Despite the lateness of the hour, the fluorescent glow of the Marine Tunnel danced across Rosa's bare arms and wove blue highlights through her hair as if it were midday. A school of Basculin swam lazily by, eying her as she leaned against the glass with her Xtransceiver lifted close to her face. She avoided looking directly into the crystal surface - even her reflection looked a mess.
"I'm glad you made it to Undella okay." The blurry image of Bianca sputtered out for half a second before reappearing again. Thankfully the sound was still clear. Reception in the tunnel sucked. "But are you sure you're alright? It's pretty late, and you seemed upset when you left Opelucid . . ."
Rosa shook her head. "Don't worry about me, Bianca. Everything's fine. Just worry about getting better. I want your hand to be a hundred percent healed by the time I see you again. And thanks for letting me borrow your Swanna. I promise, one of these days I'll catch my own flying type."
Bianca frowned and pushed her glasses back into place, clearly unconvinced. "I'd feel better about letting you use her if I knew you weren't running head first into danger. Without Curtis, I might add, which is probably one of the worst decisions you've ever made. And you've made a lot - you befriended a biker gang, for heaven's sakes."
His name made Rosa flinch. Bianca didn't seem to notice. "I don't know what happened between you two, but if Curtis comes to me asking after you, I won't hesitate to tell him where you went. That boy is the best thing that ever happened to us - he's nice! He punched out a plasma member out for me! - I won't have you ruining it over something stupid."
"Bianca, it's complicated-"
"Everything is complicated with you. Text me when you reach the Pokémon center in Humilau. It's two in the morning, I'm exhausted."
The Xtransceiver clicked as she hung up, and Rosa stared at the blank screen for a few beats too long.
Well. That was that, apparently.
A long exhale, slow and deep. Dropping her wrist, Rosa pushed off the glass barrier to move further through the tunnel. A thousand shades of blue and green enveloped the space, accenting the exotic hues of water type Pokémon as they swept over and across the underpass. Some blinked curiously at her as they passed, but most slipped by without a glance.
Part of her wanted to stare in wonder. The rest was too consumed by the numbness in her chest to care.
"I've always wanted a water type. I heard in the Hoenn region, they have an HM that lets you dive under the sea without getting wet. Pretty cool, don't you think Rosa?"
She clenched her fists, avoiding further eye contact with the fish swimming overhead. N said his father was heading towards Himilau, and come hell or high water, she was going to meet him there.
Ghetsis's perfect world wouldn't happen. No matter what.
Just past three in the morning, Rosa stumbled out of the Marine tunnel and onto the sandy beach of Humilau. A crescent moon glowed ominously overhead, shooting silver sparks across the beach that shimmered in the pale light. A rose-roofed Pokémon Center was just a few paces ahead, with a Pokemart resting on a grass-colored hill adjacent to it. She could hear the creak and pull of wood in water just beyond, likely where pathways had been built to connect the floating houses.
After a futile attempt to smooth her wind-blown hair and press some color into her cheeks, Rosa trudged the distance to the Pokémon Center. Everyone would likely be asleep except the nurse, but she didn't want to frighten Joy with her zombie-like appearance.
"Welcome to the Pokemon Center, what can I do for you?" Joy chimed as Rosa stepped through the door. The woman's voice echoed off the ceiling tiles, accompanied only by the squeak of Rosa's sneakers rubbing the floor as she approached the desk. After turning over her team for the nurse to look at, Rosa plopped down on one of the couches to wait.
It had been a long day, but she doubted sleep would come even if she did rent a bed for the night. Maybe resting her eyes for a few minutes would be enough . . .
"You look pretty tired, Rosa. Hey, I'll go book us some rooms for the night while you rest for a bit. Be back in a minute, 'kay?"
"For the love of Arceus, get out of my head!" Rosa jerked herself upright, wincing when the crown of her head smacked something hard. Another voice near her ear cried out in pain at the same time she let loose a long string of curse words.
The person who'd been looming over her stumbled backward, clumsily rubbing their palm against their forehead. Rosa tilted her chin to unleash the full fury of a crappy day before she recognized the tea-colored locks secured under a black and white patterned ballcap.
"What in the- N?"
N paused rubbing his forehead to shoot her a sheepish smile. "Hi, Rosa. Sorry. I didn't mean to startle you. I tried to get your attention, but I guess I wasn't loud enough." His eyes crinkled at the corners, and Rosa could see a hint of red flush his cheeks. "I uh . . . is your head okay?"
His embarrassed expression drained the anger boiling in her stomach, and she sagged against the couch with a hand on her aching head. "It's fine. Doesn't even hurt anymore. You wanna sit down?"
N shifted his weight uncomfortably before apparently deciding to join her. Rosa pressed her legs close to the couch base so he could slip by, and then he was beside her, the faint scent of pine filling the air as he positioned to face her. The smell wasn't unpleasant, but it triggered an instant headache. Or maybe that was the bump forming.
"You're here sooner than I thought you'd be." N said, tapping his heels on the tile with nervous energy. "Couldn't sleep?"
She shrugged.
"Yeah. Me neither. Too much to think about, I guess. Honestly, I've had trouble getting any rest since I left Rood's place. Maybe it's because I got used to his snoring in the next room, and now I need it to sleep. I've probably developed insomnia or something." He paused, seeming to realize he was rambling. "So . . . where's Curtis?"
She shrugged again and glanced away. N shot her a sad smile and nodded like he understood. "I see."
They fell quiet, seemingly already out of topics to talk about. Rosa knew she should ask when the Plasma frigate was set to arrive, or maybe go check with Joy about her team, but she was too tired and achy for those things. A little hot, too. There was moisture gathering at her brow, and with a grimace, she swept it away. Had N noticed the rise in temperature since they'd sat down? She could almost feel herself paling. A quick glance over told her he hadn't - he was fidgeting with the couch cushion.
She was overtired, definitely. Maybe renting a room to try and get some sleep would be a good idea, after all. A shower, in the very least, would probably do her good. Anything to relieve the unsteady feeling settling in her stomach.
"He cares about you, you know."
Rosa startled, torn from her thoughts. She turned to look at N, but he was playing with a strand of his bangs and refused to meet her eyes. "It was wrong for him to lie like that, but I understand where he's coming from. We don't always know when we're doing something wrong. And sometimes by the time we figure it out, it's too late."
"Are you saying I should forgive him?"
He shrugged, mirroring her numb movements. "I was lost for a long time before a friend pulled me out. She never deserted me, even when I was under that dark cloud. If she'd decided I wasn't worth saving, we wouldn't be sitting here. Maybe no one would."
Well, clearly his friend was more saint-like than Rosa was. Her only thoughts on forgiving Curtis included breaking his nose.
"Was that when you were being groomed to be Plasma's king?"
"Yeah. I didn't understand anything about the world back then. The relationship between people and Pokémon was so obviously flawed to me, yet no one else seemed to see it. Except Ghetsis, of course, but we both know how that turned out."
"That wasn't your fault. Ghetsis lied to you. About everything."
"It doesn't make it okay, though. Sure, I was doing what I thought was best, but I still nearly destroyed the region. Doesn't that makes me a villain to the people of Unova? If it doesn't, it should."
Rosa shook her head. "Of course not. You're a good person. You were used, everyone knows that. And now you're trying to make things right. It's not like you meant to-"
"I was the head of Team Plasma, Rosa. You and I both know what would've happened if no one had intervened. You shouldn't be making excuses for me, so why are you?"
"Because you're not . . . well you aren't . . ."
Oh. Ooh.
Point taken.
N leaned back into the couch, his face glowing with angelic smugness, and Rosa clenched her white fingers into fists to stop them from shaking. For being the innocent hero of Unova's legends, N sure was manipulative.
"Alright, fine! You have a point, okay? I'll think about it if you stop gloating."
"Gloating?" His smile stretched wider. "I'm sorry Rosa, I don't think I'm familiar with that term."
"Oh, just shut it."
He laughed, finally dropping the smirk to peer fondly at her. The look was strange on his face, like it shouldn't be meant for her. There was something comforting about it, though. It warmed her insides and twisted her stomach at the same time. "You're a lot like her, you know."
"Your friend?"
"Yeah. She used to tell me to shut it a lot, too. I almost kind of appreciated it. She always found little ways to make me feel human. If you ever come across someone named Touko, you'll let me know, won't you?"
The half smile that had been forming on Rosa's face instantly disappeared, replaced by a threatening lurch in her stomach. A burning sensation shot up her throat, and with a gasp, she hunched forward and threw a hand over her mouth.
Within seconds she was off the couch and sprinting for the bathroom. There was a public one behind the couch opposite the lobby, but it still wasn't close enough, because she only just made it through the swinging door before her stomach contracted so violently her last meal splattered the tiled flooring and entrance wall.
Rosa coughed and shuddered, repulsed by the acidic smell, but then her stomach heaved again and it didn't matter. Sinking to the floor, she retched until her throat burned and all her blurred vision could detect was vomit and bile. Something else, too. It was red.
The sound of the door opening a few minutes later made her groan. Rosa couldn't imagine the sorry state the room was in, but she felt sorry for the poor woman who'd just walked in. She didn't have the energy to feel embarrassed, though.
Whoever it was didn't say anything. They stayed quiet, probably taking in the situation, before stepping carefully behind her to sweep the tangled locks of hair back from her face. Some of the strands were in her mouth, and as they pulled back, saliva and bile dribbled to the floor.
Gross.
"Thank you." Rosa rasped, turning her head slightly to view the kind visitor. When she caught worried eyes and green streaked hair, however, she groaned again and dropped her head towards the floor.
Arceus, why. Why was it always him?
"Why do you hate me, Curtis?"
He didn't answer. Instead Curtis tucked her hair over one shoulder and offered his hands for her to take. Hesitantly she accepted, and together they moved away from the pools of sick to one of the clean sinks. Rosa clung hard to Curtis's hands as he helped settle her to the floor, and then he was handing her paper towels and pulling a water bottle from his bag.
She rejected the paper towels; her clothes were beyond saving. Instead Rosa swished the water and spat, glad to be rid of some of the vomit taste. By now Curtis had backed against the opposite wall to give her space and was watching her cautiously. When he finally spoke, it was to gently ask, "Have you been feeling sick all night?"
"No." She muttered, putting the bottle down on the floor. "Not throwing up sick, at least. I've been tired, but no worse than I was earlier today."
"I'm worried, Rosa. First your nose bleeds, and now this? Maybe you should see a doctor."
She hated that she agreed with him. "There isn't time. The Plasma frigate will arrive here any day. I can't be hospitalized when that happens."
"But this is-"
"Why are you here, Curtis? I thought I made it clear I didn't want to see you again."
Hurt flashed in his eyes for a split second, but then he looked away, down at his bag. Opening one of the front pockets, he pulled out a crumbled note and extended it to her. Rosa snatched it with shaking fingers.
Humilau City.
That was all.
"That's the note N handed me before we left. I guess he knew what was going to happen, and he wanted me to have a way to find you again." His face reddened, accenting the freckles he'd obtained during their time in the sun. "But I swear, I'd only planned on coming to help take down Team Plasma! I couldn't just walk away, especially knowing what could happen to you. Not that you can't take care of yourself - of course you can - but I just . . . I think about what you went through on the plasma frigate, and I can't . . ."
He seemed to be struggling to find the right words, like he feared she was waiting for lies. "N found me outside and said you weren't feeling well, and asked if I'd check on you. I was worried, so I came. But looking at you now . . . what's going on with you, Rosa? You can be angry all you want, just please tell me how to help you."
Curtis scooted the water bottle closer to her again. Arceus, she hated him. She wanted to pick up the water bottle and chuck it at his head. Or even better, pick herself up and leave him in the vomit-covered room to think about why she couldn't possibly hate him more.
She wished he'd stop looking at her like that. Stumbling over his words, acting like he cared. It would be so much easier.
She couldn't forgive him. It didn't matter that he was anxious for her and able to touch her nasty vomit hair. His presence here was unwelcome, and what was true for N applied to N, not this stupid man. Curtis wasn't her friend.
Repeating that last thought helped.
Still, she drank the water. It soothed her throat and washed more of the awful taste from her mouth, and she didn't stop until the bottle was empty. When it was finished, Rosa dropped the container and leaned her head against the wall, spent.
She wouldn't forgive him. But if he wanted to know what was happening, then she supposed he could have her most honest answer.
"It sounds crazy." She whispered. Saying the words she'd bottled away felt strange. "Impossible. But I'm starting to think I really am the reincarnation of Touko. I . . . I feel her trapped inside here with me. It's like somehow, she's awake."
Fun fact about this chapter - this is the one that started it all. I know, beautiful right? When I first imagined a story for Rosa, she was in a bathroom puking her guts out while Curtis (originally supposed to be Anna) held back her hair. I dunno if that says anything about me, but uh ... I swear I'm normal. xD