~Morty~
That bitch stood me up.
I blew through the doors like TNT, an hour late to the meeting and knocking a large and probably very expensive painting off the wall. The ladies at the front desk all jumped in unison, having been surrounded by Will, an elite four member with little or no credit to his name. He cast me a worried and annoyed glance, his stupid mask crooking to the side of his face when his nose scrunched up.
I knew the meeting this month was being held in a proper room because Lance had said himself that it was important. Unlike our previous get-togethers outside by the picnic tables, or the time we were in the training gym. I snarled to myself, unsure of what to think. Falkner hadn't answered his phone when I called, and he wasn't home when I walked all the way there because I have a tendency to be pushy. I thought maybe at first he had stayed home because he was butt-hurt over me not coming over, but upon entering his house—Gengar picked the lock—I found that he was nowhere to be seen. His father was in a rage, screaming at me and cursing my every molecule to hell, but I didn't care.
Because this time his son had stood me up.
"You're late." The piercing yellowy eyes of Mr. Kiss my ass hit me hard as I slammed open the meeting room door, scanning with ignorance, viewing every traumatized pair of eyes until they settled on a very bright aqua set. I grit my teeth in a low snarl, curling back my lip at him as he shrank back, afraid of my anger.
"Shut the hell up, I was kept waiting." I spoke to Lance while looking at Falkner.
"Excuse me?"
"Fuck off Lance."
The dragon master had fire in his eyes as he ordered me to take a seat, hissing in rage at the only chair that was open—the one beside him. I pulled it out, clearing the eyes with a deadly glare. Clair was amused, Jasmine was shivering between Whitney and Chuck as if she was cold, and Silver stood in the back next to Pryce, arms folded tightly, his steel eyes piercing the back of Gold's head.
Gold looked quite blatant if I might add, sitting next to Falkner with his heels up on the table as if he owned the place, sipping a can of coke even though it was far too cold for those summer beverages. I glared at him as Falkner looked down, biting his lip and meeting brief eye contact with the ace trainer. The two seemed to share the same thought, and that alone pissed me off. With a cold hearted scowl I took out my phone and speed-dialed Falkner.
A throaty vibrating sounded from across the table.
"Seriously?" Lance, sitting in the largest chair at the head of the table asked in annoyance. "This is fucking serious! Falkner!"
"I—Sorry… I'll turn it off…" The bird trainer huffed, clicking the end button on his phone and then holding the side down till it went to a black screen.
This pissed me off even more. It meant that Falkner had his phone on him and he had been deliberately ignoring my calls from before. I dared him to come near with me that thing in hand… I shove it up his ass so fast… set to vibrate and call him over and over again until—
"Erhem! Morty." Lance smacked the table with his large fist, bringing me out of my angry, sex-ridden rape daydream. I swallowed, knowing that rape was wrong and that any sensible person would just ask their lover why they stood them up, and wait to get angry when they had a real reason.
"You come late and then you don't even pay attention?" The champion was walking on thin ice today it seemed. He must have to get laid. "This is so serious it could involve you losing your gym."
"Fuck." I rolled my eyes. "Go ahead, Arceus what are you a Nazi?"
"Morty you're so out of line." Bugsy, the little runt snorted because things like that struck a nerve in him. I only muffled a cough.
Clair whooped with laughter for no reason, making me believe she was on drugs and or her thong was too high up her ass.
"MAY I CONTINUE?" Lance ordered.
Silence was thick enough to cut with a knife.
"Alright…. All of you hooligans. This…. This is important. I can't stress that enough." He paused, thoroughly disgusted with t the words about to come out of his mouth. "Kanto and Johto… the citizens did a vote, now this vote doesn't mean anything YET, but they voted and decided that since the elite four is the same for both regions, they want to make all gym badges in Kanto and Johto equals… meaning that not one region has a set of eight anymore, but the two will be combined with a total of sixteen, AND trainers will not have to stick to their home region to get these badges."
I narrowed my eyes, trying to multitask my mind on Falkner and what Lance was saying. I didn't truly understand what was the problem with merging gym leaders, since that would mean that trainers from Kanto would travel to see the sights in Johto. That meant more battling for me since Ecruteak was a memorial town, especially now with the burned tower (that was previously the brass tower).
"What's so important about that?" Whitney asked quietly, eyes for Jasmine and full of worry. The steel trainer looked very… tarnished today. Quite warn out, which made me wonder if Falkner had let her down in some way. I hoped he had.
Lance pinched the bridge of his nose. "The thing is… one of Kanto's leaders is retiring… so Kanto thinks it's only fair that…" he shook his head. "That one of ours does too."
Now that had my attention. Falkner leaving me was all but forgotten as we stiffened in fright. The hearts all stopped in unison, peering through black windows into a world of light. Everyone was scrambling in turmoil, thinking about losing their gym, their job, their passion, love heart soul, blood sweat and fucking tears.
"What's it matter that we make it even if we are all one?" Falkner spoke up, gripping the table edge tightly. "That's not right!"
"I know." Lance sighed. "But… nothing is official yet… just know that, gym inspections will be happening soon and the results may determine your place in the end."
"No!" Falkner insisted. "We can't let this happen!"
The navy haired bird trainer was frightened beyond repair, looking with his wide aqua eyes at everyone around him. He was normally a quiet candidate to our meetings, but now, riled up and worried he appeared to be facing turmoil.
"It's not up to us." Lance shrugged. "It's up to the people of Kanto and Johto combined… if they all vote to merge the gyms then we have no choice but to limit ourselves to sixteen leaders… having seventeen would cause too much drama."
Falkner looked to be in hysterics, the fear in his eyes displayed so impatiently, as he was one to overreact. I decided to speak up.
"And just how will we decide who gets fucked over?" I looked up at Lance, hating his shallow arrogance. He cared about us to an extent, but let's face it, there was nothing threatening his position. Clair also looked quite confident, being that she was the most well-known gym leader, and made the most money in previous years. I hadn't been far behind her, proving that it was a matter of city that brought it crowds of trainers, not skill. If it was determined on skill alone I knew that Pryce would be making more money and getting more funding a year than I did. The old ice trainer was quite the fighter, and the look in his eyes as he sat quietly with his hands folded in his lap proved it.
None of us wanted to suggest that Pryce retire his position as gym leader because of his age, but I would bet that more than half of us were thinking it.
"The amount of trainers you bring it." Lance said. "The quality of your gym, the money… everything."
"And who will decide in the end?" I challenged.
"Well… me and the other elite four members obviously."
I looked away with a small frown. I had no serious attachment to my gym like Falkner did, and I was wealthy enough to live a lifetime without working, but that didn't mean I wanted to lose it. The fact that my gym was just a shell, a home for ghosts—and you couldn't see them—put me at a downfall. Unlike Falkner, who put his whole life into his gym, working day and night for the birds that were his only family… surely he would be safe from being evicted because of that.
Only… Falkner didn't look safe at all. He was frantic, looking at Gold, looking briefly at me—reminding me that I was still pissed at him—looking at Lance and Jasmine and all the other leaders for an unspoken answer.
"Is there any hope in this NOT happening at all?" Chuck, who had been unusually solemn, asked. He looked a little uneasy, since his gym was off the much rockier shore of Cianwood, and his main competition would be Jasmine—his fake niece—who had the luxury of being on white sand in warm sunshine year around. I mentally checked her off of the list in my head.
Clair was safe, Pryce was safe, and Jasmine was safe, meaning that Bugsy, Chuck, Whitney, Falkner, and I would be at the bottom of the barrel. Of course if Lance kept his word about judging fairly on money, publicity, and quality, then I should be safe as well. I had the second most popular gym according to the regions votes last year, but I wasn't exactly convinced.
None of these people except Falkner liked me here, especially Lance, and that put a bad taste in my mouth from the start. Lance had the power here, he would be the unfair swing vote to get me expelled for more personal reasons. I grit my teeth, refusing—my stubborn pride in the way—to be a kiss ass like he wanted. Mr. Kiss my ass would have to learn to live without his ass being kissed. I wouldn't grovel over him just to keep my gym.
But Falkner… would I grovel over him to keep Falkner's gym? The bird trainer was both the youngest, newest, most inexperienced, and the poorest out of us all—except maybe for Bugsy. He had already confided in me about taking a loan out of the bank to pay for expenses when his heater broke a week ago. I offered to buy him a whole new one, but he was too proud of course. He was overworked, without extra money to pay for helpers like the old ladies who kept my candles lit and my battles interesting. Falkner was on his own in this big bad world, and I could tell by the look on his face that he was frightened.
I let the anger inside me slip away for a moment, forgetting that Falkner stood me up and feeling completely sorry for him. The desire to rape him faded into the wanting to hold him, and I fidgeted nervously. This feeling still struck me every once in a while, deciphering itself from lust so obviously. I LOVED Falkner, I knew I did, it was just normally buried beneath lust.
"Not so be rude… but why are WE here?" Silver interrupted everyone's painful contemplating thoughts.
"Oh!" Clair jumped up, punching Lance out of the way, and taking the stand. "The GOOD news."
We all slumped, as if the good news could really cheer us up at the moment…
"Us leaders are inviting you two top trainers to the annual winter-club party." Clair waggled her eyebrows at us all.
"Annual winter-club party? Clair this is the first time we've ever done this." Lance grumbled, having sat to let her stand above us all.
"Well it will be annual soon. You guys know Christmas is like… two weeks from now right? We are celebrating early with booze and schmoozing and clubbing all night long."
"When?" Chuck asked, excited at the sound of alcohol. Jasmine shuddered next to him.
"We're invited?" Gold smirked. "Do I really look eighteen?"
"Shh." Silver swatted him over the head. "Looks don't matter unless you act like you're eighteen."
"You guys are more powerful than any other trainers right now, and think of it as a thank you helping at the Lake." Lance said. "I won't tell if you won't."
Gold beamed with delight, mischievous as a child with his hand caught in a cookie jar. It was a look I could appreciate on the honey eyed boy. Not to mention he was oozing sex appeal and would have one hell of a night at the bar with the rest of us (minus Pryce because he was too old for anything fun anymore. His words, not mine.).
"When is it?" Whitney perked up, also being a fan of the tipsy side of life. That was one thing all the gym leaders seemed to have in common at some point; we all loved to drink, and though no one said it out loud, we all loved sex as well.
Expect for Falkner of course, the kid was too proud and determined for such actions—yet. I was suddenly determined.
"This Friday night." Clair clapped her hands together. "It's a private party though, no pokemon allowed… and the leaders from Kanto will be joining us as well as the elite four members."
"Fucking yes!" Bugsy curled his hand into a winning fist. "Janine will be mine."
Chuck snorted a laugh at his friend. "Janine's dad is a member of the elite four, or did you forget?"
Bugsy visibly slumped. "Bu—but…"
"There's always Erika." Chuck patted his much smaller fuck buddy/friend on the back.
Bugsy made a face as if to disapprove.
"Sabrina—
"Enough about fucking the other gym leaders!" Lance shook his head as if he was a school teacher scolding his misbehaving and perverted children. That was no matter though; I wasn't interested in fucking any Kanto leaders… just a particular bird trainer who held no noticeable emotion towards this party Friday night.
"Seriously…" Jasmine echoed him in a whisper. Had she not been directly across from me I wouldn't have heard it. Her pale chestnut eyes looked… darker, less of a threat to my man today. I so desperately wanted to know what had broken her spirit (so I could thank it). One less obstruction standing in my way to Falkner.
"If we are quite done…" Pryce, who had been silent this whole time—obviously knowing before the rest of us what was happening—excused himself quietly. "I must get back to my gym now."
"This is going to be so sexy." Gold cheered to himself. "I gotta go home and get my leather pants…"
Silver blinked at his rival, blushing ever so slightly. It was his and my own secret now… I knew Silver was in love with Gold, I had asked him and he told me honestly that day back at the lake. Of course I would have known anyways, seeing as though they fueled each other with hate and desire all at once. I truly believed that the ones you loved most were the ones that drove you absolutely batshit crazy.
Falkner for example…
"Goodbye Pryce." Lance said respectively as Clair moved in to hug the elderly leader. Those two were closest to him, and often looked to him for advice, which was one of the few smart things they did. Pryce was a very powerful man, with more stories to tell and wisdom to share than he had time for. I always wondered what it would be like to confide in him… but of course I would never actually do it.
"Are we done?" Jasmine asked softly when the ice trainer left.
"Unless you guys want to sit around and chat?" Lance offered.
We all got up immediately, scrambling to get away from one another since it appeared no connection would lead to another without hate getting in the way.
"Glad to see we're all one big happy family." The champion rolled his eyes.
Falkner slunk by him, out the meeting room doors and then speed walking down the hallway with me hot on his trail. I refused to let him leave without an answer. Gold was walking quietly with Silver—who I happened to notice was a good inch or so taller than the stocky teen. It was kind of odd… how different their body shapes were. Silver would be a screamer in bed, Gold would be causing the screaming in bed. I could tell that just by looking at them.
"Falkner." I hissed as the bird trainer came to a stop at the Indigo Plateau doors. Gold and Silver had turned the other way to head to the courtyard, and the other gym leaders were taking their sweet ass time.
"Morty… I—I'm sorry." He held his hands up in defense as I turned him towards me and grabbed his sides tightly.
"I just… I got distracted before… Gold showed up and offered me a ride on his Togekiss…"
"I'll kill him."
"What?!" Falkner blinked rapidly. "Wh—why?!"
"Because I'm a jealous bastard."
"B—but it had nothing to do with Gold. I was just excited over the bird…" he blushed the truth, bleeding warm colors as his love for birds was always above anything else. I shook my head, knowing that was a battle I would never win. Falkner would always choose birds over anyone else.
I sighed dramatically.
The navy haired boy peeked around my shoulder, scanning the vacant lobby for a moment before moving his arms and placing them on my chest gently. "I'm sorry…" He whispered again, stretching up and planting a gentle peck on my cheek. "We can still walk back together…"
I tilted his head back and leant in to him, kissing harshly for a second before softening and brushing his hair back behind his ear. The scab had vanished within the last week or so, but the little V slit was still there.
"Oh no." I pulled away from him, kissing the small dip at the center of his collar bone. "You owe me, you're sleeping over tonight."
"I—I have stuff I need to do though."
"Too bad." I rested my chin on his shoulder. "It will have to wa—
A sharp gasp cut me off.
"Wha-? What the fuck?"
Falkner turned a ghostly pale, pushing away from me as Clair stared at us with her hand on her hip and her mouth open in a small O shape. "You two are together?" she smirked.
I looked at Falkner, eyes narrowed as he spluttered, bright red for an answer that wasn't there. Clair looked to be on the verge of laughter and repulsion as she stepped forward towards us, glancing around to make sure no one else had come by yet.
"Is anal sex good?" She asked, cocking her eyebrow up. "I've always wanted to try it… but guys don't ever want it unless their gay."
"We're not-!
"I wouldn't know." I cut Falkner off. "I've always been on top."
Falkner gaped like a magikarp, horrified at what I was implying. I smiled wickedly. Payback for ditching me Sweetheart. Payback.
"Clair we're not together." Falkner stepped forward, leaning into her and whispering. "You can't tell anyone."
She laughed, holding both her hands up. "Secret safe with me, lover boys. But if you ever want to repay me, I'd love some dick pics."
"Not happening." I rolled my eyes, the thought of Clair seeing my spectacular and perfect body… i pffft/i she couldn't handle it.
Clair clicked her tongue suggestively at us, turning and walking past the doors as the rest of the gym leaders started to come through the hall.
Falkner sulked mildly as we hurried out the large front doors and headed for the route that would take us home. He waited until we were out of sight before elbowing me.
"Asshole."
I snickered. "Keep acting like that Sweetheart, you're getting raped tonight."
"Fuck you." He was obviously not in the mood.
"Aw come on now." I reached out and grabbed his hand. It was very dark out now, pitch black after the short but significant meeting. Stars blinked at us from above the barren tree branches. He tried to pull away at first, but gave in when he thought twice. I noticed he trembled softly as his lips billowed white puffs of hot breath.
"Are you cold?" I asked him, pulling my empty arm up to my neck.
He shrugged.
"Here." I slipped my scarf off and slowed us to a stop, stepping before him and flipping the thing around his head. I wrapped it around twice before tucking one side in and taking his hand again.
"I—it smells like you." Falkner murmured, taking a soft sniff at the purple material. I nodded in agreement, sneering.
"And when you give it back it will smell like you."