Four years after her father's death and moving away from Kanto to the islands of Alola, Moon is beginning to feel like her life is finally taking a turn for the better.
She's got a matchmaking job she's good at, a supportive friend, and the house where she spent her early childhood.
Everything is looking great!... Except for the continuously growing debt of her late father's house, and the fact that Gladion, her direct supervisor, seems to be holding a personal grudge against her.
Gladion Aether, the son of the President of a renowned matchmaking company —and the obvious choice to take over the presidency— has two very well-defined goals in life: He'll find a way to prove himself to his mother, and he'll make Moon's life a living hell.
He'd rather die than work with the female matchmaker for a day longer... Or so he thinks.
When the tables are turned and his position as Lusamine's heir is suddenly at risk, he'll have to choose between two almost equally bad alternatives:
He can either let his sister sit at his mother's chair instead of him, or collaborate with his archnemesis to fulfill the dream he's built his life around.
So much for Moon's life taking a turn for the better.
46. "What if I told you I’ve been in love with you since we were kids?", requested by @takoyakicorn
2,904 words, Lonashipping
Figured since I took so long I may as well make it as worth it as possible 8′D
Prompt List from waaaaaay long ago lmao
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
Moon loves the unpredictability of Alola.
It comes about from living so close with nature, with the jungles and seas teeming with Pokemon. The Tapu's blessings flit in and out between every boulder, every tree. No day is exactly the same. And with each one, new challenges and new friendships are just waiting to be discovered.
Being the Champion, she's the one that the people call on for dealing with tough and unexpected problems. It's a role she's grown into since she was twelve. Adults would turn to her for guidance after she proved herself capable, time and time again. And now she looks forward to every moment of it- knowing full well that every day, something new will surprise her, catch her breath, steal her heart away. Be it the sun, the moon, the stars, or even something beyond.
But in between all the turmoil, all the chaos, there are a few things that Moon likes because they never change. Predictable, solid; an anchor in the swirling excitement that fills her days.
Gladion is one of those things.
Sure, at first he stuck out like one of the many many unpredictable things of Alola. Even more so, with his black clothes and dour attitude in the midst of the cheerful colours and Alola's sunny disposition. But ten years on, Moon knows Gladion- how he's loyal to a fault, how he cares deeply for the people and Pokemon around him. How sweet he can be when he offers her a malasada, or how his rare, gentle smiles always sets her heart aflutter.
How he will always command Silvally to land a super effective hit on Decidueye when he's desperate.
"Multi-Attack!"
Silvally caws, leaping into the air. Gladion's trained it to be faster, stronger- and now its movements are too swift for the eye to follow. Decidueye just can't keep up, and there's a victorious glow of the Fire Memory in Silvally's eyes. The flames sear around its claws as it strikes. But Moon sees the attack coming a mile away.
"Pivot! Synthesis!"
Decidueye spreads its wings, shimmering in the light of the setting sun. It's ungainly on its feet, but it turns just enough to avoid the brunt of Silvally's attack, the flames just barely scorching its cloak. Then it's wrapped in a glow of brilliant green, and when the light fades-
"Not a scratch, huh." Gladion winces. He's long ago outgrown gripping his hand every time he battles, but his fingers still twitch at the failure of his plan. His green eyes betray a hardening frustration. "Silvally, back up-"
"Don't let him! Spirit Shackle!"
Decidueye lets out a raucous cry as it takes to the air. Energy gathers at the tip of its bow, and it fires. Silvally is fast, but it can't outrun the arrow.
"Silvally!"
The chimera braces, its claws digging into the ground. As the dust clears, its eyes still remain fixated on Decidueye, and Moon wonders if her estimations are off. Then, it sways, and with a final trill, Silvally falls to the ground.
When a battle ends, there's a moment when time hangs in the air. When Moon can see across the field and feel her heart pounding with the exhilaration, the thrill of battle. The triumph of the moment seeps into her skin and her soul. Then the dust settles, and her breath catches in her throat.
The sight's familiar- the frustration of defeat in Gladion's eyes across the field, the momentary twitch of his fingers. It's followed by his shoulders relaxing and his gentle exhale, skittering across the translucent floor. Then, he lifts his chin, meets her gaze with his own. His green eyes are filled with a warm respect, a small smile gracing his features.
In that moment, Moon's stomach always flutters- silhouetted by the fading light of the sun, Gladion glows calm and warm despite his sharp features and black clothes. It always steals her breath, and she stays still, trying not to yell out the feelings that have remained in her heart for all these years. Instead, she schools her own posture. He recalls his Pokemon and steps forward to her with an open hand.
Ten years on, she's never told him how he always makes her feel like this. How she always treasures the quiet, stolen moments she has of him. After all this time, it'd just make things awkward between them, and as much as she likes unpredictability, she still likes the solidity of Gladion's presence, his touch.
She takes his hand. The handshake is firm, steady. Expected. His grip is neither tight nor loose. Warm, his callused palm is a welcome sensation against her own.
"Still have dirty tricks up your sleeves, I see." His words are sharp, but they're mellowed by the easy tone of voice, the familiar smile.
Moon arches an eyebrow, feels the usual, teasing smile pull at her cheeks. "You're too predictable."
Gladion lets out a soft huff. His hand drops away, and Moon laughs as he turns away.
And like every other time before, he glances at her through his bangs, his fingers twitching slightly before he holds a hand out to her again.
"Malasada?"
Moon chuckles. She takes a moment to still the butterflies in her stomach, and smiles as she threads her fingers between his own.
"Always."
_ _ _ _ _ _
Their favourite shop is at Melemele island's port, a stone's throw away from Moon's home and the ferry back to Aether. They buy their favourites- Moon's, a spicy Malasada, and Gladion's, a sour one. Then they sit at the docks, watching as the ships anchor and rest. The remaining Wingulls fly back towards land, and the stars begin flicker up overhead.
Today, they make it just in time to catch the moonrise. Her namesake slowly crests above the waves. The glowing half-orb of luminous blue casts a silvery light upon the waves. Surrounded by the dusting light of the stars across the purple sky, it's beautiful.
She realizes she's staring when Gladion catches her eye, a faint smile gracing his cheeks.
"What?"
"Nothing." He turns away and takes a bite into his malasada. "Some things never change. You always stare at the moon as if it's Arceus's greatest gift to mankind. Or Tapu Lele's, depending on the legend."
"Careful, that's sacrilege." Moon lifts an eyebrow. "Wouldn't want the Tapus to hear you calling their feats as mere 'legend'."
"Duly noted." Gladion keeps his face stern. "After all, wouldn't want you reporting my bad behaviour back to Tapu Koko."
Moon laughs, and that is enough to crack his feigned veneer, the ghost of a gentle smile shining through.
She loves that look on his face. The way he always looks warm and exposed and soft around her. It's almost enough to keep her entranced, to let her drown into the depthless pool of his beautiful green eyes.
She clears her throat, takes another bite of her malasada. Turns her attention back to the sky.
"It's just... back in Kanto, the city lights would have drowned out the stars and the moon." She giggles. "Here, it's so bright and beautiful. Growing up, I could never imagine it. No matter how many times I look at it, it always surprises me."
"Hmm." Gladion acknowledges her explanation with a thoughtful nod. Then, his expression changes back to a familiar smirk. "Unlike me?"
Moon pouts. "You make it sound like that's a bad thing."
Gladion laughs. It's a simple sound, but accompanied only by the soft crashing of the waves, it sounds beautiful. He smiles as he turns to her, leaning closer ever-so-slightly.
"Champion, you are the first person who has ever called me unsurprising."
Up close, his smile is warmer, his eyes brighter. Over time, it's easier to resist the urge to lean closer, and instead, Moon rolls her eyes. "That's because people expect a posh businessman when they're looking for the Aether president. Not someone just out of his teens who has a fondness for black hoodies."
"And the black hoodie doesn't surprise you?"
"Maybe it did, at first, but... it's been ten years, Gladion." Moon grins. "You wake up, work yourself silly. You go to Battle Royales on Wednesday specifically because that's when Royal Mask fights. And then you show up at the League every Friday at 5pm to battle. You're as predictable as the tide."
Gladion's eyes widen, and Moon wants to remember the look on his face- the mild parting of his lips, the small crinkle of his eyes. But too soon, Gladion huffs and turns away. He doesn't retort, instead settling back to his original position. But his shoulders are relaxed, his breath calm. He continues to eat his malasada in peace.
Moon chuckles and bites into her malasada as well. She's not one for silence. But sitting here, next to Gladion, with only the stars and the sea around them and a companionable quiet surrounding them... she doesn't really mind.
She looks forward to the nights like this, a routine part of her life and a man she's grown to love.
And yet sometimes she wonders what it'd be like to reach over, to tell him...
She cuts off that thought. Finishes chewing the last remains of her malasada. Tries to stifle the now-familiar pang of sadness that twinges in her chest.
"You done?"
Gladion scarcely waits two seconds after she dusts the remaining sugary powder off her fingers when he turns to her. He's watching her, waiting.
Moon chuckles. Routine dictates that she should go home and sleep, prepare for tomorrow. Dream of green eyes as she sleeps. "Guess this is goodnight, huh?" she asks as lightly as she can.
"No."
"Huh?"
Gladion gets up, and holds a hand out to her. She stares up at him, silhouetted by the night sky, at the hand so close that she can remember the warmth of his touch.
"How about we do something different for once?"
"I know what this is." Moon arches an eyebrow with a grin. He looks so confident, so eager to prove himself, that it makes her heart warm. "What do you have in mind?"
He smirks. "I'm told you like surprises."
Moon laughs. Without a single mote of hesitation, she takes his hand.
_ _ _ _ _ _
He leads her down the familiar paths of Melemele, away from Hau'oli and towards the wilderness they both love. The moonlight filters through the large palm leaves, and when she looks up, Moon can still see fragments of the night sky; the stars and the milky way. All around her, the trees are like a comforting blanket. It enshrouds them in a gentle darkness, scented with freshly fallen rain and barely-trodden soil. Gladion's hand holds hers throughout, the faint smile on his face guiding her on through the dark.
Eventually the familiar trail lights a spark of curiosity. This turn from Route 3, this scent in the air- Moon says nothing, doesn't voice her questions. Then Gladion guides her to the hilly overlook where the Melemele meadow stretches out in front of them.
Moon gasps.
She's been to the Melemele meadow at night before. The moonlight shines upon the yellow flowers. Now they're illuminated, almost glowing with a gentle blue. There's nobody else here this late at night, and the air is scented with sweet honey. A gentle, brisk breeze flutters through the sheltered field. But what truly steals her breath is the sight of the Cutiefly, dancing among the flowers, sparkling motes of light following their every movement. They form a trail of sparkles across the field, a web of light that Moon's never seen before.
Truly, something new that catches her by surprise.
"Figured we'd be just in time to catch the Cutiefly." Gladion watches her with a small, triumphant smirk.
"How'd you know they'd be here?" She can't keep the awe from her voice as she watches the Pokemon dance, their little chitters filling the air with a pleasant song.
"I'm President of Aether." He shrugs in response. "Learning about Pokemon behaviours is part of what helps our conservation efforts. And I learned a while back that the Cutiefly tend to be active during the half-moon. I hadn't seen it myself, but I figured you hadn't either, so..."
Even though his face is stern as usual, there's a faint colour on his cheeks, a warmth in his eyes. His hand grasps hers loosely, so easily, that Moon feels a swell of affection towards him.
She leans against him, giggles as the wind blows fairy dust around them. "Thanks, Gladion. It's a very nice surprise. Maybe you're not as predictable as I thought."
He huffs and turns away. The angle hides his eyes, but his fingers twitch against hers. He says nothing at the close contact, doesn't move away nor react.
"You're predictable too, you know."
He doesn't meet her eyes. His words, soft on a breath, sound... different. Reverent, even. Intimate. And even though she's used to his moods, his curtness, it's not a tone of voice she's familiar with.
A shudder runs down her spine. But instead of laughing, instead of pretending she doesn't love him, doesn't love how close he is right now... she threads her fingers into his hand. He doesn't pull away.
"You wouldn't hesitate to help anyone in need." Gladion smiles when he looks at her then. "You're always up early in the morning, because you're eager to live the day. You laugh, even when you're upset. You love everyone- humans, and Pokemon alike. And even though you treasure your unpredictability, I know exactly what goes on through your head."
His green eyes pierce into her soul. His hand burns against her skin. And quietly, she asks, "Is that so?"
"Yeah." Gladion nods, and his chuckle sends goosebumps down her arms. "You're happy right now, aren't you? That we're here together, watching the Cutiefly. That it's something that reminds you how much you love Alola."
Moon shivers. He's so close that she can feel his breath against her cheeks. Feel the intensity of his beautiful stare. Almost imagine that, just this once, maybe-
"Moon?" He leans in close with a frown, and she realizes she's been quiet, too quiet.
But Gladion's always gentle, always kind, always honest and bright and she loves him and maybe... having him surprise her like this, having him being unpredictable, wouldn't be that bad a thing.
"You're half-right, you know." She licks her lips, searches his face for any hint of repulsion, rejection.
But instead he smiles, soft and sweet. "Yeah?"
And Moon takes a deep breath, takes a chance.
"What if I told you I’ve been in love with you since we were kids?"
The fairy dust flutters around them. The moon continues its upward climb. The moment holds. The Cutiefly flit about the glowing flowers, and the meadow sways in a gentle breeze.
Gladion's breath catches. His green eyes widen. He says nothing. In the moonlight, his beautiful, angular features may have been cut from stone.
Disappointment swirls in her chest. His touch burns, his proximity sending a sharp pulse through her. She moves to pull away-
Then his fingers thread with her own.
"Gladion?"
Green eyes search hers. He inches forward slowly, and his free hand lifts to graze along her cheek.
"Have you really?"
His bangs are like a curtain against the moonlight, shielding them from the field. He runs a thumb across her knuckles, and he holds her closely, so intimately, as if...
"Yes."
His lips are softer than she imagined, pressed against hers. Warmer, too, far warmer than her dreams. He pulls her flush against his body, his arm wrapping around her back. She shivers at the closeness of his touch, the warmth that floods her body from his kiss, her legs trembling. But he braces her, holds her close- kisses her, until she realizes that this is very very real.
"Moon." He whispers her name as they part, the flush on his cheeks as warm as her own feels. A small smile dances across his face, and he looks so buoyant, so happy, that it stirs a soft giggle from her lips.
"Did I surprise you?" she whispers.
"It's a good surprise." His thumb brushes her bangs aside, leaving a warm trail on her skin. He chuckles. "And here I thought I had you all figured out."
"Likewise." Her smile is shy, but it makes him hold his breath and widens his eyes once more- and Moon has barely enough time to register the reaction before his lips are on hers once more.
She pulls him closer, tugs his head down towards hers. His laughter bubbles against their lips, and when she looks at him again, he watches her with a warmth so pure, so bright, that she's sure it's a sight nobody's ever seen before.
It catches her breath. Steals her heart away.
"Come on." He pulls away with a smile. He's barely a few paces away before he turns to her, holding a hand out to her once more.
Without hesitation, Moon takes it. Threads their fingers together, secure.
Gladion grins. The look on his face is bright, beautiful. He tugs her towards the meadow, where they're surrounded by the glowing flowers and the dancing Cutiefly. And when the moon rises to its peak and the fairy dust swirls around them, they dance, hand in hand, laughter and joy filling every inch of Moon's heart.
For other amazing works inspired by the prompt, check out @lonashippingweek!
Gladion deadbolts the door behind him, drawing the curtains closed on the dusk approaching outside. The lamp in the corner stutters to life, filling the small motel room with a cold wash of light from the corner. With a quick flick of his wrist, he releases Type: Null from the Pokéball, watching as the creature stretches, grateful to be out after having to spend an entire day tucked away.
He gives Type: Null a lopsided smile as his entire body drops onto the bed, sitting on the edge and feeling his muscles ache for relief. When he glances down at his legs, he can see a new bruise forming on his shin. He wasn't sure what to expect when he agreed to accept working with Team Skull, but he had no idea that the grunt work they would shovel onto him would essentially be manual labor. He'd proven his battling prowess a while ago, but they still had yet to trust him (which is fair enough, considering Gladion doesn't trust them in the slightest). For now, he's stuck mostly with odd jobs, transporting goods and having to be the occasional distraction as the other grunts made their escape.
Type: Null gives him a curious look, and Gladion stands, patting the creature's neck as he mumbles, "Just a little tired, don't worry." He frowns, watching as the restless Pokémon goes to walk around the familiar room, doing its best to stretch its legs. "I'm sorry I can't take you out, but it's too dangerous." The apology feels hollow, but he pushes aside the feeling as he goes to the mini fridge to grab his dinner.
There's half a bag of dried fruit, off-brand potato chips, and a soda that's been flat for a few days now. Gladion sighs, grabbing the dried fruit and making his way back to the bed, sitting down on the edge and trying his best to smile as Type: Null settles down by the boy's feet. A beep from his Pokedex draws his attention, and as Gladion pulls out the device to see that it's just turned midnight.
He sighs, falling back onto the bed and staring up at the ceiling, wondering if this is what rock bottom looks like when you're fifteen sixteen.
"Happy birthday to me."
He's woken up by someone repeatedly poking his cheek and whispering his name.
That someone, as it turns out, is his girlfriend – the very same girlfriend he now sort of regrets giving his house key to.
"I thought you'd never wake up," Moon laughs, though she keeps her voice quiet. In the dark, he can still make out her smile, the familiar gray eyes as warm and electric as he remembers, yet they still make his heart stammer when he first opens his eyes.
He sits up with a groan, brows furrowed as he takes a glance at the clock on his bedside table before looking back at her sitting on the edge of his bed. "You know I love when you visit, but waking me up at midnight is mildly concerning." Silvally watches from his bed in the corner, tired from a long day of running around Aether, and the relaxed way the Pokémon sits up and watches his owner confirms Gladion's suspicion that there's no catastrophe afoot.
Moon leans in to place a kiss on his cheek, feeling his lips curl into a lazy smile before she sits back. "There's nothing to be worried about." She pauses, chewing her cheek in thought before shrugging and teasing, "Except for growing old."
His brows furrow as his sleepy mind slowly tries to piece together the clues. "What day is it?"
She grins, leaning down and sitting back up with a neatly wrapped present in her hand as she whispers with nothing but warmth in her voice, "Happy birthday, Gladion."
He chuckles, stunned into silence for a few moments as he feels something light and warm settle in his stomach and spread throughout his body. "You're earlier than usual this year," he notes, still not sure how to process the fact that someone like her still cares so much for him.
"It's not every year that you turn 21." She gives him a wink, adding, "Besides, Hau and Lillie are planning the best party for later, so this is my only chance to one-up them."
They share a laugh before it falls into a comfortable silence. Gladion reaches out, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear before his fingers linger on her cheek, tracing the freckles that he could spend ages counting. Moon subconsciously leans into his touch, her smile growing ever so slightly as she watches him with soft eyes.
Before his heart can burst, she holds the present up once more, giving it a playful shake. "Do you want your present or not?"
"I thought you were my present."
Moon groans, rolling her eyes and giving him a light shove, though her giggle follows shortly after. Gladion grins, laughing as she laments, "You're the worst when you're sleepy."
"So why'd you wake me up?"
"Because I can't resist that bedhead." To prove her point, she gives him another kiss, this time on the crown of his head, before gently pressing the small box into his hands. "Now stop stalling and open it."
He carefully unties the ribbon around it, then makes a small tear in the paper to reveal a ring box. Pausing, he looks up at Moon, but she only bites her lip and nods, urging him to open it. When he does, there's a ring of oddly familiar metal, two pieces wrapped around each other in a simple band. He lifts it out, and looks to Moon to question it, when she explains, "This is from the helmet that broke off when both of our Silvally's evolved. I found a jeweler who took metal from both and made this."
"It's amazing," Gladion breathes, the rest of his air stolen from his lungs as he looks at the amazing craftsmanship. Feeling her eyes on him, he slips the ring onto his finger and finds that it's a perfect fit. Wanting to crack the final tension in the room, he meets her gaze and teases, "Are you proposing?"
"Well, uh...sort of."
This is the closest he may come to a heart attack.
Gladion's eyes widen as he scans her face for any sign of a joke, but he only finds earnest embarrassment and a rosy blush building on her cheeks. He tries desperately to come up with some sort of response that could even begin to encapsulate the surprise, excitement, and love that he feels, but everything comes up short.
Before the silence can stretch too long, Moon explains, "I know we're still too young, so this is more of – well, a promise to propose. At a better time and place." She chews her bottom lip before releasing the breath she's holding, reaching for his hand and gently tangling their fingers together with a small smile. "I just want to put the idea in your head, because it's something I've been thinking about."
He gives her hand a reassuring squeeze, but he keeps his eyes on the ground as he hesitates. "I never thought I'd get married."
"Not a fan of marriage?"
"No, no, I..." He trails off, and he goes to hold her other hand, pressing both to his lips before finally looking up at her with a happily stunned smile. "I just never thought I'd be this happy."
The words break her heart and she lunges at him, hugging him tight even as they fall back onto the bed in a pile of limbs, Gladion laughing and Moon peppering his cheeks and jaw with kisses. When they settle, breathing synced in the dark of the room, Gladion sighs contentedly, no longer fighting the grin on his face as he holds her tighter.
She gives him another kiss, this time lingering on the corner of his lips, gentle and sweet. When he looks down at her, she simply whispers, "Happy birthday, Gladion."
And it's the happiest one so far.
Something a lil shorter that’s a mix of angst and super sweet fluff because we deserve this damnit
