Chapter Text
"Hey, guys!" Max greated cheerfully as he sat down at the breakfast table, "What's for breakfast?"
"You waltz in here at 11:30 and ask what's for breakfast?" May demanded, eyeing her brother disapprovingly.
"Well, then, if it's so late, why are you still in the kitchen?"
"I am putting away groceries with Tracey." May replied, gesturing at the grocery bags near her feet.
Tracey grinned at Max's expression, "Chill out, bro. The rest of us just had toast today. I can have Ash make you some if you want."
"Yeah, I want." the boy said immediately, before May could protest.
"I can't believe you want to have Ash make Max's breakfast when it's his own fault he's up so late." May huffed, and Max rolled his eyes.
"Since when is eleven thirty late?"
"It's not a weekend, Max. You still have things to do today. You just wasted your entire morning."
"Whatever."
Tracey snorted, poking his head out of the kitchen window, so that he had a clear view of the front yard, "Ash!"
Max watched as the trainer jogged towards the window, "What?" he seemed to notice Max sitting at the table behind Tracey, "Max, hey. You're finally awake."
"Not you, too." Max groaned, "What d'ya mean, finally? When did you get up?"
"Seven-thirty." was the prompt response, "What did you want, Trace?"
"Can you make some toast for Max?" Tracey asked.
Ash looked confused, "Why can't you do it?"
"Me and May are putting away the groceries."
"I can do that."
"Well, I don't know how to toast bread properly." Tracey said with as much dignity as possible, "It always ends up burnt. And you have your mom's cooking genes. So it's only fair."
"Well, that's bullshit." Ash grinned, "I'm not good at cooking. I can only do it if I watch someone else do it."
"You're a quick learner."
"I guess."
"Well, I know for a fact that you know how to make toast, Ash, so get your ass in here. How long do you expect this kid to wait?"
Ash laughed, "Yeah, I'm coming, man."
May shook her head, "Max, you're lucky Ash is nice enough to make you breakfast. You've gotta start doing things on your own."
"I'm not a kid." Max snapped, "I'm nearly eleven. And I know how to take care of myself- way better than you do! I travel, remember?"
"You've been here for a while. Don't get too dependant."
Before Max could argue, there as the slam of the door, followed by Ash's footsteps. The trainer entered the kitchen, saluting Max playfully, before readjusting his cap and looking for the loaf of bread. He let out a whistle at the the number of gorcery bags.
"That's a shitload of food. Did Brock and Misty buy double of everything?"
May sighed, picking up yet another packet and arranging it in the cupboard, "Nope. I bet your mom's got some big dinner planned- we don't normally buy this much."
"I wonder how the two of them carried all of this back home, though." Tracey frowned thoughtfully, as he placed the vegetables neatly in the crate.
"Oh- they asked if they could borrow Infernape this morning." Ash remembered, "And Brock had Sudowoodo with him, too. Those two must've helped out."
"Wait." Max held up his hand, "Since when do one of us do the grocery shopping?"
He was met with three confused stares.
"Um, two of us go every week." May said, as though it was obvious.
"But isn't this why we have Mr. Mime?"
"He's gotta have a break, too." Tracey reminded the young boy, "Just because helping is his speciality, doesn't mean he never gets tired. Plus, if we do the grocery shopping, he's got extra time to work on the garden. It's the gardening season, you know."
"Yeah, mom and Mime love to have a perfect garden. Pallet is famous for its gardens. Also, it attracts people to the Inn." Ash said, serving Max some toast.
"Thanks, Ash."
"No prob. Seen Gary anywhere, guys? Is he still with Dawn?"
"Yeah, they were at the lab last time I checked." Tracey said, "Seen Brock?"
"He's video-calling one of his colleagues back in Pewter." Ash took a seat next to Max, "Sounded pretty important. I think it's about that medical herb he's been researching all month? He's sending a sample back to the Pewter Pokemon Center so it can be tested in the lab."
"Sounds cool." May said, "Isn't he supposed to send over a report along with the herbs, though?"
"He's sending it in by next week." Tracey answered, "He's got some last-minute stuff to add. Gary's gonna help him out, and I promised to take a couple of good pictures to go along with it."
"Yeah, you're a good photographer." Max certified.
"What about Misty?" May asked, "Is she training?"
"I'm supposed to meet her in half an hour." Ash checked his watch, "The two of us have a meeting in Cerulean. We're taking Professor Oak's car."
"Which one of you is driving?" Tracey raised an eyebrow.
"I'm driving us to the meeting, because she panics too much to drive before the big stuff. She's doing the ride home, because I'd be too pumped to drive properly."
May and Tracey laughed, while Max frowned, "You guys can drive?"
Ash nodded, "Yeah, but there's no point in getting a car for myself- I travel too much. It'd just be sitting in the shed. Mom hardly uses a car- she prefers walking- and when she needs one, she uses Professor Oak's."
"Who else can drive?"
"Um, Mist, Trace, Gary and Brock." Ash listed them off on his fingers, "If I'm not wrong."
"Yeah, I think that's it." Tracey finished putting the last of the groceries away, "Ash, you want a coffee before you leave?"
"Not really, actually." Ash grinned, "Me and coffee don't bode well for meetings. Plus, it's hot out."
"Iced tea, then? I was gonna make some for myself."
"Sure. Thanks, Tracey. What about you two?" Ash asked the siblings, both of whom nodded.
"Iced tea for four, then." Tracey said, opening the fridge, "What kind of meeting is it, Ash? Nothing's wrong at the Cerulean Gym, right?"
"Nah. The gym's doing great. Lily's gotten really good, apparently-"
"-because her boyfriend thinks battling is cool-" Tracey interjected with a snort.
"-but you can only do so much for another person. If she's still going strong, she must have started to like it." Ash pointed out, "And when she's not up to it, Daisy takes over. They obviously miss Misty being there to run things, but they were doing it back when she was travelling, so they can do it again now."
"They did a shit job, though, back then."
"Maybe that's why they're trying to do better." Ash shrugged, "Either way, it works out well. And Mist can visit and check on them as often as she wants. It's only half an hour or so by car."
"So, if the Gym's okay, the meeting's about something else?" May sat down in the third chair, looking at Ash expectantly.
He shook his head, "Not exactly. It's still about the Gym- but it's just those yearly meetings that all Gym leaders have to have. Discuss the progress of their Gym, their aims for the near future and all of that. It's her first time going- usually her sisters do it."
"Well, if her sisters can do it, Misty will be fine." Tracey said, and Ash chuckled.
"True. But she's still really nervous, so I said I'd go with her. I've been wanting to say hey to her sisters, too." he leaned back as Tracey brought in four glasses of iced tea, "What're you doing today?"
"The photos for Brock." Tracey said, as though it was obvious, "It sounds easy, but let me tell you- it's not. Photography's tough, especially for things like these medical reports. Me, Brock and Gary will be working on it all day. What about you, May?"
"Me and Dawn are going to meet Jeannette today." May said cheerfully.
"The one from Fancy Vannillite?" Ash asked with interest.
"Sure is."
"I should've known you guys would meet up eventually." spotting Max's and Tracey's bewildered expressions, Ash explained, "Jeannete's a coordinator, too. She's training with her aunt at home and working at Fancy Vannilite part time. Her aunt's a professional who used to work at some fancy contest academy."
"Cool." Max said, "But doesn't she want to travel?"
Ash shrugged, "I think she did for a while. But training with her aunt is like.... a course."
"Like... a college course?"
"Something like that." Ash said, "She's got to finish three years of training before she leaves Kanto to compete."
"Interesting." Max sipped his drink, "I've never heard of that before."
"Which reminds me... what are you doing today, Max?" May turned to her brother.
Max blinked up at the other three. After listening to their rather professional-sounding plans for the day, it sounded kind of boring when he shrugged and said, "Training."
"Alright!" Ash grinned, "That's the way to go, Max."
"Yeah, work hard." May ruffled his hair affectionately, "Try not to get in Brock and the other's way. You know how they get when they're being disturbed."
"Who said I was going to disturb them?" Max grumbled, and May laughed.
Ash stood up, "Thanks for the drink, Tracey. I'd better go and get changed now. Misty has my clothes at the lab, all ironed and ready to go. See you in the evening, guys!"
"See you!"
"Good luck at your meeting!"
"Drive safely, Ash."
Ash gave them one last grin, before exiting the dining room and heading to the door. A moment later, they watched him through the window as he called out to Pikachu and Eevee, before setting off to find Misty.
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"There's no need for me to wear a tie, Mist." Ash said firmly, pushing it back into her hands, "It's not that formal. It's just us and those guys. In his office. It'll be fine."
Misty would have argued if she was less frazzled. Instead, she let out a panicked noise and said, "Okay, fine. Go change."
Ash rolled his eyes and made his way to Gary's office room. He walked inside, shutting the door a little too loudly. Gary jumped, tearing his eyes away from his computer screen and turning to give Ash a disapproving look.
Ash ignored him, "Where's Dawn?"
"You just missed her- she went to find May."
"I need to change." the trainer held up the black pants and white button-down, "Do I really need to wear this?"
"That's perfect." Gary nodded, "It's not too formal, but you need to look decent."
"I always look decent."
Gary flashed him a wry grin, "Hurry up, babe. Misty'll be pissed if you're late."
"She's going to be the one to make it late, I bet." Ash retorted, and his boyfriend chuckled fondly.
Ash slipped out of his pants and shirt, pulling on the white button-down. He held the black trousers to his chest for a moment, "Gary, I need a belt."
Gary gestured vaguely, eyes already back on the computer screen, "In my wardrobe."
The trainer opened Gary's wardrobe, and his nose wrinkled with distaste, "It's messy again. I cleaned it, like, a week ago. Where are your belts?"
"Ash, seriously, just search a little-"
"-it'll waste time!"
Gary sighed, making his way to the wardrobe and pulling out a black leather belt from the clutter. As he turned to give it to Ash, his eyes raked the smaller boy's form, and he let out a low, appreciative whistle.
Ash blushed, scowling, "Why don't you wait till I put on some pants, hmm?"
The researcher just laughed. Ash quickly slipped into the black formal pants and pulled on the belt, tightening it for good measure.
"Do I look okay?"
"Yeah, you look fine."
"Okay, then- where are Eevee and Pikachu, they're coming with me. Were they here?" Ash looked slightly panicky now, his eyes glancing at the clock.
Gary reached over and massaged his boyfriend's shoulders, "Relax, babe. They're in the backyard playing with Togekiss. You still have ten minutes."
Ash nodded, "Right. Thanks, Gary."
"No problem." Gary leaned in for a kiss, which Ash happily gave him, "Have fun. When you get back I want to bend you over my office desk when you're in nothing but that white button-down and fuck you till the only thing you can remember is my name, so don't use up all your energy, okay?"
Ash went five different shades of red, pulling away immediately, "Gary Oak!"
Gary laughed, kissing Ash again, "Now you really do need to hurry up, or Misty'll have her mallet over your head."
Ash rolled his eyes, giving Gary a final peck before heading for the door, "Try to get some work done today, babe."
"Don't I always?" Gary shot back playfully.
"Whatever."
"Tell Misty I wished her luck." Gary seated himself again, eyes once again glued to the computer screen, "Have fun."
"I will. Bye!" Before Ash could head too far, he heard his name being called out by Gary. He turned around, frowning, "What's wrong?"
Gary smiled at him sweetly, "I love you. Drive safely, okay? I'll see you in the evening."
Ash's eyes softened, and he smiled back, "I will. I love you, too!"
Misty was probably already waiting, and Ash would be in big trouble if he didn't hurry up.
He adjusted the collar of his formal shirt, and then ran for the yard like his life depended on it.
(His life did depend on it, if Misty's mallet was anything to go by.)
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"Dawn!" Max hurtled full-speed into the Ketchum's backyard, where the said blunette was training with May, "I need to ask you something important- right now!"
Dawn looked up, alarmed, "Max? Are you okay? Did something happen?"
"How old are you?"
"How ol- wait- what?" Dawn paused her action of checking her Poketch to actually gape at Max, "That's why you came running here and shouting like someone was being attacked?"
"Max, really-" May sighed, "Don' worry us like that."
Max ignored all of this completely, "How old are you?"
"I just turned thirteen." Dawn said carefully, gauging the boy's reaction, "About two weeks before Ash turned sixteen. Our birthdays are only two weeks apart."
"Two weeks and three years." May snorted, and Dawn rolled her eyes.
Max looked horrified, "You're a teenager?!"
"Um, I guess?" the Sinnoh native looked highly unbothered, "Why? Is it a problem?"
"But- you're the youngest, right?" Max demanded, "Other than me?"
May though for a moment, before nodding, "Out of all of us, Dawn's the second youngest."
"But-" Max spluttered, "That means I'm the only non-teenager here!"
"Non-teenager?" Dawn echoed.
"Yeah! I'm the only one who's not a teenager yet! I'm still ten! How is this fair? Why is everyone so old?"
"Max, you turn eleven in a couple of months." May said soothingly, "This is hardly an actual problem. It didn't even bother you until now."
"What's the age order? From youngest to oldest?"
"Um...." May bit her lip, "You, Dawn, me, Ash, Gary, Misty, Tracey, Brock."
Dawn blinked, "That means if we divided our group in half according to age, Ash would be grouped as one of the younger ones. Weird."
"Is it, really?" May raised an eyebrow, and Dawn laughed.
"Maybe not, I guess. But he does have his moments."
"True."
"Guys." Max twitched a little, "Ash is practically an adult. He drinks coffee."
"Since when is coffee the dealbreaker, though?" Dawn wanted to know, and Max shrugged.
"All teenagers drink coffee. It's like they thrive on it or something."
"More like they survive on it." May grinned, "And I don't drink much coffee at all. Neither does Dawn."
"Still." Max said grumpily, "It sucks being the youngest."
The two girls exchanged surprised glances.
"What brought this on?" the Sinnoh native asked, "You always seemed fine about being the youngest. It doesn't make much of a difference. Or- it didn't before, at least."
"Well, now it does."
"Max, you're not making any sense." May crossed her arms over her chest, "If something's bothering you, you should at least tell us-"
"-Max, May, Dawn!" a voice called, and all three of them whirled around to see Brock walking towards them.
"Hey, Brock!" Dawn called back, waving him over, "What's up? I thought you'd be working on that report."
"I just finished my rough copy." Brock replied, "Gary's editting it for me right now, and Tracey's setting up some lights in the lab for the photos."
"Cool. Have Ash and Misty left?"
"Yeah, they left, like, forty minutes ago? Misty's really nervous, though she doesn't have any reason to be. The meeting will go fine. And especially since Ash is a good icebreaker- he's good at conversation- she'll feel comfortable almost instantly."
"I hope so." Max said, "Is Ash good at driving?"
"Depends." Brock let out an exasperated breath, "If there's someone else in the car with him, he's a perfect driver. If he's driving himself, he can be a little reckless. But he's working on it. He never breaks any rules, he just gets impatient."
"Sounds like Ash, alright." May said, amused, "So, Brock- me and Dawn are practicing before our meeting with Jeanette. If you're free, wanna help?"
"Sure. What've you got covered so far?"
"We're finalzing our theme. It's nature. Using features of natural elements to highlight the power in each other." May checked her notebook, "That's our main performance theme for the Attraction Round."
"Natural elements meaning Pokemon types." Dawn added, "We're sticking to earthly Pokemon- like fire, ground, rock, water and grass."
"What about ice?" Brock asked.
"Is ice really natural if it's a product of water?"
"Who said ice is a product of water, though?" Brock plucked the notebook from May's hands, "Water could just as well be a a product of ice. It's a circle, a never-ending process. In my opinion, ice as entirely natural as water- and more natural than electricity."
"Electricity is natural, isn't it?" Dawn frowned, "Lightning-"
"But as the world develops it becomes more contrived. With all these power outlets, electricity-driven machines and things like that." Brock pointed out, "Electricity seems less natural when compared to all of these other elements. If you're using nature as your base, keep it entirely natural. It'll give a fuller look to your performance."
Both the girls nodded at this, adding a few notes to the book. May looked up, "We're trying to find out the best way to incorporate rock and grass. Water, we were thinking Bubble Beam- and if we can use ice, we can use Dawn's Flame Ice."
"So that's what we need to work on." Brock clapped his hands together, "Let's try a series of different rock-and-grass combination moves to get some ideas."
Max stared at the older three, blinking confusedly. Out of all of them, he was the one who read the most books, used the most technological terms, and had the most strategic ideas. Yet, it was the way in which Brock, Dawn and May spoke that he couldn't quite catch up with. They sounded more adult when they were working, more professional. Max was a hundred percent sure that he never sounded like that, even when he was training.
Ash, as the others often said, had the mind of a child- but they all knew it was just a joke. He was playful, childlike in a way that could be percieved as innocence, but never naiveity. He was himself no matter where he was, his personality didn't change no matter who he was with. Yet he knew the way in which to speak to different people, what to say in different types of conversations..
As much as Ash messed around, Max had heard the older boy's business-like tone enought to know that Ash did indeed have a professional side to his personality, and he could get work done when he ment business.
Max tried to hold down the sigh of frustration, clenching his fists slightly. Brock looked over to him.
"Want to help, too, Max? We could use some of your input."
Max paused for a minute, before shaking his head a little sullenly, "No, thanks. You guys go back to whatever you were doing. I'm probably not old enough to understand whatever you're talking about, anyway."
And then he turned around and walked away, ignoring the voices that called after him. He had planned to train at the lake, anyway. There was no point in hanging around.
Brock, Dawn and May watched him make his way out of the yard, eyes wide.
"What happened to him?" Dawn asked, surprised.
Brock bit his lip, trying not to look worried, "Maybe he's just had a bad morning. He'll cool off by lunch. I hope."
"Yeah," May's eyes still followed Max's figure as it became smaller and smaller, "I hope so, too."