Jonathan Ketchum has always been a strict harsh perfectionist father. He's always wanted his sons to be best at anything and everything, and he's secretly always wished they were getting the ladies at their knees. His eldest son was doing pretty well, as far as he knew. But what about Ash?

P.S: I wrote this a LONG time ago, and I had it published in an FF account. A beta reader helped me get it better. It's not really about Pokeshipping. It is just mentioned. The story treats more the father-son relationship, and mostly the strong father figure. I'm not sure if you guys like this kind of stories but anyway... :p

HINTS, HINTS

By @GingerAndy

In a family like the Ketchum's, the father has a big influence on his kids. He exerts a lot of control over his family members. His words are orders that are not to be discussed. It's indeed challenging to argue or discuss with a father from the Ketchum family and it is even harder to stand in his way or try to make your voice heard over his.

The matter especially concerned male children.

And Ash's family was no exception. After all, he grew up under his father's major control, and neither he nor his big brother, Seth, ever tried to swim against the current. Even though Jonathan Ketchum wasn't a rough father like the ones who have preceded, he was hard to deal with and sometimes scary despite not being too powerful. If you get to know him better—like his wife knows him—Johnny is a smoothie, hiding under a mask of roughness.

Of course, Delia Ketchum always knew Jonathan as the sweet guy who used to bring her a flower a day and greet her with a warm smile—after blurting out a verse of Shakespeare’s poetry (sometimes he'd say it wrong or switch a word with another and panic). They fell in love more and more after each day, and the two ended up married and happy with each other.

She'd surely admit that her husband has certainly changed after the birth of his two sons; he spoke less, no sweet words came from his mouth unless he and his wife were alone. People always told her how her life was so hard with a man like him, but they could never understand Jon as Delia could—how he was so sweet inside and treated her very well, despite his harsh character.

It was—for Jonathan—as if being sweet to Delia in front of his boys, was a sign of fragility; who'd want to look weak in front of his sons who admire him greatly? No father does.

Jonathan was 'dry' with and in front of Seth and Ash—especially Seth—gave them a military-strict education, and Delia always wondered if it'd have been the case if he had daughters instead. According to her mother-in-law, the answer was no.

It had something to do with the family traditions, something that Delia never understood.

Truth to be told, Jonathan's efforts weren't in vain, and his sons never disappointed him. The tasks varied from helping their mother around the house, to doing their homework regularly, to leveling up their grades and attending college (in Seth's case, since Ash is still in high school).

Great job indeed, as far as studies go.

There was this side which Jonathan couldn't control and get hold of when it came to Seth and Ash, yet he wanted them to be good at it, somehow. Let's say Seth has done a great job on it; yes he did, because Seth is like that. He's good at some other things as well.

But Ash…

Jonathan wasn't sure if Ash was doing a great job, but he was sure of one thing: Ash would never ask for help concerning that matter.

And that was scaring Jonathan more and more; he never wanted to scare the hell out of the boys to the point where they shiver when they talk to him; Jonathan just wanted them to be successful and real men—nothing more, nothing less.

Though his wife would disagree, Jonathan knew that his own sons developed a certain fear of him, especially during their childhood upon seeing Ash crying and clinging to his mother after Delia leaving him with his father while she did her shopping. It wounded him, but always told himself that the boy was still young and probably doesn't even remember.

Currently, the situation changed, and this fear changed more into some kind of respect; Ash and Seth surely figured out that all of this was done for their own good, and looked their father very up.

But as long as Ash was still under his roof, he wasn't allowed to hang out after eight P.M.

“He's late.”

“Oh Jonathan.”

Delia smiled to herself as she flipped through a cooking magazine's pages, looking for something new to attempt. She then looked up at her husband, who had his eyes fixed on the clock on the wall.

“Honey, Ash's probably with his friends.”

Jon turned toward her, went silent for a moment, and then spoke up, “Do… do you think… it's a girl, no?”

Delia smiled to herself, back to reading the recipes, “Maybe, that would be interesting.”

“It's not the gym today isn't it?”

“No, it was yesterday.”

“Piano lessons?!”

Delia looked up, slightly shocked. “Sweetie, you're the one always to remember!” She then looked down and turned another page, “The piano lessons were Wednesday.”

Jonathan didn't respond, but he gave a light slow nod to himself, and then turned to the clock on the wall.

It was half past eight— Ash was half an hour late.

“Sweetie, it's Friday, give him some space…” she said, never looking up.

Mr. Ketchum let a heavy sigh, before something other than Ash's matter popped up in his mind. “Did Seth call today?!”

“Oh! He did!” Delia glanced up and then down, “I forgot to tell you—he's sending you greetings, and wants you to take care of me!” she ended it with a giggle, before turning another page of her magazine. “What a boy… I miss him though…”

“Heh, a boy. He's a man, not a boy anymore, Delia”

Delia looked up again, smiled at her husband and then turned to her reading; her husband missed Seth every day, and he wasn't doing a great job hiding it.

“Stop playing the bad guy Jonathan, stop it”

“Huh?!”

“Nothing… nothing.”

Delia stood up, putting the magazine on the couch and then turning her attention to her husband. “Want coffee? I'm going to make some.”

“Yes, please.”

The mother of two smiled weakly and soon made her way to the kitchen.

“With some cinnamon Delia!”

“Sure honey!”

Jonathan let a sigh again, looking down at the newspaper between his hands and at the clock on the wall.

Eight thirty five.

Jonathan was getting irritated as he began to wonder where Ash could be right now. Friday night was no excuse for hanging out late, and even so, he had to tell his parents first to get approval.

That's the way it should have been.

“Honey?!”

“Yeah?” Jonathan shouted back.

“Seth told me that next time he'll visit, he'll be having some company!”

Jonathan chuckled, “Tiffany?”

“It's Melanie honey, Melanie!” Delia's shouts could be heard clearer this time as she was walking out of the kitchen, as she held a tray of two mugs and a coffee pot, with a delicious scent of cinnamon filling the air.

“Yeah, Melanie Tiffany Bethany Stefanie—it's all are the same!”

His wife shook her head at him. She put the tray on the coffee table, and then poured some for her and her husband. “He sounds very excited when he speaks about her; I really want to meet this girl.”

Noticing that she got no answer, Delia looked up, only to find her husband dialing some number on his phone.

She snatched it from his hands.

“Delia?!”

“I told you give him some space!” Delia put the cell phone beside her as she scolded him. “You know he's not doing anything wrong out there! You know Ash!”

“Time is never enough when you're young and full of energy. You know this more than anyone, Jonathan,” Delia handed her husband his cup of coffee and blinked. Jonathan cleared his throat.

“I—Delia, I don't care, he should have been here by eight.”

Delia sighed, before taking a sip from her cup. Her husband would never change.

Suddenly the two heard sound of the front door's lock being opened, and soon the door opened, revealing Ash.

It is eight fifty now.

He walked silently to the living room, where his parents were. He knew he should answer some questions. He knew his father would not let him go upstairs anyway.

“Well well, look who decided to show up finally.”

There was no response from Ash—all he could do is down his head and look at his feet.

“Where were you?”

“At—at a friend's house—a party.”

Jonathan's eyebrows come together in confusion, while Delia just sipped her coffee hiding her smile—wanting to hear more from her son.

“So you think it's time to party?”

Of course, Jonathan wasn't waiting for an answer—heck, Ash would have to sleep in the streets if he ever thought of answering.

“Ash, you can party, after you finish your senior year.”

“Dad—they—I wasn't going to attend—Gary insisted I go—”

“Ashton, I don't care if Gary Oak insi—“

“She was there?!”

Jonathan and Ash turned toward Delia at the same time, shocked. “She? Who?!”

“Uh-what?!” Ash managed to stutter, all nervous.

Jonathan looked between his wife—who was smirking now—and his son. Feeling lost, he said to Delia, “Okay, can you leave us for a moment?!”

“Of course! Of course!” Delia squealed and slapped her son's shoulder, before leaving the two by themselves.

“Ash, sit down. What are you waiting for?”

Ash snapped from his little dizziness and sat down on the sofa facing his father. He was looking every direction except his father's.

“I was planning on talking about that anyway.”

“Huh?”

“I was curious… I mean, you never talked about… females who are… involved—I mean, not involved—don't get involved with girls and I'm serious—but the ones you… well, you know.”

“Dad,” Ash spoke up, his eyes wide and his mouth forming a small grin, “got it, I got it.”

“It was getting scary you know,” Jonathan raised a brow. “It wasn't the case for Seth, because I've seen him billion times with girls outside—…”

“And—well, you brother was very open, and still is.”

Ash nodded a small one. His face was just lightly red.

“So… is there a girl somewhere?”

Ash looked hesitant for a moment, but he ended up answering, “No, there isn’t.”

“Oh,” Jonathan snapped out, feeling disappointed suddenly. “Okay… okay then.”

“Excuse me father, I have some homework to do.”

Ash stood up, his hands on his pockets. “Goodnight, Dad,” he said with a weak grin.

“Goodnight,” replied Jonathan, before Ash took his leaving and started to walk upstairs.

Defeated, Jonathan returned to reading his newspaper; he didn't expect that kind of reaction of Ash. He didn't even want that kind of reaction, he wanted instead a conversation with him, he wanted him to talk, like a father and a son would talk.

Perhaps there was nothing to say, and what he was thinking about Ash is actually true.

He wasn't really good at—

“Dad?”

Jonathan suddenly looked up, confused at the fact that Ash came back. He narrowed his eyes at the boy, “Finished your homework this quickly?”

“Uhm, can I… say something? I—…”

Jonathan took his time to throw a harsh glare at his youngest son. Ash cleared his throat.

“Ash.”

“Huh.”

“A real man,” Jonathan began, “is honest with others, and with his own damn self.”

“U-uh,” Ash nodded, feeling nervous suddenly; it was a bad day when Jonathan Ketchum used those words.

“Sit down.”

Ash gave a nod again and sat down on the single sofa, facing his father. Jonathan then continued, “You're a good man, Ashton. I raised you and your brother, and I know what I've taught you and made of you two.”

Ash showed no reaction, but his mouth started to form into a tiny smile, hearing his father talking about him in a good way. His head was down, yet he was proud of himself.

“But here is the difference between you and Seth.”

Ash looked up.

“Seth… Seth, made of me a very important person in his life—”

“Father, you're important to me too.”

“Yes I know,” Jonathan replied, “Seth, he...”

“I'm serious!” Ash exclaimed, “You are! You know—”

“Seth talked to me.”

“Seth talked to me, Ashton, and told me about what happens with him. What... whatever bothered him, he talked to me, and asked for my opinion on everything.”

Ash was silent, and for a moment, all of what his father was telling him actually made sense.

“I don't think you'll understand me now, but I'm pretty sure you'll get it when you’ll become a dad someday,” Jonathan smiled weakly as he went on, glancing down. “I felt as if Seth trusted me so much that he told me everything about himself, his school, his friends… I know I'm a nervous, stressed person, and I hate myself because of that sometimes…”

“Father…”

“However, Seth always told me everything about himself and what happens with him. It means a lot to a parent, and to a father and a son, that's more than a lot.”

Jonathan then looked up, his eyes automatically meeting up with Ash's “You, on the other hand, choose your mother over me to do so.”

“D—”

“And I know the cause, I know it. I'm hard to communicate with, I know it. I'd better go talk to Mom because she won't snap shit on my face, I know it.”

Ash chose to not to interrupt this time.

“And it's pretty clear why your mother knows more about some… things, more than I ever do. She listens, she smiles a lot, she's gentle, and she makes pancakes—I can't make pancakes, and I know that. Damn those delicious pancakes.”

The seventeen years old boy started to smirk suddenly, and the father noticed that, “What.”

“Dad, you're not by any chance, jealous?!”

“Please, a real man gets jealous,” Jonathan admitted easily, in a matter of a fact tone, “I wanted my own son to talk to me, what's so wrong about this? Nothing.”

“Yeah…” Ash blinked several times, the smirk never leaving his face. “Nothing is wrong about that.”

“See, now, be a real man, and tell me about this shit you came for.”

Ash's eyebrows arched, and he licked his lips.

“Yeah, because I'm gonna cut you into pieces and throw your body parts around the house if you don't. Seriously, Ashton, talk to me, come on,” Jonathan chuckled. “Am I that scary?!”

“Dad!”

“Well then, tell me; speak to me,” Jonathan tried to sound threatening. “Now.”

Ash began to chuckle nervously under his breath “I never thought you'd be curious about… well, just curious.”

“Curious? I created you; I have to know everything happening inside this house.”

“Sure,” Ash nodded his head, grinning.

“You, don't mock me, or try to make fun of me; the cutting into pieces suggestion is always up.”

Ash laughed, soon regain himself, “Okay!”

“Now… who is this mysterious 'she' your mother was talking about—it's all what matters to me, to be honest.” Jonathan gave a nod, waiting for his son to let it out, “This 'she' gives me headaches.”

Ash shifted in his seat, uneasy “Well, she's a junior… ”

Jon tilted his head, narrowing his eyes in response, “Uhm…”

“Her name is Misty,” Ash's face was getting more redness than before. “And I met her couple of months ago in a birthday party.”

“That's all?” Jonathan asked sternly.

Ash cleared his throat “I'm dating Misty…”

Jonathan's jaw dropped.

“Idiot.”

Ash busted into laughter, surely gaining harsh glares from his father. “No really!”

“You're dating some chick whom I never knew, heard of, nor seen. I'm shattered.”

Soon Ash's laughter ceased and he regained himself again, “Mom knows.”

“Mom doesn't say anything, she doesn't and she keeps it for herself,” Jonathan said, closing his eyes in total annoyance. “As the man of this house, my dear dignity was just wounded, not knowing that my son is involved in a relationship.”

“Not a big deal—“

“God what was I saying… ” Jonathan rested his head on the top of the sofa as he laid back. He closed his eyes again. “I swear I'm gonna cut you into pieces Ashton… someday I will.”

“She's a redhead…”

“Oh my god…” Jonathan smiled to himself, never opening his eyes. “I was about to say something very dirty but you’re still too young to hear such thing.”

“Haha.”

“Tell me more.”

Jonathan reached down for his mug of coffee, which unfortunately got cold. So he just kept looking down at it and turning it in every direction, admiring the white glassy material.

“She's a good swimmer.”

“Ash, limits, limits.”

Ash let a hard laugh, as he brought his knees up and crossed them “She is a very, very good swimmer.”

“I thought little of you, dirty mind.” Jonathan put down the mug back on the coffee table and slapped this latter hard, “But, you're just as dirty as Seth.”

“Really.”

“Yes, you're dating a redhead; that's dirty, very dirty.”

“Means you were dirty too?!”

Jon made a gesture as if he was about to flip over the table, “Limits, Ashton!”

The two exchanged smiles as Ash contained himself to not to burst into laughter again. “Spit it out, come on.”

“It has been… huum… seven months? Yeah, seven months!” Ash said, excited, “We're doing pretty good!”

“Shame on you, shame on you, my son.” Jonathan shook his head in fake disappointment. “So tell me, you were with her tonight?!”

“Oh? Well, she was the one holding the party… I—I really wanted to stay more with her tonight but I knew you'd get mad at me and—I told her I felt sick… ”

Jonathan slightly frowned. Then he remembered; he should never look so weak and fragile in front of his son. The father of two quickly regained himself, pushing his chest out a little bit.

“Lying is wrong, Ash, especially to a woman.”

“I had no choice…”

Of course, now, he wanted his son back to the party, but Jon found it very hard to say it straight, face to face. He just couldn’t. It’d look as if Jonathan was too easy. He wasn’t going to let this feelings take over. Jonathan still wanted to look hard and harsh, and to get his son’s respect.

“Well, Ashton, that wasn’t very chivalrous of you to do! Leaving your woman by herself and lying to her…”

Ash let a huge sigh. He shrugged, got up and told his dad, before heading upstairs again, “Goodnight, dad.”

Ash did not seem to catch the hints. Jonathan sighed heavily, “Goodnight.”

As soon as Ash was out of sight, Delia came running to her husband. She snapped him out of his focus on the newspaper by a light slap on the belly.

“What?”

“You really wanted him to go didn’t you?”

Jonathan tried to give a harsh glare, “Hah! Of course not! Those damn parties are a waste of time!”

“Ooh, just admit it honey! You just found that too cute!” Delia jabbed her finger into Jonathan’s gut. He jerked and shouted, “Admit what? I have nothing to admit!”

Delia sighed. She patted Jonathan’s shoulder, “I’ll go tell him instead. How does that sounds?”

“I don’t ca—I mean—g—good.”

Mom giggled. She placed a kiss on her husband’s cheek and went upstairs.

Soon there were some fast footsteps heard again, running downstairs. It was Delia, who ran to Ash and gave him his leather jacket, his phone and his wallet. “There is always a chance that the party is still on!”

“I—I don’t—I mean, I’m not sure… dad-”

“Come on! Have fun sweetie!”

“But dad-”

Jonathan hid his face with his newspaper. He was hearing clearly what Delia and Ash were saying.

Delia led Ash to the door as he put on his jacket and turned now and then to stare at his father, totally confused.

“Dad didn’t want me-”

“Be home before midnight! Don't spend the night with her okay? It's not the time yet! Don’t speed up on the road!”

“Okay?”

“Bye bye!” Delia slammed the door at her son's face before he could proceed on another question.

She let a heavy sigh and turned to her husband, who has put down his newspaper and was staring at her, “Such an idiot!”

“Oooooh, how would he know?!” Delia giggled lightly as she walked to Jonathan. She hugged him and rested her head peacefully on his chest, her hand resting on her husband’s abdomen, “He’s just so clueless but cute!”

“Bah, don’t call my son cute! He’s a man!”

“Jonathaaaan!” Delia narrowed her brown eyes at him. A smile came quickly to her face, “This bad guy role doesn’t fit you anymore! You should try showing your nice attitude to the world!”

“Not in a million years and certainly not to Seth and Ash!”

Delia giggled again. She got very comfortable in her husband’s embrace.

“Hey Delia…”

“Uhm?”

“You look, uh, you see…”

“Just say it Jon, no one is around. It’s not like Seth or Ash are peeking at us now.”

“…”

“Come oooon… say it…”

Jonathan turned toward his wife and planted a kiss on her nose, “You look, nice, today.”

Delia grinned.

THE END.