Waiting for Rain {Steven & Cynthia}

[CYNTHIA]

"Gerry the Braviary, you spit that Taillow out RIGHT NOW!" Gerry looked at the ground and cowered. He didn't want to lose his tasty snack. "GERRY!" With a disdainful glance at his trainer, Gerry spit out the fluffy bird and coughed out a couple of feathers. Taillow landed on the ground in a slimy ball and squawked angirly. One look from Gerry however, sent it flying off, away from the duo. "Now Gerry, what have I told you about Taillows?" Gerry screeched. "That's right, they are very fattening. Not good for your diet." Gerry sent a poisonous look at Cynthia. "That's it Gerry! First the Zigzagoon, now this? Return, now!" Gerry disapeared into his Ultraball. But now Cynthia was lonely.

She tossed out Grace's pokeball and the Garchomp appeared and roared, shaking the ground. She hugged Grace tightly but the mighty dragon didn't mind, she was used to this from Cynthia now. She had been so depressed lately...

Which is why they were in Hoenn. Even if Cynthia had no intention of finding help for this problem, Grace knew just what to do, just who to see. Grace was tracking Steven. Which was quite a hard task. Like most steel-type pokemon and trainers, he was a hard one to find. But not impossible. His scent was ever-closer, Grace had met Steven only a couple times before, but the Garchomp had one hell of a memory. She remembered his scent perfectly fine. Speaking of which... Grace put her head in the air and took a deep breath in. Steven was close. How close, Grace didn't know. But she had a hunch she knew where he was...

She gently pried her trainer off of her and pointed with one arm/fin to the exit of the mountain pass they were in. "Out there Gracey? You know, I don't really feel like leaving our "vacation" and seeing people again..." Cynthia asked, confused. Grace just rolled her eyes lumbered towards the entrance to Lavaridge and with a sigh, Cynthia followed.

Cynthia hadn't really been... in the public eye, per say, for almost a week. She liked it. Just her and her pokemon and random trainers who didn't recognize her. Now, she passed through Lavaridge awkwardly, every resident turning to stare at the large Garchomp that passed them by. Cynthia smiled, still feeling out of place. Grace had some sort of mission in mind, that was for sure.

Finally (after crashing through the Pokemon Center), they came to the hotsprings. "What the- No pokemon in here, ma'am!" The lifeguard said. Grace just snarled and the man cowered. "But for you, it's okay."

Cynthia sighed and took off her shoes. She dipped her feet in the water, she wasn't exactly dressed to go in. Garchomp splashed her way into the natural hot tub, scaring the older residents out of the water. Steven was close, she could sense it. But Cynthia needed a nice, relaxing hotspring bath. Grace sighed. The Garchomp needed one too. She could get used to the hotsprings. This was her kind of place. *Mental note, get Cynthia to add large hot tub by the Villa in Unova*

[STEVEN]

[atrb=style,border-top: 8px solid #689ab4; border-bottom: 8px solid #689ab4; border-left: 2px solid #689ab4; border-right: 2px solid #689ab4; -moz-border-radius: 30px;][bg=494949][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,420,true][atrb=width,20%][atrb=vAlign,top][atrb=background, i56.tinypic.com/23mtpnr.jpg] NOT GONNA GET US Starting from here, let's make a promise you and me, let's just be honest we're gonna run, nothing can stop us even the night that falls all around us words: 383 - tagged: cynthia - notes: here STEVEN

[/color][/font] needed to catch a break. His own travels have begun to take a toll on him, as the silent and bright day went along by him and Slate, his Metagross. He sat, criss-crossed on the Pokemon's flat head as he took a look at himself, covered in dust and pebbles from his last attempt of an expedition. Note to self, never try to pry open a rock tunnel full of Crobat. Quite thankfully, the hot springs of Lavaridge as getting ever so closer, and he could use a bit of unwinding.

Yet, something was odd about the city. People wandered all about him and murmured to themselves in confusion and amazement, almost as if Steven was visting them for the fist time. Others were running about in fear, and all from the opposite direction of the springs. "Well, this is weird.", the trainer said to himself, as his head wandered out with curiosity. "Slate, let's get to the hot springs, and on the double!" he commanded to his Metagross, and with a slight nod, the Pokemon trekked along faster, making sure his master and friend was safely in tow.

As they arrived, the gentleman leaped off and sneaked through the
entrance, attending to the guard who was quite shaken. "Um, sir, did something happened to this place?", Steven said to him, yet he only shook his head and crawled away like a child, completely ignoring the Metagross that was accompanying Steven. The trainer rubbed his chin and silently signaled Slate to follow along. Weird, indeed...

"Meta Meta!!", Slate said to Steven, raising one of it's legs to the occupied spring just near them. Oddly enough, a Garchomp was around there, and judging by the past ruckus, it's likely was a rogue runaway. However, when Steven began to inch closer, he was met with an unexpected face.

Cynthia?

Indeed, the champion of Sinnoh was sitting along the side of the hot spring by herself. Steven scratched his head and eventually shrugged, as he carefully moved over to her side. He hadn't exactly met such a fine woman like her before, and quite understandably, he had goosebumps lingering through his body. He kneeled down and softly cleared his throat as he finally spoke to her. "Um, quite an entrance to make on a quaint little town, miss..."[/div]

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[CYNTHIA]

Grace watched as Steven entered in, right on cue. All was going according to her evil Garchomp plan. Metagross accompanied its trainer and Grace smiled her shark-toothed smile. She liked Metagross. Why did Cynthia have to go around and capture a stupid Braviary. She didn't even want to think about the happy-go-lucky Togekiss that made her absolutely ill. Ugggh. If she was going to get stuck with pokemon, why couldn't they be as smart as her? Ehh, Anubis was good enough company.

Back to focusing on her trainer, Grace swam (yes, Garchomp swim) over to the edge of the spring adjacent to them, keeping only her star-designed nose and eyes above the water. Well, if Steven caused any problems, Grace would be close enough to deal with it. And then she would deal with him.

Cynthia was lost in her own world of thought as Steven entered the area. She looked up when he cleared his throat, only slightly startled. Cynthia smiled at him. "Hey Steven, fancy meeting you here," she cast a suspicious glance at her Garchomp. Grace just continued to watch, rather creepily too. Cynthia motioned for the creepy dragon to back off and Grace swam back to the other side of the springs, over to Steven's Metagross. "And if you must know, entrances are my specialty. Or Grace's. I really don't know which, but I hope she didn't make anyone go into cardiac arrest. That would be relatively bad. And you should just call me Cynthia, that is if I can call you Steven."

[STEVEN]

[atrb=style,border-top: 8px solid #689ab4; border-bottom: 8px solid #689ab4; border-left: 2px solid #689ab4; border-right: 2px solid #689ab4; -moz-border-radius: 30px;][bg=494949][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,420,true][atrb=width,20%][atrb=vAlign,top][atrb=background, i56.tinypic.com/23mtpnr.jpg] NOT GONNA GET US Starting from here, let's make a promise you and me, let's just be honest we're gonna run, nothing can stop us even the night that falls all around us words: 293 - tagged: cynthia - notes: short post feels short xP WITH

[/color][/font] a soft chuckle, Steven listened onto Cynthia a bit, only to take off his own shoes and landing them right next to the champion in black. In this light, as Steven turned to gaze at her, she really was as beautiful as they would say about her. Her beautiful, golden locks of hair and her kitten-like eyes seemed to glow like the twilight's moon. Steven knees curled up as he lets his toes poke in tiny ripples across the heated waters, unknowing of the growing blush across his cheeks. He felt like quite the child, at that moment. Yet again, being next to a famous and stunning figure would do that to you.

Slate was all too busy glaring at the Garchomp lurking around him and his trainer of choice. He didn't trust her one bit, nor did he even like her at first sight. By the look of things, it's almost as if this Garchomp was planning to lunge out and maul the poor man. Yet, if she did try anything, the Metagross would be more than ready to take her down. However, he wouldn't exactly mind testing his strength at a Pokemon like Garchomp, and it almost made him want to hop into the water and take her down itself. Alas, he'll have to stand by for the time being.

Steven turned to speak to Cynthia, at first a bit hesitant. Yet, he'll have to keep his stature, no need to look like a gushing idiot or anything. "So, what brings the famed champion of Sinnoh to come all the way to Hoenn? If I would've guessed, I thought you'd be too good for us to house you, or some nonsense...", Steven said to Cynthia, wearing a faint smile as he did.[/div]

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[CYNTHIA]

"Famed Champion," Cynthia muttered quietly to herself, rather spitefully. She glanced at Grace to see her Garchomp's reaction, but the dragon was too busy sizing up Metagross to really pay attention to the conversation anymore. Thankfully, otherwise she would be pitching a holy fit.

The hot water was warming her toes quite nicely. Cynthia wished she had brought her swim suit. Finally, she turned back to Steven. His blue-gray hair was drooping slightly from the steam of the springs but it really did frame his face nicely. And the way his smile... Focus Cynthia. "If you must know, I'm on vacation. Actually, a permanant vacation. I'm not the champion anymore." She said this with a sad smile that quickly faded to a brooding expression. Cynthia refused to show an amazing amount of emotion. Ever. But inside, she was screaming. Who was she? She wasn't Cynthia anymore. Cynthia was a champion. And she, now, was not.

[STEVEN]

[atrb=style,border-top: 8px solid #689ab4; border-bottom: 8px solid #689ab4; border-left: 2px solid #689ab4; border-right: 2px solid #689ab4; -moz-border-radius: 30px;][bg=494949][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,420,true][atrb=width,20%][atrb=vAlign,top][atrb=background, i56.tinypic.com/23mtpnr.jpg] NOT GONNA GET US Starting from here, let's make a promise you and me, let's just be honest we're gonna run, nothing can stop us even the night that falls all around us words: 230 - tagged: cynthia - notes: another shortie, sorry >.< STEVEN'S

[/color][/font] face quickly froze into a state of disbelief, his eyes widened significantly and his mouth slightly agape. Cynthia, ex-champion? Is it really true? The trainer looked into her hollow face and saw nothing but an ugly, unfortunate sense of truth. Oh dear...the poor thing must be devastated., Steven thought to himself, slowly reaching his hand to touch upon the former Sinnoh champion's shoulder, wanting to caress and comfort her with his most sincere charm.

Meanwhile, Slate was too busy with himself and the nasty pest of a Garchomp to even notice what was happening between the two trainers. Yet, most times, Slate always leaves his trainer to his business, as Slate only sees itself as a protector above all else. He crept around the edges of the spring and eyes Garchomp carefully as she sized him up, which did nothing but irritate the Metagross even further. Just one slip up. It was all Slate needed to give her a one way, Shadow Ball-flavored trip to the heavens...

With a soft sigh, Steven continued on speak. "I'm sorry to hear this, dearest Cynthia. How did it came to be, if I may ask?", he said softly and almost mournfully. He felt awful from wanting to open recent wounds, and on one with such inner pain at that. Nonetheless, Steven would have to get to the bottom of this revelation, one way or otherwise.[/div]

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[CYNTHIA]

Cynthia sighed. She wasn’t exactly feeling good right now, but she needed someone right then. She moved a bit closer to the Hoenn champion and leaned her head against his shoulder, trying to draw as much comfort as she could from his presence. It wasn’t often that Cynthia had company. She preferred a solitary confinement type lifestyle, only her and her pokemon and the open road. Of course she enjoyed the occasional battle but even that was rare.

“It was Giovanni, Steven. He won. Somehow, I wasn’t good enough to beat him. I guess this happens to everybody. I’m not the right person to be the champion, I understand that. What I don’t like about this is that he’s in charge of Sinnoh now. Well, you know, not technically in charge. He failed to understand that being a Champion has more symbolic power than actual control, which is what he wanted. I just can never go back. I let the most evil man in the world take my position. It’s my fault, I shouldn’t have accepted his challenge, I really shouldn’t have. But I did and now I suffer the consciences. I’d hate to put this burden on you too.” It made Cynthia feel better to let the truth out, to finally confide in someone other than Gerry or Anubis. She really was a loser; her only real friends now were her pokemon. Pathetic in her mind.

Grace smiled her toothy grin at the Metagross in front of her and snorted a bit. Wow, she sure did make the steel beast angry, but hey, that was just what she did. The Garchomp swished her tail around and splashed a bit of water onto Slate and ducked underwater as she did it. She remerged on the opposite side of the pool and let out a sound that was the Garchomp equivalent to laughter. Yeah, she didn’t know Taunt, but she wished that she did.

[STEVEN]

[atrb=style,border-top: 8px solid #689ab4; border-bottom: 8px solid #689ab4; border-left: 2px solid #689ab4; border-right: 2px solid #689ab4; -moz-border-radius: 30px;][bg=494949][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,420,true][atrb=width,20%][atrb=vAlign,top][atrb=background, i56.tinypic.com/23mtpnr.jpg] NOT GONNA GET US Starting from here, let's make a promise you and me, let's just be honest we're gonna run, nothing can stop us even the night that falls all around us words: 311 - tagged: cynthia - notes: woot, 300+ post :3 IT

[/color][/font] didn't really seemed Steven was helping to comfort her much, yet Cynthia's sudden leaning on him quickly erased that lingering feeling of doubt. Steven faint blushed reddened even more as he wrapped his arm around her, almost out of instinct. He never felt she'd allowed him to be so close to her, yet then again, he was a champion himself, and she was in a lot in pain. As Cynthia finally spoke, his eyes widened in fear.

“It was Giovanni, Steven. He won."

G-Giovanni?, he blurted out in his mind. His body began to shiver at the very revelation. Giovanni was the new champion of Sinnoh, and he had been on the move indeed. Could this be part of Team Ultimatum's next move? He took a good look at Cynthia and listened to her carefully, a grim look on his face. He held her closer to him and nuzzled his own head on top of hers. "It wasn't your fault, Cynthia.", he softly said. "No one could really expect Giovanni, of all people to show up on their doorstep one day. Of course, you wouldn't be prepared for such a thing..."

Steven lifted his head up and softly touched his other hand on Cynthia's opposite cheek, wanting to her face to face. "You're still Cynthia. You may not be the Sinnoh league champion now, maybe not even tomorrow...but you're still Cynthia.", he finished for now, with a soft-felt smile.

The last splash of water was really irritating Slate, yet he still needed to keep in control. It would be foolish to listen to childish anger, and in front of his trainer and his other at that. "Metaaa..." he growled to the watery abyss below, with a deep and menacing tone. He never thought he'd be so tempted to disobey his trainer's order, but at this rate, this will only lead to more teasing...[/div]

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[CYNTHIA]

Oh, why were Metagross so fun to annoy? Grace asked herself this as she frisked about across the way from the giant steel beast. She definitely didn’t want to take on the metal monster but keeping a safe distance was just fine with her. She was having fun. Obviously Slate didn’t take the joking so lightly. But Grace was beyond the point of actually caring. She glanced in Cynthia’s direction. Normally by this time her trainer would have scolded her for being so rude, but so far Cynthia had remained silent. But one look over told her why. The girl was too busy looking at Steven to even notice her. Which made the Garchomp mad. It was her fault they were together right now! Grace took a deep breath in and almost gagged. She could sense the fickle, human emotions around her and fought the urge to vomit into the water. If there was one thing Grace couldn’t stand, it was cuddling. She cast Slate a look of annoyance, not even trying to bother him anymore. She glided through the water over to him, hoping that he wasn’t still mad at her…

Meanwhile, Cynthia didn’t even notice her pokemon’s agitation. She listened to Steven, snuggling in a little bit closer as he spoke, allowing his soothing words to wash over her, attempting to help her feel better. She was beyond that point by then though. As he talked, a single tear ran down her cheek. No. She did NOT cry. She quickly wiped it away. Despite the other Champion’s best efforts, Cynthia still blamed herself. There was nothing anyone could say that would lift the heaviness from her heart. Not now, not until she had somehow redeemed herself.

Cynthia wondered if she had crossed the line, making this too uncomfortable for Steven. It certainly wouldn’t surprise her. After all, she had just laid down her great burden on him. Not to mention the fact that she was very conscious of how close she was to him. He lifted her head to face her and Cynthia looked into his eyes, aware of a blush spreading across her cheeks. Steven himself was flushed and that made her feel a bit better.

The former-Champion smiled sadly at him, holding his gaze. “I just= It’s just that-“ Cynthia looked down again, defeated. Defeated wasn’t a word that she would use to describe herself before but now, it seemed entirely appropriate. “I just don’t know what to do anymore.” Once again, she realized how entirely awkward this whole situation must be for him. Cynthia pulled away, her embarrassment and blush deepening. “Look, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done something like that. This is my problem, not yours. I’ll find some way to deal with it. I always do.” She tried to give him a reassuring smile. But failed utterly.

[STEVEN]

[atrb=style,border-top: 8px solid #689ab4; border-bottom: 8px solid #689ab4; border-left: 2px solid #689ab4; border-right: 2px solid #689ab4; -moz-border-radius: 30px;][bg=494949][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,420,true][atrb=width,20%][atrb=vAlign,top][atrb=background, i56.tinypic.com/23mtpnr.jpg] NOT GONNA GET US Starting from here, let's make a promise you and me, let's just be honest we're gonna run, nothing can stop us even the night that falls all around us words: 337 - tagged: cynthia - notes: and so it begins~ SLATE

[/color][/font] was still staring at Grace, as annoyed as it ever was. Softly stamping on his right leg, it thought to itself, wanting to dive deep within the water. Yet, when Grace came back up, she started to stare at the two humans once more. Looking closely to them as well, the Metagross couldn't help but giggle a bit. Would this be his trainer's attempt at finding a mate, perhaps? It wasn't that he cared that much, so long as Steven stayed safe, but seeing an intimate moment came to a bit humorous for the Pokemon.

As Grace came closer to Slate, he was still a bit ill-tempered, as he growled at her for a moment until he finally stepped back. Annoyance didn't seem that worth it anymore, and at that, it seemed that Grace was the more annoyed right now. And so, he silently invited the Garchomp to sit with him as the Pokemon stepped back for Grace...

Meanwhile, Steven was still taking in Cynthia's tender moment,listening to her every word as he did. He still looked to her with his most soft look, clearing his throat as he petted her. "Dear Cynthia...at first you'll fall once, but we always learn to pick ourselves up. If you really wish, I'd be more than willing to help in every way...", he said to her, knowing of her pain. What he didn't notice, however, was that he was inching ever closer to Cynthia's face.

What...what am I...?

What was he doing? This was Cynthia, of all people, and would have the gull to...to...? Yet, it wasn't like he never thought of her before. They were both champions, and he came to admire her quite a bit. Yet, to have such a feeling towards her was...Would she even accept him? His mind raced, his cheeks reddened, and his heart thumped as he continued. "Y-you...you don't have to fear...yourself." He couldn't stop thinking of her. And so, Steven accepted his heart's sudden desire and went ahead, hoping this moment wouldn't break...[/div]

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[CYNTHIA]

Cynthia paused for a moment, attempting to once again gain control of the situation. Her heart fluttered in her chest, she hadn’t even realized how worked up she was about this whole thing. She didn’t even realize that Steven was leaning closer and closer towards her. She was staring into his eyes, mesmerized, lost in thought and occupied in a battle to control her emotions. Memories flashed at her. Complaining to Bertha about how she didn’t really know the other champions very well and the old woman’s knowing smile as she patted Grace on the head, gossiping with Gardenia about who the dreamiest elite four member was (and she didn’t really want to remember the details of that conversation)… All rushed towards her. She was no longer feeling very upset or depressed. She instead felt… Well, that was the thing, Cynthia didn’t know how she felt.

“You don’t have to fear yourself,” he said to her with his melodic voice. Wait… melodic? Where was this coming from? Cynthia did not have feelings! No, she may have been a rather short-tempered person but this? But now she was oh so aware of Steven inching closer, then stopping, seemingly catching himself at doing something bad. But this was when Cynthia moved closer and before she knew what she was doing, she wrapped her arms around him and kissed him with a passion that she herself didn’t even understand, hoping that this wasn’t completely unacceptable…

Grace stared as the two humans drifted closer and closer together until finally… The Garchomp felt her jaw drop and she quickly turned away, back to Slate. Suprisingly, the Metagross didn’t seem very upset with her and offered her up a place to sit. Grace nodded her thanks and pulled herself onto the bank, dripping wet and terribly confused. She used one of her fins to block her vision and she rested the other on Slate’s head, looking at the Metagross with apology and embarassement in her eyes.

[STEVEN]

[atrb=style,border-top: 8px solid #689ab4; border-bottom: 8px solid #689ab4; border-left: 2px solid #689ab4; border-right: 2px solid #689ab4; -moz-border-radius: 30px;][bg=494949][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,420,true][atrb=width,20%][atrb=vAlign,top][atrb=background, i56.tinypic.com/23mtpnr.jpg] NOT GONNA GET US Starting from here, let's make a promise you and me, let's just be honest we're gonna run, nothing can stop us even the night that falls all around us words: 249 - tagged: cynthia - notes: o3o AND

[/color][/font] so the deed was done. Steven could feel Cynthia's passionate love and embrace as he came to hold her too. It was so long since he ever felt love, and yet, he never came to have much of a relationship himself. This was a new thing he came to feel, his thoughts filled with lust and realization. Did he really come to feel this much for one so famed?

The next thing he came to realize was his head, resting upon her chest as he came to break the kiss for a few moments. With a heavy blush, he slowly got up and smiled at the champion, as he scratched his head in innocent embarrassment. "I, I didn't know you felt so...towards me, um...quite sorry." he said with a hearty laugh as he fell back down on his bottom. For a few more moments, he looked to her again, before speaking again. "So...would you like to stay with me? At my home in Hoenn, if you don't mind? I'm sure you'll need time to heal and catch up with things..."

Slate came to look into Grace's pitiful and apologetic look, and with a nod, he greeted himself to her. "Meta. Me-Metagross.", Slate said to her, asking of herself and her travels. It didn't seem that Grace was too bad of a Pokemon. As far was one would see, all see could ever use was a friend...or at least, as close to a friend as Slate can be to a Pokemon.[/div]

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[CYNTHIA]

Why was she so awkward? Cynthia would never know, because with a hasty apology, Steven stood up. "Oh my, I'm-" Cynthia hadn't realized how much she had been leaning on him and his sudden departure caused her to fall face first into the hot spring water with a shrill scream. It wasn't that the water was horribly uncomfortable, it was just that her heavy garments weighed her down. She sank slowly but fought the effects of gravity with all her might. Somehow she managed to pull herself out of the steamy depths of water.

Well that was embarassing. She coughed slightly as she pulled herself up and out of the water. Cynthia shivered with sudden cold. But now she was just terribly embarassed. "I'm soooooo sorry!" she blustered, hardly able to walk in a straight line. "Terribly sorry!" And Cynthia knew that she had to leave. "I can't... I have... I'm leaving!" She burst out and walked carefully towards Garchomp and Metagross. "Come on Grace," She pulled Grace's fin, trying to hide her blushing face as she walked out, dragging a confused Garchomp behind her. And she was soaking wet. Just great. She pulled out Gerry's pokeball, ready for a quick getaway. No, Cynthia would not be doing anything social for a long time. Why ame I so awkward? I knew I should have stayed on that damn mountain...

Grace would never understand human emotions. She was pulled roughly towards the exit of the area and gave Slate a confused wave good bye. But she glared at Steven. What had happened? Grace felt sorry for the Hoenn champion, it was probably Cynthia's fault. It always was. If she could talk, she would have a nice long chat with Cynthia about manners. And if a Garchomp has to correct your manners, you know that something is wrong.