Pokémon Gladion x Moon - More than a Friend

Part 31

"N-no, don't apologise to me. Apologise to yourself" Moon responded. She tried to do this professionally but in reality she didn't know what to do. Gladion's heart was beating so loud she could hear it when they were silent. "I... I never wanted you to know..." Gladion said quietly, still avoiding eye contact. "Why? Why would you... do something like that to yourself?" Moon asked. You could hear the heartbrake in her voice. Gladion didn't know what to say, how to answer. "Please. I need to know" Moon said, tears starting to form in her eyes. Gladion took a deep breath and explained, "It... It's a form of control. When everyone else is hurting me... I need to know I'm s-still in control of my own feelings..." Moon knew she didn't have the right to be mad at him. He was a victim. "That is not okay." Moon blurted out. "I-" he started. "No. I'm... I'm not gonna let you guilt me into letting you continue this." Moon interrupted. She really didn't want to, but she knew she had to act strict and adult here. "Even if you feel like you're alone, you're not. You never were. Even when you ran away from home, Lillie still loved you. Can you imagine how she would react to this? She would spend every waking hour helping you." Moon convinced. She held his left hand and looked him straight in the eyes as she said "and now you have me too. I am going to help you through this in every way I possibility can. I know you'd do the same for me." Gladion hugged Moon. She felt his hair drape past her shoulder, so his face was directly touching her, and the dampness from his tears. She could hear his soft sobs next to her ear. "Th-thank you..." he whispered. She hugged tighter at the sound of his weak voice. "for Everything."