Her eyes scanned the airport as she collected her bag. Behind her, Alder discussed evolution to Juniper while Cheren embraced Bianca.
Where is he? He's never been late... she thought anxiously, biting her lip. Suddenly, her face exploded into a smile as she caught sight of her favorite pair of green eyes.
"N!" she breathed, feeling her heart race in her chest as she ran to him. He caught her in his arms and she held him tight. "I missed you..."
"As I missed you, White," he replied, kissing the top of her head. "How was the flight?"
"Good," this came out as a sigh, "but we didn't find out the reason why shiny Pokémon exist. Did you?"
"...of course," he replied slowly. "It's a strain in their genetics that all Pokémon have. It's just more dominant in some Pokémon." White's smile slipped as she heard the lie in N's voice.
"Like you said when I left?"
"Yeah... but that's all there is to it, love. Some species also have darker pigments in their skin. Like... Hydreigon, for example. The Clefairy have lighter pigments as their shiny form has green ears," he elaborated.
"Okay. I love you," she was suddenly afraid to take her head off of his chest. What would she see this time? The same blank stare?
"I love you too," he said a heartbeat later.
Same tone as last time... she thought sadly holding in her tears. What changed?
"...are you listening? Bianca..." Cheren clicked his fingers in front of Bianca's face. She started, blinked and smiled sheepishly at him.
"Of course, babe! That's amazing!" she gushed, silently cursing herself. "So in reality, the different evolutions started in Johto but spread to Sinnoh?"
"Yes," Cheren confirmed, looking concerned. "Are you okay?"
"Tired," she lied, tearing her eyes away from his face. "I can't sleep when you're not here."
"Have a nap when we get home, then," Cheren replied, concentration crossing his face. "It's not your time, is it?" she nodded, causing him to sigh. "I see... well, I'm sorry. Let's go home." He took her hand and walked over to where N and White were in each other's arms by the window. Bianca felt sick as N's eyes met hers again. "White, we're going now."
"Okay," she replied, letting go of N and smiling at Cheren. It looked more and more forced each time she returned from her travels. "I'll be calling you later, then. Oh, and Bianca?" the blonde forced herself to look at her oblivious best friend.
"Yes?" she asked, guilt filling her as she stared at White. "You want me to update you if I get any readings from the tissue samples?" White nodded.
"Yeah. Cynthia knew little about the genetics in shiny Pokémon, but said to check the samples regardless..."
"She went the full mile. I told you it was pointless," commented Cheren. White sighed.
"Anything to help the PokéDex," she said after smiling at the tall professor near them. She beamed back at White.
"Absolutely right! We have a little more knowledge now, too. We'll start working again tomorrow."
"Sounds good," said Bianca, stealing yet another look at N. Had White and Cheren noticed the awkwardness between them? "I could try tonight as well if you'd like. Since you've been gone and all..."
"Only if you want, Bianca. At your own pace, remember?" Juniper squeezed her shoulder affectionately. "You're a hard worker. I'm glad to be working with you."
"Well... time to go," Alder said, voice booming in the airport. "Unless anyone has any questions?" he asked the observing audience crowded in the corner with a roll of his eyes.
"I have a question for the champion," one journalist said as she pushed through the crowd. Straightening her cap, she continued with, "So, did you discover the reason behind shiny Pokémon, White?"
"It's good to be home," White commented as she got into bed. Sliding the sheets over her bare legs and stomach, she sighed contentedly. "I missed our house."
"I know," N replied as he slid in next to her. "It missed you, too."
"You're a dork," his fiancée joked as she lay next to him. "My dork, though." N nodded and cuddled her awkwardly. It was strange cuddling a different woman after a month. Bianca and White had completely different builds. "Did you book the venue for our honeymoon?" Shit... what am I going to say? Clearing his throat awkwardly, he began with, "Well..." but got no further.
"No?"
"Sorry. It's just..." his voice trailed off again. White kissed his shoulder blade softly.
"I forgive you." he closed his eyes. "We have a lot to do. Do you still want to get married?" she blurted suddenly. N's eyes snapped open.
"What?" anxiety began to work its way into his body.
"You don't seem happy," White said quietly.
"I am happy, babe," N lied as smoothly as he could. "I love you."
"Only me?" he froze. "I'm sorry... that was a stupid question." He said nothing. "If you were cheating, though... you'd tell me, right?" she sounded vulnerable then. All the more reason to hate myself, he thought bitterly as he held her tighter.
Cheren couldn't sleep that night. He knew something was wrong, but he couldn't put his finger on what. Bianca had been acting strangely for a while now. The stammers, the blank looks, the flicking of her eyes... she was hiding something and wasn't telling him what it was.
And it's pissing me off, he thought angrily, punching his pillow. What could be so bad that she can't tell me? She was sleeping currently, curled in front of him. Affection filled him as he heard her breathe. Could she be pregnant? He wondered, sitting up suddenly as the thought hit him. Getting out of bed, he all but ran to the computer in the study.
"Come on, you stupid thing," he ranted, tapping the screen impatiently as the computer began loading up. "Hurry up..." he wasn't usually so rattled. This situation was eating at him. "Finally!" he proclaimed as the computer sat on its desktop menu.
Out in the lounge room, he could faintly hear an Xtransceiver ringing.
"Liepard, can you get that?" he asked tiredly. The leopard gracefully got to his feet and ran, returning with it in his mouth a couple of minutes later. "Thanks," Cheren said after taking it out, feeding him some poffins that he'd made in Sinnoh. Liepard purred deep in his chest and nuzzled his hand. Cheren frowned as he pressed a button.
N, the screen read.
Why did N call me? He thought, puzzled. Wrong number? Curious, he went into the recent call log, realizing that this was Bianca's. He, White, Alder, the Junipers, her parents and the director of Nimbasas's musicals had all called.
N had called her every day for the last month.
"Weird," he frowned, feeling a little jealous and concerned. Pressing another button, he went into the call. N appeared, looking tired.
"Bianca. I'm guessing you're still upset." Cheren nearly dropped the Xtransceiver. "I'm sorry. I didn't expect this to go so far. I have something to tell you," he continued, putting a hand to his face. "It's not really something I want to say over the Xtransceiver. Meet me at the cabin soon. I..." he started with hesitation, "fuck this," he muttered before speaking louder, "I'm not calling for sex." Cheren froze as a new realization hit him. With trembling fingers, he went through Bianca's call log again and began watching N's messages to her. By the third one, he'd thrown the Xtransceiver at the wall, punched the computer screen and scared his Pokémon.
"What's going on?" Bianca yawned, leaning on the door. Her hair was stuck out at all angles.
"What's this?" Cheren roared, pointing at the Xtransceiver. "What the fuck have you been doing with N?" She visibly paled.
"Cheren..." she was speechless.
"Answer me," Cheren commanded, unable to walk over and shake her like he wanted to. "ANSWER ME!" he yelled, feeling sick as tears welled up in her eyes.
"I'm sorry," she wept finally, dropping to her knees and confirming his worst thoughts. "I'm so sorry..."
"Don't touch me," he snarled, jumping to his feet. "We're done, you fucking whore. HOW COULD YOU?"
"Story of my life
Searching for the right
But it keeps avoiding me
Sorrow in my soul
Cause it seems like wrong really loves my company." –Unfaithful, Rihanna
The characters are a little OOC, but that's to represent the snowball effect that cheating has.