The Ereri Project (#2)

Battle (Pokémon)

Eren sit together in the hallway while they listen to Hanji talk, both a little bored. Eren holds his chin in his hands with his elbows resting on his knees. Levi has his hands locked together and resting on top of his crossed legs.

"For the sake of time, I've only asked them to bring three Pokémon each but I've asked two close friends of mine to battle today as a demonstration for you!" Even from the hallway, Eren and Levi can hear excited chatter from children inside the room. "Please welcome Current Shiganshina Champion Eren Jaeger and retired Champion Levi Ackerman."

Eren bolts out of his chair with a grin. "Ready?" he asks.

"I guess," Levi shrugs.

They walk inside and all the kids are grinning, waiting for them. Hanji ushers the kids up into the bleachers so they're out of the way while she stays on the gym floor to referee.

Eren and Levi stand on opposite sides of the gym.

"This match will consist of three one-on-one battles," she announces. "Each battle is over when I or either one of the trainers decide their Pokémon cannot fight any longer! Ready?" she raises her hand where Eren and Levi can see. She sings her hand back down. "Begin!"

Eren pulls out his pokéball first. "Arcanine, I choose you!"

In a flash of red light, the great fire-dog roars as he takes his place in front of Eren, grinning and ready to go.

"Interesting," Levi says, taking out his own. "Gardevoir, I choose you!"

Eren grins, his battle high kicking in. "Arcanine, bite!"

Arcanine leaps forward to bite the delicate psychic Pokémon but Levi shouts, "Teleport!" and she disappears from in front of him, she reappears behind him and Levi commands, "Psychic!"

Arcanine is lifted in the air and thrown against the wall. The fire-type growls in frustration and Eren shouts, "Roar!"

Arcanine lets out a sound so great that the room vibrates with it and for a moment, Gardevoir is too shaken to move. "Fire fang!" Eren shouts before Levi has time to counter.

Arcanine leaps and gives a burning bite to the other Pokémon. "Ember!" Eren adds.

Dizzy and burnt, Gardevoir falls over. Levi is smiling as he calls Gardevoir back to her ball. "Great job," he whispers to her and returns her to his belt.

Eren cheers and jumps on Arcanine. "I knew you could do it!"

Arcanine happily and gently, head-butts Eren's stomach. Eren returns him to his ball and returns him to his belt.

Levi takes the next ball off his belt. "Go, Roserade!"

"Vee, go get 'em!"

Roserade and Sylveon both take their places. "Magical leaf!" Levi calls.

"Vee, light screen!"

A wall of light appears in front of Sylveon that protects her from Roserade's leaves. "Stun spore!" Levi shouts.

Sylveon can't get out of the way of the dust so she falls where she stands. "Poison sting!" Levi commands.

She barely rolls out of the way before the poison breezes past her and hits the floor. She struggles back onto her feet.

"Vee, can you keep going?" Eren asks. She nods sharply. He smiles. "Moonblast, then!"

She blasts the flower Pokémon who blocks it as beat she can but still takes significant damage. She stumbles but determinedly stays standing. "Vine whip!" Levi calls.

Sylveon dodges but immediately after, Levi shouts, "Poison sting!"

Eren's blood runs cold when he realizes the attack was aimed at him and not Sylveon. With a shout, she leaps in the way, a direct hit. Eren frowns. "That was dirty," he whines.

"I fight to win, brat," Levi replies. "And that was Roserade's decision, not mine."

Sylveon still stands, however weakly, but stumbles.

Levi calls, "Vine whip."

Roserade begins the attack but Eren dives into the arena and grabs Sylveon, letting Roserade's attack strike his back. "That's enough!" he shouts.

Levi's expression gets less competitive. "Do you want to end the match?"

Eren shakes his head. "No, but Sylveon's done."

Roserade runs over and hugs Eren apologetically. "It's alright," he says.

She stoops down in front of Sylveon who wants to get back up. "Don't worry," Eren says, petting the pink and white fairy type. "You did well."

"Eren," Levi says. He looks up to see Levi tossing him something. "Give her this, she'll be fine."

Eren sprays the Antidote on Sylveon and she perks back up. Eren grins. "Alright, we can play later."

He returns her to her ball and Levi does the same. The children all stare at them with bated breath. "Are you two ready to continue?" Hanji asks hesitantly.

"Yup," Eren replies. "Gyrados, go!"

Levi makes a face. "Well this'll be interesting. Milotic!"

Both water-types look at each other. Hanji makes a face. "This'll be as tedious as watching two Metapods harden at each other."

Levi snorts. "There's nothing as tedious as that."

Eren smirks, he has an ace up his sleeve.

"Milotic, hydro pump!"

Gyrados dodges as the stream follows him. "Hyper beam!" Eren commands.

Milotic dodges so Gyrados takes the opportunity to get closer. "Ice fang!" Eren calls.

"What?" Levi asks as Gyrados clamps down on Milotic, freezing the immediate area.

Levi makes a face. "Milotic, wrap!"

Eren grins as Gyrados lets go of his bite. "Dragon rage!"

Because of the wrap, the attack does significant damage to Milotic, knocking her out.

The children all cheer. Levi smiles as he calls Milotic back. "I'm out of practice," he mutters.

Eren runs over and high-fives Gyrados' tail. "Great job, big guy!"

Levi walks over. "You're better at this than I thought," Levi says with a smile.

Eren's cheeks flush. "I don't think I would've made it if you would've brought Dragonair and Rapidash, actually."

The children all rush off the bleachers and crowd them, all trying to talk over each other.

Hanji walks over. "All right guys, settle down. I'm sure they'll be happy to answer all your questions. Just raise your hands." A little girl has her hand up immediately. "Yes, Cara?"

"Can we play with your Pokémon?"

Eren and Levi look at one another. "I suppose," Levi replies.

They let all their Pokémon out and the kids rush over to play, leaving all three adults standing together. "I guess we're not as interesting," Levi says.

"Hmhm," Eren smiles as kisses Levi's cheek. "I think you're interesting."

Levi rolls his eyes. "You just kicked my butt, I don't care if you think I'm interesting."

"Oh come on, babe," Eren says, hugging Levi.

Levi frowns.

Eren kisses him. "We can have a rematch later if you want."

Levi smirks. "I'll be taking you up on that."