Finally inside of Tamono's house, Grimm noticed a little row of shoes next to the wall. He decided to slip off his own pair to be polite of the house rules.

"Where is your partner Eris?" Athena asked, moving away from the door and down to the short hallway.

"She's in her Pokéball," Grimm said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out the device.

"Please let her out, officer, no reason for her to stay inside the entire evening," the Pokémon told him.

"Of course," Grimm agreed before pressing the button and releasing her from the device. Eris appeared in a flash of white light before moving to stand at Grimm's side.

"My," Athena said, as if she suddenly saw something for the first time. "You two have quite the bond. Strong and protective of each other, but not completely trusting nor the typical 'love' that is felt between Pokémon and trainer." Grimm looked down to glance at Eris at the same time she looked up at him, they both looked at the gardevoir at the same time.

"What makes you say that?" Grimm questioned.

"Just something I can feel, officer," Athena said with a warm smile. "All Pokémon can sense their bond to their trainer. I am just a little more adapted to be able to sense the bond between others."

"I see," Grimm said, following Athena as she led the way. He was already nervous enough, he didn't need to think about his bond with other Pokémon. Eris walked beside Grimm, head casually looking from side to side while she sniffed the air. There was the near-overwhelming smell of human food cooking with fresh spices. Underneath it was the scent of living creatures, her master's was the strongest since she knew him. The next strongest was the gardevoir and the other creatures she had yet to see. Under it all was an extremely faint smell Eris almost hadn't picked up on, that seemed familiar yet it quickly passed, leaving the Houndoom wondering if she had imagined it. Still it made her fur stand on end, for it was trying to bring a memory to the surface of her mind she could not quite reach.

"Something smells good," Grimm remarked as he could smell the cooking food. Though that was all he could get, he did not have as keen a nose as his partner.

"Miss Tamono is a skilled cook," Athena explained while she led the pair towards the living room. "If I recall correctly she is preparing tempura with soba noodles."

Grimm couldn't keep the surprise off his face. He didn't know much about cooking but he did know restaurants and where he had seen those types of dishes were in Japanese restaurants. He had been expecting something simple like pasta or maybe burgers, nothing so exotic.

"Oh wow," Grimm said as they entered the living room. "She didn't have to prepare something so elaborate."

"Miss Tamono enjoys cooking," Athena said, gesturing towards the couch. "Please take a seat officer, she will be here in a moment." Grimm nodded and sat on the couch, his mind racing. He was nervous, he was on a date after all, but he was also trying to understand all of this. He was being treated more like a VIP than just a guest.

Movement from the direction of the kitchen caught Grimm's eyes and he jerked his gaze to face it. It was Anput, Mae's Lucario wearing what appeared to be white silk robes with a white bow around her ear to match and carrying a tray. Upon the tray was a bottle that looked to be made of polished clay or some other kind of ceramic material. With it were miniature bowls made of the same materiel.

"Lu lu car cario lucario?" Anput asked as she approached Grimm. He had tensed upon seeing her, his hand dropping towards where his pistol was concealed. He just watched her for a moment before he slowly brought his hand out from behind his back.

"She wants to know if you'd like some sake before dinner," Athena helpfully translated.

"Oh. Uh," Grimm was unsure. He had already drank a couple of beers at the wake and he wasn't sure more alcohol was a good idea, especially a strong spirit like sake. Tempura, soba, and now sake combined with what Anput was wearing, which Grimm now recognized as a kimono. What was going on here? His mind was buzzing with questions but he couldn't ask them yet, for he had yet to see Mae. He realized he hadn't answered and deciding to be polite, he reached out and took one of the small bowls from the tray. "Thank you.''

The Lucario simply nodded and set the tray on the coffee table. Both of the Pokémon stared at him expectantly so he quickly raised the glass to his lips and knocked the shot back. Grimm didn't know anything about sake but he knew enough about alcohol and the lack of burn the spirit brought to his throat and the smooth taste, to know it was finely crafted, aged and expensive stuff.

"Very good," Grimm said, placing the bowl on the tray. The moment he sat the bowl down, Anput picked up the bottle and skillfully refilled it to the max amount. Grimm shifted his feet as he picked up the bowl but did not drink it this time.

"You seem as if you are not used to this kind of treatment," Athena remarked. Grimm chuckled bitterly.

"As a low level cop this kind of treatment is the last kind to expect," Grimm said. His tone was joking but his eyes were unblinking and deadly serious.

"Well Miss Tamono is very grateful for what you did for me," Athena explained. The Gardevior smiled slyly and dropped her voice. "And she appears to be quite fond of you and wishes to make a good impression." Before Grimm could formulate a response to what was just said, Athena spoke again at normal volume. "I will go see if she is ready." Both Athena and Anput left, leaving Grimm and Eris alone in the living room. Grimm watched them leave and once they were gone, he quickly drained the second shot. He could feel the warming tingle passing through his body and knew he was a drink or two away from being buzzed.

"Not used to the royal treatment either, huh girl?" Grimm asked Eris. The canine was sitting beside the couch head slowly scanning back and forth. She only stopped her search when Grimm spoke, turning to face him. Her head cocked to the side, brows furrowed at his question. Grimm chuckled. "Never mind, I'd say keep up the good work but I think you can relax just a little bit tonight." Eris changed her expression and her crimson eyes locked upon Grimm's green. To Grimm she seemed to be saying 'I'll relax when you do'. In response he reached out and patted her flank before she went back to scanning the room.

"I'll be right there Adam," Mae's voice called from somewhere inside the house. "I do apologize for the wait." Upon hearing her voice Grimm got to his feet quickly as if the room had been called to attention when a superior officer walked in.

"Take your time," Grimm called back. "It's no trouble." Grimm's heart was now racing, which he didn't understand. Sure he was always nervous on first dates, who wasn't? However nothing like this, it was like the feeling was amplified and he couldn't figure out the cause. Was it that Mae had a Lucario, the drinking, the fact he hadn't had an actual date since the incident at the warehouse or the fact he was being treated like a VIP and he was way out of his depth? Something nudging his side and then his hand, drew his attention. Eris was pressing into his side trying to comfort him as she'd been trained to do. Grimm exhaled a chuckle and started to pet her head.

"I can kick down doors, stare down suspects, and be caught in high speed pursuits but meeting a girl sets me on edge," Grimm said, well aware of the irony. Grimm started to frown; the more he thought about it the more it concerned him. Never in his life had he been like this around a girl, even one he found attractive. Was this what it was like to be in love? No, he'd only just met Mae a few days ago and hadn't spent a lot of time with her. Grimm did not believe in 'love at first sight' and all that junk that was pushed out in TV and books. He believed in love, sure, but in his experiences lust was usually the cause of 'love at first sight'. Yet while he found Mae attractive, he was not lusting after her.

The sound of approaching footsteps drew Grimm's attention from his own thoughts. He jerked his head towards the sound, hand instinctively reaching towards his hip, where his pistol would be. His hand froze upon seeing that it was Mae walking through the entryway into the living room. His jaw dropped just enough for him to gasp in surprise. He didn't know what he had been expecting, but he was prepared for her to be like she was dressed when they first met. Something practical, shorts and an athletic shirt, however like Anput, she was dressed in a kimono. It was a rich almost creamy brown and held a sheen from the lights showing it was made of silk. The seams and edges were a bright red that contrasted nicely with both her tanned skin and brown silk. The garment clung to her body to show off her shapely figure underneath.

Her massive amount of hair had been done up into a single braided ponytail, which was draped over her left shoulder. Whom ever had done her hair had done so to painstakingly have her red highlights evenly spiraled throughout her braided hair. This made her hair have an almost candy cane look with the red and brown stripes. The end of her ponytail was held together by a polished blue band that did not appear to be plastic. Grimm suddenly felt underdressed in his police issued polo shirt and khaki utility pants.

"Wow!" Grimm said. "You look amazing." He said out of reaction. Mae smiled softly and smoothed the front of her kimono out.

"Thank you," She said, looking up and into his eyes. "You don't think it's too much?"

"No not at all," Grimm said, with a sheepish smile. "If anything I'm a bit underdressed."

"A bit," Mae said, but she smiled, reaching out a hand and placed it on his shoulder. "However it's very fitting and it gives you that ruggedly handsome look." Grimm tensed up once she touched him. The touch sent a tingle through his entire body and he found that he enjoyed it very much. It was then he realized that he had not been intimately touched by anyone. Sure he'd gotten the shoulder slaps or back pats from his fellow officers and even Ramirez's wife had given him a hug on occasion but that was different. He did not realize how much he missed such contact until this moment.

"Uhh…thank you," Grimm said, with that same sheepish smile. She smiled warmly and gave his shoulder a soft squeeze.

"I hope you don't think I'm too forward," Mae chuckled softly. She removed her hand from his shoulder before he had a chance to answer. "Dinner is ready." She turned and led him towards the dining room. He was only mildly surprised to find that her dining table was very low to the floor with pillows placed on each side. Grimm ate at many different types of restaurants and he sat cross legged on the pillow that had a place setting on the table in front of it. Mae sat opposite. Eris sat at Grimm's side looking intently at Mae. The former trainer didn't seem to mind, and in fact smiled at Eris.

"If you don't mind Adam, I was hoping it could be just us for dinner," Mae said, grabbing a teapot from the kettle and pouring a pair of bowls. "I also prepared the same meal for Anput and Athena in the kitchen."

"That was thoughtful of you," Grimm said, accepting the tea bowl from her. He looked down at Eris, not completely comfortable about leaving her or being away from her for a period of time. Strange that a week ago he wanted nothing to do with her. Mae smiled warmly at the pair while she sipped her tea. Eris looked up at Grimm, over to Mae, and then back to Grimm. She then bowed her head before getting to her feet. Almost on cue, Anput walked out holding a tray loaded with plates of food. She set it on the table between Grimm and Mae.

"Lu?" she asked, facing Mae, her paws folded in front of her in a very human-like gesture.

"No thank you Anput," Mae said. "Please take Miss Eris with you to the kitchen for her meal." The Lucario nodded and held out a paw towards Eris. The canine walked over to the blue furred Pokémon and followed her into the kitchen, leaving Grimm and Mae completely alone. The food before them looked picture perfect, and aromas emanating from the dishes were just as good. Grimm waited until Mae started to fill her plate before he took an equal amount of the dishes for his own plate.

"So I've got to ask," Grimm said, placing his plate in front of him. Mae raised both her brows and smiled softly even leaning closer to the table. "This food, the style of furniture, your clothing and your name are all Japanese, but you…" Here he paused, unsure how to phrase the question so as not to sound offensive.

"Am not Japanese?" Mae completed for him, with that soft smile still.

"Yes," Grimm said, mentally flinching and taking a drink from his tea bowl. It was hot and bitter as tea was, but not overly strong.

"To put it simply, I am adopted," Mae stated, setting down her own tea bowl.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to bring up a topic that-" Grimm started but Mae simply held up her hand.

"Relax Adam," She said, her smile widening just enough to show her teeth. "It is not a sore subject. I was adopted by a very traditional Japanese couple when I was still an infant. I do not know why I was given up nor did I ever look into the subject. My adopted parents did not know the answers either and they raised me with love and their traditions. As far as I was concerned, they were my parents."

"Well, this food is amazing," Grimm said, as he had been eating during her explanation.

"Thank you kindly," Mae said, starting into her own food. "Now I think it is my turn to ask a question." Grimm nodded since he was still chewing a bite. "Have you always been a police officer? And a follow up if I may, did you always want to be a police officer?" Grimm swallowed his food and washed it down with a sip of tea. These were typical questions he was often asked and got annoyed by depending on the frequency.

"Yes I always wanted to be a police officer," Grimm said. "I grew up watching cop and crime TV shows. Always wanted to be one of the good guys, get the bad guy and save the girl." He smiled and chuckled softly to show it was more of a joke. Mae smiled and chuckled softly in her throat. "But in all seriousness, I just want to help people in need, stop the truly evil ones and serve my community. I don't want to take people to jail if I don't have to but the law is the law. As for always being a cop." He paused to take another bite, he was still feeling close to buzzed and he wanted to pause to make sure he chose his words carefully.

"Simply put yes and no," Grimm explained before carefully refilling his tea, thankful for all the table manners Ramirez's wife literally beat into him. "I enlisted into the service first out of high school. I became an MP, military police, canine handler which was pretty much what I do now. After my contract I moved back here and got a job with the city department. So what is it like being a trainer?" Mae laughed humorlessly for a moment.

"Not as glamorous as they make it out to be," She explained, between small careful bites. "I pretty much started out as soon as I could but didn't become a trainer full time until after high school. It's a lot of hard work, scraping together funds, staying in crowded Pokémon centers, battling Pokémon trying to win money to keep going. Frankly it's exhausting trying to prove yourself and rise above the thousands of other no name trainers. Then once you rise to the semi pro or pro circuits you're traveling twice as much, living out of hotel rooms and battling twice as much. It not only takes a toll on you but your Pokémon as well. It's a strange feeling to be proud watching how they can push themselves to keep going but at the same time you worry about how much they can take."

"You made it to the pros?" Grimm asked, finishing his food and wiping his mouth. The question earned another small smile and humorless laugh from Mae.

"No, I only made it to semi pro but the amount of traveling and work that was required just to be an opening fight for the main events was enough for me," She explained, finishing her own plate of food. "The money was good, in both sponsorships and prize money. Then some investments allowed me to retire from that life and live comfortably."

"So you don't work?" Grimm asked. Mae only shook her head. "What occupies your time then and what about Athena? I mean she works at the club." Grimm was surprised, she was so young and she was able to retire so quickly she must've done better at Pokémon battling then she was admitting.

"I still travel," Mae explained, sipping her tea. "I go from city to city and volunteer to assist Pokémon in need. Those that have been neglected, abused or injured too greatly to continue to battle and are abandoned. Help treat them and then finding them a new home. In fact that's where both Athena and Anput come from. I released my original Pokémon from my service and let them choose what to do next. Anput and Athena I met during my volunteering and took them as my own. Athena works because she wishes to pay me back even though I have explained countless times I do not wish for that. She is stubborn." She chuckled again and Grimm chuckled with her. He was finding that he was enjoying this evening very much and to find out that Mae was kind hearted as she seemed to have warmed his spirits greatly. Sometimes he spent so long dealing with some of the worst of humans he forgot there were good ones out there.

"What about you," Mae asked, looking into Grimm's eyes. "You have any Pokémon growing up?"

"Me?" Grimm asked, using a stall tactic to figure out exactly how much to tell her about his feelings on Pokémon. "No. Even at a young age I found the idea of capturing animals for the sole purpose of battling them against each other…unpleasant." He paused looking carefully at Mae since he had just basically told her that he disapproved of her having been a trainer. "I did have a chocolate lab growing up though, one of the reasons I became a canine handler in the service."

"I take it you don't approve of Pokémon battles?" Mae asked, her voice was extremely neutral. Grimm's heart was hammering in his chest he felt this could determine which way the date was going to go.

"I mean," Grimm started. "If I knew for sure all Pokémon wanted to battle willingly and not because they are forced to. I know they seem to enjoy it and everything but…I don't know. It just doesn't sit 100 percent right with me." Mae nodded, that soft smile returning to her face.

"I understand and through my years of training I started to see a similar point of view," Mae said. "I will say it is refreshing to meet someone with an objective point of view on the subject."

During the time Mae and Grimm were eating their meal, Eris was eating hers. In the kitchen there was another low dining table that Eris could stand at a side and comfortably bend her head down to eat the food on her plate. The food was very good, it was like the leftovers that her master fed her but they were warm and miles better than the dry hard food he'd been feeding her out of the bag. Anput and Athena sat on the floor in front of the table eating their own meals. Athena had the ability to eat with a pair of chopsticks due to having enough human hands, while Anput picked the food with her paws and ate. Eris was the first one done, licking her chops before sitting on the floor and looking at the other two Pokémon.

"So," Anput started, facing Eris. "How long have you been with your master?"

"Two weeks," Eris answered curtly.

"How is he, as a master?" Athena asked, setting down her chopsticks.

"Good," Eris turned her head to look at Athena then straight ahead again. Both Anput and Athena shared a glance before they turned back to look at her.

"You can be honest with us," Athena said. Eris jerked her head back at the implication she was lying.

"I am being truthful," Eris said, fixing the other two Pokémon with a stern gaze.

"Well you do not have to be so short in your answers," Anput explained.

"I answered your questions," Eris pointed out. "What more could you wish to know?"

"How is he as master?" Anput clarified.

"Is he kind, mean, affectionate, things like that," Athena gave examples. Eris seemed to consider the question.

"He has not been my master long," Eris prefaced her statement. "He was reluctant to trust me. Yet I earned it and even before then he treated me with respect and concern for my wellbeing. As I gained his trust he started to reward me with head touches and side pats. I care for his safety as he does mine and I will protect him from any threats." She pointedly looked at Athena first and then Anput.

"That I can sense you both are very protective of each other," Athena said. "Yet there is an emotional barrier that he keeps up that prevents him from getting closer to you."

"If that is his wish," Eris said flatly.

"Is that your wish?" Anput asked.

"I wish to bond deeper with my master," Eris explained. "I suspect it will take time but at the beginning he did not trust me at all. I hope in time I can change that about him."

"I bet you will," Athena said, with a curt nod.

"Now I have a question for you," Eris said, looking at Athena. "I feel that is only fair." Athena nodded. "You work at that place, the place where the man sucks on the foul smelling sticks." Once again Athena nodded as Eris described Roman and his cigars. "My master, every time we have gone there he had become agitated. His heart beats fast, his body tense, his gaze alerted, and I can smell the adrenaline in his sweat. The place disgusts and offends him, why?" Both Anput and Athena shared a look but before they can answer Eris continues.

"Then my master is sent to find a lost Pokémon, you ask him to take it seriously," She looked at Athena. "My master found her after she had been attacked in some way and my master treated her. My master was good for doing that, because he did, I was able to speak with her. She said her master, the man with the foul sticks, says he trades her to mate with humans." Eris paused letting her words hang in the air, switching her crimson gaze between both Anput and Athena.

"Is that the purpose of this place? To let humans and Pokémon mate?" Eris asked the question directly. The two other Pokémon traded glances once more.

"Yes," Athena said, curtly. Eris nodded.

"Why?" The houndoom asked.

"Why what?" Athena asked.

"Why do humans mate with Pokémon and why does their master allow this?" Eris asked, her gaze not leaving Athena's for a second. An amused smile came to Athena's lips.

"You have learned some of his skills," She remarked. "Conducting an interview very much like he would." Eris didn't seem to blink while she waited for the answers to her questions. "Humans mate with Pokémon because it feels good."

"Why do humans not just mate with other humans?" Eris asked.

"There are too many possible reasons to go over but to put it simply, because they want to. Some humans are more attracted to Pokémon than to humans. Just like some Pokémon are attracted to humans instead of other Pokémon." Eris's gaze did not change nor did her expression.

"I do not see my master as a potential mate," Eris explained flatly.

"And your aura says you speak the truth," Anput interjected helpfully.

"I know, I was simply explaining it is possible," Athena said. "Why their master lets humans mate with his Pokémon is because the humans pay him to do so."

"Humans give him money so they can mate with his Pokémon?" Eris asked. Athena nodded. "Answer directly." Eris demanded sharply but not raising her voice.

"Yes," Athena said.

"This is not against human laws?" Eris asked. She did not understand all of the humans' laws but she had heard that humans paying to mate with humans was against laws of some kind. Spending pretty much all of her time as a puppy and then a full-grown houndoom at a police station she had overheard much about laws and humans breaking them.

"It is in a way not against any laws," Athena explained. "The man, their master, is very clever in not breaking the law."

"That is why my master hates the place," Eris said, more to herself. "The man breaks the law but my master can't do anything about it."

"Yes," Athena said with a sad sigh.

"However he will not be able to get away with it much longer," Anput said. Athena shot a glare at the lucario.

"What do you mean?" Eris asked the jackal like Pokémon.

"Laws can be changed," Athena said, still glaring at lucario. Eris nodded, finding that did make sense. Anput suddenly cocked her head to the side as if hearing something.

"Pardon me," she said, getting to her feet and leaving the kitchen. Just as Anput said that, Mae's voice rang through the kitchen.

"Anput would you mind clearing some dishes?" The trainer's voice took on an almost sing-song quality about it. Eris's gaze followed the Lucario while she left and then turned her gaze back to Athena.

"Do you mate with humans because you work at that place as well?" Eris asked the gardevoir.

"No," She said quickly. "I just work at the front desk taking and passing along orders when the club itself is not open."

"Do you find fault with what the man in the white clothes is doing?" Eris asked next.

"I do," Athena said, seeming to brace for the next question.

"Then why do you work there? Does your master not have the ability to take care of you?" Athena sighed softly and smiled almost sadly.

"You are very much like him, your questioning, your quest for the truth and the respect of the law," Athena said. Eris's gaze did not soften or deviate from her. "I work there because I did not want my master to solely take care of me. I wanted to be able to 'earn my keep' as the humans say. That club was one of the few places hiring Pokémon at a respectable wage and didn't require too much physical work." Eris nodded, seemingly satisfied for the time being. Just then Anput returned to the kitchen carrying a tray of dirty dishes. The lucario set the tray down by the sink. Athena got to her feet and walked over and started to wash them having closer to hands than Anput.

"Your master's aura is very cheerful and relaxed, as is mine's," Anput explained, with what equated to a smile on her muzzle. "I strongly suspect your master will be spending the night." Eris cocked her head and looked up at the jackal like Pokémon, confused.

"Why would he spend the night?" Eris asked. Both Athena and Auput giggled softly after a brief exchange of glances.

"Looks like you will be spending the night as well," Anput said, matter of factly. "I will take you to a guest room."

"I do not require sleep yet," Eris said sternly.

"Are you sure?" Athena asked, not turning around from the sink. "You are not a little tired from your long day?" Eris found herself thinking about the events of the day. The excitement that started the day when she found out that she could speak with her master in her dreams, the tension going back to the club, the sadness in the air when they went to the place that smelled of that strange drink humans consumed, and then the nervousness while they came here. It had been a long day and she really was tired now that she thought about it. She was sure that heavy food had something to do with it.

"I could sleep," Eris admitted, after she yawned. "But I have a duty to my master." She explained, determined to stay awake. Athena and Anput exchanged a glance before looking back upon Eris.

"I understand your loyalty," Anput said. "Understand that I hold the same loyalty to my mistress. Since she is wishing to court with your master I hold their safety in the same regard as her." Athena walked over and placed a hand against Eris's flank. Eris looked over sharply at the unanticipated touch, her lips starting to pull back to bare her teeth a growl in her throat. Yet before she could, the feeling of anger passed as reasoning took over the canine's mind. She could somehow feel that Athena didn't mean her any harm and her touch was not unpleasant.

"Also," Athena smiled. "I believe Miss Tamono has something special in mind for your master. Something she would not want us to see and I would say your master would not want to see either."

"Mating?" Eris asked bluntly. Athena gasped as if Eris had uttered a swear, pulling her hand away. "We were discussing mating earlier between humans and Pokémon." Eris said pointedly

"Indeed," Anput said.

"That is why you believe my master and I will be spending the night," Eris explained more for herself than the other two.

"That is right," Athena said. "Will you let me take you to the guest room?" She asked and when Eris still looked unconvinced. "To give your master some privacy?" Eris's expression softened ever so slightly as she considered the gardevoir's words. Her master did deserve privacy and these two Pokémon seemed to be honorable.

"Lead the way," Eris said, getting to her feet.

"Right this way," Athena said, getting gracefully to her feet.

Both Grimm and Mae had finished dinner and were enjoying more alcohol while relaxing sitting on the couch in the living room.

"They really mistook him for a stripper?" Mae asked, between laughing. Grimm had to pause between laughing himself, the liquor and company placing him in high spirits.

"They really did!" Grimm laughed. "He was so flustered and at a loss for what to do, it didn't help that Angel was laughing over the radio when he kept asking for assistance. Eventually he left the house and went back to the squad car where he flashed the lights and blared the siren to prove he was a cop. Angel told us his face was still red while he wrote the owner of the house a noise violation ticket."

"A ticket, no warning?" Mae asked, raising her brow. Grimm chuckled again, taking the time to finish his glass of alcohol.

"Hawk was a little upset," Grimm explained, with a fond smile that slowly became somber. "Once Hawk left, Angel went to the house and took the ticket, giving them the warning instead. He never did tell Hawk about it." His tone had become less energetic then it had been, something Mae noticed right away placing a hand on his shoulder.

"I am sorry for your loss," Mae stated, just as somberly her hand squeezing his shoulder. Grimm turned his head to lock eyes with her, having dropped his gaze to his feet moments before. As he looked into her eyes a single thought echoed around his mind like it was shouted from somewhere outside. 'Kiss her' was what it demanded of him. Like all of these sudden thoughts and feelings that he had been having around Mae lately, it took him a moment to understand where it had come from.

They had just been speaking of Hawk who's wake he'd just come from. Now on his first date, with a woman he had not known long, all he could think about was kissing her. The timing was not itself odd, after all they were speaking after eating and both had been drinking, but there had been no build up to that thought. He had been speaking of Hawk and suddenly as thunder rips across the sky during a storm, he thinks of kissing her. It is not an unpleasant or unwanted thought, but one Grimm could not understand the origins of. Besides, he found he did want to kiss her but did she want to be kissed?

He glanced at the hand that was on his shoulder, the contact was a good sign. Grimm reached up and pressed his palm to the side of her face. She didn't pull away, she leaned into it tilting her head towards his palm. Grimm's heart was hammering in his chest, while his fingers curled around the back of her head pulling her head towards him. He found that he met absolutely no resistance, pulling her closer to him. He leaned in the rest of the way and before he could lose his nerve he met her lips with his.

Mae's lips were warm and soft and seemed to welcome his just as eagerly as he was to meet hers. The kiss was broken by her not long after it started and Grimm's face twisted into confusion and then fear. Had he misread the situation? Had he gone too far and she was just being polite? Grimm started to pull his head back away from her but a hand that had appeared on the back of his head he hadn't noticed stopped him. Mae then smiled and halfway closed her eyes leaning in close to whisper into his ear.

"I don't want my Pokémon to see me like this, but my bedroom is upstairs," She whispered, and then her tongue passed over his ear. "Take me there." What happened next for Grimm was a strange series of events that seemed to pass in snippets of time centered on their continued kissing. Grimm pulling Mae to her feet off the couch. A very slow and awkward climb of stairs where sometimes Grimm found himself walking backwards up the stairs and leading Mae and other times she was leading him. Entering a room in which Mae had to slap the wall three times before the lights finally snapped on.

The next time Grimm paused for air he found he was standing at the foot of what he could guess was Mae's bed. She only wore her undergarments, her kimono laying on the floor in the middle of the room. Likewise his shirt was lying in the doorway and his pants with one leg turned inside out sat where they fell in the middle of the room. If he could've taken his eyes from the trainer he'd be able to see the grip of his pistol sticking out of the concealed holster still clipped to the waistband. A strange and unwelcome thought came into his mind then, that this was the first time he had been intimate with anyone ever since the warehouse years ago.

As if Mae could sense the sudden doubt entering Grimm's mind she pressed herself against him. She placed a kiss to his lips, his chain and finally his neck while holding his scarred cheek. Her affections and the warmth of her body against him made him think of only his desire for her. Mae gasped softly when Grimm lifted her off her feet, her legs wrapped around his waist. Grimm carefully laid her back onto the mattress following her down. Their faces were inches apart, their chest and stomachs pressed together, Mae's palm held the back of his neck to keep him from pulling away.

"Take me Adam," She whispered in a voice like honey. Grimm couldn't refuse her even if he wanted to. Grimm's hands went behind her back pinned between the mattress and her soft skin, fingers loosening her bra. Once he felt it go slack, Mae smiled coyly, crossing her arms over her chest to hide her breasts even as she removed the garment. She kept herself covered looking up at Grimm, eyes half lidded and smiled. Slowly she uncovered herself, showing herself too Grimm. He responded by leaning down and kissing the crook of her neck, causing her to moan softly and arch her back pressing her body into him. Mae's arms wrapped around him tightly, fingers leaving small indents in the skin of his back.

Grimm's hands found their way to her hips and the waistband of her underwear pulling them down. Mae arched her back once to make it as easy as possible feeling herself completely exposed made her moan again. Once the garment was past her knees, she desperately pulled it the rest of the way down with her feet and kicked it off. Moving one of her slender legs between them she hooked his underwear and pulled them down. Grimm stopped kissing her neck, lifting his chest up so he could look into her eyes. Mae smiled at him, her hands loosely gripping his shoulders. Grimm's hands braced themselves on the mattress on either side of her head. Grimm pushed off his toes and moved his hips forward and the two were joined as one.

Mae gasped in surprise pleasure, her legs wrapped around his waist, her ankles crossed at the small of his back. Her fingers gripped his shoulders so tightly the knuckles went white briefly. Grimm's hands grabbed fistfuls of the blanket atop the mattress as he exhaled trying to get used to a feeling he had not known for far too long. His body remembered the motion and he fell into it naturally moving as much as her legs allowed him to. Mae's breathing became a mix of panting and moans to the rhythm of Grimm's movements. She felt everything, all of him moving within her so smoothly and naturally, nothing felt more right or perfect.

"Yes!" She cried out biting her lip. She closed her eyes, having to turn her head to look off to the side, if she kept looking at him she'd surely melt. Grimm started to move swifter, sweat standing out on his forehead and back as he too started to pant. Mae groaned, opening her eyes in shock, having to wrap her arms around Grimm's back pulling him close. "Yes! Yes!" She cried again louder than before. Now the bed was protesting Grimm's movements, Mae arching her body into his trying to make it as easy for him as possible. She rested her chin on his shoulder clinging to his body as if her life depended upon it. "Imma! Imma!" She didn't finish her sentence, she couldn't as she cried out loudly as a wave of pleasure washed over her body.

"Adaaaaaammmmm!" She cried his name in the moment of bliss. Her legs and arms kept him from leaving her and now they used all their strength to keep him right where he was. His pace had increased as it would not be long before he reached the same height as her. "Finish! Finish my hero!" she cried still in the embrace of bliss, already she could feel another rapidly approaching. "It's your reward!" she managed just before she cried out again her body lost in another climax.

"Mae!" Grimm cried out as he reached his peak as well. So many things that should've been thought about prior to this completely forgotten. Protection, the consequence of the lack of it, her lack of thought of it as well and many others. All Grimm could think about was reaching his peak with her, and he did. His movements now a fevered paced and forceful enough that the sound of their repeated union could be heard easily. All of his desire, need, and past frustration left his body and entered Mae. Once it had passed the wave of clarity and exhaustion that followed such a relief rushed over him but more powerfully then he ever remembered.

"Mae?" Grimm said almost drunkenly as his body collapsed onto her. Mae smiled and ran her hands up and down his back.

"Shhh," she whispered into his ear. "Sleep my love. My hero in blue." Her legs eased around his waist and fell back to the bed. Grimm wanted to stay awake to talk to her to not just finish and pass out but he was just so exhausted, plus she said it was alright didn't she? Grimm's body relaxed on top of her, Mae starting to hum softly as his eyes closed. "I love you Adam," she whispered when he was in that strange twilight between sleep and awake. Mae closed her eyes as well loving the feeling of him on top of her, inside of her and filling her and she wished to stay like this as long as possible.

Mae was not asleep for long when a hand on her shoulder woke her, she snapped her eyes open and found herself looking at Athena. With a heavy sigh Mae knew exactly what she wanted.

"Can't it wait until the morning?" Mae asked.

"You know that it cannot," Athena said, sounding regretful. She pulled her hand from Mae's shoulder and kept it clasped in front. The Pokémon looked over the two joined lovers and smiled sadly. "You really do love him don't you?"

"Yes I do," Mae admitted, looking at Grimm wondering how she could get out from under him without waking him.

"Don't worry he won't wake, I made sure of it," Athena said. With another sigh Mae rolled Grimm off of her and felt suddenly very naked. She swung her legs over the bed and stood up, making sure to cover the sleeping Grimm with a blanket. Mae went towards his discarded clothes when Athena held up a slender hand. "You know how she feels about wearing clothes when it is not required." Mae pursed her lips and sighed walking out of the room naked, heading down the stairs and into the basement with Athena following behind. "Shouldn't you clean up first?"

"Where is Eris?" Mae asked, ignoring Athena's concern.

"I placed her in a guest room, she is sound asleep," Athena explained. "Please Mae, it is dripping down your legs." Mae didn't say anything as they entered the basement area that was furnished with a couch, chairs and coffee table. Anput was already waiting, sitting on a couch, no longer wearing the ribbon around her ear.

"Lu-Luc?" Anput asked.

"Speak plainly!" Mae snapped.

"Geez I'd have thought you'd be in a better mood," Anput said in English, taken aback. "Considering you just got laid."

"I was in a very good mood but then I got pulled away because she couldn't wait," Mae said.

"No I couldn't," a sharp voice said. A blaziken finished coming down the stairs. Mae stared at her defiantly for half a second before the bird Pokémon's glare caused Mae to bow her head in fear and respect. "You can drop the act as well." She said pointedly.

"Yes ma'am," Mae said like a child given a chore. Suddenly, instead of the athletic human trainer, a zoroark stood in her place, her mane done up into a twisted braid like the human's hair had been. There were scars along her muzzle and her right eye was cloudy to indicate the blindness in it. Anput's left ear that had been perfectly fine before now suddenly had a chunk missing from it; the fur grayed at the edges.

"I will say I am impressed you were able to maintain the illusion even as you came," Blaziken said, her features forming into what could only be a smirk.

"Years of practice," Mae the Zoroark explained. "It's also why he thought he was feeling skin and not fur and kissing a face and not a muzzle. My illusions are flawless."

"Mae, Hare," Athena said, addressing both the zoroark and blaziken. "May we focus on the matter at hand?" Hare turned a single squinted eye over to the gardevoir before folding her arms over her chest and straightening up to her full impressive height.

"Did you get them?" Hare asked. In response Athena simply held up a key ring taken from Grimm's discarded pants. Hare nodded, holding out a talon the keys placed into it by Athena. "Good work. I'll get to work copying the ones we need." With the keys, Hare ascended the stairs with a purposeful look upon her face. Once she was gone, Anput got to her feet.

"So since your illusions are flawless do you think you can make me look like your human disguise?" Anput asked. "I would like a chance t-"

"No!" Mae replied sharply. Anput growled and stepped closer to poke Mae's chest.

"We share our spoils, that was the agreement!" Anput growled. "When we joined together that was always the agreement, to share the spoils and the kills."

"He is neither!" Mae growled, lips pulled back into a sneer showing her fangs.

"She loves him Anput," Athena interjected calmly. Both Anput and Mae jerked back from each other to look at Athena. Mae was shocked and embarrassed while Anput was completely taken back.

"What?" Anput demanded, then turned to look at Mae. "How can you love him? A human?"

"I am quite curious about this as well after all humans have done to us," Athena said. "As well as how you know him to be able to fall in love." Mae flicked her one good eye between both Anput and Mae before her ears flattened and she sighed.

"He was the first human that did not look upon me with lust or simple indifference," Mae explained. "He was the first one that listened to what I had to say and believed me of the abuse I suffered at the hands of my master. He was what I had always been dreaming of but didn't know it, he was my hero to save me. Surely you've been around him long enough you can sense his feelings for law and order."

"Along with his hatred for Pokémon," Athena said, crossing her arms. "It made it challenging and straining to break through that wall of hatred and mistrust to sway his feelings to find you attractive and to seek romantic involvement. Even though he believes you are human, romance and sex were the most underused emotions." Athena pursed her lips. "Though I can also sense he hates Roman, the club and what he does. He wishes he could arrest that man and his adherence to the laws he is trusted to uphold, the only thing keeping him from doing so."

"Do not judge him for hating Pokémon," Anput said softly. "He is the only victim we have left alive in our quest for justice."

"So he lusts after Pokémon without their consent or takes advantage of their naivety?" Athena said. "Strange, I did not pick up on that."

"No," Mae said, dropping her gaze to the floor. "He did not deserve the punishment we brought upon him. I hadn't planned on running into him and like I said he wanted to help and wasn't just going to go away and leave me to fend for myself. Things got out of hand and this was before we liberated you when we were just starting to figure out ourselves and the rules."

"He was the innocent one in that exchange?" Athena asked. She sat down heavily as if she suddenly was the overwhelmed one. "So much makes sense now….the pain, the guilt, the anger that I can feel from him." Athena looked as if she was going to say something else but couldn't bring herself to say it.

"What do we do now?" Anput asked, before the conversation could take an unpleasant turn.

"I am going to go back and lay down with Adam," Mae said, her form changing back to a naked human. "Spend as much time as I can with him."

"I suppose I will keep going over the preparations to free our sisters," Athena said, standing her mood suddenly darker. "I hate working at the place, all I feel all day is the lust and perversions of those humans that go there and the misguided enjoyment our sisters feel."

"It won't be for much longer," Anput said, placing a paw on Athena's shoulder. "Soon ,we will free them, and those responsible will pay for their crimes."