Chapter 16: the village and the boys
After getting a change and out of the hospital Alex looked down at his new legs though this time instead of being sat in his pram he was on the caravans sofa wedged between Nina and Scorch, "you don't like them?" Scorch asked with Alex shaking himself back to conscious thought "huh of course I like them mine were literally ripped off so this is literally better than just-" Alex said balling up his fists stopping himself from saying another word as frustration returned.
"Being helpless?" Nina asked putting a hand on his shoulder "yea that.." Alex said with a sigh, "are you going to try and run?" Scorch said but not bluntly instead his voice taking on a tone of sadness getting Alex's head to whip around to stare at him. "Run? To what? From what?," Alex said before clinging to the cinderace "from you guys? Absolutely fucking not!" and this was the truth for Alex as the statement prompted him more comparisons of his time running vs what he has now, sure some things he didn't like but could shrug off like the cute names and baby talk at times but a warm bed regardless of if that bed is a crib was a lot more agreeable than a bundle of old clothes on top of leaves.
But the thing Alex had started to grow used to that was now clinged to his mind like he did to Scorch, Nina, Jessy, Fritz, Tonk and Cinder was that this was a family and it was all his.
"Ok you're crying I can tell your dampening my fur" Scorch said pulling the human into his lap before nuzzling the top of his head getting a small laugh from him, Alex's laughter brought a smile to both of their faces as Nina shifted closer putting an arm around Scorch looking at their boy for a moment.
"We have arrived at Glimmersedge village" Cinder announced breaking the moment then Alex was put back in his pram and the three departed, "wait at the usual pub we still got a couple hundred dollars positive on our tab so feel free to get yourself something to eat and drink" Scorch said as they passed on the pavements side giving the rapidash a pat on the flank.
"We do? That welcome" Cinder said and pulled away with the chemists shop becoming obvious from the sign pointing to it rather than the building itself being built inside the shell of a row of houses, "Right then lets pick up me and Jessy's prescriptions" Nina said anxiously rubbing her hands together blush forming on her face.
"I don't think me or Alex will mind the…" Scorch said choosing his next words carefully "increased size though you may need to visit a tailor." "Well you're not getting a taste" Nina said nonchalantly giving him a look to indicate she was kidding as Alex buried his head in his hands screaming internally.
"Ah customers," came the polite tones of a Mr Rime "what can I do for you?" he said hopping onto a stool behind a counter top plopping his cane down, walking over to the counter Nina was talking to the shopkeep as Scorch took Alex over to a seat putting his pram so he was off to the side so they sat next to each other. "Nice to see chemists shops don't really change" Alex said sighing before his cheeks burned red when he saw the small isle with the sign 'human care' on top of each side, some of the items he saw were normal pre-revolution items seen in chemists shops like human pregnancy tests, condoms, headache medicines and hay fever medicines but it also contained new items.
Dummy's, bottles and diapers clearly too big for normal human infants as well as cans of "Human formula" each either a different brand or flavour but each promising to provide every nutrient a human needs.
"Yea we didn't think you'd like the flavoured ones we just went with one that was more plain" Scorch said following Alex's line of sight "how common are these sorts of items?" Alex asked gesturing to the human care isle, "Why? You planning on laying Lucy?" Scorch said jokingly getting a blush and quick no from Alex.
"As in how common is it for humans to be treated like me?" Alex asked with Scorch scratching his chin on how to explain it, "well with the difference between the under 18 trainers and the 18+ trainers like you the treatment changes," Scorch said giving each word an incredible amount of thought "under 18 trainers often get treated much more infantile but 18+ trainers are due to their more independent nature often treated more like toddlers, though the law still treats both as 'dependents' meaning they have Pokeparents that are responsible for their wellbeing should they need caring for" Scorch explained.
"So under the law you're as responsible for me as if I was like what? A minor in general or like a toddler?" Alex quizzed with Scorch shaking his head, "something more like a mix of adult and toddler you can still earn an income, get a job, go to school, learn to drive etc. but you cant work too many hours or drink alcohol without one of us being present" Scorch said with Alex raising an eyebrow.
"I surprisingly haven't had any alcohol" Alex said looking up at Scorch with the cinderace smilling "I got a club in Motostoke that I haven't been too in a while perhaps I can take you for your first drink" Scorch said with Alex's eyes going wide, "PLEASE!" Alex pleaded with Scorch letting out a laugh and agreeing.
"What were you agreeing to?" Nina said walking over to the two "nothing dear ready to go?" Scorch said pulling the pram forward then getting behind it, "yea.. I will extract what you two were talking about eventually" Nina said narrowing her gaze feeling something was going on but regardless left with them.
Going down the road Alex heard the noise of other humans playing rotating his head he saw a playground with 3 humans ages ranging from about 16-19 years from what he could guess but it was the playground itself that had his attention. Soft black rubbery ground with swings, slides of different sizes, roundabouts, climbing frames and some other exercise equipment, "want to play?" Nina asked squatting down to talk to Alex "yes" he said quietly before he could stop himself from doing it.
Getting closer to the playground Alex noticed some benches where 2 empty prams and a single couple of Pokeparents sat chatting away, when Scorch and Nina sat down on an empty bench they heard one of them call. "Oi oi! Got a couple forest dwellers" a Duggersby said raising a beer can with his Lopunny wife slaping his head with a cloth "Chris please I lived in the forest" she said her husband claiming he didn't mean it in a bad way.
Scorch and Nina let out a laugh "looks like I am not the only with a bunny that tries to get me into trouble" she says as the small family shuffles over in their seats giving the 2 alpha pokemon room to sit down.
Taking the invitation they moved over to their bench with Alex in front of them, "Aaaaw and whats this little cutie called?" the lopunny said fussing over Alex's pram making the human wanting lightning to strike him this very moment, "This is Alex our little bundle of love… and trouble but mostly love" Nina said with Alex giving a well practice dramatic gasp "me? Trouble? Never" he said getting a laugh from both bunny strangers.
"My 3 boys are like that they can be a troublesome handful but they are lovely, oh I am Alice by the way and this is my husband Chris" Alice said and Chris giving a wave, "we haven't really seen you in this area too often so it's good to get to know you" Chris said smiling before taking a swig from the can. "which one of us gets to go play with Alex?" Scorch asked and Nina took out a coin, "think my boys can do that? Those three can be hyper but I think they can be gentle" Chris said and Nina hesitated.
She looked at the 3 boys then shook her head "sorry he is still relearning to walk so he needs a gentler touch" Nina said and the pair of bunnys nodded in understanding, getting up Nina unbuckled Alex then helped him to his feet letting him flop against her gripping her forearms for support.
"Just follow mummy ok" Nina said getting a nod as well as a blush from Alex still clad in a bodyglove, right foot then left then right again it felt so familiar yet completely alien to actually perform the motion. Alex was half way to the swings when one of the boys 18 rocketed up to his side "hang on I know you!" the boy exclaimed "you're the Rifleman!" this statement felt prideful for a moment then his gut felt like it was filled with rocks.
"More like what's left of the Rifleman" the 16 year old said when he and the 19 year old caught up with their brother, "OW! MUM BEN HIT ME AGAIN!" the 16 year old said as the 19 year old Alex now knew was called ben rubbed his hand. "HE WAS BEING RUDE TO THE DISABLED AGAIN!" Ben called out, "YOU'RE NOT GETTING PUDDING ALFIE!" Alice called out from across the playground getting angry grumbles from Alfie "sorry about my brother he just sometimes needs reminding that it isn't pre-revolution secondary school" Ben said looking down at his brother.
"HA! I would of slapped harder if I had a hand free" Alex said as he took a few more shaky steps forwards the confidence he had increasing with each step, he then turned around and sat on the swing with a smug look of satisfaction.
"I am guessing you're all brothers?" Alex more questioned than said getting a negative head shake from Ben "I'd probably shoot myself if I was biologically related to these 2" the oldest boy said, "I am Ian," the 18 year old said extending a hand "you did a job for me remember? My pokedex?" Ian questioned and Alex had to take a moment to think as Nina leaned against the side of the swingset.
"Rings a bell though if I am being honest I would prefer to leave that in the past" Alex said with Ben putting a hand on Ian's shoulder "I agree perhaps change the topic" Ben said as Ian took a seat beside Alex then ben sat next to Ian and Alfie folded his arms in a huff, "there's no room for me" he said annoyed with Nina giving him a look and a smile "you can wait your turn sweetie" Nina said sweetly getting the boy to stand off to the side.
"Again sorry about him" Ian said with Alex shrugging it off as Nina began to push him, "so how did you guys become brothers?" Alex questioned as the 3 boys swung on the swings "well we were each caught early on but each of us ended up being adopted by the same couple so we kinda have to tolerate each other as brothers" Ben said.
"You got any siblings?" Ian asked and Alex shifted his eyes over to Alfie keeping an eye on the youngest of the 3, "yea I have a biological sister out there somewhere but I am not in a rush to find her" Alex said getting puzzled looks from "a sister? I was talking more like right now" Ian said. "Oh no my Pokeparents were my old pokemon," Alex said with a smile looking back at Nina "they are also the hunters that caught me" he added getting looks of both horror and amusement from the 3 boys.
"I was less acting as a hunter and more of a surgeon when that happened" Nina said explaining, "yea we all saw the news report on TV sorry about your legs by the way" Ben said and Alex shrugged despite being sure none of the boys could see it "you guys didn't push me in front of the tram there's no need to apologise for anything" he said before asking Nina to go higher.
Nina pushed harder sending her little boy higher and higher into the air, the wind rushed through his hair and Alex could say he was actually having fun noting down to listen to intrusive thoughts about doing childish things more often. Ian and Ben leaped off their swings then ben called up "hey we are about to go play on the roundabout you want to join in?"
"HELL YEA!" Alex said letting Nina slow him down and before Nina could lend a hand Alex stood up took a step forward and almost fell flat on his face, a well time use of psychic from Nina held his face mere centimetres off the floor "please wait for me before you try to rush off doing something stupid" Nina said sighing. Being set on his feet letting out a sheepish giggle as he clasped one onto Nina's the slight adrenaline rush giving him full confidence in his right leg but not his left, "Fine mama" Alex said with a blush as the group walked to the roundabout.
"BUT I DIDN'T EVEN GET A TURN ON THE SWING!" Alfie whined "then go on it you know you don't have to do everything your brothers do" Chris said the diggersby deep and grizzled voice sounded out, "Ah Chris good to see you" Nina said as Chris walked over "but daaaaad" Alfie whined again getting a more threatening look from Chris. "Alfie it's either play or wait in the car which one do you want to do?" Chris said as a gentle threat staring down his boy that glared daggers back at him, eventually the smaller human sighed looking down at the ground "I want to play" he said with a whine before walking over to the swings then started to swing.
"This one gives me gray hairs with his antics," Nina said jokingly pointing down at Alex as he sat down on the roundabout "how on earth do you deal with 3?" she questioned, "no matter how big a pain in my butt my boys can be il always love them that's how," Chris said patting Ben on the head getting a blush but a smile from his oldest human "now can your boy hold his lunch? My boys like to go fast" Chris said with Nina looking at Alex.
Alex nodded gripping on the roundabout "he can handle it" Nina said taking a step back as the 3 boys gripped on the round about, "3. 2. 1. GO!" Chris said before propelling the roundabout at what felt to Alex like high speed but he held on. "WOOO FUN ON A BUDGET!" Ben shouted Alex for once hearing some excitement in the oldest boys let out an excited laugh, "DAD! STOP!" Ian shouted holding his hand over his mouth "Whats wrong baby boy? Feel like you need to puke?" Chris asked with a chuckle.
Eventually the roundabout stopped letting out a silent creak as it did with Ben wobbling off, Ian crawling off and Alex dazed in his seat, he thought to himself that a few weeks ago this would have been impossible if not a nightmare for him yet here he was living in the best possible nightmare. Whilst Alex was allowing for the entire world to stop spinning he felt something grab him, more accurately his shin before it tugged hard getting Alex to by instinct hold onto the roundabout for dear life.
"WHO THE HELL!?" Alex exclaimed looking down and seeing Alfie tugging it his right leg with both sets of Pokeparents turning around when the audible pop to them and scream of Alex came, Alfie ran off with that half of his Leg but all Alex could feel was the sensations of crushed bone and torn flesh returning. "ALFIE!" Chris roared giving chase as Scorch and Alice jolted up to join in but Nina straight away scooped up Alex and cradled him in her arms, "ssshhh baby mama's here" Nina cooed trying to get her voice into his head before he could sink any further into the memory.
This seemingly worked as Alex burst into tears complaining of pain in the non existent limb instead of just screaming, "we can't take that idiot anywhere" Ben said pinching the bridge of his nose "again REALLY sorry for him" Ian said with Nina giving the pair a gentle look "don't apologise for him, besides I am going to skin him alive" Nina said plainly without so much as a hint of emotion in her voice before turning back to Alex cooing at him softly.
In that moment Ben and Ian had both sworn they had found someone that could be scarier than their own mother, "LET ME GO!" Alfie screamed as he was stood in front of Nina as Alice returned the silver leg. Alex sniffled as Nina slid the leg back onto the stump before letting him stand up clinging to her side like a toddler learning to walk, though to Nina and scorch Alex was a toddler learning to walk and was something they wanted not only to witness but participate.
"Well?" Chris said angrily towards Alfie getting a screwed up look from the boy towards Alex "Sorry for taking your leg!" he said annoyed, Alex's terror was calmed but quickly started being replaced with rage. "LIKE HELL YOU ARE!" Alex shouted angrily getting Alfie to flinch with the outburst "what? I said I was sorry" Alfie said a note of fear becoming present, "YOU KNEW WHAT YOU WERE DOING!" Alex roared before lurching forward Alex swung an arm back ready to punch him when Nina grabbed his arm.
"ALEX NO!" she said firmly wrapping her other arm around his chest before lifting him straight off the floor, "he is going to be punished if either of you two are against corporal punishment say it now" Alice says with Alex letting the arm go limp. "Considering what your boy did I am not opposed to it" Scorch said with Nina nodding in agreement, Alex sighed "fine!" Alex said angrily as Nina flipped him around then balanced him on her hip.
"Maybe we could meet again soon? After things have cooled down of course" Chris said his expression becoming exhausted with Scorch nodding "honestly yea our boy needs friends and the closest place he can make them is in the village" Scorch said getting a smile from Nina, "how does next Saturday sound?" Nina says getting a surprised look from all 3 bunnies.
"So you guys don't hate us?" Alice said with both Scorch and Nina shaking their heads "not at all you're taking care of 3 boys we are just going to assume you're just having a bad day" Nina said her usual calm returning. "But mama I wanted Nate and Lucy to be the first friends I invited over" Alex said this time actually letting a childish whine into his voice experimentally, "hmm another time perhaps?" Nina said smiling as Chris and Nina exchanged numbers.
"Not going to stick around for his punishment?" Alice asked curious when Nina and scorch turned around, "no our little one's had a bit too much excitement for one time plus I prefer to get some lunch in his little tummy" Nina said as Alex relaxed against her front.
Saying a final goodbye both families part.