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"Another glass of rum, sir?" The bartender asked, tapping on the counter.
"I guess one more shouldn't be an issue."
"Coming right up!"
Saucer felt like his blood pressure was about to skyrocket after this night.
This idea wasn't even his to begin with — Sulfur coaxed him into going to this specific location, somewhere near Orlango, as it was a popular spot with those who liked the idea of speed dating. After a disastrous showdown this year, Saucer only wanted to go home and pretend this year never existed in the first place.
Anything felt like a more viable option than going here, but Sulfur especially was insistent.
"But Saucer," Sulfur would say, tapping on his phone to confirm the reservation formally, "I don't see why you're so hesitant. It's just a speed dating night, you'll meet several pretty girls, interact with them, what's so bad about it?"
"So why doesn't Orbit do this instead?"
"Because Orbit doesn't need a night out to recharge. But you do need one desperately, especially since you've pretty much locked out from the outside world since we returned back to the League. How are you supposed to meet anyone if you don't go out?"
Saucer only rolled his eyes. Sulfur really picked this to be the hill to die on.
"Also, don't come back if you don't have at least a smudge of lipstick on you! That way we get to know you were there and didn't escape into some library or something. And take a picture while at it!"
He didn't like it when his teammates went behind him to make additional plans (and Sulfur specifically said this isn't a reservation he could cancel), therefore he reluctantly agreed to go all alone to this place.
Needless to say, his dating skills were worse than his average score in the Marble League Showdown this year.
Most of the girls were rather… not his type. Very many could pass in age like his students, which may have grossed him out more than anything else as he wasn't the fan of that student/teacher relationship trope. His experience as a young university professor, both as an assistant and in actuality, made him even more attentive to details — from body language to mannerisms, verbal cues, expressions, even the way they flirt — he took notes of them, and he wasn't that impressed.
Saucer wanted a partner for what is worth, he wasn't opposed to the idea of a relationship in the near future, but he was so selective that even the rest of the Purple Rockets came to the conclusion that he'll probably die single with the stack of paper halfway graded in his arms.
He didn't even argue back on that conclusion, only brushed it off and moved further.
"Here's your glass, sir! That would be about 50." The bartender said with a smile, as Saucer paid up the drink. "If you need more ice paired with it, let me know."
"Thanks, but there's no need." Saucer replied, taking a sip of the liquid. "It's cold enough."
With a small nod, the bartender passed onto the next client in line, as Saucer was surveying the area with drink in hand. The place was easily crowded, both with men and women looking for a fun night out or a moment to date, as the atmosphere felt pretty much suited for speed dating. The smell was pungent, different mixes of perfume and cologne that felt suffocating the closer he got to the center.
His plan was to finish this drink and go back to the dorms with the task being unsuccessful. Sulfur would be disappointed, but Saucer felt like if he sat for longer over here, his sanity would take a hit.
"Come on, darling, just a show." A guy in the background spoke in such a sleazy way that it caught the attention of the Purple Rockets athlete. "Looking like this is tempting to any man."
"One move or I swear I'll hit you with this glass."
"Feisty… I like a challenge. I've tamed more stubborn ladies in the past with just one night." A maniacal laugh started to creep in, as the feminine voice felt utterly familiar to Saucer.
It irked him just how some just stood there and did nothing to help, so he took the matter into his own hands. He carefully went between the crowd just to reach the scene, only for his suppositions to be confirmed.
In front of him, there was an older man that Saucer assessed to be in his late 50's at the least, drunk out of his mind, trying to leap at any opportunity to catch his prey. On the other side, there was a young woman in defense mode, in spite of her attire not looking in any way comfortable for an one on one combat.
Saucer knew her quite well, and he knew just how fierce she could be on the road during the Marble League. He had no doubts that she could take him out in a fight.
But on this moment alone, her expression was a mixture between panic and disgust, as the only weapon she had was a glass he assumed that had wine in it.
That's where he decided to intervene, as the drunk man was trying to pull his move in her direction.
"You didn't hear her?" Saucer asked, an arm swiftly blocking those hands away from her, "She's not interested in you. Move elsewhere."
"Every girl says that until you get her in bed, young man." The man loudly bragged, which made Saucer see red in front of him. "That outfit is an invitation."
"Invitation for who?" She yelled back, as Saucer shushed her out for the time being.
"She's a grown woman and can dress however she pleases, sir. That doesn't mean she's interested in you, nor that she dressed up for you."
"Bold of you thinking that I'll give up."
A deeper voice came out from Saucer, as his arm held her waist closely. The girl looked shocked at said action, but stayed put for the time being.
"Bold of you thinking you're even going to try while I'm here."
The sudden shift startled the drunk man, as Saucer was sipping from his glass of rum in his hand. The voice caught the attention in the room, as everyone went dead silent.
"Boss, I think that's enough." She looked up at Saucer, her voice sounding less panicky and more determined, taking the lead. "Let's go."
Saucer nodded, before aiming yet another judgemental glance at the man in front of him. With a small push and their hands intertwined, they moved away from the crowd onto the second floor of the building, which was a lot quieter in spite of Saucer having to pay extra to get him and the girl there.
"Easy on those stairs, Ember." Saucer allowed her to move first, as he diligently followed in the back.
"My apologies if my heel breaking during the party that one time in Herbotamia scared you this much, Sauce Boss." Ember laughed, going step by step. "Clutter was a champ then. Flare was handling a broken heel worse than me."
"Heard about that."
As they reached the second floor, both Ember and Saucer noticed just how empty it was. At most, there was a couch and a table, perhaps a bottle of the cheapest looking alcohol that one could think of, and some wilted flowers to keep for decor.
"All this fancy looking first floor and they couldn't have bothered to do the same for the second?" Ember asked, as Saucer felt rather amused by the sight.
"I guess it's quieter which is a plus, I can hear you better here." Saucer replied, offering his glass to the Solar Flares member. "A drink?"
"Are we going to share this?" She asked, confused.
"Are you willing to try that bottle over there?"
"…Actually, good point." Ember said, before taking the glass and sipping a little bit of rum from it before handing it over to Saucer. "Any free room over here that's not a safety or a health hazard is welcomed after this night. These heels are killing me."
"I can tell." Saucer answered, guiding Ember to a door halfway opened. He noticed the keycard still in plain sight, but the room looked virtually untouched, way cleaner than he'd expect it to be.
"Guess we'll camp here for the meanwhile."
Luckily for the both of them, the lock worked and the room was actually nicer than initially anticipated. It was small, even if it was for one single person, no bed in sight, which was unusual, the windows creaked open just slightly, and a small cupboard that looked sturdy enough for Ember to sit on.
All in all, it could've been worse.
"I won't take Radiance's advice ever again after that night, I swear." Ember sighed, trying to untangle the ribbons from the heels that kept them secured on her legs. Saucer noticed that her hands were still shaky, perhaps due to the incident with that drunkard, which made him feel even angrier knowing how everyone else reacted in those circumstances.
Without a word, Saucer took Ember's hands from the ribbons, wrapping his arms around just to lift her up on the cupboard rather than the chair. Ember reacted with a small yelp, feeling taken aback for those few seconds, as Saucer took the chair from sight and kneeled in front of her.
"Wait, I can handle it, let me just-"
"Ember."
Saucer switched back to his serious tone, one which left the Solar Flares member flustered. The short blue dress and the near proximity of the athlete next to her legs did not help her case in the slightest.
"May I?"
She nodded, as Saucer gently untangled the ribbons one by one from her ankles. His movements were slow and calculated, as the cold touch of his skin made Ember feel like she's under a spell.
The Purple Rockets member left out a satisfying huff, almost bordering on a chuckle, before removing the heels from Ember's legs one by one.
"…Thanks." She muttered, her face being halfway covered by her hands.
"Radiance made you go?" Saucer asked, taking his spot on the empty chair.
"You know, funny story…" Ember awkwardly laughed, as Saucer kept his eyes glued in her direction. "It was a bet, actually. Had something to do with our first Marble League and how many medals we could get in that time. You can tell I had no chance given how I did in sprinting, and she was pulling gold after gold."
"And her idea was making you go speed dating?"
"At first it was something else, but we settled on this in the end, as she heard that I haven't been on a date in ages." She explained, nails tapping anxiously. "And that drunk guy was following me since the moment I entered. I thought I was about to fight him in front of a crowd, I think I'd have made headlines in Orlango for that."
"Why didn't you go elsewhere?"
"I got tasks." Ember continued, revealing a small paper written by Radiance herself. "She wouldn't let me live it down if I don't do them."
"Glad to know I'm not the only one that was forced to go with tasks in hand." Saucer said, feeling as if Sulfur's voice was haunting his brain for a moment.
Ember left a small "oh" at his statement, facing Saucer in the same manner he did to her. "Wasn't Orbit the one that liked this stuff, last I know?"
"Yeah, but just like you, Sulfur heard I wasn't on a date in a while and prepared this for me. It was his way to get me out of the training room and my work."
Ember giggled, lifting the upper half of her dress. "Typical Sulfur. Always the observant."
"And I also got tasked, so I guess that makes it two for two."
"Of course you did." Ember continued under the same giggling tone, her smile becoming more and more visible. "No one caught your eye?"
"Not my type. You?"
"I mean, you saw that creep all over me, how lucky do you think I really am?"
Saucer stood up, putting the chair somewhere less visible to the eye. "Touché."
Both of them laughed, as Saucer went and retrieved some slippers from the reception. Thankfully, the workers there were very understanding as Saucer cooked some story about how she broke her heel and forgot to take an extra pair in case of emergencies, so that wasn't a difficult issue.
"This should do for the moment. Got your heels in this bag." Saucer put the bag with the heels on it nearby, as Ember wiggled her way into the slippers, swinging her legs back and forth with so much joy. "Better?"
"You have no idea." Ember smiled, a smile so wide that it managed to brighten up the room. "Thank you so much."
"Don't worry about it."
The Purple Rockets and the Solar Flares were long time competitors, dating back even before the Marble League itself. Even throughout the leagues, there was a small batch of teams that would reunite for the showdown, and they ended up bonding over their misfortune. Sulfur and Radiance were long time friends, after all.
Ember was that kind of girl who would be happy to make friends with anyone regardless of team or of gender. Her curly hair that resembled a lion's mane was something that made her stand out greatly among the crowd, and her performances lately have not been overlooked by some fans either. Saucer noticed her from afar a while ago, back when she was just a mere aspiring rookie, but didn't get to talk until later on in the showdown.
Or, better said — Ember noticed him first.
He had a feeling that Ember was more interested in him than some others would be, always so eager to chat or just to keep company from time to time. Even with the nickname that everyone started to adopt later on (and just how many people somehow thought that Saucer was the captain of the Purple Rockets given his media exposure and the way his presence just commanded respect — hence where the Sauce Boss moniker became more of a regular thing), Ember felt even more drawn to him rather than repelled.
He'd heard rumors that she might've developed a crush on him as of late, rumors that Saucer considered them to be quite ridiculous.
But the way she's gained her spark in his arms immediately after that conflict with the drunk man from earlier may have made the Purple Rockets member wonder if it was actually true and he was oblivious to it all.
As in every research he conducted, every possible clause had a reason behind it, and there was one way he can prove his theory.
"It's getting late, I should call Radiance to pick me up in a few minutes…" Ember checked her phone, before her eyes looked back at Saucer. "Are you waiting for someone?"
"Not really." He added, taking off his coat. "Are you in a hurry?"
"A bit, since she did give me orders to enjoy this night but she's also super cautious, you know? She wouldn't want me to get hurt in a city I barely know."
"That's also true." Saucer said, before finding himself just a knee away from where Ember was sitting diligently on the cupboard.
He'd noticed Ember's most identifiable traits a while back, but this was probably the first time that he saw her up close. Her hair was a shade darker than her skin, as her eyes looked more amber than brown. The slight orange details like the earrings and the necklace that clung beautifully on her neck, as well as the glitter that covered the top half of her skin like small crystals, they only enhanced her natural beauty. Just looking at her so intently made him realize just how gorgeous she is, both in her simplicity and in the most glamorous way she could be.
And that's not getting over without mentioning the dress she wore — a small, dark blue dress that would turn anyone's heads. Strapless, dazzled with crystals and ruffles of the same color, but a dress that hugged her body in the best way possible.
"Actually," Saucer interrupted just slightly, causing Ember to look at him, "don't call Radiance. I'll drive you back."
"Listen, you've done so much for me already, I can't burden you with this too…"
"It's okay, I'm offering it." Saucer said, draping his coat over Ember's shoulders. "Besides, I can help you with the tasks and you can help me."
Ember's eyes widened as she turned red in a flash. "It's fine, it's fine, I can tell her it didn't work out! Radiance may be disappointed in me, but she'll understand if I tell her about that creep, don't worry about it!"
Easily flustered to mere contact, that's one hypothesis confirmed.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, yes, totally!" Ember was awkward-laughing again, holding Saucer by his hands to lower it down to their level. "You already did so much for me tonight, I can't ask for this too."
"It's a mutual favor. And you know me well that I'm not giving those to anybody at will."
"It's… it's embarrassing, Sauce Boss. I don't think it's feasible…"
Saucer felt a sudden mix of pride and intrigue as he heard Ember use the word "feasible" in such a manner.
"What if I tell mine first and then yours afterwards, would it be fine?"
Ember remained quiet, unsure of how to respond to that question. She tugged to her dress quite insistently, trying to cover herself as best as she could.
Saucer came closer, his breath lingering over Ember's neck like a breeze, holding his hands close enough to surround her but not close enough to make her look or feel uncomfortable.
"Ember, is it okay?"
And at that moment, he noticed just how she simply falls to her knees every time that voice comes back in town.
That should confirm his second hypothesis.
"Okay…" Ember weakly responded, while slightly pushing Saucer away to her level. "But you go first."
"As promised, of course." Saucer positioned himself in front of her, moving some curls away from her face. "Sulfur said that I shouldn't come back without at least, and I quote him — a smudge of lipstick on me. With photo proof and all."
"Just that? You know that's easy if you have a lipstick, right?"
"Which I do not have. And I still needed the photo." Saucer said, taking his hand into hers. "Your turn."
"Erm…" Ember looked like she was about to stumble upon her words before taking Radiance's note again. "Yours is very tame over mine. Mine's a picture recreation and something similar to yours."
"May I see it?"
Hesitantly, she complied, as the piece of paper was thoroughly read by the Purple Rockets member. Inside, there were indeed 2 tasks — one that was a picture from Rollstagram with a man kissing a woman's inner thigh, and the other one was similar to his, only that the lipstick was replaced with hickeys.
He could tell why Ember felt embarrassed by these tasks, as she was a bit more shy in comparison with her colleague. These were a bit overboard even for Ember herself.
"I know, it's a bit much…" Ember lowered her head down a bit, looking apologetic. "I understand if you refuse, it's just that Radiance was really insistent on these…"
"The first one shouldn't be difficult." Saucer claimed, much to Ember's shock. "But for the second, I may need your permission."
"What-"
"Hm?"
"You're… you're fine with it?"
"I mean… the first one can be done in about two seconds unless you drop your phone. The second one aligns with mine to some extent. But yeah, yours is a bit more… intimate than mine. So I have to ask you first."
Saucer knew the answer to this one, as the body language betrayed her a long time ago.
But he'd rather hear it from her than take the leap based on what he felt like he knew.
"Do it." Ember's nails gripped on the collar of his shirt, motioning the man to kneel. "Just make it quick."
Saucer did as told, as Ember picked up her phone to take the snapshot. With a sly smirk aimed at the Solar Flares athlete, he parted one leg, only to leave a tender kiss on the left thigh. The camera did its job flawlessly, as it took a cascade of pictures, all capturing Saucer as the main character.
The moment lasted just a few minutes, but it left a certain Ember bewildered beyond any comprehension.
"Was that good enough?" Saucer asked, remarking just how red she'd become again.
"Mhm…" Ember responded, before taking a small lipstick from her hand. It was a dark red pigment, one that will certainly stay visible on his paler skin.
"Alright then." Saucer stood up, lifting the girl's chin just so he could see her better. "Here we'll alternate to make it quicker. You kiss me first, I'll leave the hickey afterwards. Tell me if you want to stop and I will."
"Okay, boss…"
"Just call me Saucer. No need for the formalities. Alright?"
Ember nodded, before a simple "good" came out of his mouth. This time it was her turn to break the ice, pressing her lips onto Saucer's cheek heavily. The lipstick transferred onto his skin better than he'd have expected it to be, which felt like great news.
Saucer didn't hesitate to pull her closer and attack the lower half of her neck, taking his time marking the spot while Ember was clinging for dear life onto him.
And they found a certain synchronicity in that alternation, because for each left mark on Saucer's skin, there was a mark that corresponded on Ember's neck. Ember was pulling him closer, getting more and more desperate to reach that level of affection, as Saucer ended up looking disheveled at the end. His hair was all over the place thanks to Ember's nails making a run through it, while his tie was halfway down, shirt partially opened just for her eyesight. She wasn't looking any better, but the thrill of it all was more than worth fighting for.
"You look so silly with all these marks on you, Saucer!" Ember giggled, cupping his face just to see the product of her work better. "Missed a mark, but that's okay."
"…Wait, I forgot the picture." Saucer replied, scrambling through his pants to grab his phone. A selfie with his face completely covered with lipstick marks and a delighted Ember that kissed him again on the right cheek made for a well completed task on his behalf.
"Should we go now?" Ember asked, draping his jacket all over her before retrieving the bag with the heels.
"Yeah, I think it's time."
"Do you think they'll be satisfied with just those pictures?"
"They better."
Ember was scrolling down through her gallery, replaying the scene with Saucer in her mind for the hundredth time in the span of half an hour. Thankfully, given how they both came from some of the lesser covered Marble League teams, they managed to get out without drawing any media frenzy in between.
Saucer was still covered in lipstick stains, much to Ember's delight. While it wasn't a literal make-out session in the traditional way, the moment still lingered heavily in Saucer's mind.
This wasn't something he'd done before. Not with past lovers, not even with his past flings. It left him craving for more of that intimacy, and Ember was the fire that lit up the fuse in a way he didn't anticipate.
"Thank you for everything, Saucer." Ember replied, smiling in his direction just as she usually did. "Especially for shielding me over that creep. That one would've ended up nasty if he came closer to me."
"Given you would fight someone barehanded, I wouldn't put it behind you." Saucer parked down the street, reaching their destination at the very last. "Also, I guess I should thank you for keeping me company."
"It's fine. It was a fun night."
"Yeah…" Saucer replied, trying to recover.
Ember pressed her hand on his shoulder, looking a bit worried. Saucer shifted just enough to see her face to face, as the sight of her visibly blemished neck was making him feel things he'd rather not express in front of her.
"Can I ask you something? Genuinely speaking." Ember opened up the discussion again, as Saucer motioned to continue without hesitation.
"Go ahead."
"Do you regret anything we've done tonight?"
Saucer looked rather unfazed by the sudden question, as Ember was still waiting for an answer.
"Not really. I offered to help you just as much as you helped me."
"So… It doesn't bother you that it was me you did this to, right?"
Saucer looked confused. "I should've been?"
"No, no! It's just…" Ember fidgeted, unsure on what to say further. "Perhaps you wanted to spend time elsewhere and I may have interrupted you…"
"Ember, I would've said if that was the case."
"I know, I know, but like…"
"Ember."
The lower voice kept her quiet, as Saucer stretched a little to land a kiss on her cheek. That gesture froze Ember into place, only lifting her hand to place it onto that same exact spot.
"What if I said I have two things in mind right now?"
Ember's amber eyes made contact with Saucer's purple ones, muttering a small "what" out of curiosity.
"For one, you pretty much confirmed all the rumors I've heard for the past years or so. Perhaps not by words, but certainly by actions."
At that remark, Ember couldn't do anything but look small, a sight that only Saucer could really achieve. She knew that it was useless countering a professor out of all people.
Theory confirmed.
"And… what's the second one?"
Saucer took off his seatbelt before revealing a smirk so uncharacteristically him that it took Ember's breath away for a second.
"Between me and you here," Saucer continued, his voice merely a whisper,
"Hope I see you more in that dress when it's just us, because I feel like I'm going to lose my mind if I don't."
Ember looked like she was about to fold in the next second, her face hidden between Saucer's coat and the seat. "You're using this voice on purpose to set me up like that…"
"You like it that much?"
"You sound so hot with it, I'm practically falling in too deep for so many reasons, holy fuck." Ember shamelessly admitted, much to Saucer's amusement.
"Perhaps I should use it more often then."
"Stop!" Ember hid even more, only leaving a tuft of hair shown. "You're teasing me, that's not fair."
"Oh, Ember." Saucer chuckled, while lifting off the coat that covered half of her face, "I think I won this one, although I don't feel too convinced yet."
The Solar Flares athlete raised an eyebrow curiously, "Convinced?"
"I think I may need a second date to figure it out."
Ember looked stunned for a brief second before laughing her heart out. Saucer said nothing — there was really nothing else to say but enjoy the view in front of him — as the girl finally got back to her senses.
"I'm afraid I'll have to go, then." Ember took off her own seatbelt, staring right at Saucer who looked more surprised than anything.
"Wait-"
"Silence." She interrupted, before dragging him by the collar for a swift kiss on the lips, one which took the Purple Rockets member off guard in its entirety. At the end of it, all he could see was Ember looking elated, with an expression so mischievous that it hypnotized him.
"Told you I missed a spot." She replied cheerfully, before unlocking the door. "Consider it as a teaser for the second date, Sauce Boss. And thanks again for the ride."
As she left back inside the Solar Flares dormitory in a rush, all that was left was Saucer laughing at himself in his signature purple car, his fingers lingering over the spot she kissed so vigorously.
"Damn you, Ember… You're really going to be the death of me one day."