He Wore a Yellow Cardigan [FtM!Ilima x Non-Binary!Reader]

Chapter One

Unedited

You sat on the concrete in front of the Pokémon Center near Route Three in Hau'Oli city. You were holding your Ukulele in hand and your best friend Slowpoke was cuddled against your side, taking a nice afternoon nap. It was, what? Five minutes after noon? Still meant it was after noon, because it's after twelve o'clock in the afternoon. People were passing by and you had a small glass jar in front of you. You needed pocket money, considering you were kicked out of home, so you decided you could do that cliché thing on the streets where you play music for money. Maybe if you get a few thousand pokédollars you can just become a trainer with slowpoke instead of a bum. You started strumming a few song you used to listen to, just having a good time.

People passed by, praising you and wishing you good luck. A few dropped some extra loose change into your jar. People in Alola were so nice, if only they were like your family. On well. Not everyone is perfect, Right? You just gotta keep swimming, in the wise words of Dory. You were just playing your ukulele and sitting underneath the sun with Slowpoke. You were lucky your buddy Slowpoke could come along with you. You were wearing a pair of athletic shorts and a pastel pink sleeveless shirt because no colors are gender specific colors. You felt a tap on the top of your head, so you stopped strumming and looked up to see probably the most aesthetic person ever.

"Excuse me? If you don't mind me asking, what exactly are you doing out here?"

Oh, they must have seen your backpack full of clothes and the sleeping bag rolled up behind you haven't they? Slowpoke woke up and noticed the person to. They had pastel pink hair to match your shirt, wearing a charm keeping a small little ponytail off to the side. They wore a white short sleeved shirt underneath a brown vest with a large rhombus pattern on the lower torso. They wore white Capri pants and teal sandals. They are adorable in all honestly. They were crouching down to look in your eyes and they wore a sweet smile on their face. A Yungoos was on their shoulders and a Smeargle stood at their side. Why did it feel like you should know them?

"Oh, me? Just had to run away from home and need money to become an actual trainer and go on then island challenge thing. It's no big deal. Just parents who don't accept a casual non-binary pal. I'm fine!"

You cheered, flashing the person a smile. Slowpoke seemed to understand that other Pokémon were here and they slowly walked over to them Smeargle. The Yungoos hopped off their shoulder to talk to Slowpoke, all of them chirping in their own little respective language. However, the person slid around and sat down next to you, surprising you. What are they doing? You were honestly curious at what this person was doing.

"Your parents kicked you out of your home just for being yourself? That's horrible! My name's Captain Ilima. I'd be happy to let you stay at my home for as long as you need. I'll be your friend and help you be a Pokémon trainer."

Oh that's how you're supposed to know him! That's the Trial Captain of Melemele! Captain Ilima!  Now that you're realizing this, it's pretty obvious who they are. Or, he is. People talk about him all the time being the Prince of the Trainer's school and all that. You don't assume when first meeting someone. Maybe you accidentally misgender them by assuming people are right in using masculine pronouns. Being a huge stickler to the pronouns rule and respecting them, using they/them pronouns yourself, you decided to go ahead and ask him.

"Captain Ilima, right? What are your preferred pronouns?"

You completely forgot he even asked you a question at all. You were so focused on respecting their pronouns that you completely forgot that you were being interrogated for what happened leading up to this moment. Slowpoke crawled back to your side, Yungoos riding on their back. Smeargle went back around to Captain Ilima's Side, snuggling their way under their arm. You listened carefully so you don't accidnetally offend the Trial Captain.

"He/Him if you'd please, masculine pronouns. I've never met someone who'd ask me what my pronouns were. They always assume or hear from someone else. You're a delightful person, aren't you? Why don't we drop your things off at my house and spend the day on the town? Trials are closed on Sundays anyway."

So people were right in using masculine pronouns for Ilima. Nice. Glad to see no one in Hau'Oli city misgenders anyone. Better than your traditional parents in Iki Town. Oh yeah, he wanted you to stay at his house until you got enough money to get back up on your feet. You don't wanna impose or anything. You didn't know him and he was already offering you things like shelter. You shook your head, smiling like a dope. He seemed awesome and was really nice for offering, but you're not going to take advantage of the kindness of someone you just met. Eve if Slowpoke seemed to really like Yungoos. You looked in his eyes, which were a mix of several colors in a dreamy gray sky, or is it grey? Who knew. You just looked in his curious and concerned eyes and turned down his offer.

"Thank you, but no thank you. I'm not going to use your kindness for my own selfish benefit. But I am probably going to take you up on that hanging out day. You seem like a really fun guy. Let me put all this crap in the Pokémon Center so nobody steals it. You might wanna get changed, too. I don't want those nice clothes getting messy on accident."

You took notice of the collared shirt and brown vest he was wearing. You would probably want him to get something in free movement and something he can probably get dirty. And wear a swimsuit underneath. The way you like to play is dirty and all in good fun, like a little kid. Well, you both are still teenagers so you technically are little kids still. Little in compared to old farts like Hala . Ilima stared st you a moment, as if wondering what you were thinking, before replying.

"Actually I'd prefer it if you'd stay at my home so I know you're safe and nobody hurts you. If you gather your things and come with me It'd be much appreciated."

He's a stickler on getting you to stay at his house, huh? Oh well. You pressed your lips together in a thin line, trying to decide what you're going to in do at this point. Maybe you should just go with him so you don't sccidentslly hurt him or give him the wrong idea, but you really don't want to take advantage of his kindness. You should be able to help yourself and live your life to prove to the world that you are a strong NB and you can hold on your own. You look over at Slowpoke, who doesn't realize what is going on and living their best life with a Yungoos on their back. Slowpoke lifted their head and looked at you. Slowpoke gave you a big sleepy smile. Maybe that was Slowpoke bestowing their wisdom upon you. Maybe you should go with Ilima.

"Sure, Slowpoke seems to like Yungoos and Smeargle. I guess I can for a little while... Let me get my bag and we can go back to your place..."

Ilima grinned as if he won the battle of Saratoga in the middle of the losing war. Smeargle stood up and started cheering, jumping around happily. Yungoos also jumped off of Slowpoke and began dancing in celebration. Wow, did Slowpoke already become super friends with the here two? Slowpoke just started wiggling around like a gleeful slug, not knowing how to dance in joy. You snickered at the Pokémon, they're adorable. That's when you noticed Ilima as standing up and holding a hand out to you, offering to help you up. You know what? Sometimes you have to accept help when you really need it.

You took his hand and began a whole new adventure.

1403 Words