Chapter Text
02/14/2020 16:00 - Wyndon
Leon comes out of the Battle Tower feeling exhausted and sleepy. At least it’s the weekend so he won’t have to come to work tomorrow.
He gives himself a good pat on the cheeks, willing himself to stay awake.
Tonight is a special night. He had invited Sonia to come to his place to eat dinner for Valentine’s Day. It has been almost a month since she had confessed to him. They had done a few dates since but their relationship has still been progressing slowly, which of course is all his fault. Sonia kept telling him though that there is no need to rush things. She seems content enough just to spend more time with him as opposed to when he was Champion and working under the Chairman.
Leon arrives home quickly with the help of his Charizard. Upon entering, he turns the lights on and goes into the kitchen to double check that he had all the necessary berries for their dinner. Sonia wanted to make curry with him, even if he offered to cook himself. He recalls their conversation about this a week ago.
"Leon, we are going to eat for our romantic dinner a Charizard Class curry! And you know how hard it is to achieve this alone. So we are going to make one together!"
Remembering this brings a smile to his face.
He checks the time and sees that Sonia should arrive in about half an hour. She insisted that he didn’t have to go pick her up from her place in Wedgehurst. She accepted his proposal though to pay for her Corviknight ride.
In the mean time, he goes to his bedroom to change his clothes. He removes his signature red tailcoat and beige breeches, and wears a red V-neck sweatshirt and black skinny trousers that he had recently bought. He then stands in front of the mirror to attach his hair. Since they will be cooking, it would help to keep his wild hair out of the way. He also noticed Sonia likes it when he has his hair tied up.
He then goes back to the kitchen and proceeds in cooking the rice on the stovetop, something he is used to do by now.
Because they both love curry, he had considered buying a rice cooker. It almost feels foreign to him for having these domestic thoughts. He had after all for the longest time lived alone with his Pokémon in this town hous e. And yet his place has a very cozy ambiance that can be perfect for a couple. The feeling of constantly sharing his private space with someone else is not bad at all, but it might take some time to get used to, even with Sonia whom he trusts the most, he regretfully thought.
Just when his rice is almost ready, the doorbell rings. He turns the stove off, walks to the entrance and opens the door.
"Happy Valentine’s Day!" Sonia cheers.
" Same to you!"
They kiss each other on the cheeks. He then motions her to come in.
Sonia leaves her things on the couch and walks to the kitchen.
"You got all the ingredients ready I see! I can’t wait!" She exclaims cheerfully.
He smiles and follows her to the kitchen.
When they’re done gathering everything they need and put the ingredients in the pot that Leon placed on the stove, they give each other a determined nod.
"Ready?"
"Ready."
They begin stirring the pot together. As they continue giving it a good stir, something feels off.
"Leon, I don’t see enough sparkles, put your heart into it more!"
"I’m… trying…"
Leon’s vision becomes blurry. His fatigue has reached its peak.
"Are you all right Leon?" Sonia looks at him worryingly.
"I’m ok, just… tired."
"Let’s stop here. The curry looks fine anyway."
"Sorry… You were so looking forward to making a Charizard class curry too."
"Don’t be silly. What’s more important is your health."
Sonia gazes at Leon. It’s a crime for a man to look this good even when he is tired. She puts her hand underneath his bangs to touch his forehead.
"You don’t seem to have a fever at least. Go sit first at the dining table. I will finish up our curry. We will savour it soon," she smiles.
Leon sits at the table as he was told and rests his head in his hands. A short while after, Sonia brings two plates over and sits across him. She had gathered the rice on top of the curry in a heart shape for each of the plates.
"Thanks Sonia, they look great."
"My pleasure."
They both take a bite of the curry and silently judge the taste.
"What class do you think it is?" Sonia asks.
"I’m not sure. Milcery?"
"I think so too. It’s strange, we had all the berries needed. Maybe it’s something we can only achieve while out camping after all. You know, since we skipped the “fan the flames” step."
"It’s possible."
She grins sweetly, "I’m still happy whatever the result is, since I had fun cooking together."
"I’m glad to hear that," he says in an endearing smile.
Sonia blushes, seeing his expression.
They continue eating their plate in comfortable silence, their hunger taking over.
While they’re eating, Sonia takes a few glances at him and sees small bags under his eyes that are barely noticeable, had she not looked at him more closely.
"Have you been lacking sleep? Is that why you’re feeling so tired?"
Leon halts in his movement and stays quiet, as if he is thinking how to answer her.
Sonia waves her hands defensively. "Sorry, I didn’t mean to be nosy! I’m just concerned as your… lover," she says shyly.
"You don’t have to apologize, Sonia. Sorry for making you worry," he avoids her look, turning his gaze to his plate. "You are right…" he simply answers.
"I see… Would you be all right telling me what keeps you from sleeping?" She asks carefully.
"I… I had…"
Leon’s vision is starting to be clouded with darkness as he unwillingly remembers the vivid nightmare of his family members lying on the ground, his heart beating faster by the second as the dream is being replayed in slow motion, his breathing about to stop…
"Leon!! Snap out of it!"
Sonia is cupping his face with her hands.
"Look at me, Leon. Do you see me?"
Leon stares at her as if he just woke up from a trance, visions of his nightmare gone as he now sees Sonia’s worried face in full view.
"…I see you, Sonia."
She sighs with great relief, breaking her hold of his face as she stands away.
"Thank goodness. I thought I had lost you there. What happened?"
Leon is still having difficulty grasping at the situation. He never had flashes of his dreams like this before while he was awake.
"I had a bad dream last night. And… just now I saw scenes from the dream replaying on their own," he says without a hint of emotion.
"A bad dream?" Sonia questions, concern in her eyes. "…Is it related to Chairman Rose?"
"Yes."
Sonia’s fists tighten in response, the two remaining quiet. There is a lot of questions that pop up in her head with this revelation. She is afraid though to bring them up and hurt him more, especially with what just happened.
Leon watches Sonia closely. He had seen this side of her not too long ago. The detective Sonia who persistently searches for the truth. He isn’t just some victim in a case though to her. He had learned with time that she truly cares for him. If there is someone capable he can choose to trust in sharing his problems, it’s her.
"Can we continue our talk on the couch? I will make some tea."
A glint in her turquoise eyes can be seen in the warm lights, as she is glad he would confide in her.
"Ok! I’ll help clean the dishes."
"Thanks," he manages a smile.
When they’re done washing all the plates and tools, and preparing tea, they sat down on the same couch, with the tray of tea on the coffee table.
For a moment, the living room is quiet, Sonia waiting patiently until he is ready to talk.
"…I have a couple of nightmares for the past weeks… Horrible nightmares where the Chairman harms my family… because I don’t follow his orders."
Sonia is silent as she is processing the information he just revealed without letting her anger over the Chairman take control.
"I was hoping the dreams would go away after a few days…" Leon clenches his hand out of frustration, feeling helpless.
Sonia gently puts her hand on his fist, earning his attention to her.
"Leon, I’m not a therapist, but if I can share your burdens even a bit, I want us to work it out together from now on. So please, I don't want to see you suffer alone anymore," she pleads.
Leon’s eyes widen over her words.
She then intertwines their fingers to further increase her point.
"I will always be here for you," she says in her most radiant smile.
Leon’s heart leaps at this moment.
He suddenly remembers what Sonia had said to him back when she confessed her feelings to him:"I'm reserving the real kiss for when you love me back!"
Is this what love feels like?
He leans in close to her until they are but a breath away, then he kisses her gently on the lips before moving back.
Sonia touches her lips, still savouring the moment.
She blushes hard.
"You… Did you just kiss me?"
This time, it’s Leon’s turn to blush and he looks away, hiding his eyes under his bangs.
"You idiot! Isn’t it obvious?" He expresses shyly.
Sonia’s heart beats fast, her eyes shining.
"So you love me now, don’t you? Say you love me!" She exclaims enthusiastically while getting him to look at her, much to his resistance.
"It’s too embarrassing!"
"Nonsense! Isn’t it more embarrassing to kiss?!"
They keep struggling on the couch until Leon lies on his back with Sonia on top of him.
"Can I kiss you then?" She asks, composed.
He nods quietly, closing his eyes as Sonia leans in and kisses him, deeper this time.
They break the kiss when they run out of breath, content with just looking at each other tenderly.
"Thank you, Sonia," he smiles to her warmly, amber eyes gazing into hers deeply.
She smiles back to him in response, "I love you."
"…I love you, too."