A Fancy Italian Restaurant on the Mainland, Tuesday Evening

[so_hawkward]

Well, the impossible had happened. Clint had officially managed to convince Kitty to date him for three solid years. Of course, he'd also convinced her to marry him, but tonight was about their dating anniversary, and he was trying not to think about how this might be the last time they celebrated this anniversary as they sat down at their table.

"Ooh, they've got real candles on the tables. Now I'm glad I wore a tie," he said.

[For the lady! NFB due to distance.]

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[throughaphase]

"And here I thought you got to stop trying to impress me when I said yes," Kitty teased, looking around.

[so_hawkward]

"Yeah, I don't think I'm ever going to stop trying to impress you," Clint said. "It's fun, most of the time. Especially when I get food out of it."

[throughaphase]

"Aww, that's sweet," Kitty smiled. "Especially since I won't turn down food ever."

[so_hawkward]

"See, that's why we get along so well. We're both motivated by the same thing," Clint said. "Well, maybe more things than just food."

Sorry Kitty, his mind just went to dirty places automatically.

[throughaphase]

"I have no idea what you could be talking about," Kitty totally and obviously lied.

[so_hawkward]

"Of course not, you're a good person. I can explain myself fully later when we're alone," Clint said with a smirk.

[throughaphase]

"It's kinda mean to promise that at the beginning of dinner when we're nowhere near home," she warned.

[so_hawkward]

"Now you have something to look forward to beyond dessert. I'm just trying to keep you interested," Clint said. "I'd hate for you to get bored after all these years."

[throughaphase]

"And here all this time I thought I should keep you from getting bored," Kitty said, only half-joking. "Boredom will probably not be an issue with us."

[so_hawkward]

"Unfortunately, you're probably right. Hopefully, it'll be more fun than terrible things keeping us from being bored," Clint said. "And fewer invasions of aliens would be nice."

[throughaphase]

"Yes, fewer invasions, less drama," she agreed. "Let's aim for like... I don't know, adorable kid stuff and travel or something. That's normal, right?"

[so_hawkward]

"That's certainly our normal. Which isn't so bad, really," Clint said. "If I can be goofy for a minute, I figure this is a good time to say I didn't expect you to be part of my normal life when I came to Fandom."

[throughaphase]

"Weren't expecting to snag a great girl like me?" she asked, but she was genuinely curious.

[so_hawkward]

"Definitely not. I wasn't thinking about snagging anyone. I was just thinking about being shipped away from New York for my own good," Clint said. "Things turned out a lot better than I expected, that's for sure."

[throughaphase]

"I didn't exactly expect you, either," Kitty admitted. "And then you had to be all hot and turn out to be a great match..."

[so_hawkward]

"Right, because I was the one running around in leather pants," Clint teased. "You kind of made yourself irresistible."

[throughaphase]

"You were shirtless and dripping in my bar," she reminded him. "I was really anti-dating until then."

[so_hawkward]

"Because your bar sent me to the lake," Clint pointed out. "I mean, it's a useful spell, but still."

[throughaphase]

"Because you decided to test it out," Kitty reminded him. "I was sure you were doing it just to torture me."

[so_hawkward]

"I was doing it because I didn't believe you. Then I figured you knew what would happen and just wanted to see me wet," Clint said. "Which I still don't mind, but don't get any ideas."

[throughaphase]

"What if I get ideas for later?" Kitty wondered. But she always had ideas for later.

[so_hawkward]

"Weeell that depends, am I going to be the only one soaking wet?" Clint asked. "If you're planning on drowning me, I'd like a heads up."

[throughaphase]

"I would never drown you on our anniversary," she promised. "We could both be wet, if you want."

[so_hawkward]

"This is going to be the best dating-anniversary ever," Clint said. "Now who's the one doing the spoiling?"

[throughaphase]

"Anniversaries should really be about mutual spoiling," Kitty said. "It's only right."

[so_hawkward]

"Have I told you recently that I love the way you think?" Clint said, laughing softly. "I mean, I love you in general, but your brain specifically."

After all this time, at least the L-word was easier to say.

[throughaphase]

"I love you too. And it's a good thing you do, since you're gonna be stuck with me and my brain for a very long time."

[so_hawkward]

"We're going to have a different anniversary then. Or an additional one, if you want to keep celebrating this one. Or eloping is still an option." Not that wedding planning was making him nervous or anything.

[throughaphase]

"We can do something for both anniversaries," Kitty said. "i thought we decided no on eloping."

[so_hawkward]

"Yeah, I know. I was kidding, mostly," Clint said. "It's just kind of daunting. I don't know how anyone who's really busy gets married."

[throughaphase]

"That's why we're taking it easy," she said, reaching for his hand over the table. "It'll be worth it when we actually do it. Or when I get my dress."

[so_hawkward]

"Oh, that's going to be nice. Wait, I'm not allowed to see it until the day, never mind," Clint said, shaking his head. "Are you going to take people shopping with you? Maybe you should take Derek and you can pick out dresses together."

[throughaphase]

"I think Rachel and Ororo," she said, and there was always a little part of her that wished she had Illyana around for this. "Derek and I like don't talk anymore. I've seen him maybe twice this year, so that might be weird."

[so_hawkward]

"Aww, I'm sorry," Clint said genuinely. "Are Rachel and Ororo going to listen to you, or is it going to be like those women on Say Yes to the Dress who try to convince their friends to buy something weird."

Shhh, he had a lot of free time to watch TV some days.

[throughaphase]

"I love so much that you know that," Kitty laughed. "Ororo will listen. And she'll make sure Rachel doesn't try to stick me in something that Emma would wear."