— ♚ 𝓲𝓭𝓮𝓪𝓵𝓼. ❜

The sky had been grey since dawn that morning, gradually darkening in colour until around noon. Touko looked outside her apartment window and heaved a heavy sigh; no doubt in her mind she’d have to traverse a storm to get to her appointment. 

“I hope he has hot chocolate prepared.” Touko muttered to herself as she wrapped herself up in a winter coat, scarf, gloves and earmuffs. Buffy chittered in reply, already wearing her own little winter outfit to protect her from the freezing cold they were about to fly through. “And something warm for you too! Now, shall we go?” Touko asked after going over the content of her bag one last time, making sure she was ready to go.  About twenty minutes later the two of them landed in front of the trainer school; their meeting place. Or well- inside, of course, but they couldn’t bust through the window this time around. Acting as if she owned the place, Touko threw open the door and entered alongside her Swoobat.  “Yo, nerd! Where you at?”

@theidealofstrength

        THERE’S NO MISTAKING THAT SHOUT, the way she announces her presence for all to hear. Touko grabs the attention of Cheren as well as a few janitors that happen to be making the rounds on that brisk, muddy Saturday afternoon. If Touko didn’t happen to be Cheren’s childhood friend, he may have taken issue with her disruptive behavior.

        Especially since there were weekend classes taking place.

        But, because it’s Touko…         All he can do is smile and sigh.         While she has been back for a while, their years apart still made him miss her dearly.         … Now he wouldn’t admit it freely, but he was always afraid that she would up and leave again.

        But at least he can put his worries to rest, at least for today.

        “Oh my god, Touko… you can’t… you can’t keep doing that everytime you come here. You’re obnoxious, do you know that? … But I will give you points for using the front door this time.”

        He snorts.

Marshal’s expression never wavered throughout any of this. He didn’t give any indication of judgement, but at the same time hardly gave anything reassuring. He simply remained stoic and focused on the task at hand. He merely nodded when Cheren told him he would not regret this–he had no intention of doing so.

His eyebrows furrow ever so slightly at his last words, however. “You did not look stupid. I gave you a task and you performed it. It was my instructions that were not clear enough, and for that I apologize.”

He pauses before shaking his head. “However, I will need you to throw away all notions of having to appear or act a certain way. The process of training your body will leave you sweating, panting, and in some cases I have seen–vomiting. It can be a humiliating and exposing undertaking but one that will give you the results you are looking for. It will not be easy, but I have faith you are up to the task.”

With that, he nodded. “You can change in the room over there. I will have a regimen set up for when you return.” After Cheren left, he turned and began to gather some equipment. Nothing too difficult at first–the smallest weights he had, an agility ladder, a mat for him to work on. They’d begin with the basics and work their way up.

He only spoke the truth, however. He did have faith in Cheren’s capabilities and hoped he would be able to gain something from this, outside of a tougher exterior. Marshal had had many mentors in his day–it was about time he did it for someone else.

              He listens carefully to Marshal’s instructions, giving a curt nod here and there, a few blasé hums of approval. And as his newfound teacher goes into the woes of training – the unpleasantries – Cheren’s smile begins to dim. Yes, he’d known that putting his body through such rigorous training would push him to his limits. That had to be a given. But there’s something about hearing this through word-of-mouth that makes it all sound so real.

              But what was gain without pain? And it warms his heart ever so slightly to hear Marshal confident in Cheren’s determination to keep up with the future regimen. Surely, if someone skilled like Marshal had faith in him, there’s hope for him yet…? After all, Marshal’s the expert.

               I can do this, he thinks.

              “I understand completely. I promise, I won’t let you down – !”

              With that, Cheren disappears into the room in question. It takes him about a moment to slide into this new outfit, make sure that he’s fitted properly. It’s a little loose on him around the waist, but it’s nothing that he can’t handle. Before he leaves, he’s sure to place his own clothes into a neat, folded pile in the far corner.

                 He takes a deep breath. He bounds back out towards Marshal.

It had taken a long time to reach Aspertia City on foot, but with the pleasant spring weather–only recently beginning to make its transition into summer–Touya had to admit he enjoyed the chance to travel across Unova again.

Walking up the steps to the city’s trainer school and Gym, he checked the time on his Xtransceiver; almost 5 o’clock, the time Cheren should be closing up shop for the day. Touya felt a little bad showing up so late, especially with how he knew Cheren liked punctuality and keeping to his schedules, so he hoped the visit after could make up for it.

He had missed his friend after months–maybe more–of not talking to him in person, after all.

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              It takes him a moment to process that voice – because admittedly, Cheren expected someone prepubescent.  Those were often the types that demanded battle moments before closing. And in that split second, Cheren had mentally rehearsed his rejection speech. He’s opening his mouth when he hears that voice – that nostalgic voice – and his frown fades.

              And he grins.

              Now Cheren wasn’t having a terrible day, but if he were, he would have assured that Touya’s visit (however brief) would have more than made up for it.

              “Oh god – no! No, you didn’t come at a bad time at all!” Cheren waves dismissively, twirling the keys around his finger. “I was just about to close, but we could always talk in the back. I just want to make sure the front doors are locked.”

              He begins to exit the arena, and heads towards the actual school itself. He beckons Touya to follow.