El Paso, Texas, Tuesday Night

[weldedtomyspine]

"Have I mentioned how much I like that dress?" Jaime asked with a grin as he held the door open for Momoko. Because he did. Not that he didn't like Momoko in lots of things, but some dresses just... really worked for her.

"Also, I hope this place is good. I mean, the reviews say it is, but I haven't been here before."

He took a moment to exchange a few words with the hostess about their reservation.

"But if they aren't the best Italian place you've been to this year, don't blame me, okay?"

Comments

[heromaniac]

"Or that you were done with that book."

"Jaaaaaiiiiiimeeeeee!" She jiggled the table a little. "Ooooopen it!"

[weldedtomyspine]

"Fine, fine," he laughed. "Just don't spill my beer."

So he did, which caused him to pause, eyes going wide.

"Whoa. Seriously?"

[heromaniac]

She leaned in closer. "Is that 'seriously' as in good or 'seriously' as in too much?" It had been a bit pricey, but she'd wanted something different!

And, well, flying.

[weldedtomyspine]

Jaime looked back up at her, grinning. "What, you don't get enough flying already?" he asked, his eyes twinkling.

His expression made it clear that he thought it sounded pretty fun.

[heromaniac]

TWINKLING!

"You are totally going to make me cause a scene if you don't stop looking like that." She reached for her drink to buy a moment and catch her breath. "If you think about it, you and I have never actually been flying together."

...

"And no."

[weldedtomyspine]

His face twisted slightly as he tried to bite back a laugh.

"No what?" he asked innocently.

[heromaniac]

She sipped her drink and raised an eyebrow, avoiding eye contact for a moment. He was totally going for innuendo here, wasn't he? "No, I don't get enough?"

[weldedtomyspine]

That laugh broke free, and Jaime had to reach out and steady his drink so that he didn't knock it over.

"Oh, you don't? Is that a... complaint?"

[heromaniac]

"Would I complain?"

[weldedtomyspine]

"Only if you don't get what you want," Jaime teased.

[heromaniac]

"Then I am obviously not-" she was going to steal his line - "because I've got what I want."

Nyaah!

[weldedtomyspine]

"Well, that is a very sugary-looking drink," Jaime allowed with a nod.

[heromaniac]

"If you're hoping I'll reply with, 'not as sweet as you', you'll be sorry." She wrinkled her nose at his teasing and then flicked some of the huge pink sugar granules at him from the rim of her glass. "Because this is totally sweeter."

[weldedtomyspine]

Jaime pouted at her.

"That's so mean. I'm telling my girlfriend on you."

[heromaniac]

"And admit you were with me instead of her?" Momoko asked innocently. "Now that's mean."

[weldedtomyspine]

"I don't know. Think you could take her in a fight? She's pretty tough."

[heromaniac]

"Definitely." Momoko set her drink down to sit back and make a set of fists at him. "I'm pretty tough, too. Remember who has the high score on Metal Fighter II?"

[weldedtomyspine]

Jaime widened his eyes and tried to look forgetful. "No. Doesn't ring a bell. Is it someone we know?"

[heromaniac]

"The beat-down was so terrible for you that you have amnesia?" she chuckled as the hostess approached their table. "Let's just say I could totally take on all your girlfriends at once and win."

The look on the hostess' face was priceless.

[weldedtomyspine]

"All twenty?" Jaime asked, widening his eyes in ridiculous exaggeration before shooting the hostess a quick wink.

[heromaniac]

"Twenty?!" Momoko tried to stifle her laugh and thought she did a very good job. "Who did you dump this week?"

"Excuse me, your table's ready." The hostess was... not sure what to think; she'd witnessed their interaction earlier and they seemed to be laughing. "Table for two in the Rose room, correct?"

[weldedtomyspine]

"Oh, that really cute Japanese girl. Momoko, I think her name was?" He shrugged helplessly. "You know I can forget sometimes."

Then he glanced at the hostess, still laughing, and stood up. "Yup. That's us!"

[heromaniac]

"You're terrible," she finally couldn't hold it in and let loose a full laugh. She waited the few seconds it took for him to pull her chair out and then took his arm to follow the hostess through the bar and the main restaurant to a smaller dining room in the rear.

Separated from the rest of the restaurant by a half-wall covered in plants, it seemed a lot more secluded and cozy. The softer lighting, roses at every turn, and huge crackling wood fireplace at the far end of the room helped.

Momoko's grip on Jaime's arm tightened and she fairly sparkled with delight. "So romantic... You pick the best places."

[weldedtomyspine]

Jaime grinned. "Yeah. I totally thought it'd be a good spot once I saw some of the photos."

He leaned over to press a quick kiss against Momoko's cheek.

"Now I'm just going to cross my fingers that the food is as good."

[heromaniac]

"With a room this nice and you, it doesn't matter." If there'd been a way to sit and just cuddle in front of that fireplace...

The hostess smirked proudly and indicated they had arrived at the table. "Would you prefer to look at the restaurant's menu or would you like the Chef's Valentine's Day Special?"