baby you're the highlight of my lowlife

[quatrains]

It's a half hour drive from the main city to his farm. The whole way He Ming keeps up conversation, chatting about anything and everything. He talks briefly of his research but keeps the focus on Ilima, asking him about his profession as a Trial Captain and inquiring closely about his team.

Finally, perhaps after Ilima is already tired of He Ming's incessant desire to socialize, he pulls into a driveway between a large barn and a smaller shed. This close, it's easy to hear the lowing of Miltanks and to see the Ponytas in a large enclosure in the field. "We're here!" he announces. Hopping out of his side of the truck, He Ming beckons for Ilima to follow him to the shed.

"We'll get started in here." He flicks on a light switch as they enter. There are no windows, but the single room is spacious, containing equipment that ranges from farm hardware to looking distinctly medical. "Could you get undressed and hop up onto that bench for me, please?"

Comments

[quatrains]

"I had to buy more supplies for you." He Ming finishes refilling the bottle, puts the big jug down, and goes to the front of the kennel.

"Here." He opens the door to give Ilima his dinner, taking out a rolled up pad he'd been carrying under one arm. It's water absorbent and thick enough to be comfortably sat on instead of the pillow. "If you play with that toy while I'm not here, or you make any other mess, you can sit on this. Understand?"

[trialcaptain]

That makes sense. Ilima relaxes at the answer, and drinks from the water bottle once it's refilled. He only drinks to quench his thirst, not trying to fill up on it. He moves to the food and gets out of the way so the pad can be added to the kennel.

He eats most, if not all, of what's in the dish given to him, making a mess of his face this time. He's getting less inclined to keep as cleanly, just like he's not speaking as much. It's not necessary, really. The food's fattening, so he's already putting on weight, which is good for carrying the pups.

[quatrains]

Ilima's stomach is very visibly larger than before, the extra fat also going to his growing breasts. He Ming scruffs gently at his hair a few times before reaching for his belly to touch it with the palm of his hand.

"Feel any kicking yet?" he asks. "You're coming along nicely."

[trialcaptain]

"I felt something. Like my stomach did a flip," he answers. Ilima proudly displays his round belly, enjoying the touch. He caresses over the top of it, admiring his figure. He definitely has the glow about him.

There's some movement, as if He Ming caused it to happen. He jolts, not sure what he's feeling at first, since he's inexperienced. "Was that it?"

[quatrains]

"Oh, yeah?" He Ming rubs the palm of his hand over the stretched skin of Ilima's stomach. He feels warm, comfortably so. When he feels a slight kick under his skin He Ming smiles.

"Yeah, that's one of them kicking. Seems like they're nice and healthy." He scritches at Ilima's hair a few more times before getting a capped syringe from his pocket. "Turn around for me, okay?"

[trialcaptain]

The touch is soothing and he hums, looking fond. He's already attached, which isn't so much a good thing. He'll have to get used to being apart from his young. It'll be a process. Ilima is a gentle one, after all.

He leans into the scritching before doing as he's asked, not even questioning it anymore. It's none of his business now. Test results aren't something he's interested in - though normally, he would have been very much so. Battling, something he'd been a fanatic of, is a thing of the past. He's settled in nicely.

[quatrains]

He Ming pats him on the rump affectionately. With an alcohol wipe he cleans the inside of Ilima's thigh, glancing over the wet slick at his entrance, before giving him the next injection close to where he'd done the first ones.

"Your pups should come to term in two more days." The accelerated incubation inside a human body is extremely useful. He Ming pets him again before getting up. He needs to store more information and start processing the video records for his experiment. "Get some sleep!"

[trialcaptain]

The injection is quick and mostly painless, going without comment. He nods, smiling at the pet before settling back down on his trusty pillow. Ilima falls asleep shortly after, sleeping soundly through the night.

He awakens early, surprised by the changes in his body. He's extremely pregnant, just about ready to pop any minute it seems. His movements are slower and he wants to stay laying down, getting more comfortable. It's taking a toll, making him lethargic. He huffs through his nose, eyes shut.

[quatrains]

He Ming comes by at the same time as he did the day before with food, a bucket of water with a sponge, and a slightly larger toy. Seeing Ilima still lying down, he whistles softly and leans against the kennel door.

"Morning. How are you feeling?" He taps the metal bars lightly. "You have to get up now," he sing-songs.

[trialcaptain]

"Tired. Moody," he says. Ilima's a good sport, though, and he gets up, if slowly. He cradles his belly, standing at attention. His thighs are chunkier and he's almost voluptuous, though the belly he has hides most of his figure.

The second dosage has made him even wetter and him more responsive, and once he sees the toy, the moodiness disappears. He's excited, pressing up against the bars. "For me?" he asks, hopeful.

[quatrains]

"Yeah, it's just for you." He Ming opens the front of the kennel so he can inspect Ilima with his hands again. "Here, lie on your side."

He withholds the toy until Ilima gets into position. It'll make it easier for him to touch his stomach, pressing only lightly. Ilima's even closer to going into labor than he'd predicted. Unfortunately, he'd made plans for his day and he'll be gone for a few hours. Frowning slightly, he rubs his palms over Ilima's pregnant belly.

[trialcaptain]

He lays down on his side, still thinking about the toy, and still eyeing it. His priorities have changed, though he does look back at He Ming's face. Ilima has stake in the pups' welfare, so he does care about his checkups.

"Is something wrong?" he asks, seeing the frown. Sex would trigger labor faster, but masturbation probably wouldn't. Still, it might not be such a good idea.

[quatrains]

"No. Actually, you're doing even better than I thought you would. It just means I have to come back earlier today." He Ming rubs his side again, making small circles on his stomach with his palm.

"You can have the toy." After handing it over, He Ming withdraws from the kennel and locks the door again. "Just be careful with it. I'll be back as soon as I can!"

[trialcaptain]

"Got it." Ilima takes the toy gratefully, moving onto the new pad he has. The toy will keep him preoccupied for a good hour, the larger size well-loved. He gets off a few times, almost not wanting to stop, but doing so when there's intense pain. He removes the toy and doubles over as one of many contractions hits.

He doesn't know what to do, but he remains mostly calm. He Ming will be back. He gets as comfortable as he can. The contractions are far apart (for now), though they'll gradually get closer and closer. By the time He Ming gets back, his water's probably broke. Thank goodness for the pad.

[quatrains]

He Ming needs a new heated blanket for Ilima's kennel, since he wants the Growlithe pups to wean from their incubator after they're born. Separating them from the one who'd carried them so soon just seems cruel. After buying the blanket, He Ming hurries back to the farm as soon as he can, hauling the large box in his arms to the side of the shed Ilima's kennel is on.

"Did you already—oh, no. I knew I should've come back sooner..." He Ming leaves the cart to the side and quickly opens the kennel, seeing the large wet spot on the pad. He's helped other breeders through their labor before. Now, he takes care to make sure Ilima is in a favorable position on the pad with the heated blanket on, rubbing his shoulders in a regular rhythm as he waits for him birth the Growlithe pups. Between contractions he leaves to get the stack of clean towels and the extra padded basket he'd prepared ahead of time.

There are four in total. He Ming helps by clearing their faces of any leftover tissue and bundling them in clean towels on the heated blanket in front of Ilima. They're all immediately lively and moving. Even before the last pup is born, the first one is whining for Ilima's milk.

[trialcaptain]

It's a painful process, but he makes through it okay. He's exhausted and sweaty after, but he has the energy to see his pups. He adores them, and it's going to be just as painful pulling them away from him. Ilima will learn to handle it better in time. For now he looks at them fondly and pets each one, gentle and loving as the oxytocin works on him.

He murmurs to them gently, pressing kisses to the tiny little Growlithe pups as they suckle. Two at a time, and he holds them carefully. He cradles their heads, looking at He Ming with a smile.

"They're very energetic," he says.

[quatrains]

"It's a good sign." He Ming watches Ilima take care of the newborn pups with a proud smile. His experiment is working. The treatment was even more effective than he'd expected.

Soon enough Ilima will be ready for his next brood. But for now, He Ming lets Ilima nurse the pups. He stores the milk from the previous day's milking session in small bottles for the other two pups and returns with a bucket of warm water and a clean towel to wash Ilima clean with.

[trialcaptain]

Ilima relaxes, rubbing the pups' heads with his fingers. They make cute little noises typical of Growlithe pups. The two other pups are hungry and trying to get at the milk, stretching their limbs. The ones suckling on his breasts keep going until their full, yawning after. He scoops them close, wishing he could provide more warmth than he can.

He noses against them, looking at He Ming once he's returned to clean him off. He sets the pups on the warm blanket and makes sure they're huddled together, allowing He Ming to wash him clean without complaint. Ilima does keep his eye on the pups though, slightly concerned.

[quatrains]

He Ming hums softly and mostly out of tune as he washes Ilima with the wet towel. He scrubs the soiled towel clean, then lets Ilima rest with his pups.

"Just a few days," he murmurs. "And then we'll make sure you have another good litter, okay?"

The Growlithe pups will wean faster and grow stronger if they wean off of their original incubator. He Ming keeps feeding Ilima as much as he wants to eat, though he takes the enrichment toys away. When the Growlithe pups are walking and beginning to spit fire on their own, He Ming returns with a box of Pokeballs to take them away.

[trialcaptain]

Ilima takes care of his pups dutifully, and when it comes time for them to be taken away, he's incredibly saddened by it. It's difficult, especially since it's his first litter. He doesn't know how to handle it.

"Will I ever see them again?" he asks. Ilima looks at He Ming, though he does let the pups go, not fighting it even if his instincts tell him he should be. The want to cooperate is just a bit stronger.

[quatrains]

"Maybe," He Ming says. He doesn't want to promise anything about the future when his plans for Ilima aren't solid either. But one thing he is sure about—"They'll go to good trainers. Don't worry! They'll be taken care of."

Ilima might have been one of those good trainers, once. He Ming is sure he's of more use here, though.

He takes the Growlithe pups away. When he returns the next day, it's with a plan he's sure will help Ilima cheer up again, even though he hasn't returned the enrichment toys yet or milked him again.

"I have some Pokemon who would be very happy to see you," He Ming announces, looking into the kennel.

[trialcaptain]

They're going to good trainers, which he's thankful for. It helps ease the pain a little bit. Even so, he's been restless ever since they've been taken away. He's been pacing in his kennel, barely touching his food.

Ilima perks up when he hears He Ming, touching the kennel bars.

"Really? May I see them?" he asks, tone excited and hopeful.

[quatrains]

"I'm bringing you to them right now," He Ming confirms. He opens the kennel door and gestures for Ilima to exit and follow him. The exit isn't their immediate destination, however. First He Ming brings him back to the examination table.

"Just one thing before we go." He has the next batch of Ilima's treatments and a second piercing to give to him.

[trialcaptain]

Ilima is happy for the first time in a few days. He follows obediently, a bit impatient, but remaining calm. He gets on the exam table for the next injection, not budging and taking it with no problems. He eyes the piercing equipment, remembering the slight pain, but knowing he can take it again.

All he has to do is think of potentially seeing his pups, and the nervousness goes away. He remains still, waiting for He Ming to pierce him.

[quatrains]

This time He Ming is touching Ilima's nose. He drives the piercing needle through the middle for a septum piercing, fingers quick and careful as he attaches the large golden ring.

"There we go." He touches it once. "It'll be tender for a while, but it shouldn't hurt much."

With that settled, He Ming clips a leash onto the ring to lead Ilima over to an outdoors pen. By this time of day the sun has warmed the air and the pen of Emboars is rife with activity. Some of them are fighting each other, but the conflict mostly ceases when He Ming enters the pen, the Pokemon expecting food.

Ilima won't get to see his pups again just yet. He Ming leads him to a wooden bench next to the Emboars' food trough, the legs of it settled firmly in the mud, raised so that Ilima will be at an appropriate height for the Emboars to reach.