Island Wolf: Gah I'm so sorry for not updating!!! T_T blame the hell hole that is highschool -sighs- can't wait for bloody university...
Disclaimer: Must we do this again? I own nothing!!! ^.^ except ze plot of course
May fiddled with the hem of her shirt as she quietly made her way to Maxie's room. The conversation that was to come very shortly would either prove to be extremely beneficial, or just plain embarrassing...or both. The young woman swallowed thickly as she came to a halt in front of the artificial wood door and reached for the bulbous metal handle. Doctor Strickland had assured her that he would try to take care of Steven's reaction which was a great relief to her. She hadn't been particularly keen on trying to tell the Hoenn Champion that she was going to be staying with the former master criminal...again.
Drawing a steady breath she steeled herself and tried to make her posture as confident as possible, which in truth really didn't seem that confident at all but it was better then trembling like a frightened lamb before the slaughter. She slipped into the room and quietly shut the door behind her as she turned to face the room's occupant who was already wide awake and sitting up, waiting for her.
"H-Hi," She stammered as she took her usual place in the chair next to his bedside, "How are you today?"
"A little better," He replied quietly. He fell silent for a moment, his dark brown eyes looking her up and down, silently observing her, "How about you?"
"Me? I – I'm fine," She replied with a weak smile, "Like I said before I'm not the one stuck in a hospital bed."
"Yes," He murmured, his thin lips twitching in s small frown, "Its not a particularly enviable position is it?"
"I take it you don't like being stuck here."
"No."
"Figured – you seemed the type." She sighed. He arched a slender eyebrow and for the briefest of moments she could've sworn she's seen a smirk on his face. An odd light entered his eyes, a vaguely familiar mischievousness she hadn't seen in a long time.
"Oh really? And what type do I seem to be Miss Maple?"
"Stubborn, egotistical, self-righteous, a little pigheaded."
"Glad you think so highly of me," He said with the barest hint of laughter, "I noticed you left out the cold-hearted bastard."
"You and I both no that's hardly an accurate description of you." She said sincerely. Maxie looked caught off guard by her response and abruptly turned away. Cursing herself May desperately tried to backpedal before she screwed things up further, "Erm, I was speaking to Dr. Strickland last night."
"And? Did he say when I could be released?"
"Two weeks – minimum."
The young woman was completely shocked by the stream of obscenities that came from Maxie and the snarl that appeared on his face. Instinctively she tried to back away, blue eyes wide and fearful at his violent reaction. Realizing that he had scared her Maxie silently cursed himself. He sighed and looked at her with a sheepish smile.
"I – I'm sorry Miss Maple, its just that the idea of being stuck in this place for two more weeks is – less then appealing."
"Its okay," She said with an apprehensive smile, "I knew you'd be displeased, I just failed to realize just how displeased."
"Again I apologize I just – I really do not like hospitals." He said tersely. May bit her lip and hesitated for a moment before drawing a shaky breath. Now was as good a time as any.
"M-Maxie I have an idea...I've been discussing some things with the Doctor and there is a way for you to be released sooner – you could be out of here in just two days actually."
"...Go on."
"Well if you were to have someone to keep you under close observation, to help you around and whatnot then Dr. Strickland would be perfectly comfortable releasing you early," She said quickly, "So we decided that if I were to go home with you and make sure you don't do anything stupid to hurt yourself, you could get out of here and not terrorize the good doctor's nursing staff."
"...Are you mad!?"
May cringed at the rage that laced the injured man's voice. Despite his obvious weaknesses at the moment Maxie was still perfectly capable of becoming the intimidating figure that had terrified her when she was twelve years old.
"I don't need your help or anyone's for that matter!" He growled, "If that damned doctor would only realize that I'm perfectly capable -"
"Maximilian Asher! You are most certainly not capable, you're injured and knowing you you'll do something stupid and make it worse!" May snapped, anger blazing in her cobalt blue eyes, "You just can't accept the fact that you actually need help! Why can't you get off your damn high horse just this once and quit being so damn stubborn!"
Maxie was clearly taken aback at May's sudden thunderous outburst – he hardly thought that level of anger was possible from the slip of a girl. He all but wilted under her furious azure gaze and fought to regain his composure and find his voice.
"Now see here Miss Maple -"
"No, for once you're going to just sit there, shut up and listen to me!" She snarled, rising from her seat and placing both hands on the edge of the bed, leaning ever closer to him as her anger mounted, "You need to stop being such an egotistical idiot and listen to some common sense! You don't want to be stuck in here – I'm offering you a way out, its either this or nothing!"
Maxie's dark brown eyes narrowed and it was his turn to look enraged as he sat up straighter and leaned for until their noses were nearly touching. May didn't draw back but he saw that flames of her anger falter against the weight of his own imposing glare.
"Contrary to you beliefs Miss Maple," He hissed, "I don't need your help, I'm not some wounded pokémon that needs your lo – that needs to be tended and cared for by you! Why are you so insistent on this matter!?"
"Because I have a debt to pay!" She snapped, drawing back with a long sigh. She looked at him with a positively mutinous expression, "Alright then how about a deal?"
"Beg pardon?"
"I'll go home with you as to put Dr. Strickland's mind at ease and if you can prove to me that you truly don't need my help then I'll leave and you can do whatever suits you."
"...You promise you'll leave?"
"Yes, but only if you can show me that you can do fine on your own," She said, folding her arms over her chest determinedly, "But if you can't then I'm staying and you can't say one thing about it."
"...So you're telling me its this or two weeks in this bloody prison?"
"Yes."
"And how does your beloved Steven feel about this plan hm?"
"Thankfully Dr. Strickland offered to sort him out for me."
"...Damn that man!" Maxie snapped without warning, "No wonder he was smirking all bloody morning!"
"...You've lost me completely."
"Miss Maple I know you didn't intentionally mean for it to be this way but I fear your little plan has made this entire situation seem rather – suspicious."
"How so?"
"How do you think you foolish girl!" He growled, rolling his eyes at her naivety, "You coming to stay with me in a secluded area? Just the two of us?"
"What are you impl- oh dear Lugia!"
May flushed scarlet as she realized what he was implying and she was forced to admit the implications were rather obvious – she'd just failed to see them in her emotional haze. She swallowed thickly, not sure whether to burst out laughing and beat a hasty retreat to avoid embarrassing herself further.
"Erm well I – I umm...I don't care."
"You really don't care about your reputation being tarnished by some overactive imaginations in the media?"
"I really don't...its quite trivial all things considering," She said softly. She looked up at him, cobalt eyes sincere, "I don't care, I want to help you, I'm doing this of my own accord."
"Careful Miss Maple, people will start to think you actually care about my well-being."
"I do care...if not I wouldn't have reacted the way I did when we found you."
Maxie felt his throat constrict at her heartfelt admission and was sorely tempted to reveal some private matters concerning his own heart but resisted. She only saw him as a friend, a friend she owed a favour to...nothing more. She'd bent her head, trying to avoid his gaze, her nut brown hair hiding her face from him. He was hard pressed not to reach out and brush those silky locks away from her pretty face.
"...Alright we have a deal."
He took great care to memorize the expression of absolute joy on her face at his words, the way her deep blue eyes lit up and her pale pink lips curved into a graceful smile.
He could always dream couldn't he?
"Miss Maple to be quite frank I'm still shocked you managed to convince Mr. Asher to say yes to this endeavour...he seems to be a frightfully independent individual."
"That's putting it lightly Doctor, he's just plain stubborn that's all he is," May sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose to try and ward off the building headache, "I still can't believe Steven actually agreed to it either."
"Admittedly I thought I was going to lose my job for a few moments but it all worked out after some skilful negotiating," The blonde haired physician said with a wily grin, "You should've seen him when I first broached the idea."
"I can only imagine."
"Yes, it definitely wasn't a pretty sight. That man's as docile as a Salamance."
"I can vouch for that," May muttered, "So its all straightened away then?"
"Yes, since you were such a marvel yesterday the two of you can go home tomorrow as soon as you're ready." The Doctor said with a conspiratorial grin. May raised an eyebrow and decided to address the issue of the good doctor's motivations.
"Doctor...you don't honestly believe that there's anything going on between Maxie and myself do you?"
"What? Oh no of course not!" Strickland said, feigning shocked innocence but the wicked gleam in his eyes told a different story, "That would be absurd Miss Maple, I'm merely doing this for the mutual benefit of my staff and patient."
"Suuuuure you are."
"Oh fine, but permit me a little fun," He laughed, "Its quite obvious it seems – except to the two of you apparently."
"D-Doctor!"
Strickland gave the young woman a sly wink before heading down the hall, mumbling some excuse about another patient leaving a fuming May behind. Honestly who did that man think he was? The Love Doctor?
The trainer groaned at the lameness of her own mental joke and headed for Maxie's room to deliver the 'good news' whilst hoping that by tomorrow half of Hoenn wouldn't be muttering about the two of them conducting some sort of sordid affair behind the scenes. A bright flush rose to her cheeks at the mere thought. He was such a mature individual, very experienced and she – she was little more then a girl, barely into womanhood, what would he possibly see in her?
"My, my what's got you so flushed hm? Did Steven accost you all the way here or was it the good doctor making more insinuations?"
Did she say he was mature? Scratch that.
"Oh ha ha, very funny – maybe I should leave you to rot here for another two weeks hm?" She retorted as she sunk down into the chair next to his bed. The crimson haired man looked mildly amused by her flippant response and waited patiently for her to continue, "Well the plan is a go. I don't know how he did it but Dr. Strickland managed to convince Steven."
"That man has the manipulative prowess of a Seviper...quite the gift," Maxie smirked, "Pity he didn't work for me."
"Watch it," May said warningly, "Anyway, he said we can leave here tomorrow morning as soon as you're ready."
"Be here at dawn."
"You really don't like hospitals do you."
"That would be a gross understatement."
"I'm sensing a story here."
"Yes, one you're never going to hear."
"Oh come on, please?"
"No."
"Fine," The young woman grumbled as she folded her arms over her chest, "I'll pry it out of you eventually."
"I highly doubt that," Maxie smirked, "And pray tell how are we supposed to get back to my home hm?"
"Your truck of course," May smirked. Maxie's eyes went wide and his jaw dropped, much to the young woman's amusement, "And I will be driving."
"You most certainly will not!"
"You can't drive so how the hell are we supposed to get there?" She snapped, "I'm driving and that's that!"
"But you – I – no!"
"Oh don't be such a child!" She scolded, "Its not like we have a choice here! God, and here I was thinking you were a mature individual who could actually be reasoned with."
"If I weren't stuck in this bloody bed -"
"You'd what?" May scoffed, "Tell me Maxie what would you do?"
Maxie glared daggers at the impudent young woman staring her down. Her chin was raised in a haughty manner and her eyes screamed defiance. A growl rumbled deep in his throat. This was exactly why he loved the deucedly stubborn girl and he damned her for it.
"Believe me Miss Maple you wouldn't want to know."
"Hn, you're probably right, and for the love of Ho-Oh man call me May!"
"Perhaps but for one I'm a gentleman and two I enjoy tormenting you," He smirked, "You don't know what you've gotten yourself into girl."
"You – you're impossible!" She cried, throwing her hands up, "Fine, be that way, I'll be back here first thing tomorrow morning so you better be ready – and I am driving that goddamn truck!"
Maxie swore as she stormed out of the room and raised his infuriated gaze to the ceiling. He barely noticed the door re-opening until he heard a low chuckle.
"Upset her have we? I haven't seen her feathers ruffled that much in a long time."
"Shut it Steven I don't want to hear it."
The silver haired Champion ignored the steely glare that clearly told him to get out and took up the seat occupied moments before by May. He leaned back with a smirk whilst Maxie just kept up his unwavering glare.
"You can give that up you know, it didn't faze me eight years ago, its certainly not going to now," He chuckled. However, the amusement quickly transformed into a serious expression as he looked the former criminal dead in the eye, "Maxie have you just tried telling her how you feel?"
"What?"
"Don't feign ignorance, its an insult to both my intelligence and yours," Steven sighed, "Its very obvious you care for that girl – I'd almost say you loved her."
"...And what of it," He said quietly, "I'm fully prepared to keep this to myself...she never has to know. I'm trying to do her a favour."
"How do you know you're doing her a favour?"
"What are you getting at Steven?"
"Maxie you didn't see the way she was acting...when she first woke up May – I don't ever want to see her like that again...we thought she was completely lost to us for a while," Steven said, "Until we discovered you were missing."
"...What do you mean?"
"I mean she snapped back to sanity faster then anyone ever thought possible. She was almost herself for a while. Then when we found you...well you know."
"No I don't; I wasn't exactly lucid Steven, I don't remember much."
Steven looked slightly surprised at the admission and debated on whether revealing the extent of May's reaction. However when he recalled the memory – the look of pain and sadness on her face, the fear that he wasn't going to make it...
"I've never seen May act like that before...she was crying, holding you, pleading for you to stay, begging you," He said, "In the ambulance she never stopped holding your hand and then she got into a scuffle with the paramedic when he wouldn't let her follow you."
"Really...she really did that?" Maxie murmured. Steven nodded and smiled, albeit with a marked amount of bitterness.
"Yes Maxie, she did...I think that May cares for you just as much as you care for her. Why else would she sit by your bedside everyday and offer to care for you?"
"She feels guilty that's all...obligated, like she has a debt to pay."
"If you believe that you're an even bigger idiot then I thought," Steven replied with a sardonic laugh, "I'm telling you Maxie, that girl loves you – even if she doesn't realize it yet...I know. Just tell her; its not healthy to keep it inside."
"And you would know."
Steven looked mildly surprised at the response – it contained not a single drop of venom or cynicism, rather it was filled with pity and surprisingly, understanding.
"Yes...I've accepted that fact and I'm moving past it," Steven said quietly, as he stood and prepared to leave, "Just think about what I said Maxie...don't let her slip away, not without trying at least."
Maxie remained silent as the Hoenn Champion quietly left the former master criminal to his own thoughts. Was Steven merely trying to egg him on with a sick joke? He highly doubted it; Steven simply wasn't capable of being that cruel no matter how much he hated someone. Still, the thought of May reacting so strongly when his life was in jeopardy...he enjoyed that fact far to much. She was still so young – he hadn't the right to intrude in her life. No, he'd let her go despite the Champion's advice, she'd move on, find someone closer to her own age, or better yet Steven himself. He'd spare her the trouble of ever getting involved with someone like him. He loved her, there was no denying that, and it was because he loved her that he would let her go...no matter how much it pained him to do so.
"So are you all ready to go?"
Maxie glanced up from buttoning up his shirt as a grinning May stuck her head into the room, keys in hand with an expression of deviousness on her face that he decidedly did not like. He growled as she fiddled with the keys absentmindedly and slowly began to stand. He had to prove that he didn't need her help or else he'd be stuck with her at his house...again. Not enviable considering it was taking all his restraint to keep distancing himself from her.
"Yes let's get this damn charade over with," He grumbled as he limped towards the door. He brushed past her with a steely glare, "As soon as I show you how unnecessary this all is you can go home and leave me in peace."
"Oh Maxie I'm beginning to think you don't like me," May said with a mock pout as she shut the door behind them, "Come on let's go, now you're sure you don't want -"
"No."
"Have it your way then," She sighed before muttering under her breath, "You stubborn jackass."
"Did you say something Miss Maple?"
"Nope."
"Hn, why don't I believe you?" He muttered sarcastically as they stepped outside. They were met by a blast of frigid air as they slowly made their way through the parking lot to Maxie's truck. The former leader of Team Magma was sorely tempted to just snatch the keys from May's grasp, but the fear of ripping his stitches and making himself look weak in front of her prevented him from acting on that impulse...oh well at least he could make fun of her driving.
May gleefully hopped into the driver's seat in started up the truck, the diesel engine roaring to life as she twisted the key. She grinned and fastened her seat belt, waiting patiently for Maxie to do the same before she threw the vehicle in reverse and skillfully manoeuvred out of the packed parking lot. Maxie stared listlessly out the window, both infuriated that this impudent slip of a girl was driving his truck and what was more was that he couldn't even mock her skill level because in truth she was doing perfectly fine.
"Oh lighten up," She laughed as she reached over and turned up the heat slightly, relishing the warm air that began to stream out through the vents, "You look like I'm taking you to the gallows."
"You might as well be, I'm estimating twenty minutes before you lose control and send us careening to our untimely demises."
"Admit it, you just don't like the fact that I'm driving your truck!" She smirked, not taking her eyes off the road, "You're such a guy."
"Excuse me?"
"Well you are," She answered, giving him a sidelong glance. Her smile faded as she focused her gaze back on the road, "...My dad was the same way."
An uncomfortable silence settled over the interior of the truck and Maxie returned to his previous activity of staring at the window and trying to ignore the young woman next to him, however when they pulled onto the large bridge that spanned the gap between the island and the mainland he instinctively drew back from the glass and looked down, trying to ignore the vast expanse of water on either side and below them – an action that did not go unnoticed by May.
"You really don't like water do you?" She murmured. He simply kept his silence, closing his eyes as he waited for the barrage of teasing, but it never came. He gave her a curious glance and she smiled, "Its okay – everyone's scared of something."
"I am not scared Miss Maple...merely overcautious." He said quietly. 'You would be to if you'd seen what I have.'
"The dark."
"What?"
"The dark – I'm scared of the dark," May said, "Its silly I know but I – I've just never gotten over that childhood fear...that and hospitals."
"Really, I never pegged you for being one scared of the dark," He replied, genuinely surprised by her admission. He felt a bump reverberate through the steel frame of the truck signalling that they'd finally come off the bridge and onto the smaller mountain highway, "Take a left up here."
"I know, I know," She said as she flicked on the turning signal and turned the wheel, and sent the large vehicle lumbering up the mountain pass, "Look I know you aren't exactly fond of the current situation but I'm just trying to help...and I'm sorry."
"Sorry?" He repeated, "What on earth for?"
"Because – because this is all my fault," She said, voice thick as she put the truck in park in front of the rustic mountain home. She turned to him, eyes glassy with unshed tears , "If I hadn't forced you to help me – if I hadn't made you bring me to the hospital this never would've happened!"
"Miss Maple that is utterly ridiculous!"
"Wh-What?"
"How could you possibly know what would happen?" Maxie said sternly, "We've had this conversation before – Cipher holds complete blame, not you! Come on now...you have to get your things anyway."
"R-Right, you've yet to prove that I'm not needed," She sniffed, scrubbing her eyes with the back of her hand as she plastered a strained smile onto her flushed face, "Let's go so I can watch you fail miserably."
"Oh Miss Maple that hurt."
"Yeah, yeah just get a move on."
"I'm limping as fast as I can believe me," He muttered as he made his way up the steps and fumbled with the lock for a moment before the door finally swung open with a loud creak. He held the door open and gestured for her to go inside. She laughed and quickly accepted the invitation, eager to be out of the cold.
"My, my ever the gentleman."
"Of course," He smirked as he shut the door behind them. The house wasn't as warm as he would've liked, but being vacant for over a week it was to be expected. He glanced around but found that May was no where in sight. Assuming she'd gone up stairs to get her bag, or so he hoped, he made his way into the living room and carefully stooped down to place some logs in the cold fireplace. He reached for a birch log, but as soon as he did so he felt pain rippling up his side causing him to overbalance and fall onto his knees. He gritted his teeth against the white hot agony and resisted the urge to cry out, fearing that May would hear.
"Aha, strike one against you!"
Dammit!
Carefully as to not cause himself any further pain he craned his head back and saw May leaning against the far wall, arms folded over her chest and a knowing smirk on her face. Why oh why did that girl have to have such a bad sense of timing?
"I'm – fine."
"No you're not, your hands are shaking and you're white as a sheet!"
"You're overreacting! I'm perfectly fine I tell you!"
"Then stand up."
He cursed and shot a glare in her direction but her smile merely grew. He braced himself, resisting the instinct to hold his side as he slowly tried to rise from his position on the floor. Pain ripped through his torso but he refused to admit defeat – that she was right, however the thin sheen of sweat on his brow and his trembling body would probably betray his obvious discomfort. He tried to look victorious, but she easily bested him. Her pale pink lips curved in a Cheshire cat grin as she boldly made her way over to him and stared defiantly into his eyes.
"Looks like I'm staying."
"Oh no you're not!"
"Oh yes I am," She retorted, "If you keep protesting then I'll just call an ambulance and they'll take you right back to the hospital!"
Maxie growled as he narrowed his dark brown eyes at the grinning young woman before him. Stuck between that hell hole and staying with the woman he desired but could never have...fate certainly had a funny way of screwing him over at ever opportunity.
"Fine," He snapped, "I assume you've already settled back into your old room?"
"Of course," She laughed, reaching up and ruffling his crimson hair, "Now you are going to sit down and take it easy while I fix us something to eat."
"I'm perfectly capable of -"
"Sit down or I'll make you sit down."
"I'd like to see you try!" He sneered. May grinned and subtly began backing him towards the couch, though he was so focused on their sudden close proximity that he failed to notice. She boldly leaned up towards him and for a moment he dared think she might actually kiss him, but without warning he stumbled into the couch and his legs buckled, effectively putting him in a sitting position while she loomed above him with a victorious grin.
"You know I think I'm going to enjoy this." She laughed as she made her way to the kitchen. Maxie groaned and ran a hand through his tousled hair.
'Damn that girl is going to be the death of me!'
Island Wolf: -grins- let the games begin!