Pairing: NxBlack
Author's Note: What is this? An update? Oh gosh, I'm super sorry for disappearing on you all, haha. On the bright side, summer vacation is almost here and I'll try my best to post a few stories up then! Anyways, here - have a multichapter! (What? A multichapter? Really?)
Black has never been one to talk much. He finds it hard to put his thoughts into words, to give them meaning the rest of the world can understand. He likes to think, but he's not sure he thinks in words; rather, his thoughts are in colours, in shapes, feelings, sounds, sensations that only he understands. So, he stays quiet. He hangs back and watches as others around him talk and argue, laugh and gossip. And when they look at him, he just smiles and motions at them to go on. He plays with the collar of his shirt and stares out the window.
xxx
He's minding his own business when he bumps into a tall stranger with long, green hair. They don't say anything, just nod apologies, and part ways. Later, Black finds he can't get the other out of his head.
xxx
There's some sort of commotion going on in the center of Accumula Town and Black watches from the edge of the crowd, hearing, but not really processing the words. Cheren's confused; Black can hear him mumbling to himself under his breath. Cheren talks things out when he doesn't understand them - Black just muses them over silently. And then, that stranger is there again. For some reason, the brunette finds himself looking down at his feet to avoid eye contact, but Cheren's started talking to him. His name is N.
"He's nuts," Cheren remarks as the other leaves. Black just shrugs back in response, his eyes following that white shirt until he's gone.
Somewhere along the way, he finds out about Team Plasma. He's not sure he wants to part with his Pokemon. Maybe they're unhappy, but Black is... Black is lonely. Is that so wrong? That night, he stares at his Pokeballs listlessly and wonders about rights and wrongs. He releases his Snivy and the small grass Pokemon curls up on the pillow next to him, murmuring contentedly. He falls asleep soon after.
xxx
N talks about liberation, about heroes and legendary Pokemon. Black still doesn't understand, and he just shakes his head, asking silently with his eyes. The older male looks at him and smiles.
"I... want to see things no one can see. The truths of Pokemon inside Pokeballs. The ideals of how Trainers should be. And a future where Pokemon have become perfect... Do you feel the same?"
Black honestly doesn't know what to say, so he nods. Affirmation seems to be the way to go in this situation. They battle and Black watches N, memorizing the way he moves. The other's fingers are long, pale and graceful; he knows what he's doing. The brunette just watches. After the battle, his Snivy gives a humph of victory and turns to him for praise. Black smiles and pats her head as she smiles contentedly. This time, N is the one watching him, and Black wonders what he's thinking. We'll be friends, the other says, and then he leaves. Black is always the one being left behind.
xxx
The amusement park is full of flashing lights and laughing children. The brunette silently follows after N, weaving through throngs of happy families, then gets into the Ferris wheel with him. He listens to N talk, never taking his eyes off of the green-haired male. The carriage stops at the top and he finally looks away to watch a stray balloon drift by.
"I am the king of Team Plasma."
Black doesn't turn around. He doesn't move. He's not really sure what to think, what to do, what to say. He thinks things over. He wonders. As the carriage starts to move again, he turns around and asks silently with his eyes, and N looks uncertain. They battle again, and Black is so tired of fighting and not understanding. As the older male leaves, the brunette reaches out and their hands brush lightly. Their eyes meet briefly. I don't understand. N hesitates, and then he slips out of reach.
xxx
"If your conviction is not strong enough, you will never be able to defeat me."
N is right, Black thinks. Because N understands, N knows what he wants, and Black is still thinking things out as connects imaginary lines between the nighttime stars and makes shapes. The wind is blowing gently through the trees. He likes the way the leaves rustle and whisper to each other. If only he could understand what they were saying. He opens his mouth, as if he's going to say something, but then he changes his mind. After all, there's nobody there to hear him, even if he did say something. Cheren would know what to do. Bianca would know what to do. Black just doesn't want to be alone. He falls asleep, dreaming of emerald eyes.
xxx
When they meet again in Chargestone Cave, Black isn't sure what to do. He's scared, he's tired. Everything is moving too fast. There's too much to take in. Somehow, N makes his chest feel tight. They stand in silence for a moment as Black avoids eye contact.
"Do you have a dream of your own?"
Somehow, Black's head moves on his own, and he nods. His own actions surprise himself. N looks at him and the brunette can't read the emotions in his eyes, so he tells himself that he gave the right answer. Their fingers brush again, but this time, he holds on a little longer. His chest tightens again and he hides a blush.
N is angry when he leaves. Professor Juniper just shakes her head in the way adults do as Bianca stands back a little, looking shocked.
xxx
They bump into each other outside the Mistralton Gym and Black is reminded of their first meeting. N talks about things Black doesn't really understand, things about the Light Stone and the Dark Stone, about visions and liberation. Then, he turns to leave, and Black reaches out and grabs his hand. Don't go, he wants to say, but his mouth isn't good at forming words. N seems to understand anyways, and he twines their fingers together and pulls him along. Black likes the way their hands seem to fit together perfectly.
xxx
Black still doesn't understand the things N says. He just knows he feels empty and he tries to reach out, but the older male always manages to slip through his grasp.
To be continued.
Yes, yes, I know, I lied, and this is pretty much just a compilation of many little drabbles. But hey - they're chronological. Anyways, I'd love to hear your thoughts, so please review. You have no idea how happy that little review-alert-email makes me.
Edit: Ok. So, apparently, this site doesn't like it when I use dashes, so I used little x's to mark the spaces in between the events. Hopefully, that makes it more understandable, haha.