/Nicole's POV/
I stumbled around in the dark forest, trying to see. Raiju had gone outside to have her babies, and I was going to find her. She was my best Pokemon after all.
"Need light?"
A light voice startled me. I whipped around.
Ruby was standing behind me, his red eyes bright. "Scared of the dark, Nicole?"
"Ruby!" I hadn't seen my old friend in years. "I haven't seen you since you were an edgy teen!"
Ruby smirked. "I've changed, Nicole."
"Does Brendan know you're outside?" Ruby's face suddenly darkened.
"No." I smiled at the thought of him. "He's not home."
"Explains a lot. C'mon." He took my hand.
"Don't touch me!" I spat.
"Whoa. Chill, girl." Ruby said coolly. "Don't you want to go inside?"
"Not until I find Raiju."
"We'll find her in the morning."
"We?" I spat. "We won't do anything! I will!"
"You were always determined, Nicole." Ruby teased.
I bared my teeth at him. "Shut up!"
"Holy frick! Look at those fangs!" Ruby's eyes widened.
"Don't touch my teeth," I growled as he tried to.
"What'll you do? Bite me?" Ruby tilted his head. "Don't."
"Maybe I will," I muttered. "I've bitten Brendan a few times."
"You bit him?" Ruby stepped back. "You scare me."
I shot him a dirty look.
"Sorry." Ruby rolled his eyes.
"If you're trying to flirt with me, it isn't working." I snapped.
"Well." Ruby muttered. "Nice attitude."
I growled a warning.
"Honestly, what are you, half cat or something? I have never heard anyone growl like that." Ruby said.
"You should have seen Brendan when I did that to him." I muttered. "He freaked."
"I can imagine."
I ignored Ruby's slanted comment. "Hand over the headlight, Ruby, before I really do bite you."
"No way!" Ruby took it off.
"I thought we were friends, Ruby!" I whined.
"Not right now, we're not."
"I'm warnin' you, you'll end up with bite marks all over your arms like Brendan." I warned.
Partially not true, I thought. I only bit him twice and then I fixed him.
A/N: savagery
Ruby rolled his eyes again. "Again. Nice attitude."
I leapt at him, knocking him to the forest floor.
"Ow!" Ruby shouted. "Get off, stupid girl!"
"Only Brendan is allowed to call me that!" I snarled. "Shut up!"
Ruby squirmed out of my grip. "Holy shit!"
I shook myself. "Did I hurt you?"
"No." Ruby glanced at me.
"Oh, great." I muttered. "I'm gonna kill you the next time you talk to me like that."
"How did I -?" Ruby cut himself off. "You're confusing, Nicole."
I turned on him. "Take that back!"
Ruby raised his hands as I got in his face. "Oh, really?! Well, you're not so bright either! So you can shut up!"
"Nicole." Ruby fixed me with a steady gaze. "The neighborhood is asleep."
"Sorry, Ruby. Don't tell me next that your and Sapphire's kids are asleep!" I snapped.
A solemn look crossed his eyes. "I have no idea where Sapphire is."
"Oh, Ruby." I stroked his sideburns back.
"She just.. Left." Ruby shrugged. "Oh, well, at least I can live in Adale without her snarling at me."
Then he looked at me fondly. "You remind me of her. I mean, you have those fangs."
He ran a hand down the side of my face.
I stared blankly at him. "Ruby.."
Then I shook myself out. "Ruby!"
"What?" Ruby looked startled.
"No! We are not a thing! RukiraShipping is not a thing!"
Ruby gasped as I leapt onto his back, digging my fingers into his shoulders. "Ow! Nicole, get off me!"
"Just no!" I spat. "I would never date an idiot like you!"
"Me?" Ruby gasped. "Idiot?"
Suddenly, the world swayed around me. I felt lost in his scent, and I got off him.
"I can't." I whispered. "I can't hurt you!"
"Were you gonna?" Ruby murmured. He kneeled down beside me.
I didn't answer. I was too ashamed.
"Oh, Nicole." Ruby's lips touched my jawline. His scent was so comforting and familiar.
He picked me up. "I love you, Nicole. I just love you so much.."
"We can't be." I whispered.
"I know." Ruby's eyes clouded, and he looked away. "You're happier with Brendan. I have to respect that."
"Its true," I whispered.
He stuck his nose in my hair. His breath was so warm, so comforting, so familiar, just like Brendan.
I raised my face to Rayquaza. Ruby looked up, not wanting to kiss me.
"No-no, come back here." I murmured.
Ruby's POV
I felt so guilty for teasing her. I had forgotten how sensitive her emotions were.
One slight provocation, and her mood changed faster than you could blink.
I didn't want to form the other kind of bond with her. She'd be with me then, and Brendan would hate me for the rest of his life.
Then again, cousins are like that. Especially if he's your rival.
Or enemy.
I was being dragged into the moment. I found myself kissing her a moment later.
Nicole pulled away, her eyes dull with.. Is that.. Pleasure?
