A/N: Quick note, this was originally chapter 4. I can't believe how awfully these were written. I am so glad, twelve years later, that I am redoing them. If you're looking for the disclaimer, visit the first chapter or my profile. Enjoy.
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Chapter Two: The Stranger
Frozen in place from fear, she didn't hear that they had stopped directly in front of her and speaking to her. When she felt a hand on her upper arm, her cerulean eyes shot open and stared down the person who dared touch her, a spark of courage coursing through her. Recognition crossed her face, and her glare softening. Confusion taking hold. "Tracey..?"
A grin spreading across the boys face, like it was common for friends to appear magically out of the dark and scare their friends half to death. "Hi." His grin widening as her lips twitched downward into a furious scowl. "What the hell are you doing here?" She demanded through clenched teeth, momentarily forgetting the swell in her ankle as she stalked closer to him, the white in her knuckles showing as she balled her fists, getting ready to deck him.
Tracey flew his hands up after releasing her arm. Backing up into the cavern wall behind him. "Hey, hey now-" He started, "Can't we talk about this?" He questioned, trying to avoid the inevitable. Watching his former companion inch closer to him. Her brows drawn down in anger. From his position he was able to study her; he saw the obvious anger displaying in her furrowed brows, but it seemed like she was quivering as if she was the one who was scared. His eyes dropped from hers down her face, noting small features that had changed since their last encounter, before he could examine more. She was within an inch of his face and the she moved away in a huff, stalking toward the exit in rage. Before she had moved, he inhaled her scent automatically, almost reflexively. Her breath had been hot on his lips, he felt almost dejected, when she broke their almost contact. The smell of lavender lingering.
Misty realized how close she had gotten when she could see his pupils dialate, she noted a few changes herself. He didn't have nearly the boyish face he had before. His jaw seemed strong, his nose was mere inches from hers. Inhaling, because she was about to tell him have it, she stopped. Musky. His scent was musky. Maybe from being in the caves like a creeper, or because he was becoming a man? Feeling suddenly embarrased, she dropped back on her heel, twisting away before he could see the twinge in her cheeks, trying desperately not to appear weak, to not limp as the pain grew.
Tracey remained where he was, assessing whether it was safe to follow. He hadn't noticed the twinge, but he did notice the way she was walking. Her body went rigid, her arms stiffly at her sides, hands clutching, he thought it was weird. His brown eyes moved from her hands to her rear, definitely filled out. His eyes lingered there for a moment, then he straightened himself, rolled his shoulders back, he grinned, not only for what he was seeing, but pleased that scaring her hadn't been his intention; though the aftermath had pleased him. Tracey gathered up his courage to follow after her. He felt like he had the upper hand, though he could easily be wrong. Misty's personality could switch dramatically at any given moment. He thought it best to keep several paces behind her, just in case.
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Emerging from the waterfalls caverns, Misty glanced around, saw Brock almost immediately. Taking each step gently as possible. Her anger seeming to dissipate as the pain increased. Biting her lip she headed toward Brock, instead of finding a spot to sit alone. Coming within distance of Brock, she couldn't take the pain, and dropped to the ground. Feigning normalcy, not wanting to be a bother, though she knew Brock could easily help her out and soothe away the pain, like when one of his siblings got hurt. He was reliable like that.
Brock glanced over at the sudden movement, he briefly noticed her arrival, glancing toward as she dropped to the grass. Her fingers instinctively went to her ankle. He looked away for a moment, though his head shot back in her direction, looking not at her, but past her. He stood quickly, he didn't know this person. He dropped his gaze to Misty who either didn't notice the person approaching the group, or didn't care. He opened his mouth to speak, but closed it as the individual in question walked past Misty. She looked up at him, not at Brock, but at Tracey. The irritation returning. Brock hadn't noticed her sudden mood change. He was focusing on the new arrival, moving closer.
Tracey straightened his back, extending his hand to meet the darker skinned man. His voice, calm, cheery even. "Hiya! My name is Tracey." He didn't wait for Brock to grab his hand, before taking Brock's hand in his own, firmly grapsing it. "I was a companion of Misty's back on the Orange Islands."
Shocked for a moment, Brock took the information in, no longer on the offensive. Brock relaxed a bit at the familiar way he said her name. He shook his hand back. Misty had been watching still, an opening. His guard was down. Tracey had briefly forgotten about her, which was his momentary undoing. Winding up for the punch, she nailed him right in the back of the thigh, he buckled over. His hand held by Brock still, left in an awkward position. He had dropped to his knees, and felt as if he was prince asking a princess to marry him. Misty saw this too, and let out a chuckle before Tracey released Brock's hand.
Tracey then flopped over onto his, rubbing the back of his thigh, and Misty ignored his whimpers of pain. "You deserve it." He heard her mumble, before she moved to crawl away from the two. Misty was on all fours, mainly because the pain in her ankle returned and she couldn't bare the pain that shot through her leg. Tracey sat up, still rubbing his thigh, trying to think of a witty comeback, but coming up short when he saw her rear again. Brock coughed and Tracey tore his eyes away. Brock stepped past him, and walked over to where Misty had managed to crawl to. He bent down, taking her ankle with his large hands. Misty yelped at the sudden motion. Craning her head to see what was happening, and about to yell.
"What happened?" He asked, concerned.
Brock slid the pack that had been on his shoulder off. Resting it on the ground. With one hand he searched for the items needed. "Let me see your ankle." Brock grabbed at her, again. He felt how smooth the backside of her calf was, moving his hand gently down, his thumb grazing her shin as he shifted, noting the stuble of a two day old shave. Misty felt embarrassed suddenly for not keeping up with her grooming. Brock's trained eyes focused on her black and blue ankle, his eyes skirted up to hers briefly, making eye contact as he slipped her dainty foot out of her shoe, then sock. Feeling awkward, Misty broke the eye contact, sucking in air as he pressed with his other hand to make sure it wasn't more than a sprain. He pressed his finger tips and thumbs into various places where there used to be crevices, but now were raised flesh that was sensitive to even the slightest touch. It hadn't helped her that she walked on it earlier.
"This will hurt." He breathed out calmly. "It already hur-" Misty started and ended with a cry of pain. With the brief warning, he shifted her foot to it's proper place. The cry echoed.
Misty tried to hold back the tears that were forming. She had fractured her ankle during the slip, and he needed to readjust the allignment of her bones before wrapping her ankle. "Stay off of your ankle the remainder of the day." Brock said firmly. Misty nodded slowly, her strong facade gone.
Togepi shifted in Misty's bag, popping it's head out, with a little "prii", Togepi rolled out of the bag and waddled over to Misty. It paused by her ankle, seeing the injury, looking up to it's owner and let out a prii again, before being picked up by Misty. She placed Togepi in her lap, rubbing the small egg Pokemon.
Shifting on his heel, Brock rose from the ground. He walked toward Tracey. His dark eyes searching the young man's face. Tracey grinned sheepishly. Brock paused just infront of him. Sitting down on the log he had been on before.
"So you're a friend of hers, you said?" Trying to hid the suspicion that was there.
Tracey nodded. "Yep! With your dark skin, and medical skills, I must say you're Brock!"
Brock tilted his chin down in a half nod, "how are you so chipper when she just hit you?"
There was a long pause on his end. "This sort of thing happened all of the time. In fact when we first met, a similiar situation of popping out of the blue and then getting beaten." A gleam in his eye appeared while reminiscing.
Brock glanced toward the female in question, "she does have a tendency to be dramatic." Misty looked up at the mention of her name, darting her eyes away when Brock gave her an accusing look. He watched her, she didn't seem upset about the remark, instead he noticed a small curve in her lips. Was she smiling? He wondered.
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Approaching their little camp, he noticed Misty was there, and that Brock was too. He also noticed a tall, slender figure with jet black hair, a aqua-green T-Shirt and orange khaki shorts sitting around the campsite. He tilted his head in confustion for a moment. Something about this person seemed familiar. He could quite place his finger on it yet. He saw the way the female was reacting to the new person, the way she touched his knee when she spoke, or the way he handed what looked like a sheet of paper from where he stood. A bubble of annoyance pitted itself in the bottom of stomach. He was coming back with the hopes of apologizing sincerely to Misty for the other night. Yet, now all he wanted to do was turn and walk away again. Though he couldn't, he had caught Brock's eye, and he waved him down to come join them. Ash shifted, unsure of what to do. His stomach, however, decided for him. Gritting his teeth, he headed toward his companions.
Misty saw Brock raise his hand and wave, in the corner of her eye she saw Ash returning. As he approached, she saw he was hesitant. A flutter in her stomach reminded her of the other night. Her grip tightened lightly on Tracey's knee. He had been telling them of his travels and what brought him to come find them. Tracey glanced down at her grip, a small smile on her lips, though she wasn't looking at him. He tilted his head back a bit to see where her eyes had transfixed themselves. He saw the familiar face. Quickly he handed the paper in his hand to Misty, distracting her for a moment. She looked up at the paper, removing her hand from his knee and taking it. He had been sketching her while they were talking. She studied the lines on the paper, the smile widened if only for a moment.
"Thank you...Trac-" She started, and Ash was within ear range, and Tracey was up from his spot, and headed toward him. Or, you know, not. She watched him strut over to him. There seemed to be an ominious air surrounding him, she thought Ash was going to punch him, but when they met and wrapped arms around one another. A thought came to her. No.. That would be silly.. Though she stared at them, as they stayed like that for a moment. It would be wouldn't it?
Suddenly their embrace broke apart and Ash's face was the color of a tomato, Misty raised her brow, her thought coming back to her. She chuckled, then her stomach twisted when Ash's arm rose to his face, trying to hide his blush. Tracey slipped his arm around his Ash's shoulders, and pulled him. The thought that they could be, is what Misty was chuckling about. The unease in her stomach, she didn't know what it was from at first. Ash pushed him away. Tracey's hands went up, in defense, saying something like "I'm kidding, only kidding!" By this point Misty had guessed the basic gist of the conversation and felt relieved that it was just a joke to one of them.
Tracey had started walking back, his face twisted into a grin, he was laughing loudly, turning around every so often to check on Ash, and then pointing out "I couldn't believe you believed me!"
Ash's blush was still in full bloom by the time he walked back over. He avoided sitting near Tracey, as he patted the spot next to him. He went to walk to Misty, but the look in her eyes told him he didn't want to. She snorted. He frowned, and looked to Brock who had his brow raised and staring at him, Ash looked away and settled on a spot away from his friends. He put his head in hands, trying to calm himself down.
"Ha ha ha," Tracey continued "man, you should see your face!"
"Shut up." Ash mumbled, annoyed at being tricked, annoyed that Misty had heard and was laughing at him. Annoyed that he chose to come back. Ash inhaled, and exhaled slowly. After moment, the laughter from the other two died down. When he felt it was safe, he raised his eyes up a little, past his barrier. His eyes caught sight of the bandaged ankle, he looked up toward her face, she wasn't looking at him, and definitely wasn't laughing anymore. But, one hand was raised to her lips, her forefinger absently rubbing the lower lip, as she looked intensely at the paper in hand. Pang. Look at me. He thought. As if his wish was granted, she glanced past her paper and into his eyes, for a brief moment, before a snort came from her. Great. Just freaking great.
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An hour later...
The laughter had died, but every so often Tracey would make a remark that would bring it back up. He had told the group that when he went over to Ash that when he embraced him, that he had said this "Ash, I've missed you, I've been looking and longing for you. I love you, man." The group, Brock included, Ash excluded had had a good laugh. Misty had folded the paper and tucked away in her knapsack, Brock was talking about their next stop, Ash had been telling Tracey about the gyms he had defeated. Misty sat back, leaning against a log, watching the boys' chat amongst themselves. When it dawned on her, that the feeling of unease hadn't quite settled. She stared at Tracey, not in the I am starring daggers you kind of way, but the way that she was trying to decipher something. The unease grew, she had the urge to look around the area. Her eyes scanned the surroundings. Almost missing it, her blue eyes going back to a spot. There. It's still there. I thought that Tracey had been then ominous presence I felt earlier. She narrowed her eyes to get a better look. Do I say something? Before she could open her mouth, Tracey spoke.
"So, before I forget," He said, almost excitedely, "the reason I came in search of you. I am even surprised I found you." Rummaging through his bag now, Misty broke her indirect eye contact with the shadowy figure to turn her attention to the young man. "When I was in another town, I had won some tickets to a spa resort. There are one too many tickets for just me to use, and they have to used on the same day. I thought of giving them away, but the downside to that is sharing a room with strangers." Misty's interest was piqued.
"Spa resort?" She said. Tracey glanced to her, giving her a wink, flashing the tickets. "Oooh, I want to go!"
He grinned, "I thought so".
Brock looked around at the group, then to Tracey, "where, when, and what's the catch?"
Tracey paused, to think, he then read the tickets. "Rustboro City. In two days. No catch, not that I noticed. I just don't want to share a room with strangers."
Ash chimed in, "any ladies?" He knew he would get a smack from Misty, he braced himself for it, when it didn't happen, he gazed at her. She seemed distracted. He went to repeat himself, though Brock said it before he could.
"Ladies? Like Officer Jenny and Nurse Joy?!" He exclaimed excitedly. Before he could elaborate his excitement, Misty had reached over and tugged his ear.
"We are not going there to meet ladies, Brock! We are there to relax!" She huffed out.
Tracey chuckled, Ash couldn't help but let out a laugh too. "Aren't they two in the same?" Ash asked. Misty turned her head to him. Thought about it. Thought of the swimsuits, hot steamy water, glanced at the boys, she's seen them all in their swimtrunks before, she thought of the additional guys' that could be there. Releasing Brock's ear, "i guess you're right." A coy smile on her lips.
The three boys looked at her incredously, an answer they hadn't expected. Weird answer. They thought simultaneously. A thump in each of their chests as the saw the twinkle in her eye, the smile on her lips, and shifting of her body due to a shiver. Misty regarded their looks. She knew they could read her right now. She coughed, stretching, "hey Brock?"
Oh, crap. I was staring. Brock averted his gaze. "Yeah?"
"When will dinner be done? And I think my bandage needs to be changed." She pointed to her ankle.
He peered at her ankle. "Dinner is almost done. And yes, lets do that."
Ash watched as Brock undid the bandage, and remembered to ask, "what happened to your ankle, Misty?" Misty didn't answer, Tracey did.
"Oh, that is my fault. I scared her in the caverns and she slipped and fell into a hot spring." Tracey said, sheepishly rubbing the back of his head. Ash raised his brow, "why were you in a weird place?"
"I was going to surprise her, but I guess I scared her instead." He chuckled, "should have seen her fa-" Whack. Misty slapped his leg to shut him up, in the process she winced because she put pressure on her ankle, that hadn't been rewrapped.
"Shut up Tracey." Misty grumbled.
"Scared?" Ash called, "like in the tower? With the ghosts?"
Misty narrowed her eyes at him, "didn't you swear not bring that up?"
Ash laughed, he was digging a grave now, "it was hilarious! Why shouldn't we talk about it?"
Misty frowned, as if her feelings were hurt, Brock noticed, absently stroking her calf again. He whispered, while Ash taunted her, "don't worry Misty, I was worried too". His voice was comforting and she looked at him, pleadingly. Brock had finished bandaging her ankle for a few minutes, as they shared a mutual thought. Brock hesitantly released her, and moved away. The twinge back behind his naval. Knowing he needed to put distance between them. Before he could move away completely, Misty reflectively grabbed his hand, brushing her thumb along his knuckles, "thank you, Brock." She dropped her hand to her lap, to pet Togepi, as if the moment hadn't happened. Tracey had seen it though. Ash hadn't.
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Tracey stood and then slumped down next to Misty. He whispered something in her ear, and she turned to him, mouth wide, he leaned in and placed his mouth on hers, the look exciting him. "Tracey..?" Huh? "Hey, Tracey..?" A voice could be heard. "Hey!" Whack. He jolted upright. Huh? What? He looked around, startled. His heart beating in his chest. "What? What's going on?" he asked. His eyes met Misty's. She shifted beneath him. It looked like she speaking, but he didn't hear the words until it was too late, another smack. His hearing kicked back in, when he realized where he was, he sat up. He looked around again, the fuzziness gone.
"Tracey. You fell asleep." Brock said. Misty was giggling at his reaction.
"Man, I feel bad for you." Ash gave his condolences.
Tracey paused, he recounted his thoughts. Was I dreaming just then? I remember getting up and moving, he saw he had done just that. Misty was laughing at him, okay, so it was a dream then. She wouldn't be laughing like this if I had done it. He leaned back and exhaled, not realizing he had been holding his breath.
"Yeah, you stood up, came over and sat down. You looked like you wanted to say something, but then you just kind of passed out, used my shoulder as a pillow." Misty confirmed.
Tracey was blushing now, remembering the dream. Remembering that he was resting on her shoulder. A twinge to his chest, and just behind his naval could be felt. Tracey looked over at her, apologizing. She brushed him off. "It's not a big deal." He stood quickly, making an excuse to cover up why he was leaving. Saying he had to go take a leak.
"Hey man, want company?" Ash asked. Tracey paused, gave him a weird look, after turning to face him.
"What? No. That's weird man." Tracey said, Ash slumped back down, feeling embarrassed now. Misty made a crack at him, from what happened earlier in the day.
Tracey made his way to the trees, hiding behind one. When he reached the tree, he leaned up against it. What was that? He wondered. I, I can't be acting like that. He unzipped his pants, pulling himself out of his khaki shorts, mentally yelling at himself, but he thought of kissing her made him twinge again, and pulse below. He looked around to make sure no one was there. He peed first and then thought of what could have happened with her, if the other two hadn't been there. I would have taken her chin in my hand, tilting it upward so that my eyes could meet hers. She would lick her lips in anticipation. Twinge. With my other hand I would have I would have slid it down her throat, to her collarbone, then I would have pushed the fabric aside down her shoulder. She would arch her back, pushing her chest toward me, tilting her head back she would let out a small whimper, a sign that I could kiss or bite her there. Harden. Ah, I would gently move to that spot and put my mouth there in the nape of her neck. He stroked himself gently at first, sliding down the tree, as his thoughts got more brazen, his hand would quicken, tugging against the skin. His hand moved toward his tip, his thumb rubbed at the head, a moan escaped his lips, he encompassed his head in his palm, rubbing slowly but with pressure each stroke. I would lick, nip at her neck, kissing as I go down to cleavage. I would tug down her shirt, to reveal them. I take one in my hand, moving the nipple upward and placing my mouth around it. She would tilt her head back farther and moan, as her hand searched for the zipper in my shorts. Oh God.. He heaved, breathing heavily now, his other hand dropped down to his balls and grabbing them, massaging them as he stroked himself, faster, harder. He was at his full length now, and he groaned against his hands, imagining they were hers, imagining that she had found his zipper, imagining that she had flipped him on back, and she was on top fondling him. He groaned, and grunted. He had closed his eyes, and just before he was at his climax he heard a twig snap behind him, he was so close that it hurt, he quickened his pace, eager to cum. Moaning and grunting, as that one final final stroke relieved him of his building frustration. Breathing heavily, he tucked himself back into his shorts and boxers. He looked at his right hand, he wiped it off on the tree as he made his way to stand up.
Another twig snapped. He looked around, startled. He went to go around the tree. When someone bumped into him. He looked down, still startled, orange hair. He took a deep breath, worst possible situation ever. He met her eyes. "Um, hi.." He started.
"Hey Tracey, you were taking too long, so I came to fetch you." She averted his gaze. He took another breath. Please don't look away. He pleaded. "So, now that I've told you.. I will be going back." She stammered on the last part. His heart beat against his chest. Could she have..have heard?
He exhaled, reaching for her hand. She stopped in her tracks, tentatively looking back. She looked at his right hand on her wrist, and her eyes trailed to his shorts. She knew, he knew this. "Misty, I.." Exhaling, "did you hear?"
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So, I have decided to roughly stick to what the original story was about, but it's also going in a slightly different direction. I'm sure some of you will love me for what I've in the last two new revamped chapters, some of you might hate me just as much as you did the first time you read it and if you remember what I did then too. Thank you for taking the time to read these updated chapters.
Please be sure to not read ahead, you will be sorely disappointed. Because the going chapters don't look, or sound like these two revamped ones.
Regards,
wolf-girl87