The three times and the one they didn't

Gabriel’s not too sure how many times he’s walked around these city streets, just looking and watching to see if there’s any new faces that catch his eye. Normally there isn’t.
Not that there isn’t new faces, there always seems to be new faces; but none of them interest him. Both Aster and Good Boy have given up on questioning the Eevee’s actions as he leaves every morning for this walk, a routine he’s just not explained so at this point they’ve given up on ever getting an explanation.
This routine has become so much to him, not expecting to see any faces that they want to really focus on, that he’s not really paying attention to where he’s going. And he crashes straight into someone else.
“Oh I am so sorry!” It scrambles to apologise, not even focusing on the pokemon in question, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment, arch cannot believe that arch just did that.
“It’s fine, just make sure you know where people are.” The other person says and Gabriel finally looks at the pokemon he just crashed into and suddenly it feels like the world’s stopped as he stares.

It's cliché he knows, but he can’t help it. The pokemon in front of him seems to be the most beautiful one in the world. He can tell it’s mostly Eevee, but even then, he doesn’t care what the other parts are, his pelt as black and beautiful as the night sky – but that’s not what draws his attention the most. No, the stunning blue eyes do that.
They stand out but in the best way possible and Gabriel has to physically shake his head to get his focus back to the real world.

The other pokemon shifts slightly uncomfortable, tapping it’s front feet from side to side,
“Yeah, a lot of people find them odd.” He states and Gabriel just blinks back at him.
“Find what odd?” His head tilts.
The other Pokemon huffs out a scoff, a ‘you’re joking’ audible just above it’s breath,
“My eyes. It’s because I’m visually impaired – I’m almost completely blind, you lot just look like fuzzy different coloured blobs.” There’s clear annoyance in his voice and it’s this point that Gabriel realises he’s completely gotten the wrong end of the switch with his staring and he wants to correct that as soon as they can.
“Oh no, I’m so sorry that’s not why I was staring. I mean I was staring because of your eyes but not because they’re odd…” The other pokemon raises an eyebrow and Gabriel realises it’s digging a hole that he needs to get out of asap, “They’re really pretty, you’re really pretty!” Is what he ends up blurting out.
It then wants to curl up into a ball and disappear, disappear back into the human world something it’s not considered wanting in a long time now. Arch’s eyes drop back to its now very nervously shifting paws, it’s trying to work out when is the best time to run away and if it can really make this any worse than he already has.
“Look, I’m not stupid you don’t have to make fun of me.” The other pokemon snaps back and Gabriel isn’t sure if it’s best to take the loss of offending this gorgeous pokemon or to try and salvage it and possibly make everything even worse. He swallows his nerve down and looks back up at the pretty pokemon,
“Hey, look I’m being genuine. My name’s Gabriel, can I please buy you a drink or something to eat to apologise for what a mess I am. So, I just want to be gracious, though I fully understand why and if you don’t take me up on this and think I’m a horrible pokemon.” He states.
A few nerve-wracking moments pass, the other pokemon has sat now and is staring at him, their eyes keep narrowing at him and staring up and down, it’s tail sways a couple of times before he stands once again.
“Steven.” He offers a paw which Gabriel graciously takes and it feels like breaths again for the first time in minutes. “And I’m never going to say no to free drinks.” It smiles and this time arch does let out a sigh of relief.
“Thank you, Steven,” He likes how the name sounds in its voice, “Do you have any preferences considering it’s my treat?”
Steven shakes his head,
“Surprise me Gabriel, as apparently you have good taste,” His cheeks flush slightly at this comment. “Though as long as you’re not going to murder me.” He laughs though it’s clear it’s hiding some anxiety, so Gabriel knows he’s got to be calm about all of this. This is just friendly and probably going to lead to nothing at all.
“Well you’re in luck, Steven,” Such a pretty name, “I know just the place.” And the two walk along the route Gabriel was going side by side. He notes how Steven presses his tail against his for reassurance that he’s not going to just ditch him, though he does wonder if it’s also done to do reassure Steven that Gabriel’s not going to just run away from him. So, it applies the same pressure back with his own tail, ensuring that he keeps check on his own pace in comparison to Steven’s – Aster’s always said he’s known for speed walking, though she refers to it as running away.
Gabriel doubts this man could do anything to make him run away from him, but well, he doesn’t want to focus on that and jinx himself because that would be embarrassing. Though arch tries to not get lost in angels head, it may have led him to a gorgeous potential new friend and maybe more but if he does it again, it’s probably more likely to lead him away from Steven. It also doesn’t not want to fall back into the curse of Steven thinking he’s being rude to him, because it is not and does not want that to be what he takes away from this. Though – Gabriel does believe that he would rather this be the outcome over Steven forgetting who he is after this meeting, he’d rather be hated then forgotten. But he shakes his head slightly. Focusing on the bad makes it more likely, focus on the now and Steven gently bumps into its side almost reminding him of such, though he knows this isn’t true.

*  * * 

Steven’s muttering to himself and going faster then he’d like to be, trying his best to take in his surroundings as he goes. He can’t believe he forgot about giving this book back and he really doesn’t want another overdue fee on his books. There’s only a couple of places nearby that have books in large enough fonts that he can comfortably read them that aren’t aimed at children, and as fun as children’s books can be it’s not what he wants to spend his whole life reading.
Luckily the librarian’s do the roll over at midday and he remembered as soon as he woke up, so not only should he get there in time, but it also means there’s only the early morning crowds because not many pokemon chose this as their time to visit town, with many of the shops only just opening up. It briefly lets his mind head back to one specific specimen of this.

“We really should stop meeting like this.”
Steven feels himself hit something, which he then realises is warm, he’s hit someone. The voice speaks and his ears prick slightly, he recognises that voice. Maybe he could read his mind and just even slightly thinking about him made him appear, though why in Steven’s path is a little mean.
“Oh, Gabriel I’m so sorry. I’m in a rush you see.” He explains, catching its breath and he can see Gabriel relax with the use of his name, was he worried Steven didn’t remember him?
Gabriel just laughs softly, and disappears from Steven’s view, he panics for a second but is then alerted with a gentle tail stroke that he’s now stood beside him.
“You were in a rush, if I may, I shall join you to your next location – I have no where to be.” He smiles out and Steven tries to ignore the fluttering of his heart. It does take a second for his brain to calm down however, process what he was doing before and exactly what’s going on with what Gabriel said and how that can be added onto what he was already doing beforehand. Once he’s gotten that all laid out, he lets a smile break out on it’s face.
“Well I’ve got to get this book,” He gestures to his bag on his side, “Back to the library before it’s overdue, because of course I forgot about it until just before it’s due.” He laughs softly, hoping that Gabriel doesn’t think he’s stupid for this but he’s greeted by a warm laugh in response. Steven feared it would be a mean laugh, but is thankfully greeted by a warm laugh from someone else who’s seemingly had the same issues in the past.
“Oh yeah, been there done that. I was so embarrassed about returning one that I had misplaced I had to get Good Boy to do it for me – be warned I may be tossed out if I enter with you.” It gests and Steven can’t help but laugh as the two begin to head on. He doesn’t need to rush now, he’s got plenty of time left, having already covered most of the ground with plenty of time to spare. Honestly, he’s not too sure as to why he was going as fast as he was before, sure he’s cutting it fine but he’s pretty sure if he walked the route he’d make it in time – maybe part of him was hoping that it could crash into Gabriel again, not that he’d admit that to himself let alone anyone else. 

The two walk in relative silence, Gabriel does squeak out at one point and uses his tail to gently pull Steven closer to him, Steven’s paw hits the edge of the puddle and he as to reassure Gabriel – who’s now rather flustered, that it’s okay and next time please verbally let him know what’s going to happen first. He would have been annoyed if this was anyone else, but he doesn’t know, maybe it’s because his head feels so funny around it, or just because he seems to be so genuinely nice about it.
It feels all too soon when they finally arrive at the library, though Steven is also reassured that he’s not going to be late with his parcel.
The two of them walk side by side up the steps to the building, though Gabriel has taken a small step away from Steven to make it easier for the both of them to climb the stairs, which it is very grateful for.
“Allow me,” Gabriel states and he leaves Steven’s side, coming around to the front and pushing the library door open for Steven who with a nod and smile enters. He can hear Gabriel move behind him before he catches the sight of it just out of the corner of his eyes, stood on the other side of it now and clearly shifting slightly anxiously from where he is. It makes Steven really consider just how much was joke and overexaggerating from the other man, and how much was genuine about the fact that he may just be tossed straight out of the library. How overdue was that book!? This could be a deal breaker. Steven shakes his head, no it wouldn’t be. He knows that Gabriel is still relatively new to the area, maybe he didn’t know how libraries worked when he first arrived which is why it happened, maybe they’ll understand and forgive him if that’s the reason for it.
As he heads over to the counter, Gabriel remains just in the corner of his vision, hanging back and still incredibly nervous looking and shifty.
“You!” Someone growls and Steven jumps, worrying that they’re referring to him at first, but then it becomes clear it’s Gabriel and he turns to look.
Gabriel smiles back sheepishly.
“You’ve been told not to come back, we’re lending you no more books after what happened get out” The large Pansear snaps and grabs Gabriel by the scruff of his neck, Gabriel fidgets uncomfortably,
“Uuuh, I’ll see you again some time Steven.” Gabriel calls forward as he’s carried off, as he goes Steven can also hear him mumbling at the Pansear, something about him being more then capable of leaving by himself and really this is ridiculous.
Deciding he defiantly needs the full story the next time he sees the other Eevee, Steven shrugs and continues his journey to the counter to return the book so he can then head around and pick out another one to take home. Probably also best to not tell them that he knows Gabriel that well, well he doesn’t know him that well if they’re honest, he doesn’t want to be barred by association. 

* * * 

An exhausted sigh escapes Steven has he leans against the wall, he didn’t think today would be so hard on him but it turned out none of his students had bothered studying what he asked and they were even further behind then they were when he last saw them. It doesn’t help that, that specific house doesn’t let him print any of his pages larger, wanting to save as much paper as possible but making it almost impossible for him to read his own notes. He just needs a breather, and time to get his head back in gear, at least it was his only job for the day and they do pay really well – so he guesses he really can’t complain that much about all of it.
Steven thought that it was fine with how much of the path he’s currently blocking, because it’s just a little side path and very few people need to go up and down it. But of course, because he is here and blocking it for once, someone needs to come down and it. A rather large fusion clearly isn’t looking where he’s going, comes running down and practically falls over Steven, knocking him sideways and causing Steven to hit the wall. The fusion however, but’s his breaks on and reverses.
“Oh I’m so sorry! I didn’t see you there Mr!” He apologises and before Steven can respond to him in anyway, he hears a voice call out from the direction that the fusion was coming from, a voice that Steven recognises too well.
“Did you forget to look wear you were going again, you lump?” He calls out in a rather affectionate tone and Steven watches the fusion flush as Gabriel then comes into Steven’s vision, though still rather blurry.
“Well, I give you that this is at least a slightly different meeting.” Steven laughs out and Gabriel blushes and quickly fixes his posture, something Good Boy recognises and causes him to tilt his head, confused as to why his dad is acting like this.
“Yes well, Good Boy I hope you apologised.” Gabriel says.
“He did, and as I was going to say to you, it’s alright, just make sure you’re looking where you’re going, I’m Steven.”
Good Boy’s ears perk at the name, Gabriel’s spoken about this strange Steven the last two times he’s seen him and is very surprised that he’s actually gotten to see meet him, especially so soon. His tail wags and offers one of his extra front legs to Steven who carefully takes and shakes it. He then turns his attention back to Gabriel,
“Is it okay if I keep going?” He asks & Gabriel nods.
“Go for it, Good Boy, I’ll meet you in a bit – Aster should be there already.” He replies and just like that the other pokemon runs off.
Steven watches the warm smile on Gabriel’s face become clearer as he walks closer to him, he’s clearly very fond of this other pokemon fusion, and Steven wants to ask him about it, but sensing the slight confusion, Gabriel beats him to it.
“He’s basically my son now. I found him hiding under my house, I know it sounds strange but he had no family and I had a spare room so I let him stay with me. I didn’t really expect to become his dad.” He explains, blushing slightly as he goes into it. He knows it’s an odd story and plenty of the other pokemon he’s told this to have questioned his judgment of having just let a stranger into his home to stay, even if this stranger is just a child. So, he doesn’t really expect it when Steven shares the warm smile back in response,
“I think that’s really sweet of you Gabriel. Not many would take a lost child in.” Steven replies, gently brushing a paw against Gabriel’s side – Steven is ignoring the building feeling in his chest, he must say he hardly knows this man, it’s so stupid that he’s feeling like this about the man. Though he really is extraordinary, not treating him differently due to his eyes, taking a child in when he really didn’t need to – though his bad library habits are something that he’s less fond of and is still a story that he needs to get to the bottom of, maybe today will be the day.
“I really hope I’m not delaying you.” Gabriel says and Steven shakes his head,
“No, I’ve already finished work for the day and if I’m honest with you I really just need a rest, those kids are a handful and their parents lacking consideration.” He states and Gabriel tilts his head in confusion. If he could, Steven would smack his own paw to his head, of course he’s confused he never told arch of his job, “I’m a tutor most of the time, gardener on the side.” Steven explains and the confusion clears off of Gabriel’s face and he nods in understanding.
“Sounds like a good time, well less so when they’re being a handful,” He laughs softly, “Well if you’re in need of some relaxation, why don’t you come join us at my house. We’ve had a busy couple of days, so I’ve invited the rest of my team to mine for some nice warm drinks and cakes, though as 2/3rds of my team already live there with me it’s not really much of a gathering to also invite Aster over.” Another one of his soft, surprisingly breath laughs, “And in the least weird way possible, they’ve both heard a lot about you and I’m sure Aster would also like to meet you.” He explains.
Steven waits a couple of seconds, it’s true he has nothing else planned today, and it was very clear that Good Boy at least already knew him. It would be quite nice to return the favour and get to know the people that seem to have already met him by what Gabriel has said.
“If I would not be an intrusion I would love to come.” He replies.
Gabriel somehow stands up even straighter and his tail wags, it seems he held little faith that Steven would actually say yes.
“Of course, you would be no intrusion, I can’t wait for you to meet the rest of my team, and the more relaxed version of Good Boy, he does remember his manners sometimes. I’m trying my hardest to teach him though maybe your tutor skills could come in handy.” He laughs softly and Steven laughs with him.
“Manners are the hardest thing to stick in their heads.” He replies.
Gabriel takes the lead, he knows where they’re going with Steven just behind him, his head more in line with Gabriel’s body and arch’s tail brushes gently against his side, to help guide him like he’s done every other time they’ve done this. It’s a surprise how routine it has already become to them, even though, yeah this is only the third time that the two of them have met, though four times walking beside each other if Steven remembers Gabriel walked him home the first time around after they went to that café when they first met, that first time they crashed into each other.
Steven can’t help the soft smile that forms, he must admit he’s rather fond of the fact that they keep ‘crashing’ into each other, though he does hope that maybe he’ll crack up the nerve to find Gabriel next time, it’s just hard. For sure this will be the first time going to the others, but even after today when he’ll know where they live, it’s hard to tell exactly when an adventurer will be home.
A soft smile has also formed on Gabriel’s face, as he builds with excitement though there’s also some anxiety bubbling in his gut, what if Steven and Aster don’t like each other. That Steven thinks he’s actually a bad dad to Good Boy or that Good Boy just makes things even worse between them. Things will go well though, Gabriel just has to have hope.

* * *

Gabriel brushes down his chest fluff again, he’s incredibly anxious even though he really knows there’s nothing that he should be too worried about.
It took him a long time to get over to Steven’s house, longer then he had expected, not because of the journey but rather how long it took for him to pick out the bunch of flowers and then working out the best way to attach them to his bag so they received minimal damage while traveling. With the knowledge that Steven does gardening, he also knew that it would be harder for him to pick flowers, that he really had to work out what the best flower choices would be as well as the meanings that they may have. He knew the more basic flower meanings back on earth, but here, there’s different types and different meanings, it added far longer onto it’s journey then anyone could imagine and he knows the minute he lets that time slip to Aster or even Good Boy he is going to be laughed at. Not meanly, not fully, but instead with humour and the knowledge that oh yes, of course Gabriel would act like that for the man he’s only met three times but had fallen for and became smitten with the first time that they met. He never believed in love at first sight so will defiantly not admit to that, not ever, no chance.
He walks up to Steven’s door and then hesitates, 90% sure that the other will be home right now. Of course, he doesn’t know his full schedule but it seems that he mostly works mornings and the days he doesn’t he comes home to eat and organise the next session at lunch. So, he should either have a full afternoon with him or at the very least an hour or two over lunch and he’s more then willing to help make any of that or go out and buy him something. At a push he can hand the flowers over and plan a specific day to come back and actually meet, at least they’re not just bumping into each other this time around.
Finally, he takes the final step and knocks against the door, and he’s distinctly aware that he’s taken a deep breath and has stopped breathing. After what feels like too long and he’s ready to turn around and leave, accepting that maybe Steven isn’t actually home right now and that his silly little plan [that wasn’t really planned] is a failure. Just as he’s about to turn the door is opened, a noise comes out of Steven before it’s then changed to something else,
“Gabriel! It’s a pleasure to see you, are you now going to bump into me.” He laughs softly and Gabriel can’t help but laugh in return, glad to know they both find it rather funny that, that is how they have kept meeting each other. Gabriel lets out the breath that he realises, that yes he was holding it in. He stares at the other for a second, the normally neat bows that grow from it and that fluffy fur is rather messy, as if he has just gotten up from having tossed himself somewhere.
“Oh! I brough you flowers.” Gabriel remembers, trying to remember exactly what his plan was and to not just stare at the very pretty man.
Steven lights up in response, as Gabriel carefully pulls them out, a couple are slightly bent at the bottom but should be salvageable,
“Sorry if they’re a bit squished, I tried my hardest not to damage them as I brought them over.” He smiles as Steven takes them.
“They’re wonderful Gabriel, I love Lilacs, so many people over look them. Would you like to come in.” He asks, stepping back to allow it in through the doorway that he was blocking them.
Gabriel nods softly, and enters, Steven darts around him to close the door before heading into the house, Gabriel just follows him, not really sure where to go so decides that following the other man is probably the best bet. 

He follows Steven into the kitchen, and he carefully lays the bouquet onto the table, before grabbing a vase from under his sink and filling it with water,
“I was going to make some lunch if you would like to join me. I’m free this afternoon, had someone cancel on me because of the storm we had yesterday, damaged a load of their plants so they want to let them recover before I go routing around, weeding and cropping them back.” He explains and Gabriel nods.
“Yes, I hope I’m not intruding, well no, my plan was to intrude but I hope that I’m not being rude about it.” He smiles, this is awkward and he really hoped it wouldn’t be, “I just hoped to spend some time in your company that wasn’t because we crashed into each other on the way to do something else.” He adds on top, hoping that Steven is also picking up some of the other meaning behind his words. He glances over to the other man, and can’t help but just stare as he goes about snapping the end of the flower stems and placing them into the water, maybe that’s why all of Gabriel’s die long before they should, he’ll have to ask about it.
Once he’s done Steven smiles and looks over at Gabriel,
“It’s fine, I must admit that I have also been looking forward for an opportunity to meet up with you when we’ve not got other places to be, or other people there.” He smiles softly, hoping to not be too forward with his words.

The two of them trying to dance around their more romantic feelings, not quite picking up that the other shares them. They spend all of lunch and then the whole afternoon doing this, even when Gabriel strokes Steven’s face with his tail in an incredibly fond manner before leaving for the evening, the sun dusking the edge of the sky. Though Steven should have known, he knows what lilacs symbolise after all, but he sort of assumes that maybe Gabriel didn’t know. Except he did, and that’s why Gabriel knows, it’s why he spent so long picking up the flowers he had to find ones with the right meanings.
It does however, also meant that the next time they see each other it is more planned and less of an accidently bump, though we’ll see as to how long it takes them to realise how they feel about each other is returned by the other. Let’s just say they’re not the brightest in certain aspects and when it comes to working out how they should talk about their feelings, it is the biggest thing they have in common aside from both having clear Eevee DNA.