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“Dooot!” Said Roy, in a sing-songy voice while knocking on Dot’s door. Liko stood next to him, wearing her usual pyjamas while she held her pillow and a blanket in her hands, Nyahoja standing at her feet. Roy was in his pyjamas as well, Kaiden on his head and Hogator in his arms.
“W-weren’t you supposed to bring your pillow too..?” Asked Liko, nervous. She got a bit jumpy and fidgety each time she was with Dot. It probably didn’t mean anything, though, right?
“I forgot, hehe. Wait a sec!” He sprinted to his room, waving to Liko and leaving her alone in front of their door. It suddenly opened, revealing Dot with their purple and pink hair pulled back. She loved seeing them like that, since she didn’t see their deep eyes and freckled cheeks often. She stared at their features for a few seconds, her face reddening at the sight.
“What.”
“O-o-oh! Um, Roy wanted to, uh, have a sleepover..” She mumbled, blushing even more and looking anywhere but them. “It was his idea! A-and, you don’t have to, if y-you don’t want to..” She was completely red at this point, her Nyahoja knowingly looking up at her. “But it’d be nice if you want- if you could.” She mustered up the courage to look at them in the eyes and blushed, smiling goofily. They then smiled warmly at her shyness and turned away.
“Sure. Don’t make too much of a mess, though.” They signalled to her to come in, then sat on their chair, continuing whatever it was they were doing on their computer. Roy suddenly burst in the room, holding his things.
“Dot!! Did’ya see us earlier, battling against Cap? It looked like he was flying! He totally kicked our butt.”
He laughed sheepishly, looking away.
“How do you think he does it?” The young boy asked, holding his chin in a thinking position, as if that would help. Dot turned their chair around to face Roy, tilting their head in thought.
“No idea. The strategy you did had to work.. You could ask Friede, maybe?”
They could swear Roy’s eyes started to sparkle as he nodded enthusiastically.
“I’ll ask him tomorrow, for sure!”
They made a noise of acknowledgment and turned to their computer, seemingly playing something. Liko, on the other hand, sat on Dot’s bed, petting their cat-like Pokémon.
“Do we have board games here? Maybe we could play like… Uno or something..?” She asked and fidgeted with her pendant.
“I think there’s one in the conference room. Give me a sec.” They sighed quietly and started getting up from their chair.
“Wait! I-I’ll go.” She started heading to the door and walked towards where the crew’s board games were stored. A few minutes later, Liko came back with the game and sat on the floor.
“I usually play this with my parents back in Paldea.” She smiled at the memory while shuffling the cards. “My mother always got angry playing Uno.”
“Really? It’s just a game, though, who’d get angry at that?” Dot turned their chair around, then sat next to Liko, Roy doing the same. Liko started distributing the cards, 7 per person, then put the rest in the middle of the trio.
“Roy, you can start!” She chirped.
He started by placing a card, then it was Dot’s turn, then Liko’s, and they went like that for a few minutes, before Dot yelled “Uno!” and placed their penultimate card. The turn went on while Roy hid an evil smirk under his remaining cards. Once his turn came, he placed a +4 card on the pile, snickering at Dot. Dot stuck their tongue out and placed a +4 on top of the other card.
“Nuh uh.” Roy took the card and gave it back to Dot.
“Don’t you know you can’t stack on a +4?” Said Roy, a smug look on his face.
“Hu- Yes you can??”
“Dot, he’s, um, he’s right.. You have to take 4 cards.” She smiled sheepishly at them.
“Stop. You’re only saying that so you don’t take any more cards.”
Roy pulled out his Rotom Phone, and showed them the official rules, proving his point.
“Where’s the fun in that??” They threw their arms dramatically in the air, their long sleeves swinging a little.
“Rules are rules, Dot.”
“Oh my god. I hate all of you.”
They took 4 cards then stared at their current deck while the turn progressed, grumbling to themselves.
“Who even reads those?? The fun part is deciding the house rules.”
“C’mon, don’t be such a sore loser. Speaking of…” He placed his last card on the pile and cheered.
“WH- WHAT. I DIDN’T HEAR YOU SAY UNO??”
He shrugged, then high-fived Hogator and Kaiden, celebrating his victory.
“WHAT HAPPENED TO FOLLOWING THE RULES??”
“You’re supposed to say it on your penultimate card, I didn’t, but I didn’t hear anyone call me out on it, so it counts!!”
“Dot, it’s ok, we’ll just play another rou-“ She tried comforting them, putting her hand on their shoulder.*
“I’m sick of you.” They pointed to Roy, then stood up.
“ALL OF YOU.” They threw their cards in the air and barged out of the room.
A few minutes later, Dot came back, Friede accompanying them after he had found them brooding in a corner of the ship.
“What’re you guys doing?” He asked, leaning on the doorway.
“A sleepover! It was Roy’s idea.” She looked up at him, since she and Roy were still on the floor, playing another round by themselves.
“Do you guys need anything? Food? Blankets? Stuffies?”
“Hmm.. Popcorn sounds nice.” Said Roy, placing a card on the pile of the game.
“We could watch something on my computer, if you guys wanted.” Dot looked away, embarrassed from earlier. Maybe they should’ve apologised, but later, now wasn’t the time.
“I’ll be back with popcorn! It won’t be as good as Murdock’s, though. Who knows how he makes microwave popcorn taste so good.” He asked himself, walking away.
“So, uh, what do you guys wanna watch?” They sat next to both of them, observing the game.
“Maybe Tangled? It’s been a while since I’ve watched it.” Liko looked at her cards as she answered.
“Ooh!! Ooh!! Can we watch The Angry Birds movie?? Pleeaasee??”
Dot sighed. “We could do like, a small movie marathon maybe? If you guys aren’t too sleepy.”
Roy nodded enthusiastically.
“Great Idea! There’s no way I’ll get tired!”
Friede shortly came back with popcorn, then helped Dot place their computer in a way that they could watch it while sitting on their bed.
“So? Have you guys decided what you’re gonna watch?”
Dot nodded. “Roy wanted to watch The Angry Birds movie and we’re probably gonna watch something else after.”
Friede chucked. “Great!!. Anyways, I’ll let you guys enjoy your movie. Let me know if you need something. I’ll be in the ship’s deck.” He waved as he walked out the room and closed the door behind him. Dot logged into the crew’s movie streaming account and started playing the movie. The trio sat on the bed, Roy eating several handfuls of popcorn while Dot built up the courage to scoot closer to Liko and rest their head on her shoulder. Liko tensed up at the feeling, her whole face turning red. Dot could almost swear they both could have fainted right then and there.
The movie progressed and Roy seemed to be enjoying it more than the others, shaking Dot’s shoulder every time there was a scene he liked, which was every 5 minutes. Out of nowhere, someone’s stomach grumbling loudly could be heard. Liko and Dot instantly turned towards Roy and Hogator, who had an embarrassed look on their faces.
“We just ate a bunch of popcorn, Roy. Don’t be like that.” Grumbled Dot.
“I could eat something else, honestly.” Mumbled Liko, to which Dot responded with a sigh, then got up and walked towards the door.
“Be quiet. I don’t want anyone to catch us.” They signalled to Liko and Roy to follow them, peeking out the door to see if anyone was there. The friend group silently made their way to the kitchen, occasionally shushing anyone who stepped too loudly and causing the wooden floors to creak. Hogator’s steps were very loud, but Roy insisted on bring it along. Once they got to their destination, Dot instantly went for the cupboard, taking out everything that seemed snack-able while Roy checked the freezer. Liko, unsure of what to do, stood next to Dot, fidgeting nervously with her pendant.
“Uh, what can I look for?”
“Look for things here, I’ll check out the top cabinets.”
“Aren’t you a little, um, short for that?”
“I know what I’m doing.” Their brow furrowed at her comment as they got a small stepping stool and tried to reach the cabinets, failing miserably. They put away the stepping stool and got a chair to reach, while Roy laughed quietly at the young person’s shortness.
“Hey? Who’s there?”
The sudden voice made Liko and Roy jump. On the other hand, Dot didn’t seem to care and continued trying to reach the cabinets. The kitchen light suddenly turned on, revealing Friede, without his signature glasses and ponytail. He was wearing more casual clothing since it was night and everyone was supposed to be sleeping. Liko looked absolutely terrified, her face turning pale. She started apologising to Friede, on the verge of tears.
“WE’RE SO SORRY FRIEDE, W-WE WERE JUST HUNGRY A-AND WE BETRAYED YOUR TRUST” She sniffled, starting to cry. “YOU DO SO MUCH FOR US AND THIS IS HOW WE TREAT YOU BACK, WE’RE SO SORRY”
She was completely in tears at this point. Meanwhile, Dot was still struggling to reach the cabinets and Roy just froze in his tracks.
“Hey, hey. It’s OK!” He crouched to her height and rubbed her shoulders comfortingly. “I honestly don’t really mind. Y’know what?”
He reached for a small key between some kitchen towels and unlocked a small cabinet.
“These are Murdock’s. Don’t tell him that I gave you these.”
He placed a bag full of candy in her hands. Almost as if they had some sort of food radar, Dot instantly turned to Friede and Liko. “What’re those?”
“They’re sweets. Murdock made ‘em himself!”
They brushed their hair out of their eyes, looking at the candies in awe.
“I think we’re set with these. Thanks.”
They took the bag and walked back to their room, Roy and Hogator following behind. Liko, still sniffling a little, stayed with Friede for a bit more.
“Liko, y’know this is your home too. You’re free to go wherever you want and eat whatever you find! We won’t punish you. Unless it’s Murdock’s secret stash.” He got a bit closer, whispering.
“If he asks you about it, don’t tell him it was me. He’ll kill me.” He said that last part in a more serious tone, then chuckled as he stood up and ruffled her hair a little.
“T-thanks, Friede.” She smiled.
“Don’t mention it. You kids have fun!” Waving goodnight, he yawned, walking back to the ship’s deck.
Liko opened the door to Dot’s room, only to find both Roy and Dot, already stuffing their faces with candy.
“What? They’re good.”
The trio continued the movie, Dot eventually falling asleep on Liko’s shoulder. At first, Roy couldn’t tell because of their hair, but they started snoring a few moments later.
“Dot, are you sleeping??” He frowned, lightly shoving them. They instantly perked up, as if nothing had happened.
“I’m not.”
“You can’t take a nap during the best movie ever?? C’mon.”
“Alright, alright. I’ll stay awake. But this definitely isn’t the best movie ever.”
“Dot. This is peak cinema!!!”
“Pfft. If you say so.”
After a while, the trio finished the movie and Roy was practically beaming. He went on and on about the easter eggs and the small details in the movie, while Liko and Dot (Liko more than Dot, Dot was probably a few seconds away from sleeping again) listened attentively to him.
“There’s a movie I’ve been wanting to watch. Can we? Are you guys getting tired yet?” Asked Dot.
“I could watch movies all night! I’ll never get sleepy!”
“I’m feeling fine right now. Put it on!”
Dot played a movie called ‘Nimona’. The three seemed very interested in the plot, gasping at the shocking scenes and the plot-twists and laughing at the jokes. Dot, once again, leaned closer to Liko while they watched the movie, but now hugging her arm and resting their head on her shoulder. Liko was too concentrated on the movie to notice. Near the end of the movie, the three were all huddled together, sobbing intensely, sniffling and wiping away tears.
Once the movie ended, they calmed down and tucked themselves to sleep. Liko and Roy slept on the floor while Dot slept on their bed, since they refused to sleep anywhere else.
“So, Roy, do you still think the Angry Birds Movie is the best movie ever?”
“Hmm..” He thought for a second. “Nimona and Angry Birds are at the same level, I think.”
“You definitely need to watch more movies.” Dot laughed a little.
“You? Liko? Did you like it?”
“I’ll never be the same person again.” She stared dramatically at Dot, then laughed a bit as well. “I loved it.” She still had a few tears in her eyes, but she seemed happy. They were all happy, getting to spend more time together.
Liko would spend a few moments before sleeping just staring at her pendant, watching how it shines in the moonlight in awe. She could hear muttering from Roy’s side and videos from Dot’s, but she ignored the two, before Roy’s muttering got louder, and louder and soon enough, Hogator joined in too. It seemed like they were singing.
“Is anyone asleep right now?” Whispered Liko. Dot shook their head and turned to Liko.
“I don’t think so.”
Roy stood up, looking at the pair with a wide smile.
“When me and Hogator can’t sleep, we go outside and look at the stars!”
“You mean… Stargazing?”
“Yeah! That!”
Dot got up, taking Liko’s hand in theirs.
“C’mon, let’s go.”
Even as their tone was serious and tired, they smiled warmly at her while still holding her hand. The other nodded, her cheeks becoming more red by the second.
Once the trio got to the outside deck, Roy and Hogator laid down, admiring the stars. The duo started singing the Fire Croc Pokémon’s song quietly, before it became more of a hum. Their melody filled the night’s silence, the three children observing the night sky. Liko’s bright blue eyes shifted towards Dot’s as she shoved their arm.
“Hey, Um, Dot. Thanks for doing this with us, even if you probably think it’s a b-bother…”
The other laughed a little and smiled at her.
“I really like spending time with you both, honestly. I really like spending time with you.”
Dot leaned slightly closer to her, holding her hand. They looked down at her lips, then quickly up at her eyes, an embarrassed look on her face.
“You’re... Um.,” She looked down, unable to finish her sentence.
Their voice were barely above a whisper. Both’s faces were bright red, but Dot seemed more confident than the girl, their free hand wandering to her cheek, cupping it gently. They lifted their gaze, looking into Liko's moonlit eyes.
“Snoooore”
The pair jumped in surprise, Liko letting out a small squeak of surprise. The noise was apparently enough to wake up the boy and his Pokémon.
“Hmm? What’s up? I fell asleep..” He chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment. The two noticed that they were still suspiciously close to each other, so Liko pushed Dot away awkwardly.
“O-oh! Uh, nothing!!”
They exhaled, looking at her affectionately before looking up at the star-filled sky. Their eyes widened at the sight, lightly shoving Liko’s shoulder.
“Look! Shooting stars!” They smiled in awe, looking back at the duo.
“Make a wish guys!”
The three closed their eyes for a few seconds, thinking of what to wish for, before opening them and looking at each other, smiling.
“What did you wish for?” He shook Liko’s shoulder, his grin widening in excitement. She sighed in joy, looking up at the stars once more.
“I wished we could stay friends forever.” She smiled shyly at the corny-ness of what she just confessed.
“Awe! That’s sweet! And you, Dot?”
“I want to be as popular as big sister Nanjamo one day.”
He shoved their arm playfully, giggling a little.
“Really? You could’ve just lied and said something as cheesy as Liko.”
They shrugged, shoving him back.
“Yeah, yeah. I wish we could stay like this forever, too.”
The three watched as what then was a few shooting lights in the sky, turn into a full meteor shower. Dot’s hand reached for Liko’s, holding it gently. After a while, the trio fell asleep under the night sky.