James x Reader | Pokemon | - | REWRITE |

TR | Lies

Jessie sat lopsided on the couch, paying little attention to the TV in front of her. It seemed to be playing some sort of scheduled section on ongoing pokemon research, using complicated jargon and showing enclosure camera footage of psychic pokemon. 

When James approached her, she flinched and lazily sat upright, awaiting James' words while still idly staring at the TV.

James kept in his mind that everything would probably go much more smoothly if he worded his requests as if he was trying to comply with Jessie. He took a few seconds to make the start of his sentence. "Regarding that plan to cure the trainer..."

Jessie looked to James for a few seconds, then back to the TV, which was showing a very obviously photoshopped mew in the shadows, t-posing. "Yeah? What?"

"I was thinking that we could go to the PokeMart to get...some things...that would help in their recovery," James said. He hoped Jessie didn't question his vagueness. 

"I don't want to go out," Jessie replied. 

"That's not exactly the 'we' I was referring to."

Jessie's expression tensed and she looked to James with a questioning glare. "You want to take them out to the PokeMart? So many things could go wrong."

Meowth was sitting on the other section of the couch. He had uncurled himself to participate in the conversation. "And knowin' our wuck, it most certainwy will."

James didn't want to be teamed up on. The whole team's activity was mostly based on majority and stubbornness. And they all knew where Jessie stood on the "stubbornness" scale. He tried to make his argument as simple and organized as possible. "They'll be too sick and tired to escape," he said. "And this could give them a...false sense of freedom."

Jessie didn't seem very convinced. "And what if they decide to report you to literally anyone who happens to be there? What will you do then? Just say they're wrong?? You'd have to make them fear for their safety or something. Give them a reason to not report you. Threaten them. You know how to do that, albeit badly."

"I'll think of something."

"No James, I want you to think of it beforehand and tell me. Or else I don't trust that you'll be any good."

"Jess, it will be fine. I'll leave them locked in the van while I go to the PokeMart. They'll be too weak to break out and too sick to yell out. So you both don't have to worry about them escaping from here, because I will be the one having them."

"As if that makes it any better," Jessie said. "If anything, it makes my worries much worse."

"Jessie, think of it this way." James was trying his best to not sound like he was being spiteful. "I have been able to handle the situation regarding them for almost the entirety of them being with us---"

"Which is shocking," Jessie added. 

James almost pouted. "Yes, yes, but. If they really are in the mood to escape, I'll just guilt trip them into not doing so. It's worked so far. In fact, they could have decided to run off during our pleasant little walk through the forest at any time my back was turned. But I was able to take control of the situation accordingly, and now they are helplessly lying in my bed."

"Right..." Jessie said, still sounding quite unconvinced. "I'll tell you what, James. I'll let you go on this little trip of yours. But! If you get caught and thrown in jail, let's just say," Jessie glanced to Meowth and smirked, "we have no idea who this 'James' person is at all."

James felt a bit betrayed, but he knew it was partially justified. Well, as justified as anything containing Jessie could be. "Well...I suppose that's a valid punishment. But I know you wouldn't just leave me there," James looked away, "you'd still tell the others about it. You'd still bail me out, you've done it thousands of times before." 

"Anything to make yourself feel better," Jessie said. "Even I lie to myself sometimes."

"I wouldn't last a day in an actual prison alone! You know this."

Jessie looked back towards the TV. "We'll just have to wait and see, then."

"Fine then. If you want to abandon me, so be it. Then will be the time you finally realize you won't last a day without me."

Meowth smiled. "You're wight," he said. "Team Rocket would nevah be da same. Maybe we'd actuawwy accompwish somethin' for once."

"He's right, James. On second thought, maybe you should go to that PokeMart with the trainer."

"You are all so mean."