Operation Kindness: Gladion x Reader

Step 4 - Desperate Measures

ılı.lıllılı.ıllı.

ᴺᵒʷ ᵖˡᵃʸᶦⁿᵍ; [ Little Raindrop by Static-P ]

0:34 ——◦———— -2:04

↠ⁿᵉˣᵗ ˢᵒⁿᵍ ↺ ʳᵉᵖᵉᵃᵗ ⊜ ᵖᵃᵘˢᵉ

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-Your POV-

     "No," his viridian eyes were bizarrely filled with unexplainable rage, and all traces of bright chartreuse faded from his gaze. I should have expected this, but clearly, I was in denial.

     The sky's so blue, with a spectacular ocean view, I'm sure. That's the reason it was such a shame when the tears blurring my vision crippled my ability to see the warm, setting sun emblazoned with vibrant colors that shone through my near-silent sobs that wracked my frame.

     I didn't want my fantasy of kindness to end...

     But here it lay at my feet along with my farfetched daydreams, smashed into unrecoverable fragments too sharp to piece back together safely.

     Rain began to fall around me, plastering my hair to my face and sticking to my eyelashes, mixing with welling tears. Soft tip taps of the little raindrops plunging and crashing to the ground and rooftops, soaking Alola and me in a freezing shower that rivaled my tears.

     Rejection was far more harsh and chilling than I had ever expected. As the blonde walked down the paved street, away from where I fell to my knees, I was slowly drenched from the sudden downpour. Shuddering breaths made my entire body tremble and shake loose more of the never-ending tears.

     Why didn't that work...? If hoping was enough, he'd be right here... why was I left all alone in the end? As thunder crashes all around me, I start to wonder, am I the one to blame?

     Where did I go wrong?

- - - Earlier that day - - -

     Shielding my eyes from the day break's intense sunlight with one hand, I hold Rowlet in my other arm, swinging my legs merrily. I was daintily perched on the wooden boards of the porch that sat in front of the entrance of my apartment. I sipped a pink lemonade that I'd bought and chilled in my mini fridge yesterday — after adding fresh ice cubes and a slim straw, of course.

     The cool, refreshing drink was perfect for the estimated warmth of Alola's climate. Summer heat always has me in a blissful daze... and a seemingly permanent image of Gladion's pale face was unshakable as I continued to slurp up the cherry blossom-pink liquid.

     My next and likely final tactic was up, not that I'm saying there are other solutions, but my face flushed just thinking about my next step.

     I would try... um, this might come off as really, really odd, but... I could ask him out... on a date.

     For some reason or another, I couldn't picture his reaction if I asked him. Would his forest eyes widen in shock? Would he be stunned speechless? Would he ignore my request entirely? Or possibly accept...?

     The possible outcomes were almost dizzying. But my best course of action wasn't to beat around the bush — It was to ask him outright.

     I was just about to drain the last of my pink lemonade when the door behind me opened with a startling creak. I shift my position to see Gladion walk across the smooth, worn wooden floorboards of the railing-less porch we shared.