Tristan was buttoning up his jacket while he waited outside for her, his mind reeling on the fact that he still had to pound out a paper as soon as he got home. He wouldn't make it home for some time, considering the last part of his closing routine was only just about to start. At that thought he smiled softly, his eyes flickering to the hallway toward the girls' locker room.
And no, his mind was not in the gutter. It was just his favorite part of the day, so. He had a reason to be smiling.
Back inside, Hannah had just finished folding her work clothes to take home and wash when she glanced at her phone to check the time. Just shy of 8 o’clock, she sighed knowing that there was still plenty of work waiting for her when she got home that was due by noontime the next day.
One of the downsides of working the closing shift was that by the time the clock struck eight she was already ready for bed despite being several blocks away from a comfortable place to sleep. The sentiment however was far less daunting on days like today. Hannah smiled, glancing over her shoulder toward the general direction of the front exit where she knew Tristan was currently waiting for her.
Ever since the day he had saved her from the torrential downpour he had stirred something inside of her. A light flutter in her heart when they passed by one another while serving customers or side glances that made her blush.
Not wanting to make him wait any longer Hannah reached inside her bag to pull out a pair of soft deep blue colored gloves when her fingertips brushed against the henshin pen she still carried with her. It had been far too long since she had last visited her homeworld that it almost made her wonder what it was like during different seasons. Unfortunately, between school, work, and just life in general it had become almost terrifyingly easy to get wrapped up in day-to-day life and to allow herself to become too exhausted to power up at all.
Later she decided while pulling on her coat. Once she got her math assignments completed she would take an hour break and go out on patrol or spend some time in Valenna, assuming the weather on her homeworld was warmer than it was in Destiny City.
After turning off all the lights in the back Hannah skirted her way around the cafe tables then stepped outside so Tristan could finish locking up. “I’m sorry for making you wait. I double checked everything was turned off on my way out.”
He'd been casually leaning against the wall by the door while he waited, eyes closed as exhaustion began to pour over his body. The end of his day was typically well past midnight, so a glance at his watch that read 7:57PM told him that it was still early. It felt like his days went on for far longer than twenty-four hours, but ever since Arianne hired Hannah these kinds of days were always worth it.
When she finally came out her apology was met with nothing but a smile and a wave of his hand. "Not a problem," he said, choosing to leave out the "no need to apologize" he was tempted to add. It was an adorable little quirk of hers, being as apologetic about even the little things, and it gave him an excuse to meet her gaze, a chance to admire those bright cerulean blues as he gave her a reassuring smile.
"Thanks. I checked all the locks on everything already, so the front door's all we gotta lock before we can head on home."
It was an accidental phrasing that he didn't bother to correct (since that would likely only end with some sort of awkward laugh), and instead he only smiled and pushed off the wall so he could do just exactly that. He pocketed the keys once he was done, reached down to grab his bag then faced her again.
"All done," he said as he moved to stand beside her. "Didya wanna make any stops on the way? That java place is still open. They've got this new pastry-thing, I tried it and it's pretty good." Really, an excuse to spend a little extra time...
Hannah nodded her head in response, “Sounds good to me!”
“Though I might need to get something with extra caffeine to keep me up so I can get everything done before school tomorrow.” Thankfully her first class wasn’t till ten which made things a little easier. Plus, having something warm in her hands would probably help keep her from wringing her fingers together nervously so much. Sure she played it off that she was cold, which was true for the most part, but honestly there was more to it than that.
It was easy enough to fall in step beside Tristan when the freezing chill factor of winter was nipping at the backs of her legs. A rather fierce shiver ran up Hannah’s spine mid-step causing her to bump against the young man beside her. “S-sorry,” she stuttered slightly surprised she had lost her balance so easily.
Extra caffeine certainly sounded like a good plan since he was planning on having a pretty late night himself. He was in the middle of nodding and voicing his agreement when she accidentally bumped into him.
Now, he wasn't sure if it was the wind or a daydreamt sort of fantasy that she did it on purpose, but whatever the reason his arm went up to sort of catch her, his hand resting casually on her shoulder before he realized it. The apology was again met with a slight shake of his head, and a nervous pause as he kept walking but didn't quite put his arm down.
"Uh.. n-no problem," he managed, and he was surprised his voice didn't break what with how nervous he suddenly found himself to be.
Tristan cleared his throat as they went, eyes averted and skyward as he held her almost protectively to him. You know, in case she stumbled again or...something. The second she pulled away he would as well, but for as long as they could stay that way...well.
Normally Hannah would have been quick to pull away but in truth, for once, she didn’t want to. Warmth where there otherwise was none she felt safe beside Tristan with his arm draped over her shoulder as it was.
Thankful for the early nights the pink stain that spread across would undoubtedly go mostly unnoticed with the harsh shadows that cut across her features every time they passed under a street lamp. Her face was a deeper red hue than per usual; more than just Jack Frost kissing her cheeks or tips of her ears she was slightly more than a little embarrassed.
“Sooo… Those pastries you were talking about. Would you say they’re better than Arianne’s?” Hannah cringed inwardly at her obvious lack of ability to strike up an interesting conversation on the fly. There’s no way he couldn’t know how he made her heartbeat flutter or how much of a crush she had on him; could he?
His nerves eased somewhat as the silence drew out, just their footsteps filling the void where conversation ought to have been. Tristan felt just the slightest swell of confidence when she didn't pull away, that being a comfort all on its own, and he gently pulled her maybe just a little bit closer as a rather harsh wind blew past. It was the simple gestures, his sisters always told him...
Tristan cleared his throat once before he glanced down, noting just a hint of a blush on her cheeks as they passed a street light. A small smile spread across his face at the sight of it; it was a good sign, right? And that smile only widened at her awkward segue back into the conversation. Awkward but adorable, she was quite the brave soul for trying. Since that rainy evening, the closer they got and the more he learned about her it got harder for him to believe that she'd completely gone under his radar all through high school. Timing really is everything, apparently.
"Well," he started, eyes going skyward again. "Don't tell her I said so, but there's not many pastries in the city that can top hers. At least not in my opinion." Tristan was loathe to admit that he was a fan of anything of his sisters', so while he could be perfectly honest with Hannah there was no way he would be this candid with any of the four of them.
"You'll like 'em though, I'm pretty sure."
“Mum’s the word.” Lifting her hand she made the lips are sealed motion then smiled as she jokingly threw away the non existent key.
“If I may ask. Why don’t you tell her what you just told me? I mean I’m sure she would appreciate hearing you say that.” Rarely did they talk about his relationship with his siblings and coming from a only child household it was a bit hard to relate but it didn’t mean Hannah wasn’t curious. She understood that Arianne pushed his buttons like nobody’s business but she had to wonder if that was always the case.
Like participating in a three-legged race she fell in pace beside Tristan matching him step for step. And when she looked down Hannah couldn’t help but mentally count one, two, one, two… while she waited for his reply
The motion she made with her lips only added to her current level of adorable, and it curled his lips into a wider smile as she threw away the key. It was almost gone when her question came, and said question was only met with a shrug.
"Our sort of affection isn't the verbal sort, actually, and that goes for all my sisters and even my parents to a point. The form of encouragement I grew up with was almost strictly criticism, harsh sometimes but always true. It's…" and he paused, brows scrunching up as he tried to think of the right word to convey the relationship all around. It wasn't conventional nor always the most healthy, but it worked for their family just fine.
"Well, basically actions have always spoken louder in our house. For the pastries, just as an example, the compliments are usually said in how often someone asks for it. Arianne knows I like 'em since I always ask for them, but I've never really complimented her directly." He glanced down at that point and caught her looking down, so he watched her curiously for a second before playfully shaking her shoulder, the smile quickly returning at the sight.
"Everything okay?"
“Mmhmm I’m okay. Just a little cold.” The tip of her nose and both ears were already freezing to the touch but thankfully his nearness kept the shivers at bay; for now at least.
“I don’t have any siblings, not biologically anyway. Except for one of my best friends growing up, Delilah, she’s about the closest I have to a sister so I can kind of understand what you’re talking about. Maybe one of these days I can introduce you two.” Not that she needed her friends approval but it was kind of important to Hannah that the two meet.
Thoughts of how to help make her warmer flooded his brain for a second, the most appealing being to hug her from behind and be a sort of makeshift jacket for her, but he fought down the urge to do exactly that and instead looked ahead.
"We're nearly there," he said as he nodded toward the sign that hung over the coffee shop that was their target for the evening. "Hopefully the coffee will keep you warmer the rest of the walk home."
"And sure, I'd be glad to meet her." He was more than a little curious about who Hannah's friends were; apart from his own sister he'd never actually met any of them, or frankly even really noticed them while they were in high school. Granted, he wasn't exactly too acquainted with Hannah, either. Aside from being her neighbor in a class or two, that is. The change from then and now was pretty drastic, but he was more than a little glad for that. "All your friends are always welcome at the cafe, you know that, right?"
“Yeah,” she replied almost shyly with an added nod of her head. “I know,” Hannah promptly added. While the knowledge was there, hearing him say it made her smile nonetheless.
However, the problem was more so she really didn’t have anyone that she could invite over. Most people were kept an arm's length away for reasons she rarely ever spoke about to anyone outside of Delilah. Dominic knew but it had been so long since she spoke to him that in truth she hadn’t a clue on how to contact him let alone where he currently lived.
Either way, since graduation, most people she would have considered asking if they’d like to come visit were off attending other colleges out of state or pursuing life goals and exploring other countries with extended family and online friends.
“Hey Tristan?” Hannah fidgeted with her zipper. “What kind of things do you like to do. You know when you’re not busy with work or school?” He’d walked her home several times when their shifts had ended but she never really thought to ask him what he planned to do after.
"Hm?" he hummed in question when she said his name, then hummed a bit more as he considered her question. For all the times he'd walked her home they didn't talk much about anything too personal. Usually it was school or work or something like that, so there was a part of him that was happy she was curious enough to ask.
"I'm an artist," he said with a wide smile. It was something he was rather proud of, after all, regardless of what his parents thought of his goals to become an illustrator. "I'm actually working on a comic of my own right now. It's nothing too impressive but I'm having fun with it."
As they walked up to the cafe's door he reluctantly pulled his arm away so he could open it, and for a moment his eyes met hers as he let her step inside first and he lost his train of thought.
“Thank you,” she responded to his gentlemanly nature with a smile of gratitude as she walked past him. The absence of his warmth beside her was immediately noticed by the small shiver that raced up her back sending the small hairs on the back of her neck to rise. Thankfully the cafe had heaters going to keep the patrons toasty while they gathered in small groups around the small shop.
“Tell me,” Hannah spoke with interest as they made their way towards the back of the line. “What’s your comic about?”
Tristan stood beside her in line and preoccupied his hands by shoving them into his pockets. It was plenty toasty so he had no real excuse to sidle up next to her quite as close as before, which was...well, he wasn't thrilled but at least it was warm now? Hm.
"Just a guy trying to find his place in the world," he explained in brief. "It's a general explanation, but it's basically an adventure set in a modern fantasy sort of world. I'm still working on...just about everything besides the art." A sheepish grin took its place on his face as he said this; storytelling wasn't his greatest strength so beyond the initial introductions and a whole boatload of independent scenes he hadn't actually gotten that much done.
"Anyway, I can show you sometime if you want. But what about you? What do you do for fun?"
“Ah umm… honestly?” Hannah hesitated to answer when the customer at the front of the line stepped aside and the couple standing in front of them took a step forward. “With the weather as bad as it has been lately I haven’t really had a chance to go out and do too much aside from a few volunteer opportunities with church.”
Fun really hadn’t been a word she had used in a long while especially now that she had work added to the list of school and powered obligations. That is why these stolen moments and walks home meant more than she had openly admitted.
"Aww…" he started, eyeing the couple ahead of them for a moment before turning his attention back to Hannah. "Well we should do something sometime, if you're not busy. It's always good to wind down. I try to do something outdoorsy every weekend, squeeze it into the whole mess of my life that's school and work and home stuff."
Tristan gave a smile--he was joking about the "mess" part, mostly. Busy was probably more accurate, so he had to really make time to destress and unwind whenever he could.
When one of the registered freed up he nodded towards it and let her step ahead of him. "And since the weather sucks we can do something indoors. Movie's always a good option, maybe binge-watch some show on Netflix. Mm...ice skating?"
“Ice skating…” Hannah let out a nervous laugh. “I’m not exactly the most graceful person you’ll ever meet.” Granted it had been a bit over a year since the last time she went to the rink, she had no doubt that her arms would be flailing just the same as it had before.
“I think watching a few movies would be a safer but unless you want me clinging to you for dear life.” Once it was said there was no taking it back. Something meant to be a thought that came out in words and for a second she felt horrified for saying the last part out loud.
"Scary movies do that trick just fine, too," he said with a rather amused smile. The girl at the register wore a similar expression as she greeted them, and he gave his order, pastries included, before again turning to Hannah. "What did you want?"
Beside him she flashed Tristan a ‘you wouldn’t dare’ look which ended in in a skeptical ‘would you?’ expression followed by a bit of a smile realizing that yes… yes he would.
“Um, may I get a tall peppermint mocha please?”
He handed a card over to the girl after the order was punched in and stepped aside once he was handed the receipt, and once they were standing by where all the orders were to be picked up he flashed her a grin.
"I wouldn't, probably," he said with a shrug, "but I was just pointing it out. I think a movie's a good choice, anyway." Of course, he left out the part where he knew Arianne would probably suggest it if she thought there was anything going on between the two of them...which there wasn't and she didn't, as far as he knew.
"Besides any movie that can be considered a 'chick flick' what would you wanna watch?"
“Disney… Pixar… Marvel…” she began listing them one by one counting them on her fingers. “Anything with action or a good story is pretty much fair game. Especially ones based off book. Though I prefer not watching movies to ones I’ve already read.”
“It’s hard to enjoy a movie if you know what is suppose to happen and details get left out but if you watch something first then read it, it is far easier to appreciate both for what they are or view the book as an elaboration on the cinematic.” Ok she was rambling… badly. Why was she rambling? Ugh… this is totally not okay. He is going to think I’m a yammering idiot.
“What about you? What kind of things do you enjoy watching?” Anything to get him to take over the conversation before she ended up talking his ears off. So this is what it felt like to have a crush on someone, she mused when the realization hit her.
"I get that," he said with a nod, not at all paying too much attention to how much she was talking. Normally she didn't say all that much to begin with, so as far as he was concerned it was nice to see her opening up a bit more.
"I don't really read too much aside from comics, but the Marvel and DC stuff is exciting 'cause you get to watch your heroes duke it out on the big screen. It's a different experience than what you get when you read it, I think." Sometimes more disappointing...but still really cool to see in live action.
He leaned casually against the panel beside him as he gave her question some thought. "Probably the same stuff as you. Marvel and anything comic-related first, then action, suspense, thrillers. I like the stuff that gets your blood pumping, so maybe the occasional scary movie but not all the time."
Hannah merely shook her head. In truth she couldn’t think of what the last scary movie she was since most action films had at least one scene that made her jump.
“What about Star Wars?” She asked since the highly talked about movie had just been released.
"I'm not mega-fan, but I like the movies. Did you wanna go and see it when it comes out?" The lattes came just as he asked, as did the pastries, so he picked up his own cup and the two small bags that held their snacks and nodded toward a table. "How 'bout we sit and eat these first before we go?"
After a brief thank you to the barista Hannah turned her attention back to Tristan. “Sure!” She replied with a nod of her head. Homework could wait an extra half hour or so and it wasn’t like she had to power up today.
“About the movie though, um, if you wouldn’t mind going to see it with me I’d definitely enjoy the company.” Like him she wasn’t a die hard fan but the movies were at least enjoyable. Not only that but it was a great break from the Young Adult book converted to movies such as Twilight, Hunger Games and Divergent. All decent movies, save for the first, that was just terrible.
Tristan led her to an empty table and set the food down first, then his backpack before he took a seat, smiling. "I would love to go see it with you, Hannah," he said rather matter-of-fact. "It'd be nice to not have my sisters squealing right next to me for a change. They still get excited seeing their favorite actors or whatever…"
He sipped his coffee, his nerves slowly being melted away by the warmth of his drink. "So," he started, gesturing to the two pastries. "Split both? Or you can taste both and pick which one you like, I'll take the other one."
“Sounds good,” she agreed after taking a sip of her latte. Hannah had to admit their coffee was pretty good granted she was still getting use to the taste. Late nights tend to require some sort of pick-me-up from time to time and Xander would likely have a heart attack if she resorted to energy drinks.
He sat back, drink in hand to keep his hands from getting cold again, and watched her with a small smile, a little hesitant to ask whether the whole movie thing could be considered a date. In the end he figured he wouldn't, but the thought did cross his mind. Or they could always just call it a "hangout" and leave it at that; whatever other conventional labels for the activity could just be left at the wayside. Whichever made more sense for them, right?
After another sip Tristan cleared his throat. "When's the movie coming out again? 'Cause if it's not for another couple of weeks we could always do something else in the meantime."
“It comes out next Friday on the 18th.” Not that she had been diligently keeping track of movie releases but rather it happened to pop up on every other commercial interruption when she was watching something on TV and happened to be posted on a billboard she had seen on her way to work.
Hannah then reached over to pick up one of the to pastries and broke it in half, or close enough to it, and handed Tristan the bigger piece before taking a bite of her own. True to his words they were delicious; not as good as Arianne’s but still a top contender for 2nd place.
“Wow,” she commented after swallowing the first bite. “Definitely fresh.”
"Next Friday it is," he said with a nod, his smile getting just a smidge bigger when she finally commented on the pastry. "Told ya."
Tristan took a bite of his own half of the first pastry, sighing contentedly as he ate. This was nice; not so different from how they were at work but...not at work. He made quick work of his piece, then sipped his coffee again before setting it down. "Mm...too much of this and I'll end up getting sleepy once I get home," he said with a light chuckle. "Nights like the one tonight's gonna be, I always have to make myself an extra cup of coffee about halfway through all my work."
“That bad?” Hannah grimaced not realizing he had that much to get done. “Maybe you should take the second pastry with you for later. If need be I can call one of my parents and ask them to pick me up so you don’t have to waste time taking me home when you have a lot of stuff to get done.” Why was it time always seemed to be forever fleeting? Either way it was a bit hard to hide the disappointment from her voice or the look she gave him from across the table.
She enjoyed his company, even if it was time spent at the cafe bussing tables, he always somehow managed to make her smile despite the rude and inconsiderate customers that walked in through the door.
He shook his head to dismiss the idea, though more because he didn't want to cut their brief time together any shorter than it had to be, but also because he'd never thought of this as a waste of time. "Nah, I'll be fine," he insisted, smile softening somewhat at her expression. "If I let homework get in the way of things I liked to do, I'd never get to do anything anymore."
He left the comment there and sipped his coffee again, catching her eye briefly when he glanced back across the table. "Don't worry, I have time in the morning so it's not like I'll be up all night. I just need to get as much of it done as I can and I should be alright."
Hannah knew that she should protest his willingness to stay but couldn’t find the words and instead settled on a whispered “thank you.” He had said what heart heart longed to hear him say, yet it sent a pang in her chest to hear them uttered. It truly had been a long while since anyone had offered to stay with her just a little bit longer which honestly made her really happy for once in a very long time.
_ p a o cx
Backlogged to December 2015 because I fail at posting RP's and just mindlessly file them away in g-docs
