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Episode 3 Flicker

Chapter 1 Fit to a Tail

I looked down at my phone, and then back up again, trying to recall how long it had been. Certainly not THAT long, I'm sure, but I had been so occupied that it felt like a lifetime ago. I decided to check my calendar, looking at my earliest notes that had to do with the important change in my life.
Tap, tap, tap.

Ok so...erm, rounding out, it's only been about a couple months. Was that all it was? Wow...amazing. Still more to do, I think, but progress has been going well.

Tap, tap.

There, back to today, to the message sent to me by Wyatt. Seeing it again, I grimaced a little, wondering just how he got my number. I didn't mind Wyatt, or the message, just the lack of tact. Maybe he got it from mom or something. Or maybe Cure was actually a hugging pickpocketeer, quite the contrast to normal Chansey in a Poke Center.

I shook my head, sighing and looking at the message again, before the rustling in my backpack drew my attention. I looked back at the zipped means of item conveyance. Well, mostly zipped...and not just a conveyance of stuff. I could see the purple slits in the dark crevice, peering out at the people and Pokemon passing by, with equal parts curiosity and scrutiny.

I smiled a little, felt it. I had been doing that a lot more lately, and feeling my jaw stretch to such proportions was one of the signs that showed I was improving too. Mom was even surprised, and it seemed she had let the whole air of tension about the runaway attempt evaporate. Ever since I had declared that the lizard Pokemon I had saved would be my partner, or at least, we would work toward it, she seemed more relieved and a little more happy than anything else.

I saw his eyes dart to me, noticing I was watching. Immediately the slits narrowed and looked the opposite direction. Yep, he never did like judgment heh. Learned that the hard way months ago. The fact that he didn't try to swipe at me showed his own improvement.

I guess I couldn't blame him, we were still working on public showings. He didn't seem to like the idea of going out in crowds with a diaper on, especially if he was wet or soiled. We had been here before, but only once from the outside, just to get him acquainted with important places in the city. But now, we would actually be going inside...together.

I looked up at the imposing building again, with the happy padded Mew beaming down at the block. It honestly felt nostalgic, standing at the Poke-Poofs HQ again. Nothing here had changed, barring people and Pokemon going by....

But I had. I felt it. On my back, I could feel the weight of someone with me, with whom I felt a growing connection with. One I was trying to nurture said-connection with...possibly in hopes of improving myself as well as him. Now that I think about it, we both kind of had our own kind of damage...and maybe we bonded on that...though, he was a bit harder because of that. Heh. Still, I honestly felt...better.

"Doing ok there buddy?" I asked, looking at the dark shapes in my backpack.

He acknowledged me for a few seconds, then seemed to lower his head more. I could feel his tail trying to whip about, an indication he was anxious. Well, better than than having him flare up.

"You're doing great," I continued, shifting a little. "After all, this is for your benefit too you know. I've seen the room and stuff before, nothing that's going to hurt you, not going to let that happen kay?"

His eyes darted to me and narrowed. I could see the slight gritting of his mouth...though that was because the inside of my backpack had lit up for a moment. I started, half-way through taking off my pack, till I realized I didn't smell smoke or my jacket burst into flames.

"S...s...s."

I sighed, hearing his low chuckle. Apparently he was messing with me, something I'd grown use to by now. Still, I was surprised he managed to control himself from taking it too far this time. Honestly, a month or two ago, I would have had to get another backpack to carry him in, for he probably would have burned the one I had back then.

"You're incorrigible, you know that?"

One of his slit-eyes raised. Guess he still hadn't figured that word out.

---

I starred up at the bird Pokemon figure carnival in the middle of the entry room, feeling a bit awed again as I walked by. Glancing back, I saw his eyes rise up from the depths of the pack, apparently having lowered at the sight of the display. Heh, did he think they were REAL at first? Well, at least he seemed to grasp that wasn't the case quite quickly, eyes darting to each singular figure, from the birds of common species to the legendaries. I was a little confused when his orangish tongue licked his jagged mouth, making me slightly worried that he was wondering how those Pokemon may taste if they were real. Erm...still working on that wild thing.

After a moment of wandering the lobby, I finally spotted who I needed to see. Near the elevators, I saw Jemma, still with the ever present tablet and earpiece, talking to two other employees. I also noticed a Pokemon beside her. It was...a Watchog in a Normal diaper with what seemed to be a short-tie-looking thing around it's neck that made it somewhat professional-looking.

Huh...was THAT Jemma's Pokemon? I hadn't seen hers last time...

When I was about five feet away, I saw the Watchog's head swish to me, it's tie flapping in the air in it's wake. I stopped dead. It was so...ERIEE. I mean it's like in those horror films where somebody goes behind somebody else, and then they turn around looking all gruesome and stuff. I guess it was some kind of behavior all Watchog had, though this one looked to be giving me a Mean Look.

Catching sight of the Watchog's turned face, Jemma's eyes darted to me for a moment before she started ending the conversation with the other two. They departed about a minute later as Jemma, and the Watchog, turned their attention to me.

"You're late," Jemma said rather sternly.

"Your Pokemon?" I replied, ignoring that, after glancing at the Watchog. I shook my head, ignoring Jemma and the Pokemon's slight disapproval, surprised at my response. It seems replying in-kind was becoming a habit I was developing thanks to how I handled my Salandit.

"It's not like it was just me coming. Have to account for two," I continued on.

"That's true..." Jemma relented, bringing an index finger to her glasses in an astute fashion. She turned slightly to the Pokemon beside her. "As for your inquiry, yes, this is my Pokemon, Norman."

The Watchog, Norman, moved a fist up to his yellow-vest-like-chest, like he was grasping a suit, and placed the back of the other hand to the side of his diaper. With the snobbish look on his face, it was like he was trying to show off he was some kind of professional.

Professional snob maybe...

"Umm, hi Norman," I ended up saying, hands in pockets. Norman regarded me lightly, as if I was a paper bag in the wind. Ok, yeah, I could definitely tell he was Jemma's Pokemon...

"And where is...the subject?" Jemma questioned, trying to glance behind me.

"Oh he's---" I started, shrugging my shoulders. "---he's here. Just...not use to being out and about yet."

"It's surprising you got him here at all, if the records from the Center are to be believed," Jemma commented, seeming to call up said-records on her tablet.

There was shuffling in my backpack, and I knew my Salandit was trying to peer over to who, I imagine he knew, was talking about him. "He's better now," I informed clearly, not letting a hint of hesitation come in.

"I see..." said Jemma.

"Og..." said Norman at the same time.

They started to turn and walk off...and it took me a few seconds to realize that I should follow. Sheesh, at least tell me!

"I assume you read the message in full?" Jemma continued on, not having even glancing back to see if I had followed.

"Yes," I replied, a little annoyed at the assumption I didn't.

"So, the Pokemon in question is...empty...I suppose is the civil term?"

Rustling in the pack again. "Uhh, yes. He had a dir---I mean, yeah, I changed him before we came," I said, catching myself. To the side, I saw Norman's shoulders bounce and a slight snicker come from him. In the watch, I also saw my Salandit's head poke out from the pack and growl. I managed to ease him back from doing something dumb with the palm of my hand.

"Not a real answer, but we'll see," Jemma was going on, and I kind of lost track of the conversation from then, trying to prevent a fire lizard from burning a cheeky gerbil.