Archive of Our Own ^beta

“Bonjour, Cher!” She greeted, giving him a smile and stepping forward to give him a quick kiss before she stepped aside for him to enter. They were planning to watch a movie in her living room, since she was taking the rest of the day to herself after catching the second Treasure of Ruin two days ago; she had had classes yesterday that morning. (T : Hello, Dear)

“You okay?” He frowned, noticing she wasn’t as peppy as she normally was. 

“Oui, just… I dunno, tired,” the Champion shrugged slightly before moving to the shelf unit the movies were kept on. “It’s been a long week, that’s all.”

“Wanna talk about it?” He offered sympathetically; when he was stressed out about having returned to a School based schedule and all the catching up he had to do, Juliana had willingly sat and listened to him stress and complain without pointing out it was the fault of himself and the others for not attending classes in the interim. 

“…” She paused in her perusal of the movies to turn to her Boyfriend, anxiety clear in the way she fidgeted. “I -“ she hesitated, sky blue eyes downcast. 

“Nevermind,” he decided, trying to shrug nonchalantly. He was hurt she didn’t want to confide in him but he didn’t want her to feel pressured to tell him, either. “I get it.”

“Giacomo-“ Juliana started, before moving towards him to wrap her arms around his waist. Resting her head on his chest, she insisted, “I know you’re thinking I don’t trust you, but I do. It’s just… things are complicated. With the Treasures, and Jacq and Clavell, and my Family -“ she sighed, feeling drained. 

Giacomo placed his hands on her shoulders, gently pushing her backwards to get some distance. His onyx eyes met her blue, “I’m trying to be understanding, but you’re my Girlfriend- I want you to be able to confide in me. I get you aren’t used to that, I do. But, it doesn’t make it hurt less that it seems like you don’t trust me.” He let her go and stepped back, shoving his hands in his pants pockets. “Look, maybe we should do this another time or something. You’re not gonna be able to enjoy a movie when you’re like this.” 

“I don’t want to fight,” she pleaded, her breath hitching as she wrapped her arms around herself.

“Neither do I, but there’s no point for me to be here if you’re not gonna share your problems with me,” the Dark Type Trainer pointed out. “You won’t even let me help with the Treasures, Juls. I get I’m not the strongest Trainer, but that still stings. Especially since Eri went with you the other day.”

“I won’t let you help with the Treasures because I couldn’t deal with it if you got hurt, just to stop Raifort from getting her hands on them. I won’t put you in the line of unknown Pokémon, unless I know you can handle what they might throw. If you were hurt because of something I decided to do… I don’t know if I could handle it.” She began to pace, running her hands through her loose hair agitatedly. “As for the rest of it… I don’t want you to see me any differently, Gia!” She burst out suddenly, flushed with stress. 

“Why would I see you any differently, Juliana? I already know you’re a top notch Battler,” he was suddenly confused. “You’re the Champion for a reason, Babe.”

Juliana gave in. “Voilà... my Oncle wants to meet Papa and we’re going to Kalos to visit during the Break in a couple weeks.” (T : Here goes)

“But, Professor Sycamore has already met Mr. Hassel, hasn’t he?” He frowned, not understanding.

“I…” she took a deep, shaking breath as she moved to the couch to sit, breathing out slowly before she continued. She looked at him, nervous before she admitted, “I have another Oncle.” When he looked at her with furrowed brows, she continued, “Lysandre Fuladari is the Oncle that wants to meet Papa.”

Giacomo knew that he shouldn’t be but he was suddenly, irrationally, angry. “What the Hell? Are you serious? The guy who tried to end the World a a few years ago - the Head of a Villain Organization-“

“Yes, I’m very serious, Giacomo,” Juliana’s voice was suddenly firm, even as she rubbed her palms down her thighs anxiously. “I’m aware of what he’s done, and I understand people disliking him for his actions - though I would have thought that you of all people wouldn’t judge without knowing more.”

He didn’t understand what she meant, but he knew he wouldn’t like it. “What’s that mean?”

“Arceus, Gia, really?” When her Boyfriend opened his mouth, she answered, “Team Star? The whole reason Penny recruited me to challenge each of you?”

“What’s that got to do with you happily claiming a convict as Family?”

“We don’t always get to choose our Family, Giacomo. Lysandre Fuladari has been there for me through everything. I can’t verbalize how important he is to me, just like I can’t express how important you are, Tante et Oncle Auggie, Papa, Penny, Arven, Nemona, Brassius… you’re all so important to me, but each of you in different ways. What we can choose is our actions - Team Star, no matter how you twist or adjust the view, were the very thing they hated most. You were bullies.”

“No, we weren’t, Juliana, you’re not being fair,” Giacomo growled, stepping towards her with unconsciously clenched hands; the low table was the only thing that separated them. “Team Star was all about pushing back against bullying, how in the Distortion World could you say we were bullies?”

“I literally met Penny because a couple of your people were harassing her, Gia! They were about to get physical with her, trying to force her to “join” Team Star. Ask her yourself, if you don’t believe me!” Juliana shot back, standing up abruptly. “Yes, you guys wanted to make a difference, but Penny left for a reason! She saw the direction you were headed, she took the fall for what you all did. She took responsibility for what happened.”

“Even if you’re right, it’s still different from what he did,” he tried to retort. “We didn’t go out and try to destroy the Region.”

“My Oncle Lys was the only person who got hurt during that entire fiasco,” she tried to control her temper. “No one else got hurt. Did he do something extremely dangerous and foolish? Yes, he did - I’m not denying that. I wouldn’t. However, he’s been getting help for his issues. Team Flare is disbanded. He’s trying to be better, to get better. He’s important to me-“

“Is he more important than me? If I asked you to, would you -“

Juliana didn’t even let him finish his question; she felt the sting of tears as she cut him off, “Non. You can’t make me choose, Giacomo. That’s not being fair. I love you, but -“

“If you loved me, you’d break ties with him, Juls! He’s dangerous.” His voice broke, “Please. I love you, too. I just want you safe.”

“He’s no more dangerous than any other man, Gia. But I know he’d never hurt me,” she denied, shaking her head. She took a shuddering breath, “I’m sorry. I don’t want to hurt you, but if you make me choose…” she sniffled and breathed shakily for an eternal minute before continuing. “I choose my Oncle.”

Giacomo felt frozen, standing there as his heart broke. Running a shaking hand down his face, he nodded, “Okay. Wow. I’m, uh… I’m gonna go. I’m sorry, but I can’t-“ he took a deep breath. “I can’t do this. I don’t know this you. I don’t think I like her and I don’t agree with her. I-I’ll see you around, but I can’t do this. Juliana, we-we’re over. I’m sorry.” He turned around, walking briskly to the door. Opening the door he turned to take one last, hurt look at her, before shook his head and walked out.

When the door closed behind him, Juliana felt the strength leave her legs and she fell gracelessly to the floor, silently crying as her heart broke. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she was thankful she didn’t hit the table. 

It wasn’t long before she felt her Father’s arms wrap around her as a second set of hands moved the table further aside before she was enveloped on her other side. “Oh, Dearheart…” Hassel murmured as the two men helped her up to sit on the couch behind them. “I’m so sorry.”

Crying brokenly, she turned into his chest to sob out her heartbreak as he adjusted his grip on her and she felt his Partner gently rubbing her back in a comforting manner. “He’s a fool, Ana-garde,” Brassius informed her solemnly a few minutes later as her crying slowed to miserable sniffles and she accepted the handkerchief he offered her. “His loss will be another’s gain. You’re remarkable, and he isn’t worth your tears.”

“I hurt him, though,” Juliana protested with a quiet hiccup.

“He hurt you, as well, Juliana,” Hassel refuted firmly. “A true Partner would never ask one to choose between themself or another person they cared for.”

“B-but shouldn’t your Partner be most important to you?” She was confused, since that’s what she always assumed. 

“Whoever told you that doesn’t know what a true Partner is,” Brassius waved a hand dismissively as he absently tucked some of her hair behind an ear. “Ana-garde, you are aware that Hass and I have been in a relationship for several years, yes?” When the teenager nodded, more confused, he continued, “If your Father was required to choose between myself and you, I expect him to choose you. He is your Father and his Child should always come before any other.”

“Exactly,” Hassel picked up the narrative. “The difference between young Giacomo and yourself is that you understand one cannot always choose who their Heart sees as essential. In your case, Lysandre is essential to you. I don’t agree with what he has done; however - from what I’ve been informed of - he has always placed you first and your safety above all else. I have no doubt that if there hadn’t been a way of him ensuring your safety he would have never come up with, let alone enacted, the plan he had.”

“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.

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