"...and the rest is history," Cody finished his story, punctuating it with a sip of his lukewarm coffee.
"I still think you're bullshitting me," Dmitri insisted, smacking the cafe table in frustration so hard it rattled the silverware. "We've been working together over half a year, and you haven't mentioned this once!"
There was a loud slurping sound on the burly Russian expat's left as Cody's other coworker drank the last of her milkshake down. "I'unnno, Dee," she mused, twirling a lock of her pink hair. "I know if I told everyone I was dating a cape, it's all people would ask about."
"Exactly, thank you Rebecca." Cody said with a dramatic flourish. "I like to think there's a little more to me then 'the dude dating a superhero', you know?"
"True, you're the dude who got manhandled by a giant rat," Rebecca snickered, prompting Cody to roll his eyes as Dmitri defiantly crossed his arms. "So what's Grasshopper like anyway? I only just moved here myself, and I'm more familiar with the Darkport capes then the...er, what are they called here?"
"Hero's Hive," Cody stated. "They were a trio for a few years, Grasshopper, HERC, and Queen Hornet as the leader. Sa'na joined about a month before we met, and-"
"Sa'na?" Dmitri sounded out the unfamiliar word.
"Oh, uh...that's her real name," Cody winced as he dropped down to a whisper. "She's an alien, came to our planet escaping political turmoil hoping to do some good on Earth."
"Oh damn, I assumed she was a mutant," Rebecca interrupted.
"Technically she is. Her planet was hit by a Delta Event the same as ours and it unlocked superpowers in her too. That's why she had to leave, in fact." Cody leaned his head on his hand, thinking aloud to himself. "To think after all she went through, she'd still want to be a hero." He let out a love-struck sigh. "She's just so kind-hearted, so graceful, so wonderful..."
TONK
The three of them jumped as something slammed into the diner window. Cody turned and his heart leapt into his throat when she saw Sa'na's face pressed against the glass, a silly little grin on her face before she slid off to the side with a loud squeak.
"Graceful, huh?" Rebecca said, her voice barely hiding a snicker.
"She sure is," Cody said wistfully as the door bell jingled and Sa'na flew up to the table, her wings folding neatly behind her as she touched down. It was still an adjustment seeing her in civilian clothes that did nothing to hide her alien identity, but dressed in jeans and a bomber jacket, he thought she looked incredible.
"Hiiii, Cody!" she trilled cheerfully.
"Hiiii, Sa'na!" Cody trilled back.
Grinning, the alien leaned across the table to give Cody a nuzzle, which he'd learned in the last few months was a common display of affection for her species, then leaned up to surprise her with a kiss on the cheek to display his. The hero let out a sputtering giggle before plopping down in the booth next to him, sitting almost a head taller then him and cooing softly as she nestled her head against his.
"Ah, Sa'na, have you met my coworkers?"
"Oh, I am ever so sorry! I was overly focused on the public display of affection!" the alien said with a prompt nod and reached out with two of her four arms to offer handshakes. "Sa'na Zror'tirr, of R'kerral!"
"Uh, Dmitri Mason, nice to meet you," Dmitri said in mild confusion.
"Rebecca Henner, of New Jersey," Rebecca announced with a smirk.
"And a most noble realm that must be!" Sa'na agreed, Cody wincing at something else he'd have to try and explain later. Her black eyes swung between the pair for a moment before she put on a big smile. "Ohhhh, are you two also dating!?"
"What? No!" the pair chorused as their cheeks turned pink in embarrassment as Cody tried not to laugh.
"Oh, that is a shame." Sa'na let out a disappointed chitter. "I was watching your television shows again, and heard much about something called a double date! But we need another couple to go on one, don't we."
"Sadly we do," Cody agreed, leaning against her affectionately, before something else caught his attention...