gunslingerqueen | IC Contact + Overflow

[once he's certain she's comfortable, he turns his attention to the Pokemon again. Gotta make sure they're taken care of.

He puts a finger to his lips and whispers to Pasha]

She's resting. I'll give you some food now, okay? You hungry?

[the little one's got to be. at this age, they'll eat you out of house and home]

[Not entirely unlike the matching human in question, Pasha's eyes downright sparkle with the prospect of food. The Pokemon is not remotely concerned with launching itself off of Nariko's body which is ... Fine, the way she mutters and turns her face into a throw pillow speaks to the repeat offense.

Pasha marches over with what can only be described as a prideful strut.

But there's definitely food, right? Some for the adored little buddy, but also Nariko, whose stomach is voracious even on a normal day. Enjoy the twenty seconds of freedom because it'll have her up soon.]

[he winces a tad-- but when Nariko only stirs a tad, but returns to slumber, unbothered for the most part, he relaxes.

okay, get the Pokemon fed first. there's food for them, their trainer said. he can do this! just get the food she'd indicated, the little bowl, this is fine.

maybe he can call take out-- he doesn't feel the happiest about leaving Nariko like this. especially not with that vague story she gave him.]

[There are several bowls and three different bags of food, some hastily scribbled post-it notes to remind herself of which one to actually buy again. She'd really gone nuts at the store for this kid, and Pasha doesn't appear to be against the endless love and adoration, they make happy noises when the food is provided!

Much like their human trainer (???), just give them a meal and all was well!

He's right to be worried about leaving her alone, though. Nariko hasn't had a fever since she was a literal child, and unconscious like this, the uncomfortable flush helps morph a bad dream into a nightmare. When she makes a pained noise, Pasha stops eating.]

[he runs his gaze over the notes, just to make sure she hadn't decided to give the little one a different food than the ones out here, or any special instructions.

nope! just a happy, healthy Pokebaby.

happy until Nariko's noises have both youths turning their attention to her. Gladion goes as far as to leave Pasha there for a moment to join Nariko's side]

[Somewhere out there, a very exhausted store clerk earned employee of the month for surviving her trip to their store. The woman in question is less of a panicked, over concerned mess now and is instead lost in the waves of a fever-induced nightmare.

Thankfully, Pasha trusts Gladion to handle the sight of their human trainer crying even in sleep, nails dug so thoroughly into her palm that blood pooled along the creases, if the pokemon saw it the poor baby would just be alarmed.]

[Gladion certainly sees the blood, and is rather alarmed himself. Best to make sure, yes, that Pasha doesn't see. But he struggles to know how to help her-- do you wake someone from a nightmare? Do you let them be?

While he ponders, he runs his hand through her hair gently]

[Even welcome and very much needed touch can be alarming given how rarely Nariko sleeps. She turns into that gentle concern immediately, eyes snapping open with the panic of someone used to horrible surprises. But nearly in the same second, that tension drains and she breathes out, dreamy and tired:]

Nathan?

[Another second, and the lights will all come back on in that head.]

[Gladion's heart lurches, both by the sudden awakening, and her soft utterance of someone else's name. She'll be disappointed, won't she?]

No, it's me. It's Gladion. You want some water?

[Green eyes, not blue! His voice is a little darker, too, but only because despite being the same age as Gladion, Nathan always sounded naturally lighthearted.

And - Well. Fuck.]

I ...

[Why does she feel so much worse now? Maybe it's the complete mortification adding in a little spice.]

... If you don't mind.

[she looks horrified to see him, and Gladion feels a bolt of guilt. But he just gives her a soft smile and pats her hand]

Of course.

[Guilty, miserable silence warps around some attempt to smile, she's still at a loss for words as he moves. Pasha kind of looks up and between them curiously but ... That baby loves to eat, they're fine for a little while longer.

Only when he comes back, does she end up sounding like some scolded toddler:]

I'm sorry. Really.

[he sets the water beside her before he speaks, before those green eyes lock gazes her her. he raises a brow]

You've got absolutely nothing to be sorry about. Not at all.

Pretty sure I made it weird.

[The hand with crescents of blood is free of wounds, they’ve already healed, and she presses the glass to her forehead.]

… It’s not usually this bad.

[he looks at her from beneath his eyelashes]

It wasn't weird.

[a pause]

And you're alone, usually?

Mm.

[She definitely made it weird! What does he think about the crazed idiotic adult having weird fever dreams?! Nothing good!]

Oh, I guess I never really mentioned it, [Slow, grateful sips.] I’ve been on my own for over two years now. I just went home sometimes to check on my brother, or throw an egg at my ex-boyfriend.

[For fun, you know.]

[he hums, watching her silently for a moment]

Sounds reasonable enough. Not weird.

[Oh, what can she do except blink at him because maybe he’s being serious, but this just seems like his sense of humor peeking out a bit. Even tired, she snickers a little,]

Right? That clerk had no business judging the quantity of eggs I had! A lady needs her hobbies.

[maybe a bit of both]

Either that or you're making chickens into cannibals.

And we'll never know because that's how I maintain my alluring air of mystery!

[There it is, just a bit, her usual cheeriness, and luckily it settles, but doesn't leave the building entirely when she asks, carefully,]

Hey, are you okay?

Right you are. [he rolls his eyes playfully, a smile playing at his lips.

Her question makes him pause]

Yeah? I'm fine. Why wouldn't I-- that doesn't matter. You should rest.

Of course it matters.

[Stern face goes here!!!!]

And isn't this resting? [She's just ... Sitting! Not doing anything! And enjoying the water because maybe she's still got a fever but who cares. Not her!]

[he hums-- it doesn't matter, not when she's going through this. he's doing the frowny thing]

No thinking, that's not resting.

I know it doesn't look like it, but asking me to not think is a challenge.

[Unreasonable request, comrade, try again! He's lucky she's tired or else she'd pinch his face or something since he wants to be all frowny!]

This just isn't, like, fair to you, is all. [She clears that water real fast, and the confession makes her very aware of how exhausted she still is.] You have to know that.

[a sigh

she's right. not thinking is a challenge for him too]

Life isn't fair. Its not fair you're going through this. I'd rather I were here, than not.

IC Contact + Overflow

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