Stand Clear of the Atomizer (ReedSusie)

[Susan Storm]

Susan had the presence of mind to find it amusingly appropriate that Reed had waited until after she was sitting down before announcing he might actually willingly take time off. Even if his 'time off' involved notes on the weather, Susie considered that a fairly small price to pay. After all, how much of the weather could he study without instruments?

Or... should she not ask...

Whatever the case may be, she seized the opening for what it was worth.

"A day off sounds brilliant."

Slipping her fingers through his again, Susie squeezed his hand lightly in approval.

"How exactly are you planning on studying the weather?"

[Reed Richards]

"I'm glad you asked Susan."

Reed was beaming now, he loved to explain himself, "Just the other day, I was trying to find a nice sunny spot in the lab so that I could install solar panels. I'm working on a bio-computer, you see. However, there were clouds in my way. So, during my break, I made a cloud probe that will be able to accurately predict and transmit the weather patterns for quite some time. I'll be able to move my panels to a sunny window on a cart loaded with that data."

He paused a moment as Sue took his hand again, "I just haven't had a chance to launch my probe yet."

"Also, it's nice to know when a good day to plan a trip to the ocean is."

[Susan Storm]

She hoped that didn't mean he wanted to launch his probe during lunch. Likely not, but possibly soon after. It was all a matter of time with a man whose work ethic was as strong as Reed Richards'.

That didn't stop her from arching an eyebrow in disbelief or teasing him slightly.

"When was the last time you took a trip to the ocean recreationally?"

[Reed Richards]

Reed blinked when she asked about the last time he'd gone to the ocean for fun. He thought his studies were quite fun! However, he understood what Susan meant. He didn't really know the last time he'd just gone to the beach and relaxed.

"Hm. I suppose some time before I started living at the Baxter Building. Ben probably insisted that we go, you know how he is when he wants to do something." Ben would put his big (not as big as they were now, mind you) hand on your shoulder and in his thick Yancy Street accent, he'd say, "Hey, we're doing this." And that would be the end of the discussion.

Reed chuckled and said, "It would be a wonderful trip. I could rig up a submarine. Think about all the fascinating things we'd be able to see on the ocean floor! Once it gets hot enough, we should visit the shore Susan."

[Susan Storm]

All that time... and it was his idea of studying the weather that put Reed in the mind of visiting. Well, she wouldn't complain. And he WAS right that studying the ocean floor sounded interesting.

"Makes me want to learn to scuba dive," Susan murmured, almost to herself.

Quirking a smile Reed's way as they pulled onto Lexington, she indicated silently for him to decide whether or not to direct the driver to the restaurant or to decide for the two to get out here and walk the rest of the way.

"We should go. Before you get too wrapped up in another project and you don't want to leave your work for weeks at a time."

[Reed Richards]

"Scuba diving! Excellent idea Susan, think of all the wonderful things we'd be able to see first hand outside of a submarine!" Reed wasn't thinking of going out in a purely recreational sense, but that was because he never did, "I could even test those oxygen masks I've told you about."

Or at least he thought he had told Susan. The masks themselves were just clear ones you might see in a Doctor's or Dentist's office, but they were able to filter water and turn them into breathable air. It would be incredible, like actually being a fish.

When Susan decided they should go, Reed smiled warmly and nodded, "Absolutely, I've got so many ideas of things we can study at the ocean. We should visit for at least three or four days. Johnny and Ben will be able to keep the Baxter Building safe, besides, now that the public has learned that Captain Rogers is alive and well, crime's been down in New York City, they certainly wouldn't miss the two of us for a day or two."

Of course, Harlem was still in disarray from one of those rampages between Doctor Banner and the Hulkbusters, but neither Reed, nor Sue were legally allowed to discuss that around other people.

[Susan Storm]

"As long as you agree to have some normal air tanks on hand," Sue responded slightly doubtfully. It wasn't that Reed was in the habit of being anything less than precise when it came to science. Typically, he was annoyingly 'always' right.

It was the .002 margin of error that kept her common sense reigning clearly.

Thoroughly distracted now, Susan just smiled. Three to four days of beach and ocean. It sounded like paradise right this moment.

"Then... we can leave soon? It's still spring, but that just means there will be less tourists anyway."

Carpe vacation.

[Reed Richards]

Reed smiled sheepishly and rubbed the back of his head, "Well, you know, I only made that mistake once or twice. It couldn't possibly happen a third time!" Or at least, Reed was pretty sure he couldn't possibly pack the wrong air tanks again.

He didn't often make mistakes like the night of the helium tank, as Johnny had dubbed it.

As they walked through the door to their restaurant of choosing, Reed nodded, "I'll put something in the books for two weeks. It'll be a great chance for us to get away, don't you think?"

Reed was sure his timing would be wonderful, there was no chance they'd miss anything astronomical while they were away from New York.

It'd be a great vacation.

[Susan Storm]

Two weeks. She could wait two weeks. It might even happen.

"I do," Susan immediately answered his question. "And trust me, I'll be holding you to it."

Grinning a little as they walked through the doors, Sue waited for a hostess to greet them. Something that fortunately did not take too long, so they were soon directed towards a table.

"I quite like this side of you, Reed," she murmured softly.

[Reed Richards]

Reed grinned, he could see a small sparkle in Susan's eye, he absolutely loved when she had that look.

"Feel free," Reed answered, "We'll definitely be going. I'll make sure all three of my schedules are cleared." When you had limbs that stretched as far as Reed's did, and a brain to match, one was able to multitask to the Nth degree.

They were brought to the table and Reed was looking around excitedly, "What a fantastic place. If the food is as good as the decor, we might be coming her more often Susan." His mind moved at 150 miles an hour, he was already focusing on their table, noting how high their chairs were for no particular reason.

He heard Susan murmur, but couldn't understand what she said, "Hm? I'm sorry Susan, I missed that. Oh look at that noodle dish. Incredible."

[Susan Storm]

Deciding that repeating the compliment at a more audible level was likely to inflate Reed's head, Susan just shook her head with a smile. He was already diverting himself enough anyway. Reed seemed to take note of just about everything around him (barring emotions which he did not seem as good at understanding, although he was definitely improving).

"Let's find out, shall we?"

A moment or two more and they'd been given glasses of water along with their menus. Flipping through her own idly - she had one preferred dish at Japanese restaurants so it wasn't really necessary - Susan kept half an eye on Reed. He was acting like a kid in a candy store right now, which was rather adorable.

[Reed Richards]

Reed looked back too Susan with a big grin, "Yes, I think that's a marvelous idea Susan. We could split two dishes, a light lunch and then go off and enjoy our afternoon." Mr. Fantastic's eyes darted around the room a bit more before settling on Sue finally, "What do you think dear?"

His eyes were always looking around, but when Sue was smiling, he could focus for a few minutes at least.

"What else do you think we should have?" Reed asked curiously, he'd picked the noodle dish, so he was wondering what Susan liked when they went out for something out of their normal choices for meals.

[Susan Storm]

"Hibachi chicken for me, please," Susan ordered, relaxing next to Reed.

This was beyond nice. Even if it was just for a little while, she could pretend they were a normal couple. That Reed wasn't a work obsessed genius and that neither of them were superheroes whose faces were so obnoxiously easily recognizable.

Relax and enjoy.

"Oh! And some miso soup as well."

[Reed Richards]

Reed picked the noodle dish they'd seen early, he'd had to ask what it was because he had neglected to read the menu, instead choosing to observe their surroundings. That was how he preferred to learn. While he could read three books on various theories in an afternoon, there was nothing quite like experiencing something first hand.

"Oh, I'd like soup as well, that's a great idea Susan."

Soup was good for the mind, warm, soothing.

He chuckled a bit, eyes shifting to Sue. There was a reason behind his attentive change in behavior. Reed was thinking about something he wanted to ask her, but, he needed a good time. Had to make it right, the trip to the ocean maybe?

[Susan Storm]

I've been know to have them."

Sue might be playing it off, but she was still rather touched by this whole date. That, and immensely confused, but she was focusing on the positives.

"Something on your mind, dear?"