The New Normal – 13-6 – Interlude – Brock
He had done it. It was a close run thing, and his strength was almost insufficient, but he had actually managed to bring down one of Lance's Dragonite in a relatively convincing fashion. Sure, he might not have needed to Explode his Golem, but both Karen and Sidney had taught him when it was better to not take risks; to do everything you could to secure the win.
And that was certainly one of them.
But as he heard the announcer crown him as victor, he let out a sigh of relief as he could now could officially become the Gym Leader of Pewter in truth. There was no need to worry about a regent any longer.
More importantly, he was finally relieved of his ever-lingering fear that his siblings would be evicted from the Gym should he prove unworthy of holding the position. If that did happen, then they would be forced to rely on Karen and Agatha's charity once again – to be a burden for them once more.
However, that was no longer a worry. He had passed the 'test'. The Gym was now his.
This whole thing had been an unexpected, but very much welcome, opportunity for him. Never in a million years did he expect Lance to call him the day before the ceremony began, asking if he would be amenable to a battle against him. He was never going to refuse, but before he could give his acceptance, Lance had come to him with such an offer – the Gym was his if he won.
He didn't know what was going through the Champion's head when he came to Brock with this proposal. Perhaps Lance was aware of their circumstances? Maybe John had spoken to him about it? But if so, then he knew that John would have undoubtedly told Karen, who would have dashed over to the Gym and helped him train up for the fight against Lance.
He was glad she didn't though. Not because he didn't appreciate her help or kindness, but because this was something he wanted to do himself.
He wanted to prove that he could stand on his own two feet and achieve a powerful victory. That he had indeed been a good student and absorbed everything that he could from his patient teachers. And judging by the enthusiastic clapping from every member inside the VIP booth, he knew he had done them proud.
Of course, he wasn't able to linger on the afterglow of his victory for too long. Right after the ceremony was over, he didn't even have a moment to speak with Karen before he was unceremoniously dumped back into his duties as a Gym Leader. He had absolutely no time to rest as he was now required to deal with the entire horde of trainers that were now standing outside his Gym, waiting for their turn to challenge the Gym as the Indigo Circuit finally began once more.
This initial flood of trainers really stress tested the capabilities of his Gym and its Gym Trainers, but they seem to be hanging on well. He was especially proud of both his siblings, Forrest and Yolanda, who held out well in their duties despite the frightening numbers.
The first day of the Circuit was always bad, and by the time the sun had set, he was utterly wracked with exhaustion. He hadn't a moment to rest this entire time. However, seeing the new looks of undisguised awe that he got from several of these new trainers – when they had never looked at him like this before – always managed to cheer him up and give him a boost of energy.
His victory over Lance had really changed their image of him. He had proven that he was a worthy Gym Leader.
Finally, once the day came to an end and the Gym closed, he and his siblings returned home, where a celebration had been prepared for his victory. Karen was, naturally, already there, helping with the preparations. Normally he would be helping out too, but everyone insisted that as the guest of honour he just needed to sit down and let himself be served.
The food looked delectable, and they clearly had splurged on something nice for him. However, just before he could take a bite out of his food, the door rang.
At first, he didn't think much of it. There were always a trainer or two that thought ringing up the house meant that Brock would accept a challenge from them, and it was usually Forrest's job to tell them to go away.
Yet instead of doing that, Forrest came dashing back with a worried look on his face. And then came the words that he dreaded to hear.
"…Brock…Flint's at the door."
The room instantly fell silent at the declaration – even the youngest twins had caught onto the mood and followed along.
Forrest's words turned his brain into a mess; what do you say to your father that abandoned you?
He immediately turned to the rest of his siblings, focusing on Forrest, Salvadore, and Yolanda in particular. They were the oldest after him, and they could relate the most to how he felt now. There were a few nights that they had spent idly discussing what they would do if their parents ever showed up at their door again.
They never came to a decision, though all three of them agreed to back him in whatever decision that he made. Ever since Flint abandoned his post, he was no longer considered a Gym Leader. While the Gym was under regency, the Gym technically belonged to the League. But now, with his victory, it fell back to Brock. So Flint couldn't steal the position away from him.
He turned and gave his three siblings a look that conveyed a silent question, and the minute nods that he received told him enough. They would continue to stand by him.
Then he felt a reassuring hand be placed on his shoulder, and he turned up to see Karen staring at him with a reassuring smile.
"…It's okay, Brock. Even though I can't know for sure what you're thinking, do what you think is right." She told him gently, "If you want to invite him back, then do so. If not, then I'll help you 'escort' him away if you don't want to be the one doing it."
"…Do you think I should try to forgive him?" He asked uncertainly.
"That's up to you." She replied, rubbing his shoulders gently, "At the end of the day, he is your father. I don't have the right to step in between that, even if I so desperately want to. But your family trust you, Brock. It's your decision to make."
A part of him did actually want to forgive him. Not for himself, but for the sake of their family. Flint's abandonment had caused bitterness to fill his heart… but he knew that not all of his siblings felt the same way, especially the younger ones.
At the end of the day, Flint was still their father. Was it right to deprive them of that?
It took him a moment, but he finally made a decision as the feelings and words that he had long since pressed down came bubbling back up to the surface. He let out a breath, and steeled himself for what was to come.
"Want me to speak to him for you?" Karen asked concernedly, obviously noticing the myriad of complicated emotions swirling in his eyes.
"No." He shook his head firmly, "I will do it."
Before he could begin doubting himself, he marched himself to the door. He flung it open, and finally came face to face with his father.
The man who had abandoned them to 'look for their mother', uncaring about how he and his many siblings could even look after themselves.
The man who had abandoned the Gym, forcing all of them to struggle and beg for the Indigo League to keep the Gym afloat – relying on their mercy to get by.
The man who had abandoned his virtues to appease his cowardice.
As soon as he saw him, Flint stared at him with a weak smile, which only made him look all the more pathetic in Brock's eyes. Brock scanned the man in front of him, taking note of Flint's tattered clothes, his eyes lined with tiredness and stress, and his emasculated appearance.
Flint was clearly in a pretty rough shape. Yet, in the back of his mind, he was glad about that. Flint shouldn't be living in luxury after everything he had done.
"Brock… it's… it's me." He said with a hesitant stutter, "I saw your victory – I didn't know you had it in you. You must be happy about your victory. You did so well."
Flint peeked inside, "Oh, are you having a party? That's… that's good. It's always nice to reward yourself after such a victory."
That was it. That was all he said. There was no apology about his actions – no begging for forgiveness for all the wrong that he had done. His eyes didn't even look guilty; as if he was trying to brush everything he had done off and 'start fresh' with them.
As if what he had done could be brushed away.
No. That was Flint's last and only chance to repair their relationship, and he had completely blown it. The man in front of him was not some man seeking forgiveness, or a man trying to right his wrongs. He was simply doing what he did best – trying to pretend like nothing bad had ever happened.
Flint hadn't changed one bit. He was still in denial.
Therefore, he knew that the decision he had made was correct. And he uttered the three words that he had been wanting to say to the man if they had ever met again.
"Fuck off, Flint." He stared down the coward, a burning hatred blazing in his eyes. Flint recoiled at his words as a hurt look instantly spread across his face. But Brock didn't let that affect him as he pressed forwards.
"Leave. You are not wanted here. Today is a milestone for the family – a day where we have once again regained control of the Gym after your abandonment of it. A day that marks the end of some of the darkest times in our lives – days that we had to struggle through because of you. So I will not say it again Flint. Fuck off, and don't come back."
Then he slammed the door in Flint's face, not even bothering to hear his next words. Had he stayed, he was prepared to call the Jennys to escort him out, but he left within a minute of Brock's rejection.
Once Flint disappeared from sight, he let out a breath that he didn't even realize he was holding. It was like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders, and a dark chapter of their lives had finally been closed behind them.
He felt a little bad for the younger kids. For the decision that he had made for them. Yet he knew in his heart that the decision that he made was the right one.
Returning to the dining table, he saw the older of his siblings all looking at him with firm but approving smiles. Likewise, Karen had pulled him into a tight but reassuring hug, silently telling him that everything would be okay.
And as the conversation began to pick back up and people started happily chewing down on the large assortment of food in front of them as they celebrated his success – Brock let out a small smile of his own at the sight.
Yes. Things were going to be okay.
A.N. I hope that the scene was as cathartic to you as it was for Brock. Maybe some of you might feel that I was a little too harsh on Flint, but I've always held a very dim view on him. Plus, I felt like this Brock would be less willing to invite him back in. He has a new family now, and he's proven that he can do well without Flint. Maybe one day, in the far future, Flint may be forgiven. But definitely not anytime soon. Not without Flint proving that he has indeed changed into a better person. Hope you enjoyed!
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