Date Night

Ryou and I were able to leave the Venom lair without any confrontations. I honestly thought Yahiko was jump down our throats, but Ryou mentioned that he left on a business trip yesterday and at the time he wasn't privy to his breakup with Kizuna. However, ever since 10:00 AM, his phone has been going off. Ryou initially walked over to take a look, just to put the phone back down as he continued to get dressed. After about 50 more annoying rings, he finally put the phone on silent. That honestly told me it was Yahiko and I'd be lying if I said I was n't worried that he was ignoring him. I secretly wanted to overhear their conversation...but more importantly, I thought it was best for Ryou to handle the problem head on. Yet, he just kept smiling in my direction and said he only wanted me on his mind today.

It was hard to be mad at that.

Ryou put back on his suit, which kind of made me wish he stayed in regular clothing. Why?! The man was attractive, and his dark grey suit illuminated his sun-kissed eyes, which wasn't helping my urges. When we drove to my apartment, everything swirled in my head. The fact that Ray was Ryou, that I'm sure our relationship...or whatever this was would certainly piss off the mafia, and more than that... my feelings wouldn't die down.

Really though, what did this even make us? My barely-graduated-high school-brain couldn't take it! Why was I too afraid...no, too nervous to ask? I was in a Maserati for crying out loud, and I wasn't the least bit interested! I just stared out of the window trying to maintain my sanity...as much as I could, but my leg kept moving up in down in anticipation.

Ryou's hand on mine, distracted me, as he pulled me towards him: kissing the back of my hand. It made me blush as I just stared at him. He didn't revert his eyes from the road, but somehow, I knew he could feel my anxiety. Just that simple action cleared my mind.

"Do you want to go to go to my club for dinner, after we pack up your place?"

Was he asking me...on a date?! I knew my face turned several shades of red at that time: our hands lowering but not loosening our embrace.

"You...you own a club?"

"Several," he said, with a smug grin.

What?! The shock wasn't wiped off my face. Hell, I wasn't even old enough to drink! Even worse, I've never been in a club in my life! What do I wear?! What am I supposed to do?! The world seemed to come crashing down as my brain exploded.

The car hummed to a stop, as Ryou turned to me. My silence told him that my child-like brain couldn't take his extravagant mob lifestyle.

"We can go somewhere else if you're uncomfortable."

Looking into his child-like eyes, searching for acceptance, made me let out a "pull yourself together" sigh. He was trying to be nice. He was actually being really sweet, so who was I to say no to him? I should at least give it a try...right?

"No, I...I want to go."

He smiled, pulling me in for a kiss that was interrupted by the vehicle behind us blowing their horn. Yet, he didn't stop, even when I was embarrassingly pulling him off me.

"The lights green, Ryou."

"So?"

His lips were on me again as the vehicle behind us screeched to our side. I got lost in his warmth, even ignoring the vehicle's blaring horns as it pulled up by my window. His tongue was wandering, and it was exciting me. So much so, I wish he would stop being a gentleman and give me what I wanted.

The sounds around me began to disappear to the point I didn't hear my window roll down, or the natural air hitting my skin. By the time I felt Ryou's arm on the top of my shoulder, or the initial trigger pull, it felt like a dream. It was nails on chalkboard metallic screech that finally woke me from my trance.

I pulled away, from Ryou, turning as the wind caressed my face, to see a man cowering behind his steering wheel. His car was smoking in the middle of the intersection, and the left side tires had been blown out.

Ryou smirked, driving past him and not even giving him a second glance. That's right...he still had a temper.

When we got to my apartment, I felt pretty bashful when he followed me up the stairs. I had ten things to my name, but he dutifully took off his suit jacket, rolled up his sleeves, got an empty box and helped me pack them. It honestly made my heart skip watching him. Ryou, the man with it all...ok the gangster with it all, was helping a nobody kid in his crap-shoot apartment. Never was there one complaint, as my ex-girlfriend had done about my living circumstances. It made me feel like he truly just cared about me...and it made my feelings grow.

So, I decided to do him one better. I never liked dressing up, but I felt like I owed it to him to do something special. Who am I kidding! I didn't want to walk into his club looking like a street rat.

I had one suit to my name. I wore it for graduation. It was a hand-me-down because suits were super expensive, but it wasn't too worn and honestly, I liked the style. It was more like a punk kid who took his prom date to a nice restaurant instead of Versaci, if you get what I mean. Yet, it still made me look more like a man than a boy, and I did one better by having a red button down underneath. No tie, because I didn't believe in them...and a dog literally ate mine, but yea...he'd like it, right?

I was strangely nervous when I walked out of the bathroom. Ryou was smoking a cigarette and seemed to be sunk into his own thoughts. Yet, the squeaky door alerted him as our eyes connected. He didn't say anything, which made me hella shy, but he got up out of his chair and strode towards me.

"So...what do you think?"

He was close, as he looked me over, fixing my collar with his free hand. He leaned in to kiss me, his lips warm and yearning. It was a different this time. I don't know how to describe it, but it seemed like maybe...just maybe, he was getting turned on and that made my chest heat up.

"I'd be lying if I said it wasn't sexy on you."

He was making me blush on purpose. "Ass, let's go!'

If I didn't push away from him, I would've gotten lost in his gaze. I wanted to get our dinner over with and then get him to myself. If we didn't do it in that order, I might be too nervous to go to the club.

-------------------------------

Ryou and I arrived at his club and by golly did it make my jaw drop. It was the TANTRA!!!! Like THE TANTRA!!! No...there's no way that he owns this place! Secondly...this was a place for...

My eyes widened as women, gorgeous women, in burlesque outfits walked towards the stage. They all shimmered in sequins as well-dressed men, and even women, showed up for the show. It was hard for me to shake the astonishment from my face. He, RYOU, was a gentleman club owner! And I felt like I just got out of diapers.

"Right this way, Mr. Tacoma." A woman in a tight red dress and high heels, holding menus, called to us.

"This way," Ryou whispered in my ear as he took my hand.

I blushed as he led me behind her. That alone made me calm down. We climbed up stairs that lead us away from the stage to a gorgeous marble room with one dining table in the middle. It has roses on it as my face burned. No...he really didn't do all this in advance...right?! It's a mistake, NO WAY THIS IS FOR ME!

Ryou dropped his hold as he moved ahead of me to take out my chair: motioning for me to sit. My breath caught, as I did as he commanded. I felt like a woman. Well, ok, I remember doing that for the girls I dated. I always would get their chair, so the correlation was like...there. Wait, is there a more femme dude in a gay relationship? WAS I THE FEMME DUDE!!! Why can't I be the masculine dude!!! Can we both me masculine dudes?!

Squiggly liness started floating around my head. Too many questions...and they disappeared when Ryou took a seat next to me. And I mean RIGHT next to me.

Ok, most people on dates sit across from one another, not side by side. Yet, when he put his hand on my lap, rubbing me gently, it made me reach for the menu that the hostess had dropped off.

That's why! He wanted to touch me!

"Do you mind if I drink?" He asked.

"What?" My mind was elsewhere as I stared at the rose petals on the table.

He chuckled, "A drink, can I get one?"

He was asking or permission?! "Uh, yea...just don't get drunk. We have to get home."

"I handle my drinks well. Plus, I was going to let you drive back."

"What?! Really?!"

The tail wagging was back.

"Yes," he smiled, "but...honestly, your opinion matters. I know I don't ask for permission to smoke either, but if it bothers you, please tell me."

It took me by surprise to the point I didn't know what to say. He was acting more like we were a couple. Were we?

"Um...maybe not in the room. Otherwise, it's fine."

"Ok."

It was as simple as that.

"But...why are you saying this stuff? I mean...we're not even dating."

There, I said it!

His hand stopped rubbing me, which honestly made me a bit happier. Doing that was turning me on more than he realized. Yet, I wondered if I ruined the mood. He just broke up with Kizuna and here I am rushing him into giving me an answer...maybe because it was what I wanted to know. I mean, I'm just a kid...man, who wanted something concrete. You know, before freshman year begins.

"Is that what you want?" He asked, but he didn't look at me. His head was directed at the menu.

"No." I said, which regained his attention. "I...I'm not rushing anything. I know you've got a lot going on...and I know that we're kind of figuring things out between us. So, we don't have to put a label on anything right now."

He was quiet again, and it made me wonder what he was thinking. Yet, removed his hand, placed it on the back of my head and rubbed it gently. Our faces were close enough to the point that I thought we would kiss again.

"I like you, Niko. I've liked you for a while now."

Ba-dump.

"So-"

"Mr. Tacoma, are you two ready to order?"

I knew Ryou shot daggers into our poor waitress...and he wasn't wrong for doing so. We were having our Disney princess moment!

"I'll take a Red Rider; he'll take a Cola."

"Hey!" I yelled, angered. I was a Root Beer guy!