Work Text:
The buzzing of your phone alerts you to a new notification from one of your dating apps. Clicking said notification takes you to a message from your date you’ll be meeting in person for the first time later today.
Hey! Can’t wait to see you today :-)
You smile at the message and type a quick response:
hi, can’t wait either! see you at 7 :))
First time meetings are always nerve wracking to you, but always so exciting! Especially when the other person seems just as ecstatic to meet as you feel.
For this date, if you’d call it that (you really want to) it was something casual and laid back, nothing too serious. Just meeting at a restaurant in town, for drinks and dinner.
Glancing at the clock, you make a mental note for yourself, just two more hours! You’ve already had your outfit picked out, something to go along the theme of casual wear that didn’t seem like you had thought over what to wear for hours the other day (you did).
You wouldn’t say you were nervous…Not at all. Not one bit. Just meeting a friendly, sweet, affectionate guy who reminded you of a golden retriever and had a smile that could put out the sun. No big deal.
Thinking of your date, his bio on his dating app had been quite short, but paired with his looks made you swipe right. A few pictures of him, one in his work uniform, another with a few friends, and a selfie of himself, with a drink in his hand, lounging on the beach:
“Hey! Leon Kennedy is the name
Love to work out, vacationing, and getting to know you
Hope to match soon ;-)”
Not expecting much, you were surprised that not long after swiping you received a match followed by an immediate response:
“Do you need me to call the fire department? I bet your phone is full of matches.”
Okay…A bit corny, goofy even. But, you weren’t one to complain that someone this attractive would be interested in you. Not to say that you’re not good looking yourself, but you’re surprised this man hasn’t been snatched up yet. People must be throwing themselves at the guy, but you digress.
After that first initial message, things went pretty smoothly, back and forth playful banter between you two, nothing felt uncomfortable or uptight with any of the conversations. A couple weeks after chatting he asked if you would be interested in meeting in person, no pressure or strings attached he had reiterated, just a relaxing evening to chat, which you eagerly agreed to.
Back to now, getting ready earlier than you usually would for an event or outing, you sat and waited until closer to time to leave. 6:15 read the time, it wouldn’t take long to get to the restaurant, maybe around 15 minutes. You sat on the couch and scrolled absentmindedly on your phone, leg bouncing, jittery with nerves. ‘Relax,’ you think to yourself, ‘This ain’t anything to be fretting over, quite the opposite of what he wanted you to feel like anyways.’
Meeting new people has always been…A challenge for you. Not with your social skills or whatnot, just...Due to your gender. Though with dating apps, it was easier to have it all laid out for those to see and for them to know about you without ever meeting them, it’s the main reason you used them instead of trying to meet others at your local bars or parties. Definitely a lot less anxiety doing it this way.
Leon had been pretty chill with it, just asking the basic curious questions one would have. He seemed very interested in what you had to say regarding your identity, which was refreshing. Thought it was another thing to worry about, messing things up with someone who seemed very receptive about you.
Swallowing all those bad feelings down, you stood up and gathered your belongings and thoughts and set off for the restaurant.
Arriving at 6:50, you sat in your car outside of the place and waited a bit more, not wanting to seem too eager to see him in person (you absolutely were over the moon).
Finally getting the courage to open your car door and step out at 6:55, you made your way in and waited for the host to seat you. As you made your way to a table you heard someone call out your name. Turning, you spotted Leon already at a table himself, waving at you.
Saying a quick apology to the host, you made your way over to him. Leon stood and beamed a huge smile as you got closer, your stomach fluttering at his reaction to you.
“It’s so good to finally see you in person!” He said, not hesitating in the slightest at pulling you in for a hug, which you reciprocated enthusiastically.
“You as well! So glad to be here with you!” You replied back, inhaling his cologne. The scent of which you could smell of apples and cedar wood.
Both sitting down in the booth, the host handing you a menu and walking off, you begin asking him about how his ride over was, if he had any trouble getting here or whatnot.
“Honestly, I didn’t. But, I didn’t worry too much about the traffic since I got here pretty early, been here about 10 minutes now myself.” He said, seeming bashful about it.
Aw, He’s just as nervous as you, which definitely makes you feel better about your own feelings. You admit to getting ready earlier than usual and trying to kill time before getting here, which he chuckled about.
“Glad we’re feeling the same way, huh?” He said. Responding in agreement, you don’t get anything else out before the waiter is at your booth asking for your orders. After placing your orders for drinks and food, you fall into light conversation. Finding out he goes to the same college as you, as well as knowing some of the same people in your circles. Also from the south like you as well, which is quite refreshing after being in this city far from home.
Definitely beginning to relax more and more as time passes by for the both of you, it’s hard to see how he is still single. Blond hair that swoops over one eye he keeps brushing out of the way, warm blue eyes that tinkle under the lights in the restaurant, and a pink dusting of blush across his cheeks and nose. He’s absolutely beautiful to you. With a great personality to match, wow. You got very lucky.
You’ve been so curious about it. So you ask, “Not to sound, uh, rude? Maybe? But, how are you still…Single? Sorry, I just, think you’re amazing and still surprised how you aren’t with anyone?” That definitely could’ve came out better but, no turning back now.
He laughs at that, ducking his head a bit to hide a deeper blush painting his cheeks now. “It’s not like I haven’t had offers, y’know? I don’t really go for hookups or things like that, it’s just, none of them felt right? Like, for example, with you, it’s been so easy to speak with you, the conversation hasn’t been dull and you never fail to make me laugh, and not to mention, you’re quite the looker yourself,” He replies back, smirking as you start blushing yourself.
“Well, I’m happy I can make you feel comfortable and things feel easy around me. Glad you don’t have to forced anything.” You say, genuinely understanding where he comes from. You’ve been there yourself, know how awkward it is.
Your drinks and food arrive at the same time. Thanking the waiter, you both begin to eat and continue into your conversation.
While he ordered a beer, you opted for a mixed drink, one called “Sex On the Beach”. Funny name, but it is rather tasty. As the night goes on, you find yourself feeling fuzzy, from the drinks and Leon himself. Finishing your food and having the plates taken away, you’re left with just your drinks and each other’s company.
Getting to the bottom of your drink, you’re left with the cherry sitting on top of the ice. Being quite the fan of cherries, you fish it out of your glass and pop it into your mouth. Chewing and swallowing the piece of fruit, you twirl the stem around for a bit before putting it into your mouth too. You’ve heard about people being able to tie the cherry stems with their mouths and without thinking much about it in the moment, decided to give it a try yourself.
Leon of course notices you putting the stem into your mouth, but doesn’t say anything about it, carrying on with his conversation. You’re still paying attention to him while trying to tie the stem. Leon now has started to flicker his gaze to your mouth every once in awhile while speaking.
Finally succeeding in tying the knot, you pull it from your mouth and show Leon, beaming. “Look! I tied a knot in the cherry stem!” You exclaim, proud that you could actually do it.
Leon freezes up and just stares at you. With a red tint slowing creeping up his neck, to his face. He stutters out, “W-wow that’s…Really impressive, I d-didn’t know you could do that..” He’s rubbing the back of his neck now and shuffling in his seat.
“Yeah! I didn’t know I could do it either, first time trying!” You laugh, not noticing his change in demeanor. He coughs a bit and looks away, fidgeting with his beer bottle.
You finally pick up on his sudden change in behavior, finally putting the pieces together.
Oh.
Bless his heart.
You’ve flustered the poor boy.
Not knowing if it’s the alcohol coming to help, but with the sudden boost in confidence you have you decided to be a bit…Risky.
“Oh? Did you…Like that?” You ask, smirking at him.
“Uh. Well, yeah. I did. A lot…Have you ever heard what it means if you can tie a knot in a cherry stem?” He says, blushing even harder, dude looks like a tomato now. It’s absolutely adorable.
“No, what do they say, Leon?” You respond, reaching over to grab his fidgeting hand and hold it in your own, rubbing your thumb over the back of his hand.
“Um.. They say you’re good at k-kissing, if you can do that.” You think he’s going to pass out if anymore blood rushes to his head.
“Well, I guess you’ll just have to find out if I am or not, huh?” You say, a blush quickly consuming your entire face.
“Y-yeah. I would like that.” He whispers as he stares at your hand rubbing soothing circles over his heated skin.
“Why don’t we head over to my place then, get more comfortable and see where it goes from there?” You are shocked by your embolden attitude towards the situation, but you’re definitely not complaining.
You stand up and grab his hand again, pulling him out of the booth. He grabs onto your hand like a lifeline as you both walk towards the exit.
“Okay, y-yeah i’m totally cool with t-that,” He says, eagerly looking at you with that blush still prominent on his face.
So cute.
You can’t wait to see what else makes him flush.