Chapter 43

Returning to her house, May beamed as she let her pokémon through the front door, watching them eagerly pile into their home.

From further inside, she could hear the sound of running water and smiled. Brendan was awake, then, and coherent enough to bathe himself. At least she didn't have to worry about him too much if he was willing enough to shower, though he'd regret his binge later.

Hearing her Xtransceiver ring, she struggled momentarily to retrieve the device from her pocket as she precariously closed the door with her foot. Hurrying to answer the call, she habitually spoke with a grin in case it was her family, 'hello, this is May speaking.'

'Babe, did I ever tell you that you're a stunner with a lot of surprises up your sleeve?' A voice chuckled in her ear, making her blush as her forced smile became instantly more genuine.

Moving around her house, she hung her back on the coat rack and headed to the kitchen, her exhausted pokémon following closely behind her, the sound of their breathing ragged and uneven.

'Hi to you too, Brawly,' May chuckled as she leaned against her kitchen bench top, struggling to pull out food bowls.

Pulling foil wrapped food out of the fridge, she awkwardly spread equal portions of food for her pokémon, wedging her Xtransceiver between her ear and shoulder. She knew she could put the man on loudspeaker, but she didn't want to startle her tired Pokémon or have Brendan walk in on her conversation and cause a giant misunderstanding.

Once she had finished struggling with the foil packets, she heard the man let out a sigh.

'What's wrong?' She questioned, instantly on the alert as she placed it back in the fridge, not seeing Munchlax eye Shroomish's bowl as she lowered them so they could eat.

'Technically, it's nothing, I mean everything turned out fine,' the man began, instantly setting off alarm bells in her mind.

'Brawly?' May asked, trying to add a sharp note in her voice.

'I'm not going to beat around the bush, it's you. You shouldn't head anywhere dangerous on your own, babe. I've mentioned it before, but you are a stunner. You'll attract a lot of unwanted attention, especially as a young woman traveling alone with nothing but your pokémon for company,' the man frowned into his device, causing May to blush all the more.

Since when were they close enough for the man to be worrying about her like this? Besides, how did he know where she'd been?

'What? I... who said I went anywhere dangerous? And why would I be incapable of looking after myself?' May asked, momentarily too flustered to even think. She rarely gained this kind of attention and was uncertain with how to deal with it. After all, Brawly was offering her increased compliments, something she definitely wasn't used to.

If Brendan heard, he'd eat his hat from trying not to pull the protective older brother card.

'Babe, I can see you were at Mount Chimney and you gained the attention of Malta herself, from the Kalossian Elite Four. She rarely gets a story wrong and captured you on camera for the world to see. I know you're capable, but you really shouldn't go anywhere dangerous alone, babe. It's not a good idea,' Brawly insisted, sending a wave of guilt through her. If he'd seen her, how many more of her family and friends had?

'I had to do it Brawly, but I'm alright. Nothing happened and everything was ok. Besides, someone knew where I was,' May assured him, though she heard him sigh.

She wondered why she felt like Steven wouldn't want her to name drop him. Something about the man's reclusive ways, however, made her feel like she shouldn't just go brandishing that he was having her run errands for him.

'And if it wasn't ok? Who would have helped you, babe? I didn't know, and I bet your boyfriend didn't know either. Whoever you did tell, would they have noticed if you didn't return?' He persisted, reminding her that people cared.

'My boyfriend?' May blinked in confusion before hearing the water turn off. Brendan was done with drowning himself in the shower, then, or perhaps Kenny had decided to put an end to the man's misery.

'Just... Just be careful, May. You mean more to people than you think, especially with how cheerful you normally are. If that were to change, it'd hit your loved ones like a crashing wave,' Brawly said, sounding thoroughly embarrassed.

'I will, don't you worry about that. You know I'd never want to hurt anyone,' she couldn't help but smile, touched by the man's concern for her.

Other people might not realise what a softy Brawly was, especially with his usually cool exterior, but May could still remember how unorthodox his training methods were.

'Well, if you keep coming up in the news, even Stu might be worried, babe,' the man teased, a teasing inflection entering his voice.

Feeling her face flush, May scowled, 'you wish that he'd worry, it would give you something new to tease me about.'

'You can't say that you don't like it, babe. After all, I've noticed that you always seem to smile around me,' the man chuckled in her ear, surprising her by his flirtatious behaviour as she saw Kenny climb down the stairs, waving at her once before rushing back, probably to help Brendan.

'Brawly!' May gasped as the man laughed obviously at her shock. She'd never had anyone say anything at all like that and it left her feeling, well, flustered, especially with Brendan's impeding arrival.

Hearing footsteps coming down the stairs, she knew she had to end the call before either Kenny or Brendan got the wrong idea.

With a scowl, she hissed, 'I'd better go. Someone's at my house and I'd better not be rude, especially since they're probably sick.'

'Ahhh, I see. Tell your boyfriend I said hi,' the man chuckled, an amused inflection entering his voice that only deepened May's embarrassed confusion.

Did he really think she was seeing Brendan Birch of all people?

'I... Brawly, I'm not seeing anyone. I have to go, bye!' she hissed before terminating the call, standing in the kitchen with flushed cheeks where Brendan and Kenny both found her.

Seeing her blush, her childhood friend sent her a roguish grin as he asked, 'what happened to you?'

'Nothing,' May snapped back before the man pulled her in a hug, his soaked hair dripping down her neck as he buried his face in the crook of her neck.

'Wahhh! Brendan that's cold!' She hissed, pushing him into the bench top behind him and away from her.

'Well?' The man asked, arching an eyebrow at her as Kenny leaned against the wall, an amused smile filling his usually stoic face.

With a flush, she scowled, 'nothing! I have to train Shroomish. Kenny, let's head into the gym!'

With that, she left the kitchen, and a very perplexed Brendan behind as she stalked after Kenny, hoping he'd help her out, whilst the man tried—and failed—to smother his laughter.

Recalling the way Brawly had teased her, as well as Brendan's actions, May scowled, wondering just how many people would joke about her non-existent love life. She was lucky that Stu—no, Drew—wasn't in her life anymore, else he'd never let her hear the end of it. Lugia, she was even falling into Brawly's persistent nicknames for the man!

Shaking her head, she walked through the gym doors to see Kenny waiting expectantly for her.

Irritably, she checked her PokéDex for moves that her Shroomish may learn. There was tackle, which she'd had Munchlax help with by utilising his strength attack, however she wanted another grass move.

Seeing leech seed and mega drain, May couldn't help but smile as she saw the possible combinations in her mind.

Recalling what her job was, she grimaced.

Gym leaders weren't known for their beautiful combinations.

A/N:

So Brawly thinks Brendan and May are an item and poor May is really missing coordinating