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"This is the hardest I've seen you try to impress someone. You don't often ask to battle others."
Hilbert chuckled, as he took a seat by N after their mutual devastating loss of a double battle to Hilda's Diancie and Diantha's Keldeo.
Originally, N had asked to battle him because he had been curious to hear more of Mightyena's voice as he was a rather new partner for Hilbert. N had told Hilbert that he found it enduring that Mightyena seemed to enjoy dressing up to match him. Hilda had spotted them both before pulling Diantha along into the mix with their new partners as well, resulting in the most intense battle he had had in weeks.
While he was well aware that his sister was one of the most intense trainers in Unova, he had never gone up against Diantha's brilliant strength either. The battle had been fun, albeit disappointing to lose - but N had looked entirely excited when he was listening to the voices of their Diancie and Keldeo, going off on a tirade about how they clearly showed the strength of their bond during their sync moves.
"Mm. Originally I had asked you to battle, remember? Then Hilda showed up and I thought it would be a good opportunity to make a good impression."
Hilbert grinned at that. N? Had he been trying to impress Hilda in a Pokemon battle?
"Is that so? Are you trying to get on her good side?"
N sighed as he gently pet Reshiram's snout as Mightyena proceeded to snuggle into Hilbert's side to curl up in a ball. "What's wrong with wanting to be liked by your sister?"
Hilbert paused, "Do you… like her?"
"Hm? Of course. She's rash and loud..quite the opposite of you..but I do like her a lot."
Oh.
Hilbert suddenly grew quiet - Ah, this was bad…Hilbert struggled to put a neutral expression on before ducking his head a bit with his hat brim obscuring his view. Hilbert shuffled his feet quietly. "I can help you get to know her better? She's pretty easy to please."
"I'd appreciate it. Usually when I try to have a conversation with her I get bowled over. I am aware I'm not the best when it comes to human interactions, but with her it's much like dealing with an energetic Darmanitan."
Hilbert snickered at that. "Don't let her hear you say that. But that's Hilda for you. Don't worry, I'm sure she just needs to get to know your battle maniac side too and she'll stick to you like glue."
Internally, Hilbert could hear himself groaning. How did it happen that he was suddenly thinking of playing wingman for N? While their reunion on Pasio had definitely dug out his feelings towards N… It was really hard to tell if N reciprocated it in the same way or even understood those kinds of feelings. It seemed like it wasn't mutual with the way this conversation was happening and Hilbert could feel an uncomfortable feeling blooming in his chest. Was he really jealous of his sister - How pathetic!!!
At the very least, this meant that if Hilda and N began dating.. He'd get to keep N close in his life. He could be mature and bury his heart, it was really easy! After all, he had a lot of practice doing that when he had watched N fly off on the back of Reshiram back at his castle.
Hilbert shook his head to move off of those unpleasant memories. He stood up abruptly, causing Mightyena to rouse from its nap and give him an offended look.
"Sorry, Mightyena… Erm. Well, let's head back to the Pokemon Center, N. I kind of want to change back to my normal clothes."
N merely gave him a fond smile.
"Alright. I do like that outfit, but let's get changed."
Hilbert felt his heart stutter at the comment, but hid it under his hat brim. Right, burying his heart…Maybe he didn't have quite as much practice in that as he thought.
—--------------------
"Hey N, I have a question. Why am I here with you, instead of my brother?"
Hilda asked as she stood next to N in line for some ice cream that was rumored to be just as good as the Castelia Cones back in Unova. N was quiet at that - Should we tell Hilda his ulterior motive for meeting with her was to get to know her brother better? Although it had been Hilbert's suggestion for them to go on an 'ice cream date', N had asked Hilbert to come along with him as well. While Hilbert had protested at first, N's insistence won out in the end - good, he much preferred it when Hilbert was nearby.
"Ah…Hilbert was the one that suggested it. I had asked him to help me get along with you. The reason being I wanted to get to know him better."
"Through me?"
"That's right. As his sibling and from how fondly he speaks of you, I wanted to understand him better. I have been learning more and more about him by being with him in person, and you are an extremely important person to him."
"Huhu. Of course he loves me, I'm his reliable and super-strong sister. You really are a research nut… So basically you're studying him?"
"In a sense. I wouldn't use such a clinical term for it…But I want to get closer to him. To see all sides of him."
Hilda was looking at him like she was assessing him. N stared back at her, unsure what her expression meant.
"...You really love him, don't you?"
"Hm? Is that surprising? He changed my world after all - I'd been searching for him for a while, but it was difficult to parse those feelings until I saw him again. Since seeing him here on Pasio… I'm sure. I really do love him."
"Geez - and you're super embarrassing with your words!"
The two continued their small talk, as they picked up their three orders of ice cream to head back outside the shop. N was surprised to hear that Hilbert had confided much in his sister over the years - his lull in trainer activities following N's departure, as well as embarking on his own trip.
"You have no idea how down he was about you leaving without letting him say anything!"
"I…. Yes. Cheren reminds me of that often. I don't intend to depart in that fashion ever again. I want to be more considerate of Hilbert's feelings."
"How sweet. But… I don't think he ever held any ill will towards you about it. He's well aware of what you went through so hoping you felt your freedom and wishing you well were his simple dreams. He's foolishly kind like that."
"…Yes."
N could feel a warm feeling in his chest as a smile spread on his face. He wasn't sure what he might look like at the moment, but he felt very happy thinking about Hilbert.
Hilda grimaced at the look on N's face.
"....You have a scary lovesick expression, N."
"Eh?"
Hilbert was sitting sullenly by himself on a bench as the two exited the store. Perking up at the seeing his sister cheerfully hop over to him with an ice cream held out, Hilbert got to his feet.
"Thanks, Hilda. Should I go to give you guys some time alone..?"
Hilda's face immediately darkened and she made a faux-vomiting motion.
"No way! Being around you two is giving me hives - I'm the one that's going to go off to enjoy my ice cream alone and have a few battles at the park while I'm at it!"
Spinning around with her back to them, Hilda waved, "See ya later, loser. Good luck, N!"
Hilbert blinked in confusion, "Huh?!"
Hilbert watched speechlessly as his sister skipped off with her ice cream. N watched Hilbert's flabbergasted expression with some amusement. No matter what, Hilda always won out when it came to surprising her brother.
"Seriously? After the effort it took to convince her to come out with us… Sorry about that N, I didn't think she'd go off like that."
"Hilbert.. I'm grateful for the opportunity you set up for me to get to know Hilda better. I did learn a few things, so I'm satisfied. I don't mind her leaving, I enjoy spending time with you as well."
"Y-yeah, but this was meant to be a date for you two!"
N paused.
"...A date?"
"Ah - yeah, I don't want to rush you guys or anything, but I figured the best way to get to know her was just hanging out with her. I didn't expect you to ask me to come along too… I feel like I'm intruding on you two."
"…Hilbert. I may be misinterpreting this but-"
"But then you invited me along - and I was really happy, but I shouldn't be getting in your way if you're trying to get some alone time, you know?"
"...."
A pointed silence rose up between the two. N could feel the cogs in his brain slowly working through, evaluating and checking the solution. He hadn't considered this..variable. Hilbert was starting to look like he was in pain as N reached out to take both their ice creams to set down on the bench. He took a breath.
"…."
"….Hilbert..? Do-"
"Don't…."
"You…"
"Please…."
"..Assume I have romantic feelings for your sister, don't you?"
"Agh…………"
"…..Hilbert?"
Hilbert was currently curling in on himself at an impressive rate like a Scolipede, hiding his face behind his hands and hat. With his height and posture, N was having a very difficult time having a conversation face to face with him. And N desperately wanted to see what kind of expression Hilbert was making right now.
"Sorry for being weird about it - I really do want to support you! It's just…kind of awkward..and weird because it's my sister-"
"Hilber-"
"And it's been bothering me, not that you have romantic feelings, but uh- "
"Hilbert."
N moved his hands to firmly grasp Hilbert's shoulders to calm his wild gesticulating. He really looked like a wild pokemon that had been cornered and now was trying desperately to look anywhere other than him.
Adopting his usual way of soothing Pokemon, he drew Hilbert into a tight hug which seemed to make the shorter boy immediately stiffen up. Strange. Did hugs not work for humans as well as Pokemon?
In response, N pulled away to look at Hilbert to gauge his next move. He didn't want to ruin anything they ha-
Hilbert's face was beet red and he had his eyes shut tight.
"Hilbert, are you alright?"
"I…I should be asking you that…I ruined your date and now you're trying to make me feel better about it."
"Hm? I'm completely fine. If just a little concerned about you right now… You seem to have assumed that I have romantic feelings for your sister, which is incorrect."
"…Incorrect?"
"Yes."
N stated, as if he were explaining to a child.
"The one my feelings are romantic for…" N paused for a second, perhaps it was too early in their relationship to say it? From what he's heard, he still had a lot of preparation he wanted to do before courting Hilbert. "...is someone Hilda is close to."
N watched as Hilbert's face seemed to pale even further. Had he said something odd again? Did he not want to be courted?
"….Bianca?"
"What?"
"Cheren??"
Wh…No."
This really needed to stop.
"Rosa-"
"Hilbert, wait."
With that, Hilbert managed to finally catch himself from the spiral he was going through. Hilbert buried his face back into hands and caught his breath. N was seriously becoming concerned about Hilbert and his misinterpretation. N reached out towards his hands to tug them away before Hilbert spoke.
"…Sorry. I shouldn't be prying."
N looked down, as he considered his next words. He certainly did not want to give any more wrong impressions to the boy.
"No… I believe I should have been more straightforward about it. I'm admittedly very new to human relationships beyond acquaintanceship so when it comes to courting, I will be taking it slow.
It's you."
At that statement, Hilbert seemed to have clenched his hands and N pushed forward.
"It's always been you, Hilbert. I wanted to get along with Hilda because she is a very important person in your life. I'd like to get along with Cheren as well, but he seems a bit more reticent about it. Bianca as well, but - mmph"
N felt Hilbert's hands slap over his mouth, pausing his speech.
Hilbert's face was extremely red, but at least now he was looking directly at N.
"I-I get it. I read the situation wrong."
N could only nod his head while being silenced. Slowly, Hilbert let his hands fall down and revealed the small smile N was wearing.
"I believe I've made my feelings clear… May I know how you feel on the matter?"
"I…ah… I seriously thought you liked my sister… So I was sort of ready to give up my feelings."
"You'd give up your feelings?"
"…If it meant you were happy. Yeah of cours- " Hilbert paused at the sound of a chuckle from the taller man. Hilbert's face contorted in horror again as he sputtered, "Why are you laughing?!"
N struggled to stop his laughter to soothe Hilbert as he began to pound a fist on the taller man's chest.
"I apologize. You really do have such a kind heart. If it were me, I don't think I could be gracious enough to let you go. I had been planning to court you since I realized my feelings."
Hilbert was growing red again as N spoke.
"That was a quick realization… You really wanted to court me?"
"I…spoke to Alder and Nate about it. They helped to explain a lot of what I couldn't make sense of. When I had heard that Team Break had gotten to you and Hilda.. It was incredibly distressing. I am acutely aware of your strength and know you can take care of yourself yet… I was worried. I wanted to make sure you were safe… as well as quite desperate to see you again."
It was Hilbert's turn to laugh. N blinked, taken aback by the soft look Hilbert had on.
"Eh? Did I say something funny?"
"No… You're starting to ramble. It's nice to see you're the same as ever. Well, not exactly. You've grown up a lot from those couple of years ago and you seem like you're having fun. It's good to see. I'm glad to see you happier after your journey."
N felt his heart squeezing at that. At how Hilbert's simple words and presence like this could make those past years feel worth it. Worth the pain and frustration he had felt from the world as well as the same he had wrought on others. The injustice and mistakes he had committed and tried to grow from.
"I am. I was the one to leave before hearing your reply, but now… I want to hear it. May I have your answer?"
Hilbert took a small breath, before looking up directly into N's clear grey eyes. The look of determination in his eyes - oh, N could drown in them.
"I like you, N."
N smiles. I rather like hearing that.
"I like you as well, Hilbert."
"I-I finally said it - so you can't back out now!"
"I wouldn't dream of it. You are my ideal after all."
Only N could say such embarrassing things like this. Actually Hilbert was probably the only one that it worked on. N watched the satisfied smile stretch across Hilbert's face and could feel his expression beginning to match. Reaching out a hand, he gently touched Hilbert's cheek.
"Shall we continue this date?"