They stared at each other, deep brown eyes and ghoulish black ones. Nora's brain had all but stuttered to a halt, and she struggled to understand his words but she just hadn't heard them.

"Uh, Nora?"

His voice, so soft and sweet, jolted her from her stupor and she felt her cheeks flush dark crimson beneath the smattering of freckles. "Sorry, I didn't catch that. I was uh, lost in thought?" Smooth as always.

Kent ducked his head, one broad hand reaching up to tug the hat lower over his eyes. "It's nothing. I'm sorry! I'm being awkward and weird…"

Nora felt a tickle in the back of her throat, the absurd urge to giggle. "It's not every day you meet your soulmate," she replied softly, and her cheeks were still burning crimson but at least she was managing conversation. "I think I'm acting weirder than usual too."

He peeked up at her from behind the rim of his hat, and he was so cute that Nora almost melted on the spot. He smiled, a shy little quirk of his lips, and cautiously ushered her forward. "You don't need to stand in the doorway. U-unless you don't want to come in. I understand if you're disappointed." The last words were almost a whisper, that tentative smile dropping.

"Oh. Oh, of course I'm not, honey!" Nora stepped forward - and it wasn't until that moment that she noticed a faded, life sized Shroud cut out. Quirking a brow, Nora sidestepped it to stand beside Kent.

Even sitting it was obvious how short he was, and Nora wasn't tall herself. He was pretty big too, with broad shoulders and thick thighs that his suit didn't do well to hide. Not that she was complaining.

Kent watched her with nervous eyes as she perched on his desk, and his eyes flickered to the ancient terminal as if embarrassed for her to see what was there. He didn't say a word, but he also didn't flinch away when she gently reached for his hand.

His skin felt rough, a little like old, pockmarked leather - but Nora found it oddly comforting as she traced circles on his palm. For a brief moment everything disappeared - it was just them, alone, and nothing else mattered. When her eyes slipped closed, butterflies swarmed in her stomach. When she opened them, Kent's gaze dipped down and she swore he had been staring. The thought made a grin spread across her lips.

"Hey," she began, squeezing his hand gently, "I have some stuff to take care of, but how about we meet up at the Third Rail in a couple of hours? I have the whole evening free, and I want to spend it with you. If you're available, of course." A frown slipped onto her features. Was she being too forward? They were soulmates, but that was no excuse to take it for granted.

There was no need to worry though, as Kent round face lit up at the suggestion - and his black eyes were filled with warmth. "I'd love to! Magnolia's voice is so beautiful, it's kind of romantic, you know? Uh," he paused, and his stutter was so endearing, "not that I think this is a date or anything. Unless it is?" He sounded so hopeful, so eager, and Nora loved it.

"It's a date," she replied with a nod. As she clambered from the desk, it almost hurt to let go of his hand, so warm in hers. Weirdly warm, actually, and she wondered briefly if it was the radiation or just natural. But it wasn't something she was going to ask about. Grinning, she leaned over to tip Kent's hat back and press a quick kiss to his cheek. "See you at the Third Rail in, say, two hours?"

"S-sure!" He was absolutely beaming, the joy on his face so clear Nora didn't want to leave.

But as she gave him a little wave and a grin, the butterflies in her stomach grew, the stuttering of her chest so loud, Nora knew she had to leave now or she never would. As she weaved past the Shroud cutout and the rest of the clutter, she cast Kent one last broad, white tooth grin before slipping back into the main hall.

Tugging at the hem of her sleeve, Nora squinted at the image of herself in the cracked floor length mirror. The dress she wore was pre-war, a simple black dress that clung to her hips, the off the shoulder sleeves a little bit too long for her short limbs. Her dark hair was simple - a braid, her fringe neatly clipped back. In the old days it would have been considered a basic look - but by todays standards, it was damn extravagant. Perhaps too extravagant, if the sequins still clinging to the thin fabric was anything to go by.

Sighing, Nora turned back to the bed - where her usual travelling clothes lay, as well as a pair of hip-hugging jeans and a simple grey sweater. She wanted to impress Kent; but she didn't want to look desperate. The jeans and sweater were probably a better option. Nora trudged over and lifted the dark jeans - only to drop them back onto the bed.

No. If she wanted to look good for her date, she damn well would.

So without looking back, Nora grabbed her leather jacket from the chair in the corner, opened the door, and slid out of her rented room in the Hotel Rexford.

She ducked her head to avoid the curious stares of other guests, one man's gaze so intense she physically felt his eyes watch her as she trotted to the exit. Another cheered, sending her a thumbs up as she passed him. "Looking like that, you must be off on a date. Lucky guy - or gal. Have fun!"

Nora's face reddened, and by the time she made it outside she was scarlet. To make things worse, the sleeves were clinging to her underarms in a way that made her thankful it was cold outside. The last thing she needed was to turn up all sweaty and panicking. To think, not two hours ago she had been so confident in asking Kent to dinner. Now she was just a human shaped mess shoved in a sparkly dress.

She hurried across Goodneighbour, passing a few vaguely familiar faces that she didn't allow herself to look at long enough to acknowledge. In mere minutes she reached the Third Rail, palms damp with sweat as she cracked open the door.

Inside was warm and cosy, although the broken railway station didn't look it. Nora felt her heart rate spike - but she smiled in relief as her eyes rested on Ham. "Hi," she said simply - and her voice actually sounded somewhat even.

"Evening," Ham replied, and the tiny quirk of his lips was the best smile she was going to get. "Kent's already inside; arrived way early, from what I understand. Now," Ham's face, always so stern, stiffened even more, "if the two of you really are soulmates, you better treat him right. Most of us ghouls aren't so lucky in love, so don't break his heart."

The silent addition of or else didn't need to be said aloud.

Nora simply sent him a soft smile and a nod. "He's my soulmate, Ham. I'm as genuine as he is."

When it became clear Ham didn't have anything else to say, Nora stepped away and descended the long-broken escalator leading to the bar itself. The deeper she went the darker it became; the only source of light was little candles lining the escalator, and one weak beam of light filtering up from the bar below.

By the time her foot left the final step, Nora's chest was beating so wildly in her chest she thought she might be sick, the familiar dampness in her palms confirming she was probably a sweaty mess. She glanced around, trying to subtly wipe her hands on her dress, dark eyes scanning for Kent.

Ah, there he was. Sitting at a little table in the corner closest to Magnolia - who seemed to be taking a break - head ducked low as if a single glance from another customer might have made him dissolve on the spot. He looked so out of place but so sweet, waiting there so patiently.

As Nora approached, a few heads popped up to watch - and one man whistled in appreciation. Suddenly she was regretting her choice of dress.

Until Kent looked up, pitch black eyes widening as he caught sight of her. A shy little smile graced his features and it didn't matter that his lips were thin and scarred, or that his leathery skin pulled tight against his cheekbones with the action. He was gorgeous.

She didn't even realise she had made it across the bar until she was lowering herself down onto the old metal chair across from him. She felt a smile tug at her lips and soon she was beaming, her smile matching his and then some. "Hi, Kent."

"Hi Nora." He ducked his head, and although she couldn't see it, Nora imagined a blush creeping onto his face. "You look wonderful."

"Thanks." Nora felt a flush of her own overtake her tanned skin, felt the warmth spread to the tips of her ears. "You look lovely too."

And he did. He had swapped the dirty brown suit for a sleeker black one that hugged his wide shoulders, and the pink tie was a cute addition.

"Why don't I grab us drinks?" Nora suggested, glancing at the bar. Magnolia sat beside a woman in a red coat - wait, was that Irma? Nora raised a brow as she turned back to Kent, and the urge to laugh bubbled up in her throat. "What's Irma doing here?"

"Oh." Kent dropped his gaze, but his lips quirked as if he, too, was trying not to laugh. "She was here before me. I uh, think she's keeping tabs on us."

"Huh." Nora grinned. "Well, she does love her gossip. Did she really think we wouldn't notice, with a coat like that?"

A nervous little laugh escaped Kent's lips, wide shoulders raised in a shrug. "I don't think she's trying to hide from us. She knew I was nervous so, uh..." He dipped his head, shoulders hunching and it looked as if he wanted to disappear.

Nora reached out a hand, and she had to lean across the table a little to reach, but she gently cupped Kent's face to tilt his head up. His skin was rough underneath her fingers, but Nora didn't mind as she gently traced the line of an old scar across his jaw. "I was nervous too," she admitted, and it was so unlike her but she needed him to know that it was okay. "I spent a solid half hour having an internal crisis before running out the door."

"R-really?"

"Uh huh. So don't worry about being nervous, because I guarantee it was nothing worse than my own panicking." She smiled, and when he smiled back her chest was filled with such warmth like she had never felt before.

"You were nervous about being with me?" For just a moment his nerves seemed to slip away, and the look on his round face was almost proud as he gazed at Nora almost in wonder. But then that little frown slipped back onto his features. "I don't see why. I'm nothing special..."

"Nonsense. You're my soulmate, and that's enough for you to be pretty damn amazing. Besides that, you're a wonderful person, Kent. I know it." She didn't know him well - barely at all, in fact - but Nora just knew. Maybe it was the shy little smile, or the way his eyes lit up when he spoke, or the enormous collection of Silver Shroud memorabilia cluttering his room. There was just something about him.

Kent sank back in his seat, and although he wouldn't meet her eyes he was grinning so broadly, a hand placed against his cheek, and it was the sweetest sight she had ever seen.

"So," Nora leaned over to squeeze his hand, "how about those drinks?"