Bleville AI Oneshots

Blaise's Relentless Flirting (Part 2)

"I..." Neville started, his voice catching in his throat. He had no idea what to say. The idea that Blaise-Blaise Zabini-had been flirting with him this whole time because he actually liked him? It was too much to process. His mind was spinning, and his heart was still racing from the weight of Blaise's gaze.

Blaise tilted his head, his eyes never leaving Neville's. "I'm making you nervous again, aren't I?"

Neville swallowed hard and nodded, feeling his face heat up even more. "Yeah. A little."

Blaise smiled, that soft, almost affectionate smile that Neville was quickly realizing was just for him. "That's not what I was going for, you know. I was hoping you'd catch on sooner."

Neville gave a weak laugh, still feeling completely out of his depth. "I just... I thought you were like this with everyone. I didn't think it could actually mean... anything."

Blaise leaned forward again, his elbows resting on the table, and for the first time, Neville could see just how serious Blaise was. "I'm not like this with everyone, Neville. I've been flirting with you because I wanted you to know how I felt. I didn't think you'd assume I was just... playing around."

Neville's heart thudded painfully in his chest. "I... I didn't want to get my hopes up," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't think you'd actually be interested in me."

Blaise's eyes softened, and for a moment, there was a vulnerability there that Neville had never seen before. "Why wouldn't I be?"

Neville stared at him, completely thrown by the question. "Because I'm... me."

Blaise's lips curved into a small smile. "Exactly. You're you. And that's what I like about you."

Neville felt his heart stutter in his chest. This couldn't be real. Blaise couldn't actually be saying these things-things that Neville had only dreamed about hearing.

"I don't..." Neville started, his voice trembling slightly. "I don't understand."

Blaise let out a soft laugh, but there was no mockery in it-just warmth. "Neville, you've spent all this time thinking you weren't worth my attention, but the truth is, you're the only person who's had my attention for weeks."

Neville blinked, his brain still struggling to catch up. "You've been paying attention to me?"

Blaise chuckled again, reaching out and lightly brushing his fingers against Neville's hand. The touch was brief but sent a jolt of warmth through Neville's entire body. "Yes. I've been paying attention to you. You're brave, Neville. You're kind. You're real. And that's why I've been trying to get you to notice me."

Neville stared at Blaise, his mind spinning. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Blaise wasn't just teasing him. He wasn't just playing games. He actually liked Neville.

"But I..." Neville started, his voice shaking slightly. "I'm not like you. I'm not... confident, or..."

Blaise's hand slid across the table, his fingers gently brushing against Neville's again, and this time, the touch lingered. "You don't need to be like me, Neville. I don't want you to be like me. I like you just the way you are."

Neville's breath caught in his throat, and for a moment, all he could do was stare at Blaise, his heart racing. He wasn't used to hearing things like that-not from someone like Blaise, who was always so composed, so confident. It made his head spin.

"Are you... sure?" Neville asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Blaise smiled, his hand gently curling around Neville's. "I'm sure."

For a moment, they sat there in silence, the weight of Blaise's words hanging between them. Neville's mind was racing, his heart pounding so loudly in his ears that he could barely hear anything else. He had spent so much time convincing himself that someone like Blaise would never be interested in him, but now... now Blaise was sitting right here, telling him he was wrong.

"Why didn't you just tell me?" Neville asked, his voice still shaky.

Blaise's smile softened, and for a moment, he looked almost... shy. "I wanted to. But every time I flirted with you, you seemed so... flustered. I thought you weren't interested."

Neville blinked, feeling his face heat up again. "I-I didn't know how to react," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "I thought you were just teasing me. I didn't think it was real."

Blaise's hand tightened slightly around Neville's, his thumb brushing gently against his skin. "It was real," Blaise said softly. "And it still is."

Neville's heart skipped a beat. He stared down at their hands, Blaise's fingers still lightly wrapped around his, and felt a warmth spread through his chest. This was real. Blaise liked him. And maybe-just maybe-it was time for Neville to stop doubting it.

"I... I like you too," Neville said quietly, his voice shaking but sure.

Blaise's smile widened, and for the first time since they'd sat down, Neville saw a flash of relief in his eyes. "I'm glad to hear that," Blaise said softly, his voice low and warm.

Neville felt his heart race again, but this time, it wasn't from nerves. It was from something else-something that felt like excitement, like possibility.

"So..." Neville started, feeling his face flush again. "What now?"

Blaise chuckled softly, his fingers still gently brushing against Neville's hand. "Now," he said, his voice playful but affectionate, "we stop dancing around this and go on a proper date."

Neville blinked, his heart skipping another beat. "A... date?"

Blaise nodded, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Yes. A date. Unless you're still too flustered to handle that."

Neville felt a small smile tug at the corners of his lips. "I think I can handle it," he said, his voice steadier now.

Blaise grinned, and this time, the smile was bright, genuine. "Good."

For the first time in weeks, Neville felt like he could finally breathe. The weight of all the confusion, all the second-guessing, had lifted, and now, sitting here with Blaise, Neville realized that maybe this wasn't so impossible after all.

"So," Blaise said, his voice teasing again. "How about Hogsmeade next weekend?"

Neville smiled, his heart still racing but lighter than it had been in a long time. "Sounds perfect."