Cilan doesn't miss a thing.

He doesn't miss the way Ash and Misty can have entire arguments with their eyes

He doesn't miss the way both Brock and Gary look at Misty when Iris asks who would ever date Ash.

He doesn't miss the extra soul in Ash's laugh when Brock recounts an old adventure.

He doesn't miss the fact that Pikachu hasn't left Misty's side since she got here.

He doesn't miss the pride in Gary's smile when he looks at Ash.

He doesn't miss it when Ash goes back for more once more than he normally does when it's Brock cooking and not him.

He doesn't miss the double-take Ash does whenever he sees a redhead, although he knows Misty is at her gym.

But while he notices all these things, it takes him a while to put a finger on just why Ash's friendships with Gary, Brock, and Misty taste so different from Iris's and his own.

It is when Ash calls Misty to celebrate their meeting seven years ago to the day that Cilan can finally put a name to the bittersweet taste. That happy, sad, insane, warm, wonderful, bittersweet taste.

It is the taste of time.

A/N: Just a little drabble-y thing that crossed my mind. I think there's something special in the relationships between the original characters, and I wanted to express that from an outsider's point of view. Tell me what you think!