Disclaimer: Must be love on the brain, eh?

I lied; this is not a two-shot story. I do hope you enjoy it.

Kunzite, always charming when he wants something, works his usual magic on Minako. He leans against the counter as she prepares their dinner, or some kind of dinner...he is not exactly sure. A sly smile playing at his lips. "Hey, how about we go out tonight instead?" he suggests casually, his tone light yet purposeful. "It'll be a change of pace, and I think you deserve a night out. Plus, I've got a great idea for who we should invite along."

Minako glances up from the cutting board, arching an eyebrow. "Oh? And who might that be?" she asks, intrigued by the glint of mischief in Kunzite's eyes. She's always known he has a way of getting things to work out in his favor.

Kunzite steps closer, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her in for a quick kiss on the cheek. "Well, how about Rei and Jadeite? I think they could both use a distraction from their... whatever it is they've got going on." His tone is playful, yet there's an undercurrent of something more—he's already thinking about how this could all unfold.

Minako freezes mid-cut and looks up at Kunzite, her eyes wide with amusement. "You... want to invite them?" Kunzite had shared all that he learned from Jadeite, and he learned all that Minako learned from Rei and what a fucking delight this whole situation showing up at his doorstep is turning out to be.

Kunzite shrugs, his smirk widening. "Hey, they need a push. Besides, we all know that if Jadeite can't figure out how to call Rei, maybe a night out will help them both sort it out. You know how Jadeite is with his pride, and Rei? She's not going to make the first move twice."

Minako chuckles, shaking her head as she sets down the knife and wipes her hands on the dish towel. "You're really trying to play matchmaker here, aren't you? You know, I think I like the idea, actually."

Kunzite raises an eyebrow, pleased by her response. "Of course, I'm a genius when it comes to these things."

Minako laughs, giving him a playful shove. "Okay, okay, I'll go along with it. But if Rei ends up falling for him, don't come crying to me about it." She pauses before grinning. "Though, I'm sure it'll be interesting to watch. They're both so... intense in their own ways."

Kunzite smirks, clearly pleased with how things are going. "Oh, I'm sure it'll be entertaining either way. Maybe it'll end in love, maybe just a little... lust." He winks at her, his tone teasing.

Minako laughs, rolling her eyes. "You're impossible, you know that?"

Minako taps away at her phone, her fingers dancing across the screen as she sends a text to Rei. The message is playful, yet with the slightest edge of command.

"Don't make any plans for tonight. Kunzite and I are taking you and someone else out to eat. It's happening. You'll thank me later."

She smirks as she presses send, knowing full well that Rei won't be able to resist her invitation. Minako already has her plan in motion, and she's excited to see how everything will unfold.

As she sets her phone down, Kunzite glances over with a raised eyebrow, clearly curious. "So, what's the plan now?"

Minako grins mischievously. "We're going to make sure tonight is unforgettable for these two."

Kunzite taps out a text to Jadeite with a grin on his face, fully aware of how his words will come across. His fingers fly over the keys as he types:

"Make yourself free tonight, or I'll be forced to bust down your front door and drag your ass out to dinner in whatever potato sack you're wearing. Don't make me do it."

He hits send and leans back, amused by the thought of Jadeite's likely reaction. Kunzite knows that if there's one thing Jadeite can't resist, it's a challenge—especially when Kunzite's involved.

Turning to Minako, Kunzite smirks. "He'll be there. Trust me."

Rei steps out of the taxi, her heels clicking against the pavement as she stands tall in her chosen outfit for the night. She inhales deeply, feeling the evening air as it calms her slightly. The soft glow of the restaurant's lights beckons her inside, but before she does.

Her eyes scan the bustling room through the windows. The chic interior of the restaurant is alive with conversations, laughter, and clinking glasses, a far cry from the stress of her earlier day. She takes another glance at the front door, unsure if she's ready for the social energy inside but knowing she has to make the step.

After a few moments, Rei spots Minako and Kunzite near the bar, their table easily visible despite the crowd. She smiles to herself and heads inside. As she walks in, her gaze catches on a few familiar faces in the room, but there's one in particular she's wondering about—Jadeite. Her mind is still tangled with thoughts of him after their brief but intense encounter the night before.

Rei's heart skips a beat as she approaches the table, her eyes immediately locking onto the unfamiliar face sitting with Kunzite and Minako. She had expected to see the two of them, but the third person—Jadeite—sitting across from Kunzite with a calm but slightly tense expression, catches her off guard.

A brief wave of anxiety washes over her. She hadn't anticipated this, hadn't prepared herself for seeing him again so soon.

We were practically crying over whether or not we would see him again and now here he is. I cannot believe my luck.

Minako, ever the perceptive one, spots Rei first and beams at her, waving her over. "Rei! You made it!" she calls, her enthusiasm unmistakable. Kunzite raises an eyebrow but smiles, his expression almost unreadable, as though he's enjoying the slight tension in the air.

"Come join us," Minako adds, patting the seat next to Jadeite. "We've been waiting for you!"

Rei takes a deep breath, pushing aside the anxiety, and moves forward to take her seat, trying her best to maintain her usual confident air despite the nervous flutter in her stomach. She doesn't know how the night will unfold, but she's in this now. No turning back.

Jadeite's pulse quickens as Rei gets closer, each step she takes amplifying the rush of emotions he's been trying to keep at bay since their last encounter.

Shit. Shit. Shit. We don't have this figured out. This must be why Kunzite said what he said about a potato sack. That sly fucker.

He tries to focus on something—anything—else, but everything about her draws him in, from the way the dim lighting catches her features to the subtle sway of her movements.

As Rei finally takes her seat next to him, the air between them shifts. There's an undeniable pull, something unspoken yet heavy in the space they now share. Jadeite can't seem to look away, even as he tries to find his words. His mind races, but his body betrays him, keeping his eyes fixed on her, unable to tear them away.

"Glad you could make it," he finally says, his voice betraying a subtle nervousness he's not used to feeling. He doesn't know if she notices, but it's there, hovering behind the calm demeanor he's trying to project.

Minako, sensing the tension, gives a knowing look to Kunzite, who barely holds back a smirk. They both know exactly what's happening here, even if Rei and Jadeite are trying to play it cool.

Rei, too, can feel the change in the air, but she's determined to not let it affect her night. She meets Jadeite's gaze, trying to steady her own nerves as she forces a smile.

"So," Minako begins with a playful smile, leaning back in her chair, "how's everyone's day been? Anything interesting happen?" Her eyes sparkle mischievously as she glances between Rei and Jadeite, clearly trying to get them to engage.

Jadeite hesitates for a moment before clearing his throat, glancing briefly at Rei. "I had a... well, a long day, to say the least," he says with a tight smile, his fingers tapping nervously on the edge of his glass.

Rei chuckles softly, shaking her head. "Same here," she replies, offering Jadeite a half-smile. "Just one of those days you wish would end already."

"Alright, I think it's time for a fun story to break the ice," Minako announces, her tone light and teasing. She looks around at the group, making sure all eyes are on her before launching into her tale. "So, this morning, Kunzite had not began his mad scientist ritual with the coffee as usual. Well, guess who decided to 'help' him out?"

She points a finger toward herself, and Kunzite groans, slouching down in his chair. The vein on his forehead starts bulging again, and he shoots Minako a look that's equal parts frustration and amusement.

"I was just trying to make him a perfect cup," Minako continues with exaggerated innocence. "But apparently, I broke the coffee pot. I didn't realize it was so fragile! It was just an accident, right?" She turns to Kunzite with wide, apologetic eyes, knowing full well that she's getting under his skin.

"Minako," he mutters, "you better buy me a new one... and one that's indestructible."

Minako grins, clearly proud of herself. "Oh, don't worry, I'll make sure it's unbreakable this time. Maybe a titanium coffee pot?" she suggests with playful sarcasm.

Jadeite glances at Rei, finally allowing himself to relax just a little. He shoots her a small, genuine smile she returns that feels like a subtle acknowledgment of their previous encounter, the kiss still lingering between them in a quiet, unspoken way.

Minako leans back in her chair, watching the exchange with a satisfied smile. Kunzite, on the other hand, looks between them with a knowing expression, wondering if the sparks that were so obvious to him were being felt by the other two.

unzite, feeling the need to steer the conversation in a more direct direction, leans forward with a sly grin. His gaze shifts between Rei and Jadeite, as though the next topic is perfectly calculated to stir things up.

"So," he begins, his tone casual but laced with curiosity, "how do you two know each other?"

Rei blinks for a moment, caught off guard by the question. She looks at Kunzite, then at Jadeite, realizing the subtle push he's giving them. She stifles the urge to roll her eyes but plays along, deciding to answer first.

"Well, we... met last night," Rei says slowly, her words measured. "I was out dancing, and he kind of... intervened when some guy got a little too handsy." She glances at Jadeite as she says this, her gaze lingering just a touch longer than she intended.

Jadeite smirks, trying to keep his cool. He can feel the weight of Kunzite's gaze on him, knowing full well that Kunzite is trying to make something of this. "Something like that," he agrees, his voice low but teasing. "Though I think I'd call it more of a... mutual rescue. I wasn't about to let her dance with those vultures."

Rei gives a soft laugh at that, though she's not sure if it's from the memory of last night or just the way Jadeite said it. The playful tension is back, but this time, it's more comfortable.

Kunzite leans back, satisfied with the turn of the conversation. "Interesting. So, you two just met and ended up spending the night together?" he presses, a devilish glint in his eyes. He's enjoying this a little too much.

Rei raises an eyebrow, her cheeks flushing ever so slightly, but she's not about to let Kunzite get the better of her. "Not exactly. We had a drink and talked, then... well, I went home." She doesn't mention the kiss, wanting to keep that detail to herself for the moment.

Jadeite, however, can't resist. He chimes in with a smirk, "I'd say we had a bit more than just a drink."

Minako, sensing the shift in the atmosphere and sensing a chance to tease her friend, leans forward, a playful grin on her face. "Oooh, sounds like there's more to this story than we're getting," she teases, glancing between Rei and Jadeite, thoroughly enjoying the subtle tension in the air.

Rei's eyes widen slightly, her heart picking up speed. She's not used to being the subject of such playful scrutiny, but part of her... enjoys it. "No, that's all there is," she says quickly, though her voice has a slight edge of uncertainty. "Just a drink and some conversation."

But Jadeite's eyes, locked onto hers, suggest there's a little more to it than that. She can't quite shake the feeling that Kunzite's question has made the night feel more... complicated than she'd planned.

"Perhaps," he says with a low chuckle, "but sometimes it's the simple things that matter more."

Kunzite, ever the mastermind of subtlety (or lack thereof), stretches dramatically and lets out an exaggerated yawn. "Whew, I don't know about you guys, but I am exhausted," he announces, ignoring the fact that they've only been at the restaurant for an hour and that he just ordered another drink ten minutes ago. Not to mention their food just arrived.

Minako instantly catches on, her lips twitching as she plays along. "You're so right, babe," she says with equal dramatics, placing a hand on his arm. "We totally have that thing we need to do. Right now. Immediately."

Rei raises an eyebrow, unimpressed. "That thing?" she deadpans.

Kunzite nods, dead serious. "Yeah. That very important, time-sensitive thing."

Minako stands up, already grabbing her purse. "Super urgent," she adds. "Completely unavoidable."

Rei sighs, shooting them both a flat look. "You two are terrible at this."

Jadeite, on the other hand, watches the entire exchange with mild amusement, arms crossed as if he's just waiting for Kunzite to dig himself deeper.

Kunzite places a firm hand on Jadeite's shoulder. "You'll be fine without me, right, buddy?" His tone is filled with mock concern, but his smirk says otherwise.

"Oh, I'll manage," Jadeite replies dryly, not bothering to hide the sarcasm in his voice.

Minako leans down to whisper in Rei's ear, "Don't do anything I wouldn't do," before winking and grabbing Kunzite's arm to drag him out.

Rei rolls her eyes, but before she can throw out a retort, they're already gone, leaving her alone with Jadeite in the middle of the restaurant.

For the first time all evening, there's silence. Not an uncomfortable one, but a silence thick with an unspoken question neither of them seems ready to address.

Jadeite finally leans forward, resting his arms on the table, a slow smirk forming on his lips. "So… were they always this bad at making excuses, or am I just lucky enough to witness their worst attempt yet?"

Rei sighs, shaking her head. "No, this was actually one of their better ones."

Jadeite chuckles, eyes twinkling with amusement. "Good to know."

A beat passes. The air between them shifts again, that familiar tension creeping back in.

"So…" Rei starts, unsure of what exactly she wants to say.

Jadeite tilts his head, watching her intently. "So?"

She exhales, drumming her fingers against the table. "I suppose we're stuck with each other for the rest of the evening."

Jadeite grins. "Could be worse."

Rei gives him a pointed look. "Could it?"

He chuckles. "Well, we could be on an actual date."

Rei raises an eyebrow. "And this isn't?"

Jadeite blinks, caught off guard for just a moment before a slow, knowing smile spreads across his lips. "That depends," he muses, leaning in slightly. "Would you like it to be?"

Rei should've expected that, but the way his voice dips slightly makes something flip in her stomach. She rolls her eyes to cover it up, but there's no denying the tiny smirk playing at the corners of her lips now.

"Eat your damn food, Jadeite," she says, shaking her head.

He laughs, picking up his fork. "Yes, ma'am."

As the evening stretched on, Rei and Jadeite settled into an easy rhythm of conversation, learning bits and pieces about each other beyond just the circumstances that led them here.

Jadeite, it turned out, was only two years older than Rei—something that surprised her slightly, given the way he carried himself.

"I live further out," he admitted, swirling his drink idly. "I like the city well enough, but I prefer the quiet of the countryside most of the time."

Rei tilted her head slightly, considering that. "So why were you at Electric of all places?" she asked, a smirk playing at her lips. "Doesn't exactly scream peace and quiet."

Jadeite chuckled, shaking his head. "Needed a distraction. Didn't think I'd find much of one, though." His gaze flickered over her, and Rei felt the weight of it like a challenge. "Turns out I was wrong."

She took a sip of her tea to cover the small rush of warmth she felt from that statement. "Well, the city has its own kind of peace," she said after a moment. "It's not just noise and chaos. I find quietness in meditation."

Jadeite hummed thoughtfully. "You meditate?"

"It helps clear my mind, keeps me centered." She glanced at him curiously. "You don't strike me as the type to sit still long enough for that."

He smirked. "That's because I don't. My version of peace is a long drive with no particular destination or getting lost in a good script."

She nodded slowly, filing that information away. "So, you're the type who likes to escape reality."

He shrugged. "Aren't we all?"

Rei couldn't argue with that.

Jadeite's gaze flickered to the cup in her hands. "Tea drinker, huh?"

She smirked. "Always. You?"

"Coffee," he admitted. "But after Kunzite's rant today, I might start reconsidering."

Rei actually laughed at that, shaking her head. "That poor coffee pot."

Jadeite grinned, leaning back in his chair. "Yeah, I think it had no idea what it was in for when Minako got her hands on it."

There was something unexpectedly easy about this—this back and forth, the teasing yet meaningful exchange of thoughts and preferences. The initial tension from earlier had smoothed into something more comfortable, more intriguing.

The once lively restaurant had quieted down, leaving only a few lingering patrons and the gentle hum of low music in the background. Rei and Jadeite had long since finished their meals, yet neither had made a move to leave.

Rei found herself swirling the last remnants of her tea in her cup, pretending to be lost in thought when, in reality, her mind was occupied with one question. Does this night end with me going back to my apartment alone… or does it take a much steamier turn?

Rei is no fool. She knew the difference between fleeting desire and something more. But as she sat there, watching Jadeite—his unreadable expression—she wasn't entirely sure where this night was heading.

Was it just sex? A reckless, impulsive decision sparked by a bad day, a heated kiss, and the undeniable attraction between them?

She didn't want solitude. She wanted him.

She stole a glance at Jadeite, who was watching her with an expression that was unreadable yet charged with something unspoken. He was relaxed, one arm draped lazily over the back of his chair, but his eyes… those sharp, intense green eyes had a weight to them, as if he was pondering something just as deeply.

Is he thinking about it, too?

She felt the heat rise in her chest at the thought. It wasn't like her to be reckless, to let impulse guide her decisions, but she had already shattered that belief when she had kissed him outside Electric. And now, here they were, sitting across from each other with a palpable tension that neither had addressed out loud.

Jadeite leaned in slightly, his voice smooth yet teasing. "You've got that look on your face."

Rei arched an eyebrow. "What look?"

"The kind that says you're overthinking something."

She huffed, setting her cup down. "Maybe I am."

Jadeite's lips quirked into that damnable smirk again, the one that made something coil in her stomach. "Care to share?"

Rei hesitated, then made a split-second decision—if nothing else, she wanted to see how he'd react. She met his gaze, holding it steady, and let the words fall effortlessly from her lips.

"I was just wondering," she started, her tone deceptively casual, "how you pictured this night ending. Are you just looking for a way to pass the time tonight?""

That did it.

Jadeite's smirk faltered, if only for a second, but the spark in his eyes darkened into something unmistakable. He leaned in further, as he studied her. "No." he answered.

Rei felt her heart skip, just once.

The weight of his words pressed into her, grounding her even as excitement curled in her stomach. "As for your other question," he mused, voice lower now, huskier, "that depends."

"On?" she asked, heartbeat quickening.

Jadeite tilted his head slightly, looking at her as if he was seeing how far she was willing to push this game they were playing. Then, without breaking eye contact, he said, "On what you want."

Rei's breath hitched just slightly. He wasn't making the decision for her—he was placing it entirely in her hands.

And damn it all, that was the thing that made the heat in her belly spread like wildfire.

The question lingered between them, heavy with possibility. Would she go home alone, back to her quiet apartment to lay awake replaying this night over and over? Or would she follow the fire that had been smoldering since that first kiss, letting herself indulge in whatever this electric thing between them was?

The choice was hers. And as she studied the way Jadeite was watching her, his own patience hanging by a thread, Rei had a feeling she already knew her answer.

Jadeite's eyes darkened just slightly, the smirk that played at his lips shifting into something more knowing, more wicked. He reached into his pocket, dropped a few bills onto the table without even glancing down, and then stood, offering her his hand.