``Let me guess. You came to say Blaze didn't mean it. That he's just friendly. That I should smile and accept that I'm never gonna mean as much to him as all of you do because you've had years of flirty fucking bullshit and nostalgia and sex games and - ''
``No!'' Kimiko squeaked, stepping back. ``N-No, I swear, I didn't - !''
Loona stopped. Her chest heaved once. Twice.
Then she let out a shaky exhale and turned away, grabbing the edge of the bar to steady herself. ``...Sorry,'' she muttered, barely audible. ``Not at you. I just... I'm pissed.''
Kimiko stayed quiet for a moment, then softly approached. ``...You scared me.''
``Good,'' Loona said, half-laughing.
But Kimiko didn't back away again. ``...But I stayed.''
Loona blinked at that.
Slowly turned her head.
Kimiko's ears were pinned back, her five tails curled close to her sides. Her eyes were wide, but honest.
``I'm not here to defend him,'' Kimiko said quietly. ``I just... I saw how much that hurt you. And I thought... maybe you shouldn't be alone right now.''
Loona stared at her for a long time.
Then slowly sat back down, shoulders slumping.
``...You?re brave. Or really fucking stupid.''
Kimiko smiled shyly. ``Maybe both.''
A silence hung between them.
Then Loona spoke again. Softer.
``He was... mine. I let him be mine. And now I'm wondering if that was the dumbest thing I've ever done.''
Kimiko didn't interrupt.
``I didn't ask for him to fix me. I just... let him in. I let him see me. And now he's smiling at girls who think neck kisses are funny and treating it like a fucking joke. Like I'm supposed to be okay with it. Like I'm not... breaking.''
Her voice caught at the last word.
Kimiko lowered her head. ``He doesn't realize. Not yet. But I think... you're the first one who made him feel like he could be something better.''
Loona looked over. Eyes tired. ``Then he better start acting like it.''
Kimiko nodded gently.
And then -
``...Can I sit with you?'' she asked.
Loona gestured to the stool beside her.
And for the first time that day...
She wasn't alone.
Loona sighed into her drink, letting the silence settle comfortably for a change.
Kimiko sat beside her now, tail tips twitching nervously against the bar stool's legs. She hadn't said anything more since sitting - just gently spun her empty paw across the condensation ring Loona's glass had left behind.
Loona looked over. ``You drinking or just window-shopping?''
Kimiko gave a sheepish shrug. ``I, um... don't usually drink.''
Loona flagged down the bartender anyway. ``One of the same.''
Kimiko blinked. ``Oh, I really - ''
``Live a little, Sparkles.''
The drink slid in front of her: clear, no garnish, and evil.
Kimiko stared at it like it might bite her.
Loona tilted her head. ``You gonna sip it or let it judge you to death?''
Kimiko huffed softly, tail flicking. ``I can do it.'' She raised the glass, took a small sip -
And immediately choked.
Her tails flared, face flushing red as she gasped.
Loona barked out a laugh. ``That good, huh?''
Kimiko coughed once, twice, then giggled through the burn. ``That was fire in liquid form!''
``Yeah. It's my favorite.''
Kimiko wiped a tear from her eye, still giggling. ``It explains so much about you.''
Loona smirked into her drink. ``Thanks.''
*~*~*~*~*~*
Even in moments of uncertainty... you never know when a new friend might show up to help.
Even when it's a very shy Kimiko Five-Tails who really doesn't know how to approach this... but she does her best!
Loona is just dealing with new feelings. Blaze did a dumb move, Loona is annoyed, and things are... tense. Drama!
If I may be so bold as to show you what I would have had Kimiko say.
Loona barked out a laugh. ``That good, huh?''
Kimiko coughed once, twice, then, with a dry voice, forced her answer as she clutched her breast. ``Yeah, smooth.''
That was an old joke Red Skelton used to use whenever one of his characters drank some kind of alcoholic drink. Of course, "fire in liquid form" is a good one, too.
If I may be so bold as to show you what I would have had Kimiko say. Loona barked out a laugh. ``Th
