I had brought Penny to her dorm that night. Not many students were out, but those who were had been too engrossed in their late-night cram sessions to notice us. When we got to Penny's dorm, she sighed.
"I r-really didn't want to come back here." she murmured. "What if.. The bullying continues?"
I smiled reassuringly at her. "I'll make sure it doesn't. If it does, those bullies will get a taste of my wrath!" I puffed out my chest, putting up a tough-guy facade.
Penny blinked, and her mouth broke into a smile. "Hah. Th-thanks, Z. I.. um.. Appreciate it. G-g-goodnight!" she quickly opened her door and rushed inside, slamming it shut.
"Well, that was weird." said aloud, but shrugged it off and headed to my dorm.
On my way there, I passed Arven's room. I had the sudden impulse to walk in there and say hi to him, but another- more sensible- part of my brain said to just listen by the door to make sure he was awake at least.
"...I know they just see me as a friend. If they saw me as more, they'd say something to me. Right Mabosstiff? They wouldn't leave me wondering if they liked me like that, right?"
After a pause, there was an audible sigh. "Oh, boy.. We'll get that last Herba Mystica soon. You'll be 100% better, I know you will! With Z helping, we'll be A-OK!" After another pause, he laughed softly. "You'll love Z. They're amazing. They're the best person I know."
I shouldn't eavesdrop too much longer. I thought. I shouldn't have heard that first part...
I knocked on his door. There was the sound of Mabosstiff being returned to his Pokeball, then footsteps. Arven opened the door, yawning. His eyes brightened when he saw me. "Z! What brings you to my dorm at.. Whatever time it is now?"
I shrugged. "I was passin' through and I figured I should pop in, say hi."
Arven opened the door wider and gestured for me to come in. I walked in and sat on Arven's bed. It was significantly fluffier than mine was, and his dorm was overall cleaner than mine.
Arven plopped down next to me, and sighed. "One more Titan to go, then we're home free!"
I nodded excitedly. "Mabosstiff will be all healed up, and we can, I dunno, write a book about the Herba Mystica?"
"The Violet Book already documents the Herba Mystica, though."
"We could publish our findings! We actually have proof that they work, and that they actually have healing properties!"
Arven chuckled. "We could co-author it and educate all those aspiring cooks and healers, huh?"
I playfully rested my head on his shoulder. "Totally! It would be amazing to put my writing talent to good use for once."
Arven went silent after a while. "Um.. Z? Why are you..?"
My face went hot, and I sat up straight. "S-sorry, I wasn't thinking-" I apologized, incredibly embarrassed.
"N-no, I-" Arven's cheeks were red, and he avoided my eyes. "Z, wh-what- um.. What-"
My eyes widened. Is he about to ask me out? "What-"
"Wh...aat time are we hunting down the last Titan?" Arven's changed the subject entirely, still not meeting my eyes.
Disappointment stabbed me in the chest, but I brushed it aside. "O-oh. Um. We could head out to Casseroya Lake tomorrow."
Arven nodded. "I'll.. send you a text tomorrow."
Swallowing my disappointment, I stood up to leave. "Gotcha. See you then, I guess!" I rushed out the door, so embarrassed that I had gotten my hopes up so high.
[Arven's POV]
I watched Z leave my dorm. As soon as they were gone, I flopped face-first into my pillow and screamed.
"You damn IDIOT! You had the opportunity to ask them out- you could've taken it!"
My anxiety-riddled brain couldn't help but throw the unhappy scenarios at me. What if they reject you? Will they not want to be your friend anymore? They'll think you're weird. Don't be the weird dude who likes his best friend.
I rolled over onto my back and pulled out my Rotom Phone. I scrolled through various pictures of Z and I- some when we had just defeated a Titan, me taking a picture of Z with the sandwich I made, and various pictures from when they'd stolen my Rotom Phone.
I laughed to myself, and my mind wandered back to me asking Z out. Do I really want to risk ruining my first actual friendship.. over a crush?
YOU ARE READING
Sandwich Making (Self insert x Arven)
Fanfic[discontinued] Cover art by me. When Z, the newest student at Uva Academy, struggles to finish making their sandwich, Arven swoops in to save their lunch. That's all there is to this story. ....but if this was a regular lunchtime fiasco, we wouldn't...
