Day 6: Double Date

"Please, Roxas? Please, please, please?"

Roxas looks up at the ceiling. He has to. If he looks at the pleading face Kairi has right now he knows he will crack. And he doesn't want to be a part of a set up. Already, he's cringing at the very thought of the awkwardness of a first date.

"Roxas," Kairi says again. Roxas still doesn't look at her. That is, until she gently takes his hand, and it happens automatically. A mistake because he's instantly locked into her gaze. "I'm asking as a friend. A favor to a friend. I'll owe you one."

Gathering the last ounces of willpower Roxas has, he asks, "And remind me again why it has to be me?"

"Because Naminé is as comfortable with you as she is with me."

"And why would that be a good thing? I thought this would be a double date with her and Ventus. Wouldn't Ventus want someone who she isn't so keen on?"

"I can guarantee you she does not feel that about you at all. Believe me, we've gushed enough about boys that I know what she feels towards Ventus can't be so easily swayed by your handsome features and sweet demeanor."

"I'm handsome?" Roxas smirks at her and feels the satisfaction when her cheeks go pink.

"Duh," Kairi says in a valiant effort to push past her own flustered state. "Now will you go?"

Roxas waits, keeping her in suspense just a little longer. Then—"Fine."

Kairi lets out a small shriek of victory and throws her arms around him in an unexpectedly strong hug. Roxas has to take a step back to keep his balance. Then she pulls away and immediately dives into details about where they're going and what they're doing and what she's hoping for Naminé and—

Roxas is already regretting this.

O0o0o0o0o

Roxas arrives at Kairi's door. Ventus too. They're picking up the girls before heading out to the diner then a walk on the pier.

Roxas reaches for the doorbell when he sees Ventus out of the corner of his eye.

Ventus runs his fingers through his hair, wipes his forehead, tugs on his jacket, brushes his pants, fidgets with the collar of his shirt, scratches his arm—

"Are you done?" Roxas asks.

Ventus huffs, rocks once back and forth on his feet, then nods. "Ready."

Roxas waits half a second more to be sure then rings the doorbell.

Kairi opens it immediately, as if she was there waiting. "Hello, boys." Naminé is beside her. She gives a small wave.

"Hey," Roxas says. He glances at Ventus who has the smile of a crazy-man plastered on his face. He looks like he might throw up. Roxas nods once in his direction. "Ventus says hi too. You both look nice."

"Thank you!" Kairi's enthusiasm is powerful, but not powerful enough because Naminé continues to stare at her shoes. Kairi gives her a small nudge.

"Thank you," Naminé near whispers.

"Shall we?" Roxas steps back, allowing for the girls to move out the door. Kairi moves to take Roxas's arm. Ventus, who has finally gained the ability to move, juts his arm out, nearly elbowing Naminé in the ribs. She smiles, laughs in a breathy, nervous way, then quickly starts walking. Ventus follows her. All four walk in dead silence.

Kairi leans up and whispers to Roxas. "See? Your presence was definitely needed."

Roxas shakes his head. "This is going to be a long night."

O0o0o0o0o0o0o

"And then Tidus ends up face-first in the dirt!" Ventus's laugh is a little too loud. Kairi laughs with him in a way Roxas knows is fake, but he admires her valiant effort.

Things have not gotten better. Ventus and Naminé seem dead set on being awkward on opposite ends of the spectrum. Naminé barely saying anything and Ventus trying too hard.

Kairi has tried engaging Naminé, getting her out of her shell and talking more. More often than not, it's met with a quiet, one-sentence response and then her gaze returning to her plate of food.

Kairi looks at Roxas, and he feels bad for her. She wants this to go well for her friend, and he admires the amount of third-person effort she's putting in. He wants to help, yet…

"Kairi, would you mind joining me at the counter? I want to double check with the waiter about our order."

He can see her about to protest until the message in his eyes reaches her. Then she nods, stands up, and walks with him to the other side of the room.

"This is a disaster!" Kairi says once they're out of earshot.

"I know." Roxas leans against the countertop. He waves away the staff looking to help him. "Just taking a breather," he informs them. The person nods, unbothered. They've probably much odder scenarios than the one Roxas finds himself in now.

"Naminé was so excited for this. I wanted so badly to help."

"I think our presence is making it worse," Roxas says.

"What? How?" Kairi asks.

Roxas shrugs. "This is their date, not ours. They're the only ones who can make it work. We're like a crutch. They use us as an—no, they see us as training wheels, and we need to be taken off the bike so they can figure out how to ride it all by themselves."

Kairi sighs. "You're right. So what now?"

"Now," Roxas says, pulling out his wallet, taking out his card, and handing it to the cashier, "we leave."

"What?!"

"Consider this disaster on me. At least, our side of things. They can figure out their payment."

"But we can't just leave them. I promised Naminé I'd—"

"Oh, we are definitely leaving." Roxas's voice give very little room for debate. He points at their table. "Look."

Kairi glances back. "They're…they're talking!"

"And they will keep talking to each other if we never go back."

Kairi shakes her head but has a smile on her face.

O0o0o0o0o0o0o

Roxas and Kairi sneak out the patio side door. They make a few strategic turns around the surrounding trees and vehicles in order to make sure they're not seen.

"I'm really curious what Naminé will tell me tomorrow," Kairi muses as they walk back in the direction of Kairi's house. She looks down at her shoes. "She might be mad at me."

"Naminé couldn't hold a grudge if her life depended on it," Roxas informs her.

"Yeah, but—"

"Just tell her I made you do it. I practically did."

Kairi smirks and nudges his shoulder with her own. "Thanks for this. I know you weren't looking forward to it."

Roxas shrugs. "No big deal. I just like to try and avoid awkward situations when I can. This was quite the test."

"Well, I appreciate you suffering through some awkward because I asked." Kairi links her arm with Roxas's. He glances at her, but says nothing about it. "You're a great friend."

"That's me," Roxas says dryly. "Doing favors. Escaping awkward."

"Dating excellently."

Roxas snorts a laugh at Kairi's addition.

"What?" Kairi asks. "You were a perfect gentleman."

"Oh please. This wasn't even a date. We were chauffeurs—chaperones!"

"Ok, ok. Maybe you're right," Kairi admits. "But walking me back to my door is a very date thing to do."

Roxas glances her way, gives her a grin. "That's not much. There's plenty I could do beyond going a couple of blocks out of my way."

"Is that so?" Kairi asks.

"Oh absolutely." Roxas pauses. He looks at Kairi again. He thinks—thinks—he sees an expectant look in her eye. He huffs. "Maybe…Maybe I could show you some time?"

"I'd like that."

Roxas's eyes dart to her smile to his shoes then her again, the sky, his shoes, her eyes. This helps him wait long enough to quell the bubble of excitement so he can talk again without laughing.

But that doesn't stop his stupidly large smile when he says, "Great. I'll—we can figure out a time later."

Kairi holds onto his arm a little tighter. "Sounds good to me."

They soon reach Kairi's door. She turns to Roxas, letting go of his arm. "Thanks again for this, Roxas."

Roxas shrugs. "Anytime."

Kairi turns but stops halfway. "You know," she says, "there's plenty I can do for a real date too."

"Oh?" Roxas cocks an eyebrow, wondering where she's going with this.

Kairi shifts just a little bit closer. Close enough to make Roxas's heart pound. "Mm-hmm. I'd say whatever your plans are for making a date good would equal a kiss goodnight."

With one more smile, Kairi leans up, kisses his cheek, then, embarrassed, retreats through her front door without looking back. If she had, she would have seen Roxas's surprise—and his smile.