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"Soon, actually... and uh, I was wondering." Alex did his best to meet her eyes with no hint of embarrassment or hesitation. He braced himself for rejection, and took the plunge...
"Are you doing anything Saturday? During the evening. I was wondering if maybe we could go out and see the more pleasant parts of the city, maybe have some dinner..."

"Awesome." Alex beamed at her with the biggest grin he could muster. They could really talk then, and be friends, though secretly he wanted more than just that. Things had to start slow, though, and Saturday was the first step towards that.
"Want me to pick you up or would it be easier to meet here?"
That seemed to be the pattern with them, and not that he was starting to resent the cafe, but too many people seemed to be documenting their every move as things played out.

"Hey hey, listen." Alex reached out to squeeze her hand once. Just once, and without lingering.
"My house isn't exactly filled with super happy fun time either. Besides, maybe I'll find it funny or... something."
Why Jess couldn't have lived on her own, he didn't know, but that was another question he wanted to have answered. But what truly bothered him was how status somehow made its way into their conversation, when it never had before.
"But status? Come on, isn't that idea a little archaic? Unless your family's all about securing and accumulating wealth. It's not like we're going to get married or anything."

"Seven?" He could shower and get properly dressed with the hour that gave him once he got off from work, but any time after that would be just fine with him.
Alex gave a start, though, as he realized he needed to get back to his job. He hadn't even eaten, but just seeing Jess made that more bearable.
"Let's say seven. Call me or something if that isn't good, but I gotta get back..." Alex rose from the table and started backing up from her as if the invisible force of his counter position was pulling him by a string.
"And Jess?"

Alex gave her that trademark smile she seemed to coax out of him without even trying.
"You're beautiful."

---

Alex had brought them both back to the cafe safe and sound, but where they would usually use the front door to just go inside, he took them down the alleyway right next door.
"Now," he said, very matter of factly. "Trust me on this. Follow the light of my communicator, and don't worry. I'm taking us to the roof."

He flicked his little device out and used the display light to illuminate the slightly rusted stairs in front of them. The went up three flights until they ended on the roof, where they would become a part of the skyline for their little part of the city.

The entire way, he kept looking at the time and hurrying her along, though being careful to catch any potential fall. Most of it was just an excuse to touch her, but he was concerned that she'd fall in the dark. After her spill on the sidewalk, he didn't want to see her hurt again.

"The Ballroom's always punctual," he whispered, and without further words, he pointed down the street where through the buildings, they had a perfect patch of night sky being illuminated by the beginnings of a fireworks show.

It was one of their big events that they did every year for a charity drive. Everyone knew that the drive was just so the rich could seem benevolent, and so Damian Centurion could show his mug to the masses, but this year was different. The show was a bit more spectacular, and with Centurion being gone, they had to make up for it somehow.

Of course he sat down next to her.

"Does it matter? You're here, with a much better view of the show than he has."
He even ventured to put his arm around her waist since the night was cold, and cuddling was always a nice way to keep the chill away. He just hoped she didn't freak out because of the contact.
It was like how some people couldn't see how wonderful they were because they're so close to themselves. Without the right perspective from a distance, they just couldn't see the whole picture.
Alex could see Jess' picture, though not all of it. It didn't stop him from thinking she was beautiful, with all those fireworks lighting up her eyes.

Alex was feeling that sensation of warmth and safety was well, only he was enjoying the role as protector more than anything. They shifted a bit so that Jess was more relaxing in his arms. He opened his coat and had her warm inside, and together, they watched those fireworks in relative silence.
Almost towards the end, though, Alex couldn't help himself. He bent his head down a bit and kissed the side of her head. Having a beautiful girl so close to him was something that hadn't happened in awhile...