"Oh my God I'm so sorry I'm late I got the time wrong and thought it was seven not half six and I was worried you'd think I'd stood you up so I ran and then I fell and I didn't even bring my coil." He paused then, collecting himself and aware of the eyes of other people on them, couple next to the bar regarding him in mild alarm as he stood there panting and with sweat glistening on his forehead.

"You... Ran? No wait, never mind that, you're bleeding! Are you okay? Hold up," he grabbed the arm of a passing glass collector then, her looking a little offended until he apologised sheepishly and she took in his dates face, blinking in alarm. "Do you have a first aid kit or anything? And, maybe somewhere quieter to sit?"

"Sure thing, follow me, we've got a booth tucked into one corner." She reached out for his dates arm, leading him to the seats she mentioned and making sure he was sat down okay, passing him a napkin he pressed to his bloody lip absently, as if he hadn't realised he was hurt until then. "I'll be right back."

She returned with the first-aid kit and by then Sei had both introduced himself, apologised about twelve more times and registered how badly he was hurt, picking gravel out of grazed palms and dabbing his split lip and chin clean with a cotton ball.

"Um, so, it's nice to meet you. I'm glad you're not scared of blood."

"Mm, are you okay? You must have fallen pretty badly, I can't believe you ran, why didn't you just message and say you'd be late?"

"I forgot my coil at home, it's um, not been my best day, so far," he was dabbing sweat off his forehead with another napkin now, frowning as he ran fingers through his damp fringe, neatly repacking the first aid kit and balling up the things he'd used into a small pile.

"Well it can only get better. So, um, you want a drink?"

"Diet coke would be great," Mizuki just nodded, telling him he'd be right back and heading to the bar where the same woman who had helped them served him, asking if they needed anything else and remarking that at least he hadn't been stood up, a sentiment Mizuki agreed with wholeheartedly.

Then he reached for his glass, and somehow, and fuck knew how because it happened too fast for Mizuki to register, his arm knocked his drink and it spilled not only all over the table, but his shirt and lap too, bartender just grabbing the glass on instinct before it rolled off the table. He cringed on Sei's behalf, because he looked mortified, staring at the dripping table for a second before he suddenly, and a little violently, dropped his head onto it, hiding in waves of hair and thudding as his forehead hit the wood.

Mizuki had no idea what to do, just staring in alarm for a moment, because sure he knew his fair share of clumsy people, but his date had outdone them all with seemingly little effort, wondering if it could be blamed on nerves or just due to how badly things had started. "Sei? You okay?"

"I want to die."

"Um, well I wouldn't recommend that, I- Er, it's fine, you know, we all have clumsy moments," he lifted his head up then, shooting him the most incredulous expression he'd ever seen, almost looking a little offended that he'd referred to his entire night of ridiculous lack of coordination as 'clumsy moments.' "Okay fine, so maybe you're not having the best day. But it's cool, look it's all mopped up now and you can just get another drink, alright? Not the end of the world."

"This is going so badly," he grumbled, more to himself than anything, regarding his damp shirt and frowning down at it like it had gotten soaked of it's own accord.

"You think?"

"You don't?"

"Well, I mean if we pretend you weren't late, didn't fall and cut your face open, didn't knock over your drink or spill it on yourself, then yeah, I think it's going well."

"Oh God this is the worst date ever."

"It really isn't, okay? So relax, at least it hasn't been boring yet."

"Hm, just wait for me to get hit by a car on the way home now."

"Well I really hope that won't happen."

"Mm, but you know, if you want to go to the bathroom and leave while I'm 'distracted', that's fine."

"I have no intention to do such a thing, I was though, going to ask if you want to risk getting some food? You don't have any deadly allergies or anything?"

"Um, no, I'm fine with most things. I'm vegan though."

"Fries then? I know the Heimlich, if that's any comfort to you."

"That's- Yeah, that's actually reassuring. Sure, fries are good."

It could have gone so much better but by the time they parted Sei felt so awful he practically fell into Aoba's arms when he exited the restaurant a little before Mizuki and saw him waiting, as promised.

"Does Noiz have alcohol at his? I need alcohol."

"Um, yeah it's a party, so it didn't go well then? What happened to your lip?"

"I was an hour late so I ran there and tripped, so I turned up covered in blood and all sweaty, then I spilled my drink all over myself, then I thought it was actually going okay but I offered to pay to like apologise and stuff for being late and he didn't really want to let me but he did and then my card got declined so he had to pay anyway!"

"Wow. That does sound pretty terrible. But, um, not to make it worse, where's your jacket?"

Sei looked down at himself then, blinking absently, then his hands knotted into his hair and he let out what Aoba could only refer to as a frustrated scream, burying his face into his brother's shoulder a second later and loudly fake crying. Aoba could only pat his back reassuringly, imagining he'd have a similar response, trying to get his brothers attention as a very confused, very hot stranger approached, his jacket tucked into his hand and an eyebrow raised.

"Sei," Aoba tried to get his attention but he was too busy whining into his shoulder, bemoaning his lack of skills in life, not registering his twin awkwardly clearing his throat to try and get him to emerge. "Sei!"

"What! I'm trying to-" Then he turned to follow his brothers eye and went paler than normal, grip on his brothers arm tightening then faltering completely. "Oh crap."

"Hey, you, um, forgot your jacket. But I think you realised that."

"Yes. I did, that's why I was…" he gestured to Aoba weakly, his twin just waving and looking Mizuki up and down with a less than subtle gaze, presumably weighing him up as Sei took his jacket, somehow managing not to fall as he did so. "Um, thank you."

"Sure, and I know forgetting it was probably the last straw, but I'm kinda glad you did." Sei just raised an eyebrow then, wondering if he was just being creepy or if he'd misunderstood and thought him and Aoba were something other than related.

"Um, right, oh, this is my brother, by the way," it was a pretty pathetic introduction but he had the feeling it really wouldn't be necessary since he was never seeing Mizuki again, and if he happened to he'd immediately hide. "So, why are you glad?"

"Well, you kinda ran away," he must have seen Aoba's gaze on him then, looking disappointed and amused in equal measure, correcting himself quickly. "Well, not ran away, but you know, you disappeared quickly."

"Do you really blame me?"

"No, I'd probably do the same. But um, kinda made it impossible for me to ask if I can see you again."

"I'm sorry what?"

"I'd like to see you again, if you're not too traumatised." He just stood there, looking so startled it was a little amusing, Aoba beginning to nudge him in the side with a pointy elbow as he didn't answer and just stared at Mizuki with his jaw hanging open.

Then he snapped back to reality and pushed his twin off, "stop elbowing me! I- Wait, after my complete lack of coordination and inability to function like a normal human, you still want to see me again."

"Basically."

"Oh, um, well yeah, I guess that'd be okay."

"So, are you free the same time next week? Half six, that is. There's this pretty cool restaurant I know, does vegan and veggie stuff, if you'd wanna try it? I can message you the details."

"Yeah, yeah, that'd be great. Just, maybe remind me on the day too? If I'm late again I will actually jump into traffic."

"Yeah, don't do that, and relax, it was fine. I'll see you next week."

He moved forwards then, presumably planning on kissing his cheek, but as had been the norm for tonight, it didn't go well and Sei managed to turn his face the same way, a horrible clash of chins, noses and lips being the result and wanting to die the second he realised he'd just inadvertently kissed him properly.

He was too busy being bright red and listening to Aoba actually cackle from his side to realise that Mizuki just looked amused again, cheeks a little pink and actually seeming to have had his feathers ruffled for the first time.

But then he panicked again, grabbing his twin by the wrist and pulling him away so hard he yelped in pain, voice utterly horrified and feeling his heart pounding in his chest as he realised how far they'd have to walk to be out of his dates view. "Aoba we have to leave! Right now!"

"I think you found a keeper there." Aoba smiled as they walked off, still almost meanly teasing him about the whole thing.

"Yeah, or a total moron," Sei mumbled, wondering what kind of masochist Mizuki was to be able to put up with that disaster of a date, or maybe he was a sadist and he'd enjoyed seeing Sei suffering, either way he was an abnormality for sure.

Then there was a bark of laugher and he turned to see Mizuki about half a block behind them, just turning down a side street and offering a good-natured wave as Aoba cackled over Sei's horrified response, "I heard that!"

"I want you to stab me, I actually want you to stab me right in the throat! Do you think Noiz would meet us with alcohol? I really need a drink Aoba it went so badly I wanna die."

"You did get a second date though."

"Oh yeah, I bet that'll go great."