The restaurant was not actually what Ichiro expected; a fine dining one like that which he had visited many times with the women he'd 'dated'.  This place was actually a pub with its own dining space.  It was an old pub as well, with sturdy oak beams varnished with dark lacquer, an open fire place in a reception area where its patrons could relax with a drink in hand rather than sit in the bar area.  The dining space was a large sunroom attached to the rear of the building, looking out onto a landscaped garden area.  Were it a summer's day, Ichiro would have seen that this garden had areas of wildflowers mixed in with green foliage, but for now he could just about see the dimly lit fountain set in a block paved patio.

Upon the table was a crisp, white table cloth and a small fishbowl-shaped candle holder with lit tealight at its centre.  The salt and pepper pots were slightly rustic and made of wood as was that which held the drinks menu.  The options of food were hearty and simple, filling favourites of old with no major attempts at being something they were not, such as unnecessary extra ingredients nor decorative fanfare.  With an assortment of wood-framed photographs decorating the wall and a clearly more modern, but fitting cast iron wood burner to one side of the brick-built conservatory, the pub restaurant was homely and warm.  Partially due to this and partially due to the difference between this date and the dates with the women, Ichiro felt himself instantly relax in the curved back dining chair, only tensing slightly as Zandre took his seat opposite him.  He was still struggling to look at the man without his body reacting against his will.

"I hope you don't mind this place," Zandre said as he took off his coat and draped it over the back of his chair.  He couldn't help but stare at the Omega whose eyes were fixed upon the dim, though pleasant view outside of the window.  "It's no five star restaurant after all..."

"No, this is nice," Ichiro admitted, lightening the worries on the Alpha's shoulders unknowingly. 

Although he hadn't shown it, Zandre had been a bundle of nerves about this date, worrying that it might be his one and only chance to impress the skittish Omega.  He had thought about booking a table at an expensive, five star restaurant, about wining and dining this man, but he had paused mid-dial.  He'd been about to call 'Lani's favourite place to eat.  Ending the unconnected call, he had leaned back in his chair and reconsidered things.  He, himself, wasn't actually keen on those places with their tailored menus offering exquisite, but small portions of food using quality or unusual ingredients.  Wasn't it too pretentious to reveal to Ichiro a person that he was not?  Sure he wanted to impress him sure, but he wanted Ichiro to accept the person he really was.

This pub, when he was a teenager, he'd come here with his old man, brothers and older sister.  It had been during rugby season.  They'd watched a match here as the owner at that time had been a fan and so had got a licence in order for his patrons to be able to enjoy watching a game while having a drink.  The team that they supported had won and the atmosphere had been electric.  The owner's wife had cooked some mini-beef pies and had given them out for free.  They'd been delicious.  Now his daughter owned the pub and had expanded it, adding on the restaurant and using her mother's recipes as part of her catering menu.  So he'd booked a table here, on a whim, hoping to share this part of himself with Ichiro. 

He glanced at the Omega, who was quietly sipping at his soft drink, while reading the food menu.  The urge to tell him to pay attention not to the menu nor to the drink nor their surroundings, but to him was welling in his gut.  He was not usually one to throw his weight around and be demanding, unless he was on the field of course, but when it came to Ichiro, he really couldn't help himself.  He instinctively knew that he had to tie this man down with both word and deed, which had made him demand Ichiro present himself in a limited time earlier, when he sensed that the Omega wanted to flee and while waiting, he'd prepared himself for a drawn out battle.  The fact that Ichiro had been obedient was both satisfying and, in a contradicting way, frustrating!  Ichiro had already proved he was not that meek and would not succumb to him easily, so this behaviour was unbalancing him, worrying him once more.

Actually, Ichiro wasn't ignoring him on purpose, at least at that moment.  He'd become distracted by all of the options of meat!  Saliva filled his mouth as he gazed over the choices.  His household was poor.  When they ate meat, it was because it was on special or being sold off due to its sell by date.  Take the chicken from tonight's meal.  That packet of chicken breast had been fairly cheap and had been separated into individual pieces before being frozen.  One chicken breast was usually divided into three and that was when they were lucky.  Otherwise meat was ground or cut into small chunks and mixed with numerous cheap vegetables before being turned into pies or stews, wontons or steamed buns.

Right now he was torn between eating a thick, juicy steak or a whole small chicken cooked in a pot of red wine sauce.  Or perhaps he should try the duck...

"Ichiro," the deep voice of his da... dining companion reverberated through him.  Ichiro automatically glanced up and found himself captured by two molten eyes.  The pupils dilated for a moment, yet they held an expression of satisfaction rather than lust.  "Have you decided on what you would like to eat."  His gaze fell to the man's plush lips and he swallowed to moisten his throat. 

"Um," Ichiro really was torn... "How about the steak?"

"Sirloin?" Zandre asked him and he nodded in agreement.  "It comes with a pepper sauce, are you okay with spice?"

"En," Ichiro agreed, his mouth beginning to water due to anticipation.

Zandre handed the two menu's to the waiter waiting to take their order.  "I'll have the same," he told the man.  "Medium to well done... Ichiro?"

"Same," Ichiro agreed with a grin that stole Zandre's breath away.  The Alpha had to tear away his eyes in order to communicate once more with the waiter.

"New potatoes or chips?" The waiter asked.  They both chose the chips and Ichiro remained silent as Zandre asked for a couple of side dishes; rustic bread that was baked upon the premises and onion rings.

An uncomfortable silence fell over the table once the waiter walked away, taking their order to the kitchen. Ichiro's eyes once more began to wander, looking anywhere but at the imposing, statuesque man before him, while Zandre once more felt that growing frustration inside him. He groped around in his mind for something to say, something that he thought the Omega might be interested in talking about.

"So, you have two brothers," he finally settled upon, before vowing to discover as much about this man as possible before the end of the night. He wanted to know what he liked, what he disliked, what ticked him off, what made him purr... well actually he realised that part would have to wait. At least until Ichiro came to trust him and accept him at any road. "Jiro and Saburo, right? Japanese names?"

"En." Zandre watched as those jet black eyes began to sparkle like finely cut gemstones. "Our Mother descends from the Japanese, although she was born here. She gave us our names. Actually, Ichiro means first son, Jiro second son and Saburo third son. I guess she liked the meanings." His smile was warm like sunshine, but tinged with a touch of sadness as if the mention of his mother was bittersweet. So Zee kept quiet, just listening as Ichiro then threw himself into the topic, describing the personalities of his brothers, all positives, revealing just how much he cared for the two boys. How Saburo was a good cook and without him, he and Jiro likely would live on pot noodles or plain rice. How exceptionally intelligent Jiro was. "He's currently enrolled in a private school on scholarship, so his school fees are covered. I'm pretty sure though that's only because the school want to look 'charitable.' The government were pushing for private schools to accept a few... less fortunate children a few years ago and you can't get less fortunate than a poor Omega kid! Don't tell Jiro I said this, I don't want him to think I don't believe in his cleverness. I do. I really do. He's a straight A student and currently studying five A-levels, but still predicted to score high in them! He should be able to go to university..." Ichiro's eyes fell downcast as he thought about the financial difficulties they'd definitely suffer trying to get Ichiro into a university. He deserved it though, so they had to try and he suspected that brother of his already had a plan...

"I won't say anything," Zee reassured him. "And there are scholarships and loans towards university fees, aren't there? If he's that bright, as well, he'll have universities falling over themselves to enroll him."

Ichiro gave Zandre probably the first genuine smile of his own will that evening. It was nice to hear these words, even if Ichiro couldn't quite bring himself to believe in them. Not that he thought Zandre didn't mean them, but rather, he'd experienced some of the realities and prejudices facing Omegas. The steaks arrived, interrupting their conversation, but they were not unwelcomed. Especially by Ichiro who looked wide eyed at both with a hunger visible in his eyes.

"So good," he sighed as he swallowed the first juicy mouthful with a delighted expression. "This is so much better than a fancy five star place!"

Zandre paused at that, in amidst of cutting his own steak. From what Ichiro had already claimed and from what Zandre could tell from his mannerisms and neighbourhood, Ichiro's pocket didn't reach that far. "Been to many?" He couldn't help but enquire.

Ichiro was about to nod, but then he realised that each time had been with one of his women and he'd paid for none of it. "Um," he quickly thought of an excuse to gloss over the slip of the tongue. Those 'dates' were between him and the girls, not anyone else's business. However, Zandre did know that he had some relationship with Olivia, so he mentally apologised as he used her for an excuse. "Livvie asked me to accompany her once or twice, a work dinner and for her birthday. Well our birthdays are close together, so she used the excuse as celebrating both at once." The latter was true, but he'd still been paid for his time that night. "They seem really keen on small portions, don't they? I mean the steak in that restaurant was delicious, but it was like a quarter of the size of this!"

Zandre recalled the filet mignon he'd eaten on one of his dates. It had melted upon the tongue, there was no denial just how good it was, just it vanished in four mouthfuls and left him longing for more. So he nodded in agreement and began to eat this less expensive, but still good piece of meat, before reverting back to the topic of family. "I have brothers as well, three in fact. And two sisters."

"Wow," Ichiro sipped his soft drink. It wasn't that he disliked alcohol, just that he wanted to be 100% sober at all times around this man who was a walking temptation to throw away all of his morals and beliefs. "Are you the oldest, like me?"

"Nope," he replied, his deep brown eyes smiling in satisfaction as he recaptured the Omega's attention.  "I was born fourth.  I have two older brothers and one older sister, plus a younger brother and sister.  I could never decide whether my parents were mad or amazing for bearing and bringing the lot of us up."  Ichiro chuckled, he could kind of relate, but he'd always considered his mum as an amazing one. "Ademar is the eldest, turns thirty two in a few months.  He's kind of the odd-ball as well as the rest of us followed in our parents' passions instead, while he works for himself as a graphics designer.  Then there is Kahlil, only one of us with a spouse and father to my nephew.  He went into Sports rehabilitation, then there's Deliza..." Ichiro listened, enraptured by the cadence and tone of Zandre's words as he spoke, while Zee was equally caught by the varying expressions on his Omega's gorgeous face.  As Ichiro asked questions from time to time, Zee answered them honestly, adding amusing memories into the mix and the night passed comfortably from then on.