"Steeeeeve!" the girl yelled running at him, and then threw herself in his strong arms
"Hi Ling, what's going on?" he asked hugging her back tightly
"Have you forgotten?"
"No… perhaps… "
"You are always the same!" she exclaimed doing her childish sulk
"Sorry sweetie but I was busy with boxing, will you forgive me?"
"If you buy me a pet!"
"A pet? It's a big responsibility!"
"Please pleeeeease!" exclaimed Ling, practically begging him
"I'll think about it… "
Xiao let him go and kissed him
Steve took her hand in his
"Would you like to be accompanied at home?"
She looked at him with her big light brown eyes and nodded
"It's… a good idea" she responded, squeezing his hand
They were on her way home and something caught Xiaoyu's attention: an ice cream seller.
She was drooling
"Steve? Can we?" she pointed her finger at the ice cream seller, the flavours were so intense he could almost taste it
"Steeeeve! That ice cream seller is the best in town!"
"All right, which flavours do you want?" the blond asked exasperated, took out his wallet to take a look at how much he got
'Just one hundred dollars? I must go to work soon…'
Ling choose one small cone of vanilla and chocolate while Steve choose an ice cream cone of smurf and mint
"How much?"
"Ten dollars"
Steve widened his eyes 'two ice cream TEN DOLLARS? He's mad!'
"Not to be rude, but why does it cost so much?"
The seller narrowed his eyes, watching him carefully
"Listen young man, I'm the best ice cream seller around here, if you don't like my ice cream, go somewhere else"
Such arrogance in an old man!
"I didn't say I don't like your ice cream, I was wondering why it cost so much" Steve replied trying to stay calm, he detested people like him
"Taste it and you're not going to tell me a third time"
Steve sniffed the ice cream and then took a bite 'it's...wonderful! No, it's more; the mint is strong but the aftertaste is sweet like honey'
"So?" the seller asked, pride in his voice
"I've never eaten an ice cream like this!"
"I told you eheheheh! It's my secret recipe" he paid without thinking about the price, what he was savouring send him in paradise
For a long time they were silent eating their delicious dessert until someone, from behind, pushed Steve aside, his ice cream met Xiaoyu's lips
"HEY WATCH OUT!" the ocean eyed boy yelled, he then realised and took away the cone from her "are you ok?"
"Yup. Am I nice with this new lipstick?"
Steve laughed "you're beautiful..." he bent toward her and licked away the ice cream "and good"
Xiao went red like a tomato, the blonde chuckled and kissed her
When they arrived, Ling asked him if he wanted to stay for the night, Steve accepted and went inside
"Mom! We're at home!" Ling yelled putting on her slippers
"We who?" asked her mother from the kitchen
A middle aged woman welcomed them
"Oh… you pick up a really nice guy honey! More than that Jin Kazama! I'm Jiao, nice to meet you" she smiled offering him her hand to shake
"Mom please! Jin was my friend not my boyfriend!" she explained getting red
"So that handsome guy has a girlfriend?"
"I'm Steve Fox, nice to meet you too ma'am" he shakes her hand "I think that my mother has an affair with him, but I'm not sure… "
"Oh? Your mother is that Irish beauty? ... But she's twenty four years old, how old are you my darling?"
"I'm twenty one years old ma'am"
Xiao's mom was speechless and confused
Steve just smiled "It's a long story"
"Undoubtedly…"
"Mom please" Xiaoyu cut in "Steve will stay here for the night, okay? Don't torture him with personal questions!" she took his hand and led him upstairs
"Have fun my dear…" Jiao said with a smirk, thinking back of the good times when she was at the age of her daughter
"MOM! We're not going to do anything of what you're thinking!"
Jiao chuckled
A couple of hours after dinner, they went to bed. Steve was sleeping peacefully in a guest room, when Xiaoyu shook him lightly
"Hmm… what's up?" he asked in a sleepy voice
"I had a terrible nightmare... can I sleep with you?"
"Come here"
The black haired girl instantly went under the covers next to his boyfriend
"Thanks" she said nuzzling up against his chest
"Zzz…"
'He is so cute when he's asleep' she kissed him sweetly and fell asleep minutes later.
That morning, Steve was surprised to see her still asleep
Usually she gets up early for a walk in the park. She isn't a lazy girl, but today is a special day: it's her birthday
The blonde shook her gently "Xiao wake up, I have a surprise for you"
Xiaoyu woke up immediately "a surprise?"
Steve nodded and handled her a small wrapped box
A little squeak left her lips, she unwrapped her gift in a flash and opened the box
Inside there was a silver charm bracelet, adorned with multiple green beads and one single panda in the middle
She looked up at him, her eyes seemed to shine
"Thank you Steve, this is the best gift I have ever received!" she eclaimed hugging him
Ling meaned every word: the ones she loves by her side and his present 'I couldn't ask for more right now!'
He detached himself from her embrace, his hands cupped her cheeks and watched her intently
"I love you" the black haired girl whispered, leaning for a kiss
The blonde just smiled and kissed her "I love you too"