tongue an equal burn. The chill of late fall weather air had invited itself into the kitchen a bit sooner than usual. His feet probably needed that warmth a bit more considering he'd neglected his slippers and was paying the full price for it as he stood on the pale white floor tiles. Another sip; Needed more sugar still. Merin had a mouthful of egg, hunched over like a gargoyle would an overlooking perch as she sat on the table with her back to him.
Table manners aside, it was never lost on him that she was comfortable enough to do that now. She was a noisy eater and still had the tendency to glance now and again his way in-between bites. Old habits died hard. He'd caught the first look, ever so brief as she licked her jowl and lips. He couldn't help but have a light chuckle as he turned to the cooking pan he'd rested in the sink. His attention came to rest on outside the window just above it, taking in the clouds that were rolling in. Well that sun had lasted as long as it could for the day.
Merin had began the post-meal grooming of herself, brushing at her face and licking her paw methodically. It was kind of a soothing sight to Gabriel. Pokemon had that affect on people when they were at ease. Things like these in the small and quiet moments helped give glimpses of a wake-up call that everyone needed some more time to a chair, some tea, and maybe a lump of fur in their lap or whatever struck their fancy. Made it all the harder for him knowing he was heading out soon enough into that weather, and no one short of a masochist looked forward to fall rains when they were gonna be walking through them. What he would give to have that chair and sip that tea right now. He did at least get the side eye from Merin and he was quite sure somewhere in there was a smirk as if she was teasing him because she knew. One would think the way things had been between the two that she was rather spoiled, perhaps even unruly as far as relationships between Pokemon and their owners went.
That wasn't how Gabe saw her though. She wasn't so much HIS as she simply was her own. And she wasn't so much a Pokemon as she was his friend. He knew she'd felt the same; they'd shown each other that much over the months and years that they'd been together. Pokemon were intelligent. A bit more than most people gave them credit for. And domesticated Pokemon, if given the chance, showed a lot more human qualities than many more would be comfortable admitting. It just came in different shapes and sizes. Gabe was aware of that much, and Merin had helped him along the way to a very curious friendship.
The wind had picked up outside as he'd gone down the road. Too much for a bike to brave that day he feared. Even with the jacket on he'd felt it cutting right through him as if he were no more than a bush of leaves. He'd tightened his scarf, tugging his hat down so that his dark bangs shielded his eyes. It smelled absolutely of distant humidity, one whose gap was quickly being filled every step he took along the path. Merin wasn't much a fan herself as the leaves of red and orange crinkled beneath her feet. She didn't like that feeling, especially when those bits of leaf got trapped in-between her toe beans. It wasn't exactly her favorite time of the year, and even with the fine coat she had which was currently beneath a layering of a bright yellow jacket, she was no more a fan of the winds either.
She didn't like fall, she didn't like winter. She didn't like leaves and cold wet dirt, but most of all she didn't like just seeing Gabe off. It wasn't that he coaxed her into doing it, coming along as she did; He never even asked. She was out there because she chose to be, and she chose to be with him on his way to work. He'd be there most days of the week, and he'd be a bit sore when they'd call him in sometimes for the weekend so she'd steal a little more time for them together where she could, sometimes even coming along to see him home after work when she felt like it.
In some ways she understood the way things worked for humans but it never quite made any of it feel less strange, all the rules and things that humans did. But it kept the roof over her head and a warm plate on the table whenever she was looking for it. Still, she didn't like it most days how long he'd be kept, doing all the...whatever human things that humans do when they work. If she was more inclined, Merin considered now and again that maybe she could be the one going out, foraging for berries out in the woods that she might surprise him someday with them resting on the kitchen table. It was a cute thought, but one that she couldn't actually imagine making a reality. She wasn't like the Pokemon in the wild. She had been born and raised in the domestic and that didn't give her the kind of advantage a setting like the forest demanded.
He had stumbled a couple of steps, Merin weaving between his legs and dragging her puffed tail across them. "You are an absolute menace you know that?" He'd said, eyes rolling with a grin caught beneath the cotton of his scarf. She did it to him every time at some point on their walks and he still hadn't made up his mind to believe if it was genuinely out of playful affection or motivated to mess with him for her amusement.
"Keep that up and one of these days maybe I'll just take a tumble on you, butt."There had been a tinge of scolding in his voice, but she was used to his own teasing.
She trotted along ahead, making pretend that she hadn't heard a thing he'd said but she did glance his way now and again. There was a bit of a delight getting him worked up like that because Merin knew it didn't bother him like he pretended it did. It felt nice for her too, showing him attention in her own way that felt safe like how she needed. He had an understanding that helped her ease into things one little inch of a paw at a time, and it gave her that sense of security she hadn't understood for a long time. It had crossed her mind for the briefest second; a flash of a memory, his face staring into the cage at her from a distance. The growling that had come from her throat had been threatening, alien to her as she saw Gabe so differently now. It was vivid, jarring, like she could feel the cold metal of the cage door again as she leapt instinctively, claws baring to scratch at him and drive him away only to slam into it and be driven against her skin.
You wouldn't think that was what was going through her head that moment because the Eevee hadn't lost a step in-between those thoughts. Even if they were making her heart sink for the briefest moment of darker times that were long past since. This kind of thing happened less and less these days, but they did still happen. There are certain memories that can't truly have any hope of being forgotten, and perhaps they shouldn't for one reason or another. But there was a tinge of guilt that came along with them for she knew that a scar or two had been hidden beneath Gabriel's clothes, and even though he had long forgiven her, she knew they belonged to her still.
Though he couldn't ever possibly know why, there were a few times she confused him with her sudden bouts of greater tenderness, just about assaulting Gabriel with the pressing of her nose to his cheeks and neck in a nuzzle, nipping delicately. Nipping was just kind of her thing. They were the times she remembered the past and the guilt followed her along with the memories that were always soothed if only for a little when he embraced her. She didn't hate him, but she had for a time, especially towards the beginning when they had met. When she didn't understand why he wanted to care for her, and why she hadn't tried to run away..well, twice.
They'd both been grateful when the dirt path had given way to paved roads, street lights that were still on and doing their part in the quickly darkening sky. The sounds of cars rolling along the asphalt they could have done without though. That grinding of the wheels had a way of making Merin's ears twitch just the way she absolutely hated, making them fold flat into her head so hard you would think she hadn't any ears at all! There'd soon been others on the cross streets, running errands, waiting stop lights. Some even had Pokemon with them too, and Gabe was well aware of how Merin felt whenever other Pokemon were near. When they'd been waiting to cross the street, he'd felt her tug at his leg.
It was something he was accustomed to, bending down to pick her up so that she would brace against his chest and rest her chin on his shoulder. His hair was rather close a tone to her fur and so it often looked rather strange whenever they did this. If it hadn't been for the jacket, it would have looked like one side of the man's hair had spilled out from his hat like a brown waterfall. He didn't mind it; in fact Gabe appreciated the extra warmth they gave each other...until it was summer. Then it was sweat and that sentimental comfort went right out the window for both of them. Even with the additional attention that it did bring though, it also had a way of keeping the passer-by being less emboldened to gush over her and ask to pet. She especially didn't like that.
Eevees were surprisingly not more common around those parts. Even finding Merin was a bit of rare chance when it came right down to it. Vacuur was a small town caught between two cities, nestled out in the West and the woods. It was mostly quiet, the kind of place large enough for a stop by and a couple hours to burn checking the rivers and mountain sights, but not big enough for tourists and larger events. You didn't go to Vacuur purposely unless you had friends or family there. Most folks tended to keep to themselves but that didn't stop them from being outwardly friendly if you caught them out on an afternoon walk. There wasn't much to do, and there certainly wasn't as many Pokemon as there had been humans there. That wasn't the sort of place for trainers, and in the rare event of a fight breaking out, Pokemon or not, you weren't meeting with anything less than a car ride and cell for the night if you were lucky.
Gabe had lived in that town all his life so far. Had been old enough to get a job and afford a rather humble small shack a little ways outside it. He hadn't traveled far from the tree either; his folks had still lived in that town, and while their get-togethers were not all that much to talk about, it still comforted him not being far from his first home. Merin on the other hand put on her brightest face when it came to his parents. The only time she ever truly gave an effort to pretend anything because she realized how much it meant to Gabe having her there with him. The thought of his mother's cold, rather dry and scratchy hands running through her fur just absolutely ruined her day every time though. The woman's years and love for gardening gave her more than a green thumb. Gabe knew how much it bothered Merin too, and the little treats he would get her were certainly his own quiet gesture of begging for forgiveness. Of course she forgave him. She always did.
"Well, guess this is the end of the line, girl."
She'd heard the tone more than enough to recognize just how much he wasn't feeling up to it today. Going through that door into that small shop he'd been in for years. She'd only heard of the going's on, never been inside herself save for poking her head up at and through the large front window. She, like any other Pokemon, wasn't allowed in, given the more delicate nature of the goods inside that were sold each day. It was a kind of shop where the blending of food and pharmacy came together with a firm handshake. It worked out well because it had been around even before both Gabe or Merin were either born. It had been there before a lot of other businesses and shops had opened on the main avenue which begged the question in the back of some people's minds if the thing had even been there before the town had.
It wasn't that Mr. Garrison was a bad boss. The man was rather light hearted, soft spoken in his age too. But work was still work, and in a small town that meant smaller hands to pitch in. Some days it felt like Gabe was the one, and only one who was the safety net for that store having someone ready at the counter or organizing the back room. It wasn't hard work either but the hours were hard, and the boredom went harder. The man didn't fool himself of being a driven worker; loyal yes but certainly not a driven worker. Still, a job was a job and if boredom was its one and only pain, he knew it would never kill him. He knelt down, lowering Merin to the ground much to her dislike. She hated these moments, even if they were as numerous as they were brief. The awkward and somber goodbye for now until they'd see each other again. She felt his hand run along the thicket part of fur on her head, leaning into his hand. It had been so thick it almost looked like she had a full head of hair with just the cutest little curl poking out in the front. That curl sprang back up as his hand retreated.
"Guess I'll see you soon. Maybe we can do something like go out for..." his words had trailed off as he caught that look on her face.
The look that told him "Please don't even think of us heading out more at a time like this." and he heard it well.
"Suppose a movie wouldn't hurt this time." She was warming up to the idea but wasn't completely sold.
"I can toss popcorn at you and see how many you can catch in your mouth?"
It was enough for a smile on her lips and he knew the way that night was gonna go. He'd be looking forward to it. She watched him open the door, seeing those green eyes of his stare through the glass one last time before he closed it behind him. She hadn't realized how much her tail had been wagging, but knew when it had come to a droop and stopped. She'd started away, hearing the distant thunder as she began the trek back.
It was going to be a long and silent one just like all the others.