Chapter Title: Twenty
Series Title: Unlikely Brothers
POV: Dashen
Ages in this chapter: Tanner (20) Dashen (26)
Chapter Summary: As some of his Jedi ways began to fade, Tanner finally gets his nerves up to ask for a first date.
"She likes you, Mouse."
"No."
"Come on, Tanner, you said you would consider a friend of the womanish persuasion at this point in your life."
"It comes with too many complications. In my case, too many secrets. Can't have an honest relationship if I can't tell her the entire truth."
"You're not spending the rest of your lives together, it's just fun and casual and a few dates. You think she's gonna spill her entire life story to you?"
"It's possible."
"You, wait... you're probably right. People spill the beans all the time with you. You just have that face and that interest that makes people think you like talking to them."
"I do like talking to people."
"Yes, then talk to that girl. She's your age, your plainness, your boringness."
"Boringness?"
"Yes, you are boring as hell, Tanner. Maybe she likes to sit on the floor and stare at walls too."
"Meditate."
"Right. Boring. You never know. You could be a match made in the stars."
"Dash."
"Fine. Fun and casual. Just dinner. Ask her to dinner."
"What if she says no?"
"Then, welcome to the world of confusion. I don't think that'll happen though, she's been giving you a look. I can feel the vibes."
"Where do I take her to dinner?"
"Not to the Rathskeller, that's for sure. It's too early to know if she likes to hang around some of those shady characters or not. How about Cayne's Cafe. It's much more relaxed and you can tell her you know the manager, which you do. Me. And I swear to not bug you."
"I don't know, Dash."
"Just ask her. That's all. No pressure. I promise."
"Fine. But if this backfires, you're being used as Force projectile practice for the next year."
"So, nothing changes. Good. Ask her."
Twenty. Tanner was twenty now. He'd spent most of his life implanted in his Jedi ways. But in recent years things had changed some. He wasn't as rigid with keeping certain traditions alive all the time. As Jedi, most didn't have romantic relationships for fear that emotion and attachment would lead to whatever the hell it would lead to. I didn't know, didn't understand. But he stuck to it. Relationships in general, he was great with. He loved me, loved Colton - his family. He appreciated his friends, teachers, his students and random people he'd meet wherever. But beyond that, he'd been hesitant. This girl though... she was like the female version of him from what I could tell - without the Jedi stuff attached. She was sweet and plain and friendly and she'd been showing up here at Dec's bookshop far too randomly to be a coincidence. Either that or she really was as boring as my brother.
Her name as it turned out, was Isley Suresh. Human. Mostly. She apparently had some Pantoran in her background somewhere and it gave her an odd yellow fleck pattern to her otherwise brown eyes. It also gave her an unusual white streak on the right side of her shoulder length brown hair. Brown and brown and brown. She was Tanner all over. Same age - twenty. His height. His build. Really, the female him. It was as creepy as it was cute.
She smiled at him as he asked her the question. The smile grew as she nodded I assumed in a 'yes' motion. When she hurried out of the shop there was a slight hop in her step.
Tanner walked back toward me with a stupid grin on his face.
Apparently all went well.
"So?"
"Tomorrow evening. Dinner. Cayne's Place. She passes it every day on her way home from work. Has never stopped in though."
"Perfect. Whatever you do though, don't order that creamy green crap you love so much. Order something less repulsive. Trust me."
"I can handle dinner, Dash."
"Uh huh. Sure. I'll be working in case you need a little support."
"I'm okay with that."
"So, Isley, huh? No feeling of her being Force sensitive or anything?"
"I didn't sense or feel any of that. I think I'm okay there. She could be hiding it, but doubtful."
"Just be careful. I want this for you and you are ready to move beyond your Jedi boundaries, but you still have a target on your back if the wrong person discovers your past. So, feel it out, but have fun too. I really want you to have fun, Mouse. I do."
"I know. Thank you, Dash. I do appreciate you always looking out for me in your own weird ways, while also understanding my reasons and needs for my choices in life. And I promise to have fun, but always have a tendril of wariness out there for anything out of the ordinary."
"Good. Okay, now, you'd better buy something from Dec there, who has the same stupid grin on his face that you have on yours. I think he's happy for you too."
"I am in need of some good fiction. Isley reads it too."
"Not surprised. She looks like you, acts like you, and I've barely even met her. Actually, I've not met her. Thanks for for the intro by the way."
"Sorry. I admit to having a little anxiety attack there after she agreed to dinner. First time jitters I guess."
"Makes sense. I mean, you're ancient by 'first date' standards, but a first is a first."
"I'll introduce you tomorrow, assuming you don't embarrass me."
"Me?"
"Yes, you. I mean, I can't tell her the Jedi stuff, but I can tell her I have an annoying big brother and that we have a bit of an issue with co-dependence."
"Just start out with annoying big brother. Leave the co-dependent thing off the first-date discussion. I suspect she'll find out rather quickly on her own anyway. We're not exactly subtle."
"It kept us both alive as mostly functional adults, our brother bond is important to me, Dash."
"Well, it literally saved my life, so there's that. Just don't make it a major topic of discussion. First date is about you and Isley, not your amazing, incredibly handsome, kick-ass, big brother."
"Yeah, sure. Whatever you say. I will figure this out. Let me get a few books before Dec'lar boots me out for loitering."
"Nah, he loves you too, dummy. Everyone who gets to know you, loves you, Tanner. It's just who you are. And for that, little brother, I am grateful. Get your books, have your chat with Dec, I'll meet you outside in ten."
END
