(A/N): Hi hello- just wanted to toss out there that updates might become infrequent for a while because I have not only been struggling with some pretty rough writers block, but I also recently started two internships for the summer.
I'm doing some 9 to 5 work, paired up with commuting, so my days are quickly becoming swamped.
As always, thank you for reading! Thank you for reviewing! I would love to hear more thoughts so don't be afraid to review or message me or anything really.
14: First Kiss
Shame on me.
Shame on me.
Shame on me.
It rang in her head like a bad and painfully catchy tune. She had left the Smash mansion and could only think of that moment for a few days after before the busy lifestyle of the exploration team sucked her right back in. She didn't have time to think of what could have been, what could be, or especially how he was doing so very far away.
But as Pikachu returned for the new season, riddled with new faces and challenges, the thoughts of the moment flooded her mind again.
She sighed as she entered the large mansion, unsure herself if it was a release of content or dismay. The sights of everyone back together again made her heart warm slightly, and she couldn't help but smile a little at the scene before her. Master Hand pointing each smasher who approached him in a different direction (Pikachu assumed towards their respective bedroom), few groupings scattered as they shared their "vacation" details and what they had been up to, and some tearful reunions.
So emotional. It made the smile fade into a frown. Once again, her thoughts drifted unwillingly to the subject in question.
Did he miss me? She wondered briefly, standing in place and paying little mind to the bustle surrounding her.
Did he think about it at all?
She seriously doubted it. He didn't strike her as the type to dwell on something, especially if that certain something didn't actually happen.
Pikachu forced herself to dispel the notion and progress towards her room instead. Her conversation with Master Hand was brief; he asked her the few basic questions such as how are you and are you ready for this season before eventually picking up on her exhaustion, sending her along her way towards where she would rest her head at night. The walk was uneventful- she was able to reunite with a few old friends in the form of Sonic, Pit, Samus, and even Ness. The exchanged quick small talk, but it was not very stimulating for her.
After bidding them all farewell, she was left with her own thoughts and silence wrapping its cold arms around her again. Her feet moved on their own while her mind traveled elsewhere. Again, the moment reared its ugly head and her heart thumped angrily.
Why did he do that?
Her current state in the world became foggy as she felt herself replaying that day, again, in her mind.
Everything was great- better than great even. The previous tournament had been wrapping up, and while neither of them made it to the finals, they both placed exceptionally well. She made it into the top eight while he surpassed her and achieved top four status. The final happened earlier that afternoon, Marth narrowly defeating Lucario and taking the championship home with him. Neither of them were bitter about the outcome since Marth had bested them both to move on, putting an end to their tourney careers.
It was his idea to run away to the rooftop to watch the sun melt into the horizon. He asked Pikachu to accompany him, and the constant smiles and looks of pure adoration made her believe that this was going to be more than a simple roof visit.
And how right, but simultaneously wrong she was.
After talking for what felt like forever, she noticed the look in his eyes change, the way he shifted forward and began to lean in. Her heart stopped. She knew what that all meant. It was the dream of every girl. Their first kiss. Her first kiss.
So she closed her eyes.
And waited.
And waited.
For nothing.
And when she opened her eyes, he had leaned back, refusing to look up at her. The expression on his face differed greatly from how it was a few moments prior, which rattled her greatly. Finally, when he raised his face, all that left his mouth was-
"I'll see you in a few weeks."
And then he left.
So needless to say, she was not willing or looking forward whatsoever to inevitably running into Fox McCloud anytime soon. Not like there was much she could do about it because she knew that at sometime in the near future, their paths would be forced to cross. And it irritated her.
Speak of the devil.
Pikachu felt her mind short circuit as soon as he walked into view; she wasn't ready for a confrontation yet. She had barely even thought of how she would address him, the type of attitude she would adopt when locked into a conversation with him, let alone remembering how to breath properly around him.
She was barely breathing right now and nothing had even happened yet.
She hadn't processed any of it- the what comes next aspect. She had been so caught up on the part of what didn't happen and what had ultimately been the catalyst for this issue in the first place.
The limited breathing she had control over ceased completely when he locked eyes with her, and gave her that smile. The smile that made her knees weak during the last tournament when she discovered that she was indeed head over heels for the guy. It made her feel like such a girl. It infuriated her. Her blood boiled, she shifted uncomfortably. How dare he. How dare he think that he can just waltz in and smile at her like that and act like that.
Oh. Here he comes.
And now her mind went into overdrive, searching for the most effective, preferably somewhat stinging statement that she could say to him to get her point and feelings across.
You really hurt me, you know.
No. That's not enough. He probably knows that already. Does he?
I'm done with this.
But there was never a this to begin with.
Maybe the best thing to say is practically nothing at all?
With the closing distance, she took note of the disappearance of the smile on his muzzle, replaced by a more determined expression. It made her dread the upcoming interaction even more than she just had been. What did that look mean?
Then it dawned upon her. Oh god. What if he's planning on saying what I want to say?
No- don't let him take control. You end this.
He came to a halt in front of her, standing closer than she would have liked. He remained silent, his eyes clouding over. She ignored it and took the lack of speaking as her cue to begin.
She breathed out slowly, racking her brain for the right words. "Look. I don't have much to say but I will say- ".
It didn't matter because she didn't get to say what she wanted regardless because he was kissing her.
It was brief, and as soon as she registered exactly what he was doing, he had pulled away, but still held her face between his gloved hands.
"I'm so sorry."
She blinked. "What?" Her mind was still lost in a dense fog.
"I'm sorry," he repeated, on the brink of sounding desperate.
When it clicked what he was referring to- which wasn't a big surprise to her at this point- she couldn't stop from frowning. "Well I sure hope you are."
He released her face, raising one of his hands to run through the tuft of fur on the top of his head. "I know, I know. It doesn't make up for how lame I was at the end of everything."
Pikachu couldn't help but giggle at his choice of words, a reaction that brought a small smile to his face. "Lame is a funny way of putting it."
"It's true though."
For the first time that day, a genuine smile graced her features. "I believe you. But that was a few weeks late."
He leaned in, planting a chaste kiss on her lips once more. Leaning back, he smirked at her. "Well we can make up for lost time."
"Oh, you have plenty of making up to do after that stunt you pulled on me, McCloud."
"You're not going to drop that anytime soon, are you?" He asked, glowering at her.
"Try me again in a few weeks," she replied with a wink, beginning to work her way around him towards her room.
"Oh no, you don't," he laughed, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her back towards him. She laughed aloud with him, happily responding to the gesture by initiating a kiss of her own.
It might have been a blessing that she didn't know what to say.
