In the Night (Adaman x Reader 18+)

Part 9: Heated Hot Springs (Adaman x Reader) 18+ Chapter

[Adaman & Y/N get into a little fight? Warning: smutty lemon 18+ scene at the end of the chapter. Thanks for your patience, everyone ! I hope you enjoy ;) ]

After collecting a new set of clothes and a towel, Adaman led me down a torchlit path from the Diamond Settlement to the hot spring.

Adaman explained that the path and hot springs were lined with a "Pokémon Repel" substance, so we would be safe from harm. Nonetheless, we both carried our Pokémon with us.

It was about a fifteen minute walk - it felt even longer due to the silence.

I still felt slightly agitated that Adaman refused to let me lead the Diamond Clan members back to the injured Raichu. I was even more irritated that we made Rei go without me, when it was originally a team effort.

Considering Adaman was not his usual talkative self, I assumed he could sense I was not in the best mood.

Upon reaching the hot spring, Adaman turned his back to me to let me de-clothe.

"Are you not leaving?" I asked, removing my muddied robe.

"I know we trust the Pokémon Repels to keep the wildlife away, but we always have guards," though his back faced me, I could imagine that judgemental eyebrow raise. "Since the guards are off-duty for the night, I'll serve as yours,"

I scoffed, "I should consider myself so lucky to have the Diamond Clan Leader protect me, right?"

Silence.

I stripped from my clothes and took a step into the steamy lake. I let out a sigh of utter relief. The heated waters lapping at my feet was exactly what I needed.

After a few more steps, I was chest-deep in the water. I scrubbed the mud off from my earlier battle and watched it pool around me. It was so calming to hear the lap of the waters and to watch the ripples reflect the starlit sky and surrounding torchlights.

I looked over at Adaman, whose back faced me. His arms were crossed in his usual "alert" stance.

I guessed I had been still, staring at him for a noticeably long time, because he broke the silence in asking, "Are you upset with me?"

I hesitated before replying, "Now why would you say that?"

I skidded my fingers along the water's surface, watching the steam rise in the gaps.

"Ever since you returned from finding the injured Raichu..."

I cut him off, "you mean when you didn't trust me with leading the Diamond Clan members to the Raichu?"

"I never said I didn't trust you," Adaman whirled around, eyes meeting mine. Luckily, the water was up to my neck, otherwise I would feel overwhelmingly vulnerable.

"Then why were you so against me helping that Raichu?!"

"What?" He raised a confused brow.

"You don't think I have what it takes to be the hero? You don't like me stealing your leadership role?" I raised a judgemental brow back.

It was then that I realized just how irritated I was. When I teleported here four years ago, I was forced to play hero the entire time because it meant survival. Now, the "hero" was the only thing I knew to be. Adaman was trying to take that responsibility away from me and-

"You already are a hero and a leader," Adaman explained. "I just thought you should stay back, rest, and let other people do some of the work when you've already done a lot for the day,"

I narrowed my eyes at him. He knew what I was capable of. I was the one who fell from the space-time rift, the one who saved Jubilife, the clans, the land of Hisui.