Ah, the holiday season. Every inch of Almia, it seemed, was decked out for some winter holiday or another. Especially the Ranger Union. Rangers and Operators were busy decorating each floor of the building top to bottom with Christmas cheer. Kate, especially, was enjoying the lax day.
"Rhythmi, can you hand me some more garland?" she asked, holding out a hand so she wouldn't have to get down from the step ladder.
"Sure, Katie!" Rhythmi chimed happily, snatching some out of the box.
Kate took it, then looked down with suspicion. "Ryth…this has mistletoe," she questioned, glancing down at her best friend.
Rhythmi giggled, "Yes! Just put it up, Katie-Kate!" Kate reluctantly hooked the plant above the doorway that lead into the sleeping quarter's lounge.
"Hey, are you two done out here yet?" Kellyn asked, pushing open the door Kate sat above. The ladder wobbled and tilted back with the girl clinging to metal. The pachirisu on her shoulder started to chatter in fear, jumping down to Rhythmi's arms. "Kate!" Kellyn yelped, cringing when the ladder – and Kate – fell to the floor.
"O-ow…" Kate grumbled, rubbing her back and bottom where she'd landed.
"I'm sorry, Kate!" Kellyn fell to his knees to examine her and make sure Kate hadn't been hurt too badly.
Rhythmi smirked, "Somebody's worried…!" she commented. It wasn't often that Kellyn got too hung up on a person's health, but when it came to either Kate or Keith, Rhythmi was sure he would burst with concern.
"No I'm not!" Kellyn defended, taking Kate's hand to get her to her feet. Starly perched himself on Kellyn's head, pecking lightly at his partner's forehead. "I just don't want everybody thinking I hurt Kate or something!"
"Suuuure," Rhythmi giggled. "Whatever you say Kell-Kell!" The blonde skipped off to get back to work, leaving the two rangers to themselves.
"You alright, Kate?" Kellyn asked again.
"Yeah, I'm fine, stop worrying!" Kate reassured, smiling widely at the boy. "Why don't we go get some hot chocolate?" Kate suggested, taking Kellyn's hand and pulling him inside the lounge. Kellyn jerked to halt, having noticed the mistletoe above their heads. "Kell?"
"U-um…" Kellyn mumbled, "Mistletoe?"
Kate looked up as well, blushing. Oh yeah, she'd just put that up. Oh, Ryth! You're dead! "Y-you wanna? I mean, it's tradition so should we…kiss?" Kate stuttered, wringing the one finger of Kellyn's in her grasp. She knew Rhythmi had done this on purpose, probably figuring with as close as Kate walked with either Kellyn Keith, she would end up under the plant at some point or another with one of them.
Kellyn nodded and tried to smother his own blush, which was spread across his entire face and his neck and ears. He stepped closer to the girl, placing a hand on her hip before barely touching his lips to hers. Kate put her arms around Kellyn's shoulders, melting into the kiss and pressing it harder than Kellyn dared.
From where they sat on a sofa inside the lounge, Pachirisu and Starly hid their eyes either by tail or by wing. Kellyn fussed at the two pokemon, asking the what they thought was going to happen. "It's just a kiss!" he added, stomping by them with his face as red his uniform.
And, just to prove it was 'just a kiss' as Starly insisted it was not, Kellyn made sure to plant one a startled and confused Keith later that evening. Because kisses didn't matter, right?
Never tried to write these characters, even though it's my favorite game in existence. So, this is a warm up! I will try to write better stuff for them eventually, but not as part of this. This is done, complete, finished.
Review and Favorite if you enjoyed!
