A/N: Thanks for the support! I do take stuff into account from reviews, especially pairing ideas and consensus on how people feel about certain types of relationships.

#9: A Little Tender Care

(Serena x Korrina)

Serena shot up from her seat, along with the rest of the crowd of the Shalour City gym. While that usually came with applause, this time was quite different.

Down below, the Gym Leader, Korrina, had just attempted a wonderful roller skating move— only to fall, the girl taking quite the hard tumble and lying on the ground in obvious pain.

As everyone worriedly chattered and gym attendants rushed to the girl's side, Serena happened to look at the other gym trainers around, one in particular looking shady, to say the least.

Pushing her way through the crowd, and keeping her eyes on the man clad in roller skating gear, she watched as he turned and headed for the nearest exit door.

Oh no you don't…!

Serena quickly tossed her Pokeball towards the door. As the device opened up, her Delphox emerged in a flash of light, howling as it blocked the door. The man gasped and skidded to a halt.

"Why are you leaving, huh?" Serena gazed down at him from the top of the bleachers.

"None of your business—"

The man's eyes widened as Serena jumped towards him. It was quite the fall— But Delphox raised its paw, psychic energy flowing and helping Serena come down much safer, the girl slamming into the man to tackle him down to the ground.

As he hit the ground, his helmet popped off, and the unmistakable orange curls led Serena to know that her suspicions were correct.

"More Flare leftovers…" The girl scowled. "Why won't you all go away?"

The man growled at the girl and shoved her off hard, moving back and taking out a Pokevall of his own.

"You all ruined our beautiful world. You're gonna—"

The man never finished that thought, as a leg suddenly came in and kicked him hard in the face, sending him spinning til he collapsed to the ground unconscious.

"Wha… Korrina!" Serena looked to the gym leader, the girl grinning to her.

"Sorry it took me a sec— Agh!" Korrina fell onto her bum, wincing as she put hands onto her leg. The one she had just used had a nasty bruise on it from her tumble earlier. "Those guys really know how to sabotage, huh."

"This isn't something to joke about," Serena berated her, coming close and motioning to her Pokemon. "You could've been seriously hurt…"

Korrina looked up at the girl, her smiled fading a bit. "I know… I'm sorry."

"Don't be." Serena stood and patted her Delphox, the Pokemon using its Telekinesis to lift Korrina into the air, the girl making an 'eep!' noise before falling into Serena's arms, the girl carrying her bridal style. "Let's go get you some help."

Korrina's pale face flushed a bit, but she smiled and nodded, wrapping her arms around Serena's neck.

"My shining knight.~"

Korrina was released a little later from the Pokemon Center after being bandaged up. Serena insisted the girl needed to rest, and decided to take it upon herself to nurse her back to health.

For Korrina, she was excited by the prospect, imaging the romantic implications of it all—

Serena, on the other hand, was completely serious about it all.

"So, when do I get my 'get well' kisses?" Korrina cheekily smiled at the girl who sat on the side of her bed.

"That won't help much," Serena told her. "Now stay still."

Korrina winced, her leg twitching, much to Serena's disdain, as the girl gently applied a healing ointment that was cool to the touch to the girl's bruised leg, before reapplying the bandage.

"There, that should be a little better," Serena said with a soft smile, reaching over to feel Korrina's forehead. "Not too warm.. I think you'll be fine with some rest."

Korrina blinked up at her, a small blush appearing on her face. Serena caught her face and tilted her head a bit.

"What?"

"You're so cool," Korrina said with a giggle.

"Me? I don't know about that," Serena said, smiling and gently pushing some of Korrina's golden strands of hair from her face. "I just… Want to make sure you're alright."

"What makes me so special, huh?~"

Serena pulled her honey-blonde hair back, quickly tying it into a ponytail before leaning down close to Korrina.

"You're mine, that's what," Serena whispered, before gently kissing Korrina on the forehead.

"Ahhh—" Korrina flushed bright red, pulling the covers up over most of her face. This elicited a small giggle from Serena.

"If you keep acting like I'm your knight, I guess I'd better be more and more 'cool' for you," the girl said, before slowly starting to stand.

Korrina's hand shot out from the covers quickly, grabbing Serena's hand and making her turn back to the bed.

"Will you… Stay with me?"

"I'm just going to the bathroom, jeez," Serena told her. "I'll be right back. I promise."

Looking unconvinced, Korrina let her go, watching the girl exit the room. She was all giddy smiles when she got to spend time with Serena, something that Korrina didn't mind— Her image wasn't more important than her girlfriend, not by a longshot. It was nice being treated like a girl for once, not the hotshot Fighting-type Gym Leader.

Korrina's eyes began to sag as she got lost in thought, and before she knew it, she had fallen into an exhausted asleep….

Later that night, Korrina woke up suddenly in a bit of a panic. She looked around, not seeing Serena around as she rubbed her tired eyes.

Liar…! She pouted and was about to toss the covers over her head angrily, when she realized she could hear gentle breathing coming from somewhere in the room. Peering over her bedside, she saw that Serena was asleep atop a sprawled out blanket.

Korrina's bed wasn't very large, so it made sense— Not only that, their relationship wasn't the most intimate, not yet at least. Korrina longed for it to become so, but didn't want to rush when they had a good thing going.

Still…

The girl silently creeped out of her bed, careful with her injured leg, doing the best she could as she dragged the covers off of her bed with her. Then, using her great agile strength from her rollerblading, lowered herself down silently beside Serena.

For a moment, Korrina gazed at the sleeping girl's face in the darkness, before hesitantly reaching out to stroke her cheek softly.

Even like this, Serena isn't just cool… She's super cute, the girl thought, happily snuggling up close to her.

"Kor…" Serena spoke a soft word, which made Korrina freeze. "Hm…"

Korrina could see that Serena wasn't awake at all, instead muttering in her sleep. She relaxed, but then gasped silently as Serena's arms were thrown around her, pulling her body against hers.

Her heart thumping madly, Korrina glanced up at the sleeping Serena, finding a smile on her face now.

I could totally stay like this forever~

With that, Korrina enjoyed her first night sleeping against the girl she cares for most. Korrina knew that she loved her, and hated to make Serena worry, but that was just how the girl was.

Nobody will ever take us down~!

End

Next Story: Independent Thought

(Mars x Jupiter)