Chapter Text
Jacob Stone had faced minotaurs, shapeshifters, and tentacle monsters. He had faced his father and come to terms with his past. But of everything he had been through since becoming a Librarian, Jake had never been as nervous as he was in this moment.
He looked across the table at the beautiful redhead he had shared dinner with. Cassandra was watching him expectantly, waiting for Jake to say something. The two of them had had plenty of conversations, and had shared several meals together without any awkwardness in the past. But tonight was different. Jake had finally gotten up the courage to ask Cassandra out, and tonight was their first date. It seemed adding that label to their evening made everything more difficult for Jake.
He cleared his throat, about to say something, when the waitress returned with their check. Instead Jake turned his attention to her, smiling in thanks and reaching for the check. Cassandra reached for it at the same time and their fingers brushed momentarily before they pulled away, Jake having successfully grabbed the cheque.
“You don’t have to…” Cassandra started to say before Jake interrupted.
“I know, but I want to,” he replied, offering her his famous, eye crinkling smile.
They sat for a few more minutes before Jake suggested they take a walk. After leaving the payment on the table, as well as a generous tip, the couple headed out into the street.
It was a gorgeous evening, the air was warm and the sun just beginning to set. Jake and Cassandra stumbled their way through small talk while they walked, and eventually stopped at a bench to sit for a few minutes.
“I’m having a wonderful time,” Cassandra said softly. Jake smiled and briefly averted his gaze in shyness, his eyes settling on Cassandra’s hand that rested gently on her thigh.
“That’s uh...that’s a really nice nail colour you got on there,” he tried to speak casually as he reached for her hand, pretending to inspect her nail polish. “What’s it called?”
“Um, clear,” Cassandra giggled, seeing straight through Jake’s gesture. “You know, if you want to hold my hand, all you have to do is ask.”
Jake blushed, quickly releasing her hand, though he continued to hold his out. “Well uh, can I hold your hand?” He asked shyly, his eyes meeting hers.
Cassandra giggled again, this time nodding as she placed her small hand in the one Jake held out. He beamed and squeezed their entwined fingers. It was such a simple gesture, something that he had done numerous times with many girls, and that hadn’t caused his heart to flutter since he was 13.
But with Cassandra things were different. Holding Cassandra’s hand felt like the beginning of something great. He felt a spark that he hadn’t felt in so long; felt completely grounded, but at the same time felt like he could float away at any moment. Cassandra’s hand felt completely at home in his. Her fingers were made to intertwine with his.
Jake knew that there would be many other dates with Cassandra, that the two of them would have many other firsts. But this moment, holding her hand in his, this was one first that would be burned into his mind for a long time to come. It may have been just a little thing, but to Jake it would go down as one of his favourite memories.