Chapter 39: "Future Boyfriend"
Kai, Arven and Aeon were standing in front of the Pokecenter. All three of Kai's Pokémon were out. Quaxwell was practicing some ballet dance moves, and Pawmo was watching with interest. Tinkatuff was right next to Pawmo, staring at him with interest. When Pawmo felt the sense that someone was watching him, he'd turn to Tinkatuff, and Tinkatuff would look away immediately, whistling to herself. Pawmo then would look back at Quaxwell, and Tinkatuff would stare at Pawmo again. The cycle would repeat itself every so often.
"So, what now?" Kai asked.
"We could go back to the cave Bombirdier was at…" Arven said. "And-"
"No. Absolutely not," Aeon said.
"What? Why?" Arven asked.
"Because there's a chance the Bombirdier could have woken up."
Kai tilted his head. "Bombirdier?" He asked.
"But what if it's still knocked out?" Arven asked.
"Arven- listen. We need to get stronger. If we're strong enough to fight the Bombirdier in case it wakes back up, then there's no risk. But if it does get up…" Aeon shook his head, and Arven immediately knew what he was referring to.
The Paradox Drive. If that Bombirdier came back, it would force Aeon to defend the two boys. And since the Pokémon was so strong and resilient… Aeon would be forced to use the Paradox drive. And that'd make two things for Arven and Kai to worry about.
"But there's no way that it could be conscious…" Arven said.
"It took us three hours to awake from our loss of consciousness," Aeon said. "Not including the time, it took for us to get here- by the time we come back, the chances of the Bombirdier awakening from its unconscious slumber is approximately 70%." Aeon said. "Even if there's a 1% chance that the Bombirdier regained consciousness, we shouldn't go there. I'm unwilling to take that risk."
"But.."
"I know." Aeon said. "I know who you're thinking of. But now is not the time. We need to survive in order to save him."
"...Fine."
"Hey-" Kai chimed, "Why don't we just… uh- go really close to this Bombirdier but not close enough for it to notice us? As long as we're not seen it should be fine, right?"
Aeon and Arven turned to Kai.
"Not a bad plan," Arven said.
"But not without risk." Aeon said. "If that Bombirdier notices us, it's over. That thing's terribly strong. Far stronger than you or Arven combined."
"Pfft, What kind of Bombirdier did you even see that has you this spooked?" Kai asked. "I mean, it can't be THAT strong."
"It's a Titan, Kai," Aeon said.
"Pffft- C'mon, Aeon. I-"
"And before you say it," Aeon interrupted Kai and raised his finger. "Arven and I fought that thing. You may not remember, but it knocked you out. It knocked me out too, and Arven was barely able to escape with both of us after it accidentally bumped its head onto a boulder. It was strong, and the only thing that kept us safe was luck."
"Well, it was lucky that it got a sneak attack on me first, before I got my hands on it," Kai said.
"I figured you'd say that," Aeon said, closing his eyes. "So I had a retort planned."
"Which is?"
"I know you're the type to shoot first and ask questions later, so I have a proposition. Earn two badges before fighting that thing."
"What'll stop me from going to go fight that Bombirdier despite your warning?" Kai asked, smiling. "Cause you know I could just do that. I need more...incentive." Kai wiggled his eyebrows as Aeon sighed and closed his eyes.
. "...I feel like you're waiting for me to add, 'I'll kiss you if you do it,'" Aeon opened his eyes. "You are, aren't you?"
"OF COURSE, I AM!" Kai cried.
Aeon chuckled a bit and sighed. "...You're just-...I don't even know how to describe it."
"It just goes to show that I'll do anything to secure a kiss from my future boyfriend."
"Wh-" Aeon stopped short, blinking a few times in disbelief. "Future-...I'm sorry- What did you just say?" Aeon said.
"Yeah. Future boyfriend. I didn't stutter."
"PFFFT-" Arven started snickering.
"I'm- I'm not your future boyfriend!" Aeon cried.
"Yeah you are."
"No I'm not!"
"You tried kissing me."
"It-It was a spir-of-the-moment thing!"
"That's totally what a future boyfriend would say," Kai said.
"Oh my- You're impossible."
"And you're absolutely precious."
Aeon groaned.
"In fact, this is a perfect time to make you blush like crazy," Kai said, rubbing his hands together and snickering.
"Are- Are you serious?"
"Yes!" Kai raised his finger and wagged it with a mischievous grin. "See, there are two certainties here. One, your lips are inevitably going to be planted onto mine. Second," Kai pointed at Aeon again. "You are eventually going to agree to be my boyfriend! Not a matter of if! Only when! You were about to go in to kiss me!" Kai said.
"That-"
"I mean, you WERE really close to his face-" Arven managed to speak amid his laughter.
"It- It was a spur of the moment thing!" Aeon cried. "Besides- I-.."
"Look at him! Aeon's so CUTE! He's getting a little red in the face, too! But I won't stop till you're as red as a tomato!"
Aeon gritted his teeth and glared angrily at Kai's growing smile, and then- an idea came to the android. One that would turn the tables. Aeon's anger turned into a smirk as he raised his eyebrows.
"Why don't you do it?" Aeon asked.
"Do what?"
"Kiss me."
Kai's eyes widened in shock at Aeon's bold comment.
"WH-WH-.."
"Clearly it's what you wanted. So go ahead. Do it. I won't stop you."
"I- Well-...I don't- I don't have the guts to do it. Th-That's why YOU have to do it!"
Aeon crossed his arms. "Heh. Wuss. All bark, no bite."
"What did you just say!?"
"All. Bark. No. Bite."
Kai approached Aeon and pressed his finger against his chest. "I'll have you know, I can totally kiss you!"
"Then do it. Like I said, I won't stop you."
"A-Alright then-!" Kai put his hands onto Aeon's shoulders, closed his eyes and puckered up before inching closer to Aeon's face. Aeon watched with a sly grin the entire time, and watched as Kai stopped inching closer, and opened one eye.
Then, immediately, Kai backed away.
"I can't do it!" He cried.
"All bark, no bite," Aeon said.
"Shut up!" Kai cried, blushing. "You-"
"Wasn't I supposed to be the blushing mess?" Aeon asked.
"Stop sounding like you're winning!" Kai cried.
"I am winning," Aeon replied.
"Well guess what- Look at me! I'm not blushing AT ALL."
"You are, a little bit."
"Well I'm not redder than a tomato! And until that happens, I haven't lost!"
"Okay, then."
Aeon stepped forward, placing a bent pointer finger under Kai's chin and raising it as he inched close to his face. Aeon moved so fast that Kai's body stopped short from pure panic. Aeon's lips were so close to Kai's- Aeon would feel Kai's breath if he hadn't held it.
"Have you lost now?" Aeon said.
Kai was literally trembling. "I-..I-.."
"You call me cute, but clearly, I'm no match for you," Aeon said, grinning.
Kai started squealing in embarrassment. "OKAY- OKAY! YOU WIN!"
"I don't speak 'Tomato'. What if I kissed you right now?"
"R-RIGHT NOW!? WAIT-WAIT-...YOU'RE NOT ACTUALLY-"
Aeon's body reflexively moved in toward Kai's lips. He had planned to pull away, but Kai was so cute.
A kiss wouldn't hurt.
Upon having this thought, Aeon blinked rapidly as though he were breaking from a trance. After regaining control over his emotions, he pulled away.
Aeon actually almost kissed him for real.
"G-Gotcha," He said. Aeon laughed- and he tried his best to not sound like he was doing it nervously.
What was happening!?
Why was Aeon about to kiss Kai again!? What was wrong with him?! Why was he acting this way?! Before, when they had first met, Aeon didn't think much of Kai. But now he had to physically stop himself from kissing him!? What was happening to him!?
How completely illogical! Completely and utterly illogical- how could this happen? How could he be this impulsive!? How could something like this possibly happen?! Why was he feeling this way?!
Kai glared daggers at Aeon, who was just staring at him. "I'll get you one of these days. You know that?! The roles are going to be reversed!"
Kai's pouting would have made Aeon's heart bounce a bit- if he had one. Aeon turned around.
"Anyway- did you get your incentive?" Aeon asked.
"My incentive now... is that I'm going to not only get a kiss from you, but I'm also going to make you all embarrassed! I'll do that AFTER I impress you with my three badges!"
"Yeah," Aeon cleared his throat. "I-If you get three badges, I'll-...Yeah."
"Kiss me, right? And you mean it, this time?"
"...We'll see."
"Heh. You may not mean it, but one of these days, you will. I'm serious when I say you're my future boyfriend."
"...I knew you'd say that again. I'm not your future boyfriend."
"Whatever you say," Kai said.
Aeon turned to Arven, who had somehow managed to stop laughing and sighed from relief. "We should leave for now. You've gotta catch more Pokemon and get stronger,"
Arven nodded. "Y-yeah," He said. "L-Let's go.." He said, clearly out of breath from laughing. "Oh, jeez… my sides… they hurt…"
Kai smiled as he watched the two boys walk off. He then turned to his Pokemon, who were all watching him.
"Help me think of lines to say to Aeon next time we meet," Kai said. "I gotta wow him with my smooth moves, y'know?"
All three of his Pokémon just snickered.
"What're you guys laughing about!?" Kai cried.
Aeon sighed out loud as he walked with Arven.
"Y'know, they say a long sigh like that is a tell-tale sign that you're in love."
Aeon spun his head to Arven.
"You fail to understand- I'm a robot. I cannot feel those kinds of emotions."
"Yet you blushed when he said, 'Future boyfriend' just as you turned around."
"That doesn't mean anything- it was an…an error."
"What about earlier when Kai said that he was motivated to get those three badges and wanted to impress you? Youwere the one who implied that if he won those three badges, you'd kiss him. You could have dropped that altogether."
"Don't you have things to think about- like, I don't know, thinking of if that Titan Bombirdier is unconscious or not!?" Aeon cried.
Arven smiled.
"Y'know, it's okay to feel whatever you're feeling for Kai. You seem really fond of the guy."
"...My love for Kai is purely platonic."
"Platonic enough for you to almost kiss him? Twice?"
"I know what I said.
"Well- friends don't kiss each other."
Aeon glared at Arven, who snickered.
"Okay, Okay, I'll stop," Arven said.
"Hmph," Aeon sighed and looked away.
There was no way Aeon had feelings for Kai. That'd be illogical.
But if Aeon had to fight the urge to kiss him one more time, he'd go crazy.