Chapter Nine
The evening sky over Lumiose City deepened into shades of indigo and violet as the sun set, casting a soft, warm glow across the skyline. People bustled around them, dressed elegantly for the evening, their excitement evident as they all headed toward the grand Pokémon Performance Hall.
Dawn, her eyes gleaming with anticipation, chatted animatedly about the performances she'd seen back in Sinnoh. Alain listened, nodding occasionally, though he was less familiar with the Showcase-style events. His experiences with battling and training didn't lend themselves to the kind of dazzling displays they were about to witness.
As they approached the entrance, the atmosphere around them shifted. Lights from the arena glowed softly, casting a warm hue across the cobblestone streets, and crowds of people, all dressed in their finest, milled around excitedly. Alain noticed how Dawn's face seemed to light up in the soft glow. She was already captivated by the energy of the event, and he couldn't help but admire how different she seemed from the other trainers he knew.
"This place is amazing!" she whispered, turning to Alain, who nodded quietly, though his eyes softened as he watched her excitement.
Upon entering the grand performance hall, they were greeted with an explosion of colours, lights, and music. The Pokémon Showcase arena was a sight to behold: a circular stage in the middle, surrounded by fountains that glowed different colours as they sprayed water into the air. The audience's murmurs of excitement added to the electric atmosphere, heightening the anticipation. The spotlight flickered on, and the first performance began.
A graceful Gardevoir glided onto the stage alongside her trainer, spinning elegantly in time with a beautiful melody. As the music swelled, Gardevoir's arms extended outward, releasing a dazzling flurry of psychic energy that morphed into shimmering stars, twinkling across the audience. The crowd gasped in awe, and Alain could feel Dawn's excitement beside him.
The next trainer brought out a Serperior, its emerald body coiling around the stage as it slithered with elegance. With a command, the Pokémon raised its head high, releasing a cascade of swirling leaves that danced in harmony with the flickering lights above. Each movement was precise, yet fluid, as though the Pokémon was as much a part of the stage as the trainer themselves.
Beside her, Alain remained still, though his attention occasionally shifted to her rather than the performers. He noticed the way her eyes lit up, her fascination evident in every little gesture.
She really loves this, Alain thought. He couldn't help but admire her passion, how it drew her into every moment, making even the simplest experiences seem grand.
Yet, in the back of his mind, Alain felt the weight of something he wasn't quite ready to face. His phone had been buzzing intermittently throughout the night, and he'd been ignoring it. But the looming responsibility that came with each message was a shadow he couldn't shake.
As the final performance drew to a close, applause filled the air, and Alain finally stood, stretching out. He looked down at Dawn, who was practically glowing with happiness.
"Did you enjoy it?" he asked, though he already knew the answer.
"It was incredible! I've never seen anything like that." She smiled, her face lighting up in a way that made Alain's heart skip just a bit. "It's made me want to go out and explore the city even more, come on let's go" Off she ran without a moments notice leaving Alain alone with his thoughts.
Why must she always run off like that, he sighed internally. With that energy, I'm sure she could light up Prism Tower by herself.
In the city streets, the night was cool, with a soft breeze that carried the sounds of Lumiose City's bustling nightlife. Alain and Dawn walked side by side, the Pokémon Performance they had just attended still fresh in their minds. Alain stayed quiet for a moment, processing everything he had seen. Dawn, as expected, was already gushing about the details.
"I can't believe how synchronized they were! That Milotic and its trainer—it was like watching pure elegance in motion," Dawn said, her hands gesturing excitedly as she recalled the performance.
Alain nodded, giving her a small smile. "It was... impressive," he said simply, though his mind was elsewhere. The truth was, while the performance had been breathtaking, he had spent more time watching Dawn's reactions than the actual event. The way her eyes lit up, the way she would lean forward in anticipation—that had been the real show for him.
"I thought you'd be more into the Dragonite's aerial routine!" Dawn teased, glancing at him with a playful smirk.
Alain shrugged, his usual calm demeanour masking his real thoughts. "Yeah, that was pretty good," he said, but he knew it wasn't entirely true. The Pokémon were amazing, but it was the joy on her face that had made the night feel special.
They walked in comfortable silence for a while, the faint hum of the city surrounding them. Then Alain spoke up, his voice casual but with an underlying hint of something more. "While we're here, wanna check out Prism Tower?" Why did I just suggest that
Dawn's eyes widened. "I've always wanted to see it lit up, but I never got the chance!"
Alain smiled. "It's not far from here. I think we have some time"
Dawn's heart skipped a beat. The idea of seeing the tower lit up, especially with Alain, made her chest flutter with excitement. "I'd love that," she replied, her voice softer now, realizing how perfect the night felt. The thought crossed her mind—did he just make this a date?—but she quickly shook it off, though she couldn't hide the blush that crept onto her cheeks.
The Prism Tower stood tall against the night sky, its golden lights flickering on just as they arrived. The tower glowed, casting a romantic aura over the plaza below. Street performers had gathered at the foot of the tower, their instruments creating soft, melodic tunes that filled the air. The music was sweet, with a light and carefree rhythm that made everything feel... warm.
Dawn stopped, staring up at the tower with wide eyes. "Wow," she whispered, taking in the scene. The Prism Tower shimmered like a beacon, and all around them, couples strolled hand in hand, laughing softly and whispering to each other under the glow of the lights.
Alain glanced around, his eyes landing on a few young couples as they passed by. The street performers strummed their guitars gently, creating a backdrop of romantic music that seemed to fit the moment a little too perfectly. He felt an unfamiliar tightness in his chest, something that made him question the nature of this night. Is this what it's like to be on a date? he wondered, feeling suddenly self-conscious. He had never been one for these kinds of outings, and yet, here he was, with Dawn.
"This is... really beautiful," she said softly.
Alain, hands in his pockets, nodded. "Yeah, it is," he replied, his voice quieter than usual. He found himself glancing at her more than at the tower. The lights reflected in her eyes, and her expression—filled with wonder—made something in his chest stir. He couldn't deny it anymore: this felt like more than just a casual night out. But he wasn't sure how to deal with that realization.
They stood there for a moment, watching the tower light up, neither of them saying much, though their minds were racing. Dawn could feel the weight of unspoken thoughts hanging between them, but she didn't know how to break the silence. Instead, she tried to lighten the mood.
"So, you really enjoyed the performance?" she asked, turning to face him.
Alain's expression was neutral as he replied. "Yeah... it was good," he said simply, though his mind betrayed him. The performance had been impressive, but what he'd enjoyed most was being next to her. Watching her excitement, hearing her laugh—it was different from anything he was used to. He wasn't the type to care much about performances, but tonight had been different because she made it different. Still, he wasn't one to share those thoughts easily.
Dawn gave him a playful nudge. "Come on, you can't be that stoic. You had to enjoy it at least a little!"
Alain smirked, looking down at her. "I did. But maybe not for the reasons you think."
She raised an eyebrow, confused. "What does that mean?"
"Nothing," he replied, his voice teasing just enough to leave her wondering. I enjoyed watching you more than the performance itself, he thought, but kept that part to himself.
Dawn stopped in her tracks, her breath catching in her throat. "I could stare at it all night" she whispered.
Alain stood beside her, hands in his pockets, but his eyes were focused not on the tower, but on Dawn. The way the golden light bathed her face, the awe in her eyes—he found himself drawn to her in a way he hadn't expected. He couldn't deny it anymore. This feels like a date.
"I know the feeling," he said softly, his voice quieter now, almost as if he didn't want to disturb the moment.
Dawn nodded, unable to tear her eyes away from the tower. "Thank you for bringing me here," she said, her voice equally soft. "I never would've experienced this if not for you."
Alain felt an unfamiliar tug in his chest—something protective, something more than just friendship. He was about to respond when his phone buzzed again. He frowned, pulling it out.
For a brief second, his face darkened as he read the message, the anger flashing in his eyes before he could control it. He quickly shoved the phone back into his pocket.
Dawn noticed the change immediately. "Is everything okay?" she asked, concern lacing her voice.
Alain forced a small smile. "Yeah"
"You sure, if you need to-" she spoke so softly it was almost a whisper
Alain noticed she began to shiver. Without saying a word, he slipped off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. "Here," he said, his voice low but gentle.
Dawn blinked up at him, surprised by the gesture. "Thanks," she murmured, pulling the jacket around her. It was warm, carrying Alain's scent, and it made her cheeks flush more than the cold ever had.
"And no, I don't need to go anywhere."
They locked eyes, while the night air was cool, things were heating up. Those eye, I cant look away. They slowly leaned into each other, their foreheads were touching and could feel each others breath
Dawn's heart pounded in her chest, loud enough that she was sure he could hear it. His eyes, those intense, stormy eyes, held hers captive. She knew she could pull away, laugh off the moment, but... she didn't want to. Instead, she felt herself inching closer, almost unconsciously, drawn to him in a way that both terrified and excited her.
Alain's hand, warm and steady, found its way to her cheek, his thumb brushing lightly against her skin. The gesture was so unlike him, so soft, that it sent a shiver down her spine. He didn't speak—he didn't need to. The way he looked at her said everything he was too guarded to
Just as their lips lightly touched, an explosion of colour illuminated the night sky. Fireworks.
Dawn gasped and pulled back slightly, her attention stolen by the burst of lights above them. "Oh wow!" she exclaimed, her eyes wide with awe.
Alain let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. He watched her, his lips curving into a small smile. The moment had shifted, but the warmth between them hadn't faded. "Yeah," he murmured, though his focus remained on her rather than the fireworks.
The sky exploded in vibrant colours, but Alain's thoughts stayed grounded in the quiet intensity of the moment they'd almost shared. Without thinking too much about it, he slipped his arm around her shoulders. It was a simple gesture, but it felt natural—like something he was supposed to do.
Dawn didn't hesitate. She leaned into him, her head resting against his chest, the steady beat of his heart in her ear. It was calming, grounding her in the here and now. The fireworks above were beautiful, but nothing compared to the warmth she felt being so close to him.
Not far from where they stood, Kenny watched from the shadows of a nearby café. He had followed them from the performance arena, and now, as he saw them walking closely, laughing and talking easily, his chest tightened with jealousy.
Why is Dawn with him? he wondered, eyes narrowing as he observed the way Alain leaned in slightly to talk to her, his usual stoic demeanor softening. They seemed comfortable with each other, too comfortable for Kenny's liking. He couldn't understand it—he and Dawn had been close once, but now, here she was with some guy she hadn't even mentioned before.
Kenny felt a pang of confusion and anger. How could she just forget about us like that?
As he continued to watch, he saw Alain pull out his phone, glancing at the screen for just a moment. But in that brief moment, Kenny noticed a shift in Alain's expression. The man's face hardened, his jaw tightening as he stared at whatever was on his phone. Then, just as quickly, Alain shoved the phone back into his pocket, his expression neutral again.
What was that about? Kenny wondered. There was something off about Alain, something he couldn't quite place. Kenny's gut told him that whatever it was, it wasn't good. He needed to know more about this guy, needed to figure out why Dawn was so comfortable around him.
I'll look into him. There's definitely something going on here. Kenny clenched his fists, his resolve hardening. He wasn't going to let Alain swoop in and take Dawn away, not without understanding who this guy really was.
As the fireworks died down, Alain and Dawn started walking back toward the professor's lab. They stayed close, Alain's arm still draped over her shoulders, and Dawn nestled against his side. The night air was cool, but neither of them felt it as they walked through the quiet streets, surrounded by the soft glow of streetlights.
Alain's thoughts drifted as they walked. He wasn't usually one for small talk, but with Dawn, the silence felt comfortable. It was like they didn't need words to understand each other. He glanced down at her, her figure tucked close to his side, and couldn't help but feel that same strange tug of protectiveness he'd felt earlier. He wasn't used to this feeling, but it wasn't unwelcome. Maybe this night was more than just an outing, he thought. Maybe it really was something more.
Dawn, on the other hand, couldn't stop thinking about the almost-kiss. Her mind replayed the moment over and over, her heart still racing from it. Alain's jacket was still wrapped around her, its warmth seeping into her skin, and she couldn't help but smile. Tonight, had felt special.
As they approached the lab, the lights from the street made their figures clear, even from a distance. Professor Sycamore glanced out his window, noting how late it was. He smiled when he saw the young pair walking back together, Alain's arm still around Dawn, and her head resting gently against him.
The professor chuckled softly. "Well," he mused, "it seems things are going quite well." He grinned, knowing that Alain could use some fun in his life, and Dawn's energy might be just what the young trainer needed.
Inside the lab, Alain led Dawn to the door of the guest room. Dawn turned to face him, a shy smile on her lips. "Thanks for tonight," she said softly.
Alain's gaze softened. "Anytime," he replied, though the word carried more weight than he intended.
They shared a quiet moment, with their foreheads touching again and eyes closed. After a moment Dawn kissed him on the cheek and whispered goodnight.
As she kissed him on the cheek, it was like a shockwave travelled through him. Simple, yet powerful. Alain wasn't one to dwell on moments like these, but as Dawn disappeared into the room, he found himself replaying the gesture over and over, unable to shake the warmth it left behind