Chapter 38: The Fool

Time felt as though it was standing still as Kai stared at Aeon, waiting for a response as he stood up.

What was he going to do?

Telling Kai that he was a robot while he was in this angry state… would be a bad move. It not only would rile the boy up even more, but it would also put the boy closer to the truth. Aeon could easily calm down Kai by doing something only a robot could do, like turn his arm into a cannon and then go on to explain that someone manipulated him.

But then, he'd ask 'who'?

And Aeon could reply, 'I can't tell you, or else I'll be destroyed.' It sounds like a perfectly understandable scenario, one that could potentially win Kai's trust back.

But there was one flaw in this plan. This didn't guarantee Kai's safety, nor did it guarantee Aeon's. The professors specifically stated, 'Don't think about telling anyone a word of what we're doing, or else you'll be shut down permanently.' Sada and Turo could be watching, listening to every word. If Aeon even implied that Turo and Sada were the reason why he had to do what he did... Aeon could be shut down permanently, and who knows what would happen to Kai and Arven afterward?

The thought terrified him. Aeon couldn't tell him the truth. Not yet.

Then what else could he do? Just accept the fact that Kai would be upset with him and let the distance between the two widen? Logically it was for the best. For whatever reason, Sada and Turo saw Kai as an enemy. A threat. One that could be weakened and demoralized, by using Aeon as a weapon. Perhaps that was the reason why they gave Aeon a beautiful face- specifically to attract Kai.

The farther away Kai was from Aeon, the better. But at the same time… Aeon felt like he was aching. Tears were welling up from the boy's eyes as he struggled to speak.

Kai's eyes darted back and forth, then at Aeon again. He was clearly confused. "What is it?"

This wasn't the right thing to do. Kai could be hurt, or worse if he remained close to Aeon. Tears started rolling down the android boy's face.

"Kai.." Aeon spoke. "When I-.." Aeon paused, clearly conflicted. Kai raised an eyebrow and tilted his head in confusion.

That's when Aeon remembered something Arven said to him a while back. 'You have to live for yourself. Not just for me. You aren't a tool,' he had said. At first, Aeon had no idea what to make of this sentence. But now, those words were ringing true for him. It made him think of a question. 'If I wasn't a tool, what would I do?'

That's when Aeon started speaking again. His emotion clearly getting the better over his logic. "When I said I hated you.." Aeon said.

Kai winced, looking like he was reliving the searing emotional pain that he felt moments ago when he heard those words for the first time. That's when Aeon realized something: He had no plan. How was he going to explain to Kai about what was going on?!

Either way, he felt the need to keep going. "I…" As Aeon went on, he realized how absurd the next sentence he was about to say was. Who in their right mind would believe him for saying what he was about to say...?

But Aeon decided he had to try.

"I didn't mean to say all of that," Aeon said. "I was mani-…" He paused for a moment. Then sighed, deciding that it was the only way to absolve himself. "Manipulated."

"Manipulated? Manipulated by who?"

Even though they weren't there, Aeon could feel the ice-cold grip of his creators wrap itself around his throat. The robot boy's mouth remained still. Words that he wanted to say refused to come out.

Kai waited for a response and didn't get one. If a person doesn't get an explanation to a question, their mind will wander and find one. This was simple logic- something that Aeon that was happening to Kai right this moment.

"Wait-" Kai spoke as though he figured something out. Glaring furiously and gritting his teeth, Aeon's eyes widened suddenly. "It was Arven, wasn't it?! He told you to say that stuff to me?" Kai said.

"No!"

"He- he was smiling at me like it was a joke before sending me to talk to you. He set this whole thing up, didn't he?!"

"No!"

"Then what? Who else could have manipulated you?"

Aeon couldn't say anything. Kai glared.

"...I'm going to go give Arven a piece of my mind." Kai turned around, and Aeon moved- his sense of reason being thrown to the wayside. What carried the robot boy's sprinting legs was instinct, and what he did next was done without thought.

Aeon wrapped his arms around Kai, embracing the boy from behind. Kai stopped, as though he were suddenly turned to stone. an uncomfortable silence hung between the two of them like a long piece of string wrapped around a stick.

"It's not what you think..,!" Aeon said suddenly. "It's not- Arven didn't plan any of this!"

Kai was completely silent.

"He- He just wanted to have us talk to each other and…flirt, even! It's because he thinks I like you..! It's not him- I swear...!"

"...He thought that you liked me..?" Kai responded.

"Yes- but…"

"Then what?" Kai said. "Who was it? Who manipulated you?"

"I just need you to trust me- someone manipulated me. I can't tell you who, why or what- i just need you to-"

Kai moved- using his back to shove Aeon away. The moment the trainer turned to face Aeon- Aeon realized that the boy was blushing- his entire face was red, it was unsure if it was out of anger, or embarrassment. Perhaps it was both.

"Do you realize how manipulative you sound right now!?" Kai cried. "First you're saying that you don't like me, that you don't want anything to do with me- and now you're saying all of a sudden that it was a lie!? Do you think this is a joke?! Do you think I'm a joke!?"

"No! I-"

"You know what you're doing to me right now!? You're making my head spin! First, I'm sad and depressed that you don't like me, and now all of a sudden, you're just saying that it was all a lie!?"

Aeon didn't know what to say.

"What kind of emotional flip-flopping are you doing!? Do you think messing with me is funny?! That just because I'm flirting with you and- and-... That I sort of like you… that it's funny to just mess with my head?! Do me a favor and leave me alone!"

Kai turned and stomped off.

Aeon fell to his knees. His vision quickly became blurry as he watched Kai walk off.

"Don't-" Aeon shouted. "Don't go! Kai! Kai! Please, Please! Someone manipulated me! You have to believe me- Please!" Kai kept walking, and Aeon started sobbing loudly. "I don't want you to go..! Please- I don't want you to go..!"

Aeon slammed his fists against the floor again and again like a child throwing a tantrum over losing something precious. He screamed at the very top of his lungs. The emotional pain was like fire burning in his chest. Aeon just watched as his tears hit the ground and created a tiny, tiny puddle of tears.

"Do you think I want to do this!?" Aeon heard Kai's voice and looked up. Kai had turned and was coming back with tears streaming down his own face. "You're just- you're making me feel like I'm-...like I'm nothing!"

"I need you to believe me-"

"Believe what!?" Kai spun around once again. "In blind faith? I'm supposed to believe you that someone manipulated you..?"

"...I'm begging you to-"

"Who? Who is it, then?!"

"I can't tell you!"

Kai spun around again groaning loudly, placing a hand on his face. "Are you-...Oh my god…!"

"Kai- listen to me, I need you to just trust me!"

"What- are you going to tell me that demons told you to do it?! That- that some sort of evil force took over your body and just made you say that!? Do you honestly believe that I'm stupid enough to believe that?!"

Aeon said nothing and just stared at Kai with a pleading look. Kai pinched the bridge of his nose.

For a while, the two boys just stood still. Time felt like it froze at that moment, and Aeon couldn't breathe.

"If you were forced, tell me who forced you."

"I can't."

"Do YOU-.." Kai stopped, looking as though he were trying to stop himself from screaming. He sighed before speaking again. "Do you see how hard it is to believe you right now?" Aeon heard how hard Kai was trying to not yell. How hard he was trying to fight back his tears. "Do you see how stupid this all sounds?!"

Aeon lowered his head as Kai just sighed.

For a while, the two boys just stayed quiet.

For a split second, Aeon wondered if he should just erase the boy's memory of that conversation. It would be so selfish that it'd be evil…but he'd have Kai back.

No…. it wasn't right to just take away his memory whenever Aeon found it really inconvenient. It felt like he was back into the situation when Arven was angry at him for existing. He couldn't help but feel like he was back in the Arven situation. Between a rock and a hard place. His life would be so much easier if he didn't have feelings. But- it was too late. He was born with them- and they weren't going away any time soon.

"It's just-..." Kai suddenly spoke once again, he sounded extremely conflicted. "it's just the stupidest thing in the world to do to just believe you, you know that? How do I know you're not trying to hurt me again...?! Do you know how hurt I was to hear you say something like that?!"

Aeon said nothing as though he were a child receiving a lecture about what they did wrong. He knew Kai was right. It was downright stupid to believe that Kai would believe him without a proper explanation. All of the hope that Aeon had of Kai forgiving him was gone- it was written all over his body language. He was slumped while on his knees, just staring at the ground with lowered, sorrowful eyes.

Kai spun around once again and just sighed. For a while, Kai's back was facing the android. A painful silence hung between them. Then, after a bit… Kai groaned loudly. He scratched the back of his neck. Aeon expected Kai to just walk away at this point. But instead, Kai sighed and shook his head.

"Only a true idiot would ever decide to believe you right now….." Kai said. He turned around. He looked as though he was going to regret what he was going to say next. "Although… luckily for you…I am that idiot."

Aeon gasped. His entire body nearly leapt from surprise.

"What!?" He shouted.

"...Apparently it's just the thing I do nowadays. Why stop my stupid-streak here? It's done nothing but good for me, so…" Kai said this while scratching the back of his head and sighing once again. "Ugh, jeez! I am such a moron! This is probably going to bite me in the butt. But yeah. I'll take your word for it. I guess."

"Oh my god..!"

The amount of sudden joy that came to the android boy was absolutely overwhelming. So much so that Kai's eyes widened in sudden surprise.

"K-Kai..!" Aeon leapt to his feet immediately, and hugged Kai without thinking.

"Oh-.." Kai said- stumbling and clearly taken aback.

"Thank you..!" Aeon said. "Thank you so much..! Thank you-.." Aeon broke into sobs so great that he couldn't talk. His wails were like a newborn baby's. Aeon held onto Kai tight- the robot boy held himself back from saying, 'please never leave my side'.

"A-Aeon-" Kai shouted, "you're..! hugging me too tight..!-"

Aeon was so overjoyed that he didn't want to let go- so he didn't. He tried speaking, but it came out as incoherent babbling. What Aeon was trying to say was ,'Thank you' over and over again, but Kai couldn't understand a single thing he said.

"Ahh-..!" Kai cried out.

Kai stumbled back and yelped as the two of them fell to the ground together. Aeon could feel Kai's heartbeat because of their chests being together- he could feel it racing. Aeon breathed a sigh that was mixed with relief and joy, welcoming the other boy's scent as he smiled wide.

"Uh..!" Kai was absolutely overwhelmed with embarrassment. His entire face was redder than a tomato.

"Mmm.." Aeon just didn't move. He was like a little kid blissfully hugging a teddy bear.

"Aeon-! I'm serious! My heart can't take it- get off!"

Aeon's eyes widened as he snapped himself out of his trance. He moved away from Kai and stood up after clearing his throat.

"I'm sorry-" Aeon said. "I don't know what came over me, I-.. Are you okay?" Aeon reached down for Kai to take his hand. Kai grabbed his hand and Aeon helped him up.

"I'm fine- um.." Kai took a moment to just breathe. "...I didn't expect you to hug me like that."

Aeon didn't know what to say.

"Jeez. Man, am I an idiot.." Kai said, scratching his head. "You'd better give an explanation later. Okay?"

The fact that Kai would do something so unbelievably…. Illogical and trust Aeon despite what had just happened… Aeon still couldn't comprehend it- but… he understood that this was something only Kai would do. Usually, Aeon would yell at him about how reckless and thoughtless he could be… but now… He was never more thankful for Kai to have that aspect about him. In fact, he was starting to love that part of him.

"Thank you," He said. "Thank you so much. I-.." Aeon started to sniffle as more tears started to flow. Without a second thought- Aeon again lunged to hug Kai.

"Whoa!" Kai cried. "Why're yo-"

Aeon started to sob loudly and cry like a baby all over again. Kai's instinct carried him to pat the robot boy on the back. It took a while for Aeon to stop. He sniffled for a bit, and pulled away from Kai- eying the tear-stained shirt the trainer now had.

"You okay..?" Kai asked.

Aeon nodded and wiped his tears.

"All right- great. Uh-..now what?" Kai said.

"I don't know. I've…never been in a situation like this."

"Uh…should I just pat your shoulders and say uh- 'well, that's that, good talk!'"

Aeon chuckled a bit. "No. That'd be dumb."

"Well now I'm just going to do it out of spite," Kai patted Aeon's shoulders. "That's that. Good talk-"

Aeon chuckled again. "...Kai?"

"Yeah?"

Aeon looked into Kai's eyes. For a split second, a thought came to his mind- it was intrusive, and something that nearly made the robot boy recoil.

Aeon wanted to kiss him.

Wait, what?! Why would Aeon want to kiss him?! It didn't make any sense to him. Aeon was a robot- incapable of romantic love... Right?

Then why was it that his emotions were telling him to...kiss Kai!?

Aeon sighed quickly, recollecting himself.

"What is it?" Kai asked. "is it that I said something cringe-worthy?"

Aeon chuckled lightly, shaking his head.

"How are you able to still joke despite what just happened?" Aeon asked.

"I dunno. Cause I'm an idiot?"

Aeon chuckled one more time. "I don't know how to explain it, but… you're just-...incredible," Aeon said. Kai's eyes widened in shock.

"Oh- uh…" Kai muttered, unable to keep eye contact with Aeon. This made Aeon smile, and the thought of kissing him came back to him, more powerful than ever. Emotion took over Aeon's mind at that moment, causing him to grab Kai's hand and raise it between their faces.

Kai had done so much for him- and Aeon felt just- completely overwhelmed with joy. Maybe it'd be fine, Aeon thought. He did owe him a kiss from defeating Klawf a long, long time ago. He could probably just use that as an excuse.

Aeon slowly lowered Kai's hand, and inched closer to Kai, who suddenly became tense the moment he did this. Aeon slowly closed his eyes, and Kai, who looked extremely terrified, slowly closed his as well.

"Yo! Kai, Aeon!" Arven's voice came to the boys, and Kai swung his head around.

"Arven..?!" Kai cried.

"A-Arven-!"

"I was wondering what was taking you guys so long..!" Arven shouted as he caught up to the boys. His eyes widened as he noticed that Aeon and Kai were still holding hands.

"...I…didn't interrupt anything, did I?"

Aeon's eyes widened as he pulled his hand away from Kai's with an embarrassed look on his face. "No!" He cried.

Kai put his hands on his hips.

"Uh, yeah!" Kai said. "you di-"

Aeon, now red in the face, slapped his hand onto Kai's mouth to silence him. Nothing but muffling came from Kai's mouth.

"You didn't interrupt anything," Aeon said, blushing a bit.

"...Okay." Arven chuckled and smiled. "Anyway. I've something to tell you, so listen up. I- uh… wait. Aeon? Uh… I've got to talk about…"

Arven came close to Aeon and mouthed the words 'robot stuff', and Aeon nodded.

"Kai-" Aeon stopped. He'd have to ask Kai to leave for a moment…. but that made Aeon feel like Kai would be distrustful all over again. He sighed and put his hand on his neck.

"Need me to leave?" Kai asked. "Cause I can do that."

Aeon felt so extremely grateful that he could have teared up if he hadn't cried his eyes out earlier.

"Never change…" Aeon muttered.

"Huh? What was that?" Kai asked.

Aeon smiled. "I said, never change!"

Kai grinned slyly. "Yeah- see that's what I thought you said. No need to worry, I'm an idiot 'till death."

"Yeah... you're not just an idiot, you're my idiot," Aeon muttered under his breath.

"Anyway," Kai said, pointing a thumb over his shoulder. "I'll be waiting outside." He said before turning to walk away.

Aeon turned to Arven after seeing Kai leave.

"What's up?" Aeon asked.

"I could ask you the same thing," Arven teased.

Aeon groaned. "Just get on with what you were trying to say."

"Heh. All right. Okay… where to start.." Arven replied.

Geeta was standing on top of the Pokémon League building. Her back was turned to the doors that would open when the next challenger would approach. She was staring up at the bright sky, looking at the clouds as wind flew past her. The sound of an automatic door opening caused her to turn around.

Once Geeta saw who it was, her eyebrows raised.

"How surprising. I didn't expect you to show up again."

Nemona was grinning from ear to ear as she approached Geeta.

"And miss out the chance to fight the new and improved Geeta?! I want to learn how to use Flow from fighting you..!"

"You already can."

"Do you have any idea how cryptic that sounds, La Diabla Azul!?"

"Whenever students ask me how to use 'Flow'," She continued, "it's a question that I can't just answer. The way one activates Flow is different for everyone- it's by releasing all of the mental chains that hold you back. Anyone can do this. So whenever I'm asked about using flow, I tell them that they can already use it. The only thing that's in their way is themselves."

"...What's that supposed to mean..!?" Nemona cried. "I have no idea what you're trying to say."

Geeta sighed.

"Perhaps the way I am saying it confuses you. It confuses everyone. So perhaps the way I explain is the issue. The reason why you cannot use Flow is because something in your mind is holding you back. Is that a better explanation?" Geeta said.

"Yeah!" Nemona said, nodding along. Geeta smiled. "So what's holding me back?" Nemona asked.

"That's a question only you can answer."

"Hmm… Maybe I can figure it out once I fight you..!" Nemona pulled her Pokéball out in front of her and neared her finger to her invoker watch. "Bring it on!" She cried.

Geeta's smile disappeared as she prepared to activate her own invoker.

"Let's begin," Geeta said.

Turo and Sada watched Aeon's point of view through the same monitor they were looking through. They were watching Arven explain what Turo had told him.

"Aeon implied someone manipulated him," Turo said. "Even though he hadn't implicitly incriminated us, he has still gone against us by speaking to Kai of this matter. Shall we punish him?"

"Only if he specifically mentions our names." Sada said. "Until then, we shall allow it. Everything is going as planned as of right now."

Both professors nodded in agreement.

"And that's all I know," Arven said.

"So, they upped the sensitivity of this Paradox Drive… from what it sounds like, it's always been inside of my body, all this time, giving me life like it's my heart..." Aeon said.

This was perfect.

Aeon finally had an out in regard to talking to Kai about the situation he was in. With the news of the Paradox Drive, he could just tell Kai that he's a robot, and explain what the Paradox drive is and its effects. Then, all he'd have to say is that he was under the control of the Paradox Drive's effects when he told Kai he hated him. Of course, it was a lie, but it'd be better than straight up telling Kai about what was actually going on. He'd have to do it when he and Kai were alone, that way Arven would never know about what truly happened. Then he'd be fine.

The professors wouldn't do anything. Hopefully. But that was a problem to be solved in the future. For now, he had to solve this present problem.

"Though, you do realize what this means, right?" Aeon asked.

"What?"

"Because of my heightened sensitivity to the Paradox Drive... I can't enter combat under any circumstances. It also means that I can't just save you from Titan Pokémon all the time."

"In other words, I've gotta train, huh? Catch more Pokémon?"

Aeon nodded.

"If I enter combat at all, I'll risk succumbing to the effects of the Paradox Drive."

"Yeah... makes sense. Well, I'm glad that I was able to talk to you about that. On another note, uh- what was going on with you and Kai?"

Aeon's eyes widened before he scratched the back of his neck out of awkwardness. "Uh… don't worry about it," He said.

"You were holding his hand. How am I not supposed to worry about it?"

"Listen- that was... a glitch in my brain. A malfunction."

"Really? Malfunction?" Arven looked like he was about to burst into laughter, and Aeon was beginning to pout. "Are you actually using that card right now?!" Arven continued.

"I'm being serious!" Aeon shouted. "It- It really was a malfunction! It would happen to any other human being-"

"I must have interrupted you both from kissing, you were SO close to each other!" Arven started snickering.

"Stop it!" Aeon's face was now completely red.

"Kai and Aeon," Arven said, "sitting in a tree! K! I! S! S! I! - Ow!"

Aeon elbowed Arven on the side, sighed, and walked off with a huff.

"You're just mad because I'm right!" Arven shouted. "It's not a matter of if, only when!"

Aeon walked on. "Sorry, I shut off my hearing functions! I can't hear a single word you're saying!"

"Wow, really?!"

"Sorry, I shut off my hearing functions! I can't hear a single word you're saying!"

Arven started sprinting after Aeon. "Kid, you are so DEAD when I get my hands on you!"

Author's note:

Here's a funny, non-cannon scene that I came up with but would absolutely not go into the main story at all:

-Kai gets abducted by the titan bombirdier and flies by aeon and arven who in this context haven't met up with Kai yet and are just sitting for a picnic-
-Arven notices bombirdier flying away but doesn't see Kai- "Wow. Someone got caught by a bombirdier, what an idiot."
-Aeon uses his robot eyes to zoom in- "Arven-!"
"Yeah?"
"That's OUR idiot!"
"OH GOD. WE GOTTA GO GET HIM."

it wouldn't have made sense because Arven wouldn't say that, so I just put it here instead as a one-off joke that'll never come to the story (thankfully) LOL