A/N: I forgot to mention, I'm also open to requests!

Disclaimer: If I owned Pokemon, Ash and Misty would've gotten together ages ago, and Brock would've settled down with Professor Ivy. May would've ended up with Drew, Dawn would've ended up with Lucas, and Clay would've been Hilda and Hilbert's dad (because I noticed that Clay and the player character looked so much alike).

But, I don't own Pokemon, so keep dreaming, guys.

Cheren x Elesa

/

Elesa was classy, no doubt about it. With stunning blonde hair most women would commit arson for, a long, willowy body, and a charming Unovian accent, she had to fend off many suitors who vied for her affections.

The earphones? Not for listening to music, but for blocking out the sounds of desperate males. Yes, Elesa was a heartbreaker.

Maybe that's why she was so intrigued by him.

He, with his neat white shirts, shiny hair like the wing of a honchkrow, and low-key, intelligent banter. He, with his gentlemanly behavior and kindness toward his pokemon. He, with his chivalry and maturity, never ogled her or mightyena-whistled at Elesa, a welcome and refreshing change.

Elesa was intrigued, but she wasn't interested in a boy like Cheren. Sure, he had all these positive qualities, but he was so straight-laced, so serious, so librarian with his thin glasses. And, he was a couple of years her junior. She mentally placed him under a list entitled 'Friends and Acquaintances', confident that he would never become more than a friendly cohort.

She was wrong.

One annual event that the gym leaders and elites attended was the Ball, held in the wintertime. Partners were not mandatory, and Elesa always used this to her advantage, dodging the almost-desperate invitations of Burgh, Cress, and Aaron. They would no doubt want to spend time together after the Ball; and, beautiful or not, Elesa was a woman of virtue.

The date of the Ball finally arrived, and Elesa found herself standing near a quiet wall, sipping her non-alcoholic drink (because she was a lady, and ladies don't get drunk, it's undignified). She was wearing a modest, knee-length black dress that still managed to show off her model's physique. Elesa watched contentedly as her suitors danced with other women (Burgh with Skyla, Aaron with Caitlin, and Cress with Iris, Chili glaring angrily).

Then, she noticed a handsome, tall man leaning against the far wall. His hair was styled tastefully, and he wore a pristine suit that accentuated his broad shoulders. The man saw her looking, and sent a dashing smile in her direction. She smiled in return. Who was that?

The man approached her, and as Elesa glimpsed his glossy black hair, she gasped. It was Cheren. How could she not have recognized him? Oh, he wasn't wearing glasses for once.

"Hi," Cheren said, uncharacteristically suave. "How are you, Elesa?"

"Oh, I'm just fine," Elesa replied politely. "And you? Are you enjoying the party?"

Cheren smiled wryly, eyeing the dance floor where many couples were twirling. "I suppose," he said finally. "Of course, I'm being biased. If I weren't here, I'd be working on a research paper on the biology of snivy."

Elesa found herself amused at Cheren's words. Bookish or not, he was kind of funny in a witty way. She smiled warmly up at him, and he grinned down at her, chocolate eyes for once not hidden behind a pair of glasses.

"But that's not why I came over here," Cheren admitted.

"Oh?" Elesa asked. "Then why?" She really needed to stop asking questions she already knew the answers to.

"I wanted to ask you to dance. Will you dance with me, Elesa?" Cheren asked, slightly ducking his head and revealing the quiet boy he was behind all the confidence he exuded this night.

Elesa decided to be impulsive. She liked Cheren, he was nice and didn't treat her like she was just something to ogle at; he treated her like a person. "Of course," she said, and they walked out to the dance floor.

As they stood face-to-face, Cheren suddenly looked unsure. Elesa took pity and gently clasped his hand, draping her other arm loosely around his shoulders. He hesitated, then put his hand at her waist.

And so they danced.

Cheren, she realized, was good at everything. He dipped her, twirled her, allowed her to enjoy herself without worrying about who might be watching or how she looked.

When the song ended, Cheren let go of her, but she kept her arm draped around his shoulder. She had never noticed how muscular it was before. "One more song?" she asked.

Cheren wordlessly resumed leading her around the dance floor in a perfect waltz. Completely at ease, she pulled him closer. "Where did you learn how to dance?" she breathed.

"I read a book." His reply made her laugh, and he smiled down at her good-naturedly.

They didn't realize the song had ended until the disc jockey changed records. "I don't like this song," Elesa said as a fast rap song blared. "Want to go sit down?" Cheren agreed, and they walked back to the elegantly decorated tables overlooking the dance floor.

As they sat, Elesa, with a daring she hadn't known she possessed, said, "Cheren?"

"Yes?"

"I find you to be pleasant company. Would you like to join me for dinner?"

Cheren's eyes twinkled. "Sure, Elesa. Where were you thinking?"

"McKrokorok's," she joked, and Cheren chuckled, amused. Then, he suddenly leaned forward, closer to Elesa.

"You know, Elesa," he said in a low voice, "I was just going to ask you the same question." Then, his eyes darkened. "After all, I am quite hungry, aren't you?"

Elesa was surprised at how forward Cheren was, not that she minded in the least.

"Me? I'm very hungry."

Maybe she could find out whether he had read a book for that as well.

A/N: This is officially the most suggestive thing I've ever written. I wonder if I should change the rating to T… I think I will, to be safe.