[Single? No More!] – First Date Part II

After ordering their food and drinks, the atmosphere around them got awkward. Val and Storm stayed silent and glanced around, hoping the other person would break the ice.

"Sooo...." Val decided to break the ice and said calmly, "We never properly introduced ourselves before. Did we?"

Storm laughed nervously and replied, "Hehe... Yea.. I guess we didn't. Well then... uhh... Hi.. Umm. I'm Ororo Monroe!"

"Valexis Haller!" Val replied with a slight smile, stretched his arm, and asked, "Pleased to meet you, Ms. Monroe. May we have a wonderful date?"

She shook his hand and replied while staring into his eyes, "Sure, pleased to meet you, Mr. Haller. You have nice eyesight."

He laughed at the last statement and replied, "Don't I know it?"

"Haha." Both of them laughed, breaking the tension.

'Thank god I made a joke!' He thought in relief. He calmed himself and continued with a serious expression, "So, where are you from? Cairo? Giza?"

"No," Storm shook her head and said, "I'm from Harlem."

"Harlem? Really?" Val asked, surprised.

"Yes, " She nodded and said, "My dad was a photojournalist from New York who proposed to my mother while working in Kenya. They moved back here after my dad's work ended in Kenya, and they married. I was born and grew up here till the age of five. And, then..."

She looked sad as she continued, "My dad got work in Cairo, and we moved there. But, a few months later..."

Val realized this was when her parents were killed in the plane crash. He didn't want their date to sour, so he quickly intervened. He took the wine bottle, poured some into her glass, interrupting her, and said, "I'm not from New York."

"Huh?!" Storm shook herself from the sad memories and asked, "You're not? But everybody thinks that you are!"

"Heh!" Val smirked, sipped his wine, and replied, "That is because I've hidden myself quite well."

Seeing the concern in his eyes, Storm understood that he didn't want the evening to get ruined as she felt the same and thought, 'He's diverting our conversation away from my past. He must have felt the sadness on my face. He's so thoughtful!'

"Only Peggy knows that I've immigrated from Great Britain in search of new opportunities," Val revealed as he sipped his wine again.

"Woah!" She exclaimed as her eyes widened in surprise and exclaimed, "I had no idea!"

"Now," Val smiled at her and teased, "You are the second person apart from Peggy, who knows where I'm actually from."

Storm's face instantly brightened as her eyes shined in happiness when she realized she was the second person who knew this and thought, 'I feel special that I'm one of the few people who know this secret.'

"Cool," Storm said while taking a sip out of her wine and continued with a radiant smile, "And thanks for the information. I'll keep your secret safe."

Val smiled and replied in an earnest tone, "Thank you! And I would keep your secrets, as well, Ororo."

"Ororo, huh," Storm mumbled. She had never heard him call her name with such warmth before. It sounded affectionate coming from him. A smile rose, and she replied, "Sounds...nice!"

She then asked, "Would it be alright if I call you...Val?"

He placed his arms on the table and chuckled, saying, "Of course, it's more than alright!"

He then continued with a soft and gentle voice, "Besides...it's pretty awkward for me to say Ms. Monroe all the time. Hahaha. And Ororo has such a beautiful, sophisticated sound to it!"

She looked straight into his golden eyes, her cheeks redder by the second, and couldn't resist looking away. In an embarrassed tone, she asked with a playful smirk, "How can you say that in front of me while you're such a big-shot superhero?"

"Well...that's because it's true. Moreover, isn't it awkward for you to address me as Starlance or Professor Haller?" He replied and took the water, taking a large sip to wash the burning taste of alcohol off his tongue.

Storm agreed, nodded, and replied, "It really is."

"I just realized that only Captain Carter knows where you are from." Storm pointed out.

"And, you call her 'Peggy' endearingly." She asked suspiciously, "Is there something going on between the two of you?"

"Well, that's because," Val smirked and dropped the bomb. "She's my sister."

"What!?" Storm's eyes were open in bewilderment, and she questioned, "Wait... You mean... You are Captain Carter's brother? THAT Captain Carter's brother?"

Val smiled, enjoying her reaction, and nodded, "Yes!"

"Wow! That's unbelievable! That explains a lot!" Storm exclaimed in wonderment.

'Hmm?' Val raised his brow and asked with a smile, "What does it explain, Ororo?"

"You and she are so similar in certain aspects!" She revealed as she downed a large mouthful of the sweet red liquid.

"Certain aspects, huh? Like what?" Val leaned forward in curiosity and asked.

"In attitude and behavior." She leaned closer to him and answered, "I had found a similarity between the two of you many times, but now that I know that you two are siblings, it made sense."

'As expected of an intelligent and keen observer.' Val mused with a chuckle and drank his water again when he heard her say, "But... you both don't look like siblings."

"Haha!" Val laughed and replied, "Of course, we don't look similar because we are adopted siblings, not blood-related ones!"

"Ohhh! That's makes perfect sense!"

"Hehe," Ororo grinned as she took a sip of her wine, placed her glass down, and revealed, "Now, I realize why you're always so cool with everything and even with her... 'intimidating' persona."

"Haha." Val looked up at Ororo and asked flirtingly, "Would you say that the man in front of you is also 'cool'?"

Her face started heating up again, and she couldn't utter a single word, just a few 'mhmm' sounds.

Seeing her current condition and red ears, Val couldn't help but smile widely and thought, 'Ah.. she's so cute! It's such an adorable sight!'

She had never been asked that question before by any man because she had never gone on a date. So, this praise, especially from Val's mouth, made her happy and joyful.

She glanced at Val and said, "You're not that bad, Val."

"I hope not!" He replied while an easy smile graced his lips.

Val leaned forward with a smile, extended his wineglass, and said, "A toast."

"To a lovely dinner." She responded by gently tapping her glass of red wine against his.

* CLINK *

They raised their glass to their lips, drinking the red wine together. Their eyes met, and they couldn't help but find their first date going incredibly well.