Chapter Text
“What's the matter?” Leon’s question breaks Raihan’s thoughts, prompting the Gym Leader to look up and meet his friend-slash-rival’s gaze.
They're seated opposite each other either side of Leon's desk, in Leon's office, in the Battle Tower - with fancy takeaway chai and fresh sponge cake (sandwiched around thick layers of whipped cream and jam), which Raihan had picked up from that cute dessert parlour round the corner - because with both their hectic schedules, this is the closest they could get to a café date (not date, Raihan quickly corrects himself)– the best they could do in terms of meeting up for the first time in weeks, in private, without either fans or the media watching their every move.
It's not that Raihan dislikes the attention - of course he doesn't, as his Rotom Phone would eagerly attest - but sometimes it's nice to have Leon all to himself be able to relax, and for the both of them to freely shed their public personas. Besides, Raihan has a photoshoot that afternoon - the primary reason he's in Wyndon in the first place - to fill up his adoration quota for the day (if it's even something he needs to be filled, outside of the gratification he gets from his solid social media presence).
“Rai?”
Leon’s eyes are wide and curious, accentuated by the long black lashes which frame them; the golden irises are unnervingly innocent - especially when compared to the passion with which they so readily burn during a battle. They're also unnervingly pretty (Raihan doesn't think he will, or even know if he wants to, ever get used to their honey-warm depths).
The Hammerlocke Dragon Tamer blinks, frowns, slouches a fraction lower, and turns his attention back to his Natter feed; he pointedly ignores the blank, unimpressed expression on the Natu icon in the corner, as if it's judging him for his (coming up to a half-decade long, believe it or not) lovesick cowardice.
(Although, in Raihan's defence, he'd only actually labelled his feelings correctly fairly recently: embarrassingly, it had taken Leon's near-death experience for Raihan to realise what his lifelong obsession with the man actually meant… And less than 0.01% of the length of his 5-year crush to realise he wasn't going to do a thing about it, for fear of ruining their relationship forever.)
“Don't say ‘nothing’,” Leon follows up with, gentle despite the grin he's definitely sporting - Raihan can envisage the soft quirk to Leon's lips even without looking. “You know I can tell when there's something bothering you.”
Sighing through his nose, Raihan drums his fingers against the side of his near-empty cup, eyes still fixated on his phone.
“...It's not like I'm not a romantic,” Raihan eventually mutters, feeling like a giant hypocrite. “I'm a proud Galarian, too; the Great Raihan’d gladly stick up for any of our region’s traditions - would knock the block off of anyone who'd dare take the mick outta something us lot do…”
Leon is quiet, patient as Raihan trails off.
“But I'm also a Pokémon lover, and a Dragon Tamer at that,” Raihan exhales, still not meeting Leon's intent gaze. “So I can't help it if stuff like this pisses me off, can I?”
Rather than explain any further, Raihan drops his phone with a lazy flick of his wrist, motioning for his Rotom to take over and continue the spin to float - screen forward - towards the ex-Champion.
Raihan tries not to pout as he watches Leon silently read the Natter post:
“Need a good-luck charm in love? An apple a day keeps the doctor away; an Applin, we say, gets your lover to stay! #applin #truelove #forever”
Above the caption is a photo of a popular actress cupping an Applin in the palms of her hands, stretching the Pokémon towards the camera with a flirtatious wink.
Leon tilts his head to one side, obvious confusion upon his features (it's frustratingly adorable - but now isn't the time for Raihan to dwell on that).
“You’re… not a fan of the actress?” Leon hazards (again, annoyingly cute in his wrongness).
“Did you miss all the other stuff I just said?” Raihan glares in disbelief. “The Applin!” He gestures a hand towards his phone in exasperation. “And that bloody–” he cuts himself short to try again. “And that tradition of gifting one to your lover, which everyone seemed to have forgotten about until now! I even heard one muppet outside the Vault telling anyone who passed by about it, like he was doing the world a favour by sharing this ‘fantastic’ rumour,” Raihan finishes with a petulant fold of his arms.
“I know,” Leon's face breaks into one of his sunshine smiles. “I was just teasing, mate.”
Arceus, Raihan almost wants to slap that grin off Leon’s stupid handsome face (he also wants to bask in that brilliant radiance forever - or maybe kiss it off? but that's neither here nor there).
The expression Raihan must have been making is enough to melt Leon’s smile into something softer and more placating.
“Sorry, Rairai,” Leon apologises (ah, that pet name - the way it hugs yet tugs at Raihan's heart every time really is unfair). “I get it. But what's in it for this lot,” Leon motions with an upwards flick of his chin, “whether people start catching Applin or not?”
“Advertising for a new film or something,” Raihan fails at stopping any pouting, the squeeze in his chest blossoming into a smouldering glow, safely barricaded by his crossed arms - like an X-shaped shield holding back the flames. “Part of the plot and a chance to sell Applin merch alongside tickets,” he feels his frown deepen. “Money, money, money, innit.”
Leon hums in thoughtful acknowledgement.
“Last time there was a fad about ‘em was back when we were late teens,” Raihan composes himself a little, his Rotom Phone drifting back towards him again and he catches it in one hand. “Didn't last long once people realised: just cos Applin are small and cute, doesn't mean they're not an absolute ball-ache to raise properly.”
Leon smiles sympathetically at Raihan's crude language - worse than usual (away from the cameras) to showcase his upset. The other man’s empathy spurs Raihan on to continue his rant.
“At the end of the day, Applin are a Dragon type - and there's a reason I'm known as a Dragon Tamer rather than just a Dragon Trainer,” Raihan scoffs. “They're not a Pokémon you can just pick up and half-arse looking after, despite their innocent appearance.”
(‘A bit like battling you,’ Raihan's thoughts wander as Leon tilts his head into the palm of one hand, his cheek squishing cutely at the contact, ‘it’s not something you can half-arse and hope for the best with, despite how innocent you look right now’).
“So you don't like the fact people are being encouraged to go catch them again?” Leon mimics Raihan's downward turn to his brow.
“Not if it's gonna be like last time,” Raihan shakes his head. “Doesn’t matter how long a fad may or may not last. If people actually looked after ‘em it'd be a different story - but years ago, they were either released for being too much trouble or just left in their PC box.” Raihan sighs in a defeated manner. “I dunno which is worse, actually.”
“It's a fact released Pokémon take time to get back on their feet after being caught,” Leon concurs, “no matter how long they've been out of the wild.”
“Exactly,” Raihan clicks his tongue.
“And being stuck long-term as data on a PC is still under debate with how healthy it is for Pokémon,” Leon thinks out loud.
“Right?” Raihan leans back in his chair, stretching his legs out either side of Leon's feet under the table. “Because they're data, they don't feel anything? Like being unconscious in cryostasis? I don't buy it. Sure wouldn't do that to any of my Pokémon: indefinitely stored in a box.”
Leon hums again in agreement, his aura a lot more serious compared to the start of the conversation. Raihan doesn't miss the way the new Chairman's eyes flick towards the balcony - where Charizard and Duraludon are sprawled out beside each other, sunbathing - before dropping to look at the back of Raihan's Rotom Phone.
“...So,” Leon eventually breaks the lull, both Trainers deep in thought, “it's not the tradition itself you hate - you're just worried the Applin won't get looked after properly.”
“Yeah,” Raihan half-mumbles, glancing up at Leon from hooded eyes. “The actual gifting part ain't bad.”
Honestly, Raihan would be absolutely stoked if Leon were to carry out a gesture like that: gifting Raihan a rare Dragon-type Pokémon, which he doesn't yet have on his team precisely because of this lame tradition, the true reason which he would never admit to out loud.
“Alright then,” Leon nods as if he's just decided something incredibly important, akin to when he gives orders on the running of the Battle Tower - although the effect is slightly ruined by the fact his cheek is still squished against his palm. “Leave it with me,” Leon winks.
“You what?” Raihan's frown reappears. Sure, Leon has connections, but as far as Raihan knows that's usually nothing to do with the film industry.
“I'll sort it,” Leon smiles breezily, the light-hearted air from before returning.
The ex-Champion speaks with such confidence, Raihan finds it difficult to remain sceptical - part of Leon's natural charisma along with his carefully sculpted public persona shining through… It almost wouldn't be amiss if the purple-haired man were to stand and strike a Charizard pose at this moment.
Just then, the chime rings from the clock tower outside: 3 o'clock.
Internally, Raihan laments the end to his and Leon's not-date - and the fact he and his social media-addicted self couldn't resist snapping a selfie of them with their orders midway through and immediately uploading it (#afternoontea #cute - the second tag obviously referencing the tea and cake aesthetic, not Leon and his goofy adorable grin with a smudge of cream on his lip), then got caught up in his feed rather than relishing his one-on-one time with his closest friend (and ridiculous one-sided crush) as much as he could’ve.
“Time flies when you're having fun,” Leon stands with an apologetic smile. “Hate to cut this short, but those potential Battle Tower sponsors await me,” he gives a halfhearted mock bow.
“Yeah, I know,” Raihan rubs the back of his neck as he stretches it out, standing up too. “I'll walk you down so you're not late from getting lost.”
“It’s literally in the meeting room below us,” Leon raises an eyebrow and loosely gestures towards the door.
“Yeah, I'll walk you down so you don't get lost,” Raihan repeats in a deadpan. “Don’t pretend you don't get confused every time you come out the lift.”
Leon’s expression breaks into another grin as he shrugs his shoulders, unable to deny the comment.
“Besides, I'm not gonna stick around in your office without you,” Raihan bends as he gathers the rubbish into the takeaway polystyrene bag. “I'll get this stuff chucked in the bin, too.”
Leon moves to help, picking up both cups and giving Raihan's a swirl. “You're not gonna finish this?”
“Nah,” Raihan wrinkles his nose, holding the bag open towards the other man and giving it a shake - implying Leon should throw the abandoned tea in. “S’gone cold, innit.”
Leon hums, thoughtfully cocks his head to one side, then lifts Raihan's cup - head fully back and neck exposed - to down the remainder in one long gulp.
Raihan stares, mesmerised, and tries not to think about Leon’s lips - so plump and soft-looking - sucking on the mouthpiece where Raihan's just were (an indirect kiss!), and what they'd feel like sucking on Raihan's–
“Waste not, want not,” Leon casually crushes the empty cup with one hand (ugh, those muscles) and drops it into the bag alongside his own. “Will you leave Duraludon out or?” he continues, strolling towards the balcony.
"No..." Raihan forces his brain back into gear, tying the bag closed by the handles with a firm knot, just as he definitively shuts down any inappropriate thoughts. “That's just asking for trouble - like I need the extra work, buffing him up before the shoot if he walks to the studio.”
Leon laughs at that, squatting to stroke Charizard affectionately on the head; the giant lizard yawns and stretches along the length of its spine, lazily readying itself before mustering the energy to get up. Raihan watches for a beat longer wishing he were the one being petted by Leon before sloping across to gently rouse Duraludon into returning to his ball.