midnightstar

Since graduating from the Academy, life has been..interesting for Alisa, to say the least. She's been kept very busy, since she was upholding her promise to her mother on showing her the proper way to run the company, and it wasn't easy to put in those changes. Though it would have been a lot harder if she didn't have the support of those around her. But because of that, she hadn't been able to get time to get to visit Rean as much as she liked.

Translation: As much as she liked = every day. She did get to visit - or vice versa - at least on the weekend, and she talked to him almost every night thanks to the range on the ARCUS. Just as finished up for the night, she made her way up to the penthouse, glancing around to make sure she was alone (And you never know with Sharon) in order to take out her ARCUS once more and see if she could get a hold of Rean before bed. She was planning on seeing if he was in the area - alternatively, she was sure she could get away for a visit, if he wasn't busy.

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Alisa's face blossomed into a happy, relieved expression of her own. "I'm glad. You looked so tired when you got off the train." No, not tired, /beaten down/ might be a better phrase. Though when he mentions his 'concern' it might be a dream, she reached up to pinch his side - pretty hard. "How do you feel now?"

"Haha I guess I let it show more than I realized." Rean chuckled helplessly while his fingers tangled with Alisa's more intimately. That was until he hissed as she pinched him in the side HARD

"Ouch I walked right into that one didn't I?"

"It can't be helped, with everything that's going on. You're only one person, Rean, even with Valimar." At that hiss, she grinned sheepishly and rubbed his side where she had pinched him gently. "You did- but you can confirm you aren't dreaming now, right?" she pointed out, curling and uncurling her fingers in his hand.

"Yeah you're right." Rean chuckled helplessly before allowing himself to lean against her again.

"Mm yeah this is definitely real." He said with a nod while his hand instinctively squeezed Alisa's to his side wishing selfishly so that he could freeze this moment in time.

He could be selfish and wish he could freeze the moment in time forever all he liked - Alisa would be selfish and wish he could stay with her forever too. She had to fight against the urge to say as much, to say how much she wished he could stay close like this, but that would only make things difficult on Rean. That was the last thing she wanted to do.

All she could do for him right now was give him as much time to relax and recover from having to work for his dad as she could. She chuckled faintly, unconsciously nuzzling against him as he leaned against her, "Hmmm... anyway if it was a dream, then I'd never want to wake up." Because it would hurt too much when he wasn't there. As much as she told herself this was going to make their separation painful, she couldn't bring herself to distance herself. Unless he wanted that also that is, and it was pretty clear that's far from what he wanted.

She had him read perfectly. Rean was fully aware separation would hurt horrifically for both of them. But he did not have the will to deny that he needed this. He needed this if he was to make it back to her again. Even if it meant he would rack up a debt that would take a lifetime to repay.

"I...have to agree." Rean nodded gently and reached his lips up to Alisa's temple pressing them oh so tenderly but needily as well.

That was exactly what frightened her - that he'd find himself mired so deeply into his machinations that he isn't even recognizable as the man she fell for anymore. That he wouldn't come back to her because his spirit was so irreparably broken. She worried every time she called him, though she tried to keep him from knowing just how much. She didn't want to add to his concerns. If it meant she could protect even a small part of his heart, the pain of separation was a small price to pay.

Of course she was of the opinion that it was everyone else who owed Rean SO MUCH that it would take more than a lifetime to repay him for his help and kindness - but Rean was so humble, he wouldn't think of it that way. Still, when she felt his lips press against her temple so gently, her breath caught in her throat slightly and she tightened her grip on his hand, pressing into his side more. "Rean, I..." Ugh, it was hard to speak, "I ...was wondering..." Might as well ask him on the date while she had the nerve, right?

That was another fear that weighed heavily on his mind but it was one he could not battle on his own.

Because of his nature of deployment Rean was able to avoid both the good and the bad consequences of his appearance on the battlefield. As such he never got the thanks from anyone he saved outside the military nor did he have to face the jeers and anger and hatred for what he helped do.

Rean lingered like that for a while before Alisa finally found her words while she brought more of her weight to bear against him.

"Hm? Wonder what?"

As she searched for her words, she found herself absently curling her fingers around his. He might not feel able to protect anyone with his situation, but she still found him incredibly reassuring just being near him. "I was wondering...do...do you want to go out tomorrow...?" Wait, that sounds way too casual. "On a...a date...?" Wow it was surprisingly difficult to say that 'd' word. "Just for dinner or something...!" She's not sure what time he'll have to head back on the third day, so she wanted to squeeze the dinner in before theyran out of time.

For a moment Rean's world completely stops in time as he hears Alisa's stammered invitation. His eyes are wide and nothing short of complete shock can be seen on his face.

"A-A date? R-Really?" Hey how close was she to his heart right now. It was probably hammering in his chest something fierce right about now.

"I-I would be happy to accept!"

"W..well we've...never been on one..." She almost mumbled the words, blushing up a storm just from the invitation. Well there was the festival, but that wasn't really a -date- officially...

Her blush only grows more intense when he stammers his response. She was tense against his body the entire time, waiting, so when he accepts, she almost doesn't process it for a full minute. And then it dawns on her, and she relaxes immediately, grinning from ear to ear, "R-Really?" She exhaled in a rush, "Great! That'... that's great! I'm glad...so... yeah...!" Ahaha now she feels nervous around him again. But it was a good nervous. An excited nervous.

Goodness would you look at her now. She was almost brimming with happiness at his answer. It was just spending more time with him and maybe getting a bite to eat at a restaurant among maybe other simple things and yet she looked happier than he'd ever seen her. Even with the clear nervousness. It was cute to say the least. So much so he couldn't help but press his lips against those burning cheeks.

She couldn't help but be happy, it was her first official date with him, after all. She was on Cloud 9 and they hadn't even gone on the date yet. She fidgets a little nervously, though her grip on him only got more firm, her heartbeat racing just as much as his must have when she asked him on the date. At least she knows what she's going to wear already but she's going to need Sharon's help getting ready~!

Wait, wait, she's getting WAY ahead of herself. They still have breakfast, and then the secret project, and then she's going to make lunch for him and and a---her thoughts come to a crashing halt when she feels his lips against her cheeks, and she glances towards him, a little flustered, "Wha...what was that for...?" Not that she was against it - she just didn't think she did anything to call for it particularly!

That was certainly true. The two of them had never had the opportunity of a full blown honest to goddess date. Between the war and the early disbandment of the class itself, there was little wonder they had skipped a few steps.

Which also meant he didn't get near enough teasing of Alisa either. "Because you were so cute and charming I couldn't help myself~"

She gave a strangled noise, flustered by his assessment, "R-Rean...!" Maybe she should redefine the red shade in her face and call it Rean Red, because he's the one that made it get quite that intense of a shade. "I... I'm not the only one, you know..."

He would be quite flattered and flustered if she named a blush intensity in his name. Still he couldn't help himself regardless.

"Oh? I'm not sure I follow?" Surely she wasn't saying he was cute right?

Why yes, that's exactly what she was saying. Cute /and/ charming. But because he's dense she's going to have to spell it out isn't she? Hngg. "I-.. I mean that... you are too...c-cute -- ah, I mean...handsome... and charming..." Yep, she's RosyReanRed right now. If she were a tea kettle it'd be steaming like mad.

She actually said it. Rean was lost for a moment before leaning in to nuzzle against those red cheeks some more since she was blushing even more cutely. In fact Alisa would feel getting pulled even closer to his side as well before he tilted his lips down to her jaw this time.

She almost didn't - it was hard to get those words out! Ah - and then he's pulling her closer - oh Aidios her poor brain was being melted, more so when his lips tilted against her jaw. She let out a soft whimper in response, a hand reaching up to brush along his cheek.

"Mmm you really do bring out things in me even I didn't realize." Rean murmured with absolute reverence just before he put his hand up against the one she held to his cheek keeping her like that so intimately close as he always dreamed and wished he could if the world at large would allow it.

"Aidios..." Alisa murmured softly, "Rean..." Who knew she could love someone so much it physically hurt? "I feel so light-headed with you, I can't even think straight." She didn't -want- to think, to be honest, but not thinking was a very dangerous path to be on.

"Is that really so bad?" Rean asked softly, the mood around him turning strange though hardly in a bad way. The warmth and happiness was like water to his heart if he had been a traveler stranded in the desert. Maybe he was a bad influence after all. Or maybe Sharon's teasing had stirred something up deep down.

"I don't know," Alisa murmured just as softly, "But I don't think I want it to stop." She closed her eyes with a faint smile. "If I could just stay like this..." What is she even saying - she knows that's impossible, but... but... "I don't want to let you go..."

"I...don't want it to end either." But wanting things and life playing out along those lines was never so easy. Especially for the two of them. So instead they would have to take what few opportunities they could get. Of course that also meant there was more to do to make up for all the time apart from one another.

She looked at Rean again, her thumb gently stroking his cheek. It was true, they would have a lot of make up to do. They would be spending more time apart than together, unfortunately. "Then ...we'll just have to make the most of the time we have."