fleeing home

“Are you sure your parents aren’t around, hon?”

The girl clutched to her holocaster, staring up at the woman in the ticket booth as the icy vulpix peered sternly at the woman. “They told me I could do this on my own.” she finally spoke, standing firmly on her feet, causing a light frown to cross the woman’s face. “I don’t know, sweetie… Perhaps I should–”

“There’s my sister gone to! I told you not t'go there on yer own, ya know. Who knows what people might think!” commented the black-haired teen, rushing over to the girl’s side and putting a hand to her shoulder. “You know mother and father told us to go there together. Not on our own. Now I know you’re still grouchy about stuff, but it was for the best, father said. "

“But–”

“I am so sorry, miss. Two tickets to the next island.” he stated, ruffling the girl’s head with a big smile, causing the woman to give them a cautious glance before raising an eyebrow.

“Siblings?”

“… Yes? What’s yer d– Oh. Oh, miss that’s rough… Just because we don’t look alike… She’s adopted. You’re cruel, to immediately assume we’re not related… Just because we’re not related by blood, doesn’t mean we’re not family… I should tell my father about this. No doubt he’ll be furious. You might even lose your job–”

“Alright, kid. Two tickets to the next island. There is no need for such words.” commented the elderly woman, giving a frown before shaking her head. “Youth nowadays… No respect at all…” she muttered, shoving two tickets toward them as the young girl opened her mouth, only to be shushed by the teen’s finger against her lips.

“Says the one who is talking about someone like this. That’s very… Very rude, you know. Old people nowadays think they can say anything, just ‘cause they’re old. I call Tauros crap.” he spoke, snatching the tickets off the counter and making his way toward the boat with the girl aside him. “Come along now, come along…”

Steel blue eyes fixed on the teen’s face, lips pursing and shoulders hunching. “We’re not related.”

“Well they don’t need to know.”

“I–”

“Was in a pinch there. That woman wasn’t going to let you go. And I needed an excuse.” he commented, peering over his shoulder quickly when he heard someone calling his name.

“Who are you…”

“Call me Lucky. What about you?”

“Lucky’s not a name…”

“'Course it is. It’s my name, didn’t ya hear, kid? Now what’s yours.”

“… Nikita.”

A smirk played across his lips as he glanced down at her, meeting the girl’s stern stare as they stepped onto the boat.

“You and I… We’re gonna–”

“You’re not a pedophile are you.”

“Wha– No! What the hell man, I ain’t no pedophile. I just needed to get on that fucking boat without being seen. And you needed to get on this boat too. Trust me, we get to Melemele island. You don’t have to see my face again.”

“… I will scream if you–”

“Look, I’m not someone who hunts down little kids, okay? Okay, good. Now get on. Make yourself comfortable and stick closeby. Until we get to Kalos.” sighed the teen, looking back once before taking seat and giving a sharp whistle, causing a woman to turn toward them and walk over, sitting down next to them and giving a wide, toothy grin.

“Tricky Lexi. This is… Nikita. Nikita, this is Tricky Lexi.”

A horn blew and he glanced up.

“The boat’s leaving for Melemele island.”