10. a movie, a market, and misinterpretations

[badass_tiger]

Comm: fallintofallfestival
Prompt: Any Fandom / Any Pairing / “It must be hard with your sense of direction, never being able to find your way to a decent pickup line.”
Word Count: 3.7k
Author/Team: badass_tiger
Title: a movie, a market, and misinterpretations
Fandom/Original: Pokemon: Leon/Raihan
Rating: Gen
Triggers: NA
Summary: Leon and Raihan remain close friends even after Leon becomes busy with his duties as the new chairman of the Galar League. As a matter of fact, Raihan has never seen Leon so happy.
ConCrit: Y

Note: I've never been on the London Eye owing to the fact that, as Raihan says, it costs thirty fucking pounds, so I've had to assume its engineering for a few trivial lines. Listen, I play Pokemon, I don't go outside.

It was custom by now that whenever Raihan was in Wyndon or Leon was in Hammerlocke, regardless of the reason they were there, they would meet up for drinks. They were very good drinking buddies. Today, however, the text that Raihan got from Leon said, 'Wanna go watch a movie?'

Neither of them were particularly into movies. If they watched anything together, it was usually League battles from the past or from other regions. But maybe something had piqued Leon's interest. Raihan shrugged and said, 'Sure.'

When Raihan got to the cinema and spotted Leon, he did a double take. Leon was wearing a jacket. A nice one. And a dress shirt. With his boyish looks, he looked rather like a schoolboy.

'Hey. What's with the get-up? You run out of T-shirts or something?' Raihan said as way of greeting.

Far from laughing, Leon turned red.

'Um, yeah. Should we go in?' he said quickly.

Probably he was embarrassed that he had been forced to go out looking like a teenage boy skipping school. Raihan agreed to seeing a horror flick, and after they bought tickets, they hung round the lobby, talking and catching up. It had been a good month since they had last met. Raihan had been overseeing repairs to Hammerlocke Stadium and Leon had been busy picking up the pieces of the Galar League. Despite the loss of his mentor of over ten years, Leon was cheerful, and spoke easily about his work. And of course, he was happier about losing the championship title than otherwise.

'Victor comes here almost every week to battle me,' Leon said. 'He's amazing! I'm just waiting for the day that Hop comes to battle me, too. He's more focused on his studies now, but I think that's going to give him a whole new kind of strength that'll take me by surprise.'

Raihan was a little - just a little - jealous of Victor for his victory over Leon. He had always dreamt of finally becoming Leon's equal, and perhaps the title of champion would ping-pong between them, creating the most intense rivalry in the history of the league. But Leon was happy, and he was happy to have another battle rival too.

The movie was alright. He had no idea why Leon suggested it, but maybe he had developed a taste for horror flicks. He kept glancing over at Raihan as if to make sure he was enjoying himself. Raihan gave him a thumbs up to assure him that he was. As if hanging out with Leon was ever not fun. They went for drinks afterwards, and that was even better.

-

Raihan had an office in Hammerlocke Stadium, though he rarely used it. He was usually too busy training and otherwise running around to spend any time there. If anyone needed him, someone would eventually point them his way. If he ever needed to sit down, he usually chose a stadium seat.

That was where Leon found him that afternoon. He admitted to having been looking for him for the past ten minutes, and Raihan said he was amazed it hadn't taken him an hour.

'What're you wearing, anyway?' Raihan asked. Leon's outfits were getting more and more peculiar. Today, he was wearing some weird jacket that was short in the front and long at the back, and was that an old-fashioned cravat? He wasn't even wearing his hat - although on this outfit, the effect would have probably been more alienating than familiar.

Leon wasn't fazed by having his fashion choices questioned today. He looked down, then indignantly said, 'This is what I always wear to work. You've never seen me in this before?'

'Nope.' Once he got over the fact that it made him look like he'd stepped off the set of a period drama, Raihan had to admit, the outfit made Leon look good. It was obviously tailored, and the red jacket fitted his figure exactly. The cuff of his right sleeve had been carefully folded back to accommodate his Dynamax band, revealing the golden lining. 'So you're here on business today? Not that I'm not happy to see your stupid mug.'

Leon grinned widely. 'Yep. I have to get back to Wyndon today, but I - I was thinking of taking the chance to check out the Christmas market here before I go. With you.'

'Oh yeah?' Raihan had never thought Leon the type to be interested in Christmas markets. 'Sounds romantic. Let's go.'

He was taken aback when Leon blushed.

'Just kidding. I won't get in the way if you're looking to pick up a girl. I bet the kind of girl who'd like a date at a Christmas market would be just your type, huh?'

'That's not - let's just go,' Leon said exasperatedly. Raihan chuckled and followed him out.

It was early enough in the day that the streets were only lightly populated with people, and they were able to walk around freely. Despite that, Leon was strangely forceful throughout the hour or so that they were there. He tapped Raihan on the shoulder to get his attention, even when they were standing right next to each other, he pointed out things of interest almost non-stop, and at even once took Raihan by the hand and hauled him to a stand. He was like an overly-excited child. It was charming, in Leon's boisterous, whirlwind-like way.

-

'Look at this pop-up cafe that's opened up! It's going to be around for the whole month!'

'You have got to give these pastries a go.'

'I'm keeping a bottle of this in my kitchen to try with you.'

These were just some of the texts which Raihan received from Leon in the weeks leading up to the season's Galar League opening ceremony. It took about a dozen of these before Raihan took the hint and messaged him with, 'Going to Wyndon on Monday. Staying with you til the opening ceremony.'

Leon's answer was a very measured 'Sure', but Raihan could just picture the big fat grin that would have plastered itself all over his face when he received the text.

Hammerlocke Gym wouldn't be in operation until the season began, and it was tradition to close up shop so Gym Trainers could attend the opening ceremony, so there was no problem with Raihan leaving his Gym behind for some time off. Despite his not-so-subtle pleas for Raihan's company, however, the same couldn't be said for the new chairman of the League. Raihan arrived in Wyndon on Monday afternoon, had lunch near the station, then wandered around the city centre for an hour before Leon could finish work for the day and meet him; even then, he walked up to Raihan still talking on the phone. It was another minute before he hung up.

'Busy day, huh?' Raihan said.

'You have no idea.'

'Don't tell me you called me here just to cook your meals and keep house for you. I mean, I'd love to if I could, but I can't.'

For some reason, Leon blushed at this. He had been doing that a lot lately. Raihan knew that Leon burned even more fire-hot than Kabu, but the weather had never been more than 5 degrees lately, and surely this was a bit excessive? Maybe his tight shirts were finally getting to him. Leon was, of course, wearing his red riding jacket today, having just come off of work.

'Shame,' Leon said. 'But at least I'll have someone to talk to after work for a bit.'

'You know if you want to talk to me after work, you can just call me?' Raihan said as they walked to Leon's flat. Leon made no reply, and avoided his eye.

It was far from the first time Raihan had stayed with Leon. Gym Leaders were always given free accommodation in the Rose of the Rondelands during the Champion Cup tournament, but whenever he was in Wyndon, Raihan came to hang out at Leon's flat so often that it was more convenient for him to stay with him. These days, he didn't even ask, and simply turned up a few days before the tournament. It was habit now too, for Raihan to visit Leon before the opening ceremony, on the day of which they would go to Motostoke together, then part for their respective cities thereafter. He didn't usually come this early though. He wondered if being so busy with work had made Leon feel lonely. There was no doubt that Leon was happier now than he had ever been, even as champion, but it only made sense for his increased success to make him want someone to share it with.

Raihan didn't think these thoughts explicitly. He merely understood, with instinct and years of friendship, the shape of Leon's desire for company.

He had said that he couldn't keep house, but that was, frighteningly, almost exactly what he did for the next few days. Although he could never wake up early enough to make breakfast (a remnant of his country upbringing and the days of camping in the wilderness as a young Trainer had given Leon the habit of waking up at 6 am every day, the madman), Raihan made sure there was something on the table for dinner. Most days, Leon tried to have lunch with him too, even when he was so occupied that he was eating while his assistant chewed his ear off over the phone. Raihan tried to tell him that he didn't have to go through the trouble and Leon brushed him off.

It wasn't like he minded. He just had the feeling that he wasn't the right person to be doing this. Take that professor/childhood-friend of Leon's, for instance. Miss Clever Cogs. Sonia. Didn't she fit right in in this kitchen? Leon talked to her a couple of nights a week, and whenever Raihan heard her voice over the speaker phone, he could imagine her sitting next to Leon on the couch in slippers and a dressing gown. She would be way better at this than Raihan, who so often had to order takeaway to put something on the table for dinner.

'I've only got to go to the Battle Tower to sign some papers and meet a sponsor representative tomorrow morning,' Leon said on Friday evening, 'and then let's have lunch by the river and go on the Galar Hurricane.'

'That sounds like a big "only",' Raihan said. 'I usually call it a day once I've had to do that much.'

'I'm very capable,' Leon said reassuringly. It was probably absolutely true.

The next morning, they left for the Battle Tower together, and Raihan waited in the lobby until Leon was done. It didn't take long, and they were soon headed out again. Leon was in good spirits. There was a spring in his step, and he occasionally hummed to himself as they walked.

'You really like being the boss, huh?' Raihan said. 'Do you just like being in charge, or what?'

'I don't know.' Leon turned to look at him with a smile as dazzling as the sun. It set off a cloud of Cutieflies in Raihan's stomach. 'It was always my dream to make the Trainers of Galar the strongest in the world. I don't battle half as much now as I used to, but I feel like I'm closer to that goal than ever.'

It was true that Leon rarely battled anymore. He honoured the Trainers who came to the Battle Tower with a match if they were able to climb the ranks far enough, but those who were successful were few in number. As champion, he had participated in numerous matches throughout a season, supplemented by almost as many exhibition matches. Now it was Victor who did the exhibition matches, while Leon gave the opening speeches. Raihan hadn't battled Leon in many months either. The realisation made Raihan feel, despite the fact that they were currently walking side by side, as if he and Leon had grown many miles apart. He felt the urge to take Leon's hand as if to anchor them together until the feeling passed.

'Things always work out for you,' Raihan said, trying to keep his voice light. 'You complete the Gym Challenge on your first try, you stay champion for years, and when you stop, you find out that you like it even better than being champion.'

'Yep,' Leon laughed. 'Even if I have a horrible sense of direction, I want to make sure that I always choose the right path for the future - but everything I've chosen up until now has always worked out in the end! I know it's because I've always been lucky enough to be surrounded by people who care about me. So I'm not worried. Even now ...' He trailed off and shrugged as if he didn't even need to say what he had wanted to say next.

But Raihan had no idea what he meant. 'Even now what?'

'Well,' Leon said plainly, 'I think it'll work out.'

Raihan gave up on asking any more; he'd figure out what Leon was talking about eventually. Instead, he told Leon that he had never been on the Galar Hurricane before.

'You're not afraid of heights, are you?' Leon said, looking worried.

'As if. I go flying on Flygon all the time. Just never saw the point of big wheels.'

'It goes higher than most Pokemon can fly while carrying a Trainer, so the view is pretty good. It's more comfortable than riding too.'

'Guess I'll find out if I like it. Do you go a lot?'

'I've only been a couple of times: with Sonia once when we were kids, and I took Hop and Victor last year.'

The further mention of the new people in Leon's life (perhaps not entirely new in the case of Hop, but certainly new as a Trainer and trainee-professor, than the simple kid brother he had been before) made a weight he couldn't identify settle in Raihan's mind.

As expected for a Saturday, there was a long queue for the Galar Hurricane, but the attendant recognised the boss, and it wasn't long before they were in their very own gondola. Of course, Leon was a hugely recognisable figure in Galar and he had always taken it into a stride. Yet today, Raihan detected a slight embarrassment from it. Perhaps now that he had a greater stake in Galar than he had when he had been only a Trainer and a champion, Leon felt even more acutely responsible for its people. As if he didn't already - Raihan knew that, for a while, Leon had struggled greatly with his perceived failure to protect Galar during the events of the Darkest Day.

'Stop looking guilty. It's embarrassing for me.'

'Sorry,' Leon said with an apologetic smile. Raihan rolled his eyes and directed his gaze to the horizon instead.

He watched the view as they climbed higher into the sky. It was certainly impressive, but he wasn't sure if it was worth the 4500 Pokedollars it would have cost if they had joined the queue. Leon looked like he was enjoying himself though, so perhaps it would have been. After a few minutes, Raihan simply sat back and watched Leon, who almost had his nose to the glass.

'Look, you can see all of Hyland Park from here!' Leon said, pointing. 'We used to battle there all the time, remember? Before you took over Hammerlocke Gym and you were aiming for the Championship Cup.'

'I remember. I was there,' Raihan said. Leon's excitement was contagious, and he laughed. 'It's been a few years, huh?'

'Wanna go there and battle again for old times' sake?'

Raihan almost said 'Sure' on automatic before he found that he couldn't. Battling Leon had always been the best. When Leon had been champion, Raihan would have hounded him for a battle almost every time they saw one another, even when they were both too busy, or just crossing paths during work, to do any such thing. But now, the prospect was no longer as exciting as it once had been. Something had changed since Leon had retired as a Trainer of the League.

Leon looked around at him, and something in Raihan's expression made him do a double take. 'What's wrong?'

'Wrong?'

'Did you hear what I said?'

'Yep.'

'So, do you want to go?'

'Yeah,' Raihan didn't say. The word stuck in his throat.

A concerned frown furrowed Leon's brow. 'Raihan?'

He shook his head. 'Sorry. It's nothing. Yeah, that'd be good.'

'What's up? Not interested in battling me anymore, now that I'm not the champion?'

The possibility didn't seem to bother Leon at all, which hurt Raihan all the more. But it was true. He had called himself Leon's rival from their very first match, when he had knocked out more of Leon's Pokemon than any challenger had before, and Leon had told him that it had been the best match he'd ever had. His place had been opposite Leon, and now it had been usurped by someone else. The person Leon saw as his ultimate rival was Victor, the new champion, not him.

It wasn't a lie that Raihan wasn't jealous of Victor. It was that he missed his place as Leon's rival.

'What am I to you if I'm not your rival for the Championship title?' Raihan said.

Leon was stunned. 'Huh?'

'Never mind.' Raihan suddenly felt ashamed of the question. He had sounded petulantly bitter. 'Forget it.'

'What are you talking about, you idiot?' Leon demanded. 'Being rivals isn't just about being the champion. It's about making each other stronger.'

'I - I know that. But have I ... ever been strong enough to make you stronger? I've always been weaker than you.'

'Of course you've made me stronger. It's thanks to you that I was known as the unbeatable Leon back then. If you hadn't kept pushing me to my limits, I would have lost the Championship title way sooner - to someone less deserving than Victor, to a random fluke from getting lazy.'

'And now you're going on getting stronger without me. I can't keep up with you, so why bother battling me?'

For a moment, Leon stared at him incredulously, as if he had grown another set of eyes, or a pair of horns on his head. Raihan wasn't sure that he hadn't. He didn't know where this was coming from.

'You're an idiot,' Leon said. 'Do you think that now there's someone stronger me, you're no longer my equal?'

Raihan inhaled sharply, the word 'equal' striking a chord within him. That was exactly it, he realised. He did want to battle Leon, and he would always want to, regardless of who was stronger between them. But he only wanted that if he could stand toe-to-toe with Leon as his equal.

'Come on, don't look like that.' Leon reached out and gently touched his shoulder. If he leaned any more weight forward, the gondola would probably rock threateningly. 'You're a really important friend to me, you know? Even if you gave up on becoming a Trainer, I'd still want to be with you.'

That made Raihan crack a smile. Then the words hit him with full force and he burst into laughter.

'You wish! Someday I'll beat you so bad, you'll run crying back to Postwick.'

'I'm looking forward to it!' Leon gave him an answering grin, then leaned back in his seat. 'So don't think about running away from me. I'll just chase you down and bring you back.'

'Right. You'd better. Not that you'll ever have the chance to.' Raihan relaxed, feeling hugely relieved. He had never, until then, realised just how important Leon was to him. Of course, if anyone had ever before asked him who the person most important to him was, he would have said his rival Leon. But he had only ever thought of Leon as a rival. It was a revelation to think that Leon was also his best friend.

More of Leon's earlier words ran through his brain again, and something hit him with the full force of a G-Max Depletion. He thought of Leon inviting him to a movie and dragging him around a Christmas market. He thought of Leon's indelicate pleas to stay with him in Wyndon. And he thought of the words 'I'd still want to be with you.'

'It must be really hard,' Raihan said, momentarily dazed by understanding.

'What?'

'It must be really hard with your pathetic sense of direction, never being able to find your way to a decent pick up line.'

Leon's jaw fell open, and there it was again, that scarlet flush on his cheeks. Everything was falling into place. All of the absurd things Leon had made him do - this whole time, Leon had been trying to ask him out.

Despite his blush, Leon spoke flippantly. 'Yeah. It's even harder trying to pick up someone as dense as you.' Then he brightened up. 'But it's paid off, right? I told you, the paths I've chosen have always worked out!'

Raihan burst into laughter. 'And you call me an idiot.'

'I've got no problem with being an idiot too if it means being the idiot in love with you.'

'Huh, that rhymed.'

'You're making me poetic.'

There was something still anticipatory about Leon's expression though, and Raihan registered that he had yet to give his reply. Their gondola was almost back at ground level, the two of them having almost entirely missed the height of the view by dint of their quarrel.

'Don't feel too bad about it,' Raihan said. 'I know I'm irresistible.'

'Mmhmm.'

'Lucky for you that I'm staying with you tonight so I can show you exactly what you've been missing out on while you've been busy oh-so-subtly seducing me,' Raihan said, and Leon's smile, if possible, grew even wider. 'Just tell me something: what was the movie about? Just a dumb date idea?'

'Oh, you know. They say that if you watch a scary movie with someone, if they get scared while you're sitting next to them, they'll be more vulnerable to liking you,' Leon said.

Of all the embarrassing things he had done today, the one he chose to do with a completely straight face was say this. Raihan wanted to sigh, but he was too busy laughing.

'Wow. You really are an idiot. Good thing you're my idiot, or I'd be scared of someone taking advantage of you.'

Leon opened his mouth to reply, but before he could speak, Raihan leaned across their seats to grab him by the shoulders and, completely ignoring the violent lurch the gondola gave, pulled him in for a kiss.