What Comes Next

Chapter 15: Leonardo

Chapter 15: Leonardo

Ever since Antionelle agreed to go out with me I couldn't help but fall harder for her everyday. When I'm with her the world stops and I'm not scared anymore. She talks about the strangest things and isn't afraid to speak her mind. You always know what's going on and never have to fear being judged, which is what I love about her.

"Marty, I'm going to skip dinner tonight. I've got plans." I say, hanging up my apron. "Another date? I'll have to meet this girl. It's nice to have the old Leo back." Marty says with a big grin. "You mean Leo used to always be like this," says Cara in mock surprise. "Like what," I throw back at her. "I don't know...nice, happy, human." I roll me eyes at her and she laughs, going back into the kitchen with a tray of dirty dishes. I'm almost out the door when Marty stops me.

"Oh hey! Roger came through, here's everything the detectives have." He rushes over to me with a manilla folder and says, "Good luck with the lady tonight." while winking. I gratefully accept the folder and go outside to my truck. I stare down at the papers in my lap, fighting curiosity. No. It's one week into December and tonight I have a little holiday joy in store for Antoinelle. I toss the folder into the glovebox and set off towards Starbucks, our official meeting place.

With a light snow starting to form outside, the warm coffee air has never been more inviting. "How is my lady tonight?" I say. "Cold. Very very cold." She replies shivering. "That's the down side of having a motorcycle." "Yeah, but it still looks cooler." She retorts. "Whatever. Where is it anyway?" I say noticing it's absence from the parking lot. "I didn't ride today actually. I walked. I didn't want to risk hurting her."

"Well that explains a lot. Are you insane! You could've asked me to pick you up." I say staring at her with disbelief. She shakes her head and brushes off the question. "Shall we." She gestures towards the line. "We shall."

After ordering two hot chocolates we run to the car and I turn on the heater. Driving with one hand and holding hers in the other, we make our way to the lakeside park to watch them turn on the Christmas Lights. From the warmth of my car, we sip our hot chocolate while spectating as reindeer and penguins brighten the night.

'Rudolph the Red Noise Reindeer' plays on the radio and we sing along, changing the words as we go. When the song finishes she snorts and quickly covers her mouth. "It's okay. It's cute." She blushes and looks away towards the colorful display outside. After a few minutes I notice that she's still cold. I scoot over and pull her into a hug. She takes a sip of hot chocolate and a dot whip cream gets on her nose. I take a napkin and wipe it away. She freezes as we lock eyes and tightens up, expecting me to pull away. "Not this time." I say softly.

~

Loki greets us at my apartment door, beyond excited to see more than one person - double the attention. The little floof is almost as adorable as Antoinelle. Almost. As she rubs his belly, talking to him in a voice I've only heard used around the youth center babies, I walk over to my small, but oh so precious movie collection on a shelft next to the TV. She comes around me and stares at the selections, "Marvel nerd?" She asks sweetly causing me to blush. "Yeah." I turn to her with great concern, "Wait...You're not a DC person are you?" Looking at me with equal intensity she replies, "That depends...Is Tony Stark a genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist?

I smile and pull her in front of me, "Pick your preference," I say. Scanning the title she settles on Thor. We settle down on the couch, Loki having inserted himself into the middle. When Tom Hiddleston shows up on the screen I point to him and say, "Look boy, it's the human you." By the time the movie ends its close to midnight. I get up to take the disc out as she yawns and looks down at her lap. "How do I..." Loki as fallen asleep on her and she's reluctant to wake him. "You can move him, but not without waking him up." She frowns. "I guess I'm stuck then."