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"Grandma! I'm back!"
Cynthia pushed the front door open and walked straight into Carolina's arms, leaning into the hug without ceremony.
"Go take a bath first — you smell like a training ground." Carolina stroked Cynthia's long blonde hair with a fond smile, nudging her along.
"I'm too tired right now…"
Garchomp stepped through the doorway behind her and stopped.
Something was off.
The scent in the house was unfamiliar. Its nostrils worked, tracing the source — coming from the kitchen.
The Blue-Haired Kid's scent!
"Grandma, why isn't dinner ready yet?" Cynthia asked, still nestled comfortably against Carolina's side.
"I brought in a chef today. It'll be on the table soon." Carolina patted her granddaughter's shoulder with a warmly amused expression.
"A chef? From where?" Cynthia lifted her head. "Is today a special occasion?"
"From Hoenn." Steven appeared in the kitchen doorway, wearing an apron, a serving dish in each hand and a quiet smile on his face. "Dinner will be ready in just a moment."
Cynthia went still.
Then the warmth reached her face all at once, and she remembered very clearly what her grandmother had said earlier.
"I'm going to take a bath first!"
She was on her feet instantly, sidestepping Steven with a wide berth and heading for the stairs at a pace that was not quite running but was certainly not slow.
Steven watched her go with a mildly puzzled expression.
Was she still upset about him falling asleep during their phone call the other night?
"Pfft—"
Carolina pressed a hand over her mouth, but the laugh escaped anyway. She watched the whole scene — Cynthia's flustered retreat and Steven's thoroughly baffled face — with the satisfaction of someone who had been expecting it.
"Don't worry about it. Go finish cooking." She waved Steven off kindly and settled back to her programme.
"Of course." Steven nodded and returned to the kitchen.
He did, admittedly, feel a little more motivated knowing Garchomp was still standing at the doorway, watching him with focused intensity.
"Garchomp, come here." Carolina patted her knee.
Garchomp obeyed, padding over and resting its chin on her lap.
Carolina's hand moved idly through the ridge along its head.
But Garchomp's eyes did not leave the kitchen.
Something is wrong.
Why does the Blue-Haired Kid smell different today? Why can't I bring myself to dislike it?
He must be hiding something. I need to stay alert.
By the time Steven carried out the last dish and set it on the table, Carolina looked over at him.
"Steven, go tell Cynthia dinner's ready. Tell her to hurry up."
"Of course." Steven folded the apron and left it in the kitchen, then headed upstairs.
Garchomp lifted its head to follow — but Carolina pressed it back down without even looking away from the table.
"And what are you planning to do up there?"
"Gaar… (┯_┯)"
Cynthia needs looking after.
Steven reached the second floor. The bathroom light was still on and the door was shut. He knocked on Cynthia's bedroom door.
"Cynthia, dinner's ready whenever you are."
Inside the room, Cynthia — who had been taking her lingering frustration out on a small plush doll — startled and quickly straightened up.
"Got it! I'll be down once I've dried my hair!"
"Take your time." Steven's voice was easy and unhurried through the door.
He came back downstairs less than a minute later.
Carolina was already seated at the dining table. She looked at him.
"That's all you did?"
Steven paused, not entirely sure what the correct answer was.
He had knocked, she had answered, dinner was ready — the chain of events seemed complete. Was he meant to wait outside the door while she dried her hair? Or offer to help with it? He didn't particularly know how to help someone else with their hair. He managed his own well enough, and he'd never had reason to give the process much thought.
"...Never mind." Carolina studied him with a look that was somewhere between fond and exasperated. A little too straightforward, sometimes.
"In that case, I'll go sort out food for the Pokémon first." Steven gestured toward the back.
Carolina picked up her chopsticks and nodded. Go on then.
"Garchomp, do you want some?"
Garchomp turned its nose up.
I don't need anything from—
Wait.
This was actually an opportunity. If it went along, it could investigate up close.
Garchomp opened its eyes properly and nodded.
"Come on then."
Garchomp followed Steven out to the backyard, eyes moving over him the whole time.
Something is definitely not right.
Where is that scent coming from? Why can't I dislike him?
...I might be coming down with something.
Steven released his full team into Cynthia's backyard. A moment later, Cynthia's Pokémon came out to join them.
Metagross hovered with its characteristic stillness. (●—●)
Garchomp's eye twitched at the sight of it. Something about that blank, self-assured expression made its temper flare immediately.
"Honedge~"
Honedge emerged from its Poké Ball and drifted straight into Steven's arms, its handle twisting happily.
"Did you sleep well?" Steven scratched gently near the crossguard. "Go eat with Empoleon for now. I'll come by in a bit."
"Honedge~" The handle gave a contented wiggle, eyes curving, and it glided over toward Empoleon.
Empoleon glanced sideways at the approaching Honedge, then cast an unimpressed look back at Steven.
As if it wouldn't behave perfectly well with me.
"Kwah!"
Honedge, once we're done eating — we're cutting his pillow tonight.
"Make sure Honedge doesn't eat too much," Steven said over his shoulder, completely oblivious.
"Kwah!" Empoleon waved a flipper.
Relax. I know what I'm doing.
Steven upended his bag in front of Aggron. A considerable pile of Iron Ore fragments cascaded out, forming a respectable little mountain.
"Last of the Iron Ore. Finish it all." He gave Aggron a firm pat on the side.
"Gaar!" Aggron patted its belly with deep enthusiasm.
Nearby, Skarmory tilted its head and observed the accessories the others were wearing. Lucario had a wristband on its left arm. Scizor's red scarf drifted lightly in the evening breeze. Both items had their respective Mega Stones fitted into them.
Skarmory looked down.
"Skar..." I have things too, you know.
It adjusted the edge of its crest with the tip of one wing and did not elaborate further on the complicated feelings happening behind its eyes.
Garchomp had found itself a corner and was working through some Poké Blocks, still thinking.
Every few seconds its gaze drifted back to Metagross.
Metagross: (●—●)
Garchomp: (*▼皿▼#)
Why does seeing that iron thing make me so angry.
While Garchomp conducted its one-sided staring contest, Steven moved between Cynthia's Pokémon with prepared portions of food, setting each one down carefully. He recalled that the Togepi egg Cynthia had been carrying before their last meeting had hatched, and made sure the little one had a share too.
When everything was settled, Steven went back inside and washed his hands at the sink.
Cynthia was coming down the stairs at the same time.
Her face was still faintly flushed. She looked, in spite of — or perhaps because of — everything, quite lovely.
"I've got food set out for the Pokémon in the backyard. Go let them know." Steven smiled softly.
"Right, okay." Her voice had gone quiet. Her eyes stayed on his face.
"Is there something on my face?" Steven reached up and touched his cheek.
"No!" Cynthia's jaw set, and she walked past him without slowing down.
Steven stood where he was for a moment after she passed.
Then understanding arrived, roughly a full beat too late.
He pressed his hand flat against the back of his own head.
"Of all the things to say right then."