[center]---[/center]

Her back hit the door as soon as Morty closed it, saw the wisp of familiar blue vanish into the camera. (Something he usually never condoned but, well, diminished risk took priority over ethics right then.) He was careful not to outright pin her - just put his hands on her shoulders gently, tried to keep his tone calm and not accusatory. “Are you alright? Did someone put you up to this?”

She took in a deep breath and let it out slowly, looked him right in the eye. “Just me, Morty.”

They stared at each other for long pause as Morty let the realization sink in, as Catherine didn’t (hopefully) cave and find someone else to blame for this. Jaw tensing, he sighed in relief, in frustration, and let his hands drop as he stepped away - turned and made his way behind his desk as he shook his head. Silence reigned as he sat down, fetched all the proper paperwork, the pen, the badge. Catherine watched as he laid it all out, her voice quiet when she finally spoke up.

“Morty.”

He wouldn’t have it. “Congratulations, Loki, on winning the Fog Badge. Due to your victory at Ecruteak Gym, you will also receive a complimentary TM for Shadow Ball. It causes damage and can reduce special defense. Please continue to use it if it appeals to you.”

She inhaled sharply, her hands gripping each other tight. “Morty, I - it was the only way we’d have a chance to talk - “

“What, about the fact that you sent a clearly under-trained Espeon into a sixth badge fight?” He looked up. “Whatever else I have to discuss is with my girlfriend, Catherine Hart. Not Loki.” He slid the paperwork to the other end of the desk and gestured at her. “Sit, please, and sign the usual lines.”

Catherine grimaced, but slowly took a seat and the pen. Morty went on. “They’re going to expect us to wrap up paperwork in about ten minutes tops, and then we both walk out happier than usual because I got to fight a great opponent and you’re a step closer to fighting the champion. Now that you’re only two badges away, the media’s really going to start hunting you down. All the ghosting just makes the hype even bigger around you.”

“I’m done now, though.”

“You said that after Norman.” He steepled his fingers. “I suppose it was wrong of me to assume you really meant it after Chuck and Blaise. If you wanted to talk, you could’ve just said.”

“I didn’t -” She stopped herself with a sigh but continued filling out the forms. “This was... admittedly for more than just a chance to talk to you. Half of it, though. You said so yourself that there wouldn’t be time to really just... talk. When we’re both awake and aware for it.”

“You could’ve just [i]asked[/i] and I would’ve made time for you.” He sounded more tired than he would’ve liked. “Just - now isn’t the time or place for this. Where would be better for you?”

Catherine didn’t answer at first, her eyes steadily downcast as she finished the forms and slowly slid them back over. “...Your place. I think your place would be best, if I’m not interrupting something with Burgh.”

“He can handle himself for a night, wanted to go check out Goldenrod and that’s more Norman’s deal anyways.” He waved it off and double checked the uncharacteristically blocky handwriting, the signatures and initials - nodded to himself and slipped it into Loki’s folder before standing. “And alright. Ready to go, then?”

Her head snapped up. “Right now?”

“The gym can survive half a day without me,” he deadpanned, already making his way to the door. “Give me ten minutes and I’ll meet up with you. Don’t forget your badge.”

She didn’t.

[center]---[/center]

The sun shone bright and the breeze blew gentle, the day obnoxiously innocuous when Catherine finally joined him on the porch. Loki had been exchanged for a cardigan and a navy dress, a braid and a bow in her hair, a tote that slid off her shoulder as she took a delicate seat next to him. “It took longer than expected to shake them all off.”

He debated not saying a thing and thought better of it - observed their legs, their shoulders near touching; the hands in her lap and the thoughtful expression as she faced the garden. “It happens.”

Silence reigned as she grimaced, and he sighed, took responsibility. “So.”

“So,” she echoed with a nod of agreement. “...I needed to come pick up my stuff. I’m still going on the trip to Mahogany. Teachers aren’t huge fans but they’ll deal with it. Not sure what I’ll do with the second ticket, probably going to toss it if you can’t come.”

“Mahogany’s a nice place. Safer than Goldenrod.” He ignored the terse words, the implications sinking in fast, so fast, too fast when they’d hardly even started. “Not willing to wait until after busy season so you don’t go alone?”

She opened her mouth, shut it, and sighed. Tried again with a huff of frustration. “I’m going to be out of town then.”

“The entire time?” He quirked an eyebrow. “Because even then, I can still find time after the New Year...”

“Morty.” Her hands curled in her dress. “I’m going to be out of town permanently, to Unova.”

She still wouldn’t look at him. The sun caught her hair and cast it in gold.

He stared as the words sunk in, could only muster a small, “what? Just like that?”

“Not... all at once, admittedly. Dad wants to do a week trial first near New Years but it won’t take too much longer after that to leave for good.” A sigh as her grip loosened, as her voice grew tired and soft.

“Morty, I love you very, very much.” She turned her head and finally, finally met his eyes. “But I can’t do this.”

Panic struck deep as he put two and two together, ice and fire in his veins all at once as his hand twitched and oh gods - no, no, it wouldn’t be productive to melt down, don’t overreact. He forced his words calm, at least at first. “I - are you seriously saying that for the first time [i]now[/i]? Really?”

Catherine glanced away guiltily to the garden. “I’m - being a kimono girl isn’t for me, and this town - Johto isn’t - I love you, Morty, but your mother wasn’t wrong when she pointed out that becoming empress would be harder than being a kimono girl, that - I mean, [i]marriage[/i]...”

“Marriage?” Relief washed over him so quick it nearly gave whiplash. A snap back from pandemonium down to the calm autumn day, and he nearly wanted to laugh. Nearly, nearly, no victory flags raising just yet because -  “Catherine, I don’t - I’m definitely going to speak with my mother because that was definitely out of line, but we’re both young, you’re not even twenty yet, that’s not something we should even be close to considering yet. I don’t think she would’ve handled the position that well at nineteen either, c’mon.”

A chuckled slipped out then, soft and hoarse, as he reached for her hand. “And you’re [i]great[/i] as a kimono girl, are you sure that’s not just the busy season getting to you? It’s your first time, it’s definitely understandable that you’re overwhelmed but it’ll be alright, I promise. No need to jump the gun.”

Her eyes narrowed his way as she pursed her lips and swallowed, as her hands curled into fists again; as klaxons screeched clear in his head. “It’s - I’ve been giving it a lot of thought, I wouldn’t have done what I have if I wasn’t [i]completely[/i] sure would happen. Why do you think I waited since September to tell you? Why make a scene for something that might’ve just been a ‘maybe’?”

“September?” he echoed, as revelation after revelation piled up, as oh, [i]oh[/i]. “You’ve been hiding this for months?”

Catherine stiffened, slouched in defeat, rose again with such [i]surety[/i] -

“Morty, I love you, but you’re the [i]only[/i] thing I can love here. That I can tolerate.” Her tone turned pleading. “I don’t mind marriage down the line - honestly I think I’d like it - but it’s not equal like this. All I can do is take with none of the give, it isn’t fair to either of us.”

“Even still, that doesn’t mean it’s an impossible problem. I just - Catherine.” He considered his words carefully, fought off a blush warming his cheeks. “All of this can still be solved. We just both have to work on communication, we know the issue now. I’m willing to work on it if you are.” Couples had fights, it wasn’t the end of the world, no need to be overdramatic, that’s right.

She shook her head. “I can’t, Morty.”

The breeze stilled and left him colder.

He blinked. “Well. Alright.” A pause. “I suppose that’s that, then. I can’t blame you.”

Catherine inhaled sharply. ”Morty, don’t you dare.” Her words came dark, threatening, and [i]calm calm calm fair and reasonable you’re a gym leader[/i] - “Don’t bottle this up, that’s not - I didn’t come to make it unfair, to make it another Goldenrod.”

“Well you’re sure making it like Goldenrod.” Fair and reasonable and calm and [i]don’t give them a reason[/i]. “It’s not fair, yeah, but apparently it’s fair of you to not tell me any of this until it was too late, right? Until you had to go and challenge me to a gym fight.”

“I still didn’t know for sure I was leaving until this Monday.”

“That doesn't change the fact that you’ve apparently been feeling awful enough to want to leave the entire country for months.” He grimaced. “Because it’s not like I’ve been asking you since [i]July[/i] about why you’ve been acting oddly before that, right? No, Catherine, you love me so you’re giving me a fair chance by dropping this out of nowhere and not even being willing to try and compromise.”

She cringed and opened her mouth and he just kept going, the mantra of calm ringing deaf in his ears. “Because for some reason you couldn’t tell your [i]boyfriend[/i] that you were feeling this way. That’s fair. Can you even tell me what’s going to be different in Unova compared to here?”

“I’ll have both my parents, for one thing.”

He shot her a level look. “And? What else is worth tossing out your livelihood for?”

“Livelihood or not, it would’ve only lasted for a few years.” Indignation flashed in her eyes before it sputtered out, and she ran a hand through her hair. “And then all I’ll have is [i]you[/i], and what’s going to happen when you’re not around? Look, I - I’ve gotten close, when it’s just me and you and everything is perfect, but in all my years here, I’ve never considered Johto my home, and I just don’t think that’s going to change.”

Her voice softened. “I know why you love Ecruteak, and I know that I’m gambling a lot by doing this, but I at least have to try. As it is just now I’m not... I’d be miserable if I were alone here. Yes, I should’ve told you sooner but, well, that’s something I have to deal with. I should’ve done a lot of things, but all I can do now is keep it in mind for the future. And face it, Morty, can you honestly imagine leaving Johto? Because I’m simply just not staying here, and while I love you, I still have to put myself first.”

“Catherine. Why wait until now to tell me? Why say you love me now, when you're about to leave?”

Her cheeks flushed as she ducked her head a little, and swallowed. “Er. Well.”

“Can’t you at least tell me that?” A hint of desperation snuck into his tone but it’d been too late to stop, frustration snowballing at an annoying rate. “Can’t you just stop being evasive for once in your life?”

The girl flinched like he’d struck her but reeled back, knuckles white as she squeezed her fists. “Look, I just - it was selfish of me, alright? I know it was selfish, I know it was wrong and I went and did it anyways. I knew this wasn’t going to work out and I just - I wanted as much time with you as I could possibly have.”

She bowed her head as her voice grew watery - snapped back up. “I know I probably shouldn’t have told you I loved you right when I wanted to break up with you, but I [i]had[/i] to tell you, I wanted you to know that - that it wouldn’t like Goldenrod, that I’d be honest and - I couldn’t not tell you, Morty.” Softer, then, “so I made it that I’d [i]have[/i] to tell you. Prove it to myself in some stupid way.”

Catherine swiped at her eyes. “I didn’t come here forgiveness, but I at least wanted you to know the whole story this time.”

Morty was silent as the words sunk in and the breeze picked back up, as the idea to reach for her hand flickered in his mind. Would that be inappropriate? Would it be just the right thing to do? (Were they too far gone if he had to question it?) “Well. Do you have anything else to add?”

She stiffened and tucked a curl behind her ear, and they were still so, so close. Their legs, their shoulders near touching. “I do hope I end up changing my mind while I’m at Mahogany.”

“I hope you do too, Catherine.” A pause, and then, “stay safe in Mahogany. Don’t go for a seventh badge.”

She sniffed. “I’m only bringing the team for protection, yeah.”

“Catherine.”

“Morty, sincerely.” Another sigh. “...I’ll move my stuff to the dorm while you go back to work, before you ask.”

“Just leave it.” He waved it off, resisted the urge to rub at his face. “I don’t mind. Besides, I thought you didn’t trust them with your stuff. You just said that you hope your change your mind. Just leave it.”

She frowned but relented. “Well, alright, but... have you said everything you wanted to too?”

“No, but I need some time to clear my head first.” No point in making this even more dramatic, cliche. He shook his head. “Want me to at least make sure you get up there?”

“I’ll manage, I think,” she said dubious. “The ticket’s always there if you want it, though.”

And completely defeat the purpose? Gods. “I’ll see what I can do.”

Catherine gave it a couple moments before she stood up and dusted down her dress, her hands fiddling with a curl. “Well, uh. It’s bit a long day, I guess - I’ll go give you space. If you want, I mean.”

“I’d appreciate it.”

More silence as she lifted her hand, hesitated, and dropped it before quietly walking away.

He regretted the words as soon as they came out, and it wouldn’t be too late, it really wouldn’t, he’d just have to stand and take a few steps and take her hand, tug her in and convince her -

No, no. This wasn’t a movie. It wouldn’t take much for the vestiges of anger to flare back up. Space would be good.

He gave it a few more minutes to pull himself together, as the adrenaline died off to watch the pleasant weather and wonder where the ghosts were hiding to peep in on them, and slowly got up and went to go prepare something to eat. Or bake, even - something sweet could be good.

If he got the good whiskey out afterwards that was neither here nor there.