Chapter 53:Personality?
Dinner was what you expect as once the rest of the rangers made sure their respective Champions were in safe all of them came in her room and much to her surprise Cynthia actually enjoyed hanging out with the Rangers it helped take the tension of their current situation out. She knew Diantha just wanted to meet Stone in an informal setting, God how assertive Diantha could be I some cases, seeing her flirting with Stone so openly made her slightly uncomfortable but it was nothing she couldn't hide. Although in Stone's defense he was dealing with Diantha very calmly now that she witnessed it personally, in her opinion Stone and Rain were the most collective in choosing their words out of all of them.
The current seating was as followed Diantha, Stone, Leaf, and Spark still sat on the table finishing their portion of the food Frost and arranged from one of the in house restaurants. With Spark and Leaf's closeness very clear from the beginning, Cynthia could tell the two of them were more than just colleagues both of them continued teasing Stone was livening the conversation much to Diantha's enjoyment. Cynthia's eyed the Leaf's gloved arm and thought
[Does she always wear it?]
Her question was interrupted with Ember who was sitting with her on the sofa which Frost had actually slept in last night. They sat on opposite ends, Cynthia never really got a chance to get to know the most furious redhead so when Ember initiated a conversation Cynthia jumped right into it.
"Champion if you stare that much you will burn a hole in them."
"Aaahaa sorry it is kinda a bad habit of mine I was never really the best at social situations so I took cues by observing others." Cynthia laughed awkwardly.
"Arceus you even have the same habits," Ember muttered under her breath.
"Excuse me, I am afraid I could not hear you," Cynthia replied.
Ember shook her head and added
"Your battle today… it was good….. I mean it was very good your Garchomp was very strong also." Ember struggled to change subjects but got there eventually.
Cynthia saw the girl trying her best to have small talk but she could tell it was not her strong suit.
"Well thank you after the meeting with you guys today Diantha was not very happy about the whole "illegal experiments" happening under her nose so Frost told me to take care of her."
"I see the leader asked you….." Ember answered but did not follow up.
The conversation hit a roadblock with no one saying anything but after a few seconds of silence, Cynthia resolved herself.
"Ember you care about Frost don't you?"
"Huh! WHERE DID THAT COME FROM." Ember responded blushingly her speech so loud that even attracted attention from the table.
She cleared her throat and answered
"Back in the day he helped me when I was alone he saved me from myself I owe a lot to him,"
[She opened up very easily something doesn't feel right about this.] Cynthia thought.
"Since you were the angriest back when you first saw him here I knew something was different between you two." Cynthia continued.
"Well….. I guess you can say that." She replied with a slightly coy tone.
"Okay, I asked my question anything you would want to ask me?" Cynthia added.
"Huh ask you something? Actually, I want to ask two questions if that is okay."
"Sure Go ahead."
"How did you get so strong I mean as a trainer? The battle today just proved the insane gap between you and us in regards to Pokemon battles."
"I wanted a purpose in life and in trying to find it I trained and trained until I reached this point." Cynthia purposely gave a vague answer in return.
"And what was that purpose?" Ember asked almost immediately.
Cynthia now had a rough idea of what was happening and to be honest she was not very pleased.
[I knew it no way she would open up to me so easily she's faking her personality to pry information out of me.]
"Is that your second question," Cynthia replied while maintaining her poker face.
Ember internally clicked her tongue as she realized her little game was figured out. Her mind went back to when Frost warned the entire team about her.
["Cynthia's observations are very sharp and she doesn't miss subtle hints." Frost's words echoed in her head as she was caught.] {Refer to Chapter 23}
"No….it is not." Ember surrendered as she was bested at her own game.
"They chose your next question wisely," Cynthia replied calmly but Ember could feel the atmosphere going cold.
Ember chose to give up on her coy façade as she asked in her usual ruffian tone.
"How'd you make Leader fall for you huh?"
Cynthia smiled at her victory but also sighed in relief as Ember almost had her.
[That was close.] she thought as she answered to the Ember she was more familiar with.
"I asked him to have dinner with me and he said yes."
"Bullshit! this is the same answer you gave to trick us back then." Ember raised her tone.
"Because this is what happened," Cynthia replied in an equally raised voice.
The air was so tense that the flirty banter happening on the table completely stopped, until a voice broke in.
"Oye! Ember what do you think you are doing?"
The voice belonged to Rain who had opted to go to the balcony with Frost just after finishing her dinner.
"Is everything alright Cynthia?" Frost joined in.
"Ember is something wrong?" Stone joined in from across the room completely ignoring the question Diantha asked him a few seconds ago.
"Nothing big sis the Champion were having a little chat."
"Yeah right," Cynthia said sharply mocking Ember's excuse.
Ember huffed and stood up from her seat and Cynthia made no effort to stop her.
Rain sighed at Ember as the atmosphere relaxed a bit, it didn't have the previous calmness but it was enough for Spark to wonder.
"Leader why didn't to get some drinks with the food we could have used some alcohol."
Frost eyed Cynthia worried about what happened but soon answered.
"It is because we can't have a hangover on the day of the mission."
All eyes went on him even Diantha's who immediately changed from her flirty tone and asked
"So it is tomorrow?" as her hands clenched.
"Yes we have execute authority from the higher-ups and they want this matter resolved as soon as possible."
"No issues boss you brought us our gear anyways so we are ready." Spark replied retracting his previous statement.
"Yes Leader just say the word, we are ready," Leaf added confidently.
"What about the other Champions?" Stone asked.
"And what is the plan?" Ember joined in visibly excited.
"Get them in the mobile HQ by nine in the morning we will discuss the plan in front of them." Rain asked.
Leaf looked at the time it was almost 11 PM and said
"Well, we need an early start tomorrow so we should go to bed now."
"Alright… thank you, Champion for lending your room to us." Stone said as he stood up from his chair and this started the chain reaction with all of Cynthia's guests ready to leave and standing at the door.
"I need some rest my back hurts after today Frost don't stay up too late and actually sleep on a bed tonight." She voiced wryly looking at both Cynthia and Frost who managed to hide their embarrassments.
"What was that about big sis?" Ember asked as she heard the previous exchange.
"Oh, nothing? And that is for picking a fight with the champion." She replied as she smacked her on the head and dragged her out of the room.
"Sparky get in touch with Jenny and get Lumious City Police in on this first thing in the morning," Frost said as parting words to the rest of the rangers who left after hearing this leaving only him and Cynthia in the room.
"Frost, can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Are you... well YOU."
"Of course I am me what do you mean by that." He replied confused.
"So you sure you aren't faking a personality just to get along with me." She asked again more seriously this time.
"Cynthia, what are you talking about?"
"JUST ANSWER THE BLOODY QUESTION FROST!" she practically yelled in frustration.
Frost reflexively grabbed her by the shoulders and replied looking straight at her
"No I am not this is who I am 100%, now tell me what did you and Ember talk about."
"Nothing of importance but the point was it wasn't an honest conversation from her side she essentially faked it..."
Looking at Cynthia's betrayed expression Frost bit his lip and replied.
"Figures that is like her... look Cynthia I can't say what she did was right but in her defense, she has been like that ever since I know her, she grew up under... now, how do I put this well NON IDEAL circumstances and she has some trusting issues. So don't let her get under your skin Champion and you were smart enough to Notice Steven wasn't that is how she got to know about your past with him and that is how she made him fight me in a Pokemon battle."
"Wait so you knew this and didn't confront her." Cynthia was shocked to hear this but more shocked that he didn't do anything about it.
"I did do something about it, I beat Steven and then also gave her a stern warning, a warning which she clearly ignored... (Sigh)."
"Fine, I'll let it slide."
Cynthia was still not happy, to be honest, but she decided to let it go considering Frost took the liberty to defend Ember. If it were anyone but him that asked her to forgive Ember she probably wouldn't.
"Thanks, Champion I appreciate it," Frost said with a warm smile that made Cynthia calm down.
"Good night Frost as Rain said you should get some rest."
"I will Night Cynthia I'll come by early in the morning so you should also get some shut-eye." He said as he walked out of the door.
As the loneliness of being the only one left in the room after the dinner settled in Cynthia took a deep breath and wondered
[Tommorow huh….]
As Frost walked back to his room a bit of guilt sank in his heart as he thought
[She doesn't need to know]
"What is it that she doesn't need to know also you like her don't you?" Rain caught him off guard once he closed the door behind him.
"Arceus Rain what are you doing in my room?" the man questioned as he sank into the sofa tired from his day.
"I am going to take that as a yes…." Rain replied as she joined him on the sofa.
Frost sighed at women and said
"Get out of my head Rain."
"If you don't answer me I am not going to listen either." She stated as she continued to focus.
With a little resistance from Frost, he finally spoke up
"ALRIGHT FINE! I DO ENJOY HER COMPANY NOW CUT IT OUT YOU CRAZY PSYCHIC WOMAN!" he shouted making Rain stop.
"That was not so bad to admit now was it." She said as she poured Frost a glass of water which he accepted and drank completely.
"It doesn't matter what my feelings for her are what is more important here is the mission and nothing more plus…."
"Plus you are scared that she might not feel the same way once you inevitably end up killing tomorrow."
Rain's words hit hard and they should considering they were spot on.
[Damn I am so easy to read right now that she didn't even use her ability on me]
"Yes… but that is not the only thing."
"You know I read her mind twice and she doesn't despise you for what you do."
"Really! I guess she did say at the lockers today that she won't judge us." Frost answered with a smile. {Refer Chapter 49}
"I know I was there so what is the problem then she gave you her word isn't that enough." Rain questioned as she took a sip of water and placed the glass back in the coffee table.
Frost was clearly overthinking things and Rain lightened up once she realized this, in reality, it just told Rain that his feelings for Cynthia were genuine and he didn't want to see her hurt in any way.
"Frost stop worrying about things you don't know about, if you are worried that the fact that we kill people she doesn't hold it against you or any of us, in fact, none of the Champions do." Rain answered with authority.
Hearing Rain settled Frost's internal dispute as after a little bout of silence he chuckled.
"I suppose you are right… thanks, Rain." He said as his expression softened and he returned to his normal self.
Rain smiled herself as she added
"Anytime get some rest Frost I need you in top form tomorrow if we are going to do this tomorrow?" she said seriously as Frost.
"Last time I checked I am supposed to be the one to say that."
"You still are supposed to be saying that it is just that since you are love-struck at the moment I took the liberty to say it." Rain replied in a playful tone as she stood up to leave.
"Hey, it's not….." Frost couldn't finish his sentence as Rain said
"Yeah yeah I know get some rest lover boy or I will knock you out." as she took her leave.
Sighing at Rain's teasing Frost took off his coat and unbuttoned his shirt before he lay on his bed as Rain was right about one thing and that was that they needed to be in top form for tomorrow, turning off the lights he retired for the day.
Author's Notes:
100K WORDS! Hell yes, this is a milestone for an amateur writer such as me and I would like to take time to thank you all for your continued support throughout the course of this story. I would also like to apologize as even thou I put a tag for ASH x ANABEL in the summary I could not provide that properly. Actually, in the original draft, Anabel was introduced very early but I felt that considering this is a three-part series I changed that considering the pacing of the story so I would like to apologize again for all the abilityshippers I disappointed. But fear, not I have already started on the draft for the second part and I promise some serious ability shipping for that. I will change the summary of the story to clarify this so not further Abilityshippers are disappointed. As usual, thank you for your support I love to read your reviews so feel free to ask questions or give your opinions on PM or reviews and until next time
PEACE