"sinnoh's pretty cool, but i've always wanted to try a casteliacone." noah's breath puffs out from his lips, skin pink and raw from the sheer chill of shoal cave. "i think we've already trained enough for the cold in that old outpost, y'know."

a cheeky grin flashes across noah's face. a wink sparkles in its corner like the icicles that capture the occasional beam of light. but the act is disturbed quickly with a shiver.

"unless we need a reminder."

kyle lopez

"don't play dumb, dummy."

noah's play comes at a cost. he slips and slides across the cave's ice; the sneakers he wears are his lesser favorites with soles worn down flat. on second thought, he realizes he should have prepared better.

he pulls out a small bag and shakes it. inside, the carrot seeds scatter around like popcorn kernels ready to explode.

"yep. do you think these are gonna grow into like, super healthy carrots? i could fix you up some good smoothies, man." he pats the other's chest like a doting caretaker. "make you big and strong."

kyle lopez

"you're just picky, bro."

as noah begins to throw the promise of harvest across the icy earth, his boyfriend's skepticism causes his hand to still. noah stops. his breath puffs out in a white cloud before he falls to a squat.

"aw shit, i forgot about that." he begins to gather the seeds from the ground, plucking them with his cold fingertips. noah cranes his head back with a pout. his broad back is like a blastoise's shell hunched over in regret. "okay, well, help me pick up my brain from the ground."

kyle lopez

"that's why we're the peeeerfect match," noah says, plucking the last of the seeds, "and if you want salad, no dressing." the gym leader shakes his head, dark hair scattering cold across his face.

he takes the empty bag to slide the seeds in from his palm. noah pinches the bag open so that kyle can do the same. he thanks him, a cold fog of air brushing his hands.

noah takes a moment before frowning, "are my smoothies really that bad? i thought you liked them."

kyle lopez

"bacon bits are shared!"

kyle's ambiguity is not lost on noah; they were the best and the only vegetable smoothies he's presumably ever had. and yet, noah grins all smug like he won a local talent show's trophy, which makes his cheek a prime target for a pinch. the kiss comes quick. a small blossom of warmth touches their lips before the cold air rushes in from the retreat.

"wanna lead the way?"" noah hears the rhythmic pulse of water from afar. he cycles behind kyle without waiting for an answer. "tide's coming in earlier than i thought. we should get a move on, man."

noah vaults quick, hands bracing the other's shoulders, he kisses his partner on the nape of his neck as if striking a match. behind him, his bag of supplies jostles around.

"hurry or else we'll be trapped here for awhile."

kyle lopez

he lets his guard down around kyle. that's all. like a cracked window drinking rain, there is renewal in the vulnerability. a grand revival in kantonian ashes.

regret is easy to bite into. noah takes the bait quick, lets the hook pierce him willingly.

"yeah," noah says, hands tight on the straps of his backpack, "sounds good, right?"

deeper in this frigid pit, noah prods with the crest of his imagination.

kyle lopez

noah's teeth chatter slightly. whether it is due to excitement or the cold, one can not tell. cold fingers grab at his carrot seed bag. it pops open and they shake against the packet's corners.

noah plucks several seeds. scatters them across cold soil that is loosened by swift kicks of his shoes. after, noah rejoins kyle. he rubs the other's arms for warmth, the friction enough to stave off the chill temporarily. slowed by the cold, noah leans into the other, voice a warm note accented by white clouds.

"how'd you know about this place, by the way?"

kyle lopez