Chapter Text
The next time Harmony saw Avi was at Mabel’s research lab.
So she did manage to find her way, Harmony mused as she looked over the trainer. She looked much the same as she had last night but the bags under her eyes looked marginally smaller and she looked a little less like she wanted to strangle somebody.
“What do you mean you “don’t have them”? What am I supposed to do until you do?” Mable appeared to be the exception to that. Avi was standing over her desk in utter disbelief.
Mable shrugged, “You could join the Royale? Or do some research to free up some of my time to get you your pokemon? Your choice. Oh hey Harmony.”
Harmony stepped fully into the room as Mable got up and walked around to a cupboard on the other side of the room. “I have something for you.”
“So what? I just gotta live here for a while?” Avi said, still incredulous.
“I mean, I guess. Take a break why don’t cha? Seems like you need it. Come out.” she dropped the three pokeballs she was holding to reveal a Charmander, Bulbasaur and Squirtle.
“Alright. Fine. I’ll go.”
“No, no. Stay. You can have one as well.”
“This is what was so urgent?” Harmony asked, remembering the call the previous day. Mable shrugged again before disappearing behind the screen separating her desk and the door and going back to work.
Avi looked like she wanted to be literally anywhere else. The three pokemon were looking up at them expectantly. Harmony considered, she already had a bayleef and whirlipede so bulbasaur wouldn’t bring any new coverage to her team. She also already had a Slowbro that could mega evolve so Squirtle would mean switching out her slowbro and having to train up the squirtle and that could take a while. That left Charmander. Harmony had been looking for a fire type to fill out her team so she figured Charmander was the best option. She scooped up the fire lizard and looked towards Avi to see what she would pick. “Uh. Bulbasaur, I guess?” She picked up the grass type and they made their way out of the lab.
“No. I’m not coming to your stupid hotel.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“But you were thinking it.”
“Bold of you to make that assumption.”
“Look… I would if I could, but…” she mumbled something Harmony didn’t quite catch.
“What was that?”
“I don’t have the budget for it. I was meant to be here for a couple days. Four at most, and I bought enough money for food for that time but apparently I have stay here for two fucking weeks so I need to save what I have to make sure I can eat.”
“You could join the Royale if you need some cash. It takes a while to yield anything substantial but it’s pretty easy if you have a good team. And if you change your mind and do want to stay at Hotel Z, I’m sure I could convince Urbain and AZ to let you in on a reduced fee. In exchange you’d probably have to help out around the hotel a bit. Maybe cook a couple days a week. And you’d be free to do whatever else you want. Seems like a reasonable deal.” Harmony shrugged.
Avi didn’t want to mention the fact the Royale app had downloaded itself onto her phone after splitting from them the previous night or the fact she had circled back to the battle zone with Leo by her side to just have some fun battling without the pressure of a crowd or winning a badge. “I’ll consider it.”
“Okay. See you around.” Harmony waved and turned into Wild Zone 1.
Leo burst out of his ball while Avi looked at the retreating figured of the other trainer.
“I mean, a roof over our heads and an actual bed does sound better than camping on rocks for two weeks. And we could do more in the Royale,” Avi debated, half to herself and half to her partner. Leo barked. “Plus, free food without the scavenging. And yes. I agree. Amber and Sparky don’t battle and Mage will but she’s not fond of it. I should build up a battle team so we’re not going in alone. And if we’re staying somewhere, we can leave the others to their own devices. Though I don’t know how much I trust Mage not to cause trouble when we’re not around. But Amber should be able to keep her in check. Yeah I’ll stay at the Hotel. C’mon then.”
They went through the familiar motions of packing up their tent. Ropes, then pegs, then folding it up to slot neatly into the bottom of Avi’s rucksack. Sparky had been released from her ball at some point in the process but sat back to watch her dad and trainer as she had been banned from helping previously when all she did was make trouble and cause the process to take twice as long.
“Hey, Sir?” Avi approached a man in a purple suit, “Can you tell me where Hotel Z is?”
“Hotel Z? The one that belongs to that long legged freak? Yeah it’s near Wild Zone 1. But if you want a real quality hotel you’d be better coming to hotel Richimmese.”
“Sounds fancy. And expensive. I’ll pass.”
The guy floundered but Avi just walked away.
Creeaak.
“Wow, no-one’s gonna be creeping around here with that door. Are you AZ?” Avi addressed the man sitting behind the desk. He was wearing a red and green suit, seemingly fixed for himself and there was a little white and blue pokemon holding a black flower floating near him.
“Indeed I am. I take it you’re Avi? Harmony and Urbain mentioned you.” AZ stood to his full height and looked at Avi below him.
“They did?” If ever humans could dynamax, AZ is probably what it’d look like.
“They did. I’ll let them talk to you about the cooking and cleaning schedule but for now I’m assuming you’d like to stay?”
A key was passed between them before Avi could reply. Instead she looked at the key and asked “What about payment? How much do you want?”
“Nothing for tonight,” AZ waved his hand, “But should you get a job or make significant earnings from the Royale then you can pay 60% of the original fee. Assuming you cook for the team a little in the meantime.”
So Harmony had talked to AZ about this then. “Thank you. I’m gonna, I’m gonna take my stuff up now.” she started towards the lift, “Actually, do you have any berries?”
Avi had a love-hate relationship with curry. It was easy to make and even easier to customise but it was also one of the only things she ate when she was out travelling and she grew tired of it very quickly.
“Ahh another great day of helping people. Now, lets get back to the hotel for food before heading out for the Royale.” Avi recognised Urbain’s voice.
“Speak for yourself. I will be sleeping like any sane person would do.” An unfamiliar voice that Avi didn’t recognise spoke up but she had a point. All of Lumiose was insane if they were spending their nights out on the streets and their days there as well.
“You care too little about the Royale, Lida.”
“And you care too much. I’m not sure what’s going on in that sleep deprived brain of yours but I’m sure it’s nothing more that Croissant Curry and being helpful.”
“Touche,” Harmony remarked and they all chuckled.
“So, you two want curry?”
They walking into the courtyard before either could reply and were greeted by the sight of Avi standing over a large pot being heated by a small campfire. Her Jolteon was lying nearby with the eevee Harmony and Urbain had seen in Quasartico lying on top of him. Avi’s umbreon was sitting nearby and the mismagius was floating around, carrying several bowls, spoons and forks.
“I uh, I made curry. I wasn’t sure how many’d be here so there might be too much but…”
“Ha. I told you she’d come back!” Urbain pointed to Harmony who just rolled her eyes with a smile on her face.
“Oohh what type of curry is it?” That was the other voice Avi had heard. The girl it belonged to had long brownish-black hair, similarly dark eyes and an oversized blue hoodie.
“Sweet potato curry. Just something easy. There should be enough.”
“Mmm, It smells delish. Is it done?”
“Uh yeah. Mage!”
The mismagius brought over the crockery she was holding and deposited one of each item to the group. Avi served herself last and tried to stall hearing what everyone had to say about her cooking by getting more plates for the pokemon. When they were eating and Avi had actually sat down with her own plate, Lida was almost done.
“This was really good,” she said around a mouthful, “It’s miles better than Urbain’s. Wish Naveen was here to try it. He doesn’t like the cuisine mix but maybe he’d eat it if it wasn’t.”
The second comment earned an indignant huff from Urbain as Avi reeled from the fact people thought her cooking was good. She’d grown up eating it. So had everyone else. It was her go-to dish on the road but no-one had ever complemented it. Not in human terms at least. Her team liked it but Avi figured that it was edible and they were hungry over having any particular thoughts on the flavour.
“Oh I’m Lida by the way. Sorry I didn’t introduce myself.” She- Lida- held out a hand.
“Heh. It’s fine. I’m Avi. Avi Syska.” Avi shook it.
“Nice to meet you Avi. How long are you staying for?”
“Uh Probably a couple of weeks. Maybe more if Mable doesn’t get her shit together and gets me what I need.”
“Yeah, I hear she can be pretty unreliable. Not that I’ve ever interacted with her directly. I mean at least–”
Swoosh “Sun setting. Battle zones activated.”
“Mmh! Gulp Thanks for the meal Avi! We’re excited to have you stay with us.” The plate with the remnants of his meal almost broke as Urbain stood up. He paused for a moment, unsure if he should say anything further before deciding against it and rushing out into the night. Harmony also thanked Avi for the meal, put her plate more carefully and followed Urbain out.
“Ugh Those two. I’ll help you clean up,” Lida’s staryu easily put out the embers of the fire and they collected the scattered plates. After washing, drying and sorting them, Lida wished Avi a good night and headed up to bed.
Avi followed soon after.