punchtheflowers | blossom; cellphone

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.

[It was Bulba's turn to start laughing, since he was simply too mortified to do much else.]

Oh...

[Bulba sunk in his seat a bit as if that would help him escape from what had already happened. Green you were embarrassing. This was embarrassing. Wholly appreciated, but mostly alarming.]

Geez...

[Now they were both laughing. Good. That was good.]

I think I said something right, but I don't... I had no clue, anyway. Ah...

I get it though. He just really cares about you.

[The chuckles subsided as Vinnie tried to reassure Bulba that it really wasn't all that bad, but his words had a solemn echo to them.]

[That one was slightly harder not to notice. Bulba was content to nod, not sure how to voice his appreciation for his trainer when that same night Red had... He supposed there was no good way to avoid it entirely. It was, however, something he felt Vinnie should be the one to bring up.

His chuckles were a bit slower to disperse entirely, settling into jolly little hums as his expression grew a bit thoughtful.]

I guess that means you passed then.

[Vinnie was doing his best not to think about Red right now. He took another drink of his tea to distract himself from the inevitable comparison, from mulling on the timing, from feeling unwanted. Someone else wanted him, and he was sitting right there. Even if it didn't fill that same empty space, he chided himself for being picky.]

Maybe? I don't know what grade I got, though. You'd have to ask him that.

The grade isn't quite as important this time, I think.

[Bulba took another sip himself, chewing thoughtfully on the stray pearls he picked up. He kept his eyes on his cup, tapping the straw with his finger.]

Though to tell you the truth, I probably wouldn't have listened this time even if it hadn't been a pass.

Hmmm. [Vinnie mused on this. He was going to wager a guess that no one else knew as of right now - otherwise he probably would've been on fire. Seeing how he was still pretty uncertain of what to do with himself, he was fine with it staying that way for now. This wasn't a date, officially, and nothing had really happened. It probably wouldn't for a while, so it didn't bear thinking too hard about.

Though it'd be an interesting day when he had to face up to the family.]

You'd really made up your mind about this, didn't you.

[Bulba nodded.]

... I wasn't going to say anything at first. I think I told you as much, actually. [He laughed a little at that, sounding a little embarrassed about it.]

It was just going to be a hassle and I knew that- [He paused, glancing up at Vinnie very briefly.] ...thought that nothing was going to come from it.

It might just be selfish of me, but I realized if I didn't say it I'd just regret it. I didn't want to do that. I didn't think Green was really going to approve at all either, but that wouldn't have changed how I feel.

[Vinnie smiled softly, still a little pink at the edges.]

Well. As long as you don't regret it now.

[Sheepishly, he sucked on his straw until it started making that obnoxious sound of having reached the very last bit of drink that refused to go up quietly. Ah. The Venusaur had been so busy trying to occupy himself, he'd went and polished off his drink a bit too quickly.]

Not at all.

[Bulba looked back up and smiled, hiding a bit of another laugh behind his hand.]

...Can I get you another drink? I probably owe you at least a few now.

What? Nah, I'm pretty full actually.

[It was the pearls. They were pretty filling for a saur's appetite. Vinnie swirled his straw around the little ice field left over in his cup, searching for tapioca stragglers that were left over.]

Goddamn, this does feel like a date. You paid an' everything.

[Did this make him the girl. Did it. Fuck.]

[Tricksy pearls.

Bulba's smile took a teasing edge to it.]

I told you.

[He opened his mouth to say something else, but quickly raised his straw to his lips instead. A suggestion that maybe next time they could go dutch was a bit too forward and pressuring when he didn't know if there would even be a next time.]

... I was happy to.

Fiiine. [Yeah okay Vinnie was an idiot, news to no one.]

This doesn't count as a first date though! Cuz I didn't know it was one. So there.

[With that fact firmly established, he slurped up the last few pearls and set the cup down.]

I'll ask you out when I'm ready. And I'll pay. Okay?

Heheh, fair enough.

[But then the inner yelling intensified. Bulba stared again, straw hanging loosely from his mouth for a second.

That was. Very straightforward. And sounded somewhat definitive, in its own way, just without a time attached. But it was... something. Bulba blinked.]

Okay.

[He couldn't actually stop smiling, even if he knew he shouldn't be too hopeful.] That sounds good.

Good.

[Satisfied with that, Vinnie absently rubbed his cheek, as though that would somehow get the flushed, burning sensation to stop. They were still friends for now. Just friends. Very close friends, until he wanted to give this other thing a try.

But the seed was planted, and he couldn't un-know what he knew now. This was just the season of things said that couldn't be taken back.]

blossom; cellphone

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