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- #2
In the echo of the ocean
For the seventy-seventh time in an hour, Wallace checked himself in the mirror to make sure he looked perfect for Winona’s family—or presentable, at the very least. His purple turtleneck was carefully tucked into white dress pants, his white blazer was straight without a single wrinkle, and his white boots and beret had not a scratch or smudge.
He felt like he was going to throw up.
Joan, his Swanna, was giving him a look that said Wallace, we have to go. Even he had to admit that he was being more meticulous than usual, causing him to spend two hours fussing over his appearance when it was usually just one. But he had to make a perfect first impression in front of Winona's family. From what he had heard of them, they weren't the most... accepting people. But they were the ones demanding to meet Wallace, and Wallace wasn't one to break promises. Or not accept them in the first place.
Maybe he could change their ways. Maybe he could impress them. Maybe they would think he was a great partner for Winona... Maybe he would make a fool of himself.
Wallace considered not going over to the house and just playing sick instead. He was starting to think that maybe he was. His Swanna, Joan, cocked her head as his pacing and breathing became quicker.
“Joan, I’m not feeling too well. Maybe this wasn’t the best idea—“
Before Wallace could go into the bathroom, his sister opened the door to his bedroom.
“How are you doing?” Nicole asked.
“Fine.” The way Wallace responded said otherwise; even he had to admit. Nicole walked over and hugged him.
“Kamari mou, it’s going to be okay. You’re just nervous.”
“If I throw up in front of Winona’s family, I’ll never be allowed to marry her.”
“You won’t throw up. You’ll be just fine. Look at me.”
Wallace looked up at his sister. Her smile was warm and welcoming, like a glowing sunrise over the sea. Nicole was perfect. Everyone in his family was perfect. Why couldn't he be perfect?
“Smile,” she coaxed. “Come on.”
Wallace forced a smile. It was small, but it was something.
-
Winona’s parents answered the door. Her mother had pale blue hair that was starting to gray, and her wrinkly face had a stern frown. Her father had lavender hair, and he was much taller and looked much more welcoming.
Wallace bowed to them. He had always been one to show respect, even more so to older people, and respect was especially important tonight. Just for good measure, he smiled.
“I’m guessing you’re Winona’s parents. Rina and Haruki Kimura, if I remember correctly.”
Rina nodded. What kind of nod was it? Approval? Disappointment?
“And I’m guessing you’re her partner.” Her icy voice said enough: she was disappointed.
“That would also be correct. Is she here yet?”
“She’s on the balcony.” Haruki’s voice was more like a quiet brook: calm and pleasant. “She’s excited to see you tonight.”
”We’ll see if that excitement is warranted,” Rina muttered. "She's never brought anyone home.”
Wallace nodded, doing his best to hide his anxiety, and stepped into the house. The living room was a mix of woods of different shades of warm brown. Stepping inside was like eating a plate of freshly baked baklava… before having to walk a mile to purge it in a dark alley.
Winona stood on the balcony with her Altaria. She was wearing a long sleeved, sky blue dress, and her hair was tied back in a bun. Wallace could feel his face burning from blushing. She was always pretty, but tonight she was absolutely gorgeous. Gosh, he wanted to take her in his arms and kiss her and—
“Hello, Wallace,” Winona said.
Damn it. Wallace had gotten caught up in fawning over Winona.
“Uh… hello, Winona darling.”
He had started taking up the habit of calling Winona terms of endearment, like the romantic leads of the novels he read. “Darling” was the simplest one he used, by a long shot.
He caught a glimpse of Rina, who was watching them like a lurking Jellicent.
“Don’t worry about my mom,” Winona whispered, kissing Wallace’s cheek. “She’ll trust you eventually. Maybe.” She looked over at her mother. “Okaasan, please don’t look at Wallace like that.”
“You two better not… get carried away.”
Winona rolled her eyes. “We don’t, and we won’t.”
“Is anyone else here?” Wallace whispered to Winona.
“Bugsy and Anabel. They're playing with dolls in their room."
The doorbell rang, and Winona sighed. “And here comes Theresa. She just happens to be visiting, and she insisted that she come to dinner tonight.” Sarcasm was palpable in her voice.
“Any suggestions on how to deal with her?”
“Just smile and nod. For what it's worth, she hates me too. And Bugsy. And Anabel. And my dad."
Smiling and nodding. I’m good at that, Wallace thought.
Winona walked over to the front door and opened it. A young girl with light blue hair stood at the door. She was wearing a white dress straightened to perfection. Her expression went from stoicism to shock when she saw Wallace.
“Wallace?” she said. “Gym Leader Wallace? You and… Winona are a thing?”
“Who might you be?” Wallace asked.
“Kahili. I’m Winona’s niece.”
Wallace smiled. “Well, that’s wonderful to hear"—he bowed to her—"and it's wonderful to meet—"
A woman stopped behind Kahili, making the girl’s smile fall. The woman had short hair that was the same color as Kahili’s, and she also seemed shocked by Wallace, though it didn’t seem to be a positive kind of shock.
“Oh,” she chuckled, her smile obviously fake and her voice loud and abrasive. Wallace didn't know what to compare it to—probably a hangover headache or a migraine. “So she is dating you. I thought it was just a rumor.”
“Are you Theresa?” Wallace asked. “I don’t think we’ve met.” He bowed before extending his arm toward her. “But you seem to know of me already.”
“Who the hell is this delinquent?” A man yelled in a deep, fiery voice as he stopped next to Theresa and saw Wallace. He had dark purple hair that was halfway grayed, and he was sharply dressed. He was staring at Wallace with a much more obviously disdainful look.
Did Wallace really look that bad? Shoot, he remembered to put concealer on the dark circles under his eyes, right? His clothes were braggy enough to hide how thin his arms were, right? Was it the bloodshot eyes?! The cheekbones?! The—
“Are you too drugged to speak or something?”
The man’s voice snapped Wallace out of his spiral, even the accusations were…
“Wallace.” He smiled and did a pose with his hands as if to say ta da. “Sootopolis City Gym Leader, and Winona’s boyfriend. Or partner. Or significant other. Call me whatever you wish. I have no preference.”
“Richard, Theresa’s husband,” the man said as he reluctantly shook Wallace’s hand, forcing a smile when he realized that he was talking to his sister-in-law’s boyfriend. “I own the Hano Grand Resort.”
Wallace closed his, pretending to be lost in thought, but really he was just trying to avoid eye contact with Richard. “Ah, I’ve heard of that place. Very elegant, from the stories I’ve been told.”
Wallace could tell this was going to be a long night.
Someone grabbed his arm. It was Rina.
“One more thing, young man: we have a rite of passage here in Fortree City.”
"A... rite of passage?"
"I can't have my daughter marrying someone who can't even protect her."
"I'm sure Winona is very capable of protecting herself."
Rina didn't seem to be amused by that playful quip. "All right then. I can't have my daughter marrying someone who can't even defend himself."
-
Joan missed Kecleon—for the third time.
The two were battling on the city community center’s battlefield. With Theresa as referee and the rest of the family watching the battle, Wallace and Haruki called out attacks. Wallace had an advantage with Chrysosian commands, but he still couldn’t land a hit on the nimble, camouflaging Kecleon, who made hit after hit with his invisible tongue.
“I hope you’re a better husband than you are a Gym Leader!” Rina called.
I’m working on that, Wallace wanted to shout back, but that would be rude. Also, she had a point; he was a new Gym Leader, but that didn’t give him any excuse to be this… bad of a Gym Leader.
The others were sitting far away from Wallace, but he could still feel their judgement stabbing into him like a thousand little knives. Especially Rina's. Sure, she called out the occasional mean-spirited taunt at Haruki, but her stares towards Wallace felt worse somehow. Maybe it was the fact that Wallace wasn't Haruki, or maybe he was anticipating her to say something.
You can’t lose. You can’t lose. You can’t lose.
In the frenzy of his spinning thoughts, Wallace scanned the battlefield and the sky above it for some sort of way to attack Kecleon… or the red stripe it couldn’t change.
Wait…
“Joan, stóchefse to kókkino!”
With a dramatic loop in the air, the Swanna spun towards the red stripe and struck. The impact shocked Kecleon out of his camouflage. While he was still recovering, Joan shot a blast of scorching hot water. She shot attack after attack, and Kecleon never got a chance to bounce back.
Eventually, he fell. Swanna swooped into the air again before landing in front of her opponent.
“Kecleon is unable to battle," Theresa announced, sounding almost disappointed. "Wallace is the victor.”
Wallace and Joan gave a dramatic bow. He could hear clapping.
"Wow, Wallace!" Bugsy shouted. "That was so cool!"
Wallace looked up at Theresa to thank her for her hard—
She was rolling her eyes. “I thought you were going to put on a… performance during your battle, but you pleasantly surprised me with your clothes and skills. For a person of your kind, you did pretty well. Though I should tell you that your Sootopolis speak or whatever feels like cheating."
Wallace sighed. He was failing to impress his potential future in-laws, wasn’t he?
"Don't psychics give commands with telepathy?—"
"Shut up, Anabel," Theresa shot back.
Anabel looked back down at her feet. "Okay."
"According to the official rules and guidelines of Pokémon battling," Wallace stated calmly, "'All forms of communication—including but not limited to telepathy, foreign languages, and hand and body gestures—are permitted between trainer and Pokémon.'" He shot a playful smile at Anabel, who gave him a small smile back. "Are you interested in battles, Anabel?"
"Uh... yes."
Theresa rolled her eyes. "They all want to do battles. I don't have to. Anabel and Winona already completed battle tests, but Abbi still has to complete hers—"
"His," Bugsy corrected. "Or theirs. And my name is Bugsy."
Theresa sighed. "It’s hard to remember, sorry." She didn’t sound sorry.
"Battle tests?" Wallace asked.
"The kids have to battle their father before they can go on a journey," Theresa explained. Before walking back to her husband, she whispered, “Too bad their father is such a weak trainer.”
“Well, that’s not very nice. Haruki most, but he put up a very good—”
Theresa snapped her head towards Wallace and pointed a finger at him. “I wasn’t talking to you.”
Wallace held up his hands. “Okay then.”
Looking over his shoulder, Wallace saw Bugsy, whose eyes were wide and hands were shaking. Wallace put a hand on their shoulder.
“Hey, Bugsy.” Wallace forced a smile. “Theresa is full of shit.”
Bugsy stifled a laugh in his fist.
“You’re nonbinary too, aren’t you?” Bugsy asked.
“That I am.”
“That’s so cool! You know, when I first heard about it, I was like ‘Wow! There’s someone just like me who’s a strong Trainer just like I wanna be! That’s so cool!...”
Wallace smiled as Bugsy continued rambling. His heart fluttered with… something. He had never had anyone say such nice things about… about him being queer. Usually people would call him confused or a freak or would out him in the press for all the world to see—
No. This was a nice moment, and Bugsy was a nice kid. Nothing else could change that.
-
Wallace sat in between Winona and Theresa at the dinner table. He hated sitting in between two people at a table. Most of all, he hated eating in front of others. But he was a performer. He could put up a smile for however long dinner lasted. He could put off the panic attack for later.
It helped that Haruki was a nice enough person. He talked about how proud he was of his daughter for being such a strong Trainer, for gaining recognition beyond Fortree City and Hoenn, for getting into Rustboro University.
“She’s going to do something great someday,” he said. “Maybe she’ll become a professor. Or the Champion. Or both."
Winona hid her face in her hands, though Wallace could still see her face turning reddish-pink.
”Dad, stop it,” Winona mumbled. “You’re embarrassing me.”
”Come on, Winona. Can’t a father be proud of his daughter?”
"But do you have to brag in front of my boyfriend?"
"Well, he should know just how wonderful his future wife is."
Winona smiled. It was a beautiful smile. Wallace wanted to kiss her—
"Yeah, and he better know that she won't take a half-assed husband," Rina muttered. “He better know that he can’t ditch her when he gets her pregnant, and if he gets her pregnant before—“
"Mom please," Winona sighed. "Can we not get into that right now?"
"Young lady, we are going to get into that."
Rina then went on a tirade about how premarital sex was terrible and awful and all that. Wallace had heard the lecture many times from his grandmother, though Rina didn't use religious justification. From what Wallace knew of Winona's family, they were spiritual but didn't practice any kind of organized religion like his family did. Winona was accepting of her and Wallace’s religious differences... he just had to hope that her parents were.
There was a bottle of wine on the table—some fancy port wine that Theresa and Richard had brought to flaunt to the others. Unsurprisingly, they were the only ones drinking it. Wallace wanted to have some of it, but that would most likely lead to him drinking the whole bottle and passing out from alcohol poisoning. He desperately needed to numb his anxiety and the growing nausea that came with it, but he also knew that getting drunk in front of his girlfriend's parents wouldn't look good, and he needed to be perfect. Besides, Winona didn't like alcohol, and she probably didn't like drunkard significant others.
Why did he have to lie to her?
Wallace felt a slithering hand on his leg, completely unlike the graceful hands of Winona. He looked up at Theresa, who frowned when he expressed discomfort.
“Oh honey,” Theresa whispered, too quiet for anyone to hear, “don’t worry, I like my men a little exotic… Oh right, I just remembered that your gender is a fish.”
“The term is ‘genderqueer male’,” Wallace half joked, half explained, “and I don’t mind being called a man… but I’m not really eager right now, especially not for you.”
“I thought you were eager for everyone.”
“That’s not how pansexuality works. Now would you please remove your hand from my leg before Winona’s parents find out? Do you want to get convicted of adultery?”
“You should be honored that I’m giving you such high praise. Just shut up and be happy that you’re pretty for your kind… and your age.”
Theresa squeezed Wallace’s leg. He wanted to be scared and disgusted, but he had heard worse from people older than Theresa... How old was Theresa, anyway?
“Theresa. Cut it out.”
Winona was pulling Theresa's arm away from Wallace.
"If you hit on him one more time, I'm telling your husband."
Theresa shook her arm out of Winona's grip. "Fine. Oh Richard? How's the hotel doing?"
Winona groaned. "Theresa, please."
"It's doing well," Richard drawled. "Business is booming this season."
Theresa shot a teasing smirk at Winona, who looked ready to murder Theresa. "And how much have you made—"
"Kahili are you interested in Water types?"
Everyone stared at Wallace. He prayed to the Mediator of the Sky for good communication skills.
"I am, but I prefer Flying types."
"Do you want to learn some pointers?"
"Oh joy," Theresa mumbled, "poor man's sport."
"I do!" Kahili said. "I have this friend..."
-
Food came. It wasn’t bad food; it smelled really, really good: rice, kimchi, soup, edamame, soba in a broth that smelled wonderful… such wonderful, savory smells…
It was only then that Wallace realized how hungry he was; he hadn’t eaten lunch, and breakfast had been a meager half slice of toast. For the past week, Wallace had allowed himself to only eat toast for breakfast, rice for lunch, and kale and bread for dinner, plus more vitamin supplements than he wanted to admit. He needed to put something else in his stomach.
But eating around other people wasn’t just something Wallace hated. It terrified him. It made his heart race. It made his legs weak. It made him feel like he was going to pass out.
"Are you okay?" Winona whispered.
"Of course I am," Wallace whispered back.
"Do you want to trade seats or anything?"
"I want to leave.” He paused for a second. “I'm kidding. I'm fine."
"What are you whispering about?" Rina demanded.
"I was just asking Wallace if he needed any..."
"He better not need contraception yet."
"MOM!” Winona shouted as she slammed a fist on the table. “I was asking about aspirin."
Theresa and Richard snickered. Winona looked ready to slap Theresa, but Haruki's stare stopped the two’s mockery before she could.
"Rina," Haruki said, "even you have to admit that this is too much. Why don't you trust our little Nagi bird?"
"Nagi's a wonderful young lady,” Rina said, “but just because she’s a strong Trainer, doesn’t mean I trust the kind of people she brings home. She could be bringing home drug addicts or playboys or something worse."
"What's worse than drug addicts and playboys?" Wallace joked. “Drug addict playboys?”
It was a bad joke. Nobody laughed.
"I suppose if you were a drug addict and a playboy," Rina said bluntly.
No, Wallace wasn't a drug addict. Sure, he did drugs, but it wasn't for an addiction; it was so he could function and so he could suppress bad emotions like sadness. Maybe he was a playboy; he had a lot of wild sex with Winona.
“Okaaaaaaaasan, I’ve never brought anyone home,” Winona sighed. “I’ve never had a boyfriend. Or a girlfriend. Or anyone like that. you've never let me."
“All the more reason to be suspicious. And all the more reason I should have chosen a partner for you if you’re going to be bringing home women or whatever else kids these days are into.”
“Rina,” Haruki demanded calmly, “I refuse to let our home breed such hostility—”
Rina turned to Wallace. “You’re Nagi's coworker. Is that right?”
“Yes.” Wallace had to hide his racing anxiety. He had to be perfect in front of Winona’s family. “Winona is the most de-devoted, hardworking, good natured, calm…”
Winona gently elbowed Wallace’s arm. He couldn’t help but smile, even in the tense atmosphere, and he let his breathing relax a bit.
“…caring Gym Leader I know.”
Rina stared at him. ”I can’t have my daughter marry someone who’s skin and bones. She needs someone who can support her, protect her, and care for her, and skinny boys like you aren’t good at that.”
Wallace was very close to screaming. If he took a shot every time someone said "you need a good meal" or "you're going to blow away in the wind" or "you look like an anorexic middle school girl" or some other variation of that, he would get... very drunk, maybe blackout drunk, maybe dead drunk.
”You remind me of my grandmother," Wallace said.
That didn’t get any kind of smile from Rina. ”In that case, tell your grandmother that she’s a smart woman. And eat.”
Wallace knew that he would look like a weirdo if he didn’t eat dinner. Besides, he figured, he could always purge later.
Against the wishes of his thoughts, he forced himself to take a small bite of the soba noodles. It smelled good and it tasted good, bringing a feeling of comfort to—
Restrain yourself, you bitch. Don't eat too much.
That feeling snapped away, and Wallace once again noticed all of the people around him, eating around him watching him eat.
“And you two go to the same college?” Rina still hadn’t smiled yet.
“Yes," Wallace said. "Rustboro University. We share a few classes."
“Nagi's studying the sciences—"
"Isn't that wonderful?" Haruki interrupted, beaming with joy. "She's just like her father. I'm so proud of my little Nagi bird. All of my kids really—"
"What do you study?” Rina grumbled. Haruki’s bright expression went away.
“Many things: Sootopolitan, Hoennese, and world literature; art and music; ancient history; poetry…”
From the look on Rina’s face, those subjects didn’t seem like the things she wanted to see on the resume of her daughter’s future spouse.
You should have lied and said you were thinking of going to law school or medical school, Wallace thought. Scratch that. You wouldn't survive a day in medical school. You can't even treat paper cuts without fainting.
“My friend is a history professor at Rustboro University,” Haruki said. “If you see Professor Fujikawa, tell him I said hi.”
“I’ll be sure to do so.” Wallace smiled—genuinely this time.
“What’s your major?” Rina asked. “Something related to science like Nagi?"
“I’m not sure at the moment.”
Wallace stared at Rina’s frown, hoping that she would smile or crack a joke or something. Instead, she asked, “What do you do for a living?”
Scratch law school, too. Get a job at Devon where that sexy Champion works. I bet that looks really impressive to mothers. And really sexy to significant others.
“He’s one of those Contest pretty boys.”
Wallace’s head snapped towards Theresa. She was staring at him, as if she was expecting him to be insulted. From the way she was barely able to hold her glass, she was obviously drunk.
“Theresa’s… Theresa is correct. I’m a Coordinator.”
“Has Winona ever been to one of your Contests?” Theresa leaned closer to Wallace. The strong smell of alcohol almost made him gag.
“We… We just met. She ha-ha-hasn’t been able to come to one of my Contests, though we… we do plan on fixing that—”
“Are you embarrassed by your work?” A malicious smirk formed on Theresa’s face as she leaned closer towards Wallace. “Do you think Winona won’t approve of you flaunting around with that dumb snake of yours?”
"Theresa, please," Winona demanded as she pulled Theresa back.
“Or maybe you think you’re better than her. Maybe you are. I could see how you could think you’re better than Winona, though that’s not a very high bar.”
Wallace was getting more nervous and more angry by the minute, but he figured that those emotions were what Theresa wanted out of him, so he tried to remain calm.
“Theresa, Winona has been nothing but supportive of my career, both on the battlefield and on the stage. I like the way I dress and identify, and Winona, for what it’s worth, has set the bar up in the heavens. Your attempts to insult either me or her will offend the plates on this table before they offend either of us. And before you go beyond foul implication and speculation hurled at me and Winona, our intimate lives are none of your business.”
The whole room went dead silent. Wallace stole a glance of Winona—eyes wild with fear—and then Rina—eyes cold with judgement. In trying to gallantly avoid Theresa’s trap, he had unknowingly stepped right into it.
“‘Intimate lives’?” Rina’s voice was like a stormy ocean threatening to bring up a tidal wave.
Wallace's gaze fell to his lap. He felt his whole body shaking as he choked on nausea.
“Ms. Kimura, where’s the restroom?”
“You can leave when you’ve answered my question! What ‘intimate lives’ do you and Winona—“
Wallace gagged into his hand, feeling a rush of acid burning the back of his throat. He wished he had listened to the intrusive thoughts.
“Please.”
At this point, Wallace had given up on trying to smile and look perfect. All he wanted to do was not throw up in front of Winona’s family. That would be more than imperfect. That would be disastrous. The house was no longer safe; it was hell.
Haruki seemed to sense Wallace’s distress, as he pointed towards a door in the hallway. Wallace practically ran out of his chair.
-
Wallace hated vomiting. He hated almost everything about it: the burning, bitter taste; the foul, rotten smell; the wretched sight of it; the loss of dignity. The only thing he didn’t hate about it was the emotional catharsis. It was addicting.
Addicting when he was the one controlling it.
He couldn’t let himself vomit. He couldn't let himself vomit here. What would he even throw up? The few soba noodles he had barely managed to get down his throat? The toast from breakfast?
His knuckles were white from gripping the edge of the counter. His gaze was cast down on the basin of the sink. He heard the door open and close. Shit, why didn’t he lock the door?
Whoever had walked in was holding back his hair and resting their head against his back, which they were gently rubbing with their other hand.
“I don’t want to throw up,” Wallace gasped. “I don’t want to throw up. I don’t want to throw up.”
“It’s okay, Wallace,” Winona whispered. “If you’re not feeling well, then just let yourself get it up.”
“I want to go home, Winona.”
"Wallace, I can't let you go home by yourself, especially like this."
"Can you take me home then?" Wallace smiled. "Can you be my knight in shining armor?"
Winona chuckled softly and kissed Wallace’s cheek.
Haruki and Theresa were arguing in the kitchen, with the former speaking in a calm, quiet voice and the latter shouting.
"Don't worry about them," Winona reassured Wallace. “My dad will deal with her. Why don’t we go outside?”
With some reluctance, Wallace let Winona guide him out of the bathroom. He didn’t let himself look up from the floor. He could feel the stares of everyone just fine.
”Aurora,” Winona whispered to her Altaria, who was sitting peacefully in the corner, “come on.”
The three couldn’t make it to the front door before Rina stopped them.
“KIMURA NAGI!! Where are you going?!” Her eyes were cold, and her frown was bitter.
“We’re going for a walk around town,” Winona replied.
Rina raised a suspicious eyebrow. Wallace realized that she probably thought they were running off to have a quickie or something.
“I thought you were a good girl, Nagi,” Rina snarled. “I thought you were a good girl who did as you were told and only hung out with the right kinds of people. But then you became a trainer. Then you thought you could go around and do whatever you wanted.”
“Mom, Wallace is—”
“Do you want to end up like me, young lady?! Do you want to end up poor and destitute, carrying a child who will never know their father?! Do you want to end up worse than me?! Doing drugs or joining a gang?! Do you want—”
“Rina, please.”
Wallace looked up at who had just said that. Haruki was staring at Rina with a desperate look.
“Fine," Rina finally relented. “You can go. But if I find out you did anything—”
“And now you're letting her take that freak with her so it can fuck her?!” Theresa shrieked.
That "it" stung Wallace like a blade stabbing his chest. He had been called much worse before in the press and in person, and he had been called “it” several times in more conservative gossip magazines, but the hatred in Theresa's slurred voice was a much more corrosive poison, especially when Wallace realized that Bugsy was also in the room.
"Mom!" Kahili yelled. "What is your—"
"Stay out of this, young lady!" Richard ordered.
"Wallace is not an 'it'." Winona was glowing with rage. Wallace didn't have to see her to feel her. "Wallace is a 'he' or a 'they', and he has made that very clear in public appearances. If you’re going to be using language like that towards him, if you're going to harass him like this, you will never be welcome in our Gyms, our home, or our lives!"
"Fine!" Theresa yelled. "Go let that whore knock you up! When it leaves you on the streets of the Cardinal whorehouses, don't expect pity from me! I never pitied you anyway—"
Too much noise. Too much noise. Too much noise too much noise too much noise too much noise.
Wallace ran out of the house before the noise could get worse.
-
After confirming no one was on the ground below, Wallace forced two fingers down his throat to force up whatever was in his system. He wasn’t proud of it, and he prayed that Winona wouldn’t see him inducing it, but everything was just too much. The emotions were too much. The shouting was too much. The humiliation was too much. Everything was too much.
He stumbled back, but Winona caught him before he could fall off the bridge. She was breathing heavily, eyes wet with tears.
"Winona..."
Wallace wrapped his arms around her as she started sobbing. The two sat on the bridge in silence for a while. What were they supposed to even say? Nothing was better than something at this moment.
Oh well. At least Winona didn’t seem to know that Wallace had induced the vomiting himself.
"I'm sorry, Winona—"
"No. No. Don't blame yourself. It's my fault."
“I’m the one who mentioned our ‘intimate lives’.”
“I know, but I shouldn’t have—”
“Winona, Winona, don’t blame yourself for Theresa's cruelness and hypocrisy." Wallace stared into Winona's eyes with a gentle gaze. "Who cares about that wretched, foul, vile..."
Winona laughed a little through her tears. "You're really cute when you use that fancy language."
"I am? Even after making a fool of myself in front of your family and throwing up over the side of the bridge in front of all of your tree and bird friends?"
"You're adorable."
Wallace smirked. "Well, in that case, tell Theresa that I much prefer the term 'escort'."
Some of the newly found levity in Winona's eyes faded. “But don't blame yourself either. You didn't do anything wrong. And when... when she was touching you—“
“I’ve had similar experiences with my city and the region’s socialites. I’m… I’m not called ‘Sootopolis’s Boy Toy’ for nothing.”
He laughed, but Winona didn’t. More than anything, she seemed disturbed. Was it… Was it not normal for rich, old socialites to bother younger people with sexual remarks?
"Well, she's a step sister, right?" Wallace added. "You can just tell her to stay out of your family's—"
"I can't."
"Why not?"
"I can't, Wallace. She’s my mom’s sister.”
“Well, you’re mom isn’t exactly what I’d call the greatest of people.”
“I can’t leave my mom either! She’s my mom!”
“How about you… get a new mom?”
Winona smiled, forcing back a laugh before she had to give up and fall into Wallace’s arms again in hysterical laughter.
"There's that smile I know and love." Wallace would have kissed Winona then, but... well...
“Are you… Are you okay now?” Winona asked.
“I think I still need some fresh air.” He staggered back to his feet and took Winona’s hand. “I hear Fortree City is known for its fresh air… and having the most beautiful Gym Leader ever.”
Winona hugged Wallace again.
"Winona... can I call you 'Nagi', or is that reserved for your parents? Sounds like your Hinodego name. Is it?"
"Of course you can call me that, Wallace. And yes. It is."
"Well, it's a beautiful one."
"Nageia nagi is a very important plant in Fortree City. It's a very important plant to us, and it... it symbolizes our resilience."
"It's a fitting name for you."
Wallace kissed Winona's cheek.
"What about you?" Winona asked.
"Mikouri. In old Sootopolitan, it was pronounced 'Mikrodi', but over time, as Hinodego began to influence the Sootopolitan Greek dialect, it became 'Mikouri'. It's similar to the Hinodego word for the Sparganium erectum ... heh."
"What does 'Mikrodi' mean?"
Wallace didn't know if he wanted to laugh or blush from embarrassment. "Well, that's a story for another time."
For the seventy-seventh time in an hour, Wallace checked himself in the mirror to make sure he looked perfect for Winona’s family—or presentable, at the very least. His purple turtleneck was carefully tucked into white dress pants, his white blazer was straight without a single wrinkle, and his white boots and beret had not a scratch or smudge.
He felt like he was going to throw up.
Joan, his Swanna, was giving him a look that said Wallace, we have to go. Even he had to admit that he was being more meticulous than usual, causing him to spend two hours fussing over his appearance when it was usually just one. But he had to make a perfect first impression in front of Winona's family. From what he had heard of them, they weren't the most... accepting people. But they were the ones demanding to meet Wallace, and Wallace wasn't one to break promises. Or not accept them in the first place.
Maybe he could change their ways. Maybe he could impress them. Maybe they would think he was a great partner for Winona... Maybe he would make a fool of himself.
Wallace considered not going over to the house and just playing sick instead. He was starting to think that maybe he was. His Swanna, Joan, cocked her head as his pacing and breathing became quicker.
“Joan, I’m not feeling too well. Maybe this wasn’t the best idea—“
Before Wallace could go into the bathroom, his sister opened the door to his bedroom.
“How are you doing?” Nicole asked.
“Fine.” The way Wallace responded said otherwise; even he had to admit. Nicole walked over and hugged him.
“Kamari mou, it’s going to be okay. You’re just nervous.”
“If I throw up in front of Winona’s family, I’ll never be allowed to marry her.”
“You won’t throw up. You’ll be just fine. Look at me.”
Wallace looked up at his sister. Her smile was warm and welcoming, like a glowing sunrise over the sea. Nicole was perfect. Everyone in his family was perfect. Why couldn't he be perfect?
“Smile,” she coaxed. “Come on.”
Wallace forced a smile. It was small, but it was something.
-
Winona’s parents answered the door. Her mother had pale blue hair that was starting to gray, and her wrinkly face had a stern frown. Her father had lavender hair, and he was much taller and looked much more welcoming.
Wallace bowed to them. He had always been one to show respect, even more so to older people, and respect was especially important tonight. Just for good measure, he smiled.
“I’m guessing you’re Winona’s parents. Rina and Haruki Kimura, if I remember correctly.”
Rina nodded. What kind of nod was it? Approval? Disappointment?
“And I’m guessing you’re her partner.” Her icy voice said enough: she was disappointed.
“That would also be correct. Is she here yet?”
“She’s on the balcony.” Haruki’s voice was more like a quiet brook: calm and pleasant. “She’s excited to see you tonight.”
”We’ll see if that excitement is warranted,” Rina muttered. "She's never brought anyone home.”
Wallace nodded, doing his best to hide his anxiety, and stepped into the house. The living room was a mix of woods of different shades of warm brown. Stepping inside was like eating a plate of freshly baked baklava… before having to walk a mile to purge it in a dark alley.
Winona stood on the balcony with her Altaria. She was wearing a long sleeved, sky blue dress, and her hair was tied back in a bun. Wallace could feel his face burning from blushing. She was always pretty, but tonight she was absolutely gorgeous. Gosh, he wanted to take her in his arms and kiss her and—
“Hello, Wallace,” Winona said.
Damn it. Wallace had gotten caught up in fawning over Winona.
“Uh… hello, Winona darling.”
He had started taking up the habit of calling Winona terms of endearment, like the romantic leads of the novels he read. “Darling” was the simplest one he used, by a long shot.
He caught a glimpse of Rina, who was watching them like a lurking Jellicent.
“Don’t worry about my mom,” Winona whispered, kissing Wallace’s cheek. “She’ll trust you eventually. Maybe.” She looked over at her mother. “Okaasan, please don’t look at Wallace like that.”
“You two better not… get carried away.”
Winona rolled her eyes. “We don’t, and we won’t.”
“Is anyone else here?” Wallace whispered to Winona.
“Bugsy and Anabel. They're playing with dolls in their room."
The doorbell rang, and Winona sighed. “And here comes Theresa. She just happens to be visiting, and she insisted that she come to dinner tonight.” Sarcasm was palpable in her voice.
“Any suggestions on how to deal with her?”
“Just smile and nod. For what it's worth, she hates me too. And Bugsy. And Anabel. And my dad."
Smiling and nodding. I’m good at that, Wallace thought.
Winona walked over to the front door and opened it. A young girl with light blue hair stood at the door. She was wearing a white dress straightened to perfection. Her expression went from stoicism to shock when she saw Wallace.
“Wallace?” she said. “Gym Leader Wallace? You and… Winona are a thing?”
“Who might you be?” Wallace asked.
“Kahili. I’m Winona’s niece.”
Wallace smiled. “Well, that’s wonderful to hear"—he bowed to her—"and it's wonderful to meet—"
A woman stopped behind Kahili, making the girl’s smile fall. The woman had short hair that was the same color as Kahili’s, and she also seemed shocked by Wallace, though it didn’t seem to be a positive kind of shock.
“Oh,” she chuckled, her smile obviously fake and her voice loud and abrasive. Wallace didn't know what to compare it to—probably a hangover headache or a migraine. “So she is dating you. I thought it was just a rumor.”
“Are you Theresa?” Wallace asked. “I don’t think we’ve met.” He bowed before extending his arm toward her. “But you seem to know of me already.”
“Who the hell is this delinquent?” A man yelled in a deep, fiery voice as he stopped next to Theresa and saw Wallace. He had dark purple hair that was halfway grayed, and he was sharply dressed. He was staring at Wallace with a much more obviously disdainful look.
Did Wallace really look that bad? Shoot, he remembered to put concealer on the dark circles under his eyes, right? His clothes were braggy enough to hide how thin his arms were, right? Was it the bloodshot eyes?! The cheekbones?! The—
“Are you too drugged to speak or something?”
The man’s voice snapped Wallace out of his spiral, even the accusations were…
“Wallace.” He smiled and did a pose with his hands as if to say ta da. “Sootopolis City Gym Leader, and Winona’s boyfriend. Or partner. Or significant other. Call me whatever you wish. I have no preference.”
“Richard, Theresa’s husband,” the man said as he reluctantly shook Wallace’s hand, forcing a smile when he realized that he was talking to his sister-in-law’s boyfriend. “I own the Hano Grand Resort.”
Wallace closed his, pretending to be lost in thought, but really he was just trying to avoid eye contact with Richard. “Ah, I’ve heard of that place. Very elegant, from the stories I’ve been told.”
Wallace could tell this was going to be a long night.
Someone grabbed his arm. It was Rina.
“One more thing, young man: we have a rite of passage here in Fortree City.”
"A... rite of passage?"
"I can't have my daughter marrying someone who can't even protect her."
"I'm sure Winona is very capable of protecting herself."
Rina didn't seem to be amused by that playful quip. "All right then. I can't have my daughter marrying someone who can't even defend himself."
-
Joan missed Kecleon—for the third time.
The two were battling on the city community center’s battlefield. With Theresa as referee and the rest of the family watching the battle, Wallace and Haruki called out attacks. Wallace had an advantage with Chrysosian commands, but he still couldn’t land a hit on the nimble, camouflaging Kecleon, who made hit after hit with his invisible tongue.
“I hope you’re a better husband than you are a Gym Leader!” Rina called.
I’m working on that, Wallace wanted to shout back, but that would be rude. Also, she had a point; he was a new Gym Leader, but that didn’t give him any excuse to be this… bad of a Gym Leader.
The others were sitting far away from Wallace, but he could still feel their judgement stabbing into him like a thousand little knives. Especially Rina's. Sure, she called out the occasional mean-spirited taunt at Haruki, but her stares towards Wallace felt worse somehow. Maybe it was the fact that Wallace wasn't Haruki, or maybe he was anticipating her to say something.
You can’t lose. You can’t lose. You can’t lose.
In the frenzy of his spinning thoughts, Wallace scanned the battlefield and the sky above it for some sort of way to attack Kecleon… or the red stripe it couldn’t change.
Wait…
“Joan, stóchefse to kókkino!”
With a dramatic loop in the air, the Swanna spun towards the red stripe and struck. The impact shocked Kecleon out of his camouflage. While he was still recovering, Joan shot a blast of scorching hot water. She shot attack after attack, and Kecleon never got a chance to bounce back.
Eventually, he fell. Swanna swooped into the air again before landing in front of her opponent.
“Kecleon is unable to battle," Theresa announced, sounding almost disappointed. "Wallace is the victor.”
Wallace and Joan gave a dramatic bow. He could hear clapping.
"Wow, Wallace!" Bugsy shouted. "That was so cool!"
Wallace looked up at Theresa to thank her for her hard—
She was rolling her eyes. “I thought you were going to put on a… performance during your battle, but you pleasantly surprised me with your clothes and skills. For a person of your kind, you did pretty well. Though I should tell you that your Sootopolis speak or whatever feels like cheating."
Wallace sighed. He was failing to impress his potential future in-laws, wasn’t he?
"Don't psychics give commands with telepathy?—"
"Shut up, Anabel," Theresa shot back.
Anabel looked back down at her feet. "Okay."
"According to the official rules and guidelines of Pokémon battling," Wallace stated calmly, "'All forms of communication—including but not limited to telepathy, foreign languages, and hand and body gestures—are permitted between trainer and Pokémon.'" He shot a playful smile at Anabel, who gave him a small smile back. "Are you interested in battles, Anabel?"
"Uh... yes."
Theresa rolled her eyes. "They all want to do battles. I don't have to. Anabel and Winona already completed battle tests, but Abbi still has to complete hers—"
"His," Bugsy corrected. "Or theirs. And my name is Bugsy."
Theresa sighed. "It’s hard to remember, sorry." She didn’t sound sorry.
"Battle tests?" Wallace asked.
"The kids have to battle their father before they can go on a journey," Theresa explained. Before walking back to her husband, she whispered, “Too bad their father is such a weak trainer.”
“Well, that’s not very nice. Haruki most, but he put up a very good—”
Theresa snapped her head towards Wallace and pointed a finger at him. “I wasn’t talking to you.”
Wallace held up his hands. “Okay then.”
Looking over his shoulder, Wallace saw Bugsy, whose eyes were wide and hands were shaking. Wallace put a hand on their shoulder.
“Hey, Bugsy.” Wallace forced a smile. “Theresa is full of shit.”
Bugsy stifled a laugh in his fist.
“You’re nonbinary too, aren’t you?” Bugsy asked.
“That I am.”
“That’s so cool! You know, when I first heard about it, I was like ‘Wow! There’s someone just like me who’s a strong Trainer just like I wanna be! That’s so cool!...”
Wallace smiled as Bugsy continued rambling. His heart fluttered with… something. He had never had anyone say such nice things about… about him being queer. Usually people would call him confused or a freak or would out him in the press for all the world to see—
No. This was a nice moment, and Bugsy was a nice kid. Nothing else could change that.
-
Wallace sat in between Winona and Theresa at the dinner table. He hated sitting in between two people at a table. Most of all, he hated eating in front of others. But he was a performer. He could put up a smile for however long dinner lasted. He could put off the panic attack for later.
It helped that Haruki was a nice enough person. He talked about how proud he was of his daughter for being such a strong Trainer, for gaining recognition beyond Fortree City and Hoenn, for getting into Rustboro University.
“She’s going to do something great someday,” he said. “Maybe she’ll become a professor. Or the Champion. Or both."
Winona hid her face in her hands, though Wallace could still see her face turning reddish-pink.
”Dad, stop it,” Winona mumbled. “You’re embarrassing me.”
”Come on, Winona. Can’t a father be proud of his daughter?”
"But do you have to brag in front of my boyfriend?"
"Well, he should know just how wonderful his future wife is."
Winona smiled. It was a beautiful smile. Wallace wanted to kiss her—
"Yeah, and he better know that she won't take a half-assed husband," Rina muttered. “He better know that he can’t ditch her when he gets her pregnant, and if he gets her pregnant before—“
"Mom please," Winona sighed. "Can we not get into that right now?"
"Young lady, we are going to get into that."
Rina then went on a tirade about how premarital sex was terrible and awful and all that. Wallace had heard the lecture many times from his grandmother, though Rina didn't use religious justification. From what Wallace knew of Winona's family, they were spiritual but didn't practice any kind of organized religion like his family did. Winona was accepting of her and Wallace’s religious differences... he just had to hope that her parents were.
There was a bottle of wine on the table—some fancy port wine that Theresa and Richard had brought to flaunt to the others. Unsurprisingly, they were the only ones drinking it. Wallace wanted to have some of it, but that would most likely lead to him drinking the whole bottle and passing out from alcohol poisoning. He desperately needed to numb his anxiety and the growing nausea that came with it, but he also knew that getting drunk in front of his girlfriend's parents wouldn't look good, and he needed to be perfect. Besides, Winona didn't like alcohol, and she probably didn't like drunkard significant others.
Why did he have to lie to her?
Wallace felt a slithering hand on his leg, completely unlike the graceful hands of Winona. He looked up at Theresa, who frowned when he expressed discomfort.
“Oh honey,” Theresa whispered, too quiet for anyone to hear, “don’t worry, I like my men a little exotic… Oh right, I just remembered that your gender is a fish.”
“The term is ‘genderqueer male’,” Wallace half joked, half explained, “and I don’t mind being called a man… but I’m not really eager right now, especially not for you.”
“I thought you were eager for everyone.”
“That’s not how pansexuality works. Now would you please remove your hand from my leg before Winona’s parents find out? Do you want to get convicted of adultery?”
“You should be honored that I’m giving you such high praise. Just shut up and be happy that you’re pretty for your kind… and your age.”
Theresa squeezed Wallace’s leg. He wanted to be scared and disgusted, but he had heard worse from people older than Theresa... How old was Theresa, anyway?
“Theresa. Cut it out.”
Winona was pulling Theresa's arm away from Wallace.
"If you hit on him one more time, I'm telling your husband."
Theresa shook her arm out of Winona's grip. "Fine. Oh Richard? How's the hotel doing?"
Winona groaned. "Theresa, please."
"It's doing well," Richard drawled. "Business is booming this season."
Theresa shot a teasing smirk at Winona, who looked ready to murder Theresa. "And how much have you made—"
"Kahili are you interested in Water types?"
Everyone stared at Wallace. He prayed to the Mediator of the Sky for good communication skills.
"I am, but I prefer Flying types."
"Do you want to learn some pointers?"
"Oh joy," Theresa mumbled, "poor man's sport."
"I do!" Kahili said. "I have this friend..."
-
Food came. It wasn’t bad food; it smelled really, really good: rice, kimchi, soup, edamame, soba in a broth that smelled wonderful… such wonderful, savory smells…
It was only then that Wallace realized how hungry he was; he hadn’t eaten lunch, and breakfast had been a meager half slice of toast. For the past week, Wallace had allowed himself to only eat toast for breakfast, rice for lunch, and kale and bread for dinner, plus more vitamin supplements than he wanted to admit. He needed to put something else in his stomach.
But eating around other people wasn’t just something Wallace hated. It terrified him. It made his heart race. It made his legs weak. It made him feel like he was going to pass out.
"Are you okay?" Winona whispered.
"Of course I am," Wallace whispered back.
"Do you want to trade seats or anything?"
"I want to leave.” He paused for a second. “I'm kidding. I'm fine."
"What are you whispering about?" Rina demanded.
"I was just asking Wallace if he needed any..."
"He better not need contraception yet."
"MOM!” Winona shouted as she slammed a fist on the table. “I was asking about aspirin."
Theresa and Richard snickered. Winona looked ready to slap Theresa, but Haruki's stare stopped the two’s mockery before she could.
"Rina," Haruki said, "even you have to admit that this is too much. Why don't you trust our little Nagi bird?"
"Nagi's a wonderful young lady,” Rina said, “but just because she’s a strong Trainer, doesn’t mean I trust the kind of people she brings home. She could be bringing home drug addicts or playboys or something worse."
"What's worse than drug addicts and playboys?" Wallace joked. “Drug addict playboys?”
It was a bad joke. Nobody laughed.
"I suppose if you were a drug addict and a playboy," Rina said bluntly.
No, Wallace wasn't a drug addict. Sure, he did drugs, but it wasn't for an addiction; it was so he could function and so he could suppress bad emotions like sadness. Maybe he was a playboy; he had a lot of wild sex with Winona.
“Okaaaaaaaasan, I’ve never brought anyone home,” Winona sighed. “I’ve never had a boyfriend. Or a girlfriend. Or anyone like that. you've never let me."
“All the more reason to be suspicious. And all the more reason I should have chosen a partner for you if you’re going to be bringing home women or whatever else kids these days are into.”
“Rina,” Haruki demanded calmly, “I refuse to let our home breed such hostility—”
Rina turned to Wallace. “You’re Nagi's coworker. Is that right?”
“Yes.” Wallace had to hide his racing anxiety. He had to be perfect in front of Winona’s family. “Winona is the most de-devoted, hardworking, good natured, calm…”
Winona gently elbowed Wallace’s arm. He couldn’t help but smile, even in the tense atmosphere, and he let his breathing relax a bit.
“…caring Gym Leader I know.”
Rina stared at him. ”I can’t have my daughter marry someone who’s skin and bones. She needs someone who can support her, protect her, and care for her, and skinny boys like you aren’t good at that.”
Wallace was very close to screaming. If he took a shot every time someone said "you need a good meal" or "you're going to blow away in the wind" or "you look like an anorexic middle school girl" or some other variation of that, he would get... very drunk, maybe blackout drunk, maybe dead drunk.
”You remind me of my grandmother," Wallace said.
That didn’t get any kind of smile from Rina. ”In that case, tell your grandmother that she’s a smart woman. And eat.”
Wallace knew that he would look like a weirdo if he didn’t eat dinner. Besides, he figured, he could always purge later.
Against the wishes of his thoughts, he forced himself to take a small bite of the soba noodles. It smelled good and it tasted good, bringing a feeling of comfort to—
Restrain yourself, you bitch. Don't eat too much.
That feeling snapped away, and Wallace once again noticed all of the people around him, eating around him watching him eat.
“And you two go to the same college?” Rina still hadn’t smiled yet.
“Yes," Wallace said. "Rustboro University. We share a few classes."
“Nagi's studying the sciences—"
"Isn't that wonderful?" Haruki interrupted, beaming with joy. "She's just like her father. I'm so proud of my little Nagi bird. All of my kids really—"
"What do you study?” Rina grumbled. Haruki’s bright expression went away.
“Many things: Sootopolitan, Hoennese, and world literature; art and music; ancient history; poetry…”
From the look on Rina’s face, those subjects didn’t seem like the things she wanted to see on the resume of her daughter’s future spouse.
You should have lied and said you were thinking of going to law school or medical school, Wallace thought. Scratch that. You wouldn't survive a day in medical school. You can't even treat paper cuts without fainting.
“My friend is a history professor at Rustboro University,” Haruki said. “If you see Professor Fujikawa, tell him I said hi.”
“I’ll be sure to do so.” Wallace smiled—genuinely this time.
“What’s your major?” Rina asked. “Something related to science like Nagi?"
“I’m not sure at the moment.”
Wallace stared at Rina’s frown, hoping that she would smile or crack a joke or something. Instead, she asked, “What do you do for a living?”
Scratch law school, too. Get a job at Devon where that sexy Champion works. I bet that looks really impressive to mothers. And really sexy to significant others.
“He’s one of those Contest pretty boys.”
Wallace’s head snapped towards Theresa. She was staring at him, as if she was expecting him to be insulted. From the way she was barely able to hold her glass, she was obviously drunk.
“Theresa’s… Theresa is correct. I’m a Coordinator.”
“Has Winona ever been to one of your Contests?” Theresa leaned closer to Wallace. The strong smell of alcohol almost made him gag.
“We… We just met. She ha-ha-hasn’t been able to come to one of my Contests, though we… we do plan on fixing that—”
“Are you embarrassed by your work?” A malicious smirk formed on Theresa’s face as she leaned closer towards Wallace. “Do you think Winona won’t approve of you flaunting around with that dumb snake of yours?”
"Theresa, please," Winona demanded as she pulled Theresa back.
“Or maybe you think you’re better than her. Maybe you are. I could see how you could think you’re better than Winona, though that’s not a very high bar.”
Wallace was getting more nervous and more angry by the minute, but he figured that those emotions were what Theresa wanted out of him, so he tried to remain calm.
“Theresa, Winona has been nothing but supportive of my career, both on the battlefield and on the stage. I like the way I dress and identify, and Winona, for what it’s worth, has set the bar up in the heavens. Your attempts to insult either me or her will offend the plates on this table before they offend either of us. And before you go beyond foul implication and speculation hurled at me and Winona, our intimate lives are none of your business.”
The whole room went dead silent. Wallace stole a glance of Winona—eyes wild with fear—and then Rina—eyes cold with judgement. In trying to gallantly avoid Theresa’s trap, he had unknowingly stepped right into it.
“‘Intimate lives’?” Rina’s voice was like a stormy ocean threatening to bring up a tidal wave.
Wallace's gaze fell to his lap. He felt his whole body shaking as he choked on nausea.
“Ms. Kimura, where’s the restroom?”
“You can leave when you’ve answered my question! What ‘intimate lives’ do you and Winona—“
Wallace gagged into his hand, feeling a rush of acid burning the back of his throat. He wished he had listened to the intrusive thoughts.
“Please.”
At this point, Wallace had given up on trying to smile and look perfect. All he wanted to do was not throw up in front of Winona’s family. That would be more than imperfect. That would be disastrous. The house was no longer safe; it was hell.
Haruki seemed to sense Wallace’s distress, as he pointed towards a door in the hallway. Wallace practically ran out of his chair.
-
Wallace hated vomiting. He hated almost everything about it: the burning, bitter taste; the foul, rotten smell; the wretched sight of it; the loss of dignity. The only thing he didn’t hate about it was the emotional catharsis. It was addicting.
Addicting when he was the one controlling it.
He couldn’t let himself vomit. He couldn't let himself vomit here. What would he even throw up? The few soba noodles he had barely managed to get down his throat? The toast from breakfast?
His knuckles were white from gripping the edge of the counter. His gaze was cast down on the basin of the sink. He heard the door open and close. Shit, why didn’t he lock the door?
Whoever had walked in was holding back his hair and resting their head against his back, which they were gently rubbing with their other hand.
“I don’t want to throw up,” Wallace gasped. “I don’t want to throw up. I don’t want to throw up.”
“It’s okay, Wallace,” Winona whispered. “If you’re not feeling well, then just let yourself get it up.”
“I want to go home, Winona.”
"Wallace, I can't let you go home by yourself, especially like this."
"Can you take me home then?" Wallace smiled. "Can you be my knight in shining armor?"
Winona chuckled softly and kissed Wallace’s cheek.
Haruki and Theresa were arguing in the kitchen, with the former speaking in a calm, quiet voice and the latter shouting.
"Don't worry about them," Winona reassured Wallace. “My dad will deal with her. Why don’t we go outside?”
With some reluctance, Wallace let Winona guide him out of the bathroom. He didn’t let himself look up from the floor. He could feel the stares of everyone just fine.
”Aurora,” Winona whispered to her Altaria, who was sitting peacefully in the corner, “come on.”
The three couldn’t make it to the front door before Rina stopped them.
“KIMURA NAGI!! Where are you going?!” Her eyes were cold, and her frown was bitter.
“We’re going for a walk around town,” Winona replied.
Rina raised a suspicious eyebrow. Wallace realized that she probably thought they were running off to have a quickie or something.
“I thought you were a good girl, Nagi,” Rina snarled. “I thought you were a good girl who did as you were told and only hung out with the right kinds of people. But then you became a trainer. Then you thought you could go around and do whatever you wanted.”
“Mom, Wallace is—”
“Do you want to end up like me, young lady?! Do you want to end up poor and destitute, carrying a child who will never know their father?! Do you want to end up worse than me?! Doing drugs or joining a gang?! Do you want—”
“Rina, please.”
Wallace looked up at who had just said that. Haruki was staring at Rina with a desperate look.
“Fine," Rina finally relented. “You can go. But if I find out you did anything—”
“And now you're letting her take that freak with her so it can fuck her?!” Theresa shrieked.
That "it" stung Wallace like a blade stabbing his chest. He had been called much worse before in the press and in person, and he had been called “it” several times in more conservative gossip magazines, but the hatred in Theresa's slurred voice was a much more corrosive poison, especially when Wallace realized that Bugsy was also in the room.
"Mom!" Kahili yelled. "What is your—"
"Stay out of this, young lady!" Richard ordered.
"Wallace is not an 'it'." Winona was glowing with rage. Wallace didn't have to see her to feel her. "Wallace is a 'he' or a 'they', and he has made that very clear in public appearances. If you’re going to be using language like that towards him, if you're going to harass him like this, you will never be welcome in our Gyms, our home, or our lives!"
"Fine!" Theresa yelled. "Go let that whore knock you up! When it leaves you on the streets of the Cardinal whorehouses, don't expect pity from me! I never pitied you anyway—"
Too much noise. Too much noise. Too much noise too much noise too much noise too much noise.
Wallace ran out of the house before the noise could get worse.
-
After confirming no one was on the ground below, Wallace forced two fingers down his throat to force up whatever was in his system. He wasn’t proud of it, and he prayed that Winona wouldn’t see him inducing it, but everything was just too much. The emotions were too much. The shouting was too much. The humiliation was too much. Everything was too much.
He stumbled back, but Winona caught him before he could fall off the bridge. She was breathing heavily, eyes wet with tears.
"Winona..."
Wallace wrapped his arms around her as she started sobbing. The two sat on the bridge in silence for a while. What were they supposed to even say? Nothing was better than something at this moment.
Oh well. At least Winona didn’t seem to know that Wallace had induced the vomiting himself.
"I'm sorry, Winona—"
"No. No. Don't blame yourself. It's my fault."
“I’m the one who mentioned our ‘intimate lives’.”
“I know, but I shouldn’t have—”
“Winona, Winona, don’t blame yourself for Theresa's cruelness and hypocrisy." Wallace stared into Winona's eyes with a gentle gaze. "Who cares about that wretched, foul, vile..."
Winona laughed a little through her tears. "You're really cute when you use that fancy language."
"I am? Even after making a fool of myself in front of your family and throwing up over the side of the bridge in front of all of your tree and bird friends?"
"You're adorable."
Wallace smirked. "Well, in that case, tell Theresa that I much prefer the term 'escort'."
Some of the newly found levity in Winona's eyes faded. “But don't blame yourself either. You didn't do anything wrong. And when... when she was touching you—“
“I’ve had similar experiences with my city and the region’s socialites. I’m… I’m not called ‘Sootopolis’s Boy Toy’ for nothing.”
He laughed, but Winona didn’t. More than anything, she seemed disturbed. Was it… Was it not normal for rich, old socialites to bother younger people with sexual remarks?
"Well, she's a step sister, right?" Wallace added. "You can just tell her to stay out of your family's—"
"I can't."
"Why not?"
"I can't, Wallace. She’s my mom’s sister.”
“Well, you’re mom isn’t exactly what I’d call the greatest of people.”
“I can’t leave my mom either! She’s my mom!”
“How about you… get a new mom?”
Winona smiled, forcing back a laugh before she had to give up and fall into Wallace’s arms again in hysterical laughter.
"There's that smile I know and love." Wallace would have kissed Winona then, but... well...
“Are you… Are you okay now?” Winona asked.
“I think I still need some fresh air.” He staggered back to his feet and took Winona’s hand. “I hear Fortree City is known for its fresh air… and having the most beautiful Gym Leader ever.”
Winona hugged Wallace again.
"Winona... can I call you 'Nagi', or is that reserved for your parents? Sounds like your Hinodego name. Is it?"
"Of course you can call me that, Wallace. And yes. It is."
"Well, it's a beautiful one."
"Nageia nagi is a very important plant in Fortree City. It's a very important plant to us, and it... it symbolizes our resilience."
"It's a fitting name for you."
Wallace kissed Winona's cheek.
"What about you?" Winona asked.
"Mikouri. In old Sootopolitan, it was pronounced 'Mikrodi', but over time, as Hinodego began to influence the Sootopolitan Greek dialect, it became 'Mikouri'. It's similar to the Hinodego word for the Sparganium erectum ... heh."
"What does 'Mikrodi' mean?"
Wallace didn't know if he wanted to laugh or blush from embarrassment. "Well, that's a story for another time."
καμάρι μου (Kamari mou) - Greek, "my pride"; the equivalent of “my pride and joy”
στόχεφσε το κόκκινο (stóchefse to kókkino) - Greek, "aim for the red"
お母さん (okaasan) - Japanese, "mother"
στόχεφσε το κόκκινο (stóchefse to kókkino) - Greek, "aim for the red"
お母さん (okaasan) - Japanese, "mother"
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