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When James first left home it had taken him a long, long time before he stopped shaking every time he saw a Vileplume. The first time he saw one he had actually hyperventilated so badly he had passed out.
But he was fine now. Sure, if he had to choose he would rather keep them as far from his persona as possible. But they didn't make him react as strongly as they used to. Might flinch if he wasn't prepared for it, but he could handle it. Sometimes. Kind of. Depends on how his mindset was at the moment.
However, his little unwanted reunion with Jessebelle had restarted his mind in that regard, whenever he saw an Oddish or a Gloom he would tense against his will, hands shaking and throat tightening. But he powered through, he could do this, he's been doing this for years, he can power through.
Even if he wants nothing more but to run whenever he sees one of those. Things take a turn for the worst when Jessie and Meowth decide that that field of Vileplumes where the twerps had decided to take a rest at is just what the boss needs. He tries his damn best to make them desist. Of course it doesn't work, they hardly ever listen to what he wants.
He's far too on edge, far too distracted, so of course something goes incredibly wrong way faster than it usually would.
But in his defense, he did warn them several times that he didn't want to do this, he wanted to leave, being so close to those Vileplume was messing with his head, he had been digging the stupid pit trap when a thud came from behind, he expected Meowth, even if the cat wouldn't be caught dead actually helping him dig these.
Yet, as he turns around, he freezes.
“Vile-plume.” The Pokemon exclaims, a confused look on its face as it blinks, assessing its surroundings for a moment before its stare fixates on him, he flinches, dropping the shovel and taking a step back.
“Uh, guys? There's a Vileplume here.” He calls out nervously. No answer. The thing is standing right infront of the ladder, and as it takes a step forward, his breath hitches as he quickly picks the shovel back up again, holding it up to stop it in his tracks. “Stay there, do not get any closer.” He warns, heartbeat beginning to pick up the pace, just like his breathing, hands shaking slightly.
“Vile-plume?” The Pokemon wonders, confused, as if not understanding the reason behind his reaction.
“Go away!” He orders, although he knows that's impossible, but his mind is starting to lose its logic as he takes another step back, back hitting the wall of dirt behind him. “No, don't come closer! Get away!” He shouts back as Vileplume smiles, chasing after him, heart jumping to his throat as he drops the shovel and jumps away.
“Vile-plume!” It exclaims, almost laughing as it gives him chase, he manages to get to the ladder, quickly making his way up, yet of course his luck is always anything but awful, in his desperation to get out his leg gets caught in the ladder and he slips, crashing back into the pit, air leaving him momentarily as he lands on his back, hard. “Vile-plume!” He chokes as the Pokemon appears next to him, nudging his cheek with its little hand.
He knows it's not the same, but being unable to move while a Vileplume is right infront of him is enough to kick him off the edge he had been so desperately clinging to, eyes widening impossibly while his heart starts racing, air catching at the back of his throat before he's shoving it away and scrambling to his feet, terror lodging within as he realizes the ladder is on the ground. Gone. He can't run. His back hits the wall once again.
“Stay away.” He chokes out, gasping for air as this one becomes a little too thin as he struggles to catch air. Hand clutching his chest as his body shook. Breathe. Breathe. She's not here. She's not- that's not- he can't breathe. Has the air always been so thin? He can't breathe. Why can't he breathe? Breathe. Breathe!
His stomach gives a violent flip as the Pokemon takes a step closer, and he crumbles to the ground, covering his head and pressing his knees against his chest, body shaking violently and panic burning through his heart.
“Go away. Go away. Go away. Please go away. Leave me alone.” He pleads desperately, flinching and curling tighter as he hears it speak. Why couldn't they ever leave him alone? He just wanted to breathe, why was it so bad to want to do things his own way? “Please go away.” He begs with a miserable sound as something touches his arm, body impossibly tense.
“James, the Vileplume’s gone.” A voice comes as the hand withdraws, he flinches violently.
Meanwhile, Jessie is kneeling infront of James' curled form, she had come to check on him since he had been taking too long to finish the pit, just to find him here cowering from a Vileplume of all possible things. She had gotten Arbok to get the Pokemon out of the hole.
James' shaking, a lot, cowering as if he had been trapped with an Ursaring or something just as intimidating or dangerous, she's never seen him like this before, and she hates how long it takes her to connect the dots in regards to why he's so distressed by a Vileplume.
And suddenly his whole whining about not wanting to deal with any of the Vileplume from the field acquired meaning. Guilt gnaws at her, how did she not realize it sooner?
“Hey, it's alright, you are alright, it's just me, Jessie.” She exclaims, voice reassuring and gentle. “Vileplume’s gone, Arbok made sure of it, I promise. Just take deep breaths.”
She hears him sob, muffled and broken, and she's never felt as shittier as she did at that moment. She had seen how against he had been about Jessebelle, had felt him trembling and heard his terrified pleas, and she had done nothing. She hadn't cared to think about anything beyond the easy money.
But looking at him now… she can't help but wonder what had that woman done to bring him to a point where he can't even stand the sight of the same Pokemon she used.
His breathing grows less erratic and he stops shaking as much, but he doesn't move.
“Can I touch you?” She questions, a short nod. She stands up before plopping back down next to him, her arm draping over his back, he leaned into the touch without a word.
At that moment, Meowth peers into the hole, opening his mouth before closing it as he takes on the view. Arbok had appeared out of nowhere and asked him since when did James was afraid of Vileplume.
He didn't quite expect this, he climbs down the ladder, Jessie and him share a look, and somehow, that's all he needs to just know what happened, Vileplume, Jessebelle. Hasn't even been a week since that incident, James has been his regular self, a bit jumpy, but fine. Although he had been very vocal about his distaste about stealing Vileplume.
Now he sees the reason. Guilt gnaws at him, that woman had been unnerving, he dreads to think what she must have done to him to make him run off from the lap of luxury.
He walks over, sitting on his other side and huddling against him, ears downcast.
“It's alright, she's not here, and as long as we are alive, we will never let her anywhere near you.” Jessie promises as she hears the muffled sniffle.
“Yeah, you can be sure of that.” Meowth agrees firmly.
They stay there for a while before they ultimately climb out of the pit, plans and half built traps completely forgotten as they walk away from the field.