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When he first saw Larry, Kabu wondered if maybe he was lost. Pasio had been created to host some of the most elite and skilled Pokemon trainers in the world, those that truly stood out among their peers. Larry... did not. He was the kind of guy you could pass on the street and not think twice about. What was he doing here?
When the thought crossed his mind, however, Kabu had chided himself. You should never judge a book by its cover. He should know that better than anyone! Everyone who'd decided to take the path of a Pokemon trainer had their own reasons for doing so, and their own unique perspectives on the practice that were always valuable. Just because Larry looked out of place, said little, and often seemed lost in his thoughts didn't mean he didn't belong here.
And in spite of how Larry didn't seem to want to be noticed, Kabu couldn't help but be a little intrigued by him. The perpetually exhausted look on his face spoke of a great deal of experience over his long life - the silver streaks in his hair must have put him close to Kabu's age. He was surprisingly difficult to corner for a conversation, always heading off on some task or another with a mumbled "excuse me", working on his laptop, or dozing off somewhere (once standing up!). Kabu didn't feel right disturbing someone who seemed so busy/tired. Still, he couldn't help but feel curious.
Maybe it was fate that brought them together in the end. The veteran trainer workshop had been fascinating on its own, but it also gave him the opportunity to watch Larry at work when he got the chance. Larry was quiet, withdrawn, his shoulders weighed down by what had to be heavy burdens. Kabu's natural inclination at the sight was to help. Larry seemed to be struggling, with little passion or energy in his lectures. Kabu knew that feeling well, and wouldn't wish it on anyone. He wanted to help, even if it was just something as simple as lending an ear.
As it turned out, to his relief, Larry had been fine after all. Just overworked and content to be overlooked and left in peace. It was a little embarrassing to overstep, but Kabu wouldn't say he regretted it. There was nothing wrong with offering help, even if it turned out not to be needed.
"I thought you might be stuck in the same sort of rut I was in back in the day."
"Ah, now I understand."
It was then that he heard it.
Larry's eyes had widened slightly with the realization, his thick eyebrows raising just a little... and then
"My sincerest apologies for any inconvenience I may have caused."
he'd laughed.
It was a soft, awkward thing that left the tiniest fraction of a smile on his lips. It took Kabu's breath away for a moment.
He'd been watching Larry carefully over the course of the workshops, trying to get a read on what troubled him. That entire time, he'd never seen Larry look anything but tired or distantly thoughtful. His face barely moved, his voice never raised. Sometimes he closed his eyes, in thought or exhaustion it wasn't clear, and sometimes he'd adjust his tie or touch the back of his neck, but otherwise he seemed entirely checked out. It was one of the reasons Kabu had felt a little concerned about how he was doing.
After seeing Larry without any spark of life for so long, that tiny laugh glowed like an ember in ashes. As with any form of fire, Kabu couldn't take his eyes away from it. He had to stoke it. He had to make it burn higher, burn brighter. He had to make a fading flame come back to life.
At the time, he wasn't even consciously aware of such thoughts. When Larry laughed again about his boss, another faint little huff of breath, Kabu was entirely caught.
He offered to hear Larry's complaints. Larry looked down and he smiled - just as weak as his laughter, but he smiled. He laughed again, a little smoldering flame flickering within him.
Kabu listened to him eagerly all night, his heart lifting every time he managed to get another laugh or smile out of him. For those few precious seconds, he could lift that burden from Larry's shoulders and grant him a little peace. A little time to catch his breath. Spotting him, in a sense. He liked thinking of it like that.
They parted ways that night, Kabu glowing and pleased and Larry back to his normal neutral expression, with a little bit of light in his eyes that wasn't there before.
They met again unexpectedly, when Larry came to help him out of a sticky situation. Kabu played it cool when he appeared with a polite request for assistance, and Larry did just the same in his response. In battle, Larry's commands to his Pokemon were precise and quick with little detail, although his Pokemon seemed to know exactly what he meant regardless. Kabu thought at first when they'd teamed up that his bright and burning style would clash with Larry's, leaving them at a disadvantage, but that wasn't the case. They fit easily beside each other, each compensating for the other's weak spots, and the battle was handled quickly and smoothly with no trouble.
It only left Kabu more fascinated with him than before. Larry was calm normally, but that same calm took on a different, dangerous shape in battle. His quiet nature belied a calculating gaze and a steely kind of strength and determination. Larry looked like the easiest person in the world to understand, but Kabu kept finding new things about him that surprised him.
He wanted to see more.
Kabu offered to treat him to dinner in thanks, and he could see the longing in Larry's eyes but he said he had to work. Kabu suggested the next night, then the next day, until finally they found a time that'd work for both of them.
With Larry's busy schedule, Kabu worried that maybe he'd end up canceling, and he wasn't sure what to expect when he'd finally walked inside the restaurant. He found Larry sitting just inside, his eyes directly on the door. They widened just slightly when he caught sight of Kabu, and there, he saw that hint of a smile again on his lips.
Larry was glad to see him, it was obvious, and Kabu couldn't say he didn't feel the same. It had been a relief to see him here, and a joy to see him smile again at him, even if it was just a small one.
Larry stood up to greet him, extending a hand out to him, which Kabu gladly took. His hand felt small compared to Larry's, but much warmer.
"Glad you made it!" Kabu said, with a bright smile of his own. "How was work?"
At that Larry's faint smile grew a bit wider, even as he let out something between a groan and a sigh.
"Exhausting, as always..."
"Hahaha! Never lets up, huh?"
They'd chatted idly as they were seated, the waitress giving Larry a knowing nod as she handed them their menus. Kabu took a sip of his water as he scanned over the items.
"Oh, they have malasada here? I don't think I've ever tried it..."
"You went to the dessert first?" Larry raised his eyebrows in interest, but he didn't seem judgmental. "They're an Alolan specialty, very delicious, a bit filling. They might seem a bit heavy depending on what your main course is going to be. I wouldn't go for something too rich or fried... although, I don't know your preferences of course. They do also have a nice gateau if you don't want to try a malasada tonight... from the taste I think they source the ingredients locally. I think ones made using the flour and fruit from Sinnoh taste better though..."
Kabu had just stared at him in silent astonishment as he spoke. He'd heard Larry complain about his boss at length but this, this was different. It was like a dam had burst he didn't even know was there. Larry wasn't venting. He wanted to talk about food.
He was passionate about food.
It was as though a log on a dying fire had let loose a sudden burst of sparks. Kabu could see it now. It had been there all along, just waiting for the opportunity to burn. Waiting for the rain to pass, for a careful hand to encourage it, for someone to take the time to stoke it.
"If you're looking for something light, the sauteed Veluza is good. It has a very mild taste but it has a lot of depth to it... it makes very good sushi, but we'd have to go somewhere else for that. The soup here- the special today, I mean- do you like mushrooms? The Morelull soup today, it's very good... it takes a lot of skill to properly treat Morelull caps so they don't cause drowsiness, so having it on menu speaks to their chef's expertise..."
Kabu listened, fascinated, as Larry went on. He'd never seen him speak this long with this much energy. It was like seeing a Mew.
"Oh, you like spicy things, don't you?" Larry asked suddenly, with an almost childlike light in his eyes that disappeared quickly. "I'm- well, most of the Fire-type trainers I know seem to..."
"I do." Kabu had smiled back at him with a warmth he could feel right down to his bones.
"Well, in Paldea, we-" It seemed like Larry had become suddenly aware of what he was saying, an unfamiliar hint of self-consciousness coming over him as he adjusted his tie and looked away. Another thing he'd never seen from him before. "In Paldea, there's a Pokemon called Scovillain, and the extract you can get from it can make the most amazing chili sauce..."
"I'd love to try it!"
"I'll... see if I can find some." Larry rubbed the back of his neck, still looking away. "It's great on a good sandwich..."
"I'd like to try one of those too," Kabu laughed. Would you make me one crossed his mind, but didn't quite make it out of his mouth.
"Oh, and..." Larry looked back down at the menu, regaining his composure, although he glanced back up at Kabu once. Kabu smiled back at him. "Here, they have a Krabby salad, but I think Klawf meat has a better taste to it, it's firmer. I'm not saying Krabby meat is bad though... it's important to try both to see what you prefer. There's a good sushi place in East Centra city."
And just like that, Larry said, "I'd like to take you there sometime."
Any question about this being a one-time thing vanished instantly. It was as though Larry had made the most natural and sensible offer in the world, like they'd done this for years.
"Of course! I'd love to!" Kabu had replied brightly, and he earned one of those little smiles again.
They'd left the restaurant with a set date for their next meal, Kabu again glowing with satisfaction and anticipation for the next glimpse of that little flame of life Larry kept hidden so well from everyone else. When they'd parted, Larry seemed comfortable, at ease, with a hint of a smile and some warmth when he said he'd see him again soon.
They met again for dinner, just as agreed, although Larry looked very tired when he arrived.
"My boss wanted me to work overtime..." Larry rubbed the back of his neck. "I had to really try to get everything done in time for this."
Kabu had blinked at him, touched in a way he was unfamiliar with. He'd heard more than enough about how hard Larry worked day to day, and to think he'd put in that much extra effort just to make sure he'd make it to dinner on time?
Larry really wanted to do this with him. Was it the food, or was it Kabu? He liked to think it was him.
"They really do work you to the bone, don't they?" Kabu said, and he wanted to add, because they know you're capable of whatever they ask, but he wasn't sure it'd be taken in the spirit he intended. Larry really was extremely talented and a great problem solver, but he was also very resistant to think of himself as either of those things. Kabu could respect that, even if he didn't agree with it.
Larry had let out a long sigh. "At least I have some time now..."
Time he'd worked so hard to make for the two of them. It was an honor Kabu wasn't expecting to receive, and he vowed to make it worth it. He took as much off of Larry's shoulders as he could - he spoke to the hostess for seating, chatted amiably with the waiter as they passed by, asked questions about the menu and the specials to learn more. While Larry still seemed tired, his eyes lit up that little bit whenever he had a chance to talk about food, and Kabu was happy to listen and enjoy that low, but burning, flame within him.
The Veluza sushi was magnificent, just as Larry had said. It left a unique tingling feeling on his palate, not quite like electricity but something else. It must have been the remnants of its psychic powers, and Kabu followed Larry's advice about savoring the natural taste before trying it with the different sauces they made available.
For dessert, Kabu eyed the Castelia ice cream sundae. He was a little full already, but he was curious.
"Do you want to split the sundae with me?" he'd asked, and Larry gave him a look, his eyes widening a little. He seemed stunned almost by the question, then nodded silently. It wasn't until they were a ways into it that Kabu wondered if the offer had held more meaning for someone who was such a gourmand. Larry always left his plates completely clean - he never asked to taste Kabu's food, and never offered his to him.
"I hope it isn't awkward to share with me..." Kabu said with a soft laugh, and after a moment, Larry shook his head.
"No..." he mumbled, and there was a hint of that smile on his lips again. He carved out another spoonful of ice cream - he was quite careful not to take any from what had become Kabu's "side" of it. "It's fine."
That was a relief, and Kabu gave him a lopsided smile in return. Between the two of them, they easily finished it, and just as he'd hoped, Kabu felt just full enough. A whole sundae would definitely have been too much, although he was sure Larry could have easily polished it off by himself, and possibly another if he'd wanted.
When the check came, Larry reached into one of his pockets, but Kabu stopped him.
"I'll get it, don't worry."
Larry again gave him that stunned look, blinking rapidly, at a loss for a few seconds.
"Are you sure...?"
"You told me about this place after all!" Kabu couldn't help but smile at the bewildered look on Larry's face. He'd never surprised him like this before! It was endearing, almost, how confused he looked. "And you worked so hard to come here tonight, it's the least I can do."
"Kabu..." Larry's eyes softened, his eyebrows drawing together in what almost looked like concern, before he settled back into his neutral expression with a slight nod. "Alright, if you insist."
It was expensive, but he could handle it. He did owe it to him! And it had been a lovely night together, was it such a price to pay? Kabu could feel Larry's eyes on him all the way out of the restaurant, even as they walked down the street together. It wasn't such a walk to their hotel, and Kabu was a little reluctant to let the night end so early.
Something caught Kabu's eye as they passed by. A bakery, with a bright poster on the front window featuring an adorable Flareon themed cupcake.
"Isn't that cute?" Kabu pointed at it, and he felt Larry's eyes leave him finally. He nodded.
"It is."
"It's a shame they're closed... it would make a nice snack for later."
"You really like sweets, don't you?"
"Hahaha! I guess I do have a weakness for them..."
"Well, let's go there tomorrow then."
Another sudden and unexpected offer, and it made his heart jump a little with a nice wave of warmth. So easy for him to ask now, so easy for him to accept. The fire in Larry had seemed so dim when they'd first met, and now it felt hard to pull himself away from its light. At once a drastic change and barely a change at all. Had he helped that flame in him grow healthy and strong, or had it had always been that way and Kabu was the only one with the privilege to see it? Both thoughts were wonderful in their own way.
Larry met him the next day on his lunch break, and they got two cupcakes - one of Eevee, and one of Flareon. They sat and munched on them together, with Kabu remarking that it reminded him of feeding a Pokemon a Poke Puff, and Larry had laughed, softly, without opening his mouth.
They only had a short time together that day, even with Larry loitering a little longer than his lunch break would allow, but Kabu jogged off with a nice sense of fulfillment in his chest to go with the lingering sweetness in his mouth. Larry had smiled as they parted, giving him a small wave with one hand in another endearing gesture.
Each little thing built on the next, like throwing twigs into a fire one by one. While jogging, Kabu spotted a store selling blankets for picnics - he asked Larry if he wanted to try having one sometime. While Larry wasn't sure he could make a good sandwich with the ingredients in Pasio, he agreed to it anyway. Kabu knew a good spot near the canyon where Larry had helped him out, although it was a bit of a walk.
"You don't mind, do you?" Kabu jogged in place, giving him a smile. He could see the reluctance in Larry's eyes and in the way he frowned a little as he adjusted his tie. "We can have it somewhere closer, if you want. It just has such a nice view up there!"
"...It's okay." Larry finally nodded. "I just might have trouble keeping up with you..."
Kabu had laughed and patted his arm, which made Larry jump a little. "I won't leave you behind, don't worry!"
It had been a nice walk, even though Kabu felt a bit restless with how slow he had to keep his pace. Larry struggled with the mild hike, particularly with the inclines, but he never asked to stop or turn around. He kept at it, just to stay with him. Again Kabu felt touched in a way that felt unique, something singular and surprisingly powerful. Larry wouldn't do this for anyone else, he was sure, only for him. Such a small gesture with so much significance! Being with Larry was always a study in details, endlessly fascinating.
They made it to the spot Kabu had in mind, a nice hill by a cliff that gave them a beautiful view of the land and the ocean, and he set up the blanket while Larry knelt down to catch his breath. They settled in, Larry's breath evening out soon enough, and during quiet moments the two of them could just look over Pasio and admire its beauty. Kabu felt a deep sense of gratitude towards this place for bringing the two of them together.
In the end, the only bread they'd managed to find for sandwiches had been soft and white, not at all like the bread Larry was accustomed to, but he still made one for each of them. They were simple little sandwiches, just meat and cheese, although he did add a bit of that chili sauce to Kabu's which was just as spicy as he'd promised.
"I can't believe you remembered!" Kabu took a bite, then hummed with satisfaction at the burn.
"Of course I remembered," Larry murmured quietly, focusing on making another sandwich for his Dudunsparce who was nudging at his elbow. "It's good, isn't it?"
"Delicious!" Kabu reached out to take a drink, which made Larry smile again. "Phew, that's some heat!"
"I can give you the bottle if you want."
"Thank you. I'll have to make you some curry in return! Are you available any time soon...?"
"...Thursday, I think. But..." Larry handed the sandwich to his Dudunsparce, who swallowed it whole. He gave Kabu a quick glance before he started making another sandwich. "Maybe we can have that picnic a little closer to town."
Kabu laughed. "Of course! I know this place was a little bit of a walk... thanks for indulging me."
Larry smiled to himself, that faint one he'd grown so familiar with by now. "It is a nice view."
"Isn't it?"
They stayed until sunset, even though Larry had to work, and as they headed down, Kabu had his Centiskorch light the way with his flames. Larry stayed close to his side, both of them moving more slowly now so they wouldn't trip and fall, and several times he got the feeling that Larry wanted to brace himself on his shoulder, or steady him when he wavered, but he didn't. They parted ways, Larry looking tired but not unhappy as they waved to each other.
In the end, Larry got in trouble at work for slacking off that day and they had to reschedule, but he didn't seem to regret doing it at all.
So it went, the two of them spending more and more time together, as naturally suited to each other as Kabu had ever seen. A man of fire and a man who just needed the encouragement to burn. He felt an instinctual sense of responsibility for Larry's inner fire: he wanted to tend to it and keep it healthy, watch as it grew and danced with each new moment he spent with him.
All this, and yet it wasn't until one singular moment that Kabu realized what had happened.
They'd gone to a sports bar together, something no-frills and cozy to take the edge off a long day. Neither of them were heavy drinkers, but sometimes some trashy bar food and a comfortable buzz worked wonders. Larry had been frustrated - he'd been asked to work overtime again that day when he already had plans to be with Kabu. In the end he'd just gone to see Kabu anyway.
"My boss is going to dock my pay for slacking off," Larry said, popping another fry into his mouth. Kabu laughed.
"Pretty rebellious of you! We better make tonight worth it!"
They'd spent the night leisurely, ordering little baskets of fries or onion rings while chatting about this and that. On the TV over the bar, they were showing some of the Minor League Gym challenges in Galar, always a hit with sports fans, and Larry had asked him who everyone was. Kabu could name about 80% of the leaders, which he frankly thought was a very respectable number.
"It's not as fun to watch as yours," Larry said, with heavy-lidded eyes and that faint smile he loved as he stared up at the TV. Kabu laughed again with a nice pulse of pride.
"I always try to burn my brightest! Once you do this kind of thing long enough, you get a sense for how to put on a good show."
"I don't know where I'd even begin to do that..."
"Oh, don't sell yourself short! I love watching you battle! Aren't you always saying that simplicity is best?"
At that Larry had looked away a little, that same smile on his lips.
Kabu wasn't sure how long they'd been there when it happened - all he was sure about was that he felt a little fuzzy from the alcohol at the time, and Larry was obviously a bit past that.
"Oh, look, a Ninetales!" Kabu said, pointing up at the screen. "It reminds me of mine... do you want to hear a silly story?"
"Of course." Larry smiled back at him, almost looking a little sleepy.
"When she was a Vulpix, I let her out to walk around the house," Kabu started, already beaming at the thought of his precious girl. "Pokemon like the exercise, and sometimes they want to lie on the couch or bed and sleep." He was rambling a little, but Larry nodded in agreement anyway. "Your Pokemon do that too, don't they?"
Larry nodded again, and Kabu tried to regain his train of thought. "Well, I had her out and she was walking through the house, and I saw her come up to one of the glass doors. I thought maybe she wanted to go outside, but instead she just stopped. She stared and stared, and I thought maybe she saw something outside, but no! You know what she saw?" Kabu didn't wait for Larry to respond. "Her reflection! All her fur went up and she started jumping back and forth and spitting fire at it, like it was another Vulpix! Eventually she tried to bat at it, and when she touched the glass, she got so startled she ran off into the house again."
Kabu let out a warm sigh, pleased that Larry was smiling at his little story. "Oh, it was so cute, I love her so much. She was such a scamp when she was little."
"That sounds very cute," Larry said, and he sounded sincere.
"What about you?" Kabu said, with a lop-sided grin and a warm face. "Do you have any funny stories about your Pokemon?"
Larry paused in thought for a moment, tapping a fry against his lips like it was a pen which made Kabu snort a little. He finally put it in his mouth and chewed slowly as though this was a question of grave import. Larry's face was a little flushed - it brought a unique kind of awareness of his blood and the pumping of his heart. Kabu thought he could see his pulse in his neck, although maybe he'd been imagining that.
"One time, I was getting ready to go on a business trip..." Larry started, and then he smiled. This one was clear - not big, but clear. His eyes widened a little, his eyebrows lifted. Kabu leaned in closer, watching the change in front of him with rapt attention. "Dudunsparce- back then, he was a Dunsparce- wanted me to take him with me, but he was little back then, I didn't want him getting hurt."
Larry leaned forward on the bar counter, one hand up to his mouth as if in thought as his smile got wider. His voice was brightening, getting louder, getting lighter. "So, I was packing my things, and I put my bag on the bed so I could pack some clothes, and..."
Larry stopped, pressing his hand to his mouth with a quiet huff and his broadening smile. Laughing, he was laughing, but this wasn't like the other ones. "I turned my back, and when I looked back, Dunsparce had gotten in my bag. He tried to hide under my clothes."
Larry's shoulders were bouncing a little, his words came unevenly, his smile left creases along his cheeks and faint crow's feet at the corners of his eyes. He took in a breath before he continued, slightly colored with barely constrained amusement. "And, I thought, I thought it might be fun to play a little trick on him, so I pretended I didn't see him and closed the bag on him, and I zipped it up and I, I..."
Larry had to take a breath to try and compose himself. "I carried the bag out, and I could hear him in there, just- making these sounds like he was laughing, like he was so sure he'd tricked me and- and I-"
Larry hunched over a little, pressing his wrist to his mouth as he shook his head, and then it happened. He leaned back and let out a loud laugh. It was possibly the loudest sound Kabu had ever heard from him. It was a little breathless, a little flat despite its sincerity. It lasted for a few precious seconds, then slowly dwindled down into a satisfied sigh as Larry rubbed at one of his eyes.
"Aahh..." He laughed a little again with his mouth closed, pleased silly hums. "Sorry, maybe you had to be there..."
That was the moment Kabu fell in love with him. Completely, utterly, and irrevocably.
When he thought about it in hindsight, it had been building for a long time. He could recognize now the growing fondness he felt, that feeling of care and protectiveness, how rewarding each moment he spent with Larry was. He could recognize the hard thump of his heart when he got one of those smiles out of him, as he slowly got to see past the shell to the burning heart underneath. He could recognize his own joy and excitement at seeing him, the affection, the persistent thoughts when they were apart, the anticipation of seeing him again.
But this, this was the moment he knew. This was the moment he'd always remember.
One night, much later, they sat intertwined in the dark of Larry's room, breathing slowly and simply enjoying the undeniable physical presence of the other. Kabu could press his head against Larry's chest with their sizable height difference, he could hear the steady beat of his heart.
"When did you fall in love with me?" Kabu murmured into the dark.
Larry shifted just a little, with a faint hum in his throat that meant he was thinking.
"I don't know," Larry said softly. "It feels like I've always loved you."
"Oh?"
Larry tightened his hold on him, nuzzling his chin against the top of Kabu's head.
"I can't remember not loving you."
After a moment, Kabu laughed. "Just became normal for you, huh?"
And Larry laughed in return, a short one but soft and sincere, enough to jostle him a little on his lap. "I guess so..."
Kabu sighed, content, and Larry sighed just afterwards in the same way, and the fires of their hearts lay close to each other, healthy and bright. The warmth brought on peace and quiet, and affection so strong and easy that it couldn't feel more natural.
As long as he lived, he would never let that fire go out.