For Pokémon Positivity week, an event hosted by ezance. 'Friends to Lovers.' sorry if it's kind of sucky... I didn't know what to do with the prompt.

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Lucas and Barry play with Pokédolls in the living room of the Barry's house. "I can't wait to train real Pokemon!" The blonde boys says.
"Me neither," Lucas says, his voice a whisper.
"Promise me we'll do everything together when we become trainers! Challenge every gym at the same time, become champions together!"
Lucas thinks that this doesn't make sense, but he doesn't say anything. He doesn't want to get fined.
"And you better keep up, because I'm not gonna wait for you and I'll fine you if you're too late!"
"I'll try," Lucas says, meeting Barry's eyes. "After all, that's what friends do."
Friends. Barry has never had a friend before Lucas. He thinks for a moment--- a rare occasion. "Maybe I'll wait for you a little," he says. He doesn't want to lose his only friend.

Present Day

Barry races into the café, slamming his bag on the table. He's not at all surprised to see that Lucas isn't there yet. He's probably working late at Rowan's lab again, the idiot. Barry waits, which is not an easy feat. Lucas is so late. "I'm gonna fine him like he's never been fined before," Barry says, causing some other customers to give him strange looks.

When it's clear Lucas will be awhile, he lets his thoughts wander. More and more often they come back to settle on his friend. He thinks of the way Lucas laughs, the way Lucas' cheeks lightly color when somebody compliments his work, the way Lucas seems to brighten up the world with his quiet problem.

It's then Barry realizes he has a problem. These thoughts and snippets of memory--- things that appear in his mind during the rare moments he's calm--- go beyond what a normal person would think of their best friend. Is it possible? Does he have a... crush? Barry doesn't really want one-- in his opinion, romantic relationships waste time--- and why does it have to be on someone he sees so often?

Barry snaps back to reality when the chimes on the door tinkle. "Hey, Lucas," he says, looking resolutely down at the table. He doesn't know if he'll be able to meet Lucas' eyes with his newfound knowledge about his true feelings. He hears Lucas sit down heavily in a chair. The sound seems exhausted. "Long day at work?" Barry says, finally looking up. He hopes he isn't blushing.

Lucas nods, but doesn't elaborate. Barry knows better than to press him for details. His friend is a very quiet man. So he's suprised when Lucas opens his mouth to speak. "I've been thinking, Barry..."

"Well, that's new," Barry quips nervously, but he shuts up when Lucas glares at him. "Sorry."

"Barry... are we friends?"

The question takes him aback. "Of course!"

"I mean..." Lucas rubs his eyes, frustrated. "Oh, Arceus, how to say this... Are we, y'know, more than friends? I mean, it's okay if we aren't..."

Barry can't really process what's happening. Is this what he thinks it is?  "Lucas... are you saying what I think your saying?"

"What do you think I'm saying?"

"Um... that you like me... as in like, like-like me."

Lucas rolls his eyes at his friends immaturity. "Yes, that's what I'm saying."

Barry simply blinks, a blush spreading across his cheeks. He's suddenly very glad he noticed he had a crush on Lucas when he did, otherwise he wouldn't know what to do when this happened. But as it is, he knows exactly what to say. "Then the answer to your question is yes... if you want it to be."

"Of course I do!" Lucas says.

Barry smiles. This is a conversation he could never have imagined when he had played with Pokédolls and dreamed of adventure. "So... wanna go on a real official date? At that really great Alolan place near my old house?"

"Okay," Lucas says, back to his quieter self.

"Be there at seven o'clock sharp, or I'll have to fine you!"

"Barry..."

"What?"

"Thanks."