Disclaimer: I own nothing here.
Peacekeepers
AN: I feel the need to credit an artist on Deviantart (Kawacy) for the idea (joke) of Steven having four wives due to his four rings. In the previous chapter I referenced this as a joke but I am in no way supportive of polygamy, just to be clear.
Chapter Six - Embark
Making one more brief stop at a supply tent, Aaron handed them two bundles of various goods and traveling gear, which they had to tie and stow on Aggron and Garchomp along with their former clothes.
As they made their way through the camp towards the exit, with much less attention drawn their way, Lucario drew beside Cynthia with an intent, curious look. "Miss Cynthia, may I ask what is the purpose of those decorations in your hair?" he wondered. "Do they help you see Aura?"
"I've always wondered the same thing," Steven voiced with a smirk. He was far too handsome when he smiled like that and Cynthia couldn't banish the thought fast enough before another blush lined her visible cheek. Idly, she realized she was suddenly the same height as him, her eyes perfectly level with his, now that she wasn't wearing her heels.
"W-Well, to answer your question, Lucario, no they don't help me see Aura. I wear them because as a very young child, I grew up with an Umbreon, who was always watching over me. Although she has long since passed away, these accessories make me feel like I carry her on with me."
"That's-" Steven started but had to swallow what seemed like an emotion lump in his throat. "That's remarkable, Cynthia." He was reminded of his own Pokémon babysitter, a Houndoom, with metal-like bands around its ankles that may or may not have inspired the cuffs on his usual black overcoat.
He tried to temper his emotional response by adding bashfully, "much more respectful than my excuse for excessive rings." Although, those too may have been a subconscious choice involving Houndoom's bands.
"Hmm, so they are a memento and have no practical use for Aura," Lucario commented, sounding a little disappointed.
Steven's sudden morose countenance was not lost on Cynthia, but she let the matter drop for the moment. Sending him a simple, appreciative smile she turned back to Lucario. "No, but I can see why you would liken them to your own sensory tassels. A lot of people think I wear them to imitate my own Lucario back home..."
Steven could see her mood growing somber by the change in topic, though with his own plummeting, he could think of no words to console her. Instead, she changed the subject herself. "That reminds me. Aaron, how did you train your Lucario to speak? I know it has to do with Aura, but how exactly? And is it possible for me to train mine to do the same back home?"
Aaron seemed to think on the matter for awhile before answering. He paused just outside the camp's perimeter and raised his staff into the air, causing the metal pieces to clatter. Seconds later a giant Pidgeot swooped down from the sky and landed beside its presumed master, cooing at him affectionately.
Aaron gave the bird Pokémon a berry with one hand and a gentle pat with the other before sending it back into the air with a nod, then he turned a sidelong glance to Cynthia. "Hmm, that's a tough question. When I first found Lucario, he could already speak some, so it could be that all Lucario have this innate ability but require some sort of trigger to unlock it. But then again, each individual Pokémon is different, so I couldn't say if yours would be capable of learning it."
"I... I see," Cynthia murmured sadly. Not so much saddened by his answer but because she was really beginning to miss her other Pokémon. She hoped they were behaving themselves without her.
Her Lucario tended to gorge himself on too many Mago berries when left to his own devices. Glaceon was probably having fun chasing wild Butterfree around the clearing. Spiritomb was probably just bored and dormant in its seal stone. Milotic was most likely trying to keep some semblance of order in the group.
She smiled ruefully at the mental picture and drew herself back up with a fresh determination. Feeling sad about the situation wouldn't do any good. Better to focus on their task at hand, which was following Aaron to the next camp and collecting as much of a fighting force as possible.
Having lost interest in the conversation, Lucario read the energy between his new peers and pulled ahead to walk beside his master, both of them attempting to ignore the ninja clad couple.
Steven watched Cynthia's inner struggle with a frown as he walked beside her. When she slowly shook her head, as if to reset her emotions, Steven moved on impulse and reached over to give her sleeved arm a light touch. "Hey, you ok?"
He quickly hid a cringe when he realized he had broken his own rule for a second time in the same day. A woman's personal space was hers alone and it was to be respected at all times. A small voice in his head argued back that it was for a good reason, just like the incident earlier, when his instincts had kicked in and pulled her away from the enemy's assault.
Despite Cynthia's assurance that he needn't worry about the matter and the fact that she was not repulsed by his touch was no excuse. He resolved to properly chastise himself later and rebuild stronger walls around the boundaries in his mind... the ones he had allowed to crumble after spending only a partial day with her.
If Cynthia noticed his own mental distress, she ignored it well and offered a sad smile in return. "I just, I suddenly really miss my other Pokémon." Another slow shake of her head, as if she were fighting off a fresh wave of emotions.
"It doesn't make sense. I've sent all my Pokémon out on all sorts of missions and errands, with them gone for days on end. Why do I miss them so much when it hasn't even been a full day yet? What makes this circumstance so different?" She chanced a glance his way and let out a staggered breath. "You probably think I'm being silly."
"N-no, not at all!" Steven replied and offered a belatedly concerned smile. The fact that she had so easily confided in him was a surprise, even more so by how vulnerable she allowed herself to appear. It took him a bit longer to work up a reassurance than it should have. "I'm missing the others as well, actually." It was true, although he wasn't feeling nearly as emotional about it as her, he absently imagined what his other Pokémon were up to.
Excadrill was probably foraging berries, roots and mushrooms for everyone. Metagross was no doubt hovering just above the trees, keeping a lookout for any oncoming dangers. Armaldo was most likely amusing itself by drawing circles in the dirt. As for Cradily, well, it tended to stare off into space whenever it wasn't in battle...
He felt a smile tug at lips as a thought occurred to him. "I bet they'll start having all sorts of fun once they start playing together."
Cynthia returned his smile despite another worry coming to mind. "...I just hope Spiritomb stays stable without me. It can be a real troublemaker sometimes."
"I'm sure it's fine, our other Pokémon should be able to handle-" Steven's response was cut short when he noticed a disturbance from behind. At some point during their exchange, Garchomp and Aggron had begun squabbling again as they trailed behind their masters. Both Skarmory and Togekiss had taken to the sky to stretch their wings and socialize with Aaron's Pidgeot.
Aggron was hissing a warning and Garchomp was snapping her dangerous maw at him for whatever reason.
"Aggron," Steven warned with his no-nonsense tone as Cynthia did the same with Garchomp.
Both Pokémon whined and promptly hung their heads.
Looking back made both trainers realize just how far from the camp they had walked and how much darker it was getting as the sun was half covered by the far off mountains.
"Say, Aaron," Steven ventured. "Just how far are we going to walk before we call it a day?" He wasn't opposed to getting some exercise, but it had been a trying day and he was getting weary. He imagined Cynthia was as well, though she hid her fatigue well if she was.
Aaron turned his head to answer over his shoulder and pointed to a tree line probably about a mile away. "Just to that forest, then we can setup camp. I felt it was best not to spend the night with the army, considering the spectacle we caused earlier."
Steven nodded in agreement; he wasn't about to argue with their guide. He was also just getting too tired to even hold a conversation. He guessed that Cynthia was in a similar state, since she too had grown quiet.
By the time they reached the desired tree line, Steven was ready to drop and simply sleep where he lay. He might have done so, had his stomach not grumbled angrily at that very moment.
Wordlessly, Aaron began setting up camp from his own travel bag and Lucario sped off into the forest for firewood. Steven and Cynthia both turned to release their own travel bags from their respective Pokémon.
"Oh Gar," Cynthia said softly as she touched the sulking dragon's head. "I'm sorry I have to keep correcting you. But if you could just get along with Aggron then I wouldn't have to."
Garchomp gave a little purring chirp in response and gave her master's body an affectionate nudge with her broad head. When Togekiss landed and did the same, Cynthia chuckled and smiled warmly at her Pokémon, giving them each a loving pat on the head. "I'm glad I have you two, at least."
She went about unpacking Garchomp's load, suddenly in much better spirits until Steven's concerned voice cut through her thoughts. "That's odd, my pack doesn't seem to have a tent, only bedding and food." He glanced her way curiously. "Does yours have the tents?"
Before she could check and reply, Aaron cut in from a few paces away as he setup his own tent. "I only gave you one. Or did you forget that playing the part of a married couple would suggest that you share one?"
"Oh... right," Cynthia replied after an awkward silence. It wasn't really something that concerned her. She had spent many a night sharing Pokémon Center quarters with traveling companions on her journeys, with both males and females in the same room. Having Steven sleep a few feet away from her wasn't really an issue, especially considering his respectable reputation.
He on the other hand, did not seem to be taking the news well. Looking over to him, he appeared to have frozen to his spot, pack forgotten in his arms. "That's- But we aren't really-" He seemed incapable of completing a sentence until he gave his head a shake. "That just seems highly inappropriate. And besides, there's no one around who would even notice."
"If you're that bothered by it, you can take Lucario's place in my tent," Aaron suggested, having grown weary of the argument.
"I prefer to sleep outside and keep watch most nights anyway," Lucario added with a nod after returning with firewood seconds earlier.
"But I suggest you get used to the idea," Aaron told Steven, since Cynthia was not the one making a fuss. "When we stay in an army camp, you will have to share a tent to maintain appearances."
Steven seemed to physically deflate with relief after that and Cynthia couldn't help teasing him a little. "Haven't you ever spent a night at a Pokémon Center, Steven?"
"Huh?" His mind seemed to have stalled again and he blinked at her in a stupor, as though his thoughts were far away on something else entirely. It wasn't until she moved closer and took the pack from him that he was able to make a proper reply. "Oh yes, of course I have. Why do you ask?"
Cynthia sent him a wry smile as she knelt down and began sorting out all their supplies. "I take it you never shared a room with a female traveling companion on your journeys?"
He hesitated again, clearly having trouble with the topic for some reason. "Well, yes, but we were all just kids back then. And..."
"And?" she prompted, both curious and amused by his bashful side.
"I wasn't a- That is- N-nevermind," he stammered quickly, as if he had nearly revealed something unintentionally. To change the subject he knelt down to help sort the supplies. "I don't suppose there's any food in these packs? I think I'm about to pass out."
Cynthia noted his ploy at changing the subject but also didn't doubt his claim. After a full day of activity and nothing to eat, she was feeling rather lightheaded herself. Idly she wondered how they were going to feed their four Pokémon without a steady supply of Pokéblocks or Poffins.
"There should be a pot and a cooking rig in your supplies," Aaron called from the campfire he and Lucario had started. "Bring it over and I'll get some soup going for the three of us. Your Pokémon will have to go forage for their dinner. Lucario, go with them and make sure they don't get lost."
"Yes Master," Lucario replied instantly and leaped away, back towards the forest. "Come friends, let's find something to eat." The other four Pokémon all hesitated for permission from their masters but took off in a mad dash once it was given; they were apparently hungry too.
"Was that wise, sending them all away?" Steven questioned after the fact as he handed the pot to Aaron, who was setting up the rig of metal wires. "It's mostly dark and we're practically defenseless now."
"They won't be very far away, and Lucario has a sort of night vision," Aaron replied without concern. "With the Aura, any incoming danger stands out to him like a beacon in the dark."
Cynthia moved to study Aaron's tent, since he had set it up when she wasn't looking and she was unsure of how to assemble the one provided. For all intents and purposes, it was of rudimentary design. The structure was nothing more than thick branches with notches cut into them in order to fit together and support a number of drapes.
Simple.
Or at least, that's what she thought until she started putting it together with little success in the darkness, with only the flickering campfire to work with. Naturally, Steven approached to assist, though he was just as confused by the archaic design as she was at first.
They didn't want to bother Aaron because he was already working on dinner, but they eventually figured it out and by then their small troop of Pokémon had returned in much less grumpy moods.
Both trainers were so mentally and physically exhausted by the time they sat down to eat that neither had the energy to complain about the bitter taste of Aaron's mushroom soup. He had proven to be an excellent guide so far, just not the best cook...
After that it was a short stagger to separate tents, both calling good-nights to their companions as they headed for bed. Or at least, what constituted as a bed. It was really just a blanket to sleep on, a blanket to cover with and the overcoats that Aaron insisted they take.
Steven laid on his side, facing the wall of the tent, his thoughts a mangled mess in his head. What he had nearly admitted to her, point blank, after only spending a day in her company, had nearly paralyzed him with an indiscernible emotion. Not fear exactly, not wonder or excitement, but something somewhere in between.
She seemed to have this strange ability to effortlessly draw up his inner most thoughts, like water from a deep well. Then there was his own unacceptable behavior when he allowed himself to reach out and touch her arm earlier. Now he was supposed to come to terms with sleeping next to her? That was unacceptable. No, out of the question. There had to be another option.
He could hear Aaron shifting behind him and desperately hoped he wouldn't have to deal with another debate. He was so tired, he just wanted to let his thoughts fade and go to sleep. He had to stifle a bothered sigh when Aaron's voice cut through the darkness. "I understand your reservations, but your situation calls for a special sort of discretion."
"It's just, what you're suggesting goes against so many of my moral values," Steven muttered, desperately wishing he didn't have to discuss the subject any further.
"So, your morals are more important than her safety?"
"That's not- No, of course not. I just think there has to be an alternative option, that's all."
"Let me know when you think of one. You have two or three nights before we reach Kenshin's camp."
"I don't understand why we even need to stay the night in the army camps," Steven argued. "Why can't we just camp out in the wilderness like we are now?"
"Because it is common courtesy for a Lord to offer hospitality to any emissary sent to them. You would risk offending them if you declined their offer, therefore making the very purpose of our visit pointless," Aaron explained patiently.
"The only reason Lord Shingen did not offer was because he understood the truth of your situation. You will not have that luxury with the other lords because I do not know them to be as honorable as Shingen, therefore we cannot trust them with your story."
Steven released another bothered sigh and let the debate die. The politics in this era were a real pain.
Meanwhile, as Cynthia arranged her bedding, she could hear the men's low voices from across the crackling campfire but not their words. Naturally, she wondered about their conversation but wasn't curious enough to go back out and eavesdrop.
Since Steven had opted for the other tent, Cynthia decided to allow Togekiss to sleep inside with her. Garchomp of course was too big for the small, two-person tent, but that didn't stop the dragon from grumbling about being left out. "Sorry Gar, you'll have to get used to sleeping outside." Not having Pokéballs in order to keep their Pokémon safe or warm was becoming a real inconvenience.
Settling down with her blankets and using the overcoat as a pillow, she gave Togekiss a goodnight pat on the head. The Jubilee Pokémon sounded out a tired, reassuring coo in response, causing Cynthia to relax as she absently fiddled with the unfamiliar ring on her left hand.
With the gentle, orange flashes of the campfire playing across the fabric sheets of the tent, she raised her hand to stare up at the dark silver band. She found herself lost in thought about what it represented; a fake promise, a protection in a savage land, a bond to a man she was only just starting to really know.
She liked to think she could protect herself well enough, especially with a Garchomp at her back. But no, Steven was right, they needed to listen to their guide, otherwise what was the point in even having one?
So yes, she would continue on with this play-acting charade, if that's what it took to get back home. But despite putting on a brave front and telling Steven that it didn't bother her to act the part... The truth of the matter, was that it hit a nerve a bit too close to home. There were reasons she hadn't pursued any real relationship throughout her trainer career thus far.
Starting one now, even pretending at it, just felt so strange. She wondered how he was feeling about the matter, what his true thoughts were. Since he was resisting Aaron's suggestion about their... sleeping arrangements, he must have been having a lot of doubts about the situation too.
The campfire loosed a loud crack and an orange gleam flashed across the ring's circumference, as if replying directly to her thoughts.
She dropped her hand to her face with a worn sigh. It wasn't that she didn't like Steven. In fact more than once, she had caught the more rebellious side of her mind fantasizing about kissing him whenever he sent one of his ridiculously charming smiles her way.
He was handsome, respectful, he loved and cared for his Pokémon and his reputation was impeccable. Which got her to wondering, why wasn't he in a relationship already? It couldn't be for the same reasons... could it?
Then she remembered his nervous stammering earlier and she had to wonder, was he entertaining thoughts about after their return home?
She raised her hand again and gave the ring an inquiring look, but it gave no glowing signal this time. Scoffing lightly at it, she turned over and banished her thoughts as outlandish and silly. He was just playing the part, same as her.
She took a deep breath and put the day's events out of her mind as the soothing firelight lulled her to sleep.
AN: I know not everyone is going to agree with Steven's boundary rules here, but this is just how I see him. Although if his behavior towards Cynthia is more... forward in the anime, then I am by no means going to complain. xD
/o/o/ Bonus scene:
Garchomp: "Your master is making my master upset. Make him stop!" (snaps at Aggron)
Aggron: "Don't blame him! Your master is just cranky!" (Hisses back)
Garchomp: "She is not cranky! You're cranky!" (snaps again)
Aggron: "I'm warning you..." (another hiss)
Both get scolded.
Garchomp: (whimper) "But I was just protecting you, Master..."
Aggron: (grumble) "I'm so misunderstood."