Chapter Text
"Boyfriennnddd!! Boyfriend, boyfriend, boyfriend!" Katie calls joyfully, a huge grin on her face as she runs up to Tomate, shooting out from the doors of the KFC.
Just as happy to see her, Tomate adjusts his camera so that he can catch her when she jumps on him for a hug. She wraps her arms around his neck, nuzzling into the white fur on the side of his head. He smiles instantly, his free arm snaking around her waist to return the embrace.
"Boyfriend, guess what?" She asks, pulling away. Her arms remain loosely wrapped around him. "I have the best date ever planned and I need you to come with me right now!"
Tomate hesitated and glanced around. He was sure he was being watched and he knew the risks of speaking with her, let alone taking his focus off of filming to be with her. But... He couldn't help it. He didn't care what happened to him as long as she was happy, as long as he could spend time with her.
He looks down at her with a warm smile, his eyes full of affection as he nods. Katie squeals, unwrapping her arms from his neck and taking his hand with both of hers instead. She drags him through the commercial district and to the warpstone, hurriedly whispering for him to cover his eyes, and bringing him with her to a small, enclosed area. Katie excitedly steps back from him and he uses his now free hand to grip the camera better.
"Okay, open!" As soon as his eyes are open she raises her arms in a grandiose fashion. "Taadaa!!"
Tomate gazes around the outdoor space, pointing the camera in the same direction as his line of sight as he goes. They were surrounded by thick bamboo stalks, vines, and jungle trees, the sky blue and free of clouds above them. In the center of the cleared space was a picnic table, arranged on it a green and white gingham tablecloth and a basket filled with a variety of food and a bottle of wine. His smile softens when his eyes land on Katie again, who now looked a bit bashful.
"I hope you like it! I'm not the best at things like this but, you know..." She looks away with a shy smile. "You're worth it! So.."
He simply stares at her lovingly for a moment, warm affection flooding his heart as he stares at the woman of his dreams. He often wished he was never a part of the Federation, that the two of them could leave this island and live happily ever after - just the two of them. Maybe some day, but for now this would do.
Tomate takes a few steps forward, tilting his camera just enough so he can lean in and kiss Katie on the cheek. She giggles, swatting at his arm and then grabbing it to guide him to the picnic table.
Katie grins as she sets it all up, singing a nameless song under her breath as she puts out two wine glasses and two plates, one for each of them.
"Okay, boyfriend! I had an amazing idea for our amazing date." She begins, reaching into the bottom of the basket and pulling out two pieces of paper and two small boxes. "We are going to draw each other! It's a... uh... laurka! Does that sound good?"
The cameraman eagerly nods, visibly hesitating before he sets the camera down on the table. He stares at it with a blank expression for only a few seconds before he turns it away from them. Surely they wouldn't notice for just a little while, right? Was it so wrong for him to want one sweet, private moment with the love of his life?
Katie hands him his paper and a box of crayons, not really noticing his inner turmoil or the possible repercussions of his actions. Her smile is contagious, Tomate matching it with just as much excitement. She settles down on her side of the table, opening her own box of crayons.
"Okay, no peeking! I'll know!" She warns, eyeing him teasingly. He rolls his eyes affectionately and begins to draw, his tongue sticking out without him really noticing as he focused.
Just a few minutes in, Tomate hears a camera flash. He instantly looks up in a panic only to be met with his girlfriend holding a black camera pointed directly at him. She grins sheepishly, taking the photo when it comes out of the camera and shaking it. When it somewhat clears, she looks down at it with a giggle.
"Now that's a keeper!" Katie states, turning it around for him to see - him in deep concentration with furrowed eyebrows, his tongue poking out slightly from his lips. He flushes and covers his face with his hands. She only laughs and tucks the photo into her pocket, going back to drawing immediately. He does the same, albeit very embarassed.
They draw in silence for at least five more minutes (besides Katie's continued humming and scatting under her breath) before they both finish. When Tomate looks up to see his girlfriend he smiles, her little grin as she held up the paper was adorable.
"What do you think?! I drew us!"
It might have been the cutest thing he had ever seen: a childishly drawn set of stick figures holding hands with red hearts surrounding them. Their only defining features were his fluffy ears and her hair in its signature bun - and it was perfect.
Tomate grins, throwing his arms up in the air in excitement. The girl sitting across from him giggles, handing the piece of paper over to him. He holds it carefully in both hands, his smile softening as he stares down at it. He'd treasure it forever. He looks up at Katie and clutches the drawing over his heart. She flushes and looks away.
He sets her art down on the table, secured under his wine glass so it couldn't fly away in the wind, and then nervously picks up his own art. He'd tried his best, an attempt to capture how he saw her every day - beautiful. With a deep breath, he turns the paper around to show her.
It was a simple drawing of Katie, definitely not the Mona Lisa by any means but just a little more detailed than her (wonderful) stick figures. He'd tried to capture the shine of her hair, the sparkle in her eyes when they saw each other... Next to her he put a pink heart, the letters 'K+T' written inside of it.
Katie squeals when she sees it, bending over the table to grab it from his hands. She stares down at it with a wide smile and pink dusted cheeks. "Oh my god, boyfriend, I love it!" She giggles. "It looks exactly like me!"
Tomate also blushes, pleased that she likes it so much. When she stops gushing over it and sets it down, he reaches across the table to take both of her hands in his. He looks at her with his gaze full of love and affection, hoping she can feel his adoration despite his lack of words. He smooths one of his thumbs over the top of her hand.
Katie smiles back, pulling him closer with her hands until they were both standing up over the table, leaning into each other's space. She leans in and kisses him, over-exaggerated and showy but cute nonetheless. The two then sit back down and begin to eat and drink, Tomate listening to his girlfriend talk enough for the both of them.
He wished this could be his every day so, so badly.