- Vagabond - Male Reader x Pokémon

Chapter 24: We'll Meet Again

[Jubilife Pokémon Centre]

"Just be quiet, you big idiot. I'm glad you're alright..." Cynthia mumbled, her voice trembling slightly as she clung to [Y/N]. Her arms wrapped tightly around him, and for a moment, he hesitated before awkwardly patting her back.

The gesture caught him off guard, but there was no denying the warmth it brought.

Behind her, Sycamore, still wiping sweat from his brow after the close encounter with Cynthia's Gible, gave [Y/N] a shaky thumbs-up. The trainer nodded back, though his face flushed as Cynthia remained pressed against him.

"Yeah, I'm glad too." [Y/N] said finally, his tone soft. "But I couldn't just let you leave without a proper send-off."

Cynthia pulled back abruptly, her cheeks tinged with red. Her expression shifted quickly from relief to urgency. "What happened?!" She demanded, scanning him from head to toe. Her eyes darted to the bandages on his leg and the grime clinging to his jacket.

"Oh, well, you know..." [Y/N] rubbed the back of his neck, his brain scrambling for a convincing answer. Lying to her, he realized, was significantly harder than lying to Rocket grunts. "It's a long story." He started, before pivoting to a distraction. "Oh! You haven't met my new friend here yet, have you? Or, maybe you have?" He gestured at Sycamore, desperate to steer the conversation away from himself. "Cynthia, meet Sycamore. Sycamore, Cynthia."

The Kalosian researcher stepped forward with a smile that seemed to sparkle in the morning light, the breeze ruffling his dark hair in a way that felt annoyingly cinematic. "Ah, mademoiselle, your name sounds familiar. A pleasure to meet such a strikingly beautiful trainer..." He said, smoothly taking her hand and pressing a light kiss to it. He glanced up at her with a sly grin.

"You remind me of someone I once knew. But where?"

Cynthia blinked at him, her brow furrowing.

There was something vaguely familiar about him, but it was hazy, like a dream half-remembered.

Before she could speak, [Y/N] cut in. "Alright, too much, too much, hands off!" He grumbled, pushing Sycamore aside with more force than necessary. "She's not here for you to creep on."

"Mon ami, you wound me!" Sycamore protested, stumbling back with exaggerated offense. "All is fair in love and war!"

Before the argument could escalate, Sycamore reached into his bag and pulled out a slightly crumpled photograph. "Wait, hold on a moment. Cynthia, does this jog your memory?" He held the picture up to her, a teenage Sycamore, Professor Rowan, and a teenage Cynthia standing near the ruins of Celestic Town.

Her eyes widened as the pieces clicked into place. "Wait, you're that Sycamore?!" She exclaimed, snatching the photo from his hand. "The one Rowan used to mentor? You were just a kid back then!"

"Ah, oui, we were around the same age" Sycamore replied with a grin. "Rowan spoke highly of you, you know. Always said you'd do great things. And look at you now! I must admit, you've exceeded expectations."

Cynthia's stern composure melted as nostalgia washed over her. She pulled Sycamore into a quick hug. "It's been years! How have you been?"

"Better before your Gible nearly turned me to ash." he teased with a chuckle. "But otherwise, très bien. We should catch up..."

"Traitor." [Y/N] muttered under his breath, squinting at Sycamore like he'd just sold state secrets.

Cynthia glanced at him, oblivious to what he really meant. "You're right!" She returned her attention to Sycamore. "I'd love to catch up, but unfortunately, I don't have much time. We're heading to Oreburgh soon, and there's still a lot to prepare for."