Disclaimer: I own nothing of the lovely world of Pokémon, sad to say.
- / - / - / -
Paul awoke first in the morning, at around seven-thirty. His was facing away from the girl, but he felt something brushing against his back. He looked over his shoulder warily to see the girl curled around her Teddiursa doll, her back touching his. He sighed and pushed himself out of bed and went to find something to eat.
His search didn't take long; the girl's kitchen was easy to figure out. He found himself a loaf of bread and the toaster, and set two pieces in. While the bread was toasting, he explored the kitchen, getting to know it well. He hated asking the girl where things went or where things were; this would prevent that in the future.
A loud, obnoxious ringing met his ears. He glanced around, looking for the source. The girl's Pokégear was blaring on the coffee table in the living room. He ignored it while the phone rang itself out. His toast popped out of the toaster, and he pulled out butter and a jar of raspberry jam (all the girl had), and spread both onto the toast and leaned against the counter as he ate it. The Pokégear on the table started ringing again. He glared at it.
When the ringing stopped again, Paul began to map out his day. He wanted to get his team squared away by the end of the week, but the only way he could really test his Pokémon was in a real battle situation.
He could get to the Battle Zone easily. The city was always crawling with trainers itching to battle. And, as Paul was a very powerful trainer, they would line up to battle with him. The Battle Zone held the Battle Tower and the Battleground – both of which would help hone his Pokémon's skills. It was a short ferry ride from Veilstone. The earliest ferry left at nine-fifteen. He would have plenty of time to get there.
Pleased with his plan for the day, Paul quickly finished his toast. The girl's damn Pokégear started ringing for the third time since he'd gotten up. Who the hell wants to talk to her so badly? The girl's Pokémon were waking up sleepily, eying the ringing device angrily. Paul shrugged and went back to the bedroom to change. He glanced at the bed – the girl had rolled over, facing him, still clutching the Pokédoll. Paul raised his eyebrows and pushed the closet door open. He changed quickly into a pair of baggy black pants, a long-sleeved black shirt, and a dark purple jacket. He stuffed his sweatpants into a drawer and left the room.
He grabbed his keys and his bag and made his way to his car downstairs. He would need to pick up his Pokémon from the Pokémon Center before heading for the Battle Zone.
Back in the apartment, Dawn's Pokégear began ringing again.
- / - / - / -
Dawn's awakening was not as easy as Paul's. She awoke to Piplup and Pachirisu jumping angrily on her bed, squealing in protest about something. She moaned and covered her head with the covers. It was far too early to be awake. Piplup wouldn't have any of that, though. He started pecking her mercilessly, until she sat up, crying, "Alright, alright, Piplup, I'm up!"
She stared at her little penguin Pokémon. "What is wrong with you this morning?"
Lopunny bounced into the room and pushed something into Dawn's hands. It was her Pokégear. Dawn looked at it blankly.
"Uh, thanks, Lopunny," Dawn said, confusion apparent in her voice. Lopunny shook her head and pushed at the screen with her paw. The screen lit up, and Dawn squinted to read the message.
"I have thirteen missed calls?" Dawn read in shock. No one called her that much, ever. She checked the call log – it was all the same person, but she didn't recognize the number. There were two voice messages. She pulled them up and held the Pokégear up to her ear to listen.
"Dawn, it's Flint, I need you to call me, this is really urgent," the message said. "You know my number, call me as soon as you get this."
Dawn frowned and erased the message. The next one was very similar to the first.
"Seriously, this is really important, Dawn, I wouldn't be calling if it wasn't. Call me back."
Dawn's frown deepened. She quickly stored Flint's number into her phone, and dialed the number. Flint picked up on the first ring.
"Why did it take you so long to call me back?" Flint demanded, without so much as a greeting. Dawn blinked.
"Because it's eight-thirty in the morning," Dawn said, stifling a yawn. Flint sighed. "What's so urgent?"
"You know what we talked about yesterday."
Dawn's eyes opened wide, sleep disappearing from her senses. "I... Yeah."
"Well, they found out. I don't know how – maybe they tapped my phone for good measure – but they know I told you everything about them."
"Oh, no!" Dawn cried, upset. "Flint, you're okay, right? Nothing happened to you, did it?"
"Well, no. I mean, they're really angry. But I haven't done anything else in the past few years. And you aren't press or anything like that. So they didn't really do anything to me."
"That's good, Flint – you had me worried!" Dawn laughed.
"No, it's not good. I know it's not you, because you're a Coordinator, but... Are you... involved with anyone that might beat one of the league Champions?" Flint asked urgently.
"I...," Dawn so wanted to say no. But Flint had really risked himself for her. "Yeah. I'm engaged to Paul, from Veilstone City. He's a favorite to defeat Cynthia..."
Flint breathed out a sigh. "Shit."
"Why, what is it?" Dawn asked nervously.
"I know that kid, he's good. Good enough to beat her, I'd say."
"Then what's the problem?"
"They'll never make him Champion now," Flint said sadly.
"What?"
"You know too much, he knows too much," Flint explained. Dawn realized something. "They can't risk –"
"Wait! Flint, Paul doesn't know anything about this," Dawn told him. "I tried to tell him yesterday, but he wouldn't let me finish. He doesn't know anything about the League."
"He doesn't?"
"No, nothing. I mean, he found out from his brother that the Champion has to be married, but that's it. Not why or anything like that."
"Well... He might have a chance then," Flint said slowly. "Might. They'll want to meet with him and you very soon. Just to test out what he knows. They know you know everything now. No point in pretending. They'll need to feel you out, see if you're a threat to them."
"But I'm not!"
"They don't know that," Flint said. "So... Just be warned. They'll contact you soon. Say they want to meet the impressive young favorite to defeat the Champion. They'll be over-the-top, with a luncheon, inviting you to headquarters, and all that – then they'll get you alone and probably threaten you into silence."
Dawn shuddered. "But Flint... What do I do about Paul?"
"You can't tell him. Or they'll never make him Champion."
So, it really all depended on her. Whether or not Paul would be crowned Champion. It didn't matter if Paul defeated Cynthia or not.
"But..."
"Dawn, it's simple. If you want Paul to become Champion, keep him in the dark about this. You can handle the League's threats. They won't do anything to you as long as you keep quiet."
But this means I can't ever divorce Paul, once we're married. I'll have to stay married to him. Because the League won't stand for it, because I know their secret...
"Thanks, Flint," Dawn said sadly. "Thank you so much for everything."
"It's no problem," Flint replied. "It's a pity they had to find out this way. You and Paul... Well, you probably could have done something about this, if you went in knowing the truth."
Dawn and Flint hung up moments later. She sat, staring into space. "This is the biggest mistake I've ever made," Dawn whispered. She was getting herself into a lifelong marriage with Paul. There was no easy way out. No divorce. And she couldn't even tell Paul.
- / - / - / -
Paul arrived at the docks in Veilstone at nine. He had time to get himself a ticket and get on the ferry. He made his way towards the ticket building, and was almost there when his Pokégear started ringing. He sighed in annoyance when he saw the name of the caller.
"What do you want?"
"You need to get home, now," Dawn said firmly, ignoring his brusqueness.
"No, I don't. I'm on a ferry," he responded, stretching the truth a bit.
"Ugh, you have a problem! You can't just leave like that," Dawn said angrily. "We have stuff we need to talk about, and do, and –"
"I have stuff I need to do," Paul sighed. He held the Pokégear away from his ear as she began to rant, and said quietly to the man behind the counter, "I need one ticket for the nine-fifteen to the Battle Zone."
The man rang him up, and Paul paid the $9.25 for the ticket and walked towards the gangplank. He reluctantly held the phone back up to his ear.
" – completely irresponsible, it's not all about you, you know, Paul. You're an arrogant toerag, and sometimes there are more important things than you and your life and your Pokémon! Besides, you got a call this morning," Dawn finished abruptly.
"I what?" No one knew – besides Reggie – that Paul had moved in with Dawn. There was no one else to tell.
"Got a call. Are the words so foreign to you?"
"Well, yes, as only my brother knows I live with you thus far," Paul snapped. "Who called?"
"I didn't answer."
"Then how do you know the call was for me?" Paul asked, rolling his eyes.
"I heard the message they left."
"So you should know who called."
"The League called you."
Paul froze. The League had never called him before.
"H-how did they know I'm living with you?" Paul asked, stunned.
"The League knows everything." Paul smirked at the girl's tone. "And I do mean everything."
"Well, I'll answer it when I get home tonight, then," Paul said, continuing onto the ferry.
"When'll that be?"
"What are you, my mother?" Paul asked.
"No, stupid, I'm your fiancée."
"I don't know. By seven, let's say."
"Okay, I'll see you then," Dawn said. "Have a good day, dear."
"I already told you about the pet names. Don't even start."
He hung up and took a seat, readying himself for a day of rigorous training.
- / - / - / -
Dawn had no plans that day. She wasn't interested in training, she was too stressed out for that. She didn't even have a new combination she wanted to work on. But her next Contest was in just a few days, in Emeragrove Town – just outside of Hearthome. She supposed she and Togekiss should work on their new combination they'd just tried out... She glanced at the calendar on the refrigerator. She frowned and examined it more closely. The Contest was on Thursday. Today... was Wednesday.
Aw, crap, Dawn thought. I really need to train today – how could I forget my Contest is tomorrow?
She recalled all of her Pokémon, rushed to get dressed (she grabbed the first thing she touched, a white eyelet dress) and jammed her feet into a pair of black flats. She grabbed her Pokégear as an afterthought, and hurried out of her apartment. She locked the door behind her and made her way down the stairs. She would practice in Amity Square today.
The walk was less than two minutes, and Dawn's apartment complex was practically in Amity Square. When she arrived, she smiled told the gatekeeper, Seamus, that she needed to work with one of her Pokémon for a Contest. He winked and let her in.
She wasn't technically allowed to train in Amity Square. But the park was big enough that it didn't matter, really. Besides, she wasn't battling – so passersby liked to watch her practice. Her long sort-of friendship with the gatekeeper made it easy to slip in to Amity Square for practice sessions whenever she liked.
She strolled through the quiet gardens towards her favorite training spot near the pond. When she arrived, she pulled Piplup's and Togekiss' Pokéballs out and tossed them into the air. When the two Pokémon appeared, Dawn crouched to Piplup's height.
"Piplup, I want you to watch Togekiss' appeal carefully. After we perfect the appeal, I want to work with you for the battle stage. Alright?"
"Lup!" Piplup nodded and sat on a rock near the pond to watch Togekiss. Dawn turned to her flying-type Pokémon.
"Alright, Togekiss. You remember what we worked on a few days ago, right?" Dawn asked. Togekiss nodded. "Let's do it again – and get it perfect this time!"
Togekiss began to rise into the air. Dawn smiled.
"Now, Togekiss – use Aura Sphere!" Dawn called. "Now, Air Slash! Great, Togekiss, that's perfect – now, Safeguard!"
Togekiss' eerie green-blue cloak caught the attention of several other park-goers, who stopped to watch.
"Now, Togekiss – finish it all off with Last Resort!"
Togekiss again began to spin, highlighting her shape and the results of her previous moves. The stars appeared around her, and she shot them at a rock near a tree. The move exploded in a shower of stars. Dawn grinned and clapped her hands.
"That was awesome, Togekiss!" Dawn said excitedly. "We'll do so well in the Contest with that move, no need to worry!"
"Kiss," Togekiss bowed. Dawn smiled again.
"Piplup, you're up. Let's start off with Whirlpool," Dawn said. Piplup hopped off the rock and created a massive Whirlpool effortlessly. "Now, spin and use Bubblebeam!"
Piplup obliged, and the Whirlpool began to shine with the tiny bubbles.
"Hey, Dawn!"
Dawn called off Piplup's attack and turned towards the voice. The sun was just rising over her apartment building, so she had to shade her eyes to see the person walking towards her. She grinned.
"Hi, Zoey!" Dawn called, rushing to hug her friend. Zoey laughed and hugged her back. "How was the Contest? Your never told me before."
"Not bad," Zoey shrugged.
"That means you won, doesn't it?" Dawn teased. Zoey smiled slightly, confirming Dawn's suspicions. "Always so modest."
"Yeah, well, I was in the neighborhood – I stopped here to see you, really – before I head back to Snowpoint City," Zoey said conversationally. "I saw that move of your Togekiss', Dawn, it was really great."
"Thanks, Zoey," Dawn said sincerely.
"Do you need to train a little more, or...?"
Dawn glanced at her two Pokémon. She'd promised she'd train with Piplup, but she couldn't really muster the concentration. She shook her head and looked back at Zoey. "No, we really just came to practice that combination one more time before our Contest tomorrow."
Piplup cried out in indignation, but Dawn recalled him and Togekiss before Piplup could make much of a fuss.
"Shall we?" Zoey laughed, offering her arm to Dawn. Dawn smiled and linked arms with the girl, and they wandered back out of Amity Square. Dawn asked about Zoey's Contest, and Zoey gave brief details about the Pokémon she'd used, her opponents, and their Pokémon.
"But that's hardly important, Dawn," Zoey said seriously as they exited the park. Dawn rolled her eyes. "I want to know about you and Paul."
"There's not a lot to tell, Zoey," Dawn lied. Zoey let out her breath in a huff. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you we'd been dating. Really, I am. But you were the first person I called when he proposed!"
"That almost makes up for it," Zoey said. "Not. Seven months of nothing from you, and now you're engaged? It's not like you."
"I know," Dawn said gloomily. "My life's been turned upside-down by him, Zo, I don't know how else to explain it."
"You don't seem to be in a very good mood," Zoey noted conversationally as she turned them down a street that lead towards downtown Hearthome.
"I'm not."
"Well, what's –"
"I don't want to talk about it now, Zoey," Dawn interrupted. Zoey gave her a sideways glance, but decided not to push her friend, for now. "Where are you taking me, anyways?"
"I dunno. It's almost noon, do you want to get some lunch?" Zoey suggested.
"I'd love to," Dawn said. "I didn't eat breakfast. Didn't eat much last night, either."
"Where do you want to go?" Zoey asked. Dawn shrugged.
"I don't care, really," Dawn said. Zoey frowned at her. "Fine, how about... Aeromatic?"
"What's that?" Zoey asked her as Dawn steered them towards the restaurant. "You forget, I don't live here anymore."
"It's a new place. Next to that place Hypnotique. I take it you remember that place," Dawn said teasingly, causing the woman beside her to blush. "Or do you? You did drink a lot."
"Oh, shut up, you were bad that night too," Zoey said defensively. Dawn laughed, remembering the night.
"Not as bad as you. At least I was dating my guy," Dawn said, poking her friend in the ribs. Zoey squirmed away from Dawn.
"Please, I try not to remember that night."
"I know, that's why I love to tease you about it."
"Let's just go to lunch," Zoey said, folding her arms.
"Chill, Zo, it's no big deal," Dawn assured her. "I've made stupider mistakes than you."
"True," Zoey agreed, appeased. Dawn frowned.
"We're here," Dawn announced, stopping in front of a small, almost unnoticeable building. It was a classy little café, with wrought-iron tables and chairs scattered around their fenced-in patio. Zoey surveyed the courtyard and tables, many of which were already filled.
"It'll do," Zoey said. Dawn rolled her eyes. Zoey was ordinarily very laid-back, but she was quite critical of restaurants.
"Just wait til you try the food, okay, Miss Judgmental?"
"I am not that judgmental."
Dawn walked up to a small stand and told the maitre d' that she wanted a table for two. He smiled and told her that it would be only a moment. Dawn thanked him as Zoey joined her. Moments later, as promised, the maitre d' let them to a table near the street. They took their seats and menus, which the man left them to peruse.
The women searched through the menu, and after several moments, they ordered their drinks (white wine for Dawn, red for Zoey). They arrived a few minutes later.
"What're you going to get?" Dawn asked conversationally. Zoey was silent, staring intently at the menu.
"I think... The Feebas looks good," Zoey said after a while. Dawn glanced up; she'd forgotten she'd asked a question, it had taken Zoey so long to respond. Zoey continued to read aloud, "Marinated in olive oil, butter, onion, Marsala, and mushrooms. Hmm."
"You're so picky," Dawn chastised, laying her menu aside. Zoey glanced at her.
"What, you're saying you've picked?"
"Yeah," Dawn said easily, sipping at her glass of wine. Zoey made a face, clearly saying she didn't believe her. Dawn raised her eyes at the challenge. "I'm getting the arugula salad with bacon, bleu cheese, grapes, and almonds. It comes in a balsamic vinegar."
"You're getting a salad?" Zoey asked, appalled. Dawn nodded.
"It's big. Besides, it's delicious. Don't knock it til you've tried it," Dawn said lightly. It was Zoey's time to raise her eyebrows.
"I could say the same to you. Or can I?" Zoey shot back. "You haven't told me anything about you and Paul. I don't know anything about you anymore. Are you even still a virgin?"
Dawn made a face and hissed, "Not so loud, Zoey!"
Zoey didn't take her eyes off Dawn to see the people at surrounding tables staring at them. "Well, Dawn?"
"I am," Dawn snapped. Zoey looked doubtful. "We... We want to wait."
"Til what, Dawn, marriage?" Zoey said snidely. Dawn's eyes narrowed.
"Yes, Zoey. Til we're married."
"How many times have I told you, Dawn?" Zoey sighed in exasperation. "You wouldn't buy a car without test-driving it first, would you?"
Dawn gasped. "Zoey!"
"I'm serious. You could be in for a life of terrible sex, Dawn. I'm trying to protect you, that's all," Zoey said indifferently, taking a sip of her red wine. "Maybe you haven't thought this through."
"Of course I have," Dawn said firmly. "I wouldn't get engaged to someone I wasn't prepared to spend my life with."
"Oh, like you were about to do with Kevin?" Zoey shot back. Dawn felt her eyes start to prickle with unshed tears.
"Zoey, why are you acting like this?" Dawn asked as calmly as she could. Zoey looked a her.
"You lied to me," Zoey said simply.
"That doesn't mean you have to be this mean," Dawn said weakly, staring at the table.
"If you're not even strong enough to argue with me, how do you plan to spend your life married to Paul?" Zoey asked frankly. Dawn raised her head to meet Zoey's gaze.
"He's not using my past to hurt me, Zoey," Dawn said steadily. She stood up. "So I think I'll live my life with Paul just fine. Besides, I didn't think that's what friends would do to one another. No matter how mad one might be."
She reached into her purse and dropped enough money to cover her unfinished glass of wine onto the table. Without another word to her now-protesting friend, Dawn spun around and left the restaurant. She walked quickly, not stopping until she reached the couch in her apartment.
She curled up sadly, and ignored her Pokégear when it began ringing; she knew it was Zoey. She didn't want to talk to her right now.
- / - / - / -
Paul was, as he had suspected, extremely bored with his day of battles. None of the so-called trainers that had challenged him had taken any of his concentration to defeat. One good thing, though, was that Magmortar was clearly starting to put in the necessary effort. Meaning he was back in the running for his Champion's team. He'd also determined that he would add his Drapion to his team. Drapion hadn't let him down in many years. Clearly, Drapion would be an asset. As would Ursaring, whom he'd also determined deserved a prestigious spot on his Champion's team.
And then there were two, Paul thought lazily, as he commanded Froslass to use a final Ice Beam on the girl's pitiful Gligar. She seemed shocked when Gligar collapsed. Paul silently recalled his Pokémon, and waited for the girl to approach him.
"You're just as strong as they say," she said, a grudging admiration in her voice. Paul inclined his head at the compliment. "I hope you beat Cynthia this year. Your Froslass is really something."
"I know."
They worked out his victor's payment, and the girl left, presumably to take her Gligar to the Pokémon Center. Paul glanced at his Pokégear; it was already past seven. He remembered that he'd told the girl he'd be home by seven. Oh well. He made his way back to the marina, knowing there was a ferry home at seven forty-five. He'd make it in time, but that meant he'd be home well after nine. Again. He'd have to call the League the moment he got back to the girl's place.
On the ferry ride home, Paul thought about the League's call. They'd never bothered to contact him before. It made sense, though, that they would want to speak with him now that he was married. And therefore a candidate for the Champion's title.
As he had many times over the past week or so, he wondered why the Champion was required to be married as a secret part of the League's necessary attributes. He'd mulled the question in his mind in the hours he lay awake at night, most of the time he was training, and any other time his mind slipped from its task. But each time, he came up blank.
He supposed it didn't matter, much. He was engaged to be married now. And, fortunately, it was to someone he could tolerate, though he'd never tell her that. It could be someone really horrible.
On the ferry ride home, he thought about the girl, his Pokémon, and what the League could possibly want. He decided rather quickly that he'd never figure out what the League wanted until he called. He knew four of the Pokémon he intended to put on his Champion's team. And he was planning to keep Magmortar if he kept up his performance, and he'd always liked using Froslass. The feminine Ghost-and-Ice-type Pokémon always took his opponents by surprise. That left him with not much to think about other than the girl. His fiancée.
She was annoying. There was no denying it. But she wasn't as bad as his rival, so to speak, so she was more than tolerable. She wasn't a bad cook, either. In fact, he rather liked her cooking. But she watched stupid television programs and she was a Coordinator. Two strikes – he'd never taken Coordinators seriously. She was okay to look at. That was all his stubborn mind would allow him to admit. But he'd be spending some time with her – so most of these things were positive. He could not be around when she was watching her asinine Contests on TV. He'd need to be out training, regardless. And although she was a Coordinator, some of her battle styles were intriguing. Well, the one Swift followed by Flame Wheel attack was impressive. He might use that in the future.
When he arrived in Veilstone, his thoughts were still plagued by the girl. He drove home without bothering to turn on the radio. He had enough on his mind – namely, a girl that was waiting for him impatiently for him to get home.
He climbed the stairs to the apartment quickly, arriving at apartment twenty in no time. He unlocked the door and found the apartment dark and the girl nowhere to be seen. He checked the bedroom; it, too, was empty. He was just getting (very slightly) concerned when he heard her voice from nowhere.
"I'm out here, Paul."
He tried very hard not to show had much she had startled him. He thought he succeeded, because she made no comment. He followed the girl's voice; she was standing outside on a small balcony, leaning against the restraints, looking up at the sky. He joined her outside. She said nothing when he joined her, just kept staring up into the sky. He followed her gaze to a cloudless night. He glanced at her. There was nothing interesting about the sky.
"It's pretty, isn't it?" Dawn murmured. Paul gave the sky a cursory glance.
"I guess," he said, shrugging. Dawn smiled slightly at his reluctance.
"You know, Paul... We're going to be together for a long while," Dawn began. Paul's eyes skipped from the sky to the girl. He said nothing, waiting for her to continue. "Don't you think we should make it as easy as possible? I mean, I'm not asking you to love me. Or even like me, really. That's too much to ask. It's not what I want, anyways. I'm quite sure it's not what you want. But, we can be civil, can't we? We can be... Well, at least that much."
Paul stayed silent, surprised by the girl's speech.
"It would be so much easier than arguing, the snide comments, everything else – it doesn't have to be anything more. Civility is all we need. Then it wouldn't be so much effort around other people, to act like we like each other. You know what I mean?" Dawn finished.
Paul contemplated her words for a few minutes. It would be hard, yes. He'd never bothered to try to be civil to anyone, really. Reggie never bothered to make him; he was accustomed to Paul's behavior. Nobody else knew him well enough for him to bother trying. Nobody had ever asked him. But here was this confusing girl, his chance fiancée, asking him for civility after knowing him for only days.
"Alright," Paul said after a long time. "We'll be civil."
The two lapsed into a comfortable silence and sat outside, the call from the League utterly forgotten.. For now.
- / - / - / - / - / -
A/N: I really have no excuses about why I've taken so long to get this chapter up. I rediscovered FerPotter's Not Only a Granger and its amazingness sucked me in again. I've been reading it nonstop for the past two days. It's so epic. If you love Harry Potter (but really Snape and Hermione), read it. It's fantabulistical. Anyways. There wasn't a lot of ikarishipping in this chapter either. I suck. BUT I swear to you, it's coming. There's definitely some in the next chapter. Pinky swear.
Coming up next, Dawn's Contest and the introduction of Kevin. Plus, a bit of Paul's past is revealed.
Thank you thank you to all of my reviewers. I love you supermuch, I really appreciate the feedback.