unable to find the help he was looking for he resigns himself to figuring it out on his own. for once he wasn't in pursuit of some trouble, he'd just wanted help. but help doesn't come for those who are seen as lower by society. and so the saffron native treks back between the bushes and the trees, as fast as the beaten path can carry himself and his bike. faster and faster still he goes, until he skids to a halt on a particularly beaten down patch of soil, one that looked as though it had just barely begun recovering from constant feet and wheels wearing it down. dusting himself off, he's quick to toss his helmet to the side – he could clean it later and jump back towards the underbrush.
kaneda pushes a pair of particularly tall bushes apart to reveal a familiar building long abandoned and left to the ravages of the forest and time. the old hideout for him and the gang always brings back memories, but that's not what he's here for today. it's not a grand structure by any means, but it is rather large. it sports a few windows and a simple wooden door, age and vines clinging to the outside. by one of the windows on the side stands a scizor, pressing his face to the window as his claws sit on the outer wall. ❝ sol, is he still there ? ❞ the bug pokemon perks up, pulling his face away from the glass and turning towards his partner. he buzzes lightly in response, nodding as conformation. kaneda lets out a relieved sigh, showing whatever anxiety he'd been hiding in him, now able to be fully himself.
the biker walks up to the window, sol standing beside him, looking into the dark shed. through the dusty window lies the remanence of a sort of dwelling, old and long forgotten couches and shelves, knickknacks and a few dusty arcade machines that show no signs of life. kaneda's gloved hand points at a green curl in the center of the floor, slightly hidden under a table on an old and tattered rug. the coil's head droops a little, as if it's overly tired.
❝ there, it moved there. it was beside the couch over there before, i think. ❞ after a few moments, kaneda backs up, brow furrowed in a bit of annoyance and concern mixed all into one confusing expression. ❝ we can't just wait around for someone to come help us. ❞ the biker felt unsure at the color of the pokemon, wondering if something was wrong. and so he'd gone to get help, to no avail. sol turns to look at him, mirroring the frustrated look of his trainer before staring up at the other with determination. wordlessly, the pair nods, kaneda moving fast with sol following close behind.
the pair head for the ivy strewn door, locked tightly. somewhere in that set of keys he carries lies the right one, and after a bit of digging, the biker jams it into the door and hears the lock click into place audibly, pulling the door open softly as it creaks with lack of use. kaneda closes an eye, looking as though he's wincing from the sound. ( why was it so loud ?! ) the small pokemon under the table lifts it's head slightly as kaneda gets down on all fours, crawling towards it. the snake pokemon rears it's head back, angry and afraid at the human approaching him. kaneda doesn't hesitate. ❝ it's okay little guy, we just wanna make sure you're not feeling sick… ❞ but the ekans isn't buying it, and a hiss leaves it's maw as kaneda's hand – glove removed – reaches out towards the snake pokemon in a gentle gesture.
sol's gaze darts back and forth between kaneda and his hand, unable to see the pokemon from this height. nervous about the hissing, the scizor carefully joins kaneda in an all fours position on the dusty and dirt-covered floor, buzzing his wings gently at the ekans. the green coil turns to face the bug type, listening to sol speak and returning similar conversation with fear. kaneda softly pipes up. ❝ are you feeling okay ? ❞ the ekans barely turns towards the trainer, still wary, and instead looks back to sol for reassurance about this whole ordeal, who happily provides a nod, indicating it's okay to answer. the snake pokemon hesitates, but eventually turns towards kaneda and nods, confirming he's okay. the biker lets out a sigh of relief. ❝ thank arceus. ❞
some conversation later, and the ekans finally has eased up enough to be trying to communicate with kaneda directly, who is now sitting with his legs crossed on the floor beside sol. ❝ you know little guy, if you like, you can come with me and i can take you somewhere nice to settle down, wherever you like. ❞ something shifts in that moment, and the green ekans shakes his head. kaneda frowns, unsure of what to do. but the little pokemon doesn't give kaneda time to think about it, instead opting to slowly uncurl itself under the table and slither up into kaneda's lap, coiling up there and simply looking up at him. if it was possible, it looked like the pokemon was smiling. kaneda raises both hands away from his lap in surprise, and sol lets out a laugh with a bit of a buzz in it's features. kaneda's frown turns to a smile, and he gently lays a hand on the ekans head, running his palm along the smooth green scales. ❝ we can go lots of places together, then. ❞
