Disclaimer: My name's certainly not affiliated with Pokémon –not unless I want to be sued .
Story: Ash was happy and in love at 19 years old, and seemingly done journeying. He had a loving boyfriend and he was about to become a gym leader. So why did everything have to go wrong? Why did everything hurt and became messed up?
Set after Alola.
Spoilers: I don't think so.
Warnings: Various triggers. Please read at own risk. Semi-graphic violence, language, gaslighting, unhealthy relationship, emotional manipulation, emotional/verbal/physical abuse, controlling behavior...
Pairings: Ash/OC
All the Lies That's Been Said
Such a Bright Future (But Why am I Surprised?)
He rubbed his arm, wincing. A soft "Pika…" to his side made him look down at his partner and smile softly.
"S'alright, Pikachu. Let's get this conference over with."
He doesn't even know if he cared.
Ash Ketchum was very tired of things these days. He found he no longer wanted to travel, to go on journeys, meet new people and pokémon like he used to. He no longer felt like he had the energy for much of anything anymore.
But that's okay. Because he was in love.
"Ash, come on. We're going to be late!"
Ash smiled and picked up the pace, following after his boyfriend into the Pokémon League Headquarters. Pikachu huffed quietly, watching his friend closely before following himself. It wasn't long until both Ash and Pikachu caught up, and Ash happily sidled up to his boyfriend and wrapped an arm around the other's.
"Come on, Tom, slow down," Ash grinned up at the man.
Ash met Tom Wendall last year, near the end of his time in Alola. The 19 year old had been celebrating with Lily, Kiawe, and the others after the end of the newly made Alolan League's first tournament. Tom had been vacationing there and they'd run across each other in the celebrations. It had been love at first sight.
Tom smirked and ruffled Ash's hair. "You really need to be focused. We're here for you, remember? You're the one being inducted into the League and becoming a gym leader."
Ash beamed happily at him. "I know. Sorry, I'm slow."
"Yeah, yeah. Come on."
Tom sped up, so Ash picked up his own speed, looking back to see Pikachu walking behind and following sedately. Ash's eyes lingered for a moment, before he looked forward and focused on not tripping as he was practically getting dragged. Soon enough, they entered the right conference room and he saw the rest of the Kanto Gym Leaders (though oddly missing Brock and Misty) and the Kanto Elite there.
"Heyo, kiddo," Blaine greeted, the first to see him.
Ash smiled widely, more so as everyone noticed him and stood up to come over to greet him. He accepted hugs that came from everyone, even surprisingly Sabrina (who offered a muted smile) and even a boisterous embrace from Lt. Surge. When Giovanni approached, it was awkward, but then they made it to at least a cordial handshake and neither of them let anything show about Giovanni's secret, even though Sabrina's eyes stayed a moment too long on them.
Then Lance and the other Elites came over and Ash greeted them, before Lance's eyes trailed over to Tom and looked questioning.
"Ah, this is my boyfriend. We met over at Alola. I hope it's okay if he's here?" Ash asked hesitantly.
"It's fine," Lance said after a moment, before smiling and gesturing to the table. "Take a seat. Let's begin with orientation, what you'll need to know, what your duties will be. Giovanni, since it's his gym you'll be co-leading, will probably expand on information you'll need, but for the most part, we'll catch you up and get you started."
So Ash sat down first and Pikachu jumped onto his lap. Tom sat next to him and the meeting began. It was boring and Ash didn't really want to listen to everything; he'd always had a hard time listening to long lectures and having to pay attention to them. He'd only managed it back in Sinnoh, when he was listening to Cyrus and hadn't known he was the boss of Team Galactic, but that was only because the man's voice was a godsend. Still, struggling though he was, Ash dutifully tried his best to listen and even jotted down notes on the little notepad Tom had handed over earlier.
"And that's about it for now. Tomorrow, you can talk with Giovanni, since it's late and I'm sure you're tired. We'll also get you fully registered and have you sign everything you need to, okay?" Lance smiled fondly at him. "It's great to be officially working with you," he added, teasing a little.
Ash ducked his head slightly and chuckled as he blushed. He stood and waved to everyone, leaving with Tom and Pikachu while everyone else stayed behind and talked. He had been wanting to stay a little and talk to everyone, but it seemed Tom was ready to head back to their room and crash.
They'd only just entered their room when Tom whirled around and slammed the door, incidentally in Pikachu's face, and looked thunderously at Ash.
"What the hell was that?" Tom spat out.
"W-what are you talking about?" Ash took a step back, bumping into the door.
Tom straightened up angrily. "The way some of them, especially that Lance guy, acted towards you! Did you sleep with all of them or something?"
"What? No!" Ash yelled indignantly.
Tom lashed out and hit Ash across his cheek, hard enough that it unbalanced Ash and he nearly fell to the ground. He caught himself, but only to be grabbed by Tom and thrown up against the door.
"Don't lie to me!" Tom continued to yell at him. "I saw how he looked at you!"
"Lance is a good friend!" Ash yelled back.
But a punch to the stomach had his breath expelling and before he could even try to catch his breath, Tom had thrown him to the ground and his head had hit something, leaving him to black out violently.
Once a time, things had been great. It hadn't started like this at all. In fact, Ash could clearly remember being so blissfully happy that he hadn't minded when Tom asked him to stop journeying and to move in with him.
Domestic violence (also named domestic abuse, battering, or family violence) is a pattern of behavior which involves violence or other abuse by one person against another in a domestic setting, such as in marriage or cohabitation.
They had lived together, cohabiting the studio apartment like how Ash thought and imagined a married couple would be like. Pikachu had adored him too –all of Ash's current pokémon party had.
Three months into living together, Tom had gotten angry at Ash for something he couldn't even recall now. He just knew he ended up with some bruised ribs and a dislocated shoulder.
But Tom had looked at him in horror the next morning and looked so sorry that Ash thought nothing of forgiving him.
"I'm so sorry. I don't know how I could have…I was just so angry that you'd done something like that and I reacted. Please forgive me."
And Ash was in love with him so of course he'd forgiven him. It had been the first time and probably the last time.
Now, as he got up from the floor, he noticed it was late and that it was now completely dark out. Wincing from the throbbing pain coming from his head, Ash stood up slowly and glanced at the bed where Tom was sleeping, and then carefully headed to the bathroom. Looking at himself in the mirror, he saw the dried line of blood coming from his head (hidden by his hair) and down his face.
Sighing, Ash grabbed a tissue and wet it, cleaning off the blood. Not knowing if he needed stitches, he left the bathroom and then left the room, heading quietly to the darkened and empty common area of the Pokémon Center.
"Nurse Joy, are you still awake?" he called out hesitantly.
A quiet shuffle alerted him and he saw Nurse Joy come out from the back and looked surprised to see him.
"Ash! What are you doing up? It's nearly 3 am," she said in concern.
Ash gave a little laugh. "I was really clumsy and I fell really hard. I think I hit my head –could you take a look at it?"
Alarmed, Nurse Joy nodded and came over to him, leading him to the back where he saw quite a few pokémon resting. To his surprise and guilt, he saw Pikachu sleeping fitfully on one of the beds. Before he could say anything about it, Nurse Joy spoke up while she set him down on a chair.
"Your Pikachu was wandering around the Center," she said while washing her hands. "I don't know what was agitating him, but he seemed pretty upset and then sat himself back here to help me watch the pokémon. He eventually fell asleep."
Ash quietly watched her put on gloves before forcing a smile on when she turned to him.
"My boyfriend wanted to talk to me earlier in private and I told Pikachu to just wander around and come back a little later. It was a really long talk and by the time it was done, he still hadn't come back."
"Tilt your head a little," Nurse Joy said, adjusting a small flashlight while poking around his head. "He was probably too irritated to come back. Give him some time and he'll forgive you like always," she giggled. "Now let's see…you might need a few stitches, but nothing too much. I've got some liquid stitches here that should help and you don't have to worry about taking them off."
"Thanks, Nurse Joy," Ash was relieved.
"Do you want an icepack for the bruise on your face too?" Nurse Joy asked, while getting things ready.
Ash hid his surprise and dismay. "A bruise?" he asked, wincing.
"Oh yes –it must've been some nasty fall you took," she commented. "Good thing you don't seem to have a concussion."
"Very nasty," he briefly grinned wryly. "An icepack would be nice."
She took care of the stitches first, before she threw away the gloves and grabbed an icepack, wrapping a paper towel around it and handing it to him.
"Just hand it back when you're done, okay?" she said kindly.
Ash smiled back and glanced at Pikachu. "Can you keep him overnight? I don't want to wake him."
"Probably better to let him cool down," she laughed.
He faked a laugh and nodded, standing up. For a brief moment, he hesitated. "Nurse Joy?"
"Yes?" she looked to him quizzically.
Men face additional gender-related barriers in reporting, due to social stigmas regarding male victimization, and an increased likelihood of being overlooked by healthcare providers.
Ash inwardly sighed. "Never mind, it's nothing. Goodnight."
He thanked her before he left. When he entered the room, Tom was still sleeping. He hesitated before heading to the couch and unfolding out the hidden bed, laying down carefully onto it while holding the icepack to his face and avoiding his left arm, as it was still hurting too. He closed his eyes and tried to fall asleep quickly.
Ash woke up, smelling something good. His stomach growled and he heard a laugh. Opening his eyes, he saw Tom awake and laying out breakfast onto the coffee table near him.
"Hungry?" Tom asked, looking at him tentatively and staying where he was.
"A bit, I suppose," Ash said warily.
"I'm sorry," Tom apologized, looking guiltily back at Ash. "You were just so happy to see them, and I could see just how happy they were to see you. Especially a few of them –I was jealous and you were ignoring me, and I got upset."
Tom moved a little bit closer to him, and though Ash didn't make any reaction to that, he was still watching Tom warily. Tom hesitantly moved closer until he was an arm's length away from him.
"I'm really sorry. I love you, you know?" Tom said quietly. "I messed up last night and let my emotions get out of control. But you were just so happy and not even seeing me there, so I reacted last night. It'll be different next time though. I promise –I'll be calm and patient. I won't mess up again. It's because of you, because I love you. I'll be better."
Ash softened up and nodded and Tom brightened up, coming towards Ash and kissing him gently.
Your abuser's apologies and loving gestures in between the episodes of abuse can make it difficult to leave. They may make you believe that you are the only person who can help them, that things will be different this time, and that they truly love you. However, the dangers of staying are very real.
"I love you too," Ash muttered.
Started 7/17/17 - Completed 7/17/17
A/n: For National Domestic Violence Month (October yeah, so this is super early). This will probably be a short three-parter story only, and be entered for the Pokémon Watties.
7/19: Aaaanybody? (wince) Wow, I haven't had a story come out with zero reviews in a long time...
