Just Like That

After multiple rib jabs on your part, Tom finally stopped his teasing about your apparent disliking of Taylor Swift. Thanks, David for bringing that up…Nothing like illustrating your jealousy in such an embarrassing light. 

The diner wasn’t too far away and was accustomed to catering to convention guests. Tom walking in with his Iron Man mask and t-shirt didn’t spark any questions. On the flip side, there was just enough privacy in the high-backed booths that if Tom took off his mask, there wouldn’t be swarms of people instantly. 

The hostess was a young woman, clearly overwhelmed by the amount of customers they were getting today. Telling you both to sit wherever you wanted, you offered her a kind smile and made your way to the back corner of the establishment.

 Sliding into a corner booth, Tom stood over you. “Move it on over,” he sang, gesturing for you to slide. 

Your giggles didn’t stop you from following his direction, giving him enough room to sit beside you. “Why don’t you ever sing more?”

“The noise complaints would be atrocious” his simple answer accompanied with a shrug. Taking off the mask, Tom placed it on the other side of you, where you had also tucked away your purse. He had put his contacts back in after the nap, thankful that there was nothing hindering his desire to give you a kiss whenever he so chose. Although there were two menus on the table, he opened one and nestled it between you both to share.

Despite a roomy booth, your sides pressed together. A large palm splayed across your slightly exposed thigh was enough to keep your mind from focusing on the menu. Who could think of a double chocolate milkshake when you rather Tom drink you in?

“Steady,” he whispered, able to detect how your breathing had quickened. “Wouldn’t want to soak right through to the booth, would we?” another whisper designed to get a rise out of you.

However, you played it cool—leaning in as well. “You’re assuming I’m wearing anything underneath this dress,” you teased. The groan that rumbled beside you left you grinning from ear to ear. Tom’s temple fell against your shoulder in defeat and longing, planting a kiss just where bare shoulder began. 

He wanted to say it right then. I love you.

And you wanted to say the words more and more with each second you spent with this man. There was nothing stopping you. You would say it. Here. In this booth. Your first meal shared together in person. Pressed against one another. 

Until—- “Sorry about that wait, folks!” the waitress damn well must have teleported beside the booth as you both jumped from her greeting.

The meal was filled with laughter, kisses—at one point, you threw a fry at him and Tom caught it in his mouth. He ordered extra condiments for you, knowing how you essentially used everything as a vessel for dipping sauces. It was as though you both had shared countless meals together in each other’s presence. Considering this could have been declared a first date, there was no bits of awkwardness or lull in conversation (you both must have used up your fair share of awkwardness earlier). Everything was perfect.

“I think they’ve finally realized who you are,” you pointed out, leaning around him slightly to see your waitress and a few others throwing giddy looks his way.

“I’ll put the mask back on if it makes you more comfortable, darling.” His concern was heartbreaking. Was he worried that you would rather him stay covered up?

“Do whatever makes you comfortable, honey. They aren’t bothering me and they haven’t said anything to us during our whole meal,” giving his leg a squeeze, your hand having found its way upon his thigh halfway through dinner. It belonged there.

The use of the endearment left butterflies in his stomach. He wanted to be it all to you. Tom, dear. Honey. Mr. Hiddleston–when you were particularly cross with him. He would be anything you wanted him to be.

As your meal wrapped up, it wasn’t until Tom was filling out the check that your waitress came over, anxiously biting her bottom lip. “Would you—would you mind if I took a picture with you?” she asked meekly. 

Tom was beginning to look to you for approval, feeling out the situation. Your heart went out to this young woman and how this was possibly the highlight of her week. “Here. Let me take it for you two,” you beamed, lifting up to your knees in the booth.

“Would it be alright if I put my arm around you?” Tom asked her kindly, to which she responded in all grins and giggles. He took that to mean ‘yes’.

You snapped a couple with her phone, but continued to tell the pair to wait as you repositioned. “He’s a damn giant. I want to make sure I have you both in the shot,” joking, earning both participants an extra bout of laughter and smiles.

“Thank you so much!” the young woman gushed, taking the phone from you and clutching it tightly.

“Could you do us the same favor?” Tom asked with equal politeness, fishing his phone from his pocket and handing it over to the nodding waitress.

Your heart swelled–as these weren’t pictures with him donning a mask or a facetime conversation. He slid his arm around your waist. You leaned in, basking in his warm aroma as though he were a fucking Bath & Body Works candle. He wasn’t real.

You could say it now. I love you. I never want to be without you. You could lean in, whisper it–have a picture proof of the first moment you ever said it to Tom… But the moment was gone as quickly as it came. The girl took the picture and the phone was back in Tom’s possession. He refused to let you see it right away, for fear you would be little how you looked. Never could be pleased. He wasn’t going to have anything ruin the perfect end to a perfect meal.

As you exited the restaurant, you were met with the warm summer air of the city. The humidity left the air wet, but after growing up in the South–you welcomed the sensation. You pulled your hair up in a high ponytail, caring more about comfort than what it could possibly look like to anyone. And Tom adored watching you unwind before him. The ease in which you spoke and moved—the way your eyes lit up when you talked of ‘your kids’ or the gentle circles you drew on his thigh as you asked him questions about his life… Everything you two had built over miles apart was still all right here.

“The park is this way,” you instructed, reaching your hand out for him to take it. He didn’t put the mask back on as the crowds on the street were nothing compared to the volume in the hotel. 

Music could be heard the further on you walked, growing louder and louder as an open park came into focus. Now, you had never been to any other city in your lifetime. The Atlanta skyline was the largest you had ever seen in person, but oh how it took your breath away every time you came to the park where the beauty of the city was showcased. 

The music was coming from a local radio station setting up shop in the middle of an open field. People dancing, playing sports, running with their pets—it was a sight as you both crossed the street towards the entrance.

It took us a while

With every breath a new day

With love on the line

We've had our share of mistakes

But all your flaws and scars are mine

Recognizing the song immediately as Ellie Goulding’s “Still Falling For You”, you pulled away from Tom to join in with the song, giving a little spin in the open field, some distance from the main set-up. “Do you know it?” you called out to your boyfriend, another little spin as you belted out the lyrics.

“Afraid not,” he lied, wanting nothing to take away from this picture he was creating in his mind. Never before had someone made him feel so at ease and so incredibly loved. You radiated it. Your care and compassion for others—your endless need to love… Perhaps that’s why he never pushed for you to say the words… He knew how you felt. However, being in your presence, it was becoming increasingly difficult to keep the words to himself.

“And just like that,” you belted out, opening your arms wide as you spun around. You had held so much worry in you for days—months even, wondering if everything would be alright when Tom actually met you—it was such a release to feel that connection. “All I breathe—All I feel–,” you laughed, a brief stop in spinning to point towards Tom who had the biggest smile on his face that you had ever seen.

“You are all for me. I'm in,” he sang back, following you as you resumed your dancing and spinning. 

Your movements had brought you back to the walkway’s stone and away from the grass. There were a few people in the area, but everyone sat along the perimeter—the same carefree attitude in the air. There was less space between you and Tom now as he lessened it with each broad step. He had to tell you–he had to hold you. There was no sense in waiting.

And just like that—water shot out from beside your feet as you both had stumbled upon a water splash pad that operated during the summer. You both had been too wrapped up in each other to notice the water remnants on the ground or the knowing looks of those sitting along the perimeter.

Your shared screams were married together with laughter, running towards each other after the shock set in. Water all around you, shooting cannons up into the air and falling right back on top. There seemed to be no escaping, as Tom’s long arms brought you into his chest. You were absolutely drenched—but when that next canon shot right up your dress, you let out such a scream and jumped so far forward that it knocked you both flat on your asses.

Tom scrambled into a seated position to make sure you were alright—and not exposed— relaxing as the sound of your laughter drowned out the water canons. Your ponytail had been knocked sideways. His plastic mask had snapped in two. You were both a mess.

“I love you!” you called out through the chaos, a smile so wide it was a wonder you weren’t water logged.

Did he hear you right? Or had he said it out loud? No, that was definitely your voice. But, was it really?

“What did you say?” he yelled, scooting over closer. Hands came to rest on both dripping cheeks, your legs tangled together until you were nearly sitting in Tom’s lap.

“I said, I love you!” another laugh, your confession even louder than the time before. The only difference—the water fountain ended at that precise moment, causing the entire crowd to hear your admission.

There were laughs and a few claps—but all you could focus on was Tom. His eyes were serious despite how humorous his drenched self actually was at this moment. For the briefest of seconds, you began to doubt the timing of your words judging by how quiet Tom was for what seemed like eternity. Piercing blue eyes gazed right into your soul. “God help me, I have never loved someone as much as I love you,” he declared helplessly, before his lips crashed down against yours.

Your hands clung to his wet t-shirt as his hands held your face, which might as well have been his entire world. “Say it again,” he breathed, lips barely parting.

“I love you, Tom,” gasping for breath, tightening your grip on his shirt. “Say it again—,” a repeated order.

“I love you, Y/N,” hand coming up to hold the back of your damp head in place. “How strict is your city on indecent exposure, out of curiosity?”

Valid question.