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An-all encompassing, infectious feeling. The most luxurious of magenta with an arctic sky blue mixed together with watercolor. Her touch was enough to burn the ice, but the cool mist sedated her blaze.
At least, that was how she saw it. Whenever her eyes met his, it felt like she was watching snow.
Here in sight for a second before it left into the crowd.
- Can you meet me halfway?
But, he had a tendency to stand out, she supposed. It was her who came to him, and sparked the fire between the both of them. The woman knew who he was before, but it didn’t stop her.
He was surprised at first. Taken aback. Still, as they got closer, the true extent of who he was came to the surface.
- Right at the borderline is where I’m going to wait for you.
Though, through it all, she wanted to see it through. If nothing else, he was the most beautiful person she’d ever seen.
When he wanted to talk about anything, she was there. It mildly amused her, the texts he sent at 3AM or in the middle of a meeting. Like he wasn’t fully aware of her status or position in the world.
- I’ll be looking out. Night and day. I took my heart to the limit, and this is where I’ll stay.
Still, her benevolence had a limit. When he lashed out at her, for being “overbearing” and “infantilizing,” she was floored.
She shouldn’t have said the things she did back to him. Some of them were hollow insults, the others resentments she had with the man. At that moment she had forgotten why she wanted to even thaw him out to begin with.
- I can’t go any further than this.
It was pride, she had realized. Because everyone knew who he was, and she wanted the satisfaction of “fixing” him.
But she was no better. In the time they had spent together, she had developed a sick fondness for him. As a friend? Or something else?
He apologized and walked away.
- I want you so bad, it’s my only wish.
–
If you asked him, it was odd.
Odd like a candle with a scent too artificial or bathing with clothes on. He didn’t really know how to categorize how she (a coworker, at that) made him feel. She wasn’t like any other person he’d ever met before. If the world was a field of roses, she would be a…
No, that’s too generic. She didn’t deserve that.
Not after everything she’s done.
- Let’s walk the bridge to the other side. Just you and I.
He never got her obsession with other’s validation. She’s stunning, sociable, and, well, her. If there was a world where he’d be surrounded by her and a field of her namesake, he’d be okay with that.
People were a dime a dozen. But the gleam in her eyes when she got a new idea, or the way she never judged him for his shortcomings? It made him want to blossom into something new.
- I’ll fly the skies for you and I.
When certain people who made him want to isolate came up to him, he wasn’t as cold as before. They seemed less grating, anyways. His smiles were natural and not forced to fit into a social code.
Maybe he was delusional when he looked in the mirror and told himself that she would be sad if he was gone, but that helped him continue.
- I will try until I die for you and I.
But he was still fucked up. Why he talked to her like that, he didn’t fully understand. It was an insecurity, one that came from the rumors that she just wanted to “play” with him. He took advantage of the hand that she extended for him just for him to spit in it.
The fondness he had for her was one that made his heart ache.
- Meet me halfway, right at the borderline.
The next day was an important one for her. She had a trip to Unova by plane to talk to the overseas distributors of one of her brands. The discount one, of course. Unovans didn’t care much for quality.
When she looks at her phone, it is swarmed with texts from him. She clicks the “collapse” button to get them out of her sight.
- That’s where I’m going to wait for you.
The plane was loading. A pang in her chest made her want to stay in the ever-hot Paldea but she had to go.
- I’ll be looking out-
He dashes through the airport, bouquet in hand. His stride is only halted as he reads the electronic sign listing all the flights coming and leaving the airport.
Castelia, 6:00AM. He was running late. The man wasn’t the most confident but he has an inkling that maybe he could make it.
- Night and day,
The clerk asks for her ticket. She opens her phone, and tries to access the file from it.
- Took my heart to the limit, and this is where I’ll stay.
“Tulip!”
She looks back. All the disappointment and anger she felt towards him mixes with amusement.
“Tulip. Tulip, I’m so sorry,”
The people in line behind her are much less emotional than the two of them.
“Grusha,” she laughs and ducks her head. “What on earth are you doing here?”
“I’m- apologizing.” Grusha swallows. “You weren’t answering your texts, which, hey, I get it. But I needed to let you know that I- it was my fault, I was the asshole, and I was just taking my insecurities out on you.”
Tulip smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “A lot of me-me in that statement, hm?”
- I can’t go any further than this.
Grusha blinks. “Well, Tulip, I- you- are the kindest, most understanding, and fashionable woman I’ve ever met. You are an angel, and you’re going to do so well at the meeting, because you’re you. You don’t have to forgive me, or ever talk to me again, but, I’m sorry. I really am.”
- I want you so bad, it’s my only wish.
It’s a bouquet of hyacinths.
“You’re something else,” she laughs, and takes the bouquet. There’s absolutely no way they’re letting this onto the plane, but the fact he remembered her favorite flower was nice. “I- I apologize too, Grusha. But I have a lot to think about and I don’t really…”
“Ma’am? Your ticket?”
- I can’t go any further than this.
Grusha’s gaze never leaves her. She looks back and shakes her head. “You should probably go.”
“Right,” he puts his hands in his pockets, “Good luck.”
- I want you so bad, it’s my only wish.
“Wait. One last thing.” She smiles, but takes out her phone with the ticket to board the plane. “Thank you. When I come back, let’s start it over. Better this time.”
He smiles back. “Of course.”