Summary: Dawn sets out to become the pokemon champion of Sinnoh. Simple enough, right? But, her gay best friend is just being difficult. Clingyshipping!

Author: I wanted to draw, but I get yelled at less when I write, since it looks like I'm doing homework D:...So just a silly Clingysipping story. Probably OOC, but I try not to be. Follows the story line of Platinum with changes (Lucas and Barry show up more).

I took a lot of the dialogue from the game in this chapter (mainly Rowan speeches) so just skip those parts if it's boring.

I do not own Pokemon.

Dear Feelings

Dawn found it utterly impossible to drown out even the longest and most repetitive of speeches, especially when they were given by someone as intimidating as Professor Rowan. She sighed and gave a sympathetic glance towards Barry's direction as Professor Rowan continued to bellow on about their youthful idiocy. Barry—poor thing—was fidgety all over from prolonged stillness, but was nonetheless too terrified to move a single voluntary muscle. Dawn kept her head lowered, staring at her shoes for the remainder of the lecture until the stern professor asked an unexpected question.

"You truly love pokemon, do you?"

Before Dawn fully processed the sudden inquiry, Barry blurted out in his usual fervent and slightly cracked voice, "Oh course! We love pokemon!"

The professor furrowed his brows. "I will ask you again. You truly love Pokémon, do you?"

"What? You can ask a hundred times! The answer will never change! We both love Pokémon! Right, Dawn?"

Dawn nodded awkwardly as both males stared at her intensely.

Professor Rowan turned and took a few steps back, mumbling furtively to himself. Barry jerked a thumb and made a face. Dawn merely shrugged; I don't know either.

The Professor returned. "A pair of reckless kids who foolishly try to enter tall grass without Pokémon of their own…It worries me what people like that would do with Pokémon."

"If you're going to give us pokemon, then—" Barry pulled Dawn closer to him. "—Forget about me. Give one to my friend here! I mean, it was me who tried to go into the grass and all…"

The professor's brows shot up, which caused both teens to flinch back a little. "How big of you…" he said, "Very well, then! I will entrust you two with Pokémon. However, you must promise me that you will never recklessly endanger yourselves again. Now, then… where did I…?"

As the professor eyed around, Barry whirled Dawn around to face him, grabbing on to both of her shoulders and crying out ecstatically, "Can you believe it, Dawn! We're going to get pokemon! It's going to be awes—"

Just then, a boy arduously hauling a bulky brown leather briefcase stumbled to Professor Rowan's side. Attempting to straighten his ruffled jacked and askew beret, the boy huffed between breaths, "Briefcase…you…lake…left it there…"

Dawn heard a small intake of air from Barry, as he loosened his hold on her shoulders. She didn't think very much of it then.

"Ah, well done, Lucas," said Professor Rowan satisfactorily, "What I was about to do was to entrust these two with their own Pokémon."

"Pardon? T-These pokemon?" Lucas flabbergasted, "They are hard to replace, and you're just going to give them away?"

"Hm!" The professor stood upright, glaring critically at Lucas, who seemed to shrivel. "We exist side by side with Pokémon. There comes a time when people should meet Pokémon. There is a world that should be explored together. For them, today is that time. The place, right here. Go on!" He turned to Dawn and Barry. "Open the briefcase and choose a Pokémon."

Dawn expected Barry to pounce on the suitcase, but he only stood there instead, as still as a statue. Very odd. "I'll go first then?" she asked skeptically. No response.

Dawn peered into the bag, carefully reading each of the descriptions on the pokeballs. She eventually picked the last one, a Piplup.

She stepped back, waiting for Barry to choose his starter, but he only continued to stare straight ahead at Lucas, who tentatively eyed the pokeball in Dawn's hands. Dawn cleared her throat and jabbed an elbow into Barry's stomach, rousing him from his stupor.

"Oi—R-right…," Barry stumbled to the briefcase half-consciously and retrieved a pokeball.

"Very well," Professor Rowan sternly, "And Lucas, you may have Chimchar if you like. I hope you all are happy with your pokemon."

Dawn was delighted really, and she was fully willing to jump around with Barry in celebration. However, with her best friend in such an abnormal state of trance, she found it hard to channel her suppressed joy.

Lucas stared at the pokeball in his hand, biting the corner of his lip.

"Are you not happy with Chimchar, Lucas?" Professor Rowan said with mild surprise.

"W-Would you like T-Turtwig instead!" Barry blurted out and turned beat-red immediately after. Dawn gaped at him; What is wrong with that boy today?

"Oh n-no, I'm perfectly fine with Chimchar," Lucas stuttered, "It's…just…I took care of them until now…and it's just a little weird, I guess."

Dawn and Barry both lowered their gaze to the pokeballs in their hands. How hard it must be to give away a companion you have grown close to. Though Lucas needn't to worry, for both Dawn and Barry would never do anything to hurt their new companions.

"Now, listen well," the professor said, "The pokémon you have been entrusted with are unfamiliar with this world. In that regard, they are much like you. As fellow newcomers to the world, I hope you'll do well together. If you have any trouble, come see me at my lab in Sandgem Town. And now, we'll be on our way."

And with that, Professor strode across the patch of grass, with remarkable speed and agility for a gentleman his age.

"Uh, sorry folks," Lucas said as he staggered after Professor Rowan, effort hindered by the heavy briefcase. "Professor! Wait for me!"

Everything was amazingly still for the next few seconds. Dawn had expected Barry to coerce her into a battle, but nothing of that sort happened. Instead, they walked back home at a reasonable pace, with Barry quieter that he had ever been his entire life and Dawn looking worried by his side.

Author: Let me know if anyone read it D: