Hodgepodge
Author's Note: Enjoy the story and R&R.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to or of the Pokémon franchise.
Pairings: Pre-slash Goh x Hodge. Referenced unresolved (canon) Serena x Ash.
Summary:
Hodge and Goh have a bet: Make the other blush more. Until now, they've been deadlocked.
Anchored to Hariyama, Hodge slanted forward.
Goh knew how this would end. Hodge was too proud to deviate from his self-damaging Take Down-like custom. After reaching out his hand to accomplish whatever it was he was reaching out to accomplish, he'd fall off his Pokémon, then rebound, thrust up his chin, and insist it didn't hurt at all while combing his pompadour back to full regency.
In view of Hodge coming from a town as big on preserving tradition as Lavaridge Town, his resistance toward abandoning the habit, unlike his current action, wasn't a stretch.
Since the Battle Frontier Flute Cup, Goh and Hodge had an ongoing bet: Who could make the other blush more frequently?
Where Ash stood, the clash was doomed to be a tie. Goh was easily overwhelmed by social openness, and Hodge's macho exterior was all steam once you realized what a nice guy he really was.
Hodge would say something, and Goh would blush. Goh would say something to embarrass Hodge, restoring the balance.
But Hodge had an airtight battle plan to put the heat on Goh. This after dishing the standard compliments to make Goh feel he'd lean on the same old tactics to surpass him.
Time to mix it up a little.
Per Goh's forecast, Hodge fell off Hariyama. Only, not into a trash bin or onto his face.
Ash and Pikachu yelped. Ash, more so due to the unexpected impact. Pikachu, more so because it was the second time he'd seen two Trainers close to him lock lips.
Goh blushed and screamed.
It was a scream his first kiss had been caught. A scream of recognition that he didn't hate getting kissed by Hodge!
"Pretty cute!" Hodge got up and laughed out loud, purple eyes using Attract on Goh's blue ones.
Goh blushed a deeper red.
And just like that, Hodge was ahead!