|Disclaimer: Everything is © Square.|
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"Yuffie, I just wanted to know if you want to go out with me tonight. Yuffie . . . I figured we could use a night out to get rid of last night. Yuffie . . ." Squall repeated sayings like this under his breath, pacing the small living room like a lion best deciding how to eat its quarry. If he was going to ask her to the place he had finally decided on, it had to be in a neat, casual way - like someone would with a friend. Even though he did not technically constitute as a friend . . . but that could be set aside. He was very sure that this was the perfect place to take her, and guaranteed himself repeatedly that she would like it. "Yuffie . . ."
"What?" Yuffie's voice rang clear, and Squall's head jerked up involuntarily. Her keys clattered as she set them down on the battered coffee table, stripping her long overcoat and smiling at him. {Why is she smiling?}, he thought anxiously to himself, wringing his hands as he tried to lean casually on the counter; however, his nervousness caused him to slip and slide onto the cold linoleum. Yuffie's eyes widened as she dropped her black backpack onto the rug, trotting over to him.
Kneeling next to him, she attempted to offer her hand in helpfulness, and it took him a minute of staring at it before he realized what he was supposed to do. Taking it, she helped him to his feet, concern knitting her eyebrows together. "Are you . . . alright?" she asked worriedly, not for the first time in twenty-four hours.
"What? Oh, yeah, fine," he answered after a moment, the thoughts of exactly why he was nervous flooding back instantly. "Oh, hey, umm . . . Yuffie? I was wondering if you . . . want to . . . go out . . . with me . . . tonight?" he stammered, forcing himself to look up at her. He had tossed his jacket aside, hot from pacing, and his shirt was halfway unbuttoned; he hurried to do it up again, trying not to look too laid-back.
Yuffie's intense indigo eyes widened considerably, and she had to lean against the miniscule counter for support. Squall Leonhart, asking her out on a date? Something was seriously wrong here, or else she was dreaming, although the nervous, embarrassed expression on Squall's face made her doubt that. She took deep, calming breaths, trying to keep herself steady, although it wasn't working. He couldn't have guessed . . . no. No, he was just apologizing for the night before, that was all - or at least she tried to convince herself that.
"Uh . . . sure, I guess. Where to?" she responded after a delayed period of time, and a whole mass of air seemed to deflate out of Squall's chest, as if a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
"Surprise," he said breathlessly, as if coming back from a grueling, ten- mile run. She nodded her head too quickly, nervousness creeping up and attempting to strangle her. A date . . . with Squall Leonhart. Tonight was seriously, seriously wrong.
"R-right. Surprise," she repeated, trying to sound excited, although far from it. He couldn't have guessed; she wasn't THAT obvious, was she?
----~----
"O-okay, don't look . . . don't look . . ." Squall kept repeating, as if she would try. He had made her solemnly swear to keep her eyes covered until they reached wherever it was that they were, his hand clasped tightly around one of her wrists as he dragged her around someplace extremely quiet. He had made her shut her eyes throughout the whole cab ride, not wanting her to be able to map out the route. {She'll love it, she'll love it,} he kept telling himself inwardly, hoping it was true. As he steered her around several large things - which she guessed vaguely to be outcroppings - he led her down what felt like an alley, but a lot more spacious. Finally, he took a deep breath and pried her fingers away from her face.
Yuffie's mouth fell open. This . . . this was the big surprise? The LIBRARY? The New York Public Library? He had led her into a row of shelves, and, on closer inspection, all of the books on the shelves appeared to be about martial arts or ancient Japanese samurais. Yuffie shut her mouth slowly and turned to look at Squall. Genuine excitement covered his face, as he obviously thought that these were best-laid plans, what with her being a karate instructor, and her talk of Ebay-ing shurikens just for the heck of it.
The eighteen-year-old's bewildered expression softened as she looked at him. He really thought that this was perfect for her, that she would love this. She should have known that Squall, the socially inept twenty-five year old that he was, would think of a first date this . . . non-romantic. His azure eyes glittered with hope that he had made a right decision, that he had impressed her with his choice of setting.
Finally, she sighed resignedly and said, "This was . . . really sweet, Squall. I . . . really appreciate it," she said, smiling in what she hoped was a sincere way. The intern's expression only improved, and a small smile formed where there had been a slightly worried line, and Yuffie felt her own eyebrow quirk; it was a rare feat that he smiled.
"Seriously?" he asked, unsure of what to think. Had he done something right?
"Seriously," Yuffie repeated, and, to ensure her point, she drew out a few random books and held them close. "I . . . want to take these home to study," she said in an all-too convincing voice, and Squall thought he might pass out from the pleasure of having pleased someone.
"Great!" he said happily, and a bit too loud; a woman strode over quickly, hands on her hips and auburn hair hanging low against her chin. Indigo eyes glared at them, and for a vague instant Yuffie and Squall both thought they knew her.
"Uh . . . where have I seen you before?" Yuffie asked hesitantly, shifting the books under her arm.
"I don't know," the surprisingly young woman snapped. "I work at 55 Bar, so you might've seen me there, but I also part-time over here. I've gotta pay for my car, you know!" she hissed.
"Kairi, right?" Squall tested, and she rolled her navy eyes angrily.
"Yeah, whatever. Can you please keep it down? I've got a study group of NYU scholars over there, and it looks important, so either keep it down or leave, got it?" she growled, and both student and intern nodded quickly. Without another word, Kairi stalked away, muttering about respect. After a moment or so, Yuffie glanced to Squall.
"Well. . . its only six. What say we get a bite to eat as well? And please, not at a bar again," Yuffie added hastily, hugging the books and walking swiftly out between the shelves.
"Right," Squall agreed, and thought a minute. "We could always join Cloud and Aerith; he left me the name of his restaurant, just in case, even though I doubt he wants us. However, if he sends us packing, there's plenty of restaurants in Little Italy to choose from. Or else we can just binge on cannolis at Ferrara's for a while," he added, stifling a laugh. Yuffie checked the books out, and together they hurried down the steps of the library, taking into account the softly spiraling snow.
"True, very true, Mr. Leonhart. But, might I ask - would you consider this a date?" She couldn't help it - the question had gnawed at her for what seemed like hours after she took her hands down from her face. His face paled as he stopped his attempts at getting a cab.
"Well, ah . . ." He paused, unsure of what to say. "I guess."
Yuffie smiled softly, hailing a taxi on her first try. "Good."
----~----
Aww, Squall's got a bad concept of where to take girls for dates and Yuffie's too blinded by love (and his inane prettiness) to contradict him. Cute couple, no? Well, at least I'm progressing with the relationship. Squee~
You disappoint me! Only one review for the last chapter? Tsk, tsk, tsk . . . well, review, or else I won't update tomorrow! *maniacal laughter*
Oh, and I also had a cunning plan - since I named this fic Broadway, I figured that, being the literary genius that I am, I would make all of the chapter titles the names of theatres. Heh. Was very smart on the bar scene, making it Studio 54, in which Cabaret is now showing . . . nightclub? Cabaret? Get it? *shakes head* Ah well, *I* thought it was clever.
----~----
"Yuffie, I just wanted to know if you want to go out with me tonight. Yuffie . . . I figured we could use a night out to get rid of last night. Yuffie . . ." Squall repeated sayings like this under his breath, pacing the small living room like a lion best deciding how to eat its quarry. If he was going to ask her to the place he had finally decided on, it had to be in a neat, casual way - like someone would with a friend. Even though he did not technically constitute as a friend . . . but that could be set aside. He was very sure that this was the perfect place to take her, and guaranteed himself repeatedly that she would like it. "Yuffie . . ."
"What?" Yuffie's voice rang clear, and Squall's head jerked up involuntarily. Her keys clattered as she set them down on the battered coffee table, stripping her long overcoat and smiling at him. {Why is she smiling?}, he thought anxiously to himself, wringing his hands as he tried to lean casually on the counter; however, his nervousness caused him to slip and slide onto the cold linoleum. Yuffie's eyes widened as she dropped her black backpack onto the rug, trotting over to him.
Kneeling next to him, she attempted to offer her hand in helpfulness, and it took him a minute of staring at it before he realized what he was supposed to do. Taking it, she helped him to his feet, concern knitting her eyebrows together. "Are you . . . alright?" she asked worriedly, not for the first time in twenty-four hours.
"What? Oh, yeah, fine," he answered after a moment, the thoughts of exactly why he was nervous flooding back instantly. "Oh, hey, umm . . . Yuffie? I was wondering if you . . . want to . . . go out . . . with me . . . tonight?" he stammered, forcing himself to look up at her. He had tossed his jacket aside, hot from pacing, and his shirt was halfway unbuttoned; he hurried to do it up again, trying not to look too laid-back.
Yuffie's intense indigo eyes widened considerably, and she had to lean against the miniscule counter for support. Squall Leonhart, asking her out on a date? Something was seriously wrong here, or else she was dreaming, although the nervous, embarrassed expression on Squall's face made her doubt that. She took deep, calming breaths, trying to keep herself steady, although it wasn't working. He couldn't have guessed . . . no. No, he was just apologizing for the night before, that was all - or at least she tried to convince herself that.
"Uh . . . sure, I guess. Where to?" she responded after a delayed period of time, and a whole mass of air seemed to deflate out of Squall's chest, as if a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
"Surprise," he said breathlessly, as if coming back from a grueling, ten- mile run. She nodded her head too quickly, nervousness creeping up and attempting to strangle her. A date . . . with Squall Leonhart. Tonight was seriously, seriously wrong.
"R-right. Surprise," she repeated, trying to sound excited, although far from it. He couldn't have guessed; she wasn't THAT obvious, was she?
----~----
"O-okay, don't look . . . don't look . . ." Squall kept repeating, as if she would try. He had made her solemnly swear to keep her eyes covered until they reached wherever it was that they were, his hand clasped tightly around one of her wrists as he dragged her around someplace extremely quiet. He had made her shut her eyes throughout the whole cab ride, not wanting her to be able to map out the route. {She'll love it, she'll love it,} he kept telling himself inwardly, hoping it was true. As he steered her around several large things - which she guessed vaguely to be outcroppings - he led her down what felt like an alley, but a lot more spacious. Finally, he took a deep breath and pried her fingers away from her face.
Yuffie's mouth fell open. This . . . this was the big surprise? The LIBRARY? The New York Public Library? He had led her into a row of shelves, and, on closer inspection, all of the books on the shelves appeared to be about martial arts or ancient Japanese samurais. Yuffie shut her mouth slowly and turned to look at Squall. Genuine excitement covered his face, as he obviously thought that these were best-laid plans, what with her being a karate instructor, and her talk of Ebay-ing shurikens just for the heck of it.
The eighteen-year-old's bewildered expression softened as she looked at him. He really thought that this was perfect for her, that she would love this. She should have known that Squall, the socially inept twenty-five year old that he was, would think of a first date this . . . non-romantic. His azure eyes glittered with hope that he had made a right decision, that he had impressed her with his choice of setting.
Finally, she sighed resignedly and said, "This was . . . really sweet, Squall. I . . . really appreciate it," she said, smiling in what she hoped was a sincere way. The intern's expression only improved, and a small smile formed where there had been a slightly worried line, and Yuffie felt her own eyebrow quirk; it was a rare feat that he smiled.
"Seriously?" he asked, unsure of what to think. Had he done something right?
"Seriously," Yuffie repeated, and, to ensure her point, she drew out a few random books and held them close. "I . . . want to take these home to study," she said in an all-too convincing voice, and Squall thought he might pass out from the pleasure of having pleased someone.
"Great!" he said happily, and a bit too loud; a woman strode over quickly, hands on her hips and auburn hair hanging low against her chin. Indigo eyes glared at them, and for a vague instant Yuffie and Squall both thought they knew her.
"Uh . . . where have I seen you before?" Yuffie asked hesitantly, shifting the books under her arm.
"I don't know," the surprisingly young woman snapped. "I work at 55 Bar, so you might've seen me there, but I also part-time over here. I've gotta pay for my car, you know!" she hissed.
"Kairi, right?" Squall tested, and she rolled her navy eyes angrily.
"Yeah, whatever. Can you please keep it down? I've got a study group of NYU scholars over there, and it looks important, so either keep it down or leave, got it?" she growled, and both student and intern nodded quickly. Without another word, Kairi stalked away, muttering about respect. After a moment or so, Yuffie glanced to Squall.
"Well. . . its only six. What say we get a bite to eat as well? And please, not at a bar again," Yuffie added hastily, hugging the books and walking swiftly out between the shelves.
"Right," Squall agreed, and thought a minute. "We could always join Cloud and Aerith; he left me the name of his restaurant, just in case, even though I doubt he wants us. However, if he sends us packing, there's plenty of restaurants in Little Italy to choose from. Or else we can just binge on cannolis at Ferrara's for a while," he added, stifling a laugh. Yuffie checked the books out, and together they hurried down the steps of the library, taking into account the softly spiraling snow.
"True, very true, Mr. Leonhart. But, might I ask - would you consider this a date?" She couldn't help it - the question had gnawed at her for what seemed like hours after she took her hands down from her face. His face paled as he stopped his attempts at getting a cab.
"Well, ah . . ." He paused, unsure of what to say. "I guess."
Yuffie smiled softly, hailing a taxi on her first try. "Good."
----~----
Aww, Squall's got a bad concept of where to take girls for dates and Yuffie's too blinded by love (and his inane prettiness) to contradict him. Cute couple, no? Well, at least I'm progressing with the relationship. Squee~
You disappoint me! Only one review for the last chapter? Tsk, tsk, tsk . . . well, review, or else I won't update tomorrow! *maniacal laughter*
Oh, and I also had a cunning plan - since I named this fic Broadway, I figured that, being the literary genius that I am, I would make all of the chapter titles the names of theatres. Heh. Was very smart on the bar scene, making it Studio 54, in which Cabaret is now showing . . . nightclub? Cabaret? Get it? *shakes head* Ah well, *I* thought it was clever.