Being Second
an Egoshipping Fanfiction
by i need sleep

Chapter 12: The End of a Truce

Gary sighed, thinking to himself, there's only a couple of invitations left to go, come on, Gary. He imagined his cheerleaders standing in the background, pom poms waving around, chanting about his superiority at attaching ribbons to cardstock. His head was ducked down, close to the surface of the table. His eyes were straining slightly – being hunched over like this for around four hours this surely is not good.

Seven invitations to go, he thought, hope sparking up within him. Gary carefully laid down the ribbon on the last open border on the invitation he was finishing up. Admiring his handiwork, he slid it over to Tracey's side of the table and slid the next invitation on queue in front of him. With a pause, he cracked his knuckles and glanced up at the clock on the wall, hanging up over Misty's head. It was around seven o'clock. The entire group should be finished in around half an hour if they worked quickly.

The invitation in front of him still needed to dry (he didn't want to start sticking ribbons onto it while it was still sticky and prone to sliding around and wrinkling) so he reached for a carefully cut piece of parchment paper and pasted it on to another card. Now he had to wait for two invitations to dry.

He looked around to take advantage of the time. He needed to turn his head anyway, just to ease his stiff muscles. He thought he deserved the little break, but soon he resumed working away.

His prediction of finishing in half an hour had been wrong – they finished an hour later instead, making sure that every invitation was perfectly done and all the correct invitations were placed in the correct labelled envelopes. Misty had been quick in writing on the envelopes and the invitations neatly.

By the time they were finished, Mrs Ketchum had made dinner. The tired teenagers all dragged their feet over to the table and ate along with the adults, but didn't offer anything substantial to the jovial conversation Mrs Ketchum and Professor Oak were having. Finally they were sent off and they all lounged by the living room (now cleared of invitations and other rubbish) to rest.

Misty struggled to stifle a yawn, leaning back into the couch. "What time is it?" she asked Tracey, who sat next to her with eyes half-lidded. He shrugged at her, and it was Gary who replied with "Nine thirty."

She pulled herself forward and sat upright. "Well," she said, stretching out, "I think it's time for me to head home."

"How are you planning to head home?" asked Tracey, suddenly alert. "I mean, it's a little late to ride your bike back to Cerulean now, isn't it? Why don't you just stay here and just ride your bike back tomorrow morning?"

She didn't want to think about the bugs that may be lurking about Viridian forest, but she really did need to get home. She had a big day at the gym tomorrow – aside from the fact that there were a lot of fights booked up, she had received a letter from the Pokémon League that they would be sending a representative to gauge whether or not her gym was too difficult to overcome. She and her older sister had both agreed that Misty would probably be their best bet at passing the little Pokémon League test with flying colours, being the more capable trainer out of the both of them, and so she wanted to be prepared for all the trainers coming in.

"I'd love to," she said, "but I have to prepare for League evaluation tomorrow."

"League evaluation?" asked Gary, leaning forward to look at her. She nodded. It seemed to her like he wanted to hear more about it, so she obliged.

"They're going to send a League Evaluator to pose as a trainer to see whether or not Cerulean Gym is being too hard or too easy on trainers." She stood up and began to gather her things. "I'm fully booked tomorrow, so I can't really tell which one of the many trainers is the one to impress. It may be the first one, it may be the last one. Hey, Tracey, where did you park my bike?"

Gary stood up as well. "Don't worry about that," he said, brushing off imaginary lint from his lap. "I'll drive you home. Tracey can take your bike back to the gym tomorrow."

"I don't want to trouble you," she began, but was cut off by the Pokémon professor who began to shake and jangle his keys. "No, seriously, I'll be fine."

He raised an eyebrow at her before his eyes darted briefly to the clock over the TV. "Please," he said, "It'd be for everyone's peace of mind. And I really would like to drop you off, unless you prefer to spend time in the dark wondering whether or not that hairy thing on your shoulder is a bug or just your hair."

She visibly shuddered and Gary smirked inwardly. Personal victory. "Alright," she said, "You have convinced me. Let me just say goodbye to Mrs Ketchum."

He shrugged. "Alright," he said, making his way to the door. "I'll just be out front."

She made her way to the kitchen where Mrs Ketchum and Professor Oak stood close together by the sink, working on the dishes. She smiled to herself before clearing her throat, interrupting the hushed conversation the adults were having and making the both of them jump away from one another. Delia clutched at her chest in surprise, and Professor Oak was blushing red. "Misty?"

"I'll be off to the gym now," she said, "I just thought I'd say goodbye."

Delia walked over to her after drying her hands. She clasped Misty's shoulders and smiled widely at her. "Thank you for coming to help," she said, "how are you getting home though? It's too dark to ride your bike!" Her expression turned into one of concern.

Misty waved her worry off with a smile. "Gary's offered to take me home," she said, and Delia's eyes widened before they took on a more mischievous tone. She and Professor Oak exchanged brief glances. The gym leader blushed.

"Well, I'll see you some other time," said Delia, leading Misty out through the kitchen. Samuel waved goodbye from next to the sink. They walked past Tracey who was already softly snoring on the couch. "I should probably get going soon, too," the older woman muttered when they made it out the front door to be greeted by Gary, who merely smirked.

"I'm sure Gramps wouldn't mind you staying a little longer," he joked, before sliding into the car just as Misty did. "I'm sure he wouldn't mind you staying the night, too, while we're at it!"

Misty laughed as they rolled away slowly, with Delia waving her arms and just groaning, "Gary!" She let out a sigh and waved. "Drive safe!"

He countered with a grin, and, "Behave, you two!" just as his grandfather poked his head out the door. The pair settled into the car ride with impish grins and traces of laughter.

They rolled the windows of the car up as they got further away from the Oak mansion and was soon confronted with silence. Neither of them spoke until they were out of the town.

"Mrs Ketchum and Professor Oak make a wonderful pair," Misty said, easing into the seat of the convertible. The hum of the engine was quiet, and so was her conversation partner. Gary kept his gaze straight.

"They do," he said after a slight pause. "I think Mrs Ketchum will be good for gramps. They both need company, and she needs to keep him in line and make sure he takes care of himself and not get carried away by the research. He's getting old. He needs to take more breaks." He shook his head with a sigh. "My old man, unfortunately, keeps thinking he can still work as much as I do. It's not good for his health."

"I think it does run in the blood," Misty said, repeating her sentiment from that earlier afternoon. She was a little apprehensive, trying to bring the conversation back to something Gary felt somewhat strongly about, but she was pleased to see he merely chuckled in good-nature.

"I think it's an Oak thing," he said proudly and brimming with confidence, keeping his gaze on the road. "Just wanting to learn more about Pokémon."

Misty fidgeted in her seat slightly as silence fell upon them again. Gary kept his gaze forward, but his arm stretched out towards the radio's controls. "If you'd like, you can turn on the radio," he offered, not wanting his guest (of sorts) to be bored. He knew he wasn't really much of a conversational partner, preferring his actions to speak louder. From the corner of his eye, he could see her shaking her head and refusing his offer.

"Actually, I think this is nice," she said, "I've been meaning to ask you questions, anyway."

"I'm not dating anybody. I like mangoes, and my work out regime involves running with my Pokémon up and down the beach," he said suddenly, winking at her. The gym leader merely poked her tongue out at him. "You're telling me those weren't the answers you were looking for? That's what everyone else seems to ask."

"On magazines?" she stretched her legs out. "No, those weren't the answers I was looking for. I was actually going to ask about you."

"About me?"

"Yes, about how you have been," her mind wandered back to the conversation they had about his research, and his idea of there being another Eevee evolution that was still undiscovered. "Just…" she didn't really know how to bring up the topic again because it was so evident it was something Gary was a bit defensive about, but she was genuinely concerned. "In general."

"You want to talk about this afternoon?"

Misty's eyes widened, and she looked over to him, but he kept his eyes forward, seemingly avoiding her. Damn, he was perceptive. She suddenly remembered what he had told her that afternoon as well. Perhaps Misty was just easy to read. "Yes," she said, after a pause, trying to gauge whether or not he was angry.

He sighed. "Alright," he said, defeated. It was a tone of voice that Misty never thought she would ever hear from Gary, but there they were, in his car, driving to Cerulean City. "I've been trying to piece things together, but I know I'm just grasping at straws."

"You're a smart guy," she said, somewhat lamely. She didn't really know what else to say – she had said everything she thought she needed to that afternoon. "I'm sure you'll figure something out."

He ran a hand through his hair, before placing it back on the wheel. She could see his fist clench. "I've been trying, Misty," he said, softly. "But I'm starting to think it is impossible."

"I believe in you."

Gary's lips quirked up into a little smile. The gym leader took in a deep breath, surprised at how real her confession (of sorts) had been. She really did have faith in Gary. "You trust your instincts, Gary Oak, and it'll get you somewhere."

"You're probably the only one who believes in me," he revealed, and her brows puckered.

"What about Professor Oak?" Surely the old man has faith in his grandson.

He chuckled bitterly. "He doesn't," he said, "He hasn't told me directly, yet. I've been waiting for him to for a while now, but I can tell from the way he tries to steer the conversation away from my theories when I bring them up that he doesn't believe I'd find anything either." Gary let out a sigh – it felt pretty good to get that off his chest, actually. "I've resorted to not telling him anything anymore."

That surely must put a strain in their relationship, Misty thought. But she was surprised to hear that Professor Samuel Oak did not share Gary's enthusiasm in searching for a new Eevee evolution. She didn't know what to feel for him. She was sure the proud man next to her didn't want her pity.

They sat in strained silence before Misty chose to speak up again. "Well, I still believe you're going to find something. Like I said," she picked at a bit of thread that stuck out from the hem of her shirt, "Eevee are extremely versatile. It'll be a big mistake to just dismiss that line as that. You'll find something, I can feel it. You just need the right push."

He remained quiet, not wanting to tell her that he was finding it difficult to believe her. Why would she, anyway? There was no need for her to say nice things about him, hence why he was suspicious. Was she going to go and tell Ash about his insecurity?

He shook the thoughts out his head, and decided to steer the conversation away from the topic of his research. Instead, he brought up the gym. "Enough of that gloom and doom," he said, dismissively, before throwing her a smile. "How is the gym?"

Misty decided to get off the topic as well, sensing her companion's discomfort. "The gym has been doing well," she said, gaze attracted for a few, brief moments, at the lights the flickered past. "I haven't gotten in trouble yet, so I think I've been doing well."

"Your sister helps you run the gym, right?" Gary asked, remembering the blonde woman who eyed him with an amused glint in her eyes when he and Mrs Ketchum had stayed the night at the gym. "Daisy, right?" He grinned. "You know, my older sister's also named Daisy."

"I didn't know that, actually," Misty said, "but I heard she's a designer?"

He nodded. "She's known as May Oak. She's usually busy travelling, and I haven't seen her in a while, but she seems happy. Anyway." He cleared his throat. "Daisy Waterflower."

"Don't you dare," Misty said, "she's with Tracey."

Gary raised an eyebrow. "I know," he said, confused. "I was just asking if she helps with the gym?" he remembered her from his days as a trainer, and how he had defeated her and the other two members of the Sensational Sisters without any issues.

Misty sighed. "She tries," she said, putting it as kindly as she could, "but she's not really fond of battling. She prefers watching battles, rather than participating in them." She gave him a sly look. "You'd know, wouldn't you?"

He snickered. Yes, he would. Images of the Sensational Sisters grumbling in defeat flashed in his mind's eye. Memories from the days back when he was an arrogant, young trainer, parading around with his cheerleading squad. He inwardly cringed.

"But she makes an effort now," Misty continued, not noticing the Pokémon researcher cringing next to her, "and she actually manages to defeat trainers every once in a while. I lend her some of my Pokémon as well." She smiled absently. "I think Tracey helps her occasionally. I hope we didn't lose too many badges today, what with me and Tracey being away."

"I'm sure your Pokémon would be able to guide her somehow," he said. "How about your other two sisters?"

Misty ticked off her other two sisters with her fingers. "After Daisy, it's Violet, and she's happily married." She placed a stress on the word 'married', making Gary confused. "She comes by occasionally, but she doesn't battle much, if at all. She's moved out from home." Misty grinned at Gary, "Though my other sister, Lily," she winked, "she's free and single. Travels a lot."

"Are you trying to set me up with your sister?"

There was a guarded look in her eyes. "Yes," she replied, although it came off more as a question. "Isn't that why you're asking?"

"No?"

She looked surprised. "Oh," she said, biting her lip and looking sheepish, "sorry. Usually, guys ask about my sisters then they lead off to, 'so are they single?'" she said, in a mocking tone of voice. Gary let out a loud laugh. "The responses are sort of automatic."

"No, I was asking because I was genuinely curious," he replied. "Do you really get asked that often?"

"Yes," she huffed, before shrugging. "But what can we do? They're the Sensational Sisters. Back when they used to do shows more often, people from all over Kanto would flock the gym and watch them." She glared at nothing. "You have no idea how much fan mail I had to sort through before I could find actual, official letters from the League."

"I can only imagine. How about the youngest one?" Gary said suddenly, surprising Misty. She counted them off one by one on her fingers. Sensational Sisters meant Daisy, Violet, and Lily. Then there's her, the Sensational Runt. "Aren't there four Waterflower sisters?"

"Ha, ha," she said sardonically. "No one asks about the last one, mainly because no one remembers she's related to the rest of them."

"Well," Gary said, humouring her, "since you seem to be so well acquainted with the Waterflowers, why don't you tell me how the youngest one is going?" He gave her a wink and she rolled her eyes at him.

"She's fine," was all she said, but he raised an eyebrow at her, turning his attention away from the road for a few brief moments to watch her frown at him. "Seriously."

He smiled. "Doesn't sound like it."

"Seriously," she repeated, softer now. "She's fine."

He looked forward. "Didn't she used to travel as well?" he asked, turning the heat down. He wanted to prod Misty into revealing more. She usually turned the conversations around to be about him, so he wanted to turn the tables around for once and hear about how she was going. He didn't think he could get much out of her, so he decided to continue with his strange, roundabout approach.

She took the bait and replied with, "Yes, she did, but responsibility called." She was turned to face the window, watching as more and more lights flickered past. They were getting closer to the gym. "She'd love to travel more, but the gym needs a caretaker and no one else could do the job better." She shrugged.

He nodded slowly. "That's a shame, but a skilled gym leader is a very valuable asset to the Pokémon League so I doubt they'd let her go."

She grinned at the compliment, face burning. She didn't get many of them; not when her sisters are around and people could easily compliment them as being tall, graceful, and beautiful – qualities one can easily pick up on at first glance. "Thanks."

"No problem."

They stopped in front of the gym and Misty turned to unlock her seatbelt. She looked over at Gary before asking him, "Why don't you come inside for coffee?" She continued to sit there, staring at him. "I'd hate to send you out this late, it would be for my peace of mind to give you coffee to wake you up even a little."

He shrugged. He was fine, but if she was offering, why not? "Okay," he said, "Let me just park the car."

She nodded and hopped out, before walking around the gym and waving him along. He snailed on behind her, and maneuvered his car to park it neatly in the spot she had pointed to just behind the gym. He stepped out the car, locked it, and pocketed the keys, following Misty who led them through a door at the back of the gym.

"I'm home!" she said aloud, as they entered the warm kitchen. He heard a pattering of footsteps and suddenly, the eldest of the Sensational Sisters appeared through the doorframe, tackling her younger sister and wrapping her in a tight hug. She didn't seem to take notice of Gary, who merely watched awkwardly from where he stood by the door.

"Misty," Daisy was somewhat breathless. "I only lost four out of seven battles today." The blonde's face glowed with pride, stepping back and pushing her chest out like a hero from a movie. She noticed Gary standing behind her sister and she donned a cunning expression and elbowed Misty. "Well, you didn't tell me you were inviting someone over. I would've tidied up and made my own plans for the night. Hello, Gary."

He nodded in acknowledgement. "Good evening, Daisy."

She winked at her younger sister whose face turned a bright shade of red. "Daisy," she hissed, "He's only here for coffee."

Daisy's eyes took on a more playful glint. "Oh, I see," she sung, "Coffee." She laughed as her younger sister began to fume. "Well, I'll leave you two to it," she said, waving them off as she made her way back out. "Don't be too loud!"

Misty ran after her sister and screeched from the door. "He dropped me off from Pallet town, and I'm just making him coffee to keep him awake on the drive back!" she yelled after her older sister, who merely replied with a loud laugh and a disbelieving, "Sure!"

Misty turned back to her guest, whose face also adopted a bright shade of pink. "Sorry," she muttered, standing awkwardly by the door and looking at her feet. "That's, uh, Daisy." She looked up and ran towards the sink. "Why don't you have a seat?" she said, gesturing towards the kitchen table. "I'll make you coffee. How do you like it?"

"One sugar," Gary said, "thanks."

They waited for the water to boil in obstinate silence. "Your sister's… something."

Misty laughed. "She is." She pulled two mugs out from one of the cupboards and ran them under the tap to rinse them. "Out of my three other sisters, I get along with Daisy the best." She wiped them down. "She has the worst sense of humour – she actually laughs at Tracey's puns – but she doesn't make mean jokes about me."

"Your other sisters do?"

"Yeah," she said, "That's what older sisters do, right?"

The auburn haired male thought back to the times he spent growing up with his older sister, Daisy, after their parents' death and smiled fondly, "I guess. Maybe it's just a 'Daisy' thing."

"Does your sister also have an awful sense of humour?"

Gary frowned at the air at that. "I guess," he said, "she's a little slow on the uptake with some jokes, but she picks up puns surprisingly well. She's really proud of that, for some reason. Calls it her special talent."

She poured the hot water into the mugs and made coffee for the both of them, the delicious aroma making them breathe in deeply. "Sisters are just strange."

He took his mug and raised it in mock toast. "Yes, yes," he took a sip. "Here's to sisters."

They both laughed softly to themselves, and Misty marvelled at how much she seemed to laugh in his company. "You know, you're actually a nice guy."

He paused from taking his sip of coffee. "That sounds like the beginning of a drunk speech. You didn't spike these, did you?" he asked, raising the mug to her attention, and she kicked his leg under the table. "Jeez, if you'd kicked me like that before, I wouldn't have needed to come down for coffee."

Immediately aware of how unladylike she was acting Misty quickly retracted. "Sorry," she said, but he could tell from her tone of voice that she was anything but. He smirked, watching her bristle. "But seriously, you're a nice guy."

"You're not half bad, yourself."

"Tell you what," she leaned into the table and locked eyes with him. "Let's end the truce."

He frowned in confusion. "Truce?" What truce?

"You know, our truce to get along with one another for Ash's party?" she glared, jogging his memory. He took another sip of his coffee and shrugged. "I think we can end it, because I think I consider you as a friend now."

"Really?" he said, excitement rising. He didn't really have many friends, so the idea of making a new one excited him. Misty was pretty easy for him to talk to, and now that they had both matured, they weren't really at each other's throats anymore. At least, not like they used to be. He enjoyed the little barbs they would exchange, and liked the female's company. "I… wouldn't mind that."

She stretched her arm out. "Alright," she shook his hand firmly. "Friends."

"Friends."

Author's Note: What's this? An update in under a week? Man, you guys are getting spoiled. Mainly because I'm trying to see if I can finish this fanfic before the semester starts again in twenty or so days! And partly because I've been on the roll as of late! Chapter 13, Fashion Present will hopefully be done next week. Thanks for taking the time to read!