Chapter Text
Jealousy is an ugly, ugly thing. And Mejiro Palmer knows this, she sees it from her family members. She has seen it in her friends. So, she keeps this part of herself under wraps, the last thing she wants to do is trouble her trainer by having some kind of fit. So that was what she had been doing whenever this stranger approaches her trainer when they were in the middle of training or simply hanging out with her and her friends. And instead of voicing her displeasure about the matter she pushed those feelings aside, it was easier that way, even if the person trying to take her trainers attention away from her made her stomach twist and her heart ache, but she is supposed to be a mejiro and mejiros do not- A series of finger snaps in front of her snaps her out of the spiral she wasn't aware she was even in "Uhm- Oh- What's up City?"
There was a brief roll of her eyes, but it didn't change the look of concern City had "Are you good? You've been spacing out hardcore for a while"
"I'm fine" She said, quieter than she planned before recovering herself "Really I promise there isn't anything wrong-"
"Palmer..." City held her gaze, a gaze Palmer knew too well, she knows Palmer is lying through her teeth
Palmer tried to keep a straight face, truly a valiant effort but she blinks and groaned, dragging a hand down her face "It's really not a big deal..."
City crosses her arms "you looked like you were ready to hit a pillow then apologize to it, don't bottle yourself up like that" She takes her friends hand "Come on, let's go grab something to eat"
Before she could really protest, she was dragged off by her friend to a small place to get some sandwiches and a drink. Food was a good distraction, helped simmer the pit gnawing at her stomach from her nerves.
"Now" City sets a plate in front of Palmer, glancing around for a second before taking a seat "Can you tell me what's bothering you?"
Palmer bit her lip, attention only on the sandwich in front of her before she sighs in resignation. "I'm not... Exactly sure how to put it in words" She tugs at her shirt sleeve "There is someone who keeps grabbing my trainer's attention while we're working on training and-" She has to stop herself from losing her cool, taking a deep breath to get herself under control again "I don't, know but it makes me..." Her hands clench into fists, trembling slightly at the thought of it.
"Jealous?" City inquires.
"Huh?"
"You're jealous because your trainer's attention isn't on you form the sound of it"
Palmer guffaws "D-don't be ridiculous! I'm not jealous because someone else is-"
"Palmer, be honest with me" City said in a serious tone. "Do you have a crush on your trainer?"
"N-no?" Was that convincing? Judging from the look it wasn't, Palmer can feel her face growing hot "M-maybe I do" She rests her cheek on her hand "Something about her just... Makes me feel all fluttery inside, it always feels like she goes out of her way to make time for me, make me feel special... I like that feeling" She admits fondly.
City nods "And this person makes you feel like that's threatened? Have they tried flirting with your trainer?"
Palmer hums, thinking back whenever this person showed up, the interactions seemed friendly? At least sometimes, but she can recall seeing these looks the person gave Charli, looks that made her feel something twisting in her gut "I think so..."
"Then you need to make a move" City states
"Make a-" She waves her hands "No-no no I can't do that! I don't even know if She would-"
"Palmer, it's clear that she makes you happy and that you like her, and from the glances I see her give you when her and my trainer are talking, she CLEARLY has interest in you"
"Nooo no way she wouldn't want a.... Average uma like me" Palmer looks down at her half-eaten sandwich.
City reached over and grips her friends face "You are WAY MORE than average, you are smart, empathetic and an incredibly caring person. You deserve to be happy and if your trainer makes you happy then you should DO something or you might lose it"
"but-"
"Don't, don't focus on the what ifs, you are Mejiro Palmer, your first instinct is to run forward and don't look back, you can DO this" City lets go of Palmers face.
Palmer rubs her cheeks and groaned "Do I really have a chance?"
"Girl I don't think. I KNOW"
Palmers ear flicks when hearing her trainers voice followed by another "I... Gotta go, sorry City" whatever City had said she didn't hear it, the chair skidding on the ground as she took off.
"Sorry but I have my eye on someone else" Charli waves a hand at the person talking to her. "She's pretty special to me and I want to do all I can to make her feel like the treasure she is, you get me?"
The other person looked away sadly "I get that, a shame in my opinion, you could have anyone you want with your charms" they said, the bitterness of rejection lacing their tongue, but they turned to walk away anyways.
Charli sighs "Charming they say" with a huff they turn to walk off and spot a familiar face run towards her "Palmer?"
"Ah- Trainer, Hi!" she skids to a stop before she could crash into them.
"Whoa-hey are you alright?" Palmers trainer putting a hand on her shoulder "you look like-" Her sentence cut off when arms wrapped around her and a face buries into the crook of her neck, Charli wraps her arms around her trainee "Talk to me Palmer..."
"It's- I'm sorry, I feel like I'm being incredibly selfish right now..." Palmer admits, her form trembling slightly.
"Selfish? You're the last person I'd hear that word from..." Charli says softly, rubbing circles on her back till the tension melts away.
"But I am... All because I don't-" she cuts herself off.
"Don't... What?" Charli inquires
"...I don't... Want to share you..." there, she admitted it.
Charli holds back snickering and runs her fingers through Palmer's ponytail, she never took Palmer to be the type to house jealousy, but then again Palmer was full of surprises. she kissed Palmer between her ears and hugs her, feeling her trainees' arms tighten around her "Don't worry" She rubs her back "My hearts only for you"
"....." Palmer looks up for a moment, eyes shiny from unshed tears she didn't know she had. "You mean that?"
Charli has a soft smile "Of course I mean it" she taps her forehead "You are a very special uma, my special uma"
Palmer chokes out a laugh, she must look so silly right now, tearing up and face all red.
"Hey Palmer? Do you... Wanna go out for a movie?"
"Y-yea totally!" Palmer said, tail wagging in excitement
"It's a date then!" Charli smiles.