Chapter 12
Reaching the bottom of Mount Chimney's thankfully deserted dirt path much faster than previously anticipated, May tried not to show her discomfort. She was being jostled a little too eagerly by a fire type, and, whilst grateful, May couldn't help but hurt all over.
She was being carried by Brendan's Blaziken, who was, thankfully, treating her with more respect than she would have treated Brendan. Having said that, Brendan's Blaziken still wasn't as delicate as May's own starter had been.
'May, we need to take cycle road,' Brendan grimaced, his expression nervous, his ruby eyes intent on a sign.
'Snorlax ahead,' he grunted, jabbing at the sign with visible irritation, his hand reaching up for his hat.
Clenching it in a fist, he clamped it firmly at his side, hat still on his head as he turned his worried, ruby eyes to her.
Hearing the man's words, May felt an uncomfortable pit in her stomach, but nodded. Of course, a snorlax was blocking their regular route home on the day they couldn't lose any extra time.
This was just her luck.
'I need you to try and sit on the bike, do you think you can do that? We're only going to the Petalburg junction, so we don't need to worry about encountering many people, ' he said, his voice laced with concern as Blaziken placed May on the ground in front of Brendan, with May nervously balancing on her good foot.
From nearby, May could see her Blaziken holding both bikes carefully, his eyes inspecting the contraption with curiosity.
Taking a notepad from his bag, Brendan scribbled a note and put some pokédollars in it. He kicked the stands attached to the bikes before handing it to her Blaziken, saying, 'take this to the junction just there and bring back whatever they give you.'
Nodding, Blaziken bound ahead, not even waiting for May's approval.
Faltering as she watched her starter go, May leaned nervously on Brendan's Blaziken, her eyes intent on Brendan. She had no idea what he was asking for, and she sorely hoped her Blaziken hadn't damaged his bike.
Without a hint of concern for May's starter, Brendan walked towards them, his expression filled with a soft smile.
He carefully took May's arm and wrapped it around his shoulders, recalling his pokémon, 'you did great, Blaze. Thank you.'
Feeling incredibly self-conscious that they were alone, May glanced at the patchy, grass dirt. In all her life, she couldn't remember a time she felt this uncertain around Brendan. Normally, she'd be teasing him for caring, or goading him on to get a reaction. Now, though, it didn't feel right.
Waiting, May tried to think of something to say, anything.
'We might have to make a stopover somewhere too, cause you look terrible,' Brendan muttered, adjusting her bandana so it covered her hair properly.
Flushing at the familiarity with which he was treating her, May glanced up at him, asking, 'is it that bad?'
Nodding, Brendan grimaced, 'yeah, worse than I've ever seen you. People are gonna take one look at you and freak. I'm almost tempted to take you to the hospital first.'
Puffing out her cheeks, May wished he was teasing her.
What would her parents do if they got a call from a stranger in a hospital?
'You can't,' May hissed, her sapphire eyes wide as she looked up at him.
With a light, amused huff, he continued, 'though I doubt I look much better, and I think both our parents would rather hear it from us than someone else. You have no idea how grateful I am that you're alive.'
Leaning into him, May couldn't keep her concern hidden. Holding his shirt with a tentativeness she'd never done before, she whispered, 'if you hadn't been there, I don't know if I would have been.'
'That's all the more reason for you not to go anywhere without me,' Brendan said, his eyes imploring hers with genuine fear.
'So, I'm not allowed to go anywhere without you?' May asked nervously, wondering how any of her other friends would react to that.
'You are, but… you'll have to be on your best behaviour. Save your reckless streak for when I'm around, for my sanity,' he implored, tucking a stray hair behind her ear, his ruby eyes filled with a level of worry for her that May hated.
She'd given him cause to worry like that, and about her, too. And he had been telling her for years, she'd just disregarded him because nothing truly bad had ever happened.
'Ok,' May whispered, cupping his cheek in her hand, her thumb tracing his cheekbone, jaw, down to his soft lips.
'Blaziken,' the familiar cry of May's starter pokémon could be heard, pulling them out of their moment.
Glancing, May saw her pokémon rushing towards them, a parcel in his arms.
'What's that?' May asked as Brendan grinned, 'awesome.'
He sent her a grin before saying, 'I may be willing to have my Blaziken bang up my bike when there's no other option, but I'm not going to let you ride around in your condition without help.'
A/N:
All because of Snorlax, they have to take Cycling Road! Also, I've taken some creative liberty and added a junction hehe, please don't hold it against me :)
