lifeâs a cold beach, fire&gold
Aiming a squint of spite and confusion, Gold sees three volatile balls of feathers and cackling cloud over him before a simple hello directs his eyes to the accompanying trainer.
Is it that bad?
â The jury thinks so, â he grumbles, gaze leaving the brunette (rated charming, but not exactly the type of guardian angel he was expecting) to pin the Dodrio head demanding attention from its human partner. An impulse to shake his head clear of the annoying pitches gets Gold to sit upright, and he gently elbows a beak away to do a prompt 360, dignity commanding him to locate his skateboardâ
    which he finds tamed by the sand a few meters away. Heâll clean the wheels tomorrow.
Nodding once to himself concludes an assessment; disgrace downplays sore wrists and a knee scrape (a fresh stroke on his roughened legs) and hardens his guarded psyche. He glances at Fireâs plastic bag, glad for a second that he wasnât on a busy street, then stands with a private reminder not to slouch too much.
â You remind me of someone. But never mind that, did destiny have you buy any bandages? â Gold harmlessly nudges the bag with his foot.
âYou remind me of someoneâ? Really. A quirked brow, but true, nevermind thatâ
"Nope." He nudges away the most offensive beak bumping at his arm, but not without sticking the bag straps into its beak, getting a muffled hwwwrk for the effort, then the bag being lowered to the ground.
"Don't poke them," he commands with some foresightâbeercans clasped in yokes not bought for the amusement of eccentric dodrios, the snacks not for nowâwhile he bends to a knee; the backpack swung over his shoulders now swung off, right before him.
"âbut I should have one in here." To the side pocket, where the gauze dressing and pads, and all small first aid can be packed away. They come out folded and connected, large squares than rectangles, and he tears one off to hold out.
"That enough? Nothing for the head? How many heads does my doduo have, by the way.â
A helpful soul. And yes, he does have the smile of a self-proclaimed comedian. He may be offering a bandaid or two, but it doesnât make him a nurse to all of the guyâs bruises.











