Chapter Text
A frigid blast of wind greets him as he exits the train station.
He shivers a bit and adjusts his coat and beanie as he begins walking through town. Wedgehurst may be in the south of Galar but at times it could be just as cold as Wyndon or even Chichester on particularly snowy days.
Victor does love the winter season regardless of the temperature, if the severity of the weather didn’t stop him during the gym challenge then it’s certainly not gonna ruin his love of the holiday season any time soon.
A smile grows wide on his face as he approaches the Lab and notices the decorations the Professor and her assistant put up outside the building. Light up Snom and Delibird, a large wreath encasing the Pokeball logo above the door and strings of icicle lights around the roofs edge. Peering into the window of the Labs kitchenette he can see a small Christmas tree adorned with colourful ornaments and ribbons wrapped around it with tiny lights on the branches casting a beautiful golden glow onto the reason of his visit. Sat alone at the table with his head in his hand is the boy that stole Victor’s heart.
“Hop?”
Victor calls out as he opens the door to the Lab. He can hear scurrying off to the side but assumes that it must be Sonia’s Yamper, eager as ever to get a treat from the Champion.
“I’m back from Wynd-oof!”
He’s just barely able to finish his sentence before he’s tackled to the ground by a very excited professor in training.
“Vic!” Hop shouts joyfully.
“Hop!” Victor returns with equal enthusiasm before he is smothered with affection.
Sonia peers out from her corner of the Lab at the two boys and chuckles a bit.
“Hop, give your boyfriend a moment to get his foot in the door,” she comments and points to the still open front door.
“Hehe sorry, just got excited…” Hop replies sheepishly.
“Don’t apologize love,” Victor kisses his boyfriend’s cheek which manages to make Hop blush and giggle a bit.
Hop helps Victor stand up and he turns to finally shut the door, they’ve already let enough heat escape the building.
“So,” Sonia begins and walks over to the pair, “to what do we owe the pleasure your visit mr champion.”
“Yeah Vic, I thought you said you weren’t coming back till tomorrow?” Hop adds.
“What I’m not allowed to surprise my boyfriend,” Victor answers sarcastically.
“Of course you are!” Hop shouts and both Victor and Sonia laugh at his exclamation.
“Besides don’t you remember our conversation during our call last night?”
“Most of it.” Hop answers honestly.
“What about the part were I said that Wyndons all decorated and I wanted you to see it?”
“I… uh… I don’t remember that…” Hop rubs the back of his neck.
Victor raises an eyebrow and gives his boyfriend a knowing look. Sonia laughs and puts a hand on her assistant’s shoulder.
“To busy staring at the love of your life with heart shaped eyes again Hop?”
“I was not!” Hop shouts indignantly.
It’s no secret that on multiple occasions the young professor in training had become deeply distracted by a certain reigning league champion. Whether it be over phone calls that last into the dead of night or during lab experiments and research assignments where staying focused is absolutely necessary, the latter needing some slight forceful “motivation” from his mentor to snap him out of his rapture.
“Hmm-mm sure Hopscotch,” Sonia playfully nudges his shoulder and Victor chuckles.
Not that the young champion has any ground to stand on within this argument, having also been out of the loop of multiple situations due to the alluringly distractive looks of his partner. His sister enjoys teasing the two boys about it from time to time, but it’s unlikely to stop them.
“I’ll call Lee and tell’em you two are bullying me!” Hop retorts to his chastising compatriots and points to Victor.
“I’ll call Raihan and then we’ll have a real party Hoppip!” Victor counters and grabs his boyfriends hand, pulling him in close.
“Relaxe you two, nobody’s calling anyone, and you’re certainly not going to fight in here,” Sonia puts her hands on her hips and glares at the two.
“Aw Sonia we were just playing around, honest,” Victor retorts.
“Yeah Sonia,” Hop wraps an arm around his boyfriend and kisses his cheek, “I could never hit Vic.”
‘Didn’t stop you during the gym challenge,’ Victor thinks to himself before also wrapping an arm around his boyfriend, “yeah, Hops to cute to hit anyways.”
“Awww Vic,” Hop blushes and looks away bashfully.
“You two are to cute for your own good,” Sonia chuckles and shakes her head.
“Sooooo,” Victor turns to Hop, “you wanna come back to Wyndon wit-”
“Yes!” Hop answers instantly.
“Great!” Victor shouts back joyfully.
“But…” Hop turns back to Sonia, “me and Sonia were just about to start an experiment…”
“Well Hops,” Sonia chimes back in, “all the work I wanted you to do today is finished…” she taps her chin in contemplation, “tell you what, why don’t you take off for the rest of the day?”
“Are you serious!” Hop shouts.
“Unless you don’t want to,” she adds sarcastically.
“I do! I really do!”
“Then it’s settled, go have fun with your boyfriend.”
“I will! So much fun!” Hop starts jumping around his boyfriend in excitement.
“Not too much fun now ya here,” she tacks on a wink.
“Sonia!” The boys whine in unison.
The Professor just laughs and walks back to her desk.
“Come on mate,” Hop pulls on Victor’s sleeve.
“You don’t want to change?” Victor questions and tugs on Hop’s lab coat.
“Oh, hehe… Yeah,” Hop rubs the back of his neck, “gimme a sec, gotta get my jacket.”
Once Hop changes into some more appropriate clothes for the weather the two bid their goodbyes to the Professor and make their way through Wedgehurst.
“I gotta drop something off at home first before we go alright Vic?”
“Sure thing.”
The two make their way up route one towards Postwick as the snow continues to fall from above, blanketing the once green and wheat filled hills of their small town in a fluffy white layer of frozen precipitation. Victor notes that only the Rookidee are still around, most of the adorable Wooloo are huddled together in barns or homes and the Skwovets and other Pokémon must be taking shelter as well, he doesn’t blame them, it’s colder then it usually is this year.
“Record numbers this year as Galar enters into its Christmas season, expect more snowfall then usual in Motostoke, Stow-on-side, Wedgehurst and Postwick.”
Victor remembers the way he and his mother’s ears perked up when they heard Wedgehurst and Postwick mentioned on the GBC. It wasn’t often that the two small towns in the south were mentioned unless they were talking about him and or the Champion Cup.
“That’s right Thomas, here in Wyndon the snowfalls gotten so heavy that parts of the city are struggling to plow the streets and get people to work on time.”
“But not to worry Mia, here’s a video taken by a young man of our very own Champion Victor and former Champion Leon helping residents of the worst hit areas of the city.”
Victor’s mother pulled him into a big hug for being “such a good boy” and he got a text from Hop and his sister about him being on the television, the former complementing his “good looks” and the latter telling him to bundle up more or he’s going to catch a cold.
Victor chuckles and Hop turns to look at him.
“Whatcha laughing at mate?”
“Hmm? Oh,” he turns to look at his boyfriend, “you I guess.”
“Me?” Hop wraps his arm around Victor and pulls him closer, “does the Champion think of me often?”
Victor shivers a bit from Hop’s sultry voice in his ear. He unwraps himself from his boyfriends grasp and laughs.
“Yeah, about how much of a dork you are.”
“Aw come on Vic! I’m trying to be sweet.”
Victor grabs Hop’s arms and pulls him into a hug before kissing his wide eyed boyfriend on the lips.
“You’re plenty sweet as is Hoppip,” he brings his hand up to cup Hop’s cheek.
Hop’s cheeks grow a slight tinge of red as he melts into Victor’s touch.
“You always say the sweetest things Vic,” Hop mumbles.
“You know what would be even sweeter Hop?” He runs his thumb over Hop’s cheek with one hand and pulls him closer with the other.
“Oh,” Hop stares into his boyfriends eyes as a mischievous little smile creeps onto his face, “and what would that be mr champion?”
“It’d be sweet if you dropped off that bloody bag at your house to we could get to Wyndon,” Victor jokes in the same sultry tone.
Hop laughs and kisses his boyfriend before Victor releases him.
“Alright alright, come on then,” Hop grabs Victor’s wrist and pulls him along behind him as he runs home.
The two make it to Hop’s home and walk into the front yard.
Victor looks at the frozen pond next to the shoveled practice pad and under the now leaf-less tree before turning his attention to the snowman standing adjacent to the kitchen door.
“Is that…”
“Charizard,” Hop dead pans.
“Yeah… Leon?”
“Lee.”
Hop opens the door to his home and makes his way to his room to drop off his bag while Victor waits in the kitchen with Hop’s mother, who is currently going about baking various kinds of sweets and pastries.
“Victor dear?”
“Yes ma’am?”
“Oh no need to be so formal,” she chuckles a bit, “will you be joining us tomorrow for Christmas dinner?”
“Of course,” Victor reassures her, “wouldn’t be Christmas if we all didn’t come together here now would it?”
Hop’s mother lets out a another short laugh as she places a cookie tray onto the counter.
“I suppose it wouldn’t,” she turns to him, “was just making sure, someone,” she gestures towards the other room, “was getting a little worried you wouldn’t be able to.”
They both laugh a little.
“He’s a worrywart,” Victor smiles warmly, “but he’s my worrywart.”
“He’s very lucky to have you.”
“I think it’s the other way around.”
“Maybe,” she smiles every so slightly before returning to her baking.
He would argue further that he is so very lucky to have his boyfriend and that she should be elated to have Hop as a son… but doing so would upset his boyfriend and causing a scene on Christmas Eve is in poor taste. At least the woman who gave birth to her son is finally starting to acknowledge his accomplishments and not just Leon’s.
“Hey!” Hop rounds the corner of the stairwell and enters the kitchen, “you ready to go mate?”
“I should be asking you that.” Victor jokes.
“Let me check,” Hop thinks for a moment and checks his pockets, “Ah!”
“What!?” Victor’s startled by Hop’s sudden shout.
“I did forget something!”
“What! What is it!?”
Hop interlocks his hand with Victor’s and holds them up while smiling triumphantly.
“found it.”
Victor stares at his boyfriend for a second before bursting into laughter.
“I think I forgot something too.” Victor leans in and kisses Hop’s cheek, “now let’s go already!”
“Right!” Hop pumps his free hand into the air before opening the door.
“You two be safe okay,” Hop’s mother calls out as the boys exit the home.
“We will!” Hop shouts back.
“To Wyndon!” Victor declares and the boys run through route one hand in hand towards Wedgehurst train station.
“Attention passengers: the number seven train from Wedgehurst has arrived to Wyndon station. I repeat the number seven train from Wedgehurst has reached its destination, please make your way to the exits safely, thank you.”
“Hop…?”
No response.
“Love,” Victor gently nudges his sleeping boyfriend a bit as the train enters into Wyndon’s large terminal, “we’re here.”
“ Nooooo … so comfy…” Hop mumbles and nozzles himself further into Victor’s chest.
Victor sighs but smiles warmly as he looks down at Hop, he brushes the boys hair out of his face and gently pets his head. If it were any other time he would let the boy sleep and hold him close till they had to part ways for their respective jobs, where they would refuse to release the other until one of their Rotom phones reminds them of the time. Unfortunately for the both of them this wasn’t one of those times and they had things they want to do in the capital. As the train jolts to a stop Victor has to nudge his friend a little more forcibly.
“Hop,” Victor reiterates a little louder.
Hop presses his eyelids closed and shifts to hold onto Victor tighter. Victor rolls his eyes before thinking of something else to coax his boyfriend out of his sleep.
“Hop,” his boyfriend shifts again, “if we don’t get a move on I’ll take away your cuddling privileges.”
Hop’s eyes shoot open and he looks up at his boyfriend with utter horror plastered on his face.
“What!” Hop’s voice is desperate.
Victor was lying of course, he had to fight his own urge to cuddle the adorable boy lying in his lap… but at least the point is getting across.
“You heard me,” Victor tries his best to feign seriousness.
Hop quickly sits up and stretches before standing up out of the seat.
“Well what’re waiting around for Vic,” Hop holds his hand out to Victor, “let’s go!”
Victor takes his boyfriends hand and the two exit the train.
“Whoa!” Hop exclaims as the pair walk through Wyndon’s train terminal.
“Hold on, it gets better mate,” Victor assures his boyfriend.
If Hop was getting excited seeing the terminal decorations then he’ll be in for an even grander surprise when the boy sees the capital fully plunged into the holiday spirit.
The large sliding doors of the station open and the pair are hit with a small blast of frosty air before the sounds of the city envelope them.
“Watch!” Victor shouts and grabs his boyfriends arm before he slips into the street, “carful Hop, grounds still a little slippery.”
“Hehe, thanks Vic.”
“Don’t mention it spaz,” Victor points down the street, “now let’s go!”
“Right behind ya mate!”
The two boys run down the pavement towards the city center, carful not to collide with pedestrians and the icy ground itself.
“Look at that!” Hop shouts and points towards the spot where the large Corviknight statue watches over the cities busiest central roundabout.
“I know right!” Victor practically jumped with excitement.
“This is the first time I’m seeing the tree up close,” Hop remarked.
Where Galar’s most famous bird and taxi Pokémon is usually perched is instead a huge Christmas tree. Bright lights affixed to every branch, two large red and blue ribbons wrapped around the tree with hundreds or maybe even more ornaments decorated the tree beautifully and a the very top a large star glowed so bright that one could probably see it form kilometers away.
“It’s so… pretty ,” Hop stared at the tree for a moment as he took in the sight.
“You really think so love?” Victor asks.
“Yeah, it’s beautiful…” Hop answered as he continued to stare in awe.
“Glad you like it, took a while to get it just right,” Victor remarks.
“Hmm?” Hop’s daze is finally broken and he turns to face his boyfriend, “what do you mean Vic?”
“Well…” Victor turns and walks towards a store front with a television playing in the window, Victor points to the screen which is showing what looks to be the set up of the tree, “let’s just say that a certain Champion may have been in charge of the tree this year.”
Hop looks from his boyfriend to the television a few times before it clicks.
“Wait!” Hop shouts and his face lights up brightly like the tree behind him, “you did this?!”
“Well I don’t want to toot my own horn or anything but ye- oof”
Victor is unable to finish his sentence again as Hop hugs him tightly, not that he minds, Hop gives the best hugs in Galar after all.
“It’s amazing Vic! Your amazing! Of course it’s beautiful, because you did it!” Hop praises his boyfriend.
“Hehe, thanks Hop,” Victor’s cheeks grow a little red from the praise as he runs a hand through his boyfriends hair and stares into his eyes, “oh wait, there’s one more thing.”
“What’s that?” Hop asks.
“I’ll show you,” Victor replies and takes his boyfriends hand and leads him towards the tree.
“Hold it!” A macro-cosmos staff member stops the boys as they approach the tree, “where do you kids think you’re going? you can’t go up in there, fountains closed while the trees up.”
“Oi watch who you’re talking too!” Hop glares at the staff member, “doncha know who this is!”
“Listen kid, rules are rules,” the staff member waves their hand dismissively, “now go and take you and your friend somewhere else before you get yourselves into trouble.”
“First of all! He’s my boyfriend,” Hop shouts and the staff member rolls their eyes, “and secondly! He’s the Champion!”
“Kid I don’t ca-“ the staff member stops and looks at the boy Hop is pointing at before removing their shades, “Champion Victor?”
“Yes-“
The staff member gasps as their eyes widen and they take a hesitant step back.
“I’m very sorry Champion Victor,” Hop and Victor look at each other as the staff member bows their head, “please forgive me, I didn’t mean to insult you… or your friend-“
“Boyfriend!” Hop interjects.
“Boyfriend,” the staff member corrects themselves.
“It’s fine, really,” Victor chuckles a bit and waves his hands defensively, “you were just doing your job is all.”
“I… I- yes, I was,” the staff member straightens back up, “I’m sorry but the fountain is still off limits.”
“Aw come on!” Hop angrily throws his hands in the air.
“Hop relax,” Victor turns back to the staff member, “can you please make an exception, just this once?”
“I… it’s against the ru-“
“Please,” Victor pleads, “I want to show him something special.”
“I-“ the staff member turns to think for a moment before sighing and looking down to the Champion again, “fine, just don’t make me regret this alright.”
“You won’t! I swear!” Victor grabs Hop’s arm and hurriedly gets him away from the staff member.
“What a piece of work,” Hop comments as Victor takes him round the tree.
“They were just doing their job Hoppip,” Victor attempts to ease his boyfriends frustration.
“But it’s the way they talked to you Vic…” Hop shakes his head, “sounded like Bede…”
“Hop, how were they supposed to know it was me? S’not like I’m in uniform.”
“I would know it was you!” Hop justifies.
Victor stops and gives him a look and Hop backs down out of this argument.
“Here it is,” Victor eagerly points to a set of ornaments on the tree, “look Hop.”
Hop peers into the spot Victor is pointing to. Surrounded by the lights on the tree is a pair of little figurines holding a sword and shield, one next to the other but connected by their hands.
“Is that-“
“Read the shield.” Victor nervously interrupts.
Hop turns his attention back to the figurines, he gently takes hold of the one holding the shield and brings it up to see it better.
To the Love of my Life and the Shield of my Heart- Victor.
“Vic is… is this for me?” Hop asks looking back towards his boyfriend.
Victor sheepishly nods his head and tries to avoid eye contact as his cheeks turn red.
“It- it was supposed to say more… but it didn’t fit a-and I didn’t want the text to be to small and uh… I know it’s really cheesy and kinda dumb but I-“
Hop stops his boyfriends rambling with a kiss on the lips.
Victor’s face turns an even darker shade of red as he stares at Hop wide eyed for a moment before relaxing and kissing back.
“It’s perfect Vic” Hop pulls away and smiles warmly.
“Thanks Hop,” Victor smiles back, “oh and don’t worry, I still got you a Christmas present.”
“Wasn’t really concerned about that… I just don’t think I can top what you’ve already done for me…” Hop looks down at the figurine while running his thumb over the shield.
“Just being yourself and being here with me is more then enough.” Victor places a hand in his boyfriend’s shoulder reassuringly.
“If you say so mate…”
Hop knew the sincerity of Victor’s words but it didn’t really change the way he felt about the situation. Victor is constantly going out of his way to show him how much he means to him, and receives very little of the same in return from the young professor in training. Not that Hop hasn’t tried to match the adulation he gets from his boyfriend, he has on numerous occasions attempted to be a “good boyfriend” to Victor but every time he tries he ends up making a fool of himself and not being able to show his appreciation towards Victor.
“I do,” Victor removes his hand from Hop’s shoulder, “now let’s get over to Piccadilly, the shops should still have things on sale right now.”
Hop looks back up from the figurine and forces a fake smile for his boyfriend before pretending to put the ornament back on the tree, he pockets both figurines and quickly catches up to Victor.
Hop’s slightly somber state of mind is eventually replaced with mild excitement and awe when the pair walk through Piccadilly.
Large light up snowflakes crisscrossing over the street, storefront displays have a uniquely holiday theme and are adorned with decorations, green and red wreaths hang from the street lamps and a few Lampents happily fly around showing off the decorations they definitely took without permission.
“Do you have a store you want to check out first?” Victor asks.
“Not really…” Hop answers honestly.
“Aw come on, there’s gotta be somewhere you wanna go.”
“Uh…” Hop does a quick scan of the shopping district, “there, let’s go to that one.”
“You got it,” Victor takes Hop’s hand and they enter the store.
It’s a clothing store with all the latest winter fashions, big fuzzy coats that Victor puts on simply to make Hop laugh, it works every time. Wooloo themed items enrapture the young professor in training to the point Victor has to drag his boyfriend away before he buys the whole display.
“What about this one Vic?,” Hop holds up a green jacket not to dissimilar to the one he normally wears.
“I don’t know… doesn’t really seem like… you,” Victor answers eyeing the apparel.
“You don’t think so? It matches with my bag… but if you don’t like it then I won’t get it.”
“If you want it get it, you don’t have to agree with my opinion if you like it Hop.”
“But I trust your opinion… besides, I think blues more my colour.”
“And who told you that?” Victor questions sarcastically.
“You did.”
Victor rolls his eyes playfully and nudges his boyfriend’s shoulder.
“Scarves,” Victor walks down the aisle of said clothing item, “ooh Hop, what about this one?”
Victor takes a red scarf off the display and wraps it around his neck before turning to present himself to Hop.
“What do you think?” Victor asks.
“Yo- you…” Hop pauses.
Perhaps it’s because of the lights overhead and the way that Hop sees him or maybe Victor is just that ethereal and breathtaking that he actually glows beautifully like the Christmas trees outside.
“You look…”
Victor’s smiles fades a little.
“You don’t like it?” Victor asks.
“What?” Hop snaps his eyes up to match Victor’s before waving his arms around defensively, “no! No no no! You look great! Sorry I just got… distracted…”
Victor smiles again and Hop feels relieved at the sight of it.
“You think I should nab it… it’s the last one and a good price too.”
“Absolutely!” Hop nods his head vigorously, “I’ll pay for it Vic.”
“You don’t have to that Hop, I got it,” Victor attempts to reason.
“No I’m serious! I’ll pay,” Hop counters.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes!”
“Alri-“
“Hey!”
Victor and Hop turn around to look at the voice that shouted, a slightly older boy and a girl stand behind them.
“Hello?” Hop raises a brow.
“You, with the scarf,” the boy point to Victor.
“Yes?” Victor replies.
“My girl likes it and I’m lookin’ to buy it.”
“Well you gotta find a different one,” Hop moves to stand in front of Victor, “this is the last one and I’m getting it for my boyfriend.”
“Boyfriend?” The boy looks from Hop to Victor, “ah I see, looks like we got ourselves a little problem then.”
“Not really,” Hop retorts.
“Yeah, we do,” the boy smirks and reaches for his pocket, “let’s have ourselves a battle, winner gets the scarf.”
“You can’t be serio-“
“You’re on!” Hop interrupts Victor and reaches for his own Pokémon.
“Hold it!” The store’s manager walks over to the group, “you ain’t fightin’ in here, take it out back, got a battle pad out there that you youngins can use.”
“Alright, let’s do this then,” the boy makes his way outside and Hop begins to do the same.
“Hop,” Victor grabs Hop’s wrist, “are you sure about this.”
“More then sure,” Hop pulls his wrist back and gives Victor a wink, “I’ll get you that scarf!”
Victor watches as his boyfriend runs out the door.
“O- okay,” he runs to catch up before the battle starts, plus somebody’s gotta cheer for Hop.
The two boys walk through the park, it’s quite and has very few people in it. Probably best given the situation.
“I didn’t need a new scarf, I have a really nice one already…” Victor breaks the silence between the two but he doesn’t get a response.
Victor turns his head to look at Hop. His boyfriend is staring at the ground as they walk, Victor cheered Hop on as best he could but in the end Hop had lost the battle and the scarf in the process.
“You battled really well.”
Still no response.
The two stop under a lamppost and face away from one another. Hop looks up at the bright full moon while Victor continues to eye him as he thinks of some way to get to him.
“You’re so cute.” Victor mumbles.
“Hmm?” Hop turns to look at Victor, seemingly brought back from his woes for a moment, “what was that mate?”
“You’re really cute,” Victor reiterates.
“I…I-“ Hop freezes and his cheeks grow red. he is no stranger to praise or compliments, especially from his boyfriend. But the sheer innocence and suddenness of this comment feels wildly different… a good different, but different all the same.
“Hello? Earth to Hop?” Victor waves his hand in front of the other boy’s face in an attempt to bring him back to reality again, “gee, you give a guy a compliment and you short circuit him.”
“Th- thanks Vic,” Hop finally manages to reply.
“Of course!” Victor laughs a little before smiling widely, “you’re the cutest guy I know!”
‘Say something back… compliment him… or uh hug him? Or uh, uh…’ Hop’s mind shifts into overdrive as he thinks of something.
“Y- you’re really cute too,” he clumsy responds with.
“Awww! Thanks Hop! But you’re way cuter then me,” Victor looks off to the side, “by a long shot…”
“Don’t say that!” Hop shouts.
“Wha-“
“Are you crazy Vic! You’re the cutest most beautiful person in Galar- no, the world!”
Victor just stares at his partner in slightly stunned silence as the boy continues to work himself up.
“You’re so kind! A- an- and caring!” Hop takes in a breath of air, “Arceus you’re so caring… if it weren’t for you Vic I’d probably be dea- de- really unhappy…”
“Hop-“
“And I’m so so so lucky to be your boyfriend too! The luckiest guy in the whole world maybe the universe!”
…
“And I’m such a lousy boyfriend, you’d be so much bette-“
“Absolutely not!”
Hop locks eyes with Victor and is met with a slightly sorrow filled if not just below angry expression on his boyfriends face.
“I would absolutely not be better off with someone else! And it’s a crime you would even say something like that.”
“I’m sor-“
Victor grabs Hop and pulls him into a very tight hug, he nestles his head into the crook of Hop’s neck so that the other boy couldn’t see the onset of tears welling up in his eyes.
“Vic?”
Victor doesn’t say anything but slight amount of shaking the boy is doing starts to scare Hop.
“Vic?!”
Victor tightens his hold on Hop and in return Hop wraps his arms around the boy.
“You’re okay,” Hop rubs Victor’s back gently, “you’re okay.”
“I- I love you so much Hop…” Victor pulls away a bit to look at his friend.
“I love you too Vic,” Hop replies.
“Then please never say stuff like that… you mean so much to me a-and I can’t imagine a world without you…”
“I- I… I’m sorry,” Hop looks away but Victor turns the boys head to face him.
“You are more then enough for me.”
Hop melts into Victor’s hand.
“You always say that… why?” Hop questions.
“Because you are perfect in every single way to me Hop, the sweetest most vibrant boyfriend I have the privilege of being with.”
“You always say the sweetest things Vic..”
“It’s because I have the sweetest Hoppip around.”
Hop begins laugh slightly and soon enough Victor joins in until they’re both winded from laughing to hard.
“I wanted this to be fun and for you to see the decorations…”
“I did have fun!” Hop counters, “and I loved the decorations… especially the tree, that was so cool.”
“Good, I’m glad,” Victor smiles and so does Hop.
“So, you…” Hop yawns and blinks a few times, “you have anywhere else you wanna go?”
“I think it’s time to return home, big day tomorrow after all,” Victor answers.
“Ya sure?”
“Yeah, pretty sure.”
“Okay then Vic, let’s go home.”
Victor smiles and takes Hop’s hand as the two make their way to the train terminal.
“Oh-ho welcome back you two,”
Leon greets the pair as they enter the home.
“H-hi Lee…” Hop lazily returns the greeting and waves weakly.
Leon raises a brow and looks to Victor who is partially holding up his younger brother.
“You two weren’t out drinking were you?” The former Champion questions.
“Arceus no!” Victor shakes his head fervently, “just tired is all.”
“Ah I see,” Leon smirks, “our little Hopscotch is all tuckered out.”
“Yep,” Victor laughs and Hop hums in agreement, “big day tomorrow too.”
“Yeah… should probably get to bed myself, just wanted to make sure you two got back safely.”
“Th- thanks Lee,”
“Don’t mention it Hops.”
“I’ll tuck him in Leon,” Victor and Leon share a smile before the tree of the part for the night.
“There you are,” Victor sets Hop down on the bed gently, “let me take your jacket.”
Hop tries to cooperate as much as possible to help his boyfriend help him get ready for bed.
“Alright…” Victor yawns, “I’ll see you tomorrow love,”
“W-where are you going?” Hop asks.
“Home,” Victor replies before turning to leave.
“Nooooo…” Hop reaches out to try and grab Victor, “stay.”
“I…” Victor thinks for a moment, “alright, I’ll stay.”
Hop lifts the bed cover up inviting his boyfriend to join him and Victor smiles warmly.
Victor removes his jacket, socks and trousers before jumping into bed with his boyfriend. Hop cuddles up to Victor while the Champion pulls him in.
“Victor is comfy…” Hop mumbles as he lays his head on Victor’s chest.
Victor tris not to giggle at his adorably sleepy boyfriend.
“Goodnight love,” Victors kisses Hop’s head and rubs the boys back.
It’s not long before Victor himself follows his boyfriend into the warm embrace of sleep, cuddled together and utterly inseparable.
Outside the snow has begun to fall again as Christmas Eve enters into its final hour and Christmas morning arrives in Galar.