Chapter Text
It was strange, you thought to yourself. He was strange.
As you watched Urbain comb through his Manectric's fur (rubber gloves on, of course; he was always well-meaning but never lacking in brain cells when it counted), you didn't notice when your mind started drifting off on its own to contemplate the enigma that he was. One thought had been rolling around in your head since you first started working with him to take down the Rogue Mega Evolution problem: there was just something about the Team MZ leader that you couldn't quite place. Nothing bad, no, but something no word other than "uncanny" could accurately describe.
From the moment you first met, Urbain was warm and inviting like a Dachsbun— even perhaps a bit too self-sacrificing of his gifts and talents like a Fidough, too. Still, as time went on, you had also caught glimpses of something enduring and emotionally powerful in him, just like a Riolu. Many times had you also witnessed him rush around Lumiose like a single-focused Bolthund, the first to want to help anyone and everyone in the city he's come to call home, but also make strategic retreats from meetings like a Lillipup (much to Lida's dismay and Naveen's annoyance). It wasn't just his character, either. You had always thought that he kept himself generally well-groomed and presentable like a Furfrou, which made sense given that he had often been the face (and room servicer) of Hotel AZ. Still, like a Rockruff, he also had an unmistakable outdoorsy ruggedness to him.
For a moment, mid-thought, you wondered if you were going crazy. Were you hit with a stray Confuse Ray at some point without you knowing? Or maybe you took many bonks on the head from other mis-aimed moves in the heat of battle? Was it because of the number of times you'd blacked out? You could feel your face settle into a confused and somewhat disgruntled frown. Just what was it about Urbain that made him plague your mind like this? And so frequently, too?
"You doing alright there, partner? You look pretty lost in thought over there." The blonde-and-pink ball of energy asked, eyes bright and questioning and head tilting to the side in a way that would have made anyone's heart squeeze.
You've long since passed the point of denying his particular effect on you; you never ended up growing immune to his charm, and you doubted you ever would. Somehow, instead of just being blinded by the bright Solar Beam that he is, you found that his gravity took away your breath this time. Voiceless, you nodded at him reassuringly. I'm okay, or something along those lines, is what you wanted to communicate. Whether or not you really were was still up to debate, of course, but Urbain didn't need to know the specifics.
He seemed to get your message, his expression morphing into something that was a mix of relief and satisfaction. Static buzzed between you as he shot you a megawatt smile, and you suddenly realized your hands were experiencing an inexplicable twitch and itch to reach out and pat his head. How strange indeed.
"That's good. I'm not sure what I— I mean, we— would do without you, after all. You're Team MZ's irreplaceable ace!" Urbain barked out a happy laugh before returning his Manetric to his Pokeball. Bracing his hands on his knees, he hoisted himself up and dusted off some stray dust from his pants. "Speaking of, as your leader, it's only right for me to treat you for all the hard work you've been doing in Lumiose. How about we hit up Nouveau Café, just you and me?"
This wasn't the first time that Urbain invited you out for some refreshments, and you had a feeling it certainly wouldn't be the last. Still, he regarded you with those same Baby Doll Eyes, like an eager Growlithe waiting for its trainer to agree to go on a walk. The imagery was so vivid that you could almost imagine him wagging his fluffy tail in anticipation.
Hm. A Growlithe. Urbain as a shiny Growlithe: one-of-a-kind, headstrong, and loyal. How fitting.
You nod at him again, partly to agree to going out with him and partly as a reflex to finally coming to at least some sort of conclusion to your conundrum. Perhaps you could finally stop thinking about what it was about Urbain that made you go all up in a tizzy now? Or maybe the thoughts just naturally paused when he took your hand with the brightest smile, warm and inviting as he led you towards the Magenta Sector. As you squeezed back, the corners of your lips quirked upwards, another thought passed through your mind: perhaps it didn't matter what it was in the end. All you needed to know was that you just wanted to be with him.
(To neither of your knowledges, Lida and Naveen had a mini-bet going on. Lida believed that you would realize your feelings before Urbain could confess. Naveen, while he appreciated you greatly, had far less hope in your obliviousness. Winner gets a Lumiose Galette.)