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Tracey was enjoying a quiet night of drawing when his phone chimed. He glanced over to see a message from Gary.
Traceyyyyy
Considering Gary had gone out for the night to spend time with some friends, Tracey had a feeling he knew what had happened. He typed a reply.
You’re drunk, aren’t you?
Gary’s reply took a minute. Tracey waited, patiently watching the typing bubble.
you know how i;m really cool and talented at lots of things? it turns out beer pong is mot one of them
Another text came through a moment later—a long string of heart emojis. Tracey felt a smile play across his face, affection warming his heart.
Are you having fun?
There was a pause before Gary showed any sign of replying.
yeag but i miss you :(
There was only one way Tracey could ever respond to that when Gary was within biking distance.
I’ll be there soon. Be good and don’t drink any tequila
He was already heading downstairs when he got Gary’s next reply.
HELL YEAH
Shaking his head in fond amusement, he put his phone in his pocket and headed out.
The night was pleasantly cool, and the full moon and clear sky full of stars would be enough to see by even if Tracey didn’t know his way around Pallet by heart. Still, he was relieved that the town had too few cars to ever have much traffic.
It didn’t take long to get to the house Gary had walked to earlier in the evening. He set his bike aside and rang the doorbell.
“Coming!” someone inside called.
The door opened and Tracey was greeted by the face of Sage, a young man he knew for two things—having enough of a way with plants to occasionally help Mrs. Ketchum with her gardening, and being the reason Gary’s nose was crooked. The latter was harder to believe—apparently his brief time as a trainer had mellowed him out.
“Hey, Gary said you were coming.” He stepped aside to let Tracey in. “Want anything to drink?”
“Just water, thanks,” Tracey answered.
Sage looked a little confused, but nodded and sauntered off to the kitchen. He returned a few moments later with the cup of water.
Tracey took it with a thanks and Sage responded with a relaxed smile. “C’mon, I’ll take you to him.”
Tracey followed Sage, though he didn’t need any guidance to find Gary—not when he could hear Gary’s laughter, a sound he’d know anywhere.
Several young adults Tracey was more or less acquainted with were settled around the room. Gary was sprawled out on the couch, but talking animatedly with a young woman who seemed very amused by whatever he was saying. She stopped him mid-sentence when she noticed Tracey. “Gary, your boyfriend’s here!”
Gary sat bolt upright and nearly fell over. “Tracey!”
There was a chorus of scattered greetings from the rest of the room. Tracey gave a little wave, ducking his head self-consciously as he went to Gary’s side. “Hey, Gary. How’re you feeling?”
Gary seemed to think for a moment. “Dizzy,” he decided. “C’mere, I wanna kiss.”
Tracey couldn’t deny him that. He moved to sit beside Gary, who wasted no time launching himself at Tracey to kiss with a fervent desperation as if they hadn’t seen each other in months. The bitter taste of alcohol lingered on Gary’s lips, but Tracey couldn’t bring himself to mind when they were so warm and soft and familiar, and on his.
Someone cheered and Tracey pulled back, feeling his face flush at the reminder there were other people in the room. Gary blinked open his eyes, frowning in confusion.
Gary reached clumsily for a cup that was sitting on the floor and, acting on instinct, Tracey picked it up and downed it instead. He instantly regretted it when he registered the bitterness and had to fight his gag reflex to swallow it.
Gary pouted. “‘Hey, that was mine.”
Tracey handed him the water. “You’ve had enough alcohol. You really ought to drink this.”
“If I do, can I— hic —kiss you again?” Gary asked with a playful grin.
Tracey’s heart melted. He was way too soft for Gary’s unguarded affection. “Sure, moonbeam.”
Gary looked at Tracey with the most lovestruck expression and drank eagerly, some of the water running down his face. He put the empty cup down and slumped against Tracey. Tracey had to suppress a shiver as the feeling of Gary peppering his neck with kisses sent a thrill through him.
Tracey gently pushed Gary away a little, appeasing his pout with a kiss on his forehead. He wished he’d drank some of his water before giving it to Gary—he’d really like to rinse the bitter taste of whatever he’d drank out of his mouth. He could ask Sage, but the apparent host had fallen asleep on a girl’s shoulder.
Maybe he should get Gary home—a drunk Gary was extremely affectionate and utterly shameless, and things could get embarrassing for both of them if they lingered. “Gary,” he murmured. “How about we head home?”
Gary nodded and Tracey had to grab him to stop him from faceplanting. This was going to be interesting.
Tracey got up and pulled Gary to his feet.
“Bye, guys!” Gary said cheerfully. “I’m goin’ home with this hot piece of ass!”
“Gary, please,” Tracey said, mortified. With a wave, he led Gary out.
Gary tripped on the way out the door, yelping loudly, and Tracey swiftly caught him. “Easy, I’ve got you.”
Maybe Tracey should’ve driven there—walking home with Gary like this was going to be difficult. At least maybe the fresh air would do him some good.
Gary stumbled ahead excitedly to look up at the night sky, promptly losing his balance and falling flat onto his back like a piplup.
“Gary!” Tracey rushed to kneel at his side. “Are you okay?”
“The moon’s so pretty, lookit.”
Tracey looked up. Gary was right—clear nights in Pallet Town were always beautiful, especially when the moon was as full and bright as it was now. “Yeah, it is.”
Then he looked down at Gary, flushed and smiling with dark green eyes full of stars, and couldn’t help thinking that his boyfriend’s beauty very nearly put the night sky to shame.
“Y’know what else is pretty?” Gary asked.
“You are,” Tracey replied affectionately.
“Yeah, but I was talkin’ ‘bout you.” He reached up and poked Tracey’s chest for emphasis.
Tracey leaned down to kiss Gary’s nose. “You’re sweet.”
“‘S true!” Gary said, tears forming in his eyes. “You’re so pretty an’ smart an’ nice, do I even deserve you?”
“Of course you do,” Tracey soothed. “You’re amazing too, remember? And besides, whether or not you deserve me doesn’t matter. I chose you, and you’re the only person I want.”
“Good,” Gary said. “‘Cause you’re the only one I want too.”
Tracey sighed fondly. “Come on, let’s get you home.”
He stood, and Gary held out a hand to be pulled up. As soon as Gary was standing, he wobbled on his feet, and Tracey steadied him with an arm around his back. Gary leaned easily against Tracey in response. His warmth was a pleasant contrast to the cool night air.
Tracey guided Gary’s stumbling steps down the familiar path home while Gary gazed up at the sky. He’d gone quiet, and Tracey wasn’t sure if that was the telltale sign he was about to be sick or if he was just that captivated by the view. Either way, Tracey would be keeping a careful eye on him.
Gary made a choked noise and slapped a hand over his mouth, uttering a muffled curse. That answered that question.
“Trace, I’m ‘onna— fuck—”
Tracey guided him over to the soft grass where he could drop to his hands and knees without hurting himself, kneeling beside him to rub his back as he retched. Feeling the spasms that racked his body was enough to make Tracey ache in sympathy. Poor guy.
Once it was over, he was breathless and trembling. Tracey pulled Gary away from the puddle of sick and onto his lap, letting Gary’s head rest on his chest. “Better?”
Gary’s only answer was a tired groan. He’d gone from the loudly affectionate phase of drunkenness to the sick and miserable phase, arms wrapped around himself and eyes shut.
Now it was going to be really difficult to get him home. But instead of worrying about that, Tracey ran a hand along his spine consolingly. They could stay put until Gary was ready to move again—whether or not that meant Tracey carrying him—or if he wasn’t until tomorrow, they could spend the night under the stars.
Even sober, Gary loved when Tracey rubbed his back—which always seemed to ache from pent up tension and too much time hunched over a desk—so it wasn’t surprising when he hummed with pleasure as Tracey continued. Words blurred together by a combination of alcohol and sleepiness, he mumbled, “Feelso good… Don’ever stop, please.”
As if Tracey would ever have the heart. “Of course. You wanna go home, though? I can carry you.”
“I c’n walk,” Gary said, not sounding at all like he could walk. “Wanna sleep in your room though… there’s ghosts in mine.”
“Ghosts?” Tracey repeated as he helped Gary up, steadying his boyfriend.
Gary nodded, nearly lost his balance, and grabbed onto Tracey’s arm. “‘S mostly my pops I think. Was his room first. But ghosts hangin’ out in your room gives you some fuckin’ weird dreams an’ it sucks.”
Tracey hummed in understanding. Gary had enough to contend with on his own. But still, if it was true, there was something sweet about the thought of Gary’s father wanting to keep watch over the family he’d been torn from too soon—Tracey had heard from the professor about the accident that had claimed Buckley and Scarlet Oak’s lives when Gary was barely more than a toddler. A photo of the smiling couple and their then-tiny son had been on the refrigerator forever.
Gary seldom talked about his parents or how he felt about growing up without them—though Tracey couldn’t fault him for that. Tracey preferred not to talk about the family situation he’d left behind.
“Traceyyy,” Gary whined, pulling Tracey out of his thoughts. “C’n you rub my back s’more?”
“As you wish, moonbeam.” Tracey continued running his hand along Gary’s back, earning a sigh.
“I love you,” Gary said. He pressed up against Tracey, nuzzling as they walked. It reminded Tracey of the way affectionate feline pokémon would sometimes follow him around the ranch, rubbing against his legs.
Tracey turned his head to kiss Gary’s cheek. “And I love you.”
Finally, they made it home. Tracey opened the door and Gary let go of him, took two steps in, and dropped onto the floor.
Tracey shook his head fondly as he looked down at his boyfriend. “What am I going to do with you?”
“Nothin’,” Gary replied. “Just lemme sleep.”
“Not on the floor.” Tracey knelt beside him and scooped him up in a princess carry. “Come on, to bed.”
Gary grumbled a little, but quickly relaxed into Tracey’s arms, nuzzling his shoulder with eyes closed.
Tracey started upstairs. By the time he’d gotten to his room, Gary was snoring softly.
Marill was curled up on the bed, but stirred at Tracey’s approach—he was possibly the only creature alive that could hear Tracey coming. Though it probably helped this time that Tracey was weighed down by his very drunk, exhausted boyfriend.
Seeing Tracey’s predicament, Marill grabbed a corner of the comforter and pulled it down, allowing Tracey to lay Gary down and pull it over him. Gary didn’t stir—he was out like a light.
Tracey clambered into bed with them, lying on his back so he could have Gary on one side and Marill on the other. Gary moved only to snuggle closer, flinging an arm around Tracey’s waist, while Marill nestled into the space between his head and shoulder.
He closed his eyes with a blissful sigh. The night had been more eventful than expected, but this was a fine ending.