Another update! Another day- okay no, same day technically. I'm trying to catch this fic up to its AO3 counterpart.

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It was only when Sasha left for the night, did Eddie realize he had no idea what to do for their future date. Their future date set in the distance lands of next week.

Next Saturday, even. At 7:00pm sharp. Eddie sunk back into his couch cushions, lips tugging out into a thin uncertain line as he let his mind wander. "Well, shit."

How was he going to romance Sasha Nein's pants off? Literally and metaphorically in this case. It had been a long time since he had been on an actual date.

###

"Please tell me you don't have the hots for that german guy you've been texting."

Eddie jerked up in surprise at her words, visibly wincing at the pain the jarring movement caused and how well Ophelia could read him. So much for being subtle about his sort of boyfriend. "What-?"

Ophelia gave a blustery sigh at his play at denial, moving to plop down on the couch next to him. "You heard me. Don't try to play coy."

The roadie gave a weak shrug, grimacing again at the pain it caused. "Well…"

"Seriously?" Ophelia poked Eddie's arm, the roadie didn't protest against the poking. Interest bright on her features as she peeked briefly at his phone. "I thought he was straight."

"Well, apparently he isn't."

"Geeze." She jabbed Eddie lightly in the leg next. "What is it with you and attracting sort of straight people?"

"Fuck if I know." He breathed out and shook his head, "Sides, he's- probably bi? Fuck if I can say. He'll tell me if he has a label or some shit." Eddie glanced back down at his phone for a moment before continuing. "He just you know, asked me out."

"Right." Ophelia, she rested her chin in her palm, a smirk rising to her lips. "So, when's the date?"

"Sometime next week. I still dunno what the hell to do." The thought made Eddie wonder how the hell he dated before. Now he had just blanked everything out from his last attempts at dating.

Ophelia hmmed idly to herself, "Tell me about him and I'll see if I can help."

"Well…" Eddie paused mulling over his next words, he wanted to summarize Sasha properly. "Sasha is, real precise, likes plannin' stuff out a lot, he's about havin' a plan and doin' it. A go-getter if that ain't cheesy to say. He doesn't look for glory or credit, he gets a job done." A bit of warmth rose in Eddie's voice at mention of that, clearly fond of that moment. "He's funny too- a huge geek. He and I both like King of the Rings. He and I talked about a passage for awhile, we had different ideas of what it meant you know. He also likes a lot of the same art I do. Even if we don't really agree on music..."

He could ramble on and on if he didn't let it stop there.

"Welp, sounds like you two dorks are destined to be married." Ophelia had to tease, she couldn't resist, especially with the pout she knew she'd get from Eddie.

The pout was on cue, the roadie sinking into his couch. "Is this how you help people, callin' em dorks?"

She laughed, reaching out to playfully pinch Eddie's cheek. "Yes. You dork."

###

He stared back at himself in the mirror, adjusting his jacket for what felt like the millionth time. "I look weird." He brushed nonexistent wrinkles from the front of his shirt as he stared at himself a moment longer. No matter how he looked at himself he didn't feel exactly satisfied about this, not when he had a bruise blossoming across his neck. The molted colors edging upwards the underside of his jaw in a way that Eddie kept finding himself distracted by when he looked at himself in the mirror. Usually this wouldn't even bother Eddie, today made things odd. Today was an important day after all.

"Damn it."

He didn't have much time to really second guess what he was wearing, he needed to go pick Sasha up. The Roadie gave a soft sigh as he grabbed his jacket, sliding it on and checking his pocket for his keys alongside his wallet. Satisfied that he had everything, he made his way to his apartment's door, the trip down the stairwell barely a blip in his mind as he made a beeline for his car. He easily undid the straps of the plastic cover he secured over it kept the rain at bay, folding the tarp up and tucking it into his trunk.

He jumped into the drivers seat, revving up the car's engine easily as he buckled up for the ride over the swankier side of town. The drive itself didn't take very long, Eddie had dropped by Sasha's place a few times so far, even if it had been to check if the German man had been home from his long trip earlier this month.

Some part of Eddie wondered if he should have brought flowers or something for Sasha, then again, Sasha didn't really seem the type to want flowers and chocolate. Knowing the German man he probably would have rolled his eyes and called the gesture quaint. Eddie didn't exactly need that now, not with things shifting from casual friendship to- an actual date. It was just a little surreal in a nice sort of way. He wasn't about to jinx something this nice by following the typical date procedures.

He pulled up to park behind Sasha's apartment complex, locking up his car and making his way towards front doorway of Sasha's apartment. He buzzing the front bell, the intercom coming to life only moments later. "Hullo?"

"Hey, Sasha, it's Eddie." He felt stupidly nervous, he verbally fumbled. "You know, the guy you're gonna go on a date with at 7:00."

Smooth, real smooth. Eddie palm faced at himself, wondering if he could say anything stupider.

His nervousness apparently was amusing if Sasha's low laugh was anything to go by. "I'll be out in a moment." was his response before the intercom clicked off. Eddie waited by the front door, digging his hands into his pocket nervously with an uncertain smile.

Sasha was true to his word, he emerging after a moment, equally as nervous if his smile was anything to go by. It making Eddie own smile brighten considerably, he felt more relieved at that he wasn't the only one who was feeling nervous right now. He offered Sasha his hand. The psychic hesitated before accepting the offer, gently lacing their fingers together.

"I'd ask how you're doin', but it looks like you're about as nervous as I am."

Sasha lightly chuckled back as he squeezed Eddie's hand in his own. "You would be right, Mr. Riggs."

The roadie returned the squeeze. He gently tugged Sasha forward off of the front step of the building down the stone work steps. "Hard not to, I think we're both like not sure what to do."

"Very true." He readily walked with Eddie's urging, hardly one to say no to the larger man like this. Eddie wasn't oblivious to the feeling of Sasha's eyes sweeping over him now. "What did you have in mind for tonight?"

"It's a surprise, but I'm pretty sure you'll like it." He casually grinned back at the lankier man as they walked together.

The German man squinted up at Eddie from behind his sunglasses, though amusement was clear in his tone. "You always say that."

"And it's usually true about 4 percent of the time." Eddie answered with a one sided shrug, trying to not overdo it in regards to his injury.

"I'd give you a 5 percent."

The roadie had to laugh softly at that, glancing back at his sort of but not really boyfriend. "I'm glad I at least bumped up one percent, it shows I'm doin' somethin' right."

"You're always doing something right, Mr. Riggs." Sasha squeezed Eddie's hand, only releasing it when they arrived at Eddie's car. The two sliding into the vehicle with practiced ease. If not for the nicer clothing and different expectations, this could almost classify as another normal hang out between the two of them.

Eddie easily revved the engine to life, stealing a glance over at the german man seated across from him. The open nervous excitement he could read off of Sasha was enough to make Eddie's heart leap into his throat. When did Sasha Nein become so cute?

Apparently he had said that aloud from the surprised look he got from Sasha. "I'd prefer handsome."

Eddie nodded uncertainly, inwardly embarrassed at the slip up. He hadn't even heard his voice… how weird. Sasha had this strange conflicted expression made the roadie's brows pinch together. "Alright then, when did you get so handsome?"

"You tell me. I should think I've always been." He commented in turn as the roadie started driving, heading in the direction of the drive in theater. Eddie had been here with friends before, usually in a drunken group on Sunday when no one was around. With a date, it was going to involve less drinking and throwing lawn chairs around.

Today, today was Art House Saturday. Eddie at least knew what the movies were about (He remembered liking one of the french ones listed), so he figured it was worth a shot. Even if Sasha got bored, Eddie figured they could maybe make out a little.

Sasha openly gawked in surprise when they pulled up behind another car waiting to get into the drive in lot. He blinked behind his sunglasses as he squinted up at the large tacky neon sign advertising the theater. Below it was a marquee of the movies being shown. "These still exist?"

Eddie grinned back at Sasha, amused at the smaller man's reaction. "Yeah, I come here for shlocky horror movies usually. Today they're having an classic art house feature."

"...Are you assuming because I'm a German I'll enjoy it?" His curiosity was very quickly replaced by some irritation.

"Uh, no. I distinctly remember you talkin' with me about two of the movies they're showin' tonight." He jerked his thumb upwards at the marquee. The thought had never really crossed his mind, but it certainly made the roadie wonder if he was being stereo type-y. Had he been projecting German stereotypes at Sasha before?

Sasha visibly relaxed when he recognized two of the names overhead. "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Melancholia. I'm surprised they're showing those." He mused softly back. "And no, you aren't and haven't been 'Stereotyping' me. I just thought..."

Did he say that aloud again? He frowned slightly redirecting his gaze at the two cars in front of them. "With how many shitty jokes Germans get, I understand."

Sasha paused for a long moment, shifting topics. When Eddie glanced back over, he noticed that strange look on Sasha's face again. "Have you seen Lost in Translation before?"

He gave another careful shrug as he spoke. "Naw, heard it was good though. If we weren't tired after the first two movies, I was gonna see if you wanted to stay and see that one."

"I'm willing to stay and see that one. Though I refuse to see Being John Malkovich." The roadie had to laugh at that as he drove forward, their car was almost to the front by now thankfully. "Seen it before?"

"Yes, much to my regret." Eddie could hear the eye roll in Sasha's tone alone. He didn't even need to see Sasha to see that eye roll. The thought made Eddie laugh quietly this time. Sasha sounded more than a bit amused at the laughter now. "What are you laughing at?"

"How handsome you are. You're kickin' my ass with it." He peeked over at Sasha, glad to see a smile on the German man's face again. A smile fit him much better than a frown or scowl. "I'd kiss you if I didn't have to pull up to the ticket booth."

"You'll owe me one later then. I'll hold you to it." The normal flush of Sasha's cheeks deepened, a darker pink against the pale green of his skin. Even the tips of his ears took a slight pink tint. Eddie was having a hard time tearing his eyes away from Sasha.

"You better."