T R U T H

"Worried… for me…?" That was something unheard of. N seemed genuinely confused, but his smile, though tentative, returned. "That wasn’t necessary."

Still, he was happy somehow. It felt as if a weight had disappeared off his shoulders.

"I don’t know about you fussing too much, but— I’ve spent a great deal of time thinking of you. I wanted to see you again too, to… say thank you. There is so much I would have missed— so much I wouldn’t have seen, if not for you. The world is so vast, Touya, and full of much kindness. I… had no idea. So I’m— grateful, I suppose."

He had lowered the void cube into his lap and averted his eyes to it now, idly touching his fingertips along its edges as he continued.

"But I am not so blameless. I made many mistakes, hurt many people and their Pokemon— including you and your friends. Regardless of my intentions, perhaps I’m deserving of some of those ‘terrible things’ that have been said."

He finally looks back when the other continues, thanking him for what he'd done. 'I've spent a great deal of time thinking of you'? Embarrassing...! But, despite that, it was comforting as he'd been a little scared that he would be the only one who cared, at least that much.

..... This doesn't stop the trainer from tucking his hands into his sleeves and bringing one up to his mouth to hide a bit.

"Well.. at least not from the person who said it." Touya mumbles behind the fabric, cutting in a bit between his speech. Of all people who had the right to scold N, Ghetsis was none of them. Slowly uncovering his mouth once they're finished, he replies properly. "It's nothing, really... Even after what I did only you can really make the choice to change. But, I guess what I mean is, I'm happy to have helped."

He was always a little stiff with praise. N seemed to do that a lot, even early after they'd met, but he'd become more used to the compliment followed by a challenge or apathetic remark.

"It's not really the best circumstances but, in all honesty, if I hadn't gotten wrapped into that I would probably still be the sort of person who is just there." With a cough Touya back tracks a little, shifting to a slightly more confident posture. He decides to summarize what he's said more concisely. "I think your hearts in the right place... and I'm.. really glad that I found you and are doing okay. So that's what matters the most."

"... Thank you..." Touya shuffles a bit, tucking his hands into his sleeves for comfort. He couldn't quite tell if she was reiterating her liking of Freckles' name or if it was aimed at him but either way he was a little embarrassed.

His partner doesn't seem to mind though, in fact he's happy to be treated similar to how he once was as an Oshawott. Freckles barks and rests his head back on the platform, fully expecting more pats.

       ❛ It’s no problem, really. You’re welcome. ❜ Expecting compensation, ( or even anything more than just a ‘thank you’ ) would really go against what she was trying to do, after all. She remembers Christmas’s when she was little— sometimes money was tight. Now, she doesn’t have to worry about that at all, so she considers it almost a duty to be giving things away quite freely.

       ❛ I’m glad you like them ! Yeah, of course ! Sharing them is really good. ❜

"Nice to meet you, Serena." That was a nice name.. like the word 'serene', right? He breaks his gaze to look back at the store he'd come out of not too long ago. "I was just busy with gift shopping and I think it was going a little over my head so I probably needed this. Um.. were you just out to find someone to give this to?"

Touya glances down at the treats, admiring their looks before (naturally) picking the pink one up. It wouldn't hurt to have one now, right? That way she could at least see him enjoying the present. He takes a bite into the pastry and his eyes light up, pulling it away and attempting to speak while covering his mouth with one hand. Words come out almost without meaning to.

       He should probably stay in fight; to leave the poor guy here would just be cowardly, and rather shameful at that too, but there wasn’t much he could do against the thing, was there? The best he had was Skarmory, and even with its immunity to the type, there was still a chance that it could still take him out, regardless of typing. Shaking his head for a few moments in exasperation, the Trainer showed his hesitation at the idea before finally digging into his backpack and finding a PokeBall. Tossing it into the air, the capsule burst into a multitude of lights before revealing a Skarmory in front of him, letting out its signature cry as usual.

He opens his mouth to call a command while Freckles works on trying to push the Pokemon back with his weight but before he can utter a sound the stranger speaks up. With a Skarmory now on the field it's Touya who is perplexed. He expected them to escape while they had the chance.

Touya watches curiously to see if the encounter could be over sooner than expected, he knew very little about their Pokemon so anything could happen. The attack seems to do some damage but the bird soon makes a retreat, prompting the other to speak up again. The teen laughs but doesn't sound especially sure. He's just winging it but is pretty calm with that considered.

"Yeah sure, this one is a Poison type, isn't it? He's not the best match up but he's pretty tough-- Okay, get it off your back! Use Surf!" It starts to push Freckles back to get to Brendan and his trainer but he whips around and  a large wave hits Drapion from the side, sending it a few meters back. By the looks of it, this Pokemon didn't have very high Special Defense. "One more time!"

        ❛ You looked like you could use it. ❜ She answers, empty hands now holding each other behind her back. ( The striking semblance to someone she used to know doesn’t hurt his case, either. ) 

"Thank you.. I don't really know what to say." The box in his hands begs to be opened and hesitantly, he succumbs to curiosity. With the wrapping out of the way, he stuffs the excess in his bag before opening the lid to reveal-- Sweets!

              Surprised for a moment at the question. He could understand how it would be not to have enough money to get people presents for Christmas, but Cilan in time shook his head with a smile showing through his features.

Decisively, the trainer perks up and smiles back.

"Thanks, Cilan... Maybe I can write last minute cards or something to make up for it." That wasn't exactly what the other probably had in mind but Touya seemed pretty determined. "I'm so used to buying things I sort of wonder if I'm working against myself for setting the bar too high."

Where did he go?

"Oh… Everywhere, Touya. I’ve been— to so many places, and met so many people and their Pokemon—…"

He was getting ahead of himself. He’d spent plenty of time beforehand formulating what to say, and yet he’d jumped right ahead into the middle of what he’d prepared. There was too much he wanted to say.

Before he could try again, he noticed something that put a quick stop to his queasy smiling: Touya didn’t look happy. And then he said something that took N off guard, had him faltering and looking more puzzled than ever.

"Uh...." Why? It was to be expected that N would be confused. The way he flew off definitely had a finality about it. He just had to remember the right words that were in his head not all that long ago.

"I got to do that too, don't worry. I guess that's thanks to you." Touya cracks a small smile, however it doesn't say long. "... But the last time we met.. some terrible things were said about you and I realized I'd misunderstood a lot. I wanted to see if you were okay. I was worried. I thought you might be blaming yourself. You weren't in the wrong and I couldn't sit still thinking that it might not be resolved."

What he was feeling came out choppier than he'd hoped for but it was something at least. As long as N understood that would be enough. The trainer adjusts his hat self-consciously and looks away. During his explanation his voice had grown stronger, louder with each word but once he opened his mouth again to speak it was quiet.