Chapter Ten

"A date?"

Six looked utterly confused. As if the word did not exist in his vocabulary.

"Yes, a date," I repeated firmly, "It's where I take you out to dinner. We come back here. We spend time together." Six blinked, his cheeks pinkening, and he averted his eyes almost shyly, as if he couldn't imagine such a thing. I cocked my head and reached up to cup his face and he closed his eyes, clearly adoring the sensation of me cradling his head in my hands.

"Don't worry. It'll be fun. I promise."

"But going out," Six murmured, "That's dangerous."

"We're going to a place where no one will know us. No one will know anything," I answered softly, "But first we need to get properly dressed." Six blinked, then looked at me curiously.

"What's wrong with the way I dress?" He asked, clearly offended. I was unable to resist smiling at that.

"Absolutely nothing," I assured him, pausing to scan him from head to toe in his all black badass outfit, "But it isn't appropriate for where we're going. Just give me a second." He watched me as I went to my closet and opened it up to step inside. Six stared at me, wandering over to watch me as I thumbed through the clothes hanging from the hangers.
"What is this?" He asked, looking around. I frowned.

"A closet?" I asked.

"This is a closet?" He asked in wonder.

"Yes. Why?"

"It's so big," he commented, stepping inside and doing a scan of all the clothes, "There's so many clothes in here. Do you actually wear all of this?" I smiled at that, then turned away as I picked through the clothes, wanting to hide the fact that my smile melted away as I realized something strangely sad.

Six's clothing. He didn't choose to wear any of it. He was wearing it because that was what had been given to him to wear. He never had the opportunity to simply go somewhere to buy clothes he wanted, things he felt comfortable in. I'd never realized how strangely privileged it was to be able to pick out your own clothes and wear whatever you wanted.

I pulled a button down shirt from the folds and turned to the drawers across my apparently large closet. I took out a pair of jeans and some socks. I gave each of them a tug and adjusted the size before turning to Six, who was looking at a sparkly blue dress.

"You've worn this?" He asked me, confused.

"Of course. Blue is my color."

"But a dress?"

"Yes."

"Males don't wear dresses," Six said with a confused scowl. I frowned.

"I am not a male," I responded. Six stopped what he was doing to stare at me. He looked me up and down, cocked his head to the side, then looked at me.

"Are you a shifter?" He asked. I shook my head.

"I'm nonbinary."

"What... What is that?"

"It's an umbrella term for those who's gender does not lie in the binary of male and female. I consider myself an other. If you want me to be really specific, I am genderfluid. I flow between male and female and everything in the middle," I explained, watching Six process it. He furrowed his brow in thought as he considered it. It bothered me that the Mother hadn't taught him something so basic. This was just a natural part of living. Why had she left it out of his classes? She certainly hadn't left sex education out of the equation, so why gender and sexuality studies? What kind of world was she trying to build?

"Oh," Six said at last, "I don't understand it yet, but... That's cool." I smiled at that.

"Yes. Of course, I won't be putting you in a dress," I assured, making Six blush, "Unless you want to?" Six blushed harder now.

"I don't think it would suit me. I'll settle for what you have there," he said, holding his hand out. I resisted the urge to chuckle, knowing it'd probably make him anxious and then in turn make him lash out. I handed him the clothing and gave him some privacy to change, even though it took everything in my power not to peek.

Oh, yes, I'd seen it all before, certainly, but I never got tired of it. Never got tired of those thick rolling muscles, those thick padded pecs tipped with soft pink inverted nipples, tawny olive skin speckled with beauty marks here and there. That thick dark hair that curled around his ears and fell across his forehead over a pair of golden hazel eyes.

I could look at him all day.

We didn't need to go on a date. I could just lay him on the bed and stare at him and that would be enough for me.

Of course, that was weird. Very weird.

So a date it would be.

"These jeans feel weird," Six said, making me look up to see him walking out of the closet. Of course, he looked positively stunning in a pair of dark washed jeans and a white button up short sleeved shirt that hugged his muscles. The buttons were a little strained around his pecs, but frankly, that wasn't something I wanted to change. If anything, I wanted to see those buttons pop off and those pecs come tumbling out.

"You look beautiful," I murmured. Six blinked, his cheeks darkening and he looked up shyly now.

"O-Oh. Uhm... Okay," he said softly. Like he wasn't sure what to say. Like he wasn't used to taking a compliment. His past partners must have been truly fucking blind to not want to tell him he was beautiful all the time.

"Come here," I commanded. Six hesitated for only a moment, then approached me. I reached out and touched his cheek. His breath hitched and he held it for a moment as I stroked his cheek, then drew my hand down the front of him, fingering those tight buttons before I smiled at that.

"Let's go to dinner," I said. Six seemed apprehensive, but he seemed to trust me. I appreciated that and would do well not to take it for granted. I slid my hand down and took his hand in mine, teleporting us from my room in Purgatory, to a quaint little restaurant in downtown Edinburgh, Scotland, UK, Mortal realm.

The restaurant was cute, small, a hole in the wall kind of place, but painted and decorated so well to reflect the traditional Scottish foods they served. I could smell the fish and chips, the warm stews, the potatoes. It had been a very long time since I'd come to this particular restaurant. A long time since I'd been to the mortal realm to begin with.

"Where are we?" Six asked, confused. He made everything look so small with his hulking muscle and size, because let's face it; he was no small male to begin with. He may be shorter than me, but he wasn't small by any means. We both practically dwarfed everyone in the room, who thankfully didn't notice us suddenly appear at the door. To them, it looked like we just walked in through the door from the street. Of course, we got some attention the moment we appeared because of our size. A tiny little server came up to us, her eyes traveling slowly from our feet to our heads.

"Hiya," she greeted with that thick Scottish accent that reminded me of my dad's father, Blaine, "Welcome to Neeps and Tatties. Ah, let me help you find a place to sit." She seemed amazed at our size. Her head had to tilt back to stare up at us. A few others stared as well as the server led us to a corner table that was thankfully roomy enough for both of us to have a seat. She took our drink orders and left us alone.

"She's so small," Six whispered, "Why are they all so small?"

"You've never seen a mortal?" I asked. Six stared at me, then looked around.

"They're mortal?"

"We're in the mortal realm."

"I," Six stopped, like he was confused, his eyes widening a little as he looked around, then looked back at me, "I've never... I don't think I'm allowed to be here."

"As long as we don't use magic in front of them, we're fine," I assured, earning a skeptical look from Six, "Don't worry. I've eaten here quite a bit. The food is delicious. The mortals are very kind. They won't bother us." Six averted his eyes, then seemed to be distracted by the decor around us. From the tartan spreads to clusters of family photos, the Scottish flag, and various beer crates. He seemed awed by the style.

"Is, ah, your home not like this?" I asked. Six blinked, then looked at me curiously.

"My home?"
"The compound," I said. Six nodded once, then shook his head.

"No. There's nothing on the walls in the compound, not really," he murmured, then stopped abruptly, his eyes widening slightly. I looked at him, trying not to show my surprise at that little slip up. Six seemed like an incredibly private person. I mean, he had to be. So that little leaking of information meant he was feeling comfortable around me, surely?

"Why not?" I asked. Six frowned, working his lips a little, like he wasn't sure what to say now.

"My home has decorations, but they're different from this place," I said.

"I know," Six said, then stopped himself again before he could say anything else. He looked down at the table now, his eyebrow twitching like he was pissed at himself for saying anything in the first place. Of course, his comment was a little... awkward, given that he'd technically been stalking me to kidnap me and take me to his leader.

Gods, and I asked this male out on a date. In public.

It was the mortal realm, but that didn't mean it was only frequented by mortals. Some immortals lived mortal side, some residing here for the sole purpose of policing other immortals. Reapers were also frequenters of the mortal realm. There were plenty of people who would pass through and catch a glimpse of me sitting at the table with a mystery male.

But I couldn't contain the urge to do this. I wanted to treat Six. I wanted to reward him for being such a good boy, and for being... a person. Something told me he wasn't treated well back at the compound, and that wasn't fair. He deserved more than that. He deserved a delicious meal and a night out, a night spent with me.

"My house mostly just has pictures," I said at last, making Six look up, "Family photos that go on for miles." Six paused, like he wasn't sure what to say, but he looked like he wanted the conversation to keep going, so he seemed to sacrifice some of his awkwardness to keep things rolling.

"I like your family photos," he murmured, "You all seem so close. And so many." I couldn't resist smiling at that.

Yes. My family was incredibly large. My list of cousins went on for eternity. Most otherworld families were, though. We lived eons. It only made sense that we would procreate more. Of course, mine would seem incredibly large to someone who had no family. It was a sobering thought.

"We've gone through a lot as a family. Trauma tends to make people stick closer together," I responded with a shrug. Six frowned and looked down at the table. I cocked my head.

"What?" I asked. Six tilted his head a little, like he was trying to work something out in his head.

"No, it just... I'm confused with what I'm seeing and learning and what I've been taught," he admitted, furrowing his brow and fiddling with the edge of the table with his fingernails. I leaned my arms against the table, looking at him and keeping my voice low so the humans wouldn't be able to hear.

"What do you mean?" I asked. Six didn't say anything for a while. I assumed he'd clammed up again and wanted to keep that private. And that seemed to be the case before he finally closed his eyes and lowered his voice.

"The Hades Luciferian clan just... We've been raised that you're basically evil. That you're full of filth and chaos," he said quietly, "And yet the photos, the things I've seen, they just don't match up with what I've been raised to believe and it's very confusing. For so many reasons." I studied him for a moment, letting him absorb the shock of this revelation. He seemed to struggle to cope with this in a way that almost seemed like an anxiety attack. His hands were wringing together under the table, his head bowed, his shoulders hunched, his eyes studying the table.

I reached out and placed my hand over his. He stopped fidgeting and looked up at me.

"It's okay to be confused. And it's certainly okay to be wrong. You don't have to understand it right now. Just kind of... let it be," I said. Six was quiet before he nodded slowly. The mortal server returned with our drinks and to take our orders. She kept glancing up over her notepad at Six and I, and of course, our eyes met and she ducked real quick back down behind her notepad to scribble the last of our order before she left.

"She's strange," Six muttered. I smiled lightly.

"She's interested in us. That's all."

"Interested?"

"Romantically," I said, then paused as I stared after the female, who ducked into the kitchen and started gushing to a friend of hers, "Ah, perhaps sexually is more accurate."

"What's the difference?" Six asked dryly. I looked at him because I thought he was making a joke, until I realized he looked serious and I frowned.

"Quite a huge difference. Romantically would imply there are feelings held for one another, permanent resounding feelings. Sexually is a physical urge to be with someone."

"That's confusing."

"Sorry."

We lapsed into silence again. I don't think either of us knew what to say at this point. After all, if I asked Six anything, he'd probably cut me off and remind me that he was my stalker and potential kidnapper. If Six asked me anything, it'd run into a wall of confusion again. I was starting to feel a little disappointed in this plan.

At least until the food came. As it arrived, Six stared at it, clearly confused as the plates hit the table in front of us and the server took her time leaving, asking if we needed anything. He looked amazed as he studied what was on the plate.

"What is this?" He asked.

"It's called haggis. It's... Well, try it first," I said, remembering the last time I'd tried to explain the dish to someone.

Of course, Six looked skeptical anyway. He studied it a moment longer, then picked up his fork and dug into the ground mixture of meat and oats. He brought a small bit to his lips, gave it a curious sniff, then popped it in his mouth. I was amazed he actually went for it. Good for him for being so adventurous today. I waited as I watched his expression change from curiosity to wonder. He chewed up his bit and ate some more.

"This is so good," he exclaimed, "What is that?"

"It's sheep offal mixed with oats and seasoning, usually in a sheep's stomach," I explained. Six looked at me.

"A sheep?"

"Yes. A farm animal."

"I know what a sheep is," Six answered drolly, making my lips twitch in a smile, "I'm just... I didn't know you actually ate them. I just thought that was something they told us to gross us out into enjoying our chicken, which by the way, tastes absolutely disgusting now compared to this." He took another spoonful of the haggis, then moved onto the neeps and tatties part of the dish. Which he devoured. Thank goodness he'd ordered basically one of everything off the menu, because he plowed through his first meal and into the fish and chips, then tore through the next few meals with absolute ease.

I was perfectly fine with my haggis, neeps and tatties. Thankfully the portion was quite small.

"That was so good," Six managed, looking at me with eyes that sparkled, "What else can we eat?"

"You're still hungry?" I asked. Six stopped for a second, like he was startled by himself. He looked at the pile of plates at the end of the table, then at the empty one in front of him. He seemed confused for a moment, then seemed to look almost... disgusted.

"Oh. No, yeah, that was... a lot," he admitted, rubbing at his chest, then his stomach.

"No, no, I'm just impressed," I said, "But it makes sense. Artificials eat more than the average creature typically does." Six looked up.

"They do?" He asked. I frowned.

"Of course. They burn energy a lot faster than others. They're metabolisms are insanely high. It's why a lot of medications don't work for them and have to be specially dosed in order to have any effect. It's perfectly normal for artificials to eat that much, so don't let me stop you. Do you want to try something else?" I asked. Six looked at me, still appearing to absorb the information I'd just given him.

"Then why," his voice trailed for a moment before he shook his head, "Uhm... Yeah. Okay. Lead the way." I nodded and stood up, reaching out to take his hand. As soon as our hands touched, Six looked up at me, his hazel eyes... utterly adoring. I wasn't sure if he even knew he was doing it. He just looked completely lost in me.

"Next stop," I murmured, leaning in close to his face, watching those hazel eyes widen, "United States." Six looked confused, but didn't say anything as we teleported from Scotland to the United States of America in the mortal realm. We landed just outside an all-American diner. Thankfully the parking lot was mostly empty since it was late at night for them. We came in through the entrance, getting a couple stares from staff and the two other diners.

It made sense. We were tall. We were attractive. It happened.

We sat down and a female server approached us to take our order... after kicking her coworker in the shin when they argued about who would serve us first.

"What can I get you handsome men today?" She asked. Six looked at her, confused. I smiled.

"We'll take two root beer floats," I said, earning a confident nod from her as she scurried off to get the order in. Six looked at me.

"Is she doing the same thing the other waitress did?" He asked. I nodded.

"It happens."

"Does it?"

"Doesn't it happen to you?"

"No," Six said frankly, "That kind of stuff doesn't... What is that sound?" He looked around and I raised an eyebrow.

"The music?" I asked.

"That's music?"

"It's folk rock, or country, depending on who you ask," I said with a shrug, really not having too much of an opinion on Johnny Cash, a famous mortal singer. Six looked at me for a while, then looked up as the server came over with our root beer floats. He looked at his curiously.

"What's the stuff on top?" He asked.

"Whipped cream."

"What's that?"

"Just try it." Six didn't hesitate to obey that particular command. He took the long spoon that server had given us and dug right into the whipped cream part first. He put it in his mouth, and his eyes brightened at that. He took another scoop of it, then went to town. When he got to the fizzy carbonated drink underneath, his eyes became confused.

"What is that?" He asked, smacking his lips.

"Root beer."

"What root?"

"A sassafras, I think."

"You're making up words again."

"No, I'm not. It's an actual thing. Look it up."

"How?"

"... Nevermind. Just drink it," I ordered. Six wrinkled his nose up for a second, then turned back to the root beer float. He went back and forth between sipping the drink and eating the ice cream with his spoon. In no time, he'd finished it and the server returned to take our orders before departing once again, looking disappointed.

"They're totally gay," I overheard the server whisper to her coworker, "I mean, look at them. The way they look at each other is just so... sigh." Her coworker gave her a thumbs down. I smiled and glanced sideways at Six, who was licking whipped cream off the edge of his glass before he looked at me and I laughed a little.

"You got a little..." I pointed to my nose. Six scowled, reaching up to touch his face, but I pushed his hand aside and reached out, swiping the white off his nose with my thumb... then stuck my thumb in my mouth, sucking the whipped cream off. Six watched me, looking a little shy now as he dropped his eyes to the glass before the server came over and took it away.

"She's not doing that thing anymore," Six said quietly. I smiled.

"She thinks we're gay," I answered. Six blinked, then cocked his head.

"Oh. Well, that's good, I guess... Wait, you said thinks?" He asked with a frown.

"I'm not sure what your sexual orientation is and I don't want to make assumptions," I replied. Six nodded slowly, as if he understood what I meant, then shook his head, clearly not understanding that. He cocked his head.

"I've never thought of myself as gay."

"What do you consider yourself?"

"I... I don't know. I just like who I like," he muttered, then paused to consider that, "Ah, but I've never..." His voice trailed and his cheeks burned bright pink now. I smiled, unable to resist him when he was like that, and leaned in close to him, reaching up to brush my finger by his ear, feeling the heat there.

"You've never what?" I asked. Six closed the space by his ear with his shoulder, like my teasing made him uncomfortable, but he was clearly blushing harder now and his eyelid fluttered a little, like he liked it.

"I've never... liked... someone before," he said softly.

"Oh? No one? Ever?" I asked. He shook his head. I smiled.

"I'd say you probably like me," I said boldly. Six blushed harder. Was that even possible? Either way it was a delight to see him go further every time.

"I... do..." His response was breathy. I smiled, glancing at where the servers were distracted by conversation with the cook. I looked back at Six, who was looking down at his lap, his legs closed together. I reached out and took his hand, dragging him out of the booth with me. He looked at me curiously as I led him to the other side of the diner where the bathrooms were. I ducked inside, dragging Six with me.

"What're you--" I cut him off by throwing him up against one of the walls, lunging in and capturing his lips with mine. He grunted, then a long satisfied moan spilled past his lips against mine as we kissed hungrily. I slid my hands up his hips and around to the front of him, pushing against the pads of his pecs before I hooked my fingers in between the buttons of his shirt, pulling them apart. The buttons popped off and rained down to the floor, scattering in different directions.

Six gasped softly, then tilted his head back against the wall and moaned as I dipped my head in and kissed between his pecs.

"Welcome to your next new experience," I murmured against his skin.

"W-What's that?" He asked breathlessly.

"Bathroom sex."