“How about we take a little break Elena? I’ll stay here with Silvia.” Sycamore suggested, to which Elena took a minute before eventually giving in to his request. Though the way his voice sounded, it felt more like a lightly formed demand in the way of tone.

I huffed out another breath before sitting back down on the now uncomfortable bed. What seemed like a cloud before now felt like a cold hard rock. If it wasn’t for all these needless questions and pestering, I imagine a place like this would be what I would’ve pictured heaven to be like.

An uncomfortable silence swept over the room a minute after Elena had left, at first Sycamore did nothing but stand there. Then, he walked over to the sink and grabbed two cups, filling them both up with water. I was confused at first, until he walked over to where I sat on the bed, closer to me then I even let the nurse approach from before.

Something about him just screamed comfortable and ‘not dangerous’, so I felt like I was allowed to let him nearby.

“Thank you.” I said while taking the water from his outreached hand, to which he just hummed in response.

I took small sips at first but the cold sensation running down my throat was so enticing. The dehydration slipping away from me was a relief beyond measure and I quickly chugged the entire glass like it had never been in my hand. Small drops slipped down the corners of my mouth from drinking too quickly. I was so thirsty I didn’t even pay attention to anything around me.

Stifled laughter could be heard at my side and my face went red in embarrassment. Drinking the water, I totally forgot he was even here. Using my sleeve, I began dabbing away at the droplets on my face.

“I knew you’d be thirsty, but that was awfully quick. Have this glass too, make sure to drink slower this time.” Sycamore said while giving me his glass too.

I hesitated at the glass. “Isn’t that yours though?”

He shook his head with a knowing smile, though I wouldn’t call it arrogant in the slightest. “They were both for you to begin with, I knew you were going to need it. Your voice is already sounding much better.”

Inwardly, I felt both grateful and surprised that he was thinking of me that much. I mumbled out another thanks before going silent again. The seconds ticked by while I sipped on my water, and he said absolutely nothing to me while writing something in his journal.

The silence was killing me this time. It felt weird.

“Aren’t you going to ask?” I broke the silence first.

His eyes looked up at me, seemingly both intrigued and relaxed. Nothing like the annoying curiosity the nurse pestered me with before. “Ask what?”

I shrugged my shoulders, unsure of what to really say since he wasn’t being direct. “I don’t know. About my family? Why was I in the forest? Why couldn't you match my DNA or whatever? Literally anything at all?”

Sycamore squints at me for a moment before his eyes open again wide. “Ah so you heard us outside earlier.” He hummed thoughtfully. “Do you want me to ask?”

“Not at all.” I shot it down the second he said those words.

“Then I won’t.”

Really? That’s it? He’s not even going to ask. At first, I couldn’t believe what he was saying, but even after responding, Sycamore just went back to writing something in his notebook. He looked like he was frustrated and doing math, considering I could hear his annoyed grunts from across the room.

Several more minutes ticked on by in a comfortable silence. It didn’t feel awkward anymore like before and I just allowed myself to relax on the cold bed. The feeling of warmth was definitely just an illusion from before. The bed here was awful, worse than the one I made back in my cabin.

10 minutes passed by like a breeze before the door slammed open again. I winced, preparing myself inwardly for having to deal with the nurses again. Luck was on my side though, as instead, a blue shadow blurred through the entrance towards my bed.

The blur crashed into me.

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There were several loud shouts behind me, but I didn’t care. I also didn’t care that my sore body was in a bit of pain from the point-blank impact. I returned the hug that Lucario was giving me, his paws having been wrapped around me tightly in an embrace.

“Gardevoir.” She admonished Lucario from the side for crashing into me, clearly being able to tell that it hurt me a bit. It was so comical that I couldn’t stop myself from laughing.

“I’m fine Gardevoir, he’s just happy to see me. Besides, I think I owe you two at least this much. You think I didn’t hear about all the trouble you two caused on my behalf?”

Gardevoir at least has the gall to look a little guilty, Lucario on the other hand after finally releasing me, looks prouder than anyone could be. Can’t really fault him there I suppose. Even I’m proud of him for sticking up for me against all those people.

I’ll decidedly keep that to myself though.

“Have you two been alright? Any problems?” I asked, looking them both over as well and noticing not only did they seem healthy, but really well taken care of. What, were they staying in some kind of luxury resort?

“Lucario-Lu-Lucario.” He responds, telling me how they were allowed to stay at the Professor’s enclosure where many other pokemon stay. Apparently, it’s like a whole forest in itself and super comfortable. Sounds like they were more comfortable than I was here. “Gardevoir.” She nods, backing up what he was telling me.

It’s not that I don’t believe him, it just sounds so unbelievable to my ears. So foreign really.

The minutes fly by as we catch up with one another. Finally hearing for myself how Lucario had to carry me here after I started waning out at some point and that it was Sycamore who had gotten me to the hospital. Apparently, the fire had happened just last night so I was only out for around a day, not all that bad in my opinion.

Our reunion was interrupted by a loud cough, one meant to ruin the moment, and Elena was standing in the doorway still holding that clipboard. “I’m happy to see that you and your pokemon get along so well. However, it’s been a while, so we need to go back to answering some questions.”

Bile began to rise in my throat the moment she opened her mouth. Sensing my feelings, Lucario had already moved to stand in front of me before she entered the room.

“I think I remember telling you that those questions were none of your business. Time isn’t going to change that.” I retorted.

Her eyes rolled. “And I told you that we need to know these answers to take care of you. Stop acting like a child.”

That was the last straw, and I openly glared daggers at her. The way she talked like I had to do as she said was angering me so much and it wasn’t exactly doing any good for Lucario because I could already see the flickers of aura energy appearing around his paws like he was ready for a fight.

Truth be told, I was getting ready for one too, if only I didn’t feel so weak.

“Then I’m leaving, now that my friends are here, you can’t stop me either.” I growled in return and reached for Gardevoir’s help, she reached down and supported me so I could lean on her as I stood. Making it fairly easy to stand since I didn’t need to put all the pressure on my legs.

Elena, despite looking nervous about Lucario who was getting ready to attack, stood in the way still. “You’re not healthy enough to leave, you have to remain here under the hospital’s care until you’re able to stand on your own Silvia.”

“I don’t HAVE to do anything. Now move or we’ll move through you.” I growl back and she recoils at my anger.

The room tenses and Elena looks unsure of what she should do. Behind her, are several other doctors and nurses in their coats who look to be watching the scene unfold. I’m sure it’s really entertaining standing on the sidelines of this whole drama fest.

“Gardevoir.” She whispers to me, looking concerned and asking if I was okay. She never likes it when I get angry.

“I’m fine. I just… really don’t like it here.” I mumble back to her.

Before Lucario and I could cause a bigger scene, a third party interjects for what seemed like the hundredth time in this room. “How about, Silvia comes to rest at my lab instead of at the hospital? I have plenty of medical supplies at home. Besides,” Sycamore pauses, looking directly at me with that same calm smile. “Silvia’s pokemon have stayed with me already, so they know what it’s like. Then the hospital will know she’s being cared for without having to worry about the procedure, everyone wins.” He explains.

Not for the first time, the anger treads its way out of me and filters somewhere gone and forgotten.

What was even more surprising, was that I was actually considering it. I could feel the eyes on me in the room, some were expectant, the nurse seemed concerned more than anything. Worse comes to worst, I was exchanging one prison for another.

“Gardevoir.” My friend told me, touching me lightly on the arm. I guess she would know, since she and Lucario had stayed there last night. It must be pretty nice for her to speak so highly of a professor’s home.

I can’t say for sure whether I was about to make a mistake. All I really knew was that it couldn’t be any worse than the hospital where I currently was. The atmosphere just didn’t sit right with me and the nurse made me want to run away whenever she opened her mouth.

It didn’t feel like a home.

“Alright.” I relented after some internal strife, the conflict in me like a war cry. “I’ll go with the professor. But first…”

Nurse Elena regarded me intently, like I was going to ask for something absurd. Sycamore looked more curious than anything at my sudden reach for a demand.

Don’t worry, it was nothing like that.

“...Where the hell is my jacket?”