Something slightly dark w Leon and female reader please ❤❤❤
A/N: (insert gif of that kid dancing in a very wack manner with sunglasses in a nightclub)
Leon has... a somewhat odd habit. It was simply how things worked for him, given his lifestyle and how he’s grown until now. He’s lived learning everything there is to know about wild animals.
How to predict them, how to work around them. How to tame them.
Leon likes to think he’s an expert in that field. In ways, people aren’t so different than the Pokémon he handles daily. Not with their base instincts.
That’s not to say you act like a wild animal. No, you’re very kind and polite and you trust Leon very much, which the Champion cherishes. He’s distinctly aware of that trust.
Not in a way that’s bad or wrong- of course not. It also depends on what your opinion of ‘bad and wrong’ is. Leon didn’t think he was doing anything wrong. Trying to limit your interactions with people so you only talked with those he trusted- people that are safe- that was for you. Keeping tabs on where you went was also for you, to make sure you didn’t go into any strange areas where you could hear things that you didn’t need to hear. Browsing through your text messages to see what you were talking about- if he thought you were getting too chummy or too tense with somebody, and lending his support for your interactions as he gently persuaded you on what he thought was the correct course of action (but he never took your phone, no, you simply gave it to him. You made it that easy, because you trusted him. It’s not wrong of him to sort through it if you gave him direct access).
None of these things are bad. It’s all for you- to keep you safe, to keep you smiling and satisfied and happy. Leon was doing a good thing.
He knew this, and he knew that you knew it too, deep down. But we are all just animals. So when you had figured out about (some) of his behaviors toward you- your base instincts came out. And it’s okay- he understands. He gets it. You didn’t mean to lash out at him- the sudden rush of new information that you didn’t understand simply made you feel cornered and scared, and that’s natural. It’s natural to snap and say things you don’t mean when you’re scared.
“It’s okay,” Leon assures you as you look at him with wide, confused eyes. You had yelled at him- thrown a pillow from your couch in a burst of anger- but then you immediately cowered, apologizing to him as you say you don’t know what came over you. “I forgive you.” He says.
“That’s- I- I’m glad, but this is still- Leon, you know that you can’t do this anymore, right? I- I’ll forgive you too- if you just tell me that you understand why this was such an invasion of my privacy. And you promise that you won’t do this again. I need to hear you say that.”
If that’s what you wanted to hear to calm down and trust him, then absolutely. He smiles, “of course,” and tells you exactly those few things. His tone is honest and rich, making your shoulders relax as you let out a deep breath. You open your arms as an offering, and Leon gladly scoops you in his arms, pressing you tightly against him as he buries his nose in your hair.
“I’m so glad,” you hum as you hug him back, “I’m glad that we could talk it out. I’m really sorry I exploded.”
That’s okay. Of course it’s okay. “I understand,” Leon keeps you against him, holding you tighter when you first motion to move away. Once you realize he wants to hug longer, you return the hold.
You wouldn’t know that Leon is struggling to let you go in the first place. The urge that rushes through him when you’re so close and he can smell you, feel you- the urge to take you and hide you away.
But you were still backed against that corner. He has to be patient. Lay out some treats, wait for you to come forward, coo and pet you gently. Just like the Pokemon he works with. It’s all the same, just with different treats. And he’s figuring out what yours are, slowly but surely.
“I’m so happy you’re with me,” Leon says.
“I’m happy, too,” you say, even though you don’t really know what you’re saying. You don’t get it. But that’s okay. He appreciates the words nonetheless.
