Chapter Text
The hallway smelled like a touch of floor cleaner and old oak wood, a kind of smell you really wouldn’t find anywhere else besides a school. Lockers slammed shut all around Mudkip. He didn’t flinch at a single one but kept track of everyone around him to the best of his ability.
New.
That word pressed into him from every angle of this new life. New Pokémon. New classrooms. New skies. It should’ve been exciting, a fresh start and all- but the thrill of spotting unfamiliar faces faded in a flash, swallowed by an emptiness that followed him everywhere he seemed to go. A hollowness that crept in when he was alone, around Pokémon or remembering any and everything. A heavy, oppressive sense of being utterly isolated.
Kalos wasn’t worse than Hoenn. It just wasn’t home. Home was a place you felt comfortable in, safe and secure in yourself and the Pokémon around you. He hadn’t had that in years, and the answer as to why never came. And the horrifying question of “will this feeling ever go away?” lingered in the back of his mind every single day.
His parents were still there. Their voices, their warmth and love- those things hadn’t changed. But friends? Mudkip had never quite figured out how to keep those. Acquaintances was a better descriptor than friends. Pokémon who tolerated his presence. Which was better than being unwanted entirely.
His thoughts came to a screeching halt as he stopped outside his first period classroom door. Science, not his favorite but anything was better than math.
The handle was ice cold to the touch. He told himself to just move but the silence stretched longer than it really should’ve.
But he didn’t have anything to lose if something bad was on the other side of that door. With a quick breath in, the door was opening to reveal the classroom.
He stepped inside, bracing for stares, an immediate silence to pour over and for whispers to begin rising. None of it came though.
The class continued on with their antics as if he didn’t exist at all. Chairs scraped, laughter buzzed, someone dropped a pencil. life continuing without so much as blinking in his direction. Almost no Pokémon took notice of him and that wasn’t so much of a refreshing feeling as it was relief for familiarity.
Almost no Pokémon noticed him, two had looked in his direction.
A Fennekin near the window, wrapped in a buttoned up, purple cardigan. Her skirt was a nice navy blue with a few handsewn patches into it. Those patches being messy leaves. Beside her sat a Chespin wearing a lab coat that looked like it once belonged to someone else. Perhaps a hand-me-down of sorts. It drooped over his body slightly, a bit too big for him and most likely wouldn’t fit his second evolution, but it looked nice nonetheless.
Dark circles clung beneath Chespin’s eyes as if sleep avoided him like the plague, always out of reach and running farther and farther away.
Fennekin looked straight at Mudkip, blinking.
Then a grin formed.
She raised a paw and waved him over without a moment of hesitation, tail flicking in excitement. There was an empty seat beside them. An invitation offered so easily it felt alien.
Mudkip hesitated only a second before heading to it and taking a seat.
As soon as he sat down, Fennekin leaned in slightly and squinted her eyes with intrigue. It didn’t take more than a second to realize she was looking at his mustache.
“...Is that drawn on?”
He barely reacted when her paw reached out and brushed the edge of his little mustache. She froze instantly- eyes widening with mortification.
“Oh! Oh my gosh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to- that was-”
“Touchy?” Mudkip replied flatly.
Her ears drooped in embarrassment. “Yeah… again, sorry.” She rubbed the back of her neck with a nervous smile. “We don’t get new kids very often. What brings you to Monotown?”
His eyes darted to her then his bag.
“My parents said there were… better opportunities here. Something like that.” His voice flat. He pulled out a pencil from his backpack and turned it between his fingers. A fidget.
“Ah.”
She watched him for a moment, then let the silence go instead of forcing it.
Mudkip glanced beside her. Chespin had been listening the entire time, quiet and observant. It was obvious he wanted more to go off on than just a couple sentences from Mudkip. Mudkip’s eyes landed on him, returning the observation.
“You two friends?”
Fennekin beamed and pulled Chespin into a loose side hug in less than a second. Chespin flinched, his eyes wide with surprise and what looked like genuine fear. It took a second before he forced himself to relax. Almost as if he had to remind himself it was only his friend.
“Since first grade!”
Chespin managed a small, tentative wave. His smile was timid but it was real nonetheless.
“Monotown’s great,” Fennekin said brightly, “You’re going to love it here.” Mudkip didn’t smile back or return her enthusiasm in the slightest but he found himself settling into his seat much more comfortably than anticipated.
“Uh-” Chespin cleared his throat. “Have you… seen much of the town yet?”
“Not really.” Mudkip shrugged. “Just home. Not much reason for me to go anywhere.”
Chespin hesitated, then gathered whatever courage he could find and let words fly before he could ponder on it a moment longer.
“We could… show you around, if you want. You don’t have to! but-”
“Sure.”
The word slipped out so fast Mudkip froze at his own quickness with his reply.
Chespin blinked. Then nodded, a little dazed. His eyes seemed unfocused on Mudkip and always lingering to the side to avoid eye contact.
“There’s flower beds by the road. We could meet you there after school.”
“Sounds good.”
“…Your parents won’t mind?” Chespin added, looking a tad bit worried.
“Nope, not at all. If anything, they'll be happy I’m meeting new Pokémon.” Mudkip hummed, turning towards the direction of the whiteboard.
Mudkip…actually felt good having something to look forward to. It felt good not robotically going through the day and dancing through an endless cycle.
He really didn’t want this feeling of excitement to leave.
And that’s when it hit Mudkip. The emptiness was absent, replaced with that loving warmth and anticipation for the day's end.
☘︎ৡ༄
The bell rang sharply and suddenly through the halls. Chairs scraped back, textbooks were snatched into waiting arms, and pokémon gathered in the corridors. All more than eager to get home.
Mudkip lingered in his seat just long enough to gather himself.
He told himself not to rush. He didn't want to get his hopes tangled too tightly around the straightfoward promise of a simple tour around town, that seemed a bit too shameful this early.
But when he shouldered his bag and stepped into the hall, he found himself walking quicker than he usually did. It didn't take long for him to arrive outside the entrance of the school and seeing those flowerbeds Chespin had been referring to.
Fennekin spotted him immediately.
Her tail flicked in a quick arc behind her as she bounced up and down, waving.
“Mudkip! Over here!”
It was strange. How quickly he had someone actually ecstatic to see him. Mudkip hurried to them, heart thudding against his ribs uncomfortably.
“Ready to see what Monotown has to offer?” Fennekin grinned, backing toward the street. Chespin stood just to her side, arms folded in front of his lab coat. When Mudkip drew closer, Chespin’s posture straightened, like he had unconsciously braced himself.
“Uh, yeah. Let’s start with the arcade,” Chespin said, glancing at Fennekin before gesturing down the street. “It’s the loudest place here. Kinda hard to miss.” Fennekin sighed and nudged Chespin’s shoulder with her elbow.
“That’s a selling point, not a warning,” she added with a chuckle.
Mudkip felt his heartbeat steady, he walked by their sides like he’d known them forever.
Sunlight slanted across Monotown in bands of gold and orange. The streets were emptier than he expected, albeit for the Pokémon rushing home.
The Monotown Arcade announced itself long before the doors came into view.
8-bit music poured into the street in overlapping waves- synthetic beats and pixelated jingles tangled together to make one’s heart begin to beat faster. The front windows glowed like portals into a brighter world, neon signs hung above the windows. Fennekin was the first to reach the doors, her smile being brighter than the inside of the building itself.
“Here!” She pointed with both paws like it was a rite of passage. “Best place in town. Hands down. Locals will lie and tell you it’s the café, but they’re wrong. The arcade is sacred ground for every kid here. A bit noisy but hey, that's neither here nor there!”
Mudkip slowed his pace near the doorway. The light pouring through the glass was warmer than he expected. It pooled at his feet. A steady hum vibrated faintly through the handles of the double doors, as if the building itself was alive.
Behind him, Chespin stopped walking and hesitated as he looked up at the signs overhead.
Mudkip paused, watching as Chespin’s expression tightened.
Chespin stood on the sidewalk, studying the doors as if they meant anything at all. Fennekin turned after a few steps and immediately noticed. Her ears twitched with concern. She grasped his paw without thinking.
“We don’t have to go in, I know its loud-”
Chespin blinked, startled but not at the touch.
“…No. I’m fine.”
It came out fast. Too fast.
“Tell me if we need to leave, okay?” She held his paw for just a moment longer before he nodded. Her smile returned.
She shoved the door open and held it open for the two behind her.
Both stepped inside with Fennekin following close behind.
Sound crashed over Mudkip the moment he crossed the threshold. It wasn’t painfully loud, just…a lot.
Music that had a slow rhythm clashed with music that seemed to go a thousand miles per hour. Victory jingles fought with background tracks. Voices layered on top of laughter.
Lights washed everything in moving color. Of course, all in neon.
Machines blinked and strolled through the main area. Screens flashed explosions, forests, battle arenas. A digital Meowth danced endlessly on a rhythm game screen near the back corner. No one played it.
“Okay,” Fennekin announced, spinning in place. “Rules of the Arcade: One- you never judge the songs. Two- you always rematch and the third final, most important rule! Claw machine wins are a display of raw, Arceus-given power.”
“That’s not a rule, that’s propaganda,” Mudkip muttered. She gasped dramatically, placing a hand over her chest in an attempt to look more offended.
Chespin giggled at the display.
Then immediately clapped a paw over his mouth like he didn’t know how the sound had escaped.
Mudkip looked at him. A smile slipped onto his face.
They started with a racing simulator near the back wall. Chespin insisted on the far-left machine. Fennekin guided Mudkip into the middle seat with her paws on his shoulders, which he didn't mind.
“Beginner’s luck is just destiny,” she declared, sitting next to Mudkip. Chespin took the right of him.
“Coping already with losing?” Mudkip chose a blue motorcycle, testing the waters to see what her reaction would be to a bit of teasing.
“Nope, just telling the truth.” Fennekin picked something red and ridiculous. Chespin hovered over his choice for too long, examining each and every one of his choices with precision. When Chespin finally picked a green compactor truck shaped like a Grumpig, Mudkip raised an eyebrow and snorted.
“…Bold choice.”
Chespin shrugged.
“I like things that don’t look fast.”
The race began. Within thirty seconds, Fennekin was muttering threats at pixelated obstacles like they had personally insulted her. Mudkip was stunned into silence by how fun it was, even laughing as he got ran off the track by Fennekin. He couldn't even be mad at how ridiculous that feature was by the sheer absurdity of it.
Chespin was winning. Mudkip noticed his expression first.
Not tense, nor withdrawn, but focused. When Chespin crossed the final line, victorious, Fennekin stared at her screen in horror.
“…I demand a rematch.”
Chespin smiled. Actually smiled. Mudkip felt something warm click into place at the sight. A feeling of finding something you didn’t know you needed.
They moved to the rhythm games. Fennekin went first- of course. She played like nothing else in the world mattered at that moment, each beat hit and she never missed a single one onward. A perfect score.
Mudkip tried next. He was…not great, to say the least. He missed beats. Slapped the wrong buttons and fumbled half of the song. But he was laughing.
And when he stepped off, chuckling and grinning-
Chespin looked at him like he’d done something extraordinary.
“I think you did great for your first try,” Chespin said softly, tender as well. It was a bit hard to register what he had said at first due to how quiet his voice was.
Mudkip froze.
“Huh?”
Chespin shied away, quills folding behind his head. “…Nothing.”
Mudkip felt his face heat up anyway.
They ended up at the claw machines. Small plushes of Pokémon tumbled and stacked inside their glass cages. Fennekin fed in a coin.
Missed.
Then Chespin tried. Nothing.
Mudkip inserted his own coin and the machine whirred meekly.
The claw descended.
Grabbed. Lifted. Dropped right into the prize chute.
Fennekin squealed in delight and spun in a small circle. Mudkip stared. He hadn’t even reacted yet.
“Well, we have a good claw machine player now. Chespin, I think you might need to train up some more, huh?” She giggled, hugging the both of them before cheering again. Chespin laughed. The sound unfamiliar to his own ears.
☘︎ৡ༄
The park was quieter than the arcade as to be expected.
It wasn’t empty by any stretch of the imagination but the noise here felt welcoming. It drifted instead of crashing. Compared to the arcade’s chaos, many visitors and sound…it felt like stepping into another world completely.
Old stone paths curved lazily through wide patches of green, worn smooth by years of being walked on and erosion by the weather. Flowerbeds lined the walkways in bursts of familiar color, carefully planted but not overly maintained. Some vines had escaped their borders entirely, creeping across iron fences.
Fennekin slowed her pace the moment they passed beneath the archway of hanging wisteria at the park’s entrance.
“…and sometimes Rufflet hang out in that tree, but only during spring. They HATE summer.” she said, pointing as she moved, tail swishing with each step. “Oh! And don’t sit on that bench if it’s rained, it never dries properly and you’ll look like you fell in the pond!”
Mudkip watched her with a small, quiet kind of amusement. Chespin walked beside him with his hands tucked deep into the sleeves of his labcoat.
They stopped near the pond.
Fennekin dropped unceremoniously into the grass and leaned back on her arms like she owned the place. Mudkip followed her lead, easing down a little more carefully.
Chespin hesitated before he took his place next to Fennekin, Mudkip on her right.
The pond was wide and shallow, sunlight rippling in soft bands across its surface. Lily pads clustered around the edges, and a handful of Poliwag skimmed the water like skipping stones, leaving little rings behind them wherever they touched.
The three fell into a comfortable silence, Mudkip eventually laying back and staring up at the clouds.
Eventually, Chespin broke it.
“I like it out here,” he said softly. “It feels like things… don’t expect anything from you.” Mudkip let that settle before he nodded.
“Yeah,” he said under his breath. “Nice to get away from other Pokémon for a while.”
Fennekin hummed in agreement, folding her paws over her stomach and staring up through the branches.
“This place used to feel huge when we were smaller,” she murmured. “Like a kingdom or something.” Chespin smiled faintly at that
“And you were the queen of it.” He added. Fennekin snorted as if he had said something unbelievable.
“I was a jester in charge of exactly nothing.”
“Maybe. You tried to climb the Shaymin statue and fell into the pond,” Chespin replied with a smirk. She groaned and facepalmed.
“Do notbring that up!”
“You cried and then blamed the statue.”
“It LOOKED at me weird!”
Mudkip began to laugh, not a short one but a full out cackle. The sound startled him almost as much as it did them.
Chespin blinked. He smiled wider. Fennekin pushed herself up into a sitting position.
“You used to make little leaf boats,” she said, nudging Chespin’s shoulder. “You’d float them down the stream and get so mad when one flipped over or sank.”
“They were supposed to survive,” Chespin replied earnestly. Mudkip tilted his head.
“You… built boats?”
“Out of bark and string and things he wasn’t supposed to steal from school.” Fennekin clarified.
“It was for engineering practice,” Chespin protested, shooting a half-hearted glare at Fennekin. She hummed and rubbed his arm comfortingly.
“They sank beautifully.”
He shook his head, but he was smiling through it.
That surprised Mudkip.
Not the smiling, but the ease in Chespins voice. Chespin talking like this. As if he was being led in an open dance.
“I used to come here before…” he trailed off.
Before what? He didn’t say.
Fennekin didn’t press. Mudkip didn’t either.
Chespin exhaled as though he’d expected to need to finish that sentence and was relieved that no one demanded him to.
“You know…” Fennekin said suddenly. “Sometimes I think places keep pieces of us.” Mudkip looked back at her. “Like… echoes?”
“Yeah,” she nodded. “Like the park remembers the version of us that visited before.”
Chespin stared out over the water.
“I hope it remembers the good ones.”
Fennekin rested her head on Chespin's shoulder, gazing at him.
“It does.”
Mudkip held his hands together before blurting out.
“…Can I say something kind of stupid?”
Fennekin turned her head toward Mudkip immediately. Chespin doing the same.
“Always.”
Mudkip sat up and stared at the pond.
“I’ve… never had something like that.”
They waited for him to add onto his sentence.
“I mean- not like you two. Not places that remember me. Or people that grew up beside me.”
He swallowed.
“I’ve met people, sure, but nobody ever… stuck. I suppose I never stuck either.”
He let out a humorless laugh.
“I didn’t even realize that’s what it was supposed to feel like until I watched you two talk about the stupid pond.”
Fennekin’s expression gentled. Chespin straightened up.
Mudkip pressed on.
“Honestly I think if I disappeared, I don’t think there’s anywhere I’d be remembered.”
The words felt heavier once spoken. Mudkip almost felt embarrassed for letting them slip. Fennekin didn’t hesitate before getting up and sitting beside Mudkip, placing him between her and Chespin.
“You’re here now,” she said simply.
Chespin nodded. Mudkip took a moment to really take it all in.
“…You barely know me.”
Chespin hummed and shook his head.
“That doesn’t make you… unimportant.”
Fennekin loosely wrapped her arm around Mudkip.
“And just because nobody held onto you before doesn’t mean we won’t. And we definitely won’t let you forget it now.”
Mudkip’s throat burned. Stupid.
He wiped his face before his eyes could betray him.
“…Thanks.”
Fennekin sighed happily.
“You’re part of the park now.”
Chespin shrugged lightly.
“Sorry. We’re territorial.”
Mudkip laughed again. A bit choked up but a genuine one nonetheless.
☘︎ৡ༄
The forest sat just past the park like Monotown hadn’t known where to stop building and decided to let the trees do the rest. Mudkip didn’t expect it to be so quiet. They could barely hear any Pokémon or a sliver of the town's chatter anymore.
All three walked side by side, truly taking in the sight of the trees that held memories. Specifically ones with sentences and initials inside hearts carved into their bodies
One tree having the initials “C + C + E”.
Chespin’s stance and even his way of walking had changed here even more so than the park. His posture had gone from stiff to one of someone who was walking into their own home. It wasn’t difficult to miss for either Mudkip or Fennekin.
The three reached a split in the trail where a fallen tree had collapsed just enough to form a natural bench right over a large field of daffodils. Some petals having wilted while others seemed to be as strong as ever.
Fennekin flopped down immediately onto the fallen tree, holding out her paw and guiding her two friends to sit down with her.
Chespin leaned against her, his eyes fixed on the field. Fennekin still held his paw in her own. Her thumb rubbing gently against his.
Mudkip broke the silence eventually, a bit too bored with nothing but the sound of a breeze blowing by them.
“Do you two come here a lot?”
“Us? Not a lot, just when we need to get away from everyone for a while.” Chespin replied, sighing.
“Chespin used to come here a lot.” Fennekin added as she looked over to Mudkip.
Chespin nodded.
“Used to.”
The emphasis of those two words had Mudkip stiffening up and his tail stop swaying. Fennekin didn’t look at him but she gave his paw a tender, reassuring squeeze. He pursed his lips before deciding to ask for more than just that.
“Did you stop because of… school?”
Chespin shook his head.
“No.”
The silence hung in the air for a minute before Chespin continued.
“…Because they did.”
“They?”
Chespin exhaled slowly, watching the daffodils sway in the wind.
“My parents. They passed a while ago.”
Mudkip swallowed, immediately regretting the fact he chose to push further. He winced and looked away before mustering up another response.
“Oh. I’m sorry to hear that.”
Chespin nodded almost as if he were trained to. He’d heard “I’m sorry” in regards to his parents a thousand times. It wasn’t that he wasn’t appreciative of the sympathy offered. It was just that the words didn’t feel reassuring anymore as they did obligatory.
Fennekin squeezed Chespin's paw again reassuringly as her gaze returned to Mudkip.
“They were nice Pokémon. I still remember the first time I met them. His dad nearly squeezed my paw off when he gave me a handshake.” She tried to jest, and the corners of Chespin’s mouth curved into a small smile at her efforts.
“I didn’t know them for very long but I’m grateful I did.” She closed her eyes, resting against Chespin. He was very relaxed, surprisingly. Maybe it was because of the fact they’d been gone for so long he’d gotten used to it. Or maybe it was because of her and Mudkip’s presence.
It was most likely the latter.
☘︎ৡ༄
The Battling Center sat at the far end of Monotown’s busiest street, separated from any other buildings and roads. It actually wasn’t that far at all from the forest they had been in.
“Monotown’s battling center is probably one of our best experiences to offer to ANY Pokémon! It even gives the arcade a run for its money.” Fennekin exclaimed as they arrived at the entrance. The doors slid open with a muffled hiss.
“You can watch the battles at any age but to actually participate you have to be in your second evolution or eighteen if you don’t evolve. Lame.” She murmured that last part under her breath. It wasn’t fair that so many others got to participate and she was relegated to a mere audience member. “It’s so stupid, I hear some battling centers in Paldea allow battles at any age!”
“And exactly who would you be fighting if you got the chance to participate?” Mudkip folded his arms, raising an eyebrow.
“Snivy in P.E. He hit me in the head with a dodgeball.” She stated curtly, as if the information was obvious to even a rock.
Glass doors. Digital signage. A soft mechanical hum that vibrated beneath the floorboards. Chespin’s stance had tensed but his expression stayed calm.
The Battling Center was charming, the interior painted a palette of blue and white. A mirage of Pokémon signing up at the counter and even more coming out of a door right at the side of the front desk.
And behind a Blissey that had been leaving the arena-
“SYLVEON’S KID!”
A Flareon popped up like he’d been waiting for them, voice booming across the center with friendly enthusiasm. His uniform was undone at the collar and his tail flicked side to side with pure ecstasy.
Chespin’s body reacted before his mind did. He instinctively stepped back. However, he plastered a smile on his face. One that looked distinct from his genuine expression of happiness. The way his nose scrunched up and his quills sharpening being a dead giveaway that these two…maybe didn’t make Chespin feel the most comfortable.
“Oh. Hi, Mr. Flareon. Hello, Mr. Glaceon.”
Glaceon stood beside Flareon like he’d been carved from a block of ice. His blue-accented uniform was immaculate, his posture that of a soldier, his face stripped of expression.
He nodded once at Chespin, his expression staying uncomfortably frozen. You’d think Glaceon was dead if he didn't need to blink.
Mudkip eyes landed on both of the earrings they wore. Being that of gold rings, although the charms were different. Flareon had an ice charm on his earring while Glaceon had a flame charm on his.
“We didn’t expect to see you here, thought you’d head off to the clinic by now. Isn’t that right?” Glaceon questioned. His voice lacked so much energy and enthusiasm it was nearly impossible to tell what he was feeling.
Chespin didn’t reply, just staying silent as if that’d save him. He didn’t even register that his own paw was reaching behind him, and looking for Fennekins. She quickly took it and stepped in front of him.
That’s when she took her queue to chime in. Her voice being a bit strained.
“We were giving a tour of Monotown to our friend here, Mudkip. We were just leaving. We don’t have the money for tickets anyway.” She quickly put her free paw on Mudkips shoulder, trying her best to turn him around.
“Hey, I have a question for ya.” Flareon directed at Chespin, his smile staying the same all throughout. “How the therapy droids comin’ along? The ones ya built so far have been wonderful. Just a few…problems here and there but nothin’ extreme.”
Chespin swallowed and kept his eyes on the floor.
“I still have to look into the bugs you reported but they should be ready in a few weeks.” Chespin answered, squeezing Fennekin's paw tightly.
“Sylveon said we’ll need them in one week. I’m sure you can do that.” Glaceon’s arms were crossed now. Flareon glanced at his husband and snickered.
Chespin took a deep breath before nodding.
“I’ll try my best.”
Flareon clapped his paws together and laughed.
“Perfect! Will ya be at the clinic tonight after ya lil’…ménage à trois?” Flareon tilted his head, looking at the three with amusement. Fennekin grit her teeth at the remark while Glaceon smacked the back of Flareon's head with a raised eyebrow. It was the first sign of expression from him this entire time.
“Yes, sir.” Chespin stepped back once again, Flareon rubbed the back of his head to ease the leftover pain from his partner's reprimand.
“Gotcha, we’ll see ya there!” Flareon waved goodbye to all three of them before heading to the changing rooms. Glaceon lingered just a moment longer, his gaze fixed on them.
“Excuse my husband, Chespin. He really doesn’t know when to shut his mouth.”
He turned but glanced back over his shoulder.
“Have fun on your little tour.” Glaceon finally followed Flareon and the air suddenly felt a million times lighter.
Fennekin led the three out and looked less than pleased with the encounter, but she tried her absolute hardest to put that anger aside and focus.
“You okay?” She asked Chespin, keeping track of every twitch and change in his expression.
“…Yeah.”
Fennekin sighed and looked at Mudkip.
“Monotown Café is our next stop. We definitely need it after-”
Chespin cut her off, finally letting go of her paw. “I actually do need to get to the clinic. I’ll be at school tomorrow, so don’t worry too much.” He waved his paw dismissively as if to cull Fennekin's inevitable response.
“But-”
“Hey…I’ll call after. Is your mom okay with calls to the housephone at…eleven P.M?” Chespin gave a weak laugh at the end but it wasn’t returned by either Mudkip or Fennekin. The two exchanged concerned glances.
“We’ll go to the café another time, alright? My treat.” Chespin turned and began walking. He was stopped as Fennekin rushed and gave him a quick, tight hug.
No one said anything as she let Chespin go off down the street. She sighed and began to walk away from the battling center as well.
“…I’ll walk you home, Mudkip.”
☘︎ৡ༄
The rehab clinic didn’t feel like a healthcare unit at night. It felt like a cage.
Chespin stopped just inside the front doors, the automatic slide sealing behind him with a breathless hiss. The air was colder than it had any right to be, chilled by the air conditioning being dreadfully below room temperature.
The floor gleamed too clean beneath the lights. Every reflection warped slightly, bending his shape into something bigger.
Chespin adjusted his coat on instinct, steadying himself as he walked through the lobby waiting room.
The lobby was empty now. The chairs sat in perfect rows, but without any guests or patients checking in- it felt like a theater that had been empty for years on end. The air smelled faintly of rubbing alcohol and white lilies. Somewhere behind the walls, Chespin could hear patients chatting. It was dinner afterall, it was no surprise as they were actively encouraged to socialize during meals.
Tap, tap, tap.
Right, the lobby wasn’t completely empty.
Mrs. Espeon sat behind the front desk, her fingers tapping rhythmically against the keyboard. Not hurried, nor slow. It was a steady, endless sound. Her ear swiveled towards the sound of Chespin’s footsteps. Her typing stopped abruptly before it resumed. She didn't even lift her head up to look at Chespin.
“Oh,” She hummed, “It's only you.”
Yep. only him.
Her eyes kept focused on her screen as her paw reached to click a small button right beside her computer. The door to enter her workroom and to the rest of the building clicked to signify its own unlocking.
“Good evening. A bit late, aren’t we?”
“I was showing a friend around town. He just moved here,” He explained as he set his backpack down beside her desk, “I wasn’t keeping track of time.”
“Hm. I understand but I’m not sure how Sylveon’s going to feel when he learns that you were out longer than expected.” Soft violin music came from the jukebox Espeon had beside her, that and her typing being the only sounds filling the room.
She paused at his silence and finally lifted her head to look at him.
“Oh, dear. I’m sure he’ll understand.” She gave a reassuring smile before going back to her work. Chespin didn’t return it.
Chespin nodded and hurried out of the office and down into the corridor. He felt like he was being watched from every angle, as though something were burrowing into the back of his head. A kind of feeling that made your legs tremble as you moved forward.
He finally stepped up to the final door in the hallway, a plaque hanging smack dab in the middle of it.
DR. SYLVEON
CLINIC DIRECTOR
The plaque gleamed, polished and untouched. Chespin felt nearly sick as he raised his paw to knock on the door. Dread pooled in his stomach as he hesitated before he finally brought his fist down onto the door three times. The sound was amplified by the clinic's quiet environment.
“Come in.”
Chespin opened the door and immediately took his seat in front of Sylveon's desk. Sylveon’s office always seemed colder than the rest of the building. The smell of rubbing alcohol was strongest here.
Books lined the shelves. Pristine spines that had never cracked. A framed photograph stood on the corner of Sylveon’s desk, angled so it caught the light just right. It was a photo of two Chesnaughts, and Sylveon himself in the middle of them, smiles brighter than Chespin had ever seen.
And behind the desk-
Dr. Sylveon waited.
“You’re late.” Sylveon’s gaze burned into him, in such a way that it seemed he was desperate for a chance to tear into Chespin.
Chespin stiffened and sighed.
“I’m sorry-”
Sylveon stood, raised his paw in a command for Chespin to silence himself which was obeyed, then turned on his heel and began pacing back and forth.
“You’ve picked up bad habits lately. I’ve allowed you to be around that girl but instead of you lightening up- you come in late, talk insistently about her and want more time off.”
Chespin’s face burned with humiliation and he lowered his head.
“I wasn’t- I didn’t mean-” He tried in vain to find the right words and instead came out a pitiful excuse for an answer.
Sylveon came around his desk, now circling Chespin. And in no time at all he reached out. His paw gripped and pressed into Chespin’s shoulder. It slid down his arm until Sylveon allowed his fingers to loosen their hold and release.
Chespin’s body reacted before his mind registered what he was doing. His breath hitched and his entire body went still as a statue. Sylveon stopped, glancing over his shoulder at his son.
“You're tense.” His paw returned to Chespin’s shoulder and kneaded the flesh beneath his palm as if that were its rightful place. It took all of Chespin's willpower to stop himself from wincing.
Sylveon took a moment of silence and let out a tired exhale.
“I’m sorry, I know I've been harder on you than usual. It’s just…you know how stressful my job is. You can’t even fathom the weight of my position.” Sylveon began, placing his free paw on his chest, “You’re so lucky to be free of the responsibilities my team and I hold, tinkering with robotics and all…”
“You know very well that my staff and I do everything in our power to help sick Pokémon. You’re lucky you don’t see even a fraction of what happens when someone comes to our doorstep.”
Chespin swallowed.
“I know, I know you’re stressed.”
“But you still stay out late without letting me know and desperately cling to…Fennekin.” Sylveon said her name as if it alone left a bitter taste in his mouth. “Why do you do that to me? You know I worry. You know how much I care that your time isn't wasted on pointless drivel.” Sylveon’s voice softened and he leaned in. His expression had turned from annoyance to what seemed like genuine concern. A look he’d perfected over the past few years.
Chespin didn’t reply, his eyes began to fill with tears. He hated that look Sylveon gave him. It burned in a way that a chunk of ice would if you held it for too long.
He was silent before he choked out a weak cry, then a deep, shaky inhale that led into sobbing.
“I’m sorry- I’m sorry! She’s my friend, I- I know you need me. I KNOW. I just- She-” Chespin wailed, trying so desperately to still himself and fight the tears continuing to pour. He couldn’t lose Sylveon. It felt like he was losing him each time he screwed up. He couldn’t lose the only Pokémon left in the entire world who could possibly hold him the same way his parents did.
Sylveon pulled away ever so slightly before two of the ribbon feelers from his bow extended, reaching out and wrapping around Chespins wrists. They weren’t gripping or beginning to coil around like a snake. Just lingering.
And just like that, Sylveon pulled Chespin into an embrace. The air felt lighter now, warmer like Sylveon had given select permission for it to change. Tension and dread slowly left Chespin’s mind and body because of that reassurance thrown his way. A reward in the same way you’d throw a bone to a dog that performed its tricks correctly.
“Shh…”
Sylveon pet the back of his head, staring into nothingness as he did so. Like he’d done this a thousand times and knew he’d need to do it again and again. Chespin’s body relaxed against his better judgement.
“I’m not mad at you. We just…” Sylveon let go of Chespin and stood tall, “We need better communication about your schedule, that’s all.” He offered a smile to which Chespin returned, albeit more tiredly.
With a nod of his head, Chespin finally replied.
“Yeah, you're right... I’m sorry. I promise I’ll do better.” His voice sounded relieved, softer.
Sylveon patted Chespin’s head before flicking one of his quills.
“I know you will. Now head on down to your workshop. I shouldn’t take up any more of your time than necessary.”
Satisfaction laced Sylveon’s grin, and that was all Chespin needed to feel okay again.
With quickness, Chespin stood and pushed his chair back to its original spot and rushed towards the workshop. After all, Sylveon let him because he cared SO much about how his time was spent.
He was grateful for that. At least, he thought he should be.