Spike's First Date

After knocking on the door, Spike waited patiently a little bit before he saw the knob turn. After the door opened, he saw a huge, well-built man in front of him. He was wearing knee-length shorts and a hawaiian shirt with an apron that says I LOVE MEAT. His hair was cut into slicked-back look and he had sideburns on his face. He was also shown to be smoking a cigar in his mouth and he was carrying a spatula in his right hand. He also had a tattoo on his right forearm. It was a picture of his family. His left arm also had a dragon tattoo hanging around a trench knife. It said Who Dares, Wins on the handle. He looked down at Spike and asked,

"What can I do you for, boyo?"

Spike was so intimidated by the man's looks that he barely had a thought for a second.

"Wha- Oh. I'm hear to pick up Ember?"

"Oh? And who might you be, cherry-pie?" the father asked.

"I-I'm Spike. I'm her date."

Just then, he heard Ember come over to the door and she said,

"Daddy!"

"Yes, Sparky?" he asked, turning towards Ember.

"That's my date." she said in a annoyed manner.

"Him? This little buttercup here is your date?"

Ember nodded her head in response. Upon making the realization that Spike was going out with Ember, he laughed really hard and said,

"Sorry 'bout that, kiddo. Ember rarely ever tells me much about who she goes out with and you seem to be pretty short to get Ember to submit. Name's Torch." the man said, holding out his hand.

Knowing that he was offering a handshake, Spike held out his hand and started shaking Torch's hand. After gripping his hand, Spike felt his right hand getting crushed as he shook it. After a short couple minutes, Torch let his hand go and Spike shook his hand to alleviate the pain he felt from the iron grip of Ember's father.

"You've got a tight grip, sir." Spike said, still trying to relax his hand.

"Comes with serving in the SAS, creampuff. Come in." Torch said, moving aside.

Accepting Torch's invitation, Spike came inside and saw the hallway. It was decorated with pictures of Ember's family and it even showed a display for the wedding cake knife. Spike moved along and saw the living room. It had a sofa in the front of a large 4K Television set which on the side of the sofa had a massage chair with cup holders.

"Please don't sit in the massage chair. It's brand new. Don't want it messed up on the first day." Torch said as he went to the kitchen.

In the kitchen, there was metal music playing as Torch was cooking. Ember went over to Spike in the living room and said,

"Wait right here. I'll be right out in a few minutes."

Spike sat down at the couch and just waited for Ember to finish up. After he was finished grilling a few burgers and hot dogs, Torch went into the living room and decided sit down on the sofa to talk to Spike.

"She's a nice girl, ain't she?" Torch asked.

"She's got an interesting personality..." Spike said.

"Aye. Would you like to hear about how I got these scars?"

"Uh... sure. Enlighten me."

Torch got off the sofa and took him to his office. Upon entering, Spike noticed a lot of decorations everywhere. The walls were adorned with medals, weapons, and his comrades from his times with the SAS.

"Have a seat, son." Torch insisted.

Spike did as he commanded and sat down on one of Torch's swivel chairs.

"Have you ever been hazed before?" Torch asked.

"A few times, give or take." Spike answered.

Torch went into his drawers at the desk and pulled out a large bowie knife, frightening Spike.

"In my days at boot camp, for every mistake that I made, the sergeant had the recruits cut a scar into our face. I was the unlucky one half the time. Had it even worse during the Gulf War. Would you like to see my other scars?" Torch said.

"Be my guest." Spike said, albeit in a more nervous voice.

Torch put his cigar on the ashtray and took off his shirt. They were multiple cuts everywhere on his body. Spike couldn't believe what he was witnessing.

"Care to touch them?" Torch asked.

"Uh, no. I-" Spike said before being interrupted by Torch.

"Go on. I insist."

"Well. I don't wanna-"

"It's fine. Completely harmless."

Spike conceded to his demand and went to touch Torch's scars. Making physical contact, he could feel how rough they were and how damaging it felt to his body. The thought of the scars were enough to send shivers down Spike's spine.

"Do you know why I let you touch my scars?" Torch asked.

"Do tell." Spike said with his voice shaking a little.

"It's to give you a clear idea of what I am capable of doing to you. I was in a POW camp. I was inflicted with various methods of torture as I stayed. Now, I decided that I would let Ember date you because she is my little spark of life. I would lose it if anything bad happened to her."

"So would my mom, but we all know how moms are." Spike said with a chuckle.

"I was originally gonna teach you a lesson about manners, but since I now know for a fact that you are small and you can't seem to do any physical harm to her with your current size, I have nothing to worry about. But if you do anything that could hurt her psychologically, I'm gonna give you a taste of what the Al-Qaeda did to me when I was their prisoner. Are we clear?"

"Crystal clear, sir."

"And no kissing up. You're only making a mockery of yourself."

"Sorry about that."

"Spike!" a voice called out.

They both heard Ember from outside the door.

"Are we gonna get going or what?! Where are you?!"

Torch looked at Spike and said,

"You gonna keep my daughter waiting?"

"Uh... Yeah."

"Just remember. Anything happens to her psychologically, your ass is mine, laddie."

"I'll keep that in mind, sir."

"Now go make my princess happy." Torch said, back to his good mood.

Spike nodded and headed out of his office with Ember waiting for him.

"Where were you? I told you to wait in the living room." Ember asked.

"Your dad thought it would be a good thing to get to know each other, so he took me to his office." Spike said.

"Is that so...?" Ember asked, giving Torch the stink eye.

"Well, I just thought I'd show him my medals and the pictures of when you were still a small child, you know?" Torch said, backing up Spike's lie.

Ember put her suspicions aside and grabbed Spike.

"C'mon Spike! Let's have some fun!" Ember said, dragging Spike along.

As they were walking out the house, Spike asked,

"Don't you have a car? We can't go to the different on foot alone."

"Don't worry. My dad's letting me borrow his car. He told me that it's so that he knows I'm out."

"Gotcha."

They both noticed Torch approach them and he said,

"If anything bad has happened, give me call, okay?"

"Yes, Dad. We'll be okay. Nothing bad's gonna happen."

"I believe you. Just making sure you know. Anyway, you two kids have fun."

Wanting to at least make a good impression, Spike said with a salute,

"Who dares, wins! Thanks for keep our world safe!"

"Wrong salute, kiddo!" Torch shouted without turning his head.

After Torch went back inside, Ember turned towards him and asked,

"Who dares, wins?"

"I wanted to leave a good impression! You would feel the same way if your father showed his scars as a way to intimidate you."

Ember simply rolled her eyes and asked,

"You gonna let Principal Celestia know we're taking my dad's car?"

"Y-Yeah. Just hold on for a sec."

Spike ran over to Celestia's car and said,

"Mom, we're gonna be going in Ember's car. I'll see you later."

"Okay, sweetie. Just remember that if she does anything bad to you, just call me. I'll be sure to pick you up. Hi, Ember!" Celestia shouted.

"Hi, Principal Celestia!" Ember said as she started the car.

"I'll see you in the next wrestling tournament, okay?"

"Yeah. I'll see you there!"

Celestia then turned towards Spike and said,

"Looks like your lady's waiting for you, Casanova~."

"Oh, mom..." Spike said, albeit embarrassed.

"I hope you kids have fun."

"I'll see you later, mom."

But before Spike could leave, Celestia said,

"Are we forgetting something~?"

"Huh?"

"Come over here~."

Spike grumbled and went over to Celestia's side of the car and kissed her on the cheek.

"I love you, Spiky~."

"I love you too, mom..."

Celestia then drove away back home, leaving Spike to hop in with Ember. After getting in the car, they both drove off, now trying to figure out what to do on their first date.