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T’Challa fixed his suit nervously. From the Terran movies he watched as a kid he knew that this was considered elegant but he felt weird in it. He got the jacket from his father, and it had very subtle Wakandan patterns on the lapels. Of course, Yondu couldn’t let him go without adding his own touch, so he was wearing black leather boots. Altogether it was not a bad get up. And it was not the main reason he was nervous either. It was Nebula. She made him nervous every single time. Not in a bad way, but in a nervous tickle in the bottom of his stomach kind of way. They have gone on so many heists and missions together before but no dates before. Unless he counts that one time they were almost eaten. He chose not to count it.
“Hello there, handsome,” he spun around and for a second he forgot how to breathe. Nebula was wearing a figure-hugging red, silk gown, which went perfectly with her blonde locks. Looked like a classic Hollywood beauty.
“Oh wow,” was all he could say. He went up to her in awe. “Our table is this way,” he forced himself to form normal sentences.
“Thank you,” she followed him. She felt nervous too. As they went out to the balcony all heads turned after them and she knew it was not about her dress. She spent a lot more time on planning her outfit than normal, doing some in-depth research about Terran fashion. But there was one thing she could not change about herself. The word ‘blue’ was whispered multiple times as they passed other tables, making her dig her nails into her palm nervously.
When they got to theirs T’Challa pulled out the seat for her. He was a gentleman as always.
“It is meant to be the best seats,” he smiled and looked out. The view was in fact magnificent, they could see most of New York and some of the bay too. However, neither of them could truly appreciate it.
After ordering they sat in a bit of awkward silence.
“What’s wrong?” T’Challa broke first. He couldn’t take it anymore. “I understand if an Earth-style date is too boring for you, but if you just wait a bit…” he knew this was a risqué choice for a first date. Especially for a woman who has travelled all around the galaxy.
“Oh Cha-Cha,” she reached out for his hand. “This is so nice,” he let out a big sigh of relief. “I just feel like I really don’t fit into the scene,” she shook her hair so it covered her mechanical eye.
“Is that it?” T’Challa laughed and brushed the hair away from her face, putting it behind her ear. “You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen,” he blushed but now there was no going back. “There is no one I would rather be here with,” he raised his voice.
“Stop it,” she tried to hush him. “Everyone is looking,” she could not help but smile. He was the sweetest. As long as he looked at her like that, the other stares seemed to matter less and less.
“They should be looking,” out of nowhere, he stood on his chair then stepped on their table causing one of the glasses to fall off. “Because I am the luckiest damn man on this planet,” he put his hand out, inviting her up. If someone wasn’t looking at them before, now they were.
“If I go up will you stop?” she shook her head.
“Oh, you don’t really want me to stop,” he raised his eyebrows, challenging her. Finally, that mischievous smirk he knew so well came and she climbed up next to him.
“No, I don’t,” she kicked off the other glass, and T’Challa pulled her in by her waist. Her dress had a low back and he felt her skin under his hand. The tingles started from his fingertips, running down his spine.
In the meanwhile, the other guests started fleeing the balcony, while the angry waiter was coming out.
“Sorry about that. I think I will rent out the whole balcony,” the waiter’s face immediately calmed down. “Also scratch our previous order, just bring us any dessert you have. And champagne,” he screamed after the poor man.
“I like where this is going,” Nebula smiled at him.
They were standing at the railing with a champagne glass each. They already ate themselves through the dessert menu.
“So why did we come here?” Nebula asked him while sipping her drink. The Terran version was delightfully rich in flavour.
“Today is a special day in this country,” he stood behind her and turned her to face the city lights. “They celebrate their independence.”
“I can get behind that,” she raised her glass but forgot what she wanted to say as the first fireworks went up. The purple, red and blue lights shot up at the sky and covered it in millions of sparkles. “Oh wow,” T’Challa rested his chin on her shoulder and hugged her close. “Breathtaking.”
“I wholeheartedly agree,” and he didn’t take his eyes off of her.