WIP Wednesday
It's WIP Wednesday again!!!!! This is from one of my fave wips right now, a Palletshipping fake dating scenario (AU) that is basically writing itself at the moment!!!! Hope you all enjoy!!
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“Say, um, Ash–” Professor Oak called, the invitation suddenly in his hands. “Did you read the whole invitation?”
“Well, I uh– I read most of it,” Ash replied, a guilty look on his face. “Enough to know I’d need to borrow a suit from Gary.”
“Well, it looks like… you registered to have a plus one.”
“Ah, so little Ashy is bringing a date?” Gary joked, a false smile on his face as his heart shattered at the thought. Clearly, it wasn’t him, and it made sense, why would it be, but it was still hard to endure.
“N-no!” Ash stammered, rushing over to look at the invitation, a shocked expression on his face. “I-I kind of just assumed they added that as an option so I could bring Pikachu.”
Both Gary and his grandfather exchanged glances, before breaking out into laughter.
“Only you would sign up a Pokémon as a plus one,” Gary joked, another series of laughs escaping him. “I guess I should’ve expected as much. You get invited to a formal event with the elite four and you were gonna bring Pikachu as your date.”
“It’s not funny, Gary!” Ash replied, a flustered look forming on his face. “Everyone’s gonna laugh at me. I’ll be shown the door before I even have a chance to be interviewed.”
“I can’t mess this up,” Ash continued, a desperate look in his eyes. “These people might end up being my peers, my co-workers, and they’re all gonna think I’m some kind of airhead trainer who isn’t good enough to be part of the elite four.”
“Well, they wouldn’t be entirely wrong about the airhead part,” Gary commented, unable to resist the obvious joke. Ash fixed him with an angry look and elbowed him in the stomach. He supposed he deserved that.
“Alright, alright, stop arguing, you two,” Professor Oak interrupted, a hand resting on his chin as he tried to think of a solution. “This is in two days, yes?”
“Yeah, I have to leave tomorrow,” Ash said with a groan, walking over to the couch and collapsing onto it with a defeated expression.
“Can you ask any of the girls you used to travel with?” Gary suggested, trying to help, even if it hurt to do so.
“With only two days' notice?” Ash replied, a sigh falling from his lips. “This isn’t just something I can spring on one of my old friends. You know how the elite four are, Gary. They can be pretty.. intimidating.”
Suddenly, Professor Oak spoke up. “I have an idea, if you’ll both hear me out.”
“What?” Ash asked, hope returning to his voice.
“Why don’t you just bring Gary?” He said, a smirk on his face as he looked over at his grandson, who now found himself the center of attention.
“Gramps,” Gary interrupted, beyond embarrassed at the idea that his grandfather was now effectively setting them up on a date. “I don’t think–”
“That’s a great idea, Professor!” Ash exclaimed, face lighting up at the thought. “C’mon, Gary, please? It’s only one night – and besides, you’re good at stuff like this. You can help me make a good impression!”
“Ash, you realize this means we have to pretend that we’re a couple, right?”
“So what?” Ash asked, a surprised look on his face that quickly shifted into one of mild irritation. “It’s only one night.”
Gary sighed, a furious blush rising on his cheeks. He tried to think of something, anything, that would get him out of this situation, but nothing came to mind.
“Fine. I’ll come with.” Gary relented, mirroring Ash’s earlier reaction and collapsing on the couch.
“Yes! Thank you Gary, I owe you one!” Ash exclaimed, leaping up from the couch and rushing up the stairs. “Should I take the suit home with me?”
“I’ll pack it.” Gary called, knowing that Ash would be able to hear him. “You’ll end up wrinkling it, somehow,” he muttered to himself, before glancing up at his grandfather, who was sitting across from him, observing him with a smug look on his face.
Gary shot him a dirty look, before rolling his eyes and standing up from the couch to head back upstairs.
“Y’know, Gramps, I’d appreciate it if you’d stop trying to interfere in my love life.”
“I don’t know what you mean, Gary,” he responded innocently, before reaching for the book he had set aside earlier.
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HC: Conspiracy Theory #1
(anyone can use): I head cannon that Gary’s dad is Blue and Ash’s dad is Red.
If Gary's dad is Blue, did he retire from being Viridian Gym Leader, or was he still the Gym Leader before he died? Cuz if he was still Gym Leader, then the car accident might've not been an "accident". Sabotage by Team Rocket probably since Giovanni took over the Gym sometime after. If Blue did retire, he might've been in the way, and so his car was sabotaged by Team Rocket to get rid of him.
Either way, I theorize Blue's death wasn't an "accident" but wasn't looked into too deeply either.
If Gary found out, he'd be furious and set out to destroy Team Rocket, which Ash and Lance would help him with. Ash cuz Team Rocket's a pain, and still after him. Lance cuz it's his job, and to keep these two alive. At least, Gary won't be alone when he gets his closure.
Maybe Ash and Gary might find Red's journals, depending on if he spoke or not, and read their story together. One that should've been told to them when they were kids.
History, after all, is doomed to repeat itself.
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