Has Felix ever felt nervous?

Not really. Or, at least, if he had it was a memory already forgotten by all the terror that followed after it. Assurance was what brought him through the day, and it was assurance that bled in all that he did. But, as he walked up the steps of illeana reyes's Lilycove apartment, there was no evading the way his heart stomped.

His grip tightened around the bouquet of flowers he'd brought along. A few of its petals had already spilled, trailing behind him in a makeshift memory of his path to her.

He knocked on the door, solid and spaced out.

"I'm glad."

The flowers are pushed forward, toward her.

"For you."

illeana reyes

"They're already cut at the end, so they should last a while."

It was something Elisabeth Fiorelli had recommended to him. It had taken a while to prepare, longer than he would've liked, but in the end, he was left with a cute bundle of flowers that were primed for a long future.

Clicking the door close behind him, Felix followed her to the kitchen. He took to the entryway, leaning against its beams as she collected the flowers and vase, putting them together in a nice arrangement.

"I'm glad you like them. They reminded me of you."

illeana reyes

The bouquet was a combination of petunias and Pansies and Marigolds, all colorful in their own right.

"I was told they are all resilient in their own ways."

He smiled softly, reaching out to trace the curve of her shoulder. Her skin felt soft beneath his touch.

"Just like you."

Regardless of what came for her, he knew illeana reyes to be one to claw her way back on top. There was no force too powerful to overtake her resolve, no situation too dire. It was one of the reasons why he loved her.

@illena

Whether she saw it or not didn't matter. To Felix, it was true, and over time he believed she'd come to trust him in this as well.

"I'm ready."

His hand reached downward, dangling in front of hers. There was already a parked car up front, with their destination awaiting no more than 10 minutes away.

From her apartment to the restaurant, nothing out of the ordinary occurred. They walked to the car, hand in hand. He opened the door for her, both during their arrival and departure from the vehicle. And, when they did manage to reach the restaurant, he'd opted for Valet, just to save a few extra minutes.

Their entrance was greeted by a hostess that took their reservation with a wide, open smile. In the matter of seconds, they were seated at the corner of the building, where a great view of the lake spanned all around them, outshining any and every piece of decor that adorned the dining room.

It was then Felix finally asked, "What do you think?'

illeana reyes

"Of course."

It brightened his heart to hear her budding pleasure. The restaurant had been one he'd searched high and low for, as it varied far from his typical night out.

If he ever went out to eat, it was typically at a steakhouse or some fast food joint. But for Illeana, he wanted to go beyond the typical. She deserved as much. More, even.

"My boss recommended this place," he explained, sliding his menu closer to his side of the table. "So, if the food isn't great, we can blame him."

A small joke he could only make with her.

illeana reyes

"Probably a steak."

Ribeye, Filet Mignon, sirloin, T bone - it didn't quite matter, as long as it was cooked Medium rare and served with a side of mashed potatoes. Or just Potatoes. He wasn't picky.

Eyes gliding across the parchment menu, it took no effort to find the list of their steaks. Finger encircling one of the options, his eyes returned back to hers, curiosity gleaming between the circles of green.

"How about you?"

illeana reyes

He knew her so well.

To that, he smiled.

"Yes."

A double order, to be exact. Knowing her habits, he'd have to account for the string of mysteriously vanishing fries.

"Should we get an appetizer too?"

Hopefully one of the more fried varieties.

illeana reyes