Guzma x Reader The Earth's End

IV

You sat on the roof of Guzma's mansion, watching the sun rise. Frost shimmered on the grass and fog pooled in the spaces between the houses and across the road. You watched as the stars disappeared, one by one. It was so peaceful.

"You're up early."

You jumped a bit at the sudden break of the pre morning silence. Guzma hauled himself up next to you and sat down, the shingles creaking beneath his weight. "Couldn't sleep?"

You shrugged. "Just not used to being able to sleep soundly, I guess."

He made a noise to show he'd heard and then you both fell silent, watching as his town slowly woke up. For no other reason that you could see other than to fill the silence, Guzma started to point things out to you. How the Runners woke up before everyone else. How Nanu tended to keep to the shadows. The way that two twins, Frederick and Jorge, could be told apart by the way they walked.

You listened silently, letting his deep voice go on. He started counting down, and right when he hit 'zero' three kids ran out into the street and tackled one of the adults.

"It's always the same. Every day, that's how it goes. A simple, blessed routine."

You gave a quiet hum in response. Guzma shifted, catching you with his storm grey eyes. "I wonder how you'll fit into that, (Y/N). Let me know if you decide what cha want to do. If not, I'll have to pick for you." He got up and walked down the slope of the roof, dropping easily down to the incline below and vanishing in the mansion.

You sighed and laid down, watching the sky turn fully blue. Where did you belong? Now that was the question of the century. You didn't really feel like you belonged in this place at all. You constantly found yourself looking over your shoulder, tensed for an attack. Weeks and weeks of being hunted had turned you into prey.

But now you were being offered a chance to hide from all that. A chance to stay behind walls and never look at that Arceus-forsaken place out there again.

But... You didn't think you could do it. Cowardice wasn't in your blood. So really there was only one thing you could do.

~~~
"I want to be a Runner."

J looked at you in shock, pulling down the handkerchief that covered his face. "Girlie." He put a hand on your shoulder. "Guzma ain't gunna let you back out there just like that."

"But why?" You brushed his hand away.

He sighed quietly. "'Cause you just got outta there. Look, sugar pop, I know how ya feeling. You're scared, yeah? Always looking over your shoulder for somethin' that ain't there, and you wanna be in a place where that fear makes sense. But sweetie," he put an arm around your shoulders, "you're untrained, underfed, and quite frankly, you're traumatized. PTSD an' all that. So how about you go take care of plants or watch the kids for a while, yeah? Maybe after a bit, if ya still want it, you can come out with us. Okay?"

You sighed. It was pretty clear that you were stuck in here. You wondered what they would do if you just tried to walk out the front gates.

Deciding not to test it, you turned and walked away, shoulders drooped and feet dragging.

~~~
"Really?"

"Uh huh."

Guzma gave you a skeptical look but shrugged. "A'ight. If that's what cha want." He stood up from his throne and motioned for you to follow.

Once out of the building, you looked around, wondering where the garden was.

"Come on. It's this way."

To your surprise, Guzma led you around the mansion to an empty space beside it, behind a line of old trees. Little puffs of green that you'd all but given up hope of ever seeing again met your gaze and you rushed ahead to run your hands over the leaves of the plants.

"It ain't much, but it'll grow." Guzma ruffled your hair, his large hand heavy on your head.

About five other people moved around about two dozen raised beds, tending to the small plants. Some were grown enough to bare fruit, while others were still struggling along.

"Here ya go." Guzma held something out to you and you looked to see a pecha berry in the palm of his hand. With a tiny squeak you grabbed it and shoved it in your mouth, crushing the hollow thing against the roof of your mouth and enjoying the resulting sweetness.

"It's so goooood~"

Guzma laughed and whacked you hard on the back. "Well, have fun with your dirt and plants! If ya need me, ya know where to find me."

He walked off, leaving you to your new job.

~~~
You sat down with a huff, hiding from the heat of the noonday sun in the shade of the building at your back. The rest of the Gardeners were starting to leave their positions as well, sitting, standing, or laying around.

A man with bright blue hair and blue eyes, just like a lot of the men here, sat down beside you and offered his hand. "Heya greenhorn. Name's Troy. What's yours?"

You shook his hand. "(Y/N). (Y/N) (L/N)."

Troy gave you a lopsided grin. "You like diggin'? Or could ya just not think of anything else tah do?"

"The last one."

He laughed like you'd said something funny and moved a little closer to you. "Same, Green. I'm no good with keeping the kiddies in line, and there ain't no way I'm gunna be a Cleaner. Thought about being a Peacekeeper once, but I ain't no good with violence. So here I am. Covered in dirt."

He motioned to his mud stained outfit and you glanced down at your own clothes. There was dirt on your pants and across the front of your shirt. You chuckled and rubbed the back of your neck. "Guess you can't escape being dirty in this line of work, eh?"

Troy laughed and clapped you hard on the back, giving you another lopsided grin. You laughed with him. It has been a long time since you'd laughed.

Troy ruffled your hair and stood up, offering you his hand. You took it and he pulled you to your feet, giving your hand a gentle squeeze before releasing you. You followed him back to the plants, unable to stop yourself from liking the man. Maybe it was time you'd made some friends anyway.