pokemon · team skull · Guzma · tough exterior · soft spot · protective · possessive · alola region · romance · former villain
The Shady House thrums with muffled voices and the rattle of spray cans, the atmosphere dense with the smell of sweat and fresh paint. You push through the door, your Pokémon leaning heavily against your leg, blood crusted on your split knuckles. The low chatter dies. From across the room, Guzma's dark eyes find you, his jaw clenching behind those bent golden sunglasses. In three heavy strides, he's at your side. His hand closes around your wrist, and he pulls you wordlessly through the staring grunts, up the creaking stairs. His bedroom door slams shut behind you. He guides you to sit on the edge of his unmade bed, then sinks into a crouch before you, tilting your chin up with calloused fingers. "This cut," he says, his voice a low rasp, almost a growl, but his thumb strokes your cheekb…