Unsanctioned (Gladion X Fem! Reader)

Breaking Things Into Pieces

Gladion and I made our way through the town, passing by all of the once lively houses that had been laid to waste and tampered with. Puddles of dark paint and obnoxious graffiti covered the once clean city streets, which were also littered with Team Skull members. Despite my offer, Gladion insisted on taking on every single one by himself unless multiple approached us at once.

"This is it," he sighed, closing his eyes. We stood together in front of the biggest building, the rain still crashing down on us. "This is where Guzma is."

"Let's go in," I ordered, grabbing him by the hand and tugging it forward lightly. The blonde's face turned red as he looked at me with wide eyes, and in a blink he returned to his usual self. He shifted to pulling me behind him as he pulled the large door open and led me inside.

When we first entered, there were no grunts in sight. The only thing worth noting was the copious amount of debris and moved furniture lining the hallways. Dust filled the air as well, making it slightly difficult to breathe. The whole time, Gladion did not let go of my hand. His were substantially larger than mine, with a grip that was strong but not to the point of being uncomfortable.

"These Team Skull people really need a maid," I snidely remarked.

"Really," he agreed with a click of his tongue. "As long as it isn't you or something."

"Do you not like the thought of me in a maid outfit?" I asked sarcastically-- although it was clear that Gladion did not take it as sarcasm. He covered his mouth with his hand in thought, and I lightly smacked him on the chest. He suddenly had a large frown on his face, like a small puppy that had just been injured. "I'm sorry! Now isn't the time for this."

"It's ok...." he muttered in his usual standoffish tone. After clearing out the whole first floor and battling all of Guzma's cronies, it was time to trek up to the second floor.

Just as we were halfway through climbing the staircase, I noticed a shadow growing in size overhead. I looked up and saw an old chandelier plummeting to the ground, and I was standing right underneath it.

"WATCH OUT!"

Gladion pushed me out of the way, making me slide down the stairs onto the first floor. The chandelier fell straight through the staircase, putting a large gap between Gladion and I that would be nearly impossible to cross.

"(Y/n)!" He called, crouched over and staring at me. "Are you ok?!"

"I'm fine," I muttered weakly, sitting up and giving him a thumbs-up. Who could have done that to us? It was no common accident.

"I can't cross," I sighed as I walked up to where the gap was. I peered down, seeing no end to the hole in the ground. I didn't want to risk possibly ending up wherever that chandelier did.

"Hey, (y/n), darling," he whispered, my heart fluttering at the word 'darling'. "Don't worry. I've got it from here. Just stay right where you are, ok?"

I nodded as I leaned up against the wall, watching him sprint up the staircase with a strangely new spirit. I let out a faint sigh as I threw Decidueye's pokéball, the large bird coming out prepared to battle. He suddenly realized my state of anguish and perched next to me. I was about to drift off when I was suddenly greeted by a person in white towering above me.

"Huh?" I exclaimed, looking up and seeing a few Aether foundation members in front of me. "Did you guys come to save me?"

"Sure," the one in front of me sneered, a cold glint in his eyes.

"Please don't do this," I begged, watching in horror as he pulled out some sort of object from the pocket of his uniform. Decidueye began to squak angrily, positioning his wings in an attempt to strike. I quickly put him back into his pokéball in hopes that he wouldn't harm himself trying to help me.

The boy pulls out a small sphere and throws it on the ground, enveloping me in a thick could of smoke. I felt my body grow numb, but the last thing that was on my mind was whether or not Gladion was safe. I had hoped I'd be fine, and was almost certain of it.

As for him...