Chapter Text
Type: Fairy
Species: Cream Pokémon
When Alcremie is content, the cream it secretes from its hands becomes sweeter and richer.
Leon, it turns out, is a liar.
Raihan should’ve known it was strange (if only he'd paid attention properly during their Gym Challenge, back when they were ten-year-olds - but he was far too focused on earning his Gym Badges and planning for Leon's Finals' loss at his hands to care what the other boy was eating or not) because Raihan has zero recollection of Leon being a picky eater…
But ever since Leon became Champion - and was eventually granted some kind of freedom away from Chairman Rose's intense schedule - and Raihan had invited Leon for a cheeky post-battle takeaway, or offered to treat him to dessert, or turned up with something greasy or sweet to share, Leon had always politely declined saying he “didn't like” the things.
Chairman Rose, it turns out, is even more of a miserable prick than Raihan had expected.
So, when the two of them - Championship finalists for the 6th year running - are procrastinating leaving the locker room after an exhibition match, and the truth is somehow spilled that Leon doesn't “dislike sweets”, or that fast food doesn't “disagree with him”, something inside Raihan sparks with rage - like a wild Crawdaunt’s just come to life inside in the pit of his stomach: insatiable and aggressive, angry at the unnecessary injustice.
“I don't give a Thwackey’s what that git Rose says,” Hammerlocke's Gym Leader scoffs, grabbing a startled Leon by the hand and tugging him to his feet. “One unplanned snack here and there's hardly gonna ruin your whole physique - and even if it did, that's none of his bloody business! You're our Champion, for crying out loud - it's your battling that earned you that spot, not your bloody good looks!”
Leon blinks, a mixture of anxious worry and confusion upon his face.
It's not a good look for him, Raihan decides.
“What, got a problem?” the young Gym Leader challenges. “You more scared of Rose, who never needs to know what it is I've got planned for you, or me, who you've been lying to for years and’s standing right in front of you?!”
Leon's expression twists into something still pained, but an unmistakable hint of amusement subtly lifts his left brow.
“What?” Raihan asks again, unable to decipher the reason behind the look and feeling a little thrown off-balance (it's kind of cute, but that's not exactly helpful).
Leon blinks again - then unexpectedly laughs.
“You think I'm good looking?” the 6-year reigning Champion smirks, exuding all the charisma he usually saves for the camera.
About 80% of Raihan's anger dissolves without him meaning it to.
“Sod off, mate,” Raihan snorts, giving Leon's hand a squeeze as he turns and drags the other teen out of the locker room. “I'm calling us a Flying Taxi,” he doesn't bother giving Leon's silly question an answer, concentrating on his Rotom Phone rather than the satisfying way Leon falls into step beside him, still holding hands.
Half an hour later (with Leon informing Oleana he's gone with Raihan to do some extra training - focusing on Charizard's Flamethrower, as promised), the two of them are sat opposite each other in an adorable little dessert parlour on the edge of Wyndon’s shopping district.
The menu is overwhelming for someone like Leon, who doesn't have a clue what half the words even mean (stracciatella? semifreddo?) so Raihan tells him he's going to have a mille-feuille, the same as Raihan - Leon just needs to choose the flavour he wants.
“This place is famous for always having every flavour of Alcremie cream available, no matter what,” Raihan boasts, as if he owns the parlour himself. “Meaning they're not just mint at desserts, but the management definitely knows a thing or two about raising Pokémon, too!”
“Right,” Leon smiles, always enjoying it whenever Raihan's excited about something, but a tad distracted by the variety of flavours on offer:
Vanilla, ruby, matcha, mint, lemon, salted, caramel, ruby, rainbow– Wait, why are there two rubies? Oh yes, of course, one of them’s a swirl; Leon recalls the magazine feature on Alcremie he'd read a few years ago, and how fascinated he'd been at the table cataloguing all 63 possible visual variations (9 flavours multiplied by 7 toppings) - but even back then he'd been resigned to the fact he'd likely never taste any of them anytime soon, if ever, and hadn't committed the details to memory. That was a mistake, in hindsight. If he knew he'd be dragged by Raihan to a place specialising in Alcremie-based desserts, it would've been nice to have been a little more prepared.
“Lee, mate,” Raihan interrupts with a fond sigh, and Leon glances up, away from the menu, to see the Gym Leader with his chin in his palm smirking at him. “Why're you staring at it like you're face-to-face with a wild Weezing? The wrong choice ain't gonna have it Self-Destruct on you.”
Leon purses his lips together, finding Raihan's teasing more amusing than anything else.
“It's not that,” the Champion smiles. “I just can't choose! What if I end up never coming back again?”
Now it's Raihan's turn to press his lips together, teal eyes slightly narrowing in thought.
“...Well, there's two of us at least,” Raihan gives an airy shrug, though the faint frown remains on his brow. “I'll get something different so we can share, innit.”
Leon's face lights up - childlike innocence at such a simple half-solution - then he looks back down at the menu and hums.
“Now they're in front of me, I really feel like I'd like to try them all someday…”
“That's fair enough. As someone who actually has tried ‘em all, I can confirm they're all pretty banging.”
“I'm not sure if that's helping or not!”
“Well, there's gotta be one which sticks out the most, innit. What're you feeling drawn to?”
Leon hums again in response, considering.
“I suppose… rainbow…? Or one of the rubies…” the Champion rationalises. The rainbow Alcremie feels like it's the most special, but the fact there are two ruby-based creams is intriguing.
“Right-o,” Raihan whips Leon's menu away as he stands up abruptly. “You sit tight and I'll be back in a tick,” he gives a teasing wink.
Leon just laughs and mock shoos him away, enjoying the pleasant tingle inside at Raihan - his best friend and rival - doting on him.
A few minutes later, the Gym Leader returns with a tray of two decadent-looking cream-filled desserts - layer upon layer of beautifully light pastry - and two cups of steaming tea. He places the tray onto the table with a faux bow and another smirk (earning himself a mock round of applause from Leon, as a light fluttering of his fingertips and a smirk of his own), sets one teacup in front of each their seats, and lines the two dessert plates side by side in the centre.
“That's funny,” Leon comments, taking the fork Raihan hands him. “I imagined the ruby would be either red or pink and the rainbow would be, well, rainbow?”
The creams of the mille-feuille are blatantly bright yellow and pastel green.
“You're not wrong, mate,” Raihan laughs, opening a packet of sugar and tipping it into his tea. “I got us lemon and mint.”
“Oh?” Leon blinks, confused once again. Why did Raihan ask what he wanted only to bring back something different?
The look on his face, Raihan thinks, is so dumb it's almost adorable - like a Yamper who's just had its favourite chew toy confiscated.
“Trust me, you'll like these - the Great Raihan guarantees it,” the Gym Leader stirs his tea, absentmindedly biting his bottom lip in between sentences. “And you said you wanted to taste ‘em all eventually anyway, innit.” He pauses to clear his throat, teaspoon clinking against the side of his cup as he stirs a little faster. “And if you want the rainbow or ruby specifically? Then you'll just have to come back with me again sometime, won't you.”
He says it as a statement, even though it's actually a question.
Leon finds himself grinning, because it almost feels like Raihan is making up an elaborate plan - which is entirely unnecessary, because now Leon's been brave enough to disobey Chairman Rose’s over-the-top stipulations once, there's no reason for Leon to not do it again… Especially if Raihan’s there by his side.
“Sounds like a plan,” is all Leon says in reply, unable to hold back a pleased chuckle.
Raihan meets his gaze, looking positively chuffed, then he scoffs and swaps his teaspoon for a fork.
“C’mon then, mate, get stuck in!” he nods encouragingly at the two plates. “I wanna hear your thoughts!”
Already looking forward to their next visit, Leon happily complies.