"are you into that?" noah says without missing a beat. he almost overlaps with kyle's snickering as the ruthless battering of fists rings from hardened helm.

his machamp's eyes glow golden. its large mitts lunge for the type:null, hoping to SEISMIC TOSS it toward the kommo-o that had struck its beaked face.

"huh? why not, man?" noah snickers- but his expression hardens as he queues another command: "CHI-STRIKE on wolt! take him down!"

noah wipes his brow and tugs on his collar to fan himself.

"you can do my paperwork for me."

kyle lopez

noah's machamp catches the fainted type:null with two of its arms. the other two raise themselves with hands at the ready like a soccer goalie. huffing, the pokemon's mega forme begins to revert; a conscious choice on noah's part. one that is practiced and considered for its health.

the type:null is set to the side and out of harm's way. resetting, the machamp claps a fist into an open palm. red eyes never shift away from the kommo-o, and like planets they follow the dragon as the machamp circles it.

"ugh, isn't that the worst, man?" noah breathes out pen ink and paperclips. "but it's important, i guess." he squirms against kyle a little, still focused on the battle despite the lowering of his defenses. it's difficult to resist intimacy so close, so tangible. noah sighs, the breath a flutter because of his half-smile. "o-okay! sure. you'll be my secretary for the day, and i'll owe you one— DYNAMIC PUNCH!"

the machamp steps forth, foot slamming on the canvas. it raises two of its fists, one left, one right, before throwing an entirely diffent fist toward the kommo-o.

kyle lopez

the fist lands like a meteor. against the kommo-o's PROTECT, the bluish grey knuckles pale as if burning upon attempted entry. the machamp supplies further force. with its other arms, a barrage of fists strike against the barrier so that it would fall.

metal scales cry out with their clamor as the dragon swings its tail. the canvas shakes as noah's pokemon collides on its back. it arches its back, a pained cry leaving its throat— but not before the hard edge of its hand swings toward the dragon's own neck (THROAT CHOP). afterward, it would attempt to seize that very throat with a choke.

"h-hey, you can't just say joke around like that in an official challenge, man." noah says. as his machamp struggles, noah makes an attack of his own. in a moment of progress, now knowing where to aim, the gym leader's index and thumb lunges for kyle's nipple and pinches: "you! gotta! focus!"

kyle lopez

the machamp's arms thicken. around the kommo-o's neck, the stone-coloured hands pale at their joints. although the other's arms are seized, the last free hand attempts to deflect the POISON JABS from its body. a toxic test of endurance— but one the machamp is doomed to fail.

the grip weakens and the hand falls from the dragon's throat. it hits the canvas ring with a cold thud.

noah's smile persists. pleased with the reaction he had elicited from his opponent, the defeat comes softly. of course, kyle's pokemon had demonstrated proficiency with close-quarters combat— and after two red flashes of light, noah turns to kyle with a timid scratching of his neck.

"that was pretty close, right?" noah says. "so, uh! wow, what a knockout!" he continues, obviously having rehearsed the line. "you've got me. this knockout badge is yours."

from his shorts, he pulls out the emblem of kyle's victory. it rests in his open palm as he extends it to him. maybe one day, noah will echo this moment— but on one knee.

kyle lopez

noah exhales the breath he had been holding. although it comes at the expense of a loss, noah's personal pride is brushed to the side for kyle's smile. with his hands held, noah keeps his gaze on his boyfriend, while the other's eyes linger elsewhere.

"yo-" he's wrestled away from the scene of battle, his sneakers almost stumbling after the other. the gym leader recognizes where they are going, and of the pulse of urgency kyle exudes.

"office might be a bit cramped." noah mutters pink, and his hand squeezes the other's. "lots of paper everywhere. still haven't really cleaned up the old things."

as they reach the office, they see the newly furnished door plate featuring noah's name. the door's blinds rattle when it's opened.

kyle lopez

noah needs better passwords. despite the office being his own, there's an element of awkwardness to his presence. he is no man of the cubicle, no man of word documents and file folders, and yet, here he is.

but it is kyle's own clumsy charm that levels the playing field. as the camera dips its head, noah grows blossoms on his cheeks. his hand reaches for the blind's cord- and it takes awhile. noah's eyes remain on kyle. they match with kyle's own as his fingers finally find the cord to close the blinds in full.

"that battle really riled me up, man." noah admits. he moves in quick, grabbing the other's forearm. "i can't win against you in pokemon battles," he pulls kyle close: the collision forced but inevitable, "but i think i have the upper hand here."

noah pushes kyle toward the wall closest to the desk, arms wrapped around the other's back. he presses his lips against the elite four's as his back hits the wall. the kiss is long.

"you're still doing my paperwork for me." noah's lips pull away into a satisfied shape. behind him, the desk remains frustratingly cluttered- but not for long.

kyle lopez