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Hop scanned the multitude of pages on the computer furiously. It was a similar state he found himself when it came to researching the changes with his brother. This time however, it was thankfully for a much nicer reason.
Hop couldn't stop thinking about how different his brother was treated now that he wasn't Champion. Even if Leon said it didn’t bother him, it really did bother Hop.
It didn’t feel fair at all to see his brother essentially be cast aside, and honestly seeing it in a way made Hop thankful he HADN’T become Champion.
He’s sure he’d never be able to handle the guilt from it…
Hop shook his head and grunted in frustration. He didn’t need to think about what could have happened, he needed to think about what he needs to do now.
‘Ugh… no… No… Not that either…’ Hop frowned in annoyance as he passed by different items on the page for different shops in Wyndon. There was a vast expanse of things, and plenty to choose from.
Most of them were expensive, which wasn’t a problem for Hop when he had saved up his Poké Points from his time during the Gym Challenge. (Because there was no way he was asking to use any of his brother’s money, when it was a present FOR him).
The true problem, was price or not, nothing felt good enough.
He originally was going to purchase the Charizard hat he had seen at the store before he had been so rudely yanked away from it. Yet the more he thought about it the more he realized how dull of a present that was.
A new cap? Really? His brother had hundreds!
He then tried finding sports clothes, because even if his brother wasn’t Champion anymore he loved to work out and exercise from time to time. Especially with his Pokémon!
Yet Leon had the best athletic wear in Galar, Hop was sure about that. He also seemed attached to his Champion uniform and honestly Hop understood. It was a great uniform, and it was perfect for Lee.
Any of these others? They totally paled in comparison!
Which led to equipment, then to TMs, items for his Pokémon, STARS!
All of it just felt… meh…
Hop groaned and rubbed his face in frustration. Getting something for a man who practically had everything was difficult. Especially when Leon acted like he didn’t need anything else.
He said what Hop being there, them being able to spend time together was all he needed. Even if the words warmed his heart and made him feel happy, a nagging part of his brain pushed a question.
Was it all he needed? Because Hop absolutely couldn’t be enough right? Not for the man who practically had all the love of Galar at his finger tips…
“And what are you doing?” A sudden deep voice teased lightly.
“Lee!” Hop yelped, closing his computer away and looking up to see his brother staring down at him with an amused smile and raised brow.
“You didn’t answer my question. What’re you doing?” Leon asked again, leaning down with his hands on his hips so he was closer to Hop’s face. Being so close Hop could see the sweat glisten from the older’s forehead from the exercises he had been doing earlier.
“Er… nothing!” Hop chuckled weakly.
‘I didn’t even hear Lee come over here!’
He probably really should have. They were in the training room so his brother could work out with his Pokémon. It was the one place where Hop was sure he had enough space and distraction to search for a gift.
That time seemed over now that his brother’s attention was on him.
“Oh~?” Leon hummed, reaching a finger out and gently poking his forehead. “Then what’s got that brain of yours working so hard then hm?”
“I’m… planing battle strategies…” Hop fibbed.
‘It’s kind of the truth, I’m trying to win this battle with what to give him.’
He paused as he felt Leon nuzzle his cheek against his head, purring softly.
“Well, I think that’s enough.” Leon chided through his purring. “You getting frustrated is only going to make it harder. Take a break Hop.”
“But I caaaaaan’t.” Hop whined in dismay. If he stopped now then how was he going to find the perfect present?
Hop reached out to the computer about to take it and try to sit somewhere else, only for a large hand to grab it and yank it away.
“What the-?! Lee!” Hop looked back to see his brother holding his computer in the air with a smug smile.
“Ah, ah, ah~!” Leon purred. “I said take a break, which means you take a break! Haven’t I taught you more than once you should listen me~?”
“Lee…” Hop stood up as his brother did the same and attempted to try and grab it back. Leon held it higher, purring harder with laughter.
“Lee!”
“I’m sorry Hopscotch but this is for your own good.” Leon used his other hand to ruffled his hair. “I’m doing this because I love you.”
Hop crossed his arms and frowned. He hated it when his brother said that, because there was no way Hop could argue with it.
“Charizard.” Leon called. As his loyal Pokémon perked and flew to his side, Leon held the laptop to him. “Take this back to Raihan yeah?”
“What?!” Hop gawked as his brother’s loyal Pokémon took it and gave an affirmative nod, flapping his wings and flying out of the room.
“Don’t worry Hop, you know Charizard can be gentle.” Leon looked back to him, moving his hands to his hips. He then let out a laugh as Hop scowled up at him grumpily.
“It’s not funny…” He grumbled.
“Hahaha! You’re right, your pout isn’t funny!” Leon calmed and gently took his face into his hands.
“It’s adorable~!” He purred, nuzzling his cheek against his hair.
“Hey I’m not pouting! I’m… ugh…” Hop sighed in defeat as Leon just purred louder. He knew too well he couldn’t argue with his brother.
After a moment of nuzzles Leon finally pulled back with a big smile.
“C’mere Hop!”
Hop yelped as he was scooped up, his feet lifted from the floor. “Lee!”
His brother merely laughed and carried him out of the training room with ease. He continued walking down the hall, past an amused Raihan and Gloria and didn’t stop until he was in front of the couch.
Hop grunted as his brother gently placed him on the furniture, yelping as the older flopped right next to him. The sudden weight was enough to make Hop bounce slightly in the air.
“Now then, you’re going to sit right here with me and we’re going to enjoy a nice break together!” Leon stated brightly.
“Oh yeah?” Hop raised a brow. “Doing what?”
Leon shrugged. “A movie, a game, anything!”
Hop crossed his arms with a stubborn frown. As much as he appreciated his brother looking out for him, it was frustrating when he was trying to do something for him too.
“Someone say movie?” Raihan called. Within seconds he and Gloria were on the couch with them.
“Yep!” Leon beamed. “Any suggestions?”
“Brycen-Man!” Gloria cheered. “Hop I’ve been trying to get you to watch those movies forever!”
“Brycen-man eh?” Raihan slouched lazily from his spot between Gloria and Leon as he gave a smile. “Alright I’ll bite, let’s give it a gander.”
“Any objections?” Leon hummed playfully as they all turned to Hop.
Hop just huffed and shook his head. With a chuckle Leon with ease found one of the movies and as he pressed start they all began to lean back to watch it.
Within an hour they all had become hooked.
Gloria was sitting up alert and watching the screen with shining eyes, Raihan next to her slouched lazily at the side but watching the screen with interest. Leon was stretched out by the man’s side, one arm over the top of the couch while the other kept Hop snugly tucked against him, the older’s chest pillowing his head.
Hop was trying to keep up, but it was hard to hear with the constant happy purring right against his ears. He couldn't exactly move away from it either since a certain older brother decided right now was cuddle time, which meant Hop wasn’t going anywhere even if he wanted to.
‘If he keeps this up I'm going to fall asleep…’ That sound has become something soothing for his ears and while it had been a help to get him to rest easier, he’d rather watch the movie.
Hop lightly patted at his brother’s large chest. “Lee… I can’t hear…” Hop said in a teasing tone. Leon’s purring paused, only to get even louder as his older brother playfully poked his cheek with a finger.
“H-hey!” He giggled waving his finger away. That only seemed to encourage Leon to do it again and then again. “Lee I wanna watch the movie! Ah!” His whine fell into a laugh as Leon suddenly scooped him up and cuddled him in a way that had him facing away from the screen.
“Leeehehehe!”
Leon laughed with him giddily, rubbing his cheek against Hop’s vigorously in a way his big brother knew tickled. Hop let out a startled squeal of laughter and tried to squirm away.
“Ah, ah, ah! No, no, no~!” Leon hummed through his purring. “You’re staying right HERE!” His brother playfully rolled off the couch snuggling Hop against him more with laughter.
“I wanna watch the movie! Nohohohohoho!” Hop cackled as Leon suddenly flopped onto him.
“Oh you do hmm? I’d say this is more fun than the movie!” Leon giggled with him as he nuzzled his cheek against Hop earning more laughter.
“Well, I guess Leon’s done.” Raihan sighed. “I got to say I’m impressed he sat still that long.”
“I’m guessing you two haven't really been able to watch a full movie together then?” Gloria asked, sounding amused. Hop did feel kind of bad they interrupted since it was one of her favorites so it was a relief she didn’t sound upset.
“Not very often. He either starts nitpicking the movie or he’ll just start moving around.” Raihan chuckled. “This is more the latter.”
“Lee… I want… to watch… the movie!” Hop said with each attempted push to get himself out of his brother’s arms. All failed attempts of course but maybe showing he truly did want to finish watching it would help him understand that.
Leon meanwhile just grinned, arms not giving in as his eyes sparkled with mirth.
“Hmm…” He hummed thoughtfully, eyes glancing away. He then grinned wider as he looked back to Hop. “I’d rather keep doing this!”
With that he began to roll around the floor laughing, keeping Hop tucked tight in his arms as they playfully wrestled. Well, not exactly wrestling. More like Hop was wrestling to get away and Leon was just cuddling him amused he even thought he could.
“Gloria! Raihan! Help!” Hop complained as they rolled away from the couch and tele all together.
“Sorry Hop, but our hands our tied.” Raihan chuckled. “You know we can’t exactly pull you away.”
“I’d rather not get snarled at.” Gloria hummed in agreement.
“Traitors!” Hop shouted with a gasp. “I will remember this!”
His shout was cut off as Leon sat up and rubbed his cheek against Hop’s enthusiastically purring.
“Weren’t you the one who put the movie on in the first place?” Hop complained. Leon chuckled through his purrs.
“Yes, but like I said… THIS is more fun!”
Hop snorted and if he wasn’t being cuddled right now Hop would cross his arms.
As Leon happily snuggled against him, Hop quickly noticed where they were. Lee’s tumbling had brought them behind the couch, and right next to the dining table…
‘Wait!’ Hop held back gasping in delight. Maybe he could get back to his search! He just needed to find a distraction.
As if his luck couldn’t get any better, he saw from the corner of his eye one of Daragpault’s Dreepy’s peeking into the room through the wall. All of the ruckus of Leon and Hop’s playful tumbling must've gotten its attention.
He risked glancing to his brother and was relieved to see he had a happy closed eye smile on his face as he continued to purr.
‘Perfect…’
He wiggled his fingers and gave a teeny whistle that got the Pokémon’s attention. Hop beamed and motioned for it to come over. He smiled even wider as it did.
If Hop really was to Lee what Dreepy was to Dragapault, then maybe Hop could find a partner to help him out of this. After all they had to look out for each other right?
‘Help me out of this…’ He mouthed to the Pokémon. Dreepy looked at it’s trainer and then back to Hop warily. It thought that was a bad idea and probably had seen from experience.
‘C’mon please? It’s for Lee…’ He pleaded. The Dreepy blinked, before slowly nodding with a squeak.
Hop watched gleefully as the Dreepy flew around Leon’s head, making the man’s expression scrunch up slightly as the tail of the Pokémon wiggled under his nose.
“A-ah… ah… ah…”
Hop stiffened and quickly ducked down as he heard the tell-tale sound of sneeze. Considering it was about to come from Lee, Hop was not about to take any chances…
“Ahhhhh…AAAAAAAAH-CHOOOOOOOO!” His brother bellowed a sneeze, his arms releasing Hop to cover it. Yet even then Hop could feel the power from it as the room trembled slightly.
“Whoa…” Hop murmured in awe, only to shake himself as Dreepy flew over him and motioned with its little arms for him to move.
“Thanks…” He whispered. The Dreepy nodded and Hop quickly scrambled out of his brother’s lap. As soon as he got to his feet he grabbed the computer and tried to quietly shuffle away as Leon sniffled rubbing his nose.
“Ugh… Dreepy I’ve told you… please don’t do that.” His brother grumbled softly. The Dreepy let out a trill, one that Leon returned far more stern. The Dreepy quickly flew away from him and phased through the wall where it had gone before.
“Mmf… Now then where were… HEY!” Leon’s mumble turned into an insulted shout as he finally realized Hop had escaped his grasp.
‘That’s my cue to run!’
Hop all but bolted towards the hall, and he could quickly hear his brother do the same.
He needed to find a place to hide quick. The training room was out because it was at the far end of the home… the next could only be…
“Hop!” Leon shouted as he ducked into the closest room, slamming the door shut and locking it from inside.
Hop flopped to the ground with relief. He made it…
The knob from outside twisted furiously, and a frustrated growl rumbled loudly from his older brother.
“You Little Rascal…Open up this door this instant!” His voice was stern despite the fondness of what he had called him.
“Not quite yet Lee!” Hop snickered brightly. “I just have to finish one thing!”
“Finish one…?” Leon’s voice trailed off only to fall into a sputter. “You took your computer didn’t you! HOP!”
Despite the volume of his voice Hop cackled gleefully. For once Hop had actually won when it came to getting past his brother.
The knob twisted even harder. “Hop! So help me… Open the door!”
“Nope!” Hop quickly opened his computer and looked over the screen. “Not yet! I’ll be out in a bit though!”
Leon merely growled louder and the knob continued to twist. Knowing how strong his brother was it wouldn't be long before he’d possibly wrench the door knob right off. So he’d need to be quick…
‘Is there any place I can hide?’ Hop thought as he glanced around, trying to ignore the scratching against on the door behind him now. He paused as he realized he was in a small dark room. From the assortment of random items he could see from the screen’s glow he could tell he must’ve run into the home’s closet.
‘Oh great… I really cornered myself now…’
Despite that he found himself gazing at some of the items curiously. Many of them looked to be things from Lee’s time as Champion.
Some of it paperwork, some photographs, and one was…
‘Wait… what’s this?’
Hop reached out and plucked a specific paper out from a stack. It looked more recent than the others, multiple words were scribbled out on the page. A sign that this was something his brother had been working on…
‘A new kind of tournament…?’ Hop read the words as well as he could. ‘Inspire… others… Greatest trainers in Galar…. Galarian Star Tournament?’
Hop hadn’t heard of this, and from the furious scribbling and multiple notes it was clear that his brother had at one point been working hard on it. Whatever it was…
The more looked over the page the more he could see his brother’s dream to help others feel and become stronger in every word.
‘He must not have been able to do this yet with everything going on…’
The knob behind him suddenly creaked loudly and Hop quickly shoved the paper back where it was. As he closed his computer the door behind him shot open with a crack.
‘Uh oh… that door’s broken…’
Slowly looking up, he gave a weak smile to a rather stern looking Leon.
“Er… Hi Lee…”
Leon’s eyes narrowed and in a flash Hop was scooped right back into his arms. Hop yelped and dropped his computer, only for another hand to reach out and catch it before it hit the ground.
“Phew… Thanks Gloria…” He murmured as he recognized the dainty hand.
“No problem!”
“No, big problem…” Leon growled and Hop was twisted around until his arms were forced around the older’s neck and his legs around his waist. Another position he was starting to get used to now. Being practically a Komala…
“C’mon Lee…” Hop chuckled weakly. Leon said nothing, but Hop grunted as he was suddenly squeezed tight.
“Don’t run away from me again…” Leon murmured, equally stern and something else Hop couldn't quite grasp. Whatever it was… it sounded sort of sad.
Hop drooped and pressed his cheek against his brother’s chest. “Okay Lee, I won’t…” He paused. “M’sorry… I was just goofing around was all.”
Leon cuddled him close as he carried him back to the couch. As he sat down Hop could feel his brother relaxing as he nuzzled his cheek against his head.
“I understand you were just having fun… Just… don't do that again okay?” Leon murmured into his head. “… I …I didn’t like it Hop…”
“You got it Lee.” Hop nodded, chuckling as the relieved sigh that blew against his hair tickled his head.
The movie was still going even from all the chaos from before. Raihan and Gloria quickly returned to their spots and soon Lee began purring all over again. From his spot now forced to be snuggled in the older’s hold with his ear pressed over his heart it was impossible for Hop to not close his eyes at least for a little bit.
He could swear Leon purred even louder as he did, lips pressing against his head as one of his hands gently stroked his hair. Hop yawned in response.
Okay, maybe Hop could see why his brother had tried to force him to stop overworking himself again. He WAS pretty tired…
That didn’t stop the nagging to try and find something to show the man how much he was appreciated. He just wished he could figure out what…
As he drifted off to slumber, the paper he had found in the closet crossed his mind.
‘The Galarian Star Tournament…’ Hop mentally smiled to himself. ‘That’s it!’
Maybe the perfect gift for his brother wasn’t an item, but something far better.
Like helping him make his dream come true…