The New Normal - 6-10 - Interlude - Brock

The New Normal – 6-10 – Interlude – Brock

“Brock, could you come over here please?” Karen’s voice came out from her office. And it was HER office, even if she was only here temporarily. She had done so much for the Gym in the past few weeks, making sure that it was no longer the dilapidated Gym that it was once known as. She easily deserved that distinction many times over.

Who knew the best way to repair the Gym after Flint had ruined it was to practically rebuild it from the ground up? Well, knowing Flint, it probably was best to get rid of anything he touched. Good riddance.

Not wanting to waste any more of her time, Brock quickly stepped into the room. As usual, Karen was buried deep in a pile of paperwork while Agatha sat to the side, observing everything with an amused expression on her face.

He had once previously considered confronting Agatha about her laziness, but from time to time he did see that Agatha did intervene whenever Karen needed help. In a way, she was more like a supervisor, making sure that whatever Karen was doing remained up to a certain standard. He ignored the main reason he didn’t confront her – she terrified him.

But he would never forget that it was by Karen’s efforts that this Gym was saved. He knew how hard she had worked.

“You there, Brock?” Karen asked as she leaned forwards, concern lining her face as she stared at him. Seeing her worried expression ignited something in his 13-year-old body, and Brock had to fight down a blush. She didn’t deserve for him to think of her like that.

“I’m fine.” He lied, trying to keep his expression blank, “What do you need me for?” Luckily, it didn’t seem like Karen had noticed.

“Two things, really.” Karen explained as she raised a finger, “One, I want your opinion on how we’ll redecorate the Gym’s exterior. Now that we’ve clean up some of the internal administration of the Gym, I think it’s about time that we give the Gym a proper makeover to symbolize its new status.”

Brock nodded thoughtfully. He remembered how vocal Agatha was when she first saw the Gym. She said some words that he was fairly certain that he wasn’t meant to overhear and spent the next few days grumbling about it. However, they were forced to delay any redecoration efforts until they sorted out the Gym first, which he suppose they’d done now.

And, if he could be honest to himself, Brock had felt a certain level of vindication when the idea of redecorating was being floated around. He felt that it would be casting off the influence Flint had on the Gym.

Still, now that it was time for it, he hadn’t a clue what they should change it to.

“Um…I don’t know how we should change it.” He admitted embarrassedly, “Sorry, maybe you could give me some time to think about it?”

Agatha let out a snort, “Bah! Did you think we’d let the redesigning of a Gym be decided by the hands of a 13-year-old?” She shook her head, “Don’t worry about that, son, we’ll hire some experts that’ll submit some designs. You can have a look at it with your siblings.”

Her tongue was harsh as usual, but Brock had spent enough time around Agatha that he knew this was her way of showing that she cared. He noticed that Agatha had always kept an eye out for him and his siblings, despite the uncaring and unfriendly façade that she put up. She tried to hide it, but the various gifts and toys that she bought for them revealed her true feelings.

If only they had a moth-, no, he shouldn’t think that. He knew that as kind as Agatha had been, she was only here temporarily. He wouldn’t get his hopes up. It was just easier that way.

Unknowing of Brock’s inner turmoil, Karen continued, “Yes, we’ll let you have a look at a few plans later on.” Her voice shook him from his thoughts, and he quickly returned his attention to what Karen was saying.

“As for my second point, I think you’ve done a good job with handling your duties as a Gym trainer, and now I want you to do more.” Karen stated, and Brock nodded eagerly. He had been waiting for these words for nearly a month!

“I feel like now would be a good time to let you take on more duties.” She said, “Thus, your old role will be given to Forrest, who I’m sure you know has been quite eager to take up his own responsibilities in the Gym. In the meanwhile, you’ll be shifted to serve as the assistant to the Head Gym Trainer. You’ll work with them on a day-to-day basis, so that you can learn from all their duties while also continue training up your team.”

“If you can accomplish this, boy, then maybe we’ll let you handle a few of the harder Gym Battles for us.” Agatha added, “We’ll need to get you up to snuff, but I’m sure you can handle it.”

“I’ll continue helping you out with your training whenever I have some free time.” Karen continued, shooting him a smile, “You’ve been making good progress, so let’s hope that keeps up.”

Brock nodded eagerly, an excited smile on his face. He greatly appreciated the respect that the two of them treated him with, and not as if he was just some kid. He was always thankful that Karen seemed to give him more and more responsibility, but never more than he could handle. He knew that this was just their way of preparing him for when he became the Gym Leader after his majority.

Of course, beyond the administrative tasks that they gave him, he was also occasionally personally trained by the two of them. And what an honour that was – to be trained by two excellent trainers like that! He grew up watching Agatha’s battles on TV, and Karen was easily a worthy opponent, if not better than, most Gym Leaders.

Admittedly, he was initially envious of Karen’s Tyranitar. He thought that if he could have had such a strong Pokémon to start off with, then his time as a trainer would be easier. But that was a naïve and ignorant perspective – he had seen the sheer effort that Karen would spend training her Pokémon, both under the instructions of Agatha and by herself. And this was on top of all of the standard administrative duties as temporary Gym Leader. He wished he could have even half of that dedication.

And if there was one thing the two of them drilled into him, it was to never let an advantage go. If his Geodude managed to get the pounce on an opponent, then he was to beat them into submission before they got a chance to react. Sneak attacks, capitalizing on weaknesses, and never allowing your opponent to play to their strengths were repeatedly drilled into his mind, day after day.

And his Onix was taught the same lesson. Who says that Onix ‘must’ be slow? If he could play into those perceptions, he could land a surprise attack that just might win him the fight.

It was very unlike how he was ‘taught’ to battle, and he wasn’t sure if he could fully absorb all of their lessons, but he strove to never let them down. And his increase in strength was very much noticeable. Of course, every time he wanted to show off, Agatha was quick to humble him and never let his head get too big.

“There’s always someone stronger than you.” She had said to him. And it was a motto that he tried to hold close to his heart.

Shaking himself out of his thoughts once again, he politely asked if there was anything else the two needed from him. They didn’t, and Brock was about to make his way out before Karen spoke up once more.

“Oh, that’s right! Brock, isn’t it Yolanda’s birthday this weekend?” She asked. Brock gave her a surprised look, not thinking they would even remember. Eventually, he managed a small nod.

“Excellent. I’ll have something ready for her then.” She smiled at him, and Brock had to channel whatever inner strength that he had to not react as a flood of emotion surged up from within him, “Off you go then. Good luck with your new duties. I’m sure you can manage them.”

Not trusting himself to react, Brock quickly fled from the room. As soon as he was certain that he was out of sight, he punched the wall as his struggled to hold in the flood of emotions welling up from within him.

Why?! Why did they have to be so nice to him!? Why did they have to leave in a month’s time?! It was a bitter realization, but Brock knew that Karen and Agatha, even in the short time that he knew them, were both better parents than his actual ones.

A.N. I wanted to highlight a bit of what was happening at the Pewter Gym and what Karen and Agatha had done to it. We haven’t seen them in a while, so I thought this chapter would be nice little insight into their efforts at the Gym.

Of course, I also wanted to shed some insight into Brock at the moment. He’s in a better place right now, though his emotions are quite the mess. Overall, he’s happier, but he still has a lot of trauma to work through. Oof.

This chapter has been BETAed by Allute! Big thanks!