Log; Complete

[guardianed.livejournal.com]

When; July 14th (Stupid Cupid day), afternoon
Rating; PG
Characters; Riza Hawkeye [guardianed] & Zolf J. Kimblee [crimsonhanded]
Summary; Kimblee, having recently been let out of prison, comes to visit his girl. Please have a bucket ready in case your brain explodes, we really don't want to clean all that up.
Log;

Today was going to be a good day. The weather wasn't too bad, the sky was clear, and Zolf J. Kimblee was going to see his fiancée for the first time in weeks. In such a situation, he had to look nice and sharp even if it was a casual meeting. Perhaps... ah, he should buy some flowers on the way to her apartment, since they haven't seen each other in a while. Roses were standard, of course. Red.

He stopped by one of the flower vendors in the square and ordered a dozen. His fiancée was a rational woman and he could not see her accepting five dozen if he'd presented them to her, so twelve blossoms would suffice. She would probably even claim they were more than enough.

After collecting his purchase, Kimblee arrived at the fourth apartment building and knocked on Riza Hawkeye's door.

Riza had been waiting, slightly impatiently, since Zolf had said he was on his way.  It had been quite a long time since she'd seen him, and could anyone really fault her for pacing a little?  She'd taken care to remove most of her guns- really, for a casual meeting with one's significant other, should she really need them?- but old habits die hard, and she left one pistol in her thigh holster and another in her purse.  It would never do to be caught off-guard.  

Hawkeye had never been one to take especial care in her appearance; twisting her hair up into the same barrette every day was fine in her book.  But today was special- she was off duty, after all.  Might as well let it hang down.  

Ah- there was the rap on the door.  Careful not to open the door with undue haste, she turned the handle and held out an arm to signal him to come in.

As the door swung open, Kimblee's face broke into an easy grin. The mere sight of the woman standing before him relaxed him, and he offered her the bouquet in his hands before stepping inside.

"Hello, love," the man greeted with a quick kiss. "It's good to see you again. You look beautiful as always." And this was the truth. He always preferred her with her hair down.

He did notice the gun at her thigh, but that didn't cause him much worry. After all, that was the kind of woman she was.

His smile was infectious; she found herself smiling back involuntarily, shutting the door behind him.  He did know how to flatter a girl.  Flowers, a kiss, and a compliment.

Striking a mock angry pose, one fist on a hip, the blonde looked at the dark haired man across from her.  "Zolf dear.  How many times have I told you about flowers?  I don't know if I have a vase for them!"  A pause.  "They are beautiful though."  Riza turned and opened up the cabinet under the sink, rummaging round underneath before emerging with a very dusty tin can.  "There- I knew it.  I haven't any vases at all."

He'd been in her apartment so many times before that it was almost like his own. He was free to relax, to let himself on the couch, to rummage through her refrigerator. But what he did instead was follow her into the kitchen and lean against the counter, arms folded across his chest.

"Then the next thing I'll buy you will be a vase," he replied, watching her move about. "That way, the next time I buy flowers, you'll actually have a place to put them."

Riza dropped the can into the sink with an unceremonious thunk and started running water in it to clean it out a bit, dumping out the dusty water and refilling.  Giving him a gentle shove with her shoulder, she responded "Silly."

The can was as clean as it was going to get; sticking the flowers in the can looked completely absurd.  

"I can't believe I'm putting roses in a dingy tin can."  It was muttered more than said aloud, and she reached for a towel to dry her hands with, flowers now installed. "You spoil me, Zolf."

A chuckle escaped his lips. "Who wouldn't want to spoil a woman like you?"

Not about to wait for her reply to such a rhetorical question, Kimblee strolled into the living room, noticing how nothing had changed much in the way of furniture and decoration.

"How've you been doing lately? Your job, it's been all right?" He lowered himself onto the couch, lounging easily with both arms propped up on the backrest. And then he frowned. "Maybe you should quit the military after we've married."

Wiping the last of the water off of her hands, Hawkeye followed him into the rather barren looking living room, seating herself on the sofa nearby but not too near the man.  

"I'm fine; the job's intensive, but not bad.  It keeps me busy and on my toes."  Glancing over at him as he frowned, Riza's eyebrows pulled together- "Quit the military?  I don't know, dearest, that'd be quite an adjustment to make.  You know how long I've been in the military."  Leaning backwards against the back of the sofa, Riza's expression relaxed.  "What about you?  How are you doing?"

The frown only deepened when she voiced her hesitance. "I'm just worried, that's all. You're placed in countless dangerous situations and... well, I don't want you to die on me, Riza."

The look her gave her to emphasize those words was of genuine concern. But then a light smile replaced his severe face. "I'm doing well now that I've come to see you again. Prison is definitely not the best place in the world." And then—but perhaps it was a trick of the light—Kimblee looked almost embarrassed. "Thank you for being so devoted."

Hawkeye met his direct gaze with a vague smile.  "I won't die on you, Zolf.  Want me to promise?"

"I'm glad to see you again.  It's been a long time." Trick of the light or no, it didn't really matter- Riza moved slightly closer to Kimblee, just enough so she could lean her head ever so lightly against his shoulder.  "You really thought I would forget you?  Silly man." A smile played with the corners of her lips as she thought about the time she'd spent waiting.

He smiled, genuinely, and planted a kiss on her forehead. "Not necessary. Your word is enough," he murmured into her hair.

Rather comfortable now, one arm dropped to wrap around Riza's waist. "Well... I don't know. I believed you when you said you'd wait, but then you hear all these things in prison... And besides, I wasn't sure if you'd still want to marry a criminal." But he took her hand and squeezed it gently, in gratitude. "I'm glad things turned out this way."

"I'm glad my word is trustworthy." She had to admit, she'd missed things like this; just sitting with him was comfortable and comforting.

"Well now you don't have to worry anymore- you're out and I'm still here." She left her hand in his, instead stretching up for a quick kiss on the cheek.  Settling back down on his shoulder, Hawkeye traced the outline of the holster on her leg absentmindedly.  "I must say it's rather nice having you back."

Kimblee had definitely missed moments like this as well. There was no company in a cold, hard cell except for the mice in the walls and the shuffling of other inmates in their own blocks. But here, on this sofa, in this room, was his bright and shining future.

"Why don't we celebrate?" he suddenly suggested, face brightening. "My release, our engagement, our future—everything, tonight. Let's have dinner out." Ah, he was getting excited now. He hadn't eaten at a restaurant in three years, much less with his fiancée.

The sudden suggestion and the excitement visible on his face made her burst out laughing.  Good-naturedly, certainly, and smile still broad, she responded with "Certainly.  It'd be nice to eat with you again."

Stretching her arms and legs, Riza groaned "That means getting up..." but flipped herself off the couch anyways, offering Kimblee her hand to help him up.

Beaming at her, he reached out and grabbed her hand, pushing himself up off the couch.

And then his face fell. "I should have worn something nicer than this," he murmured, picking at his casual button-up shirt. He was a man who fancied suits and ties when appearing in public, or at least a nicer outfit than what he was currently wearing.

"Silly.  No one will notice." The things she'd spotted other people wearing, he certainly looked like one of the most normal of the people around.  "I could be wearing something nicer myself." The button-down shirt and casual skirt she found herself wearing whenever she was off-duty was slightly worn, but servicable; all she really cared about.

"Besides," she added, tugging on the hand she'd yet to relinquish, "I think you look nice like this."

His laugh was light and easygoing as he released her hand only to hug her around the shoulders. "Don't say that, love; you're gorgeous as you are."

He checked the clock on the wall. "It's still too early to go out for dinner. How about we go around the city for a walk? You can show me the new things that have cropped up since I was here last." He was quite eager to reacquaint himself with their home, because while locked away he felt as if a large portion of his life was unlived.

"Flatterer," she retorted, but without malice and a smile.  

Hawkeye glanced up at the clock as well.  He was right, it was too early for dinner.  Not that it mattered, really, if they were just going to wander around until then.  "Of course.  There's a fair bit of new things around since you went in." Noticing their distinctly stationary position, and smile turning slightly wicked, Riza looked up at him.  "We will have to go outside to implement any of these plans, Zolf."

He laughed again, releasing her and moving towards the door. "That's all right. Even if there's nothing new, your company will be worth the walk."

Riza laughed along with him, snaking a hand to grab his as he led her towards the door, and flipping the light off in the living room as they left the apartment.

A walk, and then dinner.  She had a good evening to look forward to.