'Oh GODS...why did I agree to this!?'
Rain is on his way to the survival class's campground, but that question has been on his mind all day. Through his other classes, his sparring with Nik, and even his tea time with Ronin...his anxiety has been slowly growing. Now, he's about to meet Tess back where they last spoke...to camp together...all night...alone...in a tiny shelter.
He's not entirely sure why he agreed...maybe because she played the trust card. Or, maybe because he just has a harder time telling her no lately. As for her other comment, though...
'She won't hold anything awkward against me? Does that mean...no. She couldn't have had any idea what I was worried about...my Quirk and the intrusive thoughts about being closer to her, kissing her. There's no way she was saying that's okay. But...what did she mean? Was she just trying to reassure me that she trusts me, too?'
Before Rain realizes it, his distracted thoughts have led him all the way back to the campground area. Looking around as he exits the door from the Academy, he sees a small fire already burning in the distance of the darkening sky, and he begins making his way over.
As he draws near, Tess is tending the fire, sitting on a log by the opening of their shelter. Noticing him, she gives a bright smile and a wave, urging him to come sit with her. Rain steels his nerves and walks over to her, taking a seat next to her on the log. Once there, he notices Tessa reaching for two mugs. She picks one up and hands it to him, an excited smile on her face.
"Here, Rain...try this! I've always heard it's perfect for these ocassions, so I managed to track some down for us! It's delicious!"
Rain takes the warm mug from her, eyeing its contents. It's a dark, viscous looking liquid...one he's all too familiar with. His eyes snap back to the excited Tess, his expression one of horror.
"Tess...you like coffee!?"
Tess looks back at him, her eyes filled with confusion for several moments. Eventually, her face twists in disgust and her voice becomes nearly shrill.
"That nasty, bitter crap the rich people drink!? Are you crazy!? Of course not, dumbass!"
Rain blinks in confusion.
"Uhm...but..."
Tess just rolls her eyes at him.
"Rain, just look at the color...smell it...it's not coffee."
He turns his attention back to the dark liquid in the mug, his eyes narrowing as he studies it.
'Huh...I guess now that she mentions it...this doesn't look as dark as that coffee I saw. And the aroma...hmm...it's definitely different, much weaker.'
He glances back at her, still a bit skeptical.
"Okay...so what is it?"
Tess, noticing his hesitance, frowns disapprovingly. Then, she leans over to him, propping her chin on her free hand, and her emerald eyes sparkle encouragingly at him as a small smile finds its way onto her lips.
"It's called hot cocoa. Just try it, you'll like it...trust me!"
After a moment of silence with them staring at one another, Rain turns his attention back to the mug of cocoa in front of him, and he lets out a long sigh. He cuts a sideways glance at Tess, who's watching him expectantly, and he mumbles at her.
"That's twice today you've played the trust card...I need to put a daily cap on it or something..."
Urged forward by Tess's now annoyed glare, Rain reluctantly takes a sip of the drink, carefully tipping the mug at the edge of his lips. As the warm liquid washes over his tongue, he tastes a smooth, rich, sweetness, much more subtle than the coffee he tried.
'Woah, it's...good!'
His eyes widen in surprise, and he looks over at Tess in bewilderment. She's now wearing a very smug expression on her beautiful face, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction as she studies him.
"Mhmm...I told you so, dumbass. Now...do you have anything to say to me? You know...your sweet and caring friend whom you doubted about this sweet treat, after I went through all the trouble of acquiring, preparing, and sharing it with you."
Quickly swallowing a mouthful of the hot cocoa that he'd been in the middle of greedily sipping, he rubs the back of his neck and gives the preening Tess a sheepish smile.
"Ah...uhm...yeah. Thanks, Tess. It's delicious, and I'm sorry I doubted you...you're the best. So...I guess this means I owe you another one, right?"
To his surprise, Tess just smiles affectionately at him and shakes her head.
"No, that's okay. Your thanks is enough this time. Plus, you agreed to camp with me tonight."
Rain raises his eyebrows at her incredulously, his tone becoming a bit teasing as a smile threatens to find its way to his face.
"Well this is...unexpected. Charity isn't like you, Tess..."
She glares at him and sticks out her tongue, obviously preparing a scathing retort. However, her face seems to change suddenly, as though she remembers something important. Then, she directs a hopeful gaze at Rain, an excited smile on her face.
"Hey, Rain, now that you mention it, there is something I'd like you to do...if you wouldn't mind?"
Rain rolls his eyes and gives her an amused smile.
"Ah...all is right in the world again. Sure, I don't mind...let's hear it."
Not even bothering to act annoyed over his jab, Tess flashes him a gleeful smile and nods.
"Great! I want you to play a game with me. It's...uhm...kind of silly, but I heard that the well-off girls around my neighborhood growing up would sometimes play it when they stayed over at each others' houses. I was...never invited...obviously..."
She trails off, her face looking a touch embarrassed as she fails to maintain his gaze. Rain just stares at her blankly, silent and completely caught off guard by the request. She glances back at him, seeing his face, and her cheeks begin to turn a little red. The sight snaps him from his trance, realizing that she's about to get offended, and he quickly flashes her a desperate smile and his voice comes out flustered.
"What, no! That's...uhm...not silly at all! Yeah, let's do that! Just, you know, tell me how the game works."
Tess's demeanor slowly begins to calm, and she gives him an expression that's hard to read. After several moments, a small smile makes its way onto her face and she nods.
"Okay, well basically we take turns answering a question truthfully or performing some action, called a dare. One person decides what question to ask and what dare to propose, and the other person gets to decide which they'd prefer. The first person who's unwilling to perform the dare or answer the question loses."
Rain's eyebrows raise incredulously.
'Uhm...yeah, that sounds incredibly stupid. Also, couldn't a person just say they're telling the truth and lie instead? There's no way to enforce these rules!'
Alas, he takes one look at Tess's embarrassed but hopeful expression, and he decides to keep those thoughts to himself. He smiles at her politely, nodding agreeably.
"That sounds like fun. Why don't you start us off since I'm new to this?"
Seemingly aware of his less-than-genuine enthusiasm, she gives him a soft, appreciative smile.
"Okay, thanks. Uhm...in that case, would you like a truth or dare? You're able to change your mind afterward and swap to the other one if you don't like the question or dare I give you."
Rain doesn't need to think about that one.
"Truth."
Nodding, Tess purses her lips for a moment. She looks at Rain with distracted eyes, as if studying his face thoughtfully. Then, she seems to reach a decision, and she gives him a curious but intense stare. Her voice comes out...almost nervous.
"Hmm...well, you've been at the Academy for a while now. Any...girlfriends?"
Rain's eyes widen in shock.
'That's so personal!'
Trying to remain calm, but only partly successful, his voice comes out flustered.
"U-...uhm...no...none."
Tess's eyes narrow ever so slightly, and her voice becomes somewhat skeptical.
"Really, none?"
Rain feels a little flush of embarrassment over how incredulous she's acting, but he also feels...somewhat offended. Though his voice remains flustered, he gives her a rather serious look.
"Yes...really. I don't intend to lie to you, Tess, game or not. Your trust is important to me...don't you remember?"
Her eyes widen slightly in response to his intense gaze, a bit of color rushing to her cheeks as well, and she looks away nervously, clearing her throat.
"Ehem...right, sorry. Err, it's your turn...I pick truth as well."
Feeling himself calm a bit, and satisfied that she seems to believe him, he lets out a small sigh then nods at her with a smile.
"Okay...since you don't seem to think that's too personal...what about you? Are there any guys you're interested in right now?"
Tess's whole body freezes, and her face seems to pale. She's silent for several seconds, her normally lively eyes filled with apprehension. Eventually, her tone becomes nervous.
"I, uh, changed my mind. Give me a dare."
Rain gives her a bewildered expression.
'What!? After she made me answer that embarrassing question myself!?'
He glares at her for another couple of seconds, but she won't meet his gaze. He sighs and clicks his tongue, mulling over what dare to give her. Eventually, a smirk comes to his face as something occurs to him.
"Alright then, Tess. In that case, I dare you to give me two compliments. They can't be backhanded either...no making fun of my perfectly acceptable height."
Tess's eyes widen in surprise as she looks at him, seemingly confused. Rain just maintains a smug expression the whole time, glaring at her as though he's taught her a lesson. However, she just gives him an amused smile, a mischievous glint forming in her eye.
"Okay, Rain..."
As she trails off, she slides across the log until she's pressed right next to him. She leans over until her chin is resting on his shoulder, a few inches from his face, and her emerald eyes study his own playfully. The sudden proximity is enough to send Rain's heart into overdrive, the smell of her hair causing him to feel a little lightheaded. Her lips being so close to his...it's almost enough for Unhinged to activate.
His expression quickly becomes nervous, but she doesn't give him time to react. Her voice comes out teasing, and a smile plays on her lips.
"Well, like I've told you before, you have very dreamy eyes. And..."
She winks and grabs his bicep teasingly, giving it a light squeeze.
"...you're in pretty nice shape, too. How's that for compliments, hmm?"
With her closeness already setting him on edge, the feeling of her hand on him and the sight of her beautiful eyes scanning his face so affectionately, Rain feels the urge to kiss her soar to the very brink of activating Unhinged. Without another second's hesitation, he quickly jumps back from Tess, clutching his hammering chest and trying to calm his shaky breathing. Mercifully, the urge he felt begins to subside, as he casts an admonishing glance at Tess.
She, however, has her hand over her mouth and seems to be doubled over...laughing hysterically.
"Hahahaha! Oh my gods...Rain...you should have seen your face! I can't believe it...I didn't know that you could get so flustered! Hahahaha!"
As she continues to chuckle at Rain, he scowls at her as he walks back towards the log and takes a seat next to her, his tone becoming annoyed.
"That wasn't funny Tess...you could have trig-"
Realizing what he was about to blurt out in anger, Rain cuts himself off just in time. Tess, who's just managing to get her laughter under control, gives him a puzzled look, the traces of a smile still on her face.
"Wait...I could have what?"
Rain continues to glare at her for a moment, then he glances away and sighs deeply.
"Never mind...it's your turn. I pick truth again."
'And I certainly won't be asking her for any more compliments tonight.'
Tess's gaze lingers on him for a moment, curious, but then she seems to fall into thought. Eventually, she glances back at him, her face twisted into a conflicted expression.
"In that case...uhm...what exactly is the nature of your relationship with Ronin?"