He ran his hands through his hair, gripping at his scalp so that his nails left scratch marks on the soft skin under his hair. There was a light shuffling from the bed beside him. Chespie had rolled over beside Manon, the small Pokémon chirred softly in his sleep. Manon muttered something softly under her breath to her Pokémon, but her eyes were closed and her breathing was slow enough that Alain could tell she wasn't awake. It was well past 2am.

Every tiny sound sent his heart thumping in his chest, even just the wind brushing against the walls of the Pokémon Center, or the quiet murmur of wild Pokémon outside. Sweat dripped down his arms, yet his bones shivered with an ice-cold chill. His eyes darted back to Manon. She looked so peaceful, limbs thrown across her sheets wildly, as always. He couldn't help but be a bit jealous that she was asleep and he was not.

That's my own fault though …

He looked back to the small table beside his bed, and to the tiny container of pills staring back at him. He was meant to take them to help him sleep. He was meant to, but he didn't. Manon had the same pills, and she took them every night. They had been prescribed to the two trainers after the disaster with Team Flare was resolved. Both Alain and Manon had been left feeling anxious and uneasy. Sycamore had quickly noticed the bags forming under both their eyes and had brought them to a doctor, who had in turn given them each a small container of sleeping pills. Manon of course was given a lower dose.

Looking at the sleeping girl now, Alain knew that they were helping her. Still, he hadn't taken his. He didn't want to rely on them. He was meant to be the strong one, wasn't he? Getting more and more frustrated, the older teen growled and shoved his pillow from his bed. It fell to the floor with a light thud. The noise was enough to get Chespie to stir, and Manon woke up soon after, rubbing her bleary eyes.

"Alain, what are you doing awake? Haven't you slept?" She said as she stretched and yawned. When she didn't receive an answer, she slipped out of bed and climbed up onto Alain's, sitting in front of him. "Alain, you need to take the sleeping pills. They'll help you. That's what they're for."

Alain shook his head, not wanting to listen to the girl in front of him. "I don't need them. It's fine."

"It's not fine!" Manon barked back, disapproval coating her voice. She leaned forward on her arms, her nose almost touching his. "Alain, why aren't you taking them? I am, and I've been sleeping a lot better."

"But I'm supposed to be the strong one!"

The words came out louder than Alain had intended. He regretted them the moment he saw Manon seize up in front of him. She was still recovering from everything, still easily frightened. He reached out to reassure her, but she took his hand before he could, clasping it in hers.

"You don't have to be the strong one all the time, Alain. Sometimes it's okay to have a weakness."

"But how will I protect you, and everyone else, if I can't even sleep without pills to help me?" Alain asked, his blue eyes were dark and glued to the sheets of the bed. He squeezed Manon's fingers with his own, shivering. "I just want to be able to keep you safe."

Instead of the scolding he expected, Manon chuckled softly in response. When he looked up at her there was a warmth in her hazel eyes that he hadn't seen for a long time.

"Alain, I don't need you to always be protecting me. You've already done more than enough. But honestly, how are you going to be at your best if you're running on no sleep? Just take the damn pills and get some rest." That said, Manon crawled under the covers beside him and curled up against his side, eyes sliding shut as her hand rested on his chest. "If you want me to be happy, then you'd better start taking care of yourself …" she murmured, voice already fading.

Alain shrugged helplessly, looking back to the pills on the table. He reached for them cautiously, as if they would bite him. With the cap unscrewed, he let one drop into his palm. It was small, hardly the size of his fingernail. With a deep breath, he swallowed the medicine and relaxed onto the bed, wrapping his own arm over Manon's as he waited for his mind to quiet down. It didn't take long for sleep to take him.