>>58143581“This’s gonna sound real weird…” You began.
>”Can’t be weirder than anything this past month.” Hal assured you.>Rather than using the handrails, the zoroark scurried upstairs on all fours.>You followed, content with skipping every other step.>But the staircase was spacious enough and the ceiling high enough you considered leaping straight to the top.>”What is it?”>At the top, the fox rose to two feet again.“Does your son smell?”
>You sniffed the air again.>The house smelled of boiled cabbage, an undertone of motor oil, and human.>”Used to.” Hal answered, chuckling.>Used to indeed.>The smell grew the closer you got to the zorua’s room.>”I washed the bedsheets after we turned.” Hal said, leading you further into the room. “Didn’t really help.”>When you changed, you noticed the strong scent of what used to be you.>It took days to get familiar with it.>It reminded you of swapping cars. >The new ‘cario smell was different and mixed with the old you in your house.>This room, however, was not like yours.“No, I mean, does he have a new scent?” You clarified.
“Like, a zorua smell.”
>You hadn’t noticed the lack of it since you met Hal.>Beneath the fresh, alpine shampoo, Hal had no odor.>And if your hunch was correct… >”Nope.” Hal said, shaking his head. “Like a fawn. Scentless.”
>”Hard as heck finding him around the house.”>”Can you believe I considered getting a cat collar for him?”>You paused opening the door, raising an eyebrow.>”He was quiet, okay?”>”Needed a jingle bell on him!”>You held off from cracking any jokes.>Considering he escaped, that bell would’ve been a good idea.>Harry’s room stank of youth.>And Hal was right, it was distinctly human. >There wasn’t a whiff of pokémon scent. >The bedroom was painted deep blue. >Harry’s bed had matching plaid bedsheets.>It seemed the zorua tugged and yanked them into a rounded nest for sleeping.>Extra gray hairs in the divot confirmed it. 