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With a wave of his hand, Ghetsis indicated to the guards at the gate to leave. Both of them bowed to him before leaving.
The door opened with a creak, the same sound as it closed behind Ghetsis. He looked around, enjoying the luxury that decorated his room. The room enjoyed a luxurious design, spacious, simple, but not ostentatious. He himself had the pleasure of designing his room.
His eyes landed on Alder, who was sitting on the carpet, cross-legged. With his eyes closed, Alder seemed to be focused on his meditation, not having recognized Ghetsis when he entered.
Ghetsis stepped closer. At the shadow cast over him, Alder broke concentration.
Alder rose from his position without a word. He raised his hand toward the hollow of Ghetsis' neck, as if searching for something. When he found the catch, he pressed gently. A small click sounded from the mechanism, at which the golden collar ornament was released.
Alder removed the ornament, setting it down carefully. Then he left his hands motionless on the clasp of the long cloak, hesitating.
"Don't be shy, you've done it before," Ghetsis said, a hint of mockery in his voice.
"You seem to be in a good mood," Alder replied, choosing to ignore the taunt.
"Of course I am, Alder. Today is a day to celebrate. We will finally take control of Unova legitimately" Ghetsis said, his smile somehow sinister. He took one of Alder's hands and tugged gently, encouraging him to unbutton the cloak.
It fell gracelessly to the floor, leaving Ghetsis in a thinner layer of black clothing. Dressed in black, one could see how truly slender Ghetsis was. That, added to his height, highlighted his elegance and nobility. Alder stared at the illusion too long, tinting his cheeks crimson.
"Unlike you" continued Ghetsis "No greetings, lost in thoughts, tell me did I do something wrong?"
On another occasion, if Alder were a man full of pride, he would have been offended. However, he had learned to deal with Ghetsis' petty taunts. He had decided it was best not to play along. Still, a twinge of discomfort raised a frown on his face.
"You don't need to keep pretending, there's no one here you need to impress" Alder replied, it came out more tired than he wanted to.
"Would you rather I was insensitive to you?"
The question itself was annoying. Alder knew, he was sure, that Ghetsis could be if he wanted to. Though the question, the choice, made Alder uneasy.
Alder knew what to answer when he felt the gentle touch of Ghetsis on his face.
“No”
Ghetsis put some space between them before his lips found their place on Alder´s neck, nipping and sucking the area. The hand on Alder´s hipbone moved to be placed on the waistband on his pants. The fingers rubbed around the cloth, teasing.
Alder placed a hand on his shoulder, making him back of a little.
It was uncanny, how he had been able to get used to being locked up. Unable to leave the castle, he had become nothing more than a puppet. His invisible strings danced between Ghetsis' deft fingers. He was able to fool the audience he played for, but was unable to fool him behind closed doors.
Perhaps that was why Ghetsis sought him out even after his speeches were over, looking for him at every reporter's gaze. He wanted attention, and indeed he got it. Magazines with pictures of them together, with eye-catching titles reinforcing the idea that Alder agreed to their arrangement. And that got him to where he was, being a politician when his intention was always to be a teacher. He crossed that line the moment he decided to surrender.
Because when he was defeated by a boy claimed to be king. When on his hands his pokemon, his team, sobbed, he couldn't help but imagine a future where that pain was a constant. But not for the boy; despite his determination, Alder saw in him nothing but good intentions.
Who he wasn't so sure about was the man next to him. So much like him, he'd swear they were related. But his surprise was not to learn that his suspicions were true, but to learn that Ghetsis had raised such a boy.
He had no choice, when ladders drilled through the league, but to think that objecting would do no good. That there was nothing to change the boy's mind. And seeing that no one would come to his aid, he kneeled, accepting his defeat, trying to negotiate.
The boy looked at him in confusion, wondering what he was doing. Ghetsis, at his side, dropped one of his hands on N. With that alone, he let Alder speak.
To what extent Ghetsis had power over him, Alder did not know. But it was clear to him how slippery that snake was. A snake, of which he was willing to be bitten if it meant preserving the dream he had worked so hard to fulfill. A harmony between humans and pokemon, which he hoped he could extend a little longer.