#not pictured: Leon screaming in the distance

[narcissarina]

𝔊𝔬𝔩𝔡𝔢𝔫 ℭ𝔞𝔤𝔢, 𝔅𝔩𝔲𝔢 𝔅𝔬𝔫𝔡𝔰

જ⁀➴Previous chapter

Pairings: bodyguard!Leon × college billionaire!reader

Word count: 2,661

Summary: You tried to run off to escape him, but failed. Now you two created such scene in school grounds.

𝙸𝙸.

The most dangerous agent, now your bodyguard—stood before you. He’s prettier than you thought, pretty boy? Pretty boy. You just didn’t want to admit that he’s so much better in person, much more better than those pictures and in news.

He could be a role model of he wanted to, with that heartthrob of a face—you just took a guess that this man can pull any woman he wants, but little did you know that he’s actually awkward towards women.

“Hi..?” you began, tone indifferent with a cock brow, “pleasure to meet you, your father says that I’ll be your bodyguard from now on.” His voice deep and husky, you would be lying if it didn’t made your legs clench together, right?

You cleared your throat and mind, shaking off those kinds of thoughts, “I appreciate it, but I don’t need one.” You grit your teeth while uttering those words, you turn to your father and frown at him—trying to get your pretty, begging eyes to have your father throw him out. Eyes screaming, “but, daddy! I don’t want him, I can take care of myself.” Type of eyes.

Your father could only smile and turn to Leon, “I am so sorry about that.” Then grip your hand, it hurts but you could only frown and storm out of the scene.

Leon’s gaze followed your figure till you disappear from his sight, he turns and talk more with your father—getting his objectives and that when the others need him, he can’t be with you for a while.

You surround yourself with all your squishy, grumbling under the sheets and doing your assignments there. Yet, another topic that your stupid ass professor did not teach, you called Sarina—her phone is off. You whine and threw your feet, some of your plush got off the bed and you sat up, still under the blanket and stare at it.

You hiss at the light as your blanket got pulled off, “what are you doing?” It was Leon, your blanket in his hand and put it in the edge of your bed. “What are you doing in my room?” you hiss and got off of bed and walk towards, you heard him scoff and pick up the squishy and plush that fell off the bed, “didn’t knew father also hired a personal cleaner.”

You gave him a side-eye and cock a brow, he smiled at your remark, amused as he place them in bed. “Aren’t I the first one who asked you a question, sweetheart?”

Sweetheart.

You shudder at the name, either you cringe or just felt your stomach flutter. No one called you sweetheart before, not even your father. Either they call you dear or by your name, plus with a monotone or demanding tone of voice. But Leon’s? It was low and seducing. As if he’s luring you into a trap.

You didn’t answer, back turn to him as you resume your focus to your work. Pen tapping the desk, as Leon just watch you from the distance.

It only took a few minutes until Leon walked up to your desk and lean down to see what you’re up to, your breath hitches and turn your head to him—quickly moving your head away as you inhale some of his cologne.

“What are you up to?” he asked, “none of your business.” You replied, rolling your eyes as his hands were holding on to the edge of your desk, completely trapping you in between. “oh, this is easy.” He points then read the question aloud in my textbook, “Examine the role of women in World War II and the, both on the home front and in combat roles.”

He turns to you, leaning a little close, “so?” you stay quiet, not knowing what to answer since it isn’t even taught by your prof, or rather it was just a boring video that you didn’t payed attention in class. You mutter lowly, “dunno.”

He sigh and took out a chair and sat beside you, you grumble, “I didn’t think father also hired a tutor.” Your remark. “Well since you’re a woman, I think you should know this question. Isn’t women empowerment a thing?” he asked, you glared at him and punch him to his side, he didn’t budge and took your punch. He even thinks you punch cute.

“are you insulting me?” you said, “I didn’t say that.” He chuckle in amusement and took the back of your chair to scoot you close, he cleared his throat and took your pen. He points to the text and began, “women played a crucial role in world war two, what are those roles?” he asked, giving a pause and letting you answer but words didn’t come out of your mouth and just shrunk in your sit.

“eyes here, princess.” He took your jaw and gently force you to look at the textbook, “I’m not done explaining.” He added and continue, “women serves in various capacities, such as factory workers, nurses, and members or armed forces.” You listen attentively, never know that his voice sounded so nice when explaining things. Even kind enough to provide you answers.

“Countries like the Soviet Union, women served in combat roles as pilots, snipers, and partisans.”

“They held guns?”

“yes, they held guns.”

“I wanna hold a gun too.” You mutter and let your face fall to your textbook and turn your head, “continue.”

Leon nodded and stared at your face, then eyes on the textbook again. “Their contributions not only supported the war efforts but also challenged traditional gender roles and paved the way—” you cut him off.

“for greater gender equality in the post-war period.” You mutter lowly, Leon nodded and lean back to his chair, “and here I thought you didn’t know.” He gave you a faint smirk as he folds his arms. “that’s the only thing I heard when class ended.”

“you said your prof didn’t taught you this?” he raised a brow, “or did you simply didn’t listen to your lessons?”

You let out a ‘hmp’ and scoot your chair to your desk and statt working on your assignment, you were guilty but you didn’t want to admit that—you think it’ll make him a know-it-all. And your pride wouldn’t let you.

“You on your own? Or you still need me to break down history for you?”.

“You’re annoying.”

“that’s not the answer I’m looking for, princess.”

You ignored him, but he stayed incase you didn’t understand some parts and need him to explain to you. And he was right, you’d tap your pen again and it’s his cue to come and help you, you’re almost teary and at meltdown at your assignment.

Leon finds this amusing and stayed longer than intended.

You start yet another day, doing your usual routine but the twist is Leon will be and always will be following you around. As long as you don’t disappear from his sight, he won’t interfere.

Good news, you finish your assignment last night! Congratulations, you wouldn’t finish it then interrupt Sarina from her book without Leon’s help. Not only is he hot, but also smart—you felt a bit embarrassed that for someone you just met for the first time would be tutoring you.

But, hey. At least he is much better than those boys who tutor you in the past then ended up getting tutored by Sarina.

You made your bed, showered, pick an outfit to go to school to slay yet again. Leon could only watch you move and do your thing in the distance, you come downstairs get your breakfast as you finally got to the car that’ll drive you to school.

Plot twist: Leon must be there with you.

You hate that idea, since you felt awkward from last night—you go from hating him then needing him when there’s a topic that you know nothing about, Leon must be thinking you’re just crazy and having a terrible mood swing.

The whole car ride was a bit eerie, even the driver that drove you yesterday felt uneasy. You steal a glance and you turn away quickly because you realized that his eyes were always locked into you. His icy and cold gaze always following your every move, sounds creepy. Isn’t that the type of book trope that Sarina reads?

You can feel him tug a small smile from his lips then turning away, his expression quickly changing to a cold, unexpressive expression. Like this man doesn’t smile at his whole life.

Your bag on your lap, your attention out the window as you and Leon sat at the same seat quietly—keeping a good distance between the two of you until you finally arrived at your destination.

You gave the driver another tip and now, he felt like he can’t stop you from tipping him. You got out the car, and so does Leon’s. You can tell people at your back stop their tracks and take out their phones as if they have seen a real life celebrity—scratch that, he is a celebrity. This motherfucker saved the presidents daughter.

You don’t like the whispers, since Leon is with you—they’ll ask you questions if you two were a thing, why is Leon with you. How come the most dangerous agent is with a person like you.

You like gossips, really—you love the juicy drama and tea, but you don’t like getting involve into drama. They’ll spread it like wildfire, asking questions if they could have Leon’s phone number or that if you two did the deed and if so, is he good? Is he endowed? Fuck them.

Turning your back at him, he follows, “you can stop following me!” you hiss, “can’t do that, sweetheart.” Leon remark, his front touching your back—towering you from behind, you look up to meet his blues.

In others eyes, they could see two people flirting in school grounds, one an agent that dates a college student. Scandalous, isn’t it?

“you can’t always follow me, Leon!” you said and start to walk off, but Leon caught your wrist and turn you around to meet his eyes, “your father instruct me to protect you, I can’t go against your father’s will, now can I?”

You could hear giggles from other students, their phones out and recording—word could spread and come to the principal. “I can’t always have you here, Leon.”

“I won’t interrupt you, I just need to watch over you and ensure your safety, princess.” You snatch your wrist away, you groan and walked away whilst Leon follows. People think that they just witness a fucking conflict of a love story.

You went to the cafeteria to buy some drink, Leon’s outside the cafeteria—it was bustling with people and every people that pass by, they see the blonde agent and asked to take photos with him, which you don’t know if he declines of not.

You took your drink, striking a right time to lose your bodyguard—but there’s only one in and out of the cafeteria and Leon seems to be busy making small talks with the students, so—the first thing that came out from your mind is to run. It’s quite dumb, really. Leon could catch you for 10 seconds max and held you in place so you wouldn’t be a naughty girl.

But you still made a run for it, good thing you still hasn’t pluck the straw in and that your bag isn’t with you right now.

“hey, hey!” Leon yelled, his voice changing to a higher pitch tone, “get back here.” He said and rushes over you, adrenaline kicks in—Leon’s chasing you, not knowing you’re making a scene and people recording. They’ll think that two people are having a chase of their life romantically, but it isn’t. Leon is pissed, your pace began to slow down and before you knew it—you were swept off your feet as he threw you over his shoulder.

“Let me go!” you whine and hit his back a few couple of times, you feel him pat and slap your ass and taking a few deep breaths, “naughty girl.” He said and picked up the drink you dropped.

He picked up your bag where he left it since you asked him to watch it for you. “Now, where to?” he asked, sliding the strap over his shoulder, “Leon, stop! People are watching.” You whine and move your legs to get off.

“No worries, you’re getting the attention you deserve.”

“Stop!” your ear and cheeks burning hot red, you could only cover your face with your hands and just accepts defeat. “where to?” he asked again, “Library…”

You cover your face from the entire walk where Leon still has you in his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, Sarina was waiting for you in the library and Leon came in with you in his shoulder—peoples eyes dart to you and him when he entered, “girl, I have been waiting fo—” Sarina cut herself mid-sentence.

Leon puts you down, you’re facing him and your back at Sarina—you don’t wanna face your best friend now and be dumped with a bunch of questions. You lose balance and your covered face made contact with Leon’s chest, you don’t fucking care anymore. You’re too embarrassed to exist now.

Leon looked down and grab you to your shoulder and try to turn you around, you don’t want to and whine at him. Hiding yourself to him and hitting him repeatedly.

“Don’t be a brat now, princess.” Leon whispered, “or else, you’ll draw more attention—which you don’t want, right?” he added and that made you sit down with your friend and ignore Leon’s existence.

Sarina’s kept wandering back and forth to Leon, scooting over to you and giggling as she whispers unnecessary things like how luck you were and that if you two were a thing.

“He’s my bodyguard, the end. Period. End of story. No more question.” You said with gritted teeth, Saeina backs out and chuckle, “ok girl.” She rolled her eyes while Leon only watch.

“by the way, who’s that guy?” you point at the distance, male group with a few females across the room—one particular guy catches your attention, but hey—didn’t you say that you hate guys?

“Why do you asked? I mean, you have Leo—” you hit Sarina with her book closed and she let out a hiss of pain, “god fucking damn—” she curses and glared at you.

“I’m just asking, that doesn’t mean I’m interested.” Or are you? Leon cock a brow and turn his attention to the group with males and female student whispering among themselves and as if they were being held back at being loud.

A brunette guy snatches your attention, curly hair and his smile is something that made you drift you away from reality—as if time froze and it’s just you and him. But Leon isn’t having it, he has this feeling but he shouldn’t voice it out. He’s here for work, he shouldn’t give a shit about you having a little crush over a guy.

But the feeling is that the guy will be a playboy, that’s the vibe Leon is getting since there’s two girls surrounding him.

But who is he to judge?

Leon snapped your attention away, “if you have laser eyes, you could’ve burn through that guys face, you know that?” you hit him and sulk.

Sarina rolled her eyes, “girl, if you want him. Try to have him, I’m just saying that your bodyguard is so much better.” You try to hit her one more time but she dodges and ran out of the library.

But little did you know that the brunette turn his eyes and laid on you, you never knew but instead his gaze met Leon’s cold icy blues. You want to question Leon why he has his hand on your waist as he drags you out of the library.

You’re really in for a ride, aren’t you?

Next Chapter>>>

[bwskj]

tags: angst, death (proceed with caution), leon re4/older, leon and reader are married, sfw

- leon is yours and you are leon’s -

⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘ die with a smile ⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

leon keeps a picture of you in his wallet, folded thrice. he always brings it with him on his missions. it always stays in his wallet but is occasionally pulled out on stormy cold nights when his emptied shell of a body is desperately searching for solace. he likes to gently swipe his thumb over the cracking ink of your smiling face.

he loves your smile. well, he loves everything about you. there’s not a part of his heart that doesn’t beat nor a part of his lungs that doesn’t breathe for you.

and you make him smile too. he does, on those lonely nights and, even now, as he lays stiffly on the coarse ground, dusty fingers clutching onto the dainty slip of paper. he had unfolded it once right at the top, just enough for him to see your pretty face. he had dug it out of his back pocket despite the excruciating pain from broken bones and bubbles of blood. the pain crawling all over his ins and outsides is nothing compared to knowing he can never see you again… to the thought of you at home, unknowingly sleeping.

the moon peeks from behind the dark clouds of the night sky but leon doesn’t take his eyes off you. you are his moon, and perhaps now more than ever as the miles of distance between the both of you materialize in his mind. the picture of you in his wallet always kept you close to him—wherever he went. now, it reminds him of how far you truly are.

leon gasps through the pain as his first real cry rises up his throat. his brain, aware that he is dying, has ordered parts of him to go numb. but his heart still plays a rhythm, trying to pump what’s left of the blood in his body and screaming for him to hold on for the bare reason that he cannot leave you alone…

in this cold, cruel, world. he can’t dare to leave you alone.

they say that when you’re dying, your life flashes before your eyes. leon can attest to that. all he can see in the foreground of your photo are flashes of you.

you with those bright loving eyes. you, pouring your love into a meal in the kitchen. you, laughing while sitting at the computer, leg comfortably put up, as you excitedly give him a list of the silliest boy names the interest suggested. you. you. you. all he can think about is you.

leon coughs, and he swears he feels a light sprinkle of blood touch his face. his arm holding you (the photo) is starting to feel heavy but he fights against the weight. his blood is draining. there’s not much time left.

leon continues to think. as it’s pretty much all he can do.

he thinks about how you always reminded him to come home safe—even though you know he always takes his life seriously. he promised you that, no matter what, he’d get back on his feet. he always did and everyone believed it was simply because he’s so skilled and so capable. but truthfully, you were the reason. you flashed in and out the back of his mind and, whenever he got knocked down, you would urge him to get right back up. leon made sure he listened.

but not this time. no matter how much willpower he musters, or how much your voice pleads in his mind, he can no longer move his legs, and his torso feels absolutely ripped apart. he feels helpless. and for the first time, he wants to call out for help. he wants to voice out the words asking if you can wrap your arms around him again, to caress and lull him to sleep with your fingers full of love. he never asks for it outright; you just always do it because you know he needs it. you pull him into an embrace and he doesn’t resist, only mumbling strings of complaint while he nuzzles against your palm.

his fingertips are beginning to feel non-existent and a tear slips out, wetting leon’s temple.

he remembers when he’d allow himself to cry in your arms, the crushing weight of putting on a confident mask being addressed by your loving touch. he’d bury his face in the crook of your neck in embarrassment, and you’d say nothing, simply caressing his back as his body quivers.

it surprised you one day when in the middle of one of these sessions, his voice came out muffled on your chest, “baby, i’m scared.”

you embraced him even tighter as his broken tone caused your heart to quicken, alarmed. “what are you scared of?” you asked warily. but of course, you had a certain inkling of what it could be.

leon’s arms that were looped around your waist scooped you even closer to him. “they still haven’t found a cure to all of this… it just—it just keeps getting worse,” he hiccuped, ”what if the world never goes back to normal…”

you laid a hand on his head, gently petting down. “you’re so strong, leon,” you said, and leon’s chest instantly flushed with warmth. “all of you at your work are so brave and intelligent. i doubt you won’t find a solution soon…”

leon sighed at your comforting words. you played at a lock of his darkening blonde hair, tucking it behind his ear.

“and… you know” you added, “if the world is truly ending, then so be it. i’m happy just to have you to spend the rest of my days with.”

leon pulled his face out to look at you, cheeks moist with timid tears. you wanted to giggle at his reddening cheeks and nose but he stared into your eyes with so much loving that you found yourself caught in a trance.

his hand reached to cup your cheek. he stiffly nodded, as if trying to convince himself to believe in your words. then bringing your faces close to stick your foreheads together, he mustered up the courage to softly say, “if the world was ending, i’d want to be next to you. I’ll… I’ll always be next to you.”

a muscle in leon’s body twitches as the rest of his energy drains away. more tears have spilled out but he can barely sense it slide down his skin. he can’t feel the texture of paper anymore either, but his intent to hold on to your photo must’ve been strong enough to glue his fingers onto it.

his heart slows, and the marathon speed of the flashbacks in his mind do too. your name and your smile are the two things he can keep thinking about before his system finally fully shuts down.

his arm drops to the ground. his dull blue eyes flutter shut. he lets out a final exhale of life before his body falls still.

the last thing he had seen was the full white moon in the sky, a poor substitute of his beautiful and special rock waiting for him at home… all the way on the other side.

⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

a/n: smth diff for today :D i loved writing this one (i don’t just write smut okay!) i hope u enjoyed bcz im biting my palms rocking back and forth over this. anw thanks for visiting my page love yall~ <3

[heading photo taken from @..o2m_ on TikTok]

[aussiepineapple1st]

What is Happening to Me (Part 15)

Leon x F!Reader

Words: 1,673 Contains: Whump, Angst, Death.

Part 1 | Pervious | Next

Leon had already scooped you up into his arms, making another 2 of the suppressants. One for if you need it again and another for the BSAA's Lab. Your arms were wrapped around his neck to help hold yourself up in his arms, not wanting to be heavy for him to carry. Leon didn't mind, you were light enough to carry comfortably for a long distance. One of the reasons he made sure he was strong was to carry anyone if need be, especially you.

Making your way back down in the elevator Leon walks down the stairs to ground level and walks you out of the building. Taking you all the way through the town back to the car you had driven here.

"What happened?" The Sargent in charge asked as he followed you to the car.

"We were attacked by the man in the picture. He's dead, L-Pill from what it looked like." Leon explains as he opens the passenger side of the vehicle and places you gently on the seat. He straps you in and closed your door. "I will be sending the BSAA here to collect anything from the labs we found, your men are to stay posted until further orders are given to you." Leon says walking around to the drivers side and hops in. Before closing the door he stops and looks to the Sargent. "You and your men have done well."

With that he closed the door, starts the car and takes off towards the facilities. "Hang on, okay?" Leon says flicking a quick glance at you then resting a hand on your lap. You open your eyes and give him a weak smile, you could still feel the effects of whatever you had been injected with. Your limbs wouldn't move at your will and your chest felt like a child of 5 was sitting on it. "I'll be fine..." You say before you let your eyes close once again.

Hunnigan had contacted the hospital on the BSAA grounds, they probably thought you all couldn't handle yourselves or something. Two admitted within hours of each other? Very unlucky. They were waiting for his arrival, hopping out of the car he races around to unbuckle you and pull your limp body from the car. He didn't know when you had passed out, but you had been out since he asked if you were still with him 3 minutes ago.

He placed you on the stretcher and he gives the description as well as both the syringes he had acquired. Explaining one is for the lab and one if for if they need to use it on her, still not sure what was pulsing through your veins or taken host in your body yet. Standing alone in the hallway now Leon felt his legs finally go weak under him, the adrenaline leaving his body. Making his way towards Chris' room he walks in and flops down on the seat beside Chris' feet. He leans forwards, head in his hands as he rest his elbows on his knees. His friend and lover were in this hospital, far from home. Leon sits there, in the same position for about 10 minutes, it didn't feel like that long. Your form, limp in his arms and screams kept replaying in his minds eye and ears.

"What's wrong with you?" Croaked one Chris Redfield, having been watching Leon beside his feet for probably the passed 30 seconds.

Leon was startled from his thoughts, head lifting up to reveal red, wet eyes. Not realising himself that he had been crying. This however caused a tightness in Chris' chest and looked around the room for you, there was no way Leon would be crying over him. "Where's (Y/N)?" Chris asked. Looking directly at Leon who wiped his eyes with the back of his sleeve, leaning back in the chair he was in. Not daring to look at Chris. "Leon.."

"She was injected with some kind of virus or parasite." He explained. Chris just kept his eyes on Leon. "She... Is here now. Hopefully they can help her, but I don't know if they can or even will be able to find a cure in time."

"Don't say that..." Chris didn't want to believe it, but Leon was just preparing himself for the worst.

Silence sat between the two men for a while. Chris still feeling groggy from the after effects of the Plaga being in his system, Leon still going through all the possibilities of what was going to happen to you. Leon did, however, speak up after a while. Filling Chris in on what they had found, that a Plaga had in fact been inside of him, and the possible reasons for the attacks here. The man probably responsible was now dead, wanting to seemingly get revenge on you for destroying everything he had worked for. It seemed stupid, only to kill himself in the end, not knowing whether he had done any harm to you or not.

-----*4 Hours Later*-----

Chris had been taken off the vaccine for the Plaga, his bloods coming back to show he was completely cleared of the parasite. Nurses and doctors had been coming in to get him prepared for air lifting him home to the United States. That way he could heal on familiar ground. Leon was sitting off to the side on a couch along the wall, slouching back his arms were crossed over his chest. Chris was sitting up, watching Leon as his head would bob forwards, then back up as he tried to keep himself awake. Adjusting himself every so often and shaking his foot to try keeping himself awake.

A Doctor walks into the room causing Leon to become alert, thinking he had come in for Chris once again. He started to get comfortable before his name was called rather than Redfield's. Both of them perk up, Leon standing to his feet.

"Mr. Kennedy, could I talk to you outside for a moment?" The Doctor asked, the look in his eyes told Chris and Leon something was wrong.

"No, I want to hear what you have to say. I am close with her as well." Chris piped up, both Leon and the doctor looking to him.

The doctor inhales deeply and crossed his hands in front of his pelvis. "Alright." Looking down to the space between him and Leon he was silent for but a moment before speaking. "We did everything we could."

"No.. You're just.." Leon had a smirk, his head shaking. "You're playing a joke on me.. Right?" Leon lets out a nervous laugh, looking to Chris who had started to sit at the edge of his bed.

"I wish I were, Mr. Kennedy. She succumbed to the internal damage the initial injection had caused."

"I want to see her." Leon demands, he still didn't believe what this man was saying. Chris had made his way to stand beside Leon, a hand being placed on his shoulder, squeezing tight to try and ground the man in denial.

"I'm afraid we can't let you do that. Her body is currently in quarantine."

"I don't care! I want to see her!" Leon wasn't showing physical aggression towards the doctor, he knew he was only doing his job. Chris lowering his head as he placed his other hand on Leon's second shoulder.

"Leon, sit down." Chris starts to guide his friend backwards towards the lounge he was seated in before.

"I can't..!" Leon's words were cut off by a sob jerking his chest. "Oh god.." He flops onto the lounge when he felt it against his calves.

"I've got him. Will we be able to take her body home with us?" Chris asked, a hand rubbing at Leon's upper back as he once again leant forwards on his knees.

"Again, I don't know if that's possible. With her body still not confirmed contagious or not, we wouldn't be allowed to have her body travel with others present."

Chris gives a nod. "Thank you.."

"You will also be allowed to leave any time from now, Mr. Redfield."

Chris just gives another silent nod and the doctor stays for a few seconds longer, then turning and leaving the room to give them both privacy. "Leon?" Chris was gentle with his words, he knew the guilt he must be feeling right now. Chris had also lost so many people he cared about. But never had he lost his love.

Leon's face had flushed of all it's colour, sitting up and back against the couch Chris could now see he was in shock. As if on queue Hunnigan was calling in Leon's left ear. Chris saw his hand go to reach for his ear but let it drop back to his side. Removing the earpiece Chris places it in his own, answering the call.

"Leon! You haven't given me any updates for 4 hours now!" Hunnigan stressed on the other side of the line.

"This is Chris Redfield."

"Chris? Where is Leon and (Y/N)?"

Chris looks to Leon who was still pale, staring off into the distance, tears rolling down his cheeks. "Leon is here beside me. We just received news that (Y/N) died from internal injuries caused by the parasite." There was silence on the other side of the line, then the sound of frantic typing.

"Have either of you confirmed this with your own eyes?" She asked still typing away.

"No. Her body is in quarantine and they won't allow us to see her."

"What? That's not.." She goes silent, thinking for a moment. "Thank you, Chris. Send Leon home as soon as possible."

Chris frowned at this order, he wasn't even given time to grieve before being sent home for briefing. "Copy." Then the line goes dead. Removing the earpiece he placed it in Leon's hand. "She wants you to come home as soon as you can."

Leon only nods. He didn't even hear what Chris had said, his body had just gone into autopilot.

Part 1 | Pervious | Next

🏷️: @phoenix666stuff @maehemthemisfit @greywardensaywhat @growingupnrealizing @starcrossedreaders @luujjvi

[news-ld]

Mexico: The booming trade fuelling a US drug epidemic and a deadly street war | World News

We barely sluggish for purple lights as vehicles pull out of our means.We nearly take off as we scream over a hilly stretch of street. We're on board a Purple Cross ambulance answering an emergency name within the northern Mexican metropolis of Tijuana. It is probably the most harmful cities on this planet.A two-person crew, speaking into the walkie-talkie, asks for particulars of the emergency."It is a taking pictures," paramedic Zulma Cruz tells me. "We get as many as a dozen a day generally," she says as we see blue lights flashing within the distance and move a Nationwide Guard car with a soldier holding a machine gun, silhouetted towards the evening sky. Picture: Paramedic Zulma Cruz thinks a lot of the violence is linked to the rising fentanyl enterprise As we strategy, what's now a crime scene in addition to a medical emergency, I can see that the streets of probably the most cartel-infested neighbourhoods on this metropolis are awash with police and navy.A second ambulance is surrounded by locals, watching on, and I can see ambulance groups inside treating a man who seems to be acutely aware. "He's secure however crucial," Zulma tells me as she grabs an oxygen canister and her trauma pack and heads off to help her colleagues.Zulma is an skilled paramedic, who's used to the menacing presence of safety forces and the stares of the local people, a lot of whom establish with or are a part of the cartel. That is one other gangland assassination try - the affected person has been shot within the head. Three cartels are preventing for management over Tijuana - the Sinaloa Cartel, Jalisco New Technology, and the Tijuana Cartel.There are over 2,000 murders a 12 months right here - that is over six murders a day. To place that into perspective, in London final 12 months simply over 100 folks have been murdered.It is that loopy, and the Purple Cross groups are the one ones able to saving lives out right here on the streets.Zulma tells me that generally whereas she has been making an attempt to save lots of the lives of different victims of a hit, the cartel gunmen have approached her and advised her to cease remedy.Her Purple Cross colleague, who did not wish to be named, stated the gunmen could not be persuaded."That man dies right here," the gang member stated, "then he shot him once more," her accomplice advised me."We simply needed to stroll away."I ask Zulma if she thinks a lot of this violence and chaos on the streets is linked to the rising fentanyl enterprise."It undoubtedly is, it undoubtedly is," she replies with out hesitation."I feel that it's linked to all that, the medicine, the cartels and fights for promoting on the street, and generally they cross into one another's turf…"One other name for the Purple Cross, this time for a fentanyl overdose.Their medics carry the antidote to fentanyl poisoning - probably the most poisonous medicine on this planet.Learn extra: Inside a secret fentanyl lab It is referred to as Narcan, and it may save the lives of those that are virtually lifeless.They arrive on scene as the fireplace brigade administer first assist. Paramedic Alan Leon jumps out and will get prepared to offer the sufferer Narcan.He briefly talks to the household gathered across the sufferer, unconscious on a pavement in a quiet residential space.The man is totally unresponsive. His title is Juan, and he's dying.Alan instructs a policeman holding a drip to lift it larger.He then administers the Narcan immediately into a cannula, and into the sufferer's vein, whereas explaining to his emergency service colleagues what he is doing.All of them wait. Time is crucial and they're hoping they've caught this sufferer in time. Alan gently presses into Juan's chest together with his fist and tells everybody to attend.He feels Juan's chest once more and then there may be a sudden motion - the Narcan is working.Moments later Juan sits up, completely stunned, and grabs on the medical paraphernalia throughout him."I am okay, I am okay," he says. It actually is kind of exceptional.Alan tells him to attend a minute, and then provides him one other shot of Narcan."It is reversing the fentanyl," he tells Juan. After a couple of minutes, Juan stands up and leans towards a car parked close by - he's speaking, he is shocked he is alive.His spouse and younger son, who had watched the entire scene unfold, hug him as he fist bumps our producer.Fentanyl use, fentanyl trafficking, gang wars, dying and homicide - the ambulance crews see all of it daily, and it is all linked.Learn extra: Inside a secret drug lab: Gunshot wounds, deadly chemical compounds and cartel kingpins Six adults and baby, 7, killed in taking pictures at Mexican vacation resortTijuana's red-light district is probably the most public location for the cartel wars and the use and sale of fentanyl on the streets.It is also a standard vacationer hang around.The gangs make a fortune from the medicine and intercourse business right here 24 hours a day, which is why they battle so arduous to carry or take territory.The space is continually patrolled by police, the Nationwide Guard, and the Mexican military, who have been deployed right here final 12 months to attempt to scale back homicides, and to battle organised crime. Picture: An injured man is handled by paramedics We joined the Baja California State Police on one in every of their patrols via the district.They advised us the cartels do not care what fentanyl does to folks, they're curious about one factor solely - cash."They know what they're doing, they know what they're producing, they know the issues they trigger promoting the medicine, they know that individuals are turning into extra addicted on this nation, they know it is a downside, however they do not care, they solely fear about their very own pursuits," an officer, who did not wish to be named, advised me. Click on to subscribe to the Sky News Every day wherever you get your podcastsThe cartels know Mexico's safety companies have a enormous presence within the metropolis, however they taunt them anyway, by posting movies on social media platforms like TikTok, displaying off their weapons, medicine, and cash."Many occasions it is to ship a message to the opposite organisations, generally it is to ship a message to the cops that we won't contact them, however we're preventing again towards all these organisations… we attempt to cease them in all of the battle zones and arrest them," the officer defined. Learn extra: The million greenback streets strewn with our bodies contorted by the consequences of fentanyl 'Fentanyl steals your pals': Tablets purchased on social media are killing youngsters in lecture rooms and of their bedsThis district in Tijuana is floor zero for the fentanyl trade in Mexico, and the town is the gateway for drug and folks smuggling over the border.This trade is fuelling an unlawful drug epidemic in the US, and a street war inside Mexico. Read the full article

[another-bloody-multimuse]

‘Courtesy of the Champion’s mother, I have found some photographs that the Chairman and I think are worthy of being shown off to the nation.’

[ashiemochi]

pussidon - ACT II | xiii

✠ Pussidon ↳ sounds like trouble ↳↳ can we eat it?

➶ pairing: OC x Leon S(exy) Kennedy. ➶ genre: fluff, angst, gore, smut/suggestive themes ➶ word count: no

NOTE: ✠ = time skip ✠✠ = switching povs/characters

prev -> next

“Sherry said she was meeting Simmons in the Kwun Lung building. The first thing you’re gonna need to do is cut through the outdoor market up ahead.”

“Maybe find a snack or two.” So Ah grumbled and Helena irked up her brows at her as Leon was ahead, taking the lead. 

“I’m surprised you still have the appetite to eat.” Helena said, “That plane food is still sitting like a brick in my stomach.”

“I don’t eat during missions,” So Ah admitted, trailing her eyes around the market as if she’d find a piece of candy or two to satiate her hunger, “Makes me feel heavy. And it’s not like Bane or those infected are a sight to see.”

“Understandable.” Helena nodded, humming under her breath as she agreed with her. 

A scream cut through the silent air and Leon was quick to draw out his gun, aiming in the direction. 

“This way!” Leon ordered, beginning to run towards the source. 

“What was that?” So Ah asked, hurrying up her pace. 

“Trouble.”

“... Can we eat it?”

✠

“Oh, great. Three separate locks.” Leon glowered as Helena walked up to the map of the market next to the locked gates.

“Jesus…” She sighed, “Alright, let’s just figure out a way to open it.”

So Ah jogged up to the map, taking out her device to take a picture of it then mumbled, “Maybe the keys are in those different areas.”

“You’re good with maps too?” Helena asked and Leon crossed his arms against his chest. 

“Should’ve seen her in California. She had the entire facility’s layout memorized.” Leon said, recalling the report Chris had to write. 

So Ah was a pain to chase. She can say maps were never her thing all she wants, but Leon knew that the moment she locates a map, it’d be engraved in her head like a picture. Add that to her panicking brain and nimble feet, she’d indirectly find a way out and make the enemy feel lost.

“I had the upper hand because I designed it, remember?” So Ah retorted, lowering her device and Leon gave her a blank look. 

“Still.”

Squelching sounds came behind them, catching their attention. Some black wriggling limb was coming out of the dead pig’s carcass, emitting a dry record screeching noise. The sight was disgusting. The creature was all lumpy and lanky, swaying from side to side as it merged itself together. 

“What the hell?!” Helena was just as horrified. 

“Guess that’s why the whole street is on lockdown,” Leon glared at it, taking out his rifle, “The residents were trying to keep it out.”

“Well, this one is different!” Helena took out her shotgun, watching in disgust as it stood up.

It seemed to have healed itself and that made So Ah’s stomach churn against itself. Forget finding a snack. How about finding a trash can to empty her yesterday’s dinner?

“That’s a new trick,” Leon commented, glancing over at So Ah, noticing the familiar panicked look on her paling face. 

She looked at him, her foot shifting to take a step back and Leon narrowed his eyes at her with his brow raised, “So Ah.”

The moment the creature let out a screech, So Ah booked it. 

“Hey, what – where is she going!?” Helena shouted as Leon followed and she went after him. 

“Hope you’re ready to get used to running!” Leon yelled back, keeping his eyes set on the Han girl. 

It was as if her brain was reliving that night in the Green Life’s facility. 

✠

“A key!” So Ah exclaimed, picking up one by a dead body.

“Look at that. One down, two more to go.” Leon chimed, standing next to her as she put the key in her hip pouch. 

“Uh, guys!” Helena called out for them, shotgun drawn at the creature squeezing itself through the underground drain. 

So Ah let out a gasp, running to put a distance between them. Her back hit a ladder that led to the roof of the market and she was quick to begin climbing it, calling out for Leon and Helena as she did. 

“Up here!”

So Ah ran to the edge of the roof, nearly skidding over it if it weren’t for Leon quickly grasping her arm and pulling her away from it. 

“Watch your step!” Leon reminded before he turned around to aim at the… So Ah didn’t even want to name it. It was that horrible. 

Helena and Leon began shooting the creatures only to split in half and drop to the aluminium roof, still wriggling and it made So Ah’s stomach clench on itself. Her hand shot to her mouth to cover her gagging, turning her eyes away from the sight. 

“Ugh, why make them wriggle?” So Ah whined to herself in her mother tongue then her eyes stopped at the other roof in the distance. Hurriedly, she took out her device, noting the barred doors which stop them from going to the other side of the market. 

“Leon, boost me over.” So Ah patted his shoulder rapidly and lightly to get his attention, which she didn’t really need to do much since his azuls would automatically dart to her voice, and she pointed to the other roof, “I can unlock the doors from there.”

✠

“Oh, shit! Why are you here too?!” So Ah yelled, letting out a high-pitched gasp as she dodged the swinging arm and practically ran to find a way down from the roof. 

Leon and Helena watched her having trouble with the creature, running in circles till she let out a loud ‘yelp’ when she slipped through an opening in her panicked state. The creature’s lower body was still walking with the upper body twisted backwards towards the girl. 

“Is this how it always is with her?” Helena asked, watching how the screeching creature walked itself into the wall and fell down the tilted roof, rolling over the edge and hitting the floor. 

Leon ticked his head to the side, reloading his rifle, “Uhuh.”

✠

“Leon! Door’s open!” 

“Good work!”

So Ah beamed at this, turning around to run only for a flying hand to tackle her to the ground, latching onto her face. 

“Get it off! Get it off! Ew! Ew! Ew!” So Ah cried gibberish, her hands trying to yank it away from her face. 

A precise kick from her man knocked it away towards the small puddle of water, being electrified by the broken circuits. 

Leon irked a brow down at her with a stifled chuckle, nearly feeling bad to find her actually shaking. Her eyes were wide and almost teary, her bottom lip trembling as she swallowed thickly. 

“I think I puked in my mouth.” 

Leon laughed at her, finding her so endearing as he helped her up onto her feet, tightening his grip gently around her arm when she stumbled. Her hands went to his arms as she tried to regain her balance. 

“How about we stick together now?”

She patted his chest, nodding before her head tipped to rest against him, “Mhm, great plan.”

✠

“This isn’t working!” Helena shouted into the earpiece, having been separated, “How long are we gonna keep doing this?!”

“If we keep this up, we’re gonna run out of ammo!” Leon remarked, glaring at the creature regenerating once more. 

“So Ah, where’s the next key!?” Helena asked. 

So Ah had found her way into the bathrooms, having kicked down the wrecked door, and she located the other key. 

“Found it!” Her voice came through the earpiece followed by more gibberish cries and distant croaking of the creature.

“Oh, shit! No pun intended!”

✠

The three of them ran to the last door after Helena shut down the broken circuit box and a shiver ran down So Ah’s spine. She dared to sneak a peek over her shoulder only to shudder at the sight of the wriggling tall and dark creatures beginning to surround them. Leon and Helena kicked down the door as the girl pulled out her fire grenade. 

“The key is inside! Hurry!” So Ah nudged them through the door.

“What are you – !” Helena was silenced when So Ah unpinned her grenade and threw it, setting them all on fire. 

Leon, however, wasn’t surprised as he picked up the last key, “Got the last one. Let’s get outta here while we still can.”

✠

“Thank god…” So Ah sighed, breathing heavily as they entered the door, shutting it behind them so the creatures wouldn’t follow, “Out of this whole night, that was the worst. If I see one more of those things, I think I might just pass out.”

Leon chuckled, regaining his breath as he set his hand on her shoulder, “At least they won’t be hurting us any time soon.”

“Leon, you’re going to jinx it.” Helena said as he proceeded ahead. 

Leon rolled his eyes, “No, I won’t.”

✠

Surprise, surprise, he did jinx it. 

“Shit!” Leon cursed when the creature returned, nearly shoving him into the meat grinder if it weren’t for Leon’s fast reflexes. He managed to switch their positions and threw the monster into the twisting sharp blades. 

Helena lowered her gun, giving him a blank look, “Told you.”

“Shut it.”

A soft sigh came from behind followed by a thud and Leon and Helena were quick to glance over only to see So Ah passed out on the ground. 

“She wasn’t kidding, huh…” Helena muttered.

✠

Now, that was done with. Our trio made their way into the back entrance of the medical research centre. So Ah had popped some green herb tablets into her mouth to cleanse her body from ever witnessing ground mutated zombie beef – so now she was good to go. 

Leon silently raised up his hand to stop the girls from moving, eyes set on the familiar woman entering the building. So Ah blinked, noticing it was Ada. While she was wearing her signature red colour, the slim blue dress wasn’t her colour. Anything on her can be red and it’d turn out beautiful; but blue?

Blue??

“Ada?” Leon voiced his confusion. 

“Let’s follow her.” Helena ordered gently and three of them ran up into the room. 

✠✠

Having snuck around with their guns up warily, So Ah’s aim landed on Ada by the open door. Her eyes widened at her, calling out her name to get her attention as she lowered her gun. Leon and Helena were quick to rush to So Ah, having their guns up and Leon was just as surprised.

Ada looked at them and then ducked at the rapid bullets nearly hitting her head. She used her Hookshot to escape, the door slamming shut behind her. So Ah and Leon glanced at each other as Helena heard the distant rifles’ going quiet. 

“What the hell’s going on?” Helena asked, looking over the couple and Leon’s eyes were visibly hardened. 

Ada was being Ada again and at the worse timing ever. 

“C’mon, let’s get some answers.” Leon demanded firmly, making his way to the door and So Ah frowned faintly. 

She knew about their history. Having met back in Raccoon City, Ada was never much of a talker and if she did open her mouth, she wouldn’t be exactly clear until it was too late. Leon has been strung along for years, and at some point after Raccoon, he thought Ada was truly dead. After going through years of what he wouldn’t call ‘unrequited feelings’, Leon had time to think about everything during his so-called ‘vacation’ in Los Angeles. 

One day Leon woke up thinking about Ada and the next – after a certain day in August – it was all Han So Ah. 

Still, Leon felt connected with Ada. Maybe not exactly the same way with the handful of Raccoon City’s survivors but she was there too. Leon knew better not to have his heart involved with a vague woman who’s always on the run. 

The door was locked and Leon cursed under his breath, looking over at the stairs that – hopefully – led to a different door. Glancing at his fiancee over his shoulder, he could see she was just as uneasy, sadness visible in those soft cinnamons of hers. Like the sun, Leon was never able to escape her empathy.

She understood him like no other. She never questioned his thoughts towards Ada, fully trusting him with her soul. 

Leon truly believed he didn't deserve her. So Ah was supposed to still be back home, tending to her lively plants all safe and sound. But that was forever ruined after he had gotten her indirectly involved in this dirty side of the world. 

Leon let his observant blues trail down to her hands, antsy fingers curling around the handle of the sniper. The ring shimmered faintly under the dull light, reminding him of his thoughts towards her. 

Pure serotonin. 

“Locked.” Leon informed the two women, avoiding So Ah’s orbs as he ticked his head to the lower stairs.

“Let’s find another way.” 

✠✠

“We’ve got to make it to that elevator! Run!” Leon shouted out, sending So Ah’s adrenaline down to her legs in an instant. 

So Ah knew one thing; when Leon shouts run, it meant run.

The echoing of their boots hitting the steel walkway filled her ears along with other men’s voices. She was too busy to pay attention to that though, focused on getting to the lift at the end of the hall. Then Ada’s voice came in through the intercoms. 

“Glad you could stop in,” Ada’s sly smile was heard through her tone, “Like what I’ve done with the place?”

Lasers shimmered into existence, rushing towards the trio in speed. The redness of them and the emitting heat were more than enough for So Ah to think that maybe, just maybe…

Ada wasn’t the woman in blue. 

Unaware of the woman staring down at the Han girl with a glimmer in her coy browns, So Ah slid down to avoid the laser wall, following Helena’s and Leon’s action. She whipped out her sniper, aiming precisely at the fuses by the laser grid locking the door. 

Once they were down, they rushed to the elevator – of course not without a small squeak emitting from So Ah when the lasers reappeared and nearly took out a chunk of her hair. The gates of the lift slid shut, giving the agents a moment to catch their breath from yet another near-death experience. 

“I’d like to think that’s not Ada.” So Ah panted and Leon huffed, breathing heavily. 

“It sounds like something she’d do.” Leon countered lightly, not meaning to be sharp but So Ah seemed to be a bit thrown off by his tone. 

Helena raised her hand slightly, sending an apologetic smile towards the girl, “I’m with him on that one. Sorry.”

Then she pointed at Leon before he could even look smug, “Don’t get used to it.”

✠

They reached a different room and it instantly irked So Ah wrong. Numerous tubes filled with those same cocoons they saw back in the underground lab practically formed a wall, separating the room into two. The walls were translucent, nearing opaque as So Ah couldn’t see anyone past it, despite picking up on two big buffed figures. 

Even their muttering was distant and she wondered if the room was soundproof. 

“What is this room?” Helena whispered, eyeing the tubes warily. 

“Don’t know,” Leon followed her eyesight, narrowing his as he reached the gate, “And I don’t like the look of it.”

So Ah’s curiosity, however, was peaking as she tried to catch a glimpse of the men on the other side. Their voices were familiar but she couldn’t put a finger on them.

Her brows furrowed as she attempted to sneak a peek through the slip but an automated voice jolted her. She stumbled back, nudging Helena who blinked down at her then trailed her eyes up as if looking at the woman’s AI voice. 

Engaging locks. Testing for prototypes.

The lights began flashing red and So Ah was quick to realize that meant trouble. 

Little beeping drones began sliding from the slip, going back and forth from their room to the other room with the two men. One had gotten too close for comfort to the girls and Helena kicked it. It turned a deeper red, going to the other room and they heard it explode. 

Helena and So Ah looked at each other, eyes widening and Leon could tell what those drones owned. His grip on the Wing Shooter tightened, especially when Ada’s voice came through. 

“We’ve been conducting such fascinating work here.” Ada spoke with pride, “Why don’t you have some fun with one of the new prototypes?”

So Ah hurriedly shot the drone, watching it turn red and slide to the other side, exploding once again as she called out to Leon, “They’re rigged with explosive charges!”

Helena glared at this, glancing over at Leon dodging the drone, “What the hell is she thinking?!”

Because who knew Ada more than Leon – oh, who are they kidding?

No one knew Ada.

Leon snapped back, “I’ll ask her once we catch her!”

“Leon, So Ah, Helena. Come in.” 

So Ah truly believed Hunnigan was an angel, instantly picking up the call, “Hunnigan! Here to save the day?”

“Well, not exactly. I’m trying to get the lock open for you but the security’s pretty tight.” Hunnigan informed apologetically but hastily, “I’ll keep trying to hack it, but see if you can bypass it manually.” 

“Um…” So Ah looked at Leon with a knowing look, “Why don’t you take over this one? Knowing me, I’d probably make this worse.”

Leon scoffed lightly, giving her a subtle smirk as he holstered his gun and rushed to the device on the wall, “Maybe you’d find a way to play Michael Buble.”

“Hey!”

“Just teasing.” Leon chuckled and returned to the device, “I’ll try to get past the security. You two take care of our little friends!”

Helena and So Ah stood next to each other behind Leon to keep him safe as he worked. Helena threw a glance at So Ah, still shooting to send the explosive drones to the other side of the room. 

“Is there something I should know about you and technology?” Helena asked.

“No…” So Ah giggled nervously, recalling ‘Holding out for a Hero’ back at Green Life’s facility, “Just almost got me and Leon killed the last time I tried to hack into a system.”

“What?”

✠

Security Breach detected in Room One.

Leon was doing surprisingly well as Helena and So Ah were now running in circles to keep as many drones away as far as possible. 

“This sucks!” So Ah shouted, letting out a yelp when a drone nearly took out her foot. 

“You could say that again!” Helena shouted back, kicking a drone to the other side of the room. 

✠

Security Breach detected in Room Zero.

Security Breach detected in Room One.

“Think the other side are her minions?” Helena asked So Ah, picking up on the grunts and shouts in the other room. 

So Ah shrugged, nudging the drone carefully to trail back through the slip as if encouraging a baby to walk its first steps, “Probably.” 

“So, we shouldn’t let them get to her first… Right?” Helena theorized.

A lightbulb seemed to appear above their heads at the mutual plan.

✠

Security Breach detected in Room One.

With each drone coming to their side, they’d shoot it or just tap its side to zoom back to the other side. Sometimes, they’d make it turn red before shoving it through the slip to explode in Room Zero. 

To say they were having a blast was an understatement – but it was getting the job done. 

✠

Disengaging locks in Room One. 

“We’re clear! Let’s go after her!” Leon called out for the girls, the gates opening. 

“Shoo, shoo.” So Ah nudged the last drone to the other side before running after Leon and Helena. She nearly froze at the voice coming from the other side. Now that it was quiet, she could pick up on the familiar frustrated tone. 

“Shit! What the hell is that?!”

She could’ve sworn she heard the man before – but when? And where?

So Ah shook her head as if to get rid of her thoughts; it wasn’t the right time. Ada was right at their fingertips. She’d worry about those men later. She followed Leon and Helena out of the room, eyes locating them heading to the left side of the path and she looked at the right. 

A plan hatched in her head, already making her way to the other side. So Ah called out to Leon, slinging her sniper to hang on her back just as he and Helena knelt down by the edge. 

“Leon! I’ll take this way!” So Ah said, pointing to her side, “We can cut her off!”

While Leon wasn’t too eager to be separated, he gave her a firm nod, “Okay! Be careful!”

So Ah started sprinting down the walkway just as they dropped to the lower one. Her ears were straining for any sound from the other men, but she couldn’t focus on anything but the hurried running of the agents below her and the mercenary ahead of them.

“Ada, stop! We have to talk!” Leon shouted out.

“Sorry, not in a talking mood.” Ada calmly responded, as if running in her heels were simply a walk in a park.

“Ada, wait!” So Ah yelled, being ahead and above her, keeping her eyes set on her as she panted softly. Ada tilted her head up a little, a smile itching at the corner of her red-stained lips. 

“Look who we’ve got here. The Han girl.” Ada chimed coyly and So Ah furrowed her brows at this.

Huh?

Before she could question it, Ada tossed a smoke bomb, clouding Leon’s and Helena’s vision and causing them to falter. The smoke trailed up to the girl above, making her cough and slow down. Through watering eyes at the smoke, So Ah heard the familiar zipline of the Hookshot cut through the air. 

“It’s been fun. Ciao~” Ada’s voice echoed, now distant.

“Ugh,” So Ah groaned, starting to resent her constant vagueness as she continued running. 

“Your friend likes to play hard to get.” Helena commented, growing irritated at being strung along – which was very ironic – as she glanced at Leon, “She always been like this?”

“Don’t lose her!” 

“I won’t!”

So Ah’s heart halted up in her throat at the voices. There was no way they would be here. Her panting grew as she neared the edge, sparing Leon and Helena a glance. 

“So Ah! Keep going!” Leon shouted out, both he and Helena reaching a wrecked door as they started kicking it down.

“Got it!” So Ah affirmed, leaping down the edge and rolling to her knee right past the wrecked door. 

She was quick to stand up and run. Her lungs burned for air but she didn’t stop. The massive storage room was barely lit, unable to see much other than the two buff figures cornering Ada in the distance. 

The loud rapid-fire had stopped Ada from moving any further and So Ah could hear the wrecked door behind her crash open, followed by more quick steps. She hurriedly turned the corner, eyes set on the first buff figure in front of her. 

He was aiming at Ada.

There was no time to waste.

Her fingers clenched and dug her nails into the palm of her hand before she flattened them, shoving the rifle out of his hands. The man was quick to react, swinging his arm and So Ah lowered herself, eyes snapping to the pistol in his holster. 

Just like she expected, he reached for it but she jabbed his side to keel him over but it barely did squat. 

Okay, so, this man was a soldier – clearly. 

So Ah jumped back to avoid another fist to the face and roundhouse kicked him which he ducked and easily avoided. The man picked up on the small-framed woman who was the one sparring with him and nearly stopped, but his training instincts continued on. 

A small gasp came from So Ah when the man launched himself forward, arms almost wrapping around her to throw her off her feet. She knew she was on the smaller side, being an easy target for a simple ‘sack of potatoes’ if she were to be grabbed.

But Piers taught her how to counter it. 

Positioning her legs and feet correctly, she shot her elbow down at the nape of his neck, earning a grunt before she shifted her weight to somersault backwards, kicking his jaw in the process. Her feet met the ground with a slight bounce and she quickly took out her Matilda just as he recovered, taking out his pistol. 

Then the city lights illuminated them – So Ah’s eyes widened.

“Chris?”

Her body ached all over despite not getting any hits landed on her but the dodging was a pain. Her breathing was laboured, eyes taking in the man she had last seen six months ago. Similarly, Chris furrowed his brows deeply at her, confusion written all over his face. 

“So Ah?” Chris said, panting heavily at the brief fighting they just had, “What are you doing here?”

So Ah looked over her shoulder, seeing Piers was the other soldier. Perplexity filled her up, making itself clearer than day on her face. 

“Piers too?”

Leon and Helena slowed down behind Chris, Leon’s eyes sharpening at the familiar sight of seeing Chris having his gun drawn at the girl. He rushed to stand with her, catching Chris’s midnight blue eyes. 

And deep inside, he wasn’t surprised to see Leon and So Ah together – they always were together. But still –

“Put your gun down, Chris.” Leon advised, voice deeper due to the chase. 

Helena had her gun on Chris too, glancing over at Piers who was confused but still focused on his mission, glaring at Ada. 

So Ah could tell something must’ve happened in those six months. He didn’t look like himself. There was deep hatred and vengeance in those sharp dark blues, staring harshly at Ada right over So Ah’s shoulder. 

“Chris, what happened?” So Ah asked, voice going quiet, “You were gone for six months.”

Chris noticed she did lower her gun, unlike Leon who had his up protectively. It took him back to the Greenhouse HUB at the Green Life’s facility; So Ah being the sensible and confused one and Leon being his protective self for her. 

“You’ve got your friend to blame.” Chris snapped, jabbing his gun at Ada who stood quietly, watching everything unfold with intrigue. 

Especially the Han girl in front of her.

So Ah and Leon blinked at him and she slowly took a step to cover Ada from Chris, earning a glare from the BSAA operator. 

“Ada didn’t do anything of this,” So Ah retorted, shaking her head a little at him, “She –”

“I need you to think straight for once, So Ah.” Chris cut her off, voice dropping an octave and Leon’s eyes hardened at his tone. 

So Ah furrowed her brows, taking a step back, visibly hurt and confused, “I’m not letting you hurt her, Chris. I don’t know what happened but you can take your revenge out on someone else.” 

“Revenge –” Chris scoffed, his grip on his pistol tightening at her words, “Joining the agency really changed you, huh? Do you even know what that bitch did?”

So Ah opened her mouth to retort but he snapped at her, “She’s the one who did all of this.”

Anger was pouring from his tone along with a subtle hint of sadness; frustration. So Ah will admit; Ada was never the talkative type. Sure, she was a mercenary with a completely hidden past. Sure, everything she does was illegal and could potentially endanger millions of lives. 

But that’s Ada for you. She still saved So Ah numerous times – even though she always left the scene with the virus in her hands. 

So Ah didn’t know what she had done to Chris and on a scale of one to ten who she trusted the most – Chris would’ve won.

“She’s a key witness…” So Ah picked her words carefully, “We need her, Chris.”

“A witness!?” Chris barked incredulously but Leon didn’t let him continue. 

“She's right." Leon lowered his eyes into a narrowed glare, "It was Derek C. Simmons who did this – the National Security Advisor!”

“I lost all my men because of her!” Chris shouted, his voice most likely rattling her bones and Leon was quick to step in front of So Ah when Chris angrily jabbed his handgun at her. 

“And I lost over seventy-thousand people – including the President – because of Simmons!” Leon barked back just as loud, making So Ah flinch at the mention of Adam. 

Silence filled the air, Chris’s eyes widening softly at the mention of the assassination of the President. So Ah could hear her heart pounding in her ears, turning her gaze to look at Piers as if silently asking him for his confirmation. 

Piers only locked his jaw, staring back at her firmly with his aim still on the Wong lady. 

He and So Ah never had that much of a great relationship but deep inside, she had such huge respect for him just as he did for her. Piers trained her most of the time, bonding over sparring and releasing tension with light mockery here and there. 

So Ah would sometimes prank him by yelping loudly, holding her wrist tightly to her chest, crying that he broke her hand. Piers would instantly snap out of his soldier mode, rushing towards her to set his hand on her shoulder, concerned. 

“Shit, So Ah. Are you ok–”

She’d be quick to grab his hand and pull him to the mat before hooking her leg around his waist to knock and pin him down with his arm pressed against his back. Her eyes would be crescent moon-shaped due to her wide cheeky grin, having brought down Piers Nivans himself. 

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Piers had snapped, eyes filled with surprise at her trick, “I actually fell for that?!”

“Awh, don’t tell me you’re going soft!” So Ah had giggled, staying in her position just to poke at his pride and Piers had growled. 

“I thought I broke your god damn wrist.”

“You did – but it healed.”

“Right.” 

Then a smirk would tug at his lips, Piers’s eyes glimmering with mischief. 

“I can’t believe I took you down – AH!”  Piers had swiftly used his other arm to latch around her waist, launching her forward in one quick movement. 

Piers had laughed at So Ah’s dizzy state, clearly imagining birds flying in circles above her head. He had stood tall above her, towering over her before lowering down into a low squat, setting his arms onto his knees with a tilted grin. 

“Should’ve paid attention to my other arm.”

Nonetheless, through her blurred vision, she could tell Piers was proud of her. 

So Ah returned to reality, sensing the growing silence between Chris and Leon. 

“She’s working for Neo-Umbrella. You know what that means?” Chris asked, his question directed to So Ah, watching her eyes glisten at the mention of that organization. 

She shook her head lightly, taking in a deep breath at his stern tone, “So, what?”

Chris was taken back by her defiance and negligence to the same organization that assisted in the fall of the Hans – the start of the H-Outbreak as a whole. Piers’ focus broke at that, looking over at So Ah with an almost apprehensive look. 

“I knew I could count on you, pansy.” 

That nickname washed over her like a cold bucket of water, freezing her on the spot as she snapped her head to look at Ada only to hear Piers shouting out along with a dull familiar clank of a grenade.

“Captain!”

And that was the last thing she heard before bright lights and a ringing sound emitted from the stun grenade, disorienting her completely. The loud screeching decibel blocked her eardrums from hearing anything; like the Hookshot zipping through the air and Piers calling out ‘freeze’.

Her knees had buckled to the ground, tremors running widely down her hands with her burning pained eyes slammed shut. Static had filled her brain, making everything seem like it was going in slow-motion as her lungs stuttered for air. 

Pansy.

Pansy.

Pansy.

Was he still around?

Was he going to come from around the corner with that sickening smile of his? Claiming her as his own with such evil and greedy intentions?

Everything was too loud and too much. Her brain was attempting so hard to remind her of her situation but it was as if that night was blocking it. The smell of burning chemicals, the sounds of acid popping and the mutated chimpanzee screaming, ripping the mad scientist apart, the horrible adrenaline rush; she was reliving it all over again. 

Her hands felt cold and sweaty and she wondered if she was really back in Green Life, having to fight her way through endless zombies to get to her lost parents and reunite with Leon. 

Fuck.

Fuck.

Focus, So Ah – focus!

He’s gone! You killed him yourself! Wake up! 

But that nickname – it still exists. 

His remnants were still lingering – the virus in her genes said so. 

So, what?! Open your eyes, So Ah! Come on, you trained for this! Got therapy for this!

What if he hadn’t died? What if he still managed to escape, near death but was saved by Neo-Umbrella?

The Ada she knew had dropped that nickname right after that night, noting So Ah’s shaken up trauma rising to torment her over again – to send her into a shock-state and render her vulnerable to attacks. 

Render her useless. 

No, no – wake up, I’m here. So Ah, come on! Talk to me!

“So Ah, open your eyes!”

Leon’s voice snapped her back to reality but her head shook, refusing to acknowledge his comforting and worrying touches on her skin. His gloved hand was holding onto her upper arm and the other on her waist, urging her to sit up to take a look at her – which she avoided. 

“Baby, talk to me, please–” Leon was nearly pleading, growing anxious by the second as Helena watched in shock, just as concerned at So Ah’s state. 

“That’s not Ada.” So Ah’s voice came out weak and strained, eyelids barely opening to release a tear after another, bottom lip and lungs trembling. 

Leon furrowed his brows at her, growing worried as he asked quickly, taking this chance in case she does become unresponsive, “What? What is it, So Ah?”

“That’s…” So Ah whined, throat heavy as she cried, cloudy cinnamons set on him, “That’s not… Ada… She wouldn’t…”

Having been the closest to the stun grenade, her eyes were terribly affected by it, nearly blinding her completely with its bright light. Leon’s eyes softened at her words, heart thumping against his chest at her partial blindness, slowly healing but it didn’t help her pouring tears. 

“Not with that name…”

[rbbalmung]

Pokemon SwSh GPL AU: Get to know ______

Guys, it’s time for my favourite pokemon ship. Prepare for loads of fluff. 

Get to Know Gloria x Hop (Postwickshipping/Hpyu): 

1: Who spends almost all their money on the other? I headcannon that Gloria really likes pokemon plushies, so Hop is always unconsciously checking the stuffed animal section of stores to see if there’s any she doesn’t have. Gloria tries really hard to get him books that pertain to his research, but she really has no clue what he studies aside from the fact that it’s legendary pokemon (Legendary Pokemon are his focus). 

2: Who sleeps in the other’s lap? Gloria! They are the cuddliest couple ever. There’s about a foot size difference between them, so she fits perfectly in his lap. (Hop is def the little spoon, tho). 

3: Who walks around the house half-naked and who yells at them to put on some clothes? TBH, they would both walk around the house half naked. They’re comfort first babies, so you know Gloria’s bra is coming off and Hop is discarding his work clothes the second their door is closed. I think it’s kind of a casual thing for them, though. They’ve known each other long enough that this kind of thing doesn’t bother them. 

4: Which one tells the other not to stay up all night and which one stays up all night anyway? Gloria has to drag Hop’s ass to bed pretty much every night. They’re both busy people, but we all know that Hop would lose track of time while working on his thesis. It is a fact that if Gloria doesn’t come to get him, he will fall asleep on his desk. 

5: Which one tries to make food for the other but burns it all by accident and which one tells them that it’s okay and makes them both cookies? They’re actually both pretty good cooks (Gloria’s mama owns a restaurant in Wedgehurst and Hop’s mom is obsessed with cooking), but I think Hop would probably be the one to burn all the food. The only reason why is because he has a harder time focusing solely on cooking instead of trying to multitask. Now, baking is a whole other story. They’re both terrible at it. 

6: Which one reads OTP prompts and says “Oh that’s us!” and which one goes “Eh, not really”? Gloria would be the one to read the prompts and Hop would be the denier (he secretly thinks it’s really cute whenever she does it). 

7: Which one constantly wears the other’s clothes? Gloria. 100% Gloria. She is constantly cold and has a passion for stealing Hop’s hoodies. He thinks its adorable because they’re always really big on her. 

8: Which one spends all day running errands and which one says “You remembered [thing], right?” Hop would be the errand runner and Gloria would make sure he remembered everything. It goes back to Hop’s mind being a million places at once and Gloria hyper focusing on one thing at a time. 

9: Which one drives the car and which one gives them directions? Hop would drive and Gloria would give directions for similar reasons to the question above. 

10: Which one does the posing while the other one draws? Hop doodles Gloria sometimes to keep his hands busy. It’s kind of an absent minded thing for him to do while reading an article/book. Once Sonia caught him doing it, and when I say she teases him relentlessly, I mean it. Hop absolutely does not let Gloria see these doodles (they’re very cutesy and he’d die of embarrassment). 

11: If they were about to rob a museum, which one does backflips through lasers and which one is strolling behind with a bag of chips? Hop would be the backflipper and Gloria would be the follower. Think back to their GPL season: Hop was blazing ahead at all times without a care in the world. Gloria is the slowest traveler in the world because she likes talking to everyone and visiting all the stores.  

12: Which one of your OTP overdoes it on the alcohol and which one makes the other stop drinking? Neither of them can hold their alcohol, but Hop at least has more body mass than Gloria. They’re a pair of lightweights and nothing you can say will convince me otherwise. (Let’s be real: Bede has to be the one to make sure they get home). 

14: Which one keeps accidentally using the other’s last name instead of their own? Gloria. I actually believe that Gloria would keep her last name even after she and Hop get married because it belongs to her mama (after the divorce, they both changed their last names to match her mama’s maiden name). Hop is also a proud Hoffman, so he wouldn’t use the name Park. However, everyone else will mix it up. Gloria gets called “Mrs. Hoffman” all the time if she’s arriving for restaurant reservations or something of the like. Newer reporters/young children call Hop “Mr. Park” because they just assume Park was his last name. 

15: Which one screams about the spider and which one brings the spider outside? Neither of them are scared of bug pokemon. 

16: Which one gives the other their jacket? HOP. I mentioned it earlier, but Gloria is always cold. Bede asks why he doesn’t just make Gloria bring her own jacket and Hop replies that he likes it when she wears his jacket (they’re freaking sappy).  

17: Who keeps getting threatened by the other’s overprotective older sibling? Pft. Leon? Please. By this point, he’s become the big brother of Gloria as well. The League members are a completely different story. They all like Hop, but since Gloria is one of their younger members and the biggest sweetheart, they’re a protective bunch (Especially Melony and Gordie). 

18: Who’s the first one to admit they have feelings for the other? Gloria, but it didn’t go well. It was right before he was leaving to finish up high school studying abroad, and the timing wasn’t right (aka Hop turned her down because he hadn’t yet realised his feelings for her). Gloria tries her best to move on but never truly gets over him. Luckily, his feelings hit him like a bag of bricks to the stomach when they reunite a couple years later.  

19: How good would your OTP be at parenting? The best. They would definitely be the cool parents (I mean, come on. They’re the freaking heroes of Galar!). I think they’d also be super supportive of their child’s choices. 10/10. They’re made to be parents. (Hop would especially want to be a good dad. He’s initially nervous because he never knew his dad and thinks he might mess up, but Gloria reassures him that he’s doing a good job). 

20: Which one types with perfect grammar and which one types using numbers as letters? Hop would be Mr. Perfect Grammar. Gloria would use mostly good grammar, but her texts would be littered with emojis. 

21: Who gets attacked by a bully and who protects them? Hop is the more confrontational of the two. Gloria tends to believe that people are only mean to others if something bad is happening in their life, but Hop will jump from 0 to 100 if someone even looks at Gloria funny.  

22: Who makes the bad puns and who makes a pained smile every time the other makes a pun? Gloria likes Hop’s bad puns, so everyone else has to cringe in discomfort at the oblivious pair. 

23: Who comes home from work to see that the other one bought a puppy? Hop. Gloria likes catching pokemon and sending them on poke jobs, so there’s a new member to their family at least once a week. 

24: Which one gives the other a piggyback ride when they’re tired? Hop. He’s the only one she would show vulnerability to, and he makes sure not to make her feel ashamed of it. (also, Gloria absolutely could not carry Hop. He’s like, a foot taller than her).  

25: Which one competes in some sort of activity and which one does the overzealous cheering? Both! They’re very supportive of each other to help ease the other’s insecurities. Hop gets really invested in her pokemon matches and Gloria throws him a little celebration every time he finishes a project.  

26: Who takes a selfie when the other one falls asleep on their shoulder? Gloria. Since Hop never goes to sleep at night, it is very common for him to take 5 minute power naps without even realising it. Gloria definitely takes pictures when it happens as a reflex (They were long distance for the first 4 years of their relationship) because she wants to be able to look back at their memories together.  Like Gloria doesn’t know about Hop’s doodles of her, Hop doesn’t know about her phone album of him. 

27: Which one would give the other a makeover if they asked? Gloria? I think they both grow into their separate styles as the get older, but Gloria would push Hop to wear more colourful things. Sonia once told Hop that a man should never tell a woman what to wear because it’s rude. I don’t think Gloria would mind if he suggested something, but he is way too nervous to do it (Sonia scarred him).   

28: Which one owns a pet that the other is absolutely terrified of? Hop is very nervous around Urshifu and Calyrex. Urshifu because he’s terrifying, large, and very protective of Gloria. Calyrex because the pokemon will take over his body without warning to tell Gloria something.  

29: Which one holds the umbrella over both of them when it rains? Hop! If Gloria held it, Hop’s head would be in the umbrella. 

30: If your OTP went on vacation, where would they go and what would they do? Who would take the pictures? Oh my gosh, they’d go everywhere. I think that after Gloria steps down as champion, they travel to all the different regions for at least a couple of years. Gloria would be the one to take pictures and make a little scrapbook when they return home.  

[lovedeceptions]

🎼 any of them

arthur & kathryn — untouchable 

it's half full, and I won't wait here all day / i know you're saying that you'd be here anyway / but you're untouchable, burning brighter than the sun / and now that you're close I feel like coming undone

arthur & mariana — sad beautiful tragic

distance, timing, breakdown, fighting / silence, the train runs off its tracks / kiss me, try to fix it, could you just try to listen? / hang up, give up and for the life of us we can't get back / a beautiful magic love there / what a sad beautiful tragic, beautiful tragic, beautiful

benny & hayley — run

give me the keys, I'll bring the car back around / we shouldn't be in this town / and my so-called friends, they don't know / i'd drive away before I let you go / so give me a reason and don't say no, no / there's a chain 'round your throat, piece of paper where I wrote / “i'll wait for you" / there's a key on the chain, there's a picture in a frame / take it with you

celeste & leon — peace

and you know that I'd / swing with you for the fences / sit with you in the trenches / give you my wild, give you a child / give you the silence that only comes when two people understand each other / family that I chose now that I see your brother as my brother / is it enough? / but there's robbers to the east / clowns to the West / i'd give you my sunshine / give you my best / but the rain is always gonna come / if you're standing with me

charlie & matteo — don’t blame me

my name is whatever you decide / and I'm just gonna call you mine / i'm insane, but I'm your baby / echoes of your name inside my mind / halo, hiding my obsession / i once was poison ivy, but now I'm your daisy / and, baby, for you / i would fall from grace / just to touch your face / if you walk away / i'd beg you on my knees to stay

finnley & barbara — dancing with our hands tied 

i, i loved you in spite of / deep fears that the world would divide us / so, baby, can we dance / oh, through an avalanche? / and say, say that we got it / i'm a mess, but I'm the mess that you wanted / oh, 'cause it's gravity / keeping you with me

gigi & mariana — cruel summer

I'm drunk in the back of the car / and I cried like a baby coming home from the bar / said, "I'm fine," but it wasn't true / i don't wanna keep secrets just to keep you / and I snuck in through the garden gate / every night that summer just to seal my fate / and I scream, "for whatever it's worth i love you, ain't that the worst thing you ever heard?"

jacob & hayley — invisible

there's a fire inside of you / that can't help but shine through / (s)he's never gonna see the light / no matter what you do / and all I think about is how to make you think of me / and everything that we could be

 yasemin & knox — i think he knows

i think he knows / when we get all alone / i'll make myself at home / and he'll want me to stay / i think he knows / he better lock it down / or I won't stick around / 'cause good ones never wait // lyrical smile, indigo eyes, hand on my thigh / we can follow the sparks, I'll drive / “so where we gonna go?" / i whisper in the dark / "where we gonna go?" / i think he knows

[uas-fics]

Title: Hop and Gloria to the Rescue!

Rating: G

Summary: Gloria and Hop are finally home for a visit after their stays in the far-off Crown Tundra and the Isle of Armor, respectively. But what's this? Someone is breaking into Hop's house!? And Leon's there alone? They have to save him!

Ships: Leon x Piers

Content Warnings: Mild spoilers for the SwSh post games and DLCs

Read on AO3

-----

"Anything but curry. Let's agree to that."

"Oh, definitely!"

Hop rubbed his stomach. "If I ever see another Max Mushroom curry in my life, it'll be too soon."

"At least the Dojo has a snack machine!" Gloria bumped into his shoulder with her own. "You know what I got to eat? Camp curry and carrots."

"So that means you got the best eyesight now, don't it?" Hop teased.

Gloria wrinkled up her nose. She moved to push Hop forward, but he dodged. She snorted. A smile played on her face.

For the last few months, the Galar continent separated the best friends, with Gloria exploring the Crown Tundra and Hop studying in the Isle of Armor. They kept in touch, of course, texting, calling,and sending pictures of interesting pokemon they saw, but none of that compared to walking and chatting with each other on their journey home to Postwick.

Both trainers had so much to tell everyone and each other.

Notebooks weighted down Hop's pack. Each one filled with notes, sketches, and photographs about the pokemon he'd been studying on the Isle of Armor. One, in particular, had a blurry photo of a black and pink bird pokemon that sped by the front of the Dojo one afternoon.

Hop already knew exactly how he would convince Gloria to help him track it down.

Gloria's pack, on the other hand, held a folder with all the notes she'd taken from her own journeys around The Crown Tundra with Peony. If the pictures of the Legendary pokemon didn't leave Hop gobsmacked, then seeing them registered in her Pokedex would!

Of course, once he knew she was tracking down Moltres somewhere in the Isle of Armor, he would have to join her.

But all that could wait until after a few days rest with their families.

Patchy clouds darkened the sun as the two crested the final hill to Postwick. Far in the distance, over the Slumbering Weald, the heavy clouds poured down. The travelers missed the deluge by less than an hour.

Gloria took a deep breath, enjoying air that didn't fill her lungs with an icy chill. Coming home a day earlier than she'd told her mum turned out to be the right idea.

Not just their families would be elated to see them. Gloria had message after message from Marnie: how she was improving her gym and the new boutique that opened near the Spikemuth pokemon center--and about The Big Secret.

Marnie had taunted her with the huge, life changing secret that was too sensitive to tell over the phone for weeks now. If Gloria wanted to know what the secret was, she would have to come to Spikmuth and hear it from Marnie face to face.

Hop ran over to a wooden fence.

"I didn't know how much I'd missed wooloo." He laughed and gestured to a herd of grazing wooloo.

One of the wooloo raised its head at the sound of his voice. It baa'ed at the two before trotting over. It butted its head against Hop's palm. Soon the rest of the herd crowded the fence line, baa-ing in delight at the attention Hop readily gave out.

"Remind me to let Dubwool out after we get home so he can talk to all his old wooloo friends. He's grown even stronger since the last time they all saw him. Master Mustard said he thinks Dubwool is getting stronger faster than even Lee’s Charizard did."

Hop scratched a wooloo under the chin. It bleated in delight.

Gloria leaned her arms on the fence. "Speaking of Leon, will he be home too? My pokemon are itching for a battle with him." She fingered the pokeballs at her belt.

If Cinderace didn't get a chance to battle Leon's Charizard, he would give Gloria the silent treatment for a week. After all the rememensing about the amazing championship battle Gloria and Leon had, Calyrex, too, wanted a good look at the former champion. Not to mention the rest of her team wanted to test their strength against the toughest trainer they knew.

Hop jumped back from the fence, much to the sorrow of the wooloo herd. "He should be. Lee told me he's been helping Mum and my grandparents around the house the last week or so."

"Well, if he's not home," Gloria punched her fist into her palm, "I'll go drag him back to Postwick myself."

Hop chuckled as he spun around towards Postwick. He wished he could see that: Tiny Gloria carrying his big brother over her head all the way through the Wild Area and back home. It was almost too bad Lee wouldn't miss a chance to see his little brother after so long apart.

He opened his mouth to tell Gloria as much when something caught his eye. He shielded his eyes from the sun and squinted.

"What's that?" He pointed.

Gloria followed his finger to see a figure in black with a hood pulled up walk through the gate to Hop's house. The figure shut the gate behind them before passing a large tree and leaving her sight.

"I dunno, but it gives me a bad feeling." Gloria grabbed Hop's wrist. "C'mon! Let's investigate!"

They hurried down the road until they came to the edge of the stone wall that surrounded Hop's home.

"Do you think we should go inside? What if that's a burglar? Should we call the police?" Hop asked. His fingers brushed his rotomphone in his pocket.

"Not yet. Let's see if we can tell what's going on first."

Gloria dropped her bag. With a leap, she effortlessly cleared the wall. She rushed past the tree and to the shed beside the house. Hop shouldered off his heavy pack and mimicked her until both their backs pressed against the worn paint of the shed.

"There's a window 'round the side of the shed. It looks into the kitchen." Hop jerked his head towards the house. "Let's see if we can see anything."

At the edge of the shed, Gloria and Hop exchanged looks. They nodded at each other then dropped to their stomachs in the wet grass. The smell of soggy earth filled their noses. They army crawled to the side of the house.

Hop's grandfather, or maybe even Leon, had recently cleared the leaf litter from around the shed into a tidy pile beside the house. The pile blocked their path like a sodded brown mountain.

Gloria started to ask, "Should we go arou--" when the kitchen window opened.

Hop slapped a hand over her mouth and pulled her until they were right next to the leaf litter pile.

A voice floated out the window.

"...won't be back until tonight."

Hop stiffened.

Leon! That was Leon's voice! So he was home. What about the burglar? The figure who walked through the gate. Did that person know Leon was home too? Did Leon know he wasn't alone?

Leon stuck his head out the window and gazed at the sky. "Rain's well past," he said before pulling his head back in.

Gloria held Hop against the wall to stop him from jumping out of their hiding place and dragging Leon out of the window by his shoulders.

She put a finger to her lips. "We don't know if anyone is in there with him yet," She hissed into his ear. "We don't want to scare him over nothing."

Hop swallowed the lump of worry in his throat. Gloria was right, of course. Maybe the figure was just cutting through his yard. People did that all the time, didn't they?

A hand with skin much too pale to be Leon's came from the window. It turned, palm to the sky, before returning to the house. The window shut with a click.

Hop and Gloria's eyes met.

There was someone in the house, someone beside Leon.

Without another word, the two crawled around the leaf pile and to the window. They waited a few heart-pounding moments before, carefully, peeking into the kitchen.

The figure in black, hood still up, had their back to Hop and Gloria. A sharp knife stuck out from their sleeves.

The figure started to turn towards the window. Hop and Gloria ducked down. Their hearts threatened to tear right out of their chests.

"Oh, Arceus." Hop sucked in a breath, going to his knees.

She put her hands on Hop's shoulders and shook him once. "Do you know what this means? It's not a burglar! It's a murderer!"

"But why? Who would want to hurt Leon? He is the greatest Champion Galar's ever had!" He paused a beat then added, "Ah, I mean--"

Gloria cut him off with a wave of her hand. "That's probably why! He must know something someone doesn't want him to. He has to have some top secret information about the League or someone very powerful."

"So they sent an assassin!" Hop interjected.

"Maybe more than one!"

Then, like a feedback loop of movie cliches, the mysterious figure walking through Hop's gate turned into a burglar, then murderer, then one of a team of well trained ninja assassins from Kanto coming to either kidnap Leon to extort information out of him or kill him to keep him from talking.

Midway through Hop's edition of a secret underground society of pokemon psychics, a scream pierced the air from inside the house.

"Lee!" Hop jumped to his feet.

He ran to the front of the house, weaving around the set of metal chairs and table near the kitchen door, and skidded to a stop, sending mud and wet grass up into the air.

He took a pokeball from his belt. "Dubwool, come out!"

In a flash of light, Hop's dubwool appeared. He shook out his fleece. For a moment, excitement rose on Dubwool's face upon being home. It disappeared when he looked at Hop's terrified expression.

Gloria let out her Cinderace. Cinderace took a breath for an delighted shout but Gloria shushed him with a hand over his mouth.

"There is an assassin in Hop's house trying to kidnap Leon," She explained quickly to the pokemon. "They probably have the door blocked, so we need to break it in then take out the assassin, got it?"

Dubwool and Cinderace nodded without a second’s hesitation. Their trainers knew exactly what was going on, and the pokemon always trusted their judgement.

Hop picked up one of the metal garden chairs and Gloria the other. They weren't much for weapons or protection, but they were better than nothing.

Another scream made all four jump.

"Let's go! Dubwool, use slam on the door!" Hop ordered, throwing out his arm.

Dubwool bleated. He pawed at the dirt once, twice, then rammed, horns first, into the door. The door flew from the hinges and crashed into the stairs across the hall. Photos rattled and fell to the floor with a shattering glass. Shards of glass scattered across fleece as Dubwool righted himself.

With a war cry, Hop, Gloria, and Cinderace raced through the door.

Cinderace jumped onto the broken door and used it as a springboard to leap across the living room.

"What in the world?" Leon jumped up from the couch in time for Cinderace's foot to plant firmly on his chest. His hat flew off his head as he landed, pinned between the wall and Cinderace's foot.

Gloria raised the chair above her head and threw it as another head came up from the couch.

The assassin ducked in time to miss the metal chair, but not the Dubwool who jumped over the couch to land on them with a victorious bleat.

The shelf above Leon swung down by one nail, disturbed by the chair hitting the wall. A trophy rolled and landed square on Leon's head with a bell-like ring.

Hop darted around the chaos towards his brother, his chair forgotten by the mess near the broken door.

"Lee!" Hop pushed a shocked Cinderace away and crouched next to Leon.

"H...Hop?" Leon squinted. "What are you doing here?" He winced, holding his head. A nice sized lump began to grow where the trophy collided with Leon’s skull.

Before Hop could answer, Gloria took a pillow from the couch and began beating the only part of the assassin's body that wasn't under a mass of thick wool--their thrashing legs.

"How do you like it, huh? You're not killing any champions on my watch! Bam! Ha! Boom! Take that, assassin!" She cried, repeatedly slamming the pillow against the assassin's ankles.

Leon gasped. "S-stop! Gloria, stop!" He tried to stand, but could barely lift himself up without falling back.

Hop wrapped his arms around Leon's shoulders protectively. Why in the world would he want them to stop? That assassin was trying to kidnap him, take him to their underground base, and torture him for information!

"Get the 'ell offa me!" The assassin yelled. With a grunt of effort, they pushed Dubwool off.

The sheep pokemon rolled onto his back, hooves waving in the air. Gloria quickly changed her angle and slammed the pillow into the assassin's face.

I hope I broke this jerk's nose! Gloria thought, though she didn't hear any cartilage crunching against her attack.

A pale hand gripped the pillow and tore it from her hands.

"What was all that for?" A familiar person demanded, throwing the pillowing back at Gloria. It hit her face and landed in a sad lump on the ground.

"Piers?"

Piers narrowed his eyes. A chill worse than anything she felt in the Crown Tundra ran up her spine at his icy glare.

"Did you throw a chair at me?" He demanded.

"I, I, uh..." Gloria floundered.

What was going on? Why was Piers, of all people, here? He wasn't a gym leader anymore, so he didn't need to talk to Leon about the League. Gloria couldn't think of a single reason the two would ever be in the same place together.

Unless something was wrong with Marnie. Was that The Big Secret she wanted to tell her? Had Marnie broken some sort of huge rule? Did something bad happen? Was her best gal friend in trouble?

Leon groaned again. Piers moved his gaze from Gloria and towards Leon. He jumped to his feet and hurried over.

"Leon? Are you alright?" He winced, seeing the blooming bruise on his forehead.

Hop tightened his grip on his brother. His head spun. Had his and Gloria's grand plan to save Leon been for nothing? No way they were wrong about the danger Leon had been in.

"I'm ffffffine," Leon slurred, "propsably."

Piers held up three fingers. "How many fingers I got up?"

Leon stared into the middle distance for a few beats longer than he should before squinting at Piers' fingers.

"Six."

Piers groaned, throwing his head back dramatically and slumping his shoulders. "I think you two gave him a concussion."

"Concussion?!" Hop nearly choked on the word. "But, we didn't mean to!"

Cinderace took a few steps around Gloria. He lowered himself to hide behind her, ashamed of the damage he'd caused. She reached back and patted him reassuringly. It wasn’t his fault. If Piers had been an assassin ninja, Cinderace would have just saved Leon from a dagger to the neck.

Piers disentangled Hop from Leon. He put his arm under Leon's and around his back before hoisting him up. Leon tried to take a step on his own, but wobbled back against Piers.

"Let's get you to a doctor. That's a nasty lump." Piers' voice came out softer than Gloria or Hop had ever heard it. To Hop, he asked, "Do we got to go all the way to the next town or is there a doctor in Postwick."

Hop's mouth gaped before he shook himself. "There's not, but if I call the one in Wedgehurt, he can be here in a jiffy." He already had his rotomphone out before he finished speaking.

Gloria, feeling useless standing there like a slowpoke on a stone, went to roll Dubwool back to his hooves. She dusted some of the wood chips and glass shards from his fleece. A few chips hit the cracked screen of a laptop on the floor.

She had a feeling she would be paying for that, and for everything else...

Leon rested his weight against Piers' side.

"Surry," He muttered. "This didn't go alls well 't all."

Piers shrugged as he carefully helped Leon through the broken mess on the floor.

"Believe it or not, this still isn’t the worst date I've ever been on."

Hop dropped the rotomphone and Gloria fell over herself, landing on the other side of Dubwool.

"Date?"

------

Piers shook the rain off his coat.

“Walk more,” they said.

“It's good for you,” they said.

“The weather is great today,” they said.

Bull crap!

That's the last time he takes his gym trainers' advice on the weather--no, not his gym trainers. They were Marnie's now. He hadn’t been a gym leader in a few months, but sometimes that fact still slipped his mind.

He should have gotten a taxi to Postwick. That way he wouldn't have gotten caught in the rain.

He hurried down the road to Leon's house. He opened the gate, surprised it didn't screech in protest. Well, Leon did say he'd been doing handiwork around his family's house recently. He probably oiled the gate.

Or maybe Piers just wasn't used to gates that didn't squeak from years of rust.

He shut the gate behind him as he wondered if he could talk Leon into helping him around Spikemuth's gym. Marnie might be the gym leader, but that didn't mean Piers couldn't still keep the gym up to snuff.

Leon opened the door after the second knock. He wore a floral themed apron with his sleeves rolled past his elbows and hair pulled back at the nape of his neck.

He covered a chuckle.

"Spooky. Are you the grim reaper today?" He gestured at the long black coat and hood.

Piers rolled his eyes and pushed the hood back. How he fit all of his hair in the hood, Leon couldn't fathom a guess.

Leon gestured for him to follow him to the kitchen. Piers peeled off his coat and draped it over a kitchen chair. Leon reached back to untie the apron.

"I lost track of time," he explained, hanging the apron on a hook. "I promised Mum I'd get the kitchen spick and span for tomorrow."

"How kind."

Hop came back tomorrow from the Isle of Armor. Piers' knew that well at this point. It seemed every other conversation lately had been about how excited Leon was about his little brother's return.

Leon couldn't wait to hear what kind of research Hop was doing and what kind of pokemon he'd met and all about how everything at the Dojo was.

Of course, Gloria was supposed to come back too. Neither Leon nor Piers had ever been to the Crown Tundra, but they knew the rumors of the incredibly strong pokemon that live in the barren, frozen north of Galar.

Both of them knew they would need to battle the current champ to see just how strong she'd become before she left to continue her explorations.

Piers peered around the kitchen. As far as he could tell, it looked fine. All the counters were clean and the cobwebs dusted from the corners, but he still asked, "D’you need help?" anyway.

Leon shook his head. "No. It's just a few dishes I have to do." He jerked his head to the sink.

In fact, Leon started cleaning all the nooks and crannies of the kitchen right after breakfast. He intended to finish well before Piers showed up, but only having a few pieces of silverware left wasn't that bad.

Piers took a dish towel from beside the sink and dropped it. Using his foot, he mopped up the puddle he and his coat created on the tiled floor. With one quick movement, he hooked the towel with his toe and kicked it up into his waiting hand.

"You're welcome." He tossed the towel next to the sink.

Leon snorted a laugh. "Thanks."

"When is your family 'ppose to be back? The movie isn't that long, but..." Piers trailed off, rolling his wrist to finish the comment.

Leon didn't need him to finish to know what he was talking about. They were a little secret, for the time being. Only the bare minimum of people knew they were dating, and Leon had been putting off explaining the situation to his family until after Hop and Gloria’s homecoming.

"My grandparents are visiting friends in Ballonlea. My and Gloria's mums are in Hammerlock, so, they," Leon opened the window over the sink, "won't be back until tonight."

Leaning over the sink, he poked his head out and looked up. The dark rain clouds moved on, leaving Postwick humid, but drying. A weather Piers didn’t seem to mind, though Leon couldn’t wrap his head around the idea of humidity being better than a sunny afternoon.

"Rain's well past."

Piers strode next to him and stuck his hand out the window. He turned his palm up, half expecting more rain, before pulling it back in. He shut the window.

"Too bad," he smiled slyly, "a scary movie is always better with some thunder and lightnin' in the background."

"I wouldn't want Hop treading home through mud," Leon replied, only half joking.

Piers took his coat from the chair and draped it over Leon's shoulders. He chuckled and patted his warm cheek.

"It's cute you care so much about your bro like that."

A faint blush crossed Leon's cheeks. Their faces were so close. It wouldn't take much to close the gap and--

"We should start the movie soon." Piers stole a step away. "We're doing this in the living room, yeah?"

Before he could get any farther, Leon took hold of his wrist and gently pulled him back. He placed a kiss on his cheek.

"I have to empty the sink first, so don't miss me too much."

Although he knew it was unlikely, Leon wished his impromptu romantic gesture would leave the formidable dark-type trainer flustered. It didn't, of course. Leon had only ever gotten him blushing and gobsmacked once, when he first proposed the idea of a date between the two.

Piers shook his head with a smile then pulled the hood over Leon's head.

"Smooth as a druddigon."

He paused, mentally storing that line away. It could make a good lyric someday. Smooth as a druddigon, loving as a gorbis? Bisharp?

He'd work on it later.

With Piers out of the kitchen, Leon sighed in defeat. Maybe next time he'd get him.

Instead of taking off Piers' coat, he put his arms through the sleeves. Piers was taller than him by a half a head, so the sleeves fell past his hands

Leon took the last fork and spoons from the sink and set them aside. Careful of the blade, he took a knife out. Mum used the knife to chop vegetables for dinner the night before, so it was a relatively easy clean.

Leon shuddered. The coat wasn't even that warm. Did Piers only wear it for the style? He turned away from the sink, knife still in hand and lifted an arm. At least the material seemed to dry fast after being caught in the rain. Maybe that's why Piers wore it?

As he turned back to the sink, something moved out of the corner of his eye. He frowned. Did a rookidee fly down from the tree in the yard just then? Setting the knife aside, he reached to open the window again when a blood curdling scream made him jump.

With his hand to his pounding heart, he hurried to the living room.

"What was that?"

Piers nodded to the laptop set up in front of him on the coffee table.

Leon craned his neck towards the laptop screen. The fakest monster costume he had ever seen loomed over a frightened woman on the title screen.

"Night Of the Living Nightmare" the title read in a dripping green and purple font.

When Piers said he had a classic of Galar indie horror to show him, Leon expected a movie with thrilling psychological horror and innovative use of pokemon moves for special effects, not a repainted rubber gyarados mask with extra teeth glued in.

"How old is this movie?" Leon asked, taking off Piers' fashionable, but impractical, coat.

"Would you believe me if I told you it was made only eight years ago?" Piers took the coat from Leon and tossed it in the corner of the couch.

"Really?" He sat next to Peers.

Piers scooted over and pressed against his side. Leon always felt warm, which was part of the reason Piers took his less than warm coat with him. A good excuse to get close as they watched the movie. At least one of them was actually smooth.

He hummed the affirmative.

'The Night Of The Living Nightmare' was a terribly cheesy movie. The fake blood wasn't thick enough, the teeth on the mask fell off half way through, the editing made scenes drag on much too long, and the actors either over exaggerated their lines or delivered them with as much life as a dead magikarp.

All together, 'The Night Of The Living Nightmare' made for a good date movie in Piers' opinion.

"Ready?" Piers already hit play before Leon could answer.

The movie started with a scene of a woman rising up out of a pool. The camera lingered on her chest and stomach and legs before it panned back towards the water. A ripple skittered across the pool water.

The scales on the wishiwashi making the waves gleamed in the harsh set lighting.

The woman dried her hair with a bright pink beach towel. She hummed a pop song that Leon remembered being popular when he was a teenager, but couldn’t recall the name off.

A set of rubber fins slapped against the pool tile. The music grew frantic with each wet slap as the monster neared the woman.

A three clawed hand reached out towards the woman. She spun, screamed in terror and--

"Is that a boom mic?" Leon paused the movie and pointed to the mic in the corner of the screen.

"There are at least seven hangin' around in different shots," Piers confirmed. "You think you can find 'em all?"

Now with a goal of finding all the hidden mics, Leon went to hit play again. Before his fingers brushed the space bar, something let out a loud "Baaaa!"

He bolted up in time to see the front door fly off its hinges, followed by a dubwool.The door and dubwool slammed into the steps. Picture frames crashed to the ground. Glass scattered across the floor.

Outside, several people screamed, then a cinderace then leapt over the dubwool.

It ricocheted off the busted door and aimed a well placed kick into Leon's chest.

----

"...And that's what happened before you brusted in." Leon adjusted the ice pack against his head.

The doctor from Wedgehurts said Leon got lucky that Cinderace's attack only left him with some bruises, bumps, and a mild concussion and not broken bones. When he left, the doctor tutted at the broken door and muttered about kids these days.

Piers set a glass of water on the table in front of Leon and two pain pills beside it.

From across the kitchen table, Hop and Gloria avoided looking at the older trainers. How could they let their imagination get away from them like that? Gloria was the Galar champion and Hop was a professor in training, and yet they really believed assassins had broken in.

How foolish! Leon was a champion, too. Of course he could take care of a few assassin's without their help!

"We're really sorry, Lee," Hop muttered then added quickly, "and Piers."

Gloria added in, "We just wanted to help."

"It's not the first time I've been hit by a pokemon, and it probably won't be the last," Leon reassured after he downed the pain killers.

Piers took a seat. He steepled his fingers and looked over Hop and Gloria with a hard, steady gaze. The two squirmed. Should they apologize again? Get on their knees and beg for forgiveness?

"This wasn't how this was s’pposed to go." Piers sighed, turning to look away and releasing the kids from his stare.

Leon nodded in agreement, only to flinch. He blinked hard until the kitchen finally stopped spinning. The doctor told him not to do anything that required much mental or physical exertion, but he didn't particularly have a choice in this case.

The thought of explaining the door, the wall, the shelf, his head, not to mention Piers, made his head pound in anticipation of the confrontation. Mum would be upset about the door, worried about him, and annoyed about Piers being kept a secret from her.

"I don't get," Hop frowned, "why you two keep this a secret from everyone? What's the big deal?"

Leon scratched his cheek with his finger. "Well, ah, that's because--"

"We were breakin’ rules," Piers cut in.

"Rules? What rules?" Hop wrinkled his brow.

Leon was a grown up now, so the rules Mum set up for dating when he was a teenager didn't apply anymore. Or, Hop thought they didn't. Had Leon broken his curfew to spend time with Piers? Did he leave for a date without telling Mum how long he’d be out?

"The Pokemon League rules. Members of The League aren't allowed to date each other. Conflict of interest and all that," Peers explained. "I was still a gym leader and he was still champion when this started." He nodded towards Leon.

Now Hop felt really confused. He couldn't imagine his big brother breaking a rule like that. Then again, he couldn't imagine Leon breaking curfew either, at least not without a really good reason.

Gloria crossed her arms. This was news to her. What a dumb rule. Who cared if a gym leader wanted to date another leader. What if she wanted to go out with a gym leader? The League could try and stop her!

"I don't think we'll get in too much trouble now, but we figured we'd wait it out before saying anything to anyone." Leon switched the hand holding the ice pack. He wanted this conversation over so he could go lay down and stare at the ceiling for a bit.

A thought crossed Gloria's mind just then. Could it be this The Big Secret Marnie had to tell her in person?

"Does Marnie know?"

"That you two nearly suffocated her brother under a hundred kilo of unknit sweater? She will when I get home." Piers glanced at the side of the kitchen where the pokemon were. Dubwool lowered his gaze. Cinderace coughed into his paws and turned to stare out the window.

"No, did Marnie know about you two?"

Piers raised an eyebrow. "Yeah. She knew."

Gloria's eyes gleamed. Now Marnie owed her a new secret, since Gloria knew this one. It was only fair after all! Maybe this whole ordeal was worth it to learn Marnie’s crushes!

Hop asked, "Is there anything we can do to make this up to you two? We messed up, and we deserve it."

Piers and Leon exchanged looks. Piers shrugged. He could always find them something to do at Spikemuth: the less artistic graffiti needed to be washed off walls, trash picked up, or moss scraped off buildings.

Leon, though, was the one who had actually been hurt so he let the punishment for the kids’ transgression be under his discretion.

"I can think of one thing," Leon said. He gestured for Piers to lean towards him. He covered the side of his mouth and whispered into Piers' ear.

Piers cackled and sent Hop and Gloria a smirk.

"Brilliant. Just brilliant." He clasped Leon on the upper arm and squeezed.

Leon set the ice pack on the table. He reached across and put a firm hand on one of Hop's and one of Gloria's shoulders.

He half smiled. "Someone has to tell Mum what happened to the door, and I don't think it will be me."

---

---

AN: I haven't written a fanfiction in like more than a year. But last year was 2020 so can you blame me?

[snowpeawritings]

For Pokemon Sword & Shield, headcanons for Leon, Piers, and Raihan with a female s/o who is an Electric-type gym leader and lead vocalist/guitarist in a rock band please?

SpWIJDDJmYES ITS THEM

Reader is female

CW (CONTENT WARNING): None

| Leon |

- I think for me, Leon would be the type to avoid rock concerts or probably Spikemuth itself for the sole purpose of preserving his brother’s innocence lmao. Don’t blame him if he lowkey avoids you once he realizes you were in a rock band. It takes a while for him to get over his fear.

- Once he does, he is very supportive of you and your profession. He makes time to go to your concerts (at least as much as he can when he’s Champion). Once he becomes the head for the Battle Tower, he now has all the time in the world to support you and cheer for you.

- He loves your Pokemon but as much as they love him, they would electrocute him accidentally. Doesn’t help that he has thick hair as the electricity would make it frazzle up. Your phone now has a plethora of his electrified hair as your Toxtricity nuzzles his face.

- Would ask you to sing him to sleep as a joke. Jokes on him, you were determined to sing him to sleep because it actually relieves the stress off his shoulders. Your singing voice is nice and soothing when it wasn’t yelling the lyrics of your songs so you would always have Leon’s head on your lap as you sing a softer version of one of your songs. It’s always a surefire way for him to fall asleep quickly.

- As much as he loves you, he really needs the sleep so refrain from making too much noise using your guitar and/or voice. Would be a fun prank with Charizard though because he would always be on your pranks.

| Piers |

- Listen-he has a collection of albums that he’s proud of. He’s got Roxie’s rock albums and he has your band’s albums even before you two became a thing. Hence how you two became an item and began to rock it out at Spikemuth.

- Because of your collabs with one another, the revenue that your concert gets will all go to promoting Spikemuth. Piers and the entirety of Team Yell is forever grateful of your kindness as Piers would be super flustered at your actions. He will be contemplating on dumping you if you perform dressed as a Team Yell member.

- You two would be stuck in his room trying to create new songs for one another. You two have such creative minds in terms of creating music that you two just share each other’s ideas. Those times it would be considered as a date as long as nothing pesters you two (ie Team Yell).

- His hair is also quite thick so expect it to frazzle when your Toxtricity nuzzles him too hard. It’s worse when he has a gig in about a few minutes so he performs with an almost afro.

- Marnie loves you obviously and your Toxtricity loves her. Both siblings will now sport fizzy hair as your phone gallery is full of their new hairstyles.

- As a joke, you two signed each other’s instruments; he signed your guitar, you signed his instrument. It is now your cherished treasure.

| Raihan |

- Has no interest in rock until he met Piers and now he has mad respect for it. With you in the picture, he even has more respect for the genre and you. He knows how tiring it is to perform so he would always have a bottle of water at the ready backstage.

- Always stories your concerts on his social media (but never the entire thing of course. Gotta respect policies!) with him screaming to his fans that you were his girlfriend and you were rocking it out on stage. He’d be your number one promoter compared to your sponsors lmao.

- He lucks out with your Toxtricity because he has short hair but he tries to maintain a safe distance from them due to not wanting to be electrocuted. Yes, he has Ground-Type Pokemon. Yes, he counters Electric-Types, but would you blame him from trying to save himself from their electricity?

- Has attempted to try and play your guitar. He was pretty decent until he accidentally strummed too hard and broke a string. He choked when he sees how much those things cost. No wonder you were so careful about them.

- He’s a stickler for skin care so when he sees your callused fingers, he immediately gets the lotion and sternly reminds you to keep them moisturized and use those pads that protects your fingers from the strings.

[re-diesirae]

Chapter 3

3. LEON

It was fortunate that Leon had experience tracking a target amidst the chaos. The attacks had unleashed panic in the population. People were running and screaming from side to side, and Leon thought he saw several members of TerraSave moving from side to side.

He was glad that, at least, there were no signs of other B.O.W.s besides the one that had attacked them at the main street. That was good news.

Leon looked around, searching for any traces of the men in black suits, suddenly his phone rang, and Leon quickly answered.

"Hunnigan."

"Leon," the woman greeted him, "How are things over there?"

"Not as good as I'd like," Leon answered, "Did you find anything useful?"

"Not good news, I am afraid," Hunnigan sighed, "the terrorist group responsible for this attack and Ms. Redfield's kidnapping call themselves Arcana. It's a small terrorist group that works under Neo-umbrella."

"I expected Neo-umbrella to be no more. I can't believe they're still providing them with monsters."

"Yes, after the incident in China, we thought the organization had died away with Simmons and Radames, but it seems we were wrong. I've sent the report to the higher-ups."

"Yeah, good to know. I'll worry about Neo-umbrella later. They aren't our top problem now," Leon said, "Claire getting kidnapped is. Any idea of why they would target her?"

There was a short pause as Leon dodged a group of panicked citizens that ran in the opposite direction.

"Unfortunately, no, but I'll let you know if something comes up."

"Well, thanks."

"Sounds like a mess over there."

"Nothing I haven't seen before," Lin said, "not that many hostiles yet."

"I've got reports of hostiles incoming, but compared to other cases, it seems rather calm."

That was odd, Leon thought. Terrorist groups didn't shine for their consideration of innocent citizens, and he had to admit that comparing the current situation to what he'd lived other times before, it wasn't as bad as it could get.

"Leon, I found your target. They are heading to a building located north of your current position. It's an office building."

"Yeah, I think I just saw them," Leon said, watching the black-suited men walk into a large building across him.

"Good luck, Leon, and be careful."

"Yeah, thanks."

Leon pushed his phone back into his pocket and made his way to the building. The first thing he heard upon entering the lobby was a wave of gunfire, screaming, and grunting. The sounds were familiar, and they were enough for Leon to have an idea of what to expect later.

The zombies were the same kind he had faced in Tall Oaks: violent, nasty, and annoying, but not too hard to dispatch. The problem was that they were fast spreaders, which turned them into an infinite annoyance.

"Shit, " Leon groaned, shooting several zombies as he chased the group, "I hope Claire is ok."

Leon looked around the destruction and the pile of dead monsters he was leaving behind him.

"Claire is surely going to love this when she sees it," Leon said bitterly.

Claire would be furious. He could almost picture her indignation look in his thoughts, and he unavoidably smirked.

"Leon, do you copy?"

"Yeah, I am here."

"I identified an aircraft moving steadily to your position."

"An aircraft?" Leon grunted, "so they're extracting Claire from here."

"Yes, the air is most likely their escape route."

"Huh, then, they will head to the highest extraction point, the rooftop. Thanks, Hunnigan."

Leon shot his upcoming enemies without issues and made his way to the roof. He caught up with the kidnappers on the fifth floor. Four men from the original group were still alive, and he had to give them their credit. They weren't the usual bunch of amateur fighters.

Claire was still unconscious and, in addition to the way the men were carrying her like a sack of potatoes, the fact that she'd not woken up yet bothered Leon.

"Stop there," Leon shouted once they reached the roof.

"What the fuck?" the man holding Claire groaned.

"Isn't that one of the guys from earlier?"

"He caught up with us?"

"Shut up, you two!" the one holding Claire shouted. He pulled out his gun and aimed at Leon.

Leon smirked and jumped aside, taking cover. The fire exchange was intense. The agent had to be cautious where he aimed. Claire was in a vulnerable position, and the last thing he wanted was shooting her by mistake.

The kidnappers were losing focus. The anxiety and the stress, caused by the screams and roars that came from below, were making them uneasy.

Suddenly, one of the men let out a screech. Claire had woken up, and she had managed to kick him, making him drop her.

"That's my Claire," Leon smirked to himself.

He saw Claire roll away from the men and tried to get up. She seemed a little unbalanced, but Leon attributed it to having just woken up. The men looked thrown by her sudden awakening, and Leon used that opportunity to get out from his hiding spot and reach for the woman as he shot the men.

He pulled a, still confused Claire, behind a concrete block and took cover with her.

"L-Leon?" Claire groaned with surprise.

"Hey, again. Are you ok?"

"Y-yeah," she answered, rubbing her head, "What's going on?"

"Long story," Leon told her, punching the man that tried to catch her again.

The woman looked around her, confused, almost as if she wasn't processing the events. That was odd since Claire was usually fast to catch on to things. Leon was going to ask Claire if she was alright once more, but he never got to voice the question.

Suddenly, Leon heard a thunderous noise. The agent looked up and saw in horror as a helicopter got attacked by several flying B.O.W.s. The chopper lost stability and began to move erratically in the air, trying to get rid of the monsters that had trapped it.

One of the creatures destroyed the blades of the helicopter, and it began to fall towards them.

"Shit."

Leon turned to Claire, who was rubbing her head again. The agent picked her up, much to Claire's shock, and rushed away as fast as he could, but unfortunately, there was not much that he could do to run away from a burnt, falling chopper.

The crash was strong enough to make the whole building shake violently; debris burst flying around them, and Leon automatically shielded Claire from the damage.

Amid the chaos, they both rolled on the ground from the impact. Leon looked at his friend, letting out a painful groan. Claire was struggling, and he tried to reach out for her, but before he could, he felt a hard hit behind him, and everything went black.

Her head hurt like hell. That was the first thought that crossed Claire's mind as she regained her senses. Her surroundings were dark, and she felt the unfamiliar rocky ground under her hand.

"Great," Claire sighed, grabbing her head and feeling a little dizzy, "Why do I always end up in these places?"

The auburn headed looked around, ignoring the dizziness and the need to throw up that she was feeling. It was dark, damp, and for what she could tell, it looked like she was in some cave or tunnel. Claire sat up, resting her back against a near wall. It took her some minutes to put her thoughts back in order. Her memories were chaotic. She remembered fighting with some unknown men in the Command Room, and then, she had a blackout. Her last memories were of Leon, fire, pain, and a lot of noise. Wait, Leon?

"Leon?" she asked, trying to stand up.

There was no answer, and Claire looked around, concerned. She was sure she'd seen Leon. He had been with her before, and his current absence made Claire worry.

She tried to stand up so that she could search the area for her friend, but a wave of dizziness staggered her. The bastards had probably hit her head, and she'd not be surprised if she had a concussion. She needed to recover a little before she could think of moving.

"Leon? Are you there?" she called into the darkness, but no answer again.

He is an agent. He is going to be alright.

Claire took a deep breath, letting the oxygen fill her lungs and reach her head. The headache was annoying, but she could handle it. The pain wasn't enough to hinder her. She took some minutes to calm down and clear her head as much as she could.

"Fantastic," Claire sighed, "knowing my luck, I am probably in another experimental facility. I'll need a weapon if that's the case."

It took her some more minutes to be able to see. Her vision was still slightly blurry, but it was enough for her to move without issues.

Claire navigated herself through the darkness, using the wall as a guide. The terrain wasn't friendly to navigate, especially in the dark. Claire stumbled several times on the uneven ground; the last thing she needed now was to fall and damage her head even more.

It was too quiet for her taste, silent as death, and in her experience, dead things rarely stayed like that in these circumstances.

I am technically useless right now.

Claire wasn't in the best of shapes. Her vision was unreliable, her movements were slow and clumsy due to her headache, even her balance was giving her problems, and to top all that, she was weaponless. Her only hope was that there wouldn't be any enemies on her way out of the tunnel. She tried calling for Leon a couple of times, but the lack of replies made her assume that the agent was not anywhere around.

She knew Leon. If he were there, he'd find his way and meet her, eventually.

"Well, at least I'll get some friendly company," she sighed, "but first things first. I need to get out of here."

Claire's sight was getting used to the dark, but her dizziness was complicating things in many ways. Suddenly, Claire heard a loud howl in the distance, and a chill ran down her spine. She hated it when she was right; her hopes of having an easy way out crumbled in seconds. There was something in there, most likely a mutant monster, ready to tear her into pieces at any possible chance. A fight was unavoidable, but if she had to fight, she hoped to have at least a chance to defend herself, and to do that, she needed a weapon.

Claire rushed her pace, hoping that she was on the right track. After some stressing moments of silences and darkness, the tunnel finally opened up, and she caught the smell of grass and damp soil. She had made it outside. The fresh air and the view of the sky sparkled with stars made her feel better both physically and mentally.

"Right, this isn't time to feel relieved," Claire admonished herself. "I am still unarmed, lost, and most likely surrounded by vicious foes. I need to move."

Claire looked around here. At least, the light from the stars and moon allowed her a better look at her surroundings. Judging by the appearance of the sky, Claire could tell she had to be somewhere very far from the city. The sky looked beautiful, and that could only mean that the light pollution in the place was minimal.

After scanning around her for a bit, she noticed some lights in the distance. There were insignificant, and Claire guessed that it had to be a village or a small town. If her situation were like her previous misadventures, the place would probably be crawling with undead things, and god knew what other mutants. In other words, heading to a human settlement in her current situation screamed "bad idea" in capital letters. However, just like the place was the best place to find nasty creatures, it was also a place where she would most likely find weapons and other useful things.

It was a dangerous bet for all she cared, she had little to lose, and besides, it wasn't the first time she'd found herself in a place infested by zombie-mutant creatures.

The young woman found a trail that, she guessed, would lead to the settlement and followed it cautiously. She walked for some minutes, and she, surprisingly, didn't encounter any foes. However, she wasn't entirely sure of whether that was good or bad.

"No monsters," Claire said, frowning with distrust, "Now, I call that suspicious."

Claire had dealt with enough zombie outbreaks already to know that zombies were never quiet. A town hit by a virus meant lots of infected people, and lots of infected people meant lots of hostiles.

"Why is it so empty?" Claire asked softly.

Looks can be deceiving.

Claire made her way into town cautiously. Just because there were no monsters in sight didn't mean they weren't nearby. She reached town after some minutes of walking through the vegetation. Her walk gave her a chance to do some recognizance of her surroundings.

Claire entered town cautiously, and as soon as she had set a step there, a stinging pain pierced through her skull, causing her to hive. The ache brought a series of disjointed and blurred visions that Claire quickly associated with her nightmares.

"Ag," she groaned, "why am I getting flashbacks from that damn place right now?"

The village was different from the one Sushestvivanie, so she wasn't sure what had triggered the memories.

Claire looked around her. Unlike the Russian town, which had looked like no one had lived in it for ages, this village still looked lived in despite the lack of population.

"Right, the question now is what happened to the people," Claire muttered, "Ok, Claire. Pull yourself together. We need to get weapons."

Claire walked around carefully, peeking inside the house through the windows. The place seemed frozen in time. It was a typical scenario that Claire had gotten used to finding. People must have gotten suddenly infected, and amid the chaos, everyone had abandoned what they were doing without looking back.

Claire sighed with sadness as she searched for supplies amid the chaos inside the houses. The bloodstains she found on several confirmed her fears regarding the locals. Most likely, there were no healthy people left in the place.

Claire found an old hunting rifle in one of the houses, and after searching a little more, she found ammo, a knife, and a sturdy chain. She had no idea if the chain could be useful, but hell, she would take it anyway.

Claire noticed a slight movement from the corner of her eye. It'd been fast, a white blur that she wasn't able to discern.

"Hello?" she said cautiously, "anyone there?"

No answer. Claire's grip on the old rifle tightened. She looked around, almost holding her breath. The complete silence around her made her extremely uneasy. There were no birds, no insects, nothing, which in nature's language only meant one thing. There was a predator nearby.

ROOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAR

Claire started to regret her complaints about the lack of noise. That roar was something she wished she had not heard. It sounded distant, so at least Claire might have a chance to avoid the confrontation. She didn't know what waited for her out there and her supplies were not infinite.

"Time to play stealthy," she said, moving out of the house carefully.

Claire reached the street, and to her annoyance, she found her path blocked by unfriendly looking villagers. She made a quick diagnosis on their appearance and quickly concluded that they were not T-virus infected, but they had to have something.

"Alright, not sure I should be happy about that," she said, aiming her rifle at the hostiles and shooting them with perfect aim.

"Purplish-gray skin; dilated, bloodshot eyes and inhuman vocalization," Claire listed, shooting the approaching enemies, "Reasoning still intact."

The hostiles weren't moving randomly. Even though their actions didn't move under intellectual reasoning, there was some thought behind them.

"They still hold some reason," Claire realized."That cuts down the list of possible pathogens..."

She alternated her attacks between gunshots and using the knives. She still wanted to save ammo as much as she could. Surprisingly, handling these guys was being a lot easier than she expected, and that was starting to worry her. For the third time in the day, she hated when she was right.

A howl cut through the air, making Claire shiver. To her horror, she saw how a deformed creature appeared out of nowhere and launched in her direction. She reacted mechanically and jumped out of the street, taking cover behind a pile of wooden boxes.

Claire had never seen any creature like that, but she guessed that this was one of Neo-Umbrella's new toys. The monster was humanoid, but its body was elongated and ghoulish thin. The skin was pale, and part of the tissue was decaying and falling in pieces. Claire noted that aside from an unnatural big mouth, there were no other features on the creature's face.

The creature grabbed a bunch of the villagers with its elongated arms and brought them to its mouth.

Is it eating them? That's new.

The BOWs created from variations of the progenitor virus needed fresh DNA to stabilize. That was the reason why they would attack people and eat them. Usually, the monsters would not feed on fellow creatures. Then again, this guy probably did not mind about freshness, and his only interest was dinner. She'd have to hurry, or she'd end up as dessert.

Taking advantage of the chaos, she dodged the villagers and ran off. Confronting this thing now would only bring her into an early death, and wise people knew when to retreat.

Unfortunately, her escape would not be easy, and she cursed as she sliced the throats of a couple of villagers as she ran past them. Her head was starting to hurt again, and she could tell that the dizziness was coming back.

Her run came to an abrupt stop when another deformed creature appeared in front of her. Once more, it seemed to be a new one monster, but unlike the other one she'd seen, it was smaller and more human-like.

"Oh, come on. Give me a break."

Claire shot the monster a couple of times only to find that, to her dismay, it did nothing. Its decaying skin was sturdier than it looked. Suddenly, a loud growl made her look back, and she groaned. The bigger guy had caught up with her, too, which meant that they had cornered her. Cursing her luck, Claire looked around, trying to come up with a plan. She ran into what seemed to be a storage shack. If she was lucky enough, maybe she could find something useful.

"Fuel tanks," Claire said, looking around her, "Ok, I am not going to ask why they keep this here. Well, this will come in handy, now, how do I use them without killing myself in the process?"

Claire was trying to formulate a plan when the shriek and the sound of wood breaking startled her. The smallest monster had managed to enter the cellar. The creature shook its head as if trying to track its prey.

Shit.

Claire looked around her in a panic. She saw a window nearby, and she made a run to it. The monster chased after her, howling horribly. Claire jumped through the glass, spinning at the last second, and shot her rifle into the closest tank. The result was instantaneous. The barrel exploded, creating a chain reaction of fire and destruction. The wave of the explosion hit Claire directly, and the woman flew a couple of meters into the woods that surrounded the town. She rolled down the hill, hitting her head, face, and limbs against rocks and wood before falling into a ditch filled with plants. The pain in her head had become so strong that she barely had time to realize what had happened before she lost consciousness.

[bundleofyarrow]

requests open!

new milo x reader content appears! hello world, i'm fresh to the pokemon fandom trying out writing fanfiction for the first time. i've started the first few chapters of my milo x reader over at AO3 called A Bundle of Yarrow. i'm also taking requests for general milo x reader imagines or longer scenes that can fit into ABoY's universe. while i will be writing the main storyline, i thought it would be fun to make a part of it collaborative and have other milo x reader fans send in ideas for scenes that fit between chapters. check out the rules page for more!

i'm new to all of this, so people feel free to comment or message me with suggestions. the link to the fic on AO3 is above, but in case you prefer reading on tumblr, below the cut is the first chapter. just a heads up, it starts in leon x reader land but moves into milo x reader as the story progresses.

enjoy!

Chapter 1: Postwick

Galar is a land of hills. Or at least, Postwick is, and it’s just about the only thing you’ve seen since you arrived. Soft curves of verdant green, sometimes tawny gold with a bale of hay or two. There’s a sign around here that says this is a farming town since days of yore, and the near constant whines of Wooloo are determined to never let you forget it. Lying on one such hill, almost completely vertical, you oversee the main road were balls of wool roll where they please. You feel transported, like you’re viewing another planet from some place outside.

The giddy hollering of children and Pokemon at the house not far away pulls you back to earth. A young girl bounds up to you with an anxious-looking blue creature in her arms.

“Look! It’s my new Sobble~ Leon got it for me! Isnt’s he great?”

Your cousin’s bright eyes implore you to sit up, propping yourself on your right arm once you realize one of your legs has fallen asleep.

“He’s adorable Gloria.”

You lean in closer to take a look, you’ve never seen a Pokemon like this before. The Sobble turns his face into Gloria, clearly shy and overwhelmed.

“It looks like he’s already taken to you!”

She looks down and holds him closer, beaming, rocking slightly.

“It’s okay, this is my cousin. That means part of our family!” Gloria turns slightly so her Pokemon can safely peek out at you. “I’m sure he’ll warm up to you too!”

You give the Pokemon your softest smile, and while he doesn’t completely warm up to you, he leans in a little to get a better look at you. Baby steps.

“Oh yeah, I also came here to say that dinner’s ready!”

The sound of sizzling meat and peppers hasn’t escaped your notice, but now the smell entices you to go and socialize with the family neighbors. Gloria shuffles back down the hill towards the fanciest house of Postwick, where the Champion of Galar and his family lives.

You take your time getting up and brushing off the grass from your clothes. A breeze rolled over the hill, reminding you that your Alolan wardrobe is way too thin for Galar’s climate. As you climb down, you see the neighbor boy, Hop, waving skewers at you before turning back to his bunny Pokemon, who kicks up some embers to give the meat a little extra char. You try to put on a smile as your auntie puts food in your hands and introduces you to everyone. It’s hard not too feel awkward, being not only new to this group of people but to this entire region, but you genuinely are looking forward to having the best time you can while you’re here. Eventually the adults get distracted by Hop’s antics, where he ropes in Gloria to do yet another trick with their new Pokemon. You sit down at the table nearby and just watch for a bit.

If you had been distracted, you wouldn’t have noticed the pair of big eyes pop up from the side of the table, topped with green tufts of hair shaped like leaves. You must have had quite the expression of surprise on your face when a little orange hand darted towards your food, because two bigger hands immediately scooped up the trickster before he could make off with your food.

“Now now Grookey, that’s not champion behavior!”

The admittedly cute Pokemon flailed in Leon’s grasp for a bit, shedding some fake tears until he was given a wedge of grilled Mago berry.

“Sorry about that, this little one is quite the handful around food.” He tried to seem stern but you could tell he was more amused. “He didn’t startle you too badly, did he?”

You strangely don’t feel that shy around Leon. It feels like you should be more star-struck, but maybe because this is the first time you even really knew he existed, he came off more as an ordinary guy with a flair for the dramatic. He seemed like a nice guy, wanting to give everyone a little attention, which also made him seem a bit spread thin. But you could see him start to settle as the light faded from the sky and fans stopped coming by to cheer at him.

“Oh not at all, I was just a little surprised! If I wasn’t paying attention, he would have be feasting like a king.”

The Grookey pouts as you let out a light chuckle, taking a finger and lightly rubbing his forehead.

“And have a massive stomachache tomorrow that I would have to deal with!”

Leon says everything with a little bit of a laugh, and his eyes seem like they are permanently smiling. He looks between you and Grookey while seeming in thought.

“You’re staying here in Galar for a while now, yeah? What are your plans?”

You slide over a bit to let Leon sit next to you as he sets Grookey on the table between you. His cape and hair make him seem larger than he is, and talking with him at eye-level feels like talking to Leon, the person not Leon, the Champion.

“I’m not entirely sure to be honest. I just had to…” You’re never sure what to say about your past, and the uncertainty of your future. “…get away for a bit. Maybe start over, find a clean slate.”

The breeze picks up again and you feel the sleeve of your shirt slide a little down your shoulder, exposing some skin. You don’t realize that you should be embarrassed about it until you catch Leon’s gaze eyeing your collarbone and then quickly looking back to the Grookey. It was common to show skin on the hot coasts of the Alolan islands, but as you take a look around, everyone around you is more covered up.

“I’d like a bit of adventure, I think.” You say absent-mindedly as you readjust your top, oblivious to Leon fidgeting a bit.

“Ah, well-” He moves in his seat again, “what do you think of this here Grookey?” Leon rests a hand on his head and lightly rustles it. “I think you two might get along!”

This took you by surprise, the last thing you were expecting was to be offered a foreign Pokemon.

“O-oh really?? But I thought you were going to train him to become a part of your champion team or something?”

He smirked at ‘or something,’ as if entertained by your complete lack of interest in the most popular Galarian sport.

“That was the plan, but you said you wanted some adventure! Can’t get around many places here without a Pokemon. Being a trainer lets you travel a lot here in Galar. Maybe you’ll get to compete in the upcoming Gym Challenge if you’re up for it!” He grinned some more here. “Who knows, maybe you’ll end up facing me in the end. Wouldn’t that be an adventure?”

You laughed a bit, shaking your head but trying to show an appreciative face. “Me? Be a trainer? And a good enough one to face you?? You’re funny.”

Hop has already regaled the crowd at dinner about how excited he is for camping in the Wild Area, hiking through ruins and snow, getting lost in haunted forests. You’ve never been one for the outdoors, and don’t think moving regions would change that.

“That’s kind of you, and he is cute. But that wasn’t the kind of adventure I was thinking of.” You smile at them both. “I appreciate you though!”

Leon seems a little confused at first, but recovers quickly and nods. Eventually the kids come over still hollering over Pokemon, and Hop quickly begins to monologue about his favorite topic: Leon, his brother. Hop drags you inside once he realizes how little you know about Galar’s Gym Challenge, Gloria and Leon trailing behind, with the former happy to be spared from the lecture about the Champion for once. You all found yourselves in Leon’s room, Hop showing you different magazines and eagerly pointing at different pictures of his brother’s most memorable fights. The trophies throughout the house and the weights in his room really do scream Champion. Is there ever a moment when he's not? Eventually Hop decides that Gloria and himself need to look up more information on their new Pokemon, and pulls her away into his room, leaving you and Leon alone.

The Champion, who really just seems like a man rather than a god to you, sheepishly rubs the back of his head and shrugs.

“Sorry about that, once Hop gets going, it’s hard to make him stop.”

He begins to collect all the magazines his brother pulled out and carefully places them back where they belong. It just hits you now how carefully organized everything is, and how little escapes his attention. You notice all the hats neatly arranged around his room, walking up towards the rows of shelves and scanning all the different kinds he owns.

“I like your collection.” You mean that, you’ve always enjoyed window shopping at boutiques and spotting people who took fashion seriously. “If I didn’t just hear everything your brother told me, I’d think you were the Champion of Streetwear.”

His chuckle comes from right behind you, startling you a bit. Turning around, you meet his intense and mischievous gaze.

“Adventure, huh?”

He steps a foot towards you, and you instinctually press back against the dresser behind you. Leon closes the distance between you and meets your lips with his, only making your heart race faster. What is happening?? You melt into the kiss, I mean, this is the Champion we’re talking about here, and go along with his lead. He doesn’t draw it out or take it too far; it wasn’t a sweet kiss but one of intrigue.

Parting just moments away from your lips, he breathes out a “You’re so different, too bad-”

“KIDS? Are you up there!? It’s getting late and time to go home!”

The moment is broken by a yell from your auntie, and the shuffling of feet all over the house makes Leon swiftly give you some space. You’re still a bit flustered, and confused honestly, but you know to shyly smile in these situations.

“Pity we won’t be seeing much of each other, now that challenge season is on.” He takes your hand and guides you off his dresser and towards the threshold of his room. “But I hope you find that thing you’re looking for.”

He winks as Gloria pops her head in and calls for you, and watches her take your hand to pull you away. You wave to Leon, not really knowing what to say.

Outside it is dark, the faintest hints of dusk dropping further behind the hills. Butterfree flutter from tree to tree, and your aunt’s Budew are nestled in the front yard. All you can hear are Gloria's footfalls up towards her house and the thumping of your heart against your chest. Your cousin is quite tuckered out from all the excitement, and you only stay up a little with your auntie with the family’s Munchlax resting in your lap. She asks the usual ‘how are you adjusting’s and ‘do you think you’ll enjoy it here’s, and you begin to think you made a mistake turning down Leon’s offer. Eventually you take Munchlax over to the guest bedroom and nestle into bed, hoping to understand what you’re supposed to do in this new land.

~*~*~*~

The sounds of yelling and Pokemon cries jolts you from your sleep. It takes you a couple moments to realize an organized battle is going on, rather than some emergency.

“How do people get used to battling happening all the time?”

Yawning, you pawed the blankets of the bed until you found the lump that was Munchlax.

“Rise and shine, if I have to wake up, so do you~” Groans of protest shuffled under the covers, only twisting more into a warm cocoon. “Well, don’t blame me if auntie doesn’t prepare you breakfast.”

You hear frantic scrambling as you leave bed and head towards the kitchen, where your aunt is already drinking tea and checking her phone. You exchange usual pleasantries, making toast for yourself and ducking out to take a shower as soon as you could find a way to excuse yourself.

Eventually you find yourself wandering out of the house and into the late-morning air, smelling greenery and hay as usual. You notice a Wooloo hitting itself into a nearby gate, and shrug it off. 

Walking down the main path, you see Hop containing a tantrum within himself as he stands over his fainted Scorbunny. It looks like Leon is giving Gloria and Hop a speech of sorts, something about being rivals, and you’re able to pass by with a wave. Leon nods at you with a cordial smile, not at all seeming like a man who kissed you the night before. It seems like in public, he always needs to be the Champion. 

Unsure of how you feel about that, you decide to pick a new resting spot, down closer to Route 1.

[emiefaunwrites]

I have a rather strange request/challenge(?). using whichever ship you deem most appropriate, could you write a little snippet based on the things that come to mind as you listen to i can't change it all by lucy rose? if not, that's totally cool!! thank you for reading!!

Well. I’ve not had a challenge like this before and I have to say - I stopped everything I did to check that song out. And it took me a good hour or so to decide on what feelings I wanted to go with.

The initial thing was a breakup, but it felt too simple. And I couldn’t get some of the lyrics to match with what I was imagining. And then I flickered between is it Ishileon or is it Ishimondo (with a brief moment of thinking maybe it’s my Broken Arrow Ishi instead) but then I finally settled on this.

Can I just say, whoever you are anon, my heart is well and truly hurting and I kinda sorta made myself tear up. Soooooo sorry if it’s super sad. BUT you asked what I thought based on the song and this is what I got.

Was meant to be a ‘little snippet’. Have 1.1K words. Typical me.

Thanks so much for this ask! I had a lot of...fun??...writing this and think this is a really cool way to write. If anyone wants to do this again, please let me know a song and I’ll do my best!

Please read the tags for trigger warnings.

“I’m here to say goodbye.”

The rustling of leaves in the whistling breeze is the only sound after he’s gotten those words off of his chest. Words that have been building for months and months. Words that he’s spent night after night contemplating. Words that he honestly never thought he would say to the boy in front of him.

But he has to. It’s time. It’s been time for far too long.

“I can’t…I can’t keep doing this.”

He could. He knows he could if he really wanted to. And a part of him does want to; a part of him wants to hold on tight and never let go. But there’s an even bigger part of him that doesn’t because it’s just not fair on anyone if he does. Not on him, the boy opposite him, or…

“There’s someone else.”

It’s no secret. He’s always been a terrible liar after all. They both know that there’s been someone else in the picture for a while now. And yet they skirted around the issue, kept up this silly game because they were scared of dealing with the truth.

And now here it is. Out in the open, no more dancing around the problem. He’s finally going to deal with this head on and deal with whatever comes next.

He lifts his eyes from the ground, seeing the boy he loves staring back at him. He’s always been so beautiful, always had this aura that captivates whoever he’s around, always had a smile that feels like it takes his breath away. And today is no exception; he’s still smiling that smile even though his heart is breaking.

“Aren’t you going to say anything?”

“What d’you want me to say?”

“Something. Anything. I don’t really know.”

He thinks he can hear a soft hum, a gentle intake of breath, but it’s easily confused with the wind that whips around them. Trapping them both in this bubble of sorrow and regret and heartache. He can see the fire in his lover’s eyes, burning just as bright as they’ve ever done. And he knows that the spark still burns within his own heart and isn’t sure if it will ever stop burning.

“I love you.”

Three words. That’s all it’s ever taken to rock his world; shake it up and turn it upside down. All those years ago, when love was all that mattered, he could fall asleep to them as they were whispered along his skin in touches so delicate. But those touches have been missing for so long, this feeling lost with time as things just spiralled out of control.

“It’s okay if you don’t anymore.”

“I do.”

Because it’s true. He does love him. He will never stop loving him. But love just isn’t enough anymore. Not this love. This love has changed, changed from pure to obsessive. And obsession is no way to live; it chokes and slaughters, rips and shreds, blinds and deafens to anything else good in the world.

But he hasn’t forgotten what it felt like before. Back in the days when it was good. The stolen kisses, the racing hearts, the butterflies and the giggles. He remembers them all vividly, longingly, desperately. If only they could go back to those days.

“But you love him.”

He does. The love that he once felt has broken through once again, gasping for breath after years of drowning. It’s intense and it’s electrifying and it’s raw and it’s beautiful. It’s everything that he’s needed for so long, everything he’s so frightened of feeling.

Because this love is not for the boy in front of him. It’s for someone new.

“I do.”

“Good. I’m glad you see that now.”

He nods, trying to blink away the tears that flood, trying to dislodge the lump that’s digging into his throat. He knew this would be hard. He knew this would hurt. And some selfish part of him hoped that he would be met with anger because anger is something that he can understand.

But this understanding, this acceptance of the end, this is awful. It turns his stomach and burns his lungs; the nasty habit of familiarity screaming at him to take it all back. To keep living in the hollow shell that he’s become.

“Why does this hurt so much?” he chokes, barely able to form the sentence.

“Because it’s right.”

“I wish it wasn’t.”

“Me too.”

It’s coming to the end now. The time where he needs to turn around and walk away. Move on from the boy that’s held his heart captive for so long. Learn to live again. Learn to be free. Because this boy can’t help him anymore.

“I love you.”

“I know.”

“I’ll never forget you.”

“I know.”

He steps forward, closing the distance between them. And for just a second, they’re teenagers again. Falling in love slowly, sweetly, a lifetime of happiness ahead of them. As he looks into his eyes for the last time, as the love that radiates from them washes over him, he can’t help but smile as his eyes slide shut. His fingers lift, hovering oh so close to his cheek, wondering if he should dare let himself fall again…

“Taka?”

Mondo’s voice breaks the spell and his eyes fly open with a gasp. The boy in front of him has gone, vanished into thin air. His hand hovers over nothing so instead it drops heavily onto the smooth marble surface below. His lungs stutter as tears overtake him, his final farewell snatched away just as cruelly as it was five years ago.

“Babe.”

Taka looks up to see Mondo, stood beside him with a sad smile. He is so in love with him, hopelessly and passionately. Mondo’s a good man, the best man, and he deserves the world. Taka has never felt like he could give it to him. Not while he’s still haunted by a lost love.

“It hurts.”

“Yeah.”

“I miss him.”

Mondo’s hand brushes against his cheek, cups his jaw the way that only his hands have been able to do. His eyes burn with a fire; one so similar to the one of his past and yet different. And Taka realises that breathing feels just that little bit easier now that he’s here.

“I’ll be here, okay? When missin’ him stops ya from breathin’. When ya see his face in yer dreams. When ya hear his voice in the crowd. There’ll be bad days and there’ll be worse days. An’ we’ll take each one together. No matter how hard it gets. But I hope I can give ya more and more good days. An’ I hope that I can take away the pain, even if it’s just fer a while.”

The smile that forms on Taka’s lips surprises him. It’s wet and sad and happy and confused and all kinds of emotions. But it’s for Mondo. Only for Mondo. And it’s now that he realises that even though it hurts, even though it kills, he will heal. Time will heal him. And this is the start of their new chapter together.

“I love you, Mondo.”

“I love ya too.”

And so he tells himself that that’s it. He takes one last breath and walks away. His fingers swim against Mondo’s larger palm, a sensation he still needs to get used to. But right in this moment, it feels right. It feels perfect.

They’re almost at the car when Taka’s feet stop moving. He feels Mondo follow suit, giving him time to do whatever he needs to do, fingers squeezing gently as if to say ‘it’s okay’. And all he needs to do is have one last look. One last moment. One last goodbye.

There in the distance, sat atop the marble headstone they’ve left behind, a redheaded boy smiles at him. His blue eyes are full of tears, cheeks streaked with those that have already fallen. And as Taka stares back, the boy’s face crinkles with a heart-breaking joy; waving at him as his lips whisper words that are lost on the wind.

But he doesn’t need to hear them. He knows just what they are. And as his childhood love fades away, never to return, Taka finally says the words he never got to say.

“Goodbye, Leon.”

[imjeralee]

Comfort in Despair: Chapter 13 - Edward Rose

Leon x F!Reader

Disclaimer: Do not own Pokemon

Summary:

Galar is rich in folklore and tales of the supernatural.

As a Pokemon Researcher who specialises in ghost types, this is a great opportunity for you to investigate and learn more about the paranormal.

Along the way, you meet Leon (in the most awkward way possible) who becomes embroiled in your adventures.

^ Basically this story is about ghosts :/

Rating: General/Teen

WARNINGS: For blood, gore, vomit, disturbing and graphical scenes. This is really a horrific chapter. If you like this stuff, that’s great, if not I promise it will get better :’)

@marydragneell​ - here is the latest update

Edward Rose

…

…

[Ezra’s Notes on Exorcism Tools:

1. The Odd Keystone. A peculiar stone bestowed to me by the diocese. Quintessential in capturing evil spirits that cannot find salvation and are cursed to wander the earth for eternity (I’m surprised they didn’t ask for it back). It is 'activated' by latin exorcism prayers. If the number of contained spirits reach one hundred and eight, a pokemon will form, ie, Spiritomb.

2. The Khira Dagger. This small, hand-held dagger was used in rituals and sacrificial ceremonies, with roots dating back to the 8th century. It has absorbed so much blood that its power transcends any other. It kills spirits, evil or good. Try to refrain from using this unless you’re dealing with a powerful adversary (again, I’m surprised they didn’t ask for it back).]

…

…

The sound of rapid footsteps approaching can be heard echoing along the dark hall and you and Jace both turn to the source only to be greeted with an ashen-faced Cole.

“Help! I need help!” he exclaims, clearly in distress. He comes to a grinding halt before you and puts his hands on his knees with his head low, panting.

“Are you alright?” Jace asks, as Cole struggles to regain his breath.

You give him a moment or so until his face finally returns to its normal colour and he squeezes his eyes shut before he cries out, “Tan is missing!”

You’ve never seen a grown man look so panicky and hysterical before. “Calm down, tell us what happened.”

“He went to the bathroom and several minutes passed, and he didn’t come out so I went in to check in on him and he tried to scare me but then there was this loud noise outside and he left to check. When I went out, he was gone – there’s no way he could’ve just vanished into thin air so quickly like that, you know? And I was calling his name and saw this shadow run past, I followed it-“

As Cole rambles, he becomes increasingly louder.

“But then I heard footsteps behind me and between these two displays, I saw this face-“

“A face?”

Cole nods and Jace throws you an alarmed glance. “I saw it in the pictures we took. It was following us!”

“Show me these pictures,” you say, and Cole switches on his bulky digital camera, fumbling with a few buttons and switching to view mode where he mutters and mumbles under his breath until he finds the designated pictures. “Here.”

You scoop the camera out of his grip and go through the snapshots under Cole’s instruction; you see an array of photos of Tanner taken when they were on their way to leave the gallery via the right wing. There are a couple of so photos of Tanner striking funny poses in the taxidermy section.

Cole does not fail to point out the grinning face in the darkness that he’d noticed appear in numerous photos he had taken of Tanner after capturing Runerigus.

You peer curiously at each of these photos where you see the face that appears in every picture. Whether it’s above Tanner’s shoulder, head, on his left or right, it is always there.

“And you noticed this after you found us in the basement and after Tanner captured Runerigus,” you reaffirm, and he nods again. You hand him the camera wordlessly.

“The damn asshole won’t pick up his phone either,” Cole growls.

“What should we do?” Jace asks.

“Call Horace. Get all the lights switched back on so we can start looking for Tanner.”

“O-okay, I can do that…” Cole utters, before he fishes out the walkie talkie and pushes on the button; it fizzes weakly before it goes silent and he takes this as an indication to speak. “Hello? Horace? Are you there, over?”

He lifts his finger off the button and waits, but there’s no response.

Cole tries again. “Horace? Can you hear me, over. Can you switch all the lights back on, please?”

Still no response.

“…I’ll go find him,” Cole says with a sigh, “I’ll go through the left wing, it’s quicker that way. There’s no use just hanging around here. I’ll keep in contact with you through my walkie.”

“Are you sure?” you ask, and he nods.

“Yeah, I’ll be fine,” Cole replies, “You guys gonna stay here?”

“We’re going to investigate a bit more,” you say whilst Jace looks unsure.

“Okay, see you in a bit. Arceus…Tan, you better be okay…”

You watch Cole’s retreating back as he disappears towards the direction of the left wing and it’s just yourself and Jace once more.

“Where do you think Tanner is?” Jace asks.

“He could be hiding somewhere.”

“Yeah, he must’ve seen the ghost and bolted for it!”

“Possibly,” you mutter, before you unzip your bag and rifle through, picking up the Odd Keystone you had received from Leon earlier.

How is this going to work, you think to yourself, as you return the Odd Keystone safely back inside; you opt for a small and dirty gold dagger with a thin blade the length of your hand that is engraved all over with strange symbols. You carefully place it into your inner jacket pocket to conceal it but Jace sees it anyway.

“A knife!?”

“No, a khira dagger,” you say quickly, revealing the small blade, “It doesn’t hurt humans, only spirits. Watch.”

You proceed to stab the blade into your awaiting palm but nothing happens, the sharp blade doesn’t penetrate your flesh and skin at all even when you bring the blade down again and again and Jace gawks in bewilderment as you lift your intact hand, wiggling your fingers.

“See?” you say, “I don’t really want to use it, but I’m concerned. If Graves found out about this though, he’d confiscate it so don’t tell anyone.”

Jace chuckles. “Your secret’s safe with me!”

“Thanks, Jace-“

You are both briefly stopped in your actions when you hear the distinct sounds of clanging metal above your heads which makes you look up.

The noise continues, identical to someone with a rod and banging on metal, and you shine the torch at the ceiling. It’s coming from the ventilation and the noises are heading towards the direction of the left wing.

“…Do you think Cole made it out okay?” Jace asks, and you purse your lips.

“I’ll go check,” you say, “Jace, stay here.”

“No way! I’m coming with you.”

“…Alright fine, let’s go,” and you both begin to follow the sounds which are heading towards the direction of the left wing where up ahead, you hear a loud cry of pain.

Hastening your pace, you and Jace rush to the scene as quickly as your feet can carry you until you see Cole a short distance away. He is lying on the floor, though he is not alone for a figure can be seen squatting over his body, emitting guttural and choked croaks and grunts.

You and Jace go to a skidding halt on your heels, shining the torch on the figure who whips round with a feral hiss.

It’s Tanner, yet his eyes are wild and crazed, with lips pulled backwards so tightly they appear to reach his ears. His teeth are clenched together into a grisly and never-ending, distorted grin of malice, his nostrils and mouth drenched with blood. Hot tears stream profusely down from the corners of his eyes and over his cheeks, mingling together with the blood.

“H…help muh…” he manages to grunt out, squeezing his eyes shut for a brief second.

Rising to stand, his body jerks and twitches fiercely. He takes a step forwards, then immediately doubles over, groaning and heaving before he proceeds to vomit, large splashes staining the pristine floor before he begins plodding towards your direction with his arms stretched out, fingers bent into claws.

You’re seized by Jace before you can react; he mutters a string of obscenities whilst the possessed man rampages after you, shrieking and screaming unintelligibly.

“This way!” Jace yells, as he drags you down the hall.

Your heartbeat begins speeding up as Tanner’s hysterical, gnarled screams of agony assaults your ears, along with the violent thudding sounds of hands and feet meeting the floor. Too disturbed to look over your shoulders, Jace reaches for Joltik’s capsule and releases his pokemon.

“Joltik, use Electroweb!!” Jace commands, and the little yellow bug glows brightly before shooting a large spiderweb filled with crackling electricity towards Tanner’s direction.

You throw a quick glance to see the web ensnaring the man but it does little to stop him. He has made no effort to evade and drops to the ground as the web tangles him up and he begins crawling whilst snarling and gnashing his teeth ferociously, dragging himself towards you, reaching with outstretched arms.

“Good job, Joltik,” Jace says, as the little bug trills in response.

You run aimlessly through the gallery, listening to the horrendous noises which are still growing closer and closer until Jace suddenly lets out a yelp. You turn briefly to see he’s been grabbed; you cannot believe your eyes - Tanner has rid himself of the electroweb and he has caught up so quickly – and Jace is promptly tossed high in the air with Joltik stuck to his shoulder and you watch helplessly as he slams against the wall of one of the taxidermy displays and drops to the ground, unconscious.

“Jace!”

As Tanner proceeds to lunge at you, he’s quickly fended off by a dark beam of energy.

Gengar floats in the air, grinning wickedly before he glances at you and nods; he’s got your back.

The possessed Tanner rolls upright, hisses and scrabbles away, disappearing into the darkness.

Your legs tremble as you scan the surrounding area with your torch but he has vanished; all that is left of him is a bloodied trail which vanishes in one corner.

A loud clunk from above grabs your attention and you shine the torch to the source to see that the iron vent on the ceiling has been pried open.

Gengar returns to your side and you exhale shakily.

“…Thanks Gengar, can you check up on Jace and Joltik, please?”

Fumbling for Mimikyu’s capsule, you release her and she looks up at you expectantly.

“Mimi, can you check up on Cole, please? And please return to the entrance and ask Horace to turn on all the lights.”

“Leave it to…mi.” Mimikyu says, imitating a salute motion with one shadowy tendril from its mouth.

You smile at your pokemon; though they are rather reluctant to leave your side, you confirm your instruction with a firm nod.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. I know what I’m doing. Meet me in the basement once you’re done.”

Gengar and Mimikyu acknowledges your commands and everyone parts way; Gengar floats away to where Jace and Joltik were tossed, Mimikyu heads for the direction of the left wing whilst you make your way towards the door that will lead to the basement.

You’re going to destroy the damn thing.

Along the way, you check for any airducts and vent shafts and you remain on high alert for any strange noises and signs of Tanner, using your torch to sweep the area before proceeding.

The path is clear and the basement door lies ahead and when you shine the torch on the ceiling to the air duct nearby, you see it is closed.

Without further hesitation, you head over until a brutal force from behind rams into your back and you’re shoved away from the door and to the wall, your head smacks hard against the concrete and you drop to the floor, your torch clattering out of your hand. Your mind reels as your vision slowly grows black and your eyes slide to a close.

Drifting between consciousness, a wet and cold grip seizes your ankle and you’re slowly pulled out of your spot.

You slump over the uninviting floor and as you groan and mumble and mutter, the grip tugs on your ankle again.

You slide forwards and stop briefly.

Then you slide again.

And stop.

You’re being dragged.

Groaning, you muster the strength to open your eyes and stare groggily at the ceiling above you before you lift a hand to the side of your head and press your fingertips over your skin. You are bleeding.

You see Tanner with his back to you and his hand curled around your ankle which is lifted in the air, pulling you towards the direction of the basement. You struggle but you’re wracked with pain, your head throbbing.

Your eyes slide to a close…

…and you wake up by a searing hot stab of pain and you begin screaming uncontrollably, your eyes darting around your surroundings.

It’s the room with the fans and the easel and the accursed canvas and the sounds of flesh squelching and blood gurgling forces you to whip your head to the side where you see Tanner bent over you, biting down ravenously on the flesh of your forearm. As you scream and flail, he looks up, his crazed and possessed eyes meeting yours.

With a mouthful of blood, he slowly shuffles up and away from you, and you gape as he drags himself to stand limply in front of the easel with his shoulders slumped.

The incomplete painting awaits; he regards it for a moment before he begins to dab his fingers into his bloodied mouth and slaps his fingers and palms onto the canvas, smearing your blood over the surface.

You stare at the scene in horror and shock, your eyes widening as he begins to paint.

Slowly, you begin to inch yourself away towards the direction of the closed door as quietly as possible so not to alert the possessed man. Gengar and Mimikyu haven’t come to find you, so you doubt you’ve been unconscious for long. As you drag yourself across the floor, your arm is a bloom of red, brimming with pain and discomfort and bleeding abundantly from where he’s bitten into you.

He stops, having run out of blood and turns round, his crazed eyes pinned on your helpless form on the ground and you inch backwards as fast as you can, struggling away on your elbows.

“Edward Rose, I know it’s you,” you hiss. Lifting yourself off the floor to stand, you cradle your bleeding arm, panting heavily, “You want to finish your painting, right?”

“….Need more blood…not enough blood…” Tanner utters but it’s not his voice, it’s deep and darker.

Without a second to spare, he lunges at you but you reveal the small dagger that you’ve managed to keep safe and thrust the sharpened tip towards his chest but one huge fist grabs your arm and the other seizes your throat and proceeds to squeeze down on your windpipe. You grunt as he slams you against the wall and lifts you high into the air.

You struggle violently as his hand closes around your neck and wrist firmly; with your remaining hand, you clench your fist tightly and begin beating against his shoulder.

Struggling for breath, Tanner’s manic gaze meets yours; his distorted grin is incessant, his pupils are dilated as he hisses and rasps unintelligibly, your ears ringing with discomfort from the grating noise.

You shake and flail as much as you can, your ravaged arm sweltering with pain.

The pressure on your neck increases, the howling grows more and more deafening, your mind grows dark and dreary, your clenched hand on his coat is growing loose.

This must be it, you think to yourself, and you wonder how sad it is that this is how you will meet your end because you didn't think this would how it would end until Tanner abruptly jerks backwards and you are freed from his clutches. You drop to the ground, coughing and choking and gasping for precious air.

You didn’t hear the door open.

Glancing up, you see it is none other than Leon holding the man back. Charizard is by his side, too.

“Leon!!” you cry breathlessly with widened eyes, “Charizard!”

“Are you okay?!” he exclaims, and you force a nod. “Arceus, what’s wrong with him? Has he gone mad?”

“No, he’s just possessed,” is your reply.

As Leon holds Tanner back, having successfully wrenched the possessed man off you, Charizard waddles to your side to inspect you.

However, there’s no time to waste. As Charizard helps you off the ground, you grab your dagger with renewed grip and lunge forwards as Tanner fights and resists Leon thoroughly, screaming and flailing viciously in his hold. You quickly swing your arm forwards with the dagger and Leon’s eyes widens at your action.

He’s never seen you like this. You must look deranged, you think; your eyes must rival the possessed Tanner – wild, manic and desperate. You’re completely soaked in blood, your teeth clenched together firmly as adrenaline pumps furiously through your veins.

But you want to finish this.

An estranged cry of distress erupts from Tanner’s throat.

“Stop!”

And you pause, the tip of the dagger an inch from his chest.

“Please….no….” he croaks out, his voice strained and heavy and belonging to none other than Edward Rose, “H…he….help me…I want to…finish the painting…”

Leon is baffled by the entirety of it all but you cannot spare the time to explain; he looks at you incredulously as you stare at the sobbing man in his grip with widened eyes. Your shaking arm slowly lowers, the dagger returning to your side.

“….Please…please…” he begs, squeezing his eyes shut. Tears leak uncontrollably from the corners of his clenched eyes. A mixture of Tanner’s and Edward Rose. “It is almost…finished…just a few strokes…please...”

An unsettling silence fills the room as Leon throws you another alarmed glance, then at the man in his grip.

“What is it?” you ask, panting heavily and sucking in noisy breaths, pointing a shaking finger to the painting. Your heart beats furiously, your knees trembling. “What is that meant to be?”

“A map…I hid something…a treasure…”

As Tanner continues to sob, you step backwards as you sweep your hand through your messy hair in disbelief. Leon waits for your response as you pace the floor momentarily before you nod weakly.

“…Fine,” you reply, “But you have to vacate this body at once…I’ll allow you to use mine instead.”

“What?” Leon exclaims.

“It’s okay, Leon. Trust me.”

Whilst the Champion gawks at you, Tanner nods, grateful.

“Oh…thank…you…”

Clearly confused by this entire ordeal, Leon cannot help but watch; you’re relieved he doesn’t attempt to step in, nor does he waste time by questioning everything that’s happening.

Tanner emits another anguished moan and as he convulses violently under Leon’s hold, a murky, dark mist expels from his body, rising from his shoulders and chest in tangled wisps.

He croaks with pain and Leon eventually releases him as the man continues choking and grunting excruciatingly. His throat rattling loudly, Tanner dips to the side with his arms taut and retches, mouth stretching wide open to violently regurgitate another mixture of vomit, blood and a strange, yellowish-white substance that resembles phlegm.

Then he drops to the ground, eyes closed. He is out cold.

“…Ectoplasm,” you mutter, as Leon stares with widened eyes and Charizard snorts loudly with disgust. “Think of it like….ghost residue.”

Despite your explanation, Leon and Charizard look incredibly baffled as you drag yourself to stand properly, hopping on one leg and throwing a glance to the unconscious Tanner before you glance at the awaiting shadow that hovers in mid-air before you.

“I’ll be right back,” you tell the Champion as the shadow slinks forwards.

“Wait!” Leon yells, but the shadow proceeds to envelope you.

He watches as you sway on the spot with your eyes closed before he murmurs your name anxiously.

Your eyes re-open slowly a few seconds later although your gaze, now empty and not belonging to you, sweeps past Leon. You hardly bat an eyelid to his presence and proceed to plod towards the direction of the easel, staring lopsidedly at the canvas before you throw your glance to your bleeding arm. You start to sink your fingers into your torn flesh and once they’re soaked, you begin to apply your bloodied fingertips over the canvas.

Leon calls your name again but you don’t respond.

He observes you painting for a few minutes, your eyes empty as you drag your fingers over the board in a hypnotic but expert fashion.

The stench of blood is strong in the air, the metallic, coppery smell assaulting his nose and Leon grows concerned as continuous drops of blood stain the ground from the tips of your twitching fingers. Charizard growls lightly to elicit some form of response from you but there’s not much the pokemon can do.

When you’re finished, the painting has taken form and has become clearly distinguishable to resemble a monument which Leon is quite certain he has seen somewhere in Rose’s manor.

With the painting completed, Leon watches you carefully. The atmosphere in the room is tense, as he waits for your next move; however, he was not expecting your body to abruptly jerk violently and he takes a cautious step forwards, reaching for you as you shudder on the spot, eyes twitching.

You throw your arm out, halting him.

“What’s wrong?” he asks.

Mustering a minute shake of your head, your eyes squeeze shut and you emit a low groan.

"What is it?" he tries again.

You merely groan.

Leon says your name and what he perhaps feared finally happens: your face contorts, your expression turning dark.

“He won’t leave. Shut up, you fell for it and willingly let me in, swine, and now you shall suffer; they shall all suffer. Arceus, I should’ve known-”

Erupting into boisterous, mocking laughter, you suddenly throw your head back and howl until tears form in your eyes; you drop to your knees with your arms out, facing the ceiling, chin raised in the air, before you wildly scrub your face with your bleeding wound, smothering the dank liquid over your eyes, nose, lips furiously.

"Stop!" Leon yells in response to the macabre display, calling your name again.

You whip your head to him sharply, your chilling eyes wide and glinting under the dim light.

“Do not call me that! Get away from me, Leon – My name is Edward Rose! Leon, get away from me, now!"

“I won’t,” he says sternly, shaking his head.

"This body is mine!" you scream next, before you bite down on your arm, hard, and draw more blood.

Leon abruptly tackles you to the ground, apologising profusely for his manhandling of you despite your aggressive attempts to throw him off; he successfully pulls your arm free from your mouth and you begin convulsing helplessly, eyes rolled to the back of your head, mumbling and muttering incoherently. Your head bends to one side, your shoulders hunching up and arms going stiff, fingers twisting into curled claws before your back arches off the ground and you begin to grunt with pain.

"Leon-"

“I’m still here. I won’t leave you, I can’t-”

“Futile! I'll tear you apart!”

And you yelp and yell, your clinched fingers creeping into the sides of your head and hair. A few strands are torn cleanly from your head from your maniacal clawing, your fingernails desperately raking over your cheeks and temples.

In response to your distress, Leon grabs your wrists and pins you to the floor before you can hurt yourself further.

“Focus on my voice,” he says, remaining as calm as possible, “Please.”

Your eyes clench shut firmly and hot tears stream down your face. Leon continues, asking you to focus on his voice, on him, on yourself, that you're still there and in control and after an ear-splitting shriek, a black shadow is forcibly expelled from your body and shoots into the atmosphere and your body grows weak under Leon’s grip.

Leon moves to wrap his arm around you as your weary body lies limply in his hold, your head rolling to the crook of his elbow as you pant uncontrollably. Leon and Charizard exchange quick glimpses to each other before he carefully shakes you.

Your eyes gradually flutter open and he breathes a sigh of relief.

“....Leon?” you whimper.

He blinks slowly before he responds with a relieved and reassuring, kind smile which thoroughly warms your heart.

“…Hey,” he says gently, before he finds your bloodied hand and holds it tightly, “you’re back. You did it.”

You scan his features briefly before you return his smile with a thin and weak one of your own. You find you have become incredibly languid and drained and tears begin forming in the corner of your eyes once more and your lip trembles.

"Oh god...I'm so sorry. Did I frighten you?"

"It's okay."

You emit a meek sniff and Leon squeezes your hand tightly.

Having successfully expelled Edward Rose from your body, you cannot afford to let precious time go to waste; the shadow bobs up and down in the air listlessly, seemingly stunned from your forceful expulsion and so you indicate to Leon that there is no time to dither and you must get up. He helps, wrapping an arm around your shoulder whilst clutching your hand tightly though your hands occasionally slip due to the blood on your palms.

With Leon’s help, you lean on him as he keeps you hoisted whilst you hastily grasp the Odd Keystone from your bag which you proceed to hold up.

“Adjure te, spiritus nequissime, per Deum omnipotentem,” you croak, your throat burning.

Despite the weakness of your voice, the keystone is activated and the shadow, having realised its incoming demise, rapidly attempts to escape by flitting across the room, darting to and fro but the brilliant light encompasses it and the Odd Keystone, with a power that surpasses like any other, continues to reel and drag it in. Screeching and convulsing viciously, the shadow stretches and morphs aggressively as it is dragged inside.

Edward Rose's agonising howls and screeches bathe the room and stings your ears until the Keystone sucks him inside, the fissure glowing brightly as it claims another evil soul for itself. The room grows dark and not a sound can be heard.

You’re aware it’s far from over; Ezra’s words echo in your mind and the keystone begins to glimmer and tremble violently in your grip; heat spreads across the base of your palm, something which the stone has not done before and you have no choice but to drop it.

It does not hit the ground; instead, it zooms back into the air, hovering before you and Leon whilst shining brightly.

“What’s going on?” Leon asks.

“It’s the creation of a Spiritomb,” you reply; the stone begins rapidly spinning in an anti-clockwise fashion in the air, the fissure of the keystone resembling a blur yet it continues to glow brilliantly under the dimness of the room. As the stone whirls, the stillness of the room is penetrated by a thunderous sound.

A purple miasma unravels from the center of the spinning stone as the glowing light fades away and you and Leon watch in silence as the stone spins faster and the strange purple cloud grows larger and larger before the stone comes to an abrupt stop and the creature that has formed finally manifests before you.

It’s Spiritomb, and the stone slowly returns to wobble on the ground; ragged green lines and specks form on its body, its expression contorting into a sinister sneer before unleashing a powerful shockwave that takes everyone off guard.

Leon’s instinct is to protect you, so you find him throwing himself in front of you in a split second, shielding you with his body.

A bright light encompasses the entire room and you’re forced to shield your eyes; when you re-open them, Spiritomb is nowhere to be seen.

Unable to muster the energy to chase after it, you slump against Leon’s chest, your body growing light again. He mutters your name and slowly uses a hand to sweep some of your hair from the frames of your face and tuck it neatly behind your ears before he slides his hand over yours once again. There are ugly bruises on your neck. You are still bleeding from your head and arm.

Though you have the strength to squeeze his hand, he helps prop you up against the wall where you sigh and groan under your breath with agony and exhaustion.

There must be a way to stop the bleeding and his t-shirt seems to be a good way to do so he tears several inches of the hem off and uses it to wrap your tarnished arm, looping it around and around your wound.

“Leon, don’t,” you croak; you receive a sneaky and quick peek of his abs but only just for a second or so, “Your champion shirt…don’t ruin it…”

He merely grins at you reassuringly. “Don’t worry.”

You really do not want Leon to see you like this.

This is the side of your work which you didn’t want him to see.

The ugly side, the dark side.

As Leon finishes tying his shirt around your wound, there is a gentle tug on your arm and you see Gengar; he stands to your left whilst Mimikyu perches herself in your lap. You smile at them weakly as Gengar glances at you worriedly and Mimikyu, rather reluctantly and awkwardly, releases a tendril to pat you on the head.

“Mi mi?” she asks, before she slides her gaze to your bandaged arm, the bruises on your neck and your injuries.

“I’m okay…” you murmur as your eyelids flutter to a close.

With a shuddering exhale, you slowly turn your head to the side, your eyes closing as your breathing grows shallow.

As Leon reaches for you, you are far too fatigued to move anymore; he brushes some loose strands of hair from your face and uses his thumb to brush a tear from the corner of your eye. The warmth from his hand on your cheek is comforting and you sigh again.

“Leon…”

“Yeah?”

“I’m tired…”

Retreating from the side of your cheek, he scoops your hand with his and holds you tightly. Your hand is limp in his hold as he sweeps his thumb over your cold knuckles.

“I’ll get you outta here,” you hear him murmur.

You nod wearily.

Removing his cloak, Leon carefully wraps it around your body despite your protests. He tucks it around you and pulls at the collar to ensure you're warm and covered and once you're completely bundled up, he effortlessly picks you up and off the ground, easing you into his arms. He slides one arm underneath the bend of your knees and the other around the small of your back, ensuring you’re comfortable before he rises to stand.

With you safely in his arms, Leon carries you out of the basement as the lights go on one by one.

…

Rose enters the basement, assessing the damage.

Whilst Leon, the pokemon researcher, her assistant and the Ghostbunkers team have been escorted to hospital, Rose slips into his gallery before the night is over. He calls his cleaning staff to make haste and tidy up the mess they made.

He glances at the completed painting and smiles. Oleana stands behind him with a large black case which she proceeds to open.

“What does this look like to you, Oleana?” he asks.

“It looks like one of the dormers of Rose Manor, perhaps the drawing room. East wing.” Oleana replies stoically.

“My thoughts exactly. And that’s where Edward Rose hid it,” Rose replies. “We couldn’t have done it without her.”

“Agreed, sir,” is Oleana’s remark.

Rose lifts the canvas off the easel and deposits it carefully into the case, closing the lid shut.

Then they leave the basement silently.

…

[silentwhispofhope]

Paroxyism (Leon Kennedy X Reader) Report 6

Last Chapter <> Next Chapter

"No clue," he replied. "It'll be soon."

You frowned. "If only I-"

"Don't start with that talk," he cut you off and tapped his head with a bloody index finger. "That kind of thinking will lead you nowhere in life. You need to move on. Besides, last I checked, we can't time travel."

You let out a small chuckle at his attempt at a joke. The lieutenant did bring up a good point. Negativity was an enemy of success. The man let out a hiss in pain. Hearing footsteps, you turned to the source to find Leon jogging down the stair case.

"There you are... Come here, take a look," Branagh beckoned and zoomed in on the gate.

"Yes! I'd knew she'd make it," The blond rejoiced.

"You know her?" Branagh asked.

"Yeah, name's Claire. I came into town with her," Leon replied.

"You can get to that court yard through the second floor... east side," he muttered as painfully pointed to the staircase behind him. The cop let out a groan.

"I'm on it," the rookie paused. "Thanks, Lieutenant."

Leon turned away and took several steps. Noticing you weren't following him, he glanced back to you. "Are you coming?"

Your eyebrows lifted in surprise. You thought he would want to meet this girl by himself. Muttering an apology, you joined his side.

"Did you find out what was on the film?" He inquired as the two of you walked up the stairs.

"Yeah, it was a photo of a statue holding a scepter and a book. It didn't match the sketches in the notebook, so I feel like I got my hopes up for nothing."

"Well, someone had to take a picture of it for a reason," Leon answered. "How about we keep an eye out for it?"

You hummed in agreement as the two of you reached the only door on the east side. Both of you pulled out your guns.

"Ready?" You asked.

"As I'll ever be," he replied.

Pressing your back near the door frame, Leon paralleled your actions on the other side. With a nod from the blond, you slowly twisted the handle. You pushed the door open slightly, pointing your barrel through the gap. Only the sound of the creaking door broke the silence. Leon placed his hand against the wood and lightly pushed. Tension filled the air. Slowly, the door opened. Turning inwards, you walked through the door. The room you two entered appeared to be a waiting room of sorts. It may have been beautiful once, but the whole room was in disarray. Leon followed you as you both paused, searching for any signs of one of those creatures.

"Clear," Leon spoke. You let out a sigh of relief. "We should keep moving. The sooner we reach Claire, the better."

You nodded in agreement. The two of you approached the wooden door on the opposite side of the room. What caught your eye, however, was the marbled green spade carved into it. You watched as the blond pulled something from his back pocket. It was a key with a matching bow. God, it's like the both of you were stuck in some sick video game. As Leon unlocked the door, you readied your flashlight and gun once again. A click softly disturbed the air. Quickly, Leon put the key away. As the blond went to turn the door handle, your raised your gun and flashlight. You closed an eye, and focused on the space between Leon and the door. You stared at Leon before giving him the go ahead. Leon twisted the handle and flung the door open. A ray of light traveled down the hallway as the door creaked to a stop. The two of you were met with a fork in your path.

"We go right, right?" You asked. You had to hold back a chuckle. It wasn't the best time to laugh at a stupid joke despite how unintentional it was.

"Yeah," Leon responded. He pulled out his own handgun and promptly reloaded it.

Letting Leon walk through the doorway first, you followed after him. The floor creaked and groaned under your combined weights as you two began walking. A distance buzzing hit your ears. It was more of a hum compared to ringing. You stopped and looked around looking for the source of it. Leon noticed your lack of movement.

"Hey, is-" you cut him off with a shush.

Pointing a finger that was originally holding the flashlight to the ceiling, you whispered "Do you hear that?"

The sound was now alarmingly closer than before. The buzzing, now blaring, was identifiable. It was a helicopter. You quickly glanced out of nearby window to see the flying machine spinning out of control.

"Oh shit," you gasped once you realized where it was heading.

Before Leon could respond, you dropped your flashlight and grabbed his hand. Your shoulder screamed in pain. You didn't have much time to react. You pulled him as far away from the end of the building as you could before talking him to the ground. Leon reacted quickly. He flipped you under him. You quickly whipped your arm around his neck, protecting it from potential glass shards or other debris. Right in time too, as the helicopter sliced through part of the wall.  The raucous sound of the machine crashing into the side of the building echoed in your ears. Pieces of brick and glass bounced through out the hallway. Unclenching your eyes, your ears begin to slightly ring. Leon laid onto of you, waiting quietly for the chance of something else happening. Your heart pounded wildly in your chest. The both of you breathed heavily before you let out a sigh of relief.

"You okay?" Leon asked you, staring into your eyes.

"I should be the one asking you that," you replied. Leon let out a small laugh before rolling off of you. He swiftly stood to his feet and held out a hand for you. You stared at him for a moment before sliding your gun into your holster and grabbing his hand. "My hero."

Leon rolled his eyes in response as he pulled you up. The two of you walked back to the end of the hallway. As you neared the window from earlier, you leaned down and grabbed your flashlight. You positioned it back into your belt.  Leon opened the door and held it open for you.

You gave him a small thanks. Walking outdoors, you were hit with the sprinkling of water. Glancing up at the clouds above, you could tell they were ready to burst any second. You took a step forward towards the railing when your foot hit something. You glanced down to find a rifle. It was primarily black but the shoulder consisted of a dark walnut.  You continued to analyze it as you saw Leon go to look at the helicopter out of the corner of your eye. You promptly grabbed the the rifle and and wrapped the carry strap around your body. You turned towards him. A body slumped over the controls of the helicopter. You could tell the pilot wasn't alive anymore.

"He's dead, you know?" You told Leon. He glanced back towards you for a second before returning to look at the dead pilot. "The impact would've killed him on impact."

Before you could say anything else, a voice rang out into the air. "HEY! LEON!?"

Leon rushed to your side as you both looked over the railing. Behind the fence, a brunette in a red leather jacket stared expectedly at Leon. You watched as his eyes lit up.

"CLAIRE!" Leon shouted excitedly. "HOLD ON! I'll BE RIGHT THERE!"

"OK!" She yelled back.

Seeing how the two interact made you wonder if the two were best friends. Your mind lingered to the idea of Kyle and the rest of the police force. Did they know if anything was wrong? If they did, had they send anyone to come find you? You doubted that and Kyle was probably the only one to notice something was wrong. You liked to get things done as quickly and efficiently as possibly. Leon hastily hurried down the steps. He paused for moment, looking back up expectedly. His voice broke your trance.

"You coming?" He asked.

"Oh, yeah. Sorry," you sheepishly apologized and quickly followed after him.

Leon almost skipped off the bottom to great Claire. She rushed to the fence. "Claire... It's so nice to see you." He grabbed the wire in his hands. Claire took a step closer to him as you awkwardly stood off to the side."How're you doing ? That helicopter came out of nowhere..."

"Yeah... I'm in one piece thanks to (Y/N)."

Leon stepped off to the side, dropping his hands to his sides. Claire's focus landed on you.  She looked surprised. You guess she wasn't expecting another survivor. You took this chance to step closer to the two of friends.

"Hi. It's nice to see someone who isn't part of the living dead," you joked tiredly.

"I haven't seen you around before."

"State police. Forensic technician, technically," you replied pulling out your badge. Claire glanced at before you put it away.

"Any chance that help is on the way?"

You let out a sigh, grabbing the carry strap hugging your chest. "I doubt it. They probably think I'm goofing off or taking my time. The only one who would probably notice my absence is my friend back on the force, but they don't really listen to him either."

Claire looked at the ground briefly before turning to Leon. "I'm guessing you don't have a key in one of those fancy pockets?"

"Unfortunately, no... But, how are you doing?" Leon replied. Claire wrapped her hands around the fence wire.

"You know, just surviving like the two of you." She smiled.

"That's good. Any luck with your brother?"

Claire's smile dropped slightly. "No, not yet."

"You have a brother here?" You asked.

"Yeah, he's a cop here," she replied.

"What's he look like? It'd probably help if we could look for him too."

Claire's smile brightened. "He's a brunette with short hair. Really tall and buff looking. Kinda looks like a mama's boy."

You let out a small chuckle at the last comment. Leon took a step closer to Claire.

"Claire, don't lose hope.  I'm sure we're going to find him-"

A loud explosion ripples through the air. You quickly cover your eyes as you turn towards the source. The helicopter now lay swallowed in flames. The fire escape you once walked down on began to look increasingly fragile from the explosion's impact. A quick ringing from a nearby fire alarm soon followed. You turned back towards the other survivors.

"Dammit. You know what that means..." Claire stated as she glanced behind her.

"Yeah..." Leon responded, scratching the back of his head from stress.

"Dinner time."

"Claire, I think you should go," you quickly replied, noticing a small horde of zombies getting closer.

"Don't worry about me, (Y/N)," Claire paused before taking a step back. "You two take care of yourself."

"Claire, you need to go- NOW!" Leon exclaimed.

Claire nodded in agreement, starting to walk away from the fence. The brunette stopped for a moment before turning back to the two of you.

"Hey... Let's get through this. All three of us." She stated.

You replied with a slight nod as she turned back around, heading into stream of oncoming zombies. Leon and you took a step back from the fence.

~~~

A/N: Oh, geez. I knew I said I was taking a break, but I didn't think it was going to be this long. Sorry about that. Haha, oops. 2019 has just been a really shitty year for me, but I'm going to make 2020 my bitch if I have to. In other news, I made it into my dream college! I'm going to Loyola up in Chicago to study forensics! While my first year will be mainly looking over the basics, I can't wait!

Taglist: @katnisspeetaprim @winksasleeplesseye @kaelyn-lobrutto24

If I forgot to tag you, please tell me!

[alolanrain]

Found Family!AU *Christmas Edition* Pt.2

Imagine Opal dealing with Madam Boss and bby Giovanni

Gio learns all his baking skills from his Aunt Opal

But his mother hated her sister with a passion

So he doesn’t see her often

When Madam Boss dies, it’s a bloody gory mess, he’s the first one to call her

“I have a son.” Is his hello, because I’m not making Giovanni and utter asshole in this AU he’s going to love Ash from a distance and actually steps down from Team Rocket the first time Ash stops him

And Opal is like, “P l e a s e let it be with that Female Kanto Trainer you brought to Galar that one Christmas, she’s such a sweet heart.”

And Opal finds out it is!!!

She puts her foot down on choosing the name bc Giovanni is fucking HORRIBLE with names and Delia was so tired and stressed a lot during the pregnancy to the point she couldn’t get a lot of shit down for the baby’s

Ash forces reluctant Grunkle Kabu to come to Alola for a week to meet up with extremely reluctant Grunkle Nanu

NANU AND KABU ARE EX-BOYFRIENDS

And Ash doesn’t even KNOW

Acerola kinda knows bc there’s this one picture her Uncle Nanu has at his desk at the police station next to a frame of her parents, him, and Acerola as a baby

She never commented on it and catches Nanu either looking at it with such a warm smile or either a really pained look in his eyes

it was a friendly split up

Both got to busy

And just had to let go

But it still hurt them a lot

ALLISTER AND ACEROLA ARE GHOST BESTIES

No but I’m expanding on the relationship of Bby! Ash and Gary with the older Head Chairman, who I’m naming Diego Thorn, and Younger!Rose, and finally Younger!Kabu

I’m hc that the Chairman BEFORE Chairman Thorn was named Theo Grass

So it’s kinda like earth, grass, thorn, then rose

Because it’s the pretty things in life that are truly poisonous

grumpy Grunkles are getting back together with the help of Ash, Gary, and the Ghost baby’s

the only reason why Kabu is considered a Grunkle is because both Ash and Gary seemed to have fucking LOVED him so much and he fathered Delia a lot since her own family was shit

So he’s the honorary Grunkle while Nanu IS Ash’s Grunkle bc yes tf Nanu is Giovanni’s Uncle but he’s really distant so he never actually found out Ash was his great Nephew until Ash at the age of 20-something came stumbling into his police station with wide whisky brown eyes and shocking black hair and a jaw line that seemed to familiar that Nanu could never forget

Chairman Thorn ALWAYS Came down from his work place, dragging Rose and his own assistant/secretary, Milly, to see bby Ash and Gary bc he’s a really big family man and the two boys absolutely adore him as much as Thorn adored them

And Delia was so afraid at first that Opal would nearly be/ or just plain be the same as Madam Boss and hurt the poor girl but it’s quite the opposite

Opal spoiled her SO HARD, she was the one to make sure that Delia and Gio had everything they could need for Bby Ash’s arrival and afterwards

And both women found out that they share a deep love for winter in general

So they start small traditions that they then pass down to Ash and Gary, because the Oaks get sucked into this bc Professor Oak can’t say no and Daisy loves Delia like the mom she barely remembers

And Opal is just like “Yes more great grand babies.”

And she was there for Delia when Giovanni left Ash and Delia, yes she was absolutely ROYALY pissed at her Nephew, but she also knew why Gio did what he did

Because he did the best thing to protect her, Ash, and by extent the Oaks as well

Because he fathered Gary and Daisy as much as Delia mothered them

But it because a tradition to bring the kids up to Galar to see Graunty Opal and Grunkle Kabu and spend the second week of December all the way to a week after New Years there

So like almost a whole month of family lovin’ time

BUT IMAGINE BBY ASH WADDLING INTO THE GYM FEILD AND CLINGING ONTO OPAL WHOS TALKING TO LEON/RAIHAN/OR BOTH BEFORE THEIR GYM BATTLE

AND SHE NEEDS TO GRAB SOMTHING BUT ASH IS CLINGING ONTO HER LEG SO OPAL JUST S C O O P S HIM UP AND HANDS HIM OVER TO THE TRAINER(S) AND IS LIKE “brb gotta go get some stuff before hand” AND JUST L E A V E S THEM THERE WITH BBY ASH WHO HAS JUST STARTED ASKING QUESTIONS AND HAS FALLEN SO HARD IN LOVE WITH POKÉMON

Raihan would just inwardly panic bc he’s never been good with baby’s before

But damn OH DAMN does Leon start bouncing Ash up and down while trying his best to answer Ash’s questions because he absolutely ADORES children at Ash’s age and wants to get better bc his mom and dad are thinking about having another kid and he wants to be the BEST big brother that he can be

Then Gary waddles over bc he couldn’t find Ash and Gary’s suppose to stick by Ash’s side to make sure the younger boy doesn’t get hurt

Raihan would start to panic even more bc there’s TWO babies now

But Leon would be ecstatic because there’s T W O BABIES NOW

HHH SO THEN COUSIN LEON BECOMES A THING

BUT ITS A SHORT THING BC ASH HAS TK GO BACK HOME AND HE DOESNT SEE LEON ANYMORE

but then he comes back with Gou in tow and the first part of the HC happens and then he sees Leon again

And everyone just watches Leon gush’s about how Ash and Gary were so cute as toddlers and then Ash recalls and just screams “COUSIN L!!!!” Because as a Bby he couldn’t pronounce Leon’s full name

And Hop is like “w h a t”

BUT ALSO IMAGINE NEWLY GRANTED GYM LEADER PIERS BEING BROUGHT OVER TO OPALS HOUSE FOR CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEARS BECAUSE HIS FAMILY IS S H I T AND HE MEETS ASH AND GARY

DELIA KINDA SUBCONSCIOUSLY BECOMES A MOM TO PEIRS DURING THAG MONTH AND ASH IS LIKE

“Y A S ANOTHER SIBLING!!!!!”

And then Piers gets abducted every year until Delia and Ash stop showing up bc their busy with work/traveling

Until, again, Ash comes back with Gou in tow and Gary gets guilted to come up to Galar

And he sees Piers and just gives the man a cheeky smile and then sees Marnie kinda hiding behind Piers and thinks “Ah yes, new sibling #5,437”

And Marnie latches on faster to Ash than Piers has seen her ever do to anyone else bc she’s been grown up on the wild things Ash would get Piers and another boy into before he stopped coming back to Galar every winter

Bede also gains Brotherly Love bc his family kicked him out for being trans and Ash was having NONE OF THAT bc he’s trans himself

I’m thinking about having Ash and Gary together since this AU is kinda like my AM!AU but not really

Still debating on that

But no My favorite part has to be the competition between all the League officials, except Rose bc he’s an asshole, to get the best seasonal themed picture/video with the trio bc OF COURSE Gou is immediately adopted into the family and becomes Ash’s little sibling

Even people like Allister and Bae get into it

Like there’s a picture Melony took for Allister that had Ash lofting the boy up so he could place the star on the small Christmas tree at their gym lobby with Gou and Gary helping to place other decorations on it

Or Bae’s selfie of the Trio with her together with a snowman that looks like a certain Galar Champion, stolen cape and all

Gou fears for a while that they were all just being awkwardly nice about it until Kabu find them out at night behind Opals mansion they were staying at and gently nudges the truth towards them that they actually LIKE having Gou with them and participating with their family shenanigans and other shit and that they ARE family now because do you honestly think Delia is going to let go of you know? Because she sure as hell hasn’t let go of Kahuna Nanu in Alola

God when Ash brings all his friends who don’t have Good Families over it becomes even more Chaotic

Opals like “WHAT DO YOU M E A N YOU NEVER BAKED COOKIES UNTIL THREE IN THE MORNING?????”

And Lillie and Melony talk about ice types over a cup of hot coco why Allister, Bae, and a shit ton of other people are loosing their mind over Silvally because it can change TYPING W T F GLADION

and Ash is like “oh it’s Silvally!” And Gary would be intrigued but Ash literally shares EVERYTHING with him so he can meet the Pokémon another time when Gladion isn’t so bombarded by people bc the blonde was so used to people in Alola who are used to seeing Silvally that he forgot Alola is definitely not like everywhere else

Hhh Serena, May, Dawn, Zoey, and a bunch of other girls talking with Opal, Oleana, and other female League members about fashion and the younger girls find out that the Women watch their performances religiously bc Ash flippantly said something and that got them interested now they can’t stop watch them

IRIS AND RAIHAN DUKING IT OUT ON THE BATTLE FEILD BC IRIS SAID HER DEAGONITE IS STRONGER AND BETTER THAN RAIHANS FLYGON AND HES LIKE “B E T YOU TINER FUCKER!!!!”

RAIHAN DUKING IT OUT WITH DRAYDEN, because he’s still cousins with Delia in this AU, AND W I N N I N G

So it’s canon, from the new Pokémon game app, that Iris is Leon and Hops cousin

So now Leon just rounds on Ash and is so confused bc Iris talked about this one boy name Ash with a Pikachu who acts like such a kid over face time but Leon didn’t make the connection it was THIS Ash she was traveling with

Hhh snuggle piles in the living room after a fun day outside building forts and what not

Like Ash is dead center in the kids pile bc he’s a kid at heart and Gary’s legs are thrown over his shoulder a bc Ash is in a blanket fort/nest with the other younger kids while Gary is pressed between Delia and Daisy

Opal is curled with Serena bc she’s currently getting deets in the fairy world in Kalos

PROFESSOR OAK TALKING TO MELONY ABOUT ICE TYPES BC HE USED TO BE AN ICE TYPE TRAINER BEFORE COMING KANTOS PROFESSOR

All the younger trainers are so focused on the movies as the adults just talk quietly in the background

And Gou is laying over Ash’s lap while on their phone and Ash doesn’t say anything even though his legs are falling asleep

Idk I’m gonna have Lance as Delia’s brother in this AU

But that doe NOT stop him from acting like Ash’s uncle because Ash ripped Lances two titles out from under him in three years

Leon has been Champion for 20-something years instead of the in game 10 Years

So that it could be plausible that Trainer!Leon and Bby!Ash/Gary could meet each other