Chapter Text
Naveen and Lida watched Taunie pace back and forth, ranting as she had for the past few weeks, for the same exact reason.
“—and then it was Gwynn!” Taunie continued, waving her hands as she paced in front of Naveen and Lida. “Spent three hours training with her yesterday. Three!”
“Tragic.”
“Right?!” Taunie said, somehow missing the sarcasm in Naveen’s voice. “Like, had he simply mentioned where he was going, we could have gone together.”
Lida couldn’t decide whether to laugh or grimace. “Are you sure that’s the problem?”
“What?” Taunie stopped to turn. “Of course that’s the problem. I’m his best friend, Lida. Best friend. I should be getting like…first dibs on his time, or something.”
“‘First dibs?’” Lida snorted. “You sound like one of Calamari’s crazy fans—”
“Canari!”
“—which is honestly a little scary,” Lida continued, ignoring Naveen’s indignant hiss. “Especially considering no one you’ve mentioned—like ever—is a guy.”
Taunie blinked. “So?”
Lida sighed. “So, I think you have an undiagnosed case of—”
BANG.
“Hell—oo, everyone,” Paxton’s cheery voice rang out as he strolled through the door. “How’s it hanging?”
“Paxton!” Taunie squealed as she spun towards him, eyes lighting up as brightly as her cheeks as she rushed over. “We were just waiting for you!”
“What do you mean, ‘we?’” Naveen softly snorted, which she ignored.
Paxton’s easy grin widened as Taunie tripped against the coffee table, steadying her. “Woah, careful there! Can’t invite you out later if you hit your head on something!”
Taunie’s eyes shined as Paxton released her. “Really?!” She squealed again. “Where do you want—wait, no. Keep it a surprise!”
He laughed. “Sure! I’ll head up and get ready first.” He gently bumped Taunie with his fist as he passed her to get to the elevator.
Naveen and Lida watched her as she stared after Paxton, and only when the elevator doors shut did she finally allow herself a cheer.
“Yes!” Taunie breathed out, falling back onto the couch before kicking her feet. “Finally! First time in days! Just the two of us.”
She sounded far too ignorant about her giddiness, much to the mixed annoyance and amusement of her friends.
“You had breakfast with him this morning,” Lida pointed out.
“And that abomination you call ‘croissant curry’ last night,” Naveen added.
“My curry is delicious!” Taunie pouted. “And breakfast was nice, but short! We haven’t properly hung out in—”
“—days, yes,” Lida finished, before sighing. “Look, this whole thing with Paxton is cute and all, but do you have any idea what you sound like when it comes to him?”
Taunie blinked. “Like a best friend?”
“No,” said Naveen. “You sound like—”
“Taunie,” Lida then interrupted, ignoring the glare shot her way, “Since you want to spend so much time with him—if not all of it—then what would that look like? What would you do?”
“What we would do…?” Taunie’s feet stilled as she considered the question. The young woman then beamed brightly as she began listing various activities. “Oh, that’s easy! We’d train a bunch to help take on those rogue Megas. Then to celebrate, we’d go exploring the city—so many places he’s never tried!—and maybe stop for dinner at a nice cafe.” She began kicking her feet again. “Oh, then we’d climb up onto a high roof and watch the sun set over Lumiose! Then we’d—”
Her friends watched as she froze mid-speech, mouth still parted as she stared at the ceiling.
“W-we’d…”
Taunie slowly sat up, bringing her fingertips to her lips as her cheeks then lit up a brilliant shade of red.
“Oh…Oh no…Guys…” She looked up, looking both afraid and lost. “I-I think….”
Yes?! Her friends both thought, leaning forward in anticipation.
“I think I…like my best friend…more than a friend,” Taunie finished with a whisper.
Both friends breathed out sighs of relief.
"Finally!"
"About time."
Taunie rapidly blinked as she processed their words. "Wh-what do you mean? Have you..."
"Known?" Naveen finished helpfully.
"For weeks," Lida confirmed. "Seriously, it was a nightmare. It was like watching one of Cannoli's streams."
"Exa—hey!” Naveen snapped.
"H-how?" Taunie questioned, cheeks still burning. "I didn't even..."
Lida shook her head. "Girl, you couldn't have been more obvious. Sure, you act normal most of the time. But when your not-yet-boyfriend is even mentioned, you look like an excited Growlithe or something. It was kind of adorable."
"And very annoying," Naveen added with one last glare at Lida. "Mostly because AZ wanted you to figure it out on your own."
"He knows too?" Taunie asked in a high pitched voice, looking like she wanted to sink and disappear. "Who else...? Does...?"
"No, I don't think Paxton knows," Lida assured her. "I mean, not that I can really tell. But if you two have been hanging around together with anyone outside of here recently, then chances are that they know, too. Just saying."
Taunie bit her lip, looking unusually cowed until they heard movement come from behind the counter.
Looking over, the friends noticed AZ duck into the space, Floette at his side as usual.
“What’s with the ruckus?” He softly grunted, looking towards the door. “...Did that young man slam my—?”
“Taunie finally figured out she’s madly in love with Paxton,” Lida suddenly blurted, making the aforementioned friend choke.
“L-lida!” She stammered. “I’m not…not…”
AZ blinked, then gave the girl a small smile. “Really? I’m glad to hear it. It’s been driving me mad.”
“Kuryuyu!”
Taunie groaned and flopped backwards onto the couch, rolling on her stomach to hide her face. “This is so embarrassing….how come everyone knew but me?”
“Dunno, but I bet the wedding guests will have plenty of stories to share about that,” Naveen commented, prompting Lida to snort loudly.
“Maybe AZ can officiate it,” she laughed, while the man merely turned his head away.
Taunie turned to glare, although the effect was ruined by her subtly delighted expression. “Th-that’s…it’s way too early to be talking about that kind of thing!” She half-yelled, kicking her feet as her friends snickered. Suddenly, she quietly asked, “...AZ?”
“...Yes, my dear?”
“....” The girl was silent for a few moments, then said, “If I were to get married—and this is hypothetical!—with…someone….would you…walk me down the aisle…?”
The room went dead silent, Naveen’s and Lida’s smiles disappearing as they listened to the unexpected question, asked in an unusually quiet voice. They turned to AZ, waiting for his response.
The man had gone still, the only source of movement from behind the counter coming from the lightly spinning Floette at his side. There was a weight on his voice as he eventually said, “I’m…flattered, Taunie, but I’m not sure I’m—”
“Please?” The young woman all but begged as she peered over the edge of the couch. “I could ask Vinnie, but…I want it to be you…”
“...Very well,” AZ said with a slow nod. “If time permits, then I would be most honored.”
Taunie sagged back down with relief, “Oh, thank you so much. I mean, there’s no reason why I need to get married, or wh-who I’d m-marry at all—”
Ding. The elevator doors opened.
“Alright, let’s—oh, good afternoon, AZ,” Paxton said as he walked out, the mood in the room becoming significantly lighter.
Immediately, Taunie sprang up with a large smile. “Paxton! You look g-great! You ready for our…our..d-da—” She slammed her mouth closed, cheeks flaming again.
“Day out?” Lida suggested with a grin, which Taunie immediately latched onto with a grateful expression.
“Yes!” she said loudly. “Day out! Thank you!”
Paxton blinked as he looked between the two. “Do I want to know, or…”
“Yes,” Naveen answered as he stood, checking his watch. “But that can wait. Canari’s stream can’t. I’m going to my room. Enjoy your…’day out,’” he finished, using air quotes before moving towards the elevator.
“Enjoy Candy’s stream, Naveen!” Lida called out as the boy stepped through the doors.
“It’s Cana—”
The doors closed mid-speech.
“Now, you two,” Lida continued as she moved forward and gently shoved Taunie and Paxton together, making the former squeak in embarrassment. “I want plenty of pictures on your ‘day out’, you hear?”
Paxton grinned as he casually slung an arm around Taunie’s shoulders, somehow making the girl melt and freeze at the same time. “Sure thing, Lidia!” He gave her a thumbs up.
Lida rolled her eyes. “Yes, hardy harr. ‘Lidia’, very funny. Now, shoo!” She shoved them out the front door. Once they were across the threshold, she called out, “And stick with cafes and stuff. Just stay away from anywhere too…steamy.”
She waggled her eyebrows at a mortified Taunie, then slammed the door just before a light thud echoed against it—likely a small rock.
AZ shook his head and walked back into his alcove, muttering under his breath.
“Kids.”