Cream waved her goodbyes to her friends who were last to leave. As ordinary as it sounded, lasertag, manhunt, and other in-the-dark games at her old school was fun. Some of her old high school friends and even her nearby university friends attended, making a fun evening she would have difficulty forgetting. Cream felt a hand on her shoulder as the last one left.
"Hm?" Cream hummed, turning back to see Espio looking right back at her.
"Did you like it?" He asked, in a tone much more friendly than was usual. His movie representation of a stone cold ninja was similar to his true nature. She was surprised to see him so docile.
"Yes! It was amazing! Thank you!" She exclaimed. Cream wrapped her arms tightly around Espio in one of those cute moments he would never grow tired of.
He set his left arm around Cream gently as he ran his right hand through her now long hair. He let silence linger before he spoke again. "You seemed to have fun. You can be really cute sometimes."
Cream grabbed his shoulders and immediately stared him down. "You said I'm WHAT?" She demanded.
"You're adorable when you smile. I mean it." He repeated. "Even if you pouted, you'd still be rather cute." Espio took notice of her blushing. "But I'm gonna lock this place up and take you home."
"I wish you could stay with us." Cream sighed, trailing him as he turned lights off and locked doors. That he was able to use her old school was unbelievable in the first place. "You're always so sweet. And you're adorable, too."
Espio smirked. That was humiliating for him to take. "You taunt me, little girl. But I see you have a high opinion of me. And I don't really have to leave. I could swing by and pick you up for breakfast tomorrow if you're free."
She gasped. "Espio! I would love to!" She squealed, excitement flowing from her like compressed air from a tire. Never before had she seen Espio act like this.
"I understand your college's spring break is short, so I'd thought you should enjoy it while it lasts. You've only got one left." He added, closing off the final sections. "Then you're a… what was it again? Field biologist?"
Her excitement was only rising. He remembered. "Yeah. You remembered! That's so sweet of you." Cream clung to his arm as he took the sword he gave her.
"I got one of your friends to take your presents to your house. Not gonna pack em in a motorcycle, considering I have something more valuable to take with me." Espio held Cream's hand unexpectedly.
"Espio! You're flirting!" She exclaimed. The realization hit her; He was interested in her also. "Wait! Are you asking me on a date?"
"Yes. I've had this feeling for a few weeks that I might wanna do something about." Espio confessed. He locked the final door before taking Cream back to his motorcycle. "I asked your dad right before we left if I could date you. He was more than happy."
"I've talked a lot about you to him." Cream giggled. "He's probably happy that I will finally have some facts to back it up. And mom will be happy too."
"And we'll be happy, together. Some years from now, I'd expect." Cream was confused why he started talking marriage, until he chuckled. "But that's for another day. I bet your siblings would be happy too."
"They're not really my siblings. Charmy's adopted and Mint's only my half sister." She commented.
"You seemed alright with me calling Vector your dad." Espio concluded. He handed Cream her helmet and started his engine. Seconds later, they took off. Espio was speeding down the freeway, only being encouraged by Cream's screams of excitement.
Finally, she reached her limit. "Espio! You're gonna kill us!" She yelled. "You're doing over a hundred! I could fall off!"
"Oh, please." He grumbled, being audible due to his lack of a helmet. "You enjoy holding on to me. But I will slow down." Espio did as promised, taking a less intense pace. He got her home within minutes of his promised arrival of 11PM.
Espio kicked the stand down for his motorcycle to stand. Both dismounted and Cream removed her helmet. "There's that cute face of yours." Espio flirted again. He ran his hands through her hair, correctly hoping she liked it.
Cream blushed again. She was prepared to ask him something she never thought she would ever get the opportunity to ask. "Espio, can I call you my boyfriend now?"
Espio took her hand. "If you don't mind having a boyfriend almost six years your senior. If that's fine by you, go for it."
"We gotta do something for your 26th birthday." She hinted.
"Perhaps I could get a kiss from you that day." Espio added, flustering Cream.
Cream chuckled as she took his other hand. "This is like a dream come true." Cream admitted, staring into his eyes.
"Don't do anything to embarrass yourself." Espio warned her. "Your entire complicated family's got eyes on us."
"You're not gonna tease me like that, you sweet boy." She taunted him. Cream was not going to take that taunt and not reply.
"Very well." Espio raised her left hand and kissed the back of it, at an angle her whole family could see. "Have an amazing evening, and I will see you in eleven hours."
"Now my dad's gonna tease me about it, you jerk!" Cream raged. Despite her anger, she didn't let go of his hands. Espio's hurt look made her regret her words. "No. Espio. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say that. Please…"
Espio cut her short. "No big deal. Like you said, you'll have all the facts to back it up. Hope your birthday was worth it. Anyway, I'll be here by ten and take you to my favorite cafe. Tell your family I said hi."
Cream got one last hug from him before leaving. "Be safe out there. Don't want you dying before a big day. I'll give you a kiss if you show up alive tomorrow, okay?"
Espio blushed slightly. "Then you'll have to anticipate me being late due to safe driving." He teased in return. "Goodbye!"
"Bye, Espio. I'll try not to miss you too bad." She replied sweetly. As Espio peeled out of her family's driveway, she put her helmet away and returned home.
"What. A. Power. Play!" Charmy mocked her the second she entered the door.
"You're adopted." Cream retorted, an advantage she had to quickly shut down Charmy's annoying behavior. She quickly ran into Vanilla's arms. Her family was happy to see her. Cream was excited to tell Vector about the next day.