TEEN: - Complete [Horizons, Liko/Dot] Aftermath

[Mialentia]

Content Warnings: Discussions of Trauma and Grief​

Summary:​

Due to Spinel’s framing of the Rising Volt Tacklers, Liko goes to retrieve Dot from her mother’s house alone, so as not to attract attention. When she gets there, she realizes she needs to free Dot of her own mind’s prison before that of her room.

Tags:​

Hurt/Comfort, Writing Challenge, Kissing, Nightmares, Established Relationship

Fic:​

Liko felt her heart thump in her ears as she walked down the path to her girlfriend Dot’s house. The Alola region was much warmer than she was used to, especially at this time of day, and she fanned herself with her hand so as not to be too sweaty when they finally met face to face for the first time in a year. She dreamt of this moment for what felt like every night since they had to part ways due to Spinel’s framing of the Rising Volt Tacklers after the clash in Laqua. Her chest tightened for a moment as she remembered how quickly everything fell apart there: the Six Heroes going berserk, save for the Black Rayquaza, the Pokémon Paradise being destroyed as every Pokémon ran for their lives… and Friede…

She shook her head, as if to chase the thoughts away. No, she couldn’t let her regrets catch up to her now, of all times. No matter how pleasant it felt to meet up with Dot, this was still an important mission to her, one she had to go on alone, in order to not raise suspicion; she was the best out of all of them, save for maybe Ludlow, when it came to looking inconspicuous and staying quiet. Finally, after what felt like hours to her, but was closer to minutes, Liko found herself at the entrance of Dot’s house. Her mother was currently away, so Dot instructed her to let herself in, and so she did, doing her best to not make too much noise, in case someone nearby might overhear her and mistake her for an intruder. One mistake could spell doom for her group right now.

“Dot?” Liko called softly, as she shut the door behind her. “Where are you?”
“End of the hall.” The streamer responded, muffled by the distance and walls separating them. “I’m in my room, like always.”
Liko’s heart jumped as she heard her love’s voice, without phone distortion, for the first time in months. She forgot how much she missed the subtleties in her tone that get lost in calls; how her voice seemed hesitant, but still held a hidden strength. How she seemed to consider her words as she spoke them, slight pauses making every one seem even more impactful, and even more fascinating. As her happiness overpowered her anxieties, she quickened her step without realizing, and made it to the end of the hall in seconds. Hesitating for a moment, she knocked, finding her usual rhythm that she used on the Brave Olivine’s metallic doors so long ago. “C-Can I come in?”
Before she could get a response, Liko saw the doorknob move, and soon enough, the door opened to reveal the person she had been dying to see.

Dot looked very different from when she saw her last. The girl wasn’t the type to take pictures of herself, and thus, despite her pleading, Liko didn’t get to see her grow up. Needless to say, the Dot that greeted her now came as quite the shock; she had grown a few inches, slightly closing the size difference between them despite her own growth. She wore an oversized sweater that made her look even cuter to the young adventurer, as well as a pair of headphones, their cable dangling awkwardly behind her as she moved. But Liko’s surprise (and adoration) was mainly aimed at Dot’s new haircut. Her bangs still covered her face, but only on one side now, letting her left eye and her freckles show, which looked cool to her girlfriend. Her hair was longer as well, and Liko couldn’t help but daydream for a moment about running her fingers through it. Maybe later, though. Right now, she had a mission to complete.
“D-Dot…! You look…”
“Heh. Yeah, I’m kind of a mess. Sorry.”
“No! You look amazing!”
“Ah–” The influencer shied away from her girlfriend’s gaze, a slight blush on her face. “Well, if you say so. Anyway, I guess you’re here to pick me up?”
“Yes. The other Rising Volt Tacklers tasked me with bringing you back on the ship. We need your help and your strength to restore our good name, and to solve the mysteries behind the reappearance of the Laquium.”
“...”
“A-And… I personally would really love to be close to you again… I missed you. A lot.”
“Sorry.”
“It’s okay… we can make up for lost time now. What do you say?”
“...I can’t.”
“H-Huh!?” Liko couldn’t help but be shocked. “Why not!?”
“I would only weigh you down.”
“That’s nonsense! You’re invaluable to us! We never could have reunited the Six Heroes, or come out victorious against the White Zygarde, or so many other things, without you…!”
“That was the me from before. The me of today… can’t do all those things.” Dot sat down on her bed, avoiding her girlfriend’s worried gaze. “Look at me. I’m back where I started. Stuck in my room for days on end, having to deal with my mom’s endless worrying. Only interacting with people through Nidothing. Well, aside from you, I guess. Barely eating actual meals. I’m so pathetic.”
“But that’s–”
“Why are you fighting this!?” Dot suddenly yelled, making Liko jump in surprise. “You can’t possibly think I’m worth anything to you anymore!”
“I love you! There’s no one in the world who’s worth more to me!”
“I–” The shut-in stopped herself, as if considering something, before continuing. “Well, maybe you should look harder. You can do better than… t-this.” She solemnly finished, pointing at herself, tears falling down her face.
“Dot…” Feeling a strong resolve well up within her, Liko approached the girl, and sat down next to her. “I understand how you feel. But you’re dealing with a lot. It’s okay to take a step back after something this… traumatic.”
Dot caught on to her partner’s allusion, but that only seemed to fan the flames of her self-hatred even more. “It’s because Friede died that I need to do better! I couldn’t protect him! I’m supposed to be prepared for anything, right!? I was the strategist! But I couldn’t save him! I–”
“Dot, please…”
Something in Liko’s voice struck a chord in her girlfriend’s heart, even through her spiral, and her guard began to crack under the pressure. “Do you think… he would be upset at me? If he knew I couldn’t carry on his will like you and Roy are?”
“It took me a long time too, you know… I also “relapsed”, so to speak. I went back to Indigo Academy. I snuffed out my flame. A-And I… I also wondered if he would be upset at me…”
“L-Liko… don’t cry…”
“I had n-nightmares… of him yelling at me… calling me weak… and then Spinel… he…” the adventurer squeaked out, unable to finish.
“H-He’s in yours too…?”
“Mhm…”
Feeling her courage slowly return, Dot opened up to her more. “...in mine, h-he’s the one dealing the final blow. Sometimes it’s his Umbreon, s-sometimes… he has a knife…”
“Dot…”
“I’m afraid, Liko!” Dot suddenly yelled out, baring her soul. “What if he comes for me next? What if he comes for you!? I-If he does anything to you… I… I…”
“He won’t.” As she met Dot’s gaze, Liko’s eyes burned anew with the determination to protect the one she loves. “As long as I have the strength to fight, I will. To protect those you love, and to protect you, above all. But I know my strength alone isn’t enough. I need you there, holding my hand and fighting by my side.”
“Liko…”
“It’s hard, I know. This trauma of ours isn’t going to just vanish in seconds. But… we have to keep fighting. We have to keep going. Together. It’s what Friede would have wanted, right?”
“I…”

Dot, feeling her feelings rising up and threatening to suffocate her, let her instincts take control, and dove into Liko’s arms, making her fall back into her bed. After looking into her cerulean eyes, searching for even a smidge of protest, but finding none, she brought her face closer, and let her lips meet hers.

Dot was surprised. Liko’s tongue usually tasted like lemon, a drop of sourness like sunlight amid a bright blue sky. But now, she found a new spiciness, as if a stormcloud had come to cover up the azure expanse that came to define her in the streamer’s mind. Liko, for herself, found that the sweetness of Dot’s taste evolved into a tinge of bitterness, like rain had come to pepper the starry sky with its droplets, the full moon’s light reflected in the puddles on the ground. Most people would find that disappointing, but neither thought that of their lover. Instead, the two relished in the unfamiliarity, pleasantly surprised to discover a new dimension to a world they thought they knew by heart, soul, and passion. Soon enough, Liko’s arms wrapped around Dot’s waist, pulling her in closer still, and the two lost themselves in the moment, enjoying the other’s presence and undying love, that even a world’s distance couldn’t dull.

After an eternal moment, the two slowly pulled apart, though their gazes remained fixated on one another, their breathing ragged and their faces reddened. Eventually, though, they both smiled at each other, and Dot fell back down, resting her head on Liko’s chest.
“I was so wrapped up in my own anxiety that I forgot just how much I missed you,” Dot softly spoke, breaking the silence that had settled around them. “You’re just as wonderful as the day we parted.”
“So are you. I’ve dreamed about this day for months, but… nothing beats the real thing.”
“You’re really beautiful, by the way. Love the new hairdo.”
“I think it’s nice that I can look into your eyes even more than before now.”
“...”
“...”
“I love you, Liko.”
“I love you too, Dot…!”

Eventually, as the sun began to set on the tropical Alola region, two girls traveled back up the oceanside path, each carrying half of the shorter girl’s luggage. Bright smiles adorned their faces, as they held the other’s hand in their own, walking with renewed hope towards their future. Nothing could keep them apart now, for their love was stronger than any gem’s gleam.