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The sunsets in Kalos were always beautiful. But this one was especially beautiful. And Lysandre wanted to make the most of it.
Augustine walks into the flower garden near Camphrier Town and prepares a blanket to relax on. Sometimes after work he would just sit in the garden and watch the Florges and it's pre evolutions frolic in the flowers. Grass and bug types thrived in this area, making it one of the more peaceful places for wild pokemon to live.
Augustine fluffs the blanket a bit before sitting down, admiring the view ahead of him. The sun was starting to set, creating a beautiful orange glow over the garden, illuminating all of it's inhabitants. Augustine lets out a soft sigh, tempted to lay down and relax. A few Flabebe came drifting over, quite curious to see the Professor, as usual. The same Flabebe come to see him every time he comes to relax.
As Augustine smiles at them, he feels a strange sensation travel up his spine, as if he was being approached.
"Augustine. Fancy seeing you here." A low voice rumbles from behind him, and Augustine turns around to find Lysandre standing over him with the same old wryly smile plastered on his face.
"Fancy seeing you here" Augustine echoes softly, glancing to where the Flabebe were, drifting around nearby. They seemed curious of Lysandre, and the figure behind him.
"I missed you. It feels like we haven't spoken properly for a while."
"I know, I missed you too, but I've just been so busy lately. Come sit with me."
Lysandre does just that, planting himself next to Augustine, practically shoulder to shoulder. With the figure leaning over him. Fleur, Lysandre's Florges, was roaming freely out of her pokeball and mingling with her own kind.
"Ah, you brought Fleur with you". The Professor watches as Fleur plays with the Flabebe lurking in the flower patches, a twinkle in his eyes he only gets when he's happy.
"Of course, I heard that this garden is a popular spot for Florges and their pre evolutions". Lysandre places a hand on Augustine's shoulder, and he slowly turns back to look at him. The silence that ensued wasn't awkward, but peaceful and well needed. There wasn't really much to say. They missed each other's company.
Augustine shuffles closer and rests his head on Lysandre's shoulder, a gesture that startled the redhead slightly.
"Remember the last time we went to a flower garden like this?" Augustine chuckles softly, prodding Lysandre in the arm.
"Augustine-"
"Lucien almost knocked us both over and he got so excited!"
"Okay, I remember that..." Lysandre couldn't help but smirk at Augustine's enthusiasm for the reminiscence, it was as if a shining light was radiating off of him whenever he laughed.
"Remember you let Alphonse out and he ate the entire picnic-"
"That's it, come here!" Lysandre wraps his arms around Augustine and pulls him to the ground, which only increases the volume of his fit of giggles. He knew where the professor was most ticklish, and aimed directly for those spots.
"Lys! Stop! I will kick you in the crotch-" Augustine continues giggling and squirming until Lysandre finally leaves him alone.
"Fine. But I'm only stopping out of fear for my crotch" Lysandre says playfully, giving Augustine one last poke. The two lay on their backs, sprawled across the blanket, looking up at the clouds that had gone a purpleish colour due to the sunlight. Augustine looks over at Lysandre, his breath hitching slightly as he catches his eye.
His mane of fiery hair is a mess from their previous play fighting, and the sun has just slightly caught his face, creating an orange glow that made his eyes glisten.
He was gorgeous.
They simply gazed at each other for a while, admiring one another's faces.
Lysandre noticed how Augustine seemed to brighten up their surroundings with his charming smile, and he brought up a hand to caress his cheek.
Augustine took this as an invitation to lean in and kiss him. And Lysandre didn't put up a fight.
In the heat of the moment they didn't realise that a few Flabebe and a single Floette had come over to say hello. Lysandre is the first to notice, slowly breaking away from Augustine's captivating kiss.
"It looks like the young ones wish to see what all the commotion is about" Lysandre whispers softly, beckoning the curious pokemon to join them. The Floette is the first to do so, prodding at Lysandre with her flower, making him chuckle. Augustine watches with a loving smile as the Floette was fascinated by Lysandre, just as he was.
The Floette begins poking around Lysandre's pockets, and when she gets to his jacket pockets, she becomes fascinated with it, poking and prodding away at what seems to be a tiny object inside.
Augustine leans in closer to have a look, narrowing his eyes.
"What is that in your pocket, Lys?" he asks curiously, and Lysandre looks at Floette and then back at his beloved. Augustine notices the object's shape and wonders if he took his mega ring off. Nope. Still there.
"It's... something I've been meaning to give to you. For a long time now," Lysandre takes a deep breath before continuing, "But I think now is the perfect time to give it to you".
Augustine cocks his head to one side, eyebrow raised as Lysandre reaches into his pocket and takes out a small yet beautiful (and expensive looking) ring.
"Augustine, I really don't know how I can put my love for you into words, but I was wondering if you'd be willing to take my hand in marriage." The professor's eyes widen, and he's completely lost for words.
"Wha- Are you serious?" Augustine asks shakily, his voice hoarse with the realisation that this was in fact, real.
It was not a dream. Lysandre was proposing to him.
"I'm about as serious as I've ever been". Lysandre takes Augustine's hands in his, giving them a gentle squeeze. "Do you accept my proposal, my dear Augustine?”.
Augustine buffers for a second, too choked up to respond. After a few moments, he finally regains his voice. And through tearful eyes, he gives his honest answer.
"Yes. Oh, Arceus, yes!". He pulls Lysandre into a tight embrace, the Floette that joined them rejoicing with the now fiancés. Fleur and the group of Flabebe come to investigate the commotion, a bit startled by Augustine's sudden burst of emotion. Speaking of which, the poor man was trying to stop his tears, out of his own embarrassment from being so emotional in front of Lysandre.
"I love you. I love you, I love you-". Augustine shuts himself up with a frantic kiss, Lysandre returning it gratefully. While they had their lips firmly pressed together, he slips the engagement ring onto his lover's ring finger, giving his hand another squeeze. After a while, when they finally pull away from each other, Lysandre gets out breathlessly,
"I know. I love you too." Augustine's heart practically swells with joy after hearing those words, and he gives his eyes another rub just in case.
"I probably look so silly right now, I shouldn't be crying nearly this much!" Augustine exclaims, chuckling when his tears start running again. Lysandre brings a hand up and wipes the tears from his eyes, tucking one of his dark curls behind his ear.
"That's normal. How about we go back to my place tonight, we can celebrate more privately." Lysandre says the last part in a hushed voice, suggesting a... different kind of celebration. Augustine nods wordlessly, and Lysandre grabs ahold of his hand and lifts him up. "Come on, Fleur, we're going now." The Florges drifts over from the group of Flabebe, grabbing a hold of Lysandre's free hand.
The three leave together with the Flabebe and Floette watching after them, the sun finally disappearing behind the horizon. A darkness cloaks the garden, rapidly catching up to its inhabitants. A sudden silence washes over the pokemon, creating an eerie atmosphere that becomes a reality once they are gone.
Lumiose City simultaneously lights up at the sudden darkness, the silence being replaced with the sounds of tourists discussing where they should stay for the night, shops and cafes bustling with people and pokemon and vehicles of all sorts travelling on the long windy roads. Lysandre held on to Augustine's hand tightly, leading him through the crowds of people to get to the apartment building, Fleur following closely behind.
"Do you think we should move out of Lumiose to somewhere more peaceful when we get married?".
"Oh, most definitely, my love".
Short epilogue
___________
A small cottage resides on the outskirts of Couriway Town, a peaceful residence where our newlyweds now live together.
The interior was littered with plants and succulents, cosy decor and plush furniture. In the garden behind the cottage however stood a small facility, where Augustine came tumbling out trying to wrestle with a Bunnelby to free it from plastic around it's neck.
Lysandre hovered nearby, doing some gardening, springing into action when he saw his beloved struggling. With the extra help, the plastic snapped off from around the Bunnelby, finally allowing the poor creature to breathe properly again.
The facility acted as a Pokémon rehabilitation centre, a sanctuary for the sick and wounded. The two lovers decided the best way to continue helping the creatures thrive was to repurpose an old shed into a small place able to hold many pokemon at a time, for them to heal. All from the comfort of their back garden. Locals volunteered from time to time but it was mostly Lysandre and Augustine's responsibility to help these struggling critters. Speaking of which, now that the Bunnelby was safe and able to undergo proper treatment for it's wounds, Lysandre could tend to his poor husband’s own wounds from fighting the rabbit pokemon for it's survival.
“You're ridiculous” The redhead tutted as he cleaned the deep scratches on his arms, patching them up nicely so he could get back to work.
“I was just trying to help!” Augustine pouted, watching his partner treat him with great caution.
“Well, next time maybe don't try to fight the pokemon to save it's life. A little contradictory, don't you think?” He huffed, a slight grin on his face as he finished up. “There, that should heal in a few days.”
“Thank you, mon amie,” The dark haired man sighed lovingly, admiring Lysandre's handiwork. “Good thing you're stuck here helping me out instead of working on that dastardly project at Lysandre labs.”
“I suppose it was a good call cancelling it. This is far more important” he smiles adoringly, kissing Augustine on the cheek.
“What were you gonna research again?”
“The ultimate weapon and the ancient war… why's that?”
“Oh, no reason. No reason at all…”