A/N: Okay, two quick lil notes before y'all read this chapter!
So, I know that money isn't really as valuable as it is in the human world in the Lost Cities but I find that stupid, so that's different. And a little later on there will be a character I completely made up as it aligns with what I have planned for the plot of this fanfic, so if you do not recognise the character, that's why!
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Dex couldn't stop staring at the restaurant he and Fitz were stood outside of.
"Uhm... are we... allowed to be in a restaurant by ourselves?" Dex asked.
"It's not as if we're 10 years old." Fitz smiled at Dex.
"Plus, my dad had connections to this place. I can get us a good deal, the owner knows us."
"So, does the owner know you're on a date?" Dex asked.
Fitz hesitated.
"Well... I said I'd eat with someone else, but I didn't say it was a date... just in case he told my dad." Fitz stated.
Dex hummed.
"Right, okay." Dex said.
"Uh... so is this place like fancy and filled with snobs?"
"Oh, yeah."
"You do realize if people recognise my crest then they'll give me stink-eyes?"
"Haha, you'll be fine. C'mon."
Fitz had led the way, holding onto Dex's hand. Dex couldn't stop staring at their hands. He felt... happy. Fitz said it'd take him time to show this sort of affection in public and yet... he seemed to be fine with hand-holding. Dex couldn't stop smiling at that.
Though, his smile faded as he now kept looking around the restaurant, seeing how big and how expensive it looked. He was scared to even walk around in case he decided to be clumsy and break something.
Fitz did everything. He talked to the person by the front and got them their table.
So once they made it to their table, Fitz let go of Dex's hand and pulled a chair out. Dex felt his cheeks warm as he took the seat and Fitz tucked the chair in. Dex's heart wouldn't stop beating so fast. Fitz then took the seat across from Dex and a waiter came by, setting down the menus and giving the boys a smile before walking off.
Dex took a deep breath as he gently unclasped his cape and draped it on the chair.
"This place is huge." Dex said, looking about.
Fitz picked up the menu and smiled.
"It's not that big." Fitz said, shrugging.
"Don't look at the prices, I'll pay for it."
Dex picked up a menu and he instantly looked at the prices. He nearly choked on the air.
"W-whoa! Fitz, no, this is too much-!" Dex exclaimed, looking at Fitz wide-eyed.
Fitz seemed to smile.
"Haha, is it?" Fitz tilted his head.
"This is one of the cheapest restaurants I've been to."
Dex blinked.
"Cheapest?"Dex questioned, glancing at the prices again.
"Fitz, I'll feel bad if you pay for it-"
"Geez, you need to relax." Fitz said, reaching over for Dex's hand.
He held Dex's hand and Dex gulped as he looked at Fitz who was simply smiling at him.
"It's a date. I'm happy to pay for it." Fitz said.
Dex felt guilty.
"I-if you insist... but the next time, I'll take you somewhere and I'll pay for it all!" Dex exclaimed.
Fitz couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.
"Okay, okay. Whatever makes you feel better." Fitz said.
Dex sighed out and frowned as he looked at the different foods for the starter, main and dessert. As well as the drinks.
"Can I pick like the cheapest options-?"
"Dex, pick whatever you'd like. I honestly don't mind."
"Okay but Fitz-"
"Are you ready to order some drinks?"
Dex jumped slightly and looked at the waiter who smiled at them. Fitz smiled back.
"Two glasses of lushberry juice, please." Fitz said.
The waiter noted it down on a little notepad and nodded.
"Are we ready to order food or shall I take your order when I have your drinks?" The waiter asked.
"We'll order in a few moments." Fitz smiled politely.
The waiter nodded and walked off, allowing the boys to have more time to decide what they wanted.
"Uhm... okay, well if I can have whatever I want, I'd rather not waste time on a starter!" Dex exclaimed.
"Are you sure?" Fitz asked.
"Yeah." Dex smiled.
Fitz hummed.
"Okay, whatever you want." Fitz said, looking through the menu again.
Dex looked back at the menu and he felt as though he was sweating.
God, he didn't expect this first date to be so... expensive.
*****
Dex stared at the baked good he had got for dessert while Fitz looked at the cheque and how much lusters their dinner had costed, along with the dessert Dex got too.
Dex stared at the sweetberry swirl he order and he felt unsure as he watched Fitz mumble some things under his breath as he used his treasury cube to scan the deducter, paying for their dinner.
"I can't believe you're paying for all this." Dex said.
"Dex, spending this much means nothing to me." Fitz smiled at Dex.
"Okay, but like... I'm still iffy about this." Dex said.
"Eat your dessert, Dex." Fitz said, setting aside the cheque and putting his treasury cube away.
"Why didn't you get dessert?" Dex asked, picking up the sweetberry swirl.
"I'm not really in the mood for dessert." Fitz shrugged.
Dex took a bite of his treat and he looked at Fitz who was watching him.
Dex swallowed the bite he took and he raised his eyebrows at Fitz.
"It's creepy you're watching me." Dex stated.
"Sorry, should I stare at the wall?" Fitz questioned, grinning slightly.
Dex couldn't help but smile.
"Don't be an idiot." Dex said as he took another bite.
Fitz was about to speak before someone came over.
"Fitzroy! It is you!"
Dex looked over to see a man, an adult really, who smiled and greeted Fitz. Fitz seemed to smile, a genuine smile as he greeted the adult back.
"Hello Lord Vincent!"
Dex furrowed his eyebrows as he glanced at the two.
The male, Lord Vincent, looked at Dex and he sort of studied him for a moment.
Fitz noticed how he stared at Dex and Fitz smiled.
"This is Dex, he's my..." Fitz stopped himself as he looked at Dex.
Dex glanced at Fitz and then smiled at Lord Vincent.
"Friend. I'm Fitz's friend. Dex Dizznee, pleased to meet you Sir."
Dex held his hand out and Lord Vincent sort of smiled.
"Ah, Dizznee?" Lord Vincent questioned.
"I've heard of you and your family, I'm surprised Fitz took you here."
Lord Vincent didn't take Dex's hand to shake and so Dex took his hand back and he smiled at the man.
"I don't think I've heard of you before, Sir. What's your last name?" Dex asked.
Fitz felt a weird energy between Lord Vincent and Dex.
"Devereaux." Lord Vincent said.
Dex blinked.
"Yeah, never heard of you." Dex said, taking a big bite out of his sweetberry swirl.
'Dex, please don't be rude. He and my father are very close.'
Dex looked at Fitz who was looking at him with worried and pleading eyes.
Lord Vincent sighed.
"I'm not surprised. Your family doesn't really have connections with noble families, do they?"
Dex raised his eyebrows as he looked at Fitz. Fitz felt nervous.
"Lord Vincent, how about we head out and catch up? I already paid and Dex just needs to finish eating his dessert." Fitz smiled, not holding eye contact with Dex.
"Catch up? My boy, do you have any news for me? Perhaps a girlfriend? If not, my daughter would be a perfect match for you." Lord Vincent smiled as Fitz got up and grabbed his cape.
Fitz glanced at Dex and Dex glared at Fitz. Lord Vincent placed a hand on Fitz's shoulder and continued to chat as he lead the way out of the restaurant. Dex huffed as he began to eat his sweetberry swirl in anger now. He leaned back in his seat as he took bigger, more aggressive bites. People who sat nearby sort of shuffled in their seats, uncomfortable by how improper Dex was acting.
'Devereaux', Dex had never heard of that last name before. He's heard of many noble families names but never heard of that last name.
And who was this Lord Vincent? Trying to talk to Fitz about a girlfriend? And what was with Fitz? I mean, he just ditched him to talk to that dude just because he's his dad's buddy.
Dex wanted to go home now.
So, Dex set down the half-eaten sweetberry swirl as the waiter who served them came by.
"Have you already paid?" The waiter asked.
"Yes, my friend already paid." Dex smiled at the waiter as he got up.
"Oh, are you not finishing your sweetberry swirl? Is-- is something wrong with it? Shall I get you another-?" The waiter began, feeling anxious.
"It's fine. I'm full and the sweetberry swirl was delicious. Thank you for serving us." Dex said as he clasped his cape over his shoulders.
The waiter watched as Dex left, walking off and seemingly angry.
"See, that's a kind offer Lord Vincent but... I'm afraid I have to decline." Fitz said, rubbing his neck nervously.
Lord Vincent frowned.
"Oh but Fitz, it's important that you-" Lord Vincent began.
Fitz looked over.
"Oh Dex!" Fitz turned to face the Technopath.
Dex looked at Fitz and smiled.
"If you're still busy chatting, I can head home by myself." Dex said.
Fitz's face dropped and he frowned.
"What?" Fitz tilted his head as he gently grabbed Dex's wrist.
"No! No, I'll take you home."
"It's fine." Dex said, shaking his head.
"I insist." Fitz stated.
"Fitzroy, he said it was fine." Lord Vincent said, placing his hand on Fitz's shoulder.
Fitz stared at Dex and Dex averted his gaze.
Fitz shrugged Lord Vincent's hand off his shoulder and smiled at him.
"It was nice seeing you again, Lord Vincent. I'll let my dad know how well you are." Fitz said, still holding onto Dex's wrist.
Dex looked at Fitz's hand and he felt himself smile, his heart sort of fluttering. Fitz gently rubbed Dex's skin with his thumb as he stared at Lord Vincent, waiting for him to say goodbye back.
"Of course... pleasure to see you and meet your friend." Lord Vincent smiled, glancing at Dex.
Dex looked at Lord Vincent but said nothing.
Dex simply walked off, leaving so Lord Vincent wouldn't be around. Fitz followed behind.
"What's with you?" Fitz frowned.
"No, what's with you?!" Dex snapped back.
"Ditching me? For your dad's friend?"
Both of them stopped walking and faced one another.
People passed by but they didn't pay attention to the two boys.
Fitz let out a soft sigh.
"Dex, he's a really good friend of my dad's and it'd be rude and-"Fitz began.
"It's about your image again." Dex stated.
Fitz frowned and Dex let out an annoyed sigh.
"This date really was going well until that happened." Dex grumbled.
"Dex, I-" Fitz began.
"You can take me home if you want." Dex said as he grabbed his home crystal.
Fitz slipped his hand into Dex's and Dex took that as Fitz would take him home. Dex squeezed Fitz's hand as he raised the crystal up. They light-leapt to Rimeshire.
Once they were outside of Dex's home, he took his hand away from Fitz and stuffed his crystal away. Dex made his way towards his front door and was about to open it before he froze. Fitz had his arms around his waist and his head on his shoulder.
Dex looked at Fitz, his cheeks red.
"What are you-?" Dex began.
Fitz held Dex closer.
"I'm sorry." Fitz whispered softly.
"I shouldn't have ditched you, even if it was near the end of our date."
Dex sighed softly and he rested his hands over Fitz's. Fitz lifted his head and Dex turned around to face him.
Fitz still had his arms around Dex and he rested his forehead against Dex's.
Dex gently cupped Fitz's face and stared into his eyes.
"Wanna make it up to me by staying over for a little bit?" Dex asked.
Fitz smiled and nodded slightly.
"Yeah, okay." Fitz said.
Dex smiled as he backed away and escaped Fitz's grasp.
"Okay. C'mon."
*****
"You're not allowed!"
Fitz heard Dex scolding his siblings outside of the bedroom.
Fitz looked around Dex's room as he set his cape on the chair by the desk.
Fitz looked to see a few opened sketchbooks with a lot of sketches of gadgets and other little things. Fitz raised his eyebrows.
Dex was a talented artist.
"I'll let you guys have all the ice cream you want tomorrow!"
Dex slammed the door and Fitz looked over to see Dex throwing his cape on the floor and sighing loudly.
"Ughh... I'm exhausted."
Dex made his way over to his bed and fell face-flat in his pillow.
Fitz smiled as he made his way over and sat by Dex. His fingers found their way in Dex's strawberry blonde hair, running through the nice soft locks and Dex seemed to lean into Fitz's touch as he turned his head to be able to face Fitz.
"So, what are we doing then?" Fitz asked.
"Relaxing, obviously." Dex said.
Fitz hummed as he continued to run his fingers through Dex's hair.
"So... what are we?" Fitz asked.
Dex took a moment to think and he sat up, causing Fitz to take his hand away from his hair.
"I like you. Like, a lot." Dex stated, slipping his hand into Fitz's as he stared into his eyes.
Fitz stared back into Dex's eyes and nodded.
"Yeah...?"Fitz urged Dex to go on.
Dex let out a breath and he leaned in, pecking Fitz's cheek. Fitz blinked and blushed at Dex, clearly not expecting that.
"I think you need to think about this though." Dex said softly.
"I mean... Fitz, I want to be your boyfriend but I also don't want to be hidden. I don't want to be your secret boyfriend, if that makes sense."
Fitz let out a shaky breath.
"But, I'm ready-" Fitz began.
"You're not." Dex smiled softly as he brought his other hand to Fitz's cheek.
Fitz leaned into Dex's touched and tilted his head, placing a peck on Dex's palm. Dex watched how Fitz was so gentle, and seemed to be very loving.
"If you're really ready for a relationship with me, a guy, then ask me out again and if our next date turns out better than today...well, we'll see."
Dex took his hand away from Fitz's face and Fitz seemed to frown.
"Well, does that mean we can't... hold hands?" Fitz asked, tilting his head.
"Maybe not as much as we do it now." Dex said.
"Mmh..." Fitz hummed, clearly not happy about this.
"Hey, why don't we go out on a date-?"
"Fitz, take time to think about this."
"But Dex-"
"I can wait, you need to really think about this, about us."
"... Okay..."
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Word count: 2471