in which vance has a crush on bruce but is too scared to actually ask him out
———
Robin smacked the back of Vance's head, hard enough for him to be slightly moved forward. Vance seethed, rubbing the abused spot while glaring at Robin.
"The hell was that for Arellano."
Robin rolled his eyes, silently pointing a finger towards Bruce Yamada. The boy was chatting quietly with a few of his classmates, a small smile on his face. Vance stared at him for a minute, his face flushing red. Robin rolled his eyes, slapping the blonde's head once again.
"What the f-"
——-
"Bruce, he's staring again."
Bruce smiled, feeling a familiar pair of eyes burn into his back. Finn, Bruce's best friend who had just spoken, rolled his eyes.
"So when's the wedding?"
"Shut up Finn."
Bruce jokingly shoved his best friend, resulting in the two play-fighting. They quickly forgot they were in class, having been startled when the teacher cleared her throat loudly. Both boys blushed, sitting in their seats next to each other.
"God, kill me already."
Finn slumped down farther into his seat, his head tilting up to the ceiling above. Bruce laughed, shaking his head at the statement.
————
Robin nudged Vance in his side, smirking in the direction where Bruce was seated. Vance loved his best friend, but god was he annoying.
"Quit it Robin."
"I will when you ask him out."
Vance groaned, walking over to his and Robin's table to eat his food. He was in the middle of eating his pizza when something hit his back. Turning around, he was met with Finn smiling at him with a mischievous glare in his eyes. Vance wanted to throw something as well, but Bruce was looking at him too now. Gulping down his slice of pizza, Vance got up and threw his remaining lunch away. Robin followed him, laughing when he saw Vance nervously pacing through the hallway.
"Vance. Calm down."
"I can't Robin! He was looking at me! Me!"
Robin rubbed his temples, a tight smile on his face. It took all his mental willpower to not scream at his best friend.
———
"Bruce, I think you made him nervous."
Finn covered his mouth, muffling a giggle. Bruce snorted, kicking Finn underneath the table.
"You shouldn't have thrown that apple!"
Now Finn was full-on laughing. It turned the heads of some people but it didn't make the boy stop. Bruce had to place his hands over his best friend's mouth to muffle the loud laughs, trying not to laugh himself. When Finn had calmed down, him and Bruce decided to leave the cafeteria and get to class early.
———
Bruce and Finn left the cafeteria, throwing their trays away in the trash behind the doors. The two were chatting quietly, coming to an abrupt stop when they heard two voices.
"- won't like me! I'm Vance Hopper!"
"You are so annoyingly dumb sometimes. Of course Bruce would like you! What's not to like?"
Bruce's face reddened at the confession. Finn smiled, elbowing the boy in his side. Bruce pushed him away softly, rubbing at the spot he had elbowed him in. The two boys walked closer to the voices slowly.
The conversation between Vance and Robin was now at whisper level. Only a few unimportant mutters could be heard between them. Finn cleared his throat when him and Bruce were directly behind them, causing the two other boys to jump in surprise. Finn laughed, stopping only when Bruce shot him a 'shut the fuck up' look.
"Uh, hey. Finney. Bruce."
"Hey Finn. Bruce."
Bruce and Finn nodded their heads, Finn still trying to stifle a laugh. Vance picked at his nails nervously as Bruce's eyes scanned over him.
"Vance can we talk?"
—————
Vance and Bruce had been talking now for 20 minutes. Robin and Finn sat side by side in front of the lockers.
"I bet you twenty dollars that they're making out right now."
"Gross. You're on."
————
When Vance and Bruce came out, both of them looked equally disheveled. Finn groaned, fishing a twenty dollar bill out of his pocket and handing it to Robin. Vance looked at them confused, Bruce just laughed. He had a feeling what the exchange was for.
"It's about time you two. But in school, really?"
Vance blushed, grumbling quietly. Bruce interlocked their hands, smiling brightly when Vance blushed harder. Finn gagged in front of them, getting a laugh out of Robin.
Yeah, it was about time.
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