Obsidian and Plum: Unlikely Events
Chapter four - Emotional battle

It was dark inside the cave, the fire having consumed its materials and died out completely. It was about three am, Tuesday morning, and everyone was sleeping. Hawlucha had returned to its pokéball, and Greninja hadn't returned to them yet. Pikachu was asleep next to Ash – as always, and Paul had been able to use his sleeping bag for the first time since Saturday and was currently sleeping.

Ash had started mumbling in distress as he slept, the sounds he made were reflecting his pain – both physically and mentally. Moving his head from side to side, his arms moved and he was breathing as if he'd been running. His actions and sounds had woken up Pikachu, who in turn, had started calling out and trying to wake up Paul.

Something wasn't right, and Paul woke up with a start and cursed under his breath; he couldn't see and he didn't know what to do. Being stuck in the storm was bad enough, but being woken up to attend his 'carer duties' was not what he signed up for, especially when someone's life was on the line, and especially when that someone was Ash Ketchum.

"I can't see! Calm down!" Paul commanded the electric type. "The fire wasn't supposed to go out completely, damn it!"

Pikachu moved away from Ash and used his static ability, providing the cave with a faint amount of yellow light - enough for Paul to see and quickly check on Ash.

Paul could feel Ash burning up – the heat radiating under his hand and the sweat trickling down the trainer's face. He quickly unzipped the sleeping bag all the way and uncovered Ash's body. Paul hastily called out Froslass – to help prepare the damp cold towels so he could lay them over Ash's head and chest. Ash seemed to calm a fraction, but he was still mumbling incoherently when Paul striped him of his sweat soaked t-shirt. The fact that this was an emergency, meant Paul had no time to dwell on his emotions towards the now naked trainer.

Paul rushed to get the fire going so that they had light within the cave, and so that Pikachu could stop using his static. Paul quickly sent Froslass out for ice, careful of the logs so that the fire wasn't disturbed. Once Froslass returned, they used the ice to help cool Ash down, but it was too late … Ash had started convulsing again.

Paul turned Ash onto his side in case he vomited, and a worried Pikachu managed to keep it together enough to help support his trainer's head. Ash didn't vomit this time but he still ended up loosing control of his bladder. The angle Ash was on – on his side, meant that the urine went on the floor of the cave, trickling into the small trench. Paul was able to move the sleeping bag to prevent it from getting wet as some of the urine pooled onto the cave floor.

It was emotionally heart wrenching to watch Ash in such a state, and Paul knew he could never get used to seeing anyone in this condition. He felt like a dagger had pierced his heart in places he never even knew existed. The nauseating, sickening feeling bubbled in his stomach, but when he remembered to breath, he managed to pushed down the nausea this time.

When Ash went still, Paul laid him down on his back and placed the cold towel back onto his head. He covered Ash's lower region with another towel, and only then did he allow himself a moment to swear a list of curses that Pikachu had never even heard of.

Pikachu was looking between Ash and Paul nervously, unsure of what to do and feeling helpless. Paul knew that he – himself, had a hard time watching Ash fitting, but he would never admit that, so he felt bad for Pikachu; if it was hard on him, then he could only imagine what the electric rodent must be feeling. Pikachu would just have to pull it together like himself, and stay hopeful that things would turn around for them soon.

"His fever is getting worse. There's nothing we can do except keep him cool and wait. I'm sure he will be fine." Paul didn't really do comfort, but he hoped his effort helped at least a little. He wanted to believe that Ash would be okay, but the cold truth was that he didn't know either way, and he could only watch as Ash battled with invisible demons. There was little – if anything, that he could do except wait and hope that Ash was strong enough to fight.

He snatched his cigarette packet from his bag, and popped one of his cigarettes into his mouth. Putting the lighter into his trouser pocket, Paul went back to check the cold towel on Ash's head. He managed to prepare another face cloth – thanks to Froslass, that was used to wipe Ash's body down and keep him cool. Paul showed Pikachu what to do, who took over for him and continued dabbing Ash down with his tiny paws. Only then, did Paul move over to the cave entrance and light his smoke. He took a big draw on his cigarette, blowing out slowly, and calming himself down. He closed his stinging, dampened eyes as he took another deep draw.

'Come on Ash! You never give up so you don't you dare start now! I really hope your Greninja knows what he's doing. I can't lose you - I won't loss you! Even if I can't have you, I don't think I'd do so well if you succumbed to illness and injury… especially under my useless care.'

After Paul's smoke, Pikachu and himself had continued tending to Ash, to keep him cool. Ash's body had started shivering, but Paul didn't know whether to cover him up or not. Ash's leg had also shown signs of bleeding again, so Paul had tended to it as best as he could before wrapping it back up – the bleeding had stopped, but the injury still looked too open, bruised, swollen, painful and angry. Ash still had colour in his foot however, so Paul assumed that to be a good sign, and he was quite sure he had seen Ash move his toes.

Paul managed to stay awake for a few hours to watch over Ash, fearful of what would happen if he slept, but as he hadn't slept much at all, he'd fallen back to sleep against the cave wall beside the obsidian-haired man. Pikachu had stayed awake, constantly fussing or watching over his trainer.

It was about ten am when Paul was woken up by Pikachu again, but this time it was with some better news; Greninja had returned. Greninja looked tired and worn out, but he put on a brave front and nodded respectfully to Paul.

Paul was impressed that Greninja had returned with two full bags – Ash's back pack, and another thick hiking/ranger type bag. He signed in relief as he went through the contents: two extra towels, four face cloths, a first aid kit including bandages and antiseptic cleaning solution, antibiotic tablets, pain-reliving medication that would also help lower a fever, Ten energy bars, six tins of soup, six packets of crisps, two large bags of trial mix and ten bottles of water. There were also instructions, informing Paul of the best course of action in treating Ash, and a note assuring them that rescue would be arriving as soon as it was safe to get through. Unfortunately, that wouldn't be for at least two more days due to the intensity of the storm.

Eating an energy bar, after giving one to Pikachu and one to Greninja, Paul read the instructions and got to work treating Ash's leg whilst the man was still asleep. Paul was worried that Ash didn't wake up, especially as he sprayed the antiseptic solution around the open break, and cleaned it to the best of his ability, but it allowed him to do the job easier. He then bandaged it up properly, just as the instructions had advised for an open break – he just hoped his first make-shift bandage with his cut trousers, hadn't done any damage due to his lack of medical training.

Paul finally felt like he could breath some. Ash wasn't out of the woods yet, but he had instructions from a medical practitioner, medication for Ash, food and bottled water, and he knew that help would arrive as soon as possible. He'd let Ash sleep until noon, but then he'd insisted that Ash needed to wake up.

It took ages to get Ash conscious enough to take the medication and drink the water, he was too comatose to stay awake. Paul figured that sleep was for the best, and as long as Ash got enough water and took his medication then he'd leave him to sleep.

Every hour Paul would wake him up and get him to drink, and then let him sleep again. The medication had brought down Ash's temperature, so Paul had put a top back on him. He decided to leave Ash's bottom half nude – for practical purposes, but he had placed the towel back over Ash's lower region – for his own benefit more than anything.

As six pm rolled around, Paul woke Ash up for his second set of medication and his hourly water. He'd made Ash some soup, but the obsidian-haired man had only taken a small amount of it. It had worried Paul that Ash had hardly eaten at all, but Pikachu ended up eyeing the tomato soup until Paul told him he could finish it.

By ten pm, Ash had finally decided to join the living. He was still groggy and wavering in and out of sleep, but Paul was rejoicing inside that things looked brighter – less dire. Paul sat Ash up against the log, and helped him drink some water.

After an awkward moment that started with Ash's need to urinate again – in which thankfully, a seriously blushing Ash had managed to sort out himself with minimal help – Ash had finally agreed to eat.

Paul prepared some more soup, this time it was cream of chicken soup, and Ash ate with little aid. After they'd eaten, Ash seemed more awake. Paul was so relieved that the young man was feeling better, but he grew more self-conscious because Ash kept staring at him.

"What?" Asked Paul, trying not to come across as a jerk.

He wondered why Ash kept looking at him like he was questioning his own eye sight. It was as if Ash couldn't believe Paul of all people, was looking after him. And alright, so he wouldn't normally, but this wasn't normal circumstances now was it. In fact, Paul had resigned himself to never seeing Ash again after they'd parted in Sinnoh – it was just too difficult to cross paths with the one thing you really wanted yet couldn't have.

"Nothing." Ash whispered hoarsely, looking away. He then went into another coughing spasm, holding his chest in pain.

"You okay?" Paul asked, instantly regretting asking such a dumb question. He hated idiots that asked obvious questions and now he was doing it. Ash really did have an effect on him.

"Mhmm." Ash nodded. "Tired."

"You should lay down." Paul told him, going over to help Ash lay back down.

Ash noticed that Paul's arms was kind, gentle and attentive, yet he was strong and firm at the same time. There was something about the way Paul looked at him that he couldn't quite place. Perhaps it was the illness clouding his mind, but Paul seemed actually worried about him… like he cared for him. It was unusual coming from Paul of all people, especially when he placed the cold wet towel onto his head and gently brushed the hair out of his eyes. For a moment, Paul had caught his gaze and Ash swore he saw more to Paul in that brief moment, a fleeting moment before Paul quickly looked away.

"Get some more rest." Paul instructed, moving away from him. Ash noticed the brief glint of awkwardness – and maybe embarrassment in Paul's eyes and body language, but it was barely there and he could have been mistaken.

"Paul? What happened, why are we still here? How long?" Ash asked, wanting to know what's been going on and why they were still in the cave. Even though he could still hear the storm, he wanted answers.

Paul sighed and took a moment to think of the quickest answer. "I found you out there see –– Saturday afternoon. It's now Tuesday night. We're between Jhoto and Kanto region, although I think we are closer to Jhoto in the Old Fall Cave. The storm should pass in a couple of days. People know where we are and will come for you when it's safe to get through. Greninja got a letter to them when he left to get supplies and medication. Don't worry about it, you just work on getting better."

After taking a while to process that information, Ash looked over to Paul again. "What about you? What have you been doing since you left? Did you beat Brandon?" Ash asked sleepily.

"I did. After the Sinnoh league I challenged him again… but I obviously wasn't ready then. A year later, I challenged him a third time and managed to win." Paul told Ash. Thinking back to how he'd humiliated himself the second time against Brandon, and how he'd left and grew more determined than ever to prove he could do it.

"That's great Paul!" Ash gave him a genuine yet small smile.

Paul felt a sense of warmth that Ash was happy of something he'd achieved. He didn't know why, he'd never looked for praise or self-worth from others – he didn't need nor care for others to be happy with what he did, except maybe his brother to a very low degree.

"What brought you to Jhoto?" Ash wondered. Paul lived in Sinnoh, and Ash knew he'd already beaten the gyms in Jhoto and Kanto – it was on his data record at the Sinnoh league, data that you could view about the trainers you were due to battle, and he was sure that Paul had mentioned it when Cynthia had been treating Paul's pokémon about four years ago.

"Reggie! The git made me take a Misdreavus to Morty at the Ecruteak City Gym. He wanted one and I was the delivery boy." Paul explained. Paul hadn't really minded the chance to get away from home for a while, and he could never blame Reggie – not really, but the git had been the one to send him, and now he was having the time of his life.

"Wow, a Misdreavus! How is Reggie?" Ash wondered. Reggie had been a great breeder, and he was so different to his younger brother. Reggie was warm, welcoming and kind, whereas Paul always looked like someone had wronged him personally. Ash had always liked Reggie, and seeing as how Reggie had taken care of Paul, Ash had always believed that Paul wasn't as bad as he projected – how could he be when Reggie was kind and obviously close to his brother.

"He's fine. Busy!" Paul told him, agitated and wondering what was with all the questions. It all seemed like small talk to him, and small talk was for sad lonely people who needed to make friends. "You really should get some rest!"

"I like hearing your voice." Ash's sleepy voice almost whispered.

Paul was shocked at first, but he wondered if he was reading too much into Ash's words. His voice was deep, but he felt there was nothing special about it. Hearing that Ash liked it was not only confusing but it also played with him on an emotional level.

Ash's voice had changed since Sinnoh – it sounded deeper, but he couldn't be sure because the illness made it hoarse and breathless. He looked over at Ash and it looked like he'd gone back to sleep. Paul went over to check that Ash's legs were covered, and to make sure his temperature was still down.

"Paul?" Ash barely whispered; his eyes still closed. "Do you know, this is first time we've had a proper conversation, and –– thank you." Ash said as he slipped into a deep slumber. Paul's lips curled slightly at the edges.

'Not exactly a conversation – fucking small talk! It's a shame we couldn't talk under better circumstances though. Once we get out of here Ash, I doubt our paths will cross again.'

'Ash is Ash, and that's that.' Dawns voice echoed in his mind.

'You aren't like me Ash. If I tell you the truth… I'd just embarrass myself. No! You have your own path to lead and I am not a part of it. Even if I really wanted to be, it won't happen. I can't keep living in the past and hoping for the impossible. I won't become an idiot waiting for something I can't have.

When morning came and Paul had woken up, Ash was already awake and talking to Pikachu and Greninja. His voice was still bad, and the coughing intervals sounded painful and chesty, but he was at least talking again. Paul found himself listening.

"I hope you've been good for Paul. I always knew he had a good heart really. It's nice of him to look out for us, right?" Ash said thinking back to how others would tell him to give up on the guy. No matter how grumpy or angry Paul got, or how he treated his pokémon, Ash could always see that there was something better beneath the shell. Brock had always told him that he saw the good in people.

"Pi pika chu!" Pikachu nodded vigorously. Greninja nodded once.

Paul cursed himself for being such a 'hormonal girl' when he felt butterflies – butterflies in his stomach at Ash's words. Ash's gratitude and ability to see the better part of him felt like a warm ball of light had absorbed itself into his chest – and wasn't that just a nauseatingly sweet sentiment. Paul's thoughts were cut off however, when he heard Ash grunt in pain.

Paul was about to get up when heard a pill bottle rattle. He looked over and caught sight of Pikachu handing Ash the small bottle of pain relief.

'That damn rodent has more intelligence that is normal!' Paul thought as got up.

Ash greeted him cheerfully. "Morning."

Paul just nodded. Handing him a bottle of water and his antibiotics, and told him to keep his fluids up.

Not much was said that morning – or that afternoon. Ash would talk to his pokémon when he wasn't sleeping. Paul, Pikachu and Greninja tended to Ash's every need or did routine things, such as tending to the fire and collecting water from the rain. Small talk and briefly exchanged sentences were all that was passed between Ash and Paul, and whenever Ash asked something – or spoke albeit hoarsely and breathless, Paul would give him quick short answers and then go mute.

It was driving Ash crazy being stuck in one place in the quiet, with only the noise of the storm or the fire to break the silence. If he wasn't still a little drowsy from being sick – and kept nodding off at odd intervals, he would have found it even worse. The medication kept his pain down, but the fact that Paul seemed to be avoiding conversation now and wouldn't even look at him, was bothering him more then his leg or illness to be honest. He knew what Paul was like, but this felt different. It was almost like Paul was disgusted with him … or he was angry about something?

By early evening he just couldn't take it no more. Ash had been awake for a few hours and had just finished his soup. Paul was sitting away from him, his hands in his jacket pockets and his eyes closed. Occasionally, Paul would open his eyes and glance over at him or something, and then he'd close them again. Ash couldn't help but feel like he had done something wrong… perhaps Paul hated the idea of looking after someone – being stuck caring for him couldn't be easy.

"I'm sorry you're stuck with me Paul." Ash said. He was sitting up against the small log, Pikachu asleep in his lap, and his soup over to one side finished.

Paul didn't move, he didn't even open his eyes, and all he said was, "It's fine."

"Paul? Did I do something wrong?" Ash asked. He was hesitant, but he would rather be shouted at then sit in this awkward silence. Paul didn't answer, and that felt worse.

Paul however, was thinking about Ash's question. Yes! Ash had done something wrong. He'd gone and gotten himself hurt by being a fucking idiot, and had in turn, gotten himself stuck in cave with him.

'Ash was Ash…'

That, to Paul, was also something else that was wrong. Paul couldn't look after Ash as easily now that he was awake more often, because hiding a secret from someone is a lot easier when said someone isn't conscious. Pretending not to be bothered is a lot more confusing, and much harder than Paul realised, and his emotions and cares were getting tied in knots. He felt like a fucking Combee trying to stay away from pollen, and then having to act casual and normal around a summer garden filled with flowers blowing enticingly in the wind in front of it.

"Paul?" Ash demanded, before coughing harshly.

Ash was coughing really bad, and it sounded like he was about to start coughing up a load of shit. Paul quickly lost his train of thought, stood up almost unconsciously like a mother to a crying child, and quickly found a clean face cloth. He handing it to Ash to cough in.

Ash took it, and just as Paul had predicted, the obsidian-haired man winced at the green shit he'd just coughing up. Paul stood there observing him, making sure that he was okay, but he kept his distance for his own emotional wellbeing.

Paul felt guilty for his thoughts a moment ago. He was pissed off, bored, and fighting a raging sea of emotions… but, taking it out on Ash wasn't going to make this any easier. Ash was injured and unwell, and Paul was pretty certain he never meant to get himself stuck in the cave with him.

He blamed Ash for being Ash. He couldn't understand his own fascination and attraction to the trainer, but it was undeniable how badly he had one – how badly he wanted to taste the obsidian-haired man he was so opposite with. From what Paul remembered, Ash always acted like he was on a sugar rush, always chirpy and smiling, always bent on hope and friendship, the total opposite of Paul. If he could change just one thing about Ash, he knew exactly what it would be – and it wasn't his personality.

After his coughing fit, Ash looked up at Paul and noticed how he seemed lost in thought. Ash looked at his eyes, waiting for Paul to say something – anything! Paul finally noticed Ash looking at him and just walked away, sitting back down where he was moments ago with a sigh.

"What's wrong?" Ash asked him.

"Nothing!" Paul sighed again. So much was bothering him, but he wasn't going to come clean anytime soon – especially not when the one causing the problem was the one asking the question. Paul had decided that being away from Ash as much as possible, and keeping his mind on anything but the trainer, was for the best. Talking to him just made it harder, and he wished Ash would stop trying to make small talk.

"You never answered me Paul. D-Did I do something wrong? You won't talk to me."

"Nothing to talk about." Paul answered, eyes closed, without so much as a sideward glance in Ash's direction.

"Anything is better than sitting here in silence. We could talk about the–"

"If you say the weather –– I will strangle you." Paul's cold voice halted Ash.

It wasn't what Ash was going to say, but there was a warning in Paul's voice, a warning for Ash to shut the fuck up!

Ash didn't try and communicate with Paul again after that. He just fussed Pikachu who was asleep in his lap, and got lost in his own thoughts. He thought about his mum – how worried she'd be about him seeing as he hadn't been in contact, and he was meant to be home by now. He thought about the Veil conference in the Belitose region – how he'd come first, and how hard the competitors were… especially the final battle with a girl named Akari. His mind wondered to many things, time went by quickly without him noticing, but he still felt lonely. The pain – physical and mental, was harder to ignore when he wasn't distracted or doing something.

It was getting late when Paul helped a dozing Ash lay back down to sleep. Ash just thanked Paul, watching the plum-purple haired man make sure his sleeping bag was done up around his body, checked that he was comfortable, had taken his medication and wasn't running a fever.

Ash didn't get the contrast between how much Paul seemed worried about him – the care and attention he put into making sure he was okay, and then the cold front he'd been subjected to earlier. He tried to read Paul, but it was impossible – the guy seemed to have a thick hundred-foot wall around him that was impenetrable.

Ash knew he hadn't tried that hard – he didn't have the energy or will to get into heated discussions right now, but he'd decided that he wanted to know what Paul's deal was. He decided that when tomorrow came he would ask him, no matter the consequence.