A/N I did a very quick proof-read of this, so if you see anything wrong, please tell me.
"You're not coming," May told Brendan and Lisia for the third and final time. "This is a job for the League and the champion."
"You're letting Steven go," Brendan pointed out.
"Yes, because Steven is the former champion. And I almost didn't let even him come."
"So is that it?" Brendan demanded. "You think I'm not strong enough to hold my own?"
"I know you're strong, Brendan, but you don't know what we're up against. The one who has the blue orb defeated my Swampert with just one hit."
Brendan's eyes widened. "Wally is that strong?"
May stared at him. "How did you find out that it's Wally?"
He shrugged, but didn't answer.
"How much of our conversation did you hear?" she asked instead.
He shrugged again.
"Were you eavesdropping on us?" May felt her face heat up in both anger and humiliation.
"No. We just happened to hear you guys. That's not the same as eavesdropping."
She grit her teeth. "Brendan…"
Great. Not only did Brendan and Lisia know that it was Wally to have been possessed, they'd also heard the more intimate part of her and Steven's conversation.
May looked at Steven, who'd been silently listening to her and Brendan go back and forth. Unlike her, he appeared to be completely unfazed by the revelation that Hoenn's wonder couple had heard everything he'd said to her and vice versa. Did nothing embarrass him?
"Look," Brendan said. "Wally is my friend, too. I just want to do what I can for him."
"You don't get it, Brendan. Wally isn't what you remember him to be. He's become… overwhelmingly strong."
Brendan mulled that over for a moment. "If Wally's as strong as you say he is," he said, "wouldn't it be better for us to stick together and combine our strengths?"
May shook her head. "We can't attack him, Brendan. We'd kill him."
"Who said anything about attacking him?" Brendan asked.
"Then how –"
"You know when you're out in the grass," Brendan began, "and a horde of pokémon attacks you out of nowhere?"
"What are you talking about?"
"It's hard to focus on just one, right?" Brendan continued. "Your attention is divided between multiple targets."
She was beginning to see where he was coming from. "You think Wally will be easier to defeat if he's outnumbered."
"Yeah. Wow, that's a much simpler way of saying it."
"Brendan, I don't think it's that easy."
"Sure it is. He wouldn't be able to land another hit on you as easily if there are more opponents to watch for."
Steven finally spoke. "It's not a bad idea."
Brendan grinned. "See? Steven gets it."
As much as May hated to admit it, it wasn't a bad idea. Her Vileplume's Stun Spore was more likely to hit Wally if his attention was split four ways.
"I just don't want you guys getting hurt," she told Brendan and Lisia.
"This is our choice," Brendan said. "We're not holding you responsible for anything that happens, if anything happens."
"That's right," Lisia added.
But she was responsible for anything that might happen. Was it not the champion's duty to keep the people of Hoenn out of harm's way?
Brendan could see the doubt on her face. "You got a better plan?"
"Well… no."
"Then that settles it. We're coming with you."
"I can't stop you," May reluctantly conceded. She'd try to think of a better plan, one that didn't include putting her friends at risk. In the meantime, she'd allow them to tag along.
She looked at Lisia. "And why do you want to come?"
"Because I want to be with Brendy-boo," was Lisia's answer.
May didn't know how to respond to that.
"I know I'm not the best fighter," Lisia said, "but I do have pokémon other than Ali."
"Really? Like what?"
"I have a Pichu and a Skitty."
May didn't know how to respond to that, either.
Lisia huffed out a disgruntled breath at May's expression. "Just because they're cute doesn't mean that they can't fight."
May sighed. "I guess it doesn't matter since we're not going to attack anyone."
Lisia clapped her hands together. "Alright! Let's go, team!"
Lisia sounded like she was in pain as she groaned. "Tell me again why we aren't flying?"
"Because the last time I saw Wally, he ran right into the trees, which are too dense to see through from overhead," May said.
"Okay… I have another question," Lisia said. "If the blue orb is supposedly pushing Wally toward Sootopolis, why aren't we in Sootopolis? Couldn't we just wait for him there?"
May shook her head. "Even though we know where he's going, we don't know where he is." She paused to scan the tree line. "He ran west, which is the complete opposite of Sootopolis's location. He could be anywhere, and I'd rather we find him before someone gets hurt."
The group had just passed through Oldale and was now on Route 102. They moved in a loosely formed single file with May at the front, Steven behind her, Brendan, and then Lisia.
It was just past four in the morning, and the sun was nothing more than a sliver of muted orange against the horizon. There wasn't enough light to make out any fine details, but that didn't matter. Not when the target glowed in the dark.
The cut under May's foot was getting worse. It had long dampened her cotton sock, and every step felt like she was walking into a puddle. It was probably infected, but May couldn't afford to treat it now. One little infection couldn't even compare to the danger that the entire country was facing.
"Are you okay?" Steven asked, moving to walk beside her.
"Yes. Why?"
"You're limping."
"Oh." She straightened her gait. "I'm fine."
She felt his eyes on her face and pushed further ahead of the group. Steven easily kept up with her.
"Did Wally do that?" he asked.
"No. I stepped on something sharp."
He stared at her face again. "Maybe we should take a break."
"Take a break?" She looked at him. "No, we can't. We need to find Wally."
"You have the League stationed all over Hoenn," he pointed out. "They'll call if anything comes up."
"I know, but I wouldn't be able to rest knowing that they're still looking. That wouldn't be right."
"May." Steven reached a hand out like he meant to stop her. "You're hurt."
She ducked away from his touch and kept walking. "It's not that bad."
"Did I hear something about a break?" Brendan called. "Good idea. I could go for some coffee."
"Yeah, coffee sounds good," Lisia agreed.
"We are not taking any breaks." May was sure that if she weren't so exhausted, her tone would have been much harsher.
Brendan yawned loudly. "C'mon, May. One little coffee break isn't going to kill anybody."
Nobody was taking this seriously. The lives of everyone in Hoenn were at stake, and all her friends could think about was coffee. Didn't they realize how urgent this was?
The group stepped out of the trees and into Petalburg. May immediately started for Wally's house. Maybe her friends would become more serious once they saw what was left of it.
Five police officers were patrolling the town, including the two who'd first arrived at the scene. They all stopped to stare at the group.
May realized then just how much she and her friends stood out. Their entourage consisted of the champion, the ex-champion, a contest star, and the son of the nation's most renowned professor. The whole scenario sounded like the beginning of a joke.
There was also the matter that she was the only one dressed appropriately. While she looked like she was prepared to track down and battle the strongest opponent she'd ever come across – which she was – her friends looked like they were going to a dinner party. Steven was wearing a gray dress shirt, a red tie, and a pair of black pants. Brendan was wearing a variation of Steven's outfit - a white dress shirt, a black tie, and black pants. Lisia was wearing a dark blue sundress and matching ballet flats, and had a white, expensive-looking handbag slung over her shoulder.
In Steven's defense, the guy always wore formal attire regardless of where he was or what he was doing. May didn't know what the wonder couple's excuse was.
"Any news?" she called to the officers.
"No, ma'am," one said.
"But we're staying in touch with Norman," added another.
"I see. Keep up the good work," May said, continuing to walk by. The officers tipped their hats to her as she passed.
Once Wally's house came into view, she pointed at it. "Look."
It looked like something out of a horror movie. Yellow caution tape now lined its perimeter. The Swampert-sized hole in its front resembled a jagged mouth, one that was locked opened in a perpetual scream. Wind whistled through its walls, and the roof creaked as though it was about to collapse. Rubble was piled all over its front yard.
"Wow." Lisia's mouth made a small o.
"This is... something else," Brendan added.
Steven was silent as he stared at something on the ground. May followed his line of vision and found a torn piece of wallboard. It had a bloody footprint on it. Hers.
She turned away. "Now you've seen what Wally is capable of. If the blue orb merges with Kyogre, it'll be a thousand times worse than this."
"But we won't let that happen. Will we, Champ?"
Everyone turned around. Sidney was walking towards them, tossing a pokéball up and down.
"Sidney," May greeted him. "Any sign of Wally?"
"None that I can see." Sidney stretched his arms above his head. "Man, I sure wish he'd show up already. It's only been a few hours but I'm bored as hell."
"Don't lower your guard, Sidney," May warned. "If Wally were to appear right now –"
Sidney waved her off. "I know, I know." He nodded at Steven. "Hey, man. Where've you been? I didn't see you at the party."
Steven smiled and shrugged. "I must've left before you arrived."
"Bailed out on your own party, huh? I dig that." He looked over at Brendan and Lisia. "Long time no see."
"You bailed, too," Brendan told him "You left right when Brawly started taking champagne shots."
"Wait, he seriously did it?" Sidney asked.
"Yeah. The dude downed like, twelve glasses before the staff asked him to stop."
"Aw, man! I wish I could've been there! But this one –" Sidney jerked his thumb at May, "- came calling for me."
"Because the country's in danger," May muttered. Why was she the only one who remembered that?
"So what are you guys doing out here?" Sidney asked Brendan and Lisia.
Brendan grinned. "The more, the merrier."
"I thought it best to travel in a group," May clarified. "It'll be easier to subdue Wally if he's outnumbered."
"Ah, I see. Smart," Sidney mused. He looked her over. "But hey, maybe you should get some rest. You look exhausted."
She ignored the pointed look Steven gave her. "I'm fine. I've still got a few more hours in me."
"If you say so." Sidney rocked back on his heels."So what are you guys gonna do now?"
"I want to talk to my dad for a sec," May said. "Just to see what he plans on doing from here on out."
Sidney nodded. "Yeah, I spoke to him a little while ago. He's ready for action."
"What are you going to do now?" May asked.
"I'm gonna resume my search. If Wally won't come to me, I'm just gonna have to go to him." He began walking away. "See you guys later."
"Contact me if anything comes up," May called after him.
"Do you want us to come with you to the gym?" Lisia asked her.
May shook her head. "No. It'll only take a minute or so."
"Then the rest of us are getting coffee," Brendan said.
May gave an impatient wave of her hand. "Okay, fine. But be quick."
"You want anything?" he asked.
"No, thanks."
"You sure? You look like you could use some."
"I don't want any coffee," she snapped. Caffeine made her anxious.
"Alright, jeez." Brendan and Lisia started for the pokécenter. "We'll meet you back here in five minutes."
Steven lingered behind. "You should come just to heal your injury."
"Really, Steven. It's not that bad," she insisted. "But can I ask you to do something for me?"
"Of course."
She reached into her bag and removed her Swampert's pokéball. "Can you get him healed for me?"
Steven took the pokéball. "Yes." He paused, looking like he wanted to say more.
May started for the gym before he could. "Thank you."
She squinted as the gym's automatic doors parted – the inside of the building was so bright compared to the darkness of the early morning.
"May?" came her father's voice.
May tried to focus her vision. "Hi, Dad."
He moved over to greet her. The sound of people talking came from the back room.
"Are those your students?" she asked him.
"Yeah," he said. He grasped the tops of her shoulders. "You okay?"
"I'm fine."
"You sure? I saw the wreckage." He moved closer to her face. "And you got a cut right there."
"Don't worry - that was just an accident. Otherwise, I escaped without injury. The same cannot be said for my Swampert, however."
Norman blew out a long breath. "Unbelievable."
"I'm sorry I had you come out here at this time," she apologized. "I wouldn't have asked you to if the situation wasn't serious."
"Don't be silly. I'm happy to help in any way I can. But I just can't wrap my head around the fact that it's Wally."
"It's crazy," she agreed.
"How did he get it? The orb, that is."
"I ran into him on my way home from the party. We ended up talking for a while and, well." She sighed. "I wasn't careful enough. This is all my fault."
"What's done is done," her father said. "Your only concern now is finding a solution."
"Already have one."
"Good." He grinned. "I knew you'd figure something out."
"Thanks, Dad. But I have to find him for it to work. Have you heard anything?"
He shook his head. "I've been in touch with both Sidney and the police, but nothing's come up."
"What have you been doing?" May asked.
"What those officers told me you'd said to do. Remaining on standby."
Something thudded into the walls from the backroom. The roar of a Zangoose followed.
"Sorry about that. My students are getting antsy. It's been a while since they've seen any action around here."
"Dad, you have to make sure they know that Wally isn't to be attacked. He could be killed."
"Don't worry – the police already told us that we're not to engage in battle. I can't stop them from being excited, though."
"Excited," May repeated under her breath.
Why was it that she was the only person taking this seriously? She hadn't wanted the whole nation to panic, but she didn't want people to be completely unconcerned, either. Was it because she was the only one who'd borne witness to Wally and his terrifying capabilities?
"What are you going to do now?" Norman asked.
"I'm going to continue my search."
He raised his brows. "You're not going to search the entire country, are you?"
"Someone has to."
"Look," he began. "I know you probably already got this from your mother, and I know you're the champion, but I don't like the thought of you going off on your own."
"I'm not alone. I'm actually traveling with Brendan, Lisia, and –"
"Lisia? Who's that?"
"She's only the biggest contest star in the world."
"Why's she with you?"
"She's Brendan's girlfriend."
"Ah. Gotcha."
"And I'm also with Steven."
"Steven?" Norman repeated. "Steven Stone?"
"Yes."
"That's quite the cast."
"I know. I initially didn't want anybody coming with me, but Brendan made a good point. He said that it's best to outnumber our opponent."
"Smart kid," Norman mused. "Where are your friends now?"
"They're getting coffee."
"Well, I hope they're getting some for you, too. You look dead."
"Thanks, Dad."
"I'm serious. Don't overwork yourself too much, okay?"
"Okay."
A Linoone howled from the back. Someone began cheering.
Norman rubbed the back of his head. "I'm gonna have to go and make sure they don't run this place to the ground."
"I won't keep you here, then." May started for the door. "Call me if anything comes up. Sidney will be in the area indefinitely if you need him."
"May."
She stopped and turned around. Her father walked up and pulled her against his chest.
"Stay safe," he said.
She returned the hug. "I will."
Her friends were waiting for her when she walked outside. They were each carrying a paper coffee cup.
"Here." Steven held out her Swampert's pokéball.
"Thanks." She took it and placed it in her bag.
"Ready?" Brendan asked, taking a sip of his coffee.
May started for Route 104. "Yes."
They moved right past the beach and into Petalburg Woods. May was immediately on edge, goose bumps forming down the length of her arms. This was the last place she'd seen Wally, and the fact that nobody else had seen him since meant that there was a good chance he was still around.
"Have your pokémon ready," she told the others.
"Why?" Brendan asked.
"This is the last place I saw Wally. He may still be around." Her eyes roamed over the area. If Wally was indeed still around, she needed to find him as soon as possible. "Let's split up."
Lisia choked on her coffee. "Split up? I thought the point of us coming along was so we could all be together."
"It'll only be for a few minutes. And we'll be within feet of each other. I just want to do a thorough search of the area."
"What do you want me to do if I run into Wally?" Lisia asked.
"Scream," was May's answer.
Lisia shuddered.
"Let's go, Liz." Brendan took her hand and began walking to the far right.
May walked to the left.
When she'd been here just a few hours earlier, the wind had been tearing through trees like ocean waves. Now, the air was completely still. Not a leaf was rustling.
It felt like she was in a horror movie. This scene was the calm before the storm. Any second now, Wally would leap from the trees and rip her throat out.
Something touched her shoulder. She jumped a foot in the air.
"Sorry," Steven said. "I didn't mean to scare you."
She turned around. "What are you doing?"
"Because Brendan and Lisia went that way, I thought I'd even the numbers out by going with you."
"Oh." May blinked. "Yeah, I understand. It's no fun being the third wheel."
Steven laughed. "But you have to admit. They're entertaining."
"I suppose that's one word you could use."
She continued to tread through the grass. A few pokémon like Wurmple and Zigzagoon scurried out of the way.
Exhaustion was starting to wear on her. She hadn't gotten a good night's sleep for two nights in a row. Her lids felt like they each weighed a hundred pounds, and it was a struggle to keep her eyes open after every blink.
"We'll be in Rustboro soon," Steven said softly. "How about we take a short break then?"
May hesitated, and then nodded. "Okay."
As much as she didn't want to take any breaks, she was dangerously close to her limit. She was less than an hour away from passing out right here on the forest floor. She just needed to rest her eyes for a few minutes, and then she'd be good to go.
Steven offered her his coffee. "Do you want some?"
"No, thank you. My body doesn't take well to caffeine." As she said this, she swayed on her feet. She would have fallen right into the grass if Steven hadn't caught her arm.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"Actually," she said, "maybe I'll take a sip after all." If the caffeine made her anxious, then so be it. She'd rather be anxious than a stumbling idiot.
Steven handed her his cup. She took it and paused, wondering if she should wipe the spout before taking a sip. Then she realized she was being childish and took a sip.
She gagged on it. "What is this?"
He looked surprised. "What's wrong?"
"It's so bitter."
"Oh." Understanding dawned on his features. "I take mine black. I forgot that most people don't like that."
She handed him the cup. "Well, it certainly succeeded in waking me up." She stuck her tongue out, trying to get the taste out of her mouth.
He laughed at her expression. "I'm sorry."
"You don't sound very sorry." She scrunched her nose. She could still taste it. "Ugh. I can't believe you can drink that."
"Sorry," he said again with a grin. "I'll remember to warn you next time."
"Next time," she scoffed. Like she was ever going to drink that again.
They walked deeper into the woods, and there was still no sign of Wally.
"You said you came here, right?" May asked. "After our phone call?"
"I did," he said.
"You didn't see anything then, did you?"
"No, I didn't."
"Where could he have possibly gone?" she muttered.
"We'll find him," Steven reassured. "We've only just begun."
"Hey!" Brendan called from somewhere behind them. "You guys around?"
"Over here," May called back.
Brendan and Lisia caught up to them.
"Find anything?" May asked.
Brendan shook his head. "No. I don't think he's here."
As much as May hated to admit it, she didn't think he was here, either. It was still dark enough that they would have easily spotted his glowing skin.
"Let's keep going, then," May declared.
They made it out of the woods and quickly found themselves right outside of Rustboro.
"It seems so long ago since we were last here," Lisia noted. "But it's only been a few hours."
"The city's so much quieter," Brendan added.
The red velvet rope that squared off the city path was still standing, but not a soul was in sight. It was hard to believe that hundreds of people had filled the streets just hours earlier.
"We're taking a break," May announced. Lisia clapped her hands in delight.
"Not that I'm complaining, but I thought you said we weren't taking any breaks," Brendan said.
"Yes, but I changed my mind. It's better that we rest for a bit than run the risk of passing out."
"I agree," Lisia said.
"We can go to my apartment," Steven offered.
May nodded. "That sounds perfect. Thank you."
He began to lead the way to the nearby apartment complex.
"Do you still have the house in Mossdeep?" May asked.
"Yes," Steven said. "Though I don't use it very often."
"That's like me," Lisia said. "I bought a new apartment in Mauville a few months ago but I've only been in it, like, twice."
"And I haven't had the chance to stay in the house I have in Sootopolis," Brendan added. "My job requires too much moving around for that."
May couldn't relate to any of them. Even though she was the champion, she still lived with her parents. Maybe she'd start looking into getting her own place.
The inside of the building was nice. The lobby had a floor of sleek, black tile, and its walls were lined with polished, dark wood. A square, modern-looking chandelier hung from the ceiling, and black leather couches were situated along the side.
"So stylish," Lisia observed. "Maybe I ought to move in."
They took the elevator up to the fifth floor. Steven's apartment was the first one down the hallway.
He produced a key from his pocket and turned it into the lock. The door clicked, and he held it open for them.
"Woah, nice place you got here," Lisia gushed to him.
"Thank you."
It was nice. The floors were made of the same polished wood that lined the walls of the lobby, and the walls were painted a dark gray.
It was incredibly spacious for just one person. The common area housed three leather couches that surrounded a large, flat-screen television. To the right was the kitchen. Along with a refrigerator and a long marble counter, there was a high-rise table, complete with four chairs. To the left was a hallway with three doors – two on the right, and one on the left.
"We're not staying long," May said. "I just want to close my eyes for a few minutes, and then we're back on the road."
"A few minutes? Are you serious?" Brendan demanded. "It's five o'clock in the morning! We're all exhausted."
"You didn't have to come," May reminded him, her voice flat. Her tolerance for her friends and their antics was at an all-time low.
"That's harsh. I'm just looking out for you – you look the worst out of all of us."
"Sorry I didn't dress up like you guys."
"That's not what I meant." He moved closer to her and pointed a finger in her face. "You have bags underneath your eyes."
"I'm aware." She slapped his hand away. "If you're so tired, why were you and Lisia awake at three o'clock?"
"We were waiting up for you."
"Why?"
"After seeing the broadcast, we had to get all the deets," Lisia chimed in.
"All the deets?" May repeated.
"You can't just announce that some 'young man' stole the blue orb and then not say who he is," Lisia explained. "We had to know."
"So you eavesdropped on my conversation with Steven," May deadpanned.
"I already said that we didn't eavesdrop," Brendan insisted. "We walked out of my house and heard you guys talking. That's it."
"Whatever." She was too tired to argue.
Brendan yawned. "But man, am I exhausted. This coffee only worked for so long."
"There are two bedrooms down the hall you guys can take," Steven said.
"Brendy-boo and I will take the one on the left," Lisia declared. "May can have the one on the right."
"Make yourselves at home," Steven said.
The couple went to investigate their room.
May turned to Steven. "What about you?"
"I'm not that tired, but if need be, I'll take the couch."
"What? Don't be ridiculous – this is your apartment. I'll take the couch."
"Absolutely not. You're my guest."
Still too tired to argue, she shrugged. "If you insist."
The pain underneath her foot was unreal. She'd been trying not to limp even though every step felt like her skin was burning. Now that she'd conceded to taking a break, she could finally treat it.
"Where's your bathroom?" she asked.
He pointed down the hall. "First door on the right."
"Thanks."
She walked into the bathroom, flipped the switch, and closed the door. To her surprise, there was a shower room and a bathtub. The bathtub at her house had a showerhead built into it – it was a two-in-one.
She moved to sit at the edge of the tub and turned the faucet on until the water was ankle-deep. Then she slipped her shoes off and removed her left sock. The right one had become completely red with her blood. The cotton had stuck to the wound, and she had to peel it away like it was a sticker. A soft whimper escaped her.
There was a knock at the door.
"May?" Steven asked. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," she said, her voice high with pain. She struggled to stabilize it. "I hope you don't mind that I'm using your bath for a sec."
"Not at all. Do you need anything?"
"No, I'm okay. Thank you."
She waited until he'd walked away before resuming her treatment. Turning her body around, she stuck her feet into the water. She hissed at the sudden coolness.
While she soaked her feet, she put her bag on her lap and rifled through its contents. To her dismay, she had no medicine for humans.
The water was turning a pinkish color. She lifted her right foot up to examine the cut. It didn't look infected to her, but she wasn't a doctor. She'd probably have to go to the pokécenter eventually.
She soaked her feet few a few more minutes before standing up and draining the water. On her way out, she tossed her bloody sock into the nearby trashcan; it was unsalvageable. She grabbed her shoes and walked into the bedroom.
It was just as nice as the rest of the apartment. A row of windows against the far wall overlooked the entire city. A dresser sat in one corner, and an armchair was in another. The sheets on the king-sized bed were neatly tucked in, appearing as though nobody had ever slept in them.
There was a small, white box sitting on the bed. Upon closer examination, she realized it was a first-aid kit.
She felt her eyes soften. Steven was way too nice to her.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, May opened the kit. She took out a tube of antibiotic ointment and removed its cap.
The cut burned like hell as soon as she touched a dollop of ointment to it, and she covered her mouth with her fist so that her friends wouldn't hear her cry out. Tears sprung to her eyes, but she persevered in disinfecting her wound.
"Bandages," she muttered, looking back into the kit. She replaced the ointment with a bandage roll.
Trying to tie a tight enough bandage around her foot was tricky. One hand tried to keep the bandage in place while the other one tried to wrap it without getting her fingers stuck underneath. It kept unraveling, and she was forced to start over again and again.
"Need some help?"
May looked up. Steven was leaning against the doorway, his arms crossed.
"I'll get it eventually," she said, looking back down at her work. "But thank you for lending me the first-aid kit."
"You're always like this," he said quietly.
She looked back up. "Like what?"
"You're reluctant to accept help from others. It's as if you think you don't deserve it. Why is that?"
His words surprised her. As ex-Champion, he should have already known the answer.
"I'm the champion," she began in a voice just as quiet as his. "My needs come behind everyone else's."
He silently considered her words before speaking again. "You're a much more considerate leader than I ever was. But just because you're Champion does not mean that you don't feel pain."
"It doesn't matter what I feel." She began wrapping the bandage around her foot. "And I'm not considerate. If I was, I wouldn't have run away for two years." The bandage unraveled yet again. "Dammit," she muttered.
And then the roll was being taken out of her hands.
"What are you doing?" she asked as Steven knelt in front of her.
"Let me do this much," he said, taking her ankle into his hand.
Blood immediately rushed to her face. What was he doing?!
It got worse. Slowly, he slid his hand up from her ankle to the upper part of her calf. His touch sent a trail of sparks running through her veins, and her leg jerked in response.
"Sorry," he said, stroking his thumb against her skin. "Did I hurt you?"
"N-no," she stuttered.
She was painfully aware of the curve of his hand around her calf, of the steel rings he wore on his fore and ring fingers.
She glanced down to gauge his expression. Impassive, as usual.
How was he completely unaffected by this? Did he not realize the implication that arose from touching someone's leg? She didn't know whether to be amazed or frustrated.
He gently lifted her leg to examine the injury.
"No wonder you were limping," he murmured.
"It's…" Her voice was hoarse. She paused to clear it. "It's not that bad."
With his free hand, he began to wrap the roll around her foot. His method was much more effective than hers – the bandage immediately felt tight and secure.
"What you said before," he began. "About running away… I'm sorry."
She shook her head. "It's not your fault."
He swallowed. "I… I shouldn't have left."
The memory of finding his letter surfaced from the depths of her mind, and she felt her chest tighten. "It wasn't your responsibility to stay."
"I knew the pressures of running a country. I should have helped you."
This was all so unexpected. She lifted her face up toward the ceiling, trying to keep the sudden moisture in her eyes from spilling over.
"Then why did you leave?" she whispered.
"I…" he trailed off.
She waited. She'd wait a hundred years, so long as she could hear his explanation.
"I wanted to see the world, to live through one more adventure, before I was tied down to Devon," he finally said. "I know it's not a good reason, but it's the only one I have."
May didn't miss his choice of words: tied down.
She looked back at him. "You don't want to inherit the company?"
"I do," he said. "I just wish that I had forged my own path."
"What do you mean?"
He finished wrapping the bandage, and his hand left her leg. "I understand that I have it easy. One day, I'll be in complete control of an established company. But…" He looked up into her eyes, his gaze distant. It was like he couldn't see her. "Will my life really be my own if I'm just taking over the one that my father has been leading?"
She didn't know if he wanted her to actually answer that. "Don't you have a choice?" she asked instead. "Is your dad forcing you to do this?"
She didn't think Joseph Stone, with his jolly nature and booming laugh, seemed like the type of person to force anything onto his son.
"He's not," Steven reassured. "But inheriting the company is still something I must do."
"Why?"
"My father has spent his entire life getting Devon to where it is today just so that I would have a secure future," Steven explained, his voice low. "What kind of son would I be if I turned my back on all of it?"
Again, she didn't know if he wanted her to answer that. She chose not to say anything at all.
"You must think me pathetic," he continued, his gaze still focused on something far away. "You've accomplished so many things on your own while I've had my hand held every bit of the way."
This was unusual. She'd never heard him sound so insecure. It shocked her that the calm and collected man she'd always looked up to had his own share of demons.
"What about when you became Champion?" May tried. "That was something you did on your own, right?"
That had been the wrong thing to say. She could tell by the way one side of his mouth pulled up into a humorless smile.
"It's not," he said. "I mooched off of Wallace in the same way I'm going to mooch off of my father."
"I don't understand."
"Wallace was supposed to have been Champion," he explained dryly. "But after defeating the Elite, he realized he wanted to take over Sootopolis's gym instead. He asked me to reign as Champion in his place, and I accepted."
"I didn't know that," May whispered.
"Now you know why I was never a very good champion."
"You were a great champion."
"I let you save Hoenn in my place."
May shook her head. "I just blindly threw myself into trouble and hoped for the best."
"Which is what I should have done." His voice was heavy with regret. "Instead, I pushed all the work onto you. And then I left you. I'm sorry."
"Don't be."
Not once did she ever think that Steven had pushed his work onto her. The truth of the matter was exactly what she'd said – that she had chased after danger like an idiot. And while she'd been confused and hurt by his sudden departure, she realized now that he'd only been acting on his own insecurities.
"Leaving Hoenn was something you wanted to do," she said. "You don't have to regret that."
He chuckled, though the sound wasn't a happy one. "That's just the problem. If I'd realized sooner what it was I truly wanted, you wouldn't have suffered. I really am pathetic."
"I suffered because I was weak."
"Don't call yourself weak, May."
"Then don't call yourself pathetic, Steven."
He sighed and rubbed the back of his head. His gaze became focused again. It was like he had woken from a bad dream.
"Sorry for rambling on and on like that," he said. He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose as if he had a terrible headache. "I don't know what came over me."
"You apologize a lot," she noted.
He stood up. "Because I'm always messing up."
She couldn't believe what she was hearing. She'd always placed Steven on a pedestal, believing him to be the most confident man on the planet. Only now did she realize that he had flaws and insecurities just like everyone else.
The man of silver and gold was tarnished. Why hadn't she noticed?
"I'll let you rest now," he said, turning for the door. "We still have a lot of ground to cover."
She pushed herself off the bed and grabbed his arm. "Wait."
He turned back to look at her.
"You're not always messing up," she started. "You might think you are, but you're not. You're the most incredible person I know, and I've always looked up to you."
He smiled, but it looked forced and overly polite. She could tell that he didn't really believe what she was saying.
That made her angry.
"You think that by taking over Devon, you won't be living a life of your own," she continued. "But you will be. Don't you remember what your father said at the party? That it was your suggestions to have gotten the company its recent success, not his. He may have brought the company to where it is today, but you alone are going to make it even better."
His smile remained polite. He still didn't believe her.
She became furious.
She pulled on his arm as hard as she could. Surprised, he lost his balance and fell backwards onto the bed. She moved to stand over him.
"May, what…?" He started to push himself up.
She grabbed his wrists and held them over his head. She would make him listen to her.
"Why don't you believe me?" she demanded.
He didn't struggle, though she was sure he could easily overpower her if he wanted to.
He gazed evenly at her. "I do believe you."
"Liar," she growled. "You're a liar."
His eyes danced with amusement. "What do you want me to say?"
"I don't want you to say anything. I want you to see yourself clearly."
He smiled, and this time, it was genuine. "Then I'll ask the same of you."
She frowned. "What?"
"I want you to see yourself clearly," he said.
"I already do."
"No, you don't. I know you don't. But I want you to."
"Hey, Steven?" The door across the hall opened and Brendan stepped out, holding two empty coffee cups. "Do you have a trashcan anywhere? There's not one in the room." And then he looked into May's room. His brows shot up to his hairline. "Well."
Exhaustion and anger had been clouding May's better judgment, and she couldn't understand why Brendan had a stupid grin growing on his face.
And then her judgment came back with a vengeance, slamming into her like a runaway train.
A/N This chapter is much shorter than the others. I figured that shorter chapters would mean more frequent updates.
The part about Wallace originally being Hoenn's champion is canon to the pokémon manga. I found that out a few days ago. I thought it was interesting.
