InsaneJournal

Who: Lilo and Will. (Willo. HA!)
What: First date!
When: Tuesday, 6/18.
Where: Will’s place.
Rating: PG-13.
Status: Complete!



Lilo had been sure to dress up, but not overly so. She didn’t want to scare Will offf. So she settled on jeans and a cute top before leashing up Daisy and driving over. Lilo drove an old pickup truck - the better to cart surfboards around with, m’dear - and Daisy loved sitting in the front seat with her head out the window.

When she pulled up to Will’s house, Lilo grew jealous. She wanted to live here with a million doggies! Putting Daisy back on the leash, Lilo parked and walked up to ring the bell. Daisy’s tail was already going a million miles an hour.

Will had been in the kitchen when the bell sounded. He instantly felt the nerves explode, though he was calm enough to shush the dogs when they started barking. He strode through the living room to the door, opening it and blushing immediately at how pretty she was. “Hello, Lilo.”

She blushed at his blushing, then bit her lip. “Hello, Will.” She grinned, looking down at Daisy. “Daisy, this is Will. Will, this is Daisy. She’s pretty excited to meet you, I think.”

The dog gave him a much-needed out to avoid silly small talk. “Hello, Daisy.” Will held out a hand, letting her sniff it until she seemed okay. He then started to pet her on her head, scratching at a spot under the ear.

That made Daisy give a low chuffing sound under her throat, a weird sort-of purr that made Lilo giggle. “Aww, you got her to purr.” Lilo loved her big dog, and she smiled broadly when Daisy’s tail lashed her legs.

Will laughed a little. “So that’s what mastiffs do when they’re very happy?” He’d never owned a mastiff, that he could recall. “Come and meet the herd.” He gestured, stepping back to let Lilo and Daisy inside.

“I don’t know if all of them do, but I know Daisy does.” She smiled and squeezed Will’s hand for a brief moment before moving inside. “Let me know when it’s okay to make eye contact and stuff.”

“I will.” Will heard the barks as the dogs came into the main room, but he stopped them with a non-marking sound. All seven of them stopped, and when Will said “Sit,” they all obeyed. “If you don’t mind,” he said to Lilo, “let Daisy come up here first.” One new being at a time was generally a good rule.

Lilo nodded, walking Daisy to where he’d indicated and then hanging back a little. “Of course, we don’t want to overstress them.”

Will gently took Daisy’s collar, pulling her just a little up toward Winston, who was the closest dog. “You remember Winston,” he said to Lilo, watching the dogs as they sniffed each other. “The other two closest ones are Aggie, the pom, and Bo, the dalmatian/pit bull mix.”

Smiling, she nodded and beamed at her little girl as she greeted the other dogs in turn. “Oh, I remember them. I brought them each a t-r-e-a-t, too.” She spelled it, not wanting to say a word the dogs might know.

That got a chuckle out of Will. “They do understand that word, so thank you for spelling. Aggie, come.” He watched as the little pomeranian came over, amused at the size difference between her and Daisy. “She tends to hang back. I like when they’re all social, though, which I’m aware is ironic.”

“Dog social skills are different than human ones,” Lilo smiled. She perched on the arm of a sofa, smiling when a dog sat down near her, waiting to be petted. She obliged the dog because it was well behaved.

“That’s Roger.” The dachshund was possibly the best behaved of Will’s pack, except Winston. “He’s fairly gentlemanly.” Will smiled a little, though it turned into a sharp tsst when Bo decided to try and mount Daisy. “That, however, was impolite.”

Daisy just looked bored by the whole thing, sitting down and blinking big brown eyes at Will as if to thank him for getting the rude dog off of her bottom. Lilo grinned. “Thank god humans aren’t the same as dogs in some ways.”

“It might make parties a bit more interesting.” Will said, though he blushed immediately. Thankfully, Roger seemed to distract Lilo temporarily; he headbutted her leg, which made Will smile. “I told you he was a gentleman.”

Lilo smiled at Roger again, her eyes going wide and soft with affection. “Oh, you little flirt,” she murmured. Sitting on the floor with him, she took his ears between her fingers, rubbing the tips of them gently and just so.

Will watched as she effortlessly turned one of his dogs to something like putty. It made him smile even more; Roger seemed to lean into her touches. “You got his leg,” he commented dryly, as the dachshund’s back left paw began to thump. The noise brought Lady over to look at the new arrival, while Daisy made friends with Winston in the appropriate dog way.
“All dogs like this,” Lilo chuckled. “My mom used to do this to me when I was sick.” She smiled at Lady, using one of her hands to rub her ear as well, grinning when two dogs sat down in her lap. “I like your place, Will.”

“Good.” Will smiled shyly, watching his pack make friends with the woman. “They apparently approve of you being here. I mean, they’re the ones who really rule the proverbial roost.”

“Oh, really? That’s sweet. I like that the little one and the pretty one are the alphas.” Lilo grinned, smiling at Will and biting her lip. She liked him too, but she hoped that went without saying.

“Well, I meant all of them.” Will chuckled. “Winston is actually the alpha, but Lady is up there, too. Winston is the only one that’s allowed to push her around.”

“Winston’s a good alpha, it seems like. He probably doesn’t abuse his authority.” Lilo moved to sit closer to him, nodding at her backpack. “There’s enough b-a-c-o-n in there for everyone to have a slice, you and me too. Humans need t-r-e-a-t-s too. Wow, I’m glad I’m not dyslexic.”

Will’s eyebrows rose. “Oh. That’s ... very kind, really.” He didn’t cook; he tended to subsist on whatever he found in the refrigerator. Grocery stores were a special and cacophonous layer of hell. “They’ll adore you for eternity. I tend to give them fish.” He said the word, because while the dogs knew it, they’d be getting something better momentarily.

“I love fish too, but really, the ‘bee’ word is just the best thing on Earth. Want to help me do the honors?” She stood up slowly so she wouldn’t spook any of the dogs and break the bond she’d just tenuously formed.

“Sure, what do you mean?” Did she mean feed them?

Lilo smiled and held out the bag of bacon for Will. “I didn’t know if you wanted me to do it or if you wanted to.”

“I’ll handle the nervous ones.” Will figured compromise would work. “Why don’t you handle Winston, Lady and Roger.” He turned. “Monster, Titan. Come.” The two big dogs obeyed, and he rewarded them after they sat with pieces of bacon.

That was easy enough. She did the same, rewarding sitting with bacon. Then she gave a slice to Daisy, and then she sat down before giving one to herself. It wouldn’t do to hold herself to different standards than the dogs!

Will gave bacon to Bo and Aggie before sitting down with his own. He held it up in a strange kind of toast, trying to smile awkwardly. “Cheers?”

Lilo laughed, tossing hers into the air and catching it with her mouth. “Mmmph.” Was there anything better than a date with a cute guy and bacon?

They ate for a while, and Will couldn’t help but be surprised at how comfortable he felt. It was rare that he felt so comfortable right away with someone. Even with Kirsty, who he considered a friend, he had taken a few interactions to warm up.

He risked saying as much. “Thank you,” Will told Lilo, “for being patient with me.”

That just made her blink. “Huh?” Had he done something she’d needed to be patient for? She had a lap full of Lady and was nuzzling into her head.

“I’m just a little ... particular. And slow.” Well, Will felt awkward now. “I just meant most people don’t understand me. But you haven’t ... you’ve been patient and understanding.” No awkwardness until now had to be some kind of record.

She blushed, looking down at her hands. “I was going to tell you the same thing. Even as a kid, I was the weird one. You’d think that people’s parents would be glad I read instead of telling their kids that I was evil.” A book was a book, even if it was a book on Aztec human sacrifice rituals.

Will blinked. “Wait. They thought you were evil because you read? Were you reading The Satanic Verses?”

Her eyes lit up, and she nodded. “Yeah, I didn’t have a lot of friends growing up. But I learned quality’s better than quantity.”

Oh. She had been reading Rushdie. Will laughed a little. “I read Midnight’s Children when I was eleven, and was fascinated.” Hopefully she understood why he was telling her.

She grinned, moving closer to sit with him. “I still read medical textbooks for the gory photos.” Yet somehow, all of those photos hadn’t prepared her for it being a loved one. She went a little more quiet, reaching out for his hand.

“What’s wrong?” It didn’t take a rocket scientist to tell something had suddenly become Not Right. Roger seemed to be able to tell, as well; he hopped onto the arm of the couch nearest Lilo and sat down.

“Oh, just ... sometimes I think about why I came here.” She smiled weakly at him before nuzzling into Roger’s soft coat. “I was born in Hawaii, like I told you. I only moved here a year ago after my parents were murdered. Sometimes I can still ... see it.” She’d been so close to them; seeing them reduced to so much sticky debris, human shrapnel - it had wrecked her for months.

There wasn’t much he could say to something like that, but thankfully he’d at least learned enough to just say “I’m sorry.” He couldn’t entirely empathize; he didn’t remember much of his father, and his mother and he just weren’t that close. Will just moved his hand over hers.

That made Lilo smile. He was being kind, and she squeezed his hand a little. “It’s okay, it happened, it’s not your fault.” Unless it was, then she’d kick him.

“Still.” Will figured that he ought to explain his train of thought. “I’m not that close to my parents, but I mean. Losing people you care about can’t possibly be anything you bounce back from easily.”

“I don’t even know if I’m bouncing back at all.” Lilo chuckled to herself, running her fingers through her hair. “Sometimes I think I’m fine, then I close my eyes and I see them.” She couldn’t help but see their bodies sprawled, legs akimbo, eyes open, mouths gaping. “I hated that they were scared in their last moments.”

“You’re bouncing back in that you can be functional,” Will said. “People who are grieving can’t focus on anyone but themselves, and you’ve been ... really kind. To my dogs. And me.” He smiled shyly, looking down. He hoped she understood what he meant and wasn’t offended.

She couldn’t help herself, leaning forward and pressing a light kiss to his cheek. “It’s hardly been a burden, Will. I like you. I mean, as a friend, I don’t just want to ... well, I mean, I do want to - but not right away.” She clapped her palms over her cheeks, laughing at herself. “Wow, sometimes my mouth says things and uh. I wish it wouldn’t.”

He blushed instantly, but in truth felt a sense of something like relief. “You aren’t alone. Sometimes my mouth says things that I don’t know are inappropriate. At least you seem to know whether what you say is good or not.”

“Oh, I don’t. I just sort of guess and hope I’m right.” Lilo laughed. “I still haven’t learned how to ... people. Good.”

“You haven’t learned how to people?” Will had to laugh. “Neither have I.” He felt even more relieved.

She grinned, squeezing his hand. “Then we can figure it out together. Well. Figure out each other, at least. Me figuring out how to people that’s not in my family would be a good start.” She smiled and pulled her knees to her chest, kissing Roger as he came closer.

“I don’t want to be pessimistic, but I’ve been trying forever and still haven’t succeeded yet.” Will shook his head. “I just - anything I do that you don’t appreciate, will you please just tell me what I’ve done?” Instead of getting mad and walking out.

“Of course. Who wouldn’t do that? You’re not a mind reader,” Lilo smiled shyly. She really wanted to kiss him, so she leaned forward again, pressing the tiniest of kisses to the corner of his mouth. “Sorry. I wanted to kiss you kiss you, you know, more, but I don’t want to scare you.”

So simple. So logical. Will wasn’t sure, but he thought he might have fallen in love with her a little right then. And then she lightly bussed the corner of his mouth, and he blushed hard. “I ... it’s okay.” It meant quite a lot, actually, that she understood that. This was still incredibly new. Not since high school and awkward Hattie Van Kline had he really been on a date. And that one had ended ugly.

Lilo smiled brightly. “Just tell me when you’re ready, you know?” She giggled when Roger seemed to take over where she’d wanted Will to take the lead. “Goodness, Roger, that’s an awful lot of tongue - we just met.” She couldn’t help but giggle when Daisy joined in as well, then Winston, then Lady. “Oh jeez!”

Will couldn’t help but laugh. “I think they approve of your presence.”

“I like them too,” she giggled. “Even if they’re taking off a couple layers of skin.”

“Roger.” Will said sternly, but he couldn’t be entirely without amusement. The dogs were just loving on Lilo, in a way he didn’t often see. “All right, down.” He got all the dogs except Lady down by swatting them lightly; he just picked up Lady and set her on the floor. “That was awfully enthusiastic. I’m sorry.”

“It was fun,” Lilo laughed. “I shouldn’t complain, I’m used to affection that’s overly enthusiastic. Or I was before Daisy and I started working at it. She used to be really bad about jumping up.”

“Oh?” Will eyed the mastiff now sitting calmly at Lilo’s feet. “You seem to have done pretty well at training her.” He smiled. “When did you get her? Right after you got here?”

“Yeah, like, two days after. I was having problems sleeping because I was always scared, so I’d wake up suddenly. She helped a lot. Even if someone broke in, they don’t know she’s the sweetest animal alive. When she barks, non-mastiff people wince.” Lilo smiled, curling her toes under Daisy’s stomach.

Will smiled, watching the dog turn over. “You take good care of your mistress, hm?” he said to Daisy, leaning down to run his own toes in her fur.

Daisy rewarded Will with a happy doggy snort, closing her eyes and sighing. Biting her lip, Lilo couldn’t help but say something that was probably stupid, but honest. “I’m so comfortable with you, but so excited too. Like something really good is going to happen.”

He didn’t quite understand what she meant - something good involving him? But he just smiled shyly, looking down. “Well, it’s been really nice seeing you today.” Better than nice; far better than he’d expected, even.

“You too,” she blushed. “We’ll have to do something soon.” She kind of wanted to see as much of him as he’d allow.

“That would be nice. I do have appointments, thankfully - I feel useless just sitting around with the dogs - but maybe have lunch? If you don’t mind sort of staying near the edge of town?” It would be a weekday, and it usually was too much for him to spend time downtown on those days.

“I’d like that.” She grinned brightly, knowing she probably looked like a stupid lovestruck girl. “Maybe someday you can come surfing with me.”

“Oh, I doubt that.” Will blurted, before apologizing, looking down. “Sorry ... I mean. The water’s nice to be near and look at, but I think I might ... freak out.” He didn’t like being so inexact in his terminology, but he didn’t want to necessarily talk about autism right now. Being submerged in living, breathing water would be a quick route to sensory overload.

“You could always just come sit by the shore.” Lilo smiled back. “Sometimes I forget some people don’t like the water. I was practically raised in it, so it’s confusing for me sometimes.”

“Sitting by the shore would be nice.” Will shook his head. “I grew up in Maine, like I said, so I’m comfortable by the water. Just not necessarily in the water.”

“Well, whatever makes you feel comfortable, obviously.” Lilo smiled, squeezing his hand. She really found herself worrying about his happiness in this future interaction.

“It will just be nice to see you again,” Will blurted again, hoping she didn’t take offense at his straightforwardness.

“I’m already looking forward to it too,” Lilo smiled. It wasn’t too forward; she felt the same way.