Chapter Text
When Ingo had been sent to fetch the star galaxy recruit, he hadn't expected the man to stare at him as if he had seen a ghost.
He also hadn't expected for his mind to latch onto the stranger's appearance. With his blonde hair, he looked like he could have been a part of the Gingko clan, but the golden eyes and blue streak in his hair set him slightly apart from the few Ingo knew.
Admittedly, he was also staring at this man like he was a ghost. His chest ached with old memories that wouldn't resurface, and he felt as paralyzed as if he had run into a Paras.
"Ingo?"
The man knew his name already. And on one hand, Ingo wanted to ask him questions. Clearly they knew each other from before. But on the other hand, a deep sorrow stayed his tongue.
Ingo couldn't place his name, but his hand strayed to one of his pockets to hold a bell that was hidden within. He didn't pull the item out; too many people asked him questions about the strange bell that soothed many of the wandering pokemon, and he was oh so tired of answering those questions.
He couldn't even make himself respond to the implied question even he could tell was there. All of his prepared scripts could not help him here, and the message he was supposed to bring had gone to the far back of his mind. He knew the information he was supposed to convey, but the stranger's mere appearance had thrown him into disarray.
The stranger wasn't even off put by his silence, as if he was used to waiting for Ingo's brain to put words to his feelings.
Instead of anything meaningful, what he finally said was, "You're needed at the Galaxy Hall. Irida and Kamado are waiting for you."
Ingo didn't stay to watch the stranger's reaction before pulling his hat low and briskly walking off.
He knew this man would want answers, and Ingo couldn't give them. And he wasn't surprised when he heard footsteps following after him.
Finally, the feeling he couldn't name reared its head enough that he could place it.
Shame.
Had he messed something up when they last met? What did he do to warrant such a feeling? Normally, he was all about facing problems head on, but he had not prepared for such an emotionally charged meeting.
He half expected the man to grab him, and was surprised when instead he simply blocked his way forward.
Ingo couldn't make himself look at him.
"Can we please talk later?" The request was simple. Yeah. Maybe he could manage that.
"Yes. But hurry-"
"I know. They're impatient, but they can learn to wait a little." The blonde man said with a sarcastic tone.
Ingo couldn't contain the small laugh. There was a familiar thought that he would say that. He could even imagine the eye roll that likely accompanied the statement.
The ache that grabbed him made it hard to talk, so he stayed on the safer path of conversation. "They want me to teach you some things later, so we will talk again."
He could feel the other look him over, but the familiar stranger graciously let the matter lie. "... There's more than that, but I'll hold you to it."
With that, he moved so that Ingo could make his way to the training grounds.
He needed to gather his thoughts before facing the stranger again. And maybe this time he would get his name.