Chapter Text
“Hey sleepyhead, come on down for breakfast!” I groan at the sound, shuffling underneath my thick duvet and smothering my cheeks into the pillow below me. After a few moments, I haphazardly kick my legs until I am completely vulnerable to the chilly morning air. I shifted my head up onto one of my palms and lazily raised my eyes until they landed onto my calendar. I squinted to skim the words accurately my eyes bulged, and I proceeded to practically fling myself out of bed.
“Shit!” I flung open my closet and eyeballed my clock. My mother’s laughter from downstairs was drowned out by the panicking thoughts swirling inside my head. I had less than an hour to become presentable. I fisted my palm and smirked as I picked up a particularly smoking outfit, I had prepared for occasions such as this. “I’ve got this.”
Thirty Minutes (and a lot of panicked screeching) Later
I happily jump down the last two stairs and spin around the corner, stopping with a comical screech as my nose is bombarded with scents. “You made my favourite!” My mother smiles warmly.
“For good luck.” My heart warms as I approach and hug her tightly, thanking her. Once we’re both seated, she settles an intense gaze on me and I bristle.
“What is it? Is there something on my face?” I raise my hand to gesture towards different sections of my face, but she is already shaking her head.
“No, you look beautiful sweetheart. I just wanted to ask whether either yourself or Leon have mentioned your little relationship to Hop?” I place down my fork shrug.
“I don’t think he has, but Hop is his brother. I didn’t think it was my place to influence him on the subject.” My mother’s lips grow taught, creating a firm line across her face as her eyebrows fall against her lids.
“Hop is your friend too, has been since you were kids. All three of you were inseparable before Leon was galivanting off to become the Champion. No matter how much older you were you stood by Hop when his brother left, and I’m sure he values your support greatly. However, the longer you wait the worse it’s going to be, and you know it.” I nod solemnly, knowing she’s right. I take another forkful and chew.
“I’ll mention it to him today. Who knows, maybe he’s already told him.” I shrug and swallow, finishing the dish and standing from my stool at the breakfast bar. Glancing at the clock a burst of butterfrees unleash themselves in my stomach, “I better get going, don’t wanna be late!” I send her a wave and bright smile before I leave the house, a skip in my step as I pass the entrance to the Slumbering Weald.
Leon and I hadn’t meant to be keeping our relationship a secret to Hop, it was meant to be a secret to everyone. News of the great Champion of Galar having a partner could be disastrous for his popularity! He had a huge fangirl and fanboy following that I personally didn’t exactly want to get on the wrong side of. Team Yell had nothing on these guys. Regardless Hop deserved to know.
I mulled over my thoughts as I briskly moved towards Wedgehurst’s station. I was pulled out of my thoughts by the ecstatic cheering that grew in volume as I approached the entrance. I could barely see him through the crowd and suddenly Hop was by my side, pushing his way through the crowd. My heart thrummed against my chest, feeling a great sense of déjà vu. I was confused as to why for a few moments only for the memory to hit me like a tonne of bricks. This is almost identical to how I was reunited with Leon for the first time since he left Postwick all those years ago to become the Champion.
Hop grabs my hand and I’m jostled out of my reminiscing, “Hey, you looked lost there for a second!” He beams cheekily and helps to pull the two of us up to the front of the crowd just in time to watch Leon conduct his signature spin and pose. The crowd applauds, I smile and join them eyeing Hop as he beams at his older brother. The glint of determination in his eye causes my heart to warm, their connection as siblings was something I have always envied. I turn my head as the crowd begins to disperse.
“Thank you for the wonderful welcome home everyone!” His grin is wide, but his eyes are tired as he addresses the retreating crowd. His eyes eventually land on myself and Hop, he approaches briskly.
“Hey, Leo.” I smile, and he opens his mouth to respond, his eyes warm and bright. Only to be beaten to the punch by his younger brother.
“Hey Lee!” The two hug, tightly wrapping their arms around each other. Leon even lifts him off the ground slightly, earning a disgruntled noise from Hop in response.
“You’ve definitely grown again little bro.” Leon smirks as they pull apart, I merely smile watching the exchange between the two brothers.
“Reckon’ so! I’m gonna be taller than you in no time!” Hop beams and Leon smiles despite his eyes narrowing.
“You better, I can’t be beaten by anyone shorter than me. It’s a simple fact anyone would know about the unbeatable Champion.” Hop laughs for a moment and then pauses.
“Dang! I remembered mum wanted me to grab some berries from town. Do you guys mind heading up to the house without me?” A horrible part of me feels a sense of great joy knowing that now Leon and I will be alone.
“’Course Hop!” Hop smiles and looks to me for confirmation.
“And hey, make sure my brother doesn’t get you two lost on the way over please?” I nod my head quickly with a grin as Leon cheekily glowers at Hop.
Hop runs off and Leon is already moving closer to me before he’s even out of earshot. He quickly pulls me behind a nearby tree to hide us from any nearby townspeople before he wraps his arms around me tightly and breathes in deeply.
“Hey.” His voice is deeper now, husky and gravelly due to overexertion most likely. Watching Leon tear down his usual persona is amazing to watch as the genuine Leon shines brightest when he’s home.
“Wait a minute, did you just smell me?” He doesn’t respond, only continues to breathe deeply into my hair, I squeeze him and smile into his chest hoping to coax an answer out of him. He squeezes me in return, and I squeak out a giggle at the unfamiliar and ticklish pressure.
“I may have.” He mumbles into my hair, tone light and playful.
“And may I ask why?” I match his tone with ease, so happy to have him home and in my arms.
“Nope!” He pops the ‘p’ happily and nuzzles his nose into my hair, effectively messing it up. I frown at the motion.
“My poor hair. Why do I even bother making it look nice if you’re just going to ruin it Leo?” I look up from his chest and raise an eyebrow. He juts out his bottom lip and pouts right back at me, I pout harder in response. He pulls back and laughs then.
“Babe. I like your hair no matter what it looks like. As long as you keep using that heavenly conditioner with the kiwi in it I don’t care whether it’s a bees nest for the rest of our lives.” He smiles and sneakily glances around us before pressing a soft kiss to my forehead and taking my hand. I let him lead me up through Route 1 towards our houses.
“Why do you like the smell so much?” I inquire intertwining our fingers, he looks towards me as we pass his garage and halts our steps.
“Because you smell like home.” My heart swells as he leans down and captures my lips in a chaste kiss, one of his hands rubbing the small of my back whilst the other gently cups my cheek. We part smiling, my cheeks and the tips of his ears aflame.
“What are you guys doing out here?” Hop suddenly appears and simultaneously gives both of us joint heart attacks. However, Leon recovers quicker and comes up with a speedy excuse.
“We were waiting for you bud, I don’t have my keys with me. Must’ve left them in the luggage that’s arriving tomorrow.” I let out a silent sigh of relief as Hop shakes his head and laughs at his older brother.
“I’m glad I didn’t send you here alone, you definitely would’ve gotten lost if you couldn’t even remember your keys.” He rushes forward to unlock the door regardless of the teasing remarks. Heading in and placing the berries he must’ve been instructed to buy on the kitchen counter. Leon followed briskly whilst I dawdled behind still feeling the aftereffects of my recent heart attack.
Hop bounced around the kitchen for a short while before his eyes settled on a note nearby to where I had positioned myself beside the fridge, I plucked the note from beneath the magnet holding it in place. I stifled a giggle, “Hop clean your pigsty of a room before your brother arrives or else!” I cackled reading the note, Hop scrambled.
“It won’t take long, I promise we can head out in like ten minutes!” Hop’s voice grew quieter as he clambered upstairs. Leon and I stifled laughter as we watched his form disappear and then excessive stomping coming from above us. Leon let out a soft sigh.
“Arceus, I needed a good laugh.” He held a hand to his chest and beamed, I nodded and moved to the kettle.
“Coffee?” I turned my head to see Leon slumped over on the counter, he straightened his back quickly once he caught me looking back at him.
“Oh! No, I should make the coffee, this is my place after all. Mum’d kill me if she knew I made you make me coffee.” He rises probably a little too quickly looking at the way his eyebrows creased. I frown in response.
“They’ve really been working you to the bone up in Wyndon, haven’t they?”
I approach him, the coffee long forgotten. I reach my hand up to cup his cheek, my eyebrows furrowed as I search his expression. He looks solemn. He sighs, “I… Yeah, it’s been pretty busy up there. But it’s all for the greater good of the Galar region. I’m their Champion, after all, I have a… a role to fulfil.” His voice is soft, even as he tries to fool me with a fake smile.
“Leon.” I almost whine, frown deepening as I take my hand away from his cheek and drop my glance to his shoes. “I care a lot about you and I just want you to be healthy and happy up there. Maybe I could finally move into that apartment you have there?” After a few moments of silence, I cringe. I’ve said the wrong thing, haven’t I? It was too early for us to even think about that kind of thing, plus he might not even want me to move in with him!
I dare to glance back up at Leon scared of his reaction and see him holding a hand to his temple, his pupils blown wide and unfocused before closing altogether. His other hand had an iron grip on the sink only for it to loosen and swing weakly back and suddenly it’s not just his arm moving back, his whole body is following. My jaw drops and eyes grow wide within an instant.
“LEON!”