Ruby awoke to Kiki, his skitty, jumping around on his bed. He groaned and rubbed his eyes. "Kiki, off" he mumbled, throwing the sheets back.
She chirped happily and chased her tail.
Ruby rolled his eyes and got out of bed, pulling his socks up and slipping on slippers. He made his way downstairs, still in a sleep like stupor.
"Good morning" his mom smiled. "What are your plans for today?"
He shrugged and chucked bread in the toaster.
"You have to start doing something with your life."
"I will, I promise."
"You're eighteen soon" she continued. "You need to think about your options."
"Yeah, I know mom."
"Good. Well, I think you should spend some time in Hoenn with your father. You haven't seen him in years."
"Uh-"
"How about we get you a plane ticket for your eighteenth, hm? You can go see your father and travel around Hoenn. You might end up more successful there than you are here."
He rolled his eyes and retrieved his slightly burnt toast. As soon as he did Nana, his poochyena, trotted over, having smelt the food. He sighed and gave her a slice, which she ate contentedly.
He ate the remaining slice and looked at his mother. "So, you want to send me away to dads huh?"
She sighed. "Ruby, it isn't like that."
He shook his head. "Really? Dad didn't even talk to me. Why would I want to go there?"
"Your father would love to see you Ruby."
"I am sure he would."
"Well, how about you call him, huh?"
"Not gonna happen."
His mother picked up the phone and Ruby knew she was calling Norman. He didn't really mind. When he was in his early teens and he turned into a rebellious little shit, she would always get Norman on the phone to straighten him out.
He sat on the bench.
"Down" his mother mouthed.
He pretended not to notice.
"Hi dear" his mother smiled. "Yes, I'm good. It's Ruby. Would you talk to him?"
Ruby groaned audibly. "Really?"
His mother passed him the phone. "Yes and down."
He took the phone off her and slid off the counter. "Hi dad."
"Hey Ruby, how are you?"
"Good thanks dad."
"Good. Listen, I know you probably don't want to, but would you like to come over and spend a week with me?"
Ruby was surprised and a little taken aback. His father never asked him. "Have you been talking to mom?" he asked.
"About what?"
"Me staying over there."
"No, she hasn't mentioned it."
"Hm..."
"So, anyway, how about it? I can even get you a first class plane ticket."
"For real?" Ruby asked skeptically, still not keen on going to Hoenn.
"Of course. Being a Gym Leader has its perks. Why do you think your mom comes over so often?"
"Well..." Ruby hadn't even thought about it. "Dad, I'll come visit you" he decided, kind of a spur of the response.
"Wonderful. I haven't seen you since you were... ten, wasn't it?"
"Twelve" Ruby corrected.
"Long enough."
"Yeah, I guess so."
"Well, how about you fly out the day after your birthday?"
"Sounds good dad."
"Like I said, I would be happy to see you, even if its just for a week."
"Why didn't you ever ask me before?"
"I did. Well, I asked your mother who asked you. Anyway, it's different now. You're eighteen soon. That makes you an adult and responsible for your own decisions."
"Hm... interesting."
Norman chuckled. "It's nice talking to you Ruby. I miss talking to you. Say, you found yourself a girlfriend?"
"Nope."
"Well, my god friend Birch has a daughter-"
"Sorry dad, I gotta go. Send me the flight details and I'll come see you."
"Okay. I'll see you soon then."
"Bye dad." He hung up and put the phone down. "Mom?"
"Yes?"
"Uh... you didn't tell dad I was... y'know-"
"No dear. That is up to you to tell him."
"Ugh" he groaned. "I am not telling dad I'm gay."
"You don't have to if you don't want too."
"Well, he just started talking me about someone called Birch, his daughter-"
"Oh, Sapphire? She is lovely. A bit of a tomboy. She helps her father with his research... oh, I see... Norman wants you to meet her."
Ruby nodded. "Dad will probably flip out if he finds out" he slumped onto the lounge.
His mother sighed. "Ruby, you really do need to get out of the house and do something... anything. You could study-"
"Mom... just... let me be."
She sighed. "You're not very productive when I do."
He rolled his eyes.
She sat next to him. "Ruby, I want you to know that Norman does love you regardless. What he will be disappointed about is you becoming a shut in. There is no need for that."
Ruby leaned his head on her lap. "Mom... I just don't think I ever want to leave the house."
She sighed. "How about we run short errands together? Get you used to being out? We'll get some groceries tomorrow. Or we could stop by at the Department Store? You can pick out the material you like for a change" she chuckled, ruffling his hair.
He smiled. "I'll think about it."
"Good. You know" she sighed. "I know you worry a lot about what Norman thinks, or might think about you, but don't worry about it."
He sighed, looking up at her. "I know he thinks I am a failure."
"I don't tell him as much about you as you think. He doesn't know that you dropped out of school or Design School. I never told him that you haven't left the house in two years and as you know, I never told him your sexual preference."
Ruby nodded. "I am a failure though... aren't I?"
"Don't think about it like that. It takes everyone time to do what they want... some just take longer."
"Like me." He sat up, Nana jumping up where he had been. "I think I'll run errands with you."
She smiled. "Good. It will be good for you to get out of the house. I'm proud of you."
He smiled and stood up. "Okay."
"If you're going back to your room could you find Rara so I can feed her?"
Ruby nodded. He walked upstairs, finding the small Pokémon wandering around his bedroom. "Rara!" he smiled. "Mom is gonna feed you- whoa!" He chuckled as, at the mention of food, Rara and Kiki had both rushed out the door and downstairs.
He smiled and walked into his room. He really had to sort all of his stuff out. He opened his wardrobe and began sorting through old clothes he'd made. He made a reasonable pile of clothes he no longer wore, leaving only a couple of items left. He bit his lip, trying to decide whether he should donate them or reuse the fabric to make new clothes. It was actually a harder decision than he cared to make at the current time. He placed all the clothes in bags.
Next was his sketch wall. It was a wall above his desk and adjacent to his sewing desk, where he stuck current designs. He hadn't drawn up anything new in over six months. He took the pictures down and filed them away.
Looking back at the clothes he opted with donating them. He carried the bags downstairs.
"Ruby what are these?"
"Old clothes."
"You don't want to keep them?"
"Not really."
She nodded. "Okay. We will take them in tomorrow."
He nodded, sitting down on the lounge next to Nana who lay her head on his lap. He pet her soft fur and turned on the TV. "Hm... the Elite Four are just glorified Gym Leaders" he scowled under his breath.
His mother, having only just heard him, chuckled before continuing on with reading the mail.
He sighed. Before he had started Design School he had attempted to collect the badges, but had given up. "Mom?"
"Mm?"
"Have you seen my hat?"
"Nope. Sorry."
He lay down on the lounge and continued to watch the program. Lance came on the screen.
"How the hell is he still the Champion?" Ruby asked.
His mom chuckled. "Whenever a new Champion gets sick of being the Champion he just takes back over. He is like their substitute."
Ruby raised a brow. "Shame he is an ass-"
"Ruby!" His mom chuckled.
Ruby shrugged. "I'm not lying."
"Well, I haven't met him so I can't side with your viewpoint. Anyway, I have heard he is lovely."
Ruby shrugged. "I just thought he was a little arrogant."
"Well, maybe he has matured since then. Weren't you only young when you met him?"
"One would hope so. And I was eleven."
She sighed. "Well, sorry to break it to you but you can't like everyone. Just like I am sure there are people who don't like you."
"Half my high school" he mumbled.
"What was that?"
"Pfft, who wouldn't like me?" he joked.
His mom smiled. "I have no idea."
Ruby rolled his eyes. "I do. Dad."
"Ruby! No way on Earth. He has always loved you. Even though he is in Hoenn he has always provided for us-"
"Well, really, that money would have been for you."
"My goodness. Getting out of the house will be good for you."
He shrugged. "I won't be going without my hat."
She groaned. "Instead of watching people you don't like on TV, perhaps you should look for it."
He sighed and stood up. "Okay."
"Good."
He plodded upstairs, falling onto the bed. "So bored."
"Find your hat then" his mom said, leaving a letter next to him. "This once is addressed to you."
He nodded and picked up the letter, carefully opening it. "Huh. They want me back at Design School" he chuckled half-heartedly.
This was probably the twelfth letter they'd sent him regarding reapplying/finishing. He scrunched it up and tossed it at the bin, missing by a foot. He sighed and rolled into his side, looking away from the bin.
Kiki jumped onto the bed, rubbing her face against his. He smiled and petted her while she purred.
"Maybe I do need to get out... have my own adventure."
