Crash

Smash

A/N:  I haven't updated in a long time but no not dead!! ^0^/ plans for FLUFF AND ANGST :')))) I love a good squeeze of the heart HEHE especially with Ace 'cuz he's like unbelievably fragile??? Even though he acts all derpy and doofus and carefree, he's like the most sensitive shit on earth

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"What?"

My lack of response seemed to concern him even further and it wasn't long before my superior forcefully tilted my head to face him. "You're not seasick, are you?"

"No I'm not," I tried to say. Blake didn't seem very convinced. "I swear it's just the...I don't know. Look, instead of wasting your time trying to find out what's wrong with my face—which, if you're not aware, is everything—you should be greeting everyone else as the department head or like, you know? That teamwork thing."

Okay, I was rambling. Meaning that I wasn't being very persuasive.

Blake snorted and leaned closer to flick my forehead. Why you gotta invade my personal space. Don't invade my personal space because I'm not okay right now because of the holy-banana things that you've been doing and thus making my banana very uncomfortable.

"You're not making any sense. I can do whatever I want as the department head, okay? And that includes whether or not I want to make small talk with people I barely know or show concern for a friend who doesn't look too good." I prayed to whatever that was above that I was not turning red with embarrassment. Does he even know what he's saying?

"O-okay fine, fine," I held up my hands in defeat and looked at anywhere but his face. I somehow ended up staring at his chest (good job, Ace, good damn job). "I'm just saying we're not exactly friends in this current context but co-workers, alright? So I don't want to be a burden or anything."

Blake looked at me as though I was spouting some crazy nonsense.

"And I'm saying that you aren't," he frowned, glancing over his shoulder as someone called for our department to gather. "We're not arguing over this. I don't want to ruin your mood either, okay? It's probably going to be a tiring day so I was just showing some concern over your health."

He didn't give me a chance to respond before heading to the front of the group to lead them towards the dormitories.

*

Something very exciting happened after dinner. I promise, no sarcasm or exaggeration this time—for real. There was a boring briefing after our meal and we were sent to do our first 'group reflection' (meaning more social interaction and tired ambivert Ace was not having the time of his life), but that wasn't the point. The point was, Blake asked me out.

"Hey," my superior had come to me after the bunch of us were dismissed from the group reflection and I was looking absolutely smashed. Is that even a word to describe one's tired disposition? Ace obviously does not know. "Can I talk to you for a sec?"

Blake had a rare, gentle sort of smile on his face which threw me completely off-guard and left me staring at him with my lips slightly parted.

"I can see you're blanking out already," he laughed. "Tomorrow then? You look half dead."

"No, no! All good!" I did my best to reassure with a stupid grin and by forcing my eyes to remain open. "Yes? What is it? Uh, sir."

Most of our colleagues in the hall had already cleared out after the group reflections—heading to bed after a long day of hopeless activities. Blake continued to stare at me strangely. "You don't have to be formal. There's barely anyone around."

"Oh yeah," I sort of glanced around before turning back to him. For some reason, I couldn't get my banana-heart to chill. "Right, um...you're not mad at me, or anything? I hope."

"Why would I be?" He laughed low, and I almost died at the sound. "It's about what you said today. At lunch."

Oh nooooooooooo where is the hole? wHere is it?? I'm about to go insane—

"A-ah...lunch," my hands were a mess because I had no idea where to put them. "Did I say something? You see, haha, I don't think you were supposed to know about all this and somehow you do? Hm, I wonder why."

I was rambling by this point.

"What you said," Blake closed the distance with a step, and I was trying to prevent my brain from short-circuiting at the lack of personal space. "Can you say it again?"