Chapter Text
By now, Taunie should have grown accustomed to how quickly things can turn around in Lumiose City. Ever since she arrived in the city and met AZ, her life has taken a completely different route. Originally, she only came to this city and Kalos in general in search of a potential relative that might or might not be here.
But her encounter with the giant of a man changed everything. When asked, Taunie doesn't hesitate to say that she has fallen in love with Lumiose City, its people and Pokémon. Of course, she wanted to repay her debt to AZ too, but her love for the city is an equal reason why she stayed in the bustling city and founded Team MZ to support every one of its inhabitants.
She has spent two years in the city by now, and slowly her original goal has turned into a background topic, lurking in her past like a ghost. Emma is still on the case, but maybe it is fine that she has found nothing yet. Maybe it's time to let the past stay what it is: the past.
No day passes that Taunie isn't busy, always chasing from one adventure to another with her friends. Maybe it is okay to move on and look towards the future, not the past.
But just when she has decided to let the ghosts of the past stay what they are, they suddenly come back to her like a Wailord using surf on her, sweeping her clean off her feet. There is no warning for it, no indicator that things will change drastically in the next few minutes.
For Taunie, at first, it's only the aftermath of another match against Paxton and another loss on her part, although Taunie can hardly call it a loss. Not when she can see the wordless synergy between Paxton and his Pokémon first-hand, not when she can feel their mutual trust in one another.
She knew that Paxton was different from others when she first saw him stumbling out of the Gare de Lumiose. Back then, it was only a gut feeling or maybe her instinct as a trainer, but she got proof of her assumption the same day when Paxton and her Chikorita showed a level of teamwork she had never achieved with her Pokémon before.
It was amazing to watch how well these two worked together, although they had only met minutes earlier. That she gifted Chikorita to Paxton once their first battle was over was an obvious choice. She was a little sad that Chikorita clicked better with another trainer, but one look at their already formed bond silenced any such voices in the back of her head.
Since then, a few months have passed, and Paxton has never failed to steal her breath away. He's more of the silent and reserved side, speaking up only when he has to. Taunie is fine with that. Not everyone has to be as outgoing and as expressive as her. It's a pleasant shift in dynamics when she talks to him.
Besides, even when Paxton keeps his words brief, his expressions tell Taunie all she needs to know. A soft smile when she speaks about her latest encounter in the city, sparkling eyes when they pass a cafe, and he sees sweet treats they haven't had before. In moments like these, his actions speak louder and tell her more than words ever could.
It's no different in battles. Where others, including her, shout their commands, Paxton remains silent, not uttering a single word. He moves his hands instead, pointing and directing his Pokémon through the battle like a conductor leads his orchestra. That in itself is astonishing enough, but even more so is the fact that his Pokémon understand and follow each of his silent commands with speed and precision.
Taunie can't tell how they are doing it. To her and many others, it looks like they are communicating via telepathy, though that's only a guess. Personally, she likes to think it's the strong bond between Paxton and his Pokémon that allows them to speak the way they do, making words superfluous.
It makes battling him exceptionally more challenging because she has no way of telling what his next move will be, or what strategy he's following, but also so rewarding and fun. She's not exaggerating when she thinks of the bond between Paxton and his Pokémon as the ideal vision of what she's hoping for Lumiose City in the future.
“I'm really glad I met you,” she says to him, the words slipping through her lips unintended. It's the truth, so she doesn't mind, especially not when she's rewarded with a charming, toothy smile, the kind that always makes her heart skip a beat.
That's another thing about Paxton. AZ only nodded in understanding and called it fate when Taunie told him about what those smiles do to her heart every time. Translated into modern terms, it means she has a crush on her fellow MZ team member, one who is very obvious according to Naveen and Lida. They are always on about how strange it is that Paxton hasn't realised it yet.
Such conversations between the three of them always leave Taunie with burning cheeks because she can't deny her crush on Paxton. It's the one time when she inwardly curses her “honest to a fault” personality.
The air between them is warm, the atmosphere gentle and comforting. She's about to suggest checking out a new cafe that has opened the other day, fully aware of all their sweet treats. She knows because she has already tested them out and knows Paxton will love them. Besides, there's no better way to spend their post-match afternoon than to relax in an inviting cafe and observe how Paxton yields to his sweet tooth he always denies having.
But things come differently, Lumiose City once again proving that it's always good for a surprise.
Out of nowhere, Emma slips into their space from behind, her steps as silent as a ghost-type Pokémon.
“Forgive me for interrupting so suddenly, but can I have a word, Taunie?”
Taunie is startled when Emma's voice rings out behind her. Turning around, she finds the woman in question standing a few feet behind them, a serious expression on her face.
She has to hide her rising disappointment about the missed opportunity with Paxton behind a smile. There goes her afternoon and potential evening with her secret crush, because knowing Emma, she probably needs help with one of her cases, especially if she looks so serious.
“Sorry, I'll be right back!” she apologises, clapping her hands together.
Paxton only smiles and gives her a thumbs up, his way of telling her to go ahead.
She and Emma move to a corner while Paxton checks in on their Pokémon, moving to the other side of the battle court to give them privacy.
Taunie shifts her weight from one foot to the other, her hands following her words. “Emma, if you have come personally to me instead of shooting me a message, this must be rather serious.”
The woman nods without hesitation. Taunie's eyes narrow slightly. “What is-”
“Forgive me for cutting you short, but let me cut to the chase immediately. I have a hot lead on the person you are looking for. In fact, I'm certain about who it is and I know where they are.”
Taunie's breath hitches at that, her mouth becoming dry. She blinks, once, twice, trice, but nothing about the seriousness in Emma's expression changes. She doesn't suddenly turn into a Ditto either, so what she's saying must be the truth. Taunie has known Emma long enough that she's not the kind of person who will lie about such a topic.
Still, Taunie can't believe what she's hearing. After all this time with no hint at all, Emma, out of nowhere, contacts her and says she has a lead? Just when Taunie had made her peace with the topic and was ready to move on?
“Emma, you're... you're sure?”
Taunie's voice is more shaky than she likes to admit. Given the suddenness, it can't be helped, for it is the epitome of the inner turmoil she's currently facing. Emma is kind enough not to address her unusual behaviour. Instead, she only nods.
“...all right.”
Her next question lies heavily on her tongue. Her throat bobs around the lump that has formed when she swallows her saliva. It takes her a total of four attempts before she can verbalise the words that swirl in the forefront of her mind.
“Where... are they?”
“...Quasartico HQ,” Emma responds swiftly, although there's hesitation in her voice now, almost as if she can tell how agitated Taunie feels at the moment and what this info might cause.
Taunie appreciates the concern, but can't show it, not when Emma's answer riles her up even more. The person she has been looking for this whole time might have been right in front of her for the past two years? Taunie can barely wrap her head around the idea, which shakes her up only more.
“I...see,” she breathes, unsure how else she should respond to that piece of information.
Emma then pats her shoulder, giving her a reassuring smile. “You don't have to push yourself. I already spoke with the person in question and told them you might need-”
“No.” This time, it's Taunie who cuts her short. “I have waited two years for this... actually even longer than that. If you have found them and they want to meet me too, then there's no point in dragging it out.”
Emma stares at her for a moment. It's like she's testing her determination. When Taunie doesn't falter, her expression staying vigilant, the detective nods.
“I'll go ahead and let them know you will come today. They will be ready whenever you are.”
With that, Emma retreats as quickly as she has come, her steps still silent. Taunie's shoulders fall when the detective is out of her view. It's only slowly, but the heavy weight of the upcoming meeting with the person Emma has found dawns on her, the meaning that it holds for her. Taunie doesn't know how she should feel about it.
Slapping her face with both hands, she tries to cheer herself up. There's no point in getting all gloomy and dwelling on what-ifs when nothing has happened yet. She will face the upcoming talk with her head held high and open-minded, in short, in the typical Taunie fashion the whole city knows her for!
Yet, even if she's determined to see this through, she can't deny how shaken she feels and how wobbly her legs have become over the past minute or so. All of this is so sudden and unexpected, Taunie fails to get a grasp of the whole situation and what it means to her.
At her side, her fingers curl into trembling fists, anxiety getting the better of her again. Maybe that's why she turns around instinctually, her mind seeking out the source of her inner calm she can always rely on.
She's greeted with the view of a behemoth of an Aggron melting under Paxton's tender touch as he pats its head. Aggron is an alpha Pokémon, but even for their gargantuan size standards, the steel and rock-type Pokémon is abnormally large, larger than even other alpha Pokémon of its own kind.
That makes it almost comical to watch how this giant colossus is helpless when Paxton showers it with attention. Under the relentless assault, the giant all but falters and drops to the ground, the earth beneath Taunie's feet shaking from Aggron's heavy weight. It's a showcase of how tall Aggron truly is.
And it's not only just the steel and rock giant. For one reason or another, Paxton apparently has some sort of special ability to attract alpha Pokémon. Aside from his Alolan Raichu, he traded with a tourist, and his Tyrantrum he got from a fossil; all of his other Pokémon in his team are alpha Pokémon.
Chandelure, Drampa, Roserade, and Aggron.
Each of them is a giant in their own right, strong individuals who stand at the top of their fierce kind. That becomes meaningless, however, because Paxton has a knack for aiming for their favourite spots with surgical precision you would normally expect from a nurse in a Pokémon Centre.
But Paxton is special, and the Pokémon must feel it just like Taunie does. That's why they trust their trainer so much and become as docile and loyal as a Growlithe in his presence.
Taunie smiles silently to herself at the scenery. The tremors in her fists have long stopped by now, as has the wobbling of her legs. She's really glad she has met Paxton. Maybe AZ had been right the whole time, and it was fate after all that let her find the man when she did.
Maybe it was also fate that she fell for him.
“Taunie?” Suddenly, Paxton's soft voice calls for her, pulling her away from her spiralling thoughts. She has to blink a few times before she's fully back in the moment, seeing how Paxton's deep blue eyes are fixated on her.
Her fellow MZ team member doesn't say anything else aside from her name. He doesn't need to, not with his intense gaze and the awry expression that has overtaken his facial features. For better or worse, Paxton seems to always catch the innermost thoughts of the people and Pokémon around him, reacting to them on an intuitive level. She feels bare under his eyes, almost as if Paxton can see right through her. Maybe he even can, sharing the same level of sensitivity as a Sylveon.
“Don't worry, I'm fine,” she begins, spurred on by his beseeching look but unable to meet his gaze. “It's just Emma has a hot lead on the case I hired her for,” she continues sheepishly.
She then takes a deep breath, letting the fresh air calm her nerves. “I know this is sudden, but... would you mind if you joined me for a trip to Quasartico HQ?”
“That's where the person I've been searching for the whole time is, according to Emma,” she adds mentally, unable to speak the words aloud.
Taunie is unsure why she asks Paxton to accompany her. It's a problem she has to solve on her own. It's her problem, so she shouldn't rope in others, especially not her friends. Yet, it feels like Paxton already knows what's going through her mind, knows that she has no clue how to face this unexpected turn of events, knows that she needs someone by her side whom she trusts.
The last bit is incredibly selfish of her; she knows that, but she desperately hopes Paxton will agree to go with her and become her anchor to keep her anxiety at bay.
The question hangs between them like the syrup of a Dipplin, sticky and messy. Paxton stays silent, his expression becoming neutral as he observes her. Taunie shifts her weight from one foot to another, clasping her hands behind her back to keep her growing fidgety under control.
She looks at the concrete ground, the metallic fence surrounding the battelcourt, the cloudy sky above, anywhere but Paxton. That's why she fails to notice that the young man is on the move. Only when his dark pumpkin sneakers are suddenly right in front of her does she look up, almost gasping at how close Paxton is.
Out of instinct, she wants to take a step backwards to put some distance between them, but she's rooted to the spot, her traitorous heart pounding like crazy in her chest. Paxton is close enough that she can feel his body heat on her skin. That thought increases her heart rate further. Taunie's positive that she's burning up, her cheeks feeling like they are on fire.
Then Paxton shifts, leaning his weight on one foot, and he smiles at her, bright and toothy like he always does. Taunie thinks she's about to pass out, her heart unable to take any more of his boyish charm.
“Of course,” he says swiftly through the smile, his lips pulling back even further. “I'm happy for you that Emma has a lead at last.”
Taunie sees movement at the corner of her periphery, but she's too blinded by the smile that robs her of her breath. Only when she feels a gentle touch on her arm does she understand it's one of Paxton's hands.
“No matter what, I'll always have your back.”
Paxton says that with so much determination that it almost knocks her out of her shoes. The careful but noticeable squeeze of her arm only increases the effect it has on her, but it's also the reason why she really almost passes out from the high level of his serenity.
He doesn't speak much, but the words he utters always hit the mark without fail.
“Thank you and... sorry...”
Paxton chuckles, his hand retreating from her arm. “Don't be. That's unlike you.”
Taunie catches the drift, picking up the jest in his voice. She can't help but chuckle herself, feeling lighthearted all of a sudden. She's captivated by the comforting warmth and calmness Paxton radiates. She feels like she kinda gets why Pokémon and most people, including her, are so enticed by him.
He's the full package, kind and considerate, understanding and calm, warm and gentle. Paxton is like a mini sun stuffed into human form. Everyone would want a piece of someone like him. Once again, she understands how glad she is that she met him. She has to wonder how much time Arceus spent on this man.
Wordlessly, she reaches out her fist, offering a smile on her own. Paxton immediately accepts, bumping their fists together.
“Shall we go?”
Paxton nods. They call back their Pokémon before they set out at a leisurely tempo. Taunie does the talking on the way, Paxton the listening as they close the distance towards Quasartico HQ. It's their usual dynamic, both feeling comfortable with their parts
On her insistence, they take a small detour, though, because they pass the cafe she had thought about earlier. Just as she expected, Paxton's features light up when he catches a glimpse of the displayed goodies.
Taunie smirks and pushes him towards the entrance. He protests, but she has none of it. She has waited for two years, so one or two hours more won't do any damage now. Besides, watching how Paxton turns into a giddy child once he has his first bite of the food the cafe offers makes the brief delay more than worth it.
Not to mention, it calms her jittery nerves, too; the looming presence of the Quasartico HQ building momentarily lost on her.