Rated M for strong coarse language and adult content references. –nod- You have been warned :D

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Chapter 6—"Define anxiety"

Define the word anxious. Perhaps you'll get somewhat close to what Gary Oak was feeling in that precise moment. The brunette threw his head back, closing his eyes as he waited in the hall. Leaning back on the tapestry of the walls, he sighed. He had been there practically fifteen minutes waiting for the blonde wonder to come out of his given room. He was strangely relieved that his room was on his wing, and not in the other one.

Later than sooner, the door creaked open, revealing the british wonder walking out, quite ready to face another day. William didn't seem too surprised as his brown eyes settled on the brunette, staring piercingly at him.

"Well, you git, didn't know you were out here" he stated, smugly.

Gary just rolled his eyes, clenching his hands into fists. He wasn't in the mood for beating around the subject. "William, why are you here"

The blonde seemed to smirk. "Well, that's a comfy welcoming for an' old mate, innit?" At Gary's silence, he rolled his eyes. "Dear god, Oak, I'm here on business"

Gary wasn't really buying it. "You're father is a businessman. You're a pokemon researcher" His blue eyes wavered with mistrust.

William shrugged. "Just some errands, I suppose, gees, blame a bloke for tryin' to be helpful" William snorted not too politely. " Quite the trust issue we've got here, mate" his brown eyes glimmered with mischief. "You don't... think I'm gonna swoop in and steal your carrot headed luv, do you?"

Gary stood silent, raising an eyebrow, defiantly. William was on thin ice here.

The blonde smirked, rolling his eyes. "Bloody hell, you twit, I'm not gonna steal your sodding girlfriend" he paused, pondering that last word. "Sweet Jesus on a skate, Oak, who knew we'd ever catch YOU in a serious relationship" he laughed softly to himself. "Back in your researching days, sweet heaven, you were a god, using 'em, dumping 'em, quite the ladies man, only not" he laughed.

Gary shifted, uncomfortable. "William, that's not me anymore..." He mumbled, however, it seemed to run below the blonde's radar as he continued to ramble on

"I mean, for fuck's sake, remember how you wrecked up a little twit, Sodding hell, it was good to pick up the pieces right after the Oak tornado wrecked the little trollops up, they were always so vulnerable..."

That was enough.

Clenching his jaw, Gary shoved the blonde against a wall, closing in on him and pressing his arm against his shoulders, so he wouldn't move. Gary was really seething as he eyed the foreign with rage. "That's it, William" He glowered, rolling his head to one side to keep his temper at bay. "Not another word about that subject, you got me?"

William remained silent, as he looked down shocked at the ex-researcher that looked about to punch him in the face; but remained silent.

"Those days are behind me, I've changed, you're aware of that, right?" he almost shouted.

William's brown eyes wavered, looking down at the brunette that was somewhat shorter than him. He was dumb folded, slightly gaping at such display of hatred. Or whatever that blasted thing was. "Right, Gary, fine." He said throwing his hands up. The last thing he wanted was to pick up a fight. "you say you've changed, bloody hell mate, I believe you"

Gary let William go and backed up, leaning against the other wall, slightly surprised of his own actions. Jesus, where did that outburst come from? Gary let out a confused breath running a hand through his hair. "Look" Gary crisped his hands, feeling something that resembled nausea run him over. "Shit" he closed his eyes, dropping his head forward. Gaining back his own self, he looked back at William, who was looking at him as baffled as he could be. "Just... forget it", he shook his head. He had... he had to get out of there.

Not looking back, Gary turned around, and made his way to the other wing of the house. He had to talk to a certain girl.

Watching him leave, William threw his head back, feeling like a great load was placed upon his chest. What the hell?. Not four months ago, such a scenario would have been farfetched. Hell, not four months ago, he and Gary were chums, they were mates, they were actually friends. Sure, the way they handled women might not have been healthy, but hell, there was nothing wrong in between them.

Leaning his forehead against the wall, he remembered how alone he had been when he had first gotten to the researching field. His family economical situation hadn't been the best, Gary had always reeked of money, still, it didn't stand in the way of establishing quite a trustworthy friendship, and now...?

It was that sodding fate, or hell, whatever was up there, that had turned them against each other, although Gary probably didn't quite knew yet. William shut his eyes, and couldn't refrain himself from punching the wall. "Shit" he cursed under his breath as he grasped his pained knuckles. "Bloody hell..."

"Gary... I'm so fucking sorry" he whispered, before turning again and going back to his room to tend to his bleeding hand.

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His blue eyes awaited anxiously as he knocked on the door on the other side of the house. He didn't have to wait too long until it eventually opened, and he couldn't help but smile.

"May" he said smiling, almost pushing her aside and walking into her room. May just raised her eyebrow at the light shove and gaped, playfully.

"Hey, bro, rude much?" She grinned. "You ARE walking into my domains, now grovel at my feet, you peasant!"

Gary couldn't help but fully smile at the brunette. It was nice to see she had gotten some of the old personality back. She seemed to fade away in the presence of their parents, after all.

"Right" he joked. "Look, May, I need to talk to you" he paused, as he saw her raise her eyebrow mockingly. "It's about our parents, I think they're—"

"Wait a little bro, hold your horses, what ABOUT your parents?" She said, unconsciously taking a step backwards.

Gary paused, warily, but shook his head "I think they're up to something, I don't know, It's all so... "

"What? Gary, come on!" May replied a little out of breath, going into stubborn mode. "Please, just try to make this work, I know it's hard, but I REALLY want to know what it's like to be a family, Gary, come on"

Gary raised an eyebrow "May, I swear, I'm not trying to boycott anything—" He paused. "I think it's something to do with Misty"

May groaned, doing a face palm. "Dear god, Gary, they've been nothing but nice to her!" She shouted, exasperated. No. They were so close to being a family, he was NOT going to blow it.

May was no longer listening. Gary sighed as he seized her from the shoulders, trying to at least make eye contact "Sis, come on, listen to me, listen to me!" May finally stopped struggling, and turned her eyes dejectedly to her younger brother.

"Fine, you know, perhaps I AM jumping into conclusions BUT—" he added before letting May intervene "please, promise me—I won't leave until you do, with an Oak's word of honour and crap—that you'll keep an eye out. Please, just that, it's like being on guard"

May didn't look at all too convinced.

"Please May" he practically begged "please... come on, for your little bro"

May pouted, looking away, and freed herself from Gary's grip. She seemed to ponder things, and looked back at Gary. She had never heard him say the word 'please' so many times. In fact, he practically didn't, except a couple of times here and then, and perhaps to Misty...

Misty.

Right, it was really about her, wasn't it? About them, Gary and Misty, as in, together. But then again... May just wanted to shut herself off in her fantasy world. She didn't want to doubt her parents. But Misty... she was a friend now, and Gary, well, Gary had ALWAYS been there. ALWAYS, even in the midst of his pokemon trip, or his researching days, he always kept writing to her. He always knew she loved letters.

May sat on the edge of her bed, in her quandary. Looking back at her brother's pleading eyes was what it took to make her give in. "FINE!" she said rather stubbornly. "I'll just... keep an eye out. That's it, Gary, I swear, and if you're wrong, I will kick your ass"

Gary visibly relaxed, letting out a breath, followed by a short laugh. "May. You always kick my ass" He chuckled. Fine, so it was because he never fought back, no man could ever hit a female after all, not even when they were 5 running around the house, racing for the last waffle. But he left that bit out, trying not to antagonize her.

"Thank you. That's all I needed" he finished, sighing.

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Bandage in his hand, covering the wreck of punching a concrete wall, William remorsefully made his way downstairs. It was that blasted house, it got under his skin, he never knew who could jump out of what corner. Sighing, making his way through the living room, he found himself rather starving. With a shrug, he walked into the kitchen, they had told him to make himself at home, after all.

What he didn't expect was the red head sitting on the kitchen table, quietly reading a book. Misty raised her head and blinked, noticing the blonde a little stunned. "Oh, William, hi" she replied, smiling politely.

William froze, recalling every bit of distress from his prior conversation with Gary. The distress on his features faded instantly as he placed his usual mask on. "Hullo pet, don't mind me, I'm just a little peckish"

Misty continued on reading as the blonde made his way to the refrigerator and pulled out a simple can of coke. Opening it and gulping it, he sighed as he leaned back against the fridge.

Talk about an uncomfortable silence.

However, Misty seemed to be oblivious to the usual tension between two strangers. William shut his eyes, and threw his head back, cursing himself. He cleared his throat "So, luv, Oak's your first boyfriend, right?" He raised an eyebrow, letting his usual low class British accent seep out.

Misty looked up from the book, closing it politely, willing to make small talk. She smiled at the boy "Yeah, it's been great so far, I—"

"Feel a bit in disadvantage?" William completed the sentence for her. Misty blinked, perplexed, and frowned not understanding the statement. At her silence, William blinked in return, feeling the need to explain himself. "You know, with the track record he's got."

Oh. Misty looked down at her book a little aloof, before shaking her head. Of course! It was stupid of her to believe Gary hadn't had girlfriends or possible love interests before her, not with all that he... travelled. He didn't have to tell her all about it, after all, Misty never had mentioned Rudy.

"Well" she added rather uncomfortable. "I didn't presume he was a bit more... experienced in this than I am—"

William's snort cut her off again. "Now THAT's a bleeding understatement"

Even her thoughts faltered, she could feel her thoughts stuttering. Still, no big deal, but the twinkle in her eyes had been teased. And the one thing more powerful than her conscience had been awoken.

Her curiosity.

"Uh..." she pondered, her lopsided smile giving out to a fully serious expression. "Well... how much of an understatement?" Misty never knew how much she would regret such foolish question.

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A/N: Oh may gawd, so in a hurry. Can't talk, must go!

Now. I'm SO sorry at the delay. I really really am. The thing is that when I said to myself; SELF; It's time to update, my mom sprung these long vacations on me. I hardly had time to pack my things, I couldn't even update TT. Also, Life's been kicking me around lots lately. And.. –sigh-

Well, hopefully you'll undertand.

And fear not. William is not here to seduce Misty. xD He can't out-hawt Gary. xD Nevah!

MIDNIGHT MIST.