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daegudrama · 3 days

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Title: Route 613

Pairing: Reader/Namjoon, Reader/Yoongi, Reader/Vmin

Summary: Reader wants to be the very best Pokémon trainer there ever was. Her first stop in that journey is Paldea University home to a myriad of higher education. Still working to get over her ex boyfriend, Yoongi, reader forms new connections while making a few questionable decisions along the way. Each battle bringing her closer to the glory she's always dreamed of. Will she succeed in becoming champion or will outside forces stop her from achieving her goal?

Word Count: 10.7K

Disclaimer: Real life ages mean nothing in this fic. Refer here for ages and my shitty graphics

cross posted to ao3 here

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Chapter 6

Namjoon sits next to you in the middle row of the air taxi while Jimin and Yoongi are in the back. It’s a pretty quiet trip aside from Professor Oak asking you what you are most excited to do. Today is a travel day with no set plans once you arrive in Kanto. Professor Oak wants to give you the night to settle into your hotel and explore the city a bit before you head to the gym tomorrow.

As the air taxi descends towards Saffron City, you feel a mix of excitement and nervousness. Professor Oak’s question lingers in your mind, and you find yourself pondering what exactly you are most excited about. You want to explore what the city has to offer and make yourself a better trainer. There might not be enough time to do all the things you want, but you will try to pack as much into these three weeks as you can.

The landing is smooth, and soon you’re stepping out into the bustling city streets of Saffron City. You peek to your right to see a nervous look on Namjoon’s face. Stepping closer to him you rest a hand on his muscular bicep and his breath hitches.

“It’s going to be okay, Joon.”

His face relaxes and a small smile takes over. You are glad your words can bring comfort to him. Professor Oak leads the way to your hotel, a skyscraper just a few blocks away from the gym. After checking in, you head up to your room, feeling a new wave of excitement. You freshen up planning on exploring the city by yourself.

A knock on your door diverts your plan. When you are ready to leave you open the door to see Namjoon and Yoongi. Why is Yoongi standing in front of you? You will be civil for the sake of the Oak’s Club, but you don’t want to spend your free time with him if you don’t have to. Namjoon alone would be much better company. “Somehow Jimin has already sexiled us.” Namjoon says with slight irritation seeping into his tone. He pinches the bridge of his nose before looking back at you. “So, let’s go explore the city.”

“Jimin works fast, huh?” You laugh stepping out of your hotel room to follow.

“It helps that he fucks anything that moves.” Yoongi mutters and your eyes shoot daggers at him. Namjoon doesn’t seem to notice as he leads you towards the entrance of the hotel. Your ex boyfriend’s expression changes when he realizes the weight of what he’s just said. He used to be so careful with his words. What happened to the man you used to love? “Oh, YN, I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Why are you even here?” You ask, catching his arm and pulling him to a stop.

“Because I miss you.” Yoongi says softly and you scoff. He doesn’t deserve to miss you. He lost that privilege the moment he left you. “Do you really want me to go away?”

“It’s your own fault you miss me.” You reply, eyes glancing towards where Namjoon has stopped at the door that leads outside. He is watching your interaction but is too far away to hear what is being said. You are grateful that he is giving you the space to talk this out privately. “You can do whatever you want, but just know you are ruining my vibe with your presence.”

“Okay, I’ll see you tomorrow then.” Yoongi says, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Stay safe. I don’t care what terms we are on, I'm always a call away.”

“Bye.” You say turning on your heel to join Namjoon at the door.

Your heart aches knowing he still cares for you. Would he really come if you called? Even after the strong signals you’ve been giving him since you came to school? Then again if Yoongi called you for help you would come without question. It would take something very serious for him to ever call you when he was in trouble. Part of you wonders if you can ever really stop caring about the person who was your best friend for many years before he was your boyfriend.

“Everything okay?” Namjoon asks, secretly thrilled that Yoongi is no longer tagging along.

You nod, trying to shake off the lingering annoyance and dredged up feelings from the encounter with Yoongi. “Yeah, just the same old shit. Let’s forget him. Show me around!”

He smiles, offering you his arm. “Gladly, let’s go.”

You lace your arm through his and the two of you step out into the lively streets of Saffron City. The evening air is filled with the sounds of chatter and laughter from the many people enjoying the city around you. You decide to wander aimlessly, taking in the sights and sounds. Namjoon seems to have a story for everything you ask about. He is a great guy, making you laugh with his witty remarks and engaging you in conversations about things he’s never spoken about before.

Namjoon leads you towards a bustling night market filled with food stalls. The delicious aroma makes your stomach grumble, and Namjoon suggests trying some of the local delicacies. You eagerly agree, and soon you’re sampling various dishes, sharing bites and stories. He feeds you bites of food and you can feel your cheeks flushing. You are having a great time exploring Namjoon’s hometown with him by your side.

As the night progresses, you find yourselves in a cozy park, sitting on a bench under the starlit sky. Namjoon’s warm hand is loosely wrapped around yours playing with your fingers.The conversation drifts to more personal topics, and you find yourself opening up to Namjoon about Yoongi. You tell him as much as you’ve told Hiyyih about why you and Yoongi broke up. He listens attentively, waiting to ask any questions until you are finished.

“He still hasn’t told you?” Namjoon asks, looking at your hands instead of into your eyes. “You would think if he really wanted you back he would just tell you.”

“Whatever he has to say isn’t going to change things between us, but I still want to know.” You admit, wishing Yoongi would spill so you can stop thinking about him so often. “Thank you for listening. I think this explains my reluctance to be around him.”

Namjoon nods understandingly, his thumb gently stroking the back of your hand. “It’s natural to want closure, especially after a relationship as important to you as the one you had with him. Sometimes, though, closure can come from within. It’s about finding peace with the situation, regardless of what he says or does.”

You sigh, tilting your head back to gaze up at the stars. Having incredibly insightful friend’s is a blessing. “I know you’re right. I just wish it didn’t still bother me so much.”

“It’s okay to feel that way, YN.” Namjoon reassures you. “He was a big part of your life, and sometimes it takes a big amount of time to fully move on. But, you will, in your own time.”

You smile gratefully at him, feeling a warmth in your chest that contradicts the chilly winter air surrounding you. “Thanks, Namjoon. You always know what to say.”

“I’m just glad I can be here for you. You’ve been there for me in more ways than you know.”

The moment lingers between you, the quiet of the park and the gentle rustle of the leaves creating a peaceful atmosphere. Eventually Namjoon breaks the silence pulling you off of the bench.

“Do you want to get a drink before we head back to the hotel?” He asks, a hopeful look in his eyes. “There’s a great bar just down the street.”

You nod, letting Namjoon keep his large hand wrapped around yours. “I’d like that.”

Hand in hand you walk down the dimly lit street until you reach the bar Namjoon was thinking of. It’s a small bar with a cozy atmosphere. There is smooth jazz music playing quietly in the background and plenty of seats are available for you. Namjoon guides you towards a booth in the corner where you take a seat. He walks away to order drinks and somehow you trust that he’s going to get you something you like. His baskets of goodies haven’t missed yet.

He comes back with two cocktail glasses with a pretty light pink liquid. He sets yours on the table in front of you before taking the seat across the table. He’s too nervous to sit beside you.

“This is the Saffron Siren.” Namjoon says, raising the glass to his lips to take a sip. “This place is known for its tasty drinks.”

You copy the movement letting the enticing sweet floral taste wash over your tongue. A pleased hum sounds from your lips. It is not something you would have chosen for yourself, but something you want more of. Namjoon watches your reaction carefully.

“This is so good!”

His smile widens at your reaction, pleased you are enjoying the drink. “I’m glad you like it. It’s one of my favorites.”

For a little while you sit in a comfortable silence enjoying your drinks and the calm atmosphere. Namjoon glances at you, happy to spend this time with you away from everyone else. He’s trying not to imagine this under different circumstances. He is trying not to think of this as if it was a date. That’s out of the question for now. Especially when he is going to see his ex-boyfriend tomorrow.

“This is really helping calm my nerves about being back in my hometown.” Namjoon says softly with an appreciative smile. “Thank you for being here with me.”

“I’m glad to be here with you.”

The two of you finish your drinks before heading back to the hotel. There’s no rush as you walk back. Namjoon is telling you stories of the mischief he used to get up to in this area and you feel like you are seeing a new side of him. Was the Namjoon that lived in this city different from the man you know now?

“Sleep well.” You say when you reach the door of your hotel room.

In a moment of thoughtlessness you stretch up onto your toes and kiss Namjoon’s cheek before quickly slipping away into your room. Namjoon stands there with his eyes wide open not being able to process what just happened. Maybe you shouldn’t have done that but you can’t take it back now. You wanted to kiss his cheek, so you did. He’s been a sweetheart and you are starting to feel like there is no one you’d rather spend time with.

The night replays in your mind as you get ready to go to sleep. This was the best note to start this trip on. Just as you are about to turn the light off there is a knock on your door. You glance at your phone seeing a message from Jimin. Clutching the door handle you open the door hoping that Jimin is alone. You are pleased when you reveal a lone Jimin who pushes into your room before you can invite him in.

“What did you do to Namjoon?” He asks without even a hello. Jimin takes a seat in the chair near the end of your bed. “He’s been sitting on our bed with his hand on his cheek since he came back.”

“I kissed his cheek.” You say nonchalantly. “What’s more important is how you managed to sexile Yoongi and Namjoon within twenty minutes of being here.”

Jimin crosses his arms furrowing his brow as he gives you a stern look. It takes everything in you not to roll your eyes. This is definitely not the big deal he’s making it out to be. He must be exaggerating about Namjoon. You are just friends. It was friendly.

“No, what did you guys do? What do you mean you kissed his cheek? Where did that come from? I thought you were trying not to do that.”

Jimin looks at you, waiting for an answer as you try to collect your thoughts. You don’t think he is going to report back to Namjoon but you should still be careful about what you say. Giving Jimin the wrong idea is not something you want to deal with right now.

“We walked around the city and he was telling me stories of growing up here. He took me to a park and we watched the stars.” You watch his reaction as you speak but his face remains neutral. “I told him about Yoongi leaving and he was holding my hand. As always he knew exactly what to say. Then we went to get a drink before we came back here.”

“Then you kissed him on the cheek, sending him into shock.” Jimin replies and you huff falling back onto your bed.

“It just felt right to do it at that moment. It doesn’t have to mean anything. He has very kissable cheeks.” You reason sitting back up to look Jimin in the eyes. “Anyways…spill about whoever was in your room.”

Jimin narrows his eyes at you like he’s not satisfied with your story, but launches into his own story. He’s been talking to this girl on instagram for weeks who happens to be in Kanto at the same time the Oak’s Club was coming. Jimin has been planning to meet up with her ever since they realized they would both be in Saffron City at the same time.

“It was like a 6 out of 10.” He concludes after telling you probably more details than necessary. After having also slept with him you have far too good of a picture of exactly what he’s talking about.

“I’m afraid I regret asking that.” You say after a moment of processing. “Go back to your room, we have to get up early.”

Jimin blows you an air kiss then leaves the room. Once he’s gone you settle into bed mentally preparing yourself to meet the Kanto gym leaders. They are people just like Kai, but just like Kai they are incredibly powerful people. These leaders are going to help you become a more well rounded trainer so you can take on a different set of gym leaders. They could help give you the edge you need to dethrone your best friend’s brother.

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In the morning you put your hair up into a tight ponytail. You dress in your Oak’s Club jacket with black leggings before you leave your hotel room and meet up with the rest of the Oak’s Club. Professor Oak sent the group a message asking you to join him at the Saffron City Gym at 10. He has not detailed what to expect and that makes you a little bit nervous.

Before heading to the gym you eat breakfast with Namjoon, Jimin, and Yoongi. With Yoongi not saying a single word the meal is actually enjoyable. He is back to no smiles and almost glaring glances across the table.

“YN, did you name your Wooper yet?” Jimin asks when you are making your way towards the gym.

“When did you get a Wooper?” Yoongi asks, curiosity being the first expression you’ve seen on his face today. “I just caught a Wooper the day before yesterday.”

“Jungkook and I took a little trip together to Los Platos and I caught him there.” You say mostly to catch Namjoon up to speed because you had forgotten to tell him about this. “I decided to name him Bones.”

“Yoongi, what did you name yours?” Namjoon asks, trying to include him despite the attitude Yoongi clearly has against him. Another quality of this man.

“Her name is Sugar.”

Jimin questions this choice and you tune out watching Namjoon open the door for you. You thank him as you walk through the door. His smile is getting more nervous and you can tell that he is tensing up. What is worrying him so bad about coming to this gym? Surely his ex won’t be at the gym.

“Hello! Welcome to my gym!” Woosung Kim, leader of the Saffron City Gym, greets you when you step into the lobby. “Let’s movement into one of our battle areas. Professor Oak is waiting for us.”

Woosung has shaggy dark hair with the slightest wave. He is wearing a dark purple knit sweater with black jeans and chunky boots. He is even more handsome in person and you wonder how one person can have it all.

Namjoon stops breathing for a second the moment he sees his ex boyfriend. Woosung has only become more handsome since the last time Namjoon saw him. His hair is shaggier and he is standing with a new level of confidence Namjoon hasn’t seen before. Being a new gym leader changes people.

Woosung introduces himself to the group once you reach the battle area. Professor Oak is standing next to another researcher you think your mother has worked with before. Woosung begins telling you the story of how he became a gym leader. Woosung is the newest gym leader with just under a year under his belt. Instead of going to school he chose to train himself and was able to beat the gym leaders of Kanto. The Saffron City Gym leader before him was looking for someone to take over and after going through a rigorous test Woosung took over. He has already battled many trainers and very few have bested him.

Your eyes find Namjoon’s in your excitement to hear this story from a gym leader so close in age to you. Could this be you one day when you step away from the responsibilities of a champion? Something is off with Namjoon so you keep close by occasionally patting his shoulder as Woosung tells you what this week will look like.

“For our trainers, YN and Yoongi, you will be joining Matthew Kim, the Pewter City Gym leader, and I on a trip to Johto. Since our regions are connected, the ice path and Mount Mortar would be a fantastic place to give you a taste of what you will experience this spring. We will leave on Friday and return on Sunday. Until then we will be preparing you and making sure your teams are up to the challenge.”

Your eyes dart between your friends and Yoongi with excitement. There are so many different kinds of pokemon you could see on this journey. The ice path is a perfect opportunity to catch an ice pokemon you’ve been dreaming of to help elevate your team. Sure, being around Yoongi is not what you want but in this life you have to learn how to deal with difficult things. How can you ever be champion if you can’t even protect yourself from your own feelings? Namjoon’s face relaxes slightly when he locks eyes with you. His real smile returns as he looks back to the researcher in front of you.

“Jimin and Namjoon will be joining my team in our research facility. You will assist us in various research and testing over the next few weeks. This will give you a taste of what it is really like to work in the field you are currently studying.”

Woosung instructs us to take a look around and meet him back here in fifteen minutes. You think this is a little odd considering you just got here but you are not about to argue with the leader of this gym.

As soon as he’s done speaking Woosung swiftly pulls Namjoon aside. You wonder what that is about. They are the same age and were both raised here. Maybe they were friends in high school? But you think that is something Namjoon would have mentioned to you considering he knows how closely you follow many of the gym leaders. You take a seat at the side of the battle court watching as Namjoon and Woosung walk through a doorway.

“I don’t want to talk to you.” Namjoon says once the door is closed. Woosung flicks on the light of the supply closet. Namjoon crosses his arms over his chest looking anywhere but into the eyes of the person that was once his everything. “There’s no reason to.”

“That’s fair, but I just feel some obligation to warn you that I’m dating one of the other gym leaders and they’ll be here soon.” Woosung says gently and Namjoon wishes that his heart didn’t sink. Namjoon looks down to see the soft expression on Woosung’s face. He really thinks this is some kind of kindness when Namjoon would rather not know. “I just don’t want you to be shocked.”

“Which one?” Namjoon whispers as if any answer will lessen the deep ache invading his chest. He takes a breath and asks another question. A more important one, because if he’s here he might as well ask while he has the chance. “How long?”

“The Pewter City Gym leader, Matthew. We didn’t make it official until May.”

Namjoon desperately fights to keep his composure knowing that means Woosung and Matthew officially starting dating weeks after he and Woosung hooked up for the last time. It’s not a good feeling even if Namjoon doesn’t want to rekindle their relationship. It was just a night of fun before Woosung could get to the man he really wanted.

“Oh…” Namjoon manages. “Nice. Thanks for letting me know.”

The two men stand in silence for a moment and Namjoon is hoping he will leave the closet. He’s hoping for a moment of alone time before he has to face his friends and Yoongi again. Of course, fate is not on his side and his ex boyfriend starts speaking again.

“I know this isn’t really my place but are you seeing YN? The way she looks at you reminds me of how I used to look at you.”

Namjoon’s brows knit together in confusion. He has no idea what Woosung means. Surely, he’s imagining that. He would have noticed if you were looking at him like that because he looks at you like that.

“It’s not like that, Woosung.” Namjoon mumbles because Woosung is the last person on earth he wants to be talking to about this.

“Do you want it to be like that?” He asks, once again catching Namjoon off guard.

As much as Namjoon wishes it was that simple, it’s not. You have a lot of things going on in your life. One of those things is still processing the feelings you have for your ex boyfriend. Namjoon does not want to overwhelm you when you’re still vulnerable. Especially, at such a pivotal time in your life when you are training for the thing you’ve dreamed of being since you were a child.

“It doesn’t matter what I want. She’s still getting over Yoongi and her happiness means more to me than getting my way.”

Namjoon means that sincerely. Getting closer to you makes him feel like maybe there is a chance for him to find love again, but he respects you too much to blatantly say how he feels right now. He doesn’t think he’s been subtle and when you are ready or want him to go away you’ll let him know.

“The one that hasn’t smiled since he got here?” Woosung laughs then returns to his more serious face. “Don’t live your life like you have a thousand years.”

Woosung pats Namjoon on the shoulder before exiting the closet leaving Namjoon alone with his thoughts. He stands there for several minutes trying to gather himself into someone who can be trusted in the lab he is about to travel to. Namjoon pulls at his hair letting out a frustrated sigh. Why couldn’t Woosung just become a songwriter? When they were together Woosung talked about his dream of being in a band. That would have made Namjoon’s life a lot simpler at this moment. Woosung obviously still has the poetic charisma that once made Namjoon feel like the most special person in the world. If he didn’t know the sheer amount of self discipline Woosung has he would wonder how he accomplished this. Namjoon wonders if Woosung would still be here if he had decided to stay.

“Are you okay?” You ask Namjoon when he returns to the battle area. “What was that about?”

The brightness that usually shines from Namjoon’s eyes is missing. He doesn’t hold eye contact with you, instead letting his eyes dart to where Woosung is standing with the leader of the Pewter City Gym. So maybe he and Woosung weren’t friends? He wouldn’t be acting like this if they were.

“I’m okay.” He finally looks back into your eyes and you lay a comforting hand on his shoulder. Namjoon likes the feel of your hand on his shoulder much more than the feel of Woosung’s. “It’s nothing.”

“I’m here if you need to talk.” You say giving his shoulder a squeeze before turning away and joining Yoongi in front of the six gym leaders that are here.

The Viridian Gym leader, notably, is missing but you expected as much. He’s very elusive and when he does appear for trainer battles he is always wearing a mask and clothing that hides any identifiable traits. It’s something you try not to wonder about too much.

Jimin and Namjoon follow the researcher out of the building and you study each of the gym leaders. The Kanto gym leaders that are standing in front of you range in age from 19 to 28. Each of them has their own unique story as to how they earned this honor.

They introduce themselves to you but you already know their names. The Kanto Gym leaders are quite active on social media. There’s Matthew Kim of Pewter City who favors rock type, Nayeon Im of Cerulean City who battles with water type, Dahyun Kim of Vermillion City who uses electric type, Jiwoo Jeon of Celadon City who favors grass type, Jeonghan Yoon of Fuschia City who loves poison types, Woosung Kim of Saffron City who uses psychic types, and Heeseung Lee who battles with fire types.

Of the leaders in front of you Jeonghan, who you believe just turned 28 not too long ago, has been a leader for the longest amount of time. It’s been just over ten years since he took over the gym. The newest gym leader is Woosung who has not yet held the title for a year. To you it doesn’t matter how long they’ve been here. Each of them is incredibly strong and well respected.

“Can we meet your teams?” Woosung asks with an excited smile. “Let’s hear the stories of how they found you.”

You nod enthusiastically quickly doing what he asked. Each of your pokemon line up in a neat row beside you at your command and the gym leaders watch closely. You are pleased that your team listened to you so easily when you asked them.

Beside you Yoongi releases his team and you catch your breath because his team has grown beyond what you knew. Of course you know of the pokemon he brought to school, his Squirtle and the Wooper but he didn’t say anything about the Pawmi and Surskit patiently standing by his side. You suppose you haven’t given him much of a chance to talk about it with you. Something even more surprising stands out.

“When did Holly evolve into a Houndoom?” You ask with a twinge of sadness that might sound like concern.

This Houndour was Yoongi’s first pokemon. Yoongi’s father was given the egg by a breeder and Yoongi worked to hatch it himself. Until Yoongi left you had watched Holly’s whole life and it hurts that you've missed such a big milestone in her life. This also means Yoongi is training hard.

“The weekend you went to Hiyyih’s house.” Yoongi says, studying your team instead of looking into your eyes. He continues, but muttering as if he doesn’t really want anyone to hear. “I would’ve told you if you answered my messages.”

You introduce your pokemon instead of answering your ex. Matthew, Woosung and Jiwoo ask the most questions and you answer them quickly with confidence. Maybe other people would be nervous in a situation like this but you are glad to be speaking to such legends.

“And you Yoongi?” Jeonghan asks, prompting the gym leaders to turn their focus towards Yoongi.

Yoongi introduces each of his pokemon Holly the Houndoom, Crush the Squirtle, Sugar the Wooper, Tawni the Pawmi and Circus the Surskit. He caught the other pokemon in his free time while solo adventuring. There was a time when you would’ve been the first person he told about all of this, but now you are learning all of this in front of a bunch of other people. You wish this didn’t make your heart ache. This should be a happy time. If things were like they used to be, both of you would be so excited for each other.

“When was the last time you two battled each other?” Woosung asks, looking at Yoongi.

“Early March of last year.” You respond leaning down to pet Spark’s head as he rubs up against your leg.

“There was a lot of room for growth in that time.” Nayeon says, tapping her lips with her index finger. “Perhaps we should watch you battle.”

A fire of excitement burns through you at the thought of battling Yoongi again. It’s been so long and you have both been training so hard. This is bound to be a good battle. A confident smile works its way onto your face and you turn towards Yoongi who is looking at you with wide eyes.

You recall your pokemon and skip to the opposite side of the battle court. The gym leaders take a seat behind where Yoongi will stand once he gets his head in the game. You watch Yoongi pull in a deep breath before recalling his pokemon and walking to his starting position.

“Are you ready, YN?” Yoongi calls out, his voice full of confidence suddenly.

“Ready as ever!” You reply with a determined look. Thinking quickly you decide to call out Spark knowing that Yoongi is likely to send out his Squirtle first. Yoongi will assume you want to use Sriracha as an opener. “Let’s show them what we're made of, Spark!”

Yoongi’s eyebrows furrow for a moment before he regains his cool demeanor. “You’re in for a shock, YN. Go, Crush!”

You are in fact not shocked because this is exactly what you expected him to do. Spark’s mane ripples with electricity as Yoongi’s Squirtle takes a defensive stance. You waste no time commanding Spark to unleash a powerful spark. Crush tries to dodge, but the attack lands, sending a jolt through her tiny body. Spark has been training for a lot longer than Crush and it shows in the way Crush stumbles. Yoongi directs his pokemon to retaliate with water gun, which Spark soaks up with little damage.

Yoongi grins just like he used to when you battled each other. “Nice one, but we’re not done yet. Crush, tackle!”

“Spark, use Thunder Fang.” You call just quickly enough that your Luxio reacts before he gets tackled. Yoongi’s Squirtle isn’t able to handle the electric shock that accompanies Spark’s bite and faints.

Crush recalls into her pokeball and you quickly try to predict who Yoongi is going to send out next. Is he going to try to go full power or will he be more strategic about this. Before you can come to a conclusion he is already calling another pokemon to the battle court.

“Not bad, beautiful.” Yoongi calls with a hint of admiration in his voice. Your blood runs cold at the nickname and it takes everything in you not to walk across the court and slap him. “Let’s see how you handle this. Go, Sugar!”

Sugar emerges from her pokeball, eyeing Spark with determination. It’s hard for you to focus on the task at hand when Yoongi is being insufferable.

“Spark, use crunch!” You yell desperately but Yoongi’s Wooper is faster and mud bombs your Luxio before he can even react.

Spark stands shakily after being knocked down by the attack. He does manage to hit Sugar with crunch but it has little effect which pisses you off more. How is your type match up knowledge going down the drain just because he said one stupid word?

“Mud bomb again, Sugar! Spark is weak.” Yoongi calls and you hear Spark growl. You resinate with that. The Wooper hits Spark much harder than the last time and your pokemon is unable to stand back up. You recall Spark taking a deep breath.

The battle continues in a similar fashion, each of your pokemon is giving all they can in this intense battle, but you are not at your best. The gym leaders are watching with calculated glances. It’s obvious they are hiding any reaction they might be having.

Yoongi leads the battle making each of your pokemon faint until it’s just your Charmander against his Houndoom. Under normal circumstances maybe this battle would have lasted longer with these two pokemon. Holly is much stronger than Sriracha though, having been trained for years and years longer. Losing, especially against Yoongi, doesn’t upset you but tears are brimming at your eyes when you recall your fainted pokemon.

“That was a great battle!” Woosung calls from where he is seated on the ground. He stands and the other gym leaders follow the action. “We are going to step out. We’ll be back in five minutes and we can break down the strengths and weaknesses.”

The gym leaders file out of the battle area and Yoongi walks towards you stopping just over a foot away. He doesn’t say anything for a moment and you wish you weren’t having this reaction. How the fuck are you going to be champion if you want to cry when you lose?

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have called you that nickname.” Yoongi says and his face falls into concern when you lift your head and he sees tears. Why can’t this be simple? Wouldn’t it be so much easier to forgive him? “YN, it’s okay. It’s just one stupid battle. You’ve beat me way more times than I’ve won.”

He’s not lying but that doesn’t make it hurt any less. Its been so long since you battled each other and he obviously surpassed you during whatever he was doing last year. What could he have possibly been doing with his father that would give him this kind of edge?

“But it’s not okay. Six of the best gym leaders in the world just watched me choke over a stupid nickname you used to get into my head.”

Yoongi scoffs with a genuinely offended look towards you. You don’t want to take back the words because you believe they are true.

“It slipped out.” Yoongi says with an irritated expression. “I don’t need to use mind games with you. I mean it when I call you that and I always will.”

“Tell me where you were.” You demand knowing he will know what you are talking about without further elaboration.

“YN, again is this really the place?” Yoongi sighs, tugging at his hair. He locks eyes with you wanting you to hear his words. “I want to tell you but I have to make sure of some things before I can do that.”

“Do you want me to be your girlfriend again?” You blurt out before you can think better of it.

Yoongi’s eyes widen and he begins nodding his head. Then he answers with no hesitation. “Yes, I miss you every day.”

“Tell me before this trip ends and I’ll think about it.”

There is absolutely no chance you are going to get back together with him, but if this is how you finally get the information out of him you think it's fair. He doesn’t say anything for a moment and you think he’s going to say some bullshit again but he doesn’t.

“Okay, I’ll find a way because I still lo-”

The gym leaders make a noisy entrance cutting off Yoongi’s sentence. You plaster a smile on your face and turn to listen to the criticism they have for you. Not taking their words to heart is difficult but you know you shouldn’t when they haven’t seen the best of you. Four gym leaders take Yoongi to another battle area and three stay with you.

Woosung, Matthew and Nayeon keep a steady stream of local trainers coming for the rest of the day. These battles are a lot more casual than the one with Yoongi. When one of the gym leaders has a comment they will pause the battle. After a few battles you are able to get your head fully back into battling. Out of the corner of your eye you can see impressed looks raising onto the leader’s faces. Matthew and Nayeon battle once and you feel grateful to watch these high level gym leaders facing off against each other.

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“YN, that was great!” Woosung praises after the last battle of the day.

The sun set hours ago and you are starving. You took very few breaks between battles wanting to get as much as possible out of the day. Nothing sounds better than a big meal and a hot shower right now.

“Thank you!” You reply, brushing a piece of your hair that fell away from your face. “I don’t think I’ve ever battled that many times in a row before.”

“Really? You and your pokemon have incredible endurance.” Nayeon says standing from her seat on the floor.

“Let’s continue this conversation over dinner.” Matthew says, rubbing his flat stomach.

You agree, following the gym leaders out of the building. Five minutes later you are seated at a restaurant and the gym leaders are talking casually to you. Nayeon has met your parents a few times when they were doing research in her hometown. It’s clear to you that Woosung and Matthew are more than friends from their lingering touches. They are both genuinely nice people who are extremely talented at what they do.

Namjoon shows up a few minutes later and takes a seat beside you. He glances towards Woosung before picking up his menu. You excitedly tell Namjoon what you did today and he locks eyes with you listening to every word.

“That sounds really fun but tough. We spent the day going over lab protocol so we can really start tomorrow.” Namjoon says an excited glint in his eyes. “Jimin and Yoongi went out for dinner with the other gym leaders. They weren’t feeling barbeque today.”

You are glad you don’t have to face him after your loss this morning, but you do wonder when he plans on telling you why he had to leave. Jimin you can meet up with later for more details on what they did today.

“Namu, have you seen her battle?” Woosung asks from across the table. His eyes are glinting with excitement. “She got off to a shaky start but really turned things around once she was warmed up.”

Namjoon freezes, eyes moving to look at Woosung. It’s like he didn’t expect Woosung to talk to him. What is going on here? When was the last time they saw each other before today? What happened? You put a hand on Namjoon’s knee under the table and he relaxes into your touch.

“I’ve only seen her battle once,” Namjoon replies, trying to keep a normal tone. He places his hand over yours on his knee, squeezing. “But she was battling Hiyyih Huening and it was incredible.”

“She would be in YN’s class wouldn’t she? I feel like I watched her grow up.” Nayeon says before taking a sip of her cocktail. “Did you win?”

“I did win. It was one of the funniest battles I’ve had in awhile.”

The waiter brings your meat out and Namjoon takes the lead laying it onto the grill. You remove your hand from his knee and engage in the conversation Woosung is having about the last time he saw Kai. They ran into each other at one of the charity galas here. Woosung has done a lot in the almost year since he became a gym leader.

Drinks flow and you enjoy the food being grilled to perfection. You never run out of things to talk about with these gym leaders. They all have the same interests as you because you want to be just like them some day.

“Is Yoongi your rival?” Matthew asks with redness from the alcohol he’s consumed showing on his face.

“Something like that.” You reply, taking a sip of the drink Namjoon ordered for you. It’s delicious. “It’s a long story but the short version is we were best friends then we started dating then he left without telling me why and now he also wants to become champion of Paldea.”

Namjoon is focusing intensely on grilling and not participating in the conversation. For some reason you are almost irritated that he’s not talking. Does he not want to be here? You wish he would tell you what’s wrong. It obviously has something to do with Woosung.

Matthew hypes you up for a minute telling you how that should be an even bigger motivator and that you can’t let Yoongi get into your head. Of course, you know all these things but hearing someone else say it to you is really so helpful.

“How do you know Namjoon again?” Nayeon questions and Woosung and Namjoon freeze at the same moment catching each other’s eyes. They seem to have a silent conversation before Woosung speaks up. Namjoon’s hand is balled into a tight fist on the side of the table.

“We used to date before he left for Mesagoza.” Woosung says and you can’t hide the shock on your face.

Namjoon has mentioned having two boyfriends but he never mentioned that one of them was a gym leader. He must’ve known what Woosung was doing with his life. Why wouldn’t he have told you? Does he not trust you? There’s a pang in your chest knowing he didn’t want you to know who his ex is. Another emotion you can’t quite put your finger on is turning your stomach. Is it jealousy thinking of Woosung being with Namjoon? But why would you be jealous? Namjoon is your friend.

Before you can psychoanalyze your thoughts further you remember something more important that Namjoon told you.

“Which one?” You lean in close to Namjoon not wanting to be here another second if Woosung is the man who threatened to out Namjoon to his parents.

“It wasn’t him.” Namjoon whispers immediately knowing what you are asking without further context.

Nayeon clears her throat with an apologetic look on her face and changes the topic. After eating a bit more you decide it’s time for you to head out and Namjoon follows behind you. Neither of you says anything until you are sitting in the same park you visited last night.

“Is he why you were nervous about coming here?” You ask settling into the park bench.

“Yeah, he’s most of the reason. The last time we saw each other…” He pauses as if he’s trying to decide whether he wants to tell you something. “Was last spring when he came to Paldea. Against my better judgment I hooked up with him. So yeah it’s a little messy.”

“That sounds really rough.” You reach for Namjoon’s hand as you speak. This is becoming routine for the two of you. There is comfort in holding his hand. Namjoon swears his heart skips a beat when you reach for his hand first. With your warm fingers laced through his he admits something that maybe he should keep to himself.

“And this morning he pulled me into that closet to warn me that he’s dating Matthew Kim. Like I needed to know that information.” Namjoon gestures with his free hand and you can see frustration creasing his pretty face. He takes a breath then continues. “He and Matthew started dating two weeks after he practically begged me to spend the night with him. I don’t have feelings for him anymore, but it’s hard looking at someone who used to mean everything to me.”

“I really get that last part. Yoongi called me by an old nickname during our battle and it completely derailed me.” You stand pulling Namjoon up with you. He looks down at you with only a few inches between the two of you. “Let’s do the best we can to not let them control how we feel.”

Namjoon still looks worried and your brilliant slightly intoxicated mind decides to wrap your arms around his waist. He freezes for a second before he returns the hug, putting one of his hands on the back of your head and pulls you tight against his chest with his other arm. You stand in each other’s embrace for a good fifteen seconds before he pulls away. The yellow light from the lamppost above shows a pink hue coating his cheeks.

“Let’s go get some rest. You must be tired after all those battles today.”

Namjoon walks back to the hotel with you keeping light conversation flowing. He asks you to wait for a minute when you reach your hotel room door. Namjoon disappears inside the boys room and comes back out with a handful of pokepower bars.

“There’s a shop I used to go to as a kid that sells these and I’ve never seen a pokemon refuse them.” Namjoon states handing you the sleekly packaged bars. “Keeping up their strength when they are training this hard is important. These should help. Give them each one in the morning before you go to the gym.”

“Thank you, Namjoon.”

He pats your head with a cheeky smile on his face then walks into the boys room without another word.

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After taking a refreshing shower you sit on the bed trying to gather your thoughts. When that proves too overwhelming you sit at the small table in the corner of the room and begin painting your nails. You call Hiyyih, giving her a full rundown of what’s happened since you left.

“I thought it would take you a lot longer to realize you have feelings for Namjoon.” Hiyyih says when you’ve finished telling her how Namjoon gave you Pokepower bars.

“I did not say I have feelings for him.” You whine rolling your eyes even though she can’t see you. “I’m just a little upset he didn’t tell me he used to date Woosung.”

“Being jealous of his ex is definitely something though.”

She’s right, but does being a little jealous immediately mean you have feelings for him? You enjoy spending time with him and it makes you happy, but there’s still things you think you need to work through before you could give him the full attention he deserves. If he even wants you which you aren’t too sure he does considering he’s only ever mentioned dating men. He didn’t owe you the information that his ex is Woosung, but you thought at this point the two of you were close enough he would’ve told you. Namjoon knows that you keep tabs on the gym leaders from several different regions. So why wouldn’t he mention that?

“Even if I did have feelings for him, which I don’t, why would he want me when he used to date someone like Woosung? Hiyyih, I swear he’s way hotter in person and he was so helpful and kind to me today even when I was a mess.”

You continue coating your nails in a deep red color waiting for Hiyyih’s response. She’s quick with her response and you wonder where she pulls these from.

“You said he told you he has no feelings for Woosung. They broke up for a reason.” Hiyyih pauses and you can hear her moving around. “That doesn’t matter though. Namjoon has been showing interest in you for a while.”

“You’re delusional. It’s not like that.” You counter, not wanting to even entertain the idea. “Does he even like girls? The only relationships he’s ever mentioned to me are with men.”

Hiyyih makes a displeased noise then sighs. “Why don’t you ask him that?”

“I’m not just going to ask him that, Hiyyih!”

“Fine,” She concedes. “Do it your way.”

After that the conversation morphs to what she’s been up to since going home. When she gets bored of that, because she’s mostly been hanging around her home, Hiyyih asks for every little detail of your battles today. You don’t even care if she’s trying to gather information to gain an edge on you. Talking about these battles genuinely excites you.

By the time you get off the phone it's well past midnight and you know you are going to regret this when you have to wake up early tomorrow. You curl into bed feeling just the slightest bit better now that Hiyyih has talked to you. Telling Hiyyih really helps you feel lighter.

In the morning you feed your pokemon the power bars as instructed by Namjoon. Each of your pokemon seems to be thoroughly enjoying them and you make a note to get more before your trip with the gym leaders. It never fails to amaze you how much Namjoon knows about your pokemon just from what you tell him. Even if you are still a bit hurt, he didn't tell you about Woosung.

Today is spent much like yesterday battling trainers until you think you might collapse from exhaustion. This time you are outside on a battle court behind the gym. You appreciate the change of scenery considering almost every gym battle court is outside in Paldea. Through the battles you can feel yourself and your pokemon getting stronger. Not just physically stronger. The bond you have with your pokemon feels stronger than ever.

You spend more time with Jimin not wanting to deal with any confusion swirling in your brain. He has an endless amount of things to tell you from his time in the lab and his many side quest booty calls. It’s fascinating to hear about his side of this adventure. They are putting a lot of trust into Jimin and Namjoon and they are taking every opportunity in stride.

═════════∘◦❀◦∘══════════

Bright and early on Friday morning you fly to Blackthorn City, one of the closest cities to the ice path. Matthew and Woosung take time to make sure you and Yoongi have proper attire for the journey you are about to embark on. You thought being around gym leaders would be a lot more intimidating but with them being so close to your age it’s almost like you are with classmates.

Despite Blackthorn City being quite large the population is small. Only the Pokemon center is open when you arrive. Woosung and Matthew lead you and Yoongi inside towards a cafe in the corner. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods fills the air, welcoming you to this strange city.

Once your food is ready the four of you sit in silence eating until Yoongi speaks up. He asks Woosung many of the things you talked about with the Saffron City gym leader yesterday. You are surprised Yoongi is talking and it seems Matthew and Woosung are also. This trip will be more comfortable if he isn’t being an asshole.

You don’t say much not wanting to interact with Woosung. That doesn’t mean you aren’t studying him and trying to figure out all the things that made Namjoon love him. Even the small amount of time you’ve spent around him has made you realize there are probably a lot of reasons. Maybe this shouldn’t matter, but it’s clouding your mind.

You are grateful when it’s finally time to leave for the ice path. It is finally time for your first real adventure to start. It is finally time for you to catch an ice pokemon to help round out your team and lead you to success.

The hike there isn’t easy but you try not to let the struggle show on your face. Along the way you battle a few wild pokemon noting the look Matthew and Woosung give each other as they watch you in action. Yoongi hasn’t said a word to you and it’s almost like he isn’t here.

“Be careful.” Yoongi says softly as you step inside the entrance to the ice path.

You roll your eyes firmly planting your feet as you scan the area for wild pokemon. On shaky legs you slide forwards and you can hear someone behind you. No doubt Yoongi following you because he thinks you need his help. Or maybe he just wants to make sure you are okay. Either way you don’t need his attention. As you continue up the path it's easier for you to slide along without fear of falling.

Nearly twenty minutes later a Sneasel catches your eye and you take a deep breath grounding yourself. Sneasel is a bipedal mustelid pokemon that resembles both a cat and a weasel. It is primarily bluish-black with three bright red feathers for its tail and a single one on its left ear. The ear feather is shorter on the female than on the male leading you to believe this one is female. The other ear is short and pointed, and it has narrow red eyes. On its forehead and chest are oval, yellow gem-like protrusions. It has red eyes with black eyelash-like markings on the edges. It has long limbs with two large, white retractable claws on its hands and feet. It is perfectly capable of using its claws to do substantial damage. Its claws are also used for climbing trees in boreal or sub-alpine forests where it lives. It can also bring out its claws to startle foes that attack it.

You send out Sriracha already planning to weaken this Sneasel until she will be easy for you to catch. Nothing about this is going to be easy. Sneasel are smart, sneaky, and notoriously vicious pokemon. That only makes you want them catch even more. You think of them as stubborn pokemon and you know it won’t be easy to train her, but you are up to the challenge.

Sriracha follows each of your commands until you are sure the Sneasel is losing their strength to fight. With a handy ultra ball you throw and the pokemon gets sucked inside. The Sneasel struggles against the ball causing it to shake against the slippery ice floor. Ultimately, you catch her and are excited to see your Pokedex update with information. Yoongi looks over your shoulder as you read mostly information you already knew. If you weren’t so overjoyed with your catch you would probably push him away and send him sliding across the ice.

“Nice catch, YN!” Matthew says sliding your way to pat you on the back. “Those Sneasel can be a tough catch.”

“Thanks!” You say letting a wide smile overtake your face.

Woosung sings a similar praise before telling you about the first time he caught a Sneasel. There’s a piece of Namjoon in how he tells stories, or maybe there is a piece of Woosung in how Namjoon tells stories. That makes it hard for you to focus on the words he’s saying. You are glad when he and Matthew slide away out of ear shot.

“Why aren’t you hanging on every word Woosung says?” Yoongi asks, leaning against a frozen pillar and crossing his arms over his chest.

“I don’t know what you mean.” You reply, facing him and studying his nonchalant posture. “He’s just some guy.”

“Did he say something to make you uncomfortable?”

It’s interesting that’s the conclusion he would draw. He keeps his cool composure, but you know he wouldn’t hesitate to fight someone for making you uncomfortable. Even if you don’t want to be with him anymore. That’s how it’s always been and probably always will be.

“It’s not that.” You say, wondering if letting Yoongi know why you are acting this way is the right idea. Wouldn’t it just hurt him at the end of the day? “You’re going to think I’m being stupid.”

His eyebrows scrunch together.

“I promise I won’t.”

“I’m upset that Namjoon didn’t tell me Woosung is his ex.” A slew of emotions flicker across his face before he regains his composure. Yoongi is the last person you should be talking to about this but some part of you is always going to feel comfortable telling him things. He used to be your best friend. “We spend so much time together and he’s told me so many other things, but he didn’t tell me that.”

“Do you have feelings for Namjoon?” Yoongi questions and you can see his heart breaking in his changing expression.

This is not something you want to be thinking about. The only thing you should be thinking about right now is whether or not your Sneasel will get along with your other pokemon. You really should not be thinking about a boy you’ve only known for a few months. A boy that could distract you from your dream.

“Do you really think you are the right person to be asking that?”

“I’m surprised you’re still talking to me at all.” A smile lifts the corners of his lips, though it doesn’t reach his eyes. “You’re far more pretty, interesting, and intelligent than him anyways.”

“Let’s go.” You say, trying to ignore the way his words make your heart hammer in your chest.

Of course he would say that to you. You walk up the ice path towards where Matthew and Woosung disappeared. Yoongi would say anything to get you back in his good graces. When is he going to tell you why he left? What could he be waiting for?

Woosung begins giving you helpful tips when you are close by. For the entire day you wander around listening to the gym leaders and watching how they battle the wild pokemon you encounter.

When you are nearing the other side of the ice path you hear a loud rumbling noise followed by the sight of rocks falling. Yoongi grabs your hand pulling you through the exit of the ice path and out into the open. Woosung and Matthew quickly follow and you realize there has been an avalanche caused by the heavy snowfall. The four of you run up an adjacent hill to safety watching as the mouth of the cave leading into the ice path is blocked off by snow and rock.

After releasing your hand, Yoongi pulls out his phone looking down at the screen for a few moments before he speaks.

“It doesn’t look like the snow is going to stop anytime soon. There’s a small pokemon center just down the road. We can stay there until things clear up.”

Woosung, Matthew and you share confused looks as to why Yoongi knows where a pokemon center not on the map is. Instead of questioning you follow him as he leads the way in the thick layer of snow coating the ground. It’s not an easy walk and the snow is coming down harder with every minute that passes. The darkness is not helping this trek.

A sigh of relief leaves your lips when you see the familiar pokemon center sign come into view. This one is much smaller than average. Woosung pushes through the snow piling up in front of the door and we file into the pokemon center. The room is dimly lit by just a few lanterns.

Nurse Joy pops her head out from a door on your left concern etched onto her features.

“The power just went out.” She says joining us near the door. Matthew uses all his strength to ensure the door is tightly closed but you can still feel the chill of the snow inside. “Woosung could you start the generator? I sense some of your pokemon could use healing.”

Each of you hand over the pokemon that in fact need healing and she rushes away with Woosung right behind her. No longer moving you are suddenly very cold despite the several layer of clothes you are wearing.

“Because this is such a low traffic area this pokemon center only has two rooms we can use.” Yoongi informs you as he sits on a sofa tucked in the corner of the room. “Nurse Joy is going to push all the power she can to keep the rooms and pokemon warm. We won’t be able to stay out here long.”

“YN, are you okay sharing a room with Yoongi? The beds in these smaller pokemon centers are never big enough and the floor probably isn’t heated.”

“It’s not.” Yoongi says without looking up from where he is staring at his hands.

Of course he wants to share a room with you, but he can’t be the one to suggest it. Yoongi wouldn’t feel comfortable if you were alone. The proximity and inability to leave the room gives him the perfect chance to work through everything.

Sharing a room with your ex boyfriend is the last thing you want to do, but there is no other option right now. At least he’s not a total stranger. Maybe you can finally get some answers out of him. Like why does he know his way around here? He has never mentioned this place before.

“I’m okay with that.” You watch Yoongi waiting for any kind of reaction but he doesn’t give you one.

Woosung comes back with a stack of blankets and divides them up between the four of us. Yoongi grabs his bag and your bag before leading you towards one of the rooms. One is on the left side of the building and the other room is on the right side of the building. Woosung raises an eyebrow but doesn’t say anything letting the two of you walk away.

It’s much warmer in the room once the door is shut. There isn’t much to see inside the room. Just a twin bed with tiny nightstands on either side and a few hooks on the back of the door to hang your things.

You begin peeling off your layers of clothes as Yoongi sits on the edge of the bed. He’s sitting on the right side of the bed and that’s always been your side of the bed. Would it be weird to remind him of that?

“Close your eyes.” You command when you are about to remove your final layer of clothes.

“I’ve seen you naked like 100 times.” He quips looking over his shoulder. You throw one of the blankets at him and he chuckles. “Okay, fine.”

Yoongi reaches up to cover his eyes with his hands and faces back towards the wall. Quickly, you change into your pajamas and crawl under the blankets on the right side of the bed. He uncovers his eyes and looks at you with a soft smile from the end of the bed.

“Are you sure you’re okay with this?” He asks standing up to retrieve clothes from his bag.

“I don’t really see any other choice at this point.”

He shrugs knowing you are right and starts taking off his clothes. You avert your gaze but when he settles onto the bed next to you he’s not wearing a shirt. He’s never liked sleeping with a shirt on. Maybe nothing has changed. Except it has because there are thick scars littering his back.

“What happened?” You push his head down so you can look at his bare back closer. Without thinking your finger traces over the angry mark and you can feel Yoongi shiver under your touch. Or maybe he’s just cold because he is topless. “Who did this to you?”

Yoongi sits up holding onto the hand that just traced the scars on his back. He takes a deep breath and releases it before he speaks.

“My father.” He says so softly you almost aren’t sure you heard him correctly. “Are you ready to hear what I couldn’t tell you?”

#route 613 #namjoon x reader #bts x reader #yoongi x reader #bts smut #pokemon au #pokemon fanfiction #bts fanfic #bts fanfiction #Kim woosung #Kim matthew #bm #Sammy Kim #the rose #saffron city #we are finally at the winter excursion #shit is about to go down #so much is about to be told and so many other things are about to happen eheheheheheheeh

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