Their break-up is nothing short of explosive.
"Are you trying to kill me?"
He stares at the cracked remains of the lamp she threw at the wall next to his head.
Moon bares her teeth.
"Don't tempt me, Gladion."
With a humorless laugh he cracks, throwing his hands up in the air as he mutters, "Of course. I try to talk about this civilly – "
"Excuse me?" she scoffs, crossing her arms, shoulders still tense despite the violent outburst of rage. "You came over here to yell about how I've ruined your life, so please point out where I'm being unreasonable."
His brows go to the ceiling as he points down to the broken lamp at his feet. "Right about here, when this went from an argument to attempted murder!"
"You really get off on being overdramatic," she spits, daring him to take another step closer to her and see what comes flying at his head next.
"You're one to talk," he snaps, feeling his hand shake. His vision is blurry and red and he can't look at her for another minute longer so he stares instead at the broken bulb next to his foot. He wants nothing more than to scream and stomp on it, feeling it crack and shatter under his foot so he can break something besides both of their hearts for once.
She watches him, still livid as she mutters, blinking back tears that threaten to put out her fire, "At least I don't tell people I never loved them."
It sounds so much worse coming out of her mouth.
But he only clenches his fists, biting the inside of his cheek to keep from taking back his words. He tastes blood, and his fingernails are digging into his palm. "At least I don't abandon people," he argues, finally looking up at her with betrayal written all over his face.
"Don't you dare," she whispers, her voice wavering as tears finally begin to spill over and she points her finger at him accusingly. She plows on even as she feels herself falling apart, "Don't you dare turn this around on me. You're the one who's afraid."
"I'm the one who realizes he has responsibilities!" he roars, stepping forward as he feels the force holding him back let go. He's steps away from her before he stops, chiding, "You think I can just up and leave behind my family? The foundation? Arceus Moon, you're the Champion, and you're just going to give up your title to prance around the world like a child!"
She gapes, hands going to her hips as she refuses to wipe away her tears, because to do that would only make them real, and make her realize there's no going back from any of this. "You're the one who's acting like a child," she tells him, feeling something ugly and spiteful travel through her body as she continues, "You're the most childish person I've ever met in my life. The second you hear anything you don't like you lash out. I've told you a million times why I'm traveling and you refuse to listen so that you can throw a tantrum like a damn toddler!"
"You threw a lamp at me!"
"You punched the wall!"
She points at the mark he left on the other side of the room not twenty minutes before, and he tries not to cringe at remembering that yes, this particular fight was absolutely started by him. Then again, it's not like he can really keep track of who's at fault at this point.
He feels himself losing momentum. Everything else wrong with them has been brought up countless times in the past few months, and now that he's facing her for the final time, he's too tired to even try to bring up that bad blood. Instead, heavy silence smothers them both as they stare at each other from across no man's land.
There's a moment where she softens, and he hesitates. She's within arm's reach; a simple touch, a simple apology, a simple moment of honesty, and they might be able to fix this.
He turns on his heel and walks to the door without a word, missing her face fall with the first sign of genuine, lasting hurt.
"Gladion."
Her voice stops him just as he reaches for the doorknob, and he turns to face her slowly, like a death march. His face is stone as he refuses to budge.
She looks at him, a new wave of tears in the corners of her eyes. It strikes him just how small and broken she looks, hunched over and trying not to cry as she watches him about to walk out on her. They both know it's past time, but she steels herself with a deep breath before trying for one last shot at closure.
"Did you really never love me?" she asks, the silent plea clear in the way she holds herself tighter.
He swallows the lump in his throat.
"No."
And now she's stone, too. Slowly, she goes to her neck, reaching behind and undoing the clasp of the necklace he gave her months ago. He remembers the dress she wore that day, the way he promised her a future they could see so clearly then, the way she couldn't stop smiling with all the love in the world right in her eyes and just for him.
Seven steps and then she's shoving the simple pendant into his chest, causing him to fumble as he catches it, eyes wide as she levels him with a glare.
"I hate you."
He wishes she had hit him with the lamp instead.
"I don't want this," he chokes out, feeling the cold stone in his palm and the delicate chain already tangling itself into a multitude of knots. "I gave it to you."
Her hands turn to fists but she's done fighting; she's been kicking and screaming on this sinking ship for so long that she's drowned herself.
"Give it to someone you actually love."
And he only lets himself cry after the door clicks shut behind him.
A/N: What a way to start a romantic comedy, amirite ladies? But also I swear this gets funny and not so intense (kind of)