Spitfire, Chapter 23: oh, brother...
After about two hours of waiting, Ash had finally recovered; if not entirely, than at least a little bit. He was, as zombie-esque as it was, functioning; he would occasionally even toss Dawn a comment or two and could even form full coherent sentences for long moments at a time during lunch. Just so long as Misty wasn't mentioned in any shape or form. This meant that the following subjects were currently taboo: talking about water pokemon, mentioning gym leaders, the color yellow, shorts, man buns, the color red, fishing, contests, swimming, traveling, the Kalos region in general; and anything about peppers. Actually, the only thing safe to talk about was battling, and battling techniques. For some reason or another, much to Dawn's annoyance, EVERYTHING ELSE was off limits. If she knew the truth would have this much of an effect on him, she wouldn't have ever brought it up; EVER. She was almost positive that he developed brain damage. Maybe there really was was some hidden reason as to why Ash and Misty never started dating before, but only they knew about it!
Trying not to rip out her neatly brushed hair, she followed Ash around while they took turns battling other opponents to make a little extra cash as well as pass the time between awkward silences. But, by all mercy if the opponent threw out water pokemon that Misty just might have, Ash turned into a blubbering idiot. Along with that, Dawn wasn't allowed to use Togekiss, which was just as frustrating. She was ready to call it quits and throw him to the den to sort it out himself after this mess. It was painful; but at least now that they were two hours in, he was getting a little better.
"I don't know why they add so much ketchup..." Ash grumbled while pulling off his top bun on his burger and handing it to Pikachu, who loved ketchup about as much as much as the electric mouse loved Ash. Greedily, the Pikachu devoured the whole thing in one bite.
"Beats me," Dawn grumbled and Ash could finally see the frustration on her face. He twisted his lips uncomfortably and suddenly lost his appetite upon watching her face.
"Sorry, Dawn. I know how frustrating this can be." He apologized helplessly. Dawn shuddered and shook her head.
"No, no, it's fine, Ash, really!" Dawn praised while throwing her hands up. While it bothered her, she still wanted to be there for Ash regardless; and thinking she was effected would only make him feel worse. His eyes squint while looking down.
"It's just so weird. I don't know what I'm supposed to do." Ash finally admit tiredly, probably for the third time since the incident.
"Like I said, you should go talk to her about it. I'm sure it will be fine." Ash gazed at her while taking a small bite of his topless burger. Dawn picked at her fries while they stalked around the market fountain.
"If you liked someone; would you talk to them about it that easily?" Ash suggested and Dawn's face fell flat.
"Obviously. I talked to you, didn't I?"
"Yeah, but that's different because you already knew you didn't like me!" Ash challenged while her face fell. She pursed her lips.
"So? What does that have to do with it?"
"Well, it's a lot harder when...when..."
Dawn encouraged him a little, but all he managed was a squeak followed by a sigh; following route, she sighed as well. Pikachu face palmed, "Pika..." he said hopelessly, and Ash hung his head. That was right, he was hopeless. Ash did have a point though; Dawn wondered if it would be as easy as it was to talk with someone she actually liked as it was to talk with Ash... she hoped that wouldn't come up any time soon. She scratched her head.
"Well, why don't we talk about what you should do?" She offered up, hatching a brilliant plan in her mind.
"Should...do?" Ash muttered looking up at his blue haired friend while she lured him to a flower arrangement store.
Little did they know, behind one of the brick buildings around the corner from them; a huffing Misty had ran frantically to check up on them. She peered around the corner while they talked, watching Ash prance around like a zombie and hand Pikachu his ketchup smothered bun;but she couldn't hear anything. She needed to get closer, full of panic that Ash had heard what she said earlier, she had to know what he was thinking.
"Do you have...to run...so fast?" Serena exhaled from behind the gym leader, hands on her knees while she coughed to clear her throat. Misty turned around venomously.
"It's not like I asked you to follow me!" Misty whisper-yelled while glaring at the blonde. Serena glared back however, and then took her chance to look around the corner; watching as Dawn pulled a frantic Ash into the flower shop.
"I'm not going to let you snoop on Ash alone! Who knows what you would do?"
"What does that mean?"
"It means what it means."
Misty grabbed Serena by the scruff of her neck and howled quietly; "You are riding on every single one of my last nerves." She hissed but Serena stuck her tongue out at Misty in response. Their banter was stopped however, when they saw from the corner of their eye Pikachu lift up his ears and look in their direction. Serena and Misty threw each other backwards, forcing their backs against the wall to hide while they clasped their hands over one anothers mouths to avoid getting caught.
After a few moments, they separated angrily, "What ever, just don't get in my way." Misty remarked, forgetting the fact that they both saved one another's ass while she stepped out into the open now that Dawn and Ash had walked into the flower shop. She probably wouldn't be noticed with Gary's jacket covering everything up to her nose; at least she hoped. Serena followed her.
"No, you don't get in my way!" She echoed back childishly; Misty pouted. In retrospect, they were both acting like children.
Unknown to them, another figure had followed the girls from behind the wall. His purple hair danced in the noon wind and he raised a single brow at their suspicious actions.
Inside of the store, Dawn pulled Ash over to a dazzling array of rose collections; some tied with bows, others rested in vases. Many of them were single roses, and some even included cheesy, romantic poems.
Ash's face scrunched up while he recited the beginning of one: "It's crazy, but you're all I want and need. You win, I'm yours forever; I concede..." he stammered as the words rolled off his lips, and with a blush, he glowered at Dawn. "Dawn, what are you wanting me to do with these!?"
"Confess, duh?" Dawn said while picking at the rose he was just looking at, "That's a pretty good poem.. Almost sounds like a pokemon battle, neh?" Ash shook his head violently, the redness making Dawn giggle. At least he was open to talking now. That was an improvement, right?
"No way! I have nothing to confess!" he yelled, causing Misty and Serena to freeze as they made their way around the corner, and into tall tree plants.
"Why are they looking at roses?" Serena asked and Misty waved at her to shush, this time because Dawn looked around. She felt like she was being watched, but couldn't place why.
"Shh!" Misty hissed, but was wondering herself why roses became a thing. Was it possible that Dawn lied to her about having platonic feelings? No, Dawn wouldn't lie about that—but what was she planning? She had to get closer.
Recovering from the feeling of being watched, Dawn returned her gaze at Ash, unaffected by his short mental break down that garnered stares from the rest of the people around them. It wasn't the first time he had done something like this, and it probably wouldn't be the last before the day was over.
"Well, you like her, don't you? That's why you're freaking out so much."
"I didn't say that!" he whispered, as if someone were listening. Little did they know that someone really was listening.
"Damn it, I wish we had Clemont's expert-hearing invention... That would make this so much easier." Serena whined, unable to hear Dawn and Ash over the rush of people. However, when she looked over to see Misty; the gym leader was no longer there. Misty had taken another step forward, and was now hiding her face behind a magazine, a row ahead. There was no way Serena was going to get away with that, so she stayed put. Instead, she watched Dawn pluck a single, red rose from the displays.
"I don't wanna." Ash whined, but Dawn approached the check out anyways, and paid for the rose for him before thrusting it into his arms.
"That's fine. Now we need to find a gift."
"Is that necessary?" Ash groaned. His face matched the color of the rose he carried, and the lady at the register watched them. An elderly woman with her hair tied up in a cute bun giggled at Ash.
"Oh to be young and in love..." She cooed, only causing Ash to become a shade darker.
"I am not!" He denied while running out of the store. Dawn stayed behind, gripping the strap of her bag.
"Sorry, he's new to this." Dawn offered in retrospect and then started out of the store. Misty and Serena looked at one another worriedly, but curiosity was at it's finest as they made their way towards the store exit. With large windows, it wasn't hard to discern them from outside, so they laid low.
Ash was hunched over, pressing his hands, and the stem of the rose he was carrying up against his knees. Dawn approached him from behind, and then once she was standing by his side, she and Pikachu both pat him.
Normally, if this had been any other situation, Ash might have been fine. Sure; he heard it a few times from his friends when they were teasing him, tossed it around in his mind; occasionally even had day dreams about the situation in which he and-he shuddered—Misty were dating, but in none of them did he actually expect Misty to reciprocate his same...feelings? Right now there was a lot of heat everywhere. He felt like someone dunked him in gasoline and threw a match at him. Did he like her? Of course he did! He wasn't new to the idea that he might have been infatuated with her; but now that he knew she most likely returned the feelings, he was chilled to the bone. Why was he so mortified at the idea of mentioning it to Misty.
Maybe... he thought while finally standing up as Dawn pointed to a shop a ways down the street; a chocolate shop. He was just scared? Scared of what would happen to him, to her, to their friends; his traveling; her gym. Something was different about her, he could at least determine that much on his own. Maybe it was even the special feelings that Misty told him about previously? Knowing this, however, didn't sedate his nerves. While following Dawn, the heat drained from his skin. He couldn't place his finger on the feeling, and he wasn't sure how to mention it to Dawn. Mixed with his fear, however, was also the burning thought of Serena; how would Serena take the news?
He sighed, why was this all happening now? Couldn't he just enjoy a few days of peace and relaxation after his victory?
"He kind of looks sick..." Misty muttered, causing Ash's ears to perk up upon hearing her distant voice. He looked around while Dawn dragged him by the arm, but couldn't see anything. Serena and Misty had ducked behind a bench in time to miss his gaze; both females letting out a sigh of relief. Ash shuddered, he must have been hearing things. Add that to his list of crazy, and he and Misty really did make quite the pair.
His face scrunched up; "Oh Mew, did I really just think that?" He thought bitterly with a slight face palm.
"Do you know what kind of chocolates she likes?" Dawn asked skeptically while the bell above them rang when they entered the chocolate shop. Looking around, a sinking feeling repelled his voice.
"No."
"Oh, well, then we'll get her a little bit of everything." She spoke while approaching the counter; Ash wasn't even entirely sure why he was still here, couldn't he and Dawn go back to battling. That was so much easier, and he needed the break.
The chocolate shop was too small for Serena and Misty to enter, so instead, they ducked around the corner and crossed their arms in thought; for only a moment, forgetting their rivalry.
"Aren't these all things you would buy a girl that you like?" Misty echoed, tapping her chin. Serena looked up as well, eyes furrowed.
"But he knows I prefer lilies." Serena said skeptically, forcing Misty to glare at her. She whipped around and tugged on Serena's face angrily; albeit playfully. There was some joy in sharing this moment with Serena. Like they were two detectives under cover. Two rival detectives, but it was an adrenaline rush that the two shared regardless.
"Who said they were for you?" She growled puffing out her cheeks, but their tiff was interrupted. As all good things must come to an end; so did this.
"Why are you following Dawn and Ash?" the low, calm voice alerted Misty and Serena who spun on their heels to stare at the man with purple hair. His eyes were dark, and so Misty's protective nature rocketed out. She stepped in front of Serena, much to the younger trainers surprise.
"Why is it any of your business?" She asked the stranger, and he folded his arms as a Ninjask hovered over his head. Misty shuddered uncomfortably upon seeing the bug-type pokemon that had an eerie similarity to beedril, but regained her wits quickly. Serena stood behind Misty with her hands clasp together and eyebrows furrowed.
The man didn't answer, in fact, he simply stared at her until Misty piped in. "Who are you, anyways?" She grumbled, not recognizing him from the party. If this was Cilan, she was clearly unimpressed; that was damn sure.
"My name is Paul," he muttered, but it brought no reminiscence to Misty or Serena, so they puffed out their cheeks and turned away.
"We were just leaving." Serena assured him while they walked a little ways down the sidewalk and then darted into an ally way—hoping that 'Paul', who ever that was, didn't follow them. Both females stopped suddenly and looked at one another. Both nervous and ashamed that they got caught after following Dawn and Ash for so long.
"That was weird," Misty paused, "Hopefully he doesn't rat us out." she added after, and Serena nodded.
"That name sounds familiar, but I have no idea from where." Serena admit while placing her hand against her chest to catch her breath. She had stopped breathing momentarily when they had been caught. She couldn't even imagine trying to explain that situation to Ash and Dawn. Especially to Ash, who probably already thought she was being overly pushy. Serena swore, she needed to get out of there.
"Dawn...isn't this a little much?" Ash asked inside the shop while he watched the woman shovel chocolate into a bag. One of every kind was a lot, but Dawn didn't seem threatened.
"Then you better decide what she likes, right?" Dawn asked and finally, feeling for the safety of his wallet he put his hands up.
"That's enough chocolate, thank you." he echoed while the woman shoveling it shrugged. He tied a red and yellow ribbon around to top of the bag, and handed it to Dawn while Ash paid. Crying internally that 'homemade' chocolates were expensive, and if relationships consisted of buying a lot of those, he would proudly be counted out. He turned red; there he went again, mentioning relationships.
"Now you have two gifts—what else could make this easier for you?" Dawn hummed while they exited the building, "I know, a make-over!" She said gleefully as she walked headfirst into someone's back. She staggered backwards while Ash watched her nearly fall; but his hands were full so he wasn't able to grab her. Luckily, Dawn was exceptionally coordinated and managed to catch herself.
"Oh, I'm really sorry." Dawn mumbled while adjusting her hat and looking forward, only to have dark eyes staring back at her. Her face lit up at the same time as Ash's.
"Paul! Why are you here?" She asked happily; but Ash interjected.
"You must have heard about my victory, huh, huh?" He nudged the former rival; but Paul didn't look very impressed—the traveling trainer was never in one spot long enough to get an invitation, so he was never formally invited to the party. His signature stoic personality also tended to make people uncomfortable in the best situations. Regardless, his presence here wasn't unexpected, but not unwanted. Dawn and Ash were pleased to see him.
"That's actually why I'm here." Paul admit earnestly while Dawn clapped her hands together.
"Are you planning to stay?" She asked happily. Trying to remain stoic, Paul shook his head and avoided looking at the blue-haired girl.
"No, I'm just passing through town. I wanted to drop this by as a congratulations gift." He extended his hand to Ash and dropped a small black bag onto Ash's small bag of chocolates. Looking over the items in Ash's hands, Paul smirked.
"Well, thanks." Ash replied happily looking at the small black bag.
"Did I miss something?" Paul questioned, looking between Ash and Dawn, but with nerves of steel, Ash puffed out his cheeks and pouted. Dawn followed the same example.
"They're not for me/her" They said in unison while glaring at the taller man. If Ash didn't know better, he might have thought he saw relief flash though Paul's eyes, but didn't question it. Paul was hard to read as it was, with that constant frown and all.
"Regardless," He started, "I was going to stop by your house, but I saw you two in the market and decided this would be quicker. On my way here, I noticed that you two were being followed," He lowered an eyebrow and stared between the two trainers.
"Do either of you know a blonde and or a red-head? I thought they could have been team rocket..." Dawn's face twitched at Paul's nonchalant tone of voice, making her body spasm while Ash turned snow white and found that his tongue was oddly as dry as sand.
"Why yes, we do. When was the last time you saw them?" Dawn twitched, feeling her muscles strain. Misty and Serena, who could over hear the conversation now shuddered frantically and started to scramble down the ally way for an exit now that they had been found out. Unable to find one; Misty dipped behind a dumpster, and Serena behind a few large, metal trashcans.
"A few minutes ago, they went that way." He pointed down the side walk to the ally way, and Dawn turned like a robot to look, and then turned back to Paul just as twitchy. Ash could still not speak. It was like he had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
"Err, Dawn, is he okay?" Paul pointed toward Ash, who seemed to have checked out mentally. She waved him on, recovering from her own shock.
"He's fine; he's just dealing with some life issues right now. He'll be right as rain in a few hours." Dawn muttered while waging her finger, Paul shrugged in response; queuing his leave.
"I guess that means I'll head out then. I can't battle someone who isn't at their best." He mocked, but Ash didn't even flinch at the insult; not-surprising to Dawn who smiled warmly up at Paul.
"Where are you headed to next?" She asked.
"Hoenn." He said subjectively, and Dawn grinned while placing her fingers against her chin. She winked at him.
"That's where I'm headed next. Maybe we'll run into each other?" Dawn suggested, getting half a smile out of Paul, the stoic statue.
"I'll look forward to it. It was nice seeing you again." He assured her, and then just like that; she watched him leave in the same hurried, yet cool fashion that he always did.
She caught herself staring when Ash suddenly dropped the gift that Paul left for him. It rolled off Ash's chocolates and the sudden movement pushed words from her throat; "In the mean time, if you change your mind we'll all be here until tomorrow!" She yelled, briefly seeing him raise his hand to indicate that he heard her, but he didn't turn around.
She put her hands on her lips, narrowing her eyes playfully as she watched him leave until he had disappeared behind a few buildings. Once he was out of sight, Dawn dipped to scoop up the fallen pouch. A few stones sat in the pouch—what Dawn could only assume were mega-evolution stones. She pursed her lips. What a thoughtful gift. With Ash still zoned out, terrified that Misty heard him, probably the same reaction Misty would have had earlier that day if she knew that Ash heard her, she tucked the black pouch into Ash's coat pocket so he wouldn't lose them.
"Wait, Paul, I am totally ready to battle!" Ash screamed when Dawn touched him, but Paul had been gone for a few minutes already. Dawn lowered her eyelids at Ash.
"Talk about a delayed reaction." She barked but then grinned, "You know Ash, I was just thinking about your last gift." She mused, eying the ally way while Ash kicked the ground, clearly upset about Paul leaving so quickly. He looked up at her with a pout and narrowed eyes, expecting her answer.
"What?" He egged her on, and she raised her pointy finger and grinned.
"Some condoms!"
Ash's eyes rolled into the back of his head when the words escaped Dawn's lips, and he fell backwards with a loud thump onto the sidewalk, not even bothering to protect his head from the damage it could receive. Dawn nodded and pursed her lips.
"And just like that, he's out." Dawn then turned her attention to the ally way, and after scoping it out; she deduced that the girls hadn't ran away; unless they could scale twenty foot, flat buildings. She crossed her arms.
"Come out, I know you two are here." She challenged, but Misty and Serena couldn't be bothered to answer. Dawn wasn't scary; but she did talk a lot—and having everyone know that they both stalked Ash for 'no good reason; didn't seem like either of the girls cup of tea.
That's why when Misty's phone started going off, she silenced it. Daisy really knew when a good time to frickin' call was! Dawn raised her eyebrows and and walked down the ally, stopping right before the dumpster Misty was hiding behind. Her phone went off again, and while Misty was quick to silence it, Dawn whipped her head around the corner, making Misty jump.
"Ahh!" She screamed, launching her phone up into the air where Dawn grabbed it.
"Daisy? Isn't that your sister." She said while handing the phone to Misty. "Go ahead, answer it." She tested, but Misty shook her head while standing up. She dust off her shorts and cleared her throat.
"It's not important." She said while tucking the phone into her back pocket. Dawn folded her arms generously.
"So, why were you following Ash and I?" Dawn said earnestly, Misty turned her head over to where Serena was supposed to be; but the young show case girl had used Misty's capture as an escape route, and she shrugged at Misty while leaving the ally way. She mouthed a "sorry" while jogging away. Misty narrowed her eyes. Traitor.
"I wasn't. I was just shopping."
"Really, window shopping?" Dawn suggested as an innuendo and Misty, not liking her tone, pursed her lips.
"Yeah; went and looked at some flowers, and then was just walking down the street and..."
"Stumbled into an ally way behind a dumpster?" Dawn finished her sentence with a knowing smile.
"It's my favorite place to hang out." Misty wagered and then her facade broke. She pointed accusingly at Dawn and continued, "Why didn't you tell me that Ash was with you earlier?"
"Was he?" Dawn asked while blinking, "I don't remember seeing him. Maybe he was following me." Dawn joked while patting her chin with her index finger, thinking. Misty clenched her fists and glared at Dawn.
"Actually, now that you mention it! I did leave Ash sleeping on the sidewalk... but... I just remembered that I have some very important business to attend to—could you maybe watch him for a minute while I head back?"
Misty deadpanned, eye twitching while Dawn spoke. She had no words. "It'll only be for a little while! He should be okay; just a little shocked. He usually snaps out of it in a few minutes."
"Shocked about what?" Misty muttered tiredly, rubbing her hair. Maybe all this paranoia was for nothing after all.
"You know, battling and stuff." Dawn lied while turning away from Misty. She had to fight the urge to rub her hands together maliciously, but it was so tempting. Instead she walked ahead and Misty followed; keeping an eye out for Serena, though she couldn't see the blonde any where in sight. Wonderful.
Ash was climbing to his feet, grumbling while Pikachu yammered happily in support at him, Misty took her gaze off of Dawn for a moment to point at Ash; "Look, he's fine. See, I don't—Dawn?" Misty turned back to where Dawn was supposed to be standing, but she was gone; she vanished in thin air. Misty spun around a few times, but then shook her head.
Weird. Everyone was weird; she thought, happily grinning to herself. But weird was okay. Besides; Misty supposed that it gave her the opportunity talk to Ash about his situation and finally put an end to this madness. Hiding inside of a store; Dawn pumped a fist of victory! Phase one of mission impossible complete! Misty following her into the market was way easier than trying to score them alone time at Ash's house—now she only hoped that Serena had already left before she initiated her plan. She would have to thank Paul a million times when she saw him next.
XOXOXOXOXOXO
"Frickin' Dawn, and frickin' relationships and, and, confusing everything and no battles and, ugh!" he whined while dusting off his jeans, now carelessly holding the chocolates he was pressured into buying and the rose in his right hand while adjusting his hat as well. He couldn't believe that he fell down, but of course, he couldn't believe he was in this situation to begin with. Getting so upset over words; what was wrong with him? He looked side to side for a moment, trying to spot Dawn in the crowd and lowered his eyebrows when he couldn't find her. He turned right as Misty approached him with her arms crossed.
"Ya' sound pretty upset. Having a bad day?" her kind tone pressed Ash's heart into over drive, and a worried Pikachu stood at his feet while Ash made eye contact with Misty. His cheeks burned red and instinctively he tucked the red rose and chocolates behind his back so that she couldn't see them, and then gulped.
Smiling nervously at her, he let out a subtle squeak; "Hey Mist."