Riverwalk Romantics (Ty)

[kayla]

She'd managed to get everything done with enough time to get ready for her date that night. She hadn't been this nervous or excited in a long time. Having no idea what they would be doing or where they would be going she fretted for hours the night before over her outfit o knowing what to wear.

If she dressed too conservatively then he might not be impressed. But if she dressed too sexy she would give off the wrong signals and she most certainly wasn't that kinda of girl. He'd be lucky to get a kiss on the first date. Sure it was old fashioned but she was an old fashioned girl. She really shouldn't even do that but the thought of that first kiss just made her stomach flutter like it was full of butterflies. She would keep it conservative, she told herself, nothing too racy, just a simple kiss.

She'd brought her outfit and cosmetics down that morning so that she could get dressed while the cafe was still open and be ready to leave when he showed up.

Looking up as the bell over the door tinkled her breath caught in her throat and her eyes widened as she saw the familiar figure of her favorite handy man enter but dressed like she'd never seen him before. The suit, so polished and proper looking. Not a smudge of dirt in sight. Her smile widened and she fidgeted a little nervously as she stood behind the counter.

She forgot that she was wearing her apron still over her outfit to keep it clean as she stepped out from behind the counter and looked down bashfully, that smile still plastered on her face. "Wow...don't you clean up nice." she said appreciatively and bit her bottom lip and gestured to her own clothes, feeling the apron strings tied there in the front and laughing nervously as she untied it and pulled it off, setting it on the counter before turning back to him.

It was a strange whooshing feeling that came over her; like the floor was rising to meet her and the ride just started spinning. Like the hand of fate just tapped her on the shoulder and stole her breath.

"I wasn't sure what to wear so I just kinda threw something together. I hope it's alright." she said as she stood there and fidgeted a bit more. "I thought that um..if you'd like to, that we could maybe do the Riverwalk on our way to dinner. I've heard it's really beautiful at night but I've never done the walk. Something I've been meaning to do since I moved here but..." she shrugged and gestured behind her toward the cafe and smiled sheepishly. All her time had been put into the place.

She shut up then as she realized she was nervously babbling and blushed a little, biting that bottom lip again to keep from rattling off like an idiot.

[Tyreese Gla'dour]

Good Gods, nobody had ever told him that tailored suits chafed in places that shouldn’t be chafed. He felt like a five year old, pushing open the door with the urge to pull down his pants and streak down the street. For one thing, he had enough problems with the local police force because of his coveted Enforcer duties. And second off…hell, he wanted to make a good impression with the human woman inside the café. Seeing his naked, scarred ass would probably give her nightmares for the rest of her life.

…Well, hopefully not. He did plan on showing her more than his backside somewhere down the road.

And with that thought came the usual torrent of insecurities; something that he really wished he could beat out of himself. With the contentment fostered that fateful morning in the café, Ty couldn’t help but wonder what the hell he was doing there. He was immortal, he was hated by pretty much every other immortal because he was the face they saw when a bitch slapping was about to go down…and, oh yeah, did he mention that he was immortal? Aka, not human, not compatible, does not com-freaking-pute. Anything he started with Kayla would no doubt end up with her freaking out about his monstrous side, her freaking out about his bloodthirsty side…or her freaking out in general.

Either way, he was totally fucked. And, to make things worse, Kaera knew about his little ‘date with the human,’ which meant that if he backed down now and didn’t have a plausible story to tell the next morning, she’d kick his ass ten weeks from Friday.

Everyone feared the little, normally even tempered woman; even him. Her influence- and her threats- added to his own hidden desires to get to know more about the little shop owner had been the winning vote…and there he was. Dressed in a monkey suit, itching like crazy and wondering if his ‘date’ was about to laugh her godsdamn head off when she saw him.

…And great, he was complaining like a little girl. Gods, he needed to get out more.

However, all such intelligent thought proceeded to screech to a halt in his brain, as Kayla finally came into view. It was as if every cell in his body proceeded to go into hyperdrive, and with an inner growl that he didn’t recognize, a sense of fierce possession fired through him. She looked so delicate, so innocent, with that angelic voice of hers chattering away, that all he wanted to do was take her in his arms and hear was his name sounded like on ecstasy-laden lips.

Oh, you human traditions. How he’d like to burn you all until you screamed for death.

After clearing his throat and putting on what he hoped was a friendly expression- but what really turned out to be half intense, predatory look, and half smoldering ‘I want you naked beneath me RIGHTNOW’…godsdammit- he sauntered over to where she stood. “You look beautiful, Kayla,” He said finally, motioning for her to proceed him toward the door.

“The Riverwalk sounds perfect. I was thinking that we might go to Bousiville- I dunno if you’ve heard of it; ‘s kind of a mix between Italian and French, but real nice- then back to my place for desert. I did tell you I’d make you something to eat…but my abilities are probably lacking, when compared to your cookin’.”

As the little human locked up the shop, he couldn’t stop himself from leaning toward her while her back was turned, taking in a deep breath of the sweet aroma that practically poured off of her. How strange, this sudden want to taste a flower. Tucking his hands in his pockets to keep himself from touching her, he forced his mind back to Kaera’s detailed lessons.

“So…you said you haven’t been here long. Mind if I ask where you come from originally?”

‘Polite conversation was the path to a comfortable outing, because nobody appreciates your normally intense stares,’ the blond shifter had said. Well, Zen Master, it was time to put her lessons to the test.

[kayla]

There was that little flip flop she felt her heart give as she saw that look on his eyes once she'd managed to stop the chattering. NO ONE had ever looked at her like that. She felt the blush rising higher in her cheeks as she smiled and looked down at her feet a bit at the compliment. She'd never really learned how to take those. A giggle welled up inside her, threatening to burst free but somehow she managed to contain it, her eyes crinkling a little.

Oh yeah, she had it bad for this man. She hadn't felt so awkward and silly since she was a little girl and got her first kiss. As she turned the lock she spoke, knowing she was babbling but it was either that or just stand there and giggle like she'd lost her marbles.

"Sounds wonderful. I can't even remember a time when I've had someone cook for me that wasn't my Momma or my Grams. I'm sure it will be delicious." she reassured him as she struggled a little with the door. The daytime heat always made it swell a little and it never cooled down till later in the night. It had taken a while to get used to hearing that loud popping, groaning sound that wood did in an old place. It woke her up every night for the first four months but like all the other sounds the old place made she'd grown used to them over time.

Giving the stubborn thing a sharp, hard tug she managed to get it close enough to the frame to line up the lock and held it there as she turned the key, dropping them into her purse as she turned to see him with his hands in his pockets.

It was a little awkward, trying to figure out what to do with her own hands and she fidgeted a little as she listened to his question. Finally as they began to walk down the street she just slipped her tiny hand into the crook of his elbow. It was how a gentleman escorted a lady after all.

Looking up at that tall span of man beside her as her heels clicked on the sidewalk she smiled a little smile. "I don't mind a bit. In fact, I'm pretty much an open book. Not too much exciting has happened to me in my life so you'd probably find it pretty boring." she gave a little nervous laugh and plowed on, chattering like a magpie.

"I mean there's only so much of hearing about muckin stalls and feedin the animals that a person can hear without rolling their eyes. Trust me...I learned that one the hard way when I got here."

Wait.....what was it he had asked about? Oh! Yes, where was she from. She'd almost forgotten in her rambling and grinned a little sheepishly as she had to step a little closer to him to make room for another person passing on the sidewalk, her hand tightening on his arm and feeling that iron clad solidness beneath the shirt. Wow...It was one thing to see those muscles but entirely another to feel them. Her thoughts wandered a bit further about if the rest of his physique felt as firm as that arm and the blush crept into her cheeks again.

With a bit of dry mouth she answered, "I'm from Winchester, Kentucky originally. Not a whole lot to do there compared to New Orleans and life's a lot slower paced. I really loved it there, even get a little homesick for some green rolling hills and a little creek or pond to dip my feet into without worryin' about a gator nibbling my toes." she confessed and stole a glance over to him as she walked, enjoying the sights and sounds and smells of the city at night. It really was a beautiful place, so lively. She had no clue of the darker under belly of the city or of the dangers that lurked in the darkness.

Her lips curved in a smile so innocent and endearing it was a little heart tugging. She didn't see a glowering monster beside her. Didn't see the intimidating enforcer that struck fear in the hearts of things her nightmares were afraid of. She saw a man. A good man that treated her well and who had the cutest little smile, like a little boy when he let his guards down like that morning in the Cafe. She saw honor and respectability in a man not afraid of a hard day's work or getting his hands dirty. And for some unknown reason, even to herself, she felt an urge to reach up and rub that bald head to see what it felt like.

Fortunately she managed to keep her hands to herself as she spoke. "How about you? Ya sure don't sound like you're from around here either. Got more of a Yankee accent." she teased him lightly and tossed a wink his way to show no true sting in the words.

[Tyreese Gla'dour]

A smile crept onto the skinwalker’s face as he caught the faint signs of a blush crawl up the human’s neck. Well, thank the Gods that he wasn’t the only one inwardly freaking out. It was only thanks to years of keeping his emotions in check and naturally dark skin that had him looking cool and collected.

Inside, as they say, he was screaming bloody murder. Inwardly, he went over the list of questions that Kaera had given him to ask her, in order to keep the conversation going. He wished that he could take a peek at the little list of notes he’d tucked into his inner pocket, but that would probably be a tad inappropriate…not to mention creepy.

However, all such intelligent thought managed to ooze out his ears as that small arm went and looped through his. Instinctively, he slid his hand out of his pocket in order to give her a better purchase, and inwardly groaned.

Walking like that made sure she came up closer to him. That her scent would waft up on every breeze, that her hip would brush his in a tantalizing display of feminine curves, that her voice would sound all the louder near his ear as she spoke.

She was like a drug, and he was addicted. It wasn’t the most…delightful realization, but it was quick becoming the truth. Hades’ codpiece, he was in some deep mojo here. And yet…he was awfully content to let himself fall into the rabbit hole, if it meant staying close to the beguiling woman.

As she moved closer, Ty instinctively put a protected hand over hers, eyeing the couple as they passed. It was his job to look for signs of trouble, and now that she was so close to him…it was as if his senses were on high alert. Gods help the person who tried to hurt Kayla in any way, he thought grimly. The mere thought of someone laying a hand on her; it was enough to make his normally touchy temper snap. When he had gotten so possessive was beyond him, but there it was; the truth. With his senses on the path around him, he listened to her speak, forgetting about his hand on hers as he pictured a quaint little farmhouse and visions of getting out into the world.

When he’d thought himself a normal man, the only thing he’d ever wanted was his freedom. He’d had a family, children…but never the luxury of owning his own land. Everything he’d had, including the house in which his wife and daughters lived had belonged to the Roman politician who’d owned his very life. What would it have been like to actually own a farm as her parents had? To grow crops, to watch his children bloom and live lives of their own? He would never know.

It wasn’t exactly the most date-worthy turn of thought, but he couldn’t help the little blanket of sadness that settled on his shoulders. Thank the Gods that he had the chattering burst of sunshine next to him, or he’d have sought after a fight to push the annoying emotions away.

“Well, in its defense, Louisiana does have its natural beauty,” He said with a small answering smile to her own. “There are the parks and the bayous at night. It might be a bit dangerous and uncomfortable, with the mosquitoes and the gators…but lying on your back in a boat in the middle of the swamp at night? You’d be surprised how close you feel to the Heavens, and all of its bright little stars. Perhaps I’ll show you one time.”

Alone on a boat with the café owner…well, there was definitely an image that made him turn away from his previous depressive thoughts. He’d put the past behind him a long time ago, accepting his family’s death with as much understanding as he could. There was no reason to dwell on what was.

At her next question, Ty merely offered her yet another one of her small smiles. He’d been expecting questions into his past, and the appropriate stories had been made. He couldn’t very well say that he had a Roman accent because he was over a thousand years old. She already seemed nervous around him; how would she react to know the truth? He could see it now; eyes widening, lips parting, a scream bubbling from her throat as she turned to run away. He wanted to trust the woman, he really did…but the centuries did made a guy a bit jaded.

Hell, he’d have a nice time watching her backside as she hightailed it away from him, but he really was in loathe to chase her off so early. With a practiced ease, he merely glanced down at her as he maneuvered her around a dip in the sidewalk and another happy couple that passed by.

“You’re right; I’m not from around here originally. I spend most of my time on the East Coast, but moved out here when the work went sour. After Katrina, it seemed like Louisiana would need construction workers and handyman’s a bit more than New York.”

Before he could stop himself, however, he found himself continuing, “Originally, though, my family hails from Europe, around the Carpathian Mountains. Probably where I get some of my accent from. When I came here, I went to New York first, and I guess that’s where I picked up most of my English.”

Most of it was true; his people had been born in what was now the Carpathians, before being dragged off to Rome for the slave trade. And, after the fall, he’d returned there; living in a little house in the mountains for almost a century. Only recently had he come to America, mostly out of respect for his friend and the Council.

As the path turned into a lit string sidewalk of restaurants, shops and a narrow river, Ty could understand why she’d wanted to venture through the scenic route. Glancing sideways, he couldn’t help but reach out and tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. It looked glowing in the dim lighting of the path. Gods, he wanted to lean over and kiss her.

Saved by a restaurant. How quaint.

Nodding to a lazy sign at the end of the path, he led them toward the small building, equipped with patio tables and an ever smiling wait staff. Oh, the horrors of fake smiles…

“That’s the restaurant over there. You want to sit inside, or out?”

[kayla]

His hand was so warm and large over her own, like it belongd there. The mere thought made her head spin a little in the most wonderful of ways. She felt giddy, almost drunk and she hadn't touched a drop in almost a year. That deep, rich voice with it's gravely purr sent a shiver down her spine as he spoke of stars and Heaven and being all alone together. Butterflies fluttered in her belly and she was afraid that they'd lift her right off her feet if she wasn't careful.

That little smile of his was quickly making a permanent impression in her heart. She felt like a teenager again. And when he drew her in closer , steering her around the dip in the sidewalk she caught a whiff of the very subtle smell of him. It wasn't that over perfumed, cloying scent that many men these days wore but something far more natural and faint. The scent of musk and the outdoors. Fresh. Clean.

So nice was it that she didn't draw all the way away, her shoulder rubbing against his arm, as they continued and she stopped watching where she was walking to look up at him as he spoke. And when he tucked her hair behind her ear it was hard for her not to let her eyes slide half closed and tilt her chin up. She could almost feel his lips on hers as she looked up at him and blushed a little as she bit her bottom lip and finally looked down at the path before them again, grinning secretively. "It...it sounds lovely. The mountains and all. We got mountains in Kentucky but I've only been to 'em a few times. I was always scared of the rattlers up in 'em though." she admitted as she tried to get her overactive imagination under control.

It was their first date and already she was thinking about the little house they'd live in and what their children would look like, a little boy and a girl. She managed to stop herself before she started picking out names and getting the wild urge to doodle her name on the napkins with his last name.

Looking over at the restaurant she couldn't help but smile broadly at it's quaint little setting and the intimate lighting of the tables with their centerpieces with the little white candles in them. "Oh..could we sit outside? That would be so nice on a spring night like this." she asked a little hesitantly as she looked up at him, eyes brimming with a light like a kid at an amusement park. "Unless you'd prefer to sit inside. I know you're out in the open air all day and all and understand if you don't wanna."

She didn't want to seem too pushy after all. The sounds of a band playing nearby wafted over the area, faint and lyrical adding to the ambiance of the evening. There was a cool breeze that flitted through the area and lifted a bit of her hair, carrying his scent to her as the wind swirled around them playfully before moving on.

[Tyreese Gla'dour]

Gods, but he felt so damn comfortable, walking with her like this. It was as if she belonged melded against his side, and the sight of her contented smile made something he hadn’t felt in a long time surge up into his chest. Why did he feel so damn happy that she was happy? And nervous, for Hades’ sake! He’d gone into battle against men, beasts that were twice his size and just as ferocious- well, ferocious enough; as if anyone could match HIM when he was pissed off- but walking arm in arm with this fragile little human?

The words ‘break,’ ‘careful’ and ‘holy shit’ were sounding in his godsdamn head like godsdamn gongs. It was as if every step he took had to be measured and calculating, so as not to harm the woman in any way. The realization both annoyed and amused him, as he steered her around yet another hole in the sidewalk. Good Gods, someone had to come and fix the damn thing before someone killed themselves!

And there he went again, with the worrying! What the hell was he, Grandma Ty?!

Rolling his shoulders a bit against the strain, he forced his mind to stop its whirling. Kaera warned him about this, when she’d lectured him on how to go about bringing a woman on a date. She’d said not to think about things too much; just be himself and have a good time. But c’mon now…him? Being himself?

If he so much as gave Kayla a PEEK at who he was, or the things he were capable of…he could just imagine it now. That pretty face, smiling up at him as he spoke, would morph itself into the picture of horror. She would curse him, run away from him, wish that she’d never met him…

And it mattered. Never in all of the years after his ‘death,’ had he gave two farts about what other people thought. Yet, there he was, feeling a burning in the pit of his stomach at the thought of her hating him.

Ulcer. It had to be an ulcer.

At the sight of her smile, however, all such thoughts seemed to evaporate in his head. All he could think of was how to redo whatever he’d just done to incite such a reaction again. Her smile, her voice…

The fact that he was sounding like a freaking poet in his freaking head. Good Gods, he was in over his head.

Of course, that didn’t stop him from bending to her will like a teenager with his first crush. “Outside it is,” He said with a small smile of his own. As they approached the restaurant, he turned his normally cool gaze on the maître’d and curtly relayed her wishes. Instinct demanded that he case the room, taking in the various humans and others with a practiced ease. Those with non-human blood quickly made themselves very busy with their own conversations when they caught sight of the well known Council Enforcer, while the humans went about, ignorant.

In no time, they were being escorted to the terrace. Per Kaera’s orders- and with a little eyeball at the waiter, who made himself scarce for the moment- Ty moved around the table and pulled Kayla’s chair out for her. When she was seated, he strolled to his side, eyes flickering over the gathered diners in a last minute attempt to judge the crowd, and seated himself. Only then, did the waiter work up enough nerve to hand them their menus.

“I hope you have an appetite, Kayla,” He said after a minute, not bothering to touch the menu. He’d been to the place enough times to know what he wanted. “This place has got a really good lasagna that’s my weight in noodles. Everything’s family style, so order whatever you want. Just leave enough room for desert.”

And then, came the screeching brakes. Uh oh…dinner meant small talk. Did he even KNOW how to small talk? Hiding an unhappy growl, he ducked his head and gulped down some of the quickly served water.

[kayla]

She watched his face discretely as he efficiently handled the seating and the staff, impressed with his worldliness. She'd never be able to do it like that and not seem like some kind of big goober hick that they would laugh at in the kitchens. It was interesting to see how people hopped to do what the big man wanted. At one time she might have thought him intimidating but for some reason it just didn't sit well with her now. Now she saw him with different eyes that for God only knew why, she wasn't the least bit frightened or intimidated by him. In fact...his mere presence made her feel strangely safe.

Her small hand left his arm as he pulled the chair out for her and helped sit, her palm feeling suddenly far too cool without the warmth of that curled bicep under it. In fact her entire body felt a little cooler now that it wasn't brushing his side with each step. A small shiver slipped through her at the chill but as she looked up and across the soft illumination of the candle glow on the table and saw that face looking back at her a warmth seeped into her.

A small chuckle escaped her that she tried to hide behind the menu as she raised it, seeing the pictures but not really reading it. She saw his ducked head as he drank the water and it just made something inside her do a little flip flop. He was just so cute when he got a little shy like that. Her eyes flitted over the top of the menu and merriment shone in them as she spoke. "That's a dangerous thing to say Ty...We country gals have a mighty big appetites." she teased him a little, shocking herself at the slightly flirty tone and a blush creeping into her cheeks at her own boldness, and all the while not even realizing the double entendre she had made.

Clearing her throat and setting the menu down she picked up her water, sipping it as she tried to think of something to salvage what she'd just said. "I'll take your word on the lasagna though, after all you have great taste in food." she said with a bit of a grin that made the corners of her eyes crinkle a little, the candlelight glittering in those chocolaty brown eyes of hers.

Folding the menu and resting it on the table she remained silent, letting Ty order for the two of them and cursing herself as she remembered the scene in Lady and the Tramp and imagined sharing a noodle like that. It only served to make her grin grow wider as she tried to conceal it and she rested her hands in her lap as the waiter collected the menus and made for the kitchens post haste.

Raising her eyes a little shyly she spoke, small talk being second nature for the country mouse. Where she was from folks were generally pretty genial and talked to one another all the time. Small talk made it sound so trivial and impersonal but she knew that it was the opposite. Sharing those small pleasantries helped people to bond and keep in touch with one another, to strengthen the sense of community and remind yourself of your own humanity and how it related to the world around you through perspective.

"So I know you're pretty handy with tools and you have great taste in food and that you clean up well. I also know you come from mountain folk like me and you grew up in the Big Apple." She paused and winked, adding a bit of a side dialogue there playfully, "But I'll forgive ya of that last one." she teased before going on.

"But I don't really know that much about you. Like... what do you enjoy doing for fun or if you're a football fan ..or..what your favorite color is, do you like animals? Are you outdoorsy or more of a city boy? So tell me...who is the real Ty?" It was an innocent question as evidenced by her smile. She was interested in him as a person, not as an enforcer, an employee, or what she could benefit out of knowing him. But the man himself, that's who she wanted to know.

Under the table she fidgeted with her fingers worrying over the lacy edges of her sleeves, feeling so delightfully nervous about this date. Kind of like waiting for the roller coaster to take off, jittery and on edge but in a good way. In the Cafe she was so sure of herself and her place in the world, often appearing....more..everything. But out here in the open spaces of the world she seemed so much smaller, an endearing timidness that seemed to cling to her in her innocent wonder of the simplest things in the world around her.

[kayla]

How odd it was, to feel so empty without that foreign body beside his. As the big man pulled out her chair and settled himself across from her, the urge to scooch over until he could smell that sweet scent...yeah, he was definitely in trouble. Kaera's advice had not prepared him for this sense of...intimacy. It came so suddenly, so unexpectedly, so EASILY. If he were a poet instead of a murderer, he'd think that his soul had found a haven. That, no matter what, he had found a woman who would see the truth in him, away from the monster inside.

It was a good thing that he was no damn poet. As if he could put trust in anyone but himself. Like THAT had worked so well in the past. Godsdamn, gladiator, he thought to himself with a mental snort of disgust. Just choose something to fuckin' eat and stop thinking.

Mind rolling over the double entendre she shot out, his eyes darted up from the menu to zone in on her face, a flash of heat surging through him. Hades, if she was going to talk like that all night, this dinner was going to be more painful than he'd thought...in more ways than one. Taking another gulp of the cool water to calm himself- he was not a caveman, he was not a caveman- he managed a small, albeit strained smile. Thank the Gods he had no idea that she'd been thinking of him as 'shy,' or he'd have been honor bound to break a table in half.

"Well, I guess we're matched in that regard," He finally replied, concentrating solely on her appetite for FOOD, rather than another more...pleasurable delights. Thank Gods for the tablecloth, and for the fidgeting waiter who hurried over when their menus closed. Ordering the lasagna, a vegetable dish and the restaurant's famous meatballs, he watched the younger man turn about face and scurry toward the kitchens. Children these days; born without back bones. In his day and age, one had to be the meanest, toughest bastard to survive. If he'd ever turned tail and run from a muscled guy with a barking voice? Instant death. Sometimes, he wondered about the changing times, and if the years really did bring about change for the better.

Feeling eyes on him, he slowly turned his attention back to Kayla. Suddenly, the thought of her dressed in flowing silk robes came to the forefront of his mind. With her giving, kind, gentle nature, she would have been a shoe-in for a priestess. Or maybe some high class politician's wife. She would have looked down on him while he was in the ring, fighting for his life, with pity in her eyes. Out of a crowd of screaming, bloodthirsty voices, she would have found no pleasure in what he'd been forced to do; he just knew it.

Now, whether or not that was something to make him feel better, was another question entirely.

The sound of her voice brought him back to reality, and Ty couldn't help but feel himself relax as he listened to it. It was like a song; soothing and lyrical. In today's world, he found just about everyone to be a nuisance that he'd love to squash...until he met her. Yet, the song turned into something akin to a car crash as she proceeded to ask that dreaded question.

And now, to start off a wonderful evening with a lie. He was used to it by now, but for some odd reason, it just felt wrong to lie to the little human. But yeah, that'd get on great: 'well, I'm actually the Enforcer for the Council of the Otherworld, which's the governing body of the non-human community. And on that note, I'm also a shapeshifter, which means I can look like anybody if I want to.' That would really make her want to sit there and break bread with him.

"The real Ty..." He repeated with a less than enthusiastic smile. "There isn't much to tell, Kayla. I dislike sports because, I admit, I don't like working with other people. And I like to...box for fun."

Oh, awesome, tell the girl that his only hobby was fighting. No, he wasn't abusive...with an internal grumble, he did his best to plow forward, hoping she wouldn't look too far into it. "My favorite color is blue...and I get cranky when I'm cooped up, so I like the outdoors." With a pause, he coughed and looked up at her, shifting a bit uneasily. "Anymore questions?"



Dewy-eyed and utterly innocent of the answers that her questions might could potentially reveal she listened, trying not to fidget her hands under the table, resting them on her lap and holding them together as she listened to him. She loved watching the expressions move over his face and the way his brow would furrow and crinkle. Even the half attempted smiles that he gave. She knew they weren't entirely genuine and that bothered her a little. More than a little. She wanted to see those real smiles she knew he had in him, the ones she'd glimpsed before.

His smile was dazzling when it came out and the mere thought of it had her reigning in a sigh. He was outdoorsy, not much of a team player but she'd known enough of those to know it wasn't always a bad thing. "Blue is a good color on you." she said as she glanced at his suit and smiled a bit shyly. Taking note of his discomfort she glanced away a little to the side and brought her hands up to rest on the table.Some of that pity that he'd imagined in his mind showed through those big brown eyes as she looked back at him and smiled gently. Eyebrows raised a little as she spoke in soft tones she tilted her head to one side, causing those long brown locks of hers to shift and slide over her shoulder a bit, catching the light of the candles and revealing the glints of lighter caramel streaks where the sun itself had kissed her crown. "Just one." she said at his last question.

She picked up her glass to have a sip of water as she mentally prepared what she was going to ask, not wanting to just be a jabbering idiot as she spoke this time and seeking a little elegance for a change. When she sat the glass down and folded her hands over each other she raised her eyes to his once more. "It sounds like you're a pretty solitary person. Don't you ever get lonely?" It was an earnest question, devoid of design or scorn. The thought of him being so alone pricked at her heart in ways she wasn't sure she was comfortable with. She barely knew him after all, she shouldn't be feeling so head over heels about him this soon. The last time she'd done that it had ended badly.


"Thank you," He said with a small tilt of his head, resisting the urge to glance down at himself. She thought he looked good in blue? Gods, why did he feel the sudden urge to go shopping for colors that she would like? As she gave him the compliment, a shy smile crossed over her face and the urge to lean across the table and steal a kiss was almost too much to bear. She was so fragile, so innocent, and sported a spine of steel that the warrior inside recognized and respected. She was, as disgustingly poetic as it may sound, a breath of fresh air after centuries of wandering through a fog. He'd met his fair share of women over the years, had felt the slight stirring of natural attraction...but nothing as strong and PRIMAL as this. It was almost like he was an animal who'd found his godsdamn mate; the idea funny enough to make him want to burst out laughing. He'd gotten his chance at happiness when he was still human. There would be no second chances, no 'soul mates,' for crying out loud. He was a fool, sitting there with such...bright thoughts roaming around in his bald head.

Yet...if that were true, why was he there? It was a question that seemed to echo as he took another gulp of water, taking a moment to scan the crowd and those walking around the cobble path. He had no idea what the hell he was doing, or why the hell he was there. But, despite his dark thoughts, he couldn't help but feel...comfortable around the woman. Happy, even.

Her last question threw him off guard, jerking her mind from the bitter thoughts. Surprised, Ty could only blink at her for a moment, his fingers tightening on the water glass before he forced himself to set it down. His first instinct was to lie; to tell her that he was completely content with his lifestyle. But, as he settled back in his chair, schooling his face into its normal neutral mask, he looked up to catch her eye.

"Sometimes, I guess I do," He said, voice a soft rumble. "But you get used to being alone, when you been solitary as long as I have," A rueful grin twitched his lips as he looked down at his idle hands. "And it's not like I'm alone all the time. An old friend and his family's always pulling me into things. Sometimes, I kinda wish I had that much alone time."


A small chuckle left her lips at that last comment. "Oh I know what that's like, havin' a big family and more of one in an extended family. Where I'm from everybody knows everybody and everybody's business." She shrugged a bit and smiled. "It's not so bad though. Everyone pulls together and helps each other out and you always have someone lookin out for ya like say...you tire blows out on some back road you can be sure that the person that comes along will stop and help or at least give ya a ride home."

She couldn't stop her fingers from fidgeting with the little glass candle holder on the table, twisting it slowly as she spoke and sending little glimmers of prisms over the both of them as she twisted it. "I used ta work at a local bar back home as a waitress and it was never unusual to give one of the patrons a ride home when they'd had too much. Or when a tornado took out Old Man Wright's barn, the whole community pitched in and we had a barn raising to build him a new one." Her fingers left the little glass votive and came to her lips as she covered them a moment and blushed, smiling sheepishly.

"And I'm babbling aint I? Bad habit I'm afraid. I'm sure you don't give two whips about that stuff. Sorry." she said with a little chuckle.

She was saved from further embarrassing herself as the waiter appeared with a bottle of wine and showed it to Ty before uncorking it and handing him the cork to smell the bouquet of the wine. Waiting for a nod of approval he poured two glasses and left the bottle on the table as another waiter approached behind him with his arms laden with the platters of food.

Kayla looked across the table, stealing a glance at the big man across from her and amidst the clatter of the dishes being served to them let a tiny little sigh slip from her lips, quiet enough that the waiters wouldn't have heard it. That happy smile parted her lips just slightly and she stole her eyes back down to the food on the table, the aromas of the food enticing and making her mouth water.

Remember to your manners Kayla, she scolded herself as she felt her mouth water and hoped her stomach wouldn't grumble. "It all looks and smells wonderful." she commented as she folded her hands in her lap.

[kayla]

Well, despite all that mental anguish about how bad of an idea it was to be on a freaking DATE with a freaking HUMAN, he found himself leaning forward a bit as she began to spout off evidence of her past. The small town life sounded like it suited her, and the image of her sun dress-wearing self flitting around a homey cottage down South had a smile quirking his lips. Why had she left her home for New Orleans? It wasn't like the place was a dump...but it was obvious that she enjoyed her previous life. Why the change?

"You're not babbling," He said slowly, watching the play of light from the glass under her fingertips. "You're doing me the honor of letting me know you." And just as the words left his mouth, he immediately wished that he'd bitten them back. How freaking corny could he sound in one night? Well, at least he wasn't openly ogling her anymore, right? Wait, scratch that; his eyeballs were practically drinking in the glowing sight of her face as the waiter brought their food over. Oh, to feel a pulse of satisfaction as she practically beamed down at the food. That annoying part of him was reverting back to an animal state, and he couldn't help the urge to seriously enjoy the fact that he was providing his mate with sustenance.

His mate. Good Gods, he was going completely insane. If he turned into some psychotic stalker and started hanging out around her cafe at night, he was going to have Wulf lop off his head. Fuck.

Though he loved the restaurant's food, he disliked the formality of its wait-staff. Did he WANT to stick his nose into the damn wine glass? No, man, just pour the thing and go away. As if sensing his customer's irritation, the younger man made a gurgling noise, quickly set their plates onto the table and hurried away. There...much better.

Now, what the hell did Kaera say about eating? Don't inhale the plate, don't chomp, slurp, or eat like he was in a barracks. Damn, if it was hard; the place had some real good lasagna and all he wanted to do was eat 'til he popped. But there were more important things to take care of, he thought with a little sigh. Pushing himself to his feet, he leaned slightly over the table and cut a good portioned section of the lasagna, placing it onto an empty plate. With a flop that had some sauce shooting onto the table, a curse as he eyed the little red spot that missed her dress by only a bit, and another curse as the steaming sauce fell on his thumb, he managed to shove the plate in front of Kayla.

Probably scaring the ever living hell out of her in the process. Man, this was a bad idea. He knew nothing about being civilized.

"Uh...sorry," He muttered, cutting himself his own slice and repeating the process: sauce everywhere, sailor-curse and a burnt digit. Yeah, his calling was never food. "Guess I'm a bit rusty at this. I normally do take out or cook my own food...uh, you want anything else? More?" He held up the little spatula and looked up at her face, brows raised in question. He probably looked like a two year old serving Mommy some eggs. Dammit, this was really a bad idea.




The softness that entered her eyes at that one, simple comment said volumes. The honor of letting him know her? He made such a simple thing sound so...intimate and meaningful. It had her blushing a bit as she ducked her head and smiled shyly. When she peeked up she caught his eyes on her and smiled a little wider as she set her hands in her lap and closed her eyes to say a small prayer of blessing on the food.

It was non intrusive, her way of going about it, not expecting her company to join in but holding true to her own beliefs. Once done she looked back up and picked up her fork as her ankles switched over under the table, crossing the other way as she watched him serve her the food and inhales the aromas.

She was able to bite back the first little chuckle at his irritation at serving her the food. She was an old pro at such things but that was her profession. She was used to it. She let him tend his own thumb the first time but by the time he did it the second time she reached across the table and took his hand, having him set the spatula down in the dish before guiding it gently over towards her. The mouse leading the lion.

A small kiss was placed on his burnt thumb and she let just enough of that natural talent of hers out to soothe the pain of the burn, a small tingling feeling let behind where her lips had been. "Maybe I should do that next time. I'm used to the hotness. I got so many burns from an oven when I first started it isn't even funny. So I'm sort of immune to it now." she said and her hand lingered on his a moment before she released him and smiled, using her fork to cut off a bit of the lasagna.

That first bite was heavenly, the combination of sauce and cheese and meat and paste melting on her tongue and causing her to utter a small sound of pleasure at it's flavor as she closed her eyes, chewing. Once she managed to chew enough to swallow she looked over at him and grinned. "I don't know what you plan on eating tonight cause I think I might just fight ya over the rest of that." she said with a grin and a twinkle of playfulness in her eyes.

"I have ta warn ya...I fight dirty." she said in jest and laughed as she cut another piece and glanced back down at her plate. it was so nice to share a meal with someone in a place that wasn't her own roof. To have someone else cook for her, even if it was just a meal that they paid for instead of made with their own hands. The soft sounds of the music being played nearby filtered in to where they sat and she couldn't have thought of a more perfect night she'd ever had in her life as she looked across the table at him.

[kayla]

Damn, if he couldn't perform the simplest of tasks when around her. What the hell was up with this? He couldn't manage to serve a simple slice of lasagna without christening the table? It was like he was a teenager on his first date; tripping over his own tongue and spilling things everywhere. The waiter was gonna shit a brick when he saw the pristine white table cloth. Man, this' why he usually stayed in...was probably embarrassing the hell out of Kayla...if he was lucky, she'd just find it all amusing and ask to go home...

The thoughts whirled through his mind as he fought the childish urge to stab the offending plate of food. Dammit, who knew that noodles could be so freaking slippery! GET ON THE DAMN PLATE, DAMN YOU!

However, all rational thought ceased to be, as those butterfly fingers grasped his own. Just like outside, when her arm had wrapped around his, he felt a surge of heat shoot up his hand and into other less used places. He watched her hands as they urged the spatula from his fingers and brought his hand to her lips. He inhaled sharply as she kissed his thumb, the burn quickly forgotten. His other hand came up to trace his fingers along the soft curve of her cheek, and lingering for a minute as she pulled away. Was she saying something to him? His brain fought to take in the words, but he was too caught up with the urge to lean down and kiss her. Oh, but he wanted to taste her...to take that sunshine into himself and burn away the darkness lurking there.

As she started to eat, he forced himself to retreat across the table. Gods, it was the hardest thing he'd ever done, but to remain standing was to reveal a part of his anatomy that had stood up and taken notice of her attentions...literally. Shifting a bit uncomfortably in his chair, he started in on his meal, intent on focusing on eating, rather than imagining those soft lips against his. Would she moan his name when he took her? Scream and beg him for more?

Gods, he was eating! Yes, that's it; he was freaking eating. Focus on her words, Gladiator, he growled at himself, shoving a fork full of lasagna into his mouth. It was a bit late in coming but, chewing thoughtfully, a frown pulled his lips downward. She got burned a lot, did she? The thought of anything harming that soft skin made the muscles in his eyes twitch.

He would buy her a pair of flame-proof gloves. Elbow-length. And be around during the day to pull out hot pans for her. Yes, that was the answer.

A slow smile spread onto his lips as he decided on a plan, and he looked up at her. Fight dirty? "I'd just let you win," He replied smoothly, wiping his mouth with the edge of his napkin, Old World style. He might have been a slave and went around, proud of his hermit lifestyle, but he wasn't a freaking cave man.

"Though...it's tempting to see what your definition of 'dirty' might be. Let me guess...a duel of forks?" With a just-as-teasing grin on his face, he lifted his fork up in a show of a swordsman's salute.


Blushing a little and ducking her head as she smiled at the light brush to her cheek she kept her eyes off him. Those little fluttery things in her belly was like a cyclone that spun all the way up from her lower belly to her chest from that soft, gentle touch. Who would have ever thought that such large, calloused hands could be so tender?

As flustered as she was, those unfamiliar feelings of longing for something that had never really done much for her in the past...she was REALLY glad that she had some food to put in her mouth to keep herself from looking like a fool. Her Grams had always said 'Better to be silent and look a Fool than open your mouth and leave no doubts about it.'

She caught those dark eyes as he looked up, her own darting to him and fro till she saw the slow smile on those beautiful lips. She blinked a few times to concentrate and finished off her bite, resting her fork on the plate a moment. She raised her eyebrows in an 'oh really' expression on hearing him say that he'd just let her win and grinning. Well that just wasn't fun.

But the attempt at challenging with a fork made her giggle and she brought the napkin to her lips to dab at them lightly. "No..." she said with a little shake her of hand, taking a sip of the wine from the glass. "I'm afraid even a fuel of forks that I'd be outmatched. And anyway..." her hand gesturing a bit she dropped her napkin on the ground "oh..." she began to move to retrieve it, assuming that he would offer based on his gentlemanly manner he'd shown so far.

Waiting til he took his eyes off the table and bent to pick up the napkin she reached across the table and speared a chunk of his lasagna and filched it, pulling it onto her plate and cutting into it before taking a bite, chewing innocently as he sat back up and accepted the napkin from him. She grinned playfully and tried not to laugh as she saw him look at his plate quizzically. Her eyes turned to the sky and she smiled a little, twirling her fork on the plate a bit.

The bite washed down, she sighed a little and picked up her wine glass. "I'm sorry what was the question again?" she asked all too sweetly and winked to him before the blush tinted her cheeks a bit. She didn't know what had gotten into her. She -never- flirted. Sure she was nice to everyone and some folks might think it's being flirty but she never meant it that way.

...until now.

What was getting into her?!? The rest of the main course went much the same way. Little bits of banter interspersed between her own blushes and stolen glances. If she'd had more wine she would have sworn that it had went straight to her head but the one glass was what she regulated herself to, sipping on her water here and there. She didn't want to make an idiot of herself this night after all and she'd seen too many drunks. She knew what they could be like.

A good heaping helping of the lasagna was polished off before she decided that to eat anymore would just be unladylike. Especially if she wanted any dessert. Resting her hands in her lap she looked across the table at him, catching the rare moment to be able to really look at him as he sat there. The strong angle of his jaw, the width of his shoulders. Those strong but oh so gentle hands. The poor thing looked so uncomfortable in his suit and the fact that he'd worn it for her was touching.

Next time, she told herself silently, she'd take him on a more relaxed date. Maybe some homemade hot wings, beer, and a movie. Maybe even at her loft. The thought made her blush a bit deeper than usual and she ducked her head but it was too late, she knew he'd seen her. Clearing her throat she tried to look up and had the most sheepish expression on her face. "So...what was this you were saying about dessert?" she said to try to take her mind off of the fact that she was thinking of bringing him up to her home and wondering what it would be like to snuggle up on the couch with him.

[Tyreese Gla'dour]

Continued in How to Woo a Human!