First Date | Full Metal Panic! | SouKana Fanfic | Rated T
Thank you for voting, @fairy-feather!!!
Takes place in the weeks following the final novel!
Sousuke was determined to do things right this time. If there was one thing he had learned of himself over the years, it was that he was much better off reading to gain new knowledge, if Kaname wasn't available to ask. Or, in this case, he didn't want to ask her because he wanted to show off. Hopefully that would be the end result, and not some form of disaster.
That was why he had spent the past week taking lunch at a coffeeshop, reading a book on dating. Kaname was out working, her old job immediately hiring her back on, knowing that she had spent the past year as a kidnapping victim, though they didn't know anything else on that subject. Still, it was nice that they had hired her back on, especially since it would take him some time to find consistent work, now that he didn't have the backing and forged identity from Mithril.
Catching his thoughts drifting, he shook his head to clear it, and looked back down to the book. He realized he had been reading without really absorbing the words, and he sighed to himself, flipping back a few pages. He had neared the end of the book, and he was fairly certain he now knew what to do. He knew her well enough by now to know the sort of things she liked and looked forward to. He had even managed to piece together that for all that she wasn't into romantic media, she still wanted some storybook romance.
He could do that.
I think.
He had some intermittent jobs, nothing stable, but he had enough contacts that he had been able to earn some money under the table since their return. He wasn't keen on being involved in crime, but the Mikihara gang had been quite generous, and that was largely due to Hashimizu's influence. They were one of his best suppliers of work, and they respected that he didn't want to do illegal activity. Well, beyond working without the proper paperwork, anyways. Mostly he did menial labor for them, or protected a vulnerable family member for a few hours while they took care of things.
That left him with enough money to give Kaname a nice first date, he hoped.
Closing up the book, he relaxed and finished his coffee, looking out the window and musing over what sort of shopping he should do in preparation.
It was another week later when finally everything went into action.
He would have sent flowers to her work, but being a food establishment, and her being a waitress, it seemed far too unwieldy. But every Friday, she met with Kyouko after work, and the two went together to sing karaoke, oftentimes meeting up with others from their group of friends. He had said he couldn't make this day, which was true, as he had things to pick up. But flowers found their way to her while she was out with their friends, and he received a gushing text from her. She had taken a selfie of herself holding the modest bouquet, face glowing with happiness. A few minutes later, Kyouko sent him one as well, a picture of Kaname clutching the flowers, her face pressed into them, thanking him for making her so happy in that moment.
He smiled at that and nodded. So far, so good. Now to keep this momentum.
She was home by seven, as usual, and she immediately sought him out, setting the flowers down on the coffee table and jumping onto his lap, arms wrapping around his arms. She kissed him thoroughly and he held her close, tilting his head, loving the feel of her sweet lips against his, knowing she was safe and sound in his arms. After a few minutes, breathless, she rested her forehead to his and asked with a gentle laugh, "So what's the occassion?"
"You deserve a proper date."
"That's not a date," she raised an eyebrow, clearly bemused at his seeming confusion.
"No, but I have other plans, if you're not too tired?"
She grinned at him and pulled back to get a good look, shaking her head with excitement. "I'm not! What's the surprise, soldier?"
He squeezed her thigh then patted it, urging her up off his lap. Leading her to the bedroom, he showed her the dress he had purchased for her, which he had left laid out on the bed. She squealed with delight and picked it up, holding it against her frame and swaying around with it. "This is beautiful! Sousuke..."
"I have a reservation, Mikihara helped me get it," he explained, opening up a shoe box with a pair of beautiful short heels. He had asked for much help in the store, and knowing that Kaname didn't often wear such things, they had settled on something with a short and wide heel. A necklace and bracelet followed, and while it was quite a few pieces, nothing was overly expensive. He would have liked to be able to give her higher quality jewelry, but the light and wonder in her eyes told him that wasn't necessary.
She shooed him out of the room so that she could change, and he took his own suit as he left, getting ready in the bathroom. With such short notice, she didn't do much with her hair and makeup, but she did touch everything up and ensure that her hair at least laid smooth and wasn't frizzing everywhere after the day's work and play. He drove them to the restaurant in the car her father had recently presented her with in hopes of giving her greater freedom after everything. It didn't get used much, but he was very grateful for it on a night like this, not wanting Kaname to have to walk around the city and tire herself out too much. They were both regaining lost stamina.
And to his merit, everything went smoothly, and Kaname had a look of pure happiness and adoration in her brilliant eyes for the whole of the evening. She reached out to touch his hand often, and for the first time since their return, the shadows disappeared for awhile. His chest swelled up with emotion as the evening went on, seeing the joy in her returning at last, and in his head he kept repeating the mantra Don't mess this up for her.
She was leaning against him when they returned to the apartment from the parking lot, clinging to his arm, cheek nuzzling against his shoulder. She kept giggling from time to time, and their conversations were lighthearted. She was filled with a wonder her hadn't seen in her for a long time, and she pointed out all manner of thing that made her happy. A cat prowling along a stone wall, a kid that was jumping in a puddle while her tired mother urged her and the puppy they were walking to hurry along, it was late.
And once inside the privacy of their home, she pulled him in for a deep and lingering kiss. She thanked him in a husky voice, her eyes shining with a different sort of warmth, and she pulled him to the bedroom, not making him leave this time as she changed out of the dress. It was comfortable, and they each got ready for bed, but a new ease settled over them as they laid in bed, and she fell asleep without tear stained cheeks for the first time since their return.
