Hey all! It's been a while, but I finally got around to finishing some more work! I'll be honest, I was a little hesitant to upload this one because of the...implications, especially after reading the new guidelines and such. But hopefully with some creative liberty everything will be okay~ This story was actually sort of a template for one of my others, but I eventually worked around it, gave it its own plotline, and worked out the similarities. With that being said... enjoy!
(Chapter 1)
Gray
A field... full of beautiful pink lilies. I couldn't imagine a place more serene, more tranquil than this. I sniffed the air, taking in the overwhelmingly pleasant smell. I felt my chest warm up with joy, and I laid down amidst the sea of pink, relaxing. I stretched my arms as I hummed with glee, feeling the soft pink petals massage my fur. I looked up at the sky, and smiled happily, the warm sun and cool breeze making the weather perfect.
I wanted to sit and enjoy the scenery more, but in reality, nothing good lasts long. Suddenly my perfect world was infested by an annoying ringing sound, and I sighed with realization. Something like this was always too good to be true.
When I closed my eyes, and opened them again, the beautiful blue sky was suddenly replaced by my bland bedroom ceiling. The sun rays pierced through the curtains, signifying the morning.
I looked over at my phone, alarm still going off, and pressed the 'Dismiss' button. I groaned, the extremely rude awakening dragging me out of my blissful state and into the real world. The really shitty world.
The time on my phone read 7:15 am, meaning I had a class to get to in an hour. I sat up, and yawned, then reached onto my nightstand to grab my phone. I got up and groaned, dragging my feet as I made my way to the bathroom. I looked in the mirror, then grabbed my toothbrush to start my usual morning bathroom routine.
My name is Gray. Well it's not really my name, but that's what I usually go by. I'm a 22 year old Umbreon, attending Sail University in Breeze City, Unova. I'm average looking for an Umbreon. I don't have a cheery disposition and bright attitude, as expected of my kind, and keep to myself most of the time. I'm pretty small for my age, standing at 5'5", and try to keep my appearance as basic as possible. It's not like I'm trying to impress anyone anyway.
I finished cleaning my teeth and face, then turned on the shower, and got in as soon as it was a comfortable temperature.
I'm not sure how I'll do when it comes to this narrating thing, but I'll try my best. I'm also not sure who's gonna be reading this story, but I at least want you to not to get bored.
Starting off, I live in Breeze City, Unova. It's on the Southern Coast, next to Castelia City. The place itself was fairly large, being slightly smaller than Castelia, the oceanic Nexus of Unova. But this place was nothing like the coastal paradise.
The one thing keeping this place from being a tourist attracting Utopia is the fact that it attracts all types of shady characters. Criminals, sex offenders...gangs. It's a real shitshow, and the cops usually have their work cut out for them. I managed to stay okay thanks to my situation, but I'll get into that later.
I got out of the shower, and wrapped a towel around me. I grabbed my laundry, and exited the bathroom. Upon opening the door, my "roommate" was standing there in his morning attire, a t-shirt and sweats. He was a 29 year old Houndoom, who actually owned the flat we stayed in. His name was Jason Avery, but everyone calls him Jace. I still call him Avery to remind him to keep things formal between us.
We made eye contact, and he only looked me up and down, before muttering a small 'Morning' and going into the bathroom.
Our relationship is complicated to say the least, but we actually used to date. I say used to, but he still likes to treat me like we are. It makes me uncomfortable usually, but I don't say much about it. The only reason we still live together is because I've nowhere else to go. It's just one of the many complications of our relationship. I have my own room, I live rent free, and he takes care of whatever I need, so I can't really complain about living here…I guess. There are…other problems that I really don't want to get into right now.
I dried my fur off, then made sure I got everywhere with the mirror in my room, twirling around. I sighed and started to get dressed. Seeing how I look was usually the low point in my morning, since my black fur wasn't shiny and pristine, it was more shoddy and bland, I had bags under my eyes, and I owned a petite build, which made me wish I was born as something else. Hell even being born weird with blue rings like some Umbreon are, maybe then I'll have a little normalcy.
Sorry, I don't mean to sound so edgy. I would've stopped reading by this point, my way of thinking isn't exactly the best fit for a diary.
Anyways, I finished sulking, and got dressed, throwing on a gray hoodie and some jeans. I grabbed my bag, and the rest of my things, checking my phone on the way downstairs. I had about a half an hour before school.
Just enough time to grab a coffee.
I passed Avery on the way out, and he smiled at me, but I ignored it. I left without a word, and began walking towards my school.
Breeze City wasn't exactly a dangerous place, if you knew the right people. Anyone who knew someone important would be left alone, the rest were fighting to survive.
Going off of looks alone, I looked like easy prey. I was small, looked feminine, and was laughably weak. But Avery is the reason I'm safe around here. It's not like the neighborhood we stayed in was super crime ridden, it was actually fairly nice. Rarely did you ever hear about a mugging, or someone getting beaten up and robbed.
But that was because of Avery. If you haven't guessed by now, he's associated with a well known gang around here. It's his "turf", and all his lackeys keep an eye out for those he cares about, notably me. I'm his "trophy" that he was supposed to keep clean and safe, and take extra good care of. I still am that to him, but I feel more like one of those pointless awards you got in grade school that you were proud of at first, but got crumpled up and dirty over time.
Getting back on topic, Avery pretty much runs this place. Which is more of a curse than a blessing. I can't go anywhere or do anything without him knowing, and leaving the only part of the city I'm actually safe in is pretty much suicide if I don't have a plan. So for the moment, I'm trapped.
I eventually arrived at my favorite coffee spot. It wasn't anything special, but it had affordable coffee that didn't taste like shit. Plus I can come in here, get my coffee, and leave without dealing with lines…or other people usually.
There was only one other person in line when I got there, pretty manageable, I won't be in here long. I walked up and ordered my coffee, and was in the middle of paying when I heard a familiar voice say my name.
"Morning Gray!"
I mentally groaned and turned around to face my self proclaimed "best friend" Alyssa. She was an Espeon, about a year younger than me, who's known me since my first year at this school. I say self proclaimed because she tells everyone we're "best friends'' and I never have the energy to deny it.
I look at her, her smile and cheery disposition already draining me.
"Morning Lyss. I thought you hated coffee."
She smiles at me and elbows me softly.
"Well I do, but I was walking by and saw you waiting, and decided I'd walk with you!"
I rolled my eyes, knowing full well she doesn't normally walk to school and grabbed my coffee.
"I guess. Let's go then, I don't wanna be late."
She eagerly follows behind me, and I leave as quickly as possible.
We arrive on campus a few minutes later, and I head straight to class. I tried to hurry, swiftly moving around the Pokemon swarming the grounds, trying not to spill my coffee. This was because if I wasn't there soon enough-
"There they are!"
I stop right in my tracks and sigh. If I wasn't there soon "our", really Alyssa's, friends would be waiting for us outside of class. There were only three of them, a Milotic named May, a Frogadier named Trey, and a Blastoise named Garrison, who insisted I call him Gary. They formed their little group when Alyssa joined the swim team for whatever reason in High School, and have been hanging out ever since. She's known them for a while, but I only met them about a year ago, when she introduced me.
I didn't dislike them, I just don't do the whole friend group thing. I haven't had any actual friends growing up but that's because… Anyway, it wasn't really a personal choice, it was just another "perk" that came with Avery, he didn't exactly like other people cutting in on his "quality time".
Getting back on topic, I usually just stood on the sidelines when they grouped up, this was a way of avoiding being singled out by the bigger more aggressive Pokemon on campus. I was safe in the city where Avery and his goons were always around, but the campus is another area altogether. It was closely watched by their own security, but that didn't stop the occasional fight, and the bullying most should've grown out of by now.
While being lost in my own thoughts, I failed to realize someone was walking by, and bumped into them as I was about to enter my class. I hit them with a thud, and a little of my coffee spilled on their clothes. I regained my composure, and looked up at them. It was a Luxray, someone I never spoke to, or even realized was in this class.. I could've sworn I'd seen him somewhere before, but I couldn't remember where. He glared down at his jacket, and scoffed as he kept walking.
Alyssa stood next to me, giving a worried look, and Garrison glared at the Pokemon making his way to his seat.
"You okay Gray?"
I sipped more of my coffee, and nodded.
"Yeah I'm alright. It was mostly my fault anyways. I wasn't paying attention."
I looked back at the Luxray who had sat down, surprisingly close to my usual spot.
Has he always sat there?
(Later that day)
I had finished all my classes for the day, and yawned as I waddled over to the campus exit. I was eager to go home and do my homework so I could relax before I had to go to work.
My ears lowered at the thought of work. It wasn't a job I was proud of, but I got it thanks to Avery . I sort of owed him for the rent free apartment, and for all the money he was putting into my college education…as well as some other bullshit debts. I didn't give him all the money I earned, but a lot of it went back to him. I used the rest to save up enough to finally leave this damn city, but that was gonna take a while. I just needed enough to survive somewhere else after college, long enough to find a job, and the rest would come after.
I was almost out, when a pair of paws grabbed one of my arms and tugged lightly. Alyssa was grinning as she pulled, trying to stop me from leaving.
"And where are you going?"
I looked up in pretend thought.
"Uhhh...home."
She shook her head, still smiling.
"Uh uh uh! You're supposed to go bowling with me and everyone else today! Remember? We planned it last week!"
I raised a brow.
"I don't remember agreeing to that."
She giggled.
"You were there when we talked about it! I remember Trey asked if you were free to come, and you jumped, then did your usual "Uh huh, sure I guess". Ring any bells?"
My eyes shot to the side.
I don't remember saying that.
"That was definitely an answer I gave because I wasn't listening and only spoke when I was addressed."
She rolled her eyes.
"Right well, the invite is still in the air! Come on! It's not like you've got anything better to do."
I pulled away as she tried to drag me, hating when she did this.
"I have work. And I wanna go home and get situated before I have to go in."
She let go, and her ears lowered.
"Work? Again? What do you even do that requires you to be there almost daily, and stops you from hanging out with your friends?"
I started to walk away.
"That's none of your business. I have work. That's all that matters."
I left campus, and started my walk home, ignoring the clearly disappointed Espeon.
Don't know why I have to be there anyways.
I didn't dislike her company or anything, but Alyssa and her friends hung out and lived on the opposite side of Breeze City, the outskirts closer to Trinity Town. This was where the rich people lived, and where most of the students who actually went to Sail University lived. The place Avery basically had no power, and I had no money to actually stay in.
I hated going over there because if I ever disappear off of Avery's radar he gets pissed at me and threatens to have one of his lackey's basically stalk me. Again. Then I really wouldn't have much freedom.
The last thing I wanted was to have him smother me anymore than he already was.
(That night...)
I hated this feeling. It always made me feel disgusting, and like I had no other use for myself. The worst part is, every time I get used to it, and get through a few nights hiding away in my thoughts, it always comes creeping back. I'd rather not say exactly what I was doing to cause these feelings, just know that it's not something your average 22 year old is typically doing on a Wednesday night.
I didn't like it. Not at all. The Pokemon I had to deal with. Sitting there feeling disappointed in myself afterwards, and having Avery tell me I did a good job.
My job was to get the male Pokemon prepped to do "adult films". I'm too ashamed to even say the actual name. I had to get about 10-20 Pokemon ready each night, so they could go record themselves engaging in sexual activities.
I don't know what Avery got out of this, but apparently adult films are where he got a lot of his money from. The Pokemon he "employs" are like me. Have nowhere else to go, owe Avery in some way, or are desperate for money.
According to Avery , I "had it easy", because I could be doing this, and living in some run down apartment constantly threatened by robbery and possible murders. But instead I'm living rent free and getting my education taken care of. I tell myself every night that that's what this is for. It's for my future. A future where I'm free.