Between the Lines➳Skullshipping

Chapter 4~Traveling to Sinnoh

Guzma somehow survived going through the airport, cringing at how many people could be so annoying.

He passed by a young woman with two twins, who were absolutely loosing their cool while she frantically was on the phone, probably calling a relative because she was on the verge of breaking down.

'I'm never gonna have fuckin' kids, I wouldn't even be a role model to look up to.' Guzma thought in his head as he cruised through to get to his destination. He took a short stop to buy a farewell venti sized Tapu Cocoa, he didn't really know if Sinnoh would have the same refreshments and drinks he was used to.

By the time he finally trucked himself onto the plane and took a window seat, he was pretty wiped. Luckily, not very many people were taking the late flight to Sinnoh, so that was a huge bonus for him, thank Arceus.

Automatically grabbing his phone and headphones out, he mindlessly scrolled through random things, not caring about the few people around him scattered in the plane. After a few minutes, he glanced up, seeing a random boy grabbing his dads hand, excitedly tugging while spotting the row he wanted.

"Hey Dad! Let's sit in this row-"

"Shut up, go sit somewhere else away from me."

The mans voice was extremely demanding, almost having a tone of disgust in the young boy. He forcefully pulled his hand away and sat in one of the seats five rows ahead, leaving the boy staring at him while standing in the row.

"But Da-"

"I'm sick of you, go away. Go irritate someone else besides me. You lost a Pokémon battle again against some stupid little girl that had a weak Piplup, even though you had a huge type advantage. Tsk, you're a disappointment AND embarrassment to me."

Guzma only stared, feeling overwhelming emotions churn in his stomach. Anger, frustration, sympathy, guilt for never being...enough. His fists clenched, angry at the man who'd verbally harassed his son, who stood in the pathway motionless. His big, chocolate brown eyes whelmed with tears, his posture was stiff, he squeezed his palms together.

The only thing he could see was himself at that moment, except seeing the same body language in another boy. He had slightly ruffled golden-caramel blonde hair, somewhat having a character of his own crazy hair.

The boy began to speak, with trembles easily spotted in his quiet voice. "I-I'm s-sorry I wasn't g-good enough a-again.." The man didn't even look up to reply to the young boy. "Sorry will never be enough, just like you."

Guzma's eyes widened, then looked around the plane to see that the few other people didn't even notice what was going on. Of course they'd sit in the back, but to not see this?! He spun back around, almost wanting to get up until he saw a little body pass by him quickly. Guzma followed him with his eyes to see the little boy had scurried off into an empty row across from his, a few rows back.

Guzma shot a nasty glare at the man's head, absolutely infuriated and disgusted. All he wanted to do right now was land an uppercut right into his pretty face.

He slumped into his seat, hunching his shoulders again while his mind raced.

"Shut up, a bronze trophy?! That's not gonna cut it! I didn't raise my SON to be like this!"

"Dad! I'm sorry! I-I, well Kukui got-"

"I don't give a SHIT about what that stupid kid got! He's obviously better than you! You worthless-! You shouldn't have been BORN!" Little Guzma shrieked horrifyingly, hiding behind the couch to avoid a swing from a golf club. His whole little body shook and trembled, tears leaking from his eyes as the man approached him with a dangerous, murderous glint in his mad eyes.

Guzma could only make his body scoot back on his bottom, not being able to control his body functions. "WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!?" The man yelled, swinging the club back and following through.

'WHAP!'

Guzma let out another strangled shriek, feeling the end of the club hit his back from forming himself into a ball.

"Mommy-! MOMMY~!" The only words that came to mind he could scream, shrieking in pain as the club hit him three more times on his back, feeling a crack in his spine.

The man swung back again, following through more aggressively this time. "You disgrace-! GET OFF ME!" He dropped the club from his hands immediately, trying to rip the arms away from whoever had grabbed him.

"DON'T TOUCH HIM!" Guzma's eyes couldn't get bigger from seeing his mom hold his father back. "You're DRUNK!"

"He's the one you should be getting! You're taking his side?!" His father yelled, now arguing with his wife.

Guzma looked at the door while the two were arguing, taking a deep shaky breath in, then bolted for it. He ran outside, not daring to stop and look back. His breaths were heavy and quick, wheezing a little bit from sprinting somewhere that wasn't at home.

He didn't know where to go, what to do, all he knew is to keep running-

Guzma got up, his body walking back a few rows automatically from thinking too much about it.

Before he knew it, he was already speaking, grabbing the child's attention. "Yo, this seat open?"

The boy nodded his head, his face all red with his eyes all puffy and red from tears. "Yes sir." Guzma took the seat next to the young boy and glanced out the window to look one last time at the beautiful night of Alola.

"What's yo name?" Guzma asked, glancing from the side of the boy's face to the window. "Grant, I'm seven years old." He nodded, hearing the boy sniffle on his side.

Guzma had thoughts running through his head as he glanced back and forth, then suddenly having a realization that struck inside him, his eyes widening.

He could envision himself like this little boy, the same situation. He could see his younger self, having a timid and awkward body position from hiding away something that nobody else could see.

Except he could understand it, he could see right through the boy crystal clear.

"Ya know, ride'n a plane at night is better, y'can see all the diff'rent stars Arceus made for us." Guzma said, pointing to the glistening stars above. The little boy 'ooed' and 'ahh'd for a few moments, turning his lips into a smile. "Look at that one, sir! I like that one!" Grant excitedly pointed to a random star that he could only see, while Guzma formed half a smile on his own lips, remembering how he used to have that youthfulness, admiring the wonderful aspects of the world.

After a while went by, the plane was up in the air, flying through the clear sky. Grant happily chatted to Guzma, even though the young boy did most of the talking, pointing out anything that struck to him as looking cool.

A woman started handing out free snacks and drinks, and after a while she finally approached their lane. "What can I do for you two?"

"Orange juice please, ma'am!" Grant said, reaching out to grab the cup with both hands. "And for you, sir?"

"I'll have a-.." Guzma stopped for a second to think, glancing from the waitress to the boy next to him, glancing at his drink. "-I'll have an orange juice too."

Guzma grabbed the cold drink, setting it on the tray in front of him. He'd usually ask to pay for a beer, but this time...

It was different. He didn't want the boy to have an impression that he was like his father.

Maybe stepping out of his comfort zone was just what he needed.