There will be plenty of time for snuggling later! Never you fret, Tony.

Gene's been responding to Tony's observations, occasionally offering one of his own, but he's largely keeping his own responses monosyllabic. Not on purpose - he's just brooding, which is an awful habit that he needs to get out of. So he tries to force himself out of it when he notices that's what he's doing. Partial success?

The restaurant is very nice-looking, the decor ornate, and Gene remembers just how much he'd missed living in the Fire Sector. Not that their room in the Hotel wasn't nice, but it lacked the finery found in Fire.

He smiles back at Tony, all approval. He's nervous, but excited now, too.