Archive of Our Own ^beta

The evening air was warm with a cool, crisp breeze. Gentle tangerine rays of dying sunlight dyed every surface it touched in a cozy warm hue. Above his head, where the sky darkened to a majestic rich indigo, the first few night stars emerged and twinkled to fight the harsh, industrial lighting of the heart of Lumiose City. A few evening stragglers’ conversations touched his ears as they walked by, only to fade away as the city goers moved on to their next destination.

Steven felt a small smile trace his lips. There was always something about visiting the Kalos region and spending time in the region’s largest city that resonated with him. And there was no better view of Kalosian beauty than outside Cafe Soliel, parked right next to the bustling South Boulevard of Lumiose City.

He was seated in a crisp white iron chair, slightly pulled up to a shiny glass table. Across from him was another chair, which was occupied by Diantha, the Kalos Champion, and in between them rested a glazed plate of baked pastries. Whenever the wind blew in, he could see the delicate steam wafting off the pastries bend and fold with it. More than once had the wind carried the scent of the delectable treats towards his nose: if he had any more reasons not to indulge in that sugary, flaky goodness…

He saw Diantha’s pale hand reach for a pastry, but she merely held it near her face to say, “merci for meeting with me again, Steven. I know you must be terribly busy, with being the Champion of Hoenn and… oh, what was it, the Devon Corporation?” She offered a polite smile. “I hope you enjoy these Lumiose Galettes as a show of my gratitude and my apology for bloating your schedule some more. Cafe Soliel makes truly the best galettes, which is why I adore this place so much.”

Steven waved a dismissive hand. “No problem, ma’am. Ever since you brought up the idea of an exhibition match for the next League Conference… well, being a Pokemon Trainer is what I live for. I don’t think anything having to do with that is a hindrance to me in the slightest.” His eyes dipped down to take in the Lumiose Galettes, but he threw his gaze upwards in an instant and scoffed. “I’m not busy with Devon. I have no plans to do so, either. Just because Father is the head of the company doesn’t mean I want to follow in his footsteps.”

Diantha shook her head, and a few bunches of her dark brown hair danced with the motion. “My apologies for assuming, then.” She set her untouched pastry onto a small plate set in front of her, only to occupy her hand once more with a slim glass filled with a paisley white wine. She seemed to be fixated on watching the tiny bubbles in her drink float to the surface, as she didn’t meet Steven’s gaze like she had before. “With the Kalos League Conference coming up very soon, I thought the idea of an exhibition match between two Champions would make things exciting and show all those tres bien Trainers what they’re really up against.”

“It’s a great way to get the crowd chuffed, no doubt.” He didn’t realize he was sitting up so straight until he noticed his back meet the chair behind him. “I remember doing an exhibition match against Wallace the last time the Hoenn League Conference came around, and the rest of the event was the most fun I’ve had… well, ever at a League Conference.” A small, child-like laugh escaped his chest at the memories: a fierce battle with his best friend, the crowd cheering so loud that his ears were ringing, and a notably more hyped-up attitude from the participating Trainers, awarding him with some of the best battles he had witnessed at Ever Grande City.

He sat up straight again to finally snatch a Lumiose Galette from the plate. The golden brown crust was warm to the touch. There was no use in simply staring at it, so he took a small bite from the treat and hummed in content. In Hoenn and any other region, Steven liked to consider himself a connoisseur of geology. But only in Kalos, he was a connoisseur of all the sweets and desserts he could buy. He closed his eyes, a grin plastered to his face, to savor the experience.

Diantha appeared to be pleased with herself, with her smile wide. “I’m sure this year's Kalos League will be something to behold. Merci beaucoup for taking me up on my offer. Feel free to have as many Lumiose Galettes as you please… you seem to really like them.” Her smile morphed into a playful smirk.

Steven tore himself away from his bliss to stare at Diantha. A ruby red blush crept up to tickle his cheeks and he shrunk back to meet the chair again. His silver-blue eyes darted to his left, towards the dwindling but still busy South Boulevard. “W-well, you can’t let things like this go to waste, right?” He set the half-eaten pastry on his plate and took a crystal whiskey tumbler into his hands. He gingerly downed what remained of his drink he had been working on while discussing the specifics with Diantha about an hour ago. “It’s not like I come and go to do business meetings or whatever Father does, only to leave. This world of ours is so diverse. It would be a shame to not surround yourself with the local culture.” He set the glass down, the half-melted ice cubes clinking together.

Diantha nodded her head slowly. “A very good way to look at things. If we live beneath the same sky, we should share our dreams with one another to create a beautiful world.” Her irises wandered to the street beside them for a while… a little too long. She quickly returned to her guest with a smile. Leaned forward, arms folded across the cold glass surface, she whispered, “Steven, can I tell you something about Lumiose City?”

He turned his head a bit due to the sudden enthusiasm. “Um, sure?”

The Kalos Champion removed her arms from the table, which appeared to please her company, only to gesture to South Boulevard beside them. “You know, people like to call Lumiose City the city of love. There are so many romantic date spots all over the city, and it’s a popular place for married couples.”

Steven raised an eyebrow. “Oh. Um… neat.” He felt his chest tighten up at the conversation’s shift. “Pardon me if I sound rude or dismissive, but why bring it up all of a sudden?”

Diantha’s eyes widened. “You haven’t been noticing? Pay a little more attention to the people who walk by. I think it’ll be obvious.”

At the Kalosian’s request, Steven turned his head to the view he was instructed to. At first, he simply scanned the landscape again. They were at a cafe, in the outdoor seating section. The fence separating them and the sidewalk was lined with twisting ivy and delicate flowers, and the sound of leaves rustling was supplied by the little tree in a planter box on the sidewalk, along with the shrill song of the Fletching who called it home. A duo of girls entered his line of sight, and it became clear what Diantha had referred to: the two girls had taken notice of Steven’s curious gaze, and they whispered and giggled to one another. He swore he saw a tinge of red on both their cheeks.

“...oh. I think… I think I understand now.” Steven noted the blunt way he had worded his statement. But what else was he supposed to do? Feign excitement that even in a region oceans away from Hoenn, he was a hot topic amongst the local teenage girl demographic?

Something about the situation made him uneasy. He didn’t offer any words to the waitress attending to them asking if he wanted another drink, as a silent wave and nod was thrown her way.

Diantha clasped her hands together and fawned, “oh, how lucky you are to be such a handsome bachelor! Getting to choose any eligible lady you’d like that speaks to your heart, going on romantique dates, and-”

“Diantha.” He winced at the realization that his statement had more edge than he was anticipating. “I’m… not interested.”

“Oh? Did I make a mistake, monsieur?” She pinched the bridge of her nose. “Ah, how hasty of me. I simply assumed something about you, pardon.”

Steven felt an uneasy smile force itself onto his face. “It’s okay. I know you didn’t mean any ill will-”

“So you want to choose an eligible gentleman that your heart takes a liking to, right? Is that it?”

Steven stayed silent. No words were coming to him.

Diantha’s eyes lit up. “Ah, how romantic! I understand!” She tapped a finger against her chin in an unsteady rhythm. “Come to think of it, you seemed to talk a lot about your friend while we babbled about the exhibition match thing… Wallace, was it? Is he your special someb-”

“E-excuse me, ma’am.” Steven’s face burned a bright red, and his hands, clutched tightly into fists on his lap, jittered. “No. That’s not it either. I’m… truly and utterly not interested.” He heard the waitress set down another glass of whiskey, and in any vain attempt to distract himself, Diantha, or anyone, he took the glass and downed half of it. When he set the drink beside him, he shook his head and muttered, “I… don’t like girls. I don’t like boys. I don’t like… anyone.”

The Kalos Champion bit her lower lip as the information sunk in. She turned to her own drink and sighed. “My apologies, then. But you don’t see yourself with anyone? Truly?” She sipped a fraction of her wine, lowered the glass, and gazed at Steven with a prodding curiosity.

Steven shifted in his chair. He grabbed his tie and loosened it a bit: maybe that would help him breathe a little better with how his chest felt like it was being crushed with nerves and shame. “Truly. I know Kalos is the region of love or whatever, so it might be odd for Kalosians to hear someone say that they intend to spend their lives without a significant other… but I mean what I say.” Once again, he swiped his cup, and took no hesitations to finishing what was left as fast as possible.

Diantha blinked twice, then slowly nodded. “Then pardon for that assumption as well.” She crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back. “I’m so used to playing characters who find their one true love at the end of the story. I’ve never heard of a story where someone didn’t only not find their one true love, but wasn’t even interested in finding them to begin with…” Her eyes met Steven’s gaze once again. “Well, as long as you find your happy ending, I suppose that doesn’t matter. I think the only thing that matters between us is that upcoming battle we have at the Kalos League soon, non?”

He offered his host a look of acknowledgement, paired with a forced grin. “Y-yeah.” He pursed his lips and lazily poked at the Lumiose Galette on his plate. It was no longer hot, but barely warm. Once again, the waitress came about, and she got another silent approval for another shot by the Hoenn Champion.

While Diantha started on a galette, Steven’s attention drifted to South Boulevard once again. The sun had now set, and chiseled iron street lamps illuminated the darkest areas that the sunlight had abandoned for the day. Across the street, he caught the view of a young couple holding hands through the occasional gaps of traffic.

The clink of another whiskey tumbler being set on the glass table graced his ears and was enough to pull him back to reality. It was Diantha, dabbing the corners of her mouth with a napkin, who asked, “three shots? Please be careful, Steven. You’re a bit… small.”

Steven absentmindedly ran his index finger around the lip of the glass, watching a drop of water run down and carve a path through the foggy edge of the tumbler. “I’m fine. I don’t think I’ll finish all of this one, anyway.” He laughed, perhaps only to himself. “I’m here to discuss official Pokemon League events and have a relaxing trip to Kalos. I’d go back to Galar if I’m looking for a weekend bender.”

“Alright, then.” She crossed her ankles and clicked the heel of her boot against the leg of her chair. “Oh, do take some of these leftover Lumiose Galettes with you. With how much you like them, I can’t imagine waiting for the Kalos League without them, hmm? I’m sure it’ll be a grand time when we cross that bridge. I’ll be back in a heartbeat.” She shot Steven a playful wink, then scrambled to her feet to exit the patio area with the bill in hand.

Alone, Steven slowly drank his whiskey and finally dropped his cheerful facade to sigh.

The city of love. It was like even the world was reminding him he was some sort of sick freak.

He was somewhat used to the view of Lumiose City from the streets he wandered. But from a balcony, on the highest floor of his hotel… it was something else.

In the distance, he could see the beautiful Prism Tower illuminate and sparkle. The other tall skyscrapers that formed the skyline had no competition against it, and every person below him was almost invisible with how tiny they appeared from his remarkable point of view. He leaned forward, arms folded over the railing of the balcony, silver-blue hair rustling in the wind.

A dark shadow cast itself over his eyes. Ever since being told Lumiose City was the city of love, his heart found it an insurmountable task to take in the beauty laid out before him.

Again, another person had inquired about his “surprisingly single” relationship status. He tightened a hand into a fist, and cringed when the pain from his nails digging into his palms struck him as unbearable. Every damn time it ended like this.

Is this what his life was? To be cursed with being “cute” or whatever those dumb girls saw in him, so the world was expecting him to do something with it? Out of all the people Arceus could “bless” with good looks, why him, the only man he knew who literally wanted nothing to do with romance, intimacy, or whatever normal people were into?

He peeled himself away from the balcony, slid open the glass door that led back to his hotel room, and lazily dropped onto the soft bed with a heavy sigh. Diantha had said stories where people like him were the stars didn’t exist. His own father had told him he was being too sensitive and just hadn’t gotten over his preteen crush jitters. The goddamn city he was staying at didn’t value his feelings. He didn’t quite know if he was drunk off of the whiskey, but he sure knew that living in a world where he was simply expected to relish in the fact that he was attractive and capitalize on that fact was torture.

His mind wandered as his stare remained on the crisp white ceiling. He remembered first telling Wallace about it: the painful yet tender memories of him ruining Wallace’s expensive contest outfit with tears and mucus in his panicked breakdown. The embrace he had received from his friend that had calmed him down in a heartbeat. And those words he said, those words that echoed through his head whenever the topic of his orientation came up.

“Why should it matter? You’re not broken. You’re perfect just the way you are.”

And then the next person was his father. Steven didn’t like to think about whatever his father said to him regarding the topic, lest he wanted to feel the burning sting of salty tears in his eyes.

Was Diantha now the third person he had come out to? He didn’t think so. Only twice, to his best friend and the stranger he called his father, had he proclaimed those two words that made him both love and hate himself.

“I’m asexual,” he found himself muttering aloud, without a thought.

He huffed and sat up, then returned to his feet. It took a few moments to find his balance: he was definitely drunk, he thought to himself. Maybe a hot cup of his favorite Oran and Pecha Berry blend tea is what he needed to relax and set his mind straight from the jumble of emotions in his head.

A trip to the hotel’s lobby was now on the schedule to see if the canteen had Oran and Pecha Berries for sale. Carefully, he slowly exited his lavish room. The thick hotel carpet in the hallway smothered the sound of his footsteps, and he came around the corner to the elevators. It was nearly midnight, so when the doors slid open, the elevator was completely empty: he wasn’t interested in small talk with strangers at the moment, anyway.

Soon, he reached the ground floor and made a direct shot towards the little shop in the lobby selling snacks, drinks, and other miscellaneous items. Another young lady was also browsing the miniscule selection. He was in luck, as his short shopping list items were in stock, so he grabbed what he needed, left the appropriate amount of money in the jar set nearby, and turned around to leave.

“Excuse me, sir!”

Steven swiveled around again. The young lady was the one who had addressed him.

She didn’t wait for an answer to inch towards him. “I’m sorry if you get this a lot, but, like, you’re Steven Stone, right? That Hoenn Champion guy or whatever?”

Steven answered only with a half-attentive nod.

The woman once again approached him, now clearly in the boundaries of what most people would classify as personal space. “Ooooh, what are you doing here, all by yourself?” Her tone of voice was starting to border on flirtatious.

He blankly stared at the woman, but then shook his head in an attempt to ward off the intoxication and smiled. “I’m here on a… business trip, but not for actual business. If that’s what you’d call it.”

Her eyelids fell halfway across her shimmering irises. “Aww, that sounds so boring. C’mon. Let’s have some fun.”

“Ma’am, I really don’t know what you’re talking about-” But before he could finish his grievances, a hand had clamped itself around his wrist, and the woman tugged him behind her with a surprising amount of force, enough to make him drop his purchased items. Again, he tried to demand, “excuse me, ma’am, I’d rather just go back to my room and make tea. Please let go of me.”

She giggled: whether it was innocent and happy or hid a darker attitude, he couldn’t tell. “That doesn’t sound very fun either.” She shepherded Steven past the big front desk, weaved through the plush chairs and double sofas in the lobby, and into a small alcove behind the grand staircase, Steven the closest to the wall. While she herself had stopped, her iron grip on Steven’s wrist wasn’t let up. “Hey, cutie. Do you have a girlfriend or anything?”

“Um, no?”

“Really?” The woman clicked her tongue, her face inches away from Steven’s. “Maybe you’ve been saving yourself for me?”

Steven bit his lower lip. “Ma’am, I’m sorry, but I’m not interested.” He rolled his eyes at the deja vu he was experiencing: two in one day was surely a record. “I’d very much appreciate it if you'd let me go so I can make my tea.”

“N-not interested?!” She finally gave mercy to her company’s hand, only to smash both her hands on the wall behind her, around Steven. “You’re too cute and sexy to not be interested in anyone. What a prude you are.” Her lips parted slightly, and her face closed in on his.

“Um… I said what I said. Please. My answer is no. Can you respect that?” Steven pressed his hands on the woman’s collarbone and tried to find his might to toss her aside, but it was a fruitless mission.

A devious shine raced across her eyes. “There’s no way. You know what? I’ll do you a favor and help you out. I can fix you.”

Steven’s entire body froze, and his breath hitched in his throat. “F-fix?” He gritted his teeth and attempted to force the woman off of him. “Ma’am, I apologize. This is going to sound weird, but I’m fairly sure I’m a bit drunk and all I want is a cup of tea, and…” He finally abandoned his manners and growled, “piss off, you prick. Wallace said it doesn’t matter. I’m not broken, I’m perfect just the-”

His words were lost to a pair of lips pressing against his. Silence hung over the two, only broken by the woman breaking away after mere seconds and hissing, “you look like you’re not enjoying this. Get with it, freak.” Her right hand separated from the wall, only to move down and grace the inside of the Hoenn Champion’s thigh.

Steven’s eyes shot open. He barely registered what he did next in a state fueled by panic and intoxication, balling his right hand in a tight fist and taking a swing at the lady harassing him. Finally, she stumbled away, wailing in pain, and blood had started to run down her face from her nose.

“You… you sick little man! You cold, emotionless abuser!” She used her entire arm to wipe the metallic blood away, her entire arm smeared a deep crimson. The rage in her eyes was crystal clear now.

Her frenzy boiled over and much like Steven had done, she retaliated with a rogue punch of her own which struck the left side of his face. However, despite her attempts to prolong the fight, Steven shut her down by breaking through the burning pain of his own and bashing his heels into her knees. Finally, he escaped the alcove that had served more as a prison and ran like hell.

He dashed out back to the lobby. The attendant at the front desk was now somewhat aware of the situation he could only hear. Steven paid no mind to the man at the desk, he only kept up his pace and ran as fast as he could in any direction as long as it was away from that twisted woman, which was right through the hotel’s front doors and into the cool nighttime air…

And right off the front steps that led up to the doors, straight to the rapidly-approaching ground below.

Everything went black.

The familiar rhythm of the sapphire blue ocean waves crashing against the craggy cliffs below touched his ears, and a strong gale from the waters carried a hint of sea salt that tickled his nose. The sky was a brilliant cyan, and large puffy white clouds populated the open atmosphere. From his peripheral, he could see the towering white and blue lighthouse of Lilycove City.

A few Wingull soared above and craned their maritime songs. Steven let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding in and slouched back on the bench he occupied.

It had been a few days since he had returned to Hoenn after the incident in Kalos. He brought a hand up to the left side of his face, and he winced at the sensation of his cold fingers meeting the hot, stinging pain of the bruise that deranged lady had left on him. He knew Wallace had planned to meet him here any minute now, and he’d surely ask about what had happened in that soft, concerned voice…

Like it was on cue with his thoughts, Steven heard the gentle shuffle of the long grass behind him. A friendly chuckle was heard through the sea breeze. “Hey, Stevie!” Steven couldn’t help but smile: Wallace always used that doting nickname his mother had used for him.

Steven didn’t bother to turn around and face his friend. “It’s about time you got here, Wallace. You’re not exactly the most punctual bloke I know.” His mind ran over all the times Wallace had shown up tardy to any of their meetings, whether Hoenn League related or just friendly chatting like today. Wallace himself once claimed he was being “fashionably late” as a Contest Master. Steven knew he had no idea what the phrase actually meant.

Wallace quickly rounded over to the other side of the wooden bench and dropped onto it, on Steven’s right. He wasted no time getting comfortable, arms folded behind him on the back of the worn wood. “Hey, I’m just being fashionably late. So, how was Kalos? I heard you and the lovely Champion there worked out an interesting deal, hmm? Spill all the details, you know I love to keep up with all the latest Pokemon League gossip.”

“...it was fine.” Steven bit his lower lip hard. “We, um, did discuss doing an exhibition match during the Kalos League, if that counts. Nothing much else, though.” He still avoided making eye contact with Wallace.

Wallace hummed quietly. “Interesting, interesting… you didn’t sneak any time at all to explore those musty old caves you adore so much?” Although Steven hadn't paid him any heed, Wallace’s friendly smile morphed into a teasing smirk. “Oh, but how forgetful of me. You went to Kalos. For once, your sweet tooth dictates your vacation time more than your geology-obsessed heart.”

Steven felt his cheeks flare red. Without a thought, he whipped his head towards Wallace with a pouty glare. “H-hey, I was only visiting Lumiose City! There a-aren’t any caves there, so-”

“Oh my god.”

Before Steven could even hope to defend himself, Wallace had reached his hand out and brushed his thumb against Steven’s face, under his left eye. He drew back and winced at the gesture.

“Steven.” Wallace never used Steven’s actual name unless it was serious. “Oh, heavens above. Have you seen your face?! What the hell happened to you to earn this black eye?!”

“Um…” The Champion of Hoenn averted his gaze from Wallace’s. “I, uh… went… caving. And… yeah. Accidents happen.” He finally found the guts to meet Wallace’s eyes again. “You understand, right?”

Wallace scoffed. “Steven, you literally just said you were only in Lumiose City, which, according to your own words, has no caves. You are the worst liar I’ve ever met.”

Steven hung his head low. He opened his mouth to say something, anything, but no words came to his aid.

His friend appeared to notice the shift in Steven’s mood, so he eased, “hey, Stevie, I’m not mad. I’m concerned, that’s all. Is it wrong for friends to worry about each other?” A slightly tanned hand came to rest on Steven’s shoulder.

Steven folded his arms on his knees and slumped over. “It’s nothing you need to worry about. I appreciate the concern, but you don’t need to get involved.” He stared off into the indigo waters with a blank expression. “Just… another run in with a fan who liked me a tad too much.”

He fisted his hands in his lap. He was unfortunately used to younger girls harboring an almost unhealthy level of obsession towards him, especially in Hoenn. Almost everywhere he went, he would be followed by an entourage of girls, screaming their wishes of how they wished to marry him or shoving permanent markers in his face demanding he autograph a photo of himself… it made him uneasy.

But a fan going as far as to fix him, in her own words? That was new. And quite unsettling, if he had to be honest with himself.

Wallace let out a heavy sigh. “Ah… for a moment there, I was concerned the Kalos Champion had done it. Not that I think she ever would, with her fairy-like demeanor, but still…” He remained quiet for a few beats, the silence shattered by him continuing, “something strikes me as odd, though. Your fans seem to adore you. If they want nothing more than your hand in marriage… why would one of them actually harm you?”

Steven felt his throat tighten. “I’m… not sure. Besides, if anything did happen, I’ll admit I had one drink too many, which means I forgot.” He finally sat up, and met Wallace’s interrogating gaze, and he mentally prayed to whoever would listen that he’d drop the line of questioning so he didn’t have to explain what had really happened…

“I don’t buy it. You know something I don’t.” Wallace crossed his arms, sat up as straight as he could, and puffed his chest out. “Listen. Compared to you, the mighty Champion of the Hoenn region, I am simply a Gym Leader, a wee little Feebas in your big sea. But that doesn’t mean I’m inept, y’know.” His gaze softened. “Stevie, you’re so stubborn, it’s infuriating at times. But it’s just me. You don’t have to pretend to be tough and strong because I’m well aware that you aren’t.”

Steven remained quiet, silver-blue eyes still on the Gym Leader’s. Finally, he sighed and tilted his head up to the sky. “...I’m sorry for being difficult. You can have the story if you’d like.”

A strong ocean gale weaved through the area, which had gone dead silent.

“So, I think I was kind of hammered when it happened, so I’m not sure if I’m remembering the details correctly. I went to the lobby of the hotel to get some things for my tea, and… a lady who recognized me was there. She… kind of dragged me somewhere. And…” The next words of the story were at the tip of his tongue, yet he couldn’t find the will to say any of them.

Wallace had appeared to notice the sudden shift in his friend’s mood, based on how his face harbored a slight expression of pity and worry.

“...she told me she was going to fix me.” He clenched his teeth and seethed in a breath. “So, she did just that. I told her to leave me alone, but…”

“Steven, what did she do?”

Steven noted how Wallace’s statement dripped with aggression. He knew whatever he said would tip his friend off hard, but he had no choice to turn back now that he was so far. “She… kissed me. And then touched me-”

“Steven.” Wallace’s expression was beyond serious. “You know what that is, right? That’s sexual assault. And you said you were drunk, too! You couldn’t consent!” The Gym Leader sprang to his feet. “No, no, no. That’s not okay. You… you just can’t do that to people, my friends no less! I’m sorry for what your virgin ears are about to hear, but I’m going to murder that bitch.”

The Champion waved his hands in front of his chest. “Wallace, I don’t believe committing a crime to solve a problem is the right way to go about things. It’s okay, really-”

“It’s okay?!” Wallace snapped, “it is absolutely not okay! Yes, I’m simply supposed to brush things off when my best friend says that he was sexually assaulted. No biggie. My apologies for overreacting.” His words were edged with all the sarcasm in the world, and he tutted.

Steven fell quiet.

Wallace’s outburst had appeared to calm him down a level or two. It was evident by how he turned on his heels to face Steven with a much more rational demeanor. “Steven… it’s not okay. People shouldn’t do those things to you, especially when you make it clear you’re uncomfortable with how they’re acting. I’m so sorry you had to go through that.”

“...I did get her off of my case before anything else happened, which was a miracle. But…” He let a hand linger near the bruise under his eye. “She fought until the end. I’m sorry.” He whimpered quietly.

“Sorry? For what?”

Steven shook his head. “I’m not sure. It’s… all I know to say when someone’s upset.”

He rose to his feet, much like his friend. He slowly strode past Wallace, right to the edge of the cape. If he peered down, he could see the foamy waters slosh and crash at the shiny black rocks, only to retreat back from whence they came.

“Besides… if I can’t apologize to the thing or person who put me on this earth for forsaking them, I might as well apologize to someone. I’m sorry. For being this way. Nothing would’ve happened if… if I wasn’t some sort of freak against nature.” He moved his hands across his chest as if he was giving himself a hug, and grabbed his blazer’s cotton sleeves tight.

He heard the long grass move again, and Wallace appeared by his side. He wore a concerned expression. “Stevie, don’t apologize for that. It wasn’t your fault-”

“Yes, it was.” Steven narrowed his eyes as he turned to Wallace, and he could already feel the prickle of hot tears at the corners of his eyes. “It’s been made abundantly clear to me now, Wallace. People like me don’t exist in the spaces dominated by everyone else. People like me aren’t right.” He stopped his tirade, his palm smearing the right side of his face with a damp streak. “Tell me this. If I’m not broken like you said… why do people see the need to say otherwise and correct my very existence? Tell me… if I’m not broken, why did any of this happen?” His voice had started to waver and shake. His bottom lip quivered, and he took one step to approach Wallace. He covered his mouth to muffle a sob, head low.

Wallace gently slung one arm around Steven’s shaking shoulders. “Don’t say things like that. I know that you know you’re perfect just-”

“Then tell me, if you meant any of what you said, why any of this shit happened!” Steven saw Wallace flinch at his spontaneous fury and use of foul language and, but he ignored it. He attempted to continue, but once he opened his mouth again, all he was met with was a choking sob.

“Stevie, I don’t need to prove why I say things. I say you’re not broken because you aren’t. It’s that simple-”

“And it’s my fault it happened! If I wasn’t this…” Another sob. “This sick, bloody freak who couldn’t grow up and let go of a phase!”

The Gym Leader let go of his friend, a hand on each of Steven’s shoulders. “Calm down, you’re getting irrational. It’s harder to discuss your thoughts when your feelings are in the way.” He let go of Steven and offered him a relaxed grin. “Let me pass you a nugget of knowledge my mentor taught me years ago. Breathe… in and out, ebb and flow.” To demonstrate, he placed a hand on his abdomen, drew in a deep breath, and let it out slowly. He merely bobbed his head at Steven.

Steven knew that arguing with Wallace when it came to his dearly beloved mentor’s wisdom was a nigh-impossible task, so he relented and did as his friend instructed. A deep breath in, and out. He went through the motions several more times, to the beat of the crystal waters below, until he saw the Gym Leader nod in approval.

Wallace laughed quietly, so quietly that it was barely audible against the salt-scened gales. “That’s better, hmm? You look much calmer, anyway. Another example of why my mentor is simply the best!” He shook his head. “Ah, I’ll leave my praise for Juan for another day. You, my dear Stevie, are today’s focus. Now that you’re all calmed down… go ahead and tell me what you’re feeling. I’m listening.” He stuffed his left hand in his jean pocket, and his right went up to tuck a bunch of his wind-strewn green hair behind his ear.

The Champion of Hoenn didn’t focus his gaze on his friend, but rather the ocean beyond the horizon. “I’m just… tired. Tired of it all.” Steven clasped his hands behind his back, and he wandered closer to the cape’s edge. “The moment I feel like I’m finally happy with myself regarding things… the day I can look at myself in the mirror and tell my reflection that I’m not broken and perfect just the way I am, something always happens to make me doubt myself. Maybe it’s being told for the upteenth time that I’m cute by those girls. Maybe it’s… whatever happened in Kalos. But regardless of what it is, it’s only a reminder that no matter how hard I try to love myself, it never matters because nobody else loves me for who I am.” He met Wallace’s gaze from over his shoulder. “You would get tired of working so hard again and again, only to be torn down by an endless cycle of hatred, right? It makes me wonder if there’s even a point in trying to accept this part of myself.”

Wallace crossed his arms. “Of course there’s a point. Knowing who you are should bring you comfort, and there’s nothing better than discovering who you truly are.” He flashed a playful smirk. “Not as deep-rooted as a personal part of myself like your situation, but accepting the fact that I liked to do Pokemon Contests more than battles brought me so much joy and allowed me to meet amazing people… like my mentor, and you that one day.” His smile seemed to soften up when he said the words: he was no doubt reliving that moment in his head.

Steven mused, “but people don’t hate Pokemon Coordinators for existing. People hate me for existing. I don’t even get to express my feelings towards those who tell me I’m attractive or whatever they see in me. I’m too cute to not be interested. I’m being a selfish prick for keeping myself from them… on and on.” Finally, he turned his body to Wallace, eyes shimmering with tears that refused to fall. “And that I need to be fixed, because something about my feelings and experiences are just a phase I haven’t gotten over. When all is said and done, it ends up being my fault for not being born “normal” and not sucking it up. How can I possibly even think about loving this part of myself when all I’ve ever received is the exact opposite? At least now you understand why I haven’t publicly come out yet, if anything…” He retracted a hand into his sleeve, only to rub his eyes with the soft fabric and dry his face.

“It’s probably because you value other people’s opinions over your own heart.” Wallace’s eyes rolled up to the sky. “You’ve been raised to make people happy, without leaving anything for yourself because that’s what business is. No wonder you describe your papa to me like he’s a tyrant.” He crossed his arms over his chest, a hand hovering near his face to gesture subtly. “You let people’s words get under your skin, and take them as absolute fact… the customer is always right, or whatever that bullshit is.”

Steven gasped quietly to himself, either at Wallace’s profanity or the accusation he had made. “But making people happy with your services makes them more likely to come back-”

“Nope. Not anymore.” Wallace came up to Steven’s side and rested his hand on his fluffy silver-blue hair. “I know you have trouble telling people no, because you don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. But you’re not a businessman. You ran away from that fate years ago. You’re Steven Stone. You know your own heart better than anyone, so don’t let people step on it in the interest of literally anyone else because your heart doesn’t belong to them.” He leaned down and pressed a finger over Steven’s chest. “People who assault you for your orientation don’t deserve your respect. The people who say you need fixing are the ones who need their gross thinking fixed. There’s nothing wrong with being human.”

“But-”

“Shush. Nothing that happened was your fault because you were born different from so many others. You are just as deserving of love and respect as anyone else. There’s nothing wrong with being human.”

Steven let every single word Wallace had given him sink in. His mind fluttered to about five years ago, in a situation similar to the one he was in at the present. Of course, the Gym Leader’s reassuring words echoed in his head again, but he started to recall a feeling… one where he felt like he could finally breathe after a weight had been lifted off his chest, after telling Wallace the truth.

For twenty long years, he lived his life in confusion and misery as everyone he knew started to become interested in finding their forever one or whatever they had blabbered about. And yet he quietly stood on the sidelines, completely unempathetic with their elation due to not understanding what they were so excited about and what a crush was. Twenty years an outcast, and it was only once he stumbled upon those two words that everything became clear to him. In all its ugly and beautiful aftermath, there was something for him to cling onto instead of meandering in murky perplexity.

Finally getting to know himself was the first time he felt truly human. Like he had a place, albeit a little one, but still a place in the vast world. Deep down, buried beneath the harsh words of others he had collected and saved throughout the years, there was a shred of pride in knowing who he was at heart.

Something about Wallace’s words rekindled that spirit, even if it was just a tiny bit. A small smile traced his lips.

Slowly, Steven grasped his hand around Wallace’s hand that lingered on his chest. “But what about the world being against my very existence? No amount of thinking I’m all high and mighty against a single person who says some narrow-minded banter will fix the larger problem when I’m outnumbered by a long shot.”

“Oh, please. You act like the entire world is against you, when I’m right here.” Wallace shot him a smirk, but his emerald eyes shone with a sincerity Steven had never seen before. “And I’ll always be here, by your side.”

Steven used his unoccupied hand to smear away the remaining tears on his face, and he did so with a smile. “R-right. It’s moments like this that never make me take you being around for granted. Thank you, Wallace.” For the first time in what felt like days, Steven heard himself laugh.

“Well, what else are friends for? Besides, if I ignore your princely needs, I fear you’ll take up your grievances about me with your royal council, the Hoenn League committee or whoever runs your dear Pokemon League, and get me fired. What a terrible fate!” He gently jabbed Steven’s side with an elbow, his long white cape billowing with the motions.

Steven’s face blew up a furious crimson. “Wallace! I’m not some stubborn little prince, you know!” He cupped his chin in his hand and pouted, “don’t forget I’m the most capable Pokemon Trainer in the Hoenn region and one of the youngest Champions out of us who currently hold the title!” He puffed his cheeks out and stuck his nose up.

“Aha, I merely jest. You never did learn to take a joke, but it’s worth it to see the Stevie I adore.” He used a hand to ruffle the mess of Steven’s hair. “As long as you’re happy, that’s all I like to see. And I’m glad you’re feeling better after all of this. I’m not expecting you to change overnight, because old habits die hard, they say… but taking those first steps to truly loving yourself are priceless. If you ever need anyone to talk to regarding this, or anything at all… well, you know where to find me. That’s never changed.”

“You have my gratitude for that. It may not be today… but there’s many more tomorrows, right?” Steven rocked back on his heels. “Um, can I say something else?”

“I’m not sure why you need my permission to speak, but sure-”

He was cut off by Steven tackling him into a tight, back-breaking hug. “Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. I mean it,” he softly said. “I don’t know how you do it… even when I feel the lowest I’ve ever been, you still find a way to make me smile.”

Steven felt Wallace return the sudden embrace. “Hey, I’m just doing what anyone should. You’re a strong, amazing person, Stevie. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise, okay? If you do, you’re never hearing the end from me.” He broke the hug apart and pulled his friend into a looser, one-armed hold.

A strong ocean breeze carried a few stray flower petals through the air, which danced in the wind before settling near Steven’s feet.

“After all, it doesn’t matter. You’re not broken… you’re perfect just the way you are.”