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“...M…Meowth Syndrome?”
“Meowth Syndrome,” he said.
Evelyn was quiet for a moment, and then said, “I-Ingo…”
“Yes?”
“Are you… making fun of me?”
A laugh came out of the phone. “No, no, my friend, I wouldn’t dream of it. This is apparently something that has happened quite a few times in this region! And now it’s happened to Emmet.”
“It’s just…” Evelyn traced her fingers in small circles on her counter. “It’s a little hard to believe.”
“Well, seeing is believing, as they say.”
“So then… you want me to go see him? While he is like… this?”
“It’s not so much as I want it, so much as you are the best one to see him like this! Being from Kalos originally, you’d already likely have a natural immunity, but the fact that one of your Pokemon is a Persian makes it all but certain!”
“I see…”
“And… truthfully, I think he would like to see you. He is very annoyed that I have made him stay home to recover. He can be a bit of a workaholic, you know.”
Evelyn personally thought it was a bit hypocritical for Ingo of all people to say that, but she simply replied: “Oh… yes.”
“So I think a visit from you would lift his spirits quite a lot.”
Evelyn blushed. “I… I wouldn’t be imposing?”
“Not at all!” Evelyn had to pull the phone away from her ear due to the sudden spike in Ingo’s volume. “Please, don't ever feel like you’re imposing on us. You’re nearly family now.” That just made her blush deepen. “And it’ll just be Emmet there anyways. And I know he’d never pass up a chance to spend time with you.”
Evelyn allowed herself a small smile of pleasure.
“Then… is there anything you recommend? I-I mean, in regards to anything I should bring for him, or something?”
Ingo took a moment to think before answering.
“...maybe leave your Persian at home.”
As soon as Evelyn knocked on the door of the twins’ apartment, she could hear the patter of footsteps from inside. “So he returns!” a voice said on the other side. Even from outdoors she could tell it was a bit rough, the way people usually sound when they’re unwillingly roused from sleep. “Let me guess, you changed your mind? Well, if you’re hoping you can convince me to come in now,” a nd the door swung open, “you have another thing com…”
Emmet’s near-sneer of a smile fell from his face as he took in the sight of Evelyn, his voice trailing off into nothing. The blanket he had wrapped around himself like a robe dropped to his shoulders, and Evelyn’s eyes swelled as she watched the triangular ears on his head go flat.
“Well. First of all.” Emmet sat down on his bed next to Evelyn, and almost immediately his gray, ropelike tail wrapped around his leg. “I am sorry for lying. Partially.” With his usual uniform swapped for a Gear Station novelty sweatshirt and pajama pants, Emmet would have already looked unguarded. But the lowered Meowth ears that stuck out of his head made him look even more vulnerable. Between them and the tail, Evelyn didn’t know where to look. “I did say I was on sick leave.”
Evelyn managed to collect herself enough to pout at him. “...you told me that you had a cold.”
Emmet winced. “Well!... I mean, would you have really believed me?! What would you have thought if I said ‘actually Evelyn, I’m taking a few days off because a rare phenomenon made me transform partially into a Meowth’? You would have thought I was making fun of you!”
He had a point.
“I-it’s true it’s… strange. But if you had explained things I would have believed you, you know.” Evelyn straightened her shoulders as she locked eyes with him, frowning. “I-I’ve told you, I prefer it when you’re honest with me…”
“Argh…” Emmet’s ears managed to droop more. “Okay, I… I am sorry.” He lowered his head with remorse. “I am verrrry sorry, Evelyn.”
Evelyn crossed her arms. “If you’re s-sorry… then make it up to me.”
“Um. How should I?”
After a pregnant pause, Evelyn couldn’t help the big smile that broke across her face.
“Y-your ears…”
Emmet flushed, his hands lifting to his head, instinctively trying to lower the hat he wasn’t wearing. “H-hey, come on…”
Evelyn said nothing, simply smiling. She waited patiently.
“You…” Emmet exhaled. “...Fine.”
The word had barely left his mouth before Evelyn was reaching for him. A funny noise emerged from Emmet’s throat as her right hand carefully found his ear, fingers curving around it. It felt like velvet.
“So soft,” she giggled.
“I-I guess,” Emmet muttered, head tilting down. Evelyn took the opportunity to begin petting his other ear, and he made another little sound. His smile was shaking at the corners, and his face was starting to turn pink.
“So you’re an Alolan Meowth, then?”
“I-I don’t know…” He lowered his gaze. “Maybe? I guess?”
“I’m pretty sure you are… because the inner part here…” She stroked it with her thumb, and Emmet actually squeaked. “Is gray, and the outer part is black.”
He didn’t respond. Evelyn hummed, finally releasing his ears. “Emmet?”
He still wasn’t looking at her. “Yes.”
She softly brought her fingertips down his cheeks as she smiled. “You are… very cute like this.”
His eyes were boring holes into his comforter. “No.”
“Y-you are! I’m not just teasing…! I think you’re cute, even without the Meowth ears.”
“I-I am Emmet. I am a grown man.” His hand went up to his eyeline for a split second, apparently forgetting again that he wasn’t wearing his hat, and he went even pinker. “I am not cute.”
Evelyn was quiet a while before her smile turned mischievous. “O-oh, you aren’t? Well…”
“What are you-u-uo-ah…” Emmet’s voice turned into a moan as Evelyn dragged her hand down his torso.
“You don’t think you’re cute? You don’t think you’re… a good kitty?”
“I-ahhhh, ah, Ev-elynnnnn…!!!!” Emmet tried to pull away and only succeeded falling backwards onto the mattress, leaving him helpless to her attacks. His eyes looked like saucers.
“B-because… I think you’re very cute,” she said, voice going low as she leaned over him, her smile still sweet as sugar. “I think you’re very good.”
“Ohhh…” He whined, squirming as she stroked his side lovingly, his face Applin red.
“Hmm… I think I can see if you’re good… You know how?” He was almost scared to ask. Luckily, she answered her own question. “I know a few things about Persian, and Meowth too… Alolan Meowth… they’re very proud Pokemon. They don’t like showing any weakness… and they’re very finicky about where you pet them, if they let you at all.”
“Uhhh…?” Emmet blinked almost drunkenly as Evelyn shuffled her position.
“And Alolan Meowth… will almost never let you touch their bellies.”
Oh.
“Oh- hhhhhuuu…” He didn’t have a chance. The second Evelyn’s slender fingers traced down Emmet’s stomach, he was completely defeated.
“Oh!” Evelyn blushed, almost shyly pleased even as she had the upper hand. “I w-was right… eheh…” Her blue eyes crinkled as she smiled down at him. “You must be… an exceptionally gentle kitty…”
“I-I…”
Emmet’s voice rose up and jerked down as Evelyn continued to pet his belly. His head went back as he whined, and Evelyn laid down with him, still stroking him, soft and sweet. So so sweet, and… and… ohhhh…
“Oh?” Evelyn lifted her head when she heard the strange noise start. It didn’t take her long to realize what it was, her eyes shining with delight. “O-oh my goodness… you’re even purring!”
Emmet moaned pathetically, throwing his arm over his red face. The rumble in his chest continued, completely uncaring of his embarrassment.
Evelyn giggled, gently nudging her head to his sternum so she could enjoy the faint tingle on her skin. “D-don’t be embarrassed… you haven’t done anything wrong…” She sighed, continuing to stroke the sweet spot above his navel. “Oh, you’re so adorable like this, Emmet…”
“Nnnnghh…”
“So adorable… so good… you’re such a good kitty, Emmet…”
“M… mme…”
“Yes, you are. You’re so good, Emmet…”
“Mm… mmmm…!!!”
And finally, he could no longer suppress it.
Emmet meowed.
One morning, five days after Emmet got “sick,” Ingo opened the door to his younger twin’s bedroom. Only a little light managed to get in the room, showing a lump on Emmet’s bed. As Ingo approached it, the lump twitched.
Evelyn was fast asleep, and Emmet’s body sprawled around her. Without leaving his position, Emmet’s head lifted towards Ingo. His gray hair was a mess. He squinted, face contorting into a scowl.
“...rrrr…”
Ingo walked past the bed to crack the curtain open a little. “Good morning, Emmet.”
The new light made Emmet’s eyes narrow further, and he bared his teeth at his brother. “Rrrrrrrrorrrrr…” It might have been Ingo’s imagination, but he seemed to hold Evelyn tighter.
“Emmet. Your ears.”
“Rrrr………?”
Emmet’s voice broke off, as he apparently realized that a very human growl was coming out of his throat. Slowly, he reached up to pat at the top of his head. Sure enough, there were no adorable triangle ears to be found.
“I’m sure you’ll be pleased as punch to get back to work,” Ingo said pleasantly as he bustled around Emmet’s room, politely saying nothing about Emmet’s blush while unconsciously straightening things up as he moved. “Considering how much you grumbled about staying home… well! Now you don’t have to.” With that Ingo retreated to the door. “If it seems like you really are over it, then come into the station at noon and I can clock you in for a half day! Tell Evelyn I said hi and thank you so much for helping out so much with you this week have a good day I’m heading out now bye!”
Emmet was left staring at the door as it shut. After a minute, something shuffled next to him. He turned to find Evelyn blinking drowsily up at him.
“...oh. Your ears.”
“Ah, so… you think you have everything?” Emmet asked, almost shy as Evelyn stood at the front door, straightening out her clothes. “You didn’t leave anything in the bathroom…?”
“I-I think I got it all,” Evelyn said, smiling gently. “Thank you.”
Scratching the back of his neck, Emmet laughed. “I should be thanking you. You didn’t have to visit every day… dealing with me while I was… like that.”
Evelyn giggled. “I didn’t have to d-deal with you… it was k-kinda fun.”
“Heh… well, if you say so.” As Emmet opened the door, he summoned the guts to add: “I kind of… had fun too.”
Evelyn stood in the open doorway looking at him before smiling once more. “Right. W-well… I should be heading out, then…”
“Ri…” Emmet trailed off as Evelyn suddenly stepped towards him. He thought she would hug him or give him a kiss, but instead she slipped something into his hand.
“H…” Evelyn inhaled, and when she looked up into his eyes her face was cherry red. But she was smiling, a fragile smile that was holding onto her cheeks for dear life in a moment of courage. “H-hold onto that, okay? We can… m-maybe have some more fun, some other time.”
“What do you…”
“I’ll s-see you later tell your brother I said hi h-have a good day text me at lunch bye!”
Evelyn took off, the sound of her high heels echoing down the hall of the apartment floor. Emmet was left staring at her back… before he thought to look down at what she had given–
“H-”
Emmet made a nearly inhuman sound, actually stepping backwards from the shock. The thing in his hand… was a blue collar with a bell. It was the kind Trainers usually would buy for a Glameow… or a Meowth.
But it was big enough for a person to wear.
Standing soundlessly in the middle of the apartment, Emmet went red.