Inside a dimly lit garage, the only source of illumination came from a single flickering lamp perched on a cluttered metallic desk. Shadows stretched across the room, cast by towering shelves stacked with scattered tools, half-finished projects, and grease-stained blueprints. The air was thick with the scent of oil and burning metal.

At the desk sat a Meowstic, his usual well-groomed blue and white fur now streaked with grime and grease. A heavy welder's mask covered his sharp green eyes, the visor reflecting the small but intense flames from his blowtorch. The rhythmic thrum of a rock song pulsed through nearby speakers, but the crackling hiss of fire drowned out most of the sound.

Levi bobbed his head to the beat as he worked, the steady hum of the machinery around him blending into the music. The object beneath his torch glowed red-hot—a sleek, silver metallic leg. Its polished surface reflects the workshop's dim light. It was nearly complete, towering at least two feet longer than his own body.

Satisfied, he shut off the flame and flipped his mask up, revealing a face smudged with soot and exhaustion. He exhaled, wiping a gloved paw across his forehead before leaning in for a closer inspection. His keen eyes caught something—a tangle of wires protruding from the artificial kneecap.

Frowning, Levi reached out and carefully untangled them, his fingers skillfully maneuvering through the intricate mess. But the moment he pinched one of the exposed wires, the robotic leg jerked violently to life.

With a deafening clang, the mechanical foot rocketed forward, smashing directly into Levi's face and launching him off his stool. He flew backward in an ungraceful arc before colliding with the garage wall with a loud thud.

For a few seconds, silence hung in the air, broken only by the soft crackle of cooling metal and the distorted echoes of his rock song.

Then, from the crumpled heap on the floor, Levi let out a weak cough and muttered, "It works."

With a groan, he attempted to peel himself off from the ground, before collapsing once more, sprawled out in defeat as he let out a breathless, pained chuckle.

"Son?"

The Meowstic looked up just as the garage lights flickered on, exposing the undeniable chaos that filled the space, but he ignored it to simply look at the doorway where a Hawlucha stood, arms crossed, his expression torn between exasperation and amusement. It was clear from his relaxed posture that he was no stranger to these kinds of situations.

"Dad," Levi acknowledged from his spot on the floor, making no immediate effort to move.

Hawlucha descended the small concrete steps into the garage, eyeing the scene before him. "Do I even want to ask?" he mused, a knowing smirk tugging at his beak.

Levi exhaled, rubbing the back of his head as he accepted his father's hand to help him into a sitting position. "I'm about ninety-three percent done with the right leg," he reported instead, offering a tired but proud smile. "Once I finish the internal wiring, I can start working on the wheel function."

Hawlucha let out a sigh, shaking his head. "Son, I know this project means a lot to you, but it's been a month since you've gone outside. When's the last time you've even seen any natural light?"

Levi shrugged, tossing his welder's mask onto the nearby workbench. "Not like I have much else to do. No work offers have come in yet, but Gunter mentioned there might be a big gig in the spring." He leaned back on his hands. "Which means funds are low, but hey, at least I've got time to perfect this."

"That doesn't mean you can't take a break." His father's voice carried the tone of someone who had given this speech before. But Levi was already pushing himself to his feet, albeit a little wobbly, and making his way toward his blueprints.

Hawlucha sighed again but pulled something from under his wing—a slightly crumpled magazine. With a flick of his wrist, he tapped it against the side of Levi's head before dropping it onto the desk. "I actually came to show you something."

Levi barely acknowledged it, turning the music off from the speakers while scanning his blueprints. "Hm?"

"It's for a new television series starting this summer," his father explained.

Levi finally glanced down at the cover, squinting at the bold, eye-catching title. "Okay…?" He raised a skeptical brow. "You know I'm not big on TV, Dad. Most of it runs the gambit of the same manufactured drama and scripted nonsense."

"This one may be different. It's a reality show."

Levi shot him a flat, deadpan look. "Uh-huh. Sure."

"At the very least, you should consider signing up," Hawlucha pressed, his smirk returning. "Even if it's just for a week, it could be a good vacation."

Levi scoffed, shaking his head. "Oh, come on, Dad. 'A week'? If I got on that show, I'd win." He folded his arms, flashing a smug grin. "It'd be unfair to the nobodies trying to win. They wouldn't stand a chance."

His father pinched the bridge of his beak. "Son, it's a social experiment—"

"It's also a competition," Levi cut in, flipping through the magazine's fine print. His smirk deepened. "Dad, you know me."

"I do." Hawlucha's voice was patient, but the tired sigh that followed suggested he already knew where this was going.

Levi leaned back against his desk, arms still crossed. "I graduated two years earlier than anyone else in my grade."He smirked. "Got my first job at the Cinnabar Island Research Center at nineteen. Promoted in three months."

"Yes, son, I know—"

"Worked at the Mossdeep Space Center, helping design next-gen space shuttles." He gestured dramatically toward the metallic leg sitting on his workbench. "And now, I'm on the verge of creating a fully transformable mecha-car hybrid. I'm literally making history here."

Hawlucha remained silent for a moment, watching as his son finished his monologue with a triumphant grin. Then, with an easy chuckle, he said, "And that's exactly why I think you'd win."

Levi blinked, slightly caught off guard. "You do?"

"Of course." His father's tone was warm and sincere. "You're my son. I'll always believe in you." He chuckled. "It certainly helps that you're as smart as they come."

For the first time, Levi's confident exterior wavered just slightly. He rubbed the back of his neck, looking away. "Thanks… That actually means a lot, coming from you."

Hawlucha laughed, shaking his head. "Shut up, you know I'm always proud of you." He started heading back toward the garage door but threw one last comment over his shoulder. "I just figured you could use the break. And, well… the prize money would help with your little income problem."

Levi glanced down at the magazine again, this time with a flicker of intrigue. "Prize money, huh?"

Hawlucha smirked knowingly as he reached the steps. "Might even help with your project."

Levi hummed in thought, his gaze shifting from the magazine to the mechanical leg.

Maybe it would be worth looking into.

Name: Levi Kantar

Species: Meowstic

Age: 28

Sexuality: Homosexual

Hometown: Saffron City, Kanto

Created By: InfernoMaster64

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