Death-Head's Gift
Fandom: Death-Heads Deal/Pokemon crossover Rating: Teen (swearing, violence) Genre: Slice-of-Life Pairing: Primm (Grimm/Pearl) Summary: Pokemon AU. Grimm wants to surprise his wife with a new Pokemon, but catching the one she wants will be a challenge. Luckily, Alrick and his team are there to help.
This is a gift for @LittleGrayRam as a part of the DHD Discord's secret santa event. If you want a macabre but surprisingly warm hearted webcomic to read, pick up Death-Head's Deal, join the discord, and of course read this fic. <3
✦ My Writing Tag ✦
✦ AO3 Link ✦
All day long, the full-face bear couldn’t shake the feeling that he was being watched.
He wasn’t doing anything unusual. He’d gone to a meeting with some high profile bank owners, filed the necessary paperwork to sell his share of his company’s stock, met for lunch with his wife, and spent the afternoon chasing down a few local street rats to pay them for a job well done. After work, he went out for dinner with his other wife and then wrapped up the night at his favorite bar, where he snorted lines of coke with a few of his colleges. Now the night had turned pitch-black, and the bar was emptying. He wasn’t keen on leaving his brand new car at the bar until morning, so he was taking a walk to clear his head. Every now and again, it felt like someone was staring over his shoulder, but when he looked behind him, nothing was there. Just like at the bar … and the coffee shop … and the restaurant … and in the park …
He looked behind him, and again, saw only shadows and parked cars.
He quickened his pace
He was only a few blocks away from the bar. He’d be fine. He just had to make it to his car.
The streetlights flickered. The shadows beneath his feet shifted unnaturally. He froze, eyes wide, swiveling at breakneck speed.
Behind him. A new shadow.
It approached. His forehead was damp with sweat.
A tiny Yamper stepped into the light.
Hand over his chest, the bear sighed, finding every inch of him still tense and shaking. The Yamper gave a single, high pitched bark
“Hey there, little guy.” He said, kneeling, “Gave me a scare. You lost?”
The Yamper leaned forward to sniff his fingers and suddenly the streetlamp above him shattered, bathing them in broken glass and darkness. He looked up and into a pair of wicked, glowing red eyes. A sharp-toothed smile appeared below. The eyes bounced in delight with the sounds of a deep-pitched laugh that sent chills down his spine.
Terrified, the man stood and stepped backwards, only to trip on a vine that had suddenly spread behind him. Immediately, the vines wrapped themselves around his ankles, and the accompanying Bulbasaur stepped into his field of view.
“Fuck …” He breathed as the Gengar revealed itself, still standing behind the happy, panting Yamper.
Two half faced rabbits followed behind the Pokemon, their Death-Head masks glowing white as they stepped out of the darkness. They were carrying bats.
He reached for his belt, where three Pokeballs were clipped. He’d paid a lot of money for this team, for exactly this reason. His hand was shaking. He blindly threw the ball, and his wrist was immediately snagged by one of Bulbasaur’s vines. The ball flew and slowed to a stop, encased in the purple glow of Gengar’s ghostly hold.
The shorter of the two Death-Heads, whose bare arms were covered in scars, laughed, “Oh fuck no. Batter up!”
He hit the ball full force with his bat, and it shattered into pieces.
When the man reached for another ball, the silent Death-Head his hit hand full force. He heard the crunch of bones in his wrist. With chilling calm, the silent Death-Head removed the remaining balls from the man’s belt. He was regarding this task as though it were another pile of papers dropped on his desk.
“NO! PLEASE!” He cried, throwing up his uninjured hand in surrender, “DON’T DO IT! PLEASE!!!”
“Too bad, buddy.” Joon said, “Sucks to be on the receiving end of a deal.”
Alrick snapped his fingers, and the Bulbasaur turned to him. Fingers extended, he closed his fist, and the Bulbasaur’s vines crept up and bound the man from head to foot.
The man was gagged, blindfolded, and transported by the cold touch of Ghastly’s levitation. Twenty minutes later, he was thrown onto a metal chair. The Bulbasaur finally released the man, only for his hands to be cuffed behind him. The blindfold was removed. He stared face-to-face with a warthog woman, her tusks sharpened to fine points, her features hidden behind a familiar skull mask.
“I’m going to cut the crap and get right to the point.” She said, “We’ve had a hell of a time finding you. You’ve worked really hard to maintain a double life, and confirming you’re you, much less approaching you with that black-market pokemon team of yours, took not one, but two of my boys. I ran out of patience a long time ago, but unfortunately for you, someone is paying us a lot to squeeze information out of you.”
The man’s breathing was fast and heavy. She yanked the duct tape off his mouth, earning a cry of pain, leaving his lips raw and chapped.
“So … let’s start why you sold your company’s stocks this morning.”
He squirmed. The edges of the metal chair cut into his pants, “I… I just planned on retiring early is all. It’s time to move on.”
She heaved a sigh, “And here I thought it would be easy … Torkoal?”
Beneath the chair, the man felt movement. He looked down. The Torkoal’s head appeared and met his face.
“N-no … NO!”
The volcanic opening on Torkoals back glowed an angry orange. Smoke belched. The Torkoal lit its shell ablaze, and the mans screams filled the room.
x – X – x
Grimm reached into the kitchen cupboard, removed a box of sugar, and was greeted by a demanding mew. The Espeon below him flicked her tail in annoyance and nudged her food bowl in his direction.
“So demanding.” He chuckled, putting back the sugar and reaching instead for the Pokechow.
“Jasper! You know better.”Pearl scolded from her seat at the kitchen island.
“My own fault for being so audacious as to prepare my coffee before her breakfast.” Grim replied, pouring the food into into the bowl.
Pearl lowered her phone, “She’s been so clingy ever since they switched my schedule. I feel awful that she’s cooped up by herself all day.”
“Perhaps she’d like a companion?” Grimm took his seat across from her, coffee and bagel in either hand, “Pokemon generally perform better in teams, and my Charizard and Nidoking aren’t exactly housepets. We could look into adopting another Pokemon.”
“Oh! That reminds me.” Pearl picked up her phone and pulled up the article she’d been reading, “Look at this, someone spotted a Pikachu at this campground. It’s just a couple hours outside of Lywood.”
Grimm skimmed the article, pausing to study the attached photo. It was mostly blurry trees and shadows, but there was little doubting the creature that was hiding in the darkness; that distinct shape and familiar yellow color, those pointed ears atop.
He gave her an incredulous look.
“You want a Pikachu?”
“Oh, goodness, no. Are you kidding me? I mean breeding was banned so long ago, and it’s so highly regulated you can’t even find them on the black market. Not that you’d want one that’s so horribly inbred anyway, I mean that’s why they banned it in the first place, and even if you’re lucky enough to find one being sold legitimately it’s worth more than our house, and forget finding one in the wild unless you live in Kanto or Alola, and even then-”
She froze, suddenly noticing the amused smirk on Grimm’s face.
When she’d first met him, before she’d ever met any Death-Head, that look might have sent frozen her in place. His eyes always told another story. He was amused, but he was looking at her with the same eyes he might watch her undress with. He loved watching her be excited.
She froze in place, but not from fear. She was blushing.
“I have to confess,” She said with a sheepish smile, “I know it’s seen as kind of childish these days but I always really loved Pikachu. Back when it was popular, my room as basically covered in merch.”
“So you do want a Pikachu?”
“Sure, and I want to win the lottery too, but I’d have to buy a ticket first.”
“Waste of money. You’re better off buying a Pikachu. Pad thai for dinner?”
“Now that sounds worth the price.”
“I’ll pick it up on the way home.” He stood, giving her a quick kiss.
“You’re the best.” Pearl caressed his cheek, not shying away from his Death-Head mask. It was as much a part of him as the markings beneath, and she loved every part of him.
Grim took her hand and kissed her knuckles, then left for work.
x – X – x
Three mugs of beer clacked together.
“To a job well done, boys!” Rena cheered.
Rena, Alrick, and Joon had a feast of fried noodles, dumplings, curry, and rice laid out before them.
“Dig in, boys. You’ve earned it.” She continued, “That job netted us a big payout, and a huge influx of new clients, and it’s all thanks to your and your teams.”
Joon had already begun stuffing his face with fried rice. Alrick was politely picking at some white rice and soy sauce.
“I’m not going to lie, Joon, I thought Gengar’s scary face routine would have stopped working years ago. You’d think people would get used to it.”
“It never fails!” Joon replied, brandishing a butter knife as though it were a sword, “Sometimes I let him out of his Pokeball at night and he gets me just for shits. We wouldn’t have figured out about his double life if it weren’t for Alrick’s new addition, though.”
Alrick gave him a thumbs up.
“That Yamper of yours is a good tracker.” Rena added, “About time you got a companion for your Bulbasaur. Next you should try convincing the stubborn thing to evolve.”
He shrugged.
A shadow fell over Joon’s plate of fried prawns (now reduced mostly to chewed tails). He looked up to see a fellow Death-Head looming over them. He paused mid-bite, meeting the half-face cat’s deadpan stare.
“Hey, I’ve seen you before.” Joon said, pointing the prawn at him, “North faction, right?”
“Grimm!” Rena raised her mug, “To what do I owe the honor?”
“Actually, I’m just picking up dinner. I didn’t intend to eavesdrop, but I overheard some of your conversation.”
“Eavesdrop all you want, I’m bragging!” She laughed, “My boys earned dinner and a few beers on me. Real tough case. Had use Torkoal to get the pig to squeal, but I wouldn’t have caught him in the first place if not for Joon’s Gengar and Alrick’s Yamper.”
“Your Yamper is a good tracker, then? Would you be willing to use him for another job? I have something in mind.”
Alrick typed on his phone.
‘If the work is safe and reasonable, I am willing. However, Bob Barker is not mine. You will have to ask his owner.’
Grim paused, staring at Alrick’s face through the phone.
“… His nickname is Bob Barker?”
x – X – x
LouLou was greeted by two Burmy that dropped from the ceiling and a Yamper wiggling the back half of its body.
“Bobby! It’s good to see you, too!” She said, kneeling to scratch the Yamper’s ears. The two Burmy shook their leaves loudly.
“And good to see you two as well.” She said, nodding at them, “Your cloaks are growing in well. Alrick really is a miracle worker.”
Alrick stepped out of the kitchen with a tea tray in hand, setting it on the coffee table. LouLou’s attention was drawn to the dark man sitting on the couch. He rose, revealing a painted skull mask and the lines of a permanent scowl etched over his face.
He was eating a cheese stick.
LouLou didn’t hide the fear that washed over her face. The Yamper weaving between her feet wasn’t helping the mood.
“Alrick, you didn’t tell me your friend was another Death-Head.” She whispered.
“I am not here on Death Head business, miss. Nothing official, no deals have been made. If anything, I wish to make a deal with you.”
She looked to Alrick, who had poured himself a cup of tea. He walked to her and placed a hand on her shoulder, giving it a squeeze. She felt her nerves melt under his touch. She felt safe around him, and if he said this man was safe, then she would believe him.
“Let’s start with introductions.” The man said, gesturing to the couch. The three of them sat around one another while Alrick poured tea. The Yamper settled in on LouLou’s feet, and the Burmy retracted to quietly cling to the ceiling.
“My name is Grim,” He said, “I know Alrick from work, though we don’t work in the same faction.”
“LouLou,” She said, accepting a cup from Alrick, “Alrick and I grew up in Lywood together. I actually just moved back a few months ago. Alrick was nice enough to rehome Bobby for me.” She patted the Yamper on the head. He wagged his its stubby tail in response.
“I had to move into a much smaller apartment and they don’t allow pets. I was impressed by how Alrick was able to command his Bulbasaur with hand signals. Bob Barker’s still pretty young so he has a lot to learn, but he’s the puppy of the Yamper I had growing up. He means a lot to me. It’s been so nice to be able to visit him and know he’s in good hands.”
“Your Yamper is the actually the reason for my visit. His tracking abilities are becoming a bit of a legend. And you’re comfortable with him being used for jobs?”
“I trust Alrick, and I know he won’t put Bob Barker in any danger. He assured me his only fighter was Bulbasaur, and that Bobby wouldn’t be involved in any battles. Only for tracking. I didn’t even know he had such a good nose! Though I guess that explains how he always found where I hid my hats. I still don’t own any hats without bite marks. Hold on!” She looked up, realization seizing her attention, “Please don’t tell me you want to use Bobby for a job. I don’t want him to be hurt. He means too much to me.”
“No, no.” Grim said, holding up his hand, “Not for a job. At least, not for a Death-Head job. No danger will be involved, you have my word. I wish only for his help tracking a wild pokemon, A Pikachu, specifically. As a gift for my wife.”
“Your … wife?”
“You seem surprised. We Death-Heads have families and loved ones, too.”
“No no, I know that, of course. I guess I just didn’t expect such a … sweet gesture from such an intimidating looking man. No offense.”
“None taken. Will you agree, then?”
She sighed, glancing down at the Yamper on her feet.
Grim moved from his seat, kneeling in front of her. He scratched the Yamper on the head, stirring it from its sleep. It looked up at him, wagging it’s tail.
“Ma’am, you have my word. No harm will fall upon your Pokemon.”
“No battles?”
“None whatsoever. On my honor.”
She glanced at Alrick, who gave her a thumbs up.
Taking a deep breath, she nodded.
“Alright. I trust you.”
A few days later, she was bidding them goodbye outside of the flower shop.
“I’ll make sure the Burmy stay out of trouble.” She said, taking Alrick’s keys from him, “The Cherrim is moved to the balcony any time the sun is out, and the Sunkern gets water every other day, right?”
Alrick nodded. She gave him a salute.
“Take care of my pokemon, and I’ll take care of yours. You two stay safe out there!”
“We shouldn’t be gone for more than a day or two, but if the area is flooded with trainers, it’s likely the Pikachu has retreated further into the woods.” Grim explained, “We won’t have a phone signal that far out, but if we wind up gone for more than a week, we’ll return here and make a new plan.”
LouLou knelt, letting the Yamper jump into her arms and nuzzle into her neck, “Be a good boy, now. I love you.”
The Yamper yapped in response. She set him down and Alrick pressed the button on his pokeball, allowing him to retreat with a familiar mechanical sound.
On the street, Grim’s Charizard was outfitted with a saddle and bags on either side. Grim hoisted himself onto the Charizard’s back, and Alrick straddled the spot directly behind. With a gentle nudge, the Charizard was in the air. LouLou waved as they took off.
They cleared the skies of Lywood, leaving the familiar smog of the city and soaring over surrounding fields and farmland. They followed the road until the settled land turned into wild trees and untamed wilderness. Flocks of Spearow passed by every now and again
It was evening by the time they reached their destination. The road leading in was littered with cars and ride pokemon. The hiking trail and campgrounds were crawling with trainers. They flew further in, until the officially marked campgrounds disappeared and all that could be seen was trees and the occasional tent or campfire. They flew further still, until there were no signs of civilized life whatsoever. It was pitch-dark when they eventually landed in a small clearing.
Hopping off Charizard, Alrick released Bobby while Grimm tended to Charizard. The excitable Yamper spun in circles, sniffing every inch of his new surroundings, until Alrick snapped his fingers, causing the Yamper to stand at attention. From his pocket, he produced a plastic baggie with a lock of yellow hair inside, opening it, he allowed Bobby to sniff. After a few seconds, Bobby put his nose to the ground, and paced, eventually working his way in circles to the edge of the clearing.
Grimm was feeding his Charizard a pokepuff when Alrick typed a message on his phone.
‘He’ll bark when he’s found a trail.’
It happened before either of them could react. Immediately, the Yamper’s terrified yelps carried it away from the shadows at the edge of the clearing, darting across the field, through the two Death-Heads, and into the woods at the opposite end. Alrick panicked, his eyes wide, his gaze darting from the place Bobby had come from, to the place he’d run into, and then back again.
“I’ll find out what’s over there.” Grimm said, “He couldn’t have gotten far. Probably just spooked by another pokemon. Take Charizard for light and meet me back here in an hour?”
Alrick gave him a thumbs up.
Alrick left, his path illuminated by the light from Charizard’s tail. Grim went the opposite way, feline eyes glowing in the darkness.
Alrick kept his ears perked. While they walked, he occasionally snapped his fingers. When he heard a rustle in the bushes, he swiveled and immediately released Bulbasaur. Bulbasaur stood poised to attack. When the Fearow rose from the foliage, Alrick quickly realized his mistake. He snapped his fingers twice. Dodge.
The Bulbasaur scrambled to move out of the way, still managing to catch the edge of the Fearow’s wing attack. Bulbasaur fell, his bulb split in twain. Not easily beaten, the Bulbasaur stood on shaky les to face the Fearow as it took to the sky. Alrick snapped his fingers and clapped his hands once. Attack one.
Bulbasaur unleashed spores of sleep powder from its bulb. As it swooped Fearow kicked up the wind with its wings and dissipated the sleep powder with ease. Alrick dove, encasing Bulbasaur in his arms to block the impending attack. He felt the brush of feathers against his back, expecting the sharp pain of a peck to follow. The attack was interrupted when Charizard leapt into action with a ferocious growl.
Alrick rose to his feet, clutching the injured Bulbasaur to his chest, and watched as Charizard and the Fearow went head to head. Feathers and blood alike flew. Charizard had a long gash across his forehead and had Fearow’s wing in his teeth. Fearow pecked at Charizard’s neck and chest until Charizard released it. The second it was able, the Fearow took to the air. Charizard responded with a flamethrower, missing the Fearow and instead lighting the foliage nearby.
Charizard looked past the Fearow, past the flaming bushes, and for a brief second, Alrick swore he saw a the shadows shift behind the flames. Charizard’s eyes widened, and immediately released another trail of flames from its mouth. Instinctively, Alrick snapped his fingers. If Charizard understood him, it didn’t matter. The panicked pokemon was attacking every shadow around them, and every dried twig and tree was catching alight as he did so. Alrick stepped back until he was up against a tree. Helpless, he watched as the flames crackled around him and grew with every panicked attack. Everywhere he turned, there was more fire. Charizard took to the air.
He still clutching his Bulbasaur. Bulbasaur dug his claws into Alrick’s shirt, looking up at him with large eyes. Hesitantly, Alrick touched the injured bulb, and Bulbasaur yelped in response. With a sigh, Alrick returned Bulbasaur to his pokeball and clutched it tight.
He tried stomping the flames, then he tried tossing dirt onto them. He removed his jacket and tried smothering them. He crawled on all fours hoping one of the bushes would let him through. Maybe there was a gap somewhere. Anywhere.
The leaves behind the ring of fire rustled. Like a bloodied phoenix, the Fearow rose, its beady eyes trained on Alrick. He clutched pokeball close to his chest, weighing his options, when he heard a tiny yap. His fur matted and tangled with leaves, Bobby crawled under roots and bushes to reach Alricks side and face the Fearow. Bobby’s lips curled in a snarl and his fur bristled with electricity. Before Alrick could react, the Fearow swooped, and the Yamper opened his jaw wide to reveal sets of sharp, crackling teeth.
Thunder fang.
Bobby jumped and sank his teeth into the Fearow’s neck as soon as it was within range. The Fearow’s eyes widened, its whole body stiffened with the jolts that ran through its body. Light flashed, and the smell of burned feathers overtook the smell of smoke. The Fearow collapsed, and Bobby released it. When it stirred, Bobby growled. Despite its injuries, the Fearow unsteadily rose to its feet, glaring at Bobby and Alrick.
Suddenly, Bobby was enveloped in a white light.
Alrick stood slack-jawed. The Fearow poised to strike. Thinking fast, Alrick snapped his fingers and clapped his hands once. Attack one The newly evolved Boltund charged.
It was over in a second. The weakened Fearow fell to another thunder fang, and Bobby, looking very proud of himself, ran back to Alrick with his tail wagging.
For a moment, Alrick felt a flood of relief. Bobby jumped to his hind legs, now easily able to rest his front paws on Alrick’s chest. He rewarded Bobby with ear rubs. What a good boy
A tree branch snapped and fell near them, spitting embers and charred debris up in its wake. The wood crackled and split. Bobby looked up at him with his ears bent back, and whimpered.
His heart sinking, Alrick returned Bobby to his pokeball, then clutched the pokeballs of both of his precious pokemon to his chest.
x – X – x
Grimm’s Nidoking finished off the last Spearow with a swipe of his tail. The bird fell in a crumpled heap on the ground. He immediately returned Nidoking to his pokeball.
The forest was quiet here, save for the songs of bugs and the cries of nocturnal pokemon. Grimmm’s boots crunched dry autumn leaves. A babbling brook could be heard close by. A flock of Zubat flew overhead, but seemed uninterested in him. Glowing feline eyes narrowed to make out a nearby cave from which the last of the Zubat flock was pouring. When a flash of yellow disappeared into the cave, his cat ears perked.
He cave was overtaken largely by the stink of Zubat guano. His nose wrinkled. There were plenty of nooks and crannies where a pokemon could hide, but he couldn’t gauge how deep it was just by looking.
He decided, quite quickly, that he didn’t want to waste time spelunking tonight. He released Nidoking from the pokeball and said in a cold, calm voice, “Nidoking, sludge wave.”
Nidoking opened his mouth and released a torrent of toxic purple liquid. The cave floor was flooded with a thin layer of poison. Grim picked up a foot and kicked a bit off his boots.
From behind one of the rocks, a large shadowy claw reached up. The darkness parted into a wicked smile, accompanied by wicked, glowing red eyes. Nidoking took a few steps back. Grimm stood off to the side, just out of the face’s direct line of sight.
“Nidoking.” Grimm growled, “Stand your ground.”
The pokemon glanced behind at his master, then back at the shadowy visage, then back at his master. It was clear which one was scarier. Grimm cocked one eyebrow and rubbed his chin, studying the scary face before them.
“Not unlike Joon’s Gengar. Fascinating. Nidoking, ice beam. Now.”
Nidoking obeyed, unleashing an icy spray with so much force that the rock before them was shattered. The familiar yellow pokemon was revealed, and no sooner did it see its predicament than did Nidoking’s ice beam hit the pokemon full force, flinging him a few feet back. The pokemon skidded to a stop and stood, dazed and wobbly. At the neck, his head flopped to one side as though broken.
“Wait.” Grim commanded, and walked past Nidoking. The pokemon, his head hanging limp, turned to Grimm as he approached. On the pokemon’s stomach, two black dots seemed to widen. He jumped and backed up against the wall.
Taking out his phone, Grim opened his Pokedex app, and scanned the creature before him.
Mimikyuu – Disguise Pokemon - It wears a rag fashioned into a Pikachu costume in an effort to look less scary. Although it's a quiet, lonely Pokémon, if you try to look at what's under its rag, it will become agitated and resist violently.
“Hmm,” Grimm hummed, pocketing his phone, “So it wasn’t a Pikachu after all. I suppose you’re the one who scared Mr. Barker earlier, too.”
The Mimikyuu trembled.
“I won’t hurt you. Here.” Gently, he took the head of the Mimikyuu’s disguise and stood it upright. Producing a potion from his pocket, he sprayed it on the Mimikyuu, healing whatever wounds the battle had inflicted.
“I can relate to you, you know. Most people are scared of me, and a precious few have seen under my mask.”
Looking up at him, the Mimikyuu made a little squeak.
“You’re welcome.” He said, patting the Mimikyuu’s head.
He left the cave with the Mimikyuu in his arms and Nidoking at his back. His ears twitched when he heard the familiar roar of his Charizard. The Charizard landed before him, and Grimm’s disappointment was evident by the glare he wore.
“Where is Alrick?” He asked, and the Charizard replied with a sheepish look.
He sighed. The smell of smoke was quickly apparent, and the story in full came together.
“You’re a real troublemaker when left unchecked, aren’t you?” He said to the pokemon in his arms. The Mimikyuu glanced up at him innocently, “Come along then, let’s clean up this mess”
x – X – x
The fire roared around Alrick. His long, sensitive ears were bent back against his head. The two precious pokeballs stayed close to his chest. His shirt was tugged up over his nose and his eyes were squeezed shut against the stinging smoke.
Suddenly, a crackling whoosh, like dirt thrown into the wind. A sudden sense of cool cut a line against his side. He dared to look up, and saw as another flaming bush was suddenly doused in sand.
Grimm pointed, and Nidoking put out a third fire with it’s sand tomb.
Stunned, Alrick watched until the flames were all drowned. Grimm approached him and held out his hand for Alrick to take. He had a strange yellow pokemon perched on his shoulder.
Alrick had never felt so relieved, and his expression spoke every word that he couldn’t. Grimm helped hoist him up and rested a hand on his shoulder. There was a moment of silent comradery between them. Neither of them needed to talk. In fact, the silence was welcome.
When their moment was over, Alrick took out his phone and scanned the pokemon on Grimm’s shoulder. Reading the description, he smirked and shook his head.
“I owe you a debt for your help, and I owe Charizard some firm re-training, but it seems we’ve found our little troublemaker, as well as the source of the Pikachu sightings.”
He motioned for Alrick to follow. Charizard was waiting close by.
“We’ll find somewhere to rest for the night and return to Lywood tomorrow. I imagine LouLou will be happy to see Mr. Barker again.”
Dread sank into Alrick’s chest. He glanced at the pokeball in his hand.
He had no idea if LouLou was going to be happy to see him.
x – X – x
They parted at the street in front of Alrick’s apartment. Grimm stayed seated on Charizard while Alrick dismounted. They paused and met eyes just as Alrick’s boots hit the pavement.
“Why the long face?” Grimm asked.
Alrick released Bobby from the pokeball. The Boltund gave him a happy bark.
“… I see.”
Alrick turned, motioning for the Boltund to follow.
As Grimm flew away, his sensitive feline ears could hear as Alrick entered the apartment.
“Welcome back, Alrick! Did it go w-WHAAA? BOBBY!? IS THAT YOU?”
x – X – x
Equally as loud as LouLou had been, Pearl squealed, holding her cheeks in her hands.
“OH I love it! It’s even better than a Pikachu!”
Sitting on their dining table, the Mimikyu squeaked, and for a brief second, seemed to be blushing beneath his disguise.
“You’re the best husband ever!” She threw her arms around Grimm. He who remained stoic but bore a soft, gentle smile uncharacteristic of the hardened Death-Head that the streets knew. “Is this where you’ve been all night? I thought you were just on a job!”
Grimm shrugged, setting his hands on her hips. “It was a job, in a way. Seeing you smile is worth any Death-Head’s price.” He kissed her forehead.
“You softie … wait, you didn’t actually make a Death-Head deal for this you?”
“Not a Death-Head deal, no.”
“Oh, thank goodness.” She sighed, clutching her chest, “Well let’s get this little guy fed and washed. We’ll have to come up with a name, too.”
“I had a name in mind, actually.”
x – X – x
LouLou flopped onto the couch, burying her face in her hands. Bobby sat on her feet as before, but his eyes now easily met hers. He panted and wagged his tail.
“This is too much to take in.” She groaned, “Is this why you were always picking on the neighbor’s Meowth?”
Alrick returned from the kitchen with a mug in each hand. He glanced at her sheepishly as he sat one coffee on the table and sat in the armchair with the other.
“I can’t be mad about it.” She sighed, leaning back, “Especially when Bobby jumped into the fight on his own. I guess if he wants to fight so bad, I can’t forbid it anymore. But no dangerous missions, I mean it! I won’t forgive you if Bobby gets hurt.”
Smiling softly, Alrick nodded.
x – X – x
Two full-face bears crouched under a window. The smaller of the two shook with fear.
“Y-you sure about this?”
His companion had malice in her eyes and a crowbar in her hand, “I’ve been staking this place out since yesterday. I just saw the Death-Head get back this morning. He lives here, and so does his wife.”
“Y-yeah, but … what if she’s a Death-Head too?”
“Then she deserves to suffer. A Death-Head tortured and killed my husband. Cheating bastard he may have been, but now I’m out a husband, a house, and all his money. I’ll have my revenge. I’ll hold this bitch hostage for info, and if she’s a Death-Head, I’ll knock her upside the head, too.”
He swallowed. Together, they peered over the window ledge, into the house.
“What the fuck is that? Is that a fucking Pikachu? Damn, this guy’s loaded.”
Pearl finished tying a bright pink bow around her pokemon.
“Like a distinguished gentleman.” She said, “Come with me, sir. Your dinner awaits.” She gave a dramatic bow, then headed to the kitchen. The pokemon briefly glanced at the window, then hopped off the couch.
The woman watched her disappear. “Alright,” She hissed, “Looks like the hubby isn’t home. We probably got a couple hours before-”
She froze, her own words caught in her throat. She stared wide-eyed at the massive black claw that dragged razor-sharp nails across the window. A pair of wicked, glowing red eyes appeared appeared behind it, and a sharp-toothed mouth, grinning, laughing, and mocking her. She stumbled back. Her companion was already running away, screaming.
“F-fuck! What the FUCK is that!?” She shouted. She scrambled to her feet, abandoning her weapon. She ran faster than she ever had in her life. She would never trespass on a Death-Head’s house again.
The Mimikyu’s pitch-black claw retracted back into his disguise. He held his little head high.
“Trouble!” Pearl called from the kitchen, shaking the box of Pokechow, “It’s dinnertime!”
Perking, Trouble happily followed her to the kitchen.