Hi, thanks for reading! I hope you will enjoy this three part piece. I appreciate constructive feedback and please bear in mind English is not my first language and sometimes it does not come as naturally as it should.

For the record, I was born in a country where age of consent is 15 and currently live in a country where it is 16. Furthermore, in both of those countries you are legally allowed to drink alcohol from age of 18. So I am appointing similar laws in place in this AU. I also included maps and other bits and pieces from games. Some personal headcanons about Pokemon world as well.

[Long walk home]

Paul sighed, it was quite a walk from Viridian city to Pallet Town and he was exhausted. But as he missed the coach, he figured walking was the next best option unless he wanted to wait for the next one. Which was departing early next morning. Yeah, he thought as he kicked a random pebble on the road, that was not going to happen. He was getting a bit too old to spend every night on the road, be it under the stars or in the Pokemon Centre alongside the happy and completely oblivious ten year old kids that just started their own Pokemon journey. And that's why he braved to go on foot and with any luck, he'd be in Pallet Town before it was completely dark. If he was any lesser man, he would be worried about intruding, coming without any announcements late in the evening. But Delia Ketchum was by now completely adjusted to her son's antics and, by extension, antics of his coming and going boyfriend, recently upgraded to fiancé.

Well, 'coming and going' would be stretching it. In the last two years and a half Paul occupied the house more often than Ash did. Neither Paul or Delia blamed him though. It was his dream to be with Pokemon after all. Train them, know them and become a Pokemon master. Paul, now knowing Ash for almost four years, thought his dream wasn't that far fetched. And as his long time boyfriend, and more recently fiancé, he had to support his air headed fool of a life partner anyway. Paul was sure it was written down somewhere as a rule for long-time couples. And if not, his evenings watching chick flicks with enthusiastic Reggie were a complete waste of time and Paul wasn't ready to admit to that.

And it wasn't like Paul's lifestyle was much different from Ash's. He was on the road most of the year as well, he just stuck to Kanto and Sinnoh while Ash's nature compelled him to explore other regions away from his home (and Paul's home). Which might sound lonely, but it didn't have to be and their relationship didn't suffer for it. And thus, as the prospects were, the status of a mostly long distance relationship and not being in one place together for an extended amount of time was not going to change anytime soon. Delia wished for them to hurry up a bit though (and starting a family would definitely be a bonus for her, grand kids she can spoil!). But neither Paul or Ash wished to have that in their immediate future.

Paul fondly recalled their discussions about their future plans, which would inevitably pop up if you plan to spend your life with someone, and the only thing they agreed on was settling down on an island somewhere. Ash was partial to ocean, probably because he grew up so close to it, and Paul loved mountains and forests that surrounded his home of many years. They decided an island with immediate access to ocean and forests would be perfect for them. Between Sinnoh and Kanto, there were quite a few that would fit their requirements and possible budgets. And it would enable them to travel effortlessly between the two regions to their families as well.

But as far as Paul and Ash were concerned, they had all the time in the world to get to that point. While they certainly liked the picture they painted for their future, it was off the table for at least another seven years. Ash just turned eighteen and Paul at almost twenty years of age (curse you, passage of time) had no wish or need for settling down yet. And it's not like their relationship was an everyday one anyway. As stated before, Ash and Paul didn't get to see each other in person for most of the year. And they didn't regret it.

Much.

Yes, sometimes their relationship has proven to be an exercise in patience considering their inability to properly communicate their intentions and likes. But there are no such things as perfect relationships.

("I am sorry, little girl, but who do you think you are?" - Paul at some misguided Kalos girl after a particularly nasty encounter in aforementioned region when Paul decided visiting his boyfriend for a romantic weekend in an overpriced hotel was a good idea. It wasn't.)

("You fucked off to where?!" Ash, straight out cursing Paul out on the phone, after discovering his fiancé, only ten hours after proposing, decided to board a ship to Unova to catch a Beartic he saw on Ash's Pokedex leaving only a note on Ash's desk as an explanation. It certainly wasn't Paul's brightest moment. In his defence, he was drunk when he saw the Pokedex. And in a company of other thoroughly inebriated people - not including Ash, who was still underage at that time - that couldn't stop congratulating him about the engagement. He only realised what he's done after waking up on that boat with the worst hangover ever. He blamed Gary Oak for the whole thing ever since. After all, it wasn't Paul's credit card that paid for that ticket.)

And no such things as perfect humans.

("You look just great. It was a great idea, wasn't it?" Paul couldn't help himself as he stood above Ash's hospital bed. What else was he supposed to do after his idiot of a boyfriend tried to climb Mt. Silver and train at the top? With no supplies or proper clothing? He certainly wasn't going to reward him by acting nice. Oh no, if he did that, Ash wouldn't learn his lesson.)

So what, Paul dealt with world's injustices with sarcasm and snark. He was not the first and certainly wouldn't be the last. And anyway, the world always found a way to get back at him.

(Paul stood, singed, in the lab while one of Professor Oak's assistants ran around looking for first aid. Paul, who finally stopped shouting swear words at the top of his lungs to catch a much needed breath, turned towards panicked Ash with murder in his eyes. "That beast hates me," he said finally and said beast, not so stealthily watching the action in the lab through a window, growled. "Charizard!" Ash tried to be stern while Gary Oak, who did not even try not to look amused, wrote something down in his notebook. As Paul found out later, Gary Oak was changing the score on game leader board of 'Who can injure Paul the most' of that week. Charizard, so far, held the highest score ever.)

But in the end, they always came back to each other for comfort, for peace, quiet, and love.

Despite their reasoning about why long distance relationship worked for them just fine for now, on certain days, just as this one, Paul irrationally longed for some kind of stability. To always have Ash around. To come back to a house they called home, have a nice shower in their own bathroom, not some shared parody of a bathroom in a Pokemon Centre, and relax. Spend the evenings together, just them and their Pokemon, and then just go to sleep in their bed that is not in a dorm of a Pokecentre or a hotel one. But at the same time he couldn't imagine not having the freedom to just go and "fuck off", as Ash so eloquently put it once (still not Paul's fault), somewhere far away where he could train and learn more about Pokemon battles and tactics.

It was a work in progress. Slowly, just as Paul was trudging through the thick forest buzzing with life, they were getting there. His Electivire grunted and Paul stopped for a second, the buzzing was intensifying. Beedrill, perhaps. Paul was glad he kept Electivire out, he kept an eye out on any dangerous wildlife. Paul knew this forest was mostly filled with bug and grass Pokemon, some of them very poisonous. He didn't want to take any chances.

After no bug jumped out on them, they continued on with their trek. The sun was starting to set down and casting long shadows on the path and with each shadow the unrest in the forest grew louder. Paul and Electivire decided that meant they should quicken their pace.

And maybe it was for the best, some sign from higher places that wanted to remind him how much he longed to be in Pallet as soon as possible. He didn't speak to Ash for about two months now. Unfortunately, that wasn't out of ordinary event for them and their relationship. It wasn't an exactly common occurrence, yet it happened once or twice before. Some places simply did not have the signal or they were unable to stop doing something and call. Flaw they both shared. That's just how they were. Last time they spoke was actually in Pallet Town.

After Ash came back from his quick road trip to Hoenn, where he delivered some goods from his stay in Kalos to his old friends, Ash passed on all data found in Kalos to Professor Oak. Some goods were gifted to Paul as well, including Mega Stones. Paul wasn't exactly enamoured with Mega Evolution. Some were elegant, but some were just chunky and didn't appeal to him and his idea of Pokemon training. Funny, people would think the opposite, but Paul just found the idea of temporarily switching abilities and types amidst battle a bit distasteful. Granted, it would confuse their opponent, but considering some attacks and moves were trained with abilities BEFORE mega evolution in mind, well... Paul will stick to what he is doing now, thank you. Not that he dared to voice that out loud to Ash or his friends. Or that 'misguided Kalos girl' although the temptation in her case was truly enormous.

Anyway, Ash was finally home for the foreseeable future after that. So they spent some time just lazing around together. Then Ash started to help young kids with their Pokemon (because of course he did) and showed them some training techniques. Some parents even hired him as a sort of teacher/babysitter. Always good for their income and savings. But then it started to look weird when Paul just stood there insulting Ash and his methods so Paul had to join to justify it. (Unless he wanted to make enemy of every single family in this town. And as he spent a lot of time in Pallet, he really wished to avoid that fate.) And they did that until they were fed up with it and couldn't physically do it anymore. Ash and Paul briefly entertained the thought of signing to Kanto League again and visit old friends and Pokemon, but had nothing concrete in mind, when Delia's Mr. Mime won them the trip to Melemele Island in Alola region. How delightful. Paul was invited as well, but he didn't fancy the thought of the heat, not when he just started to properly train his newly evolved Beartic, and decided to stay behind.

He figured Delia deserved a family trip only with Ash. She wouldn't dare to voice it, but Paul knew she missed her son dearly and sharing his attention can be difficult sometimes. And so he booked a coach to Lavender Town, figuring he'd make a nice training trip until they came back. Of course, being who he was, it did not go according to plan. He challenged some Pokemon Gyms, did some performances, and was almost in Pewter City, just in time to get back to Pallet in five days for their arrival, when Reggie called from Pokemon centre saying he broke his arm and urgently needed help until he could find some poor hapless part timer to help instead. And so Paul had to book the next flight to Sinnoh and beg a few acquaintances (Ash's friends, mostly) to transport him home. (Dawn especially couldn't stop gloating as she drove her new tour van up the mountain. Why Ash was friends with that girl, he wouldn't know.)

He called Ash right before he departed for his flight. Ash looked disappointed and sad to hear about his impromptu departure to Sinnoh. Paul couldn't help but be disappointed as well. Ash looked beautiful in the video call, he had more tan than usual and was full of energy. Apparently, he just dived with a Sharpedo to see Pokemon living underwater and they were preparing to go to Professor Oak's cousin's place and Paul had to visit sometime, it was absolutely awesome in Alola. Paul yearned for his presence like a man dying of thirst longs for a drop of water. But family is family and he had to go and do his duty.

And from then on, for eight or so weeks, no calls were possible. Reason? Reggie was a complete moron about his injury. He was always bustling around and not letting it heal properly. Paul almost developed a taste for fratricide, that's how bad it was. Only four days in and Paul's new C-Gear, that Ash bought him for his 19th birthday!, was buried under newly hatched Tauros' stampede. Because Reggie didn't close the stables properly. It spent nearly the rest of Paul's visit in the shop getting repaired. It would have been much cheaper to buy a new one, even with the shipping from Unova, but the sentimental value would be gone then. And he couldn't use Reggie's home phone and vidcall, because Reggie broke his hand how? By trying to calm down a Buizel who destroyed it in the first place and slipped on the wet floor. Thank fuck the Buizel's new owner was there and called for help.

Finally, he found a reliable part timer that had the ability to force his brother to sit down and calm down. He seized his chance and he high tailed it out there immediately. And then the flight was late and thus he arrived to Viridian late and then missed his coach. Sometimes, he truly despised this world.

Paul snapped out of his musings as the forest path started to clear up a bit and first signs of Pallet Town could be seen. It was already dark, but the lights from the houses washed the town in a warm orange light. In the distance, you could hear the ocean as the sounds of the forest slowly dimmed. Paul dimly thought it wouldn't be actually so bad to stay here permanently.

Most people were already home, but the few he passed, he almost cheerfully greeted. Almost. One of the kids he tutored actually stopped him on the road and cheerfully presented him his fully evolved Beedrill. Considering the kid was only seven, Paul thought to himself he better speak to the kid's parents and see how they are coping.

And finally, he recognised the garden of Delia Ketchum. He hoped Ash was actually home and not somewhere in Professor Oak's laboratory, because he really could do with some warm welcome instead of another walk down to the Oak's. Paul felt he like he would actually scream in frustration if he had to go there and fetch him, because it was almost guaranteed Gary Oak would be there as well. When he wasn't in the gym, he was in his grandfather's laboratory. Paul despised Gary Oak. No, actually, there weren't words so crude to describe how Paul felt about Gary Oak. He walked up the steps to the terrace and knocked on the doors. When no one replied after a few seconds and he couldn't hear any movement, he decided to just let himself in. He took his rucksack off his shoulders as his Electivire impatiently rounded the corner and went in the general direction of Delia's garden. Paul tried to quickly dug through the front pocket and cursed himself silently for not keeping it clean. As he finally located his keys, he immediately dropped them. "For -" he swore out loud and in a pretty creative way if he could say so and picked them up.

He couldn't wait to get inside and unpack his heavy rucksack. Just as he was putting his key in, there was a movement just behind the doors and then Delia Ketchum opened them, confusion written all over her face. "Paul, dear, what are you doing here?"

Paul did not take that as a good sign. Not at all.

And that's how, the very next day, he found himself on a plane to Alola, absolutely fuming.