Chapter Text
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It was a sunny, hot day. The sun beat down on the city of Yoyleland, colors refracting off the windows of various contestants.
Shortly after BFDIA ended, everyone had started to live in Yoyleland. There was no rent, for one. But they couldn't exactly leave, either... not since Ruby glued the recovery center to the grass. Stupid gem...
Light shone through the curtains in Pin's room, rays of sunshine hitting her face. She groaned inwardly, holding her pillow weakly against her face. Her new limbs weren't the strongest... Not yet. Golf Ball said she needed more exercise to strengthen them. Not the most ideal for trying to stay asleep, but she would live.
She didn't want to get up. She tried to tell herself that it wouldn't matter whether she slept in or not. But that wasn't the case! Today, she had important matters to attend to. A picnic with Coiny! Yoyleland was always sunnier during summer, which made it growtato season for Fries. Coiny would always try to sneak a little, often times getting scolded by Fries. But somehow, Coin6 had finally gotten a handful of them. He told Pin that he stole them and that he's sneaky, but something told her that Coiny was simply trying to impress her.
Naturally, as her best friend, he knew almost everything about her. Especially her love for potatoes. Oh, how much she missed the taste... A lot of things changed in Yoyleland. Change that was hard to adjust to, some more difficult than others.
Reluctantly, Pin sat up from her bed, legs trembling slightly at her own weight. She didn't have the strongest legs yet, either! Puffball better get what she deserves, leaving her in such a weak and vulnerable stats... She leaned against the wall of her apartment, gingerly opening the curtains. Bright beams of light shone into her eyes, causing her to squint until her vision adjusted just enough for her to open her eyes a bit more. Pin looked down at the city, admiring how beautiful it looked from above. It was truly a wonderful place in summer. Summer was her second-favorite season, after Autumn.
Pin stumbled to the light switch, narrowing her eyes as she turned it on. She nearly tripped over the collection of items she had owned gathered on the floor. Win tokens, a half eaten paprika shaker, and...
A rocket from her mech suit. She must not have gotten rid of all of it, huh?
Pin walked over to the rocket, wincing as she saw the heat damage. Shooting hit, scorching flames out of such a small item for months will do that... She struggled picking it up, eventually settling for just dragging it into her closet. It could be thrown out when she wasn't so, well, scrawny.
A part of her, in the back of her mind, missed the suit. Sure, it reminded her of some... not so pleasant memories, ones that made her shudder with regret. But she was strong. Ruthless! A challenge beast. Well, until...
She shook any remaining thoughts out of her head, trudging over to her kitchen. Pin had promised Coiny she'd make something for the picnic; he had always admired her skills to cook. She could still hear his voice in the back of her head, giving her various compliments. Oh my mint, you made this? It's incredible! And, I wish I was as talented as you. All I can make is dirt cakes. But, it's the thought that counts, right? I can make you one if you play your cards right
A subtle, green flush rose to her face, a smile tugging at her lips. How could he compliment her so effortlessly? The girl who left him hanging, the girl who had screamed at him for trying to force her out of her ruthless, careless shell... Gosh.
He sure was loyal.
She leaned over the sink, turning on the faucet and leaning down. She felt at ease as the cool liquid dribbled across her burning cheeks, calming her down. She needed to get going.
Opening her fridge, she moved some stuff she had bought the previous night around before carefully pulling out a dessert she made. Cold cheesecake.
She nudged the door open with the tip of her foot, stepping out before kicking it shut behind her. She didn't bother to lock it; the place was abandoned. And besides, who would want to steal from the very person most people had called "gross" and "ugly"? Ruby literally said she looked better after Rocky barfed on her!
Stepping down the stairs carefully, she made her way out the back door of the building. The sun beat down on her, making her ooze a bit. The sun was never very bright in Yoyleland, with the exception of summer. One of the many reasons she loved it. Sure, it made her all oozy, but it was bright enough for actual potatoes to grow. But Fries says that he's sticking with the growtatoes. Selfish.
Pin looked around in slight frustration, the Yoyle Needy looming over her, obscuring her vision slightly with a canopy of shade. Which direction was the park..? Her mind raced with possibilities; it was a huge city.
"PIN!"
She looked up, her thoughts suddenly interrupted by a familiar voice. In the distance, she saw a small, copper coin waving to her eagerly. He stood under a tall yoyletree, the area seeming shady and cool by the looks of it.
Pin gave him a subtle nod of acknowledgment, walking up the hill that the tree (and her friend) sat on top of. She was visibly struggling... It was hard to carry something up a hill in the pulsing sun. Her hands were covered in a thin layer of ooze, the dish starting to slip from her already weak grip.
Coiny, being the helpful friend that he is, quickly ran down the hill to help her. He nearly tripped on the way down, steadying himself as he trekked beside her.
"Oh my mint, Pin! I was getting worried you wouldn't show. Do you need some help with that-?"
Reaching out gingerly, Coiny tried to take the dish from Pin's arms. She stammered, wanting to prove that she could do this for herself. "No, Coiny- Uh- I- got it-" She appreciated the help, but she needed to show that she didn't need his help anymore.
"Pin, really I don't mind," He smiled, nearly yanking now. His tone was soft, but his actions were a bit forceful.
"Coiny!" She scolded, her tone stern. Coiny backed off quickly, not wanting to suffer the wrath of Pin's yelling. His arms dropped to his sides, averting her gaze. His eyes filled with annoyance and a tinge of guilt.
She sighed softly, knowing he just wanted to help. He was always a very stubborn person... "Coiny," She started. "Don't do that again. I got it, remember?"
He kicked some dirt as they hiked up the hill, his demeanor softening. Pin tilted against him, trying to relieve some of the tension lingering in the air. After a few moments of contact, he was quickly getting back to his cheerful self; he could never stay mad at her for too long, especially with that pretty face of hers... Wait, what?
"Got it. It won't happen again, I swear! Sorry!" He pleaded, jokingly clasping his palms together in a praying stance.
Pin nodded in approval, grateful for his apology. She couldn't help but roll her eyes at his gesture of prayer. "You're like a big baby," she teased, eliciting a playful but annoyed grumble from her friend's throat.
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Finally, after what felt like forever, they reached the picnic. Pin was about to place down her dish and collapse on the blanket, but she noticed something...
"Is.. is that your comforter?"
She stared down at the bed blanket draped over the grass.
Coiny's cheeks flared in embarrassment. "I-I didn't have any other blankets to use! Just- sit."
Trying to repress a small chuckle, she sat down, placing the platter down beside her. Coiny laid down next to her, putting his arms behind his head and leaning back.
"You said you'd bring stuff."
Coiny blinked in confusion, sitting up. "Huh?"
Pin glanced over at him, already hot and thirsty. "You said you'd bring stuff, y'know! You said you'd make mashed growtatoes with the potatoes you 'borrowed', "She put 'borrowed' in air quotes. "And you'd bring Bubbly Pop."
Coiny's eyes widened, before narrowing again in relief. "Oh, yeah! I put the stuff behind the tree so it wouldn't get hot." He scrambled to his feet, running behind the large tree. A few moments later, he came back, dragging a mini cooler onto the blanket. He was acting like it was much heavier than it really was to impress Pin with his 'strength'.
"Smart." Pin muttered, unamused. Why would he hide it behind a tree?..
"Hey, it was a good move! It's a bit shadier on that side!" He retorted.
"What, did you not put ice in there?"
She chuckled, expecting him to start laughing as well.
Coiny went silent. Pin's eyes narrowed in suspicion and playfulness, her laugh fizzling out. "Coiny... There is ice in your cooler, right?" She questioned cautiously.
Her suspicions were confirmed when he gulped nervously.
"Coiny!" She exclaimed, slapping his arm affectionately. He rubbed his arm in embarrassment, blushing.
"It's fine, it's fine! We came here to eat and hang out, not to comment on how I didn't bring ice." He took a Bubbly Pop can out of the cooler, offering it to help with Pin's likely dry throat. It was a hot walk up the hill. She cracked it open, letting the warm soda soothe the soreness of her parched throat. "Better than nothing," she muttered. She would rather have it be cold, but she wouldn't pass up on a drink just because it was warm.
He got a can of his own, chugging it like a man who was trapped in the desert. Pin almost spat out her drink, setting hers down on the grass and pulling the can away from Coiny's lips. "You'll choke!" She warned, worried. However, all Coiny could focus on was how her touch lingered on his wrist, his eyes studying her suddenly entrancing face.
"Hello, Earth to Coiny?!"
He snapped out of his daze, heart stuttering in shock. He puffed up his chest to seem more confident than he felt, trying desperately to ignore the butterflies going crazy in his stomach. "Sorry! I'll drink it slower, if that's what you're trying to say." He dragged out his sips dramatically, eliciting a small giggle from Pin. A much more real smile spread across his face.
"You like it when I'm dramatic, huh?" He grinned, leaning closer.
"Just a little. You're-.. it's really funny." She tilted her body against him, warmth from her plastic practically pulsating throughout his cold metal. He could've sworn he died and went to heaven in that very moment.
Coiny leaned back against Pin, sighing contentedly. Neither of them expected the picnic to be anything short of chaotic, so it was sort of... strange having a moment of peace together. A moment without teasing remarks or bickering, just relaxation
A gentle breeze wafted past them, making them both sigh in satisfaction. The breeze was amazing, especially considering it was, what, 85 degrees?.. But no amount of heat could distract them from the underlying tension. They could forget about the food for a second, forget about the heat, forhet about everything around them. They were simply lost in their little moment. This would be a great time to make a move, wouldn't it? Pin pondered.
Hesitantly, her hand moved closer to his.
Just a bit furthur... she thought, her pinky finger sticking out to interlock with his.
However, she quickly lost train of thought as a low grumble came from Coiny's stomach, reminding the startled objects of the consequences of not eating properly. Coiny went brown-faced with embarrassment, leaning away from her quickly to grab the mashed growtatoes. He had simply put the food in a plastic mixing bowl, plastic wrap across top to seal it... Real classy.
"Did you bring spoons?" She asked, peering inside the bowl. Coiny rolled his eyes with affection.
"I'm not a forgetful idiot all the time, you know." He chuckled, reaching into the cooler to grab two plastic spoons.
"Really, Coiny? Plastic spoons?"
"I refuse to do the dishes, okay?" He smiled, taking the plastic wrap off and shoveling some into his mouth. They were delicious! No wonder Fries didn't let anyone else have them!
Noticing the pleased look on Coiny's face made Pin curious. She dug in, her eyes lighting up as she took a bite. She looked back down into the bowl, only to see Coiny stuffing his face with nearly half of the food gone. She grabbed his wrist again, making his head spin.Oh, mint, she's so close...
"Save room for dessert." She stated, assuming that the redness on Coiny's face was sunburn. Metal objects couldn't get sunburnt, but Pin was going to give him the benefit of the doubt. He doesn't feel the same way, she thought. This is purely platonic.
Reluctantly, Coiny slowed his feasting, curious to see what Pin had in store for him. As they ate, they would slowly scoot closer together, until their shoulders pressed together. They were like two magnets, their connection only getting stronger the closer together they were. Coiny' eyes refused to meet her gaze, shying away whenever she would look back into his admiring gaze; it was a big change from his usual confident, cheeky demeanor. He seemed almost nervous.
Their hands brushed as they both reached for the last bit of mashed growtato. It felt dizzying. They had held hands before in BFDIA, and here they were, getting bashful and embarrassed over touching fingertips. Coiny pulled his hand back, "You can have the last bit," he whispered, looking up at her. Pin wouldn't pass up the opportunity to get just a bit more, scooping it up and eating what was left.
"Are you still hungry?" Pin nudged him. She leaned on him as if it were a second nature, ignoring how it made her heart skip beats. She could hear his breath quicken.
Coimy's mind went blank for a moment. "Oh- Oh, well, I don't really- I don't exactly mind eating more, if that's what you mean." He prayed his reply sounded casual. Pin reached over on her side, offering him a slice of pre-cut cheesecake. He stared in amazement, taking the cake without hesitation. Pin smiled, eyes tainted with affection. They had very different ways of enjoying the cake; Pin took small, savoring bites, wanting to enjoy the cake and feel it melt in her mouth. However, Coiny stuffed his mouth to the brim, making it near-impossible to chew. It was cute.
After a long while of struggling to get little pieces of cake down his throat, Coiny sighed in relief and what sounded like astonishment. "That was amazing Pin, really."
"Ah, it's nothing." She played it off, secretly ecstatic that he had said something so sweet. He was always extra nice to her.
"Seriously, Pin! You need to give yourself more credit than that, I've never tasted something so good!" He rested his hand on her lower rim, butterflies swarming in his chest when he noticed a faint green rising to her cheeks. He tried not to smirk, proud of himself for making her blush. He could act confident all he wanted, but deep down, he was insanely nervous about screwing this up.
"Coiny..." She said, eyes darting down to watch his palm press into her side. "...You know exactly what you're doing." She gave him a teasing look, leaning into his touch. His hand traveled lower, wrapping around her waist. Coiny was certainly feeling bolder.
"What am I doing?" He teased, acting cocky. But on the inside, he was sweating buckets. Oh, mint, she's so close. Has she been this close to me before? Probably. No, definitely- we've always been close like this. I probably just didn't remember... She doesn't seem annoyed or grossed out, that's good... I can feel her breathing on me. She looks so pretty right now, she's literally perfect! And her cake... I would love to just feed her some and kiss her so I can get a taste...
At this point, Coiny didn't know what he wanted to taste more. Was it the cake, or was it her lips?
He was suddenly drawn out of his thoughts when she leaned closer. "Don't look at me like that," she directed firmly, albeit quietly. His heart skipped a few beats, hammering in his chest.
"Like what.?" She could feel his breath brushing against her face, speeding up her heart rate like it was nothing. She could feel her palms getting clammy, her face probably greener than Grassy.
"Like you're in love with me..." She managed to get out, her hands slowly reaching up to trail across his copper body. She wrapped one arm around his midsection, her other hand reaching up to try and cup his face.
Come on Coiny, just spit it out! Tell her you love her! He berated himself silently, trying desperately to form a sentence that wouldn't make his voice break.
"I.. I think I am in love, Pin..." Coiny choked out, his voice squeakier than normal. Pin froze like a deer in headlights, unsure of what to do. Should she hug him? Kiss him? Say that she feels the same? Oh, pin factory, this is a hard decision.
She stared deep into his eyes, recognizing the longing look. Maybe it didn't even matter what she chose to do, he clearly just wanted her...
Slowly, she wrapped her frail arms around him, pulling his cold body closer to her, his metal softly clinking against her warm plastic. He let out a flustered noise, unable to contain his excitement. Was this really happening..?
He leaned closer to her; slow, uncertain. As if he were expecting her to push him away at any moment. But she didn't. She leaned closer. Her eyes darted from his eyes to his lips, silently asking for permission to 'seal the deal'. He gave a subtle yet eager nod, a small smile spreading across his face.
She closed the distance between them, pressing her lips to his. It was messy and inexperienced. Occasionally, one of them would groan into the kiss when their teeth clacked together, causing an uncomfortable sensation to radiate through their bodies. It wasn't good, but it was them. It was raw, unfiltered emotion. A feeling that neither of them could get enough of.
Coiny hesitantly pulled back, ignoring the impulsive thought that he had to just push her down on the grass and kiss her senseless. His grin was wider than Pin had ever seen, which may have been a stretch - Coiny always had a big smile around her. He pulled her closer again, pressing a shorter kiss to her lips before resting his forehead against hers.
"That was amazing..." He murmured, staring into her eyes. His hand trailed up, gently gripping her upper rim and running his hand over it.
"Better than the mashed growtatoes?" She teased, smirking. Even in such a moment of affection, she couldn't resist messing with him.
"Know your limits." Coiny tried to keep a fake serious expression plastered on his face, but his playful smile that curled up gave away that he was just kidding. He pulled her down onto the blanket, beams of sunlight shining through the tree onto them. He curled into her side, pressing his body against hers. Pin smiled, tracing his edges while he ran his hands across her rim, practically worshipping her frame.
"Pin..?"
"Yes, Coiny?"
"I love you."
A beat of silence simmered between them. Despite no words yet falling from her lips, her soundless breaths spoke volumes. However, Coiny couldn't help but pipe up quietly. He had to know that this wasn't a one time thing.
"..Pin?"
"I love you too, Coiny."
She pressed a loving kiss to his cheek, relishing in the feeling of lying with him. Summer really was amazing.