"So," I said a little nervously, "what have you been up to since I last saw you? It's been a while."
Fire narrowed his eyes, leaning forward slightly.
"You can go into my mind. Figure it out yourself."
I frowned a little, tilting my head.
"I'd rather hear it from you." I said, frowning a little.
He scowled, leaning back in his seat. "Well, I would've liked to hear that you actually hadn't given up on trying to find my sister this whole time from you and not some random ass titan of the mind that I don't know, but we don't always get what we want." He said coldly and realization hit me.
"Oh." I said softly.
"Ya, oh. How did you think I'd react? Why did you keep this from us?" He asked and I couldn't help but realize this was kind of the most I had ever heard him talk, it was a little strange, honestly.
"I'm sorry Coal, I just-"
"Just stop. My name is Fire. I will do this date because it might save my sister but this doesn't mean I forgive you."
I felt the guilt eating away at my stomach so hard I almost wanted to throw up. He was completely right, I should have told him. I just didn't want him getting his hopes up. I didn't want him to be a part of this whole situation. I probably would have told him eventually before I went to get Aqua, once I was sure I was able to do it but I didn't want to let him down. I didn't want him to look at me differently or turn on me because I wasn't strong enough to help.
"Okay, I understand." I said softly and Fire nodded coldly before gesturing to a nearby waiter who ran over as fast as possible for her little legs.
"Hi, I'm A-" She started but Fire cut her off.
"We'll have the steaks and just some waters." He said dismissively.
I knew he was angry but I wish he wouldn't take it out on the waitress she hadn't done anything wrong, she was just trying to do her job.
I tried to give her a reassuring smile to make her feel better, to explain that she hadn't done anything wrong, that he was just in a mood but she was running out before I had a chance.
I looked at Fire disapprovingly and he just rolled his eyes.
"What have you been up to since you lied and left?" He asked, his voice as emotionless as ever and I felt myself flinch slightly.
"I've been going to see all the people who wronged me while on earth." I said staring at the table, shaking my leg slightly. "I was trying to get closure, let myself see that they can't hurt me. When I was on earth the stars manipulated all the people that were close to me against me. A lot of shit happened and before Coeus can start teaching me to control my mind, so that I can save Aqua, I have to get past all these things and find my soul bound. Now we're here." I said, opening up a bit.
I felt a little vulnerable revealing these things about my past life but I still trusted Fire, even though he was mad. I wasn't ready to give him any details but I got along well with Fire when he wasn't angry at me.
Fire nodded, his arms crossed.
"You?"I asked. He looked at me silently before looking away as our food arrived.
I sighed. Once again the waitress was gone too soon for me to be able to talk to her.
I looked down at my food but the guilt swirling around my stomach was making it hard to eat.
Fire is right. What is wrong with me? It's his sister, this isn't even really my business, I had no right to take over and leave Fire out of it no matter how insecure I am.
I pushed my food around silently as Fire gobbled his up. I had a couple pieces of the steak and I had to admit it was really good.
"Fire, please don't ignore me."
He sighed, rolling his eyes slightly before closing them for a second and taking a deep breath. He was clearly trying to hold back his anger.
"The same things I did before you came waltzing into my life and gave me false hopes just to rip them away and then give them back." He said harshly and a flinched again, my leg bouncing faster than ever.
"I didn't mean to do that, I just-"
"Stop. We're not discussing this right now." He said and I couldn't help but sigh again, stabbing my steak more angrily than was necessary.
"The food is really good, especially the mash potatoes, do they have truffle oil on them?"
"Does it look like I spend my days wearing an apron and a giant hat?" He snapped and I stabbed my steak so hard I accidentally broke the plate underneath it.
Fire laughed rudely and the poor waitress rushed forward to clean it up.
"I'm so sorry, let me help." I said softly to her but she shook her head quickly, pushing the broken pieces into a little plastic bucked she had.
"Get her another." Fire ordered and she nodded faster than I thought possible for a human and ran off again once everything was clean. I didn't like this Fire, I had only ever really been on his good side and now that I was on his bad side I couldn't help but be a little scared. He was so cold and emotionless.
"I don't need another, it's okay I'm not that hungry right now anyways, no need to scare the poor girl." I said softly, playing with my fingers nervously.
He scoffed and I felt a little annoyance flare in me. I pushed it down, shaking my head slightly to try and shake it off. Eventually it was buried right back underneath all of the guilt.I had to somehow convince Fire to forgive me. I had to. He could be my soul bound!
"Fire, I know you're angry-"
"Eclipse." He warned but I shook my head.
"Don't cut me off, please." I said softly before continuing. "It was completely wrong of me to hold it back from you that I was still helping find Aqua. I let my own issues and insecurities get in the way and it was wrong. I am so sorry, I know I'm not perfect, hell I'm not even kind of close to perfect. We need to make this a real date, we can't just sit in silence. I promise I will do my absolute best to never keep you in the dark about things you need to know or lie again. I can't promise it will never happen again because I'm still trying to get my shit together but I'm trying. Please, for Aqua, just give me a chance to redeem myself and give this date a real chance. Please."
Fire sighed before nodding, "For Aqua."
I nodded back, "For Aqua."
I smiled but he still looked a little hesitant. At that moment the waitress came running back into the room with a new steak for me. I watched it happen in slow motions as she slipped on a bit of the overly fancy carpet. She tried to catch herself and the food went flying. I watched the horror on her face as she realized what was happening and the pain as she slammed into the ground.
I immediately jumped to my feet, running over to help her up. She was shaking slightly.
"I-I'm so sorry master, please forgive me." She said, directed at Fire. She was visibly shaking as she took in the bit of sauce that sprayed his fancy suit.
He growled lowly but the angry look I shot him shut him up real quick. I don't care how mad he is at me or how much I deserve it I won't sit around and watch him treat others like crap. He can be mad at me all he wants, he can beat me for all I care, not that he could, but I wouldn't let him hurt innocent people.
"It's totally fine. Are you alright?" I asked gently. She looked at me shocked for a moment before nodding.
"Okay, why don't you go hide in the kitchen. Don't worry I won't let anything happen to you. Don't bother bringing me another steak, I'm leaving." She nodded quickly before scurrying back off to the kitchen, limping slightly.
I looked over at Fire, still kneeling on the floor. He was glaring at me.
"Look, why don't you just sit with what I've said and when you're ready to forgive me and ready to give this a chance again, you call me and we'll try again. I don't want to force this on you when you aren't ready."
He grunted, nodding, his body still stiff and his arms still crossed.
"Okay, I'm truly sorry Fire. I will really do my best to redeem myself, I promise."
He nodded, sighing slightly and I smiled back hesitantly. Before teleporting back to the cabin I turned back to him with a 'don't fuck with me' look on my face, "I swear to fuck that if you do anything to that innocent waitress I will hunt you down and rip your arms clean off your body." I said lowly before disappearing.
I groaned when I arrived back at the cabin, summoning a punching bag that could withstand my hits and took out all my annoyance. I could feel the forest around me darken, the birds chirping a little more aggressively, my frustration was evident.
I let my guilt out on the bag, slamming into it again and again for hours on end. I knew that Coeus was inside the cabin. I felt him read my mind and see what happened, he knew that I needed a moment to let out my frustrations. Two bad dates in a row was too much, and with the next date being Jacob it wasn't looking so good for me.
Once I finally finished beating up the bag I sighed for what felt like the millionth time today, walking back inside to Coeus. I summoned us both drinks as I paced around the living room. He was sitting calmly on his seat, happily sipping his drink as I chugged latte after latte.
I finally groaned loudly, throwing myself onto the couch.
"I really wanted this one to go well." I said and he nodded.
"I know. Fire was just angry, he'll come around, don't worry."
"I hope so." I said rubbing my face. "Let's just get it over with." I said and Coeus chuckled lightly, knowing exactly what I was talking about.
"You might want to change into a bathing suit this time." Coeus said. I summoned a simple black bikini before grabbing Coeus's hand and let him teleport me to the date I was dreading the most.
Coeus brought me to a cute little beach cottage that I couldn't help but love as soon as I saw.
Damn it, I was really hoping he would bring me to some lame restaurant with bland pretentious food and stuffy people. I actually love this too much.
I heard the revving of an engine and couldn't help the small smile that slipped onto my face when I saw Jacob sitting on a jet ski with a matching one sitting right next to him.
He smiled widely at me and Coeus, of course, chuckled at my shock as he disappeared into thin air.
"What the hell is this?" I asked, my voice lighter than I expected.
He laughed louder, looking more confident and relaxed than I'd ever seen him. He looked nothing like the asshead I had left behind on earth.
"What does it look like E? Hope on!" He exclaimed and I couldn't help the small laugh that escaped my lips as I ran over to the jet skis excitedly.