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

[mari-grayson.livejournal.com]

Hastily she assures him, "I didn't make the pie myself. I got it from this little bakery a few blocks over--" She looks down at their joined hands. "You seem more comfortable touching me than you used to."

[damage-granted.livejournal.com]

Eyes lowering to their hands, Grant feels the slightest twinge of embarrassment. It passes quickly, but it's there nonetheless. "It helps me feel closer to you...and...I like feeling that way," he says, frowing a little at the rather awkward explanation.

[mari-grayson.livejournal.com]

"I'm glad." She drinks more tea, then releases his hand and bounces to her feet. "Lemme get the electric grill heating up ... you want to slice the kaiser rolls?" She holds up a plastic bag bearing the logo of a local bakery.

[damage-granted.livejournal.com]

That warms his heart and alleviates a lot of the nervousness he's feeling. Strange how even small, simple gestures such as that from this woman can bring so much comfort. "Absolutely," Grant replies, standing and following her to the kitchen, bringing his tea with him.

Taking the bag from her, Grant pulls out two of the rolls, then looks around. "Uh...bread knife and a cutting board? I don't want to mar your counters," he says, looking around.

[mari-grayson.livejournal.com]

"Bread knife...." She pushes the knife block over to him. "There's a wooden cutting board that slides out from under the counter there," she says, pointing to a section of counter near the refrigerator. "I don't use it for anything but bread."

[damage-granted.livejournal.com]

"Got it," he replies, pulling a couple of knives free - steak knife, butcher's knife, paring knife - before finally finding the right one. "There we go," Grant says triumphantly. Taking the rolls, he moves to the indicated section of counter, then finds the board, pulling it out. "What the...? Well, that's handy." Turning one of the rolls on its side, he carefully slices into it, trying to make the halves as flat as possible.

[mari-grayson.livejournal.com]

The electric grill is plugged in and heating up. "Yeah, it's kinda neat, but you can't take it out to wash it, so I just use it for bread slicing." She moves around him to open the refrigerator, pulling out a translucent rectangular container. When she pops open the top, Grant can smell an oil-vinegar marinade, with hints of garlic, oregano, and pepper.

[damage-granted.livejournal.com]

He pauses in his slicing of the second roll as Mar'i moves to the fridge, pulling out the portobellos. The aroma of the marinade instantly reaches his nose and Grant looks over at her with a somewhat bewildered smile. "That smells great," he says quickly, watching as she moves toward the grill.

The second roll is sliced in half, and Grant sets the knife on the counter, turning toward her. "Need me to get the salad?" he asks.

[mari-grayson.livejournal.com]

"Yes, please--" She waves at the refrigerator as she carefully lifts a dripping portobello out and lays it on the grill. Immediately it starts sizzling and she hurries to put the second one next to it. "These won't take long."

[damage-granted.livejournal.com]

"Alright," he replies, moving to the refrigerator again, opening it and ducking his head inside. "Here we go," Grant says, pulling out a large bowl covered with plastic wrap, bumping the fridge closed with his hip. It's a standard green salad, but he's sure she's got a good dressing to go with it. "Just put this on the table, or...?"

[mari-grayson.livejournal.com]

"Table, and if you could get bowls in the cabinet over there...." She opens the grill and checks on the sizzling mushrooms.