Title: A Helping Hand

Pairing: Falkner/Jasmine (steelwingshipping)

Words: 1765

Note: I actually rewrote this because I didn't quite like how it was before. Still the same storyline, and it's no less cheesy. But yeah, written because there were no other steelwingshipping fics around so I thought I'd change that.

Jasmine wasn't the first to notice the problem.

It was the sailors who ran to her house, knocking loudly on her door, calling for her help. When she opened the door, tired and disheveled, they told her everything. They told her about how there was no longer any light from the lighthouse, that a ship had crashed on the rocks near the shore.

There was panic in their voices. Urgency.

At once, Jasmine stood up straight, to be the leader her city needed her to be. There was no room for waiting or for her shyness to take over.

She moved quickly, grabbing her coat and lighthouse keys before running out the door.

The sailors had already gone to help the shipwrecked ones, but no one was helping Ampharos. It was up to her, she knew.

Barging through the elevator doors, she ran to the Pokémon. A gasp escaped her lips as she saw its fallen figure. She ran to it, quickly checking its vitals. Her heart cried out, filled with sorrow and sympathy for her beloved Pokémon.

Its fur was pale, its eyes yellowish. Its breaths were ragged and pained, and every cough was agonizing to hear. But though weak, there was still a pulse.

There was still time. Ampharos could yet be saved.

She was quick to order people to get the medicine she needed, emphasizing that she didn't care how, or who got it. She didn't care that it was in the middle of the night. She'd wake up the whole region if she had to. If Ampharos didn't get the medicine by dawn, it just might die.

The sick Pokémon let out a pained cry, and she bent down to reassure it, telling it that the medicine was on the way, that all it needed to do was to stay strong. She buried her face in its neck and stroked its yellow fur.

She didn't know how long she stayed there, wishing for some sort of miracle. Time was quickly running out. Tick tock.

Then, time stopped. "Jasmine."

The Olivine Gym Leader looked up and turned to the source of the voice. "...Falkner?" His normally disheveled hair was even messier than usual, and dark rings were under his eyes. He was walking towards her, a bottle in his hands.

"Here. The medicine." He held the bottle out to her.

She stared at it for a few seconds before she actually reached out to take it. She wanted to say something, but she couldn't. So she just uncapped the bottle then gave it to the Ampharos.

It worked. In no time at all, it was emanating bright light, illuminating the dark sky. It let out a loud and cheery cry, a sign that it was better.

Jasmine was on the brink of tears with how relieved she was. She turned to Falkner, but he was already halfway across the room, heading for the elevator.

"Wait!" He stopped, hearing the soft patter of her footsteps as she ran to catch up with him.

He looked at her. "Yes?"

She was suddenly a lot more nervous than before. Her hands were wringing themselves, her eyes fixed on the floor and her feet shuffling against the ground. "I, uh… I want to say thank you."

"You're welcome."

She smiled at him shyly. "I didn't know that you… you cared so much."

He was surprised at her words. Perhaps his reputation as the calm and cool gym leader had given other people the wrong idea. "I guess I do."

There was a short yet awkward pause. "How did you know? About Amphy, I mean."

Falkner shrugged. "One of my former students called me. He likes to spend time in the lighthouse. So when he heard that Ampharos was unwell, he came to me. He's under the impression that I can fly the fastest because I'm a flying type gym leader." There was a glint in his eyes.

"But that's true… isn't it?"

"I was kidding." He looked to the side. "Besides, I never tested that. And I never assume."

"Oh."

A silence came upon the two, before Falkner cleared his throat. "If that's all, then I'll be on my way."

Jasmine flushed deeply. "Sorry. I didn't mean to…"

He waved away her apology as he stepped into the elevator. "Bye, Jasmine."

She smiled at him. "Bye." She watched the doors close and wondered why her heart was beating so quickly.

_._._._._.

Jasmine drew in a deep breath and brought her fist up to the door. It was no big deal. She just had to knock. It wasn't that hard.

Except that it was. She dropped her arm to her side and sighed. She couldn't do it. Maybe she should just leave.

But no. She came all this way and she wasn't going to leave without doing what she came here to do. She brought her hand up again.

The door opened, just as she was about to knock. Falkner stood facing her, surprise expertly shifting to professionalism. "Good morning, Jasmine. How can I help you?"

Jasmine stared at him for a moment, before she wordlessly thrust out the box she was holding in her hands. He glanced at her questioningly. "Poffins," she explained. His expectant gaze didn't falter. "To thank you. For Amphy."

Falkner smiled, visibly relaxing. "It was nothing, Jasmine. Honestly, you didn't have to."

"I know, but…" She lightly bit on her bottom lip. "I wanted to."

He took the box from her. "Thank you."

She smiled and blushed as a silence settled over them. Jasmine balanced on the balls of her feet and Falkner rubbed the back of his neck. Things were getting awkward quickly.

"Is this your first time in Violet City?" he asked in a feeble attempt to break the silence.

She nodded. "It's…nice."

"Perhaps I could show you around." He extended a hand to her. There was a glint in his eyes, and Jasmine was wary. Was he joking? She never knew when he was joking. But he didn't pull away.

She nodded again and slipped her hand into his. "I'd like that."

And so they went.

He boasted the talented students in the Pokémon School and she let them see her Pokémon. Needless to say, the pupils were thrilled, and so was she.

He explained to her the history and significance of Sprout Tower and introduced her to the elders there who watched over the tower. They noted with a knowing smile that it was the first time he'd brought a girl to the tower, and the red on his cheeks matched hers.

He held her hand as he led her across the wooden beams of his gym. She didn't dare look down and complained about how dangerous it was the whole way across. But when she admired the array of birds living in the roof, she was speechless.

Jasmine didn't remember when was the last time she enjoyed herself so much. She smiled the whole day, and when he thought she wasn't looking, she caught him smiling too.

_._._._._.

It was already night when he arrived at her house. He rapped firmly on her door, the usual serious expression on his face.

Jasmine looked surprise at his visit. "Oh, Falkner… I wasn't expecting you."

"I've come to return your container." He held out the container she had given him, now empty and poffin-less.

"Oh." Her gentle hands reached out to take it from him. "Thank you."

He nodded and turned to go.

"Wait!" He looked back at her. "I…Have you seen the lighthouse yet?"

He blinked. "I delivered the medicine to you at the lighthouse."

She flushed. "Of course, but I meant… really seen it. It's beautiful at night."

"Is that so?" He arched an eyebrow.

Jasmine nodded. "I can show you," she gently took his arm and led him to the lighthouse. She brought him to the top deck, where the faithful Ampharos stood.

The yellow Pokémon hopped excitedly and rubbed its head against Falkner. Jasmine giggled lightly, petting its.

"It likes you," she commented with a gentle smile.

Falkner spared one of his smiles as the corners of his lips turned upwards slightly. "It's nice to know someone does." He had that glint in his eyes again.

Jasmine looked at him with questioning eyes. Was he joking? She could never tell; he always looked so serious. "I like you." It came out before she even thought it, and she was mortified. He stared at her and she shied away. "I mean, people like you. You're a gym leader and all..."

"So are you." He took a step closer to her.

She bit on her bottom lip. "Yeah, but… I mean, you're really good at what you do…"

"So are you." Another step closer.

"Yeah, but you're not just a gym leader. You're a role model-"

"Jasmine."

"And you help out when you're town needs you-"

"Jasmine."

"And a lot of people think you're amazing-"

"Jasmine."

Falkner reached out and placed his finger over her lips, effectively silencing her. She was so stunned that she didn't say anything, large light brown eyes staring at him.

"I like you too." Then suddenly his lips were on hers, and her eyes were shut and she could feel the blood rush to her head and the rapid beating of her heart. Her lips moved without her brain telling it to, moving against his in a beautiful dance.

She kept her eyes closed even after he pulled away. It was like she was in a dream. She wanted to re-live that moment, again and again, in her mind. When she opened her eyes, she saw Falkner gazing out at the sea.

"You're right. It's beautiful."

Jasmine was looking at him. "It really is."

"You know, I'd really like to come here more often." Falkner glanced at her from the corner of his eyes.

"I'd like to visit Violet City more often too." She met his gaze.

Her cheeks hurt because she was smiling so wide, and she was pretty sure she'd never seen Falkner quite so happy before.

He turned to face her, bringing his hand up to her cheek. Then he kissed her again. And again, and again.

And Ampharos was grinning at them too, as it shone brighter than it ever had before.

Fluff for the sake of fluff because eh, why not? It's cute.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on it so leave a review!

-DBT