Twenty Questions

Fandom: Pokémon XY (Anime)
Genre: Romance
Summary: A compilation of vignettes showing Ash and Clemont's relationship develop through a series of questions, from friendship to infatuation to something more. Fluff, drama, Diodeshipping, mostly Clemont-centric POV, equal parts Season 17 and post-XY speculation, almost all chapters rated for general audiences except where noted.
Current Rating (subject to change): T
Warnings: Dub names and boys' love

Alternately titled, "Awkward Boys Be Awkward." :3

Investigation, Part 2: Double

The time they confessed their feelings to each other, really confessed, both of them had a lot of questions.

"W-whadaya mean, 'whadaya mean?'" Ash demanded, the color rising in his cheeks. "I mean I like you more than I like anyone else in the whole world, 'cept maybe Pikachu. And my mom," he added in afterthought.

Clemont giggled, partially from nerves, partially from how uncharacteristically defensive Ash got when he was blushing.

"I'm third on the list, huh? Well, I'm pretty sure I can live with that. And Ash?" Clemont looked down, noticing he had been ripping up small handfuls of grass without being aware of it, and that Ash had been doing the same. He took a deep breath and gave a shy smile, still not sure he could get through this without turning the color of a Hoppip. "M-maybe this goes without saying, but, um... I really like you, too."

"You..." Ash was silent for a moment, eyebrows raised and mouth hanging slightly open. "I... uh, what?"

Clemont frowned. "What what?"

"I mean... you do?"

"Y-yes, Ash, of course I— oh!" His fingers had accidentally brushed against an ungloved portion of Ash's hand, and both boys immediately snatched them away. A few seconds later they seemed to realize how ridiculous this all was, meeting each other's eyes for an instant before bursting out laughing.

"Maybe we should start over," Clemont offered, taking another deep breath in an attempt to control the overwhelming sense of unreality that had taken hold of him. "I really like you, Ash."

"I really like you too, Clemont."

"Would you like to hold hands?"

"Sure."

Their fingers intertwined, the smell of crushed grass mingling with sweat and the awkward feeling of accomplishment that was settling between them.

"This, um... this works, right?" Clemont asked. "It's not weird or anything?" He would never want to force Ash into doing anything he didn't want to do. Clemont could feel the pressure change in his palm as Ash gave it a small squeeze.

"No, it's not weird. S'nice." Ash leaned over and whispered in his ear: "Hey Clemont? If I told you how long I've wanted to do this with you, would you laugh at me?"

Clemont grinned self-deprecatingly. "Only if you started laughing when I told you how long I've wanted to do this with you."

"I promise I won't. You can tell me."

The blond hesitated. "Actually… I can't."

"Aww, c'mon!" Ash said, his voice raised in mock-indignation. "Pretty-please?"

Clemont looked at him, half apologetic and half punch-drunk ecstatic. "It's not that I don't want to, it's that I really don't know anymore," he confessed, giving voice to the realization that was just now dawning on him. "I don't think I can remember a time when I didn't want to do this with you."

Ash looked impressed. "Wow, really?"

"Really. So that's my embarrassing secret. What about you?"

Ash was decidedly sheepish. "Well honestly, it… um, it never actually occurred to me 'til you suggested it," he said. "But now that you have, I'm really glad you did."

Clemont stared at him for several seconds before shaking his head and cracking a weary smile. "Y'know, sometimes I wish I knew exactly what was going on inside that head of yours," he said with a small chuckle. "Would you ever consider letting me try my Pokémon Thought Translator on you, if I modified it for human use?"

"Would I…?" Ash looked momentarily excited, but then seemed to realize what Clemont had done, closing his free hand into a fist and punching him playfully on the arm. "Hey, waidaminnit, you just promised me you wouldn't laugh!"

Clemont definitely couldn't keep a straight face after that. "You're right, you're right! I'm sorry."

Ash was laughing too. "Well, I guess it's no big deal." And then: "Actually, if you wanna know somethin' else… I've always liked it when you laugh like that."

Clemont considered this. "Well," he said, "I suppose it only ever happens when I'm happy."

Ash leaned into Clemont's shoulder and gave his hand another gentle squeeze. "Yeah," he said quietly. "I know."