[Pokémon X&Y] Phototaxis
Jul. 21st, 2022 12:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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teamflareTitle: Phototaxis
Fandom: Pokémon X&Y
Pairing: Professor Augustine Sycamore/Lysandre
Rating: G
Summary: He doesn’t know how to dress; it’s the second thing Lysandre notices.
Notes: For the prompt "trying (and mostly failing in this case) not to fall in love." Warning for a brief mention of what I'm fairly sure counts as self-harm though Lysandre doesn't necessarily think of it that way.
AO3 Link: Here.
He doesn’t know how to dress; it’s the second thing Lysandre notices. It’s not a bad thing, really, though perhaps it should be. It’s a neutral, objective assessment of fact: Professor Augustine Sycamore dresses like he’s just grabbed whatever clothes he had available that morning and didn’t think about it any further. When he crosses his legs at the table, deep in conversation with one of the waiters, the bottom of his pants slides up to fully reveal bright red socks that completely clash with the rest of his outfit.
It occurs to Lysandre, too late, that staring at a stranger’s ankles is inappropriate. The professor turns toward him, his eyes shining under the overhead lights of the café, and his lips stretch into the lazy grin of someone who’s used to being stared at. Lysandre frowns, but instead of looking away the way people do when he glares at them, his smile grows larger, strangely fond.
In the end, it’s Lysandre who averts his gaze first. After all, there’s nothing wrong with a tactical retreat.
The first thing Lysandre notices–
The first thing Lysandre notices doesn’t matter.
Professor Sycamore likes good food and good coffee. Every time he visits, he eats many pastries that he apparently metabolizes right away, judging by the fact that he looks like he weighs about as much as a leavanny. He talks about his research, about his travels, about the dishes and specialties he’s tried in Unova or in Sinnoh, to the waiters, to the other clients, to the friends and colleagues he brings with him, and to Lysandre, when he walks up to his table and asks how he’s enjoying his trips to the café.
It stands to reason that he would interact with such a prestigious figure when he’s visiting his establishment, of course. There’s nothing wrong with sitting beside the professor to listen as he recounts some of his adventures as a young apprentice under Professor Rowan. Lysandre is curious about his research, too; about mega-evolution, about the strays he keeps in the gardens, about the work he does to make Kalos a better place for both humans and pokémons.
There’s nothing more to it. He doesn’t think about him, later, while he helps his employees with cleaning up, doesn’t think about his long, slender fingers fiddling with his wristwatch, doesn’t think about the urges he’s had to repress to tuck his messy strands of hair back behind his ear, doesn’t think about the look in his eyes when he catches him staring. There’s nothing to catch, which means there’s nothing to the way the professor tilts his head at him, smiling kindly, the silent question that Lysandre knows is on his lips.
He doesn’t think about any of that. He doesn’t bury his hands in his pyroar’s mane until they prickle and burn, so he can focus on something concrete, tangible, like pain, instead of–
His pokémon pulls away before he can really hurt himself. He pets him on the muzzle and murmurs soothing words, though he’s not sure who they’re aimed at.
"You could accompany me to the lab, if you’d like," the professor says, his chin resting on his joint hands, smiling his usual lazy, easy smile. "I could use someone like you to help with some things."
He wants to ask, "What things?" but his tongue is stuck to the roof of his mouth. The coffee burns his throat, though at least now he can pretend that it’s the reason behind his racing heartbeat.
"Of course," Lysandre replies, holding his cup in front of his face. "I’d be honored to assist you."
Fandom: Pokémon X&Y
Pairing: Professor Augustine Sycamore/Lysandre
Rating: G
Summary: He doesn’t know how to dress; it’s the second thing Lysandre notices.
Notes: For the prompt "trying (and mostly failing in this case) not to fall in love." Warning for a brief mention of what I'm fairly sure counts as self-harm though Lysandre doesn't necessarily think of it that way.
AO3 Link: Here.
He doesn’t know how to dress; it’s the second thing Lysandre notices. It’s not a bad thing, really, though perhaps it should be. It’s a neutral, objective assessment of fact: Professor Augustine Sycamore dresses like he’s just grabbed whatever clothes he had available that morning and didn’t think about it any further. When he crosses his legs at the table, deep in conversation with one of the waiters, the bottom of his pants slides up to fully reveal bright red socks that completely clash with the rest of his outfit.
It occurs to Lysandre, too late, that staring at a stranger’s ankles is inappropriate. The professor turns toward him, his eyes shining under the overhead lights of the café, and his lips stretch into the lazy grin of someone who’s used to being stared at. Lysandre frowns, but instead of looking away the way people do when he glares at them, his smile grows larger, strangely fond.
In the end, it’s Lysandre who averts his gaze first. After all, there’s nothing wrong with a tactical retreat.
The first thing Lysandre notices–
The first thing Lysandre notices doesn’t matter.
Professor Sycamore likes good food and good coffee. Every time he visits, he eats many pastries that he apparently metabolizes right away, judging by the fact that he looks like he weighs about as much as a leavanny. He talks about his research, about his travels, about the dishes and specialties he’s tried in Unova or in Sinnoh, to the waiters, to the other clients, to the friends and colleagues he brings with him, and to Lysandre, when he walks up to his table and asks how he’s enjoying his trips to the café.
It stands to reason that he would interact with such a prestigious figure when he’s visiting his establishment, of course. There’s nothing wrong with sitting beside the professor to listen as he recounts some of his adventures as a young apprentice under Professor Rowan. Lysandre is curious about his research, too; about mega-evolution, about the strays he keeps in the gardens, about the work he does to make Kalos a better place for both humans and pokémons.
There’s nothing more to it. He doesn’t think about him, later, while he helps his employees with cleaning up, doesn’t think about his long, slender fingers fiddling with his wristwatch, doesn’t think about the urges he’s had to repress to tuck his messy strands of hair back behind his ear, doesn’t think about the look in his eyes when he catches him staring. There’s nothing to catch, which means there’s nothing to the way the professor tilts his head at him, smiling kindly, the silent question that Lysandre knows is on his lips.
He doesn’t think about any of that. He doesn’t bury his hands in his pyroar’s mane until they prickle and burn, so he can focus on something concrete, tangible, like pain, instead of–
His pokémon pulls away before he can really hurt himself. He pets him on the muzzle and murmurs soothing words, though he’s not sure who they’re aimed at.
"You could accompany me to the lab, if you’d like," the professor says, his chin resting on his joint hands, smiling his usual lazy, easy smile. "I could use someone like you to help with some things."
He wants to ask, "What things?" but his tongue is stuck to the roof of his mouth. The coffee burns his throat, though at least now he can pretend that it’s the reason behind his racing heartbeat.
"Of course," Lysandre replies, holding his cup in front of his face. "I’d be honored to assist you."