Chapter 16

Next Move

The next day, it was as if nothing happened the night before. Damien woke me up like normal, then quickly left before I could say anything in response to his usual morning greeting.

It honestly made me question if what happened was real or not. Did he actually say he loved me out of the blue? Did we actually kiss and lay together by the pier? If I fell asleep while we were spending time together, how did the night really end? It was vaguely confusing, but it felt so real.

I really hope I didn't conjure all that up in my dreams as a way to tell myself that I have feelings for Damien...

I didn't want to assume or overthink at all, so I kept my thoughts strictly in line with what I knew, and would get clarification once I got the chance to talk to Damien.

The facts that I confirmed on my own were as follows:

We hung out yesterday, we got new clothes, which I confirmed as the bags were sitting next to the closet. We had gone grocery shopping, that much I knew. I had thrown away my old jacket, and kept the one Damien bought me.

Things start to get a little fuzzy after I gave Damien the yellow wristband bracelet, which I'd seen him wearing that morning. After that, I asked him why he went so far out of his way to help me, and he gave his explanation.

But after that, is where I started to become unsure. It didn't seem like Damien to just all of a sudden be overwhelmed by his emotions, and act on them without thinking… But if he loves me as much as he said he did, then maybe…

I'll have to wait until I actually get the chance to talk to him.

At least I would have, if I got that chance. Once I finished my mini investigation, I put my uniform on and went downstairs for breakfast. Usually Damien and I meet Klaus in the foyer for our tasks for the day, apparently fate had other plans. This time, Seth was there to meet us, alongside Klaus.

"Ah, there you both are! Sorry I couldn't join you both for breakfast, I was giving Adam a ride to his volunteer work. As such, today things are gonna be a bit different."

Damien and I exchanged glances, silently hoping it wasn't anything ridiculous.

"Damien, today you'll be accompanying me while I sort through…sigh complaints from my office…again. Normally I'd have Adam do it but as I said before, he got called in for work today. Kyle, you and Klaus will continue with your normal duties. Klaus will guide you through some tasks you can handle alone, and will be there to provide assistance should you need it. Sound good? Great. Damien, I'll be in my study when you're ready."

Damien gives me a small smile, before following Seth upstairs.

I was a little disappointed, since I really wanted to talk to him, but I didn't mind, I could always wait until later. Klaus floated over to me and put one of his appendages on my shoulder.

"Shall we begin, Mr. Briar?"

With that, I followed Klaus to the garden to begin.

It wasn't anything difficult, it was the beginning of summer, so my first task was to clean the pool, with Klaus helping of course.

I would use the large net to clear out any leaves and insects, then use the pool cleaner to clear up any murkiness and grime that was leftover. As I did that, Klaus cleared up the drains and pumps with Psychic, and the last thing we did, we did together.

He used Psychic to lift any extra logs and rocks that might have fallen in, I placed them all into one pile, and he lifted the pile into the garbage with Psychic.

All in all, it took about three or four hours. Afterwards, he brought me a lemonade, just like Damien would have.

Working with Klaus was different. I've worked with him before, don't get me wrong, but usually Damien was there as well. We didn't talk much, other than him instructing me on what we would do.

I had also been thinking a lot about what I wanted from all of this as well. And by that I mean, since Damien and I shared our feelings with each other, what would we do now?

Do we start dating? Would we go out like normal? Am I ready for that?

I won't lie, I still had some nervous feelings about dating again. Avery had done a lot of damage during my time with him, and while I was no longer worried about him coming to find me, or the danger that would pose, all that really did was allow me to relax and let my guard down, and not have those nightmares anymore.

I still did talk to Seth…or well, his illusion, as a form of therapy, and we came to the conclusion that I needed to heal from everything that happened one step at a time.

First was getting me to open up and be comfortable in my new home. This in turn stopped my nightmares, allowed me to go into the city without being afraid, and allowed me to not be so paranoid about everything constantly. That step alone took almost a year to complete, as it's been ten months since we've arrived here.

The next step was to address my uh…distancing issue. I naturally kept my distance from others as a result of Avery's abuse. Physically, mentally, and emotionally, I avoided getting close to others. The only one who's managed to break through that barrier was Damien, and for obvious reasons. He's someone I felt as though I could get close to without causing more harm to myself, or to him as well.

I didn't feel nervous or scared when I got close to Damien on the few occasions that I did, but that's because he was comforting me when I was already stressed. The few exceptions were when I felt as though giving him a gratitudinal hug was the right thing to do… and maybe also because I wanted it but still.

Either way, I didn't want to jump into something with him, and then have a difficult time dealing with intimacy. The idea alone made me slightly unnerved, the last thing I wanted was to hurt his feelings or disappoint him. Though I could tell that he might not have the best time showing affection either, considering he didn't know what to do with his hands when I laid on him. It was honestly adorable how flustered he seemed to get.

I would happily work together to grow comfortable with him. Laying against him, and all the times he held me … just felt right.

I really wanted to know what he wanted next. I hated anticipation more than anything, but I could wait. Knowing him, he wanted to talk to me just as bad.

I spent the rest of the day, sort of blissfully working with Klaus. I helped him water and mist his plants around the house, we cleaned the floors of the foyer, and I set the table for dinner while he drove to pick up Adam from work.

Once I finished, Seth entered the dining room, looking admittedly exhausted. His shoulders were slumped, and he looked like he was mentally drained. But he still greeted me with a smile.

"Oh, hello Kyle. I hope your day was less eventful than mine."

He takes a seat in his normal spot, and sighs.

"It wasn't really haha. Are you alright? Do you want me to grab you something to drink?"

He waves away my gesture and relaxes in his chair.

"No no, I'll be alright. I'm just glad A- Damien was there to help. We finished up a bit ago, he'd just gone to change out of his uniform. Adam should be home just in time for dinner, so I think you should do the same."

I nodded. I'm not sure what his employee complaints entailed, but I'd hoped that Damien wasn't as drained as Seth appeared to be. I'd wanted to see him and talk to him all day, but I didn't want to impose on him if he was tired.

To my surprise, he seemed perfectly fine for the most part. Although there was a slight edge to him that I took notice of. He stood up immediately once I entered our room, and he appeared slightly unnerved.

"O-oh. Hello Kyle, I wasn't expecting you to show up so soon."

I raised a brow as I unbuttoned my vest and took it off.

"Well, I just finished up my tasks for the day, and Seth suggested I change out of my uniform for dinner. Are you alright? You both seem a little out of it after dealing with his work stuff."

He nods quickly, and seems to take a deep breath before speaking.

"Yes, everything went just fine. It was just a lot to deal with all at once."

I squinted slightly and put on a t-shirt and some sweatpants. Something seemed very off about everything, I couldn't quite place my paw on it.

"Well, as long as you're okay. I was kind of hoping we could talk sometime, maybe after dinner?"

He gulped, and looked down avoiding eye contact. It made me slightly nervous, but I didn't assume the worst just yet.

"Well actually, I… I'd rather speak now, if you don't mind of course. We have a bit of time before Adam will be home for dinner after all."

I was slightly surprised, but I accepted. I nodded and sat on my bed.

"Alright then. Do you want to go first, or should I?"

He stands, albeit very stiffly, and finally shows that he'd been holding a piece of paper behind his back the whole time.

"Just…listen…okay?"

He opens up the paper, and starts reading.

"I wasn't sure how I should say this, since expressing my thoughts isn't my strong suit. But you make me want to improve and do better. I meant it when I told you that I loved you last night, Kyle. I don't know what came over me, but after all this time, I suppose my feelings overwhelmed me, and I couldn't hold them inside me anymore.

I know you said you feel the same, but I don't want you to accept my feelings because of what I've done for you, or because you think you should. I want you to know that you've had a special place in my heart for as long as I can remember, and I would've given anything to see the smile you display these days. I want you to be happy first and foremost.

While it would bring me great joy to be able to make you happy, and be there for you, uplift you, and hold you close when you need it. I want you to consider your feelings before mine which are as follows:

I think you've become the beautiful person I've envisioned you as these last few months, so much so that hearing you laugh and seeing your smile leaves me enthralled. Every time I see you, I want to hold you up and shower you with affection and praise, every moment I've spent with you has been perfect. I love you, Kyle."

(Damien's P.O.V.)

I nervously put the paper down and was met with his glossed over eyes. He seemed shocked to the point of speechlessness, and appeared to have a million thoughts racing through his mind. I only hoped that I didn't unnerve him with how forward I was, or overwhelm him by laying everything out all at once like I did.

However, the entirety of that letter was exactly how I've felt ever since he started to recover from his trauma. Every part of me wanted to say those things but couldn't find the words.

I decided to break the silence, with hopes of getting a response.

"Kyle…I-"

But suddenly, he threw himself against me. He let out a very exasperated but relieved sigh as he hugged my chest, making me turn redder than I already was.

"I…I love you too Damien. In my case, I was always drawn to you for some reason, but I wasn't in an ideal situation to process those feelings… It wasn't until we came here that I was able to let those feelings develop, and even then, it took you taking the first step for me to finally acknowledge them. There's just one thing I'm worried about."

He looked up at me in earnest, and I could see the adoration in his eyes that told me he really did love me as much as I loved him. And given how tightly he was holding me, he must have thought about this all day. I couldn't help but reach up and pat his head, something I've always wanted to do.

"What is it Kyle? I'll try to ease your worry."

He nervously keeps his eyes linked with mine, and presses his forehead against me as I continue to pat him, and run my fingers through his soft fur.

"You know…what I've done, and what I've been through. You know what effects it's had on me. Are you really willing to look passed all that, and work with me…just to be with me?"

I knew what he was really asking of course. His old "job" would've made most people turn tail and leave, and the result, him being emotionally guarded and physically distant, would undoubtedly cause a rift in a relationship.

But I wanted to be with Kyle more than anything. I would happily accept him as he is. If he was willing to let me be there for him, and help him overcome those hurdles, then I would happily do so.

"Of course Kyle. You and I have a linked past, remember? It's not as if I wasn't right there with you, sure, I wasn't doing what you were doing, but… I was beside you at the end of it all. If anything what I was doing was much much worse…Neither of us are exactly clean, we aren't perfect. But to me none of that matters. We've moved on, and we can choose what we want to do with our lives now, despite our pasts."

He accepts my answer and I decide to make a bold move. I hold both of his cheeks and kiss his forehead, before hugging him tightly against me.

"I love you…more than you could ever imagine. So let's try to move on together, alright?"

He hugs my arm and closes his eyes, laying there for a moment. It was as if he finally accepted that I would be there for him, no matter what. That I was willing to be his safe space as long as he needed one. He sniffed once, but didn't cry, instead wiping away any oncoming tears…on my arm. I pat his head, keeping it pressed against my chest with a hug, and smiling down at him softly.

It was then that I heard the front door open. Adam had finally "gotten home" from his volunteer work.

Being frank, he never left the manor. In truth, I told Adam and Seth that I wanted to tell Kyle my true feelings today, not really telling them about everything that happened last night of course.

I told them that I wanted to be able to communicate my feelings to him without the words getting stuck, and Adam suggested that I do what they thought of initially, which was writing him a letter, in a sense, and just reading it out loud. But I couldn't do that and work at the same time, at least not without Kyle knowing. So they came up with a plan to separate us for the day. It was a little more elaborate than I'd like, but Kyle seemed to not look too far into it, so I had no complaints.

Adam really did have volunteer work, and Seth really did have to read employee complaints from his Pokemon Resources Department, but they both multitasked. Adam bounced between his online work and checking up on me, and sometimes going to help Seth, even though the Zoroark never let him stay for more than a few minutes at a time. Meanwhile, Seth took care of most of his own work alone and occasionally made sure I was doing alright. He looked extremely mentally checked out when he left the study to send Kyle to our room to meet me, and Adam felt extremely guilty for not being able to help more. I sincerely appreciated Seth for doing what seemed like strenuous work alone for my sake.

But at the end of it all, they were more than happy to give me a space to get my feelings on the page. It took a lot of attempts, and I tried not to call on their help too much. But occasionally I didn't know how to word something, and one of them would be there to assist me. The two of them have been absolute treasures to both Kyle and I since we arrived. Neither of us would be where we are today without them.

"I think Adam has just arrived. What say you and I go meet him and Seth for dinner before we relax the rest of the day, hm?"

He nods, and stands. He grabs my hand, and pulls me close to him again, hugging me tightly.

"Just a little longer…"

I smile and pat his head once more, letting him enjoy the embrace a little more.

A few moments later, we'd finally arrived at the dinner table. Adam was hugging Seth's head, and holding him against him while he massaged his head softly. The Zoroark looked absolutely exhausted.

"Oh you poor thing… I brought you some tea to go with dinner."

There was a mug already on the table, I assumed that's why he didn't return sooner. I was somewhat thankful for that, it gave me more time to talk with Kyle.

We sat down, and enjoyed a quiet dinner. It felt slightly awkward, since I wasn't sure if it was appropriate to mention what happened. Kyle didn't know I went to Adam and Seth for assistance, and they don't know how my conversation with Kyle went. No one knew whether or not to say, or ask anything, but we enjoyed dinner nonetheless.

Afterwards, Kyle and I laid together in bed. He rested his head on my chest, using me as a pillow, and I rubbed his head softly.

My entire body felt enveloped in his warmth, even though only his head was laying on me, and the rest of his body was curled up against my side. I thought he'd gone to sleep, until he spoke up amidst the moonlit darkness.

"So what now?"

I opened one eye, and looked down at him. The moonlight reflected off of his dark fur, making him glisten slightly.

"What do you mean?"

He chuckles and looks up at me, and I continue to rub his head softly.

"Well I mean… Are we gonna start dating? What do we tell Seth and Adam, if we even want to tell them… which, I wouldn't mind doing. Do we plan date nights? Things like that."

I looked up in thought, he made a good point. We confessed our feelings but we had no clue what we would actually want to do to spend time together. I didn't have any idea what he considered quality time, in my previous relationship, Amy was the one to lead. And when he was with Avery, Avery did most of the planning.

"I suppose we see where things go. I believe we should tell Adam and Seth, so as not to make it a big secret. As for dating…I had a great time when we went out a couple days ago. I would very much enjoy going out like that again. We could pick out places to eat or ask Adam for suggestions for dates. I'm sure he and Seth would happily provide some. Other than that…any time I get to spend with you would make me more than happy."

He smiles at me, and leans into my paw rubbing his head.

"I guess you're right. It's not like there's some sort of template for dating for us to follow or anything. We can spend our time however we like together. How about we go on an official date tomorrow?"

I nodded and massaged his temple.

"Sounds good to me. Any idea what you want to do?"

He nods.

"Well, we never did go and get food when we hung out the other day. I think you owe me a dinner date haha."

I lean forward and kiss his forehead before laying back down.

"Dinner it is. For now, let's just enjoy some quality time."

He seemed to agree and snuggled up closer against me. It made me smile, and I felt my heart thumping with vigor as my loved one pressed his body against mine.

Something in me felt like things would be different this time, relationship wise. When Amy asked me out in our youth, I had no relationship experience whatsoever, and said yes because I wasn't sure what to do. Over time, I grew to love her. The difference here is, as much as I wanted to do the things she wanted, like being affectionate, and speaking my feelings, I found it extremely difficult. Not to say that those feelings weren't there, because they were, but I never felt the urge to do those things like I do now.

When it comes to Kyle, my body seems to act on its own, as if it's being guided by my heart, and by my emotions. My heart tells me to hold him, and my body feels the urge to follow suit.

I probably sound like an insane person…

Kyle had already fallen asleep, and I soon followed suit, placing my arm over his smaller frame, and enjoying a relaxing rest.

(The Next Day, Kyle's P.O.V.)

When I woke up the next morning, I was expecting to be back in my own bed, and for things to be back to normal. With that beautiful confession Damien gave me last night, and how we fell asleep, I fully expected all of yesterday to be a dream.

But thankfully, I was wrong. I woke up exactly how I fell asleep, with my head laying against Damien's chest, my body curled up against his, and his arm over me. It honestly warmed my heart, that I got to enjoy his closeness like I did, and that I'd be able to from this point on.

When Damien laid all of his feelings out like he did, which completely blindsided me, I was absolutely stunned. Damien rarely ever spoke about his emotions so bluntly, it made it difficult to understand how he truly felt about something, or what he wanted. So for him to do the exact opposite, in the form of a literal statement about how much he loved me… I felt like I was on Cloud 9.

Something about the person you love proving to you that they're willing to change, or improve something they told you they didn't like about themselves for you gives a different level of emotion I can't even describe.

As the sun shines through the window, I looked up at Damien's sleeping face. Despite his permanent Luxray grimace, which honestly made me laugh a little seeing, he seemed peaceful in his sleep.

I had woken up way too early, so I didn't have to get up yet for work. I decided to relax with him just a little more.

I laid there for about another thirty or forty minutes or so, until Damien finally woke up. He shuffled a bit, but still held onto me. I opened my eyes to look up at him, and he smiled at me, before rubbing my head again.

"Good morning Kyle."

Something tells me he really enjoys the idea of petting my head.

"Good morning Damien, did you enjoy your sleep?"

He yawns, and nods as he sits up, making me do so as well.

"I did, yes. In fact, I'd say I slept better than usual."

I smile at him and lay my head against his shoulder.

"That's good, what's the plan today hm?"

He seems to think for a moment, before laying back against his pillow.

"I suppose we should tell Seth and Adam that we're planning on going out to dinner today. That way it'll save Howie some time with dinner, as well as place settings. I'm sure they'd be able to put together that we're dating now. Other than that, work like usual?"

I chuckle, and turn over so that I'm sitting.

"Sounds good to me heh."

Eventually we both get up, and get in uniform. I noticed that when we went to meet everyone for breakfast, Adam and Seth were especially cheerful as well. It was almost as if the world around me had brightened up, my heart felt like it was gliding through the air, soaring higher with every beat. It was an entirely different feeling from the first time I was in a relationship. I felt much happier, almost elated even, and that feeling excited me.

We went about working like usual, I could tell that while I worked with Damien, a smile never left my face. And whenever he went to speak to me, to ask me something, or even if we made slight eye contact, he smiled back. It was an amazing contrast to the permanent glare he used to carry, and I'm sure he felt the same about my glum look.

Once we finished our tasks for the day, we sat down with Adam and Seth, and Damien told them that we had started dating. Adam was excited for both of us, saying he's glad that we grew comfortable enough to indulge in our feelings, and Seth pretended to cry and say he was like a proud father, which made Adam elbow him and laugh. It was honestly really sweet how happy they were for us. It just reinforced the idea that they were genuine friends who really cared for us, and wanted the both of us to be happy. Adam said he had plenty of suggestions for dates, and said that we'd even be able to go on double dates as friends if we were comfortable with that, while admitting that that was something he'd always wanted to try.

After that, Damien and Adam went to speak, since Damien insisted that where we go for our first date be a surprise. He wanted to do something special for me. While that happened, I relaxed and played games with Seth. It was then that he finally came clean about something regarding my therapy. Once I beat him in in the fighting game we were playing, he paused it and gave me a serious look.

"Say Kyle, before we continue, there's something I'd like to tell you."

We both put our controllers down.

"Yeah, what's up?"

He ran a claw through his hair.

"I wanted to say that I know I may have jokingly said it earlier, but I really am proud of the progress you made. During your therapy, hearing more and more about your thought processes and experiences, it reminded me of myself. Having dealt with isolation, feeling like I didn't have anyone to be vulnerable with, feeling like I could only move forward relying on myself, it made me want to genuinely do something good for you. The only difference for me is that Adam came into my life. Meeting him and growing close with him, showed me that despite everything, there will always be someone who genuinely cares and wants better for you. And apparently I did the same for him."

He pulls out his phone, and looks at his screensaver, which was a picture of the two of them in what looked like a Johtonian garden, with Adam kissing Seth's cheek and Seth looking stupefied.

"Having found that happiness myself, I wanted you to do the same. So seeing you finally achieve that gives me a sense of pride, in a way. Basically, I'm happy you're happy!"

He gives me a sincere smile and puts his phone away. I was genuinely touched, and couldn't help but give Seth a hug. Throughout everything, Seth had been yet another true friend. On top of everything he did to help me, he gave me a place I could finally call home, and a family of my own.

"Thank you Seth, I mean it."

He chuckles, seemingly surprised by my hug, and pats my back.

"Hehe, of course. Now let's get back to the game, I need my revenge match!"

We continued playing until Adam and Damien returned, with Klaus as well.

"Master's Seth and Adam, I've finished setting up the table for you both. Mister Glint, and Mister Briar, the car is ready for the two of you as well."

We both stood up, and Adam seemed a little giddy, pushing me, and surprisingly Damien, towards the door to the hallway.

He is scarily strong.

"Go on! Go get ready so you can enjoy your date!"

I chuckled as he effortlessly ushered us out. Damien grabbed my paw, and smiled down at me.

"Shall we?

I felt myself blush, and I nodded before following him down the hall.

Once we got ready, both of us having dressed semi formally as per Damien's suggestion, we took the car and hit the road.

I wonder what kind of place he'd thought about taking me. Well, I guess that depends on what kind of places Adam suggested.

I was actually a little excited. I had butterflies in my stomach as well, but that was mostly because it felt like I was going on my first date ever, all over again. I couldn't erase what happened with Avery, but any emotions tied to the memories of when we first met have been left where they belong. In the past. And I was planning on enjoying the present as much as I could.

We pulled into an open spot on the side of the road in Mauville City. I didn't see any restaurants in sight, so I assumed we would be walking the rest of the way. Damien got out, and opened the door for me politely.

"It's just a bit further. You don't mind a short walk do you?"

I took his paw and got out of the car, giving him a smile.

"Of course not."

I grabbed his arm and leaned against his shoulder as we started walking, with me following his lead.

This almost feels like some sort of fantasy haha.

I couldn't help but hum a little as we walked, making Damien chuckle.

"I don't think I've ever heard you hum before, at least not aloud."

I laughed as well, and smiled up at him.

"Well it's been so long since I've been this excited about something. Besides, the song I heard the other day was kind of catchy. I've been starting to listen to music again and I'm exploring new genres to find out what I like. That particular one was pretty good."

He looked up in thought, and I continued to hum.

"Now that I think about it, I've never been one to listen to much music. Every time I've tried I always stopped for some reason."

I laughed, music was a part of growing up for me, finding a song that resonates with your current emotions helped me relax a lot of the time. But Damien not listening to music at all made so much sense.

"You don't listen to music? Sorry but that's kind of a deal breaker haha."

He smiles and kisses my forehead.

"Yeah, sure it is heh. Oh, we're here."

We arrived at a restaurant called The Growth. I look up at him with a playful smile.

"You didn't take me to a vegan restaurant on our first date did you?"

He smiles as we walk in.

"Of course I didn't. It's a Paldean restaurant, run by Grass types."

We walk up to the hostess, and Damien informs her of our reservation. An Arboliva nods as she checks her tablet, and smiles.

"You guys are right on time! Follow me, your table is ready."

She grabs two menus, and we follow her to our table. We're seated, and she tells us that our server will be with us in a moment.

I looked around, the restaurant was fairly nice, but it didn't seem like the kind of place that had super tiny portion sizes and dress requirements if you know what I mean.

"How'd you manage to get a reservation here so soon hm?"

Damien looks up from his menu.

"Adam called to set it up. He suggested this place since the food is good. I was a little hesitant since Paldean food has always been portrayed as…questionable. But he promised the food was really good, and that we'd love it... And that there would not be any sandwiches on the menu."

I looked down at the menu and saw a lot of things I've never even heard of. It took me a while to pick, and while I was thinking, a Roserade walked up to us.

"Hi! My name is Francis, and I'll be your server tonight. Can I start you guys off with some drinks?"

I had briefly looked at the drink menu, and admittedly, I didn't know what to pick. I'd never actually drank before, and I wasn't even sure if I liked alcohol, but I didn't want to come to a somewhat fancy restaurant and get a soda or something.

Hmm…Thornless Rose, that one seems good… this one has Pomeg, rum, and…Strawberries? They have fruit from the human side of the world here? I don't think I want that. Ohh, that one has Leppa, I think I'll try that.

"Um, I'll have the Cider Vine?"

The Roserade nods and takes down my drink order, before looking over at Damien.

"I'll just take a small glass of red wine. Thank you."

He nods once again and puts his order book aside.

"Very nice. Now if I could just see some I.D. please?"

We both hand him our IDs, and he looks them over before smiling, and giving them back to us.

"Perfect! I'll be back in just a moment!"

He strides away and Damien gives me a bit of a mischievous grin.

"So you decided to try a cocktail, hm? You've never drank before have you?"

I chuckled nervously and looked to the side.

"Was it obvious? Or are cocktails a first time drinker kind of thing?"

He shakes his head and continues to look at the menu.

"No, plenty of people indulge in cocktails as they're typically sweeter than just alcohol. I was saying that because you asked for your drink like it was a question, as if you were unsure if you were making the right choice."

He chuckles more, and I blush slightly.

"Well uh…yeah I've never had a drink before. By the time I'd turned 21 I was well…I wasn't going out to any restaurants, bars, or anything like that. So I never got the chance. I figured why not now?"

He smiles earnestly and pushes his menu aside.

"That's more than fair. I've never really drank much, but when I did I only ever had a bit of wine. Never too much. I only hope you aren't a lightweight."

A raise a brow, and push my menu aside as well, having picked what I wanted.

"A lightweight?"

Before I could ask what a lightweight was, Francis returned with our drinks. He uses his vines to place them on the table.

"Here you gentlemen go, are you ready to order, or do you need a minute longer?"

Damien and I exchanged glances. Thankfully we'd already seemed to look at the menu and I spoke up.

"Yes umm… I'll have…"

Once we placed our orders, and after our food eventually arrived, we spent the rest of the night just chatting. Honestly it felt nice to be able to talk to Damien. And I mean actually talk. Before when we would go places or hang out as friends, it always felt like there was a barrier between us. As if there was some sort of mental block that prevented him or I from speaking normally. It always felt sort of awkward, or as though there were things we couldn't talk about. So I stuck to talking about things that happened at school, and people I ran into on any given day. But this talk felt…normal, and I enjoyed it.

"Haha! Alright alright so… can I ask you something?"

I took another sip of my drink, as he nodded, before dipping some of the bread from his meal in the sauce on the side.

"By all means."

"So, when you said what you said yesterday, you were reading from that paper right? How come?"

He wiped his hands off and leaned forward on his arms.

"Well, I'm sure you remember that I told you that I find it extremely difficult to express my feelings. Well, I confided in Adam and Seth about it, and they suggested I just write you a note telling you how I feel. I explained to them that I wanted to try to express myself better, so rather than just leaving a note for you to find, I wrote how I felt, and forced myself to read them to you directly."

I lean on my paw, with one arm on the table and smile. For some reason, I felt super wobbly, and my chest felt light.

"So you wanted to be able to tell me how you felt about me to my face? That's really sweet…How did you feel when you were doing it?"

He chuckled nervously and looked to the side. I could see a massive blush growing on his face.

"I felt like I was reading it in the middle of a humongous stadium, and every single seat had you in it. It was insanely nerve wracking, but I'd do it again with no regrets."

I chuckled a little, and took another sip of my drink.

Wow, this is actually…really fuckin good~

"You know how hard it is for me to picture you nervous? I've always seen you as stoic yet caring, so seeing you nervous and blushing is kind of funny haha. But in a cute way."

Me calling him cute seems to make him blush more, and he starts to look around a little.

"Oh, well I…um."

I laugh a little more, and lean forward with a smile.

"I mean it haha! I know I've never said this before but I think you have a really cute face. It made me wanna hug you a lot haha."

For some reason it was really easy to laugh. I meant what I was telling him, but his reaction was making me chuckle as I spoke. My saying that only seemed to fluster him more.

"I see… thank you Kyle. I think…I think you have a cute face too. And a wonderful laugh as well."

I chuckle, leaning forward more, and smile wide at him.

"Aw thank you Dami~ That's very sweet of you to say!"

He suddenly appears flabbergasted as I laugh at his reaction to the sudden nickname. If his face could get any redder it would have.

"D-Dami?"

Suddenly Francis returns, and grabs our now empty plates and looks at both of us with a smile.

"I'll just move those for you guys. Can I get either of you anything else? Any dessert?"

I notice that my drink only has a little bit left, and I grab it.

"Um, could I have another-"

But before I could finish Damien gently pushed the drink back into the table with a nervous laugh.

"Haha, I think you've had enough of those. We'll take the check, thank you."

Francis chuckles and nods.

"Haha, of course. I'll be back in just a minute."

I whine, before finishing the rest of the drink once Damien moves his paws.

"Aw but Dami, I really wanted mooooooore! This drink is actually really good! You can barely taste the alcohol!"

Damien seems really tense all of a sudden, and moves my cup away from me.

"That's exactly why you shouldn't have any more heh. You can't taste the alcohol so you drank too much too quickly. Plus you seem to be extremely lightweight haha."

I whine more and press my forehead against the table, my head suddenly feeling heavy.

"Alriiiiiight."

Damien laughs more, and rubs my head softly.

"Indeed. Did you enjoy yourself?"

I nod, not looking up, and relaxing as he massages my head.

"Mmmhm."

He smiles, and Francis returns with the check, handing it to him.

"Thank you. Let's get ready to go okay?"

He leaves his card with the check, Francis comes back, finishes the transaction, Damien leaves a tip, and we head out. I hold onto Damien's arm as we walk back to the car, and we start driving. I lean against the car door, and Damien rolls my window down a little, allowing me to feel a nice cool breeze. I soon realized that we weren't going back the way we came.

"Hmmm…this isn't the way home. Where are we going?"

Damien smiles, keeping his eyes on the road as he responds.

"Well, there's one more place I wanted to go as per Adam's suggestion. It's a surprise. But first, I want you to sober up a bit, so we're gonna drive around for a bit until you lose a little of your buzz."

We ended up riding around Mauville City for a while, the cool air certainly helped me recover from the effects of my drink, if only a little. Eventually we take the road that leads towards Lavaridge Town from the north of Mauville, only instead of actually going to Lavaridge, we stop right before the entrance to the canyon. Damien pulls to the side of the road, and we both get out of the car.

I was eyeing him curiously by this point, but he gave me a reassuring smile, and began walking into the brush.

It's moments like these that make me glad we can both see in the dark.

We walk for a few minutes, making our way through a small path in the trees that seems to lead up the side of the canyon, until eventually we reach a small clearing that overlooks the valley below.

I took in the sight, behind us I could see the flashing lights of Mauville City, as well as the Mauville Supercenter that overlooks it all. In front of us, I could see the desert to the right, Mt. Chimney towering over us directly in front, and Lavaridge Town glowing elegantly to the left. The rest of the region was off the horizon as well. It was one of the most beautiful sights rivaling that of the glimmering ocean of Breeze City that once brought me peace.

"Wooow…I… How did you find this place?"

He takes a seat in the grass, a few feet away from the edge and I do the same.

"Adam told me about it. Apparently someone he really cared about brought him here in the past, but he didn't think it appropriate to come here with Seth. It rarely gets any foot traffic, it's not off limits to any degree, and as you can see, the scenery is worth it. I thought maybe…we could come here every once in a while and spend some alone time together."

I lean against his arm, and feel my chest begin to warm up.

"This is beautiful Damien, thank you."

He wraps an arm around my shoulder and pulls me close. It was then that I remembered something, a memory triggered by the beautiful display, I'd said to him a long time ago. I felt a bit of guilt, thinking about it.

"Also…sorry."

He was understandably confused, and looked down at me with a raised brow.

"Um…for what?"

I blushed softly, and looked down at the ground.

"Well um…a long time ago, when you were trying to be nice to me after something bad had happened to me at work, I told you that you were only being nice to be nice, or because you felt bad about what happened. Implying that you didn't really care about me. I realized after that it might've been hurtful. I'm sorry."

He chuckles and pulls me close, so that I'm sitting in his lap, resting his chin on my forehead and smiling.

"Kyle, you don't have to apologize for that. I understand you were likely not accustomed to people showing you kindness without ulterior motives, or showing you any sort of kind gesture at all. At the time, I wasn't sure why I was going out of my way to be nice to you. All I know is, it felt right. I suppose I was already drawn to you by that point. Seeing you hurting and crying brought about feelings I couldn't describe. It made me want to try to get closer to you…while also making me reasonably pissed with Avery."

I felt my ears lower, and I buried my face in his chest.

You mean he'd already started to like me back then?

"And the entire time, while you were trying to get closer to me, I was trying to distance myself out of fear, not just fear of Avery…but out of fear that if you knew the real me…you'd leave…I'm sorry…"

He rubs my back softly, and kisses my forehead.

"Kyle please…you don't have to be sorry. Anything you might have done or said is in the past. Even if I was upset or hurt at the time, look at where we are now. We get to relax and enjoy the wonderful scene before us, while holding you close to me. I'm happy now…because I have you. You're as much mine as I am yours."

I look up at him, and he smiles at me. Maybe it was the effects of my drink having not fully dissipated, or maybe I really did feel guilty, but I wanted to apologize for every moment I spent trying to push him away. Every moment I didn't spend trying to care for him as much as he cared for me. I wanted to tell him how much I regretted not being his friend sooner. And how bad I felt about ignoring my growing feelings for him once they sprouted.

But rather than do that, I lean forward and press my lips against his. He seemed shocked, but didn't pull away. I wrap my arms around his shoulders, and press my chest against his. This kiss felt different from the many I'd experienced a long time ago. While they seemed to have affection and lust, this one was filled with passion and longing, just like the one from two days ago. He continued to rub my back, using one arm to hold us up. With the moonlight washing over both of us, I finally let go of any and all reservations I might have had, and thoroughly enjoyed a kiss with the most precious person in the world to me.

I eventually pull away, and rest my head against him. I was happy that, as much as I wanted to be held, he didn't want to let me go. We sat like that for what felt like ages, and I enjoyed every second.

It was this moment that solidified that I was living in the future I'd wanted for so long. I had a place to call home. I had a family that loved and cared for me while considering my feelings. And finally, someone who would go to the ends of the Earth for me if it called for it, for whom I'd do the same. I was able to live, love, and laugh how I pleased, having the freedom to do so.

I smiled as I leaned against Damien's chest, his arms wrapped around me in a loving embrace.

What more could I ask for?

(End)

"You know, I actually liked when you called me Dami. You should do it more often."

"Pfft…haha! Alright Dami~."