A Swirling Vortex. An Uzumaki

[Ardeen Medraut]

He relaxed when she ran her hand through his hair. It was too long since someone did that and he was always weak about people playing with his hair. He did grumble a bit when she said she's not taking it back, so he got up and popped it in a drawer and locked it. That was before he turned red when she whispered in his ear. Goodness, he was weak with this one. He did put his t-shirt back on, feeling a bit embarrassed at constantly being shirtless around her. Which wasn't his intention at all. He just takes it off when he washes up and last night was a fluke. At least that's what he thought. And hoped.

"Um...wha' does it mean ta represen' ye in poker? I've never played" He asked when he came back to start looking at the bike. He blinked, even more confused when he didn't find anything wrong with it at first glance. "An' wha' did ye say was wrong with yer bike again? The mos' I see wrong is the tank's cap is missin', but it's not on..." He looked at her, curious on what her answer was about the bike. It looked brand spanking new, so either the person scammed her or something happened when she was riding it for it be messed up.

[Morgan Faye]

Morgan grinned. "I'm just saying I don't want you playing poker on my behalf just in case you lose your shirt at the betting table too."

She started to flush when he asked about what was wrong with the bike. If she was being honest, she was a little embarrassed that she had bought this bike and pretended it had an issue just to have another reason to be at the shop. It was silly, in retrospect. She didn't need the excuse, it was obvious given Ardeen's response to her arrival. Still, in the moment, she felt she needed something, just in case.

"O-oh. Is that what this is?" she said weakly, pulling the cap out of her pocket. "It fell off on the way here, and it, uh, was making strange noises. I wasn't sure what was wrong with it so I brought it here. I figured you'd know much better than I would."

She picked up the sketchbook she'd just bought, and buried her face in it to hide her embarrassment. She couldn't resist peeking over the top of it at Ardeen while he bent over the bike, though.

She cleared her throat in an attempt to change the subject. "So are you going to ask?"

Ardeen Medraut

[Ardeen Medraut]

He snorted and shook his head at her teasing and watched with a slow grin on how red she got. He walked over with a wide smile when she pulled out the cap and soon hid her face behind his sketchbook. Oh, this was perfect. This little whirlwind of a woman bought a whole ass bike and then fibbed so that she has an excuse to see him. She probably never even ridden on one and she did it so that she could come see him. If he wasn't already falling for her, this would have made him swan dive from the edge with how endearing it was.

He stepped between her legs and reached up to pluck the sketchbook to set it aside. His hands rested on her upper thighs, near her hips, and he looked at her with a soft smile and warm eyes before one hand reaches up to grasp her chin so that he could give her a sweet kiss. He pulled away from the kiss and tilted his head a bit.

"You are one amazing woman. A dynamite gal, if I have ta quote my favorite movie." His voice was breathless. "There's nothin' wrong with yer bike. Ye probably bough' it no' even an hour earlier, jus' so you could see me. He'll, do ye even know how ta ride one? Morgan...ye have no idea how much tha' means ta me. You beautiful and grogeous woman...would ye do me the honor an' go on a date with me? I'd like ta ge' ta know the woman I'm fallin' hard fer." He smiled, a bit pink around the cheeks and a bit shy. Granted, this wouldn't how he normally would ask someone out, but it just felt right for him to ask her like that. She just...felt right to him. In a way that others came close to, but never reached. Maybe...maybe she was the one he was hoping for. That he dreamed about when he was a little boy after hearing about the family curse.

[Morgan Faye]

Morgan's ears burned as he came over to her. She trembled at his touch. Not a tremble of fear, but of anticipation, of longing. She was falling hard and she liked it. Her eyes drifted closed at his kiss, only to be opened again and lost in his when he pulled away.

She smiled as he picked apart exactly what was going on with her new bike, and finally got an offer of a date. "It took you long enough to ask, hammer boy. Maybe you can show me how that thing I bought works, too. I was worried the sketchbook wasn't going to be reason enough to come back and see you."

Reaching up, she ran both hands through his hair before pulling him in for another soft kiss before wrapping him in a hug, resting her head on his shoulder. Oh, she could just stay like this all day. With this wonderful man she just met the night before. Her mind boggled at the speed.

Across the shop, she could see Myku collecting more cash from other shop members, so she winked and mouthed "You're welcome" at the other woman.

After a good solid moment of just enjoying being with him, she hummed and broke the silence. "Mmm. So where are we going on this date?"

Ardeen Medraut

[Ardeen Medraut]

Ardeen grinned "You don' have ta have a reason to come here." He wanted her to come whenever she wanted. She doesn't need a reason to come over, she just can. "Whenever ye wan', ye can stop by fer however long ye wan'" he smiled, hands going under her shirt and just resting on her waist.

He practically melted when she ran her hands through his hair. His eyes fell shut and he let out a pleased noise at the touch, not at all minding the few tugs from curls tangling around her fingers. He enjoyed the touch, he always had. Kissing her again was just the cherry on top with her hands being in his hair. He stepped closer, hips pressed against the table and wrapped his arms around her waist, effectively pulling her and pressing her against his body, trapping her in the hug. He pressed his face against her neck and just felt so soft and in right bliss at the simple comfort. Goodness he was in heaven. He had to be. No sane person goes this fast in a relationship, or feel this safe in a simple hug from someone who's basically a stranger. But...he did. She felt like home and felt so damn safe. He doesn't believe he could let go of her anytime soon.

Myku smiled softly at the pair, gaining more cash from the rest of the crew, much to their chagrin. Granted, they were close to Ardeen, but not as close to him like she was. She's been in that man's life since he first stumbled into Astaira and needing a place to work. Hell, she basically adopted the boy after he had a mental breakdown and came to her not long into his first year on American soil. That night was a rough one, but they got through it and he spent the night in her bed, clinging to her like a little one to their momma after a nightmare. It was that night that she knew she'd protect this little dumbass and defend him when he couldn't defend himself. And she did. Oh, she did for years to come after that night. She had a good feeling about the petite woman practically hidden in her cupcake's arms. She just hoped that Uzumaki is as strong as a hurricane to withstand and plow through the crazy and stupid shit her boy thinks when he spirals. She should be fine.

Ardeen hummed against her neck and tightened his hold on her, not allowing her to leave his arms or pull away. "Thinkin' a date at this mom'n'pops place a few stree's down from here." He mumbled, very content in where he's at. "Or upstairs fer me ta make you somethin'. A good firs' date, ye know?" He bit back a yawn and remained pliant and happy in her arms. "...is i' bad tha' I don' wan' ye ta leave anytime soon? An' tha' I wanna see wha' yer cuddlin's like if yer hugs feel like home?" He whispered against her neck and decided to press a light kiss against her pulsepoint before happily humming and hiding his face against the crook of her neck again.

[Morgan Faye]

Morgan knew that she was always going to have a reason to stop by the shop now, regardless of the state of her bike. That reason was named Ardeen Medraut.

She just couldn't stop smiling as she just melted into his arms. She'd heard stories about love at first sight. Although if you wanted to get technical, it hadn't happened at first sight. First sight involved Mimi and Blutiren ready to go at each other at one wrong move, looks be damned.

He'd made all the right moves, though. Everything he did made her feel safe and warm. He made her tea. He took care of her head wound, which was still bruised, although she had it nicely covered with makeup, a skill she'd developed early on in her crime-fighting career. He fixed her helmet. He defended her against those thugs, even though it probably would have been easier for him to just sell her out and let her deal with it. A lesser man, a man that was more of coward might have done that.

Not him. He stayed. She had no doubt he would have started swinging Mimi had things gone south. And she was pretty sure she loved him for that. And not just for that, either.

Still though. A date. They needed to get to know each other better. "Those both sound wonderful. I'll follow wherever you lead."

She slid her arms up his back and just nestled her hands in his hair. He seemed to like that, and she liked doing it. She hummed right back, making this resonance between the two of them. "It doesn't feel like home to me. My home is cold and lonely. Empty rooms, sterile, dusty. You feel warm. You feel like the exact opposite of lonely. You feel like what home should be."

She slid her head back a little so she could look into those eyes again. "Maybe you can show me how to ride that excuse I bought on a second date."

Ardeen Medraut

[Ardeen Medraut]

Ardeen melted in her arms when her hands returned to his hair, absolutely limp in her hold and having an unconscious smile on his lips. He frowned a bit at her remark on what her home was like and decided to have the first date be at home, where he can give her the cooking that he learned from his nana and aunties.

He blinked and looked up at her, tilting his head so he could properly see her and giving her a smile. "Well...I could give ye a ride or two until then?" He offered. "An' I can show you wha' home should be like. Think we'll have the firs' date here. Movie nigh', some food me nana taugh' me how ta make, tea...think it'll be good" He shrugged, eyes crinkling at the edges from his smile.

"If you're fine with being with me fer a few hours, tha' is. Maybe an overnigh' stay if it ge's too late an' ye don' wanna go home." He mumbled, lost in thought on what he'd make for dinner for her. Freshly made bread and butter, maybe something with red meat? Or fish? Should he do a stew? Would pasta be too cheesy? Or maybe some pot roast and veggies. Goodness, when was the date? He should buy some ice cream. Or make some. Eh, but making it takes too much time. Does she even like meat?

"Do you have any preference in food? An'...do you wanna do the date maybe this Friday?" he asked, looking up at her green eyes. Eyes that reminds him of the fields he'd run through as a child. Goodness, they're so bright... "Tha' is if ye don' have anythin' ta do tha' day?"

[Morgan Faye]

Morgan shook her head softly. “I have no food preferences. I’ve liked everything I’ve tried, really.”

She made a disappointed whine when he said the day. “That’s so far away! I don’t know if I can survive that long without you. Not anymore.” It was only two days, but she just knew they would feel like an eternity.

She nestled her head back against his neck, feeling a little bad she was keeping him from his work. “A compromise. I get to come over and watch you work while I do my homework today and tomorrow. That fair?”

Her phone dinged, and without letting go of Ardeen, she pulled it out and looked at it. “Lucan found your account, you have now been officially paid for the sketchbook.”

Ardeen Medraut

[Ardeen Medraut]

Ardeen chuckled and stood up properly so he's not leaning against her. It was cute to see her pout and whine at having to wait, much like a child with Christmas. He pulled her closer and nestled her under his chin when she tucked her head against his neck. He looked back at the car he was working on and saw that the baby of the group, Turtwig, was finishing up for him. He looked at Myku in confusion and smiled at her when she gave him the signal to get out of the shop and that she'll look over. It's not often that she takes over, but he found it sweet when she throws him out of his own shop for his own good.

Apparently, she wanted him gone today for Morgan's sake. At least that's what he hoped. They're definitely getting snickerdoodles and other goodies tomorrow. "How about this, instead" He murmured, focusing back on Morgan. "How about you watch me work tomorrow, we have the actual date Friday and have a mini date today? ...Maybe by goin' ou' and teachin' ye how ta ride the bike you bough'?" He offered. "Apparently Myku's kicking me out of my shop for the day."

He groaned at the reminder of the money for his sketchbook and let his head fall back. "I still think ye spen' way too much money on me an' my 5 year ol' sketchbook." He grumbled, looking up at the sky above him. "...I'll drop it in me rainy day accoun' and use the check ta finish off my shop's paymen's an' maybe...possibly buy the apar'men'? Or go visi' me family back home...Eh, mos' likely will go into the rainy day accoun' after the shop." He mumbled, lost in thought on the bills he needed to pay, the date on Friday, Morgan against his neck, Morgan herself and the mini date today.

[Morgan Faye]

Morgan went from soft and cuddly to excited and energized when he brought up the mini-date. She caught Myku making some hand motion or something and resolved that that woman was going to get a spectacular Christmas present from her.

Morgan gave Ardeen another quick kiss. “That sounds amazing. Show me everything. I’ve never driven anything, really.”

She paused and looked confused when he talked about buying the apartment. “You don’t own the place you live?”

She knew “rent” was a thing but she didn’t realize how common of a thing it was. She made a mental note to look into the apartment and maybe surprise him with it later. Maybe a Christmas present for him, that was coming up.

She worried again for an instant that they were moving too fast. That there were possibly things about each other that hadn’t come up yet that would painfully tear them apart.

She pushed those thoughts away. That was a problem for a later time. Right now, she was going to chase this good feeling, and it led straight to Ardeen.

She reluctantly let go of Ardeen and slid off the bench, moving toward the bike. “Vehicles start with keys, right?”

Ardeen Medraut