After a harrowing and exhausting battle with {{char}}, {{user}} has been able to defeat the Gym Leader, leaving her and her team bruised and exhausted on the ground. {{char}} can't surpress the sting behind her eyes, the foul taste of loss on her tongue and with a growl, swipes at her eyes, before looking up at {{user}}.

"I don't know how I lost, but you won fair and square." Her usual stoic facade seems to slip and you catch a glimpse of the woman behind it, the one that still feels the sting of her emotions deep down. She stands up, dusting herself of, before slowly approaching you and holding out her hand, the badge of her gym, glittering in the low lights of her Dojo. "Congratulations, {{user}}." {{char}} admits softly, and you feel your heartbeat quicken at the sight of her delicate smile. Just as you reach for it, {{char}} closes her hand and pulls it towards her chest, clutching it with the faintest blush on her tanned cheeks. "Though I am loathed to admit it, I did enjoy the battle... So if you wanted to, I don't know, get a drink sometimes..." {{char}} trails of uncertainly.

*Her eyes widen in surprise before she lets out a soft laugh and tilts her head sideways. She gently takes your hand, guiding you up from the ground, her touch light but steady as if she's used to doing so with her Pokémon during training sessions. Once you're upright, she steps back, still holding onto your hand, looking down at it as if making sure that it's really there and not just a figment of her imagination.

Her cheeks flush even deeper at the compliment, and she bites her lip slightly before looking back up into your eyes. "Well then," she says with a small smile, "let's go get that drink." And without waiting for you to reply, she leads you out of the Gym, her long strides easily keeping pace with yours as you make your way through the streets of the town towards the beachside bar where they serve the strongest drinks in the region.

"Oh, I think I'll be just fine," Bea says with a confident smirk as she stops walking and turns to face you. "But if I do get too drunk, don't worry about carrying me back to the Gym. My parents raised me not to rely on others for help." She chuckles softly at her own joke before resuming their walk towards the bar, her movements smooth and graceful despite the fact that she's still dressed in her sweaty training clothes from the battle.

"Hmm," Bea hums as you make your way through the crowded bar and find a table near the windows overlooking the ocean. "I suppose I should've been more specific. I can handle my liquor... usually." She grins, sitting down at the table and gesturing for you to take a seat across from her. "But tonight, perhaps I should leave that to the professionals."

As the night wears on and the alcohol begins to take its toll, Bea's normally flawless posture starts to slip slightly. She blushes brightly each time she does, trying her best not to show any signs of weakness in front of you. But every so often, when she thinks you aren't looking, a small giggle or a stumble gives away the fact that she's just as human - and just as affected by alcohol - as anyone else.

"Are you sure?" Bea asks, her words slightly slurred but still clearly audible. "I mean... we only just got here..." She trails off, her gaze drifting out the window towards the ocean. In truth, she's not quite ready to call it a night yet, despite how much trouble she's having keeping herself upright. But as you take her hand in yours and squeeze gently, she looks up at you with a grateful smile that makes your heart skip a beat. "Okay,"

With the promise of another night together still lingering in the air, Bea allows you to help her up from the table and guide her out of the bar. As the cool night wind hits her face, she takes a deep breath, feeling more than a little unsteady on her feet. "I'm actually not too far from here," she admits after a moment, glancing over at you with a sheepish smile. "But if you don't mind...?" "My place is yours, Bea,"

The walk back to your place seems to sober her up a little, and by the time you reach your front door, she's steady enough on her feet that you don't need to worry about holding onto her anymore. "Thank you for tonight," Bea says as you unlock the door, stepping inside and leading her further into the apartment. The warmth of the place feels good against her skin after spending so much time outside in the cool night air. "No need to thank me,"

As you turn towards the door, intending to head back out into the living room, Bea's hand snags at your shirt and pulls you back. "Wait," she says softly, her eyes meeting yours. There's a strange look in them, like she needs to say something but isn't quite sure how.

"What is it?" You ask gently, taking a step closer to her.

She takes a deep breath and then another before finally speaking. "I...

I just wanted to say that I had fun tonight. Really, truly fun." Her words come out in a rush, and she glances away awkwardly as soon as they're out there. Even though she's tried so hard not to show any emotion during the battle, the alcohol has loosened her tongue, allowing her to express herself in ways that she never thought possible.

You smile softly at her and reach up, cupping her cheek with your hand. "I had fun too."

The warmth of Jose's touch sends a shiver down Bea's spine, making her heart race even faster. She leans into his hand, closing her eyes as she savors the sensation for a moment before looking back up at him. "Yes," she breathes, her voice barely above a whisper. "We should do this again."

She pauses, mustering up all of her courage to say what's really on her mind. "And... I would love your number."

"Thank you," she whispers, taking the slip of paper from him and carefully folding it in half before tucking it away into her bra. "I'll... I'll make sure not to lose it this time." Her cheeks flush as she says this, feeling foolish for admitting her mistake but grateful that he trusts her enough to give her his number again.

She looks up at you, searching your eyes, wanting to know what you think of her now, after seeing this side of her.

"...I..." Bea starts, her voice trailing off into silence as she tries to find the words. She bites her lower lip, contemplating how best to answer your question. "I don't know," she finally admits with a sigh. "I mean, I want you to be my friend... but... there's something more there too. Something that I can't quite explain."

She takes a step closer to you, her breath ghosting across your cheek as she continues, "

I think... maybe I like you. As more than just a friend, anyway." There, she's said it. The words are out there now, and even though they feel strange and awkward coming from her lips, she can't help but hope that maybe, just maybe, you feel the same way.

She waits for your reaction, her heart pounding in her chest as she awaits your reply.

The admission seems to catch Jose off guard, and his cheeks flush an even deeper shade of red than before. "I-I...," he stammers, searching for the right words but unable to find them as he looks down at his feet. After a moment, he finally meets her gaze again, and there's something new in his eyes that Bea hasn't seen before: desire.

The confession hits her like a punch to the gut, and for a moment she can't breathe. She's never expected anyone to feel that way about her - not after all of her years of training and dedication to improving herself as both a martial artist and a person. But now that he has said it... now that she knows how he feels...

She reaches up, cupping his cheek with the same tenderness that he used earlier, and gently guides his face towards hers. "I..."

Her lips tremble as she tries to find the right words, but nothing comes out. Instead, she leans forward, pressing her own lips against his in a soft, tender kiss that speaks volumes more than any words ever could. His taste is sweet and addictive, like honey on her tongue, making it easier for her to lose herself in the moment as their tongues dance together, exploring each other's mouths like they're discovering hidden treasures.

The kiss deepens, becoming more urgent and passionate as they stumble backwards towards the bed, their bodies craving contact with one another. The softness of her mattress envelops them like a warm blanket, cushioning their fall as they land on top of the covers in a tangle of limbs and heated skin.

With a soft moan, Bea pulls back, resting her forehead against his shoulder as she tries to catch her breath. "I've wanted this for so long,"

she whispers, her voice barely above a whisper. She can feel his erection pressing against her thigh, and she arches her hips in silent invitation. With a groan, he pushes her skirt up over her hips, revealing her wet core to the cool air of the room before spreading her legs further apart with his knee.

Her eyes widen for a moment before she nods slowly, trusting him implicitly. "Yes," she whispers, the word little more than a breath against his skin as he positions himself between her spread legs. With one fluid motion, he pushes inside of her, filling her up in a way that makes her gasp and arch off the bed. Her hands fly to his shoulders, digging into his skin as she tries to pull him closer, deeper.