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Colress is an intelligent man. You've always known this, from the moment you met him something inside you said that he was dangerous, you needed to be wary, cautious...
Of course you did think you were safe from his tests at least, you were nothing more than a Grunt assigned to help find perfect Pokemon subjects for him, that was it.
Until it wasn't.
How could you have been so damn blind? He was always near you, but that was because you were basically his lab assistant at that point, you didn't think there was a chance in hell that he liked you, let alone loved you.
You were fine with that too, he always set you on edge; always played mind games with you that left you uneasy and hesitant to stay one more moment with him. At least you could leave anytime you wanted.
The choice of leaving isn't an option for you now.
Not when you're locked up as if you're a Pokemon to be tested on.
The room you're in is completely barren, with plain white walls and an iron door that automatically locks from the outside anytime it's closed.
Colress brings you food every day, you've refused to eat it this far though.
Instead, you drink water from the sink, priding yourself in your ability to survive without him.
You're not some sort of weak pet that he can manhandle or command, you're a person, and you don't want to live your life all cooped up like this.
At this point you can't even recall how you escaped, was it that metal pipe you stuck into the door so it wouldn't close all the way or was it the sheets you threw over his head so you could run away? It doesn't matter now, you knew your way out of that horrid castle and the forest is beckoning you, shielding you from potential pursuers who would drag you back there in an instant.
Panting, both from excitement and exhaustion, you continue to run barefoot through the woods, startling Pokemon and yourself, but that's good right? It means he didn't get to you, you'll escape Unova just like you escaped him and then you'll be free to live your life!
Hah... Oh, man... Slowing down once you figure that you're a good distance away, you sit and relax, gulping down deep breaths of fresh air and exhaling so loudly that you can hear your heartbeat inside your head.
Smiling to yourself, you're more than proud that you managed to pull it all off, even without proper planning or equipment, you made do and persevered in the face of likely odds. You're free, you'll never be captured again...
Your only goal now is to get out of this forest and then get out of Unova, that's it, that's all you need to do to get away from him.
After all that running, your stomach hurts an awful lot; you forgot about how hungry you were with all the initial adrenaline, now that you're calming down though, you wish you'd at least eaten something.
Sighing dramatically, you stand up and ignore the burning pit of hunger inside you so you can wander a bit more slowly through the forest. You need to stay conscious, you need to stay alert, you're so close, you've accomplished so much, you can't give up halfway through...
But living like this is wearing you down on you, you should've accepted some of the food, you should've thought ahead, and you could've been drinking clean water from a glass rather than forcing yourself to drink sink water. You didn't think about your survival all that much, you just wanted out, you needed to get out, you were going to go insane in that room, surely.
Or worse, you'd start to enjoy it.
If you were nicer, perhaps you would've been given more food or offered something to entertain yourself, maybe you could've even asked for a proper change of clothing rather than this medical garb he had you put into... No, you shouldn't think like that, Colress is a terrible man, he'd use you as a test subject sooner rather than later.
But... He did tell you that he loved you. You could've used that to your advantage, surely.
Right before that needle was injected into you during your capture, you'd heard it clear as day, a profession of love... But you don't reciprocate it. Or do you? Your mind is so conflicted, and you're starving, you just need to escape, everything will be fixed then...
Pausing, you rest your arm on a tree as you clutch your hand against your stomach, feeling as if your body is digesting itself in protest to your movements. Your legs are shaking now, and you can't seem to steady your breathing, that's fine, you just need to... you just need to keep moving.
Casting your glance down to your dirty legs and muddy clothing, you can't help a small sob that escapes you. You were dirty like this back in the room, you were given free access to a shower and clean clothes to wear, but you refused to comply even when asked politely. It was an act of defiance, but now you regret not listening at least once, you feel absolutely terrible...
You hear a snapping branch behind you, quickly looking to see what made the noise, but nothing is there. Letting out a sigh of relief, you return your sight to the path in front of you and spot his trusted Beheeyem.
"Fuck."
The Pokemon looks directly at you, and though it conveys no emotions through its body movements, you know you're done for.
There isn't a chance to look away, you're hit with its move and all your worries are lifted away.
Is this Calm Mind? You... certainly feel calmer, you can't even recall why you were so concerned in the first place, idly following the Pokémon back the way you came. Your limbs all ache in protest, but you can't feel it, or maybe you can and you're just ignoring it, does it matter either way though?
Even when the castle comes back into view, and when your brain shoots a warning of danger into your brain, you ignore it, or maybe you just can't accept it anymore. You don't want to hurt like this, you don't want to be hungry or dirty, you just want to live freely.
Colress comes into view, his expression going from one of worry to relief and then concern as he looks at you, rushing towards your limping body as his Pokemon releases your mind from its grip.
It matters not, your body gives out and you fall to the ground in pain, barely able to register his actions as he picks up your arm and holds your shoulder to keep you steady as you walk.
Why is he so worried? Why even bother with someone like you, you don't listen and you've been so rude to him... does he really love you enough to not care about all that?
No, this is all wrong, he's been holding you captive like a maniac, you cannot forget that just because this attempt failed. You've just gotta try again, you'll eat well this time and then you can escape and finally get away!
Smiling to yourself, you're too delirious to notice that he's walking you past the room you were in before, instead, you're being led towards the lab area, slowly feeling the energy draining from your body as you struggle to keep on your feet. He picks up your slack, holding you up and pushing open the large metal doors to help you inside.
When the doors close, you realize a moment too late that there is no light in the room, darkness engulfing you, but he doesn't let that stop him.
At this point, you're nearly being dragged across the room, your mind screaming at you to fight back, but you're tossed to the cold hard floor before you can even think of lifting up even one finger against him.
Your head slams against the tile and you gasp in pain, your breath knocked out of your body as you struggle to sit up and gain your bearings— a light clicks on and nearly blinds you, the low buzz of the bulb ringing in your ears with the dead silence surrounding you.
Colress stands in front of you, holding a barred door, his eyes ensuring that you are where you should be before slamming it closed.
Standing up, you move to the cage wall and reach out for him, not knowing what else to do as he backs away, "Wh—" you sputter for a moment, your voice sounding so horribly broken that you don't even realize it's you for a moment. Licking your dry lips, you wish you had something to drink, reaching for him in desperation, "Why did you bring me back…?"
At this, he brings out his folding tablet, rapidly typing in some words before walking closer to you, all so he can show you what's on the screen.
It's a video. One of your escape attempt. Based on the time it was recorded on the clock at the top of his screen, you can tell it hasn't even been two hours.
Less than two hours of freedom…
He taps another video, which shows him controlling a door to unlock it just before you came upon it- you recognize it too, it's the door that leads to outside.
Slowly, you look at his face, meeting his intense gaze as he stares at you with no remorse. The sinister smile on his lips is unlike any expression you've ever seen on the man before, horror filling your heart as he slides the video into the trash folder.
"With this, there is no evidence that you ever left."
You did all that planning, for nothing? Nothing at all? And now you're worse than where you started, caged in the lab like an experiment ready to be used and abused how he sees fit.
Eyes wide, you look down to your feet, and he chuckles at your misery, "Did you have fun at least? I'm pleasantly surprised… you got pretty far."
Suddenly, he slams his arm against the bars of the cage, drawing your terrified gaze while he looks down upon you, words calm despite the act of rage, "I want you to know who you belong to, so you'll stay in my lab from now on. Caged, just like a pet. It's better than letting you think you can leave."
"But I—"
"You don't get a say in this matter! I was too nice, I thought you'd be good, and that you wouldn't betray me like you did." He almost sounds… broken up about it, "You left me… I realize now I put too much trust into you, I was foolish to think you'd love me so easily."
You open up your mouth again but he interrupts you with a snicker, "I jest- I wasn't worried at all, you did exactly what I knew you would. That's because I love you, and I will always know where you are and what you are thinking."
Even though he's seemingly scolding you, he still smiles, as if he's just happy that you're with him again, "It's okay, I'm very understanding, and patient! All qualities that are perfect in a boyfriend!"
Did he really know what you would do? What you were planning? You thought it was clever, you thought you were getting a one-up over him after a week in captivity. He kidnapped you from your own home, that isn't something a regular person does, let alone a boyfriend.
"I admire you, you know? That's why I need you, my precious darling."
Exhaustion creeping in, you look at him in confusion and it only seems to make him even more cheerful, "And you look so cute locked up like that, today really has been one of the best in my entire life."
You were never close to an escape at all. Even if you did eventually find your way back to civilization, you were fucked from the beginning, he loves you and he isn't going to let you go.
Why did you ever think you'd escape from Colress? Had it been anyone else, you may have had a chance, but you know him, you know he's insane and that Ghetsis enables him.
With that sort of power behind him, of course you would end up here, in a metal cage of his own design with only the barest of essentials.
A large Pokemon bed and two bowls on the floor are the only things inside with you, and you shamefully sit down on the bed and glance at the two empty bowls.
You're not a pet, not a Pokemon, you're a person, yet this whole setup tells you that he isn't going to be treating you as one for a while. At least the room had a human bed, even if it was stuffy and driving you stir crazy, it's better than being humiliated like this.
Running your hands over your legs, you cringe at the state of yourself, you're filthy, scratched up, and covered in dirt and leaves and more. Not only that but you're thirsty… and starving. No food has entered your body in a week now, your stomach growls painfully and you close your eyes to avoid his pitiful look.
"I nearly forgot… my darling hasn't eaten in a while, yes? That's no good, I've got some food here though," walking to his desk, he pulls out a drawer and grabs what looks to be a nutrition bar from it, walking back to the cage with the biggest grin on his face, "I'll let you have it, free of charge!"
Previously, you would've turned your head and refused, but now you can't even stand up, physically exhausted from your escape attempt.
Contemplating what to do, you decide that the humiliation isn't worth the struggle, crawling over on your hands and knees to him, which brings delight to his face, "I didn't even have to teach you that… you learn so quickly."
Bending down, he opens up the bar with one hand before holding it in front of you, "You can eat from my hand, just so I can make sure you eat it all."
Just barely, he sticks it through the bar in front of you, shaking it side to side until you take your hand and place it on his wrist to keep him still as you lean forward and take a bite of the grainy stick.
Too hungry to complain about the lack of flavor, you eagerly bite and chew, ignoring the stinging in your throat from not chewing properly as you devour every morsel given to you. It's not enough food, not at all, but you feel just a bit better when he takes his free hand and pets your head.
"Good pet, I'll continue to feed you so long as you're obedient."
When he pulls away, crunching up the wrapper and shoving it into his pocket, you instinctively whine from the loss of contact, quickly covering your mouth with your hands in shame at such a noise from yourself.
"Oh? I'm sorry, I'm not being a good enough boyfriend if you sound so disappointed… How about I bring you some water? I bet you're thirsty from all that running, aren't you?"
You should deny everything, fight back and tell him to let you go, but you don't, solemnly nodding your head, "Please…"
Rising back to his feet, he walks to his small fridge in the lab and returns with a water bottle, his lips pulled into a kind smile as he leans down, unscrews the cap, and pours the water directly into one of the bowls onto the floor.
Does he really expect you to drink from that? Every drop of water is poured out, leaving it empty as he stays crouched right beside it, obviously waiting for you to move closer and drink, as he wants you to.
The empty bottle stays in his hand as his eyes look to yours, though he doesn't say anything you know exactly what he is suggesting.
Ignoring the way your knees complain, you crawl over to the two bowls, the cool hard lab floor under your hands, and take a moment to analyze your situation.
Colress in front of you, towering over you even when he's crouched down, you on your hands and knees, and a bowl of water in front of you.
Dry-mouthed, you speak as quietly as you can, wishing he wouldn't hear you even though it feels like your words echo in the silent laboratory, "Th-thank you…"
Hesitating, you lower your face down slowly, sniffing the water to try and tell if it's drugged or not, but you cannot be sure. Either way, you need to drink, the human body needs water above food, and you're struggling to even stay stable.
Tentatively, you stick your tongue out and lap at the water, though realistically you could just drink from it with your lips, you don't think that's what he wants… Anything to keep him from further degrading you, or getting mad, even if that show from before was just him playing around, it scared the daylights out of you. Colress can really be terrifying when he wants to be, you knew that, but even so, seeing that side of him is never something you want to happen again.
It's awkward, drinking water like a Growlithe is messy and you keep accidentally spilling it out of the side whenever you get too eager for more, not to mention it splashes onto your chin, cold and wet, leaving you feeling even more inhuman than before.
Refreshing though, nonetheless. You're allowed to drink your fill, and when you finally bring your face up, licking your lips, Colress sticks his hand through the cage bars and wipes your chin with his gloved hand.
"There there, I know today was awfully exciting, but you're home now, and I'm not gonna leave you alone ever again."
Your heart sinks, but you still find yourself unconsciously trying to lean into his touch, a lack of human contact will do that to anyone, you shouldn't blame yourself for instinct…
"I love you so, so much. I'm going to be a very good boyfriend for you, and I'll train you to be a good partner in return. Thankfully, it seems I won't have much training to do, isn't that right?"
Bite him.
Your mind screams at you to do it.
Open up your mouth and bite that stupidly gloved hand of his. It'd be so easy, show him that you're not going to be broken.
Instead, you nod, earning a gentle caress against your jaw as he pulls away.
"That's a good pet… you should rest now. I'll feed you more in the morning, and after that, we'll get you a nice warm shower to wash away all the excitement of today."
Standing up, he looks down at you as you crawl back to the Pokemon bed and curl up into it, shame fills your entire body at your obedience, but it's better than the alternative, isn't it?
Closing your eyes, you hear him leave rather than watch him, and though you know he's still in the lab, you feel a bit better now that he's gone from you.
Dammit all, why do you feel sad that he's no longer with you? Why do you want him to come back and watch you?
What's wrong with you?!
Keeping your tears silent, you force yourself to sleep even as your thoughts swirl around you in a cloud of hazy judgment and regrets over your choices.
It's too late to go back now, you're going to be here forever, with Colress…
Maybe... that isn't such a bad idea.