It started out innocently enough, Piers supposed.
In a stadium locker room after his first finals as a Gym Leader, he'd felt… well honestly he'd felt a panic attack coming on. He wasn't cut out for all this. All these people, the spotlight - he was much more at home in a dark club where no one knew who he was.
He was aware of someone else coming in, but hadn't been able to pull himself together.
How embarrassin', he thought, breathing shallow and so tense he was near shaking, Guess it'll be out now.
Whoever it was, they didn't say anything - just quietly sat next to him. He felt the point of contact between them - a bare, brown knee against his own.
Raihan, he placed, then a very new Gym Leader. Piers hadn't known what to make of him then, but he was… grateful. For the silence - and the company.
After a few minutes, that point of contact was enough to pull him out of his own head enough that he leaned into the taller man, "Sorry."
He found an arm easily thrown over his shoulders, "No need for that. Just focus on relaxing, mate."
There hadn't been much more to that first encounter - Piers had calmed down, Raihan had walked with him to the after-party. They hadn't interacted much there, though the taller man's discretion was… appreciated.
But from then on, Raihan… checked in after big matches. For the first few times, he just sat and chatted until Piers calmed down. Then he decided to… try something new.
"Do you think a massage would help?" the taller man had asked.
Piers had shrugged, "Couldn' hurt, I guess…"
Raihan had snorted, "Turn around, then."
The dark type Leader had hesitantly done so, straddling the bench to show the other man his back.
At the first touch of large, warm hands on his shoulders, he flinched - he wasn't entirely used to being touched in general. Didn't much like it. But…
He'd sighed, soon finding his tension melting under skilled kneading and pressure. Raihan seemed to know what he was doing well enough - more than well enough.
"Well," the dragon type leader had chuckled, "Seems to have worked well enough, after all."
"Tosser," Piers had muttered.
Raihan had laughed at that, "And there's gratitude for you!"
The taller man wasn't really offended - they both knew it. And the dark type leader was grateful - something else they both knew.
It became their new habit - but it didn't end there. Raihan started finding him at parties and VIP events - things that also made Piers nervous.
At one event, Raihan's arm over his shoulders, the dragon type leader had asked softly, "Does this help?"
Piers had taken a drink, then a glance around at the posh sponsors and executives, then replied, "Yeah."
Raihan had given his shoulders a light squeeze in acknowledgment - and that had been it.
And then Raihan had been away during a big match, and it was like the first time all over again. Almost worse, since he'd gone so long with a… friend.
Except his panicking had still been interrupted - by their erstwhile Champion.
Leon had sat next to him much like Raihan did at first, and said, "Rai asked me to sit with you after the match. He didn't say why, and I'll leave if you like, but-"
"No," Piers had swallowed around a lump in his throat, head in his hands.
The Champion had put a hand on his back, then started rubbing gentle circles, "Is it always this bad?"
The dark type leader had nodded.
"Why do it, then?" Leon had asked, "You don't have to answer."
Piers hand reached into his pocket, and pulled up a picture of Marnie on his phone - passing it to the Champion, "My sister. Want ta… give 'er tha gym when…"
"I understand, mate," Leon had said, passing the phone back. Then he'd pulled out his own phone, pulling up a picture of a kid about the same age, "My brother, Hop. He tells me he's going to beat me to become Champion someday."
The dark type Leader had felt an immediate kinship at that. For the rest of the time that Raihan was away, Leon had continued to sit with him after matches - and stuck close by at the parties and events.
He'd thought maybe things would go back to… 'normal' when the dragon type leader returned, but instead, he found he had two companions looking out for him.
Raihan was still the one to offer massages, but now Leon would be there with easy conversation - mostly swapping stories about their younger siblings. When Piers had started putting out music, Leon had asked about that - always a relaxing subject for the dark type leader.
Which wasn't to say Leon didn't touch him - he was less tactile than Raihan, but he would still offer a clasped shoulder or knee.
At events, he always had one or both of them as a shadow - or rather, as a light for him to shadow. They both drew attention in their own way, dazzling and distracting reporters and fans from Piers. It was… strangely liberating.
And then there had been a big gala in Wyndon, inviting Gym Leaders from other regions. Everyone had been put up in a fancy hotel, and the two strongest trainers in Galar were in too high demand to be at Piers's side.
But that was fine, he'd decided - they deserved the recognition and liked the attention. He could handle a few nights on his own.
Sometimes he forgot he was considered the third strongest trainer in Galar.
Without his usual shields, he found himself quite the object of attention as well - and it took all he had to keep it together until he could politely excuse himself. He was already shaking by the time the elevator let him off on his room's floor, and had resigned himself to a restless night.
And then he had turned the corner to see Raihan and Leon waiting at the door to his room.
"Sorry we couldn't-" Leon started.
Piers had shook his head, using the key card to open the door and grabbing them both by the wrist to pull them inside. Raihan had taken charge - gotten Piers out of his jacket and having him sit on the bed to get his boots off. Leon had sat next to him, rubbing comforting circles on his back and holding his hand.
When he was suitably undressed for comfort, Raihan had him lie down, and then he found himself sandwiched between the other two men. It still took a while before the shaking stopped.
But all the time, hands had been on him - familiar, gentle hands stroking his hair, his sides, his back - familiar, comforting gestures that kept him from falling over the edge. And when he'd finally calmed down, he'd been so exhausted from it all he'd just passed out.
The next two nights went the same way - and then it became another habit. Well, of a sort. If they were in a city none of them lived in, they shared a hotel room - sometimes it was just two of them, but usually all three.
But if they were in each other's cities…
Leon had an apartment in Wyndon, since most of his Champion business was there. It was only clean because of a company paid for maid, curtesy of Chairman Rose - neither Piers or Raihan had any illusions about that. It was a penthouse suite - practically the size of a house. Had all the amenities - training room, mini spa, a fucking fountain.
But usually, the three of them just hung out on the couch in front of a telly the size of a wall. They'd chat, play video games, watch battle videos… and Piers would itch for one of them to touch him.
Raihan's flat was more reasonable, though still done up. A top floor over-looking Hammerlocke, but usually at least a little untidy and more of a bachelor pad. The thing Piers and Leon found the most amusing was his computer set up - three monitors and a ring light, all ready for streaming.
Fans started making a game out of catching Leon or Piers in the background - though it was usually Leon sneaking up to pull a prank. Piers was content to just listen to Raihan talk and watch the antics… and, even though he was fine, miss the feeling of hands stroking through his hair.
Piers's townhouse was the most… modest of the three. He kept it clean and in good shape for Marnie's sake. He'd introduced her the first time they had come over, though at first all she'd had to offer the other men were glares.
He didn't have a big telly or fancy computer set up, but that didn't seem to bother his… companions. They were just as happy to play games and hang out, though the smaller sofa meant it was a bit more close quarters. Piers wasn't as apologetic about that as he claimed to be.
After they'd been over and left a few times, Marnie had fixed her brother with one of her looks and said, "Yer 'appier with them around."
"Yeah," Piers had replied, doing the dishes from the dinner the four of them had shared.
"Guess they're alright, then," the girl had replied, and returned to the homework she'd pulled out at the kitchen table.
And so they'd carried on. But things always change. Marnie grew older, and went through the Gym Challenge - along with Leon's kid brother Hop and his bessie from Postwick.
And now there was a new Champion, and Piers wasn't a Gym Leader, and he didn't quite know where that left… them.
They'd never defined their relationship - or whatever it was they had. Piers was pretty sure Leon and Raihan were sleeping together, but he'd never been part of that. Which was just as well - he wasn't very keen on the idea in the first place. Well, not usually - but maybe with those two…
It didn't matter. He didn't have to go to all the fancy parties or big stadium battles anymore, so he didn't really need comforting anymore. So if they wanted to bugger off together, that was their perogative.
At least, that's what he told himself after not seeing either of them for a month after the rather disastrous end to Gym Challenge.
He should have known better by now.
"Told ya," Marnie's voice cut over the music at the pub he'd been drinking in.
"Yeah, yeah, my bad," and that was Raihan, just a minute before Piers found himself hoisted out of his chair.
"I'm goin' out fer tha night, then," Marnie said, and her brother was only dimly aware of what else was happening.
All his drunk mind seemed to register was leaning into the familiar, tall warmth of the other man - even with the muttered curses as they walked through the streets of Spikemuth.
The next thing he knew, he was in bed, cuddled up with Raihan.
The dragon type leader was already awake, and sat up to reach behind him, "Here, drink some water."
Piers sat up as well to accept the cup and oblige, "Sorry fer tha trouble."
"Sorry we've been so busy," Raihan replied, "Should have at least texted, but after that mess with Rose…"
Oh, right, the dark type leader thought, feeling a bit daft. Still…
"Hey, Raihan," Piers asked, "What are we?"
"You and me, or you, me, and Leon?" Raihan replied, taking the cup back and setting it on the nightstand.
"Yeah," the dark type user replied.
The taller man shrugged, "What do you want us to be?"
It took Piers a minute to decide, "Datin'?''?"
"Just you and me?" Raihan asked, scooting to sit against the headboard.
"Nah," the dark type user said, head still fuzzy from drink as he laid back down - resting his head on the other man's lap, "I… like ya both. Wouldn' wanna…"
The dragon type leader carded fingers through his Piers's hair, smiling faintly, "Well, we'll have to check for certain, but I think Leon would be fine with that. I can say I am."
Piers found himself drifting off again, though his sleep felt less restless this time.
When he woke again, it was to a pounding head and two…
"Leon said yes," Raihan yawned, disturbed by the dark type user stirring, "But he's been running around so much I doubt we'll be able to rouse him for a while."
Two boyfriends in his too small bed. Leon was completely out - and snoring to boot. There were dark circles under his eyes Piers didn't recognize, and he felt all the more daft for assuming the other two had simply left him behind.
"Marnie in?" Piers asked, rubbing his face.
"She flew out to Postwick to stay with the Champion for a few days," Raihan peeked one eye open with a grin, "Seemed to think we needed time alone together."
The dark type user rolled his eyes, then got up to use the toilet and get some more water. Then he went back to bed - and it felt nice to cuddle between his boyfriends again.