Noire couldn't stop smiling. Her stupid little adorable wife had gotten her into The Seven Emeralds — the fanciest restaurant in the entirety of Planeptune. She knew from experience in trying to get a table at Drake's in Lastation that the fancy places didn't make exceptions, even for their CPUs, and that getting a table could sometimes take weeks if you weren't lucky.

But Neptune had managed to pull this off even so, and Noire happened to know for a fact that Neptune hated going to places like these. She hated having to be mindful of her manners, she hated the complicated menus, she hated how everything was overpriced despite the portions being small; she just hated these places in general! The fact she hadn't transformed into Purple Heart to calm herself down and better put up with the place was nothing short of a miracle!

Because, for Noire, Neptune was willing to put up with all of that. For Noire, Neptune was willing to put up with one of her most hated types of places in the world. Just for Noire.

So was it any wonder that Noire found herself smiling so?

"Here are your seats, Lady Purple Heart and Lady Black Heart," their server, who had just brought them to their table, was a lovely young woman, dressed in a stunning red suit. All of the people working at the restaurant wore one of seven colors, to go along with the restaurant's theme, and it seemed like every single person there took their work extremely seriously. "I'll be back with some water and to take your orders in just a moment."

Noire had to admit, seeing that attitude in Planeptune surprised her somewhat, but she supposed that every country had to have places and people like this. Not to mention that with Neptune's new attitude towards work, it wasn't that surprising if she really thought about it... And really, wouldn't the most loyal people — in other words, the people still here — be the especially devout and hard working?

Noire wondered if there was anything she could do for Planeptune herself. Obviously she had quite literally given herself to the country, much to the displeasure of her Oracle (who was at least trying to appear to be good about the whole thing these days, though Noire knew Kei better than that), but that hadn't exactly made things in the country itself better... It had stabilized them, more than anything... But nothing drastic. Not a quick fix like she had hoped, and definitely not like Neptune had hoped, even though Histoire had never said it would be. Perhaps she could let some of their franchises cross over to the Lastation 4? The idea of it quickly left an odd taste in her mouth — she didn't like the idea of that sort of thing and she doubted Neptune would either. The idea of something of hers on something of Neptune's... Noire, ever the proud workaholic, did not like that idea.

Shaking her head, the Lastation CPU decided that now wasn't a time to think about work. She could bug Neptune to let her go a few days early to start some kind of Planeptune Aid program if she really wanted to — Neptune would probably let her go. For now, she just wanted to enjoy some quality time with her wife on their long overdue pseudo-honeymoon that Neptune had won for them off of Uni.

Speaking of Neptune... Noire finally looked at her date as she seated herself across from the other CPU — and as soon as she did, she found herself blushing deeply. She had expected Neptune to be pouting or looking annoyed, bored, tired, or any combination of the above. She had expected Neptune to be looking around like a child at the different works of art, maybe bugging a passing server and asking them if so and so was actually real, or at the very least, playing with her silverware.

What she'd instead gotten was a victorious looking CPU, face resting against the backs of her hands, staring at Noire triumphantly — and with so much affection shining in her eyes that it should have been criminal.

Blushing harder, Noire wondered to herself if she could try to outlaw it...

"W-What's with that look...?" Instinctively looking away, Noire glanced towards the glittering statue they had been seated near. Anything to escape Neptune's gaze right then. She tried to fight back the smile she'd been wearing, but her happiness and appreciation betrayed her — the expression she wore now was probably just silly.

"Can't I be happy that you're happy?" Neptune's reply was both honest and teasing. She puffed her cheeks out as she watched Noire look at the statue next to them. Sure, it was pretty, but wasn't she prettier? Okay, so they hadn't had time to dress appropriately or anything (Neptune had resisted the urge to point out that this was because someone had wanted to walk instead of fly), but it was the thought that counted, right? "I mean... That was kinda the whole point of coming here, y'know? It's too early to get embarrassed, Noire! I haven't even gotten started with you."

"What's what supposed to mean...?!" Noire whispered frantically. She couldn't exactly raise her voice in such a classy place, and if Neptune was going to egg her on and spoil this... No, that didn't seem like Neptune. She wouldn't do something like this then go out of her way and ruin it, would she? ... But on the other hand, she knew how Neptune liked to grind her gears... And Neptune was still Neptune, so she could always unknowingly...

"Just that..." Neptune smirked at Noire playfully, her eyes twinkling - it was a look that screamed mischief.

But Noire was prepared. Noire was ready to give Neptune the comeback of the century — she had a dozen replies ready for whatever teasing remark Neptune was about to pull on her. Whether it was about how Noire didn't have friends or how Noire worked too much or any number of things, Noire was ready! Nodding inwardly, Noire knew that she quite possibly had never been more prepared to fight back against Neptune's teasing in her entire life. There was absolutely nothing Neptune could say in this moment that she wouldn't be able to respond to.

Neptune's smirk slowly changed, softening into a smile. Noire's heart skipped a beat.

"Just that I love you."

Unfortunately, something so blunt and so powerful and so sweet was just too much for the Lastation CPU. Not a month nor a year nor possibly even a decade would prepare someone like Noire for an all out attack attack like that. Noire simply lowered her head and mumbled incoherently in response, her cheeks stained a lovely shade of crimson.

Indeed, there was just no preparing for a critical hit like that.

Inwardly, Neptune thrust her hands up into the air and cried out in victory. Phase One of Operation Butter Up Noire was looking to be a complete success! She had to admit, she could definitely get used to this.

Outwardly, however, she simply grinned at her wife's reaction. She didn't want to give away how pleased she was, nor did she want to let on how flustered she herself still was putting herself out there like that. There were still many, many phases left of all of this, after all. Probably. She just needed to come up with them.

"Seriously, Noire, it's been weeks and you still react like that?" Neptune teased, shifting to rest on one hand instead of two. Her eyes flashed mischievously as she watched Noire raise her head to meet Neptune's gaze. For a moment, they simply looked into each others' eyes, but then the moment passed and Neptune continued. "You'd think I just confessed to you yesterday."

"W-Well..." Noire licked her lips, glancing to the side once again. Her initial response was to be defensive, as it always had been, but... She was working on training herself. Training herself to not fight back right away, to let herself take those risks and open herself up. She was safe with Neptune. ... Well, sometimes, anyway. But since this was one of those times... Noire let herself smile and looked back into her wife's eyes, much to Neptune's surprise. "I can't help it, stupid. I... I love you so much that I still can't believe it even now."

It was rare for Noire to be so bold as to make comments like this in public. She was starting to do more lately, Neptune had noticed, but... No matter what the reason or frequency was, Noire would always be Noire, and boldness was never one of Noire's fortes. In other words, her saying something like that? It was a treat! And as she tried to get a hold of her beating heart, Neptune quickly realized that Noire wasn't the only one who was still weak to these kinds of comments.

For a moment, Neptune was struck by something in her chest. IF had thought that it would go well enough if she acted like she was proposing, but Neptune knew Noire. Neptune knew that Noire might take it the wrong way.

As she fought to find her breath, Neptune knew she didn't want to lose this. She wanted to keep making Noire happy. She wanted Noire to keep making her feel weak like this.

"Um... Neptune...?" Noire, completely unaware of what was going on in Neptune's mind, frowned. She was still flushed from Neptune's comment, but the look on her face right now, one torn between concern and confusion (for Neptune's lack of a response), indignation (how dare she not respond?), and happy embarrassment (she said that...?!) was such a cute picture that Neptune couldn't help but be dragged back to reality.

"Y-Yeah, well, you'd better believe it!" Neptune mumbled to the other CPU, averting her gaze and scratching her cheek as she felt a blush rising to her own cheeks.

Noire smiled inwardly as she watched Neptune's reaction. Despite that she had been the one to marry Neptune to save Neptune's life... Ever since they'd gotten married (all of one month ago — had it been a long month or a short one?), Noire had felt lighter. She'd felt like she didn't have to worry so much. She felt like she could be fly, even if she didn't transform. Deciding that she wanted the moment last, she leaned in and looked Neptune square in the eyes.

"Will you remind me if I forget?"

Neptune might have laughed if the desire to jump across the table and plant a big kiss on Noire hadn't been so strong right then. Here she had been starting to get all scared and in a titter, and then Noire came along and said and did just the right thing to make her feel better.

Just who was buttering up who here...?!

Managing to control herself (for now), she instead winked at Noire and reached across the table to take her wife's hand in hers.

"Are you kidding? I'll make it so you'll never have to worry about forgetting to begin with."

For a few moments, the two gazed into each others' eyes. Their cheeks were stained red, and they just held hands like that for a little while, choosing silence over speaking. It was rare for the two of them to enjoy a moment like this, but they were as capable of it as any couple. For just a moment, for just this moment, they didn't need words.

Noire might have been embarrassed later. Truthfully, she was feeling a little embarrassed right now — but it was a nice embarrassment. It was embarrassment that was worth it. A cozy, homely sort of embarassment. Neptune would laugh it off awkwardly, but she'd certainly be embarrassed too. For now, though, the two CPUs simply wanted to enjoy the moment.

"Here are your... drinks...?"

The waitress in red gulped nervously as she placed the glasses on the table, suddenly wishing she could be somewhere far, far away. Now why in the world were these two CPUs looking at her like she'd just shot someone...?

Noire had been pleasantly surprised throughout the course of their meal. They'd ordered an appetizer, salads, and throughout them all, Neptune had been on excellent behavior. Sure, she made the comment or two (or five) that reminded Noire that Neptune was still Neptune, but still... She had half a mind to wonder if Neptune had been replaced with an imposter!

That is, until the main course arrived.

Noire had ordered a pasta dish; Neptune, who had been having trouble figuring out what was what on the menu ("Who names food 'Scrap Brain Salsa' or 'Werehog Chops'!? And this place is supposed to be fancy?"), had just ordered what Noire was having. Noire hadn't paid it any mind at first — she'd figured Neptune would do something like that, and had just sighed to herself while fighting back the urge to smile at Neptune's comments regarding the menu.

She hadn't even begun to realize what would become of her and Neptune because of Neptune's inability to understand said restaurant's menu.

As anyone who had eaten with her could tell, Noire had the manners of a goddess — she was one, after all. She would twirl just the right amount of pasta onto her fork, gently lift the utensil to her mouth, take an appropriate bite of the food, and return her fork to the table while she chewed. She would swallow, perhaps lift her glass and take a drink, maybe lift her napkin to her lips, before finally lifting her fork up again to take her next bite. She was the picture of a lady, that Lady Black Heart.

Neptune, on the other hand, was... Well, she was Neptune, and had the manners to match.

Neptune would stab her fork eagerly into the plate of pasta before her. She'd only twirl it some of the time, and even when she did, she would bring much too much pasta up to her mouth. There would be pasta left hanging out of her mouth as she chewed, and with a "sluuuuurp!", Neptune would suck it all in, leaving a splattered mess of sauce on her lips and cheeks in the process. To add insult to injury, rather than clean herself, Neptune would simply smile at Noire and stab her fork into her food once again and repeat the process, having never put the fork down in the first place, leaving Noire to sigh and try to ignore the looks Neptune was earning from both staff and fellow customer alike.

And yet... Despite how insanely embarrassing the entire situation was, Noire couldn't help but find Neptune's vigor for eating positively endearing. It was a phenomenon she had experienced multiple times now (particularly when the subject of pudding came up), but she still had yet to get used to it. From what she had seen, even Histoire — a being that had been with Neptune for all of Neptune's life — had yet to get used to it.

Sighing to herself in an oddly content sort of way, Noire shook her head. That was what she got for falling in love with such a buffoon, wasn't it?

Hearing Noire's sigh but having mistaken it for a stifled laugh, Neptune turned to Noire curiously — her mouth, of course, full of food.

"Hunh? Somfin' funny, Noire?"

As Noire just sighed once more and reached over with her napkin to clean up Neptune's face, despite the fact that she was positive she could hear other customers commenting or even laughing, she smiled to herself.

This was fine.

She wouldn't change Neptune for the world.