Chapter Text
Touya stretched languidly on Reshiram's back, feeling the fluffy feathers underneath him shift a little. He then settled back against the legendary’s neck, looking down at the place below.
“That's Paldea, it's where we need to be,” Touya told Reshiram, receiving a nod as it swept down towards the landmass. He sighed as he took in the clouds steaming and dissipating around Reshiram's flames.
He felt his stomach lurch as he took in the sudden decline in his altitude. Touya clung to Reshiram's neck in order to stave off his vertigo, whimpering softly as he felt something like his organs shifting around inside his abdomen. He hated the feeling, something he'd grown used to over his search for his literal other half. His N. His twin soul, missing an action for all of Touya's late teenage years. Almost five years now, Touya was creeping up on twenty, the same age N had been when he'd fled and left Touya alone at the precipice of the most divisive moment in their relationship.
He felt tears slipping through his shut eyes and down into the softness of Reshiram. He heard that all too familiar voice inside his head, over the years he'd learned Reshiram could communicate with him a lot like N could with every Pokemon. Something that always made Touya cry worse.
Calm, boy. We'll be fine, just wait , His pokemon whispered into Touya's head as they landed. Touya looked up as a warm muzzle was prodded at his head.
“Sorry just-” Thinking about the other Hero? “Yeah. Just, it makes me cry, all the damn time.” Touya sniffled against the pokemon.
I'm well aware, child, but you mustn't cry. We will find them again soon . Touya nodded as he wiped his tears on his sleeves, the same blue jacket he'd worn for years in hope that N would see it and know it was him.
“I know, I know Reshiram, but he’s gone and I can’t just… stop. But I don’t think I can hold out much longer,” Touya confessed as he shivered in the cold night air. He knew they should take a rest soon, find a good tree and hope nobody, pokemon or otherwise, doesn’t get mad at them for resting.
I… Understand. Something like this would tire anyone, including me. But we should look through this region before heading home. Reshiram said as it lowered its neck so Touya could get off. Touya nodded and held out the master ball, allowing Reshiram to go back inside it.
Touya sighed as he was left alone with nothing but his thoughts.
He couldn’t do this, the overwhelming urge to cry and collapse because he couldn’t find N racked his body forcing him to let out a sob. He quickly pulled his earbuds from his pocket and slotted the jack into the correct hole in his MP3 player. He pulled up the loudest music he had and started walking. He’d added to his list over the last five years on his own, never caring about how outdated his methods were. It was free and easier to convert to MP3 from Youtube, and he just had to give Zel his charger to keep it charged. Great honestly.
He listened to the loud music, instrumental metal, it hurt his ears. But it kept his thoughts from reaching his mind.
He found a good tree hollow, large and warm, and released Macchiato to help keep himself warm. She always loved it. Her fluffy white tail immediately warmed Touya’s heart. He pet his cinccino lovingly as he cuddled her close. He felt her squirm around before settling in his arms.
Touya petted Macchiato as he fell asleep.