A/N: I just gotta say I waited 17 chapters for that Wooloo joke. Talk about satisfying.
Team Roster: Jackson (Cinderace), Hudson (Mudsdale), Rosa (Bellossom), Theodore (Corviknight), Rouge (Weavile), Ophelia (Haxorus)
Chapter 24 - Hop
She had no idea how long it had been since her and Hop's conversation, but Dolly was nowhere close to falling asleep. Thoughts bubbled through her mind like a rushing river, sweeping over the banks quickly and consistently.
Why did Hop keep looking at her like that? What was he going to say? Could he… what? Was it really just about the wrapping? And why was she so sweaty?
She turned over with a frustrated sigh.
Her cheek still tingled from where he kissed her. Dolly squeezed her eyes shut and tried to shove out the feeling of Hop's lips on her skin, tried to shove out the memory of how he touched her so gently, tried to shove out the image of his hooded eyes in the warm glow of the lantern fire. She thought instead of how he said he loved her… but she said she loved him. As a friend, of course, and he probably also meant it completely platonically. She was sure of it. Just because Jackson or Rosa said they loved her didn't mean they were in love with her, which was an important distinction. Otherwise she would be making plans to marry all of her Pokémon and her mum, if it was based on the fact that they all loved each other. So yeah.
Dolly turned over again and her mind drifted back to Motostoke. Lacey said the same thing when she held her in her arms for the last time. She said she loved her, and then she thanked her for the adventure. That was so long ago, and even more adventure had taken place since then. The faces of all her Pokémon drifted through her mind as she heaved out a sigh.
She missed them. What would Posey have evolved into? She may have been a Vaporeon, or an Espeon, or maybe even a Sylveon. Mateo would have definitely been a Lucario by now, that much was for certain. Dolly smirked at the thought of how much chaos he and Jackson would have gotten into in their final evolved forms. She also vaguely wondered what color aura he would have identified in her when she was around Hop. Even though he was just as rambunctious as Jackson, he had a very precise wit. He and Rouge would probably have gotten along well.
What would Fay have been like? She'd have two Dragon Pokémon on her team if she evolved into a Noivern. She barely got to know Fay, since she passed so close to Posey. When they did have time to talk, she was kind, shy, and surprisingly intelligent. Dolly wondered what Pip would have been like, too. Even catching her was a fascinating exploit, did she always do backflips and beatbox about attacks? How would she and Theodore have gotten along? Probably terribly. Either way, a Psychic Pokémon would be a nice addition to the team. A Bug and Electric-type too, if Sap were still around. Pip and Sap could have also made quite the duo, with Sap's affection for music and Pip's habit of beatboxing. None of her Pokémon liked to cuddle with her as much as Sap did, especially when she was a little Charjabug. Half of her team now were too big and uncomfortable, and the other half grumbled about it. Theodore was alright, but he never stopped talking. Same with Rosa, and she was too small.
Then, she thought back farther. What would Faline have been like? How would her first ever Pokémon, her Deerling, have fit into her rag-tag team now? She would have probably been a Sawsbuck. But then again, would she have ever met any of her team now, had she not lost Faline in the first place? Would she have ever moved to Galar? Met Hop, Leon, Sonia, and all of her Pokémon team? Would she have ever had those visions? Heard the call? Would she still be the Shield of Galar? Would that voice have still told her to save the region? These memories and questions swirled in her mind, and sleep eluded her still.
She couldn't sleep because of these thoughts, sure, but also because she was so friggin' cold.
That oddly hot heat from the lantern clicked off a while ago, and as soon as Hop settled into sleep, her temperature dropped fifty degrees and she was back to feeling like a cold-blooded Helioptile. It didn't help that Jackson had ripped off her blanket in his sleep and rolled to the other side of the tent. Although Dolly had tried in vain multiple times to retrieve it, not understanding why a Fire-type would be so adamant about a blanket, his sleep Double Kicks were enough to keep her at bay.
So, instead, she lay there shivering like a Snorunt. The rest of her clothes were sopping wet since she stupidly shoved her wet shirt and jacket in her bag, and Dolly humbly accepted her fate of being stuck to the floor of this tent forever, glued to it from her dried and frozen sweat.
She squeezed her eyes closed, though they kept twitching. Maybe her eyelashes would freeze together and she'd become blind. She wondered how well she'd be able to battle if she couldn't see anything. Probably fine, honestly, she couldn't see much during her and Raihan's battle because of the sandstorm, and even during Melony's it was hard to see from all the rain and-
Her train of thought halted when something smacked her face. She froze, then felt what was so unceremoniously thrown at her. Her fingers gripped into the soft fabric and Dolly ripped the pillow off and rubbed at her now-throbbing nose.
"What the hell was that for?!" she sneered, whipping her head to Hop. His eyes glinted at her mischievously under his thick blanket.
"Can you stop chattering your teeth? I'm trying to sleep. You probably wouldn't be so cold if you ate more and had some fat on you."
"Oh, yes, of course, let me just gain fifty pounds in the next ten seconds," she sneered as she chucked the pillow back at him.
"Ow, Dolls! You hit me in the nose!"
"You hit me in the nose!"
"You're going to pay for that."
Dolly tried to muffle her squeal when Hop started crawling towards her.
"Get away from me!" she whispered harshly as she flung her own pillow at him.
Again, it hit him square in the face. Now he had two pillows, and Dolly was scrambling around for more ammunition. Maybe she could throw Jackson at him. Her hand brushed over the left-over roll of bandages, and she chucked that too.
"How are you so strong?!" he hissed as he threw it back at her. "Your arms are toothpicks!"
"It's called lean muscle, I could probably throw you, too!"
"Oh I'd like to see that," he scoffed as he whipped another pillow at her.
It knocked Dolly over onto the floor of the tent and before she could sit up again, Hop flopped on top of her and knocked the air out of her lungs.
"Have you gained fifty pounds?!" she wheezed as she tried to shove him off.
"Come on, thought you were stronger than that? Engage your core."
Despite her grunting and heaving, Hop was like a cinder block on top of her. His chuckling made her seethe, and her scrambling didn't have much effect, either.
"Just admit defeat, Dolls."
"Never."
She would rather freeze to death before waving the white flag to this idiot. She heaved in one more breath, then, a devious plan formed in her mind. Dolly gently reached her hands up, and trailed her fingers over his sides. He shot back with a screech, and Dolly grinned.
Hop was the most ticklish person she'd ever met, and she knew all his weak spots.
"You know too much!" he whispered harshly as he scrambled backwards to his blanket pile.
She tried to get at all of said weak spots, though it was awfully challenging when he kept thrashing around like that.
"Hop, be quiet! If you wake up Jackson he'll kill us both!"
"Well sorry I've got a crazy lady coming at me!"
"That's what you get for chucking a pillow at my face!"
Dolly reached for him again, only for his palm to launch up and hit her in the jaw. She grunted, tumbled back, and stars flashed behind her eyelids when her head hit the tent floor.
"Oh, Dolls, sorry!"
He quickly crawled over, pulled her up, and wrapped his arms around her.
"Sorry, sorry," he muttered again, squeezing her tighter. "Are you okay?"
"Barely," she sighed as she melodramatically flopped her head on his shoulder. "I guess that's what I get for using your greatest weakness against you."
"Yeah and it doesn't help that I'm absolutely ripped, I'm surprised I didn't break your jaw."
"Sure Hop, whatever you say."
Hop chuckled, then delicately reached up to her head.
"Is your head okay?"
Dolly nodded, heaved out a sigh, and let her eyes close. Hop started to lean back, only to have Dolly pull him against her again.
"Wait."
The warmth was radiating off him. Dolly unintentionally let out a sigh as her body temperature rose slightly, and her shivers started to waiver. She pressed her cold hands against him, and her brows furrowed as the warmth slowly bled into her fingers. She breathed out another sigh as she shivered against him.
"Geez, you really are freezing," Hop said.
"Yeah well I've been laying here without a blanket and there's a blizzard outside."
She let out another breath, and her body trembled as the heat finally started to return to her.
"You're so warm," she breathed as she tried to curl into him as much as she could.
He chuckled and rubbed his hands over her arms, then curled his legs around her as well. She was still shivering, and after a moment, he sighed too.
"I've got a blanket, you know," Hop mumbled against her ear.
"I know."
"..."
"What's that got to do with anything? I don't have one, that's the problem, remember?"
"Dolls…" he sighed. His breath ruffled her hair.
She peeled off him, only slightly, just enough to look at him. Though it was awfully dark, it seemed his cheeks were stained darker.
"I mean… we could… share," Hop muttered as he glanced to the side.
"It's not that big though?"
Hop sighed again and muttered something under his breath.
"Okay, we could both fit under it if we… were… close."
"Well yeah I guess so."
"..."
"..."
Hop rubbed at his face again.
"I meant we could both fit if we…"
"..."
"If we... um… cuddled."
"..."
"Or something. Together. With me. F-for warmth, I mean."
"...Oh."
"..."
"...Cuddled?"
"Yeah."
"...Hm."
"..."
"..."
"I-I mean, you're… you're really cold and, and um, and you don't have a blanket…"
"...Yeah that's true."
"..."
"..."
"...so…"
"..."
"..."
"...I, um… yeah, I guess that could work."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"...Hop?"
"Yes, right, right," Hop said, jolting into focus.
He unraveled himself from her and shuffled to his blanket lying haphazardly on the floor. As soon as he moved, it was like her temperature dropped another billion degrees. He fussed for a moment, then lifted the blanket for her.
Dolly hesitated as she looked to Hop's face, to his outstretched arm, to his torso. It certainly was inviting, and she certainly was cold. The thought of lying next to him like that though was a bit much to handle. Wouldn't it be weird? They had plenty of sleepovers before and she never thought anything of it, but something about doing it now was different.
It was something about the way he was looking at her. It was something about the way she kept noticing little things about him, ever since the Glimwood Tangle. Things like how his arms seemed much more defined than she remembered, or she was always more aware of where his hands were, or how her skin tingled wherever he touched. Ever since they woke up together in that stupid forest, she didn't want to think about how much she wanted to think about it.
He plopped his arm down.
"I'm not trying to make it weird! Really!" Hop said as his cheeks flushed a deeper red.
"I know!"
"S-so come on, then," Hop muttered.
She delicately crawled over, then beneath the blanket with him. He closed the distance between them and laid the blanket over top of her, enveloping her in warmth. She hoped he couldn't hear her heart, as it felt like it was ready to burst out of her chest. The scent of campfire smoke and honeysuckle stained the air, along with a tinge of… was that… was it the blanket or was Hop wearing cologne…?
The blizzard blustered outside, and Dolly was still shivering as she rubbed the goosebumps over her arms. Hop sighed from behind her.
"Come on, come closer, you're shaking like mad."
"I'm fine,"
She felt a rustling from behind her.
"Please, Dolls," he said gently. "Are you mad at me? Are you scared of me?"
She paused, then let out a sigh.
"No," she said as she turned to him. "No, of course not, Hop. I really do feel safe around you. Like… really safe."
Her eyes darted to the side. Although she'd never say it aloud, she trusted this idiot with her life.
"I'm just awkward with things like this,"
"What, like accepting help?" Hop whispered.
"Yeah. Never been too good at it..."
"But you're getting better. Most people would jump at the chance to let such a big, strong, super handsome man like me warm them up," he grinned, waggling his eyebrows.
She resisted the urge to smack him with her pillow again.
"You're not making this any easier."
"You're shivering like mad, and I want to help!" he said enthusiastically. "Let this be lesson number one in Dolly accepting help from her friends."
He invited her in again when he held up his arm, and Dolly rolled her eyes and smiled despite herself. She inched closer to Hop and turned so her back was to his chest with a few inches of distance between them. Hop gently laid his arm over her, then blanket along with it.
"Is this okay?" he asked softly.
"Um... Yeah."
He was her best mate, and he was helping her out. Yeah, that was it. Cuddling was just, like, a really long hug. This was normal between friends, right? Hop was enthusiastic anyway, so he probably did this with all his friends. Actually, the thought of that made her grimace.
All of it was very confusing especially since, as much as she didn't want to admit it, ever since her escapade with Raihan she wondered at least once what that would have been like with Hop pinning her against the bed like that instead. Or maybe she wondered about it more than once. Not that she wondered about it. Because that would be weird. But if she had wondered about it, then his scent and smile and skin so close to her certainly wasn't helping her to continue not wondering about it.
And how he was looking at her earlier in the warm yellow glow of the lantern light and calling her beautiful and his breath hitting her neck and him being shirtless and staring at her with those hooded eyes and touching her like that and licking his lips and kissing her cheek… yeah all that didn't help either.
"Great! Don't mind me, then,"
Her head thunked against the ground when he pulled her pillow out from under her.
"Hop?!" she hissed. "What're you-"
"Just chill out, hold on,"
She squinted her eyes when he flung her pillow on top of his and he nestled into it.
"Did you just do all of that to get my pillow?! If you throw something at me again I swear I'll-"
"I said hold on, let the master work."
She let out a squeak when he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her up so she was laying against the pillow with him. He turned, and Dolly's heart pounded as he hovered over her when he reached to adjust the blanket over them. He laid against her, flung a long leg over her thighs, tucked one arm under their pillows, and the other snaked around high on her waist. His hand pressed against her ribs as he pulled her against him.
"Aw, poor Dolls, you're so cold," he whispered, concern laced in his voice.
Hop let out a sad hum and curled around her more tightly. It was as if he had practiced these motions a thousand times as he tugged her closer against him and nestled his head into the crook of her neck.
"Okay, g'night, Dolls."
"Uh. Goodnight."
As she began to warm again, she realized that this was… unfortunately incredibly close to what she imagined it would be like. Not that she imagined what it would look like or be like or feel like with Hop's body against hers. Because that would be weird. She shook out the memory of his closed eyes and parted lips.
That memory prodded at her as she tried to think of sleeping and only sleeping. Or breakfast the next morning. Or the Gym Challenge. Or really anything that wasn't Hop's leg slung over her thighs or how he so easily tangled himself around her or how his hand was so high up on her ribs that if he moved it up and over an inch she'd have to slap him.
As she lay looking at the ceiling, she was also incredibly aware of Hop's breath hot on her neck and his lips so close to her skin. She tried to think of anything else. She could think about… Dirt. Or… Taxes. Jackson picking his nose. Mowing the lawn. Bede's stupid face. Cologne. Nope. Her mum's Munchlax. Packing peanuts. Math. TM21. Eyelashes. Jawline. Nope. Butterscotch candy. Uhh. Needlepoint. Fossilized Fish. Doorknobs. Pungent Roots. Muscles. Hands. Lips. Nope. Nope. Nope. Anything. Else. But. Those.
"How am I supposed to sleep with you on top of me?" Dolly finally grumbled, giving into the ultimate distraction as heat in her face flared again. She hoped she didn't sound as flustered as she felt.
Hop lifted his head, and Dolly swallowed hard as he hovered over her again and stared into her eyes. His hair was tousled still, his eyes were hooded, and this was now exactly what she imagined it would be like if she had imagined what this would be like. Not that she did. Or had. Nor would she nicely tuck this image away for later.
"Am I too heavy?" he asked.
"That's… not what I meant," she said, though she was unable to meet his gaze.
The pressure was kind of nice, not that she would admit it. She kind of liked the pressure and the warmth and the weight of his body lying on half of her. It made her feel like a little warm marshmallow, snuggled securely as she was pressed under the weight of a dense and incredibly attractive graham cracker.
"Just relax, Dolls," he said softly as he dropped to his elbow. "You're really tense. I won't hurt you, I promise."
Well she sure hadn't thought about this yet. His hair was tousled, his muscles were flexing as he held himself up, his long eyelashes were framing those half-lidded golden eyes, his hand was holding high on her ribs, he was balancing on one knee that was set between her thighs and his elbow beside her head as he hovered over her, his face and lips and smile were only inches away and he was looking into her eyes like that.
Relax. Yeah. Like that was possible right now.
"I know you won't, but it's just… I'm just…"
"I can move! I thought this would be the easiest way to help you warm up, is all,"
"W-well it is, I-I'm just-"
"Maybe you could sleep next to Dubwool if that would be better? I just… I thought you might like snuggling with… um… with… w-well I know you try with all your Pokémon and none of them let you, so I figured you would like it if it were… um… with me."
Well trying to cuddle with her Pokémon certainly didn't make her feel like this. Why was 'snuggle' such a stupid word? Why did he have to like snuggling so much? She knew physical affection was his favorite type, but being on the receiving end of it in the dark of the tent when just the two of them were awake was… dizzying. Even though they were just friends.
"N-no," she said. "This is fine, I'm just-"
Hop opened his mouth to interrupt her again.
"I'm just feeling overwhelmed, okay?" she huffed and finally glared up at him. "H-having you… s-so close to me and leaning over me like this is… it's just really a lot."
"Do you not like it...?" he asked softly as his eyebrows pulled together.
"I didn't say that..." she grumbled as her cheeks lit up. "I just said I was overwhelmed."
Hop's eyes flitted around her face, and after a moment, he leaned another inch closer.
"...So you do like it?" he asked cautiously.
Whatever Butterfree that was in charge in her stomach had called forth a battalion, which was now furiously swarming.
"W-well you are... really warm," she grumbled as she glanced away again. "S-so, um, I guess I don't not like it..."
Hop wasn't replying, so Dolly glanced up again. He was an inch closer, and those Butterfree were all simultaneously Gigantimaxing when he looked at her like that. His hand was hesitantly toying with a few strands of her hair, and his eyes were lidded again. Dolly watched him swallow as his gaze stayed fixed on her eyes.
Another second passed and he still hadn't responded.
"...Hop?" she finally squeaked.
"Right, yes, sorry," Hop said, jolting into focus. "You're just, y-you're… I… Um, here."
Hop laid down against her and again tucked himself back into place. His warmth was seeping into her body, and Dolly breathed out another sigh. Her nerves were like electricity when his voice vibrated against her neck.
"Try to relax, I'm just helping you warm up, remember? That's all."
"You need to relax too then," Dolly muttered.
"Yes, right, yes. You're right."
A few minutes passed, and Dolly was still trying to relax. Her breathing was starting to slow as Hop nestled against her.
"Can't let my tiny Pecha berry freeze to death when I'm over here like Groudon," he mumbled after a while.
At the sound of his voice, Dolly jolted into full focus. After she processed his sentence, she whispered back.
"What'd you call me?"
"Hm?"
"What did you just say?"
"I said I'm 'like Groudon.'"
"Before that."
"'I'm helping you warm up'?"
"After that."
Hop shifted up again.
"Something about you relaxing?"
Dolly's brow furrowed as she gazed up at him.
"You called me… um… your… little Pecha berry."
He squinted his eyes, opened his mouth, closed it, then opened it again.
"Hm. Shit. I did, didn't I."
Dolly breathed out a laugh as his cheeks darkened.
"My mum calls me that, you can't call me that too,"
And with that, he plopped back down and nestled against her again.
"Mmkay, my little Tyranitar."
She heaved out a melancholy sigh and when he laughed, it rumbled through her entire body. Hop wrapped himself closer to her, and her eyes fluttered close as his warmth spread over her arms, her chest, her legs. Dolly paused, then cautiously settled herself against him, and tucked her head under his chin. Hop let out a satisfied hum.
She supposed Rosa called her 'my Dolly' and Theodore called her 'my Lady,' so maybe that was just something friends did? Just like snuggling. Normal. Yep, this was completely normal. Completely normal among friends. She was sure of it. Perhaps the more she repeated that in her head, the more she could distract herself from the explosion of Butterfree in her gut as he adjusted on top of her, then finally relaxed against her.
With his entire body wrapped around her like that, Dolly was incredibly conscious of how good he smelled and that he was so warm and soft and sturdy and her skin tingled as his arm curled around her waist and now it was distracting but also comforting and there was that blizzard and wind outside but she was so safe and kind of hot now and he had really strong hands but he always held her so gently and suddenly Dolly wondered how come snogging with a half-naked Raihan was less nerve-wracking than this?
Not that this was nerve-wracking. Because it wasn't. Because they were just friends and this was normal among friends.
"Perfect fit," he whispered against her ear.
Well it sure was a good thing they were just friends. Otherwise that would have been incredibly seductive and overwhelming and probably make her head explode. So it was a good thing he meant that completely platonically, right?
Right.
Dolly had every intention to let out a strong and affirmative 'yes,' but instead let out an unfortunate squeak. Maybe she could find a nice snow pile to crawl into and peacefully die of shame. Her heart was clattering against her ribcage. Or was that his?
"You're tense again, Dolls," he whispered.
His voice had the hint of gravel, and Dolly squeezed her eyes closed as she tried to think about dirt again.
"You're warmer, though, right?"
"Yes, Hop."
"Okay. Good."
"..."
"Goodnight, Dolls,"
"Goodnight."
After another few minutes, Dolly was still tense. She felt Hop sigh, then after another moment he hesitantly lifted his hand. He brushed her bangs off her face, and cautiously combed his fingers through her hair. Then, it was like a switch was flipped, and Dolly let out a satisfied hum as she melted against him. She barely caught him muttering a '...huh,' and Dolly could hardly open her eyes when he combed through the hair by her ear. When he stopped, she moved his hand back, and she could hear his smile when he muttered another 'huh…'
He wove his fingers through her hair again, and it was like she was a warm and contented puddle, oozing against him as easily as breathing. In her half-conscious state, Dolly couldn't help but smile as she thought that he was so warm, and she was so tired, and that he was so safe, and she felt so protected. His warmth and arms and blanket tucked around her like that helped her consciousness slip, and Dolly let out a final sigh as she drifted to sleep.
"I wish I had warmer clothes to give you," Hop said after a while. "But that's the only extra shirt I had and I know your other clothes were wet but you… um… you… do you feel weird wearing my clothes? I know it's kind of big, but you look… um… really..."
"..."
"...cute..."
"..."
"...wearing my clothes, I mean… and in general..."
"..."
"Was that weird? Right, probably…"
Hop sighed and hugged her a little tighter. He was cautiously brushing through the ends of her hair as he continued.
"But you really are so beautiful. You're so encouraging, and I've never been able to talk to anyone like I can talk to you."
"..."
"And… and you said it earlier but… being this close to you…"
"..."
"It… it, um…"
"..."
"It's overwhelming for me too. B-but… in a good way. If that makes sense. I, um, I like it."
"..."
"I like being close to you."
Hop sighed again.
"Dolls, I think… I think I might be in, um…"
"..."
"...Dolls?"
"...hmng?"
"Are you sleeping?"
"I was."
"Did you hear any of that?"
"No, I kind of dozed off after you said goodnight."
"...Oh."
"Why?"
"Um, n-no reason. Just... go back to sleep."
"That's hard to do when you keep talking,"
"Right, yes, you're right."
Dolly was drifting off again as Hop combed through her hair.
"Is this okay?" he asked.
"Mmhmm."
"Are you comfortable?"
"Mmmhmmm," she hummed as she nestled closer to him.
"Good. Me too."
"..."
"Are you warm enough?"
"Mmhmm."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Positive?"
"Yes."
"Good."
"..."
"I… I love you, Dolls. A-as my best mate, I mean."
"I love you too, Hop," she mumbled as she curled against him.
She could feel him smile and Hop finally seemed to relax. He held her closer and breathed out another sigh.
"Okay, um, goodnight,"
"Goodnight, Hop."
Then, just as Dolly was on the brink of sleep, he pressed his lips against her cheek. This kiss was longer, softer, and his eyelashes tickled. And then he did it again, kissing an inch closer to the corner of her mouth. And then, he did it a third time, another inch closer, and his lips lingered against her skin.
"Hop."
"What?"
"You're really not helping."
"Right, sorry," he said, and he moved his head back to his spot on the pillow.
They lay there a while as their bodies slowly melded into each other like fresh sheets find every crevice when thrown over a bed. Dolly was on the brink of sleep again when she heard Hop whisper.
"So, earlier when I said I was super handsome you didn't disagree," he whispered against her ear. "Does that mean you think I'm super handsome?"
She elbowed him in the ribs.
"Go to sleep."
~later~
Now this was something she could get used to. It was like the rays of the morning sun were stroking through her hair, tucking it behind her ear, moving her bangs from her face, softly brushing it off her neck. It combed through gently and Dolly sighed in contentment, nestling closer to the heat. It was like her whole body was oozing into the earth as she relaxed further.
The pressure moved to her back and rubbed in big, slow circles. Hmm. Yeah, maybe she could be a morning person if every morning were like this, and the embrace of sleep descended like a fog over her again. Something shifted beneath her, there was movement from what she had been holding all night, as her senses began to sharpen. With a small grunt she hugged it tighter.
The circles on her back resumed and she sighed again, melting into the touch. Pressure delicately trailed the length of her spine a few times, stroking up and down as she eased further into relaxation. Yeah, she could stay like this for the rest of her life. When it stopped, she let out another whine and it was like the ground beneath her shook with a chuckle. Her eyes shot open and she lifted her head, looked down, and was face to face with Hop.
"Mornin'," he hummed.
Dolly shot back in shock with a yelp and tumbled out of the blankets. As she rubbed the sleep from her eyes, she realized that that was her ray of sunshine, who was still smiling softly at her, still groggy from sleep, and had half of his hair sticking straight up.
"How did you sleep?" Hop asked as he lifted himself up on his elbows. "Real comfy, yeah?"
She didn't know the last time she had such a good night's sleep, honestly. She shoved down the part of her that longed to crawl back to him and resume where they were laying, to curl back onto him and have him stroke through her hair like that again, rub her back like that again, to lay with someone so safe, sturdy, warm, stay there forever and feel his laugh between her bones.
"I was," Hop said as he stretched. Her eyes followed the imprints her clothes and blankets left all over his skin, and she tore her eyes away when he looked at her again.
"Real comfortable, I mean. You're real cuddly when you're half asleep, you know that?" Hop said, still smiling softly at her.
She mentally smacked herself. Just like a Dreepy on a Dragapult.
"Yeah, um, sorry," Dolly mumbled as she fiddled with the hem of her shirt.
"No! No, it's okay, I um… I thought it was cute," Hop said quietly. "I didn't mind it."
"Oh," Dolly said quietly. When she glanced back up at him, he was still gazing at her.
"And… you like it when I play with your hair, don't you?"
When her cheeks flared red, Hop breathed out a laugh.
"I thought so. Every time I do it you just, like, melt."
"Y-yeah, well… it's soothing," Dolly grumbled.
Hop watched as she crossed her arms and glared at the floor. He couldn't help but smile - she kind of looked like a little angry Jigglypuff, with her brows furrowed and face scrunched.
"Dolls," Hop said quietly. "You don't have to be defensive, it's okay if you like cuddling and physical affection. You don't have to be tough around me."
She was still running her fingers over the hem of her shirt, now fighting with herself about how impactful those words were. She had said the very same thing to him the night before, but when she was the ones with the iron walls around her heart, it was awfully challenging to allow herself to let them down. Despite that, though, Hop's soft knocking, his gentle and understanding touch, was quietly making its way in.
"It was kind of nice," Hop continued. "Seeing you like that, I mean. It was like you finally let your guard down, just for a little bit."
Dolly nodded, then heaved out a sigh.
"Well… it's easier with you… I trust you," she said quietly.
Hop nodded, and they sat in silence for a while as the morning sun shone through the tent netting. The temperature was warm, comfortable, and the sound of blankets rustling and their sleeping Pokémon wafted through the air. After a moment, he spoke up again.
"You know it's still early…" Hop said, though the end of his sentence trailed off.
Dolly glanced up at him.
"So?"
"So…" he mumbled. He had readjusted the blankets, and although he wasn't looking at her, the invitation was apparent when he lifted his blanket and held his arms out.
"Do you like it when I cuddle with you?" Dolly asked cautiously, biting her lip to hold back a grin.
"Well I'm not going to say I don't like it!" Hop retorted as his face flushed. "S-so are you coming back over here or what?"
Dolly smiled and accepted that invitation, and it didn't take long before she crawled back, and they tangled together again. Their legs and arms and hesitant smiles intertwined together, and when Dolly laid her head on his chest, they both breathed out a contented sigh. And again, just as Hop predicted, Dolly melted to the touch when he started running his fingers through her hair.
"This is an interesting fact to learn about you, Dolls," Hop chuckled.
Dolly could barely open her eyes as she breathed out another sigh.
"Hmm?"
"How quickly this makes you relax," he said. She could hear the smile in his voice, but she could only grunt in response.
Hop shifted and laid her head against their pillows again. He set his elbow by her head, rested his head on his fist, and combed through the hair by her ear. Dolly still couldn't really open her eyes, though she could feel him looking at her. The warmth was radiating off him, his weight on her was comforting, and his reverent touch was soothing her into sleep again. He brushed her bangs off her face, ran his fingers down, and brushed his thumb over her cheek.
"Where did you even learn to do this?" Dolly muttered as she leaned into his touch.
"Unlike some people, I know I like cuddling, so I know what feels nice," Hop said with a chuckle.
"Use this power wisely, Hop," she finally mumbled.
He laid against the pillow with her, pulled her closer to his chest, and tangled their legs together.
"Well… something else, actually," he started.
"Hm?"
"You talk in your sleep, too."
"Okay?"
"You… kept saying my name."
Her eyes shot open.
Nice. Great. Cool. Thank you, unconscious Dolly, for consistently throwing conscious Dolly under the bus.
Hop was still combing through her hair, brushing his thumb over her cheek. There was no escape now, as her body was completely and fully relaxed. She hadn't realized Hop could form such a genius and devious plot.
"Were you dreaming about me?"
The heat was flaring in her cheeks as she tried to mumble a retort.
Maybe she did, maybe she didn't. Maybe she dreamed about Wooloo and Yampers frolicking in a flowery field as the rays of sunshine and pink Cutieflies fluttered about. Or maybe she didn't. Maybe she dreamed about them in the dark of a tent alone with him holding her and touching her and kissing her and pressing against her, just like he was before they fell asleep, and maybe it was a little more than that, maybe he was shirtless again, maybe they were both sweating and panting, maybe his breath was hot on her neck, maybe she liked it when he breathed out her name, but maybe she really did dream about Wooloo and Yampers. Or maybe she didn't. Either way, it wasn't like she had any intention of spitting that information out any time soon.
"So, is that a yes…?" he asked cautiously, still running his fingers through her hair. "If it is, I wouldn't mind it."
Well what was that supposed to mean? Dolly could offer little response, though his face was lying only inches from hers on the pillow.
"I've had dreams about you before, too."
And what was that supposed to mean?! Her eyes widened at the blush creeping up on his cheeks.
"Man I am SWELTERING."
They froze.
Jackson puffed and rustled around beside them.
"How many times have I told you not to put blankets on me in my sleep, Dolly?"
Maybe if they didn't move, he wouldn't see them.
"Dolly? Where-"
The only sound in the tent was Dubwool yawning. Dolly popped her head up to see Jackson, frozen in place as he took in the scene before him.
"What is he doing." Jackson growled through his teeth.
"I-It was to keep warm!" she spluttered. "You stole my blankets in the middle of the night! It was out of desperation, I swear!"
Hop waved at Jackson with his fingers.
"You TOUCHED HER?!" he roared. He launched himself at Hop, who with a squeal was already scrambling to the opposite side of the tent.
And before long, Dolly added a second scorched and shredded tent to her inventory.