Perfect Strangers (James X Reader, Pokémon)

The wait

Your legs felt like giving way and crashing to the floor, but you wouldn't let them. You just had to get to a center. Before... You didn't want to think about it. You glanced at James's worried face as you ran through the town. You hated to see him like this. It made you feel a bit guilty. "There!" You shouted, pointing to a Pokémon center in the distance. You used all your remaining strength to sprint up to it and run up to the front desk. "Joy!" You said, exhausted from running. "Please..." You tried to slow your breathing and get your energy back. "Please help my Mareanie." James said, finishing the sentence for you. "Oh, dear." She said, picking her up out of James's arms. "Wigglytuff! Fetch the stretcher! Quickly!" She shouted to a pink Pokémon behind her. "Wiggly!" It said before running off. Moments later, it reappeared with a stretcher which Joy put Mareanie on, before they disappeared again.

Still trying to catch your breath, you led James to a seat by the window. You sat down and both of you were lost in your thoughts for a while, until you decided to break the awkward silence. "She'll be ok." You said, trying to comfort him. "Yeah, I mean... Does this make me a bad trainer, not seeing that she wasn't well but making her battle anyway?" He asked. "No! Of course not!" You replied. "Look me in the eye and tell me I'm not a bad trainer." You looked up at him, and softly said: "You're not a bad trainer, James." You thought you saw tears forming in the corner of his eyes, but it was gone again in an instant.

About ten minutes passed, and still Nurse Joy hadn't come out to tell you Mareanies' condition. James was staring at the floor, a troubled look on his face. You put your hand on his and smiled at him. Just then Nurse Joy came back in the room, looking around. You both looked hopefully up to her. She noticed you and gestured for you to come over. Still holding his hand, you and James followed Joy along a corridor of rooms, each with ill or hurt Pokémon in them. She stopped outside one of them, opened the door and walked in. You followed her close behind. And there, on the bed was Mareanie. "Oh!" James exclaimed, letting go of your hand and running over. She looked ok, if a bit worn out. "She's doing ok. I can't see any serious illnesses, and she was just overtired. If you let her rest when you get home, and then she should be ok. "Mareanie?" Mareanie jumped up and climbed onto James's shoulder. "You're ok!" He exclaimed, smiling fondly at it. You smiled. "Y/N!" Ash exclaimed. "Hi!" You called at your brother and sister. "Where did you run off to?" Mallow asked. "Um... Here?!" You joked. "Thank you so much, Nurse Joy." James said, turning and giving her a small bow. Mallow studied you suspiciously, before nodding her head towards James. You gave her a look of 'don't say it' before walking out of the room.