Hi all,
Thank you so much for your support with reading this, and my other stories. Here's the latest update.
Chapter 15As per before, Goodshow had been waiting for her. He'd told her some information about the Gym's preferred types, acting as though she hadn't already met Brawly. Rather than point out to the man that she was familiar with Brawly, she'd smiled and thanked him for his support.
Then, upon turning her attention to the Gym, she'd had to battle the man's aids before reaching him. Whilst the layout of the Gym had tested May's memory—he'd managed to turn the lights off as soon as she walked into the room, forcing her to use her senses to find her way around. To her surprise, she'd somehow triumphed over the obstacles.
Now, halfway through her battle with the man, he'd surprised her with his friendly banter. The battle was so un-like her previous battle against Roxanne; that it left her feeling slightly distracted.
Her pokémon were tired, and she was down to her Blaziken, but Brawly was also down to his Hariyama, his last pokémon too.
'Use your feet, Hariyama, earthquake!' Brawly called out, winking at May across the battlefield.
'Jump to dodge it, Blaziken!' May called out, though her pokémon lost his footing, causing him to feel the brunt of the ground attack.
'Blaziken!' May cried, though another voice snarled, 'this match is over, Brawly is the winner.'
With a small pout, May returned her heavily weakened starter pokémon.
'You did well, dudette. How about we drop your pokémon off at the Centre and then I'll show you a good night?' Brawly smiled as he returned his pokémon.
With a small smile, May responded, 'all right.'
'Don't wait for me, Hideki,' Brawly winked at the man before ushering May out of the Gym and leading her to the Pokémon Centre.
After giving the Nurse Joy her pokémon, May followed the man outside.
They walked in a comfortable silence before he asked, 'do you know Steven well?'
Considering his question, May shook her head, 'not really. I met him on that same journey that I met you on, but otherwise we haven't maintained contact. He appeared at my dad's Gym with Wallace, but we haven't said that much to each other either.'
Hearing this, Brawly frowned, his expression pensive.
Awkwardly, she searched for another topic to discuss. Taking a breath, she frowned, 'so, what were you doing before you became Gym Leader here?'
'Wow, dudette, not many people ask me that. It's a deep question, and one I don't usually answer,' Brawly laughed, scratching the back of his head nervously as he led her to the night markets, which were littered with various brightly coloured lights.
'Well, I figure, you knew what I was doing, it's only fair that I should ask you,' May smiled as she stretched her arms beside him, relishing the setting sun on her back.
'For a while, I trained under Chuck from Johto,' Brawly said, noticing May's face lighting up at the mention of Johto.
'You've been to Johto?' He chuckled, causing May to blush as he lead her through the crowded pathways.
'I was born there, in Olivine City, though not many people would guess it. I even met Chuck as a young child, he tried to help me overcome a… problem. Anyway, I met him again when I went on my journey there, and it was good to see him again. He was nice, intimidating, but still very nice,' May smiled as Brawly blinked at her confession.
'Really? I was training with him when I was roughly ten, how old would you have been when you visited? Maybe we met each other back then?' Brawly frowned, his expression filled with a joy that had the woman biting back a smile.
'Maybe, I don't know. I can't imagine you training under anyone, to be honest,' the Johto woman chuckled beside him as her eyes landed on a Kanto themed booth.
'No way! Boxed lunches, just like I had in Kanto!' May grinned as she walked towards the small beachside booth.
'Whoa, dudette, you've been to Kanto too?' Brawly mused as he saw May inspect the menu.
'Yes, you've spent time in Kanto?' May gasped as she turned her full attention to the man.
'Yeah, I trained under Bruno for a bit too,' Brawly chuckled as he saw May's eyes widen.
'No way! You trained under Bruno from the Kanto Elite Four? Brawly, that's amazing! How did you get Bruno and Chuck to train you?' May gasped as she stared up at the man.
'Dudette, I'm impressed you know of them both. Clearly your Blaziken is very lucky to have you as his Trainer. Not many people know of the fighting type masters,' Brawly mused as the assistant let out a small huff, not at all pleased by the duo taking their time in making their selection, nor the standoffish crowd in the distance, staring at May and Brawly.
'Oh, sorry, can I have an Octillery snack box please?' May grinned up at the woman, who blinked at her sunny smile.
'Make that two,' Brawly grinned before giving the woman some money.
'No way, is he on a date already? I thought he said he wouldn't date anyone for a while!' Someone gasped, surprising May, who flushed at the comment.
Grimacing, she turned to see a group of young women appraising her quite obviously, their eyes narrowed with a dislike that had the woman feeling anxiety. Turning her gaze to her feet, she didn't see Brawly glance from her to the group and back again.
'Babe, you shouldn't let others worry you so. Those dudettes just wish they were as lucky as me to spend time with someone as well-travelled as you are,' Brawly chuckled as he took the bag of food from the assistant.
'Come on, I'll show you my place. I know you've been before, but you'll love the changes,' Brawly winked at her as May frowned at him, uncertain of how to react to his comment. On the one hand, she did enjoy visiting places and meeting people, learning about different cultures. However, on the other, she found that she couldn't do any of that anymore, not without abandoning the Gym.
'Will I?' May decided to ask as Brawly chuckled.
'Trust me, I kind of threw everything out since it reminded me of Shauna. You'll like what I've done with the place,' the man insisted as he led May through a path which was littered with flowers.
'Did we take this path last time?' May frowned, causing the man to chuckle.
'No, let's just say I'm trying to impress a special lady,' Brawly winked at May, who was sorely tempted to turn around and find this lady.
'Brawly, I hope you're not referring to me,' May frowned at the man, who chuckled in response. She didn't know how to feel about it, especially with Serena's rumour of Drew's date. All she could do was give both men the benefit of the doubt.
'Dudette, you're a babe. That guy you mentioned in the café, he's crazy for not contacting you. From what you've said, it's obvious you're smitten. If it were me, I wouldn't have let you go. A girl like you only flows into anyone's life once,' Brawly mused as he obviously eyed May.
With a laugh, May pushed him away, scowling, 'that is something I don't want to think about, young man! Besides, as long as I've got Mr Briney sailing the ship I'm on, I'll be fine.'
'Seriously, dudette? Surely you've noticed how us guys look at you? There's a reason why your friend, Brendan, acts like he is. He knows that there are guys out there who aren't as chill as they should be. He's just acting out of a desire to protect you. Ash, Brock and your brother aren't here anymore, and you're not as strong as you think,' Brawly chuckled as he led her into his hut, which was filled with various wooden furniture, a light blue theme strewn across the place.
'You're right, you did change this place,' May frowned as her eyes flickered around the room, hoping to change the topic of conversation. She didn't want to think about relationships, whether they were hers, Brawly's or Drew's.
'I know, I had to get my sister to come here and design it for me. She wasn't too happy to have to leave Kanto, but I'll be fixing her place up the next time I'm there,' Brawly chuckled as he placed the food on the pristine acacia benchtop.
May's stomach growled noisily, interrupting her musings around the kitchen.
'So, food time?' Brawly chuckled as the younger woman flushed notably.
'Yes please,' May grinned sheepishly as the other Gym Leader chuckled.
For the most part, they ate in silence, though May's thoughts couldn't help but linger on Brendan, wondering what her friend was doing with Brawly's ex. Seeing the unease in the man's eyes, she realised that her thoughts were mirrored by the man's mind. Considering the limited conversations they could have, she began, 'your fighting style hasn't changed.'
The man sent her a brief smile before saying, 'I adapt to each individual challenger, and so should you. Your tactics were rigid, like a rock. Your pokémon are of various types, so you should utilise that. Most Gyms specialise in just one type, so when there's a multi-type Gym like yours out there, they work very well. I think there was a multi-type in Viridian City, Kanto that was one of the most powerful Gyms there has been.'
Hearing this, May frowned. Considering their battle, she suddenly realised that she had been very rigid in her approach, barely utilising any of the techniques she'd learnt from the man the last time she'd encountered him. In fact, the man's battle with Ash years before, had inspired their whole group.
With a grim determination, she said, 'I'd like a rematch.'
'I knew you would,' the man chuckled before placing their rubbish in the bin.
Turning on the music, he turned his eyes onto May, 'care to dance?'
'Dance?' May questioned the man, who nodded.
'A lot can be learnt from dancing, like surfing,' the man chuckled before holding out a hand to her, his eyes imploring her to say yes.
Considering her options, May knew that she did like to dance, whether it was alone or with someone else. With an eager grin, she took his hand, not seeing him press a few buttons, until a familiar song filled her ears.
'A kid from Pallet Town with a brand new world to see, don't know what's ahead but it won't get the best of me. There's so much to learn and battles to be won. I've advanced so far but still there's always more to come. Take a step and I'm on my way gonna start all over again. I wanna be a hero!'
With a laugh, May watched as Brawly began a fast paced dance.
Shaking her head, she chuckled, 'I can't do that!'
'Yes you can, dudette,' the man chuckled before placing his hands on her waist, teaching the moves slowly, the scent of his spicy scent filling her nose.
Her face flushing at the prospect of whatever Brendan would say if he saw her with Brawly's hands on her body, May did her best to focus on the steps, hoping to Arceus that no one ever found out—especially Dawn. The woman would sing about May finally having a boyfriend, and that was something she didn't want.
Finding herself wrapped in the man's arms, May barely registered as the song came to a close. With a light laugh, May turned to look up at the man, her breath light.
'May, this isn't a good idea,' the man said, his eyes lidded with desire.
Considering how close the man was to her, as well as the confusion she felt, May knew she should be the smarter person in this.
Blinking, she found herself wrapped in the man's warm embrace, unable to react.