Never: Chapter 3
Chapter three. /o/
Never
"Stitches . . ." Bane mumbled to himself, heaving a sigh. It was about the fourth time he said it, but he still hadn't fully processed it. The treated wound on the inside of his leg ached somewhat, but sometimes he couldn't feel it. It would leave a scar, he had been told. He liked to think it wasn't true, and if it was, he hoped it would grow to be a faint one.
What am I supposed to do now? He wanted to know, the question repeating in his head. He couldn't leave the center until someone on staff said he could, but he still had to find Nathan and the others. He kept expecting his leg to instantly and completely heal, but instead it just sat there, with nobody but him staring at it for almost an hour.
A chansey had told Bane they needed to keep him for twenty-four hours, which only made things worse. Still, he had sort of anticipated this; otherwise he wouldn't have even bothered going to a pokémon center in the first place.
Hey, wait. If that chansey works here . . . of course! Why didn't he think of that sooner? As if on cue, she came into the room for the third time since he had been there, holding her clipboard as usual.
"Hey." Bane said eagerly, gesturing for the chansey to come over to him. She blinked a few times in response, seeming rather detached from everything going on around her. She eventually heeded Bane's call and walked over to his bedside, looking way more confused than necessary. Her tail was little more than a stump, and she could not have been over three feet tall. She had deep green eyes that reminded Bane of his own, and he noticed that she wore no nurse cap. Bane suspected she had forgotten it somewhere.
"Yes?" She responded after a brief pause, turning what little attention she had to her clipboard. It seemed a little contradictory to have someone so seemingly absentminded be a nurse, but hey, he wasn't in charge of the place.
"Do you know if a pikachu called Nathan has been here? He should have been a little beaten up." Bane asked, hoping with all his might that Nathan's name would be scribbled somewhere on the clipboard. She slowly began to flip through it, turning page after page with not even a simple 'hmm' to break the silence. There must have been a lot more paper attached to that thing than he thought, because it seemed like an eternity before she finally spoke.
"Who am I looking for, again?" She questioned, looking up at the Bane. It took everything he had to not let his impatience show. Is she sure she has permission to be working here? He thought to himself bitterly, nearly biting his lip.
"Nathan." He repeated with false calmness, unsure if the reminder would serve any purpose.
"Oh, yes." She replied with vague happiness, resuming her search. It appeared she was a little more focused this time around, but Bane wasn't about to get his hopes up. It took a little shorter, but it was still a very long wait before she said anything.
"Aha!" The chansey shouted abruptly, immediately ceasing to flip the pages. Bane snapped out of the boredom-induced daze he was beginning to fall into and turned his head toward her, a smile spreading across his face.
"I can't find him." She said, putting the clipboard back between her stubby arms. "If he has been here, then he never checked in." She told him, slowly drifting away from Bane's bed like some kind of confused cloud as she spoke.
Great, he thought. Just great. Couldn't Nathan just conveniently be in the bed next to Bane's? That would make things a whole lot easier. But nope, apparently Nathan could not be bothered to make things easier for his impatient--and probably scarred--friend.
The squirtle fell back, a strange tightness filling his throat that only added to the feeling of wanting to suffocate himself with his pillow, at least until he passed out. Then so much time would have gone by, and he'd be able to leave the center and save himself a lot more aggravation. That sounded like a good plan, for about five seconds. Then he stopped thinking about it.
His thoughts then traveled to the aggressors in Dexx's group. He had to keep reminding himself of every pokémon in it, lest he forget and render his talk with Dashania almost entirely pointless. He remembered there was a charizard, a typhlosion and an aggron . . . but what were the other two? He thought he remembered hearing luxray, but he couldn't be sure.
"Lovely." Bane groaned to himself. Hopefully talking to Nathan about it would somehow jog his memory, but he doubted it. On the bright side, numerous hours passed without him forgetting anyone else, so that had to count for something. Although, with nothing to do aside from listening to his own stomach rumble, those numerous hours felt more like years.
Chapter 3: Nathan
The sky had turned from black to a dull blue, meaning an overwhelming amount of sunlight would be shining through the curtains relatively soon. Bane wasn't looking forward to that. Nighttime was one of his favorite things, but he had never cared for the day. As far as he was concerned, daytime could jump off a cliff.
He pulled the bed sheets over his head as he lied there, shielding his eyes from the eventual light. He had to admit that staying in a warm bed like this wasn't all bad. Usually he'd be sleeping on itchy, wet grass this time of morning, but now he was finding himself to be more comfortable than he ever had been. It was . . . nice, to say the least.
Still, his mind wasn't fully at peace. It was racing with questions about the location of his friends, even though he was sure they were safe. Well, as sure as he could be, at least. His brain wasn't accepting that, however. It kept thinking up theories of how they couldn't be safe, or how something might have happened to them. Bane was never the type to worry, but being away from his friends for so long was definitely beginning to eat at him.
When he heard the door to his room open, he was almost positive it was Nathan, Spark or Sarah that had just walked in. But after pushing the sheets off of himself, that hopeful thought was met with the disheartening reality.
"Breakfast time." Said the same chansey from earlier, wheeling in a table trolley with a platter of food on it. Not only was Bane disappointed by who came walking through the door, but he was disappointed by the food she'd brought as well. It didn't look like anything he cared for, but a loud growl from his stomach reminded him of how little that mattered. He had gone so unusually long without a meal that he would have only slightly cared if she wheeled in dirt for him to eat.
"Sounds like I'm not a moment too soon." She said dreamily, gliding across the room as if she weighed nothing. Bane was surprised that she noticed his stomach's plead for food, given that she seemed so oblivious. But then again, it would have been difficult not to notice that desperate gurgling from underneath his shell.
"Isn't it a little early for breakfast?" Bane questioned, giving the dark-blue light showing through the curtains a glance; it couldn't be past 6 o'clock in the morning.
"Oh." The chansey replied softly, putting the tip of her short arm under her chin just as the table stopped next to Bane's bed. "I thought it was later in the day." She said, her eyes focusing on a random spot on the floor.
"Well, I'm not complaining." Bane said, giving the food atop the platter another look. It wasn't really breakfast food. . . just an apple and one of the bluest berries he had ever seen. There was also a small glass of water, but with so little to eat, he doubted he'd need it. The lingering tightness in his throat hadn't gone away. He thought it would loosen up at the prospect of eating, but instead, it seemed to be getting worse.
"You seem rather sad." Said the chansey in her usual dreamy voice, though this time there was a hint of concern in her tone. Sad? Why would I be sad? He wanted to ask her, but the question stayed in his mind.
"I'm not sad." He replied casually. Or at least, he tried to speak in a casual manner. His constricted airway was causing his words to falter and his voice to break. What was going on? It almost felt like . . .
"But you're crying." She said, tilting her head to the side and giving him the smallest look of worry. Crying? But . . . he wasn't crying. He felt fine, aside from the annoying pressure in his throat.
"I . . . what?" He asked, barely aware of how choked up he sounded. Bane brought a digit to the corner of his eye, half expecting nothing to be there. But to his short-lived surprise, he felt a tear connect to his skin. He tried bringing it in front of him to examine it, but his vision had slowly become one large blur. He could hardly make anything out anymore, let alone a small teardrop.
"Why . . . ?" He asked himself, wiping underneath his left eye. It wasn't any use, though. More tears were produced, until either side of his face had small streams rolling down them. He didn't know what was going on, but it felt strangely satisfying to cry, like a burden was being lifted from him somehow. But despite the building relief, he knew the chansey was right beside him. He didn't want to do this in front of anybody. He wanted to stop and regain his composure, but for some reason, he couldn't.
"Are you that worried about your friend?" Asked the chansey faintly. It looked like she had stopped looking at him, but he couldn't be sure. There were a million different glares in his eyes, so he decided to just close them. What she asked registered in Bane's brain soon afterward, though. Was that the reason he was having this sudden breakdown? Sure he was worried about Nathan and the others, but he didn't think he'd burst into tears over it.
Bane tried to reply with a polite 'maybe', but all that came out was the first syllable. However, her response led him to believe she understood him anyway.
"Well, then." She said with her usual vaguely happy tone. "You'll be glad to know that Nathan has checked in."
Almost immediately after she said that, Bane's tears stopped flowing. Though that didn't stop him from looking any less miserable when he opened his reddened eyes to stare at her, his mouth almost agape in surprise. Nathan? Here? But . . . he was just -not- here an hour ago, Bane thought. He couldn't say anything. His ability to speak was lost indefinitely. The chansey seemed to uncharacteristically notice this, and began adding to her statements.
"His injuries aren't too serious, but we're keeping him under observation in room 204 just in case. You two should be able to leave at the same time." She finished with a smile, making eye contact with Bane. He was able to return the smile, albeit a little slowly. He could feel a tear drop hanging from his chin as the chansey left the room, giving him the briefest of smiles before closing the door.
"Room 204." He mumbled quietly, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hands. I could sneak out and take Nathan with me . . . Bane thought slowly, blinking a few times. Spark and Sarah won't be safe on their own for very long, I bet. Dexx might be chasing after them even now. He looked at the breakfast by his bedside and smiled, a plan hatching inside his head. Taking the apple in hand, the squirtle looked to his right to observe the same window he had looked at before. It was too high for him to reach. He would need a boost of some kind . . .
It didn't take Bane long to decide on what to use. After a few moments, the table trolley had been maneuvered over to the window, with Bane climbing its metal surface rather recklessly. His feet would occasionally slip off the table's legs, only to be placed back on them in an attempt to reach the top. It was a lot more difficult than he thought it'd be, given the fact that the table wasn't meant to be climbed on. Even though his ascent took him no longer than a minute, he thought for certain he might fall off more than once.
After securing his position, a small wave of accomplishment washed over him. It felt a little strange, being happy after having just cried, but he was never the type for tears anyway. He didn't believe in dwelling on his grief, nor did he believe he was capable of doing so. And besides, he no longer had a reason to grieve. Nathan was guaranteed to be safe, and that was plenty to be satisfied with.
With a smile, Bane pushed aside the curtains and slid the window open. For being on only the second story, it seemed like a long drop. He took a tiny step forward, his foot now balancing on the marble surface of the windowsill. After a deep inhale, he leaned forward and let go of the apple he had been holding. It fell to the ground much faster than expected, landing in the grass with a soft rustling noise. Thankfully the apple remained undamaged like he thought it would.
"Good." Bane mumbled, crouching down and grabbing the berry on the platter. He assumed the fall wouldn't damage it, either, but he decided not to risk it. Instead, he stepped onto the window ledge, pushing the trolley a small distance back as his other foot was taken off. He inched forward a little, staring at the ground. It looked even farther away than before, though he knew that wasn't the case. Heaving a sigh, he stepped off the ledge and withdrew his body into his shell, keeping the berry clutched in his hand. It took only a few seconds for him to land on the grass, creating more of a loud thud than a soft rustle.
Bane didn't feel the impact at all, which improved his mood even further. His head and limbs popped out from his shell, and after a little struggling, he managed to pick himself back up. Okay. That wasn't too bad, he thought to himself calmly, dumping the berry into his mouth. Before he even had the chance to chew it, a massive mix of flavors exploded in his mouth, catching him off-guard and nearly causing him to fall over backward. His tongue was nearly overworking itself, informing his brain of countless tastes he hadn't known existed. He exhaled heavily, as if he had just eaten something too spicy or too hot. He couldn't even bring himself to begin chewing, for fear of more flavors bursting out. He spit the now glistening berry back into his hand, staring at it with something close to hatred. His stomach gave its loudest growl yet, almost as if it were angry at him.
"Shuddup, I'm on it." He replied, lightly punching his belly. He dropped the wet berry on to the ground and grabbed the apple from before, taking a large bite from it. "Now then . . ." Bane muttered to himself, turning toward the center and swallowing noisily. Thankfully the apple tasted like actual food, unlike whatever it was he just tried eating.
"What kind of berries are these?" Nathan asked, holding one in front of his eyes. They were blue and fairly large, having more girth than height. He was pretty sure he had never seen any like these before, not even during all his time traveling.
"They're oran berries." Answered the chansey by his bedside, looking rather impatient for no particularly obvious reason. She seemed nice enough, but her tone was a little sharp, as were her facial features. She had obvious cheek bones and a mouth made for frowning. It seemed she had a permanent scowl stuck on her face, too, which unnerved Nathan a bit.
"They're supposed to speed up the healing process, but I've never noticed them doing that." She said quickly, folding her arms. It seemed like she was pouting simply because she never saw them work, which was a strange thing to get worked up about, Nathan thought. "Anyway, eat that slowly. If you don't, you won't be able to handle the taste." She told him, making brief eye contact with Nathan for a moment before suddenly hurrying out of the room.
". . . 'Kay." He responded to the already gone nurse, taking a small bite from the oran berry. She was right, they were very flavorful. Already there was a mixture of sweetness and saltiness in his mouth, and while he liked the two tastes separately, they didn't mesh very well together. Still, he had to eat. It had been well over twenty-four hours since his last meal, and he couldn't remember what it was like not to be lightheaded, or not to have his limbs shaking with hunger. He took another bite rather quickly, desperate for the pain in his stomach to stop.
Just as Nathan finished, he heard something hit the window. It wasn't a strong enough collision for the glass to break, but it was very startling. A yelp almost escaped his mouth, but thankfully his voice seemed to be lost for that brief moment. He wondered if he should go see what it was, but that didn't sound like a good idea to him. What if it's something dangerous, or--
--The same noise rang through his ears again, interrupting his thoughts. He gave another jolt, silently cursing his cowardice afterward. His eyes remained glued to the window, curiosity slowly overtaking his mind. What was it? That question repeated in his head for what seemed like a thousand times before he finally rolled out of bed and nearly sprinted toward his destination. With a quiet grunt, Nathan jumped as high as he could, his nimble and powerful legs allowing him to reach the windowsill without much effort. He wasn't really thinking anymore, and his body was unable to stop itself. He needed to know what made those sounds, and with one swift movement, he pushed the curtains aside and peered out the window.
There was water on the glass, and when his eyes inched downward, it was clear why, Bane was outside. Nathan jerked the window open, his eyes remaining glued to the squirtle below. At first Bane looked impatient, but then he looked much happier when he noticed Nathan.
"Bane!" He shouted rather loudly, unable to control the volume of his voice. He couldn't help it, it felt better than words could describe to see one of his friends again; even if Spark and Sarah didn't appear to be with him.
"Hiya!" Bane shouted back, seeming to share the same joy. "Fancy meeting you here." He commented through a smile, casually munching on an apple. Nathan wasn't entirely sure how Bane found him, but he was glad he did. Even though Nathan had only spent a few minutes in the center, he certainly didn't enjoy being there all that much. "So, are you gonna jump or what?" Bane asked, dropping the nibbled apple core to the ground.
"Um, what?" Nathan questioned, glancing back at his room. "We're leaving?" He asked, taking a puzzled look out the window.
"Well . . ." Bane replied, looking around as if the scenery would help to give him an answer. "Yeah." He finished, returning his gaze to Nathan.
"Spark and Sarah aren't with you, right? So shouldn't we stay here? That way they could find us more easily." Nathan reasoned, seeing Bane's eyes widen a bit. It was clear he hadn't thought of that, but the squirtle soon regained his composure.
"Hmm . . . well . . ." He mumbled , rubbing his chin. Bane didn't seem to have considered Nathan's valid point, and had to think up something on the spot. Luckily that didn't take long. "I doubt they'd look for us way out here. I know someplace better to wait for them." Bane said, a small smile spreading across his face. Nathan's head tilted slightly, confusion slowly flooding his mind. Someplace better? True, they weren't exactly in the most obvious place, but when and how did he find a better place to stay?
"So. You gonna jump?" Bane repeated, extending his arms. Nathan looked back into his room again, his eyes darting over everything in it. He trusted Bane, but . . . something was telling him this was a bad idea.
Still, it's not like staying would solve all their problems. With a shrug, Nathan prepared himself and jumped out the window, strong winds blowing past him as he fell to the ground and landed smoothly beside the squirtle in a matter of seconds.
"Show-off." Bane said in deadpan tone, folding his arms behind his head. If Nathan hadn't known him for all these years, he might have thought that remark was serious. He simply smiled in response, beginning his walk with Bane.
"So, what are you doing here? How did you find me?" Nathan asked, his curiosity seeming to get the better of him. The squirtle frowned and gestured to his injured leg, slowing his pace down as he did so. Nathan stopped instantly and gaped, eyes following his friend's wound.
"Heh, that was about my reaction, too." Bane grinned, stopping briefly to examine his own injury. Despite his hopes, the cut was still a relatively bright shade of red, which didn't please Bane's unrealistic expectations of his body's healing abilities.
"Dexx did that to you?" Nathan questioned, his voice slightly muted. Bane turned back to find him looking more stunned than he expected.
"Well, yeah." He answered, giving his leg a feeble shake. "It's not too big a deal, though. I feel fine." Bane said reassuringly, beginning to walk again after a moment of brisk silence. He knew Nathan too well, though, and practically knew every word that would come from the pikachu's mouth once he came jogging up beside him.
"Are you sure? It looks pretty bad." He protested quickly, his gaze filled with worry and glued to the stitched-up wound. "Do you really think you should be walking on it?" He added, his eyes darting to meet Bane's significantly less concerned looking ones.
"You worry too much. Know that?" Bane asked casually, having this response prepared before Nathan had even opened his mouth. The two continued onward, their feet crunching any crusted leaves that happened to be in their path while a sudden rush of cold air chilled their skin.
". . . At least I worry." Nathan murmured after a moment, looking as if he immediately regretted saying that. His head lowered slightly, as if in fear of Bane's response. But there was no response. Bane kept walking at the same pace, Nathan's words repeating in his mind. It was true that Bane was concerned about Spark and the others, but why did he have such trouble showing it? Was shedding a few tears all he could do? It felt like everything he was capable of, so why did he suddenly feel so guilty?
"Sorry . . ." Nathan mumbled, the pokémon center becoming smaller and smaller behind them. A few moments of strained silence passed, neither of the two saying a word as they trod across the field of dead grass, mostly avoiding any pavement. The sky was a shade or two brighter by now, but it was still hardly daylight. The sun was just about to peek over the horizon, bathing the two pokémon and everything around them in a vague cyan light, the half moon was still hanging high in the sky, opposite the blue sunrise.
"It's fine." Bane finally said, heaving a troubled sigh and regaining a sense of focus in his eyes. Had there been any darkness in his expression, it disappeared just then. "So, what happened with you? I thought we were running from Dexx together." He asked, attempting to pick the conversation back up as he let his arms fall to his sides. Bane saw a bit of surprise in Nathan's face, but it was soon dispatched.
"You don't remember?" He questioned innocently, turning his head to the grass. Bane shook his head, but Nathan didn't seem to notice. He continued anyway. "Well . . . nothing too complicated, I guess. We just got separated a while after he started chasing us." He said somberly, his eyes following a small rock as he walked past it, before eventually turning his attention back to the ground in front of him. "I tried to find you after I noticed Dexx wasn't running after me, but then I suddenly felt really tired and hungry . . . I think I collapsed in the forest, but when I woke up, I saw a town."
Bane stared at him, sympathizing a bit. It seems their experiences weren't entirely different, considering Bane woke up to find a town as well. It made him remember the first time he saw his bleeding leg, which, in turn, made his wound twinge with pain. Nathan went on, shifting his body as he pointed behind himself, Bane's eyes following his finger.
"That town." He stated, taking a quick glance back at the shrinking buildings. "I still felt weak, so I got up and walked toward it, hoping it had a center. And . . . uhm, you know the rest." He explained, finishing his story and letting the arm he was using to point with fall limp.
Bane blinked as he looked at the town behind them, confused. Weird, he thought. This place is a six minute drive from Dashania's house. How did Nathan wake up here? Did he really run all this way . . . ?
Knowing Nathan wouldn't know the answers to these questions, Bane pushed those thoughts aside and tried to think of another subject. What Dashania told him about Dexx and his friends suddenly came to mind, but he soon realized there was a slim chance of him remembering everything correctly. Perhaps he would let Dashania herself tell Nathan all about it once they got there . . .
Shrugging, Bane decided to discuss another topic that had just popped into his head. "I think we should start training." He suggested plainly, putting his arms back behind his head. "You know, like sparring matches."
Nathan's eyes widened a bit, looking slightly confused. "We've sparred before . . ." Nathan told him, his voice as meek and quiet as ever. "Remember? Just a few months back, we--"
"-- I mean seriously, though." Interrupted Bane, not unkindly. "Every day. And not just for an hour or two, but until we're too tired to move." He finished, studying Nathan's expression. He did not seem very accepting of the idea, but at the same time, it looked as though he had no argument. He stammered for a moment, searching for a valid protest, until he eventually just nodded lightly.
"I guess . . ." He conceded, a frown spread across his face. He stared at his feet as they carried him across the field of grass, his ears pointed all the way down. Jeez, you'd think I just killed his trainer, Bane thought regretfully, almost feeling guilty. That is, until he noticed Nathan's eyes suddenly light up with hope. "Though, maybe since I'm not as strong as--"
"-- You're not getting out of this." He interrupted once more, gesturing to his friend's beaten body. Bane could see the hope die in Nathan's eyes, but he continued anyway. "Dexx did that to you. You told me all about it at Sarah's house, in case you forgot. If you'd been stronger, then your attacks wouldn't have been laughed off. If you were quicker, then Dexx wouldn't have been able to catch you." He said in a tone that aimed for calm gentleness, but the words came out sounding more stern than he intended.
Nathan's ears had gotten even lower, and his face was filled with dread. Heaving a sigh, Bane decided to tell him something that was sure to put some spring in his step. "It doesn't have to be today, though." Bane informed the pikachu, catching the relief washing over his expression. "We can wait until you're all healed up . . . but after that, we'll have to work our butts off, unless we want Dexx to kick them again."
This time, Nathan's nod seemed a bit more enthusiastic, although Bane could tell he still wasn't looking forward to it. Guess that's the most he can be won over . . . The squirtle thought emptily, scratching the top of his head. We're going to get stronger. I know every one of Dexx's comrades. Dashania is on our side, and I'm going to get that raichu on our side, too. But it's not enough. We're still outmatched . . .
Morning already? Sarah asked herself, managing to open her eyes after a short while. She hadn't slept very well, and she knew the reason all too well. More than once she dreamt of her encounter with Dexx and what he did to her, and oftentimes her mind conjured up exaggerated and nightmarish versions of that moment. Even recalling the dreams made her shudder.
But when she opened her eyes, she didn't expect to see the sky, or any of the tall trees blocking her view of most of it. She didn't expect to feel grass underneath her, or stinging cuts on her body. She had expected to see a ceiling, and to feel covers up to her chin. She didn't know why, either. It had been years since she slept in her house. Perhaps she was craving sanctuary.
Suddenly remembering the events of yesterday, she stifled a yawn and raised herself up, searching for Spark. After separating from their embrace last night, Spark had remained quiet and solemn, and Sarah felt uneasy being around him. His expression was drowned deep in half-hidden worry, guilt, anger and a mix of other emotions too numerous to count as they searched for Bane and Nathan, and later a place to rest for the approaching night.
He had seemed a lot calmer by time she lied down to go to sleep, but she was still concerned about him, and Nathan and Bane as well. Sarah wondered for a moment if they were all right, until the sight of Spark distracted her from that thought.
He was lying against a nearby tree, keeping his tail safely on his lap and examining the area peacefully. Sarah could see his stunning, crystal-blue eyes shifting about for a moment, before they eventually found and remained on her. She was glad to see none of the stress from earlier was plaguing his powerful gaze. A faint smile spread across Spark's face as he looked at her, most likely glad he was no longer the only one awake.
"You're up early." He pointed out in his usual deep but gentle tone, slowly getting up from his resting spot.
"Yeah. . ." Sarah mumbled almost automatically, rubbing one of her eyes to clear away a blur. She forced herself off the grass after a moment, a few of her cuts stinging with pain as her body moved. Somehow she kept forgetting they were there.
"How long have you been awake?" She asked curiously after the pain faded, remembering she hadn't seen Spark go to sleep. His eyes wandered around a bit before he answered, as if looking for a response in the air.
"A while." He replied plainly, his expression suddenly becoming very hard to read. She couldn't tell if he was hiding something, or if this was just Spark being Spark. She could never read his expression all that well, but this time was different somehow. "You ready to go?" He asked, keeping that difficult-to-read face on as he took a few steps forward. Sarah nodded hesitantly before following Spark's lead, silently wondering to herself why he was always such a puzzle.
"I . . . want to thank you for last night, Sarah." The charmeleon announced rather suddenly, his tone as caring and sincere as ever, though for the first time she could detect a bit of nervousness in his eyes. He continued on anyway, clumsily twiddling his claws behind his back. "I'm ashamed of my outburst from earlier, but . . . I'm also very grateful you were there to help me through it. If I had been alone, I . . ."
His voice trailed off as Sarah watched him. His faint smile had gone completely and his steps became slightly heavier. His mind was going back to that moment; she could feel it. And now hers was, too. She shook her head, trying not to think of it. She didn't like thinking about it, nor did she like Spark doing so either. It made her feel dejected, almost depressed. All she could think of was Spark yelling "I considered them my brothers!" directly at her, tears streaming down his face.
After a moment, he sighed wearily, slowly but surely regaining that calm, peaceful mood he had been in just a while ago.
"At any rate . . ." He said through a large exhale, beginning to fumble with his claws again. "I, uhm, just thought I should thank you." He confessed, his eyes darting away from Sarah and toward the ground. His embarrassment was apparent, but there was a raw sincerity in his words that she had scarcely heard, even from Spark's mouth. Her face must have flushed after that. She could feel it in her cheeks and even up to the corners of her eyes; a warm, almost burning sensation bubbling just beneath her skin. She was strangely aware of the next few paces she took, suddenly afraid of tripping and making a fool of herself.
You have it wrong, she thought. -I- should be the one thanking -you-, Sarah nearly blurted. She kept silent though, appreciating Spark's words and feeling like a giggly female for possibly the first time in her life; she almost hated herself for it. Ever since she could remember, battling and hunting came more naturally to her than any etiquette or similar trash her trainer's other pokémon mentioned to her (or worse yet, tried to teach her.)
She saw no reason for it. If she wanted to battle, then why couldn't she battle? Everyone knew how good she was at it, yet they kept insisting she shouldn't fight unless absolutely necessary. But it was all white noise to her. She refused to be some useless member of the team, being treated like a princess undeservedly and only fighting when all the males were defeated. Yet here she was, being treated like that princess, courtesy of Spark.
The old Sarah wouldn't have behaved like this, she knew. The old Sarah would have briskly accepted the compliments and stalked off to train some more, never looking back. Perhaps it's a good thing the old me is gone, then, she thought sadly. I'm strong enough, and leaving Spark would be . . .
She pondered that thought, trying to complete it. What would it be? How would Spark feel if she simply up and left? She hoped she knew the answer, but something about Spark still puzzled her. After a moment, she banished the thought, hating herself a little more. Sometimes her mind scared even her with the questions it conjured up.
Finally, she responded to Spark's kind words with some of her own. "You're welcome," She began meekly, "I know this must be hard for you. . ."
"It's hard for all of us." Spark said gently, his claws now steady and his expression bearing a hint of unease. He doesn't want to talk about this, Sarah thought. I should have known. The last few days have been awful for them, she finished slowly. Their troubles were a disheartening subject at best, and she didn't want to ruin the good mood Spark was in.
The trees grew thinner and more spread out around them as they progressed, the sky brightening overhead while the sun peeked over a horizon they couldn't see. The smell of grass and pine filled her nose, and dirt and leaves and bits of earth clung between her small toes with each step, the landscape as unchanging and flat as it always had been.
There were no pokémon to see or smell or hear, yet some other scent crept into her nose. At first she thought it was nothing; that her nostrils were just desperate for something different to smell other than dewy grass. But when Spark began sniffing as well, she knew she had been wrong. The scent became stronger and stronger, and the charmeleon beside her soon announced what it was. "Fire." He said with an oddly calm tone, though his expression looked considerably more intense. Fire? Sarah repeated in her mind, half frightened and half confused. How did a forest fire start? Who started it? She asked herself, a bead of nervous sweat forming at the top of her head.
When she looked up, however, the small but growing cloud of black smoke seemed to be arising from outside the forest's reach. A town is on fire. . . she decided, the potential consequences soon coming to her. Please let Nathan and Bane be safe, hoped Sarah at once, breaking into a run as she stared at the expanding accumulation of smoke. She didn't check to see if Spark was following, but she knew he was. She could hear his rapid footsteps sounding off beside her, just outside her peripheral vision.
"It's Dexx," She announced with certainty, her gaze unmoving from the looming cloud. "I don't know why or how, but it has to be him."
Spark didn't say anything, so she assumed he agreed. He probably thought so before me, she imagined, her mental tone hollow with lack of concentration.
Her stamina must have increased tenfold since last time she ran, because her breath hadn't abandoned her even when they ran what seemed like a mile. But when her legs started aching again, she suddenly regretted having run so far and so fast.
They were much closer to the fire now, but still a seemingly endless wall of trees blocked their view. The grass and bark and leaves no longer had a scent. All that filled Sarah's nose was the smell of smoke and fire, nearly making her eyes water with its overwhelming strength.
Why? She asked herself, running a paw over her head as they settled for speed-walking the rest of the way. Why would he do this? Why? The question kept repeating in her head, consuming what little focus she had of what was going on around her. There was only the fire, and yet, before she knew it, a sudden pain shot through her shoulder and torso, and then she was lying on her back. She had walked into something, but she assumed it was simply a tree trunk until she lifted her eyes.
An arcanine was looking down on her, frowning and seeming to be on the brink of tears. Sarah had never seen an arcanine up close before, and even though its mood was clearly not the best, the sight of the creature nearly took her breath away. Its mane of cream-colored fur blew in the slow wind almost hypnotizingly, as did its large and thick tail. The irises were an obvious shade of blue-green, a color Sarah had rarely seen in terms of eyes.
It stopped only long enough to apologize, its voice leading Sarah to believe it was a female, and then began slowly making her way forward, each step looking as if it brought her spirits down further. Spark and Sarah exchanged looks, their thoughts most likely the same. This arcanine was the only other fire type around, and with an entire town burning only a mile or two away . . .
"Please, wait." Spark urged softly, having turned to face the passing pokémon. She halted, though perhaps a bit reluctantly. The fire had gotten even stronger, and suddenly Sarah wanted to retreat from it. "What happened?" He asked in a tone that should have been soothing, but instead it looked like the question stung her.
"Officers are dead." She replied, her voice cracking with grief. "Everyone's dead. My Master . . ." Her voice trailed off, and suddenly her legs gave out. She collapsed on the grass, and soon the only audible sound was her sobbing.
Spark tried to place a comforting claw on her shoulder, but it was immediately thrown off, and he was shoved to the ground with a swing of her powerful front paw. He seemed unfazed, but Sarah rushed to his side nonetheless.
"Sarah . . ." He mumbled after a moment, accepting her help to get back on his feet. "Take her away from the fire, if you can. Try and comfort her. I'll go into the town to see what I can find." His voice was no more than a whisper, but still she understood him. He's probably going to look for Nathan and Bane, Sarah thought, glancing in the direction of the blaze before nodding stiffly.
That was the only confirmation he waited for, and soon he disappeared beyond the cluster of trees. Hoping for the best, she turned to the arcanine and was surprised to find her standing again.
"Don't do a thing he told you." She warned through her own hushed sobs, tears streaming from her eyes. She stood still as a statue, but it was apparent she wanted to be running away. "Just . . . leave." She said as harshly as she could, looking as if she was about to take a step forward.
"No. I'm staying." Sarah responded, unable to stop herself. The arcanine shot her a dangerous glare, and with three large steps, the fire type closed the gap between them. Sarah had to tilt her head nearly all the way up in order to make eye contact with her, but she was used to it from looking up at Spark all the time.
"I said leave!" Shouted the larger of the two, her front leg bolting out again. But before it could meet its target, Sarah caught the blow between her paws and tossed it back.
"No." She repeated firmly, beginning to sweat from the humidity of the blaze. The forest had darkened considerably due to the smoke drifting overhead, and she could see the sky starting to turn red. Just how bad is this fire going to get? She wondered, trying keep an eye on the arcanine's limbs. She expected one of them to attempt another attack, but the attack never came.
"Fine, then." She sniffled, laying back down on the ground. "But don't blame me."
Sarah blinked in response, confused. Blame her for what? She asked herself, glancing around the area. And then she heard it. The sound of heavy footsteps and large, flapping wings. A sense of danger filled her, and she somehow knew whoever was approaching would be the one responsible for the arson. Panicking, Sarah ran and hid behind a tree about only twenty feet away. It wasn't a great distance, but something was telling her to stay within earshot of the arcanine, although she couldn't say if it was out of concern for the weeping fire type or for spying purposes.
Sooner than she would have liked, she heard the approaching pokémon emerge between two columns of bark, branches snapping and groups of leaves shaking noisily. Sarah couldn't risk looking, so she stayed focused on listening. A deep, booming voice filled her ears, so loud it sounded as if the stranger was speaking right next to her in a silent room.
"Dashania . . ." The voice snarled throatily, its owner taking a thunderous step forward. It was clearly a male speaking, and Sarah assumed he was addressing the arcanine. His tone sounded deadly and filled with contempt, but somehow it rang as his normal speaking voice.
"You're a ways away from the proposed meeting spot." He observed through what might have been the loudest growl Sarah had ever heard. There was no response, so the stranger continued. ". . . I imagine it must have been painful for you." Said the voice with the slightest hint of gentleness.
"Yes." Dashania replied at once, the sound of rustling grass indicating that she had just stood back up. Even with a brash tone like hers, it was still much quieter than the tone of whoever she was speaking to. Sarah was beginning to grow more curious about who this mysterious pokémon was, but she managed to keep herself from peeking.
"Yes, it was." The arcanine said strongly, the last traces of grief leaving her voice. Sarah wondered what 'it' referred to, fearing to answer the question herself. Did she help set the fire . . . ? Asked the pikachu's anxious mind, increasingly desperate for an absolute confirmation. There was no way a single pokémon could start such a large blaze. He would need several others, but . . . Maybe Dashania wasn't part of this, Sarah thought hopefully. She didn't know why, but she sort of liked this arcanine. She didn't want her to be involved in something as horrible as setting an entire town full of people and their pokémon ablaze.
"Well . . ." Sighed the booming voice, almost wearily. "Best get these fellas to Dexx."
Sarah's eyes shot open, and for a moment she was hopeful. Could 'fellas' mean Bane and Nathan? Forgetting herself, she looked out from behind the tree to satisfy her curiosity. Dashania was looking up at a charizard, and instantly Sarah knew he had been the one talking to her.
He had no horns atop his head, and one of his eyes was such a dark black that it seemed to be a hole leading into his skull. The other was a deep yellow that shined even in the vague sunlight, and it somehow made her think of Spark. His wingspan looked to be twice the normal size, making his body seem comparatively small. It wasn't though, Sarah knew. He could probably step on her without even noticing. He was carrying three unconscious pokémon on his lean shoulders, two on the left side and one of the right. She had time to recognize the species of only one defeated captive, a sandslash, before noticing an intimidating typhlosion standing just a few feet away from the charizard.
She had been under the impression that only the charizard entered the forest, but apparently this typhlosion had came along with him without making a sound. He had the unmistakeable build of a male, his figure brimming with smooth muscles and narrowing down to something quite compact in the hips. He had a rather toothy visage, with six or more pointed tips escaping the inside of his mouth. It was only then she took note of his missing right eye, and his chewed-off left ear. His one remaining eye was a light shade of gray, and it seemed to be familiar with many hard times. He stood just an inch or two taller than the charizard beside him, both their gazes on Dashania as she took a step forward.
"Yes." She repeated, looking at the pokémon hoisted over the charizard's shoulders. "We shall not keep Dexx waiting." She told them hollowly, her voice giving no hint of how she felt. Sarah's heart sank. It hurt to know Dashania was one of Dexx's accomplices, and it hurt to see other pokémon being kidnapped. She thought about charging out and attacking head-on, but there was no way she was going to win against three fire types much larger than herself. Even if she did manage to knock them out, they still would eventually come after her.
Too late, Sarah noticed the charizard's gaze turning toward her. Before she could pull her head back, his eyes locked onto hers. She gasped silently and tried to conceal herself, but she had already been spotted. No, she thought desperately, wishing she could somehow teleport herself away. Pounding footsteps starting coming up behind her, and without any time to think, she ran. She didn't know where she was going, but she ran. Past a dozen trees, over roots and fallen branches, through a small stream. She tore up the soft, warm forest floor between her front paws, the fear making her sprint as fast as she could on all fours. The sound of giant, flapping wings entered her ears, but she was doing all she could do to escape it.
She tried weaving around trees in a zig-zag, but nothing worked. The noise was drawing closer, and soon Sarah found herself entangled in a pair of claws. The charizard had caught her, and his firm grip was a blatant indication he wouldn't be letting go. No . . . was all Sarah could think. No, no, no! It repeated in her mind even when the charizard spoke to her.
"Unless you want more cuts on your body, you should stop squirming." He said forcefully, his claws nearly digging into her body as she struggled. Rolling his eyes, the charizard coiled his tail around her and let it swing back into place, just above the dirt behind him. There was no more room on his shoulders, and he apparently didn't want to occupy his claws.
Imprisoned within the loop of his strong tail, she had no shortage of vision regarding who rested atop the charizard's shoulders. A slightly beaten larvitar lay unconscious, his face made unappealing not only by faint bruises, but by hollow cheeks, a crooked mouth and a jaw too large for the rest of his head. His closed eyes were sunken in considerably, and his skin looked to be wrapped tightly around his skull. His arms were nothing more than dirty stubby little things, small even for his species.
The pokémon squashed beneath him looked to be far more content. Sarah could not tell if this one was unconscious or sleeping, but she wagered the latter. It was an abra, and a comfortable grin spread several long inches beneath his snout, his breathing completely silent. He looked impressively normal, all but for a few teeth. Some were a deep yellow, while others seemed like they could fall out within the minute. She would have wondered about his eating habits, had she not felt so crestfallen.
"Subara!" The arcanine called, her faint, otherwise blank tone sprinkled with a hint of curiosity and impatience. "What did you find?" she shouted, her words barely understandable from the distance. Sarah found it odd Dashania was even asking. She had to know who this Subara chased after. Perhaps she was only asking to cover the fact they had briefly met. Or maybe she was hoping it had been someone else he captured, though Sarah felt stupid for even considering that.
The charizard waited until he took a few large steps forward before responding. "Some pikachu wench." He shouted back with his booming voice, breaking the limb off a tree as he walked past it. By some miracle, Sarah barely heard him. She was too busy struggling in vain to free herself from the grip of the powerful tail binding her. The flame on its tip was a few inches above and to the side of her head, and although it wasn't bursting with life, it was still hot enough to bring beads of sweat forth.
The forest itself had gotten rather toasty as well, she noticed. They couldn't stay here much longer if they wanted their captives to live, but she dreaded the thought of being taken to Dexx. If they try anything, I'll bite my tongue, she told herself firmly. I'd sooner die than let any of them have me.
It wasn't long at all before Subara was back with Dashania and that unmoving typhlosion, whose eye didn't even follow them as they came closer. But it was him the charizard turned to after they had stopped moving, instead of Dashania.
"Darieos," He growled loudly, his black and yellow eyes focusing on the typhlosion's shining gray one. Darieos gave no response, remaining still as a statue, but it was somehow clear he was listening. "The fire has served its purpose. See that it's put out as quick as possible." He commanded, giving the arcanine beside him a brief glance. "Dashania will help, if it is required." His large feet shifted slightly as he said that, and suddenly Sarah noticed the charizard's left foot was missing its middle claw.
She had just begun to wonder how he had lost it when she turned her gaze back up and noticed Darieos was no longer there. He had gone without making a sound, just as he had came.
That one's dangerous, she noted to herself quickly. More so than these two, her eyes swept over Dashania's face, and Subara's back. She had a good feeling they would not harm her without cause, but she was not so sure about Darieos.
Soon enough, Subara had taken flight with all four of his captives in tow. Up, up and up they went, until the great fire beneath them did not seems so great anymore. The towering trees had become specks and splotches of dark green, and Sarah could see far-off towns and even a city on the horizon. The charizard had taken to carrying the other three unconscious pokémon with his claws, letting them dangle in the air precariously as he flew. Suddenly Sarah preferred being wrapped in his tail much more than she had before they took off. The temperature had dropped by some fifteen or twenty degrees, and the wind was blowing Subara's tail flame away from her temple.
She would have enjoyed the sights, but there was nothing but dark and grim thoughts composing her mood. It felt as though she would retch from the dread and anxiety filling her, but instead she found her voice and bellowed:
"HELP ME!"
She sounded foolish to herself even while yelling it, but it was all she could do. If Spark heard that, then perhaps he would look up to see the floating black dot in the sky, and perhaps he would surmise it was her up there, being taken somewhere far away, where Dexx was probably waiting.
I promised myself -I- would look after -Spark-, she wanted to scream, clenching her stubby fingers into fists. It wasn't supposed to be the other way around anymore.
Subara seemed annoyed and gave her a piercing scowl, as if he had wanted a warning before she yelled. "Who were you calling for?" He finally asked, after his burning yellow eye had etched itself into her brain. "Some valiant friends I stole you from?" He questioned, snarling. Sarah did not know if she was being mocked or if it was a genuine question, but she gave an answer anyway.
"Nobody." She lied, closing her eyes and letting her head fall back. If she mentioned Spark, then Subara would try to find and capture him too, assuming he had the ability to carry another pokémon, that is.
"Interesting." He said, his voice trumping even the loud, snapping wind that competed for her ears' attention. "When I'm in trouble, I often seek help from nobody as well." He studied her learning expression for a short while, and a smirk ran across his face.
"Anybody, then." She stated hastily, correcting herself. Subara simply gave her a knowing look, and she knew she had been defeated. He's going to ask again who I was yelling for, she realized, her mind suddenly panicking. I won't be able to lie this time, I won't.
The questions never came, though. He simply kept smirking, his eye flickering from yellow to a false gold in the sunlight. Sarah was almost grateful for that, but she knew there was something wrong behind his not asking.
There was no trace of the night anymore, save for half moon still in the sky as if it were midnight. It was morning now, truly. The cyan light of the sunrise was gone, and the orange light of the blaze behind them. It was odd, then, that the pure, healthy light from the sun would mark her travel to such a bleak place.
They had rushed toward the smoke as fast as they could, but the fire was too strong once they got close. Bane's water attacks would evaporate before touching so much as an ember, and every second they spent near the doomed town was terrible on their lungs, and soon they were running and wheezing away from the place.
His body was sweltering and his breath was shaky, but still Bane reassured him that Spark and Sarah were in the forest, not the burning town. He didn't sound so sure himself, though, but he had tried hard as he could to sell the words, and Nathan did his best to believe them.
There was something Bane was hiding, though, or at least not talking about. Nathan noticed once they first saw the fire, how Bane had muttered something unintelligible. A name, most likely. Nathan couldn't be sure, but whatever he said, it was the reason Bane seemed more dejected than he would normally allow himself to get.
The two of them had retreated a safe distance and were now resting against a thick tree, Bane looking close to tears, while Nathan watched the shapeless mass of smoke shift in the red-tinted sky with eyes of stone. He was surprising himself with how empty he felt. Usually Bane would be the one with the blank stare, and Nathan the one crying. Instead Nathan simply watched the smoke, feeling almost dead.
"Hey," Said the squirtle quietly, his eyelids unsure if they wanted to close or not. "You remember what we did in Sarah's room, before we left?"
Nathan blinked, unsure if Bane was hinting at something or if he had simply forgotten. "We talked." He answered, wishing he could put more emotion to his voice. "About Dexx, and how he attacked me."
Bane nodded, but it was apparent he wasn't satisfied. "And then what did we do?" He asked, his tone suggesting Nathan already knew.
And suddenly he did. Unbidden memories of yesterday filled his mind, and soon he was blushing, his blank mood already gone. He lowered his head slightly and looked away from Bane, his mind swimming with every second and sensation it could recall from that moment. His cheeks were on fire, and there was a vastly unwelcome tension between his legs. He did not sense Bane's eyes on him, but he had to have taken notice, Nathan thought.
"I . . ." The squirtle continued, his voice breaking and his eyes reddening. There were no tears yet, but his eyes were glistening far more than they ought to have been. "I need that kind of c . . . comfort." Bane admitted, sounding as if he had tried to hold back the words. They had come out anyway, though, and Nathan pressed his lips against Bane's, his embarrassment forgotten. It was more sudden than Nathan planned; he did not even remember leaning forward to give the kiss, but they held it nonetheless.
He wanted nothing more than to comfort Bane, to stroke the back of his head and ease his mind. To actually be doing these things felt fulfilling beyond words, and he had to stop himself from smiling during their embrace.
Bane's mouth opened for Nathan's tongue while his arms wrapped around the pikachu's back, squeezing softly. Nathan could not say what Bane's tongue tasted like, but he wanted to never stop tasting it. It was sweet and tangy and better than he would have imagined, so he gladly let the wet organ dance around his own. He could feel the squirtle's worries melting away, just as he could feel his arm sliding down his back, Bane ruffling his fur and pushing into the kiss hungrily.
He -does- need this, Nathan thought, with more pity in his mental voice than he would have liked. He gently caressed Bane's warm cheek and felt something cold soak into his stubby finger. He couldn't tell if it was a tear of distress or comfort or something else, but he hoped it was a good sign.
Their lips finally parted, only to meet each other again, and again. Nathan's belly touched the squirtle's shell each time he inhaled, and that was warm, too. He felt his bottom kneaded between Bane's eager fingers, his hand tracing over the curve of his hips and back to the center of his rear over and over again. He moaned softly, almost a purr, as Bane squeezed the palpable flesh beneath the short fur, his hands being careful of any wounds they might brush over. The digits not groping his rear mound of flesh were instead sliding across his chest, grasping and clutching just for the sake of touching him.
Nathan did somewhat the same, stroking Bane's smooth face and his smoother shell. Sometimes he parted a kiss just so he could peck Bane's cheek once or twice, but the main attraction was still his tongue and lips, almost shining from the wetness of their affections.
The excitement rushing through Nathan's body made it feel like this was the first time they had done something like this, but in all actuality, he had lost count of how many times he had been with Bane. Well past twenty, he knew, and they must have kissed thousands of times by now. But still he giggled when Bane pinned him down and kissed down his body tenderly, starting at his chin and ending at his faded pink member, throbbing in the open air and not expecting the soft peck that was planted on its underside.
Slowly, Bane wrapped his lips around the tip and brought his head down, only stopping until his nose bumped against Nathan's groin. Nathan shuddered and moaned, unable to think of any better feeling than having his malehood entrapped in Bane's perfect mouth, or deep inside his other end, thrusting lustfully into his depths. Bane always knew just what to do and just when to do it, and best of all, he seemed to genuinely enjoy being the submissive one.
Some nights, when Spark left them to go for his usual walks, Bane would tempt a drowsy Nathan by simply raising his hindquarters, which was usually all it took to fully coax the pikachu's malehood out. Or better still, Nathan would wake to find the squirtle halfway through giving him a blowjob, a hand groping his backside or cupping his sensitive balls. He did these things only when Nathan exhibited "problems" earlier in the day or if he noticed some kind of voluntary signal.
Nathan's full attention was returned to the situation at hand when Bane's skilled tongue nearly brought him to orgasm as it swirled around his shaft, the squirtle's head moving up and down and his shimmering green eyes glazed over with want.
Nathan's body tensed slightly, his cock throbbing powerfully as it prepared to fire his load into Bane's waiting maw yet again. Nathan briefly wondered if Bane liked tasting him so often, but the lips and tongue around his member would not let his mind stray. He had a bit more endurance left, he felt, but against Bane's soppy mouth it didn't matter.
Not a moment later, Nathan shuddered again and came, a great sticky mess of white fluid spilling onto Bane's tongue and into the back of his throat. They both moaned contently, Bane's sounding so euphoric it might've suggested a climax of his own. But when he swallowed and stood up, he was only half erect, and there was no mess to be seen.
"Do I really taste that good?" Nathan questioned after the squirtle nestled beside him, their cocks brushing against each other, neither letting the other go limp. He gave no reply, but instead simply kissed Nathan, showing him the taste of his tongue. It was scarcely an improvement, but he enjoyed it all the same.
They soon found themselves rolling across the grass, making out and touching each other as if the blowjob had never happened. Without warning, Bane climaxed while having Nathan pinned, coating his crotch fur and turning it white. The occasional stimulation from their members touching must have been enough to push him over the edge, but Nathan paid it little mind. The two ignored the wet stickiness and continued for what seemed an eternity.
Eventually they disentangled, both of them breathless and their jaws sore. The passion had slowly died out over the long minutes, until they eventually agreed to stop before it became awkward. Bane looked to be back to normal, or at least close to it, but Nathan had already begun reliving what had just happened. Dirt and blades of grass stuck to his bottom while he lay there, his heart pounding wildly as he recalled Bane breathing against his mouth when they first kissed in front of the thick tree.
"Come on." Urged Bane, lightly nudging Nathan's shoulders. "We have to look for Spark and Sarah." He said. His mouthed flinched slightly, as if he wanted to add another name but couldn't. I haven't calmed him down after all . . . He noticed, the thought stinging in his mind. "Plus we've gotta get you cleaned up somehow." He added instead, eying him between the legs. The observation made Nathan flush a tad as he felt the thick fluid slowly set into his fur, but got up all the same.
Before he had the chance to lift his head, Bane pressed against him, his arms wrapped tightly around his body. There was no kiss this time, but instead a sweet sort of silence. Bane was embracing him so fiercely, and it soon occurred to Nathan he had never been hugged like this. A genuine 'Thank you' filled his ears, and he slowly returned the hug with joy and empathetic relief filling him.
This is why I'm here, he decided happily, and somehow his love for Bane had grown larger still.