Chapter 59: A Heated Encounter

I leaned back in the stiff, red plastic chair, my eyes tracing the rivulets of rain racing down the Pokémon Center's wide window. Pikachu sat on the table between Ash and me, its large, loving eyes fixed on me with an almost irritating affection. Ash sat directly across from me, arms crossed, looking half-bored, half-worried about something I couldn't quite figure out. Brock slumped nearby, resting his head on his hand, but I knew his mind was somewhere else.

Beside me, Erin shifted slightly in her oversized hoodie. The thing swallowed her whole, the sleeves bunched up and rolled at the wrists. "Don't you have anything else to wear besides that hoodie?" I asked, my tone casual but edged with curiosity. Her calm demeanor was unsettling, but she hadn't given me a reason to care—yet.

Erin blinked at me, those hazel eyes steady, almost unnervingly still. "I don't. No one ever helps me buy new clothes," she said, deadpan, her voice flat but honest. 

The silence between us stretched, thick like the tension of a battle. Ash glanced up but said nothing, the usual energy drained out of him. Brock just stared harder at the floor.

"You still scared of Pikachu?" I asked, deliberately shifting the mood. Pikachu's ears perked up at the mention of his name, his round eyes now gleaming in Erin's direction, full of nothing but innocent curiosity.

"I still can't touch him," Erin replied, her voice calm as ever. She didn't even flinch as Pikachu tilted his head, his electric cheeks sparking slightly in excitement. 

I nodded, reaching out to scratch Pikachu behind the ears, feeling the soft fur between my fingers. I could sense Erin watching, but I didn't push her. I knew what fear looked like. What it felt like. 

The rain drummed harder against the window. Misty walked over, balancing bowls of soup in her hands, setting them down in front of us with a quick nod. I saw Erin's eyes follow my bowl. She wasn't subtle about it either. 

"What's up?" I asked, voice relaxed. "Hungry?"

Erin, in her usual unnerving honesty, answered without missing a beat. "I want to drink your soup."

I raised an eyebrow, exhaling softly, "Why?"

"Misty told me," she said, pointing a thumb at Misty, who froze mid-step. Before anyone could react, Misty tripped over her own feet and spilled her own bowl of hot soup all over Ash's lap. 

"AAAAH! Misty, what the—?!" Ash's shout echoed through the center, standing up abruptly, eyes wide with shock and pain.

I couldn't help it. I laughed. I laughed while Erin calmly swapped our bowls, taking a sip from mine like it was the most natural thing in the world. I just shook my head and finished what was left of her soup. 

The rain continued, a soft patter in the background, while Ash muttered something under his breath, trying to wipe off the hot soup. Brock's voice broke the moment. "I'm still worried about that Charmander," he said, his tone low.

Ash, ever the optimist, shrugged, though I could see the hesitation in his eyes. "Don't worry, Brock. His trainer probably came back for him already."

Brock didn't seem convinced, but he stayed quiet. Misty sat down, handing Ash a fresh towel, and the table returned to an uneasy silence. 

I looked back at Erin. Her gaze was still on me, her fingers tightening around her bowl. "What now?" I asked, trying to sound casual.

"I want more soup," she said, almost mechanically.

I sighed again, louder this time, "Seriously?"

"Misty told me," she repeated.

And before I could respond, laughter erupted from the far corner of the Pokémon Center. I glanced over to see a group of trainers lounging on the sofas, cracking jokes. 

"I've got plenty of Pokémon," one of them said, his voice loud and smug. "All of 'em strong. No one can beat me." His grin widened. "Even had a Charmander once. Weak little thing. Left it on a rock in the forest. Still there, probably, waiting for me to come back like some dumb pet."

My blood ran cold.

Another trainer laughed, leaning in closer. "No way, you just left it there?"

"Yep," the first trainer—Damian, I realized—snickered. "Told him I'd come back. Poor thing believed me."

I didn't even realize I had stood up. Brock was already on his feet, storming toward the group with Misty and Ash behind him. Erin, calm as ever, grabbed my wrist, pulling me along. 

"You," Brock growled, standing before Damian. "You're the one who left that Charmander, aren't you? That Pokémon could die because of you!"

Damian stood, his expression hardening. "Watch your mouth, bastard. You don't know what you're talking about."

The tension snapped like a taut wire. Damian reached for his Pokéball, but before he could do anything, I shoved Brock aside and swung my fist into Damian's face. The impact was satisfying, a dull thud against bone. He staggered back, clutching his cheek, while one of his friends lunged at me. I dodged easily and drove a punch into his gut, sending him sprawling. 

Damian tried to stand, but I kicked him down again, sending him crashing into the sofa behind him. The room fell silent, the other trainers frozen in place. Erin moved in front of me, her small hand resting on my arm. 

"Don't," she whispered, her voice calm, almost soft. 

Before I could respond, Ash and Misty pulled me back, Brock standing between us and Damian. Nurse Joy stormed in, her expression hard as she crossed her arms.

"What's going on here?" she demanded. "You know you can't use Pokémon to settle personal disputes."

Ash grinned, shrugging. "Who said anything about Pokémon? We used our fists."

Nurse Joy blinked, taken aback, but quickly regained her composure. "Not in my center, you don't."

Ash opened his mouth, probably to make another smart comment, but Misty yanked him by the ear. "We're leaving. Now."

Once the chaos settled and the other trainers left, Brock sighed, running a hand through his hair. "We need to get that Charmander into the Center, fast. Who's coming with me?"

Ash, Misty, and Pikachu were already grabbing their rain gear before I could even speak. Brock turned to Erin. "Make sure he doesn't start another fight," he said, jerking his chin toward me.

Erin nodded, calm as always.

As the others rushed out into the rain, I dropped back into my chair, my eyes once again on the storm outside. Erin sat beside me, quiet as usual. 

"Thanks," she said suddenly, her voice steady, as if everything that had just happened was perfectly normal.

I nodded, saying nothing.