Baby, it's cold outside....

[mari-grayson.livejournal.com]

Their first date had been a picnic, but it's really not good picnic weather any more. Mar'i can withstand the cold of space, but she much prefers warmer temperatures, and of course Grant doesn't have her advantages. She grins at the memory of him in the EVA suit on the moon, while she'd flown around free of such restrictions. The look of awe on his face when they visited Tranquility Base, though ... both of them careful not to disturb the famous landing site. Thanks to her ability to carry him in flight, he'd been able to see the footprints of the Apollo 11 crew, still preserved in the lunar soil.

She doesn't get to entertain much at her condo. Public identity or not, she's cautious about inviting people over, so none of her classmates from the university have visited. Study sessions have always been held in the library or at someone else's residence. But Titans--Titans are always welcome.

Especially the Titan who's coming over tonight.

She hums happily to herself as she moves about in the kitchen. She isn't a very good cook (especially when she measures herself against Alfred or even her stepmother or Aurora), but she has portobellos marinating in the refrigerator, ready to be grilled and served with a green salad.

Now, where did she put those kaiser rolls?

Comments

[damage-granted.livejournal.com]

It doesn't snow in San Francisco, not with any kind of regularity, but it is blustery and the days are growing colder. Although another picnic would have been nice, he'd much prefer to be indoors. This, of course, is his first visit to Mar'i's condo and even though they've been dating for the better part of two months now, he still is rather surprised that she has extended him an invitation into her home. Truthfully, there are moments where he is convinced that he is dreaming.

Although it's been a while since their first date, they've shared several moments together, alone and in the company of others, most recently in the gym at Titans Tower. Grant had been rather shocked when Mar'i expressed concern that he might leave the team - he hoped that he'd assured her otherwise.

I just got here. I have too many reasons to leave now.

That Mar'i is one of those reason should be rather obvious - it is to him, anyway. A smile crosses his face as he walks up the stairs to her front door, pausing as he reaches the landing. Much like on their first date, Grant is wearing one of the outfits Kory and Bette had picked out for him when he'd first returned to the team.

She had told him earlier that he didn't need to bring anything with him, that she would prepare everything. It was only fair after all the trouble he gone to set up the picnic, she'd said. A quick glance down to the wrapped bundle in his hand and a small sigh later, and Grant knocks on the door.

[mari-grayson.livejournal.com]

The door opens on a happy Tamaranean. "Hi!"

[damage-granted.livejournal.com]

"Hey there," Grant replies, smiling broadly at her, shifting the bundle in his hand so that it isn't crushed between them. He reaches out to her with his free hand, pulling her close, giving the raven-haired woman a soft kiss on the lips.

"Picked these up for you," he murmurs, shifting and bringing his other arm into view. Wrapped in plain white paper, a green rubberband tied near the bottom, are five variegated tulips, mostly white with red vertical stripes. "Early Christmas present."

[mari-grayson.livejournal.com]

"Tulips!" She accepts them happily, closing her eyes as she breathes in their faint scent. "How beautiful! Thank you!" Mar'i tugs him inside, closing the door and resetting the security system. "Are you hungry? I didn't want to get everything too far along before you got here, but it won't take long to cook everything ... do you want something to drink?"

[damage-granted.livejournal.com]

It was an impulse buy, but he felt awkward coming to her door with nothing in his hands. In addition, the woman who sold them to him told him what the different colors meant - he particularly liked the symbolic meaning of the variegated tulips.

Stepping inside, Grant watches as she resets the security system, carrying the boquet. "Sure, whatever you're having," he replies.

"They uh...this is sort of silly, but the woman at the shop told me that the striped ones mean 'beautiful eyes,'" Emerson says, sounding a little uncertain.

[mari-grayson.livejournal.com]

"Beautiful eyes." The compliment definitely pleases her and she gives him another kiss on the cheek before she goes into the kitchen to find a vase for the flowers. "I've got water going for tea--do you like herb teas, or regular tea?"

[damage-granted.livejournal.com]

The kiss provokes another smile from the Titan - it would appear that he has done well. Watching her as she moves toward the kitchen, Grant unzips his jacket, shrugging free of the heavy garment, then looks around for a place to put it. "Uh, herbal tea is fine," Grant replies.

Frowning briefly, he decides to simply carry the jacket over his shoulder and walks into the kitchen, leaning against the wall, watching her work. "You look wonderful," he says softly.

[damage-granted.livejournal.com]

"No problem," Grant says, disappearing into the dining area for a moment, setting the salad bowl in the middle of the table. He returns, heading for the indicated cabinet, drawing out a couple of bowls, then begins checking the drawers. "There we are," he says quietly, pulling out a couple of forks, then returning to the dining table, setting everything out. Surveying his handiwork briefly, then pokes his head back into the kitchen. "How's everything looking in here?"

[mari-grayson.livejournal.com]

"Just about done...." She studies the grill, then switches it off and lays the mushrooms on the kaiser rolls, adding a little lettuce on top. "There's horseradish if you want it, but I think these'll be fine without it." She puts the sandwiches on plates, then carries them out to the table. "Ack! Dressing!" She darts back into the kitchen, returning with a bottle of salad dressing. "Sorry. Told you I'm not very good at this."

[damage-granted.livejournal.com]

"Nah, I wouldn't want to add anything to it that would cover up the marinade," Grant says, pulling out his chair again, taking a seat as she comes out with the sandwiches. They smell mouth-wateringly delicious. Expecting her to sit down across from him once more, Grant's rather surprised as the Tamaranean dashed back toward the kitchen, clutching a bottle of salad dressing upon her return. "Hey, no, it's fine. Honestly," he says, watching as she returns to the table. "Thank you for doing this, Mar'i."

[mari-grayson.livejournal.com]

"You're welcome." She sits down and offers him the salad dressing. "Want some? Or do you need more tea?"

[damage-granted.livejournal.com]

"Oh, sure," Grant says, taking the bottle from her, applying a small amount to his salad, then setting it back near the bowl. "I'm fine as far as tea goes. Everything looks great." Reaching for his fork, Grant glances over at Mar'i, an embarrassed smile on his face. "Uh...can we go ahead and eat, then?"

[mari-grayson.livejournal.com]

"Sure!" She trickles dressing over her own salad and digs in. Apparently she's worked up a healthy appetite, getting everything ready.

[damage-granted.livejournal.com]

He doesn't look up at her as she takes his hand in hers, his eyes straying to their joined hands, fingers tightening within hers. Four years he'd spent away from the Titans, two of which had been specifically devoted to dealing with this thing. Now, when he's come to it at last, to dealing with this again, he wants nothing more than to run out the door, to bolt from the table, to catch a bus back to his grubby apartment in Newark. Somehow, telling this wonderful woman whom he has come to care for very much about what happened...it becomes more terrifying than any super-villain he's ever squared off againt.

"Remember...when you told me about...about Ibn?" he asks quietly, his attention still firmly fixed on their joined hands. "I told you that sometimes...people don't tell others what's going on with them because they think it would hurt more to tell the truth than to keep it inside?"

Grant breathes a heavy sigh, giving her a hand a firm squeeze. "You saw it the day we met, that there was something about me...the way I acted if you touched me or came too close. And..." His voice falters, eyes squeezing shut. "I'm sorry..."

[mari-grayson.livejournal.com]

"For what?" she says gently.

[damage-granted.livejournal.com]

"It...was a long time ago. It was part of the reason why I left the Titans," Grant says, fighting hard to maintain his composure, frowning hard, his chin quivering for a moment. She deserves someone better than me, someone who isn't scared to death of...He clamps down on that thought, giving her hand another firm squeeze, his thumb rubbing over the back of her hand. Words flash through his mind, images of the first day they met in the garden a couple of months ago, their conversation in the Tower's living area.

Whatever it was, it was done to you...I'd love to know if you'd like to date me.

His eyes open again, but his gaze still rests on their hands. "I...didn't want to have to tell you. I'd been doing so good for so long and I just...I thought I was done dealing with it," Grant says, still talking around the subject, trying to figure out how best to approach this. "And...I was...am afraid that if I tell you, that you won't want to have anything to do with me ever again."

[mari-grayson.livejournal.com]

She hasn't let go. "I know someone hurt you," she says, "and whatever it was ... I'm only gonna leave if you tell me to."

[damage-granted.livejournal.com]

Blowing out a long breath, Grant moves his free hand to his face, covering his eyes for a moment. There really isn't an gentle or easy way to go about this. He remembers what happened when he told all of this to Arsenal - he'd nearly gone critical, would've reduced Roy and Lian to ashes. It didn't happen then, he won't let it happen now.

Another long, shuddering sigh escapes his lips, and Grant finally looks up at Mar'i. "When I was little, I... my ..." He pauses, a frown forming at the corners of his mouth. "My foster father used to ... he did things no adult should ever do to a child. He hit me, he touched me ... he tried to pretend it was all alright by telling me he ... l-loved me..." Grant's voice falters and his gaze falls away from her to the table.

[mari-grayson.livejournal.com]

Her grip tightens. "It wasn't all right," she says fiercely. "It never is all right."

[damage-granted.livejournal.com]

He wanted something lighthearted to watch with her, so after the dishes were clean, Grant had selected Mar'i's copy of My Fair Lady. The space between them on the couch had been small, but it was noticeable. Grant had anticipated that she would have been hesitant to be close to him after the talk, that she would have been nervous to touch him.

Once Eliza Doolittle began singing "Wouldn't It Be Loverly," Grant reached out to the Tamaranean, pulling her close, letting her shoulder rest against his side. Although they haven't talked about it, he can tell that physical contact and affection are very important to her. Is he still nervous? Of course. But he won't let that stop him from letting her know how much he cares for her as much as he is able.

The movie ends, and Grant rises from the sofa to gather his things, then moves to the door, holding Mar'i's hand, watching her face intently. "Can we do this again soon?"

[mari-grayson.livejournal.com]

"If you want," she says, trying not to look too eager.

[damage-granted.livejournal.com]

"Hey..." Grant murmurs, stepping close to her, moving slowly, arms wrapping about her body. "I want. Very much. I...I want to keep seeing you, Mar'i." Nuzzling his nose gently against hers, Grant whispers softly: "I'm not upset with you, and...I'm not going to break, ok? I'm so lucky to have someone as great as you in my life."

[mari-grayson.livejournal.com]

"You're not the only one who's lucky," she murmurs, enjoying the nose-nuzzle. "Let me know when you want another date, okay?"

[damage-granted.livejournal.com]

That widens the smile on his face, and to reinforce the point that he truly isn't going to break, the Titan leans his head down and places a tender kiss on his girlfriend's lips, then pulls back, holding her hand. "Soon. I'd like to try to get in more than one date a month," Grant says, chuckling a little, still smiling, giving her hand a gentle squeeze.

[mari-grayson.livejournal.com]

"Tell the bad guys," she chuckles. "Good night, Grant."