Us Against The World

"What?! I have to do What?!"

Roark was starring at his father, a mixture of shock and disbelief on his face. Byron sighed.

"Listen, son, I am really sorry about all this, it certainly was not my idea to –", he began, before he was cut off again by Roark.

"To make me the babysitter of an egocentric playboy?!", he said annoyed. "I don't even know this guy! Volkner, I already can't stand the name!"

"He is the gymleader of Sunyshore", Byron reminded him. "You saw him once, when I took you to the gymleader's conference last year. He had a Raichu."

Roark shook his head. "I don't remember and I don't care either", he replied, still angry. "Just tell me, why I suddenly have to take care of this guy. Isn't he older than me?"

"You and Volkner are the same age", Byron answered, in an attempt to improve his son's mood. "He is one of the strongest Pokemon trainers I've ever seen, the best gymleader in Sinnoh. His Luxray would be able to beat my Steelix! Volkner just tends to be a bit … reckless sometimes."

"Like when he blacked out the whole city due to construction works at the Sunyshore gym?", Roark replied, his voice sarcastic.

Byron nodded. "Yes", he said. "But this time, Volkner has gone too far. At least, that is what the Elite Four are thinking. Cynthia has banned him from his gym until she can be sure, that this won't happen again. And she told me to ask you, if you could manage to talk some sense into him."

"But why?", Roark wanted to know. "I am the weakest among the gymleaders, Volkner would probably just laugh at me. Why would Cynthia think, that he would listen to someone like me?"

Byron patted his son on the back, nearly sending his glasses flying. "Now, now, you are a good Pokemon trainer", he said friendly. "You just lack the experience, that's all."
Roark rolled his eyes.

"So, why?", he asked again.

"Because you are his age", came the answer. Roark raised an eyebrow.

"That's all?", he asked, taken aback. "But then why don't you send Volkner to Candice or Gardenia? I am sure, they would be better in talking to him, than me."

Byron looked away quickly, mumbling something. "What?"

Byron sighed. "It wouldn't be prudent to let them speak with him", he said reluctantly. "You see, Volkner has a certain … reputation."

Roark groaned. "Great, so now you're telling me, he's a sex pervert!" This was getting better by the minute!

"Flint suggested you", Byron finally admitted. "He and Volkner are friends and Flint thought that you two might get along."

Roark burried his face in his hands. "If they are friends, couldn't Flint just talk to Volkner?", he wanted to know.

"He did", his father replied. "But Cynthia thought it would be more of a punishment for Volkner, if he would have to speak to someone he doesn't know."

"Sure …" Roark muttered under his breath. Being the punishment for someone sure was fun! And he hated this feeling, knowing that Cynthia just wanted to see, if the newbie was worthy of being a gymleader.

"I am really sorry", Byron tried to comfort his son. "But Cynthia wouldn't change her mind. Volkner will arrive here in Oreburgh with the train tomorrow morning."

He patted Roark on his shoulders, nearly knocking him down in the process.

"You'll do fine, son", he said, but Roark noticed that his father wasn't looking at him when he spoke those words. "And if Volkner is making you any trouble, just call Riley, or me, you understand?"

What else could Roark do now, than nod? "Thanks, dad."

Byron left. Roark watched him go, sighing. If he thought that he could do it, then why didn't Byron look his son into his face? Not that it surprised Roark … He remembered his father's reaction, when he had been appointed the new Gymleader of Oreburgh instead of Riley …

Roark shook his head to drive the unpleasant thoughts away. He really had other problems now, than trying to live up to his dad's expectations! Or better said, one problem called Volkner …

Roark tried to remember his face, but he couldn't. He did know that he had seen a Raichu though. Not that it really mattered anyway. Roark was going to meet Volkner soon enough!

"Roark?" The voice of one of his workers in the mine interrupted his thoughts. "I think we have spotted a new fossil", he told him. It was the word "fossil" that gained Roark's interest.

"I'm coming!", he said, grabbing his helmet. "Get a grip!", he then muttered to himself.

This must have been the first time, that Roark had been in such a bad mood, when a new fossil was discovered.

Only the sight of what was to be a beautiful Cranidos, managed to cheer him up.

"Why had I gotten so mad, when dad told me that I had to look after Volkner?", Roark asked himself. "Volkner sure can't be that bad …? I'll just talk to him …"

Well, Roark knew why he had reacted that way … And it wasn't because of Volkner! Anyway …

Roark had no choice but to do what was expected of him. Like he always had …

The next day when Roark entered to gym, he had almost forgotten Volkner. He was in a good mood, humming cheerfully, thinking about the Cranidos fossil that had been brought to the museum. Roark was his old, optimistic self, confident that everything would turn out just fine.

He was sitting in the gym, feeding is Cranidos, when reality hit him again.

"Volkner, the gymleader of Sunyshore has arrived", his secretary told him. "He is waiting for you."

Roark sighed. Great … "Thanks", he replied, getting up. Well, just get it over with …

The secretary led him to the entrance of the gym. Roark immediately noticed a young man, approximately his age, sitting on a bench. He was tall, with spiky blond hair and dark blue eyes. He had a slender body and wore a darkblue jacket with yellow buttons on the sleeves, a black shirt and black pants.

Judging by the annoyed look on his face, Volkner was just as pleased about being here, as Roark was. He seemed bored and upset. But still, looking very handsome …

Roark shook his head. What was he thinking?!

He cleared his throat.

"Hello", he said friendly, holding out his hand. Volkner, fixing him with his ocean blue eyes, got up.

"You must be Roark then", he said, a small grin building on his face. "You look as if you're still wet behind the ears."

"Nice to meet you too", Roark muttered sarcastically under his breath. He forced a smile.

"Did you have a good journey?", he asked, trying to be polite. Volkner laughed.

"Great", he replied, cynism in every syllable. He sighed, as he walked up to Roark.

Obviously, he had noticed that he had hurt Roark with the last remark.

"Listen, I'm sorry", Volkner began, sounding almost friendly. "I'm sure you're a nice kid and don't want to do this anymore than I do, so can we just skip the lecture and try to be friends?"

Roark looked at Volkner, first clearly suspicious. He had called him a kid … They were the same age!

Roark already wanted to open his mouth and tell Volkner what he really thought of him, when he noticed how tired he looked. Volkner had deep shadows under his eyes and somehow Roark had the feeling that he hadn't had a decent meal in a long time. Yes, he seemed exhausted …

Roark's anger disappeared. Instead he smiled and gestured Volkner to follow him. "I could show you the gym", he suggested. "And then we could take a tour through the city." And this time, Roark didn't get an unfriendly or sarcastic remark.

Volkner nodded thankfully. "That sounds good."

So, that was, what the two gymleaders did for the next hours. Roark did most of the talking, Volkner trotting silently behind him. He didn't say a word through the whole time, his face either grumpy or bored. Just when Roark told him of the fossils they found in the mine, waving his hands enthusiastically to emphasise his words, he thought to have spotted a small smile.

"You really do like your fossils, don't you?", Volkner asked him, but it didn't sound mean. Roark nodded fervently. "Yes!", he answered, making Volkner chuckle.

"Very cute", he said as he stepped past Roark. He blushed. Was that supposed to be funny or -?

"So, this is it?" Disappointed, Volkner looked at the entry of the mine. "That is all there is to see in Oreburgh?"

"What did you expect?", Roark asked, laughing. "Nonstop party and girls?" Volkner grinned mischievously. "Maybe", he replied. "Where do you go out at night?"

Roark paused, suddenly slightly embarrassed. "I don't go out", he admitted. "I work the whole day in the mine or train my Pokemon. So in the evening I'm normally too tired to do anything." Until now, Roark had never felt that he should attend more partys.

Thankfully, Volkner just nodded. A strange silence followed, during which Roark blushed again, as he noticed a pair of blue eyes staring at him. Finally, he turned around.

"So", Roark tried to change subject. "Do you want to see the mine?" Volkner raised an eyebrow.

"I prefer the light if you don't mind", he said calmly. "Besides, what is there to see except darkness, earth and mud?"

Roark giggled. "I'll show you!", he replied. Before he knew what he did, he had grabbed Volkner's hand.

"Hey, wait!", was all that a surprised Volkner could utter, before Roark pulled him underground.

"I think that's a first", Volkner murmured behind his new friend.

"Really?", Roark teased him. "After what I've heard from you, I would think you like to be reckless."

"Well, my mom taught me not to go with strange boys", Volkner replied, teasing him back and making Roark's heart beat faster. What was wrong with him?!

"But I would like to know where we are going", Volkner said. "It looks all the same to me …"

"Don't worry, I know the way", Roark assured him. "I grew up in here."

Volkner looked at the dark walls. "Very romantic", he said. "And I thought I had a strange childhood, learning to change lightbulbs before I could walk … Is there a light?"

They were turning around a corner now, light coming from the walls. Roark stopped.

"We're here", he told Volkner.

He looked around him. "Wow …"

There were diamonds in the walls. Thousands of little diamonds, sunk deep into the earth, making the room around them glow in a faint light.

Roark smiled, at seeing Volkner all speechless. He could tell that was not an easy thing to do!

"I'm impressed", Volkner finally admitted.

"I hoped you'd like it", Roark said happily. "I found this place once when walking through the mine as a child." He paused thoughtfully. "I often come here to think."

"It's … nice", Volkner said slowly.

He turned to Roark. "Why do you show me this?", he wanted to know.

"Well", Roark replied self-consciously, "I thought you would like it as you've mentioned you like the light …"

"I did …", Volkner nodded. "How many people know of this place?", he wondered.

Of course Roark blushed. "With you … two", he answered quietly. Volkner grinned, as he walked next to Roark. "Did you bring me here to show off?", he teased him.

Roark coughed to regain his composure. "Just for your information", he told him. "I do not need to show off, I am the leader of Oreburgh gym and its mine. I am not a kid!"

He said the last words louder than necessary. Volkner held up his hands defensively. "Okay."

Roark sighed. "I am sorry", he told Volkner. "Don't worry", he assured him. "You are Byron's son, right? I remember seeing you on the last trainer's convention."

"Yes", Roark nodded, his voice a bit harder than normal. "He is my dad."

"I'm sure that wasn't easy", Volkner went on, lost in thoughts. "Growing up with a famous dad …"

"You mean a famous Pokemon trainer", Roark corrected him, knowing he sounded bitter.

"Byron was always a gym leader first and then a father. And he made sure of me knowing this." Volkner looked at him silently.

Roark shook his head.

"Come on", he said, feeling a bit embarrassed of having talked so much. "Let's go get something to eat."

The rest of the day passed in silence. Roark still couldn't believe that he really told Volkner about Byron. He never talked to anyone about his relationship with his father. And now, Volkner, a strange guy whom he just met … But the weird thing was, that he had listened to him … Volkner had listened to him without saying a word. Not that he ever talked much …

"Can I ask you something?"

They were watching their Pokemon eat and there was something Roark had wanted to ask Volkner the whole day.

"Sure", Volkner replied, slightly surprised.

"Why did you rebuilt the Sunyshore gym?", Roark wanted to know. "I mean, obviously, you knew that it was going to black out the city."

"I did", Volkner nodded. "I just thought it would be … funny."

"Funny?", Roark asked dubiously. "You got into a lot of trouble with the Elite Four!"

"As if I care!", Volkner snorted.

"I was bored", he went on. "Always the same arrogant, incompetent trainers who think they only need to have a rock-type Pokemon to defeat me … Losers, all of them! Once I won a whole battle in almost less than a minute … Obviously the guy thought my Luxray was no match for his Aggron …" Volkner laughed shortly.

"Anyway, I became so bored and depressed that I decided to rebuilt the gym."

"I see …", Roark muttered.

"And now I'm here", Volkner finished his story.

"Now you're here", Roark nodded, feeling his heart skip a beat at this fact. He was glad that the phone was ringing this second … For some reason he didn't want to look at Volkner.

"Hey Roark", Byron's voice echoed from the phone.

"Hi dad", Roark said, already guessing the reason for his father's call.

"I just wanted to make sure that everything's alright", Byron explained. "Volkner has a reputation for being difficult. He's not giving you any trouble, is he?"

Roark threw a quick glance at Volkner, who was petting his Luxray. "Everything's fine dad, relax", he soothed Byron. And more quietly, so that Volkner wouldn't hear him, he added: "Actually, Volkner is nice. A bit strange but … nice."

"Oh", Byron replied, clearly surprised. "Well, that's good. Otherwise I would have had a talk with him!"

"That is really not necessary", Roark assured him.

"Okay then", Byron said, still dubiously. "Bye son."

"Bye dad."

Roark sighed, as he hung up.

"Byron knows you're grown-up, right?" Volkner had listened to him. "Or is he scared that I would make his little son turn over to the dark side?"

"Very funny!", Roark replied sarcastically. "Actually, he thinks you are a troublemaker."

Volkner grinned. "All bad boys are", he replied innocently. Roark laughed.

"You're not a bad boy", he said firmly. "That is just what you want to make the others believe, to hide the scared little boy that is really inside you."

A few seconds Roark wasn't sure if he had now gone too far. But Volkner just called back his Luxray.

"Not bad", he finally said, his voice quieter than usual. "But it's not as if you would be any different."

"What do you mean?", Roark wanted to know. Volkner pointed to the phone.

"Your optimism and your happy-go-lucky attitude is just a mask you put on because you're trying to please your dad."

"I want him to be proud of me", Roark replied. "Don't you want your parents to be proud of you?

"Not at the expense of myself", Volkner answered promptly. "He is your father, he should love you for who you are, not because you're a great gym leader."

Roark thought of something to say, of something that would convince Volkner that it wasn't like he thought. But he couldn't.

"You're right", he admitted. Volkner smiled. It was the first real smile, that Roark had seen on his handsome face.

"And I thought we wouldn't have anything in common", Volkner said.