Work Text:
You had no idea how you'd even gotten caught up in a situation like this. You didn't even live here, you were just a tourist, and yet somehow, you'd found yourself in the process of saving Lumiose City from being completely destroyed, having risen among the ranks as one of the city's strongest trainers, along with your new friend Urbain, who got you into this situation to start with.
You didn't blame him though, it was just in his nature to be kind, to be helpful, to do anything and everything he could to help the city he loved. And besides him being a good person and friend, he was also the reason you met...
...Corbeau.
The man who'd, as of late, consumed your every waking thought, who'd wormed his way deep into your heart in a matter of weeks.
It had started off so slow, completely unexpected. He seemed... almost cruel, at first, upholding his reputation as the ruthless leader of the Rust Syndicate, tracking you down to take care of a problem that wasn't even related to you - your friend Urbain's debt. Once again, you didn’t blame Urbain. You knew he only borrowed from the Rust Syndicate with the best of intentions; Urbain could just be a little too naive for his own good.
In any case, Corbeau had you do "jobs" for him, which he made sound sinister but were really just... community service? Helpful things anyone could have done, chasing off some troublesome Pokemon, cleaning up the sewers, protecting little kids from bullies... nothing sinister about them.
You quickly discovered there was nothing really sinister about Corbeau, either. He was just really good at making it seem like there was. He had his way with words, charming, charismatic, cunning for sure. People respected him, and many feared him. But if you looked carefully, you could see beyond what he let most people see. He was actually kind and caring, hiding a gentleness under the "ruthless" facade.
This became even more clear as you'd worked with him more, assisting him with various other requests, even teaming up with him and his ace Pokemon Scolipede to chase off some Quasartico protestors. You’d even told him as much then, that he was a kind person. He denied it, of course.
“Good people don’t end up in my line of work.” He told you. But you swore you could see it then, the hint of flush rising to his cheeks at your compliment.
Later, as luck would have it, you even wound up battling him in your Rank C promotion match, where he didn't hesitate to compliment your strength after you'd won. You even welcomed him to Hotel Z to stay for a night, where he oh-so-conveniently happened to tip Urbain the exact amount of money he had remaining on his debt to pay it off.
It was starting to hit you, then, on that night he spent at the hotel, that the fondness you felt for him was only growing stronger, into something more than just "fondness", into something more like...
...Something you weren't quite ready to admit to yourself, not yet. You were restless in your room that night when he was there, replaying those words he said to you in your mind.
"I'm not quite done with you yet." He had said, looking at you with something in his eyes you couldn’t quite discern.
Was there some other meaning to them, some other hint he’d left unspoken, hoping for you to find? It had to be just your imagination, right? You'd briefly considered going to him, knocking on his door, but in the end you convinced yourself there couldn't possibly have been anything more behind his words.
And yet, as time went on, you couldn't help but notice the way Corbeau looked at you, sneaking glances your way whenever you were near. The way he praised you, even when you beat him yet again at another battle in the ridiculous tournament Jacinthe refused to let you say no to, telling you you were welcome at the office anytime.
Even Corbeau’s bodyguard Philippe seemed to understand something was up, flat out telling you himself that his boss’s mood improved whenever you were around.
All of this, bringing you to where you stood now.
He readily agreed to help you and the rest of Team MZ when the rogue Mega Evolution problem plaguing the city had finally come to a head, Prism Tower exploding with light and power, Urbain and little Floette, overcome with Ange’s power, trapped at the top of it all, the responsibility to save everyone now falling on your shoulders.
It was… terrifying, but you felt as if you had no time, no right to let yourself feel afraid. You were one of the city’s strongest trainers, after all. Afraid though you may be, you were determined to help, to do anything you could. You had already battled your way through teams of other rogue Mega Pokemon just to make it to Corbeau, and you were tired and weary and… when was the last time you had eaten? You didn’t have time to think about that. You had to press on.
And now, here you both were, standing beside each other in Galerie de le Lune. Corbeau, the man who you were pretty sure, based on the way he was looking at you now with a softness in his eyes and a gentle smile playing across his lips that he reserved only for you, that you had wormed your way into his heart too.
"Don't worry, me and Scolipede have got your back." Corbeau said to you, so calmly as if the city wasn't coming down in pieces around you at that very moment. You felt your heart flutter despite the fear, the urgency of everything unfolding in front of you.
You felt the love you had been feeling for him all this time bloom and grow, to threaten to come pouring out of you at that very moment. But you swallowed it down. Right now, you had something more important to worry about.
A rogue Mega Gardevoir and Mega Gallade faced the two of you, and you nodded at him as he readied himself for the battle, ever thankful for his kindness, his help, and called your trusty Pokemon partner to your side to battle them together, side by side.
It took some time, but the two of you managed to take them down, your two ace Pokemon working seamlessly together, the two of you coordinating your attacks and Mega Evolving your partners at just the right moments to defeat the two rogue Pokemon.
You heaved a sigh of relief, taking a moment to heal your partner. Your Pokemon were weary too, but like you, they’d keep fighting until this was all over.
“Good work,” Corbeau complimented you yet again, that same smile playing across his lips. He turned toward the exit, motioning for you to follow. “My grunts are waiting for us just ahead.”
Your anxieties and fears decided right then was the moment for them to catch up to you, and you found yourself unable to move, your head swimming with what-ifs.
What if…you didn’t make it? What if…you never got the chance to see him again after this? What if…he never got to know how you felt?
“Corbeau! Wait!” you called out to him, and he turned.
“What’s the matter?” He asked, looking at you with concern. He could see the look on your face, see the tears pricking at your eyes. “Are you hurt?”
You shook your head, wiping your eyes. “No, I just…” you faltered, the words getting stuck in your throat.
“Hey, you’re all right…” he stepped closer, gently placing his hands on your shoulders. “Breathe with me, okay? In…out… in…out…” he instructed, helping you through your panic with gentle ease.
You did as he said, closing your eyes and taking deep breaths, calming yourself. It helped, and you felt a little steadier.
“Better?” he asked, when you opened your eyes again.
“Corbeau, before I go, I need to tell you that I-” you started, but Corbeau stopped you.
“Shhh…” He placed a finger gently upon your lips. “Don’t say that now, not here. Tell me when this is all over. Tell me when you come back to me, safe and sound. When you do, you can tell me as many times as you want. Until then… let it - let me - be your strength, even if I’m not beside you the rest of the way. You can do this. I know you can.”
You blinked a few times, and then nodded. You took his words to heart, making your unspoken feelings for him into your resolve, your reason to keep going, no matter how tired or how scared you were.
You would rescue Urbain, you would calm Ange, and you would make it back to Corbeau in one piece.
And when you did, you absolutely would tell him you loved him.
“That’s my brave girl…” he said, seeing determination return to your face. “Now come on, my grunts will be wondering what happened to us if we take much longer.”
This time, you were ready to follow him.
Philippe and his grunts got you over the remaining obstacle by doing the most ridiculous thing you had ever seen - forming a human ladder of all things, Corbeau himself even aiding you by being the anchor at the top.
You couldn’t help but giggle at the silliness of it all, the antics of him and his grunts making him all the more endearing, and doing more to further ease your fears than he probably planned on.
Apologizing all the while, you carefully made your way up, doing the best you could to step gently and not hurt his grunts as you climbed. Despite feeling ridiculous, you made it to the top, Corbeau giving you a gentle push onto the roof.
Despite struggling to hold on to the roof, he met your eyes again with that same soft look he had in the Galerie. “Go on now, go get ‘em!”
And then he let himself fall.
Panicked, you peered over the edge to make sure he was all right; he was, of course, his Rotom phone had caught him before he hit the ground. He was too busy shouting further orders at his grunts to look back up at you, so you smiled, shaking your head and leaving him behind to finish your mission.
The rest of the trainers you’d battled and befriended during your time in Lumiose City continued to aid you on your way to the tower, clearing more paths for you and helping you battle even more rogue Mega Pokemon. They got stronger and stronger as you went on, but now your resolve was renewed, thanks to Corbeau.
You absolutely would keep going.
Your Pokemon partners felt it too, felt your determination, your strength, your trust in them, and continued to give it their all, doing their best to aid you in your mission as well.
Finally, finally, you made it to the rooftop where the mysterious Pokemon Zygarde was waiting for you.
And from there, you had, what you would come to consider the battle of your life - no - the battle FOR your life, and for the lives of your friends on Team MZ, the rest of the trainers and friends who aided you, for AZ, who so kindly took you in and helped you become as strong as you are now, for everyone in Lumiose City… and now for Corbeau, who you had come to love.
Unbeknownst to you, Corbeau had found a vantage point on a rooftop a safe distance from the tower, and he watched everything. He saw you battle Ange Floette, commanding your Pokemon with ease, saw Zygarde helping you fight, flying in to protect you when she rained down her power.
He even watched, incredulous, as Zygarde carried you to safety after Ange had seemingly calmed, and when she woke up one last time, saw you Mega Evolve Zygarde itself, something that shouldn’t even have been possible. He wondered how you could be even more incredible than you already were, and with every moment that passed, you proved him wrong. No one could ever match you.
Blinding light like fireworks exploded over the sky, and it was then that Corbeau knew it was over. He made his way down from the rooftop, knowing you’d come looking for him.
He had something to tell you too.
…No, not just tell you. When you found each other again, by Arceus he was going to make sure he showed you.
Once you had made sure Urbain was okay, helping him safely climb down from the collapsed Prism Tower, cradling little Floette in his hands, who was worn out herself, but otherwise no worse for the wear… once you had hugged your friends in relief and celebration… only then did you look into the distance, determination filling you up once more despite your weariness.
You apologized to your friends, telling them you’d meet them at the hotel later, but there was something you had to do first. You broke off into a run, disappearing into the debris.
“Wait, where are you going?!” Lida had called after you, but you didn’t turn around.
You had one more mission to complete.
“CORBEAU?!” you shouted as you ran, eyes scanning down every alleyway, up to every rooftop. You tried to remember which way you had come from, but with the city in shambles, your sense of direction was useless.
You climbed up on some scrap metal, making your way up to a nearby rooftop, hoping having a better vantage point would help you find him faster.
“CORBEAU!!” you shouted again, but with all the debris around, your voice didn’t carry as well as you’d hoped.
But then, you heard something. A shout. Someone calling your name. You froze, listening.
Your head jerked as you heard it again, coming from your left, getting closer. You ran toward the sound, leaping across a gap in the rooftops, your Rotom phone floating you across.
Once more, you heard your name, louder this time, coming from below you.
“Corbeau?!” you called out one last time, poking your head over the edge of the roof.
“I’m here!” you heard him respond, and he rounded a corner below you, finally coming into view.
He was out of breath from running, sweat beading on his brow, but he was okay, he was safe. Relief flooded through you and you stood and backstepped, preparing to jump.
“No! Wait, don’t jump, there’s a ladder right-!” But it was too late. You leaped from the rooftop. “-there.” he finished.
Your Rotom phone caught you and floated you safely down, your feet barely hitting the ground before you were running directly to him.
Corbeau was ready, catching you in his open arms as you threw yourself into them, wrapping him tightly in your arms and burying your face in his shoulder, the whirlwind of emotions you felt, the adrenaline of the battle, how exhausted you were… everything pouring out of you all at once as you held him and cried.
“Shhh…shhh… you’re all right… I’m here, I’ve got you…” he soothed, wrapping you just as tight and gently rubbing your back as you sobbed into his shoulder. “You did so good, you were so brave… and I am so very proud of you."
He let you cry until you couldn’t anymore, until your sobs gave way to sniffles and only then did he release you just enough for him to gently cup your cheek, wiping away what remained of your tears.
“Feel better now?” he asked, that softness in his eyes once again that made your heart flutter and your knees feel weak.
You couldn’t leave the words unspoken anymore, you had to tell him now or you might explode.
“Corbeau, I lo-”
Your lips were silenced once again, not by him gently shushing you with his finger but by his own lips, capturing yours in a gentle kiss.
You closed your eyes, leaning into it, savoring every precious second and wishing you could freeze time right then and there and stay in this moment forever. Where was Dialga when you needed him?
He held you there for just a moment longer before pulling away, leaving you already wanting more. Tears pricked at your eyes again but this time you were smiling. “Not fair… you said I could tell you as much as I want…”
“Oh, I’m sorry, did you have something you wanted to say to me?” Corbeau teased. He leaned his forehead against yours, keeping you close.
You giggled, closed the distance and kissed him again. “I love you, Corbeau!” You said when you pulled away. “I love you, I love you, I love you!”
He smiled, a real, genuine smile. You felt your heart melt and you wondered if he’d ever smiled like that at anyone else.
“I think I get the picture…” he teased again. “My beautiful, brave girl… I love you, too.”
Despite the debris, the chaos of the half destroyed city around you, you felt like you could burst from joy as he kissed you again, and again, and again… and you knew that this happiness, and this love was only the beginning.