Chapter 3 — The Teacher and The Commander
summary — phillip graves is in for a rude awakening when he learns more about his date, someone completley different to him and yet similar.
warnings — age gap! inaccurate depiction of characters with a disability. cute golden retriever called pancake
word count — 3.3k words
authors note — i am so sorry for the VERY late chapter- i just kind of wanted to rewrite everything and actually plan it out and then gave up and wallowed in myself because of a writer's block and felt bad for not publishing anything but here were are. hopefully not gonna vanish again because i will try to write for this!!
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“Hank, how are your days of freedom?” Phillip asked, hand reaching out to the one of his Shadows which he usually had around him all the time except when they were really at base and he allowed to to visit family if they lived close enough. Thanks to the base being located near enough Austin and was practically always seen as Austin he had no problem with letting any of them who lived in the city to go to their families for the days that they had nothing to do. Phillip even let some that lived further away go home, he wanted them to come back with new motivation and a feeling of happiness. He was a good commander, after all he did know that they all missed their families at some point and even he knew that Hank would have never expected his boss to sit in front of him at one of the small tables in the restaurant of his family while he was off work.
“Good, Sir, yours?”
“Mine too, I am here on a date.” Phillip met the brown eyes of the brown black-haired man who had his shoulder long hair pulled into a small little bun in the back of his head. Hank had his eyes trained on his boss before turning to Julie and the dog resting on her legs with her snout. Phillip watched him gulp before glancing back at his boss. Phillip could see the gears in his head working overtime, thinking about wanting to scold the older man who gave him a job and money because of the dog in the restaurant and the screaming match his mother had with him but stopped when his eyes landed on a vest. Hank gulped before softly smiling at his boss again after looking back up at the older man. “Oz arranged this.”
“Miss, are you new to town?” Hank asked, always the polite boy that his mother had raised even though she had not stuck to the lessons of her own mother if she had spoken that way to the lady who had just wanted to get to a table to wait for him while he had been doing something else outside. “Miss?”
“Me?” Julie asked, her voice coming out forced as if she had not spoken for years or as if she had been screaming for a whole day only for nothing to help her. Her hand on her chest as she tried to clear her throat with a good hit but could not as she croaked out another sound but stopped soon after. Phillip could see her fingers tangling in the long hair of her dog while she tried to calm before she patted Pancake and turned into the direction of Hank in the best way she could which was totally away from him as she somehow thought that he was standing further at her side than he was after he had shook the hand of his Commander.
“Yes Ma’am.”
“Yes.” Her head bowing, slightly as she leaned a bit forward, holding her hand out to the boy which was closer to her age. Phillip watched as Hank grasped her hand softly with his own, shaking them before taking a step back. Brown eyes on the casually dressed man which he had not expected to ever see in anything but his uniform because of their work. “I am new to Austin.”
“Enjoying it?” Hank seemed as if he wanted to vanish from the judging gaze from his own Commander but Phillip did not let him as he watched the two of them interact. Eyes on Julie as she turned back only to bump into the table, a wince coming from her as Phillip reached out for her, stopping himself from touching her as he leaned back in his seat while crossing his arms over his chest.
“It’s okay, better than Wimberley.” Phillip frowned, he did not think that her live could be so bad that she thought the screaming woman at the front was better than anyone in her own home town. Hank turned to look at him, eyes meeting his own while Phillip could see the conflict in his eyes.
“So, on a date with Commander Graves, that seems classy.”
“Commander?”
Hank and Phillip both froze and the confused tone of the auburn-haired woman who sat at the table while rubbing her hand over the place where she had bumped into the table with. Phillip watched Hank swallow, the Adam’s apple moving before he nodded his head.
“I am just gonna get your some water and leave you to talk with the Menus.”
“Thank you Hank.”
Phillip raised his eyebrows as he took the Menu into his hand and started reading what the restaurant was offering as food options. His eyes scanning the menu in silence as he did not know how to start the conversation after what Julie had heard already but also not wanting her to feel pressured to talk to him if she did not want to. This date idea that Oz has given him might have been the worst idea that he had ever given him because this single day was the most chaotic than anything he had ever lived through. So many unaccounted variables to this date that he would have never thought about but now had to consider.
“What is on the menu?” Julie’s quiet voice spoke. Phillip looked over the edge of the menu with which he had been hiding his face from her. Eyes focused on her as she simply stared at him without a change of her expression. He once again forgot about her not being able to see. He blinked once before opening his mouth, licking his lip with his tongue to wet his lips and smacking them together. So when he started off listing some things on the menu that she could enjoy he found what he would ask the kitchen for. “I am gonna have lasagna and whatever your choose. I’ll pay.”
“Because you are a military?”
“I just have a lot of money,” Phillip chuckled slightly as he put the menu down. Folding his hands together while his eyes searched for Hank, who was standing behind the counter while his eyes were focused on the unusual couple. Narrowing his eyes as Hank met his before vanishing from the view as he dug to take cover behind the red painted counter. “So don’t think about it any longer Bunny.”
“Why don’t you say my name?” Julie asked, her voice louder as it held more confidence and did not shake any longer. “I haven’t heard you call me Julie since you met me.”
“Sorry, bad habits die hard.” He chuckled, running his hands over the fabric covering his chest. “So what do you want?”
“I will also take a lasagna and sparkling water, thank you.”
“No problem Do—” he stopped himself from finishing the pet name which he had used to talk to her, the stuttering in his voice obvious before he raised his hand and head to look back at her. “Julie.” His eyes were on the smile stretching out as she tilted her head softly, hand on the table tapping as she traveled into his direction before he let their fingers meet.
“I like the sound of my name, Commander.”
“Don’t call me that!” he scolded, his tone serious as he never wanted to mix his professional life and personal life, even if he would not call this personal as he usually had no life except the Shadow Company. Phillip usually had no life, he had his shadows and work and sometimes was home, this was the first time he could say he had a real personal life just because Oz had made him go on this date. A date that he already enjoyed just because of the company, he never had such a comfort from someone he had never met. It might be because she could not see him, only knew his name and could never rat him out to anyone, could not tell them where he lived but he felt calmer than he had since he had learned about this blind date.
He watched her play with his fingers while a soft chuckle left her as she slowly wrapped her index fingers around his own while seemingly watching him with her eyes which seemed to have softened. Her fogged blue eyes having a light in them before Phillip was ripped from her freckled face and letting his blue eyes travel to the lanky tall boy who now stood next to their table and watched their hands in front of him.
“Hank, two lasagnas and some sparkling water.” Phillip held the two menus out to his usual subordinate which made Hank watch him with wide eyes. Grabbing the menus he bowed his head to them as if they had a table in one of the fanciest restaurants in Texas.
“Sure thing, Sir.”
“Why am I not supposed to call you Commander?” Julie asked, her chin leaning on her hand while she fluttered the auburn eyelashes at him. Her expression seeming serene and as if she wanted to listen to him talk the whole of their time.
“It is my military title. When I am not at work I don’t want to be the Commander, especially when you are my date.”
“Date.” Phillip saw the rose colour rising up her cheeks until it covered most of her face. Her lips being bitten on, seeing the blood slowly coating her lips and suppressing the urge to just wipe it away as he thinks that she could choke on the small amount of blood entering her throat. Phillip bit his tongue before reaching out for her cheek and brushing one of his knuckles against the heat before pulling away. “You are my date not my subordinate. I don’t wan you to be part of my work life.”
“Okay, Phillip.” Phillip watched her brush a strand of her hair back. “You are my date too, so never call me Miss Comley.”
“Miss Comley?” Phillip asked, leaning on the back of the booth, arm wrapped around the back lean while he slowly pulled his hand from hers. He had not even noticed that they had not moved from their hands fondling until he had moved. Legs moving to be spread further from his waist, hip adjusting as he moved properly. “Why is that?”
“Are you comfortable?” Julie asked. Phillip had his eyes trained on her person while she seemed to be concerned for his well being. Her face scrunched up as if felt the discomfort herself. “We could move if you would feel more comfortable.”
“No, I feel fine, Doll.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah, now lets go back to my question.” Phillip tutted while moving one of his index fingers to show disagreement which she was not able to see. “Before you get your way of interrogating me. That's usually my job.” He poured more water into his glass while a tingle in his fingers wanted him to hold a gun, or his knife, in the palm. His body felt wrong without something in his hand while being interrogated only for him to think about it not being an interrogation. Swallowing once he nodded his head. “So why am I not supposed to call you Miss Comley?”
“I am an educator. My kids call me that and no one else,” Julie replied, her voice warm and filled with softness which he never heard anywhere on base. Phillip nodded his head as he glanced at Hank who was slowly getting their order ready and probably bring them soon to them. “Did you even read my profile?”
“Should I tell you the truth?” Phillip asked, leaning a bit forward as Hank arrived at their side, putting the glasses to be on the table where they could easily be taken from but also be bumped by Julie as she did not know where it was. “Or do you want a clever lie?”
“Truth, please.”
“A friend of mine set me up.” Phillip watched her expression, the smile falling from her face while her fingers moved over the edge of the table a few times. “Thought I was stuck up and now I am not even that mad at him anymore.” His smug tone accompanied by a smirk as he watched the colour drain and flush back into her cheeks. The rose skin making him feel more appreciated. “Oz really did find the perfect woman.”
“I am no where near perfect.” Julie’s lips let an uncertain sound out which seemed like a chuckle but also sounded like a wince. Phillip’s eyebrows furrowed together as he watched her Her hand soon trying to reach for the glass so she could drown the awkwardness inside of her. When he saw her almost tip over the glass of sparkling water he stopped her hand and slowly placed her hand on the top so she knew where it was. “Thanks,” a small whisper left her before she pressed her lips against the glass.
“You’re good enough, aren’t you? Especially when you are a teacher.”
“Educator.”
“Tomato-Tomato.” Moving his hand around as if he was waving away a waiter or an annoying fly. “What would you advice me for a group of kids that get annoyed with every single they are supposed to do?” A giggle left her as she leaned on the table while also moving her body a bit forward. Her fingers still rapped around the glass so she would not spill the content.
“I always give my little ones a little reward for everything they conquer,” she explained, her index finger trailing her lips which made Phillip only concentrate on the rose skin which hid her teeth. “I give them a little treat that I prepare for the next week so that they feel some accomplishment. I would guess it would help with moral and motivation also for military men.”
Phillip laughed. Not just a smile or chuckle that he would give his shadows after work hours but a full on laugh which even surprised him. He could not remember the last time was free enough to let a laugh leave him without a care in the world. He brought a fist to his mouth to hide his laughter behind coughs but even those would not make him stop as he watched the expression of his companion lighten up as she moved to clap her hands as if she would praise a child in her class.
“I like your laugh.”
Phillip cleared his throat, reaching his own hand out for his glass and tipping the water back into his throat while trying to not taste the sparkles which he hated to drink. Placing his hand over his mouth to stop himself while his eyes strayed back to the blinding smile of the younger woman.
“So I should give them something for doing their job?”
“For training and other non-job related stuff.”
Her content expression stayed even when Hank came back to stand at their table, to plates of lasagna which he carefully sat down on the table. The younger man wanted to walk away but Phillip wrapped a hand around his arm and pulled him back to his standing position next to their table. His brown eyes on his Commander as Phillip pointed at the woman with the same age his soldier.
“Hank, would you like to get some more free days when we’re on base?”
“I would appreciate them Sir.” Phillip nodded his head, he did understand wanting to spend more time with family, even if he had not done such a thing since he had joined the military. Shadow Company was his family and sometimes he really had to think about letting them leave instead of bonding over the days they would spend on base. Phillip always chose the one better for everyone even if he would be left alone some times, he would have time to do his work without distractions.
“Good, you can enjoy your freedom again Hank.” Patting the upper arm of his younger soldier before letting him walk away and turning back to look at the woman felt a better connection with than some of the men he had been working with in his entire life.
“Hank likes the idea.”
“If he would like to do his other obligations that much we wouldn’t have this conversation.” Phillip pointed at her with his fork before she let out a giggle, moving her body slightly as she slowly grasped her own fork with her dainty fingers.
“Anyways, an Educator. How is your day with the kids?”
“Quiet eventful. I work in a small room with a few smaller children that also are visually impaired. Pancake here is always at my side and the kids love her.” Phillip watched her bright smile as he started eating his lasagna and watched her also get a piece after some seconds of finding the dish without hurting herself in any way. “I just do what I can every second day to make their lives easier.”
“You sound like my dream teacher.”
He smiled while eating especially whenever he made her smile while speaking. Watching her eat and enjoy the lasagna while they continued talking they had no qualms. Small quips coming from each other while they tried to figure out and similarities they shared except that they were not used to dating in any way except this day.
“Military men aren’t used to being home, right?” Julie asked, taking another bite from the dinner she would not even have to pay for. A grin on her lips before she took another sip from her water which made Phillip grin while watching her.
“Not really, whenever I’m at base I feel like I should do my work but also just want to get away again.”
“That doesn’t sound healthy,” Julie mumbled but even then Phillip was able to hear her as she tried to hide it. “Don’t you ever visit your family?” Julie could not see his expression or how his Adam’s apple moved when he heard the question. His fork now playing with the rest of his food which he would love to down but now his throat would not even let him swallow the water her wanted to drink but stopped when the glass touched his lips.
“I don’t really have contact with my mum, haven’t in a few years now.” Phillip took a sip after he had sighed and lowered his head. Looking away from her fallen face as he sighed. “But that might be a conversation for the 20th date.”
“I don’t visit my parents either, they don’t wanna visit me even if I ask,” Julie told him. He looked up at her as she just continued to eat her lasagna while having her eyes lowered as if she felt bad about asking him questions and wanting to make him more comfortable after starting that burdening topic.
“Your family complicated?”
“Yours?”
“Touché.”
“Do we have anything else planned?” Phillip placed his fork and knife onto the newly empties plate. Eyes falling on Julie who had asked him something while she was still finishing her last bites of lasagna while he called Hank back to them for the check so that they did not have to worry any longer about it. His eyes went to Pancake laying on her belly, someone without a job to do when Julie was eating. Phillip felt the same just because he wasn’t working, sympathy for the animal.
“How about a walk?”
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