Spitfire Chapter 5: Thick
She didn't want to be angry, she didn't want to feel threatened...but she did; she felt tense, as if her body would collapse into itself, and she swallowed hard as she dusted her hands off.
"Misty, the gym leader?" She asked, stepping into the entrance hallway where not only Ash stood, but also a tall, tanned man with brown spiky hair. He was reaching out to Misty with a look of intense fear, while her boyfriend, the pleasant man that he was, just tried to just laugh off the situation.
When Delia released her grip on Misty, letting her stumble away from the older woman; Serena finally got a good look at her—she was tall, skinny, busty, and muscular. Her tank top was just tight enough to show her curves, but not enough to scream "look at me, I have boobs!" She was in ill-fitted black jeans, rather than opting for skin tight, they were baggy everywhere; as if she rushed to dress herself the morning she left. Among other things, Serena could see the tie of a swimsuit wrapped around the back of her neck while she rubbed it nervously, trying to get Delia to calm herself.
It wasn't warm enough to go swimming, but being the water pokemon trainer that she was, a swimsuit seemed only natural, and practical. Serena cleared her throat, and stepped forward; extending her hand.
"Hello, I'm Serena. It's nice to meet you finally. Ash has said so much." Much to Serena's surprise, and to Brock's, apparently, Misty took her hand gracefully, and with a smile. Serena suspected the red-head to be at the very least sarcastic with her, but she seemed...overly pleasant.
"Nothing good, I bet. He tries to make me out to be a devil." And that's when Serena saw it, the little horns sticking from the top of her tied back hair as she administered the most evil look she had ever seen to Ash.
"But I'm afraid it's all true!" Serena could tell her voice was playful banter, as she almost immediately retracted her glare into one of happiness, but it didn't stop Serena's heart from beating a mile a minute.
She inhaled before speaking next. "He's actually only said nice things."
Her retort seemed to stump Misty, and as they still shook hands; it growing more awkward each second. Misty slowly removed her hand, and cleared her throat.
"Depending on what he said, I can't guarantee those are all true." Her laugh was forthcoming, very throaty, and Serena could tell she was faking—had she come here to ruin her relationship wish Ash, or was she here as a friend of Ash's? Serena gnawed on her lip, and thought it best to play it safe. While Misty was known to be the aggressive type, Serena was the opposite—what she couldn't control, she killed with kindness.
"Well, why don't you all come and sit down for lunch?" She cooed, clapping her hands together; she turned away chancing a glance back at the group as she stepped into the kitchen.
–
The kitchen smelled like fresh biscuits, vegetables and rice balls. The intense waft of a home cooked meal made Misty forget all of her persuasive nature, and she took a seat at the table, practically giddy.
"I haven't had a home-cooked meal in years." She cooed, stars in her eyes, and Brock fell down into his chair, rather than sitting. He rubbed his face.
"Jeez Misty, mood swings much?" She glared at him in response, and Ash smiled to his old friends while Serena returned to the table with a plate of rice balls, and a tray of drinks. She sat the rice balls down first, and then the drinks, before sitting next to Ash herself.
Misty should have waited, it would have been polite to be served, but she greedily took one of the rice balls and took a bite before anyone else even had time to get settled. Ash let out a kind of laugh that made Serena visibly uncomfortable, and Brock shook his head, also taking a rice ball.
After taking the first bite, Misty's face fell stoic, and her eyes darkened. She lowered the rice ball back to her plate, and chewed the piece in her mouth haphazardly. Serena looked genuinely concerned at Misty's reaction, but Brock and Ash seemed to be fine, eating them. The way her silence grew, caused tension around the table.
"Misty-" Brock started, but Misty interrupted him.
"These are..." Misty said flatly, making Serena's stomach lurch. But then in one quick motion, Misty looked up at Serena with absolute admiration.
"Amazing! How in the world did you make them, whats the filling in them!?" Her eyes had stars in them as she practically inhaled the first rice-ball, making Brock smash his head against the table. Worried over nothing.
Serena saw her chance, and stood up quickly.
"You should try to biscuits and vegetables!" Serena was up in a flash, heading over to the counter to carry over a bowl of biscuits and a casserole of vegetables. Upon seeing them, Misty's posture straightens, and she made a noise of pure delight.
"Jeez, Misty, leave some for the rest of us!" Ash argued, taking two rice balls off the tray at a time, but Misty glowered at him.
"Hey, hey!" She shouted, swatting his hands and taking more of the rice balls as Serena set the other food down. "You get food like this all the time, Ketchum! Now share damn it!" she growled, practically forcing one full rice ball into her mouth. Serena could feel sweat drop from the back of her head, and she laughed nervously.
"Well if you would actually learn to cook!" Ash quipped back, which was met with a glare from Misty.
All worry about Misty died then and there; she was like a starved little kid wolfing down her food. Breaking Serena's concentration, Misty looked up to her with beady eyes.
"Can I have some of that?" She asked, pointing between the biscuits and the vegetable casserole. Serena jolted, and served up a plate full, only to watch it be inhaled as quickly as she could serve it out. Both Brock and Serena had fallen into a quite stupor, while Ash vehemently tried to rival Misty's appetite.
As if it would never end; Misty finally held up her hand, downed her drink like a professional; and then set her glass down with a satisfied gasp.
"That was wonderful." She said, patting her belly while leaning back some. Somewhere in the middle of the rampage, Serena had sat down in her seat to watch the two eat; entirely amazed.
"T-thank you." She was still stunned by Misty's gluttonous appetite, and then she stared down at the platter of rice balls—two left. She sweat dropped, as did Brock. He looked at her in support.
"If we're staying the whole trip. You'll get used to this." He reassured Serena, patting her on the back while Ash shifted the last of his vegetable casserole around on his plate with his fork. He looked slightly ill.
"I...I can't finish this." He spoke quietly; and two different responses came up simultaneously.
"It's rude not to finish a meal, especially one as delicious as this." Came from Misty, while: "It's fine Ash, don't make yourself sick" was spoken sweetly by Serena.
For a split second, Serena and Misty's eyes caught each others wavelengths, and lightning sparked between them; remembering their place in Ash's life.
Misty crossed her legs under the table, and folded her arms while looking at Serena. Delia had spent the entire time watching from the sidelines, giggling at her 'kids'. She finally approached with a fresh cup of hot tea for each of the travelers and then scurried back to the kitchen, starting on refreshments for the party later. Slowly, as the food was gone to witness as a distraction; the tension returned, and in response, Misty found herself wanting to excuse herself and lay outside for awhile. But she remained deadpanned and remained seated while sipping her drink.
"It's fine, I'll finish it." Ash finally spoke, finishing up his remaining two bites, much to Serena's surprise. Misty smirked; Misty: 1, Serena: 0. However, as soon as the thought crossed her mind, she felt a wave of guilt, and limped in her chair just the slightest while looking up at the ceiling. Misty, in all respects, was such a little kid.
"You didn't have to..." Serena started, but Ash shook his head, and pushed his plate away.
"Misty's right, it was too delicious to waste!" He raised his index finger happily causing Serena to blush.
"Thank you." She spoke, tapping her two index fingers together nervously. This small, nearly discreet action made Misty's blood boil, so she cocked her jaw to one side, as her stare intensified.
"So Misty," Ash started, obviously not catching onto her mood. She stood up while he spoke, and started collecting the dishes—much to everyone's surprise. "How is the gym?" He asked politely as his plate was taken away.
Misty huffed at him, agitated for no good reason she could think off; and needed just a second away from the group as she piled the plates into the sink.
"Well, it's been really busy. The day Brock came to get me, I had seven trainers in three hours—which is amazing traffic for any gym."
Talking about her gym always gave her a sense of satisfaction that she could not express with words. It was her pride and joy, and made all of her worries disappear, she started the water, and Serena excused herself to help clean up as well. Because of Misty and Ash gorging themselves, there were no left overs, but she didn't want to sit still, either.
"Battle! How many did you lose?" Ash grinned, proud of his response,
"None of them, actually." Misty cracked in return, totally calm—something that was foreign to Ash, and so he started again; this time with his eyes narrowed.
"So you just gave the badges away then?" He leaned forward, a skeptical grin on his face, and Misty finally turned around to glare at him—She threw her hands onto her hips in a very Misty like fashion, and growled. She took the bait.
"I do not give away badges Ash Ketchum! Just because-" She stopped, as if thinking. She knew better than to feed into a silly fight like this, and so she threw up her arms, turned from him, cursed under her breath and started washing the dishes that Serena brought her. Her sudden deflation left Ash deflated as well, and he looked at Brock sadly.
"If what I've heard is correct, thanks to her Gyarados, she remains undefeated." Brock bragged about Misty, and she once again felt the joy her gym brought her.
"That's probably because only beginners travel to Kanto." Ash threw up his arms and crossed them in satisfaction, and Serena stared at him disapprovingly.
"Why are you trying to be so mean, Ash?" She commented, leaving him startled. Misty grinned mischievously while she turned at him with a snake like grin.
"Yeah, Ash, why you gotta be so mean?" Her glare was devious, and Ash pointed at her.
"She's the one that started it." He claimed, but Misty snickered.
"That and a primates ass—you asked me how the gym was."
"MISTY, do not use that language in my house!" Delia cried from the living room, Misty sweat dropped.
"Sorry Mrs. Ketchum!" She cried and then stared down at the dishes embarrassed; it had been years since someone called her out on her language, and it left the room snickering. Even Serena let herself giggle at Delia's response and she sighed. She had completely forgotten the awkwardness that came with standing beside Misty while they did dishes, and she pursed her lips while Misty leaned in close; a crocodile grin on her face.
"Has Ash told you how much of a brat he is yet? Would you like to know?" She whispered in a low voice; Ash shuddered.
"Misty!" He cried, but it only made Serena blush, and Misty laugh out loudly.