Note: Here's chapter 2 and it only took me... 14 Months? Oh no. Previous chapter has been overhauled.
Chapter 2: Interrupting Family Matters
Wally felt out of place standing in front of Petalburg's gym. It was clear that the gym was currently being renovated; there were a few pickup trucks and vans parked around, as well as a large group wearing worker's overalls entering and exiting the building.
A lot of the workers seemed to be standing around doing nothing of importance, but what does Wally know? He wasn't a decorator.
Wally steeled his nerves and entered the gym, nervously waiting behind some workers who were carrying a ladder. Once he stepped inside, he was violently assaulted by the pungent stench of paint. He could feel it in the back of his throat, so he quickly grabbed his inhaler as a precaution. He didn't need it yet, but he knew he was going to need it if he didn't get out of here quickly.
He was so lucky his mom didn't come here with him.
Wally looked around the gym with a frantic energy. He no longer cared if people stared at him, he just needed to get through this appointment and leave the gym quickly.
Wally didn't waste another moment; he went up to the reception desk so that he could ask about his appointment. Before he could complete his objective, he was interrupted by shouting.
"I swear, if you don't tell me where Gibson is right now than they're gonna need to make an offering to Ho-oh to fix what I'm about to do to you!" An enraged voice cut through the busy chatter in the gym, leaving a tense silence. "You're about to set a record; Norman Maple, the gym leader with the shortest tenure!"
It didn't take Wally long to find the source. Standing in front of the gym's reception desk was a boy. He was probably around Wally's age, if not slightly older. He was taller than Wally, but that wasn't really an achievement. The guy was dressed for the weather in a tight red shirt and black shorts. Wally would have thought he looked normal enough, even despite shouting in the middle of a gym, if it weren't for his face.
The boy's face was contorted into a vicious scowl that had his teeth bared, like he was a moment away from biting someone. His crimson eyes were narrowed into slits, like his gaze alone could vaporise his enemies. Wally could swear that the boy was growling like a wild pokémon under his breath when he wasn't yelling threats. Wally found it all very unnerving.
Who was he?
"Ruby!" A deep voice boomed. "Did you come to see your old man at work?"
Wally's eyes snapped to the new voice's owner. Standing behind the reception desk was the gym's new leader, Norman. He must have been in a room deeper in the gym and came out because of the noise.
'Wait a moment,' thought Wally, 'did Norman just say old man?'
Wally looked between the two; the boy, whose rage had only gotten worse at the arrival of the gym leader, and said gym leader, who was looking at the angry boy the same way Wally's mom looked at pictures of baby litten.
'They're family? That's Norman's son?' Thought Wally, trying to see a resemblance. 'Maybe he takes after his mom's side of the family?'
"Now Ruby, I know it's exciting finally starting your own pokémon adventure," said Norman playfully. "But I'm afraid I'm a bit too strong for you-"
"Cut the crap." Said the boy, probably Ruby, cutting his father off. "Where is Gibson?"
Norman's smile went from playful to strained in an instant. "I'm sorry, I don't know what you're talking about."
"We have a family account, genius. Do you really think I can't see who accesses it?" Ruby threw his arms up in frustration. "I know it was you!"
"Must have misread it." Said Norman dismissively.
"I have it on my phone!"
"That's the thing about your generation, isn't it?" Said Norman, desperately trying to shift the topic. "You're always on your phone!"
"Did you really just say that?"
Wally watched this back and forth like it was a sporting event, but instead of providing entertainment, this situation only served to stress Wally out. The argument escalated quickly after Norman lost his composure. Now it was just a screaming match. A screaming match that was currently holding up Wally's meeting with Norman. His anxiety spiked at the idea of having to get between the two of them.
Wally started to hyperventilate. Between the stress of the situation and that awful paint smell, an attacked was basically guaranteed.
"You always do this; it hasn't even been-!" Yelled the angry boy, before being interrupted by a hissing noise. The boy turned to the sound and saw Wally, his inhaler in hand, taking his second hit.
Wally and the boy got into an impromptu staring contest. Wally was a bit unnerved by how quickly the boy's expression changed. One moment his face was so twisted with anger that it made a primeape look composed, and then before Wally's eyes, the boy's face went as calm as an undisturbed lake.
'He does look better without his face all scrunched up, though.' Thought Wally.
The eye contact between them was broken when Ruby's gaze shifted to the inhaler that was still in Wally's hand. Concern appeared on the other boy's face for a fleeting moment, before it was quickly replaced with a glare targeted at Norman.
Ruby let out a long sigh. He turned to look at Wally again and tiredly asked. "I'm sorry, who are you?"
"I'm Wally," said Wally, wincing at how raspy his voice sounded. "I have an appointment with gym leader Norman."
That seemed to reignite Ruby's rage and Wally took a cautious step back. Being the centre of an angry person's attention was rarely a favourable position to find oneself in, and Wally in particular could not cope with the extra stress on his anxious mind.
Wally looked away from Ruby, just in time to watch a smug grin grown on Norman's face.
"Ah, sorry about that, kid." Said Norman soothingly, sounding to Wally's mind like the average businessman. "Your appointment slipped my mind, we're very busy around here right now, ya know?"
Wally gave the man a strained smile. "Don't worry about it."
Norman glanced at Ruby. "We will talk-"
"Outside? I agree." Said Ruby, cutting his father off. "You wouldn't want to have a meeting surrounded by paint fumes, would you? It's hardly professional."
Wally was sure he could see Norman's eye twitch. "Ruby, you have to remember that most people aren't as sensitive to sensations as you."
When Wally saw Ruby's hands curl into something between a fist and claws, he decided to cut in. "Actually, I'd be grateful if we could step outside." Wally waved his inhaler at the man. "The fumes are setting off my asthma."
Norman exhaled harshly. "Okay then, let's go outside."
Wally's chest still felt tight after leaving the gym. The air outside might have been fresher, but the paint fumes were really strong.
'Probably wasn't a glossy paint, though,' thought Wally, as he took another hit from his inhaler. He exhaled after a moment and let the relief of being able to breathe again wash off him. 'I would've needed to leave.'
"Are you finished?" Said Norman, snidely. "I do have other issues I need to get back to, you know?"
Wally usually kept a tight grip on his anger, pushing it deep down until it was safe to work through when he was alone. He didn't see a reason to lose that control, but that didn't mean he couldn't be a little petty. Wally was mostly annoyed by the situation he was in, but he would be lying if he said that Norman wasn't pulling his own weight when it came to Wally's discontent.
He glanced to Ruby, who wore his rage more openly despite being quiet at the moment, and Wally knew what he was going to do.
"Actually, could you give me a minute to calm down? Those paint fumes really took it out of me." Said Wally, smiling politely at the new gym leader. "Maybe you and him could sort out that issue while I recover? Something about a Gibson?" Wally tilted his head towards Ruby.
Wally was vaguely amused watching the other two's faces change. Norman, for instance, his face scrunched up like he had tasted something foul, before it settled into something neutral. Ruby stared at Wally, going through several expressions; surprise shifted into confusion, shifted into curiosity, shifted into… something that Wally didn't recognize.
'He's smiling, though,' thought Wally, 'so it can't be that bad.'
"That's very considerate of you," said Norman, sounding like each word cost him greatly to say. "But that's a family matter that you don't need to worry about, and we should focus on why you're here."
Ruby hummed. "I don't know, he did offer to let us settle this, and you know I have no issue oversharing things with random people."
Father and son stared at each other blankly for a charged moment. Eventually the moment was broken when Norman threw a pokéball at Ruby. The ball was a cyan and violet blur as it flew through the air; Wally was surprised that he didn't recognise the pokéball variant. Before he could get a closer look Ruby pocketed the ball with a smile on his face, clearly relieved to have it back.
"There, you happy now?" Said Norman, his voice raised and wearing a scowl.
Ruby exhaled tiredly. "It's a start."
Norman rolled his eyes, before letting out a sigh and focusing on Wally again. "Have you settled your delicate constitution yet?" Said Norman rudely, no longer bothering with a polite façade. "So, why did you want to have a meeting with me? What do you want from me?"
Out the corner of Wally's eye he saw Ruby glaring at his father disapprovingly. Wally was pleased that it wasn't just him that was annoyed by the new gym leader, but he didn't have the luxury of showing his discontent, so he fell back into his nerves.
"Well, sir, um… I would like some help with getting a pokémon, please," said Wally. He breathed out slowly in an unsuccessful attempt to settle his heart and his mind. "I'm moving to Verdanturf for… reasons. I thought I would be lonely, so I convinced my parents to let me get a pokémon for emotional support." The nervous teen looked away from the gym leader in embarrassment. "I… I've never caught a pokémon before, and I don't have one to help me…"
"You've never caught a pokémon? At your age?" Norman scoffed. "That's pathetic. I don't have time to hold a novice's hand; I've got gym renovations to oversee."
Wally stared at the gym leader blankly for a moment, certain he must have misheard Norman, but the man's smug face put that idea to rest. 'People like this… it's unnecessary.' Thought Wally.
"You're not going to help…" murmured Wally, his voice devoid of emotion. "Then why did you even accept my appointment?"
"I thought it was something like scheduling a gym battle for when the renovations are done, or maybe an interview to join the gym as a trainer." Said Norman, gesturing dismissively with his hand. "You know, something important?"
"And this isn't important?" Said Wally defensively. He felt numb, there was a barrier between his thoughts and his emotions. Even so, Wally could feel something building up inside him, a pressure that was moment's away from cracking the glass cup that was his patience. He cocked his head to the side. "You're a gym leader; helping the community with pokémon issues is like two fifths of your job."
Ruby snickered quietly. "Oh, you really didn't think this through, huh, dad?" Said Ruby with a gleam in his eye.
Norman rolled his eyes at his son's comment but didn't respond to him. Instead, he zeroed in completely on Wally.
"Look, you're like fifteen, at the most, and you need help catching a pokémon? Would baby like some milk, maybe a stuffed teddiursa?" Cooed Norman condescendingly. He gestured towards Ruby. "I mean, my brat's behind in his development too, but he's got a fancy doctor's note as an excuse, and even then, he can catch a pokémon!"
Ruby growled, and probably would have snapped at his father if given the chance. But Wally was not going to give him the opportunity; Wally's fragile patience had shattered.
"Shut up!" Shouted Wally. He glared at the condescending man through narrow eyes. "I didn't subject myself to my parent's good-natured intentions, your death trap of a gym, or your family's domestic issues just so you could insult me! You don't know anything about my situation! Now, are you going to help me, or not?"
"Watch your tone, kid." Said Norman disapprovingly, his eyes narrowed. "That's no way to speak to a gym leader."
Wally's demeanour did a one eighty; his anger vanished, and his shoulders slumped like he wanted to appear smaller than he already was. He smiled nervously at Norman. "Terribly sorry, sir, I was just trying to match your energy."
There was silence after Wally's comment, until Ruby burst into an abrupt laughter. Wally turned to the other boy with a small smile on his face.
"Fine! I've had enough of this!" Yelled Norman, before throwing a pokéball at Wally. Wally fumbled in his attempts to catch the ball, knocking it into the air multiple times before he managed to grab it with both hands.
Wally looked at the standard pokéball in his hands with some confusion, before glancing back at Norman. The gym leader wasn't even looking at him anymore, instead he had shifted his attention to his son.
"Make sure the baby doesn't die at the sight of a wild pokémon, and that he brings that back." Said Norman. He didn't give either boy a chance to respond before he was storming off back into the gym.
Wally turned to look at the boy who had just been volunteered to help him and sighed. The other boy looked understandably annoyed.
'Let's look on the bright side,' thought Wally, attempting to muster up some optimism. 'At least he seems better than Norman.'
His efforts were wasted.
This chapter was supposed to go differently, but this felt like a nice stopping point. Next time, Wally's first pokémon!
So, what took so long? Well, I felt like the first chapter wasn't... good. So I rewrote, hated it, and rewrote it again. Hopefully I won't make that mistake again. Besides that? Life happened.
The next chapter should be sooner, as I have more free time now.
