round 3 overflow post

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Round 3 Overflow Post

This post is for Round 3 fills only. We ask that when a round hits 8500 comments, fillers begin moving their fills to this post.

Format:
SUBJECT LINE -- Round #, short description of fic (ex: "Alex/Hank, lab partners")
--- Link to the prompt
--- Text of the prompt

--- Link to the fill
OR
--- Entire text of the fill

EXAMPLE:
Prompt: http://xmen-firstkink.livejournal.com/6437.html?thread=1038472#t2038174

Charles/Erik -- Charles is a bakery owner whose most frequent customer is Erik.

Fill: http://xmen-firstkink.livejournal.com/6437.html?thread=0139482#t4502942

Charles started off the morning the same way he always did...

Comments

FILL: "The Very Best" - 02 A Legendary Game! 1c/? - Warning: Mention of death.

[(Anonymous)]

"I assure you, Erik, that Wobbuffet and I are perfectly alright with this. It's neither painful or harmful, actually, we look forward to our every Cerebro session, it's quite refreshing and thrilling," soothed Charles and Wobbuffet saluted happily just as Eevee squealed with anticipation.

"If you say so," replied Erik unconvinced but offered a tentative smile all the same. His hands were tight shaking fists.

Then Cerebro finished the brain mapping. It beeped and the outside world became a second worry for Charles as his mind expanded, Wobbuffet's consciousness sharing the ride with him.

Charles loved it. His world now was but bright spots in an endless clean mindscape, each spot with a distinct flavor, a distinct light, a distinct warmth. Each a unique Pokémon or man with a unique story, a unique life. He navigated with ease the sea of minds, a practiced skill, familiar and known from years of daily indulgence at home. Which reminded him, he knew this shining rosy dot near the stadium.

Charles touched it with a tendril of his mind. It bloomed in bright colors of wonder and delight. It greeted Charles with joy.

You followed us, my friend.

The light grew warmer, unabashedly giddy as it showed him images of the stadium grounds: Raven was discussing something with Irene while their Pokémon and the rest of the team ran laps, swung bats and generally prepared for the game.

Yes, I'm excited about it too.

The light shone a bright yellow and tasted of anticipation.

"Charles?"

Hank's voice yanked Charles' attention, and so he left the familiar consciousness to its own devices, hopefully none too troublesome.

"I'm here Hank," he replied.

Hank let out a relived sigh, out loud he said: "See? He's alright."

"Could've fooled me. He isn't moving at all." Erik's voice sounded clipped, sharp.

"He's connecting to nearby Pokémon minds. Maybe even human ones, Wobbuffet's readings are quite high today."

"Hush you two! I'm having fun," said Charles with a grin.

He found another well-known spot of light and poked at it in greeting.

Somewhere close by Eevee squealed and the light opened a little door welcoming Charles in. He saw then the laboratory though everything was bigger now; before him was Charles' body, deadly still but smiling. Erik was looking at him too, his right hand clutching a pokéball.

"I'm with Eevee now," announced Charles. Hank gave a quick glance to Cerebro's main screen and began scribbling in the project's journal.

"Good, good," he said. "So how are you feeling Eevee?" he then asked.

Eevee's response was a waggle of its tail and a little excited cry.

"I...am... fine. Food was good Hank, better than ever!" translated Charles slowly.

"Don't...tell Hank, Charlie, but I saved...some for you. Hid it away." And just as Charles finished talking, Eevee lowered its ears indignantly, giving him a hurt glare.

"Oh, Eevee, darling, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to!" Charles apologized quickly. Hank, however, almost dropped the journal and puffed angrily.

"Gosh! Not again Eevee!" he said, "I told you to stop hiding food in my Lab! It's unhygienic, honestly!"

Erik's face betrayed then a smile. A tiny itty bitty smile but it was there. Charles smiled to himself as Hank began to search through the Lab for the hidden food, Eevee at its heels, barking warningly each time they approached one of the Pokémon's usual hiding places.

"It's Charlie's! Leave it alone, not giving it to you, you have plenty!" translated Charles once more, chuckling. "Eevee, I'm fine. I appreciate the sentiment, though. Thank you," he said.

Eevee's ears perked up. It looked at Charles expectantly.

"Of course you can eat it, go ahead."

Eevee ran. It bypassed an annoyed Hank kneeling under a desk and retrieved a few chunks of Pokémon food from behind an old broken computer tucked away in a corner.

Hank sighed, walked to stand next to Charles and began writing anew in their journal. He shoot admonishing looks at Eevee every now and then.

And, well, Charles couldn't see him, but he heard Erik snort loudly, disbelieving and contemptuous. It deflated Charles; he had hoped Erik would have lost his apprehensiveness by now, that the boy had gotten at least a bit more interested in his and Hank's work.

FILL: "The Very Best" - 02 A Legendary Game! 1d/? - Warning: Mention of death.

[(Anonymous)]

"It's a nice little show, but I'm not stupid. You can't seriously think anyone sane would really fall for this ridiculous charade," said Erik, he had crossed his arms over his chest.

"I assure you this isn't a trick," huffed Hank.

"Prove it," challenged Erik just as he summoned one of his Pokémon. A Magnemite.

"Read her."

A new spot lit up in Charles' mindscape map. It was dimly green with bright whites, it tasted of loyalty and longing. He gave it a friendly mental knock.

"Hello there," greeted Charles out loud. The Magnemite gave a spin in the air, it greeted him with a contented screech.

"You summoned Lorna. She's ah... yes, she's the youngest of your Magnemite but not the youngest of your party Pokémon."

"Easily to deduce. By her size and bolts, if you paid attention in our duel, you could easily tell her apart."

"He's got his eyes closed!" hissed Hank to which Erik only harrumphed.

"Alright, alright. Could you tell me something only you and Erik know, Lorna?" asked Charles sheepishly.

Lorna turned to its trainer, tilting down a little in the air, asking for permission.

Erik nodded. Hank was taking notes as fast as he could.

"Lorna tells me that once, when you were very young, you fell into the breeding pond at the back of the Ranch. You almost drowned but the Pokémon nearby were able to get you out."

As soon as Charles spoke, Erik's eyes widened and his mouth clenched tightly shut.

"Lorna's mother, oh, oh dear... oh dear, I'm so very sorry." Charles shook his head, "Lorna's mother drowned saving you. Lorna was only a few days old back then and you have taken care of her and her big brother and big sister ever since."

Charles kept silent after that, Erik too. The only sound for what felt like hours but were in reality merely a few seconds was Hank's pencil scratching on paper.

"Well," said Erik finally, "I'm impressed."

Somehow it didn't feel like a victory.