Toby was not sure what it was, but her excitement over something as simple as a cheeseburger just really made him smile. “Yeah, this is my perfect cheat meal when I’m being bad on my diet and workout routine,” digging into his burger a bit more. “Here,” he dipped some of his fries into his shake and held it out to her. “Try this.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">As she took the fry covered in the shake, she regarded him with a bit of a confused grin. "So your cheat meal is a big greasy burger? ...You must not cheat very much given you're..." With a gesture toward him to fill in the blank, she took a bite of the fry, eyes widening in surprise. The cool temperature of the shake along with its sweetness was such a startling contrast to the salty, hot fries, but it was so good. Immediately popping the rest of it into her mouth, she picked up another fry and dipped it into her own shake. "How did you manage to figure out this was a good combination, by the way?"</span><br/><br/>Toby grinned, “I picked it up from my dad. I love eating them this way.” Eating a few of his own fries that way now he arched a brow then asked. “Given that I’m what?” he asked now. “Were you going to say not that fat?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">His brow raise was met with a furrowed brow of her own, a laugh escaping as she rolled her eyes. "Yes, that's exactly what I was going to say. You're not <span style="font-style: italic">that</span> fat. Sort of fat, but not overly so."</span><br/><br/>“I knew it!” he laughed. “So, can I ask you something?” not wanting to ruin the fun but rather curious. When she nodded, he pressed on. “Why are you always covered up? Is it like an allergy to the sun or is it something else?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">Though she'd nodded, there was a new wave of nerves as she waited for his question. Again, she didn't want to lie to him, but the truth was too incredible to believe. The questions he'd already asked were bad enough, wanting to offer his protection, to see if she was in trouble. And now this? The pause was long as she tried to figure out how to word her answer, only to come up empty. "Something else," was all she could offer, making no move to tell him anything further.</span><br/><br/>“I’m sorry,” he said after a moment. “I don’t mean to pry. Here, to be fair I won’t ask any more questions and you can ask me all the questions you want about anything. Sounds good?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">"You don't have to apologize for it. Just that the things you want to know are...complicated," she replied. "We can trade a question for a question, and I'll continue to try and answer as...best I can." After another moment, her eyes narrowing as she worked over her thoughts. "You could say it's an...allergy of sorts...Keeping covered up just makes everything easier for me." But, once that answer was given, she offered him a smile. "My turn...You said that I should go to Colorado; have you been there before and are speaking from experience or have you just seen pictures?"</span><br/><br/>“I’ve been there before,” he answered easily. “When I came home I went to a hospital and then did some traveling around the country for a bit to get my head together,” he shrugged and offered her some of his fries dipped in his shake again. “If I were to move again, I would likely go there, or some other place with mountains and build a cabin.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">Taking the offered fries, she dipped a few of her own and handed them over to him, thoroughly enjoying the offering before asking another question. "Can I ask what's made you stay here of all places after traveling the country?"</span><br/><br/>“I was recommended to try something different? And be in a place where I would socialize more because I…well…when I’m alone too much well…let’s say it gets complicated,” Tobias admitted after a moment.<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">"Sounds like we've both got some complications..." she replied to that quietly. Taking a bite of her burger, she mulled it over for a while. Then, with a grin, she remarked, "Well, no matter how complicated things might be, we'll at least have each other to fall back on for phone calls and emails, right? I mean, I'm not sure how you'll live without my colorful commentary and constant blundering while you teach me how to do daily activities, but it'll be something."</span><br/><br/>“And I don’t know how you’ll live without me introducing you to new foods and how to keep your clothes clean,” he chuckled. “So, we really are going to work at keeping in touch?” hoping he did not sound weird and desperate. “I mean like…we are going to talking to one another? And work toward getting to know one another better…”<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">He didn't sound weird or desperate to her; far from it. He sounded more like she felt, which was just a little nervous, tinged with hope. "I would like to," came her reply, her smile a little shyer this time around. "I mean, we're friends, right? Friends keep in touch, at the very least... Then, in the process, we can get to know each other..." But with a laugh, she raised her water up in a mock toast. "Here's hoping you don't think I'm weird after you get to know me a bit more..."</span><br/><br/>Taking up his cup he did the same, “I think my weird ship has already sailed and you may have been run over by it!” He laughed and just continued to smile, probably the most he had smiled in a long while. “This is nice,” he Tobias said after a moment. “I generally avoid other people because I just feel like I’m going to ruin it or do something that makes them afraid. Crowds get to me now and I’m just…” the words trailed off and he shrugged. “Anyway, this has been a lot of fun. Thank you.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">As he laughed, her own joined in. It was an odd sensation, to be worry-free for so long with someone in a public setting? She'd never been out in public, but even the smaller gatherings where various scientists went through their findings, using her to demonstrate aspects, or just using her like a mannequin, made her uncomfortable. The private sessions with psychiatrists who monitored her mental health and feigned interest in her day-to-day activities were uncomfortable. Every facet of her life had been uncomfortable. But here, in this diner with Tobias, she felt completely normal and safe. It should've been unsettling, perhaps, how easily she grew comfortable with him but she didn't question it. After all, it was like he'd said, they had a sort of connection and it made her relax because she knew he wouldn't do anything to hurt her or to make her question it. So, for this night, she could just be herself. ...As much herself as was possible, anyway. As his words shifted, and he thanked her, she shook her head and waved it off. "You don't need to be thanking me for anything," Lily assured him. "You got me out from behind trash cans, and have willingly kept me company while putting your own personal comfort aside. But, I'm glad that I could inadvertently help give you a fun night. It's been fun for me, too."</span><br/><br/>“Are we going to be those people who constantly thank and apologize for everything? Cause only one of us can do that and I claim that role. So, you are going to have find a new role in this relationship,” Tobias teased.<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">Though she blushed at the teasing, namely the mention of the relationship that her mind was already taking far beyond what it actually was, she pressed on. "Who said that you could choose to have that role? What if I wanted that role instead? Wouldn't it be the gentlemanly thing to relent to me, and allow the lady to have her pick of role?"</span><br/><br/>“Is that how it’s supposed to be?” he asked. “But why do I have to be the gentleman? Am I supposed to be the Westly to your Buttercup?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">"Well, if you were the Wesley to my Buttercup, you'd have to run around in a mask, build up a tolerance to poison, become mostly dead before saving me from some evil. I'd just have to become a princess and constantly talk about how you'd come for me," she started, feigning a thoughtful expression. "...Sounds like something I can easily commit to. What about you?"</span><br/><br/>“I could commit to you,” his tone probably more sincere and meaningful than the general joking notion of the conversation. Then clearing his throat, “I mean I could commit to that kind of lifestyle. Think I was meant to wear a mask and do all the pirate stuff. Already have the arm strength for climbing rope.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">There was something in his voice that had her pausing, grey eyes bouncing back and forth between both of his as she wondered at it. Were they having a moment? Was he being serious in that he could commit to her? Whatever moment they were having, though, he ended as he cleared his throat and backpedaled to explain. She couldn't help the disappointment she felt, but she didn't let it show, instead making to consider the new <span style="font-style: italic">arrangement</span>. "But how would you fair in a sword fight? Or against a giant? Or even worse, a battle of wills where you have to drink poison no matter what?"</span><br/><br/>“As I said before, for the right woman a man would do most anything,” he grinned and ate some more of his burger, not even noting how he easily flirted with her, because it was just so natural that he rarely gave himself pause. “What about you? Are you willing to dive into the ocean or be constantly defiant while you waited for me to come rescue you?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">Taking a sip of her shake, she shrugged. "It sounds like an awful lot of work to just be...<span style="font-style: italic">me</span>, but I'll try my hardest to be extra defiant just for you." Smirking at him above her glass, she dipped a few fries in her shake and handed them over. "And to seal this union, some fries; only the most sacred of bonds utilize such a tasty treat."</span><br/><br/>Smirking he leaned forward and instead of taking them with his hand, he just snatched them up with his mouth. Grinning cheek to cheek, Tobias munched on the fries and offered her some of his own in turn. “Sealing the deal then, my princess.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">Her eyes widened, making no effort to hide her surprise as she watched him take the offering with his mouth. Her gaze slid to his lips, not even realizing that they'd slipped there as opposed to his eyes as she stared. But the moment he offered her some, she glanced away, clearing her throat and trying to come up with a reason for why she couldn't take the offering in the same fashion. Then, it came to her. Reaching forward with a gloved hand, she let out a small sound of displeasure. "A princess could never take something in such a fashion. But, I accept your offering, thereby sealing the deal. You've an accord." Gingerly plopping them into her mouth, she winked. "Now, shall I call you 'Dread Pirate Tobias'? Or have you another name you'd fancy more?"</span><br/><br/>“Dread Pirate Tobias has a nice ring to it,” he remarked, only marginally disappointed that she took the fries with her hand. “Are you Princess Lily now?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">"I am, and you will address me as such," she replied with grin. "If not that, then a respectable 'Your Highness' will suffice."</span><br/><br/>“You are making a lot of requests. I mean you’ve not even offered me at least  kiss or some other favor in exchange of all these demands.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">Her cheeks felt like they were on fire, her gaze averting as her mind filled in what that would be like to kiss him. How his lips would feel, how contact like that would feel overall. What would that moment be like? Would it be like the books she clung to for dear life? "What sort of woman would I be if I gave you a kiss so frivolously? You'd take such an offering for granted if you'd not had to work for it first."</span><br/><br/>“Have you been planning this since the moment you met me? Turning me into pirate so that I could hunt you down and save you? Making me earn a kiss from you. Wonder what your future plans with me will be?” teasing her though Tobias was in good humor.<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">His teasing was met with some of her own as she winked, playing coy as she took a sip of her water. "That's exactly what I've been planning...so if you want to see what my future plans are, you'll have to work for them, so that you can earn them. Hope you're up to the task, as it'll be no easy feat!" And therein was the most depressing part of this. She really did need someone to save her, but even she, in her hour of need, wouldn't ask it of him as it'd put him also in danger. No, she'd strike out on her own and, when the dust cleared and she felt safe, she'd reach back out. If only he knew just how close he got to the truth with their teasing. "But will you be able to stand the pirate lifestyle, though? You seem too...good to be a pirate, to pillage and plunder from poor unfortunate souls." </span><br/><br/>"I could pillage...I mean it might be hard, but I could definitely pillage." Tobias tried to sound truly convincing but knew that he likely failed at that. "I mean I could be a good pirate? Like the Robin Hood of the seas?"<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">"So you'd steal from the rich and give to the poor?" she pressed, taking another bite of her burger. "Then wouldn't that make me Maid Marian rather than Princess Buttercup? You can't go crossing stories; chaos would ensue."</span><br/><br/>"Chaos? How so?" he asked with a grin.<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">"Because then you'd have the villains from one colliding with the villains from the other. Double the trouble. Then, those ruling one kingdom who refused to acknowledge the other as they don't exist in each other's universes, war would ensue! It's just too much," Lily replied, a hand dramatically pressed to her chest, clutching nonexistent pearls. "I'm not sure what you'd do without me to point out such glaring lapses in judgment!"</span><br/><br/>"Do you just sit in your room and practice these dramatic reads? Because right now you are deserving of an oscar," he laughed. The waitress returned and he had her do another order for each of them to go, then handed her the money to pay for their meals along with a tip. "I figured that you will get hungry tomorrow while traveling so you would need something to take with you," in explanation to her look. "When we get back your clothes should be done too, so in the morning we can go and get something for you to carry all your stuff."<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">Merely winking at him, she turned her attention to the waitress and, by extension, Tobias. His second orders did take her a bit by surprise, but his explanation was sound; yet another thing she'd have to thank him for. "I don't need anything fancy to carry anything in as I don't really have much. A plastic bag would work, if you happen to have any around your apartment?"</span><br/><br/>"A plastic bag? Really? For traveling across country. What are you going to do with your extra clothes? Sleeping bag? Tent?" brow arched.<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">"Wait wait wait, what extra clothes, sleeping bag, or tent?" she asked, brow furrowed in confusion. "I don't have all of that to worry about."</span><br/><br/>"Look," he said suddenly rather serious. "You won't tell me what's exactly going on and so I can't directly help, but I can help by at least giving you the things you need to get to where you're going. So, please let me help you and then you can just pay me back when we meet up after you're settled."<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">His sudden shift to the serious had the confusion turning more toward guilt and embarrassment. It wasn't as though she didn't want to tell him, but more that she couldn't. "There's nothing I can say that'll change your mind, is there?" she asked instead. "We'd said we would talk about it tomorrow, but now seems as good a time as any..." There was a slight sigh as she winced. "It's not that I don't appreciate your help, as I do, more than you will probably ever realize. But you've already done so much for me as it is. That would be far more than I could ask you to do for me."</span><br/><br/>Reaching for her hand, he held it in his own. "What kind of Wesley would I be if I did not help Buttercup when she was in need?" giving a genuine smile. "You don't have to ask, I'm offering. There is a difference."<br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">His hand taking her own subsequently stole her breath as she looked down at it, marveled at it as he spoke. What could she say to that? "I really do appreciate it...Thank you, Tobias..." Her own smile was a shyer one as she forced herself to maintain the eye contact as long as she could before breaking and looking back at their hands. "What would a Buttercup do without her Wesley?"</span><br/><br/>"Be lost, but knowing that there would be someone coming to her rescue," he remarked with a thoughtful expression still holding her hand. "Lilly...I..." the words stalling out before he regrettably let her hand go as the waitress arrived with their food. "Ready?"<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">There it was again. Another moment that had seemingly started between them, his hand holding hers, his tone serious, pulling her in as she waited with bated breath for what came next...but nothing else came. Instead, the waitress brought their food and that moment, like those before it, ended. For the ride back to the apartment, she wondered at it. What could he have started to say? Was it going to be like those scenes where he professed some sort of feeling that made her question everything she knew and made her change her plans entirely? Was he going to plead with her not to go? Whatever it was, he hadn't started trying to say it again, so she focused on taking her clothing out of the dryer and carrying it upstairs as she worked to get her mind focused on something other than the "what ifs" or what could bes. So, when they got back to the apartment, she started properly folding up her clothes so that she could take care of them to some degree. "I know it's a little early, but what are the sleeping arrangements going to be for tonight? Would you mind if I took the couch?"</span><br/><br/>"The couch is not very comfy," he remarked. "You can have my bed and I'll take the couch. I don't sleep too well anyway and could wake you up with pacing," heading to the kitchen to get something to drink. Part of him wanted to just tell her to stay with him, he would help her do whatever it was she needed. To face all the danger with her. But how could he ask that of her? They only just met, there was no reason for her to want to do that with him. For him. "So, you take my bed and I'll take the couch."<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">"But I'm also a fair bit smaller than you, so I can fit on this couch easier than you can," she reasoned. "It feels comfortable enough to me, and I'm sure your pacing won't wake me up. Plus, it's your hours, so it's only right." Where they'd been comfortable, there was an awkward air surrounding them, like neither knew what to say to the other, or how to act around each other now. She offered him a smile, stifling a yawn as she finished the folding and put it all on the floor beside the couch. "So, you take your bed, and I'll take the couch."</span><br/><br/>"There is no arguing with you on this, is there?" he asked already relenting to the fact that while he wanted to be a better host there was something to be said about her logic.<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">“No arguing at all,” she confirmed. “I’ll be more comfortable on the couch than you will be, so it’s not a debate.” Waving it off as no big deal, she offered him a small smile. “And if you need to pace, feel free. It won’t bother me any.”</span><br/><br/>"You say this," going into his room to get a pillow and blanket for her. "But when my pacing wakes you up you will regret it." Handing them over to her, he stuck his hands in his pockets, "Well, then I guess this is goodnight. Um, if you need anything at all, just come and knock. I'll get right up. Ok?"<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">As he came back and handed her the pillow and blanket, she tried to be as calm and collected as possible. But she was sleeping on this man’s couch, and all she could think about was his quest for a kiss that could never be, and what he’d failed to say earlier at the diner. “If I need anything, I’ll be sure to knock.” After a small pause, placing the articles on the couch, it was her turn to be a bit awkward, crossing her arms in front of her for something to do. “Good night.”</span>