Silver glanced at the window, his hand propping his chin. His eyes lazily stared at the white clouds…blue skies…a few flying Pidgeys and Pidgeottos…
"Ahhhh!" Silver shouted angrily, throwing the magazine off his lap. He was bored to death.
"Silver!" A melodic tune filled his eardrums. The impatient patient led out a scoff. It was her again.
Kotone skipped into the room, holding a tray. Sneasel stood comfortably on her shoulder. The minute the brunette entered his trainer's room, Sneasel jumped off her shoulder and hopped playfully on his trainer's lap, pouncing on him.
"Snea!" The sharp claw Pokémon poked Silver's nose. The redhead scrunched his eyebrows and shoved the furry creature away. "Stop that you little pest," he grumbled.
Sneasel smiled cheerfully, happy to see his trainer doing fine. Kotone placed the tray on the table next to him. "So, how's my sick wittle patient doing?" she purred and lightly pinched Silver's cheeks, earning a small irritating blush from him.
"Could you stop being annoying – ah…" Silver held his chest as he felt a short strain. The young trainer flashed a concern look. Silver peeked at his rival and huffed. "Don't give me that look. I'm not dead."
Kotone frowned when the words zoomed in her ears. "Don't say that…" she mumbled sourly and took a container from the tray. Before he could respond, Kotone sat at the edge of the bed. Her frown quickly changed into a small smile as she opened the container, revealing very delicious looking rice and a sweet and sour Pidgey dish. His eyes trailed as Kotone took a pair of chopsticks and tearing it apart. Soon enough, he knew what she was doing.
"What are you doing?"
Kotone scrunched her nose playfully and smiled at Silver. "I'm feeding you, what else silly?" She scooped some rice and meat and swirled it in front of his mouth. "Now say 'ahh'," The trainer chimed jauntily.
The teenager widened his eyes in shock and held her wrist, his face feeling hot again. "W-What am I? Five? I can fuckin' feed myself!" He coughed, throat dry again. He shouldn't be shouting and yelling a lot. But the woman was doing stuff like this to him, forcing him to act his scornful self. So basically, he blamed Kotone for making him sicker than he already is.
Kotone poked the food inside the container. "Come on Silver, you're still a bit frail. And I know you haven't had any decent meal for awhile." She flicked his nose merrily, quickly retracting her hand back before Silver could swat it. "Besides, it's nice to be pampered sometimes."
Hearing her words, Silver felt a small pang in his heart. "I don't deserve to be pampered," he muttered grimly, eyes on the window.
Kotone didn't make out his words completely. She led out a small sigh. "Come on, don't be shy. No one can see us." Her voice gentle with plea. Silver bit his inner cheek, restraining himself for caving in.
"I am not hungry!" he coughed.
Unfortunately, the loud grumbling sound in his stomach said otherwise.
Sneasel snickered amusingly, catching Silver's attention. The redhead was getting angsty. "And you!" He pointed his finger at the stunned Sneasel. "Why are you here? You're supposed to be training! Just because I'm stuck in some bed doesn't mean you can slack – ow…" He gripped his aching chest again.
The Pokémon's snicker immediately disappeared, replaced with a hurtful frown. Kotone shook her head at the redhead's resent. "Actually, Sneasel just got back from his spar. He wanted to see you coz he misses you. He and his teammates have been training at Goldenrod Park three times a week now. Heck, they've been training with my team too."
Silver sat there, stunned to hear the woman's explanation. His eyes focused on his Sneasel. The little Pokémon poked his claws together, head down.
"And I gotta admit, your Pokémon have some killer moves and speed. Typhlosion was very pissed that he got pinned down by Feraligatr four times today," she chuckled, her thoughts wandering about.
Silver just sat there silently. His head still couldn't grasp the fact that his Pokemon still had a training spar even when he's not around. They didn't sloth out. They didn't goof off like he thought. They were actually training among themselves to be better – just so they can make their beloved trainer proud.
The redheaded teenager led out a deep sigh. His ears caught a small whimper. Swiftly, his head snapped at Kotone. His rival eyed him, giving Silver a 'What?' expression. The female trainer didn't make any sound. Then who…? Soon, his silver eyes focused behind Kotone. Sneasel was still facing the white sheets, sniffling.
Silver groaned. Now he was feeling guilty. Slowly and awkwardly, he reached out his hand. "You…" he muttered to the sharp claw. "Stop…crying. Look I'm sorry okay? Sheesh…"
His weird way of a sincere apology was enough to make Sneasel jump again. The sharp claw skipped from behind Kotone and onto Silver, hugging the trainer's neck.
"Ackk…oww! I'm hurt you little pest!" Silver growled and tried to pull the Pokémon away.
But Sneasel didn't flinch away, he cooed under his chin lovingly. Yayy! I love you Silver!
Kotone smiled, her heart filled with joy to see their loving scene. "Okay Sneasel. I think Silver has enough love from you. Why don't you go outside and play with Ampharos? She was looking for you this morning."
The small but feisty creature nodded his head cheerfully. Ever since this few weeks, he had bonded with the light Pokemon. Ampharos has a sweet, gentle nature and is the only Pokémon that deals with his childish attitude. Sneasel pecked his trainer's nose and hopped off. He ran outside the room and out of their eyesight.
Silver mumbled sourly. Sometimes he would never get that Sneasel to behave properly. He sighed. At least the Pokémon can stay serious in battle. His thoughts halted as he realized Kotone was still in the room – on the bed – holding his food.
He led out another sigh. "For the last time, I can feed myself!"
Kotone stuck out her pink tongue. "I don't care. I'm your nurse. I'm feeding you." She moved the chopsticks to his mouth.
Silver pursed his lips tight. He shook stubbornly. "I didn't ask for a personal nurse and I don't need to be pampered, or taken care of for that matter," he croaked. His throat was really annoying him. He bought his hand up to his neck, his thumb caressing his Adam's apple. "Now leave." Another cough escaped his mouth, not helping him proving his point. Damn it!
The petite brunette just sat there, not moving an inch. She scooched her body slightly forward and put the food on the desk, switching it with a glass of water. The small distance between them made Silver hold his breath. A sweet, vanilla scent tickled his nose, torturing him. Oh Arceus…
Luckily, Kotone moved her torso backwards and handed Silver the glass. "Here you go. Have some nice, warm water." She smiled oh so innocently.
His cheeks began to flush. Silver dumbly shook his head. "I don't wanna."
Kotone was baffled. "But you need some –"
"Put it back Kotone." His voice stern, broken and cold.
The brunette frowned annoyingly but apparently placed the water back on the table. "Stubborn jerk." Her mumbling caught Silver's ear. The man huffed sorely and turned his head to the window. A few minutes of silence filled the atmosphere. Both teenagers egoistically ignored each other.
Silver cursed in his mind as his throat was getting itchy. He felt life suffocating everytime he breathes and the urge to cough really loud was biting his insides. He needed water.
But his ego mind was telling him to forget it.
Silver tried to ignore his dry, itchy throat. But the more he rejected his need, the itchier it gets. Finally, he looked straight, eyes everywhere except on her. "Give me water," he coughed.
Kotone raised an eyebrow. "But I thought you said…"
"Just give!" His coughing got deeper and more croaked. Kotone quickly handed him the glass and Silver chugged it down like he never had water before.
Seeing the scene, the female trainer held back a chuckle.
Satisfied with his hydration but not with his fallen ego, Silver handed her the empty glass and looked away again.
With a small smile, Kotone took it and finally rose up. "Well, if you need anything. I'll be at the counter with Nurse Joy. Today, I got to see Chansey stitch up a poor, wounded Tauros. The poor fella had like two small scratches on her head." The woman chatted off, not caring whether Silver cares about the topic or not. The redhead sighed under his breath. She was forever filled with empty rants.
Suddenly, her one-sided conversation stopped as a beeping sound was heard. Kotone picked up her Pokégear and flashed a happy smile to see Nurse Joy on the line. "Oh hi Nurse Joy!"
The female nurse laughed on the screen, amused by her temporary apprentice's behaviour. "Kotone, can you come down to the lobby?"
Kotone tilted her head slightly, curious. "I was gonna come down anyways. Why?"
Silver kept his gaze on the blue skies. Yet, his ears focused on the women's conversation. He himself was curious as to why the elderly nurse wanted Kotone in the lobby.
He almost fell out of bed as soon as he heard, "Oh, The Ecruteak leader, Morty is here. He saw your Typhlosion in the lobby and was asking if it was yours. And when I said yes, he asked again where you were." Nurse Joy giggled softly. "He wondered if you wanted to get some coffee or something."
Silver felt his body burning up, and it's not because of a sudden fever. He was even more agitated as he heard Kotone's soft giggle. His fists were clenched roughly under the sheet. His teeth were silently snarled, upper lip rising irately.
"Alright then, I'll be there in five minutes!" He cringed as he heard her footsteps heading for the door. He felt his heart starting to shatter in pain. On impulse, Silver snapped his head towards Kotone and yelled, "WAIT!"
Kotone almost trip when she heard his loud voice. The female trainer turned her head and faced Silver, giving an annoyed look.
Luckily, she didn't move any further.
Unluckily, he didn't know what to say.
His eyes trailed onto her. She was still wearing her nurse's outfit. Her high ponytail was swishing on her head, making her look more mature and…seductive. Silver gritted his teeth inside his mouth. The thought of the Kotone meeting the Ecruteak leader in that getup…made his insides burn ragingly like a Moltres.
No man is ever allowed to see her like that – only he can.
Suddenly, his mind clicked. "I-I'm hungry!"
The woman was quiet, baffled. "What?"
He felt his cheeks getting red again. "What are you? Deaf? I said I am hungry." He moved his hand to his bare stomach.
Kotone held her hips, eyebrows raised suspiciously. "The food is right next to you, Captain Obvious." She shook her head. "Now if you excuse me, I need to go down and –"
"Feed me!" he growled.
Another dead silent air filled the room. The person on the bed was flustered like hell while the other was frozen in front of the door, completely dumbfounded. Slowly, Kotone turned around, her face showed nothing but utter disbelief.
She blinked at the redhead many times. Still in disbelieve, Kotone gave her cheek a pinch, thinking it was a dream. The pain told her that it was real. The awed trainer strode her feet closer to Silver, her head was tilted in confusion. "I'm sorry what?"
The redhead bit his inner cheeks hard. He hid his hands under the sheet and clenched it tightly. His silvers never met her browns. Instead, his head moved around like a retard. "You heard what I said, dumbass…" His cheeks were red as his hair.
Kotone heard very well what he said. She just couldn't believe them. She placed her hand on the edge of the bed, bending closer to Silver. Her eyes can see red colours forming on his cheeks. Silver gulped silently as he felt her warmth next to him.
"You want me…to feed you…?" Her voice filled with scepticism.
Silver looked away and gritted his jaw. Damn damn damn. "Yes…" he flustered.
She saw his cheeks were getting redder and redder. A sudden need to smile was itching horribly at Kotone. But she pursed her lips, trying to fight back. "I thought you said you could eat all by yourself." He could sense the sarcasm in her. Silver twitched angrily. He didn't want the woman to see Morty. He didn't want him anywhere near her – especially with what she's wearing. Silver wanted to yell the truth. He wanted to tell his real reason why she shouldn't meet the young leader. Problem is – that means it'll be the end of his pride.
"Coz…" he stammered quietly, not knowing what to say. Damn it you idiot! Why do you even care!
He heard her soft giggle. Before Silver could yell at himself some more, he felt his bed slightly shifted. The redhead snapped his head at her. Kotone was sitting neatly on her knees, her hands holding her Pokégear.
"Hi Nurse Joy! Yeah, tell Morty that I have to take a rain check on that coffee." Her warm brown eyes stared at the stunned silvers. "I'm kinda busy at the moment."
He heard Nurse Joy on the line responded and soon the device was off. Kotone bent her body slightly and took the container. She pulled the chopsticks out and began picking up the meal. With a small, soft smile, Kotone bought the food to his mouth. "Say 'ahh'…" Her voice gentle and serene.
Silver remained motionless, contemplating. Finally, with a flushed face, he opened his mouth nervously. The food entered his mouth and Silver slowly chewed on it, eyes focused on the outside world. Deep inside, he was humming in glee at the deliciousness of the meal. The teenager enjoyed the taste, the rich texture of the dish. But he kept a poker face, not wanting the woman to realize it.
Kotone smiled even brighter. She didn't know why Silver suddenly wanted her to feed him. But a small part of her might have a hint of reason. Silv, are you jealous? Her smile just couldn't get any wider. Her eyes sparkled as Silver didn't complain about the food. Instead, he kept on chewing and when he was already done with his piece, he opened his mouth, wanting another. His eyes never met his.
Kotone didn't care. She knew that was his way of liking it. "If you're wondering, I made this all by myself. Just for my special little patient," she chimed joyfully.
Silver scoffed silently, his mouth chewing, his cheeks flushing. "Whatever…" he grumbled bashfully. His shaking silver eyes were on the window the whole time.