Chapter Text
To say that Florian wasn’t feeling too confident right now was an understatement. He didn’t know who he was expecting to fight today, but it certainly wasn’t the most mysterious and legendary trainer of all time.
“...” the trainer on the other end of the arena said nothing as he threw out his Pikachu. Florian may have researched to no end about the trainer before him but that didn’t stop the terror shooting through his veins at the sight of him. Florian eventually threw out his Pawmot to oppose the trainer’s Pikachu.
“Dig!” Florian called out and the Pawmot did just that.
“...” Red didn’t even need to say anything. One look and his Pikachu used Light Screen. With a nod, his Pikachu jumped out of the way, right as Pawmot attacked from below.
“Punchachu! Use Close Combat!” Florian called out. Pikachu was sent flying by the flurry of punches. Without a word, Red returned Pikachu to its Pokeball. With complete silence, he sent out his Venusaur,
“...”
“Fire Punch!” Florian yelled, seeing the cracks in the earth beginning to form. Venasuar didn’t stand a chance, however the earthquake took out Pawmot just after the punch landed. Both trainers returned their Pokémon at about the same time. “You’re a pretty good trainer.” Florian admitted. “But you’re not exactly what I imagined when I heard the legends.” he continued, throwing out his Tinkaton
“...” With a glare, the legendary trainer released his Charizard.
“Yeesh man, it was just an observation! Tinkaton, use Stone Edge”
“...” With complete silence, Red held up his wrist and suddenly, he mega evolved his Charizard into Charizard X. It then proceeded to launch what could very well be the biggest Flamethrower Florian had ever seen.
“That was a pretty good focus sash, huh?” Florian remarked as the smoke cleared and Tinkaton was still standing. It then proceeded to slam its hammer into the ground. The ground around Charizard quickly rocketed up. While the attack damaged him, it wasn’t nearly enough as it rocketed up as well. “Got ya just where I want you! Now!” Florian cried as Tinkaton hit one of the stray rocks back at the Charizard.
“...” Red said nothing as the Charizard's tail lit up. Using Dragon Tail, the Pokémon hit the rock right back at the Tinkaton.
“Man.” Florian rubbed the back of his neck. Throwing out his Skeledirge, Florian took a deep breath. “Just a little more. Torch Song and then sidestep!”
Charizard tanked the torch song and zoomed straight up to Skeledirge and would’ve slammed him down with Dragon Tail if Fire Apple didn’t dodge at the last second. Florian broke out into a feral grin as the light screen surrounding Charizard broke apart. Pulling out his Tera Orb, his grin somehow got even larger.
“No Offense, Red! But I don’t think you’re prepared for this!” Florian called out with a grin as his Skeledirge transformed into a Ground type. “Now, Earth Power!”
“...” Red simply stood in silence as Charizard did his best to avoid the rocks and counter attack but it was simply too much. Red returned the Charizard and nodded at Florian with approval.
“No hard feelings, right?” Florian asked only to be met with silence. “Since you’re here can I get your autograp-” Florian began, only to notice that the trainer disappeared when Florian grabbed a paper from his bag. “Well then…”
“And then he just vanished! It was really bizarre.” Florian finished explaining as he tossed a Pokeball up and down in the air.
“Man, like the moment you look away, gone? Sounds like Batman.” Nemona chuckled.
“Maybe that’s why he’s so mysterious, it’s because he’s secretly a superhero!” Florian joked back.
“He takes down trainers in the daylight, and takes out criminals in the moonlight!” Nemona continued.
“He takes out criminals in the moonlight?” Florian questioned. “My My, that’s pretty romantic.” he continued as Nemona snorted.
“That’s not what I meant and you know it!” she refuted, elbowing him. “However…
She began with a grin before grabbing Florian by the waist and pulling him towards her. “If your mind is on romance, I can take you out.”
“... Neeeeemmmmm….” Florian complained, covering up his face as it grew red.
“Aww, don’t be like that, my little cherry tomato!” she cheered, uncovering his face with her free hand.
“How can you say all that without even the slightest bit of embarrassment?” Florian asked, looking away as he tried to force his blush down even though it was only getting redder.
“How can I be embarrassed when I’m so focused on you?” she replied, taking pleasure at the look on Florian’s face.
“Oh yeah?” Florian questioned, taking a deep breath before his face was overtaken by determination. “What about now?!” he questioned, as he suddenly had her pinned against a wall, his head craned upwards to look her in the eye.
“I don’t think this is as effective as you would’ve wanted it to be.” she responded, a fond smile on her face as she looked down at the short trainer.
“I’m making it work. I’ll get taller eventually.”
“I hope not, I’d say that you’re already the perfect height already.”
“How so?” Florian questioned with a raised eyebrow.
“I think you’ll understand if you just look straight ahead.” she responded with a teasing smile.
“Look straight ahea-'' Florian trailed off as he looked straight ahead, only to spin around and cover his face with his hands again. “Nem!” he yelled as she laughed once more.
“Arven, do you know how to flirt?”
“Florian, who the fuck starts a conversation like that, I just sat down.”
“Nemona is too good at making me blush and junk. I need to learn how to do the same to her.” Florian explained.
“And so you decided that the best person to ask about this was me ?” Arven questioned, rubbing his forehead. “I’ve never even gone on a date with someone, and you’re choosing to ask me about this.”
“To be fair, the only person I for sure know has gone on a date before is my mom and there’s no way I’m asking her about flirting.”
“Look up a youtube video or something then! Literally anything else would probably be a better idea than asking me!” Arven continued.
“I thought I’d check with you before I turn to the internet!” Florian explained.
“Hey guys!” Nemona called out as she approached the table. “Whatcha talking about?” she asked, sitting down with her lunch.
“Nothi-”
“Florian’s asking me for flirting advice because he wants to be able to make you blush.”
“Arven!”
“Aww, it’s ok Flor! You do enough blushing for the both of us!” Nemona chirped.
“Arven, watch your back.” Florian threatened.
“Did you expect anything else? It’s basically my job at this point to prevent your schemes.”
“I hope this one was worth it, cause I’m kicking my schemes up to an 11 and aiming them all at you.”
“All of your schemes?” Nemona questioned. “Doesn’t that mean you’re going to flirt with Arven?”
“Wha-”
“Really Florian?” Arven tsked. “I can’t believe you would do that right in front of your girlfriend.”
“I didn-”
“I can’t believe you’ve done this Florian.” Nemona continued, holding her hand over her forehead dramatically. “I thought I could trust you with my heart but apparently not.”
“Are you guys done yet?”Florian questioned, leaning his head on his hand as he looked back and forth between the two.
“Almost, I still need to steal your heart back from Arven.” Nemona said, taking Florian’s hand and kissing it.
“...” Florian simply raised his eyebrow at her.
“Aww, not even a tint of red?” Nemona whined.
“I’m not giving you the satisfaction.” he responded with an eye roll.
“I’ll just have to try harder when we’re alone, if ya get what I mean.” She said with a wink. To her satisfaction, that did cause Florian’s face to redden a bit.
“You’ll have to try harder than that, my darling.” Florian responded with his first attempt to flirt back.
“My darling? Is that the best you could come up with?”
“I’m new to this, give me a break.”
“The only break I’m gonna give you is a break in your composure.”
“I’d say that’s hardly likely.”
“It’s more likely than not.” Nemona argued.
“Do you always have to do this right in front of me?” Arven questioned, trying to eat his sandwich.
“Blame Nem.” Florian stated. “She’s the one who always starts it.”
“Blame Flor, he’s too easy to tease.”
“At this point, I’m blaming myself for even trying to eat lunch with you two.”
“Fine, we’ll tone it down for a bit.” Nemona conceded as they ate lunch and avoided flirting, or attempting to flirt in some people’s case, in front of Arven.