The air in the hotel suite was thick with the lingering scent of seared steak and sweet honey-cakes, but the atmosphere had shifted from tense negotiation to something much softer.
Growlithe sat on his haunches, his head tilted so far to the side he was almost looking at the world horizontally. He was weighing his options. On one hand, his professional pride as a self-appointed "investigator" told him that changing his way of addressing the human was a sign of surrender. On the other hand, his stomach—currently full of the most divine Liechi-berry glazed beef—was staging a very successful coup.
If I change the address, I get extra snacks. I get a 'big meal' every day. And Julian... well, Julian actually turned out to be a decent guy.
Growlithe looked at Julian's face. The human didn't look like a criminal mastermind. He looked like a guy who genuinely enjoyed seeing his Pokémon eat. Being his partner didn't seem like a life of service; it seemed like a life of luxury with occasional high-stakes battles.
"Woof! (Okay! Deal!)"
Growlithe gave a sharp, decisive nod, his thick orange fur swaying with the movement. He was officially retiring the "Cook" file.
"Well then, please take good care of me from now on, Growlithe!"
Seeing the nod, Julian's eyes lit up with a warmth that could rival a Sunny Day move. He squatted down on the carpet, reaching out just like he had on the very first day they met at the breeding house. He extended his hand, palm up, in a gesture of mutual respect.
"Woof-woof! (Please take good care of me too, Julian!)"
Growlithe barked, his tail giving a rhythmic thump-thump against the floor. He leaned forward and gently placed his soft, cream-colored paw into Julian's hand.
The moment their skin and fur met, Julian felt it through the Aura connection. It wasn't just a physical touch; it was a flood of acceptance, loyalty, and a tiny bit of "I hope there's bacon tomorrow." Julian couldn't help but beam.
"So... does this mean I can finally hug you, Growlithe?" (≖ ᴗ ≖)✧
Julian's smile shifted. It went from "Wholesome Trainer" to something... slightly more intense.
"Woof~ (Mm, sure, go ahead. Give me a hug~)"
Growlithe felt a slight chill down his spine at the look in Julian's eyes, but he brushed it off. He'd gotten used to the human staring at his ears with a weird, glazed-over expression. Besides, Julian's hands were warm and his scratching technique was legendary among the team. Humans are such strange, tactile creatures, Growlithe thought, closing his eyes in anticipation of a simple pat on the head.
"Really?! Then I won't be polite! Here I come!"
─=≡Σ((( つ•̀ω•́)つ
Julian didn't just reach out; he practically launched himself.
Ever since he'd brought Growlithe home, he had been living in a state of constant, fluffy deprivation. He'd only managed to get a proper pet during that one chaotic bath and the day they met.
For weeks, he'd watched Growlithe from across the room—those perky black ears, that cloud-like orange fur, the magnificent yellow tail that wagged like a golden flag, and most importantly... the legendary, super-cuddly cream-colored belly.
Julian had been nearing a breaking point. Now that the "Investigation" was over and he had the green light, he was like a Dam breaking.
"Growlithe! You're so soft! Your fur is like a heated blanket! Are all Fire-types this warm?!" Julian cried out, his voice muffled as he pounced.
He scooped the 40-pound dog into his lap and began a frantic, high-speed petting session.
"Woo~ woof~~~ (Sigh~ right there~~~~)"
Growlithe let out a startled yelp as Julian's fingers found a very specific, very sensitive spot right behind his ears. His legs began to kick involuntarily in the air. He tried to maintain his "Officer" dignity, his paws flailing wildly for a second, but Julian was a professional.
Years of handling Sylveon had turned Julian's hands into precision instruments for Pokémon bliss. He knew exactly how much pressure to apply, where the "tickle" spots were, and how to rub the grain of the fur for maximum relaxation. Within thirty seconds, Growlithe had turned from a sturdy guard dog into a puddle of orange mush.
"How is it? My technique is top-tier, right?" Julian teased.
One hand was working overtime on Growlithe's belly, kneading the soft fur like dough, while the other was massaging the base of his ears. Julian looked down at his partner. Growlithe's tongue was lolling out, his eyes were rolling back in sheer ecstasy, and his face was flushed a deep pink (though it was hard to see under the orange coat).
"Woo~ woo~~~ (De-definitely... don't stop...~~~)" Growlithe barked intermittently, his brain completely offline.
However, not everyone in the room was enjoying the "Fluff-Fest."
"Fly ah~ (Hmph. Scoundrel Julian...)" (╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻
Sylveon stood on the edge of the bed, her ribbons twitching with enough force to whip the air. She was glaring at the scene on the floor with a resentment that could have fueled a Hyper Beam. Her bows were puffed up, and her tail was lashing back and forth.
This scoundrel used to love petting me like that! Sylveon thought, her blue eyes narrowing. Back when I was a little Eevee, he'd spend hours doing that. I used to think it was embarrassing, but then I got used to it... I grew to love it!
She remembered the way Julian used to bury his face in her tail or sniff her belly when she did something cute. But ever since she evolved into Sylveon, Julian's behavior had changed.
He says I'm an 'adult' now! He says I'm a 'graceful lady' and he has to be respectful! Sylveon's ribbon slapped the mattress, leaving a visible dent. But I don't want to be a graceful lady! I want to be petted until my brain turns into pink fluff! Why is he giving the 'Good Stuff' to the new guy?!
Julian, currently lost in a sea of orange fur and the joy of a successful Aura-bond, was completely oblivious to the "Fairy-Type Fury" radiating from the bed. He was too busy rubbing his face against Growlithe's neck.
"Growlithe, you comfortable?" (灬°ω°灬)
"Woof~ (So comfortable... I might never move again...)" ( ･´ω`･ )
"How about I give you massages like this every night? As a part of our partnership contract?" Julian whispered, his voice like a devil tempting an innocent soul.
"Woo~ (Okay~ I accept the terms~)" Growlithe agreed, his willpower completely dissolved by the belly rubs.
"Perfect. [Of course, I'm the real winner here. Petting a Growlithe is basically therapy.]" Julian thought, his heart full of peace.
He finally stopped the frantic petting and gently moved Growlithe onto his dedicated soft cushion by the bed. "Rest up, Big Brother Growlithe. You've earned it."
Julian stood up, stretching his back, and finally noticed the dark, heavy aura coming from the bed. He turned to see Sylveon sitting there, her back to him, her ribbons tied in tight, angry knots.
Julian's Aura connection picked up a wave of pure, concentrated jealousy mixed with a longing for attention. He blinked, realizing exactly what he'd done. He'd forgotten the cardinal rule of owning multiple Pokémon: The First Pokémon is always the boss.
"Alright, Sylveon," Julian said, his voice dropping into that soft, soothing tone she loved. "Come over here. It's your turn next."
"Fly ah! (Eh!)" (*≧▽≦)
The transformation was instantaneous. The ribbons unknotted, the "Dark Aura" vanished, and Sylveon did a 180-degree spin. She launched herself off the bed and landed squarely in Julian's lap before he could even sit down. She flopped onto her back, exposing her belly and looking at him with a "What are you waiting for?" expression.
"Sylveon~ (Make sure you do the chin-rub thing. And the ribbon-massage. Don't leave anything out!)"
"I will, I will!" Julian laughed, beginning the second round of petting for the night.
"Fly ah~~~ (Woo~~~~ Yes... that's the stuff...)"
[A Certain "IF" Timeline: The Short Play]
In an alternate reality where Julian's "Obsessive Petting Habits" were even less restrained...
Growlithe lay limp on Julian's lap, his eyes glazed over from a thirty-minute full-body massage. He was basically a rug at this point.
"Growlithe," Julian said, his eyes sparkling with a dangerous, "Hentai-Trainer" light. "Now that you're totally relaxed... how about I try something? I want to bury my face in your tail and belly. It looks so soft... I just want to experience the texture for a second." (★ᴗ★)
"[Say yes! Say yes! If he says yes once, the barrier is broken forever!]" Julian's inner monologue screamed.
Growlithe, whose brain was currently 90% serotonin and 10% sleepiness, barely processed the request. "Woo~ (Sure... whatever... go for it~)"
Julian's face lit up. He leaned down, his nose inches away from the fluffy orange belly...
"FLY AH! (BURY YOUR HEAD, MY FOOT!)" (〝▼dish▼)
CRACK!
Before Julian could achieve his goal, a pink ribbon snapped through the air like a whip. It wrapped around Julian's wrist and another around his mouth, yanking him backward with the strength of a Machamp.
"Woo woo? Woo woo! (Mmph?! Sylveon, what are you doing?! Let go?!)" Julian struggled, his voice muffled by the ribbon gag.
"Sylveon-fly! (Hmph! You were about to do the 'Head-Bury' move! That's my move! You haven't done that to me in six months!)" (〝▼dish▼)
"Fly ah! Sylveon! (If anyone's belly is getting sniffed, it's mine! Petting him is one thing, but face-burying?! You've crossed the line, Julian!)"
The enraged Sylveon began to "whip" Julian repeatedly with her soft ribbons—it didn't hurt much, but it was incredibly fast and annoying.
"Woo-woo-woo-woo!" (I was wrong! I won't do it again! I'll only sniff your fur!)
"Sylveon! (There's a 'next time'?! No next time!)"
Sylveon, finally losing her cool, used her ribbons to lift Julian into the air and—with a graceful flick—tossed him directly against the hotel wall.
THUD.
Togetic, Growlithe, and Florette huddled in the far corner of the room, watching the "Fairy-Type Wrath" in terrified silence. They made a mental note: Never, ever make the Big Sister jealous.
The next morning, Julian left the hotel for his training session, covered in mysterious red ribbon-marks and looking slightly swollen. Rumors began to circulate among the hotel staff that the suite was haunted by a wailing, petting-obsessed ghost...