Body Language (JJ POV)

You scroll through your phone, laughing at the mess that’s unfolding on Cycling Road. Pile ups from distracted or unskilled bikers. A flood of angry posts about not being able to find Amber. You’re glad that you headed east instead.

A twig snaps drawing your attention away from your phone. A beautiful redhead stands still in front of you, she’s wearing a purple sports bra and a baggy pair of green pants that conceal her legs. She gives a sly smile and a wave. The way she’s paused means she was trying to sneak by you.

“Don’t worry, if you don’t want to battle, I won’t challenge,” you shrug leaning back in the chair you’d set up for your camp.

She quirks her head, then moves her hands. She’s signing, it catches you off guard but you see her sign, “Really?”

You grin and sign back, “Yes, you’re free to go, or take a seat. I’ve got an extra chair in my bag.”

Her eyes go wide, “You sign?”

You laugh and sign back, “No.”

She scrunches her face, “Ha, ha. I’m mute not deaf, if you wanted to talk.”

“Ah, so should I get that chair?” you say aloud, still signing along side.

“Yes, please.” You pull a second seat out of your bag. “Why do you know sign?”

You run your hand through your hair, “My mom was big on hospitality training. Inclusiveness, and all that.” You look her over, “And I’m glad, it comes in handy when I want to talk to pretty girls,” you wink.

Her cheeks blush a bright red, nearly matching her hair. “Your mom sounds nice.”

You smile, “Yea, she is. My whole family are probably some of the nicest women you’ve ever met.” She glances around the campground, checking the tree line. “You looking for someone?”

She nods, “E-R-I-C,” she spells the name before signing Eric with an E combined with the sign for handsome.

“With a name like Eric,” I copy the ‘handsome’ sign name, “I might be looking for him too.” She blushes again. I take in a deep breath, “ERIC! ERIC!” I shout his name.

“Stop, stop,” she signs, “what if someone else hears you?”

“Then, I’ll have to defend you in battle,” I wink.

She quirks her head, “You defend me? The man who’s too afraid to challenge me?”

“Afraid?” I gasp, “I was trying to be a gentleman.”

“My hero,” she signs, with exaggerated movements.

You laugh, and she signs a haha. You see her checking out your exposed midriff under your sheer bodysuit. “Feel free to tell me to fuck off,” you start, “but do you mind if I ask what happened to your voice?”

Her eyes tore away from where the bodysuit dips into your pants to look in your eyes, “A sea witch stole it.”

“What?” your jaw drops.

Her face breaks away in a huge grin, “Haha, got you. I got really sick, after a long recovery everything started to heal, but my muscles in my throat, they don’t really know why, but they never quite recovered.”

“Ah, that makes more sense.”

Her eyes start drifting lower again, she glances around for Eric again. “Do you want to battle?”

“I told you we don’t have to,” you respond, hooking a thumb into your waistband. Her face flushing red as you expose more of your hips.

“I know, I just thought that maybe while I wait for Eric,” she signs.

“You know we could just skip the battle if you want,” you raise an eyebrow.

“What kind of girl do you think I am?” she looks indignant.

“Oh, I’m so sorry princess. I thought you were the kind of lady who would eyefuck a man right in front of him,” you laugh, she blushes. “But if you want a battle to feel better about it.”

“I do, thank you very much,” she signs, puffing out her chest.

“You do know that runs the risk of you winning and then we might miss the fun?”

She quirks her head, “Didn’t you watch the Rookie Tournament? Women are claiming forfeits themselves nowadays.”

Note to self, thank Amber the next time you see her. “Sounds like a plan,” you wink, walking away from your camp enough to hold a battle.

You both throw out your first pokemon. Dachsbun for you, and Kingler for her. You watch as Kingler’s eyes dart between Dachsbun and his trainer. She signs, “Crabhammer.” And Kingler jumps into action.

The claw slams down barely missing Dachsbun. “Play rough,” and your bun dog launches at the crab. The two entangled in a wrestling match. When they break away, Kingler keeps one eye out for his next command, “Metal claw.”

His claw goes shiny and he slams it against Dachsbun’s side. Your partner whimpers as he takes the hit. The two of you exchange a few more blows until Kingler finally collapses in exhaustion, Dachsbun not far behind. She grins, “You won’t beat my next pokemon.”

She tosses out another ball, a Primarina. “Sparkling aria,” the other trainer commands. The mermaid pokemon erupts into song, bubbles fly around the battlefield, bursting against Dachsbun, and finishing what Kingler started.

You can smell victory once she threw out a second water type. You had just bought a TM in Celadon. You release your Tauros, and command, “Wild charge.”

The bull’s horns spark with electricity and he charges forward. Primarina is unable to slip away, taking the full **** of the charged charge. Primarina looks in rough condition, and you’re startled when she is recalled. “You win,” she signs.

She doesn’t look too beat up over the loss. You walk forward and get real close, “I guess that means I get to do this.” You take her face in your hand, kissing her gently. She leans into you. And you realize, “I don’t think I caught your name. I’m JJ.”

She smiles, her cheeks flushed, “Took you long enough to ask. So rude,” a bit of shame washes over you. She forms and A with her hand doing the sign for swim. Then she goes to spell, “A-R-“

“Get away from her!” a man’s voice booms. You and her both look over. And based on his handsome looking face, you assume this must be Eric.