Work Text:
Not So Sneaky
“Oh, a noctowl!”
Samuel Oak followed his assistant’s gaze, a serene smile crossing his face as the nocturnal pokemon swooped silently towards the nearby lake. He recognized the pokemon easily, but of course he would recognize those particularly glossy feathers anywhere, even in the evening twilight. It was his grandson’s pokemon - Ah, but Gary was home wasn’t he?
He looked towards the tree line just in time to see a familiar figure disappear into the shadows, the dark coat of the teenager’s companion nearly lost in the falling night.
Sam’s smile turned fond. The old distract-and-sneak. As though Gary actually needed to sneak past him. Why, Sam could hardly get him inside for bedtime back when the boy was a curious eight-year-old; he knew better than to try to contain an iron-willed teenager who had spent the last seven years of his life traversing the wilds. He couldn't find any reason in forcing a power struggle when the boy just wanted to wander the reserve and look at the stars.
Besides, he had Umbreon at his side, Noctowl above him, and - likely - Blastoise at his belt. The only harm that could come from Gary's night time wandering would be to his sleep schedule.
Confident that his favorite wanderer would be perfectly fine, Samuel turned to his assistant, smile still in place. "Well, I do believe that's everything."
“I think so,” Tracey agreed. He peered around at the falling darkness and gave Sam a smile of his own. "It's a beautiful night."
It was indeed. The full moon was slowly rising in the clear sky and the brightest stars were starting to shine. In just a few minutes the sky would be black and countless stars would be visible. Samuel could just about see the artist's fingers itching to capture it. He was certain it would be Tracey’s first piece during tonight's art session.
He cast a glance back towards the lake and the small clearing around it as he headed towards the house with his assistant in tow. Noctowl swooped over the surface, seemingly enjoying a nighttime flight. Sam could just barely make out a faint yellow light flickering between the foliage near the edge of the trees. Evidently Gary and Umbreon had made it to the lake without incident, not that he had expected any other outcome.
Once in the house, Sam set about preparing a cup of tea to enjoy with his evening reading session in his study. The study was a favorite place for most of the residents of the house, as was evidenced by the arcanine - Gary’s, of course - lounging on the rug and the old persian curled on the window seat - one of his personal pokemon from his own journey. One of Gary’s books still sat upon the small table next to the couch from the night before.
He greeted the pokemon and settled into his favorite armchair, smiling to himself as he picked up the book he had left on the coffee table. Across from the chair was a large window overlooking the ranch, providing a beautiful view of the pokemon habitats, including the lake that Gary and his pokemon were at. Curiosity raised within him at the thought of his grandson out there and his eyes scanned the shoreline. Sure enough, Gary was there, walking along the shore with Umbreon, perfectly safe and sound.
He wasn’t spying, of course - he trusted Gary and his capabilities - but he couldn’t help but check in on the boy every now and again. It was simply the grandfather in him.
Another figure broke through the tree line, small with long pointy ears and a jagged tail, darting towards Umbreon. It was yet another pokemon Sam would recognize anywhere, but when on Earth did Ash get into town? The trainer appeared at the edge of the treeline and Samuel glanced back at Gary. The teen wasn’t fond of his night time wanderings being interrupted, but Sam knew his boy and Gary’s body language, even from a distance, was happy and relaxed.
Ash closed the distance between them with a few quick steps, pulled Gary close and -
Oh. Oh .
Well, that certainly explained a few things.
Samuel turned away from the study window. He didn’t need to see this - young love deserved some privacy, after all. A smile curved his lips as he took a sip of his tea and returned to his book. He certainly hadn’t expected to spy upon Pallet’s top trainers kissing by the lake, but stranger things had happened.
At least the boys weren’t fighting these days.
Time passed easily as he read - a biography about a famous explorer this week. He stole a peek out the window to check on the boys every now and then, but they appeared to be just fine. As was expected, of course. They were sitting next to the lake, sitting closer than usual but just talking. They were still in the same spot the next time he checked, though they were now looking up at the sky, Gary’s head resting on Ash’s shoulder as he gestured up towards the sky. He didn’t need to see Ash’s face to know the trainer wore a look of awe as he held onto Gary’s every word.
They would be just fine.
Sam closed his book when the tea ran out. He spared one more glance - and another smile - at the boys by the lake before heading back downstairs to the kitchen for another cup of tea before bed. Lavender and chamomile was the perfect blend to wind down for sleep.
The back door to the kitchen closed quietly just as Sam was pouring the boiling water into his tea cup. He smiled as he automatically reached for a second mug. “You’re back early,” he observed. He would have expected Gary to stay out far later, considering his company.
Gary jumped at his voice and Sam held back a chuckle. Oh, this boy. So smart and strong and brave - but so jumpy at times. It was as endearing as it was amusing.
"Yeah. It's cold out." He played it off as though nothing had happened.
"Hmmm," Sam hummed, turning away from the counter with two steaming mugs of tea in hand. "You didn't have anyone to keep you warm?" he asked innocently.
Ah, there was that wary little half-glance. Gary knew he had been caught. Samuel sent a gentle smile his way.
"I mean, I had Umbreon with me but she's not exactly the warmest…"
"And pikachus aren't much better, are they?" Sam asked mildly, passing over one of the mugs.
Gary hesitated but answered soon enough. "No," he said quietly, his eyes anywhere but on Samuel, "they're not."
He was nervous and it was painfully obvious to Sam with the way Gary avoided looking at him. It wasn't a common emotion to see in him, bold and confident as he was. Poor child, as though Sam hadn't known about the boy’s feelings for the trainer all along.
Sam’s heart went out to him.
"Sit down, no need to look so nervous." Sam gestured to the empty chair across from him, his gentle smile never once wavering. He waited until Gary joined him at the table before speaking again. "So, you were meeting Ash?" he pressed curiously.
Gary breathed out a sigh and set his mug down in front of him. "You saw, didn't you?"
He always did catch on fast.
"Yes." Gary cringed and Sam couldn't quite bite back his chuckle. "Oh, don't be like that," he chided gently. "Young love is special."
Gary said nothing, though he didn't need to - the pink spreading across his cheeks said all that was needed. Well, most of it. There was a little detail nagging at the back of Sam’s mind.
"You didn't think I would have a problem with it, did you?"
"Not really…" His wandering gaze said otherwise.
"No?" He waited patiently for the gentle prompt and the tea to work their magic. Gary would confide sooner or later, Sam just needed to be patient.
Sure enough, a moment of fidgeting later and… “I just didn’t want anything to change.”
Of course he didn’t. Gary’d had enough earth-shattering changes in his young life. Samuel could understand his fear, even if seeing it tore at his heart.
“It won’t,” he promised.
He would support any relationship that Gary was in, so long as his boy was being treated well. That wouldn’t be the slightest bit of a concern with Ash - the boy had an absolute heart of gold. Gary was safe with him.
Sam gave Gary another smile. “I’m glad it’s Ash,” he admitted. The surprise on Gary’s face had him biting back another chuckle. “You two are good for each other. He’ll treat you right.”
A grateful smile spread across Gary’s face. “Thanks, Grandpa,” he said quietly.
Sam stood to set his now empty mug in the kitchen sink and patted Gary’s shoulder on the way past. “Anything for my favorite grandson.”
“Your only grandson,” Gary corrected from his spot at the table. Sam didn’t need to see him to know that he’d rolled his eyes.
His smile grew into a faint smirk. “No one said I had to like you.” It was an exchange they’d had before, a little joke shared between the two of them.
It was met with a laugh, as loud and thoroughly amused as it always was when Sam said that line. Gary’s laughter, pure and genuine as it was just now, always warmed Sam’s heart and tonight it was entirely welcomed. His boy was growing up so fast - so much smarter and more capable than Sam himself had been at his age.
Pride bubbled within him at the slightest thought of his wonderful grandson, but tonight it swelled and flowed throughout him. Ash and Gary being together could only mean that they had talked - actually talked - about everything between them. It meant that Gary had let someone else in, that he had been honest and open about his feelings for once .
For that, Sam’s heart was simply overflowing with pride.
But now it was time for him to head to bed. He ruffled Gary’s hair affectionately as he passed, smiling again when the teenager ducked out of the way. “Get to bed soon,” Sam reminded him, just as he did every night - even though he knew Gary would be up for hours more.
This time he saw Gary roll his eyes but couldn’t bring himself to do anything other than chuckle. His boy was growing up, but he was on the right track - and that made Samuel a happy and proud grandfather.