Working on Po Town | (Guzma x Star)
Post Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon, Guzma is working on rebuilding Po Town to make up for what he's done. Star is sneaking around, usually helping when Guzma isn't around, but they manage to get some bad info from the Skull Grunts about their Boss not being there today.
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Inspired by this post from @danisrubberoom
which means that @theultimatefreakform is also at fault (along with their NSFW Guzma x reader fic inspiring me to write some guzma)
not beta read and i literally just finished writing this like 30 min ago sjkghfkjg
(hope it was alright to tag you two!!)
Star fanned themself with their hand; the sun was beating down hard today. They had known today would be bad, and had opted for a more comfortable outfit; black leggings and just a plain navy blue t-shirt. They had wanted to continue helping out Team Skull with fixing up Po Town though. Nobody had asked them, but Star couldn't help but want to lend a hand anyway. The grunts, and Guzma, had really grown on them over their time around the Island with Moon and Lilie.
They only came when Guzma wasn't around helping though, if he knew they were here he'd probably tell the grunts to keep them away. Probably say something about how he didn't need their pity or something. Luckily a few of the grunts were willing to text them and let them know when their Boss didn't plan to show up so they could sneak in and help.
Star heard a nearby grunt groan. "I left some tools and materials we'll need behind."
"Thanks! They're off that way, by the old Pokécenter. " Star headed off towards the Pokécenter. "Think I left 'em in the back!" It wasn't too far a walk from one of the old houses in the back of town to the Pokécenter, but there wasn't near enough trees around for decent shade from the sun. Star saw the tools and materials as they barely turned the corner behind the Pokécenter, and began picking them up. After they returned, they should probably take a break in the shade for a bit.
Standing back up, Star's gaze looked straight ahead to see something that stopped them in their tracks. Guzma, shirtless. His back was towards them as he stretched, thank Arceus. They couldn't help but stare. They hadn't noticed just how muscular he was, his usual baggy clothes really hid a lot they supposed. Admittedly, they had had a crush on him during their time running around the islands, but they hadn't done anything about it.
They were busy keeping an eye on two kids - not to mention helping save the islands - and then with the events in Ultra Space; they'd decided it would be best to just keep their feelings to themself. He'd been through a lot after all. Star shook their head a little, breaking themself from their thoughts. They needed to leave before he realized they were here.
Hopefully if they stuck to the house in the back, they wouldn't run into him, and they could sneak out after their break. As Star turned around to quietly leave, they felt something slipping from their hands and a couple of tools fell before they could do anything about them.
Guzma whirled around at the sound of something hitting the ground behind him to Star bending down to grab some tools off the ground. "Shit." He heard them mutter.
"What're you doin' here?" He said, almost with an accusatory tone. He looked them over, realizing that they weren't in their usual outfit. The heat was clearly getting to them too, their cheeks were pink, and their shirt was clinging to their waist. Star rolled their eyes as they looked back at him, trying extremely hard to look at just his face.
"I didn't know you were helping out around Po Town." Star laughed, not at Guzma, but just at the situation.
"That's kinda the point of me sneaking around." They said, smiling. "I knew you wouldn't let me help out." Guzma crossed his arms, and Star's green eyes moved almost subconsciously to them as they flexed slightly before they immediately shot back up to his face.
"Then why do ya' keep doing it?" he said, putting on his usual overconfident grin, "Not many people would go sneakin' around if it meant pissing off the Ex-Boss of Team Skull."
"'Cause I want to help out, obviously!" Star huffed, "If it helps just think I'm doing it for the grunts, not you." Guzma let out a laugh through his nose. He caught their eyes wandering downward again, before snapping back up to his face, and he remembered that he'd taken his shirt off.
"Shit." he looked genuinely apologetic and embarrassed, "Didn't think you were here, sorry. Thought it was just the grunts." He bent down to grab his shirt off the ground. "I'll put it back on."
"No!" Star felt their cheeks turn more red as they immediately replied. They were hitting themself on the inside; could they SOUND more desperate?!?! "It is hot out, and you didn't know I was here. It's fine." While the view was nice, they genuinely didn't want him to be uncomfortable just because he thought they were uncomfortable with it. Guzma seemed to study them for a moment. Star fanned themself with their hand again, squinting as they glanced up at the sun. "I was about to head back and take a break in the shade anyway."
As they looked back down, they saw Guzma walking over to them. They held the stuff in their hands tighter to their chest, partially afraid that something would fall on their feet this time, and in an attempt to try and keep themself together. Was he genuinely mad that they'd been sneaking around?? They knew he wouldn't like it, but Star hadn't thought it would truly be a problem. He stopped in front of them, and Star had to tilt their head up a little to see his face.
To their surprise he moved their bangs out of the way to put a hand on their forehead, grinning. Guzma whistled. "That's not a bad idea." he said, "You do seem pretty hot right now." Star's brain seemed to overload at his words and they stood shocked for a moment; Guzma had a horrible habit of saying things that sounded like they had a second meaning. It was incredibly hard not to read too far into it, because surely he didn't genuinely mean it. Feeling their face start to overheat again, Star quickly stepped back from his hand.
"W-Well your hand certainly isn't helping!" They complained, trying to play off their discomfort, "It's warm too and you're also sweaty!" Guzma laughed, his hand coming down to sit on his own waist.
"No other complaints, huh?" He quirked an eyebrow, clearly enjoying their reactions. Star needed to get out of here, now.
"You're always reading too much into things Guzma!" Star huffed, turning around to leave, "Not everyone talks like you!"
Guzma couldn't help but think about what an interesting reaction Star had. Maybe he'd let them hang around Po Town anyway, and have some fun dropping by when they didn't expect it.
