By Your Side - An AgencyShipping Fanfiction

Chapter Two

He makes a promise to White for the first time when he is seven years old.

They're sitting in Bianca's backyard, all four of them. Cheren is telling the girls about the time he and Black wrote down their dreams in their journals; how Black's was "to win the Pokémon League" and Cheren's was, "to support Black's dream".

"Oh!" exclaims Bianca. "Me, me too! I'll support Black's dream too!"

Cheren nods importantly and writes this down as Black grins at Bianca.

They all turn to look at White, expectant.

"No, thank you," says White primly. "I'll be too busy with my dream to help Black."

"What!" cries Black, equal parts offended and shocked. "You don't have a dream!"

"Just 'cause I don't shout it out my window every morning doesn't mean I don't have one," she sniffs.

He scowls at her. "Well, what is it?"

"To be the best producer in show business," says White proudly, "and to create something that both pokémon and people can perform in."

"Lame," mumbles Black. It doesn't sound nearly as cool as becoming Pokémon League Champion, but Bianca and Cheren are looking very impressed.

"...Actually, I changed my mind," Bianca announces after a moment. "My dream is to support White's dream."

"Hey!" Black jumps to his feet, outraged. "That's not fair!"

White stands up too, crossing her arms and scowling. "So she can support your dream, but not mine?"

"Your dream's dumb!"

"Not as dumb as yours!"

"Wait..." Cheren hovers uncertainly, but it's hard to stop Black and White once they get going.

"Best producer in show business? What does that even mean?"

"Ha! Like being Champion isn't the most cliched goal ever!"

"What's a clee-shay? Ugh, never mind, you're such a know-it-all!"

"Know-it-all? You're the loudest, rudest, grossest little boy I ever--"

"I've got it!" shouts Bianca out of nowhere. "You can support each other's dreams!"

This is surprising enough that everyone else shuts up in order to stare at her blankly.

"What?" says Black.

"Support each other's dreams," Bianca repeats, her round face glowing with triumph. "Black!" She points an energetic finger in his direction. "You'll need things to help you challenge the Pokémon League, right? Pokéballs and potions and stuff?" Black hesitates, then nods unhappily. Bianca pivots. "White! You'll need help with telling everyone about your big show business plan, right?"

"I guess," sighs White.

"So, you both can help each other out," says Bianca happily. "Perfect, right?"

It's...actually not a bad suggestion. Black needs funds to achieve his dream, he can't keep mooching off of Cheren's pocket money forever. But...it's White. She does have good ideas sometimes, but mostly she's a pain. And besides, even if he agreed, there's no way she would—

"Fine," says White.

What?

"Black," she says. She looks determined. "My dream is really, really important to me. I have to reach it, no matter what. So...if you help me with my dream, I'll help you with yours. Promise?"

"O...okay." He didn't think she would say yes, but...that's one thing they can agree on, at least. The importance of a dream. "I promise."

"You have to pinky-swear," Bianca insists, but White refuses.

"This is a business deal. We shake hands." She sticks out her own, her bottom lip jutting out challengingly, like she doesn't think Black will do it.

Now it's his turn to surprise her. He takes her hand and they shake on it, their entire arms pumping up and down wildly, their grips tight.

Neither of them wants to be the first to let go.