Author stuff: Hey, guys! Sorry about getting this up earlier. My boss called me in to work for a few hour today. A coworker of mine was arrested for driving with a suspended license late last week. So, more monies for me!

A super big thanks to kw1o1, fryingpanninja, Sheenaggp11, SerenaYoru, RavenxRobin, PokespBlazey, Piper Aurora Potter, PepperedMint, Livy2019, 247NERD, and dreamlit-deadalist for the favs and the follows. Hugs and loves to you guys! (Sorry if I missed anyone, I'm working off my phone.)

To my guest reviewer: I thought long and hard about Cinder in a dress, and my thoughts are that she's kind of forced into them for meetings, outings, and whatnot on a fairly regular basis. While she has no particular dislike for dresses, she wouldn't be herself if she wore a dress on a date. And Kai would like her no matter what she wears.

Well, That Could Have Been Worse

By iOc

Chapter Two

"So, where are you meeting him?" Iko said, setting the brush down on the reflective surface of the vanity. Cinder stuck her tongue out at her "I can't believe you're not wearing a dress. You look so pretty in dresses."

"I don't know what we're doing. A dress would be a terrible idea if we go to, I don't know, an amusement park or something."

"Here," Cress said, handing Cinder her boots. The petite blonde had furiously been buffering out a scuff mark Cinder accidentally made when she'd tripped over the ottoman that morning.

"Thanks," she said, slipping her feet in and tightening the laces before tying them. She stood up and tugged on the hem of the shirt. It felt good to be wearing normal clothes again.

At the last minute, she'd decided to ditch the nice blouse for a fitted plaid shirt that she'd rolled up the sleeves and a nice undershirt. She looked ready for a regular evening out. Or in. She could really go for either — especially in.

"You look like your about to vomit," Iko said, wrinkling her nose.

"I feel like I'm about to vomit."

"That's perfectly normal. It's your first date together. Well, besides the ball, but this is the first, official Kaider date."

"Kaider?"

"It's the couples name the tabloids gave you two," Cress said. "I kind of like it. It's better than Çaito. It's easier to type up, too."

Cinder groaned and fell back on the bed. She didn't care if she messed up her hair or what little makeup Iko had thought to apply. Smoky eyes were in again, right?

"We're going to be spotted, aren't we?"

"Not if you two keep low key. It shouldn't be too hard. I mean, if anything happens, you can use your magic and —"

"It's not magic," Cress said, organizing the vanity.

"What?"

"It's not magic, it's bioelectrical manipulation."

"Right. Use the bio-whatsit on people and get out of there. You'll be fine. Now, up on your feet."

Iko pulled Cinder's lethargic body up into a sitting position with little difficulty.

"Can I just crawl back into bed, and you tell Kai that I'm not going to make it to our date?"

"Cinder, you'll be fine," Cress said, sighing. "It' just Kai. He's still the same goofy idiot who wanted to go to the ball with you three years ago. Besides, he'd be all heartbroken if you ditch him last moment. Now, where are you meeting him?"

"Off palace grounds at this little tea shop my sister used to like, the Honey Tree. And then… whatever he has planned. He wanted to show me a few things, but I have no idea what he wants to do."

"Right. So, when do you have to leave?"

"In about…" Cinder checked the time in the corner of her vision. "In about five minutes."

"Okay, let's head down, then."

"Hey, Cress?"

"Hm?"

"Did you get nervous for your first date with Thorne?"

"Not really, no. I fell in a lake. It's a bit better than Wolf and Scarlet. She met his parents back when we were all on Luna."

"Wow, great first date. Is there anything I should know?"

"Just be yourself," Iko said. "Kai likes you for who you are. And smile. You're really pretty when you smile."

Cinder was glad that she wore boots instead of heels like Iko wanted — her friend adamantly protested that heels would look nice. When New Beijing made the change from the old gasoline guzzling wheeled cars to hover cars, the roads were changed from black pavement to cobblestone. In heels, they would have been difficult to traverse. Not to mention she'd be taller than Kai, which would be extremely awkward.

She didn't have to walk all the way, just down the little block. Cars were forbidden from driving through from either side. It was a cozy little section — mostly privately owned stores, a bakery, and the tea shop. It looked exactly as she remembered.

New Beijing had hardly changed between the three years of her going back and forth from the Earthen Union to Luna. The atmosphere hung heavily on her shoulders as summer started to set in over the city. There was the tangy metal taste in the air mixed with all sorts of delicious smelling foods from all over. The streets were a constant maze of life and color — though with the annual ball and celebrations coming up, the city was once again in a festive mood. She would never tire of seeing the paper lanterns strung up from lamp posts and telephone wires. They were the chains of light leading her back home — leading her to the Honey Tree.

She halted her steps to the tea shop when she spotted a familiar form leaning against the wall. He was looking away from her, but already Cinder could feel her partially synthetic heart attempting to break out of her rib cage — the rat-tat-tap beating reverberated through her head. He was dressed just as casually as she was in jeans and a hoodie, black this time and decorated with metallic lettering.

Before she could leap into an alleyway in a final attempt at an escape, he turned to look in her direction. When his eyes caught hers, his face lit up with a smile and he waved. She was at his side, cheeks aching from the grin — was she smiling and when did her knees find the strength to walk the rest of the way? — but she couldn't resist. She pulled him into a hug.

Warnings of hormone levels increasing flashed across her vision, but she ignored them. She was hugging Kai and… and his arms her holding her in place.

He smelled of some sort of cologne and soap and incense. And he was warm and firm. Had she not hugged him before, she would have doubted that it would be possible, but yes she quite liked being held by him. It was reassuring.

"Hey," he said, his breath tickling her ear and cheek as he pulled away.

"Hey," she said. Not for the first time, she was glad that he wouldn't be able to see her blush. If he knew how embarrassed she was by her instinctive reaction, he would have run far, far away by now.

She felt stupid, smiling up at him and him smiling down at her. The giddy excitement that passed through her as they waited for the other to say something sent shivers down her back.

"So, uh," he said, stuffing his hands in his pockets as his eyes skittered away from her for the first time, "you… You look great."

"Thanks," she said, smile softening — her cheeks felt relieved and so did she. She wasn't the only one who didn't know what to say or do. "you look great, too."

"So, um, shall we?" He offered up his elbow to her. She looked between his face and the elbow as he waited patiently for her to take it. With shaky hands, she looped her arm through his.

He lead her, beaming at her and glancing around every now and again, down the street and turned the corner. They waited patiently with other pedestrians for the light to change.

Across the street, black smoke streamed out of a noodle shop as something caught fire. Cinder turned away, not wanting to see the flames. There were a few panicked cries before people cheered.

The light changed.

"Fire still gets to you," Kai said quietly, walking as quickly as he could to get them across the street safely. When they reached the curb, their pace slowed dramatically.

"Yeah," she said. "Even with Levana gone, it's just…" She waved her mechanical hand at him. "It's kind of permanent. I mean, I could get skin grafting to appear normal. But, it's just…"

"I like it. The foot, too. It makes you more… Cinder-y."

"'Cinder-y'?"

"It's very you. You wouldn't be Cinder without the hand and the foot and the really cool eyes."

Cinder snorted and subconsciously tightened her grip on his arm. Her cheeks were starting to hurt again and so was her heart. How could any guy be this sweet?

"So, where are we going?" she said.

"We are going someplace you have never been."

"You know I could just look up some places to go in this area."

"That would be cheating. Besides, I don't know when you're going to be here again, and I want you to see it before you go."

"You sound like you're five."

"You shush."

They walked in silence down another block before Kai stopped her.

"Okay," he said, "I need you to trust me for a bit and tie this over your eyes."

He held out a green handkerchief to her.

"What?" she said, crossing her arms and frowning.

"Trust me on this, please? I promise that you'll like it. Maybe. Sort of. I honestly don't know. But I need you to see it at least once."

Warily, Cinder took the blindfold from him and started to tie it around her head, making sure that it covered her eyes. Kai leapt at the opportunity and finished the knot off for her.

"Not too tight?" he said, his breath jostling a few strands of hair on top of her head. The weave of the handkerchief was tight and double layered over her eyes. She touched it to make sure that it was situated well over her face.

"No."

"How many fingers am I holding up?"

"Uh… three?"

"Are you sure you can't see through the blindfold? I had Torin and Huy check it out. But you might have x-ray vision in your eyes. Do you have x-ray vision? Oh god, please say you don't."

"No, Kai, I don't. The blindfold is fine. I'm pretty positive I can't see through it."

"Okay, take my hand."

Cinder reached out, waving her hand around in an attempt to find his. He chuckled, somewhere to her left. He stopped her frantic search by gently taking her wrist and lacing his hand with hers — not his right with her left, like he normally would have, but his left with her left. It was kind of awkward.

His right palm found the small of her back, an anchor to her suddenly darkened world. Had she not been so aware of his presence and the warmth that he radiated, she would have felt quite foolish walking around the city with a blindfold over her eyes. His hip was glued to hers, and his hand was practically burning through the cotton shirt. Cinder felt like vomiting again.

They walked another block — he had to stop her only once when they crossed a busy street, his hands wrapped tightly around her waist as he pulled her back to him before she walked out into traffic — before they stopped.

"Alright," he said, not moments later, "we're here."

Author stuff cont'd: Well, guys, what do you think will happen next? I mean, I know, but I'd like to hear some predictions. See how many of you get close.

I'll try to get the next chapter up on Friday at the earliest, Sunday at the latest. I'm working both Friday and Sunday, but my Saturday's wide open so it's really my target. But if I can, Friday.

So... later, gators!