Chapter 6 early. We spoil you.

Maybe if you guys reviewed a bit more we'd write more! ;D ok maybe not and I hate it when writers beg for reviews but... it's always really appreciated and it keeps us motivated~!

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N had drifted off in a dazed slumber, and it was not until he heard tree branches snap under footsteps did he snap out of it. He saw Black above him, fully clothed, his face skewed in a look of agonized restraint. It was as if he'd burst into tears at any moment.

"N," he began, his voice wavering but still strong. "We have to talk about something."

The green-haired boy sighed softly as he felt his pokemon's arm around him tighten as if to protect him.

"N, I want to help you. You're obviously in a lot of pain, and it kills me to see you look at me like I'm a monster. Please. I want to know what I can fix. I will do anything, just please... help me understand what's wrong."

N shook his head. "I don't want to tell you."

Black knelt down. "But I can't stand this! I can't stand not knowing how I hurt you!"

"You don't want to hurt me?" The monotony with which N asked this made Black wonder if he would even believe him if he said no.

Letting out a quiet sigh, Black folded his legs beneath him and stared down at his hands. "Last year.. I knew that to keep you from making the mistake of separating humans and pokemon I would have no choice but to hurt you. Even though I didn't want to, if that was what it took to free your heart, then I would do it without regret. The first and last time I would ever willingly hurt you. And I don't regret it."

N's hands came up to cover his ears as tears spilled out from tightly shut eyes. Noticing this, Black reached forward and pulled his wrists away, ignoring the warning growl from Daru.

"But it's not the same as whatever Ghetsis did to you, N. I'm not like him. Sometimes you have to hurt the one you love for their own good, but he... the things he did, keeping you in that room, and whatever else– He was no different from the trainers you hated."

N's eyes were once again welling up with tears as he heard his father's name mentioned, his arms trembling similar to last time in Black's grasp. He took ragged breaths as he opened his mouth to speak. It took a few moments before he was able to make himself spit out the words.

"Black... he... he hurt... me..." And with that, N broke down into sobs. Black let go of his wrists, bringing him to his chest and embracing him tightly as he cried into his shirt. As powerless as it made him feel, Black could only hold him as he broke down. He stroked the soft hair of the back of his head; he was almost afraid to touch him too much, as if that would somehow break him further. N felt so fragile in his arms.

"I'm so sorry, Black! I'm so sorry...! I'm sorry I'm so defective... I'm just so-"

"Shh," Black whispered soothingly in his ear. "N, you are not defective. Calm down. It's okay. You're okay, N. Remember when you told me that in the river? You're fine. You don't have to worry anymore."

"But it's not true! I was lying! I'm a liar, just like he was...!"

Black felt his heart darken when he heard N speak about his father. This was so obviously the issue; it had been obvious to him for quite some time. But just how deeply these wounds ran was not. It truly sickened him to think of such things, but he knew he had to find out the extent of it all. Just how scarring this mysterious past of his really was.

But there would be better times for that. Now, all he could do was comfort him.

"If you want to tell me, or to talk about anything.. I'll listen."

"I don't know what you'll think of me." N's fingers were curled tightly in Black's shirt, but he did not resist as the other gently guided his face up so their eyes could meet.

"I'll only ever love you, N." Black reassured him. "That's what it means to love. No matter what you say or do, that won't change." He stroked N's cheek gently, wiping away tears. If asked, now or any time in the future, what he was feeling in that moment, he would never be able to put it in words. It was an intimacy Black had no idea could be felt. N was beautiful and fragile and slowly relaxing in his arms, and he did not flinch as Black leaned forward very carefully and brushed their lips together. Just a simple touch.

When Black pulled away, N's cheeks were dusted with pink, and the distrust was melting away from his eyes. After a long moment of struggling with his hitched breath, he cupped Black's face in his hands.

"Do you promise not to hurt me?" His whisper was barely audible, but they were so close that Black could feel the vulnerable plea against his skin.

"I promise you."

Nodding slightly, N accepted Black's next kiss and let himself be pulled closer until their chests were pressed together. Black held him with the utmost care, kissing him as well as his very limited experience would allow, and fought to keep himself from getting carried away. Even as he told himself this, when they broke away for air his mouth instantly traveled down to N's neck, hungrily tasting his skin.

N whimpered, but did not pull away. He was frightened, but his trust in Black's word and the warmth he felt wherever their bodies touched kept him in place, gripping the other's shoulders almost too tight. "Black..."

Black nibbled softly at the pale expanse of the boy's neck, planting kisses as he traveled up delicate curves until he reached N's ear. The warm breath against his skin was so stimulating; the soothing feeling began to drain as N noticed the growing erection in his own pants. He shifted a bit, uncomfortable, until he accidentally felt the brush of Black's painfully hard member against his own.

"Ahh, Black! Please, no more...!" he cried as he pulled away, suddenly feeling very uneasy with the situation. Black only smiled warmly and laced his fingers between N's, and he quickly calmed down. As much as he wished to keep going, to continue exploring what he had dreamed of for so long, he knew taking this slowly would be their best option.

"That's fine, N. I'm sorry if I scared you."

Much to Black's surprise, N smiled at him, his face flushed a bright pink.

"No, it's fine. I... I enjoyed it. Thank you, Black."

Black could only smile back at the boy, softly squeezing the delicate hand laced with his.

There was hope, after all.

"Okay, N! Are you ready to go?" Black asked as he suddenly stood up, dragging N up with him.

"Umm... that is fine, but where are we going?" The younger boy grabbed his bag and N's and threw them both over his shoulder, then began walking back towards which he had originally came. N, still holding his hand, was yanked with him, forced to walk quickly as Black attempted to run.

"Let's go to Icirrus City! It shouldn't be too far, if we're on the mountain I think we're on... I've got some more training to do. Last time I heard from Cheren he was around there somewhere. You should meet him!"

"O-Okay, just... can we slow down? I'm still kind of tired from before..."

Black laughed and stopped, letting go of N's hand.

"Sorry, N! I'm just excited. We can take as long as you need."

Black looked up at N's face, which still held the same sincere smile from before. Much to his surprise, N bent down and gave him a small kiss on the forehead. Black's face went red and he fought back an enamoured giggle.

"Thank you, Black." N took a few steps in front of him, then turned back around to face the younger boy. "You know, I never noticed how small you are."

Black pouted, snapping out of his daze. N seemed to have changed so much in such a short amount of time. He hoped it would last forever, but he knew there would be challenges ahead. Still, this playful side of him just made him feel more smitten. Perhaps the key to his healing would be to wait for these displays of affection, rather than always initiating them.

It would be hard, but they would be worth waiting for, he assured himself.

"Have you ever thought that maybe you're just too big?" he snapped back. N's face lit up as he laughed, and Black suddenly became thankful that despite his oddities, N still had an almost-normal sense of humor.

The two boys headed towards civilization, a tranquil feeling now light in the air. Things felt like they were getting better, and Black could only hope that things would continue this way.