♡ goggles x rider ♡

Chapter 8: The 'Secret' Date

The Square King Cup contest was approaching, but there was still plenty of time left to do other things, such as hanging out at the square. Blue team and Rider thought it would be a good opportunity to help Crusty Sean continue to run his business with their assistance, despite not having his food truck yet. The service would be slower and the food more limited, but it would be a big help.
"Alright, squiddos, mornin' shift is over!" Crusty Sean announced. It wasn't as busy this time of day, allowing the inklings to earn a break. "I'll see y'all later tonight!"
"Y'know, I'm glad we agreed to do this," Glasses commented.
Headphones continued the exchange of words. "Yeah, I mean... We all have our Shrimp Kicks shoes on at the moment. Sean's helped us. We should help him back."
The agreeable discussion about Crusty Seam was shortly put to an end as Off the Hook went live to announce the current stages. Turf wars were most common at this time of day, right after everyone had raided all the stores and ate a couple Crusty Seanwiches. Ranked battles as well, but their popularity was generally the same throughout the day, only lowering a bit when Clam Blitz was on. After working for all that time, the group ate some leftovers, giving them a combination of money boosters and experience boosters. This couldn't just go to waste, and as a result, the group went off to a turf war battle.
That is, except for Goggles and Rider.
The two of them had planned to do something together but had only listed simple details such as the day and location. Today was the day they were going to go out for the first time, and it was quite lucky that the events with Crusty Sean did not interfere. Goggles was licking the fried bits off his fingers when Rider finally spoke up. "Goggles. You're cute, but I don't want you telling other people about, er, whatever we have at the moment." He scratched the back of his neck.
Goggles didn't understand why hiding the other's relationship status mattered, but respectfully agreed to.
"Is it because everyone sees me as an idiot?" he said jokingly.
"No, Goggles, please," the green inkling began, "It's like you already said — me liking anyone would be the last thing people expect." He looked over at the square's café, the spot they had chosen for the date. "Hey, since, the café is right here at the plaza, why don't we go over there now?" Rider asked.
"Sure!"
. . .
Goggles was getting settled in his chair as he waited for the other to pick up his order. He himself had ordered chocolate pudding with a side of crackers and a milkshake. Now that Rider was making his way back to the table, it looked like he had gotten fresh toast with butter, sliced fruit, and an iced coffee. He took a seat across from the blue inkling and exhaled.
"Hm... Do you eat here often?" His expression was quite calm as he took a sip of his drink.
"Yep! I come here for all the sweets after battling." Goggles puffed up his cheeks and twiddled his fingers. "...But nothing's sweeter than spending time with you."
The yellow-green inkling was not the best at receiving compliments. "Ah, th-thank you..." A fuzzy and warm sensation tingled throughout his body. He turned away when taking a bite of his toast, as if it would somehow hide his face.
So cute! Goggles thought to himself, smiling. He placed a mouthful of pudding up against his tongue, his other hand inching closer to Rider's resting one. The other took the hint and locked their fingers together.
That adorable idiot, the dark-skinned inkling thought, his face reddening slightly. If you want to hold hands just go for it...
Goggles looked into the other's eyes. "So, I've been wondering," he began, "What made you like me?" He had pondered the question but couldn't come to a definitive answer. Rider had been on his mind ever since he realized his feelings for him. His thoughts of the other inkling stuck in his mind like a headache. The blue inkling had his own reasons for liking him, like his character, strength, a defining personality, as well as physical appeal, but what was there about his own self that stuck out?
"Hm." Rider paused for a few seconds to thoroughly think out his response, chewing a thin apple slice while doing so. He swallowed and finally came to an answer. "Though you're a more bubbly type of person, you take me seriously whenever I talk to you. You give me support by cheering me on in battles, even when I yell at you. There's just... lot more to you that other people don't see."
Goggles had been listening attentively the entire time. He felt the other's hands progressively become warmer. "Oh! Y-You really feel that way about me?" he asked. His pupils were enlarged and he felt a fluttery feeling in his stomach.
"I meant everything I said! Something about you makes me feel all warm inside... I think—"
Before Rider could say another word, a figure cast a shadow over them, and immediately the two inklings pulled away from each other.
It was Aloha.
"Hey guys~! What—" he stopped mid-sentence, his eyes growing wide. "Woah, were you two holding hands?"
Rider looked to Goggles for an answer, who was already silently freaking out. "What? No!" The blue inkling began to laugh hysterically.
Rider shoved the other with his elbow. "I don't know what you're taking about."
Aloha furrowed his brows. "But I just saw you guys."
"No, that's ridiculous," Rider snapped. His jaw twitched.
"Are you guys like, dating, or something?" he asked curiously. The pink inkling brushed away the bang covering his right eye.
"Why does that matter? What are you even doing here?" He had answered with another question to quickly divert from the topic.
Aloha put a hand on his hip, aware that the other was changing the subject, but continued nonetheless. "Ah, you see, Army told me he'd show up at the square, but I haven't seen him around!" He used his thumb to point back at the drink line. "I thought it would be nice to get him a drink or something."
The other two chewed their food, unable to respond at the moment.
Aloha continued to speak. "Well, I've got to get going. See you lovebirds around~!" He winked and ran off before Rider could get the chance to yell at him again.