(Gladion POV)

When I came to, I was hit with a massive headache. The surface beneath me was soft and warm, meaning I was probably in a bed of some kind. My eyes fluttered open and closed a few times, trying to adjust to the brightness of the room. When I opened them fully I was able to look around, noticing I was in a clean room with a bunch of cabinets and a few chairs along the sides, as well as a desk in the corner. I sat up with a groan, rubbing my temple as if to reduce my horrendous headache.

That is until my free hand brushed against what seemed to be skin.

I looked down to my left, only to let out a quiet gasp. Megan was sitting in one of the chairs next to my bed, her head resting on her crossed arms as she slept on the edge of the mattress. She had bruises across her arms, as well as some wrap around her wrist. Her head was turned slightly towards me, meaning I could see her tear stained cheek.

'She was crying? Why?' I mentally asked myself, reaching my hand out to move some hair out of her face.

"You know, she hasn't left this room since you got here."

My hand paused mid-air at the female's voice, and I turned my head to the door with my eyebrow raised. Rose was leaning against the doorframe with her arms crossed, while Sun was standing an inch away from the door. They were both frowning, as if they were disappointed in me or something.

"Where exactly is 'here'?" I tilted my head carefully, trying not to make my head throb any further.

"The hospital." Sun answered simply.

"You've been unconscious for three days now." Rose continued.

"I have...?"

"Yeah. Megan's been taking care of you, despite the doctors' complaints of her 'needing rest'," She gestured to the bed a few feet from mine "Eventually they gave up and let her cool down your fever."

Sounds like her...

My eyes travelled down to my fabric covered legs, and then to Megan "How'd she get those?" I asked, pointing to her injuries.

Sun scoffed loudly "Oh come on there's no way you don't remember." His voice was filled with venom.

I shook my head "I'm sorry, I don't remember anything from the past few days."

"Gladion," Sun spoke again, his voice taking a threatening tone "You did that to her."

.

.

.

"I'm sorry, I did what?!" I blurted, leaning forward in my bed to stare at the two in front of me in disbelief.

Rose placed a hand on Sun's arm, mouthing something to him before stepping forward. She gazed down at me solemnly, yet with a tad of caution "Gladion... Three days ago you were possessed by an Ultra Beast, and almost brought Alola into an era of chaos. Megan, Sun, Lillie and Hau were able to bring you back-- well, mainly Megan, but not before you attempted to take her as a hostage to get what you wanted..." She gestured to the sleeping girls injuries.

My head snapped towards Megan again, examining her stained face again with more desperacy. There's no way I would've hurt her- I couldn't have!

A memory suddenly popped up in my head, which caused my eyes to widen in horror. I remembered spitting such distasteful things to everyone. I remembered telling them my plan to start an 'Ultra revolution'. I remembered telling Megan I didn't love her, and that I was a fool for doing so. I... I remembered attempting to suffocate her with my tentacles, saying that if I didn't get what I wanted, I might squeeze her to death...

"Oh God... Oh my God..." I breathed shakily, bringing a hand up to my mouth "I can't of... This can't be real..."

"I'm sorry, Gladion." Rose shook her head apologetically "We know you didn't mean to do any of it..."

"But I still did!" I cried as I gripped the sides of my head "I let Nihilego take control! I used Solgaleo to open a portal to Ultra Space! I hurt my friends, and their Pokemon! I hurt-..." My vision blurred as I held back a sob "I hurt her..."

I began breaking down, pressing my palms into my eyes as I silently cried. Sun and Rose watched silently, obviously not sure what to say.

"Look, Gladion..." Sun spoke up, sounding a lot softer. I slowly looked up at him "We know you weren't in the right mind, and we know you'd never do what you did by choice... Plus, you stopped didn't you? You came back to us in the end. And look-" He pointed to Megan "-She's still by your side, probably worrying her ass off about you. She doesn't blame you for any of it- none of us do."

I raised an eyebrow.

"Okay, maybe I was a little skeptical at first... But I'm just looking out for my sister. But that's not my point. My point is... We're happy you're back, Gladion."

I sniffled, wiping a few tears away and giving him a small smile. "Thank you, Sun..."

---

(Megan POV)

Owwwww...

I slowly woke up, taking note of my aching body from sleeping in such an awkward position. I exhaled, burying my face into my arms and making a tired noise. I didn't want to wake up yet, mostly because I had been staying up late these past few nights to look after Gladion-- Wait a minute, who's stroking my hair?

My eyebrows furrowed, feeling a gentle hand repeatedly move through my hair. It felt nice, I had to admit, but I kinda wanted to know who was actually touching me. I lifted my head slightly, causing the hand to stiffen, before looking around at my surroundings. As I looked to the side the hand moved to my cheek, and I suddenly caught the gaze of two gorgeous emerald green eyes.

"Gladion..." I breathed "You're awake."

Gladion looked away guiltily and dropped his hand from my face. His fists clenched on his lap and his jaw tightened.

"I'm sorry..." Was all he said.

I tilted my head in confusion and reached for his hand, only to have him flinch away. I frowned "Why are you sorry?"

"I hurt you..." He muttered, not looking at me. I looked down at my bruised skin and sighed, grabbing his hand before he could move away again and placed it on my arm. He whipped his head round immediately.

"You aren't hurting me now, are you?" I smiled gently, causing his eyes to widen. I let go of his hand, but it still lingered on my arm. He began rubbing his thumb over a couple of the bruises, biting his lip as he did so.

"Still... I can't believe I did this..." He dropped his hand, his voice cracked as he spoke "I can't believe I even thought about hurting you..."

"Gladion, look at me."

His eyes hesitantly met mine. I took his hand in both of mine, moving myself so I sat on the edge of the bed. I stared at him seriously as I spoke.

"That wasn't you. That was a manipulating beast that took ahold of and infected your mind. You had no control of what you were doing. Yes, what happened to me hurt, but that was not done by your hands. Heck, it wasn't done by hands period." I gave his hand a squeeze "Besides, You're here now. And you know you'd never intentionally hurt me, right?"

"Of course not!"

I smiled "Then there's no reason to be sorry, is there?"

"No... I guess not..."

Gladion pursed his lips together. He reached up to brush his fingers through my hair, but pulled back immediately. I sighed.

"You can touch me you know, Gladion. I'm not going to evaporate or anything."

Gladion's face softened. His free hand moved up to my face again, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear before resting it on my cheek. His other hand grasped one of mine and pulled me closer to him, causing me to end up on his lap.

"You always know what to do to make me feel better..." He whispered, bringing his forehead down to rest on my shoulder. His hand slipped out of mine and instead snaked around my waist, pulling me closer.

I sighed contently, feeling his thumb gently rub my side "You're usually the one to comfort me, I'm just returning the favour." I shrugged.

He didn't answer, and instead gave my body a light squeeze. He moved his head to look down at me, and his hand moved under my chin, gently lifting it so I met his gaze. It was kind of like the position he put me in when he was a beast, except it was way softer than the suffocating bind he had me in, and way more loving.

"It's so much more than that...You're basically the reason I'm not a psychopathic monster right now."

"What...?"

"When I... When I was about to crush you..." His hands began trembling slightly against my skin "I began having memories... Memories of you."

My eyes widened "Of me?"

He nodded "The time I saw you as a human for the first time... When I said I wouldn't leave your side, despite that... When you told me about your family... When you evolved... The night I confessed... And so much more. They brought me back. You brought me back." He placed a gentle kiss on my forehead, his lips lingering. "Do you even know how madly in love I am with you? You complete me, Megan... There has never been someone in my life I've been so crazy about, not ever."

"Gladion," I covered my mouth with my hand "You're gonna make me cry again at this rate--"

"I love you."

Welp. That did it.

I leaned forward and buried my face into his chest, sniffling and hiccuping as happy tears escaped my eyes. I felt his arm around my waist hold me even tighter, while his other weaved itself through my hair. His head nestled between the crook of my neck, his lips pressing against my skin.

"I love you too, damn it..." I murmured "I love you so much Edgelord..."

We stayed like that for what seemed like hours, not once attempting to pull away from each others embrace. Gladion had begun placing gentle kisses along my neck at one point, like he did the day I was saved from my father, only softer. In fact, everyone about him was soft right now. His voice. His arms around me. His lips... how does he do this to me?

"I'm so lucky..." I sighed. He nuzzled deeper into my neck.

"Why's that?"

"I have amazing friends, my wonderful Pokémon, another chance with my brother and sister, my mom back. And... I got the chance to meet the most amazing little emo ever."

Gladion scoffed and lifted his head "You know, if you didn't add the emo part it would've been a perfect confession."

I looked up, giving him a small smirk "Come on, you liked it regardless."

He grumbled, before leaning down and pressing his lips against mine. I kissed back without hesitation. When we pulled away he gave me a smirk.

"Well I got to meet the cutest little tsundere ever." He said, pinching my cheeks.

"You ruined it, Gladion."

"Okay sorry..."

---

"And just as Nihilego swooped down to attack us Sun drove it back into the portal with his vinegar gun-"

"-And Hau kicked the Sun flute towards me before it could grab it-"

"-And Lillie summoned Solgaleo to close the portal before anymore beasts could get out!"

Gladion laughed at Lillie, Hau and Sun as they retold the story of how they closed the Ultra Space portal. I was still on his lap- but just because there were only three chairs in the room...

... Okay maybe it's because I liked it. But SHH, don't tell them that.

"So where was Megan in all this?" He asked.

Shit.

I flinched, giving my friends the 'don't you dare' glare. Unfortunately for me... Sun's an ass.

"Oh she was clutching your unconscious body and bawling." He responded with a smirk.

"Sun!" I yelled, mortified.

"Yeah she was sobbing into your shoulder, whining stuff like 'Oh I'm so glad you're ok! I almost lost--' Ow!!" He hissed as Lillie kicked him in the leg. Both she and Hau were trying to play off annoyance, but they were obviously trying not to laugh. Gladion turned his head to me, giving me a smirk.

"Oh really?"

"Uuuuuh," I gulped "You know what, visiting hours are nearly over--"

"It's 3pm." Hau pointed out.

"Sure it is." I began to get off Gladion's lap "Anyway I should be goin-- AH!"

Gladion grabbed me around the waist and pulled me back down, holding me against him "Hold on, I wanna hear about more about this."

Our friends exchanged glances, before giving us mischievous grins "That can be arranged." Sun said.

"Nope, no it can't--!" I shrieked.

Gladion covered my mouth with his hand "Then let the storytelling begin~"

I screamed into his hand. This would probably be the most embarrassing few seconds of my life.