🎨: Genzoman - Pixiv
***
Title: Sometimes
When she woke in the woods in the morning and the gentle breeze of the day that she'd reach out to touch the person beside her. The only person keeping her on this straight path towards an unknown destination. Wherever Courtney was going, she hoped there would be something good at the end waiting for her. She looked up and there were the leaves of a tree casting a gentle shadow on their bodies, the sun barely leaking through and offering them a tickling type of warmth. It's gotten really comfortable to sleep out in the open, as this was the first night of the second week Courtney spent with the stranger who had defeated Team Magma countless times. She remembers the hand that helped her get up and saved her from what appeared to be an imminent death.
Courtney felt grateful, although still hated the idea of having to go with this stranger in their adventures. She learned the trainer's name right after being saved, and it's been these past few days with them that Courtney began to realize that maybe she was on the wrong side of the war after all. It's because of this trainer that she left Team Magma unofficially, and although she still wears their crimson uniform, Courtney no longer held the same ideas. It was too far fetched for her to even think that she was following the orders of a maniac who planned to unleash a catastrophe so great it would've destroyed the region.
Mankind's new future... what a joke.
What kind of weirdo would follow someone like that? She did. But a wise person once told her: it's all in the past now, so let's just keep walking forward or else we won't get anywhere. It was the same person that slept beside her that told Courtney this. Wise but almost always dumb. Maybe on purpose. Courtney didn't know how that worked, and she wanted to learn why they behaved the way they did. They're a miracle, she thought, and she left it at that.
Courtney stood up and looked around the area they were in. It was surrounded by the calm sounds of nature. Chirping, leaves rustling, and the usual odd sound from a city far from there. Nothing unexpected. She checked her belt and indeed, the single pokeball containing her Camerupt was there. Nothing unexpected.
She was suddenly startled by the noise of someone... yawning. Surprised, Courtney let out a cute little squeal before she turned around to see you finally waking up and she sighed after you waved at her. Courtney returned to her spot on the grass next to you and looked at you curiously.
"Did you sleep well?" You asked, happy to see Courtney another morning. So far, the journey to where you were taking Courtney wasn't treacherous at all. It almost felt like a vacation after everything that's happened that you were very relieved to have, especially with Courtney by your side.
"Yes. Although... I wonder why we can't just fly back to your home. You have a Pokemon capable of doing that... do you not?"
"I do. But this is better. I told you to trust me, didn't I? All you have to do is hold out for a few more hours. We are actually almost there." You stood up and helped Courtney do the same, pointing out something in the distance that you two could obviously not see very well. While Courtney didn't know what it was, you did.
"That..."
"A city. It's a city and we're almost there, Courtney. Don't worry."
"I'm not worrying. I just feel like... this is... this is a punishment for what I did."
"Why would you think that? There's none of that when I'm around. Besides, what you did doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is what you're going to be doing from now on."
"Ohh," Courtney softly clapped, "you did it again!"
"Did what?"
"You said something cool!" She smiled.
"I did? I mean, I did! Of course, I knew that."
You got a giggle out of Courtney. Then, you two started getting ready for breakfast. There still was quite a bit of road ahead before arriving in Petalburg City.
***
"...Are we there yet...?" Courtney asked before drinking from her water bottle.
"Did you seriously just ask me that?"
"It's a valid question."
"Well, yes. We almost are." You wrapped your arm around Courtney, "and soon, we shall sleep on actual beds!"
You didn't notice at first, but Courtney suddenly felt your hand with her right cheek. It's soft, she thought, and she quickly stopped doing it once she saw someone walk in your direction. There was a noticeable blush on Courtney's face but you didn't see it due to the difference in height.
"It's been a while, (Y/N)! What a coincidence!" A boy came to say hi. Messy hair, very short, and someone who was very happy to see his friend—this is Wally. "Wait, i-is that..."
"Don't worry Wally, she's a friend." Your arm returned to hold Courtney, and so her red face was even more evident and Wally got to see it. He didn't say anything about it though, and simply accepted the fact you were 'friends' with Courtney.
After catching up, the three decided to walk to Petalburg City together.
***
Arriving at the Petalburg Pokemon Center was an enormous relief for you. As soon as you walked in through sliding doors, you immediately left Wally and Courtney on their own and ran to the bathroom. They nervously laughed, before Courtney got serious and stared at Wally. He was beginning to get a little worried.
"W-What's wrong?" Wally asked, taking one small step away from Courtney. She moved one step closer to him.
"...Tell me what you know about (Y/N)..." Courtney asked, entirely serious about the subject.
"Oh, really? F-For what?" Wally kept taking little steps away from Courtney and trying to be subtle about it but all she did was continue to follow him.
"...Don't worry about it." She asked.
"Are you gonna try to hit their weakest spots? A-Are you gonna try to eliminate (Y/N) in their sleep!?"
"...Not at all. I'm just curious... I told (Y/N) I wasn't like that anymore, and I hope you'll trust me just as much as (Y/N) does..."
"At least you're honest..." Wally whispered before clearing his throat and raising his voice a little, "but okay, if (Y/N) trusts you, then so will I."
"Tell me everything... Don't leave anything out." Courtney pulled out a small notebook and a pencil and gave her full attention to Wally, who just talked about everything related to you, including most of your good qualities for a good while. He would've continued had you not returned from the bathroom, so all Wally did was bid the pair farewell before leaving the Pokemon Center.
He might've said a little too much, but Courtney still wrote everything down. This was serious to her, so the notes were very much important.
You and Courtney went to a hotel to settle for the night. But you weren't fully paying attention to the signs, and while you two did enter a hotel, it happened to be a special kind...
"Oh. Crap."
It was a love hotel.
***
"Listen, We're not going to do anything weird. This wasn't part of the plan. We just have to accept the fact that there's only one bed available that we'll have to sleep on for just one night. That's all, I promise."
"R-Right..." Courtney took a deep breath. This was her first time at a place like this, and she most certainly did not entirely hate the atmosphere. Courtney simply thought it was too 'lovey-dovey', especially for two people who formally became friends about a week ago. The time before that, they were just circumstantial enemies.
"...Analyzing..." The room was dimly lit, and even the placement of the bed was starting to bug her a little. Courtney started to focus on the room a little too much, so she wasn't paying attention to what you were saying until she was poked in the arm with a pencil. Courtney looked up at you.
"You okay?"
"Yes. Of course... I'm just surprised, but... I understand..."
A gloomy feeling suddenly invaded Courtney, and she wasn't sure as to why at first. She sat on the bed, which happened to be a lot more comfortable than expected, and kept staring at you. You sat down beside her, waiting to see if there was something Courtney wanted to say. The silence was pacifying and the smell of the room itself was subtly sweet. This room was very much perfect for intimate moments between couples.
Courtney gripped her skirt before she decided to say something, "...what will we... do after this? Where will we go...?"
"I know this may sound like an awful answer, but I don't really know. Whatever you do from here on out is entirely up to you, and whether you wanna keep me on this journey is also—"
"I–I do! I do want you... to stay with me..."
"Okay. That means we can figure things out together. You won't have to be alone in this."
"How do I... move on... like you said?"
"There's something a friend of mine told me. She said that the greatest thing anyone can do in their lives is find the strength to move forward, no matter what may be behind you. What's past is past, and there's nothing that can be done to change that."
"She must be a... very good friend..."
"One of the best."
Suddenly, Courtney held your hand. She found reassurance by feeling you, so she couldn't really help herself. Courtney didn't ask, she simply did, and you two stayed like that for a while.
"...You can sleep here with me tonight... you earned it..." Courtney said, a small smile growing on her face.
"Wait a minute, where did you expect me to sleep before?"
"You kept your sleeping bag... did you not...?" Courtney giggled.
Although the bed wasn't that big, it was big enough to have to force you and Courtney to cuddle. It was very uncomfortable at first. Then, it was soft and warm—a soothing sensation that eventually got Courtney to fall asleep first. Then, you did. Cuddling made it the best night of sleep you two have ever had. The best one so far.
***