Bonding Pt 2
Noble, eloquent, stubborn, and prideful, those are all fitting descriptions of the Lucario under my care. And, despite her best efforts to mask it, she's undeniably snarky as well. Normally, Luna is the kind of headstrong, who would traverse dangerous forests without a second thought. But right now? The once-fierce jackal is practically putty in my hands as I work the soap into her fur.
Luna tries to stifle a small yip, her body betraying her as my fingers weave through her plush coat, washing away days' worth of dirt, grime, and dried blood. The suds foam and swirl into the creek, disappearing into the blue depths. I can feel her muscles finally relax under my touch; the tension in her shoulders melts away as I gently scrub behind the tufts of fur she calls ears. I move carefully to her aura sensors next 'weren't these supposed to be more sensitive?' I muse, surprised that they feel no different from the rest of her sleek coat. As I work down her shoulders and along her back, she tends to her front with uncharacteristic docility, her pride momentarily taking a back seat to comfort.
After the final rinse, I lift her out of the creek with a splash, much to her clear irritation, and place her atop a nearby boulder beside my discarded cargo pants and boots. The cool stone reflects the morning light as she shakes herself dry, ears twitching in mild annoyance. I chuckle softly at the proud warrior reduced by something as mundane as a bath.
Returning to the creek, I can't help but feel antsy for my turn. It's been a while since I had a proper bath, complete with an actual bar of soap. 'It's the little things,' I think as the water washes over me, stripping away days of fatigue.
When I finish, I find Luna still perched atop the boulder, legs crossed, eyes closed, her usual intense expression softened into one of calm. The morning sun bathes her in golden light, highlighting the deep blue and sleek black of her freshly washed fur. The tan vest she wears gleams, accentuating her natural luster. She looks every bit the proud warrior she is, but now with an air of serenity that is rare to see.
As I reached for my clothes, Luna remained in her meditative state, completely still except for the slow, rhythmic swaying of her tail. The fluffy appendage moved back and forth in a steady, calming motion, perfectly in tune with the peaceful quiet of the morning. Just as I was about to turn away, a barely audible whisper brushed against my senses, so soft I might have missed it if not for the stillness around us.
"Thank you," the voice murmured, silken and serene.
I froze, my hand stilling mid-reach. Had I imagined it? My eyes flicked back to Luna, her form as motionless as before, save for the subtle flicker of her ear and the faint ebb of blue flame that pulsed gently from her aura sensors. 'No, I hadn't imagined, it was her.' She was speaking, waiting for a reply.
"For what?" I asked, my confusion evident. I couldn't think of anything I'd done recently that warranted her thanks. The bath had been more a gesture of politeness than anything else, a simple offer out of practicality, not some selfless act of kindness.
But as I stood there, staring at her calm, meditative form, I realized there might be more to it than I had considered.
"For everything," Luna finally responded after a moment of quiet deliberation, her voice steady yet soft. "Thank you for pulling me out of the lake. Thank you for tending to my injuries. Thank you for saving my life again when I was cornered by that Blaziken... and thank you for helping me with... this."
Her tail flicked slightly, and a faint smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. "I didn't even realize how filthy I'd become until I was halfway submerged and you began washing me."
After getting dressed, I climbed up onto the boulder next to Luna, mimicking her meditative posture and taking a moment to absorb the peaceful scenery. It was then that a realization struck me, a jarring, almost startling one: she was extending an olive branch. A small smile tugged at my lips, and before I could stop myself, the words spilled out, betraying my better judgment.
"Sure thing, it wasn't a problem in the slightest. After all, what are friends for?"
The next moment, I clamped my jaws shut, silently cursing my mouth for its treachery. To Luna's credit, she looked just as surprised as I felt. Her eyes widened, and her usually stoic muzzle hung slightly agape as she turned to face me.
'Interesting,' I mused, momentarily distracted by her expression. I hadn't had the chance to really study her features before, what with all the chaos we'd been through, but now, in this peaceful moment, I noticed details that had escaped me. Her muzzle was more wolf-like, almost exactly like-yes-a jackal's, rather than the exaggerated snout I had seen in the games and shows. It gave her a dignified, sharper appearance.
My gaze wandered further. Her pauldrons, which I'd initially assumed were some kind of metallic armor, weren't made of steel at all. Instead, they were tufts of black fur, soft and sleek. I looked down at her paws, resting atop the deep blue fur of her lap which lacked the sharp contrast off mass and colour that resulted in its signature trouser look but instead had a far smoother transition resulting in a more appealing shape. Instead of the three large, clumsy fingers I had imagined, her digits were slimmer, more flexible and accompanied by a thumb of sorts, though still bulkier than any human's. Each finger was tipped with a retractable claw, giving her a distinctly predatory grace.
But before I could get lost in my analysis, I remembered the situation my mouth had just thrown us into. Luna's wide eyes locked onto mine, the skepticism clear on her face. Beneath that, though, there was something else—a flicker of hope, a quiet longing that I didn't fully understand. It derailed and ruthlessly burned any thought I had to brush off the "friend" comment.
"Friends? ..." she asked incredulously.
'Well, I made my bed. Time to lay in it,' I thought, sighing internally. "I mean… yeah. I don't see why not. We're going to be spending at least a month together, and I don't see a reason why we shouldn't be friends."
There was a pause, and then, with a rare hint of vulnerability, Luna responded, "T-That makes sense." Her voice was softer than usual, almost tentative. "Yes, Hu-Jackson… I don't see a reason we can't be… friends."
"Well, then, let's do this properly," I said, trying to hide my hesitation behind a mask of enthusiasm. I extended my hand toward her, a wide, toothy grin on my face no doubt showing the myriad of ivory daggers that occupy my maw. "My name is Jackson Bram, but you can call me Jack. I hope we get along from now on."
Luna blinked, staring at my outstretched hand for a moment before closing her eyes. A soft, bemused chuff escaped her as she raised one paw to her muzzle, trying, and failing, to stifle the laughter that bubbled up from her chest. After a few seconds, she wiped a stray tear from her eye and reached out, clasping my hand with her paw in a firm shake.
"And my name is Luna. The pleasure is all mine, Jack."
The rest of the day passed uneventfully. Luna sat in camp, clearly bored, while I went about my usual routine of hunting, scouting, and gathering. Though she seemed more inclined to talk when I was around, it was obvious that the conversation was more a way to stave off the boredom of her imposed "grounding" due to her injuries than genuine interest. Despite her quick acceptance of our newfound friendship, she was only marginally more open than her usual stoic self.
It wasn't until after we finished dinner—an improvised fish broth—that I decided to ask a few questions of my own. As I stared into the crackling flames beneath the makeshift pot, a familiarly brash, yet feminine voice echoed in my mind: 'If you have an asset, you should grab it by the neck and drain it of everything its worth… ain't that right, Cap?'
Once Luna finished her portion, I decided it was time to start my interrogation.
Luna's POV
As I finished the "broth," as Jack called it, I couldn't suppress the small hum of contentment that rumbled through me. His cooking skills were, all things considered, above average, and when compared to the basic meals of my recent past, this dish was one of the best I'd had in a long while.
I never thought that simple conversation could ease the mind-numbing boredom of being stuck in camp all day—with a human, no less—but to my surprise, it had been both interesting and oddly entertaining. Jack had a peculiar way of looking at things. His observations gave off an air of intelligence and logic, but at the same time, his questions often veered into the silly or lacked common sense. One such example was when he asked how regular wildlife could survive in a world filled with Pokémon and not simply go extinct from the competition. Not in those exact words, of course—his were far cruder, which, if I'm being honest, made the question all the more amusing.
It was refreshing to have a conversation without someone hiding behind thinly veiled insults or layering unnecessary formality into every word. Refreshing was an understatement.
When I explained that most Pokémon knew better than to hunt their greatest food source to extinction, and that the ones foolish or crazy enough to try didn't last long, his reaction was priceless. His mouth dropped open, and the calm, confident demeanor he usually maintained drained from him faster than someone who'd wandered too close to a Beedrill nest as he mumbled something along the lines of "Why couldn't we do that?-"
My ears swiveled toward him as he cleared his throat, clearly preparing himself for something more serious. His usual low, bass voice rumbled as he spoke. "Luna, I'm gonna ask some questions that might sound… strange. But they're important, and the reason behind them is… sensitive. So I'd appreciate it if you don't ask too much about the 'why,' okay?"
I furrowed my brow, my ear flicking slightly in thought. It was an odd request, but I suppose it made sense if it was a personal matter. After all, we hadn't known each other for long, and there are still plenty of things I didn't fully understand about him.
"Sure," I replied evenly. "I don't see any issue with answering your questions, but keep in mind that there are some things I might not be able to answer—whether out of ignorance or because they're… personal."
It wasn't a refusal, but it did leave room for boundaries, just in case this conversation went in an unexpected direction.
With a slight nod and an intake of breath, he continued, "Okay, first of all, where are we?"
I blinked once, twice, then a third time, struggling to find words. "Wou—," I began, but the sound died in my throat. Taking a moment to gather my thoughts, I finally responded. "We are in what you humans call a 'wild area.' However, our contact with your kind has been… limited for some time, so my information may be outdated. But if you're asking about the region, it was last called Azoth." My words came out hesitantly. Finding humans this deep in the forest is rare, and when we do, they're usually hostile. I wasn't sure how much help I could be for his questions.
He gave a soft "hmm" and nodded slightly. "Do you know where the closest town or city is from here?" he asked again.
"To the north, there's supposed to be a large settlement with structures of steel and crystal. To the northeast and northwest, there are smaller villages, though they're nothing compared to the northern one," I explained.
He nodded his thanks and returned to stoking the amber flames with an absentminded expression. "It's getting late. You should get some rest—you need it," he mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper despite the intense look on his face, clearly lost in thought.
Obliging, I wandered toward the resting space but stopped, glancing back at the preoccupied human. My mind was already racing, carefully formulating my next course of action. It was time.
Jackson's POV
'Azoth...' I had no idea where that could be. I pondered the dilemma further, but it wasn't a shock. I was obsessed with the Pokémon games when I was younger, winning a few local tournaments. But the last one I played was over eleven years ago, just before I graduated and joined the military. Even then, I only watched a few episodes of the new region's anime. What was it called again? I vaguely remember some new mechanic, but Azoth? No. Could it be something newer? Or maybe I'm not in the same world after all, just one with Pokémon in it.
Before I could think any further, a smooth yet firm voice interrupted me. "I'm not taking your bed."
Snapping my attention to the source, I stared incredulously at the nonsensical Lucario in front of me. Quirking an eyebrow, I replied, "Then where will you sleep?"
She simply shrugged, gesturing to the open ground, her head tilting slightly, making her left ear flop with the motion. "You don't honestly think I'm going to let you do that, do you?" I said, rising to my feet and moving toward her. "In case you forgot, I'm not the one with a fractured femur amongst other injuries."
Her eyes narrowed, a low growl rumbling in her chest. "Allow me to reiterate, Jack—I am fine. I am not so weak as to be broken by such wounds. And I am not yours to command." Her voice was firm, the last part practically spat at me.
I stared at the shorter canid, meeting her unwavering gaze. "Be that as it may, I refuse to let you sleep on the floor while I take the bed, especially with you being injured. It goes against my principles."
With a resigned huff, she lowered herself onto the makeshift bedding. I should've felt accomplished, considering how stubborn she was. In the short time I'd known Luna, she had proven to be every bit as hardheaded as any human woman, probably more so. Yet, all I felt was a growing sense of dread.
It was confirmed with her next words. "If your principles won't let me sleep on the floor, and mine won't let me take your bed, there's only one solution."
Before I could react, I was pulled off balance. My view of flickering amber flames dancing about her cobalt coat was suddenly replaced by the cold gray of limestone as a pawed hand grabbed my leg and yanked me down with far more strength than I'd anticipated.
By the time my mind caught up, I was already trapped in her arms, held down securely. I struggled briefly, but the effort was pointless. Luna was far stronger than I, but as she let out a soft, pained whine, and I stopped moving immediately.
"So, you're not letting me go, huh?" I asked, exasperated yet already knowing the answer.
"Not unless I'm taking the ground," she replied, her voice unwavering.
With a heavy sigh, I shifted into a more comfortable position, resigned to my fate. "Goodnight, Jack," she murmured softly.
"Goodnight, Luna," I answered, my voice tired and defeated.
That night, there were no endless hallways, no bloodstained floors, and no unquenchable rage. That night, I simply rested.