Chapter Text
Act: Epilogue
Part I
“Wow, I've never seen a city like this,” Lu Han said as they entered Ohorat City. All the buildings were tall with bridges connecting each floor of the buildings to another like roads in the sky.
“Doesn't Anich have big cities?” Jongin asked standing beside Lu Han, his hand tightening on his boyfriend's.
Lu Han turned to the performer and smiled. “Yes, but it's nothing like this. We don't have the air roads. It makes sense they would put a flying gym here. I can see it off in the distance.”
They both turned to look at the large metal diamond shaped building suspended in the sky by sturdy steel ropes glistening in the daylight.
“How do we get up there?” Lu Han asked.
“Fly. I don't have a pokemon that can fly, though,” Jongin responded.
Lu Han pulled off one of his pokeballs and held it out. “If we get close enough to the gym, I can have Duosion use his psychic abilities to levitate us. He levitates himself so it should be fine.”
With a plan in order, they walked to the closest building to the Ohorat City Flying Gym on ground level and traveled up until they were on the same level as the gym's entrance. Lu Han called his pokemon out and immediately started screaming as he was floated across. Once they were at the gym entrance, Jongin came over and knelt down beside him.
“Are you alright?” Jongin asked.
Lu Han didn't look at his boyfriend. “I...forgot to mention I hate heights. I haven't been levitated in a long while.”
Lu Han's Duosion floated over by its trainer making concerned noises. Lu Han assured it had done a good job and called the pokemon back before finally getting back to his feet with a little help from Jongin. They walked to the front of the gym and waited for the doors to open only to be greeted by a sign saying there would be no battles today.
“I guess we should go to a hotel then,” Jongin said. “Gym leaders can't always be here, though they should when it's so close to the opening of the Elite Four's gym for challengers.”
Lu Han groaned. “I don't want to float up here again.”
“Oh, who is this?”
They both turned to see a Charizard and Pidgeot landing, a tall man getting off each pokemon. A blonde man in a silk shirt called back the Pidgeot and approached Lu Han and Jongin with confident steps while a fluffy red haired man stayed back. They both seemed familiar to Lu Han though he couldn't place a name to their faces. The more powerful Lu Han became as a trainer the less time it took for him to work through a region and so he found he didn't often get a lot of information about the pop culture of the region. However, with Hangul so close to Anich, he felt like he should be able to place their faces with names.
“Are you here to challenge the gym?” the blonde asked.
“Yes, but it's closed it seems,” Lu Han said.
The blond frowned. “It is, but it seems you've caught the leader, Oh Sehun.”
Lu Han's eyes widened. This blond man seemed quite young, but then again, the ghost gym he had battled had an even younger leader. “Oh, then I'm here to challenge you.”
Oh Sehun sighed. “I don't have very much time for a battle, I'm afraid, but I can't turn you down so close to the opening ceremony for challengers to the Champion.”
“I don't challenge Champions, I just challenge gyms,” Lu Han explained. “And I would rather not have to come back to your gym. It's not the easiest to get up to.”
“He's afraid of heights,” Jongin pitched in.
“Jongin!” Lu Han growled and turned on his boyfriend with a glare.
Jongin shrugged. “You want to battle or not?”
“Jongin?” Sehun raised a brow and looked the performer up and down. “Oh, Kai. I didn't recognize you.”
“Yo,” Jongin greeted. “And the red hair guy is Park Chanyeol, right? He's going to be the first to face off with Wu Yifan. I saw your kissing clip. Are you going to announce that, too?”
“Perhaps,” Sehun said sparing a glance over at the redhead who was cooing over his Charizard. “Ah, but if you're only after the badge then any kind of battle will due, right?”
“I suppose,” Lu Han said.
“How about a double battle. You and the performer versus Chanyeol and I,” Sehun said. “We'll both be using pokemon eligible for air battles.”
“Agreed,” Jongin said then looked at Lu Han softly. “I want to try fighting with you.”
Lu Han smiled and plucked a pokeball from his belt then grabbed his cap and turned it backwards. “Get ready to be slain.”
“Chanyeol, we're battling,” Sehun called out to the red head.
“I heard. I guess I'm using Charizard then,” Chanyeol said and the large orange flying lizard took its place in front of its trainer.
“And I'll be using this guy,” Sehun said and threw out a ball. A purple form appeared, a Haunter.
“That's not a flying type,” Lu Han pointed out.
“True, but you can use Haunters in air battles since they levitate and I said air battle approved pokemon, not flying types. Haunter can levitate. If you want your badge you'll battle a ghost type,” Sehun said.
Lu Han grinned and glanced over at Jongin. The performer had the same look on his face and held a familiar ball in his hand. He turned back to the flying gym leader.
“If that's how you want it, we'll play your game,” Lu Han said. “Don't underestimate us, though. Alba, go!”
“Bri!” Jongin called throwing out his pokemon as well.
The mated pair of Eeveelutions took their stances in front of the other two trainers ready to fight.
Sehun's face fell. “I was expecting electric types.”
“You expected wrong,” Lu Han said. “Alba, Psychic on the Haunter.”
“Bri, Dark Pulse also on Haunter.”
The Haunter barely made it past the Espeon's move and fainted when the Umbreon's move was added on. Sehun called back his pokemon and turned to Chanyeol with arms crossed. Chanyeol raised a brow at Sehun.
“As long as they don't have water moves, I can beat them,” Chanyeol said.
“What about a Hyper Beam,” Lu Han teased.
“I can withstand a Hyper Beam,” Chanyeol said grinning. “Charizard, Inferno on Espeon!”
The move hit the Espeon hard and got off a burn effect.
“Shake it off, Alba,” Lu Han instructed.
“Do you want to finish this quickly?” Jongin asked looking at Lu Han.
Lu Han nodded. “I hate being this high up in the air.”
“Bri, Dark Pulse!” Jongin instructed.
The move hit and hit hard. The Charizard fainted.
Sehun sighed and dug into his pants pocket pulling out a whirlwind looking pin and handed it to Lu Han. “Here you go. That's the fastest battle I've ever lost. You should really consider fighting the Champion.”
Lu Han shook his head. “I didn't make a team to win against the Champion with. I made a team for myself.”
Sehun nodded and turned away from them both. “Well, I hope to see you in the battling circle at some point. And Kai, I hope to see you dance again.” The doors to the gym opened as Sehun approached and he stepped inside.
“Oh, good luck and nice to meet you two,” Chanyeol said and hurried after the gym leader waving after them.
Lu Han stared as the doors closed then looked down at the pin in his hands a feeling lifting off his shoulders. This was it. Certainly, there were still regions Lu Han hadn't visited, but he was already 24.
Jongin stepped up next to Lu Han and placed a hand on his shoulder. “So, you have eight of Hangul's badges, where to now?”
Lu Han took in a deep breath then let it out and pocketed the pin. “Now, we find a hotel.”
Part II:
Lu Han groaned as Jongin pulled out and moved beneath the sheets next to him on the bed wiping his sweaty forehead. Jongin rearranged himself and turned towards Lu Han propping his head up on one of his hands and grinning at his lover. Lu Han gave him a look before turning the opposite way and staring at the bed on the other side of the room where they had arranged pillows for their Espeon and Umbreon to sleep on when they came back from their late night excursion in the city.
It had been almost a week since Lu Han had gotten his eighth badge. If he stayed in the hotel any longer, Lu Han felt the staff might get suspicious of he and Jongin. Not that what they had was a bad thing, but there were ten year olds working at the hotel on and off and Lu Han didn't want to be responsible for that discussion. But, he wasn't sure where to go from here.
Jongin scooted closer to Lu Han and wrapped one arm tightly around the other trainer. “You've gone quiet. Are you worrying about those two? They're strong pokemon.”
“No,” Lu Han responded with a sigh. His Espeon could take care of itself.
“What is it?” Jongin asked. “You're worrying about something.”
“Do you want to go back to Shineer City, Jongin?” Lu Han asked. “Didn't you want to see your family?”
“I don't mind going back that way if you're coming with me. Where are you going after that?”
Where indeed? Lu Han let Jongin's warmth seep into him. He felt kind of gross and they needed a shower, but Lu Han also needed to talk to someone. He use to just dally around until there seemed like nothing else to do but go home. Now, he really did want to go home with Jongin.
“I'm thinking of making my way to the Nu Eastern Bay,” Lu Han said.
“Where the ghost gym is? It's spooky there. Why would you want to go back?” Jongin asked and lifted his other arm above them both to play with Lu Han's hair.
“It's because it's the fastest route to the Bay of Jing in Anich,” Lu Han said. “I came on foot before.”
“So you want to go back to Anich?”
“Yes,” Lu Han said. “We can pass by your home and stay there for a while then I'll go to Nu Eastern Bay.”
“And I'll come with you,” Jongin added. “I would like to see Anich for myself anyways. I didn't really travel after getting my badges, I immediately went full body into performance. Anich has some interesting performance circles. You can't tell me not to come.”
Lu Han nibbled his bottom lip. “I won't tell you that. I want you to come. I think...I think I'm going to buy land.”
“What do you want to do with the land?”
“Something like breeding psychic types,” Lu Han answered.
“How about a gym?” Jongin offered. “Then I will always know where to find you.”
Lu Han frowned. “There's already a psychic gym in Anich, but...there's not a psychic gym that's eight badge worthy. We do have multiple gyms in Anich. I might apply for that.”
“Then that's what we'll do,” Jongin said and kissed Lu Han's cheek. “But, first, we'll take a shower before our pokemons come back.”
Jongin started moving from the bed, getting up and walking to the other side in all his naked glory.
Lu Han watched him curiously. “Why does it have to be before they come back?”
Jongin grinned and reached down suddenly gathering Lu Han into his arms. “Because I'm not done with you yet.”
Part III:
There was a knock on the gym door and Lu Han stood from his bed of pillows where he lazed about with his Espeon in his lap. The lilac colored pokemon shook itself and called out angrily being woken suddenly from its slumber. Lu Han looked at it apologetically and made his way to the gym doors. It was the middle of the night and he knew it couldn't be a challenger. He smiled though when he saw who it was and quickly fell into the embrace of a dark clad figure with silver hair.
“Jongin,” Lu Han greeted his lover.
The performer pulled back and let himself in. “Isn't it about time I came back? Competitions start in a month. I plan to spend all that time here with you.”
“And not practicing? It'll be your first professional level competition in Anich,” Lu Han said.
Espeon came out then and greeted Jongin with a commanding bark.
Jongin laughed and pulled out a pokeball. His Umbreon appeared and went up to the Espeon pressing noses together with the other Eeveelution.
“To think, it took me two years to get into the professional level in the Anich Region. I really wasn't as good as I thought.”
“But, you're getting better,” Lu Han said and led his lover back to the bedroom. “You must be tired.”
“A bit.”
“Did you come across anything interesting?” Lu Han asked settling back into his pillows and watching as Jongin began to make himself at home. And it was his home as well as Lu Han's no matter what Lu Han's parents said. Jongin's parents had been immediately accepting of their relationship, but as an only child, Lu Han's parents hadn't been pleased to hear of their son's lover or his choice to become a gym leader. They had compromised that Lu Han could run the gym if he used Meowstics as his logo since they were also the logo of his parents entertainment company and they would sponsor him. Lu Han agreed and so they decided to sponsor Jongin as well, but only after realizing the Hangul performer was the well known Kai.
“Yes, actually. I had a double battle with someone from the Huang clan,” Jongin said.
“Oh, are you alright? He didn't try to steal your pokemon did he?” Lu Han asked.
“No. You said the Huang clan were being controlled by an evil company, but he didn't seem to want to cause me any trouble. I saw him watching me at one of the festivals. He seemed interested in dance. I hope to see him again at a competition. He had a good relationship with his pokemon,” Jongin said.
Lu Han nodded. “He was probably one of the candidates for the next leader. I doubt you'll see him performing, but a leader like that wouldn't be bad. Maybe the Huang clan would stop being used as pokemon assassins and go back to being fighting type trainers.”
“How about you, what did you hear while I was promoting?” Jongin asked.
“Oh, Wu Yifan finally lost in Hangul.”
Jongin nodded. “I heard everyone crying over that. It seems he won't be returning though.”
“Why would he? There's been rumors that he got involved with the ice trainer of the Elite Four there. Are you going for a shower?”
“I would rather not touch you dirtied.”
Lu Han went silent as Jongin left the room naked. Their Espeon and Umbreon had not joined them in the room busy doing catch up of their own. Lu Han sighed and tightened the indigo silk robe he wore. Being a psychic gym leader wasn't as easy as he had thought, but he was having fun. He had had to battle to be able to build the gym, but he couldn't battle at a master level without defeating Anich's current champion who was a dark type trainer like Jongin. But, Lu Han was satisfied with just this.
Jongin returned a few minutes later, tan body still slick with water from the shower. He immediately climbed into the bed and on top of Lu Han, lips pouring down on the new gym leader, first his face then his neck. Lu Han's robes opened inviting the kisses lower and lower and Lu Han could only moan in pleasure as he let himself be lost in the others love.
Love.
It hadn't been that long since they had confessed. Jongin had taken Lu Han out on a date before he left for his promotions. He had planned the confession and all, but it was Lu Han who had let the words slip out first feeling the atmosphere and being swept away by it. Jongin had only smiled and replied.
“You haven't been keeping your hands to yourself, have you,” Jongin said as he began to prepare Lu Han.
Lu Han bit his bottom lip looking at Jongin not quite ashamed. He had never felt the freedom to explore himself before. He was usually at home or out in the open surrounded by pokemon. He was surrounded by them now as well, but, other than his Espeon, his pokemon knew not to come into his room uninvited. The poor unfortunate Deerling had learned that the hard way before evolving into the dashing Sawsbuck that now stood as a guard at Lu Han's door. Lu Han did feel sorry he could not battle with the pokemon that brought him to Jongin as much as he would like, but, in exchange, Jongin often borrowed the Sawsbuck when it's seasonal coat matched his performance.
“J-Jongin, please,” Lu Han begged.
Jongin grinned. He liked to play with Lu Han's sensitive spots then slow it down like he was dancing. Lu Han wasn't a performance, but every time he saw his lover perform, he couldn't quite be angry with being treated like one. Jongin was serious when he performed, but he had learned to have fun with it again, and he was always so deeply in love with dancing. Lu Han was happy being the same as dancing to Jongin.
“I want to tease you longer,” Jongin said, but removed his fingers.
“You have a whole month for that,” Lu Han said and reached his hands out for Jongin. “You're home now.”
Jongin smiled, eyes lighting up lovingly. He entered and moved forwards into Lu Han's arms.
“I am home,” Jongin whispered into Lu Han's ear as he started to move.
Home.