Chapter Text
Kaiza felt humiliated right now. He was at a nice, fancy Chinese restaurant and he was alone. That wasn't planned though, not at all. What was planned was him and someone else coming to eat, head out to one of their places, and maybe watch a movie. But clearly, that wasn't happening now.
He pulled out his phone, dialed a number, and put it against his ear in a panic. Was he really getting stood up? On a date planned months in advance? On a date that was implied to be a mutual desire?
“C’mon, Valtor..Pick up..,” Kaiza murmured while his fingers began rapidly tapping on the table, but he was sent straight to voicemail.
“Hey cutie, can't pick up the phone right now. Call back later, yeah?”
Kaiza hated that voicemail audio. Valtor said he'd change it.
“Hey it's Kai..Uh it's been like twenty minutes and you haven't shown up, is something up? Please, just text an answer if you can't call right now..Please, Val..”
He hated how desperate he sounded, but at this point he had to be. Valtor didn't respond much if you weren't desperate, that freak.
People started to look after the attempted call, it made him feel worse about himself. The waiter came over, asking if he wanted to get at least a water while he waited, Kaiza declined. It was too embarrassing, he'd definitely have to order seventeen at the minimum and he didn't want to up their water bill.
Another ten minutes. He didn't show up.
Twenty.
Thirty.
At some point Kaiza stopped counting, too wallowed in self-pity to even bother. At some point it turned into an hour and a half and he didn't realize, he just started to get ready to leave. Until someone walked up to his table, apologizing.
“Hey, really sorry I took so long, traffic from one side of town to another.”
Kaiza didn't recognize the person at all. But he was good looking, he'd give him that.
“I don't think—”
“Ernesto, nice to meet you. Just play along, yeah? Someone's gotta be your date, and it clearly isn't that dick,” The man interrupted in a whisper and held out his hand, his face bright and smiley.
Kaiza felt his ears grow hot, a stranger who he's never even seen in passing before..Was willing to fake a, presumably, blind date for his sake? He was almost ashamed but definitely flattered as he nodded and took his hand.
“Oh okay..Uhm..Kaiza, most people call me Kai..”
Ernesto had a firm grip, it was clear he had muscle, good muscle, from the grip alone. But Kaiza had one firmer. It somehow, without thought, turned into a quick arm wrestle. They clicked that fast.
It didn't take long before Kaiza won, and then they went again. Ernesto won. One more time before looking at menus and this time no one won. But no one fussed over it. Valtor would've disregarded every plan just to win. It made Kaiza suddenly grateful he wasn't there.
“What do you do for work to make you so strong?” Ernesto asked after they ordered, he had ordered fried rice and pork.
“I uh..I work as a professional motorcyclist. They're basically racers,” Kaiza admitted bashfully, he ordered wanton soup and bao buns.
“Oh, how fun. But that doesn't get you very strong, does it? Anyone can be a motorcyclist, realistically speaking.”
“Well what do you do for work to get that strong?” He wanted to avoid the attention.
Ernesto noticed, but hummed and nodded instead of prying. You don't pry like that on a first date. “I work as a mechanic. No exact specialty for certain vehicles, I like to treat my clients’ babies equally.”
“Huh, I guess that means you could be who I call to take care of mine,” Kaiza joked without thinking. He liked being able to do that, he didn't think he could do it so easily with this man though.
Ernesto winked in response, teasing or something, “Sure could, pretty boy. You just ring me up and I'll be at your beck and call.”
That made them both chuckle, Kaiza already knew from that alone, his new date was an absolute dork.
Soon enough, the food came, and Ernesto was the first to bite into the food. He was eating with a fork, for some reason it made Kaiza laugh. Why would you eat with basic utensils when there's chopsticks?
Ernesto noticed, like he noticed everything first it seemed, and tilted his head. “Something on my face?”
“No, no, just..Confused. Why eat with a fork when there's chopsticks?”
“Don't know how to use ‘em. Forks are easier.”
That..Made sense. Kaiza couldn't argue with that logic, so he nodded simply instead. Then he began to eat. With chopsticks instead of a spoon.
The wanton glistened in the light, it was entirely covered by the broth, and some of it even dripped back into the bowl. It was a delectable dish though, and Kaiza would never complain about wanton soup (unless it was poorly made). Ernesto looked at it, intrigued.
“Well damn, that looks good.”
“Have you ever had it before?”
“No, is it any good as it looks?”
“I'd say so, but that's purely opinion and bias based.”
“I could judge if it's a correct bias.”
And so now, they were moving further steps already. Sharing food. Kaiza never knew if dates were supposed to be fast paced, or if it was just based on who you spend the date with, but for some reason it felt right. Being at this pace with Ernesto just felt like the right thing to do.
Kaiza put a wanton on a spoon, thinking it'd be easier for the other to eat that way, and put his hand a decent distance underneath in case broth fell and held it towards the man.
“Move your hair out the way first, I don't want a stray strand in your mouth ruining your first wanton,” Kaiza joked while also being a bit serious.
Ernesto laughed but did as he was told, his greyscale curls being brushed behind his ear in an instant. Then, he went in for a bite. For a bit, he chewed, then swallowed, and let himself process what he ate. His eyes gleamed in delight.
“Oh mis Dios, that's really fuckin’ good,” Ernesto confessed in astonishment.
“I know, right? It's like heaven made food.”
“Mm..In comparison to tostadas? Little lower on the list.”
“Heh..? What're tostadas..?”
“You don't know what a tostada is?” Ernesto asked, bewildered and almost offended.
“That's a bad thing, isn't it?” Kaiza questioned back, now a bit embarrassed.
“Very bad. Next time, we'll go to a good Spanish spot. You'll try a tostada and turn educated.”
Next time? There would be a next time? Kaiza felt the flush go back to his ears, but just nodded in response. He liked the thought of next time, he liked his interactions with Ernesto tonight enough for a next time.
The stay at the restaurant continued the same way, they'd take bites of food and then share food every other moment, they'd talk about everything and nothing. It was nice.
When the bill came, Ernesto offered to pay or at least split, but Kaiza covered it entirely. He felt good paying for Ernesto, even though Ernesto felt bad that Kaiza had to pay.
Ernesto grumbled and complained as they packed up to leave, Kaiza let him and just nodded before turning his attention from his bag to look at him.
“Next time, when we go to a good Spanish spot and we eat tostadas, you can return the favor and pay.”
Kaiza didn't expect himself to say that, not at all, but it visibly lifted Ernesto’s spirits and he gave a soft smile.
“Okay. I can do that.”
Moments later, they were outside the restaurant, walking around town. The only places opened were fancy spots and convenience stores, the stores glowed bright in the dark. They walked and walked, talking about anything left on their mind that they didn't say at the restaurant.
Ernesto, probably not thinking, eventually started carding his fingers through Kaiza’s long, porcelain coloured hair. Suddenly, Kaiza was going red again.
“Y'know, I was being serious. I do genuinely want to go out again, planned next time at least,” Ernesto mumbled, his voice genuine and soft, fingers curling hair strands absent-mindedly.
“You do?”
“I do.”
“Well, we'd have to exchange numbers first..”
“We can do that now.”
“But then we'd have to schedule based on our schedules..”
“We can start another time, not any time soon if you're not ready for another immediately out the gate.”
They both stayed quiet for a bit, not knowing what to say at first. But then Kaiza nodded.
“I'd like that..A second date, I mean. You're good company, Ernesto,” Kaiza honestly stated, looking up towards the other with a scarce smile.
Ernesto smiled in turn, he nodded back, and pulled out his phone. “Well then, I think we have a date to plan, Kaiza.”