No Feelings Allowed (Raihan x OC, NSFW)

20 - Only Human

Here we go guys. The big confrontation. Stay strong, Sammy!

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Johto. Years ago...

Samantha's fingers tangled in her dress, which felt far too revealing, though it only exposed her shoulders, really, and fell to her calves. She'd always worn sleeves, though, and certainly never dresses--not since she was a little girl, before she traded them for shorts. She hadn't worn makeup ever, either, her Pokémon journey keeping such things a moot point , and yet she'd let her best friend gussy her up. Rebecca had told her it would just "enhance" her features and make her stand out at the gala, which, of course, she wanted to do, right? She needed to make a good impression after defeating Lance just a few months ago and obtaining the rank of Indigo Champion. She was supposed to be having fun here, too; to help ease the burden of losing her mother.

Yet, all she felt was uncomfortable, surrounded by all the strange faces and people dressed up in ornate dresses and slick suits. She wished Lance was here; at least she knew him, and he'd been the one to support and console her when she got the news of her mother's passing. Without his words she knew she would have bowed out of the fight, but he'd encouraged her, and she'd won. He'd been proud of her, too--like how she imagined her mother would have. But she wasn't here, and neither was he, and she didn't feel confident enough to say hello to the other League members, especially when they were busy talking.

No, she was alone. Not even Rebecca was here, and she couldn't call Darcy. Her stepsister had only shown up for the funeral and then left, saying only that she was staying in Hoenn for some job. The entire time she'd been cold and curt, seemingly uncaring of her win beyond a short "congratulations" that didn't feel like she meant it and a "sorry" about their mother that came out hollow. Samantha wanted to hate Darcy for it--for abandoning her; for leaving her like Dad had. And Mom. And everyone else. She only had their neighbor back home who was the closest thing to an aunt she'd ever had and had even mourned her mother with her.

Samantha sighed, sipping more of her champagne before setting it on the table next to her. She leaned back in her fancy chair, wondering what the hell she was even doing here. She'd told herself it was to make connections to make the second half of her journey--the one to become Grand Champion--easier now that she had only her mother's meager inheritance and her both her parents' life insurance, which would only do so much. She could earn some from Pokémon battling, but she had to keep her team top shape, and that cost excess money. The life of trainer was becoming harder, especially now that she was eighteen and losing League aid as a minor. Yet, she just felt foolish. Her media fame had dwindled already, the story of the girl who "won in memory of her mother" was old news, crested by the fall of Team Rocket by an unknown trainer who was on the rise to become Champion. Sure, she had some sponsorship now, but who knew how long those would last?

She wanted to leave.

She didn't belong here, in this upper-class world.

She wanted to go home, but it was empty. And cold. Anyone who loved her now was gone.

"Excuse me, miss? Are you alright?" a voice called out, and Samantha jumped, head whipping up to find a young man standing before her. 

She hadn't even seen or heard him, although the orchestra music was rather loud, and she'd been staring at her hands, too. She couldn't help staring at him, his brown hair slicked back perfectly, with a few strands falling over the front on one side. His eyes were like amber gems, so bright and cheerful in the chandelier lighting. His suit was a pristine white; slick and proper, with a rhododendron pinned to the pocket to match the dark undershirt. He had an air of propriety about him, from the way he carried his head high, or how he held out a handkerchief embroidered with an elegant A on the corner.