Morning hits me like a truck as sunlight burns through my eyelids. My body aches in places I didn't know could ache. I pry my eyes open to find myself tangled in Kye's arms, her blue hair flowing around us like we're suspended in water even though we're on dry sand.
"Jesus," I mutter, squinting at the carnage around us. My clothes look like they went through a blender, jeans hanging from what might be a piece of driftwood, my favorite Kanto League T-shirt half-buried in sand twenty feet away. Last night comes rushing back in fragments of sensation and sound. The beach. The meteors. Deoxys. And Kye…
I stretch my arms wide, feeling sand scrape against my bare back as I extend them to their full wingspan. The ocean breeze feels incredible against my skin, salty and fresh at the same time. When I finally look over at Kye, she's already awake, those intense eyes fixed on me with a stare that could melt steel.
"Good morning," I say, my voice coming out as a croak. My throat feels raw, probably from all the yelling last night. The memory makes heat rush to my face.
"Good morning, Leo," she replies, her voice somehow both gentle and commanding at once. Unlike me, she looks perfectly rested, not a hair out of place.
"So," I start, then immediately realize I have no idea how to continue that sentence. What exactly is the protocol after you've had mind-blowing sex with your legendary Pokémon who suddenly transformed into a human? They definitely don't cover this in trainer school.
Kye's lips curl into that predatory smile I'm quickly learning means trouble for me. "So," she echoes, one finger tracing patterns on my chest. "Did you sleep well after I claimed you?"
I nearly choke on air. "Claimed me? Is that what we're calling it?"
"Would you prefer 'made passionate love to'? Or perhaps 'fucked senseless'?"
A laugh bubbles out of me before I can stop it. "I think all of those work. And yeah, I slept better than I have since washing up in Kanto."
She leans in, capturing my lips with hers. There's nothing gentle about this kiss, it's possessive, hungry, like she's still doubling down on her claim. I melt into it, my hands finding their way to her waist, pulling her closer. When we finally separate, I'm breathless again, my head spinning.
"So what now?" she asks, those red eyes studying me with predatory intensity.
I sigh, reality crashing back like a cold wave. "Oh god... I guess..." My thoughts scramble to reorganize themselves into something coherent. "Well, our original plan was to head to another region and dominate there too."
"Well, what's stopping us?" Kye props herself up on one elbow, blue hair cascading down her shoulder.
"We learned after the Magikarp incident that humans definitely aren't allowed to be part of Pokémon fights," I explain, trying not to get angry at the memory.
"So what? I am a Poké…" Her eyes suddenly widen as the implication hits her. Then her expression morphs into something dangerous, a sneer twisting her perfect features. "You're telling me I'm not allowed to fight with you anymore?"
I shrug, trying to keep my tone casual despite the tension crackling in the air. "No, but I'd really like for us to stay together."
Her hands shoot out, grabbing mine. "Do you think I'd let you get away?"
I chuckle again, relief washing through me. "No, I just wanted to make sure you knew I didn't want you to leave."
Her expression softens, the edge melting into something warm that makes my chest tighten. "So kind," she murmurs, bringing my hands to her lips.
Suddenly, a thought hits me. "Wait, can you turn back into a Pokémon form?" I ask, pulling myself up to sit cross-legged on the sand. "Like, is this transformation permanent or can you switch back and forth?"
Kye blinks, her expression shifting from affectionate to surprised, like the question hadn't even occurred to her until now.
"I... don't know," she says, sounding genuinely uncertain for the first time since her transformation. She sits up beside me, brow furrowed in concentration. "Let me try."
I watch, fascinated, as she closes her eyes. Her face tightens with effort, muscles tensing across her shoulders and neck. The air around her seems to vibrate slightly, like heat rising off pavement, but nothing happens. Her human form remains stubbornly unchanged.
She tries again, this time raising her hands and making a strange, guttural sound from deep in her throat.
After a third attempt, this one involving an elaborate series of hand gestures and what sounds like ancient words in some language I've never heard, she sighs and opens her eyes.
"No," she says finally, looking down at her human hands with a mixture of curiosity and resignation. "It seems I'm stuck in this form. I'm... human now."
I nod slowly, processing this new reality. "I'll miss using your big blubbery body as a water bed during bed time," I admit with a small smile. "But honestly?" My hand reaches out to cup her cheek. "I think I prefer you like this anyway."
Her eyes meet mine, that intense red gaze softening just a fraction. "As do I," she replies, leaning into my touch. "This form allows me certain... privileges that were impossible before."
To emphasize her point, she pushes me back down onto the sand with one fluid motion, straddling me before I can even process what's happening. The weight of her on my hips sends blood rushing south immediately.
"Whoa, hold up," I laugh, placing my hands on her thighs. "We're on a public beach in broad daylight, Kye."
She raises an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by my concern. "And?"
"And we should probably figure out our next move," I say, though my body is definitely voting against my rational brain right now.
Kye stares at me for a long moment, that dangerous glint in her eyes making me think she might just ignore my objections entirely. Then she sighs dramatically and rolls off me, flopping onto the sand with a petulant huff.
"Fine," she concedes, though her tone makes it clear this is a temporary reprieve at best. "Your human concerns are so tedious."
I scramble to my feet before she can change her mind, quickly gathering my scattered clothing from around the beach. My jeans are still damp from the ocean spray, and there's sand in places I don't even want to think about, but I yank them on anyway.
As I'm struggling to pull it over my head, another thought occurs to me that makes my stomach drop.
"Kye, we're almost completely broke," I say, patting my pockets to confirm my wallet is still there. When I pull it out, there's not much left at all. Barely enough for a decent meal, let alone travel expenses.
She sits up, brushing sand from her blue hair with casual grace. "Is that bad?"
"Yeah, it's pretty bad. We need to grab some breakfast before we starve, and then figure out how to get tickets to wherever we're going next." I finish buttoning my jeans, trying not to notice how Kye is making absolutely no move to cover herself. "Most of our money went to potions for the Elite Four and then I blew the rest last night."
Kye finally stands, and with a wave of her hand, water rises from the ocean and wraps around her body like a living garment, solidifying into a simple but elegant blue dress. I stare, mouth hanging open.
"That's... convenient," I manage.
She smiles, clearly pleased with my reaction. "Yes. Let us discuss our plans over human breakfast."