Chocolate Cake

[raydensharpola]

"You know I don't mean it in that way." He frowned at her. "And like I said I didn't mind it at all. Hyne I shouldn't have to repeat myself. You just have to remember that I'm here for you anytime of the day that pleases you." He picked up his own clothes and pulled them on. He grinned, holding an arm out for her to hook into. "I'll just leave the picnic mat here, so that some poor soul that forgot to bring one can use it. Picnic mat isn't exactly fine restaurant dress code."

[Stella]

Thankful that he hadn't caught on or didn't mention the crying part she looped her arm through his leaning on him a little as they headed towards town leaving their picnic mat behind.

"Sorry... sorry.. but if that's the case you still owe me a toilet cleaning" she said as he steered her towards a row of restaurants. The sun was starting to set in the distance and Balamb was starting to light up.

"Where do you want to go?" she said fidgeting against him a little gazing at the all the restaurants to chose from.

[waterlily43]

"Anytime." He grinned down at her. "I'll clean your toilet and then you'll have to treat me to a meal fit for a prince." He smirked.

When they reached Balamb Town, they looked down the row of little restaurants, all beckoning at his empty stomach with attractive displays and mouth-watering smells.

"I know a cosy place with good food." He took her hand in his and led her towards a charming restaurant with a chalkboard outside, specialties of the day scribbled on with various coloured words. It wasn't the kind with stiff upper-lip Maitre D's but one where the owner/cook and wait staff called regular customers by their first names.

He pushed the door open, a little jingle announcing their arrival.

"Well if it isn't our biggest customer." The potbellied and jovial owner came towards them beamed at Rayden, clapping an arm on his mid-back, being too short to reach his shoulder. "Rayden my boy! Haven't seen you in a long time. What my place too small for you now that you're an Adel-slayer?" He looked at Stella with twinkling eyes. "I haven't seen him bring in a girl for such a long time. You must be special."

Rayden rolled his eyes.

"Just go....cook or something. Your customers are waiting!"

He led Stella to one of the seats by the window, quickly pulling out the chair for her then situating himself across from her.

"So what do you think of this?" He asked, gesturing around him. "I've been eating here since I was a teenage Garden Cadet. You'll fall in love with it, I guarantee it."
--------

picture of restaurant

[Stella]

Her grin was probably a mile wide when the owner of the restaurant turned his happy gaze on her. He seemed like a really nice man and this seemed like a really nice place. Special?... well I can live with that... she thought as Rayden shooed the man away.

She gazed around as he led her to a table trying to take it all in. For some reason she knew that tonight was a night she would want to remember. It was a pretty little place with fancy white table clothes and gorgeous paintings on the walls.

"It's gorgeous, I'm falling in love with it all ready. Trust you to know all the best places to eat" she said smiling across at him as she pulled her napkin into her lap. Looking away from him she gazed out the window for a few moments the smile lingering on her lips. Her cheeks were starting to hurt from all the smiling she was doing today.

"So what's good to eat here... and don't say everything" Stella grinned looking back at him stretching her leg out a little to rest against his under the table.

[waterlily43]

Rayden grinned when he felt her leg brush against his. He slipped his foot out of his flipflop and tickled her ankle with his big toe.

"Hmmm let's see." He frowned mock-seriously as if he didn't just do a very improper thing. "Actually everything is good around here, but I always order their rack of lamb. If you're afraid of the smell you there's also the Ribeye Steak, Shrimp Crepe with mashed potatoes, Rosemary Chicken, Grilled Fish in mystery sauce...you know I'm just about to rattle off the whole menu. But nothing tastes bad, if it does I'll scold the chef." He grinned at her. "Happy with my recommendations?"

"OHHHH IT'S REALLY HER! STELLA ARTOS!" A queer-sounding male voice disrupted their space, assaulting from the table behind. A male dressed in a Garden Cadet uniform minced forward with a marker poised in his hand. "I'M A HUUUUGE FAN OF YOURS STELLA ARTOS! MAY I HAVE AN AUTOGRAPH? SIGN IT ON MY SHIRT SIGN IT ON MY SHIRT!" He exclaimed excitedly, almost pushing the marker in her face.

[Stella]

Giggling she squirmed her foot away as he tickled her ankle. Shaking her head she vowed to get him for that later. Then turnin her attention to him she listened to him rattle off about half of the menu her mouth positively watering. It seemed she was a lot more hungry then she thought.

"I think I might try..." her words were cut off suddenly.

"OHHHH IT'S REALLY HER! STELLA ARTOS! I'M A HUUUUGE FAN OF YOURS STELLA ARTOS! MAY I HAVE AN AUTOGRAPH? SIGN IT ON MY SHIRT SIGN IT ON MY SHIRT!"

She jerked her head back as the marker very nearly hit her in the nose. Can I just die right now? Please? Things were going so well and now this guy had to interrupt them. Did she really have fan boys? This was too much.

"Whoa there" Stella said in a smooth voice smiling up at the Cadet. His eyes were wide and sparkling and he looked like a puppy about to get a treat. She would do just about anything to get rid of this guy right now.

"Well I guess since you asked so nicely..." Stella said carefully taking the marker from him and glancing across the table at Rayden. He looked extremely smug sitting there. Standing a little she leaned in and scribbled her name across the shoulder of his shirt.

Suddenly before she could move away he grabbed her and drew her in for a sloppy kiss.

[waterlily43]

"HEY!" Rayden shot up from his chair, his face almost twisted with rage. How dare this self-proclaimed fan just barge in between them? AND HE KISSED HER. HE FUCKING PUT HIS LIPS ONTO THE SACRED SANCTUARY FOR HIM THAT WAS STELLA'S LIPS.

With a growl he grabbed the cadet by the collar, dragged him towards the door and threw him out of the restaurant.

"Rayden that guy hasn't paid his bill yet!" One of the waitresses came up to him, having witnessed the whole scene. In fact the entire clientele of the restauran was staring at him.

"I'll pay for his fucking bill." Rayden muttered, going back to their table his head drooped shamefully. This was supposed to be a nice meal with Stella and he had to blow it by creating a scene.

"I'm sorry." He said, still bowing his head as he sat down.

[Stella]

Stella was getting ready to give the cadet a solid punch in the eye when he was ripped away from her. Her eyes grew wide as she watched Rayden tossed the young man out of the restaurant. As he stalked back to the table she saw a couple near by staring at them. She gave them one of her best fuck off looks and turned her attention back to Rayden as he dropped into his chair.

"I'm sorry." He said looking down.

"I'm not" she said with a grin leaning over and bumping his chin with the back of her hand to raise his head. He looked so cute sitting there all droopy.

"If you hadn't done it I probably would have and like you said I'm not allowed exert myself, not when you're around" Stella smiled at him and took a long drink of water to wash the cadet taste off her mouth.

"It wouldn't have been very lady like for me to give that guy a black eye" she carried on casually turning her attention back to the menu hoping to put him at ease.

[waterlily43]

"Yes but it would've scared him off." Rayden finally cracked a small smile. It would've been amusing to see Stella land a punch on that cadet. But like she said she shouldn't have to do any work as long as he was around. "Remind me to disinfect your lips later." He smirked. "Can't have any bacteria lingering around."

He touched her with his bare toe again.

"So have you decided yet?" He looked at her eyes which were scanning the menu. "Or why don't we just order everything on the menu." He snickered.

[Stella]

"But what would I eat?" she smirked playfully feeling his toe on her again. Carefully she slid her foot out of her boot and ran it along the back of his leg teasingly. He had a bit of sand lingering there and she grinned as she rubbed it off.

"I'll have the Rosemary Chicken" Stella winked at him, "you can eat the rest of the menu"

"And you can disinfect my lips any time you'd like... as long as you kiss them after" she said in a sexy voice giving him a wink as her foot slid along his leg.

[waterlily43]

He shivered slightly enjoying the feel of her foot against his leg.

"Hey I don't mind." He smirked. "And when I say disinfect I meant kissing you so that you'd forget allllll about what that effing cadet did."

"You guys..." The waitress approached them with a barely-concealed grin on her mouth. "You better behave yourselves. This is a family restaurant you know." She laughed, poising her pen over an order form. "So what'll you have?"

"A Rosemary chicken for this lovely lady and Rack of Lamb, Crepe Suzette, Chicken Garden Salad, Cream of Mushroom and Chicken, Brownies with Vanilla Ice-cream and a tall glass of iced-tea." He turned to Stella. "Anything else milady?"

[Stella]

"I'll..uhh.. just have a hot tea to go with the chicken, thanks" Stella said still some how surprised at the grocery list of food Rayden had just rambled off. No wonder he got attributed nick names like Bottomless Stomach Bag.

The waitress nodded and took their menus heading back into the kitchen. Stella could imagine all of the cooks moaning and slapping their heads when they head Rayden was in attendance tonight.

"That guy was trying to french me you know, if your really going to disinfect me you might have to try as well" she said with a playful serious tone in her voice gazing across the table at him leaning forward a bit so she could rub her smooth leg against his.

[waterlily43]

His anger rose once again at the mention of the cadet trying to french Stella. But it dissipated just as quickly with a jolt when he felt her smooth skin against his leg.

"Stella." He half-squeaked. "We should reserve that for private spaces. Not in the middle of a restaurant!" He started sweating a little. Sometimes she shocked him with her daring, but it was a pleasant shock.

[Stella]

"Okay, okay" she agreed leaning back in her chair letting her leg linger against his for a moment before she slid it away. She felt almost empty without the physical contact with him.

"I wasn't suggesting we start making out right here in the restaurant anyway" Stella whispered sticking her tongue out at him. Her foot found its way back to her boot and she slid it on, "I am a lady after all... mostly"

"So" she said lamely looking out the window for a moment, "that kind of stuff must happen to you all the time... the cadet I mean"

Her hand itched to reach out and touch him but she ignored it. If he wanted her to be a good girl while they were in public then she would try her very best.

[waterlily43]

"Well I have had a few fangirls coming up to me, but none of them are that bold." He twisted his head trying to peer into her face, which was turned towards the window. "And I won't even entertain them now."

The food arrived before them, fresh from the stove and positively glowing in Rayden's eyes. Along the way from Balamb Beach his appetite had started to wake up and now it was a full blown affair growling in his stomach.

He digged into his chicken salad with childish fervour, taking a huge bite from his fork and chomping with a blissful expression.

"You just wait, Princess. I'll have you well-fed and pampered before long."