Stand Clear of the Atomizer (ReedSusie)

[Reed Richards]

Reed looked like a dear caught in the headlights for a moment or two.

He rubbed the back of his head and mumbled, "Rings."

Then when he realized what he'd said, he tried to roll back, "Um, rings, yes, rings of, Saturn! That's right, the Rings of Saturn."

[Susan Storm]

Tilting her head slightly, Susan only found her confusion increasing.

"Talking about weather and a trip to the beach makes you think about Saturn's rings?" she asked him curiously, interested in to what mental tangents made that connection.

[Reed Richards]

Reed paused, he could either keep lying, or tell her the truth.

"Yes. Yes it does. The beach makes me think about the rings of Saturn. Aren't they absolutely lovely Susan?"

Mr. Fantastic wasn't exactly a master of romance, but even he could tell that had not been the smoothest of transitions."

[Susan Storm]

Uncertainly, Susan started to acknoweldge that they were certainly beautiful when the cook began his demonstration effectively cutting off anything further.

The soup was just provided, but the rest... the rest was an art. Susan could almost understand why Reed so preferred seeing his food made in front of him. You certainly appreciated the dish more that way.

[Reed Richards]

Reed enjoyed watching the food preparation as well. Secretly, he really would like to try it as well.

Cooking was just a science that Reed had yet to master, he would get there one day. When subatomic particles weren't his priority. He looked back to Susan briefly and smiled, he could tell she was enjoying being out with him, and he wanted to give that to her a little more often. It would be a conscious effort.

[Susan Storm]

Sneaking a bite of Reed's dish, Susan let the silence stretch between them. It wasn't awkward or uncomfortable, so why not?

Besides, Reed had been struggling in the conversation department earlier.

So she just let her smile tell him how happy she was before eating her stolen noodles.

[Reed Richards]

With lunch prepared, Reed saw Susan taking some of his food, in turn, he did the same, offering a teasing smile in return.

He was avoiding conversation again, not wanting to drop any more hints about what he had in store for Susan.

Once he could come up with a safer topic, he'd try again."

[Susan Storm]

Chuckling at the clear retaliation, Susan just enjoyed her food in silence for a time. It really was so nice being alone with him like this.

"What are we planning for after dinner?" she asked curiously.

She wasn't in any particular rush to leave, but plans meant this half day off would really still continue, and Susie really hoped that it would.

[Reed Richards]

Reed rubbed the back of his head, he hadn't thought of what was for dinner. They were eating out now, so that meant take out was out of the question from where Reed sat.

"We could," He started, "Maybe you and I could stop by the market and fix up dinner salads tonight?"

He chuckled before saying, "If you'd like, that is. I'm really up for whatever you'd like Darling."

[Susan Storm]

Tilting her head for a moment, Susan half choked on what she was eating from her sudden laughter.

"No, no. I didn't mean food necessarily, dear. I'm perfectly fine with us fixing salads if you'd like, I just didn't know what you wanted to do after we finished eating here. Still up for wandering around the park? Or was there something else you had in mind?"

Just don't say work. Not yet. Not when today is going so strangely perfectly.

[Reed Richards]

"Oh!" Reed realized then what she meant, he'd thought she meant later in the day, not just after lunch.

"Oh, no change in plans Susan, I'd like to spend the day in the park still, if you'd like to go, that is." Reed chuckled a bit, he assumed that Susan still wanted to stay out.

He figured that she would, they worked very hard almost seven days a week, all year long.

[Susan Storm]

"I would love to."

No real surprise there.

"I just wanted to make sure you still did."

Humming in pleasure now, Susan almost rethought sending Stark that thank you note, or at least Ben. Reed had gotten testy about that before though, so she decided against it. Besides, he did have a point.

Leaning in, Susan kissed his cheek softly before whispering, "Thank you, darling."

[Reed Richards]

Reed broke out into a beaming grin after Susan kissed him a third time. It usually took him a little bit to lighten up, after awhile, he'd get used to her affection in public and not a blushing goofball.

"You don't need to thank me, we should be going out and having a bit more fun."

If there was one thing Reed was noticing, it was that he wanted to be out with Susan more.

Probably a side effect of wanting to propose.

[Susan Storm]

"Reed Richards, having fun while not conducting a single experiment?" Susan teased. "Alert the media."

She was only ribbing him in good fun, but nonetheless, Susan turned back to her food. That didn't stop her from smiling even more at his visible happiness.

Today was a wonderful, very good day.

[Reed Richards]

Reed chuckled and scratched the back of his head, "Well, you know, every now and then, even I need a break. Maybe."

He went back to his lunch quietly after, enjoying the afternoon with Susan so far. She made it really easy for him to remember why he'd started going out with her in the first place.

"We could even take the evening off as well." If Tony Stark could stop working at five and start partying by fifve thirty, Reed could take an evening off now and then.