@black

"Thanks for coming in today, Boss! We appreciate the help," She nods, a bubbly smile spreading across her lips. She'd always come in on her days off, never truly getting enough time to relax when there's simply too much to do at the agency. This place is her baby, however, and she'll do anything to make sure it succeeds.[break][break]

The hours pass until it's suddenly noon and she is just now checking her Xtransceiver and phone. Funny how she hardly ever looks at the thing when she's here... There could be important calls she's missing! At least she's checking now, she supposes, as she munches on a snack during the downtime. Her eyes dart across the notifications on each device, although she pauses and inhales sharply at one particular notification.[break][break]

New voicemail from Black.[break][break]

She hadn't heard a peep from him since that day at his house and truthfully, she'd be lying if she said she wasn't a little nervous to see what he has to say. It isn't exactly odd for him to go days or weeks without talking to her but with the way they left off? He could have a hundred different things to say to her and she isn't quite prepared for any of it. Her feelings are still hurt and she knows it's silly, knows it's selfish, but she's driven by emotions rather than logic half the time. One grin from him, however, and the negative feelings would more than likely just evaporate. After all, White can never truly stay mad at him.[break][break]

"Meet me at Accumula Town, in the park if you can alright? I'll be there at 3." Her heartbeat is frantic by the time the message stops playing. Why does he want to see her in person...? Couldn't he have just said what he needed to say in the message itself? God, she'll be a bundle of nerves until he explains himself. One glance at the time and she knows she'll have to hurry up and finish the last task of the day if she hopes to make it on time. Better get to work, then...[break][break]

The clock hits three as she arrives, the lush greenery of the park spread out before her. It smells of fresh flowers and she smiles, running a hand through her hair. Surprisingly, she had left her usual baseball cap at home. Part of her wishes it was sitting atop her head, a buffer between the rest of the world and her hair. The unruly curls were usually a disaster after all. Today, however, they were manageable in the form of long waves and a small ponytail gathering the front pieces of brunette into a single point at the back of her head. She usually doesn't do half-up half-down hairstyles but she had wanted to try something different today.[break][break]

White ventures further into the park, blue eyes scanning for a sign of the newly recovered boy. For him to leave his house after the condition he was in... He must be stronger now, better than he was. Unwarranted pride swells in her chest and she pushes it aside in favor of focusing on finding a spot to sit. She picks a perch on the edge of a fountain, the large square stones circling the water offering the perfect spot with a wide view of the majority of the park. There, she waits for him to appear, anxiety rising with each passing minute. Where could he be?

<33

@black

Clouds move overhead, swirling white into baby blue. She watches them as she waits, legs outstretched and arms supporting her weight. Her head is tilted backwards, waves of brunette cascading out behind her.[break][break]

It's a little past three now, time ticking by slowly. Has she been waiting long now? She isn't sure. What she does know, however, is next to nothing regarding this summons. Anxiety licks at her skin, prickling and uncomfortable. What could he want to say? She still has no idea and has been mulling it over since she listened to his message in the first place.[break][break]

Could he want to apologize?[break][break]

She frowns. There's nothing to apologize for. She knows this. Sure, her feelings were hurt, they still are, but he needed to get better on his own. There was nothing she could have done for him, even if she wanted to help. His pride was wounded, possibly even more than his body, and she was foolish to believe she could help nurse him back to health. Besides... He wouldn't let her in the first place.[break][break]

A sigh escapes her lips as she tears her attention from the clouds to scan the park once more. He has to be here somewhere, right? Should she look for him...? What if she leaves this spot to search and he comes to this exact fountain as soon as she wanders off? Uncertainty pools in her stomach and she climbs to her feet, fidgeting hands smoothing over the material of her pants again and again. Maybe calling his name will do the trick? She supposes it wouldn't hurt to try it...[break][break]

"Black?" She calls, voice shaky at first. "Are you here?" She tries again, louder this time. A few runners stop to glance her way and she sheepishly offers them a smile before they go on their way once again. Another sigh escapes her and she sits back down, blue eyes scanning the park once more for a sight of the brunette boy.

super sorry for the lateness ;u;

@black

His voice is both soothing and nerve-wracking to the brunette. Sure, he had asked her to meet him here so logically yes, he was going to show up eventually, but is she really ready for this? Is she prepared to actually hear what he has to say? Part of her wants to say yes and go back to being thick as thieves but the other... The other part wants to kick and scream and hit him for pushing her away. She knows she's being childish for still being upset but god, he really knows how to push her buttons.[break][break]

She crosses the distance between them with awkward steps, the palpable tension growing thicker as she moves. Why is this so hard? Is there something more to this than just hurt feelings? She shakes her head, unwilling to go there at the moment. Later, when she's reflecting for the hundredth time over this entire thing, she'll be sure to bring that up again but for now, she just needs to hear what he has to say.[break][break]

A smile is placed upon her lips as she finally comes face to face with him, blue eyes looking him over for any lingering injuries. He seems to be in better health now, much to her satisfaction. If he was still hurt... Well, she would probably give him a very stern talking to... Probably with her fists.[break][break]

She had expected him to explain himself, to apologize, to say anything other than what he actually says. The single word he utters catches her so off guard that she squeaks, cheeks immediately flushing after the noise escapes her. Surprise etches itself onto her facial features and she all but looks utterly bewildered at what he says. Thanks? Thanks for what? The surprise is quickly replaced with confusion as a brown eyebrow raises and she places a hand on each side of her hips. "Thanks for what?" She questions, the words almost blending together with how fast they fly from her mouth. "Why would you need to thank me?" Sometimes, this boy never ceases to take her by surprise. Nevertheless, she is genuinely curious as to why he would want to thank her of all people. Not like she did much to help him recently... All she did was get upset and cry when he needed alone time. Who in their right mind would thank anyone for that?[break][break]

Awkwardly clearing her throat, she attempts to push the conversation forward a little with the happy statement of "I'm glad to see you're feeling better." White truly means it... Even if he did upset her and even if she might still be mad at him, she is delighted to see him looking like the same boy she's grown to cherish.

<3

@black

She expects to hear as much. After all, this is Black they're talking about. He's vivacious, practically bursting with energy at the seams. It's no surprise he hated being stuck in a bed. She supposes she would feel no different but nevertheless, it's good to see him back on his feet.[break][break]

She smiles, kind and genuine, as he speaks, unaware of his next statement. It catches her off guard and she can't fight the heat that rises to her cheeks. She hadn't expected him to thank her for the time spent searching, waiting for him to come back to her. She knew he wouldn't go down without a fight, felt it in her bones, her veins, everything. He's stronger than being kept within a stone for the rest of his life. Anyone with eyes can see that fact.[break][break]

He continues on and with each word that comes tumbling from his lips, her cheeks grow hotter and hotter. Fluster bites at her body and she fidgets, unsure of how to handle the genuine praise he keeps speaking. That, combined with such a dazzling smile, all but melts away the last bits of her anger. "I," she stumbles to speak. The words she wants to say just won't come and she basically flounders in front of the boy. She's not used to this, to having someone so openly thank her for what she's done. To her, it's nothing out of the ordinary.[break][break]

"You really don't have to thank me, you know," she mumbles, blue eyes falling onto her shoes. "It's what friends do. I'm sure you would have done the same if it were me, Black." She lets out a laugh before adding, "Actually, you probably would've done more." He would have. She knows it. If she were the one stuck in the stone for two years, he would have tried to move heaven and hell to break her free. It's just who he is and why she's so fond of him.[break][break]

White finds the courage to look him in the face for the next words he speaks despite the rosiness still flooding the skin of her cheeks. For some reason, she still doesn't quite understand why he'd be so glad to see her face. Sure, they're thick as thieves and are as close as they come, but she has put him through the ringer herself. Hell, half the time she almost beats the shit out of him for upsetting her and he knows it. So why...? "Can I ask why?" She questions, an eyebrow raising slightly. Of course she's curious, even though realistically she knows the answer would probably be something along the lines of 'you're my best friend'. Despite herself, a small part of her wants the answer to be different. She smothers that part and offers a smile instead, continuing in her endeavor of speaking. "Why not Cheren or Bianca? You've known them forever and they haven't screamed at you half as much as I have." Logically, it would make sense for his childhood friends to be the ones he'd want to see the most. Her? She's just the director of an agency that he owes a debt to. Sure, that led them to become great friends, but as far as she's concerned, there's better options and he deserves the best after all that has happened. Now more than ever.

<3

@black

Her cheeks flush with embarrassment. She hadn't meant to dig into him but... Well, he sort of deserved it? No, that's not true. He never deserves any of her antics. Sure, he might break things easily and really irritate her when he refuses to listen to reason, but he doesn't deserve what she throws at him. Part of her feels guilty, especially after seeing how broken he was. She forgets that he's still human, just like her, and every human falters. She had always thought of him as invincible. He faces everything head on with no fear, no regrets. Part of her is jealous of that ability but... Seeing him that day in his house proves that even he needs comfort and compassion. Perhaps she should work on that...[break][break]

Her gaze shifts toward her feet as he speaks. Getting her way comes easy to the brunette. She usually throws a fit if it doesn't but... She's still seventeen. She'll grow out of that, right? God she hopes so. Otherwise... Black might end up getting yelled at for the rest of their lives. That'd be tiring after a while, wouldn't it? Truthfully, she's a bit surprised he's still around after everything she's put him through. A true friend, even when she's as awful as can be to him. With this in mind, blue eyes rise to find his as a gentle smile creeps onto her lips. She wouldn't trade him for anyone under the sun, no doubt about it.[break][break]

Letting him continue, she tries to ignore the hot feeling in her cheeks. His speech of how great this friend of his happens to be is embarrassing, to say the least. She knows he's talking about her, that much is obvious from the bits about screaming. Still... She hadn't thought that he trusted her as much as he's saying. It makes her heart flutter if she's being honest. Nevertheless, she feigns ignorance, if only just to tease him. "She sounds great," she retorts with a giggle. "You'll have to introduce me."[break][break]

White glances up at the sky then, a soft sigh lingering into the air. "You should trust yourself too, Black." The words come tumbling out before she can stop them, soft and wispy like an afterthought. She speaks the truth, however. He needs to trust himself just as much as others. The confidence he wears so easily is wonderful and all but the belief in himself and the trust behind his actions need to be just as focused on his well-being as it is on others. She knows he wants to be the greatest but sometimes that requires more attention on yourself than just the goals ahead. With another smile, she turns back to him, opening her mouth to speak again. "What I said the other day in your house... I still stand by those sentiments," she murmurs. It's difficult to express the truth to him, to show him just how much she cares and how much she believes in him. Most of all, it's difficult to get him to believe in himself after the awkward tension. "I hope you made a decision," the words are mumbled out toward him, her gaze falling to her feet once more.[break][break]

"It's nice to see you again." Her cheeks heat at the sentence as soon as it falls from her lips, open and honest. She can't lie about how good it feels to be in his presence again, even with what happened those weeks ago. The tension is nothing compared to knowing he's okay, to seeing him flashing those charming smiles at her. She missed him, incredibly so, but that's something she'll never admit. Instead, she'll just give hints and hope that'll be enough for now.

<3

@black

White fights the urge to roll her eyes, if only just barely. He really is daft sometimes... Nevertheless, she lets out a tinkering laugh and winks in an attempt to tease him just a little bit more. "Of course you were!" She likes to think she's his best friend as he is hers and it's nice to hear him speak so highly of her. "Who else would you be talking about?" Truthfully, it could have been anyone but... She's glad it's her.[break][break]

She shuffles her feet, digging at the dirt with the tips of her shoes. She hadn't meant to send the conversation into uncomfortable territory. It just... She had to say it, if only to remind him that she needed to hear his promise. If he couldn't, that would have been fine, but she wouldn't have let it go as easily. No, she'd never let it go if he ever gave up on himself, that much is certain.[break][break]

His next words bring yet another flush of rosiness to her cheeks. Damn it, will she stop that? She doesn't need to become as red as a cherry at everything he says. Although, combined with his smiles and his nice words, she finds it rather hard not to. Besides, her pulse increases just from a look. God, what's becoming of her? She ignores answering that in favor of letting out a giggle, soft and gentle in the air around them. "I'll be nicer when you stop breaking things," the words are teasing as soon as they escape her and she sticks her tongue out if only just to rub it in a little more. She lives to tease him, after all.[break][break]

The silence that comes next is uncomfortable to say the least. She fidgets in her spot before him, slightly shaky fingers twiddling against each other. Silence has never been her strong suit. She's used to noise, almost thrives on it. Anything is better than the silence. Silence usually comes with thoughts that she doesn't want to entertain and this is no exception. Did she upset him? Is he going to tell her he can't keep the promise she asked for? What will become of them then? She wouldn't leave his side, wouldn't even dream of it, but she also cannot just idly sit by and watch him put himself on the line for the greater good without even thinking of the consequences. She'd be lying if she said she could handle losing him again.[break][break]

He breaks the silence then, with the uttering of her hand and the brandishing of a pinky. She stares, bewilderment overtaking her features. Is he... Really? The smile she flashes him is bright, almost as bright as her namesake, and she leans forward to intertwine her pinky with his. "Good," she mumbles, cheeks heating at the skin contact. "I'm glad." Before her mind can catch up to her body, she tugs at his pinky to snag him into a hug. If her mind had the chance to catch up before she acted so rashly, she would have decided against such a bold action. For now, however, her mind is quiet as she seeks the comfort of his body against her own if only for just a moment.[break][break]

And now, it's her turn to thank him, the words tumbling out in a soft vulnerable voice before she can stop. "Thank you, Black, for everything."

<3

@black

The contact is nice, she decides, as she settles against him with a soft sigh. Part of her needed this, for what reason she didn't quite know. Maybe just to know that he's back, in one whole piece, by her side again. The reassurance is enough to spur the prickling of tears at the corners of her eyes, emotions swirling at bay barely held back by her own resolve.[break][break]

Her name is soft on his lips, stifled by her own actions, her own body. His arms circle around her then and the pieces she had been missing almost seem to fall into place. Who would have guessed that all those years ago, they would have turned out like this? He was just a rambunctious boy then, breaking things and landing himself in her debt. She saw something in him and if asked now, she would merely say it was his spirit (and definitely not the cute Tepig by his side) that drove her to signing him onto her team. Now, however, there's too many qualities of him that she finds herself enamored by. Not like she'd ever tell him, though... He still needs to fit his head through doors, after all.[break][break]

Her heart hammers in her chest, responding in kind to his own beat. Funny how they make a symphony together... She supposes it's always been this way, two sides of the same coin. White and Black, two halves of a whole. Perhaps it was fated for them to meet if higher powers did actually exist. She knows that something pushed them together, whether it was fate or just mere coincidence. She won't dwell on it, however, in favor of pressing herself just a little closer into his embrace. Her cheeks are sweltering by this point, no doubt as red as could be, but she doubts he could see them with how she pressed her face into his shoulder. The only evidence of her nerves is the ever persistent fluttering of her heart. No amount of pleading can quell the organ and so it continues in the rapid pace, spurred on by his arms around her waist, his chest pressed against hers.[break][break]

The laugh that escapes her is joyous, tinkering and bright. Of course he would find a way to crack jokes and poke fun at her whenever the opportunity arose. She comes to expect nothing less of him after all this time. With a smile of her own and the tightening of her arms around his neck, she retorts with her own teasing remark, punctured with giggles. "Gentleman? Are you sure about that?" The snort that comes from her is unladylike but she doesn't care, instead pulling away just enough to look at his face. Her flushed cheeks are the least of her concerns, focusing on his features instead. "What I saw in you is my little secret," she pauses to wink, the teasing nature of her words filtering into the small space between them. "Guess you'll never know!" She has to keep him guessing somehow, right?[break][break]

White stills, gulping at his words. That day, two years ago... She had said something to the stone after he vanished, something that she is unsure of now. Will it change this? Will he leave once he knows? She'd be lying if she said she could handle that. But... He's expecting an answer and she isn't one to lie, especially to someone so close to her. Instead, she stalls, glancing away from his face and looking to the trees. Her grip tightens and loosens as she mulls it over. She could just say it, regardless of how it could change things. It's not like he's forced to stay by her side anyway... He could have up and left whenever he chose fit. If he had left back then, it wouldn't have been a big deal. They had barely known each other. Now? It would destroy her, that much she is certain of.[break][break]

With a soft sigh, she glances back at him and the words come tumbling from her mouth before she can decide against it. "I said you paid your debts," she mumbles out. Her eyes search his face for a moment before retreating back to the tree line, unable to keep eye contact. It is out in the open now. His debts have been paid off for two years now, ever since his disappearance. Would he stay despite this knowledge? She could only hope but... Black's his own person and despite her own desires, he can do what he pleases with his time. "I'm sorry I couldn't tell you sooner," White admits with a sheepish smile. "I," she gulps, struggling to find the right words. "I wasn't sure if you'd head off after knowing." The vulnerability is something she's not used to. White keeps a strong composure at most times, difficult or not. She tries to keep the act that she is as strong as she comes off, weakness kept locked inside until she's alone. With him, however, she cannot continue the facade. He knows her by now, knows how to make her tick, how to push her buttons. He'd see right through any mask she put on, that much she is sure of.

<3