The New Normal – 5-6 – Interlude – Flint
The TV remote clattered to the ground as Flint listened with growing horror to the announcement being broadcasted by the news.
"In light of my recent ascension as Champion, I have just ordered a full inspection of all Gyms within Indigo to ensure that they live up to the high expectations demanded of them by the Indigo League. It is my hope that, through these inspections, we will be able to root out any source of corruption before they can take hold and ruin this year's circuit."
"In addition, Elite John and Elite Lorelei will be deployed to the Kanto and Johto Gyms respectively to oversee these inspections as soon as possible and to…"
Flint wasn't able to hear the rest of the announcement as dread slowly built up from within, almost causing him to puke from the stress and nerves.
This was his greatest fear come to life. He always knew that he wasn't suitable to be running the Gym; much of his earlier success was due to Lola's support and assistance. However, when she ran off for reasons unknown, he desperately tried to hold everything together using his meagre abilities.
But alas, it wasn't enough, as was expected from a failure like him. Lola was always the smarter one, the one that knew what to do, and honestly, she was the true guiding hand behind the Gym. It was through HER actions, not his, that the Gym survived and ran as well as it did. He was simply the figurehead. And now, with her running off, everything was starting to fall apart.
However, for years, even with the continued deterioration of the Gym and the mounting complaints from trainers, no one ever really did anything about it. Flint assumed that Pryce just wasn't interested in what his Gyms' were doing, and he was more than happy to bury his problems for a future date.
But Lance was clearly less willing to be ignorant of his Gyms' activities, and now all of the problem and mistakes that Flint had hoped to bury forever were about to be brought to light.
In a panic, he rushed back to his Gym's office and hastily scrambled through his paperwork. He hoped to Arceus that he had done enough due diligence over the years to satisfy the League inspectors. It was at this time that Flint really regretted not hiring a personal assistant or a secretary to help him with these tasks, but he had foolishly and stubbornly held on to hope that Lola would return and resumed her duties, so he continued to leave that position open.
And now, he was forced to frantically gather up everything to be presented to the inspectors.
A part of him was tempted to call up Brock and ask for his assistance, but he knew that would shatter the façade and the image of competence that he hoped to present to his children. He knew it was all a lie, and couldn't be maintained in the long-term, but he didn't want them to worry about further troubles when their mother left them.
And it wasn't like Brock's help would matter at this point. It was far too late.
All he had wanted was to prove to them that he was capable of filling the hole caused by Lola's absence, even if he knew that it would never be the same without her. It was impossible for him to fill in both the role of a father and mother, but he felt that he owed it to them to try. Even though he knew that it was little more than putting tape on a leaking pipe.
He knew that his image of competence as a Gym Leader was nothing more than a thinly held-together lie that was likely about to be exposed, but if he could shelter his children them for one more day, then it would be worth it in his eyes. Perhaps when it was time for Brock to inherit the Gym, he would do a much better job than a failure like himself.
After over an hour of scouring and gathering old paperwork, he set them all down in a messy pile on his old office desk. He knew that a few documents were likely missing, but there wasn't any time to do anything about it. Nor would he be able to dig through the years of paperwork to find out what was missing.
Maybe he could get lucky, and the League inspectors might not look through things too deeply? Besides, surely he couldn't be the only Gym having problems. He knew that the Cerulean Gym wasn't run as effectively as they should be ever since the role was passed to those trio of sisters. And he was pretty sure that there must be a few Gyms in Johto that were having similar issues.
Perhaps, the Gym might overlook his failures as other Gyms might be worse off? Pryce WAS negligent to all Gyms as a whole, after all. And also, maybe the standards might be lower for him as he was responsible for the first-badge challenge. Since it's supposed to be the 'easiest' Gym.
Flint hoped to Arceus that was the case, and that the League would be lenient on him. He didn't know how he would face his children if the League clamped down on his Gym and exposed him for the failure that he was.
From the depths of his own heart, he apologized to his children for being unable to take care of them as well as Lola could. He apologized for not being the Gym Leader that they hoped he could be. He apologized for all the burdens that he might leave onto them if his failures were exposed.
And ultimately, he apologized for wanting to do the same as Lola.
A.N. This is mostly foreshadowing for what's going to happen in future chapters. I hope you liked how I portrayed Flint's inner thoughts; I didn't want him to be likeable, but he's certainly not evil. Just slightly pathetic and trying to do too much and failing. Which, in a way, is pretty bad already.
This chapter has been BETAed by Allute! Cheers! And to anyone who wants to support me, please check out my p atreon at CartecTNN where you can read 8 advanced chapters! Thanks to those who have supported me already!