To be honest, this almost got deleted from ff net

Scowling and gingerly readjusting the slab of ice on his jaw (the second fall to the ground was quite unfortunate), Paul watched as Ash kept apologising to, apparently, the Pokémon professor of this island and his classmates. After Togedemaru got too excited from all the ruckus, it not only started to roll to defend its friend Pikachu, it also swept, quite literally, everyone off their feet and then at full speed rammed into Ash's back, sending them all crashing down. Again. Ash, thanks to Paul, had only a few scrapes on his palms. Paul, that day's unfortunate hero, who was trying to prevent Ash from falling on his side and possibly dislocate his shoulder, fell on his face. Ash, who fussed over him for exactly five minutes, proclaimed he'd live and simply ordered (Paul's!) Beartic around before he went to entertain the masses. Hence the ice on his jaw.

Kiawe, who was the only human in the hotel's garden not angry at him in some way or the other, sat down beside him quietly. Unfortunately, it did not last for long. To give Kiawe some credit, he seemed like he valiantly tried not to disturb him, but his curiosity got better of him and asked, "So, Ash?" The tone he used told Paul loads about how much Kiawe knew about Ash from their brief time here together. "Yeah," he answered curtly, not willing to elaborate further on their complicated relationship, "I proposed not that long ago."

"Childhood sweethearts?" Kiawe cringed as Paul shot him a look of disdain. "Fine, keep your secrets. Ash didn't even tell us he's seeing someone." Paul, even in this undeniable heat and the throbbing, hot to the touch, bruise on his face, froze. That hurt. He didn't think he could be more wounded by the day's events, but it just kept getting worse. "He didn't?"

Paul couldn't believe it. Was there something wrong with their relationship that he failed to notice before Ash's departure for Alola? But how? Everything seemed fine, they were planning to settle down for a few months for god's sake. What happened? Ash was never shy proclaiming their relationship to the world, especially when he met new people. It was almost something he was proud of, some achievement that should be celebrated. (And celebrate they did. Paul always remembered their anniversaries without fail, grateful Ash broke through his iron defences. He couldn't imagine his life without Ash now.) He wanted to look over and study Ash properly – did he still have the ring Paul bought him? – but was afraid of what he might see.

Kiawe, sensing the gloom, tried to cheer him up. "But we don't really know each other anyway! The topic never shifted towards it." Paul scowled. "You are really not helping," he said and hoped he insinuated the hidden threat clearly. Kiawe, who obviously wasn't an idiot, sighed and dropped the attitude. "I know, sorry." They descended into silence again and watched as Ash tried to fend off Togedemaru's worried rant. Or something. Paul only had a clear view of the mouse Pokémon Togedemaru. And for all he knew, that thing could be absolutely deranged and just wanted attention. So far, no one provided him with proof that would say otherwise.

Speaking of Pokémon, Beartic, loyal as always, was sitting down by Ash's side and grunted occasionally to remind everyone of its presence. Ash, probably from habit, patted Beartic's head every time the Ice Pokémon did so. The traitor. Even his Pokémon adored Ash. Why didn't Ash adore Paul anymore?

"I am not really surprised though," Kiawe said tentatively and Paul sighed. He thought they were done with that conversation. "I'll beat. Why?" Kiawe just gazed at the group from Pokémon school that gathered in the hotel's garden and leaned forward. "He looked at everything around here and loved every second of it, but it was as if he was missing something and couldn't quite find it. Sure, the battles, school and new Pokémon distracted him. But never for long. You should think about that."

Paul didn't even acknowledge Kiawe's monologue. He almost wished he stopped him before he said all that. Kiawe, probably knowing exactly what was going through Paul's head, hummed. "Just think about it, will you? Also, why don't you stay here for a few days. You might even grow to like it here."

Paul tentatively touched the bruise again. Ouch. He winced and reapplied the ice against his face again. Beartic happily grumbled. Ash was giving it his undivided attention now. The bear Pokémon preened. And by gods, Ash looked beautiful. He was still suntanned, probably something he would retain until departing from this place, and still as animated as Paul remembered him.

And yet something changed. The small feline Pokémon, Litten, from earlier that day sneaked into the garden and purred when he headbutted Ash's leg. Absentmindedly, Ash reached down and started to pet the Pokémon as well. Of course, Paul thought, it is Ash's.

"Doubtful," the Sinnoh trainer remarked quietly, "it's boiling here."

The next day Paul found himself on the steps of Pokémon school, waiting for Ash to emerge from the gates. The night before, Ash and Paul engaged in another screaming match in the hotel room before Ash departed saying he needed to cool down before they resumed their conversation. Paul agreed wholeheartedly as their conversation wasn't getting anywhere and he wanted to get somewhere, dammit.

When Ash slammed the doors behind him, Paul groaned and considered screaming at the top of his lungs the most unsophisticated words he knew. Instead, to calm himself down, he tried to take care of his team and see how they fared in the tropical climate. Did not help at all as Beartic ignored Paul's existence after Ash's departure and the other Pokémon were so bewildered by its action they hardly focused on anything else. Paul felt like smashing something to pieces, even though he knew it wouldn't help anything. That was one part of Paul's character that had to be credited to Ash. When he was younger, he hardly put a thought to what would be considered an unnecessary damage. He considered just going to sleep and think about what to do in the morning when his Xtransceiver started to beep, announcing someone was trying to reach him through a video call.

The ID confirmed it to be Delia, who was probably worried about him. After all, she drove him with the neighbour's car to the airport. Or, possibly, Ash tattled on him. Wouldn't be the first time although Delia usually found their squabbles either amusing or cute. But when it reached a certain limit, she always put an end to it and offered an advice or just a sympathetic ear. This situation had to count as the latter. He hoped.

Paul sighed; he should have let her know he arrived safely and was alright anyway.

"Hey!" Not Delia. Paul automatically disconnected the call before he even processed who he was seeing on the screen. When his action caught up with his brain, he had to metaphorically pat himself on the back. That was literally the last person on this planet that he wanted to speak with at the moment. Or, you know, ever. But same as with every other interaction he ever had to suffer with that awful creation that masqueraded as a human being, it couldn't be ignored for long.

Sure enough, Gary fucking Oak called again. Using Delia's phone. The ringtone grated on his nerves, knowing that a malicious being is hiding behind it. Paul, somewhere in a small corner of his thoughts, briefly wondered how Gary even got that phone. The rest of his thoughts were stuck on the question of why this shitty day wouldn't just end.

"What?" he growled as he accepted the video call. "Rude! Grow up, man!" Gary scoffed and Paul wanted to reach through the screen and start a physical fight so badly but had to settle for a frown to broadcast his displeasure. "I won't ask again," Paul said as his fingers itched to end this phone call barely ten seconds in. "Really, Paul? I am just a concerned friend. I heard about your trip to Alola and wondered how you and Ash are doing. Speaking of, where is he?" Going by the sly smirk on Gary's face, he knew Ash wouldn't be in the vicinity.

"I am in my hotel room, he lives somewhere else," he settled on instead. He wasn't in any mood to play Gary's mind games, he dealt with them over the course of his and Ash's relationship many times and wasn't in any way or shape capable of dealing with them that evening. Paul was once told that Gary Oak matured over the years and Ash liked to prattle on about how obnoxious Gary could be. Paul believed that Gary might not be as vocal about his jerkish attitude as he used to be, but still firmly remained a jerk.

Ever since Paul first visited Pallet Town and got to know Ash's hometown and family, Gary Oak was a thorn in his side. Although the man retired from a Pokémon training career and started to apprentice under researchers and hoped to become a certified Pokémon professor, his passion about raising Pokémon did not diminish. Same with the urge of trying to make Ash squirm. Paul had no idea what he's done, but somehow Gary Oak started to target him to get Ash riled up. Ash, who was the most oblivious person in the universe (and knew it about himself), mostly ignored those scenes. (Until Paul retaliated of course, then he got involved.) Paul, who never liked being stepped on, started to add his own dynamic to their encounters. The disaster that followed does not need to be explored on any further. And thus, Paul's rocky relationship with Gary began.

While Paul viewed Gary as an unfortunate acquittance, Gary somehow gained the wrong impression (or didn't) and appointed himself as the so-called marriage counsellor of Ash and Paul's relationship. And yes, the counsel absolutely involved setting Paul up and driving Ash crazy. If it wasn't for the Cubchoo (now Beartic) that Paul brought back from Unova that immediately latched onto Ash as its mother, Paul was sure he'd still be suffering the direst repercussions from Gary's idea of a good engagement present.

"Ah, Paul," Gary shook his head and Paul mentally prepared himself to an onslaught of utter bullshit. "I know you guys are having troubles. No need to pretend with me, I care about you both." Oh, I am sure you do, Paul thought menacingly. "You know Ash is a free spirit, caging him somewhere is not going to help!" Gary theatrically sighed and Paul's blood lust (and pressure) rose. "I know that!" he hissed through gritted teeth and wondered why he didn't hang up on Gary yet.

They talked over thirty seconds now, the karma would have to give him that.

Gary's expression darkened. "Then why do you insist on being an asshole to Ash?" Of course, Gary talked to Ash first! "Why am I the one at fault here?!" Paul exclaimed, the anger boiling over. "I only want a courtesy of being in the know about where my fiancé is! Is that so much to ask!" Gary, who suddenly looked very satisfied, countered, "Well the same thing could be said to you, no one heard from you for weeks!" Oh, that was it. Paul raised his hand to hang up on him. "Don't hang up on me, you imbecile! You both made your bed, now lie in it!" Gary scowled, not bothering to hide his displeasure anymore. "So, what you two need to do now is talk and sort it out! And gods help me, Paul, if he's not smiling soon, I'll make you pay!"

Paul sighed and forcibly pulled himself to the present. Thinking about (or interacting with) Gary Oak caused his face to morph into something that resembled a seasoned serial killer. Ash once told him it was equal parts frightening as it was concerning that someone could even get that reaction out of him. Afterall, disregarding the unending stream of snipes, Paul was usually very stone faced. Usually. Speaking of Ash, it shouldn't be long before the school ended for the day and Paul had to pull himself together. Even though he was an utter ass, Gary was right. They were both in one way or the other responsible for this mess. He couldn't pull himself back to the disaster that happened last night.

He had to be rational.

He loved Ash. He didn't want to lose him.

They would get through this.

And apparently it was just in time as a bell started to ring and a lot of excited voices along with barks and cries of Pokémon started to move closer towards the gate. As he looked over them all, the students seemed to be of varying ages. Some were as young as ten, the usual age when children depart from home to a Pokémon journey, and some seemed a bit older than Paul himself. Paul supposed the Pokémon school might even substitute some college or university courses on Alola. Reggie often bugged him to apply to a university, saying that with his experience as a trainer and history of performances, the acceptance was almost guaranteed. Well, Paul had his high school certificate and several work experiences and that was enough for him. Ash, it seemed, was not content with it.

It didn't take long before Paul caught a glimpse of Ash. He was looking down; the argument yesterday must have had a bigger impact on him than Paul thought it had. The feline Pokémon, Litten, was rubbing its head against his feet and Kiawe, with Charizard trailing behind him, seemed to be trying to cheer him up although Paul couldn't hear what they were saying from the distance. Ash tried to look excited, but it only caused Paul's head to ache.

He breathed in to calm down, best not to snap at anyone while he's supposed to apologise, and started to walk towards them. Gastrodon, the only Pokémon who could be bothered to leave the hotel room (with air conditioner, so Paul couldn't exactly resent them, he wanted to stay with them), followed him at its own pace. Paul figured they would see Gastrodon first as Kiawe mentioned not many Sinnoh Pokémon could be found in Alola and wasn't disappointed. Ash, as soon as he saw Paul's partner, shifted his gaze towards Paul himself. "Oh," he exclaimed and stopped in his tracks. As opposed to yesterday's anger that caused him to uncharacteristically slam the doors, Ash looked depressed. Another thing to feel guilty for, Paul supposed.

Kiawe, puzzled at Ash's frozen state, noticed him last. "Alola!" he looked surprised, but self-satisfied. Paul didn't know why, not like he did anything amazing. "Paul," Ash nodded in greeting and Paul had to stop himself from cringing. What a mess. He didn't see Ash this depressed since before they started dating. "Ash. Can we talk?" He looked towards more than interested Kiawe. "Alone?" he added pointedly.

Ash fidgeted, clearly uncomfortable with the idea, and Litten, sensing its trainer's apprehension, started to hiss, small embers flying from its mouth. Gastrodon, who never seen a Pokémon like that before, leaned down to have a proper look at the small cat. Gastrodon was more than twice the size of the other Pokemon and Litten, going by its cries, did not appreciate the proximity in the slightest. In fact, it tried to swipe at Paul's Pokémon in anger, but the Kanto trainer gathered the fussing Pokemon in his arms before it could. "Er, yeah, I guess." Ash, who was trying to contain struggling Litten in his arms, glanced to his left at Kiawe and his Charizard. "But Kiawe promised to help me train Litten. And then our friends promised to see us and are meeting us on beach later on."

Kiawe, who seemed eager to rescue the awkward exchange, more than enthusiastically suggested, "You could talk on the way, I can walk at the front and give you some privacy." Litten hissed at Kiawe. Paul mentally added Litten on the list of Ash's Pokemon who despise his very existence. At this pace, he thought, it wouldn't take long before the list reached number fifty. Ash pouted but agreed. The pout was apprehensive, but hopeful. Paul couldn't ask for anything else.

The beach they wanted to train on apparently wasn't that far away and, as Kiawe promised, he walked ahead and didn't even try to eavesdrop. Paul already liked him better than Ash's other friends. He always seemed to attract the busy bodies. Paul hoped that the rest of them were similar, but remembering yesterday, he didn't dare to hope much. Litten, who was warily watching Gastrodon to keep distance between them both, was ignoring Ash and Paul as well. Paul appreciated one less curious gaze, what with that sleeping owl in Ash's bag and Pikachu lazing on Gastrodon's back. The yapping puppy did not seem like it understood the need for privacy but seemed content to just jump around. It was as private as it could get on this island.

Paul studied his fiancé's posture. He walked slumped with hunched shoulders as if to shield himself. He still seemed down but looked a bit better now then back at the Pokémon school. Paul chalked it up to the fact that no shouting was going on. As opposed to yesterday. After the delegation left the hotel, Ash took Paul's hotel key and stomped to his room. When there were no other witnesses aside from Beartic and Pikachu, Ash started to scream anew. "How dare you to just come in here and presume?" he started, gesticulating wildly. The rest continued in the same way. "I still can't get over the fact that you stole Pikachu! How could you, Paul?" It wasn't by far their first argument. But never before had Paul seen Ash so incensed. And true to his character, he retaliated.

It seemed as if the walk down the hill to the beach was calming their nerves. The walk was actually quite nice. You could get used to the view. From where they were, they could see the ocean and, on the horizon, Akala Island and its Wela was in clear view as well. But silence wouldn't placate them for long, Paul knew.

"I'm sorry I didn't let you know I was going to stay here. I should have found a way to call you. And I shouldn't have yelled at you yesterday. I know you wouldn't steal my Pikachu." Ash said just as Paul was gearing up to say his own apology. He held in his disappointed sigh - that would just imply all sort of wrong things. He should have been the one to apologise first.

"No, I am sorry. It was my fault you couldn't contact me in the first place." Paul was a little proud of himself. Because in all truth, it was Reggie'sfault. But he knew Ash wouldn't appreciate it if he blamed it all on his older brother. "I should have found a way to leave you a message about what happened. And I shouldn't have just taken Pikachu, you couldn't have known it was me." Ash shrugged. "Yeah, well, we both messed up. It happens." Ash grinned (so falsely) and Paul grabbed his shoulders, forcing them to stop, and drew Ash closer to himself. The rest of the party still continued to walk down.

Aside from the puppy, who was intensely watching them both. Paul figured he'd feel creeped up later.

He caressed his arms, from shoulders down to elbows and up again. With each movement, Ash looked closer to tears. Great, this was going splendid so far. "I'm really sorry. I mean it. I love you." He leaned down, embracing the shorter man. Ash did grow up a little bit taller in the last few years, but Paul shot up to Reggie's height, making him taller by a few inches. Few second later, Ash muttered into Paul's shirt, "I love you, too."

They spent the next few minutes in silence, not moving an inch. Had the path not been so straightforward, Paul might have been worried they would lose Kiawe and the rest. Paul hoped they wouldn't look back. While he wasn't shy or ashamed, he wasn't the type of person to broadcast affection towards his better half. Ash smiled a little more sincerely. It was a great sign and Paul took it as such. "I have the room booked for the next few days. I want to spend as much time here with you as possible." Pause. "Would that be alright?" Paul really should have expected the onslaught of pure sunshine mirroring from Ash's eyes. "Yes! Of course!"

Paul, while they were still in embrace, risked to touch the back of Ash's neck, where the chain with the engagement ring last was when he saw Ash in person before his departure to Alola. Ash decided to put it on a chain himself; he was afraid he would lose it and so bought a silver chain to put it on only a few days after engagement.

There, just underneath the light t-shirt, Paul could feel the outlines of the sturdy yet elegant silver chain. It was still there.

They spent the rest of the walk down to the beach holding hands.

It turned out Litten needed to work on its Fire Fang. Paul, after studying the fire cat performing the unpolished attack a few times, thought the cat did put in enough power but had trouble keeping the flow steady. It always lost concentration just before he chomped down on something – or, in this case, Kiawe's Pokémon's tail. Knowing Ash appreciated a few advices in training, but did not care to borrow Paul's training methods, Paul decided not to intervene much and just told them what he thought was the problem.

Ash thanked him for his opinion about Litten's issue with a small kiss on a cheek and then resumed the training with Kiawe and his Turtonator. Paul rolled his eyes, although he was glad they weren't on such a thin ice anymore, he probably wouldn't ever really get used to public display of attention. Ash knew it and never failed to challenge that.

Soon it seemed Ash got more comfortable and started to act like himself again, enthusiastically supporting Litten and its training. Paul decided to sit down near the water to cool down. It was very hot again, but it was either more manageable than yesterday or Paul started to get used it. He wasn't sure he wanted to know which. Gastrodon followed his example, watching the training session with assessing eyes. Paul was proud.

Ash's Rotom Dex (this region just liked to spring surprises on him!) hovered over them for a bit and tried to give them a brief crash course on the Melemele Island's Pokémon and differences between some Kanto Pokémon and their Alola forms. When Paul got tired of the prattle, he decided to train his Gastrodon in the water while the others still worked on Litten. There was some progress, but not much.

All in all, it was a relaxing afternoon. "What's going on?" Paul scowled when he saw them slacking off. Ash, Kiawe, Pikachu and the puppy, apparently Rockruff, were standing around a small mound of sand with a red shovel on top of it. Last Paul checked, there were no children on the beach. So where did it come from?

Then it all of course went downhill.