Work Text:
Click. Click. Click. Click.
Aventurine’s thumb found the button on the top of his pen, clicking it absentmindedly as he pored over financial reports. They detailed things so benign that Aventurine had to fight to stay conscious and focused. The reports went over how much money different departments of the IPC had required over the past few weeks: what financial compensation they were requesting: what profits they were contributing to the corporation: and so on. Reviewing all of it was ultimately Aventurine’s responsibility; he was a senior manager of the Strategic Investment Department, after all. Every once in a while, he would shift his attention to his notepad, jotting down a few important numbers. He would glance at his watch, wishing it was time to clock out already – it truly was dreary work.
The plain walls of his office did nothing to invigorate him in his work, either. It wasn’t that the room was ugly by any means – decked out with modern furniture, glass walls overlooking Pier Point, and plush, velvet seats on either side of his mahogany desk – but it was terribly impersonal. Very unlike Topaz’ office, which had a little bed for Numby at the foot of her desk, colourful trinkets on display, and memorabilia from Jarilo-VI. Then again, it wasn’t as if Aventurine had much to put on display anyway, so perhaps the bland minimalism of his office was fine.
The Technology Department was requesting a hefty sum of credits to support their research. Aventurine went to take note of this, but as his pen met the worn paper of his notepad again, a polite knock came from the door to his office. “Come in!” He called, placing a pleasant smile upon his face. He was nothing but efficient and exceptional at his work, and his image had to match this fact.
He was met with one of the secretaries of his department, a friendly young woman who mirrored Aventurine’s smile. “Delivery for you, Mr. Aventurine!” She chirped, handing him an elegant envelope sealed with a wax stamp depicting an elaborately designed owl. The paper of the envelope was smooth under his fingertips as he took it from her.
“Thank you very much, I appreciate it,” Aventurine said courteously, nodding his thanks. The secretary smiled in acknowledgement, then turned to leave, closing the door gently behind her.
Examining the wax seal and the impeccable penmanship on the envelope (which addressed the letter to one “Mr. Aventurine of Stratagems”), Aventurine began to have an inkling as to just who may have sent this to him. A little smile broke out on his face at the prospect of Dr. Ratio sending him a letter, and he did his very best to extinguish the flames of excitement that erupted in his stomach. Even if they were… friends , by no means did that mean that this letter was anything but business-related.
Taking a quick breath, Aventurine peeled open the envelope and slipped the letter out of it. The scent of black tea quickly wafted over him, replacing the sterile smell of his office. Upon the tea-stained paper was Ratio’s flawless handwriting – it seemed everything about him was frustratingly perfect. Aventurine shook away the thought – now that they were friends, he needed to do his absolute best to maintain their friendship, meaning he needed to banish his weird thoughts about Ratio.
It didn’t matter if Ratio’s words never failed to inspire and energize Aventurine, or if Aventurine was captivated every time he explained some niche topic he was researching, or if making him laugh made Aventurine feel like he had won his biggest bet yet and gave him a kick of dopamine, or if Ratio was the first person to make Aventurine feel truly safe in ages, or if it had only been a week since they’d seen each other, but Aventurine was aching to see him, or if… Aeons he needed to stop this thinking and just read the letter. Cringing at himself, Aventurine ran a hand through his hair and unfolded the letter, beginning to read.
Dear Gambler,
I do hope this letter finds you well. I am fine, myself.
If I am not mistaken, based on our previous proper conversation, you do not loathe being in my presence. If this is the case, I am pleased to say the sentiment is mutual, therefore I have booked a reservation at a fine restaurant for you and I. The booking is scheduled for this evening. If this is agreeable to you, I will be at the IPC building to collect you when your shift has come to an end. I think it will be rather enjoyable to spend some time together, and it will most certainly assist me in my pursuit to further understand and know you.
Sincerely,
Dr. Veritas Ratio
Aventurine blinked back at the words on the paper, a myriad of emotions and questions bubbling up inside of him. Wasn’t being formally invited to a restaurant in the evening as a duo sort of… like a date?
No, come on, Aventurine thought, friends do this stuff all the time, right? And friends do, by definition, enjoy each other’s company, do they not?
Regardless of if Aventurine himself had very little experience having friends, surely he had lived and experienced enough to know how friendship was supposed to work. Besides, just like every other sweet thing in his life, this, too, would be short-lived. Even if some horrible tragedy didn’t befall Ratio and take him away from Aventurine, like every other person he had ever gotten close to, Ratio would most certainly lose interest and get sick of him sooner or later. Aventurine supposed he would just have to indulge his friend for tonight.
Wait, tonight?!
Aventurine whipped his head back to his watch, panic rising in his chest as he realized he had a measly twenty minutes until he was scheduled to clock out. All of a sudden, staying in the office to drag himself through drab reports didn’t sound so bad. It certainly sounded easier than an evening of desperately trying to act normal in an intimate setting with the man who drove him crazy.
The man, Aventurine reminded himself, that he was not allowed to drag into his life of chaos and unpredictability. Ratio deserved better than Aventurine, even if they were friends. The least he could do was avoid burdening the Doctor with his ridiculous attachment to him.
Aventurine shoved all the reports he’d been reading back into their folder, tossing them into a drawer and slamming it shut. His work would have to be completed tomorrow; more pressing matters were at hand, like which cologne he should wear, or if his hair looked okay parted the way it was.
Not that this was a date, of course, but he did need to put effort into his appearance for Ratio. Because they were friends now. No other reason why.
He pulled out a compact mirror he kept in his drawer and fussed over his hair for a few minutes, anxiously peeking at his watch. Fifteen minutes.
Should he wear his work clothes? It was a nice outfit, dripping with luxury and wealth, but what if Ratio was wearing something different to his work clothes? Then it would seem disrespectful to come in his work outfit. But if he showed up in a different set of clothes, and Ratio was wearing his usual attire, then it might have come across as though Aventurine saw it as a date, when it was not, in fact, a date.
Aventurine decided to just switch out his usual single earring with a pair of dangly golden earrings, encrusted with sapphires, to match his sapphire bracelet. (And Ratio’s arm braces, which were embellished with sapphires, but that was a secondary thought, of course.)
He looked at his watch. Five minutes.
Aventurine chewed on his lips nervously before applying a modest clear lipgloss to them, staring into his reflection in his compact. He looked presentable, as usual, but was it appropriate for this particular outing? Another glimpse at his watch told him he had run out of time to mull over his appearance, and he snatched up his keys and hurried out of his office.
Anxiety gnawed on his stomach as he made his way through the building and down the elevator. What if Ratio wasn’t even there? What if this was some strange joke that Ratio was pulling on him? (Not that he was really the type to do something like that.)
It wasn’t as if nobody had ever asked Aventurine out before, and he knew he was charming and handsome. But this was Ratio, and the Doctor had proven time and time again that he was an unusual and, at times, unpredictable person. Ratio was someone who had once explicitly said he was interested in who Aventurine actually was, not who he presented himself to be. And that kind of honesty and vulnerability was frankly terrifying – something Aventurine had no idea how to reciprocate properly.
The skyrises of Pier Point towered around Aventurine as he stepped out of the IPC building, making him feel very small. The usual busy crowds bustled around him. Usually, he was comforted by the scramble of the masses and the distracting nature of the buildings – they helped him just blend into the crowd and avoid unwanted attention – but, this evening, as he attempted to pick out Ratio’s dark purple car on the street, it made him a bit claustrophobic.
To Aventurine’s absolute relief, then subsequent horror, Dr. Ratio was parked right in front of the IPC office building, sitting in his car, flipping through a book with a pink cover.
Aeons, he was so beautiful. His indigo hair, adorned with a golden laurel, framed his chiseled face perfectly. Smart, golden reading glasses were perched upon the bridge of his nose, emphasizing the amber hues of his sharp eyes. His toned and muscled body was blanketed by his usual attire, thankfully, with the only difference being a number of golden rings decorated with sapphires placed upon his fingers. Aventurine did his best to not fixate on the Doctor’s hands; how they were still soft somehow, despite being callused, and how warm they were when they clutched onto his own hands, and how-
“Gambler,” Ratio was looking up at him, carefully taking off his glasses.
Aventurine startled, choking back a surprised noise. “Doc, hey!” He exclaimed, doing his best to appear completely unbothered by the situation – as if he had not spent the past twenty-five minutes obsessing over… whatever this was.
Ratio raised an eyebrow at him and gestured to the dark leather passenger seat of his car, setting his book down in the glove compartment. He looked more… bothered than usual, which wasn’t saying much, but Aventurine did pride himself on paying attention to details, especially those that pertained to his partner.
Aventurine walked quickly – but not too quickly, he couldn’t seem too excited – to the car, slipping inside and tossing a (hopefully) charming smile at his partner. “So,” he began, fishing a coin out of his pocket, “Where are we going?” He fidgeted with the coin in his hand, allowing it to dance in between his fingers.
Ratio spared a glance at the shimmering coin in Aventurine’s hand, then rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. Aventurine took this as a sign to kickstart their usual banter.
“Oh, wait! Let me guess,” he smiled mischievously, pretending to think. “That weird fish restaurant, Kiliro? Oh, no, no! It’s some hole in the wall on Shopping Street, right?” Ratio frowned at him, then looked away, suddenly seeming strangely bashful. “What, did I actually guess right? Awe, Doc, you can’t blame me for having such great luck.” Aventurine teased, hoping a familiar sort of conversation would make this feel less… weird .
Ratio sighed. Instead of taking the bait and engaging in an inconsequential debate with his friend, he reached into the backseat, and pulled out a bouquet of thirteen roses, coloured in red, yellow, lavender, and white. As he presented the bouquet to Aventurine, his cheeks dusted in pink, he muttered, “These are for you.”
An overwhelming blend of confusion, delight, shock, and guilt overcame Aventurine’s senses. Why on earth would Ratio get him flowers ? And roses no less?! That was the most romantic flower there was, wasn’t it? Surely this was a strange joke, or a roundabout insult, because there was no way this was a date, right? A sweat broke out on his forehead; this was really getting confusing.
“What?” Aventurine blurted out, staring incredulously at the vibrant flowers. “Um, Doc, this is, uh,” he laughed nervously, his head spinning, “Great, but… surely these are meant for someone else-”
“Just take them.” The Doctor snapped and shoved the bouquet into Aventurine’s hands. Aventurine slid his coin back into his pocket to hold the flowers properly. Blood rushed to his face, making him blush as red as the roses in his hands, and he hid behind the bouquet, trying to regain his composure. His heart was banging against his chest, and he could only hope Ratio couldn’t hear it.
Maybe this is just something that friends do, he tried to rationalize. This is just a nice gesture, nothing more, so get a grip!
He heard the click of the car’s gear switching into drive, and he peeked over his flowers to see that Ratio was not in much better condition than himself, his face flushed, his lips pressed in a straight line, and his right hand picking at the seams of his pants as he drove.
Ah. So this was weird for both of them. Aeons, was this a date?
Maybe Ratio hasn’t had many friends, either, he argued to himself.
Aventurine sighed. As per usual, the esteemed Doctor Ratio was impossible for him to truly read. Giving up on making sense of the whole situation for now, Aventurine slowly lowered his bouquet, baring both his face and his heart, for just a moment.
“Thanks, Doc.” He said quietly, admiring the lush petals of the roses now in his possession. Now he had something to put in his office.
Ratio’s eyes widened at his words, before the tiniest smile displayed itself on his lips for only a second. But Aventurine didn’t miss it. “You’re welcome, Dear Gambler.” He replied.
The remainder of the car ride was silent, which was unusual for the pair, but surprisingly not too uncomfortable. Aventurine appreciated the time he was given to quietly consider the new, untrodden territory it seemed he and his partner were hurling themselves into, even if he just thought himself into circles. The facial expression Ratio wore as he drove told Aventurine that he, too, was deep in thought.
Exactly what Ratio was thinking about, Aeons knew.
As they drove, the skylines shortened out into regularly sized buildings as they left the downtown area. Eventually, they pulled into a mostly empty parking lot surrounded by greenery, and Aventurine was greeted by a pastel purple sign for a restaurant called ‘Frankie’s.’ The front door was made of dark wood and was decorated with intricate floral designs etched into its surface. Ratio cleared his throat.
“We’re here, Gambler.” He said quietly.
“Looks nice.” Aventurine smiled, considering how he could tease his companion next, just for the sense of normalcy it would bring. However, before he could throw a joke Ratio’s way, Ratio got out of the car and shut the door behind him. Aventurine took a deep breath, then moved to follow suit, but was stopped in his tracks when he realized Ratio had come to his door and opened it for him. And, oh Aeons, he had a hand reached out towards him.
Aventurine blinked up at him for a few beats, before setting his flowers gently on his seat and taking his friend’s hand, standing up outside of the car.
No matter how many times their hands made contact, it always felt like the first time. Elation buzzed under his skin as he admired the warmth that radiated from Ratio. Ratio clutched a little tighter onto Aventurine’s hand, and his heart skipped a few beats.
They stood speechless and motionless for a few fleeting moments, still hand-in-hand. Aventurine took the opportunity to try and memorize every line, every groove, every marking on the Doctor’s hand, his eyes mapping out all of its angles and curves. He may never have the opportunity to hold Ratio’s hand like this again, he reminded himself.
Ratio seemed frozen, too, his gaze fixed on their joined hands. Perhaps he was uncomfortable. How selfish Aventurine was, to keep the good Doctor trapped in this moment with him.
Eventually, guilt pushed Aventurine to close the car door behind him, and the sound seemed to break Ratio out of his trance. He slowly pulled his hand from Aventurine’s and hit the lock button on his keys.
Trying to pull himself from his dazed, lovesick stupor, Aventurine attempted to reassume his typical affectation. “Y’know, Doc, I wouldn’t have expected you to take someone like me someplace like this.”
Ratio opened his mouth to retort, but merely made a hmph sound and opened the front door to the restaurant. “After you, Damned Gambler.” He huffed.
Aventurine felt another blush heat up his ears and cheeks, and he ducked through the door, hoping the darker lighting of the restaurant would help conceal his embarrassment.
Candlelit, intimately sized, and styled in dark mahogany; the interior of the restaurant was the image of a romantic dinner. The tables and chairs looked as though they were painstakingly carved out, complicated floral designs swirling across the wood. The splashes of lilac and lavender throughout the restaurant – on tablecloths and candles – only served to make it look classier.
A number of couples seemed to be enjoying their dinners over glasses of red wine and easy conversations, making Aventurine’s head spin. This was doing nothing to help Aventurine compose himself; in fact, it was exacerbating the heat rising up his face, and he fought to not stumble as he fully entered the building.
“Hello, can I help you, sir?” A young man in crisp, black clothes nodded at Aventurine from behind a little counter. Still reeling from his confusion, and the extravagance of all of… this , Aventurine laughed sheepishly and looked to Ratio, who was standing behind him.
Instead of telling Aventurine this was all just some elaborate and mean-spirited prank, and that they could just go home now, Ratio stepped in front of him and spoke to the host, asking about his reservation. The host smiled politely, nodded, and led the pair to a luxurious private booth tucked away in a quiet corner of the restaurant. The seat was made of a soft, mauve fabric, and it wrapped around the table in a semi-circle. At the centre of the table was a single lilac candle, flickering cheerfully, as though mocking Aventurine. He also noticed silken curtains bunched up on either side of the booth, the implications of which making him clench his jaw.
Fighting off visions of stealing kisses from Ratio from behind lavish curtains, Aventurine sat himself down in the booth and watched Ratio do the same on his opposite side.
“Here are your menus, your server will be with you shortly.” The host said pleasantly before walking away.
Aventurine and Ratio sat in silence, looking anywhere but each other. This time, the quiet was very uncomfortable. But Aventurine was a Stoneheart, damn it, if he could face IPC paperwork, violent businessmen, and an Emanator of the Nihility, surely he could face an awkward conversation with his friend.
Putting on a brave face, Aventurine smirked at Ratio and leaned against the table. “So, Doc, you come here often?”
Once again, Ratio immediately opened his mouth, a fiery comeback likely on the tip of his tongue, but he stopped, looking to the side as though he was remembering something. Instead of allowing Aventurine a semblance of normalcy, he took a deep breath and stared at Aventurine over the candlelight.
“No, I have been saving it for a… special occasion,” Ratio mumbled, “How was work, Dear Gambler?” He asked, and Aventurine could have sworn the Doctor was blushing again.
Aventurine shifted back into his seat. This was so, so weird .
“Uh, it was… fine, I guess,” Aventurine put all his effort into looking unaffected by Ratio’s relentless chivalry, “How about you?” Under the table, Aventurine scooped up the coin from his pocket and began to fiddle with it again.
Ratio blinked at Aventurine, seeming confused about something, before he spoke. “It was fine, as well.”
Aventurine tightened his grip on the shiny gold coin slipping through his fingers. What was this conversation? Where were Ratio’s complaints about his stupid coworkers and the constraints the IPC put on his research? Why couldn’t Aventurine manage to tell Ratio anything more about his day, other than that it was fine? And why did Ratio’s refusal to bicker and his choice to ask about his day feel so… domestic ?
This was… probably a date, if Aventurine was being honest with himself. Unless…
Maybe Ratio was sick. That had to be it, because there was no other way to explain this uncharacteristic behaviour.
The awkward silence filled the air like a thick smog, pervading through the space. They both busied themselves with looking through the menu.
Usually, in restaurants, Aventurine would just order a small appetizer and a martini: something that communicated to his peers that he was modest, but still had the money to be classy. But here, in front of Ratio – someone who could see right through him – he was unsure of what to get. In all honesty, Aventurine would eat just about anything. When you grow up hungry, you lose the privilege of getting to be picky, he supposed.
He sifted through the menu, weighing all of his options, but the clink of a glass being placed on the table interrupted Aventurine’s consideration. A server placed two glasses of water on the table’s surface and smiled politely. “Good evening, I’m Marianne, and I’ll be your server tonight,” She said, “Can I get you anything right now?”
Marianne and Ratio looked at him expectantly, and Aventurine put on what he hoped was a confident smile and nodded. He could get through ordering like a normal person. “A dry martini and the blackened chicken salad, for me, please.” See? That was easy, he was being so normal and calm. He reached for a handkerchief in his pocket and dabbed his forehead with it.
Marianne jotted his order down in a notepad and then looked to Ratio, who cleared his throat. “I will have the smoked salmon bowl and a six ounce glass of non-alcoholic Chardonnay, if you please.” He requested.
Aventurine attempted, and failed, to fight back a small snort of laughter. Ratio really always did refuse to have even a little bit of fun – ordering non-alcoholic drinks on a date. Well, on a maybe-date-maybe-hangout, Aventurine reminded himself.
Ratio narrowed his eyes at Aventurine, and Marianne chirped that she’d be back soon with their orders and left them.
“I’m driving , Gambler, I cannot risk ingesting alcohol,” Ratio muttered.
“Hey, I didn’t say anything,” Aventurine smirked. Ratio stared at him with an unimpressed expression for a moment.
“...I could hear you thinking,” Ratio replied.
“Guilty!” Still holding his coin, Aventurine brought his hands up to feign a surrender and chuckled. Ratio really could always read him, huh? A small smile splayed itself on Ratio’s lips, and, emboldened by the familiarity of their banter, Aventurine continued. “So there’s nothing else that happened at work today, Doc? It was all just ‘fine?’”
Ratio’s shoulders straightened and he looked to the side, a pinch of the previous awkwardness returning, but nothing as unbearable as before. “It truly was… fine ,” He began.
“Go on,” Aventurine coaxed, putting his coin back in his pocket. Ratio always complained about something at work, and he was betting his whole hand that this time was no different.
“Well, it was fine, until some idiot misplaced an important document of mine and wasted several hours of my work day,” He huffed, “Honestly, one would assume that leaving others’ belongings alone and minding your business wouldn’t be such a challenge, but this absolute fool decided it would be a fantastic idea to go rummaging through my desk for his research. Such an appalling lack of manners!”
Bingo!
“Unbelievable, Doc!” Aventurine nodded sympathetically, smiling ear-to-ear on the inside. He loved seeing Ratio comfortable enough to whine about such mundane issues. “So what happened to the guy who messed with your stuff?”
Ratio sighed and rolled his eyes. “ Nothing , since once I had actually found my document, it was time for me to come and collect you, however-” Ratio’s eyes suddenly widened, as though he had just remembered something crucial. “ However , that is of no importance. I apologize for complaining when I should be enjoying your company,” His right hand went to pick at a seam on his shirt.
Aventurine deflated at his sudden shift in demeanor. Why was he being so weird ? They were just having a good time – why did Ratio seem so reluctant to act as they always did?
Maybe Ratio actually hated him and was trying to tell Aventurine he didn’t enjoy talking to him. Aventurine’s shoulders tensed at the prospect of his friend hating him, an aching sorrow nestling itself in his heart.
But then why would Ratio explicitly say they were friends? Just to make this hurt more? He wouldn’t do something like that, would he?
“A dry martini and a non-alcoholic Chardonnay for you two!” Marianne returned, placing the glasses in front of the two men. Her big green eyes flitted between the pair, likely sensing the awkwardness oozing from their conversation (or lack thereof). “I’ll be back with your food shortly.” She nodded, briskly leaving their table again.
Well, as insufferably awkward as this was, at least he could try to get drunk. Swirling the olive around in his martini glass, Aventurine took a long sip, savouring the bitter, slightly herbal flavour. When he looked up from his drink, he was met with Ratio’s amber eyes. The Doctor had a strange look on his face, wearing an almost-smile and pinching his eyebrows together slightly.
“What? You want a sip?” Aventurine offered, tilting his head a smidge. Ratio’s expression immediately morphed into one of discomfort, looking almost as though he’d been caught with his hand in a cookie jar.
“As I previously stated, Gambler, I am driving.” He shook his head.
“Whatever, more for me, then.” Aventurine shrugged and, as a show of just how much Ratio was missing out, he took a big swig of his beverage and made a sound of satisfaction. Ratio shook his head in disapproval and took a modest sip of his non-alcoholic wine.
When Marianne returned with their food, Aventurine was glad to have an excuse to avoid talking, being able to just focus on eating. His dish was excellent: the char on the chicken, the citrusy salad dressing, and the freshness of the vegetables in the salad all blended together to make a delightful symphony of flavours.
“Gambler,” Ratio interrupted him between bites, “Would you… perhaps like to try my dish?” Ratio picked at his own food with his fork, dragging bits of salmon around his bowl.
“Oh, uh…” Aventurine paused, surprised by Ratio’s offer. “Sure, why not?” He agreed, reaching for his fork. However, before he could steal a bite from Ratio’s bowl, the Doctor was leaning over the table, presenting Aventurine with a forkful of his dinner.
Aventurine’s breath caught in his throat, and he fought back a sound of shock. Ratio was looking at him in anticipation, that strange look on his face again.
His heart doing somersaults, Aventurine slowly leaned over the table and accepted the bite, then darted back to his seat. He chewed for a few seconds, taking in the mild flavour of the salmon, before giving Ratio a sheepish smile. “It’s, uh, it’s good, thanks.” Ratio seemed to light up at that, a triumphant smile on his lips. Aventurine scoffed – was Ratio trying to embarrass him? Two could play at that game. “Alright, your turn, then!” He grinned, thrusting a forkful of his salad into Ratio’s face.
Ratio stared at him like he had just grown an extra head for a moment, opening and closing his mouth, as though he couldn’t quite decide what to say. Ultimately, he chose to simply bite down on the fork and take the bite. As Aventurine drew back, he watched his friend’s eyes close as he considered the taste of the food he’d been given. When he finished chewing, his tongue darted across his plush, pink lips – something that absolutely did not enthrall Aventurine.
“Three points.” Ratio decided, and took another drink of his wine. Aventurine couldn’t hold back his smile; this man would be the end of him.
They both finished their dishes in silence, and Marianne eventually returned to collect their empty dishes. “Are the bills separate, or together?” She asked.
“Separate.”
“Together.”
Aventurine and Ratio blinked at each other. Aventurine had assumed they would just pay for their own meals and leave it at that; was Ratio trying to get a free dinner out of him? Well, if this was a date, that would be the expectation, but this was decidedly not a date, right?
“Allow me, Dear Gambler,” Ratio said, “The bills will be together, thank you.”
Marianne looked between them, her eyebrow slightly raised, then nodded and went to grab the bill.
“Hey, what gives, Doc?” Aventurine asked. “You know I can afford my own dinner, right?” He had more money than he would ever need, and he honestly preferred to pay for his own expenses and give exorbitant tips.
“It’s the principle of it, Gambler,” Ratio sighed. “Just allow me to cover your bill.”
“Why? It’s no big deal for me to pay,” Aventurine retorted.
“Because I’m supposed to pay!” Ratio hissed, beginning to look a bit distressed, like he was breaking a rule.
“Supposed to?” Aventurine echoed in bewilderment.
Regardless of his bafflement, Aventurine was not graced with an answer, and watched in silence as Ratio paid the bill. If not paying the bill was going to genuinely upset the Doctor, he may as well just let him pay, he decided.
Once Ratio had finished paying, he wordlessly rose from his seat, nodded stiffly at Aventurine, and began to head towards the exit. Belatedly, Aventurine followed him out of the restaurant and back into the car.
Aventurine twiddled his thumbs together awkwardly as Ratio pulled the car out of the parking spot, and began to drive. It wasn’t often that Aventurine found himself at a loss for words, but the Doctor’s strange behaviour had pushed him to that point, and any clever jokes or teasing remarks got stuck between his teeth before they could move past his lips. So, instead of chatting away about how boring his day was, or teasing Ratio about his reluctance to drink, he sat silently, staring at his beautiful bouquet of roses, willing his hands to not shake.
He watched the day shift into night over the horizon as they drove towards the skyline, back to the downtown area. The sky shifted to a soft mauve, purplish-gray clouds and streaks of amber stippled across it.
After a few minutes, Ratio spoke. “I’m taking you to your apartment, Gambler. You have work tomorrow, so it is imperative that you get ample rest.” He declared, pointedly looking away from Aventurine.
“Hmm,” Aventurine smiled a bit, taking his opportunity to quip – he just couldn’t help himself. “Doctor’s orders?”
“Indeed.” Ratio confirmed.
Aventurine chuckled softly, still staring at the flowers in his lap. Regardless of if Ratio was being a bit odd, it was still him. And he had gone out of his way to take Aventurine to dinner, no matter the implications of that. And, Aventurine supposed, Ratio was a bit odd in general. Maybe today was just an off day for him, and his coworker taking his document bothered him more than he’d let on.
“Thanks, Doc.” Aventurine said, and Ratio grunted in response with a small nod.
The silence they now sat in as they drove was marginally more comfortable, especially now that Aventurine had accepted the bizarre nature of the evening at face value. As his anxiety ebbed into a dull ache in his gut, he absentmindedly opened the glove box, curious about what Ratio deemed important enough to keep in there.
He found the manual for the car, a first aid kit, booster cables, a small toolbox, actual gloves… he wasn’t sure what he was expecting, but he was unsurprised that all the inhabitants of the glove box were just for practical use. As he fished around in the box, he did find a small yellow rubber duckie, but this wasn’t a shock, either, as adorable as it was.
The only surprise came with the book Ratio had been reading earlier. It was pink and covered in little hearts. Red cursive text on the front cover read ‘The Guide to a Perfect Date,’ and a number of pages were dog-eared. He snickered and randomly opened one of the dog-eared pages, and a step-by-step guide to the ‘perfect dinner date’ stared back at him, several lines on the page having been highlighted. The highlighted parts included:
Drive for your date – don’t make them drive!
Give them a greeting gift (see page 18 for gift ideas and meanings).
Never make your date open doors themself – be chivalrous!
Speak politely and only about pleasant things – don’t burden your date with your troubles.
Do not make them pay! Treat them and pay for dinner.
His smile fell.
No fucking way, he thought in disbelief.
Bewildered at his find, Aventurine slowly turned to look at Ratio, considering whether he should tease him, or pretend he never found the book. He was leaning towards the latter option, considering that this may have something to do with their awkward… date. Considering how their evening precisely matched the highlighted lines of the book, it was probably safe to say it was a date now, right?
But if Ratio actually felt the same about him, that opened a whole other shipload of problems. Ratio couldn’t like him back – he deserved better than Aventurine. Aventurine’s left hand twitched and his gaze flitted between his partner and the book, trying to decide his course of action.
Unfortunately, he was not given the opportunity to weigh his options, as when Ratio looked back at him and caught him holding the book, red-handed, the Doctor paled and his lips parted in shock.
Ratio pulled into a parking spot in front of Aventurine’s apartment and brought a hand to his forehead, sighing.
Was he just embarrassed to own something like this? Or was he angry with Aventurine for snooping? And most importantly, had this been a date? Suddenly, all the anxiety Aventurine had experienced before came hurdling back, making his lungs feel terribly heavy.
“You… weren’t supposed to see that.” Ratio murmured, his head still in his hand.
“Ratio…” Aventurine started.
Ratio grunted in acknowledgement. Aventurine took an audibly deep breath, nearly paralyzed with fear, but motivated by his burning curiosity.
“Was… was this a date?” He nearly whispered, fear clutching around his heart like a vice. Regardless of the answer, it would be terrifying. It would be nothing short of horrifying to be rejected, and it would be equally mortifying to be loved.
Ratio remained silent for a few seconds, the thudding of Aventurine’s heart filling the quiet space, before he looked at Aventurine between his fingers. “Was it not… obvious?” He asked, his voice shaky.
Aventurine’s eyes went wide and he wished he had his sunglasses to hide behind. There was no way. He shook his head in a small, rushed movement.
Ratio removed his hand from his face and peered at Aventurine, a desperate look in his eyes. “I… I attempted to follow all of the steps with complete accuracy,” Ratio looked down, resembling Aventurine’s catcakes when he refused to give them any more treats. “I apologize for my failure.”
A jumble of clashing emotions surged through Aventurine: relief, terror, joy, guilt: the works. Overwhelmed, Aventurine burst out laughing, tears pricking the corners of his eyes as he cackled. This was all so perfectly Ratio : only the esteemed Veritas Ratio would consult a guidebook and follow step-by-step checklists to ask out their obnoxious coworker. His affection for Ratio seemed to grow so large in that moment, it felt as though his chest would burst.
“If you’re going to reject me,” Ratio cut through his laughter, “I’d prefer it if you didn’t do it by mocking me and making a joke out of my attempt at a date.”
“No, no!” Aventurine wiped a stray tear from his cheek. “It was great, you’re great, it’s just…” he collected himself, taking a breath. “It’s just that this was very… unexpected, and, honestly, Doc, I was so confused – I still am – it’s just a lot.”
Ratio nodded solemnly, and Aventurine hurried to clarify.
“I-I’m not rejecting you, Ratio, I-” This was starting to get a bit too vulnerable. Ratio deserved better, and shouldn’t waste his time on someone like Aventurine. If Ratio got too close, Aeons knew what might happen. Aventurine’s guilt and his adoration tugged on his heart, leading him to say: “I wouldn’t be mad if we did this again.”
Ratio’s head shot up, and he gaped at Aventurine. “Apologies, just to clarify, you would not be opposed to going on… another date with me?”
Oh, Aeons forgive him, but Aventurine couldn’t help but to grin at Ratio’s excitement. It was scarier than anything, to be wanted in earnest, but he loved it – loved Ratio.
“Correct,” Aventurine smiled, feeling shy as he unbuckled his seatbelt. “Just, next time, don’t follow a guide book.” I like you the way you are . The words were unspoken, but hopefully understood, nonetheless.
“Ah, o-of course.” Ratio nodded valiantly, sitting up straight.
Aventurine slinked out of the car, leaning towards Ratio through the open door. “Goodnight, Doctor.”
Ratio smiled bigger than Aventurine had seen all night long. “Goodnight, Dear Gambler.”