Bedside Manner (Law x Reader)

17. A Proper Date

"I'll see you at seven thirty then?"

Law had called just as you were unlocking your door. Balancing the phone between your shoulder and ear, you shuffled inside and used your foot to close the door behind you. He let out a breath before he replied.

"I'll see you then, y/n-ya."

It dawned on you that you hadn't thought to ask where he planned to take you. You had a feeling your favorite worn jeans and a nice tee weren't going to cut it tonight.

You went through the motions of getting yourself ready until you stood before your open closet in nothing but a towel. You stared at the garment hidden in the back-- the only dress you happened to own. You had purchased it not long after you first became a resident.

New World Medical Center threw a large charity event every year for their investors and staff were expected to make an appearance. It was far from your scene, but you always made a point to stay for at least one drink and jump at the first opportunity to leave.

It was a simple, thin strapped gown with a long sleeved cropped cardigan. A slit in the skirt that stopped just a little more than halfway up your thigh showed off some leg. It was classy enough for the events, yet simple enough that you were comfortable wearing it.

The same couldn't be said for the strappy heels-- they had been the only thing you could find at the thrift store that paired well with the dress. You weren't going to spend an arm and a leg on something you originally only intended to wear once a year.

You kept your hair simple and make up light. The only thing left to do was wait.

And wait.

You checked the clock to see that it was barely ten after, yet you could have sworn a half hour had already gone by. You forced yourself to sit only to have your leg begin bouncing wildly. A led ball rested in the pit of your stomach.

You were so completely wrapped within your thoughts that when a firm knock finally came to your door, you essentially launched yourself from the couch. The several resulting misteps had your left foot bending weird and several curses tumbling past your lips.

It would have been too much to hope your date hadn't heard any of that. The slight smirk he wore when you peered out through the peephole told you he heard it all.

Opening the door, you hesitated on your greeting. Why did a perfectly normal greeting feel so foreign on the tongue? "Was the drive over okay?"

Law stood before in a white shirt, dark vest and slacks. The sleeves rolled up to his elbows and the first few buttons undone to reveal a tantalizing sliver of skin.

There were a few pale pink peonies in his hand, tied together with a matching ribbon.

The man regarded your appearance and you could see the moment he recognized your dress. You were relieved when he didn't call attention to the fact that he could count on one hand the number of times he had seen you in a dress and, each time, it was the one you wore then.

"It was fine." He replied. "You look beautiful, y/n-ya."

"Huh? You... uh too." You sputtered. You quickly backtracked with a shake of the head. "I might need you to be an ass again if I have any hope of making it through this date."

-

You had managed to follow the man outside without favoring your likely sprained ankle. It had been hard to keep yourself from limping when with each step, a throbbing burn shot up your calf.

The man's bright yellow car threw you off for a moment. It didn't seem to match his cheery disposition. You didn't miss the small decal on the side of it that matched the tattoo on his back. You weren't given much of a chance to inspect it further, however, before the passenger door was being opened and just narrowly missing your front.

You might just have to ask him about it later.

The man was surprising you yet again. A teasing question as he gestured towards the waiting seat and that damned little smirk of his.

The drive to the restaurant was rather quiet, but comfortably so. Neither of you felt the need to speak quite yet and opted just to soak in the other's presence.

A wistful smile came to your face when your thoughts drifted to your first date with Killer when you were teens. Somehow, this felt almost like the same event just years apart (and with a different man). They were parallels you couldn't get yourself to ignore.

The compliment, the flowers-- not just any flowers, but the same kind Killer had plucked from a random lawn?

You could hardly believe it, but you were just as nervous as you had been that day too.

While he paid careful attention to the road, you could still feel Law's gaze drift to you now and again.

You each had an arm resting on the center console. Close enough to feel the warmth radiating from the other, but not enough to touch.

When he began to pull into a semi-filled lot, you ducked down to glare at the sign through the windshield.

"Nasugasira?"

"It's Teppanyaki." Law explained, rolling his head against the back of his seat to look to you. "Have you ever been? It's an affiliate of Baratie's, so the food is supposed to be good."

You gave a simple shake of the head.

Law had never been either. It had actually been Cora-san that had recommended it. The young surgeon-to-be almost regretted going to his adoptive father for advice. The man was overwhelming with his excitement-- you would have almost believed he was the one going out.

If Law hadn't forbid it, the older man probably would have been at his apartment to fuss over his appearance. Tell him to be safe and have fun. Remind him that he was only a call away should he need him for anything. Anything at all.

It would have been prom night all over again and Law wasn't going to have any of it.

You didn't want to admit out loud that between work and home, the only other place you've been is Partys.

You were pretty sure he knew that though.