There is one thing that Serena does better than Ash. In the months of training, they fell into a routine.
At first, Serena would walk cleaned up into the kitchen, most of the time Dawn and Misty were already sitting at the marbled island drinking coffee with a plate of breakfast that Sawyer had fixed up for everyone. Supposedly, it was one Cilan had taught him to make which Sawyer took note of to remember. Ash was leaning against the opposite counter, dressed in a dark gray waistcoat and a usual tie against a black button up shirt. He had a coffee mug in silver ringed fingers, and a tablet in the other.
Serena doesn't know what compelled her to do it — the sheer appearance of Ash should've stopped her right in her tracks. Instead, she took the coffee mug from his hands and took a sip. Misty and Dawn look at her oddly, and maybe a bit stunned that all he did was watch her with a bit of surprise on his face.
All their jaws went slack when Serena immediately winced and spat out the coffee into the sink.
"Ash, what do you think you're drinking?" She asked with a grimace.
His brow raises up. "Coffee?"
"I don't know who told or possessed you to think that's coffee," She denied, setting the mug down on the counter. "But that is store bought dirt."
"What's the matter? Is something wrong with instant-coffee?" Dawn piped up.
Serena gaped at her as if she had been slapped. "What's wrong with-? You know what, never mind. Sawyer!" The advisor peeked from behind the stove range, his green eyes looked over with confusion. She knew she had experience with making coffee, especially when she need it, and with a side job in a cafe she used to work at, so why not do it. "Could you take me to the city?"
Sawyer's eyes panned nervously to Ash whose expression was blank. He shrugged his shoulders and handed Serena a steel black credit card, and went back to what he was focusing on.
"The limit is about a couple hundred of thousands," He remarked easily and she immediately paled. His golden eyes looked at her again, brimming with curiosity. "Something wrong?"
"How much do you think an espresso machine is?" She asked, exasperatedly.
Ash's lips pursed, humming in thought. "Don't know. I never really pay attention to price tags."
Serena did her best to wipe the shock off her face before looking positively victorious when she bounded across the kitchen and up to her room to get dressed. Meanwhile Dawn and Misty were looking between her exit and Ash, who paid them no mind. He seemed to sense their stares and peered up from what he was examining, narrowing over the mug he continued to drink.
"Dont you two have work to do?" He questioned.
They winced and left shortly after that. The next day in the kitchen and every day that followed, Serena was awake before all of them, the smell of espresso perfuming through the air in warm tones of spice and chocolate. Ash walked into the room with a yawn, his hair messy as always and his eyes brightening at the sight of her behind a brand-new espresso bar. The sounds of shots glasses clinking and steam whistling filling the space.
Serena looked up and instantly smiled in Ash's direction, the leader not quite knowing how to react to the early morning beauty. She slid over a mug, a perfectly crafted pretty, rosetta swirled on the surface.
"Here, try it. If anything, you'll never go back to instant-coffee ever again," she announced confidently. He took one sip and pulled the mug away, eyes flickering with surprise. Serena prods with a knowing grin. "So? How is it?"
He smirked over the rim of the mug before speaking in the low tone that made Serena pause her ministrations with the shot glasses. "It's delicious," he drawled. "How do I tip?"
The lever of the espresso machine slipped from her hands and steam hissed loudly. She jumped in shock and pushed the lever back. Ash snickered, not at all attempting to hide the sound when he turned to the side, taking another sip and making an obvious show of averting his eyes. Before Serena could retort, Dawn entered the kitchen with a loud yawn and blue hair messy like Ash's. When her eyes landed on Serena and the new espresso machine, she dashed over with excitement.
"That's amazing! You can do latte art?" she asked, blue eyes shining.
Serena blushed with embarrassment. "I have some experience here and there from working at this one cafe for some time."
"Could you make me one too?" Dawn pleaded, bouncing on her heels.
Serena nodded and a mocha was served to her with another perfect rosetta that she drank with fascination. When Misty walked into the room, she could tell that she wanted one as well, but didn't want to seem greedy. Serena made her one without her asking. There's a metal shaker involved, espresso, and ice. She poured the contents into a glass, topping it off with a splash of milk that swirled like wisps of smoke.
The glass slid in her direction and she looked surprised for a moment before her face soften with a smile in appreciation. Serena smiled back. "Go ahead."
She doesn't miss the glint in her green eyes, even though she doesn't say anything. Serena already knew her craft was great. There's a satisfied hum in her throat after Misty finished her drink in one sitting with a light blush and a quiet, sheepish, "thank you."
More came along and Serena learned that Gary loves whip cream in his coffee, Cilan could surprisingly be a simple man that loves a simple croissant with his caramel coffee, and Brock enjoys a nice amount of extra syrup for his coffee. From then on, whether she was surrounded by other members or if it was just her and Ash sharing the bar space, it started to feel more and more like home.
"You know," Ash began from his bar stool seat with Serena sitting next to him sipping at her own coffee. "If you keep making everyone's coffee orders so well, they won't let you leave."
She hummed over the rim of the porcelain mug, before smiling over it. She doesn't know how to define this space, a sort of moment in time that only he spends with her, carefree and open. She doesn't want to ask what this is, in fear of what she speaks into existence is only meant to break.
The question isn't asked and instead, Serena leans slightly into Ash's side, her cheek just touching his shoulder. He made no move to shy away from it. There's tresses of her hair that drifted over her eyes as she traced the handle of the coffee mug in a subtle contemplation, unaware of the small smile on his face.
She then whispers into the air, a caress of sincerity. "Who said I ever wanted to go?"
He says nothing, but instead, his shoulder shifted beneath her cheek only to angle closer. They stayed that way for the rest of the morning, and for many more sunrises after.
Days later, the two go through with the routine of training.
"I think you might be ready for your first job," Ash says offhandedly as they stretch their limbs to warm-up in the middle of the training room.
"Think so?" Serena replies.
She flexes her hands in front of her and notes the muscle she's gained. She does feel stronger, but even after the past few months, she hasn't been able to land a hit on him. She can keep up with Dawn's cunning and Misty's strength. However, Ash has always remained ahead of her in all aspects. She swears his speed is inhuman. Although, Serena wouldn't be anything, if she weren't at least ridiculously stubborn. She rolls the thought in her brain before smiling, a challenge thrown at his feet.
"If that's the case, I'll make sure to land a hit on you today."
"Seems like you say this every time." He crosses his arms and tilts his head, the aura around him up naturally smug. "Do your best."
Serena crouches down and immediately launches forward in an explosion of speed, a fist aimed for Ash's jaw. She sees the block and changes the trajectory of her fist to instead aim downwards, pivoting on her palms, and kicking upwards in an arch. He barely leans back in time from the back of her heel hitting her in the temple. She giggles at the mild shock on his face, even as his roundhouse kick lands right into the forearm block she raises.
It hurts like hell, but she's used to it. The prickle from heavy breaths in her lungs, the way her hair sticks to the side of her face in sweat, and the way her muscles sear. Pain is what drives growth, and for some twisted reason, she loves every ounce that he delivers. The hits come and she takes them one by one, following the moves through their path as to not be thwarted from her core, and arching into battle forms she never imagined she could pull off.
He's relentless and addicting, brutal even and she enjoys the fight to share this space with him. The feeling is clearly mutual with the excited grin on her opponent's face.
For a moment, she gains the one step ahead of Ash, just twisting out of the way from a forward strike that would undoubtedly have her flat on the mat, and her heart races, rising up to her throat because this is it. Before he can redirect her strike that falls too far, Serena lands a fist right into his cheek and then tackles him to the ground.
The room falls into the arms of silence, and they're both breathing heavily on the floor, leaving Ash's eyes locked with hers in a chain of smoldering gold. Serena's breaths are shaky and she's painfully aware of where she is, practically straddling his hips and the warmth is unmistakable against her thighs. She doesn't dare move for many reasons including: she just punched a mafia boss in his face and his eyes keep darting between her own and her lips. She shudders when she feels one of his strong hands curl around her waist, the heat in his palm radiating on her skin.
Even with a bruised cheek, Ash smiles, and his tone holds no strength, no arrogance. Instead, it's breathless and light, and Serena feels like she might soar when she feels his voice across her lips. He has always been ahead, but now she's with him, close enough to drown in the siren's sea.
"You got me," he whispers, his fingers pressing a little firmer into her hip, and her attire of just a sports bra and Nike Pros isn't making the situation better.
Serena bravely spares him a smile, voicing the one coherent thought that manages to pass through her addled mind. She takes a chance, and it's achingly soft the way she brushes his hair out of the way to see Ash's eyes a little clearer. "I told you I'd catch up to you."
His words rake across her skin like trails of flame, gravelly above hot coals as he speaks into the heated space between their lips. "Will you stay?"
"Yes," is all she manages to breathe out. She wants to say a lot of things, but she's struck speechless when he rises on his elbows and the space between them is closing. Serena caresses the bruise on his cheek and feels Ash's hand move to the small of her back, a warm touch on the bare sliver of skin exposed between her sports bra and the waistline of her shorts.
"Tell me," he says, voice rough and sounds wanting. "Do you want to stop this time, Serena?"
"No. Please, don't," she says, lips parting and it's then she breaks and sinks, finally shattering across his lips.
The kiss is electric, a tradeoff between lips and teeth, as though Ash himself felt something in him snap as his hands grip possessively at Serena's hips. She breathes hard against his lips before diving back in, fingers weaving into the soft tresses of his hair, pulling a groan from the leader's throat. The sound makes her shiver, a pleasure washing over her skin at the power she holds in this moment.
He's as rough as she expects, in forms of stinging bites at her bottom lip that he immediately soothes with a swipe of his tongue, a game that tugs her deeper and deeper. She wants nothing more than to drown in it, to be devoured by everything he will give and everything she will take. Her lips part and he slips his tongue around hers, scorching and wet, marking every bit of Serena that wants to him. She can feel Ash's calloused palms slip higher, pulling her flush against him until there's no space left, and she can't think of anything else but him.
"Ash..." she moans on his lips, and she feels the man beneath her shudder.
He pulls away only to sink him teeth into her pulse point, sucking a bruising mark and tasting the tinge of salt on her skin. She grinds down, whimpering in his ear, and she can feel him under her. Her mind blanks in a canvas of white, knowing somewhere in the way her mind spins, she wants him.
Then, the heated moment is broken by three sharp knocks on the door to the training room and Ash pulls away with a growl in his throat, eyes cutting a fierce gaze to the intruder behind the entrance. His head turns, Serena's breath skimming hotly against his jaw as she tries to recover from her daze, the intrusion making her break the surface of the ocean she immersed herself in. His hands are still firm on her hips as he calls out, voice gruff and a irritated.
"What?"
"Shit, sorry boss!" The voice doesn't sound very regretful at all. In fact there's a lot of laughter. "I don't mean to interrupt whatever party you've got going on, but we've got reports on the matter you asked about."
Whatever matters they are, they seem to sober up Ash's demeanor, if only slightly. There's a sigh from his lips and he catches Serena's eyes again, and the realization is sinking in. Before she can panic and overthink the fact that she just kissed him, practically moaning against his lips, the man rises up into a sitting position with her still in his lap.
There's a heat crawling up her neck as he takes her hand, brushing a kiss against her knuckles. He gives her another kiss on her lips and she can't help but melt into it. His lips and jaw are bruised, and she's completely breathless at the sight of him.
"We should talk later," Ash suggests, breathing deep to steady himself.
There's nothing Serena can do but nod mutely, not trusting her voice to form any string of a sentence. He rises and helps her up, her knees cooperating slightly to her surprise. He fixes the messy parts of her hair along with an apologetic smile. His thumb then brushes against the new mark on her neck, the copper gold of his eyes speckled in a mix of pride and satisfaction. She's still speechless when he kisses her cheek and turns to go pull the door open. To Serena's chagrin, Gary is standing there with a mischievous grin that reaches his eyes.
Gary's gaze slides to Ash, catching the injury on his jaw, and his grin widens. "Damn, man, I know you like things rough, but this is a new look for you, boss."
The reaction is instant, a solid fist launches right into his arm and both Gary and Serena wince at the sound it makes.
"Shut it, Gary," Ash cuts icily as he turns promptly down the hall.
Gary doesn't immediately follow after and instead turns to Serena, rubbing at his new bruise. His smile doesn't fade as he teases her. "Get it, Serena!"
She facepalms as he walks away laughing like a high school boy. Alone in the training room, she lets out a deep sigh, trying to clear her mind of the heady feeling that pulled her into a haze just minutes ago. From the moment she arrived, she wondered how she would die. The kiss replays in her mind like an unforgiving record, the sound of Ash's voice etching right into the spaces in her heart, and it becomes clear to her that Ash Ketchum very well may be the reason why.