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“Ooh. Home Run!” Riyo exclaimed from the court sidelines with a snort. Zanka had just flung Rudo across the training field with a swift strike of Lovely Assistaff.
Rudo skirted against the pavement, a trail of sparks and dust following him. He grunted and cussed as he slowed to a stop. Zanka stood way too proud of himself. He tapped Lovely Assistaff on the ground victoriously with a hmph of pride.
“WATCH YOUR STICK SHITHEAD,” Rudo squawked. His eyebrows furrowed as he rubbed stray gravel off his face. He could feel a vein popping out of his forehead as his frustration grew. It didn’t help his embarrassment that Riyo was laughing way too hard on the side. Someone should tell her that slapstick comedy is way too juvenile for someone her age.
“FIRST OFF, genius, YA KNOW SHE HAS A NAME. USE SOME GODDAMN RESPECT FOR ER,” Zanka scolded, “Second, we are training. If you don’t want to be hit by her, don’t show up.”
“Just because your ‘training’ doesn’t mean you beat me across the court!” Rudo argued, pointing at the wrench he had transformed at his trainer. It wasn’t disintegrating, which meant it hadn’t felt fulfilled by Rudo’s performance.
“Defend yerself, maybe? Stop throwing a tantrum, ya baby.” Zanka huffed, running his hand through his hair, annoyed.
“I’M NOT A BABY!”
“IF YOU'RE DISTRACTED ON THE FIELD YOU DIE!”
“BUT I’M NOT ON THE FIELD”
“BUT YOU SHOULD TRAIN LIKE YA ARE!”
“Boys, boys, you're both gorgeous.” Riyo finally stood up to get between the two feuding teens. Putting some distance before an even less restrained brawl broke out. She offered her hand to Rudo, “But he has a point. You're usually better at defending yourself from something like that.”
“It’s nothing,” Rudo said, accepting the redhead's hand. He refused to look her in the eye, though. Anyone could’ve guessed he was lying.
Zanka rolled his eyes, “Clearly not. What’s the deal?”
“Why would I tell you?” Rudo snapped, dusting off his pants. Riyo flicked his forehead. Zanka turned away, cursing about Rudo being a “little irresponsible shit, talent dick fuck off” and other frustrated mumblings. Riyo kicked him in the shins. He continued nonetheless
“Oh, I know,” Riyo snapped her fingers, “You and Amo are going on a date tonight, aren’t you?”
“Ya’ serious?!” Zanka remarked. Stopping his ramblings in shock.
“Is it really that unbelievable?” Rudo mumbled, covering his face.
“I just thought you were too emotionally stunted and stubborn to make a move,” Zanka replied, his expression strangely proud.
“Shut up.” Rudo said, he readjusted the gloves on his fingers before looking back at Riyo, “How’d you hear about that anyway?”
“Amo told me, of course! She’s really excited!”
“I mean, it makes sense in retrospect. She was basically skipping when I saw her earlier.” Zanka shrugged, “Good for ya, more so good for her. Just pay attention in training so you don’t bang your face up. Unless you want her to kiss your booboos for ya.”
“Will you just shuddup!” Rudo blushed.
“Whatcha got planned for her? Good ol fashion wining and dining?” Riyo prodded, tilting her head in amusement, “Amo told me you were going to surprise her.”
Rudo scratched the back of his neck. He felt as if he were being interrogated all of a sudden. Even though Rudo has known Riyo longer than Amo has (not by much, but still), he knows that if he did something that would hurt Amo. Well, Rudo’d be really lucky Riyo promised Enjin not to kill people anymore. “I was, I AM,” he corrected quickly, before Riyo even had the chance to correct him.
“What’s the problem?”
“It’s a little unconventional,” Rudo admitted sheepishly. His blush only grew as he clutched the wrench in his hand.
“Well, what’s wrong with that?” Zanka questioned, “You’re not exactly a conventional person. Neither is she.”
“I know that, but…I just’ve never gone on a date before.” Rudo explained, “I don’t know how to do it right.”
“I don’t think there’s one right way,” Zanka told him. He thought for a moment, as if searching his brain for the best advice to give his mentee. Until he physically cringed, shaking his head, “Err, there’s definitely wrong ways. But I wouldn’t worry too much about it.”
“You think?”
“Sure, dude.” Riyo reassured, “You like her, right?”
“Of course!” Rudo exclaimed, “There’s no one else like her to me. But I’m…well, me. With everything that’s been happening, I don’t want to add to the stress. Or cause her unnecessary strife.”
“It’s gonna be alright. Listen, genius, you have a lot of issues, no one can deny that, but y’know what else ya got?” Zanka put a hand on his shoulder, “A stupid amount of heart.”
“Thanks, Zanka,” He looked down, “What would you do for a date?”
“Well, Eishia and I like to go shopping. Even just to browse,” Riyo said, putting her fingers on her chest, “Though we have the luxury of being able to take out the car.”
“Yeah, that won’t work.” Rudo agreed, “Even if I could, I don’t have any money. If we were shopping, I’d like to get her something.”
“Well, dinner and a movie is the normal thing, right?” Zanka suggested, “She’s a romantic, she might like the classic stuff.”
“You're like the worst person to ask about dating, huh.” Riyo jabbed at him with a sly smirk.
“I really am.” Zanka agreed.
“Thanks, guys…” Rudo said sarcastically, “I’ll just stick to my plan and hope she doesn’t hate it.”
“I think you're overthinking it, dude. Amo really likes you, ya know. And it’s not the type of thing to go away because of a messy first date.” Riyo smiled, “It’s a great thing what you have. Something that isn’t as fragile as a normal teenage romance. Have confidence in that, and more importantly, have confidence in Amo.”
“Right. You're right.” Rudo tried to gather confidence. He had confidence in Amo. But he couldn’t give the same respect and devotion to himself. He had loved a lot of people and not been enough. He didn’t want Amo to just be another name on that list. “Maybe I should ask Enjin what he thinks. He goes on dates a lot.” Rudo wondered out loud.
“You should not,” Both Zanka and Riyo said at the same time.
-
Rudo has always hated ties. The feeling of something tight around his neck always made him feel uncomfortable in all the worst ways. He also couldn’t tie them good. Regto tried to teach him once, and despite Rudo’s talent for putting things together, he couldn’t do it.
For Amo, he’d do it. He wanted to present himself as a gentleman, or as gentlemanly as he could. When August heard through the grapevine (Either from Amo herself or Eishia, who Amo would’ve told) that the two were going on a date, he jumped at the chance to provide Rudo with proper clothing.
It wasn’t like there were a whole lot of opportunities for Rudo to acquire or even need formal wear on the ground. Something August declared he must correct. And August insisted that the tie would complete the look.
He stood in front of his room’s mirror as he buttoned up his salmon shirt. He wanted it to suit him, but it was still off. Rudo put on the dark gray suit jacket, matching his dress pants (perfectly crafted and tailored, he should’ve expected nothing less from August). The final piece was a tie. He wrapped it around his neck and tried to remember what Regto taught him.
He fumbled with it for a couple of minutes before getting it to a point where, while messy, it was as good as he could get it without strangling himself. The bowtie hanging at his collar.
He considered removing his gloves, but Rudo didn’t want the pain to flare up during the date. Additionally, though Amo had seen them before, it was only in brief moments. Rudo didn’t want to frighten her with his cursed black hands on what was supposed to be a happy night.
“Y’know what else ya got? A stupid amount of heart.”
“Have confidence in that, and more importantly, have confidence in Amo.”
He kept repeating Riyo and Zanka’s encouragement and advice. They knew him just as well as Amo. They were his teammates. His friends. He knew they had seen all sides of him. So if they thought it would go alright, he wanted to trust that.
Rudo tried to smooth out some of the spikes in his bristle of white hair. But as soon as he put his hand down, any tufts just popped back up.
Or maybe not.
-
Rudo knocked on Amo’s door, and she immediately opened it. He figured she could smell him coming and tenderly imagined her bouncing on her feet waiting by the door. Anyone who had seen her today had reported she was in an extremely elevated mood.
“Rudo!” She greeted. Amo always exclaimed Rudo’s name as if it were the most beautiful word in the world. Rudo would argue that Amo was a prettier name. But then again, they probably were both equally biased.
Amo was wearing an elegant, sleeveless, long-pant jumper that matched the color of Rudo’s button-up shirt. It had the classic bow motif August often designed for her at her stomach, replacing buttons up to her halter.
Amo’s hair was in its usual shape in the front, her long, fluffy strands lying nicely against her bodice. However, like a headband, there was a neatly tied French braid crown before the short back section of her hair. It was undoubtedly cute, and made all the more adorable by the ribbon tied within the braid. All was arranged into a bow that matched the color of Rudo’s suit jacket and tie.
“Hey, Amo.”
“Hi!”
“Hi.”
“Hi.”
“Hi.”
The two grew equally red as they stood there repeating the greeting back and forth. August really did go all out for them. Rudo felt completely mesmerized looking at Amo’s. Her eyes shimmered when she saw Rudo as well.
“I-you look good.”
“Thanks. Rudo does too.” Amo complimented. Rubbing her boots against each other nervously.
“I like what you did with your hair.” If Rudo were a pot of water boiling on the stove, it would be time to add the pasta. “It’s really pretty.”
“You think? Amo was unsure about it, but Riyo really wanted to try it out.” Riyo? Double agent! He hoped she hadn’t spilled the beans on what he was worried about earlier.
“I do.”
“That makes Amo really happy.” She smiled with a wide grin.
Rudo offered out his hand, “Well…let’s go.”
Amo graciously and excitedly took it, her cold, pale fingers made contact and interlocked with Rudo’s.
They had held hands multiple times before, but whenever they slotted against one another like this, it felt like something clicked just right.
Rudo froze momentarily, and Amo waited for him to reboot before he squeezed her hand. And he squeezed hers back.
-
Rudo had asked Corvus if Amo and he could have the roof to themselves tonight. Something Corvus agreed to with little extra thought. Rudo was grateful for that. He was still worried that there would be snooping eyes watching them on their date, but he tried to shake off that feeling.
As much as they teased the two of them, they knew how much having this one night to themselves meant. A night when they could just be two kids with deep feelings for one another. Without the fate of the world resting on their shoulders.
Rudo slowly opened the door to the rooftop. He had built string lights out of old bulbs he had found on dumpster dives. Using some polls he had found as well, he wrapped the lights around them: creating a tent of lights for the two of them to stand under. Candles and scraps of paper marked an aisle leading to its entrance.
It was hard to see stars from the smog in the air, so Rudo thought this would be a nice alternative.
Amo gasped, tightening her grip on his hand. “Rudo made all this?”
“Um, yeah. I thought it would be nice.” Rudo said. The two walked down the aisle. Amo continued to look around, marvelling at the scene.
“This is amazing, Rudo!” Amo’s eyes sparkled, her heart doing somersaults in her chest.
When they reached the blanket, Amo noticed there was a little red radio. Rudo took it in his hands and fiddled with the nodes before finding a station he liked. Ever since meeting her, Rudo and Amo had become quite the big fans of Too Lily. Hard not to be, and ever since being reunited with Gountess, she had been writing and producing a series of love songs. Love songs that Rudo knew Amo loved so dearly.
“I’m not really good at all this,” Rudo told Amo, “but I want to make you really happy, Amo.”
“Rudo already does,” Amo told him.
“Then even happier than that.” Rudo declared, clutching both of her hands in his. “I don’t know if I’ll be any good…but do you want to dance with me?”
Amo screeched in joy, “Of course she does!!!” She rocked back and forth on her toes.
Rudo tried to position himself properly. He was really only mimicking what he’d seen couples do on TV before. He wrapped one of his arms around her back, the other still clutching her hand. Amo squeaked at the touch but seemed to have watched the same shows he had, and got into the proper position as well. Her other hand touching his shoulder.
“Okay? Ready?”
“Yep!”
They both didn’t move an inch, though.
“Does Rudo go first?” Amo asked nervously.
‘I uh, don’t know. I think we start at the same time?” Rudo stumbled. “On three?”
“1”
“2”
“3” Instead of beginning an elegant waltz that would make a princess weep, the two bonked their foreheads against each other. The sound of it reverberating off the beat of Too Lilys “Man Made Heart”.
“Ouchie”
“Shit! Fuck!”
“Sorry, Rudo!” Amo quickly apologized. Rudo rubbed his forehead briefly. There was no blood, so it all would be alright. He took her hand once more.
“It’s okay.” Rudo reassured, “We’ve got this.” he tightened his grip. “I’ll go first, you follow?”
“Gotcha!” Amo determinedly nodded.
“1”
“2”
“3”
This time, they were actually able to get some sort of flow going. Though they were certainly not moving in time with the music. Dancing to their own rhythm.
A jumbled mess of awkward motion as they used an eighth of the skill it took to slow dance. Amo stepped on Rudo’s toes a couple of times. He sometimes moved too fast. Despite this, Amo was smiling and laughing. Rudo couldn’t be dissatisfied with that. In fact, despite his worry that this was already going wrong, Rudo was having a good time himself.
Feeling bold enough, Rudo decided to try and spin Amo a bit.
She eagerly agreed. They started out okay. Quickly, however, instead of their intended fun twirl, Rudo ended up momentarily losing his grip on her hand in the excitement.
This caused Amo to be flung a little bit backwards and hit the back of one of the tent poles. Causing the whole structure to shake.
“Amo! Fuck!” Rudo rushed to Amo, grabbing her tightly. The two crashed towards the ground as they were removed from the fast-falling structure behind them.
Rudo watched as his attempt at a nice atmosphere and gift of beauty and fun for Amo fell apart so quickly. He tried to gulp down the lump in his throat, telling himself it was all a bad omen.
He separated from Amo, making sure they could both sit up. He did a scan to see if Amo was injured in any way, but the only thing that seemed to be damaged was a rip in her pant leg.
“Shit! Amo, I’m so sor-”
He was interrupted, though, by the realization that Amo was clutching his jacket, hollering with laughter.
“Amo?”
She kept laughing so hard that tears came to her eyes. Rudo didn’t think he’d ever see her in this much genuine amusement in her life.
Amo laughed so hard that Rudo was worried she could no longer breathe properly. Though he was confused, he still wiped the tears from his face.
“You’re not upset?”
“Pfttahhah of course not!” Amo’s laughter died down as she looked Rudo in the eye, “That was fun!!”
“You could’ve gotten really hurt!” Rudo exclaimed, “I’m really, really sorry.”
“Rudo, it’s okay.” Amo smiled softly at him, “Yes, Amo’s a little sad that Rudo’s lights fell apart. But Amo’s sure the two of us can put it all back together.
“Amo, I wanted this night to be perfect. A way to relax and take our mind off things.”
“Does Amo not seem relaxed?” She asked, tilting her head, “If anything, it’s Rudo who hasn’t been relaxed all night.”
“I just wanted to do right by you. I didn’t want to mess this” he gestured between the two of them, “up.”
Amo cupped Rudo’s face in her hands, turning it ever so slightly. Her hands were immediately comforting as they rubbed against his face. She ran her thumb over his cheek a couple of times. In slow motion, she angled her head so she could kiss him on the cheek.
Rudo felt his whole body light on fire as he felt Amo’s soft lips on his skin. Gentle, warm, and forgiving. It felt like Serenity. Even after she pulled back, Amo didn’t remove her hands from Rudo’s face. “Amo’s sorry. She must’ve given Rudo the wrong idea.”
Rudo’s brain finally caught up to what was happening, and he quickly interjected, “Don’t say that! You have nothing to be sorry about! You did nothing wrong, Amo!”
Amo just giggled before softly humming, “Rudo. My cute Rudo.” This time, she brushed the tufts of his hair away to make room for her to kiss his forehead. He wondered if she was doing this on purpose to discombobulate him.
“Amo never agreed to a date because she wanted a perfect night,” she looked him in the eyes, “Amo wanted to spend time with Rudo. Any time at all.”
“Really?”
“Of course, silly!” Amo moved her hands to his shirt collar. She pulled on the fabric of his bowtie. Pulling at the loose strands of the disorganized ribbon. “Amo likes Rudo. She doesn’t want anyone else.”
“Even if I make an ass of myself?”
“Even then,” the tie slowly came undone as Amo gently pulled on it. Unraveling the tension against his neck, “Rudo did so much for Amo tonight! He built stars for her, and danced with her.”
“Even though I sucked?”
“We sucked,” Amo clarified, “And it may have been a total bummer if Amo was with anyone else. But she was with Rudo, so even now, her heart still feels like it’s about to jump out.”
“Amo, thanks,” Rudo sighed with his signature poor smile. Amo placed the fabric of his undone tie in his gloves, “My heart…wants to jump out too. When I’m with you. Even when I’m not. Zanka beat my ass today because I was so worried about tonight.”
“Amo heard.”
“Of course you did.” Rudo was going to have a word with Riyo later, “Sorry. I ruined the mood.”
“No! No more apologizing.” Amo lightly tapped her fist against his chest, “Amo did nothing wrong, so Rudo didn’t either.”
“Okay! Okay. I get it!” Rudo said as Amo’s rain of fists drummed against him playfully. “We’re new at this. Stop it, you! You’ve proven your point! I get it.”
Amo placed her hands on her waist with a satisfied nod, “You better!”
It was only then, when his mind and heart settled, that he realized that music was still playing.
Rudo gently helped Amo back up once more. “Want to try again?”
“Sure!” Amo giggled. In that moment, Rudo didn’t just have confidence in Amo, but in them. In him. Riyo was right after all; what they had was too powerful to fall apart so easily.
“1!”
“2”
“3!”