Words: 1094
Setting: post-series
Summary: Going on a date turns out to be tricky
Date
Ringo was frustrated. Well, frustrated was definitely a massive understatement; livid was probably much more accurate. Today, she and Ikki decided to go out on a date, just the two of them. The plan was simple: take a break from ATs and the entire AT universe for a bit, go out on the town like a normal couple would, and unwind from their usual day-to-day team responsibilities. No Sleeping Forest, no Kogarasumaru, and definitely no mention of Parts Wars or team squabbles. At least, that was the plan, but reality turned out just slightly differently.
Now that their recent AT exploits had become public knowledge, they attracted an unexpectedly large amount of attention. Actually, Ikki in particular, being the current Sky King and all, walked around with a giant target on his back for Storm Riders and fans alike. Of course, it wasn't like they were celebrities or anything, but they apparently got enough attention to make a peaceful walk down the street all that more distracting.
"We'll be cheering you on!"
"Good luck in your next battle!"
The voices of a pair of female Storm Riders rang in the air as they gave Ikki words of encouragement for Kogarasumaru's upcoming battle. Ikki simply waved at them as they departed, giving an awkward smile of gratitude.
"Let's get going," Ringo muttered, tightening her hold on his hand and nudging him along as the couple resumed their walk. She glanced over her shoulder at the two girls, only to notice them shooting jealous glares in her direction.
Ikki sighed as they got out of earshot. "Sorry about this, Ringo," he exhaled, a little exhausted from the constant disruptions. This was probably the twentieth time today that he drew the attention of another woman.
"No, it's not your fault," the redhead interjected, knowing that he wasn't purposely trying to stand out. "Anyway, how about we check that place out?" She pointed to an arcade across the street, figuring that at least they would blend in with the crowd.
"Sounds good," Ikki answered, preemptively putting on a smug grin. "But you should already know that I never lose when it comes to video games!"
Ringo huffed, her competitive nature surfacing. "I wouldn't be so confident," she jabbed, flashing an unbreakable grin herself. "After all, you know how I am when I actually get serious."
"You're on! Loser pays for dinner tonight!"
"Game on, Ikki!"
Hand in hand, the two made a beeline for the arcade, choosing to start off their unofficial match with a game of air hockey. They slowly progressed through various game machines in the building, exchanging wins and losses as they went.
"That last one was a complete fluke, just so you know," Ikki grumbled, refusing to admit that he lost by one measly point.
Ringo hummed a victory tune, ignoring his complaint. "Poor Ikki, you'll have to try harder next time!" She beamed a satisfied smile, patting on him the back. "How about I get us something to drink, as a consolation prize?"
"Some water would be nice," Ikki mumbled. "At least that way, I can clean the salt out of my wounds."
Ringo playfully stuck her tongue out, giving him a wink as she walked to the nearby food bar. She breathed a sigh of relief, happy that they finally managed to find some time for themselves. Even though she would have preferred to spend the entire day alone with Ikki, all things considered, this would suffice. She picked up two bottles of water and headed back to where Ikki was left defeated.
"Ikki, here's that water you…"
Ringo stopped midsentence after noticing an unfortunately familiar face. Simca, probably the one person she least wanted to see, was standing suspiciously close to Ikki, talking up a storm. Really, out of all the people who she could have run into today, what were the odds it would be her?
"My, my, what a nice surprise!" Simca chirped, injecting some poorly disguised cheer into her voice as Ringo approached them. "I wasn't expecting to see you here."
Ringo didn't miss the incisive snarl she added to the end of her greeting. She involuntarily squeezed the water bottles in her hands, the thin plastic crackling under pressure. "I can say the same for you. Don't you have work to do?"
"Of course, and that's why I'm happy to have bumped into Ikki here!" Simca nonchalantly threw her arm around Ikki, causing him to involuntarily tense up. "I think this is a great chance to catch up with what the most famous Storm Rider has been up to, don't you think?"
Ikki was clearly uncomfortable with the situation, and Simca's last comment caused some nearby people to take notice. A few bystanders started whispering excitedly as they recognized the now well-known faces involved in the commotion.
"Sorry, but—"
"After all, I'm sure everyone's curious what the Sky King does on his days off," Simca continued her calculated maneuvers, cutting off Ikki's rebuttal. She edged ever so slightly closer to him, shooting Ringo a mischievous smile in the process.
That was the last straw; Ringo could put up with random fans and the occasional Storm Rider, but she knew Simca well enough to realize she was trying to incite her. Had this sort of thing happened in the past, she very well might have turned and run away, choosing to avoid confrontation. However, that's something only the old Ringo would have done.
Systematically closing the distance between them, Ringo kept her voice low as she set her eyes on her target. "Ikki."
The person in question turned his head to face her, only to suddenly feel Ringo's lips against his. Peering through half-slitted eyes, Ikki noticed her expression was one of love and determination: this is what she wanted, and no one would stop her. Their lips parted only a short while later, leaving both teens catching their breaths with prominent, red blushes on their faces. It was a short and chaste kiss, but it left them both with a feeling of mutual satisfaction.
Turning to the somewhat shell shocked Simca, Ringo intertwined her fingers with her lover's. "Sorry, but we're on a date," she stated matter-of-factly, finishing Ikki's earlier thoughts. She took the lead and maneuvered through the crowd, Ikki in tow.
"How was that?" she asked, once they were in the clear. Although she brimmed with confidence, Ringo's cheeks still sported traces of crimson.
"Couldn't have done it better myself," Ikki replied, trademark smile on display.
Naturally, the remainder of their date went very smoothly.