Chapter Text
A ridiculous floppy hat, layers of sunscreen, and a rainbow colored umbrella separated Grusha from the unrelenting Porto Marinada sun, yet somehow, it still didn’t feel like enough. A hot breeze tickled the nape of his neck and teased the low ponytail he’d thrown his silver hair into. Fine sand gritting between his toes, he pulled his bare feet further under the umbrella, away from the shifting angle of the sun.
Squinting out at the rippling sapphire water of the ocean, he cursed himself again for forgetting to pack his sunglasses. His surroundings were pretty, he could admit that, but did it really have to be so…hot? And he wasn’t used to sweating. He tugged at his loose linen shirt—long-sleeved, of course—and grimaced as an audible wet shrrrk sounded as it peeled away from his skin.
Ninetales rumbled in displeasure, echoing Grusha’s sentiments exactly. The Ice-type was curled up at his side under the umbrella’s precious canopy.
Grusha scratched the white Pokemon’s head. “You’ve lasted a while today. Ready to go back into your Poke Ball?”
Ninetales let out a pitiful whine. He gave it one last pat before recalling it, wishing for a fleeting moment that he could escape into a Poke Ball too. But if he did, he couldn’t see her.
“Gru! Grusha, over hereeeee!”
Miserable as he was physically, Grusha couldn’t help but smile at the sight of his girlfriend waving frantically from where she floated in the bobbing waves, determined to catch his eye—never mind the fact that she was directly in front of him and completely unmistakable in her bright yellow swimsuit and neon blue inflatable tube.
Even from a distance, Grusha could tell Tansil was in her element. She’d been splashing in the water with her Pokemon for hours, energy unflagging, while he watched from the sand. Tansil’s entire team was out of their Poke Balls and having a blast. A few yards from his umbrella, Salamence stretched out contentedly in the warm sand, massive wings splayed to absorb the sun. Meowscarada and Ceruledge leaned against the Dragon-type’s sauna-like scales, napping, while Miraidon watched spellbound as Gardevoir used its Psychic powers to build an extravagant sandcastle at the water’s edge. In the water with Tansil, Pawmot floated in a smaller inflatable tube of its own, chattering energetically at Floatzel as the Water-type zipped around making excited waves.
Grusha returned his girlfriend’s wave as he shifted in his chair. His Cetitan had tried to join in the fun yesterday, but unfortunately, the even-tempered Pokemon had begun to melt in Porto Marinada’s warm waters. He’d been forced to recall it to its Poke Ball, where the rest of his team were content to stay. Ninetales had lasted the longest, but the midday sun grew hotter and hotter with each passing hour.
All this sweating was making him thirsty. Steeling himself, Grusha hauled himself to his feet and left the protective cocoon of the umbrella. Water lapped at his toes as he walked to the ocean’s edge. Cupping his hands around his mouth, he called, “Want anything from the concession stand?”
Tansil’s face lit up in the adorable way he loved. “Oh, yes please! Lemonade?”
He gave a thumbs up.
“You’re the best, Gru!” Tansil called as he turned and began the trek up the beach to the snack shack. Grusha hid a smile.
There was a line at the Alcremie Snack Shack, but it was moving fast. Alcremie and two human employees were light on their feet, filling orders for sweets and drinks. After scanning the menu, Grusha filed in behind a couple of boys bickering over which macaron filling was the best. They looked a few years younger than him, and he lost interest in their conversation until he heard one of them say, “Yo, check out the girl in the yellow swimsuit.”
“Whoa, she’s super cute!”
They were looking at a point over Grusha’s shoulder, transfixed. Grusha turned slightly, feigning casual non-interest. Tansil had emerged from the water, sun-kissed and indeed super cute with her sunhat tied at her chin. Oblivious to the admiration, she jogged over to where the majority of her Pokemon lay in the sand, Floatzel and Pawmot scampering after her.
The taller boy elbowed his friend. “Dude, is that her team? They look crazy strong!”
“D’you think she’s Champion rank?” The other boy sounded awestruck.
“She has to be. Just look at the size of that Salamence!”
Grusha bit his lip to keep from grinning, pride blooming in his chest. Tansil’s strength had been evident from the moment he’d met her, when she’d challenged his Gym. He’d been blown away by her cheerful confidence and undeniable skill—and thrown entirely off balance by her openness, compassion, and sincerity. He’d closed himself off since the accident that ended his snowboarding career, but when she’d asked for his Rotom Line ID, he hadn’t even hesitated to give it to her.
For reasons unknown to Grusha, Tansil had taken a liking to him, and their scattered text messages gave way to hours-long phone calls while she traveled from Gym to Gym. Impressive as it was for him to be a Gym Leader at nineteen, her meteoric rise through the League was even more so, and at seventeen, she’d become the youngest Champion rank trainer in Paldean history. (“Only by a few months,” her friend Nemona often pointed out sulkily.) When she’d beaten the Elite Four, Grusha had been the first person she’d called after her mom.
The rest, as they say, was history.
He’d made it to the front of the snack shack line. The employee behind the counter looked at his outfit dubiously. “Two lemonades, please,” he said, ignoring her scrutiny.
From where they waited for their order beside him, one of the boys asked, “Do you think I should talk to her? Ask for her Line ID?”
“No way,” the other replied dismissively. “She’s way too cool for us.”
“You’re right.” The first boy sulked. “Besides, looks like that guy already beat us to it.”
Grusha whirled around, not bothering with subtlety this time, squinting back toward the shore. A boy with a backwards baseball cap—tall, tanned, and shirtless—chatted easily with Tansil. As he watched, the boy playfully touched her forearm, setting Grusha’s teeth on edge. Tansil didn’t look uncomfortable with the gesture. In fact, she smiled at whatever he said said, talking animatedly with her hands like she did with friends. Yet there was something about the guy’s posture—the way he angled his body toward her—that didn’t sit well with Grusha.
“Um, sir?” It was the snack shack employee’s voice. “Your drinks?”
Grusha grabbed the lemonades from the counter and stalked across the sand.
“—but really, you should come hang out with us.” Grusha heard boy say. “This weather is too beautiful to enjoy alone.”
“Thanks for the concern, but seriously, I’m waiting for someone—oh, Gru, you’re back!” Tansil had removed her sunhat, revealing the hair braided into space buns underneath. Tendrils of soft pink escaped to frame her face.
“Your lemonade.” Grusha’s voice was gruffer than he intended, but she didn’t seem to notice as she gratefully accepted the cup. She took a sip and sighed.
Keeping his face impassive, he looked the newcomer up and down. He was tall and good-looking, clad in swim trunks and a pair of sandals, and judging by the deep purple of his cap, an Academy student like Tansil. He looked friendly enough, but even so, Grusha felt tense. He couldn’t help comparing his sweaty, sun-repelling outfit with the boy’s sculpted physique.
Cap Guy returned Grusha’s scrutiny with a charming megawatt smile. “What, Tans,” Grusha’s jaw clenched at the use of her nickname, “you’re not even going to introduce us?”
“Oh my god.” Tansil laughed, not sensing his tension. “I was so excited about the lemonade I forgot. Gru, this is Zay Holland. He’s a classmate of mine.”
“Hey, how’s it going?” Zay held out a hand in an easy-going manner. Grusha grudgingly took it, his mood souring further at the boy’s strong returning grip. Zay’s brow furrowed, then his eyes widened. “Whoa, wait, aren’t you Grusha, the Gym Leader? I didn’t recognize you with your hair pulled back like that.”
Ironic considering Grusha had recognized him as soon as he’d opened his mouth. The big-talking Academy kid had challenged the Glaseado Gym a month ago. Grusha had defeated him easily despite the fact that he had two Fire-types on his team. To say he was unimpressive as a trainer was an understatement.
Yet Tansil’s face was as bright and open as always when she looked at Zay. Grusha’s expression didn’t change, but his skin was crawling.
“Look at you waltzing around Paldea with Gym Leaders for company.” Zay turned to Tansil with that stupid grin on his face. “That’s Champion rank for you. You’ve got friends in high places, Tans.” He threw a familiar arm around Tansil’s shoulders.
Grusha sucked in a breath. Really, there was only so much he could be expected to take.
“I’m not her friend.” The words were out of Grusha’s mouth before he fully registered he was saying them. “I’m her boyfriend.”
Zay’s eyes widened imperceptibly. “Boyfriend?” To Grusha’s satisfaction, his arm dropped from Tansil’s shoulders.
“Yep, we’re dating!” Tansil confirmed cheerfully, oblivious to the tension between the two boys. Some of Grusha’s ire cooled as Tansil slipped her hand into his and said, “This is our first vacation together as a couple.”
“Oh, uh—I see.” Zay recovered quickly, his smile back in place, if a little strained. “That’s great. Porto Marinada’s a great vacation spot. Speaking of which,” he hooked a thumb over his shoulder toward a rambunctious group of Academy boys further down the beach. “I should get back to the guys. I’m starting in the next round of volleyball, so…”
“Oh, good luck!” Tansil toasted him with her lemonade. “Your team is going to win, I just know it.”
“Thanks. See you around, Tans.” His grin faltered a little when his eyes met Grusha’s. “You too, Grusha. Next time I challenge your Gym, I’ll be ready.”
“See that you are.” Grusha said flatly. Zay grimaced, no doubt remembering how one-sided their last match had been.
Tansil wished him well again, but the boy was already jogging down the beach. Grusha watched to make sure he didn’t look back.
Tansil tugged at Grusha’s hand, regaining his attention. “You’ve been sitting under that umbrella all day. What do you say we enjoy our lemonade with our feet in the water?”
Porto Marinada’s waters had nothing on the way her blue eyes sparkled as she nodded toward the shore. How could he deny her when she asked with that expression? Grusha nodded, hoping she never found out how susceptible he was to it.
She tugged him down to the water. As they sat, shoulders touching and sipping their icy drinks, Grusha gradually felt himself relax. As usual, Tansil did most of the talking, but when he had something to say, she listened attentively, like there was literally nothing else she’d rather be doing. Grusha loved that about her.
After a while, Tansil popped to her feet. “I’m hungry. Wanna go back to the hotel for dinner?”
Grusha was surprised to notice the sun sinking over the horizon. He hadn’t realized they’d talked for so long. That happened when he was with her—he forgot his injury, forgot his work, and sank into the moment.
After Tansil recalled her team to their Poke Balls, they packed up the umbrella and beach chair and headed toward the hotel, arm-in-arm. A brilliant sunset painted the sky, tinging the once-blue waters a deep red.
Tansil kicked the sand out in front of her as they walked. “I signed us up for snorkeling tomorrow. Of course, no pressure if you don’t want to go,” she added, and he knew she wasn’t just saying it.
“Sounds fun.” He was surprised that he meant it.
“It does, doesn’t it?” Her eyes lit up in the way that made his heart squeeze in his chest. “I’m so glad we came to Porto Marinada. I’ve had so much fun already. Haven’t you?”
He thought of scorching sand, an unrelenting sun, the enviable retreat of his entire Pokemon team into the cool cocoon of their Poke Balls. He thought of melted ice cream, blistering sunburns, and so much sweat. He thought of over-confident Academy kids with weak battle skills and washboard abs.
Then he thought of Tansil: her indomitable smile, the way her freckled cheeks bunched up when she laughed, the soft inflection she put on the end of his name. He thought of the pretty way she blushed when she showed him her new sundress last night, the coconut drink she ordered with two straws at dinner, the way her hands grasped his as she pulled him outside to dance with her on the beach under the stars.
His mouth lifted in a rare smile.
“I have,” he said, and he meant it.
