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Question:

My Answer:

Characters: ODILE X BRENDAN FROM MY 'CHOICES: PART ONE' CHAPTER! X D D D D D D D

Summary: WOOT IT'S SO FLUFFY I'M SO EXCITED!

Choices (Finale)

There was only one bed.

Brendan and I stood in the doorway, our soaked-through clothes dripping onto the floor of the room we had just rented in the Pokecenter. Outside, the thunder crashed, rain hammering against the windows.

"I'll go tell them that we need a room change," he said. I glanced over to see that his face had flushed, and that his eyes were anywhere but on me.

"Wait." Ignoring how my cheeks were burning, I put a hand on his arm to stop him. "Let's at least get changed first. We'll catch a cold if we stay in our wet clothes."

"Alright." He dropped our bags and closed the door behind us, tossing the keys onto the bed. I crouched down by my bag to take out a nightgown and undergarments, my fingers numb and clumsy from the cold.

"Do you want to change in the bathroom, or out here?" I asked, straightening.

He ran a hand over his face, exhaustion plain in his every feature. "You can take the bathroom."

"Okay, thanks. Holler when it's okay for me to come out." On legs heavy with tiredness I made my way to the bathroom, closing and locking the door behind me. The rain was audible even there, the sound reminding me more and more of hail as I peeled off my wet clothes and put them in a pile on the floor.

Hey, what's wrong? Larka queried from her pokeball, feeling my distress.

It's just that a lot's happened, I answered as I slipped into my nightdress, the warm, dry cotton feeling heavenly against my skin. I'm worried about Team Magma and Aqua.

Don't be. Stress less.

Don't try and make light of this, I warned her, turning to face my reflection. My usually pale hazel eyes were fervent, the colour that the cold had whipped into my cheeks startling against the ghostlike pallor of the rest of my body. My dark hair hung like tangled seaweed against my shoulders, glistening with the rain that it had absorbed.

What else am I supposed to do? she asked. The other option is to be scared out of my wits.

I stared into my own eyes before sighing, stooping down to retrieve my wet outfit. You're right. I'm sorry, Larka.

It's okay. Just don't take my head off next time I crack a joke, okay?

Okay. I leaned against the door. "Brendan, can I come out now?"

"Yeah." The reply was nearly drowned out by the rain.

I unlocked the door and stepped out in reply, kicking it closed behind me. He had changed into long black pants and a tank top, his tanned skin turned skeletal under the gloomy lighting. He had taken off his hat, revealing the wet disarray of hair underneath.

"I phoned downstairs," he said, and I tucked my wet clothes back into my bag before withdrawing Larka's pokeball. "Since the storm's so bad all the rooms are booked. We're stuck with this one, unless we want to go try another center."

"It's too dangerous," I answered, releasing Larka. She stretched with the grace she had attained since evolving into a kirlia, each motion flowing seamlessly into the next. "And what if all the other centers are booked, too? Then we'll be stranded."

"I guess." He sighed, blowing a lock of near-black hair off his forehead. Then he tilted his chin up to look at me, his ruby-coloured eyes luminous compared to the shadiness of the room. "How're you doing?"

"Fine." Not wanting to acknowledge how his voice made my heart kick up a notch and how I really wasn't fine at all, I dropped my eyes to Larka, putting a hand on her head.

He was quiet for a moment. "Are you sure?"

No. "Yes."

"Because…" He cleared his throat. "You can tell me, you know."

I glanced up. His face had flamed again, his expression anxious.

Lightning struck again, lighting up the room momentarily, and all at once my emotions came tumbling out of my mouth. "I'm scared," I blurted, my hand jerking back to grip at my wrist. Now that I had said it out loud the fear seemed to grow in my, twisting my stomach into knots and causing my throat to swell. "I'm scared of what will happen now that kyogre's been awakened. Steven said that the world will drown- is it already starting to happen?"

The storm howled outside, reinforcing my words, and I finally steeled myself enough to look at Brendan. He was still sitting on the bed, his eyes searching mine.

I expected him to tell me that it was going to be alright, or that I needed to be strong.

Instead he said nothing at all.

A stab of hurt targeted my midriff. "Forget it," I croaked, turning away.

"Wait, Odile!" There was a creak, and two warm arms twined around me from behind. "Sorry, that was stupid. I just don't know what to say."

His warmth seeped into me, releasing some of the tension in my body. "It's okay."

"No, it's not." He was so much taller than me that I had to tilt my head back to meet his eyes. "Look, you know that the gym leaders are going to fight against Aqua and Magma. And all of us trainers will too. We're going to beat this."

"But at what cost?" My voice broke. "How many people- and pokemon- will die?"

"I don't know. But," he added, giving me a smile that didn't reach his eyes, "know what I do know?"

"What?"

"That there is a working TV that gets more than a hundred channels right here in this very room."

I stared up at him, still trapped in his arms. He stared down at me, his expression caught between hopefulness and regret.

So I did what was to be expected.

I slapped him.

It was feeble, since my arm wasn't quite long enough to reach his face, but it made a satisfying sound.

His eyes widened. "What was that for?" he asked with no real venom in his voice, almost sounding as if he was trying not to laugh.

"For having such obvious topic changes," I answered. Then I patted the red mark, his flushed skin warm against my still-cold hand. "But thank you for trying to cheer me up."

His wince morphed into a grin. "Was it really that bad?"

"It was a valiant effort, but still a lousy one."

"O ye of little faith, I'll get you smiling by the end of the night," he tsked, and I dropped my hand. "Just you wait."

That sounds naughty, Larka interjected, a smile slinking across her face.

"But first: television. It's the best therapy." He sat down on the edge of the bed and motioned for me to join him, trying his best to look severe. "Come. Sit."

"Brendan-"

He cut me off by leaning forward and grabbing my hand, tugging me towards him. I allowed him to, stifling a laugh at his expression as he forced me down beside him. "Now what?" I asked, biting my lip on a smile as he picked up the remote and started pressing buttons.

"Now," he said with great emphasis as the TV flickered on, "we watch mush. And we watch much of it."

"Mush?" I echoed.

"Yeah, mush. You know: movies that are so bad that they're good? The ones that keep your mind off everything else," he clarified. Then he nudged me, the grin that I so loved making a reappearance. "C'mon, you're a girl- you should know about mush."

I snorted, nudging him back and sending us both rocking. "I resent that."

From the other side of the room I saw one of Brendan's pokeballs glow red, and Jace let himself out of his pokeball, his long claws glinting in the half-light. He chirped at me, obviously siding with his trainer, and Larka flicked him on the side of the head. He glanced at her and blushed, the feathers over his face going rosy.

"Alright. What's on?" Brendan hummed, leaning back on the backboard and putting a hand behind his head to cushion himself. I flopped over onto my stomach, my chin in my hands.

"Apparently nothing much," I muttered. It was true. There were soap operas, reruns of TV shows that I hadn't heard of and the news. "Can you turn on the news for a minute?"

"No."

"Why?" I twisted around to look at him.

"Because I don't want you to be any more scared than you already are," he responded firmly.

"Brendan, ignorance isn't bliss." I searched his eyes, trying to make him understand.

It was in vain. "The world can wait for a night. The problems will still be there in the morning." He flicked on one of the soaps to end the conversation, the expression in his eyes stubborn. I opened my mouth to argue, but at that moment the sound of the storm grew to a scream, and our heads snapped around to face the window.

Rain had been beating against the glass, but with the screech of grating metal it came clean off, the pressure causing the entire windowpane to fly into the opposite wall. We all covered our heads as the glass shattered, and arctic winds rushed into the room, filling it with an instant chill. Rain splattered against the same wall as the windowpane had crashed into, splattering it with blotches of black.

As we sat there, stunned, the TV screen flickered and died. The lights went shortly after, plunging us into complete and utter darkness.

We were silent for a few minutes.

"Is everyone okay?" I asked eventually, my voice sounding small to my own ears.

Jace croaked a reply, and Larka issued out a subdued, I think so.

I heard Brendan groan, the bed creaking as he shifted his weight. "Yeah. Are you?"

"Yes."

"Where are you?" he asked.

"Here." I reached out my hand, which collided with his, and he wrapped his around mine tightly.

"Okay. Stay here, alright?"

I frowned in the general direction of his voice. "Where are you going?"

"To go push the cupboard up against the window to keep the room from flooding."

"Oh, no you don't," I said as he let go of my hand, managing to snag his arm. "You'll cut your feet on the glass. Larka can use telekinesis; let her do it." Can you please, Larka? It'll be a huge help.

Duh, she replied. What, you think I'd let you drown?

We wouldn't drown.

Eh. You'd probably be okay. Your boyfriend, however, is a very special snowflake- he could probably drown in a puddle.

I flushed, all too aware that my hand was still on Brendan's arm. I released my grip, moving my hand to my lap. He's not my boyfriend. And he would not.

You wish he was, though.

Quit sassing me and move the freaking cupboard already.

I heard her sigh, and her burgundy eyes burned through the darkness as she utilized her telekinesis. A red haze surrounded the cupboard, and it dragged against the floor as she moved it to rest against the window, keeping the rain out.

"Thanks, Larka," Brendan said.

You owe me, lover-boy, she responded. So stop blushing and kiss Odile already. Arceus, and to think that I thought that you looked like such a badass when I first saw you.

"She says that you're welcome," I translated.

Quiet settled as my eyes adjusted. Larka was sitting on a dry patch of the floor with her legs tucked neatly underneath her, and Jace was lightly stroking her arm with his clawed fingers, making sure not to injure her. She was leaning on him, much more anxious than what she was letting on.

"So what now?" Brendan said.

I sighed. "I'm not really sure."

"I mean, I don't feel like having something to eat…"

"Me neither," I whispered. "I don't think I could stomach anything after the day we've had."

"And the power's out …"

"…So we can't distract ourselves."

He exhaled long and slow. "I guess we could plan what we're going to do tomorrow."

"No, I think we should play it by ear," I disagreed. "We need to know how bad the weather conditions are before making any plans."

"True." He yawned. "Look, I don't think that there's anything to do but go to sleep."

I muttered an agreement, before the fact that there was only one bed swept back into my head and cheeks.

His eyes were bright as ever in the murkiness. "I'll sleep on the floor."

"No," I blurted, aghast. "The carpet's soaked, and there are glass shards everywhere."

His hand twitched, as it always did when he was embarrassed, up to rub at the bridge of his nose. "I can sleep on my bag. It'll be okay."

"Don't be ridiculous. Not only would that be uncomfortable, but it's freezing in here- you'll get sick. Neither of us are sleeping on the floor."

I could not believe I was about to say this. I could not. I would never live it down.

Grimacing, I managed to choke out, "Sleep here."

I'll let this painfully awkward situation run its course, Larka interrupted in form of a goodnight, returning herself to her pokeball. Jace coughed a laugh and followed suit.

Brendan's bright eyes were unusually solemn. "Really?"

"Yes," I squeaked. "It's no problem." Oh my Arceus, I can't believe I'm sharing a bed with a guy.

He lifted a hand as if to touch me, but let it fall. "Thank you, Odile. I'll sleep on top of the covers."

"Won't you be cold?" I asked, feeling my way up to where the pillows lay at the top of the bed and pulling down the covers.

You just want in his pants, don't you? Larka asked from her pokeball. Seriously, she mocked in a painful falsetto, 'Oh no Brendan, sleep here with me!' and 'Oh no, Brendan, don't sleep on top of the covers! Sleep underneath them with me! We can cuddle!' Good Arceus, woman, you're shameless.

THAT IS NOT TRUE, I shot back at her, horrified. Then I slid under the covers, fighting the urge to hide my face. Why, did it sound like that?

Nah, I'm just joking. Goodnight, Odile. Have fun sleeping with your future husband.

Goodnight, you troll.

"I'll be fine," Brendan assured me, his voice lowering to a bedroom whisper. A miniscule amount of light filtered in from a gap between the cupboard and the window, the gleam of his eyes visible as he laid down on the covers beside me. The bed was small; it could fit two people comfortably, but without much moving room. "Goodnight, Odile."

"Goodnight, Brendan." Ignoring at how my nerve endings prickled by being in such close proximity to him, I closed my eyes, praying that sleep would come fast as the storm raged on.

A few minutes later unconsciousness overtook me, and I fell into oblivion.

000

I was woken up sometime later by the sound of teeth chattering.

I frowned, bleary from sleep. Blinking a few times to let my eyes adjust, I rolled over to see Brendan shivering, still on top of the blankets.

I shuffled over to gently prod his shoulder. "Brendan."

He stirred, opening one eye. "What's wrong?" he yawned, rubbing at his eyes.

"You're freezing," I said, putting my hand to the side of his face. His skin was cold to the touch. "Get under the covers."

He blinked, his gaze roving over my face. Then he peeled back the covers and slipped under them, shifting closer to me.

"Is this alright?" he asked as he moved so that he lay next to me, his skin icy against mine.

"Yes, it's fine." I felt him wrap an arm around me, and I laid my head on his chest, finding the beating of his heart more to my liking than the sound of the rain.

He rested his chin on the top of my head. "Sweet dreams."

"You too," I answered, too tired to feel embarrassed. Twining my arms around him, I fell asleep with a peaceful smile on my face, not caring just how much fun Larka would have finding us in this position.