Chapter 6

Playing with the pokéballs on her belt, May wondered if her pokémon were aware that something was wrong. She'd promised them to train them tonight, but that wasn't happening with her current location. Add her current predicament to the mix and her pokémon would definitely not be happy with her and how reckless she'd been.

This was far worse than any situation she'd ever been in. Even May, in all her historically haphazard behaviour knew she'd gone too far.

Falling off the cliff like that, she'd really thought she'd be a goner.

Her pokémon might even give her as much grief as Brendan would, and May wasn't even sure she could handle Brendan.

The man could be strangely emotional about the oddest things, and May was pretty certain that her falling off of a steep cliff in the upper parts of Mount Chimney would make anyone yell at her, least of all Brendan.

Hearing rocks sliding, May glanced to the side of her ledge, her hand resting on her pokéballs with unease. Whilst she was hoping it was Brendan, she had to be prepared in case it wasn't him.

Arceus, he was going to flip.

Before she could continue debating releasing her blaziken, the all too familiar red shirt of Brendan could be seen, his wind breaker billowing in the wind as he landed with confidence in front of her.

Seeing him, May wanted to snort. Of course he made climbing down a cliff look like an easy task instead of the incredibly dangerous act it was. On the one hand, May was impressed, on the other she was terrified.

Just looking at the mix of worry, fear and anger on his face, she knew that he wasn't going to give her a warm hug, even though that's what she wanted the most.

There was an awkward pause, though May couldn't think of anything to say.

When she'd ended up on this ledge, she'd expected to never see him again, and that had made her finally acknowledge some emotions she'd been suppressing for a very, very long time.

Sure, she'd known those emotions were there, she'd just never properly acknowledged them.

Opening her mouth to try and say something, anything, May was interrupted by Brendan's furious glare.

Clamping her mouth shut, May looked up at him, trying to ignore her pain and misery. The last thing he'd need was for her to be crying. Her eyes were stinging with unshed tears, and she clenched her jaw, trying not to blink.

She couldn't start blubbering now.

The pause continued before Brendan scowled, 'May… I have a lot of things I want to say, but I'll save it.'

Looking up at him, she opened her mouth, but he silenced her with a glare, removing his bag from his back and rummaging through it, Swellow taking a seat beside her, cooing at her in an affectionate manner.

Patting the flying type, May couldn't bring herself to talk to Brendan. He was far angrier than she'd ever seen him. She didn't even know what she could say or do to calm him down, especially since she was the cause of his rage.

With a deftness that came from experience, he stood before her and inspected her head. Appearing not to find anything wrong with it, he moved to her face, his ruby eyes seeming to inspect every part of her head, his brows knitted together and lips pressed in a thin, angry line.

Feeling the sting of something being applied to her temple, May was about to hiss when Brendan silenced her with a glare, 'I need to treat your wounds, so shut up and take it. It's the least you deserve for that stunt back there.'

Pressing her lips together, May watched Brendan work, his hands far more delicate than his furious glares at her would have indicated.

Once he was done, May waited, glancing uncertainly up at him, hoping to at least see him be something more like his usual self, even if he was just yelling at her for being too careless.

Running a hand through his black hair, the man sent her a glare before hissing, 'May! I told you to be careful!'

Before she could say anything, the man recalled his Swellow, praising the pokémon for finding her, though May could see he was still very unlike his usual self.

Grimacing down at her hands, May wondered what she could even say?

Yes, she'd taken that turn too fast but it was the fault of a pokémon? The very pokémon whose habitat she was so rudely crashing with her bike? Then, in order not to hurt it, she'd hurtled painfully down the mountain, skidding down the cliffside and hitting what felt like every rock that stood out.

No, if Brendan heard her say that, she'd be beyond dead, especially with how furious he seemed.

Feeling her eyes sting, May tried to control her breathing. Her eyes were definitely watering, and she tried not to look at Brendan as he took her shoe off to inspect her ankle.

'Arceus, May… does this hurt?' Brendan asked, holding her ankle, though she still couldn't bring herself to look at him.

Trying to ignore the pain she felt, May choked out, 'n-no.'

'You don't need to lie, May, not to me,' Brendan scowled, a shaky note she'd never heard before entering his voice.

Glancing at him, May saw how pale his face was, as well as the way his hands seemed to tremble. His ruby eyes, usually so full of passion, were wide and worried, and his lips were pressed in a thin, hard line.

She'd really hurt him, too.

Just the thought of hurting him made May want to reach out and comfort him, but she couldn't even move properly, let alone bring herself to try.

Brendan had never been one who'd needed comfort from her, that had always been Orlando's role. And right now, with the way he was behaving, May had no idea where she should even start.

This wasn't the Brendan she knew, and that alone made her clam up as surely as a Cloyster.

Sniffling, May tried to keep it together, not letting her analyse her friend's unusual behaviour. Now wasn't the time to be wailing and carrying on, not when Brendan was already so worried and angry.

Even with that thought, the tears she'd been struggling to contain just came spilling out.

Before she could reel in her emotions, she was bawling her eyes out to Brendan like she'd done far too many times before.

'May,' Brendan hissed, placing her foot on his bag with caution before hugging her tightly to him, the familiar, spicy scent of petaya berry bringing her back to better times, away from their miserable situation.

Cuddling into his neck, May tried to suppress a choke, though Brendan was rubbing her back, saying, 'let it out. I'm here, so you're ok. Just cry it all out.'

'B-Brendan, I thought I was d-dead,' May bawled, wrapping her arms around him, pulling him tighter to her.

'I did too,' Brendan choked, his head pressing into her neck, an action he'd never done before.

May could barely believe her ears. Was Brendan really struggling?

Tightening her grip on him, May was about to ask him not to go, but hissed, pain shooting up her leg as she leaned on her sore foot.

Pulling away from her, Brendan avoided her gaze, his lips pulled in a tight line.

Clearing his throat slightly, he grimaced, 'let me check out your ankle.'

A/N:

Yay, Brendan's finally gotten to May! Sorry it took so long, especially with how worried Brendan was for her. From now, it'll definitely pick up the pace and I won't need to alternate POV either.

Hope you enjoyed!