Chapter 50: The Date

"Harvey."

"Claire."

Claire stood in front of her house with her arms crossed. In front of her stood Harvey; the young man was dressed in a red shirt and an Apollo outwear leather jacket on top of it. Beneath that, he had on blue jeans and red and black Nike sneakers.

"Be sure to bring her back by ten."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Be on your best behavior."

"Yes, ma'am."

"And Harvey?"

"Yes?"

"Enjoy yourselves."

"Yes, ma'am."

Claire walked up to the young man and hugged him. She knew she had nothing to worry about; Alex had her own personal superhero as a date.

"You nervous?" Claire asked as she let Harvey go.

"Just a lot." Harvey laughed as he rubbed the back of his head. "It's my first date, after all."

"Really?" Claire was surprised to hear him say that. Claire thought he was a good-looking teenager with a well-built body. It was odd to hear that someone like him didn't go on more dates.

"Yeah… besides, I've been too busy with the whole vigilante shtick to go on dates." Harvey placed his hands in his pockets and kicked the ground lightly.

"I see, well I'm happy you're getting out there now. It's good to go on dates when you're still young. After all, you don't stay young forever." Claire smiled at the young man and heard the front door open.

Alex walked out in a grey shirt and dark blue skinny jeans; her usual pair of black Converse shoes were on her feet. Claire tried to get Alex to dress herself up more for her date, but she kept refusing.

"Mom?" Alex asked in confusion. "What are you doing out here?!"

"Oh, you know. Just talking with Harvey while he waited for you." Claire walked over and grabbed her daughter's shoulder. "Remember to have fun today, and don't forget your curfew, young lady."

Claire couldn't help but feel some slight amusement at her daughter's embarrassed face. She did feel slightly bad for doing this in front of Harvey, but it was her job as a mom to embarrass Alex—the few perks of parenting.

"Harvey, let's go!" Alex walked around her, grabbed the boy's hand, and dragged him to his motorcycle. Harvey turned and waved at her, Claire waved back with a smile.

Claire watched as Harvey handed Alex a spare helmet before he got on his motorcycle. Sure, she was a little worried about him driving Alex on that thing, but he assured her it was perfectly safe. Nothing would happen to her while she was on it. With a roar from the motorcycle's engine, the two drove off for their date.

"There they go." Claire heard Phil say as he walked up behind her and wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

"Yup, there goes our little genius." Claire whispered as she smiled at the direction they left.

"Come on, let's go inside. Our own dinner date awaits us, my lady." Phil said in a sexy tone as he pulled her inside. Claire just smiled and nodded, allowing herself to be guided by her husband.

•••

"That restaurant was amazing!"

Alex walked alongside Harvey as they walked inside the California Science Center. Harvey laughed and nodded.

"I'm surprised I liked it as much as I did, I never thought raw fish over rice was so delicious." Harvey said as he looked at the Apollo Capsule display.

"I told you you'd like sushi. You just had to try it!" Alex said as she stared at the capsule alongside Harvey.

"Did you know that the Apollo Capsule was one of two principal components of the United States Apollo spacecraft, used for the Apollo program, which landed astronauts on the Moon between 1969 and 1972." Alex told with a smile, but suddenly panicked. "I mean- it's a cool display, right?"

"Alex, you don't have to act any differently from usual." Harvey grabbed her hand and squeezed it. "Relax and be yourself."

Alex nodded and felt her face heat up to the point it felt like it was on fire. She then pulled his hand to the next display with childish excitement.

"This here is the Apollo-Soyuz Command Module! It was the first crewed international space mission, carried out jointly by the United States and the Soviet Union in July 1975!" Alex spoke happily as she pointed at different places of the module.

From that point the two just walked around the Science Center, Alex regularly stopped and explained almost every exhibit or display in detail. Sure, she was worried that she could be boring Harvey, but he paid close attention to everything. Alex even asked him some questions about an exhibit they passed a couple of minutes ago, he was able to answer them quickly.

Alex was utterly oblivious to the two young women tailing her and Harvey the entire time.

•••

"Is this a date or a school field trip?"

Wanda asked as she peaked around the corner. She was wearing sunglasses and a black hat as a disguise. Next to her stood Amy in a similar get-up.

"I see what you mean, but Alex is emitting very strong waves of love." Amy smiled as she stood beneath her.

"That sounds made up." Wanda looked down and deadpanned at her angel friend.

"Angel of LOVE and justice, Wanda. Don't question my powers." Amy looked up and gave her a proud look.

Wanda sweat dropped and nodded, she kept forgetting Amy could sense these types of things. Looking up, Wanda saw Harvey and Alex enter some large red boat-looking thing.

"Motion-based simulator?" Wanda read out loud as she and Amy walked up to the attraction's description.

"Hmm 'Simulator rides are not recommended for expectant mothers and guests with a history of heart conditions or abnormal blood pressure, back, neck, or shoulder conditions, and/or those who have a fear of enclosed spaces. Other restrictions may apply. Ride at your own risk'." Amy read the simulator's description and nodded.

"Sounds intense; we should get on after they leave."

"Amy, focus!" Wanda grabbed her shoulder and turned her around. "Remember why we're here!"

"Oh, right. Your whole 'let's keep an eye on them so nothing attacks them on their date' plan." Amy raised her hands and did air quotes. "Look, just ask him on a date too. I'm sure he'll say yes."

"This is not what this is about!" Wanda whispered harshly at the blonde. "I-I don't like him like that!"

"…"

"…right, angel of love." Wanda said in embarrassment as she looked down to avoid her friend's stare.

"Oh, I think the ride is about to end." Amy looked over to the red attraction and saw it slow down.

"Ah! Hide!"

•••

Harvey laughed as Alex struggled to hit one of the moles from the Whack a Mole game. She turned to him and glared at him for laughing at her; Harvey quickly stopped but continued smiling in amusement.

After they were done with the California Science Center, Harvey drove them down to the Santa Monica Pier to have some fun. They've played several of the pier's games to see who was capable of winning the most prizes, so far he's currently in the lead with three prizes to his name. Alex, however, has yet to win one.

"This isn't funny!" Alex walked over to him after her time ran out. "You know that games like these are rigged from the start to be able to better siphon off money from guests. It's impossible to win at these!"

Harvey chucked and handed her his prizes. One was a small Iron Man plushy, and the other two were of a small penguin and bear.

"Let me give it a shot." Harvey paid the required fee and grabbed the large squishy mallet.

As soon as the game started, Harvey quickly hit every mole that popped out with lightning-fast speed and precision. The few people around them stopped and watched him whack away at the game with impressed and shocked looks on their faces. When the game finally ended, Harvey looked up to see his score. It was a whopping 345—the game's new high score, beating the previous score of 120.

"Holy crap."

"Did you see that?!"

"His hand was a blur. I don't think anyone did!"

Harvey looked over to Alex with a grin and winked at her. She looked annoyed but ultimately relaxed and smiled back. The attendant in charge of the booth looked at him in awe and handed him the largest prize available. It was a giant Halloween-themed Hello Kitty plush doll.

"H-Here you go!" The attendant said as he handed him the prize.

"Thanks!" Harvey grabbed the prize and smiled at the employee.

"I'm feeling peckish. Want to grab a drink?" Harvey asked Alex as he walked up to her.

Alex nodded and looked over to a lemonade stand with a smile. "Lemonade?"

"Sounds good."

The two then grabbed their drinks and walked around the pier. They simply enjoyed themselves by playing more games or going on the rides. When Alex finally tired, Harvey suggested they find a bench to rest.

"Tonight has been one of the best days I've ever had." Alex told him as she looked out at the rolling sea. The moonlight gave the water a majestic blue glow.

"Really?" Harvey asked as he watched her head nod. "I'm happy to hear that. I wasn't too sure where to take you at first, I had to ask Phil and Luke for some advice."

Alex chuckled at his response. She then looked down at her phone and saw the time; it was getting close to her curfew. "I think it's time we start heading home."

"Oh, it's already that late?" Harvey looked down at his phone and saw how late it was. "I guess time flies by when you're having fun."

"It does, doesn't it?" Alex smiled and stood up. She held her hand out to him, Harvey smiled back and accepted her help.

"Let's get you home. I don't want your mom to yell at me for bringing you back late."

Alex chuckled and nodded. Harvey bent down and grabbed all his prizes in a giant plastic bag. The two then walked towards where he parked his motorcycle, hand in hand.

•••

"This is it."

Alex heard Harvey turn off his bike's engine after he parked in front of her house. Alex looked up and saw a few of the lights still turned on. Swinging her leg over, Alex dismounted the red motorcycle and smiled at Harvey.

"Here." Harvey held out the giant Halloween-themed Hello Kitty and Iron Man plushy to her. "This is for you."

"Are you sure?"

Harvey nodded and smiled at her. "Of course, I didn't win those for me after all."

Alex chuckled and remembered him playing the games and leaving the nearby pier goers in shock. She wanted to say it wasn't necessarily fair for a super-powered person to play games made for ordinary people, but why would she go ahead and ruin the mood?

"I had a great night." Harvey said as he got off his bike and stood in front of her. Alex had to look up due to him being taller than her by a good few inches.

"Me too."

Alex whispered as the two slowly inched forward and kissed each other lightly. After a few seconds, they separated from each other and just stood close. They were smiling at one another; Alex couldn't help but feel her heart race.

"Goodnight, Alex."

"Good night."

•••

Wanda closed the door to her house with a sigh. After the Science Center, she and Amy had trouble monitoring Harvey and Alex. It didn't help that Amy kept stopping because she wanted to play the games and ride on the attractions. She was making her stalking- her careful watch over Harvey that much harder.

"Sister?" Pietro asked. He looked up from the TV, a game controller in his hands. "That you?"

Wanda walked into the living room and took off her hat. Her brother was dressed in a large shirt and black joggers, and four empty boxes of pizza and sodas lay on a table next to him. It appears he stayed in the night and just played games and relaxed.

"Yes, what are you doing?" Wanda asked as she looked at the TV screen.

"Playing some games." Pietro then placed the controller down and looked at her. "How'd everything go? Where's Amy?"

"Amy decided to stay at the fair a bit longer." Wanda took off her hat and patted down her hair. "Tonight went well. Amy and I bonded well."

"I meant your stalking."

"It was a girl's night."

Pietro nodded with a doubtful smile and picked up the controller. "Sure, whatever you say."

Wanda huffed and told him she was going to bed. Pietro just wished her goodnight and went back to play his games. Closing her bedroom door, Wanda huffed and threw herself onto her bed. She lay still for a few seconds before she turned her head.

"What the?"

Wanda sat up and picked up two small plushies. They were a penguin and a bear. She could have sworn she saw these today at the pier. Wanda's eyes widened in realization, and her face erupted in a massive blush.

"NO! He knew I was there!"

Wanda fell back and covered her face with her hands. Amy told her Harvey couldn't sense her, but Wanda forgot he could still find her! He must have known she was following him all night! The embarrassment!

"…I can't face him anymore." Wanda spoke in an embarrassed voice.

Opening her eyes, she looked at the plushies. Slowly, a small smile grew on her face as she hugged them to her body. Harvey knew she was there but still gave her his prizes. He must not be angry at her. Hopefully. Wanda pulled out her phone and saw the time: eleven thirty. Harvey is currently out doing his vigilante duties, so that meant she couldn't talk to him until tomorrow.

"What do I even say?"

Wanda asked herself as she lay still; slowly, her eyes became heavy. She tried to fight her need for sleep but eventually lost the fight. Her dreams were that of her and Harvey being together. It even spanned to the future, where they had two beautiful children, and her brother would visit them in their lovely home in a friendly neighborhood.

Wanda slept peacefully that night, all the while with a happy smile.