Love Your Pokemon!|Gladion x Reader

"Tch...really? This again? How annoying." Gladion sighed in frustration as he watched his Silvally faint. He shook his head in dismay, staring down at his defeated Pokemon who now had swirls in his eyes. "I thought that, after all the times we fought her, you'd.......whatever.." The blonde grumbled, returning Silvally to his Pokeball.

"You did such a good job, Muk!"

Gladion looked over, an irk mark appearing on the side of his head as he watched you celebrate your victory with your Alolan Muk. He scowled when the Muk gave you a large, gooey hug. He became even more disgusted as you gratefully accepted it.

"[Y/n]. Let him go," he told you. "Your clothes are gonna be smelly and covered with gunk for the next week."

You looked back at him, shaking your head. "It's fine Gladion. I'll just take a shower when I get home." Glancing at the Poison/Dark-type, a mischievous smirk appeared on your face. "Hmm..it seems our friend here can use a hug, too, don't ya think, Muk?"

"Mmmuk!"

Gladion's eyes widened, before he took several steps back. "No! Don't you dare bring that thing near me!"

After hearing his rude remark, you let go of Muk and stared at him. "That "thing" has a name you know..."

"I know. I just don't want to receive any hugs from it," he replied, shuddering a bit from the thought. "I don't know why you would for that matter, either."

"I'm just giving affection to my Pokemon." You frowned. "Is there something wrong with that, Gladion?"

"Oh no, not at all," he shook his head.

"What about you?"

"What about me?"

"Do you give your Pokemon affection?"

"Wha...of course I do!" He shot back, folding his arms across his chest, as though he had taken offense to your statement. "I care deeply for my Pokemon."

"Of course everyone does," you said, rolling your eyes. "But the real question lies in whether they love them or not."

The blonde stared at you in confusion. "What's the difference? I don't quite understand. I care and love my Pokemon. I encourage them to do their best during training and during battle."

"Didn't seem like you were doing that after our battle." You pointed out. "You looked so disappointed in Silvally when he lost. You could have at least told him he did his best."

"I could have but..I..I just find no sense in praising defeat," Gladion admitted, averting his eyes away from you and to your Muk. "If he wants my praise, he will have to earn it."

Once more, you rolled your eyes at his statement. It made you wonder just how his Type: Null was able to earn his trust if he hardly ever showed affection towards it at all.

With a sigh, you took out a Pokeball, opening it to reveal your Type: Null, one of the few that were created at the Aether Foundation. It fought Gladion's Silvally earlier, but you recalled it after it took too much damage from an attack. You'd take it to a Pokemon Center ASAP, but first you wanted to teach Gladion a little lesson.

"Hey..Nully."

The Synthetic Pokemon's head perked up when it heard your name. "I know you were a bit upset that you didn't get to fully fight your evolved form...but I had to retreat you because you were badly hurt. But nevertheless....you did such a good job." You smiled, before you rubbed the top of its helmet. "Even after all of that..you were still willing to stand and fight. And I couldn't be more proud of you for that."

Type: Null nodded, letting out a noise similar to a purr as it nuzzled its head against yours. You giggled a bit, before looking back at Gladion. "See? Giving just small praises doesn't do you, or your pride, any harm." You smiled at him. "Now don't be so harsh on yourself or your Pokemon. You can't expect them to always be perfect...that's why you should congratulate them when you see that they've improved. Do you understand now, Gladion?"

"Hmm..maybe you're right, [y/n]. But I'm not exactly the  "physically affectionate" type, so to speak," Gladion muttered in reply.

You shrugged, before returning Type: Null to its Pokeball. "That's okay. Now it's your turn."

"...what."

"Your turn!" You smiled once more. "Bring out Silvally."

"But he's-"

"Here..take this Revive," you said, pulling a Revive out of your bag and giving it to him. 

"Umm..thanks."

After Gladion revived Silvally, he called him back out. It was clear that the chimera-like Pokemon was annoyed and hurt after hearing his trainer's remark about his defeat, as he gave him a cold, emotionless stare.

Looking at Silvally in the eyes, Gladion coughed a bit to clear his throat before he began to speak.

"Hey. I...um...didn't mean anything I said before. I was just annoyed and frustrated that we were beaten every time. But, despite that, you've shown improvements. And..um..yeah....you actually did a decent job this time." The ghost of a smile formed on his face. "I hope to see that more in the future, Silvally."

The Synthetic Pokemon's eyes widened incredulously, before he smiled and tackled Gladion to the ground.

"Ack! What are you doing you-?!"

But he was caught off-guard when Silvally licked his cheek. He face turned red slightly, before he looked over and scowled as you were laughing.

"I-I'm sorry! But tha..that's just too cute!!!" You apologized, wiping tears from your eyes as you tried your best to control yourself. It was too funny, though, seeing Silvally jump on top of Gladion, and then Gladion's reaction. It was simply priceless.

"I hope you're happy, [y/n]," Gladion grumbled, trying to push his Pokemon's face away from him, but to no avail.

"As long as your Pokemon's happy, I am~"