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He really should have listened to that nurse's warning.

A grunt escaped Felix as another boot connected with his ribs—a hot lance jabbing through his side. He curled tighter in fetal desperation, protecting his head and face from the blows raining down. He should have listened and not assumed she'd been talking about the danger of wild pokémon in Eterna forest. A wild pokémon would have been more merciful than this pack of mightyenas, or at least less wantonly cruel. Maybe they'd get bored soon…

"Dumb kid, should've just given it to us."

"Yeah, don't mess with Galactic, fucker!"

A combat-booted toe found an already bruised section of his side. Something cracked and Felix cried out, reflexively convulsing onto his belly in the dirt. His left side flared anew, popping stars in his blurring vision, and breath came with a rattling wheeze. Several feet away Diva, his dartrix, lay in a similar position, a skuntank and a purgurly standing over her. She'd fought so hard, but…

"Alright, that's enough. No need to kill the kid." Another kick landed on his shoulder, but weaker as if the assailant had pulled back.

Oddly, the protest of, "I'm not a kid!" tried to form on his lips, but he couldn't find the air for the words. More defiance would only earn a worse beating, and it wasn't like these three gangsters cared about the difference between eighteen and nineteen. At least if they were beating on him they'd leave Diva alone...

"Yeah yeah." Weight on his shoulders drew another yelp as it aggravated his ribs. "He's still breathin'. He'll sort himself back to town just fine." Rough hands grabbed at his backpack, tugging it off him.

"Long as the wild 'mons don't get him." Laughter and a slap to his cheek that further blurred his vision. "Lots of soft meat there. Something might find that damn tasty."

"What's he got? Anything good?"

A zipper whizzed. "Bah. Barely. Few potions, some food. Hardly worth the trouble of kicking the shit out of him."

"Least we got some cash. C'mon, let's split. It's been quiet but someone else might come along."

"Should we grab his pokémon? Feed it one of those potions?"

No! Felix tried to speak, the protest hot on his tongue. If they tried to take her, he'd… something. If he could just catch his breath…

"Nah, no point. Thing's half dead, potions won't work. Bruce went a bit overboard. Probably won't last to a center."

"Shame. I think those are pretty rare. Might've fetched a good price."

"Doesn't matter. We got what we came for, and got a bit of fun too."

One of the thugs loomed, crouching next to him. His white and black uniform seemed far too crisp and clean for the violence which he'd taken part in. A hand roughly patted Felix's shoulder. "Team Galactic thanks you for your donation, kid. Have a nice day."

More laughter. As the man rose, another kick landed in Felix's abdomen, doubling him over. Bile rose, the retching rocketing fresh agony from his ribs. Red flashes marked the gangsters recalling their pokémon as they sauntered away, leaving Felix to struggle on the dusty path. An odd weightlessness consumed him, as though his awareness were floating away. He couldn't pass out. He couldn't. He had to get up, get Diva, get to a center…

He made it to his knees before falling, barely able to keep his face from slamming into the ground. Just as his vision faded, a curious white glow bloomed on the edge of sight, piercing the rising dark. Maybe this was what dying felt like…

***

Wingless, he flew.

Wind roared in his ears, the air cold, crisp, clean. He'd never flown before, yet he was not afraid. Below, trees rushed by, his feet nearly clipping their crowning branches. Could he go higher? The thought came and went but no action followed. He tried to flap his arms but they wouldn't move. He could do no more than observe.

Eterna forest's sprawl truly was a labyrinth. Though it held well-marked paths to lead travelers through, going astray from these would lose one within the verdant maze. Diva had been so excited, entering a place so rich in life and growth. Her joyous song had swelled as she hopped from tree to tree, even as she remained alert for danger. She'd grown so strong. Once they made it to Eterna City, Gardenia would surely take them in as proteges.

His flight was slowing. Behind the wind, another sound—that of laboured breaths. His feet dipped into the foliage for an instant, then arose once more.

A small gap in the trees appeared ahead to the left, broken by a slanting roof. He angled towards it, a shoe catching on a branch and tugging free to fall into the forest below. A house? No, more of a mansion, an ancient edifice rising from this sea of green. Who would build in such a place?

His flight faltered, a mournful screech emanating from somewhere above. Down he went, a barely controlled descent. Too fast—the ground was rushing up to meet him.

Down.

Down.

Down…

***

Everything hurt.

Felix's eyes felt glued shut. His tongue lay heavy in his mouth, a grittiness in his throat. His whole body was a giant, throbbing bruise, centered on a pulsing ache in his side.

Not dead then. Probably. Unless this was hell? Swallowing past his too-large tongue, he forced his eyes open. A dim shaft of light swirling with dust pierced the dimness above him. A wood ceiling stared back at him, striated with cracks and sagging slightly, greenish with mold_._ Beneath him, a soft surface creaked slightly with his movement—comfortable, yet also sagging inwards like the ceiling. The firmness of springs barely covered by foam prodded at his soreness, the scent of dust and decay tickling past the stickiness in his nose. He tried to hold off the sensation, wrinkling his nose to no avail.

The sneeze lit his injuries in fire, bringing fresh tears to his eyes.

"Ow."

"Kurree?"

The shaft of light shifted, dust motes swirling. At the edge of his vision, a shadow loomed up from the foot of the bed, rising over him. Felix tried to shout, to flail, but the threat of another sneeze and the waves of nausea kept him still. The figure blocked most of the light, which he now saw came from a grimy window close to the bed.

At first, it seemed to be a person in a hooded cloak, but as his eyes adjusted the sharp beak and large yellow eyes peeking from beneath that cowl belied that impression. Four cardinal feathers sprouted beneath the creature's chin like a flowery bow-tie, and below that two green tassels dangled over creamy down. Powerful legs culminated in large talons which gripped the end of the bed frame, its metal bowed and distorted, but holding the creature's weight without apparent distress.

"Kuuureeee?"

The tone was a bit deeper—richer perhaps—but he'd know that lilting trill anywhere. If he hadn't already been lying down, he'd have collapsed beneath the sudden onslaught of emotion, his throat and chest tight. With a few rough swallows, he worked up enough moisture to form words.

"Diva." It was little more than a whisper, rasping over dry and cracked lips.

She nodded, those large eyes half-lidding, beak opening in a soft croon. She shifted on her perch, large wings tucking to her sides as she crouched. She'd become so large! Hard to tell from his perspective, especially as she wasn't standing to her full height, but she might be as tall as him now. Where her feathers and down had once covered a squat, slightly chubby body, now she was lean, distinct predator muscle defined beneath her plumage—almost imposing were she not looking upon him with such tender concern.

"You evolved, huh? Wow, you look great, girl…"

A light trill, her pink tongue flashing in that familiar curl of happiness as she bobbed her head.

"Where are we?"

She shrugged, the bed creaking as she hopped off her perch. Felix turned his head to follow her as she hopped across the room—not a terribly large one, and devoid of other furnishings save a scratched dresser—and retrieved a small metal bowl from the floor. Her wings ended in some kind of feathered gripping appendage it seemed, as she scooped up the bowl without the aid of her talons or beak and carried it over to him. Putting its rim to his lips, she gave an encouraging croon. Cool water splashed against his tongue and he drank gratefully, though it tasted of metal and a bitter hint of something foul. He knew enough not to drink too much too fast and stopped after a few swallows, pushing the bowl away.

The dream. She'd flown them here, wherever here was. Somewhere abandoned, certainly, given the state of his surroundings. He met her eyes. Standing over him like this, hovering close like a doting mother, her warmth radiated against his skin, familiar and yet foreign.

"We're still in the forest, right?" Words came easier now, though a touch nasally, and his chest hurt like hell. Every breath brought a fresh jab up his left side, and his stomach was threatening to reject even the small bit of water he'd swallowed. He gulped and the sensation faded.

Diva gave a slow nod, pressing the bowl to his lips once more, chirping. He accepted a few more sips, grimacing at the flavour, then waved her off. Sitting up was an effort worthy of a heroic tale, and he bit back a curse as his weight shifted onto different muscles.

"Kree!"

"I'm alright. Mostly." It was cool in here, but not so much that the lack of a blanket affected his comfort. Thank god it was summer or they might've been in real trouble. Peeling back his t-shirt—dirty and stained with brown spots in a few places now—Felix inspected his torso. Ugly bruises bloomed in various places across his ebony skin, and his left side bore two particularly nasty purple swollen spots along with some scabbed over abrasions. A tentative prod at the spot felt like stabbing himself, nearly dropping him with a wave of nausea. Okay, probably at least cracked ribs. But in his own admittedly inexpert opinion, that was the worst of it. They at least seemed to be in the right shape, and no horrific bone splinters jutted through his skin. He'd live, but he should probably see a doctor.

"Decciiii?"

"Not pretty, but I guess I'm tougher than I look." He forced a smile up at her. She was looming again, hopping from foot to foot and tilting her head as if to somehow find the hurt and peck it away. "How about you, girl? You took a beating too…" He felt awful even saying it. Because of his stupidity, she'd been hurt. Both of them had, but it had been his decision to try and take the forest shortcut.

As if hearing his thoughts, she stood up tall, flaring her wings slightly and displaying her new form with a proud tilt of her chin. I did, she seemed to say, but look at me now. A vague memory tugged at him, something he'd once read about how dartrix evolved… but it was gone.

"You look amazing. Guess you'll really be able to show Gardenia what you're made of, huh?"

She chirped, but her sharp nod gave him pause—a flash of something other than agreement in her eyes.

"I'm sorry… I messed up pretty bad." The words tightened his throat, emotion stinging his eyes. They were safe now, they'd come through. But he'd come so close to losing her. "I didn't think it would be that dangerous… I just didn't think. I know I can't change what happened, but I can promise to try and do better."

A low hoot, coupled with her feathers ruffling up around her chest. Balancing the bowl, she waved a wing, then patted his shoulder and gave him a half-lidded look. Don't worry about it. Forgiveness. Unearned, but welcome nonetheless.

"Thanks, girl." He pushed away the nearly empty bowl. "I should rest some more, but once I'm feeling a bit better, maybe you can fly us out of here?"

There it was again. A hesitance, her posture withdrawing ever so slightly.

"Something wrong, Diva?"

Instead of answering, she turned in a ruffle of feathers, placing the bowl on the floor. With a firm, hooting trill tossed over her shoulder, she stalked off, vanishing through the room's darkened, doorless doorway. Odd, but she was probably still a bit shaken up by their ordeal.

Lying back on the bed, Felix let himself drift, keeping his breathing shallow to minimize the pain in his ribs. All in all, they'd been a bit lucky. Well, as lucky as anyone getting mugged and beaten up could claim to be. Yeah, they'd grabbed his wallet and… everything else, but both he and Diva were alive, and she'd evolved! It was still hard to process—his little dartrix, his constant companion since childhood, now in her full power. She would likely be getting used to those changes as well. Whatever was bothering her, they'd sort it out. Once he felt up to standing, they could hobble out of here and back to civilization. He could get to a phone, call his parents, and everything would be fine. He just needed a bit of rest first.

***

When he next awoke, the gloom was split by shafts of morning sunlight finding their way through the window's grimy glass. Two fat oran berries rested on the bedspread, and the gentle susurration of breathing broke the otherwise silent atmosphere. Diva roosted in the far corner, head tucked under a wing, appearing almost like an odd version of a guardian spirit statue he'd seen at one of the local temples. She'd always liked to sleep in, her species being more inclined to the afternoon and evening than the early parts of the day.

For a few moments he simply watched her, marvelling at her new form, at the hint of restrained strength contained in those powerful wings and intimidating talons. What might she be capable of now? Flying with him, apparently. How awesome was that?! Gardenia would certainly accept them into her gym, and together they could make a great living through membership, not to mention the prize money!

But first he needed to recover, the hollowness in his belly reminding him how long it had been since he'd last eaten. He tucked into the pair of orans she'd brought him, uncaring of the sticky juices which ran down his hands and onto his shirt. The ache in his ribs persisted, with the odd stab if he shifted the wrong way, but either he was growing used to it or it had lessened slightly over his sleep.

Weren't orans supposed to have healing properties as well? Did that work on humans? Couldn't hurt to try. With the last bit of the second berry, he lifted his shirt and dribbled the sweet-smelling juice over the ugly bruises on his ribs, coating his skin with the substance. Popping the last bit of fruit into his mouth, he started to lean back, then realized another issue. He needed to pee. Bad.

Gritting his teeth, he swung his legs out and over the side of the bed, biting back a yelp. His socks hit wood—when and how had Diva removed his shoes?—and he shoved himself upright with a bit of a wobble. It hurt, but no more than sitting up had. That was a good sign. Maybe they weren't actually broken, just badly bruised? He shuffled his steps to avoid any impact and made for the lone door. A floorboard creaked under his weight. Feathers rustled, but when he glanced over, Diva remained tucked in her sleeping pose, a soft, "Kwee…" sighing from the bundle of plumage. She must have been exhausted from yesterday, poor girl.

Through the door, Felix's eyes took a moment to adjust to the gloom. Straight ahead, a set of stairs lead down to the bottom floor, and to the right and left, more doorways. The one to the left looked to be another bedroom, its door half open, and lacking in anything other than a few dustballs. To the right though, a small, green-tiled bathroom, complete with a shower and mirror. Enough light came through the opposite bedroom's window to catch the shape of things.

Were the facilities even functional? The pressure in his bladder made "it doesn't matter" seem like a reasonable answer, so he shuffled in, flicked the lightswitch by sheer habit (nothing happened, unsurprisingly), and made use of the toilet with a sigh of relief. Apprehensive, he reached to flush, and with a gurgling rush, water poured in to rinse the bowl clean. So they had running water at least. Great! He zipped up and tried the shower faucet. At first it merely gurgled, then spat out a gray-brown muck with a rancid smell that made him gag. But a moment later the spray cleared, fresh water washing away the mess from the clogged pipe. This place must have its own reservoir or something, they were much too far off the beaten path to be—

A frantic shriek rose from the adjoining room. Felix spun about, wincing at the fresh pain in his ribs—no sudden moves, check—and started to move to the door, but was nearly bowled over as Diva swept in, her talons scrabbling over the wood floor. She squawked, a feral intensity in her yellow gaze alighting on him, feverishly flicking up and down as she hopped from one claw to the other. Her wing extended, brushed his elbow, and that apparently was enough to assure her that yes, he was physically present.

"Hey girl, sorry, didn't mean to startle you. Just had to use the John." He laughed, gently touching the proffered wingtip. "We've got working water. Pretty cool, huh?"

Her eyes narrowed, and she let out a short, sharp, "Kree!" Shuffling around him, she spread her wings—which nearly touched each wall of the small room—fluttered them once, twice. A shooing gesture.

"Woah! Hey now, easy! You want to use it now?"

"Deci!" More fluttering and she leaned in, nudging him towards the door.

"Alright, alright! Point taken." Chuckling hurt but he tried not to let it show as he washed up and shuffled out. Instead of remaining in the bathroom, Diva followed, hopping to match his steps, her wings tucking only enough to get her through the door. She promptly positioned herself between him and the stairs, glaring at him with her wings upheld, now truly looking the part of a stern sentinel.

"What's this? I shall not pass?"

"Kreee!" She nodded.

"That's okay, wasn't even planning on it. Relax, alright? I don't think I'm even hurt all that bad."

The sentinel was unmoved by his reassurance. Shrugging, Felix hobbled back into their temporary bedroom. She mirrored each of his steps, backing him up until he stood next to the bed, which she nodded at with barely restrained urgency.

"Fine, mom." His attempted humour didn't so much as crack the ferocity of her stare. He eased himself down onto the bed, but it wasn't until he had returned to a supine position with poorly padded springs prodding his back did she relax. Her wings lowered, the glare softening to a half-lidded expression which belied the sharpness of those amber eyes beneath, and she let out a soft chirrup.

"Thanks for breakfast by the way. I hope you had some for yourself as well?"

She nodded, hopping closer to the edge of the bed, her feathers nearly brushing his elbow.

"I figure we can get out of here tomorrow, make our way back into town. I'm not sure how far you flew us, but it can't be too much further to get to Eterna."

Diva stiffened, her feathers ruffling up. "Deci!"

"We can't stay here, we've gotta get back to society, girl. I can't move fast, but I can still walk. If we leave early—"

"Kuree!" A sharp shake of her head, accompanied by a sweep of her wing as if to discard the very idea.

Felix sighed. "Diva… I know you're worried, but I promise I'm okay."

She settled, leaned closer. A low croon warbled from her beak, the kind she tended to make shortly before sleep. Deeper now, with a richness that had never been present in her song before. Still soothing and familiar, yet a touch unsettling with the way she was looming over him. She wasn't merely singing, she was singing to him, attempting to lull him.

This was new. But he was tired enough not to fight her efforts. He gave in and closed his eyes, listening to the gentle warble of her song. A bit more rest and they'd be good to go, no matter what Diva seemed to think. Not a problem—she'd see reason, and if push came to shove, he could simply leave and she'd be forced to follow.

***

Something wasn't right.

He lay in an empty room, all about him pitch black save for the dim ethereal glow surrounding him. Pain throbbed a fresh beat in his side, like a mad drummer finding which of his ribs played the best tune. He couldn't move. Something wasn't right.

A shape moved in the darkness. Loomed up over him, massive wings stretching to fill his vision, its body at once formless and horrific in that lack of definite detail. He tried to scream, but the darkness sucked the sound from his lips. He couldn't move, couldn't leap up and run. The drummer's tempo increased, seeming to match his pounding heart.

The thing descended upon him, cold air streaming over his face as it pounced. Still he could not move, could not scream as it drove a sparking purple spike of energy directly into his chest—and yet, there was no pain. Only that which came from his existing injury bothered him, but something was not right… A sense of grim satisfaction from the shape and the gloom around him seemed to stretch out, his own shadow wrapping around him like a cocoon. He tried to fight it, tried to grab that blazing arrow and yank it free, but his body refused to stir.

_The shape withdrew, leaving him to internally writhe with frustration at his immobility and at the nagging sense of betrayal. _

***

Felix awoke sweating. The light through the window bore the subdued warmth of late afternoon, and two more oran berries lay perched on the side of the bed next to his shoulder. In the corner, Diva was once more tucked away under her wing, the cream feathers of her chest puffing out with each breath. He'd dreamt… something… but only the fading sense of vague discomfort prickled in the back of his mind. Blinking, he sat up, and froze.

A purple, crackling arrow of energy dug into the wall above his legs, skewering the faint shadow he threw there. What the hell? He reached for it, hesitated, then picked up one of the orans and tried to prod at the shaft with the fruit. The blue flesh passed right through the thing, apparently unaffected, and having no effect on the arrow. Dropping the fruit, he gingerly poked at the arrow with his pinky. A faint buzz, as if an electric current ran beneath his finger, but otherwise it might as well have been empty air.

"Diva?"

She stirred but didn't emerge from her repose. Surely this odd effect must come from her, right? Some new move she'd learned upon her evolution? If he could get to his… no, those thugs had taken his phone. Maybe it was just so she'd know if he woke up? But, she hadn't reacted yet.

In any case, his parched throat was making himself known, and the water in the bathroom should be safe enough. He shuffled to the edge of the bed, stood, grimaced at the expected twinge of pain, and made for the door.

Tried to.

He couldn't move. Couldn't take a single step. The instant he attempted to walk away from the bed, his leg froze, tugged back by an invisible and inexorable force. He looked back at the energy arrow, frowning. Despite his change in position his shadow remained impossibly on the wall, regardless of now being on the wrong side of the light, skewered neatly through where his heart would be. Stomach crawling, he tried leaning out, testing the bond. No luck. Just as before, he gained an inch or so before being halted, stymied by a phantom pull on his body.

"Diva!" No need to panic, despite the joltiks climbing up and down his spine. Whatever this was, she'd caused it, and she could...would… undo it. Why had she even done this? Was she angry at him, or merely making sure he couldn't go anywhere without her consent?

"Kurree?" Her green-hooded head extricated from her wing, a sleepy gaze blinking at him.

"What did you do to me?"

"Deci." Straightening up, she ruffled, beak parting to show a pleased tongue curl. "Ueye."

"Diva…" He wasn't exactly in the habit of giving her orders. Their partnership didn't really work that way, but she'd also never done anything like this before. A few harmless pranks now and then sure, which he'd returned in kind, but… "Let me go, please."

The shake of her head came like a punch to the gut. The joltiks scurried faster up and down his spine, a bead of sweat running down his side. He'd heard of things like this before; 'mons who "outgrew" their trainer's experience, and stopped listening to their commands. Yet, surely that wasn't the case with his little Diva? They'd grown up together, they were lifelong friends!

"What's the deal? Are you just making sure I rest?" He laughed, but its hollowness rang even in his own ears. "Promise that's not an issue. I'm not exactly prepared to go running out into the woods. I just wanna go get some water."

"Kurree." She hopped a few steps closer, scooped up the metal bowl from the floor, and skipped to the door, ignoring his plea for her to wait. A few seconds later, the sound of running water came from the adjoining room, then faded, followed by Diva's return balancing the bowl in her wingtips. She hopped to the bed, offering the bowl with a satisfied warble.

"So, what, you're just going to play nurse for me while I sit here?"

A soft chirp escaped her, coupled with something like a shrug. She raised the bowl up toward his lips.

He tried to take it, but found his hands wouldn't go past whatever invisible line defined his prison. With a grunt, he carefully lowered himself to sit on the edge of the bed and grabbed the bowl before she could administer it to him. Her feathers ruffled, those amber eyes narrowing, but she didn't complain as he drank his fill. The water tasted fresher now, whatever age-grime had been in there washed out by renewed use of the tap.

With his throat soothed, he passed the nearly empty bowl back to her, her feather tips brushing his fingers. It should have been a soothing contact with her soft down, but the unsettled roiling of his stomach prevented any such pleasure. She was his pokémon, his best friend… but now she'd violated his trust.

"Can we talk about this?" He nodded at the arrow, still blazing as it pinned his shadow to the wall. "I get that you didn't want to leave in the morning but… What's your plan then? Stay here?"

"Deci." A vague head bob that could have been a nod. She put the bowl down and started to preen, nibbling at the down of her chest.

"And you're going to keep me in this bed whether I want to be or not?"

Amber eyes fixed on him, piercing him much like that arrow. "Cid. Kurreee!"

Myriad replies to her affirmative roiled through his mind. She couldn't! But, she had, and he didn't exactly have the authority to tell her not to. She'd always been a determined creature and would dig in her heels if pushed. Did that move have a limit? Would it expire over time? Not that he wanted to run away exactly, but it would be nice to know he wasn't completely at her mercy. She was doing this out of concern, not spite, right? Protecting him while he rested was one thing, keeping him bound against his will was entirely another. If she let him go it would be water under the bridge. If. That was a scary thought. What else might she decide to do? He settled upon a single word.

"Why?"

"Deeccuu…" Her soft tone matched the half-lidded lowering of her gaze. One wing rose, hovered above his knee for an instant, then descended to rest lightly upon the denim of his jeans. A gentle croon rose, similar to her lullaby from earlier, yet with a faint mournfulness to it.

"For my own good?"

"Deci." A nod.

"That's not really for you to decide you know."

That brought a return of the glare, the words, "Yeah? Seems like it is," all but written on her features.

Hot anger boiled up, his teeth clenching, a snarl working to pass his lips. He forced it all down with a deep breath. "I get it. You don't want me to hurt myself. But you don't need to… imprison me. I told you I wasn't going to run off. Don't you trust me?"

A noncommittal shrug—it sent a stab through him far worse than the physical pain from his ribs.

"I see…" This was partly his fault. He'd made a bad call, gotten them both badly hurt. Her especially. He'd unintentionally broken her trust. Now, she was taking it upon herself to make sure that didn't happen again, despite forgiving his transgression. "How long are you planning on keeping us here?"

Another shrug, coupled with a gentle, "Kree."

"And you're going to just keep… that..." he pointed at the arrow, "going?" A mirthless laugh shook him. "Going to escort me to the bathroom? Should I start calling you warden?"

Her stare hardened, a talon descending on the wooden floor with a menacing crunch of wood. The message couldn't have been more clear if she'd screamed it at him.

If I have to.

[center]***[/center]

With little else to do, Felix tried to rest and let his injuries heal. Sleep came and went in fits and starts. Every time he awoke greeted by the sight of that crackling purple arrow, the bottom dropped out of his stomach. There was no other way to look at it: he was a prisoner to his own pokémon. Diva remained an ever-present shadow in the corner of the room, her amber gaze fixing on him when he stirred. The first few times he tried pleading with her, reasoning about how irrational she was being, once giving in to anger and outright yelling at her until the pain in his chest made him stop. None of it so much as phased her, though she seemed to grow moody and withdrew by wrapping her wings more tightly around herself. Frustrated at his own helplessness, Felix finished off the fruit and tried once more to sleep.

Partway through the night—time had little meaning it seemed—the urgent need in his bladder drove him to swing himself up on the edge of the bed. Diva had her head tucked under her wing, but she stirred and peeked out as he tried to stand.

"Need to pee," Felix mumbled, refusing to look her in the eye. Feathers rustled, her talons' click-click-click echoing loud as she moved closer. She hopped up onto the foot of the bed, the old frame creaking beneath the added weight. He watched out of the corner of her eye as she did… something. The purple glow faded along with the persistent tug to lie back onto the bed, allowing him to get to his feet.

"Thanks so much," he said with as much sarcasm as he could muster. Her flinch brought him no satisfaction, but he wasn't in any mood to feel remorse for his barbed words. He'd tried being diplomatic and she'd stonewalled him. Before he could leave the tiny bedroom, she scrambled out ahead of him and stationed herself at the top of the stairs, wings spread wide, fixing him with a steady stare as he approached.

"Yeah, I know, don't even think about it." Much as he wanted to slam the bathroom door in her face, the force probably wouldn't do his ribs much good, so he settled for closing it firmly to take care of business in private. His mouth felt gritty from lack of brushing. Who knew one of the things he'd miss most while stranded in the woods was a toothbrush? Come to think of it, this was the longest they'd been on the road together in… ever. When they were younger, their adventures had all been local ones until Felix finished high school. Their journey from Oreburgh had been all short stretches between civilization and pokécenters, a couple of friendly battles with the usual crowd of gym challenge hopefuls, the odd run-in with wild pokémon... nothing scary or beyond the scope of what they were able to handle together. Independence felt good, proof to himself as much as his family that yes, he and Diva could take care of themselves.

At least, until his ill-fated shortcut. And now this… whatever "this" was. He wanted to trust his partner, but the way she'd acted without his consent or knowledge didn't exactly instill confidence in her decision making. She was probably still scared from their experience and reacting poorly based on that fear.

From outside came a "Kurreee?" followed by scratching at the door.

Felix let out a sigh. "Yeah, hang on." Finishing with the commode, he washed up and opened the door to find her hopping from foot to foot directly outside. "See? Still here. I didn't flush myself down the drain."

She chirped, gave him a look of reproach, then backed up so he could pass by back into the bedroom. He took a step, then paused.

"No."

She tilted her head. "Kree?"

"I said, "no". I won't be your prisoner, Diva. At least not willingly. You either have to trust me that I'm not going to hurt myself again, or you're going to have to force me. I'll stand right here for as long as I have to." His ribs chose that moment to twinge, but he ignored it and stood firm.

The avian's eyes narrowed and she made a sweeping gesture with her wings, trying to usher him along. "Deci. Kree!"

Felix crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow at her. They were at an impasse here. She wouldn't do anything to hurt him and he wouldn't comply. It was like that guy they'd read about in history class—fighting for civil rights by passive resistance.

She examined him, small warbles escaping her beak as though she were cooing to an insolent chick. Certainly, she was a lot stronger now—strong enough to carry him even—but he doubted she could do much in this confined space with just her wings. Not unless she knocked him out or someth—

Her movement was so sudden his eye could barely track it. A sweep of the wings, a glow emanating from her eyes, and a flash of brilliant light blinded him. He stumbled, catching himself on the wall as multicoloured starbursts popped in his vision. She was moving, circling behind him, using her weight to shove him along. He tried to flail, tried to resist, but completely blind and disoriented his efforts were as effective as a child against an adult. He could hurl himself prone, but he'd likely smash his head into a wall.

The air on his skin changed, and with a final shove from Diva, he stumbled forward until his shins hit something soft—the bed. He blinked rapidly, turning and trying to clear his sight. He could see shadows now, one of them moving closer. A gentle push to his chest knocked him onto his butt on the bed.

"Dammit!" His chest ached, but not with physical pain. His throat felt tight and his eyes stung. He would not cry, he would not! Something hummed nearby, followed by a muted thunk. His skin seemed to stretch, tugging him towards the wall, and he let out a wordless groan of frustration.

Gradually the blurred shapes resolved into their true forms; Diva hovering closeby, the shadowy hulk of the dresser against the far wall… Moonlight through the window provided the only light, along with the dull purple glow of another arrow dug into the wall. Once again she'd chained him to the bed. Felix glared at her.

"Are you happy now? Proud of yourself?"

She ruffled her feathers drawing in on herself.

"What is all this accomplishing? If we just go into town we could get some help. Are you saying you want to live out here in the middle of nowhere, like some weird old hermit? Hell, this place isn't even ours! What if the owners show up? Do you really think we're safer out here than we'd be in a city? Are you..." His voice cracked a bit. "Are you unhappy? Have I…" He caught himself, reconsidering his choice of words. Yes, he had hurt her with his poor decision making. "Have I been misunderstanding what you want? You always seemed like you wanted the same thing I did. We had a plan…"

She wrapped her wings around herself and hopped from talon to talon. "Kreee… Deci." The anger had faded from her yellow stare, replaced by petulance. "Cidueye."

"If you don't want to go to Eterna we can talk about that. It's not like I'm married to the idea. Hell, we could go anywhere! The world is our cloyster. Just give me an idea of what you want!"

The look she fixed on him bore so much intensity, he drew in a sharp breath. It was gone in an instant, but for that second he'd had an idea of what a rattata must feel staring down a pidgeot. If only he'd been able to afford one of those fancy translators.

"What are you not telling me, Diva?" It was a guess, but something in the way she kept withdrawing…

Without replying she turned around and tucked her head under her wing. Negotiations were closed for now it seemed. At the very least, he felt a little better. She didn't want to do this, but for some reason she felt like she had to. Probably. He'd never had this much trouble reading her before. Part of it was the evolution and its new body language, and part of it was the way she kept drawing in on herself. The question was: how could he use that knowledge to coax her out of this weird funk? What did she want that she didn't want to tell him about?

Sighing, Felix lay back down and rolled over. Supposedly the subconscious was sometimes better at figuring out puzzles than the conscious mind. If he slept on it, maybe it would become clear.

Above him, that insidious arrow hummed.

***

A day passed, then another, mostly in aggravating sullen silence. Every time he tried talking to her she'd listen, but immediately turn stony the moment he brought things around to their situation, freeing him, or anything remotely related. Diva kept him supplied with berries and water while stubbornly refusing to let him leave the bed for anything more than bathroom breaks. If this kept up much longer he'd need to hit the gym to make up for his lost fitness routine. Not that he could have done much with his injury, but it was the principle of the thing.

By the third day of their little "camping trip" his ribs felt much better, only the odd twinge or throb if he twisted oddly or prodded the spot. No more than a bad bruise then. Yet still Diva remained unmoved even when he showed her the angry yellow-purple circle of healing flesh.

The worst of it was the boredom. Without access to his phone, a book, or anything else resembling entertainment, and with his only companion one who had decided to act like a grumpy teenager, his waking hours consisted of staring at the wall or ceiling counting cracks, or half-heartedly keeping his blood moving with some low-key exercises. Whatever ones he could do while sitting or lying down.

Sometime in the mid-afternoon, a new problem caught his attention. Three days sleeping in the same clothes left a rather ripe odour, coupled with a general feeling of grime over his whole body. Felix sat up, fighting the tug of the purple shackle, and stood, catching Diva's attention from her resting perch in the opposite corner.

"If you don't mind, I'd like to grab a shower. We know that it works and I feel gross right now."

She tilted her head and regarded him for a moment, then chirped and hopped closer, clambering up onto the bed to undo his bonds. The purple arrow sizzled and died. Every time she released him it felt like an invisible shell sloughed away, leaving tingling itchiness all over his skin and dispelling a barely tangible discomfort. The avian fluttered down into an escort position once more, which he chose not to comment on this time. Maybe if he went long enough without saying anything that might cause her to shut down she'd snap out of her funk on her own.

Once in the small washroom he started to close the door, but she squawked at him. Felix raised an eyebrow. "C'mon, you know there's nowhere I can go in there."

She shook her head, scowling.

"Okay fine, I'll leave it half-open. Deal?"

Apparently that was good enough as she backed off and allowed him to shut the door part way. Realistically there was no reason to—it wasn't like he had anything to hide from her, and she'd seen him naked plenty of times before—but it felt… strange. Whether from her evolution, the way she was acting, or just a need to separate from her in this small way for a bit. The tiny measure of privacy brought a sense of relief. He turned on the shower faucet, allowed it to sputter to life and, thankfully, after a few moments turned from ice cold to steaming. Probably a solar tank or something. He'd have taken the cold shower but this was a welcome upgrade.

Stripping down he stepped into the small standing stall and let out a groan as the warm spray hit his back. Yeah, that was exactly what the doctor ordered! For several moments he simply stood there letting the water rinse and warm his torpid muscles, running fingers through his frizzy hair to at least scrub it. No soap of course but hey, beggars and choosers and all that. A small, grimy skylight let in enough of the late afternoon sun to keep things cozy. Was this the best shower of his life? Possibly. Funny how in situations of want, small pleasures became so much greater.

The door creaked.

"Kuree?"

He looked up to see Diva poking her head around the doorframe.

"Yup, I'm good. Still here."

Instead of leaving she shoved the door further open with her wing, her eyes on the floor. Chirping softly she stood in the doorway with her wings tucked at her sides, hunched in on herself, and glanced up at him from beneath her hood. A wordless question.

"You want… You want to join me, don't you?"

She gave a tiny nod. Gone was her domineering petulance, in its place something meek and… Lonely? Yes, that seemed right. Her wings trembled, and her hesitance to move without his permission spoke to a hidden melancholy that was quite unlike her.

When she'd been a rowlet, her innate curiosity led to a shock when she followed him into the shower, but he'd thought nothing of it after the initial surprise. The tiny 'mon's twittering joy under the hot spray as she perched on his head or shoulder was the embodiment of innocence. That first occurrence turned to regular practice, him smiling at her antics while she splashed and fluttered, emitting happy, "Rowl!"s. As she grew older and evolved their shared showers ceased, his friend now big enough to reach and turn the taps herself, and large enough that sharing the stall became something of an intrusion.

Now, as she stood at the entrance to the bathroom, head cocked to the side in that pleading inquiry, something had changed once more. She was of a size with him now and he felt oddly exposed, the urge to cover himself in shame nearly overwhelming him, despite the absurdity of the thought. A profound awareness of their proximity muddied his thoughts, her presence lending a curious intimacy, even though neither of them had done nothing to indicate that this was a remotely sexual encounter.

A low croon escaped her, shaking him from his frozen stupor. He found himself nodding. Was that right? Should he allow this? But, it was too late for objections. With a hooting trill, she was squeezing into the stall, forcing him to shuffle back under the spray to make room. The downy softness of her wing brushed his hip, shooting a shiver up his spine.

"Um, hi."

"Dueye."

"Mind giving me a bit more space?"

She complied with a warbled apology, pressing back against the wall to allow both of them as much room as possible in the stall meant for one. The hot spray coursed over his shoulder and struck her chest, quickly slicking the downy feathers into gleaming rufflets. Their eyes met, and she gave a chirp much like the kind she used to make, the gloom lifting from her like a passing storm. As far as breakthroughs went it didn't feel like the sort of thing one saw on TV talk shows, but it was something.

Felix turned again, breaking the eye contact which for some reason felt overly alert, like both of them were awaiting the other to make a move but neither of them knew what the game was. He began to idly sluice water over his chest and belly, forcing it to run down his legs. Normally he'd clean his lower half more directly, but doing so in front of Diva now seemed obscene. Why though? What was so different? Was it just her new size and form?

He stole a glance out of the corner of his eye. She'd begun to warble softly, tilting herself back and forth to get under the spray and let it soak her. At least she didn't seem affected by this awkwardness, which shouldn't have been a surprise. As far as she was concerned, clothes were probably the strange things, and the lack thereof was simply a restoration of the norm. He turned back to face the spray, keeping to the side to allow her more. Droplets spattered him in tandem with fluttering gusts, her contented hoots falling just shy of true song as she bobbed back and forth. Heat and little tickles kissed his back—her movement bringing her almost right behind him. A shiver ran down his spine, heat flaring in his cheeks.

"Diva..."

"Kuree?"

"Um… Never mind." Calling attention to his discomfort was only making it worse, and it seemed cruel to chastise her when she was happy for the first time since the attack. He could walk out, but then she'd feel forced to follow and return to her self-imposed role of warden, and he wasn't ready for that yet.

"Deci…" A wingtip brushed his elbow, gently nudging him to turn around. The light touch felt like a lightning bolt that shot down to his toes. His stomach did a flip-flop. What the hell was wrong with him? Swallowing hard, he turned to face her.

This near, they really were close in height, the top of her head coming up just above his nose. He remembered enough from reading about decidueye to know that was probably average, but it felt like she was exceptional. She cut an elegant figure even drenched from head to toe, the natural water resistance of her feathers allowing them to slick down without making her look half-drowned like a furred 'mon might. Her head tilted to the side as she studied him, her beak slightly parted in wordless query. He needed to say something, to not just stare at her like this and—

"Kree…" Her wings spread out and wrapped around him, and before he could react she'd pulled him into a hug. Cozy feathers pressed against him, strong wings holding him to the plush down of her chest. He didn't know where to put his hands. Her head tucked under his chin, warm breath tickling his clavicle. Oh hell, where did he put his hands? They were trapped by her wings and he couldn't really reach around her, leaving them to pat awkwardly at her hips. That seemed good enough, and she let out a little sigh, sinking against him. Tension bled from his shoulders, allowing him to properly reciprocate her affection and settle into her embrace. Okay, all the weirdness and his inexplicable jumpiness aside, this felt good. Right, even. This was how things should be.

Except, why the fuck was he getting hard?!

Shit, he needed to push her away, needed to withdraw and hide. Nonchalant and perhaps a bit naive she might be, but even she must know what arousal was and meant. Pokémon weren't as stupid as some people seemed to think, and he'd read enough to know they knew damn well about primal urges. Yet, he didn't want to let go or lose contact with her. Regardless of his racing mind, burning cheeks, cartwheeling stomach, and stubbornly gung-ho penis, having her this close, touching in such a tender and heartfelt way… It was the first moment of cathartic release they'd shared since they'd been ambushed. Hell, it was the first time they'd really touched—mutually and for no other reason than a desire for it—since her evolution, despite physical contact being something they'd always enjoyed with casual dignity and shared delight. Felix pushed down the embarrassment and returned the hug, leaving the pair of them clinging to one another under the warm shower.

Diva broke the moment, detaching from him with a small warble and stepping away to press her back against the wall. Her eyes met his half-lidded, her beak open in an avian expression of contentment while her wings tucked back against her sides. Whatever had just passed between them, a barrier had broken down, a settling of the tensity which had built up over the past days.

Her eyes flicked down and her beak widened in a warbling hoot. Was she laughing at him? Yes, she definitely was. Felix didn't bother covering himself despite the renewed flame in his cheeks and ears, instead rolling his eyes.

"Yeah yeah, hilarious I'm sure. It's just something that happens to guys."

"Kuree…" Her tone came lower, almost sensual. A wingtip rose to touch her beak. "Deci...."

"I dunno what that's supposed to mean. I'll assume it's a compliment. C'mon, don't make it weird."

"Dec." Another warbling hoot, coupled with a flutter and a little nod. Those keen eyes drifted from his face again, half-lidded. She seemed to be contemplating, beak parted with feral amusement. Or maybe not laughter this time? What was going through her head? Was she… ogling him, or was that just his ego talking?

The shower had begun to run cold, whatever supply had been in the heated tank nearly depleted. Rather than take the easy way out of his predicament with icy water, he shut off the faucet. He'd walk out of here with dignity intact, dammit!

"Alright, let's dry off."

He'd forgotten about the lack of a towel. Rather than soak his clothes, he elected to gather them up and sit on the bed in the patch of sunlight from the window, allowing himself to gradually drip dry. Surprisingly, Diva didn't insist on shackling him to the bed immediately, first shaking the majority of the water off in a flurry of feathers, then taking up a position next to the bed in her own patch of sun, letting its warmth do the job. They sat in contented silence, Felix unwilling to risk ruining their restored camaraderie, and Diva quietly preening. The sunlight gleamed off her plumage, highlighting the striking figure she cut now. A predator through and through with her powerful wings and talons, graceful athletic form, and keen eyes. Yet all that came softened by her plush down and her usually cheery demeanor. As he watched her out of the corner of his eye, his gaze drifted lower to where she was preening herself, straightening the downy white fluff of her thighs and around…

His cheeks heated again and he averted his eyes. Stupid. Just like in the shower, it wasn't as if he hadn't seen her feminine parts before. But something was different now. For the first time, he was seeing Diva not just as Diva, his friend and constant companion, but as a female. Albeit one of a different species. It seemed his libido cared nothing for that distinction. Unbidden, the memory of her soft body pressed against his rose, giving a fresh rise to other things.

He bit his lip, forcing his mind away from the pleasant and distracting thought. Analysis time. Was something wrong with him? No, not really if he was truly honest. Yeah, she was a pokémon, but so what? A switch had flipped in his brain with her evolution, and it was easier to see her as she was—a strong and beautiful member of the opposite sex. As a young, healthy, horny heterosexual, his body responded in kind. It was no different from realizing you were attracted to one of your best friends.

Was he becoming one of "those" trainers? No, probably not. Hopefully. Rumors and news stories always conflicted with one another, and while there certainly were people who abused their pokémon in that way, he'd never believed that all of them were "taking advantage" as the media liked to claim to support the anti-poképhilia laws. How exactly would one take advantage of a creature that could burn a hole in you if you did something she didn't like? True, most pokémon were reluctant to turn on their trainers, but they sure as hell were more than capable of defending themselves. Anyone who spent time with a pokémon more intelligent than a caterpie would also learn very quickly that yes, pokémon were capable of advanced concepts and communication. They could say "no" just as well if not more so than a human, and they could also say "yes."

Did he want to act on his freshly awakened desires? Parts of him definitely did, at least on a physical level. Romantically? Now that was a bit more complicated, but they worked well together… normally. She'd always been there for him. He didn't notice any fireworks and rainbows like you were apparently supposed to feel when you met your soulmate, but Diva was his best friend, of that there was no doubt, and he'd do just about anything for her. He was hardly an expert, but he'd read enough to know that there was a potential minefield. Sex with a friend could make things weird. Although, that line of wisdom came from people talking about doing it with other humans. Were pokémon… less hung up on things than humans? Did that change how he felt? No, not much. They spent all their time together, so it could indeed make things weird, but probably less weird than it could be with another human. And his penis really, really wanted to know what it was like to slip inside that soft, inviting…

No, no, no. Thinking with his dick was exactly the wrong thing to do here. At the very least, he sure as hell was not going to introduce this new bombshell element into their tangled situation. It wasn't likely to solve anything, and could certainly make things worse. Moreover, did she feel the same as he did? If she did she was hiding it better. From what he'd heard—albeit without really looking for it—pokemon tended to be rather… forward with their desires regardless of gender. Then again, Diva could be different, or she could be dealing with whatever overprotective instinct had possessed her to keep him prisoner in the first place.

At the very least, this was a conversation to have with her another time, if ever. Maybe he was in a weird place right now recovering from their traumatic experience. Maybe his overactive libido just decided it really needed to get some exercise, and now was the time to lose his V card. From what he'd learned in his psych classes, there were all kinds of things that could contribute to it, and there was no reason to be hasty.

His stomach growled, breaking him from his musing and causing Diva to look up from her preening. She chirped, tilting her head to the side.

"Yeah, guess it's that time. Mind grabbing some food for us?" She, at least, appeared mostly dry. He still felt a bit damp.

A hoot. A nod. She hopped closer, spreading her wings and bowing her head, almost apologetic. So much for hoping she'd changed her mind. With a sigh, Felix shifted in the sunny patch, drawing his knees up to his chin and wrapping his arms around himself.

"I won't fight you, but I wish you'd trust me not to go anywhere. You could at least give me a chance to prove it. I know you're just trying to keep me safe. Trust that I won't do anything crazy while you're not here."

Her warble came soft, and she wouldn't meet his eye. Straightening, she made a sweeping gesture of wings and seemed to grasp the air, pulling energy from nowhere. A purple, crackling arrow formed, but she hesitated, glancing at him.

Felix raised an eyebrow. "I can promise not to leave the bed until you come back if that helps." He held up a pinky. It had been ages since they'd done this, but maybe…

Diva hopped closer. The stream of power sizzled in her grip, ready to bind him. He couldn't try to control her—not that he really wanted to in the first place. She had to come back to a place of mutual trust for this to work.

The arrow vanished. Diva reached out, her pinion feather touching his pinky—dwarfing it now. He lightly curled his finger around the feather, letting out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.

"Deci!" A piercing stare—an admonishment—as she fluttered back, moving towards the door.

Felix waved. "Go on, it's fine. I'll just… Hang out here."

***

Felix awoke with a start. He didn't remember falling asleep, but given the pale moonlight trickling in through the window, he must have been out for some time.

At the end of the bed, a shadow loomed.

His breath caught in the hazy instance between sleep and consciousness, before his waking mind rationalized the shape and his eyes focused enough to recognize Diva perched on the wooden footboard, her wings furled. The dim light glinted off her eyes which were fixed on his supine form.

Clearing his throat, Felix forced a chuckle. Damn but that was unnerving to wake up to. "Hey girl, guess I conked out, huh? Sorry." He was still naked, and the intensity of her stare sent a shiver down his spine. His fingers twitched with the urge to cover himself but settled on gripping the old mattress.

She gave a low, crooning hoot and hopped from her perch onto the mattress, just below his feet. Another hop and she straddled his shins. Felix's heart beat a bit faster. All of his previous musings came rushing back. What was she up to?

"You alright, Diva? Did you find some food?"

A nod. Her wings spread, blocking out the moonlight. She flapped once, twice. Softly, as if showing off her plumage, fanning him with the stirred air. A warbling trill followed along with another hop, bringing her up to his knees, the glint of her gaze fixed on his face.

"Okay… I'm happy to see you too but you're acting a little spooky. Do you mind giving me an idea of what's up?"

"Deci…" It came out like a sigh, and she abruptly flopped forward on top of him, her wings spread to either side. His breath left him under her sudden weight, her soft down belying the firm muscle beneath as she sprawled over him, acting like a living blanket. She nuzzled up under his chin and warbled, a wing reaching up to stroke his cheek, silken feathers teasing skin.

Shit, this was new. How was he supposed to react to this? Catching his breath, he forced a chuckle, freeing a hand to pat her on the head. "Yeah, hi to you too. Guess that one hug wasn't enough for you?" Was that all she was after? Oh hell, this could get awkward fast. He tried to think about anything other than how nice it felt, about the sensual glide of downy feathers across his skin, or her warmth radiating with his, or how her downy thigh rested right overtop his junk.

"Cidueye…" Her voice remained a low croon. A gentle nip at his neck sent electricity down his spine. Another, then a third on his chin. She was preening him, something she'd never done before. The wingtip at his cheek drew lazy circles, then dragged down his arm in an unmistakably suggestive way. Diva shifted on top of him, settling more comfortably into the notches of his body, her powerful legs sliding across his before coming down on either side of his hips.

"Diva…" Her name caught on his lips. He couldn't move, save for the part of him that was beginning to respond to her, arousal flushing his cheeks.

She answered with a low trill. Another gentle nibble on his neck. Her left wingtip played with his earlobe. A rising warble—a query.

Guess this explained a few things and answered the question of how she felt.

"This is pretty sudden," he found himself saying. His head felt light, a mixture of giddiness and nerves. What was he supposed to do? What was the right move? Should he push her away? Embrace her? Those soft feathers against him, that incredible predator body pressed up against his naked flesh... "Look, I'm not opposed to what I think you're suggesting, but I don't know if this is the right moment for uh… this."

She hooted, low and short, tinged with amusement. Her fluffy leg slid over his crotch, titillating and coaxing his stiffening arousal. Bright amber eyes bored into his own, cajoling, teasing.

"Yeah, of course I'm getting hard. I've got an attractive girl crawling on top of me. But it's not that simple. I'm more than my basic instincts, and so are you."

"Ueye!" Her eyes narrowed, but she stopped trying to fluff him up. Not that it mattered, he was at full attention already.

"Look at it this way. How would you feel if I kept you in your pokéball all the time and only let you out to battle or eat, or when I felt like it? How would you feel then if I wanted to uh… Have sex?" He let his hands settle on her shoulders, stroking softly.

"Deci…" She looked away, drawing in on herself. "Kurree."

"Is this why you've kept me here? Have you been waiting to do this?"

A sharp shake of the head with an indignant trill. Followed by a softer warble and a see-saw motion of her wing. The heavy feeling in Felix's chest lightened—good. She saw it, but she hadn't been looking to corner him.

"I think I get it. You're trying to do what you think is right for me, aren't you? And you're…" The words nearly caught on his tongue. "You want more from me. You want more for us."

She nodded, turning to face him again. Those sharp eyes held a touch of sadness, her wings patting at him. "Cueye. Deci!"

"I think I want more for us too. I just need to know that this isn't something else, that you're not doing this for the wrong reasons. I won't be your... pet, and I won't be manipulated either. But I'll happily remain your friend, and I'm willing to become more."

Another nod, coupled with a nuzzle at his cheek. She wriggled, warm feathers tickling in a delightful way, her motions trapping his manhood between her belly and his. He'd gone a bit soft with the conversation, but the renewed intimacy gave a healthy boost to his virgin excitement. Diva hooted a query, stropping her beak against his neck.

"Are… Are you sure?"

Wings braced on his chest, pushing her upright. She sat astride his hips, silhouetted in the moonlight, eyes gleaming beneath her hood. With a long croon she rocked back and forth, grinding herself against him, letting him feel the wet heat between her thighs kiss his pubic bush. His freed erection throbbed, resting against her downy rump and teased by her tail plumage. Diva crooned again, wiggling to gyrate her rear more deliberately on his manhood.

If that wasn't a "yes" he didn't know what was. Swallowing his nerves, Felix nodded his consent.

With a cry Diva lifted herself up, standing over him with her full height, wings spread wide like she was preparing to swoop down upon him. Her hips lowered, trying to line herself up, wet heat kissing the tip of his cock briefly, only to slide away. Another pass and she managed to catch it just right, lodging his head between her lower lips. Felix shivered, the new sensation so completely different from his hands, slick and supple flesh caressing him… He wanted to thrust, to drive himself deep inside that welcoming tunnel, but he managed to hold back. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt her. Better to let her take the lead.

For a long instant she sat there, grinding on his tip, her beak clamped shut as she rocked back and forth. Her insides were clenched tight, resisting his entry despite the copious lubrication. She rested her weight, trying to lower onto him, only to give an annoyed squawk as her unyielding inner muscles fought back. Was she just too small? No, that didn't seem right. Maybe…

"Lemme try something." He reached down, coaxing her up with his fingers on her belly, then slid a hand between her thighs, cupping her mound. Short, velvet down gave way to a subtle notch, with that dripping slit marking her delicate entrance. Sweltering heat poured out over his palm. Unreal. He was touching a woman intimately for the first time, and it was his best friend. The difference in species didn't matter—they both wanted this, and damn, it was hot. His erection strained, eager to dive into that same warmth.

Okay, what had he read about girls? Something about a running man motion, slow and steady. Hopefully his fingernails weren't too long, he'd just have to be careful. Lining up with her slit he wiggled the tips of his middle and index fingers inside, spreading her fuzzy lips. Immediately he felt her clench, those powerful muscles straining to force him back out, clamping on his digits with incredible force. He waited, letting her get used to the intrusion, then the second he felt her relax he pushed, gaining another inch.

Diva squawked, but it didn't sound like one of pain. He looked up, meeting her eyes in the dark. She gave a short nod, and he repeated the movement once her vaginal walls let him push again, sinking him in to the middle knuckle with a wet schlick. Her chest puffed up, and a low croon left her coupled with a shudder. Was that a good thing? Her tunnel clamped down hard, hot and sticky fluid running over his fingertips. Yeah, seemed like it was. Those incredible muscles relaxed once more, and this time his fingers plunged to the base without resistance. She shivered and let out a warble that sounded a lot like a moan. Damp silken flesh caressed his fingertips, pulsing with her arousal and desire. Felix stared at his hand, two fingers buried into his friend's pussy. Okay, that might be the most erotic thing he'd ever seen.

As the tightness around his digits began to relent, he tried wiggling. There wasn't a whole lot of space to work with, but he could kind of tease and tickle her inner wall with his fingertips. She crooned and ground on his knuckles, more of her honey dripping over his hand, her chest heaving. Did avians have a clit? He felt around with his free hand, but couldn't find any obvious nub or bump. Maybe it was inside somewhere, or maybe her anatomy was a little different. Either way, his gentle fingerbanging seemed to be working, soft squelching joining Diva's little vocalizations, the initial clenching of her snatch gradually easing off with her increased arousal. His own hadn't flagged, his cock standing proud and impatiently awaiting its turn where his fingers were. He tried curling his fingertips and was rewarded with a breathy croon and a gyration of her hips. Maybe if he focused on that spot he could make her—

She jerked up, his fingers sliding free with a slurp.

"Sorry! Did I—"

"Deci!" She shook her head, fixing him with a look so intense he could feel it boring into him even in the dark. No, she hadn't been hurt. That stare was pure lust, confirmed with her renewed frantic grinding against his cock. A sharp aroma tickled his nose, something like sage. The fuzzy down of her mound glistened, soaked by her juices, and despite her efforts, his straining tip kept sliding off target.

"Here, let me...." He reached down and gripped his shaft, holding it in place.

Diva shifted, found him, and dropped. They gasped in unison as her pussy spread to welcome him, several inches sinking into her warm depths. She settled, adjusted a bit for a better angle, and let her weight impale her further upon his length. Felix groaned, twitching with barely restrained desire. He wasn't going to last long. God that heat. Were all girls this warm, or were pokémon different? What about fire types? She gyrated her hips, enveloping more and more of him, coaxing spurts of pre from his straining cock. His hands rose, resting on her waist, mirroring her movements. Those amazing, spongy walls clenched and massaged his sensitive flesh, ten times better than anything he'd felt before. She was crooning, calling to him, cajoling him to give himself to her…

Her crotch met his, downy feathers tickling his balls. The tension in his loins tipped over, pleasure arcing through him. Felix gasped, bucked, and came. Thick ropes of creamy seed gushed free, his pent up arousal bursting forth to fill his avian partner. His fingers flexed on her waist, the delight of release sweeping away conscious thought, only the instinct to bury himself deep and give her everything he had driving him. He shuddered and clutched at her, every muscle in his body tensing, then finally falling back with a sigh as his spurts gave way to a final dribble, leaving him panting.

Damn, he'd never cum like that before. He felt like he'd just run a mile, but also an incredible sense of contentment.

As if from far away, Diva's trills brought him back to the present. She was leaning forward, wings propping her up overtop him as she looked down with her beak open in a grin. Her spread legs straddled his hips, their bodies intimately joined still. He grinned back at her and stroked her face.

"Damn girl, that was… Wow. Sorry I uh… Y'know, kinda quickshot. First time, right?"

She hooted and shook her head, dismissing the apology. Had she cum too? He'd been so focused on his own enjoyment that he hadn't been reading her signals. His crotch did feel a bit damp, but some of that might be his own sweat. Well, he could hardly be expected to be an expert. Neither of them could be!

The aroma of sage prickled his nose, coupled with the faint musk of his own exertion. His stomach growled but it was the last thing on his mind. She was moving again, rolling her hips, and even though his arousal had softened, the gentle massage of Diva's sex and the tickle of her tail feathers against his thighs and balls wove a spell over his libido. She wasn't done with him, nor was he with her. How long had she wanted this? Was this a new development with her evolution, or had she been attracted to him for a long time? Was it a sudden thing like his own realization of her femininity?

Now wasn't the time for such questions. She cut a graceful figure in the moonlight, rising up and bouncing on his lap, coaxing his manhood back to attention. His breath caught—she truly was beautiful, in her own way. Sure, she didn't have the womanly curves of his own species, but her feathered form bore plenty of charms, amplified by the permission to see her in such a way—a powerful predator with unrestrained sexuality, one who wanted him. The thought teased a hidden part of him, like a fire igniting in the depths of his consciousness. He wanted her too. Needed her.

Seizing her hips, he surged up, flipping them around. Diva squawked as her back hit the bed but quickly settled, chirping and grinning up at him with that gap-beaked laughter, the moonlight catching her plumage with a sheen. Felix crouched over her, blood rushing in his ears, heart racing, hands planted on either side of her head to avoid her wings. He'd slipped out, his dripping cock resting against her belly, sticky juices marring her feathers. Their eyes locked, and he met her grin with his own. "Ready for more?"

"Dec!" An eager nod.

He prodded about, gliding through silken down a few times before finding that welcoming slit once more. The need within him surged, and he speared halfway into her with a single thrust. Diva chirped, her wings fluttering to embrace him, hot flesh gripping around his cock. More. He drove deeper, spreading her sodden tunnel, probing that glorious velvet passage. Ecstasy bloomed, but still they needed more. His hands found purchase on her shoulders, his face resting next to her hood as he pressed into her, all sense of control and care lost to the wild lust consuming them. She didn't complain, her wings closing around his back, her legs spread wide to welcome him. Gasping hoots punctuated his movements, the bed creaking beneath them. Gripping her tight, Felix gave her his all.

"Oh god, Diva…"

Breath came in pants as he made love to his avian partner, hips gyrating madly, burying himself inside her again and again. Pleasure roared through him, the intimate slide of flesh on heated flesh at once familiar and new, all of his self-ministrations paling in comparison to the thrilling act of sharing his body with another. His balls throbbed for release, and Diva's writhing beneath him—awkward thrusts up against him—stirred his primal desire to fill her again with his seed. Those powerful wings clutched, drew him to her. She shivered and crooned, inner walls rippling around his pistoning shaft.

Felix slowed, catching his breath and trading speed with precision for a moment, each motion sliding his full length along Diva's dripping passage. His ear pressed to her neck, her pulse and breath like thunder. Her ruff made a perfect place to bury his nose and inhale her scent. Sage and something else… A bit sweet but seasoned with a zesty undertone. Pleasant and hers. He sunk into her and lay still, merely gyrating his hips to grind as deep as he could reach, his straining tip prodding her depths. No need to rush this. Diva let out a long groan, shuddering, her pussy clamping down around him. Hot fluid squirted, soaking his balls.

"Hey, was that… Did you just…?"

"Cidueye…" She sounded a bit out of breath herself.

Felix grinned, accomplishment bursting forth and swelling his ego. Okay, that might be the hottest thing ever. Damn, it felt good to be the cause of her delight! Reinvigorated, he resumed his pace, spurred by her joyous squawk and her little shivers. Shaky wings stroked his back, feathers tickling across bunched muscle, embracing him in her warmth. Would she cum again? Hopefully, and he was damn well going to try!

The small room filled with the sound of their lovemaking, wet pops and slaps alternating with Diva's cries and his own heavy breaths. Nothing mattered but her and their shared pleasure. Their movements came erratic but in sync, united in purpose. Felix's hips churned, slamming his lover into the bed, chasing the ecstasy rapidly blooming in his loins. Sweat coated his skin in a light sheen. She quivered beneath him; her beak found his ear and nipped—a flash of minor pain mixed with tantalizing pleasure. Another nip, coupled with a warbling demand. He growled at her, reading the primal message of, "Breed me, stud."

A request he'd gladly fulfill.

Tension drew taut as a bowstring. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders, squeezing them together, burying himself to the hilt inside her. Diva's legs cinched tight on his hips, talons pricking his ass as she clung to him, her sopping snatch clenching around his straining member. The bowstring snapped.

Felix groaned, euphoria rushing through him in the release, twitching with each spurt he pumped into her, filling her with all he had to give. A sighing croon tickled his ear, followed by a playful nibble. He shivered, grinding his hips into her and earning a pleased grunt. If she was going to push his buttons, he was going to push hers right back! Gradually their desperate clutching softened to an embrace, mirroring the tapering flow of his seed, leaving him lying atop her and catching his breath in the afterglow.

"Damn… Did that really just happen?" He propped himself up on his hands, looking down at her. "This isn't some weird dream trick, is it?"

Her half-lidded eyes met his, beak half open in a grin. She reached up, grabbed his nipple in her beak and nipped hard enough to make him yelp.

"Geez, okay okay! Point taken." He rubbed the offended body part, glaring at her in mock offense. "That's playing dirty."

"Deci!" She laid back, sprawling out on the bed and releasing her death grip around his hips. "Cidueye."

"Yeah yeah, act smug all you want. We both know you liked that as much as I did."

"Cidueye…" Her soft croon accompanied a look of pure delight, her wingtips tracing up her body.

Felix laughed and sat back on his knees, his softening manhood pulling free of her with a slurp and a dribble of mixed fluids. He felt completely spent, but at the same time energized and content. So that was what it was like. Damn. He wanted to kiss her, but it probably wouldn't work too well with a beak. He settled for helping her up and pulling her into another hug with his face against her downy chest. The mighty th-thump of her heartbeat made beautiful music.

"Hey… We're good, right? This won't get weird?"

She shifted—a shrug. As far as she was concerned, probably it didn't matter. They'd been close, and now they were closer still. Maybe she was right. They were more than friends now, more than pokémon and trainer. Whatever that was exactly wasn't all that important right now.

Except for one thing. He pulled back from the hug to meet her eyes. "Listen. I love you, Diva. Probably not in the romantic mushy way or whatever. But I want what's best for you and I'd do anything to protect you." Heat rose to his face. "You're also hot as hell and that was the best sex ever."

She gave a warbling cackle.

"Yeah, only sex ever, but it still counts!" He scratched his ear, trying to form his next words. "I don't want this to be the only time… And I doubt you do either, right?"

She nodded, sobering.

"But we don't have to stay here for that to happen. Sure, out there there's rules and stuff, and sometimes things might be scary... But you're stronger now. We're stronger now. Whatever comes at us, we can handle it together, right?"

She didn't respond, looking down at the bed. Her wing twitched, a hint of something stirring in the air.

He rested his hands on her shoulders, pleading with her. He couldn't fight her physically. She had to make the choice on her own. "If we stay here, this is all we'll ever be. We won't grow anymore, and I know we can be so much more! Besides, do you really want to be my jailer forever? Am I going to be your kept man? That's not fair to either of us. If you honestly care about me—and I know you do—then you know that isn't right." He chuckled. "If you want a pretty bird in a cage, I'm not a very good one. You've heard my attempts at singing."

A small avian grin tugged at her beak but didn't linger. The disturbance in the air pulsed, coalescing into the vague shape of a purple arrow held in her wing.

"You can't have it both ways, Diva. If you love me, you can't cage me. That's not love, that's possession. I've never tried to possess you, have I? And if I ever do try to, you can give me a good and well deserved squawking, I promise."

The shaft sputtered, hovering on the brink of existence. Diva raised her wings, aiming at the wall, at his invisible shadow. Felix's breath caught. Maybe in her mind possession was good enough.

"Diva..."

With a final crackle, the flickering energy died. Diva let out a long, mournful hoot, lowering her wings, and turned her head to look at him. His breath left in a whoosh, tension leaching away and leaving him slumped, limp.

"Thank you…" Somewhere in the muddled mess of relief, he found a smile. "And I wasn't kidding about the sex. I'm sure we wouldn't be the first to do it in a pokécenter hotel bed."

She gave a trill pitched somewhere between laughter and a scoff, then poked him in the chest with a wingtip. Her silken feather drew a lazy circle around his pectoral, tracing down, down, finally circling his sticky crotch and teasing over his limp package.

"Cidueye…"

Heat flared in his cheeks. Given the smoky look in her half-lidded eyes, that had been the pokémon equivalent of dirty talk. Probably something about how much she'd enjoyed herself and wanted to do it again sometime. Yup, that must be it. Maybe he should rethink the plan of getting a translator once he'd saved up enough…

His stomach growled, reminding him of how long it had been since he'd eaten, and providing a convenient change of subject.

"Hey uh… Did you find some more food by chance?" He swung himself out of the bed, grunting as his exertions made themselves known in the form of tired muscles. Not to mention the mess.

"I think we'll also need another shower."

Diva hooted and hopped down to join him.

***

Emerging from the remote cabin into the morning sun was like recovering from a terrible illness. The world seemed brighter, more alive, and despite the dark stubble beginning to prickle his cheeks, Felix felt fresher than he had in weeks. He had nothing but the clothes on his back and Diva's pokéball, and that was fine. Once they got back to the city, one phone call would put things to right.

Even if it didn't, she was here. That was all that really mattered.

She strutted tall and proud beside him, head swivelling about, alert for danger, but not brooding or fearful. The part of her which had been buried beneath the dark protectiveness was back, but augmented by something new—a progression of her previous plucky determination and endless curiosity. She wore confidence like her hood, and the sight of her elegant predatory poise brought a goofy grin to his face.

Catching his look she tilted her head, hooting a query.

"Nothing. Just thinking that you're gonna be a terror in the gym." He caught himself, frowning. "If you still want to, that is? I shouldn't assume that's what you want."

"Deci." Her nod couldn't have been more emphatic. She was ready, and if things changed, they could always move on to something new. They could do anything.

"Great! Let's get out of here then." He started to walk to the edge of the clearing, then paused. "Um, might need you to lead the way. I sort of have no idea where we are."

She let out a warbling trill and spread her wings. She fluttered once, twice, then hopped up and landed on his shoulders, nearly knocking him over. Powerful talons latched firmly, but carefully around his biceps, and those mighty wings began to beat at the air.

"Woah, woah. Hang on, can't we waaahhhhh!"

Together, they took to the sky.

[center][i]Fin[/i][/center]

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