The Future's Young Fingerprint
Lumiouse City Pokémon Centre, Kalos. July 24th 2033, 10:02pm.
"Now!" Leaf instructed Bonnie as the blonde started the timer on her phone. Paul, Drew, May, and Dawn ran out the door. Leaf sat back as Gary, Serena, Calem, and Max prepared for their departure in ten minutes.
After a moment, Gary came up to her.
"Hey Leaf?" She turned to him with a small curious smile. "Hmm?" Gary scratched his head. "Do you have an extra flashlight?" Leaf frowned as she shook her head.
"Did you ask the others?" she inquired. Gary nodded. She thought for a moment. Then, she pulled out her bag, and went through it's contents, before pulling out a charm bracelet with a flashlight attached to it. She handed it to Gary.
Gary looked at her with astonishment. Why would she give him something so important?
"It has a flashlight." she pointed out dryly, only half-answering his question.
"But it's super important to you! I can't take this!" he exclaimed, trying to give the bracelet back to Leaf, as the girl shook her head.
"But, you need it more than I do," she told him firmly. "You're going through the forest, while Bonnie and I are taking the normal path. There aren't any street lights in the forest, now are there?" she countered.
Gary sighed. She definitely knew how to make a point.
"Fine." He agreed reluctantly. "I'll return to you, hopefully in one piece. " he promised. Leaf smiled playfully at him. "You better." she told him as the timer rang. Serena, Calem and Max ran out the door while Gary lingered back, trying to make up his mind about something.
Deciding to go through with it, he came up to Leaf with a small blush on his face, as he kissed her cheek and ran out the door, slamming it behind him.
"Now…" Leaf whispered dreamily. Bonnie, Ash, and Misty snickered. The next ten minutes were spent teasing Leaf about Gary. By the the time Ash and Misty left, Leaf was beet red, and Bonnie was laughing her ass off.
Leaf groaned and started packing her belongings.
Lumiouse City Gym, Kalos. July 24th 2033, 11:04pm.
Leaf was still in her dreamy state, as she and Bonnie pulled open the gym door.
Inside, they saw Gary with his head in his hands, with Ash and Drew trying to cheer him up, Max nervously fidgeting with his fingers on the other side of the room, Serena and Calem conversing lowly with each other, Misty, May and Dawn looking sympathetically at Gary, and Paul looking indifferent about the entire situation.
Leaf walked up to Gary.
"Is something wrong?" she questioned, concerned. Gary looked up and pulled her into the kitchen. "I'm so sorry Leaf," he told her, burying his head in her shoulder. Leaf comforted him for a few minutes, whispering soothing things like 'It's fine' or 'It's okay, I'm not mad at you.' in his ear, while tracing circles with her palm on his back.
Gary pulled back. He put his hand in his pocket before pulling out her charm bracelet, with a now, broken flashlight.
"We were chased by some Aqua grunts." he confessed. "I… tried to put it away, but a dude stepped on it. I-I'm so sorry. It was the last thing you're parents-oof!" Gary grunted, as he was tackled into a hug by Leaf.
She pulled back, staring at him with big green eyes, as she cupped his face with both hands. "It's okay. I'm just glad you're fine, you idiot." she murmured, affectionately tracing his jaw-line.
Realizing what she was doing she pulled back immediately. "Let's go join the others." she told him, grabbing one of his hands.
May saw them approaching, and smirked a little. "Look who's back," she grinned mischievously. All heads turned to the two researchers. "What were you guys doing?" May asked feigning innocence. "Making out?" she smirked, noticing all the looks her comment drew.
"W-what?!" Leaf sputtered. "No way!" Gary yelled, suddenly flustered.
Drew turned to May. "Damn, November, I did not know you had a backbone," he teased-complimented her. May rolled her eyes.
"Or know you had the ability to think up something like that," came a deep voice from behind.
The group exchanged confused glances, but Serena and Calem grinned.
"Max!" Serena yelled excitedly, going up to hug the man whom she considered to be her brother. Calem just nodded at the man in greeting. The group was visibly stunned.
"MAX?!"