"Oh, screw this", Teo muttered under his breath, "Tots, Aqua Jet". His partner shot up into the air, creating a water current around himself, and shot off into the direction of the Impidimp that one of his opponents has used. Totodile hit the mark, finally knocking out the damn thing. It took him 4 hits.
At this point, Teo could only suppose he was doomed by the narrative to constantly be chased around by some thugs. The writer must've thought it's funny to make that a reocurring thing, and Totodile didn't seem to mind it all that much.
At least he didn't have to bother with training, Teo thought, since the constant trouble was bound to forge him into a capable battler. Totodile was already growing stronger.
"Go, Headbutt, Wooloo", the other thug says. Yeah, Teo can't believe it either, that he had to run away from a guy that used a Wooloo. In his defense, the third guy had a pretty thretening Thievul, but thankfully, he was adamant about letting his 2 lackeys do the dirty work, and decided to hang back.
"Will you stop this", Teo sighs, "Aqua Jet away, then attack Tots". Totodile gets out of the way, and the sheep proceeds to rush at Teo. The boy had fully expected that. Thankfully, Wooloo is not the strongest of opponents, so he simply moves out of the way.
Thinking better of it, Teo summons all his might, kicking at the opponent's pokemon, only to find out it's heavier than it seems. The big idea was he kicks it in Totodile's way, so his partner can finish it off.
"Dude, that's not cool", the guy yells over at him.
"Oh, save me", Teo waves him off, "you're chasing me down, don't preach the rules to me".
Totodile turns around in mid-air, only to start yet another Aqua Jet, swiftly hitting into the Wooloo, knocking it out as well.
Two down, one more to go, Teo thinks, gripping onto Absol's pokeball. Totodile's already taken down two opponents, there was no way he could take on the fully evolved fox pokemon.
Once more, Teo would have to risk it. Surprising even himself, he feels a rush of excitment when he recalls Totodile. After Canalave, he couldn't wait to let Absol battle again. Alright, maybe his partner had tried to attack him a few times, but when a bad guys were in front of them, Absol never let him down.
The white dog of disaster appears in the alley, letting out a low growl. Blood rushes to Teo's hand as he sees the two guys take a fearful step back.
Their leader doesn't seem bothered, stepping forwards and letting Thievul take the center stage.
Welcome to Spikemuth, Teo thinks.
"Thief, get him", the thug boss says without hesitation.
"Knock Off, Absol, stop him head on", Teo says, hopeful his partner will listen to him.
The white dog jolts forwards, crossing the cobblestones with swiftness, slamming a Quick Attack into the Thievul. His opponent is pushed back, without Absol needing to take hit.
"Never mind, that was a better idea", Teo mutters to himself, "what's with everyone and these priority moves...".
"Night Slash", the thug growls, as his Thievul quickly recovers its balance and slashes towards Absol.
No use to say anything, Teo thinks, as Absol won't listen. His partner decides to take the hit for whatever reason, whitstamding the blowback and grabbing the fox with his mout. The next moment, his horn gets enveloped in darkness, and the disaster pokemon quickly retaliates with Knock Off.
"Keep it up, Absol", Teo gives out a suggestion. To his satisfaction, they seem to be on the same page, as Absol immeadiately goes after their attacker, getting in another Quick Attack.
"That's it, Thievul, use Lash Out", the guy yells out, and his injured partner starts trashing around wildly, enveloping itself in darkness.
Absol moves back quickly, but the fox follows after him, hitting at him with its claws repeatedly. This would be a great time to know Protect, Teo thinks. Unfortunately, he does not have that.
However, he does have a very crazy sunglasses wearing Totodile that likes to Aqua Jet around.
Readying his pokeball, Teo prepares for his favourite little trick.
"Go, Tots, do your thing", he says, aiming the release above the Thievul.
"Keep it up, deal with that Absol", the thug says readily, not giving much thought to Teo's actions.
As Thievul keeps digging its claws in Absol, Totodile appears above them, creating a swirling torrent immediately, and hitting into the fox.
Finally free from the attack, Absol's retaliation is swift, as he uses his horn to Knock Off Thievul onto the ground, finally fainting the fox.
By the time the boss thug manages to recall his pokemon, his 2 lackeys have already dissapeared from the alley.
Now that the battle was over, Teo watches Absol attentively, hoping his partner won't turn on him immediately. The thug recalls his Thievul, cursing under his breath and making a careful way backwards. When he thinks he's out of the reach, he turns around and sprints. It always ends the same way, Teo thinks, as he quickly recalls Absol. He figured out his partner would prioritse attacking their opponents, but once there were none, Teo didn't know who Absol would turn on. And he didn't want it to be him.
"That was a good job, thanks, buddy", he says slowly to the pokeball. He's not sure if Absol can hear him, but he did just save him, so a thanks was in order. "Tots, you did great as well", Teo turned to his second pokemon. Totodile merrily stumbled towards him, and started jumping up.
"I'll get you a toy after this, that's a promise", Teo crouched down to pet his crocodile. He figured out Totodile loved stuff. The pokemon would play with anything he could get his hands on. Not to mention, he aboslutely refused to take off the choice specks.
"Get in your pokeball for now", Teo recalled him. Both of his partners had sustained damage, and he was hoping those heal capsules Joe had given him would be enough to save him a trip to the pokemon center. When he came in last night, he had to take Absol in order for him to get fed. He had to do the same that morning. Little to say, the nurses in Spikemuth weren't nearly as nice as those at Old King's.
He had hoped the berries him and Joe were growing would start bearing fruit soon, as going to a pokemon center each time he had to feed his Absol was becoming increasingly time consuming.
Not that he ever wanted to fully relly on Joe and his farmer skills. The sole reason he came to Spikemuth was so he could get his hands on a certain herb. One that was...not widely available, so to speak.
He could technically find it anywhere if he wanted to, but it would require too much work. In Spikemuth, he already knew where to get it. He could only hope no more thugs would appear to sidetrack him from his search.
Walking out of the alley he was, yet again, chased into, he took a careful look around. No one was there. He slowly walked out onto the main street, through the convaluted maze of walls plagued with graffiti.
Not much could be said about Spikemuth, except that it was dark. Walls and pavements were grey that wished to be black, and any colorful writings on walls were quick to lose their vibrancy. The skies were similar as well, most of the year. Even the pokemon that made their way across the city streets suffered the similar fate. Black and white Zigzagoons that dug through the trash were more black and almost-black. He passed a few Toxels whose usually purple skin was starting to gain ashen grey look.
Coming into the widening of the main street, he felt himself breathe just a little bit easier. Everything was still wrapped in dark grey, but the street was a bit more lively. A few people urgently conversed in front of some coffee shop. On the staircases that led up into the buildings, kids were sit around. Some were younger than him, some older, some sat in groups, most of them alone. He passed by them, trying his best not to look, and not to be looked at.
His walk through the street was short-lived, as he sidelined into another hallway. This one however wasn't as narrow. It didn't take him long to navigate hid ways into another widening. This one, however, wasn't a main street, but a square space, encased with towering building. Amongst the sides, a few stands were set up. Black Market. The first place he needed to visit.
Teo approached one of the stands cautiosly. There weren't a lots of people there, thankfully. The stand carried some bootleg training equipment, but more importantly, a very small selection of TMs.
The dark-eyed man that stands behind the counter gives him a look of interest. As soon as he spots Teo eyeing the TM's, he grins widely. "Looking for something, kid?", his voice is muted and raspy.
"Kind of", Teo says cautiosly, returning. The salesman though Teo was one of the illegals, boy knew that much. Black market was a place where people who acquired their pokemon illegally could get the TMs, training equipment, and similar things. They couldn't just waltz into normal stores and request those stuff without a licence.
"Buying?", the salesman asks.
"Selling", Teo says producing the Energy Ball TM from a pocket in his jacket.
Had he wanted to buy something, he could've gone to a normal store. He had a licence, and those stores were much cheaper and safer than the black market. However, you couldn't sell TMs back to them.
"And how does a kid like you get his hands on a TM?", the salesman chuckles.
Teo's not telling him he's a student at Old King's, nor that he has a licence. The less this guy knows, the better. Besides. "How do you get your hands on all this stuff", Teo flies his eyes over the goods laid out.
"Industry secret", the guy shrugs it off.
"And an open one", Teo raises an eyebrow at him. Everybody knew all this stuff was stolen. Not that Teo thought much about moral failings of that, he stole the Energy Ball TM himself, anyways. And he did request it back from Ves, once the boy had used them. Selling their resources felt a bit bad, but ultimately, Teo was the one who stole them in the first place. Besides, he needed money in order to get what he was looking for, and this was the only way to acquire it fast enough.
"This thing real?", the salesman takes the TM for inspection.
"As real as they get, it's Energy Ball", Teo says, "how much are you going to give me for that?".
"Huh, 1500pd", the salesman scoffs, deciding the TM is real.
"Sounds a bit too low for a TM", Teo leans forward in protest.
"Save it, I need to sell this to make back that money", the man says firmly.
"And we both know you'll set the price at 5000pd, at least", Teo stays adamant.
"Look, kid, this is a grass type move, not a lot of grass types in Spikemuth, who do you think my customers are, huh?", the man says irritatedly, "1500pd's the highest I can go, take it or leave it".
"2000pd", Teo bargains.
"Huh, no way, I need to make a profit here kid, if you're going to argue with me, better just leave", the man retorts.
"Fine", Teo digs through another pocket. He produces the Trick room TM, shoving it onto the tabletop. "How much for this one, it's Trick Room".
"Huh, you raiding the markets in your spare time or something", the man scoffs at him, "500pd for both, at best".
"Come on, give me something more here", Teo sighs, "your collection needs a refill, you know".
"Hey, if you had anything for dark types, I could give you more, but these TMs are not exactly what locals look for, you know", the man rolls his eyes, "so 2000pd for both".
"2300pd for both", Teo offers, "you can spare me 150pd more for each, now can't you".
"2200pd for both, but only cause I want to get rid of you", the salesman gives in.
"Deal", Teo says.
"Good doing business with you, kid", the man sighs, placing the two TMs into the case. From a was of cash he produces from his pocket, he picks out three slips, handing them off to Teo. "Now, scram", the man announces.
Teo checks the amount, making sure he got 2200pd he settled for. "Gladly", he says turning around, finally free to rolls his eyes. He absolutely despises salesmans, especially black market ones. Not that he expected a better deal when he came here. 2200pd should be enough though. Now, it was time to get to the far trickier part of his little quest.
Making his way back to the main street quickly, his arms have started to sweat. He had done some questionable shit, like theft and visiting black market for rare pokemon cards before, but he has never before tried getting his hands on the Mental Herb.
The plant was, of course, highly illegal to acquire. Funnily enough, it had somehow managed to make its way into those damned simulations, and as a way to cure users pokemon of infatuation, nonetheless. Teo found it almost laughable. In reality, Mental Herb had strong calming effect when consumed, on both people and pokemon. Unfortunately, the calmness was a result of its psychodelic components, which often caused hallucinations in pair with the calm, so the plant was illegal. In other words, it was lowkey a drug.
Getting it in Spikemuth was necessary, because his hometown was the only place Teo knew where to find it. Even within Spikemuth, there was only one place Teo knew for certain he could get it without the risk of having to ask around too much. The Spikemuth gym.
It was an open secret in the city, that Logan, the gym leader enjoyed a bit of a trip every now and again, as did his gym trainers. It was pretty well known the gym trainers sold the stuff as well. As a gym leader, Logan could request the Mental Herb as means of raising pokemon, and some gym trainers would put some aside to sell. More importantly, the gym was the only place in the city where you could get Mental Herb without a chance of the police being there.
Wiping the sweat off of his cargo shorts, Teo faced the entrance to the gym. Even knowing he wouldn't get into trouble with police because of this, it still felt wrong. He went over his alibi in his head, just in case someone does ask questions when he exits the gym. He's a trainer. He wanted some tips. If they ask more, he'll tell them he's having trouble with his Absol, so he tried asking the gym trainers what to do. It wasn't even a lie. Since he's going into the gym, he might as well get some help.
Walking into the building, Teo couldn't help but question his own choices. If he wanted to achieve anything, he needed this resource, though, so there was no backing away.
The entrance room is empty, barren, and enveloped in the smell of spraypaint, for whatever reason. Teo tries approaching the information counter as nonchalantly as he can. He asks the young woman behind the glass to tells him where the gym trainers are, quickly explaining he wants some tips on training his dark type pokemon. The girl carelessly tells him he should just take the left hallway, go all the way down and enter the room that has the "Longue" sign on the doors.
Teo obliges without much complaint. The matalic hallway walls seem to have been painted over countless of times. Some parts were covered in cool-looking pictires, some in designed works Teo couldn't quite read, while some were simply covered in blotches of a single colour.
The doors at the end of the hallway were covered in black leather, differing from all the generic ones the boy had walked past. Opening them allowed a view into the room behind, or so, you would think. In reality, Teo could barely make anything out from the smoke. He saw the nearby walls were done in woodwork, and he recognised the shape of sofa beds in the middle of the room. A few silhouettes hid within smoke as well. 4 of them, Teo counted.
He stepped inside, closing the doors behind him. With his heart racing, he made his way towards the middle of the room. "Are you guys gym trsiners?", he tried to sound as cool as he could, but the smoke seemed to stick in his throat.
"Well, you found them", someone replied.
Only upon getting closer could Teo make up the actual people in front of him. He was right, there was 4 of them. Two guys and two girls were all dressed simply, in black jeans and different coloured t-shirts. To his surprise they didn't seem much older than him. But they had to be, Teo knew. Most likely, they were 19 but youthful looking. Teo also notices a suspicious lack of mohawks. He kind of expected these guys would all have crazy hairstyles, but only one guy had sky blue hair, while the other 3 failed to look anything beyond ordinary.
"What do you want", the guy with blue hair says, "seem awfully young to be a trainer?".
"Actually I am", Teo clears his throat.
"For real, huh", one of the girl gives him a suspicious gaze, "how come?".
"I'm a student at Old King's", Teo explains, stepping just a little bit back. The last he needs is these people thinking he has an illegally acquired pokemon. They might be alright with selling drugs, but owning a pokemon illegally was a hard no.
"Really?", the second guy gives him a quick scan, "cause you seem more like a juvie type, buddy".
"I'm not lying", Teo offers, clumsily taking out his phone and loading his trainer's permit as fast as he can. "Here, look", he shoves his phone under their noses. The four take an interested look, and Teo sees an array of shifting faces.
"Oh, this is real", the second girl sounds genuinely surprised, "huh, we have a scholar on our hands, who would've thought".
The blue haired guy scrolls a bit down on Teo's phone: "and he has an Absol, so he's technically a colleague of ours then".
"Yeah, kind of", Teo clears his throat. It is mandatory that these four take a liking to him.
"Well then, sit down", the second guy all but pulls Teo down onto the sofa, "tell us how's it going, what's that school like, I've heard it's a hellscape full of priviledged pricks".
"Basically", Teo laughs, "well, they are kind of pricks, but I guess not everyone's priviledged".
"Well, there you have it", one of the girls rolls her eyes, "just like we thought".
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
"How's life there man, do you get to stay in some luxury rooms?", the blue hair guy questions.
"Oh, who cares about that, how are the girls?", the other guy says, playfully punching Teo's shoulder.
"I get to share a room with 4 other guys, and I wouldn't call that luxurious", Teo laughs, "and the girls, they're alright, I guess, hadn't made any moves yet though".
"Oh, still playing the field, I see", the guy number two seems to have decided Teo's a womanizer.
"Still playing the field", Teo confirms, not willing to tell him he hasn't been paying too much attention on the girls alltogether. Again, he needs these people to like him.
"5 boys in the same room, God, that must smell", one of the girls looks sincerely grossed out by the fact.
"Yeah, yeah, it does", Teo says, suddenly feeling the smell of their room in the morning. Teo and Ace do a good enough job at venting the room throughout the day, but their mornings tend to smell truly terrible.
"Well, enough about that", the second girl says firmly, "what are you looking for here? I'm guessing you didn't just decide you want to meet new people and thought the gym is an ideal place to do that?".
"You looking for a battle?", the blue haired guy asked expectantly.
"No, no, not a battle", Teo explains hurriedly, as his nerves start working again. How's one supposed to ask for drugs again?. "But I do need something", Teo adds quickly.
"Well, what do you need?", one of the girls asks.
"Well, I mean, I need a little something, I've heard you have on the side", Teo attempts, causing utter confusion.
"What?", the blue haired guy raises his eyebrow.
"Dude, he obviosly wants Mental Herb", the other guy laughs, "look at how uncomfortable he is".
"You came into a pokemon gym to ask for drugs", one of the girls attempts.
"Well, I've heard you sell them", Teo offers.
"Fair enough", the second guy laughs.
"Look, kid, we don't just sell them to anyone, besides, you're like 12, we're definitely not selling it to you", the girl scoffs.
"I'm 15, actually", Teo attempts.
"Don't care, you're under age, we're not selling to fucking minors", the girl replies.
"Look, wait, here's the thing", Teo sighs. "My Absol won't listen to me, I need the Mental Herb to try and calm him down", Teo gives the shortest explanation possible.
"It won't listen?", the girl raises her eyebrow, "in what way".
"In a way that he tries attacking me almost every time I let him out of his pokeball", Teo explains, "so, please, would you just sell it to me?".
"Look, kiddo, it sucks your pokemon tries to come after you, but we're not selling you drugs", blue haired guy notes, "there are other ways to deal with that, you know".
"I've tried", Teo says, "I've tried talking to him, I've tried feeding him soothing berries, but nothing helped in the long run".
"Shit, kid, tough spot, still no time to tey turning to drugs, for fuck's sake", one of the girls speaks up, "you know, this is a dark type gym, we might be able to help in another way, but you come here asking for drugs?".
"Well, what can you help in any other way?", Teo asks expectantly.
"Huh, now, I've never trianed an Absol myself", the blue haired guy says, "but Logan has one, he could probably tell you much more than we can".
"Yeah, asking a dark type specialist should've been your first instinct anyways, not drugs", the second girl adds.
"Right, let's just take the kid to Logan", the guy with normal, brown hair jumps up.
"Dude, wait a bit, you know Logan's at the ring", one of the girls, the one with pitch-black hair scolds him.
"Dude", the brown haired guy says mockingly, "the kid just asked us for drugs, we can take him to the ring".
Teo had no idea what 'the ring' was.
He quickly found out. As 5 of them left the smoke-filled room, the gym trainers led him down the short set of stairs behind one of the doors. For some reason, the place smelled strange, like walking into a furniture store. When they exited into what seemed to be a hidden basement, Teo realised what it was. The space was covered in soft-looking black plates. Sound isolation, Teo realised, as he noted giant speakers have been seet in every corner of the room. The floor was entirely covered in sitting pillows. It was a smell of a very strange secret music studio, Teo realised. Most poignantly, at the center of the room, stood a square-shaped metalic cage. The inside of it rose from the floor, as some sort of a stage. Cage-wrestling, Teo figured it out. This place was meant for cage matches. But who was fighting.
He didn't even notice Logan, who stood in one of the corners, trying to set up one of the speakers. The gym leader turned around, seemingly not surprised by their sudden appearance.
"What's this with you guys bringing a kid down here", the man's voice seemed more uniterested than mad. As Teo took it, Logan mustv've been around 29, his hair was completely black, and his body looked jacked, but his face showed the first signs of aging.
"Um, I had a question, actually", Teo cleared his throat, finding himself only slightly intimidated by the presence of the gym leader.
"Then ask it", the gym leader says simply.
"He has an Absol that won't obey", the brown haired guy says on Teo's behalf, "we thought you might be able to help out".
"This child has an Absol?", the gym leader's question would assume he's surprised, but his voice fails to show it.
"He's a student at Old King's", the blonde girl explains, "we didn't believe it at first".
"Old King's huh, and you have an Absol", the gym leader raises a curious eyebrow at Teo, "are you a first year?".
"Yes, sir", the boy feels an urge for formalities.
"Well, you have my Absol, then, boy", the gym leader says.
Teo doesn't grasp it completely: "Sorry, your Absol?".
"An Absol that I raised, to an extent the school needs its starter pokemon raised", Logan explains, "it is your starter, I suppose, I doubt a first year could catch a pokemon like that".
"It is my starter", Teo confirms.
"Then, it's a pokemon I have raised, here, in this gym", Logan shrugs, "Old King's sent out a request for a pokemon, and I did my job, nothing out of the usual, I just didn't know it would go to a boy from Spikemuth".
"You raise pokemon for the school?", Teo inquers, still stuck on that part.
"Yes, part of a job, I do what the league needs me to do, and that sometimes include rasining pokemon for school children", Logan seems to not have any particular emotions about it.
"Well, you could've raised it better", Teo mutters.
"I did my part well", Logan says flatly, "if you're having trouble that's on you".
"It usually attacks me as soon as I let it out of the pokeball, so I would say you could've done a better job", Teo retorts. He didn't expect to meet the person who raised his partner, but now that he has, the rage was staring to build up.
"Dark types tend to be agressive, especially towards weaklings", by the way Logan says it, you wouldn't think it was an insult.
"What do you-", Teo starts.
"Absol especially", Logan ignores him completely, "it's a pokemon said to predict disasters, but as a dark type, it has a hunch for cowards, so you see, his abilities go far beyond myths".
"What are you trying to get to?", Teo says.
"In my opinion, Absol can smell lies", Logan says matter of factly, as if that one sentence explains everything.
"So, you're calling me a liar, then?", Teo says irritatedly.
"Are you not?", Logan locks eyes with him, and Teo feels the chills run down his spine.
"I'm not, I've got nothing to hide, hell, I came in here trying to buy drugs with the money I've gotten by selling stolen TMs on the black market", Teo spits out. "Any other truth neccesary", Teo says, almost as a challenge to the man.
"Dude, your truth sounds more like a criminal record", the brown haired guy laughs.
"How simple minded, serves a kid", Logan ignores his gym trainer, "I'm not saying you're lying to someone else".
"Well, who am I lying to then, myself?", Teo can feel his nails tear into the skin of his palms.
"There is something you're hiding from yourself kid, and Absol can sense it", Logan says simply, "and if it comes to attack you, then you must be hiding something big".
"I'm not hiding anything from myself", Teo spouts.
"Hey, I'm not the one who needs to be convinced in that", Logan raises his hands into the air, "tell that to your parnter".
"I would tell him, if he didn't try attacking me as soon as I let him out", Teo growls.
"He attacks you always?", Logan questions, "does he attack other people as well?".
"Well", Teo thinks about it. "No, I've gotten chased down a few times, and kidnapped once, he attacked the bad guys those few times, but he usually turns on me as soon as that's done", the boy says.
"Kid, what even is that school", the black haired girls seems shocked.
"Well, then, Absol does sense danger as well, tends to deal with that first, then he goes after everything else", Logan explains, "did he attack anyone who didn't try to harm him or you?".
"No, I don't think so", Teo admits, "maybe Joe on the first day, but never again".
"Sounds like Absol thinks you have a problem with yourself, then", Logan concludes.
"So what, it will just keep attacking me? Until when? Until I solve this imaginary problem he senses?", Teo barrages the question. Whatever Absol's problem was with him, he had got it wrong. There was nothing Teo had to hide. Everyone knew it, he caused problems, he was rough sometimes, he wasn't the best person around and he knew it. It wasn't anything he hid from the world nor from himslef.
"Absol doesn't like being trained by someone who hasn't faced themselves", Logan shrugs, "sorry to tell you this, kid, but you'll have to start looking at the mirror if you want this to go well".
"I do look into the mirrors, on regular basis", Teo objects.
"Figuratively", Logan adds.
"Wow, thanks so much for the advice, you're such a great gym leader, I'm sure this will solve all of my problems", Teo says dryly, "Mental Herb would've been more helpful than this".
"Yeah, then, go get the kid some goods", Logan motions for the brown haired guy to go.
"Wait, are you for real?", Teo jumps up in surprise.
"Yeah, Logan, you're joking right, we can't sell pot to a minor", the brown haired girl objects.
"We're not selling it to him, it's a gift", Logan says matter of factly, "Ulrich, make sure you get the stem as well".
"You do know how to grow a plant as well, do you?", Logan turns to Teo as the brown haired guy starts his run upstairs.
"I know a guy", Teo says, still shocked that the gym leader made a decision like this. "So, I was right, the Mental Herb will help Absol calm down?".
"No, it won't help Absol calm down, because Absol isn't enraged in that sense", Logan says, "but it will help you clear your mind and figure out whatever you're hiding from yourself".
"Wait, you're telling me to smoke it?", Teo almost yells out.
"In moderation, of course", Logan says simply, "and only until it's necessary, after you've found what you're hiding from yourself, dispose of the plant".
"Wow, this is not what I imagined the gym leader would be like", Teo admits.
"Look, kid, things aren't inherently good or bad for you, it's how you use them that determines it", Logan's voice is deep and filled with importance, "it goes for everything, as they say, life is what you make of it".
"Cool, did you read that on Pinterest?", Teo rolls his eyes.
"Read it on Pinterest, lived it here in Spikemuth", Logan says simply, making Teo wince at the sentiment.
Logan gives him another strange look, stepping in closer. "You are from Spikemuth, right?", the gym leader's voice turns grim.
"Yes", Teo says reluctantly, not knowing why Logan's asking that now.
"Born and raised?", the gym leader raises his eyebrow, as if he's threatening.
"Born and raised", Teo says in a low voice.
"Good", The gym leader says, and Teo breathes with relief.
Ulrich enters the room again, much to Teo's satisfaction. "Here", the brown haired trainer gives Teo a small plastic bag that contains a few light-blue, almost see-through leaves, along with a few parts of the stem.
"Thanks", Teo says, accepting the goods. He goes to put it into the inside pocket of his jacket, but Logan quickly stops him.
"Wait, give it to your pokemon", the gym leader orders, "less likely you'll be found out that way".
"You worried, huh?", Teo says.
"Hey, the police tends to leave us alone cause we help around the city, but if they catch a minor with this, they'll be on my throat in an instant", Logan responds.
"Okay", Teo says, picking Totodile's pokeball and releasing his partner. The small croc energetically jumps up and down, unable to phantom a fact he's about to become a mule.
"So you do have more pokemon, then", Logan says taing a curious look at Totodile, who's jumping around energetically, "why is it wearing sunglasses, though?".
"Because he likes them", Teo suggests, as he crouches down next to Totodile and giving him the small plastic bag. "Will you keep this for now, Tots? Just don't lose it", Teo has no idea if things can get lost inside of a pokeball.
"He listens to you?", Logan asks.
"Not really, he only ever uses Aqua Jet", Teo confesses.
"You didn't train him well, then", Logan says dryly.
"Well, he's a young one, and I think he has fun Aqua Jetting around, so that's what he does", Teo explains, "to be fair, I'm just glad he isn't trying to kill me, so I can actually use him in battles".
"So, you didn't even try training him?", Logan asks.
"I caught him when I went to Lilicove with Joe, and we are not allowed to leave the island", Teo explains, "so, no, I couldn't train hin last week, I only got to register him as one of my pokemon yesterday".
"Oh, but did you have a battle with him already?", Logan inquiers, his interest now peaked.
"Well, I did use him to fight those guys that chased us in Lilicove, then those poachers in Canalave, oh, and we did fight off some thugs earlier today", Teo remembers, "the only kind of official battle, I had with Joe, back in Lilicove, he beat us, but honestly, I didn't know Tots wouldn't do anything but Aqua Jet, so I'm not counting it".
"Again, kid, what even is that school?", the black haired girl says.
"Huh, so that's it, and that Joe guy is?", Logan asks curiously.
"A teammate?", Teo responds in confusion, "why?".
"Well, you've been mentioning him a lot, you two friends?", Logan raises his eyebrow.
"More like, occasional partners", Teo offers.
"In crime?", the blue haired guy adds.
"He's a bit too much, the other 3 as well, we're not friends", Teo ignores him.
"Alright, alright", Logan puts his hands up, "I was just asking".
"Well, better don't ask", Teo rolls his eyes, "the team thing is not exactly working out, I don't even know why the school does that".
"Oh, it's a game", Logan says simply, "well, Old King's has its schemes".
"What game?", Teo asks.
"See, when they create the teams, they make sure to mix it up, skill wise", Logan explains, "you have a mix of high performing students, and low performing ones, right?".
"Yeah", Teo says, not noting that he's technically low performing as well.
"So, when you put kids together like that, and tell them that they either pass or fail together, one of two things happens", Logan continues, "either the bad ones feel bad about it and start improving, or the good ones feel bad and become even better".
"So, they do that on purpose", Teo nods.
"Obviously", Logan rolls his eyes, "I mean, they aim to create professional trainers, they want to create a rigid environment".
"Wow, any more secret working of Old King's?", Teo asks in surprise.
"Huh, I could name a few", Logan says flatly, "but you'll have to beat it out of me". The gym leader motions towards the metal cage.
"Wait, you want to wrestle me?", Teo looks at him, utterly shocked.
"No", Logan rolls his eyes, "I want to see Absol that I have raised in action, you brat".
"Absol? You want me to go into the cage with a pokemon that's been trying to kill me for 2 weeks straight?", Teo laughs.
"Exactly", Logan nods, "then, you'll lose to me, and go home".
"You think I'll lose?", Teo smirks.
"Of course you will, in an instant", Logan says calmly, "this isn't a gym battle, I don't have to hold back, you'll be done in one hit".
"Huh, we'll see", Teo snarks at him. Did he expect to beat a gym leader? No. But no one was getting him in one hit.
"Then, enter the cage", Logan says, nodding at Ulrich. The gym trainer quickly runs up to the control panel. Few button presses later, the metal doors slide open with shrieking noise. "Get up there, kid", Logan says, as he walks up the small set of stairs and enters the creation himself.
Teo reluctantly follows suit, finding himself encased amongst the metal nets once Ulrich does his magic again. He always kind of expected to find himself behind the bars, but this was not what he had in mind.
As Logan stare at him in expectation, Teo picked up Absol's pokeball. He felt the sweat trail he left on the surface on warm metal. In a cage, about to let the disaster pokemon out. This is what wanting to do drugs gets him.
Gritting his teeth he does what he must, letting Absol hit the white floor. The white dog takes the battle stance immediately, turning around to face Teo. The boy almost starts to believe that the pokemon could smell fear, as well as the lies. Taking an instinctive step back, he readies the pokeball, just in case he needs to recall Absol at moment's notice. All the excitment he had felt earlier today disapated. There wasn't anyone else for Absol to go after now.
The disaster pokemon seemed hesitant to attack though, as he slowly turned around to look at Logan. The gym leader stood there, as collected as ever. Teo wasn't sure if he feared Absol or this man more.
But Absol wasn't attacking him, and that was the only thing that mattered.
"Let's see what you've got, Spike", Logan spoke to his Absol, as he took hold of his own pokeball.
In a show of blue light, a second Absol appeared on the floor. Teo wasn't surprised, he figured the gym leader would pull something like this. Absol vs Absol match. Seemed about right.
He noticed this new Absol was significantly larger, in contrast to his own partner. His fangs and the razor on his head seemed sharper as well. Definitely a pokemon much further developed. Meanwhile, his own Absol wouldn't even have a proper meal.
"You can start", the blonde haired girl almost yells at them.
Teo snaps from his thoughts. Now that he sees Logan, Absol might listen to him. This could help him.
"Quick Attack", Teo says instantly. Maybe Absol listens this time.
"Play Rough", Logan counters calmly.
Teo's Absol stands in place, lowering his stance even further, letting his razor flash wildly. Swords Dance, Teo thinks, he went for Swords Dance. So much for listening.
Logan's Absol quickly jumps back, using the metal wall to leap above his opponent, summoning the fairy type energy into its front paws. Just like that, without Teo's partner even moving, his opponents lashes at him with switness, landing a devistating blow.
"That was pathetic", Logan says what Teo's thinking.
Fuck that, not only was he gone in a single hit, but Teo didn't land a single attack. No, he didn't even get to move. He watched as Absol struggled to stand, just waiting to see him falling into the ground.
But it didn't.
"Quick Attack, now", Teo yells out as soon as he realises Absol is still standing. He has no idea how that's even possible, but it's not even worth thinking about.
His partner moves forward, his legs picking up speed. He finally listened, Teo thinks, ready to see his attack come to fruition.
"Sucker Punch", Logan commands flatly, and his own Absol, enveloped in darkness, rushes straight into the incoming Quick Attack, hitting Teo's pokemon on the side and sending him onto the ground.
Teo feels the earth spin beneath him. Logan did say he wasn't going to hold back, but this was something else. He couldn't say that he had lost because Logan went full steam ahead. No. The worst thing was, Logan barely did anything. Two attacks. Teo din't even know how he had even gotten that second chance, but it was taken away from him in an instant.
And who was to blame? Absol or him. He wasn't sure himself.
Logan recalled his Absol, and Teo followed suit. He heard the doors creek open through the rush of rage in his head. Who the rage was directed at, Teo had no idea. Absol, himself, or maybe Logan. What was even the point of this match anyways?
"You mad?", Logan asks.
"Yeah", Teo brushes him off.
"Really?", Logan says flatly.
"Really", Teo responds dryly.
"Good", Logan smiles in self satisfaction.
"How is that any good", Teo yells out.
"We only run from things we think are bad", Logan says matter of factly.
"Oh my God, stop throwing stupid citations at me, just say what you mean", Teo hisses.
"You're running from your own weakness", Logan says simply, "well, that's at least one of the things you run from, I think".
"What weakness, I lost to you because you're a gym leader and my Absol won't even listen to me", Teo shouts.
"I figured it out quickly, as soon as I knew you were at Old King's", Logan waves him off, "many kids there are scared of failing, that they are not enough, Absol senses that".
"And how do you know that's what I think", Teo says.
"You said you were angry", Logan shrugs.
"Right, I am angry, that doesn't mean I think I'll fail", Teo retorts.
"But you're angry because you lost", Logan notes.
"Well, obviously", Teo sighs.
"Anger is a secondary emotion, it has to stem from something else", Logan looks him dead in the eye, "and in your case, I'd say it comes from the fear of not being good enough".
"What are you, a psycholigist", Teo laughs.
"Sort of", Logan rolls his eyes, "well, anyway, that's all I have to say to you".
"Thank God", Teo scoffs.
"You should go home now", Logan says, "next time you decide to come around, better be prepared to battle me, and do it well this time".
"As if", Teo scoffs, turnimg around to leave.
"Oh, and by the way kid", Logan says behind him, "that Absol of yours was born and raised here, in Spikemuth, his name is Spike".
Teo shuts the doors behind him, thinking how dumb it is to name your pokemon after a city as rotten as this one.
He stomps out of the building, into a weary evening. His head is still buzzing with everything that had just went on. He knew from the start that this trip back home was a terrible idea. At least, he got what he needed, and he had some cash to spare. He'll get totodile a handball so he can play, and he'll pocket the rest.
His bad luck didn't stop there, though, as two man in trench coats appeared in front of him as soon as he stepped away from the gym. Unfortunately, he quickly found out they were a police.
*****
It wasn't the worst thing being held in a police station. They only saw him exiting the alleway that led to the black market, so the whole ordeal didn't last long. Not that they'd find anything on him anyways. Even if they did, he was 15, so they couldn't exaclty jail him for anything short of an assault.
The bad thing about being led into a police station at 15 was that the police, by law, had to escort you. And Teo didn't look forward to having the policeman lead him in front of his mother.
When they stood in front of the wilting white doors of his apartment, it was already darl outside. The poorly lit hallway smelled of freshly cooked beans.
His mother would always breathe out in the same way when she saw he was in trouble. He watched it again, as the policeman explained why they had brought him in, how her stomach flattened, her shoulders shrunk, her face started looking even more sunken. Teo always wondered if his eyes will be like hers when he grow older, empty and trapped in circles of da darkened skin. As if life had leaked out of them, painting the surrounding area, and now there was nothing left within them.
When the police left back, his mother stayed silent and went back to hunch over the sturdy kitchen table, as she always would. She shifted trough bills, but Teo could tell her mind was everywhere.
Was she wishing for a better child, one that doesn't come back home for a few days just to make trouble. And she didn't even know, about the black market, or Mental Herb. Police had only told her they found him suspicious. Had she known about it, what would she think? And if she knew about those thugs as well? And everything that happened in the past 2 weeks? It was not Teo's fault, really, he was simply born as trouble's favourite. Even those thugs today went after him for no particular reason, he was going his own way when they started talking to him. He talked back, obviously, so they started acting all tough and chased him. But it wasn't his fault.
Was she wishing Teo's father was still there?
Not that the boy ever knew him, he died a few months before Teo was born. Worked on a cruise ship, his mother told him, and there was a storm once. He only knew pictures, of this wide-shouldered, stern-looking man with shoulder-lenght pitch black hair. Teo was nothing like him, other than the height and the hair coulour.
Ever since, him and his mother had lived in this crappy apartmant, that had a single living room, a bathroom, and an old storage that has been turned into Teo's room. Even at Old King's, where he had to share a room with those 4 idiots, he had more space for himself.
Without a word, he went on to take a shower. Not that he enjoyed it particularly. He rushed to wash the bad luck off of himself. When he finally re-entered the room, he informed his mother he'd go to sleep. For once, he couldn't wait to go back to Old King's. It wasn't the best, but it wasn't this hellhole of a city. He got what he needed, and he wasn't planning on coming back here any time soon.
"I feel like you want to hurt me sometimes", his mother doesn't raise her head from the bills, "that's why you're like this".
"I don't", Teo says simply.
"Sorry I can't be a better parent", his mother says, "but I am doing my best, you know".
"I know", Teo's voice always goes low when he's trying not to cry.
"Then why do you do this?", the woman says, as if she's looking for some grand revelation, "you've made it out of here, you have a chance to make a batter life for yourself, but you still do things like that".
"I do what I have to do", Teo says, "sorry".
"You're hurting yourself like this as well, you know", she says.
"I know", Teo says. How does he explain it. It's not his fault. Life is just unfair, and he isn't about to back down because of it.
"I don't want to make it harder on you, I promise", is the only thing he can muster up as an answer to her silence.