Since that last PCA fic went over so well, folks wanted to see Gao’s side of the story, more h

Since that last PCA fic went over so well, folks wanted to see Gao’s side of the story, more hot springs action mostly.Gao let out a long an drawn out sigh.  The trip back from the tournament had been awkward.  Knocked out in the first two rounds, the guys didn’t expect to win, but they didn’t think they’d be so utterly destroyed.  Gao blamed himself the most.  He’d been overconfident and didn’t think his moves through, trying to rely on his power like he had been doing in the rookie tournaments.Gao walked the lonely path to the hot springs.  Pawl and Jolt headed straight to the dorm, but Gao wanted some time to himself.  To think about what he could do differently and sulk.  Mostly sulk.  He would’ve wanted to invite the guys as well, but he wasn’t sure they wanted to be around him just yet, especially Jolt.  It be best to see them in the morning.Gao liked the hot springs, being the best place to be in the water on that mountain.  It was his comfort zone.  As he entered the building, he was greeted by the owner.“Hey kid,” the camerupt caretaker said, “ah sorry, Gao, you ain’t a kid no more.  Anyway, I shouldn’t say I’m surprised to see you this late, you always seem to be showing up when the stars are out.  How you been how was the tournament?”Gao sighed, his posture drooping as he shrugged his shoulders.“Oh, didn’t win huh?”, the camerupt said, “at least you made it pretty far, right?”Gao shook his head, a solemn look on his face.“Ouch, tough luck,” the camerupt said.“Yeah…” Gao said dejectedly, “Hey, I'ma go to the pools, alright?”  Gao walked past the front desk and back into the men’s side of the springs.“Be sure to shower off first,” the camerupt said, “and hey, you’re the only visitor tonight, you got the place to yourself!  Lucky huh?”“Yeah, lucky.” Gao said as he grabbed his bathing basket and headed to the showers.One shower and quick change later, Gao walked out into the open air bath, wearing his swimsuit.  He wasn’t in the mood for any frisky business.  If he had at least won one match, he would have dragged the guys here, and they’d be butt naked relaxing and jacking off, like that first time.  But, he found more comfort in his swim briefs, something that was like a second skin to him.He plopped down into the water, deep enough to submerge himself completely but not enough to swim like he used to out in the ocean.  He layed still, meditating about his behavior before the match and the result.After a few minutes, he got up out of the water and sat on the side of the pool, bent over with his head in his hands.  He could hear footsteps coming from the entrance, and he looked up to see the caretaker walking towards him.“Hey, Gao,” the camerupt said, “came to see how you were doing, you didn’t seem like your normal self.”  The camerupt sat beside the sulking marshtomp and placed his bare feet in the spring.  "If it’s about the tournament, you can talk to me, I’m all ears.“Gao sighed, "Thanks Mr. Plume.  It’s just…I let my teammates down, I got cocky and underestimated my opponent.”“You got your ass whooped didn’t you?” the camerupt asked knowingly, “and thoroughly too, am I right.”Gao smirked, shocked at Mr. Plume’s bluntness.  Mr. Plume had a kind demeanor, so to hear him speak so plainly caught Gao off guard, “What do you mean?”“Yeah, I don’t really buy that whole, ‘let your friends down’ crap, they aren’t like that.  They’d forgive you easily.  What I think is you were mister hotshot, and your pride got wounded once some one better than you put you in your place, am I right?”Gao looked confused, but smiled sheepishly “Yeah…that’s what happened.”“Aww kid…kid…kid,” the camerupt said as he patted Gao’s shoulder, “You need to get over yourself.  Sulking like this isn’t good for you.  Look, there’s always going to be someone better than you, and your gonna lose a lot.  But, if you’re going to get down every time like this, you’re never gonna rise up to the challenge.  There’s always next time, right?”“Right,” Gao said smiling at the camerupt.“So, by the way, what round did you get knocked out on?” the camerupt asked.Gao winced, “…first round.”The camerupt burst into laughter, “Hahaha, okay then, maybe a little sulking is appropriate for that, but just a little okay?”Gao laughed as well, “Heh, okay okay, I’m just trying to get over this funk I’m in, and I thought coming to the springs would help.” -- source link

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