The sixth part of my 100 Themes Challenge is Break Away!
This one was suprisingly... difficult to express. there wasn't a word count, I just felt myself constantly trying to relate to what readers wanted to hear. Hope there's still some diversity!
"I wasn't really cut out for this anyway." he says, smile broadly covvering his face.
It isn't arrogant but the red head perceives it as arrogance and shouts.
"The hell do you mean? You beat every challenger that came here! You beat me! Your rival, your cousineven!" he snaps, teeth gritted in frustration. "Why are you giving me crap about not being 'cut out' for this?"
The other boy's smile remained, his face never faltering or ceasing to grow brighter, calmer. "I'm a trainer. A traveller. Someone who needs to explore this world. Being champion was an honour. But it's not what I am. That's for someone else." he bowed low; it was the first time since Lance could remember anyone had done that. "This isn't what I want."
Lance opened his mouth to retalliate harshly when he saw.
And he stopped.
And re-thought what he was about to say.
"When did I first see you?"
"When I was twelve."
His eyes narrowed. "You're not a twelve year old now."
"No one's a kid forever."
But Niki had grown so much. More than anyone he'd ever known.
And he'd grown for the best of so many people- including himself.
His hair was almost it's original deep ginger after being temporarily black, and he held himself more confidently and courageously now.
"I'm going to go out there and see everything again. I'm going to become the person I know I want to be. Take a look at the world, work, battle…"
"… Fall in love?"
The younger boy laughed, cheerful and honest his face brightening the usually dismal battle arena.
"I already fell in love. Now I just need to see if the boundaries of love can really be tested."
Lance nodded, dazed and Niki picked up his rucksack, heading for the elevator.
"Wait, Niki, who did you fall in love with?" Lance spun on his heel to see Niki stop and turn back to him pleasantly suprised.
His grin grew.
"I fell in love with breaking free of everything at some point in my life."
Lance smiled back, understanding. "You weren't testing any boundaries. But you know, you can't really break the boundaries of true love."
"That's why I'll let someone else choose me. I won't be disappointed that way. Love has a strange way of seeing past the stereotypes and aesthetic illusions. I am me and that's, I guess, what make me beautiful."
Oh Niki ; A ; Why can't everyone think like you?
[Pokémon]