Cyclops was right and he wishes he wasn't (cyclopswasright) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2012-06-07 21:30:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, emma frost (white queen), scott summers (cyclops) |
"What do you see in me?"
Who: Scott and Emma
What: An honest to god date. Where things are discussed!
When: Lets say tonight!
Where: A japanese place
Status: Complete
Rating: PG-13 for feels
It wasn’t nervousness that Emma felt as she prepared herself for her first date with Scott Summers. Nervousness implied that there was something at stake, that there was room for error. Emma suspected that no matter what she did and no matter how the date - and oh how she loathed the word “date” - went that he was hooked. What she felt seemed more like a quiet excitement that betrayed emotions that she’d rather not admit to having.
She’d dressed to the nines after being instructed to come up with something that was both elegant and that could knock his socks off. Emma’s dress was white and long and hugged her curves without being tacky. White satin fabric pooled around her chest, concealing cleavage but making her look plenty busty. Her makeup was perfect, her hair in a tight bun, and her heels tall enough that she’d probably be able to look Scott in the eyes without having to look up.
He said he’d pick her up by six and she was ready right on time... almost impatient, if she were honest.
The place Scott picked would probably have wiped out his budget, when he'd been in that other apartment. The money he saved renting to Dani was going to help, greatly.
Besides, a little splurging every now and again wouldn't hurt, and he did want Emma to know he had some level of taste and class. It was in fact black tie, and classy enough that it would be clear he had been planning this for awhile.
Scott liked to play the long game.
He drove up to Emma's house. It was..posh was an understatement. Ridiculous might be a better word. But the view was spectacular. And he wasn't thinking of the ocean.
She'd been reluctant to let Scott come to her place. There was something uncomfortable, exposing about letting him see her home. And yet she had, mostly at his insistence. When he'd knocked, she'd hesitated only a moment before letting him in. There was a bit of electricity between them and it gave Emma the impression that if they really wanted to have something more than a very fulfilling physical relationship, they'd need to spend time together somewhere that they couldn't allow themselves to give in to their desires.
"You look handsome," she said, her heels clicking loudly as she took a few steps toward him.
Desires that were running rampant when he saw her in that dress. She was stunning. If there was a word more powerful than beautiful, that was it. He realized, wryly, that he had it bad. It was too hard not to. And for once the dreams were the last thing on his mind. It was just him and Emma, not Cyclops and the White Queen.
He held out his arm for her, "You look gorgeous."
As if reading her mind, he decided they needed to step outside, before they went nowhere in particular. She was giving him feels. In his pants.
"As always," she said, a warm smile on her red lips. She took his offered arm and rested her hand on his wrist, resisting the urge to lean into him and ruin her hair or makeup. Following his lead, she left her home, locking the door behind them and then sliding gracefully into the passenger seat of his car.
"Where are you taking me?" she asked once they were on the road.
"I'd like to keep my surprises." He glanced at her out of the corner of his eyes, and smiled. She really was absolutely impossible to look away from for very long. It looked like it hadn't taken her much effort, but that meant she'd probably put a lot of effort into it.
He took a more scenic route along the coast, before turning into the city proper. It turned out to be a popular Japanese restaurant in Newport Beach. The waiting list was at least a week.
Emma was almost impressed when they pulled into the parking lot. She knew that Scott wasn't one of her people; he was by no means well off. She imagined he'd had to call in a favor with a friend to make a quick reservation at the restaurant. Or, perhaps, he'd made arrangements the day after their night together. Either way, amusement danced across her face.
His glances weren't lost on her. Though as the car was put in park and they walked to the restaurant, she found herself doing her best to be absolutely demure. She pretended not to notice his stare all the while basking in the pleasant feeling such attention gave her.
When they were sitting at their table, Emma settled comfortably. She was dressed possibly a bit too properly, but didn't especially care. She'd distracted a waiter and turned a few heads. She enjoyed that sort of attention.
"Well done," Emma said, curious how strapped he'd be for money for the next week or two after he paid for the meal. "I'm surprised."
The amusement was not lost on him, but he let that dance on her face. It made her more beautiful. He had made arrangements early - he was sneaky like that. He could have called in a favor, if it would have been too long a wait, but he wanted to save that for a later date.
Scott found he enjoyed the way they drew attention. It was something he could get used to, and it wasn't something wholly objectable to him. He knew he'd have to expect it, going anywhere with her.
He gave her a light smile, "Thank you. That was my goal."
The thing he liked about Japanese food, was it was fun to eat and wasn't all that messy if you knew what you were doing.
Water came to the table quickly, to which Emma quietly thanked their server. She was a horrid bitch most of the time, but she did have manners. It had been about a week since she'd last seen Scott, a week since they'd decided to move forward with their relationship. It was with just a bit of shame that she realized she'd missed him.
"I hope getting a table wasn't too much trouble." A pause. "I've heard you have to sell your firstborn for a good table here." The story was the same for any number of trendy restaurants in rich neighborhoods. She only hoped the food was as good as people claimed.
He'd missed her. But he'd wanted there to be some time for things to sink in for both of them. It was one thing to miss someone; it was another to miss them to the point of obsession. They could survive without each other. That was a good thing.
At the mention of firstborn, he chuckled, "Second born, and my left leg. I'm wearing a prosthetic."
As for drinks? Sake was in order.
"I hardly noticed the limp," she joked, reviewing the menu. There were a number of appetizing things that stood out to her, but since it was her first time, she figured she'd settle on something that offered a variety. Emma liked sushi well enough that she decided a sampler would be for the best.
"So why did you pick this place?" She set aside her menu and asked, glancing at him in curiosity.
The sampler was a good choice. Scott opted for that one himself, "It's been a while since I've had sushi, and this place came well recommended. I thought it might be a good choice. In my experience Japanese food is often good for sharing a meal."
She nodded. That was a good enough point. Emma supposed, also, that he'd wanted to find a way to impress her. She found that intention amusing, liking that he wanted to keep pace with her. She also wondered how long he could keep this sort of thing up and whether it bothered him that she was obviously far more wealthy than he was. She saved those questions, figuring them too rude to ask right away.
"How's work at your ranch?" She asked instead, feeling rather curious about what he did and if any of it echoed back to the life they had in their dreams.
He'd have answers for her. And they'd be truthful answers, because while there were certain things he wouldn't be forthcoming with, he liked being truthful with her.
"It's going pretty good. We've gotten this new girl who's a real genius. She's teaching me a few things." He glanced around, not wanting to say it was the girl he'd tried to help before where people might hear.
"What is she teaching you?" There was very little that Emma knew about the ranch, aside that it was a place for troubled youth. She noticed the way he looked around, though, and took that to mean he might not want to indulge every secret in public. That was fine with her. She certainly wouldn't answer every question he had freely, either. Not for the first time, Emma found herself missing her telepathy. They could have had multiple conversations going on at the same time if her powers returned.
"Some advanced physics, but mostly some things in biology. She's really smart with genetics too." He wished she had that as well. He could just tell her about the girl, without risking her safety. "Awkward socially. She has a thing for the archery teacher."
It was really rather adorable.
Emma smiled. There was something endearing about the way he talked about the girl. He cared, clearly, and that was nice. "Interesting," was all Emma said. She'd recently had a few dreams about teaching and found herself curious about it, but reluctant to be pulled into a world that she really had no right to be in.
She found herself also nearly asking if she was a mutant, whether they'd known her in a previous life. But she didn't. Couldn't, really.
He wouldn't be able to answer that. There was something odd about Alma that couldn't be explained, and he had his suspicions, but he didn't recognize her. He wondered if Dr. MacTaggert had ever found anything in either of their blood.
"Only interesting? And how about you? Any job prospects?" Any dreams?
"Nothing," Emma responded with a slight shrug of her shoulders. She hadn't been looking, though. The break from work had been lovely and with all of the dreams, she'd found herself not really wanting to dedicate her time to a job search while so distracted. With her finances the way they were, Emma was almost certain she could live a life of leisure for the rest of her days. "I've barely looked," she admitted. "There's just... too much on my mind." A pause. She suspected he'd know what she meant. Her eyes caught his for a moment. "But eventually, I'll look for something. Even if I'm just funding a project of some sort. Give my family hell. Something. I'd be bored if I didn't find something to do with my time."
The sake came and Emma stopped while drinks were poured. "As it is now, I've been scheduling some training with your friend." She'd only really wanted to get into self-defense after the dreams. Hell, lately a lot of her actions were motivated by what she saw at night.
Emma Frost bored just wouldn't do. It did give him an insight the current state of her mind, if she wasn't even looking for anything yet. Of course, having a massive cushion probably helped. He might be a little jealous of that, but he was't going to play into that.
"Shepard is a tough instructor." A tough bitch, really. She had a soft side but that usually only came out after a lot of drinks or a near death experience with her, "But I think she's a good choice for that."
He didn't have to ask about why she might have been motivated. Enough dreams about getting into fights, or people wanting to kill you, and that was motivation enough. He already had the military training - but he'd started his morning routine again a few weeks ago. It had had positive results already.
With the things he'd seen the past few nights, a little extra muscle wasn't going to hurt. His eyes darkened slightly. He still wasn't sure how to react to having a son - only to have that son taken away.
With the sake arrived, he held his cup as proper sake etiquette dictated.
There was something unpleasant in Scott's eyes, but Emma decided to hold back her question. The darkness was gone quickly enough, anyway.
Emma followed Scott's lead, holding her cup and allowing their server to pour for them. She thanked him and smirked at Scott once the man was gone. "So you're cultured, hm?" She sounded a little surprised. Perhaps it was rude of her, but Emma hadn't expected so much from Scott. "Tell me you've been to Japan and fully immersed in the culture so I can be thoroughly impressed."
"I wouldn't say fully immersed, but when you're in the military, there are always two countries outside of the middle-east you'll spend a lot of time in. Japan and Korea." The military presence in both countries was high, and most troops got rotated to the Korean DMZ at least once in their careers. It was kind of ridiculous, if you thought about it.
Scott took his first sip. It was good sake, "Immersing yourself in local customs should be a part of that, at least."
"Do you miss it?" She asked after a delicate sip. It was, indeed, good sake, but them Emma had assumed it would be. She knew Scott's background in the vaguest sort of way, that he'd been injured and discharged. She realized that she didn't really know how he felt about it, though it seemed his military background seemed almost written into his skin.
"There are things I miss, and other things I don't." He assumed her question was a more generalized one. He had nothing to hide about his background, at least in general. There were always missions that remained classified.
"The camaraderie. The men and women who didn't come home. Seeing other places. I enjoyed leading."
Emma smirked. "You would enjoy leading, wouldn't you?" She leaned forward ever so slightly and watching him as though trying to figure him out. "So you were in charge? Always?"
"I did," He replied. He admired the view she provided with a soft smile on his face, "Graduated West Point, and led a squad. I was due for a promotion to Major when I was injured."
"I'm sorry." She found herself tempted to joke, to ask for a scar. But Emma held her tongue. Not everyone appreciated her irreverence. "I suppose it just wasn't meant to be. A shame, though, Major Scott Summers does have an attractive ring to it."
"General Summers doesn't?" He laughed, "I'd be a good general, but I wouldn't like it. If I'm going to be putting people in danger, I want to be able to say that I'd be the first on the line with them. A general can't do that."
She pictured him in a uniform, but found she couldn't hold the picture in her mind's eye. When she thought of him fighting, it was as Cyclops because that's what she'd seen. "Yes," she said, "I imagine you would." There was something hiding in her tone.
Scott regarded her for a long moment. There were times when you couldn't separate fighting with an M-16 and fighting with his mutant powers. Her tone intrigued him. So he said, "I talked with that doctor on the valarnet. She knows about this Xavier fellow too. I let her take some blood."
Emma frowned. Something about that seemed utterly wrong. "Why?"
Their food came rather suddenly and she sat back in her chair, letting the server place their plates in a pretty arrangement on the table. Once the server was gone, she repeated her question.
"There was something familiar about her, that made me trust her. She was there to help that other girl. The one I mentioned earlier." He picked up his chopsticks. He looked around, lowering his voice, "The one I tried to help before."
There was something hard in Emma's eyes. "Make sure she destroys your sample when she's done. Along with records of it." Emma wasn't especially trusting. And even if the doctor was a good one, she didn't know who was watching her.
Emma tried some sushi in order to clear the air. She'd probably come off a bit harsh, but it'd come from a protective place.
Scott nodded his head, "I'll do it personally." Emma's harsh streak was a partial surprise. Not that it was harsh, but the general protective emotions behind it. He might be a little touched.
Just wait until he gets the call about dormant x-genes.
"Are you all right, Emma?"
"Fine," Emma said, trying to shed the mild annoyance she felt. "Just... concerned about your anonymity." She swore quietly to herself that if he said she was cute for worrying after him, she'd hit him under the table.
Unable to help it, Scott said, "You're cute for worrying after me." He fully expected injury, even as he picked up some smoked salmon sashimi to put in his mouth.
Emma's eyes narrowed. She was dressed in a gown and it was hard for her to kick, but she did. Her shoe hit his ankle lightly. Her face was innocent and she ate without seeming to notice that she'd kicked him.
Scott's face broke into a grin as he nommed down on that poor unsuspecting chunk of fish, before washing it down with some water. He pretended to ignore it otherwise. It was easier than ignoring his own thoughts, which had begun to go back to the dreams.
As much as part of him was willing to accept them, he'd like a day or two without them.
He looked annoyingly smug and handsome and Emma might have hit him again if she thought she could have gotten away with it without comment. Instead, she ate delicately and watched him with just the barest sort of predatory gaze. She was quiet throughout the majority of her meal, but it was a pleasant sort of quiet.
It was pleasant, but even a pleasant quiet needs to end. With the meal done with, and a bit more sake in his cup, Scott settled back a bit. The gaze in her eyes was...well it was wonderful. He was wanted, by this stunningly beautiful woman.
So, being male and stupid that way, he had to ask, "What do you see in me?"
She was taken aback by the candid question and found herself unsure how to respond for a moment. Her light blue eyes met his and then she looked down at her hands. She was unsure how to respond, whether she should be truthful or make up a fun lie. "You're not rich or spoiled," she offered and realized that sounded so flat and dull. "Which is what I'm used to," she continued. "You're handsome, but I could find a handsome man in a heartbeat if I really wanted." Her lips curled. "The sex helps."
She met his gaze again. "I suppose I'm drawn to you for the goodness I see in you." The dreams didn't hurt, either.
Well, he'd manage to catch her off guard. Ten points?
Her honesty caught him off guard. Not that she didn't have the capacity to be honest, but he'd been expecting a more flippant answer, or a deflection of some kind.
"What makes that goodness matter to you?"
Emma thought for a moment, leaning in as she spoke. "I don't think most people are essentially good. Nor do I think of myself as a good person." It was an odd thing being vulnerable in front of Scott, but it wasn't the worst sort of feeling. "Good people make me curious, I wonder why they haven't been warped by the world." She grew thoughtful. "I probably want to be influenced for the better." Selfish, perhaps, but true.
Scott's lips thinned a little as she described herself as a bad person. He didn't agree, at least not fully. She wasn't bad. Misguided in some ways, but not evil. His lips turned up into a smile instead, "It's too easy to get warped by the world. I could have let myself a dozen times over."
He put his hand over hers, "Wanting that influence tells me more than you probably want to admit."
Fighting the urge to pull her hand away, she let her index finger brush against his. She let herself be vulnerable for a moment longer and then rolled her eyes. The careful mask was back. "Anyhow. Your turn." She smiled. "What do you see in me?"
How he wanted to get behind that mask again, but Scott knew he'd have to be patient. It will come down again, eventually.
"Aside from being the most beautiful woman I've ever laid eyes on?" He flashed her an easy grin, "You're intelligent. You're independent. I appreciate your sense of humor."
He stroked a finger along her knuckles, "You're a little stubborn, and I think you're the kind of woman who would ultimately stand up for her principles. And there's a soft, squishy center underneath a tough outer shell, that I'm determined to chew my way through."
She laughed softly, feeling rather good. "You can try." It was a challenge. Her gaze fell to their hands. A voice in the back of her head mocked her for holding hands with a man at a dinner table. She ignored it.
Scott chuckled lightly, eyeing her face with an expression in his eyes that clearly stated the challenge was accepted. They stayed that way for several long moments, before he decided it was time to take care of the bill and get them out of there.
Not that he wanted to take her home too soon. He liked the way she felt on his arm as they walked.
"Whereto now?" Emma asked. The waiter had come with the bill at Scott's nod and had taken it away just as quickly. Their meal was done, the bill was settled, and Emma was feeling a little restless. She was rather in the mood to be out of her dress and especially those heels.
"I had some ideas." He waited for the valet to retrieve his car, "But most of them depend on what you want."
They'd been walking in rather close proximity, but Emma took a step closer. Her voice was a low whisper, "I want you." There was a bit of trouble in her eyes. "But that can wait if you have a better idea."
"I'm completely out of ideas," he replied, his mouth drying out. "But I know a nice hotel nearby."
He was a victim of that trouble in her eyes.