InsaneJournal

Who: Kaioh Michiru, Meetra Surik, and Tenoh Haruka
What: Talking, dinner, Haruka showing up and making a fool of himself most likely.
When: 40 minutes after their texts in this.
Where: Mastro's Steakhouse, then the closest park.
Rating: PG-13. The pronouns get a little mixed up in there, due to Haruka's presence.
Status: Complete!

She hadn’t meant to almost let that slip, but was glad she could catch herself and fix it. She’d decided on going to a new place, somewhere her manager had told her about. She figured, what better way to have fun, than to experience a brand new place with her closest friend. She got ready, looking herself once over in the mirror before heading out.

Michiru had chosen a flirty and relaxed number, though she doubted Meetra would find it relaxed. Just a nice warm colour paired with black. She grabbed her bag before finally making her way out. She walked, it wasn’t far, glad she’d chosen the flats instead of her heels.

When she got there, she simply waited by the door. She had a reservation, so there was no use going in just yet, when it was so nice outside. She tipped her head back, thinking on the hours before this. They’d planned everything, and in the midst of it, forgot a tiny detail that made them have to cancel.

A measly performance for some snobby party for his daughter’s 16 and a half birthday. It ended in one of the few arguments her and Haruka had, had. Which meant Haruka passing out on the couch. She looked at her phone and sighed, okay, maybe she was just the tiniest bit impatient. She was allowed to be, she was hungry after all.

Meetra was as yet unsuspecting. She was happy for her friends and glad to be involved with their lives. Between them and Roland she was well on her way into an upswing away from a more private period in her life.

The dreams had done a lot to show her she worked best with people. It was time to make her real life like that as well. She didn't know how fancy the place was, but she did have a nice dress and her heels.

Parking, she walked over to where Michiru was standing, "Hey! Wow you look pretty good."

“Ah, and you the same.” She bowed her head slightly and turned to the door. The man opened the door for them and she walked in. She went over to a woman and smiled. “Table for two, Kaioh Michiru.” She waited patiently for the woman to look through. The woman simply smiled and led them to their table, explaining the drink specials and handed them their menus.

She tipped her head while looking over the drinks. “ Would you by chance offer White Zinfandel in the back?” The waitress gave her a confused look, pointing to the wine selections. “No, no. With child, I can’t.” The waitress stood back, apologising quite a bit and went to grab a different drink menu for her, letting Meetra still decide.

Michiru smiled, setting the previous menu down. “Order whatever you wish, my treat. The price is no matter.” She meant that. Despite knowing that this place was rather high end on the prices.

Meetra picked out the most inexpensive drink she could find on that menu, which proved nearly impossible. Despite the offer to take pick out anything she wanted, she just couldn't mentally justify spending a small fortune. Jedi tended to live pretty spartanly, after all.

"Thanks. How are things between you two?"

The only response that got was an odd rumble in her throat of annoyance. She would honestly give nothing further. At the selection of drink she rolled her eyes and simply shook her head. She figured it would be like that. When the waitress returned with the menu for women with children, she chose a sparkling white variety and set the menu off the look at it.

“I will order for you if you don’t pick the thing that strikes your fancy the most.” She’s teasing of course. “As I said, money is no option. I told Haruka I was using his card whether he liked it or not.” She had yelled at her and nearly made her cry, she owed her this much.

"I like this drink," Meetra protested. She knew she would probably lose the argument with food, but she WOULD stand her ground with the drink. She didn't need anything really fancy, anyway. Although, "Hey, if it's Haruka's card, lets go wild."

She flashed a devilish grin at Michiru.

“And that is why you’re my best friend!”She snickered, offering up the menu with her order of Clear Lobster Rolls and a Warm Spinach salad. She looked to Meetra and gave a grin for her order.

“You know, that sounds delicious, I’ll take that too.” It really did, and Meetra had no idea what anything else on the menu was, so it seemed a safe bet.

“You copycat... Or should I say kitten?”Couldn’t help the slightly flirtatious smirk. She couldn’t help it sometimes either. She liked the girly types as much as she did the masculine- she just didn’t show it much. And watching Meetra flail was way too much fun sometimes. “Getting into some mischief recently?” Tipped her head. “Since I hear you’ve been acting like quite the minx.”

"Only Haruka is allowed to call me that," Meetra retorted playfully, not even flailing a little bit. Perhaps she was building an immunity. "It sounded good, I wanted to try it."

At the last part, however, she did indeed start turning red, "You hear nothing."

“I hear quite enough, Haruka says you’ve been walking funny.” smirked and took a sip of her drink when it was handed to her. “So, who is that I send the kinky leather cat suit to? Maybe a whip to go with it?”

"I'm not going to tell you his name, just for that reason." She gave Michiru a dirty look. The thing was, she wasn't sure Roland would like it or not. Or mostly that she probably wouldn't.

Michiru pouted. “You’re no fun. I guess I’ll have to keep even more things secret then. Like... I don’t know. Haruka’s ticklish spots.” Took another drink, the most coy of smirk spread across her face.

"Oh come on! Those could be useful!" Meetra laughed, then took a sip of her own drink, "Oh, this is very good...too bad you can't drink, because then I would be able to get information out of you!"

“Not saying. Nor am I saying what his weakness foods are. AND not telling what words will distract him most.” smirked again, setting her glass down to look at her properly. God she loves being evil to this woman.

“What weakness foods do you have? Have you sent him on wild goose chases for strange foods at odd hours of the night yet?” Meetra leaned forward, obviously interested, and invested in this.

“Not really. what I usually crave at odd hours of the night, we can’t really talk about at this establishment. “chuckled softly to herself, giving a smug grin before licking her lips at thinking about it.

Meetra darted her eyes. She understood that a bit more now. She tried not to think about Roland, only that every time she thought of him it made her feel warm. And seeing him always left her feeling extra happy.

“Ah, Meetra. You’re smiling.” Leaned in, resting her hands on her chin. “Are you think of a certain someone?” Brushed her hair behind her ear and ran a finger around the outside of the glass.

“Yes.” Meetra didn’t even try to hide it this time. She figured it was pointless to deny it, and not denying it would mean she wasn’t playing Michiru’s game.

“It’s nice. Seeing you happy and all. “ Took another sip of her drink and tipped her head. When she heard a very familiar flail at the front door she looked back to see if her assumption was correct... And it was.

She rolled her eyes and stood up, standing beside the woman at the front with her arms crossed and a very angry glare on her face. She didn’t speak a word, but her face spoke loads. It wasn’t often that she got angry with Haruka, but today was this day. Haruka didn’t have to take her dysphoric frustration out on her. Well, in the anger way. The sex way was more than fine.

If looks could kill, Haruka would truly be a dead man. It wasn’t exactly her fault that her dysphoria had been spiking to new highs, considering the bloody miniskirt she’d somehow ended up in after touching that weird... thing. She swallowed hard, running a hand through her hair and trying to act casual.

“Michiru... I... wanted to apologise. For being a bastard.” Understatement of the century? Perhaps.

Meetra peered around Michiru, raising her eyebrow curiously, "I don't think she's in the mood to be apologized to. Why don't you come back when she's not holding a dinner knife?"

“You’ve been more than a bastard to me.” Tried to look anywhere but her direction at this point. If she looked at her, she’d just get upset all over again. “You said things and call me things I never thought I’d ever hear.” Mostly calling her a bitch out of the bedroom, and various other things.

She turned around and head back to her table, motioning to the woman at front that Haruka was allowed to come sit... Doubting she would really.

Honestly, Michiru holding a dinner knife was probably less terrifying than... well, Michiru in general. When she was angry, it was like being caught in a storm - no escape. Haruka sighed, deciding to go against Michiru’s doubts and sit down. “I was angry. It happens... and I’m going to try and make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

Considering this world, that could be very hard.

Meetra looked between them, and at this point chose to remain silent. Obviously this fight had gone deeper than she had realized. She'd have to be the mediator.

Maybe she should take that knife away.

She dropped the knife, lifted her hand, and royally slapped her clear over her entire face. The smack can be heard throughout the restaurant, and the distinct mark of her palm is red across her face. “You didn’t have to take it out on me. I’ve done so much for you without even asking for thanks and you treat me like what you did!”

Michiru is huffing and is asked to calm down by one of the waiters. She looked down at her drink, focusing on that instead of the stinging to her own hand.

Haruka swore under her breath, lightly rubbing at the point she’d slapped. It still amazed her how a woman who was effectively about half her size could slap that hard... although, she’d thought they’d gotten past that stage in their relationship.

“I know. I’m an idiot.” And a dysphoric one at that, but she couldn’t exactly say that in front of Meetra. “I’ll make it up to you. However I can.”

"Okay. Haruka, I want you to sit down there." She pointed, which would put her between Haruka and Michiru, which was probably for the best right now.

"You're both obviously upset, so lets calm down and talk like normal people."

Of course, she'd slap Haruka the second he got within reach.

Michiru couldn’t help but glare at Meetra for half a second. This is not what she wanted this dinner to end up in the slightest, but was happening. “I’m talking like a normal person. HE’S the one that called me a manko!”

That was probably the only thing that frustrated her, because she wasn’t at all weak.

Bracing herself for the inevitable slapping - possibly from the both of them, if she was unlucky - Haruka moved to sit where Meetra’d indicated. Maybe there was some chance at peace, if she was lucky, but... she was so very rarely lucky these days.

“Only because you kept trying to call me worse, Michiru.” She shrugged, trying to play it off as nothing. “I’m here for peace now, though. No more names.”

Michiru couldn’t take it any longer, she shook her head, obviously on the verge of tears again. She grabbed her bag and nearly ran out of the restaurant, pushing herself against the wall to the right of the window and willed herself not to cry.

Goddamn that woman and her frustration. And damn her inability to even think of leaving her.

Son of a bitch. Meetra turned on Haruka, "Okay what the hell happened? What does manko even mean, why would you even call her names like that?! She's pregnant!"

Haruka honestly hadn’t expected that sort of reaction from her. She rubbed at the back of her neck, trying to remember why the argument had actually started. “I... think I took something entirely the wrong way. She slapped me before I called her that, so... I think it’s a little warranted.”

True, she still hadn’t said what it meant, but did that really matter in the grand scheme of things? “We should go after her. I’ll settle whatever you owe... really only fair, considering...”

Michiru had actually broken down outside, moving over to sit on the bus stop bench a short walks away. Sure, she may have overreacted herself, but she had every right. She’d done so much for Haruka. She’d kept it secret, done anything she could to help her gender, use the proper pronouns even around her.

She shook her head and dropped it into her hands, bending forward to try and calm down.

"That's probably a good idea." Meetra was eyeing were Michiru was sitting, "I just don't know if her seeing you right now is the best thing."

Haruka got up, thinking things through a little. If Meetra came with, there’d be that risk of getting outed. As much as she loved the woman, she wasn’t sure if that was quite enough to reveal something that major to her.

“Let me talk to her alone first. If it looks like she’s about to kill me, come rescue me.”

“Deal.” Meetra nodded her head even if she was chewing her lip with worry. She hated seeing Michiru like this and really, she just wanted everything to work out.

When she noticed Haruka coming out she was so close to just walking off again. She knew there was no use in doing that, what with how fast Haruka could walk. She simply sat there, wiping her eyes of the tears and kept her head turned away.

Running away from Haruka was like trying to run from the wind. It was ultimately pointless, and really only served to annoy her. Even so, she came over fairly slowly, trying to predict the way Michiru would react. She hadn’t exactly been gentlemanly earlier, so she could hardly blame her if she just told her to get out and stay out.

“Michiru... I really am sorry,” she’d admit that much, at least. “I shouldn’t have blown up over... whatever it was. Can’t even remember anymore.”

Michiru held her bag close. “I was just trying to help.” Looked up at her, eyes still dotted with tears. “It’s all I’ve been trying to do is help. I don’t do it for the appreciation... but it’s still hard to do sometimes.” Looked back down.

“I have to think about everything I say twice before saying it. It’s getting easier, but it still puts a strain of how I express myself.” began to fiddle with the bow on the bag she had. “If that’s selfish of me I’m sorry.”

Haruka dared to step closer, gently tipping her head back up. “It’s not selfish. I... know I’m a hard person to deal with, on so many levels.” It wasn’t just the gender issues, even though they played an unreasonably huge part. “I’m amazed you can ever put up with me, really.”

“Some of the time it’s because I have a feeling you’d just go back to being insanely lonely if I left... Most of the time it’s because I love you... Even if you never return the same level of affection.” She let out a shuddered sigh, still playing with the bow on the bag. “I just wish... I wish it could be easier that’s all. But I know it never will be.”

It wasn’t that Haruka didn’t want to return that same level of affection. It was hard to explain, possibly harder than her gender was, and it’d likely remain as such for quite some time to come. “It’ll be easier eventually... I could come out, I guess. Let the world know that this is all a lie.”

Michiru quickly stood up and looked at her. “No. I won’t let you do that...” She gently bit her lip. “You... You do what is best for you. Don’t do something just because it makes things a bit difficult for me.” She turned her attention to the ground again. “I love you for you, no matter what you end up doing, just don’t do something as crucial to your life as coming out as this just because of me.”

Meetra tilted her head, watching the two talk. She couldn't read lips, or hear what they were saying. She saw Michiru stand up, and started to stand up herself, unsure if she was needed. Or wanted.

Hopefully Michiru understood how big a thing it was for her to even offer that as an option. If Haruka outed herself, there’d be no more need for the lies, for constantly having to disguise her gender - true, it’d destroy her psychologically, but she had the feeling she’d be able to get through it as long as Michiru was with her.

“Then... just forgive me. For being a headstrong idiot,” she gently took her hand, pressing a kiss against it. “I’ll try and work out a way to make things easier for you.”

Michiru couldn’t help a little sigh at the kiss to her hand, and this may be a bit too public for her tastes, but it was dark so she had an excuse. She quickly wrapped her arms around Haruka’s neck and kissed deeply, tangling a hand in her hair. When she broke it for a few seconds she smiled. “I forgive you, but you owe me tonight.”

She returned to the kissing, not really caring if anyone saw.

Meetra finds this whole thing a little adorable. And a little relieving. She sat back down, darting her eyes and feeling suddenly like the odd woman out. It was a little depressing.

It was out of courtesy for Meetra that Haruka pulled away from the kiss. True, it was nice, but... hardly appropriate when she’d asked the woman to keep an eye on her. “Save the kisses for later. I might end up getting ideas if we don’t.”

Sometimes, she really was glad she wasn’t actually a man. Her pants were tight enough as it already was.

Michiru couldn’t help the softest giggle as she brought her hand up to her lips. “I guess so. You really are such a pain sometimes.” She gently took her hand when they went to walking back into the establishment.

When they get back to the table, she sees herself in a passing glance at the mirror across the building and cringes at her makeup. “Oh my... I’m going to go freshen up. I look like a raccoon.”

“A very pretty raccoon,” Meetra assured her. She glanced at Haruka, “Everything okay or do I need to smack you?”

Why did everyone seem to want to smack her today? Was it national hit the boy racer day or something? “I think we’re okay. My charm’s saved the day once more.”

Okay, that one, she’d let them hit her for.

Meetra thwapped him on the arm!

Michiru couldn’t help but shake her head, rather amused at it all. “We’re fine, Meetra. He owes me later, though.” She rested her head on folding hands, leaning slightly forward. Occasionally she couldn’t help but give pleased eyed Haruka’s direction. She honestly did love Haruka, despite her utter fail at being a decent and non stubborn partner.

Rolling her eyes, Meetra picked up her wine and took a sip, “You two are hopeless. It’s like you’re already married.”

Haruka chuckled softly, shaking her head. “I’m not the marrying type. No matter how many times the tabloids have run stories about me proposing...” Honestly, your girlfriend wore a ring once and suddenly the whole world thought they were engaged.

At that Michiru made no real reaction, she honestly didn’t care. She knew Haruka well enough. even this early on, to know she didn’t need a ring or papers to show how much she loved her. Sure it was nice, and would appease her step-father, but she really couldn’t begin to use that as an excuse to.

She looked over to Meetra. “You just like making the tabloids explode!” With that she hit Meetra on the head with one of the napkins. “You’re taking our relationship as if we’re some fantasy couple you have. I’ve seen some of the memes that are put on some blog site. It’s ridiculous.”

“Too bad, “ Meetra replied softly. “I’ve always wanted to be a bridesmaid.” She sounded like she was joking. Mostly. Even if she thought Michiru would be a beautiful bride and Haruka an absolutely stunning groom, “What? It would put a stop to all the talk of you hooking up with various people, and the wedding would be absolutely beautiful.”

Okay, maybe Meetra had a point. A small one. Haruka ran a hand through her hair, thinking things through a little. “I think it’d be classed as rushing if we did it now. Someone’d probably accuse our manager of staging some kind of shotgun wedding...”

True, the man was gay as hell and completely unthreatening in every way, but the tabloids didn’t know that.

Michiru rolled her eyes and nodded. “And even if we did, our manager would probably try to make it as decorated as he could. Probably insist on controlling the whole thing. “ She shook her head and took another sip of her drink. “What is it with gay men and wedding design, love?”

Meetra smiled, "You could schedule something. A fall wedding. Keep it hush hush. Naturally it would leak, but it would look like you're doing it right. Especially if you proposed in a properly romantic setting." Where she could watch.

“Why do I get the feeling you’d like to see that, kitten?” There was some appeal to the idea, Haruka would admit that much. Although it’d probably bring more rumours than it’d get rid of, considering the tabloids seemed to love raving about affairs and illicit love triangles, even with married couples.

It was only a matter of time until one of the tabloids accused either of them of being involved with Meetra. Or maybe she was just being paranoid.

“So we can beat them to the punch about the torrid love affair the three of us have together,” Meetra replied cheekily.

“I’d rather not have that. Even if I’d think it to be hilarious because you would blush and flail.” Took another sip of her drink. “and what would your boy toy say? Do you really want that rumour to spread, dear?”

Haruka couldn’t help the slightest of smirks. “He’d probably find it exciting in some way, if he’s anything like Meetra.” She was teasing. Mostly.

“Some guys do like foursomes after all.” Smirked Haruka’s way. “Then again, I don’t like sharing what’s mine. Never have.”

Meetra started to blush, and decided to turn the conversation over into a completely other direction, “Will you two come to London, to watch me live?”

Aw, Meetra was no fun. If she’d tried to turn the conversation to anything other than the Olympics, Haruka probably would’ve pouted. A very manly pout, but the point would still stand. “I’d love to see it. Maybe we could even get some last minute practice in beforehand?”

Hey, she liked to give her a challenge. It was only right.

“And I can watch, and maybe bring some Bento.” Smirked to Meetra. “It’s about time we forced you to try some proper Japanese cuisine.” With that she looked up to see their orders, offering to share hers with Haruka. She tempted to mindless chatter from then on.