The One Where They Don’t Know We Know
Fandom: Pokemon Sword and Shield Relationship: Leon/Raihan, Sonia/Nessa Length: 7240+ words Status: WIP, 1/5 Chapters. Where to Read: Archive of Our Own
Raihan just wants to reconnect with their dad. Nessa just wants to come out to their parents. When the press starts to get wind of Sonia and Nessa's relationship, they come up with a plan to throw the media off their scent. If the media is busy focusing on Sonia and Raihan's "relationship", they're not focusing on outing Nessa, and Raihan and Nessa both get some time to talk to their parents and come out on their own terms. Simple, and easy.
They didn't account for the fact that Leon has been head over heels in love with Raihan for years, nor did they think that Piers would go behind their backs to tell Leon.
The "simple and easy fake dating plan" gets thrown out the window very quickly.
Wednesday, 31 March. Hammerlocke.
The bookstore is tucked away in the twisting alleys of Hammerlocke’s historic district. Squeezed between a bakery and an off-beat arcade, the scent of fresh-baked bread follows Sonia as she makes a Combee-line for the entrance. A faded, hand-painted sign above the door is decorated with an illegible soft pink script.
“I didn’t even realize this bookstore was here!” She looks back over her shoulder to where Raihan is trailing behind, taking photos of the winding stone pathways. They’d told Sonia they wanted artsy photos for their Pokégram. She’d easily agreed to come with them – Hammerlocke’s historic district is always lovely to walk around in, and she needed a break from the lab.
“I think I must’ve walked past it a thousand times! I keep meaning to go in,” Raihan says with a laugh.
It’s a used bookshop, with soft lights and worn, creased covers decorating the cheerful window display. The hand-drawn “open” sign on the door is old, the ink fading on the child’s drawing of an Altaria beside the elegant script. Raihan frowns at the sign, but follows Sonia inside.
Sonia breathes in deep as they enter the shop, the smell of paper and an underlying layer of dust making her smile. The place feels cozy. It’s well-lit from soft lamps with colorful shades throughout the shop. Floor-to-ceiling shelves ring the room. Books are wedged in and tucked into any available space. Sonia can see a few stacks of tomes that reach as tall as she is leaning precariously against the shelves. There is an open doorway to her left through which Sonia can see still more stacks and shelves of books. Scattered throughout the shop are armchairs and stained-glass reading lamps. There is a round counter in the center of the main room. The shopkeeper is seated facing the door, scribbling in a large leather-bound tome as they step inside.
The man looks up as they enter, recognition crossing his face when he sees Sonia’s bright smile. He’s older than them, maybe in his early fifties, with dark hair streaked with silver. Round glasses with thin wire frames make his brown eyes look slightly larger than they are. The creases around his eyes are laugh lines, but he has an air of sadness to him that gives Sonia pause. He adjusts the collar of his navy button-down.
“Welcome in, Professor Sonia! I don’t think I’ve had the honor of seeing you in Sharit’s Books before?” He smiles cheerily, and the air of sadness is gone.
“Not until today, I’m afraid!” Sonia shakes her head. “We were hoping you might have something on the history of Hammerlocke here?”
“‘We’?” The shopkeeper raises an eyebrow as Raihan enters the shop behind her. The shopkeeper glances at them, and the smile slips from his face. His eyes widen and his mouth falls open slightly.
Sonia turns to Raihan only to find them with a similar stunned expression on their face. They’re tense, their back rigidly straight in a way she’s never seen before.
“…Dad?”
Finish reading on Ao3
