Lucky Strike | Grimsley x Reader

Shake, blow, flick, thump.

Snake eyes.

With a labored sigh and clenched fists, Grimsley hissed. The raven haired male lost his winning again but refused to quit now. He knew he had it in his grasp, just one more and he could win it all back. He just. . . needed to keep going.

“Liiiiie~?” Next to him was his trusted Liepard, purring curiously as she pawed at the table top.

“No, down girl. Not now, I have to concentrate.” His voice rang out huskily as he replied, icy blue eyes staring the table, chips sprawled out in their designated spots. The leopard Pokémon merely hissed, sitting upright as her trainer continued to piss away his savings.

Even if she didn't look it, the Pokémon was concerned for the Elite Four member. This was the third night in a row he had brought himself down to the new casino, financed by Castelia City. It was obviously a grab at the pockets of Unovaian citizens but it proved to be successful regardless. People around the country came to gamble, drink, and completely let themselves go. Liepard would watch this infect his trainer, this disease of a casino presented no inoculation for the Dark-type master. Pretending not to notice the Elite Trainer's strife, she would mewl and purr as she watched humans and  Pokémon test their luck in this odd institution. The lights were always too bright and the building was always too loud for her sensitive ears anyway, so what else could she do?

“Thank you for covering for me, (Y/N).” Liepard's ears twitched, perking up as she turned to the table her trainer was situated at. The man behind a box was talking to a woman––presumably '(Y/N)'––switching places with her. She settled down on the stool provided for her, setting up the box for her comfort before she smiled at the male.

“Of course, Rodney. Get back home to your family, and tell them all I said hi!” The male sighed in relief before swallowing the female into a hug, squeezing her gently.

“Thank you again, and I'll let them know you send regards!” Grabbing the coat hanging behind her, Rodney slid it on before bustling out the busy lobby. (Y/N) gave the path he left a slight smile before turning back to the ongoing game in front of her. Her job was grossly simple; it was to keep track of the money and watch the gamblers. Her and her associates at this table were to make sure the exact amounts of money were paid and received. If they weren't, they were surely coming out of their paychecks.

Stealthily, Liepard passed her trainer's side to examine (Y/N) and her position. Her limber body slipped through the crevices of nearby stools and slid through the table before finally settling down nearby the podium the woman sat at.

Meanwhile, (Y/N) worked like clockwork. Her eyes trailed first to the chips and what was bet on. Once calculating the amount on the table, she would then take in how much was put on each outcome on the die. After, her eyes would trail to the better, making sure he or she had no tricks to pull during the turn. Once completed, she would normally bury her face into the records in front of her but this instance was different. (Y/N) watched the gambler in front of her in awe, lips daring to part to adorn her face with a imbecilic expression. In front of her stood one of those most prestigious trainers in all of Unova. Grimsley: the most powerful user of Dark-type Pokémon.

“Liepard!” The purple leopard hopped on top of the podium (Y/N) was stationed at, paws clutching the front of the wooden front as she grinned a toothy grin.

In shock, (Y/N) let out a gasp as she nearly fell off her stool. However, her foot entangled inside the stool, pulling her back up. After taking a breath, she started to laugh before stroking Liepard's head. “O-Oh my,” She began, mirroring the Cheshire cat grin the Pokémon bestowed upon her. “You scared me there. Where did you come from?”

In response, Liepard purred before hopping from the podium onto the table. Eavesdroppers and the other workers gasped at such boisterous behavior but Grimsley remained calm. Slowly, Liepard stalked back to her trainer before pouncing back onto the floor, putting on a show for (Y/N). Beaming up at the woman, she grinned again before meowing proudly. (Y/N) looked from Liepard to Grimsley before realization clicked in. She was Grimsley's Pokémon and that was him, in the flesh and all.

Shake, blow, flick, thump.

Eleven.

“Yes!” The joyous shouts of the Elite Trainer brought the casino to a halt, heads spinning to make sure they correctly heard the voice they did in fact here. And slowly, the casino erupted.

It was barely an exaggeration to say that everyone flocked to Grimsley's table, cameras out and notepads flipping open. The color in the male's face drained once he realized what he had done. Stepping back, he looked at Liepard before spinning on his heel and sprinting.

“Liepard, return!” Ripping a Pokéball out of his tailored suit, a brilliant beam of red light emerged, capturing Liepard and bringing her back to safety. Then off he ran, bursting through the lobby and out the doors. The mob of people ensued, chasing after the poor man and abandoning their riches on the tables.

(Y/N) blinked once, then twice before coming to her senses. Grimsley had hit a jackpot of seventy-five thousand Pokédollars and sped off before she could give it to him! She couldn't just let him go empty handed like that, imagine the bad reputation the casino would get if someone found out about this! Hastily she slid off her stool, yelling over her shoulder to the employees still there to cover for her as she ran out the door. In the distance she heard the mob still hooting and yelling for Grimsley and using her head, she followed after them.

However, unbeknownst to the crowd, they were too busy following each other to pick up on the footprints (Y/N) had noticed as she chased after them. Looking around to make sure she wasn't followed, she chose the path they led to, down one of the more rundown streets of Castelia City. With the money safely tucked away, she carried on.

“Hey lady, what are you doing wandering these streets alone?” A gruff voice echoed through the barren wasteland of a street as (Y/N) turned to the sound. Her hand immediately went to her belt, gripping onto the Pokéballs she clipped on there since she started her day. She immediately unhooked them, pressing the white buttons to enlarge the balls she gripped so desperately in her hand.

“Aww, don't be like, darling. We ain't going to hurt you, unless you don't let us take a peak at what you got there.” Another voice chimed in before emerging from the shadows. A brutish and tall man came forward, smirking devilishly at (Y/N) in biker attire. His face was forsaken, a shrubbery of a beard pasted against his features as his green eyes pierced her being. Backing up, she collided with another person, much leaner from the feel. Arms entangled around her waist, pulling her into the other as they chuckled in a sinister fashion.

“Guess we better just check ourselves.” The first voice purred, hot breath against her ear as she writhed helplessly. Letting out a scream, (Y/N) released the Pokémon from their capsules, red lights bursting through the darkness. The creatures smashed onto the ground as they landed, feet first and eyes glowing ominously as they stared down their targets.

“Haxorus, Dragon Claw! Golurk, use Hammer Arm!” The two men seemed to freeze at these instructions before very cautiously turning around. (Y/N)'s Pokémon ripped through the darkness, obeying her command as they beat the two men holding her captive down. The man gripping her was pummeled into submission by Haxorus and quickly she sprang out of the scene. She was fast enough to watch Golurk neutralize the other threat of a man too. Once the Pokémon felt they had fulfilled her request, they withdrew, leaving the two men crippled to the ground, convulsing and twitching pathetically.

With a sigh and a grateful smile, (Y/N) stroked their heads before returning them into their respected Pokéballs. “Haxorus, Golurk, thank you for your help.” She stated thankfully before clipping them back to her belt. (Y/N) was given these two once she was hired to work for the casino. Management simply stated they did this for all recruits and wanted them to feel safe and protected in their new job. They couldn't risk anything, especially with all the money located in the casino.

The purr of another creature however, pulled the banker from her thoughts and she turned around to inspect who was with her. Her eyes locked on with another Pokémon's and (Y/N) couldn't help but smile.

“Liepard?” She asked before walking over to the leopard. Squatting down, she petted the creature, listening to her soft mewls of pleasure before she exclaimed her name contently. (Y/N) grinned at the Pokémon before standing up. Before she could question her, clapping was faintly heard beyond the two. She looked over into the darkness, obviously confused before a pair of dark blue dress shoes came into view.

“Excellent job, milady! I thought Liepard and I were going to have to step in and assist you before! But your partners aren't half bad.” Grimsley. The smug look on his face grew as Liepard ensnared herself around his legs before seating herself next to her trainer. His haughtiness surprised her, but then again she didn't know him personally. Or at least not like challengers knew him. Did he always act so conceited, just to rile up his competition and give them even more of an incentive to beat him? (Y/N) was at a lost and decided not to push the topic.

“Thank you?” She replied, confusion evident in her voice as she fumbled with the money in her pocket. She didn't let him comment on her response because she then walked towards him, taking out the wad of cash he left when being chased down by unwanted attention. “Here, you left your winnings back in the casino; I thought you would want it before it was claimed by someone else.”

Reluctantly, Grimsley accepted the money before counting through it, blue eyes wide in shock. He looked down in Liepard who wore an infamous grin before meowing in a supportive manner to her trainer.

“Liiiiiie~” She crooned before stretching her furry body out. Of course Liepard believed in Grimsley, she trusted her trainer with the world, even if he screwed up.

Once the money was stashed in his tailored coat pocket, Grimsley looked at (Y/N) before nodding. “Thank you for coming to find me to give me money rather than maul me down for a picture.” His rich, fruity laugh seemed to vibrate through her body as she gave him a sheepish smile.

“Of course, this is a part of my job description.”

“Hmm?” His brows raised inquisitively. “Is getting cornered by trouble-making lowlives a part of it too?” He continued, jerking his head to the two men still in a critical condition on the street. She winced, it would be the right thing to bring them to a PokéCenter but Grimsley's smothering gaze on her and then the figures detoured her away from that generosity.

Her hesitation made him hum, a melodic baritone as he tapped a finger against his chin. “You know, Liepard? Why don't we reward. . .”

“(Y/N).” She filled in quickly, a curt nod following her reply.

“Yes, (Y/N). Why don't we treat her to a drink or two, completely on us. What do you think, Liepard? Does that sound like a good idea?” The leopard Pokémon beamed, purring out before wrapping her body around (Y/N)'s legs, pawing at the hem of her shirt.

Grimsley's infatuating laughter ricocheted across the desolate street before another one of his notorious grins spread across his face. Approaching her, he slung an arm around (Y/N)'s shoulders and led her forward. The overpowering scent of spices and cologne infiltrated her brain as she let him lead her. Timidly, she let an arm snake around his waist as they walked, in case she accidentally lost balance from the close proximity the two of them shared.

“It sounds like a done deal then! With all this we'll be able to bask in only the best!” (Y/N) couldn't help but smile at Grimsley's outlook on cash. He seemed to only use it as a tool to enjoy life to the fullest, disregarding any need for it to survive. It was almost childish for him to live like that, but she didn't dare comment. When a member of the Elite Four graciously invited you to spend time with him or her and knew there was a mob of trainers and citizens on the hunt for his or her attention, you would be a fool to reject such special treatment. And there was one thing for certain; (Y/N) was no fool.