Chapter Text
Someone is calling the home phone. Scratch that. Someone important is calling the home phone, most likely a league official of some kind, to work out the details of his dad's new position. Last week, Cynthia herself called the line and broke the news that the Canalave gym is in need of a new gym leader, and who better to take the role than his dad, who knows the area inside and out after working as a miner on Iron Island, back before when it was over teaming with the precious metal it was named after, before Byron moved to Oreburgh on the next contract as foreman of the mine, to power the Sinnoh region with vast amounts of coal, becoming a father, and in the process also becoming the gym leader due to both Pokemon and trainer being mentally resilient and tough as nails due to the back-breaking labor.
Roark wants to be excited, to move to a port town surrounded by water and no longer breathe in the rancid dusty air anytime he steeps outside, to be in walking distance to Sinnoh's biggest library, so he can read books on fossils to his heart's content, to work in a bigger, cleaner gym that has not been run down by time and the apathy of its citizens. However, he can't be, as his parents made it very clear that it was just Byron moving, with the other members of the family staying put in Oreburgh.
Perhaps, though this is a good thing, and that maybe his dad will recommend for him to take over the gym; he's been constantly training, and though his dad and consequently the gym specialize in steal types, Roak has a fondness for rock type, so it's not like there would be a type overlap regarding gyms. However, from the hushed furrowed whispers of his parents when they think he's too distracted to notice to the way the fellow gym trainers are being overly nice to him now, no longer treating him like a young but capable younger brother, but like a kid who saw his Glameow ran over by a truck, something sad and pitiful, Roark doubts that his dad’s move will be a net positive to his life.
He has wanted to leave the city for a while, go on a journey, catch new Pokemon, and discover countless fossils in the newly discovered and infamous Sinnoh Underground that his grandfather has told him about. But his parents would never let him leave, always citing one reason or another on why he couldn't do such a thing, that his dad needed him to stay as his most trusted gym trainer, picking up the slack that he himself could not manage due to working at the mine as well. That his mom would be lonely when his dad would work long shifts at the mine. Who else would she be able to talk regarding her work, and does he know how hard it is to prepare a meal for one when she was so used to making food for multiple people? He admits some of the reasoning has always been just a tad silly, but he loves his parents and knows they love him, despite his mom's smothering behavior and his dad's over-reliance on him when Byron is not ignoring him. Too tired after working his multiple jobs to regard Roark with anything else but a passing interest in how his day went.
His Cranidos headbutts him lightly on the leg; his mom doesn't like it when he and his dad have their Pokemon out in the house, going on about how they leave messes and are a hazard to her furniture. He wants to argue that point, but they had to buy plenty of new TV remotes due to his Cranidos's tendency to eat them, as well as shoes, towels, and anything else it can get ahold of in its giant mouth now that he thinks about it. But it doesn't matter anyway right now as his mom isn't home and can't yell at him to put his Pokemon away in its Pokeball.
Wait, his mom isn't home. Today is her day off, and she is helping out at the museum. His dad isn't home either, as he's working at the mine today. That leaves him to answer the still-ringing phone.
Roark picks it up with trepidation as he fumbles around for a piece of paper and a pencil, certain that his dad will want whatever message is delivered to be recalled to him later.
"Coleman residents, this is Roark speaking!"
"Oh, hello, Roark, this is Cynthia. Is your father available by any chance?" The voice on the other line replies. And oh, it's Cynthia, champion of the Sinnoh region Cynthia, the Cynthia with a fearsome Garchomp Cynthia, the Cynthia that signs all of his dad's league paychecks Cynthia. For a moment, panic fully takes its hold on Roark before he takes a deep breath and replies.
"He's currently out at the moment working in the mines. But I would be more than glad to take a message."
"Great, can you tell him to call me back? It's about Riley, your father's recommendation to be the replacement gym leader for Oreburgh. I haven't been able to reach him regarding the news, and I wanted to know if your dad was successfully able to. " She says sweetly as if she wasn't aware of the damage this one phone call was doing to him internally. Perhaps she truly wasn’t he has heard countless times from his dad and other League members that the woman was smart, but not the best regarding human emotions.
Feeling numb, he quickly hung up after giving a rushed agreement to pass the info along to his dad. It wasn't like Roark was expecting to become the new gym leader—far from it—but to be rejected even by his father! What else did he think Roark could do? He had no skills aside from Pokemon battling and gym work, and he couldn't work in the mines until he turned sixteen. Until then, he is stuck going on mini-exploratory digs to the lower floors on the Oreburgh Mines with his dad supervising. He also had no desire to work under Riley. While he liked the man and considered him a close family friend, working under him as a gym trainer would be too embarrassing compared to serving under his dad. It was proclaiming to the entire Sinnoh League Association that Roark was a good but not a great trainer. That he had too much to learn and that his mistakes would be too costly to easily shrug off.
However, Roark though indignantly, who in their right mind would pick Riley as a replacement gym leader! The last time Riley stopped by to have dinner with the Colemans, he mentioned traveling around to the Hoenn region to train more with his Lucario. He also mentioned that he would be very hard to reach, as he wanted to solely focus on his training and not be distracted. That was a little more than a year ago, and as far as Roark knows, Riley only called once during Delibird Day to wish everyone well and inform them of his status; apparently, he was making close friends with a Steal-type trainer over there, and that was half a year ago.
Cranidos looks at him with sad eyes, or at least as sad as the ancient creature can muster, before performing his signature move again and headbutting him lightly in its own unique way of attempting to cheer up his trainer. Roark pets the creature on the head, appreciating the fact that he knows he has someone in his corner before he allows the pure furry pooling in his gut to fully take over his mind.
He's fourteen and knows without a doubt that his dad does not believe in him. Rebuking him before he even has a chance to prove himself. So fine if he thinks that Riley would make a fantastic gym leader, way better than Roark, despite the fact that no one has seen the well-dressed man in over a year, while Byron's very own son has stayed ever faithful serving as his gym trainer and learning the ropes, then why doesn't he leave and go on his own journey, be selfish for once and prioritize his own wants and needs, as it's crystal clear to him now that his dad never will.
He starts rummaging throughout his room, searching for his backpack before the redhead starts folding up his clothes, plain black t-shirts and long, resilient pants. He takes his gray windbreaker and, with a bit of hesitation, decides to take the hard hat he wears on all of his mine expeditions, the one his dad gave him for his birthday when he was six. Roark’s reasoning being that while adventuring, you never know when having proper headgear is important. There is no sentimental reasoning for taking the hat, none at all he tells himself. Further reasoning that, he traveling he wants to check out the underground. Especially after his father banned his grandfather from taking him, which Roark still doesn't understand as his dad used to let him run around Iron Island all the time as a kid, and even now, he is allowed to explore and train in the lower levels of the Oreburgh Mine. Maybe it’s dangerous, maybe it’s Byron trying to keep Roark under his thumb.
After he raids the kitchen for some water bottles and granola bars, he checks his belt where his three Pokeballs reside, one for an Onix, another for Geodude, and, of course, Cranidos's Pokeball. Tightening his gloves as he steps out of the house and looking back one last time, Roark realizes that he should tell his mom that he's going to go on a journey as while he is still furious at his dad, he doesn't want his parents to worry too much and do something rash like call the police.
His mom, Charlotte, works as an industrial hygienist for the mines. She got her start at Iron Island, where she met Byron. The two fell in love after teaming up to ensure that the mines followed proper noise exposure regulations. Or at least that’s what he’s been told, Roark’s not really sure what they see in each other as it feels like they do everything in their power to avoid one another. On her off days, she works as an assistant at the Oreburgh Mining Museum, organizing events, researching potential new exhibits, and helping with securing funding.
As he enters the building, the front desk staff gives him a friendly wave and tells him that his mother is in her office before going back to look at whatever has caught their interest on the computer. Charlotte is on the phone when he walks in and waves him over to sit in the chair facing the front of her desk. Roark doesn't really care about what she is talking about, too distracted mulling over his own thoughts and preparing for the conversation ahead; however, before he sits down, Roark notices that his mother clearly notices that something is wrong by the way her eyebrows furrow in concern.
Nevertheless, the phone call is over, and Roark now has her undivided attention. The daunting task of telling his mother that he is essentially running away on a self-pitying journey because his dad thinks someone can run the gym better than he can hits him all at once.
Stealing himself, Roark is about to start the conversation before his mother, who is always impatient, beats him to it. "Roark, is something wrong? You normally don't visit me at work.” He takes a deep breath before continuing the conversation. "No, Mom, it's nothing like that. I wanted to tell you that I have decided to go on a journey. "A journey, oh Roark honey, I didn't know you were looking into being a comedian," his mother laughs. "Now, why don't you really tell me what's going on, and I can see what I can do to help."
Feeling the tips of his ears turn redder than his hair, Roark continued on. It was now or never, and if he didn't leave now, he would probably always be seen as Byron and Charlotte's annoying son who wasn't capable of anything. No longer was this journey about licking his wounds; it was a matter of personal pride, something he had to do to prove both his parents wrong.
"I'm not joking, Mom. I know what's going on with the gyms and that dad wants Riley to replace him. I can't work at the mines until I'm sixteen, and Dad clearly doesn't want me as his gym trainer anymore. Therefore, I am going on a journey."
"How did you know about Riley? Did one of the other gym trainers tell you? I’ll have to have a word with them. Never mind, it's not important that you know now. Look, Roark, your dad thinks that you are a very capable trainer; it's just that you are also a very young one. The gym isn't just about you but the whole city of Oreburgh; I know you want the position, but are you truly aware of how much this gym matters to this city? We need a strong and capable gym leader, and your dad and I both know that Riley would do a great job. Besides, I know Riley would love to have you as a gym trainer; you can show him the ropes as he settles into the role, and I know you would do a good job at that. However, if you truly want to go on a journey, I am sure that we can work something out, but can it wait until father and I get off from work? Maybe you can go during the next League off-season?”
Roark can tell that his mom hopes he stays, that by the time Riley arrives Roark will be unable to leave his role, to busy to even think about leaving. A compromise that only benefits her.
"Mom, I need to learn how to stand on my own two feet eventually; the fact that a large majority of trainers have already gone on their journeys, and I don't even have a gym badge to my name is telling. How am I supposed to someday be a gym leader if I haven't experienced the things I am supposed to teach the trainers challenging me. I need to leave. Clearly, you can see that. What else can I learn by continuing to be a gym trainer? I'm sure the miners and the other gym trainers can teach Riley the ropes just fine. I just wish that you and Dad would treat me like I'm fourteen and capable of making these kinds of decisions and not like I am seven and need my handheld constantly."
"Roark, I am not placating you; I am educating you so that you can make the right decision; there is a difference," Charlotte said cooly. "I know that nothing I say at this point can stop you from leaving. I only ask that you write frequently and try to stay out of trouble." She stood up, gesturing for Roark to do the same before hugging him and whispering into his ear, "Good Luck, Roark. Please know that I do love you."
Leaving the embrace, Roark gives his mother one last glance while she gave him a knowing nod. He knows he needs to leave now, before he gets cold feet and regrets ever bringing up the topic of him leaving. "Thanks, Mom, I appreciate the support."
Walking out towards the Oreburgh Gate, he takes a deep breath in appreciated the unique rocky smell of his home city. He doesn’t know what he’s going to do on this journey, all he knows his that whatever he chooses to do he needs to succeed at. Pondering over his possible destinations Roark decides to go to Jubilife City first, the industrial hub a warm welcome compared to the rural environment he is familiar with.