Room 655 (and beyond!), Atlantis Resort, Bahamas, Thursday

[intraspective]

"I still think you're cheating," Ino complained half-heartedly, grinning and hunting for her sandals. "You totally didn't walk 'round yet on your knees. Cheater. Why should I go on a date with a guy who can't keep his promises?"

Yes, a date.

They were just friends so this was just one date and that was it but they'd made a deal about this one so it had to happen.

Ah ha! Her sandals! Ino slipped them on, tied her hair back from her face with a brightly coloured ribbon and glanced at him.

"You ready?" A beat. "Cheater."

Not that she'd refused, mind, when he'd brought up the date they hadn't had yet. Shush.

[For the daaate.]

Comments

[puppy_fair]

"I'd lose you under it!"

He would! He'd look down and see a little bulls-eye where Ino ought to be!

[intraspective]

"I'd be holding your hand," she protested. "You can't lose me then!"

... Totally just friends, really.

[puppy_fair]

"I'd be holding hands with a giant polka-dot," Zack laughed, shaking his head. "At least I'd know which polka-dot is you, I guess."

[intraspective]

"That's a no on the hat, huh?" she sighed, but grinned as she looked through the hats.

"What 'bout this one?"

[puppy_fair]

"Cute!"

That wasn't a squee at all, hush.

"It's floppy," he informed her, grinning. "And I'd be able to see your face!"

He liked her face.

[intraspective]

"We'll go with this one then," she decided, wrinkling her nose cheerfully. "And that way we're not wasting sunlight, too."

[puppy_fair]

Zack was going to cheer, yes, and throw a fist into the air.

"Oh, yeah! Less time shopping, more time enjoying the sun and the sand!"

[intraspective]

"And the water," she insisted, laughing. "Or there's no point in getting you trunks."

[puppy_fair]

"Fair enough!"

Zack could handle the water! He suspected that it would involve about three minutes of splashing, and then a bunch of chilling out on the beach, but at least water would happen!

"Here, gimmie." He held out his hands for the hat.

[intraspective]

"I can pay for it," she protested, hiding it behind her back.

Because that was so mature, Ino.

[puppy_fair]

"Will you let me pay for it if I model it, first?"

See, Zack totally knew where all of the good temptations were. Because he was a sneaky little bastard.

[intraspective]

Ooooh, well, that was certainly a different story.

"That's underhanded," she informed him. Almost impressed.

[puppy_fair]

"I'd even let you get pictures," Zack added, quite chirpily indeed. "To do with as you please!"

He was a dirty, rotten cheater, and he would never deny it.

[intraspective]

...

"... You win this round," she said, holding out the hat with a defeated sigh.

And a grin.

Shut up.

[puppy_fair]

The things that Zack put himself through in order to buy cute pink things for adorable girls...

"Awesome!" See Zack. See Zack snag the hat and make his way to the cashier. Go, Zack, go!

[intraspective]

Ino just shook her head and wandered over to the door, taking a chance to poke through some of the bikini racks with vague interest as Zack dealt with paying for something that...

She could have paid for herself.

Part of her felt like a mooch but he'd--offered to pay for it. Bribed her to let him, even.

[puppy_fair]

And it was a date. Zack was going to insist on paying for a lot more before the day was through. That was just how dates were supposed to work, right?

In any case, he hoped that him wandering back with the hat resting precariously on top of his head would help make up for it!

Without speaking a word, he totally had to take this opportunity to strike a pose.

[intraspective]

It certainly helped make up for the vague guilty feeling she had about the whole thing as she laughed and dug out her camera.

Because, really, she needed pictures.

"It suits you," she informed him, eyes bright.

[puppy_fair]

"I told you I liked it," Zack replied, striking another pose for good measure before plucking it off of his own head and reaching to deposit it on hers, instead.

"It's happy."

[intraspective]

She laughed, hands going up to adjust the hat.

"And you like happy things and me wearing them?"

[puppy_fair]

"Pretty much," Zack agreed, bouncing a little where he was standing. "And if that's not good enough, you can totally consider it payback for getting me to put on civilian clothing!"

Because she looked about as adorable in that hat as he looked in those jeans.

[intraspective]

No no, he looked hot. She looked adorable.

Different words here.

Ino laughed, reaching for his hand. "Come on," she said, tucking her camera away. "Beach next? Swimming?"

It was too early for food after all.

[puppy_fair]

"Swimming before food," Zack agreed, nodding and giving her hand a squeeze. "We wouldn't want to get cramps or anything silly like that, anyhow."

As if a genetically modified super-soldier had to worry about cramping up in the water after a meal.

[intraspective]

She just shook her head as they left the store.

"You'll need to get changed," she noted, grinning. "Or I'll just shove you in the water as is and then where will you be?"

[puppy_fair]

"On the beach in soggy jeans?"

Zack was a good guesser!

"There's a place to change somewhere by the beach, right?"