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[attr="class","bisc"]The kid turned to stare down the path. You’d have to tip him an arm and a leg to get him up here. “Arceus, that sounds terrible.” Sure, he could bake his own pizzas. Bakery tried that as a side business for a while. But there was nothing like good old grease in a box. “I couldn’t live out here.” Realizing it might look like they were talking about them—which they totally weren’t—the brunette straightened as they approached.

He looked like a kid that’d been caught with his hand in the forbidden cookie jar. “And, uh, Kingsley Confections.” It felt weird to just let the ranger thing stand. Like wearing a military tattoo without signing up. The talk of ride Pokemon made him smile. A hand reached out to gently ruffle the Persian’s ears. “She did great.” Sure, he wouldn’t be riding a cat any time soon. Or, um, not after they got back anyway.

As Shalin talked to the clients, he let labrador eyes slide to the Type:Null beside her. His gaze grew conflicted. Knowing what it took to make that thing churned his stomach. But it wasn’t like it was the Pokemon’s fault, huh? The thing didn’t ask to be welded together. For a second, he’s tempted by the offer to stay. It’d be the first time he slept in a fort. And, now that he saw them, they didn’t actually seem like the cannibal types.

He stretched for a second. Sure, he couldn’t hurt, but there was still something to be said about getting the blood flowing.

But it’d be rude to let Shalin go back by herself. Mom always told him to walk a lady home, even if that lady could break his spine. Or if that walk meant going back down a mountain. So, instead, he just lifted his hand in farewell.

“Yeah.” He mounts back up on the cat. This time, he’s less nervous about it. It’s not really new anymore. Besides, it’s a lot less scary going downhill.

As the fortress fades from view, he turns to Shalin. “So, uh, do you actually have plans tonight, or…” That conversation would be the start of the long commute back.

Shalin Nariya

☉