Totally Not A Date (Indigo/Jory)

[Indigo Noble]

Indigo's smile broadened as he followed after Jory. He stood beside him until they got close, at which point he nudged himself a little ahead and pulled out his wallet. "I didn't tell you I was dragging you to a movie, so it's on me," he said. If it really wasn't a date maybe they should have gone Dutch, but maybe he hadn't warned Jory just so he could pay, just so he could feel like maybe this was a date after all.

[Jory Addison]

Jory eyed Indigo, but didn't argue. Instead, he smiled. "Thank you. I'll treat you next time." However impossible it was just now, he would like to repay Indigo properly. He would have to settle for buying dinner or something. "Have anything else hidden up your sleeve, should I be worried?"

[Indigo Noble]

Indigo gave his best attempt at an innocent smile, but it was terribly fake-looking. He neglected to respond before the girl behind the glass asked him what show and how many, and he was glad of it. Maybe he didn't have anything planned, but maybe that hadn't stopped him from quite a few different scenarios playing out in his head, most of which involved things he and Jory shouldn't do until school was out.

"Two for Evil Dead," he said. The girl turned her computer screen toward him to let him choose seats. He'd never seen assigned seating for a movie theater before, but he shrugged it off and pointed out two in the back row, over to one side. She tried to sell him VIP seats, but those were in the middle, and he wanted to be invisible.

[Jory Addison]

Jory grinned broadly at the thought of being hidden in the back with Indigo. They could probably even hold hands the whole time if they wanted to without any issue. Inside there was another line for popcorn and such, the smell of which made Jory suddenly start to crave the buttery salty goodness. "We could start going out and doing this more often," he said.

[Indigo Noble]

Indigo nodded. "There's a theater in Owlton too, so we can keep doing it when you're at Valfirdu." He paused, catching himself at something Jory probably hadn't even noticed, and busied himself with his wallet. "Going to the movies, I mean." They weren't doing any kind of it, and there was no telling when or if they might.

[Jory Addison]

"Well, yeah, what else would you mean?" Jory teased, nudging Indigo gently with his elbow. He wouldn't have caught what Indigo had said if Indigo hadn't tried to explain himself. "You promised popcorn, remember?" He wasn't about to let Indigo forget that important part. Excitement was starting to course through him.

[Indigo Noble]

Indigo was still blushing when he found his way to the snack bar line. It didn't take too long to get a huge tub of popcorn and a couple drinks, and soon they were heading toward the darkened room where they'd watch the movie.

"This is going to be awesome," he said, keeping his voice low, though the movie hadn't started. "Horror movies are a kick of adrenaline, you know? It's great when the whole audience jumps and screams."

[Jory Addison]

Once at their seats, Jory curled into his with a hand overflowing with popcorn. When he spoke, he kept his voice low to match Indigo's. "I'm not gonna scream," he claimed. "Are you? Big strong brave Gryffindor screaming at a movie." His eyes sparkled even in the dim light of the room. They were definitely going to have to go out and do this more often.

[Indigo Noble]

"And why not?" Indigo asked. He liked that gleam in Jory's eyes and nobody was watching them, so he let himself look. Maybe this was even better than being alone, because they were safer. Maybe. Indigo doubted that Jory would remind him they couldn't do anything just for looking at him in public.

"When something jumps out of nowhere, it happens too fast to be brave." He settled the bucket on his leg where both of them could reach it, and casually brought his arm up to rest on the separator between them. He wondered if it could be moved...

[Jory Addison]

"If you say so," Jory said. He'd already had his moment of weakness for the day and was now ready to go back to almost fake confidence, a callback to how he'd been years before. He put his drink in the holder on the opposite side of his chair from Indigo. "Well, when I end up screaming and proven wrong you can say I told you so."

[Indigo Noble]

"I will," Indigo said. He stopped debating and grabbed the barrier between them to see if it would move. It did, and he grinned at his victory as he pushed it up and out of the way. "Uh, it's so you can get to the popcorn easier," he claimed.

[Jory Addison]

"I'd rather you did that so you could put your arm around me," Jory said, reaching for another handful of popcorn before flashing a smile at Indigo. "I danced with a professor once, I'm about 90% sure we haven't crossed any lines." It would be a wonderful day when what lines there were faded into nothing. He wished he could convince himself to pretend there was nothing wrong with being with Indigo.

[Indigo Noble]

Indigo blushed and smiled and glanced somewhat nervously—and somewhat excitedly—around to be certain no one was looking. Then he pulled a deep breath and scooted closer to Jory, holding the popcorn up so it wouldn't spill.

"Ninety percent sounds good," he said. He was watching the audience as he brought his arm up, and the lights dimmed at last. He'd been doing it, he told himself, though he was still grateful for the safety of the dark.

[Jory Addison]

Jory didn't respond. Instead, he shifted closer, leaning lightly against Indigo. It wasn't a kiss, it wasn't touching, but it was physical contact, more than they'd managed yet, and he wanted to enjoy it while he could. Still, having Indigo there and yet in a way still out of reach was almost too much. It wasn't enough that Jory was willing to push him away. He almost wanted to close his eyes and pretend they were a normal couple for a little while, who cared about the movie?

Maybe he could survive the next long weeks if they could have a day like this every now and then. He thought that he should say something, but the general chatter in the rest of the theater was quickly dying and he couldn't think of anything to say, anyway.

[Indigo Noble]

Indigo wasn't paying a bit of attention to the trailers for upcoming movies. He'd let his arm rest around Jory, and that comfortable contact between them was more interesting than anything he'd see on the screen. Somehow this felt right, and though that was strange, Indigo wasn't willing to argue. He leaned his head lightly against the top of Jory's and didn't say a word.