Archive of Our Own ^beta

Tap tap tap

The sound of cards being evened out rang out on the table as Florian looked over his hand one more time before leaning back in his chair. He always thought truth or dare with cards was a little bit silly, but it was probably for the best anyway. He doubted Crispin would come up with very riveting questions, well, riveting in his opinion anyway… and Drayton— Drayton would probably ask too riveting of questions. At least for a casual game in the clubroom.

Right now it was only the three of them playing, Lacey, Carmine, and Amarys all having various reasons of essentially ‘it’s a waste of time’ or, ‘not with Drayton’ or both. Instead having a conversation together on the other end of the rather large clubroom table, recently cleared of previously mentioned boy’s leftovers.

Florian couldn’t exactly blame them, but it didn’t stop him from playfully jeering about them ‘taking the cowards way out.’

Regardless, he couldn’t help but think what a shame it was, eyes flicking up to see Carmine and Lacey entwined in some topic the former seemed particularly passionate about, Amarys simply watching and listening as she often did, waiting for the opportune time to put her own input.

Three people playing truth or dare wasn’t really the most exciting thing in the world. Especially truth or dare with cards . If nothing else though…

Florian’s gaze flicked over to the door now, staring at it for a good moment as he thought about the boy who was meant to be entering through it sometime soon. So deeply in thought that he only vaguely registered Crispin asking for a dare when Drayton chose him as the target of his turn. Kieran was finishing up some training or, something like that, he was kind of vague, in the terarium and then he was meant to be joining them here.

The Champion was sure he could get Kieran to join without twisting his arm too much, and maybe it was silly, but he had drawn the perfect card at the beginning of the game, and like hell he was letting it go until he was able to ask Kieran. 

“Flor.”

A truth card. 

“Florian.”

One that he was almost scared to know the answer of, but one he would target Kieran a million times until he finally declared truth if he had to.

“Hey, Florian, the bozo wants you!” Carmine’s voice finally broke through the cloud that had fogged his mind, apparently getting annoying with the Dragon Tamer’s insistence.

“Wuh, huh?” Florian startled, blinking, turning his gaze from the door first towards the group of girls, then to Drayton and Crispin who were looking at him expectantly, a deep blush quickly spreading across his face. “S-sorry!”

“Lil distracted there, bud?” Drayton drawled as he leaned forwards, cupping his head in his hand, his other pointing his card downwards.

“I— uh…” Florian bit his lip as he tried to catch up… Drayton had just went, so it was Crispin’s turn, and they were looking at him so…

“Uh… truth?” He asked with a sheepish smile as he looked at the Fire Type Trainer, hoping he hadn’t just made a complete ass of himself.

“Okay! Ummmm just one sec…” 

Florian exhaled in relief as he saw Crispin turn back to his cards, glossing over the three green ones in his hand before pulling one out with a smile.

“Okay, here’s one!” He beamed, slamming it down on the table like it was some kind of… trick, or trap from another game. He really didn’t need to, but did every time anyway. “What’s the worst physical pain you’ve ever experienced!”

The Galarian boy thought for a moment. What was the worst pain he had experienced? There was really an alarming amount of things. Might as well just pick one, he supposed, so with a shrug he answered. “I fell out of a window once.”

Crispin’s mouth hung open in a surprised O shape, meanwhile Drayton frowned, only for a moment before letting out a disbelieving laugh as his lips split into a smile, leaning forwards again. “Hold up, you gonna elaborate there champ?”

“Um… not much to elaborate on…” Florian shrugged, already looking over his own cards. “I just uh… wanted to… get away from home one day and tried making one of those blanket rope things you see on TV all the time. Long story short it didn’t work, and I broke my arm. Elaborated enough for you?”

“Wow, I never would have guessed!” Crispin chirped up now, leaning forwards on his palms. “You throw Pokeballs and stuff so well!”

Florian just huffed, rolling his left arm. “Well… I never said it was my throwing arm so… still gets a bit achy when it’s gonna rain though…” He frowned, tracing the part of his arm he remembered having to cast. Those were a long few months.

“Anyway, it’s my turn now, so…” He glanced between the two other players. He had chosen Crispin last time so… “Drayton, truth or dare?”

“Mmmm let’s drop some Drayster truths this time.” He shot a smirk and a finger gun as Florian rolled his eyes in response before looking over the cards in his hand and frowning. He had the card he was saving… He wasn’t about to use that…

The second card he had was ‘Have you ever gone skinny dipping’ which, quite frankly he didn’t need to know about the Dragon Tamer— or at least not in as much detail as he was bound to break out into…

That only left one other option.

“Who was the last person you said ‘I love you’ to?”

“Awww that’s an easy one.” Drayton smirked, leaning so far to the side Florain thought he might fall out of his chair, tilting his head so he was almost upside down in the direction of the girls. “It was Carmie, love you Carmiee~”

The white haired boy made fake kissy lips at the Kitakamian girl, causing a mixed bag of reactions. Florian’s groan, Crispin’s flush and subsequent glance away, and Lacey’s harsh scold all paled in comparison to Carmine’s own reaction.

“Ugh! Drayton you lazy inconsiderate ass! I already told you to quit it!” The sound of teeth grinding was almost audible as Carmine marched up to Drayton. “I don’t like you, and I know sure as hell you don’t even like me either! So get it through that thick skull of yours before I have to stick Scrafty on you!”

She grabbed his collar roughly, shaking a laughing and hand raised Drayton around fiercely.

It wasn’t a secret the two mixed about as well as water and oil, or that it was mostly Drayton’s fault. He just couldn’t resist getting a rise out of her. Or her bother for that matter. Maybe he just had it out for Kitakamian students.

“How can you tell?”

Everyone stopped as an unexpected voice piped up from the table, all eyes turning towards the girl currently pushing up her glasses.

“Oh.” Amarys shook her head as she elaborated. “That is not to say I doubt what you are saying. It is simply something I have been contemplating for some time now. The matter however quite complexes me, if Drayton states that he loves you, does that not mean that he does with how frequently he affirms it?”

The room was silent for a moment, even Carmine loosening her grip on Drayton and allowing him to slip away.

“Ames…” Drayton spoke first, rubbing the back of his head, but he trailed off, clearly as lost on where to start as the rest of them.

“Just saying it doesn’t mean anything. You gotta feel it.” Carmine finally started, walking up towards her friend. “It’s like… when you get really really angry! But uh, completely different.”

“I am afraid I don’t follow.”

“It’s like…” Florian was surprised to hear Crispin speak up now. “When you’ve just made the most perfect sandwich and your heart won’t stop pounding, but a million times better and scarier!”

Amarys just looked on, it was unclear if she was just mulling it over or not. With no clear answer, Lacey spoke up next.

“I’m not so sure about the sandwich part… but the heart pounding thing I think everyone can relate to! You might even get all fluttery in your stomach or get an ache in your chest when you look or think about someone you love…” Lacey smiled softly, trying to explain something so hard to quantify into words.

Florian sure knew how it made him feel, eyes flicking towards the ground as he opened his mouth, not quite realising how quiet he was speaking, or that the unusual tone he had taken had caught the attention of the others. “It’s like…” he mumbled.

“Like your heart became a living Starly in your chest, and is all achy, and you would do anything to make them smile…”

Florian was still staring at the floor, startling when Amarys finally spoke up.

“I see, so signs of love are an accelerated heartbeat, or an ache in your chest, and a feeling of excitement or illness.” She nodded as if mentally cataloging the answer.

“That’s not quite…” Carmine sighed before smiling, “I guess that would help you narrow it down.”

“So, Ames… there anyone who gives you an accelerated heartbeat?” Drayton poked, leaning over on his hand with a lazy smirk as everyone turned their attention back towards Amarys.

Surely everyone here was curious about the stoic girl’s answer. They all knew pretty well she was actually quite sweet, and as Drayton had once put it sensitive, despite her solid exterior. It was pretty clear she kept those feelings to her chest though… but maybe they would get to see a little bit under the surface now.

“Someone who I feel an accelerated heartbeat when in their presence…” The Steel Type trainer closed her eyes as she tilted her head downwards.

“Or when you think about them.” Lacey added.

The room was oddly silent as they waited for Amarys to mull over her thoughts.

“Well…” She finally spoke, opening her eyes.

“Yes?” Drayton leaned forwards, surprisingly invested.

“Don’t rush her, bozo!”

“I do experience some of the sited feelings when contemplating one person, however I am not confident that what I feel is love.” She pushed her glasses up again. She looked stoic as ever, but Florian had since come to notice small things, like pushing up her glasses more often, or checking her pocket watch where signs that she was overwhelmed by a situation.

Amarys shook her head gently. “There has been no significant interaction between the two of us, so I am doubtful to label it as such, however it fits the description you all have provided on the matter.

“Aw, that doesn’t matter! You can have a crush on anyone!” Crispin encouraged, leaning forwards with a beaming smile.

“Yeah Ames, who is it?” This time Carmine didn’t rebuke the white haired boy, clearly just as invested as the rest of them to find out her best friend’s crush.

Amarys nodded, cold blue eyes looking at the ground once more. “I have felt what you describe as an achy feeling in my chest, as well as a dampened appetite more frequently in the past year. I have gone to the nurse’s office many times over this feeling, however each time they tell me nothing is physically a miss.”

“At first I believed these symptoms to be purely random in their occurrence, however upon further consideration I have found a common factor in that they only arise when I think of Kieran.”

The entire room fell silent for a second, before everyone erupted into various levels of surprise and encouragement.

Everyone except Florian.

The room suddenly felt like he was swimming, submerged in a thick liquidy air that threatened to choke his lungs as his heart fell to his stomach, watching straight ahead with a certain feeling of unreality, tuning in and out of the conversation around him like a half broken car radio in the middle of the mountains just out of range of the city.

“Woah, I never would have guessed!”

“Well I must say I’m quite surprised!”

“Is Ex-champ finally gonna get asked out?”

“Kiki?? Really?” Carmine snorted, she might have been smiling too, if Florian was paying attention. “Well if you really feel that way you should talk to him, not exactly like he has people clambering over him.”

“Yeah, the worst he could do is say no!”

Florian’s grip tightened and untightened on the table. He had known it had to be coming some day, seeing Kieran find someone. He didn’t exactly consider himself high on Kieran’s list of people he liked, not after he went and screwed that up. But he didn’t expect it to hurt so much.

He felt his breathing coming in faster like a panicked animal, his eyes flicking towards the door. He needed to get out.

Worse, Kieran would be here soon, he realised. He couldn’t handle that, he couldn’t handle it if Amarys. He needed to get out.

With a sudden jerky movement that caused the chair to squeal against the floor he stood up, trying to say something like excuse me, or I have to go, but it came out more of a mumble, a slurry of words as he tried to keep the tears from his eyes and plaster a smile on his face, darting to the door before anyone could say anything, his feet tearing across the hall’s tile as soon as the door closed behind him, letting them carry him wherever they wanted, knocking past a potted plant on his way as he rounded the corner and not stopping when he heard it shatter on the ground behind him.

“What was that?” Drayton was the first voice to speak up, breaking the ominous silence that had fallen over the clubroom.

“I… I don’t know.” Carmine replied, staring at the door Florian had disappeared out of.

“Oh my… do you think he’s okay?” Lacey asked concern marring her voice as her brow furrowed, looking towards Carmine, and then towards Drayton, both of them knowing Florian the best out of everyone present.

“I… shit, I don’t know.” Carmine said again through clenched teeth. “I’ve never seen him look like that before…”

This is the kind of behavior she’d seen from Kiki so many times before, something he didn’t like would set him off and then he’d go running up to Oni Mountain to throw his tantrum and then come back when the tears had dried or she had to go get him.

She had never seen it from Florian before though, she didn’t even know what it could have been that set him off.

Rocking from one foot to another for a single hesitating second she glanced towards Amarys before back towards the door. 

“I’m gonna go find him.” She decided with a sense of finality, already starting to walk towards the exit, turning around before she moved the handle. “Amarys, once Kieran gets here… I’ll text you my location, take him there for me.”

“Understood.” Amarys nodded, checking her pocket watch.

“Huh, why do you need Kieran?” Crispin chirped up curiously before Carmine could disappear completely.

She hesitated before turning around. “I… sometimes I have a hard time getting through to Florian… I’ve never seen him do this before but… I have seen him…”

Carmine trailed off before starting again. “ For some reason Kieran can usually get him to calm down though.”

She wanted to question why that made Drayton raise an eyebrow, but there were more pressing things to attend to right now. “I’ll message when I figure out where he is.”

With that she was off, slamming the door behind her in her urgency and looking both directions down the halls. She had no idea which direction Florian had went, the dorms and classrooms, or the other way towards the Terarium. That was until she noticed the green ceramic shards littering the ground around the corner, her heart sinking.

“Shit…” Cursing under her breath, Carmine pulled out her Rotom Phone, trying in vain to call Florian. It would have been so much easier to find him if he had run off towards the dorms, there was only one place he could go. But no, of course it wouldn’t be that easy.

After a few failed attempts at contacting the Galarian boy himself, she huffed, deciding to change strategies, knowing there was one person she could count on to be able to help in finding someone.

Opening her messages she typed out a text, barely looking where she was going as she barreled towards the entrance to the dome.

Hey, can you send me Florian’s GPS Location? <

The answer came only a moment later, luckily for her Penny had no sleep schedule.

> y

He ran out of the clubroom and isn’t picking up now <

> 👍

It didn’t take long for a geographic location to be sent through, and Carmine felt a flood of relief that Penny had been so quick and willing to help her without many questions. She would owe her an explanation later.

Punching it into her map she was quickly able to discern he was in the Tropical Biome— it made sense, he did seem to favor it— Either on top of a cliff, or inside a cave.

Kieran and Florian were not the same person, but Kieran had often gone to hide in a cave when he acted like this, so that was where she would check first. Once again she cursed herself for not having a proper ride Pokemon on her team as she hoofed it on foot.

The pounding of his heart was overwhelming, drowning out his ability to breath, choking in what little air he could manage as he hit his back hard against the cavern wall. The jagged surface stung at his back as he slid down, riding up the back of his shirt and running against the tender flesh underneath.

Florian could hardly notice that right now though, his hands grasping uselessly at the sand, body desperately trying to find any way to stabilize himself even without his continuous input.

He had come out here to try and calm down, but somehow it had only seemed to make things worse. Now he was alone, and it was uncomfortably hot, and humid, and his arm ached, and he couldn’t stop shaking.

Worst of all, he didn’t know why he was being such a baby. He didn’t own Kieran, he didn’t even try talking to him about it, in fact he had tried to keep himself squarely in the friend zone as much as he could, especially ever since Kieran’s outburst at the Loyal Three monument.

If Amarys and Kieran did hit it off he should be happy for his best friend, hell, he should be happy for Amarys, she was his friend too for fucks sake, so why instead—

A wrenching noise tore from his throat, somewhere between a sob and a scream as he doubled over, grasping ruthlessly at the soft hairs above his ears, the noise echoing off the cave walls and further down into its depths.

And with that single sound the sand beneath him started to get wetter and wetter as moisture he could barely feel fell over his cheeks and dripped down his chin.

The shaking got worse and he felt like an asshole. He felt like an asshole and he wanted to scream again. He felt like an asshole for wanting to scream again.

He didn’t have any right to be throwing a temper tantrum like an Arceus damned toddler. That didn’t stop him from pounding his fist into the dirt, slorping in to try and stop the threatening saliva from escaping his mouth and dripping onto the ground.

He should be happy. Kieran deserved it. Sure Amarys was a little hard to read sometimes but she was sweat in her own way once you learned the tells, and she took great care of her Pokemon, and made beautiful still life paintings, and she was a really really really strong battler, and really smart too, she could probably solve any problem if she wanted to.

Florian was just… Florian…

Plus Amarys was honest… She didn’t lie even if it was something she didn’t like…

Florian had a chance to be that…

But…

Another sob tore from his throat as his face scrunched up reflexively, grabbing the first thing he found in his pocket and hucking it across the cave at the other side of the wall as hard as he could.

The green and white object shattered on impact, bits and shards of plastic and metal falling unceremoniously to the ground. A Friend Ball, luckily an empty one.

He stared at the broken ball for a good while, whatever was making him tremble like a Snorunt was seeming to subside now, just a little bit, his painful sobs and hiccups evening out into the occasional sniffle. 

Drawing his legs up even closer to his face, Florian almost wished those shadowy claws were still digging into his back. It had felt like he was drowning in ink, and moving through mud. But now, he was able to think.

And that was somehow worse.

He was able to see it more clearly now. How selfish he was being. He had no right to feel this way, especially when he always knew it would end in some fashion such as this. Maybe he had secretly hoped they could just stay best friends forever, that no one would ever be interested in Kieran like that.

But that was a horribly selfish thing to want. He couldn’t believe he was letting himself act so jealous. He was supposed to be able to control himself better than this. But even still the tears fell down his face, silently now.

He probably worried everyone with the way he left, that wasn’t fair to any of them and yet… he couldn’t seem to bring himself to get up and to try and go back.

He knew they wouldn’t just let him play it off like nothing had happened.

But he couldn’t stand it…

If they…

His heart would shatter all over again every time he saw them together no matter how selfish it was.

Maybe it would be best if he just slipped away unnoticed to his dorm and booked a flight home in the middle of the night.

They could work something out with the whole club leader thing, he was sure. And it’s not like he would be missed for much longer anyway. He would probably be quickly forgotten whether he was here or not.

At least at home he could decay alone in his own room with a case of soda and a tub of ice cream.

“Florian! There you are, I finally found you!”

Florian startled, his heart leaping into his throat at the sudden noise in the otherwise silent carven, looking up like a stantler that could flee at any moment.

“C-Carmine?” Florian’s voice was rough even in his own ears, flinching slightly at the sound. “W-what are you—”

“Don’t go hide so far away next time, dummy! It was a pain to find you!” The Kitakamian Girl rebuked, shaking her fists before walking over. “Arceus… you look like a mess…”

Florian just retreated back into his arms, glancing further into the cave as Carmine slid down beside him, much less roughly than he had.

“So, you wanna talk about it?” Carmine put on her best, supportive friend voice.

“No…” The sound muffled by Florian’s arms as he curled further into himself.

“What got you so riled up you ran out of the clubroom like that?” Carmine continued, apparently her previous question was just a rhetorical.

Florian sniffed, wiping his eye, arms still wrapped around his legs, avoiding Carmine’s bright yellow gaze. “I-it was Amarys…”

“Amarys?”

“She likes Kieran…”

“What does that have to do with—”

Florian listened as Carmine trailed off, her voice fading into silence.

“Holy shit…”

“You too…?”

“N-not me too…” Florian’s throat choked as he tried fruitlessly to hold back tears, “Only Amarys— n-not.”

“Not me too…” His voice cracked on the e and even he thought he sounded pathetic.

“Florian, clearly you too.” Florian felt a warmth on his shoulder and he startled at the touch. 

“Whatever, it doesn’t matter…” Florian buried himself in his arms and knees again, drawing up even further into himself, his shoes pulling against the sand and dirt beneath him.

“Excuse me!” The black haired girl’s voice rang through the cave. “What do you mean it doesn’t matter, I’m trying to be a kind and supportive friend here!”

“Yeah…” Florian mumbled softly but didn’t make a move to look at her. “I appreciate it but it really doesn’t matter…”

“Uhhh, okay, if I’m understanding you right, you have feelings for my brother .” Carmine withdrew her hand, Florian couldn’t see where she put it. “Exactly why wouldn’t that matter!?”

“B-because!” Florian flinched as he heard his voice break again, moving his ankles to cross over one another. “E-even if— even if he doesn’t care that I’m a boy too, a-and even if somehow I didn’t already screw up all my chances by lying to his face and being the worst person ever—”

“B-because even then! Amarys likes him too…” He mumbled weakly, slowly down after his outburst as he finally turned his head to face Carmine, still resting halfway hidden in his arms although high enough his sour feeling red eyes were just visible between his forearms and his bangs.

Carmine’s brow furrowed as she studied what little she could see of his expression, staying silent for a heart beat’s longer before. “So?”

“So she’s! She’s!” Sitting up suddenly, Florian started gesturing vaguely with his hands. “She’s really smart and comes up with good strategies… a-and even if most people can’t see it I know Kieran knows her well enough to know she has a big heart too, and she’s a girl, and Kieran’s probably straight, a-and…” He sniffed. “She’s so strong… Kieran loves strong people…”

The cave was quiet now, seconds seeming to drag on as Florian turned his head away again, laying it against his knees. “Amarys’ a top member of the elite four here…”

“I can’t compete with that…”

“Florian.” Finally Carmine spoke after a long pause, her tone sounding dry. “You’re literally the Champion.”

Florian’s breath hitched, eyes widening a fraction as he clenched his fist before slamming it down on the dirt. “That doesn’t matter… It’s not good enough for him…”

“What do you care anyway?” Florian spoke, turning back towards the Kitakamian girl, bitterness lacing his tone. “Amarys is your best friend, wouldn’t you be happy for her? Isn’t it better if I take myself out of the equation? Kieran would never choose me anyway.”

“Of course I’d be happy for her if Kiki returned her feelings.” Carmine’s voice was sharp enough it caused Florian to shrink back again, her brows furrowed together in a serious expression. “I’d be happy for Kieran too.”

“Exactly…” Florian mumbled, but before he could hide his head the hot tempered trainer continued.

“But you know what? I’d be happy for you too if he returned your feelings!” She let the words hang for a moment, her voice softening but her tone staying just as gripping as she moved her hand back to Florian’s shoulder. “You’re both my friends, and Kiki’s my brother, and you need to stop trying to make decisions for him!”

“H-huh?” The Galarian boy stammered, slightly taken aback, eyes wide and confused.

“This entire time you’ve been saying you’re not even gonna try because he’s gonna choose Amarys.” Carmine elaborated, pulling Florian’s other shoulder so he couldn’t help but make eye contact now. “But you don’t get to decide that for him! No one does!”

“W—well I-” Florian stammered, finding himself suddenly flustered.

“Sure, you could put yourself out there and he could reject you. Amarys could put herself out there and he could reject her. Hell, you could both put yourself out there and he could reject you both. But that’s his decision to make.”

Florian blinked as he took in Carmine’s words, he wasn’t used to hearing her be so… insightful… not like this anyway.

“If you really like Kiki… Don’t you think you should trust him to make that choice on his own instead of trying to make it for him?”

“I…” He bit his lip, trailing off and glancing to the side.

He didn’t really have an argument for that, biting his lip.

“And if this is your reaction to finding out someone else likes him… I think you owe it to yourself to tell him too…”

With a heavy sigh Florian rested his chin on his arms now, honey-brown eyes studying the broken shards of Pokeball scattered against the far wall.

Florian lost track of time as he traced the lines of each piece, green, and white, and black… and red and yellow and orange… Imagining the way they once fit together, and how they never would again.

“Carmine? We have arrived.”

Florian startled as a voice echoed throughout the cavern, unfurling in response, eyes big and wide as he looked towards the mouth.

“Sis? Ya in here? Amarys said something was up with Florian, is everythin’ okay?”

Florian looked up just in time to see the two rounding the corner and halting in their steps. Amarys pushed up her glasses looking on steely eyed. Kieran on the other hand seemed far more animated in comparison, eyebrows furrowing before raising as he studied the scene in front of him— as he studied Florian.

“F-Florian, are you okay?” The purple haired trainer hesitated not a second longer as he moved towards his puffy, red eyed friend.

“Kiki, get out!” Carmine barked the order, standing up beside Florian now and gripping her fists. “Go wait by the cave entrance and don’t come in until I tell you!”

“Wuh-huh? H-hey, but Sis, you were the one who called me here!” Kieran argued back, a dark look flashing in his eyes as he gestured towards Florian. “And I can’t just leave Florian! What happened? Did you have something to do with this?!”

Florian watched the scene unfold, drawing his knees back up to his chest. It wasn’t exactly atypical of the two siblings to spat, but it had an odd feeling about it now— not cause of anything they were doing differently. Maybe it was just the swirling emotions he felt at seeing Kieran.

Kieran was a comfort, usually, but right now he was also a stress.

And then Amarys was here too.

“Kiki, entrance, now!”

“I—” Kieran let out a defeated sounding huff drooping his body. “Fine… But if you haven’t gotten me in twenty minutes I’m coming back in here and sticking Hydrapple on you!”

“Do you require my absence as well?” Amarys spoke up, stepping out of the way for Kieran to trudge grumpily past.

“No, you need to stay in here.” Carmine shook her head, beckoning her over. “It’s about Florian.”

Amarys pushed up her glaces, looking down to where Florian was sitting huddled like a stray Lillipup. “Did you discover why he departed so quickly?”

“You could say that.” Putting a hand on her hip Carmine turned her gaze towards the Galarian boy. “Florian, go on, explain.”

He flushed as he looked towards the ground, gaze diverted and tracing the ground, finally after a moment of mulling he glanced over towards them, towards the cave entrance, then back at the girls. “I… like.. Kieran…”

Florian spoke slowly, as if he was wounded. Half focused on forcing keeping the words steady and audible, and half focused on keeping his breathing reasonable.

“I see.” The Steel Type trainer responded, adjusting her glasses again and glancing to the side herself if only for a moment. “So your hasty retreat was brought on by the feeling of love fueled jealousy.”

“I-I- That’s!” Florian squeaked, flushing and flustered by her deduction. Well, she wasn’t exactly wrong but she didn’t have to say it so matter of factly! The worst part is he knew she wasn’t even trying to make a jab at him, she was too earnest for that, so he couldn’t even feel good about feeling upset about it.

“So here’s what you’re going to do!” Carmine pointed between the two of them, Florian flinching slightly and Amarys having no outwardly reaction. “As my two best friends, I’m rooting for you both, so I’m going to call Kiki back in here, and you’re both going to fess up and ask him on a date!”

“W-what?!” Feeling his heart accelerating in his chest and face heating up even more, Florian looked on wide eyed, hardly able to sort through his swimming thoughts.

“Hmm… What exactly are your expected results from this, Carmine?”

“To keep this whole thing from dragging on longer than it needs to.” The fiery girl crossed her arms. “Florian looked like he was just about to burst earlier. Kiki might say no to both of you. He might say yes to both of you if he wants to get a good feel for it first before deciding one way or another. That’s just the way it works, but you’ll never know if you don’t say, so it’s better sooner rather than later.”

Carmine gave a matter of fact nod before turning to the entrance and cupping her hands at her mouth.

“C-Carmine, wait!” Florian tried protesting, pushing to his feet even as his back stung, but it was all too late.

“Kiki! You can come back in now!” Her voice echoed loud, prompting Florian to cover his ears.

The sound of footsteps pounding on ground quickly followed, and soon Kieran’s figure appeared around the corner. “Um…”

He straightened out, standing awkwardly as he looked between the three, his fist starting to knock into his thigh. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, these two just have something to confess. And ask. Separately.” She urged them both forwards, having to shove Florian more than Amarys who was busy pushing up her glasses.

“Con…fess…?” Kieran’s brow furrowed as he inspected the pair. “I don’t… think I quite follow?”

“You may go first, Florian.” Amarys nodded towards Florian, catching him off guard.

“W-wait, me?” His legs suddenly felt like jelly beneath him, looking wide eyed over towards Kieran, then back to Amarys before Kieran again. Florian could feel his palms getting sweatier in real life, clenching and unclenching his hands.

Then, all at once, he spun on his heel trying to dash off further into the cave, his heart was beating too fast for this, his heart felt too fragile for this, his—

Florian felt a sudden pressure on his stomach, the air gushing out of him as he realised Carmine had held out her arm to stop him.

“Oh no you don’t!” The Kitakamian girl wrestled him around, finally ending with their elbows locked as she held him facing a shocked and confused looking Kieran. “You’re not running away from your feelings this time!”

Swallowing, there was nothing Florian could do but lock gazes with those bright piercing yellow eyes. He had to take a second to try and calm his nerves, not working very well as his face flushed the longer he was stared at.

“Sis… Florian doesn’t—”

“Shut up Kiki! Florian, speak!” Carmine’s sharp tone causes both boys to flinch before locking eye contact again.

“I…” Florian exhaled finally, dipping his head down although he was still held up awkwardly by the taller girl. “Kieran, I… I like you, a- a whole lot, you mean so much to me, and my heart won’t stop racing and— and I think you’re really cool and nice and funny and make me smile and I like being around you— and… and wo-would you… would you consider g-going o-on… on a date with me?”

He couldn’t keep his eyes open, closing them quickly, he could practically hear his heart in his ears, sure his body was just going to explode at any second now.

“Wait…” 

“Okay, Amarys now—”

Carmine was cut off by the sound of her bother, “Florian you—”

“You like me?”

Finally Florian was able to look up through his eyelashes seeing Kieran walking towards him hesitantly, feeling Carmine’s grip on him loosen until he could stand normally.

“Wowzers… I never thought…” Kieran shook his head, a small tentative smile forming on his face as he studied the ground, starting to stroke his own bang. “A… an actual date… w-with you … I… Wowzers…”

Florian’s eyes followed Kieran’s movements confused about what Kieran’s words and actions actually meant, becoming even more confused when tears started forming in the taller boy’s eyes. His heart started to sink, he had been expecting rejection, but he hadn’t expected to make him cry. Was he really that awful?

Before he could fall any deeper, before he could register what was happening, the Kitakamian boy was upon him, drawing him into an almost too tight hug. “Florian, I— o-of cours—”

“Hold it Kiki! Amarys still has something to say.”

“W-huh? O-oh yeah, okay, sorry, what’s up Amarys?” The former champion asked curiously, releasing Florian with a startle and taking a step back his face lightly flushed, turning his attention towards the elite four member. “Is everything okay?”

Florian lamented the lack of contact, he needed to know what Kieran was going to say… But Carmine was right…

Amarys pushed up her glasses, studying the scene in front of her before closing her eyes.

“Everything is fine. I appreciate your concern.” Amarys’ steely blue gaze locked onto Kieran. “I believe the situation has resolved itself, please, continue as you were.”

Florian’s brow furrowed, eyes trailing over Amarys’ face, trying to discern what she might be thinking, an impossibility for him, but maybe not to someone closer. She liked Kieran too, right? That was what Carmine’s whole pep talk was about.

“Um… you sure?” Kieran asked, a tinge of concern lacing his voice.

“Yeah Amarys! Florian didn’t get out of it and you’re not getting out of it either!” Carmine gritted her teeth, giving a determined point of her finger. “You always get straight to the point so what's up with this time?”

Amarys simply shook her head, shifting her gaze to Carmine. “It is simply no longer necessary to continue on the previous course. It would seem the previous diagnosis may have been erroneous in its direction.”

Now Florian was good and confused, his gaze flicking between the three, what on Acreus’s good green earth did she mean.

“Erroneous?” Carmine asked, sounding just as lost as Florian did.

Giving a nod, thankfully Amarys elaborated. “The ache in my chest subsided significantly upon seeing our two clubmates embrace. Surely the ache would only continue to grow if love was the correct diagnosis, would it not?”

“H-hold up, love?” Kieran flushed harder, going wide eyes, looking back over to Florian and then back at Amarys. “Y-you thought you loved me as well, Amarys?”

“Indeed.” The punctual trainer nodded. “Based on described symptoms I believed the combined presence of an ache in my chest and a lack of appetite to be indications of love, this belief was reinforced by the encouragement of our fellow elite four members.”

“However, upon observing your and Florian’s prior interaction, I believe that deduction to be inaccurate. The ache seems to have abated, I do not believe this is the reaction that would be produced if this feeling was love, is it not?”

“Hmm… no I suppose not…” Carmine mumbled, holding her hand close to her mouth. “Not romantic love anyway… well, what are you feeling now?”

“Hm… well, as formerly stated, the ache has vanished, I was not hungry prior, however I no longer feel like I cannot eat should I want to… It has been replaced with a certain… lightness in my chest. As if the future has become less uncertain to me.”

“Hmm…” Carmine put a hand to her chin. “Hold on…”

“Shit, Amarys, were you feeling worried for him?”

Amarys shook her head. “Worried… I do not believe so… I felt worried for him when he was champion, his lack of eating and sleeping, and sudden change in his regular demeanor were surely cause for concern, however those are no longer an issue, the bags under his eyes have receded, his behavior has largely evened back out, and he has since filled back out nicely.”

Florian couldn’t help looking over, having to suppress a laugh at the way Kieran’s face had flushed and eyes went wide. It was true, Kieran’s cheeks and legs were certainly looking more fluffy now than when they had six months ago.

“There doesn’t have to be anything bad actively going on for you to feel worried about someone.” Carmine shook her head, crossing her arms now. “Amarys, you said the feeling came when you thought about Kiki, what exactly were you thinking about him— if uh, if it’s not anything um… no I doubt it would be… what were you thinking?”

“Ah, that would be… Often it would start as thinking about him based on mention of his name, or association to an object in my vision. Occasionally thoughts of his time as champion would come into my mind, and I feel a terrible urge to try and prevent that from happening again, that’s when the ache would begin as I began to strategize potential ways to respond should such a situation arise, however there are so many variables it is almost overwhelming.”

Camine nodded, giving a small smile as she did. “Yeah, that’s worry too Amarys… I’m sorry I didn’t realise it sooner… I get worried about Kiki a lot too, he is my little brother after all…”

“H-hey, you don’t have to worry about me, and I’m right here ya know!” Kieran protested weakly.

“I see, so it was worry… Observing Florian’s sincerity seemed to dissipate the worry, as if the possibilities seemed less overwhelming should they arise.”

“Yeah… I understand what you mean.” Carmine looked over at Florian with a smile. “Florian’s got a way of making things seem like they’re going to be okay, no matter how big they are…”

It was Florian’s turn to go flush, stammering over his words. “I- I don’t, I mean I’m just… It’s not like I do anything special…”

He started when he felt a warmth on his hand, looking over to see Kieran had taken his hand. “Hey, give yourself more credit… You’re really comfortin’ to be around…”

The Galarian boy seemed to freeze, feeling the blood in his ears.

“What about… what about when I… did all those bad things and… when you were Champion you…”

Kieran flushed slightly, moving his hand to rub the back of his neck and glancing away. “Ahahah… yeah… It was so frustratin’. Honestly it was hard to stay angry at you sometimes, I had to try really hard… That’s why I didn’t really watch your matches or nothin’...”

“Oh…”

“Yeah…”

Florian’s eyes trailed down to where their hands were joined, studying their fingers. Kieran’s hand was nicely warm and soft in his own. It took a moment for Florian to realise, flushing and reeling towards Carmine.

“H-hold on does t-that mean I… that I didn’t need to— oh—” Florian covered his face, trying to hide away in his hands.

“H-huh, what’s wrong?” Kieran’s voice sounded surprised in front of him.

“It was— Carmine’s idea was to have us both– c-confess a-and ask you out s-so that… um… so that—”

“Oh…” Kieran murmured, reaching out and pulling Florian’s hands from his face a moment later. “W-well… Do you regret it?”

Florian huffed out a laugh, glancing at the ground and then to the shattered remains of the friend ball as he was unable to keep eye contact. “I guess that depends on your answer…” He mumbled.

“Ah.” Kieran’s eyes widened, and one of his hands left Florian’s to stroke his bang, glancing up occasionally. “I guess I never got to answer, did I…?”

Carmine and Amarys were being so quiet beside them Florian forgot they were there entirely as his world seemed to focus in on Kieran, for better or worse.

“Haha… Wowzers… I never let myself believe it would actually happen…” Kieran murmured before finally locking searing gold with honey brown. “There’s so much I always imagined sayin’ to ya when I imagined this…”

Imagined? Florian flushed, Kieran had imagined this?

“But I can’t seem to remember any of it right now… isn’t that silly?” Kieran huffed a laugh, smiling warmly. “But… but yeah, I’d really like that, Florian, to go on a date with you.”

Florian once again found himself unable to move, a tremor wracking his body as his bottom lip started to tremble, trying to hold back tears. He couldn’t believe it. Sure Amarys turned out not to be competition, but he still couldn’t believe it.

The dam broke when Kieran moved in to hug him, crying into the crook of his neck, prompting the taller boy to hold him tighter.

“Okay, as heartwarming as all this is.” Carmine clapped her hands together rather loudly garnering everyone’s attention. “The others are probably still worried after you ran out like that, Florian.”

Flushing, Florian pulled away. “O-oh, yeah…”

“I forgot about that!” Kieran’s eyes widened again, returning his gaze to the Galarian boy. “Why did you run out so quickly anyway? Everyone seemed real worried ‘bout ya.”

Florian’s breath hitched in his throat, moving his hands to triangle in front of his face and glanced to the side. “I um, that’s uh, that’s… can I tell you later?”

“Florian flipped out when Amarys was talking about how she thought she might like you and ran out here.”

“Carmine!” His voice came as a squeak and his hands quickly went back to his face, hiding away from the world.

“Heheh, wowzers… I guess even you can get jealous too, huh Florian?”

“Kieran…” The Champion ranked trainer protested weakly, only to feel one of his hands be tugged away from his face, now held slightly aloft at his side.

“C’mon, Sis is right though… Let’s get back and… we can talk more about this later…?”

“I… y-yeah.” He let himself be tugged along and back out of the cave. The sun was setting down, twilight filling the artificial dome.

“We can all go back on Miraidon… if you guys want.”

“Oh, please.” Carmine spoke, at first Florian thought she was being sarcastic, then she continued. “It was such a pain to get all the way over here without a ride Pokemon.”

“That sounds satisfactory.”

Kieran just nodded with a smile, hand still tightly gripping Florian’s left.

With a nod in return, Florian grabbed its Pokeball from his belt, tossing it out into the open air to release the beast.

They filed on one by one, Florian piloting in front, followed by Kieran, Carmine, and Amarys.

There would be a lot of explaining to do when they got back to the clubroom, and Florian would have to pay for a broken vase. He would undoubtedly get more than a little flustered, but now at least his heart was filled with hope.

Maybe Kieran would like him enough he’d wanna go on a second date, and if he was lucky, maybe even a third!

He couldn’t help but feel giddy as he kicked softly into Miraidon’s hide, prompting it to start onwards.

And feeling Kieran’s hands round his waist, not even the whipping wind could keep the smile from his face.