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We all remember how Heath woke up to find himself no longer a Pokemon - he'd literally burst out of his tree den, tumbling and nearly falling into some serious pain on the ground. Well, his home had been destroyed; what was once a hole fit for a king was now just chunks of bark inside a dead tree. Heath certainly couldn't live like that...so instead, he'd taken to just sleeping on branches. propped up against the trunk.

Which is not as easy as it seems, mind you. It required Heath to wrap his vines around the trunk, in case he tried shift and fell. It required him to sleep sitting upright. It required him to be very uncomfortable, and cranky, and stiff when he woke up in the morning. No, this simply would not do.

One morning, after waking up to find his vines were asleep from holding the same position all night and working to get the blood flow back into them, Heath decided he was going to fix this. So away he swung, heading out towards the town (no where near Blake and Habika's place, I assure younot), he was remembering once seeing a man sleeping in a mesh hammock. That, Heath had decided, would work perfectly. He could hang it up between two trees, keeping himself off the ground but at the same time being actually comfortable for once since 'growing up'.

The hammock was obtained easily enough; no one had been home, so he merely untied it from the trees where it was hung and made off with it. The hard part came when he took it back to his 'home base' and tried to find trees that were both strong enough and close enough together to be able to support his weight. It was a rather systematic, if time consuming, process; tie each end of the hammock up in two separate trees, lay down in the hammock, see how long it'd take before he started to sag. After all, he didn't want to be sleeping and suddenly end up falling to the ground again because the trees holding him up gave out.

It took him all day, working out in a spiral from his base (or at least, he was pretty sure it was a spiral. He tried to make it appear to be a spiral). The sun was gold and red in the sky and Heath was sure he was going to have spend one more night sitting like a dumb-a** on a tree branch...when he saw it. The tree itself was massive, probably several hundred years old. All of the branches were thick, spread out in almost a rounded-fan shape, with copious amounts of leaves to protect him from both the heat and the rain.

Drawing himself into the branches, Heath quickly found the best two...sturdy, probably as big around as the tree he used to live inside. Slinging the hammock's ties, he made good strong knots around the branches, and literally jumped into the hammock.

He laid there for hours, waiting to see if it would give out from under him. However, as the sun set and the moon rose, Heath let out a content sigh. It was staying, and probably would stay for weeks - months even, until the knots became loose and then he'd just retie them and all would be well. Stretching, he laid back to watch the stars through the leaves.

Little did he realize...just on the other side of the tree branches, stood a very familiar house, the home of two very familiar Pokemon. Little did he realize...or did he?

Heath huddled behind one of the larger branches in his tree, the hammock wrapped around him while his vines held him as securely as possible to the trunk. About him, the world spun - a nasty storm had rolled in with stinging rain, and in the sky there were bright flashes of lightning followed by rumbling thunder. The Snivy boy shivered, and lurking at the edges of his mind were thoughts of warm, dry homes with a trainer that kept him safe. Thoughts that never made it farther than just the outside his head because Heath had too much pride.

In the whistling wind, Heath watched as the leaves were whipped past in the storm, and it struck something deep in his soul. At the moment he wasn't sure what that was exactly, and when he finally fell asleep he dreamed of swords made of green.


Of course, when he woke up the next morning, the sun was bright and clear and beautiful. The world smelled like new life, and despite the crick in his back (man, he did not miss sleeping on branches against trees) Heath looked around with a smile. Standing up, he stretched and turned his mind to more important things...breakfast, for example.

It was while out on the eternal quest for food that Heath ran into them: Mandibuzz, a small flock of them. You wouldn't think they'd be here, but there they were...scarfing upon the spoils of nasty storms. They'd been at this for a while, their faces bloodied dark red and starting to dry. It made Heath's stomach flip - not a pleasant thing when it was basically empty.

His plan was to move around them, but somehow Heath's plans never happened the way he wanted them to. Whether she heard him or smelled him, one of the big females lifted her head and screamed right in his direction. It called the attention of the others, who also started squawk and flap their wings aggressively. The Snivy boy froze for two seconds...then turned and bolted. He wasn't about to get into it with a flock.

He hadn't gotten more than a few yards away before she was there in front of him again, screaming a challenge. Stumbling and caught off guard, the Snivy boy skid in the wet grass as he took off in another direction. Heath glanced back...just as the dark shadow flew over his head and landed in front of him, closer this time. Again the Mandibuzz squawked, and snapped her beak at him.

Finally stopping, Heath narrowed his eyes at the bird, his tail swaying angrily behind him, "Fine," he muttered, and unleashed his vines; they whipped forward and while she managed to dodge one, she couldn't dodge both. It clipped her side and sent the Mandibuzz twirling, giving an awkward scream.

It gave Heath a moment, and that was all he needed. Shooting a vine up into the trees, he pulled himself skyward and landed on a branch. With the sudden added weight, the tree shook under him and leaves began to fall. They danced before him, swirling...and suddenly, Heath knew what he had to do.

That was when the leaves started to move with more than just the wind; now they had purpose and drive. They gathered into a swirling vortex, centered on the Mandibuzz...more leaves being collected until there was a whirlwind around the Pokemon. Meanwhile, Heath stood up on the branch, his eyes shut as this unseen wind whipped around him. His mind focused on one simple image of the leaves in the storm from the night before.

At the center, the Mandibuzz was thoroughly confused. She tried to move one way but was blocked, and when she tried to fly upwards, the wind wouldn't stay under her wings. She screamed, cursing the boy who'd trapped her - and as he heard her cry, Heath's eyes opened.

The first leaf sliced across the female's cheek, leaving a scratch. The second and the third whipped close to her head...and then all the leaves were upon her, sudden like knives against her skin. She began to bleed, and would definitely be bruised after today. The Mandibuzz tried to fight it, but there was nothing she could do at this point; she'd just been caught off guard, and just overwhelmed.

Heath stopped the attack when the dark form inside the Leaf Tornado slumped to the ground, exhausted and out cold. His chest heaved from the effort, but after a moment he began to laugh, completely impressed by himself. Still chuckling, he swung away on his vines...and didn't stop until he found an apple tree and was allowed to enjoy his victory breakfast.

Since growing and evolving into Chansey the girl still all pink though having gained...a lot of of feminine charms in her growth she was still happy though ...as time had passed her best friend Blake was very very sukly and sullen...he had been this way for awhile and she had gathered that she needed to find Heath.

Walking through the forest today she was wearing a long dress, medival in style since she felt the need to do so...an egg replacing her white stone now lay in a pouch on her front, long sleeves she fiddeled with something in her hands as she walked. Somehow she always had a sense of where Heath lurked and so she miandered into his territory, her gaze looking around to spot him.


Heath was doing....well, what he always did - relaxing in his hammock (that wasn't stolen at all, he swears), gently making himself sway in the air high above the ground with one of his vines. Of course now...now he was sexy, with all the awkward angles of a teenager making him look SUPA FINE! and a snarky charm that just screamed "I would be the popular a*****e if I went to a high school."

For example: when he realized that Habika was waltzing her way through his territory, he mildly pondered scaring the crap out of her, or just dropping down like the sexy beast he was. Though...well, thinking of himself as sexy with Habs made him feel weird, and not in the good way. Like...ew, weird. So, that means it was time to scare someone silly.

He couldn't really swing through the branches anymore - too big, you see. Too much awesome to be supported by his vines - so instead he dropped himself, silent as a shadow, from the branches and slipped lightning quick until he was behind the girl.

She might hear him (and, really, it'd be hilarious if she did because it'd take all the wind out of his sails)...but either way, he was creeping up behind her and would let out what he hoped would be a terrifying "BOO!"


Habika didn't hear him but she wasn't exactly the type that let anything bother her, so when there was a feeling of someone following her she only paused breifly half turning when the scare was put into effect. Though she seemed hardly ruffeled and she just burst into a wide grin before she almost tackled him for a hug.

"Heathy!" She cried out happy to have found him quite quickly, wrapping her arms around him tightly as she knew that he would most likely push her away she rubbed his cheek with her own. "Oh Heath! You look so handsome!" She squealed looking him over after her crushing like hug.

"When did you grow?" She inquired looking him over and noting how very dashing he looked.


kbhadsfkibvhasdfkbhasdf HEATHY? Where the hell did that come from?? And why wasn't she scared??? Not fair! Damn you, Habika! Damn you and your...strangeness!

Heath let out an exasperated growl as he was instead hugged and squished and nuzzled. Rolling his eyes, he'd lightly pat Habs on her shoulder...well, attempting to, anyway. His arms were rather pinned to his sides at that moment. When he was finally released, he shook out his body and dusted himself off - like she'd gotten dirt on him - and sighed.

"Hey Sunshine," he mumbled, shaking his head at himself. Really, he should know better...but anyway. He beamed, proud peacock, running a hand through his hair as she complimented him.

"Just the other day....but hey, lookit you. You evolved too, huh?" Now, closer to her, looking at her, he realized it as well. "That makes you a Chansey now, right?"

Heath's hand rolled a pair of marbles around in his pocket as he approached the cafe where he'd agreed to meet Habika, mimicking the thoughts that tumbled around in his head and had been doing as such since the day before when he'd met with the Chansey girl. There was the matter of the kiss she'd planted to his forehead, and the fact she'd practically said she wanted him to be her brother...but there was also Blake. The pink girl had been so adamant about Heath seeing the Lopunny again, and Heath was just simply convinced that this was not and would never be a good idea.

Even if he did feel...sorry? Was that the right answer? Remorseful? That sounded better...he felt bad, especially after the day before, for how he'd treated Blake in the past. Heath had realized he'd just been a stupid child...picking on someone who was weaker. He'd been a bully, plain and simple.

Sighing, the Servine paused in front of the cafe door, trying to peer through the window and see if she was already there. He didn't see a pink blob through the frosted glass, but he wasn't about the wait outside...after all, Habs had mentioned she would get a table set up for them to meet at. With a gentle jingle of the bell, Heath entered the coffee shop and took a better look around for his friend.~


Habika had actually been around the counter asking the nice man there for some drinks, after all they were adults now so sharing a bit of a more spiked drink wouldn't do them any harm, plus she was hoping to relax Blake who was more wound up and tense than a ant with an ant-eater around. The chansey girl looked up spotting Heath out of the window of the cafe and she felt her breath catch. Part of her wondered if this was going to really work, and another knew it would work. Awkwardly and sneaky as it was. Taking there drinks she plunked them down in front of the rather annoyed and depressed looking lopunny boy.

"Cheer up Blake, I mean...you said you were thinking of applying to that club, but are you sure you want to do that?" Habika asked picking up the conversation they had started moments before she went to get drinks.


Blake looked to his sister and sulked a bit despite the drink being placed in front of him. Leaning a hand against his cheek he sighed and shrugged his shoulders. "I may as well...use this body for something.." It was a very..detrimental statement and it caused his sister to frown at him. "Not in that way..." Blake reassured his sister as he wasn't about to become a male prostitute just because he felt he had no other option...even if that was the case. He gave a raised eyebrow when his sister hesitated to sit down.
"What's wrong? Why don't you sit down?" came the question a bit more surely than he intended.


Habika chewed on her lower lip before she reached into her pocket and pulled out the green marble Heath had given back to her. Rolling it between her fingers before she placed it on the table and turned away from it.
"I've got to go powder my nose is all I'll be right back." It was a very thin lie...since she was now heading for the entrance of the cafe instead of where the washrooms were...and her brother knew that and watched her with a narrowed expression.


He had just a moment of...not confusion, but just generally feeling unsure...once the door of the cafe shut behind him. Heath didn't really do public places like this. Most of his shopping was in little mom and pop shops whenever he had money - or, you know, whatever a neighbor had hanging out to dry on the clothes line that day when he didn't. So, this was definitely out of his element, and when he finally say Habika heading his way, he could feel the weight of anxiety lifting off his shoulders.

"Hey, Habs," he offered with a slight smile to his face. He wouldn't move to hug her - he knew she'd do that on her own - but he did move toward her in an attempt to hide his unease at the surroundings.

"More people here than I thought there'd be for this early in the afternoon."

Of course, at this point he was focused on the pink girl, and hadn't even suspected that there was an alternative motive to this meeting.


Habika as he expected did go in for a hug, tough this time it was more like she was making sure he wasn't going to flee once her...plan was revealed. Releasing him she beamed a very warm smile at him, though didn't take him to the table right away.

"Glad you could make it Heath, you look very handsome today." She commented brightly as she went to move a lock of her own hair out of her eyes a half glance over her shoulder to make sure the sulking one at their table hadn't noticed Heath just yet. She went to take Heath's hand, a warm gesture of comfort and stability as she knew this was going to be taken delicately.

"I have our table ready...and I got us some drinks, promise you won't be mad." She teased giving him a wink as she lightly tugged him in the direction of the table. Where a lopunny boy was a bit slow to realize just who his sister was bringing back with him.


With a slight roll of his eyes, Heath placed one arm around Habika's back and patted lightly, returning the hug as best as he could...cause, you know, it's Heath. Anyway, with a shrug and a non-committal mumble he'd start following her back to the table. It was just as she was starting to say 'promise' that he saw the familiar locks of brown hair...and a face he hadn't seen in a very, very long time.

"B-blake..." he stuttered, stopping dead in his tracks. Heat swept up the back of his neck, and he suddenly felt incredibly awkward.

"Habs, what the hell?" he hissed, trying to hide behind her. "You...you set this up."~


Blake's reaction wasn't much better, once he stopped fiddling with the marble that had rolled across the table and looked up he was trapped. His sister standing directly in front of where he was sitting in the booth efficiently trapping him there unless he climbed over the table to get out. Which at the moment seemed like a plausible idea. Flicking the marble with a nail it clicked and crashed amongst the glasses arranged on the table, before it spun and rolled back in his direction.

"....Why did you bring HIM here?" Came the cold voice that belonged to the lopunny who was now trying to not look in Heath's direction.


Habika hoped Heath would forgive her after all this, but she just knew that deep down that they just needed to get over themselves..
"Now Blake don't be like that." She insisted in her persistent perky tone as she went to gently pull Heath to sit down opposite of Blake. "I think you both need to have a good long chat. After all...your not children anymore." She pointed out, though the way her brother was acting you could say it was the exact opposite of being an adult.


There was a good deal of trying to evade Habika's grasp, but Heath would eventually end up sitting in the booth across from the bunny-man. He sat back, as far back as he could in the seat...because all he could think in his head was what he had been thinking for days. I can't see him again...I told him I wouldn't bother him again...I shouldn't be here; this will only make it worse.

Despite the small amount of panic in his head, outwardly Heath had shut down. Oh sure, his hand was tightly gripping the marbles in his pocket, and he was pretty sure they'd eventually shatter under the pressure...but one wouldn't be able to see that. He simply avoided Blake's gaze, glancing up periodically at Habs and cursing her with every phrase he knew under the sun.

After their exchange, he wasn't digging the silence...so he chanced a comment in Blake's direction.

"I'm sorry...I didn't know you were going to be here, otherwise I wouldn't have shown..."


Blake stiffened as the other came to sit across from him, abandoning the green marble on the table top it rolled until it gently clinked against the pepper shaker. Blake had withdrawn his limbs to himself as well, as if touching the table was suddenly a sin he didn't want to commit. Fidgeting he felt his face grow hot as he stared in his lap, Heath...was very good looking, the last time he had seen him, he was..still a child but now...

Blake had to reprimand himself Heath was still Heath no matter how good looking he was now. He was still rather hurt by this boy's words and seeing him only reminded him too much about that time in the woods.

"Oh." Was his only response, no snide remarks...no shouting, just one simple word that seemed hollow.


Habika frowned, this...was not going to go well, she could recognize when Blake was going to withdraw into his own little shell. How to get this..conversation started. Leaning a both hands down onto the table, and ...fully giving her cleavage some perfect viewing time if...that had been the point she smiled.

"Blake why don't you tell Heath about the job you were thinking about getting? Its been so long I am sure Heath would be interested." She started in her light tone.


Blakes eye's went from his lap straight to his sisters face, his face blushed at her...rather obvious ruse. Swallowing he just shifted more uncomfortable than ever. "I am sure he wouldn't want to know.." Came the lopunny's voice rather quiet and trying to sound like it was final.


Ohhh, that's riiiiiiight...Blake hadn't seen the new and improved!Heath, had he? Well well well...we all know that Heath had been a cutie as a kid, but now...now he had all that awkward sexiness of being a teen, plus that almost "too cool to touch" air about him. Well, it wasn't out in full force right now because this was Blake and this was Habika and he just felt a little more down to earth...at least around Habs. Being around Blake made his stomach tighten and his nerves melt.

Hell, it even made him blush.

Anyway, as Blake spoke Heath stole a glance at him - realizing he looked a lot better now than the Servine remembered him looking - and there was a moment where he wanted to protest Blake's statement. He opened his mouth like he was going to speak, and when nothing came out he just shut it again.

I wouldn't mind knowing...I just don't want you to be uncomfortable. I'm sorry...I'm sorry for every mean word I said...well, ok. No, not every mean word...but most of them. And I'm sorry I broke my promise to leave you alone...even though I never technically promised, but I did say I'd leave you alone, and I swear I didn't mean to encourage you to hate yourself like this...I'm just so sorry, Blake.

Which were all things he wanted to say...and didn't. Couldn't...because that just wasn't how Heath operated. Instead he simply sat, looking up at Habs with a sadness in his eyes.

"Habika, I'm making him uncomfortable...can you put the girls away and just let me go? I don't want to bother him anymore than I already am."


It really was an awkward silence, since his sister was effectively keeping him captive as well bringing up something that was none of Heath's business...about the job...Blake looked desperately out the window trying to distract himself. It had really boiled down to the fact he loathed himself, the poor boy was depressed and it didn't help that Heath..as good looking as he was, was a major factor to why he was the way he was now.

"Let him go Habika...you can't keep him captive..if he wants to leave...let him." Blake stated though he sounded rather pained about that fact. There were many parts of him that loathed Heath and he couldn't help but want to cry this very moment. Great add another girly thing for him to do. Not only look like a girl but act like one.


Habika took a deep breath a hands reaching out to clasp on to her brothers and then the other to Heath. It was as if she was trying to be the bridge that would allow them to heal.

"No..but I know that there are some things in this world you can't deal with on your own. I think...Heath is the one to help you with your pains Blake...I honestly believe that." Squeezing their hands to reassure them she turned her head to Heath, another major reason for her dragging him here to was to get him to convince Blake he was making a bad choice...

"You see...Blake had decided...that he was going to become a stripper."


"What??"

That was probably louder than it needed to be...yeah, there were definitely a few people who turned, and after giving them dirty glares to make them mind their own damn business, Heath turned his attention fully onto Blake.

"You can't be serious...a stripper?" It came out more of a hiss than he meant for it to; he'd only been trying to whisper. "Yeah, they have their place in the world...but, really Blake you've got to be kidding me."

Did anyone expect this to end well?


He couldn't believe the words that came out of his sister's mouth, in fact he was so stunned he almost missed what Heath remark was although he didn't miss seeing all the people's head turning in their direction, he felt himself shrink on the spot and he felt very very self conscious.

"Why did you have to tell him?" Blake moaned in Habika's direction a hand going to face to block out most of the blush that was there. Of course then Heath's comment reached him. Peaking out between his fingers his eyes were narrow in a hard look. He felt the hairs on his neck bristle with hostility and he crossed his arms over his chest stubbornly looking anywhere but Habika and Heath.

"Why not? I have the body for it ...you yourself said so." He snapped back.


Habika felt her brother trying to tugg his hand away from her but she kept a firm hold of it, same with Heath's. No running away now, though the conversation was..souring but that was to be expected. At least they were speaking now?

"See? Even Heath agree's with me. Its a bad decision Blake." Habika chimed in only earning a glare from her brother in the process.


"I never said you had the body of a stripper," Heath said, his voice indignant.

But then he had to stop...and think - had he ever said Blake had the body of a stripper? He couldn't remember saying so...especially since that seemed a little harsh, even for Heath. And if he had called Blake a stripper, then Heath needed to be a lot more apologetic. By a lot.

"That just...that's so below you," he tried to explain, focused on the table. He didn't like that idea of Blake being up on a pole somewhere dancing - which isn't true, he did like that idea...he just didn't like the idea of Blake doing in in front of other people...in front of strangers...who could try and take advantage of him...

The idea actually made Heath's face a little sour looking...almost angry.

"You...you're..." Oh god, the words were going to come out of his mouth, weren't they? "You're better than that..."


Shifting on the spot Blake looked a combination of angry, mortified and embarrassed. He stared down at his lap before looking out the window, he seemed ..suddenly so very fragile and sad.

"No...I ..may as well...what else should I do with a body like this? At least other people..can...enjoy it.." He managed in a low mumble. Of course with his rather low self esteem he probably would only appeal to people who liked to dominate as well abuse.


Habika let out a sigh and ran a hand through her hair that was obscuring some of her vision. "See? I keep telling him he is wrong. But I know you could convince him of it otherwise." She managed to get out as she slowly released the boy's hands. She was feeling that now that they were at least speaking to each other..vaguely ...that she didn't need to worry about either of them bolting.

And if Blake did bolt...she would make sure Heath went after him...


It was somewhere in the 'body like this comment' that Heath's eyes snapped up...still looking bitter and angry, but not at Blake. Well, yes at Blake...but also at himself. What had he done? He'd perpetuated this...image onto Blake. He was horrible...a horrible, horrible person.

"What can't you do? Be a doctor, a lawyer...there are plenty of smoking hot people who do something more with their lives than...than that." Why yes, he did just spit that word a little bit. Also, would Blake realize he'd just been called smoking hot? Not that Heath would realize he just called Blake that...at least, not until later, he wouldn't.

"Just because you lo..." No, don't say 'look like a girl'...phrase it a different way. "You have...a certain body...type..." Heath restarted, picking his words carefully. "Doesn't mean you have to settle for that. Hell, if you like to dance and wanna be a dancer, be a damn dancer. But not that kind of dancer."

He barely realized Habs had let go of him, and would only slightly glance at her as she spoke. Honestly, if Blake did bolt...she may not have much 'making sure' to do. There was a strong possibility that Heath would just take off after the rabbit-boy on his own.


Blake wanted to yell at him, tell him that it was his fault but was that really fair? To blame someone else for the way he felt? For the way he looked? No. Not really...though he was sure it would feel good to just yell at him regardless, tell him he was stupid and idiot and then leave. Instead he sat there, a bit dumbfounded at the words were being practically shouted at him.

A large part of Blake had given up, given up trying to be anything besides how his image showed him. So deep in his despair he had forgotten who he was and it hurt to try and bring that person back.

"So..now you want to be nice.." he muttered, looking down at his lap, chewing on his lower lip, wondering just how much of this Habika had put up to him.

"We'll I'm sorry but you can't just erase everything you said to me in the past.!" Blake was being childish, no longer was this about him becoming a stripper, all that pain he endured in childhood seemed to bleed forth in those words and without much else to say he slid along the seat and moved past Habika without looking at her. The click click of his heels tapping against the floor as the door to the cage was hurriedly opened and slammed closed.


Habika didn't need to know that this was perhaps...the turning point for them, stepping aside to allow Heath to go after him she gestured as if to also encourage he hurry. Despite those heels Blake could book it.


Inwardly, Heath winced...that stung, because it was true and a long time coming. The crappy part was that Blake was up and gone, and Heath was left...well, fuming a bit. Ok, sure...he deserved that...but dammit, he'd left Blake alone for all this time because he'd been trying to do what the other boy wanted! He'd been...well, not exactly trying to be nice, but in a way?? Didn't that sort of work?

Letting off a growling groan of a sound, he could only shoot a glare Habika's way as she almost pushed him to go up after Blake. Oh, there was so much he wanted to say to her...but now was not the time.

"You..." he said as he began to stand, his voice shaking with his frustration with the whole situation. "You, and I, will be talking later." He'd leave it at that...right now, Blake was the bigger issue.

With speed honed in the woods, Heath was out that door...not evening bothering to shut or slam it behind him as he paused outside the cafe, searching for Blake.

"Blake?" he called out, trying to see which direction the other teen had gone.


Blake had indeed gotten far despite his heels, his arms wrapped around himself looking utterly miserable, he had slowed down somewhat perhaps out of self pity, or despair and he almost looked as if he was just...meandering along. His ears ere low on his head, and he looked as if he was visible shaking. Though they perked when they heard his name being shouted out, and by the last person he expected to hear them from.

Half turning with wide eyes he stared at Heath who had just moments before burst out of the cafe and shouting out his name. Why should he suddenly feel happy about this? This boy tormented him growing up, why should seeing him looking concerned and annoyed at the same time make him feel ..less miserable? Clamping down on that emotion he gave a snort and shook his head, no Heath was probably put up to it by his sister...and nothing good would come of this. So picking up his pace he kept on the sidewalk ahead of him, trying to find a place he could duck into to escape.


Which by then would have probably been too late, because it was in that slight pause that Heath saw the Lopunny.

"Blake!" he'd called again, a little more urgently...pushing past (ok, through...who cares) a couple who were trying to enter the cafe in a rush to catch up.

"Blake, look...I'm sorry, ok? I'm sorry...I was a nasty kid who said some awful s**t to you and I'm sorry," he said as he reached out for Blake's arm, hoping to catch him and get him to turn around, or at least stop for a moment.


Blake felt his heart tighten as he head his name called again this time with a more urgent tone, it caused him to slow in his stride. Dare he look behind him? He battled this thought in his head for a moment before finally looking over his shoulder only to be surprised to see Heath right there his hand reaching to grab his arm.

But it was his words that caused him to stop short, sorry? He was sorry?? NOW? He...didn't seem to care...all of a sudden he started to cry , as if all those years...built up and finally burst the damn. The lopunny boy stood there weeping like a child and seeking any sort of comfort actually sagged into Heath's chest. A hand came to lightly beat against that solid chest, as if he was frustrated with himself for being so weak. Mumbling over and over in coherent phrases, curse words until he managed to cry himself out. Throat raw from gasping and crying, his lungs burning for the same reason.

Was is strange he thought Heath smelled nice? Like the forest sort of nice? Yes..yes it was weird.


Oh...ho, s**t...oh shitshit...

Heath had not been expecting that. Anger, yes...shouting, definitely. Tears had not been part of the plan, and when Heath suddenly found Blake leaning into him and utterly breaking down, he froze simply because he was caught off guard. However, as he was beat upon and sobbed into...he just let it happen, not even trying to make any sense of the words that were supposed to be in there jumble.

Heath didn't try to hold him until the cries started to subside, and once they were reduced to that throaty gasp, he finally brought one arm up to tightly wrap around Blake's shoulders. He didn't try to hush him, or soothe him...he just hugged the bunny boy against his chest, letting off a soft sigh of his own.

"I'm so sorry, Blake. I didn't...think...until that day you told me to go away that I'd hurt you so badly, and by that point it was too late. I thought by leaving you alone, that would make it all better. I was just a dumb kid...and I didn't know."

Also: no. It is not weird. It's pretty awesome...cause Heath's awesome, if a little stupid, but if Blake ever admitted it, Heath sure would think it was awesome.


Blake was sobbing, although his crying had finally subsided he still had his face buried in Heath's chest. Parts of himself didn't want to look around, people were probably staring at them and that was the last thing he wanted. Still he felt his body stiffen slightly as he realized that Heath had his arm around his shoulder and when he heard those words he felt...like he was being melodramatic.

Had it been the end of the world? No. But it had set him back quite a bit in his current ..psychological view of himself. Perhaps all Blake needed to admit was...that he was attracted to men, that he should embrace his looks perhaps even exploit them. But so many years of hating himself and how he looked...it was hard to really embrace that.

"Its not just..your fault...I ..didn't really ...react the best way...or rather I over-reacted...I guess..I am just sensitive to how I look.." he murmured trying not to look at Heath and thus just stared at his chest instead.


The outside world didn't matter to Heath right now; it was like there was a bubble around them, making him blind to any passers-by who gave curious glances. Not that Heath ever really gave a damn about what others thought about him, anyway.

At Blake's words, the Servine would roll his eyes and simply shake his head, "I know...I knew, and I pushed your buttons on purpose. I just liked seeing you get rattled..."

What made him feel like a heel the absolute most was that...well, he'd meant some of the words, most of which escaped him right now. Not everything had been an attempt to just get him upset...

There were a lot of dangerous emotions filling Heath's head...he didn't want to come off seeming like he was trying to win Blake's affections too quickly. There was a lot of making up he was going to have to do...and a lot of trying to figure out his own feelings, because he was also now starting to realize how much he enjoyed having Blake against him. How much he'd missed the Lopunny...damn you, Habika. Damn you so much.


Blake listened and he knew what Heath was true, more often than not it seemed that he had been trying to push his buttons. But to what end? Did he truly get so much joy out of tormenting him? Sure he had apologized to him, but..if he had enjoyed doing that to him didn't that mean these words he said now were false? Blake took a slow steady breath, trying to ease the trembling in his body before he pushed himself gently away from Heath.

Avoiding his gaze as he tried to find the right words...any words to say at this moment. 'I ...guess I should go.." He murmured, his thoughts still lingering on that job application he said he was going to apply to.

Should he go home and rip it up? Should he..just go do it anyway? Did anything Heath say to him right now really make a difference? Somewhere deep inside of him he knew that he wouldn't take the job, if Heath was so against it..it couldn't of been a good idea.

Maybe..he would take some dance lessons...it sounded like a good plan.

"Tell Habika...I am going to have a long talk with her later..." Blake stood there shifting on the spot trying to figure out how to end this.

"Maybe...we..could...get together under normal circumstances next time...no more...surprises?"


There was a pause - a moment where Heath's arm almost didn't let go as Blake backed away - and when Blake finally pulled out of reach, there was something like a pop in Heath's heart. He could feel the pull, and the fact he had sad little butterflies in his stomach just confused him further. He had no immediate answer for Blake saying he had to go, and just nervously licked his lips, trying to get rid of the deep frown on his face...and doing a horrible job of it.

"Yeah. Yeah, we should..." I'd like that...I'd like that a lot, Blake. I can show you I'm not...as much of an a** anymore. Not to you... "I'm probably gonna be stopping by your house sometime soon - that is, if you and Habs still live with your trainer? I, uh..." Heath glanced to the side as he talked, realizing he shouldn't be as angry with Habika as he was. Honestly, he owed her one. "I have to talk to her, too."


Blake only gave a pause at the question, the idea of having Heath come over to his house seemed almost laughable. Yes they still lived there, Habika ended up being more of a second mother to their trainer who was slowly growing into her own over the last couple of years. It tugged his heart to realize that soon that little girl would no longer want to play dress up and house...but it had been a long time since she had ever asked Blake to play with her.

Fiddling with a stray piece of hair he thought on it and then figured the best time quite quickly.

"How about...you come over in the morning? Everyone should be out...that way we won't have any rude...interruptions." Blake managed to say before his face went a bit red, what was he suggesting?? "Ah..well if youwanttothatis...I mean..yes we still live there..." He felt stupid...very very stupid.


Heath simply blinked at the...implications...and for about two seconds his face was blank before a hot blush spread up his spine again, causing him to chuckle rather nervously and rub the back of his neck with one hand. He smirked as Blake stumbled over his words - somewhat reminiscent of the old Heath, but he just couldn't help that he liked seeing the Lopunny get flustered. It was cute.

It was cute. The light bulb went off over Heath's head, and mentally he cursed. Everything...everything made perfect sense now.

"O-ok," he stammered, seeing Blake with new eyes...trying to not let his gaze linger inappropaitely. Oh god, that was not what he needed right now, for Blake to think he was being oogled. "I'll stop by tomorrow? Or...you know, a couple days?"


Blake swallowed before giving a small nod of his head. "A...a couple days is fine..if tomorrow doesn't work. " He managed as he realized just how uncomfortable he made it for the one with his...rather odd choice of words. At least this way he could have a talk with his sister, reem her out good for tricking him, but...it seemed to have worked out for the best. Damn that girl.

"I will...see you in a couple of days Heath. Th...thank you for the apology." He finally managed as he felt there was some need to acknowledge the fact Heath had apologized. Half turning though the Lopunny boy fled down the street as he felt his heart begin to hammer in his chest. He felt..really unsure of himself now, but the most comfortable he had ever been in his own body. Why was that? Surely simple words weren't enough to actually make that much of a difference...could they? Perhaps...the wounds had already began to heal..

PD w/ Crystal