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ー one-shot ー

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Serena's been travelling in Alola for a while now, and she's met alot of new friends along the way. Surprisingly, out of everyone, she was travelling along-side the one and only Gladion.

Now. You might be asking, how did this even happen? Well, we have to go back to the first time Serena came to Alola.

flashback

When Serena travelled to Alola, she was filled with excitement at the thought of exploring new places and meeting new people.

She didn't know exactly what adventures awaited her, but she was ready for whatever came her way.

As she explored the region, she heard whispers of a mysterious trainer named Gladion, who had a reputation for being a bit reclusive and brooding.

Serena, as the curious kitten she is, heard these rumours and decided that she wanted to meet this mysterious trainer for herself.

When she finally found him, Gladion was exactly as she had heard, brooding, cold, standoff-ish and yadda yadda you get it.

The two didn't get along that much at first, but after a while, they somehow became close friends. Much to everybody's shock.

Serena found herself drawn to Gladion in a way she didn't expect.

Despite his cold demeanor, there was something about him that intrigued her. The more they spoke, the more Serena noticed there was something else about Gladion.

A vulnerability that he was desperately trying to hide beneath his tough exterior.

Gladion was always wary of letting people see his softer side, as he had spent most of his life trying to avoid any sign of weakness.

But there was something about Serena that made him want to trust her.

They had a genuine connection and the more time they spent together, the more grateful Gladion felt for her presence in his life.

He had a feeling that she could see beyond his tough exterior and see who he truly was at his core. Gladion couldn't help but open up to her, even if it scared him a little.

He would occasionally think about how Serena would treat him, comparing her to the other people in his life.

She wasn't afraid to approach him and she didn't try to hide her genuine affection for him. Other people in his life had tried to take advantage of his isolation, but Serena seemed different.

Instead of trying to make him lower his guard, she simply talked to him and treated him with kindness. It was a foreign concept for Gladion, but he found he didn't mind it at all.

now, back to the present.

Gladion had been in a bad mood all day, and he wasn't sure why. He had tried to push it aside, but the negative thoughts and feelings continued to linger in his mind.

He didn't want to worry Serena, so he had been keeping his thoughts to himself. But it was becoming harder and harder to hide his emotions. He was on the bus ride home, sitting next to Serena in silence, and his thoughts weren't getting any better.

He started mumbling and murmuring to himself, which didnt go unnoticed by the honey-blonde, who turned to him with a concerned look on her face.

Gladion felt her gaze, and as much as he didn't want to be bothered by anyone currently, he turned towards Serena, muttering a "what".

Her face softens as she gives him a smile before speaking.

"You know, you're not always so bad."

Gladion rubbed the back of his neck, looking away from her, "Yeah, yeah, whatever. You're just saying that to not hurt my feelings."

"I'm being honest. You have a lot of good qualities that you don't give yourself enough credit for. For starters, you're not as heartless as you think you are. You care about other people, even if you act like you don't."

"Yeah, right. I don't care about anyone. I'm completely apathetic to everyone around me."

Serena pouted, hearing what her dear friend said, knowing how stubborn he is when it comes to these sort of situations.

"Oh, stop it. You're always looking out for me, making sure I'm safe and taken care of. You may act tough and aloof, but at the end of the day, you're a big softie."

Gladion took a glance at Serena, letting out a small sigh, "I... suppose you have a point. But that doesn't mean I care about anyone. I just..."

"You just what? You care about people more than you let on."

"I don't... I didn't think anyone would ever see that part of me. I've been trying so hard to hide it, and yet, you just read me like an open book."

"That's what I do. I see people for who they really are, not just what they want others to see. You're much more than just a tough exterior, Gladion."

As Gladion stayed silent, she continued.

"You're not weak for caring about your friends. Every one of us has our vulnerabilities, and that's what makes us human. What's weak is bottling everything up and pretending you're something you're not."

"But... I don't know how to let my guard down. I'm so used to being closed off and distant. Even with you, I feel like I'm always holding something back."

Serena knew, Gladion was never one to show vulnerability, let alone talk about it with someone, but that just gives her more of a reason to help him get rid of that wall.

Because she wanted to be someone he could open up to. She wanted him to express himself with her, without feeling like it's wrong.

"That's why I'm here, Gladion. I'm here to help you break through those walls you've built up around yourself. You don't have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders alone."

"But I can handle it. I don't want to burden anyone with my problems. The weight I carry is my own to bear."

Geez, he's so stubborn. Too bad, I'm not one to give up easily.

"You're not burdening me. If anything, I want to help you carry it. You don't have to be strong all the time. It's okay to lean on someone else, especially if that someone cares about you as deeply as I do."

Serena's words seem to have finally went through the stubborn head of his, as his gaze softened looking at her before muttering,

"You... You genuinely don't mind me being vulnerable around you?"

"Of course! I want you to feel like you can be yourself around me. You don't have to put on a tough exterior or pretend to be someone you're not. I accept you just as you are."

"You don't have to keep it all inside anymore, Gladion. You have me to rely on now."

He'd look away, feeling a bit embarrassed after acting like this towards her, but he felt grateful. He was happy he had someone like her by his side.

She was made him feel a type of warmth that even the Alola sun couldn't have give.

"..Thanks, for the reassurance Serena."

Serena smiled warmly at Gladion, glad her efforts in helping him worked out. "It's no biggie, I'll always lend you a shoulder to lean on."

She noticed Gladionn was still looking a bit grumpy, so she reached her hand out and gently pinched his cheek.

"You're way too serious all the time. You should smile more," she teased. "You're allowed to enjoy life, you know~"

Gladion grumbled but couldn't help but crack a small smile.

"Easy for you to say," he retorted, crossing his arms.

Serena's smile widened as she saw the small smile on Gladion's face. It was the first time she had seen him look so relaxed.

"There you go," she said as she blushed softly, "That's more like it."

Gladion huffed, rolling his eyes as if to maintain his usual facade.

"Don't make a big deal of it," he muttered, blushing a bit under his usual scowl.

"What's that? You're still grumpy? Let's see..."

Serena would playfully count her fingers as she rambled about the things she liked about Gladion.

"You're funny, and sarcastic, and kind, even when you won't admit it. And you're loyal to a fault. You care about those around you, even if you try to hide it. You're far from perfect, but that's what makes you you. And I wouldn't have you any other way,"

She'd stop a bit before letting out a small giggle, "even when you get grumpy and shut me out."

"In fact," she said, a soft smile playing on her lips, "I quite enjoy your grumpy moments. It's like a little glimpse into your real self, even when you're trying to hide it. And I think it's cute."

She gave him a playful poke in the arm, trying to bring a smile to his face.

"Seriously though, you're much more complex and interesting than you give yourself credit for."

As Serena continued speaking, encouraging words and poking him playfully, Gladion's heart began to soften.

He was still struggling with his negative self-talk, but her words were breaking through. Her genuine belief in him was slowly making him feel less hopeless and more seen.

"You didn't have to say all of that, but do you... really think all of that?" he mumbled, looking down honestly feeling a bit better whilst trying to hide his now rosy cheeks.

"Of course," Serena replied, her voice sincere. "I wouldn't just say it if I didn't mean it."

"You've saved me from so many tough situations," she said, a genuine smile on her face, "not just with your skills and strength, but with your words and your heart. You have so much to offer, Gladion, even when you doubt yourself."

Gladion's expression softened, and he couldn't help a small, sheepish smile. He knew Serena meant what she said, but it was difficult to believe it sometimes.

"Thanks," he muttered, his voice quiet but a bit more steady. "I can't help but doubt myself sometimes, you know."

Serena smiled, gently ruffling his hair affectionately. "I know," she said, her eyes sparkling with understanding.

"And that's okay. We all have doubts and insecurities, and it's human to feel that way. But you don't have to deal with it alone."

She leaned forward, her face close to his. "You have me. I'll always be here to remind you how great you are, even when you don't believe it yourself. And I'll never let you forget it."

Gladion's face was flushed at all of this, but it was short-lived as Serena flicked his forehead.

"That's what you get for thinking that about yourself."

She stuck her tongue out playfully at him, before laying her head on his shoulder, as the quiet bus ride home continued.

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ー end ー

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author's note

yaho everyone, sorry if some parts feel redundant, as its been years probably since ive written something with actual plot and story line. sorry to disappoint everyone by making it a gladion x serena one-shot, its very random i know, but i had fun with it, so ill write more for other ships in the future maybe.

- with regards, haru