(Extra Episode) Date Night

Shen watched as he brushed his hand gently over her wrist and slipped something over her fingers. When he pulled away, she smiled at the bright orange blossom adorning her wrist.

"You do know we only wear these at prom right?" She said.

He chuckled, and his bottom mandibles clasped together shortly. A shrug, "You told me that event was terrible. We can rid your mind of more than just one bad memory tonight."

"You charmer."

Daen had taken her many places beside the park. The city aquarium, a place she told him she frequented as a child, a riverside sandwich shop she also loved, surprising her with a bouquet resting at the table's center. He had promised to make the most of the day, and he hadn't disappointed. He could see the light in her eyes. Her smile lit up her expression with her joy.

Radiant.

He admired the green sheen of those eyes under the lantern light. She was like a breath of summer. Warm green leafy eyes, and her skin reflected the orange lights hanging above. His nostrils flared as she brushed a hand across his lower left mandible. He quivered a bit under her touch, scenting something sweet on her skin.

Shen grinned a white smile as he brought a finger down her cheek, "We better get in there. I'm going to need to eat something before you're getting anywhere with me tonight. I'm starving."

He chuckled, a surprisingly natural sound with mandibles. He looked down at his wife, matching her smile with one of his own.

Daen allowed her to lead him towards the building down the sidewalk, shaking his head lightly as paranoid humans practically jumped out of their path.

Shen ducked under his arm, brushing her hand across his back, "Morons." He heard her mutter. She kept at his side firmly, one hand resting at his waist.

The long building ahead of them was made of rich red stone with a roof covered in large blue-black shingles. A fountain with a Grecian statue stood in the courtyard, and strings hung lanterns down the walk and between carved supports that sent lights scattering across the area.

Daen had made reservations at this place. This restaurant was one of the best in the area, The Blue Moon.

It was also a top romantic destination. Shen was positively glowing as she looked up at her husband. He had put a lot of thought into this. She slipped her fingers around two of his larger and squeezed affectionately. He looked down at her, mandibles slipping together to form a sangheili smile.

He had certainly done his research. She had never once spoken to Daen about this place, she knew it was out of their budget for a casual night out, but she was impressed.

Daen admired the rosy sheen on Shen's cheeks that made the freckling on her nose stand out. He knew she was pleased by the flush over her skin and the way her smile matched her eyes. She also was giggling lightly under her breath. He loved that sound.

Shen was very happy, but she was also very nervous. She hadn't felt this anxious since their first real date…that and her high school graduation. Transition into adulthood had been a terrifying jump. Entering such a fancy restaurant made her feel like she was jumping into a crowded room—naked.

Daen kept her hand gently but firmly in his grip as he led her through the line of people waiting to get inside. She swallowed the knot that had formed slowly in her throat since the realization that this was the place he had reserved for their night out. No one stood in their way. Her sangheili partner's shadow parted the crowd like the Red Sea. She had almost been afraid that someone would pull her aside and tell her to leave, and that she didn't belong in such a place…assuming they weren't petrified by her sangheili partner.

It was a sort of 'imposter' syndrome she supposed. She was more at home at a Taco Hut than a 5 star gourmet place in the richest part of the city. The apartments around here went for at least 300 thousand. People who lived in these kinds of homes looked down on even common suburbia folks. She knew that well enough, Shen had attended a private school on a scholarship and those girls hadn't been shy about putting her in her 'place'.

"Reservations were made earlier. For the both of us." Daen said smoothly to the attendant at the door who looked at their odd coupling with wide pale green eyes. He was already a short man, and next to the sangheili even smaller. Shen would have found it amusing if she didn't recall how she felt about Daen's size when they first met. It had taken her awhile to feel comfortable walking with him without fear of having her feet crushed. He had big feet, big…well…everything.

Shen smirked up at her husband who gave her a sideways look. He could tell by the sparkle in her eyes that she was thinking something mischievous. Shen promptly stopped grinning when she felt his free hand slip slyly against her thigh.

Shen blanched as she felt his fingers brush up against the curve of her ass. She looked at the waiter to see if he noticed, and almost sighed in relief when she saw that his eyes were glued to the chart in his hand, his fingers slipping against the pen at the edge of it as he nervously searched for their reservation.

She glared up at her husband who gave her a wicked sangheili smile. Shen held back a squeak as she felt him grab her, unable to stop from jumping up slightly on her toes.

Dirty dog.

"Yes. Of course. Here it is." The waiter replied shakily. Shen watched a bulge jump in his throat as he swallowed. Thankfully, the man was too distracted by his uneasiness to notice Shen's tomato red complexion. Daen couldn't resist a hearty laugh at the situation and Shen lightly kicked his leg in response. He responded by making another grab at her ass and she could barely stifle a squeak as the waiter looked their way suspiciously.

They both behaved themselves afterwards, for the sake of their already nervous waiter, and not a minute later he was leading the way forward past the next set of double doors and into the main room.

There was a hushing of conversation, like a blanket had settled over everything, muting all sounds underneath. The room was definitely populated. Shen wasn't surprised. This was a top romantic destination. Valentine's Day…she just realized that Daen probably spent a lot of funds to make this happen on this particular night. Hopefully he didn't sell any artifacts from his home world. She loved playing with his arum collection and prayed not a single piece was missing. Humans would pay a lot for anything 'alien,' but damned if she wouldn't eat at a Taco Hut or Burger Boy for another ten years to avoid that from happening.

Heads turned towards them and then there was the whispering. Always the whispering. First day at Shelby's School for Girls all over again. The fucking whispering gossiping horde. Shen didn't care to interpret their opinions, because she just didn't care.

Daen also didn't pay them any mind. The only thing worth his attention at that moment was the tables that were around them as they moved towards their own table which seemed to be at the center of the room. He was used to moving around humans enough that there wasn't really a problem, but all sangheili have deep slanting strides, it was part of how they were built.

They fortunately, made it to their table with no problems. If the chairs here could stand up to his weight, he'd be relieved about that potential issue clearing itself from his mind.

He had once broken a seat under his weight at a credit office, and had also leaned too readily against a tabletop at a bar. That particular instance, the table had cracked under his weight, and one leg had completely snapped off. Shen had laughed hysterically at the incident, unhelpful while he had attempted, without success, to piece the broken furniture back together.

Shen took her seat first, Daen pulling out her chair as he had seen human males do on videos when they were courting their females. They didn't commonly continue the practice after marriage, at least that's what Shen had told him, which he found dishonest to their character. When a sangheili male courted a female, he would do his best to display what mannerisms, what strengths, and honor he had to his person. She would know what she was getting from him. Sincerity was expected, anything less was insulting to both parties.

Daen took his seat carefully, his legs sliding about clumsily under the table. Shen laughed at him as the table top shook lightly, the small candle at the center of the table flickering wildly in response to his movement. He faintly remembered her last birthday, the one they had celebrated together, when he had caught part of the table on fire when he had attempted to light her candles unsuccessfully. He wondered if Shen was remembering that event too. There was a lot of mirth in her expression, and dimples. She hated those spots, but he found them endearing, especially when he learned that not all humans had them.

Their waiter placed two menus at the table near Daen's elbow, mumbled something quickly, and leaving in a rush. Shen rolled her eyes, brushing a strand of hair over one ear, before grabbing one of the rolls at a bowl near the center of the table. In her other hand she opened a menu.

"Oh gosh." She said, mouth half full, "I love carbs." Pieces of bread dropped onto the table top and she swallowed. Her face reddened and she quickly scooped up the fallen bits to drop them onto the saucer at her elbow. He watched her eyes tilt a bit to the side, her hand reaching out to re-tuck a hair behind an ear.

Daen knew his wife's mannerisms well. He grabbed a bread roll and ate just as messily, sending large pieces of bread dropping to the tabletop. He didn't bother picking them up.

Shen noticed his gesture and smiled, slipping her pink tongue over her lips to taste the butter left there. Her small hand reached for his, and he opened his palm to let her fingers slide through.

He didn't want her to feel embarrassed. Humans were so sensitive about silly things. If Shen made a spill or dropped a crumb, he would just have to beat her at the game. Sometimes they took such games to silly extremes, hopefully nothing that would jeopardize their dining experience together.

Currently he was concerned about the sly look in the turn of his human wife's lips. They were twitching slightly in one corner which usually meant she was up to no good. He loved her lips. They were currently glazed with a coloring that she favored, a so called 'peachy-keen.' Something similar in color of a fruit from her home planet.

She seemed to notice the dip in his gaze, Daen's dark shining eyes on her lips, and her grin widened in response. Her tongue darted out of her mouth again to slip over the swell of her bottom lip, slowly, "So." She said in that deep voice he loved, turning her shoulders in, chin tilted towards him. Vibrant green eyes flashed with interest. "What's on your mind?"
"You ask when you already know the answer." Daen practically purred the words, feeling his vocalizations vibrate on his teeth. He flexed the muscles in his neck, eyes meeting hers from across the table.

She selected another bread roll from the glass dish between them, the candle light dancing again as her wrist brushed up a phantom wind. She brought it to her mouth and he watched as her tongue escaped through her teeth again to slide across the bun…purposefully. Her lips curved into a wicked smile when she caught his eyes again.

He looked on, amused as she suddenly dropped it. The waiter had returned, and his eyes were blinking fast, not looking at either one of them but somewhere in-between. He had probably heard their banter and was alarmed by the intimacy at play. Daen didn't find it in him to care. He knew many humans strongly disliked their coupling, that, or were confused speechless by it. Some reacted with alarm, as if the idea was dangerous, but to whom he wasn't certain. He would never hurt Shen.

"Are you ready to order?"

After figuring out the menu they were left alone to talk. Shen did most of the talking, Daen merely listened patiently. She loved to talk about everything. Their day, work, home, even mundane things like the color of the table cloth or about the windows that were stained black at the far end of the room. She wondered out loud to him if the purpose was merely privacy or to keep out the sun, and in whichever case, why not use curtains?

Conversation allowed time to pass freely and soon their food was being placed in front of them. Daen's nostrils flared as he took in the scent of the steak taking up most of his plate. It was medium-rare, which Shen criticized once as 'super gross, and 'you might as well eat it off the animal.' His wife had ordered something with chunks of a purple vegetable in it. He wasn't a fan of vegetables, and turned his nostrils instead on the meaty scent in front of him.

He ignored the eating utensils at both sides of his plate and picked up the whole of the meat serving with one hand. He then proceeded to tear off a chunk. Shen hid a smile as she watched him tuck the slice between two mandibles. She enjoyed watching him eat, there was something fascinating about the process.

His lower set of mandibles carried the steak to the upper set, which closed to receive it. The lower part acted as a catch for the chewing process of the top. Regardless of how careful he was, droplets of meat juice dribbled between his fangs to fall onto the plate and tablecloth.

Drinking was a whole other matter. Shen requested a pitcher with a wide spout the next time their server came around. For being intimidated by the alien sitting at the table, the man was quite determined to check on them fairly often. Shen would remember to tip him well not only for this, but also because she appreciated that he didn't speak through her, but also to Daen separately. The man couldn't make direct eye contact with Daen to save his life, but she felt his actions were enough. At least he tried his best to be decent.

If only the people around them could be more tolerant. Shen gritted her teeth as she knifed some butter across a roll, unable to ignore the whispers she could hear around them still, even after an hour into their dining. She was so distracted that she bit back a cry when she accidentally jabbed the butter knife into her skin.

"Fuck." She couldn't quiet the curse as the roll bounced to the tabletop with a single droplet of blood tainting the clean white cloth near her plate. Brilliant. Shen bit her lip as she regarded her hurt finger with a furrowed brow.

"How deep is it?" Daen asked, leaning forward.

Shen shooed him with a sharp turn of her shoulder, tucking the hurt finger into her other palm. "It's fine."

"Shen." His voice was gentle but commanding. He reached out a hand.

She sighed, unwilling to argue with him. She placed her hand, open palm, in his own. "It's not deep, see?"

A bead of blood was sitting on the edge of a small but jagged cut near her thumb. At a tilt of her hand, it spilled out along the line between her forefinger and thumb. She closed her fingers before it escaped onto the tablecloth.

Daen stood up to call out for their waiter, but Shen quickly pulled at him with her good hand back into his seat. He faced her with a frown on his mandibles, both sets cutting the air. Exasperation, concern. She shook her head at him, meeting his eyes across the table. Shen appreciated that he cared for her wellbeing, but it was a shallow cut, and certainly nothing life threatening. One strange cough or spot of blood and he was holding her in his arms like a worried parent protecting a small child.

"I'll just wash up in the restroom." Shen insisted, her face splitting in a smile that reflected calm, "I'll be back in a moment."

After ordering Daen not to follow her to the restroom and to finish his steak, Shen moved around the tables to the doors at the far end of the room. The restrooms were marked with large decorative windows stating the type, doors for 'gentleman' or for 'ladies.' She tried her best to ignore the stares and hushed chatter from other diners as she walked forward.

Shen released a long breath when she stepped through the door to the ladies' room. It was quiet, empty. There was a thick scent of vanilla in the air, pungent enough to choke on. She made a face as she turned to look at her reflection in the mirror.

She ran water in the sink and held her hand out underneath it, wincing as cool stream ran over the slight cut. It was a real pain that paper cuts and small tears seemed to burn more than they should. Maybe she was just super sensitive, regardless, it was going to be sore and throbbing for a while.

Shen finished cleaning her cut, and pressed a paper towel against it until the bleeding stopped and bits of towel clotted on skin. Even fancy places like this had cheap ass paper towels, she noticed.

After tossing her trash into a small waste basket, she decided to relieve herself of what liquid she had consumed so far into the night, which rounded to almost 3 glasses of wine and half a cup of water. Shen moved to the first empty stall and hummed as she slipped her panties down her legs. She was pleased she wouldn't have to compete for a stall, as she hated wasting time in the bathroom. Bare minimum makeup, smack of gloss, liner, potty time, and she was out.

She had just finished up and was prepared to leave the stall when she heard the door open and the clicking heels of probably three separate women. Shen leaned back and listened as she heard more than one woman talking loudly, probably resuming a conversation they had outside the restroom.

"I mean, he's fucking huge. I don't know how he even got through the door." High pitched, airy laugh.

"I didn't know they let animals in here." Another. A frivolous giggling.

"It's fucking disgusting. I mean, they try to wipe us out some odd years ago, and now it's like, where did the neighborhood go? There's some bug faced freak living next door, your home value just went down. Nobody wants that shit."

"I know, and that chick? I guess she just likes them big, but that's like fucking a do-"

Shen tuned them out, and clenched her hands together, biting her lip as she felt the sting of pain from her cut thumb. Of course, she wasn't surprised. No one would ever really understand her and Daen, not completely. They'd put on a face if they were family, smile, nod, but behind closed doors they would talk, share a glance, whisper. It pissed her off. The two-facedness of people. So many humans were racist against their own kind, the friendliest alien in the universe wouldn't be able to change the opinions of the few insipid individuals in existence.

She was tired of it. She wasn't afraid of conflict, Shen prided herself on being difficult and outspoken. The fuck if these little bitches would sleep well tonight.

Shen pulled up her panties, flushed, and exited the stall, her shoulders stiff, and hands sweeping past her hips to fix the wrinkles in her dress where she had bunched it up on her waist. Three young women, probably college age or fresh graduates, stared at her as she moved up to the sink to wash her hands.

So they had paid attention to who was with the 'alien', had they? Shen made a foul face in the mirror as she shook her wet hands over the sink. She looked at herself in the mirror, smiled an icy smile, and turned to face the other women. They were all wearing shocked expressions on their faces, and the one bitch's eyes were glued to her feet. Sheep.

"It's cute how cowards like to talk about other people behind their backs." Shen said sharply. Smiling wider as she saw their eyebrows shoot up, mouths gaped. Of course they didn't actually expect her to speak up. Definitely younger than they looked. "You girls seem to be very opinionated about aliens. I guess every generation of humanity has its racist, speciest, cunts." She practically spat the last word.

Shen flashed a sharp white smile and pushed back a loose strand of hair out of her face. "Now if you'll excuse me." She pushed past the girls who quickly moved out of her way, one bumping into the sink, "I have to get back to my evening. You ladies should probably call home. It's late, and your parents are probably worried about you."

She turned back to glare at them before opening the door, "Oh, and if I hear any one of you making remarks about me and my husband behind my back again, you're going to see what a plasma rifle looks like up close. Daen has an extensive collection."

She smiled with her teeth, "We have a lot in common actually." Canines gleamed in the stark white light of the restroom.

The door shut behind her with a crisp finality and Shen couldn't wipe the wide smirk on her face as she started towards her table. She took her seat. Daen noticed the expression on her face, and gave his mandibles a slight shrug, head tilted curiously.

"Are you alright?"

"Perfect." Shen smiled, and reached for his offered hand. He closed his fingers over hers and they were at peace again. Talking, laughing. Sharing in this beautiful night together.

She couldn't want for anything else.

I was going to end with a sexy-time scene, but I want to keep this particular story Teen rated. To be fair to those who stick to that rating from the start. If you guys make enough requests for that 'episode' I will add it as a separate story if you like, which means it might be longer because of that fact. Just let me know, hope you enjoyed!