Gain Of Trust
CHAPTER 11
3/4 year ago, two weeks after meeting Trevor...
"Come on, Leader, I said I was sorry!"
"Sorry doesn't cut it, Jack. Two weeks, that is the new record."
"Oh come on, you just look like a 'Leader'! And it wasn't even me who got him started with it! It was Krystal!"
"Don't know what you're talkin' about~"
"Don't you give that innocent look, woman! You are guilty here!"
"Enough already," Ash sighed, rubbing his forehead as he moved another spoonful of the warm soup to his lips. Jack's stomach grumbled, watching the man consume the warm liquid that he was currently refrained from having.
"But it really was Krystal, you know that..." Jack mumbled in a pout, the icy-blunette giggling to herself quietly as she sipped her own soup. The group was currently sitting inside a restaurant in Hearthome City, everyone having some warm soup after their recent time in Snowpoint. Well, everyone except Jack. "...This is so unfair..."
"Maybe you should learn to talk less. All that seems to do is get you in trouble," Trevor said calmly, his companion shooting him a glare. The group was lucky to have found a table which could fit all of them, the arrangements having been fought on a bit before they could sit down. The outcome was on one side Jack, Ash, and Trevor, with the other side being Mason, Gina, Krystal, and Webb in the same direction. Arguments had been made by Jack being insistent on sitting beside Ash, similar demands being made by Krystal as well. In the end, Jack happily got his spot beside him and the icy-blunette was reluctant, but accepted sitting across from him.
"Shut it, you've been here two weeks. I'm still not even a fan of the idea of you coming along."
"Well, that's not up to you, is it? I would respectfully leave if that's what Leader asked of me."
"Oh come on! He's just doing it to piss me off now!"
"Of course not, Leader is Leader. And with his past, I have a great deal of respect for him and his accomplishments, so I figure joining him might be something worth while."
"That's a wise choice. Leader is certainly a man worth the time," Gina said calmly, earning a questionable glance from Ash.
"Oh, don't you get involved. Oh I know, let's go back to that topic from that frozen hell that you totally blew off without answering. What's up with these 'midnight talks'?" Jack asked, Mason and Webb giving a nod in agreement. Krystal, Ash and Trevor gave confused looks.
"As I said, I meant exactly what I said," Gina replied, Jack scratching his head frustratingly.
"Aaagh you cannot just leave it on that! Leader, what does she mean?!" Jack asked desperately, Ash just blinking in confusion.
"I'm not even sure what this is about, Gina, what is he even talking about?" he asked, the silver-haired girl only giving a sly smile to herself in response.
"Come now, don't tell me you've forgotten our time together in the night?"
"W-What?!"
"Oooookay, that's it! Way too suggestive! Leader, explain!" Jack shouted, Ash giving another sigh as he glanced around. Thankfully the restaurant was nearly empty, giving an apologetic look and bow of his head to the other occupants of the restaurant.
"Jack, can't you see you're being a bother to the other customers as well as Leader? Lower your voice already," Trevor told him, only infuriating the man more as he gave a suspicious chuckle.
"Oh, you just love my misery, don't you? No wonder Leader let you join, you fit right in around here!"
"Jack, Gina's talking about the nights I have trouble sleeping," Ash told him, then immediately he stopped. His words played back in his head. Oh crap.
"W-W-WHAT?!" Krystal shot up out of the chair, cheeks pink and looking shocked. Ash sighed again, noticing that Gina's sly smile only grew. "What do you mean by that?! Leader!"
"Enough already, it is nothing like what you're thinking. Either of you. Gina, please tell them."
"..."
"...Gina..."
"...But it's fun..."
"Please."
"...Fine. Like he says, there's nothing going on between me and Leader. It really was just talks."
"...This can't be real..." Jack looked between the two curiously.
"It is. Some nights I have troubles sleeping, because of...certain things, from my past, that keep me awake at night. When I go for a walk to clear my head, I usually ran into Gina who was outside looking at the night sky," everyone looked at Gina curiously, who lowered her head. "She always saw right through me and could tell I was having troubles sleeping, so she...talked to me. And it helped calm me down."
"...Seriously? Why wouldn't you just say that from the start?" Krystal punched her friend on the arm lightly. Gina glanced away.
"...One, because it's fun to tease the two of you. You really make it too easy," this comment earned an annoyed glare from the two in question. "Two...Because I didn't want to worry you."
"What?" Krystal blinked in confusion.
"If you knew about the times I would sit outside at night, you would overreact and think something was wrong. Then you would pester me about it, and not leave me alone until I give you an answer," Krystal chuckled nervously. She was definitely right on that. "...So I figured I would keep it to myself. To save you the trouble of worrying."
...Well, at least that's cleared up now..." Jack sighed in relief. Meanwhile, Trevor watched in utter confusion and curiosity.
"...What just happened?" everyone laughed as the waiter came by, leaving the check to which Ash took. After denying Mason and Webb on their insistence of paying, Ash paid and the group stood up, getting ready to leave.
"You know, being a coordinator takes a lot of different important aspects to be successful. It usually helps to have good looks, a well-groomed pokemon, but no one ever really mentions the most important thing!"
"Hm?" Ash's attention was drawn to the TV mounted in the corner of the restaurant, not far from their table. The group noticed that Ash had stopped, stopping as well and following his gaze to the TV.
"Hey, it's TMZ. Man, didn't even know this was still a thing..." Jack said, crossing his arms behind his head. The TV's image currently depicted what seemed to be a performance stage, with brilliant lights and decorations highlighting the stage as the crowd in the video began to cheer.
"Yeah. Being a coordinator isn't all about the looks and the glamour, it's about so much more than that," the group watched a performer step out from behind the curtain along the side of the stage, waving to the crowd. Ash's eyes watched her curiously as the blonde girl moved sideways towards the center of the stage, still waving to the crowd.
"Oh, this oughta be good," Jack watched in anticipation, smiling and earning a questioning glance from the others except Ash, who didn't take his eyes off the screen.
"Yes, being a pokemon coordinator is about the beauty, the brilliance, the pokemon, but most of all...You know, the co-ordination!" as the commentator's voice emphasized that final word, the group watched as the performer tripped on her foot, falling over onto her side. The crowd burst into laughter. The girl got back to her feet, clearly embarrassed as she tried to continue her act. She pulled a pokeball from behind her, beginning to spin on her toe, bringing her other foot up towards her knee as she twirled gracefully. Then, she began to fall over but managed to catch herself, but appeared to have accidentally extended her arm out towards the crowd in an attempt to maintain balance, and let go of the pokeball in her hand. The crowd laughed harder as the pokeball soared towards the camera recording, hearing a surprised grunt of pain as the sphere disappeared over the camera's view.
"...Wow, that...is gold," Jack chuckled, starting towards the door again.
"No it's not," Jack stopped, everyone's eyes on Ash, who had not looked away from the TV. "...That is not funny in the slightest. I would expect you of all people to understand, Jack, that is not something to laugh at."
"Leader..." Krystal gave a concerned look to the man, who was clearly affected by the video. Jack quietly moved towards the door, not saying another word, followed by the rest except for Ash and Krystal. "...Come on, Leader. You know he was just trying but failing to be funny himself."
"...I know..." Ash gave a quiet sigh, looking at the icy-blunette's smiling at him. Glancing back at the TV, he moved towards the door, followed by the girl. "...That girl just doesn't deserve that humilation, is all...Nobody does..."
"Yeah, I know, Leader," Krystal replied kindly, following him out the door. Unbeknownst to them, a pair of particular eyes were watching the man leave the restaurant from beneath a hood at a nearby table, getting up to follow them.
"...I...I never thought it was like...that..." Lexi was unsure what to say, after hearing Leader's story. "...I'm so sorry..."
"You have nothing to be sorry for. It's the world who's to blame," Leader replied calmly, running a hand through his untamed hair. "...Do you know why I'm telling you this, Lexi?"
"...I think I can guess..." she rubbed her arm nervously, looking out at the water in front of them. "...It's because I can relate, isn't it? Out of everyone here, I understand that pain the closest..."
"That's right. I never want to tell the others that story because I know they would only feel sorry for me if I did. But you don't pity me, because you know exactly what that's like. And you know what it's like to be put on a spotlight of humiliation."
"...I sure do..." Lexi chuckled weakly, unable to force herself to smile. Leader glanced at the girl, noticing her gloomy depression. Lexi nearly flinched at the surprising feeling of the man's arm reach around her shoulder, pulling her against his arm. "W-Wha- Leader...?"
"Society lives to isolate those who are different. Because if you're not the way that everyone wants to see you as, then you're seen as odd. Strange. An outcast..." Lexi glanced at the man's hand on her shoulder, then back to the man's face curiously. "...Something needs to change, Lexi. And if no one is going to bring it to the world's attention, then we have to do it ourselves."
"...What are you...saying...?" she asked slowly, curious to the meaning behind his words. The man looked down at her, Lexi becoming more surprised to see the man give a gentle smile.
"If the world laughs at us for our struggles, then we'll just have to laugh back when our real time comes."
"So, Leader, where we headed now?" Mason asked, the group now walking down the sidewalk of the street.
"Hmm...I suppose we could try somewhere else for more training. How do you guys feel about Mt. Chimney in Hoenn?" Ash asked, Jack giving a sigh.
"So we go straight from a frozen wasteland to a boiling volcano? Is there any way I can get out of this next session?" Jack asked.
"From what I noticed in Snowpoint, you're the one who needs this training the most," Trevor responded, easily annoying the man. Everyone else stifled their snickers.
"Man, you guys...you just suck..." Jack said, hanging his head lower in shame and disappointment.
"Oh, Leader, if we're going to Hoenn, can we check out out Fallarbor Town? The ashhes there that drift from the mountain is supposed to look just like snow!"
"I think we've seen you with enough snow for a while, Krys'."
"Leader."
"Oh come on, it would be so fun! What's so bad about a little sightseeing while travelling?"
"Leader."
"Well, I guess it couldn't hurt...As long as we're quick."
"Leader."
"Jeez, Gina, will you stop annoying Leader?" Krystal hushed the girl, who only ignored her. The silver-haired girl reached for Leader's arm.
"Leader, I-" Gina was surprised to watch Ash catch her hand before it reached his arm, looking across the street.
"Good point, Gina. Guys, let's go take a break in that park over there," Ash said, pointing to a park just off the sidewalk ahead.
"In a park? ...You sure, Leader?" Trevor asked hesitantly.
"That's right, go on ahead. I've got something to shop for," the others exchanged confused glances, before leaving the man and Gina and heading for the park. Ash loosened his grip on Gina, lowering his voice as he watched them walk away. "I noticed them a few minutes ago, Gina. Go join the others."
"But Leader-" Gina stopped as the man flashed her a smile, surprising her. She hesitated for a few moments, a few longer than Ash had hoped for, before she reluctantly moved to join the others. Ash couldn't help but notice she glanced back at him every few feet, the man giving a quiet sigh.
"Alright, then..." he began down the sidewalk again, feeling the gaze of a pair of eyes following him. He saw an upcoming alleyway between two buildings. He turned down the alley, keeping his movement at a casual pace, almost reaching the end before the corner. He paused for a moment just before the corner, then resumed as he felt the gaze on his back once more. Turning the corner, he noticed a nearby dumpster with the lids closed just below a fire exit balcony. He quietly hopped onto the dumpster, climbing up to the fire escape to keep out of ground-level eyesight. Crouching in wait, it was a few moments before he noticed a figure come around the corner, moving down the alleyway. Ash couldn't quite tell what they were wearing, other than the hood that kept their face hidden. Seeing no one ahead of them, the figure looked around confused as they continued walking, right past Ash. The man then hopped off the fire escape, hitting the ground a few feet behind the figure. The figure jumped, turning around to face him. "Mind telling me why you were following me?"
"...H...How did you know...?" the voice was clearly nervous. Ash clearly recognized the voice as feminine.
"I'm not gonna call the cops or anything, as long as you tell me why you were following me. That's all I want to know," Ash explained, the figure taking a step back cautiously. Ash frowned. "Look, if you run, I'll have no other option than to be suspicious. And if that were the case, then I would be forced to call-"
"Please don't!" the figure pleaded, followed by a gasp as they covered their own mouth. Ash looked at the figure curiously.
"...Who are you, exactly? You don't strike me as a criminal, so...what reason would you have for following someone...?" Ash pondered out loud, the figure hesitating. They lowered their covered head, their hands meeting in front of them. Ash watched as the figure seemed to shift uncomfortably, rubbing their arm nervously, before reaching up to grab either side of their hood. Ash watched them pull it back, revealing the face of a girl, not much younger than himself, with blonde hair that extended down her back inside the hood's collar. But what was stranger was that Ash recognized the girl's face.
"...It's because you're the first person...who's ever taken my side."
"Thank you, Lexi..." the girl looked at the man's back curiously, who was walking ahead of her through the treeline. The sun had finally begun to descend to the horizon over the ocean. "For listening, I mean...I know it doesn't seem like much, but I still appreciate it."
"Come on, Leader, you know I'm always here for you," Lexi smiled, hurrying forward a few steps ahead of him, stopping and turning on her heels to face him. He stopped. "When we first met, you said you wanted to change the world, remember?"
"Yeah, of course," Leader responded, the girl smiling again.
"And when I first joined you, do you remember my one condition?" she asked, the man's memories flashing back to their first encounter.
"There's no way I could forget," the girl's eyes drifted to the ground beside her, arms behind her back.
"Then you should know that I'll always be here to help, whether it's a talk or anything you need...I'm always here for you, Leader," she told him, the man unable to resist smiling. The pair continued back towards the camp, where the others had apparently retreated into their tents early. "Is there anything else I can do to help, Leader?"
"You've done more than enough, Lexi, that's good for today. Rest easy," Leader told her with a chuckle.
"Okay, then, goodnight," the girl smiled with a wave as she disappeared into her own tent. The man looked into the sky, giving a quiet sigh as he closed his eyes.
"...And to think...I promised the same thing to you so easily..."
"You're...that girl from the TV show..." Ash said, his mind flashing back to the humiliated girl on the TV show. The blonde slowly nodded, looking away at the ground in embarrassement.
"I...I saw you...at the restaurant..." she said slowly, Ash suddenly getting a nervous feeling. His mind flashed back to Jack's comment.
"I'm so sorry," the blonde was surprised to notice the man give a polite bow to her. "My friend is very insensitive and very rarely does he think before he speaks. I'm very sorry he said something to hurt your feelings."
"W-What? No, no, I'm not mad," the girl defended, Ash glancing up at her curiously. She looked away again, feeling embarrassed. Ash noticed she began twiddling her thumbs. "...I'm not mad about your friend, actually...It's about you..."
"...Excuse me?" Ash was having trouble understanding this situation. Very suddenly, she moved towards him, stopping a step away and clasping her hands together as if praying, surprising the man. He looked into her clear eyes which seemed to glimmer as they looked at him. "...You're the first person...who didn't laugh."
"...I-Is that...so...?" Ash struggled to find words to properly react. She seemed starstruck, but he was no celebrity, so did it seem like such a big deal to her...? "Sorry, but...is that the only reason why you followed me?"
"Yes," he was surprised at her honest answer. She turned away from him, looking down at her feet as she began kicking the ground. "...The truth is, that performance was a few weeks ago. And almost every day that show seems to play that recording on TV, and anytime I see people watching it, they always laugh. I've never seen anyone feel sorry for me, or sympathize for me..."
"...That's part of what's wrong with this world, in my opinion," Ash started, the girl looking at him with a curious look, tilting her head slightly. "Society is all about shaming and humilating anyone they can, no matter what the expense is. As long as it's entertainment, they'll show it for ratings. It's disgusting, really, and I can't stand it."
"...Would you mind if I asked you something?" the girl cautiously took a step closer to him, Ash watching her carefully. She was acting just like a little girl, Ash was surprised to find himself almost thinking it was cute. "...The reason you didn't laugh, and why you think that way...Is it because you've been humiliated too?"
"...Yeah, sure is," Ash replied calmly. "It may not have been the same situation as you, but it was still humilating to me. I was ridiculed for a choice I made, and because of that, not only did I suffer, but someone very close to me."
"Really?" the girl asked curiously. The man nodded, moving towards the nearby wall and leaning against it. The girl did the same thing, a few feet from him. "...Would it be too personal if I asked what happened?"
"...No, I should probably talk about it with someone anyway. It has been a number of years already..." Ash gave a quiet sigh, resting his head against the wall and closing his eyes. "...Coming up on 7 years ago now, I was in a relationship with someone. We were the best of friends, and loved spending every minute we could together. But certain things about each of us gave potential for the media to try and make a big deal out of it."
"Certain things?" the blonde asked, the man giving a nod.
"You see, I was a trainer. I'd explored almost every region I could, and competed in the Pokemon League in each. And she was a coordinator, who had gone across almost as many regions as me. We decided to keep quiet about us at first, she was nervous about her parents finding out and I didn't want to force her into anything, so we went on a few months with no one knowing. But that all ended one day, and neither of us were prepared for it."
"...Someone found out?" the girl asked quietly, Ash giving another nod. She looked down at her feet.
"The media found us, just like they found that performance of yours," the girl didn't respond, only giving a curious glance to the man beside her. She watched him run his fingers through his messy hair, giving a quiet sigh to himself. "And as you already know, when the media finds something entertaining, they don't just let it go. They egg it for as much publicity they can get."
"...Yeah, do I know that..." the blonde muttered to herself, the man pushing off the wall and turning to face her.
"If you would consider taking advice on the matter, miss, don't let it get to you. Even for a second," she looked at him curiously. "I know it can be painful, I know it seems like the world is against you because of it, but there are still people out there who can help. Don't run and hide from it like I did, I mean look at me. That was seven years ago and I'm still in pain because of it."
"Seven years...?" the blonde was surprised. "...So, the girl...did you have to help her through that?"
"...No, the truth is much more shameful for me," Ash said, stuffing his hands in his pockets and looking away in no direction in particular. "...Truth is, I ran. I couldn't handle it and just left, without a word. Not even to her."
"...What...?" the girl could barely find words. "But, you must've talked to her, right? You must've at least-"
"No, I didn't do anything. After I left, I never went back. I was too ashamed to face her again after what I did, so I just traveled on my own. Nowhere in particular, just...followed whatever path I found myself on," the blonde watched curiously as Ash moved towards her, taking his hand from his pocket. The girl almost flinched as he moved it towards her, surprised to feel it land on her head gently. She glanced up at him curiously to see him giving a warm smile, his rather cold eyes suddenly having a warmth inside them. "...If you would ever listen to a stranger you just met, I hope you can find it in you to get over this and move on. Come back twice as hard and make them regret ever having made fun of you."
"...Who...are you...?" the girl almost felt disappointed as the man stepped back, withdrawing his hand to his pocket again and turning away from her.
"Just a man who was ridiculed by the world. And one who wants to change it for the better, with his own hands," he gave her another smile, giving a simple wave before turning towards the end of the alley. The girl hesitated for a moment.
"Wait!" Ash turned his head without stopping to see the girl hurrying after him. Surprised, he felt her grab his wrist, stopping him. "Please...Please let me come with you!"
"Excuse me?" Ash asked, the girl looking straight into his eyes. Ash could see beyond the glimmer that she was dead serious. "...Why would you want to come with me?"
"Because you've felt the same pain I have! You are the first person I've met that understands me, understands what I'm feeling! And you said you want to change the world for the better, and I want to help with that!" the girl explained, Ash giving a curious look. "I don't know if I can be of any real help, but please, let me have a chance!"
"...Hm..." Ash didn't give much of a hopeful response, worrying the girl. As he stared at her in thought, the girl began to feel nervous. Slowly, she let go of him, her hands falling to her sides as her eyes drifted down to her feet.
"...Okay...If you don't want me to...It's okay..." she said quietly, feeling her heart begin to sink in her chest.
"...One condition," the girl slowly looked back up at him, a hopeful look in her eyes. "If you want to come along, I have one condition. Non-negotiable."
"Anything!" she pleaded, the man giving a small smile as he held his hand out towards her.
"Promise me that you will never consider yourself on your own. Ever," Ash said, the girl staring at him in surprise. Moments passed in silence, until the blonde finally broke into a smile and laughter.
"...Okay, but now I have a condition too," the girl said, holding her hands behind her back and grinning happily. The man arched an eyebrow. "...I want you to promise the same thing. Whenever you think about the past and what you've been through, I want you to remember that you have me here with you. If I'm not alone, you're not alone."
"...You're a genuinely kind girl, aren't you?" Ash asked with a chuckle, the girl giggling.
"Only when I have a reason to be," she replied with a coy smile, the man breaking into a smile. The girl took the man's hand, shaking on their agreement.
"Although, I must warn you now, there are others you'll have to meet. And they can be a little...eccentric," Ash said, the girl giving a curious look with a tilt of her head.
"Fine by me," the pair began walking towards the end of the alley, the blonde following a step behind Ash. She suddenly hopped an extra step, pacing herself beside him. "...I'm Lexi, by the way."
"Ash. Glad to have you along, Lexi."
"May, are you sure about this...?" Dawn asked slowly, the brunette giving her a curious look. "I mean, I'm not trying to doubt your judgement, really..."
"You know she's right, Dawn," Brock stated, rising from his seat. The group was currently sitting in the outdoor lobby of a port, waiting for a particular ferry they had bought tickets for, bound for Sinnoh. "No matter how much he's changed, Ash still has Ash inside of him. So if he has Zekrom to help him, he'll breeze through Johto. Maybe even Hoenn. So with the headstart he got, he could very well be on his way to Sinnoh already, so that's our best chance to cut him off."
"I guess I get it, but...Do you think Cynthia will really listen to us...?" the doubt in Dawn's tone was clear. May grabbed the girl's hand, flashing her a smile.
"She has to listen to us. And once we tell her what Ash is planning, then of course she will help us," the brunette assured her, the blunette beginning to smile a bit. Then the group heard a distinct boat horn sound in the distance. They looked out over the water to see a ferry heading towards them.
"That must be it," Gary stated, rising to his feet.
"Alright! I can't handle waiting anymore, I just wanna be there already!" Max exclaimed impatiently, earning a laugh from the rest of the group. The brunette watched the boat intently as it slowly got closer, her hand abesentmindedly drifting to the pokeball on her belt containing her new recent partner. Her thoughts drifted to Ash, the girl's grip tightening on the sphere.
"We're coming, Ash...And we won't let you go through with this..."
END