Brawl Stars x Reader

Take Things Slow (Carl x Reader) (VERY LIGHT FLUFF)

JUST A WARNING, THERE'S REALLY LIGHT FLUFF AT THE END OF THE STORY (PROBABLY NORMAL FOR MOST OF Y'ALL IN OTHER STORIES, BUT I'M LEGALLY MANDATED TO DO THIS SO AS TO NOT INCONVENIENCE OR OFFENDPEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT TO READ THIS)

You were busy rushing towards your friend Barley's bar, a wide smile spread across your face as you thought of what you wanted to say.

Why were you so happy? Well, it so happened you had arranged a meeting with your good friend, and long-time crush, Carl. You were planning for this to be the perfect night to confess your true feelings to him. After all, he had just broken up with his ex-girlfriend about a week ago, and you waited the appropriate amount of time to tell him how you felt without looking like a b-err, bad person.

So today was their one-week breakup anniversary, and you were ready to make your move.

You excitedly rushed towards the comforting, memory-filled, decoration-adorned room that was Barley's bar. The robot who had became your good friend, and sometimes the place to vent your frustration with, was busy serving up some customers. Then, when he was done, he changed his focus to a yellow-hat-wearing customer at the bar counter. A very familiar figure.

"Carl!" You called as you pushed open the door, the bell on it jingling cheerfully, resembling the feelings running through your own heart that very moment.

He turned around to look at you, and you blushed intensely when his eyes pierced into yours. You could have sworn his cheeks flushed lightly as well. But it was probably your imagination.

You walked to him and took the seat beside him, grinning at Barley as you asked, "The usual, please!"

Barley laughed and said, "One martini comin' right up!"

He headed off to concoct your drink as you met Carl's eyes, trying to keep the flushed red off your face as you asked "So..."

But it was Carl who finished the sentence. "You all right, Y/N?"

"Huh? What?" You stumbled, lost in his gaze.

"Well...you just went through a tough breakup with your boyfriend," he prompted.

Oh yeah. That little detail. When Carl first got a girlfriend, you were heartbroken. Devastated. Grief-torn. So just like in all those dramas, Barley told you that you needed a palate cleanser, and experiment being with someone different to learn that there wasn't just one type of love in the world.

So, being the "overly impulsive" person everyone always termed you as, you reluctantly went along with it, and dated some random guy according to Barley's wishes. But you treated him just like a rebound guy, like someone who really cared about you but you didn't care much about. Because deep down, you knew that Barley was wrong. True love was one of a kind, and you had found in it Carl. And you weren't about to give it up.

Which was why the moment Carl broke up with his girlfriend a week ago, you counted down the days of a week, until this very day. Then you ditched "the rebound guy" to be with him. 

"Nah...it's fine," you waved it off dismissively. "I already knew we weren't meant to be from the start. I didn't have much hopes for the relationship anyways. I'm fine."

"Are you sure?" Carl asked, his face expressing genuine concern. "Well...if you need me, I'm here for you, 'kay?" 

"Me too," Barley added as he passed me my drink. "I can be your shoulder to cry on, Y/N."

Barley was kind of a player. Kinda like all blonde, cute bartenders (just a random headcanon, don't take it seriously). But you knew he still cared for both of you. So you giggled at both their affections. "Thanks, guys, but I'm really fine. Anyways, Barley, you have a huge line of customers waiting. And Carl, how was your day?"

Carl began to talk as Barley rushed off to deal with his customers. You listened as he spoke with passion about his job--but in your heart, you were only truly thinking about the two of you together.

So you seized the opportunity when he paused to take a sip of his gin and tonic. "Carl...actually, I've something I've wanted to tell you for a long time, but never had the courage to say."

His eyes widened, probably in realisation. But before he said anything, you continued, "I really have to finish this without you saying anything, because if you talk, I think I'll lose all the courage I've mustered to do this."

This time he merely nodded, definitely knowing where you were going with this. But you'd say it anyway--not just so he knew it, but so things became clearer for your own heart, which was always at conflict with its two sides, one scared, one brave.

"The truth is...Ever since I've known you, I've also known you were special. Cute. Smart. And I could feel that you were my "one". When you got into a relationship with...her..., I was heartbroken and used Jake as a rebound. But now, I let him down easy because...I knew I was finally ready, and that this was the best opportunity I was going to get to show you how good we could be together. I know you just got out of an actual and bad breakup, but I hope we can still go forward...together."

You took in a deep breath as you finished. Glancing hopefully into Carl's glittery, watery eyes and hoping his answer was the one you had sought after for so long.

"I...I..." Carl stammered. "Y/N, I really like you, just as much as you like me. But things have been a bit hard for me recently. So...are you okay with taking things slow?"

"Moving...slow..." You smiled. "Anything for you."

He cracked a smile as your hands clasped together. Then drunkenly, you interlocked them and reached towards him and kissed him passionately, before you moved your hands up to his neck and...

Wait, what were you doing? Carl said he wanted to take things slow. You snapped out of your drunken trance, scooting away hurriedly as you apologised, "S-Sorry...I promise it won't happen again..."

Carl seemed alright. "It's okay, Y/N. It's okay."

And slowly, his hand reached back towards yours. Shyly, you held it in yours, your cheeks fiery red and your hand tingling from the contact.

For him, the guy you loved, you'd do anything. So, it was time to take things slow, for once.