[Heizou turns to look at him more fully. The smile on his face is so soft and fond as more hearts start floating up around his head. But there's also something... maybe a little tentatively hopeful in his eyes.]
[There's no response as Wanderer tries to figure out how to respond.]
No.
[But before Heizou can say anything else, he continues:]
There's...something else about you. I let you drag me on a childish treasure hunt on my birthday, a day I don't especially like. Because you [and Venti and Nahida but this isn't about them] wanted to do that. I'm carrying you as I fly after letting you drag me out to lunch.
[Or: for Wanderer, beauty is a shallow thing and Heizou is annoying but not shallow.]
[For that moment of silence, for that half second before Wanderer continues, Heizou's face falls a little and his heart sinks. He scolds himself mentally, tells himself that he was being silly for holding out any kind of hope. He almost decides to laugh and drop the whole thing, just sweep it under the rug like it never happened.
When Wanderer does continue, he's still too caught in his head to school his features into something neutral. He stares, eyes wide and searching while his heart leaps back up into his throat. Is he reading this right? He can't help but think he must not be. Surely all he's really saying is that he doesn't mind Heizou's company. So for once he's not sure what to say, he feels a little foolish and vulnerable warring between what he's hoping for and what feels more logical, and that makes a blush crawl across his face while he quickly looks away.]
[The blush on his face starts to spread out to his ears, and he's staring very hard at some random point in the distance. He's still not entirely convinced Wanderer means any of this the way Heizou hopes he means it. But it's hard not to feel flustered by what is most definitely meant to be a compliment.
Heizou never feels this way. He's rarely ever on the receiving end of this kind of thing.
It makes him nervous.]
O-Okay, okay! [He tries to let out a laugh to ease some of the tension he feels, but he's not sure it succeeds when his face is still so flushed.] You really don't have to go that far...
[Heizou rearranges himself so he's sitting on the branch properly, legs dangling over the edge and determinedly looking back out into the distance. Also idly rubbing at his flushed cheeks with one hand as if that'll make them cool down.]
The bubbles don't make me a mind reader, you know. [There are so many pink ones floating and popping around his head right now it's absurd.] I didn't... expect you to answer like that, that's all.
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I assume it's the same with people, then?
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For the most part. There have...maybe been some, more recently than that.
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Only some?
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..Do you think I'm beautiful?
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No.
[But before Heizou can say anything else, he continues:]
There's...something else about you. I let you drag me on a childish treasure hunt on my birthday, a day I don't especially like. Because you [and Venti and Nahida but this isn't about them] wanted to do that. I'm carrying you as I fly after letting you drag me out to lunch.
[Or: for Wanderer, beauty is a shallow thing and Heizou is annoying but not shallow.]
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When Wanderer does continue, he's still too caught in his head to school his features into something neutral. He stares, eyes wide and searching while his heart leaps back up into his throat. Is he reading this right? He can't help but think he must not be. Surely all he's really saying is that he doesn't mind Heizou's company. So for once he's not sure what to say, he feels a little foolish and vulnerable warring between what he's hoping for and what feels more logical, and that makes a blush crawl across his face while he quickly looks away.]
I... I see.
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...I wouldn't do this if you were just beautiful.
[And he is never, ever saying this again. Ever.]
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Heizou never feels this way. He's rarely ever on the receiving end of this kind of thing.
It makes him nervous.]
O-Okay, okay! [He tries to let out a laugh to ease some of the tension he feels, but he's not sure it succeeds when his face is still so flushed.] You really don't have to go that far...
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You asked, despite these damn bubbles popping up.
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The bubbles don't make me a mind reader, you know. [There are so many pink ones floating and popping around his head right now it's absurd.] I didn't... expect you to answer like that, that's all.
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You're not the type to fish for compliments. [So he figured he might as well tell you.] Don't get used to it.
[It is Wanderer.]
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Who, me? I wouldn't dream of it~
[But he does lean against Wanderer's side a little while they sit together. This is better. Less nerve-wracking.]