8. battle tricks

[badass_tiger]

Comm: fallintofallfestival
Prompt: Any Fandom | Any Pairing | first kiss
Word Count: 1.4k
Author/Team: badass_tiger
Title: battle tricks
Fandom/Original: Pokemon (Leon/Raihan)
Rating: Gen
Triggers: NA
Summary: He was never angry about losing to Leon. As a matter of fact, there was something wonderful about it.
ConCrit: Y

Notes: I personally first saw this strategy from Wolfe Glick, but he might not have been the first person to come up with. Thanks to the people who are better at Pokemon than I am for coming up with it lol.

This is it.

Raihan's heart was pounding in his chest. Things had never been so close before, and this time, he had a game plan.

'Let's make it rain, Goodra!' he yelled. Goodra let out a cry that was almost as loud, and storm clouds covered the stadium, drenching the two Trainers in rain.

He and Leon were both down to two Pokemon, but they were the only two Raihan needed. With rain in effect, Charizard's ability to hit Duraludon would be severely reduced, and Gigantamax Charizard had no way of setting the sun itself. Duraludon wouldn't love having the rain around, but it wouldn't hamper it in battle. Leon had Mr. Rime on the field right now and that was no problem for Duraludon. An Ice-type move would only deal neutral damage to Duraludon, and Duraludon in turn could hit it with a super-effective Max Steelspike. This was perfect.

Goodra yelped as Mr. Rime blew out a chilling Freeze-Dry. Despite that, the super-effective move dealt little damage. Raihan grinned as Goodra shook off the cold and continued bouncing around its opponent. He raised his Pokeball.

'Come back, Goodra! Duraludon will take it from here.'

Leon didn't blink despite the uncharacteristic switch - Raihan rarely took a Pokemon off the field unless it had fainted. As a matter of fact ... was he smiling?

'Go for it, Mr. Rime,' Leon said with an expansive gesture. 'Use Trick!'

Mr. Rime darted towards the Duraludon switching it and grabbed Duraludon's Leftovers, leaving behind an Eject Button. Raihan was already calling Duraludon back into its Pokeball to Gigantamax before he registered what had happened. He shrugged it off; losing Duraludon's item wasn't great, but it was no big deal. He had just given it whatever he'd found in his bag. The battle would be over soon.

'Bring on the storm, Duraludon! This is going to be our big win!'

The sensation of his Pokeball expanding in his hand had never felt so great. He couldn't resist a quick selfie before he threw the Pokeball and unleashed Gigantamax Duraludon. Being so good-looking was a terrible curse. He threw the Pokeball into the air. Duraludon emerged, fifty times bigger than usual.

'Duraludon, send that street mime home with a Max Steelspike!'

Then, through the roaring in his ears, Raihan heard Leon words as clear as a bell: 'Mr. Rime, Ice Shard.'

It was as if he had been hit with an Ice Shard too. His blood ran cold and his jaw fell open as little chunks of ice flew at Duraludon, causing its Eject Button to activate. Duraludon was forced to shrink down to normal size before it had even been able to get a single attack off. Raihan had no choice but to raise his Pokeball and call it back, and send Goodra back out. He wouldn't be able to use Dynamax for the rest of the battle.

And oh, the look on Leon's face. If only it had been smug or self-satisfied, Raihan might not feel so bad. Leon certainly had a triumphant grin on his face as Mr. Rime dealt Goodra another blow with Freeze-Dry. But Leon was never condescending or superior. He was, as always, the perfect sportsman.

Despite Goodra shortly dispatching Mr. Rime with a Draco Meteor, it was too late. Leon had the ability to Dynamax his Pokemon, and Raihan didn't. Duraludon didn't stand a chance.

But he still looked good even when he lost. He had started taking selfies to remember the pain of losing to Leon, yet there was something sweet about their familiarity. And it was impossible to be mad about losing to Leon for long. Raihan was grinning again when Leon came up to him with an outstretched hand.

'You totally outplayed me there,' Raihan said, taking the hand and squeezing hard.

'That was my first time trying that strategy out,' Leon said with a smile to match his own. 'You're the only person who can force me to come up with a plan like that just to win!'

Leon's praise and acknowledgement of Raihan's strength made his stomach flip. Leon's touch seemed to burn him with a searing heat, but it was another second before he could make himself let go. Leon's smile branded its image on the forefront of his brain, an image that remained before him even when he closed his eyes.

It was always like this. Why did Leon have to be so strong, so bright, so wonderful? That was the superstar champion of Galar for you. Whenever they battled, Raihan wouldn't be able to stop thinking about him for days. It was even worse as of late. He couldn't stop thinking about Leon at all, and not just about battling him. Some days he barely thought about battling him at all. Sometimes he could think only of his blazing amber eyes and his firm grip whenever they shook hands after a match. Sometimes it was all he could do to push those thoughts away and focus for a battle.

A few moments after Raihan came in from the pitch, Leon followed. Of course, as champion, Leon always spent a little longer with the crowd after a battle to soak in his victory (and talk, which the crowd loved).

'Good job out there!' Leon said. He threw an arm around Raihan's shoulders, making his heart do a couple of backflips. But Raihan slid an answering arm him as easily as if he felt nothing.

'Trust you to come up with something so mad,' Raihan said. 'I totally thought I had you! Guess I'll need to show you something even crazier if I'm going to beat you.'

'I look forward to that! But I told you, right? You're the only person who I'd do something like that for. I wouldn't have to for anyone else.'

The shape of Leon's lips as he spoke was enchanting. 'What else would you do for me that you wouldn't for anyone else?' Raihan wanted to say, but he swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue. That was just too direct. He didn't want to put Leon in an awkward position, and if he lost this, their easy friendship and red-hot rivalry, he would never forgive himself. At least, that's probably what he should have been thinking. But not thinking was something he tended to do - or not to do. He stopped himself from speaking, but he might as well have, because instead, he put his other arm around Leon's waist and kissed him.

Fortunately, he was spared the need for thought by Leon cupping his face and kissing him back. All he had to do was revel in the happy little noise Leon made and the feeling of their lips pressed together.

'I've been waiting for you to do that,' Leon laughed when they parted.

'Then why didn't you do it first?'

'Why didn't you do it before?'

'Right.' Raihan grinned.

This seemed to be about all that needed to be said, so Raihan kissed him again. Leon let him, but in another moment, he had disentangled himself, and said, 'You know, if you do this now, I won't let you stop.'

'I wasn't going to stop,' Raihan said, reaching out for him again. Leon took his hand to stop him.

'I mean it,' he said. He was still smiling, but he was serious. 'You'd better stop now if you don't plan to keep doing this long-term.'

Raihan snorted. 'Guess I should've known you were a commitment kind of guy.'

'Yep.' Leon said unabashedly. He was still holding Raihan's hand.

'Do I look like the love-em-and-leave-em type to you?'

'No. I just wanted to tell you straight up.'

'An honest man too. Is someone going to come round to tell me they'll kick my arse if I ever hurt you?'

'I'll ask Charizard to do it, if it'll make you feel better,' Leon said lightly.

A Trainer as powerful and relentless as wildfire, a man as sweet as the first rays of the morning sun. Was there any wonder that Leon was so popular?

'Fine by me,' Raihan said. 'But just so you know, you're the only person who I'd do something like that for.' He winked.

Leon laughed and, this time, was the one who leaned in for a kiss.