Chapter 25 .:. Multiple Choice

The rescue team had managed to come and almost all of the survivors had relatives with whom they could stay until they could build new homes. Blaine had immediately gone to work on his island Gym and was currently living in the cave there, ready to take on new challengers there even before the renovations began.

I still say that guy's got a few screws loose.

Green had let the two kids whose families they couldn't locate stay in the Gym and after arguing that there was no way that I would leave him responsible for children, he let me stay in exchange for babysitting duty. While he didn't take the insult well, I was glad to have living arrangements, at least until they managed to find a place for the kids to stay. They were apparently looking for any relatives of theirs that might be in the nearby Johto region, since they couldn't find anyone living in Kanto. I sincerely hoped they found someone soon. Green and I wouldn't be able to take care of them forever.

"I love how no one in the Pokémon League or the police are willing to take in a pair of five and eight year old kids, so they leave the youngest Gym Leader in the league and a random thirteen year old responsible for them." I muttered as the five year old girl took to chasing my Arcanine around the Gym's arena. It was a good thing my Arcanine still acted like a puppy, otherwise I may have had to resort to entertaining the kid. The eight year old was a lot easier for me to handle, since she was reasonably mature for her age that I didn't get frustrated with her as easily.

"It's easier for them this way." Green stated, "Besides, I was the only one willing to volunteer to let them stay here and you wouldn't let me watch them on my own."

"Damn straight I'm not, you're barely much more than a kid yourself." I pointed out. "Besides, you've got a Gym to run too, and kids are full time work."

"Hey, I'm turning twelve soon." Green pointed out. My unimpressed look made him admit, "But you are right about the second part. 'Course I could just drop them off at the trainer's school right next door."

I simply shrugged, "Whatever, I'm here to stay. At least until they find someone the kids can stay with that is a responsible, legal adult. I still can't believe they were willing to leave you, an eleven year old, responsible with two kids."

"Uh, huh." Green let out a yawn, clearly bored with the topic. "Don't you have a place to stay, or are the quarters here just that much better?"

"I enjoy getting to mooch off of you." I answered, half true. I wasn't ready to admit to him that I was essentially homeless. Besides, I did get to use some of his funds the League gave him to take care of myself and the kids.

An echoic knock from the door caught us off guard, along with the kids and my Arcanine, who froze in place from where they were playing in the arena.

"Better be a new challenger." Green muttered as he signalled for the caretaker to open the door and I blinked in surprise at who walked into the Gym.

"Javelin!" I ran over to the where the older boy was standing. "What are you doing here?"

"You know this guy?" Green asked. "Damn, guess that means it's not a challenger then." He waved at the kids, informing them that they could keep playing in the arena.

"This is Giovanni's successor?" Javelin pointed a thumb at the young Gym Leader and made a face, clearly unimpressed.

"Hush, he's stronger than you think." I pulled Javelin's arm so he'd face me and so I could get his attention. "Now, I'll repeat: what are you doing here?"

"My uncle heard about your little stunt on television." I blinked barely remembering the TV crew that had come to interview us when the rescue team had arrived. I had been much too focused on the survivors to bother remembering what I had done in front of the cameras. He turned back to look at Green. "Guess he was the other kid we saw on the TV. He's worried about you."

"Your uncle is worried about me?" I stood up a bit straighter at the thought. It was nice to hear that someone cared about me. I hadn't really thought about other people since my parents had all but abandoned me when I was caught swapping Pokémon back in my old village when I was ten. It felt good to have someone concerned about me after three years without anyone.

"Well, yeah. I mean, getting caught up in a volcanic eruption isn't exactly something most people will let kids do. He's wondering if your parents even care."

"Well, they don't. Otherwise they'd have noticed me walking out of the house three years ago," I growled angrily.

"That's why you said you have nowhere to go?" Javelin guessed. His gaze grew gentler and I realized he was pitying me. He hadn't known about my leaving home before, but I didn't understand why he was surprised. Most people who joined Team Rocket had some kind of sob story that made them enlist.

"Even this set up's only temporary. Green and I volunteered to watch some kids that were orphaned after the eruption, at least until they can find someone to take care of them. Afterwards I'm gonna have no reason to be here."

"And he doesn't know about your parents or Team Rocket, or anything?" Javelin guessed. When I shook my head he stated, "Good. I don't trust everyone you trust."

I blinked, surprised at the comment, "What's that supposed to mean?"

He didn't answer me. He had gone back to staring up at Green. "So what's up with you and this kid, anyways? You didn't get a boyfriend while I turned around or something, did you?"

I completely forgot about his previous comment as this one pissed me off more. I pushed Javelin and asked, "What is it with the men in your family thinking that any guy I get close to must be my boyfriend!" I couldn't help but smile at the thought of Javelin being bothered by me having a boyfriend. It showed that he really did care about me.

"Just checking." Javelin winked at me. "So you don't want to leave until the kids are taken care of, then?" he guessed as he watched the younger of the two playing with my Arcanine. I nodded and he smiled, "You've got a spare room at my uncle's place afterwards, if you want it."

"Oh great, move into a house full of people like you." I let out an obnoxious snort, "Sounds like an awful set up. But it couldn't be too bad, I suppose."

"Better than hopping around between Pokémon Centers." Javelin shrugged. "Think about it." He was about to turn and leave, but then he whispered in my ear, "But really, how strong is that kid? I haven't had much of a good fight since the disband."

"He's the eighth Gym Leader and ex-Champion for a reason Javelin."

"So…"

"He's stronger than me." I watched Javelin blink in surprise from me to the boy sitting casually on the Gym Leader's podium

"Ouch. Think I'll have to pass. Damn, I thought that you and that Red brat were the only ones who were stronger than me. Oh, and Giovanni of course. And I suppose the executives… okay, it's a long list." I giggled at him and he waved me off, "I guess I'll see you around."

"I guess!" I called to him as he left.

As I walked back over to Green's podium to sit next to him he blinked at me, "You didn't tell me you had a boyfriend."

I pouted angrily and the kids pointed up at me and laughed as my face quickly turned red in a combination of frustration and embarrassment. "Why does everyone assume that he's my boyfriend?" Green joined in on the laughter and I shoved him, "He asked me the same thing about you."

It was his turn to blush as the Gym Leader pointed from me to himself and gave me a questioning look. He then began to laugh even harder, his face turning red with laughter instead.

"And these are the things I have to deal with." I shook my head and stated, "Maybe Red had the right idea, isolating himself from society." I could only smile. At least the three of them were enjoying themselves.

(A/N Short chapter, I must apologize. Also, Javelin is being a little tease, as he still isn't grabbing main character status yet, lol. It's just a cutesy chapter to provide contrast to the next one. Make of that what you will.)