The next morning, as Black and N cleaned themselves up and got dressed, Black had the difficult task of making N promise that he would act as though nothing had happened last night. N did not understand why this was so important, but he promised solemnly.
"Thank you," Black whispered gratefully as he kissed N. As he was about to crawl out of the tent, however, N wrapped his arms around his waist and pressed his face into Black's stomach.
"You're not ashamed of being with me, are you?" he mumbled.
Wincing, Black patted N's head. "No, that's not it at all. It's just a private thing, ok? Humans are very private about.. about mating. It's hard to explain..."
N nodded slowly and released Black. "I'll trust you."
As the boy stepped outside, he saw Cheren packed up, fully dressed and ready to leave. His arms were crossed as they typically were, but when Black made eye contact, he turned slightly red and looked away.
"Sorry if you've been waiting, Cheren. N and I are kind of late sleepers." Cheren fought back a chuckle to himself. Of course you'd be sleeping in late, considering what you two were doing last night... he fought all urges to blurt such things out. The thought of the topic coming up almost made him blush harder. He just wanted to pretend it didn't happen and continue on.
"It's fine. Let's just go. I haven't spoken to Alder since my Xtransciever broke. He might be wondering about me."
"Right." Black nodded and looked back at N. "Are you ready?"
N got up from where he had been chatting amiably with a nearby Foongus. "Yes, I'm ready!"
As they headed out, Black breathed a silent sigh of relief. He did not think that Cheren knew about their activities in the tent, and so long as he could keep his two stubborn friends away from each others' throats, they may just be able to enjoy this last leg of their journey.
The three boys approached the entrance to the cave to Victory Road, N stopped. Black noticed him chewing on his lip nervously as he stared into the darkness.
"What's wrong, N?" N shrank back slightly, rubbing his arm in a nervous tic.
"Can't we just fly up the side of the cave?" he began quickly, his words jumbling up as they left his mouth, barely understandable. "The cave is just so long, and I don't really feel like walking so much, and the pokemon in there may not be as friendly as the ones out here that I'm used to talking to, so it might be awkward, and... and it's so... dark..." Black sighed and put his hand into the other boy's, holding tightly.
"The winds are way too strong up here, N. It wouldn't be safe to fly up. Are you afraid of the dark or something?" Black felt his hand squeezed firmly as N looked away, ashamed.
"Y-Yes..." he squeaked, almost inaudibly. The other boy smiled warmly; Cheren was growing impatient and leaned against a cobbled wall. It was so early, and he was being difficult already...
"It's okay, N! I'll hold your hand the whole time. I know you like holding my hand. And Cheren has a Litwick. I'm sure it'll brighten the cave up plenty! Is that okay?" A slight grin extended over the taller boy's face. His caring nature was addictive.
"Okay..." he nodded, and Cheren rolled his eyes.
"Can we please go now?" he implored, tired of this romantic display in front of him. Never before had he seen this devoted side of Black. It was much too banal for him, to the point where it made him uncomfortable.
N lingered as close to Black as possible as they walked through the damp cave system. Though it was sad to see him so on edge, Black could not help but think it was also quite adorable.
Cheren's Litwick left its trainer's shoulders and floated over to N, cooing cheerfully as it noticed his fear.
Smiling, N held up his free hand for it to land in and giggled at whatever it said. Black noticed that Cheren looked a little miffed, but said nothing.
"Cheren, your Litwick told me you are scared of the dark, too. Why didn't you tell me? I'm glad to know I'm not the only one!" N's voice had a slight mocking tone to it, however unintentional it was.
"What?" he bellowed, his voice echoing off the sides of the cave. "No, that's not true at all! Litwick, if you don't stop, you're going back into you're pokeball!" N took the creature from his shoulders and wrapped an arm around it.
"Don't yell at him!" N cried back, hugging it tightly. "Don't make him go back in that... that thing. It's cruel! And then, it would be dark, and we'd both be scared again..."
Cheren was fuming, horribly embarrassed for such a secret to be revealed. The thought of Black thinking less of him panged at his heart, the reason at the time unclear to him. His frustration was cooled when Black turned around and smiled at him.
"Don't worry about it, Cheren," he assured him. "I'm not too fond of it, either."
Cheren opened his mouth to try to defend his pride, but Black waved away any retort. "Come on, let's just all get along. You two don't have to fight about every little thing, ok?" He gave them both stern looks.
N nodded meekly, and Cheren huffed, turning away. Everyone jumped when booming laughter suddenly filled the cave.
"Looks like you have your hands full, Black!" An older man with wild red hair was coming down the stairs nearby, a big grin on his face.
"Alder!" Cheren said in surprise.
Unova's Champion chuckled and gave the young trainer's head a pat. "Good to see you again, boy!" His expression faltered slightly when he noticed N. "Ah.. N Harmonia. You've come back, have you?"
Black glanced at his lover to see the tall boy had pulled himself up to his full height, his regal facade firmly back in place. "At Black's request."
"Really now? An interesting premise, indeed! A friend of Black's is always welcome to the pokemon league. Is that where you three are headed?" Black shrugged.
"N and I aren't really going anywhere in particular, just thought we'd tag along with Cheren. We might stop by N's old castle later." Alder gave a concerned look for a moment before smiling brightly and turning away.
"Still not ready to challenge me, ehh? No matter! You are still welcome to follow me back! I've just been exploring a bit. Not many takers for the spot of champion lately, you see. Come on, I'll make you boys something to eat!"
The three hurriedly accepted Alder's hospitality as they followed him through the caves, Cheren and N feeling much safer now that the man was present to quell their fears. It was not long until they saw sunlight once more.
Visibly relaxing now that he was out of the cave, N went to the edge of the steep ravine and looked across the vast view of Unova.
"Lovely, isn't it?" Alder said to him.
"It's still so amazing to me," N murmured almost absently. "That the world can be so big. So real. I could just reach out and touch it... I never imagined it to be like this. I don't ever want to live inside a box again." He turned to Black. "I won't have to, will I? Not everyone lives inside a house... right?"
Though he felt a little uncomfortable saying something so intimate in front of others, Black nodded. "We don't necessarily need to live in a house. We can just keep traveling and stay in a tent if that's what you want. I don't mind camping at all."
Alder chuckled. "Take it from me, boys. Camping is the way to live. But for now, you're all welcome inside the Champion's villa for dinner!"
Cheren and Alder continued on up the road, but for a few more moments, the other two stayed where they were.
"You really mean that? You would go that far just for me?" N asked, looking almost awed.
"Of course." Making sure that no one was looking, Black quickly leaned up for a kiss. "Because I love you, you know. Now come on, let's go."
Alder made tea as he heated a large bowl of stew on his stove, the smell of vegetables and spices filling the home. The other three boys sat rather quietly at the low table in his adjacent dining room. They sipped on glasses of water while they waited.
"Black," N whispered to ensure Alder didn't overhear. "Do you think Alder is making us sweet rolls?" Cheren pretended he did not hear him; Black bit back a laugh.
"No, N... he's making us something good! Not everything has to be sweet, you know. Be sure to eat it all, okay? It's polite." N pouted childishly at his lack of promise. The brown-haired boy wondered how N could live only on sweet foods.
Alder came in shortly after, carrying bowls and returning once more with hot tea. He grinned as he sat down with the boys.
"Okay, you three! This is one of my favorites. Fresh ingredients, right from the top of this mountain we're on! Marshall has a garden behind his villa, but don't let him know I told you. He wouldn't be too pleased. Likes to keep up the tough-guy act, you know. Go on, don't be shy! Try it!"
"It's good!" N exclaimed after drinking some of the thick strew.
"Does it have pokemon meat in it, may I ask?" Cheren joked snidely. Alder laughed, but N grew very pale.
"Cheren!" Black snapped before turning to N, who looked ready to be sick. "He was joking, N! Joking! None of this is pokemon meat. Right, Alder?"
"Of course not!" Alder was still chuckling a bit. "Though some would argue that pokemon meat is a delicacy, I just can't even bring myself to try it. Pokemon are friends, they aren't meant to be eaten by us."
"Don't even assume that Alder would eat pokemon meat." Cheren looked offended by the very thought. "Only villains would do something so horrendous. Obviously I was joking."
"See?" Black was relieved to see colour return to N's face.
N nodded slowly. "Good. That's good."
After Alder had quickly finished his meal, he tapped Black on the shoulder, motioning to the hallway.
"Black, would you mind if I had a word with you?" he asked, his voice more stern than the other boy was used to.
"Umm, yeah, sure. I'll be right back, guys." As the two left the table, Cheren looked over at N, who was cheerfully eating his food without a word.
"Black," Alder stated as he closed the door to the room they had entered behind him. "I want to talk to you about something." Black sat down on a side chair, sighing nervously.
"Is it about N?" he asked, expecting as much. Alder, too, sighed as he leaned against the wall, crossing his arms.
"Black, I don't know why you've decided to travel with him. I'm sure you have your reasons, but it might be uns-"
"I love him," he blurted out, his expression unwavering. Alder's eyes widened.
"Is that what this is about? 'Love?' My goodness, I don't know what to say to that..." The older man put his hand to his chin, reflecting deeply.
"I know it might sound ridiculous to you, but that's how I feel," the boy explained. "It probably makes no sense... falling for someone so unlike anyone else. But I can't help what I feel." A slight, unexpected grin widened over Alder's face and he chuckled.
"No, no, I won't question your feelings. It doesn't matter how ridiculous it sounds to others, if it feels right. I just... I can't help but worry for you." Black stood up out of his chair quickly and scowled. He had struck a nerve. He opened his mouth to speak, but Alder waved his hand.
"Calm down," he said simply. "I just wanted to give you advice, from experience, and you can choose to accept it or ignore it. Either way, Black, you have to know that that boy has some dark secrets. Some people are damaged or distant, and as hard as it is to resist being drawn to them, you just have to be careful. I don't want to see you getting hurt, is all."
"Thank you for your concern. But I won't get hurt." Black sighed. "N is the one... you should be worried about. He's harmless, but he's also defenseless. He puts on this charade of being strong and aloof, but he's so sensitive and innocent." He shook his head. "It's not something you could understand."
"I understand that he is that man's son, and that's enough to be able to fit the pieces together, I should think." Noticing Black's confused look, he elaborated. "I knew Ghetsis for a while when we were both about N's age. It took me much too long to admit it to myself, but even then he was a monstrous sociopath. Imagining him raising a child... well, the result is right before us. But that's also why I'm concerned. Suffering at the hands of that man all his life... N can't have come away from it as innocent as you think. And some things are just genetic."
Black stared at him for a moment, startled at what the man was implying. Most people who came in contact with N just thought him to be a bit odd or naive, but Alder was certainly not fooled. He couldn't help but ask...
"Alder... why do you think-" The boy corrected himself. Denying this any longer would be stupid of him. "How do you know these things?"
Alder sighed. "Like I said, I knew his father when we were young. And that man has only proven himself to be more inhumanly evil as time goes by." Rubbing his chin, he began to pace around the room. "I don't want to burden you with my musings, but if you intend to be with N, perhaps it's best you know as much as you can."
Black felt an odd creeping in his stomach, and realized he had began gripping the arms of the chair tight enough to hurt his fingers. "Like what..?"
"Well, for one thing, N really does know nothing of the real world. How it works and how to live in it. The model of reality in his head is what Ghetsis specifically shaped and put in there. And Ghetsis.. brilliant man though he is, is nothing short of insane. N may seem fine right now, though a little off, but that doesn't mean that something insignificant to us couldn't set him off into a horrible misunderstanding." Alder stopped and turned to Black. "Boy, I can see how much you love him. And I don't want to get between you two. It was always obvious that you had a wonderful effect on him, and I'm sure you're nothing short of an angel in his life. But don't forget where he comes from, nor the man who raised him. That's not a stain that will ever wash out."
Nodding slowly, Black had to admit he had a point. "I realize that. But I'll deal with whatever comes."
Their eyes met for a long moment, and in the end, Alder nodded. "You're a strong boy, of that much I'm certain. Just don't let this run you down. You're young still, with your whole life ahead of you."
Black chuckled and stood up. "I'm not sure anymore if you sound like Cheren or Cheren sounds like you."
Alder laughed and slapped Black's back. "Oh, that boy. I think I can see how you got to be so grounded, growing up with an old wife like him!"
The comment made the boy laugh as he left the room. He greatly appreciated Alder's honesty, almost more so the light air he carried with him. It was a nice contrast to Cheren's intensity, and N's... well, guileless attitude towards everything. As much as he loved him, it could be tiring to keep up with at times...
Returning to the dining room to find Cheren and N heatedly discussing physics, Black sat back down as Alder collected the bowls.
"Would any of you like dessert?" Alder asked with a large grin. "Shauntal made us all cake, but there is no way I can eat all of-"
"Me!" N cheered as he raised his hand. "I'd like some, please!"
Black sighed contently. Despite those many moments where the older boy was sobbing into his arms or asking him loaded questions, these little moments where N was happy weighed much more heavily in his mind. They certainly weren't common, but somehow, this just made them slightly more sweet. He would heed the advice of those around him. But that feeling he got, that indescribable fluttering in his chest when he saw N smile... there was no way he could even consider abandoning him.
Somehow, that smile made it all worth it to him.