#tbh i wanted to make a comparison of when N first met touko and when N is in a relationship w touko

[sexysilverstrider]

His Gaze | FWS

   His gaze was void of emotion.

   He stared from afar. Stared as the man he called father gave his speech. Words became empty breaths as they parted through pale lips. No emotion gleamed in such a face. Even the calm colour of blue irises dulled immensely under the sun’s brilliant glow.

   He didn’t move a muscle. Not once. Not a step.

   Only the sight of his chest moving calmly was any indication of his living. His breathing just as silent, he watched as the man gave a boastful roar that shattered the audience’s confidence on what they used to believe in.

   Yes. This was for the Pokémon. This was always for the Pokémon.

   Suddenly, he felt a soft touch on his left palm.

   Finally, the man moved. His head lowered; gaze fallen on the Purrloin who purred and nuzzled his warm palm. The Pokémon was quite friendly. Even though they just met, the very fact that the man was able to communicate with him easily earned Purrloin’s trust.

   “Lend me your strength,” the mysterious man requested an hour ago. While the bond they shared was temporary, the Purrloin was more than happy to lend a paw.

   The sight twitched a smile on the man’s face.

   The speech finally ended.

   As he watched his father and fellow grunts walk away from the park, he also observed the people in it. Opinions were heard. Thoughts were scattered. Some agreed with what his father declared. Some already started to bid farewell to the Pokémon who deserved better than mere subjugation.

   Some however were still hesitant, saying that they would never break a bond they had made with their beloved Pokémon.

   Foolish.

   It was what he thought.

   Lips in a straight line, he moved a few steps forward. The crowd started to lessen, but the man kept a distance in order to ease his comfort. It was then that he started hearing the voices of Pokémon as well.

   Some chirped their goodbyes. Some barked their confusion. Some even stayed quiet, unmoving in their Pokéballs as their fellow humans discussed their freedom.

   Selfish.

   It was what he thought—

   ‘I’m never leaving you, Touko! That’s a promise!’

   Eyes widened. Pupils shrunk.

   Such a confession truly caught him off guard. Actual movement was given from the man; head turned left and right to find the source of the voice. It sounded young, yet brimmed with confidence that could rival a fully-evolved Pokémon.

   Finally, he caught sight of two teenagers.

   They were a few steps away. A boy and a girl.

   One boy had his back turned on him. A Snivy was seen clinging to his right leg. While the Grass Snake Pokémon didn’t say a word, he was seen nodding his head in vigor at whatever the other Pokémon was saying.

   The boy and Pokémon were facing a girl. In her arms was an Oshawott, face boasting with pride as he crossed his little arms and cocked his head high.

   ‘This bond we have is special!’ It was the Oshawott’s voice that squeaked. ‘No way some stupid speech about liberation is gonna make me leave my trainer. She’s the best!’ His white little paw pounded on his chest, right at the hard shell that was positioned right in the center. The sight was apparently amusing for the two humans for they started to laugh.

   The particular girl laughed the loudest. Left arm cradling the Oshawott’s bottom, she had her right hand scratching the Sea Otter Pokémon’s cheek. The action only made the Pokémon smile wider, voices now bursting with coos and squeaks of affection. Unable to handle how adorable the Pokémon was, the girl brought it closer to her face and snuggle him.

   The laughter rang louder.

   He looked at her, pupils dilated slightly at the female trainer. Her hair was a long brown and was tied to a high ponytail. Her arms looked slim, yet he could guess her strength based on how long she had carried the water Pokémon. Even with a hat on her head and the long brown bangs on the sides of her face, he was able to see her.

   A silent gasp escaped him.

   Her smile was bright. So bright. White teeth flashed in his gaze, brilliantly blinding him until he could see nothing else but her. The sound of her laugh was sanguine. Despite the gloomy aura the speech had given to some, it seemed that it didn’t bother her the least. Even though the girl couldn’t understand what the Pokémon in her arms had just said, amazement held him still to see such confidence, knowing that their friendship wouldn’t dissolve so easily.

   “You’re so cute!”

   He heard her speak.

   “I’m never leaving you, buddy. You’re family to me now!”

   Mouth parted. Chest ached.

   Ba-dump!

   He didn’t know when. He didn’t know how. But as his gaze fell on her, he felt his feet move forward.

   Towards them. Towards her.

   As he approached, he watched as the two Pokémon sensed his arrival first. Immediately, the two were on guard; the Snivy stood before the spectacled boy and the Oshawott assumed a jumping position out of the girl’s embrace.

   The man stopped just a step away.

   The two trainers turned to meet his intimidating height. Confusion hovered above their heads with wary eyes gleaming under the sunlight.

   “Can we help you?” the girl asked, voice now cold and absent of the joy that burst a few minutes ago.

   The man wanted to hear her laugh again; he didn’t know why.

   Blue eyes looked at the Oshawott in her arms, then at her.

  “Your Pokémon,” he broke the heavy silence, voice low and husky, “he just spoke. He said that that you two have a special bond.”

  Confusion merely intensified on the two trainers’ faces while shock flashed in the Pokémon’s eyes.

   Without waiting for a reply, he continued, “I am N.”

   That was all he said. And as he did, blue eyes still remained on the girl.

   “I…see.” The other boy spoke. “I’m Cheren. And this is my friend, Touko.” One hand adjusting his glasses, Cheren waved one hand to the girl beside him.

   Words were never exchanged.

   Feeling awkward at the exchange, the girl—Touko—decided to say something. “So…what did you just say again?” Curious and wary at the odd man, Touko raised a single eyebrow. “About Isaac saying something?” Of course, she couldn’t believe that the man before them understood Pokémon. She figured he was just a strange person looking for a conversation starter.

   But after a few heartbeats of not replying anything, Touko assumed that wasn’t the case.

   “Battle me.”

   Instead, stupor slapped her silly at the request. “I—what?”

   Again, the man frustratingly didn’t repeat his words. However, he did repeat it with actions as he pointed directly at her. In a silent signal, the Purrloin that watched the whole ordeal from afar scurried forward, then readied himself in a battling position right between his new friend and the female trainer.

   Confusion only thickened between the two trainers.

   That confusion lasted a few seconds however as the Oshawott—Isaac—finally hopped out of Touko’s arms and assumed an attack position as well. ‘You’re on,’ he chirped, paw holding his shell and flashing a cocky grin at his opponent.

   Taking her starter’s stance as accepting the battle, Touko let out a sigh. “Okay then.” Shrugging once, she fixed her cap and tilted her head in pride.

   To see both human and Pokémon mimic each other so well, N felt his breath hitch.

   The corners of his mouth never moved, but lips did purse to see such a sight.

   With a single slight of his hand, the battle began.

   His gaze was full of her.

END