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Oluwande isn’t nervous.
Well, he’s sweating, sure, okay. But he’d still love to see a pirate that didn’t sweat. Ever.
He’s also having trouble keeping his leg still, he’s counting the seconds as he waits, and double-triple checks his mental list to make sure he hasn’t forgotten anything-
Yes, okay, maybe he is nervous.
And how wouldn't he be? It isn't always that he manages to sneak fancy food from Roach's kitchen without anyone noticing, or the-the linen sheets from Stede’s quarters, some scented lavender candles and dried out flowers all to set the mood-
Oh my god he’s going to embarrass himself in front of Jim, isn’t he?
Oluwande shouldn’t have listened to Frenchie’s idea of a perfect date. And possibly also not listen to Wee John’s additions.
They are romantic at heart, Jim… not so much.
He doesn’t have time to clean all this up before Jim’s opening the door to their room.
“Sup, what did you want to show me…” Jim stops on their track, taking in the box in the middle of the room covered with a linen sheet. Two plates full of food sit on top of it, one near where Oluwande’s sitting and the other on the opposite spot, closer to the door. There are two candles between the plates, both already lit, and flower petals decorating the rest.
“Oh, fuck, this is stupid.” Oluwande’s sure he’s going to be sick.
“Estúpido, ¿por qué?” Jim’s voice is almost a whisper, yet they barely take their eyes from the table. “This for us?”
“Uh,” Oluwande looks around. The room is empty aside from them. “Yeah.”
They nod and sit on the ground, and Oluwande can’t help how breathless he gets as he watches the candle light reflecting their eyes. There’s another shine to it, something else that doesn’t necessarily comes from the candle, something only Jim’s, and Oluwande feels some of his anxiety dissipating.
Jim takes his hat off and Oluwande catches a blush on their cheeks. A faint thing, pink. Oluwande can’t really judge, he can feel his own face heating up.
“Shall we eat?”
“Si, uh, sure.” Jim nods but doesn’t look directly at Oluwande as they get right down to it.
Dinner is delicious, Roach really is the best cook out there. But Oluwande is too focused on his food and his own internal life choices crisis to notice Jim hasn’t said much ever since they closed the door behind them.
“You’re quiet. You’re never this quiet.” Oluwande narrows his eyes as he catches on. “Not even when you were mute.”
“Callate, hombre.” Jim rolls their eyes. “I’m normal. Si? I’m eating.” They emphasise it by getting a spoon full of mashed potatoes in their mouth. “And I’m talking with my mouth full now, like it?”
Oluwande scoffs, but lets it go. He can respect the fact that sometimes people need their silence. It’s just…
Well, he just hopes it doesn’t have anything to do with the dinner date he planned for them.
But Jim continues to act strange for the rest of dinner, and Olwande is having a hard time not connecting that to the date.
So when they’re finished, having cleaned their plates, Oluwande opens a wine and takes a swing directly from the bottle, offering it to Jim.
“So, this was weird.” Oluwande starts, trying not to shift around too much.
What they have is new, he knows. They are still in that weird limbo where they don’t know exactly how to act as a couple and Oluwande hates it because he just wants everything to feel natural already. But it takes time and trying new things to get there.
He just wanted this to be a blast.
“Can we forget it happened?” He gives Jim a small chuckle, hoping to ease some of the awkward vibe around them.
“Forget- Oluwande, mírame.” And he does. Jim slowly slides on the floor to sit next Oluwande until their knees are touching. “Did I say I didn’t like it?”
“No but you haven’t said much at all.” He lets out a frustrated groan. Jim grows quiet again, but when Oluwande looks at them, he catches a deep frown in their face. “What is it?”
Jim takes in a deep breath, “It’s…” They drag a hand through their hair. “You’re going to find this so dumb but… I never had someone surprising me like this before. With candles and flowers.” They are blushing again, and Oluwande suddenly understands.
“Oh.”
“Shut up.”
“This your first time having a romantic dinner?”
“I said shut up, tonto.” But they snorts and nudges Oluwande with their shoulders. “This was…great.”
“You don’t have to lie to me, Jim.”
“No, no, it really, really was. És serio.” Jim’s face is completely serious as they stare at Oluwande. There’s a faint smile on their lips, just waiting to fully bloom. “I loved it.”
Oluwande feels a warmth washing over him as he finally relaxes. “You’re not joking.”
“Why would I joke?”
Oluwande shakes his head. “Because you’re you.”
“Wow, big words there. Wise.” They laugh, and Oluwande knocks them behind their head gently before wrapping an arm over their shoulders and bringing them closer.
“Now, seriously, though. I’m glad you liked it.” He kisses Jim’s cheeks.
“Mhmm, todo es perfecto, cariño.” Jim climbs Oluwande’s lap. “Eres perfecto.”
Oluwande blushes and lets himself be kissed senseless by the person he loves, leaning back on their bed. It’s between the first and the fifth kiss that he realises he’s lucky.
So, so very lucky.