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Kieran was feeling a whirlwind of emotions as he trudged through the woods. He felt bitter, and confused, but most of all he felt an overwhelming sense of betrayal.
Why had Florian lied to him?
His sister he was used to, she never told him anything, always leaving him in the dark and then making fun of him for being clueless. But he had thought Florian would be different. He guessed that’s why you shouldn’t put so much stock into someone you had only met a couple of days before, but Florian had been so nice, he hadn’t made fun of him. He listened to him and actually seemed to be interested, to pay attention to him.
And yet, he had still lied. Kieran had asked him directly, giving him a chance to tell the truth, and even then, he kept the secret of what his Grandpa had told him.
Kieran clenched his fist. Why did he feel so torn up about this? And, why did he want to forgive him for it? He couldn’t do that of course, he had lied. Lied to him about the ogre, about the one thing he had been so enthralled with for all his life.
Only one more signboard left, Kieran reminded himself. And then he never has to talk to Florian ever again. For some reason the thought made his heart hurt, but he pushed that feeling down.
Finally he arrived in the Paradise Barrens, waiting for Florian by the post. He realised it might take Florian a while to get there, a pang of guilt running through him as he thought about Florian getting lost. It was a lot farther out than the other two billboards, upset or not he should have helped get him here. He sighed, it was too late for that anyway. Florian would be fine, he told himself, allowing his bitter feelings to take over again.
After what seemed like a good 30 minutes or so- Kieran couldn’t actually tell and he didn’t have a phone to check- Florian finally appeared on the horizon, a flood of relief and irritation washed over Kieran.
“These are the Paradise Barrens.” Kieran explained once Florian had gotten close enough, “Pretty lonely place, huh?”
Florian caught his breath for a moment before replying, “Y-yeah.” He huffed, straightening up. “It’s so… bare… although I guess that’s to be expected from the name, huh?”
Florian let out a chuckle that made Kieran’s heart flutter, but he just turned away, continuing. “Ya know, according to the old legends the ogre used to be seen around here lots.” He put extra emphasis on the word, watching Florian squirm while a nervous smile formed on his face.
“O-oh really? That’s so cool!” Quit acting.
Kieran glanced down, his brow furrowing. He reached his arm out, grabbing Florian before he approached the signboard. “H-hey… Before you check it out.” He took a deep breath in. “I want you to battle me.”
———o⨢⨥⨢⨥⨢⨥⨢o———
In Kieran’s eyes, the battle had ended almost before it had started. In reality it was a pretty close match, his Yanma alone managing to take down three of Florian’s pokemon. But he hadn’t won, and that was what mattered, he wasn’t strong enough, he wasn’t good enough.
“Hey, good match.” Florian smiled at him, extending his hand out towards him.
Kieran glared at his outstretched hand, he wanted to swat it away and grab it and never let go both at the same time. In the end he simply turned, ignoring it completely, “We should go check out the sign… Come on, let’s get this over with.”
He waited patiently for Florian to finish reading the signpost, watching the way his posture seemed to shrink in on himself. When it was clear he was finished Kieran chimed in with some of his own thoughts on the matter. Conversing with Florian came so easily, and yet a bitter feeling still nipped at his mind.
“The ogre must’ve been pretty lonely all on it’s own…” He continued, a tinge of resentment in his tone, no longer even looking at Florian, his eyes trained on the ground. “Left all alone and treated like some kind of outcast…”
“K-Kieran…” Florian stuttered for a moment, his voice low and quiet. “Sorry…”
Sorry? “...For what?” Kieran asked bitterly, studying Florian’s face with scrutiny.
When Florian didn’t reply he turned starting towards the sign, “Wanna take that last photo?”
Kieran turned around, surprised to find Florian still rooted firmly in the same spot. “Florian?” He questioned, concern creeping into his thoughts as he tentatively reached towards him, his arm stopping half way.
“I can’t do this.” Florian finally spoke, his voice sounding strangled, causing Kieran to flinch.
Kieran’s heart raced as he watched Florian begin to paw at his eyes. Was he crying? Kieran ached with the want to comfort his friend and yet he stayed put, frozen in place.
“Kieran, I’m so sorry, I lied to you.” He choked, finally taking a step forward. His honey brown eyes were glistening with tears reflecting the daylight above. “I saw the ogre.”
Florian paused as if he was allowing the words to sink in, of course, Kieran already knew this. “L-last night, at the festival, it dropped its mask. I wanted to tell you b-but. But your sister threatened me- i-if I told you— a-and then your grandpa- he told us this big long story a-and he asked us not to tell anyone.”
Kieran stayed put, he felt like his heart was shattering as he watched the usually cheerful and carefree boy infront of him crumble, and yet he still watched him, needing to see where this would go.
“He-he didn’t even want us to tell you… I don’t know why I don’t… I- I didn’t know what to do. And then when you asked. I-I panicked, I didn’t know what to say- your grandpa was trusting me but-but but… I can’t do it, I can't- It’s not right.” Florian’s eyes were squeezed shut now, unable to see through the tears anyway, “I should have told you from the beginning, I’m so sorry, you mean so much more than a beating from your sister and I’d take a million of them if it meant seeing you smile.”
Kieran finally allowed himself to move, his heart fluttering. Florian wanted to see him smile? He walked over to Florian quickly and hovering a hand over his back, scared to make contact, “H-hey, Florian…” He trailed off, he wanted to tell him it was okay, but… He didn’t think he could, he was still hurt.
“I’m so sorry Kieran, I’m so sorry, you must’ve felt so alone, that’s no way to treat someone you love, I never want to make you feel like an outcast again, I’m so sorry, I’ll never lie to you again I promise, I’m sorry.” Florian’s words were coming out in choked, barely understandable sobs, but it made Kieran’s heart stop.
Had Kieran heard that right? Did Florian say love? As in love— him? The thought sent a confusing rush of emotions through him, he couldn’t help but feel giddy and apprehensive and confused all at the same time, his bitterness temporarily pushed to the side.
“Did… did you say love?” Kieran whispered, his voice barely audible above Florian’s crying.
That seemed to make Florian freeze, looking up at Kieran like a deer caught in the headlights. Kieran noticed his face flushing quickly, a look of embarrassment and fear joining his already muddled expression. “N-” Florian flinched, he had just told Kieran he wouldn’t lie to him again.
“Yes…” Florian finally mumbled, looking down at the ground now, “I’m sorry…”
“For what?” Kieran asked again, this time with much less bite in his voice.
“For everything!” Florian half shouted looking up, “For lying to you, for keeping the secret from you, for for… For loving you..” He shuffled, “I understand if you don’t want to be friends anymore… I know we just met, I know I shouldn’t… But… But I really like you..”
Kieran’s heart broke as Florian became more and more visibly deflated, he never thought the boy could ever look so small. “And even if you don’t think I’m gross for it… I went and messed all that up…”
In an act of boldness brought on from the emotions coursing through Kieran’s veins he pulled Florian into a tight hug. “Oh, Florian, you didn’t mess anything up.” It was his turn to choke on his throat.
“I-I mean, you did mess up… But I forgive you.” He pulled Florian’s head onto his shoulder, matching the movement himself.
“Kieran…” Florian let out a sob, gripping at the back of Kieran’s shirt.
“I wish you would have told me sooner… But I’m glad you told me now.” he murmured gently, his voice trembling. “I… I didn’t realise it until now but… I think I feel the same way.” He admitted, his heart racing in his chest with trepidation.
“Really?” Florian asked breathlessly, looking up at Kieran, a vulnerability swirling around in his honey brown eyes that made Kieran melt.
“Yeah.” Kieran confirmed, squeezing Florian closer. He decided right then and there that now that he had him, he was never letting him go.
“Guess I can expect a beating from Carmine, huh?” Florian hummed lightly.
“I think we can talk her out of it. I mean… she might not respect me much.” He admitted sheepishly, before growing more daring, “ But she wouldn’t want to scare away my first boyfriend after all.”
“B-boyfriend?” Florian squeaked, his face flushing in a way that Kieran revelled in. “You sure got bold all of a sudden.”
Kieran’s confidence faltered slightly, “T-that’s what you want, right?”
“Mm.” Florian hummed an affirmative in response. “You should be confident more often… It’s a good look on you.”
It was Kieran’s turn to flush, “I-wh-bu.”
Florian let out a light chuckle, “This is a good look on you too.” He smiled as he tucked away one of Kieran’s stray hairs. “What are we gonna do though… after the school trip I mean…”
Kieran’s heart sank, that was true, what were they going to do? Kieran didn’t even have a phone. That didn’t matter. Kieran wanted this too much. “We’ll figure it out.” He said with resolve, “I’ll convince my grandparents to get me a phone, even just a simple one so that I can talk to you. And before that I’ll send you letters.” He had never felt so determined in his life. “We’ll figure this out, I promise.”
“I believe you.” The warmth of the smile Florian flashed him made all of Kieran’s previous misgivings melt away. At that moment he felt like he was basking in the sun itself.
“Come on.” Florian finally spoke up, he began to pull away but Kieran only held him tighter, causing Florian to let out a jovial laugh, “What, do you not wanna see ogrepon’s mask? You can hold my hand the whole way there, I promise. I’d probably get lost again otherwise anyway.”
“Ogerpon’s mask?” Kieran echoed in awe, meeting Florian's gaze.
“Yeah, your grandpa has it right now. And he can hardly blame me for not wanting to keep secrets from my boyfriend, right?” Florian nudged Kieran’s side before hesitating for a moment. “That… We can tell them right? Or…”
“What do you…? Oh! Yeah, my grandparents are fine.” He understood Florian’s concern, but his grandparents were surprisingly easy going about it despite their tendency towards old fashioned ways.
“Well then that settles it!” Florian pulled himself away before Kieran could react, holding onto his hand. “Let’s go see that mask then hm?”
Kieran frowned at the loss of Florian in his arms, right now any distance apart felt like too far. An idea crossed his mind, and in a sudden act of boldness he bent downwards, hooking his arm under Florian’s knees and scooping him up, one hand supporting his back.
“W-w-b-w- K-Kieran!” Florian sputtered in surprise as Kieran started walking, “W-what are you doing???”
“What? I thought you said confidence was a good look on me.” Kieran said smugly, although the heat in his face gave away how nervous he was feeling. “Besides, if I don’t hold onto you, you might get lost again.”
“What, do you think I’m just gonna dematerialise or something?” Florian scoffed playfully, crossing his arms.
“You might!” Kieran exasperated, “I mean you did materialise from nowhere a couple of days ago.”
“Kieran, I came on a bus.” The boy in his arm’s voice was dripping with snark, only spurring Kieran on farther.
“Nah, I didn’t see any bus, only you, so clearly you materialised, just for me.”
At this point Florian wrapped his arms around Kieran’s neck, a feeling Kieran was revelling in. “Oh yeah? And what about the other students from my school?”
“They came on a bus.”
Kieran couldn’t help the grin that spread across his face as he watched Florian blink up at him before devolving into an uncontrollable, jovial, contagious laughter.
Florian hummed, leaning into him. “Sorry again, for lying.”
“Forget about it,” Kieran stepped carefully over the rough terrain, “You ended up tellin’ me anyway, and besides, if you hadn’t lied at first I don’t think you would have made the best freudian slip of my life.”
“Ooo using the fancy terms I see.” The chestnut haired boy teased.
“Haha, yeah… I heard it on one of Grandma’s detective dramas the other day. Guess it’s still in my mind.” Kieran hoisted Florian up to get a better grip on him, eliciting a surprised yelp from the boy. “Wowzers… You’re so light… You’re like what? Two bushels of apples? I could carry you for hours…”
Florian quickly settled back in, nuzzling into Kieran’s chest in a way that made his heart flutter. “I don’t know what a bushel is. And I’m guessing I don’t get much of a say in that?”
“No.” Kieran smiled lightly, looking down at Florian through his eyelashes, “I only get you for three more days. I’ve got to make every second of that count, after all.”
“Fine. I suppose next you’re gonna be asking to spend the rest of the nights in the Welcome Center with me?”
“Great idea!” Florian groaned at Kieran, but the smile on his face gave away that he wasn’t actually annoyed. “I think I’ll see if you can stay in my room though. I guarantee my bed is softer.”
“Y-your bed?” Florian stammered, flushing hard, reminding Kieran of the candy apples they had shared the other night.
Kieran’s boldness waned again, suddenly realising the implications, “I-um- i-if that’s… if you’re okay with that…” Kieran hid his blush behind his bangs, still making sure he didn’t trip while carrying such precious cargo.
“Hmm…” He felt the vibrations of Florian’s voice through his chest “Yeah, I think I’d be okay with that. It’ll be like a sleep over! With less beds.”
Kieran smiled. He loved how naturally conversing with Florian was, how he didn’t make fun of him for his nervous side and how he didn’t chastise him for his bold side. He was perfect. If people were pokemon he’d use a masterball, no questions asked.
They ended up forgetting to take a picture at the signpost, but that was okay. It was just an excuse for them to walk back over together next time. Kieran would figure out a way somehow to see Florian more, he knew he would, he had to.
If only he could go to his school somehow...