Chapter Text
Leaf was sitting on a bench in the park in Viridian City, persistently staring at her phone screen and refreshing the message app approximately every two seconds. Chase had texted that he was on his way. But it had already been five minutes.
How much longer was she supposed to wait?
She was dying to see him, since she hadn't had a chance to do that for a whole week due to his trip to Paldea. Chase had been supposed to come there as the Champion of the — currently reforming — Indigo League of Kanto, but Leaf speculated that the majority of his stay consisted of partying in Mesagoza. It had been difficult to get in touch with him, the nights must have been busy and the mornings must have finally taught him what a real adult hungover was.
Leaf knew how reckless Chase could be when he was drunk. Hopefully he hadn't done anything stupid...
"Hi, Leafy!"
She suddenly felt arms wrapping around her shoulders from behind. The squeak she let out quickly turned into a giggle as she received a kiss on the head.
"Did you miss me?" Chase loosened his embrace and sat next to Leaf.
"So much! Give me a kiss!" She didn't waste much time and leaned forward, putting her arms around his neck.
Chase's laugh got muffled my her lips pressing to his. One of his hands immediately started brushing her hair out of her face, the other grabbed her waist, trying to pull her closer. He missed her too.
Her missed that feeling of her greedy lips shifting to his jaw and then moving downwards...
"Hey." He pushed her away. "We're in public."
Leaf crossed her arms. "So what? Can't I kiss my boyfriend in public?"
"You— You know what kind of a kiss that was."
"The one you like the most." Leaf chuckled, a smirk crawling up her face. Chase's red cheeks made her more eager to tease him. "Didn't you like it?"
Chass shoved his hand into the pocket of his pants. "I think you're gonna like what I brought for you."
"Hmm?" Leaf tilted her head. "You got me a gift?"
"Kinda."
The thing Chase took out and handed over to Leaf was a Love Ball. She looked at it curiously. "What's inside?"
"Find out yourself."
Leaf carefully threw the Love Ball up in the air so that the Pokémon could come out. Chase smirked as he saw the creature, then he looked at Leaf only to watch her stare at it with her mouth open.
"Is that—"
"Flutter Mane."
"But... They aren't supposed to be bright green..."
"Not really."
"Uiii!" Flutter Mane spinned in the air.
"How'd you get it?" Leaf asked worringly. "They only appear in Area Zero, but it's prohibited from visiting..." She leaned closer to Chase. "Did you sell your organs for it?!"
"You know, Julia and Nemona have some connections, so they let me in." He gently caressed her head, trying to reassure her.
"Don't tell me you decided to shiny hunt in Area Zero! That place is so dangerous, Chase!"
"I know, but I kinda wanted to catch some special Pokémon for you. Flutter Mane seemed perfect because it's a Fairy-type, so it could join your future League team, and when I learned that its shiny form is green— I just had to get it!
"How long did it take...?"
"A few... Days..." Chase laughed awkwardly. "But wasn't it worth it?!" He glanced at Flutter Mane spinning again.
"You're the best...!" Leaf hugged him tightly, her forehead resting against his shoulder.
So that was what Chase had been doing. Instead of getting drunk, he had chosen to explore secluded Area Zero in pursuit of the perfect, bright green Flutter Mane. No wonder Leaf couldn't have reached him.
She slowly pulled back and looked at him. "Wanna go to the forest?"
"For speed EV training?"
"For speed EV training."
"Uiii!"