If this was what all teaching was like, Luhan never wanted to get a job at the Pokémon Academy.

            “How do you not even know the types?” he asked exasperatedly, and Minseok just shrugged sheepishly and smiled in a way that totally didn’t make Luhan’s heart flutter.

            “I know them… just not very well,” Minseok defended himself half-heartedly, grinning at Dewgong as the Pokémon barked chipperly. “I mean, I just need to know Dewgong’s, right? It’s not like I’m planning on being some big bad trainer, now am I?” The wink that accompanied the words was dangerous, and god dammit Luhan didn’t sign up for this.

            Except he did.

            “Well, yeah, it’s good to know Dewgong’s a water type, but what are you gonna do when he encounters a grass type? Or an electric? Or a dragon?” Minseok furrowed his eyebrows in confusion at the questions.

            “What difference would it make?”

            “What differen—did Yixing teach you anything? Literally anything? Like what the actual , Minseok.”  The other boy just scoffed, though he still looked cocky and Luhan wanted to punch him in the face for that. “Look, water type attacks don’t work well on grass and dragon types—or other water types, really, for that matter—and, more importantly, water type Pokémon are extremely weak to grass and electric types. Unless Dewgong works on building his attack and dodging skills, he’d get pummeled.”

            “Hey!” Minseok exclaimed indignantly, Dewgong barking out in opposition as well, but Luhan just shrugged.

            “You may not like it, but that’s how it is,” he snapped, and the pair settled down hearing the tone of his voice. “You know absolutely nothing about these poachers, what Pokémon they have, or how powerful they are. Hell, you don’t even know when you’ll see them next. If you want any chance against them in a random encounter battle, you have to be prepared.”

            Minseok stayed silent, and Luhan could practically see the gears turning in his head. Even Dewgong was silent, retreating inwards on himself as he sunk further into the water and lowered his head against the grassy floor. Vaguely, Luhan wondered if he was being too hard. It wasn’t like they weren’t trying, after all. Minseok spent as much time as he could in and outside of work learning more about battling techniques, and Luhan had noticed Dewgong taking on more physical tasks around the ranch. He’d even seen the Pokémon doing laps through the streams, taking some of the Oddish saplings around on joyrides to help build its strength. But neither of them were made for battling—Dewgong was a wild Pokémon that just lived life calmly, and Minseok barely interacted with Pokémon outside of friendships. He didn’t battle, didn’t heal, didn’t breed Pokémon; he just set up and maintained a place for them to live.

            It wasn’t his fault that this safe haven was now being attacked.

            “I got it,” Minseok muttered lowly, his voice just loud enough to pull Luhan from his thoughts. He looked up to see something else swirling in Minseok’s eyes, a passion burning in his irises that wasn’t there before. “Teach me everything I need to know, Lu.”  

            Luhan didn’t know what struck him harder—the nickname, or the look on Minseok’s face. The determination in his expression was something that seemed so strange on the usually relaxed, chipper, cheeky man, yet somehow, it still fit so well. This… this wasn’t a different Minseok, just another side of the same person. This was the Minseok who ran the entire place, who practically raised his younger brother, who accepted complete strangers into his home without even a single second thought, who took the burden of protecting his home and the home of all these Pokémon onto his own shoulders.

            It was a Minseok Luhan hadn’t seen directly before, but one that had always been there, waiting for the chance to show himself. That very thought made him steel his heart as he nodded.

            “We’ll start, then,” he said firmly, wheeling himself back slightly to put enough space between them to create a fake-arena.

            As he did so, worry crept into his mind without his consent. They had agreed earlier on a mock-battle to test out Minseok’s skills and to give him a good first glance at what battling as a whole was like. They had agreed on it, yet somehow he couldn’t help but worry. He didn’t want to overwhelm the other man, but he also didn’t want to make it seem like he was going easy on him. He doubted Minseok’s pride would allow anything like that, anyway. If he so much as even considered Luhan going easy on him, Minseok would probably kill him. Not that Luhan assumed that he would be bad at battling but just… not prepared for how it would be like.

            Taking a deep breath, he nodded over to Rapidash, who stepped forward hesitatingly. She was clearly conflicted about fighting the Pokémon that had saved them and the man that cared for them, but she was the best choice for a first battle. As a fire type, she wouldn’t have much leverage element-wise, giving Dewgong a chance to really test out its abilities. He could’ve sent out Ninetails, but between the two, it was clear that Rapidash was stronger, better enabled to handle harsh hits, and more controlled. Ninetails was too easily provoked, among some of this other Pokémon (Primeape), and Luhan didn’t want to risk any loss of control, not for Minseok and Dewgong’s first battle.

            “Are you ready?” he called out over the field, and all he got in response was a chipper bark from Dewgong and a thumbs-up from Minseok. Sighing, he closed his eyes and focused. They may have been friends, but this… this was battle time. This was who he trained to be, what he trained to achieve. This was his field.

            The words were falling from his mouth before his eyes were even completely open.

            “Rapidash, quick attack.”

            And the game was on.

            “Swim to avoid it, Dewgong!” Minseok was commanding, and the Pokémon followed immediately.

            They had done their best to find the most realistic battle scene for a poaching incident, and it was certainly… different. Within the forest they had found a connection of small rivers, near-streams, all returning to a series of ponds and small lakes. It was almost swamp-like in layout, really, but there were enough platform-like areas of land that Luhan was sure Rapidash could handle it. Still, he kept a hand on her Pokéball, just in case of an emergency.

            “Gong!” Dewgong cried out as its side was slammed into as Rapidash charged from one plot of land to the next, managing to ram its front hooves into the water type in the process. Rapidash was a pioneer of speed, after all.

            “Quick, come back with a take down, Dewgong!” Minseok was calling out, but Luhan could hear the man curse. Battles were fast-paced and harsh, and it was up to the ranch owner to realize that now. Still, he was doing relatively well, and at least he had taken the time to learn Dewgong’s moves. Now it was just a matter of learning how to use them.

            “Flame wheel around yourself, followed by another quick attack!” Luhan called out.

            “Dash!” Rapidash exclaimed in compliance, running quickly along the riverbank leading to Dewgong as she blew fire from , the flames coiling around her body closely.

            It wouldn’t last long, but if they could time it right, they’d get the ideal collision and back Dewgong and Minseok into a corner. It was almost too easy of a play, but Luhan didn’t mind; it wasn’t like he expected this battle to last that long, anyway. Still, something didn’t seem quite right… Almost immediately after Luhan had given his own command, Dewgong stayed steady, approaching Rapidash at a speed not nearly quick enough for a take down. It was as though he was waiting to be attacked. Minseok hardly seemed worried either… wait, was he smirking—?

            “Take down, Dewgong,” Minseok called out coolly, and Luhan couldn’t help but flinch slightly as Dewgong duck its head into the water to form its body into a streamline and sped up immediately, gearing straight forward for a direct collision. What was Minseok doing? Didn’t he realize that this wasn’t a head-on fight? The fire from Rapidash’s flame wheel would ruin Dewgong’s defenses, at best. Not to mention the strength from the quick attack— “Let’s switch it up, buddy.”

            Almost immediately, Dewgong’s head was up, and soon, its entire body was joining, as he started… flying? No, that wasn’t it. Dewgong was jumping: jumping rivers, that is. It was like he was switching lanes on a race track, as his back tail fin sharply angled itself to the right, sailing his body to the side until he was right at the edge of the riverbank before he jumped. Now it was Luhan’s turn to curse, but Dewgong wasn’t done yet, because seconds later, its heavy tail was slamming up against a thick stump of a nearby tree. Luhan could only curse and scream at Rapidash in vain to slow down, but it was too late—even if she slowed down, she wouldn’t be able to prevent the hit ahead.

            He flinched as leaves and branches fell upon Rapidash, scraping her face and back and kicking her off balance until she tumbled to a stop. Luckily, the dampness around them helped tame the flames, but Luhan didn’t focus on that as he turned to glare at Minseok.

            “Rapidash isn’t the only one who can jump,” the reserve owner sing-songed cheekily, and Dewgong joined in gleefully, barking as he leisurely drifted into a central lake.

            “You good, girl?” Luhan questioned lowly, a grin making its way onto his face as the fire horse whinnied proudly, shaking off the leaves that had fallen onto her and standing up as though nothing had happened. “Then let’s go and protect our pride.”

            “Your pride needed to be deflated, anyway,” Minseok shot back haughtily, before turning to Dewgong with a nod. “Let’s change the terrain a little bit, Dewgong.” The Pokémon barked happily, and suddenly, it was gone with a splash. , Luhan hadn’t accounted for a dive.

            “Sunny day, Rapidash!” If she could just light the area up enough through the canopy of trees, they should be able to see Dewgong’s shadow. The lake wasn’t all too deep, after all, so it wasn’t like Dewgong could just swim farther away from the surface to avoid the light. Rolling himself to the edge of the lake, he quickly saw a dark blur moving through the water. “There, targeted flamethrower!”

            Rapidash neighed loudly before the flames were spewing from from where she stood on a precarious path of land towards the center of the lake. The flames wouldn’t make it through the water, but if she could just heat up the area around…

            “Gong!” the scream was loud, piercing, and from somewhere else completely. Luhan barely had time to turn his head before he saw Dewgong slamming into Rapidash from behind her. Of course, there was bound to be other things in the lake besides Dewgong.

            He didn’t get a chance to think about that, though, because just a second later he saw Rapidash falling. The water— she’d drown. Without thinking, he shoved himself up, managing to let out a scream of ‘Rapidash’ before he was falling over his casted leg. As he got a face full of mud and grass, however, another scream sounded through the area, a determined, calm one.

            “Catch her, Dewgong!”

            Luhan was barely able to look up in time to see Dewgong suddenly on Rapidash’s other side, holding her up with his entire body as she stabled herself. His heartrate and breathing didn’t calm down until the fire horse was well settled, neighing cheerfully in thanks to Dewgong and hopping over to more stable ground. And even then, he didn’t stop staring at the scene until hands were on his body, pulling him up quickly but carefully. Snapping his head over, he saw Minseok smiling down at him as he helped maneuver him back into his wheelchair.

            “You know I’d never let something happen to her,” he said softly, his voice barely audible over Dewgong and Rapidash’s happy exclamations, and Luhan was suddenly aware of just how close they were. He was already sat in his wheelchair once more, but Minseok’s hands were still on him, one tightly gripping his upper arm and the other holding firmly onto his waist. Their faces were barely inches apart, to the point where they could feel each others’ heavy breaths on their faces. Minseok seemed to notice the closeness too, his eyes flickering over Luhan’s face rapidly, but he showed no signs of moving any time soon.

            “Y…yeah, I know,” Luhan panted out slowly, his lips curling up into a smile involuntarily as Minseok chuckled.

            “You’re still so reckless,” he poked teasingly, and Luhan managed a tired shrug. "You even kept her ball in hand in case of emergencies, yet you still jumped out."

            “Old habits die hard, Min.” The nickname was out his mouth before he could think about it, and somehow the fact that Minseok’s face went red in response only slightly calmed his own embarrassment.

            “I guess… I guess that recklessness isn’t always bad,” was all Minseok said before raising his hand from Luhan’s upper arm to ruffle the boy’s hair instead. He lingered like that for a little longer, so close and so deep in Luhan’s personal space, before his hands were slowly drifting away and he was lifting his face. Almost reluctantly, he was turning away, walking towards their Pokémon as Luhan stared on, half-dazed.

            As his skin tingled lightly where Minseok had touched, Luhan could only think about how royally ed he was.

----

            “You know, when you asked me for help, I didn’t think this was what you meant.”

            “Just shut up and help me already, will you?”

            “Why should I? You’re the one who ratted me out.”

            Luhan groaned, slamming his head against the table he was sat against as Jongdae crossed his arms indignantly from where he was sat on his bed. The older boy was wondering why he even tried in the first place.

            “How many times do I have to tell you—it was an accident,” he said with another groan, lifting his head up to look at Jongdae with a pointed look. “He would’ve found out eventually anyway, and if you remember correctly, I’m the one who convinced him to chill out and not yell your off. So if you wouldn’t mind…?” Jongdae scoffed, kicking his legs out and sticking his tongue out at Luhan childishly.

            “I still don’t get what the big deal is. So, you have a crush on Minseok hyung, who cares?”

            “I do not—”

            “You practically ogle the ground he walks on now, admit it.”

            “That’s exaggerating—”

            “You literally got mad because he petted Rapidash and not you.”

            “…Okay maybe I sorta kinda like him a little bit,” Luhan finally relented, sighing dramatically as he looked out the window. “But that doesn’t mean I know what the to do about it.”

            “Just tell him,” Jongdae said with a shrug, his voice barely loud enough to sound over the crackling noises of the chips bag he was opening. “I doubt he’d say anything bad, at the least. Who knows, it may turn out good?”

            “Has he even dated anyone before?” Luhan deadpanned, only to be met with another noncommittal shrug.

            “A couple people, I think. I dunno, though, it’s hard to meet new people around here, and he’s not the most open about that stuff.”

            “Yeah, but you’re his brother. Shouldn’t he confide in you or whatever?”

            “This is Minseok hyung we’re talking about.”

            “Fair point.” Jongdae snorted, laying back on his bed as he ate away at his chips.

            “Anyway, there’s nothing really I can help you with, so if you’ll excuse me, I have TV to watch and responsibilities to ignore.”

            Luhan narrowed his eyes at that, glaring at Jongdae’s legs as he thought. Suddenly, an idea struck him, and with a perfectly malicious grin, he wheeled himself over until he was sat directly next to Jongdae’s face on the edge of the bed. The younger boy raised an eyebrow at him at first, incredulous and also slightly bemused, but his expression morphed into shock and concern as he saw the expression on Luhan’s face.

            It was then, Jongdae knew that he ed up.

            “How’s about this, hm?” Luhan hummed playfully, enjoying the fear that rose in Jongdae’s eyes. “You help me out with Minseok, and I won’t say anything about your massive crush on Yixing.” That had Jongdae sitting up, eyes wide and alert.

            “I-I don’t have a crush on Yixing hyung,” he stammered pathetically, enough so that Luhan actually laughed.

            “And my Primeape doesn’t beat me up on a daily basis,” he retorted sarcastically, laughing more as Jongdae visibly deflated. “Oh c’mon, you refuse to be in the same room as Yixing alone if you're not helping him with Pokémon,  and you practically worship him whenever he’s not around. You never top staring at him during dinner and you named your favorite teddy bear after him. Admit it—if I have a crush on Minseok, you’re practically obsessed with Yixing’s very existence.”

            “…I hate you,” Jongdae grumbled, arms crossed and lips turned out in a pout, but he made no more moves to deny it. “You better not mention it to anyone.”

            “I won’t… if you help me.”

            Luhan didn’t mention how practically everyone on the reserve probably knew, with the exception of Minseok, who somehow still thought his baby brother was pure and chaste and could never hold love for anyone except for his strong, cool older brother, and Yixing himself, who was denser than concrete when it came to anything besides Pokémon. Jongdae seemed to realize this, though, as he sighed and nodded in compliance because he didn’t want: 1. Yixing to find out in such an embarrassing way and 2. Minseok to go into an overprotective fit and throw Yixing out.

            “Deal.” Luhan grinned, his smile as wide and sinister as a Gengar’s.

            “Pleasure doing business with you.”

look who finally updated!! im alive i swear!! 
yeah sorry guys school has been kicking my and ive had no inspiration to write and no idea of what to write and yeah basically writer emi's been dead for the past while lolol
hopefully this was up to par and all with the story and your expectations and all that! i cant promise when my next update will be but im trying my best haha
in the mean time enjoy rly gay luhan and cheeky minseok ft. also gay meme jongdae and barely existent yixing whoops
ok thats it bye guys til next time //finger guns my way out of the room