Thunder And Flames (N x Reader)

Truth Route [3]

"What are you talking about?" you ask. "What do you mean you've found him?"

His glasses glint.

"Maybe you can help me with this after all. I have a job for you." He slumps back in his chair and pulls up more pictures of that guy.

"What's going on?"

He scrolls through the pictures, and it's almost like watching someone grow up as the pictures show this man from the time he was small to him as a teenager.

"This is N. Lord Ghetsis lost him about two years ago."

"N?"

"Yes." Colress looks a bit sad. "He went missing. Lord Ghetsis has missed him so. He'll be overjoyed to hear that he's been found!"

"He ran off, though."

"Hm..." He taps his fingers against the desk. "Can you do something for me, Y/N? It's very important. Important beyond words."

You take a step back. "What...is it?"

Colress spins his chair around, looking quite serious. "Find N. And bring him back at whatever cost." He tells you about how one day N went missing after the old castle collapsed and hasn't been seen since.

But now that you've found him, you can bring him back, and Ghetsis will be happy again!

"But don't worry too hard about finding him. No need to go out of your way. I have a feeling you'll run into him again, so just continue on with your daily work."

"Yes, Colress," you say, standing straight. "I'll return him without fail!"

Colress chuckles. "No need to be so formal."

With that, you run out of the room while Colress waves.

Giallo of the Seven Sages tells you to go to Castelia City and snatch Pokémon from passing trainers. It's quite crowded there, so it would take someone a few seconds to notice their Minccino is no longer sitting on their shoulder.

Thanks to the Team Plasma uniform, you tend to stick out quite a bit, so you're now wearing casual clothing in the middle of a busy street in Castelia.

However, since it isn't very warm out, most people's Pokémon are nestled safely in their Pokéballs.

There's a trainer with a Pikachu on her shoulder, a rare Pokémon here in Unova, but since it's bright yellow it might be a little hard to take it without anyone noticing.

As you're about to make a move on someone's Emolga, you hear a familiar voice behind you.

"Oh, it's you."

You turn around to meet the gaze of none other than N himself!

He looks at you suspiciously, as if he expects you to run away or steal his wallet.

"N!" you exclaim on impulse.

Immediately his expression changes, his eyes widen and he takes a step back. "How do you know my name?"

At your silence, he repeats the question more demandingly. "How do you know my name?!"

a) "Colress told me! You're coming with me!"

b) "Um- I-"

c) "Someone told me."

a) "Colress told me! You're coming with me!"

He takes several steps back, shaking his head violently. "No. Nonononono. I'm not going back. I'll never go back!"

b) "Um- I-" you stutter.

"Say it!" He grabs your shoulders. "How do you know about me?"

"Just someone from HQ, it's nothing big."

c) "Someone told me." Simple as that. You don't need to say any more.

"Who told you? Was it someone from Team Plasma?"

"M-maybe! I don't have to tell you anything!"

"No..." He takes another step back. "I can't... Just forget about me. Goodbye." He runs off in the other direction.

You decide to follow after him, since you have a mission to complete after all. And also, what kind of reaction is that for just addressing him by his name?

N slips into an alleyway that twists and turns until it opens into a small terrace with grass, flowers, and a single tree.

By the time you reach him, the both of you are out of breath.

He's sitting under the tree, looking down at the soft grass below him.

A couple wild Pokémon sit near him, comforting him, but they flee once they see you. That gets his attention.

"Why are you here? I don't want you near me."

You sit down next to him. "I think I scared you. I'm sorry."

He doesn't look at you, but at the couple of Patrat that had been cuddled near him before you scared them away.

"Come here, my friends," he says, patting the grass beside him. "I won't let them hurt you."

The two of them slowly crawl towards him, then fall asleep right by his leg.

"I won't hurt either of them," you protest.

"I'm not going back to Team Plasma. I hope you know that."

"What happened to all that confidence you had back in Virbank?" you ask, mimicking the remark N had made when you first met.

"That's different. Returning there... I think I'd rather die. No, I certainly would."

That takes you by surprise. Didn't he go missing? Wasn't he worried about Lord Ghetsis?

"But your father misses you. Don't you want to see him?"

He scoffs. "Like hell he does."

There's a long, painful silence.

Surprisingly, N is the one to break it.

"So, what's your name? You know mine, so why don't you tell me yours?"

You're not sure if you should tell him. You can't really think of a reason not to, but you can't think of a reason why you should either. Well, I guess you do kind of owe him.

"Y/N," you say.

"Y/N, huh?" N repeats it a few times. "It's pretty, and familiar. I feel like I've heard it before. Why would someone like you join Team Plasma?"

"What does my name have anything to do with that?"

"It's not..."

He's about to continue, when someone calls your name quite loudly.

You can already tell it's one of the other grunts who came to Castelia with you. She's probably worried because you disappeared from your station.

"There's more of you?" N asks, sounding astonished.

"Yeah." You get up and dust yourself off, then make your way back to the alleyway so you can meet up with your friends.

"Wait," he calls after you. "Meet me in Nimbasa City. There's more I want to ask you about."

You nod, and though you want to say more, the other grunt calls your name once again.