Chapter Text
“I agree, Ana. In fact, I’m quite looking forward to meeting this man who helped nurture your exquisite Artist’s Eye,” Brassius smiled warmly.
“You’re coming with us, D-rassius?” She questioned, pleasantly surprised.
“As long as it’s alright with you, Dearheart,” Hassel assured.
The Gym Leader nodded in agreement, “As Hass said. If it makes you uncomfortable, I have no issues staying behind.”
“Why wouldn’t it be okay with me?” Juliana frowned, “You’re like another Parent-al Oncle - uh, type person.” She didn’t miss the amusement in her Father’s daffodil yellow eyes and prayed he wouldn’t comment on her poor save. She wasn’t ready for Brassius to know she saw him as another Father.
“I’m very privileged that you see me as Family,” Brassius beamed at her. “Merci beaucoup, Ana-garde. I see you the same. You and Hass are mi Familia.” (T : My Family)
The teenaged Champion felt new tears gathering in her eyes, this time from positive feelings as she felt her heart warm and fill with adoration for the older Artist. Sniffling anew, she threw her arms around the green haired man’s waist as she hugged him tightly. She didn’t have the words to express her feelings of love and gratitude, but felt like he understood what she couldn’t say when she felt him wrap his surprisingly strong arms around her in a reciprocal embrace before one moved to run carefully through her hair in a soothing manner.
She felt Hassel’s lips touch the crown of her head as his weight moved off of the couch. “I’ll go make us some tea, shall I?” His voice wobbled slightly, but he managed to hold it together. He didn’t wait for either his Lover or his Daughter to reply and left their living room, his footsteps moving quickly towards the kitchen. The girl and man shared a quiet laugh when they heard the blonde man’s soft sobs and murmurs of pride in his Daughter, and Lover, along with how lucky he was.
**<< That Monday, a day and a half later…>>**
Juliana was melancholic and withdrawn that Monday during classes, which didn’t go unnoticed by either her friends or her Teachers. She made herself scarce during lunch and none of her friends could find her when they went looking for her. When her last class of the day - Math - finished Arven, Penny, and Nemona shared a glance as they prepared to grab her to prevent her from pulling another disappearing act. They audibly groaned when Tyme requested Juliana stay behind for a few minutes.
“Just Juliana,” the former Gym Leader clarified, eying the other three Students who immediately voiced protests. “I’m aware of why Juliana isn’t her normal self today, I just wish to speak to her about it and it’s best done privately.”
“Wh-how?!” Juliana looked like a Deerling in headlights, her sky blue eyes wide with shock and trepidation.
“Your Father spoke to me this morning, Dear,” was Tyme’s response.
“We just want to make sure she’s okay, too!”
“She’s our Best Friend-“
“What happened isn’t going to change our friendship with her!” Penny spoke last, her dark eyes serious. When the Champion twitched in surprise before snapping her head towards her, she rolled her eyes but grabbed Arven and Nemona’s arms. “We’ll wait outside, but you can’t pull another disappearing act - otherwise we’re staying.”
Juliana sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly as she wrapped her arms around herself, “Okay. I promise I’ll meet you outside when I’m done talking with Ms. Tyme.”
“Let’s let them talk,” Penny showed surprising strength as she half dragged and half pulled Arven and Nemona out of the classroom and into the hallway.
“You know something, si?” Nemona crossed her arms over her chest, staring at her shorter friend.
“Tell us,” Arven added, narrowing his teal eyes at the teenaged girl as she leaned against the wall.
Penny sighed, pushing her glasses up using her forefinger on the bridge of them. “Momo and Juls broke up Saturday,” she decided to be blunt.
“What?”
“Why?”
The redhead shifted uncomfortably, adjusting her bag with a sigh. “Basically, a difference of opinion. He found out who her other Uncle is because she let it slip when mentioning Mr. Hassel is going to Kalos with her because her Uncle wants to meet the man who took her in as his own. Momo wanted her to cut ties. She refused, and he was stupid and broke up with her before leaving.”
“You’re talking about that Fuladari guy?” When the other two looked at him in surprise, Arven scowled back at them, “Ms. Diantha’s her Aunt, Professor Sycamore’s close enough that she refers to him as Uncle. Their names, while I was growing up, were almost always also attached to Lizard Fuladari or whatever his name is, so it makes sense.”
“The name you’re trying to remember is Lysandre Fuladari, but yes. That’s right,” Penny agreed, impressed despite herself.
“Okay, what’s so bad about Liana having someone else she calls Family?” Nemona scratched her head, confused.
The other two exchanged glances before Arven tried to put it into words. “So, a few years ago the Fuladari guy tried to,” he paused before deciding on, “remake the World or something?”
“He tried to use the rediscovered Ultimate Weapon, like what was used in Kalos around three thousand years ago. Thankfully, it wasn’t actually meant for something that wide scale, and the plan failed thanks to interference from several Trainers, including one named Serena -“ the redhead sighed when Nemona interrupted her.
“The Champion who defeated Ms. Diantha, and then decided to step down because she wanted to travel and try Contests, right?” Nemona followed along.
“Correct,” Penny agreed.
“So, Juls has been off today, because she thinks we’re going to have a similar reaction to Giacomo?” Arven crossed his arms over his chest, huffing.
“I can’t blame her, Lysandre Fuladari is very much a persona non grata for a lot of people because of that one action - no matter the actual good he did besides it,” the Eevee Trainer shrugged slightly. “Rumour has it the whole situation was caused by a mental health crisis. He’s currently participating in an inpatient program to rehabilitate him.” (T : Unwelcome person)
“That’s estúpida,” the taller girl replied bluntly. “We can’t help who we love. Arceus.” She shook her head, “Did he ever do anything to hurt Liana? Like her Mom did?” (T : Stupid)
Penny tilted her head, “No. By all accounts, he doted excessively on her, the same as Ms. Diantha and Professor Sycamore. Perhaps more. Additionally, my Dad actually has a pretty positive opinion of him.”
“Then I don’t have an issue with it. Honestly, I kinda want to meet him, now,” Nemona grinned slightly. “Su Familia es mi Familia.” (T : Her Family is my Family)
“So, Giacomo is an idiot and lost the best relationship he could have had. What about the others? Any idea what their opinions are?” Arven questioned Penny.
“Basically, Momo was told the same thing by most of Team Star - though a few, like Eri and a couple of the regular members were probably a little more… ardent in their defence of her. He’s started to realize he made a mistake, and there was the idea that he’d try to make up with Juls tomorrow or sometime this week. Myself and a few others basically told him the way he went about it and the fact that he tried to control who she could be in contact with kind of imploded any second chances.” Penny hesitated, looking at the door before turning back to her friends, “Okay, so between us : a big part of it is he got offended when she told him that Team Star was what they hated most.”
Nemona nodded in agreement, “Yeah, they were definitely becoming a bullying problem.”
Arven was confused, “Why did that offend him? Everyone pretty much knows a lot of them were bullies with how they tried to go about recruiting people. Things are definitely better, now, with the bases becoming training facilities associated with the Academy meaning Adult oversight.”
“I still don’t understand how he missed it, especially since a lot of it was very blatant,” the Galarian shook her head. “I confirmed that me seeing that it was going to go that way was why I initially left and asked them to disband Team Star. Julia had also told him how she and I met and I confirmed it.”
“There’s more you’re not telling us,” Nemona raised an eyebrow.
“I may have told him that the fact that she believed in giving people a second chance was why she even became friends and then later got involved with him. Yeah, it’s not the same level of bad that Lysandre committed but it’s still bad.” Penny shrugged, “He seemed to think the fact that she doesn’t talk about Lysandre means she’s ashamed of him. I doubt that’s the case.”
“Same; my guess is it probably has to do with her Mom. From what we know, she didn’t have a good relationship with Fuladari, so I doubt she’d be happy with Juls mentioning him,” Arven mused.
“Whether it does or not, that’s up to her to tell us, si?” Nemona narrowed her orange eyes at her two friends who nodded in agreement. She then smiled, “Maravillosa!” (T : Wonderful)
“Not like we’d pressure her, either way,” Arven rolled his eyes at her as the door to the Classroom opened and a tentative Juliana stepped out.
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