Chapter Text
Sharpedo I
“It pursues its prey at speeds of 75 mph and finishes them off with fangs that can crush iron. It is known as the bully of the sea.”
-Pokédex Entry #265 Pkmn Sun
The Alolan air was more than a bit stifling to the twin Subway Bosses of Unova as they saluted Elesa farewell outside her agency’s office.
She had warned them that they needed to pack lighter, but the twins had assured her that they would be fine. After all, on their Battle Subway, they had plenty of close calls with opposing fire pokemon and their flamethrowers, flame bursts, flame wheels, flare blitzes, fire blasts, blast burns, lava plumes, overheats—
But the subway cars were air-conditioned and the battles quickly decided.
Alola was not like their precious subway.
Alola was beautiful… but it was hot.
Even without their official work uniforms, it became apparent to both that they had severely underestimated the heat index… and now were sweltering with their poor choices in apparel.
Rolling up his sleeves, Ingo glanced over to Emmet, who was still trying (and failing) to keep up a pleasant smile even with the merciless sun beating down their necks.
“Emmet, I am afraid we may be at risk for sunstroke if we continue down this track. Shall we make an early detour for appropriate apparel? I know we scheduled shopping for later this week, but—”
“Yes! Let us depart right away!” Emmet could not wait for Ingo to finish, already quickly beginning to flag down a taxi.
Alola was entirely different from Unova, despite being a close neighbor to their home region. They had challengers from there, of course, and the regional Pokémon they brought with them were always intriguing. Emmet could still clearly recall seeing the most interesting-looking Muk cross his Doubles Train. How exciting!
They knew they had to visit at least once.
So, when Elesa invited them to stay with her in Alola while she was doing her summer modeling there, they took the offer.
It’s not like they could go to work when they were temporarily banned from Gear Station anyway.
To say Ingo and Emmet loved their job would be an understatement. It was the best of both of their interests. Even the stacks of paperwork and occasional unruly passengers couldn’t deter them from their career enjoyment.
But, while they might take the odd holiday off here and there, the Nimbasa City audit system had admonished them for not taking any substantial vacation days during their years working at Gear Station.
And so they were here in Alola on forced PTO leave. For a month.
They would need sunscreen. And lots of it.
As they stepped into the frigid air of the shop, the twins let out a simultaneous sigh of relief. Besides trains, surely air conditioning was mankind’s greatest invention.
The clerk at the front of the store welcomed them with a chipper Alola, unable to hold back a small giggle at the display.
They greeted her back, before digging through the racks.
Six pairs of tropical shirts and khaki shorts, 10 bottles of SPF 100, and two pairs of sunglasses later, the twins decided they were sufficiently stocked for the moment.
Tucking his sunglasses into his collar, Emmet turned to Ingo who was busy smoothing down his new red floral-patterned shirt free of wrinkles.
He let out a chuckle under his breath. With the sunglasses now on Ingo’s face alongside his signature frown, he would be even harder for strangers to read.
“Shall we start making our way to the Pokémon League? The clerk said our other purchases would be sent ahead to the hotel. No more detours required.”
Emmet was positively shaking in excitement from the thought. He had wanted to visit Alola primarily for the interesting combinations their Pokémon were sure to face in battle.
“Ah… I had actually planned on visiting the observatory on Mount Hokulani today. I’m sorry, Emmet.”
Emmet blinked.
Ingo… wanted to visit an observatory? He could not recall that being one of Ingo’s interests before. Because they shared the same interests and it certainly wasn’t one of Emmet’s interests.
“An observatory? Where is that?”
“It is on the same island as the League— Ula’ula— but on a different mountaintop. It should be quite fun.”
Emmet’s smile twitched, “Your idea of fun seems verrrrry boring… If we are visiting the same island together, we should also visit the same places on the island together. You are sure you do not want to visit the League instead?”
Ingo tilted his head, “I am quite sure. But, I would be more than happy to visit the League with you at a later date.”
Emmet was at a loss for words and with those stupid sunglasses blocking his brother’s eyes he could not even look for the joke he wanted to see clearly reflected in them.
He was supposed to know Ingo. They were the Subway Bosses.
“But… we are supposed to go together… ”
The sentiment was barely a whisper, but Ingo managed to catch it and the unspoken sentiment behind those few words. He pushed his sunglasses to rest on his forehead, his gaze soft and speech deliberate as he placed a reassuring hand on his brother’s shoulder.
“We are a perfect two-car train, Emmet. Our combination couldn’t be better. But we cannot always travel the same tracks. It is okay if we become uncoupled to try new things. And we can share and learn from those different experiences once we reach our final destination for the day—we share the same home station after all.”
Ingo squeezes his shoulder, the edges of his lips turning up in his best attempt at a smile.
Emmet pouts for a few long moments but acquiesces under his brother’s amusing grimace of a smile. His brother was always trying his best and he would too.
“I will go check out the League instead. You can enjoy the observatory. I will see you at the hotel once we are both finished.”
Emmet said that but still insisted on trekking up the mountain to the observatory with Ingo before parting ways.
Even when he had built himself up to saluting his brother goodbye, it was still difficult to not sync up with his brother as he entered the building and even harder not to dash in after him. The about-face turn was grueling on his nerves along with the first hundred steps back down the mountain.
“I am Emmet. I just need a fun few battles to get my mind off things. We are still Ingo and Emmet. We are still Subway Bosses. And I am Emmet. He is going to his Singles Line and I am going to my Doubles Line. We will meet up after. I am Emmet. I can do this.”
Psyching himself up was easier when put into those familiar terms.
He had done this before, hadn’t he?
He was just running a station with his brother instead of being on vacation. But the formula was the same. He was going to battle separately from Ingo and then he would meet up with him later. A version of the same. And then they would battle together later.
And seeing a local trainer on the upcoming slope proved the perfect distraction from any wayward thoughts to that analogy.
He was Emmet. He was a Subway Boss.
His eyes met the other trainer and they both reached for their first Pokéballs.
Twelve matches down the mountain later, and somewhere along the way Emmet had gotten recognized by a trainer or two…
And now he somehow has a crowd of twenty asking for his autograph and a selfie with him. And many many mannnnny questions about the Battle Subway— easy to answer— and himself— …much less easy to answer.
Emmet enjoyed his privacy as much as the next person and although he was used to the small celebrity status being a Subway Boss brought, he still did not talk to the press about himself and his personal life. He was a Subway Boss! He was famous because of his job so they should just ask about that. But—
“Are you here with your brother, Ingo? Where is he? Can I get a selfie with him too?”
“Why’d you come to Alola? Do you visit often? How long are you staying?”
“You should try the malasadas! Ooh, you should totally let me show you around!”
Emmet was starting to feel… uncomfortably overwhelmed.
He enjoyed talking with fans, really! But usually, there were not so many surrounding him all at once and he had Ingo there with him and—
“Ingo and I are on vacation!”
The onslaught of questions came to an abrupt stop from Emmet’s work voice. And while his didn’t have the same decibel range as his brother’s, it still carried sharp authority.
In a quieter tone, he continued, “We are taking time off work. I am going to visit the Pokémon League today. Ingo is busy visiting other tourist attractions. Because we are tourists. On holiday.”
Some of the trainers looked a bit chagrin at the reminder that Emmet was off the clock, though others still looked like they wanted to continue their impromptu inquisition.
Still, Emmet pressed onwards.
“It was great to meet you all, but I must press onwards towards my current destination. Thank you for understanding.”
Sharply moving into his point and call pose, he called out his signature “All Abooooooaaard!” to further appease the small crowd of fans, before swiftly making his way down the rest of the mountain.
Emmet’s brow twitched as he looked down at his Xtransiever. He really did not get good signal here in Alola.
He had been trying to pull up the map of the island to see how close the League was, but his GPS seemed confused as to where he was. Emmet was confused as to where he was too.
Sighing softly, he tucked around towards a small alcove beach to think. There had been a Pokémon Center close by, hadn’t there? Maybe he could…
His thought was interrupted by the sound of a sharp whistle and a crash of a wave.
Or Emmet thought it had been a wave. Instead, it had been a Mantine trying to beach itself… and a slim passenger stepping off onto the land before bidding the Pokémon goodbye.
Huh… his hair looked oddly familiar. The slicked back sides reminded him of a pair of Liepard whiskers and— no. Couldn’t be. Right?
But as the man finally turned away from the retreating Mantine, Emmet was sure of it.
“Grimsley? ”
Grimsley turns slowly towards him, taking him in leisurely before his poker face is broken only by a look of honest surprise in his eyes.
“Subway Boss Emmet.”
Grimsley strides towards him purposefully, lips curled into a small smirk, “I hardly recognized you without your uniform. What brings you to Alola?”
Emmet chuckled, smile both easy and relaxed from a familiar face, “I could say the same for you. Your kimono compliments you nicely though. Maybe Ingo and I should have gone for the same.”
Grimsley gives him an appraising look, eyes twinkling mischievously, “I’m not sure. I think the tourist look suits you.”
Emmet grins wider, “Well, that is why we are in Alola– mandatory vacation from the Nimbasa City Council. Ingo and I had too many working hours. They made a strong case of it being a safety hazard.”
That pulls a chuckle out of Grimsley as well, “Somehow I can imagine that being the only argument that would work on you two.”
Emmet nods, eyes crinkled in amusement.
Grimsley lets out a hum, looking to either side of Emmet briefly, “That is another point… it was harder to recognize you alone. Where is your brother, Ingo?”
Emmet’s smile froze and he twitched slightly, silent for a few moments, “He is… at the observatory. He was interested in it. I am on my way to the League.”
Grimsley nodded with another nostalgic chuckle, “You always were the more competitive of you two.”
Emmet’s smile grew tighter, “Mhm… ”
Quickly searching for any change of subject away from his departure from his brother, he latched onto the closest topic, “And you are no longer part of the Unova League, right?”
Grimsley blinked, his smile dropping subtly, eyes quickly narrowing guardingly at Emmet.
“I remember hearing about your resignation, but I did not think you would have retired here,” Emmet continued, oblivious to Grimsley’s withdrawal, “I would have thought you would prefer moving to a bigger city. Like Nimbasa… or even Castelia.”
Grimsley hummed, monotonous in tone, “I’m sure a younger me might have preferred it… But Alola is a nice place to get away from it all.”
Emmet nodded enthusiastically, “Away from the press and prying eyes, yup!”
Grimsley, crossed his arms, “Yes, exactly…” He looked away from Emmet briefly, a crueler echo of a smirk stretching across his face.
“I did resign from the League… it was only a couple of years ago, but it’s been a nice change of pace,” he gestured to the sea where he had bid the Mantine farewell, “I’ve taken up the local sport of Mantine surfing.”
“Mantine surfing?” Emmet chatot-ed back.
Grimsley raised an eyebrow, “Racing on the back of Mantines while avoiding the rough waves. It’s quite popular… and quite fun. People can get quite competitive with it–including me.”
He shot Emmet a dazzling smile to sell his pitch.
Emmet’s eyes sparkled with the idea of a challenge– and a competitive one at that.
Hook, Line, and Sinker.
“It might be fun for you to try. Ingo too. There’s nothing quite like it,” Grimsley’s eyes twinkled with mischief, and Emmet couldn’t help but be captivated by such a novel idea.
“…Feeling the salty splash of the ocean on your face—” he gestured to his own face, smiling wide with open glee.
“…The sun’s rays on your back—,” he gestured this time to Emmet who could not help but match Grimsley’s smile himself.
“…The wind blowing through your… hair.”
Grimsley’s smile stayed in place, though his eyes reflected a more cruel joke. An amusement reflected in them as they drifted conspicuously towards Emmet’s hairline before meeting his eyes again with an easy grin.
Emmet’s smile faltered at the obvious joke.
“You are making fun of me.”
“Making fun of you? Whatever do you mean?” Grimsley faked a look of innocence, “Surely you don’t think I could be so cruel.”
Ah… so it was going to be like that, was it? So be it. A battle of wits is still a battle to be won. And Emmet loved winning more than anything else.
Emmet’s eyes drifted to take in more of the ex-Elite Four member, head tilting to truly consider him. His evaluation and plan of attack had to be perfect.
“No… I think you are enjoying your well-deserved vacation. You are retired after all. You just wanted to suggest a fun activity while I am also on vacation. It was verrrrry thoughtful of you and I am sorry that I mistook your words. Perhaps I am simply still too overworked and on edge because of it.”
Emmet’s smile softened in fake apology as Grimsley considered him.
“No need to apologize… there was no harm done.”
“I am glad to hear that. Perhaps this means I should also seek to relax myself. Your outfit looks very comfortable… and…” Emmet let his eyes pretend to scan the garment with consideration, letting his eyes then drop further down towards his target.
“…You are wearing shoes with it?”
Grimsley raised an eyebrow, head tilting slightly to the side as if to say ‘What of it? ’
“I am.”
Emmet’s eyes met Grimsley’s, piercing blue meeting steely grey as Emmet picked his next words carefully.
“You wear them often at the beach?”
Grimsley’s eyes sparked with curiosity.
“I do.”
“You haven’t considered sandals instead?”
“I have.”
“And you do not wear them? Surely it would be more comfortable. You are already wearing such loose garments.”
A feint. Hopefully, it would not be an obvious one.
Luckily for Emmet, Grimsley fell for it, the gambler’s eyes closing shut as he sighed and shook his head, “Alas, the sand here in Alola gets too hot for a foreigner, even one who has been retired here as long as I have. Sandals just don’t cut it,” he opened his eyes with a smirk, “Though I apologize if the sight ruins your personal preferences.”
Emmet’s smile twitched with barely concealed mirth.
“That is unfortunate. But it makes sense. Ah well…” Emmet could not fight the growing grin on his face as he stared Grimsley down, “At least Marlon will be ecstatic that someone else finally matches his tan line.”
The look of dawning horror was so sweet that Emmet had to take a moment to savor it. The blanch that Grimsley was fighting to keep off of his face was worth any amount of balding jokes. Emmet had won and it was a verrrrrry satisfying victory.
“Well! I should continue my tour of the island before it gets too dark. It was nice to see you again after so long. I may take you up on your offer to Mantine surf at a later date.”
With that, Emmet gave a short and smug salute as he turned to march off triumphantly to his next destination—
“Likewise, Subway Boss Emmet.”
Hm? He was still standing after that crushing blow? Well, he would not outsmart Emmet with his tricks. He stopped in acknowledgment, though he did not turn around to face Grimsley. He looked forward only towards the future battles ahead (and not towards the sore loser behind him.)
“It has been a long time since I’ve seen anyone from Unova, so it was a nice surprise to run into someone from my home region… Oh! And a word of advice—” Emmet’s eyes narrowed in suspicion, “—it’s best to learn how to Mantine surf during low tide. The high tide here in Alola can be very unforgiving and rough for even the most experienced surfers. I’ve had more than my fair share of wipeouts even when riding Sharpedo during them. There are plenty of lifeguards around to help in case of accidents, but I can’t imagine you’d want to be sat up in bed recovering for the main duration of your stay.”
Oh. Maybe he was actually just giving some proper advice this time after all.
Face softening somewhat, Emmet began to turn to face him, mouth opening to express his polite acknowledgment of gratitude—
“—No, it’s best if beginners such as yourself start learning once the water line has fully… receded.”
Fuck you.
Fuck you. Fuck you. Fuck you.
Emmet’s mouth clicked shut into a tight smile before he gave a terse nod and final salute to Grimsley before stomping off to explore the rest of Ula’ula Island. He would get the last laugh. He would, he would, he would. He loved winning more than anything else. He would not lose to Grimsley.