Steve wasn’t sure how he had ended up on a second date with Violet — well, that was if the other date could be considered a date in the first place. It definitely had all the characteristics of a date: there were just the two of them, there were some light intimate moments where they hold hands and were close... Although there wasn’t a kiss at the end of the night. But hey, that didn’t mean anything, right?
Either way, he wasn’t going to complain about Atlantis transporting him into the restaurant and having Violet seated in front of him. Maybe this was a good sign.
“Atlantis never stops surprising me,” he said with a smile.
Violet should be used to strange things in Atlantis by now, but this was definitely weird. Mostly because it felt very odd, once more, to be transported from one place to another without any kind of warning.
At least this was pretty tame, by Atlantis standards. She found herself sitting across from Steve at a restaurant and by the looks of everything, well it certainly looked like they were supposed to be on a date.
After the server left to get their drinks, Violet turned to Steve. “I feel like all of us deserve a punch card,” she laughed. “Anytime Atlantis does something to one of us, we get a punch and if we fill up the card we get a free meal or something or like a special gift from home.”
Steve laughed softly at her suggestion, running his fingers through his hair. “That’s actually a pretty good idea, Vi. I definitely wouldn’t mind getting a free meal. And I hope we don’t have to pay for... this,” he said, gesturing to the restaurant. As much as he wanted to spend time with Violet on a date, this was Atlantis’ doing and it should be free.
“So... What do you wanna eat? Should we order the most expensive thing here? I mean, Atlantis is paying.”
Violet thought about it for a moment. “You know, I’m not sure. I think you’re right though, this does seem like an Atlantis thing, so it should definitely be on the house.” If not, there were always ways to settle the bill. They could either share the expenses or if it was that bad, then she could probably call John. Not that she needed a guardian anymore, with her being 18, but he was still like family to her and probably wouldn’t mind helping them. Violet really didn’t think it would come to that though, this seemed like an Atlantis event, which meant they should be fine.
She smiled as his idea. “So a steak then?” Violet laughed. “I was actually thinking that this Chicken Piccata looks really good.” Turning the menu over towards the front she looked back up at him. “Do we want to get an appetizer or maybe skip it and then something really good for dessert? There’s no way I can do all three!”
Steve grinned. “I like how you think, Parr,” he said with a chuckle. “I think I might go with what you suggested. Steak sounds very good.” As much as he wanted to try the lobster, there was a slight chance they might have to pay for it, so steak was better than the very expensive lobster.
“I could definitely help you but I do like the idea of a good dessert,” he admitted. “Let’s skip appetizer,” Steve nodded, setting his menu aside. “You ready to order then?”
Violet nodded as she set her menu down as well. “Yeah, I’m ready.” Thankfully by the time the server came back with their drinks, they were all ready to order. After their orders were made, Violet took a sip of her lemon water. The reality seemed to set in a little that Atlantis had put them on a date.
“So,” she started to say. “A bit weird for Atlantis to just randomly put two people on a date, right?” She looked around and observed they were not the only ones. She could sense the same uncomfortable but excited feeling for several couples. “Not that it’s bad or anything.” She quickly added. “Though I wish I had a little more time to prepare. Good thing I was just reading and not finishing up a workout or anything.” That would have been really embarrassing, she thought.
Steve was a little worried for a second when she said it was random for Atlantis to set them on a date, but he breathed a little more relieved when she added those next words. Yes, it was weird; but at least they had been paired together and not with someone they didn’t know. And there were feelings there... or he hoped.
“You would’ve looked just as pretty with workout clothes,” he said softly, smiling at her, putting his Harrington Charm on.
“I appreciate that, Steve, but no one ever wants to go on a second date when they’re sweaty and gross.” Violet laughed but then realized that she had said second date. She didn’t even think about it, it had just slipped out. Was the day at a kite festival a first day date? They never really mentioned anything, but it kinda felt like one at times. They both flirted a little and were close, even held hands at one point. Sometimes she found herself wondering but other times she was never sure where their friendship landed.
“I mean.” She quickly started to ramble. “You know any date really, first second, whatever.”
He gave her a light shrug and smiled. “I guess, but you’d still look pretty, sweaty and all,” he teased lightly. He was happy she had called this a second date. So that meant the kite festival had been a date. Go Harrington!
However, his expression changed ever so lightly when she started to ramble.
Okay, maybe he had been too eager. “Of course, of course,” he said with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes and grabbed his drink.
Violet nervously took a drink. “So what have you been up to lately? I feel as if we don’t get a lot of time to hang out. I know that’s mostly my fault.” She frowned slightly. “I’ve been so busy since I’ve been back, trying to catch up with school and training. Missing two months really hurt and suddenly getting a whole bunch of memories I didn’t have back home was a bit of a rush.” She laughed.
“Not that I’m complaining, because I’m really excited to be back and I finally feel like I’m caught up on everything. Even so, I haven’t been a very good friend to you. You should host another movie night here soon!”
He shrugged lightly. “I understand,” he said with a smile. She had family here, other friends. “It’s good to have you back, even if we don’t see each other that much.” He ran his fingers through his perfectly messy hair. “I’ve been training, and hanging out with Charlie. I don’t know if you know him?”
He raised his eyebrows at the mention of movie night. Man, he missed that. “You know, maybe I will. I don’t know why stopped doing it.” Probably because of the missions and COS getting in the way of fun.
Violet smiled. “Thanks for that and yeah, Charlie seems nice.” Violet commented. “We spoke a few times on the Network and I ran into him once when I went to pick up a record.” She didn’t know him all that well, just that he and Steve were friends and she certainly had positive experiences the few times they have spoken.
“I think you should!’ Violet replied excitedly. “They were some of the best times I had in Atlantis before and hey remember when we were all in Colorado? Those were some of the first memories that came back.”
“Oh yeah, that’s right. He did tell me you stopped for a Doctor Who record,” he smiled. “He’s a really cool guy.” Hell, if it wasn’t for him he wouldn’t have asked Violet to the kite festival. Charlie was a good friend.
His lips curled in a wider smile when she reacted like that, mentioning the memories of Colorado. “I wouldn’t mind some help choosing the next movies. You have a pretty awesome taste in movies.”
“Yeah, I did.” It was nice that Steve seemed to have made some good friends, friends made this place a lot easier to deal with whenever things turned south.
Violet smiled at his request. “I don’t know if I’d say I have awesome taste, but I would love to help you find some movies. That would be a lot of fun, making lists and everything. Plus I know there are still a ton of movies neither of us have seen yet.”
Steve grinned when she agreed to help him. “Awesome. I think we make a good team,” he said. “Choosing movies and all, I mean,” he added quickly, though he mentally kicked himself on the ass for adding that and making it seem like he was just interested in her helping him.
Violet smiled. “I agree.” There was a small hint of hesitation, but she didn’t show it. She was thinking of something to say when their food arrived. She smiled at their server and thanked them for the food. The scent of both of their meals was incredible.
“Wow.” She commented. “This looks really amazing!”
He was about to open his mouth to say something when their food arrived and Violet commented how good it looked. It really did. And he didn’t realize how hungry he was intul the smell of the delicious food hit his nostrils. “Let’s dig,” he said with a smile.
Violet took some time to get into their food, making small talk here and there. After taking a drink, she leaned back against her chair. “I might have spoken too soon about dessert.” She laughed. “I’m starting to get full.” She smiled. “So I know you mentioned you and Charlie becoming pretty good friends, what else have you been up to? I know I was gone for only a few months, but nothing new happening?”
He chuckled softly. “I think I still have room for some. Maybe we could share it?” he suggested. He wasn’t sure he could eat a whole dessert all by himself, but he could definitely eat half of it. “Been training a lot,” he said. “I thought I was Batman for a day, it was pretty cool... Oh, and I turned into a girl for a day. That was, um, interesting. Although I was still pretty hot as a girl,” he said with a cocky smile on his face.
“Okay, let’s share.” Violet agreed. She started to laugh when he mentioned he thought he was Batman for a day, but she lost control of her laughter when he commented on turning into a girl. “Really?” She managed to say in between the laughter. “I bet it was interesting.” She smiled back but playfully rolled her eyes at him. “Yeah, I’m sure you were, Steve!” Violet took another drink. “Sounds like a pretty eventful couple of months. “Good to see not a lot has changed. I’m glad you’re still here.” She admitted. “It would have been awful had I come back and you were gone.”
He grinned and ran his fingers through his hair. “I had several people asking me on dates, just so you know. And my hair was still awesome.” Okay so maybe he was exaggerating a little bit, but he did make a pretty gorgeous female.
“I’m glad you came back,” he said with a soft smile, feeling his heart doing weird things. “It was pretty miserable around here without you to make things fun.”
“I bet!” Violet laughed. “I’m sure you get plenty of dates, Steve.” It wouldn’t really surprise her, he was good looking and lots of fun to be around. “I am sorry about leaving.” Her tone changed slightly and she sighed. “I hated that it happened but I’m at least glad that I was able to return.”
“So all these dates, right?” She grinned. “Does that mean you’re seeing someone?” I mean they were technically on a date, but they didn’t exactly plan this together, it was Atlantis.
“It wasn’t your fault. It was this place.” Atlantis could be a real asshole when it wanted. He hadn’t been ready to lose Violet like that, but he was incredibly happy when she made it back.
“Nah.” He shook his head lightly. “Well, there is this girl I’m seeing... She’s pretty awesome, you know? Has superpowers and all. And she’s really smart. We’ve hung out a couple of times but I don’t know if she feels the same way I do.”
Violet smiled, though slightly embarrassed. “She probably does, but you could always ask, right? You never know until you do.”
His lips curled in a smile and gave her a slight nod. “Alright.” He cleared his throat and looked at her. “Do you like me, Vi? Because I really like you,” he admitted, feeling his heart beating faster as he waited for her answer.
Her smile grew wider, and her cheeks burned. “I like you too, Steve.”
God, she was so cute when she blushed like that. He grinned widely. “So, do you wanna go out with his dude with awesome hair? Even though we’re sort of on a date already?” he chuckled softly.
Violet laughed. “I was going to say, I think we’re kind of out already.” She paused for a second. “But yeah, I’d love to.”
“Yeah,” he chuckled. “If we weren’t sitting right now I’d kiss you.”
The edges of her mouth twitched. “Maybe when you walk me home after this.” She picked up the dessert menu and handed it over to him. “Until then you pick and surprise me.”
Steve gave her a playful smirk. “Maybe.” He grabbed the menu and looked at it for a moment before ordering their dessert.