Pokémon Su/Mo One-shots

Picking up the Pieces

Technically Anime-verse... but takes elements from Game-verse. Loosely inspired by various Lonashipping Fanfics on AO3.

Twice Mitsuki tends to Gladion's wounds and the first time he tends to hers.

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~1~

She didn't expect to run into him in the cave. She had only sought shelter from the sudden thunderstorm. Instead of shelter she found herself staring bewilderedly at Lillie's older brother.

Gladion.

His voice was sharp and rough, but through her bafflement she didn't catch what he said. His eyes burned with defiance, emitting an ominous glow in the dim light, jaw locked and mouth pressed into a hard line. The damp cave was dark, only illuminated by the intermittent flashes of lightning, but the quality of the lighting couldn't hide the sight or distinct smell.

"You're... bleeding..." she pointed out.

The sticky red liquid trailed down his arm from long thin gashes torn through cloth and flesh that he was uselessly pressing bandages into. The trail led to the Pokémon lurking near the stream behind him, silver eyes gleaming and low growls rumbling from it.

She knew not what it was nor whether it was friend or foe, but for safety she stepped forward, Artemis' Poké Ball in hand, to prevent it lunging at them. Gladion reached back, tangling his fingers through its dull gray mane, and the snarls dissipated.

A breath she didn't know she was holding released as she lowered her Dartrix's Poké Ball.

"Are you deaf?" Gladion snarled at her, "Leave and find somewhere else."

Mitsuki stiffened for a brief moment. She thought about listening, trusting Gladion's capability, but she trusted her gut. And her gut agreed with the five years of first-aid training and certification her mother put her through.

"I-I'm just trying to help," she told him, stowing the Poké Ball in her bag and fishing out a rag. "You're injured—"

"I didn't ask," Gladion bit back. The Pokémon stepped in front of him, its growls resuming and echoing through the rusted metal of its hollow helmet. In spite of the blood on its dark-green talons and matting its black fur, it did seem to be trying to protect him.

The thunder outside cracked across the sky. Mitsuki shivered, rainwater dripping from her halter-top, shorts, and hair.

The Pokémon whimpered, breaking the staring match as it turned to its trainer, claws raised and head ducked.

"Silvally, no—" he feebly attempted to push the beast away, eyes wide, but a talon sliced through the fabric of his black shirt and the skin of his shoulder. He winced at the strike.

So that's how he was injured, she identified. She bit her lip as Gladion refused to meet her eyes.

Stuffing the rag in her hands into the back pocket of her shorts, she stepped forward. Silvally turned toward her, hunched over and meek. She opened her hands, approaching it slowly. She could sense the fear it held, saw it in its shadowed silver eyes, like the terrified child she had been when she was seven wishing her family was home to chase the scary storms away. She smiled weakly, willing it to hear or sense her feelings like she could sense its.

She understood; she was scared too.

"What are you—" Gladion began, watching as bewilderedly as she had. But Silvally remained still as she approached and her fingers brushed its mane. She ran her fingers through the silky smooth locks, murmuring soothingly into its ears as she wrapped her arms around its neck.