The Knight In Shining Armor// Pokemon Sword and Shield Fanfic

12

That one kiss felt like it lasted for eternity. It felt like the excitement of a game-winning shot in a soccer championship. It felt like the warmth and comfort of hot chocolate after coming inside from a snowy afternoon. It felt like fireworks celebrating a holiday. It felt caring and gentle, like I was made of glass, and any sort of roughness would shatter me into a million pieces. I've kissed plenty of guys and felt nothing, but this was different. This felt genuine, like I was the only person that mattered. We both pulled away at the same time, our eyes meeting just inches away from each other, his golden ones warm and caring.
"I liked that," was all I could get out. A smile crept across Leon's face. That damn contagious smile.
"Me too, y'know how you said you act on impulse because it seems right at the time? That definitely felt right," he said softly.
"That definitely felt right," I repeated, dazed.
We sat there in the quiet a minute.
"So, what does this mean?"
"Besides that we both like each other? I don't know, I didn't think I'd get this far," he said sheepishly, his face dusted with a light blush.
"Well," I said, not sure what to say. I gazed into his eyes some more. They're easy to get lost in.
The moment ended by my phone buzzing. I sighed and looked at it, seeing it was a notification for a news article featuring gym challenges matches to watch out for this week, as well as a recap of today's. I rolled my eyes before throwing me phone down, leaning back into Leon. I lied my head in his chest.
"So, I say we just kinda see where things go. Keep it quiet, especially because the media seems to already love me," I said, shutting my eyes.
"Sounds reasonable, just keep doing whatever it is that we do," He wrapped an arm around me. "You seem like you're about to go to fall asleep,"
"Mm, I might," I mumbled, snuggling myself closer to him. Leon changed the channel to some random movie, careful not to move me too much.
"I thought of something else I remembered of your father,"
"Oh yeah, what's that?"
"He endorsed me for my gym challenge right as he started as the chairman,"
"Wait, he's been the chairman for 10 years? That's why I'd only see him once a week?"
"I guess so. He always said he would never have meetings or matches on Sundays, as he got to see his daughter then,"
"Well, it was always Sunday when I saw him. Then it gradually became a weekend a couple times a year. Then nothing. I didn't know he left the country until I'd only see him a couple times a year. It's just surprising that he's been in charge here for 10 years,"
"I'm sorry, Sylvia,"
"It's fine, I've been over it for awhile, just trying to reconnect some. Anyways, let's not talk about him anymore," I said softly before shutting my eyes again, relaxing my body a bit.
"So, what's your favorite color?"
"Haha, what?"
"You know what a color is?"
"Yes, I do smartass," I mumbled.
"What is it then?"
"I don't know, why?"
"Because we may as well get to know each other better," he said, practically feeling his smirk.
"Mm, blueish green,"
"Like mint?"
"No, closer to blue, like turquoise,"
"I'm surprised it's not pink, seeing how your grandmother's life seems to revolve around the color pink,"
"I hardly know my grandmother,"
"Yeah, I know,"
"What's your favorite color?"
"Red,"
And so we talked for a while about nothing and everything, useless trivia of each other and such. I hadn't felt this comfortable around someone, ever. It felt like I could trust Leon, like I'd known him forever.
I guess at some point we fell asleep, because next thing I knew I jolted awake and the T.V. was off. I was leaned into Leon, my head on his chest still, and he was leaned back, having an arm wrapped around me. I turned on my phone screen to see it was 7 in the morning. I carefully sat my phone back down, hoping not to wake him. I tried to go back to sleep for a few minutes, but it was no use. I carefully removed Leon's arm before standing up and grabbing my bag. Might as well get ready to go back to Hulberry. I put on some street clothes and did my hair before letting out Eevee and Popplio to eat. It was almost 7:30 by now, so I still had plenty time to kill. I sat down in the extra bedroom with my pokemon, finally taking the time to think about my match today. A pit of nervousness filled me once I finally tried to focus on my gym battle.
"Alright, I'm going to lead with Popplio and probably dynamax you, Eevee," I said, walking myself through my plan. Eevee let out a happy chirp and Popplio did a backflip. After a few more minutes of my attempt at creating a strategy, my phone started to buzz, my alarm I set last night going off. I shut it off before turning back to my pokemon. The question now was whether or not I wake Leon. I called my pokemon back to their balls before quietly heading back into the living room to see Leon still there. I went over and sat back beside him, his eyes opening a bit upon my movement.
"Good morning," I half sang. A dazed smile spread across Leon's face.
"Morning," he said, his voice a bit deeper than normal due to just waking up. "How long have you been up?"
"Not that long,"
"So we're not late?"
"To my match? No, it's not even 8 yet,"
"Good, I'm guilty of oversleeping. A lot,"
"Aren't we all?" I joked before moving over so he could stand up. He stood up, stretching out and letting out a big yawn. I gave a little laugh.
"Couches and tall people don't get along. My neck is stiff,"
"Oh, I'm sorry. You should've told me to go to bed or something,"
"No, it's alright. You were comfortable so it's fine, really," he said, walking to the kitchen. "Do you want something to eat?"
"Not particularly,"
"Okay then," he said, grabbing something from the fridge and sitting at the table. Leon's Rotom Phone flew over to his face, reading off his notifications, none seemed particularly important.
Leon then went and changed his clothes and brushed his hair before coming back out.
"You're not very talkative in the morning," I said from the opposite side of the livingroom.
"Neither are you," he said, a smile coming across his face as he came over. He looked down at me as I was a good bit shorter than him, 6 inches. Our eyes met, and I could feel my face brighten up. I felt a smile spread across my face as I got on my tip-toes and simultaneously, we started leaning in. I put my arms around his neck as our lips met, feeling one hand wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer, and one resting on my hip. The kiss lasted longer this time, a good bit. It almost turned into a make-out session. I pulled back, opening my eyes back up and feeling a wide smile form. Leon had a similar smile.
"I could get used to that," I said softly, our faces still only inches from each other.
"Let me take you out," Leon said quickly.
"What?"
"Like on a date. A real, official date, not just 'hanging out' or whatever,"
"Yes, I'd love that," I said, leaning back in. Leon's face let up in delight at my answer. To ruin the moment, Leon's phone screen lit up and flew over, signifying Leon had a facetime request. We stepped back from each other and Leon sighed as he accepted the call.
"Hey champ," a familiar voice said through the phone.
"Raihan," he said unamused. I stifled a giggle and Leon shot me a look.
"You're in Hammerlocke right?"
"Yes, why do you care?"
"Sounds like you got up on the wrong side of the bed," Raihan joked, trying to bother Leon.
"Shut up, is there a reason you called?"
"Maybe I just wanted to annoy you,"
"Do you seriously have nothing better to do?"
"Sure, I have stuff I could do. Doesn't mean I want to,"
"Right, so go do that stuff," Leon said, going to hang up.
"No wait! I was going to see if you wanted to go get breakfast or something, haven't seen you in a while, mate,"
"You saw me last week. Besides, I'm in the middle of something,"
"Okay, after your something want to get breakfast?"
"Raihan, no. I have to go back to Hulberry,"
I let out an audible laugh at their bickering.
"Who's there?"
"No one, it's the TV,"
"Yeah right, who is that?"
"Not your business, bye now!" Leon said loudly while hanging up. His phone flew away as he turned to me. I let out another laugh.
"You're so mean to him," I joked.
"Not really, he just happens to enjoy getting under my skin and bothering me," Leon's annoyed expression cracked as he smiled at me.
"And to think, everyone believes you're friends,"
"We are! And rivals, hence then bickering,"
"Whatever, champ," I said mocking Raihan's voice. Leon rolled his eyes.
"Hey, it's 8:30, we need to fly over to Hulberry soon,"
"In a flying taxi, yes?"
"Charizard works just fine," Leon smirked at me.
"So do flying taxis,"
"Charizard is right here though, we have to call and wait for a flying taxi,"
"But Charizard is terrifying to ride on,"
"You survived last night, you'll be fine," Leon said as he lead me toward the door. I picked up my bag as we headed toward the roof. Leon let out Charizard and I felt panicked upon having to ride again. I suddenly felt a hand grab mine and looked to see Leon with a caring look.
"You'll be alright," he said, pulling me close to him. "Ready?"
I nodded as he hoisted me up on the pokemon's back, climbing up behind me. I looked back at him, giving me a smile before having Charizard take off. I gasped as Charizard started a little more aggressive than yesterday.
"Easy there, buddy," Leon called, the pokemon easing up. I relaxed a bit and leaned into Leon.
"See? You're getting used to it," he joked.
"Doesn't mean I'm a fan. Is this how you get everyone, just riding Charizard? Wouldn't he get tired?"
"We don't fly that much, there's a train system for the big cities, like Motostoke, Hammerlocke and Wyndon, other than that it's by foot or pokemon,"
I nodded, looking down to see the wild area below us.
"I've traveled more in Galar in a month than my entire life in Kalos,"
"Oh yeah? Why's that?"
"Well, I lived in Lumiose, and work was only about 2 blocks from our apartment. I'd traveled to the first pokemon gym, as it was only a town over, and I'd occasionally travel to different cities for figure skating,"
"It's weird that you used to skate yet are always cold. I've been to Kalos before,"
"Really? Why?"
"I've been to a bunch of regions. Exhibition battles with other champions, mainly. Charity battles and events too. All the region champions do that kind of stuff. In fact, Galar is hosting the World Championships this year in a couple months,"
"Oh wow, I think I remember watching that on TV a few years back. The match I saw was Cynthia and Diantha. They happen to be the only champions I knew of until I met you,"
"I know a lot of the current champions, and some former. We don't know yet who is in for the tournament, but you can bet you'll have a front row seat,"
"Yay, I'll finally will get to see you battle in person,"
"You will before that, y'know,"
"What?"
"The challengers who defeat all 8 gyms go into a tournament, where only the top challenger remains. Then they're put into a tournament with the gym leaders, the winner challenges me,"
"No Elite 4?"
"Not in Galar,"
"What happens when the gym stuff isn't?"
"Exhibition matches, tournaments in Wyndon, any gym trainer or gym challenger who cleared all 8 gyms, gym leaders and me can participate, happen all the time,"
"What about the other stadiums?"
"They're used for sports and conventions,"
"This is all so advanced compared to other regions,"
"More engagement with the audience, I guess,"
We sat in silence for a minute, Hulberry coming into view.
"You ready for your gym battle?"
"I guess," I said, a conflicted feeling coming over me, but I couldn't tell what it was from.