Cherrygrove's Pokémon Center didn't get much foot traffic. That was to be expected, considering there wasn't much in the way of battles around here. Wild Pokémon weren't particularly tough, and the Gym had long since been shut down.
Being who I was, I fished out my key, unlocked the door, and slid it open just enough to slip inside, making sure to lock it behind me. Centers this small had curfews—standard protocol, really, unless you were in a city with an active Gym and dangerous wild Pokémon. I'd learned that the hard way when I first started out.
"Celia," I called out, though I knew better than to expect a warm welcome. Instead, the Pink Dread herself, Chansey, glared at me from behind the counter. Her eyes narrowed as she gave me the same disapproving look I'd grown accustomed to.
"Gah!" I winced. Boy, I was tempted, still am, to be honest,to call out Ignis, my Typhlosion. But despite him being my starter and most trusted pal, I'd somehow ingrained into him the rule of never messing with a white mage. And that meant I had to face Chansey's wrath alone.
"Hey, Chansey." I forced my best charming smile, though considering the nature of my relationship with her partner, and the... messes we'd left behind in the past, it was safe to say that while Celia might be fond of me, her Pokémon was not.
Chansey's stubby arm, flipper? Appendage? Jabbed toward the back room, her usually gentle face twisted into an irritated scowl. "Chan," she intoned with an exasperated sigh, clearly over it.
I considered pinching her round cheeks but decided against it, not wanting to risk another Double Slap… again.
As I walked through the restricted hallway, I stole a glance at the treatment rooms. The usual patients were in for the night, nothing new. I paused for a moment, listening, but no strange sounds or emergencies. Just the quiet hum of the centre, eerily peaceful.
When I pushed open the door to Celia's quarters, the sterile room greeted me, as bare and clinical as always. Celia lived and breathed her work. That's what I admired about her. She was driven, and passionate. But it didn't leave much room for anything—or anyone—else.
The sound of running water caught my attention, and without hesitation, I did the only reasonable thing. I stripped down, tossing my clothes carelessly on the floor. My custom Pokéballs clattered onto the dresser as I slid open the door to the en-suite bathroom.
"Looks like you forgot to lock the door," I said, my voice low and teasing.
Steam billowed out, and there she was—Nurse Joy, or Celia, as I called her when we were alone. She stood under the spray, her body gleaming in the mist. She didn't flinch when I stepped in behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist, my length sliding between her legs. She leaned back against me, a soft smile playing on her lips.
"Who says I forgot?" she murmured, her voice light.
We weren't in a relationship, not in the traditional sense. Celia didn't have time for one. But that didn't stop us from indulging each other now and then—physical needs satisfied, no strings attached. At least, that's what she always said.
After our time in the shower, the heat of the moment slowly cooled, and practicality took over. We dried ourselves off; no point in getting the bed soaked. It wasn't the most passionate finish, but it was functional. We didn't need fireworks every time—though when they came, they were explosive.
Even so, we continued for a while after, rutting like a pair of wild Pokémon until exhaustion finally claimed us. I might've dozed off right then if not for the cursed Pokégear vibrating. I wanted to chuck it across the room, but that would've meant finding my jeans first.
Celia groaned into my chest, her pink hair spilling over me as she snuggled deeper, pressing against my skin. "Answer it," she mumbled.
"I can't. You'll have to let me go."
"...No."
I snorted, pinching her cheek playfully. Her hips bucked in response, and she glared up at me with those sharp blue eyes, her lips forming a mock pout. "All of my hate, Nihil," she muttered, her tone half-joking.
"Same time tomorrow?" I asked, pulling myself out of bed. Celia propped herself up on one elbow, only to collapse back down with a sigh.
"Can't tomorrow," she said, her voice flat. There was no need for explanations; we weren't dating, after all. The only time we saw each other outside of these trysts was when she was patching up my team. I left the ball in her court. She always did the same.
"I'll message you," she added softly, her tone carrying an undercurrent of something I couldn't quite place—something I didn't have the energy to decipher.
"Till then..." I glanced at my Pokégear and groaned. "Shit."
Celia started to ask, but then closed her mouth, offering me a knowing smile instead. She waved me off, gesturing toward the door.
"Later," I muttered, already dreading the day ahead. It was always a busy day when Champion Lance was calling.
3rd Person POV
Nihil made his way outside the Pokémon Center, grabbing his Poké Balls with practised ease. He called out to his team members, summoning his Garchomp and Gardevoir, Eris. The sight of his powerhouse's filled him with a sense of readiness. If the Elders dared to try anything when he returned to Blackthorn, they'd be in for one hell of a fight.
He placed his hand on Eris's shoulder, and with a thought, they teleported to the outskirts of Blackthorn City. Upon arrival, Nihil recalled Eris to her Poké Ball, but not Garchomp—she was staying out as his statement piece. The sight of his dragon-like Pokémon was a challenge to the elders, a way of declaring that his power could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the best Dragon-types the Johto and Kanto regions had to offer.
Eris and Solara would make mincemeat of their dragons but the intimidation factor was all Scaldra's, the Garchomp was a specimen of a whole other level. The only one who could compare was her older brother who was partners with a certain blonde champion in the making.
As he strode into the gathering space, of the Clan sector, he spotted a familiar blue standing out. Clair awaited him, her eyes were sharp, assessing him with that familiar mix of admiration and resistance. Even though she tried to act distant, Nihil could see the way her gaze lingered a moment too long on his confident stride and the imposing presence of his Garchomp.
"Clair," he greeted, stepping close and pulling her into a hug that was just a little too intimate to be purely familial. He let his hand slide down to cup her pert rear, giving it a teasing squeeze. Clair stiffened but didn't pull away. Instead, her cheeks flushed pink, and Nihil leaned in, his breath hot against her ear.
"Cousin," he teased, his voice dripping with that shameless deviance that always danced in his tone. His fingers kneaded her flesh, making it perfectly clear that he'd bend her over and take her right here if the opportunity presented itself. He smirked as he felt Clair tremble slightly under his touch, a reaction that didn't go unnoticed.
Clair's breath hitched, and despite her best efforts to appear unaffected, Nihil could see the flicker of interest in her eyes. She knew exactly what he was offering and, for a moment, let her mind wander to what it might be like to submit to her cousin's raw, untamed lust. The thought of him filling her with his seed, claiming her in a way that left her craving more, was almost enough to break her composure.
"Behave yourself," she muttered, though her voice lacked conviction. The way her eyes lingered on him told a different story. She quickly turned and led the way to where Lance was waiting, her movements stiff as she fought to clear the deviant thoughts racing through her mind.
Nihil gave Garchomp a subtle nod, recalling her to her Poké Ball as they approached Lance. The show of power had been meant for the clan elders, not his cousins, though the way Clair's eyes had lingered on him was its own reward. As she turned to leave, Clair's gaze drifted to his body again, her face growing even redder as her eyes dropped to his crotch. She hesitated, her hands twitching slightly as if resisting the urge to touch herself, before she finally spun on her heel and walked away, the heat of embarrassment and desire written all over her face.
Lance stood waiting, his expression calm and unreadable as always. "Nihil," he said in a tone that was almost too polite, and that immediately put Nihil on guard. If Lance was being this formal, it meant he wanted something.
"What's up, Lance?" Nihil asked, crossing his arms, a smirk tugging at his lips as he looked his cousin over. "You usually save this cordial routine for politics."
Lance's lips twitched in a tight smile, and he activated the display screen. The image of Cherrygrove's abandoned Gym flickered into view, its state of disrepair evident even through the screen. "I want you to consider reopening this Gym," Lance said, his tone steady. "Make it a main circuit Fire Gym."
He wasn't sure if this was clan politics just yet, there already was a dragon gym, that Clair would be groomed into taking over, now that Lance was going to be the champion, so there couldn't be another dragon in the circuit, but if the clan had their way, it would be exactly that in everything but name.
Nihil raised an eyebrow, already shaking his head. "Not a chance. I'm not qualified for that role," he said easily enough, shrugging dismissively. "Especially after I flopped my championship match against Pryce." He said with a grin. However he quickly regretted bringing that up as it seemed to be Lance's own ammunition.
Lance's eyes narrowed slightly at Nihil's words. With a resigned sigh, he played a clip on the screen—footage of Nihil's battle with Pryce. In the video, Ignis stood tall, unyielding, while Pryce's Mamoswine was on its last legs, clearly struggling to remain standing. Nihil's Typhlosion had already secured victory. But then, Nihil's face cracked into a smug smile as he raised his hand and forfeited, his voice ringing clear: "I guess we're just beaten."
The crowd in the video fell silent, stunned by the declaration, and Nihil watched himself smirk as he threw away a victory he had firmly in his grasp. When the clip ended, Nihil shrugged his shoulders lazily, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Lost to Pryce fair and square," he said, the sarcasm in his voice evident.
"Except you didn't," Lance said, a hint of frustration in his voice, as he slammed his fist down on the table. "You were one move away from being Champion, and you threw it all away. You even had another Pokémon ready that you never used."
"Yeah, well," Nihil replied with a nonchalant wave, "winning just didn't feel right that day. And why are you complaining? You're the champ now."
Lance clicked his teeth and opened his mouth to retort but he knew his cousin well enough, so he closed it and his gaze hardened, and he let out a slow breath. "This isn't about the past, Nihil. It's about the future. I need you to establish a Fire-type Gym in Cherrygrove. The League needs strong leaders, and I need your support in this new era as Champion."
Nihil narrowed his eyes, knowing full well what Lance was asking for. "Ah. This is about clout, isn't it?" he said with a grin. "You want your cousin, the badass Fire Gym Leader, backing you up so you look even more legit when Pryce finally steps down."
Lance didn't deny it, his expression remaining calm. "You know what this means for the family, Nihil. For all of us."
"For real bro, that's the angle you're going to play with me?" He said in a flat tone, "The only I give a damn about in this family is you. So all in all, fuck this family."
"Nihil!"
"Lance, you were the only one who looked out for me, even when I was disowned by the Clan before I even popped out of my mother's clown hole." He took a deep breath, his voice softening with sincerity, as if he hadn't just spoken such uncloth terms as he described the woman who birthed him, "Fuck I don't even look like you fuck wits, so I wouldn't have known if it weren't for you."
Lance's eyes softened for a moment, the briefest crack in his stoic demeanour. "Then do this for me," he said quietly.
Nihil's face hardened again, as he let out a sigh, and 'dick move' under his breath before his grin returned. "I'll think about it," he said, turning on his heel. "No promises." He flashed Lance a cheeky salute as he walked away, ignoring his cousin's own annoyed sigh.
As he made his way back to where he'd teleported, Nihil couldn't help but wonder if taking on this responsibility might be more trouble than it was worth. But then again, for Lance, he just might consider it.
Nihil's POV
As I headed back to where I'd first teleported into Blackthorn City, I called out Eris again. She appeared in that elegant, graceful way of hers, the air shimmering slightly as she materialized at my side. Her eyes met mine, calm and knowing like she could read the mess of thoughts in my head without me saying a word.
"Let's go, Eris," I said, the smirk I wore for the others fading into something more genuine when I looked at her. For all my bravado, she and the rest of my team were the only ones who saw beyond that mask. She nodded, her hand lightly gripping my arm, and in a flash of psychic energy, we were gone.
We reappeared just outside the winding path toward Cherrygrove City. I took a deep breath, letting the familiar scent of the woods wash over me. This place had always grounded me in a way that nothing else could. I recalled Eris to her Poké Ball, letting her rest after the day's events, but Ignis—he was different. He popped out on his own, like he always did when he sensed I needed him. It was almost like our bond ran deeper than just a trainer and his Pokémon, some mystic thread connecting us.
"Well, buddy," I muttered, scratching Ignis's ear in that spot that always got him purring like an overgrown feline, "seems like Lance really wants to drag me into this politics game." Ignis let out a low rumble, his flames flickering as if he was trying to hold back a laugh.
"What do you think, huh?" I asked. "Should we actually consider this Gym Leader gig?"
Ignis tilted his head, giving me that look—half-amused, half-supportive. It was almost like he knew exactly why I was hesitant, why the idea of becoming a cog in the Pokémon League machine grated against everything I stood for. Ignis had seen me throw away victories before, just to spite the elders and their expectations, so he got it. He understood.
For as long as I could remember, I'd been an outsider. Even when I was a kid in that orphanage on the outskirts of Blackthorn, I wasn't like the other kids. Sure, I blended in on the surface—just another unwanted child with nowhere to go. But I dreamt of things that should've been out of my reach. The kind of things that the Dragon Clan called the work of Dreamers. They'd have probably called me one too, if they bothered to pay attention to a bastard like me.
The Dragon Clan had legends about Dreamers, about how they were supposed to be the saviours of the clan, guiding them with potent auras. But me? I knew my place. I wasn't here to save anyone. I was here to look out for myself. And I'd be damned if I let anyone dictate how I lived my life.
When I reached my house, I couldn't help but let my thoughts drift to Clair. My oh-so-distant cousin who turned into a real piece of work over the years. She was a cold, calculating beauty now, all sharp edges and even sharper words. But I'd seen the way she looked at me today—the way her eyes lingered a little too long, her cheeks flushing. She might pretend she was above it all, but deep down, I knew exactly what she wanted. And I wasn't one to back down from a challenge.
Dragon's bred for strength, I wouldn't pretend I liked Clair, she was a cunt to me in the limited interactions we had during our childhood, but I couldn't deny her beauty, the idea of her bent over and...
"Man, this family's a mess," I said with a grin as I stepped inside, tossing my jacket over a chair. I sank onto the couch, feeling the weight of the day settle in. I flicked on the TV, but I wasn't really watching. My mind kept going back to Lance and his proposal.
Lance was different from the rest of the Clan. He'd actually stood by me when everyone else turned their backs. He didn't have to—hell, he shouldn't have, considering how the Clan disowned me because of my old man's stubborn pride, 'the bastard of a foreign whore' who had abandoned me here. But Lance did it anyway. He believed in me, even when I didn't believe in myself.
I owed him more than I'd ever admit, especially after he set me up with Professor Elm. The old man had sponsored me, and gave me my first partner—Ignis. That was a debt I could never repay to Lance, and yet he never once tried to cash it in. Didn't try to manipulate me or demand favours like the rest of those Clan elders. And honestly, that pissed me off more than anything. Why couldn't he just be like the others and make it easy for me to hate him?
I grabbed my Pokégear, staring at the message Lance had sent earlier. I could feel the tug of responsibility, the pull to at least give him a straight answer. But the thought of being tied down to a Gym, dealing with challenges and the bureaucracy of the League, just felt wrong. I wasn't built for routine or rules. I lived for the thrill, the unpredictability, the rush of breaking norms.
"I'm not ready to be tied down just yet," I muttered, rolling my eyes as I tossed the Pokégear back onto the coffee table.
Ignis, ever the loyal companion, nudged my hand with his snout, a small burst of flame flickering from his back. I chuckled, ruffling his fur. "You're right, pal," I said with a grin. "Let's keep Lance waiting a bit longer. Let him stew in his own mess for a while before we make any big decisions."
I leaned back, staring at the ceiling, the flickering light of Ignis's flames casting shadows that danced across the walls. Even with all the confusion and hesitation, there was a part of me that wanted to say yes, not because I wanted the Gym or the title, but because Lance needed me. He'd never say it outright, but I knew. And maybe, just maybe, I owed it to him to at least think it over.
But for now, I'd let him wait. Let him deal with his new Champion duties while I figured out if I wanted to play the game or flip the board entirely.
"One step at a time," I murmured, closing my eyes as Ignis settled beside me, the comforting warmth of his presence easing the rest of the day's tension. "Let's see where this path takes us."
A/N - Published - 2024/10/07
Nihil is an angry, cocksure, horny idiot. With visions and dreams of the Pokemon game series. (Poor man's SI element). Essentially a power wank, with the main character who hates positions of power.
Typhlosion (m) – Ignis. Arcanine (m) – Blaze. Houndoom (f) – Inferna. Garchomp (f) – Scaldra. Togekiss (f) – Solara. Gyarados - Shiny (f) – Pyrrha. Magmortar (m) – Vulcan. Gardevoir - (f) - Eris.
Ideas and thoughts will always be appreciated.