Heya!

Here's a story that focuses on a romantic light for the usual main characters of my fanfics, highlighting an event that they mention repeatedly during the course of the first story. It's stupid cute and very gay.

Characters Featured: Greninja, Chesnaught

Additional Cast: Miltank

Genre: Romance

Timeline Placement: Prior Events - - - Bluebells Are Forever - - - Melting Gelid Roses

Pretty much toward the very end of that story's events. Anyway, check below! Enjoy reading!

Through the busy night streets of a lush, flowery town, a bulky knight guided his companion past several onlookers. His partner, a frog, nervously glanced around at suspicious eyes, as many gazed upon the pair. Stumbling past an inn, he tugged on his partner's hand, and the hedgehog slowed to look back upon his companion.

"Greninja, what's wrong?"

"Look, it was really, um, fun," mumbled Greninja. "Before, that is, when we brought this up. But…do you really want to be in front of these people, Chesnaught?"

"Sure." Chesnaught grinned at Greninja, who tugged up on his tongue over his face. "I did promise you to dinner and drinks, didn't I?"

"Well, yeah, but that's…in front of folks." Greninja frowned. "Didn't you want to be more discreet about this stuff?"

"Yeah, I do," murmured Chesnaught, and he glanced down at the ground. "It's hard in a town that's not as open as you'd expect it to be."

"Then what are we doing out, and together like this?"

"As far as anyone's concerned, they're just watching a knight gleefully tug a ninja around town."

"Speaking of, you're having too much fun with that." Greninja lowered his eyes at Chesnaught's grin returning. "Far too much fun."

"Just trust me, ok?" Chesnaught bounced slightly in place. "I'm kind of running on a lot of excitement right now."

"Oh?"

"Yep, so, come on."

Taking Greninja's hands into his, Chesnaught tugged him forward. Giggling, Greninja caved as he followed the knight again through the streets. They hurried past a few stores, brushed through younger Pokemon out past their bedtime, and made their way to a public house.

"Bell's Belles?"

"Yeah, they're still working on their name," noted Chesnaught, holding the door open for Greninja. "Last month, it was just Purple Belle's. At least, I think that's what they were calling it."

"Huh."

"After you, my fair sir."

Chesnaught bowed his head and gestured to the open door. Greninja chuckled as he walked through, sliding his hand along Chesnaught's free arm. The knight followed the ninja inside, and the two made their way to an open table.

"Where is everyone?"

"See, it's late enough to be past usual dinner hours," explained Chesnaught. "But, early enough to beat the late night rush."

"That's good, then." Greninja drummed the table lightly. "…How long did you have this planned for?"

"Told you that I was taking you out for this, didn't I?" Chesnaught smirked. "I knew how to pick the right hours for this place."

"You've been here before."

"Well, yeah."

"Then don't overdramatize it," mocked Greninja. "You just know your favorite place to eat." Chesnaught cleared his throat. "…One of your favorite places?" His partner nodded. "Guess you should know."

"Yep. Oh, there's the server."

They glanced as a plump pink cow sauntered over to their table, and both pulled back as she leaned against the table, causing it to slide back a bit. She lowered her eyes and batted them at both of her patrons.

"Hello, hello, boys," came her sultry voice. "My name is Miltank, and I'm looking to help you two have a great meal and a great night."

"…Can we at least tell her?"

"Uh, yeah, sure."

"Madam, you don't need to try so hard with us," insisted Greninja.

"Hmm? You boys want to have a good time out, don't you?"

"Yes, but specifically with each other." Chesnaught shifted his attention between Greninja and a confused Miltank. Sighing, Chesnaught dropped his hand on Greninja's, and tenderly rubbed it. "Very. Specifically. Each other."

"…Oh, thank gods," murmured Miltank, in a far more relaxed tone. "Folks around here don't understand how grateful I am for gents like you." She pushed up from the table and pinched her brow. "Other male characters that walk in here are aggravating to please. They want me to be sexy, they want me to be more into it, flash a little body, I need to smile, and laugh, and make them feel welcomed. Why? I serve food and drinks. It's part of why I prefer ladies coming in together."

"We apologize."

"Please don't, you're my miracle of the evening." She smiled again, now genuinely, and presented them with menus. "We've got our best baker tonight, and she's trying out different recipes from near and far. You can try out some extra dishes that strike your interest, or stick with what you know."

"Um, I'll stick with the Leppaoran Salad," decided Chesnaught, barely checking the menu. "That, and Ganlon Gin, if possible."

"Sure thing." She turned to Greninja. "How about you?"

"Um…there's sushi on here."

"Ah, Salac Sushi, yeah. It's one of the specials that our baker is trying out." She tapped at her cheek for a moment. "Comes with apples, I think. Management wanted something extra on the plates, just in case."

"That sounds good for food." Greninja studied the menu. "Um…wait, Moomoo Mead?"

"Is…do you really want to order that?" Miltank closed her eyes. "That's one of the popular choices."

"Then why are you squeezing your eyes…? Oh." Greninja poured over the menu again. "Watmel Wine sounds fine."

"Great! I'll take those menus back and get your orders to our lovely baker." Miltank winked to them. "She'll make sure your dishes come out extra well tonight, all right?"

"Sounds great!" Chesnaught paused and scratched the side of his head. "You're really touting this baker's skills, huh?"

"Did I mention a patron preference?"

"Um, yeah, you did before when…oh." Chesnaught smiled. "I thought I'd heard about this place's reputation before!"

"Sadly, we had policy changes, but yes, you probably heard correctly before." She spun around from their table and walked off. "Be back in a bit with the meals, boys!"

"…Don't they usually let you pick drinks first, and then order food?"

"This is kind of their lull, and they actually wait to serve newcomers."

"…So—"

"A friend of mine introduced me to this place," divulged Chesnaught. "She, uh, told me about good servers and meals here."

"…Was it Lilligant?"

"N-no."

"Sounds like it was her."

"Anyway!" Chesnaught cleared his throat. "Since this, uh…" He glanced around, checking the tables with already serviced customers, before leaning closer to his own table. In a softer voice, he continued, "So, since this is an actual date, now, um…we should get to know each other a little better."

"We literally just started."

"Yeah, I didn't mean to rush this." Chesnaught sighed. "Sorry."

"Don't be, it's fun so far." Greninja smiled and winked to him. "Fast, but fun."

"Oh, super!" Chesnaught's shoulders lowered and he leaned back a bit. "So, um, how do you like the castle so far?"

"It's, uh, nice." Greninja scratched behind his head. "I-I've gotten used to it, in a short amount of time so far."

"Good, that's good."

"Do, um, do you like it?"

"Me? Yeah. I mean, it's what I'm supposed to defend and all, so—"

"Right, yeah, of course." Greninja sheepishly chuckled. "I-I, um, I wasn't, ah, thinking that through." He drummed the table again and poked at his knife. "…I h-haven't dated in, uh, well…a long while."

"Neither have I."

"Ok, so I'm not the only one totally out of practice?"

"Not at all." Chesnaught leaned forward and propped his head up with his hand. "Does that make this a little easier?"

"Yes and no."

"Yeah, I got the same feeling." He smirked again and scratched the side of his head. "I have to do something to help you enjoy this, though. You saved my life."

"Eh, I just ripped my clothes off." Greninja smiled as Chesnaught burst into a fit of poorly suppressed snickers. "A-anyone else could have done that much. And…I don't want to just be 'the hot guy that saved your life,' you know?"

"I understand. But you're more than that already." Chesnaught brought himself back up, and gazed into Greninja's eyes. "You're really kind, beyond the heroics. And besides handsome, that's a great quality." He chuckled as Greninja rolled his eyes. "Really, I've seen how quickly you formed friendships. You're not as adept for conversation, but you have some kind of honest charm about you that forges strong bonds."

"We've barely been around one another that long, and you can tell that already?"

"Of course." He placed his hands back on Greninja's. "We could have kept our crushes on one another as this passing moment, but we didn't, more because you wanted to breathe life into it. That's brave, something that I want to be too. You could have hated me after seeing Lilligant and I together, or after our practice match—"

"You did hit hard."

"There's no way I can apologize properly to you."

"It was sparring, it happens."

"Hurting you at all made me hate myself."

"Please don't ever hate yourself." Greninja pulled his hands from under Chesnaught's, and scooped them together into his. "Trust me, I've gone that way before, and it really doesn't help. And you're too sweet for self-loathing."

"Oh, I don't know about that."

"Well, you might not yet, but I do." Greninja smiled again, rubbing Chesnaught's hands gently as they maintained eye contact. "You're worried more about how I feel than yourself. That's a selflessness that I'm still learning to have. You show that with someone that you're still getting to know, and that's not something all that easy for me. It's what a proper knight should be like." He glanced around the pub, checking the other tables. "And I could pepper you with dozens of other compliments, but first I think we should slow down with how much we touch each other right now."

"R-right, I wanted to keep it quiet."

Reluctantly, they pulled their hands away from one another. Bouncing his leg a bit, Chesnaught slid it forward and nudged Greninja's leg with his own. The frog blushed and roughly cleared his throat.

"Come on, those feel great," whispered Chesnaught. "Powerful and muscular, but still smooth and—"

"Subtly is not your forte."

"Guilty."

"That cute grin is your saving grace."

"Good thing I like to smile, then."

"Mm."

A clang of a glass interrupted the pair, as they whirled around to Miltank. She smirked as she pushed the gin to Chesnaught, and placed Greninja's wine down next.

"Food will be served soon." She leaned closer to the table. "You two are adorable together, but you'd better be careful. Not everyone around here shares our interests, understand?"

"Yes."

"Good." She leaned back up, but in continued in a hushed tone. "Keep up the sweet talk though."

Pivoting away, Miltank shuffled off, while Greninja watched her. He turned back to Chesnaught, whose eyes were wide and shoulders raised.

"If you keep looking like that," cautioned Greninja, "everyone is going to know before you consider how you want this to go."

"Yeah, I, uh, I'll work on that." He slowly yet heavily exhaled, while Greninja patted his feet against Chesnaught's. "Thank you, though. You're doing well with being discreet."

"Um, experience kind of does that." Chesnaught frowned as Greninja rubbed beneath his chin. "I don't like hiding it, but I don't announce it everywhere I go."

"What if you could?"

"Not hide it?"

"Yeah."

"…I don't really know." Greninja pressed his hands together. "I've never really thought of that."

"Me neither." Chesnaught sighed. "Have you ever had a boyfriend try to convince you to do?"

"Is that what I do for you?"

"No, no." Chesnaught clutched his head. "Sorry, I was just curious…forget it."

"It's fine. I, uh…" Greninja held his tongue and stared at Chesnaught for a moment. "I-I have, or had, an…he was…um."

"…Is this a good or bad—?"

"Bad. Very bad." Greninja dragged his hands down his head. "I just, I—"

"That's ok, we don't have to talk about it." Chesnaught smiled softly. "I don't really like talking about past relationships right away either."

"Right, ok."

"How about family?" Chesnaught scratched under his chin. "I've got, uh, a pretty interesting group."

"Really?"

"Yep, it's…well, they can tire me out, sometimes." Chesnaught chuckled. "But, for the holes they fill, they're great."

"Good, that's nice." Greninja sighed. "My, um, my father isn't…he's…"

"Not a good story either, is it?"

"…Not really." Greninja looked away. "He and I don't really get along…not like my mother…"

"Well, if I'm honest, my family isn't exactly as normal as I make it sound," admitted Chesnaught. "So, um. My parents are actually…uh. W-well. Hmm." He shrugged and let his shoulders drop. "We could come back to that one too."

"Sorry."

"Don't be, we shouldn't get right into personal topics," decided Chesnaught. "That's a little fast, right?"

"Maybe, but not always." Greninja sank in his seat. "And I…I want you to know me better."

"And I'll get there, while you get to know me." Chesnaught grinned. "For example, I have a weakness for cute guys that speak softly."

"Ha-ha."

"True story." He paused with an open mouth, and spotted Miltank walking back over with their food. "Hold on."

"Hello, I believe you boys ordered these." She grabbed one plate and placed it in front of Chesnaught. "Lepporan Salad, for the tall and handsome fellow." She winked as Chesnaught giggled and thanked her. Miltank then placed another plate before Greninja. "And our Salac Sushi to this cute and dreamy guy." She smirked as Greninja blushed and mumbled his thanks. "Dig in and enjoy, boys!"

Again, she wandered off, and Chesnaught took a few bites of his salad, crunching on the leaves and berries. Greninja nibbled at some food of his, but stopped as Chesnaught wiped his mouth with a napkin.

"So, how about…hobbies?" Chesnaught took a swig of his gin and placed it down. "Surely a ninja assassin has more interests than training, right?"

"Oh, besides checking out hot, muscular knights, right?"

"Ah, w-well—"

"There we go." Greninja giggled as Chesnaught blushed. "Here I thought I was going to have the redder face tonight." He sipped his wine and swished it around his mouth before swallowing it, as Chesnaught stared. "What?"

"You can…eat and drink with your tongue there?"

"Yes." He frowned. "Is that strange?"

"Different, yes. Strange, no."

"Ok, good." Greninja picked at his plate and nodded. "Hobbies…right. Well, swimming, big surprise, I'm sure." Chesnaught chuckled with Greninja on that. "Um, I do like looking over and learning about art. I'm not exactly invested enough in it myself, but learning about the stories behind those things can be nice." He watched as Chesnaught nodded. "And…I do like reading too, though probably not as much as I think Delphox enjoys it."

"Oh yeah, you made fast friends with him and a few others!"

"Yep, they're really nice." Greninja took another bite from his sushi. "Delphox can be loud with Gardevoir, but he's pretty nice deep down. And Gardevoir's really friendly and fun. Samurott is too, friendly and considerate, and he's been helping me adjust easier."

"Great! And now I can help out too."

"Please do."

"Absolutely!" Chesnaught ate more from his plate as Greninja drank again. "I hope I can make up for time missed."

"We haven't missed much together yet." Greninja smiled. "We're just getting started."

"Of course, yes!" Chesnaught cleared his throat. "Anyway, my turn. You already know about my interest in plants, so that. Um…training is pretty obvious, and I do enjoy learning more fighting styles. Beyond that, exercise in general is good, but you could probably guess that too." Chesnaught rubbed behind his head. "Um…I thought I'd be better at this than I am, but…I sound pretty boring, huh?"

"What? No, you sound fine, grounded even."

"Well, I'm certainly not a fan of heights!" Chesnaught nervously laughed as Greninja chuckled a bit. "So, uh…w-what else would you like to know?"

"Tell me more about your friends." Greninja tapped on his wine glass. "Lilligant, I thought for sure that she was…that you two were, well, you know."

"Ha, I can understand that much now!" Chesnaught shook his head. "Lilligant and I are, um, similar on some regards. For example, our interest in plants and their symbolism, for starters, among other hobbies and interests." Chesnaught pushed a berry around his plate, failing to snatch it. "We've been friends for a while, but she already knows my romantic inclinations."

"Oh, she does?"

"Yep! Around her, I don't mind mentioning it."

"So, she can know, but the others…?"

"No one from the castle knows. Not even Bisharp, and he's my closest friend there."

"Wait, the red, pointy guy?"

"Yes." Chesnaught frowned. "He was one of the ones encouraging me to get to know you better, and specifically thought I could find out if you were gay."

"Huh. He paid careful attention to me, then." Greninja scratched at his plate. "Is he testing the waters for himself?"

"As far as I know, no. And I very much doubt it."

"Then why would he care?"

"I don't know." Chesnaught sighed. "The best I can think is that he thinks he's looking out for me, and since you've had your eyes on me, he just assumed that I should take note of you."

"Well, that was good advice for the wrong reasons."

"Yeah, ha." Chesnaught picked at his food again. "He and I first joined the army a few years ago, and just before the queen passed. So, we kind of stick close together, since we were both new at the time."

"About that, Nidoking's wife…" Greninja hesitated and shook his head. "That's a tragic story, let's save that for next time." He looked back into Chesnaught's eyes. "So, anyone else?"

"Well, I'm not exactly best buddies with the other knights, but they're generally nice to me, and definitely look out for me too." He frowned again and placed his fork down. "Though, I've heard them…they not exactly welcoming to, uh, guys like us."

"Homophobic."

"Uh…maybe. Or maybe just intolerant, period." Chesnaught sulked. "I don't know if they would change, or if they'd…" He swallowed and shook his head.

"Then you have a good reason to keep it quiet." Greninja cleaned the last of his plate and ate quietly for a moment. He glanced back up at Chesnaught, who sat in the silence as well. "You deserve better, though."

"I don't know any other kings that are as welcoming to the idea as King Nidoking is, and I've got General Rhydon in my corner too." He laughed and tapped at his plate. "He actually wanted to set us up before, when we sparred."

"You're telling me that he arranged that?"

"Yep." Chesnaught grasped his gin and drank from it again. "Actually, for a pair that doesn't walk around revealing our, uh, inclinations…" Chesnaught rolled his eyes. "Sorry, that we're—"

"Gay," whispered Greninja, as he eyed a few other customers leaving from a few tables over.

"Right. Anyway, we're not…doing well, hiding it, are we?"

"Perhaps not, and I did mention that I'd rather not do it, but…" Greninja shrugged. "Now that I understand it better, we can work harder at keeping it a secret, and it's like any couple that isn't sure about their relationship status. It's not like we having to go around announcing that we're boyfriends right away, you know?"

"Y-yeah, you're right." He waited before grabbing his fork again. "You…you do want to be my, uh, my boyfriend, right?"

"Very badly." Greninja buried his face into his tongue. "Look, I'm not…I guess I get attached quickly, easily? But I…I want a relationship, and I'd rather just stick with you." He shuddered. "Sorry if that's too quick."

"Absolutely not, no," insisted Chesnaught. "Not for me. I meant it before, and I…I want to be your boyfriend. No questions, no checking you against others…I want to have a relationship with just you."

"Great, me too, w-with you." Greninja sank into his seat again. "This is an awkward first date, isn't it?"

"I've had worse."

"Me too."

"Then this is great, comparatively."

"Not so bad at all, then."

"Nope."

"So, if that's the case." Greninja waited as Chesnaught finished his food. "Why don't you tell me more about what you like?"

"As in things I do, or as in you?"

"Both."

"Well, I'm already interested in swimming more often." Chesnaught grinned. "Especially if I get you to help me out with it."

"Do you not know how to swim?"

"No, I do, I just…well, I'm sure you could give me some pointers." He smirked and tilted his head. "Fix my form, watch my strokes."

"This is still about swimming, right?"

"Y-yes."

"Really?" Greninja lowered his eyes. "Because, if I didn't know any better, it sounded like you wanted to do more than swim." Chesnaught chugged his gin as Greninja laughed. "It's fine, you know. I'm…hoping that you can help me with a few form and stroke fixes too."

"Huh?"

"With my swordplay."

"…Uh—"

"Sparring, Chesnaught."

"Oh, right, of course, yes!"

"And some other things." Greninja giggled as Chesnaught sputtered over his drink. "Oh, actually, I'm hoping that you'd teach me more about plants."

"S-sure, what about?"

"Everything you know." He smiled to Chesnaught. "I'd like to learn more about flower meanings and the like. Plus, Lilligant gave me this book, and I'd be more interested if you went over it all with me."

"Definitely, I can absolutely do that." Chesnaught dabbed his glass and the table. "So, plants and swimming."

"Is that what we're calling our second date?"

"That's what we can do together in between time for the next date." Chesnaught lowered his eyes and winked to Greninja. "But I do like that you're coming up with ideas for the next one already."

"Naturally." Greninja brushed his foot over Chesnaught's. "It's…I enjoy talking with you. Even if I'm a complete nervous wreck about it."

"Hey, I am too." Chesnaught grinned again. "So, let's be anxious over each other together!"

"Sounds perfect!"

"Now, let's get back to the castle." Chesnaught yawned. "It's getting really late, and I don't think either of us wants to regret this in the morning."

"I wouldn't regret this." Greninja winked. "Just the hours."

"Then I'll keep that in mind for next time."

Chattering a bit more as they finished their beverages, Greninja watched as Chesnaught waved Miltank over, and she collected her payment from the knight. She bid them a farewell as the couple slinked out of the pub, and back into the night streets. Walking very close to one another, Greninja and Chesnaught brushed their hands against each other as they made their way from the town and back to the castle.

Aawww, mushy! And it makes my usually but barely serious characters completely awkward cuties! Hooray! ...Stop judging me. This is supposed to be my bread and butter, ok?

It was also fun to practice combining Pokemon elements (berries) with real substances (food and drinks). Uh, but also, if you're not old enough, don't drink alcohol, you hear? I totally don't endorse that.

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed it.