Chapter Text
6:30 PM
He was late.
Or perhaps he stood you up.
Nonetheless you poked at the food displayed in front of you, a sad miserable salad with two cherry tomatoes cut cut in halves. The waiters passing didn't pay mind, but you can see in there eyes they pity you as they walked by.
The endless chatter of the tables around you seized to comfort you, you grabbed your wallet about to pay, leave a generous tip for the waiters that had to waste their times on a pointless occasion.
"If you have a moment may I get my bil-" you paused upon looking up, immediately glaring at the man you mistaken as a waiter walking by.
"Sorry, lost track of time" Simon said, taking a seat across you. He seemed out of breath, his hair looked like it was done in a rush and his clothes no better. It had wrinkles and looked worn out.
You glare at him "Losing track of time is one thing but-'
"It's all on me, I'll pay." He said cutting you off the rant your were about to go on "Didn't expect to be held back." Simon said looking at you slightly guilty. There was an awkward silence then, you looked back at your own plate appetite growing for something with flavor now that you had company. "You should get a dessert, anything Orion."
"Anything with chocolate chips cookie dough chunks ?" You asked sarcastically , he sighed shaking his head
"Don’t think they give that 'ere"
"Then take me somewhere they do." You replied, a joke of course. as you still grabbed the menu folder looking at the options. Simon stared at you bewildered, you didn't pay much attention at him after as you skimmed the amount of chocolate options there were, the cake flavors and fruit bowls.
"You think the strawberry cake is any good?-"
"Lets go to the ice cream store down the street then-"
…
You looked up from the menus immediately "Sorry what?"
"Lets go. You want your ice cream, it'll be my treat after letting you wait by yourself that long." Simon sighed
"i was joking Simon." You said putting down the menu hesitantly
"Well im not." He responded as he grabbed his wallet leaving money on the table. "Lets go." he didn't even look back, arrogant asshole
"Seriously!?" You got up stumbling right after him "you didn't even get to eat!" you whispered yelled not wanting to bring more attention to yourself or him.
"Ill survive." He replied opening the door to the exit signaling for you to go through. You sighed as you walked out along with Simon, a awkward silence fell over you both.
You shoved your hands into the pockets of your pants, fidgeting with whatever you could. The loose string in your pants, the small amount of paper that lingered in them after you left a paper in the pockets and washed them without removing it.
You Don't know where your confidence goes on times like these when it was most necessary to talk about something. You felt like your whole body had adrenaline rushing throughout, your hands couldn't keep still and you weren't even looking at anybody in the eyes now. You should've said no to the date, why were you so confident at work!?
"I-I mean it,-" He cleared his throat "-what i said" you looked at him finally "Sorry." Simon mumbled, he too looked awkward walking with you.
"Its just dinner." You muttered "its not-" you sighed "i Don't know why i made it seem kike a big deal, its not. I wouldn't have died if you didn't go. It's nothing" you tried to sound convincing, didn't feel like it though. "Plus you had work, that's more important especially in this economy." You chuckled
He rolled his eyes, you can see his was smiling a bit "yeah how else would you survive without my tips at the bar?"
"Oh hush ya Muppet, i have survived even before you. Your tips are… a bonus, if you will." You grinned at him before looking away suddenly feeling embarrassed "thanks for that." You said sincerely "helps the poverty or whatever."
You can see the ice cream store coming into view, it was fairly lit up as you both entered, the walls were a pastel red with white giving off a cozy feeling. The store was somewhat filled, couples happily chatting, kids squealing and running around, parents trying to keep them by their side holding their tiny chubby hands as they waited to order ice cream for the family.
"Whoa did not expect it to be filled." You muttered now feeling slightly bad ghat Simon brought you here. Now you both had to wait instead of having a good dinner, sitting down and talking like proper adults.
He glanced at you, he took your hand tugging gently. "Lets try another ice cream store."
You felt your face heat up slightly looking down at your intertwined hands, you sucked in a small breath giving his hand a slight squeeze followed by a shrug and "yeah-sure whatever."
"For someone who constantly gives me shit you lack the confidence outside." He commented
"Shut up, its… i have to gone on many dates." You groaned, your hand started to feel clammy in his hold making you wish a hole swallowed you whole. You tried to look at the dirty ground, finding nothing that could sway your anxious thoughts. You looked from side to side, people looked happy and relaxed, well most of them. The cold air help cool you down somewhat from all the heat your body decided to create.
"So… how was work?" You asked wanting to fill the air with something, anything at this point.
"It was decent." He hummed keeping it vague. You should've known better…
"Thats good to hear-" you suddenly stop seeing a small kitten from the corner of your eye. It was cornered by two other big cats that seemed to be agitated by the way their bodies moved.
You let go of Simon's hand instantly, accidentally pushing some people out the way without so much as a quick sorry. You can hear Simon shout your name startled, before he followed after you. Nearing the two animals you silently prayed to not to get a severe scratch on your hands and arms as you reached down and grabbed onto the kitten swiftly. The two cats immediately jumped onto your leg, claws digging into the fabric of your cheap pants.
"Fuck!" You tried to shake them off while keeping the kitten out of reach as they tried to claw their way up to it.
Simon grabbed them by the scruff and threw them off of you.The two cats hiss running off separate ways leaving you and Simon staring at where they have left.
You stared at the spot momentarily, you snapped back into the present when Simon held you by your shoulders, a grounding weight.
"-Okay?" He asked, you looked at him confused.
"Y-yeah the cat is okay?" You respond looking down at the kitten checking with shaky hands making sure it wasn't harmed, it purred as your pet it gently
"No!-not the damn cat, you! Are you okay?" He repeated Making you stop checking the kitten, the soft purrs stopping as well
"Oh. I- I think i am?" You didn't sound so sure yourself. You looked down at your hand which were intact and then you looked down at your legs prompting Simon to look down too. You felt the pain to start to bloom once you noticed the scratched and bleeding on your legs.
"C'mon lets go." Simon directs you to a bench nearby, on lookers went back to their talking between each other. Other kept staring, you tried to ignore it. "That was reckless."
You held the kitten a bit closer to yourself. You didn't respond, didn't know what to say.
"You shouldn't have done that." Simon chided you, as he got down on one knee in front of you. He inspected the wounds, your pants were goners but your legs could be better.
"Didn't want to be a bystander." You mumbled before hissing in pain as Simon pressed on the wound.
"The cat wasn't worth it." He grumbled, clearly displeased with your actions. The kitten in your hands said otherwise, it hissed at Simon. The man just glared at it.
"It wouldn't have survived." You pushed Simon hand away and tried getting up only for him to push you back to sitting. He sighed grabbing the kitten in his hands and he turned around and crouched in front of you "Wha-"
"C mon, lets go." He said looking back at you. Your body suddenly felt hot again.
"Its unnecessary, im fine to walk in my own, sure it would be uncomfortable and i might limp a bit but j can still walk. Its not a bother really! Its not a longwayfromhomeipromise,illgetpatchedupand-"
Simon groaned "just do it." You stared at him for a bit more. Hesitantly letting him pick you up, you placed your head on his shoulder feeling so ashamed of having to be carried, you wanted to hide from the crowd. "Hey, look at the stars." You heard him say, you glance up, the sky was pretty clear and you can see the different lights that were in the night. Beautiful stars that didn't fail to awe you and bring a small smile to your face.
Simon peered at your face and smiled softly as he continued walking, he'll patch you up, and keep you safe.