Second Chances
~pokemon one shot attempt~
"Hey, girl! Wanna battle?"
Though someone evidently called out to her, Maya tugged her hat lower over her eyes and kept on walking. Early morning meant that the city was crawling with trainers. Some were itching to start their day with a battle, and since Maya had the sporty look down pat and a belt of pokeballs at her waist, she was a prime target for such provocations. Most people didn't manage to faze her, but it took all her might to ignore the jeers coming from a group of boys hanging out by the Pokemon Center entrance.
"Too scared, lady? You must not have any strong pokemon," a boy with curly hair taunted.
"She dresses like a battle girl," a friend beside him snorted, "but I bet she battles like a lass."
Maya inhaled sharply to steady her rising temper and stepped into the air-conditioned building. She hadn't come to pick fights with youngsters; she had more important matters to attend to.
The inside of the Pokemon Center was spacious and bright. Maya made a beeline for the cafe after spotting her friend. He was hard to miss, wearing a green vest with a matching cap over blond hair that didn't quite reach his shoulders.
"Curtis, you're here early." Maya greeted the boy with a wave. She slung a leg over the chair across from him and took a seat.
"All ready for our fishing trip?" he asked, a bright smile plastered on his youthful face. He straightened up in his seat, looking delighted to see her.
"Of course," Maya replied. "You love fishing, and you rarely get days off. I'm surprised you even managed to book this trip with me."
He stood and leaned over the table to close the distance between them.
"Of course I'd find time for you. You're my girlfriend," he said softly, a blush creeping over his cheeks as took her hand and kissed it.
Maya startled; Curtis was blatantly forward with his feelings, which was the polar opposite of her own personality. He was smooth with his words and charismatic no matter the occasion. Though he spoke little about his job, she thought he would make a great TV announcer, or something along those lines.
"Ah, we're in public," Maya mumbled, unsure of how she felt about the title he insistently gave her. "It's like you do these things on purpose to rile me up."
Curtis laughed, a melodic sound. Sometimes Maya wondered if her partner was secretly a milotic in disguise. Even the beauty mark by his lip only served to enhance his elegance... despite the fact that he dressed like a typical Fisherman the majority of the time, a testament to his favourite hobby.
Not letting go of her hand, he pulled her to her feet. "Let's go, my beloved."
~~
They met on an online trainer's app Maya downloaded out of curiousity, as a way to test out her new Xtransceiver. Browsing through the numerous profiles, she stopped at his photo. His lively green eyes immediately captured her attention, as they were painfully reminiscent of someone she once knew. She read further into his description and discovered that he liked fishing and music. Everything about him seemed normal enough, so she took a chance.
As things turned out, he was as lonely as she was--but in a different sense. He wasn't a serious trainer like she was, but busied himself with fishing trips and his secretive career, leaving little time to meet others. He did mention a girl he was close with, one that he happened to meet by chance through a lost item, but Maya chose not to pry too deeply into that subject.
Although Curtis hailed from the Unova region, they decided to visit the Lake of Rage in the northern part of Johto, Maya's home turf. Ever the competitive one, Maya challenged him to see who could catch the biggest magikarp. They booked a room in Mahogany Town's small inn and planned for a peaceful weekend away.
It was an traditional style inn, which meant they would be sleeping on futons on the floor. When the receptionist asked if they would be sharing one futon, Maya's cheeks started to burn a bright red.
"Two, please!" she blurted out, much to Curtis's amusement.
"I don't think I've ever seen you blush so hard."
Maya tossed her bag onto the ground and stretched out her arms. "The question caught me off guard, that's all."
"My, my. I didn't know anything could take the great Maya off guard."
His words succeeded in riling her up; Maya turned to face him, circling her arms around his neck to draw him close.
"Keep teasing me," she warned playfully, "and I'll show you what I can do."
Her lips were inches away from his ear. The familiar blush crept over his face as he felt her breath on his skin. He never did quite know how to react when she was forward in return.
"All right, I'll stop." Curtis relented, placing his hands on her shoulders. "Let's unpack and get something to eat."
Satisfied, Maya nodded and released him. The moment she stepped back, a pokeball began shaking on her belt. A flash of light appeared as the pokeball burst open, and her quilava emerged from the brightness.
"What's wrong?" Maya asked it, blinking as her quilava let out a cry and dashed out of the room. "H-hey! Wait a minute, don't go running off!"
Maya nearly slipped on the smooth floorboards as she ran to follow the pokemon back down to the lobby. She slid to a halt when she saw the figure that stepped in from outside. Quilava joyously jumped into the arms of a young man with dishevelled brown hair and a worn leather jacket.
"What's going on?" Curtis's voice piped up from behind her.
"Nothing," she said hurriedly. She tried to turn away, but it was too late.
"Maya! I thought you'd be around."
There came the voice that made her stomach churn with apprehension. He had spotted her! There was no choice but to plaster on a polite smile and soldier forward to the best of her ability.
"Hello Blue," Maya greeted him politely. "What brings you to Mahogany Town?"
She tried to smile but couldn't, so she was certain the expression on her face looked as awkward as she felt.
"I'm studying pokemon native to Route 43. Gramp's orders." Blue gave quilava one last scratch on the head before setting the pokemon down. His eyes shifted from her to the boy standing beside her. "What are you doing here?"
"We came to do some fishing at Lake of Rage," Maya explained. "This is Curtis."
"Nice to meet you," Curtis said, extending his hand out to shake Blue's.
"You seem familiar." Blue took his hand and intently studied Curtis's face. "Have we met before?"
"You're Viridian City's former gym leader, are you not? You've probably seen a lot of faces during your travels."
"Maybe." Blue didn't seem convinced, but he dropped the subject. "Anyway Maya, it was nice seeing you. We should catch up sometime, while we're both here. That is, if you aren't too busy."
Maya resisted the urge to give Blue a smack for his snide comment. She watched as Blue picked up his room key and disappeared into a room down the hall.
"C'mon," Curtis said, snapping her out of her thoughts. "Let's get our fishing rods and head out to the lake. We'll grab something to eat on the way."
She nodded in response, letting him lead her by the hand. Her memories were like pesky injuries that never healed right. She tried to shrug them off, but they still ached whenever it rained.
~~
Constant rainfall plagued Lake of Rage for the majority of the year, but today sky was clear and the glittering blue water rippled gently against the shore. In the distance, the cries of wild pokemon could be heard over the rustle of leaves in the wind.
The pair sat by the water's edge after casting their fishing lines. Maya found her nerves subsiding as the cool air filled her lungs.
"Say, Curtis. You like to sing, right?" Maya asked.
"I do," he replied.
"Well, being here with you... reminds me of a song. If I wasn't so shy, I'd sing it for you!"
"Maybe you could sing a bit," Curtis insisted. His green eyes shone with curiousity. "Maybe I'll recognize the song."
"I guess I could try." Maya hesitated before opening her mouth to sing a few notes. "You are the ocean's gray waves, destined to seek life beyond the shore--"
"--just out of reach," Curtis finished. He laughed lightly, having recognized the melody. "Isn't this song from a video game?"
Maya nodded, adjusting her grip on the fishing rod as she gazed over the surface of the lake.
"You know, sometimes I feel like my life is a video game," she confessed, "and I'm stuck on the same level over and over, and I just can't get go forward. And no matter how hard I try, the past keeps catching up to me."
Curtis didn't know how to respond, surprised by the serious tone the conversation had taken. He took a moment to study her serious expression before asking, "Does this feeling have something to do with the person at the inn?"
"Hmm?" Maya blinked, as if his words broke her out of a trance. "Oh, I'm rambling to myself again. It's nothing!"
She shuffled closer to him, angling her body so that they were shoulder to shoulder. Ever the courteous one, Curtis simply smiled.
"If you ever need to talk, I'm here," he said.
~~
The red and orange lanterns outside the inn swayed in the night, illuminating the darkness with a soft glow. Maya skipped up the pathway, wearing a triumphant smile. She was pleased to have caught a large magikarp at the lake, larger than any of the ones Curtis reeled in. Sure, he did catch five magikarp more than her, but the winner of the contest was clear.
"I'm sure you'll have better luck tomorrow," Maya grinned, giving him a prod on the shoulder.
"I'm glad you're having a good time." Curtis slid the door open and gestured for her to enter. "You go first. I have to make a quick phone call."
Maya nodded. "Sure."
The evening was quiet, with the guests retreated to their rooms for the night. Maya set to work unravelling the futons, satisfied after placing them side-by-side. An uneasy feeling swept over her, and after a moment's deliberation she pushed her futon to leave more space between them.
"Setting up shop with your lover boy?"
Maya turned to see Blue standing in the doorway, clad in a white t-shirt with a towel slung around his neck.
"You scared me!" Maya clutched a hand to her chest. She narrowed her eyes at the brunet. "First you tease me about Ethan, and now this? Give me a break."
"You mean Christoph isn't your boyfriend?" Blue raised an eyebrow.
"Christoph?" Maya blinked, and the image seemed to click. "No way!"
"You never were the observant one," Blue stated flatly. He seemed irritated. "So, instead of training, you're running off with idols now?"
Maya's breath hitched in her throat at his accusation.
"What business is that of yours, anyway?" she bit out icily. "My private affairs are none of your business."
"Christoph?" Maya blinked, and the image seemed to click. "No way!"
"You never were the observant one," Blue stated flatly. He seemed irritated. "So, instead of training, you're running off with idols now?"
Maya's breath hitched in her throat at his accusation.
"What business is that of yours, anyway?" she bit out icily. "My private affairs are none of your business."
"Awww, you're hurting my feelings. Who looked after you when you were younger? Brought you to all those new places? Remember when we trekked all the way up to Mt. Silv--"
"I don't WANT to remember, Blue! That was a long time ago. Let it go!"
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Behave yourself, now. ;)