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"...So. How badly did the evaluation go for you?"
Katy looks over at Grusha when he says that much, lips pursing. He likely doesn't need to ask, but it's the first conversation the two of them have made since coming to the Treasure Eatery. It's hardly anything romantic; there's some food at the table that's grown cold, and some drinks that have been delved into quite a bit between the both of them. A nice cocktail for Katy, and despite all of her assurances that he wouldn't be 'uncool' for ordering one himself, a whiskey for Grusha. He clearly made a face every time he drank it, and it was something Katy couldn't help but be amused by. Sure, he was an adult, but even he was trying to make himself grow up too fast...
"Well..." Katy takes another sip of her cocktail, picking at her food with a fork without eating it. "I think it could've gone worse. I'm still the Leader of the gym, so that has to count for something, right?"
Katy watches Grusha's expression dip downward, clearly trying not to comment about the dishonesty in that statement. Katy was one to try and remain optimistic, even in the face of this, but...well...
"...My Pokemon's lack of enthusiasm to battle got put on my shoulder's. Again." That comes out a little more sincere, and really, much more tired. Grusha's look goes back to her at that, brows knitting. "I don't know how many times I can tell La Primera that I'm doing all I can for my sweethearts, but...it doesn't feel like enough. It never does. It's more than a mite frustrating, sweetheart. I just..."
"...Don't want to focus on it?" Grusha offers, but Katy shakes her head as she drains her second cocktail. Arceus above, help her.
"Well, it's something I do need to focus on, dear. I...simply find myself at a loss, for how to be able to do so."
"Mmm." Grusha pauses a bit, before a hand just...idly reaches out over the table, prompting some blinking from Katy before she offers her own. He holds it easily in his; firm, and warm, even without the gloves he wore so often. "I get it. I bet La Primera didn't even give you any suggestions, did she?"
La Primera. There's a difference in the way both of them say it, and Katy notices it more and more when she's with Grusha; she says it with at least some modicum of respect for the power that the Champion of the region has earned, because Geeta is strong, whether they want to admit it or not. Perhaps mostly in a business sense, but the woman can run a mean business. Whenever Grusha says it though, it feels like a knife. A spitting of bile, against the very businesswoman who determines their paychecks.
Katy finds herself chuckling a bit, and she's not entirely certain if it's the alcohol or herself. "No. She didn't. She was quite busy, but...it would have been nice to have a wee bit of direction."
"That'd mean she'd have to make time for something that isn't business." Grusha's expression quirks, and clearly, he's having a good time roasting their boss. Katy can't help but chuckle a bit at that, and she looks around the quiet restaurant a bit. There's so few people here that it's essentially the cooks, them, and one couple far off having a good time of their own. It's strange, without the fervent fanfare that Larry inspired in battle. But...
Well, Katy does find herself smiling just a bit, before moving to lace her fingers with Grusha's. "It would. You won't find me in disagreement, dear."
Silence settles in the air, as they both continue to very plainly not touch their food; Katy genuinely feels bad at letting the food cool down so much, letting all of the cook's hard work go to waste. But neither of them let go of the other's hand, and while they continue to drink, Katy looks to Grusha and chances, "And what about your own? It seemed like things went...well, a mite ugly over there."
Grusha pauses, briefly, looking at her with that uncaring, unaffected gaze that was hiding the fact that no. He cared a lot. "...How much did she say?"
Katy's lips purse a bit. "Not much. She simply hoped that I wouldn't be as difficult as her last evaluation, and given what we talked about last night..."
"...Oh. I get it." Grusha just kind of sighs, before draining the rest of his whiskey shot--something he immediately regrets, and Katy sighs at him over.
"Sweetheart, you need to be careful with that..."
"Ugh. Don't tell me what to do, it's so uncool."
"I'm just trying to make sure you don't wake up tomorrow with a hangover. You do know that will just make everything worse, right?" Katy's pleading is very gentle, but it gets Grusha to glance away like he's been chastised. Rightfully so, but even still...
"Please. It can't go any worse than snapping off at the Champion." Grusha lets that out, just kind of sinking into the booth a bit. He hasn't once let go of her hand, and she finds herself idly rubbing circles into it with her thumb while he vents. "I'm just...I'm so sick of her. Nothing I do is ever going to satisfy her until I start kissing her ass like her secretary and everybody else. And she knows it, too. She knows I've got nothing left if this doesn't work out."
"But she doesn't care about people. She doesn't care about anything but fitting us all into tight little holes and glaring down at us when we ask for a bit of air." Grusha grumbles, starting to set his head on the table after pushing some plates and glasses aside.
"Oh, Grusha, sweetie..." Katy's tone is pained when she speaks again. She knew well that Grusha didn't like Geeta, but knowing that their animosity has grown to that extent... "I'm so sorry. Was it something she said that set you off?"
Grusha grumbles a bit from face-down on the table, but it's clear enough. "Said I wasn't living up to my potential. As if I don't already know that."
Katy's expression tightens, briefly, flashing something almost angry at that. "...And she knows. She knows what happened--"
"Yep. Of course she does." Grusha chuckles, humorlessly, and she can feel his grip loosening on their hands. She doesn't let go. "Guess it's good to know that everyone knows I have nothing left. She said we were gonna have to have a talk about my conduct. But I doubt she'll actually get rid of me. Larry's no fun to pick on for her anymore, so she's gotta pick someone else. May as well pick the guy who couldn't go back to his old career if he tried, right?"
Silence falls heavily over the room when Grusha says that, and Katy's expression shifts to one of pain. Katy's no stranger to Grusha's self loathing; it's something she can meet in kind on bad days, and they usually relieve stress off of each other for that purpose. But seeing and knowing that Grusha is in so much pain, and that even losing all of this would be more of a mercy than keeping going...
"...If she does elect to fire you, you will always have a place with me."
Grusha jolts up at that, eyes wide. Almost as if-- "...You wanna run that one by me again--?"
Katy's expression is firm in it's resolve, and her other hand reaches to grasp the one already laced with Grusha's fingers; warm, enveloping, and deeply determined. "I don't believe I stuttered, dear. I would be more than happy to take you under my wing at the bakery. Or perhaps even as a gym trainer. But I'm not just going to leave you behind. You know that, right, Grusha?"
Another silence hangs over the room, as Grusha tries to process that. Process that Katy means what she says, that she genuinely wants to offer this to him. That this is real, and maybe she's said too much, maybe she's taken this too far, because her heart aches and aches and aches for him--
"...I...I'll keep that in mind."
Grusha's words are soft, but he doesn't stare at her after he's done. He does wiggle his hand free, gently, and Katy lets him go without a single thought as her expression deflates a bit. Grusha stands, makes to leave, and Katy feels herself resigned to picking up the tab and all of this mess alone, but he speaks up again.
"...Thanks. I don't know what to say, but...I won't forget this, Katy."
And that's when Grusha turns around, expression awkward but...thankful. Katy has to swallow down the relief and almost joy she feels--that someone she cares for can feel comforted by such a statement, because she knows, they both know what it's like to feel constraint and restrained by circumstances. As Katy gets up and they get everything cleaned, they part ways as normal, but...
Well, Katy's not entirely certain how much longer the two of them can keep feelings out of their relationship.