30 Day OTP Challenge
Day 2- Realization
Prompt- The first time a member of your OTP (or both members!) realized they had feelings for the other.
Ash rolled over in his sleeping bag so he was looking at Clemont, who was thankfully for Ash, sound asleep. Ash had never been big on love or relationships or any of that 'girly junk' but he'd never felt the way he feels about Clemont. He'd always been too busy with Pokemon battles, or fighting for gym badges or competing in various Pokemon Leagues to ever worry or give much thought to his sexuality. But he felt something for Clemont and the only word he could think for it was 'Love' Ash had never met anyone like the Lumiose City gym leader. There were a few examples of Clemont showing the type of person he is that stuck in Ash's mind that made Ash realise that he might be falling for his friend.
Six months ago
Ash had just finished wolfing down his second plate of food, watched by Clemont who had a slight smile on his face, Serena who looked a little horrified and Bonnie who just looked impressed that Ash could eat so much in just one sitting. Ash was still chewing the last of his lunch as he reached over to grab one of Serena's freshly baked cookies when she slapped his hand away.
"Will you at least finish what's in your mouth first" Serena scolded him. He gulped down the food and picked up a cookie and greedily shoved that into his mouth too. He jumped up and called over his Pokemon, like Ash his Pokemon ate their food as quickly as they could and all jumped up and followed their trainer into the nearby clearing for some training. Clemont started to scrape a few of the leftovers into a bowl, clipping a lid to cover the food
"It's for Ash once he's finished training" Clemont explained, seeing Serena's questioning look.
"Clemont, you are so thoughtful" Serena smiled.
"It's nothing really. I've saved you some aswell Serena, you've been working so hard, practising for your showcase and Ash is working hard for his next gym battle, it's the least I could do for you both" Clemont answered.
Ash returned a few hours later, dripping with sweat but smiling broadly. Pikachu following behind slowly, looking completed drained.
"Hey Ash, how was training?" Bonnie asked, picking Pikachu up begining to massage the electric mouse Pokemon in an attempt to relax him.
"It was good, I think we're gonna be in good shape for the next gym battle" Ash yawned, dropping in to the empty chair in between Bonnie and Serena. His stomach growled loudly, he went red as he apologised, not realising how hungry he had become.
"Here you go Ash" Clemont handed Ash the bowl of leftovers he'd saved from earlier.
"Thanks Clemont" Ash ripped the lid off and imediately started to gulp down the food while Bonnie fed Pikachu a Pokepuff.
3 months ago
"Ash, you feeling okay?" Clemont asked, sitting up in his bed. He looked across at his friend in the bed opposite him, Ash looked away, sweat dripping from his forehead, his vest and bedsheets were soaked, bags under his eyes
"Yeah, I'm okay" Ash groaned, he swung his legs over the side of the bed, tried to stand up but fell back down, lacking the strength to keep himself upright. Clemont sprang out of bed and rushed over to Ash, he helped his friend back into bed. He pressed the back of his hand against Ash's head and took it away again straight away
"Ash! You're burning up" Ash just moaned in reply. Clemont left their room momentarily and returned with a bowl of water and a wash cloth. He ordered Ash not to move as Ash was still trying to sit up right. Ash did as he was told and lay back down, staying still he allowed Clemont to place the now wet wash cloth on his head.
"CLEMONT! ASH! IT'S TIME TO GET READY!" Bonnie yelled out happily, bounding into Ash and Clemont's room
"Shhhh" Clemont hushed his little sister. Bonnie saw Ash laying in bed, the washcloth on his head.
"Is Ash okay?" Bonnie asked
"I think so. I think it's just the flu" Clemont answered. Bonnie nodded and quietly left the room. Serena walked in a short while later.
"How's Ash?"
"He'll be fine, I'd suggest you start getting ready for your Showcase" Clemont reassured her.
"You're right" Serena conceded. Clemont took the wash cloth from Ash's forehead, soaked it again in cold water from the bowl he'd brought in and reapplied it to Ash's head. After Clemont insisted Ash fell back to sleep, Ash's argument was he needed to go and support Serena in her Showcase performance but Clemont wasn't having any of it, insisting Bonnie would be okay cheering loudly enough for all three of them.
"All three of us? But I'm the only one sick" Ash questioned
"Yes but I'm not gonna leave you on your own in this state" Clemont replied
"Thanks Clemont" Ash yawned. Exausted Ash fell back to sleep not long after. Clemont, true to his word never left Ash's side except to go and grab some medicine for him.
Two weeks ago
Ash made sure he was as quiet as he could be as he carefully climbed out of the tent he was sharing with Clemont. he tiptoed all the way down to the river. He sat down and lay back, head resting in his hands as he looked up at the stars brightly dancing above his head. Clemont awoke with a start as the cold air of the night blew into the tent, he glanced over and saw Ash missing from his sleeping bag. Clemont poked his head out of the front of the tent, he could just about make out Ash's figure lying down by the river bank by the light of the moon. He climbed out of the tent and made his way down to Ash, sitting down next to his friend.
"You okay Ash?"
"I guess so" Ash muttered
"What's up?" Clemont asked
"Nothing" Ash answered
"Nothing?" Clemont repeated. Ash stayed silent for a moment, as if deciding whether or not he could trust him or not. Clemont just sat there paitently waiting for Ash to talk.
"Do you ever feel like... While you're good at something, maybe you're not good ENOUGH to take the next step? Like maybe you should consider giving up? Like when one of your inventions blows up, don't you ever feel like you should just stop making them?" Ash rambled on. Clemont listened carefully to what Ash was saying and could take a pretty good guess as to what Ash was actually talking about.
"Honestly? I used to think like that, maybe if my inventions did keep blowing up I should stop, but then... Then I met you, and you taught me that we should never give up. No matter what happens, no matter how many times you get knocked down, you get up again and you don't stop trying... Is this because of what happened at the Pokemon League?"
"Mmmhmm" Ash mumbled
"Ash... You're an amazing Pokemon trainer, you have a deep bond with every single one of your Pokemon. You fight hard for them and they for you. You all believe in each other and you all love each other very deeply. So you lost to Alain, another very strong trainer. You and your Pokemon gave it your all, you fought for each other and you fought for all of Kalos against Team Flare. You will win the Pokemon League and you will become a Pokemon master. You just have to keep on being yourself, always believing in yourself and your Pokemon and never giving up no matter how big the challenge ahead is. Because you inspire not just your Pokemon but everyone around. You're not just a brilliant Pokemon trainer, you're a wonderful person" Clemont explained to him. Ash had tears in his eyes by the time Clemont had finished, nobody had ever said anything like this to him before. It overwhelmed him and before he knew what he was doing he sat up and threw his arms around his friend.
As those memories danced around Ash's mind. He was in no doubt, he wasn't falling for Clemont. He'd fallen for him.