Alex Knight was just a wide eyed freshman at the Institute. He had heard and experienced some things there, but nothing like this. Today was the mentorship pairings, Alex didn't know what that meant. Apparently, he was going to be paired with an older student. He sat next to Bunny, who loved next door to him, in Pokémon Research class. Bunny was a quiet, nice girl. They had quickly bonded over their love of their Pokémon. In fact their Pokémon used to always play together all the time. Alex's Floatzel, Jet, had become motherly towards Bunny's Eevee. Ribes, her massive Torterra, and Alex's Dragalge, Poe, were the elder statesmen of the group. The watchers and protectors of the other Pokémon. It was a nice partnership and understanding. So Alex, who had come from Unova and didn't know a thing about the Institute, sat in class with his new friend. Dr. Davis Walkmen was in front of the class lecturing about the finer aspects of the Mentor-Mentee partnership.
Alex nudged Bunny, "Hey Bunny, who do you want to get for a mentor?" The studious black haired girl had been studying and jotting down notes. She hung on every word, Dr.Walkmen spoke. She gave Alex the side eye, "it doesn't matter. You really should be paying attention to what De. Walkmen is saying. " Alex was a troublemaker from what Bunny could tell. Bunny wanted to pay attention to what was happening in class. Her family was counting on her to uphold their legacy of great battlers. She preferred the garden, but that had become a point of hostility within her family. "I just hope it's someone who likes dual types. That can really get them and appreciate them.", that was what Alex's team was made up of. So he wanted a mentor that understood how strong they could be strong despite having double the chances of being effected by a weakness. An eraser flew over Alex's head. Professor Davis Walkmen stared at Alex who slumped in his seat.
"Now as I was saying.", Dr. Walkmen returned to his lecturing. "This is both a fun and interesting assignment. I want both the mentors and mentees to get something from this. To understand what makes each unique and special. To learn what a partnership truly means.", there were a few groans from the sappiness of it all. Dr. Walkmen shifted his papers around as the students mumbled in anticipation. "So let us begin with the mentor and mentee assignments. First of we have sophomore James Aegis paired with freshman Bunny. That's it just Bunny.", Bunny let out a yip as she hopped out of her seat. This brought a chuckle to Alex as he watched his new friend walk up to the front of the class. She was partnered with a buff, but short male. The guy talked to bunny and she gave Alex the thumbs up to signal that she approved of her partner. Alex was happy for her. He hoped his mentor would be as cool as Bunny's seemed.
So Alex Knight sat there for what felt like an eternity as others were called before him. He worried that he wasn't going to get a partner or his partner would be some douchebag or lazy bum. Maybe that was what Dr. Walkmen felt about him. Finally, Dr. Walkmen called on him, "Freshman Alexander Knight will be partnered with Sophomore Catherine Kiner." Alex made his way down towards the front of the auditorium, he could see that his partner was a stunning female with dark hair tied in a half bun. She wore glasses and was wearing not revealing clothes, but Alex could see that she was stunning. Alex reached the front of the auditorium where she was waiting for him. She had a large smile on her face which made her even more attractive. "Call me Kat.", she stuck out her hand. He smiled at the sophomore, "call me Alex." From that moment on, Alex Knight knew he would be friends with her. There was something about her that was special.
Alex stood outside of Kat's room. He was terrified, his legs shook with nervous energy, the only time he had ever nervous around her. Ava put a hand on his shoulder, "you two need to have this talk, Alex. Whatever happens, it's the best thing for the both of you. She's in so much pain right now. She'll appreciate it." He just nodded. Alex had not said a single word since the battle with Ava. He had been processing everything that had happened and everything that Ava/Bunny had told him. How Kat had been acting depressed lately since that party. Since she had confessed her feelings to Ava about Alex. This made Alex break down again. He knew Kat's history with depression, she had told him about it.How she had thrown herself into alcohol and drugs after her mother died. How she had almost joined a gang if not for her brother not saved her. Alex hated himself for doing this to Kat. He did love her, but not in love with her. He knew he had to break it to her and he was so scared what would happen to her. He didn't want to hurt her anymore than he had. That was why he was so scared to open her door. Bunny nudged him, "come on you big chicken. Go talk to her."
Kat took another sip of beer as she worked on papers for Dr. Walkmen's class. She wore her glasses and her black hair was in a ponytail. She usually didn't drink when working, but since that party she didn't care. The drinking helped with the pain. Scout sat at her feet, he was so scared for Kat. This wasn't the trainer he knew. Gale sat on a perch in her room. Gale was so worried too. All Kat's Pokémon were, even Skye who was naturally Standoffish, was worried. They didn't understand what happened. Kat hadn't felt like this since her mom died. This time it was the heartbreak caused by her best friend, not that he knew it. Kat knew Alex didn't know about her feelings, but it still felt hurtful that he had went on a date with JJ to their place. Kat had been with guys before, but was never heartbroken over them. For some stupid reason she liked Alex more than all of them and they hadn't even hooked up. It was just that she liked him and he didn't know. So she suffered in quiet silence.
Kat heard her door start to open, "Ava, I told you-." It was not Ava at the door, but Alex. Scout took off towards Alex, Alex could cheer Kat up, "HERDIER, Herd Herd, HERDIER!!!" Alex didn't speak pokemon, but he could imagine what the terrier Pokémon was saying, 'you're here, Alex you can cheer Kat up!' Kat was shocked absolutely shocked. They had not talked in days not sine Kat had told Ava. She had of course been ignoring him, even when he had texted her to go eat like they usually did. She hadn't been able to face him not in the state she was in. But here he was standing in her room, but there was something wrong. Alex looked like he had been crying? Why could he be sad? Kat put on her best fake smile that she could muster. It wasn't her usual bold smile that she had naturally. It was fake. She didn't want him to know that she was in so much pain. She didn't want him to know anything about how she felt, he could find out it would kill her. "What's up Alex? Sorry I have been busy with papers and mentoring.", she lied.
Alex didn't say anything. He just sat on her bed, he couldn't look at her. Scout jumped in his lap and still no reaction. The herdier pawed at Alex's chest something was wrong as Scout whimpered. This wasn't the Alex anyone knew as he usually would give Scout so much affection, but not right now. Kat noticed that even Gale was concerned, something was very very wrong here. Kat had to go check on the boy that she loved to make sure he was ok. Kat closed her laptop and walked over to her bed and sat on her bed. Alex couldn't even look at her, this was weird. Scout had jumped off and had hidden under Kat's bed. "Alex what's up? You aren't acting like yourself? You're freaking Scout and Gale out. I'm even starting to get worried. Did something happen?", she grabbed his chin and turned his face towards her. She gasped as she saw his face. It was red and puffy and stained with tears. His eyes were so red and watery. He had been crying a lot. "ALEX, TALK TO ME. WHAT HAPPENED?", she hoped it wasn't about one of his family members or Bunny or even the freshmen.
"I know, Kat.", his voice was a whisper and cracked. Kat raised an eyebrow in confusion and tilted her head. She was going to play stupid as she hoped it wasn't what she thought it was. It would kill her if he knew. "Know what, Alex? You're acting so weird. Are you drunk?", she got defensive. Alex sighed as he turned his head away for a moment towards the window. He finally turned back to Kat, his expression so serious that it frightened Kat. She had never seen this on him before. It was terrifying. "Ava told me, Kat. She told me about what happened at the party. What you told her in the bathroom. I know that you're in love with me.", Kat shook her head in denial. There was no way that Ava would betray her like this. No way. And why would she tell Alex anything? They hated each other with a burning passion. Alex was playing a prank or something and it was sick. Kat started to smack him in the arm, "GET THE FUCK OUT. THIS ISN'T FUNNY ALEX!!!" Scout now scratched at the door. The Herdier was beyond scared.
Alex did not move, he suspected that he deserved the pounding he was taking and much worse. Kat finally stopped and Alex looked at her face. She was so worried, but was clearly trying to figure out if what he said could be possibly true. He made sure to look at her beautiful eyes so she knew he was truthful. "Ava and I had a battle tonight, well Bunny was there too, but it was against Ava. She told me about how you broke down after finding out about the date with JJ at Mydia. About how much of a fucking idiot I was. How I hurt you. I broke the promise I made to you last year.", Kat had told Alex what had happened with her mom while they ate at Mydia. How she used to be a drug/ alcohol addict and had wanted to give up Pokémon training after her mom died. Alex had promised her that day that he would never hurt her. That he would always be there by her side no matter what. "Kat...I am an utter asshole, I couldn't see how that would have hurt you. I didn't mean-."
Kat crumbled to the ground. So he really did know. Why would Ava tell him? How could she betray Kat like this? Alex went up to help Kat up, but Scout bared his fangs at Alex as he moved in front of his trainer. "Herdier!", he barked. He didn't know what was happening, but Alex had caused Kat to fall. Scout was so protective of her that he would even bite Alex to protect Kat. Alex went to go sit back down and noticed the empty beer cans in Kat's trash can. It was as bad as he had feared. That was how much pain she was in that she would resort to that again. Kat had noticed Alex looking at the trash can filled beer cans, now she was pissed. "Oh don't you dare judge me, Alexander Knight. You have both your parents. I don't have a mom to spoil me like yours does. You didn't have the person you love just rip out your heart and spit on it. So if I want to numb myself I will.", tears had started to stream down her face as she shook. Scout and Gale comforted/protected her on the floor. Both stared at Alex with hate and confusion.
Alex just sat there. He didn't know what to say or do. He couldn't look at her as she sobbed so bitterly and emphatically. He did love Kat, he would face down hundreds of rampaging Gyrados for her. Was he in love with her? He didn't know that yet. So Alex hung his head as he listened to the painful wails of his best friend. "Just tell me why Alex. Why did you want to hurt me? Me of all people.", her tone was so filled with pain that it made him wince. This had been something that had bugged him all night. He had spent the walk to Kat's house in silence trying to figure it out. He had come to a conclusion, but was afford to admit it. Now he knew it was the right thing to do and to say. He took a big sigh, "I wanted to push you away. You got too close to me. It's why I pushed Ava away last year after the fight. Why I pushed Bunny away. My mind was so warped on one thing and that was beating Ava. It consumed me. It was my waking and nightly thought. You had become too close and I thought you would take away from that. So I had to hurt you to get you away from me." Tears formed in his eyes now as a Kat looked on and listened. Alex dropped his head, he was so embarrassed and regretful. "But Kat, I learned tonight that redemption I wanted was all bullshit. People to care about is what's important and that includes the person I care about above everyone else. That's you Catherine, I care about you above everything else and I always will.", his tear filled eyes looked at her and pleaded for forgiveness.
Kat took off her glasses as tears ran down her cheeks. She didn't say a word, she just soaked it in. She knew that he had wanted to beat Ava so badly that it must have tortured him. That it had taken the real Alex away and replaced him with a shell of his former self. The real Alex would have never wanted to do that to her. That was why she had been crying for three straight day and nights. She missed a her Alex. The Alex she knew was down there deep. She mourned him these past days, the man she had fallen in love with. She didn't know the person Alex had become, she hated him. But as she looked at Alex and how destroyed physically and emotionally he was, she knew this was the real Alex. The Alex that was her best friend not the bastard he had become was not sitting in front of her and apologizing. "I don't know what I can do Kat. I hurt you so bad that you went back into deep depression. I hate myself right now. I'm the biggest dick in the planet. I hurt my best friend and do not know how to get her back.", he put his hands over his eyes it was the worst pain he felt.
The beautiful twenty year old got off the floor and walked over to her bed. She leaned her head on his shoulder as he cried. She had to admit that she liked being so intimate, but there were more serious thing to discuss. "Alex, please never let that bastard you were come back. That's not who I love. I love the guy who surprised me in Kalos. That had brought gifts for me and my brothers. So please don't ever bring that asshole back.". Alex sniffled as he calmed down. Scot was laying at his feet having seen his trainer comfort him. The herdier had wanted to do the same. All of this was confusing to the Pokémon. Something Kat said had reminded Alex of a question Alex wanted to ask. "Why didn't you tell me when I was in Kalos? You could have told me." They were both single and Alex was staying on her couch. If she had told him then maybe just maybe they could be together and avoided this mess in the first place.
"Because I wasn't sure if I really did or not.", she had been in denial about her feelings for a while. Of course she had known deep down that she loved him, but didn't want to fully admit it. She couldn't admit it. Kat kept her head on his shoulder and cuddled next to him. This felt nice, sure she had cuddled with him before, but this was different. This was more intimate now that her feelings were out. "Would it have made a difference if I did? Would you have really said that you were in love with me too? Would you have wanted to go on a date with me?", she looked at Alex with pleading eyes. All he had to do was say yes and her heart would be healed. Then her dreams would have come true and she would have found her Prince Charming. But they both knew the truth, Alex just had to say it. "I do love you Kat. You're the person I would want to spend my whole life with. You and me. But...l", she could feel the nervousness in him. She didn't want him to feel like this. That's not what she wanted, "but you're not in love with me." It hurt, but she knew it was the truth.
Alex nodded. "I'm sorry. It's just that you are my best friend. The kindest sweetest person I know. But I don't want a romantic relationship to interfere with that. If it ended badly, if I hurt you so bad again, I wouldn't be able to live with myself. Romantic relationships complicate things.", she could tell that he was being honest and in pain. Still the twenty year old couldn't help, but feel bad. To feel like she wasn't good enough. Despite her being an extremely strong trainer, she still had so many doubts about things outside of training Pokémon. "Am I not pretty enough, Alex? I know that JJ is prettier than me. She looks like a model and I am frumpy.", Alex pulled back. A look of disgust on his face. He couldn't believe that the prettiest girl in the university felt like she wasn't beautiful. He knew she had body images issues despite her being like a model herself. There was only one thing he could do. He turned around and faced Kat.
Alex leaned in and pressed his lips against hers. Kat had been initially shocked by this. She hadn't expected Alex to do something this bold! She kissed him back with passion. She didn't know how long they made out, but it felt so nice. This is what she had hoped for. Finally she pulled back and huffed as she had a large smile on her face. He was a good kisser and this was what she dreamed of well not being depressed, but that kiss! She swooned and gave him a smirk, "well look at you Alex Knight, making a move. But you have to know I don't give it up that easily." He rolled his eyes and Kat cackled. It had been days since she had laughed. Since she felt normal again. She ran her fingers over her lips, she would savor this moment, but she knew that then there was no chance of a romantic relationship with him. He looked at her and smiled, "well I beat Ava tonight and got a kiss from the most beautiful female at the school. Tonight was a good night" Kat's eyes widened.
"Wait, wait you BEAT Ava? In a Pokémon battle? Bullshit!", she shook her head. So Alex would tell her all about what had happened. How Alex and Ava had engaged in the most intense battle that either had fought. Even more intense than the fight last year. He told Kat about how he had used hail, something Kat suggested, and how it had worked. How Poe had taken out Amun and the grass knot strategy with Morrissey. He then talked about how Ava and Bunny had made him realize what a dick he had been. How he hadn't been able to see how he was hurting people that he cared about. Kat playfully smacked him, "dick you don't listen to me when we were in Kalos, but as soon as Ava and Bunny tell you, you listen to them." She rolled her eyes and huffed. Alex playfully shoved her. They were back to how they used to be. Still there was a quiet tension that they both knew they had to address. Something that would help both of them.
"Alex, I want you to hang out with JJ if you really want to pursue her. She is cool and sweet. She'd be good for you. I won't get in your way. I also think we need to keep some distance between us. The October break will be good as we go our separate ways. Give me time to get over this.", she pointed to her heart. He looked at her stunned. He didn't want to lose Kat, didn't want to separate from his best friend. But he also knew that it would be better for the both of them if they did. And to be truthful there was something about JJ that intrigued him. Kat grabbed his chin and turned his face towards hers, "and don't you dare bring that dick version of yourself back. If you do then I'll send Skye after you and you know how she gets when she's pissed." Alex nodded everything she had said made sense. He gave her a hug and would be off. Yes, this was a result that would make them both happy. It was important for Kat and that was what Alex cared about.
Kat sighed, she was happy. Yes the conversation had helped her heal. She didn't need the beer anymore to help her numb the pain. She felt better than she had all week. It felt like a burden had been lifted off her shoulders. Yes, she still loved him, but knew that it wasn't possible for them to be together. At least right now. But she was just happy that Alex was back. Her Alex the one that she had fallen for. Catherine Kiner, fell back onto her bed. She looked over and patted her bed for Scout to jump up and cuddle. The herdier did just that and Kat dropped an arm around him. Kat would close her eyes and finally feel at peace.
Ooc: Awwww I Hope you all liked the Alex redemption arc. Now next chapter we return to The Righteous. Also thank you all for the review. They have been great.