#juxtapozshipping

“Oh Emolga, I think we’re lost!” Elesa groaned. The forest was dense, sunlight filtering through the trees like patches on the ground. Bushes holding summer berries ripe and fresh ladened the branches. The trees waved faintly in the summer breeze. The adorable electric pokemon was perched comfortably on his mistress’s shoulder. Elesa grumbled some more as she cautiously held her bright outfit out of the dead leaves over the ground. Her shock yellow shoes scuffed the leaves, rattling across the leaves. She narrowly avoided a puddle, skimming the reflective surface. Her long braided jet black hair wavered as she hopped.

“It’s this dratted forest! It all looks the same.” Elesa complained. That sweet old lady who had told her of this shortcut off the path had drawn her a map that Elesa was constantly consulting. It hadn’t done much good. In fact, she was even more lost with the help of this blasted map.

“Are you lost, madame?” A man rumbled from above them. Elesa jumped and a disgruntled Emolga nearly fell off. A spark of electricity jumped off the little creature. It set off in a low growl, aimed at the tree above them. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.” The man apologized. He leapt down from the tree lightly. His hair was a muddy brown and hung low in his face. He brushed it impatiently away and slowly took her in.

“Elesa no? The fashion model!” His face broke out in a large grin, green eyes sparkling with excitement.

“Well, um...yes. Who are you?” Elesa inquired warily. She was used to getting noticed by people,but not in the middle of nowhere. Or just randomly in the forest. This was certainly odd...though the man who had stopped her was far from unattractive.

“The name is Burgh, I design clothes. Well, actually, I’m trying to get discovered.” His grin turned quirky and lopsided. Elesa couldn’t help but smile in return. She stuck out her hand and tentatively shook his.

“It’s nice to meet you Burgh. So, what are you doing in this forest?” She shuffled her feet, in a slightly awkward manner. She checked over her shoulder and her hand tightened over the map.

“Gathering inspiration for my new designs. You are the wonderful inspiration that I came to find. What are you doing here?” His eyes wandered over her and the map clenched in her hand. Elesa scrambled for words for a moment, at loss from his startling compliment. Maybe it was just her imagination. Emolga trilled in her ear, giving her a reason to move her eyes from Burgh to him.

“I was attempting to….reach the city for a fashion show. This sweet lady gave me a shortcut, and I guess I sorta got lost.” She stuttered uncertainly. Her hand smoothed his fur, running down his static charged back. Emolga’s eyes never left Burgh, head cocked slightly to one side.

“I can escort you back to Castelia City, if you would like.” He gave her a soft wink that stirred something in Elesa’s chest. Her heart pounded just a twinge faster. Emolga purred against her, almost like he was telling her…

“Yes,thank you, that would be well appreciated.” Elesa replied coolly. She gave Burgh a quick smile before dropping her map. Burgh laughed.

“Your full trust so quickly? I admit I’m surprised.” He began to walk,trusting her to follow behind. She trailed a little slower, her stupendous outfit held close to her so that she wouldn’t ruin it.

“Oh and why is that?” Burgh slowed his pace and fell into step with her.

“You seem like such a serious and wise girl. And the wise don’t trust so quickly.”

“Serious?” Elesa scoffed. She hated that word which had been used to often to describe her. She wished she was less so and had done much to change that. Her bad puns hadn’t done much, but at least those at her gym didn’t see her half as serious as they used to.

“You dislike the term.” It was a blunt statement, but his eyebrows raised at her curiously. He was seemingly avoiding the touchy subject for her.

“Yes.” Elesa said curtly.

“I am sorry, Miss Elesa. I did not mean to offend.” He watched her from the corner of his eye. His voice was careful, drained of his light humor. Elesa couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt. She found that she liked that twinkle in his eye, his own spark of electricity.

“No,no. I was just being a bit prickly.”

“Ah, of course.” His smile was back. He paused for a moment and studied her again. Elesa stopped as well ,watching his eyes inspect her.

“What?”

“Just your outfit is very interesting.” He turned from her for a moment and pulled out a sketchbook. He drew quickly, hands moving swiftly over the paper. He smiled at her again, his teeth a bright glint.

“May I see?” Elesa asked gently. Emolga leapt onto Burgh’s shoulder and peered at the picture. He chirped at Elesa, pleased. Burgh showed her his little sketchbook. The first page was her profile, with her name written in cramped darting handwriting at the bottom. Her braid was coiled up in a partial bun, revealing her face. Her eyes looked brighter and her features more defined. Her dress was a bit shorter, with less frills. It was more simplistic.

“It will be a palette of green to remind me of this forest. Where we met.” Burgh’s humor was lost again under sweet compassion. His honeyed words flowed through Elesa like a river. Her heart thrummed harder. Emolga leaped back onto her shoulder, charged with his electricity, his musty scent of the woods.

“I would have nothing to remember you by.” Elesa astonished herself by speaking her thoughts aloud. Burgh said nothing, just taking a step closer until they were inches from each other. Before she could register anything else, Burgh leaned down and kissed her. He tasted like a ray of sunlight, a forest of evergreen, a trickle of water on a hot day. He was a spark of electricity that shone with light brighter than anything Elesa she had ever felt. Emolga’s fur shot with static, like it could feel this electricity between them.

Burgh pulled away first, his lips gently leaving her’s. The sudden loss of him made her shiver. The absence of his warmth chilled her to the bone. “I’m sorry that I-” Burgh began. Elesa interrupted him with a kiss of her own. This deep hunger in her gut had awoken and it purred. Elesa ran her hands through his hazel hair, inhaling his scent. His hands tugged her closer, closing whatever space was between them. It was several minutes before they broke away.

“You’re my inspiration.” Burgh whispered. Elesa smiled.

“You were taking me someplace?”

“As long as you're willing to be a little late.”