Surprisingly, Honey/ Milf Daisy does not show up at all. I just picked the name because sweets were involved, and I wanted a British Post Punk song as a title for this. I went for one by the Jesus and Mary Chain. Sorry for the lateness. I have been working on this for a few days, when I wasn't busy with actual work. I could have done an anniversary Setsujirou thing or work on my current projects. However, I wanted to do a little one shot and I had this Pokemon idea in my head for some time.
I had trouble deciding if I should go with my Bea/ Victor idea or with Bea/ Korrina, as I ship both and love them equally. So, it's both, but the main focus is Bea and Victor meet cute/ Quasi date. I might revisit this later, but for now, here it is. I hope it isn't too rushed.
Happy belated Valentine's day, my dears. XOXO
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Wyndon was certainly a lot busier than stow-on-Side. It didn't have the history or the culture of her home town and it was a bit too busy for her at times, but Bea couldn't deny it was an exciting place filled with bells and whistles. More importantly, it had one of the largest sweet shops in Galar and they had some of the best selections around, with quality confections from as far as Kalos and even some sweets from Kanto. Her school friends visited there and would not shut up about it and even a fellow gym leader from Kalos, Korrina, had said she would love to visit there with Bea one time as a date. The thought made the young martial artist blush but she put that thought out of mind. She walked through the streets of Wyndon in a surprisingly cute outfit for her, complete with argyle skirt and a floral headband. Her thoughts drifted back to that word again.
A date. Bea didn't really think about that sort of thing. Sure, she fancied people, Korrina included, but she didn't really know how to process or return those feelings, at least in a way that would make sense to them. She was very dedicated to her training, both as a gym leader and as a martial artist, but her heart was not stone.
There was one thing she did love, though, and that was sweets, which is what brought her here. It was February and so many people she knew were doing something nice with loved ones. Was it selfish for her to get the sweetheart basket for herself? It would last her a few days and she could share some with her pokemon. Marnie had Gloria and Nessa was apparently on an anniversary date with Sonia, after getting her assistants to cover at the lab for her. At least Bede was still single, so she didn't feel totally left out, but even he had that one girl who hung out with him. Peonia, was it? It seemed more platonic. however. No matter, such thoughts paused as the girl reached her destination: Slurpuff N Stuff.
It was a bit of a walk from the station, but she had walked further in her training.
Bea walked towards the display and her heart crawled into her throat. There was only one left. She just had to get there and grab it. Bea waved to the owner, Bertie, and proceeded towards her quarry like a lone female Pyroar.
"Cor, last one. We made it in time, ayy Becks?" a vaguely familiar male voice rang out, followed by the excited sounds of a cinderace hopping up and down.
Last one? Surely it must have been a different basket. Maybe they had other ones and the sweets she wanted were still available. Alas, it was not to be. Should she challenge this boy for something as trivial as candies? It was absolutely silly to even consider. Her heart was just set on this, however.
"Sorry, miss. That was the last one. It was quite the popular item. Lot of young couples came in or ordered theirs online. That young man took the last one. A bit odd, innit? Looks like he just got it for him."
Bea could feel her hand reach for her pokeballs. It was unbecoming of her to challenge someone over sweets. And yet she was looking forward to it. She sighed. It couldn't have been helped. Perhaps Korrina had ordered her something. She was good like that. She could be a bit of a crybaby despite her ferocity in battle and in roller derby, but that just added to her charm.
"Oh hey. Bea, was it? Stow-on-Side's gym leader?" The young man spoke. "I almost didn;t recognize you in that get-up. Looking sharp."
"Yes, that's right." Bea nodded curtly, hiding her defeated expression behind cordiality. "And thank you. It felt appropriate for a day out. Who were you again?"
"Woof. Right to the point, yeah? Fair enough. Oh, we fought before. I doubt I stand out too much though so I can't be too wounded over that. I'm just some bloke in a hat. Not much to write about, but the name's Victor." The boy laughed softly. Bea recalled a boy about her age challenging her, and he looked pretty similar, albeit he had taken his hat off for battle. SHe didn't remember him being this chatty. He wasn't particularly taciturn or a blank slate, per se. He did seem more driven and harder to get a read on, as if everything shifted when those stadium lights hit.
"Say, could you meet me outside? I need to take something out of me bag and I'm not sure how the shopkeeper here will take it." Victor looked over his shoulder at the older woman who was running things, her Milcery floating cheerfully by
The store owner issued a joking gesture as if to say "Watch it, mate." before going back to checking inventory.
"The boy set the basket down and took off his pack, unzipping it and pulling out a collapsible box."
"I use this to collect berries for my team but it should be big enough to fit some of these in."
Bea was silent, cocking her head slightly. This did not go unnoticed. "You're the strong silent type still, eh? No worries. Gonna need a few words out of you though."
"And why is that?"
"Oh right, sorry. Never introduced myself…again. Name's Victor."
Bea quite literally didn't ask the boy but she supposed she couldn't fault him for being polite. Besides, there was nothing wrong with having a cheery disposition, she supposed. She had some friends that fit that bill well enough, even if she was more focused and reserved.
"As for the why, well. Didn't want to have a rematch with you over something like biscuits and all-sorts so I decided to at least share the love, isn't that right, Becks?" Victor looked to the Cinderace at his side who seemed distracted by some chocolate truffles in the bag. Her ears perked up and she cheered, grabbing a paw full of sweets and dropping them in the box.
"That'll do, girl. Anyway, here's your cut, Bea. Us two wallflowers should at least have something to do today, right?"
Wall flower? He didn't have to be so presumptuous, even if it was spot on. Bea was ready to put and reach for her pokeball but decided against it. She would do this differently.
"I take it back. I will challenge you."
"What? Really? To a pokemon battle?"
"No. To hand to hand?" Bea challenged, starting to get into proper stance. Victor was floored. Was that Southpaw? Was she going to fight him over this? COnfectionary combat was really not necessary.
"Seriously? Hey, there's no need. You can have half the basket. Besides, you would kick my arse handily. I'm definitely no blackbelt. Never could be." He rubbed the back of his head bashfully. "Otherwise I would be trading kicks with Lady Beckham here, right Becks?"
The Cinderace's ears drooped as steam blew from her nostrils and she struck her best karate kick. Victor grinned and gave her headpats, followed by some licorice.
"Anyway, I don't mean to keep you. You're probably busy, but I'll take you up on a pokemon battle some day, if you want a rematch."
Bea paused and blinked a few times, then shrugged, kneeling down to claim her cut. It felt unearned, but she supposed she shouldn't be so incredulous about kindness. It wouldn't be the first time a relative stranger gave her gifts. Her fans would do it often. That's the parasocial relationship blues, she supposed. Before she could say anything else to Victor, the boy and his bunny were off and around the corner.
X
Bea took her basket and sat down on a bench at a nearby park. The fountain was tempting, but also too noisy. She could have just taken a flying Taxi home and been done with that. And yet, she supposed, there was no harm in sitting to enjoy at least some of her sweets. If only she had managed to get the whole thing as she had planned. It couldn't be helped. So why was she feeling so odd about the whole thing? While she contemplated it all, she unwrapped a Lumiose galette that was in the box. She was happy her favorite was in there, though she would have to find Victor later and return the collapsible box to him.
Bea cooed uncharacteristically as the flavor filled her mouth. It was so delectable that even the most hardened warriors couldn't help but grin from ear to ear. There were sweets from not only Galar but from Kalos as well. She even spotted some Mochi made by old Sinnoh traditions. It really was wonderful. Deciding to hold off on the Laverre chocolates, Bea instead went for some licorice. Not the most romantic candy, but as her sensei would say, it really did take all sorts.
Bea paused as she noticed someone sitting on the bench across from her, sitting comfortably while his pokemon played. Their eyes locked, and yet it was not time for battle. Instead, it was a time of surprise and confusion as the boy turned out to be Victor.
"Oi! Fancy seeing you again. Guess we both have the same preference in parks." the boy chuckled. Bea got up and emptied the contents of the box into the bag she had with her and collapsed it, handing it over to its original owner. "I wanted to thank you for your kindness. I can hold the rest of it in my bag, so here is your berry box." the gym leader handed over the object, only to be declined.
"Hey, no worries. I can always get another. It's no issue. Besides, it might be more organized and enjoyable for you to keep everything in that," Victor insisted as he gently handed the box back to her. "Consider it a valentine's gift from a stranger." the young trainer thought to himself but realized it sounded a bit weird, so he left that unsaid.
SIlence filled the pause between words. Bea was fine with silence, but this was too awkward for her. Instead, she decided to break the ice by asking a question.
"Victor…"
"Present. What's up?" he responded. She supposed she could ask what had him so chipper, but instead, her mind was on another topic, one closer to her heart.
"You said you could never be a black belt. Is it because you don't wish to train?"
"It's not that at all…I really can't…It's part of why I became a trainer. Traded one ball for six.`` The boy in the beanie took out a pokeball and gently caressed it. He then looked at the ball and pressed the button in the center, releasing a Hitmonlee. He then released the rest of his team, including a Golurk and a Yamper. Finally, he took a soccer ball out of his bag. It suddenly made a little more sense to Bea why the boy had such a large bag with him in Wyndon, though trainers did tend to walk almost everywhere. It was a good bet that he had too.
"I don't follow." Bea cocked her head. She was curious. She had supposed, like some others, that he was fine training his pokemon, but not himself. And yet, there was more to this boy's words that had her intrigued. She watched him close his eyes and exhale as he began to speak.
"I wanted to be a footballer. Ever since I was a tyke. Sure, pokemon battles are wicked and I love my team…but I always wanted to be on the field taking action and being in a team, rather than commanding one. That fire in my heart and in my tendons as the crowd cheered It's what set my soul alight. Probably why I chose Scorbunny as a starter. Unfortunately my spine had other ideas." The boy pointed to his back. "Not for lack of a spine, mind you. Just some trouble with my vertebrae. Intense physical activity just wasn't in the cards for me. However, watching the League on Telly with Hop? Seeing Leon's rise to champion? That kind of made me reevaluate things. I started to realize that training isn't about a team of up to six. It's up to seven, and I'm the team captain. Me and my pokemon, we're a team. Best mates, even. Every victory of mine is theirs and vice versa."
Bea sat there listening to this boy as he sat on the bench, watching his pokemon run around the field and play with a grass-stained ball. She couldn't help but smile to herself. Sure, others had dates or other engagements, but this was far better than eating sweets alone or sparring with her Machamp again for the tenth time this week.
"Perhaps I wasn't as alone today as I thought. My Pokemon are my athletic partners too. We spar, constantly, to hone our skills and our bodies. Every trainer worth their salt values their pokemon…but it really is quite interesting hearing how your strategy differs from mine. "
"Yep/ Pretty sure it's changed as I went on. If it were ever a battle royale situation, I am pretty sure my team and I would clinch it with how good we are."
Bea cocked an eyebrow as she started to put the sweets from her bag back into the berry basket. She fitted it back into her bag and secured it, listening with great interest.
"Not to be cocky. We just work our hardest and have been through the thick of it. My team and I, we're the tops." he said, punching the air, which his pokemon did in return (the ones that had hands anyway).
Before Bea could respond, she heard a new voice, one she knew a bit better, by way of Marnie. She had battled this trainer as well, though her personality was a bit more mischievous than Victor's.
"Oh hey, Bea. Victor. What are you two up to? On a date, eh?" a girl with a Gaelic accent stormed onto the scene, holding a cuppa tea and some shopping bags while her Intelleon followed behind.
Victor turned his head to cough and hide his blush and groaned. "Of course Gloria would see me with someone and make that assumption", he thought. Sure enough, he was correct in that assumption..
"Don't be daft. We're just talking." Victor groaned, knowing full well his friend's tendency towards being a little gremlin. He was hoping to catch up with her and have a little training match between their teams and catch up over some curry. He had just not expected it right now.
Gloria laughed and winked, trying not to tease too much. "Well in any case, I won't bother you two too much. At least I know ye like the kinda girl who can kick yer arse, Vic. Can't blame ye."
"Gloria, what the hell!?" Victor got up and shouted excitedly, like a terrier that had just been woken up in a hurry. Gloria merely shrugged and smiled.
"Hey, just callin' it like I see it, Vic. We both have a thing for gym leaders I guess. Don't get all heated up, lad. You;ll make a bad impression on your lady friend.~" Gloria winked while Victor slumped back into the bench and frowned.
What happened next took even Bea by surprise. She laughed. It was muffled at first but soon it became a full on grin.
"Why are you laughing?"
"Sorry. I meant no rudeness. She's not wrong. No offense."
Victor sat still, unable to react or move. It was like all senses had ceased. Bea, despite priding herself on her finely honed senses, did not pick up on it. Gloria, however, did, and had the biggest grin imaginable on her face. Deciding not to spoil the moment until she saw Victor again, the girl decided to make her exit. "Well, I better shove off then. I hear Marnie callin'. Just thought I would say hullo to two familiar faces. I won't keep you. Peace." and with that, the girl in the Tam o shanter hat skipped away, having had her fill of awkward tension. Bea Shook her head and looked back at Victor.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to be rude. That was rude of me and, as a gym leader, I should be more becoming."
Victor stared absentmindedly before shaking his head. "Was she always this pretty?" he thought. He saw her eyes open wide in shock as her cheeks filled with red. Was everything alright? It was a weird reaction for silence.
Except, it wasn't silence and it wasn't just his thoughts. Victor had in fact said those words out loud.
"Sorry. I meant to say…um..It's pretty nice out here…for a day at the park. Sorry to hold you up. I should go now." Victor kicked himself for his sloppy form and for blurting that out loud. He would have to beat a hasty retreat and hope it blew over. Beckham patted him on the head this time and uttered words of encouragement in her own language.
Bea sighed and smiled, looking away for a moment. As Victor got up to leave he felt someone grab his arm. He looked back to see his impromptu companion, still blushy but very much keeping it together, at least on the surface.
She didn't know what came over her. She was known to be blunt at times but tended to keep to herself. What's more, she didn't know this boy. And yet, he had opened up to her, shared his spoils with her, and been kind. She wanted to know him better., and when Bea wanted something, she put her mind to it and grabbed it.
"It's no hold up at all. In fact, we should do this again sometime. Though next time, I'll get to the sweets first and treat you. " the gym leader smiled cooly.
Victor felt his whole body tense and his face burn. Was a cute girl holding his hand? He would never hear the end of this from Gloria or Hop. Bede wouldn't care and Marnie would just offer gentle but aloof words of encouragement. If both his hands were free, he would have slapped his face awake to psych himself out of it. And yet he couldn't pull away.
"Yeah. Sure. It's a…um…" Victor started to stutter and Bea couldn't help but chuckle. SHe had caught him off guard. She caught herself off guard too, but it was satisfying and heartwarming to see this boy at a loss for words. She had swept the leg in this conversation. Now she went in for the pinfall.
"It's a date, Victor." Bea smiled, walking off and pulling her phone out to call a flying Taxi. Neither youth could see the mix of utter panic and elation on the other's face. Bea would have to tell Korrina about this once her body had adjusted to the realization of her actions. However, she knew that she had no regrets. Today truly was sweeter than honey.