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Raihan let out a big yawn and stretched his aching limbs. Last night had been incredible. I mean to be fair, sex with Leon was always pretty much ranked as ‘best sex of his life’. And last night, whoo boy, Raihan shuddered just thinking about it.
He heard his Rotem phone go off, the default notification sound, probably nothing important. But it disturbed the quiet of the early morning hours. He carefully leaned over to silence it. He was trying to avoid disturbing his lover. Whom, Raihan was quickly learning, just loved to sleep in. Probably a new luxury he took advantage of whenever possible. He couldn’t blame him. Surely, Leon had been kept to a rigid schedule when he had been the Champion.
Raihan had always been an early-riser. He had to get up early to fit in a workout before his daily training began. Besides, he had to work hard if he ever wanted to catch up to this dork.
He smiled fondly as he gazed at the sleeping beauty lying beside him. Leon’s hair was a complete mess, and his mouth was cracked open, the tiniest bit of drool leaking out. The former champ rolled over now facing his lover. He gave Raihan a clear view of his love bites from the previous night.
Beautiful.
Raihan lightly ran his fingers through the purple nest of hair. The soft strands rubbing against his fingertips. Leon began to stir slightly, but just snuggled into the touch, and didn’t open his eyes. Still asleep.
Raihan smiled as he began to give in to the lazy morning cuddles. He quietly whispered sweet nothings along his lover’s hair. He settled further into the bed and began to fondly reminisce.
He recalled the first time he saw his rival. He had still been a young child, age 11, with skinned knees and an ego befitting a future gym leader. He remembered watching the tv as a young Leon claimed his title as the Champion of the Galar Region. He watched in awe as the announcer proclaimed that this 10-year-old child was the new Champion! Raihan had been shocked, this kid was even a year younger than him!? Oh, he could surely take this Leon guy on!
From that day forth Raihan had declared to the kid on the television that he was his rival. He would do everything in his power to defeat him and claim the title of Champion for himself! He started by going back and watching and then re-watching his Championship match. He took as many notes as he could. He tried desperately to notice any weaknesses in the younger boy’s battling style.
A young Raihan, had quickly learned, this guy had no freaking weaknesses!? Even without the type advantage his Pokemon used super effective techniques to make up for it!? I mean, at first it seemed like the kid was being a little show-off.
However, after finally meeting his self-proclaimed rival, Raihan was taken aback by how strange he was. His mannerisms and speech was reminiscent of a grown-up. Raihan, at first, thought this kid was just super weird. But after Leon beat him in their first battle, the weirdo actually cracked a huge smile and started laughing!
“Wow, it's been some time since I've been on the ropes like that! That was amazing! You're amazing! Like seriously, that was so much fun!”
Raihan just blinked as the weird kid finally sounded like an actual kid.
“Uh, yeah. Well enjoy your win, cause it ain't gonna last! You're my rival and I'm gonna beat you some day! Just you wait and see!”
Leon and Raihan shared a laugh and Leon cracked another big grin, “I've never had a rival before! I'm gonna train as hard as I can so that you never beat me!”
“Pfft. As if dude, I almost had you on our first match! You’re going down, Champ”.
A young Leon suddenly shifted his stance away from the other boy. His demeanor changed completely back to his strange almost adult-like behavior.
“Well, we shall just have to see about that. Rest assured I'll do everything in my power to see that I remain on top.”
Raihan groaned, “Ugh, there you go again being a weirdo.”
“W-what? What do you mean?,” the younger child visibly deflated.
Raihan flinched, jeez this kid was too sensitive. What the heck was his problem!? I don't get this weirdo at all. I mean why does he sound more like a grown-up than a kid our age? Raihan pondered The situation and remembered something his mum would say. Try to put yourself in shoes? In ugly shoes? No, wait another kid’s shoes! That was it.
He took a deep breath and thought over their recent battle. The way this kid battled, like he just had to win. There was no alternative, like if he lost what would that mean? Finally, it hit him with the strength of a hyper beam.
This kid had to be freaking perfect. He had the weight of the world on his tiny shoulders. Raihan wondered if this kid even got to be a kid anymore? Did he still live with his mom and dad? Or did the Pokemon League, like move him out of his house or something crazy?
“Hey, look I-I’m sorry. Uh I didn't mean to call you a weirdo. You just sound like a stuffy grown-up instead of a kid. And it's, well it's kinda weir- I mean, it's odd is all?”
The younger boy recoiled further, “I’m sorry, I have another match to get to. It was nice to meet you umm-?”
The older boy thrusted his hand out, “I'm Raihan, you and I are rivals now so you better not forget it!”
Leon cracked a tiny smile and returned the handshake, “I'm Leon, the current Champion of the Galar Region. I would like it if we could be rivals and maybe um friends?”
Raihan grinned, “I mean sure, if you really need a friend that badly then I guess we could be friends too! That doesn't mean I'm gonna go easy on you next time though!”
“Good, I wouldn't like it if you didn't try hard. After all, if you're gonna be my rival you gotta be the best! Well, uh I mean not like the best, best!? Cause that's me! But you can be umm second best?” The younger boy stuttered and sheepishly retracted his hand.
“There you go being a weirdo again. Jeez, we're gonna have to hang out so you learn to talk like a kid!”
Raihan smirked and gently pushed the younger boy away. Leon smiled another large grin and pushed the older boy back. The two laughed and pushed each other until the Chairman showed up to collect the Champ. He immediately began to scold the younger boy, calling his behavior, “unbecoming of a young Champion”.
Raihan watched sadly as his new friend stopped smiling and turned away to follow the mean grown-up. Raihan waited til the Chairman's back was turned then stuck his tongue out.
Leon turned briefly to say his goodbyes and caught the older boy’s childish gesture. He let a quiet giggle slip but quickly schooled his features lest the older man catch on. The Champion gave his new friend one last wave before being led into a fancy limousine.
From then on the two were sworn rivals and would eventually become best friends.
Back in the present day, Leon shifted under the blankets and nuzzled closer into Raihan’s loose embrace. The gym leader chuckled fondly as he recalled being those two kids they once were.
“We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into, Leon.”
The purple-haired man apparently heard his name and began to stir.
“Mmm, oh good morning, Raihan.”
Raihan smiled and gave the other a closed-mouth peck. Ugh, morning breath was just the worst, yuck.
“Morning, Princess. You sleep well?”
“Mmhmm, yeah. A little sore though,” the former Champ sheepishly replied.
Raihan petted the other’s hair, “Ah, I may have gotten just a bit carried away. I'm sorry, sweetheart.”
“Leon”
“Wha-”
“You never say my name, it's always a pet name or another umm term of endearment? Which don't get me wrong! I love your nicknames and such…but it's nice to hear my name from your lips, for once.”
Raihan went to grab the other's hand and interlocked their fingers. He started to kiss each individual knuckle.
“I’m sorry, Leon. I didn't realize I never actually said your name before. I guess it was just easier to tease and poke fun then really admit what- Uh, wait, I mean, ugh I wanted to do this in a better way. With like roses or some shit? Uh do you even like roses? Ugh, what the fuck is wrong with me…!?”
The younger man startled somewhat, “Umm Raihan what are you even talking about?”
Raihan smirked his signature toothy-grin, then softened the edges and transformed it into a genuine smile, just for this man's eyes only. He took a deep breath. If he was doing this, best to just rip the bandaid off. He was planning on making it some grand gesture, like his Princess deserved. Whelp, it's too late now. Fuck.
“What I mean is this. I love you, Leon.”
Leon smiled and started to tear up, “I-I-I…”
“Oi, you don't have to say it back if-”
“I love you too!”
The two smiled, new and soft gentle smiles that never graced their public personas. The giddy butterflies in their stomachs made them both giggle. When they reached for one another they fell into a lump of blankets, and continued giggling and laughing until their lips met in a passionate kiss.
Morning-breath be damned, when you're snogging the man you love.