Chapter Text
Raihan had showed up unannounced. When Piers saw him in the crowd he had an off feeling. Usually he would be happy that his friend payed him a visit, but today something was weird. Where Raihan would usually not shy away from the crowd, he now hid in the shadows of Spikemuth. Just out of sight for most people, behind the challenger he was battling. His eyes glittered with something that Piers couldn’t define. Was he angry? What was going on inside of him? Piers couldn’t tell and he didn’t have any time to further think about it.
Before long the challenger had won. A good knowledge of type advantage and the right items did Piers in. After congratulations and handing over the badge, Raihan approached Piers.
“That girl messed ya up good, huh?”
Obstagoon stopped gnawing at the revive and looked up at Raihan.
“Beat my arse fair ‘n’ square. She’s your problem now!”
Piers patted the dust off his clothes.
“She’s good, got some serious talent. Not many people make it to ya, so when I heard someone managed, I wanted ta see. Two losses in one day first ya little sister now this.”
“Marnie’s gonna wipe the floors with ya, mate.”
Raihan looked around. He wasn’t wearing his usual get up, or as he would say: undercover. In reality someone as tall as Raihan was never undercover.
“Can I talk to ya some where quiet?”
“Well day’s over, so why don’t we go ta my place ‘n’ help ourselves to some beer?”
“Perfect.”
They made their way through the dark and narrow alleys of Spikemuth. In spite of how run down the city looked in the gym area, the hidden parts where colourful. Neon signs of bars and businesses illuminated the streets and groups of people where having a good time.
“Oi Piers, where yew off ta?”
When he saw one of the gym trainers, he grinned and flipped him off with both hands. The man burst out laughing. Piers led Raihan into an apartment complex and up several flights of stairs. The walls of the stair cases had graffiti on them.
“Wow Piers, your place is a lot cleaner than I thought.”
Obstagoon and Skuntank curled up by the balcony door.
“Can’t let Marnie live in a Lechonk sty, now can I?”
“I guess you’re right. Hey mate, where’s ya restroom?”
“Oh, ’s tha’ door.”
While Piers rummaged through the cupboards, Raihan closed the bathroom door behind himself. After looking for some time he settled on a packet of crisps.
“Oi Raihan, fancy a beer?”
“Sounds good.”
“So wha’ ‘d ya wanna talk ‘bout anyway?”
“This.”
Raihan was leaning against the door frame, smirking. He had taken off his shirt. His dark skin was interrupted by several scars of various sizes that had formed from painful wounds. Dragons where ferocious creatures.
“Wha’ the fuck…”
“Impressed? Of course ya are. Ya can barely hide it.”
Piers was, in fact, not impressed. On his face was a mixture of confusion, surprise and fear. The hairs at the back of his neck stood up and he could feel the adrenaline coursing through his veins.
“Rai-”
“It’s okay I’m used to it. Most people just don’t get to see some one like me all that often.”
“Wh-”
“Meowth got ya tongue? What’s on ya mind, huh baby?”
Raihan put his large hand on Piers’ waist and pulled him closer. Piers in turn was frozen. With Raihan towering over him he felt like a child. He only regained his ability to move when Raihan leaned in for a kiss. Within a split second Piers lifted his hand and struck the other man as hard as he could. The slap was loud. Raihan stumbled back and let his fingers glide over his cheek. His ears where ringing from the attack. Piers swallowed as tears pricked in his eyes. For a minute neither knew what to say or do.
It was Piers to move again first. He sank down against the fridge door. Skuntank quickly skittered to his trainer’s side and nudged him gently. Sobs shook Piers’ body as he put his face on his knees.
Raihan sat beside Piers on the floor. He moved his hand to push the other’s bangs aside.
“Piers, I-”
A growl stopped Raihan dead in his tracks. Obstagoon had it’s own opinion about the situation. At this point, Raihan was glad he only took off his shirt.
“Did I do something?”
Piers took a deep, shaky breath. His eyes where red and his cheeks where stained with runny eyeliner. He turned to look at Raihan.
“Sorry.”
Raihan’s stomach turned. He never thought a simple sorry could feel so wrong. Something was not right.
“Don’t be. D’ ya… wanna talk ‘bout it?”
“t’s an ugly story ‘n’ a long one too.”
Piers wiped the tears off his cheeks.
“Maybe talkin’ ‘bout it makes it a li’l bit better?”
“Growin’ up we where dirt poor. Spikemuth was even worse of than it is now. Marnie ‘n’ I lost our mum really early, so we where raised by our dad. He was a bloody useless bastard. Worked at the harbour, made decent money but most of tha’ went ta whiskey. When he wasn’t at work he was pissin’ it away in one bar or another. When Marnie was seven ‘n’ I was thirteen, we got taken in by our neighbours. I started the gym challenge and became the Spikemuth gym leader.”
Piers took a deep breath.
“A week after I turned sixteen, the chairman said he wanted to meet me in Wyndon. When I sat in his office, he looked at me ‘n’ he asked me: “How badly do you want your sister to grow up in a nicer town?” I said: “Very.” I told myself to just lie down and take it, to do it for Marnie and for Spikemuth. When he was done I felt so… dirty ‘n’… used. I just wanted the best for everyone. That was the first time I…”
He turned to look at Raihan, awaiting a reaction. Shock, disgust, anything. A quiet exit, even. Instead he found something he couldn't quite read.
“Piers…”
“It’s okay. Ya can leave if ya want ta.”
“Did ya ever tell anyone?”
Piers shook his head.
“Couldn’ bring myself to. Feels good ta finally talk ‘bout it ta someone.”
“D’ ya want a hug?”
All that Piers could muster was a nod and a squeak. He crawled into Raihan’s lap and closed his eyes. After a minute of listening to Raihan’s heartbeat Piers finally felt calm.
“Since when?”
“Wha’?”
“Since when did ya wanna do this for?”
“About a year. Since ya nineteenth birthday ta be exact.”
Raihan remembered the day as if it was yesterday. The way Spikemuth’s neon lights danced on Piers’ skin, the sliver of exposed tummy, his smile and that brief singular moment where it seemed like Piers was the only other person in the world.
“Wanna get on the couch?”
“Yeah.”
Piers crawled out of the mutual embrace.
“I’m gonna get dressed again.”
When Raihan tried to put his arm around Piers, he was gently rejected. Instead Piers put his head on Raihan’s shoulder.
“We could try it. Datin’ I mean. Cuz ta be honest, I think yer kinda cute too.”
“It would be an honour.”
Piers’ lips slowly turned into a smile. Then he started laughing. A beautiful sincere laugh.
“My dearest Piers, it would be an honour to lead you into holy matrimony! Raihan, you’re bloody adorable.”
Piers did his best to feign a posh accent. Raihan blushed slightly. They kept talking until they didn’t any more. Raihan enjoyed it. Enjoyed the silence, the weight of Piers body leaning against him. Piers on the other hand was fast asleep. The other man looked down at him. Raihan gently pushed the other’s bangs away.
‘His hair is so soft.”
For the first time Raihan could remember, Piers’ features where relaxed. There was no frown or snarl in sight.
The lock clicked open behind Raihan.
“Oi Piers- wha’re yew doin’ ‘ere?”
Raihan turned and put a finger to his lips.
“Shhh, ya brother's asleep. Had a long day.”
Carefully, as to not wake him up, Raihan picked Piers up.
‘He weighs almost nothing.’
“Where’s his room?”
Marnie opened the door and watched as her brother was tucked in.
“Wha’re yew doin’ ‘ere?”
“I wanted ta talk to ya brother.”
The young girl squinted at him as he slipped out the door.
Waiting for his taxi, he thought about what had happened. He remembered the fear in Piers’ eyes when he tried to kiss him and shuddered at the fact that he had just ignored it. He felt disgusting. Piers had carried those feelings and memories around for years and never even alluded to it. Raihan thought about how Piers and the chairman interacted. Piers always kept Rose at arms length, literally and especially physically. He did his best to annoy Rose whenever he could, showing up late and not answering calls. He always thought Piers just didn’t like Rose because of something to do with Spikemuth and dynamaxing or differences in overall politics, but he wouldn’t have guessed something like this in a million years.
He thought about how Spikemuth had looked when he went there during the gym challenge. Piers was right. It looked like it had been decaying for decades with no one stepping up to do something about it. Now it looked hopeful in comparison. But the hope was tainted. It was all build on the sacrifice of one man.
‘I will be there for Piers.’
Raihan thought as he closed the door of the Corvinight taxi.
‘I have to.’