Tia thinks about her relationship with Aidan in the fallout of her discovering his true identity.
Tia sat at her desk, staring blankly at the blinking cursor in front of her face. She was supposed to be writing her dissertation, but for the past half-hour nothing was coming to mind. She had spent the last week trying to write, but since she started, she had only managed a few pages. Her emotions were too wrecked.
She reached over to her Pokegear and played Aidan’s last voicemail for at least the fiftieth time:
“Tia. You may not want to talk to me right now, but I need to say this. I can explain everything, if you’ll let me. If you’re ready to listen, meet me at the Cinnabar Island ruins. I’ll be waiting.”
Tia let out a massive sigh, and plunked her head on her desk.
“Tuuu-tuu?”
Tia looked up to see Naito perched on the corner of her desk, staring at her with a concerned expression.
“I’m fine, Naito. Just having writer’s block.”
“Tuuu…” Naito gave her a disbelieving look, and flopped over to his perch at the foot of her bed.
Tia put a hand to her forehead and leaned over her desk again. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t get her last conversation with Aidan out of her mind.
“I can’t just let Shun go to his death!”
“He won’t die.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because he’s me!”
One thing was clear. No matter how many things he didn’t tell her, no matter how many secrets he had, Aidan had never lied to her.
She had gone over all of the letters she had received from Shun, and realized certain aspects of him that she saw and loved in Aidan. The interest in Pokemon rumors and legends. Training and preferring Dark-type Pokemon. The way he showed interest in her research. And other things.
She had no trouble believing Aidan’s story. The letters, his litany of the Pokemon they traded each other, what he said about his Charizard, Blaze – it was all proof enough for her.
The other issue, however…
The emotion Tia felt the most was anger, then betrayal. How could Aidan not have told her who he really was? They had been together, officially, for only a few weeks, sure, but they had known each other for months before that. That was more than enough time for him to say something. And all the times he was around when she made her trades with Shun, and he didn’t say anything...
She thought back to their time on Seven Island, and Aidan’s unusual, quiet behavior. He probably meant to say something then, but ultimately he didn’t. Now, looking back, Tia realized there were other times when he might have wanted to say something, but didn’t.
As Tia already knew from her research and travels, timing was everything. Jump to a conclusion too early, and later on you’d have to rewrite your theory. Throw a Poke Ball too late, and the Pokemon didn’t get caught. Maybe for one reason or another, all those times just weren’t the right time for Aidan to tell her.
And then, as Tia was starting to realize, people’s hearts and minds didn’t always work logically. A person could be too quick to condemn someone else, even when presented with all the facts proving otherwise. And love and forgiveness could be given unconditionally, without proof.
Was Tia too quick to blame Aidan for not telling her about his past? And would she be willing to forgive him?
“I was already in love with you then, but I was too scared to tell you.”
Had that been all it was? He was just too scared to say anything? Tia felt disappointed, but also felt she knew where he was coming from. It was hard to confess anything serious to someone, especially if it could lead to losing what they already had. Sometimes it was easier to keep the status quo rather than switch things up.
She got up, making her decision, and stroked Naito on the head.
“Let’s go, Naito.”
“Tuuu?”
“To the docks. We’re taking the next ferry to New Cinnabar.”
Naito hopped onto her shoulder, and they exited the room.
The entire time they rode the ferry, and during the time spent Surfing from New Cinnabar to the original island, Tia felt apprehensive, wondering what her next conversation with Aidan would be like.
When they finally set foot on the island, Tia looked around, taking in the desolate scenery. Ruins everywhere, with only a lone Pokemon Center standing solitary guard.
She found Aidan standing behind the Pokemon Center, staring at the ruins of the volcano. She slowly walked over to him, and hearing her footsteps on the gravel, Aidan turned to see her.
“I didn’t think you’d come,” he said emotionlessly. He looked haggard, as if he hadn’t slept in a week.
“I think…” Tia said softly, “I’m ready to listen to what you have to say.”