Rival Me This [Pokémon Fanfiction]

07| Blue's Minor Crisis

Blue didn't get much sleep that night. As he expected, Bede gave him the silent treatment for the rest of the day. He was content to just sit on the bleachers and watch the few more challengers that came in. Strangely enough, he didn't seem as focused as before, like he had something else on his mind.

   Several times Blue thought about trying to apologize for upsetting Bede in the first place with his talk about Victor and Rose. As much as Bede had upset him, he didn't want things to go out on a bad note, if not for the sake of his dying embers of hope, then his actual sake since there was a chance that this wasn't going to go down well with the League Board. Blue was confident about maintaining his status, but it would make future Gym Leader conferences awkward as hell. Opal was a scary lady.

   The only thing that kept Blue from apologizing was the fact that Bede has been the one to start things off with a bad attitude. While an apology could be given, it wasn't completely warranted. Also, Blue wasn't going to chance giving the kid any satisfaction in admitting his wrongdoings. Maturity at its finest, but it wasn't like Blue cared. If Bede was going to be immature about all of this, then Blue would do the same.

   Surprisingly, Silver didn't say a word about what had happened when he dragged Bede out. When Blue asked later on, the answer was maddeningly inconclusive.

   "You should be able to guess, and maybe give things more thought."

   That was sadly the most confusing thing Blue had heard that day. Thought? What thought? He'd been doing nothing but thinking since before he asked and even until now. And to top it all off, Red didn't answer Blue's message. It took all he had to not compulsively check his Pokégear every two minutes. He could've been busy for all Blue knew, but how could he not make time for his rival?

   Blue did make the comparison of his own actions to those of an obsessed partner waiting for their significant other's response, but he refused to acknowledge it. After all, these were important matters. He was just making sure that things were... as usual.

   The morning came, and still no reply from Red. Blue was again the first one up, and he appreciated the silence that filled the apartment. The Gym naturally opened later on Sundays, so there wasn't as much of a rush to be ready as there'd been yesterday.

   At around nine Blue sat at the kitchen table, half-slumped over a cup of coffee. A haze of tiredness draped over him, weighing like a thick blanket. This was his second cup, and he hoped the caffeine would kick in soon. He gave the office door a glance. No signs of life yet.

   Just today and tonight, and he'll be outta my hair, he thought wistfully.

   He was halfway through his third cup of coffee when he heard the quiet creak of the office door open. Out of the corner of his eye Blue glimpsed a flash of pink, and then the bathroom door closed. Well, Bede was up now. Time to continue the silent treatment, this time with marshmallow-less Lucky Chants included for an even stronger scowl from Bede.