punchtheflowers | blossom; cellphone

[Oh. Vinnie blinked, surprised that there was something more. He took a slow sip from his straw as his mind wandered blindly in search for what to expect. Some kind of news that trumped evolving? No, he was drawing a complete blank.]

Go for it?

[Well then. Bulba took a breath, and nodded, lightly running his thumbs over the sids of his cup. He kept his gaze on Vinnie, quietly reassuring himself again that it would probably be ok, even if it hurt a little later.]

I like you a lot, Vinnie. More than just friends, I mean.

[This, somehow, did not manage to penetrate his skull.

Of course they were more than just friends. Vinnie had said it before, he considered Bulba like kin - for all their differences, the same blood ran through their veins. They were connected in a way that most friends couldn't relate.

His head tilted slightly.] Well... we already are, aren't we?

[Bulba. Stared. The level of density he had just run in to was way more than anticipated. In a way, it was a lot like when he had tried to tell Kirby the first time. He smiled a bit, since though it was a bit frustrating it was also touching in its own way that he thought their bond was so close.

Just... not in the way Bulba had intended.] Well, yeah, but that's... not what I mean.

[Words alone weren't going to work. Bulba hesitated just a moment before he reached out, gently cupping his hand against Vinnie's cheek. That strange, elusive sweetness returned, mingling gently with the fruity scents of the tea shop as Bulba continued:]

I mean I would want to be in a relationship with you. ... More than we already are.

[He leaned across the table for just a second to place a very quick, soft peck on Vinnie's lips before he sat back and picked up his drink again with both hands.]

That's what I mean.

[The kiss was too brief for Vinnie to think about how to react to it - he just stared back in stunned silence at the strange bit of deja vu that just happened. It wasn't the first time Bulba had kissed him, but they were in a dream that time - that was different. It was different because...

No, more to the point at hand. Bulba wanted a relationship with him. The kind that involved kissing. Vinnie could only respond to that prospect with monumental disbelief.

He wasn't like Kirby. He didn't smile the way Kirby did, or have any of his infectious innocence. As far as he saw it, he was mostly just a massive source of worry half the time.

So there was a long pause that eventually ended with Vinnie looking very lost.]

But... why?

Why...?

[There were a lot of things that could have been said. He could have tried to pull out all sorts of reasons, but thinking them over, they just sounded a bit silly. It was hard to pick out the ones that could stand alone when it was hard to even pinpoint when it was that Bulba realized he cared about him so strongly. That in itself was a reason to want it though, wasn't it?]

Because... You're you, I guess. [He shrugged, smiling a bit sheepishly again.]

I'm really happy, when I'm with you.

[For an instant, Vinnie's chest felt lighter knowing that being with him made Bulba happy. That he just liked him for who he was.

It was just flattering that someone would like him that way, right? This flutter in his chest, the stiffness in his throat was just a reaction to unaccustomed flattery. His face was going pink, and starting to look visibly flustered.

Vinnie had no idea what to say. He was running around his own brain, growing more and more frantic as the silence grew longer, but remained at a loss.]

So... you...

Uh.

[Oh god.]

How did this... even? I mean, you didn't always, uh.

[He was dying.]

[Bulba had been more or less okay up until this point. He'd felt oddly calm, all things considered, and had managed to say what he wanted to say without much trouble at all for once.

He had not considered just how flustered Vinnie could have potentially gotten. He didn't really think there'd be too much of a reason for it. Bulba's blush crept back slightly after the appearance of Vinnie's, and he idly fiddled with his straw.]

Um. No. Not always.

[Fiddle fiddle.]

Since late last summer, I guess.

[Fiddle.]

Probably.

[Sip.]

[Oh no, now his awkwardness was making Bulba feel awkward. That was just great, Vinnie. You were great. Embarrassed by the lack of grace in his own responses, his face began turning even redder. It was obvious that it'd taken Bulba a long time to tell him this, and now he was just fucking it up.

He desperately wished he had something to do right now, something that would at least keep him occupied enough to let his mind sort out what it wanted to say. His gaze fell down towards his drink, which he stared at intently.]

Sorry. I kinda suck at this...

[Vinnie took a deep, long drink - one that looked like he was just trying to inhale the whole thing in one breath instead of enjoying it. He managed about a quarter before he had to start chewing all the pearls. The task seemed to help, a little.]

I... haven't thought about relationships since forever. [A confession, and an uneasy one.] I barely remember the last time I even had a crush. Even longer since I had a girlfriend.

[The tone in his voice was certain he couldn't make a good boyfriend. He didn't even know how to be a boyfriend. When even someone as timid and awkward as Marie could acknowledge what his heart wanted and Vinnie couldn't, well... he didn't know what it said about him.]

[Bulba chuckled quietly and shook his head.]

You're fine. I'm the one that dropped it on you out of the blue, I should be the one apologizing.

[But he listened intently, watching the other Venusaur decimate a good portion of his drink in one go. Hm.]

I don't... think that's bad at all. Not everyone wants one, after all, and that's okay. Or you just haven't met anyone that you would think of like that, I think that's okay too.

[Vinnie was lost in thought as he stirred his bubble tea with the straw. Perhaps it wasn't an innately bad quality, but it did leave him completely stumped with what he actually wanted for himself. He gave advice to Sasha and Marie and Sonny, but when it came to himself? All his reasoning faltered. It was all very hypocritical of him, in hindsight. What right did he have to say about anything they did when he was at such a loss on his own?

With a heavy sigh, he took another sip from his drink. A more reasonable sip, this time. It wasn't a good feeling, having to reject another's friend wish become closer just because his heart was too unprepared for it. He hated excuses.]

I dunno if I got it in me t'think about the boyfriend thing right now. I mean, I spent so long rememberin' how to like me at all, an' now that I'm suddenly on my own, I...

[Looking frustrated with himself, Vinnie suddenly cut off that train of thought. Rather than delve into that particular mire of feelings, he glanced outside the window instead. His voice was solemn, introspective.]

It's always been like this. There was always something important I had t'do instead've thinking 'bout what I might want. I still need to... become who I wanna be, Bulba. I need to at least figure that out before I do anything else.

[The sip he had been taking got that much more difficult to swallow. Saying he didn't know if he could think about the boyfriend thing now almost made it seem like there was a possibility later and that. Was. Unexpected. Also increasingly unimportant the more Bulba listened to what Vinnie had to say.

Tentatively, Bulba reached out and gently set his hand on top of Vinnie's, giving him a somewhat earnest look.]

Good. Figuring out what you want for you is what I'd really prefer you to do too... I think that should be most important.

[Vinnie didn't look like he was convinced that was necessarily the case. He'd told himself that he didn't want to rely on anyone else to give himself meaning, but it felt like a flimsy excuse to not deal with what was sitting in front of him. Bulba had managed to face up to his own feelings - he'd even gathered the determination to tell the other Venusaur. It deserved acknowledgement, at least - even if his own answers were mostly likely unsatisfying ones.]

Even if I did feel ready... I guess I've only really liked girls before.

[Though even then, it wasn't that many. There was an uncertain pause as he considered the hand placed on top of his own. Hadn't he once contemplated that it might be easier to date a friend?

Almost bashfully, he chewed on the end of his bubble tea straw.]

But... if it was you, I could give it a shot one day.

[Ah, there it was. This was the part he had known to anticipate. The regrettable rejection that gosh he kind of appreciated the sentiment, but boys weren't his thing. That was how things were supposed to go. Bulba nodded his head, a look of understanding and acceptance playing out over his features already at this expected outcome.

The way Vinnie chewed on his straw was kind of adorable confusing though.

It took a few moments for the words that he said to catch up with his brain. Bulba blinked at him. His face quickly deepened in color before he realized it, and his eyes widened as he slightly lifted his hand in surprise.]

... H.. huh?

[Vinnie blinked and looked up at that moment too, confused at Bulba's reaction. Wasn't that what he wanted? Why'd he sound so taken aback?]

What?

I, um... Well...

[How to put it. Bulba chewed on his lip, suddenly way more bashful than when he thought he knew what was going on.]

Haha, I... didn't think you'd actually say anything other than "no."

And you still wanted t'tell me?

[There was a note of disbelief in there, but the kind that was rather impressed with the determination on Bulba's part. It was a bold move to confess liking someone, but to do it while certain you'd be turned down? Vinnie gave a faint, awkward chuckle, a little embarrassed to have departed from this script.]

Well, it's definitely not something I ever considered before... but I don't know for sure that I'd hate it, even if it's not a sure thing. Plus, I mean...

[His eyes were at once both determined and uncertain as he looked into Bulba's own.]

I already care 'bout you, a lot. What we already have makes me fucking grateful for it. I don't want that t'go.

If you think there could be more, I'd... try and find it for you.

[He was dreaming, probably. That was the only logical explanation for how he was thrust back into the role of a racing heart beat and subtly held breath. He was saying he could look for it. Not right now, Bulba had to remind himself, but... Maybe...

Bulba was completely sure he was going to explode any moment now. He looked back at Vinnie, unable to hide the bit of hope that had dared to make its presence known, and smiled shyly.]

..You... can certainly take your time. To try and find it. Or if you wanted to... try things...

[He glanced back down at their hands on the table. He let his settle on top of Vinnie's again, gaining his confidence back.]

I wanted to tell you because I wanted to be a better friend to you. You mean so much to me and... I was sure what we have wouldn't go away.

[He squeezed Vinnie's hand gently, looking back up to meet his gaze again.]

Whether you find it or not, I'll be here for you either way. I won't give that much up.

[While the mantra of I don't know what I'm doing was still cycling over and over in Vinnie's head, there was a wave of relief in his gut knowing that either way, Bulba would still be his friend.

He felt scared though - it surprised him how much, after all he'd been through, but there was a very real anxiety there. After all, it took this long for their bond to grow into state it was. He was comfortable. It felt safe. Yet now that he had to face the idea of venturing out further, Vinnie was blind, feeling his way through darkness in territory he hadn't crossed through in years and years.

He really had no idea what he was doing, and it made him feel lumbering, clumsy, ungraceful and stupid. Nervously, he started chewing his straw again.]

You don't have t'wait for me or anything, I mean. Fuck knows how long it'd take for me to get my shit together.

I only wait for those that are worth it.

[Patient as he was, even Bulba knew there was a limit to it. After Green, the number of people he had hat apparently limitless patience for was a very slim number.]

You definitely are.

[He gave Vinnie's hand a slight pat before he reluctantly withdrew his own, offering up a warmer smile.]

I'm not going to wither away pining or anything silly like that though, don't worry. If something else happens, it happens, but... I'll be happy just hanging out with you. Besides it was kind of selfish of me to dump this on you anyway...

Figure out you first.

[Worth it. Vinnie's face went bright red at those words. His heart was shaking, as though it was laughing very loudly, and very awkwardly at this somewhat ironic turn of events. He withdrew his own hand to bring it to his face, an unconscious urge to just hide his utterly flustered expression behind it.

An involuntary smile was creeping over his lips though. It was scary but... kind of nice. Just to know he was thought of in that way.

It kind of made sense that this was something Bulba wanted to break to him at prom. But now that he was thinking on it...]

So... wait.

Is this why Green made me dance that incredibly awkward slow dance with him?

[THAT MADE A LOT OF SENSE but it was starting to crack him up, looking back.]

[Bulba's ears perked straight up for a second before flicking back as he suddenly had to remember prom night for himself. That had happened that had totally happened.]

Aha... haha.. ha...

[The shiny Venusaur looked away, following suit and partially hiding his face behind his hand as he held his chin in it.]

P-probably... That was all him, though, I didn't know he was going to do that.

[Maybe it was just all this pent up pressure in his chest, but Vinnie couldn't help but break in a peal of laughter. A feeling of relief washed over him as he let it out - just this whole situation, man.]

Hahaha oh my god... ahaha... shit, no wonder he was askin' me stuff outta nowhere.

Stuff like what.

Haha... uh.

[He had to take a second to actually recall how their conversation went. Yeah, in hindsight, Vinnie could really see where Green was coming from. Idly, he scratched his face.]

Just, like, how that Garden trip went. If I'd look out for you.

blossom; cellphone

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