Title: Peace Offering
Author: Fenikkusu Ai
Rating: T
Fandom: Pokemon
Pairing: Steven/May
Genre: Angst/Romance
Words: 654
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Pokemon.
A/N: Again, it's been many years since I've updated this. I never wanted to abandon it, so I will try to finish. HoennChampionshipping is still one of my favorites. :)
The pokemon center was overwhelming this time of year. Even Steven had to admit that it was far from being the usual busy.
However, in spite of the activity, he had managed to have his pokemon healed. Around him, as the twilight shadows lengthened, he watched trainers as they napped on chairs and couches, laughed, and sang Christmas carols. Chanseys served gingerbread cookies and hot chocolate on. The rooms were festive with lights and trees and it almost felt like a home. To some trainers, it would have to suffice for the night.
No matter how much Steven was tempted to stay, he knew that he shouldn't. He was on the way to his father and he had to reach the holiday party as soon as possible. It was only proper for the president's son to be there after all at his father's side.
At a brisk pace, he headed towards the door. As Fate would have it, he collided with someone on the way out.
"Excuse me," his words escaped into the frosty wind.
"Steven?" replied a familiar voice.
Startled, Steven looked into her eyes. He noticed that her lips were red from the cold.
"May..." The utterance of her name was almost an apology
The girl smiled weakly. Almost shyly.
"Where's Bradley?"
"He's not here. He couldn't come," May blurted
More information was forthcoming under his confused stare.
"We...broke up."
Steven looked up at the clouds. He hadn't been expecting that much elaboration, but he got it
Why?" Steven dared to ask.
"The jerk was using me for my status. You were right," she blurted.
Steven figured as much. A ruffian like that couldn't know her worth. But, regardless, May needed to live and learn. Her safety. He would always fear for her safety And, he knew that he had no right.
Thankfully, his protégé changed the subject.
"The lights are pretty, aren't they?"
She looked. "Yes. They are."
For a brief instant, May became enraptured faraway stare before she snapped out of it. Maybe she had been imagining something.
"Well...Merry Christmas anyway!" she beamed. "Here."
May reached inside her bag and thrust a pokeball at him.
May...
Steven hesitated for a moment. He had no gift to give her in return after all.
"Just take it." she insisted. "I don't have any room for it anyway."
Bewildered, Steven took it and sensed the desperation there. It disturbed him. What was he feeling now? Protective? Was he in the mindset of a guardian? Or...
"I'm leaving now, May," he announced. Snow clouds were looming after all and he had to fly all the way back to Rustboro City.
She nodded. "Right.
Steven noticed how close they were. Shoulder to shoulder.
At last, he forced himself to turn away.
"We'll meet each other again."
It was poetic. Left up to chance and to the universe if they would encounter each other again.
"I'll look forward to it," May replied. She was no longer smiling. In fact...was that regret sobering her face?
She had hurried away inside so fast that that he hadn't had the opportunity to invite her if he cared to.
For the mean time, he banished his concern into a cavern in his heart. For the next few hours, he needed to have his thoughts clear and his words to circulate, but what he still wished to tell May churned under his ribs.
Steven waited until the guests had left to investigate his "present." When he was alone in his room, he finally released the pokemon that had been contained within the pokeball.
The heart-shaped pink fish pokemon flopped about on the carpet and an oath almost left his mouth The intention was all too clear.
It was a luvdisc. Steven wondered if it had been from Bradley and what May's intentions were and if they could be innocent.
A wry smile creased his lips.
May was a stubborn, stubborn girl.