FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

“Listen, son, you have to learn how to deal with the hardships of life. You can't ask us for help whenever it becomes a bit tough."

“Dad…Please, I can't go on like this…My pay is barely covering my rent, and they don't want to give me a raise."

“That means you're not giving it your best. Hard workers are always rewarded, that's how it goes."

“But I'm working overtime most days of the week! I haven't even taken one day off except when I get sick! And it's still not enough!"

“If you're not happy at work, you could change jobs."

“Nobody else is hiring, and when they supposedly are, it's either fake online jobs or the interview process spans several months!"

“Present yourself at another company's office and give them your resume in person, I'm sure they'll accept it!"

“Nobody accepts physical resumes! If I went there, I'd be thrown out immediately!"

“Then that means you've not been searching hard enough! It's still not a reason to give up! Now stop whining like a spoiled brat and pull yourself together!!"

“Dad…I beg of you, just let me come home…Even for a few days…"

“You are NOT going to throw away what you've been working for since you were a kid, you hear me?! If you can't make that prestigious degree worth anything, then that means you're the problem! I won't allow you to waltz back into MY house with your tail between your legs and become a loser when everyone else managed to succeed and build a career!"

“Dad…"

“That's enough. I will not budge on this. You're an adult now, you can solve your own issues by yourself. Don't call me about this again, understood?"

“…But…"

“And don't bother calling your mother, she will tell you exactly what I just did. Now if that's all, I have more pressing stuff to attend to. Bye, son."

“Wait, I still have-!"

“..."

“...He hung up…"

---

With noticeable resistance, my eyelids retracted slightly, a crust having formed from the remains of my lacrimal fluids drying over time. Still jaded from the nightmare I just had, I let out a muffled groan, feeling my surroundings and asserting my current position. A soothing warmth was permeating the front side of my body and the top of my head. Slowly emitted from something scaly and smooth, it prompted me to lean forward in order to amplify the sensation, sinking into its passive touch.

Fumbling around blindly, my arms and legs were currently wrapped around something whose touch was equally as scaly, albeit a bit less delicate, and I reflexively tightened my grasp. Immediately, I felt something behind my back press my body further inside, slowly and gently, as if to answer in kind to my instinctive gesture.

The muddle in my head clearing bit by bit, my eyes were now fully open, and what they first glimpsed was a light beige color, adorned with regular faint horizontal ridges, allowing me to put things together in a flash; somehow, I was still in the comforting hold of Rikiya's arms. Disbelief quickly manifested at the idea that I had actually spent several hours sleeping in his embrace. I called out, my voice still groggy:

“Rikiya…?"

The jaw of the large Dragonite moved down, signaling that he was now looking below, directly at me, and that my voice had reached him. Caressing my back with his paw, he replied in a gentle whisper, the volume weak enough that it wouldn't disturb my senses:

“Hey, little buddy. How are you feeling?"

His question took me aback, until I remembered the breakdown I had not long before losing consciousness. My heart sank at the recollection, as I chastised myself for making my best friend worry about my state and console me, even though he was still in the process of grieving his trainer. Riddled by shame and guilt, I spoke weakly, my voice muffled by Rikiya's neck:

“Tired…How long was I asleep?"

“Only a few hours. We're still in the bedroom, by the way."

That he had willingly kept me in the grasp of his arms for hours sounded unbelievable. I asked for him to confirm what I had just inferred:

“You…You kept me in your arms for several hours…?"

“Yup! You looked like you really needed a hug, so I figured I should wait until you asked to stop!" He quipped in a cheerful tone, then kept going, his voice turning uneasy. “Wait, did you not want it? Should I put you on the bed instead so you can rest?"

“NO!!"

Along with my desperate cry, I squeezed the Dragonite's big body to the hardest extent I could, leading him to let out a small gasp of surprise. The very idea that I might leave my current physical position was unbearable. Even if it sounded egoistical, right now, I needed to feel his kind embrace. I yearned for it. It was the only constant I had at this moment, the only familiar thing I knew now that my life had been turned upside down. Rikiya's voice manifested once more, a tinge of confusion laced around it:

“You…You don't want to lie on the bed?"

I shook my head sideways against the front of his neck, the brisk movement emphasizing my apprehension of the prospect. He doubled down with another similar question, his voice now steadier:

“You…want to stay like this for a bit longer?"

This time, I nodded vigorously, muttering a meek “Please?" to confirm my wishes. The big Pokémon paused for a moment, before his arms narrowed their hold around my body:

“Hehe…Alright, little buddy. You can stay in my arms as long as you want."

My body loosened up instantly, now that I had the guarantee that my tacit plea had been heard, and so I leaned more into his warm front scales, attempting to nuzzle his wide neck. He cooed in response, his dull claws gently scratching at my back, his other paw still firmly supporting my rear. We both stayed motionless for a while, just basking in each other's touch, the ethereal stillness of the bedroom blessing us with a tranquility much appreciated, that helped quell down the negative emotions boiling inside my chest.

I took the opportunity to do my best at ignoring them, just focusing on Rikiya's steady breathing, his chest slightly expanding and contracting in a regular rhythm, moving me back and forth in a lulling fashion. The now familiar scent of berry shampoo reached my nostrils, contributing to the sense of normalcy and relative ease that I had been silently requesting. Perhaps one would see it as running away, as trying to cowardly avoid a necessary confrontation with my inner feelings, but I feared sinking back into another episode of depression right after waking up. As I did my best to commit to my vow and relax in the confines of Rikiya's limbs, the kind Dragonite addressed me once again:

“Hey, buddy…I'm sure you're thinking about a lot of stuff right now, and you're free to decline, but…if you'd like a distraction, we could go into the living room and watch some TV? Or listen, in your case?"

A surprised look dawned on my face, although the cuddly Pokémon wouldn't be able to notice it. From the past few days, I had gathered that Rikiya was more perceptive than I originally surmised, but learning that he was aware of my current wish still caught me off guard. To be honest, anything felt worth trying in that regard, and he made a distinction that implied I wouldn't change positions. I nodded against his wide neck, answering in a muffled voice to check that I understood his intentions:

“Sure…As long as I can stay like this, I don't mind…"

“Of course. Let's go, then!"

Following my approval, the Dragonite slowly stood up, and I felt the resulting upwards movement down to the tiniest of my bones, followed by a prolonged backwards one, as he walked away from the bedroom, still carrying me in his arms, his footsteps loud and firm. I further marveled at the extent of his physical strength, as he seemed to have no trouble keeping me in his hold, and squeezed even further as a roundabout way to give him my thanks, chuffed to sense his paws squeeze me back immediately.

As we entered the living room, he moved over to the widescreen TV and pushed around some buttons to turn it on, then sat on one of the beanbags near the modern table, one of his paws supporting me all the while. As he made himself comfortable while the audio of some quiz show was being broadcast, we both let out a pleasured sigh at the same time.

Taken aback at our one-off osmosis, we stopped midway, sharing a lighthearted chuckle at the unlikely event. Somehow, this whole situation felt nice, even reinvigorating to some extent. They might feel less delicate, but Rikiya's orange scales were neither too rough nor too slippery and remained plenty comfortable, allowing my fingers to gently probe around on the back of his neck without any inconvenience manifesting at my hazardous touch. The Dragonite let out another chuckle, his voice adopting a slight teasing tone:

“Hehe…You really like it when I'm carrying you in my arms, don't you?"

I nodded, a tinge of embarrassment reddening my face:

“Yeah…It's strange, but until I met you, I always felt stressed about something, like I was at perpetual risk. I could never truly be at ease. But somehow, when I'm in your arms…I feel safe. Secure. I just…have the inkling that nothing or nobody can hurt me anymore. That I can just…simply forget all my worries and enjoy the present time…and enjoy your company. Especially here…I'm in the middle of the ocean, hidden from sight by a strange mist barrier, inside a secret base deep in the mountains, in the protective arms of a big, strong and kind Dragon Pokémon. Try as I may, but there's no better place to feel at ease. Sorry, I…I suppose that sounds extremely awkward…"

He surreptitiously closed up his embrace:

“Not at all. To be honest, I'm the same. I like carrying you in my arms too."

“You do…?"

“Yup! You know, until I met you, back when…Back when I still waited for my trainer, there…there was some kind of emptiness in my chest. Like a gaping void that just remained there, no matter what I attempted to fill it up. The more I think about it, the more I feel like it's regret because I couldn't accompany Hiroshi back then. As if I had failed to…to protect him. The more his absence lasted, the more that emptiness just wouldn't go away."

The passing mention of his trainer quickly tanked my current good mood, the underlying guilt I had managed to bury down my innermost recesses emerging again. Oblivious to my mood shift for now, the Dragonite kept going, his tone perking up:

“But now, each time I end up hugging you, or carrying you, that emptiness immediately disappears. I feel whole. Complete. Like I have something else worth protecting now. I have the inkling that when you're in my arms, I can make sure that you're going to be okay. That you're physically out of harm's way. Whether it's when we sleep, or when we talk like we're doing now…I feel at peace because my little buddy is right there, under my chin, close to me and far away from all those issues that tormented him for so long. And now, I…I know the feeling's mutual, and it makes me even happier."

Despite my best efforts and him shifting the topic, the guilt that gnawed at my heart remained, stronger than ever since I woke up. As if that wasn't enough, my restless mind chose that moment to begin acknowledging what I ranted about before my unexpected loss of consciousness.

Most of all, the frustration at having failed. At the impression of giving up what I'd strived for all these years. It hurt to admit that, deep down, they all were right. My parents, and my coworkers. I just proved to them I was a failure. Even though all the right cards were handed to me, I couldn't make a living, and needed to be helped by two Pokémon who may as well have been strangers, one of them still consoling me as I reflected, for a reason that, despite everything, I couldn't entirely comprehend.

Regardless, I no longer had a job, my career aspirations were truly and fully dead in the water, and I didn't know what I would do with my life from now on. This grim reality of mine had no way to be avoided.

Thankfully, my exhaustion helped rein in my emotional state and prevent a repeat of what happened a few hours ago; thus, no sobs came out yet. Determined to make amends, I spoke up:

“I-I'm sorry, Rikiya…"

He queried back, surprise coating his voice:

“What do you mean? What are you sorry for, buddy?"

“I…You should have so much going on in your mind, and yet…Here we are, focusing only on my situation…I promised myself that I would endure the blowback, that I wouldn't worry you for nothing right after we'd be done, and yet I wasn't able to maintain my composure…And right now, I'm the one who's being comforted, even though you probably need it more…"

The Dragon-type remained silent, so I took it as my cue to keep going, my voice now shaking and my eyes moist with tears:

“I just…I don't get why you would go so far for my sake. You told me yesterday that I was your best friend, I know that. But I…I'm nobody important. I'm a good-for-nothing who messed up the one thing he prepared for his whole life, a failure who couldn't even do his own job. Even if you mixed me up with your trainer at the start, you have no reason to look after me now. And despite that, you offered me a way out. You listened to my problems, and you even paid my financial debt for me. I just…I just feel that I don't deserve your kindness or your friendship, Rikiya…So why…?"

No sounds came out of his maw. The living room was entirely silent, bar the unfittingly playful TV program airing in the background, and my intermittent sobs. The more time passed, the more anxious I turned, the answer to my desperate question still a complete mystery. Then, the Dragonite's voice made itself heard, slightly hesitating:

“Well, it's…It's because I…"

His sentence remained unfinished, and I felt Rikiya's left arm recede a bit from my shoulders, pulling me further back with it, my grip on his neck also weakening in the process until only the tips of my fingers made contact with it. Before long, I found myself still in the big Pokémon's careful hold, but facing upward, his round eyes and maw directly in front of mine.

Before I could react, though, something occurred I could have never fathomed; Rikiya's tongue came out of its maw and swiped my cheek, swiftly yet gently, before retracting inside. A few seconds were required on my end to process the unusual event, before I managed to put words on it.

He just gave me a lick.

I stood there, speechless, at the Dragonite's daring act, as he resumed:

“I…I care about you, little buddy…A lot…Even…even more than a friend."

I had seen other Pokémon lick their trainers a few times before, and if my hunch was right, that was…that was the equivalent of a kiss. A sign of great, unbound affection, an undeniable proof that the Pokémon had forged a deep bond with their trainer. I reminisced about what happened the night before yesterday, when a very similar sensation coursed through the top of my head, and it confirmed that this wasn't a half-hearted gesture. He meant it. He was serious. Before I could pipe up, though, Rikiya elaborated, looking directly at me:

“You don't have to feel ashamed needing help. I'll never blame you for that. Of course, I'm still grieving the loss of my trainer, and it hurts, but…I'm not taking it as bad as it seems. In a way, it's almost like…like I had already been grieving before you broke the news to me. Now, I…I feel like I just have to let time do its thing, so that my wound can heal naturally. So that I can move on gradually. And you're already helping me with that. Just your presence alone helps me alleviate my sorrow."

He marked a pause, apparently searching for his words, then kept going:

“Still, that doesn't mean you have to apologize, suffer alone or hold back in the meantime. And…it hurts when you say that you're a failure, or a good-for-nothing. I don't think you are any of these, little buddy. You shouldn't sell yourself short just because you had no choice but to quit your job, and the city you were living in up to now."

I interjected, not convinced by his arguments:

“But…They were right, Rikiya…I didn't manage to keep up with my coworkers, or to pay my rent by myself…And now, I don't know what I'm going to do with my life…"

He didn't relent, and after giving me another lick on the forehead, he retorted back, his eyes surprisingly fierce:

“Let them talk. Their mean words can't reach you anymore. If your former coworkers can't see past their preconceived ideas, can't see you for who you are, it's their loss. I know that at the very least, you're a strong, kind, intelligent, and thoughtful person. I have faith that you'll be able to find another goal. It's okay if it doesn't happen right now. Nobody says you have to hurry for that. But whatever happens, I'll be there to root for you and support you along the way."

Somehow, the passion that he displayed in trying to cheer me up slowly chipped away at the self-deprecating thoughts that had been gnawing at my mind. Still, I couldn't get why the Pokémon would direct all those encouraging words to me, and resolved to ask him the reason hidden behind them:

“But…I'm not special. What…What did I do to deserve your support and affection…?"

“You're doing it right now, little buddy. It doesn't seem much to you, but it's…it's almost priceless to us Pokémon. You're treating us like equals."

Astonishment suddenly covered my face at his statement:

“What…What do you mean…?"

“Whether it's Kouji, the shiny Aron, or me…You never see us as below or above you. You're not belittling the Aron because of his size, or seeing him as special because of his shininess, you're not thinking about how you could exploit Kouji's or my special abilities, and you're always talking to me like I'm on your level. You've been treating us like independent creatures, with the same amount of politeness and respect humans show to each other. Most trainers only see us as pets, or glorified companions, and sure, that's entirely fine in itself sometimes. Still…It's always better with a human who just puts us on an equal footing. Your coworkers mocked and belittled you just because you struggled at your job, but would never be able to treat us like you do. So in my eyes, you're better than them."

I stared back at him, his eyes friendly yet inhabited by a strange determination. My sobs quieted just as I was dwelling on his latest words, before his eyes mellowed and he spoke again:

“In those two days, I've come to learn about you and appreciate you, buddy. Appreciate who you really are. And I don't want to see you struggle, or feel down. So, don't apologize for asking for comfort. You can rely on me…You can confide in me...I'll never blame you for that. Please?"

My lips quivered. I knew he was being forthright. I knew I had nothing to be afraid of anymore. Yet, to my fatigued spirit, it still sounded like a fantasy. I needed to make sure. Entirely, undoubtedly sure, that it was okay. Nobody before had ever told me that I was allowed to show moments of weakness. Nobody had ever consoled me like he's been doing since I broke down. I looked back at him, pleading and insecure, and dared ask the fateful question:

“Rikiya…You…You really mean it…?"

He showed me a reassuring smile, nodding as confirmation:

“Of course I do. Now, let's dry those big tears, okay?"

A few seconds passed, before I let out a genuine smile and nodded back. And, following his word, he gave a few more licks right below my eye sockets, his massive tongue nimble enough to come in contact with only the damp area and effectively removing the salty traces in the most considerate way I could ever imagine. The more he licked, the more the feelings of shame and regret were thoroughly subdued and slowly removed from the confines of my heart. He gave me a final lick on the other cheek, then pulled me back into his full embrace, my head relocated to its assigned spot below his jaw.

Ever since yesterday, I knew I could trust him, but after this…I knew I could also rely on him for anything. Even regarding small, insignificant things, he would lend me an ear and listen. Now, I had been made fully aware of what the Dragonite requested. I had nothing to fear. I didn't have to worry about bothering him. Trying to spare him would just end up worrying him and bothering him further. In return, I pledged to myself that I'd help him around, however I could. Whether it was by giving a hand with the chores, or by listening to him when he'd want to talk about something, or simply by spending time with him doing what would feel right in the moment.

I felt his tongue brush the back of my head repeatedly in a gesture of pure tenderness, prompting me to nuzzle the front of his neck as my arms found their rightful place around it. His words of comfort, his delicate gestures, both had managed to rid me of my woes, overwhelming me with new emotions; all of a sudden, this desire to thank him manifested, a rogue pulsion coursing through my veins and pushing me to show Rikiya how much I wanted to thank him, whatever the method.

Before I was fully aware of my own actions, I planted a small kiss full of gratitude on the Dragonite's neck, right between two of the numerous ridges adorning his beige underbelly. Somehow, a kiss felt the most appropriate gesture after all the gentle licks he had given me so far. One could say that he was a Pokémon, and I, a human. That we were both males and, therefore, it was inappropriate. Yet, I couldn't care less now. It was only us, in the intimacy of his and his trainer's secret base. Nobody was in any capacity to judge me for returning back the affection I had received.

“Thanks, Rikiya. For what it's worth, I…I care about you too. More than anybody else I know."

“Awww, my little buddy…"

He affectionately tightened his embrace, his tongue still brushing my hair in slow strokes, while I simply tightened mine in return. Once more, we both remained still, nothing more to be said between us, lulled by the background noise of the upbeat TV program combined to our breathings, our feelings now shared to each other. This heart-to-heart and the confirmation that I had an irreplaceable friend right there, right next to me, had finally gotten the better of my long-time defeatism, and deep down, I knew I wouldn't trade these hugs for anything in the world. Right then and there, I knew I had made the correct decision in uplifting my previous life, and felt now truly ready to move on.

---

Although I wished this moment to last for hours, a mere few minutes went by before it was abruptly interrupted by a sudden, meek gurgling noise, at the very same time I sensed my stomach move around. As I blushed from embarrassment, Rikiya's caring voice manifested on the spot:

“Are you hungry, buddy?"

I replied back, aiming to ease his concerns:

“A little bit, I guess…But I don't mind waiting until you're hungry too, Rikiya…"

“To be honest, I'm a bit hungry too. Should I go to the kitchen and make us something quick?"

“...Sure. What do you have in store this time?"

The Dragonite eluded my question, choosing to remain enigmatic:

“Hehe…It's a surprise, buddy. Nothing fancy, but I think you'll like it."

I felt him stand once again, his arms still cradling my body while he moved towards the TV to shut it down manually with his right paw, his left one unmoving behind my back. It then retreated once again under my rear, before he turned around and led us both to the kitchen. The movement of his limb prompted me to realize that he would most likely have trouble cooking while keeping his paws full with me. Yet, for a reason that eluded me, he hadn't made any move to pull us apart yet. I opted to bring up the matter first, as we crossed the threshold of the fancy kitchen room:

“Rikiya…Are you going to be okay cooking like this…?"

Surprisingly, the big Dragonite's answer turned out affirmative:

“Yup! There is a quick snack I can cook with only one arm, and I'm going to make it right now!"

That last statement sounded quite intriguing, and I couldn't wait to see what kind of mysterious delicacy he was about to deliver while maintaining such a cumbersome stance. Nonetheless, I felt a tinge of regret about having him balance me around while he'd manipulate the ingredients, instead of helping him around. Plus, to be completely honest, I wanted to learn one or two of his recipes. That latter desire born not out of guilt, but out of genuine interest, since his cooking was absolutely stellar.

We stopped somewhere in the kitchen, and I felt him remove the paw behind my shoulders to then hear the sound of a cabinet drawer being opened above us, Rikiya seemingly retrieving a few items before closing it back, putting them down the working plan and moving toward what I estimated to be the fridge. Opening the large appliance, he did the same, this time switching his support paw for the one on my back and holding me tight, before slightly bending forward and retrieving what I assumed to be some ingredients. His large paw covered a major part of my spine, and together with the soft warmth of his body heat, they shielded me from the cold exhale biting at the air, inches behind my current location. As he was done picking what he needed and closed the door, I questioned him, wishing to make sure that he was really fine with the current state of things:

“Rikiya, are you really sure you don't want to put me down while you cook?"

He simply rearranged his paws around my body, reverting them to their initial position:

“It's fine, buddy. Plus, I told you to rely on me, right? I want to cook something nice for you, as a way to celebrate your new start in life. You're the guest of honor today, so just stay here and relax, it won't take long." He replied reassuringly.

“Okay…Still, I want to help you next time. And learn about some of your recipes, because you're a really good cook." I mumbled back inside his neck, my face burning at his nice words and my appreciation for the large Pokémon overflowing.

“Why, thank you, buddy! The satisfaction of our esteemed customers is our pride and joy here at Rikiya's Restaurant!"

I let out a chuckle at the return of his chef imitation, something that he hadn't entertained in what felt like a tremendous amount of time now, despite being only two days at most. Playing along, I retorted back:

“This is very reassuring! By the way, could I ask head chef Rikiya a question?"

The Dragonite hugged me a bit tighter, perhaps in response to my smoother reaction than last time, and bounced back, still moving his free paw around:

“Of course! What does my esteemed customer wish to enquire about?"

I then heard a peculiar slashing noise behind me, but paid it no mind, and simply focused on my current exchange:

“Well, I was reading a very interesting book yesterday, and it came to my attention that Dragon-type Pokémon have a weakness to the Ice type. I was simply wondering if that also applied to the cold in general, and if so, whether it wasn't harmful for you to have stayed so close to the fridge a few seconds ago. I would not want my favorite chef to be harmed in the execution of his hobby."

My sly praise hit its mark, as he cooed and gave my hair a swift lick:

“Aww, my favorite customer needs not to worry! I have been trained to resist the coldest of temperatures. The slight breeze of a small fridge will not impede on my well-being anytime soon!"

“Alright…That's good, then."

Satisfied with the answer I received, I simply closed my eyes, Rikiya's paw bouncing once to stabilize his grip on my body. After a few moments, he quipped up:

“If you have no other questions, I'm going to proceed to the final step. Now, little buddy, since you're currently being held in my arm, this will be more delicate than usual, but I can still make it work. To that end, I want you to lean your head further into my body and not move at all until I tell you. Can you do that for me?"

His request was extremely specific, probing at my curiosity even more than before. Still, I complied, nodding against his neck to acknowledge it, and simply made myself more comfortable, my head now fully inside the crook under his jaw, while I focused on the smooth sensation of his beige underbelly making full contact with my face.

Nothing happened at first, but then a muffled, prolonged sound came from right above my head, together with a peculiar sensation from Rikiya's body. Even though it was usually warm, this time a rising heat seemed to manifest, traveling up from below and heating the front side of his body, providing an even higher comfort than earlier. I wanted to question him on the spot, but changed my mind, electing to wait at least until his signal to understand what this was about.

For a small moment, the noise got cut short, only to resume a second after. I diligently stayed where I was supposed to, simply enjoying my friend's embrace, a content sigh escaping my lips. For some reason, staying right where I was, nestled against the Dragonite's big, warm body, while he was currently cooking a tasty meal for both of us, all of it made my heart settle down considerably, a veil of bliss and tranquility falling over it.

A quick focus on Rikiya's chest let me hear his own heartbeat, perfectly regular and strong, its vibrations rippling through my own body thanks to our physical contact, and I almost let myself fall back to sleep with its lulling tune. After a while, everything fell silent. Focusing my hearing on my surroundings, I managed to faintly detect a crispy-like sound behind me, but before I could enquire about its origin, Rikiya addressed me again:

“There, little buddy, it's done! Take a look at your left!"

Following his suggestion, I turned my head on the side and looked at the Dragonite's paw. To my biggest surprise, he had picked a skewer full of slightly roasted Berry chunks, all cut perfectly at the same size. The whole thing smelled divine, that my mouth was on the verge of salivating on its own once again.

“It's a Berry Brochette! I put all kinds of berries on a skewer and roasted them a bit! It's super easy to make! Here, take it!"

I removed my hands and picked up the so-called brochette on each end, the smell growing stronger as it approached my nostrils, careful to not smear the food against Rikiya's body. Blowing over the chunks to lower the temperature, I bit on what I had recognized as a Leppa Berry, a familiar fruit I had always fancied since I was a kid. The bittersweet taste, almost caramelized, immediately flowed inside my mouth and teased at my taste buds, forcing a delighted moan out of me. I quickly switched over to a chunk of Wepear, overwhelmed by the simple yet amazing taste of the ingredients. My gaze full of emboldened admiration, I raised my head at Rikiya, who had picked another brochette for himself and was slowly munching away:

“Oh my lord, it tastes amazing, Rikiya! I can't believe you managed to bake this with one hand!"

He looked down, a gleeful smile of pride adorning his maw:

“Thanks, buddy! I told you that I'd manage just fine!"

“Still, I'm curious! How did you make this so fast? I heard some noises I'd never heard in my life when you were cooking, what were those?"

“Right, you've never been in the kitchen when I was cooking, right? Then I'll tell you, buddy! I simply used some Pokémon moves!"

I threw him a puzzled look, swallowing a chunk of Mago:

“Pokémon…moves?"

“Yup! You might not know this yet, but depending on their species, Pokémon are all able to use a lot of different moves! Usually, we use them during Pokémon battles, but a lot of moves can be used for everyday stuff too!"

I raised an eyebrow at this, slightly incredulous that actions tailored to normally hit and hurt an opponent could hold a completely different use case such as cooking a meal:

“That sounds…terribly convenient, but I struggle to believe that you could use moves designed for battling so that you could cook, Rikiya. How does it work?"

The Pokémon smiled again at me, elaborating:

“Well, I don't use them to the same extent! I use an extremely dumbed down version of my moves which is mostly harmless! If I used them at full power, most of the kitchen would be destroyed, after all!"

“Wait, so you can control their power?"

“You got it, buddy! Every Pokémon who really masters a move can reduce its power if they so desire!"

My curiosity was now manifesting in full force, and I wished to learn more about this. I figured that all this information about Pokémon moves were recorded properly in the basics book, but hearing it directly from Rikiya made it even more captivating. Surrendering to my thirst for knowledge, I made a hesitant request to the Dragonite:

“Rikiya, can you…uh…tell me what moves you used this time? And…show me, if that's possible?"

He displayed a wide smile, his expression overjoyed:

“Of course, little buddy! Just let me put this down for a second…There. For my first move, you'll need to look at my paw, okay?"

His paw departed from the berry-filled skewer, before retreating back in front of my eyes. As I looked at his claws, which first looked white and dulled, they quickly morphed into longer, pointier versions of themselves, a bluish hue covering their shape. I let out a gasp of surprise, while the Dragon Pokémon elaborated on this otherworldly phenomenon:

“This is a move called Dragon Claw! I used it to slice the berries into even-sized chunks, so that they'd be easier to grill!"

The longer claws receded in a flash, leaving me in awe at the magical display of skill, and slightly intimidated that this probably wasn't the full length his claws could extend.

“Now for the second move, you'll have to look up and watch my maw."

I complied, my sight focusing on the round maw under which my head had been nestled all this time. Rikiya lifted his chin, his maw now facing upwards, away from me, when suddenly, a familiar glow coursed through his underbelly, warming my own torso gradually. Immediately after, a small, thin jet of bright orange flames came out, its trajectory linear and perfectly controlled, stopping at about thirty centimeters.

I spectated, eyes wide and mouth agape, my brain connecting the dots on the reason he wanted me to stay still, as well as the cause of that pleasant sensation that manifested while he was preparing the ingredients. The flames then went suddenly extinct, Rikiya exhaling a small puff of smoke before looking down at me again, a reassuring expression on his face:

“Now, that was a move called “Flamethrower"! As I told you, what I just did was a smaller-scale execution of the move. Normally, it'd have a way longer range, but thanks to the control I have on it, I can use it as a way to grill the berries! By pivoting the skewer around, I can let the flames cook the chunks uniformly! What do you think? It's pretty convenient, right?"

I struggled to memorize all that new knowledge, while Rikiya picked back his own brochette and resumed its consumption, as if this was but a mundane thing for him. It might as well be, given that he showed me how he was literally making his own meals like this.

Frankly, that wasn't like anything I had expected. Even in their substandard state, those moves clearly looked like they'd be dangerous if misused. Although I had complete faith in Rikiya's skill, as he so demonstrated, I couldn't help but reminisce about the things my family used to vehemently holler about Pokémon; that they were “dangerous", “harbingers of pain and suffering", or many other choice words, and I couldn't help but wonder if Pokémon moves were the reason why the war from a century ago had had so many casualties, as well as why our family had distanced themselves from them.

Nonetheless, those thoughts immediately got pushed aside, as the current me could only see them as proof of my family's self-inflicted ignorance about the topic. They clearly had never met Rikiya nor been exposed to his kindness, and by now, I was entirely positive that he would never ever harm me, much less with such moves. Plus, I didn't doubt that many other Pokémon, who were just as kind and thoughtful as him, dwelled all around the world and would never think about harming humans, much less act on it. Generalizing such a flat statement to an entire group of living creatures sounded like nothing more than the product of people averse to broadening their horizons.

Despite the truth that some degree of danger from being exposed to Pokémon moves still remained, it didn't change the fact that these kinds of conversations greatly stimulated my curiosity. Conversations about Pokémon species, Pokémon habits, Pokémon moves, and so on…overall, things that belonged to the seemingly endless world of Pokémon training. All of those pumped my heart with renewed vigor, as it really felt like the more I learned, the more there was to learn. Looking back to my previous self, who just manifested indifference, I couldn't help but reel back inside, a tickling need to chastise him for never daring to take the leap.

My mind then returned to the two moves Rikiya had carefully executed in front of me, I lingered on the first move's name, a strange inference developing in my mind, which I couldn't help but share with the Dragonite:

“Say, Rikiya…Your 'Dragon Claw' move, does it have the Dragon type like you?"

He looked down surprised, swallowing his current bite with haste before he could reply:

“Y-Yes, it does! Moves share the same range of types as Pokémon themselves! But how did you guess?"

“J-Just a hunch, I guess. I mean, it's called 'Dragon Claw', so I figured that might've been the case." I retorted meekly, following with another question. “Then, is Flamethrower a...Fire type move?"

“Exactly!" He recovered on the spot, his maw depicting a smile full of pride. “You're catching on quick, buddy!"

“T-Thanks." I awkwardly stammered, munching on the last, slightly bitter chunk of Wepear left on the brochette, before reminiscing his question. “In any case, that's definitely impressive. I feel a bit stupid for asking you the recipe now."

Finishing his own meal, he put down his skewer, then his other paw found my back once again. Then, he lowered his head to give a small, comforting lick on the top of my skull:

“Don't be. You offering to help me in the kitchen makes me extremely happy. I'd like nothing more than to bake something together. Although, I have to ask…Would you want more variety in your meals? I usually eat Berry-based menus, but I can try to make stuff with Pokémon meat if you want…"

I stretched my own arm behind me to carefully put down the empty, but pointy skewer on the counter, then wrapped it back around Rikiya's wide neck and brought my head under his chin, shaking it sideways:

“It's okay, you don't have to force yourself. It's true that I eat meat sometimes, but your current stuff is already amazing, you know."

“You're really sure? You can ask anytime, little buddy, it's no biggie! I'll always make sure you never lack anything while you stay here, okay?"

Something about that comment pulled at my heartstrings, another, stronger blush rushing through my face. I didn't know why, or how, but Rikiya's earlier comment about caring about me more than a friend, added to all of the nice, thoughtful things he's been doing for me these past two days, brought forth a change to my own view of the big and cuddly Dragon type. Despite all my efforts, all the restraint I could muster…Something had changed in me.

The way he licked my cheek and face earlier, as if it took everything in him to muster the courage…the way he casually proclaimed that he'd make sure I was happy and well cared for, like it was the most natural thing in the world, shattered something inside me; Another shield, another layer of uncertainties I had about my relationship with the Dragonite. I squeezed him even tighter, aiming to return those feelings of affection tenfold. To show how impactful his very existence had been to mine. Those words he had pronounced, that I had answered back, resonated even louder in my heart.

I care about you. More than anything. More than a friend. More than a best friend. Yet, I can't bring myself to crystallize those feelings for good. To go further. For I am still afraid, deep down, that I end up wrong. That you won't go as far as I am willing to. Or that, even if you did, you'd end up scorned by the rest of the world, just because of a selfish action of mine.

“Buddy?"

I'd taken too long to answer. He sounded worried, and my grip tightened, an irrational fear lingering that some dreadful day would come when I'd be prevented from hugging him anymore. And, as if to add more fuel to the fire, like an ultimate provocation to my own worries, my loins stirred again. By some miracle, or perhaps due to the emotional baggage we've been carrying since yesterday, they had remained, hidden, unobtrusive, until now, as the suspension came to an end. I didn't have the convenient excuse of the mist barrier anymore, and my inner self began to freak out when I realized that my legs being stretched around his chest only exacerbated the embarrassing feeling.

I felt trapped, not ready to relinquish Rikiya's hold yet, and at the same time fearful of him noticing my arousal, praying with all my devotion that the Dragonite wouldn't notice one way or another and get creeped out. But he addressed me again, panic in his voice, his maw brushing against my hair while my own heart beat furiously:

“Buddy? Are you okay? W-Was it something in the meal?"

“Y-Yeah, I'm fine." I stammered, deciding to pretend that nothing was wrong, the stupid appendage still growing to my utmost irritation. “I just…felt emotional for a moment. The meal was delicious! Thanks as always, Rikiya."

“Oh, that's a relief then!" He squeezed in return, before moving back toward the living room, seemingly oblivious to my real predicament. He stopped at the threshold between the kitchen and the main room, his voice perky once more:

“What would you like to do now, buddy? We could sit back in front of the TV, or do something else, or just chill together. Your choice!"

As I started to feel self-conscious about my arousal, the stray thought of a cold shower probbed at my mind. Not to mention, I hadn't taken one after moving around the city, and probably smelled of perspiration all this time, leading me to feel guilty about Rikiya carrying me around in this state. It quickly morphed into a perfect escape window, and I spoke out my will, pulling back my head from under his chin:

“Could…Could I go take a shower for a moment, Rikiya? I'm starting to feel dirty now, especially since I've been walking around since morning and cried earlier."

“Oh…" He replied, a hint of sadness in his voice to my utmost surprise. “Are you sure you want to do it right now, buddy? You know you can stay in my arms as long as you like, right?"

“I…I know, Rikiya. I'll…I'll come back as soon as I'm clean, okay? I won't take long."

It took all of my mental strength to appear calm from the outside, even though the item inside my jeans was almost reaching full mast. My right hand found the nape of his neck and stroked it reassuringly, figuring that he was reluctant to let go just as much as I was and aiming to delay our separation. He let out a disarmingly cute whimper, but finally relented, grabbed me under my armpits and slowly brought me down on the ground, to my greatest relief. As my feet finally made contact with the flat, hard floor and he straightened back up, he suddenly exclaimed:

“Oh, I know! Instead of a shower, how about a bath?"

“A bath? You mean, in the big bathtub in the bathroom?"

“Yeah! I could get it ready, and we could bathe together! What do you think, little buddy? I mean, if that's okay with you…"

At first, my consciousness told me to decline, and just commit to a shower alone. But the more I thought about it, the more I felt tempted to accept. This would be a perfect opportunity to converse with the Dragonite about intimate things, among which the new feelings that had been plaguing me for a while now. At the very least, he just gave the confirmation that he wasn't bothered by me being bare around him; as little of a trifle as it may be, that comforted me in my approach.

“Sure, that sounds nice!" I briskly nodded, which in turn made him beam even brighter. “I just need to take a change of clothes. I'll be right back, okay?"

“Yeah! I'll wait for you in the bathroom!"

Following his own words, he immediately left, his loud yet light steps a blatant testament of his joyful mood. I let out a stifled laugh, my heart feeling lighter about the ordeal. So far, he never demeaned me or denied my feelings. Even back on the cliff, when he had been blunter, he still tried to approach my situation with a positive and open-minded attitude. His words from earlier rung in my mind once again: I can rely on him. I can confide in him.

With a newfound resolve, I walked back to the bedroom and surveyed the closet, retrieving the light pajamas I had placed there a mere few hours ago as well as a pair of slippers laying around. With everything gathered in my hands, I trod back to the bathroom. The echoing sound of running water permeated the walls, a faint mist having formed from the ambient heat. Strangely enough, Rikiya was nowhere in sight, prompting me to call out:

“Rikiya? Where are you?"

“I'm in the bathtub! It's almost filled up!"

I tried looking past the tall bathtub, but to no avail, its walls rising even higher than myself. Putting the fresh clothes on a stool near the washbasins, I removed my current garments and deposited them in the dirty laundry basket, then headed for the ladder, a peculiar excitement coursing through my veins.

Once at the top, I glanced around, taking in the large expanse of hot water gracing my eyes, a berry-like scent wafting through, similar to the one usually surrounding Rikiya; it hadn't registered at first, but this bathtub was as wide as a large garden pool, and even more inviting due to the fact that it was made of marble. I noticed an unknown Pokémon head at my left, carved in the same marble, from which a steady flow of water poured out. At first, it looked a bit too fancy from what I had gathered about Rikiya's tastes, but then I recalled him mentioning that it was a gift from Kouji, who probably settled for that because marble was one of the more solid materials out there, and thus could easily support the Dragonite's own weight.

Feeling the chill of the bathroom get to my naked body, I quickly crossed the threshold, hiding my own manhood from view, then dipped the tip of my foot in the hot water with extreme caution. The sudden change in temperature made me wince, as I let it soak for a while, getting used to the heat. Once the unpleasant sensation passed, I sank further, gradually immersing a leg, then another, then my upper body, groaning as the water slowly enclosed its grip around my bare skin.

Before long, my whole body was now under the water, hidden from view, at the exception of my head. I turned around, and my eyes met Rikiya's; the Dragonite was sitting right on the other side of the bath, waiting patiently, his large wings folded behind and partly submerged, the water now reaching his shoulders. His eyes twinkled, and he smiled happily, bringing out a smile of my own. He moved over to the head and turned some kind of control knob at the side, stopping the flow of water, then went back to his original position, his big arms now open in a heartwarming welcome gesture.

“Come here, buddy."

Once again, the sight of his handsome face coupled to his overall solicitude made my heart thump, and I felt my loins stir anew, a red hue rushing through my face. I quickly waded across with a few flutter kicks, then stopped short of his front. He wrapped his arms around my waist as I turned around, laying back against his soft underbelly and under his chin, relieved that my crotch was now facing the opposite side of his body. I let out a relaxed sigh as the wonders of the bath began to work their magic, alleviating my physical and mental fatigue; looking up directly above my head, I noticed Rikiya's maw showing an upside down smile, as he eyed me tenderly, giving a swift lick on my forehead:

“How's the water? It's not too hot?" He whispered.

I brought my arm over his paws, securing them around my waist like a makeshift belt, and replied happily:

“It's perfect. That was a genius idea, Rikiya. This feels awesome."

“Yeah…I agree. This is perfect."

The Dragonite gave a gentle squeeze, bringing my body further in his embrace. Although his paws almost dwarfed my waist, they had stayed still, mere inches away from my groin. That certitude helped me calm down and relax in the hold of my Pokémon crush, my eyes closing slowly, taking in the soothing atmosphere. The barely audible noise of rippling water resonated around the bathroom, adding to the serenity of it all.

It may have been nothing more than a hunch earlier, but being in the moment confirmed it: this felt like the perfect situation to open my heart to the Dragonite. I wanted to clear away those remaining doubts, the hesitations that still haunted my heart, and there was no better occasion than right here and now.

To be fair, it all sounded surreal. Putting things back into perspective, I was about to confess my feelings to, not a human, but a Pokémon. A big, Dragon-type Pokémon almost twice my size, who I only met the day before yesterday. And yet, nothing felt more straightforward at this moment. He had offered his assistance in more ways than one, beyond common measure.

Reflecting upon it, there was no mystery to why I had taken such a liking to him, despite my initial apprehension. My first experience inside the mist barrier came to mind, back when I had gotten aroused on the spot, and I realized that it had been bringing forth the core of my deepest feelings; feelings that had already been there when I accepted to fly in his arms, feelings as small and frail as a sprout at the time. Already, something deeper than simple friendship was at work, and the more hours I spent with Rikiya, the faster it matured, at last reaching a shape impossible to hide in an adequate fashion.

But as much as I wanted to tell him, I couldn't immediately jump to the main point. I needed to confirm first whether the very thought of it was appropriate…Whether this kind of occurrence had happened in the past, at the very least between a trainer and their Pokémon. Not to mention, whether Rikiya was, like me, attracted to males. There was a chance that he could answer this question for me, and depending on the answer…I could either commit to my initial decision, or try to work around those feelings, my only solace that he wouldn't judge me no matter the outcome.

I took up his right paw in my hands and looked at his blunt claws, which I now noticed that despite all the time spent in contact with my body, they had never harmed it once, even by accident. My left hand enveloped the tip of his paw, intertwining with the dull claws as I delicately closed my grasp around it, taking a deep breath to give myself courage.

“What are you doing, buddy?" He asked with a curious tone, clenching his left paw around my waist.

“I'm…pondering." I replied, still fiddling around with his other big paw. He had released all tension in the thick orange limb, effectively giving me a free pass to touch around and examine it as much as I so wished.

“Pondering? About what?"

“About…you, and me, I guess. Or people and Pokémon, in general. The more I spend time with you, and the more I get curious about how humans and Pokémon live and communicate together. I've never had this experience so far, except for a…'Sunburn'? 'Southern'? What was its name again?"

“Could it be a 'Sunkern'?" He corrected me, and I snapped my fingers in realization.

“Yes, that was the name! Except for the Sunkern my class used to keep as a pet back when I was a kid. And even then, it wasn't an everyday experience. It's sinking in more and more that I'm going to live with you here everyday, and while that thrills me a lot, I…I'm a bit scared of making mistakes. Should I treat you like I'd treat any human friend, or…Are there any differences? Any boundaries that I shouldn't cross? Any boundaries that it's okay to cross?"

I looked above, the Dragonite's face showing upside down. He cocked his head, seemingly lost at the point I was desperately trying to make, but his cute eyes fully attentive to my words. I sighed, and attempted to elaborate:

“Like…us, in this bath. Normally, I would never show myself naked to another human. I'd simply think of it as inappropriate. Yet, perhaps because you're a Pokémon, or perhaps because you're Rikiya, or perhaps just because you don't normally wear clothes…it…feels nice. Awesome, even. I like being in your company a lot, Rikiya…And I want to be even closer to you, to get along even more. If that's okay…I want to know what you think about relationships between humans and Pokémon, and what feels right or not to you."

He cocked his head again, the opposite way, still trying to figure out what I was babbling on about:

“I…Don't get it. Could you be more specific, buddy?"

I clenched his paw again, and looked down, the sight of his reaction too much of an unknown to behold confidently:

“For example…Has it happened before, that, er…How to say it…? That a human and a Pokémon become…a…a thing…?"

“A thing…?"

“Yeah…LIke…an item. Or, if you want…a…a…a couple."

The last word echoed slightly, followed by nothing but the ripples' sound. I figured Rikiya was trying to process my question, but soon enough, he let out an audible laugh:

“Heh! Turns out, that happens way more than you'd imagine!"

“H-Huh?" I blurted out in pure astonishment.

“Remember when I told you about my work, buddy?" He pursued, his left paw squeezing around my waist. “I work sometimes as an interpreter to help a Pokémon and their trainer communicate better."

I recalled our first dinner together, and the underlying meaning of his answer dawned on me:

“Oh! Wait, you don't mean-"

“Yup! That job relies a lot on secrecy, so I won't give names or details, but a substantial amount of the requests I get come from couples involving a trainer and their Pokémon!"

“Wait, really? And…How do people view it?"

“Well, it's not really paraded in public, but most experienced trainers know that it is a thing out there. It's basically an open secret of sorts. From what I know, some people are turned off by it, other people are okay with it but don't personally engage, and the rest don't mind at all."

My curiosity had now escalated, and I couldn't help but pry further:

“W-What about…What about your trainer…? What was his stance on it?"

“Hiroshi was in the second group. He didn't mind it, but wouldn't engage with a Pokémon himself. Truth is, he was completely heads over heels for Kouji's trainer."

“Oh…Kouji told me about her. They were already friends before you two even got acquainted, right?"

“Yeah! Back then, he was always trying to impress her by talking about his latest wins, but she'd just make fun of him anyway!"

I looked up once again, and Rikiya sported a slightly amused and mischievous expression, which took me completely off guard. Here I had done my best to get mentally ready, to ease us into the subject so it wouldn't feel awkward, and it turned out that this wasn't as heavy a subject as I originally feared. Not to mention, he was entirely fine speaking about adult stuff like this, while I totally expected him to be more prude on the matter. Then again, this had been but a scratch to the surface of my current dilemma. I had yet to find out about Rikiya's personal opinion. I asked again, looking away:

“And…What about Pokémon themselves? How do they view it?"

“That's where it gets interesting, buddy. Basically, Pokémon are…less reserved about romantic partnerships than humans. I could tell you about Pokémon reproduction and courting in detail, but that would be too long, so to sum it up, most Pokémon can mate with a Pokémon who's from another species altogether. Therefore, they have less qualms about becoming a couple with even a human. Not to mention that most Pokémon can find out whether a human is in a relationship with a Pokémon."

“T-They can?"

“Yeah! But like I said, they won't mind. It's perfectly natural for us."

I let out a tense gulp, finally resolving to switch to more personal questions:

“Even…Even you? Have you ever been…together with a human? Or even a Pokémon? Earlier in your life, has there been…someone you'd like to share your days with? Another female, perhaps?"

He marked a pause, then gently squeezed me against his chest, replying quietly:

“Not really. Hiroshi and Kouji did try to set me up with other females, but it never succeeded. I can't blame them, though. I wasn't aware of my…preferences back then."

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued at the reason he mentioned:

“Your…preferences?"

He squeezed again, the gesture feeling more anxious than the last, his heart audibly thumping behind my back:

“Yeah, buddy. I…I'm attracted to males."

My eyes bulged at the unbelievable bit of information he just shared. Unconsciously, I clenched on his big paw, which had never left the confines of my own hand, a glimmer of hope now washing over my heart. The sheer improbability that he was the same as me, that I had a chance, made my chest flutter with anticipation at having my wish come true. Before I could share those feelings of excitement, though, Rikiya piped up, a tinge of uncertainty in his voice:

“I'm sorry I…didn't tell you earlier…It never came up before, and I was worried you'd…see me differently because of that."

Until now, he always sounded so extroverted, so jolly, that it never came to mind that he could also feel hesitant about sharing that kind of stuff, the very same way I did. This was my chance to prove that his offer wasn't a one-way deal, and that the same held true in his case. He could confide in me, and rely on me, just like I was about to do. And I'd never blame him for doing so.

“I'd never see you differently, Rikiya. Sure, hearing that there are homosexual Pokémon is…unexpected, but I know it doesn't change anything about who you are. I wouldn't have any right to hate you for that, anyway."

“What do you mean…?"

I took a deep breath to quell my heart down, preparing myself to confess something I had never admitted to anybody beforehand:

“I…I'm also attracted to the same sex, Rikiya."

“You too?!" He shouted in surprise, his arms tensing on the spot.

“Yeah…" I meekly confirmed, uncertainty enshrouding my mind.

He marked another pause, then exclaimed in slow realization:

“So…The reason you were asking me about relationships between humans and Pokémon…?"

“Well…That's because I…I'd like to try it. Being a couple with a certain Pokémon."

“Oh…? And…who would…who would that be…?"

“Well, to be honest, there's…There's something else I have to confess. It's pretty embarrassing, though."

As I tried to buy myself some time in order to make the big jump, he remained undisturbed, carefully scratching my belly with his blunt claws, the sensation making me squirm a bit, as if deep down, he knew where I was heading with the discussion:

“It's okay, buddy. You know you can tell me anything, right?"

“I know…"

I let a constrained sigh out of my throat.

“When you were carrying me around earlier, I…I got…sexually aroused."

A few seconds passed, before he hummed in acknowledgement, his paws unmoving. I took that as my cue to give more details, my voice shaking from the anxiety:

“I…didn't want you to feel that I was…abusing your trust, so I asked you to put me down, but…Now I realize that whenever we're going to share a hug, it's going to manifest again, and…and I won't be able to hide it. Plus…I don't want to lie to myself, or to you. I don't want to hide my feelings anymore."

I squeezed his large paw, intertwining my fingers with his claws and rubbing my thumb against its side, the gesture giving me the required courage to move along:

“Like I said earlier, I really like you, Rikiya. More than anything. You're…kind, caring, funny, handsome. Nobody has treated me as kindly as you did those two days, and I've never felt toward anybody what I'm feeling toward…toward you. That's why…I want to try it with you. Try…being a couple with you."

He remained silent, leaving only the sound of my voice echoing around the bathroom:

“I…I'll understand if you don't want to. We can just stay best friends then, and I won't ask again. Still…I wanted to know if…you'd like to go one step further…?"

I almost winced at my poor choice of words, the awkwardness of the situation too much to handle properly. My senses and mind stood alert, each additional moment of silence from the Dragonite a moment of pure torture. Just as I was about to retract my offer and ask him to forget that this had just happened, he lowered his head, and hugged me tight, his tongue affectionately brushing my hair in repeated strokes:

“That would make me the happiest Dragonite in the world…Of course I'd like to."

I looked up at him, his maw curved in his usual smile, telling me that he meant every word he had just pronounced. Yet, I doubled down, asking for confirmation, afraid to have misheard one way or another:

“Are…Are you sure? Aren't you…weirded out by the fact I get aroused when we're hugging…?"

Rikiya's smile got larger, his gaze comforting:

“Why would I? If anything, I'm flattered that you find me attractive. Is that why you put your back to me? You were afraid that I'd find it weird if I noticed?"

I gave a sheepish nod in response.

“Most humans would feel really creeped out and label me a pervert…So I was certain you'd think the same, and- Woah!"

My justification got abruptly interrupted, as I was turned around and hugged tight by the Dragonite, my manhood in full contact with his soft scales. Heat rose to my cheeks, the rest of my body paralyzed with shock, while he whispered back:

“I don't mind it. I like you just as you are, my cute little buddy. You don't have to be self-conscious about hugging me, no matter when. You'll always be welcome in my arms."

His sweet words slowly ate away at my reservations, my mind gradually processing the outcome, and realizing that Rikiya had accepted me just as I was, wholly and completely, bearing no judgment toward my very being. It truly sounded like a miracle, nearly moving me to tears. Most of all, learning that these kinds of relationships weren't viewed like an abomination of nature as I feared, lifted a tremendous weight off my chest, as it confirmed that he wouldn't be scorned by other humans and Pokémon alike, ridding me of my self-imposed reservations once again.

With nothing holding me back anymore, I wrapped my limbs around the Dragonite's cuddly frame, burying my head inside his neck and planting a few kisses on his neck scales, letting out a whine of relief:

“Oh, Rikiya…"

He simply tightened his grip in response, once again demonstrating that it was okay, that he wasn't turned off by my hormonal outburst in any shape, and that he fully reciprocated the same feelings I harbored deep inside, his anticipation rivaling mine in intensity. My rod throbbed, but nothing more, and in a paradoxical turn of events actually settled down after some time had passed, as if the lack of stress and fear from being found out had dulled its sensitive nature.

I reveled in the feeling, my body encased in a sea of orange and beige, a safe haven that I had craved for long where I could simply be myself and let go of anything impeding my stream of thoughts.

Right there, in his caring grip, in his tall bathtub, inside the bathroom of his isolated house built inside a mountain, a mountain that sat in the middle of an island devoid of any civilization, itself shrouded in a magical mist that repelled all kinds of intruders, provided they cross the vast ocean in the first place.

Right there, unbound by any sort of mental shackles, I felt truly relieved and secure, motivated to move forward, whatever the future may hold, together with the being who made my soul complete.

---

A few hours had passed since we had both confessed to each other. We had gotten out of the bath and dried ourselves under the massive air dryer, before I quickly put on the clothes I had prepared and hopped back in Rikiya's comforting arms. Now, we were both in the living room, myself dozing off peacefully, while Rikiya was simply watching a movie whose name currently eluded me.

At some point, we both heard the ringtone of his house phone next to the giant screen, and he turned his head slightly to the right in reaction, his neck delicately brushing my face. The great Dragonite stood up and made a round trip to the calling device, one of the thick paws relinquishing its hold around my body to retrieve it, the other steadying itself to compensate.

Although I couldn't see anything, my eyes facing nothing but the familiar ridges of Rikiya's cozy underbelly, I heard him take hold of the device, before answering the call, his voice hushed so he wouldn't wake me up, or so he thought:

“Yes? Who is it?"

My head being at its usual dwelling place, I could faintly hear the sound of a familiar metallic voice coming out from the speaker:

“AH, GOOD. YOU ARE AWAKE, RIKIYA. I HAD LEFT A MESSAGE THIS MORNING, AND DID NOT GET WORD BACK FROM YOU, SO I TOOK THE LIBERTY OF CALLING AGAIN JUST TO BE SURE. PLUS, IT IS ALWAYS MORE PLEASANT TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO SOMEONE."

“Oh, hey, Kouji! Sorry about that, a lot happened today. What's up?"

“I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU AND THE YOUNG MAN KNOW THAT I HAVE COMPLETED THE MONEY TRANSFER. HE CAN GO BACK AND SETTLE HIS BUSINESS ANYTIME NOW, ALTHOUGH IN HIS CASE, THE SOONER THE BETTER."

Rikiya snorted at Kouji's statement, and I almost followed, but managed to compose myself. The Metagross, on the other hand, was clearly displeased at his friend's reaction:

“WHAT WAS THAT LAUGH FOR?"

Rikiya had a difficult time suppressing said laugh, and answered, his voice unsteady:

“O-Oh, well, nothing. I'm thankful for the heads up, it's just that…We're already done. My buddy's moved here for good."

The line turned silent for a moment, until Kouji's baffled voice manifested from the speaker:

“EXCUSE ME?"

“You heard right! The reason I was away this morning was because we left very early. We only came back around five in the afternoon."

Once again, another silence took hold, cut again by the Metagross asking something in an inquisitive tone:

“WAS IT THE HUMAN'S IDEA?"

“Yeah, why?"

“THAT WAS EXTREMELY RISKY OF A DECISION. WHAT IF THERE HAD BEEN A DELAY IN THE PROCESS, OR IF I HAD NOT MADE THE TRANSFER FIRST THING IN THE MORNING? THIS IS COMPLETELY IRRESPONSIBLE. HE SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST WAITED FOR MY CONFIRMATION BEFORE DECIDING TO ACT."

“Oh, come on, Kouji! Weren't you just saying 'The sooner the better'? He didn't want to wait any longer just like you told him, you can't blame him for following the advice you gave him yourself! And from what he told me, everything went fine. It's in the past now, so no need to get worked up about it anymore."

Although I thought that Kouji had a point, hearing Rikiya vehemently defend my hasty actions made my heart flutter. Something close to an awkward robotic cough resonated from beyond the speaker, as the Metagross resumed:

“I GUESS THAT IS NOT ENTIRELY UNFOUNDED, AND FROM WHAT HE TOLD ME ABOUT HIS WORKPLACE, THEY WOULD HAVE FIRED HIM WITHOUT SO MUCH AS A WARNING HAD HE WAITED ANY LONGER. VERY WELL. THEN, WHAT ABOUT THE HUMAN? HOW IS HE HOLDING UP?"

I felt Rikiya's arm squeeze my body against his underbelly at the question, before he answered more seriously:

“It was…not pretty. Once we came back, he completely broke down and said some really grim things about himself. It pained me to see him like that."

“I AM NOT SURPRISED. ANYBODY WOULD STRUGGLE TO PROCESS SUCH A BIG CHANGE IN THEIR LIVES. I ASSUME HE IS STILL UPSET ABOUT IT?"

“He's doing better now, thankfully. We ate a quick snack and took a bath, and now he's sleeping."

“ALRIGHT. WHENEVER HE WAKES UP, TELL HIM THAT I AM AVAILABLE SHOULD HE HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR NEED ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE."

“Alright, I'll do that. Thanks for the help Kouji, I really owe you one!"

“IT IS NOTHING. I AM GLAD TO HAVE BEEN OF HELP. MORE IMPORTANTLY, RIKIYA, YOU SOUND WAY MORE LIVELY THAN YESTERDAY. DID SOMETHING NICE HAPPEN, PERHAPS?"

“Hehe…It's a secret!"

“WELL THAT ONLY MAKES ME MORE CURIOUS. WHAT HAPPENED?"

“Nuh-uh! I'm not telling!"

“...SIGH. WELL, I TRIED. ANYWAY, I WILL LEAVE YOU NOW, I SURMISE THAT YOU MUST BE EXHAUSTED."

“A little, but I'll be fine. You know I don't sleep much."

“TAKE CARE OF THE YOUNG MAN AND BE THERE FOR HIM. HE WILL NEED IT."

“Don't worry, he's in good paws. And Kouji?"

“YES?"

“...Thanks for telling him about Hiroshi."

“...YOU'RE WELCOME. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT, RIKIYA."

“Good night, Kouji!"

The line then disconnected, the Dragonite clicking the phone back on the wall and retreating to his original seat, his paw swiftly circling around my back once again. He gave my body a light squeeze, licking behind my head fondly, as my consciousness finally started to give in to the enticing calls of a dreamless slumber I hadn't experienced in years.