A Quaint, Italian Date (Closed)

[Cypher]

Doug, decked out in black slacks, white button-down, black blazer and a tie, waited in the front hall of the Institute for Kitty. He knew, after a day of research, precisely where he wanted to take her, and his wallet was tucked securely into his back pocket. A taxi was waiting outside, waiting to take them into New York City.

When Kitty finally came down the stairs, he beamed, feeling like the luckiest guy in the world. She was draped in a silver and black dress with polka dots intertwined through the layers of skirt that came to below her knees. On her feet, she wore high heels, black, with pointed toes. If Doug were being honest with himself, he'd have to say they didn't look comfortable. He didn't say anything, though; he merely smiled and held out his arm, serious instead of mocking this time, and led her out to the cab.

********

During the ride, Kitty kept pushing Doug to tell her where they were going, but he wouldn't budge. The cabbie just smirked from the front seat and drove them to a quaint little Italian restaurant in the heart of New York City.

Doug, who had made reservations earlier that day, held the door for Kitty, the perfect gentleman. He would be on his best behavior tonight; not one drink, he'd promised himself. Weird things tended to happen when Doug drank.

[Shadowcat]

((OOC: Set a couple days after A Time For Rest, on New Year's Eve, 2008.))

Kitty hoped she would never forget the way Doug had looked at her as she came down the stairs that night. She had managed to make it all the way to the restaurant without falling in those heels, but she was sure it would happen before the night was out. Doug seemed to have all the details covered, and everything from the way he looked in his jacket and tie to the way he held the door open for her made her giddy.

She couldn't imagine how he had managed to pull this together at the last minute, but she decided to just go with the flow and enjoy it.

[Cypher]

Doug, Kitty on his arm, entered the restaurant, greeting the matre d' in fluent Italian. The man smiled and asked if he could take their jackets. Doug gave him his, but only because the room was warm. He asked for a private setting, in a cozy nook near the fire. Doug pulled Kitty's chair out for her. "Mi amor?" he asked, smiling.

[Shadowcat]

Kitty gaped at Doug, this was the first time she had really seen him use his ability. She pulled her jacket off, exposing her shoulders and sat in the chair he offered her. "This is..." she looked around, awe struck, "amazing, Doug. I can't believe it!"

[Cypher]

Doug smiled at her reaction. He'd been a bit nervous at first, but she had told him she liked Italian, so he had done his homework; it was amazing the loopholes one could find if one spoke fluent language of another. "I'm glad you approve," he said quietly, taking his seat across from her.

[Shadowcat]

Kitty leaned forward, her eyes still wide and her face serious. "I more than approve, I... I don't know what to say, nobody's ever done anything like this for me."

[Cypher]

Doug, slightly embarrassed, looked down, smiling. "I'm glad I could be the first, then," he said.

[Shadowcat]

Kitty reached out for his hand. "It means a lot, Dougie. Thank you." She said, smiling warmly.

[Cypher]

He looked up into her chocolate brown eyes, and he thought he felt his heart stop for a moment. She was so beautiful there, under the light of candles, and he thought how stupid anyone would have to be to give this angel up. Tonight, he wouldn't think about her schedule and her training; tonight, he would only think about her. Taking up her hand, he gently kissed her knuckles, caressing them with his thumb. "You deserve the world, gatita," he murmured.

[Shadowcat]

Tears welled up in Kitty's eyes. She looked away and wiped at them with her free hand. "C'mon, Doug." She said through an embarrassed laugh.

[Cypher]

Doug smiled, but he held back from anymore sweet-talking...at least, until they were completely alone. He released her hand and nodded toward the menu. "Order anything you like, Kit Kat," he said. "It's on me."

[Shadowcat]

Kitty loved Italian food, but had never been to such an authentic place. She looked down at the menu, scanning for anything that seemed familiar. "Um... I can't really read the menu, this place is really Italian." She looked back up at him and smiled. "Can you order for me?"

[Cypher]

He chuckled indulgently. "Okay," he said. When the waiter came by, he spoke English with a heavy Italian accent. "Good evening, signora e signor," he greeted. "May I take your order?" Doug smiled and ordered the eggplant Parmesan for Kitty and the Fettuccine Alfredo for himself, his speech and accent once again fluent and perfect Italian. He was tempted to order a bottle of champagne as well, but decided on virgin beverages instead.

The waiter nodded and disappeared with their order.

[Shadowcat]

Kitty was once again amazed by Doug's verbal talents. "That is amazing. Seriously. I can't believe you don't think you have a cool power!" Kitty unfolded her napkin and laid it across her lap.

[Cypher]

"Not as cool as walking through walls," he said, laughing quietly. Somewhere off above them, a violin began to play, a slow, Italian love song. Doug spied a few other couples starting to dance as they waited for their meals. Figuring it couldn't hurt, he held out his hand. "Would you like to dance, Miss Pryde?"