Puppeteer | An AU

Chapter Two: Break Down

At the end of the school day, Tamao waited underneath the pavilion with Sakura. He was surprised he hadn't seen Star'Gazer at all today, which only made the young eevee more concerned.

Buses were pulling in and it was a wait before Tamao's bus pulled up. He headed to the back seat, much like he did in the morning, and waited.

More and more eevee fill the bus, and eventually the bus pulled out of the Middle School parking lot and headed to the High School to pick up more eevee, and some eeveelutions.

After a moment or two, a familiar eevee scrambled onto the bus and joined Tamao in the back seat.

"Star'Gazer! You were gone forever! Where were you?" Tamao asked, looking at him in concern. "I'd been stressed out. I got here late and had to go to the first few classes I missed to get my homework, then I started feeling sick so I had to visit the nurses office during lunch." Star'Gazer responded. 

The other eevee was much quieter than what he usually was, and that gave Tamao a pretty big clue as to what was going on- along with Star'Gazer being on this bus in particular.

"My mom might be making pudding today! Isn't that great?" Tamao asked, trying to bring up the mood. Star'Gazer nodded happily. "Yeah!" Star'Gazer grinned. 

Tamao smiled, proud he made his friend happy. "Tamao? Where's Sakura?" Star'Gazer suddenly asked. Tamao tilted his head and showed him the Sakura plush.

"Oh," Star'Gazer responded. It seemed that he got a fairly good idea as to what happened, while Tamao was still clueless.

After a long moment of silence from both eevee, despite the bus being loud, Tamao finally spoke. "What are you planning on evolving into? Isn't evolutionary plans classes happening soon for you? And also when do you think you'll evolve? Sophomore year, Junior year, Senior year-?" Tamao started rambling.

"Hmm. Considering my parents really wanted me to evolve into an umbreon, I'll probably do just that. Although, I've always wanted to be an espeon." Star'Gazer began to answer but didn't finish the rest as they went back to being silent. 

Tamao nodded on for a bit, before asking a few more questions. "Is it possible for a normal eevee to evolve into a shiny?" He asked, hopeful.

Star'Gazer shook his head. "No, I wish it was possible though. Maybe through some mutation in the genes though, or maybe if you have both shiny parents or something since I think it's a recessive gene, although then that recessive gene would need to be strong enough to change your pelt after evolution, but for that to happen it needs to be strong enough to change your pelt as it is currently." Star'Gazer sighed.

Tamao frowned yet nodded. "I understood none of that." He stated honestly. Star'Gazer chuckled as the bus pulled to a stop and let off some kids, only to continue once more.

The silence continued on for a surprising amount of time- or at least, until they got off the bus, walking to the youngest's home. "Star'Gazer, why don't you evolve into an espeon? It's what you want to do. Why let your parents choose?" Tamao asked.

Star'Gazer just shook his head, not giving any other answer.

Carrying the plush whilst opening the door, Tamao called for his mother who was in the kitchen, making pudding. "Mom! Star'Gazer's staying over again!" Tamao informed, running over and flopping down onto the couch.

"Oh! Good afternoon Star'Gazer!" Aisuru greeted, although there was strain in her voice, as though she had been crying not too long ago.

Star'Gazer greeted Aisuru in a similar fashion and headed into the kitchen to help out, alongside talking so that Tamao didn't overhear.

Meanwhile, Tamao just talked to the Sakura plush, telling her how excited he was for pudding, and how happy he'll be when his father comes home.

After not much waiting, the pudding was made and Tamao and Star'Gazer were wolfing it down. Aisuru was getting ready for her job, and Azurn's vehicle pulled into the driveway.

It was hard not to see the shiny silver truck, after all.

A few brief moments went by and Aisuru was driving off and Azurn was eating pudding. "So, Star'Gazer. Same situation as last?" Azurn asked. Star'Gazer nodded, while Tamao was just confused.

With a nod, the shiny glaceon kept eating his pudding. "Well, your room is open. Feel free to stay as long as you need, just don't be causin' no trouble, m'kay?" Azurn firmly stated. Star'Gazer nodded, and the rest of pudding time was done in near-complete silence.

When pudding was mostly eaten and everyone put their plates into the sink, Tamao grabbed his electronic device and opened a multiplayer game to play with Star'Gazer.

The two eevee played on it for a long time, Tamao being careful not to obstruct Sakura's view, and Azurn watching the two kids.

----

Admittedly, Azurn found it weird how Tamao cared for that plsuhie like it was his sister, but he could only suppose it was natural.

Tamao never learnt the meaning of death because of Aisuru not wanting him to know that pain yet, Azurn, on the other hand, had different opinions.

He continued watching the two kids, both of which he sees like a son to him. Azurn's cool body did cool down the room, however it didn't seem as though either eevee noticed, or cared. On the other hand, what was once the plushy looking at the screen, was now the plushy staring at Azurn.

Did it move on it's own, or did Tamao move it?

A little freaked out, Azurn announced his departure to head to the store. He wanted to take the kids camping some time, and what better way to do that than to have s'mores?

If the kids had a good time, he would have a good time.

Whilst he was in the house, Azurn felt like he was being watched, but that feeling was cut off the second he walked outside and into his truck to leave. 

Clearing his mind, he figured he was just imaginging it. Everything was alright, and all he had to do was get stuff for s'mores. It was all so simple.