foolishwren | 119. [FOURTH WALL! ACTION FOR ERRYBODY]

_{[It's begun.]

[THAT TIME OF YEAR.]

[No, not the time of year when the Christmas decorations start going up in stores-- let's be real, guys, that happened like two months ago.]

[No.]

[It's that time of year when the boundaries between worlds grow thin and all kinds of wild and wonderful things come pouring out of thin air onto the streets for all to watch and enjoy.]

[... And then on the other end of the spectrum, there's...]}

WHOA! HEY, EVERYBODY, LOOK! MORE NEW POKEMON!!!

_{[The shout of an excited Ace Trainer dudebro who never quite got off the September Swarm hype train rings out over the chaos as a small army of... uh... things come bumbling down the sidewalk, ineffectively squawking and bumping into peoples' legs.]}

OH! Oh, they're ADORABLE! LOOK! I'm keeping one RIGHT NOW!

_{[A Poke-Fan sweeps one off of its tiny nub feet and cradles it like an infant while it flops and kicks.]

[A crowd soon forms.]

[No one pays any attention to the trainer hopping up and down at the edge, waving her arms.]}

Guys-- GUYS!! STOP!

THOSE AREN'T-- THOSE AREN'T POKEMON, YOU GUYS.

DON'T TRY TO CA-- unbelievable.

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_{[... MAN.]}

--Okay, maybe it's better if I just--

_{[She leans forward. And kisses him right on the lips.]

[Assuming he doesn't back up, anyway.]}

[he does lean back a little, if only because she startles him with the way she's suddenly leaning forward, but it's not nearly enough to escape the SUDDEN KISS]

[and that]

[that]

[that is definitely a kiss]

[that is definitely a kiss]

[?????]

[in an excellent showing of his suave, debonair and charming nature, he sits there, totally frozen in shock and surprise as he tries to wrap this entire event around his short-circuited brain]

_{[IT'S HAPPENING.]

[But he's not doing anything so maybe it's happening TOO MUCH, UM]

[She lets it linger for a few seconds, then breaks it and leans back, puffing sharply through her nostrils.]}

SORRY.

I just-- in case I never see you again, I-- ... I never said anything while you were here because it would've made things weird.

You don't have to feel the same way, it's cool, you're one of the best friends I ever had. But I just wanted-- ... you know, to...

_{[She was going to say 'Get this off my chest', but suddenly she feels very stupid and awkward and she cuts herself off, looking away and fiercely rubbing the back of her neck.]}

I--

[oh. oh man. he didn't respond. his lack of response scared her off. good job, Kuroba, that is not at all what you wanted to do]

[he feels heat in his cheeks, and butterflies in his stomach, and a whole lot of bewilderment to go with all of that. never in a million years had he imagined something like this would happen, and yet. . .]

[. . . well. it's nice, actually. to have all of those idle thoughts he had entertained briefly, only to discard in the back of his mind as impossible, actually happen]

H-- Heather. . .

[he can't help the way his voice cracks nervously, and she'll feel a heavy hand on her shoulder]

Look at me.

_{[She bites back a cringe at the hand on her shoulder, but turns her head to look back at him. She's the one who straight up put her mouth on his, so she can't exactly chicken out of the conversation that has to happen at this point.]}

[Well, there might be conversation to be had]

[but it can surely wait until after Kaito leans forward and steals a proper return kiss from her, right?]

_{[She's not NEARLY as shocked by it as he was, but her brows do pop up in surprise for a second or two... before her eyes slide shut and she just... leans into it.]}

[sheeee might be able to feel the hint of a smile in that kiss, and the ghost of his fingers against her cheeks. but he keeps it short and sweet, and a few moments later, he withdraws]

[he doesn't go far, and he's blushing like crazy, but he seems. . . pleased. if a bit sheepish]

. . . sorry about that first one! You took me by surprise, s'all.

--I thought maybe I made your brain shut down.

_{[But there's a breathless laugh in her voice as she says it, even as she looks away again. Her own cheeks are looking pretty red at this point.]}

[shoots her a lopsided smile, and holds up a hand, his thumb and forefinger held suuuper close together]

Maybe a li'l.

But not in a bad way.

So it's... not too weird, then?

Because like... that's what I was worried about. Making it too weird. I mean... you're one of the best friends I ever had, and...

You know...

Weird? No--

[that reply comes pretty quickly. perhaps a bit too quickly, but he catches himself and clears his throat]

. . . no. I don't think it's that weird. I mean, who says close friends can't-- well. Y'know.

[that grin isn't fading]

I just didn't think you had even thought about it before, s'all.

... I, uh...

_{[She rubs the back of her neck again.]}

I thought about it a lot, actually.

[lifts a hand to rub at his nose, the movement serving to hide the red flush on his cheeks]

You too, huh?

['too']

-- I mean! I thought about it a couple of times, but I didn't wanna. . . complicate things, y'know.

Especially with this place sending me home, bringing me back, and sending me home again.

[he gives her a sideways glances]

. . . geez, I really missed you. [he really isn't one for sap, but sometimes. . .] I missed this place.

Neither did I.

When you came back that one time, I... I thought about sayin' something, but... I dunno. I didn't want to mess up a good thing, you know?

But I wish I'd... I wish I'd said something before you left again.

It's not the same without you, y'know...

[He judges her arm with his elbow, tilting his head to flash her another smile]

Well, you don't have to worry about it now, yeah. . .? You've said it. No take backs.

[that last part is said in a slightly teasing manner]

Home's not really the same once you've spent over a year in a world with super powered animals, either. [a beat, and then a bit more softly] Not the same without the people you've met along the way, either.

Yeah, I... guess I have.

_{[She pauses, rubbing the back of her neck again.]}

... So... what now?

I mean... you're gonna go home again.

119. [FOURTH WALL! ACTION FOR ERRYBODY]

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LIST OF THINGS STYX THOUGHT SHE REPLIED TO i'm so sorry for the wait kit ;;

IT'S OKAY <3

;w;/

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