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That night with Villo wasn't going to leave Drez's mind any time soon. Even as he bid a reluctant farewell to the Zangoose to head home, part of him ached for more, wanted more of that wonderful presence, in every sense of the word. And even though he was back in the steamy grounds of his own village, his mind was still on Villo, longing to hold his fuzzy friend in his arms, snuggle with him in his cozy den, eat and drink with him, and enjoy his body leisurely.

He knew the situation wasn't tenable, but sooner than he was ready to, he was in a position where he was going to have to make a decision. He wanted Villo, he wanted to be with him, but he wasn't going to be able to keep the secret forever. The choices in front of him were daunting. His first option was to finally expose the truth, reveal his relationship with Villo and face whatever recriminations would come from such a thing. At best he would be a laughingstock among his peers. At worse, they would simply kick him out, finding him unworthy. At worst...they might attack Villo. See the Zangoose as a threat to them. It would have been unreasonable, but some of their crew weren't exactly great at being reasonable.

The other option was to just leave.

It would be possibly an unprecedented event. Charmeleons rarely just left the village. If they did, it was typically for one of two reasons: they were ready to evolve and enter a new chapter in their lives, or they had been formally exiled or informally driven out for some reason or another. A Charmeleon just suddenly quitting the village...it was a rare event itself, and for someone of such high status as Drez it was unthinkable. The ones who tucked tail and ran were the weaker ones, the ones who couldn't handle the rowdy lifestyle they had. Charmeleons who had proven themselves didn't do such things. They stood tall, took everything that was dished out and proved that they were meant to come out ahead. It was exactly what Drez was supposed to do.

Then again, he'd been doing a lot of things he wasn't 'supposed' to do lately, and he'd not regretted a single one of them. Maybe this was just the trend.

His mind was preoccupied with the conundrum over the next three days, wondering what he should do. The thought of leaving home entirely was daunting, but surely he had a place to go, even if he couldn't stay with Villo for good he could at least make a place for himself nearby. But leaving everyone behind...he only disliked a few of the Chars, and severing all those bonds would surely be rough on him. It was odd that he was even thinking that, they usually tried to pretend that there wasn't anything between them, but...it wasn't like he didn't notice a sense of loss when a prominent member of the community went on to their next stage of life. He would just be one of the rare ones to admit it. So he sort of wanted to be able to stay, but didn't know if it would even be feasible...that kept him from making a decision right away.

He should have known that eventually the choice would be taken away from him.

So preoccupied was he that he hadn't really noticed that Pacon, Nino, and Greton weren't harassing him those few days like they had been. It was rare that they weren't trying to pick at him, even if they weren't trying to fight, and it would have been a warning sign at any other time. But Drez's mind was elsewhere, leaving him utterly unprepared for what was coming next.

On that day, he resolved to go back to the forest and talk with Villo about his situation. He didn't know if the Zangoose would have any advice for him, but at least maybe hearing himself talk about it could help him figure out what he wanted to do, and even just the possibility of questions might help him figure it out. And it wasn't like he didn't like having a good excuse to head over there anyway, so he left his den and started towards the edge of the village. But as he got within sight of the edge of the houses, he saw a sight that stopped him cold.

Villo was pressed against one of the houses, his back against it as he trembled, wide eyes staring fearfully at Pacon, who was leering at the Zangoose malevolently. Next to Pacon was Greton, looking threatening, wisps of flame at his mouth like he was ready to attack. "Well, well, look who dragged their fuzzy tail back here..." Pacon growled with malicious glee. "A dirty little rodent who doesn't belong here, and never did. Don'tcha know what we do to wussy little bitches here?"

"Please...d-don't touch me...I...I just..."

"Just what? Just looking for a certain someone? Yeah, of course you were, why else would a soft bitch like you ever set foot near here? Hrrr..." Pacon took a step forward, leering at Villo as the Zangoose tried to back away further, blocked by the house. "Maybe I can see why he's interested in you. Bet you'd feel real good around my cock. Might just have to take you for a test ride, see if you're worth passing around to the others. Heh, the look on his face when he sees your wrecked, cum-soaked body laying in the middle of the village, that'd probably take him down a few fuckin' pegs." That toothy grin full of raw malice closed in towards Villo, almost like he was about to try to take a bite.

That chance never came, as a furious roar warned Pacon just in time for him to turn his face to get a violent slash across the muzzle. Blood flew from the wound as Pacon was thrown to the ground away from Villo by Drez, whose eyes glittered with fury and hate like he'd never felt before. The stunned Greton loosed a prepared flame at Drez, but the bigger Charmeleon simply raised a clawed hand to block it, heedless of the pain in his arm at the fierce attack, and Greton shuffled back a couple steps, looking too nervous to try to further challenge Drez.

"You fucker!" Pacon got to his feet, seething, one claw over his snout to try to stem the bleeding. "You attacked me! Like ACTUALLY attacked me! How fucking dare you!"

"How fucking dare I?!" roared Drez. "How fucking dare YOU! You're lucky I don't tear your throat out!" Drez was too furious to think about what he was saying - threats like that were over the line even among their group, and an attack to draw blood was a severe transgression - and it wasn't going unnoticed, as several other Chars were already running over to see what the fuss was. "What the hell did you do? Did you go hunt him down and drag him back here for your twisted kicks?!"

"He came here of his own volition," Greton asserted, albeit shakily. "All we did was confront him when he came here."

"You think I'm going to believe that?!"

"Ask him. He'll confirm."

"Drez!" Villo's voice was a squeak. "I-I'm sorry! I heard them...they were talking about...they were going to ambush you and hurt you! They were going to...they said they were going to do horrible things to you! I couldn't, I couldn't handle thinking about you being hurt like that...I just wanted to come here and warn you!"

Drev growled. "You fuckers. You knew exactly what you were doing. You could have plotted your shit here and no one would have overheard you, but you did it where you KNEW he would hear. And you knew he'd come running when he did. You did everything but lay your hands on him, and you're fucking lucky you didn't because they would be GONE if you had."

"Oh, really now?" Pacon sounded pretty smug despite the injury he suffered. "I thought you weren't going to see him? Weren't doing anything with him? Weren't you going over there to 'track down dangerous Pokémon?' Hah, looks like big, bad Drez has been lying to us all this time, betraying us for some runty little fuzzball."

"You're one to talk about betraying! Sneaking off to plan to attack me, that's pretty fucking treacherous if you ask me!"

"Yeah...if we were actually gonna do it. But we weren't. You're right, we knew that your little fuzzslut'd be too freaked out not to come running to his precious stud." Those provocative words were really taxing Drez's restraint, especially the way they were said. "Proving you were lying to us all this time. And showing your true colors, that you'd attack one of your own kin rather than fighting off an intruder."

Drez's tail flame had surged as large as it ever had - it was only because he was in such a keen protective mode that he was still keeping it well away from Villo. "Fuck you! How is his coming to warn me of your bullshit an intrusion?! He's obviously not here to hurt anyone!"

"Anyone who comes in uninvited is an intruder," said Greton firmly. "Once might be forgivable, but he's done so twice now."

"And you're taking his side," added Pacon, laying it on thicker. "Which means how can we trust you to keep anyone else out? Who knows what you're doing out in the forest to put us all in danger?"

"So this is what all this is about? You shitheads can't handle me spending time with Villo? Maybe that's exactly why I didn't go crowing about it all over the place, because I knew you couldn't handle it! Everyone here knows I've never done anything to cause trouble for our village, they know full fucking well I'm loyal to us!"

"Really. Well, then, prove it. We'll even give you a chance, right here and now."

"Huh?" Drez had no idea what Pacon was talking about...until he saw Nino coming through the crowd of onlookers, a disturbingly wide grin on his face. And his eyes widened when he saw what the lithe Char was carrying in his claws: the flower wreath that Villo had made for him the day he'd saved him from the Hydreigon. It was not in great shape, he'd been dutifully preserving it but it was still looking quite wilted and frail - there was only so long it could last, even with help. And his face flushed as he realized everyone was looking at him and it, and realizing what must have happened for it to still be around...

"Aw, how fuckin' cute," Pacon said with as much insincerity as possible. "You've been trying to keep your precious little trophy all nice and safe. But that piece of trash is the proof that you're not one of us. So you really wanna prove that you're loyal to the Chars? Burn it. Torch it, right here, right now, in front of everyone, including the fuzzball. Show us all what it means to you."

Nino held the wreath up to Drez, and for a moment Drez thought - feared - that he'd just wreck it himself, but he hung it over Drez's claw instead, though he didn't back away. He must've wanted a front-row seat to Drez's torture, the way he looked so smug and arrogant over all this. So many eyes were on Drez, whose smoky breaths were getting deeper and heavier. This was the worst possible way, he didn't want to be put on the spot like this, having to be forced into some shitty choice this way...he looked down at the wreath. It really did look ragged, it was probably going to be gone soon anyway...he could just give it a quick burn, deny those assholes their satisfaction...explain it to Villo after the chaos subsided, ask for a new one...it surely couldn't be that hard...

Instead, he sucker-punched Nino right in the jaw, and as the ambushed lizard was staggering and falling back to the shocked muttering of the onlookers, he threw the wreath over his head and around his neck. Then he stepped back and put his arm around the somewhat shellshocked Zangoose, staying near him protectively. "Fuck you three with a Stone Edge. I love Villo."

"You...you call yourself loyal?!" hissed Pacon. "After attacking us over some dumb fucking flowers and sticking up for this useless little bitch?! You LOVE him? What a fucking load! You think anyone's gonna wanna keep you around after they see what you did to us?!"

"I'd say go to hell, Pacon, but you probably came from there, so it wouldn't matter." Drez flipped the bloodied Char a single-clawed salute. "Don't bother convening a tribunal - I'm outta here. You want me gone? I want to be gone. I've been happier with Villo than I've ever been here, and especially around any of you three assholes who can't get over your grudge against me. I'm sure that's what you wanted anyway, so hey, consider it my parting gift, along with hopefully a scar on your snout. And just so you know, if I ever see you any of you three lurking around trying to hurt him? You'll be lucky to live long enough to get back."

With that, Drez started walking away with Villo, away from the only home he'd known for years...though, at this point, it didn't really feel much like a home anymore. There was no point in going back for anything, he didn't really have anything worth keeping there. Greton, though, couldn't seem to resist one last parting shot. "Hope you don't regret choosing the little bitch over us. Or maybe you're just as much of one, eager to raise that tail for his tiny prick."

Drez looked back, with a look halfway between a sneer and a smirk. "Yeah, ya know what? I did. And I WANTED it. And he felt fucking amazing. And nothing you ever say will ever make me regret it. And none of that is ever going to make you have to put out less. Now fuck off." Drez turned him back on this for the last time, not interested in any more of Pacon's or Nino's taunts; the others just seemed to be too shocked to react, Drez had no idea whether they'd be on his side or that of his tormentors or just thinking less of him for everything he'd said and did, and frankly he didn't care. The only one he cared about right now was Villo, who was still shaking, though less than when he'd been in the thick of things. And he was determined to comfort his love back into peace.

---

By now he should have expected that it would be Villo providing more comfort to him.

It couldn't have been a surprise that Drez was still pretty heated even after he'd left the village for good. The anger at the betrayals and the terrible treatment he'd had to endure at the hands of those three in particular wasn't something that was shed terribly easily. But once he was back at Villo's den, and in possession of a delicious herbal tea that was meant to soothe one's body and soul, he had finally calmed down, left with more of a dormant pit of acid in his gut but no longer furiously seething. It was a better state to be in with his precious Zangoose, who seemed also quite relieved to see him less irate.

"Drez...I'm sorry about all of this. I...I didn't know that this was going to happen..." Villo was cuddled up to him, his own drink on the floor nearby, nearly totally drained; he'd needed a good relaxing as well, maybe even more so than Drez.

"Neither did I. I should've suspected something...I knew they didn't really believe me about where I was going and what I was doing. I should've just come clean, but...I said I was afraid they might hurt you to try to get at me, and it looks like I was right. As you, uhm, unfortunately saw, they were willing to do pretty much anything if it caused me trouble."

"I don't understand...why did they hate you so much? I never saw you doing anything really bad to them..."

Drez gave a light shrug. "If I knew...well, I don't know if I would have done anything differently, really. But I never had any idea. Maybe it was just envy...I was one of the highest-status guys there. But I dunno, those three in particular really had it out for me, it's not like anyone else wasn't jockeying for position but they didn't target me. Only thing that sucks about this whole business is that they won, but whatever. I don't have to care about that anymore."

"I, uh...I was too scared to say anything back there, but I...I would've been okay if you'd, uhm...burned it. I didn't even realize it was still, well, intact...I thought the heat would've worn it out super quick. I wouldn't have been hurt, I could have made another for you..."

"I know. But...I didn't want to. It meant more to me than just that it's an aging flower wreath...it was a gift you gave me. Something you wanted me to have, that meant something to me. And even if it could be replaced...the feeling behind it, that wasn't something I was willing to surrender." Drez shook his head. "It's all right, anyway. I meant what I said...you mean more to me than any of them. And if they were going to make me choose, there was no question I was going to choose you. Maybe if I'd had the chance to just...come out and say things, it would have gone better, but I'm not even sure that would've been the case."

"Mm..." Villo didn't sound like he was totally at ease with that, but didn't object. "So...what are you going to do now?"

"I don't know...well, no. That's only half true. I don't know exactly what I'm going to do, but I know where I'm going to do it. I'm going to stay around here, near you. So we can continue to be warm and fuzzy together."

"Are you sure you're going to be okay with that? The others come by now and then..."

"It'll be fine. Exiles are supposed to be left alone after they leave the village. I guess I don't know if I technically qualify as an exile, but it's probably closer to that than anything. I doubt those three are going to spend one more second thinking about me now that I'm gone, too...they got what they wanted, so I don't expect we'll have any more trouble with them. I'll probably keep my distance if I see any of them around, but I don't think it'll be a problem. I should probably focus more on other things, like where I'm going to live and all that...I've never had to build my own den before, so I'm probably going to have to ask for advice."

Villo was quiet for a moment, then laid a hand on Drez's chest. "Are you...set on being on your own?"

"Hm? I...don't know what you mean?"

"Well..." The Zangoose blushed a bit. "I...wouldn't mind if you...wanted to stay here with me."

"Really? Are you sure? I...I would love to be close to you and this would be closer than anything else, but I wouldn't want to make you uncomfortable either."

"You wouldn't. I get lonely sometimes...and I've felt lonely more often since I started spending time with you. I almost asked if you wanted to stay for good that night...but I didn't want to put pressure on you, I knew you had your life and might not want to give it up. But...after everything that happened..."

Drez felt himself redden. He hadn't even realized...he put his own claw on Villo's hand. "Villo...if you want me to be here with you...I would love to be here with you."

"I'd love to have you here, Drez." Villo leaned in and gave Drez a quick peck on the snout. Drez's face steamed and he smiled abashedly, turning towards Villo and licking him on the nose. Soon the two were pressed together, tongues going in rather than one, twisting around each other in a cute, sensual kiss. Stars were in each others eyes as they parted, the feeling of closeness sending their hearts aflutter once again. Despite everything, it felt like things were right with the world again.

"I guess I'll be getting settled in, then," Drez said finally. "But I'm gonna have to repay you somehow...I don't wanna be taking up your space without earning my keep a little."

"Oh, you don't have to do that, I'm happy to have you here!"

"I'm glad for that, but still. I'd like to do something...I don't really know all that much about what I even COULD do, but I don't just want to sit around all the time while you're doing neat things for everyone else. Maybe I can help you make your teas or something, but I kinda wanna figure out things that are...well, a speciality, something that could be useful that others aren't doing yet."

Villo nodded, smiling. "I get it...I'll help you think of something. You've got that fire of yours, I'm sure there are things you could do with that."

That was true...it was weird how little Drez really thought about his fire as a utility rather than a weapon. Not that he didn't realize it could be useful, but he didn't really value it that much that way - he'd never really had any need to back at the village, there were any number of other sources of heat and light. "Yeah...I think I'd like that. Thank you, Villo."

"Of course." Villo nuzzled him sweetly. "I love you, my tough, warm lizard."

"Mm...I love you too, my cute, fuzzy furball." Drez leaned into Villo, pulling him close and holding him tight. To think those words he'd have fought over before were now exactly what he wanted to hear...but Villo had shown him that a lot of things he'd thought before were simply not right for him, and a lot of things he'd thought weren't actually were. How much had he lost, really, if what he'd found meant more than anything else in the world? The warm and fuzzy feelings really were the best, and he wouldn't give them up for anything - and now he didn't ever have to.