Chapter 156 - A Warrior Princess and A Clueless Porter: Into The Swamps arc (11)

(Trigger warning: This might be a cheesy chapter for some. Proceed with caution.)

Back in Los Angeles, California...

"So... where are we heading to?" Arnold asked Nina.

"I thought you'd be hungry and since you probably don't get tasty food around your base, I thought you'd like to eat something while you can?" Nina replied having an awkward smile on her face.

"That's... very thoughtful of you. Thank you. But couldn't have we brought the others along with us, like Nicole for example?"

'God! Why is he so dense? How could I invite the one who suggested this in the first place? F*ck his brains... wait I take that back.' Nina thought while aimlessly driving her car around the city, 'I did not think this through... ugh! Come on, you can do this... he's clueless, but you can do this!'

Unknown to Nina, her expressions were as clear as the starry sky above them. Even 'the ever clueless porter' could read her face easily, but he didn't want to ruin her night so he kept his mouth shut and gaze through the window, while Nina kept mumbling something to herself.

****

"And we're here!" Nina said with a 'ta-da' expression on her face, "Thank god, they're still open. You go on ahead, I'll be right back!"

"You do know... I don't have any money on me, right?" Arnold gave her a weird look sideways.

"Oh just get in, I'll be right there." Nina said and literally kicked him out of the car and drove off.

It was the third restaurant they had visited that night and the only one that was open still, something that confused Arnold. After all, people were still roaming on the streets and it made no sense at all why the restaurants would remain closed on a Saturday of all days?

Anyways, He had nowhere to go so he, quickly made his way inside, half expecting it to be deserted as well, but his expectations were shattered as the attendant walked him inside, apparently, there was already a table reserved under his name.

'Weird... if Nina has already planned this all, then why didn't she came here at once, rather than wasting our time driving around the city...' Arnold thought, 'Women are weird. I think I understand monsters better women. I better not say it out loud though.'

The restaurant was full. Arnold looked around at the busy tables. An old couple was eating side by side, one glass of wine each studiously bent over their meals. A group of young women in their thirties collapsing with helpless giggles as a stern woman dining alone nearby looked on and frowned. Businessmen in their grey suits lighting up cigars. Movie enthusiasts were busy talking about their favourite movies, actors and whatnot. A family was sitting nearby Arnold's table along with their teenage children. The noise level was high, but it didn't bother him. He was used to hearing monsters yelling all day long, and this was nothing compared to that.

But he didn't felt like he didn't belong there... in his three-piece suit. The attendant soon returned with a menu and a bottle of red wine.

"I didn't order anything yet..." Arnold mumbled as the waiter slowly poured the wine into a glass.

"I know sir. It's on the house. Please enjoy your evening." The Attendant handed him the menu along with the glass of wine before leaving Arnold alone again.

Over half an hour had passed but there was no news of Nina yet.

"Don't tell me, this was one of her pranks..." From his seat, he had a clear view of the entrance, but there was no sign of Nina, only a few couples came and left through there, "If it comes to worse, I'm just yeet out of here using void travel..."

He took another sip of his wine and as he did that, someone walked through the door. Her usually tied hair was straight, her green eyes were as beautiful as ever, and her figure was like a perfect hourglass. When she stopped right in front of him, she was like a magazine cut-out dropped onto the Hollywood sidewalk. Her black dress left her shoulders uncovered, instead, it was supported around her neck and flowed down into a graceful cowl neckline. It was a tight fit which gave the dress a classy and polished look.

"Hey Arnold, sorry for being late." Nina said and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, intently looking at him.

Arnold didn't say a word, the thought to yeeting away fled faster than a gambler from a bookie. He got up, took her extended, manicured hand and pulled the chair back for her to sit down.

"I didn't know you were a gentleman." She teased Arnold and sat on the chair.

"I didn't know you'd look good in anything apart from your gym attire either." Arnold whispered in her ear and sat down across the table.

The waiter came back to take their order and left immediately afterwards. They just kept talking about random things while having dinner. They were so indulged in the conversation, they forgot about anyone else who was there. Arnold knew Nina enjoyed his company and so did he, but he never thought they'd hit it off so well.

Between talking, eating and drinking, none of them realised they were the only ones left in the restaurant. Not until the manager of the place came there to greet them, however, it turned out to be another surprise for Arnold, the manager of the restaurant was none other than, Michelle, which meant the restaurant was owned by the Black Family. (Author's note: If you don't remember, (which I'm sure you don't.) Michelle was the manager of the Malibu Club as well.)

"So that's why there was a table reserved under my name." Arnold said and got up to greet Michelle, "It's good to see you."

"It's good to see you too, Mr Ling. I see you're as gentlemanly as ever." Michelle replied and hugged Nina, "I always have a table reserved for the people I care about, after all, we're all a family."

"Once we relocated here, Nathan decided to relocate the club as well but it ended up being a restaurant instead." Nina explained to Arnold.

The night proceeded and the duo left the restaurant together, this time on foot.

"So what's next?" Arnold asked Nina, his hands tucked in his pockets.

"What makes you think there's a 'next'?" Nina teased him.

"Well, if there isn't, then I'd be leaving." It was his turn to tease her instead.

"You're such a jerk."

"That's what you get for making me wait for so long."

"Aww, I'd have assumed you were telling truth if I didn't know better."

"You're saying, I liked it?"

"Oh please, I saw you drooling all over yourself when I entered through the doors."

"What type of pills have you been taking these days?" Arnold smirked, "Because whatever you're taking, isn't helping."

Nina didn't reply, instead, she pushed him into the wall next to the sidewalk, pressing him down with her elbow and looked right into his eyes, "You might be the strongest mage I've ever met but I am a swordswoman and no matter how strong you are, I'm definitely stronger than you."

Arnold didn't mind being pinned on the wall by a beautiful woman but he had other plans in his head. He lightly grabbed her wrist and turned her around while warping his hands around her neck and waist, pulling her closer to him.

He then leaned in and whispered into her ears, "You were saying?"

But not a single word escaped through her luscious lips. Arnold, being the clueless idiot he was, immediately let go of her; thinking he did something wrong.

Nina slowly turned to face him, she moved her head closer to Arnold. He stood there frozen, from both fear and excitement. She leaned in, so her foreheads rest against his. They close their eyes, both of their breaths were shaking.

"Thank you," she says in barely more than a whisper.

"For what?" He replies, his voice low and husky.

"For being you." Her voice wavers, exhilarated from the tension between them.

Arnold gently leaned in further and kissed Nina's warms lips. They slowly pulled apart to take shaky, shallow breaths. Unable to contain themselves anymore, Arnold held Nina's head in his hands and pulled her into a long, fiery and passionate kiss while her hands work their way around his body, feeling each others love, each line along his perfect physique. He kissed her and the world fell away. It was slow and soft, comforting in ways that he never thought he'd experience. His hand rested below her ear, his thumb caressing her cheek as their breaths mingled. She ran her fingers down his spine, pulling him closer until there was no space left between them and she could feel the beating of his heart against her chest.

They pull apart and open their eyes and stared at each other, looking deep into each other's eyes. Nina's eyes were full of wonder and love, while Arnold's eyes had curiosity and passion in them. No words are spoken but a story worthy of them is communicated.

They both knew they wanted each other more than anything else, and now they finally had what they wanted. The clueless porter finally found her warrior princess.