Work Text:
Urbain raced around the streets, trying to beat the sun that was currently setting. Vinnie had sent him a new location of a rogue mega evolution nearby. The only problem was that it was five minutes until sunset, and he’d hate to get caught up in a battle zone.
He raced through the Magenta District before using a holovator near a Pokémon Center to get up to the roof. He looked around before setting his eyes upon a glowing victreebel pacing near a rooftop entrance. Urbain scanned around him to make sure no one else was up on the roof (just for safety purposes) before slowly creeping towards the victreebel. Once he was close enough, but still out of sight, he threw out a pokeball containing his manectric. Manectric, which Urbain affectionately nicknamed “Manny”, turned to face the victreebel and leaped out towards it, startling the plant pokemon.
The victreebel hissed and jumped backwards and, before Urbain could react any further, began to be enveloped in a swirl of purple and blue light. As the victreebel grew in size and twisted its vines around itself, the sound of Urbain's phone buzzing signaled that the sun had fully set and that the battle zones had activated. And just let it be Urbain's luck that red barriers surrounded that very building that he was on top of.
“Fuck.” Urbain swore hastily before gritting his teeth and turning to the mega victreebel before him.
Urbain knew he was in for a long night.
~ ~ ~
Urbain hobbled through the streets of the Bleu District as he tried to find his way back home to the hotel. He was exhausted and bruised. The fight with the victreebel took two grueling hours before Urbain was finally able to subdue it. And just as Urbain thought it was over, some level Z trainer decided that he was that perfect test dummy for a battle. Now, Urbain was usually never one to say no to such a challenge, but most of his Pokémon had fainted already (save for manectric), and Urbain was completely out of revives. He tried to get out of it but the dude was stupidly persistent. Safe to say he lost that battle.
That was one of many things plaguing his mind as he trudged through the alleys of Lumiose.
‘Arceus, everything hurts.’
His mind was racing as he walked. He had fucked up another Z-A battle which was going to mess with his rank, and he was late going home…
‘Shit!’
Urbain stopped in his tracks as he thought about the hotel. He had promised Naveen and Lida that he’d be home before midnight (which he absolutely wasn’t going to be at this rate). Urbain was absolutely not in the mood to be scolded by them from returning late again. He wanted to try to text them or give them any sort of heads up, but his rotomphone was completely out of energy. He swore under his breath as he began to walk through an alleyway to get to the Bleu Plaza.
He had an idea. If Lida was here she’d call the idea weird and sketchy, but Urbain knew better.
Urbain was in a tremendous amount of debt thanks to the wonderful services of the Rust Syndicate leader, Corbeau. The two had known each other slightly personally for some time. Corbeau thought of Urbain a slow, but hard worker, and gave him an extended amount of time to work off his debts. Urbain thought Corbeau was cold and a little bit of an ass, but he was also undeniably attractive and charming, which might have been the thing that had drawn Urbain to the loan shark in the first place.
They have had a few run-ins in the past. Either Corbeau sneaking Urbain up to his apartment at the very top of the Rust Syndicate, or Urbain having Corbeau sneak up into his room in the hotel using a fire escape ladder
Urbain slowly limped towards the Bleu Plaza with a new set determination. When the Rust Syndicate building came into view, a small smile spread across his face. He made it to the front and hit the buzzer, praying for a reply. A buzz rang out, and Corbeau’s voice sounded out of the small speaker.
“Hello?”
Urbain sighed in relief at the sound of his voice.
“Hey, it’s Urbain. Sorry for the uh.. late intrusion I just.. it’s late and I don’t know if I can-“
“The doors unlocked Urbain.”
Urbain's smile only spread as he pushed through the closed gate and walked the path towards the door. Once he was inside, it was a quick walk to the elevator that brought him straight up to Corbeau’s office.
The elevator let out a loud ‘ding’ once he had reached Corbeau’s office. As he stepped out of the elevator, he laid his eyes on Corbeau. The loan shark was seated in his large chair behind his desk far across the room. Corbeau had seemed to be settled in for the night as he had ditched his coat and waist coat, and was simply in his work shirt, glasses, and pants (and probably shoes but Urbain couldn’t see).
“Hey ‘Beau”, Urbain spoke softly as he walked towards Corbeau’s desk.
“Urbain I’ve insisted numerous times that you don’t-…. What happened to you?”
The mild irritation on Corbeau’s face faded quickly once he had looked up and saw the state Urbain was in. His previous expression was replaced with something of concern. Urbain was covered in scratches, and there was one on his cheek that he could feel was still slightly bleeding. Corbeau swiftly stood and walked around his desk to meet Urbain at the front. He reached his hand up to cup Urbain's face, running his finger over the deep scratch. Urbain flinched slightly as Corbeau ran his finger over a part of the cut that was bleeding, and he quickly pulled his hand away.
“I uh.. fell?” Urbain murmured in response to Corbeau’s earlier question. He was hardly ever good at lying, and Corbeau knew.
“Well we both know that is not the case.”
Corbeau wordlessly guided Urbain over to a couch at the side of his office and sat him down, before moving back to his desk, opening a drawer, and taking a first aid kit out. He quickly walked back over to sit next to Urbain.
Urbain had already seen what was coming, and offered his scratched up arm out for Corbeau to bandage. As Corbeau gently cleaned up and bandaged some of Urbain's more serious wounds, he continued his questioning.
“So, are you going to tell me what really happened?” Compared to his usual seriousness, Corbeau sounded even more tense.
“Aw, you really care that much, huh ‘Beau.”
Corbeau rolled his eyes at Urbain, but he quickly cleared his throat before speaking.
“I just wish to make sure you’ll be able to pay your debts without any sort of set backs.” Corbeau pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose before returning to his work of cleaning a wound.
“You may stay the night, if you wish,” Corbeau added in swiftly.
Urbain let out a sigh from his nose at the words, before leaning his shoulder to rest against Corbeau’s. Some of the tension that was previously built up in Corbeau released slightly, and he leaned in against Urbain.
“There was another rogue evolution outbreak, and Vinnie had sent me out to deal with it.”
Corbeau looked up to Urbain at his confession, the worry now more prevalent on his face.
“You can’t keep doing this Urbain.” Corbeau almost sounded like he was pleading as he spoke. The sound of it made Urbain want to melt. He smiled softly at Corbeau before covering his hand with Urbain’s own.
“I have to. If I don't, who will? You know how dangerous rogue evolutions can be if they’re not felt with.”
“Vinnie could simply go handle it on his own, you know” Corbeau murmured out. There was a sense of bitterness in his voice as he tightened one final bandage around Urbain's upper forearm before leaning back against the arm of the couch, pulling Urbain with him. Urbain hummed as he draped an arm over Corbeau’s waist before planting a hand on his side, right below his ribs. Corbeau’s hand subconsciously moved up to run through Urbain’s hair, his lips curling up at the feeling of his soft hair in between his fingers. Urbain’s face heated at the feeling. No matter how many times they’ve done this, it always ends up flustering him.
This was a normal routine for them, except it usually happened after sex and not an injury clean up. It was comfortable, which was something the pair desperately needed and confided in each other after a long day. That all was until Urbain sat up and looked at Corbeau.
Urbain opened his mouth to speak, attempting to sound casual but instead sounding awkward. “Thanks for letting me stay here tonight. I don’t think I would’ve made it home in one piece.” Urbain wanted the last part to sound like a joke, but it instead came out fiddly and uncomfortable.
Corbeau merely smiled, before grabbing Urbain and pulling him down again to rest on top of him.
“You know I don’t mind, truly. I like having you here.” Corbeau’s words were muffled as he spoke against Urbain’s head. Urbain fiddled with his sleeve slightly before returning his hand to Corbeau’s side.
The pair would move up to Corbeau’s room shortly, but for right now, they enjoyed their time together in his office.