Work Text:
“Do the Professors know you're here?”
Ash sighed as he leaned against the wall of the dark alleyway. “Obviously not, what kind of question is that?” He mumbled against Gladion's mouth, even rolled his eyes a little. He was being a lot moodier than usual, now that he thought about it.
To be fair, Burnnet did know. He had tried to sneak out, but Rowlet decided it was a wonderful time to wake up and give him away. Well, as long as Kukui didn't find out, he'd be fine.
“And even if they did,” (she does) “it would be on you.” Ash said. Was he mad that Gladion was still sneaking out to see him instead of just treating him like a real boyfriend around people? Maybe. But he still agreed to it every time, so maybe it was on him too.
“I just don't want my mother to find out, you know they're friends.” Gladion said, nuzzling against Ash's neck.
“You don't want anyone to find out, you mean.” Ash rolled his eyes, not like Gladion could see it anyway.
“Let's not, we've already talked about this.”
“I should ditch you. I will, one of these days.”
“And you'll come back a few days after, like always.” Gladion said, placing a hand on Ash's hip. Ash placed a hand over Gladion's, he almost wanted to push it away, but he just left it there instead.
“You're the worst boyfriend I've ever had.” Ash said, pulling his hand back and wrapping his arms around Gladion's neck to pull him closer.
2
“You're such a terrible liar. You can just tell me, you know?” Gladion said as he laid back on the bed.
“I already told you I'm not lying!” Ash argued, he hated being called a liar, especially over something so stupid.
“I wasn't cheering for either of you, I was completely neutral during your battle.”
“You gave out my tricks to him, though.”
“I only told him to be careful with Silvally's ability to change types, just like I told you to watch out for his Z-Moves.”
“That's so not the same.” Gladion huffed, he knew he was being dramatic, and that he was pushing Ash's buttons on purpose, but he was still annoyed over it.
“You won anyway, does it matter?”
“Well, you wouldn't like it if I gave away your strategies to your rivals. So yes, it matters, you were definitely cheering for him, and you're a liar.”
“I already told you to stop calling me that!”
It all happened a bit too fast after that. Maybe Ash straddled him and pushed a pillow against his face, maybe he pushed Ash a little more forcefully than he needed to, maybe they both ended up with little purple bruises here and there, but it was fine. As long as no one asked, that is.
3
“Have you seen my hoodie? I can't find it anywhere.” Gladion sighed as he looked around his room for the tenth time that day.
“I mean… no? But you look better without it anyway.” Ash said, he had that stupid smile on his face and wasn't looking at him. So that's how it would be, huh?
“Ash. Sunshine. Did you take my hoodie?”
Ash only gave him a dumb chuckle. Fine, Gladion could let that one slide.
—
“I could swear there was more money in here…” Gladion said as he looked through his wallet.
“Oh! That was me, I took twenty.” Ash said, he didn't even look ashamed.
“Without asking me?”
“I mean, it was just twenty.”
Gladion gave him a blank stare, actually, it wasn't blank, more like disapproving.
Ash sighed, hugging Gladion's arm as he moved to his side. “Sorry, I'll ask next time.”
Gladion rolled his eyes, tugging Ash closer to him. He's right, it was only twenty, and it's not like he needed it anyway. “You better.”
—
“May I know why my headphones were in your bag?” Along with some… other things he didn't want to talk about. He knew better than to bring up the bandages in Ash's arms.
“Oh. Yeah, I borrowed them, you can have it back now.”
“Well, it's not up to you to decide that, is it?” Gladion huffed.
“Let's not do this, yeah?”
“No, Ash. You have to quit stealing my stuff.” Gladion said, crossing his arms.
“I'm not stealing. I'm just borrowing.” Ash frowned.
“Without asking. And you only give them back after I notice they're missing.”
Ash scoffed. “I'm your boyfriend, we're past that.”
“No, I don't think so.”
Gladion saw the exact moment Ash's face dropped. Ash rolled his eyes and turned his back to him, he had been doing that a lot lately.
4
“So… you and Hau are really close, aren't you?” Ash said, he had a smile on his face, but the tone of his voice was off, sarcastic, maybe.
“I guess so, we knew each other when we were little, it's… good to see him?” It was true, really, but he felt he was a few seconds away from annoying Ash.
“Right. And you've been hanging out together lately. A lot.” Ah. There it was.
“You aren't jealous, are you?” Gladion teased as he cupped Ash's face.
“Well, do I have a reason to be?” Ash huffed.
Gladion only shrugged. “I mean, you two are very alike. I'd be worried too.”
“Gladion Aether.” Gladion laughed, pinching Ash's cheek.
“I'm joking, don't be an idiot. I'll even prove it to you.”
—
“I mean, you started it.” Gladion said, trying to justify himself.
“I'm not talking to you right now.” Ash said, pressing an ice pack against the yet to form bruises on his neck. He really hoped they didn't get too purple, there was no way Kukui would believe him if he said it was Lycanroc's fault.
“What matters it's that it worked, you're not jealous anymore, are you?” Gladion said.
“Only because I have something more important to worry about right now. I have class tomorrow.”
“You're the one who wanted to make it public, weren't you?”
“I'm going to kill you if you don't shut up right now.”
5
“What are you doing out here this late?” Gladion asked as he walked up to Ash's side, leaning against the fence.
“I could ask you the same.”
“Needed some time for myself.” Gladion said, taking a drag off his cigarette.
Ash only hummed, looking down at the beach.
Now that Gladion had a good look at him, he looked… Well, it wasn't nice to say he looked horrible, but it's not like Gladion was ever really nice to his boyfriend.
“I thought I told you to quit that?” Gladion said, looking down at the bandages around Ash's arms. He didn't miss the light red tint on them.
“And I'm sure I told you to quit that.” Ash said, looking at the cigarette in Gladion's hand.
Gladion shrugged, blowing the smoke out at Ash's face. The boy only huffed, but Gladion saw how his eyes got a little wet when the smoke hit them.
“Come back home with me?” Gladion said, using his free hand to take one of Ash's. He didn't answer, but followed along without complaining.
+1
“Your hair is so soft, you know that? I could stay like this all day.” Gladion said, nuzzling against Ash's hair.
“I think you've mentioned it before, yeah.” Ash chuckled, curling up against Gladion's side on the bed.
“Well I mean it. Seriously, what do you do with it?” Gladion asked as he started trailing kisses down Ash's face. First his forehead and temple, then his nose, his cheeks and finally his mouth.
“Hmm, I don't know. Good genetics, I think?” Ash mumbled as he pulled away.
“Of course it is. You're just pretty like that? That 's unfair.” Gladion said before giving Ash another small peck, then one more, and one after that and so many more, only stopping when Ash pushed him off with a huff.
“What's with you today? You don't usually like me this much.”
Gladion sighed, moving on to kiss Ash's neck instead. “I know. I've been a horrible boyfriend lately, I'm just trying to make up for it.”
“Oh, so you admit it?” Ash teased.
“Would it kill you to say you're sorry too?”
“You didn't really say sorry though, did you?” Ash argued, before feeling a sharp bite against his shoulder. “Hey!”
Gladion chuckled. “I'm sorry?”
Ash huffed, shaking his head. “Fine, I'm sorry too.”
They looked at each other in silence for a good while, but Gladion eventually broke eye contact. “I'm not really… going to get better, you know that, right?”
Ash sighed. “I know. You're really mean to me sometimes, but I guess so am I. And I'm not really planning on changing.”
“And you still want this?”
Ash hummed, turning his back to Gladion and pulling the blankets over himself. “Why don't you figure that out yourself?”
Gladion shook his head. “Never a straight answer out of you, hm?”
Fine by him. They could be mean to each other together if that's what he really wants.