Private Coffee-Scented Date

Jeebus Chris, this guy was going to be the death of Diego. Kal mentioned Diego's ass and then had the fucking audacity(yes, Diego knew fancy words too) to wink at him. Diego couldn't have stopped the blush on his cheeks in a million years, but he was able to stop himself from banging his forehead on the table.
"Good, we have an understanding. So you handing my ass at me can wait."
Diego was able to answer, barely, and he immediately had to focus on his apple pie afterwards 'cos looking at Kal's face after that statement would've made him spontaneously combust.

There was the shock, but surprisingly Kal didn't seem to pity Diego that much? Diego wasn't the best at reading people, but at most Kal seemed concerned or something. Which was obviously an understandable reaction.
"Thanks for the offer, I appreciate it."
Diego started, giving a small lopsided smile.
"Sorry for suddenly blurting something like that, I totally brought the convo down...but I'm okay, I mean it. It's been a few years since then and it was really tragic, but the people that I loved all survived it."
Diego explained, not smiling probably for the first time since this date began, and he stirred the cocoa he still had left in his mug.
"Naturally I feel very sad for those that didn't make it out, but I've processed and dealt with it and I'm as okay as I can be. Seriously."
Diego smiled again, a small reassuring smile as he looked up at Kal.
"I was trying to avoid heavy topics but one slipped through, I'm seriously sorry. We can move on, I think dark and heavy secrets should only be shared on the third date."
Diego tried to lighten the mood a bit with a joke and let out a short laugh. Though he wouldn't be surprised if after his stupid blurt and that potentially insensitive joke there won't be a third date...

"Origin story, I kinda like that. Makes me sound like a superhero."
Diego commented and laughed a little, relieved that Kal didn't take this worse. And especially Diego was glad Kal hadn't looked at him with pity, he always felt so small and helpless when that happened and didn't like it at all. Diego still wanted to slap himself for bringing the mood down but they were slowly picking it back up.

"The flower shop? Sure! It was opened by my mom, Catalina, when we got here. Mom and Perch - he's my bro - both got plant-related powers and they run the place. That's why when we first met I said that my bro could've given you pretty much any plant then and there; he can grow them as long as he has a seed."
Diego explained happily, clearly fond of the subject. Catalina and Gabe were the most important people in the world to him.
"Fun fact tho, mom actually only adopted me few weeks back. That's why I accidentally said my last name's Alvaro and not Vega. But she's been a mom to me my whole life and Perch has been a bro to me my whole life so the adoption only made it official."
Diego grinned in a way, that revealed that there were no dark subjects here. He was just happy to be a part of this family. He kinda did say he was an orphan, indirectly, but that was a something Diego was determined to stay vague about in case Kal asked. There was no way on this Earth or any other that he was telling Kal about his dad.

For the first time Diego really felt like Kal was really an adult, at least when compared to Diego. Yeah, Diego could and did act responsible and mature, but Kal gave off the feeling of experience. How he knew what to say, what not to approach or mention, it was cool. Diego had never had his stomach get butterflies because someone was tactful, but somehow Kal managed to achieve that.
And then Kal called him adorable and Diego felt like his face was on fire.

"You're totally enjoying this, aren't you?"
Diego said as he narrowed his eyes at Kal, his face probably completely red. If that grin was anything to go by Kal was having the time of his life.
"And flyboy makes me sound like the world's saddest sidekick, there goes me feeling like a superhero."
Diego huffed and crossed his arms, but there was a grin tugging at his lips, betraying his amusement and teasing.
"Here I thought I was dealing with a buff and kinda nerdy but strangely handsome Jackie Chan wannabe. Turns out you're a tease as well."
Diego wasn't able to say the whole sentence with a straight face and a grin broke out while he was speaking. And Diego didn't even stop to consider what else a tease could mean.

"That doesn't make me feel better, bet they were called 'flyboy' to mock 'em or piss 'em off, anyway."
Diego in turn retorted and huffed. He wasn't as familiar with Earth's comic culture as he would've liked and he wasn't entirely sure he remembered who Hal Jordan was. But Diego wasn't about to let Kal know that, he needed to uphold his comic book fan image for...reasons.
"Really? Not a fan of humans being able to leap three meters into the air while kicking with both legs?"
Diego commented on Kal's reveal of not being a fan of Chinese martial arts films, and he laughed along with Kal. Diego had seen few of those types of movies and hadn't been that impressed. But...
"I watched one of those kinda movies once, actually, and spent few hours recreating the funniest looking leaps and jumps. With my flight I was actually able to pull it off. I laughed my ass off, since I recorded few and they looked so fucking stupid."
Diego snickered at the memory, it had been before rehab (BR for short) and Diego had been doing lots of stuff to kill his boredom since he hadn't had the guts to actively do art or dance.
"I think I still got the video somewhere, actually. Could show it to you. You could see a rare long-hair Diego in it~"

The low tone Kal used and his grin made a chill (good kind) go up Diego's spine. Diego looked into Kal's eyes, kinda feeling like a deer in headlights, and when Kal called Diego a tease back he realized what else that word could mean. And he immediately felt to embarrassed he could die. But on the other hand that embarrassing word usage had led to Kal speaking and smiling like this so maybe it wasn't so bad...
"Can't help it, it's in my nature."
Diego answered Kal with as much confidence as he could muster, and smiled bit slyly back at Kal. But his attempt at being smooth was probably ruined by the blush on his face...Oh well, A for effort!

The moment was over pretty quickly and Diego blinked, wondering if he'd dreamed it. His brain was full of hormones so that was possible. But the convo was moving forward and Diego didn't have time to begin questioning reality.
"Oh yeah, no problem bro! I've made few potpourries so I knew they were easy and last long. Hope you were able to get some sleep."

Fondness. Was Kal fond of Diego? Wow, if he was that made Diego super happy, and it showed in the grin that crept to his face. Diego felt way too giddy and he snickered a bit before he answered.
"Okay, that might make me feel a bit better about it. Just a bit."
Diego said and just to punctuate the point he held up his forefinger and thumb and brought them close together when he said 'just a bit'. Though Diego's expression was proof that he felt more than just a bit better.

Kal's ranting was funny and interesting and Diego listened to it with a small, amused grin on his face. Especially when Kal said 'jeez, louise' Diego hid a snicker behind his hand, was it weird to think a grown man using an old-sounding saying like that as cute?
"But you gotta admit it's entertaining to watch those movies ironically, they're funny as heck."
Diego pointed out with a grin at the end of the rant, pointing at Kal with the fork he was using for his apple pie.
"You lend me your babies, I'll let you see me making a fool of myself. Sounds like a fair trade to me!"
Diego joked and laughed, eating the final piece of his apple pie.

Diego had honestly surprised himself that he'd been able to kinda flirt back at Kal. Diego was usually smooth with everything else except flirting. That's what you got for denying your sexuality for most of your life. Well, Diego could just get better from now on! Maybe, or even hopefully, with Kal as the target.

"That's great! Insomnia's a bitch, I used to have it 'cos of stress. I tried potpourries back then, they helped me as well. Why you think I recommended 'em?"
Diego gave Kal a grin and took his cocoa mug, still half full, and took a hearty sip.
"If you need any more flowers come over anytime, this time I might be able to slip you a lil' discount~"