Morty observed Falknerās strained movements silently. It hurt him to see he normally high-spirited bird specialist in such pain. And it even hurt him more to think that his friend had been suffering for so long without him taking notice. He was beginning to feel useless from his own failures again. His mind had wandered to a darker place.
He reflexively shifted his body so that his back was up against the seat. He didnāt intend to insult Falkner by moving away from him. In fact, he felt responsible for Falknerās pain. Ghost Pokemon carried a significantly lower body temperature than humans, and since Morty was always in close proximity to ghosts, he felt that his own body temperature had also dropped to adapt to his surroundings. Of course, there was no way a humanās body temperature could drop so low to the point that another person would feel cold from being near them. But regardless, Morty didnāt want to be a hindrance to Falkner, and he was thinking irrationally.
It was thanks to the sensation of his scarf slipping off his neck that snapped him out of his clouded thoughts. He instinctively grabbed at it and looked down to ensure it wouldnāt fall off. And then he saw it: a faint purple hand that faded away before he got a good look at it. Not that he needed to for it could only have belonged to one ghost.
He now realized what he could do for Falkner. Morty removed the precious scarf that his grandmother made for him and gently wrapped it around the otherās neck. He felt naked when he wasnāt wearing his scarf, but he didnāt mind it in this case. Thanks to this simple action, he was also able to find the right words to say.
āTry not to exert yourself. I will make you some hot tea.ā Morty stood up and offered the other a genuine smile before turning in the direction of the kitchen.
Blinking a bit in surprise to Mortyās gesture of good will, Falkner found some energy left to smile a bit more appropriately back unlike his attempt a few moments ago. As even he was aware that this scarf was very dear to the ghost-type enthusiast, and to feel it around his neck felt like a huge honor.
āMmm will doā¦ā the bluette mumbled with a calmer sigh while getting more comfortable on the couch. When his friend walked out of the room however, Falkner just let himself fall over onto one side and take up the whole thing instead.
One could say that Falkner resembled a sick bird as he tucked his head closer to his shoulders to keep warm, burrowing his face into the cloth more. āIt even smells like himā¦ā the bird nerd remarked before opening his eyes slightly at what he just thought. āWas that weird?Ā
Maybe so, but still it felt reassuring. Even if now he was unable to let his eyes close again as he considered something else.Ā
This could finally be the time to tell Morty the truth about what actually happened, and why he went back to the Pokemon League in the first place. To tell somebody, at least. Though it was still incredible how much of a lie Falkner was able to fabricate when returning to his co-workers in the Indigo.Ā
He remembered those words wellā¦Ā
āAh, I got into a minor scrape when on the line of duty with my car. Nothinā major. But it made me think that puttinā my life at risk like that might not be route for me after all.ā
The bluette frowned beneath the scarf while recalling the dismissive wave of a hand and unaffected grin he expressed to his peers as he told that story. From where in that moment, the bird enthusiast discovered he had a natural talent for concealing any personal distress from others.Ā
