Chapter Text
“So, can I pick you up at 7? We can go to that new place that just opened,” Zane asks as they walk along the beach, and Rikki’s immediately conflicted. She wanted to go but Zane was seemingly always taking her out and paying for things, giving her gifts, and it made her uncomfortable that she couldn’t reciprocate in the same way. Zane never asked her to and in some ways that annoyed her too.
Rikki didn’t need to be spoiled by some rich boy even if she did revel in pissing away Harrison Bennett’s money most of the time. But she did want to spend time with Zane, that was never the issue. Rikki knew she was weird about money, that it was her hang up not Zane’s, but the thought of him grabbing the tab preemptively tonight just irked her.
“Can we do something else, I don’t feel like going out,” Rikki says trying to rein in her annoyance since she was working on not taking out her feelings on other people.
Zane, none the wiser to her ever-souring mood, just pulls her to his chest and kisses her hairline, telling her, “Sure. I prefer having you to myself anyway. We can do takeaway and movies at my place.”
That was basically the same thing in Rikki’s mind, and she just hums noncommittally in response. Her unenthusiastic demeanor tips Zane off to something being wrong and he stops them, turning to face Rikki. “Tell me why you’re acting like a brat.”
“I am not,” Rikki huffs, dropping his hand to cross her arms over her chest, eye narrowing at Zane. Maybe she didn’t want to spend more time with him after all.
“If you don’t want to have a date night, just tell me. I can’t read your mind Rikki.”
“I do. But you, like always, only suggest things that involve you paying for things,” Rikki says her tone more biting than she meant. She can see Zane’s thoughts swirling in his head, cycling through different options to respond to her outburst. When they first started dating this probably would’ve been a full-fledged fight, but they were much closer now and better equipped to handle each other’s brashness.
“Fine, then why don’t we cook ourselves? You bring some groceries or whatever and we’ll figure it out.”
“Since when do you know how to cook?” Rikki asks incredulously, completely caught off guard by Zane’s suggestion. It was more doable on her part than paying for takeaway or going out, but she had a feeling it would be a disaster that more than likely ended up with her tail on the cold marble floor of the Bennett kitchen.
“How hard could it be? Besides I’m good at everything,” Zane smirks, deliberately egging her on. Rikki rolls her eyes and gives him a light shove. “We’ll see about that, you’re on Bennett.”
“And Rikki, it’s not, I just don’t always think about things more than just wanting to spend time with you, do boyfriend-y things,” Zane says gently, none of his prior arrogance, taking her hands in his once more. Rikki softens instantly at his admission, and she always knew his heart was in the right place, but she couldn’t help but compare their situations. It was engrained in her to think that way and she really did need to work on snapping at him when it wasn’t something Zane could control.
“I know, I’ll work on it,” Rikki tells him, reaching up to kiss his cheek, “But means you’ll just have to get a little more creative on your date ideas.”
“Sure you want that? To see what the depths of my mind can come up with?”
“Absolutely I do.”
==
Rikki had to admit, she was definitely intrigued by what tonight might hold, even if it’d likely be disastrous. She was no chef by any means, but she figured she knew more than Zane. Rikki had been making meals for herself and sometimes for her dad since she’d been 6. If it came in a box or tin, she could do something with it. And given that Zane had barely lived without a housekeeper, Rikki was probably a notch or two above him.
Zane had told her to bring beef mince and a fancy-pants onion that took her forever to find, which meant he must have had a plan or recipe in mind. She questioned if whatever they made would actually be edible at the end, but it made her feel all fluttery inside that he was trying so hard. Sometimes it took a while for them to actually express how they were feeling, but once it was out in the open Zane always tried to be sensitive to whatever it was she’d shared with him.
Rikki lets herself into Zane’s yard with the personal gate code he’d set up for her and walks right on into his house. It was Zane’s way of showing her he trusted her and she could trust him. Rikki was always welcome in his space and she always had a place to go.
“You look like a complete idiot,” Rikki says, walking into the kitchen to find Zane pulling out ingredients wearing an apron covered in kissy lips and cursive Kiss the Cook.
“I look like I’m prepared to make a five-star meal. Don’t worry you will too,” Zane smirks holding up another apron, this one simpler but just as atrocious with flames and the wording Caution! Hottie Alert! embroidered on. She could appreciate the joke of it all, but no chance in hell she’d wear that.
“Zane, as if. No way, I’m not putting that monstrosity on.”
“Dunno Riks, wouldn’t want you unprotected from any splashes while we cook,” Zane smirks, knowing he’d cornered her. She knew he wouldn’t purposely splash her, he’d never do something like that, but he was also right, and she’d even thought about the possible accidental transformation.
“You’re evil and you play dirty.”
“I thought you liked it when we play dirty,” Zane says, wiggling his eyebrows and looping the apron around her neck.
“Pretty sure ‘we’ is different than you,” Rikki says punching his arm playfully and succumbing to the torture he’d inflicted upon her. At least it was just them and there’d be no long-term evidence. “So what are we making?”
“Pasta with meat sauce and garlic toasties, one of your favorites,” Zane tells her, leading Rikki over to where he’d been setting everything out when she’d come in. Rikki almost forgives him for the apron because of how well he knows her. Zane really was thoughtful when it came to her and she hopes he doesn’t notice her blushing.
“Good because I’m starved.”
==
Rikki’s not exactly shocked when she and Zane clash almost as soon as they begin trying to cook. She’d snapped up the recipe he’d printed out and from that point on, they’d been bickering about how best to do each step and critiquing the others technique for just about everything.
But she is a little surprised that they were actually cooking something that so far was going to be edible. The sauce was simmering, the bread was almost ready to put in the oven, and they just needed to boil the pasta. Luckily that was her expertise.
Rikki closes her fist near the pot on the stove, and the water instantly comes to a rolling boil.
“Always such a show-off,” Zane says jokingly, scrunching his nose in the way that Rikki loved.
“That’s nothing, not even close to what I can do,” Rikki says, hoping he’d take the bait. She had been practicing with her powers and had been looking for an opportunity to actually show off some. The other girls seemed content with their powers the way they were, but Rikki was sure there was more they could do if they just kept practicing and pushing the limits.
“Alright then, let’s see it Chadwick.”
Rikki takes a deep breath and focuses on the steam rising above the pot and soon enough it starts to condense into a small cloud-like shape. And just when Zane is about to clap for her, Rikki creates deliberate bouts of lightning and drizzles of rain. A full storm system completely within her control.
And then as quickly as she made it happen, Rikki makes the storm dissipate, excitedly looking over to a stunned Zane.
“Rikki, that was amazing. The rain, that’s new?”
“It’s all kind of new. I think we can do a lot more than we originally thought, I just don’t know what yet,” Rikki says sheepishly, her bravado turned vulnerable. She hadn’t shared these new discoveries with anyone, and she’d gone and done it on a whim to show off in front of him.
“You’ll figure it out, if anyone can, it’s you Rikki. That was incredible; you’re incredible,” Zane tells her with that soft look in his eyes that he only had around her. The one that made her brain turn to goo, and belly fill with butterflies.
“Yeah? I’m incredible?” Rikki questions playfully, intertwining her hands with his and pulling him up against her.
“When you’re not fishing for more compliments,” Zane says, pushing her against the countertop and leaning down to kiss her. Rikki smiles into their kiss and drops his hands in favor of wrapping around Zane’s neck to tangle into his hair. And she doesn’t mind at all when Zane’s hands settle at the small of her back, dipping under the hem of her tank top.
Rikki is delightfully surprised and squeals when Zane picks her up and sets her on the counter, mumbling into her neck between kisses, “You’re too short.”
“Not all of us can be freakishly tall you know.”
“That really sucks for you, it’s awesome up here,” Zane whispers in her ear, peppering little kisses there and down her neck.
“You’re so stupid,” Rikki whimpers, turning her head to accommodate him, the breathiness in her voice not at all matching her words. Rikki gets lost in his ministrations, forgetting all about their dinner and her powers, nothing mattered except the feeling of Zane’s lips on her body.
“Ahem, what is going on in here?” Rikki hears from the most grating voice; one she wouldn’t mind never hearing again. The one and only Harrison Bennett. He wasn’t supposed to be home tonight, yet here he was ruining something between her and Zane like he always did.
Zane turns to face his dad and immediately backs into the counter and sets his hand on her knee. Rikki notices his mannerisms shift almost instantly. No longer was he relaxed and playful, but tense and protective. Protective of her. He was deliberately trying to block her from his dad, while also trying to reassure her he’d handle whatever it was his dad was up to.
It makes her heart thrum with love. The choice Zane didn’t have to make between her and his dad. It was instant and subtle and comforted her to no end. The boy in front of her had come a long way from the luncheon when they’d first started dating.
Zane’s display makes her want to subtly declare something of her own in front of his dad. A possessiveness that she can only hope comes across to Harrison. Rikki loops her arms around Zane’s waist and sets her chin on his shoulder, peeking out from behind his back where Zane had strategically hidden her from Harrison’s view.
“We’re making dinner. In the kitchen. Not a crime Dad.”
“Dr. Bennett, have you never used a kitchen for cooking before?” Rikki asks, tilting her head into Zane’s sweetly. She was trying to frame it like a real, innocent question and not a thinly veiled insult towards her most hated person on earth.
“Just clean up after. I don’t want Dorina to waste her time with this tomorrow,” Harrison huffs, turning away from them and walking out of the kitchen. And Rikki hopes the house entirely.
“He’s the worst. He wasn’t meant to be home tonight,” Zane says, swiveling around to face Rikki, staying wrapped in her arms and nuzzling into her neck playfully.
“You’ll just have to make it up to me then.”
Zane lifts his head and smirks as he sees the twinkle of mischief in Rikki’s eyes. He tucks a stray curl behind her ear and pulls her into a sweet kiss, and he can just tell that Rikki is smiling during it.
“How’s that for making it up?” Zane asks as they break apart, Rikki’s hands creeping back up to his neck.
“Off to a good start, but it was a surprise sighting of your dad, that’s a heavy debt to repay Bennett. You’ll need to keep working,” Rikki banters, toying with the ends of his hair.
“Hmm, you strike a hard bargain, but I’m willing to accept working this off for as long as needed.”
It’s a long while before either of them remembers the dinner they were trying to cook, but Rikki already knew this was one of the best dates they’d had. And was positive there would be many more to come.