Note from the Author: This will eventually be a RileyXVolkner fic, so please, if you don't like it, don't read. That's why we have back buttons.

Volkner Goes to a Party

"C'mon Volkner, it'll be fun!"

"No."

"Why not? You've been so grumpy lately, so a party will be perfect to lift your mood!" Flint attempted to pull Volkner to the train station, but Volkner resisted.

"I don't know if you've noticed, but I'm not in a party mood right now."

"But Volkner, Candice is gonna blame me if you don't come! He wanted ALL the gym leaders there! And, well, technically, I'm not invited, so you have to go so I can!"

"Flint, I said no."

"It's not like you have anything better do!"

"And what if I do?"

"Like what? Sit and sulk in your little emo chair at the gym?"

"…maybe." Flint sighed exasperatedly. Volkner could be so stubborn sometimes. Then he got an idea. He let Volkner go as he grabbed a pokéball from his belt.

"Fine, if you won't go willingly, I'll just have to drag you there myself. Infernape, get him!" he commanded, throwing the pokéball.

"Wait, wha-" Volkner exclaimed, eyes slightly widened. Infernape lifted him up and held onto him, keeping his arms immobile by his side. Flint grinned triumphantly and marched up to the ticket person, who looked rather alarmed.

"Flint, tell Infernape to put me down!" Volkner shouted helplessly.

"Nope. Two tickets for Snowpoint City please," he said to the ticket person, grinning a little too much.

"You, ticket guy! Help me out here! I don't want to go! Don't let him force me on there!" The ticket man looked at Volkner squirming and smirked evilly. Maybe if Volkner didn't black out the city twice a week, he would've helped the poor guy out.

"Two tickets for Snowpoint City, sir! Enjoy your ride!" he said cheerfully, handing Flint the tickets.

"Thanks. C'mon Infernape, let's go."

Volkner had resigned himself to this party, though he wasn't happy about it at all. At least once the train ride began, Infernape let go and went back inside its pokéball. He occupied his time by sulking and glaring and Flint. If looks could kill, Flint would be a smoldering pile of ashes. He was pleased to note that Flint looked at least a little nervous about being around the pissed off gym leader.

When they got off at Snowpoint City, Flint had the sense not to drag Volkner around. Volkner followed on his own, still glaring at the back of Flint's head, though with less force. He was more occupied with the freezing cold. Flint didn't notice his friend's shivering and seemed completely unaffected himself.

By the time they got to Candice's house, Volkner felt like a walking popsicle while Flint somehow managed to retain his usual energy levels despite the cold. He wanted Flint to hurry up so he could get somewhere that had HEATING.

"HEY CANDICE!!!" Flint hollered, banging on the door. Volkner grumpily pushed him out of the way and kicked the door in. He stomped off past a slightly stunned Candice.

"Uh, what's his problem?" Candice asked.

"Don't mind him, he's just kinda pissed at me right now," Flint explained.

"He didn't have to kick the door in! That's so rude!" Candice said, putting her hands on her hips. Flint walked inside and scanned the room for his friend. Predictably, he was sulking in some corner of the room by himself.

"Don't worry about that Candice!" Byron shouted. He picked the door up and shoved it back in place. "It's not fixed, but it'll work for now!"

"Great! Now let's turn up the music and get this party started!" Flint shouted. He found the stereo system and turned the music up so that it was blasting throughout the house.

"Now that's what I'm talkin' about!" Gardenia shouted, starting to dance. Flint joined her, as well as Candice, Maylene, Crasher Wake, Fantina, and some of their friends.

"Whoo! That's my song!" one of Gardenia's friends shouted.

"I 'ave never 'eard zis song before, but I am liking it very much," Fantina said.

"Candice, what do you have to eat! I'm starving!" Bryon shouted over the music.

"I ordered pizza! Help yourself to whatever's in the kitchen till it gets here! I bought drinks, chips, and a ton of other stuff!" she shouted back.

"Hey Roark, come on and dance with me!" Gardenia shouted, pulling Roark up from his chair.

"Uh, wait a second," Roark said nervously, but it was too late.

"Don't be shy, just go for it!" she shouted. Tentatively, Roark started to dance, and as the song went on, he started to get the hang of it.

Volkner was starting to get some of the feeling back into his fingers and decided to see if he could get a drink. He walked into the kitchen, only to find someone was already in there. It was a young man dressed in a blue suit and hat with a gold necklace around his neck. He had a bowl of ice cream and was casually leaning on the counter behind him.

Volkner ignored him and rummaged through the cabinets for something to drink.

"Hey, what're you looking for?" the man asked. Volkner found the drinks up on the highest shelf and pulled them all out.

"These," he replied. He found a shot glass and poured some hard liquor in. He tilted his head back and tossed the liquid in his mouth.

"Ah," the other man said. He continued to eat his ice cream and watched as Volkner steadily made his way through the whole bottle of liquor.

"Um, is that healthy?" Volkner shrugged and poured himself a glass of Vodka.

"Don't know, don't care." He downed the whole glass in one go and poured himself another. "If I have to stay at this dumb party, I plan and getting drunk till I pass out or die of alcohol poisoning." The man frowned, looking a little worried.

"Why? If you don't like parties, just hang back here. You don't need to be drunk to have a good time."

"Whatever. You want any?" Volkner asked, offering him a glass.

"No," he said, wrinkling his nose a little in distaste. Volkner shrugged and downed the glass, wiping his mouth on his sleeve.

"Suit yourself." The man continued to watch him finish two more bottles of Vodka, another bottle of liquor, three or four bottles of whiskey, and some other drinks he couldn't name. He wasn't sure whether or not he should stop him.

When he finished off the last bottle, Volkner looked around, confused. "Wha? Where's the rest?" he asked, slurring a little.

"You drank it all," the guy said. Volkner turned toward him hopefully. He stumbled over to him in a drunken stupor, and tripped. The guy caught him, thanks to his fast reflexes.

"Y-you, can you get me some more?" Volkner asked, looking up at the man pleadingly. He licked his lips at the thought of getting more alcohol, as long as it wasn't beer. His speech was slurred and he felt kind of dizzy. "I reeeeaaaallllyyyy want some more!"

"Uh…" the guy said, unsure of what to say. He tried to help Volkner get back on his feet, but Volkner just fell on him again.

"Hey, what's your name?" Volkner asked slowly.

"It's Riley," he said, trying to push Volkner off of him. Volkner giggled and pointed at him.

"Riley, you've got a funny hat!" Volkner said, giggling again. He stumbled back light-headedly and nearly fell again. Then he grabbed Riley's hat and jammed it on his head, giggling drunkenly.

"Now I've gotta funny hat!" He laughed like he'd just made the most hilarious joke in the world.

"Erm, could you give that back now?"

"Your Volkner evolved into a Riley!" Volkner shouted happily. "Yay!"

"Volkner, I'm serious. Give me my hat, now." Volkner looked up at him angrily.

"No! My hat now! I'm a Riley!" Sighing, Riley grabbed his hat back and placed it on his head, where it belonged. He wasn't prepared for the fist that came flying at his face from out of nowhere.

He was knocked back several feet into the refrigerator with a crash. The music in the other room drowned the noise so no one came running to see what happened. Volkner pulled him up by the collar of his turtleneck, glaring at him angrily.

Riley brought up a leg and kicked him back, standing up, prepared to fight. Volkner drunkenly charged at him, tackling Riley to the floor.

"Volkner, calm down!" Riley flipped them over and tried to pin Volkner down, but Volkner bit his arm. Caught by surprise, Riley released Volkner and tried to tug his arm away. He succeeded, but Volkner used this opportunity to shove Riley into a chair, knocking both him and the chair back.

"Volkner, really! I don't want to fight you!" Volkner tried to punch him, but he rolled out of the way. Thanks to the alcohol slowing Volkner's reflexes, Riley had time to stand up before Volkner came at him again.

"Fine, if that's the way you want it," Riley said as he pulled a fist back and launched it at Volkner. It hit him squarely in the jaw and knocked him into the island counter. Riley waited for Volkner to get up and come at him again, but nothing happened.

"Volkner?" he asked uncertainly. He couldn't see Volkner's face.

"Volkner, are you alright?" Riley asked. Volkner didn't answer, but he shakily started to stand. Riley stepped forward and reached out to help him up, but Volkner knocked his hand away.

He looked straight at Riley, tears streaming down his face, one hand holding his injured jaw. Riley flinched. He hadn't expected him to cry. Volkner sobbed and gave him this hurt look that made Riley feel even guiltier.

"You hate me, don't you? I-I don't care!" Volkner hiccupped.

"Volkner, that's not true! I don't even know you! Calm down!" But if anything, that made Volkner sob harder.

"I knew it! Well fine! Nobody wants me here anyways! I don't even want me here anyways!" Volkner shouted hysterically. He pushed Riley out of the way and ran for the door.

"J-Just leave me alone! I'm leaving forever and you can't stop me! I didn't like staying here anyways!" Volkner ran out into the snow, leaving a rather stunned Riley on the floor of Candice's kitchen.

The party was still pounding on in the other room, completely unaware that Sinnoh's top ranked Gym leader was missing. It took Riley a full minute to comprehend what had just happened.

"Crap," Riley cursed to himself, getting up. Volkner was going to get himself killed out there.

He adjusted the hat on his head and ran outside after Volkner, hoping he would catch up with him before it was too late.

I can't believe I actually posted this. I have no experience with drinking or people getting drunk, so sorry if that part seems really unrealistic. I originally planned for this to be a one-shot, but now, I guess not. Actually, I didn't really plan this at all, as you could probably tell. It just kinda..happened. At 2 in the morning. And this pairing needs some more love. Please review and suggest a better name for the story.

This was written for and dedicated to ChessLeChat on deviant art, who posted some AMAZING pics and inspired me to write. Thanks!