Javier was curious what Booker would tell him next. He wanted to know more about his date; they had spent a lot of time together already, but part of that was spent with cosplay things, and part with a con being attacked by mutant, and part just... finding the right time to say the right things. There was a lot to larn about each other yet. And Javier really wanted to know.

>>”Umm...well...this one is kind of weird...but… I have an eidetic memory... I can recall everything. And...I mean everything. For example, I remember in perfect clarity what you were wearing when we met, what stands were sitting in front of us, and precisely how long we chatted.”

Javier blinked in surprised, and he tilted his head at Booker. He knew what eidetic memory was... but he had never met someone who actually had it. It sounded like a superpower itself. Booker apparently recalled things in vivid detail, even details that others might not have observed in the first place.

"No wonder you remember everything you read..."

>>”It’s an interesting ‘ability’, I use that term loosely, to have, but… It isn’t always the best thing to remember everything that ever happened to you.”

"That's how it works with most superpowers." Javier smiled softly, and squeezed his hand. He knew that Booker wanted actual mutant powers, but remembering things like that... that was rare too. Except, not always in a good way. Javier, whose brain held on to the smallest details to torment him with the memories years later, knew that more than others. He could not even imagine what it would be like to also have perfect memory. The way Booker said, it, Javier also felt like he had things in the past that he wished he did not have to remember. "I know that feeling" he added "Your brain holding on to things you'd rather forget?"

Booker didn’t really think that his eidetic memory was some kind of big reveal or secret, but, in some ways, it was. It served as a connecting factor into one of the worst moments of the young man’s life, and it was scarcely something like that he liked to think about. However, he really had no reason to keep the incident hidden from Javier, especially when the tailor had already been so open with him; it was the least he owed him in return. But first, to edge slowly into that topic with the revelation -- yes, he could remember everything.

>>"No wonder you remember everything you read..."

He smirked as they walked hand-in-hand through the garden. Booker could feel the turmoil swirling inside his head but the fragrant garden went a long way towards easing any building anxieties. It wouldn’t last forever but it was a good enough balm for now.

Lamentations were never something that the librarian cared to indulge in, but he could hardly keep them down. While he didn’t like thinking about his past, he did want to talk about it with Javier, that way the tailor knew all the deepest, darkest secrets that he possessed. Well, it wasn’t exactly deep and dark, but it was the thing that kept him up at night. So he would take his chances and hinted that remembering everything wasn’t as cool as all that.

Javier, certainly not stupid, was quick to catch on to what Booker was trying to discuss…

>>"That's how it works with most superpowers."

He smirked. ”Yeah…” He never liked to think that his memory was a superpower. While it was rare, there was an extremely small percentage on the planet that had the gift without being “super” in any way. It was humbling to think that he could be both special and not special at the same time.

Feeling the comforting smile and the warmth of Javier’s body near him, Booker glanced down to his date.

>>"I know that feeling...Your brain holding on to things you'd rather forget?"

He sighed. It was no or never, wasn’t it? As much as he worried how Javier would react, he knew he couldn’t keep it to himself. So, with a steadying breath, he nodded his head.

”You can say that,” he started. ”In college, how I discovered what I am was...pretty traumatic too.” He paused to breathe before he continued. ”I had a boyfriend in college. He was a mutant but...I never believed him because his powers never worked whenever he was around me. College was stressful for the both of us, but even more for him because he was such a perfectionist.” The night of the party came back and Booker found himself holding Javier’s hand just a little tighter. ”I went to this party, alone. We had some stupid fight and we were both stressed from finals. But he just...cracked…” Silently he chewed on his bottom lip. ”He went to the party...thought I was cheating on him...and...he let loose. I didn’t know this but he could charge things with energy, cause them to explode. And...he just...lost control.”

Booker clenched his jaw. He could feel the rapid beat of his pulse in his veins. This was why he didn’t link to think about this. It always made him a bit worse for the wear. But it was too late to stop now. Knowing he couldn’t backtrack or stop (he probably could, Javier wouldn’t make him continue if he didn’t want to), Booker pressed on.

”I...I was the only one to walk out of there unscathed.” he sighed. ”Going through trauma is one thing...but remembering it in picture clarity, every day, the rest of your life? That’s...hard to live with.”

It was fun to learn new things about his date. Javier had no idea Booker had perfect memory; he knew he remembered many things he had read and seen, but he had just chalked it up to his endless curiosity. He tried to imagine what it would be like to live with perfect memory - apparently, just like any mutant power, it also had a downside. The look on Booker's face said there was more to the story.

>>”You can say that. In college, how I discovered what I am was...pretty traumatic too.”

Javier stopped, feeling Booker squeeze his hand as he got ready to tell the story. He was not going to push if he changed his mind... but words came out anyway. So Javier listened, standing close enough to make Booker feel heard.

>>”I had a boyfriend in college. He was a mutant but...I never believed him because his powers never worked whenever he was around me. College was stressful for the both of us, but even more for him because he was such a perfectionist. I went to this party, alone. We had some stupid fight and we were both stressed from finals. But he just...cracked… He went to the party...thought I was cheating on him...and...he let loose. I didn’t know this but he could charge things with energy, cause them to explode. And...he just...lost control.”

Javier's face took on an expression of pain and empathy as he filled in the rest. If a mutant lost control and caused an explosion, the only place safe enough would be inside an adapted's aura. Everyone else would be fully within the blast range. Which meant...

>>”I...I was the only one to walk out of there unscathed. Going through trauma is one thing...but remembering it in picture clarity, every day, the rest of your life? That’s...hard to live with.”

It had to be. Javier had a hard enough time dealing with memories that were unreliable or hazy; he could not even imagine what his anxiety would do with perfect clarity. He would probably be a weeping mess in a corner somewhere. He knew. He knew how hard it had to be for Booker to live with that, and how hard it had to be to talk about it. Not having anything comforting to say, Javier let out a small sigh, and wrapped his arms around Booker in a comforting gesture. He hoped it was not too forward to do so.

Booker wasn’t exactly sure how he felt about what he told Javier. It wasn’t a story that he told many, mainly because of how tragic it was. He didn’t need people looking at him differently. It was a horrible story, the kind that make others weep and feel sorry for you. He didn’t want anyone feeling sorry for him. But it was such a pivotal part of his past that it was hard to keep it a secret. People found out, they always found out. All they needed to do, really, was google his name and he would be listed as one of the sole survivors of a frat house party gone awry. Not that Javier would snoop, but that would be how he wanted him to find out.

So he braced himself and he told him. How would Javier take it? Would he be upset? Would he fawn over him? Would be be overly dramatic? Booker could hardly even attempt to guess but whatever it was, he braced himself. He just didn’t want to be looked at in a different light now. This was supposed to be a date, a fun time, not brought down by his own pathetic traumas. For a moment he started to regret telling Javier any of it but before he could get too far, he felt warm arms encircle him.

Booker paused, stiffened up, feeling the sensation of the other moving closer to him. When he turned his head and glanced down, he spied that Javier was hugging him. It was such a small, sweet gesture that the librarian was momentarily taken aback. He didn’t know why. Like a sentient cartoon snowman, he loved warm hugs.

And just like that, he could feel his slowly mounting anxiety begin to quell. The pulse of his heart, the flood of panic, the memories he didn’t want to remember, they were all starting to wane. And he was thankful for it. His own arms began to snake around Javier’s body, accepting that hug and bringing one to the tailor as well. It seemed that they both had their traumatics pasts, but that was something that they could face together, not fear what the other would think.

With a sigh and a slight sniffle, Booker leaned back, tilting his head to look down at the tailor. Smirking he reached up, and stroked the man’s cheek with his thumb. ”You know...you really are far sweeter than I deserve.” He nodded. ”But I’m grateful.”

Booker tensed up for a moment, and Javier was instantly worried that he had crossed a line his date was not comfortable with. But after the first moment of tension, Booker hugged him back, and they stood silently for a bit, sharing the warmth without saying any words. They had similar experiences, and they had to deal with similar emotions. But talking through all that was for another time. For now, it was just the comfort of holding each other, until Booker decided to pull back.

>>”You know...you really are far sweeter than I deserve. But I’m grateful.”

"The feeling's mutual" Javier chuckled a little, leaning into his touch. He did think Booker was far better than he could wish for, so it was both amusing, and touching, to hear him say the same. "Something tells me that neither of us believes the other..." he added with a small smile. It was always easier to see the good in someone else than to believe it about yourself. "But that's also perfect, in a way."

Booker sighed as he allowed himself to get lost in the warmth of Javier’s arms. It still surprised him that they both had suffered such similar traumas; traumas that would define them for the rest of their lives. Maybe that was why them seemed to work out so well together? On some level, maybe they could sense that kindred spirit that only survivors carry with them. It certainly would explain a lot. But now wasn’t the time for explanations. Right now, Booker just wanted to continue to hold the man that made him feel feelings he wasn't sure he'd be open to feeling again.

He sighed, breaking the hug, but only because he had to speak. As much as he wanted the two of them to continue to bask in the solitude and gentle tunes of the garden, he needed Javier to know how much his comfort meant to him. He leaned back, putting only a small amount of space between them, and gently stroked the tailor’s cheek, thanking and expressing his earnest belief that he didn't deserve him. Still, he was glad for his presence.

A notion that was reciprocated, it seemed...

>>"The feeling's mutual"

Booker smiled at the sensation of Javier pushing his cheek slightly against his palm. Really and truly this man was as sweet as can be.

>> "Something tells me that neither of us believes the other...But that's also perfect, in a way."

A kindly chuckle rolled out from Booker's lips. Again, Javier was right. While always being humble could be exhausting for some people, it oddly worked for the pair of them. They weren't the type to be full of themselves and that left more room for the possibility of allowing one into the other's life. Booker liked that thought. There was a lot that Javier needed to learn to be proud of, but the same could be said for Booker. Truly they just continued to mesh well.

”Yeah,” he agreed. His eyes drifted across Javier’s face, following the contours, memorizing every desk, down to the way that the light cascaded like waterfall of electric yellow across his features.”Absolutely perfect. “ He was either continuing in his agreement, or he was talking about his date standing in front of him. It could have been taken either way, he just hoped, it wouldn't embarrass Javier. Therefore, before he could stammer or blush, Booker took his date’s hand. ”Come on, handsome. Let's see what else this garden can show us. “

Perfection seemed to be the theme of the evening. Not literally - they had both confessed and stumbled, and then laughed. Perfection was usually something that caused Javier a great deal of anxiety, but for tonight, somehow it was achieved without trying, and together with all the mistakes that were, from an outside point of view, small and kind of adorable. They had dinner, they walked, they talked, and they spent time in the wonderful rooftop garden Booker had found. It really was the perfect choice for a(n official) first date. It was not completely empty, but it was quiet, and spacious enough for them to feel like they were spending time in their own private little garden.

Even perfect dates could not last forever, though. Eventually, they left the hotel (now with the understanding that Booker had not, in fact, reserved a room), and took an Unter back to Javier's apartment. Booker had his cosplay shirt to pick up, after all.

"So, here we are" Javier announced, completely unnecessarily, once they got to his door. Because sometimes he still felt like a teenager. "Don't let me let you leave without your present." It had been a point of misunderstanding earlier, before they left for the date, but he was not going to let that keep Booker from actually taking his gift home. Javier fiddled with his door keys. It really was too bad the date was already over.

The garden really had proved to be a success. There was that slight stumbling block, where Booker was actually scared he was going to ruin things by talking about what he certainly didn’t want to talk about. But as much as he wanted to avoid certain subjects, Javier deserved to know. He was only thankful that Javier merely continued to look at him with the eyes of someone who genuinely understood, not someone who wanted to fix him. That meant the world to Booker. He needed someone who was going to be there, not try to fix his life. And for that just made the whole date so much more amazing.

The duo continued to stroll through the garden paths, looking over the flowers, smiling at the stars above. There weren’t a lot of people but there were a few faces every other corner or so. It was enough to make Javier comfortable so the two could just walk, hold hands, and enjoy the fact that they didn’t need to worry about any judgements. They could be out, they could be themselves, and they could just have a good time.

And it certainly was a good time. It was...amazing.

Eventually the duo knew that it was time to go. There was only so much garden to look at and, as with all good things, it had to come to an end. So, reluctantly, Booker called for their Unter and the pair of them rode with silence and smiles all the way back to Javier’s place. He still had a shirt to pick up, after all.

>>"So, here we are"

Booker smirked, and nodded, awkwardly looking around and scratching the back of his hairline. ”Ugh, yeah…” he said softly. ”...here we are.”

Javier turned and started fumble with his keys. They needed to get into the apartment after all. Booker wasn’t so sure why he was nervous. He had been to this particular place before, just never upstairs in the actual living space (well, except for before when he had followed Javier in). Now, though, there seemed to be some added nerves, but why? There was always that small amount of uncertainty, the idea that maybe the date wasn’t going as well as one hoped it was. Could that be the case?

>>"Don't let me let you leave without your present."

”Wouldn’t dream of it,” he responded. He smirked, looking down at Javier’s features, watching his eyes, that soft smile. ”I...had a really...really good time…”

He gulped. He watched Javier’s eyes. He knew that the tailor wouldn’t make the first move, but, maybe with some prompting? He wanted to kiss the tailor, even leaned a fraction closer, but not too much in case he was mistaken. rather, he wanted Javier to give him the okay before proceeding. This was their first, official, date, and he didn’t want there to be any mixed signals.

Javier finally got the door open, which was a relief. He felt a little nervous again, although he had no idea why. The date had gone splendidly, Booker was perfect, they made it home without any super awkward moments... maybe that was the problem? maybe he was just waiting for something to finally go wrong?... He took a deep breath as he turned back to look at Booker. Instead of getting lost in his own thoughts, actually looking at his amazing date was a much better option. He noted the look in Booker's eyes as he leaned closer. Allowing him time to react.

>>”Wouldn’t dream of it. I...had a really...really good time…”

Oh. Right. Goodnight kiss.

"I did too" Javier leaned forward, pressing his lips softly to Booker's. It was touching to be allowed the decision to do so, and another small moment to show him how considerate Booker really was. The kiss was sweet, and warm, and just as amazing as the rest of the night had been.

Javier he smiled when he pulled back. It was... a strange moment, standing in the doorway. He finally cleared his throat.

"You should come in." pause "... for the shirt."

Booker didn’t want to appear pushy. He liked Javier, he really did, but the one thing he was learning about the tailor was that the man needed to be let in on things slowly. Booker didn’t want to risk scaring him off, especially if, despite how good the date went, he didn’t want to make a wrong move. For Booker, Javier was like a rarity that he didn’t want to see escape because he was too impulsive. Besides, the librarian liked to think he was more mature than to just push someone up against a wall and make out with them.

That was saved for when things were on a better footing and clearly not a first date.

Still...he wanted to kiss Javier. It seemed like the perfect capstone for this evening. Everything had gone so well, his choices were on point, and Javier seemed more than appreciative and receptive. That was a high point for the librarian, considering how much he liked the man. But again, he wasn’t going to make assumptions. Rather, he coyly mentioned his appreciation for the evening, leaned in a little, and leaving it up to Javier whether or not he wanted a goodnight kiss. It was only far considering the last time they kissed that he had caught Javier off guard.

It would seem that he didn’t.

>>"I did too"

Javier initiated. He leaned forward, meeting Booker halfway and pressed his lips to his without hesitation. The librarian sighed, smiling as he closed his eyes. It was only a quick kiss, not the extreme make out session they had back at his place, but something short, sweet, and just perfect for their date. Booker was thankful for that, tilting his head, leaning down so that Javier didn’t have to crane up too much to meet him. When the kiss broke, he sighed, stepping back, blushing as he knew how much like a fool he was smiling.

After a moment of complete teenager nerdery, Javier turned back around, getting the door to his apartment finally open and stepping inside. Booker watched him for a second, sorry to see the date end. But it didn’t mean that they couldn’t see one another again soon.

>>"You should come in... for the shirt."

Booker paused, staring at Javier for a half second at what the man had said. Admittedly he was a little thrown off and unsure of what to say. Did Javier really wanted to move things along that quickly? Before he could come up with a response, and an appropriate feeling on the matter, Javier clarified and Booker laughed.

”Oh! Yeah! Haha, of course,” he chuckled. He followed Javier into his place. The shirt. He just needed to get the shirt.

The shirt was where they had left it, after the first awkward moment of the night: On the table in the living room, next to the wonderful bouquet of threads that Booker had given Javier as a present. Javier walked over, picking up the carefully folded shirt. It was light, since it had been designed to be flexible and resistant, rather than a piece of armor, as per the requirements of the Bandit persona. He turned back to hand it to Booker. The date had officially ended, but they did agree in so many words that Booker would take his present home. As he should

"There you go" Javier smiled "It should fit better than the last one. And if not, I can just rip it off of you again, right?..."

The moment he heard himself, he trailed off. Jokes. Why did he try to make a joke?...

Ah the shirt. There was no way that Booker was leaving with the shirt. First of all, he needed it to complete his amazing Bandit cosplay. While there was every possibility that he could have made a passable facsimile of the shirt himself, it would have been a far cry from what Javier could make. How couldn’t he turn down the opportunity to wear something professionally, and tailor, made. But, most importantly, it was a gift from Javier, the first real present he would receive from him since they started dating. Even if they never saw one another again after this, the shirt would always hold this significance. Of course he hoped this wouldn't be their last outing.

Following him inside, Booker kept his hands in his pockets, his gaze leaving Javier only to glance around the inside of his place. He always found it interesting to see how others lived. Their furniture choices alone could speak volumes, but he wasn't here to judge the tailor. Actually Javier’s decor choices fit exactly what he imagined. It was just…him. Booker smiled and came to a stop once he spotted the box with his shirt waiting exactly where it was left. This was certainly the end of their night after all.

>>"There you go...It should fit better than the last one. And if not, I can just rip it off of you again, right?..."

Booker beamed as he reached out for the box. Taking it in his hands, he just about pulled it close to him when Javier began to explain that it should be a much better fit than the last time. He smirked at the memory, about to reassure Javier that he trusted the tailor’s judgement. But before he could get the words out, he stumbled at the joke that the tailor had uttered. Yes, that was the other reason he smiled at that memory, Javier did literally tear him out of his shirt because it was too small.

Now, after just finishing a date, those jokey words gained new meaning; one that made the librarian awkwardly smile and blush. A glance at Javier proved that, yes, he had heard himself too. He could see the realization and self-loathing that formed on the tailor’s face. At this point it probably would have been easier to either ignore what Javier said or laugh it off innocently. However, his date wasn't the only one suffering from foot-in-mouth disease…

He chucked. ”Haha! You know, there are easier ways to take off my shirt.”

The sound that filled his ears was deafening. Low and rumbling, it continued on and on, in much the way that the sound of silence does when you listen to the quiet far too closely. It filled every crevice of his ears, washing over his brain, drowning it in a formless sound until he actually listened to it. No, it wasn't a high pitched sound of nothing. It was something. A voice. A familiar voice. One that, when he listened carefully, actually formed words.

Rather…one word…

Nuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu…

Javier realized a little too late that his words could be taken in... a different way than what he was thinking when he said them. It was not the first such instance of the night; he and Booker both made comments that they immediately regretted, but so far, it seemed that they were both willing to forgive the other for the unintentional... innuendos. That did not make Javier feel any better though, as he blushed and waited for Booker's reaction.

>> ”Haha! You know, there are easier ways to take off my shirt.”

Javier swallowed hard at the comment. It was... too fast, for a first date, and definitely too fast for his normal pace, which was very, very slow. And yet, the idea of Booker's shirt coming off did send an electric pulse down his spine. They already had their sweet goodnight kiss for the evening... and yet, very uncharacteristically for Javier, there was still some tension between them. Not 'straight to bed' kind of tension, just...

Booker was clearly ashamed of himself. He looked embarrassed, and blushed, which made him look vulnerable, and therefore more adorable, at least in Javier's eyes. He clearly realized at the same time what he had said. Javier took a breath, a placed a hand on Booker's chest.

"That... sounds like a plan for another date." he said softly, with a smile. He was looking forward to that date. "But you can kiss me again if you want?"

Booker really did feel awful about what he had said. He didn’t mean for it to be take the way that it was clearly going to be taken, especially with someone as sweet as Javier. He didn’t want to move too fast with him out of fear of scaring him off. On top of that, Booker knew what it was like to move too fast in a relationship, whether because of his actions or another. There needed to be a natural build to it, equal between both parties until they managed to find that common ground where they could both be who they are and say what they want.

They weren’t there yet but they were getting there. Booker had a feeling about Javier, one that the librarian was both excited and scared for. On the one hand, he wasn’t sure if he had felt like this before and he was encouraged by it. On the other, he didn’t want to risk things that could be this good. But he would persist. He wanted to persist. And he just hoped that by the end of it, that Javier was still at his side.

Still, after what he had just said, he began to question the chances of that. Awkwardly he cleared his throat, smiling to the tailor, trying to both avoid and meet his gaze. He really, really hoped that he didn’t *uck up already. But the gentle touch of a hand against his chest brought his eyes back to Javier’s.

>>"That... sounds like a plan for another date....But you can kiss me again if you want?"

There was relief in his eyes. He was honestly glad that they weren’t going to carry things that far so quickly. He liked Javier and whatever it was that was going to happen between them, he wanted to be natural and mutual. So, with a grin on his lips, he nodded in agreement.

”That is a plan I can agree with,” he smiled. Javier was already so close to him so it didn’t take much for Booker to lean down, tilting his head. Gently he nudged the tailor’s cheek with his nose, making him tilt his head in the opposite direction so that their lips could meet. As soon as his lips brushed against his, Booker could feel that tingle of satisfaction rolling down his spine. He didn't know where this thing he and Javier had would take them, but the one thing that Booker knew and trusted, was how much he absolutely enjoyed kissing this man. In his opinion, this was certainly the end to a perfect date.