"Where are we going?" Lovino said, peering out the windows of the car, but it was too dark to make out the scenery. When he'd asked Al out on the date, he'd thought he'd be the one planning it—but Al had apparently been waiting for the right moment to spring his own date plans on Lovino.

"It's a surprise," Al said, but Lovino knew that he was awful at keeping secrets; a grin kept twitching at the corners of Al's mouth, irrepressible, as Lovino worried about what he'd gotten himself into.

"I don't like surprises," Lovino said. He wished he could recognize the names on the streetsigns they passed—the highway had been empty, and so was this little road that branched off of it. At least he'd gotten to choose that venue—a classy Italian place run by a family who lived above the shop.

"Everybody loves surprises," Al laughed. "Anyway, we're only a couple of minutes away."

This was even more worrying. Lovino couldn't see any cities or even pit stops in the next several kilometers. He checked his cell phone, but—sure enough—there was no service. Unsettled, Lovino slid his phone back into his pocket, biting his lower lip. Finally, a minute or two later, All pulled over.

"Close your eyes," Al said. Lovino gave him a look, which Al responded to with puppy eyes that put Feliciano's to shame. Lovino grumbled, but shut his eyes. "Awesome," Al said, and Lovino could positively hear him grinning.

Lovino heard the car door open and shut before Al opened his door and took Lovino's hand. He stepped out onto grass—somewhere in the distance, an owl hooted. It was quiet enough that Lovino could hear crickets in the grass around them. They walked an interminable distance before Al finally came to a stop.

"Okay, open your eyes," Al said. Lovino blinked; they were by the side of a lake. The moon shone, reflected in the still, dark waters—the stars seemed to swim before Lovino realized that they were actually fireflies. He turned back to look at Al.

Al had unrolled a blanket and was sitting with a guitar in his lap.

"Well?" Al prompted, eyes shining. Lovino humphed, not quite managing to hide his smile.

"Are you gonna serenade me or what?" Lovino asked. Al grinned and began to play. As Lovino settled down beside him, he thought, begrudgingly, that maybe this was better than the date he'd planned. He'd have to step up his game. Al leaned toward him, singing a ridiculous song about how wonderful Lovino was, and he smirked a little. It was a beautiful night.