A/N: Thanks for all the reviews, favorites and follows, guys! It's greatly appreciated, really. I hope you enjoy this one.

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon.

EDIT (5-10-2014): Thanks to anonymous reviewer I have a dictionary here for pointing out a spelling mistake. Also thanks to MyNoseAgreesWithMe and Pokemon Guy 84 for pointing out a missing Pokémon.
I corrected both mistakes.

Leave It To Brocko

Chapter 4

"Yes dad, don't worry about me, I'll be fine," I said, ushering him out of the door.

"But-"

"Dad, I'll be fine," I cut him off.

He opened his mouth to start again, but I quickly interrupted him.

"Dad, honestly, it's just one day, I'm a twenty years old man and you and Mom left me to take care of nine kids when I was eleven years old. I think I can handle one day on my own, thank you very much." I really don't know where that came from… must be the bottled-up anger. Or my breakfast – the toast tasted really weird.

I shook my head, to clear away those depressing thoughts – toast always tasted good. I looked at my father, who just stood there, mouth agape. I sighed, placed my hands on both his shoulders, continuing in a gentler voice, "Dad, you go and have fun with the kids, 'kay? I can handle this."

He gave me a sad smile, shook my hands off of his shoulders and placed his hands on my shoulders, reminding me I was the kid and he was the father, though sometimes the roles felt reversed.

"Brock, you're a great boy… young man. I know you can do this."

And with that he turned away, yelling to my siblings to get a move on. The youngest ran ahead, and Forrest, my eldest younger brother, was whining about the fact that he had to go with them, but that he wanted to stay at home.

"No whining, Forrest," my father reprimanded, "you know- Hey Billy, Tilly, we have to go to the right!" he yelled to my youngest two siblings, "THE RIGHT! The other right! Suzie, you can't eat that flower, it's- Tilly, what did I just say? The right, we have to go to the right!"

I shook my head, laughing silently as their voices slowly became softer and eventually died down. Persuading my father to go on this hiking trip had been a good idea – that way I had the house a whole day for myself. Oh, and it was good father-kids bonding.

A whole day. And I knew exactly what I was going to do – No, not working on my ten step plan to get a date. I'm not that pathetic, you know. …It's a five step plan.

But that's not what I'm going to do. Nope, I'm not going to work on my love life, no, I'll be selfless again and give Misty and Ash's love life – or lack thereof – a hand. How, you ask? By setting the last phase of my genius plan G.A.T.H.A.M.H.F.W.M.T.M.M.J. into effect.

In other words – I was going to beg May for help.

Walking towards the videophone, I tried to calm my nerves by taking deep breaths. She would help me right? Right, of course. She was a nice person, she would help a friend in need. Yeah, she would. What if she wouldn't? She would. She had to, otherwise this would be the end of Brock the Rock. At my funeral they would say, "Brock, he was such a good guy, always looking for love, and now love killed him. Well, actually, his two best friends did that. A girl with a hammer and a boy with a knife. It's such a loss for humanity." Okay, that was unrealistic. After all, Ash wasn't a knife person. Hah, the only harm he could do with a knife was to himself.

Turning on the videophone, I opened the phonebook looking for the number of the Petalburg Gym. Dialing I forced myself to calm down. Breath in, breath out. I was getting more anxious every second. Three seconds, four seconds, five seconds, six seconds – when was she going to pick up?

The screen was still black but suddenly a deep voice answered, "Hello?"

"Hi," I squeaked, "This is Brock Harrison from the Pewter Gym." My voice hadn't been so high since I was twelve…

"This is Norman Maple. So, Brock, what are you calling for? Or rather, for who?"

"Erm…" I desperately tried to make my voice less squeaky and nervous, but didn't do a good job on it, "I wanted to speak to May, actually. Is she- Is she home?"

"Hmm… So you want to speak to my daughter. Why, may I ask?" There was a hint of protectiveness in his voice, and I was sure, if I could've seen him – the screen was still black – there would be a frown on his face.

"Um," I gulped, trying to think of a good reason to speak to May.

"You're not trying to woo my daughter, are you?" he asked suspiciously.

"What?! No, of course not. May is not… I would absolutely not-"

"So you're think my daughter is undesirable?" he cut in.

"No, no, no, absolutely not, it's not that. It's really not like that-"

"Then what is it, Brock? What?" he interrupted again, and I thought he sounded amused. Must be me. What was I going to answer? What was the good answer?

"Er," I sweatdropped.

Suddenly laughter came from the appliance and startled I sprang back, and, subsequently, tripped over my own feet.

I scrambled up again, and, laughter still coming from it, saw the screen flicker on. And I was sure the person on the screen wasn't Norman Maple, Leader of the Petalburg Gym.

A teal haired boy, around the age of twelve years, was lifting his rectangular glasses off his nose, to wipe away a tear of joy. Putting his glasses back on, he saw me, half sitting, half standing on the floor and burst out laughing again.

"You- You little…" I said, pointing an accusing finger at the screen, anger rising up. But not only anger, shame too. I, Brock, had been tricked by Max. Max, of all people. That thought alone was enough to make my cheeks burn, and I glared at the younger boy.

"Oh Brock, you should've seen you face," he laughed.

I sighed. "Are you almost done?"

"Sorry Brock, I didn't mean it to go that way. But then you started about May, and I just couldn't resist…" he trailed off, still sounding amused.

"Back to the point," I said, not wanting to waste any more time on this subject, "is May at home?"

His face fell, and too late I realized my mistake. I hadn't spoke to him in a really long time, and now I asked for his sister. Stupid Brock, stupid.

"On second thought," I quickly interrupted him, before he could say anything, "How is everything going with you?"

His face immediately brightened, and he enthusiastically started, "It's great being a Pokémon Trainer, I mean, you see all those places, all those people and especially all those Pokémon. I learn so much every day, and- and…" he tripped over his words in his haste to tell me everything. I finally recognized the sweet, innocent and slightly pedantic boy I used to know. Well – forget about that slightly.

"Why don't you just show me your Pokémon and tell me how you caught them?" I offered.

He nodded fervently, pulling out and enlarging his Pokéballs and then releasing five Pokémon.

A familiar white and green Pokémon was the first one that caught my eye. A Ralts, I thought. I remembered it – Max promised to come find it as soon as he was a Trainer. Apparently, he kept his promise. The second one was probably his starter, a Marshtomp, and it gave me a big smile. The third one was a wolf-like Pokémon, or perhaps it looked more like an aggressive grey puppy, a Poochyena. Then a sweet looking brown fox Pokémon jumped into my view. An Eevee, I knew, a cute Pokémon, but looks can be deceiving. It could evolve in a strong Dark Pokémon. Or in almost any other type Pokémon, actually. The last one flew immediately to Max, and made itself comfortable on his head. The Murkrow gave a look that said, Bet you wish you were in my place right now, don't ya? I almost snorted at the content bird, but got distracted by Max, who smiled so widely and proud that I could not help but feel impressed by his achievements. After all, for just two years training, this was a pretty good team.

"But where is your sixth Pokémon?" I wondered aloud.

Max's grin faltered, and he said, slightly embarrassed, "Well, my sixth Pokémon is a Gastly, but always when I let him out, he just refuses to get back into his Pokéball."

I snickered.

"It's not funny, Brock, I don't know what to do with it, I mean, it doesn't listen to me."

"Sorry, you're right, I'll help when we get to Hoenn."

"You're coming to Hoenn?!" he exclaimed, jumping up and a disturbed Murkrow flew off his head, "Why didn't you say that before? When? With who? Is Ash coming too?"

I chuckled at his reaction. "Yes, Ash's coming too, and probably in a few weeks. And Misty's probably coming too." For sure, nothing is going to keep that girl away, I added silently.

"Misty?" he questioned, "That girl you-"

"Used to travel with, yeah," I finished.

"But why?"

"Er," I started, suddenly remembering the reason of this call again, "Is May home too?"

He raised his eyebrows at my sudden change of subject, but answered anyway, "At the moment, no, she's on a two day vacation to the spa with Mom. But if you mean if she's still traveling and training, then yes, she's staying here for a few weeks, taking a little break."

I sighed in relief. But then a thought occurred to me – What if she has a boyfriend?

Slightly panicking, I asked, "Does she has boyfriend?"

Max, now totally weirded out, answered with a long, "Noooo…"

Relieved, I placed a hand on my chest, muttering a quiet, "Thank Ho-oh."

"Okay Brock, I answered your questions, now you have to answer mine," Max said, crossing his arms across his chest. "Why do you want to know if May is home, and, more importantly, if she's single? You're not seriously trying to woo her, are you?"

"NO, of course not, what do you think I am, a… a-" I protested, though Max cut me off.

"A desperate single young man?"

I hmpf'ed, giving him a look.

"Okay, okay," he said, laughing lightly, "you're not trying to woo May. Why then the sudden interest in May's love life?"

"Um… well, you see… Ash-" I started, but again Max didn't let me finish.

"ASH is trying to woo May?!" he exclaimed, his brown eyes widening.

"What? No, no, absolutely not," I denied quickly, holding my hands up.

"Then what's with Ash?" he asked suspiciously.

"Er…" I started but didn't continue. Biting the inside of my cheek, I wondered what I could tell the boy. Telling him that I wanted Ash to 'use' May to make Misty jealous would NOT be a good idea. But I could tell him about Ash and Misty's 'relationship'. He was twelve after all, he was bound to know a bit about romantic relations, right? Right? Oh Mew.

"Well, it's a bit… complicated. You know I told you about that girl Ash and I used to travel with, Misty?" When he nodded in conformation I continued, "Misty and Ash have a bit of a er… complicated relation. They have been best friends for years, but they fight a lot… well, not really fight, but argue. It's all in good spirits, ya know? It's their way of communication. But lately, they- Well, they 'like' each other," I finished, using my fingers to make air quotes.

He gave me a look. "I know what 'liking' is, Brock, I'm not a little kid."

That was up to discussion, I thought, remembering the prank he pulled just ten minutes ago.

"So yeah, they have a crush on each other, but are both in a sort of denial. And I'm going to try, keyword here is try, to get them together." That I was going crazy from their sexual tension I kept wisely away from him. Just as how Ash would flirt with May to make Misty jealous.

"And why do you need May, then?" he asked, his eyes narrowing.

Quick Brock, think, why do you need May?

"Em… 'cause I need a female hand in this," I quickly answered.

He thought about this, eyes narrowed, brows furrowed and lips in a thin line. Uh oh.

Pointing an accusing finger to the screen, he exclaimed, "You want Ash to date May to make that Misty girl jealous!"

My eyes widened and though I don't think he could see that, he could see my jaw hit the floor.

"Huh-Er… what? Um… No, how?" I sputtered.

He glared at me, crossing his arms across his chest, and for a moment the light fell exactly on his glasses, making it impossible for me to see his eyes, and, as a result, made him look pretty scary.

"Don't deny it Brock, 'cause I know you're lying," he said, sounding serious.

I gulped. How had he figured that out?

"Not necessarily date," I managed to whisper.

He relaxed a little bit.

"'Kay, Brock, an explanation would be nice," he sounded still pretty serious, but also slightly curious.

"Yeah, well, my plan originally was that Ash would flirt with May, and that Misty would be jealous, they would confess and date, and everyone would be happy again," I offered with a small smile.

Sighing, he asked, "And what if, Arceus forbid, May would actually like Ash back?"

"Um…"

"And that's why this is a bad idea."

"It's not!" I defended, not only because I had no other choice but also because… well, because – Okay, that's my only reason to defend this stupid plan.

"But what if," I started, an idea forming in my head, "I tell May 'bout my plan?"

"I suppose that could work," he said slowly, "but only flirt, you got that, she's still my sister, and it's disgusting to think about her together with anyone."

I smiled, agreeing with his words. I wouldn't want to think about the relationship my siblings had with their boy/girlfriend.

"And anyway," he said in a lighter tone, "I don't think she would like Ash like that, she has more a thing for Drew."

Chuckling I remembered the green haired Coordinator with his roses.

"Thanks a lot Max, I think this actually might work out, don't you?"

With a serious face he answered, "No, if you don't mess up, Ash will do."

I glared at him but he just smiled back. Stupid boy. This would work, I just knew. I didn't know how, but it would work.

"Ey, Brock, I'm really sorry, but I have to go, I promised a friend of mine to battle."

"Oh, I don't mind, good luck with your battle. I suppose I'll see you in a few weeks, then."

He gave me a big grin and a thumbs up, "Sure thing, Brock. See you soon!"

And with that Max and his Pokémon disappeared from the screen and it went black. He wouldn't tell May, would he? I didn't think he would, but the churning in my stomach told me otherwise.

"Don't worry Brock, he won't tell May," I whispered quietly to myself even though no one else could hear me anyway.

I walked over to the TV, turned it on and with a thud I plopped down on the couch. Flipping through the channels, I tried to calm myself down, but didn't succeed. A burning question kept plopping back in my head.

Brocko, what's going to be your next step?

A/N: Thanks a lot for reading this. I really adore Max, he's such a cutie. Absolutely one of my favorite characters. Please, please review, I mean, favorites and follows are great too, but reviews tell me so much more. So, thanks again and don't forget to REVIEW!