The Sinnoh Files: Introduction
It was a pained scream that got his attention. A human scream, coming from a nearby alley no more than two streets over. He took one look at his partner Zangoose, who looked the tall, well built man in the eyes and nodded. They both broke into a run towards the source of the sound. The well dressed man’s red tye flapping with his motions.
A young trainer layed on the ground, curled into the fetal position, clutching his Pokeballs. His friend's home. Towering over him were four men, hardly older than the boy that they had just mugged. One of them smirked, crouching down to whisper.
“Cmon, hand them over! We don’t wanna have to get real rough with you!”
The boy responds with a weak and trembling, but defiant. “No.”
The thug’s smirk turned into a disgusted grimace. His cohort, a large, bulky man, took one step forward and delivered a swift into the Trainer’s stomach. The trainer let out a pained scream, reflexively releasing the pokeballs. The thugs easily snatched them up, quickly stuffing them into their oversized pockets, one of them laughs. A skinny kid with short, blond hair. “Just cooperate next time, or it’s gonna be much worse!”
Their leader turns to leave, only to freeze for a moment and look. In front of him stood a rather large man, at least 6 foot. Wearing a double breasted jacket of a smoky gray. With a bright red tie. His brown hair slicked back. He looked like some sort of businessman. There was a quiet anger flaring behind his dark green eyes.It took him a little longer to notice the Zangoose walking to the side and just slightly behind the man, also bearing a menacing scowl, standing up with their long claws extended.
The thug smiled wide, a Zangoose? Score. They were highly sought after, and sold for a high price. They could be dangerous, but with the four of them there it should be an easy catch. The strange, jacketed man spoke first in a calm voice. His clenched fists betraying his true emotions.
“Drop whatever you took, apologie and leave. I’ll forget this ever happened.”
The thugs all respond with roaring laughter, it takes them a few moments to compose themselves before the skinny one spits out “You on something, man? This dumbass had it coming, and you’ll get the same treatment if you don’t stop sticking your nose where it don’t belong”
The jacketed man's response was to blink, before quickly scanning his eyes over the group of young thugs in front of him. “You don’t look like Team Rocket grunts,” he stated matter-of-factly. “No. Just some street trash shaking trainers down for the cash and their pokemon, hoping to sell them to some back alley breeder for quick cash.” as he spoke, his Zangoose slowly started to shuffle forward, showing his fangs.
“The fuck? Are you looking to die tonight?” the fourth one chimes up. Taller than the rest, reaching into his pocket and whipping out a small pocket knife, the reflective silver blade locking into place with a loud click. The jacketed man took a quick glance at the weapon
“If you're going to start getting flashy, it’s going to take more than just an apology.” he stated bluntly, with just an edge of annoyance to his voice.
Their leader barked the order. “We don’t have to take shit from this guy! Gut him, grab the Zangoose!”
The tall one, with the dagger, stepped forward. Trying to plunge his blade into the jacketed man’s ribs. An attack that the stranger easily sidestepped. grabbing the attacker's wrist with one hand and using the other to deliver an uppercut to the elbow, forcing the joint to bend backwards. The thug howled in pain, dropping the knife. The jacketed man grabbed the tall thug by the back of his head, still holding onto his wrist, giving a quick turn and slamming his face first into the near-by wall of the ally. A cracking sound and the blood running down his face testament to a broken nose.The man drops, stunned and reeling.
Zangoose moves in a blur, using Quick attack, rapidly approaching the shorter thug, knocking him down onto his back before the Zangoose comes crashing down on the hooligan’s chest. Forcing out an airless whimper of pain, before going limp. Having the wind knocked out him.
“What the fuck?!” the leader exclaimed before moving to pull the Zangoose off his buddy, the Zangoose response was Aerial Ace, Quickly leaping to the nearby wall, using it’s momentum to bounce off. They’re claws glowing as they graze the man, Zangoose being careful enough to dig his claws in too deep. He know there was no need to risk killing the man. Regardless, the thug went down. His back pressed to the wall, hand covering the bleeding cuts.
The jacketed man dashed forward, towards the last remaining man, the large thug who was stunned and terrified by the chaos that broke out. He didn’t think on it long as the man landed an open handed strike to the bottom of the man’s chin, quickly following up with a swift kick to the stomach. He fell to the floor groaning, clutching his stomach.
The scuffle ended as quickly as it started. The jacketed man straightened his tie and scoffed. “Well, what was that about gutting me?”
“Shit man! Shit shit! I get it!” their leader sputtered, slowly getting up to his feet. “We’ll leave this kid alone and get out of your hair!” “Did I say you could leave?” the jacketed man barked, his brow furrowing in anger. “Or do my partner and I have to beat more sense through your thick skulls?” He assumes a fighting stance, right fist by his ear, left fist in front of his face.
“Oh no, no sir! We’re very sorry! Here!” the thug reaches into his over-large pockets, pulling out the pokeballs as well as a small wallet. “This is all we took, I swear! We won’t ever do this again! Straight and narrow!” The imposing man looked down. Six pokeballs and the trainer’s wallet.
“Tch. Fine. Whatever. Just go.” the man calmly stated. The thugs moved quickly, picking each other up and limping out of the alley. Once they were gone, he quietly addressed his Zangoose. “Keep watch, in case they think of trying something stupid.” Zangoose only nodded, going back onto all four and quietly watching the alley entrance. The man scooped up the trainer’s belongings, before quietly going over to them. Those thugs were vicious. This kid definitely had some broken bones. He kneeled down, pushing the pokeballs and wallet into the trainer’s chest. ”Hey. It’s alright. Everyone’s right here, safe and sound. Need me to call an ambulance?”
The trainer looked up, before summoning the strength to slowly emerge from his curled up position, sitting up with help from the stranger. He looked at the pokeballs and started to tear up as they realized the gravity of what happened, how they almost had their loving friends ripped away from them. They looked up at the stranger.
“T..Thank you for saving me, and my friends. I can’t imagine what I would do if my Charmeleon was taken…or anyone...for that matter. W..Who are you?”
The man had already pulled his phone, dialing the number for the nearest poke-center. An all too common occurrence these days, he looks at the trainer and gives a soft smile.
“Detective Zho Takeda, of Unown Inquiries. I run an agency here in Jubillife. This is my partner, Orion.” he gestures towards the Zangoose, slowly swiveling his head as he watches. “Let me call. You just sit there and focus on breathing.”
After a quick phone call and explaining the situation to Joy, confirming that an ambulance was on the way. It arrived soon enough, Takeda only stayed long enough to make sure it got the trainer. He looked at Orion, on all fours as Zangoose normally does. Takeda knelt down and ruffled the fur on top of his partner’s head, getting an affectionate look in response. “Let’s go home, it’s getting late and that’s more then enough action.” The Zangoose expressed enthusiastic agreement. Although Orion could not talk in the human language, Takeda and him have been close enough for long enough that they understood each other, as is common between humans and pokemon.
They arrived at their apartment just as the sun finally set over the horizon. Takeda quickly took his jacket and undershirt off, revealing a well-toned, muscular body. Kicking off his shoes as he sits on the couch, relaxing. Orion quickly clambered up, snuggling up against his love, before reaching over and planting a soft, tender, and excruciatingly slow kiss on the man’s lips, which drew out a slight chuckle from Zho. “Well, aren’t you affectionate tonight?” the human says, chuckling. Wrapping his arms around Orion, his precious Zangoose. His partner in more ways than one.
Times were hard, and cruel. But for just a couple of moments, in each other’s embrace. Their world’s felt at peace.