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[worst_greatest_one]

It's cold and dark by the time we leave The Runaway Cafe. I ate slowly and carefully for the first part of the date, but by the end I was having too much fun to remember my atrocious manners, and I pass a hand self-consciously down the front of my button-up, knocking away the crumbs. Bitty isn't far behind me, and when the first bite of wind sneaks over my collar, I grab for his hand.

"Not too cold for a walk, is it?" I ask hopefully. After spending so much time in the ice rink, the wintry air can't be so terrible for him, but the wind picks up now and then and I want Bitty to be comfortable. I nod in the direction of the park. "Wind will be less awful in the trees."

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[puckandpie]

Dinner was so, so nice. I was nervous out of my mind at the start, self-conscious of almost every bite, but it'd taken very little time at all to relax into just laughing and sharing stories with Simon, hearing all about his powers and the world he comes from, his friend Penny and ex-girlfriend Agatha and roommate Baz. He talks a lot about Baz, actually. Though I suppose that makes sense seeing as he's here.

I'm both surprised and delighted when he seems to not want to head straight home after and, even though I absolutely did not think to bring my most weather-appropriate coat, I'm more than happy to agree to walk with him for awhile.

He actually grabs my hand first as the wind bites at my cheeks and ears and I try to calm the flip of my stomach as I squeeze and lean in close. "Have you gotten much of a chance to explore since you got here?" I ask as we head towards the park. "I was a little nervous for while when I arrived. Not during the day so much, but at night. There aren't really ghosts and vampires and stuff where I'm from so I tended to stay in my apartment, safe with the terrible reality television and the internet."

[worst_greatest_one]

"When I first learned about the World of Mages," I say, watching for a break in cars before running with Bitty to the other side of the street, "I was so excited. Every day I expected to wake up and find it wasn't real. But after a while, you realise that if all the amazing magical things are real, all the awful ones are, too."

I look over at him and squeeze his hand. "Makes you feel small, yeah?" I hated that feeling, and I hate that Bitty felt it, too, but all I can do is try to protect him as best I can.

I look in the direction of the country as we cross Charing Cross Road (it's not much like the one in London). "When Baz and I got here, we went as far as we could into the country to try to find the barrier, but we never did. I haven't explored much after that."

[puckandpie]

"I have a friend here, Thomas... he was really trying to find holes and little ways out. I promised him I'd help, but we really didn't have much luck," I confess, steering Simon against the wind. He seems to know the way though so I really don't have to do much. After being here for months and walking being my only mode of transportation, I know my way around now pretty well. I have a feeling it's not going to take Simon long to catch up.

I have to cross through the park every day to get to the ice rink and, after visiting that other version of Darrow, it makes me nervous every time. As dark as it is now, I should be a lot more wary than I am. I think I have Simon to thank for that, though.

He still hasn't let go of my hand.

"Are you and Baz getting along better now?" I ask him, quietly mentally cursing myself for not bringing a thicker jacket as another gust of wind presses against us. "He sounds, uhm. He sounds interesting."

[worst_greatest_one]

I snort. "Sorry," I say, shaking my head. "We don't ever really get along. We just tolerate each other in degrees. " He's shivering, and I let go of Bitty's hand to wrap my arm around his waist, holding him close to my body as we enter the park. When we settle, I'll cast something to make him more comfortable.

I spot a cart with drinks and steer us towards it. "It's colder than I thought. Let me get you a cocoa."

[puckandpie]

Simon slings his arm around my waist and I feel my cheeks go hot even if the rest of me isn't quite there. Tipping my head to look up at him, I smile, and he whispers something that makes a whole new warmth flow all through me. Goodness. He's never really blatant with his powers, but every once in awhile he'll just do something casually that makes me gape in amazement.

"Oh, a hot chocolate sounds amazing," I agree as we walk towards the cart, the older gentleman who mans it smiling at us as we near. "I really should've grabbed my thicker coat, but it just doesn't go very well with this outfit and, uhm. Well, it's silly but I wanted to look nice."

[worst_greatest_one]

I buy him a cocoa and hand it over, smiling as our fingers touch, then buy myself one when I realise they have marshmallows. "That bench okay?" I ask him, still smiling as I look him over. Bitty has a way of making me feel like all my bumbling is normal, not freakish.

"I bought two new shirts," I confess. "Took ages to decide which one to wear to look nice. But you do," I add. "You look nice."

[puckandpie]

Sipping at my hot chocolate, I take a seat on the bench, scooting to the end so that Simon will have more than enough room, though I'm pleased when he still sits close to me.

"You do, too," I tell him, flushing a little under his appreciation as I take another sip, both ands wrapped tight around my cup. Giving him a faint wink, I add, "Maybe someday I'll even get to see that second shirt. Does it bring out your eyes like this one?"

It's only after the words are out that I wonder if that's too much. Too blatant. Simon hasn't given me any reason to think he's regretting this date at all, but it's not like I've had much practice at flirting myself, and the very last thing I want to do is risk scaring Simon off.

[worst_greatest_one]

I gape at him a little, but I'm smiling too, so I must look extra daft. Somehow I don't even care. "Does it?" I ask, pinching the cuffs a little, and I know my cheeks are warm. "The other one's just gray."

That's probably not the point, and I shake my head, poking one of the marshmallows jamming the spout in my cup so I can drink. "Are you still cold?" I ask, moving to put my arm around him.

[puckandpie]

"You look nice," I repeat, affirming and barely containing the impulse to flatten the edge of his collar. As wonderful as this whole evening has been, I'm nervous to push too far and risk ruining everything. HIs smile is so nice though, mouth open in slight disbelief. Has no one really told him how good looking he is? That just seems so unbelievable.

I'm not actually too cold, but I nod anyway, not even bothering to hide my smile when he starts to wrap his arm around me. "The hot chocolate's helping," I tell him, scooting just that little bit closer. "And you. This, uhm. This has been really nice. I was so nervous about how everything would go since I've never really been on a date before, but you're so easy to talk to. Are you having a good time?"

[worst_greatest_one]

"I am," I reply, putting my cup down on the bench so I can reach for his hand. I like holding it, and I haven't missed how he smiles whenever I take it. I decided halfway through appetizers that I like making him smile. And halfway through dessert, I decided I'd like to kiss him.

"Really good," I say, and I'm so nervous. I'm never nervous like this unless I'm fighting whatever dark creature has decided to attack me in any given week, and I know I'm staring at his mouth. "Sorry," I murmur, dragging my eyes back up to his. "Fuck, I'm really nervous."

[puckandpie]

He's almost wrapped entirely around me now, one arm across my shoulders and his other hand in mine. I'm still holding my hot chocolate somewhat stupidly, but I cant help but smile at the way his hand looks in mine. I squeeze gently and rub my the pad of my thumb over his knuckles.

When I look up, I can't miss the way he's staring at my mouth and something catches tight and sharp in my throat. He looks away just as quickly and my cheeks are burning hot when I say, "You don't need to be." It comes out as barely a whisper and I nudge him very lightly with my elbow, trying to make him smile again. He looks so, so nice when he smiles. He looks so nice all the time, of course, but especially when he smiles. "Is it because I'm a boy? Is that why?"

[worst_greatest_one]

"No," I say at once, because I know that's not it. I don't know if I'm into boys, exactly, but with that bright smile and those kind eyes, I'm definitely into Bitty. I exhale a laugh, ducking my head to get some air back into my lungs.

"I'm nervous," I say, summoning my courage, "Because I decided I want to kiss you about an hour ago, and I'm not sure how to make that happen. Would that be alright?" I ask, lifting my head. "Can I kiss you?"

[puckandpie]

My mouth drops open at that and I can only spare a moment to wonder how stupid I look like that, gaping at staring at him. No one's ever wanted to kiss me before as far as I know, certainly no one as nice and kind and cute as Simon.

Snapping my mouth shut, I swallow and finally manage a nod.

"I'd-- I'd really like that, actually," I tell him, letting my own eyes fall to the full curve of his lips. Part of me wants to tell him that I've never kissed a boy before if only to explain how terrible I'll be at it. But given that I've told him I've never been on a date, he can probably guess.

I lean forward just a little, glancing up to meet his eyes again, breath still stuck in my throat. "Just... please don't judge me too harshly if I'm terrible, okay?"

[worst_greatest_one]

I can tell he's going to say yes before he answers, and my heartrate spikes, warmth flowing so suddenly through me that for a moment I'm afraid I'm glowing. "I won't," I promise, "If you don't. I've only ever kissed one person."

And I don't think I was awful at it, but I have no idea how different kissing a boy could be. I reach up and cup Bitty's cheek, tilting his head to the proper angle, and then I take a deep breath. I don't close my eyes until I've leaned in and touched my lips to his, just in case I miss, but once I've gotten us there, it's easy. His mouth is cooler than mine, but his lips are soft, and I exhale in relief to realise how much I enjoy this.

[puckandpie]

His cheeks are red enough I can guess that they probably match the shade of mine. The thought is almost enough to calm my racing heart; at least I'm not the only one nervous in this situation.

I have a half a second to glance down at his lips again before their pressed to mine. Goodness, he's warm. His palm his cupping my cheek and I realize, belatedly, that I have my free hand on his leg, right above his knee and gripping tight.

It's so different from kissing a girl. So different. And I realize I may not be the best judge seeing as it's been years now, but kissing her hadn't felt anything at all like this. I've never really been unsure of liking boys, exactly, but this is definitely making it absolutely clear. I press up against him, making sure my lips are firm against his for a moment and only breaking away to let out a soft breath that quickly melts into a laugh, my nose still brushing his. "That was okay?"

[worst_greatest_one]

"Yeah," I exhale when he shifts just far enough to break contact, his nose rubbing mine. When I open my eyes it's brighter, and I know it's because I'm glowing a little, but I don't even care. His hand is on my knee, and that only makes my cheeks grow hotter, but my heart's so full I feel like I'm about to burst, excitement and pleasure and something I think might be tenderness all warring for space with the magic inside of me. For once, something other than the magic wins, and I lean in and kiss Bitty again, hoping that it's okay when I pull him closer to me.

[puckandpie]

His quiet exhale is enough to make me open my eyes and I'm a little startled to see him actually glowing. It's the magic, of course, and it's amazing, like a golden aura all around him. He's so, so warm.

He's looking right at me too, seeming less nervous now and more... more something else, something that makes me swallow as the butterflies start up in my stomach again. And then he's pulling me in closer and leaning down for another kiss. This one is more sure, more confident, and I barely refrain from making a truly embarrassing noise as I set my cup of hot chocolate aside so I can reach up to cup his face, my other hand still right above his knee.

His lips are soft, his jaw strong under my palm and I tilt my head just a little to change the angle, wondering if it'd be too much too fast if I try to taste. Not that I even really know how.

[worst_greatest_one]

He tastes like chocolate and a tiny bit of the cake we'd had for dessert, and beneath that, uniquely of himself, a realisation that makes me almost dizzy. His hand is gentle on my cheek, and when Bitty tilts his head, I hum because the kiss somehow becomes even better. I open my mouth without thinking, eager for more of it, and startle to realise I've swept my tongue past his lips.

"Sorry," I say, pulling back. "Is that okay?"

[puckandpie]

His lips part on a tiny breath and I feel the barest flicker of wetness on my lips before he's pulling back.

My eyes snap open, heart leaping into my throat before I realize he's not actually trying to stop. "So okay," I assure him with a quiet, disbelieving laugh before immediately pressing in again.

It's easier now, more comfortable, even if I'm shaking just a little still from nerves. I slide my hand to the back of his neck and let out a shaky breath as I part my lips against his and tentatively meet his tongue with my own. The feel of it is immediately shocking and a little scary and so, so good. He's so incredibly warm and tastes like the cake we'd shared and like nothing else I've ever tasted before.

[worst_greatest_one]

His lips part for mine, and the kiss goes from amazing to incredible. I think I make a sound, but I can't be sure, because there's a hum in my ears I can't hear past, the whole park narrowing down to just Bitty and me and our little bench, his tongue brushing against my own. Don't get me wrong, Agatha had hardly been a bad kisser, but she'd never kissed me back like this before - like there really wasn't anywhere else she'd rather be.

I pull back again, and this time it's to suck in air. I can't remember the last time I took a breath, or needed to, and I grin at Bitty. "This is a pretty good date," I say and laugh.

[puckandpie]

My lips are still buzzing when Simon pulls away and I suck in a breath as I open my eyes, staring right into his. He's still glowing a little and smiling and, for half a second, I'm reminded of being this close to Derek in that other Darrow, his wide eyes so close to mine, the stubble of his cheeks against my palms.

Simon's cheeks are smooth and Derek hadn't been smiling. It really hadn't been anything like this.

It's easy not to dwell on that at least with Simon looking at me with those eyes and I let out a quiet laugh, nodding. "A really good date." Gently, I uncurl my fingers from his knee and sit back a little, but I still can't stop smiling. "Do you, uh. Do you wanna maybe do this again sometime?"

[worst_greatest_one]

I can't stop grinning, but neither can he, and I don't feel like the maniac I must look when I sit back. My knee already feels cold without his hand there, and I rub at the spot, picking up my forgotten cocoa.

"I'd like to," I say, "Yeah. Maybe skating again?" I offer, because I'd like to try it again, this time holding his hand.

[puckandpie]

"Maybe without melting the ice next time," I reply, teasing him as my smile grows impossibly wider and resisting the urge to curl my hand around his again.

Given how well tonight has gone and how nice that kiss was, I shouldn't be surprised he wants to see me again. But I am. He's a wizard and he's gorgeous and he has an accent and I'm just a kid who bakes and skates sometimes.

"I try to get to the rink most weekday mornings if you're ever interested in joining me. But, uh. If that's too early I can fit whatever into your schedule."