[center][img]https://media.giphy.com/media/LRhteEUDZVudW/giphy.gif[/img]

[sub][color=922b2b][b]Hail[/b][/color][color=ff69b4][b]ana[/b][/color]
Saturday evening, before the Green Family dinner[/sub][/center][hr][indent][indent][b][color=#922b2b]“I don’t even want to do this anymore.”[/color][/b]

Hailey sounded as bitter as she felt, and she glanced over at Hana from her seat her desk. Hailey herself was scrolling through Crunchyroll, bitter and annoyed. The idea of a family dinner was not appealing to her, not anymore. She had explained what had happened with her parents to Hana very vaguely, calling it a ‘spat,’ and now Hana had to sit there and endure the fallout.

[b][color=#922b2b]“But I have no choice, because I gave my word. I already told them I would, so [i]even though[/i] I’m practically feuding with my Mother, I have to go attend this family dinner with all of the kids’s S.O.’s, because I thought that would be [i]sooo[/i] sweet.” [/color][/b]Hailey’s voice dripped with sarcasm as she flipped her hair and looked back at her computer screen. Everyone made mistakes, even her. This was just proof of that. [b][color=#922b2b]“I cannot believe I have to attend this now. I’m not even in the mood for this. You’ll have to meet my parents, I hope you’re prepared. They’re not all as [i]easy[/i] as my father can be.” [/color][/b]All three of her parents were going to be difficult tonight, that much she was sure about.

To say that Hailey Green came with complications was as much an understatement as saying Hana knew a thing or two about drug dealing. The difference was that while Hana had opted to stop dealing drugs, Hailey still had the complications of family matters to concern herself with. When people spoke in hushed tones about what a mistake Hana was making by dating [i]the[/i] Hailey Green, she was able and willing to simply disregard them or state it as the cries of the jealous. But even with the knowledge that she wasn’t tricked into a relationship, that they were actually dating and a good pair, that still didn’t exactly prepare her for the bombshell that was meeting the parents. Of course part of any relationship involves meeting the parents only the meeting tends to not be in a group scenario and most people tend to only have the two parent household. It was bad enough that Hana’s boss was Hailey’s father - but now not only did she have that, she had the other two parents plus others there. Her only course was to hope Henry or whoever took the heat off and did something incredibly stupid while Hana focused on her mashed potatoes. 

[b][color=#ff69b4]“I thought I was supposed to be the nervous one.” [/color][/b]Hana could see how stressed out Hailey was which was certainly unusual to the point that even Hana could tell something was off. She didn’t have to be dating Hailey long to pick up on certain cues and tells, that or Hana was just a really attentive girlfriend and a good listener. [b][color=#ff69b4]“If it makes you feel any better, no matter what happens tonight it’s still bound to be better than what would happen if you met [i]my[/i] parents. They’d probably die if they knew I was...you know...not...[i]normal[/i].” [/color][/b]Those were their words, not Hana’s. 

Hana slid off the bed where she had been idly reading a magazine and came behind Hailey, placing her chin on Hailey’s shoulder. [b][color=#ff69b4]“I’ll be next to you the whole time, okay? It’s going to be fine. The worst thing that’s gonna happen is….I dunno...a burnt vegetable or something.” [/color][/b]Hana couldn’t say those things for certainty, but if she had to play the picker upper, she would do her best, though she kept herself from the simple act of giving Hailey a reassuring kiss on the cheek. Maybe she should’ve. [b][color=#ff69b4]“We should watch that Darling show, it’s got robots in it. You like those, yeah?” [/color][/b]If she could get Hailey to focus instead on her anime, that would be a step in the right direction. 

Hailey sighed. She couldn’t fault Hana for trying, and she appreciated it, nuzzling back against Hana’s cheek slightly. It wasn’t Hana’s fault, and Hailey may have been a sadist, but she was at least fair. She wasn’t going to take it out on Hana, no matter what — it wouldn’t be fair to either party. She hovered over Darling, before shaking her head, [b][color=#922b2b]“I’ve already seen Darling, like seriously three times. If I’m just scrolling through, I’m probably going to just watch Gundam Wing again.. It’s like, The Office for me.” [/color][/b]Hailey truly wasn’t up to her normal standards, that much was obvious from the way she was speaking. It didn’t carry the same… regal elegance that Hailey tended to speak with.

Hailey ran a hand through her hair, and then her hand found Hana’s, twisting and moving it around until their fingers were locked together. Loosely holding Hana’s hand, Hailey turned to look at her girlfriend, the light of her life and sighed. [b][color=#922b2b]“I’m sorry, I just… I haven’t fought with my parents since… really? I’ve never fought with them, and it’s just kind of… shattered my psyche, I guess? I’m a little upset.” [/color][/b]The truth will set you free, and Hailey had a small smile after saying that aloud. At least she was finally being honest with herself. [b][color=#922b2b]“And I’m worried that with me… [i]shaken[/i] so to speak, and unable to control the situation… your meeting my parents might go a little… [i]less[/i] than hoped for.”[/color][/b]

Though they hadn’t been a couple for an especially long time, Hana was still not used to seeing Hailey in this light. This almost vulnerable, human light. So much of what Hana knew about Hailey was more along the lines of what she [i]thought[/i] she knew about Hailey. The rumors from classmates. The belief that she had it all figured out, that she was more than human, it was easy to buy into it. Even still, knowing that Hailey liked watching old Gundam episodes - something Hana would never have even guessed - was initially a shock and yet...it felt to wonderfully on brand. In the short time they’d been together, Hailey had let Hana in with a glance, but here it was like Hana was truly being trusted with the Hailey that couldn’t be seen in public. 

It was no wonder Hana was quick to tighten her hold on Hailey’s hand, like a firm squeeze meant to comfort and show affection in equal parts. 

[b][color=#ff69b4]“You know, when I told my sister that I work for my girlfriend’s dad, she told me it was probably a bad sign that I wasn’t fired. She was joking, of course, but parents aren’t really [i]supposed[/i] to like whoever their children are dating, especially in high school. It’s like...parent law.” [/color][/b]Hana had never had to be this sort of person, the reassuring girlfriend, the tender emotional woman. Not even a month go she was cold and distant and her greatest fear was people discovering the cool, disaffected drug dealer was actually a nerd who wrote smutty fanfiction and played [i]World of Warcraft[/i]. And that part of her had only come more to the forefront thanks to Hailey, another part of her life that, a month ago, she’d never even entertained the notion of being possible. Hana didn’t expect to be dragged out of the closet by being paraded and publicly identified as Hailey’s girlfriend (or ‘toy’ as some naysayers mentioned) nor did she particularly want to crawl back in to how she was before that. 

So she would absolutely do whatever she could to maintain her relationship and to boost Hailey’s spirits. It seemed only fair. 

[b][color=#ff69b4]“Maybe...don’t try to control the situation? If you could like me for some reason I’m still not sure...then surely your parents can see whatever it is you saw in me too? And honestly? If they approve of me I’d probably be suspicious anyway. It’s okay not to call all the shots for a change. Maybe...maybe it’s better if I show your parents that I’m a good fit instead of you telling them. Trust me...we’ll survive an awkward dinner.” [/color][/b]Hana rolled her thumb over Hailey’s knuckles. [b][color=#ff69b4]“Do you wanna calm down with a makeout because I will take on that burden.”[/color][/b]

Hana was doing her best, and to be honest, it was working its magic on Hailey. Maybe this was the power of love, maybe Hailey’s father had been onto something. Maybe, just maybe, Hana could push Hailey to be a better person. From the light touches of the other girl, to the words that she was saying — words that Hailey knew Hana was almost certainly having a mental scramble to find… It was [i]comforting[/i]. It was all Hailey needed, and all she wanted. Maybe Hana was right, maybe Hailey [i]could[/i] relinquish control, just for one night, and it might… it just might go well.

She could do that, or she could at least try. No petty squabbles with her brother, no attempts to throw her younger sister off… just focusing on herself, her girlfriend, and her family as a whole. That was doable! She could surely do that, just this once. Hailey let out a content noise, and smiled again, this time a full one. [b][color=#922b2b]“Well… I don’t know that I need to destress anymore, but, I wouldn’t say no to making out.”[/color][/b]

In truth, it might have been a bit selfish but Hana was hoping Hailey wouldn’t say no to such a request. Whether or not it was even actually good for stress relief, sometimes it was nice to at least have that confirmation that yes, someone did have your back - or in this specific case your front, right around the general mouth area. Whatever happened at dinner, it was important for both of them to know that part of being in a relationship meant supporting each other, and tonight that was Hana’s responsibility. Her girlfriend was stressed out and it became Hana’s job to figure out why and how she could fix that. It just so happened that a little pep talk and a little heavy petting probably did the trick. 

[b][color=#ff69b4]“I wouldn’t either. Besides, nothing against whatever chef cooked up dinner but I guarantee nothing tonight will taste as good as your lips.” [/color][/b]Was it cheesy? Absolutely. But as far as Hana was aware, neither of them were lactose intolerant.[/indent][/indent]