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“So, I’m still confused on what exactly my responsibilities are as your boyfriend,” N said to Hilda, looking down at the girl who was licking at her ice cream cone. “Actually… I must confess that the whole rules of what being “boyfriend and girlfriend“ means confuses me.”
Hilda paused in eating her sweet treat, furrowing her brows in thought for a moment, trying to think of how to explain what a romantic relationship entailed to a grown man who didn’t have any experience in that area in his life. He had been so isolated before they met, it made some things difficult to break down to him. But she had to admit, a small part of her revered being the one he had come to rely almost completely on.
Technically speaking, her and N had been dating for a little over a month. When Hilda made her move and asked him to be her boyfriend when they were reunited after two long years, N agreed without hesitation. Not that he really grasped the full meaning of it. Just that it meant they cared about each other more than just regular friends.
The two were out on a date in Nimbasa City, exploring the city and just taking in the sights. Evening was slowly approaching them, the two of them walking in the direction of the city’s amusement park. No matter how much time passed, the ferris wheel would always feel like their special place to them both.
“Well… you already know boyfriends and girlfriends are way more special than just friends. They have a very special connection,” she explained, waving her hands in front of her, “and if things go really well, then they get married. Which is a lifetime commitment to that person.”
N hummed, taking her words into deep consideration.
“So, it's like a pokémon finding its mate then?”
Of course the most he knew about relationships was probably limited to “pokémon mate and lay eggs”. She should’ve tried explaining it in pokémon terms to him first. Why didn’t she think of that sooner?
“Yeah, something like that.”
“Okay, that’s simple enough,” he nodded, “are there any specials rules boyfriends and girlfriends have to follow?”
Hilda opened her mouth, prepared to tell him that he just needed to be loyal to her, to not go after another woman, and not leave her alone for two years again - but then the reality of the situation really hit her.
N had never been in a relationship before. Had barely had a friend before. He hardly experienced any sort of human contact before he first met her that fateful day in Anville Town. Something one of N’s sisters had told her when Team Plasma had taken over the Pokémon League had always stuck out to her over the last few years.
“N's heart is pure and innocent. But there is nothing more beautiful and terrifying than innocence."
The woman would never know how right she truly was. N’s innocence really was the most beautiful thing to Hilda.
She could tell him anything she wanted to, and he would probably believe her, without question. He couldn’t possibly know better. And it’s not like it would be that horrible if she exaggerated a few expectations of dating to him. It would be for his own good, of course. She couldn’t have someone else trying to take advantage of him - to try to take him away from her. No, she couldn’t let that ever happen.
Plus, it could help him with his hesitation of showing affection to her. He had said he wanted to get better at being more physically affectionate with her, after all. They had two years of lost time to make up for, they couldn’t afford to take their time in this relationship. They could skip a few traditional things. Really, this was all for the best.
“Well… first, couples sleep in the same bed. And they’re allowed to show affection to their partners whenever they want to,” as if to prove her point, she grabbed N’s hand with her free one. He tensed for a moment, then relaxed and squeezed her hand so softly, as if he were afraid he’d hurt her otherwise. “Boyfriends don’t look at other women. They always listen to and want to make their girlfriends happy, no matter what it takes.”
N nodded along, his eyebrows raising up in confusion at some parts, but he seemed to believe her.
“Okay… I think I’m starting to get it…” he mumbled, covering his mouth with his free hand as they walked into the amusement park hand in hand. It brought back memories of when they first came here together. Who knew she would miss that day so much nearly every day when she was out exploring the world and looking for N.
Hilda felt her breath hitch in her throat at his lack of resistance towards everything she was saying. She looked up at him, and he didn’t seem bothered by anything in the slightest. He accepted her words so easily. He trusted her implicitly. She almost felt guilty.
Almost.
But truthfully, she could get drunk off the way he just listened to her.
“Yeah, and it’s wrong for you to be friends with people I don't approve of,” she added, testing the waters on if she could go even further.
“Oh,” N said, looking up at the ferris wheel,“well... I don't have that many people-friends. But what about my pokémon friends? I don’t want to lose them.”
Hilda bit her lip - almost rough enough to draw blood - to hold back her grin. She shouldn’t be this happy. Deep down, she knew that. But she just couldn’t help it.
“You can stay friends with your pokémon,” she said as they got in line to ride the ferris wheel. So long as they didn’t catch anything off about her, and try to warn N to stay away from her. “But you have to devote most of your time to me. Not them.”
That part looked like it threw him off a little bit. It probably wasn’t the darker meaning behind her words that was building some reluctance up inside of him, but the fact that he just really loved pokemon and didn’t want to give up his connection to a single one of them. Anything that would threaten his relationship to any of them would make him think twice. Including her, apparently.
She couldn’t give him too much time to develop any doubts about their relationship. They both needed it this way.
“And like I said earlier, the boyfriend always listens to the girlfriend,” Hilda said, stepping up the stairs to get to the ferris wheel’s cart. “Also, when I’m ready to settle down, then you’ll settle down with me.”
N furrowed his brows as they sat next to each on one of the benches in the cart, maybe questioning why she was making relationships sound so one sided.
It’s for his own good, it’s for his own good. Hilda kept repeating in her head.
He opened his mouth to ask something else, but before he got even a single word out, she pressed her lips fervently against his. His eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly melted into her, holding onto her vest tightly. That’s a good boy, she thought.
N was breathless when she pulled away from him, looking at her with hearts in his eyes, any thoughts of protests against her words disappearing. She smiled coyly, running her hand up and down his arm.
“It’s just a way to show affection,” she murmured, patting his cheek gently.
“Okay,” N nodded, seemingly trusting her judgment. All it took was one little kiss to seal the deal. “I’ll be the best boyfriend I can be for you, Hilda. I promise.”
“Oh, N,” she sighed happily as the ferris wheel came to a halt and they slowly got off, “I know you will.”
N’s face turned a light red at her words and he stuttered out a few incoherent sentences. He’s so adorable, Hilda thought with a giggle, smiling up at him lovingly. Until they heard a familiar ringing sound.
N brought the two of them to a standstill as he looked at the xtransceiver on his wrist. Hilda frowned, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow. Someone else actually had his number? That wouldn't do…
“It’s Rosa,” N announced, going to answer it. Hilda wasn’t having any of that.
“No, don't answer it,” she demanded, holding out her hand expectantly, “give me your xtransceiver.”
“It’s just Rosa. I told you about her, she’s my friend. She’s nice,” he told her, tilting his head to the side, “what if it's something important? What if she’s hurt and needs my help?”
Hilda’s vision was quickly turning red, her trying to subtly keep her anger, jealousy, and breathing under control.
Oh, how she wanted to knock that pathetic new champion off her pedestal. How N ended up cozying up to her, Hilda would never know - nor did she want to know. It just filled her with mindless anger.
That girl was nothing but a cheap, wannabe hero. She wasn’t like her and N, the Heroes of Truths and Ideals. They were literally each other’s other half, meant to be together. She wasn’t going to let that Liepard, or anybody else, get in between them.
It was just another reason why she couldn’t let N leave her sight again.
“‘She's nice’? You can’t actually believe that. You have to know that Rosa doesn't actually care about you… right?” She asked, acting like it was ridiculous she even had to ask him that. N’s face more than answered that question. She faked a disappointed sigh. “Oh, N. She was just taking advantage of you so she could get Zekrom. She wants to do nothing but use you.”
“But-“
“There’s no ‘but’, N,” Hilda interrupted, shaking her head in an empathetic manner, “you’re just way too sweet and trusting to see it.”
N hesitated, looking between the xtransceiver that had stopped ringing and Hilda. He looked… sad, but not necessarily surprised. He was never the best at expressing his emotions, but he handed her his xtransceiver without any more complaint or defiance.
Hilda nodded her approval, slipping the device into her bag. He wouldn’t be needing it anymore. They were silent for a few moments before N spoke up again.
“I suppose it’s not like it’s the first time someone I trusted just wanted to use me.”
He didn't seem overly upset by that fact instead just tired. Disappointed, but accepting of the situation. Ghetsis had clearly done a number on him.
She would fix that. She’d love him, treat him right. He wouldn’t need anyone but her ever again. Wouldn’t want to be with anyone but her.
“It’s okay,” Hilda cooed, holding his hand, “I would never leave you. You know that, right? I spent two years looking for you. Two years away from everything I ever knew because I cared about you . I wouldn’t dream of betraying you. Not now, not ever.”
“I know,” he smiled down at her, anxiously running his thumb back and forth on the top of her hand, “I’m so lucky to have you with me now. Someone who actually cares about me.”
“Yeah,” she smiled, pulling him into a hug, “I love you, N.”
He stiffened in her hold and she could feel the uncomfortableness radiating off him. Had he ever even been told that before? Or was she the first person to ever tell him that she loved him? The thought made exhilaration run through her body.
“N?” She prompted as she pulled away, looking at him expectantly.
He stared at her for a moment, examining her face as if he were looking for something. Was he scared that she was lying to him? She was the Hero of Truths, he wouldn’t think that of her, now would he? Sure, she might bend the truth a little, but that was to help him. She wasn’t lying to him about those things she had told him earlier. Not really.
Finally, he nodded hesitantly and gave her a small smile, “…love you too, Hilda.”
Oh, she was so proud of him.
She embraced him once again, hiding her victorious grin.