As they approached the kitchen, Oliver slowed down until Vinny could feel him pulling softly on his hand. He turned to see if he was okay.
"I'm just um, preparing myself." He took a deep breath and glanced at the floor. Vinny could feel his grip getting tighter.
"We don't have to eat here, we can have our date somewhere else?"
"No, no it's okay. I'm just not used to the attention, that's all," Oliver smiled.
The vampire understood. He has had the attention all his life, so it's nothing new for him to be stared at.
"If it gets too much for you, we can go at any time." His voice was soft as he spoke. It was unusual for him to be this way but he couldn't bring himself to talk to Oliver with anything other than kindness.
His soulmate nodded.
"Okay, I'm sure I'll be fine." He stood closer to the vampire for reassurance.
"Are you ready?"
"Yeah."
Vinny gently squeezed his hand and headed into the kitchen.
The staff were rushing around as usual but things seemed to slow down when they saw the Master and Oliver coming into the kitchen. Smiles were passed their way. Oliver knew people were staring at their intertwined hands, it must be unusual for them to see someone so familiar as Vinny's soulmate.
They made their way through the kitchen and towards the doors to the restaurant. When they stepped through, nobody noticed, at first, everyone was too busy eating and chatting among themselves.
"Shall we sit over there?" Vinny asked while pointing to a booth in the corner of the room.
"Sure," Oliver smiled before they headed in that direction.
This, of course, turned some heads as they made their way through busy tables. Vinny knew nobody would speak to them if he was around, most people are put off by his cold glares.
The booth was a semi-circle and when Oliver sat in the middle, Vinny didn't hesitate to sit right next to him. When they looked up, most of the restaurant were glancing at them, secretly taking pictures and talking about them.
"This is so weird," Oliver mumbled and chewed the inside of his lip.
"They're staring at you," Vinny watched his soulmate glance at him like he couldn't have said anything more obvious. "Because you're cute when you look flustered."
Oliver's ear drums burst at this point. His heart melted and he felt the blush rise to his cheek. Did he just get called cute by the master of the Vanderwood family? He was so surprised.
It took him a moment until he smiled.
"Um... um t-thanks," He stuttered and covered his cheeks with his hands. "I'm blushing so hard."
Vinny actually showed a smile in public. How could he not smile at something so pure and innocent?
"I know," He whispered, just as a waitress came up to the table.
The vampire's heart was thumping hard in his chest. It took all of his courage to say that. He thought Oliver needed to hear it when he was clearly nervous. And also, it was true. Vinny has begun to admit that he does find Oliver attractive. And the fact that he doesn't have a filter and says what he is thinking helps towards his confidence.
If he finds his soulmate cute, he'll tell him.
"Master, Oliver," She said politely but smiled wider at Oliver. "Can I get you something to drink?"
As Vinny placed an order for the drinks, Oliver watched him. For two days he has been this close to him. For two days he has developed incredibly strong feelings for someone he thought would never even speak to him. He never thought, even in his wildest dreams that he'd be sitting on a date with Vinny Vanderwood.
When the waitress went to collect their drinks, Vinny smoothly put his arm behind his soulmate.
"Have you ever been on any dates before?" He asked.
"Yes actually, well... sort of," Oliver connected his fingers together so he didn't fidget.
"And how did it go?"
"Terrible. My date didn't actually show up," He chuckled, but at the time, it was no laughing matter.
Vinny raised one eyebrow.
"Really?"
Oliver nodded before shrugging. Yes, it was embarrassing to admit it, but he's definitely over it. These things happen to people all the time.
"I don't know how anyone could cancel a date with you," Vinny said, but he was serious. Oliver is such a kind person. How could they not even give him a chance?
"I know," Oliver grinned. He was trying to hide the fact that he was blushing, once again.
Vinny shook his head in amusement.
"Very modest."
But Oliver didn't know how to deal with compliments, it's not like he get's them all the time.
"What about you then?" He asked. "Have you ever been on any dates?"
Vinny shook his head to say no.
"This will be my first," He then turned to see the waitress, placing the drinks on the table.
"Thank you," Oliver smiled but on the inside, his mind was exploding. Was he really Vinny's first date?
"Are you ready to order some food?" She asked politely.
"Uh, not yet," He frowned, realising that they haven't even looked at the menu.
"Okay, that's not a problem, I'll come back soon," She smiled before heading off in another direction.
Oliver watched as eyes kept glancing between him and the vampire until he spotted two familiar people. It was the couple who had shouted at him yesterday. He was surprised to see them back here, he was even more surprised to see that they were actually getting served again. But he didn't let this affect him. He wanted this date to be special.
"What would you like to eat?" Vinny asked and opened the menu. He was fully aware that he and Oliver were the centre of attention but he didn't care.
Oliver decided he was going to put all of his focus into his soulmate as he shuffled a little closer and helped choose some food.
* * * * *
"So the mansion was built in the sixteenth century?" Oliver questioned while Vinny explained the history of his home.
"Yes, but of course, it has been extended and repaired since then. The heart of the mansion is the oldest." He liked how Oliver was always so interested in everything he said.
"Wow." He thought about the amount of memory's the Vanderwood family has shared together in their home.
"Tomorrow, we could go into the attic, it's full of random things and I've noticed how you like to stop and look at everything we have in our hallways," Vinny suggested.
"Oh, that would be great, I bet your attic is huge!"
Vinny nodded.
"Yes, and I'm sure you'll find a way of getting lost."
"My sense of direction is terrible," Oliver chuckled.
"I've noticed." Vinny's eyes showed amusement.
They have been in the restaurant for almost an hour and a half. They finished their food but are happily sitting and talking. Of course, the attention remained on them as new customers came in, but Oliver was finding it easier to ignore them.
"So how long have you worked here?" Vinny asked and watched his hand move closer to his.
"Almost a year," He said while they both started to feel a bit of affection creeping into their chests.
"All that time and I never saw you?" Vinny's skin shivered when Oliver traced his fingers lightly over his knuckles.
"Well, we very rarely saw you," Oliver watched him turn his hand over so he could trace his fingers over his palm.
"I don't like people."
Oliver chuckled.
"Trust me, I was aware of that," He smiled and slowly fitted his fingers in-between Vinny's.
Vinny looked into his big eyes before locking their hands together.
"But I like you," He added softly.
Oliver looked up to see that the same love he saw in Vinny's eyes before they kissed was shining brightly. He never thought he would say such sweet things to him, but it turns out, he was the more affectionate one in the relationship. They both wanted to be close and make that physical contact, but the vampire always seemed to show it more openly. Oliver was a little shy and was a bit afraid of embarrassing himself. His soulmate wasn't and he liked that about him.
He liked his dominance.
Oliver edged closer until his shoulder was leaning against's Vinny's.
The vampire liked the rush of making his soulmate feel that love through words. He's also finding it easier to flirt and to tell Oliver cute things. He never imagined he would ever say these things to anyone, but his soulmate is different, very different.
Oliver liked it too.
They watched each other happily until Vinny decided that he wanted to be with his soulmate alone for a while. The constant talk in the restaurant was starting to annoy him.
"Do you want to go?" Oliver saw the glare coming back to his eyes.
"Yes, and I know where I'm taking you." Vinny then pulled him to his feet.
"Where?"
They started making their way back through the busy tables.
"You'll see."