Blaze and Ricky woke up the next morning, getting ready for the day ahead. Their usual route to college was still white with the snow covering the pavement and dead trees. It made Ricky glad to have Blaze in the midst of winter. She was all he needed to keep warm on the coldest of days.
"You really are the perfect girl to have on a cold day."
Ricky told her, getting Blaze to chuckle.
"Because I keep you warm?"
She asked.
"Well yes, but it's more than that. I'm pretty sure just seeing you smile would warm me up on even the coldest day."
The Lucario complimented. Blaze hugged him tighter as they walked.
"That's really sweet of you. I love it when you compliment me like that."
Ricky noticed her blushing, getting him to smile warmly.
"You deserve every bit of it, my precious fire fox. You really are the most precious thing in the world."
They shared a kiss before continuing on their way, talking about Ryan's love interest as they did.
"Do you know anything about Fia?"
Ricky asked.
"Not much. She's soft spoken and she seems kind enough. Not afraid to help others, and she does like a good joke."
Blaze's description made Ricky confident that she'd love to meet Ryan.
"She does seem a lot like him, or at least like she'd enjoy his company."
Blaze nodded in agreement.
"I agree. Much like we enjoy being together."
Ricky smiled at that.
"Yes, my love. Just like us."

Once they reached the entrance to the college, the two said their goodbyes and headed to their respective classes. Similarly, Ryan was making his way to the cafeteria to get something to eat. Breakfast had been sacrificed to make is recently finished class on time. As he walked, a certain Flareon caught his eye. It was Fia, sitting at a table, reading a book. He took a moment to admire her beauty as he continued on his way, not noticing the thin sheet of ice in front of him. The resulting fall was enough to make Ryan cry out in surprise as his paw slipped from under him. he lay on his side, deeply embarrased at having made such a stupid mistake in front of the one Flareon that he'd rather impress. Fia looked up from her book, seeing Ryan attempt to get up. To her and Ryan's surpsise, he was unable to. A sharp pain shot up his left leg as he tried to stand on it.
"Must've landed on it awkwardly..."
He muttered to himself.
Seeing him struggle, Fia got up and greacefully walked over to him.
"Hey there. Are you okay?"
She asked in a voice that made Ryan's heart melt. Ryan, who had his back turned to her, managed to look into the eyes of a mildly concerned, yet sunning, Flareon. She had a gentle expression on her face, comforting the Quilava.
"Well, um... I hurt my leg. I don't think I can stand on it."
Ryan hated to admit not even being able to stand in front of Fia, but hoped she would appreciate his honesty."
"Oh. Would you like me to help you up? You can sit with me if you like. You know, while you wait for your leg to feel a bit better."
The thought of sitting with her and getting to talk with his crush was enough to make Ryan blush.
"I'd like that very much. Thank you."
Carefully, Fia held Ryan's leg and lifted it to where it rested on her neck, letting Ryan lean against her for support. Being so close to such a beautiful pokemon gave Ryan chills. Their faces were almost touching, only making him a brighter shade of red. She guided Ryan to the table she was sitting at, placing him in the chair across from her. He felt a little pathetic having his crush help him up, but he appreciated the help nonetheless.
"Um, thank you for helping me. I must look so pathetic, hurting myself so badly on a patch of ice."
Ryan chuckled nervously, seeing Fia smile warmly in response.
"It's okay. I'm glad you weren't hurt any worse. My name's Fia. What's yours?"
"Ryan. It's nice to meet you, Fia."
Ryan decided to omit the fact that he already knew her name. It sounded a bit unnecessary if nothing else.
"What are you reading?"
Ryan asked.
"Just a novel from the library. It's about a Lucario and Zoroark who are reunited after a tradgedy that separated them."
Ryan was slightly interested, he had to admit.
"A romance novel?"
"Yes, that wold describe it well."
"Do you read often?"
Ryan asked. He wasn't much of a reader himself. Literature was never his strong suit.
"I'm not a huge reader, but I do enjoy a good book if I have some free time."
Ryan took a moment to admire her as she finished the page she was reading. It was then he heard his still unsatisfied stomach rumbling, and to his embarrassment, Fia heard it as well. She looked up from her book again to see Ryan blushing slightly.
"Sorry, I was actually going to get something to eat before I fell."
Ryan explained, getting Fia to reach into her bag, pull out a chocolate bar and place it in front of Ryan.
"You can eat that if you like. I wasn't going to anyway."
At first, Ryan tried to politely turn down her offer.
"That's not necessary, really. I'm grateful, but I wouldn't want to take it from you."
As he went to give the bar back to her, she accidentally touched his paw, meaning to push it back to him. They both blushed before Fia quickly broke the silence.
"I insist. If you like chocolate, that is."
She quickly placed her paw back on the table in front of her. Ryan was trying not to look too stunned. Even if it was an unintentional touch, here he was, talking to his crush, and even holding her paw in is own briefly. He nervously accepted the bar, beginning to eat it quietly as not to disturb Fia's reading.
"Um... Thank you, for the chocolate bar. That was very kind of you."
Ryan mustered up the composure to say as he finished.
"Don't worry about it. I'm glad you liked it."
Fia returned with a warm smile. Although she didn't know it yet, her smile made Ryan melt inside, stunned by her beauty and kindness.
Suddenly, Fia looked at the time on a clock behind Ryan, seeing the time read 9:30. She closed her book and put it in her bag.
"I should get going. My next class will be starting soon."
Despite Ryan not wanting her to leave, he understood.
"Alright. It was great to talk with you, Fia."
She nodded, getting up from the table she was sitting at.
"Likewise. Do you think you can stand again?"
Testing his leg, Ryan found that the pain was Less severe than it was, albeit still evident.
"I'll be fine. I don't want to hold you up."
He told her, hiding the fact he was barely able to stand.
"If you're sure. Have a good day, Ryan."
With that, Fia began to walk toward the nearest entrance to the building as Ryan sat back down, not wanting to hurt himself again in front of her. As she left, Ryan had a question to ask her.
"Hey, Fia!"
He called, getting the Flareon to turn around.
"Do you think we could meet again sometime?"
He asked, getting the Flareon to giggle cutely.
"I'd like that. See you soon."
With that, she was gone. Ryan rest his head on one of his paws.
"She's so beautiful..."
He said to himself, already excited to meet her again.
"She's a definite keeper."
A sudden voice broke him out of his daydream, but he already knew who the owner of the voice was.
"How much of that did you see, Vincent?"
He asked the smirking Zoroark as he sat down where Fia had been moments before.
"Oh, only the whole thing. You two are adorable together!"
He laughed as Ryan looked a little embarrassed but more unamused.
"Is my love life a joke to you, Vincent? I need not remind you that you have your own sweetheart."
That shut the illusion fox up.
"Don't you mention Ruby. You have no idea what we've been through."
Ryan shrugged it off, picking up on a different topic. He and Vincent talked for a short while before Ryan stretched, ready to leave.
"I think I'll get moving before my next class."
That got Vincent to smirk again.
"Your leg feeling better? That was a really catastrophic fall. I doubt you can walk."
To Vincent's surprise, Ryan smirked as well.
"I don't need to. I have you."
Vincent's eyes widened, surprised the Quilava would suggest such an idea.
"Oh, really? And what do you think others will think when they see me carrying you like a little Cyndaquil?"
Ryan shrugged, still looking smug.
"I don't care. I can't walk, and you can. You can be my loyal steed for the day!"
He replied with a laugh. Vincent sighed, getting up and allowing the Quilava to ride on his back.
"For the record, you call me your steed again and I will drop you."
Vincent told the Quilava with a flash of annoyance in his voice. The warning got Ryan to gulp, not sure his other three legs would fare very well getting dropped from the taller Zoroark's height.
"Noted. On we go!"
He cheerfully told the fox as the entered the building. It had certainly been one very crazy start to what was supposed to be a normal day.

And there you have it! Chapter 34 is finally finished and Fia and Ryan have met. It certainly won't be the last time...

Thank you so much for reading, and for 30k reads! Not once had I imagined I'd see one of my stories get this far, so thank you so much for being interested in this rarely updated, barely coherent rubbish. XD

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