Don't
Chapter Four
By Harmony283
Summary: Norman wants to talk with Max and Jovi--but what could he possibly want to talk to them about? And what does it have to do with when his father--Max's grandfather--died? Also, why do Michael and Vivi say it was a bad idea for Norman to ask that kind of question in the first place?
Authors Note: Well I said I'd update a bit sooner this time around--well I guess I lied. Sorry this took so long but last week (when I would've updated) I had like 2 projects due and 1 paper due so...yeah, didn't get a chance to do much writing at all. -cough- But anyway, this chapter is basically just a conversation (though it's an interesting one at that and it's VERY important) so it, like the last chapter, won't be that long. Hopefully I'll compensate the shortness via the quality of this chapter. Or I'll just make up the length in the next chapter. And just on a side note the main 'hinted' pairing in this chapter (and the beginning of the next one) is Tag-alongshipping (a.k.a Max X Jovi). The reason I say hinted is if you choose to see it as them being paired together. I personally don't care either way (though like I said in the beginning--I put in pairings that I like, and I think Max X Jovi is a unique and as far as I know never done pairing so…). But enough about that--thank you Artay Keeper of Secrets, Crystal Absol, Cheea5, xDeadPan, & HikariLi-Samafor reviewing and here's the next chapter--enjoy!
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Norman's POV
I slid shut the sliding paper doors of the gym before covering my face with my hand and massaging my forehead. My headache, which I had noticed coming on shortly after I left the greenhouse, was now mounting and the tension was getting unbearable
'But at least you got out before you said anything more to Max and Jovi.'
I let out a sigh, "Yes…that's…" I brought my hand away from my face and looked around the gym, "that's right. But I still need to talk to them."
'Yes you do. But you have to think about what you're going to say first.' My conscience retorted, almost sounding sarcastic, 'So tell me. What exactly is it about Max that's bothering you so much.'
"I thought I already told you."
For a moment my conscience was silent before he…she…they spoke again, 'That's true. But Caroline interrupted.'
"Interrupted?" Well she had come in at a bad time, "I guess she did but still you should know. You've been with me almost all my life…I would assume. Unless you really are a voice in my head and then I'd have to ask you just what and who the hell you are."
My conscience seemed to laugh at this, 'I've been with you for a while, but as with most men you don't like thinking about it. So I was stuck in the back of your mind until you actually had time to think about the concept.'
"Really now?"
'Yes really. Now do tell. I'm waiting to hear.'
…I would get in so much trouble if Caroline, or anyone, walked by here but one thing was true. I had to sort my thoughts out. Maybe saying exactly why I didn't like the way Max was now outloud would help me with it. I took a deep breath and said, my voice more monotone than I had expected, "He reminds me of my mother. Or at least his eyes do."
'And why is that?'
I looked down at the wood floor, "…Because he's seen someone die before. Just like mother. She saw father die…"
FLASH BACK
I looked out the window, it was still early, the sun wasn't even that high in the sky yet. But I knew something was wrong when I saw a few cars drive by our house. Normally no one was out this early. Well, except for mother. She was always up--the early bird shopper. That's what she was and that's what she had hoped father was too.
Of course that wound up in him being dragged out of bed and that was always very funny to watch. But it was only nine in the morning. On a morning when most people had the day off. It was a national holiday, celebrating some national achievement somewhere. Or at least that's what the news reporter had said on the nation pokemon network channel.
Which I was now currently watching with a blueberry muffin--freshly baked--and a glass of milk on the table in front of me. Father usually always woke up with the news. He always watched it right when it came on so it was only natural that I'd watch it soon. 'Someone who is unconnected never learns anything' he would always say that. But I knew he had gotten that quote from Grandpa. Grandpa back in Petalburg City who lived at a small dojo that should be called a Gym.
Or at least that's what Mother said--she was his daughter after all. Though I always wondered why she didn't want to take over duties at the dojo. She was good with Pokemon--or at least she loved fathers. But instead she started a business. A business for beauty products that were 'Pokemon Friendly' so at least she was doing her part. And it brought in a lot of money--enough money so that father could travel wherever he wanted.
But I wanted to know where 'wherever' was for him. He was always gone. Never home to play with me except for early in the morning or, if it was a day like today, he'd only disappear for an hour or two after dinner.
Suddenly a car I didn't recognize pulled into the driveway. It was…it looked almost like one of those 'disguise' cars the police sometimes used. But why would it…? Sure enough I was right--about it having something to do with the police. An old-looking Officer Jenny stepped out of the car and opened the passenger door. Then I saw my mother step out.
But why would mom…?
I pushed my chair away from the table and hopped down. I ran quickly to the door and flung it open. This seemed to surprise Officer Jenny, who was about to step up to the door. Though she covered that surprise quickly by saying, "Norman…I--"
"Mother?" I asked, cutting off Officer Jenny. I walked right past her and tugged on the hem of mother's shirt, "Where's father?"
When I looked up into her eyes, though, I got my answer. Her eyes, brown like mine, were…they were like glass. And on the other side of that glass I saw pain…pain and sadness. Something bad happened.
"Norman," Officer Jenny placed a hand on my shoulder, "Your…you see your father he--"
"He's dead." Mother finished for her, "He died. He was shot." My eyes widened, "Wha--who…?" "Naomi," Officer Jenny's voice was gentle, "You should go inside. I'll explain." Mother looked at her briefly before walking into the house, ignoring me completely. I turned to follow her, I wanted "But what "You don't know?" I repeated and she nodded her head, "Oh…" "But we have an…idea. More than one person was shot, but it was because they were in the way." My eyes widened, more people were hurt? But then why was father the only one who died?
"It seemed they were after your father for a reason," Officer Jenny shook her head and bent down, "Don't worry. We'll figure out who it is and we'll make sure he's dealt with. You just…watch your mother. I have to go back to the station now. I'm sorry I have to leave you like this." She squeezed my shoulder lightly before straightening up and turning away. She walked quickly back to her car before speeding off.
And suddenly, when I walked back in the house, back into the kitchen, I didn't feel like eating anymore. Especially when I saw mother there, staring at the TV. So I turned and walked up the stairs to my room.
FLASHBACK END
I let out a shaky sigh and shook my head, "That's why…I…I'll go talk to them now. I've made them wait long enough." I took a deep breath before turning around and walking out of the Gym. I made my way down the hall towards the entrance to the green house, pausing briefly when I saw Drew and Michael talking about something--they were leaning up against the wall that lead into the livingroom and they didn't seem to notice me.
So I turned and walked through the green house doors. The sight that met my eyes when they found Max and Jovi surprised me as well as angered me. I--he…Jovi still hadn't released her grip on Max's arm and she was smiling up at him like nothing was wrong.
Then Max noticed me. So of course I had to say something, "I'm glad you waited. Sorry it took so long." How could I say sorry to him though? But I did make them wait. Not that they really had anything better to do--except worry about May and how she was doing.
"It's fine," Jovi started, "Um…but what did you want to talk about?" she looked hopeful, like she was hoping what I was going to say wasn't going to be anything bad. But her grip tightening on Max's arm showed she knew otherwise.
"What I want to talk about? That's," I motioned to her grip on Max's arm, "what I wanted to talk about." She looked confused for a moment and looked at where I was pointing before looking up at Max, "Wh-what…?"
Max shook his head, "He means why are you holding onto my arm so tightly." He said it so blandly but even so her face turned a bright shade of red because of it, "O-Oh," She slowly unlatched herself from her side, "U-Um…b-but is th-that bad?" I felt my eye twitch. Did she really not understand what that looked like?
"No it isn't but," Max shook his head again, "It depends on what others think."
Jovi's eyes widened and her cheeks reddened even more, "O-Oh um," she looked over at me, "Ah…w-well…um…I-I do that all the time and I-I'm sorry it must've looked weird."
I sighed, "Weird isn't really the word for it," my voice was gentle--something told me Max would hate me even more if I was mean to her, "just…people who are normally dating do that."
"We aren't dating!" she nearly squeaked this at me--her face had grown so red to the point I thought she might pass out. Poor girl…
But wait, this wasn't the only thing I wanted to talk to them--or rather Max--about. And Max seemed to notice. Before I could even open my mouth to speak he cut me off saying, "Jovi why don't you go back inside now? I mean, Michael and Vivi are probably worried about what's going on…and you're worried about May aren't you?"
Jovi took a deep breath, forcing the blush away from her cheeks before nodding her head and saying, "Okay." She walked past me, giving me a side glance, before rushing into the house.
Now I had to ask, "Why did you ask her to go inside?"
He just shrugged, "Because you were going to ask me something that she doesn't need to hear, or doesn't want to hear."
"But how do you know that?" I felt my anger rising up again. How did he know that I wasn't going to ask something more about--
"I don't have to answer that." The reply was cold, even colder than the weather was outside. And his eyes were just as cold--but they only stayed that way for a split second. Then they looked apologetic, "Sorry," he mumbled, "What were you going to say then?"
"I was going to ask you if," I hesitated now I wasn't so sure if asking him so suddenly would be such a good idea. But it's what I wanted to ask him in the first place. So I should ask him.
'Well you might as well since he's right here.'
"Well? What were you going to ask me?" Max asked again, looking more annoyed now. He shivered lightly and tugged his coat closer to his body. That caught my attention for some reason, "You're really cold aren't you?"
He shrugged, "I just don't like the cold."
"Really? But you used to love it when it snowed--you used to always want to go out and play when it would snow in the winter, especially back before we moved here."
Max shrugged his shoulders at this, "Well I'm not little anymore." His eyes met mine for a split second and it felt like I was covered in ice. Where, or how, he had learned to be so cold I didn't know. But it concerned me, as well as proved my point even more. Yes I would definitely ask him now.
I cleared my throat and looked past him, out the large windows that surrounded the outside entrance to the greenhouse, "Yes I can see that. But anyway, what I wanted to ask you is…have you ever seen someone die before?"
For a moment a deadly kind of silence passed. I could see different emotions flickering across his eyes. Surprise, Fear, Anger, Sadness, then another, indefinable emotion, before they were sealed away, covered with a wall of impenetrable ice.
Slowly, hesitantly, he spoke, "Why do you care?" He seemed to be testing the words. That wasn't good.
'That means I'm right.'
'But what's so wrong about being right? At least you know now.' My conscience stated, and it seemed to be smirking—or at least I felt that that was…their reaction.
But how the—
"Max…"
"Well? Why do you care if I have or not?" he snapped, looking away from me. He was tense now, even more so than he had been before. Even more so than I was now.
"Because," now it was my turn to choose my words carefully, "you're my son."
"Is that it?" He turned back to me, his voice flat—almost sarcastic. And yet he looked almost broken as he said that, "Is that the only reason?" He asked again.
I could only manage a nod. That was after all, my reason for asking.
"And again," he turned fully away from me now, "I don't have to answer that." Before I could say another word he ran. Yanking open the door to the Greenhouse and running down the road out of site.
Wh-what…?
'Why did he run?'
"Max!" I jumped and whirled around when I heard that girl, Jovi's, voice. She sounded excited, but worried at the same time. She appeared in the doorway and took one glance at the open door before saying, "H-He ran?" her gaze turned back to me but it wasn't gentle. She was glaring at me, "What did you say?!"
"Jovi calm down," Michael, her brother, was there now, his hand placed on her shoulder. And yet he seemed to understand, "It's better to ask him isn't it? Because," his eyes met mine, "you have no idea what you said wrong right?"
I nodded my head and his eyes left mine, "See? He doesn't know. So you'd better go after him."
They were talking like this always happened. Did it always happen?
"O-okay but I…don't know…if I should—" she started, but again Michael cut her off, "Don't worry. He needs to know anyway or else who knows how he'll react when he shows up?"
Jovi looked down at her feet, "I…yeah you're right. Okay," with one last glance at me she darted out past me, out the door, and out onto the dirt road after Max's retreating form.
After she disappeared from view Michael spoke, "Can you tell me what you said?" He bent down to scratch his Jolteon's ears. I hadn't even realized he left it in here.
But I needed to answer—something was compelling me to. After all this could very well give me more information on what Max had been up to over the past year and a half. I took a deep breath, "I asked him if he had…ever seen anyone die before."
"Well that definitely wasn't smart." I looked up and there, standing in the doorway, was Vivi with her hands crossed in front of her chest, "No wonder he ran."
"Yeah," Michael said, shaking his head from side to side, "Not exactly the best thing to ask your son. But," he stopped petting Jolteon and straightened up, "at least you care about that sort of thing."
"Why wouldn't I care?" I ask before I can stop myself, "And why wasn't that such a good question to ask? I'm his father, I--"
"You really don't know do you?" Vivi countered, walking over to Michael. That's when I noticed-she had a PDA in her hand, "Obviously Max didn't tell you for a reason so I think you should just leave it at that."
"But why should I just leave it at that?!" Now I was getting angry again. Even if it was rude on my part--or if they thought it was rude, was there really such a good reason as to why I shouldn't know?
"Y'know, sometimes it's better if you don't know the answer to everything." The look on Michael's face when he said that was solemn, almost scary even. His bright green eyes seemed dull, "Ignorance is Bliss…Knowledge is Power…if the two mix that isn't good. So yeah, I just," he stopped for a moment as if he realized what he had just said, "just don't ask."
But I still couldn't keep the question from my mind--but why?
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A/N: And that's the end of Chapter Four. And again, sorry it took so long to get this one out. I had basically everything up to when Norman asked Max if he had ever seen anyone die before--and I just didn't know how to continue on from there. Thankfully though since I couldn't get on the computer yesterday I got half of the next chapter already typed up! And as always if you have something to say--send a review! I love 'em to death. Though if they're flames make sure you've actually read the chapter first before sending them because pointless flames will be ignored.
-Harmony283