Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon, but I do own this fic.
Warnings: Rated T just to be safe. Because this is Palletshipping, we got some (tame) BL in here. There is some OOCness, mutual pining, one-sided attraction/unrequited love, minor character bashing (because this is Gary and Misty we're talking about here; I wrote this story, but they wrote themselves, tbh), misunderstandings, emotional hurt/comfort, fluff and angst…
A/N: Sooooo... This is way, way, waaaaay beyond long overdue. It took a good 5-ish years to make something, but I endeavored in the end. It's the effort that counts, right? If anything, blame my restless brain. For some ungodly reason, it wanted this fic to be mammoth-sized. Usually, I restrain myself to a chapter length of 4,000-8,000 words. This first part, however, wound up to be over 12,000 freakin' words. This is why I had to split my original one-shot idea into separate chapters, or else none of y'all would've ever seen this fic.
I'll also have this cross-posted on AO3 soon. Originally, I meant to post this first part back in late January, but then I got super preoccupied with my last semester. Then, to make things worse, the pandemic hit, so I struggled with school when we switched to online classes.
Anyhow, if I am not mistaken, I did well enough to have passed my courses. Actual grades should be available soon, and so long that everything is set and finalized, my diploma should be mailed to me later on (when it'll arrive idk). Down side is that my plans to go job-hunting and have a liberating summer have gone down the drain. How am I supposed to pay off school loans while the economy (and society tbh) is in shambles?
Anyway, please enjoy this gift of mine and preferably tell me how much you've enjoyed it!
And, as always, pardon me for writing mistakes.
~ Amatsu Kurosaki
Posted: 5/13/20
Already There
Part 1 – Christmas
The holidays turned out to be the best time of Gary's life.
Ever since he was ordered by his gramps to come back home for the month, Gary had spent hours, even days, worrying about how dreadful or how awkward it would be to return home because Ash would also be there. The notion of physically being close to Ash again—to see his childhood friend with his own eyes and to hear his voice with his own ears—had permanently stayed glued to the forefront of his thoughts, frying his nerves numb until he no longer felt connected to his body. It was as if he had reverted into a frightful child, one who was easily scared by his own shadow and therefore could not get a wink of sleep at night.
A week later, here he was in one piece, and, owing to the fact that nothing catastrophic had happened, he had to snort derisively at himself because it was now that he realized that the mindset of the previous him had been foolish and cowardly.
Because everything was fine. No, better than fine. Everything was perfect.
He and Ash were talking again, hanging out again, and being friends again. It was everything he could ever want and more.
Ash Ketchum had already forgiven Gary, long before the young researcher had even noticed it. So really, Gary had spent nearly seven fruitless years with an aching heart and guilt-ridden conscience for nothing.
...Well, maybe not for nothing, per se.
It was worth it seeing his best friend—yes, best friend—beam at him with that mirthful twinkle in his big amber eyes. It was worth it when his best friend called out his name cheerfully every time they met up with each other. It was worth it when they rekindled their long-lost friendship, one that was full of mutually-shared emotions. No more barriers, locked vaults, or brittle ice separated them now, for an open bridge led a way from where Gary stood to where Ash waited for him on the other side.
With all of this in mind, a content smile would spread across Gary's face, for he was eternally grateful that his grandfather had ordered him home—coerced or not. He was finally healed from the unsettling regret that had once swirled in the pit of his stomach for the longest time. He was finally saved from the unbearable burden of denying himself atonement, which would have only gotten worse if left untouched. Now, he was free, capable of flying whenever and wherever he wanted. Actually, scratch that—he would only fly as long as Ash was with him.
Today was such an example. Gary hurried out of his house to rendezvous with Ash, who he spotted already waiting at the front gate. The two of them were going out to meet up with Brock and Misty in Viridian City to deliver the invitations to the Oaks' Christmas Party. Delia had advised that they do so in person, insisting that it was less eventful to receive the cards through the mail. Be that as it may, Ash didn't mind the extra effort at all; he had practically jumped for joy at the prospect of seeing his old friends again. As for Gary, he had shrugged but went along with it anyway.
Thus, everything led to this—the two of them bundled up in their winter gear as they ambled down the dirt road to Viridian City, their footsteps equally matched. The snow that powdered the ground would get crushed beneath the soles of their boots, and occasionally, their coated arms would brush together, but neither of them paid it much mind.
Ash rubbed his hands together in restless anticipation; that, or he needed to warm himself up. He chattered, "I wonder if Brock is doing well with his training," and as he spoke, puffs of white vapor would expel from his chapped lips.
Christmas was soon rolling around the corner, and as it did, the temperature in Pallet Town would steadily decrease. It was currently chilly out this sunny morning, and the last time Gary had checked, it would warm up a few degrees in the afternoon but then plummet below freezing at night.
Gingerly perched on Ash's shoulder was Pikachu, and wrapped snug around its neck was a mini hand-knitted scarf that Delia had merrily made because she thought the electric mouse would need help—even with its fur and natural body fat—to fend off the frigid outdoors.
"Being a doctor takes up so much of his schedule," Ash continued, "so he hasn't been calling much, but he does send mail now and then. Like, one time, there was this cute picture of a Pichu and an Eevee playing together. I immediately thought of Pikachu and Umbreon!"
Gary quirked a brow. "Our Pikachu and Umbreon?" When he emphasized the word our, he had to hold back the appreciative rush of warmth that spread throughout his body, or else he would find himself winded from a head rush.
The raven-haired boy nodded ecstatically. "Yup! Back then, Pikachu and Umbreon never really played with each other, so it's nice to see them act so close now!"
Yeah, Gary privately agreed, a swell of earnest bliss filling up his chest and making his pulse race faster.
Ash absently brushed some accumulating snow off the bill of his cap before speaking up again. "And I wonder what's up with Misty. I know she's still the Gym Leader of Cerulean City, but I wanna see if she's gotten any stronger."
Gary snorted softly. "Already thinking about having a practice match with her?"
"Well, duh!" Ash exclaimed in a giddy manner, not at all defensive. Pikachu let out a squeal when Ash had bounced on his feet eagerly; it clung tight to its trainer's coat so that it wouldn't fall off at the bumpy movement. "I even brought my latest team along with me to battle." As an afterthought, the young champion scratched his cheek, adding sheepishly, "And to show them off since Brock and Misty haven't seen these kinds of Pokémon before."
Indeed, Ash's latest team, which consisted of Pokémon from the far Kalos region, excluding Pikachu, would certainly fascinate and intrigue the water-type gym leader and budding Pokémon doctor.
Then, a lightbulb lit up above Ash's capped head, and he threw an eager, imploring look at his auburn-haired friend. "Hey, Gary...how about we battle some day?"
The question made Gary choke on the crisp, chilly air. "...What?" he coughed.
"You know, battle! Against each other!" reiterated the younger boy, though it was quite unnecessary since Gary had clearly heard him; it was just that he didn't know how to respond to a fastball like that.
Gary rubbed his neck self-consciously, casting his uncertain gaze downward. "Gee, Ash... I haven't had any practice in a long, long while. I kind of don't want to—"
"Awww!" Ash immediately complained with a pout. Pikachu, empathizing with its trainer, also pouted, shooting Gary a dejected look. Darn those two. Couldn't they cease with the adorableness? It was a deadly combo attack to break through his defenses, and it obviously worked well enough because he felt as if his air supply had been cut off, his traitorous body refusing to let him breathe.
In truth, Gary didn't want to battle because, yes, he was out of practice, terribly so, but also because he was afraid of what his reaction might be if he won or lost. Would he feel superior for winning or inferior for losing? He was fearful of igniting past feelings that he'd preferred to keep buried, out of sight and out of mind.
"I'll think about it," he finally answered, tone wary, but it was enough to make Ash back off.
"Yay! I've always wanted to battle you again!" Ash cheered, pumping a fist.
"Why?" Gary asked, honestly curious.
Ash shot his friend a grin. "Because battling with you feels different! I've had a lot of rivals over the years, but when I think of you... You're more special to me than the others."
Gary's footsteps stuttered along in correlation to the dysfunctional puttering of his heartbeat. It was a wild, frantic, but elated tempo, rich warmth spreading throughout his entire body as his heart pumped blood with accelerating vigor. His cheeks, which were already flushed pink from the cold, ripened into a pleased color of red. The auburn-haired male was quick to turn his reddened face away from his friend to hide it. It would've been embarrassing if Ash had seen the appreciative expression that was plain and clear on his face. Stop acting like an open book, Gary Oak. Get ahold of yourself!
Luckily, Ash didn't notice as he kept on chattering on about Brock, Misty, and the upcoming Christmas party, occasionally asking for inputs from Gary and Pikachu. Gary, too rattled to articulate without rambling, wisely zipped his lips and listened to his friend, wordlessly responding with a shake or nod of his head. Soon, the outline of Viridian City rose in the distance, so they picked up their pace, mindful of the time they'd promised to meet up with Brock and Misty.
Viridian City was all too familiar to them, and they easily located the family-owned café that was their designated meeting point. The interior was modest and tidy, with walls painted the color of sunrise and the air imbued with the rich smell of coffee and pastries. Already seated and relaxed at a table was a tall, spiky-haired young man and a young lady with her ginger hair tied up in a single side ponytail.
The moment Ash and Gary hastily ducked into the warm café to escape the chilly outdoors, Misty instantly sprang to her feet and cried out a joyous, "Ash!" and, as if unable to help herself, she launched herself at him.
"Oof!" Ash grunted at his friend's exuberance, but he managed to catch her flying tackle without completely toppling backwards. Having expected the tackle, Pikachu had aptly jumped off of his trainer's shoulder and over to Gary's for refuge. Smart move. "Hiyah, Misty," the young champion huffed breathlessly. "I see your hugs are still bone-crushingly hard."
Misty pulled back at arms' length to look at him exasperatedly, but it was intermingled with fondness. "Oh, Ash, you know to never comment on a woman's strength."
Ash blanched appropriately under Misty's playful glare while Brock sidled up to them, chuckling goodnaturedly. Gary politely gave them some space as he quietly moved over to their chosen table and began to shed his scarf and jacket. Pikachu hopped onto the table and watched with bright eyes as Ash reacquainted himself with his old friends.
In a brotherly gesture, Brock clapped Ash on the shoulder and smiled broadly at him. "It's great to see you again, Ash. Wow, you've grown."
Ash beamed at that, his youthful face brightening up like the rising sun. He straightened up to emphasize his height—he wasn't exactly at Brock's height, but at least Misty had to tilt her chin up to meet his eyes. "Thanks, Brock! I've grown four inches since the last time we met!" Then he shot a sour look past Brock and Misty, his pout directed at his auburn-haired friend who was idly fixing his windblown hair. "But Gary shot up like a tree. He's so tall, now!" he complained.
Attention now on Gary, Brock approached the young researcher and extended a hand. "It's been a while since we last met, Gary. And Ash sure isn't kidding—you've sure grown more than him."
Feeling appreciative of the brotherly aura the doctor-in-training exuded, Gary mustered a modest smile and firmly shook the offered hand. "Thanks, Brock. And it's a pleasure to meet you again." Gary inclined his head at Misty since the gym leader didn't seem willing enough to unlatch herself from Ash. He didn't like how forceful and clingy she was to Ash, but he patiently quelled the urge to separate them. "You too, Misty," he said, his tone casual to mask his annoyance.
Done with the initial reunion, Misty and Brock went over to happily greet Pikachu, who made content sounds as they lavished it with compliments and rubs. Then they all settled down into their seats, and a waitress swept in to take their orders cheerfully. Ash and Gary laughed when, of course, Brock instantly unleashed his princely charm on the lady and, of course, Misty harshly pinched his ear then yanked him away. Giggling, the unfazed waitress told them that she would be back with their orders in a jiffy and flitted away, much to Brock's displeasure.
"Here you gooooo!" Ash sang as he presented his old traveling companions their party invitations. "You're all invited to the Oaks' Christmas party!"
Misty took hers and quirked an inquiring brow at Gary. "Shouldn't it be your job to hand these out?" she asked.
Not really caring for her question, which had an accusing undertone to it, all Gary did was shrug offhandedly. "Sure it is, but Ash wanted to help, so I let him do it instead. Besides, you two are more of his friends than mine."
Brock pocketed his invitation and looked at the auburn-haired researcher gently. "Oh, come on, Gary. You know we consider you as a friend, too."
Yeah, but all the friends I want, I already have, Gary thought, casting a sidelong look at the mentioned person. To him, Ash was worth all the friends anyone could ever have. When he finally glanced away, he caught Misty eyeing him oddly, and his brows pinched together. What was she thinking?
Gary was spared from replying when the waitress dropped by with their hot drinks and platters of delicacies—slices of artfully decorated cake and pie. There was another attempt at flirting from Brock that was effectively shut down by Misty's intervention. Ash and Gary blew at their steaming mugs of hot chocolate, while Brock nursed an injured earlobe and Misty chided him for his shameless acts of wooing women.
"So, who else is coming to the party?" Brock asked conversationally.
Gary sliced into his coconut cream pie with the edge of his fork and answered, "Lots of people. Most of the adults who are attending are old friends and colleagues of Gramps. I think a few of them are doctors, so you could get some insight from them, Brock."
Brock seemed keen on that idea. "That would be wonderful. I've been studying and training for a long while, but nothing would be better than getting firsthand advice from experienced doctors."
Gary ate his bite of pie and then tilted his head sideways at Ash. "And Gramps was kind enough to extend his hospitality to Ash's other friends—the ones from Hoenn, Sinnoh, Unova, and Kalos."
Misty appeared taken aback, her eyes wide. "Really? That's a lot of people visiting the region just for a party." Something made her brighten up. "Ooh! I can see May! I liked hanging out with her!"
Ash licked his lips as if nervous by the prospect of the two girls meeting with each other again. "Y-yeah," he agreed shakily.
Misty leaned in and pinned a pointed look at the raven-haired champion. "Aaaaaand," she drawled out exaggeratedly, "I can meet all of your other friends. I heard you have a couple more girl friends, am I right?"
Ash promptly choked on his drink that he'd just sipped. He quickly snatched up a napkin and coughed into it. "G-g-girl friends?" he sputtered. "Misty! I'm not a ladies' man. Why are you— Stop trying to make me sound like one!
Yeah, stop it, Gary fumed, glaring at the gym leader. He could practically hear all the hissing jealousy that was masterfully disguised underneath a teasing tone. Well, too bad for her. He was much more perceptive than Ash and Brock and was all too aware of how she seemed overly attached and pushy with the newly minted champion.
Brock chuckled mildly and placed a placating hand on Misty's shoulder. The girl was practically out of her seat when she had leaned forward too far. "Now, now, Misty. Don't tease poor Ash like that. I'm sure he has already told you that he hasn't gotten together with anyone during his travels. His mother hasn't mentioned anything either."
Ash blanched meekly, beads of sweat breaking out along his hairline, when Misty scrutinized him with a piercing stare full of suspicion. Then, resigning, the gym leader heaved a sigh and sank back down into her chair. She gave Brock a significant sidelong look.
"His expression says he hasn't been with anyone, but I have a gut feeling that he's hiding something in that particular area," she proclaimed with the dead-set certainty of a passionate journalist, and Brock nodded slowly in agreement.
At Misty's speculation, Gary had frozen in bewilderment. A strange tingling sensation had traveled down his spine upon catching Ash's Stantler-caught-in-headlights look. It was as if Ash had seen a ghost, and Gary then realized, with a faint sense of a cold rush, that his best friend had been prudently hiding something and had been consciously carrying that burden before reuniting with him.
And Gary wanted to find out what it was, bad. If Ash was having trouble with dating someone or—dare he admit it—liking someone, then Gary wanted to know so that he could...so that he could help, and not because he felt a wrench of wrongness.
"Pikapi?" Pikachu chirped, coming over to Ash and nuzzling its trainer's ashen cheek with the top of its head. The Pokémon, being fluently attuned to Ash, had automatically picked up on the boy's emotions and was disconcerted by the drastic change it perceived. Seeing that made Gary immediately jump to his best friend's defense.
"Misty, cut it out," the young researcher snapped. "You shouldn't poke your nose into other people's business."
Misty looked peeved at his biting rebuke and opened her mouth to retort, but when she finally noticed how quiet and fidgety Ash had gotten, his gaze flitting elsewhere and his lips pressed into a thin, uneasy line, she quickly changed her mind and forced an easygoing smile. "Yeah, sorry about that, Ash. I was just...worried, that's all."
Liar, Gary wanted to accuse but instead mindfully held his tongue for Ash's sake. He knew that Ash wanted him to get along with his other friends, so he had to watch his behavior, although he wished that a certain ginger-haired brat would return the favor.
"Are you okay, Ash?" Brock asked in a soft and comforting tone.
The raven-haired trainer smiled bleakly and patted Pikachu's side, wordlessly expressing his gratitude for being genuinely worried over. "Y-yes. It's nothing to argue over, guys." He met Gary's probing gaze purposefully, and the latter saw a wary light in those stunning amber eyes. "Misty was just trying to dig up stuff about me to gossip about."
"Right," the researcher allowed carefully, his tone a drawl in an attempt to return to his usual verve.
If Ash wanted to drop the subject, then he would drop the subject.
But only until they were alone would he bring it back up again.
For the remainder of their little get-together, they spent it at the Pokémon Center since Ash wanted to release his Pokémon team to introduce them to his old friends. As expected, Brock and Misty were enthralled by the extraordinary Pokémon. True to his nature as an aspiring Pokémon doctor, Brock couldn't contain his enthusiasm as he drilled Ash with a variety of questions while invading the personal bubbles of the mentioned trainer's partners, feverishly examining their eyes, teeth, ears, wings, and so on. Seeing how the raven-haired champion was at a lost, Gary decided to rescue him by answering the former gym leader's questions in his stead, already knowledgeable of the Kalos region Pokémon considering that he was studying there and had been present when his gramps had gone gaga over Ash's team.
Then, once he had recovered from his initial helplessness, Ash challenged Misty to a short battle, to which the water-type trainer instantly accepted with an interested gleam in her eyes. Brock offered to be the referee, while Gary sat as a spectator on a nearby bench, accompanied by Pikachu, who Ash had asked to opt-out since everyone was well-versed in his starter's battle prowess.
Thus, it was the Kalos Region Pokémon League Champion versus the Kanto Region Cerulean City Gym Leader.
It was no surprise who won.
"I'll get you next time, Ash!" Misty proclaimed, shaking her fist in mock anger at her grinning friend as he recalled his Greninja back into its ball. "You just got lucky!"
Brock released a hearty string of laughter at that. "You're just upset he pulled a fast one on you, Misty."
Ash scratched his cheek as he contritely said, "Sorry, Misty, but I couldn't exactly go easy on you. I gotta keep up my rep as a champion."
With Pikachu cradled in his arms, Gary rose from the bench and crossed over to Ash. "That was an amazing battle, Ash. Seeing your team duke it out in person beats watching them on TV." Your boundless fighting spirit hasn't dimmed at all, he thought fondly as Pikachu leapt free from his arms to land blissfully into its trainer's.
Brock nodded along with Gary's assessment. "It was quite a spectacle to behold! Especially seeing all those moves used in different ways!"
"Anyway, we should be heading back now," Gary inputted after noting the time. It was a quarter till three. "If we stay out any longer, we'll freeze on the walk back."
At the reminder, the group began doling out their farewells and promises to see each other again soon. Brock and Misty had to use the public transit buses to make it home. Meanwhile, Ash and Gary waited a bit while the former's team underwent a brief checkup by Nurse Joy before they disembarked Viridian City on foot.
As they were before, they were alone.
And that distracted Gary. Terribly.
Should I ask him...? About what Misty was insinuating in the café?
"...Is something the matter, Gary?" Ash piped up about halfway down the route.
Too preoccupied in his thoughts, Gary only uttered a loose "Huh?" and belatedly realized his mistake when Ash gave him a worried frown. "Sorry, I zoned out. What did you say?"
Ash's lower lip jutted out as he pouted pensively, and that movement invoked something warm and tempting inside Gary as he silently gawked at his friend's mouth. "You're zoning out again," complained the shorter boy. "Hey! Snap out of it! Geez, you've been acting weird since we met up with Brock and Misty."
The cold air failed to keep Gary's blush in check, so he hunched his shoulders and dipped his chin into the collar of his coat to quickly obscure his flushed complexion. "...Just lost in thought," he grunted evasively, forcing himself not to falter in his footsteps. Inwardly, though, he was berating himself for being enthralled by his best friend's lips of all things! Bad! Bad! Stupid hormones! Knock it off!
A miffed huff was the raven-haired boy's response. "You better not be angry at something that Misty or Brock did." In an unconscious gesture, one that meant he was seeking comfort, he raised his hand to rub Pikachu's nape, to which the electric mouse mewled in appreciation, leaning into its trainer's touch. "I know you butt heads with Misty all the time, but today wasn't that bad, was it?" He murmured that last part morosely to himself before perking up at an alternative assumption. "Ah! Or maybe you're worried about being kept away from your research for so long! Well, I can see that. This must be the first time you've been on a long break, huh?"
I had it coming, Gary admitted with a bittersweet tang. And Gramps certainly ensured that my sorry behind made it home this year. Inclining his head discreetly, he studied the profile of his babbling companion with lowered lashes. And if it weren't for you, Ash...I would've never stepped one foot outside the house.
"Yeah," sighed the taller boy, for the sake of replying to the other's worries. "But I'll be fine. I'll get over it."
Would he? Could he? Something heavy coiled in his gut—a foreboding sign of something that would abruptly flip the tables for him in the near future.
He only hoped, at the very least, if this something turned out to be catastrophic that he wouldn't lose Ash in the process.
He didn't think he could survive a second time without his special someone.
For several days, Gary managed to bottle up the maddening urge to march right over to Ash and demand the truth if he likes someone. He shoved the intrusive question far down in the dark confines of his mind as he continued to spend quality time with his childhood friend. Whether it was his intention or not, Ash took the lead in showing Gary how to enjoy his well-deserved vacation, much to Professor Oak's (smug) satisfaction. Together, as an inseparable unit, they tended to their Pokémon, shared stories about their travels, went on leisurable strolls, showed up for hearty meals at each other's places, and watched all sorts of movies they had missed out on from being busy.
It was a perfect, harmonious remedy for the two souls who grew up without a moment to take a pacifying breath of fresh air.
That is, until the guests for the Oaks' Christmas party started to arrive, one by one.
At first, Gary was fine with the idea of Ash reuniting with his former traveling companions, all of whom the latter missed fiercely, but then his poor mind finally registered how many people, exactly, that his grandpa had allowed Ash to invite over.
Holy Magikarp. Pallet Town is gonna burst at the seams if this many people are gonna stay in town, thought the researcher with a wince as he skimmed through the guest list a second time. The names with stars marked next to them were the individuals who had been invited and had promised to come on Ash's behalf. Because of Brock's family, that's well over twenty-something people. The Oak residence had already offered its rooms to some of them: Tracey (who practically owned one of the guest rooms), the large group from Hoenn—May, Max, Norman, Caroline, and Drew—and the gym leader triplets from Striaton City—Cilan, Chili, and Cress. Meanwhile, the modest Ketchum residence would house the family from Lumiose City—Clemont, Bonnie, and Meyer—and sharing a room would be Dawn and Johanna from Sinnoh. Everyone else, unfortunately, would have to lodge at an inn for the time being.
So far, if not including Professor Oak's guests, the ones accounted for and currently residing in town were: Tracey, May, Max, Norman, Caroline, Drew, Dawn, and Johanna. Gary knew that Misty, Brock, and the latter's family would probably leave their hometowns in the early morning of the party so that they could make it on time. As for the others on the list, Delia relayed that some of her son's friends had left voicemails mentioning that they were either soon boarding their planes or were on their way to Pallet Town now.
It was all so hectic.
Currently outside in the Oaks' vast pasture was Ash, who was hanging out with Dawn, Max, May, Drew, and Tracey. The raven-haired trainer had crowed his congratulations when May had delightfully announced that she and Drew were dating, their relationship about eight months along. Then, simultaneously, she and Ash whipped their gazes Dawn's way, who flinched, expecting an onslaught of nosy questions.
"So...any progress with you-know-who?"
"That Conway guy hasn't been bothering you, has he?"
Dawn sputtered and flitted about nervously, but even when put on the spot, she managed to reply in a rather hasty way. "No, no, no! Kenny and I haven't gotten together. I mean, it's hard to when our schedules don't line up. But we keep in touch, now and then. Oh, and about Conway"—at this moment, she rolled her eyes exasperatedly—"ugh. Just, ugh! I can't believe he still hasn't given up on me yet! Last Valentine's, he literally showed up at my workplace with chocolates and a bouquet! And then he burst into a dramatic poem about how he thought I was pretty the moment I came downstairs to shoo him off! It was so embarrassing!" She stamped her feet in frustration while Ash and May failed to cover up their laughter. "Grrr! The next time I see him, I'm gonna to put him in his place!"
Giggling, May beckoned at Dawn in a come here gesture, to which the latter obliged so that the two of them could toss some ideas back and forth conspiringly while Ash and Drew were wise enough to leave them alone. In the end, although she didn't want to bother Kenny, Dawn tucked a few suggestions away for safekeeping.
By the time Gary went outside after running some errands for his gramps, he found the others roaming about, playing with the Pokémon and exchanging funny stories here and there. May's younger brother, Max, was the most enthusiastic, as he was presently a novice trainer. He chattered on about his experiences with a spirit that was so achingly familiar to Gary.
Tracey was the first to notice his presence, wondering where he had disappeared off to, but all Gary did was cite an excuse about helping out his grandpa before remarking that "Mrs. Ketchum and the other moms will be done with lunch soon, so..."
Tracey nodded, knowing what the other was hinting at. "Alright," he said. "Let's round everyone up, then. We need to feed the Pokémon first."
Much like everyone else these days, many of Professor Oak's assistants and colleagues were absent, having returned to their respective homes to enjoy their holidays, so lately, it was up to whoever was around to take care of the Pokémon. Thankfully, Ash's friends were all too happy to volunteer. Just as they were done tending to the Pokémon, Johanna appeared, calling for them from the patio doors.
"Kids! Lunch is ready! Come in and wash your hands, okay?"
"Yes, ma'am!" they chorused in return and began racing each other back to the house.
Lunch was a lively affair, with spare tables and chairs added to accommodate everyone. Gary had nabbed a seat in between Ash and Max, and with numerous conversations floating around, the young researcher found himself supplying plenty of input on various topics, especially to Max and Dawn, as the two of them were big fans of his grandfather's research and poetry (Gary winced at that last part).
Sometime later, as many of them were beginning to stack their empty plates in the sink, the doorbell rang.
Ash was instantly on his feet. "I'll get it!" he exclaimed giddily, grinning. He breezed out of the kitchen, followed by an excited gaggle of his friends, chanting, "Who is it? Who is it?"
Moderately curious as well, Gary rose from his seat and slipped into the main hallway. The front entryway was crowded with bodies, and the atmosphere was loudly intermixed with joyous greetings and eager introductions.
"Wow, triplet gym leaders!" Max gasped in awe. "That's so cool!"
"And their mannerisms are to die for," giggled Dawn.
"Not to mention their fancy cooking," Ash joked with a playful wink towards the green-haired gym leader.
"Oh, you flatter me, my friend," Cilan kindly returned, pretending to be overly delighted by swooning. Laughs erupted at the humorous display.
Gary cleared his throat and stepped forward with a hand extended. "Hello, welcome to the Oak residence. I'm Gary, Professor Oak's grandson."
After dipping into a bow, Cilan, Chili, and Cress formally introduced themselves and then firmly shook hands with the Oak scion. All of that was done with an elegant touch, and Gary had to admit that he was impressed. Then Gary, Ash, and Max offered to haul their belongings upstairs to their pre-assigned rooms while the others ushered the triplets into the kitchen for a late lunch. Gary had a feeling that the three brothers would get an exceptionally warm reception from the mothers, who would all fall for their suave charm.
"That's almost everyone who are coming from out-of-region," Ash commented with a mirthful smile, his hands twined behind his back. "I think everyone flying in from Kalos will arrive after dinnertime. Though, I wouldn't be surprised if they got delayed." He snickered. "Usually, Clemont gets sidetracked by the littlest things, and Serena's the one who gets reeeeeal nitpicky when it comes to plans."
Gary smirked. "Sounds like a handful. You didn't make matters worse when you traveled with them, did you?"
The shorter boy swatted his friend on the shoulder, squawking defensively, "No, I didn't! I actually thought we balanced each other out."
The two of them bantered back and forth about past faults that the other had caused until Max, who had bounded back downstairs ahead of them, hollered at them to hurry up so that they, as a group, could decide what to do to pass time.
Spitting out his tongue at the taller male, Ash broke into a run, dashing down the hall for the stairs, whereas Gary merely shrugged and followed after him in a more sedate stride.
Aside from minding the Pokémon with Tracey and his gramps, Gary primarily spent his day on the sidelines, observing his childhood friend as he interacted hyperactively with his visiting friends. He was never too close or too far from Ash, and it seemed that the young champion was unconsciously doing the same, frequently making eye contact or sharing private smiles with the emerald-eyed male.
Leaning against the warm bulk of his Arcanine while his shin was being affectionately nuzzled by Umbreon, Gary lifted his distant gaze to the azure sky and heaved a long, gusty exhalation.
Only a little while longer, he thought, as he coaxed the ache in his chest to gentle to a dull throb. A little while longer, and then it'll just be me and Ash again.
From a short distance away, a certain pair of vibrant amber eyes stared quizzically at the quiet auburn-haired male.
Because, with his eyes now closed to the heavens as he stood there still and serene, it almost looked like he was praying.
And somehow, that image would forever remain unforgotten by Ash.
As the sun dipped below the horizon and the temperature plummeted, those who occupied the Oaks' residence settled down, influenced by the wintry outdoors to seek shelter. The kids (as the parents fondly called them) were lounging in the large living room, chatting amongst themselves or watching the Christmas specials that were being aired on TV. Steaming mugs of hot chocolate and apple cider were cupped between hands greedily seeking warmth. Pairs of them, like Ash and Gary, shared a blanket to huddle up under.
"Oh, my," Cilan said with a small chuckle as his redheaded brother yawned. "That was a mighty yawn there. You must be exhausted, Chili."
"Mm-hmm," Chili replied drowsily, using a fist to rub the spot under his eye. "'M tired, but it's not that late yet."
Cress quirked a brow at him. "Well, that's what happens when you force yourself to stay awake instead of resting at the appropriate times."
Chili pouted, his eyelids drooped low. "You know I get too excited to fall asleep properly."
"At this point, I'm sure we're all too lethargic to do anything but sleep," Drew intoned, noting how a handful of them were nodding off. "How about we retire early?"
There were no protests to Drew's proposal, so everyone began clearing the living room. Still wide-awake, Cilan collected the mugs to be washed after bidding everyone a pleasant good night. Cress had to steer a bleary-eyed Chili up the stairs, mindful not to let him trip. Not far behind the gym leaders were Max, May, Drew, and Tracey.
Gary was neatly folding up the blankets when he heard Ash say, "Hey, Gary? Could you...help me with something?"
"Huh?" Done with the last blanket, the auburn-haired male turned around to see Ash trying to jostle a slumbering Dawn awake, but the coordinator was unresponsive, her entire form slack where she was curled up in the corner of the couch. There was a bulge of something nestled in Ash's jacket hood, and Gary realized it was Pikachu. The yellow mouse must've climbed into its trainer's hood sometime earlier and had been lulled asleep by the latter's body heat.
"Out like a Snorlax," sighed Ash. "I would carry her back to my place since Johanna already left with Mom, but..." He looked at the older boy pointedly.
Gary rolled his eyes. "But you have me," he finished. "Of course. Why am I not surprised that you would dump all the heavy lifting to me?"
Ash clasped his hands together as if in prayer. "Pretty please?" he begged. "You know how far it is, and I'm not that strong. She'll catch a cold if I take too long to get there."
"Fine," Gary yielded gruffly, withholding an irritable huff when the raven-haired male erupted into a string of "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"
Since she had fallen asleep with her coat and scarf on, all they had to do was zip up her boots and cram on her beanie before Ash helped to maneuver Dawn onto Gary's back, making sure that her arms hung over the latter's shoulders. The young researcher hardly staggered under the girl's weight.
"Off we go!" Ash sang as they stepped out of the house and into the night.
"I swear if you start singing, I'll consider this as an act of torture," Gary groused.
"I won't. I won't," reassured the young champion, keeping pace with his auburn-haired friend as they made their way to the main road, the latter taking extra care in where he tread for the oblivious girl on his back. The snow must've been plowed earlier in the day because there were stray patches of white littering the path, otherwise whoever did the job certainly missed a lot of spots.
"So...any word from your Kalos friends?" Gary asked, making light talk.
A knit formed between his childhood friend's brows as he contemplated. "Nope. Not a thing. Their plane was supposed to land sometime around dinner, then it takes about an hour or two to get here." Distracted, Ash reached up to adjust Dawn's beanie, also straightening out the unkempt strands of her hair as he did so. "I guess we'll find out soon. Mom went home before us, so maybe she has a clue if they left a message."
Gary grunted. "As long as they show up for the party, then being late won't matter. But still, why waste all that effort to come here if they're only gonna stay a short while?"
Ash gnawed on his lower lip in thought. "Well, they don't have to leave right after," he deliberated, habitually raising a hand to stroke Pikachu's slumbering form. "Mom and I won't mind if any of them wanna stay a little longer. Our home is a shelter for all—at least, that's what Mom likes to say."
A wince from Gary went unnoticed by the pondering raven-haired trainer. If he spends more time with them, he grumbled in apprehension, then there'll be less time for me. Has it not occurred to him that our vacations will eventually end, too? I'm set to return a few days after New Year's. That's barely two weeks from now. He cast a dismayed look at his clueless childhood friend over the arm Dawn had resting on his shoulder. I forgot to ask when he flies back to Kalos...
"Finally! Home sweet home!" Ash cheered, picking up his pace when his house emerged from the dim background. Grinning, he reached the front gate first, and when Gary finally caught up with a still snoozing Dawn on his back, he pretended to be a doorman, dramatically sweeping the wooden gate open with a bow of his head. Gary snorted at his antics, not responding to the tease of "After you, good sir," as he sauntered up the porch steps and waited for his cheeky friend to open the front door.
However, before Ash could even touch the doorknob, it was yanked wide open to reveal a young, beaming face.
"Hi, Ash!"
The young champion reared back in surprise, a gasp wrenched from his throat. "B-Bonnie?!"
Two more simpering faces appeared in the doorway as Bonnie tackled Ash for a hug, the sudden movement startling Pikachu awake. "Don't forget us!" chimed the older girl.
Ash laughed, resting a hand on Bonnie's shoulder as she reached up to apologize to Pikachu for giving it a rude wake-up call. "Of course not! Who do you take me for, Serena?"
"An inhospitable airhead who forgot I did him a huge favor of piggybacking his sleeping friend all the way to his house in the freezing cold," Gary deadpanned, trying hard not to glare at the people blocking the doorway.
The bespectacled boy immediately reacted, nudging Serena out of the way and hastily beckoning Gary in while stammering out profuse apologies. Merely acknowledging the unfamiliar visitor with a grunt, Gary shuffled inside and managed to catch Johanna's attention where she was making chitchat with Delia and two other adults in the kitchen. Dawn's mother ushered him to the correct room, and being gentle with his movements, he slid Dawn off his back and onto her borrowed bed. Johanna thanked him and proceeded to help make her daughter more comfortable in bed while Gary nodded and exited the room.
Skulking over to the living room, Gary stumbled upon the scene of an excited Ash babbling to his visitors, all available seats taken. Not knowing what to do, he hovered by the mouth of the hallway and leaned against the wall. He was beginning to wonder if he should leave until he heard Ash exclaim, "Oh, and over there is my friend, Gary Oak! He's Professor Oak's grandson."
Glancing up, Gary was greeted by the sight of numerous eyes, each one boring into him with either curiosity or amazement. He cleared his throat and gave a two-fingered salute. "That's me," he affirmed lightly. "Welcome to Pallet Town."
Without breaking a beat, Ash introduced him to his friends, gesturing at the respective person as he did so. "This is Clemont, the Lumiose Gym Leader, and his sister Bonnie. Their dad, Meyer, is in the kitchen talking to Mom—and so is Serena's mom, Grace."
"And this little one is Dedenne!" Bonnie explained, pointing at the tiny copper mouse playing with Pikachu on the coffee table.
I already know what kind of Pokémon it is, Gary thought dismissively, but aloud he asked, "What took you so long to get here?"
Serena, who sat close enough to Ash that their knees bumped, said, "Oh! Well, it took some time to find our belongings, and once we arrived in Pallet Town, all of us thought it'd be a fun idea to surprise Ash when he came home." She giggled behind her hand. "We asked his mom not to say anything and waited, but we didn't expect for him to return so late."
It's not that late, Gary argued in his head rather than vocalizing it. It didn't matter much since the newcomers were chatterboxes, easily taking control of the conversation by catching up with Ash, whom they hadn't seen in person for the past several months. Again, the auburn-haired researcher felt fairly excluded, almost to the point of being forgotten, which was unlike how he felt when he had to tolerate Ash's other friends earlier today. It had been easier then, considering that they had hung out at his home. Plus, Gary had his Pokémon and occasionally Tracey for company. Here, in Ash's own home, surrounded by the latest batch of his former traveling companions, the atmosphere was...suffocating. All he could see, hear, and feel were these strangers who had closed ranks around Ash as if he was the sun that had captured them in his gravitational field.
But Gary found that understandable. Relatable. He knew firsthand how powerful and compelling it was to be sucked into Ash's range of gravity.
Be that as it may, it didn't mean he liked it when he had to witness other people be affected by his childhood friend's heartwarming aura.
"Serena!" called out Grace. "We still haven't checked into the inn yet, so we better get a move on!"
Serena frowned delicately, not wanting to part so soon after reuniting with the raven-haired champion, but then Bonnie reminded her that there was a party tomorrow, so she relented and promised to see them there. Soon, she was out the door with her mother and luggage.
"I should head home, too," Gary admitted in a low voice after glimpsing at the clock. It was almost nine-thirty.
Ash pouted. "Are you sure you don't wanna stay and talk more?"
If you had bothered to pay attention, you'd know I barely spoke a word, griped the older male in a surly tone. And you're already seventeen, for crying out loud! Why are you pouting?
"No thanks," he replied stiffly, pushing off the wall that he'd been reclined against. "I'm good. Besides, I gotta wake up early tomorrow to help out Gramps. The house needs to be organized for the party."
Ash blinked and stood up to follow his friend as he crossed over to the door. "Oh, should I come over and help? Sounds like a lot of work."
Gary shook his head, grasping the doorknob. "Don't bother. Knowing you, you'll sleep in."
The mild ridicule made Ash frown grumpily. "Not always! Watch! I'll set my alarm and—"
"It's fine, Ash," interjected the auburn-haired male. He twisted the knob and tugged the door open. A frigid blast of air answered him, swiftly seeping into his clothes. "I'll see you tomorrow. Good night."
"O-okay. Ni—"
Gary left before the young champion could even finish his goodbye.
As he trekked home with his coat collar pulled up high over his chin and his fists buried deep within his pockets, the question that had been eating his conscience for days came back to haunt him at full-force.
Hey, Ash.
Her name was Serena—that girl with the sweet, dainty voice and adoring blue eyes.
Do you like someone?
It burned—the image of her being so close to Ash. Their knees had been touching. Her gaze had stayed fixated on his face.
That someone...is it her?
The heavy, unknown feeling in his gut roiled, unpleasant and searing.
Gary had been unable to fall asleep during the night, so when his alarm had blared noisily to rouse him at seven o'clock, his hand had whipped out to silence it in an instant. Groaning from the lack of sleep, he had risen from bed with a throbbing headache. After getting ready for the day, he had swallowed some painkillers, chasing it down with his coffee, and then had hurried to help his gramps with prepping the house for the party. Between doing that and also partnering up with Tracey to take care of the Pokémon, the young Oak had been unable to find a spare moment to even breathe.
He nearly collapsed when Cilan tracked him down to inform him that lunch was ready.
"Are you okay?" the gym leader asked in concern, not missing how Gary's complexion seemed exceptionally pale, along with the slight sway to his posture.
Gary held up a finger, the universal sign for give me a moment. Thankfully, Cilan obliged, though he did extend a hand, worried that the younger male might topple over. Focus on breathing. In and out. Tilting his chin up, the young researcher stared at the sky and centered himself. Eventually, as the seconds passed, the world stopped swaying.
"Sorry about that," he finally said, facing the older male. "Just a dizzy spell from running myself ragged. Had a headache since this morning."
"Oh, dear. That's not good," Cilan said with a sympathetic frown. "Did you take medicine? Or do you need another dose?"
"Probably another dose," Gary admitted in a mumble, massaging his pounding temple with a numb hand. The wintry outdoors eased the pain a bit, but he knew if he continued to work himself to the bone in his current condition, his poor body would soon buckle and earn him a day in bed.
That meant he would miss out on the party, which he absolutely refused to do. Why would I leave— Not while Ash is—
"Come on, then. Let's get some medicine and food in you, alright?" Without asking, Cilan placed a steady hand on the researcher's upper back and guided him to the house. Though mildly disgruntled at the contact, Gary accepted the help, too exhausted to protest. Before he entered the warm interior of his home, Gary quietly told Cilan that he wanted to rest in his room for a while and requested for him to keep mum about his sickly condition. Cilan promised, but only if Gary properly stayed in bed and ate something for nourishment.
"Did anyone ask for me?" Gary groaned when Cilan entered his room with a tray of food. He was sprawled out on his bed, his arm draped over his worn face.
"Yes, but I merely told them that you went to go take a nap since you were dead on your feet." Cilan set the tray down on the desk, then he peered at the auburn-haired male worriedly. "Do you need to check your temperature? I can go find a thermometer, if you want."
"'S fine. Don't worry about it."
"Alright, then. I'll let you rest. Oh, and please do remember to eat, as well."
Gary muttered his thanks, and Cilan patted his arm consolingly before taking his leave. With a heavy exhale, the young researcher sat up and glanced at the tray. There was a bowl of steaming stew, a fat roll of bread, and a glass of water. Underneath the top fold of the napkin, he realized, were two pills.
He must've hidden them so the others wouldn't notice that they're meant for me. Hm, not bad. He's one smart cookie.
Stretching out an arm, he grabbed the pills and weighed them in his palm for a moment.
Ash sure has some nice friends.
Several hours later, it was official—the Oaks' Christmas Party was in full swing.
The entirety of the mansion's first floor was adorned in Christmas-themed decorations—wreaths attached with ribbons and bells hung on every door and entryway; intertwined strings of fairy lights and artificial garlands festooned the lengths of banisters and ledges; lit candles in artfully designed holders produced a lovely fragrance that filled all the rooms. Last but not least, a large Christmas tree, bedecked with colorful ornaments, tinsel, and topped with a cute figurine of Jirachi, engulfed a large portion of the living room.
Holiday music set at a modest volume played from the stereo. A mouthwatering aroma saturated the kitchen as it overflowed with an abundance of appetizers, refreshments, and entrées arranged on counters and long tables.
In a way, perhaps there was little need for the heater to be on when warmth already enveloped the atmosphere. Heat emanated from the numerous bodies, candles, and light fixtures that dominated the interior. Alternatively, the cold could be warded off by eating a hot meal or by resting near the softly crackling fireplace.
As for the attendees, it was no surprise that many of the adults flocked together, sharing stories about their family or work. They lightly bantered back and forth about who had the cutest child or who had the most entertaining tale while sipping their stately glasses of wine.
In contrast, the children stuffed their bellies with delicious food or played games in the rec room. Half of the older ones acted responsibly by keeping a close eye on the kids, while the other half kept their distance, not wanting to get involved with their childish antics.
Out of everyone in the party, the most popular had to be Ash.
Trainers, fans, and curious individuals alike all swarmed around the Kalos League Champion like a Mothra drawn to a flame. There was no use in escaping now that his identity was a package deal with public recognition. Therefore, Ash tolerated the fawning and the giggling to a certain degree. He was courteous, but the incessant wave of overexuberant interactions put a strain on his vigor.
Thankfully, some of his friends, like Misty, Clemont, and Serena, stayed by his side, which made the ordeal less agonizing. Thick-skinned as she was, Misty didn't mind chastising anyone who seemed too nosy or handsy with Ash. And when it seemed like being stern wouldn't do the trick, then some placid reasoning from Clemont or sweet reassurance from Serena would fix that.
Eventually, the crowd that had barricaded Ash in one place for most of the evening abated, finally giving him the chance to mingle with his close friends instead. Now more open and relaxed, Ash was all bright eyes and warm smiles with them. Misty was recounting their battle from last time, clenching her fist in mock anger as she warned everyone to keep their guard up if they wanted to battle the raven-haired champion.
She asserted, "His Greninja is no joke, I tell you," but her attempt at using a surly tone was ruined by the intense love and respect she had for water-type Pokémon. "The way it moved in and out of the water was impressive. Geez, if only I had one, too, I'm so jealous."
Tracey patted her shoulder consolingly. "Maybe if you asked real nicely, Ash might find one for you."
Everyone glanced at the mentioned trainer, who reacted by waving his hands meekly. "H-hey, hold on. I'm not the right person to ask," he argued. "Greninja chose me as its trainer when it was a little Froakie. I have no idea where to catch one."
Misty sighed. "Drat. There goes that idea."
"Perhaps you should visit Kalos one day," Clemont kindly suggested to the fellow gym leader. "I could introduce you to Professor Sycamore." Delighted by that idea, Misty thanked the bespectacled boy, and the two of them started a discussion on when it was the best time to visit Kalos.
In the meantime, a dreamy expression softened May's features as she commented, "Oooh, I'd love to visit Kalos. They have world-renowned restaurants, fashion shows, and tourist sites. Even seeing a Pokémon Showcase in person would make my day."
Serena perked up at that. "You watch the showcases?"
"Yup! I think it's spectacular!" May enthused approvingly. "When I'm in a slump, sometimes I watch showcases to help me hatch new contest moves. That, or it boosts my motivation. I've seen some of your performances, too. Nice job." The compliment caused Serena's cheeks to color.
"Your showcases have more activities involved," Drew observed, going along with his girlfriend's assessment, "but the performances themselves are essentially similar to contests, just without the periodic battling."
Serena scratched her cheek bashfully, taking a step closer to Ash as if to seek comfort from him. "Y-yeah, I'm not a hundred percent confident in my battling skills. That's why I favor showcase performances more."
Ash lightly bumped his shoulder to hers, giving her a sideways grin. "Oh, come on. You're not giving yourself enough credit. What? Did my coaching not help?"
Although he was just teasing her, Serena felt offended on his behalf. She quickly reassured him. "No! No! Nothing like that! I've learned lots from you, Ash! I wouldn't have made it this far without you!" Flustered, she hadn't realized that she had grabbed his sleeve, invading his personal space in an almost suffocating manner. All of this did not go unnoticed by Misty, who stared at the two with critical eyes.
Actually, she wasn't the only one.
Blazing emerald eyes gazed at the scene from afar with growing displeasure.
But Gary didn't make a move. Not yet, anyway.
"You're quite cozy with Ash. Is there something going on between you two?"
In a single blow, Misty's bold remark had cleaved through the bubble that ensconced the assumed lovebirds.
Ash blinked, and Serena stiffened.
It was a mistake of theirs to have not answered quickly enough, because Misty plowed on, ignoring the way Tracey squeezed her arm in warning. "I'm only asking because you've been clinging to him all day. If you were hoping that it wasn't noticeable, then I hate to break it to you—it was."
Everyone in the group was struck dumb by the abrupt turn of events. Nothing deflated an easygoing mood faster than bad blood and drama.
"T-that's n-not it," Serena protested feebly, her face mortifyingly pink. Despite being accosted in front of an audience, she did not separate herself from the very person she had a blatant crush on. If anything, she crept closer to him, trying to hide. "W-we're not together."
Misty crossed her arms, unconvinced. "So, you don't have any feelings for him?"
"Misty…" Ash wanted to admonish his friend for her brash behavior, but he faltered, at a loss for words.
As for Serena, she was vehemently shaking her head. She rushed to justify herself, crying out, "I didn't say that! It's just—Ash and I, we have…a history together. But a lot of circumstances stood in the way of…of… W-we didn't have the chance to…"
"To?" Clemont prodded gently before Misty could do so in a harsh tone. During their travels together, he had a hunch that Serena was infatuated with Ash. This suspicion of his had been confirmed that day they had parted ways with the performer at the airport. The image had remained vivid in his memories, of that fleeting farewell kiss Serena had given to Ash on impulse.
"…talk," Serena finished lamely, ducking her head so that she could hide behind her short hair.
"History, huh?" Misty shook her head, correcting, "If anyone has a history with Ash, it's Gary. Those two grew up together."
As if it was an automatic response of his, when Tracey glanced around, he was met with Gary's solemn gaze dead on. Dread coursed through him like a shock of electricity, and he uttered a small, guilty sound, stricken by the sudden comprehension that the Oak scion had heard everything, and judging by his dark, stormy expression, whatever he had heard didn't sit well with him.
Because the sketch artist was in the corner of her vision, Misty did not miss how his posture went taut with trepidation, and that urged her to follow his line of sight. Now realizing their predicament, she straightened up defensively and withheld a grimace when Gary emerged from his secluded corner to march straight towards the distressed raven-haired trainer. With every step Gary took, Ash seemed to get paler and paler, his gaze glassy and faraway. However, all eyes were on Gary, who huffed at them, his glower prominent.
"Is this how you treat him when all he wants to do is to spend some quality time with his friends?"
The scathing emphasis on that last word felt like a slap to the face. Misty pursed her lips but didn't lower her eyes from his glower. Serena had skittered back a few steps, intimidated by the older boy's powerful presence. Everyone else squirmed, disturbed by the torment brought forth by the accusation, though Tracey shook off the heavy feeling with practice. The sketch artist exchanged a significant look with Gary, who understood the message right away.
Gary grabbed his best friend's hand and tugged him away with a casual "Come on, Ash."
Behind him, a bout of objections erupted, but Gary felt zero remorse for ditching the group. Serves them right. He steered his quiet friend far away from the party, ascending the stairs to the second story where partygoers were barred from entering. The two of them passed by many of the bedrooms, for Gary's true destination was the little balcony in the very back. He pried open the door and nudged Ash outside.
A gust of cold air washed over them in greeting. The bite of the freezing temperatures faintly stirred Ash from his stupor, and a tiny scrunch of confusion appeared between his brows as he was coaxed to sit in one of the padded patio chairs. Fortunately, not much snow had piled on to the chair, since the extension of the roof provided an overhang that warded off most elements. The other chair, however, remained unoccupied. Gary stood by the balustrade instead, leaning his arms on the railing.
Quiet.
They were both so quiet.
Gary was rigid from searing indignation, ready to blow a fuse if a match was struck, whereas Ash was numb from alarm and upheaval, so pale and still that he could be mistaken as a statue carved out of ice.
Away.
They weren't looking at each other.
Gary kept his eyes trained on the scene below, the view of the sweeping garden with its winding rivers and dense woodlands all too familiar to him, even when drained of color, for the palette of winter was pale and white. In his case, though his gaze was cast downward at his lap, Ash wasn't really seeing anything, not when his mind had retreated too far behind its walls to even consider looking at the outside world, and as a result, his eyes resembled that of a portrait painting, real but lifeless.
Time.
Seconds bled into minutes, but any measure of time felt insignificant when the present was held in a slack grip.
But even if they were trapped in their own illusion, everything around them continued.
Continued to fall, like the tiny snowflakes that gently dropped from the dark sky.
Continued to glow, like the strings of fairy lights that hung from the many ledges of the house.
Continued to be, like how the stars were stars, the trees were trees, the clouds were clouds, and the mountains and rivers and—
"…They better apologize to you, or I'll make them regret it."
Ash sucked in a sharp breath, his lungs flinching at the frigid intake of air. He slowly lifted his head to stare at the long, muscular back of the person who had grumbled those words. The line of his friend's shoulders, he noticed, was tense and hunched.
A shudder went through him, and it wasn't because of the climate. Ash hugged himself and whispered, "I know they'll be sorry."
Gary heaved out a low, rough breath. "That won't cut it. Not when it's exactly why they should apologize, if they have any integrity."
Feeble. "Gary, please…don't…"
"Don't what?" Hard.
"—be mean!"
Ash had choked those words out, on the brink of tears. His throat tight and hoarse, he was overcome with coughs right after, yet he still tried to talk, pleading in a small voice, "O-okay? P-please don't be m-mean. I…I don't like it…when you're l-like that…"
Although bristling with well-founded fury, Gary flinched at Ash's wobbly voice. He immediately put in the effort to regulate himself, turning down the dial of his temper to a more measured degree for Ash. Still, he grounded his teeth, a tick in his jaw as he ran a hand through his windblown hair. He was the type to never back down from an argument when he was so confident and stubborn in what he had to say, but— "…Fine. For now."
The acquiescence slightly mollified the young champion, and he smiled shakily, though the other wasn't facing him to see it. Not pleased with the distance—the emptiness—that separated them, Ash got up and joined the auburn-haired male by the balustrade. He waited a few seconds, gauging the other boy's reaction, and then figured it was okay to scoot right up next to the younger Oak. With their arms pressed close together, some warmth was transferred between them like this.
Eventually, a head of raven hair tilted to rest on top of a neighboring shoulder while a larger hand reached out to grasp a smaller one.
"Thank you…" For everything.
I know. "Hm."
It wasn't wise to be out in the cold weather for a long time without being warmly dressed, and the two of them knew this very well.
Yet they did not move one inch, too absorbed with each other's presence to even bother.
Quiet.
It was a peaceful kind of quiet where the hushed harmony of the world at nighttime was perfect.
Away.
They gazed far away at the horizon together, accepting that although they weren't face-to-face, they were not entirely apart.
Time.
Something that would wait for no one, yet somehow it was as if it was running slower and slower, so lost in the moment as they were.
And then Gary squeezed the hand he held in his and murmured against the temple that was unbearably close to his lips. "Ash…look up."
"Huh?" Ash did as he was told, puzzled as to what he was supposed to be looking for until he finally recognized the thing that was hanging down from above them on a string—it was a small sprig of round red dots and flat green wings.
A mistletoe.
Ash felt a volcanic blush beginning to surface when his blood suddenly found a compelling reason to warm up. "H-has that always been there?" he nearly squeaked. "Who put that there?"
There was a deep hum of contemplation that he was unable to ignore as it was inches away from his ear. The raven-haired trainer avoided looking at his companion, who replied, "Dunno. Whoever did it…must've predicted something like this."
Ash felt his breath hitch. His heart was thundering in his ribcage. "That—that we would be out here?"
Gary chuckled, his amused smile seen yet unseen. "Anyone, silly. Not just us."
A tiny spark of suspicion crossed Ash's mind. He peeked at his childhood friend and dared to ask, "Did you…know it was there the entire time?"
"Maybe," answered the young researcher in a drawl, his emerald eyes bright and bold as he stared down his mortified friend. "Maybe not."
"Gary!"
"What? It's just a mistletoe."
"Yeah, it's just a mistletoe!" Ash exclaimed, shrill and vehement. He was red all over, from his ears to his nose and even down to his toes. Who needed a jacket when an embarrassing revelation could warm you right up? "D-d-d-does that mean w-w-we have to— Do I r-really have to—?"
Gary cocked a brow, unflustered, and what's more, there was a crooked curve to his lips. Why was Ash not surprised? Gary lived on the opportunity to tease him.
Seeing that roguish grin had Ash backpedaling in alarm, but his retreat had been doomed from the start—the hand that held his tightened its grip, keeping him near.
Before Ash could shake himself free, a long arm—why did that jerk have such long arms? It was so unfair—darted out to curl around his body. In this position, Ash was boxed in, with the handrail on one side and his imprisoner on the other.
"And where did you think you're going, Ashy-boy?" Gary practically purred, leaning in so that their noses were a hairsbreadth away from touching. This close, every little shudder and gasp and shift in expression were dangerously transparent. "What? Is kissing me that scary that you had to run away?"
"N-not scary," Ash gulped, darting his gaze anywhere except for the taller boy's face. "But, um, definitely unexpected."
Seeing how frantic his childhood friend was, Gary chose his next words carefully. "If it's not scary…then it wouldn't be so bad, would it?"
For several heartbeats, it was utterly quiet, mostly because the given implication had ceased all the functions of Ash's brain.
As such, when no response came on time, that made a certain auburn-haired male feel empty-handed and insecure. He hurried to elaborate on his previous words. "We don't have to if that's what you're worried about. No one is going to chew you out for breaking a silly Christmas tradition."
Ash nodded slowly, his entire form rigid and his movements mechanical. However, what Gary said next had him snapping his gaze up in surprise.
"Although I have to admit, just so we're clear on this"—burning emerald met glistening amber—"I wouldn't mind an early Christmas present. But that…is up to you."
The arm around Ash loosened marginally so that it was just holding him. Cradling him.
A pair of amber eyes were very, very wide.
"…Oh."
Because he was so fixated on gazing—no, on memorizing Ash's face, it took Gary awhile to process what happened after the other boy had uttered that soft, sweet gasp, a breath so delicate and weak that it could've been a whimper. The hands Ash had pressed against his chest to keep him at bay drifted upward to clutch at his shoulders. Then, to reach his height, Ash lifted himself up, standing on the balls of his feet as he angled his face close.
Their lips touched.
Oh. Gary repeated that word in his head the same way Ash had said it. Oh, because it was indeed soft and sweet, just as it was full of something profound and inexplicable. Undeniably so.
Just like their kiss.
Gary released his arm to cradle the back of Ash's head instead, steadying him as he adjusted their mouths. To smooth the tension between them, he slanted his lips over Ash's and, in doing so, matched the shapes of their mouths perfectly. That wrested a small moan from the young champion, the arousing sound drawn out a second time when the pressure and urgency of the kiss grew insistent.
And then it was no more. Their lips parted, the need to breathe overtaking the desire to take.
Ash slumped against Gary, weak-kneed and panting. He hid his face in the taller boy's neck, still gripping at the latter's shoulders for support. Gary, in turn, wrapped both of his arms around Ash, burying his nose in a mop of untidy raven hair.
"We should head back inside," Gary murmured after a while, rubbing Ash's back. "Or else you'll catch a cold."
Shivering, Ash nodded and allowed the other to guide him back inside the house. The arms around him fell, but he could not do the same. To let go of the person who had embraced him so dearly…he hated that thought, though it remained unclear whether the young researcher had done it out of self-indulgence or out of instinct.
Noticing the younger boy's dilemma, Gary grabbed one of his chilled hands and squeezed it tenderly. When Ash peered up at him in question, Gary inclined his head down the hall.
"Come on, you need to warm up. You can rest in my room."
The party downstairs proceeded on without them.
Once they had stepped inside his bedroom, Gary had immediately rifled through his closest for one of his thick wool sweaters and a pair of casual athletic sweats, both of which he had tossed at Ash, instructing the amber-eyed boy to change into them.
Giving Ash privacy to change, Gary momentarily left the room to fix a mug of honey lemon tea in the kitchen, deftly avoiding anyone who wanted to talk to him, especially Ash's meddlesome friends. When he returned, Ash was sitting on the rug where he was folding up his damp pullover and wrinkled jeans. His borrowed clothes drowned his much slimmer figure, making him look small and childish. Ignoring the burst of warmth that heated up his veins at the scene, Gary joined his friend on the floor, their backs reclined against the side of the bed.
"Here, drink up," Gary urged, handing the mug over. "Slowly. It's hot."
"Thanks," Ash murmured, bringing the steaming drink closer to his mouth to blow at it tentatively. Gary had to glance away.
"We got a lot of time, so don't worry about anything and just rest, alright?"
"…Okay."
They stayed like that, not needing much else.
Lulled by the warm tea and cozy tranquility, Ash dozed off after some time as expected. The mug was removed from Ash's loose grip and placed on the desk. A pair of long, dependable arms went under the slumbering boy to lift him off the floor and then lower him onto the bed, every movement slow and gentle. Ash hardly stirred, nuzzling the pillow underneath his cheek as he was tucked in.
Always quick to fall asleep—and so easily at that. Yet, as he was thinking this, a fond smile danced on Gary's lips, contrasting with the condescending air of his headshake. He kneeled down by the bed and brushed aside the locks of raven hair that covered Ash's eyes.
If only those eyes—those beautiful amber-brown eyes of such a stunningly bright and clear hue—were open now to stare at him and no one else, while filled with the emotion he desperately craved for…
Then a memory abruptly came to mind, one that featured a pair of scared amber eyes from that time at the café. This image made Gary freeze, his wandering hand now resting against Ash's cheek.
That's right. Even though I feel this way, Ash might not… Recoiling, Gary forced himself to draw his hand back. He bit the inside of his cheek to keep himself from growling outright. Because he's…in love with someone.
Someone who's probably not me.
An immense wave of dread and defeat crashed down onto him, seizing his lungs and constricting his throat. Gary buried his face in the circle of his arms, trying to calm himself down.
But how could he when the reason for his turmoil was right there?
Who could ever understand this pain? It was pure agony to be so close to the person most precious to him but know at the same time that the remaining distance between them could never be erased. That space there wasn't his to fill because it didn't belong to him, period.
But…
He couldn't help it.
His hands itched to hold his beloved, with all the tenderness and strength he had in him.
His mind screamed at him, begging and berating all at once to confess the truth.
And his heart...
His poor, bleeding heart ached in such a god-awful way that the only cure that could save him was to be cherished by the one person who mattered the most to him.
"Dammit," he groaned into the mattress. That kiss of theirs—it was a mere memory now, but one that was fresh and unmistakable. Not a single detail would ever be forgotten. But in a similar vein, this meant that he was doomed, for it would forever haunt him as well. "Damn all of it. Why am I so—?"
He let that sentence cut short, not knowing how to describe himself. He felt as if he was everything and nothing all at once. Strong yet weak. Certain yet doubtful.
Alone with the person he cared about more than anyone else in the world, Gary was a fragile, fragile man.
But his love was undeniable.
And so, he prayed.
A/N: Same, Gary, same. I pray for a happy life, a stable job, and maybe someone who I can spend the rest of my days with. Oh, and for the US to go back to its less rotten days.
Most importantly, I pray for this fic, that I can muster the power within me to finish it. I don't have the best record of completing stories, and this is what hurts my barely existing ego as it is. /cries an ocean/
If anyone wants to support me or see what I'm up to, head over to my tumblr. The link is listed on my bio.
Thank you for reading, guys!