Secrets of Galar (Ash x reader)

Twenty Seven: Confession

At midnight, Y/N slid through a hole in a fence to where the woods were. The trees were shadowed by the absence of sunlight, only slightly illuminated by the pale light of the moon. The pond close by was still, meaning no one had come yet.

"I knew I'd regret it in the end." said Y/N to herself.

Just then, a pale figure loomed in the moonlight, his platinum blonde hair in that unmistakeable hairstyle.

Gladion Aether.

He looked better in the dark; the shadows suited him. Did he do this every night; go out on an expedition? Y/N couldn't tell.

"Y/N?" he asked, still slightly shocked.

"Why the surprise? You were the one who asked for me." Y/N stated.

"Well, I wanted to tell you something... I think you've figured it out already, but..."

She stared at him.

This is no favour, she thought. He's going to tell me something, and right here, right now, I have to decide.

"Do you still remember when we were kids?"

His voice broke through her thoughts. The atmosphere was no longer as serious; they were now only talking, friend to friend.

"Of course. You were still an absolute pain, though. Even your own sister said so."

"I was not!" he protested.

Y/N rolled her eyes.

"Just as annoying as usual."

Although her expression was annoyed, Gladion saw a glimmer of a smile on her lips.

"You're still the same, though." he chuckled.

The two laughed, so reminiscently of their childhood.

"Hey, Y/N?"

This was it. This was the moment. He knew that he would just have to be blunt and get it out.

"Yeah? Get on with it." she answered.

Darn! Now even Y/N's saying the exact same things as my mind! Gladion thought.

"Do you remember what happened at the dance, Y/N?"

He was desperately trying to start a conversation. As Y/N pitied him, she decided to go along with it.

"Uh... yeah. You asked me to come with you, and that's all I can remember." she replied.

Secretly, she still had remembered. Who would forget that if it had happened to them?

"Ah, never mind." Gladion said, brushing it off.

Even as he said that, Y/N noticed his brow wrinkling ever so slightly. She knew why, although she just wished she didn't.

What a situation! thought Y/N.

"Go on." Y/N prompted. "I don't exactly have bucketloads of free time on me."

The night was silent, but all Gladion could hear were the cogs in his brain, which had temporarily stopped spinning.

How do people even confess to their crush's face anyway? thought Gladion irritably.

He looked at Y/N, who seemed expectant.

Rightly so, he thought. I've got to get the word out now!

Whilst Gladion was struggling with his dilemma, Y/N was reminiscing back to the poem she had been given earlier, anonymously. It had only come with a rose, deep red, a cliché but classic symbol of love.

Y/N, the day I met you... I'll never forget it...

Not in the slightest; not one bit.

You showed me your own take on life

Even if your words were as sharp as a knife.

You stay resolute, you stand your ground,

Stirring up my emotions, pure and profound.

You seem not to notice my feelings for you,

Although they'll be forever true.

You guide, you conquer, you help, you lead,

Without a thought of doing this for greed.

True it may be, your heart of steel,

Will hopefully be able to recognise how I feel.

But time is short, and bearing little light,

So I invite you; come with me tomorrow midnight.

Signed,

The Rose Bearer

As Gladion looked up to check if Y/N seemed impatient, he noticed a contemplating look, one that indicated that she was thinking about something.

He had to say it, fast.

"Y/N? I need to say something."

"Yeah?"

He hesitated for a split second.

"I-I like you."

You know the drill everyone, cliffhanger time!