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“Are you just going to stand there?” Wallace asks, not even bothering to open his eyes.
Palms up and hair fanned out in a shimmering turquoise curtain, Wallace floats on the surface of the sea water. It catches the light and casts golden patterns across his cheekbones, his complexion practically glowing.
Steven chuckles. “I wasn’t planning on it.”
“Good, good. Come in then, would you? The water is to die for.”
“You say that about every type of water,” Steven says, even as he toes off his shoes and places them beside Wallace’s own at the edge of the pier.
“So? It always is.”
Steven begins to strip off his layers— socks, blazer, vest, ascot— and as he does, the water around Wallace ripples. Something breaches the surface, a smattering of pink and cream scales, before disappearing back under the water. Now that he searches for it Steven can see the entirety of Milotic’s serpentine body beneath the waves as she swims in tight figure eights, maybe a foot or two down.
“You know she doesn’t bite,” Wallace hums. “No need to worry so much.”
“I know that.”
“Then why don’t you get in?”
He can think up plenty of reasons, but settles for a shake of the head as he sits at the edge of the pier, legs dangling over the side; the water lapping at his feet, surprisingly warm. But still, there’s no use in squabbling over this: Wallace will end up winning anyway.
Gently, Steven begins to lower himself into the water. He goes slow at first, but gives up once his legs are about halfway submerged, dropping down off of the pier. The water sucks him under and Steven stays suspended in the darkness, weightless, for a few heart-pounding moments. The shock to his limbs fades and he surfaces quickly, coughing wetly once his head is above the water.
“So, is it as dreadful as you expected?” Wallace teases. His smile is lilting, eyes sparkling with humor.
Steven shudders as he feels the water seep into his clothes. “Just for that, yes, it is.”
He laughs and Steven paddles over, twisting over to lay on his back. But no matter how hard he tries to mimic Wallace’s position, he just can’t get his body to stay balanced on the water.
“You’re not doing it right.”
“I noticed.”
“Come on, Steven, didn’t you learn how to do this when you were a kid?” Wallace giggles. “With how much ocean we have, you should’ve.”
“Leave me alone. It’s been awhile.”
“Maybe you’re just a lot denser than before.”
“It would make sense, considering the changes in—” Steven pauses. “Oh. You were making fun of me, weren’t you?”
“How lovely of you to notice.”
Steven’s just about to give up on his attempts at floating when something comes up from the depths and supports his weight from below. Milotic pokes her head out of the water and gives him the stink eye; Steven just laughs and strokes her snout lovingly.
A few moments pass before either of them speak again.
“So… Champion? How does it feel?”
“Not any different than before, really.” Wallace moves a hand dismissively, like he’s waving away a falling feather. “And I should be the one asking you that, for the record.”
“I’m not the champion anymore, Wallace.”
Even though Steven can’t see his face, from the exasperated sigh that’s huffed out he’s sure Wallace is rolling his eyes. “You’re insufferable, you know that?”
“I’m told about it now and again.” His voice softens. “But really, Wallace, talk to me.”
“What’s there to talk about? Having second thoughts?” he teases. “Are you trying to get your title back already? I’ll have you remember that you gave this up willingly.”
“Of course not. I suppose… I just wanted to make sure this wasn’t too sudden. A lot’s happened, and I’m just putting more and more on your plate.” ‘A lot’ doesn’t even begin to cover what’s been happening in Hoenn, but they both decide to leave it at that.
“Would I have said yes if I wasn’t ready?”
For me? Yes, Steven thinks. “Still, it feels like things are moving too fast.” These transfers of power, they’re supposed to be slow-going. A buildup of things, small deposits of sediments compacted down on top of one another until finally a proper stone is formed.
Wallace laughs.
“What’s so funny?
“I’ve been expecting this since I first heard you’d earned the title, is all. No need for you to get so down about it.”
“Great to know you always believed in me.”
Wallace scoffs. “You know it’s not that.”
“Then what is it?”
“That sort of job… it simply isn’t sustainable for someone like you. As much as I know you love Hoenn, you’re a wanderer at heart. And don’t try and deny it, you’ve got villas in four different regions. Don’t say those are just for your father’s company, either. We both know they’re vacation spots at heart.” He turns his head to look at Steven, eyes brimming with an emotion he can’t quite place. “You have an insatiable need to see everything that this world has to offer, Steven. You push. It’s what makes you such a good trainer. But for all that being the champion gave you, it took a lot more. Things are better this way. Don’t pretend they aren’t.”
Steven cups his hands to his chest, twisting one of his rings. “You don’t deserve to have all my problems dumped onto you.”
“Oh, woe is me! I’ve been entrusted with the championship of an entire region! Whatever shall I do? This is the worst problem I ever could have encountered! Won’t you help me accept the consequences of my own actions?”
It’s Steven’s turn to roll his eyes. “I didn’t mean it that way.”
A smirk plays at Wallace’s lips. “I know, but what’s the harm in teasing?”
Not much, he supposes. “Who’s going to run Sootopolis?” Steven asks. “It’s not like you were planning on retiring any time soon.”
Wallace thinks on it for a moment. “Juan, I presume.”
“You’re really going to drag him out of retirement?” Steven raises his brows. “An interesting choice.”
“Oh, hush. You know as well as I do he wouldn’t let anyone else run that gym until he’s whipped them into shape nice and proper. Just like it was with me.”
“Fair enough.”
“My turn for a question.” Wallace twists a strand of hair between his fingers as he ponders. “Where are you going next?”
“Hm?”
“Oh, don’t pretend you’ll be staying back in Hoenn for very long. Just enough to smooth things over, sure, make sure the media doesn’t think you’re running from some scandal.” He laughs at the very thought. “But where’s next on your list? I know you’ve already got somewhere picked out.”
“…Galar.”
“Oh! How lovely. You’ve never been before, have you?”
“Not yet. But they’ve got these gorgeous mines—” Steven’s eyes shine at the very mention of them. Those mines are gorgeous in pictures, and he itches to go see them in person, to explore their depths. “I’m planning to reach out to their rock-type expert and see if he has any sort of advice as to which I should visit first.”
“I bet he won’t.”
“Why not?”
“Not everyone who specializes in rock types does it because they like rocks. You’re just special.”
“What about Roxanne?” Steven counters. “And I don’t specialize in rock types.”
“Close enough.” Wallace hums. “You do have to promise to call, alright? Or else I’ll worry myself sick that you’ve gotten yourself pancaked in some mysterious cave in the middle of nowhere.”
“I’ve got enough expertise that I won’t let that happen.”
“Promise me!”
“Alright, alright. I’ll call, I swear.” He pauses, frowning. “And you’re sure this whole… champion business isn’t going to change things?”
“Aside from my business hours? I don’t see why it would. Not much changed when you became champion, all those years ago.”
“I suppose. Just wanted to make sure.”
“I know.” A beat passes, and Wallace’s face lights up in delight. “Oh! You know what I should do to celebrate my new title?
“Not particularly.”
“Shush, would you? You know that was rhetorical.” Milotic’s tail rises up from the waves and hits Steven with a wet smack. “What I was going to say was that I should have a contest spectacular to celebrate! Especially because I’ll be on hiatus for a while dealing with the new position. We’ll invite all the gym leaders— Lisia and I could even do a double act!”
“And what about me?”
“Why, I suppose you’ll be there too.”
“I’d like to come, really. It’s been too long since I’ve seen one of your performances.” Again, Milotic’s tail rises from the water and hangs in the air threateningly. “Yes, yes, I’ve missed seeing you perform too.” Satisfied, it drops back down with a splash.
“It’ll be a wonderful debut of the newest addition to my wardrobe.” Steven can’t help but snort. “And what is that for? Come on, out with it.”
“Will the new one be as… colorful as the one you have right now?” he asks, not even trying to hide his smile.
“Better.”
“Will there be a cape?”
“No comment. No more questions, either, I can’t have you spilling my secrets to the public before things are ready.”
“Because they’d listen to me.”
“You act as if you have no credibility to your name.”
“Not much, anyway. Ever since the press found out I didn’t actually live at the champion’s quarters in Ever Grande they’ve been a little suspicious of me.”
“Oh, don’t remind me of Ever Grande. Moving there is just…” Wallace makes a concerning sound that rises up from the back of his throat, probably best compared to a Skitty hacking up a hairball.
“I’m sure the higher-ups will let you stay in Sootopolis if you’d like. Not like they can say anything about a dual stay, especially if you mention the Cave of Origin.”
“I suppose that’s true. The Elite Four uses the champion’s place as a storage shed anyway— wouldn’t want to take that away from Glacia.”
“Yeah, she’ll put your head on a pike before she lets that happen.”
They share a delighted laugh, the sound carrying far off into the distance. The sun has sunk quicker than he’d anticipated, so Steven rights himself and swims back for the dock. With a lack of anything that could even dare be called grace, Steven heaves himself onto dry land. Wallace is quick to follow, albeit with much more style.
He settles in next to Steven and slicks his hair back, wringing out as much of the sea water that he can manage.
“You know, out of everyone, I’m glad it was you,” he says. “That asked me to do this, I mean.”
Steven cocks an eyebrow. “Why?”
“Because if it was anyone else, I would’ve worried. Was it out of obligation— eighth gym leader seems the obvious choice, yes? Or that they’re trying to cover something up and let me take the fall once the ball inevitably drops.” Wallace laughs. “But with you, I know there’s nothing going on behind those eyes. Nothing but rocks rattling around in that skull of yours.”
“Thank you?”
“Shh.” Wallace raises a finger and presses it to Steven’s lips, all words getting caught in his throat. “You’re ruining the moment.”
“What moment?”
Wallace just sushes him again.