#oldflameshipping

Someone please brainrot with me

- ripped old guy who's an esteemed gym leader that nearly made champion multiple times

- ripped old guy that runs the pokémafia and has every other major villain under his control

- ripped old guy whos a kahuna that can square up with the strongest pokemon in his region and win

“Well well well.” Kabu almost jumped at the sound of a very familiar deep voice, glancing over his shoulder to see his old friend walking over to him. “Been a while, Sparks.”

“Nanu.” Kabu looked the younger man up and down, noting everything that had changed (his hair, the deep dark circles around his eyes, the tired lines in his face), and everything that had stayed the same (bright crimson eyes, that smirk that made his heart skip a beat, his voice). “You’re looking well.”

“Well as I can be.” He replied, looking him over in much the same way the older man had. “So, Gym Leader, huh?”

“Mmhmm.” Kabu arched a silver eyebrow. “And you’re a Kahuna now?”

Nanu snorted, glancing around furtively as he scratch the back of his neck.

“Hey, not so loud. Prefer not to advertise it to all and sundry. I get bothered enough as it is.”

“If I’m intruding, I can see you another-”

“Shit Kabu, I didn’t mean it like that.” Nanu interjected, his itch having apparently jumped into his ear. “Being a Kahuna and a police officer mean I have a lot on my plate at times. They can wait for a moment or two, though.”

He gestured for them both to move out of the main thoroughfare they’d met in - although the main afternoon rush in Malie City had subsided, it wouldn’t be long before it picked up again in the evening. A smile pulled at the corner of Kabu’s lips.

“Then I count myself fortunate that you value my company so highly.” Motostoke’s Gym Leader replied smoothly.

“Tch, I can’t remember the last time we spoke face-to-face like this.” Ula’Ula’s Kahuna replied, shoving his hands in his pockets. “Must have been when you were getting ready to ship out to Galar.”

“Yes.” Kabu nodded. “And your deployment was coming to an end.” He tilted his head slightly, eyeing his friend. “I presume you’re no longer with them?”

“No, I’m not.” He replied bluntly. Kabu knew a closed door when he saw one, even if it had been quite a while.

A brief silence fell between them.

“Hey, Kabu.” Nanu spoke softly, making the older man turn to him. “I’m glad you came. I...I missed you, you know.”

“I did too, Nanu.” Kabu replied, a warm smile spreading over his lips. “In the moments of I peace I had between my training and my duties, I would think of you. Wonder what you might be doing, wonder if you were all right. Wonder if...you still remembered me.”

The Kahuna snorted.

“It’d be hard for me to forget, after everything we did together.” He remarked, a slight smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth that Kabu had the decency to blush at. “Seriously, though, you were always there. Always thought about getting in contact with you, but something would always come up. Then suddenly I’m the damned Kahuna of this island and my hair’s gone grey.”

Kabu chuckled.

“Life certainly has a way of sneaking up you.” He ran his hand through his own grey hair. “I confess, I thought about contacting you too. The only things that really stopped me was everything that appeared to need my attention all at the same time and immediately, and, well...I was worried I would disturb you in the middle of something important.”

It was Nanu’s turn to chuckle ruefully.

“And now here we are."

“Indeed.” Kabu’s silver gaze met the crimson stare of his friend, the words bubbling up out of him. “I’ve missed you, Nanu.”

For a moment, the Kahuna’s apathetic mask slipped, his eyes widening in surprise.

“I...I missed you too, Kabu.” He replied, scratching the back of his neck again.

A pause, with the gazes of the two men meeting and holding for several long seconds. Neither one knew who moved first, but that didn’t matter when their lips met, Kabu cupping Nanu’s cheek as the Kahuna’s hand slipped to the back of his head.

Time stopped still for those precious seconds, memories awakening in fits and starts - age had changed a couple of things, yet it felt just the same as it had when they’d been young men with boiling hot blood.

If not for the public setting, they would have lingered as long as possible - instead they pulled away, Kabu feeling his face heat up, both from the kiss and at his sudden speechlessness.

“How long are you here for, Sparks?” Nanu asked, his voice lower than before that made a frisson of excitement shoot up the Gym Leader’s spine, much like it had in his younger years.

“A week.” Kabu replied, a smile pulling at his lips. “What are you plotting, Kahuna?”

“I’m not plotting anything, Man of Fire.” Nanu smirked at him. “Just think we need to spend some time catching up together. Somewhere a little more private than out here.” He nodded at the very public setting they were in.

“Of course.” Kabu nodded. “You have a place in mind, I take it?”

“Sure I do. I have an apartment not far from here, if you’d care to join me?” Nanu asked, arching an eyebrow.

Oldflameshipping, in universe, would be really cute and fun. Nanu gets something good out of life for once, excluding Acerola, and the two probably bond over being the only people in their respective leagues with any braincells.

Catlovershipping? Absolute chaos. The biggest criminal in the world is dating one of the most powerful guys in Alola, let alone the world, said guy having a bunch of info on Interpol? It would be a catastrophe.

Catfightshipping? The old sad guy gets a buff, upbeat guy to date AND has to deal with more politics. Best of both worlds.

little doodle I had when talking to my friend about christmas with these two