Chapter Text
Emmet sits on one of the many public benches around Lumiose. It was a pleasant day, but Emmet couldn't wait for night to fall and the Royale to start. It would have been smart to take a nap today, but instead Emmet sips on one of the many energy drinks he brought from Unova.
“No, no, I am telling you that is him,” Emmet overhears someone aggressively whispering to someone else. Using the corner of his eye, Emmet can see a group of four teens talking amongst themselves. The darker skinned one must have been the one who said that as he loudly whispers to the group, “he's the Gray Ghost! Come on, Paxton, you have to remember him. Isn't he the only guy you've lost to in the Royale?”
Paxton…
That name does not ring a bell, but Emmet fights a lot of people every night. It would be impossible to remember all of them. The one in the green jacket and trilby hat does look a little familiar. If this Paxton person has only lost once, he must be taking the Royale verrry seriously.
“Oh come on, he can't be that scary,” the blond teen with a little bit of pink in her hair says.
“I don't think you have the right to judge how scary people are anymore, Taunie,” the teen with long black hair and a blue hoodie says, “not after the Rust Syndicate situation.”
“That turned out fine,” the blond teen, who must be Taunie, says, “Paxton figured it out. No harm, no foul.”
“No harm, no foul, you put us thousands of poke dollars in debt!” The dark skinned teen says. Emmet can't help but smile a little more. That does sound like something Corbeau would do. At least it doesn't sound like they are in debt anymore.
“Corbeau isn't that bad,” the teen wearing a green coat, who Emmet believes is Paxton, says, “and I only fought this guy once. I'm sure he's not that bad either.”
“See, Paxton agrees with me,” Taunie says, “watch, I'm going to go talk with him.”
Emmet sips on his energy drink as he watches Taunie approach. She walks up in front of him and brightly says, “hi, I'm Taunie! How are you?”
“I am Emmet,” Emmet says, “I am here to participate in the ZA Royale. I am waiting for it to start.”
“Might be a couple of hours,” Taunie says, Emmet can see the rest of her friends come over as she continues, “if you're here to participate, are you from out of town?”
“I am,” Emmet says, “I am from Unova.”
“Oh, that's cool,” Taunie says.
“If you're from Unova,” the dark skinned teen says, “did you really come all this way over here to battle a bunch of people?”
“Naveen, don't be rude,” Taunie quickly scolds her friend.
“I did. I like battling verrry much,” Emmet says, he then looks at Paxton, “have I battled you before?”
“Yeah, but I was still pretty new,” Paxton says, “I've gotten a lot better! If we battle again you are sure to go down.”
“Aim for victory,” Emmet says, “I would like to battle you again.”
“Battle fanatics,” Naveen mutters.
“Let them have their fun,” the teen wearing a blue hoodie says, “I mean look at how good Paxton's gotten! If anyone can beat the Gray Ghost, it is him.”
“Yeah, but at what cost, Lida?” Naveen asks, “Paxton, answer me honestly. When was the last time you slept?”
“I sleep,” Paxton argues, “only like an hour each night, but I sleep!”
“I am Emmet. That is better than me,” Emmet gulps down the last of his energy drink, “I have not slept in three days.”
“Me neither!” Taunie says joyfully.
“See Lida, Battle fanatics are clinically insane,” Naveen says.
“I hate to agree with Naveen,” Lida says, “but y'all need to sleep.”
“Not until we battle!” Paxton and Emmet say in unison.
- - -
“Hi Mr. Corbeau!” Corbeau looks up from his desk. It sounds like Paxton is here to visit him in his office again. Corbeau can't say he minds. The upstart teen has grown on him.
What Corbeau wasn't expecting was the three other members of Team MZ to be nervously standing behind him as they leave the elevator. Corbeau hasn't seen the rest of them since they were in debt to him.
“Paxton and Team MZ,” Corbeau says, “to what do I owe the pleasure?”
“Do you have any meetings here today?” Paxton asks, the rest of his friends look like they are going through the seven stages of grief.
Corbeau can't help but glance at Philippe, who is standing near his desk. Philippe gives him an equally I-don't-know-where-this-is-going look.
“No,” Corbeau replies.
“Great, so you won't mind if we use your couches and table to play our board games, right?” Paxton takes a board game box out of the bag around his arm. The other teens look like they are regretting whatever conversation led them here.
“You want to play board games here?” Corbeau questions.
“Yeah, the hotel is going through a couple repairs, so we can't play there,” Paxton says, “you can join us if you want!”
The other teens look like they would rather be dead than here.
“I have work to do,” Corbeau says, “do what you'd like. Just keep it down.”
“Thanks Corbeau!” Paxton says, happily walking over to the couches and table. The others follow him and they start setting up their game.
The games starts quietly, but it doesn't take long for it to divulge into the loud arguing and laughter one might expect from board games. Philippe keeps looking at Corbeau to ask if he should get them to quiet down. Corbeau keeps dismissing Philippe. Let the kids have their fun.
After a while, Corbeau has to leave to go to a meeting. The teens are in the middle of a round and having fun. Corbeau needs Philippe at the meeting, so he can't ask Philippe to keep an eye on them.
Corbeau doesn't trust his Grunts to not get carried away with the teens.
So, Corbeau stands up from his desk, packs what he needs and walks over to the teens. When he gets close, they all freeze up. Everyone, but Paxton, looks nervous.
“I'm sorry we'll be more quiet!” Lida blurts out, “I know we were being too loud! I'm sorry Mr. Corbeau!”
“If I was worried about that, I would have shut you up a lot sooner,” Corbeau says, “Philippe and I have to leave for a meeting. If I come back and anything is broken, I hope you're all prepared to work the repair cost off… with interest.”
The teens mutter ‘yes sir's, ‘we got it's, and ‘nothing will be broken's to him. Corbeau's not sure if he can trust them, but if they are in debt to him, he'll see them more often.
“I am glad we have an understanding,” Corbeau says to the teens. He then turns to Philippe and says, “let's go.”
The meeting went longer than Corbeau expected. Night has fallen and Corbeau just needs to drop his things off at his office before going out to battle. Corbeau and Philippe go up to his office. He was not expecting the teens to still be there playing their games when he got there.
“Oh, hi Mr. Corbeau,” Paxton says when he notices Corbeau walk over to them, “we're just starting another round. Want to join us?”
Corbeau looks around. It doesn't look like they've broken anything. Corbeau doesn't have any more work to do. He doesn't need anymore challenger tickets, and he doesn't need the money he gets from battling.
“I think I will,” Corbeau says, “Philippe, get over here. You're playing too.”
- - -
Emmet walks over to the Looker Bureau. He knows Emma, Looker's adoptive daughter, is running the place. Looker tried to help Emmet find Ingo when he first went missing. It never went anywhere, but Emmet appreciates all the effort Looker put into trying to help him. Emma also tried to help. It seemed only fair to pay her a visit.
Opening the door to the Bureau, Emmet sees Emma squinting at her computer.
“I am Emmet,” Emmet says, announcing his presence, “I am here to visit you.”
“Emmet! It's been so long,” Emma says, looking up from her work, “I assume you're here for the Royale. How's everything? Do you like Lumiose?”
“Lumiose has been nice,” Emmet says, going through the pleasantries, “there is a lot to see. The Royale has been verrry fun.”
“That sounds about right,” Emma jokes before her smile fades a little, “Have you been to the Lumiose Museum? They have an exhibit about Hisui I think you'd be interested in.”
“I know the one,” Emmet says, solemnly despite his smile, “I already knew that. The records are wrong. He has not returned.”
“I'm really sorry to hear that,” Emma says, “I've actually been helping someone else look for a family member. It's not the same, and I shouldn't go into detail but- Xerneas, Taunie I didn't notice you there.”
Emmet turns around to see Taunie standing awkwardly at the door to the Bureau.
“Hi! I didn't mean to interrupt!” Taunie says, “I was just wondering if you had an update, but I see you're busy.”
“You weren't interrupting,” Emma says, “I was just catching up with an old friend. He's not a client. Have you met Emmet?”
“Yeah, he's kinda infamous in the Royale,” Taunie says.
“We have spent time together outside the Royale,” Emmet says, “I am not that scary.”
“When you're battling? Yeah, you are,” Emma says, “if the Royale was a double battle competition, no one would survive. Emmet is a double battle expert.”
“I didn't know that,” Taunie says, “I've never actually double battled before. Maybe you could give me some pointers.”
“I would love too,” Emmet says.
“I'm actually following up on a lead for your case tonight,” Emma says, “I'll be happy to give you an update tomorrow morning, if you have the time.”
“Yeah, I can come back then,” Taunie says, “I should get going. I don't want to interrupt the two of you anymore.”
“That's alright,” Emma says, “we don't mind, right Emmet?”
“I am Emmet,” Emmet says, “I do not mind.”
“That's a relief,” Taunie says, opening the door out of the Bureau, “I'm still going to go though. Bye!”
“See you tomorrow!” Emma says cheerily as Emmet waves goodbye. Taunie leaves out the doors and Emma deflates when she's gone. Emmet looks at Emma curiously.
“I just feel bad for her,” Emma says, “I can't say anything, client confidentiality, but I just feel bad. She really tries so hard to help everyone. I just hope I can help her.”
“I should leave you to your work,” Emmet says, “it was rude to come unannounced. Please text me when you are available.”
“I don't mind,” Emma says, “but I should get back to this. Don't worry, I'll text you when I'm free. See you soon!”
Emmet waves goodbye as he leaves. He looks around outside, but doesn't see Taunie. Walking to the corner of the building, Emmet spots her sitting against the side of the Bureau. Her arms are crossed over her knees and she is looking at nothing in front of her, clearly stuck in her own head.
“I am Emmet,” Emmet says, walking over and snapping her out of her thoughts, “how are you?”
“Emmet, hi!” Taunie quickly wipes her eyes and stands up, trying to compose herself, “I didn't realise you and Emma would be done so quickly. How are you?”
She is trying to deflect. Emmet has not seen her so nervous. She is usually upbeat and happy.
“How much did you hear?” Emmet asks, suspecting to know why she is all of a sudden nervous around him.
“I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to eavesdrop, I also lost someone too if that makes it better and I'm looking for someone and I know Emma said you weren't her client but she's helping me and I'm assuming she tried to help you too and-”
“You are rambling,” Emmet points out, “breathe. I am not mad at you.”
“I really am sorry Mr. Emmet,” Taunie says, “my mom died and I came here to look for my Grandma, and it's not going well. Emma has been trying to help me.”
“My twin brother went missing years ago,” Emmet says, “Looker helped me try to find him. We could not.”
“...who's Looker?” Taunie asks.
“Looker Bureau?” Emmet says, “Emma's mentor and father?”
“That's why it's called the Looker Bureau?” Taunie says, “I thought it was called that because they help you look for things. Is that who the dude is with the trench coat in all the pictures?”
“Yep,” Emmet says.
“That makes soooooo much more sense,” Taunie runs her hands over her face, “Uuuuuugh, that's so embarrassing. Please don't tell Emma I didn't know that.”
“I won't,” Emmet smiles a little more genuinely, “if you ever want to talk about your mother or your search, I would be happy to help.”
“Thanks, I appreciate it,” Taunie says, “did you and your brother do double battles together?”
“We did multi battles together,” Emmet says, “multi battles and double battles are not the same.”
“Guess I still have things to learn about battling,” Taunie says.
“I can teach you,” Emmet says, “I do not have anything to do before nightfall.”
“I'd like that,” Taunie says, “oh! I should text Team MZ and see if they want to join! If we could get everyone, that would be four people, which would be perfect!”
“That sounds verrry fun,” Emmet says, “if they are all serious.”
“Don't worry,” Taunie says proudly, “Team MZ is always serious!”
- - -
“Hey! Corbeau! Over here!”
Corbeau and Philippe are walking down the street when Corbeau hears someone shouting his name.
“Lida, shut up. Don't bother him.”
That is a different voice. It must be Lida and Naveen. They sound like they are below him. Corbeau looks over the railing into the nearby canal. Lida and Naveen are standing on the pathway down there looking up at him.
“Hey Corbeau! Get down here!” Lida yells up to Corbeau as Naveen tries to shush her, “we need some help! You have a Gyrados, right?”
“Yes, I do,” Corbeau calls down to her.
“Great! There's a bunch of sludge down here!” Lida yells up, “It's going to screw up the Starmie migration! I asked Naveen to help me but I don't think we can get it all! Can you help? Please!”
Corbeau can't believe she has the gall to ask him to do community service after he spent days forcing her to do community service. It looks like she still tries to help out in her spare time.
“Okay, I'll be right down,” Corbeau calls down.
“See, I told you he'd help,” Lida loudly teases Naveen. Corbeau doesn't care about their teenage rivalry as he climbs over the railing and jumps down to the path below. Corbeau's Rotom phone catches his fall. Now that Corbeau is at the bottom, he says, “where's the sludge?”
“Right this way!” Lida says happily, leading the way into a tunnel only accessible from down here. Naveen looks like he'd rather not have Corbeau's help, but Corbeau is ready to show off Gyrados and how efficient he is.
Corbeau can hear the future lecture Philippe will give him about how he really needs to stop jumping off of high places and trusting his Rotom phone to catch him.
This was still worth it.
It's not Corbeau's fault Philippe has trouble following him down places. Besides, Corbeau has more important things to worry about, like showing off how amazing his pokemon are to these youngsters.
- - -
Night has fallen. The battle zone has been activated. Emmet stalks the streets for his next prey. Whether he spots them first, or they spot him hardly matters. Emmet will beat them. He likes winning more than, almost, anything.
Checking down an alley before going in, Emmet is surprised to see Naveen sitting on the dirty ground, looking upset and facing away from Emmet.
“I am Emmet,” Emmet says, approaching the teen, “are you okay, Naveen?”
“Don't look at me! I can't battle!” Naveen says, sounding upset. He's looking at the ground as he says, “all of my pokemon fainted. I don't have any revives and I don't think I can leave the battle zone without getting spotted. I'm just hoping if I don't look at anyone, no one can start a battle.”
“That is okay,” Emmet says, “I have revives. I will leave them here and go.”
“Really?” Naveen says, sounding hopeful. Emmet thinks Naveen is acting a little silly, but he likes feeling helpful.
“Here you go,” Emmet puts a small bag of revives next to Naveen, making sure not to look at his face as he puts them down. Emmet stands up straight and says, “I will depart now.”
Turning to leave the alley, Emmet is surprised to see Lida standing there, throwing a pokeball up and down in her hand.
“Got ya'” Lida says smiling, summoning her Clawitzer. Emmet goes to take a pokeball out to challenge her back. Hopefully Naveen will be able to heal his pokemon and stay out of the battle.
“How about a multi battle?” Emmet hears Naveen say behind him, “a 2v1? Think you can take it?”
Emmet looks behind him and locks eyes with Naveen. Naveen's already summoned Ariados. They planned this. Emmet couldn't be prouder as he summons two pokemon. It was been too long since he had a good double or multi battle. This was going to be verrry good.
Lida, Naveen, and their pokemon fought valiantly, but Emmet reins victorious. Emmet is letting them know that they fought well, but they will have to train harder to beat him.
Emmet hears footsteps behind him.
Turning around, Emmet makes eye contact with Paxton and Taunie. Paxton and Taunie's pokemon are already out and ready to go.
“No time to heal? That's a shame,” Taunie says, “guess you'll just have to fight your way out of another 2v1.”
“Can you take us, old man?” Paxton taunts.
Emmet thinks he is going to shed a tear. He is soooooo proud of them. They are truly spoiling him. Emmet's too happy to speak, but not too happy to battle.
- - -
Corbeau looks over at the old man who runs the Budew show. The four of them have been waiting for the fifth and final participant so the show can start. Corbeau did not pay the fee and pamper his prized Budew to not participate.
At the last Budew show, a young up comer by the name of Paxton won. Corbeau never put must stock in these competitions, but with Roserade's newest garden and a particularly enthusiastic new Budew, Corbeau saw an opportunity he couldn't pass up.
Now, where is Paxton?
“Sorry I'm late!” Corbeau looks up from his watch to see Paxton running through the arch into the courtyard, “I lost track of time, but Budew and I are here now. Did you start without me?”
“Of course not, sonny,” the old man who runs the show says, “we couldn't dream of starting without our reigning champion! And look, we got ourselves and new contestant.”
“Corbeau?” Paxton says, confused, when he looks over.
“I thought I might enter my Budew. I didn't expect you to be here,” Corbeau did know Paxton would be here, but Paxton doesn't need to know that, “I should have guessed it was you holding us up. You are always running late, aren't you?”
“Yeah, that's me,” Paxton says sheepishly, before summoning his Budew, “now let's get this show started”
- - -
“And then his Budew came out of nowhere and stole the spotlight,” Paxton laments, “he doesn't even need to money. It's not an offical competition. Why did Corbeau even sign up? My poor Budew lost.”
Emmet is enjoying a nice croissant and coffee with Team MZ. He remembers Corbeau talking about the Budew competition right before he came here. Emmet didn't expect the competition to be the topic of conversation here too.
“Didn't your Budew get second?” Naveen says, “she seems fine.”
Paxton's Budew happily sits in Paxton's lap.
“Yeah, she is,” Paxton says, “but Corbeau didn't have to be so smug about it.”
“That sounds like Corbeau,” Emmet says.
“I didn't know you know Corbeau, Mr. Emmet,” Taunie says.
“I do,” Emmet says, “he is my boyfriend.”
Every member of Team MZ start screaming at the top of their lungs. Emmet shouldn't be surprised by their reaction. At least they are outside on the café's patio and not inside the café.
“I mean no disrespect,” Naveen says when their screaming is done, “but aren't you old?”
“Yeah, I'm sure Corbeau's got to be like, I dunno...” Lida says, trailing off.
“Corbeau is twenty-eight,” Emmet says.
“And how old are you?” Taunie asks.
“How old do you think I am?” Emmet asks back.
Most of the group has the good sense to hesitate. Lida, on the other hand, does not and immediately blurts out, “sixty!”
“Sixty?” Emmet parrots back in confusion and anger, “I am Emmet. I am not sixty. Do I look sixty?”
Naveen mutters something.
“What was that?” Emmet asks pointedly.
“Uh-um,” Naveen panics, “you look the same age as my grandma!”
“How old is your grandma?” Emmet asks.
“I'm not going to answer that,” Naveen says, “I want to live.”
“I'm sorry, Mr. Emmet,” Taunie says, “but you do have white hair.”
“Light grey hair,” Emmet says.
“That's not any better,” Lida says.
“I was born with this hair colour,” Emmet says, “I am Emmet. Emmet has always had light grey hair.”
“He's referring to himself in the third person,” Lida unsubtly whispers to Naveen, “I think we broke him.”
“I think we are forgetting the most important thing,” Paxton pipes in, “Emmet and Corbeau… are dating!”
The teens scream once again, though for not as long this time.
“I think we need to ask Corbeau if they are dating,” Lida says when the screaming dies down, “Mr. Emmet may be delusional from his old age.”
“I am not that old,” Emmet argues, “I am-”
“And we need to ask Corbeau how old Mr. Emmet is,” Lida interrupts Emmet, “just in case the delusion has spread far enough to make him forget his own age.”
“I don't know,” Paxton says, “I only ever go in when I know he doesn't have a meeting. I don't think he'd been happy if we broke in during one.”
“Boss is in a meeting with the Director of Water and Wastewater right now,” Emmet says, “he is not at the Syndicate. I have his work calendar.”
“Why are you calling Mr. Corbeau Boss?” Naveen asks.
“Are you working for the Rust Syndicate?” Taunie asks.
“You think you're dating your Boss?” Lida says, “you really have gone crazy. Working for him would explain why you have his work calendar.”
“I have his work calendar because I am his boyfriend,” Emmet argues, “I did some odd jobs before he started dating. That is why I call him Boss.”
“Odd jobs?” Paxton says, “you started dating him to pay off your debt?”
“I was never in debt to Corbeau,” Emmet says.
“It's okay if you were,” Taunie says, “it happens to the best of us.”
Emmet can hear Lida and Naveen muttering something about ‘or you're dragged into it’ under their breaths.
“I am Emmet,” Emmet stands up from his seat at the table. It's a good thing they already paid, “I am departing to my boyfriend's office to suprise him. You all may join my tracks.”
- - -
Corbeau yawns as Philippe and him make their way up the elevator to his office. He just finished a meeting with the Director of Water and Wastewater. It was about all the sludge that has started to appear in the waterways. Lida had so kindly drawn his attention to the issue.
The meeting was boring and led nowhere. It throughly reminded Corbeau why he does things his own way. The government takes too long.
The elevator door opens, Corbeau and Philippe step out into his office. Corbeau isn't suprised to see Mr. Grey there, but he wasn't expecting to see the rest of Team MZ here too.
“Mr. Gray, Team MZ,” Corbeau greets, “what are you doing here?”
“See, there's no way they are dating,” Lida says, “who calls their boyfriend by their last name.”
Is that what this is about?
“I do,” Corbeau says, “Mr. Gray and I are dating.”
Team MZ start screaming with various different emotions. Some of them start running around his office. This reaction throughly confuses Corbeau. Corbeau makes eye contact with Mr. Gray as the teens are freaking out. Mr. Gray just shrugs his shoulders.
“Wait, wait!” Taunie says, stopping her teammates, “we came here on a mission. Mr. Corbeau, how old is Mr. Emmet?”
“Forty-three,” Corbeau answers truthfully.
“Okay, that's basically sixty,” Lida says.
“No! Wrong!” Mr. Gray says, “Emmet is not sixty. Emmet is forty-three.”
“Refering to himself in the third person again,” Lida says to Naveen, “not a good sign.”
“I am Emmet. Do I look sixty?” Mr. Gray asks, “Philippe, do I look sixty?”
“I'm not a part of this,” Philippe says, distancing himself from this conversation.
“Boss, do I look sixty?” Mr. Gray asks, sadly.
“Yeah... I thought you were, like, a grandpa when we first met,” Corbeau says.
“I am not old enough to be a grandpa! Nope!” Mr. Gray argues.
“Technically, you are,” Corbeau argues back. If this is how much fun Mr. Gray has making fun of his height, Corbeau is starting to get it.
“If Mr. Emmet is forty-three and Mr. Corbeau is twenty-eight,” Naveen says, “that means Mr. Emmet was thirty when Corbeau was our age.”
The rest of Team MZ mutters ‘ew's and ‘gross’
“I wasn't dating Corbeau when he was a teenager!” Mr. Gray argues.
“Guess it is a little weird when you think about it like that,’ Corbeau says, nonchalantly. He looks over at Mr. Gray and says, “too bad I don't care and still love you.”
Mr. Gray beams when Corbeau says he loves him. The members of Team MZ give various levels of ‘eeewwwww's and ‘aaawwwww's at Corbeau's casual declaration of love.
“Now some of us have work to do,” Corbeau says, “so as much as I love or care about you all, get out of my office.”
- - -
Emmet sends another text to each member of Team MZ. They are usually so quick to reply, but none of them have answered or even seen his texts. Emmet is in Corbeau's office with him. They were supposed to be meeting Team MZ almost an hour ago.
This situation is starting to feel a little familiar and Emmet doesn't like it.
Did they disap-
“They're fine,” Corbeau interrupts Emmet's thought spiral as he types away on his computer, “they're always a little late.”
“An hour is longer than a little,” Emmet says.
“Maybe they're finally getting a decent sleep,” Corbeau says, “Yveltal knows that they weren't before.”
“None of them are answering,” Emmet says, “they have not seen my texts.”
“Their phones could be dead,” Corbeau says.
“All four of them?” Emmet argues.
“With the shenanigans those four get up too, anything is possible,” Corbeau says, “I'm sure they'll come through that door with a million excuses and stories as to why they're late. And look, that's the elevator. I'm sure that's them.”
Emmet watches the elevator whir before it dings and the doors open.
Philippe walks out of the elevator. The usually unexpressive man has a pinch to his eyebrows that Emmet doesn't like. Behind Philippe, AZ walks out. AZ is the man in charge of the Hotel Team MZ are staying at. Team MZ isn't with him.
“AZ,” Corbeau says, sounding a little confused, “you weren't who I was expecting. What brings you here?”