– Chapter 22 –
The Chains of Trauma
Dozens of ocean view restaurants stretching along the southern coast of Vermilion made lunch a near impossible decision. Each beckoned them with warm, inviting appearances. Ultimately, the rich, spicy fragrance of pasta, garlic, and cheeses drew them to an Alto Marean place called Dan’s Restaurant, where Chloe set Yamper loose to run along the shore while the waiter seated them under an umbrella on a porch overlooking the water.
Roy breathed in the fresh, salty scent of the ocean, listening to the washing tides and laughter running over the bright sands of the beach. Red sparkles beneath the waves signified Tentacool gathered in the shallows of the port.
Some of the world’s grandest cruise ships passed through Vermilion, most of them sporting Dragonite figureheads. Mingled among the ordinary boats and cargo ships, Roy spotted the iconic Seagallop ferries. The SS Aqua must have been somewhere between Vermilion and Johto, but the presence of the world-famous St. Anne in the dock more than made of for it. The luxury liner towered over all others like a blimp among party balloons.
Seated across from him, Chloe enjoyed the view as well, cheek resting in her palm. The backdrop of the sparkling sea highlighted how pretty she was, and Roy’s eyes took to watching her in preference of the ocean.
A moderate number of girls had flirted with Roy, and once or twice, he’d flirted back. He’d never contemplated at what point casual socializing crossed the line into dating, but the current situation left no room for doubt.
This was Roy’s first true date.
Most would consider that a highlight life event, wouldn’t they? Somehow, no such feeling of significance arose. He’d grown up imagining a stressful first date. Yet asking her out had happened with such natural ease, the realization of what he’d done didn’t truly hit until here they were.
At the end, Roy reached for his wallet by gendered instinct, but Chloe waved for him to put it away, voicing a genuine pleasure to front the bill.
“Really? Are you sure? I hate to make you pay.”
“You’re the guest here. I don’t let societal expectations pressure me, and neither should you.”
Was this a test? Instinct told him no. And the uplifting confidence of her assertion made it easy for Roy to stow his wallet. “Honestly, that’s a relief. My finances took a hard hit the other day.”
“All the greater pleasure for me then.”
Perhaps it was inadvisable to say, but the honest words came easily with Chloe, who seemed all the happier for his transparency. “A pleasant change of pace, really. Genny wrings me dry whenever we eat out.”
“Oak’s other assistant, right?”
“Yeah. And thank Arceus she’s not here to see this. Genny’s always trying to hook me up with someone.”
“That helpless, huh?” Chloe laughed again, and Roy joined in.
The fancy diner Roy visited yesterday must’ve been just a poor choice on his part, because this one had served them meals fit for royalty, and Roy walked out full and satisfied for the first time in days.
“Where to next?” They spoke in unison. Then laughed in unison.
“You’re the local; you tell me.”
“We’re in the heart of southern downtown. Spin a bottle, and wherever it points will lead us to worthwhile sights. Although…” She looked east. “I haven’t been through the marina shops in several years.”
“Perfect. I’ve never been through them.”
The city shone far brighter than yesterday, like the world had upgraded from standard to OLED, and everyone carried out their business in greater spirits. The sun warmed his skin from the cloudless sky. Roy might’ve believed Vermilion had become a different place overnight. Or perhaps his stress had affected him more than he thought. They explored up and down the market aisles selling fishing products, seafoods, and tourist souvenirs. Chloe almost tripped over a couple Mime Jr. scampering between people’s legs, and they had to chase after Yamper to stop him from chasing them.
They passed a hat boutique, where Chloe got a spontaneous desire to try on half the store. “Hey, why don’t you have a hat? They’re an iconic piece of the classic Trainer attire, aren’t they?”
“I’ve thought about it. I just haven’t decided what kind. Definitely not a baseball cap.”
“Ew. Way too cliché.”
“Exactly. I want something unique. Something me.”
“Like this?” She stuck a fool’s cap on his head, pawing her fingers at the bells for a jingle. “You’re sure to stand out with that.”
“Ha ha.” He tried to keep a dignified and insulted image, but his lips refused to do anything but grin.
They cycled through rows and shelves of hats, and Chloe suggested several styles, complimenting how handsome he looked in them. Roy liked a few, but Chloe was right. Hats were an iconic part of the Pokémon Trainer image. The decision of what would become “his hat” required a reason beyond simply looking good. He needed one with meaning. “I’m certain the right one will come eventually.”
Yamper made sure “eventually” remained a ways away when he knocked over one of the larger hat racks and got them kicked out despite excessive apologizing. Yet by the time they were halfway down the block, Roy and Chloe both burst out in laughter for reasons neither of them could explain. People stared as they passed, which only made them laugh harder.
The business next door had a display of books in the window, and Roy took two steps backward as he recognized one of the #1 bestsellers: The Lorelei Method, by Lorelei Grand. It pictured the famed Elite Four member lying on her back in the arctic ocean, surrounded by blocks of floating ice. She appeared comfortable in the freezing water, despite wearing nothing more than a bikini. Below the title, the caption read: Holder of 26 world records!
“Hey, check this out.”
Chloe looked. “Oh, geez.”
Roy beamed at her reaction. “Not a fan?”
“I mean, it’s incredible what she can do.”
“For sure. But I’d guess it’s a genetic quirk. Maybe a mutation of sorts.”
“Exactly! She seems well meaning; I wouldn’t call her a liar. But I don’t care how many fans ‘swear’ by its effectiveness, the personal method she attributes her cold tolerance to is just unverified…”
They smiled and, once again, said the same thing together. “Pseudoscience.” Again, they laughed together.
Yamper scurried up and down the shore as Roy and Chloe went for a walk along the beach next. She carried her shoes to let her feet feel the sand. They must’ve both lost track of time. When had the sky turned orange? Neither of them mentioned the lateness of the hour, but walked in mostly silent bliss until Chloe pointed out the city Ferris wheel coming up on the pier. Giddiness filled her words as she insisted he had to see the view from it.
Chloe hustled to get her shoes on and called Yamper over to pick him up as they boarded the ride’s enclosed glass compartment big enough to stand in with arms outstretched. But the operator gave it to just the two of them.
Mother of Mew, Chloe had been right. They ascended, and behind them, the ocean glowed the color of molten gold in the setting sun. In front, the entire miniaturized city of Vermilion sprawled out before them, the people and cars below like toy figures.
“This was the tallest Ferris wheel in the world,” Chloe said with a dreamy sigh, “before Nimbasa City built theirs.”
“Bastards. We must organize a demolition strike team at once!”
Chloe giggled, and it put the sounds of the ocean to shame.
As darkness draped over the sky, the city lights came alive, twinkling with festivity. The Ferris wheel lit up as well, flashing patterns moving up and down the spiderweb of machinery, likely creating images they couldn’t see from their angle but which still surrounded them in a multitude of colors, like being inside a rainbow.
Yet, even in the face of such a magical view, Roy’s eyes drifted to Chloe beside him, the most captivating thing as far as the eye could see, even up here. Had he overthought things? Roy knew he’d have to date someone who could travel with him. But more than that, what truly left him hesitant to date…
Well, in short, he’d imagined challenging the Elite Four would be a less daunting task. He’d never fathomed asking and taking a girl out could go so smoothly. All those years he’d scoffed at movies that glamorized romance, yet here he found himself living out a date of fairytale perfection. None of his dating fears came to pass with Chloe. On the contrary, she’d been the antithesis of most of them. Not once had he felt the need the behave a certain way or stressed over saying the right thing. A few times, he’d almost forgotten it was a date. And his mind couldn’t stop whirring over the fact she was a passionate scientist and how hot that was.
Fuck, he was a nerd.
But so was she.
The music playing from the Ferris wheel speakers changed, and Chloe’s eyes lit up with recognition on the first note. “I love this song.”
It took Roy a few more seconds before he identified the gentle new age tune as “With You” by Echosmith. He watched her whisper along to the lyrics, getting lost in the soothing, sentimental melody.
I’ll go anywhere if I’m with you.
Lightning strikes or any shade of blue.
The journey’s the best part.
Even when the road gets hard.
Roy’s emotions rose in sync with the Ferris wheel as it brought them higher. The sun set over the sea, but as the outer air cooled, his inner temperature flared. Seconds ago, all had been as comfortable as hanging out with a best friend. When had things gotten so romantic?
He stared at her for he didn’t know how long until she met his gaze with a soft smile that enflamed the heat inside him further. She stood closer than she had all day.
Chloe opened her mouth, but the voice that spoke was not hers.
Do you wanna have sex?
A sickening anxiety twisted Roy’s gut like he’d swallowed poison. His self-confidence shattered like someone had taken a sledgehammer to it. Roy lay on his back in the dark of midnight. He was smaller. Younger. A shadowy silhouette leaned over him, thin fingers stroking his face as it repeated the question in a ghostly whisper.
“Roy?” It was Chloe’s voice this time, sounding distant as if calling from across the ocean. “Roy!”
He blinked and was back on the Ferris wheel. It wasn’t night, but dusk. And he was eighteen. Not thirteen. “Huh? W-what?”
“I… I was just asking, do you wanna hold hands?”
The hysteric gears of Roy’s head sputtered and rattled to process the situation. “Oh... Uh…” A meter-long gap separated him and Chloe. Had Roy moved away from her?
“I’m sorry.” Embarrassment strangled Chloe’s voice.
“No, no! It’s fine. Of course we can.” Roy snatched up her hand and wrestled to get his focus back on the present, with all the success of trying to patch a sinking submarine with duct tape.
Chloe’s eyes lowered to his hand, which he fought to keep still. “You’re uncomfortable.”
“Not at all,” Roy said, and figured it was about as convincing as the Black Knight insisting his arm wasn’t missing. But Roy pressed forward, intent on getting back to how it had been. “Uh… so how is it working as your father’s assistant?” A whole day of straightforward openness with each other, now here he’d degraded to insulting her intelligence with a pathetic lie.
Chloe bit her lip, as if fighting the temptation to call his bluff. She went along with it, though there was no hiding the awkwardness of the forced conversation. “I enjoy it. But by law, I still can’t work some of the equipment for another five months.”
Roy went cold. “You’re seventeen?”
Awareness of what she said and what it must’ve meant for Roy struck her face. After a pause of painful discomfort, she released his hand and moved to the seat opposite the compartment. “I’m sorry.”
With his back to her, Roy stared at the street below as the Ferris wheel lowered. “Don’t be. You’ve done nothing wrong.”
“Is it because I’m a minor?”
“No.”
Her voice turned defensive against the hurt he knew he was causing her. “You’re barely half a year older. It’s not like we were gonna–”
“It has nothing to do with that!” The insistence in his tone came out more aggressive than he’d intended, and silence choked the compartment again. “I’m… not someone you should get involved with. You deserve better.”
Neither of them spoke as the Ferris wheel returned to the ground and the operator let them out. Yamper hurried ahead, hyper as ever, but the corgi stopped every block, waiting for them to catch up as Roy and Chloe sauntered back to the lab at a dejected pace. Someone might’ve passed by and thought them walking to their own execution.
Talia answered the door and tried to cover her relieved sigh with a smile. “There you are. Goodness, Chloe, you texted me you’d be out later, but I was starting to worry.”
Professor Cerise popped out from behind her. “Ah- ha! There’s the brilliant duo.” He smirked at Chloe. “I knew you’d have fun once you got out.” Then he turned to Talia. “See, honey, told you they’d be fine. You two are back rather late though.” He put his fists on his hips as he addressed Yamper. “They didn’t have too much fun, did they, boy?”
The dog yipped, and Chloe rolled her eyes. “Dad.”
He laughed with a dismissive wave. “You know I’m teasing.”
Chloe’s cheery attitude returned to join in her father’s mirth as she relayed the day’s events with fondness. It was more than Roy could manage. He was sure he’d face an earful (and possibly a shotgun) for how late they were. But if her parents held any suspicions, their trust outweighed it, and they expressed only approval at the two enjoying themselves.
Talia picked up Yamper. “I’ll put this little guy to bed.” She retreated upstairs.
“Hope my girl wasn’t too much hassle.”
“No, she was an excellent guide.”
“I knew she would be. But let me thank you for getting her out of the house.” Cerise crossed the living room to dig through a drawer. “Something for your travels.”
“You don’t have to.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Oak’s not the only professor who sends new Trainers on their way. I have a whole stock of things just for giving out.” He found what he wanted and came back, dusting off a round object. “Here we go. Most of this stuff’s basic beginner tools, but from one scientist to another, something extra special.”
He set the item in Roy’s hand. A Poké Ball black as obsidian, with green spots and an orange button. “A Dusk Ball?” Nothing could match the Master Ball Oak gave him, but this held a value of its own.
“Won’t see those in every mart. They’re most effective at night or in a dark place. I figure a Trainer like you should find use for it.”
“Thank you, sir.” Roy wanted to sound more enthusiastic, but couldn’t bring the emotion up.
“Well, I’ll leave you to it. Good luck out there, Roy. Stop by anytime you’re in the area.” With a final wave, the professor retired upstairs, leaving Roy and Chloe alone on the porch.
Both of them waited. Roy pondered what to say, part of him hoping she would speak first. She appeared to be thinking the same. As usual, Roy proved the bigger coward. “Good luck at the Gym. I hear Surge is tough.”
Roy tried to smile. He could find no response to give, but neither did he walk away.
“Thanks for today,” Chloe continued. “I haven’t had that much fun in a long time. I don’t know what’s holding you back or if you think you’ve done something wrong… but Roy… you’re a good person.” She rose on her toes and the soft warmth of her lips gave his own a light touch. With a subtle blush and smile, she withdrew inside. “See you around, Roy. Take care.” And she closed the door.
To be continued...