"So... are you fucking my sister or not?"

I nearly choke on my drink, barely managing to catch myself mid-cough. "Who the fuck starts a conversation like that? I just sat down!"

Roan only laughs, leaning back like he's heard it all before. "Yeah, that's what I thought. Look, everyone's talking about you two, which means two things. One, she wants me to be mad about it. And two, she wasn't actually bouncing on your lap last night. Am I wrong?"

"And you're telling me this because...?"

"Listen, listen, listen..." He leans in closer, throwing an arm around my shoulders. "You seem like a smart fella. You… eh…?"

"Zeke."

"Zeke, right. See, I know how my sister works. She feeds into the rumors, lets 'em run wild. That way, when she does whatever she wants to do, no one bats an eye anymore."

"So... what's your point?"

"My point is, she's thinking about you! Hell, you might even have a shot!"

I raise an eyebrow. "And... you want me to sleep with your sister?"

Roan shrugs like it's the most casual thing in the world. "Well, you know how it is. Sometimes you gotta give up something, and if you can get her off my ass by getting on her ass… Let's just say I'd rather spend the next few months with any girl here but my sister, you feel me?"

"And what if everything goes wrong? If you're even half-right… sounds like Riva can be a real piece of work."

"Oh, she's a bitch on wheels, alright. I just thought you might be into that. But if everything goes wrong, I'll do my best not to knock any of your teeth out." He extends a hand toward me, smirking. "So, we got a deal?"

On one hand, I wasn't kidding when I said I prefer older women. Hilda is probably the only real challenge in town I'd actually grind and farm for. But… this sounds pretty straightforward. And, honestly, he seems like a chill enough guy when he's not talking about his sister so… Might as well give it a go, just for fun.

"Alright. Count me in."

"Great! Now hold still, I'm about to do you a favor. Just be cool about it." Before I can react, he pulls my arm and punches me in the face. "AND STAY AWAY FROM MY SISTER!" he screams like a madman.

I stagger backward into the kitchen sink, barely managing to kick him off me before grabbing him by the collar. "Are you out of your fucking mind?!"

He just grunts, giving me a nasty headbutt in response.

We're at each other's throats in no time, fists flying as the kitchen turns into a wreck. Pots crash to the floor, blood rushes to my head, and I lose track of the pain, lost in the heat of the fight. For a second, it's almost fun, as I grab a pan and start beating him with it—until the door slams open, and just as I turn, Roan smashes his knuckles into my jaw, sending me to the ground.

"Roan! What the hell are you doing, you fucking animal?!" Riva storms in, planting herself between the two of us.

"What? Afraid I'm gonna hurt your boyfriend?" He sneers, wiping his mouth.

"You chase whores all day and nobody says a thing!" Riva shouts back, eyes blazing.

"Yeah, well, better chasing them than being one," he fires back, grinning. "This guy's been here less than a week and everybody already knows you're his little bedwarmer."

The slap comes quick and sharp, echoing through the room. Roan's head snaps to the side, his cocky expression faltering as the sting sets in. Riva doesn't wait for a response. "Get. Out. Now."

For a moment, Roan says nothing, rubbing his cheek with a smirk that doesn't quite reach his eyes. But he obeys, stepping away without another word.

Silence fills the room as I stand there, not sure of what to do. Before I can gather my thoughts, Riva moves towards me, throwing her arms around my chest and burying her face against me. Her body trembles slightly. "I'm sorry… I didn't think he'd take it this far. He's just… He's so fucking stupid sometimes!"

"Hey, it's okay," I murmur, placing a hand on her back, the other gently lifting her chin until her tear-filled eyes meet mine. "This isn't your fault."

She looks small now, fragile in a way I haven't seen before. There's a vulnerability that tugs at me, making me want to protect her. I can't help but tease, though, a small smile forming on my lips. "Come on, don't give me that look unless you really want me to kiss you. Or… maybe he was right? Did I become your boyfriend at some point?"

"Shut up…" she mutters, pushing lightly against my chest, but I don't let go. My hand moves to her hair, fingers weaving through it gently. She tenses at first, her pride resisting, but slowly—grudgingly—she lets herself lean into me.

Riva doesn't seem entirely comfortable with being handled this tenderly, her body stiff like a cat too stubborn to ask for affection but too content to move away. She buries her face against me, letting out a quiet sigh.

"You're so cute when you're angry," I whisper close to her ear.

She retaliates immediately, pushing a sharp nail into my ribs. "Agh… if you like my ass that much just say so, but stop trying to blow smoke into it. I don't need you trying to play Prince Charming."

I chuckle, accepting the challenge. My hand moves lower, giving her bouncy ass a playful smack before letting my hand rest there, still holding onto her. Her eyes widen, a flash of pink creeping into her pale cheeks as she visibly struggles to form a bratty, witty comeback. Before she can, I pull her even closer, my hands tightening around her slim, smooth waist. I lean in, pressing a soft kiss at the corner of her lips.

"S-Stop… I'll get really mad… I mean it…" Her voice wavers, and she stops her feet down.

"Maybe we can make a deal." I bite her ear, pulling on it a bit. "I'll let you go, but tonight, you come to my room and be my little bedwar—"

Congratulations! Your egg has finally hatched!

You've gained 1 Skill Point.

Thanks to Quick Learner, you gain an additional Skill Point!

Wait… my WHAT?!

We rush back to the classroom where I left the incubator, only to find it just as trashed as we left the kitchen. Scorch marks streak across the floor, weaving through the desks and out the wide-open window.

"What did that hag give you, a fucking Charizard?!" Riva snaps, hands on her hips.

I lean out the window, scanning the area below. "Well, now I'm starting to think there was a really good reason she wouldn't tell me what was in that egg."

"Whatever it is, we need to find it, fast. If that thing starts a fire, you'll be explaining this to Hilda. I can't keep getting in trouble."

"Any brilliant ideas on how to track a wild animal that leaves scorch marks for footprints?"

She groans, slowly dragging a hand down her face. "Just one. And trust me, I'd rather kill myself."

Paws, paws, paws, paws, paws—

A shiny ball of fur, mixture of gold and deep, dark black, rushes down Join Avenue like a shooting star. Its rapid movement draws gasps and shouts from trainers and bystanders alike as arcs of lightning crackle wildly off its body. Each leap, each bound, generates electricity that lights up its fur, glowing with the raw power of its own speed.

In moments, the chaos begins. Poké Balls soar through the air, desperate attempts to capture the runaway storm. But the frenzy only adds to the pandemonium, with the crowd either scrambling to get closer or desperately trying to get out of the way. Those few Poké Balls that manage to slip through the static field land with a thud—only to bounce harmlessly off, as if the creature itself defies containment. A Pokémon that refuses to be captured.

"Miss! Miss!" The assistant rushes into the Raffle Shop, pressing her folders tight against her agitated chest, letting herself fall back against the door as the people outside continue to stampede. "T-There's trouble, miss!"

"Another Berry Joice?! Dammit! Give me a minute, Jacci. This machine's been scamming me all week!"

"Rosa, please!" The assistant gasps, holding the bulging door. "There's a wild Pokémon running around!"

With that, the girl rips off her last lottery ticket, grabs her bag and rushes to the door. "Oh… So that's why everyone's getting noisy! Why didn't you tell me sooner?!"

Burnice crouches on all fours, arching her back and pressing her face against the asphalt, her fingers tracing over the blackened marks. "Hmm... yeah, these are definitely electricity burns."

I make sure to keep my eyes in the sky, knowing better than to look anywhere near her while Riva's around. One wrong glance, and I'm sure she'd happily drive a knife into my throat. "Can you, uh... tell which way it went?"

"Shh..." Burnice leans in closer, licking the scorched stone as if she's tasting a fine wine. She pauses for a moment, deep in thought.

"Can you move your fat ass, you mentally challenged cow?!" Riva screams, already pushed to her limit after barely two minutes in Burnice's presence.

Burnice ignores her and leaps to her feet. "Follow me!" she shouts, sprinting ahead, her short, curvy frame bouncing as she leads the way.

Thank Arceus she's got shorts on under that skirt, I think, grateful that we won't have to wage a war against half the city just to walk behind her.

A hard slap lands on the back of my head. "What?! I didn't say anything!"

"You were thinking it," Riva mutters without breaking the pace. "I know that look. Grew up with my brother—don't think I can't read you."

"How is that even fair?!"

"Why do all guys like a dumb bitch with a fat ass?!" she groans.

For my own safety, I pretend I have no idea what she's talking about.

We keep moving, following the erratic scorch marks along the road. Burnice stops every few steps to inspect them before pointing us in the right direction. Eventually, we make it to Join Avenue, and the moment we see the wall of people gathered at the entrance, we know we're in the right place.

Everyone's staring toward the commotion with nervous curiosity, but no one dares to venture inside. Luckily for us…

"Pignite, clear the way!" Burnice yells, tossing her Poké Ball forward.

"Piiiiiiiiiignite!"

The sight of a charging fire-breathing warthog does wonders for crowd control. People scatter like leaves in a storm, and we go in without much trouble.

"Serperior, Wrap him up!"

A trainer and her Pokémon stand in the middle of the street. Her Serperior lashes out with lightning speed, but the creature they're after slips into a nearby store, going in through a pet-sized door before the attack lands.

"Wait! That's my Pokémon!" I shout, rushing into the scene.

The girl... I recognize her. I know her from somewhere, though I can't place it right now.

She glances at me, confused. "Is it?" she asks skeptically. "I've never seen a Pokémon like that. What is it, exactly?"

I try to come up with a response that doesn't involve a full explanation. Riva steps in faster.

"We'll settle it with a Pokémon battle!" she says confidently. Then, she slaps Burnice hard slap on the ass and drags me into the store. "We're counting on you!"

"HEY! YOU FUC—"

The inside of the store is just what you'd expect from a fancy pet shop—shelves packed with collars, leashes, and enough Pokémon furniture to fill an apartment. Though it's not a large space, the sheer amount of merchandise piled up makes it a maze of cluttered aisles and narrow paths.

"C'mon, go find that thing," Riva says, leaning against the counter and stretching,

"Shouldn't we... split up? Look for clues or something?"

"Nah, I've saved your ass too many times today. Be a big boy, go find your partner. Shoo, shoo."

I chuckle, shaking my head as I turn to search. Taking a moment to focus, I close my eyes and tune into the room's atmosphere. The air pulses with unease—fear, confusion, and a restless anxiety that seems to hum through the walls. As I move further into the back of the store, that sensation grows sharper, more distinct.

Pushing aside boxes and cat towers, I eventually reach a cluttered corner where a pile of blankets has been tossed over a small doghouse. Whether it was discarded or simply forgotten, I can't tell, but it looks like its been here for years.

Kneeling down, I carefully peel away the blankets, and a low growl greets me from the shadows. A flicker of golden sparks lights up the darkness, and I finally see it.

"Sh... Shinx."

The small Pokémon curls up at the back of its makeshift cave, trembling, its body radiating static.

"Hey... it's okay. You don't have to be scared." I inch a little closer, but the tension in the air intensifies, my hair standing on end from the sheer amount of electricity crackling around it. "Nobody's going to hurt you."

The Shinx doesn't seem entirely convinced. Its wide eyes watch me cautiously, sparks dancing off its fur.

Thinking quickly, I reach back and grab a bag of food. I pop it open and pour a small handful into my palm, holding it out.

"Here... you must be hungry, right?"

The scent catches its attention. Slowly, cautiously, the Shinx sniffs the air and inches forward, hunger briefly overcoming fear. With more light, I finally get a good look—it's beautiful, its fur a mix of gold and black, like a living storm cloud.

But even as it approaches amicably, arcs of electricity keep jumping from its body, leaping into my hand in painful, erratic shocks. I grit my teeth, trying to stay as still as possible, but the constant jolts hurt, even though it's not trying to attack me.

Suddenly, the static stops.

I glance up and see Riva's Magnemite hovering nearby, silently siphoning off the excess charge. Riva stands a little further back, arms crossed, tapping her foot. She rolls her eyes but keeps quiet, careful not to spook the Shinx.

I whisper, "I owe you one."

She smirks, then points at her crotch a few times before pressing her tongue in between two fingers. "You better make it worth it," she mutters.

I bite my tongue, focusing instead on the Shinx. It finishes the food, visibly calming down, its small frame swaying with drowsiness. "Come on... time to go home."

I gently pet its head, wincing at the occasional sparks still clinging to its fur, but I manage to press a Poké Ball to its side. The ball shakes in my hand a few times before finally clicking shut, letting us know that the tension is over.

But then, Pignite comes flying into the store with Rosa and Serperior rushing behind it. "Where is it?! My shiny hunt!" she demands.

"How... how did you convince Burnice to help us with this?"

Riva grins at me, wicked and proud. "I promised I'd stop spitting on her dinner."

I blink. "Wait, do you... spit on her dinner?"

"Hell no! That's like half a kiss." She shrugs, laughing. "But she thinks I do."

[Mission Completed] Capture your first Pokémon.

You've gained 3 Skill Points.

Back at the academy, we get the little girl her own pet bed in my room so she can rest through the night outside of her Poke Ball. I take a moment to breathe, sinking onto the edge of my bed, feeling the exhaustion from running around all day. My body aches, but the tension eases as I lean back.

Riva stands nearby, shifting from side to side, her gaze on me, hooded.

"What?" I ask, raising an eyebrow. "Waiting for an invitation or something?"

She snorts, arms crossed. "Ha! You wish, dude." She starts to turn, laughing. "Next time, try doing something on your own."

Before she reaches the door, I loop my arms around her shoulders and pull her back toward me. "I wasn't joking."

Her body tenses, though she tries to play it off, her voice coming out in a mock-casual tone. "Oh yeah? And what am I supposed to do, huh? Pretend to be Burnice or something? Sorry, I didn't think to stuff two bags of fat under my shirt just to keep you warm."

Without hesitation, I pick her up and carry her back to bed.

"Hey!" she protests, smacking her small fists on my back. "You think you can just do whatever the hell you want now?"

"Oh, shut up. You know you want this more than I do."

I wrap my arms around her, feeling her smaller, slim frame tense against me. She's not Burnice, not by a long shot. Riva's tall and agile, but she's got curves where they count. As I let my fingers glide over her skin in feather-light touches, riding the long curve of her hips, I can tell she's holding back, fighting not to show how much she likes it. But I just keep going, showing her bratty ass just how much I've been waiting for a bite.

"F-Fine!" she yelps, trembling against me. "But only because these night have been so fucking cold…"

"I can tell…" I whisper, kissing the back of her ear. "You're shaking."

She flinches at the contact, arching away for a second before slowly relaxing again. It's always like that with her, everything has to be a slow, painful battle.

"And don't get use to this…" she grunts, keeping down a shaky breath. "I get bored of people… like… all the time. S-So you better not cry… when I dump your ass…"

I don't respond with words. Instead, I trail kisses down the curve of her shoulder, claiming the warmth of her bare skin. Her bravado crumbles as I hold her close, feeling her breathe, feeling her melt. All protests die to the sound of my lips painting her skin.

"Hey... weirdo," she murmurs, her voice softer now, just for me. "Don't you feel bad, kissing a dirty, rotten girl like me? I could be a loose whore for all you know."

I shift, rolling us over until we're face to face, looking into her eyes. "You're the cutest thing I've ever seen," I whisper, my lips grazing her neck, forcing her chin up. "And that ass of yours is going to be mine."

She flashes me that wide, cocky grin, her eyes daring me to challenge her. But before she can get a word out, I close the distance between us and press my lips against hers.

It starts soft, tender. I want to taste every second, every gasp, to kiss her as if it's the only thing keeping me alive, as if her lips are the only thing that really matters. I take my time, pulling away just enough to feel the faint tug of her breath, then coming back for more. Each kiss deeper, sweeter than the last, a slow, needy burn building between us. Every time I pull away, her lips make that soft pop, almost like they're calling me back. And I answer. Over and over again.

I don't know how long we make out, and I don't care. Time loses all meaning when it's just us, tangled up in each other, breaking the silence without words. Her body leans into mine, and we're lost in the rhythm, the slow, aching need that refuses to let go. Her nails have been clawing into my back for what feels like forever, enough that I can feel the heat of the marks made through my clothes. Her legs lock tight around my hips, holding me to her like she's afraid to let go.

My hands roam freely, tracing every curve, memorizing the softness, the warmth. One of them settles down, fingers curling into that curve right below her ass. It a shameless claim.

"How was it?" I ask, my voice low, as I come out for air.

She blinks, confused at first, then laughs. "What? Not bad, I g—"

"Your first kiss," I interrupt. "How was it?"

A deep pink preads across her cheeks as she buries her face in my chest. "That wasn't my… I'm not!"

I raise an eyebrow, amused.

"Can I just… Agh, why do you have to be such an asshole?!" Her voice comes out muffled, frustrated. "Just... stop acting like you give a fuck and… just… you know… use me…"

But I don't let her pull away. I bring her closer, until there's not an inch of space left between us. "Nah. Let's not rush this." My lips find hers again, even slower this time. "I want to take my time with you. Make sure you keep coming back. Everyone's gonna know you're not sleeping in your room anymore, you're mine now."

She lets out a shaky breath, half a laugh, half something else. "You're such a weirdo…"

I trace my fingers along her soft back. "What can I say? I can't resist a dumb bitch with a fat ass."

She doesn't laugh now, and I don't either. We stopped joking a long while ago. We share a glance, a moment of impossibly honest silence where we just hold each other. Then, she opens her mouth, and traces her tongue along my bottom lip.

"So… are we just gonna... wake up like this every day?" she murmurs with a quiet intensity.

"As long as nobody else steals your spot," I tease, though my tone has lost its sharpness.

"Fine…" she sighs in surrender, her lips meeting mine again. "But if you ever smell like Burnice, I swear to god I'm cutting your balls off."

I blink, caught off guard. "So... anything else is fair game?"

She narrows her eyes. "No. Only the ones I choose. And only as long as you remember you're mine."

I just nod along, brushing a strand of hair from her face as she settles against my chest, her warmth seeping into me. The intensity begins to fade as the moment shifts into something quieter. Her fingers trace idle patterns on my skin, and for a while, we just exist in the stillness. For now, the entire world can wait.

"Mine," she whispers again, biting down on me.

"Yours," I echo softly, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

Maybe those are just words, and maybe they'll only last until the sun comes out by morning to wash away Nimbasa's mist. But I still close my eyes, holding her just a little tighter.

And that's enough.

Maybe you're looking at the wrong Celerius? I've got this picture of a bat in my profile.