Chapter Text
Maybe trying to go on a blind date for a first date wasn't the best idea in the world.
But anything was better than going on a stakeout again. Tamaki has the tendency to horde all the snacks and Liwei is just unbearably professional, even outside work hours. Stephan had suffered through having to attend these stakeouts.
The moment Liwei brought up the now recent option to skip out on it, Stephan was quick to take the opportunity to skip out.
There was just one problem.
"You need to have a perfectly good reason to be skipping out on us."
Damn it. He knows he can't avoid that particular conversation forever. "I'm not really keen on spending more time alone with you two than I already need to right now" Stephan thought to himself. It wasn't a complete lie. But a "good reason" to get off the hook from a job is subjective. "I don't really want to experience another stakeout with two of the worst stakeout partners ever" wasn't going to cut it. Stephan didn't look too sick to skip out on the job, and he had no close family of his own to pin a death on to skip out, either. Because Liwei was the type to actually seek out if this was genuine information or not.
It was so annoying. Stephan thought hard, and he had to think quicker before Liwei could automatically assume bullshit to whatever excuse Stephan could make up. It felt like luck when he finally did think of something.
"I have a date."
That statement was met with silence. For a split second, Stephan was certain Liwei was going to call bullshit, but Stephan quickly put that worry aside as Liwei processed what he said.
"Oh," Liwei replied after a few seconds. He looked back to Stephan, his expression still neutral. The fact that he hasn't questioned the legitimacy of Stephan's claim made him wonder if maybe Liwei bought it? "What's their name?"
"... I don't know," Stephan answered truthfully. If the other man decided to pursue this further, Stephan would never hear the end of it. "yet...! I don't know yet. It was an impromptu decision."
Liwei rolled his eyes, "Blind dates aren't a good way the start out your dating life."
"I'm aware, yes."
"You're absolutely incorrigible, I hope you know that, Stephan," Liwei stated flatly. Stephan nodded and chuckled sheepishly, he knew full well how bad that sounded to anyone else. Not that there's any point in backing out now, "this can be anyone, blind dates aren't exactly safe unless you've done them enough times without getting killed or at the least, getting any organs harvested."
"I'm not going on a blind date without defenses," Stephan assured him, "I'm going to be extra protected. More protected than usual." Stephan had made sure to keep in mind to bring the best weapon of all: his phone. That, and his large rifle, "If anything's suspicious, I'll text both you and Tamaki. Best-case scenario I'll have to pay for bullets that were used outside of work."
It was clear Liwei still wasn't happy about letting Stephan get away with leaving earlier than scheduled, but at least he accepted that Stephan had legitimate reasons for doing it.
"Don't die again."
This again. Stephan awkwardly smiled, "Please, do not worry yourself over my safety. I won't be in danger." And he meant that.
"You better not. I don't think I-" Liwei suddenly shuts his mouth, his fingers hovering over his earpiece and listening in, "I've got to get going. Tamaki says she wants to choose our stakeout lunch."
"Have fun~ I just know you two make the cutest couple," Stephan teased, getting an irritated tsk from Liwei before he stormed out the office doors.
The agreed place was The Boiling Pig.
He picked the restaurant because the establishment looked fancy enough. He wasn't sure if his date had been here before or perhaps they didn't want to dine at a total pig sty. At least the place was in his budget.
And besides, it wasn't as though there were a lot of places on the main street where you could find a perfect date spot. Most people opted out of such places when they saw how the restaurants looked. And while Stephan liked the idea of having someone to share it with, he was glad he wasn't sharing this with anyone he'd known for more than two years. Reservations were a pain too.
He really hopes this goes decently.
Stephan sat in the restaurant waiting for his date to arrive. His phone buzzed once he ordered the water he ordered before, indicating someone arrived. The waiter left as soon as he received the drink, leaving Stephan alone again.
Their name was Jikan. Stephan's back and forth texting with the blind date proved to be somewhat useful, as he had no idea the date's gender. He had some idea now. He wasn't sure how he felt about going out with a guy. He also couldn't help but feel awkward talking to a woman either. Honestly, this was a pretty bad idea overall.
He had no clue how to go through something like this. His palms were getting sweaty and his throat was getting dry. He chugged down the ice water to keep the uneasy feeling in his stomach under control.
"Sorry, I'm late," A rough voice called out, sounding more exhausted than usual, "my boss wouldn't allow me to leave until 10:15 tonight."
Stephan turned around to see the woman standing beside him. She looked exhausted. Her blonde hair was messy and her cheeks looked flushed. Her eyes looked tired too. She took her seat across the table from Stephan.
It took all he had to not spit out his drink out of whiplash.
Her face had many old scars, there was one more noticeable scar that went down her eyebrow over her right eye, and back down on her cheek.
"Jikan?"
"Yep! I take it you're Stephan?"
"Th-That's me..." He feels doomed. His blind date was hot! And she looked like she would've been a wonderful companion to have dinner with! He doesn't even notice his date staring at him, waiting for his response. She seemed confused by his reaction, which only served to make Stephan more flustered and embarrassed, "Sorry, with your name, I kind of assumed you were..."
"A man?"
Stephan nodded.
"You're not the first to say that, actually," She smirks, "I'm not offended. I kinda like it. Though, if you're not into women..."
"A-Ah, no worries!" He waves his hands, "I'm good! I go both ways!"
"Cool," She relaxed a little in her seat, eyeing the menu, "so what are we ordering?"
Stephan hesitated slightly. How long would she be here before she noticed him not ordering anything? Maybe he should order something so that she won't realize he's not the person she came here with. He's seen enough cheesy dramas to know that couples like to order food together before their dates show up. What could she be thinking of?
She seems a bit disappointed by the lack of activity on Stephan's part, "So? Any preferences?"
"Uh, how's salmon sound?"
"I'm more of a red meat kind of guy," Jikan comments.
"I see," He opens the menu upon seeing her do the same, "... I don't eat much meat."
"I can tell. Do ya just not like it?"
"I prefer fish, mostly. But I'd like to try something new."
Jikan grins again, "A pescatarian trying red meat? This oughta be good. Want me to suggest ya something?"
"Will you try to get me sick with it?"
"On the first date? Nah. You can worry about that if we go out again," It was a big if, "let's start off with trying the beef heart kebabs."
Jikan wore a black dress, sleeveless which had a bit of a triangular chest window. Before she sat down he could see she had a split in her dress to show off her toned legs.
She had arms that Stephan could only dream to have. He realizes now that they definitely wouldn't fit him if he tried to aim to get arms like those. Jikan seemed to catch on to his wandering eyes.
"Like what ya see?" She teased, emphasizing her question by flexing her left arm.
Stephan swallowed, "A lot. You have amazing muscles."
"You don't look bad yourself. Pretty boy," She added that last part, wiggling her eyebrows. He felt heat creep onto his cheeks. He didn't think being called a pretty boy can have such an effect on him.
"You're too nice to a guy like me," he chuckled nervously, taking a sip from the glass of water in front of him.
"I try to be. I've scared off too many dates with these," Again, showing off her arms, "that, and dates don't like it when I rough 'em up."
"Is there a reason for that?" Stephan asked curiously. It's not like he can judge. He hasn't dated before, so it's best to learn from this one if it doesn't go well. She simply shrugs.
"Beats me. Haven't found anyone worth my time yet. Not to be rude," she adds, raising one hand as if she was saying, 'not rude, I'm polite!' (which seemed a little untrue), "just haven't met anyone that interests me in the way I want to... Ya know?"
"... Yeah..."
There's another short pause as Jikan continues sipping her water. When she put the glass down, a smile grew on her lips.
"So, what made you wanna go on this blind date with me, all of a sudden? We've only been texting for a few weeks. Thought that maybe I'd have to be the one to bring up having a date."
"If I'll be honest... My co-worker was going to do some kind of work-related thing today outside of work hours, and I really didn't want to join him. He said I needed a good excuse to miss this operation. So I told him I was going on a date."
"And he just accepted that?"
Stephan nods.
"Huh. Wish my boss was the same way. He wouldn't let me leave until I got my work done. It's the Syndicate lifestyle."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"Eh, don't be. What about you? What's your placement?"
"Office Fixer. We almost ran the risk of losing our Office due to some kind of altercations with a Color fixer and a Library."
"Library..." Jikan sits back a little, "now, where have I heard that before...?"
Stephan ponders on that for a moment. He's aware that his office was not the only one affected by the dream of the Library. Just as he was about to open his mouth to speak, he was instantly stopped by the waiter who held a large tray of their orders.
"Excuse me," The waiter places the plates of food on the table. Jikan had suggested the kebabs, but he also decided to suggest a fish meal for her to try, too. She didn't seem against the idea to eat fish, so he assumed it was safe.
"Hell yeah, meat dinner!" Jikan exclaimed, "I'm starving!"
Instantly the thought left his mind. Hearing Jikan mentions how hungry she was made him realize he really needs to eat.
He takes a bite of the kebab.