Red the Conqueror 16

The Vermillion Gym was quiet. Had been for a while now. Nothing but the crunching of combat boots on tightly packed gravel could be heard for a good minute.

Until the blond leader was before his dark haired challengers.

Lieutenant Surge was huge.

Not regular "big guy" huge, not "fat", but nearly two meters tall and built like a fortress. He was, for lack of a better term, an absolute unit of a man. 

He had a very gentle, yet firm, grip, and despite the insane difference in size between his hand and Red's, their handshake was perfectly respectful and not at all condescending. If nothing else, Red would always be thankful for the professionalism of the Kanto Region's gym leaders, be it in the performing of their duties, their victory, or as was the case right now, their defeat.

"You guys looked after my niece and even gave me an electrifying duel that got my blood pumping," the man said, grinning widely, balling up his fists and standing in a power pose, placing them at his hips. He towered over both Red and Blue as he did.

"I think I get how you feel now," Blue said.

Red rolled his eyes. It's really at these moments of perspective that he could tell that she actually wasn't that much taller than him. It was weird to say, but being next to a huge man really put into perspective how much bullshit he was getting for what really wasn't that much height difference between himself and his peers, at least when compared to the people from other regions. 

Deciding to at least try to get his mind out of an inferiority complex regarding his height that totally didn't exist shut up, Red simply accepted the badge of honor granted to him by his victory over Lieutenant Surge.

"That was incredible, after that much training I thought I knew what you guys had," Elesa said, smiling herself. "It was elegance and strength," she said. "Now that I see it from outside it doesn't look as brutal as when I was on the receiving end. Perspective matters."

Blue laughed nervously. "Sorry about that, I just got excited since you were doing so well," she admitted.

"All's well," Elesa said. "I'm gonna be finishing my training now, maybe some day we'll meet again - if not here, then at least, come visit me across the ocean, Unova's very nice and I'd love to show you around!"

Red looked her in the eye, not having to crane his neck was a boon really, then he clenched his fists and raised it, offering it to her.

She nodded and bumped her fist against his, a simple gesture, but one that had a lot more meaning behind it. A promise. One day they would meet and battle once again, not as friends, not as training partners, but as gym leader and challenger. 

Blue hugged Elesa. "Good luck with Skyla too," Blue said, putting her hands on each of Elesa's shoulders. "I'm sure you can clear the air between you two!"

"Thanks," Elesa responded, honestly, nodding and smiling, "I'll make sure I don't let that hang between us."

"We'll meet again!" Blue called, as Red waved, and the two left the gym, looking back only briefly before closing the door behind themselves, and then setting out. 

It was still early in the morning, the sun hadn't reached its apex yet. After a couple of days of training they'd finally challenged Lieutenant Surge, and thanks to having had access to Elesa, herself an expert with Electric Pokémon, they'd had quite a bit of training on how to handle Surge. Still a hard fought battle for both of them, but the two of them had a shiny new decoration for their badge cases to prove their victory, and that made them feel quite good.

With the matters in Vermillion settled, the two of them began to decide where to go next. Near the center of Vermillion, seated at a bench in the avenue that lead directly from the docks to the northern gates, they were using Red's town map, obtained so long ago in Pallet, to plan their next move.

"Well the most logical option is Saffron," Blue spoke, pointing at the central travel hub of Kanto. Saffron had the biggest train station, the international airport, the headquarters for Silph Co., a ton of businesses, and was famous for being the site of not one but two gyms, although since the rise of Sabrina, the Fighting Type Gym had lost all relevance, and was no longer recognized as officially part of the League Challenge. "It's the closest city with a gym. Our other options are to head to Fuchsia," she said, "the boardwalk's our only way through, we go east  and then south, then head southwest from Lavender," Blue explained. "Wish we had Pokémon that could Surf, we'd be able to get there by cutting directly across the sea," she said, sighing.

Indeed. Red nodded, appreciating her thought. Maybe that was a good thing to think of? They'd need Water pokémon soon. He then rubbed his chin, and followed along the route they'd taken with his finger, when he reached Vermillion, he then demonstrated the routes she'd mentioned by following them along with his finger, and more importantly, how there was a very important problem with them, by having to double back all the way to Celadon.

Red turned to look at Blue and raised an eyebrow.

She bit her lower lip. "Do... do we have to?" she asked.

Red then showed her the route if they went to Celadon right from there. They'd have to pass through Saffron regardless, but it'd be better to double back through Saffron rather than actually challenge the gym on the first go. 

"What do you mean?  Why?" Blue asked.

Red raised the Pokéball containing Nidorino, currently in his possession, and then pointed at Blue's belt, at the Nidorina currently in her possession. 

"OH. Right. Poison's weak to Psychic. But wait, isn't Ground weak to Grass?" she asked.

Red then gestured at his belt, where his starting partner was resting. Charmeleon, a fire type that would have an easier time at the Gym.

Blue pouted. "So it's just for your convenience?" she asked. 

Red raised a finger, then pulled out his Pokédex, and pulled up the entry for Route 8, as well as the known Pokémon that lived there. He then tapped with his finger at two specific entries, Vulpix and Growlithe. He also pointed Blue at the entry for Pidgey and Pidgeotto, relatively common in the area. 

"Oh... huh, you got this all planned out then?"  she asked, nodding in appreciation. "I thought you just wanted to go there because it's rumored Erika's the most beautiful woman in Kanto," she said.

Red turned to look at her flatly, a deadpan stare that said more than even the greatest of poets could ever say, causing Blue to blush. 

"Okay, uh..."

Red shook his head, then put his hand on Blue's thigh, squeezing it firmly, before throwing his arm around her shoulder and pressed her side against his.

She huffed. "You're just trying to butter me up now," she complained, still holding the map.

Red continued his hug, simply holding it. Time passed. Seconds first. Then a minute. Two.

It was at the third minute that Blue finally cracked.

"Fine I don't want to go to Celadon, because I've no doubt my parents are there!" she finally said. "Reeeed!"

He didn't let her go, continuing to press her.

"Okay, okay, I'll tell you, you don't have to keep looking at me like that," she sighed, dropping her voice to a whisper, resting her head against Red's shoulder, bringing her lips close to his ear. "I'm not happy to acknowledge them, but my parents are gambling addicts," she said with a sigh. "They lose every bit of coin down Celadon's drain," she said. "Before I met you I used to have to steal just to have enough to eat," she said. "I'm sorry, I didn't want you to find out like this..."

Red's hand slid down her side, to her thighs and ass, which he squeezed firmly. His other hand rubbed against her thigh.

She stiffened. "Red, what-" she shook her head. "You're worse than a Vigoroth!" she said. "I'm sorry, I never told you... well, I guess you met me back then," she spoke bitterly. "You were the first time, I, uh, couldn't get away with just a peek of my panties though. Old men would go crazy just to see me lift my skirt."

Red grumbled.

"Wha-" she then giggled. "You're jealous?"

Red nodded. He didn't particularly care to hide the fact that he was. After all, he'd made it abundantly clear that Blue was a part of his harem... and hypocritical though it might sound, he wasn't keen on sharing with other men. 

"Heh. I don't know really how we wound up like this. If you'd told me that one day I'd be like this, and, for some reason, not mind that my, uhm, that my boyfriend would be crazy about his harem," she giggled. "What am I saying?" she admitted, a slightly resigned smile on her face. "I think I'm looking forward to us meeting more girls, and, and being with them as well as you," she said. "I'm not weird am I?"

Red exhaled out of his nose rather heavily, then he kissed her cheek. 

"Yeah, being weird is better anyway," Blue agreed. "Who gets to decide what's right or wrong in a relationship anyway? We do!" she said, firmly. "I'm just kind of worried that if you meet those people you might think I'm too much trouble..."

Red raised an eyebrow at her. He squeezed her once again.

"I feel silly now," she admitted with a giggle. "No matter what, I'll still be your woman right?" she asked. "It's strange but... that reassures me a lot. Okay. let's go to Celadon."

Red nodded. 

Blue then rolled up the map and they stuck it back in Red's bag. They rested their heads against each other, basking in the other's warmth, and simply resting for a moment, as if recharging after a heavy conversation. 

After their conversation, the sun was getting higher up in the sky, it was close to noon.

"You want to set out?" she asked.

Red hummed.

"Yeah... I kinda wanna do it in the wild. We've been in cities for a while, we haven't gone rough in a while," Blue agreed. "Alright. Let's buy what we need to camp out and set out then!"

And so they would. They went to the shops to buy their supplies, and then set out, as the sun reached its highest point and began its descent towards the west. 

However, their plans to spend a night alone with each other, under the stars and in each other's embrace, would be interrupted early into the afternoon... as they wandered off the beaten path into a more out of the way section of the wilderness, after clearing the immediate area of Pokémon by letting their own Pokémon run even wilder than the Wild Pokémon around them...

Suddenly, Red and Blue noticed two large shadows from up high in the sky.

And the next thing they knew, two dragons, one blue and white, the other red and white, descended upon them. The Red one squared up against Red, the Blue one squared up against Blue.

"Uhh... are we in trouble?" Blue asked.

The trainers' pokémon returned to them. 

Red & Blue looked at each other, and nodded. 

It was fighting time.