Hey people. The long awaited "date" chapter is here. It took me forever to write this, but I am super happy to give it to you now. I hope you enjoy it!
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"Why in the hell did I think this was a good idea?" Red asked himself aloud. He was staring at himself in the mirror, and he felt like every nerve in his body was being stimulated by a painfully dull ache. He wore a burgundy button up shirt and black pants with a tie that correlated nicely. It had been a while since he'd had to dress up for anything, and he'd had to go out and buy the clothes for what seemed like a very unfair price. Leaf had explained that things are always a bit more expensive in the big cities, but Red didn't see why he should ever have to pay 100,000 poké for an outfit.
Leaf had gone over to Lyra and Silver's apartment to prepare for their date, and Red was to meet her at Restaurant Le Wow on Hibernal Avenue in half an hour. He hadn't even left yet and he already felt like he was off his game. Leaf was a bombshell of a girl, and no matter how long he'd known her, he knew he was going to feel uncomfortable taking her out on a date. He was sure that people would see them and wonder what on earth such a beautiful woman was doing with a guy like him. When they spent time together casually, he didn't worry about it as much. But Red was sure that being dressed up would majorly highlight the fact that Leaf was way out of his league when it came to their physical attributes.
But he'd promised her. He'd promised her that he was going to show her how she deserved to be treated, and he was going to keep that promise even if it killed him. No matter what, this date was going to happen and he was going to treat Leaf like the special person she was.
Red glanced at his Pokégear. It was about time for him to get going. Leaf had given him directions to the restaurant, but he wanted a little extra time in case he might take a wrong turn. Or three. Taking a deep breath, he made his way out the door and out of the building, heading straight forward into the date that was making him so anxious. He wondered what she would look like tonight. She'd approved of his outfit when he'd sent a picture to her earlier, but he had a feeling that she was going to out-dress him. Would she be nervous like him? Or would she be her cool-headed self who liked to embarrass him so much? Only time would tell.
Upon arriving at the restaurant, Red was relieved to see that Leaf hadn't yet made it there. This would give him a few moments to adjust to the fancy surroundings and cool his head before greeting her. The host led Red to their table, since Leaf had made reservations earlier that day, and Red was comforted to see that he was not wearing a tuxedo. It seemed that Leaf had chosen a place that was fancy, but not at the aristocratic level. Maybe he would be able to make it through this after all.
"Can I bring you a bottle of wine for your table?" a waiter asked as Red took his seat.
"Uh, sure," Red said absently.
"What kind would you like?"
Red slightly panicked. He didn't know much about wine culture, and he felt as though this were a pop quiz which would reveal to the waiter his social status instantly. However, the waiter just gave him a knowing smile.
"I will select something nice for you. Just tell me if you'd like a red wine or white wine?"
"Red, please." He couldn't go wrong with his lucky color. The waiter nodded and walked away swiftly. Red breathed a sigh of relief, closing his eyes momentarily.
"That was the most merciful man I have ever met," he breathed.
"Who was?"
Red's eyes flew open at the sound of Leaf's voice. How had she managed to sneak up on him like that? He lost his train of thought as he took in the sight of her. Leaf was wearing a black sleeveless crew neck dress. While it didn't show any cleavage, it was tight enough across her chest to accentuate her curves. She hadn't styled her hair any differently, but he could tell that she had taken extra care to ensure that every hair was in place and that it shined brilliantly, along with putting on some heavier makeup than usual that gave her a very sexy appearance. The thing that had Red sweating though were her shoes. Leaf was wearing a pair of black high heels that just screamed with sensuality. It was amazing what a pair of heels could do to a girl. Her legs appeared long and slender, while the effect it had on her already ample backside was practically dizzying. Red hoped that bottle of wine would arrive soon.
"You look fantastic!" Red said, jumping out of his chair in order to pull hers out. Leaf blushed mildly and smiled at him.
"You don't look too shabby yourself," she responded as she sat down and let him push her up to the table. She adjusted the hem of her dress as he retook his seat, and then they stared at each other awkwardly for a few moments.
Luckily, the waiter returned with their menus and a bottle just then.
"Here you are, Sir," he addressed Red, " You made a fine choice." He sent a sly wink to Red before setting two glasses on the table and pouring the wine into them. Red thanked him and told him it would be a few more minutes before they'd be ready to order their food. As Red began to study the menu, Leaf brought her glass of wine to her lips.
"Red, you picked this?" she asked in surprise.
"Sure did," he answered coolly.
"This is one of my favorites," Leaf said happily, taking another sip. Red made a mental note to leave a generous tip for their waiter. Not only was he merciful, but he might be some kind of deity.
"Glad you like it," Red said, taking a sip of the wine for himself. He didn't see what was so special about it, but if it made her happy then that was good enough for him.
"Are you ready to order?" Leaf asked him.
"I think so, but what about you? You haven't even touched your menu."
"Oh, I've been here on dates quite a few times," she answered with a wink, "I'm just going to order my usual."
"You have a usual? That's more than a few dates!" Red exclaimed, causing Leaf to giggle.
When the waiter returned, they ordered their meals. As if to prove her point, Leaf literally told the waiter that she would have her "usual," and he quickly scribbled something on his notepad to Red's surprise. He felt slightly embarrassed. No wonder this guy had known what kind of wine to bring them! And he was probably just seeing Red as another man in Leaf's long line of temporary boyfriends. She probably brought in so many customers that she was one of their favorite people to wait on!
Leaf was sitting across the table staring at him with an ornery look on her face. She knew he hadn't picked out that wine. Was this whole thing a joke to her? Here he was trying to give her a night of fun and relaxation and she was just treating it like any other opportunity she had to poke fun at him. Well, if she thought he was going to put up with this much longer, she was sadly mistaken.
"I don't know what you're trying to pull," he said as calmly as possible, "but I really do intend to make this a night you'll enjoy. Not because you're going to enjoy teasing me, but because I'm going to treat you like a lady instead of a piece of meat. And judging by the things you've told me, you're not used to that. If you're going to throw that in my face and use my kindness to embarrass me, we can go home right now."
There was a flash of emotion in Leaf's eyes. He could tell that he had taken her by surprise. It was rare to see her let her guard down, and he felt somewhat victorious at her reaction. She let out a small sigh and stared down into her wine.
"Okay, Red. I can see that you're serious. I promise that from this point on I'll try to treat this like a real date."
"Thank you," he said simply, "Let's start over then. Pretend like you haven't known me for years."
With that, they began making small talk as they waited for their food to arrive.
"So do you just help Professor Sycamore with his mega evolution research?" Red asked.
"No. I have my own independent research project as well," Leaf told him.
"Really?"
"Yes. I'm researching pokémon psychology."
"Pokémon psychology... so, how they think and stuff?"
"Pretty much. How they think, feel, and the connection to their behavior as a result of those two things... My goal is to help trainers and pokémon communicate better. I've always thought, 'how arrogant of humans to think that they understand one another.' That's why I study pokémon. They're complex, like us humans, but at least with them, almost everything makes sense. When it comes to human psychology, I just think people are wasting their time."
"Why's that?"
"Because you can't analyze people. You just can't."
"Sounds like speciesism to me," Red teased.
"Oh shut up," Leaf shot back with a smile.
"In all seriousness, though, I think you're wrong. I think pokémon are just as capable of that complex psychology as humans are. If they can be shaped by the events in their lives just as humans are, then why not?"
"Hmm..." Leaf mused. Red could practically see the wheels turning in her head. There was no doubt in his mind that Leaf loved pokémon, and that she always took their feelings and their ability to suffer into consideration. She treated them like family, so why would she feel that their mental capacity was lesser than that of humans? Their food arrived just then, leaving her with the chance to think about what Red had said.
As they ate, the two of them spoke more about what had been happening in their lives over the years. Red was recounting a battle he'd had against a challenger who almost beat him, and he could see the sparkle in Leaf's eyes as he told the story.
"Wow, Red! Listening to you talk about that battle makes me believe that you really do still have a fire burning inside you!" she said happily.
Red could feel himself blushing. She had complimented him on the very thing she'd been insulting him about for days. Was she right? Did he still have a fire for battling burning deep within him? And if he did, how was he going to find it?
When their meal was finished, Red picked up the tab and pulled Leaf's chair out for her.
"Well, aren't you quite the gentleman!" Leaf teased flirtatiously as he helped her up.
"This chair reminds me of a puzzle," Red joked, pretending to tip his non-existent top hat.
"Oh, shut up!" Leaf said, rolling her eyes at his reference but still smiling all the same, "So where is the champion going to take me on our big date?"
"Well, let's just say there was a reason why I told the waiter we didn't want to order dessert," Red smiled.
"Ooh! What are we going to get?" Leaf asked happily.
"Just the best crème brulèe you've ever tasted!"
"Hmm... crème brulée is pretty common in this city. We'll have to see just how well you did your homework," Leaf responded with a wink.
"I always aim to impress," Red said confidently, walking her out of the restaurant and heading towards the southern boulevard.
"I like the direction you're taking so far," Leaf said with a smile. Red inwardly let out a sigh of relief. He'd researched desserts in Lumiose City all morning. He'd even asked some people on the streets what their favorite local dessert was. While there were a few outliers, most of them had enthusiastically talked about one specific café.
"Well, here we are!" Red said as they reached his chosen café.
"You got it right!" Leaf cheered, "I'm so proud of you!"
"I'm kinda proud of myself too," Red admitted, "Well? Shall we?"
"We shall." With that, the two of them entered the café, where they would both enjoy the best dessert they'd ever tasted.
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"That was delicious!" Leaf sighed as Red led her out of the restaurant. This date might be nothing but a bunch of make-believe, but at least she'd gotten an excellent meal and some great dessert out of it. And what was better was the fact that she knew she wouldn't have to "compensate" for Red's trouble later on in the evening. She hadn't felt so relaxed on a date in forever. It was almost sad that this wasn't a true date.
"If you think I'm doing well so far, wait 'til you see what I have planned next!" Red boasted. Leaf chuckled to herself. It made her happy to see Red feeling so confident in himself.
"Why? What do you have planned?" Leaf asked with genuine interest.
"I'm going to show you something that I guarantee no man has ever shown you before!"
"I've seen plenty of dicks in my lifetime, Red."
"Leaf! What happened to taking this seriously?!"
"Sorry, sorry!" Leaf apologized while laughing at Red's embarrassment.
"Anyway, I'm going to take you to the top of Lumiose Tower!"
"Red, they don't let the public go up there."
"But we're not the public," Red said slyly, "Don't forget, you're in the presence of a champion."
"Pulled a few strings, did you?"
"You better believe it!"
"I'll admit that's pretty cool," Leaf conceded. Her heart was secretly fluttering with excitement. The top of Lumiose Tower! And at night time nonetheless! The whole city would be illuminated by thousands of lights, and they would be able to see almost all of them at once!
As the tower came into view, Leaf admired its beautiful structure and lighting. Clement really took good care of the place, not to mention the electricity of the whole city.
"So did you talk the gym leader into letting us do this?" Leaf asked. She was slightly curious. If Red had really lost a gym battle to him, then he surely wouldn't have played the champion card to get this opportunity. It was too risky.
"No, I talked to his little sister, actually," Red smiled, "She was more than happy to go talk her big brother into letting a champion ride to the top of the tower."
"Really?"
"I... may have bribed her with some candy too."
"Ooh, tricksy you are!" Leaf laughed, elbowing him teasingly.
"Hey, I'm not above bribing kids with candy."
"Be careful who you say that to. Stranger danger."
"I'm not a pedophile!"
Leaf giggled heartily. Red really was fun to tease. It made her laugh every time he got all flustered. The way his eyes got wide and the tips of his ears turned pink... it was just so adorable!
"This is where we ride up," Red said, leading her over to an elevator door. He pulled a key card out of his pocket and slide it through the scanner. The doors opened and they both walked inside.
"Gosh, this elevator's kinda creepy," Red observed as it began its ascent to the top of the tower. Leaf couldn't help but agree. It was very dark inside, the only light shining through a few small openings at the top. She could still see Red's face, but everything was bathed in dusky gray shadows.
"Hey Red... Oooohoooohh!"
"Stop making ghost sounds!"
"Why? Does it scare you?"
"No!"
"It totally does!"
"Stop teasing me, Leaf!" Just then, the elevator came to a stop.
"Oh look, we're at the top!" Leaf said cheerily, walking out of the open elevator.
"Wait, Leaf!" Red yelled. What was his problem? As her foot met air, Leaf realized what his problem was.
"Red!" she shrieked hysterically, looking down at the solid concrete street beneath her. A fall from this height would surely end her.
"I've got you!" Red shouted, grabbing tightly on to her waist. Leaf gasped as she was suddenly pulled backwards, falling over on top of Red.
"Oww... "he muttered, "You're heavier than you look."
"I beg your pardon?" Leaf asked crossly.
"Hey, I just saved your life you know! You're welcome by the way!"
"I know, I know... Thank you, Red."
"Do you always have to be so reckless? I was going to warn you that the elevator stops halfway up because there used to be a platform there when they were building the tower, but you just had to go flying out the door before I could tell you!"
"You could have told me a little sooner!" Leaf objected.
"You're right..." Red admitted, "You just scared me, that's all."
"Aww. That's sweet," Leaf gushed.
"You did scare me! I care about you, okay?"
Leaf felt herself blush a little. He did care about her. And she felt a little awkward about it in all honesty. She wasn't used to being cared for very much at all aside from Silver's brotherly love. And he had always made it clear that her problems were her own. Of course, to him Leaf's problems were just that she liked to drink herself silly and get into bed with guys a little too easily. And she supposed that on the surface, that's how she looked to everyone else. Everyone except Red, because he knew her pain now.
"Come on," Red said, rising to his feet, "We still have the top of the tower to experience." He took her hand and pulled her up, catching her in his arms as she balanced herself.
"Okay, Red. To the top of the tower it is!" she said happily. Even though she'd practically fallen out of the elevator, she was still really excited to ride it to the top! As they continued making their ascent, Leaf smiled to herself. Being with Red was really fun. He made her feel like everything was under control. And yet, she was still feeling the excitement that she'd always gotten out of her wild and careless dates.
"Here we are!" Red announced as the elevator stopped once again. Leaf held her breath as the doors slid open and they walked out onto the top platform of the tower. The sight that greeted her was absolutely breathtaking.
"Oh, Red, it's beautiful!" Leaf said in awe, "I've seen the city lights from above while riding Altaria, but this is so much better!" It was true. When viewing the city from above, you couldn't see the lights from quite the same angle. And having the lights of the tower illuminating the space all around them intensified the beauty all around them.
"It really is," Red agreed, "It's almost like being in a dream."
"A really good dream," Leaf confirmed. She turned to look at him, but he was staring out at the city. His eyes reflected the thousands of lights around them, and Leaf didn't know which was more gorgeous: the lights or his glossy red orbs.
"I want to see the other direction," he said, "We can walk around the platform to the other side of the tower. I don't want you to almost fall again, so... even though I know it's weird, can we hold hands?"
Leaf giggled lightly. Red was so adorable.
"Sure," she answered, slipping her hand into his own. She could see a faint blush on his cheeks, but it just made her smile even more. She could feel her body touching his as they walked along the edge of the platform together, and for some reason it made her feel happy. It was nice not being alone for once. Even when she went out with other guys, she felt lonely on the inside.
"This side of the city is even prettier than the other side," she told him as they gazed upon it together. He nodded in agreement, taking in the sight before him. "Thank you for bringing me up here, Red."
"I knew you would love it," he said with a smile.
"I could stand up here forever," she said dreamily.
"Well, I told them we wouldn't be up here longer than half an hour, so drink it in while you can."
"Oh, I intend to," Leaf assured him. She'd take in this moment and enjoy it so that she'd remember it forever. And looking over at Red, she had the feeling that this wasn't the only thing she should be savoring. He, too, was something that she could only enjoy while it lasted.
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"There's one more place I'd like to go tonight," Leaf said as she and Red walked down the North streets of Lumiose City side by side. The lights seemed so much less majestic from down here, but as they passed by them there was no doubt in Red's mind that this city was deadly romantic. He had to admit he was having a lot of fun with her. It almost felt like she really was his girlfriend. Maybe when he went back home to Pallet in a few days, he'd have to see about trying to find himself a real date. Spending so much time with Leaf was making him yearn for the company that could only be found in a relationship.
"Sure, Leaf. Where would you like to go?" he asked warmly. He noticed that she had begun to play with her hair, and he felt a twinge of unease at her obvious nervousness.
"I'd like to go to the city art museum. I haven't gotten to see this month's exhibit and they'll be taking it down soon..."
"I dunno, Leaf... I'm not very into paintings..."
"Oh, you'll like the museum paintings, Red! Some of them even have naked women in them," she joked.
"Meh, those are just pictures," Red responded with a smirk, causing Leaf to shove him playfully. "Okay. If you want to go to the museum, we'll go to the museum."
"Oh, thank you so much!" Leaf said happily. She was so excited that she grabbed him and gave him a hug. It all happened so fast that Red could scarcely process it. Luckily, he only remained stiff for a moment before he awkwardly wrapped his arms around her as well.
"No problem," he said as she pulled away. Leaf then proceeded to lead the way to the museum, Red following a step or two behind her. He felt slightly embarrassed. Had she detected his reluctance to hug her? Probably. It was normal, after all. They were just friends, so of course hugging between them was weird. Perhaps she was even just messing with him again as she had earlier in the evening, and if he hadn't hesitated it would have surprised her. Yet, he somehow felt warmed by her gesture. She was so soft to hold, and her hair had a nice scent to it. He almost wouldn't mind experiencing it again if only to hug her back genuinely. But he would likely never have that opportunity again.
The museum was soon within their sight, and Red took in the view of the building. It was large, but not particularly grand. It had an air of sophistication, but also a rustic simplicity.
As soon as they entered and paid their way into the exhibit, they were greeted by a man in a tuxedo.
"Ah, Miss Green!" he said happily, "I was wondering when you'd be stopping in for another visit!" He kissed both of her cheeks in greeting, and Red silently prayed that he wouldn't do the same to him. "And who is this fine gentleman that you've brought with you, tonight?"
"This is Red, my date for tonight," Leaf answered, "This is Stuart, the owner of the museum," Leaf said to Red.
"Nice to meet you, Stu," Red said politely, shaking the man's hand before he could kiss his cheek or something. He couldn't help but feel that this man was a bit odd, and he wanted to fast forward through the introductions and return to his night with Leaf as quickly as possible.
"Please do not call me that, Sir," Stuart said politely, "You see, if you call me Stu, you take the 'art' out of my name."
Red stared back at him blankly. Was this guy for real?
"Come along now," Leaf said quietly, steering him away from the man, "We wouldn't want to say something insulting... Good to see you, Stuart!" she called behind her as they hastily walked away. Once they were out of earshot, Red turned to her and chuckled slightly.
"That guy is nuttier than a Seedot!"
"I know, I know! Just shush and look at some paintings with me," Leaf said dismissively. Red rolled his eyes and followed her over to a large portrait featuring several shades of red.
"What is it?" Red asked as he took it in.
"It's an abstract," Leaf explained, "It's meant to be interpreted and discussed by the viewers."
"I've always wondered what makes one abstract valuable and another not," Red commented.
"I have no idea, Leaf admitted. Let's move on." They walked over to the next painting.
"Well, at least I can tell what this one is," Red stated, "I'm drawing a blank as to why it would be considered significant though. They were staring at a picture of a living room. There were no people present in the scene, but what did catch the eye was the lamp. The artist had painted the picture with the lamp lying broken on the floor.
"Maybe we're supposed to imagine what led to the breaking of the lamp," Leaf guessed, "Maybe it was knocked over by some children, and now they're hiding from their mother before she finds out what happened and unleashes her wrath."
"Or, maybe there were two lovers making out so hard that the lamp just fell over," Red offered.
"You mean they bumped into it?"
"No. They were making out and then... it just fell over." Leaf stared at him blankly. "It was just a thought," he said sheepishly.
Red and Leaf continued moving from painting to painting. They all seemed strange or unexciting to Red, but he found that he was enjoying himself regardless. Watching Leaf's eyes light up at the paintings she found intriguing made him happy. There was something about her when she was excited. Something about the way words came rushing out of her mouth like a bubbling river nonstop. When she had been nagging and teasing him the past few days, he'd only wished for her voice to stop. But now, he hoped the sound would go on forever.
Red had briefly excused himself to use the restroom, and as he went to wash his hands, he glanced at himself in the mirror above the sink. He was startled by his own face. For some reason he seemed to look different. His eyes were the piercing red color that they had been when he was a child. And his skin seemed to have a more vibrant hue to its usual paleness. He could hardly believe it was him. For the first time in years, he was looking at a version of himself that didn't look tired and defeated. He liked what he saw.
As he went to rejoin Leaf, he caught her staring at a painting. Her head was tilted up slightly, and she seemed to be illuminated by the lighting perfectly. The only thing he could look at was her. Leaf, in all of her vibrancy and all of her brutality... standing there like a painting far more beautiful than anything else he'd ever find in this museum. Leaf was all he had ever seen and all that he had yet to see. And his eyes couldn't look away.
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"Ugh! These shoes are killing me!" Leaf complained as they rode up the elevator to her apartment. She shamelessly started taking them off and frowned down at a blister on the side of her toe. That would hurt for a while.
"Yesterday I would have asked why women want to wear such painful shoes, but seeing them on you tonight answered any and all questions," Red joked. Leaf shot him a dirty look, but she was inwardly surprised. Red had been slightly flirtatious before, but this shot had been a little more direct. She could even feel herself blushing a little.
The whole walk home, Red had been rather quiet. They'd made small talk in the cool night air, but his responses were short and he seemed awfully distracted. Maybe going to the museum had been a bad decision. She knew he'd hate it, so why had she asked to go there? It had probably bored him out of his mind.
His comment about her shoes had her curious though. Why would he compliment her on her appearance? And with a slightly sexual connotation?
Entering the apartment, Leaf suddenly felt like there was awkward silence between them. Red kicked his own shoes off and then turned to face her.
"Listen-" they both said at the same time, causing each other to pause. They stared into each other's eyes apologetically.
"You first," Red insisted politely. Leaf nodded in thanks.
"I know that I behaved childishly when we met for dinner earlier, and... I'm sorry for that," she said, looking down, "I know this wasn't a real date, but... I still had a really nice time. Thanks, Red." She looked up at him and gave him a smile, causing him to smile back as well.
"You're welcome, Leaf. Like I said... I wanted to show you how you deserve to be treated. So if any guy gives you less than what you deserve... just don't stand for it anymore in the future, okay?"
"Okay," Leaf nodded, smiling again. With that, Red began to gather his night clothes to change into.
"Red?"
"Yeah?"
"What were you going to say a moment ago?" she asked curiously.
"Oh... I was just going to tell you that I had a really nice time too. You're a lot of fun, and... I hope you got something out of our pretend date."
"I did. Thank you." Leaf turned towards her bedroom so that she could change. She didn't know why, but she felt slightly disappointed. For some reason, she felt like Red had been about to say something else, but he'd decided to abandon it at the last second.
"It doesn't matter," she whispered to herself as she removed her earrings, "It's not like I'll ever see him again after this week anyway. Or at least, not for a long time." The thought saddened her. Even though he'd only been with her five days, she was beginning to like having Red around. He may not be the strong, passionate trainer he was when they were kids, but he was something else now. He was thoughtful, and intelligent. More than that he was just downright kind. And something about that kindness made her want to smile. It made her want to believe that she could still find happiness in life. If Red truly thought she was worth something, then maybe he was right.
And maybe, just maybe... Red was someone she shouldn't let slip through her fingers. But it was inevitable. He had his duties as champion. Pallet Town was the last place Leaf wanted to go back to. And besides that he obviously had no romantic interest in her anyways. If there was one person who she could never fall in love with, it was Red Ketchum, and that was that.
"Oh Red..." she whispered, "You've given me a night of a thousand smiles, but the lifetime of smiles... it will have to come from somewhere, or someone, else."
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There it is. I hope it met you guys' expectations. I feel like there are parts of it that turned out really good, but a couple of slumps here and there. I'd especially appreciate feedback for this chapter because of that.
As usual, thank you to all of my readers! You guys are the best!
