Got some stricklake for @twistedmashup! Fair warning, I did not proofread this so sorry in advance for typos
Strickler fidgeted with the sleeve of his coat, glancing around nervously. The chatter of happy couples surrounded him as he stared at the empty chair across the table.
“Are you ready to order?” A waitress asked.
“Not yet.” Strickler sighed, glancing back at the empty chair.
The waitress nodded, giving him a sympathetic smile. “Call me when you’re ready to order.”
When she had gone, Strickler buried his face in his hands, fingers digging into the seam where the glamour mask met his face. He knew Barbara was busy. He knew she might not make it. This was not the first time she’d failed to show, due to one thing or another, but he’d hoped that tonight of all nights she’d make it.
Strickler’s head shot up when he heard Barbara’s voice. She was dressed up in a long blue dress, the pearls he’d given her hanging around her neck. She looked beautiful.
“I was about to leave work when a patient came in the ER and no one else was available so I had to go check him out and- what?” She broke off. Strickler smiled widely at her, a twinkle in his eye.
“You look stunning.” Strickler said. “Absolutely stunning.”
Barbara blushed, nervously running a hand over her hand over her hair. “Thank you.” She said. She looked Strickler up and down. “You’re looking pretty good yourself.” She smirked.
They chuckled and smiled at each other, drinking in each others presence. Then Strickler cleared his throat.
“So Barbara, we’ve been dating for a while now, haven’t we?”
Barbara nodded silently, a look of suspicion crossing her face.
“Well, I was thinking that, after all that we’ve been through, all these years we’ve been together…”
Strickler pulled a small box out of his pocket and went to kneel down by Barbara. He opened the box and looked up at her.
“Would you marry me, Barbara?”
Barbara gasped, tears in her eyes. “Yes.” She said. She threw herself into Strickler's arms, laughing and crying. “Yes!”
Strickler grinned as he slipped the ring onto Barbara’s finger. Barbara hugged him fiercely, and Strickler hugged her back almost as hard. Everyone in the restaurant was clapping and hollering.
Finally Barbara pulled back. She grabbed the glamour mask and pulled it off of his face. A flash of green light up the restaurant as the glamour dissipated and Strickler’s true form was revealed.
Barbara pulled him close and kissed him, right in front of everyone. Strickler smiled into the kiss and pulled her closer. A few seconds later Barbara pulled back, a soft smile on her lips.
“You know, I like you better this way.” She said.
“Is that so, Mrs.Strickler?” Strickler smiled.
“Mrs. Lake-Strickler.” Barbara corrected.
Strickler laughed and shook his head, giving her another quick kiss. “I love you.” He said.
“I love you too, Walter.”
