Chapter Text
Liko and Dot were a known duo on the airship, or so Ult’d heard. Roy told him many times about how Liko got Dot out of their shell, how Liko (as well as Quaxly, of course) helped Dot take their first step forward in becoming a trainer. Liko and Dot cared for each other deeply, as far as Ult could tell. He rarely talked to the two of them outside of conversation with Roy, but he’d had a hunch that their connection was one far deeper than friendship.
He’d never ask them straightforwardly, of course. But the way he saw Dot gaze at Liko.. reminded him far too much of him and Roy. Dot and Ult were quite similar in the way that they both were brought out of their shell by the one closest to them. Yet.. Liko and Dot trust each other. That’s not to say Ult and Roy don’t, but he never knew how to be honest with him.
Yet, all of the achievements Ult made, Roy was at his side for. He watched him reach Mega Evolution with Sableye. He watched him reach Mega Evolution with Dragonite.
And likewise, Ult was there for Roy’s achievements. Ult was there when Lucario decided to travel with Roy. Ult was there when Roy achieved his dream of catching Rayquaza. He gave up his own shot at strength just so Roy would have a chance.
That reminded him all too well of the deep bond that Liko and Dot had. He didn’t blame Dot in the slightest for how they seemingly felt about Liko, in fact. However, he envied them. Dot and Liko communicate when they have a problem. They may argue, but they make it up to one another afterwards. They’re good at showing they care for one another.. That’s something Ult only wished he could do with Roy.
He’d never admit it, but Roy was more dear to him than most ever would be. He’d never even admit it to himself, thinking about how eerily similar it sounded to those corny romance stories he’d heard about in passing.
Liking someone wasn’t really a concept that Ult, the soon-to-be mega-strongest trainer ever had to worry about… until Roy, that is. He only really ever wanted to be the strongest after he met Roy. He’d had the dream of becoming the strongest before, but Roy’s desire to move forward despite his circumstances when he first came to Lumiose lit a spark in Ult unlike anything he’d ever felt before.
Of course, it was only competitive. Of course. Only in a competitive way. That “spark” was totally just the urge to be better than him.. It totally didn’t make him feel warm every time his hand would brush Roy’s. It totally didn’t make him wish to recreate those things he’d read in Emma’s storybooks. Romance was a foreign concept to Ult, and it was to stay foreign.
“Romance” was supposed to be that awkward feeling he got around girls. But.. he felt that way around every girl, so he’d come to the conclusion he’d really never liked anyone in that way before. Not that he did now! Of course he didn’t, but.. He’d hesitate anytime someone mentioned it. Roy’d appear in his mind, and he’d shut that thought down as quickly as it came.
He had much bigger things to be worried about. Helping the Rising Volt Tacklers meet their goal, as well as working towards his own goal of strength were much more important than the overly mushy way Ult seemed to feel about his so-called rival.
Yet, his mind would wander much more than he’d like. Ult was always an act first and think later kind of person, yet it seems like all he does now is think. Think about a certain boy. He’d see him in the captain’s room, steering the ship, and he’d think far too fondly about how far Roy’d come, from the boy who he bumped into in front of Prism Tower to being like the leader of the Rising Volt Tacklers.
He wanted to tell him how cool he was for it. He wanted to tell him how much he admired him. He wanted to tell him so much, but he’d never know the words. All he’d ever say were insults, and although Roy seemed to know Ult wasn’t good at that sort of thing, Ult would notice his expression sour every time, and he felt horrible for it every time. Yet, he kept doing it.
Really, what was his issue? Dot and Liko can talk just fine. Why can’t he?
He wanted to be honest with him. He didn’t know why he was such a dick to Roy all the time. He liked to think he’d gotten better about it since becoming a Rising Volt Tackler, but he knew hadn’t made much progress in that regard.
He wanted to show him how much he cared. Roy cared about him, or at least he wanted to believe he did. The thought of Roy only seeing Ult as some annoying guy who follows him around made his heart twist in a bitter way, but he knew Roy had every right to think that way. He didn’t want to care about how Roy saw him, he’d follow him to the ends of every region if he had to. He practically had, to be fair.
Yet.. he couldn’t deny how used to the far nicer side of Roy he’d gotten to see recently. When it came to being a leader, Roy was always stressed, Ult never had to ask, because it was so obvious. It was practically written all over Roy’s face, especially with how Roy’d snapped at him usually only when it was related to his responsibilities. He’d argue with Ult, but it’d usually be resolved quickly, except for when it came to his responsibility as a leader.
When Roy gets the chance to take a break, the rare time that he chooses to spend with Ult in that break, is always the nicest. Roy’s far nicer to him in those times, and Ult found himself giddy on the inside far too often during those moments. Roy always teased him, and Ult’d mutter insults under his breath as he got embarrassed, his heart beating impossibly fast every time. He felt like Roy knew. He felt like Roy knew about how hopeless he was. But he wanted to tell himself, he didn’t want Roy to assume.
Ult dreamed of the day he’d look Roy in the eyes and tell him how much he means to him.
He wanted to hold his hand without being embarrassed. He wanted to be able to catch Roy off guard with a hug when he felt down. He wanted to sleep in his room, to wear his clothes. He wanted to push up his tuft of red hair to kiss him on the forehead. He wanted to be able to gaze at him without him knowing. He wanted to look into his eyes and be so, so honest with him about how much he adores him.
He hated how he only ever felt like he was an annoyance to Roy. He wanted to make him smile. He knew it was corny. He’d never admit it to anyone. He hated the face Roy would make at him when he insulted him on instinct. He hated the feeling he got when Roy snapped at him to go away when he steered the ship. He hated the feeling of watching the others all protect each other, while he felt like he couldn’t do anything.
Reluctantly, he decided he needed to ask someone for help. Normally, he’d go to Mollie. Besides Roy, Mollie was the one Ult was closest to on the ship. She treated him quite similarly to how Emma treated him, teasing and all, but she did give good advice when he needed it.
But.. this time, he wanted to go to someone who’s been in a similar place as him before. Dot. He wanted to ask them how they talk with Liko so easily. He wanted to ask them how he could do that with Roy. He barely talked to Dot, but he hoped they’d at least humor him for a bit.
With a heavy sigh, Ult trudged his way over to Dot’s room, knocking on the door calmly and saying “Yo. Dot. Do ya’ have a minute?” He didn’t want them to think he was there to yell at them, like the last time. Their Quaquaval pushed the door open, staring down at the shorter boy with a look that almost resembled a glare, until Dot appeared from behind it, patting the feathers of the duck-like Pokemon, and saying to Ult awkwardly “Uh, do you need something?”
“I, um. Need your opinion on somethin’. Advice, if you wanna call it that.” Ult mumbled, avoiding their gaze, and Dot said lightly “..sure, I guess. Come in, I’m not busy.” Ult stepped into Dot’s room, sitting down on the edge of their bed, and saying “Okay. I’m gonna be straight up with ya’.. I need your help on how to talk to.. someone.”
“You came to me for advice on how to talk to someone?” They said incredulously, but Ult muttered, “well, like.. the way you and Liko talk, I mean.” His face warmed up a bit at phrasing it like that, but he continued despite it. “You and Liko are real close. I heard about how you used to be all cooped up in here all the time, and Liko and Quaxly helped ya’ find your way.”
Dot gave him a deadpan look and said “Roy told you that, I bet?” But, with a small sigh, Dot mumbled, their face warming up a bit “But.. yeah. Liko helped me a lot. She’s way too nice to me. I used to snap at her all the time, yet she still likes me- I mean. Hanging out around me.” Ult gave her a knowing look, saying “I knew it.”
“Is that what you came here to talk about? Interrogate me about Liko and I’s.. friendship?” Dot asked bluntly, though there was no annoyance behind it anymore. Ult sighed and said “No, no. Well.. kinda, I guess… I wanna know how you and Liko get along so well, is what I mean. You two’re mega-close, and.. I wanna be able to talk like that with.. someone.”
“Roy, right?” Dot asked, a knowing tone in their own voice this time, and Ult’s face went bright red, as he stammered out a “N-no, not him! He’s- ugh… Okay, yeah, it’s him. I’m mega-bad at being honest with him… How do you and Liko do it?”
Dot sat for a moment, thinking about a way to phrase it, before saying calmly “Finding something that you both like helps a ton. It’s a pain trying to go head-first with showing you care about someone, especially if that someone seems so out of reach to you.” Ult contemplated that response, thinking about something him and Roy had in common. “We both like battling, I guess.” He muttered.
“Maybe you could try getting into something he likes. If you get into something he likes, he’ll start associating that thing with you, and in turn, talk to you more. That’d give you the chance to talk to him more, and ease your way into opening up to him. Or.. you can do what I did and just yell it all out to his face and hope he finally gets the hint.” Dot said lightly.
Ult took a moment to think about what Dot was saying, and he muttered a “thank you” before looking over at them properly and saying “I came to ya’ because… I was kinda similar to ya’.” Dot gave him a strange look, curious of what he meant. “How so?”
“I was homeless most of my life.” He said straightforwardly, not wanting pity. “A nice lady took me under her wing, but I never really knew what I wanted to do. I knew I wanted to be strong, but I never really took any steps towards that until I met Roy. He always kept movin’ forward even though he’d come to Lumiose right after you guys all disbanded a year ago. I’ve been followin’ him around since.” He said, a feeling he couldn’t really describe bubbling up in his chest while talking about Roy.
Dot just stared for a moment, before saying quietly “Damn. I didn’t know. Roy’d mentioned you “had a troubled past”, but I never knew the details.” Ult said quickly “Don’t pity me. I don’t need pity.” Dot hummed in acknowledgement, and decided to say instead “About how you view Roy.. honestly, that’s how it was for me when I met Liko.”
“She helped me understand Quaxly. She helped me understand myself. She helped me get out of my room. She’s.. Very dear to me.” They said, a small smile on their face as they talked about Liko. Ult stayed quiet and listened, not something normal for him, and he said “Yeah.. that’s why I came to ask you about this. I had a feeling you’d been in a similar boat as me before.”
“Thank you, Dot.” He said as Dot responded with a calm “No worries” as he got up and left their room.
He'll find a way to open up to Roy, someday.