Ascendent (Nephilim #1)

10. first date

The Institute

The porthole opened and we came through it, just in time for the power to ware off. "That could have went a whole lotta ways," Chris retorts. "Yeah. No kidding," Tyler agrees. "Ah. Glad to see everyone's back. Mic, so glad you could join us once again," Theo says as he holds out his hand. Dad grips his hand and replies, "didn't have much of a choice, now did I?" "Still as synical as ever," Theo says. Dane grips my hand and pulls me aside, "be ready by seven," he says and places a kiss on my head. "So, you finally got your Romeo," my dad says. "After tonight, I'll let you know," I reply. "Well, Dane seems like a fine young gentlemen. I just hope for his sake, he doesn't do anything to hurt you," my dad states. "I can take care of myself dad, thanks. But I have faith that if all goes well, he won't hurt me one bit," I reply. "Okay then, well, just be careful tonight, please," my dad states. "Of course," I say, with a genuine smile. Dad smiles and places a kiss on my head before heading off after Theo.

I get to my room and go straight to my closet, looking through my things for something to wear. I eventually pick a black jeans, a blue denim button up shirt and my black Nike Air Force sneaker. I run to the bathroom and undress, hoping into the shower.i open the tap and let the water run all over me. I soap myself up and wash. After showering and brushing my teeth, I headed out and get ready for tonight. When I was done with everything, including my hair, I looked at my watch and saw it was seven on the dot. There was a knock at my door and I grabbed my wallet and phone and opened the door. "Hey," I greeted, closing the door behind me and locking it. When I turn away from the door, Dane pulls me into a kiss. We stay like that for a few seconds, then he pulled away and greeted back, "Hey." I smiled and let him grab my hand and guide us to our destiny. We left the institute with everyone still staring at us, got into the car and drove away. "Why does everyone keep staring at us? You'd think they've never seen a same sex couple before," I said. "They've seen same sex couples, there are some at the institute. They've never seen me with anyone before, and you coming along, and us, it's a little strange." He explained. "Yeah, kinda guessed that," I replied. "Don't let it get to you, I have my reasons as to the way I am with you," he says, which makes me frown, but I quickly change my expression. Dane reaches for the radio and turns it on. The song that plays is "so good" by Louisa johnson. It suddenly struck me that I haven't done a cover for very long time, so I decide to sing a long. I look at Dane and see that he's smiling, that beautiful, warm smile of his. "I didn't know you could sing," he says. "Well now you do. Besides it's just something I do to pass time," I reply. He nods and I continue singing. A few minutes later the car stopped. I looked around and realised we were at the park. "I know it seems kind of cliché, but I know you gonna love it,"he explains. I nod and we get out of the car. He walks over to me and takes my hand and guides me through the park.

We walk for a couple of minutes, until we walk through a low having tree. When we reached the other side, we were met with a picnic blanket, a basket, two plates and two wine glasses. Around the lake was different coloured lights, in the shape of different wild animals. "It's amazing! Did you do this?" I look over at Dane. "Yes. I wanted to put a certain twist to a cliché date," he replies. I smile and nod, still somewhat speechless that he did this all for me. "Where did you get the lights?" I asked. "Mikey, he has loads of them," he replies. "The textpert," I say and he nods. We sit down on the blanket and Dane reaches into the basket and produces two small Tupperware. He opens up the first one and the smell of steak hits me. He opens the other and the smell of freshly cooked and buttered veggies intrude my nostrils. "That smells amazing,"I say. He just grins and picks up my plate and puts a piece of steak in it and some veggies and he does the same for him. He reaches Into the basket and pulls out two sets of knives and forks and places it in our plates. He takes out the wine and pours nicely into our glasses. We ate and spoke, getting to know each other. "Well I was born on the 2nd of September, 1995, in Crescent falls emergency hospital. I never knew my mom because she was killed by her best friend, during an epic war. My dad raised me amazingly and started training me since the age of five. Every chance we got to travel, we would go to people who could train me in different fighting styles and different techniques. He told me it's what his dad did for him. I guess even having an archangel as a dad doesn't give you a pass on hard labour. One day I came home and told my dad that I was gay. I thought he was going to blow a fuse but he didn't, he embraced me and told me that I was human, nothing else. I had one boyfriend, we were in a relationship for a year and half, and then we broke up. He told me he wasn't feeling it any more. I was hurt, but I already knew it wasn't gonna last, so I didn't think much about it. There was a day my dad and I were training and he stopped in the middle of training and told me that my greatest weakness was my good nature. I would always put everyone else above myself, whether it was life or death. He said it's what distracts me from the main task, which is defeating the enemy. I always thought he thought we lived in a dystopian world, where I'd be attacked by aliens or something. To my surprise, it actually is that way. The day I fought all those demons, I thought I was a dead man. I thought about how I would be failing my dad and everyone I brought into it. The you guys showed up and saved my ass, man was I lucky. When I first laid eyes on you, I couldn't compare anything else to the beauty I saw. The beauty that saved me, the beauty didn't give me butterflies but gave me the whole damn zoo. It was something I couldn't describe. You were just, amazing."
Dane looked at me while I explained everything, smiling then going serious, then smiling again.

"Well, there's not much to know about me. I was born on the 5th of August 1994, at the institute. My mom and dad raised me to pretty well from people who were mostly out hunting, protecting. Most of the kids at the institute were schooled there. We weren't allowed a normal life like other people, because we weren't normal. We taught that it was a weakness, because we learn to care for more things than we should. 'It is better to care for less than to care for all' we were taught. I came out to my parents when I was thirteen. My dad was disappointed in me, but soon he got over it because I proved, even though I liked other men, I was still a man. He soon excepted everything about me and we couldn't have been closer. One day I snuck out after some of the other guardians, on their protection detail on a family who had a big target on their heads. It was then when I laid in eyes on the most beautiful person ive ever seen. Of course his father gave him a run for his money, but the boy caught my interest. From that day on, I snuck out with those guys everytime. They would even call me before they left and told me to wait outside. I watched over the boy and they watched over the father. I watched every happy moment and sad moment he went through. I even got jealous most of the time. Then one day I knew I was falling for this boy. A few weeks ago, I saved this boy from the same creatures I watching out for all those years. I couldn't have felt more happier that he would be staying at the institute, near me. The day I first kissed him, it was magical, I knew i'd do whatever it took to make him like me, for him to be mine." I listened closely at how Dane described this family and this boy and knew, it was me right away. He liked me for a very long time now. "Why didn't you just sneak on up to me and tell me everything, it would've been  out little secret," I said. "I was allowed on protection detail on the condition I wouldn't interact with anyone. It was out of my hands," he explained.  I nodded and continued eating my food. When we were done, Dane packed the plates away and the glasses into the basket and put it aside. We laid down the blanket and looked up at the sky for a few minutes before be spoke. "I'm sorry I dropped that bomb on you. I just thought it would be better if I let it out," he said. "No, its not that it was bad, I just didn't know you liked me that much," I said turning onto my side to face him. He did the same and spoke. "I like you, Hunter, more than anything," he said. I stated into his eyes and just got lost in them. "Okay, prove it," I said. He brought his face towards mine and brought his lips onto mine. The kiss wasn't passionate and caring. Everything tuned out and the only thing I could focus on was Dane. The way he handled the kiss, the way he made me feel, safe and protected. When we pulled away he asked, "is that enough proof?" All I could do was nod and fall into his embrace and let him hold me. When I peeked over his shoulder, I realised we weren't the only couple at the spot and my cheeks flamed at the embarrassment. "Looks like we have company," I said. He turned his head and then looked back at me, "Good." He leaned forward and kissed me again. This time I pulled away and said, "slow down cowboy, more of that and we could be banned from the park." He chuckled and placed a kiss on my forehead. Then a couple got up and walked towards us. "Good evening," they greeted. "Good evening," Dane I replied. "Sorry, I couldn't help but come over here and congratulate you two. Most people don't agree with this, but my boyfriend and I have no problem. I think it's just the cutest thing," the girl explained. "Thanks. I just though we were probably making everyone feel uncomfortable," I said. "Hey. Don't worry about the anyone else. They don't know what it's like to be in your position. You just live a happy life," the guy responded. "That's what I keep telling him," Dane retorts. I punch him lightly on the arm, but couldn't suppress my grin. "I'm Lisa and this is jake, it was nice meeting yous," the girl introduced. "I'm Hunter and this is Dane. The pleasure is all ours," I respond. We talked for a few more minutes and then they left. Dane and I pack up and leave the park as well, heading back to the institute.