They both sat down at a table in one of the more secluded corners of the dining room, next to a window that looked out over the hotel gardens. A small candle flickered as it was disturbed by the movement. Hibiki smiled and took out his phone, so he could communicate with more than gestures and expressions. Tristan patiently waited whilst he wrote, glancing out of the window at the scenery.

'I'm very happy you're here with me.'

Hibiki confessed with a nod of his head and a warm smile. As he expected, Tristan's gaze softened and he nodded back at him.

"I'm happy too."

In the midst of writing his next reply, a waiter appeared with two leather-bound menus. He took it with a quick glance up, whilst Tristan said a thank you. When asked what they'd like to drink, he flipped open the menu to point out a bottle of water.

Once the waiter had left to fulfil the request, he held up his message for Tristan to read.

'Are you sure you're comfortable? It's not too much, right?'

Tristan smiled and shook his head, but then looked down at his plate as he formulated his response.

"It's not uncomfortable, it's all new to me. So while I am not used to any of it, I'm not afraid that you'd use it against me anymore. Although…" He sighed softly whilst his eyes nervously darted between his fork and knife. "I,- in the past weeks I've been tossed between some of the worst and best moments of my life. Right now I just feel like, nothing is real? It's all distant."

As Tristan spoke, Hibiki laid his hand on the table, inviting him to take it. With a deep sigh, Tristan obliged. Carefully Hibiki caressed him with his thumb, to say that he understood.

"It is very strange. For the past few days I've just been doing what I should do, while my mind hovers somewhere else. Although today I did feel a bit better, and I'm glad to be with you."

The feeling Tristan described worried him somewhat, afraid that the emptiness was a symptom of something worse developing. He knew what he'd gone through was horrible, but hoped that with love and rest he could patch him up and let his mind heal. Gently he unfurled Tristan's fingers. There still were scabs where the largest blisters had been, but most had closed up and were replaced by new, pink skin. He cautiously glanced up at Tristan, and then back at his hand to ask about it.

"It's healing pretty well. It doesn't hurt anymore, at least." Tristan said softly, his expression faltering slightly at the reminder of what had happened. 

Not wanting him to be hurt at all, Hibiki gently clasped his hand in his, and then gave it a small kiss just for good measures. He smiled, and Tristan managed to smile back at him, a blush spreading on his cheeks.  

"I don't think that you can kiss it better." There was a hint of hope in the way Tristan looked at him, even if it was meant to be a joke.

An impish grin curled up in response, and he gave a determined nod to say that he could. One kiss at a time, he'd make everything better.

Their talk over dinner meandered on into the evening, accompanied by simple but well executed food. The skies outside had gone pitch black, and soft rain pattered on the windows beside them, in a stark contrast with the warm and calm murmur inside. At around nine, the waiter brought out their dessert: a slice of apple pie a la mode for each of them.

"So… I will meet your parents tomorrow, right?" Tristan asked as he carefully took a piece of apple pie and used his fork to get a bit of ice cream on it.

Meanwhile Hibiki nodded in the midst of a big bite of his own pie. With a few taps on his phone, he wrote out a response.

'Don't worry, they're really nice'

"I know, but I still want to make a good impression."

'You're always going to make a good impression compared to me'

Tristan chuckled, and then lightly shook his head.

"You don't make bad impressions, just the wrong ones."

Hibiki's fork hovered between him and his plate for a second, as he contemplated what that meant – only to concede that Tristan had a point. He plopped his next bite into his mouth, and chewed happily whilst writing back.

'As long as I get to impress you'

"Every time I'm with you." Tristan responded without a moment of hesitation. It caused a few warm tingles in his chest, which made it so he had to gulp his pie down. A bit more hesitant he made a few small, inquiring nods, to ask whether that was actually true.

"Yes, you do. And, not because you're rich or such. I mean, I suppose it does help… but, you're just so bright? In every way. Even when you can't speak." Tristan's thoughts rambled on a bit, as they stumbled over the blush that rose up at the same time. He wasn't faring much better himself, poking his apple pie whilst he felt his entire face light up. A strange mixture of relief, gratitude, and attraction coursed through him, and all three made him want to grab Tristan and kiss him right then and there. But instead of making a scene, he just made a quick heart gesture using both hands.

"I er,- love you too." Tristan mumbled in response, before taking a quick bite of his apple pie. Hibiki followed his lead, and for a moment there hung a silent understanding between them as they let the moment unwind.

"So… er… what I meant to say…" Tristan continued once they both had returned to their usual skin colour. "Is that it feels like our relationship is pretty serious? I mean, not that that's bad, but…"

Seeing Tristan struggle to get his point out, he tried to nod calmly, even when the idea made him feel giddy. It was pretty serious, but he liked that.

'I don't mind, but we can take things slow?'

Immediately Tristan shook his head, and then glanced down at the message again.

"No… I don't mind either. It's just going to take a little while to get used to."

Hibiki nodded that he understood, and then cleared his plate of the last bits of pie and ice cream. Tristan handed his phone back, and then set to finishing his own dessert.

'We can take as much time as we want. As long as I get to be with you.'

A bright smile spread on his face, and he saw Tristan reciprocitate that – perhaps more reserved in form, but with equal warmth shining through. And when he finished his dessert a few moments later, Hibiki grinned while pointing up to suggest they return to their room.