Work Text:
Rachel was very excited for the first day at her new job. She definitely hadn't expected to be hired as a new worker at Viridian City's gym. It had been quite a few years now since the transfer from Giovanni to the new gym leader, and she was much too young to remember the fanfare at the time.
Now however, it was one of if not the most well-respected gym in the region. And that was all thanks to Blue, her new boss.
Really Rachel had no idea what to think of the man considering she was interviewed by one of the workers over lunch. All she had to base her opinions on was how he presented himself to the media, which admittedly wasn't exactly favorable. But the pay was great, and she'd heard good things.
She got to the Gym early and spotted a few people lined up outside she recognized as other Gym workers. She was quick to join them and was greeted warmly. They all seemed excited to meet the fresh blood and had introduced themselves and assured her she'd love it.
She got lost in the conversations and hadn't even realized someone else had walked up until everyone was greeting the new person. She turned to see Blue who was smiling at them all and giving a greeting in return as he went to the door and unlocked it. Everyone was quick to file inside as he held the door open.
She watched as everyone started checking stuff over and preparing to open. She remained in place as Blue walked up next to her. Rachel did her best not to freak out. He was intimidating that was undeniable, standing at around 6ft all lean muscle with small scars and faded burns littering his skin from Pokémon battles that got a little too close for comfort.
The Umbreon at his side didn't help any with the way It seemed to be trying to look into her soul.
“You're Rachael right?”
“Y-yes I am.” She answered as she finally fully looked at him.
He just smiled, and it wasn't anything like she'd seen on TV, none of the menacing edge she'd grown up seeing. “Welcome to the gym.”
And like that she was handed off to Ray who she had met outside, and who was tasked with showing her the ropes. She was just helping keep everything clean and make runs to the Pokémon center when anyone needed it or just any other small tasks that the trainers or Blue himself couldn't leave for.
Simple stuff really.
Ray had explained he was leaving soon and moving to Hoenn so she was going to take his place. He told her he was sad to go, but Blue encouraged him to take the leap even if they would miss him here. She admittedly didn't know what to say to that.
“Though I will miss it here, it's better entertainment than TV working here.”
“Oh?” She asked as they were leaning up against the wall watching a challenger take on Blue. It wasn't going well for the poor kid but he was trying.
“You'll see what I'm talking about, trust me. Just prepare yourself for when inevitably Red barges in.”
“Red comes around?” She asked a touch surprised. Really it wasn't that big of a shock, but it wasn't something she had considered. Everyone knew how close the two men were.
“Oh absolutely he's here pretty often.” Ray explained as he gave her a knowing smirk she couldn't quite decipher.
It was a few days later and on Ray's last day when she saw Red for the first time. Everyone was standing and chatting around Blue who was lounging in his chair, Umbreon sitting happily across the back of it.
Rachel had to admit Blue wasn't at all what she thought he would be. It seemed that the persona he put on for the media was just that. That wasn't to say that he wasn't an asshole, he was. But he wasn't near as impertinent as he pretended to be.
They were interrupted by the door slamming open. And everyone turned in unison to see one and only champion of Kanto and he seemed livid.
Rachel watched as the other gym workers all shared an excited glance and backed up slightly. She followed suit as Blue looked up and raised an eyebrow at his rival.
“You seem thrilled.” Blue pointed out dryly.
Red huffed and went to cross his arms but stopped instead to sign something. The Pikachu perched on his shoulder seemed thoroughly uninterested as it hops down.
Blue just nodded along, “Exactly why I'm glad you're the champion. There is no way I could be in a meeting for that long and not say something that would get me excommunicated from the league.”
More angry signing.
“I don't know what you want me to say? You can't fix stupid and bureaucracy is full of it.”
Red just continues to scowl as he walks closer to them all and Rachel is in slight awe. He's taller than Blue though not by much he’s also more broad where Blue is lean. The black compression shirt he wore that went down to around his elbows only magnified this fact.
Blue seemed thoroughly unimpressed by him however and just shrugged at his friend. His Umbreon from its place hoped down and meets the Pikachu who is watching from a distance and giving it a lick in greeting.
“What? Do you want me to sit in there with you?” It sounds more like a threat than an offer. And the way Red freezes for a moment confirms it. The champion just shakes his head after another moment and Blue smirks.
“Damn right you don't. I'm just confused how Alola making a league involves every other league to this degree. They don't care about input from you, me, or anyone else.”
Red signs something else, his movements sharp and jerky. Rachel notes that he too has scars and burns littering his skin though it's less visible on his paler skin.
“You can't leave everything up to Lance. That's unfair, this is your job, but I agree it is still unnecessary to be involved with affairs of this degree for another region.”
It's a surprisingly reasonable statement from Blue. It also insinuates quite the statement from Red that is very unlike him from what she knows. No one else seems surprised however, and the way Red huffs is telling.
“Oh don't be like that. You came here to complain, and I gave you my input. Grow up and deal with it or go complain to someone else you're an adult.”
“It's bullshit!” Red bites his voice rough from disuse.
Rachel blinked hard. There was no way…
“So is life Red. Just be happy you'll be getting more competition and there will be someone new you can challenge. Honestly I know it's Kukui’s idea so it will be very much like ours over here. He's an old Kanto trainer from before our time.”
Red relaxes slightly then as some tension drains from him. Reframing the whole ordeal seems to help put out some of his fire.
“Meetings with the league suck I know we've been to enough of them. But you have to look on the bright side.”
Pikachu and Umbreon make their way back over now that things have calmed down once more. Red's partner goes to Blue first hopping up on the chair to nudge at his hand. Blue scratches at the Pokémon's ear without much thought before the Pokémon jumps back down and climbs Red once more.
It looks like thanks.
Blue's Umbreon just takes its place sprawled across the back of the chair once more.
Red signs again, the movements much more fluid.
Blue's smile in response is dazzling. “Don't mention it, but it's lunch time you want to go get something to eat?”
He doesn't even get the whole question out before Red is nodded and Blue gets up. In response Umbreon displeased tries to bite his neck but just misses, and with that they are at the door. As they exit Blue calls over his shoulder for them all to take a break and he'll be back in about an hour.
And sure enough as she was told it was a regular occurrence to see Red just come around to talk with Blue. It wasn't always like the first time. Sometimes he was bored or something interesting had happened he wanted to relay. Either way it was a common occurrence she grew to look forward to.
And every time it was entertaining.
The two men bickered like an old married couple, and she became aware of just how alike they really were. It was a comfortable routine seeing them argue over the most ridiculous things and Red saying or suggesting absurd and out-of-pocket things. Sometimes even dragging others into it as well either asking for input or looking for allies.
It's even funnier watching him turn on a dime when a challenger enters the gym. One of his rants that was being diligently translated by Blue cut short and his personality taking a 180 as he goes back to the silent stoicism he usually portrayed.
It was quite the spectacle and one she was sure to enjoy because she knew that no one else would ever get to see it. It also humanized Red in a way she had never imagined, making the living legend feel less like myth and more like just a normal guy. It also gave much more credence to the knowledge that these two have been friends since infancy.
Before they had always seemed a little too different to get along as well as they did. Now she knew that just wasn't the case. They were more alike than she could have ever guessed.
Outside of the gym with her other friends, they always asked what it was like working with Blue. Everyone had preconceived notions just like she had, and she was the only one who knew how inaccurate they really were. She could do a little more than just brushing them off, however.
After all there was little she could say that would be believable to anyone who hadn't seen it all and grown used to it.
‘It gave me perspective.’
Is about all she could say on the matter, which understandably never satisfied anyone who asked.
Eventually when someone else sadly had to leave the Gym she was assigned the task of teaching the new higher what exactly they needed to know as she moved up to fill the newly vacated position. The boy reminded her of just how she was when she first walked in the doors. Spooked and out of his depth, but she taught him what he needed to know.
And as they sat back and watched Blue take on a changer, she told the boy that he'd like it here, and to just prepare himself for when inevitably Red came to visit. He just looked at her out of the corner of his eye confused, and she just gave him a knowing smile.