Specs saw Goggles leave the group with Rider.
„H-hey where are you goin-", but he was interrupted by Headphones:
„Leave it.. let him be happy"
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After finishing their food Rider and Goggles started engaging in some casual smalltalk. The blue boy's mood started lightening up a bit again as Rider was complimenting his tactics in battle. Goggles still couldn't quite explain his reaction from before and was hoping his lime friend wouldn't bring it up again.
After a moment Rider stopped talking and just quietly gazed at the boy in front of him, presumably thinking about something. This made the blue boy gulp, fearing he did something wrong.
„How... how're you doing lately?", Rider finally started talking again but with a soft and slightly serious tone. Goggles took a moment to think about that particular question. Nobody's genuinely asked him that in a while, except Bobbles maybe. But she would usually be content with a smile or „good" as an answer.
„I'm... good", Goggles said out of habit and immediately regretted it. Rider clearly saw through his lie.
„No Goggles. Seriously."
„I-" He didn't quite know where to start. The blue boy looked around, scared that some of his teammates might be listening. But they were still in front of the lobby, chatting with the rest of Team Yellow-Green. „I'm not sure", Goggles said quietly and directed his gaze on his empty plate. Rider gave him a concerned look and reached out for one of his friends hand on the table. He held it softly.
The blue boy now looked at his and the lime boy's hands, a faint smile forming on his lips as he felt his friend's warm and soft palm.
„It's okay Goggles. Just kn-know you can always talk to me, o-okay?", Rider said reassuringly. „About anything".
He nodded slowly but kept quiet for another moment before looking into Rider's eyes. The blue boy can see worry lingering in the taller one's gaze. He felt guilty for making his friend feel bad but there was no way Goggles could convince him of being fine now.
„Th-thank you Rider...", the shorter one eventually said, his heart pounding faster in his chest. „You might be the only one who actually cares" Goggles couldn't quite grasp on what he just said. Why did he say that? People ask him what was wrong all the time, but it somehow seemed more genuine when Rider did it...
„Of course. I lo— I'm glad we're friends", the lime boy responded, his cheeks reddening slightly. Goggles felt warm all over and couldn't hold a sweet smile back. But he also believed Rider might've wanted to say something else initially, but let go of it just as quickly since the lime boy kept talking: „We can, um, take a walk now if you'd like? The weather's nice and-"
„Sure!", Goggles exclaimed a bit too eagerly in hindsight but Rider didn't seem to mind as he just smiled, let go of his friends hand and stood up. The blue boy got up too and watched the taller boy take his jacket off as it was getting hotter by the minute. Goggles wished he could do the same but he feared people noticing his arms and judging him.
After letting their teammates know what they were up to and getting some puzzled looks, the two decided to walk through the shaded alleys of Inkopolis as not to get sunburned or overheated by the midday sun.
The boys started talking about all kinds of things again and Goggles soon caught himself smiling at everything Rider said. The blue inklings cheeks felt so warm and fuzzy when looking at his friend, but he blamed it on it being a warm spring day at the time. They exchanged chuckles and giggles and made plans to hang out more in the future.
At some point their hands touched when the alley was particularly narrow. The blue inkling could feel his cheeks getting hot and glanced to his right at Rider, who seemed flustered as well. The shorter one felt a hint of disappointment when they had the space to move apart a bit more again. Why was he feeling this way? Shouldn't this have been really awkward? He didn't quite notice how he was fantasizing about grabbing his friend's hand until his chance was missed.
Time went by way too fast for Goggles' liking and soon the air cooled down to the point of Rider puttig his leather jacket back on. It was evening already. The lime boy suggested going back to the Square and finding the rest of their teams. Goggles nodded in agreement, his feet started hurting from all this walking. He barely got outside the last week except from occasional training with Team Blue.
As they neared the lobby the shorter boy felt a sharp pain in his stomach. Going back means having to say goodbye to Rider and he just didn't want this day to end.
All of Rider's teammates and Headphones went home already. Goggles felt a bit guitly having missed his chance to say goodbye to all of them. The lime boy however didn't seem to mind it much.
„You sure took your time", Specs said while fixing his glasses.
„Mhm... sorry", the shorter blue boy answered awkwardly but still managed to smile at his friend.
„You could've gone home you know", Rider remined Specs sternly. Was he pissed at his remark? Or pissed he made Goggles apologize for something that's not directly his fault?
„U-Um yes I know", Specs cleared his throat. „I was just saying..." He looked over to Bobble Hat to presumably make her say something too. „I didn't wanna wait here alone", she said smiling as usually. That made Goggles feel even more guilty. This time for making Specs and Bobble Hat wait for him, as she didn't like going home alone when it was getting dark.
„Sorry...", the blue boy whispered. Specs looked at Rider apologetically as he might've feared another more hostile comment from the tall boy. But he didn't get anything more than a stern look, which still seemed to make the team leader uncomfortable.
Now was the time to say goodbye and Goggles had to try his best to not be visibly upset about it. Specs said a quick goodnight aswell as Bobbles. The blue boy would've loved to give Rider a hug but he didn't manage to get the courage to do so. Especially not with his teammates nearby. So he had to be content with a brief goodbye and a warm smile from the lime boy.
While walking back home with his housemate, Goggles looked up at the darkening sky, staring at the stars slowly sprinkling across it. He alway found them calming and he usually gazed at them to clear his mind or reminisce. Like today. He was thinking about the turf war, his weird behavior, the lunch, taking a walk with Rider... and remembered his soft smile. It made the blue boy smile to himself aswell. He also thought about the lime boy's warm palm and desperately wished to relive that feeling. If he had only grabbed his hand when he could've! „If only you had some confidence", Goggles thought to himself, frustrated.
Soon him and Bobbles arrived at home and they unlocked the front door.
„How was your day with Rider?", Bobble Hat asked her housemate curiously after entering.
„It was nice", he answered, trying not too sound too enthusiastic for once.
„Just nice? You really seem to get along well lately!", she insisted.
„Um- yeah. He's actually really nice i-if you gave him a chance", Goggles was weirdly defensive over his lime friend. Bobbles decided not to annoy him further and the two each disappeared into their own rooms.
Later that night, when the blue inkling laid in his bed still whide awake, he thought of texting Rider. He just couldn't stop thinking about him! „Ugh, what's up with you?!", Goggles scoffed at himself, still staring at the ceiling. He couldn't quite understand yet...
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Im alive!! And im sorry!
I honestly didn't feel like writing because i was scared of doing something wrong if that makes sense? I just don't want to disappoint anybody with where the story's going.
And well i don't quite know either. I know certain things i want to happen but not really when or how to get to that point. I think I'll just write without overthinking it too much if that's alright with y'all.
But yes thank my oc for reminding me how much i love writing cuz i was summarizing his backstory and i was just really enjoying myself
Im sure the next chapter wont take half a year to appear lol
I hope y'all didn't completely give up on me
10.03.21
1479 words