So last time Eriol and Tomoyo met, she was the damsel in distress, now it seems the tables have turned!

xxx

032. Deception

Eriol had to fight the urge to roll his eyes for what seemed like the hundredth time that night. Sitting across him was some airhead his friends decided to set him up with. She was waving her little umbrella thing that came with her drink (another strike against her, seriously, who orders drinks with umbrellas at a sports bar?), prattling on about how she can totally tell someone's personality by the shoes they wear. He had absolutely zero interest in the girl and had even considered not coming to meet her, but he thought that would have been rude and decided it would be more prudent to come and buy her a drink and then let her down gently. Obviously, he was very, very wrong.

Wallowing in silent self pity, he suddenly jerked when he felt a foot travelling up his calf. Was the girl actually trying to play footsie with him? Good Lord, he must have done his friends a serious injustice in his past life. Shifting his legs so that they were out of reach, he cleared his throat.

"Really, Emily..."

"Emma." The girl corrected him, eyeing him as if he was the last turkey in the supermarket the night before Thanksgiving.

"Er, right. Emma. Look, Emma. I have a girlfriend. I don't think this is such a good idea." Eriol explained, trying to sound apologetic.

Emma scoffed. "There is no need to play coy with me Eriol, your friends mentioned you might be a little...shy." Saying so, she stood up, "I'm just going to the bathroom, and then we can go back to my apartment for some fun." She threw him a wink and sashayed towards the bathroom.

Eriol swallowed and his eyes darted towards the exit, he could definitely bail right now. Suddenly, his phone rang and he picked it up when he saw who was calling.

"Syaoran you bastard, what were you thinking? That Emma is some handsy chick who won't stop devouring me with her eyes!"

Eriol nearly swore when he heard laughter from the other end of the line.

"Sorry man, but she's my sister's friend and was interested in getting to know some firefighters, apparently."

Eriol's eyes narrowed, "You're a firefighter too."

"Well yeah," Syaoran replied easily, "But I met her already and was certainly not going to encourage her any further."

"You are a prick Syaoran." Eriol said into his phone already heading towards the exit.

"Look man, I'll make it up to you. But just don't disappear like I know you're going to. Make up some excuse or I swear she's going to run crying to my sister and I'm going to get some serious shit from her." Syaoran appealed on the phone.

Eriol sighed, "You are going to take my morning shifts for the next month Syaoran."

"Of course, I owe you. Thanks Eriol! Have fun!" Then with a chuckle, Syaoran hung up.

Eriol muttered some curses under his breath, deciding that he had better call Nakuru to come down to the bar and save his ass when he spotted a familiar figure sitting at a table nearby.

The girl in question was in jeans that looked like they were painted on, a black tank top and a leather biker jacket. Eriol briefly wondered if she only looked familiar because it seemed like she was on the front cover of one of those girly fashion magazines Nakuru liked to read. Then, she turned her head towards the big screen TV that was broadcasting the game and Eriol was suddenly hit by the memory of saving the girl who had had been leaning out the window of a burning building who had in turn, been trying to save her cat.

Grinning, he abandoned all plans of calling Nakuru and strode up to the girl, tapping her on her shoulder.

"Hey, remember me?"

The girl turned around, looking confused, and for a second he thought maybe she didn't. But then she smiled and nodded, "Of course, I never forget my saviours. Hello Eriol."

He really should not be so ridiculously pleased she remembers his name.

Smiling, he rubbed a hand behind his head, "I kinda need a favour."

"Okay." Her easy agreement surprised him.

"Really?" Eriol raised his eyebrow, "Because I could be asking for like a sexual favour or something. Shouldn't you ask me first what this is about?"

The girl laughed. (It's a pretty laugh, he kinda likes it.) "I highly doubt you'll ask me for a sexual favour." It bothers him that she said it like she doesn't believe she's attractive enough for someone to ask that of her.

Hello? Has she seen herself in the mirror?

"It's not a sexual favour," Eriol admitted, "but it's still kinda weird. Can you pretend to be my girlfriend for 5 minutes?"

Her lips curled up into a smile, "Is this because of the girl you came in with and who just went to the bathroom?"

Eriol looked at her in surprise.

"I noticed you the minute you came in." The girl said, smiling a secret smile.

(He wonders why his heart starts racing.)

"And of course I will. My way of repaying you." She licked her lips as she said this and leaned closer towards him. Tilting her head up so that her mouth was next to his ear, she whispered, "She's heading this way now. I'm Tomoyo by the way."

Eriol found himself biting down a groan. This girl was totally doing things to him.

Tomoyo pulled back, a little smile on her face and not a second later, they were interrupted by the shrill voice of Emily, oh wait no, Emma.

"Eriol, just who is this exactly?" Emma said, throwing a disdainful glare Tomoyo's way.

Tomoyo leaned into Eriol, an arm around his waist, "I'm Tomoyo. His girlfriend."

Emma's eyes widened, then narrowed at Tomoyo. (It would have been amusing watching the way her expressions changed so quickly if not for the fact that he was a little frightened of the airhead.) "If Eriol, darling, really has a girlfriend, would he have come out on this date with me?"

"It's not a date, Syaoran said it's just a meet up." Eriol explained, then shrunk back a little when Emma fixed him with a glare. Holy crap, this girl is intimidating.

"Eriol is just trying to be nice. He bought you a drink, fulfilled his obligation towards his friend and now he is leaving with me." Tomoyo jumped in with a pretty smile.

Eriol wrapped an arm around her shoulder. He is going to be in her debt forever.

For some strange reason, Emma looked down at Tomoyo's boots then threw her hair back, "Fine. I know your type. You can have him." Saying so, she stalked out of the bar, but not before shooting a glare at Eriol. Pssh, as if it was his fault he has an entirely hot girlfriend.

Oh crap wait, he doesn't.

Pretend girlfriend smiled up at him, "Well, that was easy."

He nodded and laughed, "Yea," Removing his arm from around her with some regret, he continues, "Nakuru usually has to resort to some theatrics about how she's carrying my baby and I'm some good for nothing bastard."

Tomoyo giggled, "Ah, the real girlfriend?"

Eriol nearly choked, "No! Heavens, no. She's my cousin, who is normally my go to when something like this happens."

"Oh," Tomoyo smiled, "Get set up a lot?"

Eriol rubbed his head sheepishly, "Yea, for some strange reason. Everyone and their mothers try to set me up. Almost every guy at the fire station has some girl they want to introduce to me. It's almost insulting, like they don't think I'm capable of meeting girls on my own."

Tomoyo shook her head, "I highly doubt that Eriol."

Eriol grinned and sat down next to her, "Thanks for that. I owe you one."

"You saved my life." Tomoyo replied, "That was nothing, in fact, I think I still owe you one."

"I'll make sure to remember that the next time I need saving from some vapid date." Eriol deadpanned, then smiled, "So how's your cat?"

"Suppi is fine. He hasn't been near windows since the fire." Tomoyo replied, finishing up her beer. (Finally, a girl without some fruity concoction with an umbrella.)

"Are you alone?" Eriol asked, realising for the first time that it was unusual to find a girl alone at a sports bar.

"Oh I was with my cousin before, but she left to meet her boyfriend for something. I just wanted to finish the game." Tomoyo explained, jerking her head towards the large screen TV.

(A girl who appreciated sports. Eriol thinks he might have hit the jackpot.)

Tomoyo started riffling around in her purse and pulled out her phone, "Oops, it's kinda late. I should be getting back." She nudged Eriol, "It was nice meeting you again."

"Oh yea, you too." Eriol stood up, "Actually, I think I'll be leaving as well." He followed her out the bar, wondering if he might ever see her again.

Tomoyo stopped in front of a taxi, a hand on the door handle, "Bye Eriol! I had fun saving you tonight."

Eriol chuckled, his hands in his pockets, "Yea. I had fun being saved."

She gave a little wave and was about to get into the taxi when Eriol finally decided to throw caution to the wind.

"Wait!"

Tomoyo turned to look at him, a smile still on her face.

"I'll like to cash in my other favour now please." Eriol said steadily.

Tomoyo nodded, "Of course Eriol. Do you have another blind date lined up already?" She looked around, as if expecting another girl to pop up behind the lamp posts.

Eriol shook his head, "I'll like a date." He stepped closer to Tomoyo, "With you." He clarified.

Tomoyo took a few seconds to process his request, and slowly, a smile appeared on her face, "Okay Eriol."

He let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. Grinning again, he pulled her away from the taxi, "I'll give you a lift home. And also, can I have your number?"

Tomoyo laughed and followed him down the street, "You know, can it really count as a favour if I wanted it too?"

xxx

I have definite plans for another fic in the fireman!Eriol verse but that probably wouldn't come too soon. If you enjoyed, please leave a review, thank you!