Soren Rivers

I kept my distance as Jay spoke with Zekiel across the room. I was glad he was awake and had been able to get treated and healed up so quickly but I didn't like how he seemed to only wish to speak when Jay was the only one around. Were they hiding something from me? I caught him glancing over at me as I shifted in my chair before he quickly looked away again and continued his conversation. Finally, Jay left his side and I stood up as she approached.

"Where's Ivan? I have to ask him something." She barely even looked at me.

"Outside restocking our medical supplies in case something like that happens to us." I responded, fighting off the bitterness rising inside me.

"Alright." Jay nodded and grabbed her bag. "I'll go find him, be right back okay?"

"...Yeah." I watched her go before walking back into the room Zekiel was healing up in. He sat up in the bed as I entered, causing Ankou to wake up from where he'd been sleeping next to his trainer.

"Hey Soren." He greeted me, smiling slightly as if he hadn't been stealing my girlfriend away from me for the past week. "What's up?"

I stopped beside the bed and glanced over him, acessing how much he'd healed. The poison was gone and by the looks of it his ankle was the only problem left that prevented him from leaving on his own way again. "Not much. Jay is getting Ivan for something, do you know what the plan is?"

Zekiel sighed in slight irritation. "Yeah... she wants to see if he'll go with me to the port on Klesp Path, since Hailo's is probably not the safest with the attack that happened there..."

If only that attack hadn't happened the other day. Then he could just fly there from Risen and we'd be done with him. But no... Tarot had to stage another fight and drive off the Royal Family's legendary pokémon, Lunala and Solgaleo, back to their home in Alola. Of course, they weren't dead yet but knowing Jay, she wouldn't want to risk him going there and being attacked, especially if Valhalla was really looking for him to track us down like he said. I knew that was probably the reason she was going to ask Ivan to take him instead of all of us going... we were the danger in the group after what we witnessed and did... Ivan and Zekiel- anyone else we knew really- were in danger because of us. Freya... she would be safe with the Rescue Members and I would never let Valhalla near Jay again but Esme, Ivan, and now Zekiel were at risk. Rita probably was too considering we were with her a brief time. Was splitting them up and distancing ourselves really a good idea though? We could protect each other together after all.

My silence must've lasted longer than I thought, as Zekiel decided to speak again. "I would love to get to Klesp Path so I could leave the region but... do you think you could convince Jay I don't need help? I know this happened last time I was on my own but I don't want to get between any of you guys."

"Why don't you convince her?" I couldn't stop some spite from slipping into my voice. "You two have known each other a lot longer than I've known her."

He looked away and stared at the wall, leaving a pause before answering my challenge. "I know you don't really like me around her alone, I get it. She's with you. I'm not trying to break that bond... I just- You wouldn't understand why I need her at times and why it can't just be anyone I can talk to. You have your relationship with her and I have mine but it isn't what I'm sure you feel it is okay? She knows more about me than I want anyone else to know, not even other friends."

"I see." While it was true I hadn't witnessed anything suggesting he was trying to be romantic with her I wasn't quite convinced Jay was the only one he could talk to about whatever it was they talked about.

"I'm sorry, really, I just don't want people thinking less of me." He reached out and rubbed Ankou's back as he spoke. "So, do you think you could give it a shot at changing her mind?"

"Yeah." I agreed, still trying to figure out what he was hiding.

"Thanks..." He yawned and laid back down.

I didn't respond as I left the room to let him sleep. I wanted answers about his odd behavior but blackmailing him through offering to convince Jay to let him go out alone again for the information or forcing it out through intimidation were both out of the question if I didn't want to tick off Jay. Not that it would matter though once he was gone and in another region, which couldn't happen soon enough apparently!

I looked up as Jay came back a few minutes later with Ivan walking in behind her with a bag of supplies. I stood up and walked over to meet her, intending to do as Zekiel requested and convince her against sending Ivan with him. "Jay can I talk to you a moment?"

She stopped and looked at me curiously. "About what?"

"About sending Ivan off with Zekiel... I think he's going to be fine on his own, honestly, he knows what not to do this time."

"He's still hurt and only has two pokémon." Jay criticized the idea. "Besides, Ivan will rejoin us once Zekiel is safely on the ferry to another region."

"It's not a problem." Ivan spoke up. "I know the way and my pokémon are more experienced than his so if Valhalla shows up then we shouldn't have too much trouble."

"I see." I moved out of their way and went outside to let them finish up the plans, after all, it didn't seem like they needed me around.

I wandered the streets out of boredom until I finally saw Jay walk out alone with her bag. She didn't seem to notice me as she paused in hesitation outside the Pokémon Center and looked around like she was debating what direction to walk in. I walked back over to her and put my arms around her from behind, half attempting to see if I could scare her and half just greeting her. "Babe."

Jay turned around in my arms and gave me a half smile. "Hey Soren, I wasn't sure where you went."

I ignored the comment, more intent to figure out what was going on or if our group was changing yet again because of someone. "Where's Ivan?"

"He's staying here for a few more days to make sure Zekiel is strong enough to travel then the two of them are going to Klesp Path. If everything goes as planned and Valhalla doesn't mess things up again we'll be meeting him at Drego to challenge the last gym."

"I see." I moved one hand to the back of her head, letting my fingers tangle in her hair. "So, we'll be traveling by ourselves for a while?"

"Yeah." Jay pressed closer a moment to kiss the side of my neck before pulling out of my arms.

I quickly followed after her as she made her way towards the docks. "Interesting... Does this mean we can finally go on dates and be a real couple? We can kiss again like we did on the beach without making any of our friends uncomfortable, it'll be great."

"I guess." She shrugged and I half wondered if I had said the wrong thing... She did love me right? Of course she did, she would tell me...

"This is Zekiel's fault. If he wasn't hurt she wouldn't be distracted by him." Anger and jealousy flooded my mind before guilt rose up as well. Zekiel had been her friend and all I could care about was having Jay's attention... if she had been able to hear my thoughts she'd probably hate me.

I reached out and took her hand, hiding the hostility I had felt and masking it with a reassuring smile. "I'm sure Zekiel will be fine with Ivan there... but if that's bothering you... I won't make you suffer through a date or anything."

I was sure she'd be able to see some sign that I wasn't liking what I was saying but she merely nodded with barely a passing glance, though she did lean against my shoulder momentarily before walking faster, pulling me along for a second before I easily matched her step. I sighed and looked ahead at the docks where the ferry would take us to Risen... maybe Jay would feel better after challenging Verno.