#rec0ded

❛ plans ?? me ?? a-ah , not really. 'm plannin' on handin' out candy like always. ❜

victor pretends his heart isn't racing , one hand on the back of his neck. he's not lying , not really. he likes passing out candy ; the kids are cute & they adore ace , who's all too happy to play with them. he's happy for that , really , & the children have finally stopped referring to him as mr. champion !

there is , however , one small detail he may be leaving out , & he can feel his cinderace glaring at him , making his face go red.

❛ t-there's also , uh ... this party 'm supposed t'make an appearance at. some , uh , masquerade thing th'league does. but i don' mind skippin' it if you wanted t'hang out after th'kids are all in. ❜

a sheepish laugh before ace shoves him forward , causing him to nearly stumble into hop.

❛ i-i mean ... they said i can bring someone with , i-if y'wanna go ?? with me ?? ❜

❛ h-huh ?? ❜

victor's cheeks turn bright red from more than just the wind. he wasn't going to admit to being cold , even if ace was lingering nearby. however , his cinderace wasn't going to intervene here , instead chittering happily by hop's side , sharing his warmth with victor's friend instead. the champion shoots a brief glare towards his partner , who merely snickers in response.

feeling outwitted by an overgrown rabbit , victor huffs , drawing hop's jacket tighter around his shoulders. it's warmer than he expected , & it still smells like hop. that makes color spread to the tips of his ears. his eyes flicker towards hop & his partner , ace shooting him a knowing look with a cheerful gesture , as if to say ...

go for it !!

clearing his throat , victor stands a bit closer to hop , close enough to take his hand , lacing their fingers together with a soft smile.

❛ c'mon. mum said she'd make your favorite tonight if you want t'come over. ❜

❛ e-eh ?! ❜

victor can't help but fluster when hop speaks , invading his personal space so easily. but it's always been like this , for as long as he can remember ; victor has always let hop do as he pleased with him. if gloria could see him , victor's sure she'd have nothing nice to say.

he swallows thickly as hop finds a piece of fuzz in his hair , pulling it out as victor closes his eyes. his cheeks burn by now , & he wants nothing more than to melt into the ground , disappear so hop doesn't say anything about the flush on his cheeks.

❛ o-oh. uh , thanks mate. ❜

victor's smile is somewhat shy , & he doesn't miss the sideways glance from ace , either. he can tell his partner is thinking of something , given the way it takes more interest than usual in hop's dubwool.

surely victor's misreading it & cinderace just wants to play , right ??

❛ i think ace wants t'play a little. he's prob'ly right bored followin' me 'round lately. ❜