The Keys To The Kingdom
Who: Dot/Satsu
Where: Outside of Sunnydale High, then Dot's garden
When: Tuesday afternoon
Dot was sprawled out on the lawn in front of school, waiting for Satsu to finish up whatever she was working on. She was finally going to get a chance to show Satsu her long-promised surprise, and she was nervous about it.
And soon enough, with an unintentionally cute grumbly-face, Satsu came hobbling out of school, no longer on crutches, but still walking funny because of the girdle she was still forced to wear for protective measures. It greatly reduced her risk of tearing open her healing wound, but it also made her walk like some kind of weirdo.
Dot clapped and waved. "Hello!" She bounced up and hugged Satsu, very gently. "I was going to come looking for you myself in a second. Can I carry anything for you?"
"Ugh. Yes. You can take this stupid girdle off of me and carry THAT." Satsu wanted to look angry. Frustrated. But unfortunately... she looked more adorably pathetic. "I feel like one of those kids that nobody talks to that has to wear the big back brace all through grade school."
Dot frowned. "I know it's no fun, but they don't want you to tear yourself open just by walking around." She settled for another gentle hug, instead. "Come on, less moping, more walking!"
"You know... you're lucky I love ya and that you're so hot... because normally? I'd flatten someone for being so chirpy." Satsu said, but with an obvious, affectionate tone as she leaned in, giving the other girl a sweet peck on the lips. "How was your day?"
Dot smiled and pecked back. "Flatten me? That's not a very nice thing to say to someone who's taking you to a very cool surprise!" She blushed a little, all the same. "Come on!" She started walking, away from school off towards the rest of town.
"A cool surprise?" Satsu raised a thin eyebrow and slowly followed Dot. "Does it involve you, no clothing, and a can of whipped cream?" God, she loved making the girl blush...
"That's not 'a cool surprise', more like 'a public spectacle, possibly involving the armed forces'." Dot grinned, and did her best not to blush. Trading playful jabs like this was something she'd really missed. Not that Kyle and Juice weren't fun to tease, but it wasn't the same thing at all. "Yes, a very cool surprise, you doubting Satsu, you." She dropped back to walk in step with Satsu, and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, leaning in.
"Not a Doubting Satsu... a Vaguely Worried Satsu. Because I know that strange little mind of yours." She giggled, leaning her head slightly on her girlfriend's shoulder as they slowly walked.
"Oh? So what have you figured out, then, to make you a Vaguely Worried Satsu?" Dot smirked. "Do you really think I'm that easy to read?"
"No... you're NOT. And that's one of the many things that makes me fear you, my increasingly hot girlfriend." With a little smirk, she looked around and blinked. "Ok, in all seriousness... I give up... what's going on?"
Dot smiled. "It's just a little further, come on. And," she stopped and glanced around, "now is the perfect time for this." She reached into her pack and pulled out a silk scarf, in a pretty back and purple pattern. "Put this on, we're almost there." She handed it to Satsu, grinning.
"....are we getting into a fashionable gang war or something?" Satsu asked, blinking in a bit of confusion.
"Over your eyes, silly!" Dot grinned wider. "It's so you'll be surprised right up til the end!"
"Ohhh, got it." Satsu replied with a bit of sarcasm, reaching up to tie the cloth gently around her own eyes. "You know, in most of my fantasies, blindfolds are only used when you're tying me up..."
Dot checked the blindfold just to make sure there was no cheating. "And with your eyes covered, you have no idea what else I might do!" She grinned, then opened her bag again and made some very obvious rummaging noises before closing it again, watching Satsu closely all the while. "Okay. Hands, please!"
Holding her hands out, Satsu couldn't help but grin again, as Dot's enthusiasm was positively infectious. "Alright, alright..."
Dot smiled, even though she knew Satsu couldn't see her. "Thank you!" She took the outstretched hands in her own, then started walking again, slowly and carefully. "You're probably gonna be mad, because we really are almost there." Sure enough, it was only a short time before Dot stopped and let go of Satsu's hands. "Okay! Ready?"
"Ok. While I doubt this is going to be Alicia Silverstone saying she's coming home with us for a wild evening... I'm sure I'll be very pleased. Can I take this thing off now?" This was true trust, as Satsu would be antsy as hell being blindfolded around most people.
"Yes, but keep your eyes closed for one more second afterwards, there's one last thing I have to do." Dot fairly bounced in her excitement.
Slipping the cloth from her eyes, Satsu indeed kept her eyes closed tightly, eagerly waiting to see what Dot had in mind for her.
Dot pushed open the creaky garden gate with one hand, and took the scarf from Satsu with the other, tucking it into her pocket. "Okay, look now!"
Satsu finally opened her eyes....
Dot smiled widely enough to split her face in two. "Tim kinda ..gave me a garden to play with. I haven't had a lot of time since I've been working at the Sunset, but I get out here when I can!"
"Oh my god... Dot! You're finally able to really show your talent!" Satsu looked around, marveling at how gorgeous it all really looked. "It's nearly as beautiful as you."
Dot ducked her head. "It's just a little one. The one at home is gonna be bigger than that."
"Well... that kind of ties in to something I was planning to ask you soon, but... what the hell... I can ask now..." Satsu's smile turned slightly tentative, as though she feared Dot's answer. "When school lets out, would you want to take a trip home with me? My parents really would like to meet you, and my mother is SO amped to show you her garden."
Dot blinked. "Really? I know we talked about it, but ...I thought that was just, you know, the sort of thing you say to your new girlfriend to impress her! I was impressed, in case you were wondering. Yes, I'd love to go!" Dot flung her arms around Satsu and hugged, as gently as she could.
"Great! We just have to get you a passport before break." That went better than expected. Granted, they'd definitely progressed to being a real couple, but that was still a BIG step, going across the world to meet the 'rents. "Maybe I'm just getting emotional, but I'm suddenly not afraid to say this to you... I love you, Dot."
"I love you too, Satsu." Dot smiled. "I know I told you I was going to make you work for it, and I know I'm probably less affectionate than you'd like, but I've said it before: you're stuck with me, now, so you'd better get used to it." Dot smiled.
"You should come have dinner, soon. Not tonight, it's too short notice, but this week. I'll tell Mom and Dad that you're out of the hospital and they'll probably demand that you come visit." Dot smiled again.
Holy crap... she actually said it back. Satsu knew... for someone like Dot, admitting love was a bigger step than sex was for most people. She felt herself tearing up a little, and leaned in again. "Then... forget how we usually are... and mark this moment in style. Kiss me, right here... like you kiss me when we're in private."
"Yes ma'am! Though you know," she added with a nod towards the construction equipment parked just on the other side of the fence, "some burly construction worker could forget his lunchbox and come back at just the wrong time." She grinned, then leaned in to kiss Satsu ever so lightly. "I'll meet you halfway, but it's not like anyone would mistake us for sisters anyhow," she said, smiling sweetly.
"Mm. Very, very true." With a happy little smile, and butterflies in her tummy, she kissed Dot lovingly, reaching down to squeeze her hand lovingly.
Dot smiled and squeezed back. "It's not like I haven't been thinking a lot about all of this while you've been in there, you know. I get a lot of my thinking done out here, or in the park."
"Mind if I ask you what you've been thinkin' in that pretty head of yours?" Satsu asked with a hint of a giggle.
Dot smiled. "Well. I know that I haven't been able to see you as much lately. I was a little worried that you'd think I wasn't interested, but I've just been busy. Working at the Sunset is much safer than working at Sid's was. Plus, I've been trying to get this ready to show it off."
"I never for a minute thought that, babe." Satsu laughed inwardly, realizing that only months earlier, she'd have thought EXACTLY that. "I'm just glad that we're able to spend real time together again."
Dot laughed. "Don't decide to give up the monster-slaying life for a chance to play poker professionally, okay? I'm glad I got to show this to you. I was worried nothing was going to grow." She ruffled Satsu's hair.
"You are such a smart-ass..." The Japanese girl smirked, giving Dot a playful shove at the shoulder. "Good thing you're so damn sexy."
Dot grinned. "I'm multi-talented! I can herd goths and tame warlike savages from across the seas." She leaned out of the way as Satsu leaned in to shove. "I guess lessons are paying off!"
"Ohhhh ho ho... I see... ya take a few self-defense classes and think you're all hot stuff!" Satsu giggled and reached over, taking Dot's hand sweetly into her own. "Well... I'm just glad you're mine."
Dot smiled and squeezed back. "I'm glad to be had, even though that sounds pretty dirty." She cleared her throat to buy herself some time, and changed the subject. "I know I'll never be as good at fighting as you, but I want to do something, instead of just reacting. It sounds terrible, but you getting hurt really helped me figure out that I needed to do something about it."
"Just be yourself." Satsu hated the idea of Dot even considering trying to fight the same things that had hurt her, and she smooched the other girl on the cheek. "Just be my inspiration. I mean, going into battle knowing I have a hot girlfriend hopefully waiting to get naked with me will make me a lot more efficient in battle."
Dot snickered. "Is that all you think about? What if you're inspired to win because otherwise you'll miss dinner when you get home, because someone's been slaving away over food she made with stuff she grew herself?"
"Don't get me wrong, that stuff is nice." Satsu said, her face trying it's best to look serious. "But naked trumps it every time, especially when youre armed with a body like yours. Sorry."
Dot laughed and hugged Satsu. "Okay, okay. You win. I'll just have to settle for being sex on legs AND a loving earth mother. Nature compromises, I can too!" She kissed each eyelid, very lightly.
"You know... every time you do something sweet like that, you just make me melt a little inside." Satsu was now dropping all pretense of the playful banter they'd had going on. "Do you have any idea how in love with you I am?"
Dot smiled. "I have some idea", she said. "And you should know that I love you, too. You've already inspired me a lot, you know. I wanted to show you, rather than just tell you, you see?" She was very serious, too.
"Just so you know..." Satsu laughed a little, for once giving a bit of a blush. "My mother is.... very intense when it comes to me having someone. Don't get freaked out if she keeps asking questions about how serious we are."
"Well, I did take up a self-defense class for you, if that tips her off any." Dot smiled.
"Well, usually my father keeps her in check with it... but it still gets a tiny bit embarrassing at times. But I know she means well... she just wants me to be happy." Satsu shrugged, still partly dreading her mother's, erm, 'enthusiasm'.
"Oh, good cop bad cop, Japanese style?" Dot grinned. "I can take 'em!" Dot hugged the other girl again. "Honestly, I'm so excited. I can't wait! I want to meet them! I want to see all the places you like to go."
"That will be LOTS of fun." Satsu promised, grinning ear to ear. "There's a great club there, that's a lot more lenient about age and restrictions than the ones here. They play a mix of Japanese and American music, and the setup is amazing."
Dot laughed. "So I should take my work uniform along with me and wear it out and fit right in?" She giggled. "They're gonna call me Dotzirra, aren't they? It's not my fault I'm tall!" She grinned.
"Nah. But I'll be beating the girls off you with a stick, no doubt. It's a very gay-friendly club, and let's just say that cute American girls are looked at the way a hundred dollar bill is if someone drops it in the middle of the street."
Dot laughed. "How noble of you, holding off all those girls all on your own.."
"Pffft. Please." Satsu waved a hand. "They touch MY girl? I'll show you some moves they don't teach us in class. Like the classic martial art style of 'bitch-hair-pulling'."
"Oh, I can just hear all the screaming now." Dot grinned and mock-winced.
"Well, obviously it's a dirty job, but someone's got to do it, yes?" Satsu let a little giggle escape her lips. "I can't wait to tell Mother that you said yes... she'll probably spend every waking moment until we get there preparing."
"When do you think we'd go, anyway? I'll have to take time off from work, but I'm sure Mike will be okay with it. And then there's my parents, of course." Dot frowned, thinking. "This just means you'll have to come over for dinner a lot sooner than we thought. The sooner you've met everyone, the sooner they'll have to agree to let me go!"
"I'd love it. Your family sounds wonderful." Satsu smiled brightly and squeezed Dot's hand again. "And I was thinking we'd go at the end of the school year."
"Oh, that's plenty of time to get everything ready. I don't even know what I'd need to do! First things first, when are you coming for dinner?" Dot smiled and squeezed back. "And, more importantly, what will and won't you eat? Do you want it to be themed? I've never made any Japanese food before. I bet you haven't had anything authentic since you got here. Do you miss it? Lucky for me I don't have to go far at all for a hamburger." Dot very consciously told herself to shut up, and did. "Sorry I'm babbling," she said sheepishly.
"Sweetie... trust me, while yes, I miss the food from home, I'll have plenty when I get back. Just make whatever you think I'll like." Dot was just melting her heart... she was far too cute. "As for dinner... you make the date, and I'll be there. You know... as long as I don't get stabbed again."
Dot hugged Satsu. "Hey. Nobody's blaming you for that. She was supposed to be another supergirl, is that right?" Dot wasn't quite sure about that part, but she'd heard the stabbing discussed a few times. "I'd be a little surprised and startled if that happened to me." She had been about to say 'if a friend attacked me", but then she'd remembered Kyle's warning about saying things like that.
"I think so... I mean, supposedly, she'd died before I even came to this country." She gave a little huff of relief. "At least she's dust now. Mr. Windham-Pryce's wife supposedly ripped her apart. Sounds like my kinda woman, ya know?"
"Well, at least she won't bother anyone anymore." Dot wondered just what it would take to actually tear someone apart, but decided that she didn't really want to know. She decided to change the subject again. "Sorry about all the secrecy buldup about getting you out here. I just really wanted it to be a surprise. You looked a little nervous about the blindfold."
"Yeah, but in a good way." Satsu tried to reassure her, as she never had anything but the nicest expectations. "You're very... unpredictable. In a wonderful, joyous way. I never know what to expect, so it makes me nervous, but in a nice, excited way."
Dot smiled. "You know, I almost don't recognize who it is you're talking about, sometimes. I don't really think I'm unpredictable, but the self is the easiest person to fool, I guess." She shrugged, still smiling. "It's nice to hear that, though. You're kinda ..intimidating. Not to me, not anymore, but at first..." She trailed off.
"Really? I was intimidating?" Satsu sounded a littlw wounded, but more because she knew the girl was right. "....I really did come on strong, didn't I."
Dot nodded. "You really did. Even when it wasn't me you were focusing on, it was still ..I don't know anybody as forceful as you. Remind me never to make you angry." She grinned, suddenly.
"Funny part is... it was never a case of me trying to force you into anything." Satsu gave a resigned sigh as she admitted what Dot probably had suspected for months. "I guess... I'm just the sort of person who sees something she wants, and doesn't let up until it's mine. I kinda had to be that way where I grew up, because to a lot of men in Japan, even today, women just aren't held in the same regard as men."
Dot nodded. "Hm, be cute, quiet and serve us in all things, sweetie?" She laughed. "Except, in Japanese. I bet that worked really well on you." She laughed again. "Don't worry. I wasn't about to let you force me into anything. I might not look like it, but I do dig in my dainty little heels sometimes."
"Good. Because I'm the first to admit... if you don't stand up to me, I'll walk all over you, however unintentional it might be." She certainly never wanted to hurt the girl. "Annnnd, you know, when we're there... we can share my old room..."
"Trust me... if I have my way? It's not the blankets I'll be wanting to be under." She gave Dot a wicked little wink, and practically purred into her ear. "After all... we'll have been together quite a while by then..."
Dot smiled, and nodded. "That's true! And we'll have had plenty of time by then to go on normal dates, or just sit and watch TV, or whatever. It's really not fair that we had to go on so many hospital dates. If I were so inclined, I could be very angry at a pile of dust right now."
"But if you were... well... the sight of you looking all mad running around with a DustBuster is pretty cute, really." Satsu laughed and covered her mouth.
Dot laughed. "Well, maybe not a Dustbuster, but it makes more sense than a garden hose or a squirt bottle."
"Funny story... first vamp I ever fought, I chased away with one of my mom's squirt bottles that used to water the plants. Filled it with holy water." She said with a sage nod.
Dot grinned. "You made that up just now! See, I told you never to play poker professionally!"
"Well, evidentily you're not all that good... BECAUSE IT HAPPENED! MWAH HAH!" She laughed triumphantly.
"So you say. I think that you're just being smug because you know I'll never know for sure what really happened. Lucky for you I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt." She grinned and leaned against the other girl.
"Ask my mom. She had the assist on that one. Kind of a family slaying." Satsu said with a laugh.
Dot grinned. "The family that slays together, huh?"
"Bingo." Satsu said with a grin. "You haven't lived until you've seen an older Japanese woman running at me holding out a water bottle like it's on fire."
Dot laughed. "So, in other words, meeting you was the one thing in my life that really makes it .. " She trailed off, then cleared her throat. "No, I can't really joke about that, especially since it's true."
"If it's true... finish the thought." Satsu added, a sweet smile pulling at her lips.
Dot blushed, but kept going. "I was saying that meeting you has been the one thing that really inspired me to give more back."
"Dot?" Satsu smiled brighter, placing her palms on either side of Dot's face. "That was the single most romantic thing anyone's ever said to me..."
Dot blushed. "Sorry I keep making this all sappy. I like the way we get along."
"Dot? Sweetie? We're a COUPLE. We're supposed to be sappy at times. Especially when we're alone." She bopped the girl cutely on the tip of the nose.
Dot smiled. "I know, I know. But that doesn't mean we have to be so serious all the time. I just thought we'd had enough of that all while you were in hospital."
"Sweet does not equal serious, ya big goofball." Satsu gave a devillish grin and swatted Dot on the ass.
Dot jumped. "Hey. I can be sweet too. You know, like growing you a whole garden?" She laughed and swatted back.
"Your sweetness was never in question, doll." Satsu smiled wistfully, thinking of Dot worrying about her injury, and staying all odd hours at the hospital with her. "Never ever."
Dot frowned. "Hey, it's getting dark. We should probably go, hm? You can find this place again, right?"
"Find it? Baby... I'll never, ever forget it." Satsu still was beaming, as though on cloud 9
"Good!" Dot gathered her pack from the ground, then held out her arm. "C'mon, you can walk me to work."
Where: Outside of Sunnydale High, then Dot's garden
When: Tuesday afternoon
Dot was sprawled out on the lawn in front of school, waiting for Satsu to finish up whatever she was working on. She was finally going to get a chance to show Satsu her long-promised surprise, and she was nervous about it.
And soon enough, with an unintentionally cute grumbly-face, Satsu came hobbling out of school, no longer on crutches, but still walking funny because of the girdle she was still forced to wear for protective measures. It greatly reduced her risk of tearing open her healing wound, but it also made her walk like some kind of weirdo.
Dot clapped and waved. "Hello!" She bounced up and hugged Satsu, very gently. "I was going to come looking for you myself in a second. Can I carry anything for you?"
"Ugh. Yes. You can take this stupid girdle off of me and carry THAT." Satsu wanted to look angry. Frustrated. But unfortunately... she looked more adorably pathetic. "I feel like one of those kids that nobody talks to that has to wear the big back brace all through grade school."
Dot frowned. "I know it's no fun, but they don't want you to tear yourself open just by walking around." She settled for another gentle hug, instead. "Come on, less moping, more walking!"
"You know... you're lucky I love ya and that you're so hot... because normally? I'd flatten someone for being so chirpy." Satsu said, but with an obvious, affectionate tone as she leaned in, giving the other girl a sweet peck on the lips. "How was your day?"
Dot smiled and pecked back. "Flatten me? That's not a very nice thing to say to someone who's taking you to a very cool surprise!" She blushed a little, all the same. "Come on!" She started walking, away from school off towards the rest of town.
"A cool surprise?" Satsu raised a thin eyebrow and slowly followed Dot. "Does it involve you, no clothing, and a can of whipped cream?" God, she loved making the girl blush...
"That's not 'a cool surprise', more like 'a public spectacle, possibly involving the armed forces'." Dot grinned, and did her best not to blush. Trading playful jabs like this was something she'd really missed. Not that Kyle and Juice weren't fun to tease, but it wasn't the same thing at all. "Yes, a very cool surprise, you doubting Satsu, you." She dropped back to walk in step with Satsu, and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, leaning in.
"Not a Doubting Satsu... a Vaguely Worried Satsu. Because I know that strange little mind of yours." She giggled, leaning her head slightly on her girlfriend's shoulder as they slowly walked.
"Oh? So what have you figured out, then, to make you a Vaguely Worried Satsu?" Dot smirked. "Do you really think I'm that easy to read?"
"No... you're NOT. And that's one of the many things that makes me fear you, my increasingly hot girlfriend." With a little smirk, she looked around and blinked. "Ok, in all seriousness... I give up... what's going on?"
Dot smiled. "It's just a little further, come on. And," she stopped and glanced around, "now is the perfect time for this." She reached into her pack and pulled out a silk scarf, in a pretty back and purple pattern. "Put this on, we're almost there." She handed it to Satsu, grinning.
"....are we getting into a fashionable gang war or something?" Satsu asked, blinking in a bit of confusion.
"Over your eyes, silly!" Dot grinned wider. "It's so you'll be surprised right up til the end!"
"Ohhh, got it." Satsu replied with a bit of sarcasm, reaching up to tie the cloth gently around her own eyes. "You know, in most of my fantasies, blindfolds are only used when you're tying me up..."
Dot checked the blindfold just to make sure there was no cheating. "And with your eyes covered, you have no idea what else I might do!" She grinned, then opened her bag again and made some very obvious rummaging noises before closing it again, watching Satsu closely all the while. "Okay. Hands, please!"
Holding her hands out, Satsu couldn't help but grin again, as Dot's enthusiasm was positively infectious. "Alright, alright..."
Dot smiled, even though she knew Satsu couldn't see her. "Thank you!" She took the outstretched hands in her own, then started walking again, slowly and carefully. "You're probably gonna be mad, because we really are almost there." Sure enough, it was only a short time before Dot stopped and let go of Satsu's hands. "Okay! Ready?"
"Ok. While I doubt this is going to be Alicia Silverstone saying she's coming home with us for a wild evening... I'm sure I'll be very pleased. Can I take this thing off now?" This was true trust, as Satsu would be antsy as hell being blindfolded around most people.
"Yes, but keep your eyes closed for one more second afterwards, there's one last thing I have to do." Dot fairly bounced in her excitement.
Slipping the cloth from her eyes, Satsu indeed kept her eyes closed tightly, eagerly waiting to see what Dot had in mind for her.
Dot pushed open the creaky garden gate with one hand, and took the scarf from Satsu with the other, tucking it into her pocket. "Okay, look now!"
Satsu finally opened her eyes....
Dot smiled widely enough to split her face in two. "Tim kinda ..gave me a garden to play with. I haven't had a lot of time since I've been working at the Sunset, but I get out here when I can!"
"Oh my god... Dot! You're finally able to really show your talent!" Satsu looked around, marveling at how gorgeous it all really looked. "It's nearly as beautiful as you."
Dot ducked her head. "It's just a little one. The one at home is gonna be bigger than that."
"Well... that kind of ties in to something I was planning to ask you soon, but... what the hell... I can ask now..." Satsu's smile turned slightly tentative, as though she feared Dot's answer. "When school lets out, would you want to take a trip home with me? My parents really would like to meet you, and my mother is SO amped to show you her garden."
Dot blinked. "Really? I know we talked about it, but ...I thought that was just, you know, the sort of thing you say to your new girlfriend to impress her! I was impressed, in case you were wondering. Yes, I'd love to go!" Dot flung her arms around Satsu and hugged, as gently as she could.
"Great! We just have to get you a passport before break." That went better than expected. Granted, they'd definitely progressed to being a real couple, but that was still a BIG step, going across the world to meet the 'rents. "Maybe I'm just getting emotional, but I'm suddenly not afraid to say this to you... I love you, Dot."
"I love you too, Satsu." Dot smiled. "I know I told you I was going to make you work for it, and I know I'm probably less affectionate than you'd like, but I've said it before: you're stuck with me, now, so you'd better get used to it." Dot smiled.
"You should come have dinner, soon. Not tonight, it's too short notice, but this week. I'll tell Mom and Dad that you're out of the hospital and they'll probably demand that you come visit." Dot smiled again.
Holy crap... she actually said it back. Satsu knew... for someone like Dot, admitting love was a bigger step than sex was for most people. She felt herself tearing up a little, and leaned in again. "Then... forget how we usually are... and mark this moment in style. Kiss me, right here... like you kiss me when we're in private."
"Yes ma'am! Though you know," she added with a nod towards the construction equipment parked just on the other side of the fence, "some burly construction worker could forget his lunchbox and come back at just the wrong time." She grinned, then leaned in to kiss Satsu ever so lightly. "I'll meet you halfway, but it's not like anyone would mistake us for sisters anyhow," she said, smiling sweetly.
"Mm. Very, very true." With a happy little smile, and butterflies in her tummy, she kissed Dot lovingly, reaching down to squeeze her hand lovingly.
Dot smiled and squeezed back. "It's not like I haven't been thinking a lot about all of this while you've been in there, you know. I get a lot of my thinking done out here, or in the park."
"Mind if I ask you what you've been thinkin' in that pretty head of yours?" Satsu asked with a hint of a giggle.
Dot smiled. "Well. I know that I haven't been able to see you as much lately. I was a little worried that you'd think I wasn't interested, but I've just been busy. Working at the Sunset is much safer than working at Sid's was. Plus, I've been trying to get this ready to show it off."
"I never for a minute thought that, babe." Satsu laughed inwardly, realizing that only months earlier, she'd have thought EXACTLY that. "I'm just glad that we're able to spend real time together again."
Dot laughed. "Don't decide to give up the monster-slaying life for a chance to play poker professionally, okay? I'm glad I got to show this to you. I was worried nothing was going to grow." She ruffled Satsu's hair.
"You are such a smart-ass..." The Japanese girl smirked, giving Dot a playful shove at the shoulder. "Good thing you're so damn sexy."
Dot grinned. "I'm multi-talented! I can herd goths and tame warlike savages from across the seas." She leaned out of the way as Satsu leaned in to shove. "I guess lessons are paying off!"
"Ohhhh ho ho... I see... ya take a few self-defense classes and think you're all hot stuff!" Satsu giggled and reached over, taking Dot's hand sweetly into her own. "Well... I'm just glad you're mine."
Dot smiled and squeezed back. "I'm glad to be had, even though that sounds pretty dirty." She cleared her throat to buy herself some time, and changed the subject. "I know I'll never be as good at fighting as you, but I want to do something, instead of just reacting. It sounds terrible, but you getting hurt really helped me figure out that I needed to do something about it."
"Just be yourself." Satsu hated the idea of Dot even considering trying to fight the same things that had hurt her, and she smooched the other girl on the cheek. "Just be my inspiration. I mean, going into battle knowing I have a hot girlfriend hopefully waiting to get naked with me will make me a lot more efficient in battle."
Dot snickered. "Is that all you think about? What if you're inspired to win because otherwise you'll miss dinner when you get home, because someone's been slaving away over food she made with stuff she grew herself?"
"Don't get me wrong, that stuff is nice." Satsu said, her face trying it's best to look serious. "But naked trumps it every time, especially when youre armed with a body like yours. Sorry."
Dot laughed and hugged Satsu. "Okay, okay. You win. I'll just have to settle for being sex on legs AND a loving earth mother. Nature compromises, I can too!" She kissed each eyelid, very lightly.
"You know... every time you do something sweet like that, you just make me melt a little inside." Satsu was now dropping all pretense of the playful banter they'd had going on. "Do you have any idea how in love with you I am?"
Dot smiled. "I have some idea", she said. "And you should know that I love you, too. You've already inspired me a lot, you know. I wanted to show you, rather than just tell you, you see?" She was very serious, too.
"Just so you know..." Satsu laughed a little, for once giving a bit of a blush. "My mother is.... very intense when it comes to me having someone. Don't get freaked out if she keeps asking questions about how serious we are."
"Well, I did take up a self-defense class for you, if that tips her off any." Dot smiled.
"Well, usually my father keeps her in check with it... but it still gets a tiny bit embarrassing at times. But I know she means well... she just wants me to be happy." Satsu shrugged, still partly dreading her mother's, erm, 'enthusiasm'.
"Oh, good cop bad cop, Japanese style?" Dot grinned. "I can take 'em!" Dot hugged the other girl again. "Honestly, I'm so excited. I can't wait! I want to meet them! I want to see all the places you like to go."
"That will be LOTS of fun." Satsu promised, grinning ear to ear. "There's a great club there, that's a lot more lenient about age and restrictions than the ones here. They play a mix of Japanese and American music, and the setup is amazing."
Dot laughed. "So I should take my work uniform along with me and wear it out and fit right in?" She giggled. "They're gonna call me Dotzirra, aren't they? It's not my fault I'm tall!" She grinned.
"Nah. But I'll be beating the girls off you with a stick, no doubt. It's a very gay-friendly club, and let's just say that cute American girls are looked at the way a hundred dollar bill is if someone drops it in the middle of the street."
Dot laughed. "How noble of you, holding off all those girls all on your own.."
"Pffft. Please." Satsu waved a hand. "They touch MY girl? I'll show you some moves they don't teach us in class. Like the classic martial art style of 'bitch-hair-pulling'."
"Oh, I can just hear all the screaming now." Dot grinned and mock-winced.
"Well, obviously it's a dirty job, but someone's got to do it, yes?" Satsu let a little giggle escape her lips. "I can't wait to tell Mother that you said yes... she'll probably spend every waking moment until we get there preparing."
"When do you think we'd go, anyway? I'll have to take time off from work, but I'm sure Mike will be okay with it. And then there's my parents, of course." Dot frowned, thinking. "This just means you'll have to come over for dinner a lot sooner than we thought. The sooner you've met everyone, the sooner they'll have to agree to let me go!"
"I'd love it. Your family sounds wonderful." Satsu smiled brightly and squeezed Dot's hand again. "And I was thinking we'd go at the end of the school year."
"Oh, that's plenty of time to get everything ready. I don't even know what I'd need to do! First things first, when are you coming for dinner?" Dot smiled and squeezed back. "And, more importantly, what will and won't you eat? Do you want it to be themed? I've never made any Japanese food before. I bet you haven't had anything authentic since you got here. Do you miss it? Lucky for me I don't have to go far at all for a hamburger." Dot very consciously told herself to shut up, and did. "Sorry I'm babbling," she said sheepishly.
"Sweetie... trust me, while yes, I miss the food from home, I'll have plenty when I get back. Just make whatever you think I'll like." Dot was just melting her heart... she was far too cute. "As for dinner... you make the date, and I'll be there. You know... as long as I don't get stabbed again."
Dot hugged Satsu. "Hey. Nobody's blaming you for that. She was supposed to be another supergirl, is that right?" Dot wasn't quite sure about that part, but she'd heard the stabbing discussed a few times. "I'd be a little surprised and startled if that happened to me." She had been about to say 'if a friend attacked me", but then she'd remembered Kyle's warning about saying things like that.
"I think so... I mean, supposedly, she'd died before I even came to this country." She gave a little huff of relief. "At least she's dust now. Mr. Windham-Pryce's wife supposedly ripped her apart. Sounds like my kinda woman, ya know?"
"Well, at least she won't bother anyone anymore." Dot wondered just what it would take to actually tear someone apart, but decided that she didn't really want to know. She decided to change the subject again. "Sorry about all the secrecy buldup about getting you out here. I just really wanted it to be a surprise. You looked a little nervous about the blindfold."
"Yeah, but in a good way." Satsu tried to reassure her, as she never had anything but the nicest expectations. "You're very... unpredictable. In a wonderful, joyous way. I never know what to expect, so it makes me nervous, but in a nice, excited way."
Dot smiled. "You know, I almost don't recognize who it is you're talking about, sometimes. I don't really think I'm unpredictable, but the self is the easiest person to fool, I guess." She shrugged, still smiling. "It's nice to hear that, though. You're kinda ..intimidating. Not to me, not anymore, but at first..." She trailed off.
"Really? I was intimidating?" Satsu sounded a littlw wounded, but more because she knew the girl was right. "....I really did come on strong, didn't I."
Dot nodded. "You really did. Even when it wasn't me you were focusing on, it was still ..I don't know anybody as forceful as you. Remind me never to make you angry." She grinned, suddenly.
"Funny part is... it was never a case of me trying to force you into anything." Satsu gave a resigned sigh as she admitted what Dot probably had suspected for months. "I guess... I'm just the sort of person who sees something she wants, and doesn't let up until it's mine. I kinda had to be that way where I grew up, because to a lot of men in Japan, even today, women just aren't held in the same regard as men."
Dot nodded. "Hm, be cute, quiet and serve us in all things, sweetie?" She laughed. "Except, in Japanese. I bet that worked really well on you." She laughed again. "Don't worry. I wasn't about to let you force me into anything. I might not look like it, but I do dig in my dainty little heels sometimes."
"Good. Because I'm the first to admit... if you don't stand up to me, I'll walk all over you, however unintentional it might be." She certainly never wanted to hurt the girl. "Annnnd, you know, when we're there... we can share my old room..."
"Trust me... if I have my way? It's not the blankets I'll be wanting to be under." She gave Dot a wicked little wink, and practically purred into her ear. "After all... we'll have been together quite a while by then..."
Dot smiled, and nodded. "That's true! And we'll have had plenty of time by then to go on normal dates, or just sit and watch TV, or whatever. It's really not fair that we had to go on so many hospital dates. If I were so inclined, I could be very angry at a pile of dust right now."
"But if you were... well... the sight of you looking all mad running around with a DustBuster is pretty cute, really." Satsu laughed and covered her mouth.
Dot laughed. "Well, maybe not a Dustbuster, but it makes more sense than a garden hose or a squirt bottle."
"Funny story... first vamp I ever fought, I chased away with one of my mom's squirt bottles that used to water the plants. Filled it with holy water." She said with a sage nod.
Dot grinned. "You made that up just now! See, I told you never to play poker professionally!"
"Well, evidentily you're not all that good... BECAUSE IT HAPPENED! MWAH HAH!" She laughed triumphantly.
"So you say. I think that you're just being smug because you know I'll never know for sure what really happened. Lucky for you I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt." She grinned and leaned against the other girl.
"Ask my mom. She had the assist on that one. Kind of a family slaying." Satsu said with a laugh.
Dot grinned. "The family that slays together, huh?"
"Bingo." Satsu said with a grin. "You haven't lived until you've seen an older Japanese woman running at me holding out a water bottle like it's on fire."
Dot laughed. "So, in other words, meeting you was the one thing in my life that really makes it .. " She trailed off, then cleared her throat. "No, I can't really joke about that, especially since it's true."
"If it's true... finish the thought." Satsu added, a sweet smile pulling at her lips.
Dot blushed, but kept going. "I was saying that meeting you has been the one thing that really inspired me to give more back."
"Dot?" Satsu smiled brighter, placing her palms on either side of Dot's face. "That was the single most romantic thing anyone's ever said to me..."
Dot blushed. "Sorry I keep making this all sappy. I like the way we get along."
"Dot? Sweetie? We're a COUPLE. We're supposed to be sappy at times. Especially when we're alone." She bopped the girl cutely on the tip of the nose.
Dot smiled. "I know, I know. But that doesn't mean we have to be so serious all the time. I just thought we'd had enough of that all while you were in hospital."
"Sweet does not equal serious, ya big goofball." Satsu gave a devillish grin and swatted Dot on the ass.
Dot jumped. "Hey. I can be sweet too. You know, like growing you a whole garden?" She laughed and swatted back.
"Your sweetness was never in question, doll." Satsu smiled wistfully, thinking of Dot worrying about her injury, and staying all odd hours at the hospital with her. "Never ever."
Dot frowned. "Hey, it's getting dark. We should probably go, hm? You can find this place again, right?"
"Find it? Baby... I'll never, ever forget it." Satsu still was beaming, as though on cloud 9
"Good!" Dot gathered her pack from the ground, then held out her arm. "C'mon, you can walk me to work."