Chapter 11
The soft morning light seeped through the edges of the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room. Alain blinked awake, his mind slowly adjusting to the softness of Dawn's breathing beside him, the feeling of her resting against his chest. For a moment, he lay there, simply listening to her steady breaths, a gentle rhythm that seemed to ground him in a way he hadn't known he needed.
Normally, the instant he awoke, Alain was out of bed, his routine dictated by years of discipline and habit. But this morning, for the first time he could remember, he felt no urgency to leave. He found himself savouring the quiet, the warmth, and the rare peace that came with simply… staying. Her hair brushed his shoulder, and he resisted the urge to smooth a strand out of her face, afraid of waking her too soon.
He was content here, just existing in this small, shared world between them. A slight smile tugged at his lips—an uncharacteristic softness—as he realized how much he liked this feeling.
Dawn stirred, her eyes fluttering open, a sleepy smile crossing her face as she looked up at him. "Morning," she murmured, her voice still laced with sleep.
"Morning," he replied softly, his usual reserved tone replaced with something gentler. He couldn't hide the faint smile that lingered, one he was still getting used to himself.
"Morning," he murmured, his voice still low and husky from sleep.
Dawn felt her cheeks warm. "Good morning," she replied softly, her voice barely above a whisper. They were close enough that she could feel the warmth radiating from him, close enough that she could still catch faint traces of his cologne. It felt so new, so intimate, and she found herself wondering what she was supposed to do next.
For a moment, they lay there in comfortable silence, neither moving nor speaking. Dawn's mind raced with thoughts. Should she say something about last night? Was he feeling the same mix of joy and uncertainty that she was? She snuck a glance at him, noting the way he was watching her, his gaze soft but unreadable.
Alain finally cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "So... last night," he began, his voice hesitant.
Dawn's cheeks flushed. "Yeah. Last night," she echoed, a nervous smile tugging at her lips.
They shared a slightly awkward laugh, and Dawn felt her shoulders relax a little. Whatever nervousness lingered was softened by the easy warmth between them. Alain reached out, his hand brushing a stray lock of hair from her face, and his touch was as gentle as his expression.
"No regrets?" he asked quietly, his voice barely above a murmur.
Dawn's heart fluttered again, and she smiled back at him. "No regrets"
Another silence settled between them, but this one was more comfortable, like they were both content to simply be there, basking in each other's presence. Dawn took a deep breath, feeling as though everything was starting to fall into place, the awkwardness giving way to something more familiar and warm.
Professor Sycamore walked briskly down the corridor, flipping through the morning's research notes on his tablet. Hoenn's mysteries awaited, and he wanted Dawn and Alain fully prepared for the upcoming expedition. With a thoughtful expression, he paused in front of Alain's door, preparing to go over a few details.
He knocked once, waiting for an answer. Silence. Frowning, he knocked again, a bit louder this time, but the silence persisted. "Odd," he murmured to himself. Alain was usually an early riser, punctual and ready before anyone else.
Sycamore tried the handle, finding it unlocked. He peeked inside, glancing around the empty room, the perfectly made bed, the untouched travel bag. His brow furrowed as he stepped back into the hallway, slightly puzzled. Strange, he wasn't in the lab either, where could he be?
He shrugged, heading down the hall toward Dawn's room instead. As he approached, he heard a muffled voice and a soft laugh from inside—a sound that stopped him mid-step. He tilted his head, suddenly putting the pieces together. Alain missing from his room… Dawn's laughter drifting through the door… A small, knowing smile spread across Sycamore's face.
As Alain and Dawn exchanged another quiet smile, a sudden knock at the door shattered the morning stillness, making them both freeze. Alain felt his pulse spike as Dawn's eyes widened, the realization of their situation sinking in.
"Dawn? Are you awake?" came Professor Sycamore's cheerful, slightly singsong voice from the other side of the door. "You've got a call waiting for you in the lab. It's your mum."
Dawn shot Alain a look, her cheeks turning a deeper pink, before clearing her throat. "Yes! I'm awake, Professor. I'll, um… I'll be right there," she managed, trying to sound casual.
There was a slight pause before Sycamore replied, and they could almost hear the smirk in his voice. "Great. I'll see you in the lab soon. And… you too, Alain."
A stunned silence fell between them as Professor Sycamore's words sank in. Alain felt the heat creep up his neck, while Dawn stared at the door, mortified yet struggling to keep a straight face.
Outside, they heard Sycamore's light chuckle as his footsteps began to fade down the hallway. He was definitely aware of what he'd just done, and clearly pleased with himself.
"Well… that was deliberate," Alain murmured, rubbing the back of his neck with a sheepish smile.
Dawn laughed, covering her mouth to muffle it, though her cheeks still burned. "I think he wanted to make sure we were as flustered as possible."
"Mission accomplished," Alain replied with a grin, shaking his head. But beneath his embarrassment, he felt something warm and steady—a contentment he hadn't expected.
Dawn sighed, her expression softening. "Guess we should… actually get up," she said, though her voice held the same reluctance Alain felt.
"Yeah…" Alain agreed, though he still hesitated, savouring this rare moment of stillness. Normally, he'd be up and moving the second he opened his eyes. But here, with Dawn beside him, he was surprisingly… happy to stay right where he was, even if only for a moment longer.
Dawn turned to Alain, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face as a smile tugged at her lips. "We should get moving before he comes back to drag us out himself."
Alain chuckled, nodding. "Knowing him, he'd definitely enjoy that." He glanced down, momentarily studying her hand resting on the sheet, and felt a surge of something unfamiliar but undeniably warm. He'd never lingered in bed like this before, never had a reason to. But now… it was different.
Reluctantly, he pushed himself up, running a hand through his tousled hair. Dawn followed suit, getting up with a slight stretch that made her wince, and they shared a knowing smile. Alain reached for his jacket, pulling it on as he glanced at her, words on the tip of his tongue but finding it hard to express them.
"Last night…" he started, his voice trailing off as he searched her gaze, "I didn't expect… but I'm glad." His hand hesitated at his side, as if considering reaching for her again.
Dawn's cheeks flushed, but her smile was soft, genuine. "Me too." She looked at him for a lingering moment, as if etching this memory into her mind.
Alain's expression softened as he nodded, and though he didn't say anything, there was an understanding between them, something unsaid but deeply felt.
After a beat, she reached for the doorknob, glancing back at him with a mischievous glint. "Ready to face Sycamore's smirking?"
Alain smirked back, shrugging as he stepped beside her. "Let's get it over with." He kissed her on the forehead then opened the door signalling her to go first.
Dawn's stomach filled with butterflies and she gushed "ooh, such a gentleman"
They made their way down the hallway, where the faint murmur of voices echoed from the lab. The moment they entered, Professor Sycamore looked up from his desk, grinning with the satisfaction of a man who knew precisely what he'd interrupted.
"Ah, there you two are," he greeted them, his eyes twinkling with a barely concealed amusement. "Dawn, the call's waiting for you right over there." He gestured toward a console near the corner of the lab, his tone innocent but the smirk giving him away.
Dawn gave Alain a quick, wry glance, then approached the console. Her fingers hovered over the controls before she took a steadying breath, pressing the button to accept the call.
Her mother's familiar face appeared on the screen, her eyes warm and bright as ever. "Dawn! Good morning, sweetheart," she greeted, her smile instantly soothing some of the nervous energy still lingering in Dawn's chest.
"Morning, Mum!" Dawn replied, her tone brightening as she tried to keep the conversation casual. She glanced back at Alain briefly, who stood a little further off, giving her space but watching her with a calm attentiveness. It felt oddly comforting.
As they exchanged pleasantries, Professor Sycamore moved to Alain's side, crossing his arms as he leaned in. "Well, I'll say this much: you look a bit more… at ease than usual this morning, Alain."
Alain huffed a small laugh, shrugging as he leaned against the lab counter. "You just like having your theories proven right, don't you?"
Sycamore gave a knowing chuckle. "Perhaps. But don't worry, I won't tell a soul. Just… be good to her, alright?"
Alain's gaze softened as he watched Dawn animatedly talk to her mother. "That's the plan."
As Dawn settled into the conversation with her mother, the warmth of her mom's familiar voice brought a sense of home into the lab. "Sweetie," her mother began, a gleam of excitement in her eyes, "I have some news. I'll be travelling around the regions soon, teaching classes on Pokémon Contests and sharing tips with new coordinators."
"Mom, that's amazing!" Dawn beamed; her enthusiasm genuine. "You'll be so good at that. I'm sure everyone will learn so much from you. So, where's your first stop?"
"Unova!" her mum replied with a smile.
Dawn's eyes brightened. "Oh, you know Ash is there! You two might run into each other."
Her mum chuckled. "I'd love that! I could use his help with the demonstrations—he'd certainly keep the audience entertained."
She paused, glancing at Dawn with a thoughtful expression. "Actually, I was hoping you'd consider sending me a few of your Pokémon from time to time. They'd make wonderful examples in my classes."
Dawn's eyes sparkled. "I'd be honoured, Mom! And it'll give me a reason to explore more while I'm here."
Her mother smiled warmly. "I thought you'd like that. This journey is yours, Dawn—make it as special as you want."
The professor caught Johanna's eye "Ah Professor Sycamore, I've heard so much about you! Thank you for taking such good care of my daughter."
Sycamore smiled, giving a slight nod toward Dawn. "It's a pleasure to have her here with us—she's been a wonderful addition to the lab." He then put his arm around Alain pulling him closer making sure he was in full view of his potential mother-in-law. "And this is the young man who will be accompanying her"
Alain felt like a deer in headlights, after all he had faced this may be the scariest encounter yet. Does she know? What should I say? His mind scrambled. The Professor chuckled sensing the fear emanating from him. Sort of coming to his assistant's rescue, he patted him on the back, "Why don't you introduce yourself?"
"Oh, Right," he nodded to the professor showing he had finally composed himself." Sounding more confident "I'm Alain, the Professor's assistant"
"Very nice to meet you Alain, allow me to thank you in advance for taking care of Dawn"
Alain and Dawn shot a look at each other out of awkwardness and began to blush.
The Professor couldn't help but laugh. "I have a feeling Alain will take real good care of her"
Johanna chuckled, thinking it was some light-hearted teasing with the Professor playing matchmaker, unaware of the truth, that the line had already been crossed.
"Alright dear, I must go now, but make sure you send me some of your Pokémon before the end of the day. And don't forget to let me know you made it to Hoenn safe, ok."
"No need to worry"
"That's when I worry the most"
As Dawn wrapped up the call, the idea of both helping her mother and broadening her own experiences filled her with excitement. She shot a quick glance at Alain, her heart skipping at the thought of exploring Kalos and Hoenn with him by her side.
The Professor's words snapped her out of her thoughts.
"Oh Dawn, I almost forgot, since you're giving me three Pokémon for a while, I thought it was only right that I gave you this" He reached into his lab coat pocket and threw out a Pokéball. As the bright light faded, the cutest little fox was sitting in front of her with its tail wagging.
Dawn screamed in excitement and bent over to scoop her up. "You are just the cutest little thing, ahh I love it, thanks so much Professor"
Sycamore smiled. "I knew you'd be a good match. She's yours to keep, not just on loan."
Dawn hugged the Pokémon gently, beaming. "I promise I'll take great care of her."
With her new Pokémon nestled in her arms, Dawn approached her bag and carefully pulled out Ambipom's and Togekiss's Pokéballs. She looked down at them, feeling a twinge of emotion. She released Ambipom and Togekiss, giving them each a gentle hug. "I'm going to miss you both, but you'll be amazing with my mom. She's going to need the best teachers by her side."
Alain and Sycamore watched as she said her goodbyes. Ambipom clung to her for an extra second, and Togekiss nuzzled her cheek. Dawn whispered a soft promise to visit them soon, then handed the Pokéballs to Sycamore.
"These two for my mom… and three for you, Professor." She handed him the Pokéballs for her other Pokémon, each one with a heartfelt smile.
Sycamore gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "I'll take good care of them, Dawn."
Alain watched her with a quiet admiration, sensing how hard it was for her to part with her Pokémon. He stepped closer, offering a comforting smile. "Ready to go?"
Dawn took a deep breath, her eyes meeting Alain's. "Alright," she said, her voice steady but filled with anticipation. "I'm ready."
Professor Sycamore gave them a parting smile. "Take care of each other, you two. And Dawn… don't forget to keep in touch."
With a final wave, Alain and Dawn turned, leaving the lab and stepping into the bright new day. As they walked side by side, Dawn glanced over at Alain, feeling a spark of excitement for the journey ahead—and for everything they'd experience together.
Professor Sycamore stood by the lab door, watching as Alain and Dawn walked side by side toward the path that led them out of Lumiose City. The two of them chatted quietly, with Dawn occasionally glancing up at Alain, her eyes bright with excitement, while Alain's usual stoic expression softened in response.
Sycamore smiled to himself, folding his arms as he observed their easy closeness, the way Alain subtly adjusted his pace to match hers, and how Dawn would occasionally lean just a little closer as if drawn to him by some invisible thread.
There was something deeply satisfying about watching young love blossom, he thought, especially in people who had clearly spent so long building walls around themselves. Alain, with his guarded demeanour and intense drive, and Dawn, with her boundless warmth and resilience—they seemed to bring out the best in each other in a way that was as endearing as it was inspiring.
"Ah, young love," Sycamore murmured to himself, a touch of nostalgia in his tone. He could still remember the thrill of those early connections, the excitement of embarking on new journeys with someone who understood and supported you.
As the two disappeared down the road, Sycamore let out a fond sigh, the smile lingering on his face. He felt a flicker of pride, knowing that both Alain and Dawn were setting out not only as trainers but as companions—perhaps even as something more.
"Take care of each other," he whispered, even though they were already out of earshot.
With one last, lingering look, he turned back into the lab, the warmth of young love and new beginnings lingering with him as he went about his day.