Stories Unknown

The Best

"So where are we going?" Cinder asked, side-eyeing Kai. Their fingers were intertwined and swinging between them as they walked, and in Kai's other hand was a brown wicker basket that Cinder found rather ominous.

"Right here," Kai said, stopping in his tracks as they stood beneath a great tree. It was shaded, which was rather pleasant considering the heat of the July day. Cinder almost wished that she was wearing shorts, which was something she had never dreamed of, what with her metal leg. But the heavy air made her clothes cling to her in such a miserable way she could hardly help but long for something more comfortable.

"What are we doing?"

Kai smirked and held up the basket. "Obviously we're having a picnic," Kai replied, kneeling down on the grass despite his nicely pressed dress pants. The sleeves of his white dress shirt were rolled up too, giving him a rather boyish look. "I thought it would be good for us, seeing how you've only been here for about a week and I, um, well..." Kai flushed in a way that Cinder found completely amusing. She was glad that she herself could not flush, but she adored it when Kai's face turned red. "We've never really been on a date, and, well, I thought that now would be as good a time as any."

"Ah, but is this really our first date? I thought the ball kind of counted."

"Do you mean the one where you only came to tell me that your psycho aunt was going to kill me, then proceeded to run away, fall down the stairs, then get arrested–"

"You were the one who arrested me, let me remind you," Cinder quipped.

"–Or," Kai continued, ignoring her. "The one where you came as a diplomatic guest, danced with me like two times, then spent the rest of the evening bickering with Thorne as to whether or not it should still be called a high-five if he only has three fingers."

"Of course it's still a high-five, and obviously I'm talking about the second one." Cinder glared. "But not the actual ball. The stuff after when you and I went and laid out under the stars for hours. That was a date."

"No, it wasn't," Kai countered. "A date does not have two people crying over the fact that they won't see one another for another year. A date is romantic and should, of course, always have food. At least by my standards."

Cinder narrowed her eyes at Kai, but sat down beside him on the grass all the same. The grass was cool against her skin, refreshing and itchy at the same time. She pulled the fluttering fabric of her pale pink dress down in the lady-like manner that Iko had taught her, but took her shoes off in the next moment— something that would have caused Iko to gasp in horror.

Kai sat on the grass, legs crossed in a way that made him appear to be a child at school rather than the emperor of the most powerful country in the world. He had his hands inside the basket, pulling out multiple items, each in a fancy tupperware container.

"And besides," Kai said, casting Cinder a grin that caused her heart to melt. "You've been here a week and we've hardly had a moment to ourselves. It's meetings and working and sleeping. I just wanted to, I don't know, spend some quality time with you."

Cinder reached out her hand, placing it on top of his, stopping him in mid-motion of dragging out another container. "I'm happy that we're finally on our first date," Cinder said. "You know, this is really my first date ever."

"Exactly," Kai exclaimed, turning his hand up so their fingers could twine together. "It's about time you had a proper date. For stars sake, you've overthrown a whole government and ruled a country but you've never been on a date."

"I hope it's more fun than either of those two things were," Cinder teased.

"Oh," Kai grinned. "It will be."

***

"Stars, that was good," Cinder sighed, placing the last piece of tupperware back in the basket and laying down on the ground. She pulled the elastic from her hair and spread the lank strands about behind her. Her mouth still held that sour tang of green grapes—which she found rather pleasant. In all honesty, all of lunch had been delicious. Much simpler than anything she'd eaten since becoming queen, but that made it almost better. She felt warm and bubble inside, and her lungs hurt from laughing— she couldn't recall the last time she'd laughed so much.

"Well I should hope so," Kai chuckled, laying down so his body was facing the opposite direction as hers but their heads were side by side. "I made the whole thing."

"What?" Cinder gasped, turning her face toward his. "You made all of that?"

"I did." The most dorky smile crept up Kai's face, and Cinder felt her heart skip a beat. "After my time on the Rampion, I realized that I had zero skills aside from being a politician. So after everything cleared up and I had the world under control again, I learned some basic cooking skills. Nothing fancy. But if they ever threw me out, at least I know how to make a mean ham sandwich."

Cinder laughed at this, bumping her forehead against Kai's. Beneath the shade of the tree, the day was perfectly warm, though somewhat humid. It was almost nice weather. But stretched out on the grass beside Kai, all felt right.

A breeze picked up, causing the fluttery sleeves and hem of her dress to dance briefly. Kai's hair tickled her face, and Cinder couldn't help but to brush the strands back with lingering fingers. She traced the ridge of his nose and the soft slope of his cheekbones. He watched her all the while, his eyes dreamy and far away.

"I love you," Cinder whispered, pressing a kiss to the tip of Kai's nose.

"I love you, too," Kai murmured, his eyelids drooping but his mouth grinning sleepily. "Was your first date any good?"

"The best," Cinder said.

She watched as Kai's eyes slowly came to a close, then turned her gaze up to the sky. She pressed her cheek against Kai's, bringing a hand around to play with the strands of his hair. The breeze seemed to sing to her, rustling the leaves of the great tree above her in the manner of a symphony. And ever so slowly, with the soft hum of the world around her and the gentle comfort of Kai beside her, Cinder fell asleep.