The first thing Morty says when he spots Falkner huddled over an incubation chamber is, "I guess I can call you Mother Hen now."
Falkner gives the other boy one of the most sour of looks. "As if you've never hatched Pokemon eggs either."
"I don't," admits Morty rather sheepishly. "I let the daycare raise them."
Falkner looks pretty flabberghasted. "You... mean you've never hatched a Ghastly or Misdreavus? Or even a Drifloon? That's horrible."
Morty doesn't know why he looks so surprised when he's criticized. "Why is it horrible?" He smiles a little, like he thinks it'll lighten Falkner's mood. "I don't exactly have anywhere to incubate them. I know the daycare can do a better job than I can. Besides, they love what they do, so why not let them?"
"You're a gym leader!" Falkner narrows his eyes into that look Morty knows well. Falkner thinks it's a weakness not to know what needs to be known. "You should take pride in knowing all there is about the Pokemon you care for!"
Morty raises his hands in defense. "I do know all there is to know. I'm not the leader of the Ecruteak Gym for nothing. I love ghost-type Pokemon. I've studied them for a long time."
And then Falkner goes on and on about egg hatching, about caring for Pokemon parents and their children, watching how a Pokemon grows and develops, watching even when it dies. Falkner talks about not running, about not giving up, and about not putting duties onto other people with the excuse of not being able to do it yourself.
Several days later, Morty shows up at the Violet Gym with a bunched towel. When Morty peels the top back to show Falkner, a little purple egg with a yellow X across the front peeks into view.
"It'll be a Drifloon," Morty says with a small smile.
Falkner looks concerned. "But you said you couldn't take care of eggs."
Morty shrugs. "I said that, yeah." The purple egg gives a little wiggle, and then Morty covers it back up. "You were right," Morty says, looking up at Falkner. "As a gym leader... you should take more interest in the Pokemon you care for."
The tiniest hint of a blush creeps to the corner of Falkner's cheeks. He looks away. "I was just saying that," Falkner says. "I mean, you should, but... I don't want you to kill it." Falkner levels the other boy with his gaze again.
Suddenly, Morty just laughs. It's a genuine, soft laugh that continues for a good minute or so. Falkner has to even ask what is so funny. "You," Morty says, shaking his head. "No, it's okay. I'm not going to kill it. I learned what to do, I just wanted to try... like you said, you know."
Sometime later, the newly hatched Drifloon is puffing through the air. Its purple body expands like a jellyfish, allowing it to rise against the sky. When it sucks its purple body in, it deflates to float downward.
Falkner has to admit, though not outloud, it is rather cute, like a balloon. He is surprised to find it alive, to be honest, but Morty apparently did a good job.
While Morty and Falkner talk, the Drifloon bobs about the aviary lackadaisically. The Pidgeys waddle after it on the ground, every now and then trying to peck a hold of the heart-shaped tentacles. A Hoothoot hoots at the Drifloon when it ventures by one of the trees.
"Are you hatching more?" Falkner asks.
"A few, yeah." Morty glances at the blue-haired boy and smiles. "Thanks."
Flushing, Falkner asks, "For what?" but Morty doesn't say anything. All he does is smile.