Bruja

⠀↳⠀1.6

( S i x )

That night, at exactly around ten, he arrived at the restaurant. He knew he didn't want to be late, but he also didn't want to be too early either. While he can't say he wanted to make a first impression since they already know each other, this could lead to them seeing the other as something... different.

He was a nervous wreck. He did not know how dating in the modern world worked. He hoped the old-fashioned traits that were still in him were good enough.

Police sirens wailed behind him, showing off their red and blue lights reflecting against the window he looked through to see her cleaning up the bar and putting bottles of soy sauce with each respected plate.

Building up his courage, he opened the door and headed inside.

Leah stopped to see him holding up a gorgeous bouquet of red roses. "Well, if that's not the most adorably old-fashioned thing anyone's ever done." She took them with a smile and went to put them in water. "Grab a seat, I'll be done in a few."

"Okay." He watched her go through the back door, the same one the woman he hoped he saw earlier go through.

A part of him felt guilty for being on this date because he kept thinking about his mysterious healer. Her face kept popping up in his head, and the memory of her touch that healed his hand and put him to sleep ghosted his skin. He has yet to erase the message she left on his board.

Leah returned to the bar to set the vase of flowers on the counter. She took one out to place in a single tall frosted bottle that was already filled with water. She set the single rose inside and propped it between them. 

She grabbed two beers and popped them open with an opener. She set one down in front of him. "For you." She headed to the cabinet behind the bar to wipe down some glasses that were used to serve earlier.

He thanked her by smiling and taking a few sips. Because of the super-soldier serum, alcohol did nothing to him. He still liked to think it helped calm his nerves, though.

"So, have you dated much since half the fish in the sea came back?" she decided to ask to break the ice.

"Not really," he answered honestly. "I, um... tried the whole online dating thing. It's pretty crazy. A lot of weird pictures."

She moved further down to put away the bowls this time, having already wiped them down before he came. "What kind of weird?" She glanced at him in curiosity.

"I mean, tiger photos?" He watched her come back closer. "Half the time, I don't even know what I'm looking at. It's... It's a lot." He took another sip out of the beer to occupy his mouth, not sure what else to add on.

She chuckled at his words, putting the rag down to grab her beer. "You sound like my dad." She took a few sips from hers as he hummed, clearly not offended that she was subtly calling him old. "Wait, how old are you?"

He did not miss a beat. "A hundred and six."

They both ended up laughing. She laughed because she thought he was joking. He laughed to play along into thinking he wasn't being serious.

"What's up with the gloves?" She nodded to them, noticing the leather material. It was springtime, not winter, and while the rain can be chilly, it was not freezing.

"I, um... hmm..." he looked down at them to come up with an excuse, "have, uh..." He clicked his tongue. "Poor circulation."

She hummed, nodding, accepting his answer.

Even though she took it, he did not feel it was good enough. When she looked away, he looked out the window behind him, making a face at his choice of a poor excused. His eyes followed the police car as it wailed behind, using it as an excuse for grabbing his attention.