Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“I like you.” Sapphire says again.

Ruby stares at her blanky, while trying to choke back nausea that being on a wailord in the middle of a sunny afternoon causes. He’s half drenched in saltwater while Sapphire looks like a model, refreshed and sparkling for a summer edition magazine volume. He’d bet a contest ribbon, one of Coco’s cuteness ones, that he looks like a drowned rat right now.

Another pain to the seasickness is Saphhire’s outfit. The neon red and gaudy sportswear was something that was only acceptable for first-time trainers to wear- and they were not teenage trainers anymore. Still, he forgives her silently for her crimes against fashion because of her cute face. He still staunchly held the position that blue was a better look on her.

Anyways, it’s a testament to her sanity and romance- that she could smile at his miserable state. So he blurts out quickly to make up for the few seconds of just staring at her expectant face, “Well yes, I love you too.”

She stares at him for a long time, with her mouth half-quirked in a grin looking like she wants to say something.

“What.” He snaps, but it comes out more weary and like a groan to his liking. The saltwater spray in his mouth is not an enjoyable taste.

“Nothin, just enjoying it.” She hums, more smugly. He would throw his hands up if he had the energy, but as it was- he’s just a tired, flunking, fashion major. Sapphire could probably throw him off her wailord and at this point? He’d just let her.

He takes a moment away from his suffering to glance at her. She’s grown into her skin, comfortable and relaxed. The manic energy from their teen years has been honed into a refined focus and unrelenting steadiness. He envies her a little. It’s the way her eyes shine from the promise of a new day, the way she’s so sure of her future.

Well, he can’t hate her too much, since she’s still the girl he’s liked his whole life.

Currently she’s pursuing a scientific degree with plans of interning at her father’s lab professionally. Years of helping her father with research materials as well as saving the entire world made her a college applicant’s essay a wet dream. It reminds him of back then-

“I thought you wanted to be a gym leader?” Asked Ruby while brushing Coco’s fur. It’s been a week since high school graduation and Sapphire thought it was the perfect time for some aggressive spring cleaning at their base. They’ve picked up all sorts of trinkets in the base; newspaper cuttings of their achievements, photos, knickknacks, clothes, trophies.

Sapphire answers while shoving away a pile of plushies to grasp at a dried up oran berry, “Well yeah, but first you gotta have the qualifications.”

“I sincerely doubt there is anyone more qualified for being a gym leader than you.” Snorts Ruby, memories of their past flashing through his head. He’s stopped brushing Coco’s fur in the short period and she’s looking up at him in all her delcatty annoyance. Quickly he acquiesces to her silent demand and she goes back to dozing off.

“Well yeah, but there are rules and regulations. Anyone can beat the gym leaders, but being a gym leader ain’t about being the toughest. I’d just join the Elite four or something if I wanted to fight, or aim for that champion position. But most of that stuff has to do with politicking, I got no interest in that.” Sapphire’s rough voice has the smooth flow of recited speech, clearly she’s thought a lot about this. And most of what he’s hearing is news, to be honest he’s never had any interest in the position despite his father. It makes him a tad embarrassed,

‘Besides I’ve talked to people, ‘n they think it’ll be awhile ‘fore anyone steps down. So, I gotta do something to fill up the time. And even then I’ve got a lot to think about which gym fits my style ‘n all. I really like my current team, but they’d probably make me do a mono-element team, cause ya know how gyms are supposed to be. Learnin’ experiences.”

He feels like he’s seen a new side of her, a facet that he’s never examined before. It makes his stomach squirm uncomfortably. She’s so steadfast, and he doesn’t know what to do at all. Coco rubs against his still hands once more, peering up with her black eyes. She’s beautiful as always and her fur is silky soft.

“You alright? Awfully quiet for a loser.” Sapph calls out, looking up from the pile of things she’s sorting out, wiping an arm across her forehead. Instead of answering, he imagines burying his face into Coco’s soft tummy, knowing that she’d be very cross with him afterwards. As if reading his mind, she nips softly at his wrist.

“Yeah, just thinking.”

“About what? Yer head is empty half the time.” She snorts and he feels more even-footed. Easy reliable old banter.

“I’ll have you know, just because you can’t understand the sophistication of my own thoughts doesn't mean nothing is there. You could learn to pick up a few things, you barbarian.” They argued without any heat, and he had wondered then, when had their passionate and immature bickering become more affectionate and teasing?

Now he’s a second year into college, stuck at sea, and unable to see Sapph in the new sundress he made. Sue him for being a sourpuss. She rolls her eyes at his suffering and smacks him a little on the shoulder. “Such a theater kid.”

“I’ll have you know I resent that statement.” Ruby sniffed. “I’m clearly a fashion major.”

“Oh yeah? With your dramatics I thought you’d be aiming for drama queen of the year. I’d certainly nominate you for it.” She shrugs meanly.

“You better not, or else, or else. . . .I will slide right off this wailord and let myself sleep with the carvanhas.”

“This is exactly what I mean.” She sounds exasperated, like she’s dealing with some little kid. Ruby still remembers the time where she’d launch herself off trees to bite him, like an actual child. Whatever moral superiority she has, it’s not in this department

“I’ll take you down with me.” He could never, but it sounds tempting at the moment.

“Unlike you I can actually swim. And I have Wally. Not very smart of you to pick fights with the person who owns the wailord you’re literally on right now, are you.”

“Bluffing is how I became the top dog in Honnen and at least three other regions combined.”

“Oh yeah, are you still going to Kalos for the summer?” She’s serious now, her moods are whiplash inducing sometimes. Mercurial isn’t the way he’d describe her, but at times, he feels like he has to scramble to keep up with her mind. At least he’s predictable, even if Sapphire said it in an insulting way.

“These contests are not going to win themselves.” He tries to make himself more comfortable, but this much sun makes him wilt. They’re just too darn popular for their own good, to the point that the only peace they’d ever get is going to the middle of the darn ocean.

Sapphs acing her classes and made a name for herself while dealing with several explosive pokemon incidents. Ruby, combined with his charisma and aneurysm inducing club schedules is well known in his department. It doesn’t help that they were the ‘chosen kids’ that saved the world or whatever.

Whoever leaked their information sincerely could go and die in a muddy, dirt-ridden trench in their best clothes. It had been pretty hush-hush, but the more nosey reporters managed to figure the whole thing out after a couple of months from the Rayquaza incident. Luckily the remnants of team Aqua and Magma were mostly, if not thoroughly dismantled. It had been a whole month of people being turned into the authorities.

But the thing was, that was the sort of thing that happened when they were children, and they weren’t children anymore. He’s not even sure who that kid is, the one that did all those things. It’s him, but also not. Sometimes he’d recall those days and try not to have a mental breakdown over how insane it was and that he's still alive at all.

“I’m going to miss you.” Sapph says bluntly, as gently as striking a home run at his heart. It leaves him breathless and aching.

“College changed you so much.”

“What? You seriously can’t expect for me to stay emotionally incomptent! You do it enough for the both of us!” Sapph shouts, looking dismayed. Again the squirming in his stomach.

“I know, I know.” He rubs the back of his neck, aiming for sheepishness and probably still falling in the drowned rat category. “I’m going to miss you too. I always do.”

“You better buy me those chocolates you were gushin about.”

“Those are insanely hard to get? That’s why I was gushing about them? What? Sapph?”

“Two boxes. I want the Shalour city themed ones.”

“Those are the absolute hardest to get?? It’s seasonal!”

“You better shut up and do it, unless you want me to make it all eight boxes. I’m being nice here.” Ruby whines for the sake of it, while thinking of which fellow contestants would know the best to getting two boxes of Shalour chocolates produced by the afamed DIAS company. Shouldn’t be too impossible.

Sapph just hmphs at him, knowingly. He’ll come home with two boxes of Shalour themed chocolates and all sorts of other things. It’s a weak apology for being away, but Ruby can’t help it. Which reminds him, peeling himself off the wailord, “Here.”

“What’s this?” Sapph inspects the package with mild glee. She’s wearing the bracelet he got her a few years ago, cute. But her outfit is so neon red that it just blends in with the whole eyesore, so not as cute.

“It’s clearly me trying to off you so I can have the base all to myself- it’s a sundress.” He eyes the way Sapph narrows her eyes with promises of violence and makes himself less of a potential victim.

She likes it, he can tell. The way her eyes widen, and the way she cocks her head.

“I was thinking, we could wear matching outfits next time.”

“Like a couple’s outfit.” Sapph says faintly.

“And go to a place where we are literally not in the middle of the goddamn ocean. Have I mentioned I hate saltwater? It makes my hair frizz.”

“Saltwater doesn’t make your hair frizz, you idiot.” She grabs him by the neck and her face moves alarmingly close to his. He’s smiling. “Come here.”

It’s a nice kiss. He likes her a lot. He thinks he might marry her at this rate. She likes his clothes, she likes him back. Ruby really can’t let her go.

He kisses her on the cheek, chaste, before he leaves for Kalos. But Sapphire pulls him in, deeper, and pushes him away just as he was getting into it.

“Hey-” He complains.

“Yer gonna miss yer flight.” She sings songs.

“That’s not fair.” he whines and she slams the door on him. He thinks he might dream of her, as much as he dreams of contests and prize money.

She’s safe here, with all her pokemon and everything. He doesn’t know what he’d do if she left Honnen as much as he did, but he’s so selfishly glad it’s him leaving. She’s upset somewhere, that he’s leaving this summer but won’t voice it. She’s so kind, and he’s so selfish.

Staring at the closed door, Ruby decides that this is their last summer apart. He’ll bring Sapph along next time, or not go at all.

“Get going you loser!” Sapphire calls from behind the door. Ruby huffs, and leaves for the summer.

Chapter Text

Ruby wonders if it’s too much to call your girlfriend at the airport when you just saw her an hour ago. It’s a thing between them, she will not see him off at the airport or back. He thinks it’s her way of coping and showing displeasure. Maybe the idea of stepping past the airport doors makes it feel so final, real, that he’s leaving. But Sapph won’t tell him, and he’s too. . .uncertain to ask.

The flip phone starts ringing and he grabs it without thinking. Much to his disappointment, it isn’t her. “What’s with the call?”

“I was wondering why my dear apprentice is running off again this summer.” Wallace’s elegant and drawling voice carries disapproval.

“Well, I did tell you that I’m off to Kalos for inspiration and contests.”

“Denial is not a beautiful look.”

Yeah, he can’t lie his way out of this. Wallace is probably the only person who knows him as well as he does himself. The coordinator has seen him at his best and worst, and for that Ruby regards him highly- but it comes at the cost of Wallace calling him out on his bullshit at the mere scent of it. “What am I denying?”

“Ruby, you know that just aiming for other contests won’t help with your feelings about this.”

“And staying in Honnen will?” He doesn’t mean how sharp his words came out and sighs, “My apologies. I just think staying here wouldn’t really help me either.”

“If you think this is the best choice, I can’t stop you.” Ruby could hear the shrug in Wallace’s words, “Well you better win then, you are my apprentice after all.”

“Yeah, I will. You’ve heard all about my triumphs in Sinnoh have you not?” He can’t help but preen a little, he heard the pride and affection in his master’s words. “Anyways, I’ll call you after my first win.”

“I am not going to entertain a 3 am call again.” Wallace decides and dramatically ends the phone call after stating the words with a certain degree of artistic ominousness.

Ruby doesn’t even bother to feel shame, the competition in Sinnoh was that fierce. At that time Wallace couldn’t even edge in a word for the thirty-minute monolog about Ruby’s barely close, almost lost win. The man usually interrupts when Ruby gets into his stream of consciousness style rambling for even fifteen minutes, but that was just how tired the man was that night.

“What are you even saying.” Wallace had grit out in a rough sleep-worn voice, so different from his daytime eloquence when Ruby finally went silent for air.

In retrospect, it was a hilarious and treasured memory for Ruby who had never seen his master less than perfect. The backlash, however, was not so fun. For an entire month, Wallace had been merciless with the critiques, even if they were sorely needed.

The plane ride is quiet, and he ends up staring at his home screen more often than not. It’s a picture of his family and the Birch’s together. His dad managed an expression that was less constipated than usual thanks to his mother.

His father usually had the emotional capacity and range of a wilted lentil but managed something more normal human than a disappointed vegetable when his mother was around. On the other hand, his mother was too much with dad gone. Too much of that intense frenetic energy without a target made Ruby's skin crawl as she became overbearing to the point of domineering. Individually his parents were cataclysmic to Ruby's sense of self but barely tolerable together.

"What do the youth call it these days?" His mother had wondered as she brushed aside the third broken plate of the week. Ruby prodded at the gray and oily eggs of breakfast and wondered if the sacrifice of sleeping in was worth it.

"What are you talking about?" Sleeping in was not worth it.

"You know the thing." He didn't but his mother would say something alarming per usual. With a quirked eyebrow he saw the lightbulb go off and her face transform into an unassuming smile that Ruby had linked to several near misses of their house burning down. "Ah yes! Your father is a "tsundere"!"

Ruby had almost let the egg drip from his mouth and regretted ever having the choice to think. But that was nothing compared to how his parents described how they become a couple.

"Back in the day your father and I were pokemon rivals you know." His mother announced out of nowhere. The week since his father came back the two had been inseparable.

His parents were cuddled up on the couch watching reruns of ‘Get that Giratina!’ a pokemon action show about Giratina and a lot of romance. He had watched the entire show with his mother since it's initial release and at hyper beam-point Ruby could not even begin to describe what it was about, only that his mom became a fanatic about it.

"We were not rivals." Snorts Norman.

"Oh, but we were." She pouts. "I managed to win against him ten times! And many, many draws."

"That's because you cheated."

"No? I was only using my strategic guile to win?"

"Asking someone out on a date when we're down to our last pokemon as a distraction tactic is unethical."

"But it worked on you many, many times. That's all your fault, with constant exposure you should’ve been more acclimated to it. And also it wasn't just a date, sometimes I offered you my very cute homemade lunch or blew a kiss at you~"

Ruby feels fairly confident that with his mother's abysmal cooking skills a homemade lunch would be perceived as either an insult or a death threat to the receiver. But his father wolfs down the food at the dinner table every night without the slightest change in facial expression, leaving Ruby to marvel at the unholy union that is his parents.

"And you had the gall to be surprised when I asked you out to stop with the nonsense." Ruby could gag at the sweetness and romance going shalalala~ in the air. Usually, he was a fan of romance, but in tandem with his father? No.

"Well!" Mom flusters as if that was not a normal reaction to being flirted with. As Ruby said, his parents were human disasters apart.

Suddenly his father whips his head to Ruby, pinning him in place with his intensity. And then drops one of his infamous eviscerating comments that nobody knew if he meant it as a compliment or insult, "Personally I think you take after your mother more than me."

"Oh, honey~" His mother smiles adoringly and Ruby feels his brain melt from trying to decipher what that meant. His father turns his burning eyes away from him, leaving him free to twitch away.

With that on him, Ruby had slinked off to his room leaving his parents on the couch to try and even puzzle out his father's meaning. Surely it wasn't an insult? Father married mom after all. . .His mother was the one that had taught him to sew, lent him her old journalist cameras, and had been there the years his father hadn't. She's always been interested in the clothes he makes and appreciates it when he grooms Sese, her sentrot.

But, still, he can't decisively say it's a compliment. On the other hand, taking after Norman personality-wise sounds pretty unfabulous to him, so the lesser of two great evils Ruby supposes.

Anyways, the photo. Sapph had been wearing the clothes he made. A loose and flowy turquoise top, shorts with a bit of lace at the ends. A gold hair clip he spent quite a bit on. He remembers embarrassing himself with the words along the lines of 'I wouldn't mind making clothes for you everyday. I mean you'd have no fashion sense so. . .'

She told him to shut up and shouted that she liked his clothes. Something about feeling his sincerity and a lot of charm that made Ruby want to demand who had been teaching her this shit- because it was making her too powerful. Then she spent the next minute laughing at his burning face despite her own cheery pink cheeks.

"I like it when ya squirm. It's so cute." She snorts to the sound of his strangled outrage. "I always get blushy but ya don't."

"Well of course, you blush the exact shade of vermillion and it's a very nice blush. Especially since everytime we kiss you turn into a little razzberry." That shuts her up and she blushes even deeper. "Pretty color for a pretty girl."

"Oh yeah?" She has dangerous thoughts in her head again, squinting with narrowed eyes. "Don't let me be the only 'razzberry' between the two of us, come here, prissy boy."

Sapphire deeply and sincerely appreciated her gift and that was best left at that.

She'd also pestered her dad to dress more tidily than usual, actual button-ups and slacks. And Ruby, in a burst of admittedly timid courage, had managed to step closer to Sapph just as the camera went off.

At some point, he falls asleep as he thinks about Kalos fashion and Mumu jumping into a muddy pond just after Ruby had scraped all the grime off. He calls Coco out as soon as the plane reaches the ground, sporting a delcatty neck scarf as he makes his way to the hotel.

It’s night at Cyllage, and it’s much colder than he thought it’d be. There’s the smell of the sea that always makes him sick too. The familiar and overwhelming surge of homesickness leaves him dizzy, causing Coco to murph questioningly. His master was right, running off to other continents really didn’t make him feel better.

“I’ll be fine in the morning.” He murmurs to her while scratching the underside of her chin.

The hotel room is fine, but the smell in the air is definitely different. Sapph would know how to put it better, but it’s simply not the smell of home. It’s not Honnen. Before going to bed he texts his mother and Sapphire that he’s arrived, and takes a scenic picture of the night-lit sea from his room.

His mother is still awake and coos properly at his photographic mastery and tells him to sleep early. With that, he goes to bed with Coco curled on a pillow.

Sapph still hasn’t texted back in the morning and he tries not to feel too much over that. The hotel coffee isn’t too bad, and while scrolling through the web he gets a text. It’s from Ronan, another coordinator he’d met in Sinnoh. Ronan had introduced him properly to the online community of coordinators and had been very vocal about his plans to conquer the Kalos region. Somehow he’d managed to wrangle a promise from Ruby to try and take the Kalos scene by storm.

‘Hey hey you said that today you’re gonna hit kalos?’

‘Yeah I’m here’ Ruby texted back.

‘Cool! I’ll see u at the camphrier meetup?’

‘Tomorrow at 2 right?’

‘Yeye’.

‘I’m currently at Cyllage rn if you want to meet up’

‘Oh rip I’m at luminose city rn
You gotta dress up really nice here (:,, 0 ) they keep staring at me weird cause i wore the magikarp hoodie’

That accursed blight against humanity; the multiple googly eyes and reflective neon orange, it looked more like an eldritch abomination than a magikarp. It was the sole reason why Ruby had noticed Ronan and the very reason why he had planned to never be caught in the same space as him. Alas Arceus had other plans for him, Ronan is an overfriendly idiot with no social cues. The coordinator had made a beeline for Ruby after hearing his accent and started crying about foreigner solidarity.

‘If you are seen wearing that around me at camphrier I might not be able to stop myself.’

Ruby furiously sent the text with genuine fear in his heart. He had uneasily walked next to the visual throwup that was Ronan’s closet in Sinnoh, but not in Kalos he wouldn’t. He did not want to be treated like a leper. It was vexing, since Ronan was a competent coordinator with Galligo his smeargle, but apparently, that sense did not carry over to his outfits.

‘So scaryyyyy my friend gave it to me as a gift you know’ Yes, Ruby did know. It had been Ronan's defense every time they met.

‘Your friend wants you to crash and burn at contest halls’

‘Boohoo see you tmrrw’

‘Dont wear that abomination or I swear to Arceus’

'Dramatic much?'

'Shoo, go terrorize the Kalos population and leave me alone'

';p'

With that Ruby finishes his coffee, checks his phone again, and decides to burn some steam off. Sapph appreciates pictures of new pokemon, and her recent research obsession is Fairy-type pokemon. Something, something, the interesting genealogical relations between ghost and fairy types. Not to mention, Ruby had seen several exceedingly cute fairy-type pokemon from the Poke fans United catalog and had to see one for himself in person.

Chapter Text

Ruby isn’t bad at trekking or hiking, thanks to Sapphire. During winter breaks she’d drag him out into the wilderness, usually with him dragging his heels. But the trails she chose were usually meandering and easy paths, and more scenic than not. A walk past waterfalls, a wildflower meadow, and sometimes a short canter to look at the starlit night.

As far as activities with Sapph went, it ranked pretty high. Better than rock climbing anyways- he’d never look at a graveler the same. And she’d talk, a lot too. Little fun facts about the flora, the pokemon. Which rocks were where the mightyenas liked to sleep under, which areas the tropius liked to sunbathe. But then she would start talking about angiosperms and clades and phylums and he knew that he was a lost cause- he understood none of that yet still found her endearing. The way her eyes would sparkle like sea glass- and yeah he was seriously sick in the head. Comparing eye colors to stone, yeah he was done, it was over.

While she talked, animatedly and assuredly- he imagined how a childhood together would’ve been. He could imagine it, her trailing after the shroomish while he’d sit by a tree stump working on a cross-stitch. Or her splashing around with the Magikarp while he’d watch from under the shade of an umbrella.

It’s a personal summer fantasy of his to go swimming somewhere nice like this, with a big Kanto watermelon berry in perfect pink slices and enjoying nature and all that jazz. Sapph's been into ruffles and frills this year, so maybe a cream ruffle-layered swimsuit. Inspirations taken from ASOS and Maygel Colonel. But Maybe some other colors to not make it just completely pale blue. Or maybe a darker color?

"What are yer staring at that tree so hard fer?" Sapph peers at the tree in front of him.

"Nothing! Anyways, you were saying about the newly hatched arons . .?"

"Yeah, they're real fussy, upturning all the earth by the caves. While I was making sure they didn't collapse the cave system I found a bunch of amethyst in the grit. Here ya can have it!"

"Thanks," he managed the sharp rocks jabbed in his general direction, plucking one and holding it up into the light. It was a cloudy grayish stone with clear parts that was vaguely lavender in color. "I like it a lot."

Sapph blushed a little, eyes darting away, "No problem."

Once the sun set they’d go back to the base, Sapph’s hands full of berries and Ruby pointedly carrying his bag with a camping stove, kettle, and instant ramen.

“I read that over fifty people a year get poisoned from choosing the wrong berries.” Ruby has used the camping stove a few times last year, due to other less pleasant hiking trips, but still fumbled with the propane cans. It was a noisy clanking walk to the base, one that Sapph did not appreciate- but whatever.

“I’m startin to think ya pay more attention to those gossip rags instead of me.” Sapphire snaps back, waving in his direction like he’s a very noisy fly.

“How could I not pay attention to you? The cherri berry has at least two deadly look alikes!” Ruby gesticulated at his phone. It proudly had several warning signs and linked to four other articles about stupid hikers eating these berries and passing out foaming at the mouth. Ruby knew first hand he did not look fabulous foaming at the mouth (thanks team Magma, for the formative experience).

“Oh gimme that you-” She snatches his phone and peered at the screen with narrowed eyes. “First of all, that isn’t even a cherri berry, it’s a cherrata berry which is a subspecies of the cherri berry. Secondly this is a really badly photo-shopped cherri berry and not even a real thing. And third of all, these grow in Unova, and last I checked we live in Hoenn.”

“Pokemon migratory patterns are increasing in number and variety each year as the other continents are driving them out of their local space, maybe a random pokemon ate a cherrata and now there’s an infestation of them here. Would you even be able to tell the difference if there was a cherrata and cherri here?” There, the stove was set up properly and Feefee was kind enough to summon some water into the kettle.

“Well, but that’s, that’s not the point!” Sapph was cutting the rinds off the berries she brought over, in quick even peels with the switchblade Ruby swore he’d steal one day.

“It could happen, can’t it?” She offers him a slice, to which Ruby squints at her. She rolls her eyes and takes a quick bite before shoving it into his mouth- causing a muffled protest. It did taste good though, oversweet and a uniquely flowery flavor. A mago berry, best suited for the cuteness pokeblock.

“It’s more likely to happen than you shuttin up!” She splits the other bits of fruit to Chic and Feefee. Troppy and Kiki are snoring off to the side, all curled up and loose. 

“What does that even mean?” The water is boiling, and he dumps the ramen in.

“Make yerself useful, that’s what it means.” She tosses him her beloved and very coveted switchblade.

“You are not getting this back.” Black as Nana’s fur on showcase, the blade was too cool. 

“Yes I will.” She shoves him over and presents all the berries she’d picked up today, “Move yer fatass over.”

When Sapphire got immersed in lecturing and guiding Ruby around the berries, she touched him casually and carelessly. She leans into his space while completely fixated on criticizing his peeling skills, brushing against his fingers to grab something. It did things to his heart, and as terrible as it was, he wanted more of it. 

Sapph finally caught on the fifth time Ruby mixed up the berries again. Her sea glass- gross, no, blue- eyes widened in realization and gaped at him.

“You’re doing this on purpose. Aren’t you.” It was not a question but simply a statement. 

Ignorance was unlikely to work with her mind so set on it, so he went to his second method of dealing with things far out of his paycheck. Shameless arrogance. “And if I am?”

“Why you!” She blustered, the faintest of pink on her cheeks. She was so unbearably cute, all pouty like this, with her lips curled back- unsure of whether to shout or not.

“What? Can’t a fabulous lover like me touch his girlfriend sometimes?” This whole thing was just supposed to be lighthearted, but there was that rash and ugly part of him that keeps pushing. The part that he thought he had smothered under years ago, “Hey, Sapph is it so wrong?”

He moves slowly, telegraphing his movements to lean forward and clasp a warm hand over hers. She runs cool, despite her hotheaded temperature. She’s struggling, a war flickering over face, but she still stares at him. She closes her eyes and opens them again, and all conflict is gone. 

“No, it’s not.” She’s still blushing, her flightiness isn’t even fully gone. But she grabs his hand back. Ruby smiles back and prepares to lean away, when something hurtles towards his field of vision. There’s the feeling of something soft against his cheek and it’s gone. Sapph is storming off into the wilderness and Ruby feels his left cheek tingle. 

Dealing with Sapph has always been like that, all touch-and-go. How willing she was to be affectionate depended on what it seemed like the stars, the moons, and the suns. Ruby had even started following horoscopes a bit more seriously to discern her moods. It relieved and frustrated him to no end, to know that she’d return when she ran off, but to be the cause of her flight was irritating. 

That was years ago, and now he’s busy refusing to make eye contact with the troglodytes running around in the worst game of hide and seek in the universe. Their gazes were like lasers burning into his back, as he scuttled crab-like.

Fun fact, he did not miss this about being a trainer. He liked the thrill of seeing new pokemon, the beautiful and majestic sights, the sudden and passionate romance between him and Sapph- not the battling. 

If Ruby was found beating up five-year-old children with nothing but level 5 wrumples and weedles as their pokemon it would not look good in any way. Sapphire maybe could get away with it being generally unhinged and permissible by being a battle maniac, but he was here for the contests! His reputation would shatter,

‘World renowned coordinator beats up children in Kalos!’

‘Wallace has never taken an apprentice and never will! Who’s Ruby?’

‘Sapphire is too busy laughing to give a response!’

Also 100 pokedollars was far too little for him to consider child abuse as an occupational risk, maybe if it was by at least a few 0’s higher. He should’ve taken the bus over to Camphier, but there was not much he could do at this point. 

After a frankly gross amount of encounters with croagunks, close calls with children staring into his soul, and several others, his first new fantastic pokemon encounter-Swirlix! It was just as adorable as he’d imagined it to be, bookmarked right on page 234 on the Poke Fan United Catalog. 

While Nana kept it busy (read, bullied it) he took several pictures. The soft ephemeral fluffiness, the silly doltish look that was starting to grow more nervous the closer Nana nipped, the way it weakly thrashed against Nana. . . 

“Nana, that’s enough.” The mightyena just tossed her head in disregard, watching the swirlix slink away with a deadly glare. “Why are you so mischievous today?”

She huffed vaguely temperamentally, trotting ahead, not waiting for him. It honestly felt that these days Zuzu was the only one that listened to him. Intercontinental pokemon trade was still an iffy topic and Ruby worked best with his current team, so he gave up on pursuing it.

Walking under the sun, the tall grass swaying against him, Nana trotting up ahead. It really brought back memories. The air was far too cold, to be Hoenn. Letting Nana guide him, he brings up his phone. A message almost immediately pings, Sapph. Think of Gritana and may they appear.

‘Get to Cyllage safe?’

‘Yeah. Saw a Swirlix, here’

‘swirlix.png’

‘Nana kept bullying it so I couldn’t take more photos.’

‘Nana bullying? She would never’

‘What do you mean by that? Nana is an angel!’

‘to you only maybe, she’s a two-faced devil dog’

‘I’ll have you know that a two-faced devil dog is a cool concept’

‘sounds like a conjoined houndoom more like’

‘i’ll be heading over to the lab, keep me updated’

‘I’ll text you later, don’t forget to eat!’

‘yes yes’

‘And water my orchids, those are my babies’

‘you’ve said this many times, something that would be easily fixed if you stayed here for the summer’

Ruby stared.

‘. . .’ 

The typing bubble appeared immediately,

‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that’

‘i’ll take care of everything don’t worry’

‘just go win (*^* )’

‘fighting!’

Nana barks loudly enough for him to almost drop his phone. She’s looking cross and unamused. He’d almost walked straight into the river. There’s that little huff that she does, the one that reminds him that pokemon mature mentally more quickly than humans do once they evolve.

“What would I do without you?” He pets her shiny fur, marveling at how the fur only at the top of her head was always so soft, and everywhere else coarse. He needs to do another grooming session with her. “I’m being a ditz.”

She snorts and lets him pet her for a minute longer before nudging him onward. Camphrier rises into view across the bridge, a stone wall jutting up against the horizon. Little blips of tour brochure facts flutter in his head as he draws nearer. The Shabboneau family had once been a fine connoisseur of the arts, being a center of culture and influence. Something about systemic revolutions and the way the once rich and prominent family ended up in severe debt, forced to sell off their once prized and cherished art and clothes.

However now? The Shabboneau castle was rented out to galleries or strange upcoming parties- but barren for the most part. The people there strangely generous and kind, and it was a pleasant if out of the way place to go. It was seasonally popular during peak summer and winter- a place to see on the way to Lumiose city. 

There was a ghost-type pokemon convention held there a year back, around when Ruby was looking for some cool fashion inspirations. It would’ve been amazing to go with Sapph and Em, but it never ended up working out. Sapph was fending off her prized position as an intern with a butter knife ( the police were almost called) and Emerald was definitely not going if Wally and Sapph didn’t go. Wally was busy with some sort of insane training course with his dad (Wally was definitely semi-adopted, no, three-quarters adopted). Ruby would be jealous of that if he actually enjoyed suffering and being tortured, but he didn’t so Wally got to do whatever his masochist heart pleased.

Also, he was very broke that semester, so maybe that was a good thing.

Regardless, it wasn’t his first choice for a meetup, but not a bad one. Especially since some of the high-profile coordinators were coming. The meetup isn’t happening until late noon, so he wandered around browsing the tourist shops. Nana was getting cranky halfway through, so he let her rest.

Right out by the outside patio of a streetside coffee shop, directly from page 250 on the pokemon catalog, a Flabebe was there. Specifically, an orange variant, which was a very in right now color. He couldn’t help it! It was indeed as cute and fabulous as on the picture print. He’d been hoping to see one out in the wild on the way to town, but he’d known how rare they were. 

“If it’s not too much, may I ask for a photoshoot of your pokemon?” Ruby shamelessly approaches the pokemon, asking the owner without tearing his eyes away from the embodiment of contest-certified cute.

“Is it for financial reasons?” Mused the owner.

“What? No! Of course not! Just appreciating it!” Ruby reeled back, squawking a little, finally taking in the owner herself. She was an older lady wearing a long cream skirt, a clean grey boat-necked blouse, and a nice firm tan-color cardigan. Her shoes were darker tan toe point flats with a esoteric metal buckle. Very neat attire, probably visiting neighbors or family out here. “I may send it to my girlfriend at most and she is majoring in something disgustingly STEM-y, so I doubt she’d know what it means to make a profit off of art.”

“You can’t say something like that and not explain.” The lady raised her eyebrows, and Ruby took that as blanket permission to snap a few pictures.  

“It is as I said. She’s also a pokemon battler too.” It would probably look even better groomed, wouldn’t it? He had some scraps of ribbon left, would black or white look better? He could tie it around the flower stem maybe. Maybe spritz the flower a little to make it look like morning dew drops. “May I please have the honor of grooming your pokemon? I have a certificate right here.” 

She took the certificate card he shoved in her general direction while he started fishing out his good camera and groom supplies. “You are really just going at it, huh. Go ahead, why not?” She looks at the Flabebe who does the pokemon equivalent of a shrug. The lady returns to squinting at the card, “Honnen? You’re a long way from home.”

“Yes, I’m here for a contest.” Ruby agreed- it’s been a while since he’s handled something so little. Even Nana and Kiki were never this small back then. 

He takes his time to acclimate the Flabebe to his tools, watching for any signs of snapping. It seemed to have a sassy temperament and he bribed it a little with a sour pokeblock (after explaining to the lady first, feeding other people’s pokemon random things without explaination was a pretty big no-no). A well-handled and trained pokemon.  

“Are you a photography student?” She asks as he takes the first photo. He goes with the dewdrop and ribbon theme for the photo. 

“No, a fashion student.” Click! “There’s something about making something with your hands and seeing it have an impact on other people. I suppose also being able to take things and make them so unapproachable things become the common person’s daily wear.”

“That’s a very contemporary view of fashion.” The lady replies. “I really did enjoy design back when I took it in college.”

“Why the past tense?” He calls Coco out and also starts applying some of the “dew-drops” (bio-degradable press-on stickers, completely pokemon safe and Sapph certified approved) to Coco as well. 

The Flabebe warms up slowly as Coco leans down to sniff it. 

“I liked the art aspect of it, but it's a very business-heavy industry. Never really had the entrepreneurial spirit.” It was as if she was saying the words directly plucked from Ruby’s own train of thought. He really did like fashion, studying it, following it, making it. But he didn’t like marketing his own designs that much.  

It felt weird trying to justify his own creations to everyone else, trying to get people to want it. The amount of connection-making and keeping up to date in everything it was. It was why his club schedule was so aneurism-inducing in the first place.

“There’s also fast fashion too.” He snaps a picture of Coco sniffing the Flabebe before he tries coaxing them into more experimental poses. The Flabebe was honestly a contest-level pokemon with how tolerable it was. 

“Perhaps it’s a necessary evil.” The lady counterpoints, “You said fashion was for the common man? Fast fashion provides a huge aspect of that.”

“But it also speeds up trends to an unhealthy amount and it promotes artificial need.” A picture of flabebe balancing on Kiki’s head. “Oh well, there’s nothing that I can do as a fashion student.”

“That’s no way to think.” 

“What is the right way to think?” He starts removing the dew-drop stickers but leaves the ribbon tied around the stem. Flabebe has a fragile waxy texture, like the outside of rose petals, but also a sort of velvety one on other parts of its body- like the inside of a rose petal. “That I can change the world?”

“Haven’t you?” The lady is watching him from her chair. “Did you not change the world, Ruby from the Honnen Team Magma and Aqua incident?”

Ruby wonders if running away is possible from a general human encounter. “Um.”

“My daughter is a fan, so don’t worry about it.” The lady snorts, but in an elegant manner, taking a sip of her coffee. “I think it’d be great if you autographed this napkin though, if you want to worry about it less.”

Is she. . .threatening him? “Are you threatening me?”

“Consider it recompense for the pictures.” She smiles, not answering him.

“I gave you a free grooming session!” He unhappily but very professionally and beautifully signs the napkin with a pen he has specifically for these situations.

“Also send those photos to me, here is my email.” She slides over a business card. A lawyer with a Flabebe, huh.

“I don’t want to send an email to a random person.” 

“You don’t have a throwaway email?” She manages to make the innocuous question a taunt on his general knowledge and intelligence. 

“I do.” He sighs. “I suppose it’s a fair trade to meet one as lovely as your Flabebe.”

The lawyer lady smiles, “Don’t sulk too much and take this. My bus is here, it was wonderful to meet you, Ruby.”

It was a sweet heart candy in a pink wrapping, stamped with the Camphrier hotel logo. “Oh I couldn’t-”

She was gone and Ruby was left with Coco outside a random coffee shop. Other people were inconspicuously glancing over him and he felt peer-pressured enough to buy a cup. It was pretty darn good, much better than anything in Hoenn or Kanto. More than getting those Dias chocolates he’d have to snag a bag or two. Emerald knew how to make a killer brew didn’t he? 

With that, he stood up and-

“WHY!” Ronan was standing there, all false innocence and boring eyes. “You nearly gave me a heart attack!”

Ronan grinned, wide and nasty and Ruby gaped at his outfit. A thick clunky black denim jacket with a tie-die monstrosity of a shirt paired with square black pants. The fewer words spent actually describing what his shoes looked like, the better. 

“Come here.” Ruby intoned as Ronan immediately went on the defensive and scooted back.

“Why?”

“So I can drown you of course.” He smiles, all teeth and just a little bit of that level 71 trainer he keeps behind his ears when he’s truly about to snap.

Ronan is not executed publicly, but instead is re-wardrobed into clean basic colors. Halfway in though, Ruby rediscovers the simple easy joy just to card through clothes at a nice store and that's honestly what saved their friendship from careening off a ravine.