Arven x Reader: My Bread and butter (Lemon? Lime?)

Ch. 3. Groceries and Galavanting

I wake up, not even realizing I had fallen asleep. Nacli was snoring under my arm. He sounded like little metal bells being tapped with a hammer. I check the clock: 6:30. Lightly, I jostle Nacli. as he opens his square eyes, He chirps, snuggling into me as if to tell me he never wanted to leave the bed. With my anxiety surrounding the upcoming events, I felt the same.

I pick up my mushroom-shaped friend and put him on the floor. He whirrs, sliding across the ground into the small kitchen. Groggily, I follow him, rubbing my eyes and stepping over his little trail of salt left behind from his early-morning zooming. Usually, I collect it and store it in a canvas sack. Nacli produces only the most gourmet of salts, and it saved on having to buy the pricey nacli salt from the grocer.

I check my cupboards, which are mostly empty, save for some scraps here and there. I grabbed eggs, cheese, milk, onion, and pepper from my fridge, throwing together a basic omelet. I didn't have as much of the onions or peppers as I wished, but it'd have to do until I could go to the store with Arven. Nacli bumped against my leg repeatedly, wanting to help cook. I lifted him up onto the counter. He happily slid near the pan on the hotplate, throwing salt onto the omelet. I couldn't help but smile at his passion for cooking. In fact, it's the same thing I admired about arv-

Nacli jumped into my arms, halting my thoughts. I hugged him and set him back on the floor. I plated up the omelet with a side of buttered toast, made from the end pieces of the bread loaf i had bought a while back. I ate slowly, savoring what I could.

I started getting ready for the day, while nacli was bumping an empty box around the floor, playing with it as if it were a toy. He enjoyed time out of his ball, but in most cases, pokemon weren't supposed to be on school grounds. As I grabbed my bag, I picked up nacli's Pokeball. He made a sound like a low synthesizer, knowing what it meant

"I'm sorry Nac, you know you can't walk around the school"

"Woo woo", he responded defeatedly.

I clicked the button on the center of his ball. A red light shot out, beaming him back in. I click the ball to my belt and head out the door.

I head off to Mr. Hassel's Art class. Hassel was an eccentric. He was overly expressive, but most people looked past that due to his Elite 4 status. I zoned out, scribbling little doodles in my sketchbook as he talked, laughed, cried, and generally made a lot of poses.

Before long, the bell rang.

"Oh dear, looks like our time has come to an end class. Never forget what you learned here today."

He sniffled, looking as if he was about to start crying. "Parting is *sniff* such sweet sorro-"

"Alright Hassel, time for them to go", chimed a nice lady with long purple hair and a lab coat.

"Forgive me," she said, "I'm Miriam, I'm the school nurse. I often have to help Mr. Hassel end his classes as he gets...emotional with goodbyes".

I snort, tucking my sketchbook under my arm and filing into the hall. I notice a familiar, warm tanned skin.

"Oye, Nemo"

She whips around, her golden eyes wide.

"Camarada, I just missed you this morning! You never responded to my text last night" she frowned.

"Yeah sorry, I was uh, busy" I lied, flatly.

"Busy talking to that upperclassman?" she said, elbowing my side and winking

"Cállate" I hiss, shutting her teasing down.

"Sorry sorry. Don't you two have a date later?"

"Something like that...we're just grabbing groceries together."

"Well good luck, I'm off to battle studies- it's my favorite class"

"I guessed. Bye Nemo" we hug and part ways.

School draws on, until about 4:30, when were finally finished. I walk down the steps into the main hall, where arven is standing near the massive main doors, seemingly waiting. He lights up as he sees me approach.

"Little buddy!," he says, waving in an almost full body motion, "ready to go shopping?"

"Ready as all ever be Venny," I say half in jest, half terrified.

"V-venny?"

"oh sorry, I mean arven"

"Don't sweat it, Venny is a cute name"

I blush slightly, "Venny it is," I say cheerily.

We set off, onto the main lawn and down the massive staircase. Once we hit the bottom, my Pokeball shakes violently. Nacli jumps out, overzealous as always.

"Nac! You gotta be more careful!"

Arven jumps back a bit, in surprise of Nacli's sudden and intense appearance.

"This little guy is your partner?"

"Yeah, that's my Nacli. He's a feisty one but I love him to death. He hates being in his ball".

"Guess he doesn't have to be lonely," Arven said, reaching for a ball on his belt. A sudden flash of red and a skwovet pops out. Nacli delightfully coos, as skwovet hops on top of him. Nacli slides around in circles as skwovet cheers, like a cat zooming around on a Roomba.

Arven and I laugh, happy our dear pokemon are getting along. We continue on to the store, nacli and skwovet in tow.

Once we get in the store, we head over to the produce section. Skwovet jumps off Nacli, and into the smattering of berries and vegetables.

"Skwovet here helps me pick the freshest ingredients. He's got a sense for it," he explains. Skwovet pops back up with a Cheri Berry that's practically shining. It has to be the best of the bunch.

"Think Skwovet could help me? I'm kinda jealous"

"Of course, just tell him what you need".

We go through the store, Skwovet aiding our decisions.

"Yknow, Nacli here is helpful too. As a matter of fact, he and I have a gift for you".I pull out a small canvas sack of nacli salt, dropping it into his hand.

His eyes grow, as his jaw drops

"Gourmet Nacli salt? For free? This stuff is usually sixty per pound!"

I shrug, "well I get it for free, so I might as well give you some excess"

We get up to the cashier, and I go to slide my card, but Arven slides his card before I could even react.

"Consider us even for the Nacli salt," he says with a nudge.

"You didn't need to waste your money on m-"

"First off, it's not a waste, second, it's my parent's money. They still give me an allowance, which I don't care for or need. Professors make a disgusting amount of money, y'know".

" professors?" I say, grabbing my bags and heading for the door.

"Not important. You get everything?" he asks

"Yup! Uh...thanks Venny!" before even thinking, I hug him, in a tight bear hug. Realizing what I've done, I quickly shout bye, grab nacli, and run off towards the dorms, leaving arven stunned and confused. I slam my door shut and slump to the floor, my heart pounding in my throat. I Couldn't believe that the past hour or so even happened. Tears started falling down my cheeks as nacli nudged under my arm.