Be a Man
Aislin Oriel
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AN: The final part! Uh… For now at least! Enjoy please. Reviews are good. -AO
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"So, that was quite a show you put on. And here we were waiting for you to get it over with so we could snag that Pikachu – but where the heck is it – did you abandon it somewhere? From that display it seems that you'd be dumb enough to do it!" Jessie laughed.
"Hey! Who are you guys to call me dumb? You can't even successfully steal ONE Pokémon, but you keep on trying!"
"Ouch. That hurt." James started to sob.
"Hey you's guys – we forgot the motto!" Meowth pointed out.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
"How did you guys even get in the pool anyways? You weren't there just a minute ago. And everyone's standing at the only entrance to the arena." Ash scratched his head.
"That's a very good question. Jessica?" James turned to look at his red-haired counterpart.
"Uh, I really don't know. How about you Meowth?" she shrugged.
"Does we evah explain how we get places? Come ta think of it, where do we get the moneys to buy all our strange mechanical contraptions that the twerps destroy? If we have that kinda moneys at our disposal why don't we use it to secure a comfortable life?"
"Wow, my eyes have just been opened… Maybe we should go check out the details on that credit card the boss gave us. He never said we could only use it for business! Think about it Jessie, no more instant noodles!" James' eyes began to sparkle.
"Forget the Pikachu, I want an all-expenses-paid vacation!" she clasped her hands together as she assumed the same expression. "Let's go!"
As they swam to the edge of the pool, Meowth added, "I's just hope we's don't get caught. Giovanni will flip!" But of course his voice of reason was ignored completely.
Ash shook his head, pretending he didn't see a thing as the three wetsuit-clad, snorkel sporting, mask wearing, flipper flopping, hopeless excuses for villains made their stealthy retreat out into the hallway.
He had more problems to deal with at the moment than even bothering to thwart whatever useless plans they had. Besides, they were so harmless that Psyduck could take them on easily. Ash just didn't have the usual vigour to have an easy one-sided battle, no doubt that would've ended in a hole in the ceiling of the arena. Oh how Misty would just love him for that.
"Dah-" Ash smacked himself in the head at the thought, and suddenly gained the courage to face the others.
Finding his way out to the lobby with no problem this time, he was greeted with a tableau of shocked figures.
"Was… that just Team Rocket that rushed by us just then?" Brock asked the rest of them in a deadpan tone.
"Ash – the Pokémon – did they take any of them?" Misty asked, worry etched on her face, and Pikachu perched on her pullover-clad shoulder. "Pika," it implored obligatorily with the same tone.
"Nah, I saw them the entire time they were here, and they got it in their heads to forget about stealing for now. Well, other than from their boss. Never mind. You know them. This will probably last for a few days before they renew their efforts." Ash said disinterestedly, but trying to be reassuring.
"You're sure? We should check anyway!" Daisy said from behind the desk, "Lily, you go check on the Pokémon in the training room, and Violet, make sure that you see where they've been on the security cameras. I'll go check on the sleeping Pokémon," after delegating these tasks, she and the two by her sides went into their separate directions.
"I'm telling you…" Ash said to their retreating backs.
"Ash… are you, okay?" Misty asked, her brows still knotted together in genuine concern.
"Oh, yeah. C'mon, what were Team Rocket gonna do to me? Annoy me to death?" Ash asked shakily.
Misty didn't look convinced. "I didn't…" she began to mumble and cast uncomfortable glances around at their audience.
"Uh!" Brock coughed nervously.
"We, were just leaving! C'mon Max, let's go help them check on the Pokémon!" May said cheerfully, as she pulled him out the door by his collar.
"But-" Max's complaint was cut off as they turned the corner.
"Pikachu, could sure use you to come just in case Team Rocket decided to hang around and cause trouble," Brock suggested all-to-subtly, and motioned for the creature.
"Chu!" it launched itself onto the floor and scuttled off after Brock outside to check the perimeter of the Gym.
"Wow, that sure wasn't obvious." Misty said, unamused.
Ash turned and looked up at her, "Mist, about what I said earlier – I'm really sorry – I-didn't-meant-to-say-what-I-said,-I-wasn't-thinking-and-I-didn't-mean-to-be-a-jerk,-but now-I-know-that-I-was,-and-I-don't-want-you-to-be-mad-at-me,-so- "
"Wow! Ash, slow down!" Misty cut off his rapid rant. "I'm not angry. I know you didn't mean it the way I took it. I was just upset that you changed the subject… and I… well, some of the things were offensive, and I couldn't control myself. I didn't mean the things I called you…" she put her head down, embarrassed to apologize, since it was still new to her.
"But that's just it Misty, I wasn't changing the subject. I just didn't think I had to say that stuff. I thought telling you that I wanted to stay here would tell you how I feel," Ash insisted, a bit of a desperate ring to his voice.
"I don't know what you mean by it. I can't assume anything with you. I can't tell if you wanting to stay is just a friendly gesture – that you wouldn't do the same to help any one of your friends… I can't tell anything to be the truth but what you actually tell me, don't you get it?" she pleaded, frowning.
"I never wanted to make you feel bad Misty, I'm just really horrible at this stuff, you… It's the… I'm new to it all…" every word he spoke became more and more frustrated, as he tried to articulate his feelings.
"It's okay… just try to relax, you can say what ever it is," Misty encouraged, a patient expression, while she was actually quite edgy.
"I just don't know how to… what am I supposed to say? I can't just-" he closed his eyes, as if gathering his thoughts into a decisive culmination.
"…" she looked on, eager but serene.
"You're always going to be my best friend,"
"Rejection," Misty gulped out under her breath and couldn't help the instinctive lurch that went through her body, followed by several tremors.
"It's not easy for me to say this to you, because I don't know… well what will happen between us – and it will be weird and… well, scary… if I do…"
As Misty's vision blurred, all she could do was soak in the inevitable words.
"I really, really like you…" his weak words hit her like stones.
She broke down into strange muffled sobs, hunched over and holding her arms self-consciously, and all Ash could do was stand there and watch her, with a terrible feeling in his gut.
"But I don't know if it's…" he reached out and put a condoling hand on her shoulder, which was all-too uncomfortable to be soothing, a tension laced compulsion. It wasn't right. "…how do you know?"
Misty looked up at his brown eyes momentarily, her own watery eyes seemed to tell him before she even breathed out the words, "I just know," and as quickly she was gone to her room.
Ash stared at the space she had stood in, unfocused as the squeak of the arena doors announced them opening.
"Oh man! That was rough." Max stated.
Ash was unmoven as Pikachu, Brock and May emerged at the door, looking at him, but afraid to say anything.
"Guys… I…" Ash became stone-faced.
"It's alright…" Brock said solemnly, refraining from scolding his friend.
May and Pikachu just looked at him sympathetically.
"I – I can't go talk to her to make sure she's okay, I don't have a right to… May, would you?" Ash asked forlornly.
"Her… her sisters already went to her…" May explained softly, "I know it might not mean anything… but if you want my advice, I'd say, you know. You know Ash."
"I…" he gulped and scratched his head habitually, "know…"
May turned and made her leave out to the fountain. The other two humans, after a meaningful look (or squint) and a repressed comment, followed after her. Pikachu tugged his pant leg, shot a commiserating expression at him, and waddled out the door with it's head down.
"I know…" Ash said acceptingly. "Sorry Mist… I guess I ruined it again…"
Feeling funny talking to himself, but deciding he was on a roll, he leaned, fist and forehead against the lobby wall, "You know, I wasn't exactly disgusted by the thought of kissing you – I was just afraid you'd hit me if I tried," he admitted ironically.
"Uh-"
Ash shot his head up at the voice, to see the figure of Misty at the hallway entrance, eyes slightly red, but expression hopeful.
"Mi-"
"They sent me back down…" she whispered an explanation.
Ash's cheeks were alight, and he felt like smashing his head on the wall it'd been resting on for saying such a mortifying thing.
"Did you… did you mean that?" she asked, not quite as abashed as him, but hiding a smirk with the thought of her recent tears.
"Maybe… I guess I don't exactly say what I mean all the time…" he admitted, smiling sardonically at the hand fate had dealt him.
"Me neither." Misty said suddenly.
"You – what?" Ash blinked at her, "You don't, have… those feelings?"
"No, no, no… I'm not exactly disgusted by the thought of kissing you… either…" she swallowed, as her throat became dry.
"Uhhhh…" Ash went practically brain dead trying to comprehend the situation he'd gotten in. How such few words could change the tide…
"Well… I guess, uh…" Misty fumbled, albeit more elegantly than him, but nonetheless, "Would you?"
"What?" Ash squeaked out, voice reaching a record high-pitch.
"Kiss… me?" she asked, her voice becoming strong and steady, and walked toward him.
"Wait… wait – now?"
She frowned, disappointment in her eyes.
"I… I want to, I just… haven't… It'll be bad…" Ash warned.
"I haven't either," Misty reassured.
"You want your first kiss to be bad?"
"It would be bad if it were from anyone but you,"
"Uh, alright… sorry if I do it wrong…"
She shook her head in disbelief at his uncharacteristic lack of confidence, stepping closer to him as her heart raced in her chest.
Ash fumbled a bit as he took hold of her arms to guide her to him, and she steadied herself by pressing her hands against his chest, "It's okay… just, don't worry. You don't have to rush."
Taking her words into account, he leaned forward, eyelids drooping, as his lips slowly sought hers.
A sharp creak in the silence and a ray of sunlight stopped them abruptly, just inches from each other.
"Sorry guys, go on!" Brock waved from the doorway, "Just uh… testing the door! It works! Heheh…" he abruptly pushed the door closed.
"I told you not to lean on it!" Max's muffled voice was heard.
"It's not my fault, you were telling me to move over so you could hear!" was Brock's hushed reprisal.
"Guys, shhh! We can't hear what they're saying now!" May said frantically.
"Pika… pika…" Pikachu said lowly, as if warning.
Silence was once again resumed.
Both Ash and Misty sweatdropped, the moment now officially ruined.
"A rain check on that kiss?" Misty asked lamely.
"Yeah." Ash sighed.
Sounds of aggravation and disappointment came from the door.
"I promise I won't hit you." Misty said pronouncedly.
An 'eep' that sounded a whole lot like Brock was heard from outside, followed by the sounds of sneakers scurrying across pavement.
"Now I really know," Ash said decisively.
"Hm?" Misty looked from her amusement to him with curiosity. "Know what?"
"Heh…"
"Ah…" Misty's smile widened, "That's nice to know!" she glomped him in a hug.
"Hey, how can I resist you when you're not threatening me anymore?"
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AN: Yeah, so there you have it. Hopefully you enjoyed it for what it is, a silly little piece of fluff that I just couldn't help but write. Feedback is always appreciated. If there is any want, or if I just generally feel like it, an epilogue might be in store - if only to tie up some loose ends. Tell me what you think if you feel inclined to review! Thanks. -AO
