FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Ayame stood in front of her mirror at 10 a.m., eyeing what style she'd put her hair in for the day. It was in a high bun, one of her favorites. She wanted to go out again, mainly to attempt walking off the anxiousness still plaguing her. Ayame had on tight black jeans and a rose-colored hoodie. She couldn't be bothered dressing up but still wanted to look cute. She put on her shoes, leaving her room and passing Katie's door. Ayame didn't feel like talking, and Katie was likely sleeping in from work last night, anyway.

After she was out of the elevator and on the first floor, Ayame made a beeline to the exit. When nearing the stairs, however, her eyes landed on a lucario leaned against a wall by his room, appearing tired and lonely. "Ace," she whispered. How it hurt Ayame to see him that way.

Ace felt ready to give up today. He had nothing to hold onto, got less than four hours of sleep last night, and had to work with Mille to expose a suspected pokémon community later.

"Ace?"

He knew whose voice that belonged to was and looked up, seeing Ayame standing in front of him. He felt instant warmth. Ayame was the only person who knew his name. He'd written it out for her a few days after they met.

"Are you doing all right?"

Ace looked away. Far from it.

Ayame briefly glanced around, then back to him. She had an offer. "I'm going to take a walk. Why don't you come with me?"

He gave her an expression that seemed to question her offer. She'd never taken him off the grounds. Kado could track his movement and location at any time. If he were caught, he wouldn't want Ayame to get in trouble as well.

Her father didn't know Ayame occasionally hung out with Ace, but it wasn't a big deal to her. She stuck her hand out, asking for his trust with a grin. "You'll be safe with me." Security hadn't questioned Ayame before, and they fortunately weren't patrolling the lobby's central section at the time.

Ace glanced at her hand, her grin causing him to form a subtle, shy one in return. He wouldn't pass this opportunity up. Ace set his right paw in her hand.

With that, she lowered it and started toward the stairs, Ace following closely behind. Ayame felt they both needed this-- especially Ace. She knew he wasn't allowed to roam Castelia. With her, it'd look as if Ayame were his trainer.

Ace swallowed as they entered the restaurant moments later. His chest tightened. Was he this afraid to go outside? It almost upset him.

Ayame pushed open the side door and walked down a few steps, shutting it once he was with her. When they were out completely, she saw a perfect day. Not a cloud was in the sky, and hazy sunlight blanketed the city. She saw Ace staring up, taking it all in. Ayame wished she could help. Other pokémon at headquarters had to be suffering as well. "Ready?" Ayame gave him some time.

He shifted his view, nodding at her. Ace walked beside her as they left the alley and were among civilization and businesses. He'd seen everything at night but hadn't been out in the day for as long as he could remember. It felt freeing and somewhat lifted his spirit. He watched people and owned pokémon all around him that could do as they pleased in life while Ace felt out of place simply being around them.

"You like ice cream?"

Ace saw the Casteliacone vendor ahead and nodded. He actually never tried it, but it had always looked enticing.

After waiting in a line, they sat on a bench on Mode Street a mile from headquarters with many trees and bushes lining the walkways, people strolling by without rest. Ayame had gotten them both a vanilla cone.

She broke the silence after some moments. "You didn't look well when I first saw you... It's the job, right?" She licked her ice cream, eyeing him.

And Mille, but he couldn't keep hunting pokémon like it was okay. Ace nodded, holding his melting cone as he hadn't tended to it much.

"I think I feel the same way. I mean, it's worse for you because... You're a pokémon, but I don't want to become a hunter." Ayame sighed. How many times had she repeated that? "You've been unhappy here since day one, I know. It's gotten worse, hasn't it?"

He had no one talk to him about his feelings in years, so this felt odd, but Ace was drawn to release. He nodded again, though subtly this time.

"Hm..." Ayame knew it would go downhill for him from here. No good could result. "Ace, you're enslaved here. It will destroy you to stay forever."

"Lu..." Ayame was right. He watched it overtake Mille long ago, but he couldn't leave. Not with the chip in his neck.

"I want you to push for as long as you can. It's hard to believe-- I know, but it won't always be this way. Unovanish has been under a lot of fire recently. Things may start to change." Ayame didn't want him to lose all hope, even though she would have in his shoes. "You wanna throw that away?"

He looked down and saw ice cream running down his paw. Ace didn't want to waste it, but he wasn't up for eating. He tossed it in the bin beside him, as did Ayame, reaching over him.

"What I'm saying might sound meaningless to you, but trust me. I understand how you feel and why you do... I just want to help. Try for me at least, okay? Where you're at now, it can't end this way." She placed her palm on his shoulder.

Ace gave her his eyes, nodding once in response. For her, he'd try. Ace didn't want to live the rest of his days here, but it was near impossible to even attempt escaping.

Ayame grinned, standing. They'd been away from the grounds for almost an hour. "Thank you, Ace. We should get back before we're questioned." He'd suffer harsher consequences than her, but Ayame would most definitely get chewed out for interacting with one of the employed pokémon.