Chapter 13 – Counterbalanced

Yena's battle had started, and things were happening on the battlefield below.
But the two young men that were supposed to be watching, were only pretending to look down.
Their knuckles white from holding on to the iron railing too tight, the tension between Alex and Quinn had reached a new peak, as soon as Alex had taken his place in the spectators' area.

No word had been exchanged, and the long silence did not make the situation any easier.

"You."

Quinn had spoken up, and Alex lifted his head to look at him, not saying a word.

"I'll just be honest with you."

Quinn was frowning, staring at the battle taking place below.

"To me, you're an extremely shady character. A piece of scum, if you ask me.
I don't trust you. At all. Your story doesn't add up.
But Yena seems to be fond of you."

He paused, maybe to give Alex the opportunity to reply, but nothing happened.

Quinn continued:

"So that's why I'll just keep a very close eye on you."

Silence.

Both of them stared down at Yena's battle, without really looking.

"I hear your threat."

Alex didn't seem to be very impressed.

"And I return it to you. Whatever your plans are with Yena, you'll have to be really careful.
I think of you as unreliable and arrogant. You say you're worried about Yena, but I would never harm her."

"You may say that… but if I see you do one thing… one thing… that even hints at danger…"

"…Then what?"

Quinn raised his fist.

"I'll beat you up so bad."

Alex snorted.

"Ha. I'd like to see you try."

Quinn crossed the distance between them within a second, grabbing Alex' sweater near his throat.
Alex eyes widened, surprised by Quinn actually acting out his threat.

He had to stand on his toes to prevent his sweater from ripping, as he was pulled towards Quinn.

"Let go of me."

Alex hissed, twisting in Quinn's grip.

"Then promise me you'll leave Yena alone."

"No. Yena and I have an agreement."

"Forget about that. Now promise me."

Quinn shook Alex around, and lifting him even higher.

But he cried out in pain as Alex fiercely kicked against his leg, and let go of Alex' sweater when a well-aimed fist landed on his stomach.
Alex stumbled back, quickly pulling his sweater back down.

When he saw the rage in Quinn's eyes, he backed away even further.

"Don't…"

But the air was knocked out of his lungs when Quinn stormed forward, and tackled him.
Alex gasped as he landed on his back, and Quinn's full weight pressed down on him.

Quinn was heavier, and stronger, but Alex pushed and turned, trying to get away.
Alex' struggles to escape came to an abrupt end as Quinn hit him in the stomach.
He doubled over, hardly able to breathe.

Quinn's voice sounded near his ear.

"Not so tough now, are you? You're all bark, but no bite. That's good to know. Next ti-…"

The words that were undoubtably going to be threatening, were interrupted by a jet of cold water, pushing Quinn back and soaking both men to the skin.
Yena was standing at the entrance of the spectator's area, Oshawott at her feet.
Her face was red, and she looked ready to cry.

"You two…! Cut it out!"

She wildly gestured at them.

"I can't believe you're fighting!"

Quinn got to his feet, his hand going through his wet hair.

"Yena…"

She gave him no chance to talk.

"No! I bet you don't even know how the battle ended!"

Chili and Cilan appeared behind her, looking at the scene with frowns on their faces.

"Well, let me tell you…! I just earned my first badge, and both of you missed it! Well done!"

Alex, still on the ground, coughed.
He had now regained some of his breath, and was slowly getting up.

Tears were running down Yena's face.

"I never expected this of you. Maybe… Maybe we should just leave. Alex, can you stand? Let's go."

She didn't stand around to await the answer to her question, but turned on her heels and followed the two gym leaders outside.
Alex coughed again, and after casting a dirty look at Quinn, he walked down the stairs as well, leaving a trail of wet footsteps.

...

Later that day, Yena was lying on her back in the grass, with Munna hanging around nearby.
She held out her shiny new badge against the light of the sun, studying its silhouette.
It's shape was divided into three, symbolizing the gym's three types.

Yena rolled over to her stomach, grabbing her red badge case, and returning the Trio Badge to it.

When Alex appeared from between the trees, she only looked up for a second.
He had visited Striaton City's Pokécenter with Zigzagoon and Oshawott, giving them both some time to cool off.
She could tell by the way he approached her, that he was feeling unsure about how to handle the situation.

He sat down next to her, and scraped his throat.

"Here's Oshawott back."

He placed the Pokéball on the grass.

When she nodded, he hesitated.

"Yena, I'm not good at this stuff…"

She pushed the button on Oshawott's Pokéball, and watched her Pokémon appear on the grass.

"What stuff?"

Alex shifted uncomfortably.

"I suppose I wanted… I shouldn't have… Well, I never went up there to fight with Quinn.
I was going to watch your battle, but the guy threatened me! Should I let him do as he pleases…?
He was the one that started…"

He paused, thinking over his words.

"That… really didn't come out the way I wanted… I suppose what matters is…
I did taunt him, and I shouldn't have done that."

Encouraged by the fact that Yena was now looking at him again, he nodded at the badge case in front of her.

"I'm sorry for missing your battle. How did you win so fast? I think it took you less than ten minutes."

He looked puzzled as Yena spread her arms. She smiled.

"I accept your apology. You guys scared me… What if one of you got hurt?
…I could use a hug right now."

When he hesitated, she added:

"Oh come on. It's what people do when they forgive and forget."

"I usually don't…"

He started, but changed his mind.
Hoping to quickly get it over with, he placed one hand on her back.
But before he could lean back again, she had wrapped her arms around him, pulling him much closer.

Yena sighed as they let go, finally feeling better again.
She could feel how Alex had resisted pushing her away, eventually relaxing, and now she noted the same expression on his face as when Professor Juniper had said goodbye to them in Accumula Town.

She gently smiled at him.

"Even the toughest people need a hug sometimes."

Alex looked away, and sniffed once.

"…I suppose they do."

He glanced at her face from the corner of his eyes.

"So… are we okay again?"

"Yes."

"Will you ever tell me about your gym battle?"

"I don't know… What part would you like to hear?
The bit where Oshawott drove Pansage out of the ground by filling the holes with water, or where he nearly cut off the sprout on Pansage's head with his shell?"

"What…! You're just making that up."

She laughed, a sound that cheered him up immensely.

"It happened like this…"