Children of Blackthorn

Chapter Two

Violet City was relatively silent as Falkner walked with Tanis to the Pokémon Center to check up on the shiny Pidgey. The city's silence was far less awkward than the one between the two trainers. Tanis had insisted that she would be fine on her own, but Falkner had insisted on accompanying her. And so the two walked.

"I'm still mad at you," she finally mumbled, her hands deep in her coat pockets. The weather was getting colder, more toward winter.

"I thought you might be." Falkner sighed.

"…You didn't tell him, did you?"

"Tell who what?" Falkner had an idea who, but he wasn't sure about the what.

"Lllll—" Tanis was having trouble saying his name; the sounds got caught in her throat. Her upper lip curled. "You didn't tell that idiot that I was here, did you? You better not have."

"No," Falkner shook his head, "No, I didn't." The two arrived at the Pokémon Center and Tanis immediately went for the door and entered. Falkner waited inside, keeping his distance as Tanis conversed with Nurse Joy about the Pidgey's condition. Lance had been pretty vague when he called. He just told Falkner that he had called the other gym leaders and a select few others and asked him to look out for a black haired, green-eyed girl named Tanis with a Dragonair. Lance didn't say why or explain anything else. Didn't mention that she would be angry about it, either. Didn't mention that she would be furious at the redhead, or even just at the mention of his name. Tanis hadn't in any way come with a warning label, which, he supposed, made her interesting.

Falkner silently observed Tanis as she ran a hand anxiously over her hair and Nurse Joy gave her a placating smile. He found her attractive, no doubt about that, with her dark hair, bright eyes, and athletic figure. But he knew she wasn't the kind of girl he wanted in his life. Tanis was physically attractive, but she held so much hate within her. She made an interesting friend, though, he reasoned as the girl in consideration approached him once more.

"He's still healing." Falkner had to shake his head to refocus. "And he won't be able to leave the Center for a few more days." Tanis was much calmer now than she was before. "Guess you're stuck with me," she sighed in what seemed to Falkner to be a joking manner.

Falkner smiled just the littlest bit. "Shouldn't be that bad."

"Thanks, Falkner."

"For what?" He sounded genuinely confused.

Tanis rolled her eyes. She thought it should be obvious. "For letting me, y'know, hang out at your gym," she answered haltingly. "I just kind of don't feel like being… alone."

Falkner laughed. "You're not alone, Tanis."

"I know that. Shut up."

They lapsed into silence again.

"I've been thinking about what to name him."

A smirk quirked the gym leader's lips. "So you've decided to keep him?"

"Didn't I tell you to shut up?" Tanis asked. "And, yes. I'm going to keep him. I was thinking about naming him Alexander; maybe call him Alex or something."

The quiet returned for a few more moments before Falkner interrupted it quietly. "You seem pretty attached already."

Tanis ran her hands over her hair, feeling a bit anxious. "How could I not be?"