Not absolutely kind and soft Paul, but maybe soft spoken Paul with a slight sarcastic streak .
"You hate me!" Ash cried as he wiped at his tears. Pikachu sat on his head wagging his tail menacingly.Â
"I didn't say that." Paul tried.Â
"Tch, you might as well have."Â
"Dawn, please. I can handle this on my own."Â
Dawn shot him a look. "If you say so." She waved her hand as she walked away.Â
"Y-you said." Ash hiccuped.Â
"I know what I said." Paul cut him off gruffly. He winced.Â
Ash took a breath, preparing another wail, but Paul was faster.Â
"Ugh, why are you like this?" He frowned, covering Ash's mouth with a hand.Â
Ash was effectively cut off, blinking when no sound came out.Â
"Are you done?" Paul asked.Â
Ash shook his head, a few stray tears leaving his eyes.Â
"Can you at least listen?" Paul sighed.Â
Ash nodded, watery eyes wide and curious. Pikachu moved to Ash's shoulder and voiced a command as if to say continue.Â
Paul slowly removed his hand from Ash's mouth. Ash opened his mouth to say something, but Paul caught him.Â
"Ah, you said you'd listen."Â
Ash's mouth clamped shut and he nodded once.Â
"Okay, I don't hate you for one. Two, I think it'd be incredibly hard to hate someone you actually like, alot."Â
Ash's eyes glittered. "Really?"Â
Pikachu looked aghast. Was Ash really falling for this?Â
 "Yes, really. You pathetic crybaby." He pushed the visor of his cap down.Â
"In the most endearing way possible." Paul quickly amended to stop the oncoming waterworks.Â
