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leon | dande / reader tw: alcohol and suggestive themes
“Yeah, I don’t know. I’ve asked Lee to have him take me off a few times. Maybe he gets sidetracked, or he doesn’t have the heart to tell me Rose told him to fuck off.” Raihan snorted, swirling his own champagne flute. His sly grin was curved in a way as though he knew something you did not, eyes drifting through the crowd over your shoulder. “Perhaps.” or Raihan likes stirring the pot, and Leon puts him in his place. That's it.
You weren’t a huge fan of the galas Rose would throw, nor were you sure of why you had been invited. You were a biologist, not even remotely a league member. You sure as hell never saw Magnolia or Sonia at any of these things.
They always came at inconvenient times, like when you were busy at work, trying to relax, or out of the damn region. And they were always sent 2 days in advance. Unless you were privy to the information or the old man himself talking your ear off, it would be a most lovely surprise.
It wasn’t like you could ignore them either, the Macro Cosmos would have your arse. Nobody really could.
Actually, no. Opal was a gym leader, and you were certain she ignored the invites and got away with it.
But you always sucked it up and showed up. This time, after you got the letter forwarded while you were visiting Hoenn. You know, where you had been enjoying the weather, the drinks, the quiet, the NOT GALA.
With your short notice, having lost a day, you had to spend the entire day travelling, immediately having booked a flight, wincing as your wallet cried, and showed up in Galar a few hours before the event. You were rather fried from the sudden travel and frankly tired of the chairman's bullshit, but still had managed to show up dolled up in a cute cocktail dress and flattering makeup.
Now, unfortunately, the cocktail dress had been meant for a girl’s night, one that you had even swung by Kalos to get with your friend group. Now you had to spend that evening at the stuffy event where Rose would drone on for an hour or so, then let the sponsors try to sniff out new victims to talk to for most of the night.
At least the alcohol was good.
As you stood by the bar, trying not to look too sulky as you thought about your friend group laughing and dancing on a different floor that was much more exciting than this, all cute in their dresses and hyping each other up, probably getting fucked up. Which you could not do, not at these events. That would be stupid; you weren’t trying to get drugged by a sleazy older sponsor or bored younger elite.
As Rose called for attention, you blatantly ignored him, continuing to sip your drink and observe the room as he began his most boring explanation of what he planned to do for Galar yet. You were actually hoping to spot the least bland and most genuine person here. Not that the gym leaders were bad, some were actually really sweet. But they just weren’t him.
“Yikes, you’re stuck at these things still? I’d have thought they would have picked mercy by now.”
You glanced to find the source - Raihan.
Galar’s strongest gym leader and biggest ego. Probably the biggest tease and instigator there was. You were disinterested in anything else here thus far, and he was good enough company. You couldn’t find who you were looking for anyway, so you assumed he had gotten lost and would be late as usual. If it were anyone else, he probably would have faced repercussions.
He looked like he didn't enjoy the suit he had to wear for the event, differing greatly from his usual or promoted outfits, but he knew he looked good in it. The sleek navy looked good against the melanin of his skin, complementing his much brighter gaze. Of course, the model would know which suit accentuated his damn figure and which colour looked good on him. You briefly wondered which girls had already fallen victim to his charm tonight, then pitied them.
You granted him a half-shrug as he leaned against the wall to your side, probably closer than he should have been. It was probably good he wasn’t here yet, or he’d be glaring daggers at Raihan.
Speaking of, you finally recognised his actions as the game he was planning to play tonight. Raihan just wanted to egg and aggravate him. That much was evident as you shifted in place and he mirrored you.
Man, these heels were killing you. Maybe this wasn’t the best place to wear them.
“Yeah, I don’t know. I’ve asked Lee to have him take me off a few times. Maybe he gets sidetracked, or he doesn’t have the heart to tell me Rose told him to fuck off.”
Raihan snorted, swirling his own champagne flute. His sly grin was curved in a way as though he knew something you did not, eyes drifting through the crowd over your shoulder.
“Perhaps.”
His response was non-committal, and you took the brief silence afterwards to take a longer dreg of your drink and scan the room again.
“Why’re you here alone? Don’t you usually come in with him? Or have you two-”
“Nope,” you cut him off quickly, before anyone nosy overheard him and rumours spread, or Raihan got any ideas. You'd hate to explain the predicament to him.
“We're doing perfectly fine. I've just been so busy that I haven't had a chance to message him. I practically came straight from the airport and got ready in the taxi.”
Raihan hummed in acknowledgement, standing a bit closer before shooting a cheeky grin at someone over your shoulder.
You gave him a small shove, forcing him to take a step back, pursing your lips at him. He didn't look offended, nor did he take another step, eyes dancing in entertainment instead as they flashed over your shoulder once more.
“Oi! Watch it, mate,” you warned, words firm but light. He was a bit of a scoundrel who broke more hearts more often than he should. Ask the many girls he left rather disappointed. He may not have had a great reputation as a lover, but he was trusted enough as a gym leader and within the League. He might not have been exactly mates with the Champion, but he respected and wouldn't betray his trust in that way. Point is, you weren't concerned that the dragon gym leader would actually do anything.
“Just coz’ Lee isn't here yet, doesn't mean you get to act a little shite.”
“Au contraire, sweetheart, the big sap lurks.”
He finally gestured with an incline of his head to where he had been looking, and you followed his gaze to spot Leon's familiar violet crown, stubbornly untamed even with efforts, openly sulking at you both from across the room at a table where he was clearly not paying attention to the sponsor who was talking to him. You couldn't help but roll your eyes as you realised he had probably only approached you for the sheer joy of fucking with Leon.
You offered Leon a small wave, hand dropping as you glanced back at Raihan.
“You're an arse, you know that?”
His too sharp teeth gleamed in the artificial lighting.
“Undoubtedly.”
You then abandoned the amused trainer to sip his drink alone and began to weave in the direction of your partner, but took your time. You didn't want to get caught up in a conversation with a fossil after all.
You were unfortunately pulled away by people who, for some reason, wanted your opinion on whether or not you thought such and such a sponsor had any business being in such and such's business, and if they should be here at all, or had anything to gain from sponsoring anyone.
You had no idea who any of the people were; you simply came so you wouldn't get evil looks and League members at your office. That and you could sip on quality alcohol for free.
They finally released you, where you spun to escape, unfortunately bumping into another gym leader. It was thankfully Kabu, who wouldn't talk your ear off.
You offered him a quick apology, slightly bowing per his custom. He smiled and acquitted it, and you both parted. He was originally Hoenn, right? Wow, you were already exhausted, trying to keep up with the names, people, and backgrounds. Maybe you should have stuck your chances at the back with Raihan.
But when you were spun once more, a familiar arm drawing you by the small of your back until you landed against a bulky chest, your shoulders relaxed in relief. You met his warm, honey gaze with a teasing smile.
“Hullo. Been holding up alright?”
Leon pursed his lips in return, eyes twinkling playfully as he tugged you against him, both of you tuning out the noisy throng of people surrounding you.
“I was stuck listening to him talk about his 50 grandchildren, which wouldn't be so bad, except it was him complaining about their entire life story each. So I don't know, you tell me.”
“How torturous, I'm glad you're alive,” you hummed with amused sympathy. He sighed, leading you along towards his initial seating, fingers now light on your lower back.
“If it had gone on another minute, I might have fallen asleep.”
“What a scandal, ‘Leon bored to tears by prominent sponsor telling his family tree's entire history’.”
He chuckled, guiding you closer as his head dipped, breath warm on your neck when he replied, “I don’t think that would be the worst thing I’ve done to date.”
A small shiver went down your spine, the words tickling the shell of your ear. You angled your head to smirk at him reprovingly.
“And we would have been caught if we’d done what you wanted.”
He offered a subtly sly smile in return, gaze darkening into a molten gold that sent a thrill through your stomach.
“Are you complaining?”
Of course not. The thought of being caught being claimed by him in public and spreading scandals was delightful and admittedly arousing. When you only pouted in response, he grinned wider, leaning down to press a peck to your nose.
“Thought as much.”
Then his gaze caught on something - or someone - behind you, and it sharpened shrewdly.
You abruptly diverged from the original path, his grip much hotter and tighter as it slithered around your waist, finding yourself wedged between him and a wall. You were confused, glancing up at him for clarification, startled as it came in the form of crushing his mouth to yours, blazing and excited. Your face was trapped between his fingers, the pads sweltering on your skin, mouth moving feverishly against yours. It was definitely not a kiss meant for galas hosted by stingy old people, you realised as his tongue swept through and claimed everything in its wake.
And as quickly as he had kissed you, he was not, leaving you dizzy, a bit disappointed, and even more confused than prior.
He met that gaze with satisfaction and something profoundly possessive, offering no explanation as he tugged you along once more. You did so obediently and a bit ungracefully, wondering whether you should question him about it later.
You wouldn’t have had to if you’d have noticed the entirely retaliatory smug expression Leon had shot Raihan, who stood with his brow twitching, grip nearly white on his flute as he jealously watched you be led away by the Champion.
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https://archiveofourown.org/works/83305946
