hopelessly lost in a small town

[tinkercat]

Before Tom had realized it, breakfast with Lightning had become a habit he couldn't break. Every morning, he'd rush to the cafeteria early just to save her a seat and snag a good breakfast - that he simply couldn't live without. Since they were both finally on break, they could head down to Balamb for something good. Tom relished the opportunity,

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[ridethe]

Though Lightning may have never explicitly mentioned she enjoyed having breakfast with Tom, she was never late to one and it was something she had come to cherish in a way. She would never admit it, though. Her sister, Serah, had been the first to notice her change in attitude towards social meetings. She hadn't grilled Lightning on the subject and Lightning was thankful for that. Tom was one of the few people she could call a friend at the Garden, and he was probably her best friend at that. Fielding questions from her busybody sister about her friendship with Tom was most likely the closest to normal she'd ever felt. And even then, she felt like a fish out of water sometimes

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Taking a brief respite to read the map over again, Tom furrowed his eyebrows and tried not to laugh at the hideousness of him getting lost... with a map drawn by an architect student. Where was a decent GPS when he really needed one? Stuffing the map in his back pocket, he plowed forward.

"It won't if you eat just one," He teased, slowing his pace down slightly so that he was walking right beside her. "I'll even save a couple from the big stack I'm planning to have - along with the eggs and bacon."

The more he walked, the larger his order seemed to get. He wanted to shrug it off as a 'he's a guy, he'll eat a lot' thing, but Tom had a feeling that an excuse like that just wouldn't fly with Lightning. Plus, he probably should admit that he's lost... Which probably wouldn't happen until they saw the same house for the fifth time.

[ridethe]

Lightning watched him read over the map again, wondering just when he was going to admit to being lost. Balamb wasn't that big, was it? Then again, Edge had recommended the place. The ninja had a certain way with these things. Her other brow joined the arched one when he started walking again. She had a feeling it was going to be a while until they actually got to eat.

"Just one," she relented easily. So, okay, she may be curious about these so-called amazing pancakes. "Think your eyes are bigger than your stomach, Bronson?" Her tone was almost challenging, but lighthearted in a way that she'd decided to ignore. If he can tease, so can she, right? Not that it had stopped her before.

"Ready to hand over that map yet?" Even though they were lost, she wasn't having a bad time. It was nice to just relax outside the Garden, but they could walk off their breakfast just as easily.

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Of course she'd notice. Nothing ever got past Light. Without hesitation, he pulled the map out of his pocket and wordlessly handed it over to her. There really was nothing he could say, especially considering the map was drawn by former SeeDs, except that maybe he couldn't read a map to save his own life.

"Maybe I should've listened to Botan this time," He laughed, trying not to sound as sheepish as he felt. "But then again, we wouldn't have had the scenic route either."

[ridethe]

Lightning watched his expression as she took the map before moving her gaze to it. It seemed straight forward and clear which actually left her curious as to why they were wondering in circles to begin with. The idea that he couldn't read a map took a while to click... A testament in its own right.

Memorizing the simple route, she opened her mouth to let him know they needed to head to the other side of the city... only to promptly close it when he started to talk. His tone caught her off guard, if she was being honest. She hesitated a moment and lifted her hand to give his shoulder an easy nudge with her closed fist.

"We worked up an appetite," she started, the side of her mouth just barely quirked. "This way." Almost embarrassed by the tiny show of amusement, she quickly turned away and started off in the direction the map indicated.

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Tom'd been half-expecting some kind of lecture or something that'd insinuate that he needed to go back to Geography class and actually pass it this time... but to get a nudge? From Lightning? Was an unexpected surprise. He couldn't help grinning, even if he was rooted to the floor for about 1.5 seconds by the gesture.

Letting a laugh escape his lips, he lightly shook his head before following her lead. "Got it," He responded, easily keeping up with her after a while. It'd be a story to tell people when they got back to Garden... how he couldn't read a map and Light saved him from the despair of falling into a black abyss of hopelessness.

"... Thanks, by the way."

[ridethe]

Lightning, on the other hand, would have preferred it if she had given him a lecture. It would have been a lot easier to make sense of. She'd never been good with tact to start with, but even a little nudge was enough to send up red flags in her own head. For now, though, she'd shrug it off. She could take care of it later in the Training Center.

She kept her gaze ahead, eyes moving to something of interest every once in a while, but most often to the sky. She'd never really given it much thought, but that was one thing the worlds had in common. With another arched brow and a steady pace, she moved her gaze to Tom.

"Don't mention it. Figured you were getting hungry." Not that she was positive that was what he was thanking her for, but it seemed likely enough. It wouldn't take too long to reach the ever elusive restaurant.

[tinkercat]

With their pace, they'd probably grab breakfast in the next ten minutes or so. Thank god they were both early risers, or else their "morning meal" might've actually stretched into the afternoon thanks to Tom's mishap. "Oh, and I suppose you weren't?" He lightly teased, inching slightly away from her in case he was to be on the receiving end of her violence.

Maybe it was because he'd seen it happen to Snow one too many times, but Tom'd rather be safe than sorry, especially when he was operating on an empty stomach.

"I'll be good next time," He promised, "And actually ask for directions." As opposed to say... asking for a map and the address and blindly hoping for the best.

[ridethe]

Oh, Tom. He might have noticed the almost skeptical look and hesitation in one of her usually sure steps before she gripped the map she was still holding onto a little tighter. She's used to his teasing, fortunately, and he so isn't getting that map back. Not that he could read it. The fact he inched away a little made violence absolutely unnecessary.

And Snow was a special case.

"They should have drawn you a path," she quipped easily with a dry tone and a small smirk, rounding a corner. Not too much longer, thankfully. With the way Tom had been talking about what he was going to order, she could practically recite the menu. And with a loud growl, her stomach flat out betrayed her neutral exterior.

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Why his best friend majored in bladed weapons, he'd never know---she acted too damn well for her own good sometimes. He opened his mouth to retort back, then firmly clamped it shut the moment he heard that growl. Resisting the urge to laugh, he then brushed lightly against her and attempted to lightly squeeze her hand.

Granted, he knew he was more touchy-feely than she; all of Garden was probably more affectionate, for all he knew. It just... felt right? They'd reached the restaurant safe and sound, and at the moment, that was really all that mattered.

He opened the door and held it open for her as they walked through, "Looks promising," He grinned. Of course, 'promising' was Tom-speak for 'slightly run-down in that way that promised good food.'

[ridethe]

Whether that pink hue to her cheeks was because of the noise her stomach had made or Tom's reaction was yet to be decided. She would have snapped at him had he actually laughed (and the thought had crossed her mind anyway), but the feeling of his hand on hers stopped that thought process right where it started.

What?

She instinctively flinched when she first felt it, gaze moving to him immediately and brows knitting. She should have hit him for that - given him a dead arm, at the very least. But she didn't want to and that was almost worse. Clearing her throat and turning her attention elsewhere, she moved into the restaurant without protesting the door for once.

"It's something," she replied with a huff of what might have been exasperation. She'd seen worse, sure, and the 'motif' served for a great distraction. The furniture reminded her of home, even. With a glance towards the sign stating 'Seat Yourself', she nodded towards a table for two by a window. "That one?"

[tinkercat]

This morning was shaping up to be weird, if the lack of violence had been any indication. Still half-expecting a slap or some kind of lecture, Tom pressed his lips together and watched for signs of non-existent disapproval. Maybe it was a good thing that she didn't question his touchy-feely attitude towards everything (even Pops questioned it less than she did)... and yet maybe it was something he should overlook, just this once. Whatever it was, it felt weird

[ridethe]

Lightning tugged her own chair out and sat down silently. Whatever internal conflict she was fighting, she could focus on later. Tom had always been touchy-feely and she could chalk it up to normal behavior if she tried hard enough. She wasn't sure what made her react the way she had been that day, but the last thing they needed was her sour mood ruining the rare chance for a breakfast outside of the Garden. She was, however, thankful he didn't try to hold her chair for her

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Tom didn't bother picking up the menu, especially since he had it memorized by now. One order of the buttermilk pancakes, one order of the "Sunday surprise"... and maybe another order of pancakes, depending on how hungry he was. The cigarettes did almost nothing to suppress his appetite, judging from the way he was eagerly eying the food.

"Huh?" He blinked, looking up at her before back down at the gunblade necklace around his neck. For a second there, he thought she was serious.... Idly fingering it, he then managed a smile as he joked, "With my track record? Who even knows?"

She'd better come back. He'd order everything on the menu if that's what it took! And for once, he wasn't exaggerating.

[ridethe]

Tom's hesitation made the jab worth it. Lightning wasn't exactly experienced in the art of teasing people and the fact she teased Tom like it was second nature was something of a testament to how comfortable she'd gotten. There were a lot of things she could have said in response to him, but she just let a small smirk settle on her lips and folded her arms on the table.

And soon enough, the waitress returned, nervous as ever if the tentative way she set down their glasses was any indication. With the glances the waitress gave Tom, Lightning almost rolled her eyes.

"Fruit and yogurt, thank you," she said abruptly after clearing her throat to get the girl's attention and handed her the menu. If Tom didn't scare the waitress off, Lightning was likely to.

[tinkercat]

Light: 1, Tom: 0. Maybe he should've kept track of the score earlier, but what fun was that? Playing with the chain, he then brought the gunblade necklace out and pointed it at his heart, as if he were going to almost cut it open. "You're horrible," He whimpered in that tone that indicated that she wasn't really, but he had to say it anyways because friends always did so.

Shaking his head at her order, Tom grinned apologetically at the waitress and added, "One stack of the buttermilk and one Sunday surprise." He really couldn't help feeling bad for this girl - not only did she have to deal with an overeager guy, but also his ice princess best friend - and made a mental note to tip her well, depending on how the morning went.

Once she left, he then took a sip of orange juice... okay, fine, he guzzled it down in one go. "Wow," He said, wiping his mouth with his hand. "This's actually freshly-made."