Mystery ABO AU Starter!

[forsaintcecilia]

Before entering the café, Kazuki stopped at one of the windows to look at his reflection. He fixed his hair and fiddled with how his clothes were laying. Was he underdressed? Overdressed? He wanted to look casual, but presentable, and that was a tightrope he wasn’t used to walking. He couldn’t tell from the inside-out. Would he look let he was trying too hard? Not hard enough? Today, what really mattered was someone else’s opinion, and he didn’t have any idea of their preferences.

He lingered for a bit too long, and eventually just had to give up and go in, even if he wasn’t entirely satisfied with himself. But as soon as he came to the counter, he found a new hurdle he had to jump over—what should he order? For one, it was springtime, and was one of those days where a hot drink could be too hot, but a cold drink could be too cold. Did he want coffee? If he got the sweet sort of drink he actually liked, would they think he was too feminine? But if he got something bitter, would they be able to see the displeasure on his face while drinking it, and think he was trying too hard? And the pastries looked so good, he really wanted the one with the strawberries…

By the time he was next in line, he was in such a state of awkward, anxious silence that the barista had to interrupt his quickly derailing train of thought with a quiet, “Sir?” Kazuki snapped to attention, stuttered out the beginning of about 5 different orders that he changed his mind on as soon as they came out of his mouth, in the wrong language, and eventually gave into fate and meekly asked for whatever the house recommended today.

He couldn’t help but sigh as he sat down at an empty table. It had really been too long since the last time he had been on a date. Entering the café with the intention to meet someone felt like stepping foot on an alien planet. It didn't help that English was still difficult for him, and he wasn't totally situated in a different country yet. He came to the designated meeting place extra early because he suspected he’d need a solid 10 minutes alone to calm his nerves. And he was completely correct.

Kazuki thanked the waitress when she brought him his previously recommended latte, and he was relieved to find that it wasn’t so bitter he couldn’t handle drinking it. He could have gone for a cookie or something too, but this would have to do. He took a deep breath, let it out onto his drink, and let the resulting steam rise up around his face as he reached into his pocket to pull out his phone. It was almost the time that had been agreed upon.

He didn’t know anything about his date aside from the fact that their mutual friend was certain they’d be a good match. His expectations weren’t sky high or anything, but he was hopeful. Even if things didn’t pan out, at least he’d get the chance to dip his toes into the waters of intimate relationships, so to speak, before he jumped back in again. Things could only get better from there.

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[majimekun]

Somehow Deuce had managed to calm himself by the time he left his apartment. He was as put together as could be and well, it was just coffee right? Just a little coffee date with a complete stranger. Nothing to worry about. At all.

He kept repeating it to himself and then froze up when he actually got to the café. Deuce swallowed and felt himself go pale for a split second. Then he shook his head. No, it's just coffee, nothing more. No commitment. If it goes well, it goes well. If not, well the worse that happens is you never see each other gain.

Taking a deep breath he stepped in and looked around, trying to find who he was supposed to meet. He'd been told that they'd probably get along, but that wasn't much to go by. He probably should have asked for a few more details when they'd set this up. Then he remembered that he'd been given their number and after a moment decided to send a text.

Hello! We're supposed to meet today, right? Well I'm here, the guy in the blue and black jacket, so if you could wave to me, that'd be great.

Was that really, really dumb sounding? Was this how blind dates were supposed to work? Granted, if Deuce had been given anymore info, he'd have psyched himself out a little too much. He could feel his heart beating rapidly though. He should have come early so he could just get himself a coffee or something. He'd have had time to steel his nerves. Instead he was awkwardly on time.

[forsaintcecilia]

Kazuki had been surreptitiously watching people enter the cafe, wondering if any of them could be his date. So, he actually saw Deuce walk in! But he didn't know that he was his date. Then, Deuce took out his phone, and after a second of typing, Kazuki felt his own phone rumble in his pocket. It surprised him enough to get him to jump in his seat a little!

When he pulled his phone out to check his messages, he was quickly able to put two and two together. That must be the guy! While he was still looking away, Kazuki took a split second to mess with his hair one last time, looking at this reflection in his phone to make sure his cowlick wasn't too insane. Then, he raised a hand in greeting.

"Over here!"

[majimekun]

Deuce's turned at the voice and saw the waving guy. "Oh!" He put his phone away and walked over to him and then, stood there for a moment. Well he was good looking at least. Very good looking. And cute. Which was now making him more nervous.

"H-hi. I mean, hello," Deuce forced himself to not stumble over his words, somehow. "You're Kazuki then, right?" Otherwise this was going to become a billion times more embarrassing. "I'm Deuce though. I wasn't late, I was?" He feels like a fidgety mess now.

[forsaintcecilia]

"Hi!" Kazuki stood up from his seat as Deuce approached, in order to seem more welcoming. He didn't want to seem cold as a first impression! He reached out his hand for a shake, and resisted the urge to bow-- that was something he still got funny looks for in this country. "Yeah, I'm Kazuki! And no, you're not late. I got here early on purpose."

He was a little self-conscious about speaking another language, as he occasionally stumbled over his words still, and had a heavy accent... But he was trying his best!

[majimekun]

He took his hand and shook it, grip firm. "Oh I see..." he relaxed a little bit. There was a bit of an accent there, but nothing that he couldn't understand either.

"Did you order already?" And then he saw the latte and yep, he definitely had. "If you don't mind, I'm going to quickly go order something and then I'll be right back, alright? Were you going to eat anything?" He's trying so hard to not be awkward that it's probably making him come off even more stiff in the process.

[forsaintcecilia]

"Go ahead! I'm good, thanks," Kazuki nodded in reassurance, and sat back down. Sure, he'd like a pastry, but he wasn't quite secure enough to show that side of himself yet... Instead, he settled on watching Deuce intently when he knew he wasn't being looked at himself.

They were about the same height, but Kazuki was getting Alpha vibes from his date. He hoped that his status was obvious enough, but he'd also understand if he'd have to explain. He was big for an Omega, and unusually independent. It was kind of strange for an Omega his age to go unmated, but his music had taken priority in his life. He wasn't the type to intentionally look for romance either. He just kind of... hoped it would happen, you know?

It was a Beta way to think. No wonder he got mistaken for one so often.

[majimekun]

He nodded and hurried to get his order. Nothing too exciting, just a latte, with some hazelnut in it this time. Once he put the order down, he walked back over, having calmed down a bit.

"Alright then..." He nodded to himself. "I guess we should start with introductions then, huh?" Or something like that right? That's what you did. "I'm Deuce. Deuce Spade. It's good to meet you!" Oh he said that a little too loud. "Oh sorry. I'm just really excited." He rubbed the back of his neck.

Oh god does that sound a little too... desperate? Well no it doesn't, but what if it does? A lot of people consider him kind of dumb and awkward for an Alpha. No suave demeanor here.. It's probably why he's never really dated much. This is his chance to get over that, but he's already being embarrassing.

[forsaintcecilia]

"No, no! Please..." Kazuki couldn't help but laugh, but it was a joyful sound. "It's good to be excited! I like it."

It made him feel welcome. Wanted, even. People were always telling him he was too much, but honestly, a little too much was just enough for him.

"I'm Hihara--" Wait, no, given name first! "Kazuki Hihara. I'm still working on my English, so I appreciate your understanding."

He rattled it off like he'd said it a million times. Because, well, he had. He could say "I'm sorry, I don't understand" in perfect, unaccented English now!

[majimekun]

"No problem. I'll just make sure to pay attention..." he he froze up a little, now not sure what to say at all from there. "So..." Oh thank god a staff member brought his latte over. He nodded to them and then took a sip, bracing himself further. He hadn't had any coffee this morning, least he make himself too jittery since they were meeting in a coffee shop, but that had meant that he wasn't quite himself either.

"So what is it you do. I mean? For living? Or are you in school? I'm still going to school, by I'm aiming to be a police officer once I graduate."

[forsaintcecilia]

"Thank you," Kazuki inclined his head a little to show his appreciation. He still had to remember not to bow too much, people here tended to think it was weird, even when giving thanks.

While Deuce tripped over his words, Kazuki watched his mannerisms with interest. He could see his nervousness in his actions, but he wasn't put off by it. It was a little relieving to see that someone felt the same way he did when meeting someone new, Alpha or not.

"I'm here for the season playing in the Philharmonic," he explained as he was asked, "My University in Japan has ties to this country. I was given the honor of sitting the first trumpet. It's an amazing opportunity."

[majimekun]

"Uh, wait isn't that a big deal?" Wait why wasn't he told that this was someone like that? Deuce wasn't the most well versed in something like classical music, but even he had heard of that. "That's amazing! Is it hard?" What he frowned because now he sounded like a little kid. "I mean, I don't know much about music, but that sounds like a lot of work..."

[forsaintcecilia]

"I... guess it's kind of a big deal," Kazuki admitted, unable to stop himself from ducking his head a little in embarrassment. He was definitely enjoying himself, and was excited to go to work every day, but was also a bit starved for human contact. He had a really strong pack-bond with his friends back home, and keeping in touch via voice or text wasn't really enough for him. "And it is pretty hard. I'm with the orchestra 8 hours a day, practicing the same songs over and over... I've never been good at that. But it's still really fun!"

[majimekun]

"Eight hours, every day?" He's a bit wide eyed at that. Still impressed. "That's amazing. Though I guess it might not leave too much time for hobbies."

Granted, he was pretty busy too. He hadn't been the best student back in middle school, partially through natural learning problems that were compounded by horrible attitude problems. He'd started to turn around in High School, but even now in college it was still a struggle for him.

"Though... I'd like to hear you play sometime. I mean, if that's not getting too ahead of myself." Maybe this was a future opening? Possibly.

[forsaintcecilia]

"Music is my hobby! So I really don't mind," he answered in all honesty, and picked up his latte to sip at it a bit before it got too cold. "I actually have more free time than I thought I would. I've made friends here, but I'm not close with them like I am with my pack back home yet, you know? I don't go out as much as I'm used to"

That's why he was so willing to go on something like a blind date, when he would normally find such a thing too awkward. He had to take any chance at making a real relationship with someone that he could get.

"Sure! you can come listen to me play, if you want. I can get tickets whenever, so just let me know!"

[majimekun]

"Really? I wouldn't want to impose, but..." He's never been to anything like an Orchestra before. It's always sounded too fancy. But he can make an exception this time and broaden his horizons. "I'd gladly accept."

He thought about the mention of a pack. "That must be lonely. I haven't seen mine in a while either, but we don't have an ocean separating us either..." Everyone's been so busy lately that it's been hard to make time. And maybe that was why Deuce had such high hopes for this date. "...are you planning on going back to them one day? Your pack I mean?"

[forsaintcecilia]

Impose? Kazuki just barely whispered the word to himself, then caught on to the meaning, and nodded.

"It's not, um, impose...?" He didn't know how to properly conjugate the word from verb into noun, so his attempt would have to do. "I don't mind! It's nice when someone you know is in the audience. And if you haven't done that kind of thing before, I can introduce you to it!"

"Yeah, I want to. As an Omega..." he gave a short pause, as he felt his ears heating up as he started to talk about such personal stuff. "When I have kids someday, I want to raise them with the pack. That's really important to me."

[majimekun]

Well now he had another excuse to keep talking with this guy at least. Even if they weren't compatible as romantic partners, maybe friends would be nice.

"Ah yeah, I think that sort of thing is important too. Raising them in a pack I mean. I never really had that growing up, but I'd like to... I mean, for my children. Help them grow up right." Not that his mother hadn't done her best on her own, but he sometimes wondered if things might have been different for him. He takes another sip of his coffee.

"Do you drive or anything like that? I have a motorcycle myself..." He tries not to sound overly enthusiastic, because he knows he gets a little too passionate about the subject. Still he can't help but be hopeful.

[forsaintcecilia]

"Oh... I'm sorry you didn't have that," Kazuki showed him an expression of gentle sympathy. "I've got good memories of aunts and uncles and cousins that weren't related, but still important. They helped out a lot. I want my friends to be like that for my kids."

"I don't drive," he shook his head, and then brightened in curiosity as Deuce mentioned his motorcycle. "You don't really need to in Japan, or here, so... But that sounds super cool! You, um..."

He paused to laugh a bit.

"When I think motorcycles, I think a big, scary, mean guy that rides, but you don't look like that at all. Not scary."

[majimekun]

"Big, mean, scary guy?" He laughed a lot at that. Well once upon a time he had been kind of a scary guy. Sometimes could still be if he was sufficiently rile up. But that wasn't first date material either.

"I'm just an enthusiast. Always have been since I was a boy. I used to think everyone was." Until he was told it wasn't. "Maybe... sometime I could show you mine. I mean... maybe?" Let's not be too presumptuous here! But still he can't hide a sparkle in his eye, almost like a little kid eager to show off.

[forsaintcecilia]

"I'm sorry!" Kazuki spooked at Deuce's reaction at first, but once he realized that he was laughing, he started to crack a little too. It was nice to get a genuine, not-nervous smile from his date. There was something really charming about the way the corners of his eyes crinkled when he did. "In Japan, there are... Um, gangs? That all ride motorcycles, and cause trouble. So that's the first thing that comes to mind!"

"I'd like to see it! Can two people ride?"

Thankfully, he wasn't frightened by the aspect of riding one himself. You know, as long as he had a helmet, and they didn't go too fast.

[majimekun]

"Gangs?" Oh that sounded really cool. But somehow he managed to keep himself from blurting that out. He's left that behind! Don't make a bad impression, dumbass.

"...yeah you can. I have an extra helmet in case someone wants to ride with me. It's easy. Maybe I could even teach you how to ride." and then he blinked. "No pressure though!" HE was still nervous, but it was more of giddy nervousness than being afraid right now. Something about this guy was relaxing.

[forsaintcecilia]

"Yeah, gangs. They aren't criminals really, they just like to make a lot of noise. There's a word, uh..."

Kazuki made a conciliatory gesture, and pulled out his phone to look the word up himself.

"De-lin... Delinquents! They're delinquents. They just make trouble, nothing serious."

"I dunno if I could learn how, but I'd really like to ride! It sounds like fun!" he answered with sincerity. "In Japan, you can take a train anywhere, so most people don't know how to drive anything."

[majimekun]

"Delinquents" That still hit's a bit too close to home even if sounds like there's a lot less violence. "I guess there are those types everywhere!" He chuckles a little trying to to be nervous or suspicious and just latches onto the safer subject.

"It is fun! There's nothing more thrilling than going as fast as possible down an empty stretch of road," he nodded as if this was just natural, common sense. "You really don't drive though? At all? I mean it's never too late to learn. Though a ride will let you know if you like it at least."

[forsaintcecilia]

Kazuki picks up on a faint thread of nervousness, but doesn't pick at it. He likes what he's seen of Deuce, and he wants him to feel comfortable.

"As fast as possible?" The thought of it was honestly kind of exciting! "I think I'd like to ride first. But maybe someday I could drive! It sounds like fun!"

[majimekun]

"Ah, driving's good too. I don't have a car right now though, but sometimes I've driven one for a few part time jobs or my Mom's for errands. It's not too hard. You just have to be good at paying attention."

So says the natural space case. "Though I guess, I'd ask, do you have any hobbies like that? Driving or riding or something similar? Outside the music?" At least Deuce doesn't' feel like he's just desperately making small talk right now.