Saying Felix was unimpressed would be an understatement. From the moment Kai showed up all cocky and smirking, Felix had known something was off. The kid’s aura practically screamed trouble.

  He could’ve warned Auburn. But what would that have done? If the boy was going to make it out here, he had to learn to handle setbacks himself. Hand-holding wouldn’t help.

  Still... he hadn’t expected Poppy to be that outmatched. A bad type matchup was one thing, that was just experience. But to be so thoroughly outclassed? That stung. Auburn had at least known when to forfeit, which Felix supposed counted for something.

  One jab to the ego, and that’s all it took? He snorted softly. After all their back-and-forth, he’d hoped Auburn had grown a thicker skin.

  The aftermath wasn’t any better. Poppy put on a brave face, but the pain was written all over her. And Auburn cradling her like glass, fumbling with a potion like it could fix everything, looked like the world had ended. Felix hung back, arms crossed. Nothing he said now would help.

  He’d had doubts from the start, sure. But this was still the best shot he had at getting what he wanted. A rough battle didn’t change that. Just... recalibrated expectations.

  Kai, predictably, had vanished the second the match ended. Even long after he was gone, the lingering stink of his arrogance clung to the air like smoke. It made Felix’s jaw tighten.

  They walked in silence. Auburn returned Poppy to her ball, and for once, she didn’t protest.

  His aura was raw. Humiliation, frustration, self-loathing all tangled together. Felix could feel it pressing at him with every step. But he said nothing.

  Failure hurt. That was the point.

  The walk dragged on, each step stretching the silence thinner. Auburn hadn’t said a word since they left the road behind, and Felix hadn’t offered one. The air between them felt heavier than the fading daylight, and the longer it stretched, the more Auburn became certain Felix was judging him.

  Of course he was. He hadn’t said anything outright, but he didn’t have to. Felix’s silence was sharp enough on its own.

  Auburn adjusted his bag for the third time, more for something to do than out of need. His thoughts kept looping back to the same moment: the way Felix had crouched beside Poppy after the first battle, quiet and careful. The few words he’d said to her still gnawed at him. Whatever it had been, it had worked. Felix had been able to cheer her up with just a few words when nothing he said helped at all.

  By the time the first flickers of town lights came into view, the sun had sunk low enough to wash the sky in purple and orange. The sight should’ve brought relief, but all Auburn felt was tired.

  Felix didn’t break stride when the buildings finally came into focus. He hadn’t looked back once the entire walk. Auburn was unsure whether he should feel insulted or relieved. Probably both. He didn’t think Felix would have anything constructive to say after his failure.

  They reached the edge of town just as the streetlights blinked to life, pools of pale yellow stretching long shadows across the sidewalk. The shift from dirt road to pavement should’ve felt like progress, but Auburn barely noticed.

  Felix still hadn’t said a word.

  Auburn kept his eyes forward, following the familiar red roof of the Pokémon Center as it came into view. The automatic doors slid open with their usual soft hiss, and for the first time all day, warmth cut through the lingering ache in his chest.

  He stepped inside, barely pausing at the desk before setting down Poppy’s ball. The nurse didn’t ask questions. She just offered a quiet, practiced smile and reached for the capsule. Auburn hesitated, fingers brushing the smooth surface a second longer than he meant to.

  “Just a few minutes,” the nurse promised, already moving toward the back.

  Auburn nodded, more to himself than her, and backed away from the counter. The moment his legs hit one of the lounge chairs, he sank into it.

  Felix didn’t sit. He stayed standing, arms crossed, gaze fixed on the nearest wall like he couldn’t care less about the world around him. Or maybe he cared too much and just wanted to look cool. Auburn couldn’t tell.

  The quiet stretched on, the same way it had on the road. Auburn stared at his hands, turning the empty space over in his head, again and again, until the question finally slipped out.

  “What did you say to her?”

  The words hung there, heavier than he’d expected.

  Felix’s ear flicked, but his expression didn’t change. “What does it matter?”

  Auburn swallowed. His throat felt dry, but the answer didn’t come.

  Instead, his voice broke off into something smaller.

  “Do you... think she’s gonna hate me now?”

  Felix finally glanced his way, unreadable as ever. For a moment, Auburn couldn’t tell if he was about to get a straight answer or another brush-off.

  “Hate you?” Felix echoed, like the idea itself was absurd. “No.”

  The pause that followed wasn’t reassuring.

  “She’s stubborn, not stupid. Getting knocked around doesn’t change the way she looks at you.”

  Auburn let out a weak breath, but it didn’t bring much comfort. His fingers drummed against the side of the chair, restless. “You’re sure?”

  Felix’s gaze drifted back to the wall. “She’s not mad at you, kid.”

  Auburn wasn’t sure whether the way he’d said it was meant to sound reassuring or if it just... came out flat. Either way, it stuck in his chest.

  “She believed in me,” Auburn muttered, mostly to himself. “I told her we could win.”

  Felix didn’t reply. He didn’t need to. The silence said plenty.

  The sound of soft footsteps pulled Auburn’s attention back to the counter. The nurse was approaching, Poppy’s ball cradled in her hands, her expression gentle.

  “She’ll be a little sore for a while,” she said, offering the capsule back. “But she’ll be fine.”

  Auburn stood and accepted the ball, holding it a little tighter this time. “Thanks.”

  He didn’t release Poppy right away. Just stood there, staring at the ball, turning the weight of it over in his palm.

  Felix pushed off from the wall, hands stuffed in his pockets as he moved past him toward the door. “Come on.”

  Auburn glanced down at the ball one more time before following.

  Auburn didn’t wait long. The moment the doors slid shut behind them, he paused on the sidewalk and released Poppy back onto the cool stone path.

  The Scorbunny blinked up at him, her ears twitching once, then twice, before her gaze dropped to her own paws. She stretched her legs carefully, testing each joint like she wasn’t sure the battle was really over.

  Auburn crouched, resting his elbows on his knees. “Hey.”

  Poppy’s ear flicked, but she didn’t meet his eyes.

  “I’m sorry.” The words came out softer than he meant. “I shouldn’t’ve put you through that.”

  For a while, she said nothing. Just stood there, small and still, looking like the space between them weighed more than it should.

  Then her nose twitched, and she leaned forward to bump his shoulder. It wasn’t much, light, and a little half-hearted, but it was enough.

  Auburn huffed out a breath, some knot in his chest easing even as guilt hung on. “Guess that’s your way of telling me I’m an idiot.”

  Behind him, Felix gave a soft snort, but didn’t comment.

  Poppy’s ears finally perked a little higher, and she straightened up, taking a few light hops in place, still testing her legs but finding some of her usual bounce again.

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  Auburn pushed himself upright, his voice a little steadier. “Okay. Let’s go.”

  Poppy fell into step beside him, a little slower than usual but close. Auburn kept his pace easy, matching hers without needing to think about it.

  Felix trailed a few paces behind, silent as ever. Auburn didn’t look back, but he could feel his gaze. Judging or not, it was there.

  Auburn pushed himself upright, about to turn back toward the road, when he caught the way Poppy’s gaze drifted. Not to him, but to Felix.

  She tilted her head, waiting. The same way she had after her first win.

  Felix met her eyes, unreadable as always, and after a beat, gave the smallest nod. Barely there. Just enough.

  Poppy’s posture eased at once. Her ears perked higher, and she let out the faintest huff of a breath, almost a smile hidden behind it.

  Auburn looked away. His throat felt tight, though he couldn’t have said why. He’d apologized, hadn’t he? She didn’t need his words, apparently, just Felix’s silent approval.

  “Guess that’s settled,” he muttered, mostly to himself.

  Without waiting for either of them to answer, he started walking, hands jammed deep into his pockets. Poppy bounced lightly after him, her steps still a little off, but her mood clearly lifting.

  Felix followed, the same distance behind as always. Quiet, steady, and far too hard to read.

  By the time they reached the edge of town, the sun had dipped low enough to stain the sky in dull oranges and purples, the streetlights flickering to life in patches. Auburn’s legs ached, and Poppy had slowed her pace a little, sticking close to his side.

  The hotel wasn’t much to look at. A squat brick building crammed between a gas station and what looked like a half-shuttered convenience store. The sign out front was chipped and sun-bleached, but the “Trainer Discount” banner stretched across the windows was still legible enough.

  It wasn’t glamorous. It wasn’t even comfortable, if Auburn was being honest. But the price was right, and the rooms were built for people traveling with Pokémon. Enough space for Poppy to stretch out, and for Felix, too, though Auburn doubted he’d take advantage of it.

  The clerk barely looked up as he slid the keycard across the desk, mumbling something about “ground floor, no smoking.” Auburn pocketed it without a word and led the way to their room.

  The place smelled like old carpet and stronger cleaning supplies, but the beds were made, the bathroom light worked, and the heater rattled to life when he fiddled with the dial. He let out a long breath as he dropped his bag by the door.

  Poppy was already nosing around the small stretch of open floor, tail giving a few uncertain flicks, as if she wasn’t quite sure if this counted as “safe” yet. Felix, as usual, was unreadable, standing by the window, arms crossed, gaze half-lidded.

  Auburn’s eyes flicked over to the narrow space between the two beds, and the half-cleared spot where Poppy had flopped down.

  He remembered, distantly, the conversation back before the trip even started, the one where Felix had been very clear on one point:

  “I’m not sleeping next to you.”

  Auburn hadn’t even argued. It was easier to play it off, matching Felix’s snide tone with a shrug and a mumbled, “Yeah, like I’d want you to.”

  And now here they were, in a room with plenty of space. Plenty of distance. It should’ve felt fine.

  But it didn’t.

  The quiet didn’t last long. As soon as Auburn started unpacking their things, a small voice broke the stillness.

  “Poppy, I know you’re tired, but you’re not going to bed covered in mud,” Auburn muttered, eyeing the little scorbunny.

  Poppy, still dusted in the grime from their journey, gave him a sidelong glance and plopped down dramatically on the floor. She crossed her front paws and sighed, as if she had just been asked to perform a life-or-death task.

  “No, don’t you start that,” Auburn warned, his patience fraying. He was exhausted, too, but the thought of dealing with dried mud on his bed, or worse, his sleeping bag, made his skin crawl. He didn’t need that. Not after the day they’d had.

  Poppy blinked slowly, then flopped sideways in a display of utter defiance, still in her full mud-caked glory. She wasn’t even pretending to be interested in his request anymore.

  Auburn groaned and ran a hand through his hair, glancing over to Felix for support. But Felix, of course, didn’t so much as budge, his back still turned to the room, probably pretending the chaos wasn’t happening.

  He huffed and got to work, grabbing a towel and some Pokémon shampoo from his bag. “Come on, Poppy,” he coaxed, squatting next to her. “One bath, and then you can sleep. I promise.”

  She ignored him, continuing her silent protest with such impressive stubbornness that it was almost admirable.

  “Auburn, you’re gonna get yourself covered in mud, too, if you keep fighting her like that,” Felix finally spoke up, his voice the kind of drawl that made it clear he wasn’t exactly offering help.

  Auburn scowled. “Thanks for the insight.”

  Eventually, after what felt like a small eternity of begging, coaxing, and a few well-placed, frustrated huffs, Poppy grudgingly allowed herself to be herded toward the tiny, rundown bathtub.

  Once Auburn had her in the water, though, it was a different story.

  As soon as her paws hit the warm water, she froze for a second. Then her eyes lit up, and before Auburn could even react, she was splashing around like a maniac. Water went everywhere. On the floor, on the walls, and yes, on Auburn’s shirt.

  “Poppy!” he yelped, trying to keep her under control, but it was no use. She was kicking around with reckless abandon, clearly having the time of her life.

  Auburn gritted his teeth as he tried to scrub the mud from her fur, but she darted back and forth in the water like a tornado, making it impossible to get anything done.

  “I swear, you are the most ridiculous… thing I’ve ever had to take care of,” Auburn muttered, shaking his head as he wiped water off his face.

  She chirped happily, completely ignoring his complaints, and managed to send a whole wave of water splashing over the edge of the tub.

  Felix’s voice drifted over, dry and indifferent. “You’re not gonna win this one. Might as well let her enjoy it.”

  Auburn glared at him, but Felix was already back to minding his own business, leaving him to contend with a hyperactive scorbunny in a tub of water.

  With a resigned sigh, Auburn leaned against the edge of the tub, watching as Poppy continued her aquatic antics. Maybe it wasn’t exactly what he had planned for the night, but at least it was distracting him from the rest of the mess they’d found themselves in.

  Eventually, Poppy settled down just long enough for Auburn to finish the bath, though her little twitching ears and wagging tail hinted that the second he dropped his guard, she’d be at it again.

  Once the bath was over and Poppy was dry, she shook herself off, sending a cloud of water droplets flying in all directions. Auburn had barely managed to duck under the spray in time, but Poppy was clearly satisfied with herself.

  “Great. Just what I needed,” Auburn muttered, wiping his face again. He shot a glance at Felix, who was, of course, doing absolutely nothing to help.

  Poppy, meanwhile, had gone from drenched and disgruntled to clean and full of energy. She dashed out of the restroom and bounced around the like she’d just discovered the joy of gravity, her fur fluffier and shinier than Auburn had ever seen it.

  “You’re impossible,” he said, watching her dart back and forth, clearly in her own world. She let out a series of high-pitched, happy chirps before hopping up to nudge his leg.

  Auburn blinked and crouched down. “Are you trying to apologize for being a nightmare during the bath?” he asked dryly, but the way she looked at him with those big, hopeful eyes made it hard to stay mad.

  He sighed and ruffled her head. “Alright, alright. You’re lucky you’re cute.”

  Poppy jumped up again, her playful energy contagious as she did a quick loop around the room. Auburn laughed despite himself, her antics too ridiculous to ignore.

  The mood in the room had lightened considerably, the tension from earlier now replaced by something warmer. Auburn watched Poppy for a moment, half-amused, half-tired, and fully aware of how ridiculous it was to be getting so worked up over a bath.

  Felix, though still nonchalant, glanced over at the pair. His usual smirk was missing, replaced by a subtle, unreadable expression. He didn’t comment, but his silence was different. Less dismissive, more... accepting.

  Auburn didn’t try to read too much into it. Instead, he sat back against the wall and let Poppy do her thing. He was still exhausted, and part of him just wanted to crash. But seeing Poppy this happy... it wasn’t the worst thing in the world.

  After a few more minutes of frantic bouncing, Poppy finally slowed down, flopping contentedly onto her back in a patch of light near the window. She let out a contented sigh, her tiny chest rising and falling with each peaceful breath.

  Auburn, too, leaned back, letting himself relax for the first time in hours.

  “I guess we all needed that,” he muttered to himself, rubbing his temples as he glanced over at Felix, who was still preoccupied with whatever was running through his head.

  They might not have been in the best of moods earlier, but this moment felt like a break from everything. A pause.

  “Alright, Poppy,” Auburn said softly, his voice lighter now. “Get some rest. Tomorrow’s a new day.”

  Felix didn’t respond, but his eyes flicked briefly to Auburn, the barest hint of acknowledgment passing between them.

  Poppy had finally settled down, curled up like a fluffy ball of warmth near the window. Auburn took a moment to stretch and lean back in his chair, trying to shake off the exhaustion from the day. His mind wandered for a second, but the sound of water running from the bathroom drew his attention.

  Felix had disappeared a few minutes ago, likely to take care of whatever business he had. Auburn hadn’t thought much about it, but now that he heard the sound of a shower, it clicked. Felix cared about his hygiene.

  That realization came as a bit of a surprise, considering Felix’s usual “don’t care” attitude about most things, but Auburn could picture it. Even if Felix didn’t put much stock in anything else, he seemed to care how he appeared to others.

  “Guess it’s a good thing we got a room with a shower,” Auburn muttered to himself, leaning back in the chair. He glanced over at Poppy, who was blissfully unaware of anything other than her well-deserved nap.

  Auburn could only imagine what Felix was thinking right now. The guy was hard to figure out, always keeping things locked up behind that tough exterior. But at least, in this moment, things felt easier. The tension from before was already starting to melt away.

  He turned his attention back to the window, watching as the last of the daylight faded.

  “Just a few more days,” he mumbled, feeling a sense of resolve. They’d get through this. It wasn’t like Felix was going to let him quit, even if he did want to.

  Auburn sighed, the sound soft and almost like a confession. It was nice to feel like everything was, for once, quiet.

  Felix stepped out of the bathroom, feeling the refreshing coolness of the air-conditioned room. He ran a hand through his damp hair, brushing off the lingering steam from his shower. The soft hum of the hotel’s machinery was the only noise in the room as his eyes adjusted to the low light.

  And there they were—Auburn and Poppy, already fast asleep, sprawled across the bed in a chaotic heap of limbs and fluff. Auburn had managed to find the most awkward position, lying on his back with his arms outstretched, while Poppy had somehow curled herself into a ball on top of his chest, her tiny paws tucked under her chin. The sight made Felix’s lips twitch upward in the smallest smirk.

  Auburn, of course, had skipped the shower. Felix hadn’t expected otherwise. After everything that had happened today, he figured the boy would be too wrapped up in his thoughts to bother with it. A little extra grime wouldn’t kill him. Felix’s eyes lingered on the scene for a moment, then he shook his head and headed for the other bed, deliberately keeping the thoughts to himself.

  “Guess after all that, you're the only one who couldn’t bother,” he muttered under his breath, half amused. But there was no bitterness behind it. Felix wasn’t bothered. Not by that.

  With a casual movement, Felix flopped onto the bed, his back hitting the mattress with a soft thud. He pulled the blanket over himself, casting one more glance at the pair of them. Auburn didn’t stir, not even when Poppy shifted slightly in her sleep and let out a soft squeak of contentment.

  Felix let out a quiet sigh and closed his eyes. It wasn’t perfect. Nothing ever was. But at this moment, things felt... manageable. He could deal with it. He would.

  And tomorrow, he’d find a way to push them both forward.