Work Text:
Max’s day went as follows:
She and Urbain were summoned by Emma to assist with a case — they were two peas in a pod and two of her most trusted allies, so they were the perfect fill-ins whenever she grew swamped with work and needed a hand.
Their job was to stalk after a few people who she found to be highly suspicious, perhaps taking advantage of the serenity and hope following Lumiose’s recent events to brew up something just as sinister. The more info they could gather for her on their whereabouts, the better.
The pair kept a decent distance as they walked, pretending like they had somewhere to be rather than like they were observing the movements of the group not too far ahead of them.
At one point, one of the suspects appeared to, well, suspect that they were being trailed.
Urbain’s solution? Hold hands with Max. They were now just a “couple” going for a stroll. That’s all.
A few twists here, a few turns there, and the investigators ended up trailing the group right into the sewers. It was now significantly harder to pretend they were just out for a walk, but they wanted to try to keep going.
So when the two grew more certain that they were being observed just as much as they were doing the observing, Urbain moved onto Plan C.
“Do you trust me?” he murmured, careful to echo as little as possible as he ushered Max off-path, headed towards a small corridor nearby.
“Wha— Yeah, why?”
“Alright. They obviously know we’re here now, so change of plans.”
Max looked behind them, seeing a pair of wrinkled eyes on her before she turned her vision back to Urbain.
“You can back out of it anytime and I’ll try to come up with something else, no big deal.” Urbain gave Max a bit of a tug, utilizing her loss of balance to press her by the shoulders into the wall. Her breath caught in her throat. “But,” Urbain leaned over Max, his voice low and words quick while his palm rose to her face, the opposite forearm resting on the brick and mortar behind her. “I need to know that you’re okay with what I’m about to do.” His eyes had flickered down to her lips briefly while he spoke. As if everything else hadn’t made his intentions obvious enough.
Wide-eyed and mouth slightly agape, Max could hardly believe it was real. It was so stereotypical, like a buddy-cop movie turned romance. Something out of a bad manga or fanfic, even.
But if he thought it would work…
Doing her best not to overthink and knowing they were on a time limit, Max let out a nervous huff, furrowing her brows as she offered a determined nod.
Urbain breathed, “Perfect,” before tilting down and pressing a firm, heated kiss to Max’s lips.
The idea was to look urgent. Desperate. Like they were out exploring the city of love and light, grew too needy with lust, and simply couldn’t wait until they got home to do something about it.
They could even feign being tourists if need be, and claim to have followed the sketchy figures here because it would surely lead them to somewhere secluded enough for a quick canoodle.
This was Max’s first kiss, though. She never imagined this was how that moment would go.
She went along with the plan anyway, doing her best to mimic Urbain’s movements and failing miserably to not just melt into him. His palm moved further back near her nape, so she reached up, one set of fingers tangling through his hair while the other gripped at the leather covering his shoulder. When he moved his mouth, so did she, and when he gripped her chin to grant his tongue access, it took every bone in her body not to sigh and swoon.
All the while, Urbain found himself getting lost in the moment too. Sure, it was a bad cover for them. Sure, it was just for work.
But it was hot, even if they were in a sewer. It was nice.
Max heard voices growing both closer and further and was unsure of who they even belonged to. They could’ve been anyone’s, considering Gwynn is just one person she knows of who tends to visit the underground of Lumiose on a regular basis. Maybe it was even a wild pokémon whose echos morphed into something that mimicked distant human speech as they bounced through the crevices and caverns.
Who knows who — or what — could show?
Thus, a new worry flooded Max’s brain. “Mm—“ she nudged Urbain’s face back by the lips, their heavy breaths mingling as she did her best to articulate her thoughts. “If our eyes are shut and they skulk by, and they’re quiet enough about it, how—” Urbain planted another swift kiss for good measure. Just in case. Of course. Max’s lip quivered while she hurriedly buffered. “H-how will we know when it’s safe to go after them again?”
He thought for a second and kissed her once more before trailing his lips south. “I’ll go to your neck,” he explained as he moved the hand that cupped Max’s neck down, his arm wrapping around her midsection and holding her close, “and you can keep watch.” Fully aware that he was turning his accomplice to goo, he gave the corner of her jaw a nibble before asking, “Can you do that for me?”
Max bit the inside of her cheek to prevent a heady sigh from passing her lips.
She was so embarrassed.
Half-expecting Urbain to fake it from there on at the very least, she nodded and whispered, “‘Kay,” cupping the back of his neck in both hands and tilting her head more to accommodate as he went on. “If—” she was cut off by a lick that turned into a bite, and then a suck, a mouselike “Ah!” escaping her in turn.
Her eyes slammed shut and a hand flew to cover her mouth while the rest of her body stiffened.
She wanted to die.
Urbain smiled against her, seemingly proud and very clearly not faking his actions as he hummed, “Hmmm?”
“Um,” Max regrouped the best she could with a set of lips peppering all her newfound sweet spots. “I’ll, uh,” a shaky breath, “I’ll just scream if I see one of them? Like, t-to make it seem like we got caught doing, uh… you know…” She trailed off while one of her fists subconsciously tangled into the hair at Urbain’s nape. “Maybe it’ll scare themmm,” Max’s eyes fluttered shut for a moment before she forced them open, desperate to keep focus. She cleared her throat, then rapidly corrected and continued, “Scare them off us if we can just act all, uh… yeah.”
Urbain was having a blast.
“Mhm,” he answered simply. “Sounds good.”
Much to Max’s relief — or was it her chagrin? — only a few beats went by before one of the men they’d been keeping watch of showed up.
From there, everything went according to plan. Max yelped and made a show of hiding in Urbain’s chest while he was just as dramatic in hugging her close, a firm “Casse-toi!” leaving his lips. Disgusted and confused, the guy left; and noticing how much more dangerous it would be to keep going since they were certain they’d been found, Urbain and Max called it quits and reported back to Emma.
Now, hours later and bellies full of croissant curry, the two lounged on the roof. Naveen and Lida only retired to their rooms a moment prior.
Max had been quieter than usual for the majority of the day following their mission. It didn’t go unnoticed by the group, but the two who were no longer present hadn’t commented: Naveen understood and respected the want to keep things to oneself, while Lida just wasn’t sure if Max would feel ready to talk about what was so suddenly on her mind. Max was always pretty reserved — if something was going on, she’d be more likely to keep it pent up. If anything, Urbain usually turned out to be her go-to for venting.
He, unlike the rest of Team MZ, needed to know what was going on. What if this was his fault? Was she so out of it because she was upset, maybe even mad? Could he help, somehow? He liked helping…
Not entirely knowing how to break the ice, he rose from his seat near the fire pit and plopped down next to Max on the bench. It earned him a soft smile of acknowledgement before her view locked onto the cityscape again.
“What’s up?” he asked. Not wanting to beat around the bush, but wanting to keep things light and upbeat, he then asked with a teasing elbow to Max’s side, "Can't stop thinking about our scandalous rendezvous earlier?"
Max’s lips parted slightly as she looked at Urbain. It took a few moments before she could muster any sort of answer.
She was never a good liar, and she trusted Urbain. She didn't see a point in denying it.
Closing her lips, she choked back a laugh; she managed it, but couldn’t stop the goofy smile that plastered itself on her face. Then, she covered her profile with a sleeve mitten, nodding the truth against it as she turned her head the opposite way, her giggles quietly escaping.
Urbain wasn’t one to fluster easily. He’d always been a flirt. The more direct, the better, in his eyes.
So why did he feel his own cheeks tingle in the wake of her sincerity? Was there any valid reason for him to feel proud, for his belly to fill with butterfrees?
He didn’t like her — not like that at least. Did he..?
They were best buds. That was it, wasn’t it?
He thought about it.
She was often timid, but had maintained some of her street rat tendencies from Galar. He supposed the juxtaposition endeared him.
Strike one.
She could often make him laugh with few words spoken and proved to be just as much of a shoulder to lean on for him as he’d tried so hard to be with everyone in his life. She was kinder than most he’d encountered.
Strike two.
Max was adorable, to boot. Hell, if one day she decided to fling herself at him, he’d welcome the opportunity with open arms.
Strike three aaand… huh. Wow.
All these thoughts flooded Urbain over the course of a second or two before he finally breathed half a laugh, asking, “What?” His lips curled high as he turned his body further towards Max’s. She was still trying to absorb herself into her palms as Urbain prodded, leaning into her personal space, “For real?”
Max was still hiding the best she could as she lightly shoved Urbain away. “Shut up!” She finally revealed half of her rosy face again, looking at him in her periphery before drawing her vision to the ground in front of them. “It— it was my first.”
Urbain’s smile slightly fell as his eyes widened — both at the confession and the strange honor he felt to have given Max her first kiss.
“It was?”
Max nodded, and her blush reached her ears as Urbain muttered, “Damn. Could’ve fooled me.”
Fidgeting with a loose thread on her sweater, Max said his name like one would while scolding a naughty pokémon. He laughed.
She chewed her lip for a moment before adding, “I don’t mind that it was my first, it was just… sudden, I guess.”
To that, Urbain blurted out, “I can do better.”
Max met his eyes to question what he meant. ”What?”
“I can do better,” he breathed, doubling down. “That was a lot for your first kiss, it’s—“ Urbain started to vaguely gesture with his hands. “It’s supposed to be slower, sweeter, not— not like that.” That was his opinion, at least.
Ignoring the fluttering of her heart, Max joked, “Oohhh, you’re not supposed to skip straight to shoving your tongue down someone’s throat?”
“Ha! C’mon, I’m serious.” He paused, then went on, scanning her face, “Let’s redo it.”
Max blinked.
“If you want.”
Luckily, Max had more buffering time now than when they were clocked-in, so to speak. After a pause, she asked, “Why?”
Urban shrugged and smiled. “Why not?”
“Well, I mean…” Max cut herself off to figure out her wording. “Your whole thing is helping people. I don’t… I don’t want to just…” She shrugged. “I dunno, be part of your list of good deeds. I guess.”
“Max! No way!” Urbain turned, now fully facing her. “I don’t see it like that at all. I want to kiss you again.”
Max’s eyes widened again. ”Why?”
“Why wouldn’t I want to kiss a beautiful girl?”
Urbain had flirted with Max plenty before, but never so directly. Her worries flew away in the breeze. She barked out a laugh, the sound airy and nervous, before covering her face yet again.
“So forward. God.”
“Sky’s blue, water’s wet—“
“Is water wet?”
“Oh, brother, don’t even start.”
Max’s chuckle morphed into something cozier as Urbain joined in. His proposition clung to her mind all along.
Unlike Urbain, Max had known for a while that she’d been falling for him. How could she not? He was handsome, kind, brave, goofy… And similarly to his reasoning, she thought, why wouldn’t she want to kiss a beautiful guy — especially one who she feels so strongly for?
“You’re… sure?” she asked timidly as they calmed.
“I’m sure. Yeah.”
A similar determination to what she’d conveyed before agreeing to the kiss in the sewers sparkled in her eyes as she kneeled on the seat, fully facing Urbain. Then, she nodded.
“Ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.”
“Alright.” Urbain scooted closer, settling an arm across the back of the bench. The opposite hand gently tilted her face higher by the chin. His own quickening heartbeat was getting hard to ignore, especially with Max looking so flustered; so as he leaned in, he quietly reminded both himself and her, “Nice and slow this time.”
Max nodded, her chin pressing into his fingers slightly with the motion.
And just as he said, the two of them took it slow. Their lips met not with hesitance, but anticipation; their lips moved only intermittently, the pair finding themselves comfortably locked into one position or another for more than what was probably necessary.
By all means, the deed was done. Max got to experience what her and Urbain both thought her first kiss should have been like.
They didn’t stop, though.
There was a point where the two parted, Urbain cupping Max’s head in one palm and gripping the bench’s back with the other while Max’s left and right hand rested on his cheek and nape respectively. They remained nose to nose for a short few breaths before Max pressed another soft kiss to Urbain’s lips, Urbain pulling her closer for more in succession.
Not only did they take things slow to start, but they maintained that as the two grew needier. As their chests started to heave more, and their holds on one another grew tighter, their tongues began to tangle into each other’s mouths. They alternated between using the muscle and keeping things simple, but it seemed to stoke both their fires when they once more went for a tentative lick at the same time, smiling an airy laugh into each other’s mouths at the coincidence.
A few less invasive kisses later and Max let out a shaky breath, prompting Urbain to pull back. He still kept his face close and both hands on Max’s cheeks as he checked in, “All good?” with the hopes that it hadn’t become too much for her.
The concept of not shoving their tongues down each other’s throats had sailed, after all.
She nodded, a breathy “Yeah” supporting her claim. A nervous laugh came out, but it grew fuller as Urbain squished her face. “Promise?”
Another nod, this time looking at his eyes instead of his lips. “Yeah, promish.” The words came out sounding funny given the pressure on her cheeks.
Still smushing her, Urbain observed Max’s soft and malleable features before bluntly suggesting, “Let’s go on a date.”
Max’s eyes widened, but he felt pressure on his palms near his wrists as a bright smile accompanied her nod. “Ookay,” she agreed before tacking on, “Can I haf my fashe back firsht?”
A firmer squish prompted Max to groan in protest. “No.” Urbain, hardly containing his smile, proceeded to press another kiss to her puffed-out lips, then her fringe-covered forehead, then her scrunched-up nose, before just attacking her face with plenty of tiny pecks.
Once he’d sufficiently set Max into a fit of giggles, he finally freed her. She put her own hands on her cheeks to rub away the pressure and hide their color. “When?” she asked once she’d gotten comfy again, hugging her knees to her chest.
“Hmm. Maybe we can hit up a café in the morning, just the two of us?”
“A café? As in not Café Nouveau specifically?”
“I don’t think Griselle would let this slide so easily.”
“Oh.” Max could only imagine the potentially supportive but ultimately snarky comments they’d receive if they strolled up to her hand-in-hand, or got caught stealing a cheeky smooch. Not that she was hoping they would, or anything… “Yeah…”
“On that note,” Urbain rose with an overhead stretch, “I’m goin’ to bed.”
“Really? It’s so early.”
“Maybe I wanna be well-rested for my hot date tomorrow.” Urbain punctuated the sentence with a wink.
Max covered her face again, her spine hunching as the back of her hands touched her knees. “You’re having too much fun frazzling me.”
“Get used to it.” Max grumbled something akin to a mimic under her breath, then peeked up as the elevator dinged. Urbain waved as he stepped inside. “Bonne nuit, ma chère.”