Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Sanji tilts his head upward, sighing and closing his eyes against the warm, brilliant sunlight. A lazy breeze drifts by to tug playfully at his bangs, sweet with the scents of flowering oran and sitrus berry trees.

A small flock of Fletchling flutters by in the empty expanse of pale blue above. Sanji reaches his free hand up, giggling at the sight.

But the most perfect thing of all in those moments is the slim, soft hand cradling his own as his mother leads him to her Pokémon garden.

" Now that you’ve turned 5, I think you’re old enough to meet everybody," she hums down to him.

Sanji looks up into her soft blue eyes glinting in the sunlight. He wonders if he even looked away from the sky.

 " I can’t wait," he admits, glancing away as his shoe knocks a pebble. He kicks it again, biting his tongue in concentration," is it only Kalos Pokémon, Mama?" He looks back up to her as the glossy black stone curves, rolling out of his path.

She’s still watching him and he feels his whole body go hot under her gaze," no, sweetheart," her voice warbles just a little," Pokémon from all over every region are dropped off here, but the ones that come and go as they please are all native to Kalos."

Sanji hums thoughtfully, swinging their hands," dropped off?"

They finally come to the tall, pearl-white gate. Sora reaches to unlock it despite the servant Sanji sees rushing over to help.

" Yes," her nod is sad, explaining the odd tremble from earlier," sadly, some people can no longer keep their Pokémon, whether by choice or not."

Sanji frowns hard, stepping past the threshold and onto the plush, forest green grass that stretches as far as his eyes can see. There are bushes and trees everywhere, each of them blooming with some kind of flower as well as boxes on top of tall poles and some on the floor," that’s sad, Mama," he agrees, eyes finding a large pond with little blue Pokémon with bright yellow beaks swimming and using their wings to splash each other. He smiles then," but good too."

" Oh? And how so?" She wonders. Sanji watches in amazement as more and more Pokémon appear at the sound of her voice.

" Because now they can be with you and the others. So, everybody gets new friends!" He grins, giggling. Sora raises her hand to cover her melodic laugh and Sanji knows he could listen to her forever.

She lets go of his hand to press her fingers into his hair instead. Carding them gently against his scalp," what a sweet way to look at things," Sanji tips into her touch, cheeks pink and heart racing.

" Swiiiirrrlllliixx!" A sudden voice cries loudly, it sounds… happy.

" Speaking of sweet," she hums down at him, looking up to the sky.

It glides over to them and Sanji tilts his head as he squints. It looks as if a cloud is falling from the sky, just like the stars at night. Sanji would make a wish on it, but it’s pink instead of white with a darker tail and ears.  

It flies directly into his mother’s chest, nuzzling its face into her neck, cooing with its tongue hanging out," Swwwiiirrrlll!"

Sanji watches in both horror and awe as Sora gently takes hold of the very small Pokémon’s cheeks to touch noses," it’s good to see you too, Swirlix," the little thing chirps.

" Swirl-ix?" Sanji tries the name on his tongue. The puff ball turns to him and the sparkle of its sky-blue eyes is Sanji’s only warning before it dives for him.

The Swirlix knocks him to the floor as it presses flush with his belly.

Sanji screams, flailing on the ground, pushing desperately at the lightweight, but strong Pokémon," Mama! Help!"

" Swirl?" It quickly draws back in all his struggling, watching with big eyes as Sanji scrambles to his feet and behind his mother’s legs. His small hands rubbing harshly at his eyes, sniffling as his lip quivers," Lix," its dark ears drop as it sinks to stand on the floor. Something almost like guilt in its eyes.

" Oh, Sanji," Sora turns from the Pokémon to face her son. She crouches, pressing her fingers into the hollow beneath his eyes and pushing gently. The last of his tears spill over and she wipes them away," I’m sorry, my love. Swirlix used to be the class Pokémon at a kindergarten. So, he tends to get excited at the sight of children."

" Lix-Swirl. Swirlix," it ducks its head.

" I think he’s apologizing to you," Sora translates.

Sanji sniffles again, peeking just past his mother to the small creature," I-I… I don’t know. It’s still scary."

Swirlix literally appears to deflate at his words, its fur sinking as its eyes begin to glisten, lip quivering as if it's about to start crying.

Sora makes a thoughtful sound, looking around for a moment before saying," how about this," she rises to her feet with a heavy breath and walks over to one of the boxes Sanji had seen earlier.

This one sits on the ground and is surrounded by short, perfectly round pink Pokémon with huge eyes and strange hair. She smiles at the group and pets the head of a few. They part happily for her after the bit of attention and she scoops something from the box.

She returns to the duo with a palmful of small, blue and pink nuggets. She parts Sanji’s fingers gently and lets the pebble-looking things roll into his hand," try feeding these to him. They’re a kind of kibble made especially for fairy-types."

Sanji pouts at the soft, dry kibble," what if it tries to eat me?"

" Swirl?!" The pink thing gasps, seeming offended. Sanji sticks his tongue out at it.

" It’s your own fault for being so scary!"

Sora laughs again, much harder this time as she places a hand over her chest, wheezing quietly," he won’t. I promise."

Sanji blinks at her before looking at Swirlix again. He rolls his shoulders and sighs, nodding to his mother, trusting her.

Slowly, he walks over, sinking to his knees a foot or so away to be more eye level with the fairy-type," you umm… y-you want some?" While sticking his hand out and down. Swirlix hops closer and looks down at the food.

Round blue eyes blink as its tiny, dark pink nose wiggles. It huffs as its eyes close in content, enjoying the smell for a moment more before it releases a cheer of," Lix!" And begins to eat.

The large, red tongue that always dangles from its mouth is a little rough and tickles Sanji’s palm each time it swipes over his skin to collect more food. He giggles, fingers curling a little instinctively, allowing the tips to brush against the fur on Swirlix’s chin. It’s thick and plush, but isn’t matted-feeling like the wool of his Mareep toy. It’s also a bit… sticky, somehow.

When the tiny Pokémon pulls back there are strings of sweet-smelling white left all over Sanji’s fair skin. When he spreads his fingers it stretches between them like webbing, feeling something like glue.

Swirlix watches Sanji, tilting his head," Swir-Swirl!" He chirps brightly and Sanji giggles.

" You want more huh?" The blonde child grins at him and Swirlix sparkles like the sunlight, squirming.

" Swirlix!"

Luffy flaps his arms as the toe of his red shoe catches the rough, raised edge of a puddle. His attempt to fly fails miserably and all he can do to soften his fall is press his forearms to his face before he meets the concrete.

The gray water splashes up and over his back as rock digs into his arms. His new scratches sting from the filth. He trembles against the floor, sniffing hard as his eyes add warm water to the freezing rain on his cheeks.

He bites his lips and shuts his eyes as his shirt soaks up the street water and his pants cling to his slender legs. Luffy doesn’t know how long he lays there before thunder booms above him.

He leaps up with a yelp, covering the top of his head with his arms and sprinting to a tall berry tree planted at the road’s edge.

Its vibrant leaves lessen the rain as the boy tucks close to the bark and hugs himself. His thin, long-sleeve does nothing to warm him now that its ruby red has been drenched to a dark maroon. He lays his head against the trunk, tilted toward the sky as he closes his eyes once more. Shivering so hard it sucks the energy out of him.

His stomach rumbles angrily, nearly as loud as the pelting rain. He yanks his hat onto his head, pulling it hard until it covers his burning eyes. He tries to swallow the sob in his throat, maybe it can fill him up if he holds in enough of them. 

He pulls his knees to his chest and rests his chin there. Just as he prepares to sleep the hunger away, his hat rides up enough to reveal the grass, but more importantly the small, dark brown seed pits littering the area. He rubs his eyes and looks to the leaves, spotting a single, plump, peach colored berry among the emerald green.

Drool pools heavily beneath his tongue at the mere sight of it. He pushes against and off the large roots surrounding him, spinning to face the tree and wiping his nose in preparation to climb.

It’s high up and Luffy’s hands shake, but he clenches his fists and marches forward. He leaps as high as his 6-year-old muscles will allow, quickly wrapping his legs and arms around the tree so tight the bark makes his wounds ache.

He tries to shimmy upward, but the trunk is too thick and slick with rain water. He loses his grip as quickly as he got it, falling back into the grass with a harsh thump.

The impact knocks the air from his lungs. He lays there, gasping desperately while his lip starts to quiver, something sour rising in the back of his throat. He grips the plants beneath, fisting clumps of grass from the dirt as that sob finally bubbles up and out. Weak and helpless as he crawls back to his place between the roots.

He curls in on himself and shivers as he cries. The noises so soft they can’t be heard over the rain, choked and aching as his belly rumbles once more.

In his grief, he doesn’t notice the vibrant amber eyes staring down at him from the high branches of his natural umbrella.

A large head tilts causing even bigger ears to brush through wet leaves, cold drops falling onto the long strands of fur sticking up from between them.

It glances down to the low berry, then even further to the human boy, dirty and skinny on the floor.

It drops down, the fingers of its tail curling tight around the slim branch. It focuses on the fruit and swings forward, reaching out short, slim paws. It only grazes the skin at first, but another swing allows it to properly grab the round thing. Clumsy paws slip, struggling for a grip against the slick outer flesh.

For a terrifying second it starts to fall, but it manages to grab the berry, heaving a sigh of relief.

It bites down on the stem and leaps to the main body of the tree, gracefully bounding down it to the crying child.

" Pom?"

Luffy sniffs, peeking up at the sound, finally meeting the brilliant eyes that know him so intimately at this point. Small, purple paws hold out the berry he had failed to get with a smile, small on his round face.

Timid fingers reach for it," is this… for me?" He muses softly, only brushing the fruit.

" Ai!" It nods eagerly, holding the berry out further.

The Corviknette carefully takes the fruit, holding it and just… staring at it for a moment before a trembling smile tugs at the edges of his mouth," thank you!" He exclaims, opening wide for a big bite only to freeze when a grumble cuts through the storm.

Luffy looks to the creature that saved him, frowning when the shorter thing puts his paws over his tummy with a shy," Ai-Aipom."

" You're hungry too," he realizes then. He looks at the berry and digs his thumbs into the shallow dip around the stem. He grunts from the force, but manages to split the fruit jaggedly down its center. Sticky juice drips from his skin as he holds a half out," here," he says with a gentle smile of his own.

" Ai?" It only takes a moment for it to grin right back at him," Pom!"

They tuck into the food side by side, eating together as the rain’s patter becomes lazier. Luffy licks his hands clean as he swallows the last bite of the sweet berry’s soft flesh.

His eyes are heavy and his belly is finally quiet, meaning there’s nothing to distract him from his own trembling or the exhaustion pressing into the edges of his brain.

Naturally, his sleepy arms seek out the warm, soft Pokémon at his side. He presses his face into the top of its head when it’s properly seated in his lap. Nearly as big as he is, the weight pressing down on him is comforting, especially when it leans back into his chest to look up at him.

" Aip?" It hums curiously, doing nothing to escape Luffy’s hold.

" My name’s Luffy," he says in response, too tired to try and understand the actual question," what’s yours?" His voice slurred as black creeps in on all sides, a deeper black than even that of his closed eyes.

" Aipom," it chirps in return, wiggling so his side is pressing into Luffy’s belly instead of his back.

" Aipom," Luffy mumbles, testing the name on his tongue. 

A thin, long tail curls around him before the hand comes to rest on his thigh. The fingers gently wrap the fleshy arm holding Aipom in place.

Luffy feels Aipom press his cheek into his chest, close to his heart, before he falls asleep.

" And the chef said you have to be careful when you're mixing because going to fast’ll make the puffs deflate," Sanji explains brightly. His thin finger tracing the blue, spiraling frosting topping the pastel pink confection.

Sora hums roughly, her arm heavy on her son’s thin shoulders. Sanji presses into her side, content on the hospital bed," how do make sure you aren’t too rough?" Her voice is hoarse as a nurse fidgets with her pillow.

" It’ll only be a moment, Mrs. Vinsmoke," she assures quickly, hands fumbling through her motions.

Sora smiles warmly, voice firm as she says," take your time, dear. And please, call me Sora."

" Oh, um…", the younger flushes, glancing away," as you wish… Sora."

Sanji watches her with a tilted head as she speaks so softly he can barely hear. The pink flush to her fair cheeks is really pretty, though Sanji finds when he glances down at the dark-haired chef with small eyes and a kind smile as he offers his dessert to a Spritzee, that his aged, dark face is a bit more appealing.

Sora leans back with a pleased sigh as the nurse pulls her hands back, flashing another kind smile," thank you. That feels much better."

" O-of course, M-Sora, I mean," she scampers off with a final bow.

" Ichiji says you don’t have to treat them like people. He says they’re lower than Pokémon," he says after the click of the shutting door.

His mother’s eyes go dark around the edges," everyone should be treated with kindness, Sanji. No matter what."

The boy smiles," I’m glad. It… it made me feel bad when he said it," he admits, pouting at the glossy page of his cookbook.

Sora pets his cheek suddenly and he tips into it, humming deep in his small chest," tell me more about your fairy puffs."

Sanji lights up and starts to quickly flip through his book, searching for the recipe on herb flavored, grass-type poképuffs. He gasps then, giggling up at his mother," I have a surprise for you."

" Really?" She muses, endless blue eyes shimmering with mirth.

He only smiles bigger," come on out!"

A flash of pale pink emerges from under the bed, floating up to the mother-son duo," Lix!" He chirps brightly, rushing over to Sora and nuzzling their cheeks.

" Swirlix!" She greets, taking a gentle hold of the puffball to pull him back and look him over," I’m glad to see you’re doing well."

" Wir! Lix!" His tongue pokes out further as his tail wags eagerly.

Sanji laughs, copying the motion with his own mouth. Swirlix sparkles at him, squirming even harder.

" And I’m even happier to see you boys getting along so well."

" Mhm!" Sanji nods, opening his arms subconsciously when the fairy-type slips from Sora’s delicate hands and drifts over. Swirlix perches in Sanji’s lap, cooing when his fingers tuck into sticky fur," Lixxy actually found the poképuffs book and brought it to me."

" Swirlix!"

" And he promises to help me cook."

" Swirl!"

Sora laughs, warm and full," you sure are great at communicating with him," her hum thick with pride.

" Yeah! He’s my friend."

" Wirlix?" He looks up then, sky-blue eyes glistening in the brilliant white of the hospital lights.

" Of course we’re friends," Sanji grins down at him, flushed cheeks forcing his eyes closed. His voice heavy with something boarding on adoration," you know that right?"

A little sniff proceeds a thrilled," Swirlix!" As a cotton candy face and little nose tuck into his throat.

Sanji squeezes the plush creature close, hiding away against the crown of his head. He breathes Swirlix in, his scent sweet and warm and familiar. He draws back slowly, gazing down at the little thing," let’s tell Mama more about our puffs."

" Swir-lix!"

Luffy lays his palms on the rough tree bark, gazing up into its thick foliage. His hat falls back, landing against his back," see anything?!" He calls to the thriving leaves.

A round, large head pops out from between the plants, causing a few to scatter down to Luffy. In his mouth is a bright yellow berry with a round top and short tail," Ai!" He confirms brightly, muffled from his clenching teeth.

" Great job, Aipom!" Luffy praises with a grin. The Pokémon closes his eyes, ears wiggling," see if you can find three more. Then, we can both have two!"

" Pom!" He assures before diving back into the branches.

Luffy giggles, giddy at the thought of their early lunch. He spins away from the tree, focusing on carefully placing one foot directly in front of the other as he follows the protruding roots.

" We’ve been friends for a whole month now!" He reminds, somehow grinning bigger.

The leaves rustle back," Aipom!"

" And I haven’t given you a name yet," he leaps from the root as it thins, nearing its end. He lands in the dirt with a thud as a car passes just out of sight, heading into the city," do you want one?"

" Ai-Aipom!" The whole tree top wobbles with the cheer. 

Luffy laughs through his teeth, walking along the dappled shadows like he had the tree root, arms stuck out straight on either side as he slowly moves away from the tree," I’ll have to think of a good one then," he hums thoughtfully, swinging back around to face his friend.

He startles when instead he sees a small, green Pokémon staring up at him with tiny black eyes and bright red mouth bits. Its butt lifting just so into the air.

" Um… hi," Luffy waves awkwardly at the little thing and it must not have liked his greeting as it immediately lifts further off the ground, hissing as it waggles its rear end, showing off the odd, dark green pattern there.

Something white and ropey spits from between its red fangs, coiling around Luffy’s ankles like it had a mind of its own.

The boy screams, flinching back in his shock and falling onto his butt. Two more appear, one climbing around from the back of the tree trunk and the other emerging from between the roots.

He pushes away with his hands, desperately yanking on the sticky mess tangling his legs, but he just can’t get it off, no matter how hard he pulls.

" Spina!" The middle- and largest- one hisses out before leaping at him.

Luffy screams again and tries to shield his face. Only to realize his hands are stuck to the weird, web stuff. He can only whimper and turn his face away as his eyes close tight.

" Pom!"

A heavy, solid thud has Luffy tentatively peeking over his shoulder through the tiniest possible slits in his lids. Standing before him with his legs spread and long tail raised menacingly is," Aipom!" The relief in his voice nearly chokes him.

The purple thing looks back with a smile," Aip!"

The big one hits the ground hard, but manages to scramble to its feet," Rak!" The others crouch instantly.

" Spin!" The one to the left, the smallest, confirms.

" Ara!" A higher pitched hiss from the right.

They all charge together, white horns glowing a deadly purple. Aipom shifts his feet and jumps forward, swinging his body to bring his tail to the front. Its finger-like ends shine white with sharpened tips.

He manages to connect his hit, knocking the smallest to the dirt in a puff of brown smoke. When it clears, Luffy sees black spirals have replaced its equally black eyes.

" Spin," it muses weakly, head lolling.

" Be careful, Aipom!" Luffy worries, but he’s too late and the remaining Pokémon manage to nail Aipom with their horns.

The combined force knocks him into the air and Luffy squirms as fast as he can, even digging his shoes in and pushing off the ground to get far enough to catch him. Aipom slams into his chest, knocking him to the dry dirt as the air is forced from his lungs. He wheezes as he squeezes his friend between his bound arms.

" Are you… okay?" He pants, peaking one eye open. Aipom quickly gets up, sitting on his knees with tiny, gentle paws pressing into Luffy’s chest. His amber eyes glisten, racking desperately over him," don’t look at me like that," Luffy forces his breath to catch as he smiles, knocking their foreheads together," we can protect each other."

" Ai," he still worries softly, tipping into the boy before pulling back and facing his opponents with hardened eyes," Pom," he snarls, using his tail to spring forward, charging on all fours at Luffy’s attackers.

With his front paws on the ground, he flips forward. His tail comes down hard and fast, slamming into the smaller of the two. 

" Spina!" It cries sharply.

The biggest doesn’t get a moment to react before Aipom is twirling on the tip of his foot, knocking it back into the trunk of the tree," Spin!" The force reverberates through the wood, making the leaves shiver and even causing a berry to fall. It slides limply down, eyes spirals," Rak." 

Aipom’s pale belly heaves as he walks back to Luffy, using the same move to carefully slash the threads binding him.

The black-haired boy grins as he springs upright, crossing his legs from his spot on the floor," you did great!" He cheers, throwing his arms in the air.

Aipom smiles at him, lips shaky and lids drooping," Pom," he chirps weakly before falling forward into Luffy’s lap, chin pressing into his lower belly as a purple hue spreads across his yellow cheeks.

Panic ricochets violently around Luffy’s ribcage, hands shaking so bad it makes him feel sick," AIPOM!"

Sanji barely manages to skid to a stop, nearly crashing into the towering white gates that mark the entrance to his mother’s beloved park. The guard standing watch gives him an odd, mildly amused glance.

Sanji smiles a smile he hopes is irresistible up at the man," can you open the gate, mister? Please?" He tacks on politely, blue eyes flicking to the mechanism much too high for him to reach on his own.

" Alright, Master Sanji," he rumbles, voice gruff as he enters the five-digit code.

The lock clicks loudly, the metal whining softly as the large man pulls it open. Sanji races inside, hurriedly tossing a," thanks a bunch!" Over his shoulder.

Sanji weaves between feeding posts, accidentally scaring a few blue and white Pachirisu in his haste. He makes a note to make some spicy electric poképuffs to make it up to them.

He hops over a log and comes to the park's center where the pond sits glittering in the unobscured sunlight. His cheeks nearly ache from his constant smile, chest heaving as his heart pounds with excitement. His gaze flits around for a good sunbathing spot.

" Swirlix?!" He calls out, cupping his hands over his mouth when he doesn’t get an answer," Lixxy!"

" Swirl!"

He snaps to his left, zeroing in on the chipper response, somehow managing to grin even bigger at the sight of his best friend.

Sure enough, the Fairy-type sits at the very top of a metal jungle gym, bathed in brilliant white. He flies down toward Sanji, drifting on the wind with a warm glow to his sky-blue eyes.

" There you are!" Sanji giggles as they nuzzle cheeks when the puffball is close enough," I have something for you."

 " Lix?" He pulls back with a tilt of his head.

Sanji doesn’t say another word as he digs into his back pocket, presenting a small, half red, half white ball. He pressed the gray button in the center, causing the device to expand rapidly in his hand.

" Swir!" His companion squeaks in surprise, though he ducks down to sniff at it, dark nose twitching while his whole body wiggles from his wagging tail.

" It’s a pokéball," Sanji explains, watching with soft eyes.

" Swirl-ix?"

" Mhm," he nods, spinning it slowly to give the other a better look," I can catch you in it and that’ll make it way easier to take you to see Mama with me."

Big eyes blink up at him," Lix? Swirlix?"

" Oh! Well, I mean…", a burning flush takes over his cheeks suddenly as he glances down quickly," that’s only if you… wanna be my Pokémon," his shoes kick over the grass as his arms tuck back, hiding the pokéball," we’ve been friends for a whole year now and I just thought…", he trails, swallowing hard.

The pink thing studies him for a moment before an easy smile pulls at his lips. He glides around to Sanji’s back, tapping the center button with his nose.

The action forces the capsule open and Sanji’s fingers apart. He squeals, dropping the capsule in surprise. He watches for a moment as the sphere rocks, only noticing then that Swirlix is gone.

The ball draws his attention once more as it chimes cheerfully with a puff of sparkles.

Sanji reaches timid fingers down, lifting the ball from the grass and just staring at it as the reality of what just happened sinks in. He holds the pokéball, his dear friend, closer with warm tears collecting along his eyelids.

He breathes a sigh and wipes his face clean, squeezing the sphere" come on, Lixxy. Let’s go show Mama."

Luffy clutches Aipom close to his heaving chest even as his arms begin to ache from the other’s dead weight.

His shoes smack against the ground while he runs, moving as quickly as he can manage through the city, dodging and weaving around the people littering the streets. His honey brown eyes scan the buildings in desperate search for a red roof.

Somewhere deep in the back of his mind he remembers learning of red-roofed buildings and the people inside who heal Pokémon.

The tears burning as wind whip past his face make everything fuzzy, but he manages to spot one in the midday sunlight. The sight of which motivates his slender legs to push faster, his arms to hold tighter.

The doors part the instant his feet hit a bright pink pad. A welcoming ring fills the building and a woman looks up to smile, eyes closed. 

" Welcome to the Pokémon center. How can I-", she freezes as her eyes open to find the pitiful sight bounding up to the counter.

Luffy doesn’t have the breath to respond until he reaches the ruby red slab," m-my Aipom, he," he tries to swallow down the sour, aching lump in his throat. His lip wobbling," my Aipom got r-really hurt by some other Pokémon and…", he blinks, spilling hot tears down his tan cheeks. He sniffs hard, struggling to breathe through his grief," and he won’t move and I’m really scared and I don’t know what to do!" But in the end, he falls into open sobbing, hiding his face between Aipom’s ears," you have to help him! Please!"

" Of course, dear," she promises the instant he’s finished as a Pokémon comes around the counter.

It isn’t much smaller than Luffy, seeming about as big as his Aipom. Its chest is slender and red, flowing into round, white hips and lithe, dark legs. The two leaves on its head nearly touch the ground and Luffy finds the scent wafting from it eases the tightness in his throat.

Friendly, open red-pink eyes gaze up at him as white arms reach out for his friend, smile calm and patient.

Luffy draws back, frowning," don’t worry," the woman speaks up, voice serene," Steenee is my assistant and a really good friend of mine. She’ll make sure your Aipom gets all better."

" Stee-Steenee," the Pokémon hums in agreement, not moving an inch closer to him. 

Luffy glances down at Aipom, who trembles just so in his arms. The space below his closed eyes a more vibrant shade of purple than when they first left the trees," y-you promise?" Luffy sniffs, knowing he doesn’t have much of a choice.

" Nee!" She chirps back, eyes locked with his and firm.

Luffy swallows, but takes a step toward her to carefully lay Aipom in her arms. She holds him easily despite being a bit smaller. 

Aipom’s face scrunches and she pulls him close. His friend takes a shallow breath, relaxing with the exhale and tipping his head into her chest. Luffy grins at the sight," thank you so much," he scrubs his eyes, sniffing again.

" Nee-Steen!" Her leaves bounce as she nods before quickly moving to the back. Where identical doors split for her.

Luffy stares at where she disappeared, unable to help fidgeting with the frayed ends of his straw hat as her sweet scent dissipates.

" Would you like to go in the back with him?"

Luffy nods hard, throat so tight he doesn’t think he can speak.

She leads him back with a kind smile that has Luffy sticking close to her legs as she turns left into the very first room they meet. Against the back wall is Steenee as she calmly watches over his Aipom, who’s curled up in a strange machine beneath a dome of glass. It glows white all around him.

The flower-like Pokémon looks over her shoulder as he steps closer. She tilts her head at Luffy," Steenee?"

" Of course I trust you," Luffy comes to a stop at her side, laying a hand on the glass. Aipom is in a tight ball with his head resting on the palm of his hand-tail. Luffy smiles, wondering what it's like to always carry around your own pillow," you promised. And I know you would’ve kept it, but he’s my best friend. I don’t like it when I can’t see him."

" Eenee," she rests a hand on his shoulder, he smiles at her, breathing in the sweet air surrounding the kind Pokémon.

" I know," he giggles, feeling the woman’s eyes on him.

" Oh, my name is Nurse Joy," she speaks up. Luffy spares her a glance before looking back to Aipom, whose cheeks have lost their purple hue," what’s your’s?" 

" Luffy," he says to his reflection.

She nods, though he can’t see," was Aipom given to you by a parent? Or some other guardian?" She questions carefully, hazel eyes drifting across his dirty red shirt, littered with little holes. Ignoring the reek he wafts that not even Steenee can drown out.

" My dad left a long time ago and my mom got sick. After she died, I ended up here," he relays as easy as breathing, tracing the outline of Aipom with his finger.

" Okay," pity shines through her voice," do you have someone else who looks after you?" 

" I have Aipom," he tells her evenly.

" Steenee, can you keep an eye on Luffy and Aipom while I make a call?"

" Steenee!" She agrees without so much as a glance to her trainer, watching the healing Pokémon like a Braviary. Nurse Joy slips from the room.

Luffy doesn’t even notice she’s gone.

" And even though they were too sweet, Lixxy and the other Fairy-types still ate them all up!" Sanji throws his arms apart from his spot on his back, grinning to the ceiling with the soft thumping of his mother’s heart against the back of his head. His legs dangle off the hospital bed.

" Lix! Swirlix!" The pink Pokémon agrees, tucked happily into his side, pillowed against his arm.

" That’s wonderful, sweetheart," she hums, eyes closed and blonde locks fanning out over her pillow. Her fingers trail lazily through Sanji’s identical hair, switching every now and then to Swirlix. Who wiggles and purrs under her attention," you’ll have to bring me some more to try from the next batch."

Sanji feels a blush bleeding into his cheeks, body warm and heavy," mhm! I promise, Mama!"

" Swirlix!"

The room goes quiet when the rhythmic click of heeled footsteps nears, so silent the sleepy Fletchling can be heard chirping their goodnights outside of the open window.

Swirlix dives under the bed just in time for the door to pop open just enough for the same young, pretty nurse to poke her head in, red hair slipping down like waves.

" Sanji, it’s time for your mother to get some rest," she informs, smiling gently at the boy.

" Okay, Ms. Ciel!" He agrees without a fuss, rolling over to push himself up on his arms and kiss Sora’s cheek," goodnight, Mama! I love you."

Her blue eyes open to gaze adoringly at her son, turning to kiss his nose," I love you too, my Sunshine. Sleep well."

Sanji hops down from the bed and dashes out of the room, smiling to Ms. Ciel as he passes. The nurse watches him turn down the hall before reaching for the room light.

" Actually, can you leave it on, dear? I’ll turn it off myself."

" If you're sure, Sora," she hums, nodding," goodnight."

" Goodnight."

Sora heaves a breath as the door closes, lifting herself up on shaking arms to sit back against the railed headboard. She closes her eyes for a moment, breathing through her nose and out her mouth, fighting the tightness in her chest.

" You can come out now, Swirlix," though her voice still rasps despite her best efforts.

He flies up quickly, shaking a few flecks of dusty gray from his pristine pelt. She looks on with a fond smile, patting her thigh.

" Stay with me for a little bit?" 

His eyes sparkle at the invitation," Wirl!" He sings merrily, gliding over to take the spot, facing her.

She threads her fingers through his woolen coat. The sticky strands part willingly for her, though Swirlix melting into the space between her breasts might be contributing to that. She lays her head against the wall, enjoying the warm smells of summer outside her window and the sweet twinge Swirlix adds," you and my Sanji really care about each other, huh?" Sora allows her eyes to close once more.

" Swirlix," he agrees, voice tender at the mention of their Sanji.

An easy smile pulls at her lips," I’m glad Sanji has a friend as good and reliable as you."

They sit in cool silence for a while as exhaustion presses so heavily on Sora’s brain it turns the edges of her vision black, knowing she has to speak up before going to sleep.

" Swirlix?"

" Swirrrrllll," he hums sleepily, nuzzling closer.

" Can you promise me you’ll always take care of him. No matter what?"

He stills under the weight of her words, pulling back to look up at her. Sora meets his blue gaze, they shimmer with something she doesn’t think she understands. 

She’s sure Sanji would get it if he were here.

The set of his features is harder, tongue completely in his mouth," Swirlix," his voice is firm, determined.

Sora kisses his nose to seal the promise and it all falls away as he squeals, tongue popping out as he wiggles.

" Lixxy!" A familiar voice calls from below the second story window.

Just like that, his attention snaps behind him with his dark pink tail swaying side to side. Sora can’t help a giggle at just how enraptured they both are," well go on then. I’d hate to keep you. And turn off the light for me, please Swirlix."

He spares her a second of his focus to float up and rub cheeks with one last chirp of," Swirl!"

The Fairy-type glides to the switch, using his tail to flick it off before rushing to the window and his Sanji. Only to pause when he realizes he forgot to wish Sora only the absolute sweetest of cotton candy dreams.

But when he looks back, her eyes are already closed, muscles slack as she leans back into the white wall.

" Swirlix," he wishes anyway into the dim room before gliding out of the window and into the sunset.

And, most importantly of all, Sanji’s already open arms and brilliant smile.

A soft breath is pulled from Luffy’s chest as Aipom’s pale lids part to reveal the warm amber-orange behind them.

" Ai?" He muses while lifting his big head slowly, call thick with something like exhaustion.

" Hey buddy!" Luffy greets happily, a wide smile squishing his flushed cheeks.

" Steenee!" The nurse greets in tandem.

" Aipom Aip?" He tilts his head at them, laying one of his slim paws against the glass.

Luffy lays his own hand over it, tapping his fingertips on the hard surface longingly," you protected me from those Pokémon, but you got really hurt. So, I brought you here and Steenee made you all better!" He explained, smile softening.

" Aipom!" His friend turns his bright smile to the pink and white healer. Who twirls under the praise, the room filling thicker with her sweet smell.

" Nee-Steenee!"

Luffy laughs through his teeth at her reaction, knocking their shoulders together. Steenee makes him feel like he can take on the world, he can’t really describe why," but I have even better news!" Luffy adds then, glancing back as Aipom watches them.

" Pom?!" He wonders, meeting Luffy’s excitement half way.

" I know what I’m gonna name you!"

" Ai?!" He gasps, sitting up quickly and resting his other purple appendage next to the first. His eyes shimmer despite the barrier between them.

Luffy presses closer to the capsule, laying his palm over Aipom’s other paw," I’m gonna call you Pistol!"

" Aaaiiii," he sings, nodding along slowly only for his brow to furrow the longer he goes on," Pom?"

" Yup!" He chirps, chest swelling with pride," because you were like bam!" Luffy leaps back suddenly," then boom!" he punches the air while spinning wildly and hopping from one foot to the other," and knocked ‘em out so fast they didn’t even know what hit ‘em!" He stops on a dime, arms thrown out wide around him, beaming even as his small chest heaves.

" Aipom!" The purple Pokémon imitates his friend despite his confines. His tail easily doubles the size of the pose even as he squats down.

" So you like it?" Hope bleeding into his question. The eager nod that answers makes his heart race," then Pistol it is!"

Their third claps her white hands together," Steen!" She coos, looking nearly as pleased as the boys.

" Luffy?" Said boy jumps at the new voice, looking over his shoulder at Nurse Joy. When had he forgotten she was here too?" Can you come with me for a moment?"

That pulls a pout from his lips as he glances back to Pistol. His wide eyes blink at the new woman, frowning at her sudden appearance.

Steenee’s warm pink eyes flick between the friends for a moment before smiling. She glides gracefully to where Luffy stands in the center of the room.

Delicate, petal soft hands take his," Eenee-Steen," she promises with a fond shine to her gaze.

Luffy grins at her, nodding," okay!" He squeezes her fingerless hands before going to the Nurse," be right back!" He promises in turn, waving to the similarly sized Pokémon.

" Nee!"

" Ai!"

" There are some people I’d like you to meet," she explains with a hum, guiding him toward the front of the building.

Luffy grunts a response, trailing behind her and lacing his fingers together behind his head. The position pushes his hat forward awkwardly, completely blocking the top half of his vision.

" Luffy, this is Mr. Smoker and Ms. Tashigi," he’s introduced as they come to a stop.

He shoves his hand under his hat, forcing it and a few extra long strands of hair back, taking in the people in front of him.

The man, Smoker, is so tall Luffy has to crane his neck just to meet his hard eyes and square jaw. His hair is dull gray and a pair of ebony sunglasses rest on his forehead. Tashigi is just the opposite. It’s still a struggle to meet the dark blue eyes behind purple glasses, but her face is set softer and the silky black hair cascading down her shoulders makes her look younger than Smoker.

And nicer too.

Luffy’s glad when she’s the one to crouch down in front of him," hi there, Luffy. Do you have any family you can go to?" Her voice is light and eases something in his chest just a little.

" Nope," popping his p," I’m from somewhere far away. It’s across the ocean," something sad darkens her already nearly black eyes and Luffy frowns a little. He had always thought the ocean was really pretty.

" Then our job is to help you," Smoker rumbles, voice booming even when it’s quiet.

Looking up at him is too hard, so he pouts at Tashigi instead," help… me?"

" Yes," she nods. The smile on her face pleasant despite it all," I bet there are some nights when you get cold, right?" 

Something tight pushes against Luffy’s throat suddenly as he nods, trying to swallow the sour thing because sure, some nights are harder than others. But he’s tough, he can handle it. 

That sadness deepens as the smile stays," and I’m sure you get hungry. You may even be hungry now."

The fierce snarling of his stomach at the simple mention of food causes a thought to smack him right in the face. He and Pistol never ate their berries!

His buddy had worked so hard for them, had risked everything for them, and Luffy had turned his back to the fruits without even a glance. The guilt welling up inside him makes it even harder to swallow, solemnly wondering how hungry his Pistol must be.

" Then we can take you somewhere really nice and warm with plenty of food," Smoker grunts as his mouth shifts oddly, stuffing his hands deeper into the pockets of his uniform.

Drool pools thickly under his tongue at the thought of no longer scavenging for scraps with his Aipom. Even his stomach rejoices, hope flaring alongside the guilt and that weird, tight feeling," do you really mean that?"

" Of course. You have my word," the impossibly large man nods.

" Your… word?"

Why would giving out words be something special? They all talk all the time.

" It’s just another way of saying ‘I promise’," Tashigi elaborates, standing to her full height once more," we both promise to take you somewhere safe and warm with all the food you could want," she holds her hand out then, palm down, to Luffy. He looks at it, a familiar burn building behind his eyes," so, what do you say?"

" Of course I’ll-", in his excitement Luffy nearly forgets the most important question of all," wait! What about my friend? Can he come too?"

" Naturally," Smoker grunts without a second’s hesitation.

" What’s his name?"

" Pistol!" Luffy chirps, puffing with pride.

Smoker’s heavy brow furrows so hard his sunglasses nearly fall back over his eyes," Pis-".

" -tol?" Tashigi’s young face sets uglier.

Luffy deflates at their reactions.

Aipom had loved his new name! It’s a good name!

 " Yeah!" He holds his ground, folding slim arms over his chest," I came up with it myself," he sticks his nose in the air, scoffing at the two. As a result, he misses the absolutely bewildered look shared between Smoker and Tashigi.

" If I may," Nurse Joy interjects politely," I believe he’s referring to an Aipom he brought here to get treated after a run in with the poisoning effect."

" Ah," a pink flush stains Tashigi’s fair skin as she adjusts her glasses," yes, um," a cough into her glove," that makes much more sense."

" Sorry, kid, but no Pokémon allowed," Smoker shuts down instantly.

 Luffy gapes at the wide man," but you gave me words!" Pointing an accusing finger to the adult in question.

Smoker doesn’t even blink," I gave my word that you could come. I never said the same about this… Pistol," he says the word like it makes him uncomfortable.

Luffy’s honey-brown gaze sets in a glare. Promises are supposed to be forever. Smoker may not care about that, but Luffy had promised Pistol they’d protect each other.

How can he protect him if he isn’t there?!

That awful sour burn comes back tenfold as something ugly and bitter and… and angry fills him up. He sniffs," then I don’t wanna go!" He shouts, stomping his foot because he wants to hit something," not without my Pistol!"

The pair share a look as Tashigi sighs and steps back. She pushes her glasses higher up on her small nose. The lenses catch the light just right, obscuring her gaze in empty white," sadly, you don’t have much of a choice."

Smoker steps around her, snagging Luffy’s wrist before he can run too far," you’re a kid with no parents. We can’t just leave you on the street."

Luffy digs his sandals in regardless, yanking back so hard it sends a hot ache down his arm from his shoulder," let me go!" He screams, gritting his teeth," I won’t leave him behind! I promised!"

Their fight is one-sided however, with Smoker even going as far as to lift Luffy from the ground to relieve the pressure on his small body. He tucks him under his powerful arm and against his side," I said no!" He shouts, kicking his feet and squirming, trying to yank his head through the opening," put me down!"

Tears pool along the edges of his lids as he pushes and pulls and yanks with all his might. Something awful and painful and familiar- so agonizingly familiar- fills up his pounding heart.

His lip wobbles as a hiccup chokes him," no! Stop it!" A sob tears from his throat, loud and helpless. He shuts his crying eyes, roaring," PISTOL !"

" Ai?" His head pops up, big ears twitching to locate Luffy’s voice. But the walls are thick and everything goes silent," Aipom?!" He tries again, louder and gets nothing.

He can’t hear anything .

He stands on four feet, pacing shortly as fear pools in his gut.

Something isn't right. Everything feels wrong .

Where in Arceus’s name is his Luffy?

"AIPOM!" He shouts for the final time before the cool, powerful pulse of his Scratch curls up his tail and around its fingers.

He brings it forward, slashing at the glass that feels more prison-like than it had just a few minutes ago.

He barely manages to nick it, but he does it again and again and again regardless, hitting it even as his entire being begins trembling from the force. Even as a dull ache sets into his tail.

He pushes past all of it because just the thought of anything happening to Luffy after they just promised to take care of each other makes him wanna faint and never get healed.

He goes to swing again and meets nothing, but the floor as his momentum carries him over the edge of his table. He springs up, head swinging around wildly before his eyes find Steenee.

" Nee-Steen! Steenee!" She urges using her arms, legs, petals, everything to encourage him forward. The sheer force of his gratitude nearly brings him to tears.

" Ai-Aipom!" He shouts over his shoulder, racing on all four of his feet along the trail of his boy’s scent. The familiar smell leading to the door standing between him and Luffy.

It opens automatically as he skids to a halt just in time to watch Luffy’s straw hat flutter to the ground. He takes off toward it, weaving between the legs of the human nurse and grabbing the hat with his tail, gripping at the red fabric as he bounds into the brilliant light of the midday sun which glints off the back of a car driving away from him.

In its back window, with snot on his face and tears staining his cheeks, is Luffy.

He rolls his shoulders, stealing his muscles before pouncing with a shout of," Ai!"

The leap leaves him halfway up the trunk of a tree beside the Pokémon Center. Another lands him on the highest branch. It wobbles under his weight, but he swallows down his trepidation.

The thin limb snaps when he pushes off of it to grab the metal support attaching the red and white pokéball sign to the square building. He lets the motion carry into a wide swing. His furry paws sliding against the steel until he lets go, launching himself onto the rooftop.

Pistol’s sharp eyes spot the dark vehicle sitting at an intersection beneath a red light as the wind whips past his falling figure. He takes off the moment he hits the ground despite the heavy heave to his slim chest.

There’s a dull ache ringing throughout his whole body, warm and pulsing beneath the oppressive sun as he leaps from one rooftop to the next, gaze never straying far from the thing that stole his Luffy.

Luffy with his wide, toothy grins and Deerling brown eyes. With his full laughs echoing off the trees and his scream echoing in his ears.

Luffy, who none of this would have happened too if he had just been stronger.

Luffy, whose hat he grips tighter and vows to push on for, to find.

No matter how long it takes.

Sanji glances down at his bright yellow shirt, swiping his palm down the front to clear the dark pink fur clinging to the fabric. The mess does nothing to halt the skip to his step as he follows the cobblestone path to his family’s hospital.

He is careful not to jostle the lone, perfect poképuff resting in a plastic container," she’s just gonna love it, Lixxy!" He squeals to the shrunken ball in his pocket, staring down at the frosted dessert," I know she is."

The glass doors open the instant he’s close enough. Sanji grins at the guard, chirping," thank you!" Before bounding up to the front desk that Ms. Ciel sits behind. Sanji watches with a pout as she digs her fingers into her temples, wrinkles spreading across her pretty face," are you okay, Ms. Ciel?" He wonders, sitting down his treat and rocking onto his tippy toes to sit his chin on the counter.

" Sanji!" She exclaims suddenly, surprise over-taking her sour expression," what um… what are you doing here?" There’s a sniff to her voice as she reaches for a tissue, dabbing at the corners of her pink eyes.

He tilts his head at her," I know I’m early, but I…", his gaze trails across the room, as if it could explain the nurse’s odd behavior before landing on his dessert," oh right! I just made a fresh batch of fairy-type, Pokémon puffs and I promised Mama yesterday that I’d let her have some! Even if I could only save one from the Snubbull." 

She goes as pale as a Spewpa’s coat," Sanji, I…", she purses her lips, pressing so hard they turn white too," I…".

The boy only stares at her for a while, studying her stormy yellow-amber eyes. Sad like an Azurill's when it doesn’t get to swim before the sun sets. Something dawns on him, making him so guilty his whole body aches with it.

" I get it," he muses then, ducking his face behind the counter some.

" Oh Sanji, I’m so sorry. W-we did everything-"

" You don’t have to apologize. It’s my fault," gazing down at his dull reflection in the black and white marble," if I had been faster, I would’ve been able to get another one, but now…", glancing morosely at the container," now it’s too late and I don’t have enough to share with you too."

In his sulking, Sanji misses the look of grief-stricken horror that floods the older woman’s face. Her hand clutching tightly at the space just above her heart, slick tears misting over pitiful yellow," Sanji," her entire being quivers," I’m… I… I’m gonna come around to your side. Okay?"

He nods slowly, wide blue flicking up to her," okay."

He traces her path behind the glass wall and to  a side door, pulling it open to appear in the hallway. She kneels down fully, hands clasped in her lap.

" Sanji, it’s about Sora," he can hear her swallow when their gazes finally meet," your Mom, she-", something like a choking sound cuts her off. She takes a breath and grabs his hands, cradling the slim things between her bigger ones, Sanji looks to where they meet, then back up to her. There’s an odd feeling in his stomach. Something tight and squirming," she’s gone, Sanji."

" Gone?" He tilts his head slightly, long blonde falling to the side," well, where is she then?"

Ms. Ciel simply shakes her hand, holding him tighter as tears pool along the ridges of her eyelids," no, I mean," a pause for another swallow," I mean she passed away… last night. It wasn’t long after you’d left."

Sanji wonders if someone upset the legendary time Pokémon Dialga he had been reading about because there's a second- or at least, it feels like a second- where he can’t breathe.

A moment of pressure on his chest- on his everything- so heavy his lungs, his heart, just don’t work. In that moment, he has no idea he’s actually panting, heaving for air so intensely it shakes his little body to the very core.

All he knows is that right now, in this second- minute, hour- no matter how hard he tries he still can’t breathe.

" What does that-", his trembling lip smacks into his tongue. It's so hard to talk, to breathe ," what does that mean?"

" It means Sora’s gone and she… she can’t come back," Ms. Ciel says it so softly Sanji nearly doesn’t catch it over his wheezing," ...ever."

Sanji starts to shake his head, swinging it side to side so hard his shoulders ache. So hard he can hear his brain knocking around in his skull.

His throat is too tight.

Everything is so dark.

He just wants to breathe. Why can’t he breathe ?!

His throat hurts but he isn’t talking.

He’s screaming. Screaming no.

No, not this. Please not this, not her. Arceus please, please, pleasepleaseplease.

It can’t be true. I don’t believe you. You’re wrong, this is wrong. It has to be wrong.

Where is she? I need to leave, to find her. Now.

Now.

Now!

NOW!

Sanji yanks at where they touch hard enough to tumble back onto his butt. He scrambles off the floor and out of the hospital.

" Sanji!"

He’s running into things, some part of him knows that. Workers, people, but he doesn’t feel the pain, weaves out of the worried hands trying to still him, dodges the concerned calls. Deaf to everything with just how loud his own blood is in his ears. Roaring louder than a Noivern’s Boomburst.

Finally, his foot catches something and he goes hurtling toward the floor. His body slams into the grass, the force flinging his little pokéball from his pocket and into a tree’s trunk as he skids across the dirt. His back crashing into it as well, making the entire plant rumble as brilliant white flowers and plump blue fruits drop from its branches.

Swirlix’s ball expands, clicking open with a flash of white that morphs into a grinning cloud of soft pink." Swirl!" He greets, blinking open blue eyes and expecting Sora and her room littered with flowers and stuffed Pokémon.

But instead, he finds his Sanji curled up on his side, sobbing so loudly it makes his voice crack, curled in on himself so tightly it looks painful.

" Swirlix?" He coos helplessly, nuzzling his nose against the boy’s cheek.

" Get away from me!" Sanji snaps, swinging his arm and managing to connect with his hand.

" Lix!" The fairy-type flinches back, pain exploding over his cheek. He looks at the blonde, eyes wide and glistening," Swirl ?!" He cries, ducking his head in betrayal, shrinking in on himself as furious blue eyes blaze down at him. Sanji stands above, tears cascading in falls down his bright red cheeks.

" It’s all your fault!" he roars, clenching his fists at his sides. Gripping himself so hard ruby red begins to stain his palms," if you had stayed there longer, none of this would’ve happened!" He stomps his foot, closing his eyes," you could’ve gotten someone to help her! Then she… then she-", he croaks out, falling to his knees," she-", his tantrum does nothing to ease the claws ripping into his heart. He falls forward, releasing his fists and digging his fingers into the soft dirt instead.

Swirlix can only stare, watching as Sanji sobs his heart out into the grass. Coughs and cries tearing from his throat.

He understands as his ears fall.

And he wishes it were anything else in the entire world.

The tiny Pokémon Tackles into Sanji’s chest, forcing him back to the tree as he buries his face into his burning hot, soaking wet neck," Swirl-Swirlix," he muses softly, feeling trembling, bleeding hands slowly enclose his fur.

Sanji only pulls Swirlix closer to his heaving chest this time. Tucking his fingers away into sticky strands as his sobs fall away into screams. Full, guttural wails of an anguish so intense, Swirlix can’t bear to hear it.

He shuts his eyes, breathing and focusing on the natural sugary-twinge to his smell. Honing it to amplify it, allowing his Sweet Scent to fill the air all around them. Hoping to Arceus, Mew, Xerneas, whoever that it can ease his friend’s pain. Even if only a little bit.

Wails give way to whimpers and then hiccups as his desperate gasps lead to chestfuls of the aroma. When Swirlix peaks up at him, his own eyes sting in the early breeze.

Sanji bites at his lip, swallowing hard," she’s gone and she isn’t ever gonna come back," he explains to no one. Though his fat tears do drip down into Swirlix’s fur when he looks to him," I miss her, Lixxy. I really miss her."

" Swiiirrrllll," he whines his agreement, nuzzling back into Sanji’s neck as the child hides away in his fur.

One set of tears dampens a cotton candy pelt. Another soaks into a yellow shirt with a three printed on the front. Both are overlooked by a young oran berry tree.

The trunk of a seed planted 6 years ago with white petals, green leaves, and blue fruits standing guard as they give way to grief and fall apart.

Luffy’s coughing up the last of his tears when the car finally grumbles to a stop, digging the heel of his hand into his dripping nose until it turns red.

" Here, use this," he blinks his eyes open, moisture clearing just enough to reveal the cloth thing Tashigi is trying to hand to him. He turns his nose up to her with a huff, continuing to dry his face with his dirty red sleeve. The older woman heaves a sad sigh," Luffy, we know you miss your Aipom, but Pokémon aren’t allowed in the orphanage."

" Then you should’ve left me there!" He snaps in an instant, glaring at the older woman as just the mention of Pistol nearly ruins all his hard work.

Who’s he supposed to cuddle up to every night? Won’t he get cold out there all by himself?

He thinks of Steenee and her promise, but with her already having such an important job…

Are there places for Pokémon to go when they have no one to look after them, too?

" I miss him. I want him back," a hiccup chokes him for a second, hiding back into his hands.

" You’ll forget about it sooner or later," Smoker rumbles, popping the door open," now clean your face. We have to go meet Koushirou."

He feels something soft land gently in his lap, before another door opens and closes, leaving the boy alone with his grief. He yanks his shirt up off his belly, burying his face into it and rubbing so hard it burns, ridding himself of as much snot as possible before reaching up to pull his hat down.

He pats his hand along his back, feeling something icy cold lodge in his gut when it comes up empty. He dives off the seat, searching everywhere he can reach, even in the front, but no matter where he looks or how much he squints, he just can’t find it.

Luffy squirms until his back slams into the door, wheezing to catch his breath even as the whole world comes crashing down on him. He tucks his face between his knees, covering his bare head with his hands.

He tries to imagine him. A small, soft paw reaching up, gentle as it traces his jaw with a small, warm smile on a big round head. Or goofy ears wobbling back and forth as he sticks out his pink tongue and pulls at his cheeks.

Tries to think of prickly straw and a soft sash.

They nearly soften the blood roaring in his ears, but then he opens his eyes and they vanish and he’s back in this stupid car!

He doesn’t hear the door open in all his panting, but the car adjusting to a new weight jostles him enough to prompt his gaze.

He’s met with a serene face and small eyes behind thin, round glasses. Wrinkles form along the easy curve of his slight smile, in the corners of his eyes. Long, glossy black hair is pulled back into a low Mudbray-tail.

" Why are you crying, little one?" His voice has to be the softest thing Luffy’s ever heard.

" I-", a cough," I lost two really important thi-ngs," there’s a tremble to his voice," and I don’t know if… if I'm ever gonna get them back!" It’s as if saying them aloud makes it all more real," and I want them back! I want them back really bad!"

The man hums, leaning back into the car’s seat. There’s a thoughtful furrow to his thin eyebrows," that’s often how it is in the earliest stages of grief," reaching up to adjust his glasses," you see, I too lost something very important only a little while ago."

Luffy rubs at his eye with a closed fist and a frown," really? But you’re a grown-up. Nobody can take things from grown-ups."

He chuckles, a breathy thing, and regards the boy fondly," I suppose, it would seem that way to a child," wispy hands fold in his lap," but, I’ve always felt that nothing can ever truly take something from you."

Luffy pouts at him, it sure feels like Pistol and his hat were taken from him," that doesn’t make any sense." 

" The only way for something to be lost, is for it to be forgotten," the older man goes on to explain. Smiling at Luffy with a softness that makes something warm and familiar bubble in his gut," as long as you remember what has been lost," his hand extends to Luffy. He flicks his wrist and the flourish produces a white cloth with a dark blue symbol in the corner," it’ll always remain."

The boy takes it, sparkling dimly in awe, sliding the fabric between his fingers. Tracing the rough, raised crossed swords symbol.

" Now, how about you clean up your face and we go eat something. You’ve arrived just in time for lunch."

Luffy stares at it for a moment longer before using the thing to wipe away the evidence of his breakdown. The material is plush and smooth, so much nicer than his scratchy shirt. He cleans his eyes first, then his nose.

When he’s all done, he shows his face to the older man. He nods, hum content," much better."

The stranger opens the door and leads the way. Luffy slips out, trotting to keep up with his long, nimble strides.

The few buildings before them aren’t very big. Their pasty white walls are topped with dark wood roofs and beams, windows peek out at him every now and then. The space to the side is a wide open, sandy area with a forest sprawled out on all sides.

Pistol would’ve had a blast here, swinging from branch to branch, scaling the poles to the roof, leaping through the windows.

" My name's Luffy, by the way," he says between those depressing thoughts, honey-brown following after a small flock of gray and white flying Pokémon.

" It’s a pleasure to meet you, Luffy," he tilts his head down as Luffy arches his entire spine to meet the tall man's closed eyes," my name is Koushirou."

The odd sound makes Luffy frown," Kow-shii-row," his lips spreading into weird shapes to accommodate the foreign sounds," Kow-she…", he licks his lips," Koh… Koo…", he bites down on his tongue. One more try," Koe-shi!" Feeling a warm dollop of triumph join the longing in his chest," you have a weird name, Koshi," He giggles a little, smiling.

Koushirou’s chuckle is good natured as he gazes ahead once more," I suppose I do." 

His long sleeves billow when he pushes apart a set of double doors. Luffy takes a second to look around, eyes lingering on the large swords lining the pale walls and the pillows laying single file along the table. He follows them and finds Tashigi and Smoker at the end. The sight sours any good mood he had been in.

" You managed to get him out of the car?" Smoker huffs, impressed as he looks over Luffy, who sticks his tongue out at him. 

" I did," he muses calmly," it’s why I run the orphanage and you don’t." 

Luffy snickers when Smoker clicks his tongue in distaste, overcome with the feeling that he and Koshi are gonna be great friends.

Tashigi smiles at him," I’m glad to see you’re doing better, Luffy." 

The boy doesn’t even spare her a glance, looking to Koshi as he wonders," will you two be staying for lunch?"

" I think the kid would rip our throats out if we tried," Smoker rumbles and correctly so. He stands from the floor with Tashigi, coming over to the duo to shake hands with Koshi and ruffle Luffy’s jet black hair," take care of yourself, kid."

Luffy snarls, swatting at his arm," don’t touch me."

Tashigi only nods to Koshi before turning a sad smile down to Luffy," someday you’ll understand," is all she muses before they slip past to leave.

Luffy gives them a single glance over his shoulder as the doors close behind them, hoping, bitterly, that’s the last he’ll ever see of them.

" Well then, how about we go eat lunch, Luffy?"

" Okay," he agrees, suddenly exhausted as he pads after the much older man.

This time, only a single door separates them from their destination. This room, much like the previous, has pillows lining a table, but with even more pillows and an even bigger table. Children of all ages gather over the plates with boys on one side and girls on the other. The room is echoing with their conversations, bright and full with their laughter and teasing.

" Seems Zoro’s not here again," Koshi notes idly, barely noticeable in the chatter as he takes the seat at the head of the table where two plates sit," we were expecting you," he explains, hand brushing the blue pillow next to him.

Luffy takes it, shifting maybe a little too close to Koshi, but there’s a tender space in his chest in the aftermath of seeing Smoker and Tashigi again. A space that throbs without Pistol there to eat at his side.

He picks at his food, managing a few bites of chicken and a sip or two of juice. Though, as his gaze sweeps over the other children, that tired feeling presses harder on him, suffocating him. 

" If you don’t want to eat, you don't have to," Koshi hums, suddenly close to his ear," why don’t you go and explore the orphanage. This will be your new home after all."

Luffy meets his kind eyes and smiles a little," okay, Koshi." 

Luffy departs from the open, sliding doors against the adjacent wall. He hops off the short porch, landing in the dirt with a puff. He looks around the backyard, absently stroking that sore spot, whispering," Pistol," he tries not to get too loud. Not to hope too hard that somehow his friend followed him here. That, maybe, he heard his cries, even in the back of the Pokémon center," Pistol."

He wanders farther into the open space, kicking up sand and avoiding any of the scratchy grass patches growing through the debris. He searches the foliage of the few trees dotting the area. Each empty branch makes it a little harder to hold his head up. 

" Pistol!" He calls as loud as he dares. Praying to nothing that the lunch room is loud enough to drown him out. 

" You looking for this?" A voice wonders from above. Luffy looks and furrows his brow, spinning and searching for the source," over here!" Finally, he stops, looking around a tree to another directly behind it where a boy sits with his arm hanging over the edge of his branch. From that arm, dangles-

" Aipom!" The purple thing lights up as the boy comes into view. He swings from the stranger’s arm, pouncing on the trunk that had obscured them. He leaps off it and hard into Luffy’s chest.

The force of which knocks the small child to the ground. The back of his head slamming into the plush sand as he stares up, golden-brown huge," P-Pistol?" He reaches out with a trembling hand, laying the disbelieving limb between his ears," is that really you?"

" Pom ," he coos warmly deep in his chest, butting against Luffy’s palm with closed eyes.

The smile pulling at his lips begins to quiver while his arms slowly, carefully, close around his friend like he’d shatter into nothing if Luffy was too rough," Pistol," he breathes, not at all noticing the rough grazing of straw.

The purple Pokémon tucks close to him, burying his face into his chest as his tail slides around his torso," Aipom," he hums in return. His slim arms hug Luffy back and something deep inside of him snaps.

Tears flood his mostly dry eyes. His mouth shaking so hard it ruins his loud, open sob," PISTOL!" He grabs him tighter, tighter, and never lets go," I knew you came! I knew it!" He hides in the messy tufts on the top of his head.

" Ai-Aipom! Aip-Pom," he assures brightly, drawing back to wipe his cheeks with a small paw. The purple stains darker as he smiles warmly at him, something brilliant in his eyes," Pom-Pom," he sighs and lays his head on Luffy’s shoulder. 

The boy laughs when he nuzzles into the side of his neck," that tickles," Luffy flops back into the sand. He melts into the rough grains, breathing easier with Pistol’s steady weight on his chest.

The position puts the quiet stranger back in his line of sight. His hair is a dusty green color, like the grass when fall comes. His tanned skin is covered in a dark uniform of some kind with the same dark blue sword symbol as Koshi’s cloth. With striking, green-gray eyes that do weird things to Luffy’s stomach as they flick down, then back up his body.

" You’d better keep it hidden," his voice is quiet, rough like Luffy’s when he first wakes up. Though his eyes drift back to Pistol," Koushirou doesn’t allow Pokémon at the orphanage."

Luffy rolls his eyes," I know," he huffs. He continues on," how did you find him?"

" I heard ‘em callin’ from the trees when I was out trainin’," he digs his pinky finger into his ear, closing his eyes as he scratches. Something about the lazy way his leg dangles from the tree branch seems bored," then I found out we had a new kid joinin’ and just figured you two were connected, what with the hat and all."

" Aipom," Pistol pops up from his chest with a nod, as if confirming the story. His tail swings behind him and grabs Luffy’s worn hat, stretching the black string and popping it over his head. He presses the opening directly over Luffy’s face," Ai!" He sings with satisfaction as Luffy flails his arms.

Luffy sits up quick, Aipom deftly managing to stay in his lap. His hat falls into his open hands and Luffy smiles gently at the thing. Aipom hums, taking it carefully between clumsy paws and sitting it atop his black hair. 

Luffy looks up before snickering through his teeth," thanks a bunch, Pistol," Aipom’s ears wiggle quickly as he squirms," and you too!" He looks up at the bigger boy, still beaming," I’m Luffy," he introduces," this is my best friend, Pistol."

Aipom twirls around to, raising both arms with a radiant," Aipom!" Of greeting.

For a moment, the green haired boy simply watches. He blinks once before saying," the name’s Zoro."

" Spark! Headbutt!"

" Loa!"

The brown dual type charged at Swirlix, leaping into the air to slam him into the ground with a smack of his round head.

 " Swirl!" He cried out as he collided with the wooden hallway floor.

" Lixxy!" Sanji shouted, yanking against the hold Niji and Yonji had on his wrists," stop it! Just leave him alone!" Tears already tracing down his pale cheeks as he pulled and pulled no matter how much it made his shoulders ache.

" Dawww, is da baby gonna quwy?" Yonji taunts, tightening his grip as he presses Sanji’s wrist harder into his back, ripping a cry from his throat.

" It’s your own fault for picking such a weak partner! What kind of pansy picks a Faiwy- type?" Niji snickers.

" Swirlix ," he whines, glancing over to Sanji as he manages to get to his paws.

" Winch! I wanna have some fun, too. Use Arm Thrust!"

" Pancham!" The black and white Pokémon pushes off the wall he had been watching from. Rushing into action with his paws and arms glowing white.

The little one gathers just enough strength to dodge heavily to the side. Winch skids to a halt, spinning around for another attack, but Swirlix leaps into the air," Swirl-lix!" And blows out a harsh gust of glittering pink air from his mouth. His Fairy Wind connects and sends Pancham into a small, dark table that breaks on impact.

" Cham…", he moans from the rubble, his dark eyes replaced with darker spirals.

" No fair!" Yonji shoves Sanji away, causing him to fall to the floorboards. His cheek scraping painfully against them," how did that weakling beat my Winch?!" He kicks at his back and the blonde recoils into a tight ball, covering his head with his hands.

" Fairy-type moves are good against Fighting-types, dumbass," Niji barks obviously," Shock! Use Vise Grip!"

" You too, Spark! Headbutt!"

" Clau!" The Water-type launches into the air with his bigger claw, swinging it forward after to snap it around Swirlix and pull him to the ground.

His thick fur cushions the force some, but he still whines and squirms in his hold. It does nothing to free him as he takes another Headbutt from Litleo. Sanji flinches, covering his eyes as he hears them tumble to the floor together.

When Sanji finally finds the strength to look, Spark stands victorious over his fainted Swirlix.

" Leoar!" He roars, head thrown back in pride while his pitiful mane glows a vibrant red.

" Lixxy!" Sanji scrambles away from Yonji’s boot, yanking Swirlix from beneath the Fire/Normal-type and holding his partner close to his chest," there! You won! Now let us leave," he sniffs, swallowing the ache in his back as he curls around his Pokémon.

" Hell no!" Ichiji snarls, stalking over to the pair," give Spark back his toy or I’ll make you faint next," the first evolution growls at his trainer's side, razor-sharp teeth bared.

Sanji rapidly shakes his head, pressing into the wall behind him," he’s my friend! I won’t let you hurt him anymore," he buries his fingers into sticky fur, grounding himself as he steals his body. Preparing for the worst to come.

" We can do this the hard way then," Ichiji shrugs, glancing to his side," Spark," he nods his head to the duo. Notably to Sanji rather than Swirlix," how ‘bout we try out your Ember this time?" He muses with something wicked gleaming in his blood-red eyes.

" Yeah! Make him pay for what he did to my Pancham!" Yonji stomps, still throwing his tantrum.

" Shock, hold him in place with Vise Grip."

" Claunch!" He snaps his massive claw menacingly, yellow eyes narrowed as he scuttles toward Sanji on thin legs. Sanji tries to breathe, but the icy fear clawing at his heart freezes his entire chest.

" Dad told you three to stop battling in the house," a new person scolds. The relief that washes over Sanji is warm enough to unthaw his pounding heart," especially your Litleo, Ichiji."

The blonde may barely be able to see her past the blur of his tears, but Reiju strutting over with Espurr walking calmly at her side lets him breathe easier nonetheless.

Ichiji clicks his tongue," your such a buzzkill, sis," he huffs, placing folded hands behind his head as he rolls his eyes to look at her.

" I’m not just gonna let you burn the entire manor down," she snipes back, scoffing at his childishness with a hand on her hip.

" Purr," her partner hums blankly, seemingly in agreement, but Sanji can never read her.

Spark snarls in annoyance all the same, though he freezes when purple eyes glow dangerously at him.

" Unless you two would rather battle me and Zero instead?" She quirks a menacing brow.

Ichiji cringes, relenting," fine," and turning away," Yonji, let’s go get that weak Pancham healed."

" He isn’t weak!" The green-head snaps, scooping up his slowly blinking Pokémon, scampering after Ichiji and Niji, who are already down the hall.  

" Think fast!" His sister warns. Sanji has to blink through his tears to catch the yellow crystal flung his way.

He manages though and grins at the revive against his palm," thank you, Rei-", when he looks back up, the hall is empty," -ju."

He begins to deflate at her fast departure before pushing himself stubbornly to his feet with the bitter reminder that he should be used to this from her by now. He turns down the hall, continuing his initial path to his room while hopelessly failing to ignore the lonely, hollow ache deep in his chest.

He opens his door and shuts it with a quick click of the lock. He runs over to lay Swirlix against his sheets, resting the crystal on the center of his chest.

Nothing happens at first, but as Sanji waits patiently, the yellow shard begins to glow brightly. The light buries into Lixxy, bleeding into his chest as the item goes a dull gray and sky-blue eyes flutter open once more.

" Swirl… Swirlix?" He hums, confused and tired.

" Hey, Lixxy," Sanji greets quietly, kneeling at his side with a smile.

" Swirrrllll," he coos, tail starting up a slow wag once their eyes meet. Though the easy air is ruined when he flings himself up suddenly," Lix!" He barks, flitting around urgently with a wild look to his gaze.

" It’s okay," Sanji assures, rushing to stand beneath him," we’re in our room. See? The others aren’t here anymore," he assures calmly, raising his hands with his arms open.

" Swirlix?" He wonders, coming down slowly.

" You protected me," the young blonde reminds, smiling big for him," just like always," he has to stretch out in order to pet his friend’s cheek," thank you, Lixxy," he tries not to seethe as pain radiates outward from his shoulder. Forcing the sweetest possible edge to his voice.

He glances at the door and Sanji fears he’ll guard it again, but then," Swirl," he chirps lowly, softening under his attention. He sweeps down to properly press up against him.

Sanji breathes a little easier as his fingers stroke through sticky fur. Relaxing as that endless hollow fills just that much more.

" How about we read a story before bed?" He suggests into their easy silence, lips pressed to the crown of Swirlix’s head.

" Lix-Swirl," the Fairy-type agrees easily. He floats up to nuzzle their noses before gliding over to the bed. Sanji giggles softly, wiggling the appendage as the sickly sweet smell of candy lingers.

He makes way to his closet for some fresh pajamas, sparing a glance over his shoulder to ensure his Pokémon isn’t watching. He yanks his shirt over his head, replacing it almost instantly with a pokéball patterned one.

He dreads the bruises that’ll splatter his skin tomorrow, but that’s a problem for later, for future Sanji. Current Sanji just needs to make sure his Swirlix gets a good night’s sleep. He grabs a book from the shelf without looking and plops into bed. He wiggles awkwardly under the covers, holding up one end so Swirlix can just fly under.

The puffball tucks into his side, pillowed by Sanji’s left arm. He opens what is apparently "The Three Little Spoink'' and lays his head on Swirlix’s, cheek pressed into his pelt as he recites the story without having to read a word.

Swirlix follows the pictures and Sanji smiles fondly when he feels the little one hold his breath the moment the big bad Poochyena approaches in front of their final, brick house. He readies himself to Roar it down with one mighty breath, but the structure holds and the brothers merely watch from the safety of their kitchen as the dejected dark-type stalks away.

" Swirl!" He cheers and Sanji huffs a laugh, closing the book and tracing the worn, white stripes running down the spine.

He sits it on the nightstand and clicks off the lamp in one fell swoop, before settling into his pillow, facing Swirlix.

Sanji doesn’t need the weak moonlight peeking through his closed curtains to know those big, warm eyes are watching his every breath.

" You know, Lixxy," he starts, blinking into the darkness," I started watching this show about a girl named Cinder that goes around collecting all these weird Pokémon they call animals."

" Swirl-lix?" He repeats. Sanji imagines his ears falling and he smiles.

" Yeah, it’s a weird name, huh? I don’t know how they came up with it," He snickers under his breath," and then she puts them on her farm. And there’s this one animal she has called a Mouton and it’s all fluffy and cute just like you."

" Swiirrlll," he purrs at the compliment, wiggling under the sheets.

" And I was thinking, if you liked it, that I could make it your name," he muses, watching a little closer for his reaction.

" Lix?" He says it like a whisper, as if he doesn’t believe him.

" I’ll keep calling you Lixxy too, but you’ve been such a good friend to me for all these years that you deserve a real name," the blonde child explains," so what do you think?"

" Swirlix!" He agrees brightly. Sanji scrambles to put a hand over his wide mouth. 

His own breathy giggles are nearly silent, though his joy rings clear," not so loud, Lixxy," he scolds between them. Voice too rich with affection to hold any bite as a sticky tongue swipes over his palm. He shifts his hand to pet his partner instead, rubbing his round ear between his index and thumb," then that’ll be it. From now on, that’s your name," he whispers, a yawn forcing its way from his throat.

The puffball tucks closer to his chest, nuzzling into his neck with one last sleepy, muffled call of," Swir- rllix ."

Sanji drapes his arms over the Pokémon, squeezing him tight against that empty spot and shutting his eyes. Smiling gently even as his tears burn behind his lids," goodnight, Mouton."

Zoro sighs as he sinks back into his pillow with one hand behind his head. He breathes out into the room, surrounded by the lull of his sleeping roommates. Their snores chasing away the dark night’s silence.

The window beside him leaves blobs of moonlight against his shirt as he closes his eyes with every intent to join them, but never can. Instead, the nipping thought of Luffy and what he could be doing chases away any sleep.

Zoro hadn't seen him much that day, barely even able to catch a glimpse of him at breakfast before he vanished into the woods with the canopy rustling behind him, a sure sign of a following Pistol. 

He takes a deep breath, focusing on pushing the boy and his Pokémon as far back into his brain as possible.

But instead, he thinks of how he hadn't seen him at lunch. Or dinner.

Luffy never even came to watch him train.

He shifts against his bed sheet, suddenly buzzing with energy and contemplating searching for the little idiot, but then the door creaks open. Slow and rusty on its hinges.

The quiet slap of fresh sandals echoes off the walls, heavier and more sluggish than he’s used to, but Zoro knows Luffy when he hears him, and some tiny knot unravels in his presence.

Stubbornly, Zoro refuses to open his eyes, to be reassured.

The slaps drift closer and there’s the distinct feeling of something looming over him. Then the thing shifts and cold air rushes under his sheet as it’s lifted. The cot whines and adjusts, then a warm, soft body slots into him and Zoro goes deathly still.

Luffy tucks into his pec. His thick hair tickles Zoro’s neck while an arm is thrown over his waist. Another wiggles between him and the bed so Luffy’s hands can meet on his hip, fingers entwining.

Zoro’s own fingers twitch as he imagines smacking Luffy awake and demanding he go back to his own bed. Or at least asking what the heck it is he thinks he’s doing, but that doesn’t happen.

Rather, Zoro- eyes still firmly closed- wretches his arm free from under Luffy and carefully coils it around his back. He shifts them over together, getting Luffy further from the edge because he sleeps as wild as a raging Bouffalant.

Luffy absolutely melts at the motion, giggling softly. Zoro blinks his eyes open at the noise, looking down at him with a furrowed brow.

He regrets it the moment he sees the cute little smile on Luffy’s face. The gentle white catches his dark lashes and the brown freckles against his cream skin. 

Something tight catches in his chest and he forces his eyes closed against the burning hot blush along the bridge of his nose.

Zoro hates to admit how nice it is to share a bed again. Or how perfectly Luffy fits into his side. 

" Goodnight, Zoro," Luffy whispers, breath fanning over his neck.

So, he doesn’t.

" Night, Luffy."

And that doesn’t change the heavy, warm, sinking feeling in his stomach.

The feeling of a promise long gone, but not forgotten.

The ache of forever.

The hot, sticky air feels like it’s clinging to his throat with each desperate gulp, lined with the reek of rust and mildew. He claws at the raised edge of the mask, fingertips numb as they dig into the border of the mouth plate.

 Sanji rocks against the wall, trembling in the corner and rasping pitifully around sods, tears shimmering on his pale lashes.

" And he huffed," the boy wheezes, voice warbling around the bile collecting in his throat," and puffed. And he Roared his house down," he closes his eyes. Fuzzy images of his Mouton curled up into his side. Of the yellow and black sheets of his bed. He rocks faster, nails scraping harshly against dark metal," and so the littlest, youngest Spoink hopped as fast as-", a cough cuts him off. It falls away into a sob," as fast as he could ," the inside of the iron is sticky and slick now from all his helpless puffing.

" -ou… anji…"

His eyes clamp shut, squeezing his lids ‘til he sees spots. He bites his tongue until the metal smell becomes a taste, swallowing his cries," I’m sorry, I'm sorry ," his back knocks into the bricks with every rock. A hollow thud sounding each time," I did-n’t mean to get loud. I promise," he starts banging his mask instead. His whole brain ringing with it, with everything ," I’m sorry. I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I-"

" Sanji," the voice is louder, closer, more desperate. It’s so soft and familiar and it makes him think of his Mama.

Xerneas, he wants to see her again so bad.

It was all so good when she was here.

Why didn’t she take me with her!?

" Sanji? Can you hear me?"

He blinks, praying to catch even a glimpse of her ocean eyes, but there’s another woman in her place, standing at the bars. Her hair is a brilliant shade of orange. Yellow-amber eyes stare in the place of blue," M-Ms. Ciel?"

She smiles at him, young and pretty and radiant even in the darkness. Though it trembles all the same," hey there. It’s been a while," her voice is wound tight. A tear gleams off her lid and down the curve of her cheek.

The boy rushes to her despite the aching protest of his stiff muscles. He reaches out for her through the bars," are you okay?" He asks urgently. 

She grapples for him, pressing his palm to her face. He feels bad when the streaks on her cheeks cause his fingers to leave smears of rust on fair skin," you sweet boy, even with all this you…", she trails and her lip quivers. She squeezes the limb, taking a breath," Sanji, I’m gonna get you out of this, okay?"

He frowns, arguing," but you’ll get in trouble."

She shakes her head," it doesn’t matter. You can't keep living like this," she seems so distressed. Sanji wishes he could make her smile, but this dang mask is in the way," I just need you to hang on for a little bit longer. Can you do that?"

He shifts his throbbing tongue and figures that if she gets him out, then she’d be happy. Mouton wouldn’t have to fight all the ti-

Arceus, his Lixxy !

" Can you get me revives and oran berries?" He asks, looking up at her guiltily through his mask, but there’s a bigger part of him that just can’t bear to watch what his Swirlix has to suffer through.

" Revives and… what for?"

She’s never met Mouton. 

Of course she hasn’t," I have a Swirlix named Mouton and my brothers always have their Pokémon pick on him," he explains quickly, shoving his other hand through the bars. He can’t help longing for her touch," with those I can keep him healthy and…", he smiles behind the iron when she takes it. Squeezing it," and with him by my side, I can handle anything . I promise."

She nods the moment he’s finished, promising," then I’ll get as many as I can." 

Sanji grins even bigger, squeezing her back as the hollow pulses with something warm. Something strong.

Something like… hope.

His breaths leave little puffs of white against the crystalline glass, hazy blue eyes follow Ms. Ciel’s cobblestone laden path to the door.

He falters, knocking hard into it with a hollow noise, body ringing in memory of Spark’s vicious Headbutts, but he knows this is nothing compared to his boy’s pain. Just the thought takes away what little breath he has left, longing to be by Sanji’s side no matter where that leaves him.

" Swirl," he whines as he staggers over to the basket. He’s floating unevenly and so heavy he crashes right into it, knocking his oran berries and a sheet of paper to the floor.

He licks up the dark orbs quickly, feeling their energy pump through his veins like Fairy Wind the moment he swallows.

" Lix," he sighs, relaxing just a little when his gaze falls on Sanji’s note. He glides over, sitting beside the sheet and staring down at his hand writing. Morosely reading the thing for the fifth time and finding once again that yes, all he can do now is wait," Swirlix," he grumbles, hating every moment of this.

But, he has a promise to keep and their best chance at salvation has bright red hair and needs him here and undetected. 

Not like the obedient Pokémon in him would let him go against an order from Sanji anyway.

He takes to the air once more, drifting back and forth across their room," Swirl, Swirlix-Swir," he recites, shutting his eyes," Li-"

" -nd they were brothers, One day, they all set out to the woods together. They wanted to make a home away from their parents," Sanji glances away from the pages for a moment. Those endlessly blue eyes warm Mouton to his very core.

He meets them eagerly, glowing up at the boy and awaiting his next words. Sanji giggles, leaning in closer and continuing," the Spoink knew they wanted to build their house, but they couldn’t agree-"

Round, dark ears snap to the sudden creaking of their door, eyes shooting open as he rounds to it. Lips parted with a snarl on the tip of his tongue, but then he spots vibrant pink and cool gray. The girl holds out his pokéball. The gray button pointed directly at him.

 " It’s time," Reiju says, a finality to her voice," Swirlix! Return!"

A red beam explodes from the center, coiling all around him, seeping into the very fibers of his being. Altering them until he is indistinguishable from the light, warm and brilliant red. 

The plush grass of his endless field doesn’t fill him with easy comfort this time. He simply falls back into the blue and white flowers dancing in the wind, looking up to the wispy sky above, deflating. 

Time for more waiting.

It feels like two eternities have passed when the familiar tug starts up in the pit of his stomach. The hope that flares there almost leaves him sick as he melts away into glowing white.

There’s a flash and he’s in a dimly lit, darkly decorated hallway. He can hear two pairs of footsteps approaching rapidly, echoing off the stones. One of those gaits makes his heart pound, body swinging around to look.

The sight knocks him to the ground, leaves him holding his breath unable to focus on anything else when… when…

SAN-

"-RLIX!" Mouton runs as best as he can on his tiny feet. Sanji runs as fast as he’s capable of, arms open for the waddling cotton ball.

" Lixxy!" He sobs, choking and ugly as the little Pokémon leaps into his chest.

He nuzzles his face hard into Sanji’s filthy shirt with a constant whimpering stream of," Swirl. Lix . Swirlix," his happy babbles leave pools of dark tears on yellow fabric. 

Sanji squeezes him as close as physically possible, pressing his arms so deep into his fur that the fibers part and allow him to feel the slim figure underneath. The blonde wishes more than anything that he could fuse with his Mouton, then he’d never ever have to leave his side," I’m so glad you’re okay!" He bellows, eyes burning and cheeks soaked," I was so worried."

" Swir-Swirlix," he sniffles in agreement, drawing back to lick Sanji’s nose. Who laughs wetly at the sticky feeling, unable to smell anything now other than the sweetness of his Swirlix.

Honestly, he wouldn't have it any other way.

" Come on you two!" Sanji blinks, coughing through his snot and everything is still so fuzzy, but he can just make out Ms. Ciel and Reiju heading toward the cellar door. His sister shouting," at least run while you cry!" Over her shoulder desperately.

Sanji does exactly that, rubbing away the freshest wave of tears with one hand and keeping Lixxy close with the other as he takes off after them.

Swirlix doesn't offer a peep of complaint, only wiggling so he can face forward while they move.

Sanji scales the stairs and upon emerging on the manor’s left side, he sees a ship in the distance, down a cobble path and behind the iron gates. It’s huge and metal and blaring its horn for all to hear. 

Sanji sticks closer to the girls, watching Reiju toss a keycard before it becomes coated in a thick, hazy pink light. Zero’s ears are unfurled, glowing as she moves it up higher to unlock the gate. That two turns violet, parting without even a creak.

Sanji skips in his amazement, but Reiju is behind him suddenly, shoving him out of the door before he can utter so much as a thank you.

His chest is heaving at this point. Though, the promise of safety shoves any exhaustion so deep down he doesn’t think he’ll ever get tired again.

A better life for not just him, but Mouton too. One without cages or masks. No more forced battles and empty revives. No more lonely days or sleepless nights.

It all sounds so good, Sanji’s scared he’ll wake up.

They come to a stop at the end of the line, only three people wait in front of them. Ms. Ciel squats down to meet his eyes," this is your ticket," she presses the paper into his hand. Sanji grips it so tight his knuckles hurt," it allows you to bring one Pokémon on board with you," she ruffles the fluff between Mouton’s ears, getting a weak purr from the fairy-type. Sanji nods along," make sure you keep it on you at all times. They might doubt you since you're just a kid."

He pauses at that," aren’t you… coming with us?"

Her smile falters, softening to the point of not reaching her sad eyes," I’m afraid not."

" Swirl?"

" But… b-but why?"

" Your brothers and sister need me," she cups his cheek, tenderly brushing away tears he hadn't known were there. Her other fingers press deeper into Mouton’s coat," your father’s cruelty wasn’t isolated. They were awful to you, but they're still children."

" But what if… wh-what if w-we-", an awful, sour bubble flares up in his throat. A fresh wave of tears ruin her hard work," what if… I-I… I won’t know what to do without you!" He collapses into her chest, throwing his slim arms over her shoulders. Swirlix melts between the pair, whining out in his own grief.

" Oh, Sanji," Ms. Ciel holds the boy closer, carding her fingers through his blonde hair. She speaks close to his ear to be heard over his wheezing sobs," that isn’t true," her cheek feels wet when it brushes his temple," you said it yourself, you can do anything as long as Mouton is by your side," she squeezes him. Laying a kiss on the crown of his head, speaking directly into his scalp," you're both so strong and I know you’ll make it. So promise me-", her voice trembles and she hides in his messy nest of blonde. She holds him so tight it hurts," promise me you’ll go out there and live. That you’ll… you’ll go on great adventures and make even greater friends. But most of all," she pulls the boys back as one, giving his shoulders a firm squeeze. Her yellow-amber eyes shine with something fond and reminiscent. Something longing," promise me you’ll always stay together. Sora, she… she wouldn’t want it any other way."

Her eyes mesmerize him for a moment, lost to the way they shine and sparkle. He can’t believe it’s for him.

Sanji reaches up to her face, gently pressing calloused thumbs into the lower curve of her eyes. Her tears spill forward and he brushes them away. Smiling at her as bright as he can manage, even squishing his own eyes closed. Hoping to ease the dark glimmer of pain staining such pretty yellow pools.

" We promise," Sanji assures as firmly as he can manage once he’s looking at her again.

" Swirlix!" His partner agrees, popping up to tuck under her chin.

She laughs at what Sanji knows are ticklish nuzzles, holding Mouton close and brushing a hand over her face, cleaning some of the moisture streaking her skin.

They stand as one, Sanji takes her hand as they move to the well-dressed man at the bottom of the ramp. His wrinkled eyes crease further, gray brows furrowed in sympathy as he takes Sanji’s ticket, punching a stamp into the corner.

He glances up to Ms. Ciel. Mouton looks back at her, before reluctantly leaving her arms, drifting down to Sanji instead, who strokes down and between his eyes shortly before they scale the metal ramp together. He leans against the rails, watching the man check his pocket watch before nodding and climbing as well.

He bangs his fist twice against the metal hull, shouting," all aboard! Set sail!"

A loud rumble responds and two, large flats of ice explode from the water, tossing their heads and roaring.

Sanji recognizes them as Avalugg and he looks on in amazement as powerful ropes are tossed down to them and taken into their mouths. Their heavy bodies drifting forward slowly, dragging the entire ship behind them and away from the stone and wooden dock.

Ms. Ciel is looking up at them with both her hands covering her mouth and adoring eyes.

Sanji feels the quiver to his jaw start up all over again as she shrinks slowly. He throws both his hands up, waving as wide as he can," bye!" A sob in his throat," me and Mouton are gonna go on adventures, and someday…", he trails, hands shaking," someday we’ll come back with our friends and tell you all about it! SO ," he clenches his fist and grins, showing every tooth in his mouth as he does so," so please, wait for us then!"

" Swirlix!"

She raises her hands to him," I promise! Sanji! Mouton!" She shouts back, powerful but no less bittersweet," so, until then! Bon voyage!" 

Sanji nods," bon voyage!"

" Swirl-Swirlix!"

Sanji grips the iron railing as he presses his belly into it, leaning as far as he dares to watch Ms. Ciel finally turn back toward the gate where Reiju and Zero still wait for her.

He blinks," good luck," he breathes before finally sinking to the floor. Suddenly overcome with fatigue. He folds his legs, wiggling back into the bars to avoid blocking too much of the path. Mouton leaps from the gold railing and directly into his lap, plopping back onto his rump with little feet sticking out in front of him.

He reaches out a heavy arm, stroking loving fingers against the fluff between his round ears," thanks for sticking by me," Sanji smiles despite the headache beginning to dig into his skull. 

" Swirl, Swirlix," his friend dismissed with a butt of his head and a wink, making his boy chuckle.

For several minutes they sit just like that with Sanji petting his Pokémon and listening to the steady lap of waves against the ship. He likes watching Mouton’s nose wiggle whenever a sea breeze passes, thick with the smell of salt.

He only glances away when he hears an odd, shuffling kind of noise. He spots two round, fluffy brown Pokémon coming over. He squints, barely able to see itty bitty feet beneath all that fluff.

 " Swirl?" Mouton hums, looking as well.

" Nub," the bigger of the two snorts, poking at Swirlix with his nose.

" Swinu," her companion seems to agree, butting his head into Mouton.

" What are they?" Sanji wonders, holding his hand out.

The smaller boy turns to him, pink snout wiggling as he sniffs at his skin.

" Inub," he huffs, turning away and going back to Mouton.

" Swirlix?" His fairy-type shuffles back against his chest, though the Pokémon only follow him, tucking their noses into his pelt," Lix!" Mouton chirps suddenly, wiggling against the feeling.

Sanji giggles," does it tickle, Lixxy?" He wonders.

" Swirl," he shivers, but he leans down to touch noses regardless.

" Nub-Swin!"

" Swinub!"

The entire ground begins to shake and Sanji’s jaw drops in pure awe as a towering Pokémon lumbers over to them on short, powerful legs.

" Mamoo?" He rumbles to the duo, ducking down to look at them through dark eyes behind a blue mask, putting Sanji between sparkling, massive tusks. Its pink nose has an odd chunk missing from it.

" Nub!" The girl turns to him, rearing up on back feet Sanji hadn't known were there. 

The ship jerks suddenly and she tumbles back. The boy scrambles to catch her before she hits the floor.

" Careful," he scolds gently.

" Moswine," the huge brown Pokémon hums, breathing out air so freezing cold Sanji feels the ice sticking to his eyelashes.

" Any luck, Red?" A man suddenly speaks up as a series of taps starts up. All three of them look to him," and who exactly do you two belong to?" His gruff voice huffs when he spots Sanji beneath a shallow sea of little, fluffy Pokémon.

He has a long, sandy-blonde mustache that’s kept tidy with two green bows on their frayed ends. His obscenely tall chef’s hat nearly touches the ceiling, bigger than even the towering beast sat in front of him. He has a cane in one hand and his leg is missing, replaced with a gleaming, metal peg.

" No one now, I guess," he muses after some thought.

" Swirl," Mouton looks up at him, gaze bittersweet.

" Mam?" The large Pokémon- Red, Sanji thinks- furrows his brow.

The little male nuzzles his side with a soft," Nub."

The man simply stares for a little while longer," how old are you, kid?"

" 7."

" Can you cook?" His heavy brow lifts on one side.

Sanji pouts at the odd question, sharing a look with Mouton," yeah."

" You willin’ to work hard everyday?"

The boy only nods, falling further into his confusion.

 " Whatd’ya think, Red? We got room for two more?"

Red studies Sanji and Swirlix, before his eyes close and puffs out a blast of frigid air. It leaves Mouton sparkling white in the raising sun," Mamooo!" He bellows.

" Nub!" The little male bounces at Sanji’s side. 

" Swin!" The female wiggles in his arms.

The man laughs, hearty and deep from his chest," alright, alright. I hear ya’."

He tosses something over Red’s tusk and onto the floor in front of Sanji. He looks between it and the large, presumed Ice-type. Who only glances to the pile of white and then Sanji.

He gently sits down the brown Pokémon in his arms, he suspects they’re called Swinub, and lifts it up, raising it high and realizing it’s an apron.

" Swirlix?" Mouton voices what he can’t as something odd and tight forms in his gut.

" We’d better get you a proper uniform then, kid," he rumbles in explanation," you’re working for Zeff now and I got a reputation to uphold."

That odd something blooms in his chest, blossoming into a warmth like nothing he’s ever felt before. Overcome with a joy so intense it brings a fresh pool of tears to thaw his frostbitten lashes.

" I’ll do my very best! I promise! Mouton too! Right?" He grins down to his fairy-type.

" Swirlix!" He cheers, tail wagging against Sanji’s belly.

" Mam!" Red snorts a puff of smokey white.

Zeff smirks down at the young duo. Sanji swears there’s something familiar and fond in those old, wrinkled eyes," less talking and more action, kid. Let’s go!"

He turns to leave and the Swinub butt into Mouton before scampering after him. His partner glances at him, wiggling with energy and Sanji laughs.

" Go on then," he encourages warmly. Watching Swirlix light up before taking off after the duo with a bright call.

" Swirlix!" 

Red ever so gently knocks Sanji with his tusk and the boy gives him a grateful smile before carefully climbing on. He settles into the curve of his cold horn. With one hand he grads at the thinning tip and buries the other into the sandy patch around Red’s misshapen nose.

The massive thing raises up, stomping after Zeff and the other Pokémon. Sanji looks at him, catching those dark, gentle eyes and smiling. 

" Thanks, Red."

He snorts again, shutting his eyes in what Sanji believes to be his version of a smile," Mamoswine."

A sharp thwack echoes shortly throughout the small clearing as Zoro brings his training sword down. The vibration ricochets back into his arm as the plated dummy merely trembles on its new metal pole.

He sets his legs further apart, digging his teeth the soft guard of his five pound weight. His hold tightens and fingers splay, bringing down the second glorified stick again, harder this time and aimed at the metal sheets protecting its torso.

The oak staff doesn’t shatter, nor do his bones ring and Zoro counts that as strike 1,033 with those results. He regards his training sword, his hand placement, only sparing a moment to be impressed before heaving a sigh and throwing his head back to the clouds.

His tongue traces the grooves in the rubber as he wishes, nearly, that he was three years younger again. Maybe then this wouldn’t be so mind numbing.

But then…

He shuts his eyes, letting his head fall forward and dropping the dumbbell to the sandy-dirt as well as his two staffs, which clatter loudly against each other.

Three years weaker sounds nice.

Three years younger on the other hand, well…

" Wonder where Luffy and Pistol are," he muses to no one, deciding he’s done with training and that line of thought," not hot today, so no river," he stares off into the south-eastern part of the forest.

Though the river is to the north.

" Maze Cave’s flooded from the rain, so," he spins to the north-east," Trapinch Pits it is." 

The storm would’ve pushed them up from their burrows and right into Luffy and Pistol’s battle hunger.

He takes a step and feels an odd twinge in his chest. He glances back at the faux swords, before turning away with crossed arms," chasing after them improves my stamina," he argues to the empty air. A stubborn set to his mouth," and I won’t learn anythin’ by doing the same exercises over and over."

Even though you’ve run after them more times than you can count. Or even remember , the familiarity of the voice makes an old wound ache.

And just as he steels himself to go back and pick up his weapons, the leaves rustle just enough in the still air. A branch creaks with extra weight.

Zoro’s armed before the dust settles from the thing’s landing, pointing the rounded, blunt head at the space between a pair of vibrant green eyes sparkling up at him.

They belong to a Pokémon that’s nearly as tall as he is with dark blue fur and a large, bright red feather-thing sticking out from where his other ear should be. There are three more on its back end, a tail of some sort.

It tilts its head at Zoro with a smirk. The sky-blue jewel on its forehead glinting in the midday sunlight," Sneasel! Snea-Snea?" There’s a certain bite to his mildly nasally voice as he lifts a white paw.

A Sneasel?

Zoro lowers his own arm, relaxing his stance. He takes in the puffed chest and lustful gleam to his gaze," do you… wanna spar with me?" He wonders slowly, hesitant.

" Snea!" He snarls in response. Zoro swears the gems on his chest and head shine brighter at just the word spar.

He huffs a disbelieving laugh," a Pokémon wanting to battle a human, huh?" He goes to grab his other sword, turning it in his hand as if it’ll explain the situation he’s found himself in," never heard of something like that," he admits to the weapon, turning to face his foe.

"Sel-Snea," it shrugs lazily. Though razor sharp eyes trace his every motion while even sharper claws slip from their sheaths. 

Zoro feels something powerful course through his veins as he spreads his legs," you know, Sneasel, I’ve been having the oddest feeling the past week or so," he hums conversationally. The dark Pokémon sinks the claws of his feet into the dirt," almost like something’s been watching me."

" Sel?" He snickers with a quirk of an innocent brow, flicking his tongue over his lips.

Zoro simply shifts his foot before sprinting at his new opponent. Sneasel meets him even faster, bringing white forward to clash with caramel wood. 

The boy grits his teeth, skidding back an inch, trembling against the force of Sneasel, against his surprising weight.

But Zoro digs in his shoes and pushes with a growl swinging his swords out. Sneasel slides for a moment before his talons catch him and he’s back on Zoro. Somehow hitting harder than before.

Nothing else exists in Zoro’s mind outside of this moment, outside of this battle.

His heart’s pounding, blood roaring with an excitement he hasn’t felt in nearly four years," oh, this is gonna be some damn good fun," he pants, voice thick with lust.

His opponent cackles, jewels absolutely radiant," Snea!"

Zoro’s training swords click together from their spot on his shoulder as a wind brushes past them, tossing the short strands of green atop his head. He breathes softly, sinking back into the tree bark digging pleasantly into his skin.

The world is silent, not even the noisy Pidove in the trees disturb it. However, the pindrop sound of a crushed leaf breaks this tranquility. A grin pulls at the boy’s lips, blinking open a single eye to find Sneasel looking down at him.

" What? No surprise attack?" He teases, an undeniable warmth to his tone.

The Pokémon only snickers out a low, breathy sound. He regards him for a moment more before tossing something his way, claws sheathed.

Zoro catches it with the hand not holding his staffs. The thing expands between his fingers, making him jump just enough.

He opens both eyes to see Sneasel had thrown him some kind of pokéball. It’s almost entirely white except for a thin line of red slicing through its center and forming a circle around a button in the front.

" What’s this for?" He muses, turning the sphere around in his hand.

Sneasel doesn’t speak, only pointing, with a single claw extended, at the pokéball. Then his chest. All the while holding Zoro’s stare, gaze burning with an intensity Zoro’s grown used too, though not in this context, but he understands all the same.

" You want me to catch you, huh?" His grin softens, studying the capsule," first you come to me wanting to spar," he pushes off the tree to stand. Abandoning his swords against the trunk," and now you’re bringing me a pokéball to catch you with?" He tosses it in the air, watches it fall back to his hand," you’re the oddest Pokémon I’ve ever met. You know that?" He admits quietly, looking to his sparring buddy once more.

To think it's only been three months since they met and he’s improved by the same leaps and bounds he did while training alone for three years .

Even while training just one with her.

And all because…

Zoro squeezes the device, coming to stand directly in front of Sneasel," so, let’s make a promise with this ball!"

" Sneasel?" He speaks finally, tilting his head just so.

" You and me are gonna keep getting stronger together. No matter what," Zoro grins down at him, bright and ravenous and dangerous.

The blue Pokémon laughs. His entire, slender chest shakes with it," Sneasel-Snea," he sighs with a dramatic shrug that has his paws flopping out on either side of his shoulders. Though he grins so big Zoro can see the long, especially sharp teeth resting in the corners of his mouth.

I thought that was a given?

The boy swears he can hear it in his call. He laughs too, then, throwing the pokéball back at him.

Sneasel shuts his eyes as the center button knocks into his jeweled forehead. It snaps open with a flash of brilliant red, sucking him in and falling to the floor.

It rocks once. Then twice.

And on the third, it freezes halfway through to chime brightly and explode with a flurry of stars. 

Zoro bends over to pick it up. While gazing down at the pokéball, he realizes he’s been making a lot more forevers recently.

Though it seemed, looking back now, like only yesterday. 

Zoro shuts his eyes, sees flashes of sunshine grins and wiggling ears and battle-hungry smirks. Of blue-black hair and patient eyes.

He tosses the ball into the air, shouting," alright, Sneasel! Let’s get to work!"

Me and you have a promise to keep after all…

partner.

Mouton drifts along the side of the building, away from the sandy hollow and the front door. Distantly, he registers Sanji’s giggling as he loads up the cart Red will be pulling with Mr. Zeff. And even as he gets further, he keeps an ear out for his boy, just in case.

The other flicks toward a rustling sound up ahead. When his eyes follow, he finds a pair of brilliantly glowing amber-orange blinking at him from a high branch. And even from this distance, he can see the awe igniting their fire. 

The other Pokémon slides down the tree’s trunk, bounding over to him with a large tail waving behind him. Subconsciously, Mouton drifts higher than his tail is long.

" Swirl?" Though he keeps his chirp friendly when the other stands beneath him, tilting his head down at him.

" Ai-Aipom!" He coos brightly, bouncing from one foot to the other. His head swings with the same rhythm, eyes closed and ears flapping viciously," Ai!"

" Wirlix?" Mouton muses, frowning at the sandy floor only a few feet below.

" Aipom!" He cheers, nodding eagerly as he pushes himself up, balancing on the hand-like end of his tail. It leaves him nearly eye level with the Fairy-type," Ai-Aipom," he continues with a wistful chirp. Gazing up at him with an expression Mouton can’t name.

The shock he finds filling him after such a tender admission doesn’t help. But something… unpleasant swirls in his stomach as seeing Aipom’s light snuffed so quickly.

He speaks without thought," Swirl… Swir-Swirlix," he offers, sinking to be more level with the clearly friendly male.

" Aipom?!" He squeaks, somehow bouncing up and down on only his tail with small, purple paws pressing into his pink cheeks.

The reaction alone quells any shred of regret. Watching it feels like the sunrise and maybe his responding," Swirlix!" Is a bit too warm considering they’re strangers. But he swoops down regardless, turning his back to the other," Swirl!" He encourages on.

Aipom buries careful paws into his plush fur, leaning forward on his perch to press his torso into Mouton’s lower body. Who waits patiently as the larger- nearly twice his size- male tries to find a comfortable position.

Mouton adjusts his tail when Aipom presses into it, slim arms coiling around his body and coming to rest against his front. The shockingly light male lays his head on top of the smaller’s, right between his ears.

He releases a long, warm," Aiiiiii," coo to him, giving his body a squeeze.

Mouton flushes pink under sticky white fur, chirping," Swirl," back happily, knowing Sanji would be ecstatic that all his hard work brushing him has paid off in spades. For now though, he focuses on getting higher in the air with the extra weight. 

The further they get from the ground, the more steady and amazed the quiet," Aii," his companion breaths gets.

" Lix," the fairy-type agrees, equally as quiet, not wanting to disturb the silence in the midday air. He takes the time to let his own eyes drift about the property. 

The first thing he spots is his Sanji feeding Red his favorite berries. The Mammoswine’s eyes are closed in content and Sanji’s grinning at him, chattering on about something or other. A fondness tug at Mouton’s heart so intensely he thinks it’ll pull back to the ground.

When he finally tears his eyes from the adorable scene, it goes to the thick, thriving forest growing on all sides of the orphanage. He spies an open area with a series of deep, cone-shaped pits in the sand. And if he follows the river curving beside it, it’ll lead him in a winding path toward a hollow in the trees much closer to them.

" Ai, Aipom-Pom," bleeds sadly into the air, muffled a little by the fur between his ears," Ai… Aipom," the other reaches a paw down to the trees they’ve long since overtaken in altitude.

" Swirl…", Mouton shifts his tongue, searching for the words," Swirlix. Swir, Lix-Swirl."

" Aipom?" Aipom doubts, hiding away in his coat once more.

Mouton looks up as best he can, hoping his gaze is determined as he smiles at the purple Pokémon," Swirl," he counters firmly. Before adding, softer and more timid," Swirl-Swirlix."

Something soft wells up in orange eyes and Mouton can’t bear to look away from him. Just as he opens his mouth to respond-

" Pistol!" Echoes from far below them, it sounds like a boy.

" Where do you think he went?" Another, barely deeper voice wonders.

" Sneasel," a Pokémon sighs, sounding tired.

" Aipom?" He breaks their stare to look down at the floor. Mouton grieves silently as he follows his gaze.

There are three males coming around the side of the house, two boys and one Sneasel. One of the children has a straw hat blocking his eyes from the sun. The other has a head of pale green hair. The Sneasel strolls casually at their sides, head tilted to the clouds with his paws behind his head.

He catches their eyes nearly instantly. Mouton swears he smirks at them, pointing a white finger," Snea."

" Really?" The boy with the straw hat huffs.

" How would he even manage-", the green-haired boy freezes when he finally spots them.

" Aipom-Ai," he introduces, waving his tail down to them. When he meets Mouton’s eyes, there’s hesitation in his gaze," Aipom," he sighs in reluctant defeat, smiling at him. 

" Swirl," he hums in understanding despite the sour feeling in the back of his throat. If it were Sanji, he knows he’d do the same.

Mouton glides down, meeting the straw hat boy halfway as he runs over. The glow to his honey-brown eyes is eerily familiar.

" Oh wow! You met a Pokémon that can float?! That’s so cool, Pistol!" He sparkles as he watches them.

Pistol, Mouton thinks, it suits him.

" Aipom!" He agrees happily, leaping from the fairy-type’s back and onto the child’s head, knocking off his straw accessory.

The Corviknette, Luffy, giggles when the Aipom purposely wiggles his long tail in front of his eyes, swatting at it and reaching behind his head to wrestle Pistol onto his back instead. 

All the while, the purple Pokémon laughs with him, pushing his hat back onto his head as slim arms tighten around his neck and his tail around his waist. 

Both are flushed pink and grinning at the end of it all. Sparking something bitter and fond all at once deep in Mouton’s core.

" I’ve never seen anything like it," the bigger boy admits, cocking his head with a hard frown. He steps closer and the Sneasel merely watches, gaze occasionally flicking between Mouton and Pistol.

" Neither have I, but he sure is cute!" Luffy holds out an offering hand. Mouton tips forward without a second thought, shutting his eyes as he pets gently at his cheek," his fur’s sticky, Zoro!" He squeals excitedly, quickly adding his other hand," and really soft! Like a pillow!"

The green-haired boy, Zoro apparently, reaches out to test for himself. His fingers dig into his scalp, rougher and more calloused than Luffy and even his Sanji’s. Mouton melts a little," Swirrrrlllll," he coos softly, tipping into Zoro’s touch specifically.

" Ai-Aipom," Pistol agrees readily.

" Huh, that’s so weird," Zoro frowns harder, but doesn’t stop," wonder how he got here."

Luffy gasps suddenly, squishing Mouton’s cheeks gently," maybe we could keep him! He can be our friend!"

" Luffy, you already have a partner," Zoro rolls his entire head with his eyes, seeming especially tired all of a sudden.

The silent Sneasel snickers and Mouton finds his gaze drawn at the sound. Their eyes lock and the intensity of his vibrant green makes Mouton feel seen through as his cheeks bleed pink.

" So what!? Real Pokémon trainers have 6 partners!" He points out and Mouton is barely following between his lost staring contest and Zoro’s really nice petting.

" Since when did you wanna be a Pokémon trainer?" Zoro bites back, face scrunched in evident confusion.

" Who wouldn’t?! They get to go on adventures and meet all kinds of Pokémon! It sounds fun, right, Zo?"

The bigger boy sighs, sharing a look with- who Mouton assumes to be his- Sneasel. The dark blue Pokémon only shrugs," didn’t you just tell me last week you wanted to be a Trapinch tamer?" He points out, sounding truly beyond exhausted.

" I can do both!" Luffy puffs out his cheeks.

" So, what, your team’s gonna be 5 Trapinch and Pistol?" Zoro teases, a softness taking over his features for some reason as he gazes down at Luffy.

" It might!" He whines, stomping his foot," my team can be whatever I wan-"

" Mouton!"

Sanji’s voice cuts clean through everything, that ear twitching behind him and toward his friend. Mouton ducks out from under their hands, gliding over toward what has to be his favorite sound," Swirlix!" He calls back happily.

Sanji comes around the bend, smiling the moment their eyes meet. He jogs over and Mouton presses into his exposed chest. A soft hand comes up to pet along his spine," there you are. You can’t just run off like that," the blonde’s scold is firm and sickly sweet all at once," what if you got hurt? Or lost?"

" Swirl-Swirlix," big, guilty blue eyes blink up at him and Sanji goes mushy at the pitiful sight.

He leans down, pressing his lips into the crown of the Swirlix’s head," I’m not mad," he promises into his fur, squeezing his Pokémon close," just be more careful. Okay?"

" Swirl!" Mouton chirps, tipping his head back to knock their noses together.

With such an intense fondness clouding his brain, it takes Sanji far longer than he’d like to admit to notice the two boys and Pokémon watching them. He squeaks when he finally does, hugging his best friend closer and flushing a candy pink, shying away from their eyes and vibrant green hair.

The smaller boy isn’t deterred and in less than a minute he’s skipped over and closed the not big enough gap between them. The bigger one- with green hair- falls in line behind him," Hiya!" He greets brightly, loudly. Sanji takes another step back, tucking the lower half of his face into Mouton’s plush coat," my name’s Luffy! This is my buddy, Pistol!"

" Aipom!" The purple thing on his back chirps, waving the odd tail coiled around Luffy’s waist.

" And this is Zoro and his Sneasel," gesturing to his side to Zoro, who merely nods while Sneasel gives a lazy, two-fingered salute with his white paw.

" I’m Sanji," he mumbles the already muffled words," this is Mouton."

His Fairy-type gives him a gentle look, before squirming to face the strangers. Pressing back hard into Sanji’s chest with a pleasant," Swirl!"

" Pom," Pistol coos down at his friend, voice thick with a familiar warmth.

" Lix," he purrs timidly, hiding a little in Sanji’s arm.

The blonde frowns at the interaction, putting another step between them with a bitter burn in the back of his throat.

Luffy instantly ruins it with a hop and a glowing smile," your buddy sure is awesome! Where’d you find him?"

" Awe-some?" Sanji repeats slowly, lifting his head, sure he must've heard his scream wrong.

It almost hurts to look directly at Luffy’s smile and sparkling eyes. He nods so hard it gives Sanji a headache," yeah! Floating is one of the coolest things a Pokémon can do!" He throws out his arms in his excitement. Zoro tips to the side without so much as a blink.

" Aipom!" Pistol copies the motion, somehow making the gesture twice as big despite his much shorter arms.

" Wait, so… you don’t think I’m weird for… having a fairy-type?" Mouton rubs his tail side to side into Sanji’s lower belly.

Luffy’s smile falls away at his words, hands falling to his sides. And Sanji barely suppresses a flinch, braced for the worst and longing for Red and Zeff," why would that be weird?" Is all he says and even Sneasel tilts his head at the odd question. Meanwhile, something hard sets in Zoro’s gaze.

" Well, because I’m a boy," Sanji whispers, unable to meet Zoro’s intense stare.

" That’s the dumbest shit I’ve ever heard," Zoro scoffs, tone venomous.

" Sneasel-Snea," his dark Pokémon sneers at his side, seeming disgusted.

Luffy nods in agreement, absently reaching for Zoro and lacing their fingers. Sanji zeros in on the contact," who told you that, Sanji?"

" Aipom?" The Normal-type blinks big, sad orange eyes at the pair.

Sanji can’t even find the breath to answer, stunned to silence by the sheer sincerity radiating from the small group of oddities in front of him. He bites gently at the smile tugging at his lips, hiding completely into the sticky fur on the back of Mouton’s head. He glances off to the side, something unbearably warm and soft swelling within his stomach.

It only takes a moment for him to meet their eyes," no one important," he answers with a smile. He swears both boys go pink, but it must be the late daylight playing tricks on him.

" Payapa! Razz!"

Sanji jumps at Zeff’s voice, spinning around to watch the older blonde limp over to them. He leans more heavily on Red, who lumbers slowly at his side, dark eyes never leaving him.

Sanji’s aware of Luffy's bright gasp at the sight of the Mammoswine, but he’s more focused with letting Lixxy go, so he can tuck under Zeff’s other arm.

The chef rolls wrinkled eyes, but pets warmly at the puffball regardless," we got a flat tire, boys," he grunts as they come to a stop. Sanji walks closer, letting Red dowse him in a blast of frigid air," but Koshiro doesn’t have any spares at the moment. Course that means we’ll have to wait until a repair truck can get out here," he strokes his fingers down the braid of his mustache. Looking to the sky, to the sun," but that won’t be for a few more hours. So, we’ll be staying for dinner."

Just as a sour, disappointed lump starts to wedge its way into his throat, Luffy and Pistol cheer. With the purple Pokémon leaping clean over Sanji’s shoulder and sprinting to Mouton.

 " Mamoo," Red rumbles in warning. Pistol skids to a halt in front of the giant ice-type. Looking up at him with huge eyes.

" Snea," Sanji just hears the dark-type growl.

Mouton comes over though, nuzzling their cheeks gently," Swirlix," he coos to Red. Who watches for a moment more before blinking his approval," Swirl!" Lixxy chirps, turning to Aipom. 

Pistol looks between the two for a moment, mouth open in awe before shaking out his coat," Aipom!" He bounces back quickly, pointing a paw to Sneasel, who still seems on edge and watching Red when Sanji spares him a glance.

" Swirlll," he purrs in agreement, following Pistol.

Sanji leaps back when he gets a face full of excited Luffy. A harsh gust of deathly cold freezes- nearly literally- Luffy in his tracks. He shivers, black hair sparkling white. He looks back to Red, who glares down at him.

He scratches sheepishly at the back of his neck with a boyish grin that makes Sanji flush a little," sorry," he apologizes honestly, looking back at Sanji," I didn’t mean to scare you. I just… well…", he looks shy all of a sudden," since you’re staying, that means we get to spend more time with you guys," he grins again," isn’t that great, Sanji?"

And maybe it’s Luffy’s cute, contagious excitement or just how happy his Mouton seems while chatting with Sneasel and Pistol, but Sanji softens and swallows that lump.

He smiles with a sigh, deciding," yeah," and Luffy manages to grin bigger while Red relaxes.

And Sanji just knows, somehow, that staying a little longer won’t be so bad afterall.

" Make sure to keep Payapa out of trouble, Razz," the old man huffs to Mouton. A Swirlix if Zoro’s been hearing him correctly. Though the boy has to admit the towering Pokémon standing firmly by his side is stealing most of his attention.

The aforementioned Pokémon looks behind him with a smile, tail swaying with a warm, chirping promise of," Lix!" Before he turns back to Pistol and Sneasel, tilting his head as the former very animatedly discusses something with the other two.

" Wait!" Sanji weaves around Luffy to scamper quickly to the man's side," if you’re helping the chefs, then I wanna come too," he turns shining, hopeful blue eyes up at the tall man.

Zoro laces his fingers behind his head, leaning back into his own arms and watching the trio silently, only looking away to glance at Luffy as he drifts back to his side. Studying them as well.

" No can do, kid," he gruffs back nearly instantly. And Sanji’s brilliant eyes dim in that same moment, downcast with his hanging head.

Something tight and awful suddenly flares to life in Zoro’s gut, shifting his feet and glancing away from the scene. Luffy leans a little into his side, pouting hard.

" This isn’t our kitchen and I have to respect their rules," the older chef goes on to explain, more gently than before.

" Okay," Sanji mopes quietly. Gaining the complete attention of Swirlix in a heartbeat.

The pink thing wiggles, drifting like he’s ready to fly over to him when the truly massive Pokémon- Zoro loosely believes his name is Red- knocks a gentle tusk against his side. Pushing with a low rumble of," Maammm," until the boy finally comes to lay against his sandy down fur. He purrs, a sound so deep it makes the very air tremble, coating Sanji’s feathery blonde locks in glinting frost.

Then the man presses a big hand into his cold hair, ruffling it with a similarly warm noise. Sanji laughs, soft and melodic, hiding away in Red’s shaggy fur.

The look in the man’s eyes is undeniably fond, softening his wrinkles before he gives a satisfied nod.

He pats the side of the huge Pokémon," come on then, Red. Let’s leave the boys to their playdate."

" Swine," he moans back, nuzzling his oddly shaped nose against Sanji once more before allowing the boy to pull back so they can turn as a duo, lumbering together back to the building.

Zoro’s eyes trail after them. A distinctly hollow feeling welling up in his chest. He swallows it down bitterly, which is made all the easier by Luffy bounding back to Sanji’s side like an excited Lillipup. His whole body even squirms with an imaginary wagging tail.

" You can cook, Sanji?!" Luffy chirps, practically drooling at just the thought.

Sanji goes stiff, flushing under the weight of Luffy’s excitement," not very well," he admits softly, glancing off to the side," but me and Mouton love doing it," as he busies his hands with fixing his hair. Carefully combing the blonde back into place.

" Swirlix," the cloud-esque pokémon agrees as Pistol raises the end of his tail to him, grinning big. Mouton blinks at the Normal-type, then shifts his own tail to press it into the palm.

The Aipom then grabs Sneasel by his white paw, leading the way around the back of the orphanage toward the training grounds.

The boys follow without a word and Zoro’s eyes are once again drawn to their blonde newcomer. He’s barely aware of just how long he’s been looking until," are you gonna say something or just keep staring?" Is huffed from puffed, pink cheeks with tense shoulders nearly touching equally red ears.

Luffy slots warmly against his side. Naturally drawing Zoro’s dull eyes to his fond smile and glittering honey-brown," Zoro’s not much of a talker," he explains after a moment of eye-contact. Turning back to the new boy.

Zoro grunts his agreement even as he casts his eyes to Mouton instead. Not wanting to sour their calm air," how’d you come up with Mouton?" He wonders aloud. And he swears Sanji jumps at the sound of his voice while Swirlix looks back upon being called. He tilts his whole body with his head, blinking his blue eyes in a way Zoro finds very cute," I’ve never heard that word before."

" That’s probably because it isn’t English," the curious admission drags green-gray to Sanji’s cheek," it came from a show I used to watch back in my hometown. So, it was translated into the common language."

" What’s a show?" Luffy hums, tilting his head so it falls against Zoro’s shoulder.

Sanji shakes out his blonde hair to turn comically wide aqua-blue eyes to them," you… don’t know what a… a show is?" He speaks slowly, utterly disbelieving. 

" Nope," popping his P and snatching Zoro’s hand. The larger huffs, rolling his eyes at Luffy’s ignorance to Sanji’s inner turmoil.

" I-It’s… It’s something that comes on TV, I guess," he stutters out, frowning with thought like he’s never had to explain it before.

" We don’t have any TVs here," Zoro clarifies, having mercy on the confused boy.

" You what?!" He squawks, grinding to a complete halt," then what… w-what do you guys do all day?!"

Luckily, Pistol stops too, throwing his arms out towards the Training Hollow," Ai-Aipom," he explains to Mouton, paw drifting about the open area with a beaming smile.

" Swirrlll," he coos in wonder.

" Well me and Sneasel spar here most of the time," Zoro muses, digging in his ears with a closed eye.

" Swirlix?!" Mouton sparkles down at Zoro’s partner.

He smiles awkwardly with an uncomfortable shift of his feet," Snea-Sneasel," he admits quietly, pressing his paw into the back of his neck.

" Swir-lix! Swirl!" Mouton praises on regardless, smiling so big it forces his eyes closed.

" Pom!" Pistol agrees readily, releasing the Dark/Ice-type’s hand in favor of draping his arm across his slender shoulders.

" Sel," he nearly whines, ducking his head. Zoro doesn’t doubt he’s blushing under his dark fur and something fond tugs at his heart. Smiling warmly down at his sparring buddy.

They all watch, equally charmed, until Luffy giggles," me and Pistol explore the forest a lot," he tacks on before gasping and shooting up from Zoro’s arm. He abandons the greenhead to bound over to Sanji," we could show you guys our favorite spot!"

He promptly takes his hand, leaving Sanji flushed from the base of his neck to his hairline- begrudgingly, Zoro admits his reaction is cute. What the hell is with these two? - dragging him away with a shout of," come on, Pistol!"

Met with a brilliant," Aipom!" Who does the same to Mouton and Sneasel.

The excitable duo lead the way through the trees, expertly weaving between trunks and ducking under branches. Though Luffy does take special care in avoiding roots that protrude too high or limbs that hang too low, kicking up fallen leaves as they go.

He glances over his shoulder at Zoro every minute or so. The younger will give him a lazy nod or fond blink each and every time their eyes meet.

Finally, after 10 or so minutes of steady travel and dodging frightened pokémon, the trees thin until they burst through one last cluster of shrubs and into a glade that spreads open all around them.

Luffy comes to a grinning, softly panting, stop at the tree line. Zoro comes up on Sanji’s other side, watching from the edge of his vision as Luffy’s hopeful honey-brown trail after the blonde. Who steps forward into the overgrown grass and vibrant wild flowers with wide, sparkling eyes.

He admits, low and breathy," it’s so pretty."

The small area sits along a river bank. The space is alive with the thriving green of the soft grasses and dapples of flowers with petals of every color. Slate-gray rocks break up the sea of green, some large and flat. Others small and straight. Though most are sprinkled with a green of their own with the cool, dark mosses clinging to their surfaces.

Luffy laughs through his teeth in the sunlight, speckled as it sinks slowly behind the trees. His shadow squirming from the praise.

Pistol frees his captives to bound forward, leaping above the plants as a lazy breeze leaves them dancing gently. He finds his way to a massive, wide rock sitting low to the ground with the water lapping at its edge.

He climbs up before flopping onto his back, limbs spread out all around him. His tail pops up, inviting their guests over with an eager flick.

Mouton obeys, drifting over as his cotton fur ruffles against the wind. He slots into the space beneath Pistol’s arm and close to his side. So close that they press flush when his entire, tiny body expands with a long, blissful purr.

Luffy, without releasing Sanji, follows a nearly identical path as his Pistol," when the sun’s up, it hits this rock alllll day," he explains happily over his shoulder," so it’s super-duper warm and the water sounds really nice. So, we take lots of naps here with Ro and Sneasel."

He finally lets Sanji go to shimmy up the stone, sliding close to Swirlix and patting the bare rock at his side. His grin, even from back here, is little and welcoming and gentle. Zoro can see Sanji’s shoulder sink before he hops up as well.

" Oro!" And just like that, all that gentleness is gone. Replaced with a toothy grin and fast waving, as if Zoro doesn’t already see him.

The warrior-in-training rolls green-gray eyes. Even tossing his entire head so Luffy can see, but the," yeah, yeah," he rumbles in return is so disgustingly fond- even to his own denying ears- that the effect is lost. 

Zoro comes over to block Sanji in on the other side, leaning back on his palms to watch idly as Sneasel strolls over to Pistol. With sheathed claws, he pokes the purple pokémon‘s pale belly. Aipom only swats a lazy tail at him. 

" Lu, how’d you come up with Pistol’s name?" Zoro muses, adding his voice to the chirps and chatters of sleepy, nearby pokémon.

Sneasel pokes again. The Normal-type cracks open a single eye to bat away his finger. The playful shimmer to his friend’s gaze accentuated by the weakening sunlight.

" Well," Luffy starts, eyes closed and voice heavy," a long time ago, me and Pistol were looking for berries in the forest. A bunch of little, green Pokémon got mad at me and attacked, but he protected me and beat them all no problem," he tosses his hands into the air. Something warm and wistful in his tone as said Aipom finally pounces. Using his tail to push off their perch and tackling Sneasel to the ground.

They tumble over each other in the flowers, sending scatters of pollen clouds in every direction. Zoro only hums over the quiet commotion as Sneasel manages to snag the upper hand and flip them one final time.

He ends up on top, but Pistol merely uses his tail to switch their position.

Swirlix now sits up and on tiny feet, looking on from the edge of the stone with something nearly wondrous in his sky-blue eyes. Zoro doesn’t think he understands why.

" First Mouton, now Pistol," Luffy bites out a yawn, stretching out against the warmed surface as he peeks up at Zoro, squinting in the fading light," why did you ask about their names all of a sudden?" 

" Truth is, I’ve been thinkin’ about namin’ Sneasel," he admits after a beat as Pistol snakes his tail tight around the dual-type’s legs. Flopping against him to hug at his shoulders.

Sneasel squirms weakly, struggling to split his attention as he works his paws against Pistol’s round belly.

" Really?!" The grin in Luffy’s voice is palpable, blending seamlessly with Pistol’s little giggles as white fingers begin to wiggle. His grip loosening just enough for Sneasel to gain the upper hand once more.

Pistol hits the grassy ground with a soft thump and the new angle allows Sneasel to peak just so at their trainers.

Luffy’s sat up and leaning slightly over Sanji and toward Zoro. The blonde beneath him merely listens with his eyes closed and hands pillowing his head. Though he does shift every once in a while, especially while Luffy’s wandering fingers jab into his sides as honey-brown sparkles with excitement.

" Any ideas yet?!"

" Kokujo," Zoro muses in return. Sneasel tries to bite down his smirk as something pleasant wells up inside of him. Pistol’s vibrant grin shows him how poor his attempt was.

The orange shadows bathing the shorter pokémon beneath him only make it harder not to smile.

" Ko-Ku-Joh," Luffy tests," what’s that mean?"

" It’s the language of my hometown," which spikes Sanji’s interest. Blue eyes finally opening to properly join the conversation," I don’t know it all that well, but I know Kokujo means black rope."

Pistol relaxes into the grass while they listen, even going as far as to loop a friendly tail around Sneasel. Who can’t help sinking into the idea, taken by the name already.

" Ai?" Pistol hums, squeezing him with a fond shimmer to his amber-orange eyes.

" What do you think of it?" Zoro calls to the glade at large. Sneasel makes a face at being caught, Pistol giggles at him.

He sits up, lifting his hips from their spot on Pistol’s pelvis, allowing the Normal-type to wiggle free. Sneasel shakes his head a little, hoping to quell the itchy scratch of flowers littering his red crest. He fails and Aipom tilts his head, blinking at him before his mouth sets firm and he begins plucking more of the plants from between his spread legs.

Sneasel copies the position with his own legs so they rest on either side of Aipom’s shorter ones. His yellow feet press into the gray-blue limbs as they form a diamond. Finally, he gives Zoro his attention, meeting the exasperated and gently adoring green-gray he’s come to crave as bad as the air in his chest.

It's pathetic.

And he hides those sickly feelings and what he knows are shining aquamarine behind a lazy shrug and a smirk," Snea-Sneasel," he hums. Pistol cackles with Luffy and Zoro grins at him.

So different from his deadly Sharpedo smile.

So much softer he can barely stand to look at him.

" Then Kokujo it is."

Kokujo feels the heavy glow of his forehead and chest as they stare at each other in the sunset.

The sleepy, late day breeze dries out Pistol’s exposed tongue fairly quickly as he focuses on the plants between his paws. He can hear Mouton drifting over, taste his candy-sweet scent on the wind, leading him to wonder how exactly he manages to keep his tongue out all day without it just falling off. 

He narrows his eyes at his project. The lingering gaze of Kokujo- what a nice name. Black rope. It fits him- encourages him to hold his clumsy paws as steady as possible, working to lock and weave stems together.

He plucks blossom after blossom, careful of their delicate petals, until he’s formed a ring he hopes is big enough.

With one final tug and a firm nod, he holds up his creation to Mouton," Aipom!" His grin triumphant and the flutter in his stomach hopeful.

His new friend swoops down for a closer look, tilting his head at the odd thing before finally landing gently among the grass on small paws. Pistol takes the opportunity to place the jewelry on his head. Luckily wide enough to fit around his dark ears.

Mouton blinks up as if he could see it, ears flicking reflectively from the tickly petals. A moment of silence passes before understanding shines bright in blue eyes and a radiant," Swirlix!" Falls from his furry lips. He launches into the air, flying in wide, quick circles before facing Sanji," Swirl-Swirlix! Swirl!" He sings in the sunset.

Sanji hops down from the rock, landing with a puff of pollen. Luffy and Zoro’s eyes follow behind him," it looks wonderful, Lixxy," the blonde compliments with something soft in his tone. Stroking warmly along the Fairy-type’s cheek.

Mouton indulges in his touch for a moment. Then he glances at Pistol and grins even bigger. He flies down to wiggle into his side, nuzzling their cheeks hard. Or as hard as a cotton-soft puffball can manage. He coos out a heavy, happy," Swiiiiiirrrrrrllllll ."

Pistol could never deny the way he absolutely melts against the other. Not hesitating to coil purple arms tight around his pillow-esque body with his own purr of," Aiiipoom."

Pistol’s barely open eyes catch the odd look Kokujo gives them before glancing at the flowers between his legs and unsheathing a single claw. The strange look stirs a strange feeling in the Long Tail’s gut and just as he’s about to ask, Luffy’s cheerful announcement of," I want one!" Steals his attention.

Luffy bounds over with Zoro, his hand clasped tightly around the younger boy’s. Luffy promptly drops down into the grass and while he doesn’t have to, Zoro follows all the same. Sanji comes over to follow suit, though much more graceful than his shorter counterparts.

" Snea," the frustrated rumble draws amber-orange back to their original target. Pistol finds that Kokujo’s flowers have been reduced to a pile of butchered stems, sliced leaves, and diced petals.

" Aipom," he heaves a fond noise, shaking his head against Swirlix.

" Lix," Mouton giggles happily, sharing a look with the Normal-type at his side.

Pistol crawls over, tucking snuggly against the dual-type’s side. Kokujo smells nothing like Mouton, he’s crisp and cool where the other was warm and sweet. Pistol tips over to knock their heads together regardless and picks four flowers only when he’s sure Kokujo is watching. He weaves them slowly, taking his time to show off the cross, under, over, and through motions to form a knot.

" Pom," he hums, showing off the plants.

" Sneasel," he grumbles, but he does reach forward to give it another try, only for Pistol to take hold of his white paw.

" Ai-Aipom," tapping his long, slender claw before gliding his paw down and back to Kokujo’s palm," Ai."

Sneasel frowns as he obeys, concealing the deadly weapon once more. Only then does Pistol hand over his remaining blossoms just as Mouton comes over to sit at Kokujo’s right. And together they watch the heavier Pokémon work.

His longer, white fingers twist knots together with more grace than Pistol’s stubby, purple ones, but his care lacks and it shows in the stems he snaps every three or so knots. Each time his jaw sets tighter and his grip bears down harder with his annoyed frown. Pistol and Mouton will tuck closer, nuzzling their companion until the tension leaves his slender shoulders.

In the end, his flower ring looks even better than Pistol’s. Kokujo takes a moment to admire the thing with an expression Aipom hates to admit he doesn’t understand. And then, without hesitation, he turns and sits it in the space between large, purple ears with a messy tuft to help stabilize it.

" Sel-Sneasel," he hums, bumping their shoulders with a charming smirk.

Pistol’s cheeks warm while his smile squishes his eyes closed," Aipom," he rumbles in thanks.

" Swir-lix," the Fairy-type compliments softly. Pistol doesn’t have to open his eyes, he can feel the warm glow of his friend’s blue jewels.

" Zoro, Luffy, that’s too rough!" His ears roll back at Sanji’s scold, blinking open his eyes to look to his left.

Luffy only laughs. Though a sharp sneeze interrupts his mirth as pollen drifts along the wind," this is so fun," he chirps, sniffling.

Meanwhile, Zoro’s glaring at the innocent pile of color resting on the grass," stupid petals," he snarls. Then his expression brightens a little and he looks to the trio of Pokémon. Or specifically, his Kokujo," Luffy, let me see your hat."

" Okie doke!" The smaller hums instantly, pausing in his flower sorting to pull the straw thing from his head. Zoro takes it gently, holding it in front of him and twirling it slowly.

Luffy shoves a handful of pink and purple blossoms into Zoro’s pile, nodding contently at his collection of blue before giving Sanji his focus as he begins his explanation all over again.

" First, you pick a flower, but you have to make sure to get as much of the stem as possible," Luffy presses his chest into Sanji’s arm. Honey-brown following behind lithe hands as they separate stems from their roots," then you find the middle of the stems and overlap them," Luffy’s lids fall a bit heavier over his eyes, everything smells so nice. The flowers are sweet, but also a little bitter and Sanji smells really good too. Luffy turns his head, tucking his nose under the blonde’s chin. He breathes him in, molding into his side with a sigh," a-and…", Luffy can feel it when Sanji swallows hard," t-then you tie… tie the knot. But you have to be gentle , they break easy," he stammers to the finish and Luffy swears he hears Zoro snicker under his breath.

One more deep breath and Luffy pulls away, brightly assuring," got it!" Before getting to work.

He digs through his collection, searching for two flowers with super long stems. After locating them, he presses their centers together and bites down on his tongue, hands trembling just a little as he carefully curls one over the other. He slots the stem through the hole and pulls just enough to tighten the knot.

He releases one-half of the pair and grins when their bond holds.

As he moves down the chain, he begins to notice weird kinks forming where the ties sit, but he can’t even begin to imagine a solution, so he keeps going anyway.

Besides, the warm, calm air surrounding their little group chases away any frustration. Instead, his brain obsesses over just how great it is that he even met Zoro, Sanji, Mouton, Kokujo, and his Pistol of course.

Just thinking about them drops something heavy and hot in his heart. Fills him to the brim with so much giddy excitement that he could run around forever!

He hadn't known things could be this perfect, that truly nothing is or can go wrong.

" All done!"

" I’m finished."

Luffy and Zoro announce in unison. The older of the two holds up his creation to Sanji. The ring is a wide array of blues, from softer pastels to deeper night skies, even a few oceans here and there.

" They’re all the same color," Zoro notes to which Luffy nods eagerly.

" Yep! I made them all the same as Sanji’s eyes," he explains, puffing his chest like an Unfezant.

" Why?" Sanji asks then, staring at the lopsided thing carefully, as if just his gaze would make it unravel.

" Because your eyes are pretty," Luffy giggles, rolling his eyes," duh," he tacks on in a warm, teasing tone.

His declaration causes a pink flush to bleed rapidly beneath Sanji’s skin. The tall boy even goes as far as to duck his head, hiding his eyes behind a curtain of blonde. His hands work to thread and twirl his own creation gently," do… do you r-really think that?" He whispers like he couldn’t help it.

Luffy’s insides go mushy and hot. That good feeling from before pulsing heavily as he reaches out a hand to carefully push back Sanji’s long bangs. He tucks the feathery blonde behind his ear, so close to him as he steels that yes. Sanji is very, very pretty.

Luffy’s honestly never noticed it in anyone but his Zoro before. But now? Now he wants to see all of Sanji all the time, especially in the steadily weakening light of the sun.

He sits the crown on his head to help keep that pesky hair in place, smiling bright for the other boy, " of course I do." 

" Swiiirrrrlllll ," Sanji’s partner purrs to Luffy’s right. Sounding thrilled beyond words.

" Lixxy! " Sanji whines as pink turns to ruby red and aqua blue dart quickly to anywhere but Luffy’s eyes. They land on Zoro and a cute wrinkle forms between Sanji’s brows," where’s your crown, Zoro?"

Luffy feels a little bitter at the loss, but he spins to fully face his friend anyway. Curious to see what exactly Zoro needed his hat for.

The younger boy must read his mind because he’s presenting the treasure when Luffy settles," all that stem weaving crap was too hard. So, I did this instead." 

Luffy gasps at the sight of his new and improved straw hat, nearly falling back into Sanji in his shock. Decorating the red, fabric sash resting on the brim are flowers of every variety. Their stems slotted securely between the rough straw and smooth cotton. Some stick up, others press down and they all stun Luffy into silence.

" Aipom," Pistol breathes in pure wonder.

Luffy’s reaction isn't nearly as quiet as he squeals with glee," I love it!" He exclaims, squirming while he flaps his hands. Distantly, he’s aware of the Pidove he sent scattering into a mess of frightened coos, but he’s just too happy to care. Or to know what to do with himself, with his body.

Zoro chuckles at him. The noise is low and dripping with fondness. He raises up the hat and Luffy’s quick to duck his head. The green-haired boy places it atop his hair gently, adjusting the thin, elastic string until it rests beneath his chin. His rough fingers brush the skin there and Luffy burns ," and this way, you can wear both."

Luffy leaps at Zoro before he can think twice about it, curling around him as he settles contently in his lap. He hugs the bigger boy as hard as he can, squeezing this wonderful feeling into the nonexistent space between their skin," thank you, Oro," he says into said caramel flesh, smiling into his shoulder. Luffy nearly purrs when strong, sure arms coil up and around him, keeping them flush.

" You’re welcome, Lu," he returns into his forehead, breath warm and fanning.

Luffy looks when he hears Sanji shuffle over. He peaks past Zoro’s collar bone, but makes no effort to detach besides that. His Ro is too soft and warm for anything like that.

The newcomer’s cheeks have lost their vibrant red glow, but a sweet pink still settles high on his cheekbones as he avoids eye contact with either boy.

" Well, it’s a good thing I’m gifting you then. That way you can see what a real flower crown looks like," his tone is stiff and awkward as he holds the thing out to Zoro like he expects him to take it.

Luffy’s long-term friend does no such thing. Instead, he dips his head, waiting for the crown- is that what they’re called? - to be placed on his head like Mouton, Pistol, Sanji, and Luffy before him.

Sanji huffs like he’s annoyed, but his placement of the thing is gentle. Even going so far as to press down on it to ensure the stems fit snugly over his hairline and above his ears. Zoro reaches up, ghosting his fingers along the delicate petals. Arranged in an alternating pattern of white, red, and yellow.

" Woooaaah. You’re really good, Sanji," Luffy marvels quietly, sitting up a little against Zoro’s thighs for a better look.

His current seat grunts in agreement," it fits well too," he muses before smirking just a little and turning to Luffy. Their noses touch at this proximity and the Corviknette stays put. Quietly enjoying the new close-up of Zoro’s green-gray eyes and lime eyelashes," hey, Luf, am I pretty too?"

That makes the smallest tilt his head, furrowing his brow," ‘course you’re pretty, Ro," he pouts," I always tell you that," he barely catches Sanji hiding away in his palms with a truly pitiful sound from the corner of his eyes. Luffy’s quick to look, concerned," you okay, Sanji?"

" Mhm," the blonde whines, weak, while Zoro snickers. 

" You sure?" Luffy pushes, leaning a little closer.

Zoro’s arms slide down his back, coming to rest on his hips, which he squeezes. Not speaking until Luffy looks to him for guidance," he’s alright, Luffy," Zoro assures with a wide grin that shows a few too many teeth," just embarrassed."

" Be quiet!" Sanji snaps instantly, glaring at Zoro from between his fingers.

" Ai-Aipom!"

" Sneasel-Snea."

Luffy and Zoro both look to the sky, only to find that their Pokémon were right. The sun has set almost completely.

Luffy makes a noise eerily similar to Sanji’s," Oro ," looking down at Zoro with big honey-brown eyes," that means Sanji and Mouton have to leave soon!"

" Pooooommmm! " Pistol wails, wrapping both his arms and his tail around the mono-type. Mouton’s eyes set softer, nuzzling the purple Normal-type with a quiet sound.

" Snea-Snea," Kokujo scoffs, glaring up at the sky like he could force the sun to go back. Zoro’s nose scrunches with his own sour expression, though he does tuck his fingers under Luffy’s shirt to pet the small of his back.

Sanji draws back from his hands to look at them properly. His eyes flit between all four of them for a moment, before he rolls his shoulders and pushes himself to his feet. He swipes his hands over his pants to clear some of the yellow-white pollen. And when he straightens, the smile he flashes Luffy and Zoro is gentle with an emotion the smallest doesn’t quite understand," let’s not think about that," as he holds a hand out to each of them," we still have all night and dinner, after all," his smile broadens until it forces his eyes shut.

Luffy shares a wide-eyed look with Zoro. The taller’s glimmer in the setting sun, alight with something . And even without knowing what it is, Luffy knows it explains the odd, really good feeling he’s had since they started making their flower crowns.

Honestly, the feeling he’s had ever since they met Sanji and Mouton those few hours ago. But leave it to Luffy’s Zoro to fix everything without even knowing it.

They manage to smile in unison, nodding to each other before taking the offered hands and hauling themselves up, albeit awkwardly considering their positions, with Sanji’s help.

Pistol, empowered by Sanji’s words, leaps clean onto the blonde’s shoulder. He curls around the back of his head, nuzzling their temples together as his tail falls against the future chef’s chest. His chirp of," Ai-Aipom," warm with something exclusive to Luffy. To Zoro and Kokujo.

And now to Mouton and Sanji. Who cards his fingers through the tuft of purple between his ears, mindful of his crown. Luffy wiggles at the interaction, smiling big enough to make his whole face hurt.

Kokujo and Mouton stroll to the front together, leading the way with pollen grains littering their fur. Leaving Sneasel especially with bright patches staining otherwise pristine, if not a little overgrown, fur.

As their trainers and Pistol follow, Luffy begins to notice a giggle-inducing pattern. Every few minutes or so, Kokujo will stray from the well-worn path home and into the dark forest around them. When that happens, Mouton is quick to glide around and press into his side, guiding him back with a patient coo and fond eyes.

At nearly the same moment each and every time, Zoro will stray from Sanji’s left. And Luffy will watch with the biggest grin as the blonde tightens his grip on the youngest boy’s hand to tug him back with an exasperated, but amused nonetheless expression," not that way, Zoro."

Despite the duo’s best efforts, they near where the trees begin to thin into the training sands. Where Sanji finally remarks thoughtfully with a smirk pulling at his lips," what are the chances that both a Pokémon and his trainer are bad with directions?"

" Swirlix-Swirl," Mouton laughs, having gotten properly comfortable under Kokujo’s arm.

" Sneasel," said Dark/Ice-type growls emptily to the little Fairy-type, only pulling him closer where his thin arm drapes over where Swirlix’s shoulders would be if he had any.

As Zoro only scoffs, Luffy wonders if Mouton has any arms. He has feet buried under all the fluff, so why not?

This pondering does not stop him from cackling," Zoro’s the worst with directions!"

" Luffy! Shut up!"

Upon breaking through the trees, Luffy is assaulted with the jaw-dropping view of the clear night sky that he had only seen in broken up clusters under the canopy. The inky blue opens up all around them, swallowing them in spatters of glowing white stars.

He points up uselessly because everyone else is already looking," let’s watch the stars before dinner!"

" Aipom!"

" It is beautiful out."

" Lix!"

" Fine by me."

" Neasel."

Luffy skips to the front, turning away from the chatter of the filled dining room and toward a graveyard of broken training dummies.

" Did you and Kokujo do this?" Sanji muses in mild horror, taking in the carnage.

" They should’ve been stronger," Zoro shrugs, even kicking one aside when it happens to lay in Sanji’s path.

The three boys pile onto the same dummy, blatantly ignoring the half a dozen or so surrounding them. The fit is tight, but they manage to squish rather comfortably in the end. With the body heat of people and Pokémon alike to ward off the nipping chill of the settling night.

Pistol eagerly plops himself against Sanji’s thighs once they still. Mouton takes it as an invitation to snuggle against Zoro’s firmer chest with a purr into his shirt. The greenhead rolls his eyes, but the gentleness of his touch while he pets between round, dark ears tell another story.

Luffy looks at Kokujo, merely standing in front of them and squares his shoulders to reach out and lift him up. In all the months of knowing him, Luffy has yet to come to terms with just how heavy the Dark/Ice-type is. His weak struggling doesn’t make him any easier to maneuver. 

But Luffy refuses to let him sit all alone and when the arms wrapped snug around his mildly pudgy torso don’t budge, Zoro’s training buddy gives up with little more than a huff of," Sel," before pushing back into him.

And for a while, they just sit there together in the eerie, late day quiet. Not even the unintelligible voices of the other children on the wind spoil their perfect calm.

Luffy lays his head on Sneasel’s, shutting his eyes and breathing deep in his chest, leeching all the warmth he can from his middle spot and firmly ignoring the way his nose tip is going numb. Even just thinking it may mean going back inside early. It’ll mean ending their night with Sanji and Mouton without Pistol and Kokujo.

So, instead, he blinks his eyes open and asks with lips a little too chilled," what do you guys wanna be when you grow up?"

" I wanna become a Pokémon ranger," Zoro’s answer is near instant. Prompting all five pairs of eyes," with the strongest team in the world to back me up," he finishes to his formed fist, having paused in his petting of Sanji’s Pokémon. Sneasel knocks it with his own, gaze somehow as steely and unwavering as Zoro’s.

" I don’t know yet, but I don't really like battling," Sanji frowns at the flowers against Pistol’s purple fur, scratching his fingers down the back of his head. Aipom presses into it, chirping quietly, Sanji smiles," I love to cook. Maybe I could start a restaurant for people and Pokémon to enjoy."

" Swirl," the tiny Pokémon agrees, sounding in love with the idea. The thought makes Luffy drool as his stomach threatens to rumble. 

" I don’t know either," he admits, squeezing Kokujo closer, hoping to hide the sound, not at all ready to face the real world again," I think… at one point I had a dream. But I forgot it."

 "Aipom," Pistol coos, laying his hand-tail against Luffy’s knee. The soft glow of his amber-orange chases away any thoughts of the weeks and months before his purple fur and endless smiles.

" I just wanna meet all kinds of new Pokémon. And… I wanna meet people I can always count on," Kokujo’s hands are softer than Luffy thought they would be. The warm fur pressing into his knuckles is nice.

" Back in my home region," Sanji begins quietly, drawing Luffy’s eyes," there was a person I made a promise to," he busies himself with rubbing Pistol’s large ears between his fingers. He doesn’t look up at them," I said that I would travel the world. That I… I’d go on amazing adventures and make even better friends."

Mouton makes a strange, sad rumbling noise. Like a car that won’t start up.

The blonde blushes a little, before adding, soft and firm all the same," me and you are already on our way then," he smiles a little, finally meets Luffy’s wide open eyes," 5 each is a pretty good head start, huh?"

" He does have a point," Zoro chuckles, looking over at them with possibly the sweetest expression Luffy has ever seen on his face. Except maybe that night Zoro thought he was asleep," besides, you two have seven more years to figure it out. And you better bet I’m with you all the way. What’s a powerful trainer without equally powerful allies?" That sweet look turns smug quick with a deadly smirk and a raised chin.

Something white hot stings the back of Luffy’s eyes, but he grins so big it pushes them closed," shishishi ," he laughs through his teeth. A little broken and a little wet, but Zoro and Sanji join him all the same.

So, it’s okay.

" Boys! Dinner!" Koshi’s voice rings from the dining room. Luffy’s glad they block Pistol and Kokujo so well.

A minute or two passes, a little more laughing, before Aipom and Sneasel escape their laps to race each other out of sight against the wall beside the sliding door. Mouton slips from Zoro to follow eagerly, getting there just in time to hear Kokujo boasting quietly about his win.

Sanji wonders as he stands from their makeshift chair," what are they doing?" 

" Technically, we aren’t allowed to have Pokémon," Zoro admits, following his lead. The youngest reaches his arms to the sky, groaning as his muscles pull tight before going lax.

" What?! No TV or Poké-", they leave before Luffy can hear the rest of Sanji’s complaint.

And as he mourns the loss of their perfect little world, a star streaks across the sky.

It’s brighter than anything he’s ever seen, twinkling a shade of pale, warm yellow instead of distant, freezing white. It crosses his vision slow enough for him to marvel at it.

Slow enough for Luffy to gather his thoughts. His words, speaking to the odd feeling in his chest," I know we just met Sanji and Mouton, but…", he muses to the thing, laying a hand over the hollow, the ache. Swallowing as he goes on to say," but I always wanna be with them. All of them," he looks back to it, swears it's slowed even more. As if truly listening to what one lonely little boy has to say as it sits hundreds of thousands of millions of miles away," I want it to be the six of us. Forever."

It seems to twinkle just for him and for a moment he has an odd thought of a dark face and yellow eyes and a wispy body.

" Luffy!" Just the sound of Zoro’s voice leaves Luffy grinning and warm all over, freezing night be damned. Both taller boys wait at the door for him," if you don’t hurry, you’re gonna miss dinner!"

" Aipom!" Pistol bounds back to him, careful of the dining room as his tail loops around Luffy’s arm. The Normal-type tilts his head, brow furrowing as he takes in his expression," Ai?"

" There was a shooting star, Pistol," he explains brightly and turns back to the sky. Foolishly, he had hoped the star would stop for him, but of course it’s already gone," aww, you missed it," he whines. Overcome with a sudden sour feeling deep down inside of him.

" Pom-Pom!" Pistol leaps at his trainer, coiling a tight tail around Luffy’s belly while cupping stubby paws over his eyes.

" It was there!" Luffy could never hope to not fall away to giggles at his friend’s antics. Reaching to push his blindfold up and away," I swear it!"

" Aaaiiii!" He sings teasingly, burying the bulbous tips of his tail fingers under Luffy’s shirt. 

The boy squeals, desperately trying to fend off the incoming attack when," honestly, you two," Zoro scolds weakly, plucking Aipom off of Luffy by the scruff of his neck. Pistol gives him a sheepish, cute smile and Zoro drops him with an eye roll and a smile of his own. As the mono-type escapes back to Kokujo and Mouton, he pulls Luffy to his feet. Sanji’s just behind him, looking distinctly more amused.

" You believe me, don’t you Zoro? Sanji?" His honey-brown eyes dart between the boys, seeking their support.

Zoro does at least spare the stars a glance, but his green-gray returns to Luffy rather quickly. Focusing much more closely on pressing his decorated straw hat back into his hair," I believe that all the food’ll be gone by the time we figure out what you saw," Luffy pouts, mouth open and ready to defend himself, but Zoro’s already dragging him back to the dining room by his wrist. His only response a dismissive," yeah yeah. Whine about it while we eat, alright?"

Sanji does laugh at them. A soft, melodic sound that Luffy firmly decides is his favorite thing to hear.

It’s right next to Zoro’s sleepy voice.

And Pistol’s singing.

And Kokujo’s snarling.

And Mouton’s purring.

Luffy laughs with him then, finally slotting into his spot between the taller boys. He doesn’t even think of releasing Zoro’s hand. The younger doesn’t make him.

Kokujo takes off after Pistol, who bounces around empty slashes until he ends up in the branches of a tree. Mouton dances around them, eyes sparkling at the bickering pair.

So yeah, Luffy decides then, squeezing Zoro’s hand, I’m gonna stick by them no matter what.

Jirachi giggles as that wonderful tickle lingers. As the eye in its belly blinks open sleepily, reflecting back the endless expanse of starry blue and rich purple all around it. Spreading its arms to feel the deadly cold wind.

" Always and forever?" It sings lowly, crashing into a wispy cloud with a twirling dive. The water droplets cling to its white skin. To the radiant yellow of its star, breathing in the air of the final night of the week," what a brilliant dream."