the dizzy, dancing way you feel [backdated to Friday]

[with_coffee]

Robin Rice has a date. He tries not to think about what happened after his last first date. This is different. History won't repeat itself. It can't. There is some difficulty in forcing himself to believe it. He hopes when he sees her those fears and worries as paranoid as they are will melt away

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[rattle_thecages]

Rachel hasn't been on a date in a very good while. She sort of tends to forget people do that and have a life outside of their jobs, which is why she's always gravitated toward co-workers. Bosses, really. Bad Rachel. Her last first date involved Chinese take-out at the office while pouring over case files.

Rachel takes one last look at herself in the full-length mirror before opening the door to greet Robin.

She's let her hair down in more ways than one. She's wearing a white dress, her mother's bracelet, and minimal make up.

More importantly, she's smiling, too.

"Hi." Leaning slightly against the door frame, Rachel's smile widens at the sight of him. He looks good, not that he doesn't always look good. "Look at you. And no crutches! I do believe you're ready for tonight, Robin Rice."

[with_coffee]

The sight of her in the doorway takes his breath away. The smile on his face widens. Yes, he is going on a date with Rachel Dawes. It's happening, and the moment that he sees her all his worries float away. There may become a time later where he regrets not listening to them, but for now they're long gone.

"I believe I am. I'm not allowed to play sports with it or stand on it for too long still, but no crutches, which is good, because they really don't go with my suit." Robin hands the rose to her and leans forward to kiss her cheek. He pulls away smiling at her. "You look fantastic."

[rattle_thecages]

"I see," Rachel replies once Robin has told her what he's not allowed to do. She nods her head, adding cheekily, "I'll make sure to go easy on you, then."

She closes the door behind her, bowing her head a little after he's kissed her cheek. The action is accompanied with quiet laughter. It's strange - in a very good way - to be doing something so very normal with him, for once.

"Thank you, so do you." An uncharacteristic blush, however faint, dusts across her cheeks. Rachel holds the rose in one hand, the other slipping into the crook of his elbow. "Lead the way or I might take charge here."

[with_coffee]

"Thanks. I appreciate it. Not that I need you to go easy on me," Robin insists with a smirk.

It always seems that he has these moments of normality with people that are so rare that they seem strange.

"This way," he says, pulling her closer and heading toward the elevator. "How've you been?"

[rattle_thecages]

Rachel waves a hand at him, still holding on to the rose. There's a careless air about her. "That's what they all say, Robin. That's what they all say."

She lets herself be pulled closer, tucking herself nearly under his arm as they walk. "Busy, just the way I like it. Making progress on certain legal matters. It'll take time but time I've got."

"Oh, and Alfred tried to teach me how to bake a lemon pie." Rachel makes a face as she steps into the elevator. "He wasn't very successful."

[with_coffee]

"Really? They all? As in everyone in the world or everyone you've ever met? ...every man you've ever met?" Robin is still smirking at her. It's fun to tease her especially since she teases him right back.

He shake his head and smiles. "You'll have it all settled eventually. If you need any help with that, by the way, I'd be happy to offer my services even if it's only making the best coffee in the universe. Hot and fresh for you."

Robin snorts a little pressing up on the elevator.

"How exactly can you not be successful at making a lemon pie especially with help? It's pie with lemon in it."

[rattle_thecages]

"Wouldn't you like to know," Rachel says haughtily, lifting a brow. Oh, Rachel, look at you trying to be all mysterious.

"Change this important is rarely immediate," she agrees with a firm little nod. "Eventually we'll settle it, I'll be damned if I don't see this through. I imagine I shall need copious amounts of coffee. And even if I don't, I'm taking advantage of your services. You might regret your offer but it's too late to back out now. In fact, I want it in writing."

Her eyes narrow slightly at his snort. "Not all of us can be culinary artists, you know," the lawyer says with an affronted look.

"It's all about consistency, and the pie has to jiggle but not be liquid or so I was told. I follow rules carefully. If you don't get the egg ratio right, you pull it out of the oven and lemon lava falls on the floor and - it was tricky, okay?"

[with_coffee]

Robin grins at the haughty little eyebrow lift of hers (it's rather attractive) and then he smirks at her. "Yes, I would. It's why I asked."

He raises an eyebrow at her this time.

"In writing? You really think that's necessary. I'm sure I can handle whatever it is that you'd need to throw at me. I'm quite capable at being an assistant, which is essentially the kind of work I'd be doing for you. Believe me, I won't regret any offer I make to you."

He has no way of knowing that for sure. Right now it seems like he couldn't regret a single thing when it comes to her. Right now it feels like he's walking on air through that drugged, crazy haze.

"Yes, I'm sure it's very complicated," Robin says as he leads her out of the elevator and toward the waiting taxi. He has this whole night planned. "Lemon lava?"

[rattle_thecages]

"Oh." Rachel clears her throat a bit and straightens her back. "Well, yes. Plenty of people, men and women, have said it. For your information. And I have...taught them. Yes."

You be quiet, Robin.

"I'm a lawyer. I always think it's necessary. You raise valid points, however. They will be taken into consideration, good man. As will your compensation."

See how magnanimous she can be?

She gives him a curious little smile once she spots the waiting taxi. Rachel knows she's been promised dancing and that's pretty much all she knows. This is where all the questions begin, but she's excited more than anything. "Where are we going?"

[with_coffee]

Robin laughs. He can't help it. She makes him laugh easily. Not so much at her, just in general.

"I'm sure you have," he says, and he means it sincerely despite the smile on his face. "I've seen how you maneuver. I know you could teach practically anyone a lesson should they need it."

He smiles with very curious interest at her as he raises an eyebrow at her.

"Compensation? What kind of compensation?" Robin smirks. "I don't usually allow that sort of thing to be payment for my services, you know."

Robin opens the door of the taxi for her. "Now that is the question, isn't it?"

[rattle_thecages]

Rachel always likes it when Robin laughs. He probably doesn't realize how younger and beautiful he looks. If she could, she'd steal away the sadness for more than just moments at a time. But then, it's a part of what makes him who he is and she wouldn't want that to change.

"Everything's a lesson. I've been taught a lesson or two myself these days," she admits, though she's still smiling.

"I don't know what you're thinking about but I was most certainly not thinking about that. I'm a professional."

Really. She wasn't. Honestly.

Rachel slides into the car even as she mutters, "...you think you are so cute."

[with_coffee]

Robin doesn't realize it though he feels lighter when he's around her. He feels younger which is a nice change as he's spent most of his life feeling older than he is.

"Really? You learning a lesson. Now see... that's surprising as I believed you already knew everything." He nudges her gently with his elbow, and then he smirks at her when she insists that she wasn't thinking of anything. "Of course, you weren't thinking about that. I certainly wasn't either. Wouldn't dream of it."

There's a look in his eyes that's completely giving it away. He's lucky that teasing doesn't count as lying or he'd be wincing in pain at the strength of that lie.

"I am," Robin says, getting in behind her (yes, he heard that). "I'm adorable."

[rattle_thecages]

"Really," she answers with stifled laughter. Rachel sits carefully, making sure the hem of her dress doesn't get caught in the door. "Apparently, I am not all-knowing. Just don't tell anybody. I have a reputation to protect."

Rachel notices that look in his eyes. It steals her breath away for a moment and she actually doesn't answer at first. "Of course not."

She's saved from saying anything else at his next claim.

"Are you?" Her tongue is firmly in cheek when she asks, "I'm curious as to where this purported adorableness seems to go whenever we have a conversation, Robin."

She might not get an answer to her question now, she realizes, but she'll wait. And she might just be paying for that remark sooner or later. She's actually counting on it.

[with_coffee]

"Your secret is safe with me," Robin says as a slow smile slips across his face at the look on hers.

He shuts the door to the taxi cab and gives the drive an address. A secret address. It's all very mysterious and romantic, isn't it? He likes to pretend.

"Oh." Robin presses his hand against his chest and makes a fake pained expression. "That hurts, Rachel." He leans in close to her so that his lips are almost against her cheek, but not quite. "I've got my adorable out with you more than anyone else."

It's hard to believe that he's being adorable when he's got his lips so close to her face. There's another word that comes to mind, but not adorable.

[rattle_thecages]

Rachel does not like this secrecy thing one bit.

She's about to ask the driver very legitimate questions when Robin leans into her and then she forgets the questions.

"I'm a cruel, cruel woman. The meanest." It's hard to believe that when she can't quite stop smiling. "You said so yourself."

Rachel tugs on his tie gently because apparently this is a thing with her, and she's gotten close enough that when she speaks her lips brush against his. "Do I at least get a clue?"

[with_coffee]

"The absolute meanest of them all," Robin agrees with a half smile that contradicts his words. "And I mean what I say."

She tugs on his tie which gets them close enough that he can't help but lean in the rest of the way and kiss her. It's a good thing that the taxi cab driver is not paying attention to them. Uhm. Robin pulls back from her.

"There will be dancing. There you've got a hint." A hint that she already knew. "And food. You get two clues."