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"Dude, no, over to the left. No, wait. Center it. Center it!"
Crispin's brow furrows in concentration. Drayton hovers over his shoulder, issuing orders like some sort of field marshal instead of a college student harassing the man making his lunch. "Shut up, Drayton, I'm trying to concentrate."
The sandwich in front of him is a masterpiece, an improbable tower of carefully layered meats and cheeses, triumphantly topped with a generous layer of potato chips. All they have to do now is place the pick— a simple task complicated by the fact that the pick is a sparkler, and that Drayton has already lit the damn thing.
"I swear on all that is holy Drayton if I burn myself before—"
"Ugh fine. I have to do everything myself. Give it here."
Crispin doesn't hesitate before he hands the sparkler to Drayton. "Go nuts, dude."
Drayton accepts the sparkler and shifts his attention back to the sandwich. He lifts his hand, stabbing the pointy end of the pick deftly through the soft bread of the sandwich.
Or, at least, he tries to. At the exact moment Drayton's pick makes contact with the bread, the door to the club room slams open. Drayton startles, sending the pick flying. He scrambles to catch himself, and the pick. He succeeds in catching neither. The pick lands on his foot, melting a small hole in the rubber of his sandals before it goes out. Drayton's hand lands on the sandwich with a crunch, lettuce and wayward condiments spraying outwards in all directions.
"Drayton! There you are!" The offending door slammer, a first year Drayton vaguely recognizes, is bent over with her hands on her knees, clearly trying to catch her breath.
Drayton blinks at the kid. She's sweaty and disheveled, a faint smudge across her face. He can't tell if it's a bruise or dirt, but neither option bodes well for him.
"Lacey sent me to find you! She needs your help."
Drayton's blood runs cold.
~~~~~
The Coastal Biome is quiet and weirdly overcast. Drayton frowns. The school posts the weather schedule for the biomes every week and it's supposed to be sunny today. Lacey meets him at her plaza with fear in her eyes and blood on her clothes. "I'm okay," she says. "It's just a scratch, she didn't mean it."
Drayton swallows against the unease building in his gut. He reaches out to Lacey, eyes narrowing when she flinches at his touch. "What the actual fuck is going on right now? Why are you bleeding all over yourself?"
Lacey grimaces. "You have to promise me you won't freak out. And I'm not bleeding all over myself."
"That ship sailed, like, half an hour ago, Lacey-cakes," he replies. "And you still didn't answer my question."
Lacey looks around anxiously. The plaza is empty aside from the two of them, which is weird. A smear of drying blood runs the length of her arm. Drayton resists the urge to wipe it away, to wrap her up in his arms and his cape and bundle her away from whatever nightmare they've accidentally wandered into. "Come with me," she says. She turns and walks back towards the plaza without waiting to see if he follows.
They make their way slowly to the battle court. Drayton walks a few paces behind Lacey, partially because he likes to look at her ass when she walks but mostly because he's not convinced she's as fine as she claims.
"I sent everyone back to the Central Plaza," says Lacey as they walk. "Juli would be so upset if anyone got hurt."
When they reach the battle court, Drayton's eyes widen. The sky above the Slowpoke Beach is darker than the biome perimeter. Lightning cracks menacingly above the water at irregular intervals. The Slowpoke seem unbothered by this; Drayton can't tell if it's because they're not afraid of whatever is causing the storm or because they're too dumb to notice it.
Lacey is taking deep breaths next to him. She's shaking almost imperceptibly, fine tremors he can feel rather than see. Whatever happened, she's more rattled than she wants him to know. He puts a hand on her uninjured shoulder, gently spins her to face him.
"Lacey, baby," he says, trying his best to rein in his own panic at the naked fear in her eyes, "I need you to tell me exactly what happened. " He rubs his hand soothingly up and down her uninjured arm as he speaks.
Lacey shakes her head. "I don't know, Drayton. It must have been something bad, Juli came flying in at full speed and went straight into one of the caves. I-I went to check on her and Miraidon was...different."
Drayton doesn't know much about Juliana's Paldean team— she left most of them at home so she could "be fair" at Blueberry, and he knows she takes care of some powerful rare Pokémon for some Paldean scientists. But Miraidon? He knows that Pokémon. It's a big goober, a pet that doesn't battle even just for fun.
"Different how, Lacey-cakes?" he asks.
"Wrong. Mean. It looked like a Dragon type, Drayton, but it wasn't Terastalized, how is that even possible?" Lacey is beginning to panic in earnest now, breath quickening and eyes wide.
Drayton cups her cheek gently. "Hey, hey" he says soothingly. "You're okay. Come on sweetheart, just breathe for me." Lacey leans into his touch, screwing her eyes shut.
They stay like that for a few seconds, or a minute, or forever. Eventually Lacey opens her eyes. Drayton grins at her. "There's my girl," he says. "Now, as much as you know I would love to stand here with you forever, someone should probably go figure out what the fuck is going on with our friend."
Lacey nods and squares her shoulders. "Let's go."
Drayton wags a finger in front of her face. "Ah-ah-ah, not so fast there missy."
Lacey frowns at him. "Excuse me?"
Drayton winces. Lacey is using her you're on thin ice, buster, voice and he doesn't want to fight with her. "Come on, Lace, use that beautiful brain of yours. First off, you're already hurt. B of all, someone needs to make sure some poor random student doesn't accidentally wander into whatever this is. Jules wiped the floor with all of us using a team she caught the first week she got here. If she's got some rampaging juiced up Paldean thunder dragon out here, you and I both know the only thing that stands a chance is another dragon."
Lacey opens her mouth to argue. He cuts her off. "Please, Lacey. Make sure the biome is clear then go back to the Central Plaza and keep everyone out. Tell them one of those new Tera types got out of control." He doesn't say, I need you safe.
She nods. "Okay, okay. I hear you. I'll go."
Drayton takes a step back and releases his Flygon. "Flea," he says to the dragon, "Lacey's in charge. Do not leave her side."
Flygon roars in acknowledgement. Lacey hesitates for a moment then says, "If you get hurt..."
"I won't." Drayton cuts her off again. "Now you two get going. Try not to get stuck by lightning, please. You're too cute to have all your hair zapped off."
Lacey takes off towards the Central Plaza, Flea buzzing happily behind her. Once they're out of sight, Drayton releases his Sceptile. "Miraidon knows you, Gecs" he tells the Pokmon, "but stay close just in case. And don't get near the water." The Sceptile grumbles in acknowledgment.
They make their way slowly towards the beach. Thunder rumbles ominously above their heads. The surface of the river flashes periodically, sparks glittering a warning. Drayton releases his Archulodon. Verrazzano is big enough to serve as a lightning rod if Miraidon actually is out of control. "Hey Vee, hang out here for a bit." The Pokémon snorts in displeasure, but remains in place.
He's not sure he wants think about what might make Juliana do something like this on purpose. He gives himself a mental shake. Whatever is going on right now, the situation won't be helped by him losing his nerve.
He walks the beach with measured steps and hands in his pockets. "Jules?" he calls. "Juliana, are you here somewhere?" A response comes in the form of a piercing metallic shriek and a clap of thunder. Gecs slinks closer to him, pressing against his side. He takes a deep breath and keeps walking forward.
"Jules?" he tries again. "It's Drayton. Come on, Jaybird, I know you're here." He really, really hopes he isn't wrong. He rounds the corner.
Lacey wasn't kidding. Juliana's Miraidon is mean looking. The big purple lizard no longer resembles an oversized dog—instead it hovers menacingly in front of the cave, eyes narrowed and tail sparking. Drayton stops; he wouldn't be surprised if the Pokémon had activated an electric terrain field and he's not eager to find out.
He takes his hands out of his pockets and raises them up in the air. Unbidden, his grandfather's voice sounds in the back of his head. Move slow. Don't break eye contact. Be patient, boy. Move in haste, repent at never.
"Easy, Gecs," he murmurs. "We're okay." The Sceptile stays pressed close. Drayton isn't sure who's comforting whom. Fortunately, Miraidon hasn't moved to come closer. Defense, not offense, Drayton notes.
He calls out to the Pokémon, "Hey bud. Is your mom around?" Miraidon doesn't blink, but something in its posture seems to soften slightly. "Yeah, that's right buddy. You remember me, right? Your old pal Drayton? Stole a few sandwiches from me?"
Miraidon tilts its head. Drayton stays where he is. "You know I'm not here to hurt you, buddy. I'm here to help. Did something happen to your mom? Is she in there behind you?" Miraidon lets out a mournful cry, lowering its head.
"I can help but only if you let me come closer. Can you do that bud? I won't hurt you, I promise." Miraidon tilts its head to the other side, eyes flickering. After a second stretched thin to eternity, the Pokémon makes a decision: it lowers its head and tail, then moves aside so Drayton can see into the cave.
In the dim light, he can barely make out another large Pokémon standing in the entrance. Its eyes glow red: Houndoom. Juliana is definitely in there. He approaches at a Snorlax pace, hands still raised in supplication. Whatever happened, her Pokémon are on high alert and seemingly acting on their own. Jules's team is well-trained, but fiercely protective of their person. One wrong move and this could all go straight to shit.
At the mouth of the cave he stops again. "Juuuuuuules," he sing-songs. "Come on Jaybird, I know you're in there. Cujo and the thunderstorm kind of gave you away." No response.
"Alright, ma'am, you leave me no choice. I'm coming in." His phone, possessed by a sweet and surprisingly intuitive Rotom, zooms in front of him to serve as a flashlight.
Juliana is curled up at the back of the cave, arms wrapped tightly around her knees and her head down. Houndoom growls at him as he approaches but makes no other moves. "Jules?" He says softly. "Can you hear me?" She shakes her head.
Behind him, he can hear Gecs chittering and Houndoom's low grumbling response. The Pokémon come to some sort of understanding, because the next thing he knows, Gecs is on all fours slinking towards Juliana until he's close enough to press his nose into her knees, nudging insistently against her clenched fists.
Drayton follows his partner, kneeling slightly behind the Sceptile. He knows from experience that Juliana has a mean right hook. "Jules, honey, you're scaring me a little. Are you hurt?"
Another head shake. "Okay. Can I touch you?"
This time, the barest hint of a nod. "Okay good. You're safe. I'm going to put my hand on yours, okay? Right next to Gecs. Please don't punch me in the face."
He reaches for her slowly, closing his hands over her own clenched fists. He gently pries her fingers open and twists his fingers with hers. She grips his hands as if they're a lifeline. "There we go. That's better, right? You're safe. We'll sit here as long as you need."
Juliana still hasn't lifted her head. Her breath comes in shallow gasps. Now that they're touching, he can feel her shaking like a Sudowoodo. "Hey Jaybird? Let's work on our breathing, yeah? I'm going to count, can you match me?"
She can't. They try for several minutes, Drayton counting slowly to ten while Jules ignores him in favor of hyperventilation. None of her Pokémon have tried to kill him though; Houndoom is curled up just inside the cave's entrance while Miraidon continues to stand guard outside. The thunder has finally stopped, though. Drayton takes the win.
"Alright, this isn't going to work. Time to bring out the big guns. Can you scoot forward for me?"
Drayton thanks whatever deities may be listening when Juliana complies. "I'm going to sit behind you, okay?" The grip on his hands tightens. "Don't worry I just need one hand, you can keep the other one." Jules releases his right hand. He takes the opportunity to shake it out; he knew intellectually that Juliana must be physically strong to manage the team that she has, but her grip strength is no joke.
He settles in behind her so she's bracketed by his knees on either side and leans forward to put his head on her shoulder. "That's better. Now let's try this again. I'm going to put my hand on your chest. Focus on that and match your breathing to mine, hmm?"
They sit like that for a while, Drayton breathing deep and easy while Jules slowly comes back to herself with great heaving gulps of air. He keeps up a steady stream of chatter in her ear, meaningless nonsense about the League Club and how Lacey has made it her personal mission to get him on track so they can graduate together.
"Good luck and Godspeed to her," Jules finally croaks.
Drayton grins, squeezing her a little. "There she is. Welcome back, Jaybird."
"Hey, D," Jules replied wearily. "Why are you here?"
Drayton squeezes her again. "You scared the shit out of us. Miraidon started a thunderstorm and went at Lacey."
She sighs heavily. She’s still tense, body braced for a fight. "Fuck."
"Yeah. Not great, Jules. You wanna tell me what happened?"
Juliana is quiet for a moment then launches into a long and increasingly frantic recounting of her trip to the Great Crater of Paldea with Ms. Briar.
"And then we got back and I hadn't even had a chance to think when Briar called me up to her classroom and told me she wanted to study Terry and Drayton I swear to you she will touch that Pokémon over my actual dead body—" Jules is close to panicking again, tears welling in her eyes as she struggles to get herself back under control.
"Hey, hey. Jules, listen to me. Are you listening?" He feels her nod against him and he tightens his grip on her for the third time. "That won't happen. We won't let it. You're, like, one of the ten strongest trainers in the entire world right now. Your best friend is a Champion herself. Your boyfriend is a hot lumberjack who can keep up with you and your collection of personal fairytales. You've got me, you've got Lacey. Nobody anywhere is researching your Pokémon without your permission. You're safe."
Jules sags against him, clearly exhausted. He presses a kiss to the top of her head. "Let's go back, yeah? Lacey is freaking out and you need to eat something."
Jules hums her agreement, but makes no move to stand. That’s fine. Drayton’s got tons of practice with loitering. Eventually their Pokémon get restless, Houndoom whining softly and looking at the cave entrance. Drayton kisses the top of Juliana’s head once more then stands and stretches dramatically. Jules still hasn’t let go of his hand, so he pulls her up with him. She leans heavily against him once she’s on her feet, but her eyes have cleared along with the storm outside.
Together they step out into the golden light of the afternoon.
~~~~~
It's well past sundown when Lacey lets herself into Drayton's room. Drayton is sprawled out on the couch, munching on potato chips. "Hey, Lacey-cakes," he greets. "How'd it go with the Director?"
Lacey groans, sitting heavily on the couch and throwing her head back. "It's handled. The incompetence at this place is genuinely staggering." She turns her head to look at him. "How'd it go with Juli?"
Drayton jerks his head in the direction of his bedroom. "She's passed out in there so I'm on the couch tonight. The whole situation is a shit show."
He gives Lacey a rundown of everything Jules told him in the cave then says, "She's still really on edge so I told her she could crash here." He shudders. "I can't imagine having to battle a nuclear turtle with no backup like that, let alone having to deal with the aftermath."
Lacey makes a small noise of agreement and kicks her feet up into Drayton's lap. Wordlessly he begins to massage them. He feels a visceral satisfaction when she moans softly at his touch. "You're a good friend, Drayton," she says.
"You are too," he replies. "Thank you for dealing with the admins today. That could have really fucked things up for her if you hadn't stepped in."
Drayton flushes when Lacey smiles at him. "Guess we make a good team," she says. "Dumb movie time?"
"Dumb movie time," he agrees, scrolling through their queue until he finds something sufficiently mindless. They're asleep before the opening credits finish.
~~~~~
Drayton wakes the next morning to the sound of his door closing. He squints at the microwave--it's still early, the sun just beginning to peek through his window. The T-shirt he fell asleep in is wet with drool; Lacey is fast asleep on top of him, mouth open and snoring lightly.
Jules must have gone back to her own room. He wraps his arms around Lacey, placing his hand on top of her head. She sighs contentedly in her sleep. Drayton lets himself drift back off. He’ll check in on Juliana later.