Episode Ten: Stirring Feelings I Didn't Know I Had

"Hello, Morty."

"Eusine…"

The caped man stood up and strode toward the trio, somehow startling the two younger trainers, though they weren't quite sure why. Falkner glanced up at Morty, who was noticeably taken aback and had suddenly lost his usual air of confidence and mystery. What Falkner saw now was a boy who was finally showing his youth, in a mix of emotions of anger, shock, and sadness, though these were only very faintly seen on the older teen's face. At the time, Falkner didn't realize that this was something that most people couldn't read as easily as he could by looking at Morty.

There was a long silence as the two elder men stared at each other, while Whitney and Falkner just stared back and forth in confusion. Eventually, Morty broke the silence.

"So…what business do you have here? I thought you were still on your yearlong pilgrimage."

"Is it true?" Eusine snapped, grabbing Morty by the collar and scarf. Falkner jumped upon seeing Morty's apprehension, but Whitney signaled for him to stay quiet. Falkner forced himself to relax, and then wondered why he had become so angry from such a simple gesture. "Did the three legendary beasts appear before you last night?"

"Uh…yeah?" Morty said; his arms raised in a gesture of 'I have no idea why you're angry'.

Lightly shoving Morty in anger, Eusine sighed furiously and paced the room.

"Do you have ANY idea how long I've been searching for Suicune?" the man exclaimed as his audience of three watched him wander around the room ranting. Falkner and Whitney looked at the man confusedly, while Morty just sighed tiredly and shook his head as if he saw this happen on a regular basis.

"For over fifteen years!" Eusine yelled, answering his own question. "For almost my entire life, I have searched for that majestic Pokémon! And now you have the nerve to encounter not just Suicune, but all three legendary Pokémon? At the same time? How dare you steal my calling!"

"And how is that our fault?" Falkner muttered under his breath. "It's not our damn problem that you're a loser."

Eusine's head whipped around to face the cobalt-colored teen, having heard the murmured comment.

"What did you say?" Eusine said, glaring at Falkner. "I have spent my entire life searching for my dream. I am one of the most revered scholars on legendary Pokémon, and the only man to receive the title Mystery Man.* And you dare talk back to me?"

"Well then, you'd THINK that by now you would've actually DONE something noteworthy in your life by now!" Falkner yelled in the man's face. "It's not MY fault that you suck so much!" He did not like Eusine one bit. He was a pompous, conceited asshole. But even more than that, there was something else that irked Falkner. Something that Falkner couldn't quite describe. It had to do with Eusine and Morty, but Falkner couldn't quite put his finger on why he was so riled. But that was a mystery for another time.

Eusine took a step back, shocked at what Falkner had said. Morty and Whitney looked at Falkner with wide eyes, while Falkner glared defiantly at his attacker.

"I don't know who the hell you are, or who the hell you think you are, but you are NOT coming into Morty's house, yelling at him and us, and acting like you own the whole damn place!" Falkner was surprised at his own rage. Feelings long felt in his heart had been set to boiling upon Eusine's arrival, and had come spilling out.

"Oho…" Eusine chuckled in an obviously fake tone after gathering himself after the sudden verbal attack. "So you are the one who went to the Burned Tower and saw the beasts with Morty…" Falkner just continued glaring daggers at the man, which was taken accurately as a yes.

"Well aren't you something" Eusine continued. "But then again, it's not like you were tested by Suicune or anything. It was just Entei. You're still nothing compared to me." Eusine stood above the boy pompously, feeling that he had won the argument. With a smirk, he turned away and prepared to leave.

"Morty, I have to say I think that if you've chosen that boy, you've seriously lost your sense of taste." With that, Eusine disappeared down a hall. Neither Whitney nor Falkner understood what Eusine had meant. They turned to Morty, who's normal appearance of calm was only very slightly marred with anger. But the older boy said nothing about the subject, leaving the three remaining people to exit the room, the entire happy mood of the evening gone.

Who the fuck did that Eusine think he was? Falkner thought to himself in frustration. He was laying in his futon, unable to go to sleep due to his anger. What the hell made Eusine so special? That guy irritated Falkner more than any other person he had ever met. The Violet gym leader tossed and turned in the dark, muttering angry curses about Eusine to himself.

Eusine had decided that he was going to spend the night at Morty's mansion. And, due to his holier-than-thou nature and stick up his ass, the man had gotten his own wing to reside in that night. To make matters worse, Morty was nowhere to be found, his futon undisturbed. For some reason, this upset Falkner. He didn't know why. When had he grown accustomed to sleeping next to his sempai? Last he remembered, he was disgusted to live in even the same town as Morty. And that had been just a few days ago. Yet it seemed so long ago…

Sitting up and jumping to his feet, Falkner decided to go for a walk, seeing as it was unlikely that he'd be able to sleep. Grabbing his customary gi and outfit, he soundlessly flung it over his body and slipped out the door.

"For the millionth time, we're not dating, Eusine."

Morty sat in a recliner in Eusine's giant room, made especially for him, as years ago it was commonplace for Eusine to spend a great deal of time in the mansion. The room was furnished with rugs, chairs, and bookcases full of the topics of Eusine's studies. It was like stepping into another world when comparing the room to the rest of the mansion. Lit by candlelight, it had an air of antiquity like the rest of the building, but from a very different world.

"Well alright," Eusine laughed bitterly. "But he sure was touchy when it came to the topic of you."

"He's a moody guy. Besides, you tend to rub people the wrong way when you first meet them. First impressions really aren't your strong suit."

"Really?" Eusine swiveled around in his chair and wheeled it over toward Morty. "If I remember correctly, I had no problem charming you." His face appeared right in front of Morty's with a smug smile. Morty waved him away and looked in the other direction.

"That was a long time ago…"

"Was it? The memories are still strong in my mind. Don't tell me you've forgotten the time we-"

"Stop. This isn't what you came here for. I gave you all the information I got on Suicune and the other two legendary Pokémon as soon as you got here. What more do you want?"

"The truth. Are you in love with the boy?"

Morty was silent.

"So that's a yes."

"I never said-"

"You can't lie to me, Morty" Eusine said, taking a tone of superiority. "You were mine for over two years. I know all about you and how you work."

"I was just a kid then…"

"And now you're trying to replicate the situation you had then. You're taking the young boy you see yourself in, and trying to find happiness with him. Why don't you kiss him? I bet he'd like that. Why, it probably won't be long until you-"

"I don't need to hear this." Morty got up angrily. Seeing Eusine and talking to him had brought up all kinds of emotions and memories that he didn't want or need to remember. Why was he even doing this? To try and make Morty miserable?

Morty got up and went to the door, ignoring Eusine's request to stay in his condescending tone.

"I'm nothing like you. And I don't need you. So spend the night and then get the hell out of my house."

The mansion that Morty's family owned was large, taking up many acres of land. But even larger was the amount of property surrounding the mansion. The fields and forests that spanned miles beyond the house was also technically their property. It was there that Falkner found himself, traversing through the thin forestry dotting the plains. Bright moonlight shone on everything, giving the night a soft glow. It was beautiful. Eventually Falkner found a pond in a clearing of trees, with the calming moonlight shining off the surface, patterned with the occasional lilypad or cattail. On the edge of the pond Falkner saw some Politoed hopping, croaking messages to each other. Masquerian and Noctowl flew through the sky, occasionally calling out. Various other Pokémon were also present, and the whole scene was one of nature's nighttime beauty, available only for those willing to wait out the evening and trek out into the land relatively untouched by humans. The scene calmed Falkner, and he sat down on a rock on the water's edge to think.

What was the relationship between him and Morty? His midnight stroll had helped clear his mind of some of the Eusine-related anger, leaving Falkner to question his actions. He had been really defensive of Morty. As if he felt that he needed to protect the older boy. But not like lifesaving protection. There was something between Eusine and Morty, some relationship that Falkner couldn't quite work out, and Falkner was beginning to think that that relationship was why Eusine made him so angry. Was Falkner actually developing feelings for Morty? That seemed impossible, but lately he hadn't been able to shake the blonde from his mind. The boys had become closer during the duration of Falkner's visit, even though it had only been three days since Falkner arrived in Ecruteak. How can such little time create so much change?

But did he love Morty? Ugh, how could he be sure of that? It had only been three days. He hardly knew the guy. But…what else could he call the feelings? Falkner was so confused…

"Mind if I join you?"

Falkner turned to see Morty appearing out of the brush, as if called by Falkner's thoughts. The sudden appearance shocked the younger teen.

"S-Sure…but how did you know where I…"

"This is where I come sometimes to think," Morty said, answering before Falkner finished. "I had no idea you were here. It's a nice surprise though."

"G-Great minds…think alike…I guess" For some reason Falkner was having a hard time forming words.

"Yep" Morty chuckled.

The two boys sat in a silence for a long time. Falkner sat back-to-back with Morty on the rock, feeling really awkward after his silent soliloquy about Morty earlier. Falkner was dying to ask Morty about his connection to Eusine, but he was too nervous. Eventually he managed to bring the questions to his lips.

"What's between you and Eusine?"

"What?" Morty turned around to face the trainer.

"I mean…you guys just seem…"

"He's my ex." Morty said painfully.

"What?" Falkner wasn't sure whether to be surprised, relieved, or upset at the answer.

"He's my ex. I'm…I'm bisexual, Fal-chan." Morty finished the last bit sheepishly, nervously and unsure of how Falkner would take the news. It's not like Morty tried to hide his sexuality, but it's easy not to notice things like that with some people.

"…oh." Falkner said after a long pause. For some reason, this fact just made Falkner all the more nervous.

"Why do you ask?"

"Oh, um…no reason. You guys just seemed to have a…connection…or something. I…wasn't sure what it was."

"Oh."

"…so…you're not…together anymore?"

"What? No. Eusine and I were raised close together and had similar interests, so we've known each other since childhood. When I was fourteen he trained me…kinda like us now…"

"Kinda like us now…" Falkner repeated quietly.

"Eventually…he came onto me and…the first kiss was kinda forced, but I sort of liked him, so soon I…returned his affections."

"Oh."

"But we had all kinds of problems. Eusine's…not easy to get along with."

"You can say that again."

"He's…dedicated. And possessive. Of everything he wants or has. And eventually I had had enough. It was a…mutual breakup in the end…there were rumors that he had been seeing another person…"

"That asshole."

"Yeah, but...that was over a year ago. But he's still bitter."

"Really now. I never would've guessed."

The two boys chuckled awkwardly, then turned away from each other, blushing. Again they were silent, each lost in their own thoughts. Both boys were uncharacteristically uneasy, especially Morty.

"When…when you said 'kinda like now', did you mean…"

"T-That was nothing" Morty said quickly, turning again to face Falkner, who was still not facing him. "I…I mean, it's…not like I…well…"

"Oh."

"I mean…not that you're…not that you're not…attractive…and stuff…"

"What?" Falkner turned around in surprise to see Morty never like he had before. Here, in the moonlight, Morty sat pouring out his feelings to Falkner. The normally calm and suave teen was anxious, tense, and worried due to putting out his entire heart out for the other boy to view. Morty looked into Falkner's eyes with an indescribable look of fear, worry, and most of all, love. His golden locks were paled in the soft light, and his eyes glowed. He was beautiful to Falkner.

"So are you" Falkner whispered to himself, captivated by the boy sitting beside him, his height making Falkner look up at him. Maybe…maybe he did like Morty…just a bit. This vulnerable side was something Falkner had never seen. Had Falkner's feelings been stirred by Eusine's arrival, his anger a result of feelings unknown to him, the underlying emotions of love?

"What?"

Shit. Falkner didn't realize that he had said that out loud.

"Uh, it's just…I mean…" Falkner fumbled on his words, coherency refusing to come.

The boys turned toward each other, their hands brushing on the rock. Falkner jumped by the surprising touch, while Morty took a chance and grabbed Falkner's hand, holding it softly.

"Morty, what are you-"

But Falkner was cut off as Morty's face loomed in front of his. The blonde's lips met his, and all sound was muffled as their mouths connected. Falkner's eyes opened wide in shock, but he made no effort to move away. Morty's eyes were closed, his lashes tickling Falkner's face as Morty held Falkner's face in place with his hands. His tongue prodded the bird user's lips for entrance, which Falkner allowed, unable to think anymore, his mind completely gone. Morty's tongue dove into Falkner's mouth, exploring every inch of the cavity, savoring in the taste. Falkner tried to motion back with his tongue, but was unable to do much out of pure shock. Eventually Morty released Falkner, and both boys gasped for air.

In that single instant, their entire relationship had drastically changed. Morty had shown Falkner his true feelings, and they had kissed for the first time. They could never go back to the way things were before. The two boys looked at each other, both seeming surprised at what had just happened.

"I'm sorry." Morty said, starting to turn away from Falkner. He had forced himself onto Falkner and wasn't even sure if Falkner had feelings for him the level he had for the younger teen. He was an idiot. How could he do something like that when—

Morty's mental reprimanding stopped as he felt soft hands against his face. He turned to see Falkner grasping for him this time.

"Don't be" Falkner said, as he leaned in for another kiss.

*Eusine's title in HGSS. In the original G/S/C he was called Mysticalman.

End of Episode Ten: Stirring Feelings I Didn't Know I Had

A/N: They finally kiss! I'm so so so so so so so so *goes on saying "so" for an hour until smacked by Falkner* so sorry that it took ten entire chapters to get to this point. (I know many people on are just here to fap and go) Originally it was NOT supposed to take this long.

Also, sorry Morty's so OOC again. He seems so much more vulnerable alone with Falkner. I'm sorry. I didn't mean for this chapter to go this way with his OOCness, it just kinda did. I apologize.

Originally I wasn't going to put any Sacredshipping (Eusine/Morty) in Iridescent Wings, but again, it kinda just happened. I don't think it was bad that I did though.

I hate Eusine for some reason. I don't know why, he just seems so pompous and possessive. He irritates me. (Falkner-well, Falkner the way I write him-is similar to myself/my former self, so his reactions are often how the old me would react.

Whitney was right back in Chapter 7! :D

...I apologize for using an emoticon.

...I apologize for always apologizing.

So yeah. Please R&R to all chapters/anything you feel like! I love reading comments, advice, and even constructive criticism. I'm still learning as a writer.