Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Wh- Are you serious?!”

“I am very sorry, Mx. Y/N. I know how much of an inconvenience this is.”

“Inconvenience— where am I supposed to go now?”

You’d just gotten a call that stopped you right in the middle of the streets of Lumiose City: you’d booked this hotel weeks in advance, and now you can’t even get in because their pipes burst, forcing them to close and evacuate for cleanup just as you were hurrying over. You knew nobody in the city, and with that tournament in town, you had nowhere to stay, surely. Given you’d flown out here for a job interview, you couldn’t exactly cut your losses and cancel your trip, especially since you were standing on the cobblestone streets of the city at that very moment. Your potential future employer would likely turn you down if you walked in looking like you slept on the streets, too…

“Ugh…” you sigh, rubbing your forehead. “Is there… Do you know of anywhere that’ll take last-minute guests?”

There was a long pause as the concierge shuffled through documents, and you were glad they felt compelled to help you— your last trip to Paldea wasn’t as accommodating, and all you were asking for from the concierge there was a restaurant recommendation.

“There is one hotel in town with plenty of open rooms, and that I know will accommodate, Mx. But, erm… it is a little unusual, so it is generally not our first recommendation.”

What, like a themed hotel? You think. You’d take whatever at this point, even if there was Pikachu wallpaper and bed sheets.

“Yeah, sure. What’s the address?”

…

Oh.

This isn’t at all what you expected.

You stare up at a tall, worn-down building, ensnared in vines. This part of town is remarkably quiet, but even so, you don’t see any lights on in the windows… just in the lobby, visible through a thin sliver of glass on the doors.

Is this the right address?? You double check what you wrote down and, yeah, it has to be.

You swallow, dreading a week of uncomfortable beds and lackluster service as you open the door…

Inside is a shabby, yet clean lobby, with any and every table adorned with flowers; you have to admit, it helps tremendously to have a good-smelling first impression. The room is spacious, with a front desk and lounge, everything charmingly mismatched. The lights are dim, but not in an obtrusive way, the sconces casting everything in a warm glow.

At the front desk sits a young man with blonde hair, flicking through his phone before he spots you, sheepishly stowing it in his back pocket.

“Ah, sorry. Hello. Welcome to Hotel Z,” he says. “What can I do for you?”

“Hi… um, I don’t have a reservation, but the hotel I’d booked had an issue with their pipes… erm. Anyway. Can I still get a room for one?” you smile awkwardly.

“Certainly,” the man says with a nod, taking notes in a large tome of hotel records as he asks you basic questions— this whole place seems like a relic of the past, and the guy’s modern stylings clash slightly, but you can’t complain.

“Would you like a wake-up call?” he asks.

“Erm, yes, but just on Wednesday. Is 6:00 okay?”

“Absolutely… alright. Here you are,” he says with a small smile, handing you a strange tri-cornered object made of a clear material; not quite glass, not quite plastic, with a soft glow at its center. Yours is colored a ruby hue, but you spot others behind the desk in a myriad of colors, all seemingly inert. “Hold onto that key; you’ll need it to access not just your room, but the other amenities here at Hotel Z.”

You inspect the strange key, which looks nothing like the standard key-card you’re used to; you’re wondering how you’re supposed to keep it in your wallet. Oh, well. This is just for a week…

“Thank you.”

“Of course. Enjoy your stay!”

You nod, grabbing your luggage and hurrying to your room. 417; that’s quite a hike up the stairs, but you can handle it, even if your luggage protests and bumps against the steps.

As you ascend, your key glows with greater intensity… This thing is weird, but maybe it’s just doing that as it gets closer to your room.

It’s once you reach your floor that you realize something is very wrong about this place.

Exiting the stairwell, you find yourself in a truly impossibly large hallway, its ceiling stretching hundreds of feet above you. It’s incredibly wide, as well, and so long, your stomach sinking as you gaze ahead at what seems like an endless stretch of carpet.

You look at the key, which is glowing at its brightest at this point, gently pulsing with an energy completely alien to you.

As frightening as this is, you know you’re not shrunken down; there are normal-sized doors dotted all the way down the hallway, though they’re interspersed with some disconcertingly massive ones as well.

What is happening…?!

You hurry down the cavernous hallway, finally finding your room after several minutes of searching; the door seems to react to the key, opening on its own as you approach. You take a deep breath, peering inside…

Oh.

It’s a remarkably normal room. You slowly step in, yelping when the door closes behind you with a sudden thud. Everything seems to be back to normal, though that mismatched aesthetic has carried into the rooms, as well as a rich vernal aroma, juniper in this case.

Cautiously, you set down your things, approaching the door again with quaking hands. You open it, and feel your stomach drop once again as that huge hallway still stands before you. You slam the door shut, sinking to the floor as you struggle to maintain composure.

What the fuck… is this place…?

You stagger to your feet, shuffling to your luggage to at least attempt to unpack. Your interview is in 3 days, which gives you plenty of time to acclimate to the city… and all its weirdness.

Hopefully you can get used to this, but you can’t help but feel a sense of unease, especially when you look out the window to see a nice, but unremarkable view.

Are the other floors of this place not weird, or…?

Ugh, whatever. You’re exhausted; you kick off your shoes and flop on the bed, trying to not think about why a hotel might need enormous hallways and doors…

Chapter Text

You didn’t realize you’d fallen asleep until the sunlight of a new day blares into your eyes.

You sit up, a nasty taste in your mouth. After getting dressed, you make up for lost time—and hygiene— by brushing your teeth; as you do, you notice a piece of paper slid under your door.

Cautiously, you pick it up, reading it over…

Hotel Z cordially invites all guests, people and Pokémon alike, to a complimentary breakfast free of charge.

6:30 AM- 10:30 AM

Floor 1 lounge

AZ

You check your phone; It's 7:05. Still plenty of time, though you have no clue what AZ means. Is it some sort of abbreviation?

Regardless, you’d thought about this whole thing that night, unaware you’d fall asleep doing so; This place is weird, but… you’re not unsafe. Your room is clean, the bed is comfortable… The only frightening thing lay just outside your door, but even then, you didn’t see anyone else out there. Though, you were briefly awoken in the night by some strange noises, but maybe that’s just the building’s age, or some Pokémon moving about.

Okay, weird magic hotel, you think, sticking the note in your pocket. I’ll bite, I guess.

Slowly opening the door to your room once again— yep, it’s still the huge hallway— you sneak out of it, scurrying across toward the stairwell. As you descend, you see your key’s glow shift in intensity again, as if it knew where you were heading… that’s not ominous at all.

Floor 1 is much the same as floor 4; impossibly large, endless hallways, but there’s a fork in your path.

“Lounge, lounge…” you mutter as you briskly walk through the halls, head spinning as it reckons with the disorienting scale of it all. Even the paintings are gigantic, and the—

“ACK!”

You yelp as you bump into something, falling backwards— something big, soft, and…

Holy shit, that Floette is huge. Over twice your height, with an equally enormous flower that could probably double as an umbrella for a cafe table. You’ve heard of Dynamax Pokémon, but she wasn’t quite that big, and as far as you knew, that kind of thing only happened in Galar.

She peers down at you apologetically for a moment, before offering a hand.

Sure, I guess this is happening now…

You take it, stumbling back onto your feet. She tilts her head curiously, as if to ask what you need.

“Uh… do you work here?” you ask stupidly. But to your surprise, she actually nods, a flute-like trill leaving her mouth.

“Oh! Uhh… C-could you help me find the lounge, please?” you might as well play along at this point.

She trills again, beckoning you to follow as she drifts along the hallway; after a few minutes passing by door after door after giant door, she gestures and flies further into a huge open sunroom, with windows the size of skyscrapers granting a view of an enormous lush garden beyond them.

Although, it’s hard to admire the view with the absolutely gigantic old man in the way.

He’s sitting cross-legged in an equally massive armchair, seemingly using the floor as a table as he looks out the windows. You pull your eyes away long enough to observe the structure of the rest of the room, with huge cliffs of stairs a ways away he clearly took to arrange himself on a lower level, and the comparatively tiny furniture and buffet spread just beside him.

Okay, the giant Floette was one thing, but… this is too much to process right now.

You scramble back behind the wall, breathing ragged as you clutch your head. What is going on??? Your heart’s in your throat, knees shaking. This was all too much.

You don’t know if he’s noticed you, or if that Floette told him about you, but you’re having a hard time willing yourself to move. In fact, you seem to do the opposite, sliding against the wall into a fetal position.

“Hey, are you alright?”

You flinch, glancing over to see the receptionist from yesterday, a concerned frown on his face.

“I-I-I wasn’t… n-n-nobody told me… a-a-about any of this!”

His face falls briefly, but he clears his throat. You didn’t actually notice his name tag yesterday, but today you do: His name’s Urbain.

“I’m so sorry. Most folks who come here know what they’re getting into. I guess you weren’t filled in by Richissime’s concierge, huh?”

You shake your head, on the verge of tears now. “I-I just needed a p-place… I-I should’ve asked-”

“Hey, hey… it’s okay.” he kneels down with a placating hand in front of him. “What was your name again?”

Slowly, you stammer out your name, and he nods.

“Would you like me to introduce you to Monsieur AZ? Would that help?”

“I-Is that… is he…”

He nods. “Don’t worry. I totally get it, and so does he. This isn’t our first rodeo.” he smiles softly and holds out a hand. “Would you like me to introduce you?” he asks again.

You slowly nod, swallowing as you take his hand and stand. He leads you into the lounge, and each step of yours feels like you have concrete in your shoes.

Once the giant man comes back into view, you see he’s looking right at you, with Floette on his shoulder. His one visible eye, the other obscured by a long, wispy mop of white hair, regards you carefully, his hands clutching a massive cup of coffee. A small smile adorns his lips as he looks down upon you. He’s… almost handsome, in an ancient, aged fey way.

He’s also at least 180 feet tall, if you had to give a conservative estimate. He could crush you without a second thought, and you had no idea what else he was capable of; did he do all of this magic stuff?

“Y/N, this is Monsieur AZ, the owner of Hotel Z,” Urbain says, gesturing to the giant as he drags you closer.

The huge man bows his head in greeting, and you flinch, but Urbain’s grip on your hand keeps you from stumbling again.

“Good morning. I trust you found your room comfortable.”

His voice rings through your whole body, not necessarily loud (though it is), but permeating. It’s a deep, rich tone, with just a touch of raspiness as he speaks in what must be close to a whisper for him.

“Um, about that, Boss…” Urbain hesitates, sticking his free hand in his pocket. “It, uh, appears they were not filled in on, uh, our deal, as their booking was last minute.”

The giant softly gasps, and the Floette chirps in alarm, both gazes turning apologetic.

“Oh, goodness, désolé… my sincerest apologies.” He sets down his cup, and you see the faintest glimpse of his manhole cover-sized fingerprints dotting the ceramic. “We don’t get many guests, beyond regulars, friends, and… the adventurous, who already know the circumstances they’re signing up for.”

“Y-yeah…” you squeak out, shame and embarrassment warming your face. “S-s-sorry, I just-”

“Do not apologize,” the giant interrupts softly, though it still shakes you to your core. “I would be just as frightened, were I in your shoes. And, well, if I were easily offended, or otherwise unaware of how my physical presence affects people… I would never have taken on a customer-facing role.” A low peal of laughter leaves his lips.

You relax slightly, letting go of Urbain’s hand, though your posture is still guarded. AZ steeples his long, weathered fingers.

“I take it you still have many questions, though. If you wish, I have time to answer them.” he glances out the windows, which you’re starting to realize are a physical impossibility in this building. “… At least, so long as they don’t take three hours, ahahaha.”

You nod slowly, your eyes glued to him as you grope around for a chair to sit in. Urbain hurries over and pulls a chair out from one of the tables for you, and you mutter some gratitude before sitting awkwardly.

“Would you like me to get you something to eat?” Urbain whispers.

You blink. “Uh, s-sure,” you whisper back, finally adjusting in your seat so you’re more comfortable. It was a little embarrassing to be attended to like this, but you suppose he’s here to serve, even if you’re making a fool of yourself.

Where do I start? You think.

“W-what is… how does this… um. Who are you?”

He hums in thought, which rattles the cutlery by the buffet table. “That is a very good question… I am perhaps Kalos’ biggest open secret. I have, ah… been around for a very long time, though, I suppose it makes sense that knowledge of my existence may be limited elsewhere.”

“Yeah, other than the whole mess with the Ultimate Weapon a decade ago, Boss has stayed pretty hidden,” Urbain says as he returns with two plates and two coffees, one for each of you.

“Ultimate… ohh.” a very vague memory enters your mind. “Yeah… I think I remember that. I-I’m from Alola, so a lot of the crazy stuff coming from the big continent is a little hard to believe.”

“Yes, well… knowing is one thing. Seeing is… very much another.” His eye looks up over you, as he raises a massive hand in gesture, casting a deep shadow over you. “I decided to establish Hotel Z around 6 years ago, as a little respite from the ordinary, while, hopefully, not being so extraordinary as to overwhelm.” He again looks down to you, an apologetic smile running across his face. “Perhaps I… miscalculated in that regard. I suppose it was bound to happen, as word spread about this place…”

You peer down at your food— a warm croissant, an omelette, and some fresh fruit, with a coffee on the side— and think for a moment. Other than feeling positively tiny outside of your room and the lobby, you… really had nothing to complain about.

“It’s actually been very nice so far…” you shyly pick apart some grapes as you look up toward the colossus. “I-I guess… maybe just a warning in the lobby would’ve been nice…”

Urbain laughs as he sips his coffee. “That might be just what we need, especially with the new tournament in town.”

“… Oh! Goodness, yes, of course. We cannot allow this to happen again.” A knot forms in AZ’s brow as he thinks, a finger massaging his temple. “I know I just said that I am not hurt by others’ fear of me, but I do dread what could happen if we were yanked out of obscurity by some scandal…”

Something buzzes right beside you, and you nearly leap out of your chair— even with all this conversation, you’re still too tightly wound up. Urbain checks his phone, ostensibly where the buzzing came from.

“Ah! My shift started,” he exclaims, taking one last bite of his omelette and downing the rest of his coffee as he stands up.

“Urbain, do not choke yourself on my watch,” AZ scolds, his tone sterner than before. The smaller man chuckles sheepishly as he sets down his drink.

“Sorry, boss… I’ll see ya later, Y/N.” he jogs off, leaving you alone in front of a being who could kill you immediately with an errant hand movement. Cool.

All your nerves find their way back to you as you silently nibble on your breakfast, not making eye contact with the giant. His sigh rustles the tablecloths as he leans back in his chair, coffee in hand once more.

He can probably tell you’re still scared— it’s harder to kick this fear than you want it to be. He’s a very kind man, you can tell, and he’s… rather nice to look at, but there’s a huge Mamoswine in the room with all of this.

But this was only for a week… just one week of this. You could make it work.

Chapter Text

After that mess of a morning, you sequester yourself in your room; while toiling away at online job applications was not on your trip itinerary, you’re way too overstimulated and stressed out to even think about any of the city’s amenities right now. That, and, well… you’re starting to have second thoughts about working in Lumiose. You’re even thinking of calling your interviewer to cancel everything, but… ugh, one step at a time.

You squeak at the sound of a knock on the door, but once you creep over to open it, you find a lone Floette, normal-sized this time, holding a tiny feather duster in her free hand.

“Oh, hi,” you breathe. “Um, I’m alright, I think… thank you.”

The little fairy nods with a happy chirp, floating away; it’s a little weird seeing a normal-sized Floette now.

It’s only while you’re at the door that you notice another note’s been slid under it, and you begrudgingly pick it up.

Esteemed Guest Y/N,

I truly do apologize for any discomfort I may have caused you today. A thought came to mind, however, that you may still have had questions, but were afraid to ask them in my presence. Thus, if you wish, you may write any questions you still have on this card, slide it under one of the larger doors, and I will do my best to answer you.

My first and highest commitment is the comfort and peace of mind of my guests, and I would hate for them to leave my hotel with lingering fear and doubt in their mind. Though most of my guests are already good friends of mine, I have no qualms with making new friends, should they allow me.

I do hope you will consider my offer, though if not, I entirely understand.

I hope you continue to enjoy your stay at Hotel Z.

Warmly,

AZ

You ponder the note for a moment, wondering if you should bite this time, too. You have to admit, you’re so curious, but yeah, maybe sitting right in front of him while asking burning questions felt too daunting.

Hesitantly, you grab a pen, sit on your bed with a hard book as a writing surface, and begin jotting down some questions.

…

After writing your questions, you decided to distract yourself by venturing out into the city.

There’s so much to do, so many shops to visit… but everything is prohibitively expensive, to the point that you wonder if you’ll be able to survive here. It almost feels like you need to be born in this city to live comfortably in it… yet another deterrent to living here full-time.

You do come home with a new coat, in anticipation of creeping autumn weather, but it wasn’t an easy purchase to make; in your hometown, you could haggle with just about anyone, but that didn’t seem to be the culture present in Kalos. Oh, well. You’ll try to make your overpriced coat worth it, you guess.

Once you come back to your room, you find an envelope under your door; that was fast.

Sitting on your bed, you read through the giant man’s answers. You also wonder if he has some sort of scribe, because the handwriting is very intricate.

Dear Y/N,

I thank you for your bravery through this process. I hope that I can answer your questions to your satisfaction.

1. I am around 203 feet tall, from my last measurements. This growth, and Floette’s growth as well, are a side effect of my creation and use of the Ultimate Weapon. It’s an act I deeply regret every single day… though, I’ve found that even some Kalosians know very little of that era. Thankfully, the weapon was destroyed over 10 years ago, so hopefully, history will not repeat itself to quite the same extent. I remain ever vigilant, even still.

2. I am over 3,000 years old. I don’t recall my exact birthday anymore, besides it being in the spring. Calendars have changed drastically in my time. I generally state my birthday to be March 15th, for convenience’s sake.

3. I tried my hardest to be elusive for a very long time, so I suppose that’s why little is known of me outside of Kalos. I am so sorry that you’d never heard of me before. I generally dislike talking about my past in-depth, outside of with close friends. If you want an accurate account of my past, please ask Urbain. He’d likely be better at explaining it than me. He has a great knack for history.

4. I am trained in a variety of magic spells. I used several creation and conjuration rituals to construct this place, crafting bespoke rooms to both my size and the size of my patrons; each “floor” is simply a pocket dimension connected via the stairwells. It’s all entirely tangible, though, and losing access to the key in an area outside these bounds is not dangerous. You’ll simply find yourself in the original structure, which may be a little… dusty. Please let my staff know if you lose or damage your key.

5. No, there are no other humans to my scale that I know of. However, 13 years ago, 5 other individuals were exposed to the Ultimate Weapon’s energy, and are currently undergoing similar growth patterns to my past self. Their complete fate is to be determined. They visit me on occasion, and one of them is the former Champion of Kalos, Serena. The others live more private lives, so I shall not name them here.

6. The Floette you met earlier is my only Pokémon that exceeds her normal size; I have three more Floette who assist with housekeeping, a Golurk who handles heavy lifting, two Indeedee who run the kitchen, a Sigilyph who looks after finances and security, and a Torkoal, who resides in the boiler room and maintains the hotel’s heating. I am considering onboarding more human staff, though, especially with this new tournament on the horizon.

7. Urbain is the daytime clerk, and you’ll likely see him the most often. His twin sister, Taunie, takes over for the night shift, when both of us would be asleep. If you have questions late at night, she’s well-equipped to answer them.

8. I would never touch a guest without their consent, nor would any of my staff. I keep a close eye on my footpath, especially in the hallways, and I’ve found my footsteps make my presence known well before I’m visible to most. That said, if you are still concerned, remaining close to the walls is perhaps your safest strategy in avoiding harm.

9. Anything else… Well, I’m very aware that I’m quite loud to those smaller than me. Conversely, however, the rest of the world is often too quiet for me. If you want to be heard, please speak up just a bit, or else don’t be alarmed if I need to come closer to hear you. Urbain and Taunie often need to shout when I’m standing at full height.

10. I appreciate this question; I quite like to discuss my hobbies. I enjoy gardening, reading, camping, and playing music. I am only slightly above average at chess, but I’d be happy to play you sometime. Urbain and Taunie quite enjoy watching films, and I occasionally join if the premise interests me. They’re also far more proficient at Pokémon battling than I am; I prefer to watch.

11. The large doors are to areas that generally only need to be accessed by myself; if I am present and allowing people to enter, the doors will be open. I often leave my study door on the 2nd floor open, for example.

12. Ah, I see, regarding Quasartico… I generally like to keep my political opinions to myself, especially when around guests. However, seeing as you’re applying there, I would advise you to inquire more about the “urban redevelopment plan” they’re instituting across Lumiose. I have some concerns about its interaction with the historic building this hotel resides in, as regardless of whether or not I’m using all of its rooms ‘as intended’, it would be a shame to see it altered via this plan. This building is nearly 350 years old, and is a part of the character of Lumiose. I’ve seen other buildings near it be flattened of their character already, and it’d be a shame for that fate to befall us.

I hope my answers have helped to bring you some peace of mind; if it isn’t too invasive of me to say so, I’d love to learn more about you over the next week. I strive to ensure a pleasant stay for all of my guests, and part of that is being able to curate their stay to their needs.

Warmly,

AZ

As you fold up the letter, you finally register your heartbeat; it’s pounding, fast, and you’d be lightheaded if you weren’t laying in bed reading this.

But why…? You wonder, a little embarrassed. This is a very professional and cordial letter, and it shouldn’t be anything too exciting…

Maybe it was how much he clearly cared about your opinion of him.

Either way, it’s highly inappropriate for you to get worked up like this, even if you don’t know why and can’t help it. Are you really so lonely that you can’t handle a Q&A??

You finally notice the paper is scented… anthuriums. Have they all been scented…?

You groan, throwing the letter into your bag and pulling out your laptop to distract yourself with interview prep.

…

It’s around 8:00 PM, a few hours since you started, and suddenly you see the lights flicker around you, eventually burning out.

Uh-oh. Isn’t this whole place magical? How does that happen??

You hurry to your window, and it looks like at least the next few blocks from you are also down— that’s a relief, somewhat, as that means this place isn’t gonna collapse in on itself, or something. It’s interesting that it’s connected to the power grid, though. You wonder if the hotel’s electrical bill is huge, too, or if it’s magically altered somehow.

You cautiously peer out of your door, finding a gaping maw of blackness in the hallway, its enormity only undercut by slivers of evening light through the windows.

Unsure of what to do, you think at first to call the front desk, but realize it’s probably a landline.

Ugh. Guess the only way you’ll get answers at this rate is to find the stairs…

You have only your phone’s flashlight and a loose recollection of the floor’s layout, but you manage to trace along the wall until you hit one of the stairwells, treading down. Your key still works, thankfully.

You pause at the 2nd floor when you hear thunderous quakes; cautiously, with only your little light to guide you, you pad out into the hallway proper, searching…

“TWO DAYS?!?”

You hear an unfathomably loud voice bellowing out, along with the thundering footsteps, just around the corner. You initially, instinctually flinch back, cowering against the wall, hiding your light.

“Ugh… I apologize for raising my voice. I know it’s not your fault… Does Madame Jett know of this?… She does?… I hope she knows that I’m very cross with her… Yes, forgive me. I’m sure you’re getting more calls than ever…”

It’s AZ; he has every right to be upset, but it’s still utterly terrifying to hear him so angry.

“Psst. Hey.”

You flinch, turning to see a woman who looks to be the spitting image of Urbain… gosh, that’s going to be confusing.

“Uh, T-Taunie… right?”

Even in the darkness, you see her face brighten a bit, though she’s still whispering. “Yeah, hi! Uh, hey, come down to the dining lounge. Urbain and I are working on getting some candles going-”

AZ’s voice cuts her off. “Yes, I would like that. Thank you… Farewell.”

You hear more quaking steps start to leave the room beside you, and you see his truly colossal figure in the shadows; he looks above you, and starts walking your way, oh Arceus-

“BOSS!! DOWN HERE!!” Taunie shouts, which thankfully stops him in his tracks with a gasp. You realize your light wasn’t visible, so you take it back out and point it towards him.

“Oh my goodness!!” He has to lean against the wall for a moment, catching his breath. He clumsily kneels down, his full weight falling to the ground causing it to jump beneath you. “I am so incredibly sorry… I didn’t see you at all.”

“Y-y-you’re fine,” you whimper, cowering behind Taunie.

He huffs, pinching the bridge of his nose. “This is going to be problematic… Taunie, could you possibly have pleasant news for me?”

She scratches her head. “Uh, well, Torkoal’s trying his best down in the boiler room, but the backup generator’s being finicky. I’m gonna go back down there and help, but in the meantime, we’ve set up some candles downstairs in the dining lounge.”

He sighs again, but he’s wearing a small smile this time. “You’re a saint, mon ami. I shall meet you there.”

“Follow me,” Taunie whispers, and you do so, heading toward the stairwell and down the stairs.

“W-wait… are there big stairs somewhere, or how does he…” your words are failing you, so you quickly point up and down.

“Oh, that’s actually super interesting!” Taunie replies, her little topknot bouncing with each step down. “All of the really big doors are magically connected. A few of the normal ones, too, but only for us staff.”

Once you reach the first floor, she points to the closest huge door. “Each of the knobs have a ratcheting system that corresponds to a particular door, so he just needs to set it to the door he’s looking for…”

Suddenly, that door opens, and AZ steps out, once again towering over you at the end of the hallway.

“… and he can step out basically anywhere in the hotel.”

“Huh.”

“Isn’t it cool?” Taunie seems particularly excited about this.

“Yeah, I-I suppose…”

“C’mon.” She jogs ahead, and you follow, desperate to not let your sole guide disappear into the darkness.

Eventually, you do find the dining lounge, every table adorned with a lit candle. The view outside has a low moon in the sky, and the stars are just starting to appear. Urbain and all of the Pokémon are here, besides Torkoal, and AZ is only just sitting down, clearly still frustrated. Again, you can’t blame him, but…

“I apologize for the disruption, everybody. It seems there’s been a major power outage all through the south side. Major as in… lines severed, hazardous water, and evacuation of some of the buildings.” He holds a massive slab that appears to be a cell phone, though he doesn’t seem very enthusiastic about having it, as he sets it down a good distance away with a thud, screen up.

“I’ll get on that generator, boss,” Taunie exclaims, jogging off.

“Thank you.” his gaze centers you, and you feel a chill run down your back. “I must thoroughly apologize, Y/N. This is unprecedented…”

“Yeah…” Urbain sighs, sitting at one of the tables; you find yourself slowly shuffling to join him. “Taunie and I’ve been here for 4 years, and like, the longest outage before this was an hour, tops.”

The giant hums in agreement, leaning back in his chair, hand to his temple. “There was an outage around 13 years ago that lasted for a few weeks. That was malicious sabotage, however. This is… utter incompetence.”

“I-Is it Quasartico that did this?” you ask. You’re starting to question your decision to seek employment there…

“Seemingly an error on one of their technician’s parts, yes. I can only hope it’s resolved in less than 48 hours…” he sighs again, shutting his eyes.

You look around to the Pokémon; three Floette are gossiping among themselves, and a Sigilyph anxiously drifts around the perimeter of the room, its top eye stalk spinning in a vigil. A Golurk stands stock still at attention, two Indeedee are holding hands, silent, and the largest Floette is by AZ’s hand, holding it gently and attempting to placate him. His thumb is gently stroking one of her hands.

You think for a moment; you’re a marketing person. If there’s gonna be PR nightmares like this on a frequent basis, is it worth it to tie yourself and your future work to Quasartico? It seems cruel to leave people in the dark— literally— for that long.

“… I-I’m starting to have second thoughts,” you say slowly.

“Huh? About what?” Urbain asks.

You shrug, unsure how to explain it at first. “I’m here for an interview with Quasartico. I’m in visual marketing. They seemed like a pretty good place to work, but if they’re this inefficient…”

Suddenly, the lights flicker back on; they’re dimmer this time, but all the Pokémon cheer and cry out regardless.

“Yes!” Urbain cries.

AZ opens his eyes, smiling once again. “Ah, bravo!!”

Taunie comes up the stairs, slightly out of breath and with oil smudges on her arms and legs. “There we are… she’ll last about a day, I think.”

“Well, that’s better than nothing,” Urbain replies.

“Thank you so much, Taunie,” AZ says, and it’s crystal-clear he means it. “I ought to give you two a raise.”

“Ahaha, boss, it’s nothing, really. Old thing just needed a little reminder… eugh.” she notices the stains on her arms. “I’m gonna clean up…”

“Off she goes again,” Urbain teases. “When any sane person would be in their pajamas by now…”

“Mm… you have been dismissed for an hour now, Urbain. Go and rest,” AZ insists, even doing a little shooing motion with his hand.

He lazily salutes, smiling sleepily as he stands and walks away.

Huh, they really are total opposites…

“Indeed,” AZ replies, and you jump.

“O-oh. I didn’t realize I said that out loud.” your face flushes as you cross your arms awkwardly.

His laugh rattles your ribs. “We all have those moments… But if you’ll excuse me, I think I will retire for the night, as well. If you wish, I can show you to your room, Y/N.”

He stands, striding toward his bespoke flight of stairs— he moves deceptively fast for someone so massive. Floette hangs onto his shoulder like a child hangs onto a pool toy. The other Pokémon promptly move once their superior does, with the smaller Floettes buzzing past you, Sigilyph floating along the hall in a perfectly straight line, and Golurk lumbering in the opposite direction. The two Indeedee remain to snuff out the candles, the whole room a little dimmer now.

“Uhh…” before you can say yes or no, you’ve already stood and followed him a short distance, so you simply continue once your conscious mind takes over.

He moves toward one of the doors, glancing down to find you before opening it. After just a moment’s hesitation, you enter, and he carefully follows, the door shutting behind you with a resonating click.

“Fourth floor, am I correct?” he asks.

“Y-yeah,” you reply. You watch him turn a dial on the strange doorknob, ratcheting into place. He then turns the entire mechanism, opening the door onto a whole new hallway.

“This floor is the most recent addition, as of a few months ago,” he says, his foot landing several yards ahead of you as he steps out. “I added it once Taunie pointed out that the exterior facade has far more than three floors… I’m still working on the fifth and sixth, I must admit. A rather embarrassing mistake on my part.”

You follow a good distance behind him, lagging behind significantly despite jogging and him using a cane— you’re in awe of his patience. He crouches down before your door, waiting for you even as you catch your breath in front of the door.

“I want to apologize once more for today. It was rather… unorthodox, the whole affair.” he sighs, Floette trilling sympathetically.

“Oh, uh… it’s fine. Really.”

He shakes his head. “I let my temper get the better of me tonight, while I was on the phone. You had to have heard it, I’m certain. That was highly unprofessional of me.”

You shrug nervously. “I-I mean… I feel like anyone in your position would be pissed off. This is awful, especially with the tournament in town.”

He laughs mirthlessly, rubbing his face. “Oh, Auras save me, the tournament… Yes, I suppose you might be dealing with neighbors on the morrow. What a disaster…”

“Hey, uh… if you want to complain… you can write a letter to me.” you can’t help but laugh at what you just said.

He laughs again too. “You liked those letters, I take it? I might take you up on that offer, if it isn’t too much trouble.”

“Nah, I think I have a free schedule for the rest of the trip, now. Quasartico doesn’t seem very appealing anymore.”

He smiles softly, perhaps locking eyes with you a bit too long before clearing his throat and standing. “Well… oof… I shall take my leave. Good night, Y/N.”

“Goodnight, Monsieur.”

You close the door behind you… wow.

Wow. He’s a lot to take in, but it’s starting to become in a good way. His little smiles, the way he intertwines his fingers, his voice…

Hang on, it’s your Superego checking in: what the fuck are you talking about?!

The guy’s an ancient 200 foot tall wizard; this isn’t one of those schlocky fantasy romance novels your mom reads. This is actually happening, and you need to keep a barrier of professionalism up. Just because you’re having second thoughts about the purpose of this trip doesn’t mean you can start lusting over a guy 3000 years older than you.

How did these thoughts even come up?! You were petrified of him this morning…

But he’s been so kind, so gracious, when he really doesn’t need to be. He took time out of his day to write you a freakin’ letter, for Arceus’ sake.

All of these irrational thoughts swirl in your head as you shower, dress and brush your teeth, before looking out onto a half-dark cityscape as you settle into bed. The moon hangs overhead, a crescent moon, and you wonder how many Lumiose citizens are paying attention to it for the first time in a while.

Chapter Text

The next morning, you’re awoken by a call from Quasartico, understandably requesting to reschedule your interview.

“Uh… you can just cancel it,” you say, and you can practically see the receptionist’s eyes widen.

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah, I’m having second thoughts, that's all.”

“If this is concerning the power outage, please know that Quasartico Inc. is doing everything in our power to-”

“No, I know. I think I’m good, though. Thanks.”

You hang up before they can object, and before you can rethink it, finally getting out of bed and stretching. It’s nice to have some natural light after hearing the low buzz of the generator through the whole night.

You notice another note under your door:

Esteemed guest Y/N,

You might find the dining lounge a little fuller today than yesterday; several guests from establishments more severely affected by the blackout have elected to transfer to Hotel Z for the remainder of their trip. A majority of these guests appear to be tourists here for the tournament, and thus will likely spend most of their daytime resting here before venturing out into the night for the event proper.

Even so, for their comfort, I will be abstaining from having breakfast in my usual spot, though they will doubtless ask questions (I do believe Urbain is more prepared now, though).

If, for whatever reason, you wish to join me for breakfast, I shall be in my study on the second floor; the door is open. Perhaps it’s unprofessional of me to say, but… I quite enjoy our rapport. It’s been nice to chat with a stranger for a change.

Warmly,

AZ

This letter smells of wisteria this time— that flower shop job in high school is making you notice too much.

You decide to scoot over to the dining lounge first, at least to grab a croissant. As you head downstairs, though, you hear increasing commotion…

There’s about two dozen people here in the lounge, not counting their Pokémon out of their balls, roaming around and out into the hallway. Conversation is loud, raucous, and solely about the tournament; you’ve never been super into Pokémon battles (as blasphemous as that feels to say in this world) and you’ve only ever had a Mareep at your parents’ place. She wasn’t very inclined towards battling (unless you count the static shocks you’d sometimes suffer while playing with her), but your folks didn’t seem to mind that, simply keeping her company.

You quietly duck into the buffet line, and the variety is slightly different today: egg and tomato tartine, yogurt dotted with various berries, and thankfully, coffee— that seems to be a mainstay here in Lumiose. You plate yourself and… stand awkwardly for a moment, indecisiveness shackling you.

While he likely wouldn’t be offended if you didn’t stop by, you still feel pretty bad for AZ. Relegating himself to his office out of fear of frightening his own guests… that’s not fair. At the same time though, you’re still getting over your fear of him, somewhat. You’d probably be a trembling mess in front of him…

Better to face your fears, though, right?

You shuffle to the stairwell, taking a few extra sips of your coffee so there’s less of a risk of spillage. Once you scale the stairs, you peer out to find the same door open as last night— his study.

Cautiously, you approach the door, peering inside it at last; there’s hundreds of books the size of trucks lining the built-in mahogany bookshelves, and a truly huge area rug with fibers the width of your fingers. A giant armchair sits atop it, each leg like a tree trunk; you can easily walk below it. (You briefly wonder why he has two chairs in his size, but perhaps he just likes this one.)

Behind that is a massive plateau of an office desk, again of rich dark mahogany, and presumably the man himself is behind it, though he’s completely obscured from your view by the armchair. There’s a huge candlestick at the edge of the desk, burning brightly to compensate for the low illumination of the backup generator’s lights.

You swallow, attempting to steady your shaking hands— you don’t want to lose your food over something that should be trivial. Cautiously, you step inside, diligently scanning to try and see if he’s even there…

Ah. Floette.

She’s sitting toward the edge of the desk you can see; she locks eyes with you and chirps, quickly flitting over to you, a big smile on her face. You’d wave if you weren’t carrying food.

“Hmm?”

You hear his voice from deep within the study, and feel the ground rattle beneath you as he pushes out his chair and stands; you can just barely see his shock of white hair from above his desk now, as he cranes his neck to see where Floette went off to.

Floette rests her giant flower in the crook of her neck and holds out her hands, looking at you expectantly.

“Huh?” you look down at your food. “… Oh. Th-thank you.”

She takes it, flying back up to the desk; you cautiously tread around the armchair, and you can now see that the strange pattern on the desk is in fact a set of stairs up to its surface.

“Y/N? Is that you?” his voice rumbles out, and you finally see him as he clamps an enormous hand on the opposite edge of his desk, peering down right at you.

You meekly nod at first, and then realize he probably can’t see that gesture from that distance. “Y-yeah,” you squeak out.

A Skitty-like smile creases his eyes. “Welcome. Please, come up here and have a seat.” His hand traces toward the stairwell you noticed earlier, and you diligently scurry over to it.

Guess this is my morning workout… You hike up what feels like 5 or 6 stories, maybe more, before finally reaching the top of the desk, where he sits, watching you wheeze for a moment.

“Lotta stairs in this hotel,” you mumble, hoping he doesn’t hear that.

“Indeed.”

You freeze, your face growing hot; you see your food on a table beside a little armchair and meekly shuffle over to sit.

“Sorry…”

“No, do not apologize. I’m still sorting out how to approach accessibility here…” He takes a sip from another gigantic coffee mug like the day before, but this one’s handle has clearly been broken and repaired in the past. Atop his plate is a huge, half-eaten tartine and a peeled orange the size of a Cetitan. “I briefly attempted to use the same doorknob mechanism as I use, but first-time guests found it confusing. It only really stuck for employees-only areas.”

That actually does make you think. “Is the building, um… too old for an elevator?”

He sighs. “No… and that’s probably the most straightforward solution, but I’d likely have to vacate the hotel and dispel all the magic while it’s being constructed. I’d prefer a solution I can institute without tearing down everything I’ve already built. Likely some sort of teleportation pads could work…”

He briefly disappears into his own thoughts before he blinks, realizing what he’s doing. “Apologies! I hardly welcomed you in before ‘oversharing’, as Taunie would call it. How are you?”

You laugh nervously, stirring your yogurt as a sort of soothing gesture. Are you that easy to talk to…?

“I’m okay. Kinda, uh, trying to figure out what to do…”

“Ah, did Quasartico reschedule your interview?”

“I-I, uh… I cancelled it.” you break eye contact, as what you’ve done finally dawns on you. You’re basically in Kalos for no reason, now…

“… I see.” He leans against his hand, inspecting you further. “Are you still searching for employment?”

You sigh. “Y-yeah, but… but I’ve been searching forever. Visual marketing’s… really competitive, and it’s hard to get your foot in the door-”

“That wasn’t an accusatory question. I hope you know that.”

You blink. “Oh. Y-yeah, totally… right.” You’ve been told off about your job search by your dad so often now, despite literally sending out hundreds of applications… Sometimes he makes you want to go to grad school just to spite him.

“How long are you in Kalos?” he asks.

“Just until Saturday. I don’t have a work visa yet. And my brother Noa’s wedding in Alola is two weeks from now, so I can’t just stay anyway…”

“Have you enjoyed Lumiose City so far?”

You nod. “It’s nice, aside from the blackout, heh. It’s not as hot, and like… only a few people have been standoffish, which is better than everyone, like I was afraid of.”

He chuckles, removing a segment from his orange. “The people of this city are very particular about their own schedules; foreigners aren’t disliked, so much as encouraged to ask their concierge for aid, rather than… someone likely in a hurry.”

“Yeah, I figured that out. Castelia City in Unova’s kinda similar, in that sense. I worked there for around 5 years, but…” you sigh. “Layoffs.”

Floette trills sadly; you didn’t realize the Pokémon was so invested in your employment woes until now. She’s listening intently, laying on her tummy like she’s gossiping at a sleepover.

“I-I’ll be fine, Floette. I’m just with my parents right now. Got too homesick to live in Unova without a job…”

AZ looks deep in thought, looking out the expansive window behind him; a facsimile of the Lumiose skyline, blown up to his size. He sits in silence for a moment, but it feels like several minutes, with how slow and deep his breaths are.

He reaches for a drawer on his desk. “… I do not mean to impose, but…”

A flop sweat immediately douses your forehead. “Oh, gosh. N-no, you don’t have to… I-I dunno how much help I’d be around here, anyway.”

“This is not a pity offer, Y/N.” he fetches a business card from the drawer, looking it over carefully. “If anything, I feel rather foolish for not realizing that I might need someone with a keener eye than… myself. I am earnestly interested in doing business with you, if you’ll have me.”

He slides it toward you, and it magically shrinks from your height to the size of a normal card. You curiously pick it up, inspecting it; It looks handwritten, with dark red ink with a blue tri-petal floral stamp in the corner. It has his name, phone number, and the hotel’s address on it.

He sits back, crossing his legs— you feel one knee brush up against the bottom of the desk, around where you’re sitting. “A dear friend has often described me as a hermit. While I hesitate to embrace such a label, for… obvious reasons, it’s perhaps true in the way I conduct business. I… cannot help but wonder if I need a change of tack.”

“I mean, you make a pretty business card,” you reply, to which he breathes a flattered laugh. “But… uh, to start, I guess, do you have an email?”

His eyes narrow, and he leans forward, peering down at you more than before. “I’ve heard of them, but they’ve never been explained to me.”

You blink, climbing into your chair until you’re cross-legged and idly fanning yourself with the card— you’re engulfed in his shadow now. “Uh, it’s… it’s short for electronic mail. It’s like… internet letters. It’s a lot faster than the post.”

He groans. “It feels like just yesterday that I sorted out how telephones work…”

“I-I mean… I guess you don’t need it, but a lot of places advertise online almost exclusively. It’s… not necessary, but still sort of expected.”

You two take a sip of coffee in near-tandem.

“Well, I will think about it. The way Urbain and Taunie discuss the internet, it’s made me a little apprehensive to even consider using it.”

“Oh, no, you don’t have to actually use it too much… I-I could, um…” you hesitate, realizing what you’re about to stumble into… but he’s probably going to ask anyway.

“Hm?” Yep.

You sigh. “I-I guess, while I work on getting a visa, I could make you a website. I-I don’t have to be here, I can be back in Alola, and the visa’ll probably take a few months anyways.”

He rests his chin on his hands, covering his mouth and urging you to explain further with just a look. You feel another sweat come on, even though you’ve literally made proposals like this dozens of times before.

“Um… A website. It’s like getting a plot of land, or a house. But online. People will know where to find you, they can read more about the hotel. Uh… Th-the website can be changed really easily, too, with just a few clicks. I-I’d let you have full oversight of it, but there’s usually a small monthly fee to a host to keep it up.”

“Like rent.”

“E-Exactly, a-and usually the designer takes a flat rate commission at the start, too. But if you wanna do this, you’d probably need an email, just so we could keep in touch faster… a-and so people can contact the hotel.”

A small smile reaches his eyes. “You’re starting to convince me. You’re quite good at your job, Y/N.”

You swallow. “I-I mean, I-I don’t feel very convincing right now, but if you say so…”

He reaches into his drawer again, extracting a fine red leather checkbook. He slowly, diligently unclasps it and reaches above you for his pen, and you… desperately search for the words to object. This is ridiculous; he hasn’t even seen your portfolio, and you haven’t actually designed a website in years, and he doesn’t even have an email address yet-

Floette seems to notice your small crisis, drifting over and patting your shoulder. You flinch at first, but a shuddering sigh leaves your mouth.

“I’m not gonna stop him, am I?” You whisper, wiping your brow. The Pokémon shakes her head and giggles.

“You may not believe it yourself, Y/N, but I trust you,” He says, clicking his pen with a smirk. “What are your rates?”

…

Once again, you had plans to explore the city today, but you’re paralyzed on your bed, looking at the check you just received. It all went so quickly; he gave you a check, you gave him your contact information, and… the rest of breakfast was a blur.

You couldn’t remember your rate exactly… so he simply made it out for P$500,000. That’s more than you made in a month in Castelia, and definitely over double your actual rate, so you were at a loss for words, but he was insistent. Hopefully your bank accepts it…

But this could be fun. It’d give you something to do while waiting for your visa to be approved, and if you can get in the good graces of someone who pays this well, you’ll make the best damn website you’ve ever seen.

I guess this is him preemptively hiring me…

As you’re scanning the Kalos visa site, you hear a knock on your door. Opening it, you find Urbain.

“Oh! Uh, hey,” you say, before getting a better look at his face. He’s incredulous at best, leaning against the doorframe and crossing his arms.

“Hey, quick question; what’d you tell Boss that finally got through to him?”

You blink. “Uh, what do you mean?”

“We’ve been telling him this place needs a website for years,” he replies, finally smirking a little. “He’s always like, ‘oh, woe is me, this place is so lonely,’”— a part of his imitation of AZ involves clasping his hands close to his chest, which is amusingly accurate— “and Taunie and I’ve tried to get him to let us make something, but… nope.”

You chuckle. “Well, I’ve been in marketing for almost a decade. I still, uh, need to get used to being around him, but maybe he just needed it explained in simpler terms.”

He scoffs, still smiling as he adjusts his posture. “Maybe, maybe… Uh, but for real, since all of this is happening, I thought I’d give you me and Taunie’s email. Just in case he doesn’t bother to set one up until after you leave.” he passes you a folded-up piece of notepad paper, in which he’s scribbled his address, as well as his sister’s.

“Thanks,” you say with an equal grin. “Oh, uh… right. You can nix the wake-up call tomorrow.”

He blinks, trying to remember, before nodding. “Will do. Lemme know if you're still looking for something to do in the city.”

“Yeah! I will. Thanks.”

He gives a casual salute and walks off.

Chapter Text

The backup generator ran out around 3am that night, but you were asleep then, so you only notice the effects when you wake up. None of your lights work, your phone’s at 65%, and the early morning skyline looks a lot dimmer than usual.

Hopefully all of this gets fixed… You decide to go out into town to distract yourself.

Once you’re in Centrico Plaza, you finally get a close look at Prism Tower; there’s a fee to get in, but you’re rather skittish about heights like that anyway, so you’re content to admire from the ground.

While you’re down there, you get a call from your dad… Ugh. It takes you longer than you’d like to decide whether to answer or not. Ultimately, you do.

“Alola, dad.”

“Alola, Y/N!! Howzit? It’s late over here. Did you have the interview yet?” You can hear your mom and Mareep playing in the background, something she usually does to help Mareep finally calm down and sleep.

You cringe. “Uh… no. I… it got cancelled.”

Hopefully you can tee up the good news to distract yourself from that white lie…

“What?! Noo, what happened?!”

“There’s a power outage on the whole south side. Quasartico caused it.”

He clicks his tongue. “Man, I’m so sorry. You want us to fly you back early?”

“Uh, heh, no, I’m good. There’s still a lotta stuff I wanna do here in the city.”

“This ain’t a vacation, paukena. Don’t lose the plot.” You hear Mareep cry in the background.

“I know… but I think I might have a job lined up here still.”

“Eh?”

“The hotel I’m at… the owner just so happens to need a marketer. We had a chat, and…”

You hold your phone away from your ear as loud cheering blares into it.

“CONGRATS!!” you hear your mom shout from a distance.

“I-I still gotta get my visa, though, so you’re right. I shouldn’t lose the plot… but… yeah.”

“You did it!!” your dad cheers. You can’t help but laugh.

“N-nothing’s set in stone, dad-”

“You can do it, Y/N. Have a little faith. You’ve got this.”

You shrug, squeezing your forearm with your free hand. “I’ll probably have to stay with you guys for a few more months while I work out the visa… in the meantime, he wants me to design their website.”

“Awesome! That’s great news. You weren’t worried we were gonna dump you, were you?”

“W-well, no, but-”

“You’re always welcome here, paukena. We believe in you.”

You hope you’re not blushing. “Thanks, guys… Hey, I’m in front of Prism Tower right now. I’ll grab a pic for you.”

“Yeah, do that! Talk later, yeah? Love you!”

“Yeah! Alola, love you! Say hi to Noa for me!”

You hang up, breathing a sigh of relief. That went better than you thought. Now for a quick pic of the tower…

…

After the power comes back on later that afternoon, the rest of your week goes by without issue; sure, Hotel Z is a little disorganized due to the outage, but they seem to be handling it, and it’d probably be weird for someone who’s technically still a guest to try and help.

The next few days have you exploring the city, shopping and talking to all sorts of… interesting people. You know you’re a foreigner, so they could just have mannerisms foreign to you, but some of the people talking about what their “wish” is for the tournament are… out there. One guy wants to force everyone to use taxis, or else…

AZ’s quick to write you letters about the incidents these guests cause, and have one of the Floette sneak it under your door while you’re away; it’s reassuring that he thinks some of the antics of the people around you are bizarre, as well.

I am growing quite exhausted with the trainers leaving alcohol bottles in my lobby in the middle of the day. Sure, they’re not spilling anything, but I can see them do it— I have a magical projection of the lobby on my desk, of course I can see them. I’d tell them off if I weren’t afraid of repercussions (a medical episode, for instance)… Perhaps I ought to teach the twins how to be intimidating in my stead.

~~

A lost child stumbled into my office this afternoon; he showed no fear at all, and we actually struck up a conversation. Alas, after around 20 minutes, his mother arrived, screaming in abject horror upon seeing her son near me. I attempted to placate her, but she simply scooped the boy up and fled. He left his hat in my office, and now I’m not entirely sure what to do. Perhaps one of the Floette can find him and return it. I can only hope they haven’t already left.

~~

Yes, I technically permitted Urbain and Taunie to allow the trainers to practice battling in the back garden. Does that mean I was anticipating a broken window from an errant Rock Throw?… No. Perhaps I should have had more foresight…

Before you know it, though, it’s Friday night, and you leave the next morning, but you can’t sleep. You’ve been trying since 9:00 PM, and it’s been hours since then; you’re all packed, you have all of your passport stuff in order, but… you just can’t do it. Maybe you’ve had too good of a time here. You’re worried you’ll miss it.

But maybe wandering around a little will help; sure, it’s dark, and there’s nobody around because of the tournament, but that last part is more of an upside than a downside.

You slowly and carefully close your door, armed only with your phone, some comfortable pajamas and slippers, your key, and a restless mind. It’s near pitch-black, but there’s still some slivers of moonlight casting the halls in a bluish tint.

Only a few days ago, this would’ve been harrowing… but now…

You hear a warbling, wailing sound, and the sound of scraping stone.

Nope. Still terrifying.

You hug the nearest wall, your heart slamming into your ribcage. Very faintly, at the end of the extra-long hallway, you see…

Oh. It’s just Golurk. Its yellow eyes are swiveling as it slowly stomps down the hall. It locks eyes with you, stomping a little faster. You instinctively throw your hands up as it approaches, even though you know it’s not a threat.

It simply stands there and whirrs for a moment, before it reaches into a little pouch on its waist and produces a card. It holds it up to you.

L O S T ?

You blink a few times, before softly chuckling and shaking your head.

“N-no, sorry. I can’t sleep, that’s all. My room’s right there. Thanks, though.” you point to it, and it follows your hand, nodding in affirmative. It then slowly stomps away, leaving you alone again.

Maybe you’ll be able to get some sleep on the plane… your mind is racing too much to even close your eyes for too long. You sigh, leaning against the wall-

Oh.

There’s… no wall there. Uh-oh.

You shriek, your feet leaving the ground as you plummet down, a dizzying sludge of blackness intermingling with strange energy surrounding you on all sides. Your hands desperately grasp for something, anything, in this void, this limbo between dimensions-

Suddenly, you land with a thud in a pile of soft fabric. It’s pitch black, and it takes you a second to untangle yourself from the cloth, to finally understand that you’re not falling anymore.

And then you hear an earth-shaking noise that rattles your entire body.

A snore.

Some 100 feet away, across a massive plain of silk, is AZ, fast asleep; it’s still remarkably dark, but who else could it be? That means… you’ve landed on his bed, somehow unscathed. That’s the good news.

The bad news is you have no idea what to do now.

Ordinarily, if you were stuck in someone’s bedroom (an occurrence you’ve never experienced, but hypothetically), you’d get their attention by waking them, and they’d help you find your way out. That doesn’t seem feasible here… you’re even smaller than a Joltik to him, and he seems deep in sleep. Besides that, it’s a hundred-foot drop to the ground, maybe more, and you have no faith in your fabric-climbing skills to make getting down any easier. And besides, the doors were too narrow to squeeze under from the outside, so you sincerely doubt it’s different from within.

In the darkness, you can very faintly see Floette resting on a pillow on the bedside table, her flower slowly swaying with each breath. Maybe she’d be able to help…

You slowly, carefully stagger across the plush fabric, each step hampered by how soft and malleable this comforter is; Somehow, the giant seems unfazed, continuing to peacefully snore as you make your perilous journey.

It’s once you approach the bedside table that your heart sinks; there’s at least a ten-foot gap between the bed and the table, possibly even longer, and it’s several feet higher than the bed itself. There’s no way you’ll be able to cross that gap…

You feel your eyes sting. Your knees give way, and you fall into a clump upon the bed, attempting to stifle your tears. This is awful… this is so, so awful… you’re tiny and useless and powerless…

You lay there for a while, quietly crying into the muffling fabric, when you feel it pull beneath you.

He’s moving.

You seize up, clinging to the silk desperately as his immense form slowly curls into itself, and he turns and unfurls his long, powerful limbs beneath the sheets.

You suppress a yelp as you feel his hand run beneath you… and all at once, his body freezes, and you see his eyes open wide in terror.

He grunts and curses, quickly sitting up, pulling the bedsheets up with him; you cry out, stumbling ass-over-teakettle until you finally grab hold of the fabric once again, desperate not to plummet to your death. You hear multiple great slams until a dim light filters through the room; he was fumbling for the lamp, and his massive silhouette casts a great shadow over you.

By now, Floette has awoken, and she shrieks seeing you, likewise turning on the lamp on her table. Your head quickly swivels between the two behemoths, vision blurry from crying and brain swirling like ingredients in a soup.

“… Y/N?” AZ mumbles once the second light turns on, staring in disbelief. You can’t move; every part of your body is frozen in terror, amplified once your vision clears and you fully see him looming above you. “H-How did you…”

It takes everything in you to coax a sob into intelligible words. “I-I… I fell…”

“… What?”

“Th-through the c-c-ceiling…” you slowly point upwards, hand quivering.

He glances up, confused, before resolving to tilt his head. “Wh… I don’t-” He flinches when his head collides with the headboard; he curses again, groaning and sitting up straighter, taking more fabric with him. You scream again as you desperately cling to the sheets, losing your grip, and-

… He’s caught you.

In a blur, you’re in his massive hand, his palm alone the size of a small car. You pry your eyes open, shrieking as you see skin all beneath you, and towering fingers arching above you.

“Shhhh…” he slowly, steadily brings his hand closer to him, and you can feel his heart pounding through his palm. His hair is wild and unkempt, threatening to cover both of his eyes, and he’s clothed in a simple nightshirt, hand-stitched like the rest of his clothing. “Auras, are you alright?”

“Y-yeah…” you wheeze, peering up at him— you’ve never been this close to his face. You can even see the individual stubble on his chin…

He runs his free hand through his hair. “I’m so sorry, I-… well, no, you could’ve died… s-still. Forgive me. I…” he sighs, carefully moving his hand down to the opposite pillow, resting it atop the plush surface. “I shouldn’t be manhandling guests like this…”

You carefully, if clumsily, climb off of his palm and onto the pillow, a surface not unlike an overstretched trampoline. You have to catch yourself on your hands, lest you fall over again.

“Th-thank you,” you mumble, turning to face him again. Floette drifts beside you, seemingly assessing you for injuries. “I-I’m okay, Floette. Thanks…”

He rubs his head, sighing, clearly still rattled by all of this. “Alright, please… tell me again what happened.”

You take a deep breath yourself, steadying your racing heart. “I… I couldn’t sleep. S-so… so I decided to take a walk out in the halls… I tried to lean against a wall, b-but…”

He balks slightly, eyes widening in horror. “Oh, no. That’s… I must have overlooked something while constructing the fourth floor…” His breath quickens as the implications of this dawns on him, and he moans with dread, his head falling into his hands. “Oh, Auras… oh, that’s horrifying… I’m so sorry…”

He sits up again, a rolling wave of fabric pushing towards you as he settles on the edge of his bed. He dials something on the rotary phone beside him, grabbing the receiver and waiting.

“… Taunie?… Yes, um… p-please bring some barricades up to the fourth floor… I will explain shortly. Yes, I’ll meet you there. Many thanks.”

He sets down the phone and stands, circling the bed and crouching beside you— his gait has a more noticeable limp when he’s without his brace. Floette drifts to his shoulder, concern evident on her face. “I will take you back to your room, now, but because it’s quite dark in the halls at this time of night, I feel it would be safest if, erm… I carry you.”

You slowly nod. “O-okay.”

He furrows his brow, looking more intently at you. “Is that alright with you? I know this is an unusual request, and you should know that it’s one I generally do not ask of guests…”

“I-It’s fine. Yeah.” you nod a little faster.

His hand lowers onto the pillow, palm up; carefully, you crawl onto it again, and you feel your face heat up, your own hands go clammy. Ever so carefully, he lifts his hand, though it’s still a jarring feeling, being lifted up so quickly. He brings the hand close to his chest, gently containing you between his fingers and his heart, a slow, powerful rhythm that quickly overtakes the sound of your own heartbeat in your ears. He stands again, grabbing his cane and limping towards the door, and you can’t decide if you want to look down or not; it’s almost like you’re in a rocking sailboat, waiting for the wind to pick up again.

In spite of everything telling you this should be dangerous, you… you feel safe here. Your senses are in overdrive, processing all of this, but there’s a strange calm in the back of your mind; he’s saved your life, both on accident and on purpose, and everything tells you that this will be okay.

He turns the doorknob, the familiar clicking of the mechanism inside taking you to the fourth floor. Carefully, you peer out from his hand, your phone’s flashlight… barely illuminating anything at all. You can see, only very faintly, the outline of a wall, maybe…

“Down here, Monsieur!” You faintly hear Taunie’s voice from below. This gives you a bit of perspective, being up this high, of how quiet you must sound to him. His head turns, some of his hair falling into the gap you’re in.

“Excellent. Thank you, Taunie…” You feel as if you’ll be subsumed into his chest with how permeating his voice is at this proximity. “Y/N, can you show me where you found the error?”

“Y-yeah.” you see Taunie click on her own flashlight as she follows behind AZ, and you carefully scan the area beneath you, a need to help superseding any fear of heights you might have. Eventually, you spot a familiar door configuration…

“There!”

He carefully kneels down, wincing a bit as his bad knee bends, and sets you on the ground… solid ground! Your legs feel like jelly, but you’re able to stay standing thanks to Taunie catching you, her other hand holding a half-dozen wooden barricades. His hand then feels along the wall, guided by your flashlight, until…

All four of his fingers phase through the wall and sink into a strange fissure, his hand gripping around it. It runs about a hundred feet up the wall, tapering as it moves upward; It's easily 5 feet wide at its base.

“Oh, Arceus,” Taunie exclaims, trying to stay as quiet as possible.

He grimaces. “Damn it… Tch. This is too large of a fissure for me to fix on an empty stomach. I’ll need to wait until morning…”

Taunie quickly jogs over and carefully lays out all of the barricades, not daring to get too close to the wall.

“W-what happened?” she asks. “How’d you find this?”

“I-I, uh…”

“You don’t need to tell her every grisly detail if you don’t want to, Y/N,” AZ says quietly. “It was a terror for us both…”

“… I-I fell.” You hear him sigh, but he doesn’t seem to stop you. “I landed on his bed…”

Taunie looks horrified. “Geez… Yeah, that’s serious. Glad we caught it.”

AZ slouches, head in his hands.

“… Consider this week’s stay at Hotel Z entirely free, Y/N,” he mumbles.

You blink. “W-what?”

“This incident, in tandem with the others that occured this week, was entirely unacceptable. I am deeply sorry…”

“I-I’m okay… really.” For some reason, you feel compelled to walk over and pat his knee reassuringly. He balks, mumbling for a moment, before sighing.

“You are far too gracious… Even still, expect a check under your door come morning.” Floette coos sadly, nestling into the crook of his neck.

“Thank you, Monsieur… but you gotta know that I’ve had a great time here. Really.”

You hear him sniffle… is he crying? “Thank you… I-I think I need to go back to sleep. Excuse me…”

“Goodnight, boss,” Taunie says quietly. You two watch him stand and leave without a word, Floette clinging to him.

“I haven’t seen him cry like that in years,” Taunie remarks somberly.

“I… I hope he doesn’t think I’m upset with him.”

She huffs. “I-I wouldn’t blame you if you were! This all could’ve been way worse!”

“It was a mistake…” you reply, walking back toward your room as Taunie follows you. “Yeah, it was terrifying. But he didn’t mean to. I-I probably would’ve gotten more upset if I actually did get hurt, but… yeah, I dunno.” Should I be upset?? This is so confusing…

“Yeah, boss is very particular about making sure absolutely nobody gets hurt under his watch,” she says. “Even if you forgive him, it might take him a while to forgive himself.”

You recall scanning the internet for information about him earlier that week— not a whole lot is known about him by the wider world, and you probably should talk to Urbain eventually, like he suggested. Still, what you saw seemed grim. “I guess that makes sense…”

“Yeah…” she stops in front of your door. “Hey, you’re leaving tomorrow morning, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Try and talk to him at breakfast. Might cheer him up. He thinks clearer once he’s had his coffee, in my experience.” She grins, a bit lopsided given the harrowing circumstances.

You chuckle. “I’ll give it a try. Thank you, Taunie.”

“Of course. Have a safe flight home.”

…

Your flight takes off at 11:00, and it’s currently 7:30; you have time, thankfully.

As you open your door that morning, you see AZ cross-legged just a little ways down the hall, hands up against it and concentrating. This spectacle has drawn the attention of other guests on your floor, with some lingering in wide-eyed wonder and others quickly evading after just a glimpse. Floette seems to be ushering people along as best as she can.

As you come closer, you see the wallpaper’s patterns emboss and glow, a strange energy seemingly slowly stitching the wall together. He seems deeply focused for a good few moments, before finally stopping to catch his breath, hands dropping limply to his sides; that’s when he sees you. His eyes only briefly look at you before drifting away.

“Good morning, Monsieur,” you say quietly, your gaze alternating between the wall and him. He looks… exhausted.

He only grunts at first, still ashamed, before sighing. “… Good morning. I am terribly sorry about what happened last night…”

“… It’s okay.” You look over and see Floette approaching, her eyes just as sorrowful as her friend’s. “It was a mistake.”

He finally looks at you again. “… I appreciate your forgiveness, but I don’t feel I should accept it.”

You tilt your head. “Why not?”

“I’ve… I’ve grown overly confident. Too self-assured, too satisfied in the fact that here, nothing can go wrong so long as I’m in charge… This week has shaken that confidence of mine. I’m no longer a king… just a man under the mercy of far more than I first realized.”

Strange; he never struck you as too overly confident; if anything, he seems humble and gracious at every turn. You hope that whatever self-confidence he did have hasn’t been shattered this week, because that’s not healthy either.

“… I don’t think it’s quite like that. I think, maybe, you just have too much on your plate.”

He squints. “How do you mean?”

“You’ve taken care of so much at this hotel… you’ve held yourself to such a high standard that failing to meet that standard must feel awful.” you sit down beside him. “Maybe it’s good that I wanna work for you. Less for you to handle, then.”

He sighs, scratching his head. “I suppose one could see it that way… Maybe I do need more people on staff. Someone else to delegate.”

“Yeah. And if you wanna have someone to hold you accountable on that…” you chuckle softly. “… maybe I should expect more coworkers when I come back from Alola.”

He chuckles in turn. “I can agree to such terms. Although, I’m surprised you still wish to work with me, after all of this.”

“It’s more exciting than a desk job.”

“I suppose… more dangerous, though, I’d wager.”

You grin. “My childhood house was only a few hundred feet from an Ultra Wormhole at one point. I can live with a bit of excitement.”

He finally smiles. “Very well. Thank you, Y/N.”

You stand up and hug his wrist, wrapping your arms around it as best as you can; again, he seems surprised by the gesture, but he doesn’t resist it.

“I’m gonna go have breakfast,” you say once you release him.

“… I might join you. I already ate, but this fissure is taking far more of my energy than I anticipated to repair, and I’m once again lacking.” you see his cheeks tinge pink. “I generally abstain from gorging myself in front of others, but if you do not mind…”

You giggle. “Nah. let’s go together.”

Chapter Text

The flight back to Alola went off without a hitch, thankfully. It’s nice to finally be back home, but you have work to do, even with festivities looming. Noa and his fiance are living with your parents, and having two rowdy guys buzzing around the house working on wedding stuff has consigned you to your childhood bedroom, though you do come out to help with preparation on occasion.

Noa and his partner, Dillon, also brought along their Pokémon; a Vulpix, who keeps the air around him uncomfortably cold unless he’s given pets, and Poochyena, who has a predilection for sleeping right in front of your bedroom door, effectively guarding you. You’re glad these two like you. In your experience, that’s rare for canine Pokémon.

Despite it being a couple years since your last big web design project, you ease into it well; you already have an idea of what AZ wants, having written down some of your discussions with him, and you’d already brainstormed some layouts while on the flight back. The jet-lag is intense, with a 12-hour difference between Kalos and Alola, so you know there’ll be a few sleepless nights until you recalibrate.

Over the next week, you put your theory into practice, even digitizing the logo out front, having to guesstimate at some points due to the sheer overgrowth of vines. As you worked, you’d periodically send updates to either Urbain or Taunie— whoever you assumed was up at that moment— christening the website HotelZ.kl.

Meanwhile, it seems Taunie’s been hard at work building a new computer for her boss; the internals have to be gutted before he works his magic— literally— as enlarging devices that specifically attuned to a particular size has caused many problems in the past. She’s been wrestling with soldering in her free time, a task you can’t even imagine dealing with and enjoying, but she’s always eager to share progress pics with you.

It’s as you’re working one evening, about a week away from the wedding, that a new email comes into your inbox…

From: [email protected]

Your heart skips a beat.

Subject: Testing

Esteemed Future Employee Y/N,

Please respond to this message, so I can ensure that this new device is working properly.

Warmly,

AZ

…

To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Testing

Hello, Mr. AZ! I got your message. I’m so glad you’ve gotten it working!

I hope you’ve been able to pull up the work-in-progress website. I’ve been plugging away at it since I’ve gotten home, and while there’s still a lot that needs to be added based on your requests, I think it’s coming along nicely. Please feel free to send feedback my way, though!

Also, Mareep says hi!

Best Wishes,

Y/N

You attach a picture of you with Mareep; hopefully it’s not too unprofessional, but she’s always been curious about your work, walking in and asking for pets while you’re writing code.

…

From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Re: Testing

I’m elated to know that this machine works properly! I’ve taken a look at the website. It’s not a visual language I’m fluent with, but it seems intuitive enough (with some coaching from the twins), and your flourishes look lovely. My only thought for now is… I’d like a slightly more muted green in the background.

Also, it’s very nice to finally see your face more clearly.

Hello, Mareep. :)

(Taunie just taught me about that smile. It’s quite charming.)

Warmly,

AZ

…

To: [email protected]
Subject: Hotel Z Images

Hello AZ,

Thank you for your feedback! I agree, muting the green slightly does pull it more in line with the aesthetics of the hotel.

On that topic, I have a favor to ask: could you or one of the twins take some high-quality images of the hotel? Exterior and interior, such as rooms, the lobby, the lounge, etc. I took some pictures on my phone just for reference, but I don’t think they’re quite nice enough to put on the website itself; I would’ve brought my nicer camera if I could predict the future.

I also want to know whether you’re comfortable with putting staff photos on the site. It’s entirely optional, but I know some people feel more comfortable with an establishment if they know the faces of the people working there ahead of time.

Best Wishes,

Y/N

…

You’re briefly pulled away from your work by dinner with Noa’s soon-to-be in-laws.

You’re a bit surprised when the topic of your work comes up; as far as you were concerned, any and all conversation should be about the wedding. But… hm. How do you describe the hotel?

“I tried lookin’ it up, and didn’t find anything.”

“Well, that’s because I’m still working on the website.”

“How long has it been around?”

“… 6 years?”

“6 years and it hadn’t had a website? You sure about this, paukena?”

“Dad, he gave me P$500,000 just for the website. I’m sure.”

It’s frustrating, especially when there’s a… massive factor you’re omitting, but you manage to swing conversation back into your brother’s court. Sure, a lot of things about AZ aren’t necessarily hidden, but Alolans are generally suspicious of the wild claims coming from the big continent (Kalos, Paldea, Kanto, Johto, Sinnoh, and Unova). Bad blood from bad history, you suppose… That, and telling your folks your boss is a giant immortal cryptid is not easily believable on its face, anyway.

After dinner, you check your email again and find a message back again…

From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Hotel Z Images

I shall ask Urbain to take some images, yes; He has one of those ‘nicer cameras’ as well, and should send them to you within the next couple days.

On the topic of staff images, I’m not fully opposed, but I’ve never viewed myself as particularly photogenic. That, and, logistically speaking, I’ve been told by Urbain that getting me in focus and in frame is ‘a nightmare’. The twins and my Pokémon aren’t opposed to photographs, however. So, I suppose we can attempt a photograph of myself as well.

Warmly,

AZ

…

After a few days, you do indeed get the images from Urbain, though not of the staff yet. But skimming the email, you get an idea why…

From: [email protected]
Subject: Hotel Z Photos

Hey Y/N,

Here’s the hotel photos, as promised. I couldn’t snag Mr. AZ for a picture, so I don’t have those yet. He still seems a little uncomfortable with the idea.

Have you talked with him about his past much? If you haven’t, I think it might be best if you know a little more about his history. My background’s in history, actually, and a few years ago I had the honor of working with Professor Sonia Magnolia on a chronological history of the Kalos War, with AZ’s help. Here’s a link. It might help shed some light on why AZ is the way he is, without me boring you with a novel of an email.

Cheers,

Urbain Bellville

…

While you’re not much of a history person, you suppose you ought to read up on him; he’s going to be your superior soon enough, after all (and sort of already is).

And, as it turns out, records of ancient history are a lot more interesting when a person who lived through them is there to set the record straight. This is fascinating, and very well written. It’s rich in detail, and-

… Oh. That’s what the Ultimate Weapon did. All of his descriptions paint the picture in vivid detail… nothing but dust. A wasteland, trees uprooted, people and Pokémon alike crumbled like dry clay… All that grew back was grass, and in at least one part of the world, frighteningly near Lumiose, nothing grew back at all.

Everything makes sense… he’s still ashamed. Still burdened by the unforgivable things he’d done… but you struggle to see why 3000 years of penance wouldn’t be enough. That felt like a fate worse than death— to watch the world you knew move on, the sun carving its path across the sky a million times over. To see the world beneath your feet shrink, as every move of yours becomes even more potentially destructive than when you wielded the power of a god… You can’t imagine the tumult in that old man’s mind, as he attempts to go through life with a smile, to move with overwhelming care and caution with as much geniality as he has.

As you’re reading, Noa pokes his head into your room.

“Hey,” he says. “You free? I need to think about anything other than the wedding right now.”

“Heh, sure. I get you.” You push away from your desk and stretch, and he leans against your bed, peering at your screen.

“That doesn’t look like a website.”

“Uh-… t-that’s because it’s… not.” you chuckle nervously. He stands and looks closer, moving in front of your mouse before you can click away.

“‘Chronicling the Ancient Kalos War with a Living Witness’… what is this, Y/N?”

You open your mouth to object, before groaning and shoving him out of the way. You close the door, sighing as you slump onto your bed; he follows suit.

“Strap in… This is a lot.”

He chuckles incredulously. “What’re you talking ab-”

“Shh. This is serious. So, Hotel Z…” you sit up, pulling out your phone and scrolling through the photos you took. “It’s not a normal hotel.”

He squints at the pictures, as you scroll through the cavernous hallways and giant doors, a photo of your strange key, and the other oddities you managed to snag pics of. “What…”

“So, and I’m being completely serious here, Noa…” you sigh again. “My soon-to-be boss is… over 200 feet tall, 3000 years old, and a wizard.”

He scoffs, expecting you to say “just kidding!”… but after a few moments, his smile fades. “… You’re serious?”

“I-I know I don’t have any proof beyond pictures, but… yeah. His name is AZ, and he was Kalos’ king a really, really long time ago. Uh, here.” you scroll over to a picture you took with Floette. “This is one of his Pokémon, see? She grew too, like him.”

“Arceus, w-what is that?!”

“A Floette.”

“N-no, that’s… Y/N, this is insane.”

You roll your eyes. “You see why I didn’t wanna talk about it much the other night? How am I supposed to explain this?!”

He grabs your phone, scrolling through the photos again, shaking his head in disbelief. “Wh… how are there no photos of the guy?”

You cross your legs, leaning on a hand. “… He doesn’t like pictures.”

Another scoff. “‘Course he doesn’t.”

You think for a moment, before an epiphany crosses your mind. “I-I can draw him.”

You grab your sketchbook, sitting down again and getting to work. He watches you work, but is still asking questions.

“How did… how’d you manage to get a job there?” He’s not doubting your prowess, you can tell, just… the whole concept of this is bizarre.

“He, um… I-I told him I was looking for work. I dunno. I told him I could make him a website, and…”

He laughs. “Man, that easy, huh?”

“I-I was there for Quasartico, but they caused a blackout. They didn’t handle it great, so I was complaining, a-and he was complaining about the blackout itself… I dunno. It was serendipity, I guess.”

After a few more moments, you show your sketch of him to Noa…; It's been a while since you took figure drawing classes, but he still looks pretty recognizable.

“You know…” he tilts his head, and a wry smile creeps onto his face. “… Hot.”

“Shut up!” you throw the book at him as he dissolves into giggles, your own cheeks tinging pink. “You’re gonna be married in a few days!”

“Aw, c’mon, you know I’m right.” He smooths out the page and looks it over. “But yeah, I get weird wizard vibes from him still, for sure.”

“I didn’t know about his past in the first place, so one of his employees, Urbain, sent that paper to me. He worked on it, actually. It’s really fascinating.”

“You’re… really serious about this, huh?”

You look at him intently. “Yeah, I am. Just as serious as your vows will be.”

He smiles softly, folding up the sketchbook. “It’s really weird, but you seem like you know what you’re getting yourself into… How big did you say he was?”

“200 feet. Around there, anyway.”

“Damn, that’s…” he cranes his neck up to try and gauge it, but the shallow ceiling of your bedroom doesn’t help much. “… I guess in a world with dimensional portal bullshit, it isn’t that much of a stretch… but I hope ya know what you’re getting into.”

You nod. “Thanks… but I think I do.”

“I’m proud of you, dude.”

You blush again. “Thanks.”

He gets that stupid, teasing look in his eyes. “Y’know, Dillon and I are still sorting out the honeymoon…”

You scoff. “Don’t go bothering people you don’t know, dude. I won’t be working there for a few months, anyway. Still working on getting my visa cleared.”

“It’ll be a few months until we can afford it.” he smirks. “You know I’ve never been to Kalos, but Dill’s been at least twice. Wonder if he’s heard of it…”

“Don’t embarrass me.”

“It’s my job.” he musses your hair before standing. “Well, I’ll leave you to your, uh, magic giant hotel website. I gotta call the tent guy.”

“Pfft. Thanks, man. See ya.”

…

The wedding is… wonderful. Noa and Dillon asked you to take some candid shots (alongside the pro photographer they hired, who’s more concerned with following the happy couple around), so that’s a nice little bonus payout. You alternate between getting nice photos, singing and dancing, talking with old friends and relatives you haven’t seen since you were 6, and shooing wild Cutiefly away from the food.

One of those Cutiefly is persistent, though, and even lands atop your head, nestling into your hair. You sigh, consigning yourself to this fate; guess even if you don’t want to train Pokémon, the universe will give them to you anyhow.

“Hey, if you’re gonna stick around…” you say as you pet the little bug Pokémon, “you ought to know I won’t be living in Alola for much longer. You ever been to Kalos?”

The little fly buzzes innocently, hovering in front of you and tilting his head.

“Oh, you’re in for a wild ride, then. I’ll have to pick up a Pokéball.”

Once the wedding winds down— around 11:00 PM, because most of your family is painfully chatty— you help load things up and head back home, looking up at the moon. You remind yourself that you’ll have to cherish such a nice view of it, even if it’s only a puny sliver right now. Soon, once you move into Lumiose City, the night sky won’t be nearly as nice.

Once you get home, you try to tell yourself, no, you’re too tired to check your email… but you do peek.

From: [email protected]
Subject: Now Hiring

Good evening, Y/N.

I gave you my word; I’ve sent my three Floette out into Lumiose City to post job notices; I haven’t done so in four years. Perhaps when the ‘employment opportunities’ section of the website is completed, this will become easier, but I grew impatient. Not with you, mind, but with my promise.

Expect more coworkers on your return.

Warmly,

AZ

Chapter Text

It’s been a month since the wedding, and you’re just adding the finishing touches to the website, per AZ’s requests; a shift from a sans-serif font to a very lightly serifed font, which you agree fits the aesthetic of the site better, and, well… a picture of yourself, since you’re essentially hired now. All you’re waiting on is the visa, which should be (keyword: should) available in two weeks.

After discussing it further with AZ, he’s agreed to a photo, though only if it’s with Floette as well. She seems to bring him a great deal of comfort; for good reason, really. But you’re thankful that you were able to sway him. His messages regarding his past after you’d done some research seemed… relieved. He lamented slightly that he wished he’d had the courage to simply tell you everything, but he was clearly glad it was over with.

On the other hand, your picture is easy; getting one without Cutiefly in frame is hard. The little guy has grown on you, content to sit beside you as you work, or buzz around outside and drink in the atmosphere of your parents’ little Poni cottage, ever curious. You suppose there’s no harm in including him in the photo, and having a native Alolan Pokémon will only highlight your roots.

As you post your picture, you think back to the other conversations you’d had over email with the Hotel Z staff; not just with AZ, but with Urbain and Taunie. Sometimes, attempts at polite business emails would devolve into chatting about whatever’s going on, even with AZ; the tournament is still wreaking havoc on Lumiose, and he’s been thanking his lucky stars that his extradimensional space is safe from the obnoxious noise of the night. The twins have taken to joining in on the tournament, though, especially Urbain, who sees it as an outlet for fun after work; according to Taunie, though, he’s usually wiped by midnight.

Oh, yeah, the twins have Pokémon you didn’t know about until now: Taunie has a Tepig, and Urbain has a Totodile. Fire and water; makes sense, really. But with the newest hire, Paxton, and his Chikorita, that diad has become a triad.

Paxton is… quiet, unassuming, simply getting done what needs to get done— namely, inventory management. He seems to be a little younger than the twins, still in college. He hasn’t ever messaged you directly, but seems to know of you.

After posting the photo, you get a new email from AZ a few hours later.

From: [email protected]
Subject: A New Friend?

Good morning! Or evening, I suppose. The website looks wonderful. I made the right investment indeed; I think we can call it complete for now, though should the need arise, I understand changes can be made at any time, correct?

Also, I saw your photograph on the website. Who is your new friend? I implore you to tell me all about them. I do hope they’ll accompany you back here…

Warmly,

AZ

…

To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: A New Friend?

Good morning, Monsieur! I’m so glad you like the site. I agree, I’m satisfied too. I’ll go ahead and make it public!

Also, that’s Cutiefly. He found me at Noa and Dillon’s wedding. It’s taken a little while to get used to him, but he’s gotten really attached; and you’re right, I might have to bring him with me to Kalos. I know you won’t mind, but I suppose I still need to let you know. Also, part of how he shows affection is poking people with his proboscis. Not very fun. But if you can look past that, he’s a sweetheart.

Best wishes,

Y/N

…

Finally, FINALLY, your visa is confirmed. You can officially move to Kalos for work!!

You book a flight almost immediately, packing up everything you want to bring with you; It’s an expensive trip, but it just means you can put that commission payment to good use. You won’t need a whole lot of furniture, as fortunately AZ has already made a room for you, but you bring plenty of things that remind you of home; you have a feeling that, despite your excitement, you’ll need them to break up the homesickness. A little Bounsweet paperweight, some framed photos of family and the island’s scenery, and, of course, your cookbooks, among many other items that might be superfluous, but are important to you.

Cutiefly is very excited, but doesn’t quite understand why you’re putting things inside of other things. He’s inspecting each item carefully, tapping them with his proboscis before they enter your suitcases.

“We’re going to Kalos, little guy,” you coo as he fiddles with a button on one of your packed polo shirts. He hums innocently, tilting his head.

“You’ll get it. Don’t you worry.”

It’s a whirlwind, those next few days, as you say farewell to your family and childhood friends (with only a few tears shed), and set off to Kalos. You keep Cutiefly in his Pokéball during the flight, both because that’s the rule onboard, and because you know he’d attempt to sip everyone’s drinks.

It’s a long flight, and around 5:00 PM once you land. Once you do, it’s a welcome sight to see a Hotel Z welcoming party by the baggage claim: The twins, Golurk, Paxton, and… two new faces.

Taunie dispels any formality and simply jogs up to hug you.

“YOU’RE BACK!!!” she pulls you tight, elated.

“I am~!” you hug back as best as you can with your carry-on luggage. “Ohh, it’s so nice to see you guys again!!”

“We can handle your stuff,” Urbain says, clapping you on the shoulder and pointing to Golurk. “Figured you’d have a lot of it, so I called in backup.”

“Oh, thank you! Yeah, this would’ve been tough with just me and Cutiefly, heh.” you let out the tiny Pokémon from his ball, and he buzzes curiously, inspecting the twins.

“Awwww!! He’s even cuter in person!” Taunie coos, petting the fuzzy little fly.

You grin. “Yeah, but be careful. He’s a handful sometimes…” your gaze flickers to the new folks, and Paxton, who is shyly looking away. One is a short young woman with pale green hair tied back into a bow, her tanned skin accentuated with freckles; at her side is a Minccino, hugging her leg. The other is a tall man in his late 40’s, with sharp glasses that accentuate his stern features, bald and nearly free of body hair save for his eyebrows; a Medicham stands at attention beside him, glaring at you.

“Uh, hi! I’m Y/N. I’m the new marketing director.”

“So we’ve heard,” the man says, his tone even and practiced. “I’m Seth Jonquil, Hotel Z’s financial manager.”

“Desirée,” the woman says with a chipper wave. “I manage housekeeping!”

Paxton looks up from his phone, nodding a hello.

You chuckle nervously. “W-well, it’s nice to meet you all! Thanks for coming out to help, you didn’t need to-”

“We’re not the only ones,” Seth interrupts. “We’ve got one still at the hotel, and one more out back; she’ll be of more use when we have to return the baggage cart.”

“… R-right. Well, still. Thank you.” Your eyes flicker nervously to the twins, who nod confidently. Desirée seems nice enough just from her demeanor, but you have the feeling you’ll have to deal with Seth more than you’d like…

All of you grab your luggage and carry or wheel it out, and you squint against the sunlight for a moment once you leave the airport, only to see…

An absolutely huge woman. Nowhere near AZ’s size, but still not natural; she had to be 12, maybe 13 feet tall. She’s leaning casually against one of the entrance ports, elbow resting atop it, when she spots you guys.

“Hey! Good, they made it!”

Ah, she’s referring to you? So she’s with us?

She casually, but carefully traipses over, crouches down, and starts unloading the cart, slinging each bag’s handle on one of her fingers. She’s a very pretty woman, with shoulder-length blond tresses and a calm expression on her face, it’s just that everything’s magnified.

“I’m Serena! You’re Y/N, right?”

You can’t do much but open your mouth for a moment; Serena? Former Champion Serena? Is she working at Hotel Z now? And you know AZ had told you she’d been affected by the Ultimate Weapon, but you still weren’t prepared for… this.

“Um… Y-yeah. Hi. Sorry.” you free up a hand to shake, and she takes it, her hand swallowing up yours like a boxing glove. Cutiefly zips behind you, clearly as nervous as you are. “N-nice to meet you. I wasn’t told about all the new hires— who they are, I mean.”

“Yeah, well, we’re all new as of today,” Desirée chimes in. “Monsieur AZ wants us to do a sort of… orientation tomorrow?”

“Probably just some general training,” Urbain says. “A little easier than coaching everyone one-on-one, I’m guessing.”

Once Serena’s stood, Golurk pushes the cart back and the whole throng starts moving; you hurry alongside them as best as you can, though this paradigm shift is a little disorienting.

“I don’t think I’ll need much from orientation,” Seth replies. “I’ve been in the finance sector for 20 years now.”

“Well, I mean, Boss has, like, ancient king gold,” Taunie retorts. “Kinda a whole different ballpark when you’ve got that much money lying around, finance-wise.”

“Whatever he has in mind, I wouldn’t worry,” Serena says. “I know Monsieur AZ well; he won’t do anything too grueling.”

You follow the group through the city, chatting idly and drawing a lot of attention thanks to Serena and AZ’s Golurk; you’ll have to get used to this, and get to know your way around the city. Everything points to the tower, sure, but it’s still circles upon circles, and you remember getting a little overwhelmed last time you were here.

But, eventually, you find yourself at Hotel Z again; rather, its service entrance, one you haven’t seen before, but it makes sense that it exists. Everyone loads into the elevator, with Taunie using her key to take you all up to the 2nd floor storage; if anywhere in this hotel looks like a yawning abyss, it’s the storage room. Dark, cold, and nearly unnavigable save for a sliver of light toward its end, where a gigantic door sits. You’d forgotten how daunting the scale of this place is— this was going to take some getting used to again.

With another swipe of her key, Taunie opens the massive threshold with ease, and you all filter out into the hallway… It looks different than you remember.

“Uh… this layout is… new…” you mumble.

“Oh, yeah, AZ changed it last week,” Urbain replies.

You cringe. “Does he do that a lot?”

“Heh, no, don’t worry; he just changed it ‘cause of the influx of new staff.”

“I’m still getting my room mixed up with Urb’s,” Taunie grumbles.

The twins lead you to the employee end of the hall, where everyone has name plates on their doors. You eventually find yours, but you don’t have a key yet. Shoot. Regardless, everyone sets your stuff down beside your door, so you suppose you’ll handle it eventually.

The rest of your fellow coworkers give brief well-wishes before departing, with Taunie saying she’ll get you your key before running off. It’s then that you feel a familiar quaking beneath your feet…

“Ah! There you are. Bonsoir, Y/N!!”

He’s standing at the opposite end of the hallway, towering high above you; it’s been a while since you’ve gotten Beautifly in your stomach like this.

Floette zips over to you, startling Cutiefly, who cautiously buzzes around her flower for a moment before finding refuge in your jacket again. She chirps happily, regardless. Though you’re not sure why, you find yourself offering a hug with your open arms, and she accepts it, squeezing you tight with a happy trill.

“Heheheh, Hi, Floette!! I missed you…”

She trills again, seemingly agreeing. You look up at the giant as she lets you go, and he’s carefully kneeling down beside you, a warm smile on his wizened face. He missed you, too.

“How was your flight?” he asks, his voice rattling your chest in a warm, familiar way.

“Uh, fine… just a little turbulence over the ocean- Ouch!” you feel a prick at the back of your neck, reaching behind to feel Cutiefly burrowing back there and shaking like a leaf. “Oh, poor thing… c’mere.”

You carefully pull the little bug into your hands; he looks like he’s on the verge of tears.

“It’s okay,” you coo. “This is AZ. He’s a very nice man, I promise.”

Cutiefly looks between you and AZ— the latter must only register the former as a little speck in your hand— and cautiously flutters out of your grasp, inspecting Floette first, and then the giant.

“Bet you can hardly see him, huh?” you wonder aloud. AZ chuckles softly.

“I need to focus a bit, but… ah, hello.”

Bravely, Cutiefly buzzes right in front of AZ’s eye, still humming anxiously. The giant lifts a finger toward the Pokémon, who flinches away, before nervously alighting atop it.

“Aren’t you precious… one of the many treasures of those islands, I’m sure.” his eyes flit back to you. “Aside from the hardworking, dependable people who call them home.”

You blush. “Oh, gosh…”

“Beneath you, boss!!” Taunie jogs over, catching her breath and handing you a key; it’s green this time, and embossed with a triangle at its center like the other staff’s. “Here ya go.”

“Taunie, I must ask: why do you take issue with using the staff door portals?” AZ muses.

“I don’t. I just like the exercise,” she says between breaths.

You test the key, and your door opens on its own; you breathe a sigh of relief, stowing it in your pocket for now. “Thanks, Taunie.”

“No prob… Want some help getting stuff in there?”

“Uh, sure. I’d appreciate that.” You give a soft smile to AZ before picking up a bin, Cutiefly quickly buzzing to your shoulder as you move.

…

You set out what you need for the night, and nothing more— it all feels a little insurmountable as you size up what just happened.

You’re back. And there’s new people to get to know… a lot more people than you were expecting. And you’re just marketing; that’s a way more flexible and… insubstantial job than, say, finances, for a hotel. You’re willing to help out in other ways, and perhaps that’s what AZ sees in you, but you have a lot to prove to the others…

You peek out of your door, scanning the hall; You share a wall with Urbain, Taunie, and Paxton, and across from you are Desirée, Seth, someone named Rodrigo, and… a very big door for Serena. You’re gonna have to get used to her…

Speaking of, she steps out of her door as you’re looking around; she’s fixing her hair as she spots you, and she flashes a friendly smile.

“Hey! You heading out for dinner, too?”

You blink, glancing back into your room— Cutiefly is dozing in his little blanket nest, seemingly exhausted by all of this sudden change, poor thing— before slinking out, shrugging your shoulders. “I-I suppose, yeah… wasn’t keeping track of time.”

“No worries! AZ hired a new cook, too, so I’m admittedly pretty curious.”

That must be Rodrigo, you think. You follow alongside her as she strides, and you can tell she’s walking deliberately slowly to spare you from jogging; gosh, that must be annoying for her. You try to keep a brisk pace.

“So, what made you wanna work here?” she asks.

You drum your fingers together as you clasp your hands. “Oh, uh, w-well, I was here a few months ago as a guest… th-that whole week was kind of a mess, but it endeared me to this place, somehow.”

“Heh, I’m sure… this hotel is definitely good at maintaining repeat customers.”

You nod. “I-I made the website for AZ, actually.”

“Oh! Yeah, I looked at that earlier today. Great work.”

You’d glow with pride if you weren’t still a bit intimidated by her. “What about you?”

“Well, I may not be Champ anymore, but I still want something to do. So when AZ mentioned looking for employees again, it just felt right. So, I asked if he wanted someone handling security.”

Huh… you suppose a 12-foot-tall former Champion and her souped-up Pokémon would be a deterrent, for sure. “I can see that. Who’s Champion now?”

“Oh, right, you’re not from Kalos. It’s actually Paxton’s older sister! Her name’s Harmony. She’s a sweetheart. I have a feeling she’ll go far.”

Soon, you find yourselves at the dining lounge, and while many patrons are there, and a few of your coworkers, AZ… isn’t. That’s a shame. He must still feel self-conscious. In any case, Taunie’s waving you over to join her, Desirée, and Paxton, and you oblige once you have your food— ratatouille. It smells wonderful.

“Have you been up in Prism Tower, Y/N?” Desirée asks as soon as you sit down.

“Heh, uh… n-no.” What an icebreaker, you think. “I-I’m actually kinda afraid of heights.”

“You’re working here, and you’re afraid of heights?” Taunie teases.

“I mean, it’s one thing to be safe on solid ground and looking up at something…” Serena says, sitting beside you; she has to sit on the floor just to be somewhat level with you four. “It’s another to be up there yourself. It’s like balancing on the head of a pin up there.”

“I guess so.”

“You gotta go at least once, though, Y/N,” the green-haired girl insists. “The view is amaaaazing!!”

“Heh… I-I suppose I’ll go if someone drags me over.”

You chat for a while, learning more about each other; Desirée plays tennis semi-professionally, but she’s taking a break during the off-season (and because of troubling wrist pain). Serena’s considering online college (she’s younger than you, which is weird to think about), and Paxton… Well, he doesn’t speak up at all during this conversation, but he seems like a good listener. He does show you a meme on his phone, and yeah, it’s a good meme. You don’t mind this kid.

Once you finish your food, though, you don’t stick around for too long. You politely excuse yourself, clean up your dishes, and elect to go back upstairs.

You’re hoping he’s open to talking one-on-one still, even with many more people around. You hope he’s alright.

Chapter Text

A familiar nervousness bunches up in your stomach as you pace back upstairs, toward AZ’s study. It’s the sort of nerves you thought you’d quelled with dozens of email conversations over the months, but you suppose that’s different from seeing him in person, still.

The door to his study is open, so that must mean he’s inside. And indeed, he is, seated in that towering armchair and reading a book, rather than at his desk. His hair pours over the side of the chair, cascading to the ground like a waterfall until the last lock of it grazes the floor. Floette isn’t here; she must be busy with the other Floette, and you suppose it’s prime cleaning hours, now that many of the guests are out of their rooms for the tournament.

Cautiously, you knock on the door. He looks up from his book, then down towards you, a small smile forming once he registers you.

“Ah… Y/N.”

“I-I hope you don’t mind visitors…?” you fidget with your sleeve.

“Not at all. Have a seat.” he sets his book down on the side table beside him, and clacks something atop it; presumably, a you-sized chair. You hurry over, running under the chair and finding a set of stairs spiraling to the top of the table. As you climb, a memory returns to you.

“Uh… N-not what I was gonna talk about, but I-I used to read these books as a kid…”

“Hm?”

“They were about a family of people the size of a Joltik, who lived in the walls of a normal house… They’d take stuff from the humans and repurpose it as their own.” Once you reach the top, you catch your breath. “I remember the mom making a fancy dress out of a sock.”

He chuckles softly. “Well, I suppose I can see how that’d come to mind. But if you ever desire something of mine, all you need to do is ask.”

You laugh in turn, sitting down. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Any particular reason you wanted to speak with me?”

You shrug awkwardly. “I dunno… it seems lonely up here.”

His smile turns melancholic, and he softly sighs through his nose. “Don’t fret over me, Y/N. I’m simply… sorting out my boundaries, and those of others.”

By sequestering yourself? You think, but don’t say it aloud. “I bet some of your guests are curious…”

He squirms in his chair. “It’s easier to mingle in small amounts. I’m not, erm… Throngs of people are rather daunting to be around.”

“I get it. I felt lonely down there, personally. Even around all those people… I dunno. I guess I wanted to talk to someone I knew a little better.”

“I’m… honored that you’d seek out my company.”

You smile. “Like I said, I think there’s more people who wanna talk to you than you’d think, sir.”

He slumps in his chair with a little laugh, uncrossing and re-crossing his legs. “I’m glad I hired you, but I fear I’ll have to get used to you poking at my sore spots.”

Uh-oh. “S-sorry.” You wring your hands.

“Bahahahaha! No, no, no need to apologize.” He sits up again with a grunt. “You’re observant; I need that. Someone who is willing to point at me and say, ‘this is what you must do better!’… someone other than Floette.”

“I-I just… I…” you huddle into your chair. “… I care about you, sir.”

He hums softly. “Thank you. The feeling is mutual. I still cringe when I recall your original stay here. I do hope no more misfortune befalls you, but knowing my luck…”

You shake your head. “Don’t worry. It’s part of the fun, I think. The unpredictability.”

He nods slowly. “Perhaps I ought to stop predicting the future… just because I’ve seen so much of the past.”

His hand is laying just a few feet from you… you reach over and give it a gentle pat. He locks eyes with you, and you can see the tendons in his hand tense. You pull back quickly.

“… S-sorry, I should’ve asked… cultural thing, I guess. I won’t-”

“I don’t mind.” he smiles. “… Goodness, if I had an ounce of gold for each time I’ve been a little envious of Floette simply scooping her friends into hugs…”

You can feel the anguish in his voice, even as he tries to force a casual, conversational tone. One of his fingers taps softly on the table, the nail occasionally picking at the wood grain.

“Well… I hope it’s not too out of line to say, but… if you ever need a hug, let me know.”

He chuckles softly, though it’s crystal-clear he’s taking your offer seriously. A blush crosses his cheeks. “… Thank you.”

…

You talk with him a little while longer that night, mostly to affirm what your role here actually is. It seems he sees in you a proper “voice” of Hotel Z, meaning your responsibilities merge somewhat into Public Relations now; not too dissimilar to what you’ve dealt with in the past, but it’s less pressure to sell, sell, sell.

You’d emailed your portfolio to him a month or so ago, so it seems he has a better grasp of what you typically do: web design, copywriting, graphic design, more of the tangible aspects of getting a brand out there than the financial negotiation (though, evidently, you somehow have some skill there too). Your role is vague, but so is marketing and PR, much of the time. The world’s constantly changing; one moment, the hip thing might be Pokémon wearing bandannas with your brand on it, and the next might be a brand-new app, or hosting a party.

In any case, after talking with him, you have plenty of ideas. This place is so inherently unique that any number of interesting strategies could be employed to draw people in… but as you mull it over in bed that night, you have to stop the more cynical side of your training from taking over. This isn’t just a business; it's effectively his home. He isn’t charging much for people to stay, and you get the sense he’d make it entirely free if money grew on trees. This is ultimately a project of altruism… You’ll have to do some research.

Regardless, the next morning, you pull some clothes out of your suitcase— you’re still not fully unpacked— and prep for the day. Cutiefly’s been slowly acclimating to the room, sleeping beside you outside his pokeball and happily buzzing among the flowers that decorate your living space. You’re not sure if you should bring him to training, but… eh, why not? He might be able to pull his weight— all 6 ounces of it.

“Hey bud, you up for joining me today?” you ask as you adjust your collar.

The Pokémon buzzes incredulously, perching on the rim of a vase. He seems… confused.

“Do you know why I’m here? I’m helping Mr. AZ…”

He lets out a tiny whine, alighting on your hand. He’s still struggling to understand what you’re saying, and though you know most Pokémon eventually understand spoken language, he’s still practically a baby, and probably has a brain the size of an almond.

“Are you scared?… It’s okay.” you sit on the edge of your bed, gently petting him. “You still don’t quite understand… Hm. Maybe I can ask one of the Floette to help you.”

He seems to recognize the word “Floette”, buzzing in anticipation.

“Yeah! C’mon, bud. You can do this.” He flies up atop your head, nestling into your hair as you head out the door.

…

You’ve all been asked to meet in AZ’s office after breakfast— including Taunie, who isn’t thrilled to be up this early. But, sure enough, everyone arrives, waiting for the boss himself to join you. You seat yourself in one of the normal-sized chairs present, hoping you don’t look like a trembling prey Pokémon.

You finally see Rodrigo, an older gentleman, heavyset with dark skin and a remarkably confident look in his eyes— and after breakfast, you can’t blame him. He’s a spectacular chef. Otherwise, the twins are here, Desirée is attempting to wrangle Minccino's dust-chasing compulsion, Paxton is quietly seated by himself, and Seth is impatiently glancing at his watch, while his Medicham meditates.

All that’s missing is…

“Sorry I’m la-… oh.” Serena stops in her tracks when she enters, peering down at you all. “… He’s not here yet.”

“Yes… he’s late by 10 minutes, now,” Seth grumbles.

“Eh, no skin off my back,” Rodrigo replies, his voice carrying a thick Paldean accent. “This is a nice little break from the morning rush.”

Sure enough, though, some of AZ’s Pokémon filter in, including the four Floette, the Indeedee pair, Golurk, Sigilyph, and…

You feel the ground quake beneath your feet.

“Ah, there he is,” Serena says with a big smile. Everyone looks to the door in anticipation.

“Apologies for the delay,” AZ says as he enters the room, carrying something in his hand— it’s emitting a bit of black smoke. “Someone was rather obstinate this morning…”

He kneels down and lowers his hand, and Torkoal slowly climbs off, clearly not happy to be disrupted from his routine based on the smoke he’s emitting. The giant transitions to a seated position on the floor, laying his cane across his lap, looking over everyone… and everyone looking up at him. You feel Cutiefly trembling atop your head.

“Good, it seems everyone is present. Thank you for arriving more punctually than I could manage…” his eyes follow Floette as she sits upon his shoulder. “Let’s begin.”

You see Desirée pull out a notebook, and you wonder if you should’ve brought one…

He clears his throat. “I haven’t a formalized training course, but as an overview… Each of you, of course, have your specialties, tasks which need little training from myself, because you already know what must be done. But ideally, any one of you should be able to take over the basic duties of maintaining the hotel when, and if, such services are needed. Thus, over this week, we will go over guest services, housekeeping, food service, and hotel maintenance. I expect each of you to be able to fall into such roles if the need arises.”

Seth pinches the bridge of his nose; you’d laugh if you didn’t know how often your paths would have to cross. Best to make the best impression you can, even if he’s a grouch.

Desirée raises her hand shyly. “Um… by food service, d-do you mean cooking?”

“No, no, unless Monsieur Rodrigo would like assistance.” he grins, watching Rodrigo squint at the girl. “I mostly mean managing room service, the buffet, cleanup, et cetera. Taking orders and delivering orders, in essence.”

She nods, returning to scribbling in her notepad.

“But before we begin, I feel some introductions are in order… just so that we can recall everyone. Ah, also, would everyone who currently has Pokémon in their pokeballs please release them?”

You see several flashes of light as everyone lets out their Pokémon. Serena has a whole team with her, consisting of a Gallade, a Charizard, an Aggron, a Chesnaught, a Vaporeon, and a Pangoro, though it’s likely she has even more somewhere else. Seth releases a Staryu, which floats beside him, spinning slowly. Desirée releases a Phanpy, Rodrigo releases his Crawdaunt and Dolliv, and the twins release Tepig and Totodile. Paxton releases Chikorita, as well as a Phantump, which hovers around him ominously.

“Due to both the influx of new employees, as well as the concurrent Z-A tournament, I felt it prudent to ensure our Pokémon have a distinguishable… ‘uniform’, of sorts.” Floette quickly flits off his shoulder and picks up a box from his desk, opening it to reveal green ribbons with a Z-shaped clasp. “These should help to keep track of staff Pokémon, ensuring… minimal confusion.”

Floette drifts to each of you and hands them out; you show the ribbon to Cutiefly, who curiously pecks at it with his proboscis, before carefully fitting it around him. He looks so dapper…

AZ continues as Floette goes around. “I suppose I shall start… I am AZ, owner and hotelier. I chose you all for your roles because I saw great potential within you— not perfection, mind, but potential. As such, I do hope you all are comfortable enough to speak with me should any concerns arise… I’ll address them to the best of my ability.” he takes a breath as he recalls what to say next. “… Ah, yes. I hail from Kalos; though, I called it home at a time long before it was called Kalos.”

He then gestures directly to you— oh. You’re at the end chair… you suppose you should’ve expected this.

“Oh. Uh, h-hi. I’m Y/N… I’m the marketing-slash-PR director for, uh, Hotel Z… I-I’m from Alola, originally.” You hear a buzz in your lap as Cutiefly flaps his wings. “Uh, and… this is Cutiefly.”

You hear Seth huff under his breath; you’ve always been more self-confident in writing. Why couldn’t this be an email chain…?

Serena pipes up next, seated on the floor with her Vaporeon on her lap. “Hello! I’m Serena Fay. You probably know me from somewhere else, but, um… right now I’m heading security here. I’ve lived in Kalos all my life, pretty much.”

“I’m Urbain Bellville. I’m in customer relations, and so is Taunie.”

“Hey, man, lemme do my own intro.”

“Sorry.”

“Ugh, it’s fine… we’re both Kalos born and raised. Santalune pride!”

You have no idea where that is.

The bald man sighs, looking at his watch again. “I am Seth Jonquil, former head of finances at Quasartico. After the power outage fiasco earlier this year, I saw the writing on the wall and jumped ship. I’m hopeful that we all know better than to sacrifice our humanity in the name of bureaucracy.” he sighs. “And… I’m from Unova.”

Huh. He’s a lot more altruistic than first impressions led you to believe; maybe he’s just got that Castelian impatience.

Rodrigo loudly claps his hands, causing Seth to flinch. “Rodrigo Salazar, of Paldea! I am head chef, here on recomendación of a mutual friend. I hope everyone thoroughly enjoyed their breakfast this morning?”

There’s a chorus of quiet agreement.

“Hello~!” Desirée waves to nobody in particular. “I’m Desirée Chevalier, and I’m head of housekeeping. I, um… it’s complicated. I was technically born here in Lumiose, but I bounced around a lot during my childhood. Sooo… I’m kinda from everywhere!”

Paxton blinks when it comes over to him. “… I’m Paxton. Inventory manager. Uh… Galar.” You had no idea he was from Galar until he spoke.

AZ smiles. “Excellent. Thank you, everyone. Next, then, I’ll let Urbain and Taunie start off with their overview of guest services.”

“Oh! Yeah, um…”

“If you’ll follow us,” Urbain says, standing and giving an exaggerated gesture out the door.

From there, you start to understand what the pattern will be; A general meeting in the morning, and training until around 1:00. Today, it’s learning how guest registration and keys work, and you actually, finally get a good look behind the desk. That same huge tome from when you were last here is still present, and it seems that once you fill in a guest’s information, a corresponding key glows automatically; they’re color-coded for each floor, in a steady gradient from pale to saturated. It’s… arcane, but easy to understand once you get the hang of it. You just hope your penmanship is up to snuff…

“And lastly, travel services. That’s what the computer’s for.” Urbain pats a slightly dusty desktop near the corner. “This is how you can find places guests are looking for throughout the city, and, with the new website—” he clicks his tongue and gives you finger-guns— “you can transfer bookings to, well, the book.”

Taunie chuckles nervously. “We haven’t had to use it too much until now, so fingers crossed it can handle the workload.”

“This seems… highly inefficient,” Seth says, his nose wrinkling. “What an immense waste of paper. This all should’ve been digitized years ago.”

Taunie balks. “Oh… uh, well-”

“If you wish, Mr. Jonquil, we can discuss this after your training is completed.”

Everyone flinches when AZ’s voice sounds from overhead, not through any sort of loudspeaker, but… from somewhere. That’s right; he can see all of this from his study. Seth just about falls on his ass, as if someone swept his legs.

He scoffs, readjusting his glasses as he steadies himself. “I apologize for speaking out of turn.”

“I take no umbrage with that, in itself. I am happy that you feel free to speak your mind. I simply ask that you withhold comments that could discourage your colleagues from learning our systems properly.”

He sighs again. “… I see your point.”

From there, each of you actually gets to try out the guest book, by signing yourselves in and then crossing your names out, with a respective key glowing and fizzling out each time. Once it’s Desirée’s turn, she’s at the end of the page, so she turns it… and it fades into the page before, as another page seems to shunt into place towards the back of the book.

“Whoa…” she picks up a chunk of about a hundred pages, about to flip them, but Taunie stops her.

“D-don’t… it’s fun, but that messes with the logs Boss keeps in his study.”

“Oh…” she looks up towards the ceiling, unsure of where to cast her Lillipup-eyed stare, but adamant about AZ seeing it.

You all hear him sigh. “… Once. That is all.”

She grins eagerly, pushing the stack of pages over and watching as a whole sheaf of paper unfurls at the back of the book, the sound akin to a shuffling deck of cards. She giggles giddily for a moment.

She’s young; you can let her have this.

Once that’s over, you briefly go over the process for finding lost keys or replacing broken ones, and you now have a basic idea of how Hotel Z’s guest services operate… It’s odd, but it works, and it’s fun.

You suppose that’s all it really takes.

Chapter Text

After the training session, everyone’s dismissed to their usual duties, and you decide to head back to your room to resume unpacking. It’s once you get there that you find a note under your door…

Esteemed Employee Y/N,

I’ve arranged some office spaces across from my own study, such that you and others in similar positions may have their own desk, distinct from their hotel rooms. Currently, I have desks set up for yourself and Mr. Jonquil; I hope you are able to use your space well.

Warmly,

AZ

Hm… is it one big room, or several smaller rooms? You find the former more likely, unfortunately, but you can make it work. You pack up all of your office supplies— including your desktop, but that’ll have to be a second trip— and head over to set up.

As you open the door, you see Seth approaching his own door. Medicham is close behind, and stares at you eerily.

“Uh, h-hey,” you say, attempting to look past your big armful of boxes. He blinks, seemingly surprised you’re even acknowledging him.

“What?” he says flatly.

“Uh… AZ’s set up some office space down the hall. I’m heading over.” You wriggle your hand to show him the note, careful to not drop anything.

“… Thanks.” He unlocks his door, and lets you get a few yards away before speaking again. “… You really ought to have a Pokémon who can help you carry stuff.”

You’re glad you’re facing away from him while you roll your eyes. “I’ll keep that in mind— ah.”

Medicham is right beside you, holding its arms out.

“Oh… Thanks.” you let it take one of your boxes, and it dutifully follows behind you. Eventually, you find the office space, a spacious, rather spartan-looking room currently, with just two desks and two admittedly comfy-looking rolling chairs; there’s some windows toward the back to that same elusive garden by the lounge. You pick arbitrarily, choosing the leftmost desk, and finally set your box down, catching your breath.

“Thank you, Medicham.”

“Cham.” it nods and walks out, no change in its expression.

After taking another trip to grab your computer, you find Seth and Medicham already there, unpacking his sparse office setup. You, by contrast, have a calendar, some framed photos, a little Oricorio bobblehead, a full rainbow of felt-tip pens, a comfy mousepad… you’re wondering if you’ve overpacked.

“Which island are you from?”

You blink. “Huh?”

“Which island?” Seth repeats, arranging his pencil cup just so.

“Uh… Poni. The small one.”

He nods. “My sister lives in Akala. She’s a professor at the university there.”

“Oh! That’s my alma mater!” Somehow, this interaction with Seth is making you smile.

“Small world…” he looks at you, his eyes piercing even through his slightly tinted glasses. “You’ve dealt with people like me, haven’t you?”

“I… I don’t know what you mean.”

“Where did you work last?”

“… Castelia. For Skyarrow.”

“Yeah, you have.” he sighs, sitting in his chair. “Look, I’m not gonna bite your head off, so I hope you’re able to grow a spine.”

You suppress a grimace. “Wh- excuse me?”

“I don’t know if it’s nerves, or if you’re always skittish, but it’s not a buoy to my confidence in you, Y/N. We’re bound to be naturally at odds, given our roles, so I don’t want you fawning like a Stantler to a Pyroar here. I want some resistance. I’m tired of yes-men, beholden to money over actual, tangible solutions. That’s why Quasartico is fumbling, there’s nobody to say no.”

What? “Uh… okay.”

“So if I tell you that an idea of yours is out of scope…” he leans forward. “… Say something. We’re equals, here and now. Even if I bitch and moan, we have to come to an agreement on something, not capitulate to each other.”

You swallow. He’s right in that way; even if your nerves really are mostly new job-related, you do have an issue with caving at the first bit of resistance. If you two are meant to be rivals, as he seems to anticipate, you have to step up your game.

I guess I ought to be a little tougher on the job…

“Okay… I guess.”

“I’ll be watching your back to see if a spine shows up.” he smirks at his own pun, turning on his computer and getting it set up.

…

After that rather insufferable moment, you return to your room to resume unpacking, occasionally looking out the window; you can see a Quasartico crew breaking ground near an old intersection, the usual crowd deftly moving out of its way despite the disruption.

You think about what their intent here really is; coexistence of people and Pokémon is already basically a thing, and you don’t need to plonk wild areas in the middle of cities to see that. It’s a strange strategy that seems more dangerous than beneficial… At this point, the stress of the city would only agitate the wild Pokémon living there, no?

The way Seth talked about Quasartico, it sounds like there’s a lot more shadiness behind the scenes, but you don’t necessarily trust his word, either.

Hm… you need a distraction from the dire straits of this city you barely know.

You head downstairs toward the lounge, only to hear AZ from a distance; it’s not at all close to any sort of mealtime, so you’re curious why he’s there.

As you round the corner, you see him seated, his waistcoat removed and currently donning some considerably more grubby shoes… ah. He must be going out to that garden. Floette is floating by the door in anticipation, peeking out further than you could, past the denser bushes and plants in the way.

He must’ve noticed your arrival, as he looks up at you, that ever-familiar smile crossing his face.

“Good afternoon, Y/N. Care to join me?” his eyes travel to a zig-zagging set of stairs you’d never noticed before, steadily snaking down to his level.

“S-sure?… I mean, I dunno how much help I’d be, but I guess so…”

“Plenty of help, trust me. And even if you weren’t… I’d still enjoy your company.” He stands, picking up his gloves and a basket full of gardening tools the size of various vehicles, and waits beside the door. You pad down the stairs, curious why he’s waiting on you.

“After you. I’d suggest you close your eyes as you pass the threshold; it’s a bit less disorienting, I’m told.”

“… What?”

He has a well-meaning, yet mischievous smirk on his face. “Just trust me.”

He opens the door, and you cautiously step through, eyes shut and preparing for the worst…

Humid air and the scent of a myriad of flowers is the first thing you notice… as well as something brushing behind you.

“GAAH!”

“Ah! Forgive me. I forgot to tell you to open them.”

Once you finally open your eyes, you’re first met by bright sunlight, then blurry outlines of plants, and then… oh.

It’s… a normal-sized greenhouse.

And within it… he’s only about double your height.

“Are you alright?” he asks, smiling apologetically.

“… Whoa.”

You stare at him for… probably far too long, but he’s doing the same thing. You suppose this is his first clear view of… well, you. And it’s sort of the same for you, too. He’s still imposing at this scale, but in a more human way, even though you know he’s always human on some level. He’s not just tall, you now realize, but proportionally long, clearly altered by the ultimate weapon in ways beyond just size. But still… beautiful, in a way that’s difficult to place. Wizened, fey, and… contemplative.

You feel your face grow warm… and this time, his face tinges pink too. He doesn’t seem embarrassed, so… that means…

“… I’ll take that as a yes,” he says, clearing his throat and dusting himself off, still smiling and daring to glance down at you even as he turns away.

Floette alights on your shoulder, now about the size of your average Floette. She’s giggling; it’s clear she’s seen this before, and gets a kick out of the spectacle.

“W-wait… so am I big now? Or-”

He shakes his head. “The reverse… It's a rather ingenious bit of construction, dreamt up by a good friend of mine. I doubt I’d be able to do this without her insight…” Thinking back, you did notice a slight golden tint to his eyes while staring at him, doubtlessly caused by whatever magic’s going on here.

You drink it all in— rows and rows of flowers, grasses, bushes, all contributing to the wave of nostalgia hitting you.

“I-I… I used to work at a flower shop in high school,” you say, admiring the buttercups nearby. “We never had the resources to care for our flowers this well.”

“Well, I cannot take all of the credit. Floette is my guiding hand, for much of this.” he stoops down and inspects some hydrangeas, whose petals are ever-so-slightly curled. “Hm… my eternal nemesis…”

You chuckle and take that as your cue to fill a watering can at the hose; your attire for this kind of work is hardly appropriate, but this is all second-nature to you in any case. As you do this, you realize you aren’t wearing gloves, and you see some nearby, so-

“Ah, hold on…” his hand gently stops yours, touching the gloves for a moment with a strange investigatory facial expression. “… Alright. Go ahead.”

“What was that for?”

“Some of these items are Cynthia’s. She is a mage, much like myself, so you cannot be too careful.”

A strange chuckle leaves your lips as you don the gloves; there’s a story, there, surely.

You two get to work, chatting about flowers as you tend to the greenhouse’s contents; there’s flowers you’re plenty familiar with, and some you’ve never seen before. Some are simply rare specimens, while others are apparently extinct outside of this space.

“Floette made a habit of collecting seeds during her wanderings. I haven’t the foggiest idea what some of them are.”

“Oh, man, Cutiefly would love to see this.”

“He is always welcome, just as you are.”

Your work pauses at a certain triad of blooms; three flowers, each identical to the one Floette carries. She’s diligently patting the soil beside them, and looks up at you with a squint, as if forcing you to state your intentions.

“Just curious. I’ll leave those to you,” you mumble nervously.

“A wise choice,” AZ says from across the room.

You continue, pruning, watering, and bolstering the soil of the flowers as you go along… until you find yet more alien flowers in their own planter. One has yellow star-shaped blooms that swirl in a spiral at their edges, another’s pale purple buds are closed tightly, and one seems to be a tree in its earliest stages of growth.

“What are these ones?”

He looks over. “Ah, gifts from an old friend. Don’t use water from the hose, or they’ll wither.”

Floette approaches with a gold-capped vial of water, opening it and encircling the base of each plant… the water within doesn’t seem to run out.

“Are they magic, or something?”

“No, just foreign.” he chuckles, as if he knows that answer isn’t sufficient.

You finally look out the window; this doesn’t look anything like Lumiose. “By the way, where are we, technically?”

“Ah… near Shalour City, along Kalos’ coast. Cynthia has a vacation home here.”

You hum in thought. “I guess I figured this was just your way out of the hotel.”

“It is. One of them, anyway.” He strides towards the back and lifts a trap-door, revealing a yawning cave right beneath your feet; a filter of sunlight is visible through water-battered rocks, as well as the smell of seawater. You, of course, only get a glimpse of this before staggering back with a yelp; that drop is hundreds of feet, at least…

You hear him snicker under his breath.

“Don’t laugh!”

He just laughs more. “Ahh, apologies, perhaps I’ve simply grown used to it… Would you like me to demonstrate?”

“I-I guess… if you’re up for it.”

“I’d be happy to. Truth be told, I grow rather unwell if I spend more than an hour straight in here.” he hands over his cane. “Would you hold this, please?”

You take it with a nod, shuffling out of the way and watching him; he sits on the edge for a moment, grins, and jumps off. It's rather shocking at first, but soon becomes utterly bizarre, as it doesn’t exactly look like he’s falling; it’s more like you’re dramatically adjusting the focal length of a camera, with him hovering midair for a moment as his body stretches, until…

Crashhh. He’s full-size, peering up at you from several dozen feet down, at a scale more familiar to you.

Your brain hurts.

He takes a deep breath, rolling his neck and taking in the fresh sea air. “That’s much better…”

“I don’t… that’s so weird.”

“Isn’t it marvelous?” His voice echoes through the chasm, and he’s wearing the widest smile you’ve ever seen on him, which is still rather subdued. Floette flits past you and likewise distorts until she’s her ‘proper’ size.

“How do you get back up??”

“Ah, quite simple, really.” he reaches towards you, and you instinctively backpedal, but see two scaled-down arms emerge from the trapdoor and pull him upward. With a grunt, he’s back inside, and Floette follows behind him with much less effort.

He catches his breath. “I might have to create a stairwell if my knee gets any worse… Ah, thank you.” he takes his cane back as you hand it to him, righting himself with its aid, while Floette lowers the trapdoor once more.

“Does it, like… hurt?”

“No, no… it’s odd, but it’s far better than that concoction Cynthia gave me once upon a time to induce shrinking.” he shudders. “Though that was mostly a matter of taste… and necessity.”

“Is this Champion Cynthia you’re talking about?”

“The very same… Though, I believe she’s planning to retire from that role fairly soon.” he bends down and picks up his basket, placing his tools inside. “Over 20 years of dominance, though… I wonder who her successor could possibly be.”

You blink a few times. “Where are so many people learning magic?”

“Heh, ‘so many’… We aren’t growing from trees, I’ll tell you that much. It’s a dying art… Taunie is interested, but still has a long road of physical conditioning ahead of her.” He takes off his gloves. “Why, are you interested?”

You balk, fidgeting with your gloves as you remove them. “I think I’m too busy for that… I dunno how you have the time.”

He laughs. “Almost everything I do is magically oriented nowadays… I’m not terribly good at much else, really.” The look on his face shows that he’s aware you’ll object…

You take the bait. “Why do you say that?”

He sits on the landing by the door to the hotel, thinking for a moment. “This world changes so quickly right under my feet. It’s… strange. I feel like I’m… learning, more than I’m teaching.” He looks you right in the eye. “After 3000 years, you’d think it’d be the other way around.”

You hop up and sit beside him, feet dangling off the edge. “Maybe the learning moments just stand out more… Some part of you’s been changed from each of them, you know?”

“Heh… Where on earth do you get these wise ripostes from?”

“Probably my kupuna. My grandparents. All of ‘em have been gone for a few years now, but they helped me a lot through college.” You laugh a bit. “Nan never liked to see me ruminating.”

Floette trills quietly on AZ’s shoulder. “Yes, ma fleur, I suppose I have you for that, now…”

His eyes flit to the window, and he checks his pocket watch. “Auras, time flies with a proper conversation partner.”

“I liked this, Monsieur,” you say, hopping up onto the landing and standing up. “I wouldn’t mind helping you out more often… i-if that’s alright with you.”

He chuckles softly as he stands, punctuated with a soft grunt. Even on a lower level, he’s taller than you. “I’d appreciate it, indeed. Both of the twins have rather black thumbs, so this place has been a rather solitary affair, save Cynthia’s visits.”

“It’s weird that other folks don’t hang out with you very often.”

“Heh, ‘hang out’… an interesting way of putting it,” he says, stepping up to the door and looming over you. “It is Serena, actually, who describes me as a hermit. I rarely seek people out, it’s true, but I’m never opposed to visits.”

You feel an idea budding in your mind… “I’d love to do something where more people can meet you… get to know you.”

He blushes slightly as he opens the door. “I’m honored that you think so highly of me… but I’m open to the possibility. After you, Y/N.”

You step out, closing your eyes for just a moment; you feel him step out past you several yards away, a great crashing footfall, as his shadow passes overhead, and you open your eyes.

Your clothes are all dirty now, but so are his. You’re not sure why that detail sticks in your mind as you wave goodbye to the colossus, but it does.

Chapter Text

Business has slowed down considerably since last week, due to the tournament winding down. That’s been a relief for all of the staff, but especially AZ, as it means he can focus more on training you all, rather than on avoiding disturbing his own guests.

The next morning entails more training. It’s the same setup, but because it’s housekeeping this time around, AZ is leading the charge, since his new head of housekeeping, Desirée, is just as much of a fledgeling as you are.

“Every floor of Hotel Z has a laundry chute located via a maintenance room, which feeds into the laundry room within the basement,” he says, crouching in front of one of them and poking the door open with a finger. “If you ever lose track of where these rooms are located, please flag down myself or one of my Floette; they have all of the necessary cleaning supplies on hand within, as well as carts to transport them, as you’d expect.”

“Uh… D-do we have somewhere to do our own laundry?” you ask.

“Of course. That’s also downstairs, in a distinct room. I’ll ask you to please refrain from intermingling your personal housekeeping with the hotel’s… for obvious reasons.” he chuckles.

“And if a guest requests to do personal laundry?” Desirée asks.

He nods. “We’d direct them to that same room, or to a laundromat nearby. In general, it’s important and sensible to keep personal and hotel items distinct for all parties. If a personal item is left in a room after the guest departs, for instance, please let me know, and I’ll contact the affected party.”

“Or me, if it’s something like a full Pokéball or valuables,” Serena says.

“Exactly. Next… Urbain, could you take everyone down to the basement, please? I will meet you down there.”

“On it!” he ushers you all inside, turning the knob’s dials and emerging into a long, dimly-lit hallway… much closer to your scale. Along the left side is a series of doors, and along the right hand side are long, thick pipes inscribed with runes, glowing a faint red akin to hot metal. Behind them is further space blocked off by the pipes, but you can make out an AZ-sized door… turned on its side, oddly.

The door opens… AZ strides out, feet planted firmly on the wall behind you. A murmur of confusion crosses through the whole group; he simply crouches down with a smirk, looking at you all through the pipes. It’s clearly something to do with the gravity, based on how his hair falls as it should: down, er… behind you.

“Can you tell I built this area of the hotel first?” he chuckles. “It suits the job, but it’s not entirely sensical…”

“… Is this safe?” Seth asks, clear worry lines carved into his forehead.

“Entirely. Just… don’t try to move past these pipes into this zone, especially higher up, or, um… further down.” He points down the hall, or upward in this case— this is confusing. “Let’s carry on; I’ll follow you.”

Urbain leads you, and you watch AZ climb a ladder to follow, technically along the ceiling. You’re glad it’ll be rare that you two are down here at the same time…

“These pipes convert municipal utilities to a scale that services the entire hotel, including my needs,” he explains as he climbs. “Touching them is safe, but… well, it feels silly to ask you not to rupture them, but do take care not to.”

As you move, Urbain shows each of the different rooms you pass; the boiler room, with a very content Torkoal munching on coal and dried plants, the electrical room, tool storage, and finally the laundry rooms, staff and hotel-wide. He goes over the processes for laundry down here, as one of the smaller Floettes models alongside him.

At the end of the hall is a staircase, leading up to…

Ah, the rooftop. You suppose this place never made sense spatially to begin with, but it’s still jarring to be this high up all of a sudden.

“Up here are a bit more of the standard utilities,” Urbain explains, patting the AC vent. “Like AZ said, Taunie usually handles this stuff, or in extreme cases, we call in someone else to help.”

“Additionally…”

Everyone jumps at AZ’s voice; you peer off the edge, something a past you 3 months ago wouldn’t dare to do, and see the giant slowly climbing out of a massive hatch in the ground; as he gets to his feet, the sheer scale of him is put into perspective once again, as he’s nearly twice the height of the building itself. He brings a massive hand over his eyes to shield from the sun, as he peers down at you, and the city itself, as he dwarfs most of the nearby structures.

“This is one of a number of routes I can take to leave and enter the hotel… I’m loath to use this one, though, because usually-”

You hear someone distantly scream, and he sighs. You look down at the adjacent street, where people are already forming crowds and taking pictures and videos.

“It’s… rather disruptive to the city’s usual routine.” He looks down at the crowd, with most of them flinching at just his gaze centering them, mustering his best customer-service smile. “Bonjour! I’ll be out of your way in just a moment.”

A pang of pity forms in your chest. Poor guy can’t even be outside on his own property without attracting unwanted attention.

“Any further questions?” he asks, turning to you all with an apologetic smile.

“I feel like some of this magic mumbo-jumbo shoulda been used in the kitchen,” Rodrigo snarks, clearly trying to release some of the tension based on how he shuffles in place.

The giant chuckles softly. “Well, I mostly made it with the Indeedee in mind, but we can discuss that, certainly…” he trails off when he hears another scream, rubbing his neck anxiously. “Ahem. Well! If that’s all, I’d, um… you’re dismissed.”

Everyone filters back toward the stairwell, but… for whatever reason, you sort of forget to move. You watch him as he stares over the skyline. The sunlight in his hair almost makes it look like he’s glowing, even with how thick each strand is. He seems pensive, but is attempting to look composed as he waits for his employees to leave.

That’s why it’s a surprise to him to see you still there. His eyes widen when he glances back down to you.

“Do you need something yet, Y/N?”

“Uh…” you look out onto the skyline, much like he just did, and… wow. He lives here, but isn’t integrated at all. Whether that’s his doing or the city’s is unknown, but… something within you wants to fix that. He loves this city to bits, but it doesn’t seem to love him back. At best, it treats him like some fixture in a museum to be gawked at.

“N-no, sorry. Just thinking.”

He breathes a sigh through his nose. “I understand. I will be in my study if you need me.”

You nod shyly, turning to leave… ah. Desirée is holding the door, though she quickly looks at her phone when she sees you approach her. Was she watching?

Uh-oh.

“Thanks,” you say, hurrying past her.

…

“A picnic?” Seth grumbles, upending his glasses as he pinches his nose bridge.

You sit in front of your computer monitor, your enthusiasm from the last 10 minutes deflated slightly at his reaction. Over the last few hours, you've been distracting yourself from the dread of being perceived by brainstorming, but thankfully you’ve been hit with a wealth of inspiration to make Hotel Z a positive part of this city’s legacy, and AZ by extension.

And you’ve just been met with… this reaction. You suppose pitching to Seth first was a bad idea…

“Wh… what’s wrong with-”

“It’s just… it seems a little tame, doesn’t it? All that pomp and circumstance…”

“W-well… as I’ve gotten to know him, he’s not actually that ostentatious. I think it’d be right up his alley.”

“Tch, I guess you have been schmoozing with him.” He fixes his glasses and adjusts his seat. “Look, I see the appeal. It’s relatively cheap, it’s easy, it’s quaint… only actual issue, besides my opinion, is Centrico. That’s never gonna happen.”

“Why not?”

“Catastrophic liability risk. Especially near Prism Tower. The mayor’d piss his pants. It’d make international news for all the wrong reasons. It can’t happen there. I’m sorry.”

“Well, where else would it happen?”

“Somewhere outside the city. Probably fine, he’d probably prefer it…”

“But nobody would show up.”

“Lumiose City is not a terrarium, Y/N. People will go.”

“Tourists don’t go out to open fields, Seth. And if there’s a commute involved, that lowers people’s interest dramatically.”

“You’re not getting it. This is a safety risk.”

“He’s not dangerous!”

“Here in the hotel, no. But out in the world, Y/N? I don’t think it’s that simple.”

“Nothing happened this morning!”

“He didn’t take a single step!” He huffs, crossing his arms. “Look, I’m sure in your head he’s this gentle little Wooloo, who can’t harm anyone if he tried, but the fact of the matter is that the rest of the world, justifiably, doesn’t see him that way.”

Your jaw stiffens. “… I’m gonna get a second opinion.”

He sighs and begins to stand. “Fine with-”

“Stay there,” you bark. He makes direct eye contact with you, before rolling his eyes and sitting down again.

…

“S-so…” you wipe some sweat off your brow. “What do you think?”

Serena, seated on the floor, claps politely, but eagerly, while Seth has his head in his hands.

“I like it!” she says.

“I did not need to watch that twice, Y/N,” he mutters, voice muffled by his hands.

“I think it’s right up his alley,” she continues.

“It’s never gonna happen in the middle of Lumiose City, though, right?” he pleads.

“Well, he has been further in town before. I was there.”

“Yeah, what, a decade ago? When Quasartico wasn’t even a blip on the radar? And isn’t he twice the size he was then?? And what about the property damage back then?!”

“I can talk to some people, Mr. Jonquil, if you’re worried about the risk. I still have plenty of connections, even now.”

He scoffs. “You all are living in a fantasy…”

She shoots him a glare, using her size to her advantage as she looms over him. A strange noise leaves his throat, something between a cough and a whine, as he flinches back.

“Have some faith in your coworkers, please…”

He swallows, straightening his tie and sitting up again. “I still think we should have a plan B.”

“I-I’m not opposed to that,” you say. “I just… want you to consider my plan A for even a second.”

She turns to face you, fixing her hair. “I think it’s definitely doable. Though, I do wonder if there should be something for people to do other than food.”

“Hm… yeah, very good point,” you say, nodding. “Maybe… a raffle? Some live music? I dunno exactly what draws crowds here, but something like that.”

She nods eagerly. “Yeah!… what kind of food, by the way?”

You pause, a bit taken aback; you hadn’t even thought about it.

“… Third opinion.”

Seth glares, utterly despondent. “No… Please-”

…

“Okay…” you catch your breath. “Is this… is this anything?”

Both Rodrigo and Serena clap happily. Seth is livid by this point.

“This has to be a crime somewhere,” he seethes. “Kidnapping? Torture?”

“Bravo!” Rodrigo cheers. “I like this idea very much.”

“I’m so glad to hear that,” you breathe, utterly relieved. “Because I have no clue what to serve.”

“Ideally it’d be something portable, right?” Serena chimes in.

“AZ is vegetarian, though, so that’s either another expense for meat substitutes, or we’re gonna turn away a significant portion of the Lumiose populace,” Seth grumbles.

“Have you no faith, Señor Jonquil?” Rodrigo teases. “Crepes, empanadas, croquettes, the exquisite beauty of the humble sandwich? All plenty filling, plenty popular, plenty doable. And none of those need that spongy stuff.”

You quite like a lot of meat substitutes— and you hadn’t even noticed that all the food Hotel Z prepares is vegetarian, with nary a meat-like food in sight. But you hold your tongue.

“If you say so… Fine. You win, Y/N.” The bald man throws up his hands, still scowling, but surrendering. “Quite the war of attrition, but… I guess, if you tweak it based on our feedback, it might work. Though that’s up to the big guy to decide.”

“And if he doesn’t like it, don’t take it personally,” Serena adds, eyes sympathetic. “This’d be a big step for him, I think. He’d told me about the dread he felt leading up to the parade. All those eyes on him…”

“But someone’s gotta help him,” you say. “He can’t stay hidden forever, right?”

“I agree.”

“Give this a week to percolate, and then we can show him,” Seth says. “That’ll give Rod time to get the menu sorted, Serena can do some preliminary talks, and I… can come to terms with the fact that I underestimated you.”

You smile. Maybe he’s just saying this to get you off his back, but it’s nice to have his support, and the support of the others. “Sure.”

…

That night, you get a message from your brother. You’ve already been answering a barrage of messages from your parents, taking plenty of pictures (and attempting to answer questions when your surroundings look… less than normal), but a message from him is a surprise. You thought he would be busy moving in with Dillon, but you suppose he might have time to chat regardless…

[Lil Bro]

____________________________________

[Hey!]

[Oh hey! Howzit]

[Good! u holding up over there?]

[Yeah :) just training week, yknow]

[What’s up?]

[Well Dill and I are working out honeymoon stuff]

Ah. Here we go.

[So you *are* gonna embarrass me]

[We talked about other places!! >:( ]

[I’m just teasing haha]

[He really wants to take me so I can see Lumiose]

[And Azure Bay]

[And all the castles…]

[I dont blame you. It’s beautiful here]

You’ve been meaning to catch a train and see some of Kalos’ other landmarks during your free time. You wouldn’t dare be a third wheel during their honeymoon, but maybe you should at least do some research to help them find places to visit.

[We did book at Hotel Z a few weeks ago.]

[I hope that’s ok with you]

Ah, of course. The allure of this place, once people know it exists, seems to be irresistible. It was for you, at least. Even though you were embarrassed at first when Noa proposed staying here for their honeymoon, it’s not the end of the world.

[Haha ofc, don’t worry]

[I don’t blame you for being curious]

[Dill’s still a little sus about the pics]

[He keeps saying some of them are shopped]

[Oh no haha]

[Hopefully he’ll believe it when he sees it]

[When r u two heading over?]

[A couple days?]

Oh. That’s really soon. Much sooner than you were expecting…

[Hope this isn’t too late notice]

[No ur ok!]

[I would’ve been pissed if you walked in without telling me, but this is fine haha]

Probably fine. Probably.

[Oh Arceus yeah]

You can make this work. Just have to deal with both training and your brother teasing you…

[Well… wish us luck, hopefully the weather cooperates]

[Yeah! Have a safe flight, see u then :) ]

Chapter Text

The next day is food service training, which is easy enough, especially since Rodrigo’s experienced enough to walk everyone through it even in an unfamiliar kitchen. Most of it involves either breakfast or dinner buffet prep— no lunch, which gives him a little break— or room service. The two Indeedee also know a lot of the steps, acting as silent trainers in their own right.

Thankfully, you’re not expected to actually cook— most of the cooking you’ve done swings wildly between boxed mac and cheese, and collaborative Lū’au pit barbecue with people who know more than you. And for the latter, most of your work was helping to dig the pit. You prefer to bake, generally.

You do nearly lose a buffet tray of flan from slipping on a rag, but one of the Indeedee catches it with their telekinesis before total disaster. They don't really look like flan anymore, but at least they’re not on the floor, and your shoes, and everywhere else… Maybe it can be salvaged into a different dessert? Rodrigo seemed only mildly upset…

In addition to the human training, it seems Floette is leading all of the new Pokémon through training of their own. Poor Cutiefly is trying his best, but he’s easily the tiniest of the lot, attempting to find a niche next to powerhouses like Chesnaught and Golurk. Floette appears to have assigned him to decorative flower-gathering duty, however, which is already one of his favorite activities.

After your training, he buzzes over to you, tired but proud. He has pollen all over himself, to the point that he almost looks like a tennis ball with wings.

“Hey, little guy,” you say, holding up a hand for him to sit on. He hums happily, as if telling you about his day; man, sometimes you wish you could speak Pokémon.

By coincidence, Floette is passing by, and she waves.

“Hi,” you reply, adding your own wave. “How did he do today?”

She trills happily, beckoning you to follow, and you do, cradling your little buddy carefully as you go. She brings you down to the first floor, into a room you’ve never seen before. The first impression you get is the chilly temperature, but the second…

Holy moly, that’s a lot of flowers. All cut, prepped in vases, and ready to go when needed. One of the other three Floette is already here tidying up the bouquets, Vaporeon is helping to water them, Minccino is dusting up fallen pollen and petals, and…

Oh. Paxton is here too. He’s tying ribbons on the vases, careful to make them perfect, while his Chikorita is trotting around and giving the flowers some nutrients via its leaf. He glances up at you, seemingly surprised to see someone here.

“Uh, hi,” you say, waving shyly. “I had no clue this room existed…”

Cutiefly, seemingly revitalized by the smell of flowers, buzzes out of your hand towards a bouquet, nestling into one of the blooms.

“It’s quiet.”

“Hm?”

“It’s quiet in here,” Paxton says again. “That's why I like it.”

“Yeah… sorry for intruding.”

“You’re fine.” He carefully sets one of the finished vases on the shelf, the small Floette inspecting it. “You’re quieter than the others.”

“Uh, thanks.” He probably means that as a compliment; he’s a little hard to read, both his face and his voice, but he probably just sees the world differently than most people.

“I heard you’re planning a picnic,” he says, a bit of caution in his words.

“Y-yeah. What’s up?” You didn’t know word would spread that quickly… Hopefully AZ hasn’t heard about it already.

“Do I have to go?” he asks.

“Uh… n-no. You don’t have to. I’m sure there’ll be a lotta people, and a lotta noise…”

He nods. “Sorry.”

“No, it’s fine! I totally get it.” You think for a moment, looking at one of the vases. “Um… in the future, what kinds of events would you want to participate in?”

He looks at you intently, eyes wide, as if he’s never been asked a question like that before.

“I like Pokémon battles. Pokémon in general, too.”

“Yeah. I dunno if we can do a tournament, heh, but something… smaller, with Pokémon?”

He nods, smiling a little. “Yeah. I’ll try to think of something.”

You laugh a little. “Heh, that’s my job.”

His face falls. “Sorry.”

You hold up a placating hand. “N-no, it’s okay. I’m just kidding.”

Cutiefly buzzes back to you, a little damp from Vaporeon splashing him, and nestles into your hair. Very cool, dude. Paxton laughs a little, and you laugh along.

“Um… I’ll give it some thought, though,” you say, and you mean it. “But I’ll get out of your way for now.”

“Goodbye.”

“Bye!”

You head back out… He’s a sweet kid.

…

The next morning is also rather uneventful training-wise, mostly Urbain running you through hotel maintenance procedures. He shows you all the dumpsters, fuse boxes, storage rooms, and so on. While the main bulk of the hotel is quite impervious to fire or inclement weather, the actual facade, and the lobby, aren’t. So, he goes over emergency procedures for if you’re caught in those areas as well.

Simple enough. You may not be formally trained in hospitality, but this whole week has been a big help. Taunie apparently minored in hospitality, and transferred a lot of her insight into actual protocol here, or so her brother says.

Serena couldn’t make it to training today; she apparently wasn’t feeling well last night— You thought you heard something crack and break last night while you were asleep, and you have so many questions that aren’t your business to ask at all. You suppose you’ll just have to wait until she’s feeling better.

It’s as you, Urbain, Seth, Desirée, Paxton, and Rodrigo are wrapping up this session in the lobby that two familiar faces enter… Oh, Arceus.

Act natural, Y/N…

“Any ques-… oh! Hello! Welcome to Hotel Z!” Urbain promptly faces the door, watching your brothers approach with Vulpix and Poochyena at their heels.

Noa definitely looks related to you, but is taller and a little broader— something you’ve been jokingly jealous of, being the older sibling. Dillon is a little shorter, stockier, with short, tousled strawberry blonde hair and a well-groomed beard; he’s much more inquisitive, looking around the lobby until he spots you and waves.

You want to wave back, but, um… this is awkward.

“Ah, sorry, are we interrupting something?” Noa asks, flashing you a wry smile.

“No, not at all. I can check you in.” Urbain leans over to you all. “You guys are all free to go, if there’s nothing else you need-”

“Y/N?” Desirée whispers. “Are you alright?”

Ah. Do you look constipated? Exceptionally pale or red? Like you’re going to die of embarrassment? You blink a few times, chuckling nervously.

“N-no worries, I’m fine,” you whisper back, heading out of the lobby; she and the others follow behind, and you catch your breath once you’re out.

“Stupid time zone bullshit,” you whisper under your breath.

“What’s wrong?” Seth asks, his brow creased with concern.

“Th-that’s my brother, and, uh, my brother-in-law,” you say quietly, trying to laugh it off. “I-I thought they were coming later tonight… Must’ve misestimated the time, heh. Probably just overreacting…”

Desirée looks back towards the lobby, a cheeky grin forming on her face. “Is this… oh my Arceus, no way.”

You sigh. “Yeah, honeymoon in Kalos. It’s the peak destination when you already live in Alola…”

“This isn’t going to impact your work, is it?” Seth asks sternly.

“No. I hope not, anyway.” you lean against a wall. “Noa knows what he’s doing. It’s his first time in Kalos, though, and both of their first times staying here…” You stomp your foot, emphasizing where “here” is.

“Oh, they’re in for a wild one,” Rodrigo teases, snickering.

You cringe. “Please don’t… do anything weird. Y’know?”

“You can trust us, Y/N,” Desirée says cheerily, patting you on the shoulder.

Can I, though?

“Ah, is today’s training session over already?”

You hear— and feel— AZ’s presence before you see him, but soon enough he rounds the corner, peering down at the lot of you. He briefly eclipses the ceiling light above him, creating an eerie halo around his head for just a second.

He kneels down, regarding you all. “Is something the matter?”

You look behind you toward the door, then back to AZ. “Uh, n-no, we’re fine, just-”

You hear your brother’s voice. “Hey, why’d you run-… Holy fuck.”

You look back again at the door, where your brothers are staggered back, wide-eyed and slack-jawed in terror. Noa quickly takes a breath and attempts to regain composure, but Dillon looks like he’s going to pass out, leaning against his husband for support.

“Uh…” you hold out your hands, attempting to placate them. “W-would you like me to show you to your room?”

…

AZ’s words from your first visit echo in your mind… knowing is one thing, but seeing is another.

AZ quickly dismissed himself after you ushered Noa and Dillon to their rooms, quite visibly ashamed and embarrassed. You are, too, but you try to not show it as much. Strange; he didn’t have quite as visible a reaction when you first arrived… There must be something else on his mind.

“125, 125… here.” You stop in front of their door, which opens automatically to their surprise.

“This is nuts,” Noa mutters.

“I gotta… I gotta sit down for a sec,” Dillon wheezes, entering the room ahead of both of you, leaving you and your brother alone.

“I’m sorry,” you say quietly. “I-I thought you were coming tonight, not… not this morning.”

“I… no, yeah, you’re fine. This is…” he looks down the hall, then upward, staggering slightly at the sheer scale of it all.

“I would’ve been more prepped to ease you into it. I’m sorry-“

“Y/N, you’re fine,” he insists, laughing nervously and attempting to pat your shoulder- he misses the first attempt. “You weren’t kidding. W-was that your boss, back there…?”

You scoff a laugh. “Who else?”

“I-… well, I dunno, maybe there’s more than one giant! I dunno the rules here.”

You peek into the room. “Is Dill gonna be okay?”

“Yeah, he’ll be- Oh, Arceus!!”

You see a familiar giant black flower hovering over you. Floette is behind you, peering around you to assess the situation.

You laugh nervously. “Ah, Floette. Did, uh, Monsieur AZ send you?”

She trills an affirmative, also peering through the door. Noa is staring in awe at her, something she seems far less bothered by than AZ.

“H-he’s fine,” Noa repeats, shakier this time. “J-just… I guess he thought some of this was exaggerated…”

“Is that a Floette??” you hear Dillon call from inside the room.

She giggles shyly, clearly feeling a little bad, but trying to keep the mood light.

“Uh, Floette, this is, um, my younger brother, Noa.”

She perks up in surprise, chirping, clearly putting two-and-two together as to why you’re so nervous about this particular pair of guests. She extends a hand to Noa, who takes it, clearly gawking at how surreal this all is. You’ve been so desensitized already…

Another Floette approaches with a card in her free hand, clearly surprised that the door’s open already. You see AZ’s signature maroon ink…

“Ah, he’s apologising. Thank you, Cerise,” you say, taking the card from her before she flits away and handing it off to Noa; by now, Dillon’s back on his feet, approaching the door as Noa reads.

Noa reads it aloud. “‘Esteemed guests, I sincerely apologize for startling you. We do not have many guests beyond those whom I’m already acquainted with, and I understand that my presence can be rather frightening at first blush.’… Wow. He’s thorough.”

“How did he write that so small?” Dillon asks.

“Ah, heh, he probably shrunk it down after writing it. I-I got a similar note when I was first here.”

Dillon’s clearly trying to make sense of what you just said, but Noa continues undeterred. “‘I’ve been informed by the front desk staff that you are related to one of my employees… As part of my apology, I am extending the employee discount to you. Expect a check-’” He bursts out laughing before he can finish. “Is this real??”

Floette likewise giggles, knowing her companion’s at times overwhelming tendencies toward generosity.

“Yeah, I mean… that’s his handwriting.” you shrug. “I, uh, I should probably leave you guys be. Lemme know if you need anything; otherwise, I bet Floette can help, too?”

She nods, chirping cheerily and waving.

“W-will do,” Dillon stammers, looking over his husband’s shoulder at the note. You take that as your cue to leave…

That went only a little worse than you hoped.

…

You slowly slink up to AZ’s office; maybe you don’t owe him an apology, per se, but it feels right to give one.

He’s standing in front of his bookshelf, mulling over each of the enormous tomes that sit within while holding one in his free hand; you’ve always been curious what they are, but your main priority right now is checking in.

“Monsieur?” you call out, as loud as you can muster. He stiffens in surprise, quickly turning to look at you.

“Y/N! F-forgive me, I’ve been rather…” he looks down at the book he grabbed, sighing and shelving it again. “… Distracted.”

“… Wanna talk about it?”

His shoulders fall, looking a little more relieved. “Please.”

He sits in his armchair, silently beckoning you to join him, and you climb up to take a seat. He waves a hand, and the door closes automatically with a resounding crash… he’s very embarrassed, if he’s shutting the door. This kind of thing must really get to him in the heat of the moment.

“You okay?” You ask once you reach the top; he visibly isn’t, but you want him to explain first.

“It’s been… some time since I’ve elicited profanities from others,” he says, laughing without mirth. “I’m truly sorry for placing you in that dilemma.”

“Don’t apologize.”

He blinks. “But-”

“I should’ve warned you earlier. I-I miscalculated the time zone stuff, too. I thought they’d be coming this evening.”

He sits there for a second, clearly puzzled. “Are… are they your relatives?”

What? “O-oh, did Urbain not tell you specifically?”

He once again laughs mirthlessly, hiding his mouth in his hand.

“He’s m-my brother… and his husband. My brothers, I guess.” Still getting used to having two of ‘em, technically. “They’re here for their honeymoon. They probably won’t be around much, if that helps.”

He sighs. “Perhaps I would’ve seen the family resemblance if I weren’t 200 feet tall…”

“I-it’s fine, really. They knew what they were getting into.”

“Thank you for handling it gracefully when I could not.” he smiles weakly. His eyes look so tired…

You chuckle nervously. “This week’s been a lot, huh?”

“I’d say the past few months, but you haven’t been here. I was settling down somewhat now that the tournament finals are underway and more people are departing, but this incident jarred me from that.” He sits up a bit more in his chair. “And with Serena feeling unwell, I’ve been even more anxious…”

“Is she… is she okay?”

He sighs deeply. “She’ll pull through, I have faith in her. She just needs some time to recover… But she’s like a daughter to me, in many ways, and we… fret over each other, as family does.”

You quietly wonder if she’s… grown. Like, physically. But again, that’s really none of your business.

He seems deep in thought, clearing his throat. “Auras, I haven’t felt this stressed since…”

“Huh?”

“… Since the better moments of my vagrant days, frankly. Chasing for Floette… I forgot to eat yesterday. I haven’t done that in years.” he sputters out an exhale. “I’m only just now reckoning with the truth of the service industry, it seems. All the plates I must spin, the people I must account for… Obscurity was more of a shield than I anticipated.”

Ah. Have you made things worse for him?

“Heh… s-so, um, is the website gonna be a problem?”

He shakes his head. “No, no, I just need to grow thicker skin. Be more… assertive, more proactive. And maybe tell those tournament organizers to get the hell out of Lumiose next time, Auras above…”

You chuckle. “I’m sure they’ll listen if you ask.”

“W-well, I don’t want them to listen just because it’s me. I mean, I do, but not for that reason.” He sighs, finally smiling a little. “That said, your presence has been a buoy to my mood.”

You feel yourself blushing. “Th-thanks. It's been nice to be back. Hectic, but… nice.”

“And… has everyone been treating each other well when outside of my supervision?”

You shrug. “I-I guess. I don’t know everyone super well yet.”

“If anything arises, let me know.”

You look away. “I-I mean…”

“Hm?”

You don’t want to continue, but you’ve talked yourself into a corner… oh, no. You’ve been dreading this. “I-I think… everyone already kinda knows we’re… c-close. S-so I think, um… I think I’ll be okay…”

He doesn’t respond for a few moments, clearly thinking it over intensely.

Uh-oh… I said too much.

“Too close, you mean?”

“Uh…” you look at the floor— the table’s surface, rather. “… I dunno.”

He looks at you, staring right through you as he folds his hands together. He’s blushing. “Perhaps there is a pattern of behavior I’ve been unable, or unwilling, to notice… in both of us.”

You swallow.

“Y/N… I must ask this, for the sake of conflict mitigation in the future.” He leans toward you, his gaze so intense that you can hardly meet it. Concern is knitted into his brow, as if he’s been dreading if, or when, he should ask this question… this has been at the back of his mind, at least somewhat.

“… Do you fancy me?”

Chapter Text

Every body part of yours is screaming. You want to explode.

You know how severe of a breach of ethics this is. You didn’t want to be attracted to him, but maybe it just looked like nerves from his perspective. But then he started showing signs of maybe being attracted to you, and got more friendly and open about his personal life, and… and…

Your eyes sting.

“I-I’m sorry…”

He sighs, long and weary, as he thinks for a moment, though it feels like hours.

“… I see.”

You choke on a sob. “I-I didn’t want to h-hurt-”

He shakes his head, silencing you instantly. “Do not cry, please. Let’s discuss this at my desk.”

He holds out his palm, clearly beckoning you to climb on. Sniffling, you do so, without a second thought. That familiar, exhilarating rush of being held fills your mind, but in conjunction with the current context, it just makes everything between the table and the desk a blur.

He gently deposits you there and sits down, thinking some more. His hand is on his face, his finger atop his lip in some sort of self-soothing gesture.

“… I’m not upset with you, Y/N.”

“I know,” you whimper, still sniffling. “B-but I knew I wouldn’t be able to k-keep this up if we both f-figured it out, and…”

“The feeling is mutual.”

You blink away the tears, looking up at him in shock. “W-what?”

He’s pink, nearly red, not making eye contact; he seems upset with himself, more than you.

“… I am drawn to you, as well.”

There’s a silence that feels like centuries, only really broken by your stifled crying and sniffling.

“A-am I… am I fired?” you croak.

He shakes his head, clearly thinking hard. “Not… not yet.” he looks at you again. “We can resolve this… I think.”

“W-what do you mean?”

He leans in close, finally letting his hand rest a couple yards away from you, palm down. “Firstly… Do you wish to court me, Y/N?”

You blot your eyes with your shirt, a shuddering breath leaving your mouth. “I-I mean… if n-none of this was h-happening right now…”

“Indeed. In better conditions than this.”

You swallow, looking up at him as resolutely as you can. “… Y-yes.”

He sighs again. “Again, the feeling is mutual… but we must solve the other issues, first.”

He carefully reaches above you to grab a pen, and fetches a swimming pool-sized pad of paper from his drawer, looking it over. He’s clearly plotting something in his head; there’s a tactical glint to his eye intermingling with the bittersweet realization of the truth.

“When does your visa expire?”

You clear your throat, trying to think; this could go either very well or very poorly. “Uh… a year from now, roughly. I think.”

“Are you able to find alternative means of employment while under this visa?”

“… Y-yeah.” You think for a moment. “W-wait. So…”

“We would have to be frank with the rest of the staff when the time comes; in this scenario, transparency is paramount. But theoretically, if you can find a different means of employment within Kalos before your visa expires, then…” He sighs, hanging his head. “Ugh… What am I saying? This is crass. I was clearly infatuated before I hired you, but I somehow, moronically, hadn’t realized it yet. I-I shouldn’t be asking this of you-”

“N-no. I-I’ll do it.”

His eyes widen as he looks your way again. “… Truly?”

“I-I… I haven’t connected with someone this much… ever. A-and… maybe that just means I’m crazy… but…”

“You truly wish to make this work…” he sets down his pen and lays his head on the desk; you haven’t been this close to his face since that one night you fell into his bed. He’s holding back tears. “You understand the implications of this, right?… And you understand… what I am, yes?”

You cautiously stand up, approaching his face. You feel his soft, if ragged, breaths lightly ruffling your hair; you can see his pores. His one visible eye pleads for an answer, his massive hands bracing the edge of the desk.

“You’re… huge, and powerful, and potentially destructive. I know.” You take a breath. “I-I also know… you’re not as dangerous as everyone thinks you are. You’re… careful, and observant, and kind, and considerate… And maybe it took you a long time to become those things, but… that’s okay.”

“I simply… assumed that loving someone was impossible for me…” His hands slide under his chin as he regards you, slumping into himself. “Friendship, certainly… but pining… any love I had would be unrequited, surely.”

You approach, lightly touching his hand. You can feel the powerful tendons within tense up, uncertainty binding him.

“I’m… likely to outlive you, you know,” he continues, clearing his throat in an attempt to suppress tears. “Even if we sort this out in the short-term… in the long-term, I…”

“Nothing’s set in stone,” you say, tracing his finger up to his palm, feeling thousands of years of wear that have softened only slightly with the comforts he’s afforded himself. “I won’t force you to do anything, but… if you want me for the rest of my life… I’d love that.”

He deeply inhales and exhales through his nose. “Very well. But for now, we must remain simply cordial in public. And I cannot risk some clandestine romantic tryst being uncovered, so we probably ought not to escalate things too far in private, either. We mustn’t reveal things too soon… or at the very least, it should be on our own terms.”

“Yeah…” you slink back to your chair and sit again. “… So I will be fired, then?”

“… A change of employment, that is all.” He sits up, idly grabbing his pen again and fiddling with it as he thinks. “I will assist with locating new employment, though. I know of a few places who may be interested in your capabilities. I cannot ask them directly, but I can point you in their direction.”

You sulk a little, knees to your chest. “I had a whole event planned here…”

Something resembling a chuckle leaves his lips. “As I said, I am not casting you out. If you still wish to go forward with your plans, I shall not stop you. But… one year from now. That is our deadline. Hopefully we can resolve this sooner, but… we shall see.”

He writes down the words One Year on his pad, underlining it twice with two quick sweeps of his pen; he must have to really think about that, given how long he’s lived. Years must feel like months, or weeks even.

His free hand is right beside you… and without thinking much about it, you stand and embrace it, hanging on even as it twitches in surprise. He sets down his pen and slowly brings his other hand behind you, gently lifting you off the desk and closer to him. He lowers his head to look over you, both his hands cradling you like a precious stone. A soft, bittersweet smile adorns his lips, tugging at his smile lines.

You two stare at each other for a few moments, before he curses under his breath and chuckles ruefully.

“It doesn’t matter how much I learn… it seems I’ll always do the most foolish things to get my way.”

“W-well… if we both want it…” you say slowly, “… is it really that bad?”

He finally pulls his eyes away to look toward the door to his study, still securely shut… but there’s a window within it starting roughly 150 feet above the ground, too high for anyone else to look within besides… Floette.

“I suppose that’s up to the world beyond that door to decide.”

…

You leave his office shortly after, a swirling tempest of conflicting emotions. On one hand, a tension has been released, like steam from a kettle; but on the other hand, a new tension tugs at you, one even more binding.

You need to find somewhere else to work, as soon as possible, and make it look as not-suspicious as possible to boot. Considering how tight-knit and small the work force of Hotel Z already is, that’s gonna be difficult. But… despite it all, you start looking.

You have time, fortunately. A year at most; hopefully you can find something before then. You’re whittling away on job sites when a note slides under your door, in an envelope this time. You cautiously slink over and pick it up, admiring the bespoke wax seal for a moment before opening it.

Y/N,

Here are a few companies and locations to reach out to regarding our recent conversation:

• Coumarou Incense: a family-owned incense shop out of nearby Coumarine city that has been in the business for nearly 600 years. They’ve been looking to expand their reach into homemade soaps and perfumes, and are looking for someone to assist in marketing them to a new audience.

• Cerise Academy: A prestigious school that many Lumiose children attend. Being a private institution, they’re always looking for those willing to assist in spreading the word about them. They’re quite close by, in fact, only a few avenues away from Hotel Z.

• Shabboneau Castle: A small, humble castle out in the Kalos countryside. It recently opened its doors to more tourism, and I know its owner has been looking for assistance wherever necessary.

• Château Laverre: Another historic building, this time in Laverre City, just north of here; they serve as both a historical site and a bed-and-breakfast, and I have known the owners for some time as good friends.

These suggestions are as far as my aid can extend, unfortunately. But I do hope they are helpful; please keep me updated.

Warmly,

AZ

It’s a good start. Thanks, big guy. You peruse the web for each of them, and send over some emails…

…

It’s a couple hours later, as you’re writing your last email, that you notice a new one in your inbox.

From: [email protected]
Subject: A small favbor

Hello Y/N!

I’m sorrty for bothering you aboutr this, but could you gget some food from the dinnber buffet for me pleasr? I already orderefd some room service earlier but I’m still hungrty and I don’t feel comdfortable going out there yuet

PS: Sorry for typods

Serena

Oh goodness… yeah, you’re feeling hungry yourself, so you might as well join her. Poor girl…

You hurry over and pick up some food for yourself and Serena (a little extra for her, actually) and head back with a serving tray, precariously balancing the plates atop it with your own food in your other hand. You can’t knock in the conventional way, so you clumsily kick your foot against her large door a few times, hoping it’ll suffice.

Slowly, the door opens just a crack; it’s dark in there, but you can faintly see her silhouette outlined by a laptop monitor’s glow. She peers down at you, noticeably more bedraggled, and… much larger than last time, clearly having grown several feet; she’s hunched over, butting against the already high ceiling in there.

“Room service,” you say shyly, holding up the tray as best as you can.

“Oh, Arceus, thank you so much!” a huge hand emerges to take the food. “I’m so sorry for bothering you like this.”

“Nah, it’s fine…” you peer past her into the darkness. “You holding up okay?”

“Yeah, I’m… um…” she giggles awkwardly. “Waiting on clothes I ordered, that’s all. Should be here on Monday…”

You can see the outline of some sort of bedsheet toga draped over her, clearly doing her best given the circumstances.

“I getcha… you, uh, wanna eat with someone?” You’re not sure why you’re offering, but… this seems like a very lonely circumstance.

She thinks for a moment, before nodding, opening the door a little wider and shuffling out of the way. You slowly enter as she turns on the light, and the room’s quite a mess, with broken furniture and a dented lamp. She’s clearly done her best to keep it as clean as she can, but given the (relatively) limited space.

“S-sorry, um…” she sighs, sitting on the remains of her bed with her knees tight to her chest. “I haven’t been having as good of a week as I wanted…”

“No, you’re totally fine.” you scoot over one of the oversized pillows and sit next to her. “No judgement here. It’s been a little rough for me, too.”

You two eat in silence for a few minutes, just drinking in the shared exhaustion.

“… I grew five whole feet,” she whispers.

You hope you don’t look too shocked; you don’t want to hurt her feelings. “Arceus. That sucks. I’m so sorry.”

“That’s like a whole person… I’ve never grown that much at once before.” she finishes a plate before you’re a third of the way through yours, sighing. “I dunno what to do.”

You wouldn’t know what to do, either. “Does AZ know?”

She nods. “I told him the night I started feeling it; he said he’s gone through spurts that big in the past, too. Usually during a time of a lot of change in his life…” she slumps into her mattress. “And that… it usually took a decade for another one to show up, so that’s good I guess, but… ugh.”

You shyly pick at the seasoned rice on your plate. “I guess I assumed the people affected by the weapon were growing constantly… just slowly.”

She shakes her head, looking at her hand. “It’s big, painful bursts whenever it feels like it. I’ve tried not to think about it too much and go about my life, but… I don’t think I can do that now.”

“I’m sorry.”

She smiles weakly. “Thanks… I might be a little late on my end with the picnic prep, heh.”

You blink; you weren’t even thinking about that. “N-no worries. Don’t even- d-… I’ll figure it out.”

She chuckles a little. “Man… I wanted to go to Sushi High Roller on Saturday to celebrate. Guess I’ll have to change plans.”

“I’ve never heard of it.”

“It’s soooo good. I wanted to bring everyone, my treat, but… I dunno if I’d even fit through the door now.”

“I’m sure they do to-go, or takeout, or something.”

“Heh, maybe. The conveyor belt sushi is half the fun, though.”

Another lull in conversation. You’re not sure how to reassure her; you have no experience quite like this, besides, like… puberty. But this is nothing like puberty; she’s a grown woman, who will grow for the rest of her life like this. That’s… awful.

“How about you?” she says after a bit of silence. “You said things weren’t going great… wanna talk about it?

You freeze; all of your issues seem pretty trivial in the face of hers right now, but… she’s asking.

“Uh… w-well.” you clear your throat. “It’s nothing much, really. M-my brother’s here on his honeymoon, so I’m getting used to that, heh…”

She chuckles. “Ugh, family always makes things awkward.”

“Yeah… I miscalculated when they’d be coming, so I was caught off guard. They’ve never seen AZ in person before, so they both kinda…” You cringe remembering it.

“Oh, no,” she gasps.

“It’s fine.” you wave your hand. “I-I handled it. Just… awkward, like you said.”

“I bet…” She sits up again. “Anything else on your mind?”

‘Uh… well, I…” you swallow, trying to figure out how to word it. “I-I… I think I wanna work somewhere else… either at the same time as Hotel Z, or instead of it. I haven’t decided yet.”

Her eyebrows knit together in concern. “Oh. Really?”

“I-I’m not leaving you guys behind. Promise. I just… want to see if there’s more out there. Gig economy and all.”

Gosh, is there more out there… and you’re technically telling the truth. You don’t necessarily want to leave the hotel, given the housing market in Lumiose, so you’re hoping to negotiate a lease with AZ once you find a new job.

“I get you.”

“D-don’t… don’t tell anyone. I don’t wanna panic anybody.”

“Promise,” she says with a laugh, holding up her pinky for good measure.

You smile, if weakly. “Thanks…”

Yet another lull, as the two of you finish your food. It’s very good tonight, but you aren’t really thinking about that right now.

Oh Arceus, I’m gonna have to tell everyone here that I’m dating AZ at some point…

You try to push that aside for now, cleaning up your food and picking up whatever plates Serena’s done with.

“Oh! Th-thank you,” she stammers sheepishly, before counting the number of plates with a finger. “Gosh…”

“Don’t worry about it. I-I mean… It makes sense. Right?”

“I guess… still embarrassing.”

“Can’t help it if you’re hungry.” You smile lopsidedly. “Do you, uh, want me to let Rodrigo know? Or would you rather-”

“I-I’d like to do that on my own, yeah. Thanks for the offer. And for getting it in the first place.” she sighs. “I can try calling him, I guess… emailing didn’t go the way I wanted it to. I just got this laptop as a retirement gift, too.”

All you’ve been able to say to her is sorry, so you do it with your eyes this time as you open the door to head out.. “Hopefully you can figure things out, Serena.”

“… Thanks. You too.”

Chapter Text

The next day goes by in a bit of a blur, even with a lot of excitement happening by way of your brothers. You’re so focused on both the picnic planning and looking for a new job that you don’t pay as much mind to other matters… like your own family. But it is a nice break from talking to people constantly. Huddling in your room with the window open for some sunlight, eating leftovers and junk food… reminds you of a college weekend.

But on Saturday, you emerge from your cave a little earlier than usual to head down to breakfast, and see your brothers out in the lounge… as well as AZ. Your surprise comes not from him, necessarily, but from him being out in the dining lounge, specifically. It’s been so long since he’s been down here.

He seems to be striking up conversation with Noa and Dillon, which is a relief; they’ve gotten over their nerves around him, at least mostly.

“Mm, I tried to grow hibiscus out there, but Kalos must simply be too cold, even in the greenhouse,” AZ says— you only got a snippet of the conversation, but it seemed to be about tropical flowers before Noa perked up.

“Y/N!!” Noa beams, waving you over. “There you are!”

“Ah, good morning, Y/N,” AZ says, a warm and welcoming smile on your face. Perhaps coming out to eat in the lounge has been a boost to his confidence.

“Hey,” you shyly wave back, awkwardly shuffling to the buffet first. “I’ll be right over.”

Once you have your food, you join Noa and Dillon, laughing a bit at the grin on the former’s face.

“What? Why’re you smiling like that?”

“Well, you kinda vanished yesterday,” he replies. “I was worried about you.”

“Heh… don’t. I’m fine. Just… working on a project.”

Both of your brothers raise their eyebrows expectantly, and you laugh.

“I’m not telling you!! I still have to pitch it to Monsieur AZ!” That elicits a laugh from the man himself.

“Whatever it is, I am eagerly awaiting its arrival,” he says.

You look up at him with a smile, trying not to look too eager about the compliment. Hopefully you’re not blushing… “So, what’d I miss?”

“Oh, I was just talking about the photo ops here,” Dillon says. “Lots of beautiful flowers that don’t grow in Alola.”

Right. Dill is a hobbyist photographer when off work— though ‘hobbyist’ is a strong word, as he’s arguably better than you, despite you having taken formal classes on photography. You felt honored when he asked you to take some pics of the wedding, given the perceived gulf in skill. Since he's an engineer at his day job, he’s far more in the technical weeds of photography than you are.

“Yeah, it’s really nice here,” you say. “Especially south of here, apparently. I’ve been meaning to travel a little.”

“Lumiose is pretty big, all by itself,” Noa remarks. “I could imagine spending a month just in this city.”
“Indeed. Lumiose was once the largest city in the world,” AZ says. “It was only overtaken… hm. A hundred years ago, roughly.”

“A hundred fifty two,” you say. “I-I only know that because I was working there when that anniversary was kicking off, heh.”

“Well, yesterday was our jet lag day, so we’ll still have a full week to check out as much as we can,” Dill says. “I have a whole itinerary planned, here on my phone.”

Noa chuckles. “We’ll see if we follow that plan.” That remark receives daggers from Dillon, which only makes him laugh even more.

You chat with Noa and Dillon for a little while more; they’re about to take the train to Parfum Palace, though, so they’re not around much longer before you’re left alone with AZ.

The giant smiles warmly to you, before his eyes flit upwards, cautiously scanning the hallway behind you. At least you’re not the only one slightly on edge, being out in the open.

“When are you planning to present your project?” He asks.

“Uh… Monday was the original plan, but I dunno if we’ll make it by then. Serena was gonna do some preliminary talks with people in town, but given what she’s going through, we’re a little behind…” You shift awkwardly in your seat, trying to stop your leg from bouncing.

“Ah, this is a team effort?”

“S-sorta. Heh.”

“I can tie up loose ends, if the need arises… and if I like your idea.” he smirks.

You breathe out a laugh, rubbing your neck. You’re not sure if you want him to approve it or not, now— would it just make things seem more suspicious?

You then notice a procession of Pokémon trailing toward you from the hallway; Floette is their leader, with two other Floette, Vaporeon, Chikorita and Cutiefly following behind.

“Ah, good morning, friends. Off to the greenhouse?” the giant asks. Floette nods with a little chirp.

Cutiefly is momentarily distracted from his following by your presence, buzzing over and tittering excitedly.

“Heheh, morning, little man!” you give him some scratches— his little legs turn into noodles when you pet him under the chin. “Have fun in there! It’s wonderful.”

“Do take care around the pansies, Vaporeon,” AZ remarks. “I believe I overwatered them yesterday.”

The water Pokémon barks in reply, heading down the stairs with everyone else… except one.

Cutiefly is thoroughly distracted by you, gently jabbing at your cheek with his proboscis while seemingly recounting his adventures yesterday in his buzzy little language. It seems he was thoroughly social, unlike you.

“C’mon, bud. Your friends are over there.” You gently boop his butt in the direction of the greenhouse, and he buzzes sadly before slinking off… or at least he would, if he didn’t zip back to nuzzle you one more time.

AZ chuckles. “It seems you two will have to catch up after your shifts.”

“Yeah, I guess so… Alright. Goodbye, Cutiefly.” you give him a gentle peck on the top of his head, and once again usher him away. He zips quickly toward the rest of the Pokémon, waiting eagerly for Floette to open the door.

“Precious…” He thinks for a moment. “How large is he?”

“Uh, around four inches or so?”

He scoffs in amazement. “Most people look around half that size to me… At times, especially while I am in the hotel, I need to remind myself that I am an outlier.”

“Yeah, I suppose that makes sense… You, uh, want some perspective the other way around?”

He laughs. “Perhaps.”

“Well… your hands are both about the size of my uncle’s boat. Maybe a little bigger, actually.”

He smirks, using those same massive hands to pick up his coffee mug. “Perspective, indeed…”

You perk up, hearing another in-progress conversation down the hallway.

“Ugh, I need to figure out what to do tonight, or this weekend’s gonna suck.”

“Well, I have a monthly budget to fill out, expense reports, inventory logs from Paxton…”

“That’s how you’re spending your weekend?”

“Tch, why, do you want to help?- … oh.”

Both Seth and Desirée round the corner, thoroughly surprised to see their boss there as well as they balk.

“Good morning,” AZ rumbles, taking their surprise in stride. “I’m resuming my usual routine today.”

“I see,” Seth says stiffly, embarrassed, while Desirée averts her eyes and hurries to grab some food. You wave to her, but she doesn’t seem to be paying attention… Seth simply pours himself some coffee, and you can practically see the numbers bouncing around in his head to distract himself.

You attempt to wave at Desirée again— Arceus, this is embarrassing— and actually catch her attention. She smiles brightly, if possibly half-heartedly, and heads to your table.

“Heyyy~!” she chirps, fixing her hair after sitting down. “A little Delibird told me you’ve got a project cooking!”

“Heh… I dunno how it’s spreading so much-”

“I told her.” Seth sits across from you— that’s a surprise. “None of the specifics, but she’s been pestering me since I left my room.”

You glance up at AZ— he seems to be minding his own business, looking out into the greenhouse and nursing his coffee.

“I-I’m a little behind, truth be told,” you admit. “I was supposed to get some more specifics from Serena, but with her, uh… out of commission, I dunno if we’ll meet the Monday goal.”

“Do what you can,” Seth replies curtly. “We can sort out things if it’s approved.”

Desirée scoffs. “When, Sethy. Be positive!”

“Do not call me that.”

“Uh, either way,” you interject before a fight breaks out, “It’s the weekend. We should relax a little.”

“That much I can endorse,” AZ says; ah, he was eavesdropping, just a little bit. Your conversation partners flinch at his voice; understandable, given their backs were to him. “Your training is complete, we only have a few guests to attend to now, and the city as a whole is… breathing a sigh of relief after the tournament. Take the time to rest.”

“Oh, I know— we should battle, Y/N,” Desirée says with a wry grin. “Now that all the tryhard trainers are outta here, we can use the courtyard.”

You blink. “Uh, I dunno…”

“I can referee,” Seth says.

“I-I dunno if Cutiefly is cut out for battling. He’s just a baby still, and he’s the only Pokémon I have, and…”

“Well, you won’t know until you try!”

You sigh. “I guess. I-I also haven’t really… battled before. Besides, Cutiefly’s working.” You glance toward the greenhouse.

“We can teach you!” Desirée says.

“Right. It would be informative to me, at least,” Seth says. “A test of your endurance in an unfamiliar environment.”

You shrug nervously. “I guess… maybe sometime soon.”

…

You never got around to battling with Desirée; hopefully you didn’t hurt her feelings. But it’s not like she reached out again after that, either…

Regardless, you relax that weekend in your own way: reading, listening to music, walking around Lumiose, drawing, that sort of thing. You purposefully don’t check your email that whole weekend, not even for the off-chance that AZ sends you something (he’s more prone to sending letters under your door, anyways). You have time to relax, to plan, to bring a little confidence your way. Any time spent on work is oriented around, well, the picnic; thinking about it, adding to your slides, et cetera. Nothing too overwhelming.

It’s refreshing… until Monday actually comes around.

Now, after dinner, you’re assembling everyone near AZ’s study, trying to look more confident than you are in your pitch. You’ve been feverishly going over the details with Seth this morning— he seems, at the very least, eager to get it over with— and you should have nothing to worry about. Should.

Serena’s here too, in new clothes and looking a lot better— your other coworkers are a little surprised to see how she’s grown, but you’d gotten used to it. Taunie’s already headed in there to get the projector set up, bless her; you weren’t sure how you’d possibly make this visible to AZ otherwise.

“Were you able to get everything ready?” Serena asks you in a hushed voice, sitting against the wall as she waits on everyone.

“… Mostly,” you say with a little laugh. “Enough that I think he’ll be confident, at least.”

“That’s good! Just about all you need, really.” she giggles.

Soon enough, everyone’s here, which is as much a relief as it is more pressure. You can hear and feel AZ shuffling in his office, even from a few hundred feet away; he must be ready, too.

You hurry over and usher everyone to follow, nervously peering into his study through the crack in the door: it’s like a cave in there with the blinds down, but there’s enough light from the projector to see decently enough.

AZ is seated in the armchair with Floette on his shoulder, watching the far wall with quiet anticipation, and the projector is next to him on the side table. You hurry up there, only really taking stock of the dizzying height of the table once you can see people below you. Once everyone’s inside, Golurk pushes the door to the study fully closed, plunging the room into further darkness.

“Can I just plug my laptop in?” You ask Taunie, who’s by the projector.

“Yep.” she hands you the remote once you’re set up. “You ready?”

In a circumstance where you weren’t presenting to AZ of all people, you’d say yes in a heartbeat. But now…?

“Ready as I’ll ever be.”

She jogs down the stairs, and he looks down to you, gesturing toward you with a soft smile.

“The floor is yours, then.”

…

You’re glad you’ve somewhat memorized the slides, as everything goes by smoothly, but you kind of don’t process it at the moment. Premise, budget, logistics, location, food, entertainment, it all whizzes by in a blur, despite taking at least a minute or two on each slide. Maybe the burning plastic smell from the projector is making you lightheaded…

All the while, AZ simply nods and hums, engaged, but guarded. Floette’s reacting plenty, seemingly excited, but his hand is obscuring his mouth, so you can’t quite gauge how he’s feeling until…

“So…” you click to the last slide, taking a deep breath and hearing quiet applause from below. “Thoughts? Questions?”

His hand falls to his side, and he’s smiling. He chuckles a little.

“Of all the ways to pull me out of my comfort zone, this is one of the better ideas.”

You feel your face go numb for a moment as you process what he said. “S-so, um…”

“I quite like it.” He intertwines his hands, thinking. “… Let’s move forward with this.”

You hear louder applause below; Rodrigo whoops, Desirée cheers, and you even hear Floette trill excitedly. You feel like you’re gonna melt into a puddle, especially given how he’s looking at you.

“I’ll make the necessary phone calls, and assist where needed,” he continues. “I’m not entirely sure if we can manage Centrico Plaza as the location, since events are held there fairly regularly, but I’ll see what I can do.”

“W-would Centrico be okay with you?”

He nods. “It’d certainly be a risk. But… I’m willing to take that risk, I think. Especially if it means Lumiose City gets to see Hotel Z in a positive light… or any light at all, frankly.”

You feel your shoulders relax for the first time in… hours, really.

“Thank you, everyone!” You call down from your perch.

“Indeed, thank you for attending. You’re dismissed.”

He stands and opens the door, everyone filters out, you unplug your laptop, and… you help yourself to a collapse into the chair on AZ’s table. He chuckles.

“You’re a natural, Y/N,” he remarks, glancing at Taunie as she winds up the stairs.

“This isn’t a boardroom like I’m used to,” you wheeze, arranging your limp body to face him again. He simply laughs.

“Ah, you’ll grow used to it. I’m easier to please than I look, or so I’ve heard.”

You watch Taunie as she works on the projector. “How old is that thing? It smelled like it was going to catch fire.”

“Only a few years old…” she sniffs it, recoiling. “Yeesh. Yeah, might need to get a different one.”

“Ah, so that’s where that odor was coming from… I’m sure that did no favors for your anxiety,” he remarks, eyes sympathetic. “But you did splendidly.”

“Thanks,” you groan, finally sitting up a bit. Floette flits over to hug you, and you oblige with a soft chuckle, before helping Taunie stow away the projector. After that, you watch her open the blinds— it’s mid-evening by now— and alight on AZ’s hand, chirping quickly and gesturing.

“Mm, good idea. Go on ahead,” he says quietly, letting her fly off to… who-knows-where.

Once you two are truly alone… he offers his hand out as a platform.

“Floette wishes to visit the shore for a little bit, through the greenhouse. Do you wish to join us?”

You blush, knitting your hands together. Watching the sunset from the beach sounds… wonderful, but…

“Th-this isn’t a… ‘romantic tryst’?” you ask, paraphrasing his words.

He shakes his head. “No, no, nothing untoward like that. Simply an invitation for a friend. A friend who… desperately needs some rest, from the looks of it. No offense.”

“None taken,” you say, standing and carefully stepping onto his hand. “Gosh, I spent the whole weekend resting and I’m still wiped.”

“Completely understandable,” he says, bringing his other hand over to cradle you gently; you can feel your heart thudding against your ribcage, as if it wants to escape and embrace him. Your own hands feel tingly, but you try to hold steady as he moves.

“Ah, Floette!… Yes, I’m coming- oh?”

You tense up; you look up to see Floette’s face peering down at you, then turning toward AZ. From the space between his fingers, you make out that he’s just as surprised as you are.

“Is it… alright if they join us?” he asks sheepishly.

She thinks for a moment, but nods, chirping excitedly. She does insist on joining you in his hand, however; you chuckle as you cautiously move aside in his palm, the sensation of walking across his skin still… strange, but comforting.

He stands, freeing a hand to grab his cane and turn the doorknob to the first floor, right across from the lounge; you can just barely peer out of his hand, even as he holds you firmly against his chest, cautious as ever. Floette glances down at you, and you hope you’re not beet-red.

“I-I’m okay,” you say meekly, squirming just a little. “J-just… not used to this like you are.”

That elicits a giggle from the flower Pokémon, who drifts away just as AZ lowers his hand to set you down. Solid ground; you feel the slightest bit of reluctance to hop off, strangely, but you do, readjusting to the ground faster than in the past.

I hope it’s not bad that I’m getting used to this…

He strides over you— it’s remarkable how every part of him rattles you to your core, from his footsteps, to his voice, to his heartbeat. It’s… so soothing, oddly.

“After you,” he says, opening the door to the greenhouse with a warm smile.

Chapter Text

Entering the greenhouse again is wonderful, though you know it’s not the purpose of your visit. The plants have been watered hours ago, tended to delicately by Cutiefly and the others. No, you’re interested in going out the door opposite you, toward the coast.

AZ promptly excuses himself and hops through the trap door, and you carefully make your way out of the greenhouse in a more… conventional manner. Even hundreds of feet above him, you can feel his quaking footsteps rattle up your spine.

The sea breeze is the first thing you notice emerging from the structure, alongside long grass gently tickling your ankles. To your left, a few dozen feet away, is a small cottage, evidently vacant based on the dim windows; that must be where Cynthia stays. The ocean just ahead of you is starting to turn amber along its far edge, as the sun descends on the horizon. You quickly jog to keep pace with the giant beneath you (despite how futile an effort that is… still, you don’t want to keep him waiting too long).

As you approach the edge of the cliff, you see his shock of white hair below; it’s still strange to see him from above. You cautiously peer down the edge, just as his gaze turns up to meet you.

“Ah, I suppose there’s no easy way down on your own…”

“I-I wouldn’t risk climbing down, no.”

“Heh, heavens, no. Here.”

His hand rises to the cliff’s edge, and you board it, that exhilarating feeling once again sending tingles through your whole body; his thumb is lightly, but securely pressed against your torso as he brings you down, a new sensation that’s oddly… comforting.

For a moment, you’re eye-level with the giant, as his thumb lifts off of you and he inspects you carefully— you’re fine, and he’s satisfied, his visible eye creasing with a smile. His great head turns toward the horizon, and you mirror him.

“Ah… it’s been far too long since I’ve allowed myself near this beach.”

“How come?”

He hums, holding you gently as he takes a few steps toward the shore— a few is all he needs before he’s practically there. “I… was seen by a fishing vessel a few months ago. I think we frightened each other, frankly… but regardless, I’ve been cautious to return.”

He carefully sets you down in the sand, before sitting himself down and crossing his legs, a deep exhale producing another resonant hum as his shoulders relax. Floette’s already flitting about, examining the shells that wash ashore.

You sit beside him… there’s a barely-visible outline of an island far in the distance, but otherwise the vista of the sunset is unimpeded, the water a deep purple, steadily transitioning to orange as the sun draws near.

“As grateful as I am that the auras have given me the opportunity to settle down… I grow restless, sometimes.” He leans back on his hands, watching the sky above slowly turn dark behind him. “I wonder what lies beyond the shores of this continent…”

‘I’m sure there’s some people out there who’d help you find out,” you reply.

“Heh… perhaps. Auras know I wouldn’t dare swim across…”

“Do you know how?”

“I’m told many people nowadays do, but that was not the norm, in my youth. I haven’t tried in… some time.” he leans forward again, dusting off the sand on his palms. “I’m… not keen to test my buoyancy at this size, anyways.”

You chuckle. “That’s fair. I guess, living in Alola, I’m used to most people around me knowing how to get across water safely.”

“Mm… perhaps one of those grand cargo ships could ferry me across to Galar,” he says, pointing westward with a little laugh.

You laugh along. “Hey, you never know… I get stir-crazy too, if I’m in one place too long.”

“… Are you homesick?”

“N-no, not yet. My brothers being here has helped, heh.” you absentmindedly take a handful of sand, watching as it sifts through your fingers and leaves behind pebbles and strands of dried grass. It’s coarser than the sand back home, grittier, but beautiful in its own way. “Just… I dunno. Maybe I’m too curious for my own good, sometimes.”

“Hm. Once again, we are similar, in that regard.”

The sun is now just touching the horizon, the water cast to a vivid orange.

“I’ve probably seen hundreds of sunsets, but they never get old,” you muse.

He nods… before briefly counting across his knuckles, calculating something, and then blushing.

“What’s wrong?”

“… I’ve likely seen over a million of them,” he says quietly, recalculating with an invisible abacus to make sure. “Yes, that’s… that’s right. And yet… I’ve only rediscovered their beauty fairly recently.”

As if on cue, Floette floats over and rests on his shoulder, leaning against his hair as she, too, watches the sunset.

Three thousand years… it’s almost an unfathomable length of time. You’ve barely lived 1/100th of that, and it’s been a long time to get here. You can’t really imagine that kind of time-scale; it’s about as meaningless as a million years, in your eyes. Civilizations have risen and fallen in the time he’s been alive; islands have formed, trees have fully grown and died, cities have built up and crumbled into ruins. He’s seen it all… and what have you seen, really? Not much.

You’re so much younger… so much smaller… so much weaker…

And yet he loves me, somehow.

How? I’m barely a speck to him, physically, chronologically…

You… sort of wonder if he’s thinking the same thing, in reverse. It’s hard to see his face from where you’re seated, but he’s been quiet for a while, just watching… and so have you.

Soon enough, though, perhaps too soon, the sun is devoured by the horizon, an invisible Solgaleo, and bit by bit its warmth dissipates from the sky, both in color and in temperature. Only a few of the stars are visible this early in the night, but even still, you watch him lean back again, his elbows hitting the sand with a great crash before his head does just the same. His legs unfurl into two great fallen pillars, one of them bending up into a small hill as the other extends toward the shore.

He could be mistaken for a part of the rocks, in the dark of night, if it weren’t for the glimmer of wonder in his eyes, as he looks toward the ever-shifting sky. You stand up to join him a little closer to his head, and he lifts it just slightly to see you.

“Oh! pardon me,” he says, moving his enormous braid out of your way and coiling it behind his head.

“So much sand in your hair,” you remark, incredulous.

He chuckles. “It will come out in time.”

Floette sits atop his chest, acting almost as a corsage, trilling wistfully as she casts her gaze skyward.

“I suppose these must be different stars than you’re used to,” he muses as you settle beside him.

“I guess so… I’d never really thought about it, but yeah.”

“I had to study them for hours on end in my youth… at my mother’s behest.” a wry smile creases his cheeks. “And then she’d have the gall to wonder why I was tired in the morning…”

You burst into giggles. “Sounds like my 8AM professors back in college.”

He chuckles in turn. “Ah, I suppose… but she taught me so much. I cherish her memory. If it weren’t for her… well, I doubt I’d come to recognize the stars as eternal friends, like I do now.”

Eternal… there’s that word again. It makes sense that he’d find solace in the things that stay the same; sure, stars are born, and they die, but it’s on a scale far beyond even him.

You wonder if… at some point, he’ll grow so big that he becomes a star.

“Hm… yeah, I don’t really recognize any of these stars,” you say, attempting to brush away that frightening thought.

“Well, I usually gravitate to the Gardevoir constellation first. It’s to your left, a little lower in the sky.”

You look, squinting a little, and sure enough, you can make out a dress-like shape.

“Oh, yeah…”

“From there… Arcanine is right of her, and Ursaring is above Arcanine.” He holds up his hand, seemingly measuring the distance between his finger and thumb, chaining between two stars one after the other. “There are many more, but those three are my anchors, as well as the most prominent ones this early in the night.”

“Yeah, I see that. Where I’m from, we mostly see Tauros, Palkia, and Toucannon.”

He hums. “I’ve only seen those during excursions to the southernmost areas of Paldea; we’re merely acquaintances.”

Your gaze shifts from the stars to… well, him. He is a mountain before you, but hardly insurmountable; he’s perhaps the most approachable person you’ve ever met, once the initial fear fell away. Even now, reckoning with his size up close, it’s… hardly the deterrent it ought to be, logically speaking.

You feel a pang of envy towards Floette’s position atop his chest; hopefully she’s receptive to sharing a spot up there someday. Your eyes turn back to the stars, as one by one they show themselves across the darkening tapestry of the night sky…

And then you hear AZ start to snore.

Floette trills in surprise, and you jump, sitting up as well. His eyes are closed, seemingly sound asleep. It’s confirmed when his head lolls toward you, and you hurry out of the way as it crashes into the sand. He seems content, at least, but this is… problematic.

“Uh… Boss?”

No answer.

“Floette, what do we do?”

She thinks for a moment, tapping him on the nose, tugging on a lock of hair… no response. She drifts down beside you, puzzled… until she gets a glimpse of the ocean.

You look at the water, then back to her.

“… Is that a good idea?”

She giggles, motioning for you to back up, and you do, giving a wide berth, lest this gets seismic.

She floats over to the ocean, her flower’s petals closing into a bowl as she scoops some water into it; it must be 20 gallons at least. She slowly drifts to his face, and tips the bud over…

“PFFBT! GLEFHB!!”

AZ sputters, coughing and shooting upright quickly, instinctually wiping water off his face with both hands. “FLOETTE!!”

She bursts into giggles, faux-hiding behind you as she watches her companion grumble.

You have to admit… It's quite funny.

“I don’t appreciate you copying Cynthia’s tricks, Floette,” he growls, clearing his throat and fixing his bowtie before looking down to you; his fringe is all wet and stringy, something that clearly bothers him.

Okay, now you can’t help but laugh.

“Oh, auras, not you too…” he’s trying to be grumpy, but a smile creeps onto his face. “Terribly sorry for dozing off. I’ve gotten used to being able to sleep just about anywhere…”

“Heheh, it’s fine. Probably best we headed back, anyway.”

He playfully blows some hair out of his mouth. “Indeed… I need a shower.”

…

Okay, step one: Location, location, location.

Once we nail down where the picnic is happening, everything will fall into place, but that will take some bureaucratic gymnastics.

AZ’s handling a lot of it, thankfully, but you get a few emails from confused and disgruntled members of Lumiose’s governing body, and being PR, you have to sort those out, as well. It’s… a headache, to say the least. How do so many people in this city’s government not know there’s a giant mage living in their city?

A few days later, you get an early morning email from AZ— oh, it looks like it’s to everyone on staff.

From: [email protected]
Subject: Notice of Risk Assessment Survey

Esteemed employees,

At around 10:00 AM today, a Risk Assessment Crew from the Lumiose City Municipal Bureau will be arriving to speak with me regarding the planned picnic event. Please be prepared to speak with them, and to show your Pokémon to them if necessary. It is my hope that this will not be intrusive to our current guests, so be on your best behavior.

Warmly,

AZ

You hear Seth scoff at his desk across from you.

“You get it, too?” you ask dryly.

He rolls his eyes. “Yes… Medicham is not going to like this. It’s cutting into his meditation time.”

“If it helps, Monsieur AZ is probably thinking the same thing about Torkoal… even if he’s not even gonna be there.”

That produces a single laugh out of him. “Yeah, I guess so.”

You look at the clock; It's 9:30. They’re probably gonna be here any minute now…

Sure enough, 15 minutes later, the door opens.

“Uh… guys?”

Serena pokes her head in— that’s about all she can fit inside a standard door, now, without turning awkwardly. “Sorry to bother you, I-I can’t check my email right now. But, uh, there’s guys with ladders at the service door asking to be let in?”

“Yeah, we just got an email about it.” You turn your monitor. “‘Risk Assessment’.”

She huffs. “Alright… thanks.”

“No prob. Uh, also, he said to keep our Pokémon handy, in case they pose a ‘risk’ too.”

She thinks for a moment, crinkling her nose. “No more of a risk than any other Champion’s Pokémon… whatever. Thanks, Y/N.”

She leaves, and your mind wanders. What exactly are they going to do? Measure him? Weigh him? Ask if he’s destroyed a building in the past year? If they’ve brought ladders, surely something is up…

“Tch, the mayor’s secretary is blowing up my inbox,” Seth grumbles. “Can I forward them to you? You’re the PR guy.”

You blink. “Uh, y-yeah. Sorry.”

It’s when you look back at your email that you see a new one— once again from AZ, but only to you.

From: [email protected]
Subject: Notice of Risk Assessment Crew— Addendum

Y/N,

As project head, I imagine the Risk Assessment crew would want to speak with you. Are you able to be present in my office while they evaluate? You will be accompanied by Serena, as well.

Warmly,

AZ

Oh… yeah, you can do that. Though you suspect this is mostly a sanity check on his part, given they’ll likely be asking way-too-invasive questions. You hope they know that he’s human, like them… just… cursed? Is that the right word?… Burdened.

He’s not a monster, at the very least. And you desperately hope they don’t treat him like one.

You scoot across the hall to his office, peeking inside; he’s in there, at his laptop and trying to keep composed, though you can feel his foot tapping under his desk from the vibrations it’s sending through the floor, which tells you it’s a bit of a struggle. Floette’s not present at the moment, tending to the greenhouse downstairs, which only compounds the issue.

“Hey,” you call out, equally anxious; he starts slightly and focuses on you, smiling wearily and closing the laptop.

“Good, many thanks… I really ought to have a bell or something beside my door, heh.”

You chuckle, maneuvering around his desk— you’ve never been back here before. “Sorry… uh, not to make you more anxious, but…”

“They’re here? Yes, Serena told me. Thank you.” He slumps onto one hand. “I cannot decide whether staying at my desk or standing beside the door would be more intimidating; the last thing I need is a frightened government official.”

You cringe, though you doubt he’d be able to see that. “Yeah, uh… I’ll meet them at the door, maybe? I dunno if-”

“He’s right this way,” you hear Serena say as a half-dozen people filter into AZ’s office; indeed, there’s a few ladders, some rope, some strange devices, and… ah. A Corviknight, who locks eyes with AZ instantly and puffs up its metallic feathers in terror.

Too late, you think.

Chapter Text

Thankfully, it seems Serena had the foresight to fetch Floette, who floats toward AZ as he stands from his chair; he almost immediately softens, circling the desk and approaching the group carefully. You follow as closely behind as your comparably little legs can bear, coming to a stop beside him, in front of the doorway.

“Good morning,” he says, kneeling before them. “And welcome. I understand this is… perhaps quite the undertaking for this city.”

“Only insofar as getting you to Centrico Plaza, sir,” the official at the front says, a woman with a short red bob. “With construction occurring on two major avenues, we need to be pragmatic.”

“I understand… so!” he clasps his hands together, and however softly he meant that action to be, it still results in everyone flinching from the sound. “What do you need from me, firstly?”

“Measurements, primarily,” she says, motioning to the gear her fellows are carrying.

You feel the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. “Measurements of what, if I may ask?”

They all turn to face you, and you realize you’re very easily ignored in lieu of… him. You swallow.

“S-sorry. Um, I’m Y/N, and I’m heading this event.”

“Maurine,” the woman at the front says. “And while it won’t be comprehensive, we have to ensure he’ll fit between the streets.”

“I appreciate your concern, Y/N,” AZ rumbles, and you flinch at his voice for the first time in a while. “But I am perfectly content to let them take whatever steps are deemed necessary. I don’t wish to cause any more trouble than I… already do.”

You slowly nod. “… Okay.”

Just want to make sure they’re treating you like a human being, sir…

You step aside, and they get to work, the Corviknight flying up and placing some devices on the bookshelves; you realize they’re scanners when the faintest green laser emits from them, hitting the opposite wall. They ask AZ to stand up as straight as he can against that wall, and he obliges, squinting at the light show that ensues afterwards.

“205 feet, 2 inches,” one of the technicians calls out, and the rest write that down.

“Ah, really?” AZ looks at them. “I wonder where that extra two feet came from…”

The technicians pause.

“Is continuous growth something we need to worry about, Monsieur?” Maurine asks.

He chuckles nervously. “Ah, no, no… I doubt it will happen again before the picnic.”

“It, uh… happens in bursts every few years,” Serena says. “Ask me how I know, heh…”

“Is that a knee brace, Monsieur AZ?” one of them asks.

“Ah, yes. My knee is only a concern if I’m on my feet for multiple hours at a time, or traveling a long distance.” He scratches his chin. “I shall be seated for the majority of the event, and from here to Centrico is… not a long distance.”

“I’m guessing that cane over there is a mobility aid?”

“Mm. I would like to bring it with me, but I doubt I’ll need it much…”

From there, it’s a volley of questions, answers, and measurements, and you attempt to reign in the more invasive ones— no, he probably won’t need to take off his shoes at the picnic. Is asking him to balance on one foot for a whole minute really necessary? It’s exhausting, and Serena’s cringing right alongside you.

“Hang in there,” she whispers, and you try to take it to heart. You two have gotten to know him closely, and while you’d argue Urbain and Taunie know him better than you do currently, you still understand why he wanted your help.

Floette’s playing support, as well, though it’s clear she’s not thrilled that her companion’s being grilled like this; she objects to them climbing up him with the ladders, for example, and a compromise is worked out involving the Corviknight.

Finally, they let the giant take a break, and he simply sits on the floor, attempting to keep his composure… though, he does look a little tired, and miffed. Floette’s doing his best to console him, leaning into his shoulder.

“Say, Maurine,” one of the techs says, pointing to the end of his braid. “… is that gonna be an issue?”

“His hair?” you ask.

“Oh, Arceus, maybe…” she sighs. “Specifically, that it touches the ground when you sit, Monsieur.”

He peers down at the tech, who staggers back when he reaches toward his braid to pick it up. “I see… it could be rather uncontrollable in how it moves, I suppose.”

“Far be it from me to tell you to cut it,” Maurine says, in a rare bit of leniency. “But… is there a way to style it so that it’s out of the way?”

He hums, wrapping the end around his finger. “… I’ll experiment.”

“Wait. Ohmygosh wait,” Serena whispers. You’ve never seen her this excited— near-literal stars in her eyes.

“What?”

She leans closer. “I’ve wanted to style all that hair so bad…”

You take a closer look at it; long, silky, healthy white hair, and literally over a hundred feet of it. You’ve had intrusive thoughts about it, too, but it’s usually too far away to even reach it.

You have to admit, though, it’s tempting. “Yeah… I get you.”

“Right?! Floette usually helps him just braid it, but there’s so much potential-”

“Do you two have objections?” Maurine asks loudly, and you two freeze like Deerling in headlights. AZ eyes Serena knowingly, and she looks away, unable to suppress a bashful smile.

“I’ll allow you two to have input, if you desire,” he says, smiling wryly.

Your fingers are numb. Hopefully you don’t look as blushy as you feel… doubtful, but you can hope.

…

Finally, at last, they’re gone, off to talk to the other staff; when you told them that your only Pokémon was a Cutiefly, they seemed unbothered by the risks he could cause, which was a relief. He’d probably get overstimulated, and would definitely run away if he saw that Corviknight. Biggest risk to the picnic itself is him sipping from people’s drinks.

You excuse yourself to your room, a (hopefully) less stressful place to work. You open your laptop to check your email; you finally have a confirmed date for the picnic, which is good; 3 weeks from now, on a Saturday. That’s basically perfect; you have time to order everything and get everything organized, while it’s still soon enough to not let the dread build up too much.

While you’re sorting through your emails, you stumble across one that makes your heart skip a beat.

From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Notice of Interest in Employment Opportunities

Hello Y/N,

I hope this message finds you well. I personally have looked over your resume, and I am thoroughly impressed by your credentials. I would like to schedule an interview with you later this month; what dates are most accessible for you? Please send me your thoughts, though keep in mind that the school schedule means that I will likely be busy from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM most days.

Sincerely,

Headmistress Donna Anemone
Cerise Academy

Whoa… that’s big. Coumarou Incense rejected you— mostly on the basis of not knowing you personally, though they gave you their best wishes— and you haven’t heard back from the other dozen or so places you’ve applied to. This is so uplifting, even though the context around it is fraught with tension.

Your chances of staying here in spite of everything have increased.

You start typing a response, but are promptly jolted by a knock at the door. You shut your laptop and hurry over, and… oh, it’s Noa.

“Hey,” he says.

“Oh! Hi,” you breathe, unsure why your shoulders were so tense. “What’s up?”

“Just checking in.” His eyes flit around your room. “Saw you walk past the lounge with a thousand-yard stare, and figured you needed a sanity check.”

You laugh sheepishly. “It’s, uh… yeah. Lotta stuff happening lately…”

You stand aside and let him in; Cutiefly is passed-out on your bed’s pillow, which you’ll have to remember to flip over tonight so you don’t go into a sneezing fit.

“How’s Dillon?”

“He’s alright. Just napping. We did a walking tour of Lumiose.”

“Oh, Arceus. Sit down!” you motion to one of your chairs, sitting in the other. He laughs, brushing you off with a hand gesture despite taking the invitation and settling into the chair. “Your feet must be killing you.”

“Hah, not really, but thanks.” he rolls his shoulders a few times, really easing into the chair. “It was fun, though. Lotta stuff to do. We’ll have to come back someday.”

You nod. “Yeah, I hope you do. I’ll hopefully know more about the region by then, heh.”

There’s a lull in the conversation… one you know will be filled with a question of what’s going on.

“So… what’s going on?” Ugh.

“Um… Just… y’know, event planning and stuff… spinning plates…”

“Mmhmm.”

It’s hard to look at him. You’re usually the one checking in on him; he’s a risk-taker, taking spills from hiking or betting on his stomach for alcohol and losing, so it’s weird to be the one on the receiving end of the sibling interrogation.

“Y’sure it’s not something else?” he asks.

You nod quickly— too quickly. “I’m okay.”

“… Y/N.”

You take a deep breath, crossing your arms. “… Look. I really don’t wanna talk about it.”

“‘Kay, if you say so,” he says, leaning back and raising his hands. “But you know you can tell me anything… right?”

You nod. “Yeah, just… not this. Not right now.”

“And this isn’t gonna eat you alive if you don’t tell anyone?”

You sigh. He’s good at this. Probably learned it from you… or Gramps.

“I’m sure I’ll tell you eventually, But… it’s still kinda raw right now. I-I still…” you purse your lips. “It’s awkward, and weird, and I’m really embarrassed about it…”

He leans forward again. “I promise I won’t tell anyone else. If that helps.”

You look back at him, thinking. If word gets out, at best, it’s confined to Poni Island, and you have nothing to worry about here in Kalos. At worst… all of your colleagues know, before either you or AZ are ready.

“I-I’m looking for a new job. Still in Kalos, but not here.”

He tilts his head, confused. “Really? Why?”

Good question. This is probably the best-paying job you’ve ever had, and he knows it. It’s been wonderful so far, too, even if he’s only seen you stressed out; part of that is his fault, but also… all of the other stuff.

“I-I’m just not a good fit, I realized.”

There’s another moment of silence, as he studies you like some new bacteria he just discovered.

“There’s more to it, isn’t there?”

You cave, slumping in your chair. “Yeah…”

“Is there someone here being an asshole to you? ‘Cause-”

“N-no, no, it’s not like that,” you quickly say, waving your hands. “I-I mean, yeah, it’s because of someone else, b-but…”

This is a major breach of business ethics; he could go either way in judging you for this. You sigh heavily, attempting to sit up even though your legs feel like noodles.

“It’s because Monsieur AZ and I… have feelings for one another.”

His eyes widen into saucers. He sits back, blinking a few times as he processes this.

“W-we haven’t actually done anything yet, I swear… b-but I need to find somewhere else to work, s-so that-”

“How does that work?” he asks, a wobbly smile on his face. “I mean, he’s so-”

“Shut up!” you say, softly kicking him. He faux-winces, laughing a little. Thinking about it, yeah, of course he’d tease you about this. You should’ve known.

“Okay, okay… sorry. I just… wow.” He puffs some air through his mouth, trilling his lips. “But you know… I can see why you’d like him. He seems very relaxing to be around.”

You nod. “He is. He really is. I’ve never connected with anyone like him. A-and I know… I know he’s not… ‘normal’.”

He shrugs. “So long as you’re safe and happy, I don’t see the issue.”

You’re too flustered at the moment to thank him, so you just nod and sigh.

“And you’ve only told me, so far?”

You nod. “I-I wanna tell people… eventually. I gotta. But only after I’ve found somewhere else to work. I can’t keep working here and date my boss.”

“Yeah. Good idea. I’d…” he sighs. “I’d wait, too. Wow, that’s messy.”

“N-neither of us realized until I came back here. I-I wouldn’t have taken the job if… if…” you swallow. “Please don’t tell anyone.”

“I won’t.” he grabs your shoulder. “Promise. I know how it feels to keep a relationship a secret. It’s not easy…”

“Anyone means anyone. Including Dill.”

“I know.” he stands and pulls you into a hug. “Be smart about this.”

“I’m trying… I feel stupid enough for not realizing…”

“… I’m gonna have so many questions when this becomes public, though.”

You lightly punch his shoulder, and he mock-wheezes again, laughing a little. “Sorry, sorry.”

“Asshole,” you mutter.

“I know you are, but what am I?”

“That’s dad’s line. You’re turning into him.” He laughs at that.

“But for real. If you need to scream about this, lemme know. We’ll be gone by Saturday, but you can still message me, yeah?”

You nod. “Thanks… Arceus, I think I have you beat for ‘weirdest coming-out in the family’.”

He laughs again, harder this time. “Oh my gosh, yeah, you’re definitely a contender. Less fire this time, though…”

Chapter Text

It is, admittedly, a relief to tell someone about all of this. You’re not as alone in this as you were before… hell, there’s a possibility AZ’s told Floette, so you wouldn’t have been the first.

Still, this is spreading a lot faster than you’d like…

The rest of the day is replying to emails, including the one from Cerise Academy you got distracted from; you eagerly say yes to an interview, put in a time for next week, and sigh in relief. It’s only a small amount of relief, but it’s something.

Over the next week, you’re furiously organizing everything: permits, tents, food orders (with Rodrigo’s assistance), music, decor, advertising, the works. At the same time, you say farewell to your brothers, as they return home with, surely, some interesting stories to tell— hopefully Noa keeps his promise.

He needs to keep his promise…

Before you know it, today’s the day of your interview; you may be technically prepared, but you still doubt yourself, as usual. And, well, all of this stress compounding on you must be taking a pretty visible toll if AZ manages to notice it.

“Y/N?” he rumbles, softly interrupting you as you rattle off some of your duties and projects in a one-on-one meeting that morning. You freeze in your tracks, not realizing that you were pacing across his desk.

“Uh… Y-yes?”

“… I think you’re overdue for a scream at the heavens, my friend,” he says ever-so-gently, standing from his chair and closing the door to his office. He strides back to his desk, leaning against it, and thus over you.

“W-what do you mean?” you whimper.

“A release. Get everything pent-up out of your system— sometimes, I simply go out into an open field and cry out, rant and rave until my voice grows hoarse. I learned that strategy from a friend ages ago.” He scratches his chin. “It… helps prevent enraged mishaps.”

That sounds… wonderful. You’re like an overwound fishing line right now, bound to snap in half at any moment. But…

“I-I dunno If I wanna do that in front of you,” you say, hands tightly in your pockets.

He rolls his eyes. “Bah, I’m not Seth. I can handle a bit of barbarism.”

“… But none of this is your fault.”

“Perhaps not solely, but… surely my impression of you is a point of worry, no?” He sits in his chair, still looming above you. “And if I’m making this suggestion, surely it’s alright for you to carry it out. So… Go ahead.”

You look around, trying to figure out where to start.

“I… ugh, fuck.” you rub your eyes.

“Sometimes laying flat on my back helps,” he adds.

“Oh… okay.” you sit on the ground, splaying out your limbs; suddenly, the words come to you easily.

“I… I can’t fucking TAKE THIS ANYMORE!!”

You close your eyes and scream, just a single vowel, for several seconds, only stopping to catch your breath.

“I HATE ALL OF THIS JUGGLING I HAVE TO DO!! I hate budgeting, I hate dealing with finances directly, I hate all this delegating when it was NEVER my place to delegate at ANY of my previous employers…” you peek through one eye, up to him. “Uh, b-but that’s not your fault, promise. I’m the only marketing guy so far, after all…”

“Carry on, Y/N.”

You close your eyes again and take another breath. “… I HATE having to EXPLAIN to the GOVERNMENT that you’re a HUMAN BEING just like all of us!! I hate how they call you Le Colosse instead of AZ, I hate how they talk about you behind your back, I hate the way they look at me in video calls… THEY’RE TREATING A PICNIC LIKE IT’S A FUCKING DISASTER MOVIE!!!”

You catch your breath for a few moments, coughing just a little. You finally open your eyes again, and he’s still there, his smile colored with sympathy. You sit up on your elbows, looking up at him.

“… Anything else?” he asks.

“It’s just so frustrating,” you say, just a little quieter. “It’s not fair. I didn’t think a picnic would show me how poorly you’re treated. I’m sorry.”

“No, no, I ought to be the one apologizing. Your advocacy for me does not go unnoticed, though.” his eyes briefly flit away before returning to you. “… I thank you. From the bottom of my heart.”

You feel your heart twist at that statement. You muster a smile, however weak it might be.

“A-and… and one more thing,” you say.

“Yes?”

You resolve not to yell this, a lot of your frustration having been released just now.

“I’m tired of keeping secrets. I hate it. I’ve never been good at it, a-and…” you swallow. “I just want all of this over with so we can actually do something. I want my new job, and I want… you.”

His cheeks tinge pink at that, and he straightens in his chair ever-so-slightly.

“I agree,” he says softly. “Hopefully, this interview will go swimmingly, and we’ll have nothing to worry about, but in the meantime… oh, it’s a trial, being so close, but so far…”

There’s a brief lull, as you look at him, and he looks at you… Arceus, you want to kiss him.

But he’s too far away… and you’re so…

Ah. A strange thought comes to you; one that makes you smile despite the tension. You sit up fully.

“Uh, silly question…”

“Hm?”

“I-I, uh… do I sound tiny to you, Monsieur?”

His lips part briefly, but he pauses, clearly caught off-guard by that question. He leans in closer once again.

“What do you mean?”

“Like… squeaky? Like a Dedenne…?”

A half-second smirk crosses his face as he thinks it over, though he remains hesitant to say it.

“I… Please do not take offense, but… somewhat. Just slightly.” He pinches his fingers together for emphasis, as if that makes it any better— there’s still a good 3-foot distance between them.

You snort, holding back a giggle, and his hands quickly cover his reddening countenance. It’s easier to laugh after letting off all that steam.

“Forgive me,” he mumbles. “E-Everyone sounds just a little, uh, elevated, truth be told. It’s simply something I hadn’t paid much mind to until now…”

You can’t help but laugh now. “So I was just squeaking at you for the past few minutes?”

“I wouldn’t use that word…”

You cough out a few more giggles. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”

“I’ve simply never thought about it… Perhaps the change was too gradual for me to really notice.”

“So, then… do I sound normal in the greenhouse?”

He pauses, thinking, and peeks around his hands. “Yes. But you… you have a lovely voice, Y/N. Regardless of where I hear it.”

Your heart flutters like a Yanma’s wings.

“Thanks,” you breathe. Even at your silliest, he likes you… wow. “I like your voice too…”

He balks. “Really?”

You nod. “It shakes me to my core… It’s so rich and warm. Like a nice blanket. It's wonderful.”

A wobbly smile crosses his face. “I would’ve thought it’d be frightening, even now that you know me so well… I thank the auras daily that I’m still intelligible, after all. Someday, I fear I may not be, but I’m… I’m flattered. Thank you.”

Both of you are red-hot, simply looking each other in the eyes… so visibly pining for each other.

He reaches a finger toward you, and you take it, standing with its aid; you lean against it, silently urging him to pick you up. He takes the bait with a small sigh, both of his great hands softly ensnaring you as he looks at you.

All of you.

You kiss his thumb, just for a whisper of a second, and he gasps. You flinch, unsure why you did that.

He felt it, though; such a small action, and he felt it.

“T-too much?” you whimper. His eyes flit to the door of his office, then back to you. “I-I’m sorry, I just… I’ve been wanting to since-”

“Shh,” he whispers, shaking his head. “N-not… not in here. That’s all.” he looks at his clock; a quarter past 9.

“… Meet me here at 8:30 tonight.”

Ah. You can practically feel the steam wafting from your head. Are we doing this? Tonight? Really?

“W-what…”

“If… if all goes well for you today, consider it… a reward.” As he says this, you can tell he’s rueing the words leaving his mouth, but… well, if all goes well, you won’t be working here anymore.

You two will be free.

This is going to be so distracting. But also… What an incentive to bring your A-game to the interview.

“I will.”

…

You have the interview today, but how are you supposed to think straight now?!

Your mind is racing as you pace down Estival Avenue, eventually coming upon the palatial edifice of Cerise Academy. Hopefully you don’t look as distracted as you are. You just had a coffee, half-caf (as if it matters), and you’re praying that it helps you focus.

Yeah, you’re prepared. You’ve got all your documents in order, you’re well-dressed, and you’re ready to do an interview. Hopefully any over-eagerness or awkwardness is seen as endearing…

The school itself is a marble cavern, with pure white floors at its atrium that rise up dueling staircases to a second level; it’s ostentatious, but in a way befitting its prestige. You’d done some research, and it’s arguably one of the best academies in Kalos, or even this side of the continent, and this building is a historic landmark. You inspect the map you were emailed— up the left stairs, and down the hall, taking a right at the second door. Got it.

Once you’re there, you see a heavyset woman with a platinum-blond bob kneeling beside a filing cabinet; she looks about 15 years your senior, and it’s strange to think about how you’re steadily closing the gap with 40-somethings. She glances up as you enter.

“Oh, are you Y/N?”

You nod. “Am I too early?”

“No, not at all, come in!” She stands up and ushers you in, and you have a seat in the spare chair beside her desk. “We can get started right away.”

Oh, right. No small talk; no questions of the weather, or sports, or family, as is normal back in Unova. Straight to business— ignore the Beautifly in your stomach.

“Sure thing.” You hand over your documents; your resume, a copy of your visa files, some physical portfolio printouts— you spent a lot of time agonizing over a word document a few days ago.

“So, as you might’ve guessed, I’m Donna, the Headmaster here,” she says, in a tone that’s fairly casual for the gravity of this situation, at least for you. That she took an individual interest in interviewing you is… interesting.

“It’s nice to meet you,” you reply. You glance around her office; It's cozier than the alabaster caverns just outside, with a Pokémon bed just beside her desk and picture frames showing off her family alongside her diplomas. Seems remarkably… normal.

You haven’t dealt with normal in a while.

“I like to talk with all potential hires one-on-one, before I bring them on. It’s just more peace of mind… But, with that being said, are you ready?” She picks up one of her many, many pens, all of them dazzling to look at— you’ll have to make sure you don’t get distracted. Focus.

The interview begins, and it’s a fairly expected set of questions about work experience, your qualities as a marketer, and others you’ve given answers to dozens of times over your career. Again, all the questions are so normal— Donna’s Glameow wanders into her office once, throwing you off your train of thought, but it quickly leaves you be.

“Sorry,” you say, watching as its ornate tail leaves your view.

She chuckles. “No, no, you’re fine. Mimi goes where she pleases.”

More questions; you glance out the window to your right, and once again, there’s a nice view of the city’s skyline. You suppose there’s good views anywhere, really.

“And, are you still currently employed at Hotel Z?” she asks.

You nod. “Mmhmm. I’ve… only been here for a few weeks, though.”

She tilts her head. “What made you decide to leave so soon after moving here?”

Ah. What a question.

“Well… hm.” You pause. How can you answer this? You clear your throat, hoping it’ll dislodge an idea.

“I… sort of realized that, while I’ve become good friends with Monsieur AZ, I’m not exactly a good fit to be an employee of his. It’s just a little too… strained?”

She nods slowly, taking notes. “Working with friends can be difficult, I agree.”

Hopefully the tension in your shoulders instantly releasing at her response isn’t too suspicious.

You continue. “I feel like you should never know too much about your boss… and they shouldn’t know too much about your personal life, either. You know? It can make business complicated.”

She nods again. “I agree… I always feel a little awkward when I see an employee out in town.” she chuckles. “I mean, should I give you a raise after seeing you buy the brand I prefer at the supermarket?”

You laugh, though it isn’t super funny. “Yeah, that kind of thing.”

Whew.

“Ah, one last question: Do you have any Pokémon that you might wish to bring with you to work?”

You think for a moment, taking out Cutiefly’s Pokéball; he wasn’t exactly thrilled to go in here this morning, but you figured a question like this might come up.

“Just Cutiefly,” you say, gently shaking the ball to show her. “He might be more inclined to stay at Hotel Z, though. He likes the flowers.”

“May I see him?”

“Oh. Uh, sure thing.” you release him, and he buzzes around confused for a moment… right. This place is significantly less fragrant than the hotel. He slowly flies over to Donna, who holds up a hand, but he simply jabs at it with his proboscis rather than landing on it.

“Oh!” She flinches at the jab— no blood drawn, but still.

You cringe. “Ah, I’m sorry, he… they do that. Cutiefly as a species, I mean. Just… getting a read on their environment.”

“I see.”

“C’mere, bud.” You beckon him with a hand, and he lands there, happily scuttling up to your shoulder. “He’s a little shy around strangers, too.”

She chuckles, rubbing her hand. “No harm, no foul, promise. Well, he’s free to decide where to go. Cutiefly are a rather low-risk Pokémon.”

“Yeah, and he’s still pretty young.” you look at the Pokéball again, seeing your reflection in the button on its front, then back at Cutiefly. Hopefully he won’t be too stressed by so many big changes happening in such a short span of time. He’s looking at Donna intently, his big compound eyes twitching anxiously.

“Well, I think we’ll leave it there,” she says, standing and extending a hand to shake— hopefully he didn’t make this awkward. “Thank you for meeting with me.”

“Oh! Th-thank you for having me!” you say, quickly standing and shaking her hand. “I’m eager to hear back from you.”

“Of course… best of luck with your efforts.”

…

You laid on your bed for a while after that interview. You forgot to eat lunch until your stomach whined, so the only thing you’ve had besides a coffee at around 10 is a cup of noodles. Dinner of champions.

You’ve applied to a few dozen places here in Kalos already, and this is your first interview; you hope it went well. You really don’t want to deal with more of this…

You just want to get your happy ending, with as little mess as possible.

Cutiefly seems to notice your state of overwhelm, fluttering over to your shoulder and buzzing curiously.

“Oh, little man… I’m alright. Just a little tired, that’s all.” you pat his little head, sighing wearily.

You jump at a knock at the door; who could possibly want to see you? You creep over and open it… oh. It’s Desirée, holding one of your shirts.

“Hey, uh, is this yours?”

“Oh! Y-yeah, thanks… sorry, it must’ve been lost downstairs, huh?”

“Yeah, no worries.” she finally makes eye contact; uh-oh. “You alright? I haven’t seen you all day.”

“Uh, yeah, just… planning’s taking a lot of energy, ‘s all.” you chuckle feebly. You “snuck out” for the interview, and have otherwise sequestered yourself in here… probably a little suspicious.

She looks further into your room, then back at you. “Okay… uh, well, lemme know if you wanna battle to blow off steam!”

You make the first normal facial expression in hours. “Right! Uh, maybe, yeah. Thanks.”

She waves, and you wave back as you close the door— maybe too hard. Oops. You slink back to your bed, opening your laptop to- … oh.

From: [email protected]
Subject: Interview Follow-Up

Oh, Arceus, that was fast.

Hello Y/N,

I hope this message finds you well. I talked with other administrative staff this afternoon, and we determined that a fresh voice in the marketing and communications division of our faculty, such as yourself, would be a wonderful addition to our workplace.

However, I would like to wait until this school year has concluded before rolling out a new branding initiative, so I would like to know whether you’re willing to postpone a change of employment for 1 more month. I understand that this is potentially disappointing, as you seemed eager to work with us, but we believe it is in the school’s best interest to preserve consistency, especially during the final weeks of a student’s time here.

Please let me know if this is amenable for you.

Sincerely,

Headmistress Donna Anemone
Cerise Academy

You feel your whole body shaking.

“Oh my Arceus,” you whisper, well aware that the only audience you have is Cutiefly.

You have an out.

You rattle off an excited, but cordial email complying with Donna’s terms, sending it and collapsing back on your bed, your breath almost tasting as sweet as these circumstances feel. Though, that might be the coffee you had before the interview coming back to bite you.

“I’m free,” you whisper, clamping your lips shut soon after to suppress a shriek of joy.

Free in a month, but still… free.

Oh, you have to tell AZ.

It’s 15 minutes until 8:30; every minute’s going to feel like an hour, but you’re willing to wait.

Chapter Text

You can’t wait even 5 minutes, actually. You pack up some comfy clothes and your toothbrush in a tote bag— it probably won’t go too far, but still. You’re wearing slacks.

You peek out your door, and thankfully, nobody’s in the halls, so you scurry down to AZ’s office. He’s in his armchair, evidently also keeping himself idle with a book, his fingers thrumming anxiously on the armrest. He apparently has been making errant glances to the door, because he spots you before you have to announce yourself.

“How did it go?” he asks, standing and shelving the book. You take a settling breath in as he closes the door.

“I’ll be out of here in a month.”

He pauses, taking it in with wide eyes; he has to lean on the door for a moment for support.

“That’s… that’s wonderful news!!” He kneels down quickly, the ground beneath your feet jumping from the impact. “I’m so happy for you, Y/N.”

“Thanks… I just need to make it until then.”

He sighs. “Indeed. But as foolish as it may be, I still feel it apt to reward you.”

Your chest flutters.

“Wh-what do you mean, exactly?” you gesture to your bag. “I-I mean, I brought spare clothes, but I’m not exactly into, uh…”

He flushes a deep red. “N-no, nothing… nothing of that sort. But… but…” he stands just enough to peek out the window of his door, his cane supporting him, before kneeling again. “… A closeness. That is all. I think we’ve… both been hungering for it.”

You find yourself nodding, even if you weren’t ready to admit it. “Y-yeah… in here, though?”

He scoffs. “Oh, heavens, no. In my bedroom.”

Now you’re a deep red. You can feel it. You had a feeling it’d escalate there, but…

“I-if that’s acceptable,” he adds, lowering his head even further to you.

“Yeah,” you breathe, nodding quickly. “S-so long as we can get away with it…”

“Perhaps it’s a little premature, yes… but I still believe you deserve it.”

You nod again. “Yeah… let’s give it a try.”

He extends a hand, and you climb aboard, the physical touch already making you euphoric. He stands, a rush of air breezing past you as he carries you, holding you securely as he turns the dials on his doorknob.

With one last satisfying click, he opens into his bedroom, flicking on the dim, warm overhead light.

From the vantage point high on his chest, it’s smaller than you remember, with just enough space for a bed, a wardrobe, a mirror, and an adjoining bathroom. You suppose that’s all he really needs. The comforter is quilted, a myriad of his favored colors (based on what you’ve seen of his wardrobe and decor choices, he likes greens and earth tones).

“Where, uh… where’s Floette?” you ask, barely above a whisper so he can hear.

“She generally busies herself later in the night than I do, but I did tell her that I wished to, erm… talk with you.”

“… Oh. So she knows?”

“I cannot keep many secrets from her, unfortunately… A sorry side effect of loving her so dearly.” he sets you on one pillow, in full view of him and the ashamed furrow in his brow. “My sincerest apologies…”

“So she’s okay with… this?”

He nods, smiling softly. “She deeply adores your company, Y/N.”

Wow… that’s an honor, really. Though, perhaps it’s not really a surprise, given how often she takes the opportunity to wave at and/or hug you. Still, you breathe a sigh of relief.

He softly hums. “If I may… I’d like to make myself a little more comfortable.”

You nod, wide-eyed as he sits on the other edge of the bed, unbuttoning his vest, then his shirt— this is the first time you’re seeing this, you realize. Once his undershirt is off, you see a massive field of pale olive skin, freckled at the shoulders, adorned with plenty of pale white body hair; It's age-weathered, sure, but it also tells his story via plenty of scars, and even a few tattoos long since faded into vague bluish scribbles. Beneath the skin is lean, wiry muscle, a towering column of visible vertebrae climbing up his back, and a whisper of fat around his midsection, just enough to crease when he bends over to remove his socks.

You’re so transfixed that you forget to take your own clothes off. He glances your way, a wry smirk crossing his face.

“Perhaps I ought to have changed in the restroom,” he muses.

“S-sorry…” You quickly turn away and take off your own clothes, changing into the far more comfortable ones you brought; even then, though, you steal glances back as he changes into just a simple pair of sweatpants, stitched together much like all of his clothes. You hear the metal clank of his knee brace on the nightstand beside him, heavy and industrial, and he sighs, seemingly satisfied.

Just some sweatpants, that’s all… You’d seen him in a nightshirt before, so that’s surprising. Though, he probably got the sense you’d want him less covered tonight.

“A whole month, hm?” he remarks as he sorts out his discarded clothes, as if what’s happening right now isn’t reshaping your whole perception of reality. “Did they give a reason for the delay?”

“Uh… th-the end of the s-s-school year… sir.” Sir?! Oh, you’re hopeless.

He laughs. “I suppose it cannot be helped. Still, perhaps that’s good. You’ll have time to make this picnic perfect, and then… you’re fired.” He glances back with a cheeky smile.

You simply nod, stashing your clothes in the bag and, uh… oh.

His fingers delicately pluck the bag and set it on the nightstand; you mumble out a thanks, still quite smitten.

“We’re doing something potentially quite foolish, aren’t we, Y/N?” he asks, undoing his braid.

You swallow. “… Maybe.”

He sighs, shaking out his hair and slowly reclining onto the bed, the whole earth beneath you moving as he lies down beside you. He’s like a great wall, lying on his side like this, but his slow breaths are clear signs of the vibrant life within him, despite his scale. His loose hair tumbles down his shoulders, cascading all around him in massive, yet delicate swirls.

He lets out another deep sigh. “I’ve never been a patient man, in spite of my 3000 years… I grow anxious if I don’t get my way.” He settles in further, brushing some hair out of his face. “Hmm… At times, I fear I’m still as petulant and willful as my youth…”

You carefully slip off the pillow and creep towards him; his eye regards you fully, hungrily, lovingly, a warm pink spreading across his face. The hairs on his forearms are standing on end; there’s an electric excitement in the air. Your hand traces up a lock of his hair as you approach; each strand is thick as wire, but soft as silk. You could probably sleep in his hair alone… but you have other plans.

“I don’t mind… I mean, we both want this.”

He hums softly, though at this proximity, it’s overwhelming. Not deafening, but… it’s a bassy sound that permeates through your whole body.

“Do remember that you can tell me no, Y/N,” he coos. His voice is even louder, like your ears are submerged in it. But it's a blissful sound, still ever-so-gentle. “I cannot get my way with everything… and most of all, I want you to be happy.”

You chuckle nervously. Right… you’ve been on the same wavelength this whole time, that you hadn’t prepared for instances where you might not be.

“I-I will… for instance, uh, no licking.”

He laughs, the whole bed beneath you shaking. “Duly noted. It hadn’t come to mind, but… noted.”

You’re right beside him, now… His breath is hot, ruffling your hair, slow and rhythmic; his eyelashes are fluttering with each movement of his eye, pale white wisps that sway like dune grass with each blink. You can feel his heartbeat, even standing near his neck.

“Other than that… Well, I guess we’ll see. I’ve never, uh… done something like this with someone like you before.”

He takes a deep breath in anticipation. “Even still… I will follow your lead in this.”

You carefully climb up his pillow; he assists with a hand, such a simple action that takes close to no effort, but so caring.

You pad over to his cheek… and kiss him.

You do so again, and again, feeling his skin grow hotter and hotter with each peck, trailing down until you reach his lips… you plant a lasting kiss there, and another, relishing the softness of them despite their age. They pull open into a small smile, revealing his teeth.

You gasp as he rolls over and kisses you back.

You’re pinned to his pillow for a brief, wonderful moment, your whole body smothered by his warmth, as his two enormous lips meet your body. You can’t move, can’t hardly breathe, but that doesn’t matter; your hands trace along his cupid’s bow, utterly transfixed. This should be terrifying, but it’s euphoric, the sort of paradox that makes love all the more exhilarating.

He pulls back, though you adhere to his lips for just a moment before being released, your clothes rumpled and ever-so-slightly damp; he looms over you, propped on his elbows, analyzing his handiwork, and a little breathless himself.

“Forgive me… Are you alright?”

All you can do is nod, the only sound coming from you being a fit of giggles. He joins you, shaking his head in an attempt to cool his red face as his whole body quakes with laughter. He collapses beside you, off of the pillow, still giggling with you as he rolls onto his back.

“That was fun…” what a dopey statement, but nonetheless true.

“I’m glad to hear it,” he whispers, once the laughter subsides. “Though, perhaps I got carried away…”

You stagger to your feet, looking upon the giant as he looks at you again; he’s flat on his back this time, head turned toward you when he hears the ruffle of fabric.

“Ah, I was afraid I overdid it… you truly want more?” he asks.

You nod, taking him in. “If that’s alright.”

His eyes have a caring, sweet hunger to them. “Perfectly.”

He picks you up between two fingers, still gentle, but a little rougher than before, a little faster; he places you atop his face, straddling his nose. You kiss it, caressing it— it’s such a handsome nose, long and aquiline, like an archaic statue. You get the faintest glimpse of his right eye from under his hair, a cloudy orb that rattles in its socket, unable to focus on you with the same acuity as his other eye, but equally eager to. You feel a finger carefully tracing down your back, an exhilarating touch that elicits a hum of pleasure from both of you.

You carefully navigate down to his lips, kissing them and holding them; despite how dangerous it should be to be right above his mouth, you feel so incredibly safe. He’s being so gentle, as if he’s been waiting for this just as long as you have.

You glance behind you and see his chest, rising and falling, enormous and tempting like a far-off mountain. Your heart skips a beat.

“Mmph.”

A rush of air pushes out of his mouth and past you, jolting you. You look down, not realizing you squeezed his lip a little too hard with one hand.

“Sorry…”

A hand delicately scoops you up, so that you’re hovering above his face, his thumb holding you aloft.

“Were you biting me?” He asks, smiling wryly.

“N-no, that was my hand. Sorry.”

He scoffs, still smiling. “Goodness, pinching me isn’t much better… Why, pray tell?”

“I got, uh… distracted.” You point behind you, your mind going a mile a minute.

He chuckles. “I’ll have to get used to your antics.”

“Sorry…”

“No, fret not. It was just a little pinch.”

Per your interest, though, he sets you down at his collarbone; you now have a better look at his skin, scars, freckles and all. You can feel his heart beneath your feet, slowly pounding against his ribcage. Wispy whorls of chest hair rise up to your ankles, and you cautiously push them aside.

You wonder what he’s thinking…

“I would’ve thought that mole a ways beside you would be a turn-off,” he muses, his finger pointing to it. Ah, he’s watching; he’s resting his head on one hand to elevate it, keeping a close eye on you. Probably for the best…

“No, heh, I’ve got a few too.”

“Hopefully not nearly that big.”

You snort. “Not yet… that's about the size of my head.”

He hums. “And the scars aren’t too frightening, either?”

“No, you’re alright.” You pull up your own shirt, pointing to your lower stomach. “Can you see this?”

He squints and peers at your belly. “… Oh, auras. I think so.”

“I got my gallbladder removed a few years ago,” you say, tracing the scar back and forth. “It was right after New Years, so I thought I was just extremely badly hungover.”

He laughs, his whole chest rocking like a boat; you kneel down to stabilize yourself. “That makes more sense than what I thought it was…”

“Stabbing?”

He smiles sheepishly. “Yes.”

“I’m too boring to be stabbed.”

He laughs again. “Ah, if only that were a limiting factor.” he traces a scar along his side, long and thin, from his armpit to near his pelvis. “Warfare does a number on you, even if you attempt to abstain from it.”

You tentatively pad over and peer down. “Oh, wow.”

“Miraculously, indeed, this failed to cut me down.”

You wander around and notice another, more jagged scar that traces along the side and front of his neck, and another, and another… usually hidden by his collar and his hair, it’s clear what those were. In fact, there’s a lot of scars along his upper torso, particularly around his heart.

He seems to notice you trailing around them, humming softly.

“Most of my scars… don’t have as exciting a story to tell.”

You flinch, looking back to him— or, rather, his face. “Sorry.”

He waves a hand. “No use in hiding them. They’re simply my history. If I could have woven a tapestry instead of carving my woes into my skin… I would have.” his eyes flit away. “Or… perhaps not, at my lowest. But they’re here, regardless. Shame will not scrub them clean.”

You kneel down beside the one above his heart; it's an old scar, well-healed, but still prominent due to the lack of hair. Despite how deep of a gash it is, the heart beneath still beats powerfully, and evidently has for 3000 years.

You kiss it. Another hum, and the pace of his heartbeat quickens; you grin, perhaps a little greedy for the reaction each kiss garners.

“You flatter me,” he coos. “Every inch of me…”

“You have way more inches than I do,” you reply, face a little pink at the double-entendre. He just scoffs, ashamed that it amused him.

You pad down his torso, toward his abdomen— yeah, his belly’s just as soft and wonderful as you thought it’d be.

“Mm, I see you’ve made it to the only place fat has managed to accumulate on me in…” he huffs. “…three millennia, really.”

“Wish I had that problem,” you muse, laying down and splaying out.

“Oh, no, you really do not. It’s dreadful. Why do you think I wear wool in the summer?”

You glance up to him, currently shirtless. “Ah, shoot. Hope you’re not too cold.”

“No… you have me running plenty hot.”

You snort. “Corny.”

His laughter ripples beneath you, as true to the definition of a “belly laugh” as you can get. “What did you expect? You’re courting the oldest man in the world.”

You chuckle softly, settling in further. “Mm, I could fall asleep right here.”

“I’d advise against that. I’m not the most stationary sleeper, myself…”

Regardless, you plant a kiss on his tummy to stake your claim, and he simply hums in amusement. He reaches toward you again, a finger gently prodding at you; he can’t be nearly as intricate with you as you are with him, though he’s trying. You take the fingertip in your hands and kiss it; he ever-so-gently traces under your chin, down your torso, and you relent for him, leaning into the touch.

“… Do not be afraid to tell me if I’m hurting you,” he remarks.

“I know… you’re a lot gentler than you think you are, though.”

He quietly chuckles, his hand briefly pulling away as the ground— er, his torso— beneath you quakes. “Do not embolden me too much.”

“I mean it.” you pull his finger close again, kissing it.

He smirks, delicately maneuvering his fingers to pick you up and kiss you back— there’s that wonderful feeling again. He fully sits up, kissing you again as you lay in the palm of his hand, every touch gentle and loving, but hungry and wanting. You’re pinned, but not at all afraid.

He loves you, every part of you. You have nothing to hide, and that’s fine by him.

He pauses, looking at you as you both catch your breath; you can feel how your hair’s in disarray, your eyes probably wide as saucers, the same as his.

His free hand scratches his head sheepishly. “Ah, I’m indulging in you as if you aren’t still an employee.”

A feeble chuckle leaves your lips. “Y-yeah, I suppose so. Not for long, though.”

Still, you stand on your tiptoes and kiss his lips, one more time. They widen into a small smile, a rush of air from his nose as he sighs happily.

He holds you in place as he crosses his legs, looking at the ornate wooden clock hanging on the wall; it’s already 10:30, somehow. “… I suppose you’ll be staying here for the night.”

Oh, Arceus, you can’t imagine walking back to your room after all of this; you’d be mortified if someone saw you.

“Yeah… hopefully that’s not too much of a bother.”

“Not at all. You’re certain you’re not sore anywhere?” He holds you closer to his face, inspecting you.

“I’m fine, heh. I guess I’ll see how I feel in the morning.”

He slowly nods, but you both startle at the knock on the door; Floette peers inside, trilling quietly.

He breathes a heavy sigh, and you’re surrounded by his hot breath for a blissful moment before he lowers his hands. “Ah, come in, Ma Fleur.”

She flits inside, quietly closing the door; almost immediately, she drifts over to inspect you, chirping inquisitively.

“Hi… uh, I got the new job.”

She cheers, whisking you up into a congratulatory hug.

“Ah! Th-thanks,” you say, clinging to her as she momentarily lifts you out of AZ’s hands. “I-I’m not working there until next month, b-but…”

She pauses, looking at you in confusion, then angrily toward AZ.

“Have mercy,” he says meekly. “I thought we’d be free sooner, as well.”

She gently drops you back in his hands and zooms up to his face, bapping him several times on the nose.

“Ow, ow, I know, I know… We are trying to keep this clandestine. I know.”

“How much longer is that gonna work?” you ask quietly.

He sighs. “I suppose, now that you’ve secured employment, the Purrloin can come out of the bag…”

You rub your face. “Let’s… let’s try and sleep, first.”

“Mm. Perhaps, in the morning, I’ll be willing to face more judgement, or else atone for my impulses.”

You two prepare for bed— it’s strange, watching such a normal process being carried out at such a large scale, with his massive toothbrush and medication the size of your head. You try and go through the motions all the same, though it’s a little tricky to brush your teeth at his yawning crater of a sink, and he jumps in to help.

Eventually, he settles into bed, and you’ve claimed the other pillow, borrowing one of Floette’s spare blankets. This is so comfy, but you know your lumbar area’s gonna hate you in the morning. The flower Pokémon settles in quickly at her little nightstand nest, and is already asleep by the time you’re settled, a soft whistling snore emitting from the pile of pillows.

All the lights are out, save for AZ’s bedside lamp, as he writes in what looks to be a journal; it’s nearly as weathered as he is, though it’s clear he’s had many, many more of these before, based on the date stamped on the leather cover. This one’s about a year old.

He notices you peeking at his writing, smiling sheepishly.

“Is this light bothering you?”

“N-no, you’re okay. Just curious.”

“I’m a creature of habit, that’s all.” He finishes writing a few words, and closes the book. “I like my coffee black, I do my laundry on the same day every week, and… I must write down my errant thoughts before I sleep, or else they lurk in my head and keep me awake.”

“It’s better than scrolling through your phone,” you remark. “I never get any sleep when I do that.”

He hums. “I suppose so. With my affliction, I technically do not need to sleep, but… I feel better when I do.” He sets his journal on the nightstand and turns out the light, settling under the covers. “Funny, how acting like a human lifts my spirits…”

“You are human.”

“I know… I simply appreciate the reminders, sometimes.” Even in the dark, you can see the melancholy smile on his face.

“… Good night, AZ,” you say.

“Mm… good night, Y/N.”

Chapter Text

You wake up; you feel so refreshed, so much more invigorated than the last few nights, sleepless that they were.

Oof, except for that twinge of pain in your lower back. Called it.

You scrunch up atop the pillow, attempting to stretch the pain away. AZ’s snoring should have kept you awake, but eventually it got to a low enough frequency that it was basically imperceptible, just a low rumble through the night. Quite soothing… you could get used to it.

Floette’s already awake, ahead of both of you; she’s flitting about the room, getting things ready for the morning, when she notices you stirring and drifts over. She’s very perceptive that way… There’s a window over the bed frame, with just a sliver of early morning sunlight filtering across the quilted comforter (and thankfully missing you), and she must be more receptive to light than he is.

“Mmmornin’,” you quietly mumble, sitting up and arching your back before sliding off the pillow. AZ is still fast asleep, facing away from you and snoring peacefully.

“How do you usually wake him up?” you whisper. She points up to the clock; it’s about 5 minutes to 6. Then, she points to a small bell (relatively speaking; it’s much larger than you) at her nightstand.

“Mm… 5 more minutes, then.” you yawn, looking back at him; his hair is all tangled, though not irrevocably so, and you’re tempted to touch it— best not to risk it, though. He isn’t at his most careful when he’s half-asleep, from your experience.

“Uh… huh.” A thought comes to you. She perks up, quietly chirping inquisitively.

“How am I gonna shower? I guess I could just do it in my room, but…”

You can tell her mind is racing to come up with a solution, but the only real assurance she can give is a thumbs-up, as if to say “I have no clue, but I’ll help you figure it out!”.

“Thanks,” you breathe.

Eventually, 6:00 comes, and she motions for you to cover your ears. You do so, and she grabs the huge bell and rings it out, a resonant clarion that’d definitely wake you up. You quickly jog off of the comforter, remembering the last time he moved while you were on it…

He groans, almost growls, as his body shifts like a tectonic plate, slowly writhing for a moment before turning over onto his back; he doesn’t look particularly thrilled to be awake, but then again, you’re aware that his resting face is a rather deep frown.

“Morning,” you say quietly. He turns toward you, the corners of his lips curling up just slightly.

“Good morning…” He sits up with a low groan. “Apologies, I’m not generally in a smiley mood until I have my coffee.”

“You and 80% of Lumiose City,” you joke.

He scoffs. “Serena convinced me to try the accursed substance about a decade ago. I cannot deny that it helps me focus, but…” another groan as he stands, arching his back before shuffling to the mirror, assessing himself. “Oh, how miserable it is to wake up in the morning when I’m without it.”

He proceeds with his morning routine, and you follow along with your own to the best of your ability; he showers, and you clean off as best as you can in the sink, using some of his soaps (Hopefully nobody knows what he smells like by memory). It’s tempting to climb up the half-pipe of a sink and peek at him through the glass panes of his shower, but he’s respecting your privacy, so you do the same.

You suppress a laugh as you dry your hair, watching him step out; he looks like a drenched Furfrou. He turns his head toward you, clearly noting your amusement.

“Are you watching?” he asks, a cheeky smile peeking through the mop of hair as he wraps a towel around his waist.

“Uh, y-yeah, sorry, do you want me to-”

“No, no. I meant… watch.”

He snaps his fingers, and his hair is suddenly pulled upward, wringing together as a massive ball of water materializes overhead. Individual strands steadily cascade back to his sides, fully dry and shiny. This is also the first you’re seeing of his full face, you realize, his right eye indeed cloudy and blind, though it seems it’s always been that way. He peers up at the huge bubble, snapping his fingers again, and it poofs into vapor, steaming above his head.

“D-do you do that every day?” you ask, once you’ve picked up your jaw.

“When I remember to have dinner the night before, yes.” He approaches the mirror, fixing the hair on his face until it’s just so. “One of the issues with loving my mother so dearly is that I feel bound to honor her hair. I may not use it for magic as she did, but it simply feels right, even if it’s bothersome.”

Floette, as if on cue, floats in to help braid his hair.

“Thank you as always, ma fleur.”

You two continue preparing for the day, with you getting dressed on his nightstand, and you’re thankful that you at least packed an extra shirt; who cares if it’s the same slacks as the day before? As long as the shirt’s a different color, nobody will notice. Hopefully.

“So, uh… are we telling everyone before the picnic or after?” You ask, as the two of you dress.

He grunts as he fixes a sock, before reclining back onto the bed. “I’d normally avoid answering questions like that this early in the morning, but you make a good point.”

“Gotta rip off the bandage eventually,” you mutter, buckling your belt.

“On one hand, I do not want to sour the mood of the picnic…”

“And on the other hand, we’re… not very good at hiding things anymore.”

He huffs, rubbing his face and clearly strategizing; he briefly mumbles under his breath in a language you don’t understand, something you’ve only seen him do once or twice.

“I shall announce your departure after breakfast. From there… Perhaps the auras will have mercy, and let us wait until after the picnic to reveal the rest.”

You nod; that’s probably the smartest play. People can make their assumptions about your motive for leaving, and if someone guesses right, well… you’ll have to apologize, you suppose.

“You need to hire HR after I’m done,” you grumble, and he laughs without mirth.

“I heartily concur… Oh. Right, I meant to ask you.” he sits up and finally looks in your direction. “Are you intending to move out of the hotel?”

You swallow. “I mean, I haven’t exactly been looking for other places, admittedly…”

“A difficult task in Lumiose, that’s for certain.” He grabs his shoes and begins putting them on. “I’m not at all opposed to you staying here, but-“

“I’ll pay rent, yeah,” you interrupt, hoping you guessed correctly. He sighs, nodding. “But besides that, I guess I wanna gauge how everyone else feels about me staying here, too.”

“Indeed, that’s a factor as well…” He sighs. “Ugh, Floette, I think we may need to wander away for a while after this.”

She trills sympathetically, nuzzling into his shoulder. Clearly this is stressing her out too, at least somewhat.

“Wh… what do you mean?”

“After the picnic… hm. Somewhere southern sounds nice… perhaps Kanto, or Unova. Yes.” He looks toward you. “You may accompany me, of course.”

You stare at him in disbelief. “What? b-but I only have, like, three-ish weeks after the picnic until my new job starts.”

“Bah. Plenty of time.”

“On foot?”

“Y/N, I can cross well over 600 miles in a single day on foot,” he says, grinning just a little. “And that’s with intermittent breaks.”

You scan the length of his body. “Oh. Right. Uh… w-well, maybe. I think we should see how the others react first, though.”

He hums. “I can agree to that. Do keep it in mind, though.”

…

Eventually, you return to “normalcy”— whatever that’s worth in this hotel— after a nice breakfast courtesy of Rodrigo. You’ve got a few odds and ends to tackle with regards to the picnic; you’re still negotiating with tent rental, as they see AZ as a potential liability. It’s frustrating, but you’re making headway with the negotiations. You fuss with those emails over breakfast.

And then the company-wide email arrives.

From: [email protected]
Subject: Notice of Shifting Employee Structure

Esteemed Employees,

Due to the small size of our workforce, I felt it prudent to announce to everyone— with their consent— that Y/N will be seeking employment elsewhere at the end of this month. Thus, you should expect to see new employees by your side soon, in their stead, and prepare for a new cycle of training for them. I understand that this news may be surprising, but they are departing from Hotel Z on good terms, and I wish them the best of luck with their future efforts.

Additionally, Y/N will be acting as a tenant of mine for the time being, up until they can either find adequate housing within Lumiose City, or their visa expires. Therefore, do not fret about saying goodbye just yet; they are equally as welcome here in the future as they are now.

Warmly,

AZ

Well, he worded that about as well as you could hope. Doesn’t stop the creeping feeling of dread when that email pops up while you’re all still in the lounge…

“Huh.”

Seth is the first to say something, still nursing a coffee.

“Congrats,” Serena says, politely giving a thumbs-up.

“Wait, you knew already?” Desirée asks.

“W-well, uh…” she chuckles nervously.

“Yeah, um… I guess I wasn’t sure how to tell everyone,” you say shyly. “S-so I, uh… asked a favor from the boss.”

“… I will miss your input,” Seth says curtly, his expression inscrutable.

“Can I still complain to you?” Desirée asks. “I haven’t even gotten halfway down my list of things that annoy me.”

You laugh. “Yeah, of course…”

She beams.

…

Even in talking with most of them, you still feel like they’re suspicious. You know looking over your shoulder doesn’t help matters, but you can’t help it. They never asked for the reason, thankfully, just wished you good luck, but still…

You feel watched.

Well, nothing a distracting chore won’t fix.

Hauling your laundry downstairs with a sore back is a bit of a pain in the ass, but you manage it, loading everything and getting it spinning; you could maybe get something productive done while you wait, but you find yourself sitting in there playing games on your phone.

Your mind is racing.

If something goes wrong with all of this, you might have to leave the country— you desperately want to stay here. You can’t go back to searching endlessly for jobs, especially not with a broken heart.

But this is a dance that requires expert footwork. You can’t jump straight into the relationship right after the picnic; it might not even be advisable to do it until well after you get your new job, making AZ’s offer to travel the world tempting, but… for now, incredibly ill-advised. Maybe things will change, but for now…

Ugh, being so smitten has made your decision-making skills atrophy. You feel at his mercy, and it seems he feels the same way, but in reverse.

“Oh, hey!!”

You nearly leap out of your chair at Desirée’s voice as she passes by.

“H-hey,” you whimper, laughing nervously. Seems you picked a popular day to do laundry.

“I actually wanted to ask you about something,” she says as she loads up her clothes.

“Oh yeah, uh, sure. What’s up?”

She hesitates as she pours the detergent in, and you feel like you’re gonna explode.

“Well… I was wondering why you wanted to change jobs so quickly, I guess.”

You shake your head. “I, heh… Des, y-you’re a good friend, but that’s none of your business.”

She pouts as she starts up the machine. “Aw, c’mon. Something’s eating you, and it’s, like, totally obvious.”

Of course it is.

“Why do you wanna know?” you ask.

“Soooo you can prove my assumptions wrong?”

“W-why are you assuming bad shit about me?”

“Never said it was bad.” She sits next to you, leaning her chin in her hand. “Look, you’ve been cool, but you’ve also been acting really suspicious for, like, the whole time I’ve known you.”

“W-what do you mean?”

“Like… I dunno. Talking to the boss a lot. Like, more than I ever do.”

You scoff. “W-well, we’re in different departments. Of course it’s different for you than it is for me.”

“Yeah, but I’ve never seen anyone else go into his office and just… not come out.”

Your face falls. She saw that? You thought the coast was clear…

“And I know he’s got a whooooole network of magic doors just for him…” she leans forward. “What was up last night, Y/N? Where’d you go?”

You swallow.

“You guys couldn’t have stayed in his office the whole night.”

You feel your eyes sting.

“P-please. I don’t w-want this getting out a-a-and… I-I don’t wanna hurt anyone-”

“Yeah, well, it’s kinda pissing me off already. So just tell me.” she scowls. “Are you and AZ, like… a thing? Is that why you keep seeing him?!”

You can’t bear to look at her, but something eventually compels you to slowly nod.

“Oh my Arceus.” There’s a combination of awe, disgust, and venom in both her words and her facial expression. “I was kidding. I didn’t think you’d-”

You let out a low whine. “W-we… we’re trying to figure it out-”

“‘Course you are. Trying to creep under the radar so you can still benefit-”

“I-it’s not like that at all!”

“How much is he paying you, then?”

“Nothing extra.” This is true. The only real benefit to your relationship has, arguably, been that he accepted your proposal for the picnic, but… “S-same as you, probably.”

“Mmhmm.”

You slump into your chair. “W-we’re trying to figure it out, I swear… neither of us knew we liked each other until after he hired me. So that’s why I’m quitting.”

“That doesn’t make it much better.”

“I know.” You sigh. “I-I’m sorry.”

“You can’t just apologize to me, you know.”

“Y-yeah. I know.”

“How long has this been happening?”

“Two weeks. Roughly.”

She has an amazed, antagonistic smirk on her face as her eyes widen into saucers. “You’ve been fucking him for two weeks already?!”

“NO!! …No, not at all. W-we only figured out we liked each other two weeks ago, a-and… and so I started looking for a new job immediately.”

She scoffs. “So were you ‘celebrating’ last night?”

“W-we just kissed.” you feel nauseous. “That’s it.”

“You know how hard it is to believe you now, right?” She leans back, kicking you in the shin as she crosses her legs— she doesn’t seem to care, though. “You’ve been keeping secrets, and outright lying to us, for weeks now. Both of you, really. Ugh.”

You feel tears finally streaming down your face. Your washing machine beeps, and you silently stand and shuffle over to sort it out for the dryer, sniffling.

“We were gonna tell everyone after the picnic,” you finally say. “We didn’t… didn’t wanna sour the mood.”

She glares at you for a while as you get the dryer loaded, clearly processing this. You want to curl into a ball and die, just shrivel up like a raisin.

“I hope you know why I’m mad,” she says once you turn the machine on. “I’m not judging you. Like, fine, whatever, have your weird-ass tastes in giant old guys. But… I’m trying to pay off my debt. Medical, student loans, credit cards… I’m trying to work hard for once, instead of leeching off my parents. So someone like you trying to get in bed with my boss is…”

“I know. It’s… it’s insulting.” you sigh, wiping your eyes with your sleeve as you sit back down. “A-a-and if I knew earlier, I wouldn’t have… I wouldn’t have joined on. But…”

“Yeah, of course you can’t just get over him. Do the normal thing.” she scoffs. “I dunno why he’d want this, either. Why wouldn’t AZ want another immortal… thing that won’t die immediately like a Scatterbug to him?”

“Because that doesn’t matter to him.” you sigh. You’d be way angrier if you had the energy for it, but you’re just stuck shaking like a leaf.

She looks you over, clearly starting to feel a little bad.

“… Look. I won’t tell anyone.”

You balk. “You won’t?”

“I may be a bitch, but I’m not a snitch. Besides, I know if I ratted you out, you’d rat me out, and…” she rolls her eyes. “I’d be out another job. This is my third.”

You can’t look in her direction.

“… But I will tell you that you’re making a huge mistake.” She leans forward. “Trust me. I’m the chick who tried to date her tennis coach; you will lose. And it’ll hurt like hell.”

You’re also nearly a decade younger than me, and way more spoiled, the bitter part of your mind thinks.

“Thank you.”

“Ugh, don’t.” She stands up once her washer beeps. “If you don’t actually follow through on telling everyone after the picnic, though… I’ll do it.”

You whimper.

“O-okay.”

Chapter Text

Two weeks to the picnic.

You and Desirée have reached a silent agreement to not talk about what happened the other day, and as much as that conversation absolutely sucked, it may or may not be a good thing that the most gossipy member of staff knows; at least she won’t try to pressure it out of other people. Hopefully she’ll keep her promise… though, you have a feeling that everyone else on staff might react a bit better.

For now…

One week to the picnic. Oh, time’s flying.

It’s time to focus. You have all the supplies ordered and sitting in the storage room, loaded in with Paxton and Golurk’s help, you have all the food sorted, the band’s debriefed on playing right beside a giant man, everything. It’s a weight off your shoulders to be almost done, to have the government off your back, to have this project behind you.

And, in the meantime, no clandestine trysts… you and AZ exchange glances perhaps too long, but otherwise remain cordial and professional. Maybe both of you know that you need to keep up appearances a little better than you have been…

Three days to the picnic.

Oh.

You were so focused on planning that you sort of forgot that the day was gonna come eventually. AZ has been a great help, and, well, a bit of a distraction from the time pressure.

Now where is he, exactly? Serena’s wondering where he is…

You scour the hotel that afternoon— a lotta square footage to trek through— and he’s nowhere to be found. He’s not in his office, not in the lounge, not in the greenhouse… you even check his bedroom door to see if you can hear him in there, and no dice. He’s vanished on you a few times, but he’s always been found elsewhere in the hotel, or else the signs of his leaving are obvious, such as leaving his nice shoes beside the greenhouse door.

It shouldn’t be this easy to lose a giant.

You pop over to the front desk, where Urbain’s playing a phone game. You can’t blame him. It’s been a slow week, outside of picnic planning.

“… Oh! Hey,” he says, quickly flipping his phone over with a nervous laugh. “What’s up?”

“Uh, silly question… would you happen to know where AZ is?” you ask.

He points out of the windows to the lounge, and you jump a little; there’s his braid, right outside the window. Odd for him to be sitting outside…

“Scared me, too,” he muses with a grin. “He doesn’t take that exit very often.”

“Wonder what’s on his mind,” you say. “In any case, I gotta talk to him.”

“What’s going on?”

“It’s, uh… it’s his hair?” you can’t help but laugh. “We gotta put it up higher, so it doesn’t touch the ground when he sits down.”

“Oh. Yeah, that could be an issue.”

“Serena’s calling over a friend later tonight to help, I think.”

“Well, good luck. I dunno why he’s out there, but he might not be in the mood to talk if he’s avoiding people.”

Avoiding people by sitting outside? That doesn’t make sense… Then again, AZ doesn’t always make sense initially.

Regardless, you give Urbain a wave and head out, rounding the corner… yep, there he is. Amazing how he can sit in this courtyard and still be almost the height of the building itself. You’re less than half the height of his shoe…

He doesn’t seem to notice you at first, an unusually calm and… perhaps paradoxically anxious expression on his face. He’s got his knees to his chest, looking up toward Prism Tower, perhaps sizing it up; you spotted a small crowd where the hotel meets the street, simply gawking and taking photos even as he hides behind part of the building… gross.

“Monsieur?” You call up to him. He visibly stiffens, peering down at you.

“Ah… Forgive me. I suppose I disappeared on you.” he has a weary smile on his face, clearly put-on in an attempt to reassure you. “How may I help you?”

“Uh, Serena wanted me to remind you about tonight, that’s all. But, uh… if you need to talk with me, I’m also free.”

His hand meanders to his neck as a self-soothing gesture as you talk; he nods. “Of course. Erm… meet me in my office.”

You nod and head back to the door. You feel the earth shake beneath you, and hear a chorus of gasps and cries from the street; you want to berate them, but there’s no point, really.

Someday soon, they’ll learn to leave him alone. You hope.

…

“Apologies for making a scene,” he says once you arrive in his office; he’s standing beside the window, but was clearly waiting for your approach, as he’s facing the door. “I wasn’t sure where to… I-I needed a reprieve from… ugh. This worries me.”

“The picnic, you mean?” You ask, hoofing it up the stairs on his desk until you reach the top. It’s gotten easier and easier to do so even within the last few weeks.

“Y-yes…” he sighs, sitting on the desk’s edge and looking out into the city. “I’ve been assuring myself that all will be fine, but I… is this city ready for me?”

You shuffle in place. That’s a hard question to answer without just testing it.

“How’d it go just a minute ago?”

“… Fine, I suppose. Nobody seemed upset… But, that wasn’t really interfacing with the city proper, was it?” He squirms, adjusting his collar. “I haven’t stepped into the rest of Lumiose City in 13 years. I don’t know if the locals would like me traipsing through their streets, unwillingly knocking over their property or rattling their homes to the point that their precious china falls from their shelves and breaks.”

You can’t help but smirk. “You’ve been ruminating on this, haven’t you?”

He rolls his eyes, but sighs. “Yes. But can you blame me? Everything is… everything is so fragile.”

“You can’t really help it, though, right?” You shrug. “I dunno if there’s any good in worrying about things you can’t control.”

“Oh, I could control it… by not attending.” he smirks. “But that only buries me deeper into my fear.”

You smile softly. “You’ve got a lotta people helping you out, AZ. You can do this.”

“Hm. Correct. Perhaps I should shift my worries to things I can adjust.”

“Yeah. I can help with that. Is there anything specifically?”

He hums, sitting in his chair. “Truth be told… Don’t tell Serena, but I’m dreading her and Shauna touching my hair.”

Shauna— you don’t know her, but Serena’s talked about her. “Oh? how come?”

“I don’t, erm… I keep my braid rather loose for a reason. I don’t enjoy tight braids, or even combing my hair, frankly. Floette does it for me, more often than not.”

You bite your lip. “Hm… that’s tough.”

“Indeed. But I know the priority here is safety, over my comfort.”

“Well, we don’t want you to get stressed, either.” You walk over and pat his hand. “I’m sure… I’m sure we can figure out a middle ground.”

He sighs, nodding. “And I’m sure I’m far from the most difficult customer Shauna’s dealt with. Still, it’s rather humiliating to be this sensitive about it.”

“There’s a lotta people out there who feel the exact same way.”

“Bah, surely not. I must be exceptionally whey-faced.” He grins, though even through the sarcasm, it’s clear that statement was heartening.

You chuckle. “Would it help if I were there to help them? Or help you?”

He glances out the door, then back to you. “… It would. If it isn’t too much trouble.”

“Not at all, Monsieur.”

…

A couple hours later, Shauna arrives, accompanied by Serena; maybe it’s because you’ve been interacting with giants for a while now already, but you hardly register that she’s well over 10 feet tall without Serena being right next to her. She’s got a Delcatty and a Furfrou at her heels, each carrying some supplies in saddle bags.

“Hii!!” she says, waving eagerly, another big bag of hair supplies slung over her shoulder. “It’s nice to finally meet you!!”

“Same here,” you breathe, shaking her hand; that’s when her size actually registers, but it doesn’t bother you one bit. “I’ll uh, have to warn you that Monsieur AZ is a little nervous about this.”

“Oh, gosh,” Shauna replies, a hand on her heart. “We’re not gonna tear his hair out, I promise.”

“He might just be a little sensitive on his scalp,” Serena says.

“Oh, for sure. With that much hair, there must be a lotta tension up there already.” Shauna starts trekking ahead of you two. “Let’s talk to him and see what we can do.”

Sure enough, he’s in his office, looking over his bookshelf— he tends to look for something to read when he’s overwhelmed, you’ve noticed— and glances over at your approach; Floette is sitting on his shoulder, finally done with today’s duties and doing a great deal to soothe the old man’s worries.

“Shauna! Welcome, welcome,” he says, shelving the book he’d idly plucked and approaching you all. “I, erm, assume you will be staying with us- Oh!!”

Shauna’s bolted to his ankle and hugged it; he chuckles, kneeling down to take a better look.

“Right… It’s been a few years since you’ve visited, hasn’t it?”

“I’ve missed you, Monsieur,” she chirps, letting go and backing up; Floette’s quick to give her a little hug, as well. “I know you’re maybe a little nervous about this, but I promise it’ll be fun.”

He quickly glances your way, and you chuckle sheepishly, raising your hands.

“I suppose I’d never admit it myself,” he muses, standing again and closing the door. “Very well. Let’s see…”

Him and Floette intricately undo his braid, leaving a cascade of white hair that falls past his knees, easily over 150 feet of hair. You hope you don’t look too smitten.

Shauna squeals. “I’m so excited!!!”

“Heh, hopefully it agrees with you; there’s a reason it’s so messy for the first 20 feet or so.”

“I know of a few low-hanging braids that could still shorten the length considerably,” she says, climbing up to the top of his desk; you follow behind her, but Serena needs a lift from the man himself.

“Well, ah… I’ll allow you to experiment.” he pulls over an ottoman and sits, back facing you three. “I believe the main issue was people being able to touch it from the ground, so… hm.”

“Are you okay with having your hair in front of your shoulders?” Serena asks.

“Certainly. I suppose I’d have a better eye on it, that way.”

For the next few minutes, you’re all mostly partitioning the hair, splitting it in half, and in half again. He maneuvers it much faster than you could hope to, and Shauna has cords ready to keep things separated. While you try to help, it’s all… way too heavy for you. Oof. This reminds you of managing ropes while sailing, except if you pull too hard the boat will wince.

“Are you alright?” Serena asks as you catch your breath.

“I’m fine…” you attempt to wave her off, even though you’re panting. “I know I’m mostly here for moral support, anyway.”

“Have you ever tried putting your hair in a bun, Monsieur?” Shauna asks.

“I’ve only managed some of it. It’s too heavy for all of it to be up, surely…”

“Yeah, but we could maybe do a… half-up, half-down situation, except the part that’s ‘down’ is braided?” She hums, assessing the partitioned hair. “Yeah, let’s give it a try.”

You all work together, and most of it seems to be telling AZ what to do, since he actually has the strength for it. You’d love to actually help with braiding, but your braids would probably end up too small to be practical.

“Did you ever do sleepovers as a kid, Monsieur?” Serena asks.

He chuckles softly. “What brings this to mind?”

“Oh, well, we’d do each others’ hair all the time at sleepovers.”

He hums in thought. “I’m afraid I didn’t grow up with many children my age. On occasion, though, I would attempt to play with the peasant children, but their parents feared what might happen if the crown prince were injured.”

She furrows her eyebrows. “I think we gotta fix that.”

“Is there something in particular that distinguishes a sleepover from, well, staying at the hotel?”

“I mean, there’s games, food, movies, crafts, hanging out in your pajamas way past your bedtime…” Shauna says. “I remember when we were little, and the older neighbor kids would lend us their Pokémon, and we’d try to battle with ‘em.”

Serena’s eyes sparkle with recollection. “Oh, yeah! Heheh, that was so fun.”

“I kept telling Ari’s Tyrunt to use Thunderbolt, remember?” Shauna giggles. “I’d only seen battles on TV, and that’s what they’d tell Raichu to do.”

“We’d have campfires all the time at sleepovers back in Alola,” you muse. “Always fun to roast marshmallows, but then you gotta go to bed with soot in your hair.”

Floette is listening intently, excitedly, and it seems AZ’s taken notice of her rapture. “Perhaps at some future date when I’m not ever-so-busy, something like that can be arranged.”

“Yeah, that’s the rub,” Serena says. “When you’re an adult, hangouts like that are way harder to schedule, especially if you wanna get, like, more than three people together.”

“But now we can drink,” Shauna quips. AZ bursts into laughter, doubling over and nearly pulling her off the desk before she lets go.

“Ohh, if there’s ever a reason to have a party, it's a good drink,” he wheezes, turning toward the desk. “F-forgive me, Shauna, I didn’t mean to yank you.”

“It’s fine,” she says, her giggles clearly half-amused and half-adrenaline-fueled. “I’ll admit, if an event says there’ll be wine, or pizza, or both, I’m there in a heartbeat.”

“Ohh, I haven’t gone out drinking in a while,” Serena says enviously.

“Going out solely to drink… I haven’t done that in a very long time, either,” AZ muses. “Generally, a glass of wine at home is plenty to keep me happy.”

“Yeah, just a hundred or so liters,” she says teasingly. “A very moderate amount.”

“If you’re attempting to embarrass me with matters of reasonable proportion, it isn’t working.” he grins. “I could point out that, proportionally, you drink your way through far more coffee than I do in a day.”

She rolls her eyes. “I’m trying to cut back, I swear.”

“You’ve said so for 5 years, fillette…” Serena makes another face at that remark, and Shauna giggles.

Eventually, with much poking, prodding, pulling and cringing, something very pretty comes together; a high braided bun, with two smaller braids behind it that, thankfully, doesn’t come close to touching the ground, and in fact sit on his shoulders rather comfortably.

He snaps his fingers, and the window turns dim, becoming a makeshift mirror; he stands and admires the collaborative handiwork, hand on chin.

“What do you think?” Shauna asks, eyes wide in anticipation.

He checks his watch. “45 minutes… not too bad, I’d say. Can you replicate this?”

“Oui, Monsieur,” she chirps. “And faster, hopefully.”

“It’s been some time since my hair’s been this ornate— I’m not sure if I’m an adequate judge.” His glance back towards you all is ambiguous enough, but he zeroes in on you. “Does it suit me?”

You nod. “I-I think so, Monsieur.”

“Yeah! It’s very pretty,” Serena says. Floette cheers in agreement.

A dusting of pink crosses his cheeks, and he glances back at the window, chuckling bashfully before snapping his fingers and bringing back the city view.

“Thank you. Then… I suppose we can repeat it when the day comes.”

…

You all undo his hair for now, and Shauna and Serena leave you and AZ be, chattering to themselves as they go. AZ closes the door behind them, leaving you two alone in his room again, save for Floette.

This could go in a number of directions, but you want to keep things professional for the time being. Hopefully you two can make that happen.

“Do you, uh, feel a little better now?” You ask him as he strides back. Floette is fussing with just one last part of his hair that isn’t quite unbraided.

He takes a deep breath, leaning against the desk— and looming over you. “I do, yes. Though I am still somewhat wary about the event proper…”

“Well, I don’t have a cure-all for social anxiety,” you say, a sheepish laugh leaving your lips as you scratch your chin. “But, uh, I’ll be there, if that helps.”

“Your presence is indeed a boon… as well as a hindrance.” he sighs, leaning down closer and admiring you. “I’ll control myself, though, I promise.”

“Are you promising me, or Floette?”

His eyes flit to his companion, who has her hands on her hips, as if asking the same question. “… Both.”

You snicker. “Sorry, Floette.”

She giggles too, shaking her head and waving a hand; Then, quickly, she sweeps you into a bridal-carry hug, eliciting an embarrassing yelp from you. Both of them laugh, and you feel every inch of your skin burn from both embarrassment and love.

At least there’s no jealousy here; the idea of Floette being envious of you is utterly terrifying.

He looks out the window, where the sun’s already setting. “Three days though, hm? I suppose it’s closer to two-and-a-half by now.”

“Yeah, it’ll be fun.” Floette sets you down, and you knock on the wooden desk a few times. “Forecast looks good, too.”

He chuckles, knocking as well, staggering you ever-so-slightly. “You never know with northern Kalos, but I’ll be optimistic.”

“Even if there is rain, I’m so glad I was able to put this together.” You look up at him. “Thank you for having so much faith in me.”

You pad over and kiss the back of his hand. It twitches at your touch, curling up and around you to delicately pick you up, and you rise until you’re level with his face. He cradles you in both of his hands and admires you like a freshly-bloomed flower, as if each of your limbs were petals.

“It would be cruel of me to not have faith in someone who’s treated me with such kindness and grace,” he rumbles, lips pulled into a soft smile. “I ought to be thanking you. For insistently treating a silly old man with so much dignity…”

“You deserve it,” is all you can think to say as you look into his eyes, and it’s true.

He pulls you closer and kisses you, briefly, but wonderfully, once again reveling in every inch of you. You plant a kiss on his lips when you’re pinned, as well, knowing that even the smallest touch elates him to no end.

He can’t seem to help but look at you for a moment afterwards, before clearing his throat and crouching down, setting you on the floor.

“Well, I shall see you on the morrow, I believe. Though, knowing me, the days between now and the picnic may well blur together all too quickly in my mind.”

“Well, luckily, we don’t have much more to do,” you say, dusting yourself off. Hopefully you don’t look too freshly giant-kissed. “We can take it easy for a little bit.”

“Mm… ‘Take it easy’. Indeed.” he grins.

“Goodnight, Monsieur.”

“Goodnight, Y/N.”

Chapter Text

TODAY.

Okay, let’s go.

You set your alarm earlier than usual— 6:00 AM— even though you really didn’t need to. Better early than late, but you are in desperate need of coffee right now, and you know AZ usually wakes up at this hour, so there’ll definitely be coffee. He wakes up so early, ugh…

You keep looking out the window as you get ready, as if Prism Tower will lift off like a rocket; you have to calm down. You really have nothing to worry about. Probably.

Right. Coffee.

You shuffle over to the lounge, and you’re the first one there; you can hear clatters in the kitchen, so Rodrigo’s up, but that’s to be expected. He probably wakes up a few hours earlier than everyone else.

As you idle, the two Indeedee begin bringing out the buffet trays, and it’s a simpler offering than usual for Rodrigo: Tartines, either with avocado or roasted mushrooms, with scrambled eggs on top. For whatever reason, you don’t take the food right away, even though the Pokémon bow their heads to grant you permission. Maybe it just feels impolite to eat before the head of the hotel arrives— it isn’t even 6:30 yet, either.

You do beeline for the coffee once that’s brought out, though. Ahh… surely nobody will mind its absence.

As you nurse your coffee, you see ripples across its surface; sure enough, he’s awake, his hair pulled into a simple ponytail for the time being. He’s wearing a more summery outfit, with lighter colors, floral brocade, and looser-fitting fabric that make him look even more fey than usual (in the best way). Floette is resting on his shoulder, evidently a little sleepy herself, but wearing a cute little sunhat.

It seems he’s still going through the morning motions, because he doesn’t notice you until he sits down, a low sigh leaving his lips quickly cut short with a small gasp.

“Good morning!” he says, as brightly as he can muster; this rouses Floette briefly, who trills happily, if sleepily. “Apologies, I didn’t notice you.”

“No worries. Good morning.” You take a whiff of your coffee… mm. “I’m still kind of waking up, too.”

You finally get a look at how he manages to conjure gallons of coffee; he grabs a mug from under the “table”, snaps his fingers, and a comparatively tiny amount of coffee drifts from the machine and into the mug… and rapidly expands to fill the massive vessel, as if a bubble popped. He sighs, taking his first sip in grateful bliss.

“So, wait. S-sorry if this is too invasive…”

“You’re curious about my magic?” he guesses, taking another sip.

You twiddle your thumbs. “I-I thought it ran on food. Am I wrong?”

He takes a breath. “More specifically, it runs on calories, or internal phlogiston, as I once knew it. Science changes terms all too frequently, but in essence, I can use something I’ve just eaten, and that’s indeed most comfortable for me. But, I have no issue with expending, say…” he hums in thought. “… 20,000 calories on a cup of coffee.”

Your eyes widen. “Is that a lot?”

He chuckles. “Not at all, for me at least. I consume an ample surplus, currently, though if I stop putting off the fifth and sixth floor’s construction, I may start running at a minor deficit.”

“Do we need the other two floors?” you ask, hoping it doesn’t offend him.

He sighs, smiling sheepishly. “I suppose not technically, but their absence haunts me every time I step outside.”

You can’t help but laugh; he’s got such high standards, but only for himself. Sometimes it’s charming, but other times, you have to snap him out of it. This time, it’s thankfully the former, for now.

His grip on his cup tightens slightly. “Speaking of… Today.”

“Today.” you nod.

“Are you… are you ready?”

“As I’ll ever be. I’ve done events like this before, but not to this, uh… scale.” That pun was not intended, but you couldn’t think of a different word.

He smirks, his eyes following the Indeedee as they bring over two little cloches for him and Floette. “Well, I have faith in you, of course. Though…” he nods to the buffet spread. “Eat, please. It’ll help you, surely.”

“Heh. Thank you.”

You see a flash in his eyes— and a glow in his chest— as his food enlarges to his size. You hadn’t noticed that before…

He softly scoffs as he watches you stand and head to the buffet.

“Were you waiting on me?” he asks.

“Maybe…”

He shakes his head and chuckles. “Right, well… eat when you please, from now on. That’s why it’s a buffet. I’m not your boss… soon enough, anyway.”

“I suppose so, heh.”

It’s only quiet for a moment, and it’s only you three for an even shorter moment, but you two are both clearly reveling in it as you eat. However, he’s clearly got more than one thing on his mind; he keeps interchangeably glancing out the window and at his watch, repeatedly uncrossing and recrossing his legs. An absent hand of his fidgets with a lock of hair.

“Do you…?” he starts, but hesitates. “Bah, I shouldn’t impose.”

“Huh?”

He sighs. “Do you need any assistance with transporting supplies to Centrico?”

Thinking about it, yeah, he’d be a great help. You’d probably be able to get everything over there in one trip if he’s carrying it.

“Uh, well, I was gonna get Golurk to help, but, uh… If you want to help too, then by all means, yeah.”

“I believe I have a basket large enough to carry a good deal of the materials, and…” he sighs, making full eye contact.

Ah… he wants you with him during the walk through the city. He wouldn’t admit it out loud, but his eyes are pleading, ever-so-politely.

You smile. “Yeah, heh. Come find me in storage when your hair’s done.”

He thanks you with just his eyes, and continues to eat.

…

The picnic starts at 11, so preferably, you’re there an hour before to get everything in motion. Rodrigo’s got his own truck ready with all the food we’ll need, and you have the decor and tables and chairs all in a row in storage. However, every idle thought that strays away from the picnic seems to warp time around it, to the point that you’re shocked when your phone says it’s 9:45.

Alright. Time to go.

Just as you’re heading over to check on AZ, he steps out, his hair all complete, and… even interspersed with flowers? That’s such a lovely touch.

“All set?” You call up to him.

“Indeed… ah, one moment.” He steps back inside, and quickly re-emerges with an absolutely massive picnic basket, probably the size of a small house. “Hopefully this can fit everything inside.”

“I, heh, I-I’d be surprised if it doesn’t.”

He chuckles. “Well, let us test that, hm?”

You follow as closely behind him as you can as he strides towards storage, silently hoping that you can ride in that basket; you can’t imagine keeping up with him out in the city proper. Once inside, He flicks on a light switch you haven’t seen before— you’re usually playing things by ear, or by the light in the hallways. He crouches down beside your supplies, opening the basket and placing everything inside with ease.

“I wasn’t aware you purchased all of this,” he says.

“Oh, no, some of it is rented.”

He blinks, slowing his hand. “I’ll be a bit more careful, in that case.”

Eventually, everything is inside— including Floette, who is sitting cozily along the edge of the basket. Everything can be taken in one trip— that’s such a relief. He peers down at you, clearly sorting out the logistics in his head, and, well… the optics. He clearly wants to carry you with him, too.

“Have they sorted out my promenade yet?” He pulls a slip of paper from his pocket. “They gave me a map.”

“Yeah, I told ‘em I’d be there by 10. I dunno if they’re expecting you to be there until 11, though.”

He smiles sheepishly. “Well, hopefully I won’t cause too much of a fuss.”

“I’ll be there. You won’t.”

He extends a hand to you, and you hop on, bracing only a little as he gently deposits you into the basket— right beside Floette, and standing on top of a table. This is surreal… You decide to sit for now, feeling the enlarged wicker bend only slightly against your back. He stands, the light around you shifting through the basket, as everything jostles slightly despite being tightly packed. You hang on tight.

He heads downstairs, into that narrow sliver of impossible gravity, climbing up higher and higher than you can ever imagine; you close your eyes, not daring to try and peer out of the basket and down the ladder shaft. Eventually, with a great metal clang, the hatch above you opens, and sunlight seeps inside.

He gingerly pokes his head out, uncertainty shackling him. You can’t see what he sees, but hopefully everything’s okay.

“You alright?” You call up, and Floette trills along with you.

“Y…yes. I’m… fine.” he takes a deep breath, and you feel him lift the basket up and place it on the ground, just beside the hotel. He slowly follows, careful as always, meekly glancing side-to-side. Once you’re up above, you can see the camera crews still here (ugh) as well as Serena talking to some construction workers.

“Whoa, he’s out already!” one of them exclaims, and all the cameras turn to face him. He flinches at the camera flashes and the clamor of people shouting and crying out. A crowd was already starting to form before you came up, from the looks of things, but quickly congeals into an impassable blockade once he appears.

Great.

Floette chirps angrily, and you have to hold her down. “Don’t… don’t. You’ll just scare ‘em, sweetie.”

“Indeed,” AZ says, sighing and crossing his legs before pulling the hatch shut. “I suppose the only way to move past them is…”

“Ignore them,” you say.

“… I was going to say talk to them, but if you insist.”

“W-well, I guess we can give it a try.”

No time to really debate this, as the crowd is already slowly approaching, with Serena hanging her head in defeat as they shuffle past her. You can faintly hear her “Sorry!” above the clamor. Cameras are readied, bystanders are huddled into groups, and everyone is looking at you three… well, mostly him.

AZ clears his throat, bowing his head and waving his hand. “Bonjour!”

Gasps and murmurs ripple through the crowd.

“If we may, we have to prepare for the picnic; I’d appreciate it if you could move aside,” he says. “We’re on a bit of a tight schedule, you understand.”

All of them exchange glances before scuttling aside, providing an ample path for him to stand. He does so, picking up the basket— and you with it— and getting to his feet with just a bit of help from his cane.

“I’d be happy to answer your questions at the picnic,” he says, spooking the crowd even a little more. “Come find me at 11:00!”

Okay. It’s go time.

The construction crew stand aside as well, and you can see a few flying Pokémon with their riders surveying the scene already; here we go. He steps onto the street, taking each step with a great deal of care. Most of the buildings don’t even reach his knees— it’s a sight to behold, really, even from your limited viewpoint in the basket. It’s a little unsteady in here, but you’re okay, and the view is worth it. Maybe you can make it up Prism Tower someday, after all.

It’s only being out here that you really realize…

He’s huge. Being in a space built for him worked to shrink him, somewhat, and make you feel small… but, no. It’s always been the other way around. One wrong move, here, and he could fall into a building and utterly destroy it— the whole earth shakes with a single step of his. Of course he’d find this whole ordeal harrowing.

He reaches an intersection, pulling out that same slip of paper and peering at it; all the while, people are accumulating on the sidewalks, watching with awe.

“Can you see the bollards they put up?” You ask.

“Just barely. That’s why I’m consulting this.” He looks to his left, nods, and heads that way, each step reverberating through your whole body.

“Hold for a moment, Colosse!”

One of the Pokémon riders draws close to his head as he stops in his tracks, the Noivern they’re riding hovering in place. He’s carrying a megaphone, which seems wholly unnecessary.

“Yes?” he says, wincing from the sound.

“We haven’t set up the entire bollard path just yet, so we’ll have to escort you about three-quarters of the way through, Monsieur!”

“Thank you for notifying me,” the giant responds, chuckling and scratching his ear with his free hand. “Though, ah, you should know that I can hear you just fine from this distance.”

“Ah… n-noted.” The device fizzles out, and they stow it away, every movement a little more hesitant now. “Carry on.”

It almost seems like the whole city’s watching right now, as you even see people open their windows or step out onto their balconies to watch. You desperately want to be more of a comfort for AZ right now, but maybe it’s enough that you’re right beside him.

You check the time; 10:05. Well, so much for an hour before…

“You alright?” you ask him. He chuckles wearily, glancing back and forth before taking his next step.

“I’ll survive, I’m sure.” he glances behind him, and you can faintly see the impression his shoes have made in the cobblestone streets. He cringes.

“It’s alright, Monsieur. Just keep going.”

The last leg of your trek is indeed heralded by the Pokémon riders keeping people contained and off the streets in lieu of bollards, and eventually… you’re in Centrico.

You feel him sigh, the basket sinking slightly as his shoulders relax.

You’d celebrate, but you don’t wanna be patronizing. Still, this has to feel better than the last few minutes have felt.

“I haven’t been this close to the tower before,” he muses, treading toward the circular park and kneeling down. He opens the basket, gently plucking you out of it and depositing you on solid ground. “I hope, erm…”

“You’ll be fine,” you reassure him, dusting yourself off. A grounds crew flocks toward you, evidently awaiting your arrival— though, not necessarily his, based on the looks on their faces. “Uh, good morning!”

“Uh, Bonjour. This is a little out of order…” one of them flips through a clipboard.

“He, um, wanted to help out. Is that alright?” You can feel Floette hovering behind you, curious about these strange people in hard hats.

The group look among themselves, evidently not wanting to tell him no for the life of them. “C-certainly.”

Chapter Text

I never thought we’d get this far, Y/N.

In all my years, I never thought I’d find another human being that could cherish me as an equal, and not as something other. I long feared that humans saw me as some divinity, untouchable, when… I’m far from it, I think. Perhaps if you asked a younger, haughtier me 3,000 years ago, who thought he could play with the lives of creatures, if he was a god, he’d consider the supposition, but no longer.

Though, for some time, I resisted the label of “human” as well; surely, I’m more different from humans now than similar. Enormous, immortal, capable of magic that was once humble in my time, but is now extraordinary— it took procuring the hotel to finally return to seeing myself as someone more human than not. Someone… changed, certainly, but still with a soul that yearns for the same things that humans yearn for.

I didn’t think one of those things would be love… oh, how foolish of me.

I thought I would be content with finally having people I could call friends, people who would stay with me through thick and thin, no matter how different I am, or become. People who would know my past sins, know the anguish and suffering I caused, and see that I desperately don’t want to be that man anymore. That the guilt was crushing me, but they’d pick up the pieces.

I thought that was sufficient, until I got to know you.

It started out purely cordial, as I am with all of my guests, but your forgiveness astounded me. Even as I flailed about trying to keep a sinking ship afloat, you gave me grace. I’ve never had that happen with a new guest… I hadn’t had many new guests before you, to be truthful, but those that had difficulties far smaller than the ones you endured generally never returned.

But you wanted to return. You sought to bond with me, the hotel, my staff, everything, even when you endured a truly awful stay. Perhaps that should have been my first clue that you were drawn to me… but I was in denial, really.

How could someone love me in that capacity? When I’m…

No. You wouldn’t describe me as a monster, nor would Floette, and she’s seen the worst of me. It’s something I still struggle with— I’m not all that wise for my age, you know. It’s taken far too long to realize who I am, and my place in this new world, and I’m still not finished. I mean, for a pertinent example, I hired you with little introspection as to why I wanted you to return so badly… but I suppose follies such as that can happen at any age, really.

I wish I could reassure you with more than mere words that… you mean so much to me. Sometimes I hear it in your tone of voice, how even though you understand my love for you, you still feel… insignificant. Like a mere speck of dust, something that will leave my memories as easily as what I had for breakfast a week ago.

That couldn’t be further from the truth.

Just because I can hold you in the palm of my hand… Well, that simply means I have the strength to cherish every inch of you. Everything. And there’s so much to you… more than you know. My size has not diminished how much other people make an impact on me. You’re more substantial than I could ever describe. Physically, as well; you may feel small around me, but I can sense every touch, every kiss, every embrace around one of my fingers. They’re all just as weighty as if you stood eye-to-eye with me.

You’ve endured so much for my sake, far more than anyone ought to, really. All because you reciprocate my feelings… I hope one day my gratitude will outweigh my guilt. You’ve nearly single-handedly pulled yourself out of the mess I made for us… it’s unfair, really, the demands my affections have placed on you. I want to give you everything you deserve for undertaking such a delicate task.

But my mind wanders in the heat of the moment. In any case… Thank you for walking with me.

As much as you likely appreciate my help today, your presence here is far more of a boon to me than you may realize. I will be sure to thank you further later… whatever you wish, I will grant it.

But for now, I’m simply following your instructions, really. Placing things where you want them, keeping the mood as light as I can despite the circumstances, and trying to keep my usual level of decorum… but if I were alone out here, I’m not certain I’d remember to smile.

There are so many people around; perhaps half the city has followed my little promenade out here, gawking in a myriad of extreme emotions as they see me. And I need to be able to talk to them with the same grace and decorum that I talk with you.

Hmph. Despite appearances, mon chéri, that doesn’t come as easily for me.

Floette is far more social than I am; always has been. She’s already floated off to mingle with the crowd, and I’m so thankful that people seem receptive to her presence. Perhaps it helps that she’s so lovely to look at, no matter how large she is. She looks so very happy… and from what little I can see of their faces, they’re smiling as well when she meets them.

As for me, I feel like a bit of a bumbling oaf out here, in broad daylight and 200 feet higher than most; despite my best efforts, every movement elicits gasps from someone, if not most bystanders. I haven’t broken anything yet, but I’m sure it will happen at some point… and I suppose plunging divots into the grass with my weight alone may count as ‘breaking’.

This hairstyle feels strange, and I’m trying to not pay any mind to it, but it’s… a different sensation that’s difficult to ignore. I feel the morning sun on my neck, and I can’t tell if that’s the cause of the sweat beading down it, or my nerves.

I can tell the whole world is watching…

I want this event to be perfect. Not really for my sake, though I know you curated it for me. Rather, for yours. You deserve a proper send-off, after all the hard work and toil you’ve gone through.

All the turmoil I’ve put you through…

At some point, perhaps when the others finally arrive to pick up the slack, you approach me. I’m so thankful that I can see your smile, even at my size.

“You doing okay?” You ask me, your voice a clarion to my soul, pulling me from my anxious mind.

“Better than I expected, certainly.” I glance at my pocket watch; auras, has it already been 45 minutes?

“Yeah, same here. I thought for sure I’d pissed off someone higher on the chain of grounds crew.”

“I’m sure they’ll take up any grievances with yours truly.” I look out at the crowd; everyone seems to have settled somewhat, though they’re still pointedly staring at me. Even Floette looks my way, clearly wondering if I’m alright.

I’ll live, ma fleur. I always have.

“Is there… anything else you need from me before we begin?” I ask, attempting to keep myself distracted.

“Well, I guess I was wondering if you wanted to kick things off,” you say.

I feel a boulder form in my stomach.

“I, erm… how do you mean? Speak to the people?” I lean closer. “You are the one who made this possible. You should do the honors.”

“Y-yeah, but… I dunno. You’re more of the face of the hotel, right?”

You’re correct, but that doesn’t inspire confidence the way you may want it to.

Regardless, I cave. As I often do for you… you make my usually stubborn will crumble like sand. You make me brave in spite of my cowardice…

“Very well.”

“I-I mean, you don’t have to, but-“

“No, it’s quite alright.” I glance again at my watch, and there’s no change, but minutes have become imperceptible to me over the centuries. “Would you like me to do it now?”

“Uh, Rodrigo’s almost set up, so… sure.”

I nod, mustering a smile; you’ve always been able to see through my smiles, but that’s just fine. We’re both anxious.

Taking my cane, I stand— such a simple action that, nonetheless, elicits gasps and cries from the crowd that’s congregated at my feet. At least Prism Tower, on my right-hand side, still dwarfs me, even after all this time. I clear my throat, preparing to speak much louder than I usually do.

“Bonjour and good day, everyone! Can you hear me?”

The whole crowd seems to fall silent, which tells me that, yes, they can. I breathe out the miasma of anxiety building in my lungs and continue.

“My name is AZ, and I am the owner and manager of Hotel Z, along Vernal Avenue.” I point towards it, and even that small gesture causes a ripple of movement in the crowd. “I am honored to invite this grand city to, well, a picnic!”

I need to take another breath; amazing how nervousness can deplete my lungs so quickly. “I am well aware that my presence in this city is either relatively unknown, or viewed with confusion and suspicion. So, my staff decided the best way for Lumiose City to get to know me is via some sort of event… and, well, that is what this is. Please feel free to eat, socialize, and… learn more about us…”

I glance down, and you’re at my feet. While your features are woefully indistinct at this distance, I do hope you’re smiling.

Though… perhaps I should be a bit more transparent, even still. I know not how these people are interpreting my nervousness.

“I, erm… am not used to making such public appearances. This is a very new scenario for me, so I apologize for any awkwardness, now or in the future… but I truly do wish to get to know the people of Lumiose. I adore this city, and… I would like it to reciprocate. Thank you.”

I bow my head, kneeling down and sitting once again, my eyes placed firmly on the ground before me; I know well that everyone’s looking at me, still.

And then I hear the crowd pick up.

I hear scattered applause, awed laughter, cheers, and conversation between both friends and strangers. Some people even approach me. Total strangers, but they’re curious about me, even as I admitted my faults. A few cautious Pokémon sniff at me, and some stare, while others walk off, clearly satisfied.

I haven’t words… so I muster the strength to bow my head and smile to the crowd.

By now, you’ve gotten swarmed by people asking you questions, and you disappear into the crowd, becoming indiscernible to me. Oh, dear. I shouldn’t worry too much, you’re a consummate professional, but I wish I could pick you out of a crowd more clearly. One of the many, many downsides of my size…

“I like your hair, Monsieur.” a tiny voice, that of a child, pricks my ears up. I lean closer to discern who said it; a little girl, clutching both her father’s hand and a small stuffed Pokémon doll. It’s always the children that break the silence adults impose on these situations…

“Thank you,” I reply, a warm feeling in my chest. “A dear friend helped me with it this morning.”

“H-how long have you been here in Lumiose?” a man asks, far more nervous than the child nearby.

“Hm… Six years, I believe. Though I haven’t made myself very public up until now… oh!”

I see Floette out of the corner of my eye, drifting closer and carrying a plate of food for me; I’m not certain I’m hungry just yet, but I appreciate her kindness as always.

“Is that your Floette?” One of them asks, a different child.

“Indeed, she is.”

“Are all of your Pokémon mega huge??”

“Ahahaha, no, no… just her.”

“Why does her flower look different?”

“Ah, well, it’s an ancient species of flower, one with great magical energy flowing through it. It died out a very long time ago, but she still carries this one to this day.”

“How long ago?”

I cannot help but smile at all of the questions. Perhaps this will be more enjoyable than I realize. I lean closer, and the crowd responds by pulling back ever-so-slightly.

“Well, we are both over 3,000 years old. So it’s been a long, long time.”

The children gasp in surprise, the adults balk and look at each other in stunned silence, and I hear Floette’s lovely little giggle to my right as she taps my shoulder.

“Thank you, my dear,” I say, taking the miniscule plate from her and turning to the onlookers. “Do you wish to see something interesting?”

Perhaps my wording sold it short, but the children nod at least. I close my eyes, and words drift in my mind…

Khause, aura. Hev his sektis, meg ata gen. Hev karep h’mene, meg bahu. Harupu a harlu, kapra a g’hab. I no longer need to say the words aloud— my, how I’ve progressed. Perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised, given it’s my native tongue, but to think in my original language… it’s not a skill I’ve had to foster in some time, until Cynthia reinvigorated my interest in the elden magicks.

I have always felt self-conscious about creating food I can actually enjoy in this manner; why should I not share it? Why am I hoarding it? Of course, I know I’m not really hoarding it. In comparison to the meals of those around me, mine is quite small proportionally. And yet, still…

Another series of gasps and cheers erupt from the crowd, a better reaction than I was expecting. Oh… How I wish I could hope for the best, once in a while.

I continue to chat with whoever raises their voice to me, even as we eat. I’ve never enjoyed eating alone, but even though I’ve never told you that, you seemed to understand that much about me. I find my eyes wandering through the crowd, hoping to spot you…

I really have become such a fool for you.

Time is certainly passing, as evident by the ebb and flow of the tiny people and Pokémon around me, the hellos and goodbyes I reciprocate, but it’s all rather congealed in my mind. Pokémon continue to investigate me curiously, seemingly viewing me as simply a big human. It’s rather amusing how blasé many of them are in comparison to their trainers.

Oh, and people are giving me things; I didn't have the foresight to bring business cards to exchange, but I’m certain the people of Lumiose will remember me, whether it’s for the qualities I strive to exude or not. In any case, Floette is taking whatever cards are presented, and there has to be a dozen or so of them, at least.

I wonder if this means we need an event hall in Hotel Z proper… oh, auras. Perhaps that fifth floor really is due for construction.

I’m not sure if you’ve seen that Urbain and Taunie’s parents are here, but the two are quick to introduce me to them. Ah, and Wulfric is here. And there’s Professor Sycamore, and his assistants… I assume Cynthia would be here, if she had the choice, but she’s at a tournament, I believe. I’ve talked to so many people at this point— far more than I have in ages.

Ah, there you are. I’ve finally spotted you, after a lull in conversation allowed my vision to shift elsewhere. As tempting as it is to simply pluck you out of the crowd, that wouldn’t be good for anybody. That primal part of my brain is still alive and well, after all this time… encouraging foolish behavior in an already somewhat foolish scenario.

Nonetheless, I keep my focus on you for a moment, as you talk with plenty of would-be patrons; is that Madame Jett you’re speaking with? Extraordinary that she’d pay this event any mind. I believe this is her first time seeing me in person, though I’m not necessarily inclined to speak with her. For… reasons that are quite clear to you already. Still, you seem to be handling her quite well, even with that huge bodyguard of hers boring holes into your skull.

You glance towards me, and our eyes meet.

Auras, give me composure.

I bow my head with a little smile, hoping that dispels any color-changing on my part; I can’t fully make out your face, but your two aforementioned conversation partners soon meet my gaze, as well. I nod again in greeting, ever-cordial.

“Monsieur AZ?”

Ah, Serena. I turn to face her, scattering a few people with my sudden movement. My leg is starting to fall asleep. Curses.

“Do you need anything, Monsieur?” she asks.

I fail to hold back the small, awkward laugh that leaves my lips. “Thank you, Serena, but I think I’m quite alright.”

“Alright, well, lemme know if you need anything. It’s about half-past noon, so we’re about halfway through.”

“I see. Thank you.”

Half-past noon?! How is that possible?! I could swear it’s only been a half-hour… Am I truly enjoying myself, for time to slip through my fingers like this?

I suppose it has been nice for some of my fears to be dispelled; I’m not so awe-inspiring that strangers fear speaking with me, and I’m perhaps not too much of a disturbance to the city’s routine. The crowd, I realize, has dispersed a good amount, leaving people listening to the band, eating, socializing among themselves… and not giving me a second glance.

This sort of picnic likely won’t happen the same way again, but I’m glad the people probably won’t be opposed. And… perhaps I wouldn’t be, either.

… Ah. Something’s perched on my nose, burying itself beneath my hair. Something vaguely… fuzzy?

“Cutiefly?”

Sure enough, I feel a very tiny poke at my nose. I wasn’t aware that you’d let him out at the party, but I’m so glad that he finds comfort in me now.

Though, it’d help my peace of mind if I could see him— he’d ordinarily make himself at least somewhat visible to me, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.

“Is Y/N looking for you?” I ask, knowing the little bug’s propensity for hiding. Another very tiny poke confirms that he’d prefer I not get involved. I wouldn’t dare lay a finger on him, but if he’s been misbehaving…

“Cutiefly!!” I hear your voice cry out from the crowd, and finally spot you once again as you work against it. “Where are you??”

Ah, well, I’m afraid I must get involved, little one.

“Y/N?” I call out, getting your attention— as well as the crowd. Conversations fall quieter, and thousands of eyes are once again on me. Wonderful. No subtlety for me, never ever.

“He’s up around here, roughly…” I gesture around my face, which I can feel growing rather warm.

Even though I can’t make out your face very well, I can tell that you’re rolling your eyes. You approach, clearly almost as tired as I feel.

“He stole my key,” you call up to me.

“Ah, naughty little thing… I’m not sure where he is exactly, and I don’t want to injure him.”

“No, I know. Hmm.” I watch you retrieve your Pokéball and click the button, but it seems he’s too far away for him to return. “Ughhh. Great. Cutiefly, c’mon, man.”

I cannot help but laugh, much to your dismay; this whole scenario is quite comical, devoid of context. Floette drifts over to the front of my face, inspecting me.

“Ah, I suppose Floette could…” I pause when I fully register that look in her eyes: Mischief, plain and simple. “Ma Fleur, Don’t-”

She pounces, slamming right into my forehead. I cannot help but recoil, my center of gravity displaced by her, and I feel my hand plow through the grass beneath me; at the very least, I take solace in the fact that intermingled with the gasps and cries are pockets of genuine laughter.

Perhaps I would be embarrassed if any of this was my doing.

Regardless, I wind up on an elbow, with Floette furiously scouring my head for any trace of Cutiefly. I can feel a giddy laughter bubbling up from my chest; I didn’t think this would be ticklish, too. Good heavens. People seem plenty amused, though, which is fortunate, as my falling over may have been a cause for concern earlier on.

Eventually, she emerges from my hair holding the culprit tight, though in the process… oh, Shauna. I’m so terribly sorry. All of her hard work is entirely undone. Thankfully, nobody seems to be hurt, but all that remains of her efforts is the two braids at the front.

I hear your lovely laugh above the crowd. “Thanks, Floette. We could’ve waited a little, though.”

“Bah, if she has a chance to be impish, she’ll take it.” I slowly sit up again, dusting myself off. “Is everyone alright?”

No objections; in fact, all I see is joy. From you, from the onlookers, and even welling within myself, despite nearly kissing the ground.

I shall share a secret with you; many of my smiles are all too conscious actions. I don’t often smile without remembering to do so, as it simply doesn’t cross my mind as often as most people, and thus, if left to my own devices, I look rather… surly. Unapproachable. You’ve perhaps seen glimpses of me with my guard down, a deep grimace on my face as I pore over a book. I of course never mean to frighten you, and I’m generally in quite good spirits, but to engage socially with others requires… a masque, is perhaps an apt term. A façade, for the purposes of comforting those around me, assuring them I mean no harm. I mean every smile, but they don’t come to me quite so easily.

But at this moment, I smile without thinking. And I do not realize it until I find my vision obscured by my good eye nearly squinting shut, but I must be ecstatic, at this moment, for it to come on so naturally.

… Thank you, Y/N.

Chapter Text

Oh, that went way better than you expected… but you still want to lay down in bed and not get up for at least a few days.

It’s 3:00, an hour after the picnic, and you’re still disassembling everything, thanking the band, cleaning up trash, and finally saying goodbye to the stragglers who still want to gawk at AZ. For his part, he’s helping, though he’s a little preoccupied by his hair getting in the way of every movement he makes.

3:30. The walk through Lumiose with AZ is less harrowing this time, but people are still watching his every move, and you’re still heralded by riders on flying Pokémon patrolling the skies… but they seem to respect him a bit more. Yes, as a matter of fact, he can control himself, thank you very much.

3:45… you’re finally back at the hotel. Your feet hurt like hell, you’re dehydrated despite drinking way too much punch, and you’re way too fascinated by how your room’s ceiling fan spins. That’s probably a good sign that your brain is fried.

Eventually, later in the night after you’ve taken the best hotel shower of your life, you actually witness a note sliding under your door. You pad over in your bare feet and pick it up, opening it…

Y/N,

You did such excellent work today. I would heap more praise upon you in this letter, but I’d rather do that in person. Would you like to join me tonight?

Both of your hands are now gripping the letter. And now, you can feel something else still in the envelope.

I understand that we are both entirely exhausted; if it helps, that seems to be true of the rest of your fellow staff. Everyone’s voices are a bit hoarser than usual, including my own, and nobody’s passed by my office door in hours.

But… I wish to thank you. For everything today. So if you’ve the strength, enclosed is a special key, a type originally reserved for Floette, that grants entry to my room from… an unconventional point. She typically only uses this point to enter and leave my room when I’m already fast asleep.

If you wish to use it, simply take hold of it while opening any of the service doors— or, even your own room’s door. That should work, as well.

And… do watch your step.

Warmly,

AZ

Ohh, Arceus, he’s spoiling you. The key, jet-black and bearing red markings across it, pulses with glowing energy and is cool to the touch, still made of a material you can’t identify. Is it a semiprecious stone? Colored glass? You’re not sure.

His offer is tempting, but then you remember what Desirée said. Maybe you should keep things mellow for now, at least until tomorrow, when… you can rip off the bandage.

Ugh… That’s the right and responsible thing to do, and you’re already exhausted, but your curiosity is getting to you.

Maybe you two can just… fall asleep together. Or, failing that, you can just take a peek, and then close the door.

Yeah…

You’re still a little damp, but you put on your pajamas, pack up some spare clothes in a bag and hold the key tight, slowly opening your door…

Ah. No wonder he said to watch your step.

In front of you is a narrow strip of “ground”, if you can call it that; to your left is a wall of glass, and the view of the city at night, magnified beyond possibility.

To your right is a plunge hundreds of feet down to the floor. You’re on his bedroom’s windowsill.

Yeah, no, you’re definitely still afraid of heights.

Your knees weaken almost immediately, and you desperately cling to the doorknob as one falls to the wood below you, and then the other. Chills are running up and down your spine like it’s a xylophone. You push yourself up against the glass, as best you can, the door closing behind you.

So much for taking a peek— you’re too scared to check if that’s a one-way trip, but it seems likely.

Okay, relax. There’s at least 5 feet between you and certain death… That’s totally fine! At least it’s not a tightrope or s-

The door to his bathroom opens, and the largest plume of steam you’ve ever seen bursts forth from it; seems he had the same idea as you, after being outside in the sun for hours. He steps out, hair completely dry, but his body lightly glistening, with some water clinging to the forest of hair on his forearms.

And, notably, he’s stark naked under that bathrobe, and it’s very obvious.

If your body heats up any more, you’ll probably explode.

You quickly look away, affording him the privacy he thinks he has— ohh, this is so embarrassing. Yeah, he invited you, but he probably wasn’t expecting you to come this quickly, right?

Oh, you’re hopeless.

He must’ve (somehow) spotted you and done a double-take, because his soft, bassy humming is cut short by a gasp.

“Y/N?!”

“… Uh-huh…”

What was that?!

You finally look out again as he steps toward you, peering up at you with a cheeky smile. “You startled me! Please make a bit more noise, my friend.”

“I-I didn’t w-want-… y-you’re naked!! Changing!!!”

He grins even more. “And you wanted to watch me silently? Have I caught you in the act?”

“N-no! I-”

He just laughs, a slight wheeze coloring each laugh as his cheeks tinge pink. “Ahh, I’m teasing, I’m teasing!! Come here.”

He extends a hand upwards to meet you at the windowsill; holding your breath, you board, and he wraps his fingers around you, holding you tightly, but gently as you descend.

You’d be elated if you weren’t so embarrassed.

“Sorry…” you mumble, muffled by his hand.

“Oh, it’s alright. I’m sorry for embarrassing you so.” his hand opens, and you peer up toward him, a tender smile on his face. “Though, you really should know that I do not mind.”

“Oh… Really?”

He sets you down on the bed, and he circles it, picking out his sleepwear of choice for tonight. “If I were ashamed of my body, I wouldn’t be visible to you.”

“W-what, like, you can turn invisible?”

He vanishes for a few seconds, just like that, and you hear his soft chuckle from where he was before he reappears. “Is it so unbelievable?”

Right. Magic. “Guess not. I dunno how else you’d manage to hide from people, I suppose.”

He nods, slipping off his bathrobe and donning his pajamas— you get a full view of his backside, but since he’s being normal about it, it’s easier to tune out, oddly enough. That, and his hair’s in the way…

“Additionally, you lose a bit of that in-born shame when you spend so much time out in the wilderness. I’m certain I’ve been spotted once or twice by explorers in a state of dress most would see as compromising, but… well, for starters, who’s going to believe them?” He grins.

A small laugh leaves your mouth. “Y-yeah, I guess ‘I saw a giant naked man in the woods’ isn’t super believable.”

“Precisely.” He chuckles as he buttons his shirt. “But, to be clear, if anything I do makes you uncomfortable, please let me know, and I will stop. Just because I’m a little more relaxed around you doesn’t mean I should let loose in every aspect. I do not want to coerce acceptance from you, either.”

He’s such a gentleman. You nod. “Yeah… Thank you.”

He lays down on the bed once he’s dressed, just admiring you, even as you simply sit there and admire him. He’s swathed in silk, hand-stitched, the emerald green fabric shimmering along with his hair, as if he were a snow-capped forest of conifers just laying before you. He sighs, swaddling you in his hot breath as he drinks in this quiet moment.

You step just a bit closer to his face, looking up into his eye. It blinks slowly in recognition of your approach, twitching just slightly as it looks over you.

But then you remember that this bliss isn’t fully earned, yet.

“We’re gonna have to tell everyone soon,” you say quietly and slowly, but he clearly hears you, as his eye wanders away from you. His smile falls too as he thinks.

“… Yes. We must.” His voice cocoons you, at once comforting and tense given the topic at hand. “How, though, is the question. This is… very delicate.”

“I think some people probably already know.” That’s technically not a lie… ugh.

“Perhaps, yes.” His great hands slide past you as he cradles his head against them. “That likely only makes this more urgent, not less…”

“Tomorrow?”

He grimaces, but nods. “That’s probably our only option. I was already planning on having a brief meeting to go over the picnic, so therefore…”

“Eugh, that’s awkward.” you collapse against his hand.

“It’s our only choice.”

“I know.” you sigh. “And then you’re gonna run away?”

“Wh-… no, you misunderstand.” he rolls over, scooping you up like you weigh nothing and placing you atop his chest, holding you there with his fingers acting as your blanket; you don’t resist, moving along with him and huddling into his sternum. “For one, you are free to accompany me.”

“I… I dunno if that’s a good idea.”

He peeks his head up to look at you. “What do you mean?”

“W-we shouldn’t just say ‘hey, we’re actually in a relationship’ and then disappear.”

“I suppose not…” he sighs, his chest rising high for a moment before falling quickly back down. “You’re right. But I also desperately need a break.”

“Me too.”

“And soon enough, you will be too busy to accompany me on my excursions.”

“Yeah…” you trace your hand along one of the buttons on his shirt, the size of a bicycle wheel; it turns just slightly at your touch, but it’s way too heavy to move with just one hand. “I guess, if everyone’s okay with it, we can go somewhere.”

You hear his heart skip a beat. He hums, stroking your back with a finger.

“Don’t get me too hopeful, mon chéri…”

No, screw it. Get him hopeful. You desperately want a change in conversation, even though you started it.

You crawl out from under his hand. “Where would you wanna go?”

He smiles and scoffs, knowing full well that you’re encouraging him. “I want to walk the mountain trails that start here in Kalos… and then go southeast through Johto, Kanto, and Unova.”

“Can you do that in 3 weeks?”

“Easily.” He smiles. “Though, I may take more frequent breaks for your sake.”

“What about your leg?” You point toward it.

“Bah, don’t bring that into this.”

“I don’t want you falling over if I’m gonna be riding!”

He laughs, his chest bouncing you. “I suppose not. I’ve a walking stick, much more rugged than that sorry old cane. Do not worry about me.”

“Can’t help it. I love you.” you lean against his hand for emphasis.

He carefully, deftly picks you up and places you atop his nose; you settle in once again, straddling it.

“I wasn’t always lame in that leg, you know. I injured it in the war when I was pursued by an assassin.”

“Whoa.”

“Don’t congratulate me. I tripped and landed on a sharp rock.” He grins. “It only started to cause real issues when I grew and grew… roughly, a thousand years later.”

“Huh. Is that when you started using a cane?”

“No… Not until recently.” He averts his eyes from you.

You squint. “AZ, ‘recently’ doesn’t mean anything. You know that.”

He doesn’t answer, and you feel his face grow warmer.

“… Eight years ago.”

You balk.

“You’ve been walking unsupported on a bad leg for two thousand years??”

“Why are you surprised at my stubbornness?” He asks, trying to smile through it.

“That’s not stubbornness, that’s… hating yourself.”

He rolls his eyes, but the sigh he breathes tells you that he concedes. “I know… I’m not a particularly gracious man, with regards to my wellbeing.”

“I’ve noticed that.” And you know why. He hasn’t forgiven himself for what he’s done. Honestly, you’re not sure you could forgive yourself either, if you were in his shoes. But you don’t need to forgive yourself to change.

“You should be nicer to yourself.”

“I’ll try to be a little better about that, mon chéri,” he says quietly.

“Not just for me. For Floette, for your staff… for you…”

“I know.”

You kiss his nose, gently hugging it. He picks you up and gently presses you against his lips, smothering you for just a moment in warm, plush contact. He releases you, and you settle on his chin, kissing his lips of your own accord. He smells of wildflowers and aftershave, with an herbal, minty scent in his breath.

He gently sets you beside his head, and you intermingle with his hair, looking up at him. He breathes a heavy sigh, both contented and conflicted.

“When this is all resolved… I want to attempt to make this whole hotel more accessible,” he says. “Not just for your sake, indeed, but for everyone.”

You sit up a little. “Like, elevators?”

“Mm, at least in the areas I have some sway over. I’m sure we can sort something out on the ground floor, in the lobby. Teleportation isn’t too foreign a concept anymore, with technology replicating what once required magic.”

“That’s… exciting.” You think for a moment. “What brings that to mind, though?”

“Well, if you wish, perhaps I could install a little, erm… nook. In here.” his head turns just slightly to look at you. “Just for you. With storage, decor, a bathroom, a home office, and perhaps a bed for when you don’t wish to sleep right beside me.”

You feel even warmer all of a sudden. “That… That’d be great.”

“I’d want your oversight on it, of course. I wouldn’t want you to feel like a caged Pokémon.”

“I’d love something a little safer than… that, though.” you point at the windowsill, and he grins.

“Exactly. I want you to feel perfectly safe around me… even with our stark differences.”

Your smile softens. “And I want you to be yourself around me.”

His smile softens in turn. “I’m trying. I’m still testing the waters, you know that.”

You shift toward his cheek, leaning against it. “We won’t always be happy around each other, and that’s okay.”

He sighs. “… I suppose every risk feels heightened around you. If I were to grow too angry, or too complacent…”

“I could hurt you too, you know. Even if I can’t physically, I could… make an offhand comment about your disability that’s kind of patronizing and rude.” you huff. “Just as a… relevant example.”

“… Right.”

“So… we shouldn’t be walking on eggshells around each other.” His hand is laying just beside you, and you climb into it. “If something’s wrong, I’ll say so. And you should, too.”

He turns his head toward you, his hand pulling closer to him as his thumb runs down your torso; he doesn’t say anything, but you know he’s really thinking about your words. His other hand likewise cups around you, and you hug that thumb as the other trails down your legs, pressing against the bottoms of your feet. It’s… investigatory, but in a pleasurable way, his once rough and calloused skin softened by just a few years of domesticity, of self-care.

He brushes your hair out of your face as gently as he can, though his whole thumb still presses against you, and you giggle just a little. Somehow, he’s both gentle and clumsy, graceful and hesitant. You press your hand against his thumb, aweing at how it still lays basically flat.

He hums. “So small…”

To him, at least, it’s true. And to some extent, when it’s just you two, you feel so tiny. Living in a space meant for him, held and inspected… But you don’t feel like anything lesser.

“Does it, like… feel like a hand?” You ask.

“Mm, of course. I feel every finger.”

You experiment, pressing just your thumb against his. He chuckles.

“Yes, that too.”

“I guess I figured most of it would kinda mush together.”

He grins, pulling a finger under your hand and carefully leaning toward it, in some sort of gentlemanly kiss. He practically swallows your arm, humming with pleasure.

He looks over his handiwork, at how tiny your hand is in his. “Perhaps, someday, some thousands of years from now, I’ll grow so large that I’m numb to such small touches… but not today.”

“And even then, someone’ll find a way to comfort you.”

“I may need to get better at shrinking myself, I think, if only to sate my curiosity fully.”

“Is there something wrong with me getting bigger?” you tease.

“It’s not all it’s cracked up to be, mon cher. Trust me.”

Your heart flutters, and you’re certain he feels it as he holds you.

“Besides,” he continues. “I couldn’t quite as effectively do… this.”

He brings you to his face and kisses you— all of you. Your whole torso sinks into his lips, your hands resting atop his cupid’s bow. You’re giggling like mad, overstimulated in the best way, euphoric.

He rolls over, pinning you to the pillow with another kiss; he’s kissing you like it’s the last time he ever will, a near-infrasonic hum leaving his lips as he adjusts and moves again, gently pushing you around. You reciprocate with your own kisses, even while pinned, even as his humid breath dampens you once again, even as you squirm to relieve the pressure in places. He’s so gentle, but so hungry…

And, well, he has every right to be. Because it might actually be the last time he’ll be able to kiss you.

You savor it.

Chapter Text

The day of reckoning has come.

No, it’s not that serious. But it really does feel like there’s a sword hanging over your head as you meet in AZ’s office, as instructed. Everyone’s here, and you’re just waiting on him…

“Hey, you alright?”

You flinch, but it’s just Urbain. He seems concerned. Well, yeah, you probably look like a quivering mess, so you can’t blame him.

“Yeah. Just tired.”

That much is true. Despite sleeping with AZ last night, you didn’t get much of it— you get the sense that the giant didn’t get much sleep, either, based on what he was mumbling.

“Floette… Floette… come back…”

It was to the point that Floette herself laid down beside him, trying to provide him solace even in his sleep. That seemed to calm him down, but… yeah. Not as good of a night as either of you wanted it to be.

Eventually, he arrives, closing the door and seating himself on the floor with a great sigh, his fingers thrumming the head of his cane before he sets it beside him. Unfortunately, it seems Floette’s busy, so you’re emotional support.

You can hardly support yourself.

“Good morning, everyone,” he begins, putting on his best smile. “Excellent work yesterday. I hope everyone got ample rest afterwards.”

There’s a quiet chorus of agreement, and Urbain nods; Taunie isn’t here, but she wasn’t there for the picnic, either.

Yeesh. You’ll have to tell her in private, you suppose.

“I thoroughly enjoyed myself yesterday, far more than I was expecting. I’ve received feedback from the city council, who, while a little perturbed by the… structural damage I caused…” he rubs the back of his neck. “also found the event enjoyable, and would accept a repeat next year. Perhaps not in Centrico, though.”

Seth shoots you a glance, and you sigh.

“With that said, I want to thank you all, personally, for assisting with this project. Never in my wildest dreams did I think this would be as successful as it was, but we’ve already received an ample increase in reservations, at least online.” he looks at Urbain. “Am I correct?”

“Yes, monsieur. It’s actually lagging the old computer out in the lobby a bit.” he chuckles sheepishly.

“Ahaha, well, perhaps we will have to upgrade soon enough.” he clears his throat as he thinks some more. “The food was… wonderful, Rodrigo, no complaints—” The chef beams— “and I quite enjoyed the music you picked out, Y/N.”

You grin shyly.

“All in all, I think well over three thousand people were at least in the plaza, if not participating. A staggering number, and unquestionably a success, though we may see a dropoff if we decide to do this again next year.” he grins. “At some point, the novelty of my presence will wear off on Lumiose’s citizens.”

There’s a long silence; it feels long, anyway, even if it’s only 20 seconds or so. It feels like hours… You know he’s sorting out how to say this next part.

“But… there’s something else I must disclose to you all,” he says, intertwining his hands and leaning forward. “… A difficult conversation for me to begin, but it must be stated at some point.”

Desirée crosses her arms, but you do your best to keep your eyes on AZ.

“… I have… no. Y/N and I…”

You flinch when he says your name.

“… have been pursuing each other romantically for… nearly a month now.”

The room feels so cold all of a sudden. You feel everyone’s eyes on you, carving craters into your skin from their contact alone. You want to shrivel up into a husk and float away. You want to cry. You realize that you are, actually, regardless of whether or not you wanted to.

“We both understood this to be a brazen conflict of interest… so Y/N made plans to formally relieve themselves of their position and find employment elsewhere.” He sighs, his head in his hands. “… We have tried to resolve this in the best fashion possible, but… but neither of us could reconcile our relationship with our work, so a compromise had to be made.”

“Is that what you’ve been so jumpy about?” Seth sneers. “Both of you.”

You both nod.

“I-I’m sorry,” you whimper. “… to all of you. I-I… neither of us knew it’d end up like this, a-and… I feel awful for lying, a-a-and keeping secrets, and-”

“Y/N?”

That’s Serena’s voice; you hear her sit beside you. “Take a deep breath.”

You try, but your whole body’s shaking.

“I had a hunch, to be honest,” Rodrigo muses. “I saw how you two looked at each other at breakfast, but I wasn’t sure.”

“I-I…” you wheeze, wiping your eyes with your sleeve.

“No wonder the picnic got approved so easily,” Seth says with a small scoff. “But… as much as this upsets me, it’s marginally above board. And I haven’t noticed any meddling with budgets or salaries as of yet, so…”

“I don’t like that you kept it a secret,” Desirée says, as if she has any right to speak on this matter. She’s playing coy. “You should’ve told us sooner.”

“I-I know. I’m sorry.” you swallow. “This is… we’re… he’s… it’s…”

“Complicated,” Serena says. She must have intuited this from both of you a while ago.

“You all are allowed to feel however you wish about this,” AZ says, finally speaking up. “But… I think I need some time, however brief, to recollect myself. We all do. So… I have a proposal, if you’ll allow me.”

Everyone, in spite of all of this, tunes in.

“I will be closing the hotel for three weeks… during which, you shall have paid leave.”

A murmur ripples through the room.

“Take a moment, a long one, to think, to relax, to reflect on the first month you’ve been here. This has been an adjustment for everyone, and I, for one, am exhausted. I need to recalibrate.”

This wasn’t part of what you two’d talked about; he must’ve thought of it right then and there. And, well, if he has the money to do that (which it seems like he does)… You feel the tension in the air relax, as everyone looks at each other, a little stunned by the proposition.

Three whole weeks— you’d be ecstatic if you weren’t crying.

Desirée blinks. “That’s… a long time.”

“Mm. Plenty of time to determine whether you still wish to work under me, after all of this.” He clears his throat. “And… plenty of time for me to take a long walk.”

“You too, I’m guessin’?” Rodrigo looks right at you and grins.

“Be nice,” Serena retorts. “… Thank you, Monsieur. That’s very generous of you.”

There’s a mumbling chorus of agreement, even from Paxton, who otherwise hasn’t said anything. Urbain hasn’t said anything either, which is odd; he seems deep in thought, not looking at you, or AZ, or anyone in particular.

“On that note, you’re dismissed. Your vacation begins tomorrow.” The giant waves a hand, opening the door, and most of them shuffle out; Serena stays, though, a hand on your shoulder.

“You alright?” she asks. You don’t make eye contact.

“… H-how long have you known?” you whimper.

She sighs. “Since we ate together a few weeks ago. I had a hunch you weren’t telling the full truth. I, uh, I’ve learned to read people’s tells pretty well, being Champion and all." She pulls her knees to her chest. “Sorry, boss, but… both of you are really bad at hiding it.”

He laughs without mirth, not even a hint of a smile on his face. “I know. It’s miserable.”

“I-I think… we only found out we loved each other that day,” you say, sniffling. “S-so… ugh.”

“Hey.” She pats your shoulder again. “It’s done. Take a deep breath.”

You try again, and it finally comes to you a little easier. Most of your nerves aren’t really about the secret being out— you’re starting to realize it was because Desirée was in the room, too.

You can’t just say that now, though.

“Thanks.” You rub your eyes. “I’m sorry if this made things, like… weird.”

“Tch, no. I’m used to weird relationship stuff happening even in the League.” She glances up at AZ. “N-not that this is-“

“A relationship between an employer and an employee is not favorable,” he says, fiddling with his sleeve. “One could certainly describe it as… ‘weird’.”

She’s probably so desensitized to this that, thankfully, that’s the only thing she’d clock as “weird”. Not the massive age gap, or the massive size difference…

The others, though? That’s judgement you’re not sure you’re ready to face. Maybe this hike through the mountains will be good for you.

She shrugs. “I think it’ll just take some getting used to. For everyone, really.”

“Hey,” Urbain’s voice sounds out, and you all turn to see him walking toward you. He’s holding three water bottles, one of them already opened. “Um… sorry for just leaving. Uh, you want one?”

You blink, but extend a hand. “S-sure, thanks.”

You and Serena both take one; AZ is casting small glances at you, but his head is turned away. It seems like he wants to leave, but doesn’t want to leave you alone.

You want to tell him he can leave, but you doubt he’d listen.

“I just, uh, needed a sec to think about this.” Urbain sighs.

“I get it,” Serena replies.

“I’m sorry,” you mumble.

“No, it’s…” he loosely shakes his head and sits on the floor, thinking. “I’ll have to rearrange the people booked for the next three weeks, but… i-it’s fine.”

Nobody says anything for what feels like hours. You really don’t wanna be here, but don’t exactly have a good out besides saying as much. The emotions everyone’s feeling…

It’s all, in some way, your fault.

“If, um, if you’ll pardon me, everyone…”

AZ’s voice jolts you, and you peer up, watching him slowly stand. “I’ve some paperwork to tidy up, unfortunately, so…”

“O-oh! Yeah, that’s, uh, that’s fine.” Serena looks your way. “You gonna be okay?”

You nod. “Yeah. Thank you.”

…

You meet him on his desk after that, but neither of you say anything for some time. You simply watch him organize files, write a letter, sign a check… It’s all so mundane.

But he wavers while writing on occasion— looking at you for a brief moment, before continuing, each stroke of his pen a little more hesitant than usual.

It’s over. You don’t have to hide anymore.

So why does this feel so awful?

It wasn’t even the worst reception ever, as you feared. It was just… awkward. A little heated, but not explosive, with nobody drawing and quartering you as your worst nightmares feared, but nobody giving you complete grace, really.

Just… a limbo in-between.

He eventually sighs, setting down his pen and extending a hand toward you.

“Forgive me… I should’ve done this sooner,” he whispers.

You climb on, and he gently presses you against his chest, embracing you. You hug back as best as you can, clinging to his shirt, desperately attempting to hold back tears.

“I never meant to act so coldly… I suppose I was far too in my own head.” He sighs. “I said the words I knew I needed to say, and… and all of my other faculties failed. I was overwhelmed.”

You sniffle and clear your throat, tamping down your instinct to cry. “It’s… it’s okay. I know you didn’t mean it.”

He sighs, though his chest rattles as he does so— is he crying? His whole body sinks into his chair, until he’s nearly supine.

“I ought to be relieved… a-and perhaps I am…” he sniffles, and you see huge rivulets of water cascading down his face. “Damn it.”

Ah, now you’re crying too.

“I-if people are upset, they’ll tell us,” you say quietly. “Right?”

He laughs without mirth. “Yes, well, that’s the hope… Ahem. Ugh. I shouldn’t be so uncharitable to them.”

He reaches for a tissue, tearing off a piece for you— though it’s still the size of you. You can’t help but laugh as you take it.

He groans, a strange smile crossing his face as he blots his eyes. “I’m a sorry mess right now, aren’t I?”

“You and me both.”

“Yes, there’s a bit of solidarity in that…” he clears his throat. “I should, ah… I should cast my focus to the future, I think.”

“Yeah… we’ve gotten that over with, at least.” A part of you wants to force yourself to wallow in misery, but there’s nothing productive about that.

Might as well think forward.

“Are you gonna leave tomorrow?” You ask.

He sighs. “I’d like to, yes… though if other concerns come up before that, I ought to handle those first.”

Suddenly, he perks up, and you glance behind you, seeing Floette in the door. He beckons her closer, and she flits over, inspecting his reddened eyes.

“Ahaha, don’t fret, ma fleur,” he coos. “We’ve just… dealt with the hardest part, is all.”

She hovers over to check on you, and you give her head a little pat. “I-I’m okay. Did you see anyone in the hall? Did they seem okay?”

She glances back, but nods.

“Phew…”

“I didn’t exactly get a good look at everyone,” AZ remarks, his finger tracing up and down your back. “But… I suppose that’s what emails are for. Grievances.”

You sulk into him. “It’s better to handle this stuff in person, but hopefully you’ll have an HR guy when you get back.” You peer up at him. “Right?”

He chuckles wearily. “Yes, indeed. I’ll have the Floette mobilize once we return.”

He plucks you off of him, cradling you in his hands as he lowers his head to meet you, as eye-to-eye as possible.

“Speaking of which…” he says, his voice seeping into every inch of your body. “Have you ever climbed a mountain?”

“K-kinda. It was a volcano?”

He scoffs. “That’s most certainly a mountain. Do not undersell yourself. Though, do they have mountain ranges in Alola?”

“Not really. Every island is kinda its own mountain.”

He nods. “We’ll be exploring the largest contiguous mountain range in the world, if all goes according to plan. And these aren’t balmy calderas, either.”

“Y-yeah, I figured. I think I have good gear for that.” You have a really good winter coat, at the very least.

He grins. “I’ll be doing most of the legwork, I’d imagine. But I wouldn’t want you freezing on my person.”

You feel yourself turn a bright red. You knew he’d likely be carrying you along, but it’s just now becoming clear that… you’ll be close to him for a long time. Right beside him.

“O-oh… right.”

“Along the trail, though, there will be plenty of areas to explore, stretch your legs, venture where I cannot. I’ll be sure to take you there, as well.”

“Well, so long as you’re not left out.”

He snickers. “That was meant as an assurance that I wouldn’t be trapping you with me, and yet you still want me wherever you are.”

You smile sheepishly. “I-I mean, if there’s a cool cave that you can only fit your arm in…”

“Then, I’ve likely explored it before, many, many times.” He softens slightly. “I want to be your guide, Y/N.”

You smile, hugging his thumb. “That’s fair. If there is a cave, though, I’ll try to take pictures for you.”

He laughs. “I appreciate the sentiment. Though, you enjoying it will suffice.”

Floette nestles into his collarbone, just above you, returning the head pat you gave her a moment ago. He hums, embracing you both.

“… Floette, do we still have that scotch that Mustard gifted us?” He asks quietly. “I think we’re due to open it tonight.”

Chapter Text

That evening, you two sequestered yourselves in his room, planning everything; this trip is gonna be over 3,000 miles of trekking for AZ, and you’d feel a little bad if it weren’t clear he was eager to do it.

Indeed, AZ has broken out some really nice scotch as you’re going over the itinerary, with a warming vanilla and oak finish. The whole room smells amazing as soon as he uncorks the bottle, though you wonder if that’s the bottle itself or the magic it took to make it so big.

In either case, you do get a lot sorted out, but a good deal of your time is simply telling stories, listening to stories, and laughter. He’s got a lot of history traveling this continent, and he’s clearly ecstatic to share it with someone. There’s a gleam in his eyes that you’ve only seen when he’s talking about his passions.

“It’s my hope to reach Dragonspiral Tower before we have to circle back,” he explains, pointing to a massive map as he kneels down on the floor; with it this big, you can really imagine the path forward, as you follow behind his finger on foot. “Though, failing that, I feel the view from Mt. Moon will be exquisite as well.”

“I always wanted to visit Dragonspiral when I lived in Unova,” you remark before taking a sip of your drink. “Never had the time, though.”

“It’s a sight to behold, really; for some time after it was built, Unova was too ravaged by storms to be inhabitable by humans, so much of the history of it has been lost.”

“Not to you, though, right?”

He grins. “Perhaps not… I’ll share more once we arrive there.”

Exciting…

You’re hoping to learn even more about him on this trip; he seems quite reticent while on the clock, and the moments you’ve had together away from prying eyes have been few and far-between. You suppose he could be curious about your life, too, but you’re not sure there’s much to tell.

Nonetheless, you make a list with his help of the things you need, perhaps excessively excited. Maybe it’s the booze, but he looks especially handsome tonight.

You’ve only had, like, one-and-a-half glasses, though, so it couldn’t be that, right?

“Oh, dear, perhaps we ought to stop,” he rumbles, corking the bottle.

“N-no, I’m fine,” you say, before realizing you were staring up at him in a stupor. You try to stand up, but stumble over yourself, his hand quickly swooping in to catch you.

You rub your eyes. “Ugh. Maybe not…”

“It’s wonderful stuff; goes down all too smooth.” he grins.

You groan. “Noooo, how am I drunk already? You don’t look any different at all!!”

He laughs. “Yes, well, it’d take perhaps a whole bottle of this to intoxicate me, I think.” he gently rubs your back. “I do wonder if my magic’s made it a bit too strong for you, though… my apologies.”

You hiccup, squeezing your eyes shut. Yeah, this stuff is…

You grumble, leaning into his touch, your senses foggy.

“Oh, mon cher… Come here. Rest for a moment.”

You relent, sinking into his grasp as he picks you up off the ground; the world blurs for a moment, and everything feels like it’s merging together before you find yourself on his pillow. A blanket gently falls on top of you, and the world spins a little less now.

What was in that stuff…?

You see him clean up a bit behind the bed, his enormous form picking up the objects scattered across the floor, before approaching you again; you flinch at his approach for the first time in a while, as you could swear he was about to eat you.

“Oh, auras… would you like some water? Would that help?”

“Maybe…”

“Okay, stay here. I’ll… hm. Oh, dear.”

He gets a strange look on his face, before standing upright and shuffling over to his bathroom.

Suddenly, you hear a great crash, and a shout. You try and lift your head to see what happened, but the whole world lurches around, making you feel sicker.

“Damn it!… Floette…?”

…

You must’ve passed out.

You find yourself in your own room later that night, on your bed, with a pretty gnarly headache. Ouch.

Floette must’ve carried you back here at AZ’s behest, and that was probably the smartest move. You’re not sure if it was safe to be in that huge room with precarious cliffs while plastered.

You still have your list, though, and… a note under your door. You shuffle over and peel it open.

Y/N,

As it turns out, that scotch was very srong strong for me as well. I’m not sure what happened to cause this… but I made sure to send you home before any misssss mishaps occurred. I’m terribly sorry about this. Please stay safe. I will be fine.

I love you so much. So much. So m

Goodnight.

AZ

Oh, dear… you can only imagine how confused he must’ve been. Hopefully he’s okay— you find it unlikely that this stuff could fell a giant, though.

You giggle to yourself imagining his expressions while writing this; that dopey smile he has when he’s sleepy, only amplified by alcohol…

You should go back to bed, though. You’ll pack in the morning.

…

Gloves. How could you forget gloves?!

As you’re packing the next morning, you have almost everything you could need for a several-week-long trip. You’ve done this before, going on hikes that take you far away from civilization, or even sailing away to a tiny island, so you should have everything already… and yet, you don’t have gloves.

You suppose you never needed cold-weather gloves in Alola, really, but you don’t have anything suitable at all; besides some gardening gloves, but they’re way too breathable for a trek through the mountains. They leave a big patch of the back of your hands exposed, that won’t work.

You notice an absence of other crucial materials, too; no lighter (AZ can allegedly start fires, but you’d rather be able to start your own with less risk of a wildfire), no portable charger, and you should probably get more socks, warmer socks.

You know it’s silly to be disappointed in yourself, so you remind yourself that AZ wouldn’t be disappointed in you. That helps a little.

Around noon, you hear a great thud against your door; that must be him. You peek outside…

You almost don’t recognize the giant kneeling before you, and you flinch before getting a good look.

He’s donned huge, rugged boots, well-worn and stitched together at points. His jeans, handmade like the rest of his clothing, are sturdy and probably thicker than burlap. He’s wearing a dark brown hooded overcoat that’s lined with off-white fleece, with mismatched buttons the size of tables, the cuffs and seams repeatedly sewn and inevitably torn by wear and tear. A brown sweater sits underneath, as well as firm leather gloves, their fingerlessness at the ends accentuating just how long his hands are. Around his neck is an emerald scarf that nearly covers his mouth, and his hair is more tightly braided than usual, cascading down each shoulder. On his head is a massive orange-ish beanie, which further pushes his excess hair into his eyes, and he’s got an enormous knapsack the size of a building slung on his back, with dozens of little pockets stitched into it.

“Whoa…”

You see a small, wry grin behind his scarf.

“Quite different, isn’t it?” he chuckles. “Serena says it’s a ‘glow-up’ of the outfit I wore when we first met… whatever that means.”

You laugh. “It just means, uh, an improvement. Visually.”

He looks at his gloves. “Ah, I see. I suppose so. Though, the only articles that are from that outfit are the hat and the scarf. I quite like them.”

You suppose that, whatever he wore originally, it was far more ragged and worn-down, from ages of wandering. Now that he has a bit more dignity, he can replace his clothes more often, or repair them better.

It certainly puts your adventuring gear to shame… you’ve gone hiking, and you have some stuff from Alola with you already, but you’ve never looked quite this ready.

You step out of your room, and you see a huge pillar of birch wood leaned against the wall; it’s gotta be as tall as him, if not taller. Clearly enlarged, as you’ve never seen a birch tree that big, but it’s very finely crafted, well-polished and with plenty of handholds. It almost looks like a huge wizard’s staff, though again, he’d resist that term.

“Are you feeling better?” he asks. “I apologize if you woke up alarmed.”

“Oh, no. I’m fine.” you rub your forehead. “Are you alright? I heard you fall, too.”

“Ugh… Yes, I’m alright.” he rolls his shoulders. “How undignified… My sincerest apologies for worrying you.”

“It’s fine,” you say with a small laugh. “Whew, that stuff was…”

“I know.” he breathes out a laugh. “I’ll have to write a letter to Mustard. There must’ve been something in that brew he didn’t tell me about, or else I made a grave error in enlarging it.”

“Yeah… I got your note, too.”

“Was it coherent?”

You laugh. “Mostly.”

He rubs his face. “That’s all I could ask for. I could barely hold the pen.”

You snicker. “I, uh… we might have to stop and get some things. I thought I had more than I actually do.”

“That is just fine. We can stop in Snowbelle and get whatever you’re missing.”

Hopefully you don’t look too relieved. “Uh, otherwise… I’m ready. And, uh…” you pick up Cutiefly’s Pokéball. “He’s still asleep.”

“I see. Floette?”

You hear her trill behind him, where his backpack is, and he turns to try and find her, just as she drifts out of his vision and toward you. She giggles before he turns back, scoffing.

“You’d better not be tampering with my supplies, ma fleur,” he chides; his expression softens as she flies up to nuzzle his face, and he relents, stroking her. “I suppose we’re ready, as well. I’ve the others with me, too… aside from Torkoal. He’s quite content to stay here.”

You grab everything and close the door, doing a double-triple check, before Floette swoops over and takes your bags, leaving you with just your phone, wallet, and water bottle.

“Oh! Thanks…” You turn to him. “How’re we doing this? You’re gonna carry me most of the way?”

“Indeed, if that suits you.”

“Yeah, no, it’s fine. Where am I going?”

“Well, it’s perhaps a little unorthodox, but it’s something Serena grew rather fond of during our travels, so…”

“As long as I’m not in your back pocket,” you joke.

“Ahahaha, no, nothing of the sort. Here.”

He extends a hand, and you climb on top, bracing as it soars upward… ah, he’s bringing you to his face. Are you going on top of his head? That seems dangerous. No, wait…

He carefully drops you into his scarf, the fabric holding you like a sort of hammock; you squirm just a bit to get into a comfortable position, carefully peering out from it.

“Does this work?”

His voice is almost deafening, but then again, you’re right next to his throat. Your whole body lurches as he stands, the walls and floor of Hotel Z blurring until he’s at his full height— you don’t dare look down.

“… M-might just take some getting used to,” you whimper.

“Are you alright?” His hand hovers just in front of you. “We can try something else.”

“N-no, this is okay.” you settle in a bit; ooh, this fabric is actually really nice. “Yeah, actually, I could get used to this.”

He hums. “Good. I’d suggest you don’t look down, but everyone seems to do so regardless.”

You hear Floette giggle somewhere above you.

“I know you’ll keep me safe,” you say, and he softly scoffs; you feel him grow a little warmer.

You try to reorient yourself, to fully gauge your surroundings; behind you is his neck, with his sweater and scarf holding you snugly, and above you, some 6 or so feet away, is his chin; you cannot make out his facial features from here, but you’re sure he can peer down at you. In front of you is a perfect view of the world from approximately his height… Well, perhaps it’s less disorienting for him, but it’s amazing how far away everything looks.

“So, um… which way to Snowbelle?” you ask. You don’t know how you’d get there in a timely manner based on the exits you know about.

“Ah, that’s right. I haven’t yet shown you the wine cellar.”

The what?

He grabs his walking stick and travels to one of the huge doors, each footstep crashing beneath you; you wonder if it’s just as loud for him as it is for you, or if he’s learned to tune it out over the millennia. He turns the dials on the doorknob, opening into…

An enormous, pitch-black abyss yawns out before you; you yelp a little as he closes the door.

“Bael!”

He shouts something— you don’t know what it is, but you flinch regardless— and a reddish light emits from the tip of his staff, almost like a torch. You can finally see a good distance out, rows upon rows of huge bottles on massive wooden shelves, interspersed with enormous barrels and kegs; the whole space is damp, musty, a swirl of age and river water hitting your nose. As he trudges through, his footsteps now squelch slightly as well.

“This opens up to Aquacorde Town, south of Lumiose,” he says, tracing his free hand along one of the bottles; in fact, he plucks up one of the “smaller” ones. “One for the road?”

You scoff. “Sure, I guess, so long as it’s not as strong as the stuff from last night.”

He grins. “I’ll make sure of it. I’m still terribly sorry about that.”

“No hard feelings, heh. Did you make these?”

“No, no, winemaking’s a profession in and of itself. If you’re asking if I’ve made them to my size, though, then yes.” he holds up the bottle, inspecting it.

“1904… Riesling,” you read, the label conveniently right in front of you.

“So it’s… Ah, that’s right. I remember this one; I received it 5 years ago as a gift from Ramos.” You can tell he’s smiling. “It must be good, then. He has excellent taste…”

He hands it to Floette, who stows it in his bag, and continues through.

“To our right is… yes, there.”

A plunging staircase delves even deeper into the earth, and you can faintly see some natural light emitting from it. He descends carefully, though you still have to hang on tight, if only for your own comfort. You hear splashing now, indicating that he’s plunging right into water— deep water, if it’s up to his ankles.

You cringe. “No offense, but I can see why you haven’t shown me this place.”

He laughs. “It’s not exactly the most romantic wine cellar, I’ll agree. But, despite how it looks, it does its job quite well. Plus…”

He stoops his head, and you hold on as he exits a cavernous stone gash, which opens onto a stunning view of the river, with soaring cliffs overhead and the town of Aquacorde perched on the rocks hundreds of feet above you.

“… It’s got quite a view outside.”

“Whoa.” you look around, taking in the view. “Is this a secret? Should I keep it a secret?”

He chuckles. “No, no, don’t fret. It is… a little inaccessible, I’ll admit, but I’ve nothing to hide.”

He grunts just a bit as he wades through the water, which you’d have to guess is up to his knees by now… what is that, 50 feet? 60? He moves along the ravine wall, which is still a good hundred feet taller than him, from your estimations, until you see it slope down to his level.

He really does cross a huge distance with each stride, even in water. He shakes off his boots once he reaches the shore, sighing.

“The left sock is intact…” he mumbles. “But the right sock…”

You chuckle. “Uh-oh.”

“It’s fine. I’ve put up with w-”

“Holy shit, look.”

Both of you peer upward, toward the cliff, where a gang of teenagers are peering down at you over a railing, aghast and agog. They seem to be students, based on their yellow uniforms. Some flinch and whisper things to one another once AZ looks their way. You hear just a few snippets— “It’s the guy from the news!” “Check out the Floette…” “What’s he doing here? Where’d he come from?”

“S-salut,” one of them says, daring to be louder than their peers.

The giant chuckles. “Hello. Did we interrupt something?”

“Uh… not really.”

“Lunch. Pizza.” One of the kids holds up a box.

You feel your stomach growling; right. You haven’t eaten anything since 7AM.

“Excellent weather for eating outdoors, I must say,” he muses.

“Aren’t you supposed to be in Lumiose?”

“Heh, I have my ways of getting around.” He glances toward the opposite cliff, toward Aquacorde. “Do you all attend Ananas Academy?”

“Yeah-“

“Derek!”

“What?”

“You little snitch…”

“Heh, is there some context we’re missing?” You ask.

“Whoa, there’s another person in his scarf!”

“We’re not s’posed to be out this far for lunch. That’s all.”

He hums. “Well, I won’t tell anyone. We’re eastbound, past Snowbelle, so you have nothing to worry about.”

“Cool…”

“How’s the ride in there, normal guy?”

You balk. “I, uh… f-fine.” You snicker. You feel far from normal right now.

“You guys want some pizza for the road?” Another asks.

“I’m afraid I’ve just eaten, but thank you.” His finger very gently tugs on the scarf as he peers down at you. “Have you eaten yet?”

You shrink a little. “Uh, heh… n-no, but I’m not gonna make some teenagers give me food. They probably spent their allowance on it.”

“Nuh-uh. I work at the boutique in Santalune.”

“We’ve got plenty.”

You lock eyes with the kid who said that, smiling sheepishly.

“W-well, even still, I-“

Floette cuts you off with a loud trill as she flies up to the crowd of teens, who eagerly give her a paper plate with a big ol’ slice on it. You sigh.

“Okay… Thank you. I appreciate it.”

“No worries.”

“Have fun with… whatever you’re doin’!”

Yeah, what is it that you’re doing? Other than just… spending time together. Exploring? Foraging? Maybe catching some Pokémon? If the latter’s the case, you’ll have to grab some Pokéballs when you reach Snowbelle.

Your thoughts are cut short by a distant bell’s toll, and all the kids flinch.

“I’m guessing that’s yours,” AZ says, and you know the exact expression on his face. Floette giggles.

“I-it’s okay. We’ve got 5 minutes until the roll call.” One of the kids is already grabbing her bike, but the one speaking is willfully ignoring that.

You look towards Aquacorde… yeah, there’s no way they’re making it back in 5 minutes.

“Good luck,” you say, taking a bite of pizza.

Chapter Text

A couple hours later, you find yourselves just a few miles out from Snowbelle, and immediately you’re desperately praying they have adequate gloves. It’s so cold all of a sudden.

AZ hums in amusement, likely feeling your shivering. “You truly are island-born…”

“How is this place so cold when it’s nearly summer?”

“Well, there’s long been rumors of some ancient ice-type Pokémon slumbering beneath the mountain… Likely hogwash. We’re simply at a high altitude.”

The town finally comes into view, a cozy settlement dotted with evergreen trees, and covered in snow even at the lower points of the mountain. A path snakes up its face and forks off into several districts, with a huge wooden bridge spanning from one half of the mountain to the other.

AZ carefully sets you down at the city’s edge.

“You sure you don’t need anything?” You ask.

He smiles. “I’m fairly certain… though, if something arises, I can handle it.”

You throw up two thumbs-ups, and hurry off to find a shop; there’s a few people peering up at him, but most don’t seem to pay him much mind. Probably too focused on getting somewhere warm. You’ve let Cutiefly out by now, and he’s peering out from your collar, shivering like mad, but still quite curious.

You finally find a shop after a few minutes; oddly, there’s a Garchomp just outside, huddled into itself to keep itself warm. It doesn’t pay you any mind when you enter the store, but it’s still an odd Pokémon to see out here.

Alright… Gloves, check. Lighter, check. Socks, portable charger, a spare water bottle, some Pokéballs and repels… check, check, check and then some. Your favorite senbei crackers from Hoenn that happened to be on a shelf?… also check. You can share if he asks.

It’s as you’re shuffling through the store that you see a woman looking at fresh herbs— you swear she looks familiar. She has long blonde hair, turning platinum at the temples, and is wearing an all-black wintry outfit. She’s dressed far more casually, but bears the near-spitting image of those magazine pics of Cynthia from when you were younger.

Wait. The Garchomp…

“E-excuse me,” you say, approaching before you can stop yourself. “A-are you Cynthia?”

She looks toward you, clearly caught off-guard. She forces a smile and a wave.

“Hello there~. Sorry, I don’t have a pen on me.”

“Oh, n-no, uh, I don’t want anything signed.” You glance around. “I-I actually know a friend of yours really well.”

She sighs through her smile; it’s clear she’s been through this before. “Oh, yeah? Who is it?”

You chuckle nervously. “Well, uh… he showed me your greenhouse in Shalour. It’s a beautiful place. I’ve been helping him with it.”

She freezes, the eye you can see wide in shock. Then, she bursts into laughter.

“AZ? Really?!”

You laugh along. “My name’s Y/N.”

“He’s written about you… You’re kidding!”

“Yeah, heh, he’s actually just outside. We’re going on a trip down to Unova and back.”

She rolls her eyes and scoffs. “Of course. I came to Kalos to visit him, you know.”

“Surprise him, you mean?”

“Yes, and he’s done the reverse without even knowing it.” she smirks. “I was wondering what that earthquake was.”

“He’d probably love to see you.”

“I have something for him, so I hope he’s happy to see me.” she grabs a bunch of herbs. “I’m sorry for being so curt with you.”

“N-no, I totally get it.” You can’t imagine being a Champion, really. No private life whatsoever. “I-I didn’t know how to start the conversation, heh.”

“I can’t blame you.” She glances back toward the register. “So… look. I’ve got a few more things to get, but I’ll meet you where he is. Try to keep him occupied.”

“Oh, sure.” You nod, surprised how normal this all is. Talking to a Champion slash witch in a grocery store? “I’m almost done, myself. I’ll see you there!”

…

You take your time on the way back to him, and when loading up your pack.

“Did you manage to find everything?” he asks.

“Yep!” You glance back at the shop, maybe a few too many times now.

He furrows his brow. “Is something the matter?”

“Uh, n-no, um… just… hoping I didn’t forget something.”

He sighs. “If you truly did forget something, we can find it elsewhere. We should keep moving before-”

Something roars across the sky behind you, steadily approaching until a shadow passes overhead. You flinch, covering your ears.

His gaze attempts to follow the flying object, confusion settling on his face.

“Was that-”

Suddenly, it doubles back, and you’re nearly bowled over as Garchomp skids to a stop in front of you, with Cynthia astride it. She flashes a smile to AZ, who balks, with Floette equally taken aback by his side.

“We nearly missed each other!” the champion exclaims, dismounting from the dragon.

“I… I-indeed,” he stammers, crouching lower to get a better look; it’s in this position that he notices you holding back laughter. “… Y/N, did you know she was-”

You can’t hold it in any longer; you burst into laughter, and Cynthia joins you. Eventually, he relents, laughing along. Floette swoops down and embraces Garchomp, who only slightly protests, and then Cynthia.

“I saw her in the store,” you confess between giggles.

“I was planning on visiting you, you big oaf!” Cynthia chides as she releases Floette. “You ought to tell me if you’re actually leaving your little sanctuary.”

“Aheh… yes, I suppose.” he scratches his cheek sheepishly. “I thought you were quite busy.”

“My opponent forfeited,” she says. “And I knew I wanted to visit you, anyway. You know, since I missed the picnic. Though, I guess it being a surprise nearly caused us to not see each other at all.”

He smiles. “Thank you, Cynthia.”

“Don’t thank me yet. I have something for you.”

She produces three glass jars from her bag with a bluish-green substance in them, handing them to you. Instantly, he rolls his eyes, as if he knows what they are.

“These are for him, not you,” she insists. “Unless you want to ride your Cutiefly, I wouldn’t recommend drinking them.”

Your eyes widen. “R-right.” You can’t fathom being even smaller around him.

“I think I’ve solved the issue you were experiencing with making these yourself, AZ,” she remarks, handing him a slip of paper. “They’re a different formula; one you should be able to replicate to a large scale.”

He enlarges the note and skims it. “… I see. And it has a longer shelf life.”

“Yep! These ones will last 3 days before the effect weakens. It should taste better, as well.” she looks you in the eye. “I’m sure a little trip will be perfect to experiment with them.”

“I applaud the experimentation on your part.” He smirks. “And how many times did you have to face your opponents while the size of a pencil?”

“Only once,” she replies. “More often than not, I’ve wound up the size of a building.”

He laughs, a plume of cold vapor leaving his mouth. “I do hope that wasn’t too frightening for you.”

“No, not at all; it was disorienting, yes, but… also enlightening.” she strides back toward Garchomp, patting its head. “I understand your plight a little better, now. But I promise, this formula is perfect… And I’d use it sooner rather than later.”

He sighs happily. “I’ll see if we can work it into our itinerary. Thank you, mon ami.”

“Of course.” She looks between you two, a knowing smile on her face. “Have fun.”

You barely get a nod in before she flies off on Garchomp. You’re a bit breathless, despite just standing there; you peer up at him, starry-eyed.

He looks over the sheet again. “Ah, 6 hours; half the duration of the last recipe. I suppose some concessions had to be made.”

“I had no idea there were shrinking potions,” you breathe.

“She’s far more skilled with potionmaking than I ever will be,” he remarks, folding up the sheet and stuffing it in his pocket. “I suppose if we get somewhere scenic, we can give it a go.”

He carefully picks you up, nestling you in his scarf, and Floette takes your bag— and the jars— and stows them safely in his pack somewhere.

“Those jars are so small. Are they really only one dose each?”

He scoffs as he stands. “Yes, most certainly— they’re potent tinctures. Hence why you should heed her warnings.”

“Yeah, no, I will,” you say, petting Cutiefly and watching the world move as he does, the steady rhythm of his footsteps resonating beneath you. “I think I’d get killed otherwise.”

“I imagine at that size, you’d…” he looks at his hands. “… fit underneath my fingernail, I think.”

“I-I’m good, AZ, I promise,” you whimper. “You don’t need to convince me.”

“Heh, aww, am I frightening you?”

You wanna say no, but it’s terrifying. He takes the silence as a yes.

“I simply wouldn’t move for six hours, if that fate befell you,” he coos. “You’d be perfectly safe… I promise.”

“W-will something happen if I get some on me?”

“It’s oral, not topical.” His finger pokes into his scarf and pats your head. “You’ll be just fine.”

“W-what if, like, a drop falls in my mouth-”

You’re cut off by his laughter. “Oh, Y/N… perhaps you’ll lose an inch of height for a few hours, but please don’t fret about this. If anything, I ought to be anxious. I never liked the taste of her concoctions.”

You blink, reflecting for a moment before laughing. “Y-yeah… I guess I’m overreacting.”

“No shame in fearing the unknown, ma mie,” he rumbles. “In any case, I’d like to hold off on using it until… hm.”

“Tomorrow?”

“I suppose. I’d like to find somewhere scenic that I’d want to explore in detail… I wouldn’t want to waste it in the middle of a flat plain.” he hums. “We shall see.”

…

Ah. You fell asleep.

Maybe it was the gentle rocking of each of AZ’s steps, or the cozy warmth of sinking into his scarf, or simply the calm and safety you felt in this position, but you swear you only blinked, and yet now you open your eyes to darkness.

And he must’ve noticed that you were asleep, because he doesn’t say anything until you wake up, likely feeling you moving around. He carefully peers down, pulling the scarf open a bit to see you.

You rub your eyes. “Mmh… hey.”

“Hello.” He grins.

“How long was I asleep?”

“Just for a few hours.” he glances away. “Ah, well, 5 hours, roughly. I suppose that’s more than a few… It's about 9 at night. The sun just set.”

You slowly sit up, daring to peer out of the scarf. “Wh… where are we?”

“Hm… about 200 miles out from Snowbelle, in the mountains to the east.” He offers his hand, and you climb aboard, finally getting a good view of your digs; it’s a huge cave, one he’s huddled within, with the remains of a bonfire at his feet. He just barely fits, and it’d certainly be cozy for someone as big as him. Floette is nibbling on some provisions by the fire, watching it as it slowly dies down. “I decided to stop earlier than usual once I heard you sleeping.”

“Heard me?” Oh, Arceus, was I snoring?

“Mm. Your nose was whistling.” you see the corners of his mouth twitch up into a charmed, if teasing grin.

“Oh…” you curl up into an ashamed little ball, and he just laughs. That’s the most humiliating way to snore…

“Don’t be so embarrassed. It was quite cute.” He softly pokes you with a finger. “You were also mumbling… calculus equations, I believe.”

“Ugh, it’s been over 15 years and I still have grade school dreams,” you mutter.

“Heheh… You’ll never be spared the memories of youth, trust me.” He sets you down, finally reclining onto his bedroll with a great sigh. “If you’re hungry, I’ve unloaded the provisions beside my knapsack.”

“Mmkay,” you mumble, shuffling over and grabbing some bread, water and fruit; you’re not super hungry, on account of AZ doing most of the legwork to get you here, but it’ll help get that post-nap taste out of your mouth. Cutiefly’s already nibbled at some of it, and is now fast asleep atop the giant loaf of bread, so you quietly return him to his ball, charmed by how cute he is.

“Fortune favored us with this cave,” AZ muses, his voice echoing against the cool stone. “I was somewhat worried I’d outgrown all of them in this region.”

“It’s huge,” you say, your voice also echoing, though smaller than his. “Are we gonna try and stick to caves?”

He hums. “If they’re available, yes, though I will shelter you if we cannot find one.”

Your heart flutters, even if he didn’t mean it to be that deep of a statement. “Thanks.”

“Of course.” He rolls over, displacing some dust at the top of the cave. “I also consider the availability of clean water nearby. With that said, though, I… hope I’m not too smelly.”

You laugh, sitting beside him. “Nah, I haven’t noticed.”

“Oh, you will at some point, I promise you.” He sighs. “Even with modern soaps at our disposal, I have no doubt that I’ll start to smell of… well, lake water. Or Magikarp.”

Another laugh. “I think that’ll be both of us, then, if we decide we wanna try foraging.”

“Heh, fair enough.” he sighs contentedly, closing his eyes… before a huge rumbling sound rattles through the cave, and his eyes shoot open.

“W-what was that?” You whimper.

His cheeks tinge pink. “At ease, it was… hmph.” He places a hand on his stomach. “It was me.”

Wow. You could’ve sworn it was a distant avalanche. “Did you eat?”

He grumbles, sitting up a bit and reaching for the provisions. “I did, but I’ve gotten too used to the comforts of the hotel, so someone isn’t yet satisfied.”

You can’t help but giggle. “Well, at least we can eat together.”

“Indeed. Even though I wanted to ration things out a little better…”

You two eat for a little while, and the sky outside grows more and more dark. You check your phone— something you’re trying to do sparingly— and see that it’s almost 10 PM.

“Am I boring you?” He teases. Floette is peering over your shoulder as well, perhaps drawn by the admittedly rather bright light.

“I was checking the time,” you say as you click your phone off.

“What- ah, you don’t have a timepiece?” He squints at your arms. “I could’ve sworn you had a watch…”

“Haven’t worn one in ten years.”

Floette gasps, and he rolls his eyes, digging out his enormous pocket watch. “Is this so inconvenient nowadays?”

“I can see this in the dark,” you retort.

“Bah, this too!” he exclaims, showing you the green glowing hands on his watch. “And this doesn’t run on batteries, either.”

Floette flits over to calm him, and he chuckles. “Ah, at ease, ma fleur. We’re teasing.”

“Yeah, no worries. We’re just….” You pause as you look at the watch. “Is that… radium?”

He peers down at it. “It may well be. I’m not entirely sure. Urbain found it at an antique shop after my first one broke.”

“Well, at least my phone won’t irradiate me if it breaks.”

“There’s plenty of materials in there that could harm you in other ways, Mon chéri,” he quips, grinning.

You trill your lips. “Yeah, I suppose.”

He hums, stowing his watch again. “I’d appreciate those devices a lot more if they had buttons, you know.”

“They used to, actually! … And then they kinda got rid of ‘em for touch screens.”

“Yes, and that was a boon for everyone with two working eyes, I’m sure.” he huffs.

“… Oh. I hadn’t even thought of that.”

“Indeed; buttons and keys are so much easier for me to navigate. I hate these touch-screen, all-visual paperweights.” He glances toward his bag, which probably has his phone buried deep within. “If I didn’t have a business to run, I wouldn’t have brought mine.”

“So when you’re out, do you just check your messages in the morning, answer questions, and then turn it completely off?”

“Yes.”

“I can respect that.”

He rolls onto his back with a sigh. “I am on vacation; I shouldn’t be paying more attention to work than I need to. And it has no other use to me. I know the upcoming weather from the way the air smells, at this point. I’ve crossed nearly every inch of this continent, so I have little need for a GPS, or whatever it’s called. I have a watch, and if that fails, the sun is always overhead… and I don’t give a damn about current events when I’m out here.”

“You don’t even have games on it?”

He chuckles. “Is this world so frazzled that people cannot keep themselves idle without a glowing box?”

“I-I don’t do anything too silly. Just, like… crosswords to pass the time. Or sudoku.”

He glances down at you. “ I suppose it’s more convenient than a book of them… though, again, batteries.”

“And ads…”

He scoffs. “I’d lose my patience. I already throw out the ads in the newspaper.”

You giggle. “Yeah, they’re obnoxious. It’s nice to have something on the go, though. And you don’t need a separate light to see ‘em, or a pencil…”

“Mm, I see the appeal somewhat.” He yawns, and it almost sounds like a Pokémon’s roar. “Hmm… pardon me. It seems I’m finally growing tired.”

“Heh… alright, yeah, I’m game to go to bed too.”

You two briefly step outside to brush your teeth, wash your faces, and get one last look at the stars, before heading back into the cave… and suddenly, your super nice sleeping bag doesn’t look nearly as appealing with him right next to you.

“… What is it?” He knows you’re staring, even as his eyes are closed. Floette has already dozed off beside him, nestled into his hair.

“I-I just, uh… c-can I-“

“You wish to sleep on top of me?” He pries his good eye open, smirking.

“If you don’t mind.”

He extends his arm out, a suitable ramp to climb up him and reach his torso, a field of rising and falling flesh that radiates warmth. You huddle up on his tummy, holding your blanket snugly. It’s so cozy up here, this close to him.

“You’re fortunate that this cave is a little too cramped for me to roll around easily,” he mumbles. “Even still… try to stay vigilant…”

“I will,” you reply, sighing happily as you settle in. “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

“I love you.”

“I love you…. Mmm.”

His head rolls to the side, and it seems he’s out like a light.

Chapter Text

You think you’re awake before AZ is, but you’re perfectly happy to stay right there for the time being. Even Floette joins you, the rising and falling of his torso rocking you into a half-sleep.

It’s so nice up here; you’re not kept awake by his heartbeat right up against you, nor are you fighting to sleep on the cold stone ground. The only disturbance you felt was another earth-shaking rumbling in his stomach, and him mumbling something in the midst of his snoring— you’ll have to ask him about it later, because it sounded interesting. For now, though, this is heavenly.

Then your phone goes off. It’s about 8am, so long past your usual wake-up time, but a text at this hour is a little annoying.

Oh, wait, no, it’s a phone call.

From your parents.

“Oh, Arceus,” you whisper, and Floette perks up. “I-it’s my parents… they have no idea this is even-“

You’re interrupted from your train of thought by AZ’s low groan, as he seems to finally be waking up.

You can’t tell them to call you back later; “later” is way too late for them, unless they want to wait half a day. Honestly, you’re not sure there is a good point for them to call you during this trip.

You bite the bullet.

“Hello?” You say quietly.

“Hey, paukena!! How’re things going over there?” Your dad’s the first to speak up, and it’s very audible. Too audible. You swear it’s not on speaker.

You hear— and feel— AZ grumbling; he sits up on his elbows, and you yelp in surprise.

“Uh, good! It’s good!”

“You alright?”

“Yeah, just, uh, I’m out with a friend, and they spooked me, s’all.”

“Where are you? I can hardly hear you.”

“Uh… hiking. Out in the mountains.” Might as well be honest… “We got a 3 week break at work.”

“Oh, wow!”

“Y-yeah, uh, it’s paid leave too-“

“Who are you talking to?” AZ asks, his voice slurred with tiredness.

“My folks back home,” you say as quietly as he can hear, cringing.

“What was that sound?” Your dad asks. “Sounded like a boat horn.”

“Heh, that was, uh…” do they know about AZ yet? You don’t remember telling them, but Noa might’ve, and they could’ve seen him on the news. But then again, that brings up more questions, such as ‘why are you out hiking with your boss?’. “Probably just a weird mountain sound. Uh, c-can I call you guys back tonight? We just woke up, so…”

“Oh, sure, Y/N. How’s 8 sound?”

“Perfect. Love you. Alola.”

You shut off your phone and slump into his stomach, and you feel him quietly laugh.

“You haven’t told them yet?”

“Of course not,” you groan. “Sorry for waking you up.”

“No, you’re quite alright. I was simply laying still because I thought you were still asleep…” he grins. “I may have dozed off right before they called, however.”

“I dunno how the hell I’m gonna tell ‘em,” you say, leaning into his hand as he cups you within it, as his towering form rises above you to sit upright. “I don’t even know if they know your, uh… deal.”

“Which one?” He hums. “My enormous size? My agelessness? My, um… charming personality?”

You snicker. “All three, really. Unless Noa told ‘em after they got back, they might have no idea.”

His thumb gently runs down your back, a wonderful pressure on your shoulder blades. “I don’t have any answers for you, Y/N. Perhaps honesty is the only way.”

“I know… it’s also the weirdest.”

It’s his turn to laugh. “Maybe… but, well, is it weirder than dodging the truth?”

“Guess not…” you slump further into his hand. “Maybe I can try and do a video call if I have a signal… and with your blessing.”

“Would I frighten them?”

“… I honestly don’t know. But I guess we won’t know until we try it.”

He nods, carefully standing with you in tow and lumbering out of the cave. The morning sun is refreshing, even if it’s a little jarring after literally sitting in a cave for a while.

“Oh, and uh, by the way…” you say, squinting up at him.

“Hm?”

“You can wake me up whenever you want. Or need.” You chuckle a little. “I’m not a Glameow.”

He smiles sheepishly, but pulls you closer to give as gentle a peck as a giant can manage. “I will keep that in mind.”

…

You two eat, clean up a bit, and pack up again to set off further south; your whole view is stark white mountains outlined by a near-cloudless sky, peppered with small groves of conifers here and there. He strides over them with ease, weaving through the valleys like he’s memorized every peak.

And… maybe he has.

As for you, you’re watching the world pass by, and Cutiefly’s content to rest on your shoulder, keeping warm and possibly hoping to spot flowers from this distance. Good luck, little guy.

“In a few hours, we’ll be close to one of my favorite areas of the range,” he muses, a plume of visible vapor enveloping you as he speaks. It’s chilly, but thanks to your improved gear, not intolerable. “If it weren’t so remote, well, I think I’d want to dwell there. If I cannot build a cabin there, then I’d settle into the mountainside, the hills as my bed.”

“Aww…”

Floette mirrors you with a little fawning whistle.

“Could I live there with you?” you ask, and he chuckles.

“Did I imply that you could not, mon cher?” He glances down at you, smiling warmly.

You grin back. “Guess not.”

He’s only started calling you that recently; it’s been peppered with a few instances of ma mie, as well, both of them sending flutters through your body.

“I need a pet name to call you,” you remark quietly.

“Heheheh… I am content with AZ. We needn’t force anything.”

“That’s fair.” you look up at him, Cutiefly mirroring you. “Is that, um… Is that your real name?”

He hums. “… No. My real name is twenty-six names long, followed by a myriad of now-obsolete titles. I prefer to truncate it.”

Thinking back, you recall reading something resembling a name in Urbain’s paper about him, but your eyes sort of glazed over the near-paragraph of words. Lots of hard-to-pronounce and ancient-seeming names all in a row, in alphabetical order, followed by arcane titles and epithets.

“What’s the first one?”

He chuckles softly. “It is Azoth.”

“… Huh. You don’t like it?”

“I recognize the similarity, but no, it’s… it sounds menacing.”

You try and fail to suppress a snort. “A little, yeah… do you like any of the others as names?”

“I’d ask that you not call me them, please.”

“N-no, I know. I’m just wondering.”

He huffs, knowing that he can’t sate your curiosity by being obstinate. He’s seen your full government name by now, so it’s only fair. He needs to think for a moment.

“… I do not mind Tacitus as much as the others.”

“Ooh, yeah, it’s handsome.”

“You flatter me… though I’ve grown so used to AZ that I fear it doesn’t fit me very well. And it means ‘silent’, which I am certainly not.” you hear his foot crash beneath you. “Not anymore, anyway.”

You laugh. “Aww, I wouldn’t say that. You’re a great listener.”

He hums, his pink cheeks visible even from below his chin. “The last of them is Zosimos… First of His Name, King of Gaulyss and Palaides, Heir of Many Mountains and Valleys, Aura-Blessed… you get the point.”

You chuckle. “Are those titles really obsolete?”

“I don’t get a discount anywhere for them.”

“Heh… Was your brother’s name that long, too?”

He sighs. “Being second-born, not quite, though it was still a mouthful. I mostly called him Cad in my youth.”

Perhaps he feels you settling in to listen, because he hums in amusement.

“You wish to hear more?”

“I mean… yeah. If you don’t mind.”

“Mm. Very well. My life isn’t quite as interesting as films set in the distant past would lead you to believe.”

“Yeah, but… tell me.”

He carefully steps over a stream as he thinks. “Well… I was quite sickly as a child. Being born with an eye others considered bewitched at the time, and simply catching cold far more often than my brother, I didn’t leave my home very often until my teens. I didn’t make friends as easily as most children, either.”

“… So you kept yourself occupied with books?”

“Heh, that much is self-evident, I see… I was a voracious reader, even if the material shouldn’t have interested me. Trade documents, records, whatever I could get my hands on… but, well, of course the stories of the creatures and world around me interested me the most.”

“Creatures? Not Pokémon?”

“Well, that term is relatively new to me. It only really came about roughly 800 years ago. I first knew them as beasts, monsters… livestock, on occasion. There was no centralized term for them, nor set names for them as you’d find in a Pokédex.”

He raises a hand, and Floette alights on his finger, her tail curling around it. “Floette, for example; we simply knew her clade as Flower-Keepers. I only learned her true name after getting to know her so well.”

She trills, nodding and spinning her flower happily.

“So… you weren’t really friends with them?”

“No, not generally. We had no means of capturing them conveniently until about 300 years ago; they were dangerous, more often than not. Difficult to tame, unless they sought out our company. You already know that some Pokémon are more inclined to do so than others.”

He sighs before continuing. “But… Floette was a gift from my dear mother. We became fast friends, close companions… Nobody in my retinue really knew what to make of it. They thought she was simply a magical aide, not…”

“A friend.”

He nods. “… And so, when she was taken from me against my wishes… How could I possibly explain it to them?”

“… I’m sorry.”

He shakes his head. “So much time has passed. People and Pokémon are closer than ever. I only wish it hadn’t taken so long, but… I’m glad.”

Cutiefly buzzes beside you, and you wonder if he understands. You pat his little head, and he hums cheerfully.

After a little while of simply enjoying each others’ company, though, that thought from before returns to you…

“Uh…”

“Hm?”

“So, last night… you were sleep-talking.”

He smirks. “What about?”

“Uh… It was something about call signs?”

He sharply inhales. “Oh! Yes! Ahaha, we passed a radio tower yesterday, and it was on my mind.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, about a hundred years ago, maybe more, I tried to tinker with an abandoned one that was near one of my little hideaways, fix it up with what scraps I could find. And, well… miraculously, it worked, and people responded.” he chuckles softly. “It was my first time interacting with humans in… a thousand years, I think. I learned much of the modern language via the radio, found a love for the music of the time, and… ah, that’s right! The radio is how I came to call myself AZ.”

“Wow…”

“Indeed. It all circles back, I suppose.”

“What sorts of people did you talk to?”

“Well, they only ever used call signs, as well. Tauros was a gentleman on the west coast of Kalos who was among the first I actually spoke with. Gruff, easily frustrated, but… I could tell that he wanted to aid me. Then there was Clamp, Nickit, Greer, Ledian, Admiral… Ahh. Lots of friends. All characters, often arguing with each other. Ledian was an aircraft engineer, and she’d fly overhead, but of course I had to hide…”

“Aww.”

“Sometimes I wish I could’ve popped out and said hello… but, well, old regrets.” he sighs. “All of these people are likely long gone, but… those were good times. A small salve for my misery.”

He’s reminisced with you about people he once knew before; from your experience, he doesn’t like to dwell on how much he misses them. It’s easier to grieve if you focus on the good times. It likely got easier once Floette came back into his life, too. A tether to both the past and the present.

You think for a moment. “I’m sure you could meet new people. It’s still pretty popular to play with the radio on the fringes, I think. Make little niche stations.”

He nods. “Oh, I have no doubt about that. I remember only 40 or so years ago, hearing jarring music over the radio crafted by the youth. I… disliked it at first, but then I listened to what they were singing about, and… I understood, and grew some small fondness for it. I’m sure the young people of today are still at it, screaming their frustrations across the sky.”

…

You two chat on-and-off as he travels, the mountains around you still unfathomably huge even when riding a 200-foot giant. The landscape starts to get a little more monotonous, however, and you start to wonder if he oversold this special place…

“Where are you taking me, exactly?” You ask.

“You’ll see.”

Of course. “Thanks,” you say flatly.

Floette seems to agree with your frustration, chiding him with a trill.

“Heh, Come now, Floette, isn’t the secrecy worth it?” He pleads. “We’re close, anyhow.”

“Given what’s been passing me by, I think I have a right to be-“

… Ah. The view cuts you short.

Cresting over the mountain, you see a river running right past you, cascading into a huge gorge plunging a thousand feet below, and easily just as wide. The rock walls are studded with shimmering blue stone, reflecting the mist from the waterfall in dozens of rainbows. This chasm must go on for miles, with parts of the rock sundered by… what looks like meteor craters. New life burgeons through the gorge regardless, with rows of trees and grassy nooks, creating a rather breathtaking scene.

He peers down at you, a cheeky grin on his face.

“Would I ever sway you wrong, Y/N?”

“What is this place?”

“I’ve been calling it Starstruck Gorge. I’m sure others have seen it, but I only show those I trust.” He clambers over and sits on the edge of the rock face, a drop that must be a thousand feet. “Hm… Floette, could you perhaps ferry them down, please?”

That seems like the smartest call. The flower Pokémon picks you up, bridal-carrying you as you watch AZ steadily climb down the rock face— scratch your original estimate. It’s gotta be 1500 feet, easily. His foot slips only once, but it’s close enough to the ground that he can land without issue (though it still makes a lot of noise).

Floette flits down to meet him, the solid ground just wide enough to accommodate the giant. He carefully takes you in his hands, thinking for a moment as he casts his eyes downstream.

“I do wonder… Yes, I suppose a little further on is an ideal place for one of those potions.”

Your eyes widen. “Really?”

“Mm. I can wash down the taste with some lunch, heh…”

He stows you back in his scarf, the sound of rushing water punctuated by his footsteps as he makes his way through. Everything glimmers, and it smells wonderful… you’d love to live here, too.

“I dunno if there’s enough space for a cabin,” you remark.

He chuckles. “Perhaps not yet… but a few miles from here, there’s plenty, and the view remains spectacular.”

“How did you find this place?”

“Well, it seems to attract falling stars— and I’m too curious for my own good, so I’d naturally seek out their impact sites, heh.” He reaches up and touches one of the craters. “That said, most of these craters are much, much older than I am.”

“I figured.”

He scoffs, amused. “And most of the new meteors I’ve found here are only about the size of, hm… a baseball?”

“So a pea to you.”

“Heh, precisely.” He keeps moving. “I haven’t seen any new meteors fall here in… oh, 600 years, I’d say. It’s been a while.”

You ride along, staring in awe at the stone all around you as it glimmers and shines, as he steps over small groves of trees. He rounds a corner, his hand tracing along the rock wall as something new comes into view: A huge lake, surrounded by the gorge’s walls, towering peaks, and a lush forest to your left. The water is clean and clear, depositing glimmering sand at a shallow part near the woods; it looks… beautiful.

“Wow…” Cutiefly hums with you, equally amazed.

“Indeed. This was once far less lush, and far more clearly an impact from a meteor. But now, it looks like it was always here.”

He strides toward the basin, kneeling down beside it with a contented sigh. He gently plucks you out of his scarf, giving you a taste of solid ground for the first time in a few hours. He removes his pack, humming happily to himself.

Cutiefly’s already curious about the forest just beside you.

“C-careful, bud,” you say, catching up to him on wobbly legs. “I dunno what’s living in there.”

“Whatever it is, it likely won’t bother us for some time if I’m here,” AZ remarks, digging through his pack for some enlarged Pokéballs. “If you’d like some peace of mind, though, the trio can accompany him.”

“That’d be great, actually.” You watch as the three smaller Floette are released, drifting curiously around their master before meeting you. It’s strange to see them without their cleaning gear…

Cutiefly perks up and excitedly buzzes over, excitedly chirping to them, as they trill at him. Hopefully they’re not scheming… Before you can stop them though, they zip off into the woods.

He chuckles. “They must know something’s in there.”

“Yeah… Wanna see?”

He rolls his eyes. “Yes, well, I suppose we can do that.” he pats his bag. “I’d like to take it with lunch, though, if it’s all the same to you.”

“Heh, of course.”

Chapter Text

After lunch is set out, you two eat for a few minutes, with AZ staring at Cynthia’s concoction warily.

“Are you nervous?” you ask.

“I haven’t taken this potion in nearly a decade,” the giant rumbles, taking the last bite of his sandwich. “And now I’ve put it off, and my meal is gone. Wonderful.”

“Well, we have nice clean water right here to wash it down,” you say, and he just rolls his eyes.

“The taste isn’t the only issue, admittedly.”

“Oh.” you take a swig of your water bottle. “Does it… hurt?”

“No, not quite. But it’s… it feels as if I’m a melting candle. As if I’m being taken apart and put back together.”

You make a face. “That sounds like it’d hurt…”

“It’s not pleasant, but not unbearable.” he sighs. “Most of my worry surrounding it is being… in the wrong place at the wrong time once the effect ends.”

Your eyes widen. “Oh… yeah, that could be a problem.”

“Indeed. But we’re in a relatively open area, so…” he looks around and sighs again. “I really ought to have nothing to worry about.”

“I’ll be here, too.” you smile. “You can count on me.”

He smiles back. “I know.”

For good measure, you get up and kiss his hand; he leans down and reciprocates, as soft a peck on your head as he can manage.

“And if you get too small, I can carry you around,” you add. You’re swathed in his breath as he laughs, a rich, rolling sound like distant thunder.

“I doubt it’ll come to that, but that’s reassuring,” he replies.

“Now c’mon! I wanna see!!” you push off his hand and back away, making large, excited gestures.

“I know, I know… ahem. Alright.” he dusts off his hands and picks up the tiny jar, already opened and swirling in iridescent greens and blues. “I trust you, Cynthia.”

He brings the tiny vessel to his lips, nearly eating the jar with it, his body shuddering before he swallows and wipes his face. Nothing happens for a few moments… but then he doubles over, Floette swooping in to catch the jar as he drops it.

“Unnghghggnh…”

He groans, a strange bluish light coursing through his hair like fiber-optics as he… shrinks. And shrinks, and shrinks, almost evenly save for his hands and feet, which slightly lag behind the rest of his body, as the magic extends from his core to his extremities. The seams of his clothes seem to glow as well, in that same bluish tint.

“You okay?”

He grunts and waves a hand to shoo you away. Probably a smart move…

He collapses into a heap, continuing to get smaller and smaller, the glowing intensifying as he reaches 100 feet… then 80, 60, 40, 20…

It’s done. 10 feet, roughly. He’s steaming like hot metal plunged into water, and he slowly rolls over, a tight grimace on his face.

You cautiously tread closer, peering down at him; he’s about the same size as the few times you’ve seen him in the greenhouse, maybe a little bigger. Still towering, but not as unfathomable as usual.

You extend a hand, and he grabs it, his hand enveloping yours, his skin still a little hot to the touch. He sits up with your help, a rough grunt leaving his body.

“You alright?”

He coughs, sputtering a bit before wiping his mouth. “It tastes better this time, though that’s not saying much.” He finally looks your way, his scowl fading as he beholds you, eyes wide and jaw just a little slack. Sitting up, he’s only a little shorter than you… and he’s still so handsome, even at the more ‘human’ level.

He’s always ever-so human, though.

“F-forgive me… I’m still not used to seeing you so clearly.”

You laugh, embracing him and nearly causing him to fall over again; he laughs as well, clearly overjoyed.

“Ohh, auras, this is still so strange.”

“Bad?”

“No, no… good.” He shuffles to his feet, balking slightly at Floette’s approach, aweing at how big she is— bigger than him, now. “Heh, it’s been some time since you’ve seen me like this, eh?”

She giggles, embracing him as well, nearly bowling him over a second time.

“Ahh, I… I left my walking stick somewhere, didn’t I?” He looks behind him, startling again at his mountain of a backpack. “It should’ve shrunk with me.”

The flower Pokémon zips behind the bag, grabbing the staff and returning it to him.

“Ah, thank you, ma fleur.”

“Your clothes shrunk too,” you realize out loud.

“Correct. I have them enchanted to do so… though, that wasn’t the case the first time I did this, aheh.”

You can only imagine what that was like. “Do you, like, feel any different?” you ask.

“… A little lighter. But… more compressed.” his posture improves once he has his staff in hand. “If that makes sense.”

“Yeah, heh, I get you. How long does this last?”

“Six hours, I believe? Plenty of time, really.” He looks at his pack again. “… Auras, that really puts it into perspective.”

You laugh. “Yeah… if the weather gets bad, we could hide in there.”

“Ahahaha, I like the way you think.” He looks at you again, still marveling at all of this. “May I… may I see your hand again?”

Your eyes widen, but you nod, raising your hand. He kneels down and takes it, holding it in his, just observing for a moment before… he gently kisses the back of it, a soft little smile on his face.

You lean forward and kiss him.

He hums in surprise, immediately flushing at the contact, but you can feel the smile forming on his lips. He pulls you closer, kissing you back, his nose gently bumping yours, his hand cradling your head and ruffling your hair. You wrap your arms around him as best as you can, leaning into the kiss.

It’s heaven.

You let go after a moment and lean your forehead against his, looking him right in the eyes.

“Glad I got to do that at least once— you’re a good kisser, no matter what size.”

A flustered laugh leaves his lips as his hand covers his mouth. “I’m glad… though I wanted to wait a moment before kissing you, in case the potion was still there.”

“AGH!”

You recoil, frantically wiping your face and tongue, and evidently making a fool of yourself since he doubles over into laughter.

“That’s not funny!!”

“It’s a little funny,” he retorts, wiping tears from his eyes as he stands and points to the lake. “Ahh… I need some water. Pardon me.”

…

You two chat for a few minutes, simply gawking at each other, before deciding to venture into the woods to find Cutiefly and co. He’s still absurdly tall, ducking under branches that are way above you, but both of you have shelter from the midday sun now.

You see a number of little Pokémon in these woods; sleeping Oddish, some Scatterbug and Spinarak, hanging cocoons of bug Pokémon, even a Zangoose who thankfully leaves you alone. Floette must be scaring off some of the bigger threats, you suppose.

Finally, though, your little guy makes his presence known— he’s in a small grove of flowers with the other three Floette, sniffing at some daisies.

“There you are~” you cheer, and he eagerly buzzes toward you before doing a double-take at AZ. The giant grins and waves as Cutiefly approaches, clearly confused.

“We’re not in the greenhouse, it’s true,” he says, patting the little fly. “You’re not used to seeing me like this out in the open.”

“Did you wanna try and forage?” you ask, hoisting your backpack further onto your shoulder. “There should be plenty of space in here.”

“Hmm… sure.” He briefly scans the ground. “Though, based on the amount of Pokémon here, our pickings may be slim.”

“I’m sure we’ll find something.”

“I suppose so. I could use a bit of your optimism, heh.”

You trudge through the brush with him, occasionally stumbling on berry bushes and wild mushrooms— he’s always inspecting them, and even sometimes taste-testing, giving a thumbs-up or thumbs-down on each one.

“It must be nice to be immune to the toxic stuff.”

He chuckles. “It tastes dreadful all the same. And if it’s strong enough, it’ll still bowl me over for a little while.”

Regardless, you’ve found some nice stuff so far; cooling Rawst Berries, tart Razz Berries, sweet Oran Berries, fresh Shiitake mushrooms, some chives and spring onions, even a few carrots.

“I bet we could reuse the jars Cynthia gave us for some of this,” you say.

“I’m not taking that potion twice in one day,” he grumbles.

“Heh, no, I get it. Still, the Razz Berries should fit in there, I think.”

“Likely so… oh. Pardon me.”

You peer down and see a drowsy Shroomish looking right at him, meeping in protest. He kneels down and pats the soil and leaves beside it, covering it once more.

“Sorry for disturbing you.”

“Heh…” you glance away, your eyes locking on something interesting.

You tap his shoulder. “Look.”

His head swivels as you point to a huge Combee hive, teeming with glistening golden honey. Several Combee are buzzing near it, humming and chirping.

You see stars in his eyes. Hungry, greedy stars.

“Ah… there’s our bounty.” He glances down to the trio of Floette, who’ve taken residence in his scarf. “Perhaps I could ask you three for a bit of diplomacy on my behalf?”

They nod, drifting toward the hive one after the other; Cutiefly seems curious, but the large Floette stops him with a hand before ducking behind a tree and peering from behind it. AZ beckons you to crouch into the underbrush, watching and waiting.

“Is this gonna work?” you whisper.

“It should; I’ve never seen any Ursaring in this area, so they shouldn’t have any predators.” He bites his knuckle. “And… ohh, fresh honey. Doesn’t it sound exquisite?”

“Are you sure you’re not the Ursaring?”

He snickers. “Perhaps I am. But unlike them, I’m willing to bargain.” He points to your bag. “Perhaps they’d be willing to trade some of their spoils for ours.”

The Floette and the Combee seem to be in quite invested discussion, buzzing, humming, and chirping with animated gestures. It’s times like this where you wish there was a Pokémon translator.

“Is this good or bad?”

“So far, it seems to be going well.”

The discussion is cut short when a Vespiquen arrives, heralded by three other Combee. AZ huddles further into the brush, eyes wide as saucers.

“Tch… it’s a coin flip whether or not she’s a benevolent or despotic queen. Good luck, my dears.”

The three Floette bow politely to the queen, trilling and gesturing as she simply hovers there, listening intently. She nods a few times, but doesn’t exactly seem happy.

It’s when the trio point towards you that you realize this isn’t going to work. She stares right at the giant, making direct eye contact and twitching her mandibles.

“Is that… good or bad?”

The trio of Floette whizz past you, crying and shrieking, as the Combee start to arrange themselves into patterns.

“Bad. Run.”

He scoops you up and hightails it, dashing through the woods as quickly as he can while dodging errant branches. Floette is close behind, keeping a guard up and blocking any errant Combee who tries to dive-bomb you.

Even when AZ’s at this size, you must weigh practically nothing to him. But your mind shouldn’t be focused on that right now. You’re being chased by angry bees.

He weaves through the trees, panting, until the buzzing begins to subside and you find yourselves at camp again. He groans, setting you down and sprawling out on the ground as he catches his breath.

“Ugh… I’m not sure what I expected, really.” he coughs out a laugh. “Forgive me, Cerise, Crème, Safran…”

The trio, once the panic subsides, burst into giggles and gossip among themselves, much to his chagrin.

“Hey, it’s alright to be a little greedy,” you say, taking off your pack; there’s still plenty of goodies in here.

“I let my love of honey override my common sense.”

You cackle, sitting beside him. “Ah… But it was fun, though.”

“I suppose so. Heh, I haven’t run like that in ages. Oof.” He sits up, arching his back before looking at the trio. “Ah, my dears, was that a ‘never ever’ or just a ‘no’?”

All three give big fat thumbs down. He sulks, trilling his lips.

You can’t help but laugh. “I didn’t know you liked honey that much.”

“It’s a childhood favorite— a little bit spread on some bread, or berries, or toasted nuts, or… oh, drizzled on some fresh cheese…” He sighs happily. “It’s the one flavor I ever craved during my vagrancy.”

You smile. “I guess it’s the one sweet thing that’d be somewhat easy to find back then.”

He nods. “Dates, too, but those were difficult to cultivate where I lived. And too many modern sweets are far too… well, sweet for my liking. I’m hardly used to it.”

You start going through your bag; plenty of berries, some as large as your fist, and some mushrooms, edible plants, even a few strange tubers. You two debated for a while about whether a tree’s bark was edible to him or edible to both of you, and ultimately decided to cut your losses lest you get poisoned.

The next few hours are cleaning, storing, and even eating some of your spoils, all while you chat and pass the time with stories. You also wonder when your parents are gonna call you already; you’d hoped it’d be before AZ changed, but based on the look on his face, it seems like he’s got them beat.

His shoulders tense. “Ah… I’d step back.”

“Wh-… oh.” Has it been 6 hours already??

Regardless, you do so, picking up your goods and giving a wide berth as he kneels down and doubles over again, that glow in his hair and clothes now a greenish-gold as he surges bigger, and bigger, and bigger… another pulsating green glow radiates from the center of his chest and down to his extremities, enlarging him bit by bit, his hair growing longer and thicker at every second.

You give a thumbs-up to him, and he weakly returns the gesture before another thunderous groan leaves his chest.

He’s okay. Even if it doesn’t look like it, he’ll make it.

Soon, though, he blots out the sun from your view, but he’s still got a bit more to go until he’s finished, and you really hope he’s not uncomfortable. After about a minute, it seems… like it’s done. He’s back to his 200 foot self.

“Haaaah…” His voice now swathes you, loud, but warm. “I lost track of time.”

“So did I,” you breathe, peering up at him. “You good?”

He nods, catching his breath and flexing his hands. “Yes, I’m… hm. That’s odd.”

“What?”

He removes his gloves, puzzled as he massages his palms. “These are smaller than they should be… I thought they-”

He freezes, looking off in the distance… then down at you. Floette trills, concerned.

“Ma fleur, fetch me my staff, please.”

Chapter Text

You watch AZ slowly stand, staff at his side now greatly enlarged to match him; he seems to be inspecting its top end intently, before removing a piece of charcoal from his pocket and marking roughly where his head lands.

Uh-oh.

You knew this could happen at any point during your lifetime; him getting bigger and bigger just seems like an inevitable part of his life. But it seemed so gradual… you thought that 3 or so feet he grew last month would be the last of it for years. You never thought it’d be just the beginning of… something even bigger.

He doesn’t deserve this. Not anymore. You wish whatever cosmic power is roiling inside his core would just let him rest. He wants to rest. To settle down, run his hotel, enjoy life with his friends… with you.

He’s repaid his debt to the auras with interest, in your eyes.

He kneels down again, carefully laying the staff beside you. You realize there’s two marks; an older one from a few weeks ago, and this fresh one.

“How far apart are those marks, would you say?” he asks.

“Uh…” you extend your arms, and can just barely reach both of them. “About my height?”

He sighs, sitting down again with a great crash. You realize that his coat doesn’t fit as well as before, either, based on how much of his wrists are showing.

“I-is this bad?” you ask.

“No, it’s… well, I can never account for these things, so it always shocks me.” he scratches his chin. “So that’s… about 5 feet, so… 210 feet, now.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Oh, ma mie, don’t apologize.” he lays on his belly, fully regarding you. “This wasn’t your doing.”

“B-but… I’m the one who pressured you into taking the potion-”

“It wasn’t the work of the potion, either.” he sighs, extending a hand toward you and tenderly prodding at you. “Sometimes this simply… happens. At least now I know it’s going to happen.”

“Wh… what do you mean? It’s not done?”

He smiles softly. “I don’t think so. We’ll have to make some slight adjustments to the hotel when we return, I think.”

He’s remarkably calm about this; he just grew over 5 feet, and he still has more to go…

You wanna cry, but he doesn’t seem broken up about it.

“Serena… she said that you told her this kinda thing happens when a lot of stuff changes in your life.” you lean into his hand, feeling his strong fingers wrap around you. “S-so… did I…?”

“This is not your fault, Y/N,” he reiterates, pulling you close and rolling onto his back, resting you on his sternum. “It’s simply a fact of my existence. This world excites me, and thus the energy residing within me. And, well… it’d been a little monotonous these past few years before you came along.” He inclines his head and smiles at you. “That, and… I’ve been eating better and exercising more, so there’s a bit more for the energy within me to draw from.”

“Still…”

“I am not going to stop loving you out of fear of my body changing… and nor should you.” his finger rubs your back, gentle swirling motions subtly pushing you.

“I know… I just don’t wanna hurt you.”

“I know that plain as day, my dear. Don’t fret.”

All of this is cut short by your phone buzzing; you jolt upright.

“Oh, yeah, uh… fuck.”

You feel him stifle a laugh beneath you. “How do you wish to handle this?”

“Not on top of you, that’s for sure,” you say, shakily standing on the knit fabric. He gently scoops you up and deposits you on the ground before rolling back over toward you, watching curiously. You hope it’s not super obvious that you haven’t planned for this…

“Hello?” You say, pointing your phone’s camera toward you.

“Oh, it’s a video— hii, kiddo!” Your parents quickly cram into frame. “How’re- … woah.”

You look over your shoulder, where Floette is peering curiously. Thankfully, she’s blocking AZ in frame, which makes this less jarring, or so you hope.

“Heh, hey, uh… this is Floette,” you say as calmly as possible. She trills and waves, and your parents wave back, clearly awestruck. “Good to see you guys.”

“So Noa wasn’t kiddin’,” your old man says, astonished.

“N-no, heh… you see why this is hard to explain?”

“What’s she doing on a hiking trip?” Your mom asks. “Er, n-no offense, sweet pea.”

“She is with me.”

You turn around again at AZ’s voice encompassing you, as he squints at your phone. Both of your parents scream in shock.

“Oh, Arceus, I thought he was a rock!!” your mom cries.

Thankfully, he laughs at that statement. “Apologies for startling you. I invited Y/N to take this trip with me, and I’m so grateful that they obliged.”

“Y-your brother told us a bit about the hotel, but… y’know his tall tales, Y/N,” your dad says.

“It wasn’t until we saw the picnic on the news, but… wow. Right next to ya, he’s…”

“I know, I know.” you stop them before they say anything too rude. “But, uh, yeah, this is Monsieur AZ, and he’s been, uh… the navigator.”

“Mm. I know this area quite well.” He glances up toward the mountains. “We are just northeast of Paldea currently, a few hundred miles out from Johto.”

“Wow.”

“Quite the headway already.”

You chuckle. “He, uh, crosses a lotta ground.”

“I suppose so.”

“How big is he again? 300 feet?”

“200,” you quickly correct, not wanting to tempt fate. “And change.”

“And change, indeed,” AZ says quietly. Maybe you shouldn’t have spoken on his behalf, but he seems to get that question a lot.

“If you don’t mind me asking, uh… what spurred you to invite our kid out on this trip, mister?” Your dad asks.

AZ’s eyes widen. “Well, ah… hm.”

You glance his way, shrugging awkwardly, wondering if you guys should just get it over with. He sighs.

“For the most part, it is simply us taking a break from hotel life. But to be candid…” he leans closer. “In a few weeks’ time, Y/N will cease employment at Hotel Z.”

You see both your parents stiffen.

“R-really? How come?”

“I-I’ve found a new job. I’ll be there soon, uh… because…” you rub the back of your neck. “Because I can’t keep working at the hotel.”

They look at each other, incredulous.

“How come, paukena? What’s wrong?”

You take a careful breath, looking his way again; his hand wavers, clearly wanting to comfort you, but holding off.

“… Because Monsieur AZ and I have feelings for each other,” you say slowly.

The silence is deafening; you’d take the Combee stinging you over this right now.

“Wh-… you and-…” your mom shakes her head in disbelief.

“I’m sorry,” you mumble.

“N-no, it’s just…”

“This is a lot to take in, kiddo.”

“I know.”

Your dad does his best to make eye contact with AZ. “H-Have you, uh, been good to my kid?”

“I’ve certainly tried my best to be,” he replies slowly, trying his best to keep a smile on his face.

“We… Neither of us really knew until… until after I got back here.”

AZ nods. “We both understood immediately that I could not ethically employ someone that I felt this strongly about.”

“So I left.”

Another pause. You want to scream.

“Well, you’re a grown adult,” your mom says, still a little stunned. “Far be it from us to try and stop you…”

“Hopefully ya handled it before stuff got too messy,” your dad adds.

“… For the most part.” you chuckle nervously. “It’s, uh… a little hard for this to not get messy.”

“Be good to my kid, sir,” he says. “Be careful with ‘em.”

“I am doing my utmost, sir,” AZ replies. “They’ve been so gracious to me at every turn— it’s the least I can do.”

“… Well, this is gonna throw a wrench in the family reunion,” mom says.

You freeze. Right. Every other year in the wintertime, folks in your family not in Alola go back there for a week or two. And it’s happening this year, and your brother and half your cousins are newly married, so…

“I-I wouldn’t skip it for the world, mom. I promise.”

“And… I shall do my best to attend, as well.”

You whirl around, staring at him pale as a ghost. He can’t help but laugh.

“What? So long as it’s not tomorrow, I should be able to plan accordingly.”

“That’s the spirit!” Dad hollers. “Hopefully the beach’ll be spacious enough.”

You know better than to promise anything too grand in front of your parents— but he obviously doesn’t. Oh, well…

“Well, uh… stay safe, hon,” mom says, waving shyly. “Send us photos if ya can.”

“Yeah, take care!” dad adds.

“I-I will… and, uh, thanks.” you smile.

“For what?”

“For… being chiller about this than I expected, I guess.”

They look at each other briefly before turning back to you; it’s harder to figure out their facial expressions on your little phone. “We’ll call you back soon, Y/N.”

“Heh, yeah. Alola. Love you.”

“Love you too.”

They end the call, and you rub your eyes, sighing through gritted teeth.

“Are you alright?” he asks, patting Floette on her head.

“Is that a promise you can keep, AZ?” you ask slowly. “Going across the ocean?”

“I’m not sure, but I’m not opposed to finding out.” He scratches his chin. “You know them far better than I do. How did it go?”

“Well, they’re definitely still talking about it right now…” you sigh, kicking a rock. “I bet I’ll get a text from them later about what they really think.”

Aside from high-school flings, you haven’t had a partner in ages— your parents know this. Not for lack of trying, you’ve gone on too many dud dates to count, but nobody’s really clicked like AZ has. So not only is this strange to an outsider— a huge, immortal old man with magic powers dating a relatively normal 30-something— it’s out of character for you in their eyes.

“… Are you ashamed?” he asks quietly. “To be with me?”

“No!… no. Well…” you cringe and sigh. “I’m embarrassed about the whole boss-employee thing.”

He nods, an embarrassed little smirk on his face. “I understand. That troubles me, too. If only we realized sooner, that could’ve been avoided.”

“Yeah… but I’m not ashamed of loving you.” You smile. “A-and I won’t let other people’s opinion drag me down. Or at least… I’ll try.”

“I’m… relieved to hear that.” he sighs. “Many times, for my sake at least, I wish I could lead a more ordinary life, but I’m glad that doesn’t trouble you.”

Sure, the circumstances of this are… odd to most people. But who he is physically hasn’t mattered as much, the more you get to know him. It’s nice to feel safe in the hands of someone so large and strong, but he has a tender heart, a kind soul who deeply cares for the people around him in a way you’ve rarely seen before. He’s intelligent, tells great stories, and is a great listener to boot. The way he looks at you… it makes you feel seen in a way you’ve never felt before.

If he weren’t huge, immortal, and magical, you think you’d still fall for him.

But most people don’t see that; they just see you dating him, and fantasize about what you two get up to in private… Ugh. It’s none of their business.

Sure, you shouldn’t have expected privacy dating a giant, but it makes your skin crawl.

“I wish people were kinder to you… and I wish I didn’t know that people talk behind our backs.” you sigh. “Mom and dad seemed… unsure. And it’s tough to not want approval from my parents, even after being independent for, like, 10 years…”

“I know that feeling… but if it helps, I only know them as a glowing screen and tinny-sounding voices.” He grins. “It matters very little what they think, to me at least. I have you, and that’s what is most important, in my eyes.”

“Heh, thanks. I’ll try to keep that mindset, too.” You turn back toward him again. “Now… you. You’re bigger now.”

He snorts. “Yes?”

“Your clothes don’t fit!” you tug at his jacket sleeve. “Isn’t that a problem?”

“Ah, well, it is, but it’s nothing a bit of magic won’t fix.” He sits up, whispering something arcane as he tugs at his sleeves. They get a bit looser somehow… everything does, really. Now everything on his person seems oversized, aside from his knee brace, which still fits perfectly.

“Just in case,” he says slyly.

Floette giggles, but you can’t bring yourself to laugh as easily.

“You said there’s gonna be more?”

“… Maybe. Most likely.” He extends a hand, and you relent and lean into it, to one of his many versions of a hug. “Don’t fret, I’m quite used to a surprise such as this, and it seems gradual, which is a boon.”

“I just wanna be sure you’re okay. In both ways.”

He hums. “Both?”

“Physically, and mentally.”

“… It’s true that I have much on my mind.” he looks away. “I’m concerned about hotel operations once we return, about my impression upon the staff, about hiring new staff… and now, adjusting the entire structure for however big I’ll wind up.”

“Wanna talk about it?” you ask.

He opens his mouth, but seems to catch himself, transitioning to a sheepish grin. “… In a moment. I’d like to set up camp, if it’s all the same to you.”

You look around; aside from where you were cleaning your forage, you have nothing really set up, and it’s almost 7 PM.

“Yeah… I suppose.” you smile.

…

You two make camp there that night, setting up a safe campfire spot for when the sun sets and getting shelter set up… for you.

“I guess I dunno what the alternative would be, but it doesn’t exactly feel fair,” you say as he arranges a simple, comfortable shelter for you out of his hat and scarf. “You’ve only got the bedroll.”

“Hmhmhm.” he smiles. “I appreciate your sympathy, truly, but I will be just fine… so long as I don’t roll into the lake.”

Okay, that makes you laugh.

Speaking of the lake, you’re kinda itchy. You need a bath, but testing the water, it’s pretty chilly. No worse than a swimming pool, but you’d want something warmer to combat the cool mountain air…

“Mm, you had the same thought as I did,” he remarks as he removes his boots and stretches his legs.

“It’s so cold,” you mutter, rubbing your chilled hand.

“Ah, that’s a pity.” he glances at the water, then somewhere else entirely, then at the ground. “Maybe… erm…”

Even in the waning daylight, you can see him blushing like mad. It seems like the same idea has sprung into both of your heads.

You smirk. “What?”

He rubs his neck. “W-well, I was going to suggest bathing together… I could potentially elevate the temperature all on my own. But I-I don’t know your threshold for, erm… privacy on that matter.” He looks away. “You already know my position on the matter, but… I-I’ll admit… mutually… it’s different.”

Right; you get the impression that if you were a complete stranger, he’d be a little more comfortable being fully naked with you, oddly enough. It’s strange and paradoxical, these things… He’s a gentleman as much as he is a free spirit, a noble as much as he is a hermit. He probably respects your idea of his privacy more than he does the real thing.

“… I don’t mind,” you say, taking off your coat, though you can tell you’re beet-red— from excitement, mind, but still.

He mirrors you, eyes wide as he quickly removes his coat, but slows down after a few moments, clearly trying to not look too eager.

He’s so adorable.

“You’re still okay to talk, though, right?”

“Ah… y-yes. I actually think, um…” he pulls off his sweater, the hair on the back of his head standing on end from the static. “I think it’d be good for me… for us… to see each other wholly.”

You nod, smiling. “I agree.”

Chapter Text

It’s nice to get these clothes off; after living in them for a day or two, they’re pretty grubby. Hopefully you can wash them tomorrow. AZ’d probably wanna wash his, too.

Soon enough, though… you’re both naked. He’s peering down at you as he unwinds his braid, sprawled out on the sand, his body hair on end from the slight breeze chilling both of you. He’s wide-eyed as a Magikarp.

You can’t help but laugh at him as you test the water again with your foot, at which point he snaps out of his stupor.

“Sorry,” he mumbles.

“No, it’s fine,” you reply. “It’s cute.”

“Cute…?” that word seems to linger in his mouth, as he says it a few more times as he finger-combs his hair. “That word… for me?”

“Yeah,” you chirp. “Why not?”

“… I’m just surprised.”

Has he never been called cute before? You suppose it isn’t super likely, but still…

“Is that okay?” you ask. “To call you that?”

“Y-yes, it’s quite alright… You are alright with me calling you cute, then?” he unwinds his other braid. “I think I’ve done it once or twice, without thinking.”

“Of course. Why? What comes to mind?”

He glances away, blushing. “… Baby Pokémon, mostly. Small, round, meek little things that elicit sympathy… Perhaps it was demeaning to call you such without questioning it." He shakes out his hair. “Is it… is it common to call a partner cute, nowadays?”

“Yeah. But I guess, with another person, it’s more like… Sweet. Charming. Maybe a little silly, but they give you the warm-fuzzies inside.”

He chuckles. “‘Warm-fuzzies’… apt. I like it.”

“And for the record,” you say, wincing slightly as you start to wade into the water. “It’s not demeaning. I know I’m smaller than you, and… I’m flattered, really. Teddiursa is tough competition in the looks department.”

He scoffs, picking up his supplies before slowly standing up with a grunt and dusting off his legs. “Still, you’re a grown adult. I don’t want you afraid that I’ve forgotten that.”

Arceus, he’s so gentlemanly…

And then a single footstep of his drenches you in cold water. You instinctively shriek, and he recoils, peering down.

“Oh, auras, forgive me!”

“K-keep going!” you chatter. “I’ll follow behind.”

He’s clearly fighting a laugh, but carries on, muttering even more apologies.

Floette drifts up to you, clearly matching her master. You flick water off toward her, smirking.

“You can laugh, but you gotta carry my stuff if you do,” you say, pointing at your soaps and washcloth. She relents, giggling and picking them up before flying off to meet him.

Eventually, though, AZ settles in the water, with Floette staying atop his head, perfectly content to only get slightly damp tonight. He was right, though; the water is warmer with him in it, even just wading in. Whether that’s because he’s using magic to make it warmer, or just his sheer body heat, is unknown, but you’re thankful either way.

He reclines against the nearby mountain, able to sit on the lake’s bottom with his head and shoulders still peering out; his hair swirls around him in smooth arcs, and you feel a little bad disrupting them as you swim closer.

“Terribly sorry, again, mon cher,” he says, extending a hand.

“It’s fine,” you say, catching your breath and using his hand as a raft. “… Whew.”

You’re so impressed with yourself at swimming all this way that you nearly don’t notice his complexion; namely, that he’s pink as a Jigglypuff.

“Heh, what’s the matter?”

“I, um, w-well…” he pulls you closer, where you spot both of your products on the cliff behind him; you can wait a bit to get clean. “… Just… you.”

Oh, right… you’re naked. And he can definitely feel it, with you being only a couple inches tall relative to him.

So is he, though; you have a clear view, even with the water in the way… curse you, fresh mountain water.

His legs are much the same as the rest of his body; scarred, hairy, freckled especially on the right knee. The left knee has a great gash across most of it, the skin there hairless and paler than the rest. Again, more ancient tattoos crawl down his legs, now completely indecipherable.

And, well, you’re marveling at all of him. All 210-ish feet of him, enormous and nude, his hair undulating in the water like he’s some sort of lake spirit. It’s… magical.

“… Y-you too,” you mumble, stirring a laugh from him that sends waves through the water.

He gently scoops you up, looking you over with a loving, yet anxious eye; his finger traces delicately down your body, ever-so-careful even newly enlarged.

“… Do I feel smaller?” you ask quietly.

“… only slightly.” he gently bobs you up and down, a faux-puzzled look on his face. “You weigh about the same to me, though that may just be the water.”

You snort. “Cut it out.”

He smirks, gently setting you down atop his collarbone. “Ahh… but, yes. So far, only minute changes.”

Floette flits down, handing you your soaps, but he stops her just short. “Ah, just a moment…”

“Huh?”

“Are those Pokémon-safe?”

… You hadn’t even thought about that. You take one of the bottles and read the label. “… No,” you whimper.

He clucks his tongue. “Oh, don’t feel bad. You likely weren’t anticipating this, and most of them are likely hiding in the silt right now, so I don’t blame you.” he reaches for his own soap, a simple off-white bar. “I use this one when traveling. I made it myself, so it should be perfectly safe.”

You sniff at it tentatively, your eyes widening. “… I’m gonna smell like you.”

He blinks incredulously. “Is that a problem?”

“N-no, not at all… I always wondered how you smell so good.”

He scoffs. “Flattery will get you a kiss, and then you’ll be back to square one with getting clean.”

Regardless, he leaves it floating on the surface— amazing how it can still do that when it’s the size of a bus— and dunks his head into the lake, disappearing in a vortex of water and hair and leaving you bobbing in its wake.

This is… a little harrowing, you realize. You have a perfect view of him, but it’s still-

Ah, there he is. His head rises up just beside you, his huge eye looming right in front of you— he’d look scary if he didn’t remind you of a drenched Furfrou.

The rest of his head and shoulders quickly follow suit, and you’re back where you started, a blissful, toothy grin on his face as he leans back.

You two lather up and clean, admiring each other as you go; he just uses basic soap on his hair, which has to be some sort of joke. How does it stay that silky and smooth?

“Hm? I’m not sure,” he responds when you ask. “I simply do what I must.”

… Magic, probably.

Floette even joins, cleaning her face, arms and tail while expertly keeping her flower aloft. Soft, feathery scales flake off of her and disperse into the water, glimmering like sequins.

“Ah, you’re growing too, aren’t you?” AZ says, as you’re doing your best to help clean his shoulder.

Floette nods, a paradoxical smile on her face. You suppose it makes sense that the two are linked in some way.

You rub his neck with one of your soft washcloths, awing at the muscles beneath, how they flex and move but stay rigid like the cables of a bridge.

“I know I’m probably not much help,” you say with a small laugh, watching him scrub his arms.

“No, no, continue. It’s quite calming.”

You do so, but inevitably you lose your footing, plopping into the water with an undignified yelp.

“Ah!” He quickly scoops you up, poring over you. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine, big guy,” you sputter between laughs and coughs. “Thanks for the assist, though.”

He softens. “Perhaps it would be safer if the roles were reversed.”

Your eyes widen. You’re smaller than his thumb, so this is delicate work for him.

But you have full confidence in him.

“S-sure… we can at least take turns.”

He chuckles. “Certainly.”

He takes his own washcloth and lathers it, gently rubbing you with it, as intricately as he can. His thumb may be wider than your torso is long, but it’s a caring, tender pressure as he goes. You hum happily as he works, soaking in the loving touch.

“Do tell me if I’m hurting you,” he coos.

“Mm…” you sigh in pleasure as he carefully caresses your back, all the knots in it dissipating with each stroke. “I could get used to this. It’s like a full-body massage.”

“With a Hippowdon’s foot,” he remarks self-deprecatingly.

“Nah, you know what you’re doing.”

“I am following your lead, that is all,” he says, gently turning you over to face him. His smile is tinged with worry. “I would love to do this more often, but I fear… I fear I may not be able to in the future.”

Right. You wanted to talk.

You carefully slip off his hand and hug his chest as best as you can, feeling his heartbeat pounding against you.

“Let’s talk as we go,” you say.

He sighs, rubbing his legs with soap in an effort to comfort himself. “… Right now, indeed, I’m most concerned about my growth. I tried to mask it earlier, but… there’s only so much confidence I can project on the matter.”

You look up toward him. “I don’t blame you. It’s scary.”

He sulks further into the water until it’s up to his neck; you tread water for a moment before you feel his hand beneath your feet. “I thought I’d reached my limit, for the next thousand years at least, but I can tell there’s far more coming. I feel something similar stirring within me to when I soared to nearly double my height 13 years ago; I wasn’t alone then, and I’m not alone now, I know this, but… I am growing ever distant from people, quite literally.”

It’s definitely interesting; he must’ve grown so gradually over 3,000 years, so to have these huge growth spurts this frequently must be jarring. Especially after finally reuniting with his dearest companion… he’s repented, and yet whatever’s doing this isn’t relenting.

He sighs, looking away. “A part of me wonders… if my growth is, in some small way, tied to… to happiness. Connections with others, friendships, love… if some day my affection for others will bar me from interfacing with them at all.”

Something in your heart crumples hearing that. “Oh… Oh, AZ…”

“… I don’t want to think like this,” he says quietly. “It helps nobody. I do not want to wallow in solitude again, for ages on end. But… you see the conflict, right?”

“I do.” you hold his hand. “But there are ways to make this work, I promise. Even if they’re magical, a-and I have no idea how…” you tilt your head with a small smile. “But you said you’d figure out a way to get to Alola, right?… We can figure out a lot of things.”

Floette settles beside you in his hand, holding it as well, trilling softly and looking at him intently. We’re in this together…

A wobbly little smile makes its way onto his lips, in spite of him fighting back tears. “You’re right… Hope itself has never damned me, only frustration and impatience toward it. Only worry.”

“Heh, I know how that feels.” you lean on his hand. “You’re not alone in thinking that way.”

He admires you for a moment, thinking. “… Someday, I may grow so large that you could sit atop my thumbnail.”

You glance toward his thumb. “Honestly, that sounds kinda fun.”

He smiles, tears budding in his eyes. “Or my voice may grow so low that you will be unable to understand me.”

“We can write letters.”

He chuckles. “… I may not recognize you as more than a speck, and… well, that one brings the most dread upon me.”

“I’d wear really bright clothes… and get you a pair of glasses.”

He laughs even more, tears now fully falling down his face. “Ahh… perhaps this is just a case of extreme nearsightedness.”

You laugh along for a moment before settling back into his hand. “But seriously… All things considered, even if you can’t live around other people all the time because you’re just too big, I think people would still wanna meet you. Find you and talk to you.” You look around. “I think this’d be a great place to live. A little chilly, but that’s okay.”

He follows your gaze, looking toward the mountains, the forest, the fissure in the range that’s studded with fallen stars. “Yes, and… well, it feels quite routine at this point for me to rely on magic for everything, but… it’d be a boon.” he sits up a bit again. “I could make a home, separate from the fragile outside, and… still welcome others in, but perhaps I ought not to be so busy in the future.”

“Yeah… everyone’s gotta retire at some point.”

He hums. “I never thought that retirement suited me, but… hmm.” He embraces you, tender and soft. “I hope that, whenever or however my journey nears its end… this world will simply accept me as a part of itself… as a mountain range, maybe. There’s some warmth to be found in knowing that you’ll provide shelter and calm to others, even if they don’t know it.”

“It’s hard for me to even think that far ahead… but I guess you’re used to it.”

“In a sense… But every day is new and surprising, even now.” he peers down at you, his slow, deep breaths sending ripples through the water; both your and his hands are pruned from being in here too long, but that’s okay. “You continue to surprise me, Y/N. Thank you.”

…

You two finish bathing together; both of you are loath to leave the water now, but you know you’ll have to. You agree head ashore just after the sun sets, and you feel like you’re gonna turn into an ice cube. You’re shivering like mad in his palm as he slowly limps ashore, and he can’t help but laugh even as he reaches for his towel.

“A-a-aren’t y-y-you c-c-c-cold?”

“I am, but I suspect some part of me knows I’d cause an earthquake if I shivered.” He sets you down and bundles himself up for a moment before doing that same magic trick on his hair that you’d seen him do at the hotel; this time, though, perhaps more practically, it simply steams away rather than bubbling up, leaving his hair dry and smooth.

You don’t have that luxury, but you’re not sure you’re willing to experiment— you don’t want your whole body to evaporate, or something. You quickly dry off, bundle up in clean clothes, and get the fire started as he’s still changing. Your new lighter’s coming in handy, thankfully.

The only new article of clothing AZ chooses is a mossy green sweater; the rest remains unchanged, and you see him enlarge the sweater a tad just in case. He’s quietly humming to himself as he braids his hair, enjoying the fire— even if it’s puny with just your lighter for ignition.

“Warmer now?” He asks.

“Whew… yeah.” You settle beside him, hair still a tad bit damp, but otherwise satisfied. “I’d love to do that again somewhere warmer.”

He chuckles. “I’ll see if that can be arranged… for now, though, I think we’ve both earned our rest.”

“Heh, well, you did all the walking, so…” you’re cut off by a yawn. “I oughta be telling you that.”

“I know, I know.” He gently picks you up, admiring you as you sit in the palm of his hand. He stands and places you into the safe little ‘tent’ his hat and scarf form, bundling you up.

Your eyes must be saucers staring up at him. “I-I, uh… I could’ve done that, heh.”

He stiffens. “My apologies.”

“It’s fine,” you say with a laugh. “I only wish you could join me.”

He snickers. “Perhaps next time, I’ll try and arrange for a tent my size.”

“Since I’m so insistent.”

“Exactly.” He softens. “Goodnight, ma mie.”

“… Goodnight, AZ.”

Chapter Text

Your journey continues the next morning, venturing through the mountains just west of Johto; nothing quite hits the same as Starstruck Gorge, but you keep yourselves busy with conversation, enjoying each other’s company all the same. It’s another day and a half before you find someplace interesting.

“We’re about 30 miles out from Ecruteak City,” he remarks. “We can rest and get some supplies there… Thank the auras. I need to take off these damned boots.”

“What’s wrong? Is there a rock in them?”

“Heh, no… I made them oversized as a precaution, remember? But they’re not exactly as comfortable now.”

You sulk. “Oh… Sorry. That was my whole thing.”

“No, I’m glad you suggested it. But perhaps this next growth spurt ought to get itself over with.” He sighs.

You think for a moment. “I wonder if the potion is at least a tiiiiny bit of a catalyst.”

“It could be, given I grew at the same time it wore off.” He scratches his chin, briefly blocking your view. “Though I’m not certain that I’m keen to experiment in a crowded city.”

“Aww… I think it’d be fun to go inside Bell Tower together.”

“Heh, well, we’ll see what the reception is like once we arrive.”

A little while later, and that great, shining tower is in view; in the mid-day light, it glistens like a gold obelisk, intermingled with a forest of red and yellow trees. You’re only about a mile away, a fact more evident once you get past those mountains.

“Hah… we made good time,” he remarks, stepping over trees, which shake loose some of their autumnal leaves with each footfall of his.

“It’s so pretty… There used to be two towers here, right?”

“Indeed; the second one burnt down about a hundred years ago. Maybe two, actually.” He hums. “Something like that. I remember seeing it on my travels a long time ago.”

As you draw closer, it’s clear that he’s only a little taller than the standing tower, as you peer at it. Several monks hurry out to the top balcony to witness you, watching in awe.

“Ah, right… I may have to work a little harder to ingratiate myself to the locals,” he muses.

“What do you mean?”

“I made my presence known in other regions far less than in Kalos; I’m certain that some still regard me as myth, unless they saw those news reports.” He sighs. “I don’t want to cause too much trouble, so we probably shouldn’t stay the night here, if we can help it.”

“Oh, I dunno. If you need to rest, then you should rest.”

He huffs. “… If I am welcome, then I’ll consider it.”

As you approach, one of the monks calls out to you.

“Halt, giant!”

AZ obeys, stopping about a hundred feet away and peering down at the balcony; you’re only a few yards higher than it, yourself. He bows his head in greeting.

“Good day. We’re simply stopping to rest for a moment, and gather supplies.”

“Yes, we knew of your approach,” the monk responds.

You can tell AZ’s smirking, if only in a self-deprecating manner. “I suppose our private outing has reached the news, then. I apologize for any disruption.”

Floette drifts toward the balcony, and some of the monks balk, while the others interchangably bow in greeting and extend hands to shake. She happily reciprocates.

“Ah, forgive me… Floette is ever the gregarious sort.”

You think you can see a few of them smiling; that’s a good sign. “Do not apologize. You are welcome here, and may rest here… with some stipulations.”

Oh, here we go.

“W-we, um, mean no offense,” another monk says, “But… your companions may enter town, but we’d ask that you not continue further, giant. You may rest outside for as long as you need, though.”

“You may call me AZ,” he says politely, knowing how much that wears you down, at least. “And I understand. I’d hate to cause any harm to Ecruteak.”

“… Th-thank you for your understanding.”

“Of course.” He waves and takes a few steps back, kneeling down a few hundred feet away from the tower.

You suppose back in Lumiose, he had a clear path, and chaperones in the sky… But here? His arrival may have been somewhat expected, but not planned for to the same extent. It’s a bummer, but you don’t want to make a fuss when things are going so well.

“Maybe if we used the potion, they’d let you in,” you say quietly, unsure if he can hear you.

“I don’t want to shatter their goodwill by being in the wrong place at the wrong time, mon chéri.” he lifts his hand toward you, and you climb on, and then off once it hits solid ground again. “… I appreciate your concern, though. It doesn’t go unnoticed.”

You smile softly. “Is there, uh… anything you need?”

He furrows his brow for a moment, before taking off his pack and quickly rifling through it; he hands you your own bag, which feels strange to don after several hours feeling weightless in his scarf.

“I have…” he takes out a pill bottle, peering inside and pursing his lips. “… a single ibuprofen to my name, somehow.”

You can’t stop yourself from laughing a little. “I’ll get some. I’ve got my own bottle, but I’m sure you’d like your own.”

He nods. “Perhaps some bandages, as well, given… well, I’m not sure where or when I’ll grow again, but it might not be in the best place for it.”

You nod. “Gotcha. Do you want some sewing thread, too, then?”

“Hm… no, I brought some. Thank you. But… damn it.” he sighs, his cheeks turning pink. “… Some honey and cheese would be nice, if you can find it. I will reimburse you for all of these requests, but especially those.”

You laugh again. “Of course, big guy.”

“Real honey, if at all possible. Not the stuff in the Bewear bottle.”

Floette giggles with you this time. “On it.”

He smiles. “Thank you, Y/N.”

…

Ecruteak’s a cozy little place; it almost reminds you of Malie City back home, though that place is likely riffing off of this region as a whole.

You’d be homesick if it were just you on this journey… but you’re not alone in the slightest.

You wander around for a moment before spotting a shop, heading inside; even the interiors are strikingly traditional, as you hear the crackle of tatami underneath you. You meander through the shelves, picking out things both of you need— you decide to grab some sunscreen, too, as you’ve noticed your face turning a little tingly after a long day of riding along. You’re a little embarrassed that you forgot it, truth be told… Ooh, there’s some nice honey here, too. He’ll like that for sure.

As you step out of the shop, you see a growing crowd of people at the city’s edge, peering over at AZ even as he minds his own business; you’re about a thousand feet away, but he’s still clearly visible.

You want to be mad, but you suppose it’s inevitable.

It’s as you're about to enter the crowd that someone taps you on the shoulder. You whirl around— hoping that little yelp wasn’t audible— and see a strange man in dark clothes, with shaggy blond hair that would surely cover his face if not for the headband stretched across it.

“Hey, uh… you’re with the giant, right?” He asks, the sedate smile on his face barely moving.

You squint. “… Uh, why do you ask?”

He scratches his face. “Well, I’ve just got a hunch… he’s about to make a loud noise, and you and me are gonna be the only ones who’ll run towards him instead of away.”

You blink. “W-what do you-”

You hear the crowd cry out suddenly, and then…

A deafening roar to the heavens, whose source can only be… AZ.

“Oh, no,” you mumble.

Sure enough, you’re weaving against the screaming crowd to try and get to him, getting only glimpses of the writhing colossus as you fight against it; that man accompanies you, the smile on his face gone as the mood changes.

You race out into the woods, feeling tremors in the earth and seeing AZ above and ahead of you, as he grunts and claws at the earth. Those same green waves of energy from a few days ago pulse across him, radiating from his heart to his extremities— the air smells like ozone, as if lightning’s about to strike.

“AZ!!” You cry out as you draw further, and you get a low groan in reply as his hand limply shoos you away before he buckles to his elbows. His clothes are straining against his growing form, his gloves close to bursting, his jeans tearing at the seams. He’s already removed his boots, but his knee brace is still on…

“F-find Floette,” he wheezes. “She went off some-”

Suddenly, you hear a piercing cry from elsewhere in the woods; that must be her.

The strange man reaches into his pocket and releases a Mismagius. “I’ll find her. You stay here.”

You can only nod; you know it’s foolish to put this much trust in a random stranger, but you’re in a state of shock. You can only watch as AZ’s flesh expands, as bones creak and twitch and are overtaken by new muscle and fat, as he grits his teeth and drives huge divots into the earth with his fingers.

“I-I don’t know what to do,” you can’t help but say.

He grunts. “Don't… concern yourself with that… just stay back… I’ll be f-”

He suddenly cries out again, frantically pawing at his knee brace for a moment before resolving to wrench it apart, the sickening sound of twisting metal resounding through the air as it lands on the ground in a heap. His hands trembling, he rolls over onto his back, writhing, growing, warping for a few more minutes. All you can do is watch, at least until…

It’s done. His hands collapse to his sides, and his head rolls toward you as he sighs, his breath rattling the nearby trees. He’s drenched in a cold sweat, breathing heavily, tears streaming from his eyes even as they’re squeezed shut.

You hear footsteps, and see the stranger approach, with both his Mismagius and a Gengar supporting Floette as she drifts over, herself looking worse for wear— and bigger. Poor thing… Her flower’s closed completely, something you’ve never seen before, and she’s shedding a trail of those shimmering scales.

“She’s bigger than I expected… but lighter, too,” the man remarks, his Pokémon gently laying her beside AZ. His eyes flutter open at her presence, and he ever-so-gently strokes her head with a shaking hand.

“Are you alright?” You finally ask.

He nods, straining to roll over and see you better. “I’m alright… it simply caught me by surprise…”

It’s rare that you’d say this about him, but he looks awful; his clothes are strained around him, his hair’s a mess, and he’s clearly dehydrated, hungry and exhausted all at once. Far from alright, you big stubborn Gogoat.

“Does anything hurt?”

“… No more than usual.” he coughs.

“What about your leg?”

“I am fine, Y/N.” He grunts and sits up fully, massaging his knee. “Perhaps a little bruised, I’ll admit, but I simply need to rest-”

“You're bleeding,” the stranger remarks.

AZ looks at his hand, eyes widening as he sees blood smeared on his fingertips. Even his blood is different, being red at most angles, but shimmering green at the edges.

He sighs. “… Perhaps I’m being too stubborn for my own good, indeed.”

…

Thankfully, you got some gauze and bandages that should help with this. And thankfully, he has just enough strength to make them his size.

As you help AZ patch up, a couple doctors come out of the woodwork to assess his injuries— the cuts are small, and mostly superficial, thank Arceus. But that doesn’t mean he’s out of the woods just yet, as his knee brace is completely destroyed. He’ll need to fix it up before you two can get going again.

A Pokémon center technician also comes over to help Floette, but she seems better off than her master, aside from a few small bruises and scrapes. She trills softly at each healing pulse from the attendant Blissey, the bud on her flower slowly opening up again.

All the while, the mystery man’s watching from the sidelines, simply standing there and watching this spectacle… Arceus, you hate that this is a spectacle.

“Hey, uh… thanks,” you say, stepping back toward the man as AZ reclines on the ground and the doctors pack up their things. “For the help.”

“No problem,” he says breezily, shrugging his shoulders. “It’s just what I do.”

“I’m Y/N, by the way.” you shrug. “You never told me your name. Or, uh… how you knew this’d happen.”

He blinks. “I didn’t? Ah, shoot, I always forget that part. Uh, Morty. I’m the gym leader here.”

Your eyes widen; no wonder people were willing to help. If he weren’t the local celebrity, you’re sure people would’ve turned tail and left you all high and dry. Not that you shouldn’t have some hope in people, but… if they’re encountering a giant screaming in the woods for the first time, a normal person’s first instinct generally isn’t to help them.

“… Morton Matsuba,” AZ says slowly, peering down at the man. “The third, I believe, to bear that name in a long lineage of clairvoyants.”

“Fourth, actually.” he grins. “Guessing you knew some of my ancestors.”

“I became acquainted with many select people over my lifetime… select being the operative word.” The giant sighs. “Alas, they were of little help for my specific issue. The bitter part of me would’ve called them hacks.”

“Heh, sorry about that.” He glances at Floette, who’s seated on the ground and using AZ’s scarf as a blanket. “It all worked out in the end, though, from the looks of it.”

He nods. “… Thank you for your aid.”

“Of course. I’d, uh, help with your clothes, too, but I’m a liability with a sewing needle.”

“Heh… do not worry. You’ve done plenty.”

Clairvoyance, huh… you suppose if AZ can do magic in general, then there might be people who specialize in one particular brand of it.

Morty nods. “I’ll leave you to rest, then. Lemme know if you need anything.”

And just like that, he’s gone, heading back to Ecruteak. The friendliest mystery in town, you suppose.

You peer up at AZ, who sighs, rolling over with a slight wince and extending a hand toward you. His fingers definitely seem a bit longer, though much like before, it seems a little more gradual than his “80 feet in one night” experience from before you knew him.

“I’m… sorry for being so curt with you, earlier,” he says.

“Don’t… don’t apologize. I’d be freaking out too.” You lean into his hand, feeling his fingers delicately wrap around you and pull you closer; he looks you over, appraises what difference there could be between then and now. He’s foregone his coat at this point, simply donning his sweater and rather tattered jeans.

“Thankfully, I heal preternaturally quickly, so I hope to be alright by sunrise… though, that’s not including whether or not I can fix that in time.” he bobs his head toward his knee brace, half-buried in dirt and wrenched apart at its hinges, the screws inside at awkward angles.

“And your clothes…”

He chuckles. “I’ve some spare trousers in my pack, and the coat’s only in need of a loosening, and a few stitches. I can change come nightfall… I hope.” He looks you over intently. “Are you… are you alright? I hope that wasn’t too frightening for you.”

You rub your arm as you sit in his palm. “… It was… I was a little scared, yeah.”

He softens. “Forgive me. It was… hm. It was indeed painful. A sort of pain I’ve never gotten used to… hence my reaction to it.” he carefully traces a finger down your body. “But I never meant to frighten you. Perhaps I knew you needed to stay away, but I wouldn’t have used fear to express that.”

“I know.” you hold onto his finger. “A-and… I was more scared for you. I thought you’d get seriously hurt, o-or someone would think you were gonna attack, or something.”

A small, sympathetic laugh leaves his lips, and he pulls you close and softly pecks you. A small kiss, in his eyes, even as his lips take up most of your body.

“I must take up more space within your heart than I do out here, ma mie… Thank you for caring so deeply about me.”

You lean against his chin for a moment, planting a kiss of your own before pulling back. If he takes up double his size in your heart, you can only imagine that you’re the size of a mountain within his…

“It’s the least I can do. Now… I’m tired, you need time to recover, and I passed by a Yakisoba stall that smelled way too good to pass up.” You look behind you, toward town. “Are you hungry?”

He hums. “Well, I-”

He’s cut off by a thundering growl that shakes your bones, originating from his stomach. He turns pink to the ears, nearly red.

“… With tofu, please, if you can.” he smiles sheepishly.

Chapter Text

Ecruteak City is abuzz with conversation when you return, and many people are looking at you like you’ve grown a horn.

You try to tune it out. You know this is strange, but you’re hungry, and so is AZ. Starving, probably— you hope he makes this meal plenty big enough for himself.

Yakisoba in hand, you return to AZ, watching as he magically enlarges it before eating together in relative quiet. You got some Pokémon tea for Floette as well, who sleepily sips it alongside you.

You can tell a lot’s on AZ’s mind; he’s hesitant to look your way, his visible eye squinting in that particular way that shows he’s ruminating.

“… I won’t mind if we can’t make it to Unova,” you say quietly.

He blinks, shoulders stiffening. “Am I that easy to read?”

You scratch your head. “W-well… I could tell something was up, but that was a total guess.”

He doesn’t say anything for a moment, finishing his bite of food with a sigh. “Hmph… I want to make it, so terribly. To show you the history all along its western border… I suppose if we can’t, we can try another time, as much as it pains me to say that.”

You smile. “Don’t beat yourself up over it, please.”

“Heh, I’ll make a concerted effort not to.” He smirks. “I suppose that is also your way of telling me to rest a while here?”

“At least for another day. I know people here might be scared, but I don’t want you hurting yourself.”

He nods slowly, taking another bite— that piece of onion was about as long as you are tall. Don’t dwell on that thought for too long.

“Once I’m out in nature, it’s difficult to turn off my instinct to keep moving,” he says, glancing down at Floette, who looks up at him with a small smile. “… Now, though… I suppose I have little to fear, and nobody to chase after.”

She trills softly, floating up onto his free hand as he carefully cradles her within it, patting her head with his thumb.

Suddenly, your phone buzzes; you shyly take it out and check it. Oh.

“Uh, is your phone off?” you ask.

He furrows his brow. “Yes… why?”

“It’s Serena.”

He hums. “I see.”

You answer it. “Hello?”

Serena’s familiar friendly voice pipes up, if slightly panicked. “Hey! Uh, is AZ okay???”

“Uh, y-yeah, we’re okay.” You glance up at him, then toward town. “H-how did you-”

“Karen was in Ecruteak just an hour ago!! She told me all about it— she said Morty handled it, mostly.”

Okay, cool… who’s Karen?

That’s probably not important— probably someone she’s worked with before. “Yeah, uh, it’s okay. I promise.”

“I ought to be the one fretting over her,” the giant muses with a wry little smile. He clearly can’t hear what’s going on, but knows her too well to guess anything else.

“Phew. I-I’m sorry if I interrupted something,” she says.

“Heh, nah, we were just having lunch… we’ll probably be here for another day or so.”

He scoffs. “‘or so’… do not tempt fate. Any longer and she’ll come here personally to fuss over me.”

“I can hear him,” she says, a little quieter than before. “Does he know that?”

You snicker, quickly glancing at him before turning away. “I don’t think so.”

You hear his huge hand slam beside you as he leans closer— clearly, that made him suspicious. You and Serena giggle a bit more to yourselves, and you feel his hot breath cocoon you as he sighs.

“Uh, anyway… how are you?” you ask, watching as he turns his ear to be right above you.

“I’m doing alright,” she says. “Decided to take a little tour of Paldea with all this free time. Kinda nice to just take a vacation and not think about being Champion.”

“Oh, gosh, yeah, I bet. It’s been really nice to get out, too. Just us.”

“Did he show you the gorge?”

You chuckle. “Yeah… it was beautiful.”

“I only wish he’d actually write down the location. I wanna visit it on my own, and I don’t have anything near his sense of direction.”

“Heh, he likes his secrets… don’t you?” you glance up at him.

“What is this about, you two?” he slumps into the ground, defeated. “You could at least put her on speaker, Y/N.”

“Heh, alright.” You do so, holding your phone beside his ear, as high as you can reach.

“You better rest and pace yourself, old man!!” Serena exclaims.

“I’d ask the same of you, fillette,” he chides, his tone stern but his mouth grinning. “You’re fussing over me one minute, and teasing me the next… so childish.”

“Maybe I’d treat you nicer if I knew the coordinates to your favorite places.”

He laughs. “I don’t know the damned coordinates, you know that…”

“Have Y/N find them on a GPS or something.”

“Tch, I’ll think about it.” he grins. “It’s good to hear your voice, Serena.”

“Yours too, Monsieur. But seriously… take it easy, okay?”

He hums. “I will. By your orders.”

“Pfft… I’ll see you later.”

“I appreciate your concern, my friend. Truly.” He glances at you. “Farewell for now.”

…

As promised, you two take it easy for the next day, but after that, he’s eager to get moving.

It’s been around two days since you left Ecruteak, and already you’re getting close to Mt. Silver in Kanto. The pace is a little slower than he wanted it to be, but you can’t complain— so long as you get to spend time with him.

“… Huh,” you say, as a thought comes to you.

“Hmm? What’s the matter?”

You shift around a little in his scarf, settling in to a comfortable spot. “We never used the other two potions.”

He hums. “I’m sure we can make more, with that recipe Cynthia gave us.”

“Is it too late? To try the ones we have still?”

“Most likely, yes. Knowing the volatile nature of alchemy, I could either fail to shrink adequately, shrink far too much, or…” he grimaces. “… grow even larger.”

“Oh.”

He hums and nods. “Either option won’t kill me, though. Perhaps we could experiment when next we stop… which is, I’m realizing, now.”

He stops in his tracks, slightly jolting you from your comfortable position.

You blink. “Wait, what? Why? I thought we were only a hundred miles out from Mt. Silver.”

Floette trills in confusion as well, watching as AZ sits down, reclining against the rock face, clearly morose.

“Indeed, and it’s only about 4 PM, but… I will grow again soon, majorly so.” he sighs, gently plucking you out of his scarf and cradling you in his hands. “… I can feel it.”

He’s not looking you in the eye like he usually does…

“Are you anxious?” You ask slowly.

His great shoulders heave a sigh, and he sets you on solid ground and undoes his knee brace, stretching his enormous leg a few times before resting it again.

“… I am. To tell the truth, I had a very vague sense of its arrival before we reached Ecruteak, as well, but I thought it would wait until nightfall…” he huffs. “It’s less painful when I’m not awake to feel it.”

Floette trills sadly, hugging his shoulder and trying to comfort him.

“… Does it hurt more when you know about it?” you ask.

“Not particularly… but I suppose knowing makes me more fretful, and thus more likely to resist.”

“Huh… what’s gonna happen if you don’t resist it?”

He looks at you, his eye wavering and uncertain. “… You’d want me to… to just let it happen?”

“Have you been trying to suppress it this whole time?”

“It’s all I’ve ever known to do.” He sighs. “… I suppose that’s why it’s less painful in my sleep… enough to where I don’t notice it.”

You think for a moment; the sun’s still high in the sky, so there’s no way he’s dozing off just like that. He may be able to sleep almost anywhere, but his limiting factor seems to be the time of day. So there needs to be another way for him to relax… either to forget about it, or…

Oh. Of course.

“Hey, we still have that Riesling, right?”

He blinks. “… Y-yes, of course.”

“And I just got that honey and cheese in Ecruteak, and that bread’s still good… Oh! And those berries!”

“What are you suggesting, Y/N?”

You look around; it’s the middle of nowhere, so of course there’s nobody around, but it’s picturesque all the same, with a small stream running through the flat valley and mountains on all sides.

“… Let’s have a growing party!”

“What?”

“To take your mind off of things.” You look around again. “This place is beautiful, even if it’s just a random valley. The perfect place for some nice food.”

He scoffs, the first signs of a smile finally on his face as he looks around, then to Floette, then to you. “I-I suppose that’s… that could work. A little picnic…”

“Yeah, exactly!!”

He smiles. “Very well.”

You grin, throwing a thumbs-up. “Sweet!… now, take your clothes off.”

He flinches back, eyes wide as a Corphish. “Y/N!!”

“What? I’ll do it with you!” You start taking off your boots, giggling as he stammers.

“W-why are you-”

“Your clothes’ll only get in the way, right? Make you feel more anxious about breaking something.” You grunt as you pull your boot off at last. “And I’m doing it because… well, I’d feel weird if you were naked but I wasn’t.”

That much is definitely true… it’s chilly out here, but you can use his scarf as a blanket. He has his own blanket, too.

He sighs, making a face, before ultimately nodding and conceding, disrobing alongside you.

“I see your line of logic… I can only hope this trail is truly secluded.”

…

Is this a strange idea? Yeah, undoubtedly.

But you think it’ll pay off.

You’ve accumulated quite the spread over the past week or so, with plenty of delicious food and forage to snack on for however long it takes.

You watch him, wearing nothing but a towel around his torso, gather some sand and silt from the stream, aweing at how it melts in his hands. He magically sculpts the slag into a rudimentary cup— to his size, naturally, but he forms a smaller one for you.

It’s a strange sight, but it makes your chest flutter all the same.

“Thanks,” you say, carefully taking the glass— it’s still warm to the touch.

“Certainly,” he replies, sitting once again on the spread-out blanket with a sigh. “… I desperately didn’t want this idea to grow on me.”

“But it is?”

He nods, pouring himself some wine; you scoop a bit out of his glass with his help. “I didn’t want to make you humiliate yourself for my benefit.”

“Dude, there’s…. it’s just us out here.” you take a sip; oh, that’s lovely. “Don’t worry.”

He exhales, tasting the wine for himself. “Mm… yes, I needed that.”

It’s an afternoon of experimentation; seeing how these different ingredients pair with each other. Some of the spicier berries with some of the honey… oh, that’s wonderful. Wine and cheese is a classic pairing, of course, and you can’t go wrong with a loaf of bread that’s the size of a house.

It’s magical… even outside of his magic. Just… spending time together has been wonderful.

He kisses you in-between some of his bites, as well, the sweet scent of honey and wine on his breath, leaving you just a bit sticky. There’s a stream nearby, though, so it’s easy enough for you to scurry over and wash off.

“Terribly sorry,” he coos as you scrub your arms.

“Nah, no worries! I just don’t wanna wind up looking like a lint roller.”

He chuffs, taking some more bread. “Well, perhaps I’ll hold off until I’ve had my fill of honey, all the same.”

You pad back toward him, drying off with his scarf. “And when will that be, Monsieur Ursaring?”

He laughs, deep and bright. “I don’t know in the slightest. When a stomachache arises, perhaps.”

Suddenly, you hear a crackle of energy, as Floette cries out.

“Floette!” he picks her up, cradling her as best as he can. “Shh, shh… relax. I’m right here.”

“Just let it happen,” you say as you hurry back, watching and waiting.

She whimpers, but relents, and you watch as her flower undulates open and closed, as she grows in her companion’s hand… quickly. Smoothly. Way faster than last time.

Even he seems to notice it, quickly using both hands to hold her, to console her. Scales gently float off of her body, out of his hands, fluttering around you like flower petals.

In a few minutes, though… it’s done. And she’s a lot bigger for it, by at least a few feet.

She slowly opens her eyes, trilling and stretching.

“… I’m sure I’ll follow you soon enough,” he coos. “Are you in any pain, ma fleur?”

Miraculously, she shakes her head; he sighs, clearly relieved.

You smile. “See? I think it’ll be good for you to just let it happen.”

“Indeed… though, she still looks quite tired.” He gently sets her inside his hat, where she coos softly, closing her eyes again. “I suppose an early bedtime won’t do me much harm.”

“Hopefully not too early.” you shuffle just a bit closer. “… I kinda wanna take a look at you, once it’s all said and done.”

He flushes, a low, rolling laugh leaving his lips. “W-what do you mean? Just walking around on top of me? Poking and prodding?”

“Kissing and hugging.”

He laughs again, leaning closer. “Well… so long as you’ll allow me to do the same… I suppose I’ll allow it.”

A low rumble emerges from his core, as a green glow emanates from his heart. His breath hitches.

Okay. It’s time.

“Take a breath. Relax.”

He nods, squirming a bit and squeezing his eyes shut.

“Let it happen,” you reiterate. “Just… let it happen. It’s okay. I’m right here.”

He grunts, taking a deep breath as several rapid pulses of light, faster than you’d seen before, radiate from his core to his extremities. Another deep breath, as he grows bigger and bigger… It’s a smoother process this time.

Only difference being… he’s growing a lot faster.

He opens his eyes, quickly wriggling away from the food. “Y/N-”

“It’s okay,” you insist, drawing a bit closer, even as he continues to grow. A gentle, but shaking hand extends toward you, pulsing with energy; you hold onto it, even as the skin moves and shifts, as his fingers twitch slightly and enlarge around you.

He’s growing faster than you’ve ever seen before. Soon, that towel doesn’t even fit around his torso, falling loosely beneath him. The air smells of sweat, of ozone, of damp grass and honey and… flowers. It’s so many overwhelming sensations at once, even for you, and you can’t even imagine what AZ is feeling…

But he’s focusing on you. Even as you shrink in his grasp, as every part of him expands, as the shadow he casts lengthens more and more, he has his eyes on you.

“… You’ve… made this feel… almost… pleasant…” he closes his eyes again.

“Don’t get too excited,” you coo as gently as you can. “This only happens once in a blue moon, right?”

He chuckles and nods. “I’d hate to… grow too fond of… the sensation…”

His fingers are growing longer and wider around you; in this more relaxed state, everything moves in sync with each other. No more breaking of bones, or unraveling of muscle.

He pants a few times, before something resembling a roar rattles out of his chest, and you quickly cover your ears as one last pulse of light reaches his extremities, one more surge of change.

Eventually, it all subsides, and he flops to the ground with a huge crash, still cradling you. He’s hot to the touch, nearly uncomfortably so, steam wafting off of him in enormous whorls.

His thumb, at least, has grown to be double your height. Putting all of that into perspective… wow.

He’s gigantic. You wouldn’t know how to possibly estimate how big he is now, but… 40 feet bigger seems reasonable. Conservative, even. He might be even bigger than that…

He finally lifts his head to look at you again, panting slightly, eyes wide.

“… A-are you alright?” He stammers.

You nod slowly. “Yeah… you?”

“… I feel heavy… clumsy… but there isn’t any pain like I’m used to.”

“Good… that’s good.”

As carefully as he can manage, he pulls you closer to him, cradling you just in front of his face. He’s lightly glistening with sweat, his cheeks adorned with pink, his hair in more disarray than usual.

You feel smaller than ever.

But that’s okay.

The slightest twinge of a smile plays across his face. “… I think it’s done.”

You blink. “Yeah?”

“… Yeah.” He chuckles. It’s an uncharacteristic word to come out of his mouth. “For a long while, at least. Whatever’s bound up in my soul seems… satisfied.”

“That’s a relief to hear.” You press your hand against his thumb. “Can you still feel everything?”

He nods, a full-on grin emerging on his face. “Yes… yes, I can. P-put some clothes on, mon cher, your hands are freezing.”

You burst into giggles, running back toward your belongings once he sets you down and doing as he says— gratefully, really, because it’s gotten cooler since the mountains hid the sun from you two.

He wraps the towel around himself as best as he can— again, it’s much too small to encompass him anymore— and slowly begins to stand, taking his walking stick and getting to his feet with crashing footfalls.

He’s… taller than his walking stick, now. He’s staring in awe at it, his mind clearly racing.

“This is roughly 250 feet tall… so, then…” He peers down at you, at his belongings, at Floette, who’s still fast asleep in his now far-too-small hat. “I’ve a lot of work to do.”

“Don’t sweat it right now,” you call up to him, slipping on your most comfortable clothes, feeling your face grow warm. “I still, uh… wanna take a look.”

He chuckles. “Will you at least grant me the luxury of trousers?”

“Tch, sure…” You grin.

Chapter Text

AZ’s pants, both of you realize, barely reach his calves now, and he has to enlarge them significantly for them to fit adequately. Once he does, though, and he lays down before you, you take it all in.

“How do you feel now?” You ask, walking around him and just… looking. He’s almost hill-like all on his own, his arms gently ramping up to his back, swathed in foliage-like body hair that sways in the mountain breeze. He’s quietly nursing his glass of wine, now visibly smaller in his hands.

He hums, rattling the ground around him. “A little disoriented… heavy… Though, that could be the booze talking. Hm.” he looks you over. “I must be at least 270 feet.”

“Whoa…”

“Likely more. It’s hardly ever a nice round number.”

“I never would’ve guessed that closely,” you say.

“I’m wired to analyze and calculate, my dear. It’s what I do best.” His great eye follows you as you pace around him. “That, and… you’ve shrunk, in my eyes, by about a half-inch since I first met you. Thus, by my estimates…” he chuckles.

That small, huh? It’s a thought that almost makes you lightheaded on its own.

As you pace around him, you notice more and more; he’s not just bigger, he’s…

How do you put this delicately?

“Your butt’s bigger.” Not like that.

He scoffs, his elbow crashing into the ground as he props himself up to look at you. “I beg your pardon?”

You flinch. “I-… Uh, d-… sorry. Could’ve said it better. But it is.”

“I should hope that I grew proportionately.”

“W-well, yeah, of course you did, but-”

The shadow of his enormous hand from above interrupts you as he reaches behind himself, patting around his backside.

“Hm, that’s…”

He sits up, rising high as a drawbridge, clearly puzzled as he feels his abdomen— sure enough, while he’s still quite lean, wiry, and lanky, there’s more padding there than there was before. His chest is softer, his stomach, his thighs, his buttocks, there’s even just a bit more filling out under his neck. He has a bit more muscle on him, too, his long arms just a bit more defined, his lats finally showing themselves, if shyly.

These changes likely wouldn’t be noticeable in the slightest if you two weren’t in close proximity this often… you doubt the others would notice when you come back, but you absolutely do.

“… Auras above, I’m filling out like my father,” he mutters, a small smirk playing across his face. “It only took 3,000 damned years.”

You snort. “That’s one way of thinking about it… you look healthier.” you pause. “I-if that’s okay to say.”

He chuckles, leaning down again, forming a bridge over you as his hair dangles down like vines. “Of course it is. Thank you. I feel… I feel good, not simply content. Energized… younger, oddly, yes.”

You hum. “I wonder if that’s because… because of what we did here.”

He nods. “Well, certainly, it could be that I didn’t inhibit myself like usual… Or it’s a culmination of nearly a decade’s work caring for myself, or it could even be what I just ate.” he grins, glancing toward the giant picnic still before you.

You shrug. “I guess this is an ongoing experiment, then?”

“Indeed it is— one I’d be grateful to participate in, if it means I can finally wear short sleeves in the summertime.”

He lays down again, setting his drink aside and bringing an open palm toward you.

“You wanted to look closer, though, correct?”

“… Y-yeah,” you breathe, your face growing warm.

You climb on, bracing as he pulls you close and brings his elbows below him, every movement resounding through the valley. He looks over you, that analytical eye of his hovering above you, his face all you see when you look up.

It’s all you need to see.

“Firstly, though… if you’ll allow me, I’d like to indulge in some praise.” he leans further down, his voice enveloping you. “Thank you… for finding me, and giving me so much grace.”

I should be the one thanking him …

“You are so precious to me,” he coos quietly. “That I am able to have you, to hold you… I fear I do not voice my affections for you nearly enough.”

You feel everything grow warm.

“I hope you know that you mean… so, so much to me.” He sighs, gently caressing you with his thumb. “Sometimes, I fear that those around me feel insignificant to me. That cannot be further from the truth… especially for you, my love.”

All you can do is nod, gasping as the sky falls and he kisses you; so much pressure, all at once, honey and wine and berries on his breath, wildflowers in his hair, his skin pressing against yours lovingly, hungrily, tenderly.

He pulls back just slightly, his smile the only thing in your field of view. “… I love you. Every inch of you. And… should you continue to grow smaller and smaller to me… rest assured that my love for you will not change.”

His voice, low and resonant, surrounds you, almost warming you— though, that could be his breath, as well, or his hands gently holding you. You can feel the individual ridges and spirals of his fingertips now, aged and scarred, even slightly callused, but still full of life.

You finally catch enough of your own breath to speak. “… I knew you loved me… I suppose it’s been a lot to take in, just how small I am to you.”

“Small… and precious… and mature, and graceful, and kind.” his thumb gently rubs your belly. It’s like a huge pillow rocking back and forth, still almost sickeningly gentle.

You smirk. “I dunno about graceful.”

“Heh, well, more so than I can claim to be. But you understand… that I see you. Not a child, not some defenseless little creature, but you. A human being, and an equal.” He smiles. “And I suppose I should count myself lucky that you’re so amiable to being carried around by my side, wherever I wish to go… if you ever grow sick of that, however, just say the word.”

You kiss his thumb. “I’m not sure I will.”

His eyes widen. “… You’re certain?”

It takes a moment for you to respond; you realize in that moment that… he might not know that you’re physically attracted to him, as well.

It’s something that’s been difficult to admit to yourself, too. While it’s only a small part of why you love him, you feel like you’ve got to tell him at some point.

“… I… really, really love that you’re so big.” You smile shyly. “… I-I know it can cause problems, or make things a lot more difficult for you, and I hate that it does. But I… I like being held like this, and kissed, and being able to sit on your chest and feel your heartbeat… It’s wonderful. And I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

His smile falters just a bit as he takes this in, taking a breath as his cheeks turn a deeper rouge.

“… I had always thought… that this body of mine was more of an obstacle for you.” he looks away for just a moment. “I mean, you seemed quite excited about the shrinking potions…”

“‘Cause it was new and different,” you say, clinging to his thumb. “And… and because we can go into cities together with them, and because you can see me more clearly with them. But… not because I want you to force yourself to change. I like you the way you are. Huge, and powerful, and so wonderfully gentle.” you tilt your head. “Is that rude to say?”

He thinks for a moment, before chuckling and shaking his head.

“Heh… no. Hardly.” he gently paws at your chin with his finger. “I must admit… perhaps it’s a byproduct of my circumstances… and I always wish to assure you that your size does not diminish your humanity, in my eyes, but…”

“You feel the same way? Just… the other way around?”

He nods, turning even more red at the cheeks. “… You’re so adorable. So beautifully small, so handsomely precious, so wonderfully tiny… but… I suppose I was afraid to say outright that it was an element of my attraction.”

“… S-same here…”

He breathes a smile before kissing you again, a small chuckle swaddling you after you squirm and he readjusts, so sensitive to your movements it’s almost unbelievable. You respond with your own kisses, tiny pecks in comparison, though you know he feels each and every one of them.

You chuckle shyly once he releases, looking up at him. “It’s tough. You wanna say that it’s all personality, but…”

His breath ruffles your hair, hot and sweet. “To deny physical attraction is… silly.”

“But we’ve both kiiiinda been doing it, huh?”

His smile is soft, pensive. “I always thought I was repulsive on the outside… frightening, intimidating, overwhelming. And that you were breaking through that edifice.”

“Nope… well, I was scared, for a little while. And then… I dunno. Something just clicked. It turns out I really like the size difference.”

“Heh… I’m not sure I’ve been very good at pretending it’s simply what’s on the inside…” he gently prods at your chest. “It’s not in spite of our differences… but partly because of them.”

“I thought you knew, to be honest.” you smirk sheepishly. “I haven’t exactly been hiding it. Maybe I just haven’t been saying it out loud…”

He snickers. “That’ll do the trick. Any self-loathing on my part will infer the worst.”

You laugh along too. That’s completely true for you, as well… His smile forgives any apology you would’ve uttered.

“Well, at least it’s out in the open, now… I can say that I love that your hands are as big as boats without feeling as weird.”

He snorts. “Ahh, indeed, indeed… and I can relish in the fact that you’re my little treasure, far too precious for a pocket. You are to be held by my side, prized and guarded from harm.”

Ah. That got you feeling lighter than air. And from the look in his eye, it seems like he can tell.

He pecks you for just a moment and gently rests his nose against you, a big toothy grin on his face. If he were a Skitty, he’d be purring, but his pink cheeks are plenty to show how he’s feeling.

You hug his nose for a moment, before scooting over and kissing his cheek. You see his eyelashes flutter just slightly, as he lifts his head just a bit to admire you again.

His eyes flit momentarily downwards, as the mulls something over.

“… If I may interject with something that’s been on my mind…”

“Yeah?”

“… I am aware that you aren’t as inclined toward sex,” he says slowly, finding the most appropriate words one-by-one.

“Yeah… it's not my thing. I dunno if it’s even possible with us.”

“No, absolutely not— not in most conventional senses, I’d assume.”

“Not that I mind.”

“Of course.” He takes a breath, steadying himself. “… I… did wonder if you were open to experimenting, though. As far as our boundaries are concerned… what we like, and what we do not.”

“Oh… sure.” You prop yourself up on your elbows, hoping you don’t look too eager. “That sounds… wow. Yeah. I like what you’re doing already, so…”

“Good.” He sighs through his nose, his smile turning to one of slight embarrassment. “I haven’t told another soul this, but… it’s been ages since I’ve had an intimate partner, myself.”

You don’t say anything, but that’s a surprising thing coming from him, and it must be evident on your face even at this size disparity.

“I had… a few courtesans and suitors during my reign, but never married. And they most often led in bed, while I followed.” His thumb trails up and down your legs, his eyes contemplative. “That is to say… I’m a relative novice, myself. A shy, unpracticed whelp under all of this weathering… All of this would be new to me, as well.”

“G-guess we’re…” You’re too enamored to finish.

He scoffs out a laugh. “Meant to be? In a silly way, I suppose, yes.”

“You’re doing plenty, if it helps.” you reply, soaking in his hummed response. “Am I satisfying you enough?”

He nods, and you hope you don’t look too surprised. “Enormously so… though, it’s not your turn just yet to prove it, mon cher.”

You giggle. “When’ll it be my turn?”

“In just a moment,” he teases. “I want to try one… one last thing. If you’ll allow the surprise.”

You can tell you’re red as a Tamato berry. “S-sure.”

“Yes?”

You nod firmly. “Yes.”

“Do let me know if it isn’t to your taste.”

You nod. Such a gentleman… ugh, it gives you Beautifly in your stomach.

He leans down, kissing you once more, his lips enveloping you, hot, wet and sweet. You inhale sharply as you feel his tongue press against your abdomen, still so gentle, but a new element.

You’d said no licking before… but that was in the sense of a Rockruff slobbering you senseless, and it seems he knew that. This is a kiss, a Kalosian kiss, a culmination of love and pleasure gently massaging you into his palm, his tongue caressing down your core and between your legs for just a moment, eliciting a soft, feathery moan from you as you’re pinned down.

You carefully return the favor on his top lip, feeling it wriggle into a smile as you kiss as passionately as you can manage, all without going directly into his mouth. Too many sharp implements the size of windows in there… but it’s a dance you’re more than able to follow.

He moans, too, a tectonic sound almost like an earthquake that permeates your whole body, punctuated by satisfied laughter.

That nice, huh? He felt that so intensely…

He finally releases you, catching his breath as you catch yours. You probably look like a mess right now, but he’s admiring you same as ever, hunting for approval with eyes nearly as big as you are.

“… What did you think?” he finally breathes, as if he just remembered to ask you.

you snort, curling up into a ball of giddy giggles.

He leans closer. “Was…. did you like it?”

“Yes,” you say, exhaling and rubbing his palm with your hand. “Yeah… wow. I think that awakened something in me.”

He turns a bright red, and you can practically see steam wafting off of him. “… I-I see. Good. Heh… good.”

“I didn’t realize you’d been holding back,” you tease, giving him a knowing look.

“I-I… worried the tongue would constitute licking.” he holds you carefully and securely as he rolls over, the whole world around you spinning— you close your eyes for just a moment, opening them to find yourself nestled in his chest, his heart slowly thudding just beneath you. “Perhaps I wanted to wait until we had absolutely nothing to hide… it felt like less of a risk.”

You laugh. “You’re thinking too much. I just didn’t want to be eaten on accident back then.”

He grunts as he props his head up on his arms, settling in and just watching you. “… Fair enough. I definitely could've swallowed you out of nerves.”

“Then I’d be out of a job and dead,” you say with a smirk. His laughter bobs you up and down, jostling you slightly from your position.

“And I’d be terribly heartbroken… but those are ‘what if’s.” He grins. “In the here and now… do as you please.”

You sit up, assessing your surroundings— an even broader field of skin lies before you, slowly rising up and down in time with his breaths, the white hair on his chest rising to nearly your knees, but sparse enough to not pose an issue.

“I can only imagine how that feels,” he muses.

“… It almost reminds me of being at the beach,” you reply, crawling up onto one of his pectorals. “Something soft and warm beneath me… the dune grass…”

He chuckles softly, another roll of movement beneath you. “There are many days when I feel like a landmark, indeed.”

You lay down, ‘embracing’ him as best as you can. “Mm, but… you’re human.” You peek at him. “Hope I didn’t make you feel otherwise.”

“Hmm.” he reaches his hand over you and pats your back ever-so-gently. “I’ve got a human soul still, at least.”

“That’s all you need.”

You kiss his chest, feeling his heart flutter beneath you, holding as much of him as you can manage. He hums, his head lolling to the side, blushing like mad but grinning wide like a Gengar.

“You’re exquisite,” he whispers, not making eye contact, but utterly enamored with you.

You carefully stand and pad down to his stomach, even softer than it was before. His hand carefully follows you, perhaps for safety’s sake, and twitches with glee as you kiss him there, too. He hums, propping up one of his titanic legs and rolling his head back, his bliss evident in every movement he makes.

“I adore you,” he rumbles.

You pet him, equally blissful as his warmth intermingles with yours, as you revel in the closeness of it all, an electric feeling running down your spine as you feel him move beneath you.

“I love you so much,” you reiterate, soaking into his touch. “I could stay up here forever…”

He hums. “I could hold you for just as long.”

He’s cut off by the sound of distant thunder— for once, not his doing— which makes you nearly leap out of your skin, scurrying toward his chest.

“… But I’d be ignoring the world around me, evidently,” he grumbles, carefully sitting up while cupping you in his hand. “Damn it.”

“Heh… it was fun while it lasted.”

“I’m glad,” he says with a smile, before glancing around and assessing the landscape; there’s a huge, angry cloud roiling some distance away, and the rest of the sky is admittedly quite gloomy as well.

You were both too distracted by each other to notice… you’re not sure if that’s wonderful or terrifying.

“Let’s see… it’s moving eastward, so we probably should as well.” He sets you down and begins stowing everything in his backpack again, reducing the empty glasses back to sand with just a touch.

“Uh, what do we do if we can’t find somewhere?”

He pauses as he’s enlarging his pack, thinking. “… I would… shelter you with what we have, and stay as far away as I can for the duration.”

You furrow your brow as you put on your coat and boots. “Wait, why would you need to do that?”

He sighs as he rouses Floette, who sleepily chirps and accompanies him on his shoulder after he dons his jacket. “I am… a bit of a lightning rod, mon chéri.”

You balk. “… Oh. Duh, I suppose so.”

“I don’t blame you for not considering it.” He catches his breath, having evidently expended a lot of energy at once tuning everything to his size— even then, though, it’s clear his pack is still a bit small on him, same with his gloves. “I didn’t, until… hmph. That wasn’t a fun day for me.”

You can only imagine how that felt… It’s as your standing up that you feel a big, fat raindrop plonk on your head. He seems to see you flinch, and surmise the rest.

“Here,” he says, extending a hand, and you hurry over, settling into his scarf as he stands… whoa.

Your view’s much higher now. It takes a moment to adjust to it, as he moves even faster than before.

“Are you alright?”

“Y-yeah… just… this feels way higher up than last time.”

He rumbles out a laugh. “I suppose it is… forgive any stumbles on my part, as well. I’m… unpracticed at this height.”

“Be careful!!”

“I will be.” He glances down at you. “I promise.”

Chapter Text

It takes only a few minutes to find shelter in a cave, this one much narrower than the last one you used. Still, it’s plenty of space for you, and… AZ fits just barely. He refuses to complain, but keeps his eyes outside, shielding you from the rain as he watches, huddled onto his hands and knees.

“I’m terribly sorry about this,” he says quietly.

“Wh-… no, don’t apologize.”

He shakes his head. “I likely mistook my hair standing on end for excitement. I should’ve known a storm was coming.” Floette protests with a whistle, and he sighs. “But I get the sense that neither of you will let me feel guilty about this.”

You laugh. “You can’t control the weather. Well, as… as far as I know.”

“I cannot, no.” you just barely see him grin from your vantage point. “I am at the mercy of it just as most beings are… save for the lucky few Pokémon who decide they wish to upset our routines once in a while.”

“Heh…”

After about an hour, there’s no sign of thunder anymore, but it’s still raining, and the sun’s set by now. You know he’d be willing to stay here, but it’s hardly cushy… for either of you, really.

“… So what now?” you ask.

He sighs, looking back toward you. “Good question. I’m trying to recall any shelter nearby that won’t be this… cumbersome.”

“Painful?”

“That, too…” he mumbles something under his breath in that ancient language of his, seemingly calculating based on his fingers twitching against his knees. “… Ah. Fascinating.”

“What?”

“We should reach Mt. Silver within the hour,” he says, pulling up his hood again and crawling out of the cave, extending a hand to you. “There’s a large cave there that should shelter us far better than this one. Let’s keep moving.”

“Oh… o-okay.” That’s a better pace than you were expecting.

You quickly climb aboard, huddling under his chin, watching Floette shiver slightly as she accompanies you.

“Yeah, it was chilly in there…”

She trills, huddling against you, and you relent, the soft down covering her body warming you as well.

His hand rises above you, further shielding you from the rain as he gets moving, the earth shaking beneath him. “Additionally… we should reach Unova ahead of schedule, now.”

“Oh, wow.”

“Indeed. I move a bit faster now, though we should still account for any disruptions…”

“Huh… I guess your legs are longer.”

“Mm, it adds up, bit by bit.”

You’re not gonna outrun the rain, but it seems to grow less and less intense as you press forward, which is good. Eventually, he drops his hand to help him navigate, revealing further darkness as night fully settles in.

“I’m surprised you can see where you’re going,” you remark.

He hums, grunting as he pulls himself over a rock face. “I’ve learned to adapt to the dark. For some time, the best time to travel for me was under a new moon.”

“… I guess that makes sense. But like, can you see?”

He chuckles. “Hardly. But I can intuit things using what I know, and be cautious when faced with what I don’t.” He pulls his hood up further. “Or, failing that… yes, I can use a bit of magic, calories permitting. But there’s no foolproof solution, unfortunately, and I’ve made a fool of myself countless times.”

You cringe. “I’m guessing it hurts a lot more if you fall…”

“… I suppose that old adage ought to apply, yes. I’m not sure— one could simply chalk the pain up to age. Though I certainly cause a great deal more damage to my surroundings.” He grins. “I’ve gotten a few calls from archaeologists asking if ancient craters around Kalos are my doing… while I hardly remember every mishap, there’s a nonzero chance that their intuition is correct.”

You snicker. “‘AZ’s Elbow was Here’.”

“Heheheh, exactly.”

Eventually, Mount Silver’s peak comes into view, narrowly highlighted by the moonlight, and the rain starts to subside. He ducks into a much more spacious cave just a couple miles from the mountain, the walls made of cool, almost glassy stone. It’s large enough that he just needs to duck a bit, and probably a welcome sight for him.

“Whew.” He kneels down and pulls off his hood, catching his breath. “Perfect. And it’s only…”

You check your phone. “Uh, 10:30.”

He scoffs as he pulls off his gloves, massaging his hands. “Cunning little machine, adapting to time zones so readily.”

He offers a hand, allowing you to dismount and touch solid ground again; he almost blends into the rock in this deep of darkness. He lays beside you, worming out of his pack and sinking heavily into the cold stone floor.

“I really ought to fix all my belongings so they’re properly sized once again, but…” he huffs, ruffling both your hair and his. “I am exhausted.”

“I don’t blame you.” You flop onto his hand with a yawn. “I’m tired, too… and you’ve been doing the walking. And you’ve grown, like, 50 feet.”

“Indeed… mm, I now have the luxury of resting when I’m weary, I suppose.”

Nonetheless, you two prep for bed as best as you can, with him allowing you to huddle into his chest as he lies down to sleep, his hair still a little damp from the rain. His heart, a slow, but strong rhythm, pulses beneath you, even more powerful than before, but a relaxing constancy amid the rain and thunder outside. You might move around a bit later, once he’s fallen asleep, but you’re content here.

You think over everything that’s happened in just a few days; AZ has grown roughly 70 feet, Floette’s even bigger, too, you’re so ahead of schedule that you’re already basically in Kanto, and you two have seen each other fully naked multiple times. That’s… wow. Almost feels like a tall tale, even though you know it’s real.

As real as the heart beating just beneath you.

Your mind drifts back to the hotel, though; so much will be different when you return. Basically everything, especially if the people you knew decide to leave and new people file in. You’ll be working elsewhere, you’ll be living in a whole new space in the hotel, and everything… well, everything will have to get a little bigger.

You’re sure that’s on his mind, too. Amid all the joy and stress and worry, is joy and stress and worry about the place he calls home.

You wish you could assuage his worries once in a while, but… he’s so used to doing basically everything by himself. And it’s not like you felt like much help even when you were his employee.

… Maybe you could stand to learn a bit of magic. It seems reasonably doable, and you’ve met a few people already who know the ropes, so it’s surely just a matter of discipline. Right?

Nevertheless, sleep is starting to take hold, so you settle in, rocked to sleep by his torso.

…

You feel something move along your leg.

“AAAAAAHH!!!”

You shriek, squirming away and hyperventilating, unable to see in the deep darkness of the cave. It seems you woke Floette, as well, as you hear her trill just a few feet away, eyes just barely open.

What time is it? How long have you been asleep?… Ugh, it doesn’t matter.

“Sorry,” you whisper, inching just a little closer to her. “Must’ve been a breeze, or something.”

You peer towards AZ’s head, pursing your lips anxiously, but he seems unfazed, snoring peacefully. Floette trills again, evidently suspicious.

“W-what? You think there’s- ACK!”

You yelp again as AZ’s chest surges upward, as he gasps in terror, eyes shooting open. You cling to his shirt as his chest curves, his hands slamming into the cave floor as he lifts his head and looks around, still panting. After a moment of getting his bearings, his gaze zeroes in on you.

“F-forgive me, are you alright?” There’s a tremor to his voice.

You nod shakily, sitting up. “Y-yeah… did you feel it too?”

He groans, scratching his head as he carefully looks around, trying his best not to buck you off. “We must have decided to rest in someone else’s territory… a mischievous someone.”

Floette chirps in alarm, and both of you turn to see a lock of AZ’s hair… floating upwards.

“What… is- Ow!”

Whatever it is, it sharply yanks at his hair, making both of you wince. He cups you in his hand and sits up, looking around as an eerie giggle fills the cavern.

“Ugh… If you wish for us to leave, a simple request would suffice,” he grumbles, looking around.

Suddenly, a Misdreavus materializes right in front of you.

“AAAAH!!!”

You flinch, and he flinches in turn, watching the little ghost snicker as you catch your breaths. Floette flits closer, clearly frustrated, and the wild Pokémon shrinks away, wary of her anger. The two seem to converse in trills and wails, the Misdreavus clearly cowed by the oversized fairy.

AZ sighs. “Stop bickering with it, Floette.”

Both turn to him at his voice, with the little ghost floating up to his face, inspecting him, before drifting down to inspect you.

“W-we’re sorry,” you mumble. “We didn’t know this was your home…”

“We were simply trying to get out of the rain,” he says, sighing and looking at you once again. “All things considered… this is a rather amiable welcome for its species.”

“W-what do you mean?”

He chuckles. “Well, I’d rather this than a plague of nightmares…”

The ghost Pokémon coos in reply, drifting too close for comfort toward your face, a cunning grin on its own.

You… hesitantly extend a hand, and it presses its head against your palm, wailing again.

“Huh… are you lonely?” you ask.

It nods, the smile on its face retreating only slightly.

“I wonder why… this cave’s awfully nice…” you softly pat its head. “It’s not easy being all by yourself.”

Floette is eyeing it with suspicion still, arms crossed; perhaps she’s upset this woke her up.

“I know the feeling all too well,” AZ says, carefully lifting a hand toward it. “Perhaps this was fate, really…”

The flower Pokémon does a double-take, processing his words, before sighing and nodding. The Misdreavus trills, floating circles around you, clearly more drawn to you than to him.

“W-well, we’re not gonna stay here, you know,” you say. “So… do you wanna come with us?”

AZ hums. “You’d be a lively addition to our party… and, well, I know much about Misdreavus’ mannerisms, considering they were my mother’s most trusted partners.”

“Huh… maybe this is fate.”

Misdreavus seems to consider it for a moment, glancing around her cave and mumbling quietly. You see it glance toward your bag— you suppose you might have to show it how a Pokéball works, and settle its nerves.

AZ quietly sighs. “If you wish, little one, we can give you until morning to decide.”

It looks back at the giant, thinking hard, before nodding.

“Did it nod?” he mumbles.

“Yeah.”

“Good. Thank you.” he lowers his head once again with a deep sigh. “Alas, we’re not nocturnal like you… we need our rest rather terribly.”

“But we’ll be here in the morning.” you smile, settling back in and patting the ghost’s head again. “I promise.”

…

The next morning, Misdreavus indeed agrees to accompany you.

You show it one of your Pokéballs, as well as introduce it to Cutiefly, who is shy as usual. But eventually, the two get on well, and Misdreavus settles into their new family, awaiting the next stop of their adventure.

Cutiefly’s huddled beside you as AZ treks through the mountains, while the little ghost floats idly beside his head, keeping a little more distance.

“So… your mom kept Misdreavus?” you ask.

He hums. “Their evolved form, Mismagius, are very adept at magic, especially when using hair as an energy source.”

“Hm…” you scratch your head. “I… don’t have a lotta hair to work with.”

“Heh, well, it isn’t a requirement to-…” he blinks. “Wait, what do you mean?”

You sigh and shrug. “Well, I’ve been thinking… a lot about magic lately.”

“You wish to become a practitioner?”

“… Kinda, yeah,” you say, shrinking a little. You’re not sure what to make of his tone. “It looks really useful, and, um… kinda fun.”

He thinks for a moment, before sighing. “… It’s a serious commitment, mon cher. If I’ve made it seem ‘fun’, then I’ve done a poor job of showing you everything it entails.”

“I-I didn’t mean it like…” you huff, slumping further into the scarf and petting Cutiefly. “Sorry.”

“No, it’s… do not apologize. I’m sorry for being so curt with you.” his finger gently bumps against your side. “I just know that… unless you seek full devotion to the craft… most everyone I know walks away dissatisfied with what they’re capable of. Even myself. It’s a great deal of sacrifice for… what can feel like little reward, if you wish to think about anything else beyond spells.”

“What do you mean? Like it’s addictive?”

You feel him shrug. “Power grows less and less satisfying the more of it that you have.”

He’d know that all too well…

“… Then… I don’t want to be super powerful. I-I don’t think I’d even want to touch your level of skill.”

“And I’m middling, at best.” He sighs. “But… if you’re serious about this… perhaps I can teach you a few small things.”

“Just like… never losing my keys. Or automatically cleaning up stains. Or being able to help you out once in a while, with bookkeeping or something.”

“Heh… indeed, those are doable. Still an arduous process to prepare your body for such a task, but hardly impossible.”

“Is it easier with someone like Misdreavus?”

He chuckles, eyeing the ghost. “So long as they cooperate… yes.”

They drift over toward you, sticking out their tongue playfully. You ruffle their hair, and they giggle impishly.

“Then it’s settled. I suppose I’m your…” you trail off, trying to figure out the right word for it.

“In technical terms, I am your master, and you are my apprentice.” He grunts as he steps up and over a small ridge. “But… please do not refer to me as such. I will not have you debase yourself over arbitrary titles.”

“Aww… I don’t mind, though. It’s true, after all.”

“It reminds me too much of my kingship… a title I didn’t rightly earn, and yet I was adulated with praise for simply existing.”

“I guess… but I’d say you did earn this title. You’ve worked really hard. And I don’t mind being called an apprentice. It’s better than intern…” you grin.

He huffs. “… If I say that it makes you sound like a kiss-ass, would you comply?”

That kicks a guffaw out of you. “Wow!!”

“Aheh, my apologies. I meant no true offense.” your laughter seems to indicate that you know that, and he laughs along briefly too. “A friend from Unova taught me that term… perhaps it’s harsher than I knew it to be.”

You laugh some more. “Ahh… Yeah, okay. I won’t say it, then.”

“We are peers… you’ve taught me a great deal, as well.” he very gently pats your head. “In a sense… I am your apprentice for matters of… the small things in life.”

“Hey…”

“Tch, you know I didn’t mean it like that. I mean the mundane… though I loathe that word, as well.”

You peck his finger. “I know. I’m just teasing.”

Misdreavus giggles, at least. You hope he doesn’t think they’re a bad influence…

“In any case, teaching you will have to wait until I have had my fill of… rest and recreation.” you can see him grin even down here.

“Yes, sir.”

“Hmph…”

Floette joins in on the giggles happening around you two.