Chapter Text
He had never really considered he might be in love with his rival.
Sure, seeing him genuinely brightened his day. And he blushed whenever his rival jokingly flirted with him. And he always got butterflies when Raihan asked if he wanted to hang out. But that wasn't love, right? Leon certainly didn't seem to think so. He simply thought of their bond as strictly platonic, despite the many ways it would certainly seem romantic to those without knowledge of their true bond. For the most part, he was just a rival, a best friend if more than so. He had never called Raihan his "crush".
The very first time the idea ever found itself into his brain was a few months back, during the very early parts of spring. It was directly before the last exhibition match of the season, which would then stop so the gym challenge could begin. It all began with a soft knock at his dressing room door, something that Chairman Rose had put specifically within Wyndon Stadium for him.
God, he hoped that this wasn't one of his starry-eyed biggest fans that had plowed down security. He never wanted to deal with that again. He sighed, standing up from the vanity he was doing his makeup in front of and cautiously making his way over to the door, pressing a palm against it.
"Who is it?"
"Raichu."
He went a tiny bit wide-eyed, recognizing the nickname almost immediately. It had been given by, in fact, Leon himself after the two had rescued a nest of abandoned Pichu and they had started following Raihan around like he was their mother. With suspicion, he opened the door slightly, peering out at what indeed was a Raihan, grinning proudly.
"... Raihan?? How'd you get here?? The security is so tight right now... and it's against the rules to spy before the match."
"Hey! First of all, sir, I'm not here to spy on you. And second of all, who said I went through the secured entrance?"
The taller male continued grinning, making Leon sigh. Of course, he used the roof entrance. Which was way too complicated that no one suspected that someone would use it. Of course, they never suspected that a Gym Leader would.
"Whatever, just... get in here before someone sees you."
Leon shook his head disapprovingly, opening the door wider so the other male could slip in and backing away slightly. Raihan stepped inside, as expected, and pressed his back against the door to shut it, letting out a sigh as it clicked. Leon walked back over to sit at the vanity, picking up his eyebrow pencil once again and continuing where he had left off.
"So, why did you come to my dressing room dude?"
"The press was hounding me. Have you not seen anything in the news??"
Leon's eyes traced over to Raihan, watching his expression in the mirror. It was definitely one of actual surprise.
"Not since this morning. My phone died on the way here, and it's charging right now."
That made Raihan sigh yet again, as Leon watched him look over at his phone, which was sat on top of one of the benches in his room.
"That's probably why you didn't respond to my asking, huh... Well, anyway, there was an article released recently that sorta..."
He paused, seemingly unsure of his next words. Leon set down the makeup in his hand, looking back at his rival.
"... It sorta..? What did it sorta?"
"Well, it was basically a theory on if we're dating or not. It brought back some old interviews when you first became champion and some interviews where I said some 'flirty' things."
Leon blinked in surprise, staring directly at Raihan as he ended the statement. A silence hung for a few moments as they simply stared at one another, unsure of what to say.
"... I know, it's really old evidence, but the media has been all over it like a Joltik on a Yamper's ass."
Leon let out a soft chuckle, turning back to the mirror and continuing to do his eyebrows. He hadn't exactly realized how much he had been blushing when Raihan said that, but it was definitely a bit obvious.
"Well, Raichu, just tell then we aren't dating. It's that simple."
In a small way, it almost... hurt to say that? Leon furrowed his eyebrows at his own concious, unsure of what to make of it. It was a strange feeling for sure.
"Fine then, princess. But in any case, you already know how I feel about crowds and there was definitely one out for me, so that's why I came into your sanctuary."
"Because I have way more security than you do?"
"Precisely."
Leon rolled his eyes, exchanging the eyebrow pencil for mascara.
"... Wow, you use that stuff Lee? And here I thought you just had naturally perfect eyelashes."
"Hah, I wish."
Raihan smiled mischievously through the mirror as Leon continued silently, being so concentrated that he couldn't speak. The rival approached silently, putting his hands on the back of the chair Leon was sitting in. He stayed there until Leon stopped doing his mascara for a second.
"Why are you just staring at me?"
"Oh, nothing. Just admiring your charm."
Leon blushed very lightly, scoffing slightly and rolling his eyes.
"You sound like we are actually dating."
"What? Is it so bad to admire you? With your perfect hair... Perfect face..."
Raihan lifted his hands so he could drape them over Leon's shoulders, as you do, making the smaller of the two blush even more. He didn't have a single chance to reply before Raihan softly kissed the back of his head.
"Perfect everything, really..."
"Raihan whAT THE HELL MAN,,"
Leon put his face in his hands, leaning his elbows against the vanity. This reaction made Raihan laugh, somewhat loudly before an announcement sounded out.
[The exhibition match between Champion Leon and Gym Leader Raihan will begin in 10 minutes!]
"Only 10 minutes? Damn, I thought I'd get to stay here longer."
Raihan looked almost disappointed, taking his arms back to himself and putting his hands in the pockets of his sweater.
"Do you think you could delay the match, Lee? I don't wanna go yet..."
"... No Raihan, we... this is already scheduled."
Leon stood up, walking back to Raihan to offer him a fist bump as a goodbye, a usual exchange of theirs. He held out his arm with his hand in a fist, to which Raihan had stared at for a second before taking his wrist and kissing the back of his hand.
"I'll see you on the pitch, my King."
Raihan chuckled at the surprise that hung on Leon's face. He let go of his rival's hand, slipping out of the room immediately and disappearing behind it. Leon was left there, standing alone as his hand fell to his side. What was this feeling? It was almost a burning sensation in his heart, but in... such a good way. Why was he so affected by this entire situation? Why did he want it to be true?
Do... I have a crush on Raihan?