[Edited]

Thunders were echoing through the night. The wind was blowing hard and lightning were flashing in the dull, clouded sky. It still wasn't raining, but undoubtedly a downpour was coming.

Outside the Gear Station, Hilda watched the whole show, shivering and wondering why suddenly the night had turned so cold in the middle of spring. The girl had been staying at home to be her mother's company during mornings and get a needful rest. Travelling was refreshing, and she needed more practice to face the Pokémon League, but screw it, she had told herself for the time being; Hilda missed terribly to sleep at home and spend a couple of hours with her mother. It had been almost one year without her. Besides, she had gone around the region and trained during her recess too, always coming back when the sun went down.

One could assume that the last thing would be complicated that particular night.

She should have gone home earlier, but having such a good time didn't let her mind think about leaving and, at any rate, since the afternoon had been bright and enjoyable, there wasn't a possible way to predict the fierce storm before it started. She also discovered, at last, that thinking about excuses and how obvious her actions could be or not wasn't useful at all. Hilda had spent hours with Ingo and had been able to watch all the battles. She tried very hard not laugh in his opponent's faces when they lost, but nobody exactly put up a good fight. It was funny to see how they cursed at the air after their Pokémon missed its target, or the soulless expression on their once confident faces. Hilda didn't like to witness people's misfortune, but some of them looked just pathetic. Perhaps she hadn't won, but a good battle couldn't be discussed, and those ones were undistinguished, as if they didn't want to make a greater effort than that.

Challenging Ingo again after seeing his strategies from another angle would be pretty interesting.

"Hilda, you are shivering! Do you want my coat?"

The trainer turned around to face the twins, rubbing her forearms to create some heat. Apparently, they had already checked all was in order and were ready to go.

"No, I'm okay Emmet. Don't worry! I'm already leaving anyway."

The younger twin folded his arms and stared at her with a dead serious expression. Hilda thought it should be included on her personal list about the murkiest things ever seen.

"It's twelve o'clock and it's going to be a storm. Do you actually think I'll let you go?"

"... Yes?"

"It was a rhetorical question and you know it! You're not going anywhere!"

Hilda took a step back, her eyes going wide. That man wasn't supposed to shout in reality, and if that ever occurred, it should be in different circumstances such as one of his idiotic arguments with Elesa, which would normally turn into a winless brawl.

"Chill out! Nothing will happen!" she reassured, making a motion with her hand to show calmness.

The taller man narrowed his eyes and then shook his head. "You'll stay with us," he stated, looking at his brother behind him. "Right, Ingo?"

The man's shoulders tensed before each cell of his body froze. Although he didn't want something bad happening to Hilda, there was no way for her to stay with them. For some unknown reason, he didn't expect a situation like that to end well, which surely had something to do with the fact that the teen had managed to psych him out in the afternoon, and it was most probably to happen again. "I... don't believe that it is a convenient idea, brother."

"WHAT? Why not? She can't go flying! It could be dangerous!"

Well, Emmet had a point. Flying on your Swanna's back during an apocalyptic storm sounded kind of risky. It didn't matter how many times Hilda had done it before, if both of them could prevent an incident, they would. However, that didn't washed away Ingo's concerns.

"I am aware of the danger, but… I don't believe her mother would like the idea of her daughter staying the night with two men."

"Hey, problem solved! I can stay at the Pokémon Center!"

"And what did you solve, exactly? A lot of trainers are going to stay the night there if a storm is coming. There won't be an available room."

"That is... actually true," Ingo admitted slowly, his words on the edge of trailing.

"Wow, that must have killed you inside, brother… anyways, do you accept, Hilda?" the younger twin went on.

"Um, I don't know. I don't want to be a bother."

"You won't! What makes you think you will be a bother? Come on, you promised you would stay someday! Please!"

Hilda's eyes drifted to the pleading man's face. All the remainders of his transient seriousness were gone, replaced by those damn puppy eyes. She just couldn't say no to them. Crap, I hate his power to get all he wants. Hilda let out a sigh and glanced at Ingo. "And what do you say? Would I be a bother?"

The tone of her voice prompted him to wonder if he had been a bit uncouth. Perhaps she misunderstood his intention. "No, of course not. I would like you to stay with us," he answered honestly, visibly worried. Deep inside, something was screaming he would regret it.

The teen raised her hands to her hips and turned to Emmet, a weak smile creeping up the corner of her lips. "Well, you got what you wanted."

"As usual," he chuckled, taking off his coat. "Now, we should go. I mean, I'd rather have a shower at home, in private." She handed it to Hilda, and she reluctantly put it on. The cackle she heard only encouraged the presumably fact that it looked ridiculously huge on her, and she realised it dangled only a few inches above the floor. The collar was a little high, its sleeves were way too long, and let's not even talk about the shoulders area. Her eyes narrowed in the direction of the man who had no intentions on holding his laughter.

She marched ahead, her features going to a blunt, cutting scowl . "Can't we just go?"

Both men followed after her, one smiling at how cute and innocent the teen looked, and the second one laughing irrepressibly at her unwilled preposterousness.

.

They entered the apartment reception counter with wet clothes. It just took less than fifteen minutes to arrive, but it had started to rain when they were practically by the corner.

The taller men and the girl stepped into the lift. Their clothes weren't totally soaking wet, just heavier and somewhat sticky. Hilda took off the large coat that already felt burdensome without being damp, handed it to its respective owner, mumbling an almost inaudible 'thank you', and removed her cap without wasting a second. Her hair was lightly messy due to the wind and the previous removal, and of course the rain did its work too.

"Damn it, we were so close," muttered the younger twin, looking down at his wet clothes, his dampish coat hanging from his left arm.

"It could have gone worse," Ingo said aloud, not paying full attention, his eyes inspecting the girl in front of him. Her gaze was lost, staring into space, a strand of damp hair on her face. He raised his hand and barely touched her cheek, moving away the lock of chocolate hair. Hilda sent him a questioning glance, accidentally giving him the impression that his touch was unwanted. Needless to clarify, he lowered his hand.

The lift reached the fifth floor and they stepped out. Ingo pulled out a key from his pocket, unlocked a nearby door and entered the apartment, his brother and the trainer following him.

Hilda looked around. At plain sight, the place looked far too organized, cosy, fairly modern, and yet, very simple. The current room had a picture window on the right side. There was a door next to it, in the corner, which directed to the balcony, and next to the huge window were positioned two armchairs and a couch in front of the TV. A small table with a lamp on top took up space beside the couch. On the left side, there was a large shelf with some books and decorative objects, and alongside there was an arch that led to a different room. Hilda supposed it was the kitchen, since she saw several kitchen cabinets and a fridge from where she was standing. As for the opposite direction of the main door, there was another arch. This one led to a hall which connected the living room with the rest of the place. Two doors could be seen facing each other; one directed to bathroom while the other directed to a study room. The end of the hall split in two directions, where Hilda assumed the men's rooms were. The paint of the walls was completely white and the floor was dark wooden. One could see the intense storm through the picture window, and considering the city was full of buildings, the sight wasn't exceptionally impressive, but common people might find it quite likeable.

"Would you like some coffee, Hilda?" asked Ingo.

"No, it's okay. Thank you..." the girl paused and clutched her cap softly. "Who drinks coffee before going to sleep, anyways?

"He does," said Emmet, leaving his coat, cap and gloves onto one of the armchairs.

'Of course he does,' thought the girl, rolling her eyes. The man was a coffee addict and that would never change.

Emmet sat down on the couch and kicked off his shoes. Taking the remote control on the aforementioned table, he turned on the TV and tapped the spot next to him tantalizingly. "Come here, we'll find something good to watch."

"Yes! I haven't watched TV for a decade!" Hilda smiled widely and rushed to the couch, taking a seat and resting her cap next to her. She had been at home recently, but the TV had been kind of forgotten.

Ingo went to the kitchen while they looked for a programme, a film or something that could turn worthy of watching. By that time, the storm didn't sound so terrible anymore, though a few thunders could be hear every now and then.

"Hey, go back one channel."

"... What's this, Hilda?"

"Haven't you seen this show? It is about a boy who travels through all regions. I used to watch this show before I went on my own journey. It's pretty popular amongst people of all ages."

"Ah, yes, I have seen it... but I think this episode is an old one."

The screen showed a confident trainer with spiky, black hair commanding a Pikachu, most likely confronting someone essential.

"Hilda..."

The girl looked quickly at Ingo. He was holding a cup of coffee, a serious expression, as usual. "Yeah?"

"Will you be fine sleeping in the couch? Because you may sleep in my bedroom if–"

"Or in mine!" the man in the couch interrupted without taking his eyes off the screen.

"Forget it, your room is a disaster. She won't sleep there."

The petite girl on the couch laughed. "Don't worry, I'll be okay in here."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes! Do you know where have I slept before? A couch sounds like heaven. Besides, it doesn't matter how little you sleep, you should sleep on your own bed, not in the couch."

"But my brother didn't say he would sleep on the couch," the younger twin teased, digging his elbows on the girl's side, flashing a taunting smirk at her.

Hilda gaped at him, cheeks flushed badly, before hitting him on the arm as hard as her strength allowed it.

Ingo covered his face with his free hand in a piteous attempt to hide the noticeable blush spreading all over. "Emmet..."

Exultant over his accomplishment, the younger Subway Boss didn't see the blow coming. "I'm sorry! I couldn't resist it," he said between giggles. "You should get a glimpse of your faces right now."

His flustered brother ran the same hand through his hair and pulled rather hard, hissing and wincing, displaying his obvious discomfort and nerves. "Don't go to sleep so late, please. You won't wake up on time if you do."

"As you wish, my dear brother."

Hilda watched the man in black disappear down the hall. She sighed and sent Emmet her most horrid glare. "You are such moron. I sometimes feel like kicking you down there until you pass out."

"Oh, that's so sweet. I love you too."

Hilda narrowed her eyes one last time and finally decided that most of his words were better to ignore. "So, tell me. What time is he going to sleep?"

"I don't know. Maybe two or three in the morning," he answered with a shrug, his gaze never leaving the screen.

"Why so late? Does he suffer from insomnia?

"No, no, he just... does my paperwork." He pointed the remote control at the TV, turned the volume up, lowered his voice considerably. "I tried to convince him to stop more than once, but it was in vain."

Hilda scooted closer. "What do you mean?" she asked, her careful tone matching his friend's.

"What I mean is that Ingo doesn't want me to do my part, as it should be, thus I can sleep more. Since I need to wear glasses to read, he prefers to do it himself. My brother shows affection by those kind of actions."

"Well, your brother doesn't resemble a man who shows affection by hugging or something that implies physical contact," Hilda commented, her mind recalling a certain moment along the afternoon, only to block it before she had the chance to slide into her world of erotic fantasies. That wasn't an appropriate time to think about physical contact and Ingo.

"No, that's what I do. His ways are more meaningful… and it used to be worse in the past. For example, he used to cover me at work whenever I was too tired or sick. At first it was okay to have a free day every so often, but it came to a point in which I started feeling guilty. Even though he never complied, I'm well aware that this work is for two people."

The girl's expression was that of a person who just had heard a confession that nobody should have revealed. Most of the time, Ingo didn't expose himself as a caring person. If anything, he seemed pretty distant. But you don't judge a book by its cover, right? Hilda let her head rest on Emmet's lap in search of time to process the information, bending her legs, trying not to touch the couch with her boots. Emmet caressed her hair in response. Hilda knew Ingo was rather self-contained and... somewhat complex. Regardless of how much time they spent, there wasn't a specific way to learn about him. It was easier when it came to Emmet. They would talk and that would be enough to figure out his personality, his likes or dislikes, way of thinking, and personal issues. For instance, in spite of looking 'happy' as usual, Hilda could tell that the younger twin got depressed sometimes and that he was also capable of having a serious conversation if it was really –and I mean really– necessary.

On the other hand, Ingo demanded more observation. You couldn't really get to know him through words. You had to pay attention to every single action or expression. The faint smiles, unusual laugh, ever-present frown, and particularly piercing glares. All was important and Hilda liked it that way. But what she liked most was achieving her goal and getting to discover more about him, by herself. "I always thought his way to show affection was through important actions, although I wasn't so sure..." She shook her had. "Anyway, we should better watch TV and stop talking about your brother. I know him enough, and he will rip out your limbs if he finds out about this conversation..."

"One by one," Emmet chuckled, combing his long fingers through her soft hair. As well as Hilda, he focused on the TV.

Speaking about him was unnecessary. Eventually, Hilda would find out more about him on her own, just like she had been doing in the past seven months.

.

The storm appeared to be fading.

Ingo sat at the desk inside the obscure study room illuminated by a nearby pedestal lamp, only wearing his shoes, pants and shirt. He had read the paper two times already, and still couldn't concentrate on the text written. He only was conscious of its direct relation to a minor problem in one of the lines, of the not so frequent thunder echoing in the background, the night quickly wearing on, and the occasional laugh coming from te living-room. However, what he heard more were his own thoughts about her. Instead of doing what he was supposed to, Ingo had been playing in his head that moment in the afternoon over and over, daydreaming about feeling their legs brushing together once more right there, in his own study-room.

Ingo knew that the contact hadn't been so suggestive, and that on the surface, it actually had been all but innocent. The true problem were the intentions behind. They were insanely stimulating, left to much for the imagination. How could it be that his previous fantasies about Hilda had ended up with him feeling her smooth skin, inhaling her intoxicating scent, kissing those inviting, unexplored lips all over, again and again and yet again? He knew those sinful thoughts were a consequence of his own body and human needs, but what Ingo couldn't understand was why he desired her touch that badly and urgently. It made him sick and disgusted with himself. Hilda was just fifteen years old, for god's sake! He was twenty-nine, practically twice her age! There was only one fitting word to describe his posture, and the more Ingo thought about it, the more repugnant he felt. How had that happened? Ingo had regarded Hilda as beautiful since they first met despite her lack of external femininity, but it was supposed to remain platonic. Regardless of Hilda's smart and lovely nature, there wasn't an excuse to feel that way about a youth like her. There were good days in which Ingo would allow his thoughts to convince him that this nonsense was his mind playing a trick on him, but then there were bad days like this, in which his thoughts would betray him, filling his mind with lust, desire and unacceptable wrongness and–

Damn it! The man had finished reading the report for the third time only to realise he hadn't paid attention at all. This freaking moral dilemma was distracting him to no end.

Defeated, Ingo rested his elbows on the desk and laid his forehead on his palms. There was so much that needed to be read or signed and he hadn't even accomplished half of his work due to his absent-minded state. Otherwise, on a good day, he would have already finished.

"I'll never understand why Ash didn't accept to be a Frontier Brain..."

After hearing his brother's voice coming from the hall, Ingo came back to reality. It sounded like Emmet wasn't alone.

"I told you, he didn't accept because the show would have ended too soon."

"Even so, I insist. Well, are you sure you will be okay?"

"Yes, don't worry and go get some rest. I saw you about to fall asleep several times."

"Fine, fine! My room it's down the hall, to the right, just in case. Feel free to take something from the fridge or whatever..."

"I suppose I won't do that, but thank you. See you in the morning!"

All he could hear next were steps and a door opening, then closing, but he mentally couldn't locate where Hilda might be. The older twin tried to leave behind all thoughts connected with her and focused for the fourth time on the report. It worked... until he remembered a certain girl would be sleeping in his couch. He slumped on the backrest and looked at the roof, grunting mildly. That last thought had just hit him, she was actually staying the night. She was, for real, sleeping on his couch, just in the room next to him.

Silence cracked when someone knocked at the barely open door. Not by chance she was asleep.

"May I come in?"

Ingo swallowed hard. Why wouldn't she cooperate? "... Yes"

Hilda carefully pushed the door to the full extent, stepped in and closed it without turning around. She looked at the empty cup near the papers and then at the taller man sitting at the desk chair, who looked pretty tired and stressed to her suddenly serious eyes. "Why in the world aren't you sleeping?" Hilda asked, putting her hands on her hips. An expression close to a frown was plastered on her face.

The Subway Boss felt his stomach twist at the mere sight of the girl and her expression without the cap. For some reason, her appearance seemed less childish, as if she wasn't a teen, but instead a gorgeous, young woman. She looked more attractive than severe, and that unfortunately encouraged more negative verdicts against himself. "I should probably ask you the same question," he teased, trying hard to conceal his yearning for the girl in front of him.

Hilda narrowed her eyes and took a few steps to the desk. "Go to sleep, now," she commanded, each world uttered with firmness.

"It is not so late, Hilda," he protested, never moving his eyes away from hers.

She leaned her hands on the desk and bowed a little with the same lingering expression. Ingo couldn't figure out if he was going through a delirium or if the person facing him was the real Hilda. He didn't have an explanation to the sudden physical difference product of his imagination. Oh, his urges knew no boundaries, they would soon be uncontrollable. Hilda was just sending him to sleep, and the man couldn't help paying so much attention to her beauty and his not suitable reactions. How much he liked and desired her wasn't important, because the wicked matter was his whim for it to be mutual.

"Didn't you notice that it's three in the morning?"

Ingo peeked up at the clock hanging in the dark grey wall. Had he really been trying to read for three hours straight with no accomplishment? Had he been thinking that much? "Actually, I didn't," the man admitted, "So if that is what you want, I will go to sleep."

Feeling relieved, the girl smiled and stepped back a bit from the desk. "You chose to obey, how wise," she said with a tint of smugness.

The Subway Boss raised his eyebrows and reached out for a pen. "Just give me five more minutes, please. I will be done soon."

Hilda growled loudly and sat down on the nearby couch. She doubted they were five literal minutes. "Okay, I'll wait here then."

Ingo nodded and returned to the paper, writing something in the process while Hilda looked around the room. She definitely liked that one much more. There was a large shelf full of books next to her and two long vertical windows with obscure red curtains on the wall behind the desk. The living room was nice, but the study-room was far more relaxing and the darkness made it a better place to sleep. Once finished the examination, Hilda let out a yawn, covering her mouth with one hand. By that time, the storm had already vanished, leaving only the strong chilly wind to blow noisily.

Deciding that five minutes would turn into half an hour –if she was lucky– the young trainer took the two cushions to rest her head on them and laid down gingerly so her boots wouldn't touch part of the couch. Eventually, the sound of the wind and the clock ticking tuned some a sort of lullaby and the girl fell asleep against her will. However, she was awakened shortly after by a hand fondling her arm.

Blue eyes snapped open to find a crouched man offering a warm smile. "You fell asleep."

Hilda raised her head a bit, supporting on her elbow. She rubbed her right eye with her hand, smiling back at Ingo. "It's not my fault, you said five minutes."

The hand which had been stroking her arm moved to her shoulder, resuming the caress in that area. "I am sorry. It took me fifteen minutes instead of five."

"You mean I slept for fifteen minutes?" she asked, eyebrows furrowing. "It felt like hours."

"How strange, because..." He removed his hand in brief when he noticed Hilda was staring. "... Because I believe you weren't completely asleep. We are speaking about fifteen minutes."

"Let's just say I wasn't conscious. Now, what are you waiting for? Go to sleep."

"Why are you so worried about my sleep habits?"

Hilda put up a baffled expression, not precisely due to the interrupted sleep. "I already told you, it isn't healthy to sleep less than six hours per day. If something bad happen to you due to the lack of sleep, you could die, and if you die, Emmet will die next. In other words, I don't you two to die."

Ingo couldn't help laughing after hearing such a dramatic and exaggerated answer. "I would rather only consider the main idea of something bad happening to me."

"Well, I'm glad you got my point," she chuckled, then fixed her gaze intently into his very own, reflecting adoration as her lips curved upwards in the most tender smile Ingo had ever seen.

It was incredible. She had to merely look at him in that kind way and all those inappropriate thoughts would haunt his poor mind in a split second. Just wanting to fondle or hug her was terribly wrong; in the end, those displays of affection in question led to a more meaningful one. He understood, he was a human being. But why her and not a woman of his age? He didn't know what to think anymore. No matter how much he suppressed his wants, there wasn't a way to stop his craving for Hilda.

The only thing he could do was to resist as much as possible.

"You should sleep in my room, Hilda. The apartment is usually quiet cold, and today it is even worse."

"Look, we discussed this two hours ago and my response remains the same. On the other hand, I'd like to sleep here, if you don't mind."

"Here?"

"Yes. I love darkness. And if I turn off the lamp the room would be pretty obscure."

"Well, as you wish." The Subway Boss got up from his crouching position "I will bring a blanket for you."

He opened the door and left the room. Hilda took the opportunity to sit up and contemplate her right arm, the one Ingo had been caressing. She bit her lower lip and added a mental note to her system: 'Never stare at the physical contact point'. It seemed the man felt awkward if she did that, so he would stop. Perhaps there wasn't contact all the time, but if a opportunity aroused, she needed to take advantage.

That last statement made she feel like the most desperate and obsessed person in all Unova. Damn hormones.

Some steps were heard and the older twin emerged through the door again with a chequered blanket hanging from his arm. He left it on the couch next to Hilda and knelt one more time, leaning on just one knee. He grabbed her foot and untied the pink laces of the girl's boot, much to her surprise.

At last, Hilda couldn't prevent the gales of laughter that came out her mouth. "What are you doing?" she asked him, amused.

When the laces were loose enough, Ingo took off her boot and placed it on the floor. "You are a smart person, I think you know what I am doing," he joked, reaching out for the remaining boot.

With a roll of her eyes, Hilda corrected herself, "I mean, why are you doing this?"

The man repeated the process, untying the long laces. "Until now, you haven't taken them off, so I thought I should do it for you."

He finally took the boot off. Hilda chuckled at his answer and they stood up at the same time. "That was funny in both known senses, Ingo, but thank you nonetheless."

He smiled down and cupped her face gently with one of his bare hands, earning a startled gasp. He raised his other hand, moved her side swept bangs and rested it on her cheek. Without hesitation, Ingo pressed his lips to her forehead.

Hilda froze in place.

He moved away his lips just the slightest bit and inhaled her scent, closing his eyes, then exhaling weakly. Hilda could have sworn she was about to suffer a heart-attack, but once his breath met her forehead, she managed to look up. Shortly after, the taller man kissed her forehead again and let go.

Ingo couldn't explain what the heck inside his system forced him to kiss her, nor did he wanted to find out. It was clean and innocent, and most important, needed; nothing wrong with it. He begged that thought remained the same way the next day, because his head would otherwise explode. "I will see you in the morning, Hilda."

"Yeah... Um, good night"

He left again, this time closing the door.

The trainer walked to the lamp, turned it off and made her way to the couch, laying down and covering with the blanket, a broad smile spreading across her red face; there it was, another memory to gnaw her head mercilessly until she went insane. Hilda didn't want to put her faith so high thinking about the unknown reasons that led him to kiss her forehead in such an affectionate way, but she wanted that to happen again.