Work Text:
"Luuuuuu! Hey, Lu!"
Lucas grips the tickets in his paw tight, heart pounding in his chest. With a twirl and a (super gentle) kick, their bedroom door flies open—and the Alolan Vulpix yelps, almost leaping straight off the couch in his surprise. A twinge of hesitation tugs at Lucas' chest, lips twisting to form the first syllable of "I'm sorry" before his mind can even catch up…but just this once, he silences it, striding into the room with the brightest smile he thinks he's ever smiled. This is important!
"Y-Yeah?!" Lumine stammers, cheeks bright red and notebook fumbling in his paws so badly that it falls right out of his grip and onto the floor. And that finally makes Lucas freeze to a halt.
"Whoops! Are you okay? I didn't know I was that loud… Here, lemme-"
"WAIT!" Lumine snatches it up in a hurry, and now it's Lucas' turn to jolt, fur standing up on end and the paw he'd outstretched snapping back. The Vulpix takes a breath, gathering himself. "…Ahem. No…no, I didn't really mind.I was just…organizing some stuff, so some papers were loose. I didn't want you to pick them up too roughly and mess up the order."
And to drive his point home, he lifts his notebook up for Lucas to see, two little strips of colored paper sticking out from the tightly shut pages. They look…strangely familiar, but Lumine lets them fall back into the book before Lucas can squint his eyes enough to tell.
Which, well…his explanation sorta makes sense…maybe? Lumine does use sticky tabs to organize their inventory and finance notebooks. …And color highlighters. And elaborate diagrams and spreadsheets and fliptabs. To be honest, it all just seems kinda unnecessary to Lucas, but who's he to complain if it keeps their stuff organized? And if it makes Lu happy, more importantly?
…Hey, how does someone "pick up a notebook roughly," anyway?!
"I'll tell you more about it…tomorrow. Or maybe after supper." Lumine slides the book onto the couch in front of him and rests his paws on top, clearing his throat for a second time. "So…what is it? You wanted to show me something?"
"Oh, yeah!" Proudly, he holds up his paw, showing off the tickets and flashing a grin. "Clear your schedule for tomorrow—Swirlix gave us special Valentine's Day tickets for 'A 'Pix of Ice and Fire'! The one starring a Kantonian and Alolan Vulpix! Isn't that great?!"
"R…Really?!" A brighter shade of red splotches itself across Lumine's cheeks…even though they've watched tons of movies before. Sure, not on Valentine's Day, per se, but…not everything that happens on Valentine's Day has to be mushy 'n' romantic. Just like how not everyone going to the movies together has to be a couple! He knows Lumine thinks the same…even if he is nervously pawing at his notebook, for some reason. And even if his eyes are downcast towards the floor, ears twitching and teeth biting gently on his lip.
"Was there…I mean…did she say why she gave them to us?" Lumine finally says, an emotion Lucas can't quite place cloaked in the soft, stilted tone in his voice. "It's…kind of her, don't get me wrong. But, I mean, there's…popcorn and drink expenses, aren't there? And what about the day's expedition? Or the chores we could've done on that day and…"
"Hey, relax, Lu! What's wrong? What're you so nervous about?" Lucas giggles, closing the distance between them and plopping himself down on the couch next to him. He watches as Lumine keeps a firm grip on his notebook, nudging it ever so slightly away from him protectively—but he pretends not to notice, not letting his eyes leave Lumine's. "One day off together won't kill us! Swirlix said she bought them for herself and whoever wanted to go with her in the Society…but everyone's either taken or too busy to go with her. And she figured we'd probably wanna just go ourselves rather than with her, so she just let us have 'em!" He chirps, tail thumping furiously on the couch cushion behind him.
In reality? Lucas was more than willing to go with Swirlix if no one else would (which was strange, honestly—he remembers asking Buizel and Archen while sparring what they were doing tomorrow if not watching the movie with Swirlix, and neither had known what he was talking about.) And not even just to keep her company; Swirlix is wonderful company to gush about food with and joke with as long as his social battery isn't drained! But…he'd been glad deep down, he thinks, that she'd insisted so fiercely that he just take both. Because, well, for all his protests, for all his attempts to be polite and impartial…she'd probably been right.
There was no one in the world Lucas would rather spend the day with than Lumine.
"I mean, we don't have to if you don't want to; I'd be…fine with that… But why wouldn't we?" Lucas rests his paws on his thighs, head tilting to the side. His tail still swishes back and forth, but he can feel his smile fading as he watches for Lumine's reaction. Which…seems not even a little less flustered than before. "You said you wanted to watch this one a while back; I know you did—and it'll be fun! I'll even wash my paws before reaching into our popcorn bucket this time, promise."
"I don't know why you're trying to tempt me by practicing basic hygiene, Lucas," Lumine deadpans. Beautiful blue eyes finally meeting Lucas' with a sigh. "And I do want to watch it; it's just…" He takes in a breath in and out. Like he's bracing himself for something. "Wouldn't you prefer something more…action-packed? Something more your speed? Something like…'The Aura Knight Rises'?"
Lucas gasps, eyes going wide, as Lumine slides the two pieces of paper out from his notebook and onto the couch for Lucas to see. Sure enough, two tickets enter his view—scheduled for tomorrow at the Meowth Theater an hour after 'A 'Pix of Ice and Fire' would end.
"Wha…buh…h-how?!" Lucas sputters, gaze flicking from Lumine's beet-red face to the tickets and back again. "I've been trying to schedule tickets for us for months now—they've never been open! And they've been so expensive, too!" And Lumine would know…he's watched Lucas tap away at their Expedition Gadget every night before bed for ages! He even remembers the night when Lumine yanked the device away and tossed it aside to get him to quit reloading the ticket website and go to sleep…so how in the world did he get tickets?!
"I…a month or two ago, I overheard someone at the cafe talking about how their date dumped them and how they had no one to go to the movie with," The Alolan Vulpix explains, paws kneading the couch cushion furiously. Words spilling out of his mouth like a rehearsal gone horribly wrong. He goes on, "I knew you wanted to see it, so I…offered to buy the tickets off them. It just happened to be on Valentine's Day, so I thought it could be for you and…a partner to see, and… W-Well, I really thought you would've found someone by now, to be honest. I know it's not what you're focusing on, and that's okay; I just don't know why people would pass up on such a kind and loving and bright-"
"Really?! Aw, thank you, Lu!" Lucas doesn't need to hear another word before pulling Lumine into a tight hug, squeezing the Vulpix tight and earning another yelp out of him. His entire body feels so warm—so fluttery. Probably in no small part from feeling the weight of Lumine's smaller arms awkwardly hugging back, from smelling the familiar, crisp scent dancing across Lumine's fur. Like a dash of fresh-fallen snow mixed with the warmth of…Lumine. The way he imagines Pokemon are probably supposed to smell.
"You really, really didn't have to, but thank you so much! Now we can go see both of 'em together. it'll be so much fun! Well, I mean…" He pulls away, letting Lumine take in a gulp of air. "If…if you want to? I don't know what you're talking about by saying I'm gonna get someone else to watch it with. Who would I ever wanna watch it with besides you, hehe? You're always thinking of me… What better-"
The word 'partner' catches in his throat, now his turn for his cheeks to go warm. He hadn't quite thought of it like that until Lumine had used it like that, but…he and Lumine aren't 'partners'! Sure, maybe Lumine's stuck with him so long at this point that he can't imagine a world without him. That he doesn't want to imagine a tomorrow where he doesn't wake up by Lumine's side anymore. And…sure, maybe he's noticed how Lumine's smiles around him always look…different than whenever he smiles in public. Softer and brighter and freer, the way Lucas thinks they should be. And how Lumine laughs so much harder with him, makes so many more jokes, actually cuddles with him, cuddles and snuggles and looks so safe doing it, and how…Lucas feels the same around him…
But there's nothing weird about that; that doesn't make them partners, necessarily! They're just two Sunkern in a pod…a Plusle and Minun cheering each other on and charging each other up when the going gets tough! Like a Solrock and Lunatone, lighting up each other's world in the best best-friend way possible. Just two pals, going together to the movies.
…On Valentine's Day.
The Riolu takes a breath, finally trying again. "…What better…expedition partner…could I ask for than you to spend the day with? …If you wanna?"
"…Yeah," Lumine stammers breathlessly after barely a pause, nodding his head. "Yeah, I…I'd like that." A tiny, twitching smile blossoms across his cheeks, and…if Lucas didn't know any better, he'd think he'd seen Lumine's shoulders untense themselves a little. Ears just barely detecting a little sigh escaping the Vulpix's lips. But he's probably just overthinking things like usual...right?
"Great! Hehe. It's a…well, it's not a date, but…"
"…Yeah. I know what you mean."
And for just a moment…silence fills the room. Falling over them, over his cheer, over Lumine's smile, like a blanket. Lumine's soft blue eyes meeting Lucas' bright red ones—their paws inches apart on the couch. Wind whistles in through the window, afternoon sunlight shining down on their fur. Glistening from their matching friendship scarves, resting right over their chests.
More times than Lucas can count, they've lied in bed together, snoozed together chest to chest, with Lucas thinking that their hearts were beating to the same tune. With the evidence to prove it. But now…even when he can't hear it…when he can't feel it or sense it…he thinks the same is happening now.
Their two hearts, swaying and beating to the same gentle tune.
…
…"Partner"… Could someone like him really be Lumine's…?
No. No, he…
…
It's far…far from the first time the thought has drifted into his head. But why… can't he stop thinking about it? Entertaining it? Why does the thought just keep coming back? Lumine said it himself—it isn't what he should be focusing on! He should be worrying about how Pops is doing, or about how many 'mons still need their help, or about exploring the world like he's wanted all his life! Why's he worrying about changing things between them? He should just be enjoying this, all of this, while it lasts, not thinking about ruining it! Not thinking about…
About…
…
How it…how it could never work between them. It just couldn't! Not in a million years. Lumine deserves better than him, so much better. Lucas is way too needy; too loud, too messy, he'd beg for so much attention if it were to happen. On the…practically zero chance it happens. Every day, he'd suck up so much of Lumine's time, so much of his energy! Or, worse, what if they get together and…Lucas hurts him somehow? Lumine's been through so much pain already. Wouldn't…getting together just open more avenues for Lumine to get hurt, then? That's the last thing he wants. The last thing he could ever want.
And he's getting so far ahead of himself already; it could all go wrong from the very moment he asks! What if the feeling in his gut is right and he ruins things like usual; what if Lumine thinks he's a weirdo or a creep for asking? What if Lumine just…isn't into boys like that, isn't into him like that? What would happen then? Sure, neither he nor Lumine has really seemed all that into anyone else, as far as he can tell, but…
And, besides…what's wrong with just…staying best friends? It's a miracle, what he has now—why can't he just be grateful for that? Why would he try to overstep his boundaries, try take up any more precious space in someone's life than that? Especially Lumine's?
Hasn't he…learned his lesson about what happens when he takes up too much space? Becomes too much of a pain?
…
And why does it feel like…they've already stepped over a line somewhere before either of them realized it was happening?
…
Things are just fine if they stay just like this…right?
Or maybe…maybe it's not even things changing that's the problem.
Maybe he just doesn't want to lose this. In a way he doesn't think he's ever felt before.
Maybe he just doesn't want to lose…him.
…
"So…um…" Lucas finally says, lips popping and paws beginning to drum on the couch cushion. He blinks, and the stinging in his eyes is the only reason it occurs to him that…he's forgotten to blink for a while now. What were they talking about again? "How…How much did you spend on those tickets, anyway? They've gotta have been expensive…right?"
"Hm? Oh," Lumine murmurs, blinking hard as if snapping from a trance of his own. From the little sigh the Vulpix lets out, Lucas would almost think he's grateful that Lucas broke the silence—weird. "Well, actually…not as much as you'd think. The 'mon was very upset about being dumped, so…it wasn't too hard to get a good price out of him with a little talking. Let me see…" He reaches down and plucks their finances notebook from under the couch, starting to flip through it.
"Wha—you…you scammed a guy out of his tickets, Lu?!" Lucas smirks, sliding a little closer to scan the pages with Lumine. He feels the…strange ache in his chest finally starting to fade, energy flowing in like sunlight. He smiles, and like a sail catching the momentum of the wind, he feels words forming on his tongue in that all-too-familiar-way. "That's just…horrible! Maybe you can just keep your ill-gotten tickets to yourself. I dunno if I wanna go with a thief…"
"A 'thief' wouldn't have paid someone…950 Poké for two movie tickets!" Lumine counters, finally pointing a paw down on a record made about two months ago. Reading '950 Poke—misc. expenses.' Lucas doesn't miss the way light's started to surge back into Lumine's eyes too. The way his tails have started to wag up and down.
"Okay, so it is a real good price…but you're a liar if not a thief, then. You just labeled it 'misc. expenses' so I wouldn't figure out what you'd actually spent it on!"
"How, exactly, do movie tickets not fall under miscellaneous expenses?"
"Well…they, um…that's just not fair, okay?!" He giggles. He reaches out to ruffle the fluffy fur atop Lumine's head—paw hesitating mid-air for just a moment before starting to pet and ruffle him lovingly. "It doesn't fall under it 'cause I said so."
"Only Pokemon who manage our finances have a say in what goes where," Lumine playfully grumbles. Not bothering to swat away Lucas' paw or even pull away. From the way his smile gets just a little more wide, a little more indulgent…he'd even think Lumine's melting into it a little! …If he didn't know better. "But…I guess we should go get started on our chores now, huh? Especially since now we have to do tomorrow's, too."
"Sounds good to me! Mmm, two whole buckets of popcorn between us—I can't wait!" He chirps, hopping off the couch after giving Lumine one final head ruffle. "Maybe we can even grab a table at the cafe afterwards. I think Kangaskhan is having a spaghetti special for Valentine's!"
Lumine blinks. "Well, I… I guess she did say I was free to stop by with you if I wanted, but… I mean, that special's only supposed to be meant for…" Even with his perfect hearing, Lucas can juuust barely make out Lumine's words from under his breath. But he doesn't get long to wonder why before the Vulpix blinks again, snapping to attention, nose scrunching like he'd just smelled something awful. "Hold it. Just how much do you plan on eating tomorrow?"
"Don't worry about it!" He sweeps his arms in a dramatic bow, gesturing towards the door with a curtsy. "After you?"
Lumine just stares at him in silence before letting out a playful huff, jumping off the couch himself and landing lithely on his paws. "Sure…you dork. I'm going to hold you to that 'washing paws' promise, I hope you know. Whether or not we get supper."
"Hehe."
Lumine rolls his eyes one last time and strides towards the door…and Lucas can only hope the Vulpix doesn't catch the way his smile fades ever so slightly at the edges. It's not like he's not…not happy, not still excited as all heck for tomorrow—he's still smiling so wide, his face is starting to hurt! Adrenaline is still flowing through his veins; his feet are still tapping along the floor happily. He gets to munch on popcorn, watch movies, and sit beside his favorite 'mon in the whole world all day—what's not to like?
He just…he just has a lot to think about while he does it.
That's all.