Hello :P It is Wednesday so I am back with a new chapter. This one is actually quite different. It is an AU of Ash and Misty meeting due to Misty being James' best friend and James being Ash's tattoo artist. It was inspired by an episode of Tattoo Fixers and AAML-TAML encouraged me to write it. I hope you enjoy :3

Ages:

Ash: 19

Misty: 19

James: 28

Disclaimer: I own only the story :3

"Another boring day at the office." The red headed female smirked teasingly from sitting on the spinning chair, swinging her legs slightly. She laughed when her words were retaliated with a fake irked wrinkle of the nose from the lavender haired man and her fingers made her way to pet my head.

I had just met this girl but I liked her already. She was kind, smart and funny, not to mention pretty on the outside as well. She also gave me this strange feeling of home. And also, for some reason, that it was meant to be that we had met.

When she didn't get another response, she wrinkled her own nose back and decided to keep up the teasing.

"So boringggggg…" she exaggerated, glancing at me playfully but looking at the male with a raised eyebrow and a serious look.

James finally sighed loudly, putting down the pencil and eraser on top of the notebook he was sketching in.

"How can you be bored? You are literally in the place where magic happens."

Misty just shrugged to annoy him, standing up and letting me make my way onto her warm and inviting shoulder. She glanced at her watch and then at the clock on the wall for extra effect. I smirked to myself. I liked her a lot. And I didn't know why.

"I thought you said you had an appointment at two o'clock?" she mumbled, glancing from the numbers on the clock to back at her best friend. "It's two forty five now."

James just nodded, sitting back in his own chair and fixing his hair.

"Yes, I know. But this dude is always late. He was meant to be meeting his Pikachu here to join him for the session, that's why there is a Pokémon in our presence."

I took the opportunity to nuzzle the red head's cheek, causing her to let out a giggle. I wondered whether the laughter was from me or her best friend. I secretly hoped it was me.

"Oh yeah, I guess I got used to him being here…" she turned to smile at me, beginning to run her fingers through the hair on my head.

James just smiled at us both and soon went back to drawing after fixing his hair so it was perfect once again.

After some much enjoyed affection, Misty walked over to the purple haired male and picked up his empty coffee cup that was on the table next to the tattoo chair.

"Do you want a refill?" she asked James before picking up her own cup, trusting me to carry the ceramic and heavy object. I prayed that I didn't let her down.

James looked up from drawing what I interpreted to be an intricate anchor drawing and smiled again, brushing his strand from blocking his vision.

"Yes please."

Misty nodded and began heading into the small kitchen before laughing when I almost dropped her cup. I felt the bridge of my nose go red but it soon faded when it didn't faze her and she put the mug on the counter top herself.

My blunder put her in a cheeky mood once again and she smirked over at James from getting him a fresh cup.

"Don't you want a change and have some tea for once?"

She turned to me and rolled her eyes when James pulled a face but politely declined. His unimpressed face caused the girl to grow all the more mischievous. She quickly made his coffee and poured some water for me and herself before carrying it back over to him.

"How many more cups are you going to drink?"

James looked his friend up and down and proceeded to put his notebook and pen back on the table, smirking at her as he accepted the cup.

"Loads. Loads and loads."

Misty rolled her eyes fondly and disappeared with me to get a packet of biscuits, calling cheekily behind her as she walked away.

"Y'know your pee must be-"

James rolled his eyes equally as fondly but blushed slightly at the beginning of the crude comment, pulling a face.

"Keep it classy, munchkin. Pikachu's trainer just got here."

As soon as these words were said, a familiar scent filled my nostrils and yet another person entered the room. I was busy in the small kitchen with Misty and couldn't see but I could hear Ash get super chatty right away and place his backpack messily on the floor.

"Sorry I'm so late but I got completely side-tracked by what I thought was a new Pokémon. It wasn't anything of the sort but I'll tell you later…" he laughed out loud to himself and even more so when James stayed silent and unimpressed.

After his laughter died down, he continued smirking and rolled up his sleeve so he could get inked.

"I have the design you emailed me on my phone right here…" James mumbled, reaching into his back pocket and showing the younger male what was on the screen. "Is that definitely what you want?"

Ash nodded and smirked, leaning back into the chair with one arm behind his head.

"I have never been so sure of anything in my life. Except when I choose what do have for dinner."

These words were followed once again by Ash's own laughter and an unimpressed sigh. Soon enough, my ears were filled with both their casual small talk as James put his black rubber gloves on to prepare for the session.

Ash watched him do this before his nose twitched, getting a waft of something in the air.

"James, are you wearing female's perfume? If that's the case, I prefer it to what you normally wear."

Upon hearing this, the green orbed male rolled his eyes at the density of the other male and flicked his strand out of his eyes.

"I'm really not…" he continued shaking his head before moving on his chair so he could peep round the door to call for his best friend and I. "Misty?"

I laughed when the red head's female snapped up and she frantically gulped a glass of water, quickly washing down the mouthful of biscuits she was eating. After that she swallowed a few times and patted her hair down. Then she peeped her head around the door with a slight raised eyebrow, acting completely casual.

James smirked at the suspicious look on her face and gestured her to come over to him. When she did, he glanced between her and Ash before pointing to my best friend.

"I want you to meet Ash." He told his best friend before putting his apron on. "Misty, meet Ash. Ash meet Misty."

I of course knew that the dark haired male was in the building but Misty did not. Her eyes grew slightly wide as they took in the tanned teenage male with the red short sleeved t shirt that complimented his skin and thick, raven locks. If I wasn't mistaken, a light blush was taking over the bridge of her nose.

I couldn't see what else her reaction was because my eyes went to my best friend, whose mouth was hanging open slightly. His chocolate orbs were wide and staring up at the female and his own face was definitely decorated with a blush.

After a few moments, Ash closed his mouth and swallowed, smiling at the pretty female opposite him. He smiled even more when he saw I was perched on her shoulder and had my paw on her ear.

"Nice to meet ya, I'm Ash. I can see that my buddy likes you a lot…" he trailed off, moving his arm to scratch the back of his head that was showing off a slight goofy smile.

Ah. Now I knew why I liked Misty so much. I knew that Ash would end up liking her very much indeed.

Misty shook off her own blush and strange feelings and smiled back, trying to casually seat herself back in the chair she was in before. She watched as I jumped from her shoulder to Ash's side for support and nuzzled him.

After showing my best friend affection, I could see that James was glancing between Ash and Misty, his brow already furrowed in a protective way. I could tell that there was already something special blossoming between the teenagers and he could sense it as well.

A few moments of checking and tattoo talk later, James started the machine and I glanced back over to my best friend to look at his reaction. I smirked slightly as he bit his lip hard and began to go slightly red. Although he made it out to be otherwise, he was such a baby when it came to the pain of getting tattooed.

Another reason I knew that he was into Misty was because he shook it off instead of whining like always and smiled at her, determined to talk to her.

"So Misty…" he began, causing the red head's cheeks to go rosy pink at the sound of her name being said by my attractive trainer. "Do you have many tattoos yourself?"

Misty shook off her blush and was equally determined to talk to him back, her fingers moving to play with her hair absent mindedly.

"Yes. I have a few. Meaningful ones."

Ash just nodded and smiled before turning to James to see how he was reacting. He shook his head in a way that showed he knew how he felt about the red head but my best friend completely misread it. Ash's interpretation of it was that he needed to up his flirting game. He thought for a minute before turning back to Misty, smirking.

"That sounds awesome. Maybe you can show me them sometime."

Upon hearing this, Misty blushed heavily and she raised an eyebrow while James stuck his needle slightly further into him and caused him to groan quietly. My best friend's words were innocent but his smirk and attraction for the female made it come out a completely different way. James had tattooed Misty and knew where they were and found his attempt completely inappropriate.

The green orbed male was about to say a witty comment to protect his best friend but Misty just smirked back, clearly able to take care of herself.

"I think I'll show you the door first."

Most guys would be completely silenced by this comment but Ash's eyebrows furrowed and his eyes glinted, his smile going from a smirk to slight respect.

"Wow, icy." He muttered before laughing, causing Misty to soften and laugh herself, still playing with her bangs.

I looked between the two from secretly holding my best friend's hand while being tattooed. I hoped that ice would turn to fire between the two and that they could get to know each other more.

A few hours later and after Ash's feeble attempts at holding in his pained groans and showing Misty he was tough while also trying to get to know her, Misty stood up and went to make us all a drink.

Before she could leave, Ash stood up braver on his chair and ignored the pain, glancing the pretty female up and down.

"How is the tattoo looking so far? What do you think?"

Misty's expression was slight shock that Ash wanted her opinion but she played it cool, studying it and smiling slightly. Ash beamed when he saw her smile, squinting playfully at her.

"Does it make me look a 10/10?"

Upon hearing these words, James rolled his eyes as if he couldn't believe Ash was ever allowed to talk to females while Misty returned Ash's playfulness.

"Oh I don't know. I suppose it makes you a 6.5 rather than a 6."

Ash shook his head and watched the female leave back to the kitchen, his eyes full of desire to get to know her even better and make a bigger connection. The lavender haired male laughed quietly to himself while inking, clearly loving how Misty wasn't playing easy to get.

James took the opportunity of Misty making his coffee to take a break on inking Ash and put the machine down. As soon as he did, Ash stood up quickly and ignored the pain, looking at the older male and smirking hopefully.

"What do you think? Is she into me?"

James glanced at me and I beamed back before he turned back to Ash, shaking his head and furrowing his brow slightly.

"If she is, I have no idea why. You're nearly dying here receiving this work."

When Ash's mouth hung slightly open, James just looked smug and went back to tattooing him. I couldn't help but laugh as the needle touched my best friend's skin and Ash let out a quiet whimper, proving the older male's point.

By the time Misty got back with all of our drinks, Ash's art was finished. When he saw his developing crush had returned, his stood up quickly and proudly, wanting her to witness him check out his tattoo in the mirror.

I squeezed my eyes shut and clung onto my best friend's shoulder when he shared with me the faint feeling and head rush. Man, I wished we couldn't do that sometimes.

After Ash checked out his tattoo and thanked James, the lavender haired male began to tidy up his studio for the day. Ash copied James' action earlier in the day and beckoned Misty, wanting her to see his tattoo.

"Yeah…" she breathed out, can't helping but blush and smile slightly as she studied the raven haired male's slightly reddened skin. After a few moments, she stood up and regained her composure. "Yeah I like it. I'd like it more if it was meaningful though, rather than just looking cool."

I couldn't help but smirk as I looked in the mirror and saw the reflection of Ash's determined and infatuated expression. All day Misty had been keeping him on his toes and having the higher ground. I could tell Ash loved it. And so did I.

Ash moved his hand to pet me slightly before his fingers went to run through the back of his thick locks.

"Well maybe one day I'll find something meaningful to tattoo."

I watched as he looked at her, his chocolate orbs fixed with desire and determination but also softness and wonder. This caused Misty to blush once again but nod and smile, handing him his cup of water.

When the red headed female grew distracted by James tidying and went to help him, I dived onto her shoulder to lend my own assistance. None of us saw Ash quickly grab a pen and piece of card and we certainly didn't see him scribble on the card and blue tac it to the plastic cup.

When Misty turned back to Ash, he let James cover up the tattoo in order to aid the healing process before letting out a satisfied sigh and handing the cup back to her.

He smiled at her and picked up his backpack quickly and I jumped onto his shoulder.

"Well, thanks again for the tattoo James." He quickly shook the older male's hand before darting out of the studio, giving Misty a special smile as he left. "It was nice to meet you, Misty. Maybe next time we can synchronise our appointments."

Before the red head could even reply, Ash dashed off with me on his shoulder and excitement in his heart.

Misty was left staring at the door with her mind and heart filled with so many emotions. James just shook his head in a mixture of fondness and protectiveness and went to make her some tea this time before he left the studio to head home.

"If I'm not mistaken, Ash has a major liking for you. And I think you have a major liking for him back."

Now that the raven haired male had left, Misty began to try and return to being herself but she couldn't quite do that. Her mind had been changed. Ash had left her with feelings.

She turned to James and gave him an eye roll to which he laughed and headed off to the kitchen.

"I know you. And I know Ash. And soon I'll know your babies." He smirked teasingly but she didn't even hear this, completely distracted by the piece of paper that was stuck to the bottom of the cup.

Intrigued, her fingers moved to separate it from the plastic before her eyes took in what was written, her heart rate beginning to speed up. On it was Ash's phone number and just a hand drawn smiley face. As Misty's heart hammered further, her lips curved into a smile and she glanced towards the door that Ash had dashed out of.

Did Ash just want to get to know her more but in a friendly way or was it something else? Was James right and did Ash have brewing feelings for her? Were her own feelings brewing in her throat, heart and stomach just friendship and interest towards the sweet and interesting male? Or were they going to be so much more?

I couldn't be more pleased to tell you that of course, they developed into so much more. I always wondered if Ash knew about Misty or saw her picture in James' office prior and did James purposely invite Misty to watch him work the day that Ash had an appointment. I didn't know and I didn't really want to. I would be happy with that situation or it being completely up to fate itself. The day Ash and Misty first met; they showed one and other their kindness, passion for beautiful things, determination and humour. And all those things and qualities their love shared kept it burning bright for eternity.

The End.

There you go! Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed :3 I really enjoyed writing this and I remember being a little worried in case it was too long but I think it's okay. I liked writing how Ash and Misty may be in an alternate kind of universe if they met while still very much themselves, but a little older. I also want to write more about James' professions and tattooing in the style and universe I normally write in :P Thanks again for reading and I will be back again on Wednesday so see you then!

AmyBieberKetchum signing out :3