Chapter Text
“Milo! Milo, Milo, hey!”
The green-eyed gym leader quicky turned his head away from the book that he was reading at hearing the sound of his name, and gave a gentle sigh at the familiar sight that awaited him. Standing just beyond the fence that lined his property on the dusty path was a young woman with long black and blue hair, too stylishly dressed to believably be a natural part of the small, dusty farming town. Once she noticed him looking at her, she fished into her purse and pulled out a Dive Ball, holding it up and smirking at him. Nessa.
Milo let out a gentle sigh and set his book down on the small table next to the porch before standing up and walking down. Looks like I’m not finishing my book tonight, he thought as he stood up and made his way down to his self-proclaimed rival, making sure to remember to put a smile on his face.
“Whatever could you want from me, Miss Nessa?” He said with a grin, putting his hands on his hips. “Hold on, let me guess- a Pokémon battle?”
She grinned back. “Don’t hold back this time, flower boy.”
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If Milo had said that he didn’t think that Nessa’s random intrusions into the little free time that he had was irritating, he’d be lying. He had never envied the lives of constant attention and noise that more popular gym leaders like her and Raihan had. He was honestly kind of surprised with himself at having become a gym leader at all; as a kid, he was too shy to try and join the Gym Challenge or even go on a different kind of Pokémon journey. He loved Pokémon, sure- he spent his entire childhood bringing every single Gossifleur, Oddish and Cherubi he found back to his family’s farm and begging his parents to let him keep them as pets, requests which at first they always refused. These are wild Pokémon, Milo, they had said over and over again, and we have enough to take care of between us and the Wooloo. If you really want to make friends with wild Pokémon, you should become a trainer. I’m sure there are other kids just like you that you could make friends with if you wanted to go on a journey, but Pokémon like these don’t belong in a house. Eventually they had caved in when Milo had brought home his first Applin, if only because all dragons are stubbornly loyal to whoever they get attached to and the little thing kept coming back, managing to break into the house no less than 5 times before Milo’s parents finally caved and let him keep it if he promised to keep it in a Poké Ball.
While he did eventually become a proper trainer and even a gym leader, Milo still preferred the company of his Pokémon and the plants he grew to other humans. They were just… easier to deal with. That’s not to say that he didn’t care about his human friends or his job as a gym leader, though. Far from it, in fact- it was his friends in Turffield’s trainer community and his position as gym leader that had allowed the flower garden that he had started as a hobby to grow into a real business, to the point where he was even able to move onto his own property away from his increasingly crowded family home, the first few months of which were absolute heaven. He hadn’t remembered the last time he was able to spend an evening relaxing with a good book and a cup of tea without his brother or one of his cousins interrupting him.
His days tending to his flowers and battling gym challengers might have been long and strenuous, but because of it all he had a place to go for some peace and quiet with his Pokémon, something he didn’t get much of. He was eternally grateful for that.
But then, she showed up.
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By the time the battle ended, the sun had already almost set. Calling Appletun back into its Poké Ball, Milo watched as Nessa briefly stretched her arms over her head, the light of the setting sun briefly catching on her glossy manicured nails. Milo smiled to himself. Nessa was such a fun trainer to battle with that he couldn’t really complain about being interrupted- not that he would. He never complained to his friends about anything, worried that they’d get mad at him and stop being his friends. Nessa in particular. She was someone you just couldn’t replace; driven, determined, passionate about her battling, yet kind and always willing to help him out when he was in a pinch. Not to mention drop-dead gorgeous…
Milo sighed. He was being selfish, and he knew it. Anyone in their right mind would be happy to have Nessa walk up to them and ask to battle no matter what was going on. But as the sun continued to set, he couldn’t help but glance back up at his house, eager to get back inside in time to maybe be able to read a few more pages of his book before going to bed. He picked his brain for a way to end the conversation quickly.
“So,” he began in a cheery voice. “Great battle as always, Ness.”
She smiled at him. “Thanks. Figured I’d get in one last battle before I leave on Saturday.”
Milo’s eyes shot open. “Leave?” he asked, confused. “Where are you going?” She laughed, noticing the subtle panic in his voice even more than he did. She had a clear, pristine laugh, like ocean waves on a sunny day, and hearing it ring through the otherwise quiet town made Milo’s cheeks turn red with embarrassment.
“Didn’t you see my post on Pokégram?” Nessa asked Milo. He shook his head- he had an account, but didn’t have too much time to actually post anything on it besides the occasional photo of his Pokémon when he had free time, which as established, was practically never. “I’ve got a job overseas,” she continued. “The designer works with Water-type Pokémon a lot and is making a collection inspired by them and by the ocean, but he apparently ran into a creative rut. Someone suggested that he work with me since I spend so much time with them too, and since it’s the off season I have time to go on a big trip like this,” she explained. “I’ll be in Hoenn for about a month.”
About a month. “That sounds great, Nessa! I’m happy for you,” Milo replied, friendliness never faltering. “Hope you have a good time!”
A month without Nessa.
A month with no interruptions.
A month with no “rivalry”.
“I’ll be sure to take lots of photos for you, mate,” Nessa playfully remarked. “Phew! Looks like it’s getting dark. I should probably go. See you!” she shouted, running off down the path and pulling out her phone to call a Flying Taxi. Milo lifted his hand to wave good-bye at her, but to tell the truth, he was only half-listening to the things she had just said. The same thought played over and over in his head as he walked back to his house..
A month of peace and quiet.
A month of peace and quiet.
A month of peace and quiet.
A month of peace and quiet.