My Asylum In A Wintery Storm

"So we're taking all this down?" Charlie confirmed from his spot high up in a bull-dozer. The blonde looked like a kid in a candy store the way his fingers twitched over the gear shift. Gary would go so far as to say he looked like a cartoon character; his bright red goggles over his eyes with the strap mussing up his hair causing it to stick in all sorts of different directions.

"Yeah, have at it."

"Oh Hells ya!" Bringing his dozer roaring to life, Charlie pointed his finger forward for his assisting Pokemon to follow his lead. Within moments, the front wall of the old lab was gone.

Walking back to the house, Gary flopped back down on his bed in his room. There was nothing for anyone to do today as all the Pokemon were resting in Viridian city with Nurse Joy, and with the lab being worked on, there really was nothing around this place to do anymore; even Ash was told to take the day off! Rolling onto his back, the brunette came face to face with his Umbreon.

Watching his large red eyes blink slowly, Gary reached up to scratch behind his ear. "What do you say to a walk around town today?" Even though he really just wanted to lounge around all day, Gary felt the need for a small walk, just to see if Ash's statements about the small town where he grew up were true.

Suited up in a navy blue fleece over the head sweater, the brunette stepped foot outside again and instantly felt the drastic temperature change. Winter was fast approaching, making the younger Oak hope that their dear friend Charlie and his crew could at least get the shell of the buildings up and functional before the winter season were to hit. The interior would be simple then.

He really had no destination in mind, just wandering around town to see all that had changed. The same signs for the local shops were all the same; just the doorways and windows were now all boarded up with the "closed" signs nailed to them. Even the local ice cream store that he and Ash used to frequent when they were little was all boarded up; the candy shop across the street was the same. The only store that Gary noted that was still open was Al's Super Store, but this place was new and judging by the mark-downs posted in the windows it was really over priced too.

Pulling his fleece tighter around his body, Gary decided to take the short cut through the park. It didn't take long, as one of the back alleys between the ice cream store and the candy shop was still clear of most debris, other than a few pieces of rubble. Coming upon the south end of the old park, Gary instantly noticed the old playground. Standing off to the side, remembering all the times he and Ash used to play tag around the large jungle-gym, he couldn't help but feel remorseful. Landing his eyes on the monkey bars, Gary smiled at the time Ash fell and broke his left arm; just like Gary fell of the nearby tire-swing and broke his right arm a few days later. They had matching casts for 6 months.

"Gary, what are you doing here?" Startled out of his thoughts, the brunette whirled around to see his younger friend standing behind him, the red hoodie still adorning his body.

"Just walking around town," he commented. "Not much to see anymore, huh."

Nodding, Ash took a few steps towards Gary. "There's not much here anymore." The two boys fell into step, just walking around the concrete path around the playground, just like the parents used to do when they were little.

Umbreon and Eevee tore off to play a while ago, their carefree nature overtaking them as they pranced around the woodchips that littered the ground. Watching from afar, the two boys took a seat on the swings, enjoying the others company while watching the two Pokemon play.

"So…" Gary started, breaking the silence between them. "Did you get a chance to look at the lab plans yet?" Slowly swinging back and forth, the elder teen couldn't see his friends face but he saw the slow nod. "What did you think?"

"The extra space in the lab was a nice touch, if your grandpa plans to expand his studies like he's been talking about for all these years, then he'll need it."

"Thanks," Gary smiled at his friend before reaching out to grab at the swing chain, twisting the two swing chains together. The two laughed for a moment, remembering how they used to play this game when they were little.

Twisting their bodies, forcing the two chains to intertwine together, they slowly rose off the ground. Looking up when the chains would no longer twist together, they quickly turned their bodies the opposite way allowing them to quickly unwind. Their world spun for a moment, the chains quickly unraveling, before they were both thrown to the ground landing in a heap of tangled limbs.

Laughing, neither seemed to notice just how closely they were. Staring up at his friend, Ash felt a blush come over his cheeks. The laugher dissipated, unmasking the reality which was before them. They starred at each other for the longest time, unsure exactly what to do.

Quickly scrambling back, Gary helped his friend up before sitting back down on the swings. A smirk settled over his features at the blush that was still on his friends face. "It's been a long while since we've done that." Grabbing his friends' chain, the brunette twisted the swings trapping the boy between his body and the cool metal chains. "You were ten then, weren't you?"

Nodding, Ash glanced up at Gary. Their noses touched ever so slightly that if he wasn't looking, he wouldn't have noticed. Swallowing the lump back in his throat, the younger teen finally spoke. "I may have been nine, Gary."

Their faces were closer; Gary could feel the boys' hot breath on his neck tickling the small hairs. "Same Ball Park," his comment was short before his lips slowly touched his friends. Unsure what was controlling his movements, Gary lost himself in the ecstasy as he pressed his mouth further onto the trainers. Freeing one of his hands, he brought it up to hold Ash's face. Breaking away, filling his lungs with precious oxygen the two could only stare at each other for a moment, not noticing their world spinning about them.

When Gary's hand released one of the chains, it started the spiral of their swings to rapidly spin out of control. Thrown to the ground, the two grunted as their bodies weren't used to such playful manners any more, they could only stare at each other in fear of what just happened. Gary's chest heaved, thankful for the return of oxygen to his lungs, but he also couldn't deny the wanton feeling of wanting to repeat his actions. Starring down at the trainer, he couldn't help himself.

Crashing their lips together fiercely, Gary reveled in the fact that Ash's arms came up to wind around his neck, pulling the researcher closer to him. He felt the younger's heart thunder against his ribs, sending vibrations over his body. It was a glorious feeling, something that Gary wanted to treasure and never forget.

His lips traveled down the trainers neck, pausing every so often to tenderly kiss the teens carotid pulse, making Ash whimper in ecstasy. Returning to the trainers kiss-bruised lips, Gary claimed them once again, savoring the sickly-sweet flavor that was Ash. Breaking away for a small breath, the brunette couldn't help but smile at how adorable the teen was under him. It felt right, perched over the youths body.

"What are we doing?" Ash finally asked through dazed eyes.

Running his long fingers through Ash's cool-damp hair, Gary leaned down for another chaste kiss. "I would have thought you knew what a kiss was."

Ash pointedly looked at his friend, before gently pushing him off. Sitting up, the teen pulled Gary's hoodie tighter around his petite body. Standing, his footing faltered for a second, allowing Gary ample time to stand alongside the trainer and catch him before he fell. "I-I have to go."

"Go?" Gary questioned. Taking in the youths exhausted state of duress, Gary reached up and slowly felt the trainers forehead, only to frown at the intense heat radiating from the trainer. "Ash, you're sick. What are you doing outside?"

Calling Eevee to him, Ash turned out of Gary's warm hold on his body. "I'm sorry."

"Ash, wait!" Watching the trainers retreating back run in the direction of the south end of the park, Gary could only assume that he was running towards his house. "Ash!"

Groaning in frustration, the researcher kicked a nearby stick away from him. Umbreon sat behind him, his eyes downcast as he secretly looked towards the direction where Ash and Eevee ran off to.

P O K E M O N: Gotta Catch 'Em All

Kira: Sorry about the delayed update all. I couldn't decide how I wanted this chapter to go, and even now I'm not too thrilled with it, but I know how I want the next few chapters to go though… hopefully they'll be up sooner than this one was. Also, everyone seems to be addicted to the angst and drama this fiction promises. Thanks for all your wonderful reviews everyone, they mean a lot and motivate me to update. As always, read and review!

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