Outside, Volkner struggled to keep his patience. For one thing, it was cold. For another, Whitney kept tugging on his arm and saying she'd always thought he was so shy, but who knew he could be such a sweetheart!
Volkner had never identified as either shy or a sweetheart, and didn't appreciate being characterised as such.
Ordinarily, he would have had no difficulties telling someone what he thought of them, but he figured he shouldn't do that to her at her own party, especially when there was a 100% chance she'd cry as a result and then he'd have to deal with angry friends and a certain possessive ghost type trainer who already creeped Volkner out enough.
Morty seemed to like Flint though - maybe Flint would protect Volkner.
At the thought of Flint, Volkner's scowl deepened. Why on earth had he let him get stuck out here? Flint knew what Volkner thought of Whitney. Did he not want to talk to him anymore? What was he playing at?
"Anyway, that's why the balloons are pink. And if you look closely some of them even have the same stripes as the Clefables. Isn't that cute?"
Volkner jolted back to reality. "Er, yes. Very cute." He so didn't care. The thing that irked him was that Flint would have genuinely enjoyed this conversation. He was just as into pointless themed stuff as Whitney and enjoyed being the centre of attention. The two got on like a house on fire, yet Volkner was the one out here suffering through this conversation instead.
A voice in his head asked why he never minded having these conversations with Flint, then, but he was quick to dismiss that thought.
He scowled. He didn't have an answer.
Whitney tipped her head to the side. "You know, you kind of remind me of Morty."
"What?" Volkner was horrified.
"Yeah, I mean you're both blonde and cute and super strong but also quiet. And he listens to me when I tell him how cute my Clefairy is!"
Oh god. He already knew that Whitney and Flint were similar. And now if he and Morty were similar, then…
Whitney was frowning. He wondered if she was thinking the same thing. As he stared at her, bewildered by the direction his thoughts were taking, her eyes lifted to meet his and she stared back, frown slowly giving way to a smile of shared understanding.
She laughed.
"Morty looks better in a scarf than you do, though," she informed him. "And his ghost pokemon are more of a challenge for me, even if yours are cuter. And he goes shopping with me."
"Flint doesn't care when I renovate his room in the Elite Four, even if I cause blackouts. And he doesn't wear pink."
Whitney made a face. "Pink with that hair? Can you imagine?"
She rose to her feet, beaming, then stretched out a hand to Volkner. "Back inside, then?"
"Back inside."
Whitney linked her arm through Volkner's and he smiled, the pair unified in their resolve.
When they got back inside she kissed him on the cheek. "See you later, sweetie! Good luck!"
"You too!" Volkner grinned after her. Flint he could understand, but now he knew why the reserved Jasmine liked her so much.
Still beaming, he sought out Flint, who was slouching next to Cynthia and Lucian, clearly having gone to his Elite Four buddies for support.
"Whitney's sweet, isn't she?"
"So now you're into her suddenly?" Flint snapped.
"Hush." Cynthia patted him on the back soothingly.
"I mean, if you're into pink crybabies go right ahead. Whatever, I guess we can't all have Infernapes."
"Flint, you're not making any sense," said Volkner patiently.
"It's not my fault none of my Pokemon can learn rollout! Oh well, guess I'll go stick a bunch of flower beds in my room at the Elite Four then!"
"I mean, your current lava motif is very dated."
"Not helping, Lucian," muttered Cynthia.
"Also your glowing orbs aren't any better as a design," said Volkner.
"At least my orbs don't cause blackouts," retorted Lucian.
"No, they don't do anything at all except look stupid," said Flint, sticking his tongue out. Volkner grinned at Flint in solidarity.
Cynthia laughed. "Don't mess with these two, Lucian."
"No, I see they are quite the dynamic duo."
Volkner could feel his face heating up.
"We sure are!" Flint slung an arm over Volkner's shoulders ostentatiously. "Best duo around! Hottest too!"
"Oh my gosh are Whitney and Morty kissing?" Cynthia covered her mouth with her hands.
"What?" Flint turned around so fast Volkner was sure he'd given himself whiplash. Sure enough they were. It wasn't anything unseemly, just a quiet kiss and a whole lot of staring into each other's eyes and all that romantic nonsense.
"Whaaaat?" Flint's intoxicated state was making him even slower on the uptake than usual. "He stole your girl, bro!"
"She's not my girl," said Volkner, exasperated.
"Not now she's not. Shit, man. Hope you're not too bummed."
"Hope I'm not… oh for heaven's sake." Volkner was thoroughly at the end of his rope. Cynthia was clearly trying not to laugh, and it wasn't doing anything to help his mood. Lucian was watching the pair thoughtfully.
Cynthia tugged on Lucian's arm. "Come on, let's leave these two to talk some sense into each other."
Volkner gaped after their retreating backs. "Hey I'm talking perfect sense!"
"So am I!" Flint was outraged. Volkner rolled his eyes. "No you're not, you're drunk as a Skuntank."
"Volkner."
"Yeah?"
"Volkner." Flint didn't say anything further, and Volkner raised an eyebrow as he looked over at him. The sight gave him pause. Drunk and swaying though he was, there was a serious expression on Flint's face and it made Volkner's heart beat faster.
"What's up?" Volkner's voice was gentle and it got the response he was hoping for. Flint's eyes snapped up to meet Volkner's and despite the alcohol induced glaze, his eyes were full of heat and yearning and something Volkner couldn't identify.
"Volk…"
Volkner smiled. "You know you're the only one who gets to call me that."
"I know."
"And the only one who gets to talk to me about clefairy themed balloons."
"What? What balloons?"
"Nothing." Volkner huffed a laugh at Flint's petulant expression. "Come on, let's get you home."
"I don't wanna go home." Flint pouted.
"Yeah you do, the night's over and you're wasted. Come on."
"Are you gonna come with me?"
"Of course."
He tugged on Flint's arm, but Flint didn't move. Volkner turned back, still tugging gently. Flint was standing still, staring at Volkner with a goofy smile. "You're the best, Volk."
"And you're drunk." Volkner ignored the heat rising in his cheeks and shifted so he was behind Flint, propelling him out the door.
"No!" Flint took a couple reluctant steps forward at Volkner's insistence. "Well, yes. But I still mean it. You've got my back, bro."
"Quite literally, in this instance."
"Yeah, whatever." Flint rolled his eyes. "I'm just saying, you…" he stopped.
"Yes?" Volkner stopped pushing, sensing that Flint was on the brink of saying something important.
"I just… hope you know you mean a lot to me."
The same vulnerable expression was back on Flint's face and Volkner swallowed heavily. "You mean a lot to me too," he said quietly, wondering if Flint knew the full weight of what he was saying. Flint took that moment to lurch forward unsteadily. Volkner sighed. "Flint, home. Come on."
They could talk tomorrow.