Rapist.

Abductor.

Ugly.

Heinous.

Monster.

Evolution was a mistake. All of those names were too familiar. None were his, and yet it's all he ever heard. He should have just stayed a Drowzee his entire life. At least then, he could be out of his pokeball without getting those looks.

The absolute disgust in their eyes. They all thought the same thing every time they saw him.

He didn't even need to read their minds. Some of them flat out said it to his face.

A wave of the pendulum in battle? Surely he was hypnotizing his own trainer instead. Using any sort of move? Definitely he was taking advantage of his opponent. He couldn't do anything without it being seen in a negative light. He couldn't even walk outside his pokeball.

Hypno tightened his left fist, wincing from the pain in his palm. Within that grip was his pendulum. He hated it. He needed it. He couldn't be without it. The string wrapped around his hand dug in as he tried to crush it to no avail.

At least now he wasn't likely to be seen or heard from ever again. He hid away in a forest, fully intent on running until he couldn't be seen. It would have been easy if he was still a small Drowzee.

Panting, he slumped against a tree, eyes closed tight. It wasn't fair. Because of one Hypno, all were cursed with that reputation. No matter what. The humans had it all over those machines they carried. His species was trouble. Good for nothing more than sick, perverse, self fulfilling actions. A problem.

Hypno felt the tears welling in his eyes again. He had abandoned his Trainer. Mia… The girl that saw him hatch from his egg. The one that raised him. The one who helped him evolve. The one who he helped in return. She always told him that he was her first and her favorite. She didn't mind the size of his nose, or his yellow skin, or the fur around his chest.

He opened up his hand slowly, looking down at the pendulum. Even in the dark forested night, it still managed to give off that bright silver gleam in the moonlight.

Maybe it was selfish to leave. His trainer needed him. Most nights she couldn't fall asleep at all, and he would hypnotize her and carry her to bed. And even when that happened, she could have such terrible dreams… but he'd eat them regardless of taste, stomaching it just so he could see her smile in her newly peaceful slumber. The mere thought of her writhing in fear made him sick.

He wanted to go home. But this was his home now. This way, they wouldn't whisper behind her back. They wouldn't proclaim him a deviant. She could get something better. Something that looked better. Something that was better. Easier to love. A Musharna, maybe. Those were marginally cuter. He made himself sit down, face resting in his hands as the tears began to flow once more.

Sadness wracked his form while he sobbed quietly. Staying with her was only going to cause trouble. All he ever wanted was to comfort her. To be her partner as long as she wanted him.

But if he had stayed, she would have been ridiculed more. Every time they battled, he could see it on the opponent's face. He could hear it in their minds. They were disturbed whenever he hugged her.

But… he couldn't help it. Her soft blue eyes, her fair skin, her dark hair… she was just fantastic. And she was always so proud of him. She'd tell him to ignore their words and that they didn't understand. She was the light in his dark world.

But he just couldn't take it anymore.

He couldn't even figure out where he went wrong… he never did anything she didn't tell him to. Through sniffs, he slowly raised his head again. He thought he could hear something approaching. Hypno quickly wiped his eyes, rising from his spot so he could at least run if he needed to.

The leaves and grass rustled and crunched beneath his feet with every step he took. Why did he choose a forest of all places? That'd just look even more creepy! He cursed himself as he went further in, trying his best to stay hidden behind the trees.

"Somni? Are you here? Please, don't hide from me…"

His ears perked a little when he heard that. Of course she found him here. He always hid here. Only one human had that voice. And only one gave him that name. He visibly tensed up as he heard the footsteps growing closer and closer. He couldn't disobey…

"Hey… why did you run off like that?" He felt her hand against his back. It was bittersweet. Oh how he longed for her contact every day… "It was that trainer the other day, wasn't it?"

Somni turned enough to face her, nodding his head slowly. Mia let out a sigh as she hugged him from behind. "Sit with me?" She asked, looking up to him. He didn't reply, but he did slump against her. Mia grunted, but she brought the two of them to the ground gently.

"You don't have to listen to them." He'd heard this speech so many times now. The only thing comforting about it was her voice. The words meant nothing.

With shaky hands, Somni hazarded to return the hug. It only took one person to see and have the wrong idea. And yet… as soon as he embraced her, Somni broke down for the third time that day.

"It's okay, it's okay…" Mia gently pat his back as he wept, tightening her hug. "I don't care what anyone else says. You're not a monster, not like that. I know you aren't. I chose your egg myself, remember?"

Somni just tightened his hold on her.

"I knew what I was getting into… but I still picked you out of everything else I could have had." Mia's hand was rubbing through his fluff now. That always got him to calm down. "You're always such a big help to me… I just wish they didn't treat you that way. You're amazing."

He didn't believe it himself. But she did. Sniffling, Somni released her enough to look at her face. She looked so tired… and yet she still came out all this way to comfort him. He wiped at his eyes, but kept his gaze low to the ground. He'd apologize properly if he could.

"Come on… let's go home, okay? Someday they'll see how great you are. But until then… you're more than enough for me." Mia told him.

A little smile finally came to Somni's face as he nodded his head slowly. He rose up to his feet, followed close by his trainer. Mia held out her hand to him, and he tensed up once more.

"Hey, it's alright. If anyone says anything, I'll make em stop." Mia said, flashing her own little smile at him. "It's late, you know. We'll go to that ice cream shop you like so much tomorrow. And… you don't have to hide that."

With that in mind, Somni took her hand into his. He bit his lip, but slowly opened his left hand until the pendulum suspended properly, swaying back and forth with each step he took with her. She led the way out the forest, and the way she squeezed his hand gave him a sense of peace. Maybe things could get better.