ppgzxrrbz call of the wolves

asking a wolf to forgive

Buttercup felt awkward. It hadn't been too long since the incident in the forest, and they were still walking home. Butch wasn't exactly angry at her anymore, it seemed; but he wasn't exactly talking to her either.

"Umm..." Finally Buttercup felt herself blurt out, "Look; I'm really sorry about this morning. Can you just forgive m―"

"Shhh." Butch clamped a hand over her mouth and smirked. "You talk too much."

Buttercup ripped his hand off of her mouth. "Stop teasing me," she pouted, "you were really mad this morning."

"True, I was kinda mad"―she raised a disbelieving eyebrow and repeated "kinda?"―"okay, well, really mad," he corrected, "but part of my anger was because Brick was being an asshole this morning."

"Well, I know what you mean. I was mad at Blossom too. Sorry for taking my anger out on you."

"It's okay." Butch just shrugged, before pausing.

"What's up?" Buttercup asked.

"...Do you really think of me like that though?"

"Well...no." When he sent her an "I don't believe you" look, she hesitated. "Okay, so I do think you can be lazy and annoying and obnoxious―"

"Gee, thanks. That makes me feel a lot better," Butch muttered, rolling his eyes.

"No, look. What I'm trying to say is that...well, I mean..." She trailed off, before taking a deep breath. "Idon'treallythinkofyoulikethatokay? You're a cool guy," Buttercup said quickly.

Butch looked surprised for a moment. "...You really think so?" he finally asked.

"Well, duh. What the fuck kind of question is that?" Buttercup blushed, forcing herself to nod. "Even if you are annoying," she mumbled, "I feel like I can understand you." For a moment the two simply stared into each other's eyes, as if they were trying to grasp that said understanding of each other. Buttercup didn't know it, but her cheeks felt warm. Well, that was until...

"Huh, guess we're already here. Guess you better go in before they get worried."

"What, that's it? You're not walking me to the door or anything?" Buttercup asked, the spell broken.

"Why should I? We're not dating."

"Butch, you know that's not what I meant."

"Just go home, BC. We have school tomorrow." Butch turned away, waving.

"Goddammit Butch, wait." Buttercup grabbed his wrist. "You're making it pretty obvious you're fucking hiding something. Are you or aren't you going to tell me what?"

"...I can't," Butch finally stated, after staring into her eyes for a few seconds.

"Well, you forgave me for being a bitch this morning, right? So what's wrong? You can't trust me now all over again?" She scrunched her face up.

"...That's not it," Butch muttered.

Buttercup narrowed her eyes. "So what the fuck is the problem?"