91- A Fantastic Night Out

Tau and Quayleigh were enjoying their dinners, sharing more casual conversation while sipping on a fine wine.

Quayleigh had shared the more interesting details of her day with him, and in return he told her more about the country estate and Kyffin's home. She was enthused by his ability to share finer details of things she wouldn't have noticed, like the way the layout of the home captured the shifting of the sunlight or the subtle fragrances of the water and the woods. And when he spoke about what happened with Kyffin's tree, she regretted having not been there to see it for herself, finding his description of its behavior fascinating.

When they finished eating, the waiter packaged up the remainder of her meal, and they shared a slice of decadent chocolate cake for dessert.

"This has been the best date I've ever been on," she mused as she watched him across the table.

"Oh? Is this a date?" he asked, his head tilted slightly as she pushed the dessert plate towards him, enough cake left for a final bite. "I've never been on one before."

"You didn't leave anyone special behind then?" she remarked, half jesting.

She had been curious about his private life, but it had always seemed an unusual topic to broach.

"I suppose Ycthndol was special to me, but not in the way you are. Our relationships there, they are different. We have connections but lack the understanding of emotions. I can see now that I had many friends amongst my shepherds and the Yioaleu, but even so, we aren't social like humans. I never would have seen a Yioaleu the way I see you. Nor would we have done anything like this together. Quayleigh, you are the only woman I will ever bring to my home or allow to sleep in my bed. Mind you, my home is little more than a mud hut, and my bed is a collection of old shrouds and blankets. It's nothing as wonderful as you have offered me here," he lowered his fork as he spoke and stared at the small piece of remaining cake. "I truly have very little to offer you. Even as I am counted amongst Death's reapers, I am the lowest ranked. My house is the smallest, even if I think it has the nicest view. It's the closest to the pools. I would like to promise to build a home worthy of your arrival, but even still, it would just be a larger mud hut. I have no way to get you a real bed or fine blankets or even a pillow for your head. While here, I'm capable of giving you the best this world has to offer, but there, I can only give you everything I have. And you deserve so much more."

"I don't want anything more," she said offering out her hand. "All I've ever wanted, was you. You make me feel safe and loved. You make me feel beautiful. All your financial wealth, it doesn't mean a damn thing, if you aren't you. Your little mud hut, with the best view, sounds perfect to me, as long as you are there at my side. While we're here though, I'm not going to say that Dylan's money isn't nice to have around, it certainly makes everything more possible and easier, but it isn't why I love you, Tau."

"Thank you," he whispered as he took her outstretched hand. "I only want for you to be happy. Even after I'm gone, I want for you to keep living. Find happiness again and know that it is what I want for you."

"I don't want to think about that right now. We have plenty of time, and we shouldn't dwell on the time when we'll be apart. We should stay focused on the here and now, because this, this is all that matters. I understand what you want for me, and I'll do my best when the time comes, but we don't need to talk about that again, at least not for the foreseeable future. Okay?"

Tau nodded. "You're right. This evening has been delightful. I'll not spoil it any further. And with that said, what should we do next? It's still early, and we are on a date after all."

She took in a breath, giving his hand a loving squeeze. "Well, since we're here, we should probably get some shopping done. Linens for the new bed, a couple of blankets, maybe even a pillow or something for Uru, and a picture frame for my father's photo."

"Sounds good. I'm ready to head out whenever you are," Tau replied before popping the last bit of the cake into his mouth.

They settled the bill and finished their wine, before gathering the takeout and heading back across the street and into the mall.

Despite how heavy the conversation had turned over dinner, they had, once again, found their way back to the ease they enjoyed when they were together. They casually browsed and window shopped. Wandered through several stores and garnered the usual questioning glances and judgmental glares of onlookers curious as to how she had ended up with a guy like him.

It wasn't as if Quayleigh hadn't pondered the same thing, but for her it was more of a question about how a guy like Dylan, could have managed to trap Tau in his body, and how lucky she was that things had turned out this way. While he may have appeared to be a couple of years too old for her to some, that was, overall, a small thing, considering the numerous other problematic scenarios that could have just as easily occurred.

Tau, on the other hand, didn't understand it at all. To him, there was nothing to see, and no reason for the stares. All he ever saw was how beautiful she was. He adored the way she would reach for his hand and hold it in a way that he couldn't accidently slip free, and the way she leaned on him, clutching his arm, a half step behind so that he was her shield, allowing him to protect her and trusting that he would; or the way she looked at him, and the brightness of her smile when she did. All of these things, he knew she did for him and no one else, and that made him feel like the luckiest reaper in all the world, even if he was important only to her.

Eventually they finished their shopping and called for a cab to take them back to their home, where Uroxuz greeted them once they were safely inside.

"You have returned," he said as he lifted his head and approached the bags they had placed on the floor, inspecting them with light sniffs.

"We have, and we brought you a little something back," Quayleigh remarked, removing her shoes and making her way into the kitchen, where she set the take-out box on the counter.

Pulling off her jacket, she hung it in the closet and Tau began to move the bags into the living room.

"You brought me something?" Uroxuz questioned, while assisting Tau with moving the bags.

"Yes. She saved a portion of her meal for you. I suspect you will enjoy it," Tau replied as Uroxuz abruptly turned and looked at Quayleigh who was in the kitchen unwrapping what remained for her long bone ribeye.

"If you want this heated, let me know and I'll pop it in the microwave for you, but personally, I think you'll like it best just like this," she said as she held the bone up, half the ribeye still clinging to the end. "Wash your hands when you're done and don't get it on the carpet."

Uroxuz shifted towards her and sniffed at the steak.

"Go on then, eat up. The meat at least," she clarified. "Not sure you'll find the bone all that pleasant for more than just gnawing on anyways, but that is entirely up to you. And once you're finished with your snack, we have a new pillow and blanket for you also."

"Why?" he asked, rising up and carefully taking the bone from her hand.

"Because I want you to be as comfortable as possible here. You are important to us both. I want you to know that this is your home too," she replied, while washing her hands. "I know this is a small space and we don't have the room to get you a proper bed, but at least now you'll have a pillow to call your own and a blanket that's just for you."

"Home…" he repeated faintly, starring down at the bone in his hands. "I shall treasure these things," he remarked as Tau set the blanket and pillow down next to the TV cabinet for him.

"The next time we go to Cole's, I'll have you pick out a chest, so you have a place to store all of your things," she told him as he lowered himself to the floor.

"My things…" he whispered, before smiling and then taking a hasty bite of the left-over steak.

There was something satisfying about watching the unusual manner by which Uroxuz ate as she quietly, observed him from the couch where she sat next to Tau, who had been unpackaging everything they had purchased.

Quayleigh spent the next few minutes placing her father's photo into the frame they'd bought, and once Tau had finished cleaning up the area, he tossed the new linens into the wash, so they would be fresh for when the new bed was ready to be made for the first time.

Having set her father's picture on the cabinet, next to the TV, Quayleigh laid down on the couch to relax while listening to the pleasant sound of Uroxuz gnawing on his bone, when Tau broke the serenity of the moment.

"Can I get you something to drink?"

"No, I'm good for now, but come sit with me," she replied as she sat up and motioned for him to join her, "And bring your phone."

"Here you are," he said, sitting down and handing her the phone. "Is everything alright?"

"Not really. As much as I would love to just chill here for the rest of the night, I'm worried that someone's going to come knock on the door and I'm going to lose another night alone with you, or it's going to be more shit news and tonight, I don't want to hear any."

"That's understandable," he replied, her attention now on the phone. "I should hate for another perfectly good evening to be ruined by the intrusion of others."

"As would I," she replied before setting the phone onto the table and turning towards him. "But fear not, I've made plans for us."

"Well then, care to share?" he asked as she shifted her position and pushed him back against the couch, straddling his lap.

"You and me, a comfortable reclining sofa, exceedingly overpriced snacks," she lowered her voice as she leaned in, pressing her forehead against his, "just the two of us, in a dark room surrounded by other people paying us absolutely no mind, as we all share in the same exquisite experience of going to the movies."

"That sounds bizarrely enjoyable," he replied before she kissed him.

A pleasant moan escaped him as he pulled her closer, their lips parting just long enough for him to ask, "When do we have to leave?"

"We have a few minutes," she replied with a giggle as he lifted and turned her, laying her back down onto the sofa.

Kneeling over her, she reached up and caressed his cheek.

"I love you, Quayleigh," he remarked, his eyes drifting shut as he silenced her giggles with a long, slow kiss.

Wrapping herself around him, Quayleigh pulled him down, until he was laying on top of her.

"I love you too, my dear, Tauluthet."

They continued to enjoy each other's company for several minutes when his phone began to ring, disrupting the atmosphere.

"I swear, if that's Yechiel, Uru is going to be getting another snack tonight," Tau remarked as he lifted himself up and Quayleigh began to laugh.

"It's just the alarm I set," she said, a bright smile plastered on her face as she sat up next to him and grabbed the phone silencing the alarm. "We have fifteen minutes before the car I ordered shows up. You should put on something warm. Even this time of year the theater always seems chilly to me."

"Do you go to the theater often?"

"I used to, but not the one we're going to. Shane worked for the MagiStar theater before it was closed, just over two years ago now," she explained as she retrieved a more appropriate outfit for the theater. "When I first started working for Garren, Shane was the only one who would speak to me, which isn't saying much since he speaks to everyone. But the owner of the MagiStar would give him free tickets once or twice a month as a bonus for like, staying late or getting a good customer review, and he started asking me if I wanted to hang out with him."

"You went on dates with Shane?" Tau questioned, while putting on the sweater he had been wearing earlier in the day.

"Not exactly," she replied while changing. "While in similar fashion to a date, there is no romantic intentions or feelings between us while we hung out and did date like things. The truth is, he doesn't have that many friends our age. Poor guy's been working to help to support his family since he was old enough to get his first job. Then as soon as he graduated high school, he picked up a second and sometimes even a third. That didn't leave a whole lot of room to socialize, and his other jobs usually involved an older crowd. Not saying they can't be good company, but I think Shane just wanted to spend time with someone who could relate to him a bit better. He still works hard, and has limited time to himself, but he's an incredible friend. I hope you two keep getting along so well."

"Me too," Tau replied as she finished putting on her socks. "I hope we can spend more time together in the future. Although I'm worried that he may not handle the situation well, if he were to discover our secrets."

"Yes, well, it's best if we keep those secrets to ourselves. Shane won't ask any unnecessary questions. He's good like that. Anyways, I'm just going to put my hair up and then we can head down, the car should be here soon. I was going to ask Uru to join us, but it looks like he's already fast asleep. I suppose we could wake him though."

"Don't, just let him sleep. Besides," he whispered in her ear as he held her from behind and watched Uroxuz from over her shoulder, "if we need him, we can just have him join us at the theater. Until then, I'm certain he could use the rest. And he really does look so comfortable."

"How can you even tell?" She giggled seeing as how all that was visible of Uroxuz was the end of his tail, the rest of him completely buried under the King-sized blanket.

"He's not usually this quiet," Tau replied as she turned around to face him.

"Well, hopefully you're right. I want him to know that he is as welcome here as you are, and one day…" she paused and shook her head, "never mind that for now. I'll be out in a minute, and then it's coats and shoes and out the door."

Quayleigh bought the tickets and reserved their seats as they headed to the Idleberg Theater at the south end of the downtown. It didn't really matter to either of them what they went to see, and Tau was ambivalent to the entire thing, given that he had a limited understanding of the situation as a whole.

When they arrived, Quayleigh's hand kept a firm hold on his own, and directed him with where to go and what to do, and even after they found their way to their awaiting seats, her hand rarely left his.

The entire experience was unique to Tau, and Quayleigh found his reactions even more amusing than the movie they had gone to watch, despite it being filled with both action and drama. In truth, she was just happy to be away from the apartment and alone with him for a few hours with no risk of interruption, and that made the overpriced drinks and snacks worth it.

Once the movie finished, Quayleigh and Tau made their way to a chocolate café, enjoying the crisp night air and leisure pace of their walk while they headed further into the downtown.

"This is the place," she said stopping in front of quiet, elegant looking café.

"Kahvisuklaa?"

"Best in the city; promise," she replied.

Tugging at his arm, they went inside.

The quiet, sophisticated atmosphere was a welcome break from the bustling crowds on the street, and the artisan hot chocolates were tasty, warm companions as they sat at a small table, next to the front window.

Even as their drinks slowly vanished and the patrons vacated the space, their conversation never waned. Quayleigh hung on his every word as Tau spoke freely of days gone by, ancient histories of those lost and forgotten to time, and even if someone had managed to overhear his tales of old, they would never know the fact from the fiction, they would assume to be truth. She delighted over what stories he shared and the enthusiasm he showed in sharing them, but as the hour passed, and the playhouses and stages let out from their last shows of the night, the café became overcrowded and noisy. Thus, their evening out came to an end, and they caught a cab back to the apartment.

Quayleigh couldn't have asked for a more fantastic or relaxing evening out. She had managed to disappear into the sea of people with Tau at her side; even if people had been staring, she hadn't taken note of any of them, and that had never happened before. Tau had completely captivated her all night, and her heart, for all its damage, was soaring.