Chapter 9 — Staying
Nurse Joy hands the Poké Ball back to my father instead of to me, her expression calm but serious. "He can go home," she says. "No training, no battling. He was closer to death than he looked. Give him at least a week of rest."
Axew sits at the edge of the bed, head tilted as he watches us, eyes sharper than they were days ago. The bandage along his side is still there, but he's steady on his feet now. When he notices me looking, his tail flicks once, quick and impatient.
"Home," I repeat, mostly to see how it sounds.
Axew snorts softly and hops down, wobbling for half a second before catching himself. He shoots me an offended look, as if daring me to comment.
My father chuckles. "Careful," he says. "He's not fully recovered yet."
Axew ignores him completely and pads over to me, bumping his head against my knee like he needs to make sure I'm still there.
"Hey," I say, crouching down. "Easy."
He presses closer anyway.
At home, he doesn't hesitate for even a moment.
Axew explores everything. Every room, every corner, every shadow. He sniffs at shelves, pokes his nose where it doesn't belong, and immediately tries to climb onto the low rack where my father keeps his gear. He slips, lands on his side with a startled squeak, and freezes.
I tense. He's back on his feet before I can say anything, glaring at the shelf like it personally betrayed him.
"I think he's fine," I say.
My father watches him closely, arms crossed. "Physically? Yes. Personality-wise?" He smiles. "That might take longer."
Axew puffs out his chest at the tone, clearly pleased with himself.
"Don't," I warn him. "You'll pull something."
He flicks his tongue at me.
Two days later, he's strong enough to wander into the yard.
That's when Garchomp notices him.
The ground seems to shift as the large Dragon-type steps into view, sunlight catching along the edge of his fins. Axew freezes for a heartbeat, then his eyes light up in a way that makes my stomach drop.
"Oh no," I mutter.
Axew marches straight toward Garchomp, tail high, chin lifted like he has something to prove. Garchomp lowers his head slightly, curious rather than threatening.
Axew chirps sharply and snaps at Garchomp's toe.
The sound Garchomp makes is halfway between a snort and a laugh. He nudges Axew gently with the side of his head, sending him tumbling backward into the grass. Axew rolls once, twice, then pops back up and pounces again.
"Axew!" I shout. "You're going to get flattened!"
Garchomp carefully lowers himself and lets Axew climb onto his arm as if it's the most natural thing in the world.
My father laughs under his breath. "He's not afraid."
"No," I say, unable to stop smiling. "He's testing."
Axew looks over at me from his perch and chirps proudly.
By the fourth day, he's following me everywhere. If I sit, he sits. If I move, he's right there, sometimes too close. When I tell him no, he pretends not to hear me.
Once, when I turn my back, he swipes a berry from the table and bolts.
"Hey!" I call.
He skids to a stop, spins around, and eats it in one bite while staring straight at me. My father laughs, shaking his head.
"He knows exactly what he's doing."
Later that evening, while I'm sitting on the floor sorting through notes, Axew suddenly stiffens. He plants his feet, focuses, and a faint glow gathers around his mouth. A thin burst of energy shoots forward, weak and unstable, but unmistakable.
Dragon Breath.
It fizzles out almost immediately.
Axew blinks, then looks at me, waiting.
"You did that on purpose," I say.
He chirps proudly.
My father exhales slowly. "Alright," he says. "That answers that."
That night, my father sets a Poké Ball on the table between us. He doesn't push it toward Axew.
"You don't have to decide anything," he says calmly. "You can stay here. You can leave later. No one is forcing you."
Axew looks at the ball, then at my father, then at me.
I kneel in front of him. "If you stay," I say quietly, "we do this together. No rushing. No forcing."
Axew huffs, like that should have been obvious from the start. Then he steps forward and taps the button himself.
The light pulls him in gently. The ball clicks once and doesn't move again.
My father smiles. "Looks like he chose."
I pick up the Poké Ball, warmth still lingering in my hand. Axew isn't staying because he owes me anything.
He's staying because he wants to.
Author's Note:
And there it is Arin's first Pokémon.
Thanks for sticking with the slower start. From here on, things will really begin to move.
If you're enjoying the story so far, or if you have ideas or feedback, feel free to leave a comment or review. I read everything, and it really helps.