Pokemon | Fairy Garden Lungs
Nov. 23rd, 2023 12:56 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
fairyficRating: T
Fandom: Pokemon
Characters: Bede, Opal, Chairman Rose (mentioned)
Words: 4,635
Content Warnings: Vomiting
Tropes: Hanahaki Disease, Families of Choice, Hurt/Comfort
Summary: Bede has a rapidly-advancing case of hanahaki disease. The problem is, he insists that he has no romantic feelings for anyone.
Back on my NaNoWriMo grind! I'm a big fan of the hanahaki disease trope, so imagine my surprise when I went onto Fanlore in order to refresh my memory on it, only to see MY OWN POST in the 'meta' section!! Talk about a jumpscare.
Nonetheless! The way that I write hanahaki is a little bit different. Namely, it's not a matter of, "Dying due to onesided love, and you need the love to be reciprocated to be cured." Instead, it's, "Dying due to repressing / hiding your emotions, and you need to say how you feel to be cured." This interpretation is closer to the original intention of hanahaki!
I've had this idea for a long time, so I'm really excited to finally get it out there! I hope you all like it!
"You know, if you're honestly winded by a small set of stairs, then I believe that's cause for me to put you back into physical training."
Bede, slumped over with both hands on his knees, looked up at Opal with a grimace. "You aren't really considering that, are you...?"
Opal chuckled, grinning a bit wickedly. "No, no, of course not. I've told you before, haven't I? That aspect of your training was merely to test your dedication." She waited for Bede to respond, and, after a moment of silence (with the exception of the boy currently trying to catch his breath), she brought a delicate hand to cradle her face, tilting her head absentmindedly. "Although, I will not lie and say this isn't concerning."
Bede's increasing frailness had begun so subtly that Opal had hardly noticed it at first; with him waking up earlier in the morning to go to the Gym, and arriving home later. Apparently, it had begun to take him longer to walk to and from the Stadium by foot. On top of that, the more time that passed, the more knackered Bede seemed when he arrived home, despite his best attempts to insist that he was just having an off day, then off week, then off month.
Lately, when Bede returned home from even short walks, Opal had noticed a slight wheezing in his exhales, as well. And that had escalated to this point—to where Bede was winded after climbing up the (very few) steps outside of the Ballonlea Pokémon Center.
Bede, despite his breathing still being deeper than usual, straightened up at that, taking one big deep breath before walking forward, pushing through his exhaustion. "It's nothing, I'm positive."
"Well, it can't be nothing, now, could it? Otherwise, it wouldn't be happening." Opal took the cue and began to walk with him, still thinking. "Is there a possibility that you may have asthma?"
"Certainly not. To be frank, I suspect nothing more than seasonal allergies. After all, it's not as if Ballonlea is known for its clean air, is it?" Bede motioned loosely to a luminescent glowing mushroom as the two passed it, with just a hint of exasperation in his movement.
"Ah-ah— allergies to pollen originate from trees and grass, not mushrooms. Although Ballonlea is right next to the Tangle, so I am inclined to agree that allergies would be notable here. Even so, it's not even spring, and I don't think that pollen allergies result in the types of symptoms you have."
"You have to admit it would explain the coughing."
"I suppose." Opal hummed, nodding to herself, before looking back to Bede. "Nonetheless. Once we're home, I'll be making you tea with honey and lemon. That's better than most over the counter nonsense."
"You don't-..." Bede began, before stopping himself. By this point, he seemed to know better than to try to convince Opal to not do something for him that she had already stated she would. He pressed a hand to his chest, clearing his throat for a moment. "... Alright. If it'll make whatever this is pass faster."
"Oh! Wizard-! Ms. Wizard!"
Upon hearing her nickname, Opal turned to the sound of the young voice calling for her attention. Once she saw a Trainer with a newly-healed Indeedee in her arms approaching her, she turned to the man working the PokéMart, holding up a hand. "Apologies. Just one moment."
When the Trainer had come to a stop in front of her, Opal placed both hands atop her umbrella's handle, holding it between the two of them. "What is it, child?"
The girl ducked her head a bit forward, showing a hint of shyness, now that she actually had Opal's attention. "A-ah, I'm sorry... just, it's about your son."
Opal considered correcting her, but she knew to whom the girl was referring, so she felt no need. "Yes?"
"It's- well, we just got back from a battle with him." Opal smiled, but the girl quickly shook her head 'no' at the expression, surprising her. "Well, we just had to forfeit! Have you seen his battles lately??"
Opal blinked a few times, before making her expression firmer, tapping her umbrella on the ground once. "I have not. I apologize. Please tell me—what had you feeling as if you had to forfeit?"
"Well, it just wasn't a fair fight! He was sick, I could tell! Even though, when I asked, he said he was fine, and- and-" The poor girl stumbled over her words, trying to get them all out in a rush. "And he couldn't make his voice loud enough! I couldn't hear the attacks he called out, so, probably, the audience couldn't either! And I saw his Pokémon not even being able to hear him once! And he was obviously weak and distracted by his cough, and wasn't able to battle at his fullest, so...!" She let out a sigh, again shrinking back in embarrassment. "...so I forfeit."
Opal nodded slowly, tightening her grip on her umbrella, before promptly switching it to one hand, already walking out of the Center as she thanked the young girl, and called to the cashier to forget her order. She could return at a later date. This required immediate attention.
She didn't slow her step until she was in the Ballonlea Stadium's lobby, and she spotted Bede leaning against the wall, next to where the Uniforms were being sold. There was something in his mouth, but he wasn't chewing it, and when Opal approached him, he held up one finger, before swallowing it down.
He tapped his throat softly with the same finger he had held up. "Cough drop," he stated simply, before pushing himself off the wall, standing up and leaning to one side. "What is it that you have come to visit for?"
"Oh, nothing much." She lowered her eyelids, her brows furrowing. "It's just that a little birdie told me that you are far too sick to be performing your duties."
Bede sighed, looking away to direct his irritated expression to a wall, rather than to Opal. "I knew that little..." He shook his head, clearing his throat, before speaking. "I am not sick. Rest assured, I've been taking my temperature every few hours. I would never be so careless as to infect a Challenger with an illness."
"Question!" Her tone of voice, combined with the phrase, made Bede snap to attention, ready to be quizzed. "Why is it that you think that Gym Leaders are often reported as staying home, even for non-contagious illnesses?"
"Lack of work ethic," Bede replied simply, without missing a beat.
"Incorrect!" She pointed a finger at Bede, and her reply made him blink a few times, clearly surprised.
"When you are a member of the Galar Gym Challenge, battling as a Gym Leader is not solely about testing your opponent. It is about the theatrics, as well! Putting on a worthy performance for those in the Stadium, those watching the battle from home, and the Challenger. You must appear as the formidable foe you are! Constantly coughing and wheezing is not becoming of such a foe."
Bede continued to stare at her, still stunned into silence, before his body language relaxed, and nodded once. "Yes, ma'am. I apologize. I let you down."
Opal lowered her finger, and shook her head, displeased but compassionate. "No, dear. You didn't. You're still new to this, so a few missteps are to be expected. You're a hard worker. You only need a break."
Bede's head snapped back up again. "But-!!" He shook his head quickly, taking a step forward and pressing both hands to his chest, suddenly a slight bit frantic. "I don't need a break! I just need to find out a way to stop this! I can't just put aside my duties for a silly little cough, and let all of your training go-"
Because he had stepped closer to her, when Bede suddenly brought both hands to his mouth and began coughing, Opal couldn't help but flinch a bit out of shock. She waited for it to fade, but, after a few seconds, began to grow concerned. This was the longest coughing spell she'd bore witness to.
She was just about to ask Bede if he was alright when she heard a loud, distinct throat sound, taking a step back from the surprise of it. The sort of noise people made when something was stuck in one's throat, and they were trying to work it out. Immediately after, Bede slumped back against the wall, panting with closed eyes and a red face. His hands had fallen to his side immediately, as if subconsciously, but, in doing so, let something held in them flutter to the floor.
Opal felt her heart sink at what lied on the black-tile floor, moving her shoe for a clearer look.
A cluster of rose-purple flowers, limp and covered in saliva.
Daphne mezereum. A fragrant flower which blooms in clusters, and comes in a variety of purple and pink shades, as well as white.
Opal didn't take the time to identify the flower first thing, of course. Instead, she immediately busied herself with closing the Stadium (thankfully, now with minimal protests), and setting up a doctor's appointment for Bede. Unfortunately, the next opening for an appointment was a week from now. Opal had considered taking Bede to the emergency room, but, because the hanahaki still appeared to be in its early stages, she decided against it (although hesitantly).
At first, Opal had scolded Bede for not informing her of his sickness earlier, but he insisted that he had never coughed anything up before. Opal had not believed the boy at first—after all, the progression of the disease was known to begin with flower petals, and then progress to fully-grown flowers later on.
However, upon asking those who worked at the Stadium, he seemed to be telling the truth. No stray flower petals had been seen, and Bede was glad to turn his pockets inside-out to prove that he wasn't stashing them somewhere. Which, of course, could only mean that the disease was progressing quite fast.
Then, once they were on their way home from the Stadium, Opal had scolded Bede for denying the cause of the disease.
Despite the proof lying in the very sickness he was displaying, he denied this with just as much fervor as he denied coughing up petals. "What is it that you always say? 'Married to your work'? It's like that. You can't honestly believe that I'd be so helplessly lovesick that I'd catch a disease over it, can you?"
Opal 'tsk'ed, forgetting, for a moment, to watch her tone for anger. "Well, clearly, you are. Otherwise, you wouldn't be coughing up whole flowers! You're not the most in-tune with your emotions, I know, but now you've gotten yourself sick over it, and you still refuse to even admit it!"
Bede was fast in reminding her exactly why she needed to watch her temper; quickly going on the aggressive and the defensive in response to her tone. "Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot that you know me and how I feel better than I do! Of course I refuse to admit it to you, or the person I fancy so much! After all, we both know how much I looove this break I'm to be taking, on top of coughing up a lung every five minutes!!"
Opal pinched the bridge of her nose, taking a deep breath to calm her nerves. "I apologize, Bede. I shouldn't have snapped." She let her hand fall back down, brushing off her dress (a silent, habitual reminder to herself to be ladylike). "I know that this can't be easy on you, either."
She heard Bede hum, and she knew he was nodding based off of his tone, even without looking. "You're forgiven. My apologies, as well."
"I forgive you, of course. And it goes without saying that I'll take care of you for as long as this disease persists."
This disease. Hanahaki.
It would make logical sense for Bede to come down with a case, she conceded. Not much was known about the disease, but it rather infamously tends to affect almost exclusively those in contact with Pokémon regularly, such as Pokémon breeders and high-ranking battlers. There were a few particularly well-known cases of Elite Four members, and even League Champions, turning up with the illness.
This was speculated to be because the disease originated from Pokémon, with a handful carrying the disease, but being entirely asymptomatic. It could then be spread to humans. This theory explained both the tendency for the disease to appear in those exposed to many Pokémon, and the disease's mysterious, almost magical, properties.
One such mysterious property was the link to floriography. This link is what had Opal insisting to Bede that he show any new flower that he ended up coughing up to her (which he scrunched his face up at the suggestion of, before muttering that he'll at least wipe the saliva from them). She, thankfully, already had a passing interest in the subject, so she owned a handful of books on both flower identification and flower language. It only took a few hours of research to identify the first flower.
Daphne mezereum. "A desire to please."
All of that was some time ago, though. Now, a few days into Bede's mandatory time off, she was flipping through her books to identify a new flower that had appeared from Bede's increasing rate of coughing fits, aside from the moss and oval-shaped leaves (leaves which had coarsely toothed edges that she shuddered to even imagine coughing up). Another flower which appears in clusters, this time white in color with various visible stamens...
Eventually, she found what she was looking for: Traveler's Joy. "Rest. Safety."
She sighed to herself when she saw, next to the flower's entry, a mention of a possibility of skin irritation. Daphne mezereum had also listed this issue. She noted that she should keep an eye out for if Bede had started scratching more.
She'd also tell him to report to her if he noticed it himself, but she couldn't really believe that he'd tell her. He was constantly trying to downplay the severity of his illness and get back to work at the Stadium, despite the fact that it was clearly worsening; rather rapidly, at that. Opal still often found herself exasperated that he refused to admit his feelings to her (and, evidently, the object of his affections).
But, if nothing else, it was good that he was at home at all times now. Hanahaki advanced fastest when those afflicted are around the one causing it, and, with how fast it was progressing when he was just staying at home, she could hardly imagine how rough it would be if he was out and about.
She snapped her book shut, and pointedly chose to actually not imagine it at all.
Opal's suspicions were proven correct when, only a few days later, she saw a movement out of the corner of her eye while reading. When she looked up, she saw what she had been worried about—a blotchy red spot on Bede's left hand, which he was now absentmindedly scratching at on the couch.
"Bede!"
The boy jolted to attention, eyes darting to Opal, then down to his hands. His expression relaxed into more passive annoyance. "Oh, bloody Hell."
"I thought I told you to tell me any new symptoms, as soon as they appeared."
He moved his hand, looking at the rash, with an almost critical expression. "It wasn't nearly this bad when I last took a proper look at it."
Opal took in a sharp breath to raise her voice, before letting it out slowly, making a point to close her book calmly, rather than quickly enough to make a noise. Once her frustration had passed, she furrowed her brows at Bede, frowning. "I did not tell you to report them to me 'once they got bad enough'. Did I?"
Bede lowered his hands, putting them in his lap and avoiding eye contact, clearly ashamed. "No. You didn't." He coughed once, twice.
"Dear, I know that you're only trying to stop me from worrying, but this sort of behavior worries me more than anything." She shook her head. "You're avoiding the issue. And you're avoiding what would cure it, as well."
"Ms. Opal, I told you-!"
"Well, I don't see how I'm supposed to believe you when you keep lying about so many other things regarding this."
"But stuff like the rash already happened! It's over and done with! It can't be prevented from happening, because it's already there. But I'm still alive, and do you really think that I WANT to die young?!"
The living room was suddenly very still after that. Even Bede had shocked himself into silence. Both watched the other carefully, waiting for a breath to be taken.
This was the first time either of them had acknowledged the terminal nature of the disease Bede had contracted.
It was Opal who moved first. She leaned back against her chair and closed her eyes, no longer bothering to sit up straight. Exhausted, from just a few exchanges. "No," she responded simply, now all-too aware of the frail sound her voice had taken in her age. "No, of course not. I sincerely apologize, Bede."
"It's alright."
A moment passed, before Opal opened her eyes. In contrast to her, Bede had sat up from where he sat on the opposite couch, his posture stiff and his gaze on the floor.
"Bede?"
He looked up to her again, and he looked so frightened that it made Opal ache. "Ms. Opal?"
"You swear to me that there is no possible chance that this could be due to unconfessed romantic feelings?"
Bede nodded quickly, frantic. It was evident how much he wanted to be believed.
Opal closed her eyes again, humming softly. She heard Bede cough again.
"Alright."
"Alright??" The comfort Bede felt from being believed was clear, even just from blindly listening to his voice.
"Yes. Alright." She nodded, then looked at Bede. "The only issue, then, is that I have no clue what in the world could be the cause. Especially for it to advance as quickly as it has. It should have taken months for you to get to the point that you are at now."
Bede chuckled humorlessly. "Yes, that's more or less where I've been stuck, too."
"Well." She tapped one hand against the hardcover of her book, now resting in her lap. "Thankfully, your doctor's appointment is tomorrow morning. We'll be able to ask any questions that we have then. I believe that perhaps both of our knowledge is a little... outdated."
"That's a relief."
Opal didn't know if he was referring to the appointment being soon, or her finally believing him. Perhaps both. Either way, though, his weary grin showed his honesty.
That night, Opal tapped her knuckles against the door to Bede's room. "May I come in?"
"You may."
Opal opened the door once permission had been granted, and Bede swung his legs over the side of his bed, sitting up to greet her. She grinned to greet him, and chose to sit down next to him carefully on his bed, so that she wouldn't spill the warm cup in her hands.
"I made you herbal tea for the night," she explained, leaving the assumed 'with honey and lemon' unspoken. She handed Bede the cup, and her cool hands quickly missed the warmth. He took a sip as she held out a tube of cream. "I also went to the market and bought this. Put it on the rash no more often than once every 12 hours, and no less than once per day. It ought to help."
Bede nodded, swallowing down the sip he had taken before accepting the cream, and placing it on his bedside table. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." Opal stood up, and Bede took another sip of the tea. "Be up and ready by 10 tomorrow for our appointment, alright, dear?"
At first, when Bede started coughing suddenly, spitting a bit of the tea, Opal figured that it had simply gone down the wrong pipe. After a few moments, she realized it was another flower stuck in Bede's throat, and she took the cup from him upon noticing that he was holding it to her.
With both hands now free, he covered his mouth, hacking and making that odd throat noise to try and get the flowers up. Opal placed the tea next to the cream on the bedside table, before sitting down again, rubbing Bede's back and waiting for it to pass.
This wasn't the first time that she had touched Bede while he was coughing, but it was the first time that he rested against her; still covering his mouth, he turned to lean into her shoulder. Naturally, as if it came without thinking. Though, within a few seconds, he was leaning away, grabbing the bucket he had taken to keeping on the floor of his bedroom, quickly brushing his hands off into it beforehand (mostly moss and those oval-shaped leaves).
Opal watched attentively for any new flowers that may appear, given that this was clearly a particularly bad fit. However, no new flowers appeared; the usual white and rose-purple clusters fell from Bede's mouth.
"Breathe, now," Opal tried to soothe Bede, seeing tears welling up in his eyes from the pain.
Bede tried to swallow back the coughing, panting frantically. He was sweating from the effort at this point, his face now red. "Can't-!" he managed to get out, before, again, coughing. He had given up on covering his mouth at that point, instead just spitting up the flora directly into the bucket.
"It's alright." Thankfully, Opal had practice in keeping her voice steady despite worry, although the hand on Bede's back shaking may have given her away. (Although, that was more out of concern for how Bede felt emotionally.) "There is no possible way that it's advanced fast enough for it to..." She paused for just a moment, before ending on, "Advance to its final stages. There are symptoms you haven't shown, and tomorrow, we'll get you suppressants."
All through Opal talking, Bede kept shaking his head 'no', coughing and choking and sure that this was it. Continuously trying to swallow the flowers back, or get them all out, starting and stopping talking, working hard to get words out, despite Opal telling him to just focus on getting through the fit.
Opal was, once, again, reminding him of this. "Dear, you can tell me in just a m-"
Bede again shook his head now, loudly swallowing back the flowers in his mouth, and blurting out what he needed to say all at once. With his rough exhale, his voice strained from pain...
"I wish you were my mother."
Before Opal even had time to be surprised, Bede's coughing suddenly shifted to retching, throwing up the remains of what was caught in his throat. Opal immediately went back to rubbing his back, thankful that, at least, it was almost over.
A few moments later, Bede forced himself to sit back up, wiping his mouth with a disgusted expression, his nose scrunched up. "That was awful," he stated simply, in between deep breaths for air.
"Oh, I know. Throwing up is never pleasant," Opal agreed, taking the bucket before Bede could insist on handling it himself. "To say the least, I'm sure."
After flushing the contents away, she went to return to check on Bede, before she heard his voice.
"OI!"
"Inside voice," she scolded as she approached his door, again peering in.
She was met with the sight of Bede holding his hand to his throat, seemingly surprised. "I know. I'm just testing..." He took a deep breath, then shouted again. "HEY!!"
"Bede!"
"You don't get it?" Bede grinned at her from where he sat, his eyes wide with excitement. "I haven't been able to yell like that since I got sick!!"
"Oh," Opal responded, habitually, before it actually registered. Once it did, she brought a hand to her face. "Oh!"
"I can breathe without it hurting, now, too." He took a deep breath to emphasize, before letting it out without a wheeze. "Must've gotten a lot of those buggers out."
Opal was familiar enough with the disease that she knew that, once it was cured, the remaining flowers in one's lungs had to be expelled. Usually in the form of throwing the remaining ones up...
"Or, perhaps, it's possible that you got all of them out," Opal mused out loud, her tone almost distant from surprise.
Bede shook his head. "But that would mean..."
He interrupted himself. Paused. Then, his face silently began to flush a dark red again.
It doesn't just come from repressed feelings of romantic love, does it?
Bede jolted up to a standing position, looking away from Opal with what was clearly panic, attempting to be covered up by a facade of calm. "I... apologize! You're my mentor. You trained me to be your successor! That was severely inappropriate, I know! I take back my words. I-"
Opal couldn't help herself; she giggled, hiding it behind her hand. Then, she realized how it would likely be taken, and went to correct it when she saw how Bede's expression crumpled. "No, no, I'm not laughing at you. Dearest, it's alright. It made me happy."
The shame in Bede's face faded, and he finally glanced up at Opal, hesitant. "Did it?"
"Sincerely. Come."
Opal opened the arm that wasn't resting on her umbrella, and Bede took only one step forward before, again, glancing up at her face. Searching for any signs of dishonesty or ulterior motives. Upon finding none, he took the remaining steps to her, and accepted her hug. Clearly not used to this sort of affection, and unsure what to do with his hands, he placed them on her back; not quite hugging back, but imitating it, in a way.
"Do you have any idea how many people mistake you for my son in a day?" She chuckled. "I suspect they consider you my grandson, in all honesty, but they wish to be nice about it. But I never correct them. No use in it. And besides..."
She let go of Bede, and placed a delicate hand on his head, pushing his curled hair back slightly. Bede's eyes slipped closed, his body language settling down. "It's not as if I don't see you as family."
Bede let his eyes stay closed for a few more moments, before opening them again to look at Opal, with slight disbelief. Edging just along being distraught.
She could hear the silent, 'Are you sure?' The nonverbal, 'But I have nothing to offer you.' The wordless confession that he considered being his family a chore. Something nobody would want to do of their own volition. Not without something he could do for them.
That damn Chairman.
Instead of cursing, Opal, instead, rolled her eyes, her grin showing the lack of real annoyance behind it. "I don't suppose that you forgot that you live with me, did you?"
Bede blushed again, looking away. "But you...!"
"It's alright, child."
He stuttered for a moment, eyes darting around her face with a dumbfounded expression, clearly having trouble processing this. When he next blinked, a reflection swirled in his eyes, showing the tears he was holding back as he struggled.
Before Opal could offer it, Bede darted into her arms, hugging her properly this time.
"I'm sorry for the trouble." But what he meant is, 'Thank you for accepting me.'
So Opal replied, "You're welcome."
Fun fact: moss also has a meaning in flower language! Opal discarded the moss, because it wasn't a flower, but, if she had looked into it, she would have found that moss represents charity and maternal love. Additionally, the leaves Bede coughs up also have meaning, as they are poplar leaves; the plant that her name comes from!
Fandom: Pokemon
Characters: Bede, Opal, Chairman Rose (mentioned)
Words: 4,635
Content Warnings: Vomiting
Tropes: Hanahaki Disease, Families of Choice, Hurt/Comfort
Summary: Bede has a rapidly-advancing case of hanahaki disease. The problem is, he insists that he has no romantic feelings for anyone.
Back on my NaNoWriMo grind! I'm a big fan of the hanahaki disease trope, so imagine my surprise when I went onto Fanlore in order to refresh my memory on it, only to see MY OWN POST in the 'meta' section!! Talk about a jumpscare.
Nonetheless! The way that I write hanahaki is a little bit different. Namely, it's not a matter of, "Dying due to onesided love, and you need the love to be reciprocated to be cured." Instead, it's, "Dying due to repressing / hiding your emotions, and you need to say how you feel to be cured." This interpretation is closer to the original intention of hanahaki!
I've had this idea for a long time, so I'm really excited to finally get it out there! I hope you all like it!
"You know, if you're honestly winded by a small set of stairs, then I believe that's cause for me to put you back into physical training."
Bede, slumped over with both hands on his knees, looked up at Opal with a grimace. "You aren't really considering that, are you...?"
Opal chuckled, grinning a bit wickedly. "No, no, of course not. I've told you before, haven't I? That aspect of your training was merely to test your dedication." She waited for Bede to respond, and, after a moment of silence (with the exception of the boy currently trying to catch his breath), she brought a delicate hand to cradle her face, tilting her head absentmindedly. "Although, I will not lie and say this isn't concerning."
Bede's increasing frailness had begun so subtly that Opal had hardly noticed it at first; with him waking up earlier in the morning to go to the Gym, and arriving home later. Apparently, it had begun to take him longer to walk to and from the Stadium by foot. On top of that, the more time that passed, the more knackered Bede seemed when he arrived home, despite his best attempts to insist that he was just having an off day, then off week, then off month.
Lately, when Bede returned home from even short walks, Opal had noticed a slight wheezing in his exhales, as well. And that had escalated to this point—to where Bede was winded after climbing up the (very few) steps outside of the Ballonlea Pokémon Center.
Bede, despite his breathing still being deeper than usual, straightened up at that, taking one big deep breath before walking forward, pushing through his exhaustion. "It's nothing, I'm positive."
"Well, it can't be nothing, now, could it? Otherwise, it wouldn't be happening." Opal took the cue and began to walk with him, still thinking. "Is there a possibility that you may have asthma?"
"Certainly not. To be frank, I suspect nothing more than seasonal allergies. After all, it's not as if Ballonlea is known for its clean air, is it?" Bede motioned loosely to a luminescent glowing mushroom as the two passed it, with just a hint of exasperation in his movement.
"Ah-ah— allergies to pollen originate from trees and grass, not mushrooms. Although Ballonlea is right next to the Tangle, so I am inclined to agree that allergies would be notable here. Even so, it's not even spring, and I don't think that pollen allergies result in the types of symptoms you have."
"You have to admit it would explain the coughing."
"I suppose." Opal hummed, nodding to herself, before looking back to Bede. "Nonetheless. Once we're home, I'll be making you tea with honey and lemon. That's better than most over the counter nonsense."
"You don't-..." Bede began, before stopping himself. By this point, he seemed to know better than to try to convince Opal to not do something for him that she had already stated she would. He pressed a hand to his chest, clearing his throat for a moment. "... Alright. If it'll make whatever this is pass faster."
"Oh! Wizard-! Ms. Wizard!"
Upon hearing her nickname, Opal turned to the sound of the young voice calling for her attention. Once she saw a Trainer with a newly-healed Indeedee in her arms approaching her, she turned to the man working the PokéMart, holding up a hand. "Apologies. Just one moment."
When the Trainer had come to a stop in front of her, Opal placed both hands atop her umbrella's handle, holding it between the two of them. "What is it, child?"
The girl ducked her head a bit forward, showing a hint of shyness, now that she actually had Opal's attention. "A-ah, I'm sorry... just, it's about your son."
Opal considered correcting her, but she knew to whom the girl was referring, so she felt no need. "Yes?"
"It's- well, we just got back from a battle with him." Opal smiled, but the girl quickly shook her head 'no' at the expression, surprising her. "Well, we just had to forfeit! Have you seen his battles lately??"
Opal blinked a few times, before making her expression firmer, tapping her umbrella on the ground once. "I have not. I apologize. Please tell me—what had you feeling as if you had to forfeit?"
"Well, it just wasn't a fair fight! He was sick, I could tell! Even though, when I asked, he said he was fine, and- and-" The poor girl stumbled over her words, trying to get them all out in a rush. "And he couldn't make his voice loud enough! I couldn't hear the attacks he called out, so, probably, the audience couldn't either! And I saw his Pokémon not even being able to hear him once! And he was obviously weak and distracted by his cough, and wasn't able to battle at his fullest, so...!" She let out a sigh, again shrinking back in embarrassment. "...so I forfeit."
Opal nodded slowly, tightening her grip on her umbrella, before promptly switching it to one hand, already walking out of the Center as she thanked the young girl, and called to the cashier to forget her order. She could return at a later date. This required immediate attention.
She didn't slow her step until she was in the Ballonlea Stadium's lobby, and she spotted Bede leaning against the wall, next to where the Uniforms were being sold. There was something in his mouth, but he wasn't chewing it, and when Opal approached him, he held up one finger, before swallowing it down.
He tapped his throat softly with the same finger he had held up. "Cough drop," he stated simply, before pushing himself off the wall, standing up and leaning to one side. "What is it that you have come to visit for?"
"Oh, nothing much." She lowered her eyelids, her brows furrowing. "It's just that a little birdie told me that you are far too sick to be performing your duties."
Bede sighed, looking away to direct his irritated expression to a wall, rather than to Opal. "I knew that little..." He shook his head, clearing his throat, before speaking. "I am not sick. Rest assured, I've been taking my temperature every few hours. I would never be so careless as to infect a Challenger with an illness."
"Question!" Her tone of voice, combined with the phrase, made Bede snap to attention, ready to be quizzed. "Why is it that you think that Gym Leaders are often reported as staying home, even for non-contagious illnesses?"
"Lack of work ethic," Bede replied simply, without missing a beat.
"Incorrect!" She pointed a finger at Bede, and her reply made him blink a few times, clearly surprised.
"When you are a member of the Galar Gym Challenge, battling as a Gym Leader is not solely about testing your opponent. It is about the theatrics, as well! Putting on a worthy performance for those in the Stadium, those watching the battle from home, and the Challenger. You must appear as the formidable foe you are! Constantly coughing and wheezing is not becoming of such a foe."
Bede continued to stare at her, still stunned into silence, before his body language relaxed, and nodded once. "Yes, ma'am. I apologize. I let you down."
Opal lowered her finger, and shook her head, displeased but compassionate. "No, dear. You didn't. You're still new to this, so a few missteps are to be expected. You're a hard worker. You only need a break."
Bede's head snapped back up again. "But-!!" He shook his head quickly, taking a step forward and pressing both hands to his chest, suddenly a slight bit frantic. "I don't need a break! I just need to find out a way to stop this! I can't just put aside my duties for a silly little cough, and let all of your training go-"
Because he had stepped closer to her, when Bede suddenly brought both hands to his mouth and began coughing, Opal couldn't help but flinch a bit out of shock. She waited for it to fade, but, after a few seconds, began to grow concerned. This was the longest coughing spell she'd bore witness to.
She was just about to ask Bede if he was alright when she heard a loud, distinct throat sound, taking a step back from the surprise of it. The sort of noise people made when something was stuck in one's throat, and they were trying to work it out. Immediately after, Bede slumped back against the wall, panting with closed eyes and a red face. His hands had fallen to his side immediately, as if subconsciously, but, in doing so, let something held in them flutter to the floor.
Opal felt her heart sink at what lied on the black-tile floor, moving her shoe for a clearer look.
A cluster of rose-purple flowers, limp and covered in saliva.
Daphne mezereum. A fragrant flower which blooms in clusters, and comes in a variety of purple and pink shades, as well as white.
Opal didn't take the time to identify the flower first thing, of course. Instead, she immediately busied herself with closing the Stadium (thankfully, now with minimal protests), and setting up a doctor's appointment for Bede. Unfortunately, the next opening for an appointment was a week from now. Opal had considered taking Bede to the emergency room, but, because the hanahaki still appeared to be in its early stages, she decided against it (although hesitantly).
At first, Opal had scolded Bede for not informing her of his sickness earlier, but he insisted that he had never coughed anything up before. Opal had not believed the boy at first—after all, the progression of the disease was known to begin with flower petals, and then progress to fully-grown flowers later on.
However, upon asking those who worked at the Stadium, he seemed to be telling the truth. No stray flower petals had been seen, and Bede was glad to turn his pockets inside-out to prove that he wasn't stashing them somewhere. Which, of course, could only mean that the disease was progressing quite fast.
Then, once they were on their way home from the Stadium, Opal had scolded Bede for denying the cause of the disease.
Despite the proof lying in the very sickness he was displaying, he denied this with just as much fervor as he denied coughing up petals. "What is it that you always say? 'Married to your work'? It's like that. You can't honestly believe that I'd be so helplessly lovesick that I'd catch a disease over it, can you?"
Opal 'tsk'ed, forgetting, for a moment, to watch her tone for anger. "Well, clearly, you are. Otherwise, you wouldn't be coughing up whole flowers! You're not the most in-tune with your emotions, I know, but now you've gotten yourself sick over it, and you still refuse to even admit it!"
Bede was fast in reminding her exactly why she needed to watch her temper; quickly going on the aggressive and the defensive in response to her tone. "Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot that you know me and how I feel better than I do! Of course I refuse to admit it to you, or the person I fancy so much! After all, we both know how much I looove this break I'm to be taking, on top of coughing up a lung every five minutes!!"
Opal pinched the bridge of her nose, taking a deep breath to calm her nerves. "I apologize, Bede. I shouldn't have snapped." She let her hand fall back down, brushing off her dress (a silent, habitual reminder to herself to be ladylike). "I know that this can't be easy on you, either."
She heard Bede hum, and she knew he was nodding based off of his tone, even without looking. "You're forgiven. My apologies, as well."
"I forgive you, of course. And it goes without saying that I'll take care of you for as long as this disease persists."
This disease. Hanahaki.
It would make logical sense for Bede to come down with a case, she conceded. Not much was known about the disease, but it rather infamously tends to affect almost exclusively those in contact with Pokémon regularly, such as Pokémon breeders and high-ranking battlers. There were a few particularly well-known cases of Elite Four members, and even League Champions, turning up with the illness.
This was speculated to be because the disease originated from Pokémon, with a handful carrying the disease, but being entirely asymptomatic. It could then be spread to humans. This theory explained both the tendency for the disease to appear in those exposed to many Pokémon, and the disease's mysterious, almost magical, properties.
One such mysterious property was the link to floriography. This link is what had Opal insisting to Bede that he show any new flower that he ended up coughing up to her (which he scrunched his face up at the suggestion of, before muttering that he'll at least wipe the saliva from them). She, thankfully, already had a passing interest in the subject, so she owned a handful of books on both flower identification and flower language. It only took a few hours of research to identify the first flower.
Daphne mezereum. "A desire to please."
All of that was some time ago, though. Now, a few days into Bede's mandatory time off, she was flipping through her books to identify a new flower that had appeared from Bede's increasing rate of coughing fits, aside from the moss and oval-shaped leaves (leaves which had coarsely toothed edges that she shuddered to even imagine coughing up). Another flower which appears in clusters, this time white in color with various visible stamens...
Eventually, she found what she was looking for: Traveler's Joy. "Rest. Safety."
She sighed to herself when she saw, next to the flower's entry, a mention of a possibility of skin irritation. Daphne mezereum had also listed this issue. She noted that she should keep an eye out for if Bede had started scratching more.
She'd also tell him to report to her if he noticed it himself, but she couldn't really believe that he'd tell her. He was constantly trying to downplay the severity of his illness and get back to work at the Stadium, despite the fact that it was clearly worsening; rather rapidly, at that. Opal still often found herself exasperated that he refused to admit his feelings to her (and, evidently, the object of his affections).
But, if nothing else, it was good that he was at home at all times now. Hanahaki advanced fastest when those afflicted are around the one causing it, and, with how fast it was progressing when he was just staying at home, she could hardly imagine how rough it would be if he was out and about.
She snapped her book shut, and pointedly chose to actually not imagine it at all.
Opal's suspicions were proven correct when, only a few days later, she saw a movement out of the corner of her eye while reading. When she looked up, she saw what she had been worried about—a blotchy red spot on Bede's left hand, which he was now absentmindedly scratching at on the couch.
"Bede!"
The boy jolted to attention, eyes darting to Opal, then down to his hands. His expression relaxed into more passive annoyance. "Oh, bloody Hell."
"I thought I told you to tell me any new symptoms, as soon as they appeared."
He moved his hand, looking at the rash, with an almost critical expression. "It wasn't nearly this bad when I last took a proper look at it."
Opal took in a sharp breath to raise her voice, before letting it out slowly, making a point to close her book calmly, rather than quickly enough to make a noise. Once her frustration had passed, she furrowed her brows at Bede, frowning. "I did not tell you to report them to me 'once they got bad enough'. Did I?"
Bede lowered his hands, putting them in his lap and avoiding eye contact, clearly ashamed. "No. You didn't." He coughed once, twice.
"Dear, I know that you're only trying to stop me from worrying, but this sort of behavior worries me more than anything." She shook her head. "You're avoiding the issue. And you're avoiding what would cure it, as well."
"Ms. Opal, I told you-!"
"Well, I don't see how I'm supposed to believe you when you keep lying about so many other things regarding this."
"But stuff like the rash already happened! It's over and done with! It can't be prevented from happening, because it's already there. But I'm still alive, and do you really think that I WANT to die young?!"
The living room was suddenly very still after that. Even Bede had shocked himself into silence. Both watched the other carefully, waiting for a breath to be taken.
This was the first time either of them had acknowledged the terminal nature of the disease Bede had contracted.
It was Opal who moved first. She leaned back against her chair and closed her eyes, no longer bothering to sit up straight. Exhausted, from just a few exchanges. "No," she responded simply, now all-too aware of the frail sound her voice had taken in her age. "No, of course not. I sincerely apologize, Bede."
"It's alright."
A moment passed, before Opal opened her eyes. In contrast to her, Bede had sat up from where he sat on the opposite couch, his posture stiff and his gaze on the floor.
"Bede?"
He looked up to her again, and he looked so frightened that it made Opal ache. "Ms. Opal?"
"You swear to me that there is no possible chance that this could be due to unconfessed romantic feelings?"
Bede nodded quickly, frantic. It was evident how much he wanted to be believed.
Opal closed her eyes again, humming softly. She heard Bede cough again.
"Alright."
"Alright??" The comfort Bede felt from being believed was clear, even just from blindly listening to his voice.
"Yes. Alright." She nodded, then looked at Bede. "The only issue, then, is that I have no clue what in the world could be the cause. Especially for it to advance as quickly as it has. It should have taken months for you to get to the point that you are at now."
Bede chuckled humorlessly. "Yes, that's more or less where I've been stuck, too."
"Well." She tapped one hand against the hardcover of her book, now resting in her lap. "Thankfully, your doctor's appointment is tomorrow morning. We'll be able to ask any questions that we have then. I believe that perhaps both of our knowledge is a little... outdated."
"That's a relief."
Opal didn't know if he was referring to the appointment being soon, or her finally believing him. Perhaps both. Either way, though, his weary grin showed his honesty.
That night, Opal tapped her knuckles against the door to Bede's room. "May I come in?"
"You may."
Opal opened the door once permission had been granted, and Bede swung his legs over the side of his bed, sitting up to greet her. She grinned to greet him, and chose to sit down next to him carefully on his bed, so that she wouldn't spill the warm cup in her hands.
"I made you herbal tea for the night," she explained, leaving the assumed 'with honey and lemon' unspoken. She handed Bede the cup, and her cool hands quickly missed the warmth. He took a sip as she held out a tube of cream. "I also went to the market and bought this. Put it on the rash no more often than once every 12 hours, and no less than once per day. It ought to help."
Bede nodded, swallowing down the sip he had taken before accepting the cream, and placing it on his bedside table. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." Opal stood up, and Bede took another sip of the tea. "Be up and ready by 10 tomorrow for our appointment, alright, dear?"
At first, when Bede started coughing suddenly, spitting a bit of the tea, Opal figured that it had simply gone down the wrong pipe. After a few moments, she realized it was another flower stuck in Bede's throat, and she took the cup from him upon noticing that he was holding it to her.
With both hands now free, he covered his mouth, hacking and making that odd throat noise to try and get the flowers up. Opal placed the tea next to the cream on the bedside table, before sitting down again, rubbing Bede's back and waiting for it to pass.
This wasn't the first time that she had touched Bede while he was coughing, but it was the first time that he rested against her; still covering his mouth, he turned to lean into her shoulder. Naturally, as if it came without thinking. Though, within a few seconds, he was leaning away, grabbing the bucket he had taken to keeping on the floor of his bedroom, quickly brushing his hands off into it beforehand (mostly moss and those oval-shaped leaves).
Opal watched attentively for any new flowers that may appear, given that this was clearly a particularly bad fit. However, no new flowers appeared; the usual white and rose-purple clusters fell from Bede's mouth.
"Breathe, now," Opal tried to soothe Bede, seeing tears welling up in his eyes from the pain.
Bede tried to swallow back the coughing, panting frantically. He was sweating from the effort at this point, his face now red. "Can't-!" he managed to get out, before, again, coughing. He had given up on covering his mouth at that point, instead just spitting up the flora directly into the bucket.
"It's alright." Thankfully, Opal had practice in keeping her voice steady despite worry, although the hand on Bede's back shaking may have given her away. (Although, that was more out of concern for how Bede felt emotionally.) "There is no possible way that it's advanced fast enough for it to..." She paused for just a moment, before ending on, "Advance to its final stages. There are symptoms you haven't shown, and tomorrow, we'll get you suppressants."
All through Opal talking, Bede kept shaking his head 'no', coughing and choking and sure that this was it. Continuously trying to swallow the flowers back, or get them all out, starting and stopping talking, working hard to get words out, despite Opal telling him to just focus on getting through the fit.
Opal was, once, again, reminding him of this. "Dear, you can tell me in just a m-"
Bede again shook his head now, loudly swallowing back the flowers in his mouth, and blurting out what he needed to say all at once. With his rough exhale, his voice strained from pain...
"I wish you were my mother."
Before Opal even had time to be surprised, Bede's coughing suddenly shifted to retching, throwing up the remains of what was caught in his throat. Opal immediately went back to rubbing his back, thankful that, at least, it was almost over.
A few moments later, Bede forced himself to sit back up, wiping his mouth with a disgusted expression, his nose scrunched up. "That was awful," he stated simply, in between deep breaths for air.
"Oh, I know. Throwing up is never pleasant," Opal agreed, taking the bucket before Bede could insist on handling it himself. "To say the least, I'm sure."
After flushing the contents away, she went to return to check on Bede, before she heard his voice.
"OI!"
"Inside voice," she scolded as she approached his door, again peering in.
She was met with the sight of Bede holding his hand to his throat, seemingly surprised. "I know. I'm just testing..." He took a deep breath, then shouted again. "HEY!!"
"Bede!"
"You don't get it?" Bede grinned at her from where he sat, his eyes wide with excitement. "I haven't been able to yell like that since I got sick!!"
"Oh," Opal responded, habitually, before it actually registered. Once it did, she brought a hand to her face. "Oh!"
"I can breathe without it hurting, now, too." He took a deep breath to emphasize, before letting it out without a wheeze. "Must've gotten a lot of those buggers out."
Opal was familiar enough with the disease that she knew that, once it was cured, the remaining flowers in one's lungs had to be expelled. Usually in the form of throwing the remaining ones up...
"Or, perhaps, it's possible that you got all of them out," Opal mused out loud, her tone almost distant from surprise.
Bede shook his head. "But that would mean..."
He interrupted himself. Paused. Then, his face silently began to flush a dark red again.
It doesn't just come from repressed feelings of romantic love, does it?
Bede jolted up to a standing position, looking away from Opal with what was clearly panic, attempting to be covered up by a facade of calm. "I... apologize! You're my mentor. You trained me to be your successor! That was severely inappropriate, I know! I take back my words. I-"
Opal couldn't help herself; she giggled, hiding it behind her hand. Then, she realized how it would likely be taken, and went to correct it when she saw how Bede's expression crumpled. "No, no, I'm not laughing at you. Dearest, it's alright. It made me happy."
The shame in Bede's face faded, and he finally glanced up at Opal, hesitant. "Did it?"
"Sincerely. Come."
Opal opened the arm that wasn't resting on her umbrella, and Bede took only one step forward before, again, glancing up at her face. Searching for any signs of dishonesty or ulterior motives. Upon finding none, he took the remaining steps to her, and accepted her hug. Clearly not used to this sort of affection, and unsure what to do with his hands, he placed them on her back; not quite hugging back, but imitating it, in a way.
"Do you have any idea how many people mistake you for my son in a day?" She chuckled. "I suspect they consider you my grandson, in all honesty, but they wish to be nice about it. But I never correct them. No use in it. And besides..."
She let go of Bede, and placed a delicate hand on his head, pushing his curled hair back slightly. Bede's eyes slipped closed, his body language settling down. "It's not as if I don't see you as family."
Bede let his eyes stay closed for a few more moments, before opening them again to look at Opal, with slight disbelief. Edging just along being distraught.
She could hear the silent, 'Are you sure?' The nonverbal, 'But I have nothing to offer you.' The wordless confession that he considered being his family a chore. Something nobody would want to do of their own volition. Not without something he could do for them.
That damn Chairman.
Instead of cursing, Opal, instead, rolled her eyes, her grin showing the lack of real annoyance behind it. "I don't suppose that you forgot that you live with me, did you?"
Bede blushed again, looking away. "But you...!"
"It's alright, child."
He stuttered for a moment, eyes darting around her face with a dumbfounded expression, clearly having trouble processing this. When he next blinked, a reflection swirled in his eyes, showing the tears he was holding back as he struggled.
Before Opal could offer it, Bede darted into her arms, hugging her properly this time.
"I'm sorry for the trouble." But what he meant is, 'Thank you for accepting me.'
So Opal replied, "You're welcome."
Fun fact: moss also has a meaning in flower language! Opal discarded the moss, because it wasn't a flower, but, if she had looked into it, she would have found that moss represents charity and maternal love. Additionally, the leaves Bede coughs up also have meaning, as they are poplar leaves; the plant that her name comes from!
