Chapter 1: Diamond Patterns
The soft scratching of Barlow's quill against parchment formed a gentle rhythm as dawn's first light crept through the windows of Fluffy's chambers. Outside, the gardens of Château Parfum awakened to the Blossom Moon morning, with groundskeepers already tending to the riot of spring flowers. Their sweet scent mingled with the more earthy perfume of fresh soil and morning dew, carried on the crisp breeze that occasionally fluttered the curtains.
Fluffy stretched luxuriously on the cushion beside his father's antique desk—a massive oak piece he'd had servants drag into his private chambers months ago. Candlelight danced across its polished surface where Barlow hunched over their latest manuscript, the Poochyena's dark fur gleaming with amber highlights in the flickering glow.
"What if Sebastian discovers the map has been altered?" Fluffy mused, his tail giving a contented swish across the plush carpet. "Lord Lumious would recognize the forgery immediately, of course."
Barlow paused, the specialized quill held delicately in his mouth. "Makes sense. The noble eye for detail." He returned to writing, his script flowing elegantly across the page.
Fluffy watched, admiring the practiced precision of his companion's movements. These dawn sessions had become his refuge—the only hours when pretense fell away completely. No Council expectations. No noble posturing. Just creation and companionship intertwined.
He inched closer, deliberately brushing his pristine coat against Barlow's darker fur. "You smell particularly wonderful this morning," he murmured, nosing gently at the Poochyena's ear, taking in his companion's rich, musky scent that stirred something primal beneath his noble exterior.
Barlow's paw faltered slightly on the parchment. "My lord, the narrative structure—"
"Can wait," Fluffy interrupted, his voice a playful rumble. He reached out a paw, tracing it slowly along Barlow's flank, deliberately passing over his sheath with feather-light pressure. "I'm finding it difficult to focus on fictional adventures when reality is so much more enticing."
The Poochyena's unique musk intensified, sending a thrill through Fluffy's senses. He nuzzled deeper into the soft fur at Barlow's neck, inhaling deeply as the scent grew stronger—earthy and wild, so different from the perfumed nobles of the court.
"You're my favorite creation," he whispered against Barlow's ear. "Better than any character we could imagine."
Fluffy's blue eyes sparkled with mischief as he noticed Barlow's hindleg beginning to twitch in that telltale rhythm. The Poochyena tried to maintain his composure, but his body betrayed him as his rod began to emerge from its sheath. A low chuckle rumbled through Fluffy's chest at the sight.
"Having trouble concentrating?" Fluffy teased, his perfectly groomed tail swishing playfully behind him.
Barlow's breathing quickened, his chest rising and falling more rapidly. The quill trembled slightly between his teeth before he set it down beside the parchment. His amber eyes darkened as he turned toward Fluffy, his expression shifting from servant to something far more dominant.
"You think you're being cute, don't you?" Barlow growled softly, his voice dropping to a register that sent shivers down Fluffy's spine. "Distracting me while I work, teasing me with that pristine noble ass of yours." He moved suddenly, maneuvering his body to press Fluffy against the desk. "Maybe what you need is a reminder of who really owns who behind closed doors."
Fluffy felt his heartbeat quicken, his own scent changing subtly as arousal bloomed through his body. This was what he craved—Barlow shedding the servant's mask and showing his true nature. "I was merely suggesting—"
"I know exactly what you were suggesting," Barlow interrupted, pressing his muzzle against Fluffy's neck and inhaling deeply. "Your scent gives everything away. All proper and dignified on the outside, but underneath..." He deliberately dragged his nose along Fluffy's body, trailing down toward his hindquarters. "Underneath you're practically begging for my cock."
A small whimper escaped Fluffy's throat, his aristocratic composure beginning to crumble under Barlow's assertive attention. "Barlow, please..."
"Please what, my lord?" Barlow asked, emphasizing the title with mocking reverence. "Be specific. I want to hear the noble heir of House Argent tell me exactly what he wants."
Fluffy swallowed, his aristocratic training battling with raw desire. "I want... your attention," he managed, still clinging to some semblance of dignity.
Barlow snorted, his amber eyes glinting with amusement. "My attention? Is that what nobles call it these days?" He pressed his now fully erect member against Fluffy's thigh, leaving a smear of warm pre-fluid on his pristine white coat. "You can have my full attention, my lord. But first..."
With surprising strength, Barlow moved to position himself behind Fluffy, pressing his muzzle directly against the Furfrou's tail base. He inhaled deeply, taking in the noble's most intimate scent.
"Your highborn ass smells delicious this morning," Barlow growled, his tongue darting out to taste the scent directly. "Like expensive oils and desperate need."
Fluffy gasped, his tail instinctively rising higher. "Barlow!" His voice carried shock, but his body betrayed his true feelings as his own member began emerging from its sheath.
"Yes, my lord?" Barlow asked innocently, continuing to lick with deliberate precision. "Is this not the attention you were seeking? Your scent says otherwise."
Fluffy's front legs trembled slightly as pleasure radiated from Barlow's expert attention. His perfectly manicured Diamond trim was already becoming disheveled, his noble poise crumbling with each swipe of the Poochyena's tongue.
"More," Fluffy whispered, his aristocratic restraint finally giving way to honest need. "Please, Barlow."
"As you command, my lord," Barlow replied with a hint of satisfaction. He mounted Fluffy in one fluid motion, his front paws gripping the Furfrou's sides with practiced certainty. His throbbing member pressed against Fluffy's entrance, hot and insistent.
"This is what you've wanted since you woke up, isn't it?" Barlow's voice was rough with desire as he began to push forward. "The mighty Lord Fluffington, heir to House Argent, begging for his servant's cock before breakfast."
Fluffy could only whimper in response as Barlow entered him, the initial resistance giving way to familiar fullness. His mind emptied of political concerns and noble obligations—in this moment, he was simply a Pokémon being claimed by his mate.
"So tight," Barlow murmured appreciatively as he hilted himself fully inside his master. "No matter how many times we do this, you're always so perfectly tight for me."
He established a rhythm, each thrust sending waves of pleasure through both their bodies. Fluffy pushed back eagerly, his diamond-trimmed coat now thoroughly mussed as they moved together in perfect synchronization.
"Fuck," Barlow growled, his usual subservient demeanor completely abandoned. "You feel amazing, my lord. Is this the attention you needed?"
"Yes," Fluffy gasped, lost in sensation. "Don't stop. Please don't stop."
Barlow increased his pace, his claws digging slightly into Fluffy's sides. "I can feel you getting close," he observed, his voice husky with exertion. "I can smell it on you."
Fluffy's body tightened around Barlow as pressure built inside him. "Barlow, I'm—"
Their climax approached simultaneously, Barlow's knot beginning to swell at the base of his member. With a final powerful thrust, he pushed his knot past Fluffy's entrance, locking them together as both shuddered in release. Fluffy's seed spilled onto the carpet below while Barlow pumped his own deep inside his lord, their bodies joined completely.
In their moment of shared ecstasy, neither heard the distinctive three-tap pattern at the door. It was only as the lock clicked open that they realized their predicament – physically tied together with no possibility of quick separation.
"My lord, I have your morning schedule—" Madame Melody's voice cut off abruptly as she took in the scene before her: the heir to House Argent and his attendant locked together in the unmistakable position of mating, both panting and disheveled.
The elderly Clefable sighed deeply, adjusting her spectacles. "Again? Before breakfast meetings?" She shook her head, her nose wrinkling slightly. "The musk in here is thick enough to cut with a knife. Anal sex before sunrise, really?"
Fluffy's ears flattened with embarrassment, though there was little dignity to be salvaged while knotted to his servant. "Good morning, Madame," he managed, his voice still breathless from exertion.
"Don't 'good morning' me," Madame Melody replied, moving to open the windows wider. "This is the third time this week I've had to arrange for the carpets to be cleaned. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to explain these particular stains to the cleaning staff?"
Barlow, unable to dismount due to his swollen knot, could only offer an apologetic smile. "Our apologies, Madame. The moment rather... overtook us."
"It always does," she muttered, purposefully busying herself with straightening items on Fluffy's desk, her back turned to give them what little privacy was possible in the circumstances. "And today of all days, with Lady Thornblossom arriving for an audience. The Western Waterways' matriarch has an exceptional sense of smell, you know. Water-types always do."
"Lady Thornblossom? The Floatzel herself is coming to Château Parfum?" Fluffy asked, momentarily distracted from his compromising position despite being physically tied to Barlow.
"Indeed," Madame Melody confirmed, still not looking at them directly. "She sent word last evening requesting a private audience. Something about 'matters of mutual benefit to our houses.' And here you are, reeking of mating with your hindquarters locked to your attendant."
She reached into her apron pocket and withdrew a small pouch of scented herbs. "You'll need to bathe twice with these. Pattern will need extra time with your Diamond trim today – it's completely ruined at the back." She placed the pouch on the desk. "How long until you two separate? I need to adjust the morning schedule."
Barlow shifted slightly, causing Fluffy to gasp as the movement tugged at their joined bodies. "Perhaps another five minutes, Madame," he estimated, his voice professionally calm despite the intimacy of the question.
"Ten minutes for separation, thirty minutes for a proper bath, and at least forty-five for Pattern to salvage that disaster you call a trim," Madame Melody calculated aloud. "Breakfast will need to be served in the eastern solarium rather than the dining hall. I'll inform the kitchen staff."
She finally turned to face them, her expression a mixture of exasperation and reluctant amusement. "I've been covering for you two since his lordship was barely more than a pup. A little warning would be appreciated next time. Perhaps a sock on the door handle like civilized Pokémon?"
"We'll take that under advisement," Fluffy replied, attempting to maintain some semblance of dignity despite being physically joined to Barlow from behind, both their scents mingling with the unmistakable musk of sex in the morning air.
"See that you do," Madame Melody said, moving toward the door. "Pattern will arrive once you're... disentangled. Try to air out the room before then. The poor Smeargle nearly fainted from the scent last time."
With that parting comment, she closed the door softly behind her, leaving the two lovers literally stuck together in the aftermath of both their passion and her matter-of-fact interruption.
"Well," Fluffy said after a moment, looking back at Barlow over his shoulder. "That was..."
"Worth it?" Barlow suggested with a grin, still firmly knotted inside his master. "Though I admit, being caught mid-knot wasn't exactly part of my plan."
Fluffy couldn't help but laugh despite their predicament. "You're impossible. And we're both a complete mess."
"A beautiful, satisfied mess," Barlow corrected, leaning forward to nuzzle Fluffy's ears affectionately. "Though I suppose we should start planning our explanation for why the heir of House Argent will be walking with a slight limp during Lady Thornblossom's audience."
"We have about five minutes before we can separate," Fluffy said with a resigned sigh, looking back at Barlow over his shoulder. "Might as well make use of the time." He glanced toward his desk where the morning's correspondence lay scattered. "I'm curious what Lady Thornblossom's visit might be about."
With careful coordination, Fluffy began to move them both toward the desk, Barlow still firmly knotted inside him. Each step caused both to wince as the knot tugged at sensitive tissues.
"Careful, my lord," Barlow murmured against Fluffy's ear, his front paws gripping his master's sides to maintain balance as they shuffled awkwardly across the chamber.
"Her house rarely concerns itself with eastern matters," Fluffy commented, wincing as a particularly sharp movement tugged at their connection. He finally reached the desk and carefully examined the nearest letter. "The Western Waterways have always maintained their independence."
As Fluffy shuffled through the correspondence, his eyes widened at the sight of a familiar seal – the crescent moon of House Dawnshade. "Barlow, look at this," he said, nudging the letter into better view. "Lady Cassandra's seal."
Barlow shifted slightly behind him, causing both to gasp as the movement tugged at their joined bodies. "Sorry," he murmured before focusing on the letter. "A message from your Council proxy? That's... unexpected timing."
Fluffy carefully broke the seal with his claw, unfolding the parchment to read the elegant script within. "'My dear cousin, I arrive by nightfall. Urgent Council matters require immediate discussion. Prepare private accommodations,'" he read aloud. "Signed with just her initial. That's Cassandra's style – brief and to the point."
"Council matters and urgent in the same message," Barlow observed, his tone concerned. "And arriving the same day as Lady Thornblossom."
"The timing seems far from coincidental," Fluffy agreed, feeling the tension in Barlow's knot finally beginning to ease enough for potential separation. "Two high-ranking females arriving on the same day, both potentially connected to Father's research."
"And both unmated," Barlow added quietly, his tone carrying a hint of something Fluffy couldn't quite identify. "Both from bloodlines the Council considers valuable."
Before Fluffy could respond to this observation, he felt Barlow's knot finally reduce enough to allow separation. With careful movements, Barlow withdrew, both wincing slightly at the sensation. A trickle of warm fluid ran down Fluffy's inner thigh as they separated.
"We should clean up," Fluffy said, his posture regaining some of its aristocratic dignity despite the mess. He padded to the window, the early morning light catching in his disheveled diamond-trimmed fur. For a moment, he simply gazed out at the awakening estate, ancestral lands that had belonged to the Argent family for generations.
"Our hero decides he needs to discover the truth," Fluffy finally said, his voice carrying the weight of conviction. "Not just about the map or Lord Lumious... but about his father and the treasure he sought before his disappearance." He turned his head slightly, his azure eyes reflecting the dawn light. "Some secrets aren't meant to stay buried forever."
Barlow tilted his head, ears perked forward with sudden attention. The Poochyena carefully gathered the scattered correspondence, moving them to a safer position on the desk before turning fully toward his master.
"Is there something you wanted to talk about, my lord?" Barlow asked, his tone gentler now, laced with understanding.
Fluffy turned from the window to face his loyal companion. Barlow sat back on his haunches, his dark fur a striking contrast to the morning light. The scent of their recent mating still hung in the air, but a more serious mood had settled between them.
"Four years," Fluffy said quietly, his azure eyes carrying a weight beyond his years. "It's been four years since Father disappeared, and what have I done? Maintained the estate. Attended social functions. Written stories with you." He shook his head, frustration evident in the stiff set of his shoulders. "I've dishonored his memory by doing nothing to discover what really happened to him."
Barlow approached carefully, his amber eyes warm with concern. "You haven't dishonored him, my lord. You've kept House Argent stable during an impossible time. The Council would have seized control of your territories if you'd shown any weakness."
"But his research—the Sacred Treasures—" Fluffy began, only to be cut off by Barlow's gentle but firm interruption.
"Your father spent decades studying evolutionary anomalies," Barlow reminded him. "He had resources and connections you couldn't possibly match, especially not while learning to manage an entire noble house at such a young age." His expression softened further. "You're not your father, Fluffy. Nor should you try to be."
The use of his name without title—rare even in their most private moments—caught Fluffy's attention. He looked at Barlow with renewed focus, seeing not just his loyal servant or passionate lover, but the one Pokémon who had stood beside him through his darkest days.
"If not for you, I might have tried something foolish after he disappeared," Fluffy admitted. "Rushed into the Northern Mountains half-prepared, following fragmented clues."
"And I would have followed you there too," Barlow replied simply. "But perhaps now is different. Lady Thornblossom's sudden interest, Lady Cassandra's urgent message—something has changed." He moved closer, his body brushing gently against Fluffy's side. "If you decide to pursue your father's research now, you won't be doing it alone."
Fluffy felt something tight within his chest begin to loosen—a tension he'd carried for so long he'd almost forgotten it was there. "The timing of their visits can't be coincidence," he agreed. "And if the Council is taking renewed interest in the Northern Territories..."
"Then something has changed," Barlow finished. "And this time, we'll face it together."
Fluffy leaned briefly into the contact, drawing strength from his companion's unwavering loyalty. "I should prepare for the bathing ritual. Pattern will need extra time with my trim after our... morning activities."
Barlow stepped back with practiced efficiency, resuming his proper servant's posture. "I'll have the eastern bathhouse prepared with the herb mixture Madame Melody provided," he said, his tone shifting to formal efficiency though his eyes retained their warmth. "And perhaps arrange for a special tea blend to help with any... discomfort during Lady Thornblossom's audience."
A small smile touched Fluffy's muzzle despite the seriousness of the moment. "Always thinking ahead."
"It's my duty, my lord," Barlow replied, the formal address returning as they prepared to venture beyond their private chambers and resume their public roles.
As Barlow departed to make arrangements, Fluffy remained by the window for a moment longer, watching the morning light spread across his ancestral lands. Whatever secrets his father had discovered—whatever truths the Council had sought to bury—perhaps the time had finally come to unearth them.
The Diamond pattern that had distinguished his lineage for generations suddenly felt heavier on his coat, a responsibility that went beyond mere tradition. His father had sought knowledge the Council feared. Now, with two high-ranking females converging on Château Parfum, it seemed that knowledge might no longer remain buried.
Breakfast awaited, followed by the Diamond Reception and important audiences. Each obligation represented another step toward whatever truth lay hidden in his father's research. For the first time in years, Fluffy felt not just duty driving him forward, but purpose—a determination to honor his father's legacy by continuing the work that had cost him everything.
With newfound resolve, he turned from the window and prepared to face the day ahead, the lingering scent of Barlow's musk a subtle reminder that whatever challenges awaited, he would not face them alone.