Chapter Text
Kiawe groaned as he sat up on Charizard’s chest. He rubbed his head before looking around. He was surrounded by trees and greenery, though he could barely make out any visible shapes past his hand. Where was he? Last thing he remembered was flying back home to Akala Island on Charizard. It was pretty dark out and-.
”Stupid Wingulls!” Kiawe hissed as he slowly slid off Charizard and stumbled onto the grass. Charizard groaned as he woke up. “Hey buddy, you good?”
”Char…” Charizard growled as he sat up. He flapped his wings before snorting out smoke.
Kiawe took a closer look at it and muttered something under his breath. “We better get to a PokeCenter…” Kiawe looked around with a frown. He squinted his eyes before spotting what seemed to be a glowing square. “Oh please tell me that’s a building. Come on buddy.” Kiawe returned Charizard into its Pokeball and started his stumbling journey to the glowing square.
///
“Wow, I got really lucky.” Kiawe mused as he stared at the entryway. He managed to find Mallow’s family restaurant as the source of the glowing window.
He hesitated to enter the restaurant. Mallow had been sick for nearly two weeks and he didn’t want to be a bother. His best hope was that her dad would let him sleep on their couch or something. He slowly opened the restaurant’s door, the bell tinkling and alerting of his arrival. He peered into the dimly lit restaurant and spotted Mallow’s dad, Abe, at the counter reading a book. “Oh? Why hello Kiawe!” Mallow’s dad waved with a tired smile. “What brings you here so late?” Her dad gestured a hand for Kiawe to take a seat in front of him.
”I uh…” He looked around before slowly taking a seat. “I was flying home but Charizard and I crashed into a flock of Wingull. I was hoping if…” Kiawe drawled the last part nervously. “Can I crash here for the night? I can’t find a PokeCenter close by and Charizard is pretty injured.”
Abe chuckled as he settled his book down on the counter. “Of course! I’m not gonna chase ya out!” He quickly sealed his lips. “Ah, just do be quiet. Mallow’s been having trouble sleeping. Her fever hasn’t gone away.”
Kiawe nodded before bowing his head to the counter. “Thank you so much.”
”No need to be so formal sport!” Abe chuckled as he patted the boy’s shoulder. “I think we have a spare mattress in the back. If not you can take the couch.”
Kiawe nodded before walking through the door past the kitchen. He had never gone past the kitchen space. He looked down the hall and saw a bunch of old family photos. He felt like he was intruding but he couldn’t help but explore. His eyes widened as he saw what seemed to be an old photo of Mallow’s family. He couldn’t help but ‘aww’ at baby Mallow. His eyes drifted over to a couple photos down to see Mallow’s mom in a hospital bed with a big smile. Mallow and Ulu were on either side, both having small smiles. He quickly jumped hearing loud coughing and grumbling.
“Ugh… go away Tsareena…” He could hear Mallow groaned, tossing and turning in bed. He peered in to see Mallow sitting up on her bed in another coughing fit. She scrambled for her bottle before realizing it was empty. “Great Arceus…”
”Need help?” Kiawe chuckled as he slowly walked in. Mallow yelped, though it was more of a raspy gasp.
”Kiawe? What are you doing here?” She asked, her voice sounding weird.
”I crashed into a couple of Wingulls.” Kiawe admitted sheepishly. “Charizard got hurt and we couldn’t find a PokeCenter nearby so I came here.”
Mallow giggled but ended up in another coughing fit. He instinctively went up to her side and started rubbing her back. It helped a bit as her coughs stopped quicker. “Ugh… I feel terrible.”
Kiawe chuckled as he gently took Mallow’s bottle out of her hand. “Need a refill?”
”Tsareena can do it.” Mallow sighed. Kiawe handed the bottle to the Pokemon and watched as she walked out. Mallow’s whole body shivered and she pulled her blanket up to her shoulders. “Sorry… you should go to sleep. No need to worry about me.”
”It‘s fine.” Kiawe exclaimed. “Honestly it would feel weird for me if I didn’t help you.”
Kiawe couldn’t tell if it was the lightning or if Mallow actually did look that pale and frail. Her shoulders sagged down and even her hair seemed darker. She also seemed as if she was trying to ignore him, staring out of the window. He asked softly. “Mallow, whatcha thinking about?”
Her reply was definitely unexpected. “I think I might not last long Kiawe…”
Kiawe’s eyes grew wide as he stared at the green haired girl. “Mallow, is this the delirium talking?”
Mallow mumbled something. “This was exactly how Mom was before Dad brought her to the hospital.”
Kiawe shook his head before pulling Mallow into a hug. “No no no Mallow, you’re going to be alright.”
Mallow didn’t resist the hug nor did she return the hug. “You don’t get it Kiawe. That is exactly what Dad thought too.”
Kiawe released from the hug and looked at her in the eyes. She was already crying, tears streaked her face. The two remained silent before Kiawe asked. “Well… you still need sleep right?”
Mallow looked out of the window by her bed. “I hate this Kiawe. I hate being this sick.”
Kiawe hummed gently as he rubbed her back. “One thing I do when Mimo is sick is sing her favorite song. Do you think that’d work with you?”
Mallow just nodded before resting her head on Kiawe’s shoulder. His face burned up but he let her. He began to hum the start of the song. “My feet are aching, and you back is pretty tired…”
He mumbled parts of the lyrics as he didn’t know the whole song. “And here it is… our final night alive. And as the earth burns to the ground, oh boy it’s you~.”
”That I… lie with.” Mallow mumbled softly.
”As the atom bomb locks in.” Kiawe hummed. He could hear Mallow sleepily trying to sing the next part but ultimately falling asleep. “Oh boy it’s you, I watch TV with… as the world, as the world caves in.” Kiawe sighed as he subconsciously ran his hand through Mallow’s tangled hair. Kiawe attempted to shift but Mallow reacted. Kiawe soon relented and just remained put next to Mallow.
///
“Tsa, Tsareena..?” Kiawe’s eyes fluttered open as he felt a Pokemon nudging his arm.
”Ha..?” Kiawe groaned before seeing Tsareena staring at him. He slowly sat up, careful not to wake Mallow awake. His face turned bright red as he looked up and saw Mallow’s dad at the door. “Uh- I-. I’m so sorry!” Kiawe yelped while trying his best to keep himself as quiet as possible. “I swear I didn’t mean to come here just for your daughter! I-.”
Mallow shifted in bed and turned over to Kiawe’s side, mumbling under her breath. Kiawe buried his face in hands in complete embarrassment. Abe shook his head with a small smile. “She’s hasn’t slept so well the past few days. I’ll let this pass for once.”
”Wha- really?” Kiawe’s jaw dropped as he slowly slipped out of Mallow’s bed and followed Abe out of the bedroom.
Abe sighed. “Mallow’s been in a rough spot since getting sick. She’s been refusing for me to come into her room but I can hear her struggling to sleep through the walls.” He scratched the back of his head. “So imagine my surprise last night when I heard nothing but soft singing from her room?”
Kiawe’s eyes widened as he looked over to the green-haired man. “You knew?”
Abe shrugged. “I would have chased you out by then but I decided to wait to the morning. But seeing why I heard singing, I’ll let it pass.”
Kiawe was completely embarrassed by now and quietly apologizing. Abe sighed before opening the curtains to the restaurant. “Well, if you really do feel that bad, you can help around in the restaurant for a while.”