Chapter Text
As snow drifted lazily down onto the ground, the hustle and bustle of Circhester always made your heart giddy. People were putting up lights, snom were building snowmen and happily squeaking at each other, children were running around, laughing at the game they were playing. A smile graced your lips as you sat down on the cold bench, a warm cup of hot chocolate in your hands. The fragrance of it was enough to send you into a half-lidded trance, watching the whole thing unfold. You didn’t even notice a certain someone approaching you.
Of course, to Raihan, you were always beautiful. Something about your laugh, your smile and the passion you put into things was completely memorizing. You were the cutest thing in the world to him, yet in battle, you had the same, primal and feral passion as he did. It was quite the spectacle when the two of you fought on the slip. It was now one of the most recorded matches of all time, especially since it was so close. Now, something about you sitting there, completely serene, the small snowflakes resting on your shoulders just made him nuts.
He cleared his head by shaking it before approaching you, his heart racing. You hadn’t even acknowledged he was there, and he was already a mess. Shit, just what have you done to him? He cleared his throat, but you didn’t seem to notice. So he walked closer, finally getting into eye sight, and you smile went from tranquil to utterly excited. You could almost blind him if you kept that up.
“Raihan! Hey! What are you doing here?!”
He swallowed hard, smiling back at you, unable for you to leave his gaze.
“I figured I’d stop by and see how you were doing, champ. I know you said you didn’t have much family in Galar.”
“Awwwh, how sweet of you~” You teased, giving him a wink and scooting over for him to join you. He hoped his blush wasn’t noticeable.
As he sat down, it was almost like it was instinct for you to lean your head against his shoulder. He was so much taller than you, and his fluffy dragon jacket was on, so he both doubled as a heater and the comfiest pillow of all time. Though it was freezing out, Raihan felt like he was overheating. His stomach dropped when you pulled away and sipped on your hot chocolate.
“I’m surprised you’re over here in Circhester, mister dragon. Isn’t ice super effective against you?”
He chuckled. “Yes, but thankfully, I have super high special defense.”
You just laughed along with him, taking another sip. “Are you going to be staying with your family on Christmas?”
“I am, yeah,” he said with a smile. “They’re all going to be gathering in Hammerlocke.”
“Do you have a big family?” you asked, looking up at him with your little smile you always had.
“I-I do, yeah,” he stuttered. That always made his heart skip a beat.
“How many?”
He thought for a second, starting to count on his fingers. “Two sisters, a brother, my grandparents, parents, a couple of nieces and nephews from my sisters sides, their husbands, yada yada.” He sent a smile your way, but you simply sighed and looked down at your hot chocolate.
“That must be a lot to deal with. My family is small, and they’re all in Sinnoh.”
A moment of silence between the two of you, but eventually, he broke the ice.
“What made you come here?”
You shrugged. “Sinnoh wasn’t quite right for me anymore. Besides, I found a better family here anyways.” You smiled, but your smile seemed forced, and Raihan found himself asking for the impossible.
“You could come be with my family.” He mentally chided himself that he even blurted that out, looking away and waiting for the crushing sting of denial. Why would he even ask such a preposterous thing? It wasn’t like he usually brought girls to family gatherings anyways. How many questions would he be asked about if you were his girlfriend? Too many, and he was only just thinking about it.
“Would that be okay?”
“What?” he asked in bewilderment, his head turning back to you.
“I-I mean, if it’s not too much of a problem… I would like to come.”
You seemed to bury yourself in your hot chocolate, and Raihan so badly wanted to take a picture of your blush. You looked about as red as a cherubi, and he couldn’t help but smile.
“I would love for you to come, but I gotta preface that my family is probably going to ask if you’re my girlfriend.”
“I… wouldn’t really mind that.”
Now it was Raihan’s turn to be flustered, his face lighting up like a red Christmas light. “Did… did you just ask me out, indirectly??”
You started bouncing your leg, getting nervous. This was not at all how you expected this day to go. To have your biggest crush, suddenly right here, asking you to go to his family’s Christmas party, and you suddenly saying you wouldn’t mind being his girlfriend? Yeah, it was no wonder you weren’t looking him in the eyes.
“Y…Yes?” You were barely able to be heard, but soon enough, you felt an arm wrap around your figure and draw you to Raihan’s chest. He buried his nose into your hair, and you could feel his smile against your scalp. He held you tight, and with your head against his chest, you could clearly hear how fast his heart was beating.
“When you’re so cute like that, guess I’ve got no choice to call you mine, huh?”