Obsidian and Plum: Unlikely Events

Chapter 5 - Anguish of misconception

According to Paul, it was now Thursday, so the storm had lasted for five days so far – since it started that is. To Ash's ears, it currently sounded less violent... so, hopefully it was passing. He'd woken up once already that morning, but had returned to sleep after an hour or so, and when he'd woken up again Paul had encouraged him to eat more soup.

Soup, it was all that his throat would allow him to swallow, and even that hurt. He just didn't have much of an appetite at all to be honest – if Paul wasn't basically forcing him to eat, he wouldn't haven't eaten period. That was strange for Ash, because he had an appetite close to that of a Snorlax and he never turned down food.

Ash noticed that Paul would only eat the trial mix, protein bars or noodles. He swore that they were his noodles, but he assumed Paul didn't want to eat the soup because it was all that Ash could eat, so it didn't bother him at all if they were his – he understood the situation they were in and he owed Paul his life. Ash found it rather sweet actually, that Paul was thinking about what he needed and adjusting the supplies accordingly.

Observing, that was all he'd been doing today so far. He'd been watching Paul – now that he wasn't delirious or whatever. His memories of the last few days were fuzzy, just random feelings, sounds, and blurry pieces of random memory. Observing and thinking in silence – because Paul still wasn't talking to him. It allowed him to try and clean up his mind, but he was still unwell, still feeling out of sorts.

Ash had also been working up the courage to outright ask Paul what his deal was, but it wasn't as easy as he thought it would be. Paul still didn't really say anything to him, and he was still sitting as far away as the cave would allow. Paul wouldn't even look at him unless he had to. Ash couldn't figure out what he'd done, maybe it was Paul being Paul, but... something still felt like it was more than that.

It was late afternoon before Ash finally built up the courage to say anything. So, after sitting in silence for ages, Ash bit the bullet and opened his mouth. "The weather seems quieter. Do you think it's dying down?" His voice was still hoarse and rough, and remembering how Paul had threatened to strangle him if he mentioned the weather, he was taking a risk.

Paul looked towards Ash sharply, then slowly turned his gaze towards the cave exit. "Perhaps. Now you mention it, it does seem to be pissing off finally – slowly."

"That's good right? Means we should be able to get out of here real soon." Ash smiled, hoping Paul was more up to talking then he'd been before. Paul still seemed like he had a stick up his arse, but that was just Paul's way, or so he hoped.

Paul just looked at him once and then closed his eyes again. Ash sighed as Paul just sat there in silence – his hands in his pockets and ignoring him again. "You really don't want to talk huh? Seriously, have I pissed you off or something?" Ash asked rather bluntly this time, feeling a little ashamed that Paul's ignorance was bothering him so much.

Paul's head shot up and he stared at Ash, he'd never heard the trainer swear before and it threw him. The Ash he knew had a childish temper sometimes, but no matter how much shit he'd thrown at the obsidian-haired trainer in the past, he'd still never heard the young man swear at him. Come to think of it, Ash hadn't even used that language against that 'Team rocket' when they'd tried to take his Pikachu. "Since when do you swear?" Was all Paul asked.

Ash assumed that Paul was avoiding his question. "Since I got stuck in a fucking storm and had my leg crushed by a tree maybe. Since I don't get why my only human companion refuses to talk to me, and just fucking sits there ignoring me." Ash rasped out, his last few words breaking as his voice strained before a coughing fit broke out.

"Trying to shout at me when you can't even talk straight – Idiot!" Paul scolded, trying to hide the concern in his voice and feelings by acting like he didn't care. He had to force himself to stay put, instead of rushing to his aid like his instincts wanted him to. Pikachu gave him daggers as the rat handed Ash a bottle of water, far too concerned and dotting on its trainer. Honestly though, Paul was glad that Pikachu was helping Ash because it meant that he didn't have to.