Starlit - A Pearlshipping Fanfic
"Ash," she whispered, "tell me something."
They were sitting together, huddled, way beneath the stars. Some feet away lay Brock, snoring in his sleep, though very lightly. Dawn was glad of that. It would have been awful to travel with someone who snored loudly.
"What do you want me to tell you?" Ash whispered back, his eyes fixed on hers. The moon was full tonight, its pale, whitish glow illuminating his features. Not for the first time did Dawn think to herself that Ash had become so much more mature, so much more understanding and – with a dreamy sigh – so much cuter. Of course, he would always have that little bit of boyishness that always managed to drive her nuts, but it was just a part of him. Sighing, she snuggled closer.
"Anything," she murmured. "A story. Something that happened to you."
"Um…. Okay. I got one. Are you sure you'll be able to sleep after this?"
"Yes," Dawn answered with a small smile. It had been her excuse that she couldn't sleep, so would he please stay up with her? He had agreed with barely any complaint. Yes, he had grown both physically (those broad shoulders!) and mentally. A few years ago he would have muttered a rejection and gone back to sleep in an instant. Now, though…
"Well, there was this one time when I was, like, six or something, and Gary and I were doing our usual rival things."
"Like what?"
"Uh… I dunno. Like racing each other, or seeing who could climb a tree faster. He used to win a lot, but I won a lot, too. Most of the time we couldn't tell," he admitted with a laugh. "That time we were at this river that ran close to the edge of Pallet Town. It's still there, I think."
"Take me to see it sometime," Dawn said eagerly, arms slipping around his, eyes bright as she looked up at him. She wasn't entirely sure, but she thought she saw him blush.
"S-sure, Dawn," he stammered. "Maybe this fall—"
"I was just joking, silly." With a poke to his nose she drew closer. "You always take everything so seriously."
"Not everything," he protested, even as she straddled him and placed her small hands on his chest, pushing him down onto the grass. He spluttered as some of the longer blades tickled his face. "Dawn, wh-what are you doing?"
"Seducing you, Ash." A giggle as she laid her head on his chest, then a sigh of content. "Just kidding. Can we sleep like this?"
"Er… but Brock will think…"
"Mmn, you're right." She rolled off of him onto the grass, lying on her back, watching the stars. "It's too suggestive."
There was a silence, then Ash reached over tentatively and wrapped his arms around her. She received the embrace with a soft smile.
"Do you want me to finish the story?" he asked. She shook her head, her hair getting in her face. He brushed it out of the way.
"No." Impulsively, she kissed him and watched him blush. "Save it for later, Ash."
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Authoress's Note:
Sorry for the shortness of this; I just wrote this for a contest on dA. I don't particularly like Pearlshipping, either, but the category is "Pearlshipping fanfic", so I'm like, why not? XD