Archive of Our Own ^beta

Leon was used to surprises. As the Galar Champion, everything from new challengers to unexpected weather—snow, rain, hail for gods sake—in the Wild Area could throw his schedule into chaos. But there was one person who had mastered the art of catching him completely off guard, and that was Fie.

Leon had been gone for nearly two weeks. Not gone, but not home enough to define him and Fie as inseparable. Between exhibition matches, training camps, and the Champion’s endless PR appearances, the days had blurred into a rush of faces and flashbulbs. But tonight, for the first time in what felt like forever, he was heading home, where Fie had promised something “special.”

“Special” could mean anything. With Fie, it might be a quiet dinner for two, or it might involve a fully decorated rooftop and a string quartet. Leon grinned to himself as he walked down the narrow hall of their shared flat, the scent of something faintly sweet—like roasted pecha berries—hanging in the air.

He unlocked the door, kicked off his shoes, and called softly, “Fie? I’m home!”

No answer.

He set down his cape near the couch and followed the sound of faint rustling from the next room. The lights were dimmed, soft orange flickers dancing across the walls. Leon’s eyes narrowed curiously. Was that…?

The door creaked open, and Leon froze.

Standing in the middle of their bedroom was Fie, fully dressed as Charizard.

Not just a costume, this was almost artistry. The deep orange fabric shimmered like scales under the soft lighting, wings unfurled with careful stitching that looked strong enough for flight. Fie had even styled his hair into a fiery crest, and a small light at the tip of his tail flickered with a gentle glow.

For a long moment, Leon could only stare, his mind trying to process what he was seeing. Nothing, absolutely nothing, had prepared him for this.

“Surprise!” Fie said, cheeks pink but eyes sparkling. “Thought I’d bring your favorite partner to life.”

Leon’s grin broke across his face like sunlight after rain. “You.. Wh—Fie, are you serious right now? You… you dressed up as Charizard?”

Fie turned in a slow circle, showing off the costume. “Do you like it?” he said, a teasing lilt in his voice. “I spent three days getting the details right. I even watched your old match footage to make sure the tail angle was accurate.”

Leon could feel his heart swelling with the same warmth he always felt when he looked at Charizard, only now, somehow, it was doubled. “Like it?” he said, stepping closer, his eyes wide with boyish excitement. “It’s incredible! You’re—this is—you’re perfect!”

Fie’s laugh was soft, but there was color in his cheeks. “Glad to know I’ve got the Champion’s approval.”

Leon couldn’t help but circle him, like a kid inspecting his favorite toy. “The wings actually move… And the flame! How did you—wait, is that safe?”

“It’s just a light,” Fie assured him, tugging the tail gently to show the flickering bulb inside. “I wouldn’t risk setting the flat on fire for romance. Not again.”

“Again?” Leon raised an eyebrow, his smile crooked.

“That one time with the candles,” Fie reminded him.

Leon chuckled, remembering the evening vividly—the dinner, the toppled candle, the emergency bucket of water. He shook his head fondly. “Right. That disaster.”

Fie stepped closer, wings rustling softly. “Well, I figured this would be safer. And maybe more you.”

Leon’s grin softened. He reached out and brushed his fingers over Fie’s cheek, amazed by how every bit of this man managed to disarm him. “You didn’t have to do all this,” he said, his voice low. “Just seeing you is enough.”

“You have no idea how much I missed you,” Leon murmured.

Fie leaned back slightly, his playful smirk returning. “Then I guess the costume worked.”

Leon tilted his head, pretending to study the outfit. “Hmm. You might need a battle test before we call it perfect.”

Fie arched a brow. “A battle test?”

“Yeah,” Leon said. “Let’s see if you can roar like him.”

Fie laughed so hard he nearly tripped on the tail. “You’re kidding.”

“Come on!” Leon grinned, crossing his arms. “If you’re going to be my Charizard, I need the full experience.”

Fie steadied himself, took a deep breath, and let out what could only be described as the least intimidating “roar” in Galar history. It was somewhere between a startled Growlithe and a squeaky balloon. You know those Ai TikTok’s where they’re asked to scream like they’re in a horror movie? Yeah.

Leon’s laughter echoed through the room, loud and unrestrained. “That was amazing!” he gasped between laughs. He was totally lying. “You sounded just like—like—”

“Don’t you dare say Wooloo,” Fie warned, but he was laughing too now, his wings shaking with the motion.

Leon wiped at his eyes, still chuckling. “You’re perfect,” he said again, more softly this time. “Charizard and all.”

Fie’s expression gentled. “You’re just saying that because you love me.”

“Exactly,” Leon said, smiling. “And because no one’s ever done anything like this for me before.”

Fie was content with that answer. Of course no one had the nerve to dress practically like a furry to surprise their boyfriend, but his approval was more than enough.