The tension in him eases a little at David's ready agreement. It does cross his mind, to ask, but he can't quite get it out. It's one thing to ask for a date when they both have free time. He feels -- overbearing? Pathetic? -- asking David to set aside work to just...come be with him. Part of him thinks, hopes, that David would, and part of him is terrified of hearing no, of having his value lessened for even asking.

"I'm not that helpless," he says, but there's a smile to his voice, and he's not really protesting.

They don't make it to the alley, though, because the transport spell grabs hold of them, bike and all, and yanks them back to the holding room. It's only Balthier's years of piracy that allow him to reflexively stop the bike before they crash into anything.