Saving Shard

Chapter 12

The man beside Misty was young, about her age, and bronzed from endless hours beneath Ra'Tala's sun. This young man had his hair styled in a wild array of brunette spikes. He was clothed in a pair of tropical swim trunks and a white t-shirt, which adorned the graphic of some rock band on the front. The t-shirt was fit snugly enough to flaunt the firm, muscular body beneath it. Misty's sight now lingered upon his face . . . he was handsome. No. Beyond handsome. She had never seen such a beautiful man in her life . . . and he was smiling at her. His smile was welcoming, it was confident and dimples played low on his cheeks.

But his eyes . . .

His eyes were bluer than the sea surrounding the island.

His eyes were twin cobalt thieves, each captivating a piece of her heart.

His eyes reflected the same desperate longings within her very soul.

"Is it . . . you?" Misty was barely audible above the band, but she knew that he had heard her.

The young man's grin deepened and his eyes flared with anticipation. He reached out his hand and casually took a hold of Misty's. There was no glove on his hand. Misty could feel him. Large hands, strong and hot within her own. A searing euphoric-burn ravaged Misty's flesh — spreading like literal wildfire from her fingers to her face. Misty blushed fiercely, her cheeks reddening as though a Magmar had grabbed her.

"How-how-how—" Misty stammered, her words lodged upon her tongue like cubes of ice. But if he continued to hold her hand, those ice cubes would soon melt.

"Hi, I'm Gary. I believe we met at the Sweel exhibit earlier today?"

Heartbreak was a disease that Misty had been slowly suffering from. It plagued her ever since Shard took Giovanni's ten bullets and fell over the ravine.

Gary Oak she knew had died nearly ten years ago, and yet here he was before her now. Shard had died just months ago, and yet here he was also before her now. Misty narrowed her eyes, studying every detail of this handsome enigma's face. Maybe this young man was neither Gary Oak or was he Elite Rocket Shard? Maybe this beautiful stranger was instead his own person, for the first time in his life? Maybe he just maintained a little bit of the other two? Enough of Gary Oak to charm and draw her in, and enough of Shard that Misty knew she could easily fall in love with this man, and she would do anything to be with him.

"Miss, you do remember me from the exhibit, right? I was that guy with the dashing-good-looks who sat next to you?"

Misty eyed him curiously, but nodded along with his odd fictional tale of their 'meeting' earlier in the day. She was no fool, she understood that –- for whatever reason— she needed to play along with his strange verbal disguise. Perhaps he was nervous that the wrong person might overhear them? Misty was no secret agent, but she knew that both the authorities and the Rockets believed him dead. The wrong eavesdropper could equal his death. For real this time.

Gary's fingers squeezed her own, gently stroking her palm. That euphoric-heat blazed far beyond her checks now. Every uncovered inch of skin carnally broadcasted the effect he had on her. Misty was suddenly thankful she at least had some clothes on. The entire pub didn't need to know that she was hot for her soup date!

"Miss?" Gary raised an amused eyebrow. He must have been impressed that Misty could damn-well change color like a Kecleon! No doubt her skin matched her hair right about now.

"Y-yes." Misty cleared her throat, using every once of self-restraint to keep from launching into his arms and bombarding him with questions (and kisses). "I-I do remember you. I never forgot."