Struggling

Míngzé could not be sure if this was a good idea. While last time went horrible for a few reasons, certain parts did not go as badly as he had anticipated. More pieces were at play and they had to be brought together. This could only mean that people might come looking for them. While there was not much he could do himself to keep them safe, that was not necessary in a world like this. Pokémon would always be stronger than humans, there was no denying that. Only Jui was able to do anything right now, the two others were too young and inexperienced. There was one more pokémon he could perhaps rely on.

With a heavy heart Míngzé rolled the pokéball around in his hands. He has no idea how long Qiān had been in it for now. They went into some kind of stasis so it should not harm them in any way. That did not mean however the pokémon was completely fine.

A deep sigh escaped. “Why is it so fucking difficult?” The tone of his voice already revealed that he was getting frustrated. All he had to do was open the pokéball and that’s it. The first step however was a difficult one. He sat down on the park bench behind him, earning him a concerned look from Dai who also sat there. Open the pokébal and deal with whatever happens next. Easy. Only Míngzé could not get himself to do so and looked down on it in defeat. It was a good thing it was getting late so there was barely anyone there anymore.

Míngzé stared down at his hands. He tried to tell himself that it would be fine, that there was no reason for him to fear what might happen. Nothing happened last time, why would it now? Something between him and the pokémon was broken, that much was true. Yet thinking back to last time, he could not deny that he was the problem. Qiān only wanted to help and it was up to Míngzé to make sure that whatever was broken, got fixed.

The weight of the pokéball suddenly seemed to increase. A male voice sounded, one directed at him. His grip around the pokéball tightened and he held his other hand over it too. They were frowned upon, everyone knew that. “Nothing,” Míngzé said to gritted teeth. He tried to hide the red ball to the best of his abilities, not realizing how part of it was still clearly visible. “Just something I need to do.” That was it. One swift motion and the hardest part would be over. And still he remained motionless, his muscles not listening.

The smooth metal texture of the pokéball felt cold against his touch. His unseeing eyes fell upon it as the man continued talking. The words were not the ones he expected. “Most people are against the use of them,” Míngzé stated calmly, his voice only layered with a hint of nervousness. There were those who would call it straight up abuse. They were not supposed to act as a cage, but that was how he was using it.

Heaving a deep breath, he filled his lungs with air before holding it. Last time he was at this exact same point, someone had tried to help. It had gone horribly wrong back then. The change he had hoped for never came. If anything it had made things worse. Other things had changed since then, and he needed the pokémon inside more than ever.

“Do you think they are aware of their time in there?” Míngzé wondered, a thumb brushing over the smooth surface of the ball until it hit the button in the front.

The man shared the same beliefs. Pokémon were not aware of the passing time as they sat in their pokéball. Luckily the man did not mind them or scolded him for using one of these devices. Not yet anyway. There was a mention of the other’s work, which momentarily made Míngzé frown.

Míngzé couldn’t keep a quiet scoff from escaping. They will be happy to see him, or so this man says. Last time Qiān had also been glad to be out, but things didn't turn out well back then. Now even more time has passed. “You sound so sure, I wish I could share the same positivity,” Míngzé said, a smile on his lips that did not quite reach his eyes.

“I've lost track of how long he's been in there.” His voice felt strained as he said it. It nearly felt like a crime to keep them locked up for so long. “If it was me, I would not like seeing the face of the person who did it to me.” Qiān must be smart enough to realize what happened. Each time so much changed, it was impossible not to notice.

Courageous words left the other’s lips as the man talked to him. Pokémon will only notice they’ve been in there for quite a while because of the changing of the seasons. Which was far better than being aware of all the time spent inside. “Perhaps you’re right,” he sighed. No, this man had to be right.

Worry clouded his face as he stared down at the pokéball. Was he really going to do this again? It would only get worse if he waited even longer until he might never let the pokémon out again. That was not something he could do either.

“Alright.”

Míngzé heaved a deep breath, filling his lungs as he stood up. He held on to the pokémon as if his life depended on it. It’s going to be fine. Those words kept repeating themselves in his head. Qiān had done nothing wrong last time either.

A flash of red danced before his eyes before the vague shadow of his tall pokémon appeared in front of him. Míngzé held his breath, expecting something, anything, but nothing happened. All Qiān did was look around in confusion. He was tense and cautious, glaring at the stranger amidst them. “What’s he doing?” Míngzé asked as he could not see it. Qiān looked lost more than anything, but his eyes did not leave the stranger.

So far so good. Qiān did not seem to react out of the ordinary and this guy confirmed it. A sigh of relief rolled over his lips. A good start must count for something. It made sense his pokémon did not trust this guy, he was a stranger who was suddenly here after all.

Míngzé took a slow step forward toward where he could see Qiān’s silhouette. “It’s fine, this man won’t do anything,” he said in a soft voice, hoping it would calm him down. If he could avoid any conflict, he would. But the fact remained that Míngzé had no idea what he was doing.

So far, Qiān had not looked at him all that much and kept his focus on the man. A sound left his mouth, but Míngzé had no idea what it meant. There was a hint of insecurity in it, if he heard it right. “This man is only here to help.” As he said this, he noticed how Qiān took a sideways step back, positioning himself between the two humans.

“No, that is not necessary, see?” Míngzé stepped past the pokémon, closer to the man in an attempt to show that he trusted this individual. Qiān did not agree and grabbed him by the wrist. The sudden reaction made him jump slightly, but nothing else happened.

“Maybe try to introduce yourself to him?” he offered. Inteleon were smart, he might understand what the man told him.

All Qiān did was stare at the man, unblinking, a clear warning in his eyes. One wrong move and he would make sure the man would never try anything again. Míngzé felt the tension in the air, and noticed how on edge his pokémon was, but this was better than whatever he had in mind.

The man introduced himself as Hàorán, which for a moment brought a questioning look to Míngzé’s face. He bit back his question and instead gazed over towards Qiān. All the pokémon did was move until he stood right next to him again without losing sight of this stranger, but he also did not answer the man’s question.

“I hope that’s enough,” Míngzé sighed. He could feel how close Qiān stood as their shoulders nearly touched. At least he did not attack the man immediately. “His name is Qiān, I’m Míngzé.” For once he did not think it necessary to give him his nickname. He noticed how Qiān wanted to take a step forward, but was quick to hold his arm in front of him, interrupting his path.