As promised Steven booked a table at a nice restaurant. Ruby was so excited so he got dolled up in the new clothes he had bought the previous day while Steven had scouted restaurants.
Apparently his friend Riley suggested this one. Ruby hadn't met Riley, but Steven said that he was a Sinnoh local.
Ruby went to put his contacts in when Steven passed him his glasses. "Ste-"
"These look cuter."
Ruby blushed. "Thanks."
He nodded. "Well, are you ready?"
Ruby nodded. "Yep."
"You look beautiful. Your clothes are lovely."
"Thank you. I didn't make these ones, so… I wasn't sure how they would fit. But they do look okay. I think."
"So, you make all your clothes?"
He nodded. "Yep. I make most of Sapphires too."
"That is amazing."
"I could make you clothes."
"I would like that."
"Aw yay" Ruby grinned, leaning against Steven.
Steven chuckled.
Mumu looked at Ruby who smiled. "Aww, I will see you when I get back, ok?"
He nodded and lay on the lounge. He had become impartial to the lounge. Well, he and aron were. They spent every minute they were home on there. Ruby was glad Mumu was getting along with aron so well.
Steven held Ruby's hand and they left the villa.
"It's so nice here" Ruby smiled. "I think we should live here."
Steven chuckled. "Wouldn't you miss Hoenn?"
"Yeah, I would. But I could live with that."
He grinned. "I guess so. I would lend you skarmory and you could come back and forth."
"You would let me?"
"What? Borrow skarmory? Of course I would."
"Wow… that would be nice. I would miss Sapphire. And mom and Wally. And I guess I would miss Norman…" he sighed.
Steven's hand wandered around Ruby's waist and he pulled him close. "I wouldn't expect you to go so long without seeing family. It's important. That is why I was going to say that if during this expedition you want to go home for example for yours and Sapphire's birthday that would be fine."
"You really don't mind?"
"Not at all."
Ruby smiled. "You're a good boss."
"But not such a good boyfriend."
Ruby was shocked. "What?!"
"I am not that romantic. I don't kiss you or touch you. But I get ridiculously jealous when someone else looks at you. Someone who I think would treat you better."
"You treat me well Steven" Ruby smiled. "I love you. I don't care if you don't kiss me or touch me… I am okay with that. I am just glad you treat me so well."
He smiled. "Thank you."
"But you will kiss me one day, right?"
"I want too. I want to kiss you now."
"I at least expect a kiss on my birthday at least."
"Okay. Deal."
"Good" Ruby grinned.
He smiled. "You are so beautiful. How did I ever get so lucky?"
"Thank your dad for the interview" he chuckled.
"Oh, I don't know. He doesn't want me… to have a boyfriend. You know. I sound lame" he chuckled.
"But that's why we get along so well. Neither of our fathers would technically want us dating. It makes perfect sense."
"To you it does" he grinned.
"I want to tell my dad that I can't change, but he is sure that one day I will date Sapphire."
"Really?"
Ruby nodded. "Yep. I mean, I love her as a friend, but… I am not interested in her romantically."
He nodded. "I understand. Oh! Here is the restaurant." He pushed open the door.
"Wow, it's nice." Ruby walked inside.
"It is" Steven agreed.
"Hi, did you have a booking?"
"Yes. Stone."
The host looked at the reservation book. "Yes, just this way." They followed the host to a corner table. "Drinks are served at the bar, but there is table service for meals. Can I get you any starters?"
"We will have a look first" said Steven.
"No problems. I will have someone come around."
"Thank you."
They walked back to the reservation stand.
"I will go to the bar and get us drinks" Ruby said.
"No problems." He passed me money. "I will have soda."
"Ok." Ruby passed him back the money.
He looked up at me, eyebrow raised. "I am paying tonight."
"Fine. I will pay next time."
"With what money?" he joked.
"Whatever Steven." Ruby walked over to the bar.
"Hi, what can I get you?"
"Two sodas thanks."
"No problems."
Ruby looked around the restaurant. It was quiet, but it was nice. Everyone seemed so relaxed. He felt happy seeing that.
The barman passed him the drinks. He paid and walked back to Steven. "There you go."
"Thank you."
He nodded. "What are you going to eat?"
"I am not sure. It all sounds good though."
Ruby sat down and looked through the menu. "Hmm… I like the sound of all of it."
Steven chuckled. "Get all of it" he joked.
Ruby grinned. "I wished I could eat all of it. Well, I will stick with the seafood platter."
Steven raised a brow. "Interesting. I wouldn't have picked that from you."
"Really?" Ruby looked at him. "Why not?"
"Well, I don't know many younger people who eat seafood."
"Their loss."
Steven grinned. "So-"
"Do you eat seafood?"
"Occasionally. Did you want any herb bread?"
"Ok. Sounds good"
A waitress came over and took the order, which was quite big. Steven though they should just order a few different meals so they could try the best of Sinnoh. Steven ordered a couple of entrees and five mains, including Ruby's.
The lady seemed surprised, but took the order.
"Are you hungry?" Ruby joked.
"Me? All I can hear is your stomach" Steven grinned.
"Hey! So what if I am a little hungry?" Ruby blushed. "I can't believe you heard that."
He chuckled. "Oh, it would be impossible not to hear it."
"Hey! It wasn't that loud!"
He chuckled. "It kinda was."
"Ugh."
He smiled. "Don't worry about it. Everything you do is cute."
"You are so nice Steven. I was wrong to ever think that you weren't."
He chuckled. "But I wasn't always nice to you."
"I know. But we are past that now."
He nodded. "Indeed."
Ruby leaned against him. "I do love you so much. I am so glad that we are together."
He ran his fingers through Ruby's hair. "I am glad you didn't wear your hat."
Ruby blushed.
"You are beautiful without it."
Ruby pushed him lightly, smiling up at him. "I feel beautiful when you say things like that to me."
"You should always feel beautiful."
"Steven-"
"Because you are."
"Oh you-"
He kissed his forehead. He blushed. "Sorry. I shouldn't-"
"That isn't even a kiss" Ruby sighed. He pressed his mouth against Steven's lips in a chaste kiss. "That is more of a kiss."
He smiled awkwardly.
"I wouldn't mind if you kissed me. I would really enjoy it."
"On your birthday."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
"Good. I am gonna hold you to that."
"Here we go" said the waitress. "Your starters." She placed them on the table and walked over to another table, softly asking the patrons how their meals were.
Ruby picked up the first piece. He was starving.
"How is it?" Steven asked, picking up a piece.
Ruby nodded, taking another bite. "Good."
"Don't speak with your mouth full" he chuckled.
Ruby rolled his eyes.
"It's childish. And so is rolling eyes."
"Ah, I bet I won't get that birthday kiss now, right?"
"Well, you will be eighteen, so hopefully a little more mature" he joked.
Ruby lightly punched his arm.
He laughed. "Sorry."
"Don't be. I guess… I am a little childish."
"It isn't a bad thing. I think it keeps you young."
Ruby smiled. "I hope it does. I don't know if I want to grow old."
"I guess it is overrated" he sighed, leaning his head in his hand. "Well, it has its ups and downs."
They sat quietly for a while. It was quiet in the restaurant, only two other couples and a family were present.
"Sorry about the wait on meals" said the waitress, placing three of the meals down. "I hope it's okay that the chefs made your meals smaller since you ordered so much for two, but we will charge less than. Is that okay?"
"Absolutely" Steven smiled his most dashing smile.
She giggled. "Oh, good, I am glad."
"Thank you."
She nodded, still looking smitten, and walked back into the kitchen.
"How does it feel to know that everyone thinks you are so handsome?"
He laughed quite loudly. "Oh dear, I hope not. I think they have all been misled."
"She was smitten with you. And on the boat-"
Steven closed his eyes ad leaned his chin on his hands. "I think… that it is easy to look at someone and think that they are attractive, you know what I mean? But knowing what someone is like and what they enjoy or what their personality is like is overall, more important than falling in love with someone who is beautiful on the outside, but unattractive on the inside."
"I wonder if I can be beautiful inside and out."
"I think you are."
"Do you really?"
"Absolutely."
"Steven" Ruby blushed. "I am smitten."
He hugged him. "Just so precious."
The waitress placed the rest of the meals down. "Enjoy."
"Thank you" said Steven, sitting up straighter and moving a plate closer.
She nodded and wandered off.
Ruby sighed. "Steven."
"Hmm?"
"I am glad that you aren't interested in women."
He chuckled. "What makes you bring that up?"
"Well, I just notice how so many women look at you. I don't blame them. You are handsome, but… I just think that even if you were bisexual… I probably wouldn't stand a chance."
"A lot of people, like I have mentioned before, are just interested in status and money. That just doesn't appeal to me."
Ruby started eating. He guessed that was a good point. Who would want to date someone with a bad temper or someone who was using you? Whenever he started conversations like this with Steven he never really looked at it from Steven's perspective and how he felt about the whole thing. Maybe Ruby was selfish. He was definitely jealous of the attention Steven gathered. Ruby thought Steven was handsome and Ruby wanted Steven all for himself. Ruby felt greedy and needy. He wanted Steven. He needed Steven. He felt like he hated anyone who said things like 'oh, isn't he handsome?' or gave Steven the look.
Steven looked at the quiet Ruby. "Are you okay?"
Ruby nodded.
They finished their meals in silence. Well, what they actually could eat of the different dishes that had been ordered.
"Should we have a look at the dessert menu?" Steven suggested.
"Why not?" Ruby smiled.
He grinned. He signaled for the waitress. "Could we please see the dessert menu?"
"Of course." She passed them a copy each. "I will be back in a few minutes."
Steven yawned. "Sorry. I am a little tired."
"I will get us another drink" Ruby smiled.
He nodded, still looking sleepy. "Sounds good."
He got up and wandered over to the bar. He sat at the bar since the barman was serving drinks up the other end.
"Hey."
He looked next to me at the tall, blonde man. "Oh, hi" he replied politely. He looked back away. All he wanted was to get the drinks so they could order dessert. Even though he was really full…
"I haven't seen you around here. Are you tourist?" the blonde man asked.
"Pardon?"
"Do you live around here or are you visiting?"
"Visiting."
"Planning on any rendezvous while you are on holidays?"
"Not with you."
He chuckled. "Oh, playing hard to get?"
"No. I am here with my boyfriend."
He raised a brow. "Yeah?"
Ruby nodded. "Yes, actually." Ruby felt the blonde man's hand on his thigh. He spun around on the chair to face him. "Hey! Stop that!" Ruby slapped him. "Who the hell do you think you are?!"
The man recoiled looking shocked.
"What part of I am here with my boyfriend do you not understand?"
He just looked at me dumbly. His gaze wandered between my legs.
Ruby was about to get off the chair when the man touched his inner thigh. "Steven!" he wailed.
In what was like a millisecond, Steven had thrown the blonde man on the bar and slammed his head on the bench. "Who the fuck are you?"
"Who-wha-? So-sorry."
"Don't touch my boyfriend" Steven growled.
"I didn't know."
"Well, don't feel up strangers at bars. Pervert."
The blonde man attempted to stammer out something, but failed. He got up and ran from the restaurant.
Steven picked Ruby up.
Ruby wrapped his arms around Steven's neck and his legs around his hips. "Sorry."
"Don't be. I wondered what was taking so long so I came around to see that you were okay."
Ruby nuzzled into his neck. "Thank you."
"You're most welcome, Ruby." He rubbed his nose against Ruby's.
Ruby smiled. "I love you."
"I love you too."
"Excuse me."
We looked at a flustered, older man.
"What?" Steven asked, sounding defensive. Ruby could feel his heart rate increasing again.
"Uh, we are gonna have to ask you to leave."
"You can ask that, but we won't be paying."
"Hey!-"
"I did nothing wrong. That stranger felt up my boyfriend."
"Well, sorry, but that stranger is a local and a regular here."
"Too bad. He can pay our bill then."
The man sighed. "Fine. Whatever." He muttered to himself and walked back into the kitchen.
Steven carried Ruby out of the restaurant. He shook his head. "Oh wow… I can't believe I did that." He turned bright red.
"Wow! You were amazing!" Ruby kissed his forehead.
"I was jealous."
"I am glad that you love me that much."
"How could I not? You are perfect."
Ruby blushed. "Steven-"
He hugged me. "I am sorry."
"Why?"
"Well, I didn't want to get us kicked out."
"At least we had already eaten."
"That is a good point. Riley will laugh at me now."
"Who is Riley?" Ruby asked curiously.
"A good friend of mine."
"Will I ever meet him?"
"I guess so. I mean, if you want. I don't mind."
"You seem unsure-"
"It isn't like that. Sorry. I will invite him over."
"If you don't want me to meet him I am fine with that too."
"I want you to. It doesn't really bother me. He is a nice person."
Ruby wanted to meet Riley. He was just nervous. Steven seemed to think highly of him. Ruby guessed… that it made him jealous.
"You okay?"
"I wanna walk."
"Okay." Steven set Ruby back on the ground. He held his hand. "I love you."
"I love you too, Ruby."
Ruby smiled. "Thanks."
He chuckled and pulled me close. "You are perfect."
"Oh you!" Ruby grinned, poking his cheek.
He just smiled and hugged him tighter. "Love you Ruby."