Chapter Text
You ran through the streets of Lumiose, narrowly avoiding more battles with rogue megas by swiftly ducking behind a pile of debris. Somewhere in the distance, you could faintly make out the sound of Jacinthe and Lebanne’s battle, but before you could make out anything distinct, it was drowned out by the cacophonous groan of the ruined prism tower as Ange gathered power. The windows around you rattled as the ground shook. This had to stop, and soon.
You took a moment to check your map, you were almost to Zygarde’s location, just a few more buildings, then you’d be there. Based on the plan, Corbeau should be ahead.
Your heart wrenched, hoping he was alright. You knew he was competent, you had battled him before, and it had felt like a fair fight each and every time, and you knew firsthand that his intimidating aura was more than just a show. But even knowing that did not stop you from worrying.
There was no denying it now. You had gotten close to him, and maybe what you felt in this moment was more than just friendship. Maybe you had felt it for some time. It would certainly explain the thrill you felt in meeting his gaze during your promotion match with Jacinthe as your Pokémon used the move he had given you. It would explain the desire you had to visit the Rust Syndicate’s headquarters even when you really had no other reason to be there. It would also explain the relief you felt when you saw his holo-call image standing on the other side of Team MZ’s makeshift situation table.
And you couldn’t deny that you suspected he felt the same for you. You’d caught the way he looked at you when he thought you wouldn’t notice, you recognized that he was setting aside time and work to greet you, to have tea with you, or an extra battle whenever you visited.
You shook your head. Now wasn’t the time to think about how you might have a crush on the Rust Syndicate’s leader, or how he might feel the same towards you. Lumiose was in danger, and Zygarde was testing you.
Galerie de la Lune was before you. You could hear Corbeau’s voice as he spoke to Phillippe over his rotom phone. He heard you approach, turning towards you with a pleased expression: “-But don’t you worry ‘bout me. Our favorite do-gooder just came to the rescue.” He turned back to his phone, giving his last orders to Phillippe.
As his phone tucked itself away, Corbeau took a breath, “About time you showed up. By the looks of it, these friendly rogue Pokémon have been waiting for you too.”
He turned to you, “I think it’s time we work together again. Been a minute since we did, eh?”
Another smile flashed towards you, “Don’t worry. Me and Scolipede have your back.”
But you almost missed what he said. You slowed to a stop only a few feet away, momentarily transfixed. The way the pale moonlight filtered through the glass dome of the galerie, his calm and collected demeanor, the reassuring look he gave you with enchantingly soft yellow eyes.
Arceus, he was beautiful.
He was always beautiful, of course. But at this moment, despite everything, he was possibly the most beautiful man you’d ever laid eyes on. And you were very much in love with him. If there was time, if there was another moment you could spare, you might have found the courage to tell him that then and there.
A cry broke your stupor and brought your attention to the mega Gardevoir and Gallade. You swallowed your feelings, steeling yourself for another battle. Corbeau was close behind you, and you were comforted knowing that he would have your back as much as you had his. In the stillness before the battle began, the realization was not lost on you that this chamber felt like a ballroom. Intimate and momentarily closed off from the rest of the chaos outside.
But that thought had to be put on hold as the battle began; you sent your partner Pokémon out, mega-evolving it mere seconds after Scolipede had done so.
Like a dance, your feet carried you around the rotunda, your body ducking out of the way of attacks, the shadows of the iron and glass dome weaving across your features as you stole risky glances at Corbeau. He was calm, collected, and serious. But when he caught your gaze, you realized he had a smile on his face. Not the exhilarated look he had anytime the two of you battled against one another, but that same tender and reassured look he had been giving you all night.
You stood to catch your breath and recalled your partner Pokémon, looking towards Corbeau, who had done the same after making sure the two of you were alone. He straightened his tie, adjusted his glasses, and turned, opening his mouth to speak.
And Ange protested, sending violent tremors across the city. The glass dome above you groaned under the stress, and you looked up to see a spiderweb pattern crack across the glass. You looked to the center of the room: the Gallade and Gardevoir, injured and exhausted, were out in the open. There was little time to think, much less move your feet. You threw the pokeball as hard as you could, screaming out for your Pokémon to use 'Protect' and hoping it would work in time.
Corbeau’s feet slammed against the polished marble floor as he crashed into you, his hands tight on your shoulders, sending the both of you stumbling back as the glass began to shatter. Your back slammed into the wall, and stars danced across your vision.
There was a long silence that was broken by the sound of Corbeau catching his breath, his chest heaving, his breath shaky. But you were holding yours.
His face was so close to yours, closer than it had ever been before. His glasses were slightly askew, his hair had fallen out of place, his lips parted as he caught his breath.
Fuck, oh fuck he was beautiful.
Your lungs begged for air, and you finally let the breath you were holding go. The tension eased from your body, and you lowered your hands, realizing they had been resting on his chest. Corbeau steadied himself, his breathing evened out, but he didn’t back off right away.
Instead, he moved his hands, which had been white knuckling your shoulders to your face, your hair, your arms. Checking for glass. His touch was warm, and it lingered against your skin, leaving you wanting more if only just to feel safe for a moment longer.
“Are you alright?” His voice came into focus, low and trying to hide the fact that it had shaken ever so slightly in asking that question, “You’re not hurt, are you?”
You nodded, slowly, swallowing hard, “I’m fine.” Your eyes briefly traveled to the center of the room. The Pokémon were safe, thank Arceus…
Your attention turned back to Corbeau, and your hand moved to straighten his glasses, to brush the hair off his forehead, and back to where you remembered it, “What about you?”
If anything had happened to him..
Corbeau didn’t pull away from your touch; if anything, he seemed to lean into it, “I’m alright.” He promised, pressing his cheek against the palm of your hand.
“Good.. Good.” You breathed, the realization of just how close a call that had been hitting you hard, “If anything had happened to you, I don’t know what I would have-” You stopped yourself, this really wasn’t the time or place, “Thank you for saving me.”
“I’m a man of my word.” Corbeau comforted, “I promised to get you to Zygarde safely, I fully intend to follow through on that.”
He paused for a moment, catching your gaze with an unreadable expression; it looked as if he wanted to say more. But he changed the subject, finally pulling away from you and straightening himself out.
“I’ve got my grunts waiting up ahead.” That calm, collected demeanour returned to him, “Come on, let’s get moving.”
You hesitated. If this was the last time you saw him…
Your feet carried you without thinking, your hand reached for his, holding it to stop him. His hands were soft with a touch of roughness that would never leave them. He wasn’t just a pretty face after all.
“Corbeau.” You called, your voice stilted and your mind racing as you fought to put together just the right words, “When this is over-”
“Don’t go making promises you can’t keep.” Corbeau quickly warned.
“Fuck that.” You spoke, making your decision and closing the distance between the two of you, capturing him with a kiss. You pulled away just as quickly, hesitating a moment as realization set in. The pause that seemed endless never got to start as Corbeau closed the gap, kissing you harder than you had kissed him. He reached up to cup your face, tilting his head to deepen the kiss. You wished you could stay there, just like that, in the moonlight-bathed galerie. You wished you could tell him all of your feelings then and there, maybe even call him beautiful to his face. There was a lot unsaid as Corbeau wordlessly pulled away, squaring his shoulders.
“Let’s continue this conversation when this is over.”
“Promise?”
“I said I was a man of my word, didn’t I?”
You smiled, the kiss still burning on your lips. Had he really ever let you down before? Wordlessly, you followed Corbeau outside, realizing that he was holding your hand tightly.