Changes

A Wonnykins Production

Gary Oak walked off the plane, bobbing his head to 'Def Leppard' on his Ipod. Good old gramps, sending him such a convenient birthday gift. He shouldered his travel case and wandered over to the seating area. A member of the airport staff was supposed to meet him to take him to get his things. He saw no one. The sixteen-year-old changed the song back to 'Pour Your Sugar On Me' and bobbed his head again.

It had been two years since Gary had announced that he was giving up Pokemon training to become a researcher. Two years since seeing everyone he knew and cared for in person. He chuckled at the thought of his old rival. ' Gramps said that Ashy-boy was coming to see me when I got back. Wonder how Ketchem's doing nowadays?'

"Gary Oak?"

The auburn-haired boy's head snapped up. He saw a woman in an airport employee's uniform looking quizzically at him. He pulled out his ear phones and stood up.

"Oh, it is you! I thought you'd left." She sighed wearily. "You're kinda cute." She tossed her blonde hair over her shoulder, trying to get some reaction.

Her smile faltered when Gary said "Sorry, but I'm gay." She hmphed and started walking.

"If you don't like me, you didn't have to make an excuse." She grumbled.

"No, really, Miss; I'm gay. I like guys." He looked at her. "I'm sorry if I offended you."

She sighed wearily. "That's alright. My boyfriend just ditched me, so I'm not myself."

Gary hmm-ed boredly and put his phones back in. He stuffed his hands into the pockets of his tight jeans. Not tight enough to be called slutty, but tight enough to show his ass. He smirked at the look a couple of gays gave said ass. 'I should wear these more often...'

His shirt was slightly tight as well, showing off the abs he was getting being sixteen and the shape of his chest. It was black, same as Ash's the last time Gary saw him. Belts jangled from each pocket of his sexy jeans to cross over the front and back of his legs. Hanging from the leather cord on his neck was his symbolic yin-yang medallion. His hair was smooth and still stuck up in a saucy fashion. Gary had matured those last two years, and he was indeed tongue-hanging-out-of-your-mouth sexy.

The moody airport girl led him around to get his passport checked and gather his things. She pointed to some down escalators.

"Your entourage should be down there. Have a nice day."

She wandered off and Gary went back to listening to his tunes while the escalator took him down. He stepped off, looking around. He didn't see anyone.

"Gary! Gary, my boy!"

He turned, seeing his grandfather waving at him. Gary grinned, running over and throwing his arms around the old man.

"I missed you, Gran-dad!"

"I missed you, as well! Look at you! You've grown!" The old researcher pulled Gary away at arm's length to look at him. "Handsome!"

"He still looks like Gary to me."

Gary looked at Tracy, who grinned and clapped him on the shoulder. "Nice to have ya' back."

Gary nodded. "Glad to be back."

Misty, Ash's little red-head friend, and a brunette girl he didn't know walked up to him next, drooling.

"Hey Gary. You look great." Misty said in a love-struck voice. The other girl nodded.

"I'm May." She held out her hand. Gary shook it.

"You must be one of Ashy-boy's new friends. Granddad told me about you. Say, where is Ashy-boy, anyway?"

"Right here, wondering why you're still calling me that."

Gary turned around, looking at his rival. He faltered.

"Wow."

Ash crossed his arms, looking puzzled. "What?"

Gary couldn't come up with anything. He finally said "You've changed." He then grinned evilly and put an arm on Ash's thick head of hair. "Still a little on the short side, though, eh?"

Ash frowned. "Can it. At least I'm taller then I used to be."

Misty snickered. "Yeah, like, by one inch."

Gary chuckled with her. "Aw, don't be cruel, Misty. You know you like short guys."

Ash stuck a finger down his throat. "Like I'd date that shop-a-holic monster..."

Misty frowned. "Who said I'd even want you to, short stuff?"

"Whoa, come on, I just got back. Save the squawking for later, love birds." Gary looked at Ash again, ignoring the look the black-haired boy was giving him. Instead, he concentrated on how much Ash had grown.

Indeed, his ex-rival was taller. He was also thinner, more curvy, which was un-natural yet very enticing in boys. His skin was tanner as well, and he was also starting to get some abs. Ash's hair was a bit longer, too, and it made him look very Spanish. Gary was surprised. 'Who'd have thought he'd get to be so cute?' he mused.

Ash noticed him staring. "You're drooling." He teased.

Gary shook off his dazedness and gave Ash a whack. "Yeah, because I'm bored. You try sitting on a plane for fifteen hours and see how you like it."

Ash chuckled. "Sucks to be you."

Misty giggled.

"Alright, let's get going. Gary's probably exhausted from traveling." Professor Oak stated. He turned, the five teenagers in tow.

Misty and May started whispering and Tracy started to talk softly with Prof. Oak. Ash pulled the ear phones out of Gary's ears to take a listen.

"Def Leppard? Kind of old, don't you think?" He gave them back.

Gary readjusted the phones. "Yeah, so? What do you listen to, smart-ass?"

"Panic, Gorillaz, Lincoln Park..." Ash trailed off. "Good stuff."

Gary coughed. "Gay stuff..."

Ash pouted. "Bite me. It's not my fault you're stuck in the black and white rock..."

Gary was laughing. "I was only kidding. Look, I've got that stuff on here, too. Chill out." He wrapped an arm around Ash's waist. "You act like a girl who's PMSing."

Ash's face got red. "What are you doing?"

"Screwin' with you again. It's fun to mess with you." Gary let go.

"Fuck you."

Gary was silent. He couldn't contain himself for long and started laughing.

"What's so funny!"

"You! You're trying to act all tough, but you know everyone can see you're foolin'! Idiot!" He clapped Ash on the back, sliding his arm down to wrap around his waist again. "Don't try to impress me, baby; I like you just the way you are." He snickered again and took his arm off.

"The queer act is just making me want to kick your ass." Ash growled.

Gary blinked. "Then you'll be kicking my ass more often."

"Why? I don't like you joking around like that."

"I'm not joking, that's why."

Ash gave Gary an odd look. "What are telling me?..."

Gary turned off the Ipod and sighed. "I'm not acting. I'm gay."

Ash pulled away abruptly and Gary burst out laughing again.

"What now!"

"Idiot! I was only joking again! Gullible, aren't we, Ashy-boy?" Gary started running out the doors of the airport, said Ashy-boy trying to catch him and beat him.

"You jerk! I'll kill you for that!"

Gary just laughed again and jumped into the passenger side of a large Jeep.

Or, what he thought was the passenger's side.

"Gary, you don't have your license yet, you know." Tracy leaned on the driver's side door. Gary blinked, sweat-dropping.

"Sorry. Being in Japan for so long makes you develop that habit." He rubbed an arm behind his head, blushing in embarrassment.

Ash gave him a whack while he was distracted. "That's for 'screwing with me'. Do it again and I swear..."

Professor Oak cut him off. "Let's get going, shall we?"

Gary scrambled over to the other side, but Tracy shook his head. "I don't think so. Park it in the back, scholar boy." Gary pouted, but climbed over the seat to sit in the back on the passenger's side. He tossed his luggage into the back and looked at who was sitting next to him.

Ash grinned evilly. "Surprise."

Gary swallowed. He had a feeling this was going to be a long trip back to Pallet Town.