A/N: I apparently gave up on keeping a schedule, but whatever. This, believe it or not, is not actually the last part either. ;)

Characters/Pairings: Green-centric, various implied (Green/Red this part)

Five Jobs Green Never Had (and One He Did)
5. Field Researcher

Green likes to think that it's sort of an accident that he ended up in this field, but it's really not. As for what "this field" exactly is, even Green hasn't decided himself if he means his particular field of research or, literally, the field of grass he's currently standing in.

The thing is, he never really liked field research in the first place. He says, "If I wanted to do field research, I would've become a trainer," and "Don't you send out trainers to do this kind of data collection thing?" and "Why aren't any of you going out there?" to which he is always answered with sly dodges and nervous fidgeting.

It's not even that Green dislikes the outdoors - he liked doing research on his Grandfather's ranch just fine - but field work? It's so messy and wild and predictable, and if there's one thing Green needs, it's to always have control of the situation.

But his grandfather is wiser than the rest of them and says, "I have some decent researchers working in my lab already, but none of them would be good enough to send out into the field. I don't trust them, not like I trust you."

When Green doesn't look convinced, he adds, "We can breed and raise Pokémon in the lab, but they live in the wild. There's only so much we can learn from them here. And there're plenty of people doing what I'm doing in here already. We need more people out there."

But most of all - "You're too good to stay here. Go out and make a name for yourself," which just about seals the deal for Green.

After a few weeks, Green finds that he doesn't really mind. The fresh air is a nice change and he can see his Eevee getting stronger every day, protecting him from other wild Pokémon. He just about settles into his routine when his grandfather calls to ask him for a favor.

"This kid, Red, he's fantastic - incredibly thorough with his Pokédex," his grandfather raves to him over the phone, and Green can't help but wonder again if what he's doing out here has any significance. "He's doing a great job of collecting data for us. Would you mind taking a gift to him, as token of our thanks?"

Green moans and rolls his eyes. "Why can't you get someone in your lab to do it?" he says through gritted teeth because he's a researcher, not a fucking delivery boy.

"You're closer," his grandfather insists. "Besides, you'll learn a lot from him - he can help your research too. And he's nice. You'll like him."

(Green thinks that if the kid is anything like the other trainers he's met on the road doing research then no, Green won't like him. Is the concept of, No, I'm not a trainer so I don't want to battle,' really that hard to understand? But it's usually worth Eevee's smug satisfaction when she gets to beat them.)

In the end, Green agrees anyway because even though he doesn't want to be relegated to a delivery boy, it's his grandfather asking, and the item gets sent to him via his PC. He's not sure why they couldn't have just given it to the boy that way instead.

Green then spends the entire day waiting at the checkpoint between two routes for Red to show up like his grandfather says he will. It's not so bad because he gets some of his report written, but Eevee is bored and whiny, now used to being outside all day, and it is kind of hard to concentrate when you have to look up every five minutes to make sure that the person passing through the checkpoint isn't the one you're looking for.

Around nine, Green is irritated and ready to leave but then a boy with a red cap and a Pikachu on his shoulder shows up.

"Are you Red?" Green approaches and asks, and if he isn't, he's seriously thinking about killing someone for wasting a day of his time. The boy looks at him tiredly, but nods.

"God, what took you so long to get here?" Green rants at him as he digs through his backpack for the item his grandfather wants him to give to Red. "Don't you know it's rude to keep people waiting? I just wasted an entire day waiting for you."

Red shuffles nervously while Green rants at him, and jumps a little when Green thrusts the item an HM for Flash - at him, looking at it warily.

"Here, take it," Green says, and Red's appropriately red eyes look at him, confused. "...Didn't my grandfather tell you I had something for you?"

Red shakes his head. Green has never been madder at his grandfather.

But he realizes it's not Red's fault either, so he clears his throat and tries again. "Sorry," he says sheepishly. "I'm Green, Professor Oak's grandson. I'm doing research in the field. Here -" he takes Red's hand and presses the HM 05 Flash into it. "A gift. For you." He puts on his best apologetic smile.

Red looks stares at him, but puts the item into his own backpack.

"Can I see your Pokédex?" Green asks, remembering what his grandfather told him about the data. "We can get dinner. I'll pay," he adds, because he hasn't eaten yet and Red looks so haggard that even if he has eaten, he probably could and should eat more, and he really owes it to Red as an apology for snapping at him.

Red pulls down his cap over his eyes a little and nods.

So they find a late-night diner and Green orders them a plate of fries while Eevee and Red's Pikachu munch on some treats. Red turns out to be not much of a talker (at all), but Green finds it cathartic for someone to just sit there and listen to him talk about his work.

"Thanks for all the data," he says when they leave the restaurant. "Here, give me your Pokégear. I'll give you my number in case you need anything. And I'll call you in case my grandfather decides to be stupid again and not tell you I'm waiting to give you something."

Red nods mutely and hands over his Pokégear for Green to program his number into.

It turns out that his grandfather is right (go figure), and Red's data does make Green's life significantly easier. They meet a few more times, quickly exchanging data and whatever item his grandfather's passed on to him to deliver. Red always seems a little disappointed at the end of their meetings, but Green thinks that it might just his imagination.

He accidentally meets Red again on his way back to Pallet Town from Route 22.

"What are you doing here?" he asks amicably, and Red pulls out his case of eight badges.

"Oh," Green says, a little surprised. But then again, he'd always known that Red was trainer, a good one at that, so it shouldn't have been such a shocker that he collected enough badges to challenge the Pokémon league.

Before Green has the chance to excuse himself and get out of his way, Red shoves his Pokédex in Green's face.

"Erm... thanks?" he says and takes out his laptop to download the data onto it, and Eevee takes the time to play with Red's Pikachu for a bit. He doesn't particularly need it right now, but Green knows whatever Red's collected will eventually be helpful.

When he finishes, he catches Red staring straight at him expectantly.

There's an awkward pause. "Oh. Um, I- I don't have anything to give you this time," he admits sheepishly. And then he realizes that he never exactly told Red that the gifts were from his grandfather, not him.

"Then you should take me out to dinner again," Red says and pulls his cap over his eyes, his face turning bright red.

Oh, his brain thinks. Then - Is that the first thing he's ever said to me? And then - What? which is also what he tries to say, but it ends up coming out like, "Okay."

Both of them blink in surprise.

"Y-yeah. Sure," Green stutters. Red's not blushing quite as hard anymore, but he's wearing a shy smile on his face that might be something like, That'd be really nice.

Green thinks that he might owe his grandfather one.

to follow...