Premature Sprouting

Taking aim at his target, Lucario steadily points his GLOCK 19 before firing all fifteen rounds within the magazine.

"You said that this is the newest handgun that they had on the market?" Lucario questions as he waits for the paper target to reach him.

"Yes, the GLOCK 19 in nine millimeter Luger is known to be an all-round talent for a pistol," Billy responds as he takes the gun from Lucario. "It's smaller in size and lighter, so it isn't as noticeable when carrying it around. However, it still packs the same punch as the pistols that we currently use now."

Lucario takes the paper target from the hanging clip and examines the areas he managed to hit. "It's too light for me," he comments as he notices that some of the bullets weren't landing on a few of the bullseyes. "I guess it's because I'm used to heavier guns, but this will be good for those who protect Lily. I don't want her to be exposed to guns at her young age. Take the new gun models to my office, and I'll decide later who to give it to."

"No problem," Billy says while packing up the gun that Lucario used.

—

"Miss Lily, can you wait in your father's office while I go get snacks for you?" Ryan asks after setting Lily down on the chair in front of Lucario's desk.

"Yes~"

Hearing the click of the door being shut, Lily hops off of the chair and starts looking around the office for her to read. However, a few minutes after Ryan leaves, Lily hears footsteps in the hallway. That's when the idea to hide then pop out to scare Ryan comes into her head, so she slides in the gap between the wall and the bookshelf.

"It would be a surprise if Lily saw this, so I'll hide it under Lucario's desk for now," Billy comments after closing the door behind him.

Lily thinks about jumping out to scare Billy, but hearing that there's something like a surprise for her keeps her hidden so that she can see what it is. Once the door closes, Lily peaks her head out to make sure that the coast is clear before slipping out from the gap and running over to Lucario's desk where she sees the case that Billy had.

"What's the surprise for me?" Lily asks herself while trying to figure out how to open the case. After figuring out how to open the case, she pulls the case out from under the desk and drags it over to her pillow that she sits on when she hangs out with Lucario. As soon as she flings open the lid, Ryan opens the door to the office.

"Miss Lily, they didn't have the cookies that you normally eat, but they had some brownies," Ryan announces before his eyes land on Lily trying to take the gun out of the case. "Miss Lily!" Throwing the tray of snacks onto the coffee table, Ryan rushes over to Lily and snatches the gun from her.

"What's all the yelling for? And why is my door open?" Lucario swings open the door and spots Ryan holding a gun and Lily holding in her cries as she sits in shock from the sudden yelling.

"Did… did I do… some… something wrong, Daddy?" Lily cries after she couldn't hold in her tears anymore.

"You better explain yourself, Ryan," Lucario scolds as he runs over to Lily to pick her up and calm her down. "It's okay, baby girl. I'm here now."

Gathering himself after recovering from the shock, Ryan carefully places the gun back in the case while also watching his back, fearful for his life. "I left Miss Lily in the room in order to get her some snacks because she wanted to be with you in your office after we played with the dogs. When I came back, she was holding this gun, so I quickly took it from her so that she wouldn't hurt herself."

"Lily," Lucario calmly calls. "Why were you playing with the gun?"

"I was hiding in the corner because I wanted to surprise Ryan, but Billy came in first saying how it would be a surprise if I saw it then hiding it under your desk. Since it was a surprise for me, I thought it would be okay for me to open it." Lily wipes her eyes then glances up at her father scared that she might have done something wrong. "Was I not supposed to see my surprise?"

At the worst timing, Billy enters the office carrying the rest of the new shipments of guns on a dolly. "Lucario, where should I put… these… What's going on?"

Covering Lily's ears, Lucario glares at his right-hand man. "You fucking dumbass! Why didn't you check the room when you came in here earlier?! Lily could have gotten hurt!"

"What do you mean? There wasn't anyone in the room when I came here the last time." Billy shifts his eyes to Ryan, who is still standing by the desk, to see if he has the answer and notices the gun case that he put under the desk a few minutes ago sitting on top of the desk. Realizing what's going on, Billy immediately bows to Lucario. "I did not realize that the Young Lady was in the room when I came here earlier, Father Lucario. I was very sure that no one was in the room because it appeared empty. I will take any punishment you will give me for my lapse in surveillance and potentially bringing harm to the Young Lady."

Wanting to lash out at Billy but somehow controlling himself, Lucario takes a deep breath then redirects his attention to Lily. "Lily, the thing you saw in that case is not a toy, so you shouldn't play with it. You could have gotten very hurt."

"I'm sorry, Daddy," Lily quietly responds as she looks away from Lucario's gaze. "I thought it was a surprise for me. I won't touch it again."

"It's okay, baby girl. Billy is the one who should be getting in trouble because he put you in danger, so you have to punish him."

"I have to punish Billy?" Lily turns her head to look at the slender man who stands in front of her. "But what if I don't want to punish Billy?"

"Please punish me, Young Lady," Billy quickly interjects. "I should have been more careful, but I almost got you hurt, so you have to give me a punishment for doing something bad."

Unsure of what to do, Lily glances around the room until she notices some people running around outside. "Billy's punishment is to run around the estate."

"You have to be specific," Lucario advises as he walks over to Billy with Lily in his arms. "How many times should Billy run around the estate until you think he has learned his lesson?"

"Mmmmm… twenty times!"

With a menacing grin, Lucario glares down at Billy with his piercing black eyes. "You heard the Young Lady. You have to run twenty laps around the entire Buenavista Estate. You should get started. Try not to die."

"Thank you for my punishment, Young Lady!" Grateful that it wasn't Lucario giving him his punishment, Billy swiftly leaves the office and starts his laps around the 2.5-mile estate.

"It seems my baby girl is already getting settled into her position as the next leader," Lucario proudly chuckles to himself. He turns to look at Lily and notices that she keeps looking at the gun case. "Lily, what's on your mind?"

Pointing at the gun case, Lily innocently peeks up at Lucario. "Daddy, what is that in the case anyways?"

"It's a dangerous weapon that the guys here use to protect you and me," Lucario answers in the shortest way possible.

"Since Daddy has one, will I be able to get one too?"

Dumbfounded, Lucario and Ryan instantly trade glances at each other. Thinking of a way around the question, Ryan comes up with a solution.

"The weapon in the case is for adults, so you can't use that one. However, they make versions for kids if you want to practice with them."

"Can I?!" Lily pleads to her father with eager eyes. "Can I get the kids version, Daddy? I want to be just like you!"

"Ah… well…." Fighting a battle he has never encountered before, Lucario isn't sure if he can last with Lily looking at him with such puppy-like eyes. "Fine, fine," the father gives in after failing to win against his daughter. "Ryan, get some of the men to go buy the last editions of the Merf gun at Toys For You."

Giggling with excitement, Lily hugs her father's neck. "Thank you, Daddy!"

"Better to start early so that she can get used to it, I guess," Lucario rationalizes to himself as he shakes his head to the fact that Lily has him wrapped around her little finger.