Rough Edges, Soft Center (Orange)

[Cyan]

Cyan stood on his edge of the arena, which was really just the traditional design, only chalked into the concrete of an unused lot in a bad neighborhood. The only light was from streetlights, making the darkness one of this midnight battle's stipulations in itself.

He stared across the lot, a crowd of people gathered around, many bets having been placed--not as many for him as against him, this time around. His opponent was a large man, built like the Golem he sent out. Only his bulge was on his stomach, and nothing like a rock.

"I'm gonna wipe the floor with your scrawny ass..."
"We'll see," Cyan spat, Scar, his Pikachu, showing no back down in him, either. "By the way, I gotta ask. Which one of you is the Pokemon?"
"Why you little--"

Then the battle started. Scar spent the beginning of the match dodging, using Double Team, and making ultimately ineffective strikes. Then...a Take-Down knocked Scar back, only to be hit by a Rock Throw. Then a Dig put him in a bad way...

Scar hopped to his feet, badly limping, with a bloody gash on his shoulder. Every bone in his little body was aching. But he would not back down. His ears twitched, though his right one was missing its tip. Golem moved in for another Take-Down--the finishing blow. But then...

"Iron Tail!"

Scar mustered up every bit of strength he had left, his now-metal tail nailing Golem right between the eyes, and he dropped like a ton of bricks, down for the count.

Cyan smirked, having once again made someone eat their words. "Worthless," he muttered, referring to the trash talk, though it could have been mistaken that he was talking about the trainer, or Golem. He called Pikachu back into its Pokeball, collected his little bit of prize money, and walked away.

Once alone in an alley, he brought Scar out again. "Good job, Bud." he congratulated, wiping his blue hair from his eyes as he began to doctor the wounds. A Magby took it upon itself to leave its Pokeball and watch, clinging to Cyan's leg.

He seemed like a tough guy--maybe even a jerk--at first, but deep down, Cyan had a bigger heart than he acted like. He smiled. "You're gonna be okay. But I'm not letting you even so much as train for a while, okay?"

Scar let out a disapproving grunt, but nodded nonetheless.

[Orange]

Orange was out investigating the rings again.

Though she had been asked several times for a battle, even just a quick one, the redhead had refused every single time. She wasn't there to earn a bit of money, or to give her Pokemon a chance to practice their moves. She was there on offical mafia business, though no one at the arena was allowed to know that. While she was there, she was Orange. Not Alexandra Wolfblood, SIC of Mewtwo's mafia.

She moved between the numerous battles taking place on the parking lot, until she finally found one that interested her. It was a battle between a Pikachu and a Golem, an interesting matchup. Especially considering neither one of them seemed to really be winning. Until the Pikachu pulled out an Iron Tail and sent the Golem down.

Amused with the outcome, and knowing the other trainer deserved to get beat, Orange let a smile cross her face. She turned to go, to observe more battles, when she heard the other trainer speak the word 'worthless'. It made her blood run cold, especially considering the route her mind took with that one word.

Orange whirled on her heel, ready to tell the trainer off - only to realize he was already out the door. Clicking her tongue, she called her Bastidon over to her, walking past the other trainers to follow him. Her eyes were narrow, but blazing with anger. Even if someone was a jerk, you never talked down about their Pokemon. Never.

And she was determined that this boy realize that.

When she got outside, however, Orange stopped cold in her tracks. The boy was kneeling beside his Pikachu, tending to the small Pokemon's wounds tenderly. There, attached to his leg, was a very adorable Magby, who seemed to be watching. Orange simply watched for a moment, until the boy was done talking, and then leaned against Bastidon.

She crossed her arms over her chest.

"I suppose there is a reason why you called that Pokemon worthless." She said, her voice so cold the temperature outside dropped about four degrees. Bastidon shivered, just for dramatic effect.

[Cyan]

"See, Flare. One day, you can battle too," he said tenderly, finishing up doctoring up Scar. The Magby shook its head, clinging tighter to Cyan's leg, and he bend down and patted it on the head. "Okay. I won't make you."

"I suppose there is a reason why you called that Pokemon worthless." Ty jumped, Magby froze, and Scar was on his feet, ears pricked back and sparks forming on his cheeks.

"Flare, it'll be okay. Scar, no." He called them back, but just in case, had Buzzkill's Pokeball ready. He'd seen the Bastiodon, and if any one of them had a chance, it was the Electabuzz. But it was still a slim one.

But Cyan chose to tell the truth. After all, she'd already seen his true colors. "What? The Golem? No, I would never call a Pokemon worthless. Especially considering how it gave Ol' Scar a run for his money. I wasn't even talking about the guy. His words are what was worthless. All trash talk but can't back it up; no value in that. He wrote a check his ass couldn't cash. I just collected the bill is all."

His icy blue eyes focused on the girl. "You've seen me for who I really am, yet you still think I'd call a living creature worthless. True, I don't like a lot of them, but that's just because I've been put through so much crap. Pokemon Battling is literally my life."

He sent Electabuzz out, who stood next to him, kind of in a bodyguard stance. "Meet Buzzkill. Found him as an Elekid. Beaten and abandoned by his former trainer, said he was weak. I trained him, put my all into it, as I always do. Then, a few months later, me and Buzzkill kicked the guy's ass. Another example of worthless words." He called Buzzkill back.

[Orange]

Orange listened for a moment, her arms still crossed over her chest. She leaned against Bastidon when Cyan brought out the Electabuzz, giving a glance that was both appreciative, and calculating. Yes, she had heard of this trainer; he was a trainer much like her, who took in Pokemon that no one really wanted. But your choice of Pokemon didn't automatically brand you as that sort of person.

Which was why she was hesitant to even think this guy was like her.

Bastidon gave a rumble when the Electabuzz went away, as if not too happy about missing the chance to battle. He nudged Orange's back with his giant head, though it was surprisingly gentle for something so big. The girl smiled, petting its neck, and then turned to the boy again.

"Worthless words can easily be given out by anyone," she said, patting Basty's neck before moving so she could sit on his back. She crossed her legs, leaning back. It was a pose that practically oozed authority, "It's not just the foolish that dish them out, boy. Perhaps your words were tossed in at the wrong time, when the wrong people could her them."

[Cyan]

"Most people don't hear me mutter," he said, looking at the Bastiodon. He knew Buzzkill wasn't happy about being called back, but if necessary, he could come back out. Either way, Cyan would make it up to him. After all, Scar was sidelined for a little while.

"You may have a point. I only act like a tough guy because of what I've been through. People find out you're soft, and they walk all over you. Hell, they do that if they even think you're soft. I may have a heart, but I don't appreciate people walking all over me, so I retaliate. Last time I checked that wasn't a crime." As an afterthought, he added, "Though the way things are going it probably will be soon..." under his breath.

[Orange]

Orange had to admit, he made a good point. Too bad she could make a better one.

"While it's true that thisd word tends to squash all the good hearts lying around on the streets, I know of plenty of people who are more than likely to kill a jerk on sight than to hunt down a good heart and scewer it. I'm just saying." She turned, so she was sitting on Basty's neck, and rested on chin on the top of his head. A smile played on her lips.

"But I think we're getting to deep into a conversation that was simply started with a heated question. No need to talk this over like it's going to start a turf war. We're not the mafia, after all." She gave him a wink.

This was fun, Orange mused. She wasn't used to not being recognized, at least when it came to the trainers. Most of them either knew her, or knew of her. And those who didn't knew of "Ali," her other side. Her mafia side. So yes, this was fun.

"I'm Orange, by the way."

[Cyan]

"Maybe you're right. But the people I'm a jerk to are bigger jerks than the one I act like." He chuckled. "Yeah, I agree." His eyes changed. They were still icy blue, but...there was somewhat of a...liveliness behind them now. Like he was being himself, which now, he was. And it felt good.

"...Orange? I've heard that name before. I believe it when they say you got skills. Which also explains why my Pokemon were so anxious. It's an honor to meet someone of your caliber in person. As you probably know, I'm Cyan."

He smiled, brushing his hair out of his face again, putting Electabuzz's Pokeball back on his belt. "Don't worry, Buzz. I'll make it up to you," he whispered, then looked at the prize money.

"Just enough to eat on," he muttered to himself. "As per usual..."

[Orange]

When he said his name, Orange bobbed her head once, twice - a nod to show that she had heard of of him. "I definitely know you, Cyan. When I'm not battling or running this city, I'm watching over Pokemon battles. I've seen quite a few of yours, actually. Impressive. Isn't he, Basty?" She cooed to the large Pokemon, which shook its head in a positive way.

She patted the side of his neck, where her leg was hanging - a motion that sort of reminded one of a horse and its rider. Orange looked up, ready to ask Cyan another question, when she heard the boy mumbling about something to eat. Immediately, she got an idea. A way to find out more about the boy as well as, perhaps, help him out. It was worth a shot, anyways.

"Hey, since I was such a bitch a few minutes ago, how about I take you and your Pokemon out to grab a bite? I have connections around this city; I know a few safe places Pokemon trainers can go and not worry about the police or the government. It comes with being a high-ranking trainer." She winked, to show Cyan she was partially kidding. At least about the high-ranking part.

[Cyan]

He blushed, brushing his hair onto his face to try and hide it. "Impressive? Thanks," he stammered. He knew that from her, 'impressive' was quite the compliment.

He blinked. "Hey, you thought I was being a jerk, so it was appropriate, no?" He pocketed the money, which he would bet on himself for his next fight. He smiled at her. "Dinner sounds great though. Thanks. I owe you one, Orange." He looked away, then back at her. "We all do."

[Orange]

Orange shrugged, then patted Basty, "Don't worry about it. You and I can talk over dinner, since I've got a few things on my mind. I've been looking for a few good Pokemon trainers to maybe work with, and I think I've found one." She gave him a smile before shifting on Basty's back.

"Now, c'mon over here and climb on. Basty's a fast running, so he'll get us where we need to go quickly. He may be big, but he knows out to outrun the police. Don'tcha, Basty? Don'tcha?"

The Pokemon gave a 'rrrrr'ing sort of sound, a happy look on its face, almost like a puppy being praised by its master.

[Cyan]

"Fair enough," he said, warily going over, then climbing onto Bastiodon's back. "I like to think I'm able to outrun police too," he joked. "Sure, I can't ride any of my Pokemon, but still." He chuckled.

"I gotta say though. We just met, and already you're showing a kindness I've never experienced before. Well, I experienced once before, but..." He shook his head, then pondered over something she'd said.

"...I've been looking for a few good Pokemon trainers to maybe work with, and I think I've found one..."

He didn't know what she meant by that; not a clue. But what could it hurt?

[Orange]

Without another word, Orange tapped her heels against Bastiodon's sides. She clicked her tongue three times, and the Pokemon let out a confirming grunt. He started to run almost immediately, knowing where they were going without even having to be told. The clicks of the tongue were his directions. It was a method they had worked out a long time ago.

It had been Mewtwo's idea, actually. Figure out a way to run from the police without having them know where you were going. It had taken her a long time to teach each of the Pokemon the code, but it had definitely been worth it. To this day, she hadn't been caught once.

Bastiodon took them to a Pokemon center just a few blocks away. He lowered himself to his knees, allowing both to slide off. Once they were safely on the ground, Orange patted his side, and then started to head inside the Pokemon center.

"C'mon, Slowbro."

[Cyan]

He slid off of Basty's back, looking around the area; it was a part of town he didn't frequent. Hell, he didn't think he'd even been to this part of town before.

He ran to catch up to her, walking behind yet somewhat beside her at the same time. He'd said all he could think of to say, so he just stayed quiet. Awkwardly quiet. And he hated it.

[Orange]

Once inside, Orange led them down to the basement of the Pokemon center, where a small cafe was set up. After whispering a few words to one of the Nurses, the young woman scurried off, going to fulfill whatever orders Orange had given her. Orange then turned to Cyan and motioned for him to follow her over to a table.

There, she released all of her Pokemon.

One by one, they all appeared around the table. From her Espeon to the baby Lugia she had doctored back to health, the six Pokemon all gathered around their mistress, who petted them each in return. She then turned to Cyan.

"Go ahead and let yours out, if you want. They have more than enough food here. It's why I bring Bastiodon."

[Cyan]

He followed, then let out his Pokemon, though there were only four. Scar came out first, stretching. A few bones cracked, but he was getting back up to speed already. Second was Buzzkill, who sort of eyed the other trainer's Pokemon suspiciously, anxiously, no--longingly. He wanted more than anything than to face off against any one of them. Especially Bastiodon. But he knew that would be another time. He just hoped soon.

Jolt, Cyan's Jolteon, was next. He rubbed against his master's leg, receiving a scratch behind the ears in return. Magby clung to Cyan's leg, as usual. Jolt, meanwhile, was eying Espy from a distance. His ears twitched and his tongue lolled out of his mouth.