[closed] this christmas we don't need to get away

[controlledvariable]

Date & Time: December 2010
Location: Chicago
Characters: two losers
Summary: ew
Warnings: unhinged laughter
Notes: please blame heather for the cut text i am so sorry. also gif warning under the cut

Comments

[5055034455]

[AND HE JUST

STOPS

WALKING]

[controlledvariable]

[whup.]

What?

[The most innocent expression in the history of human existence is on her face, right now.]

[5055034455]

Steph.

[Look at this super serious pause.

And then his straight face promptly disappears when he says:] I love you.

[controlledvariable]

[There's a brief second where she thinks she might actually be in trouble, but she laughs at that I love you.]

You too.

[She gives his arm a tug, to get them walking again.]

But not if you keep me from getting coffee.

[5055034455]

I would never.

[He practically skips back into step, because everything is stupid as hell.

At least they're only a few more blocks from their destination.]

[controlledvariable]

Good boy.

[She really needs to stop calling him that, because she's going to end up saying it in polite company and it'll be awkward.]

Hey, do you have a credit card with you?

[Because there's a trick Babs taught her that she wants to try once they sit down.]

[5055034455]

[She needs to never stop calling him that.]

Yeah, a few, but I don't think they'll work here.

[controlledvariable]

I can fix that.

[stop looking so smug, Steph

It'd only be a temporary fix, anyway, but still.]

[5055034455]

[It is literally not possible for him to fall any harder for her.

And yet that just made his big ol' heart skip a beat.]

Seriously?

[controlledvariable]

Seriously. I'm not as good with computers as Oracle so we'd probably get caught eventually, but since we're only here for a week...

[who cares!]

[5055034455]

Can you stop being so amazing?

[controlledvariable]

[She shakes her head, looking so very apologetic.]

No can do, sorry.

[5055034455]

[He sighs. It's loud, it's melodramatic, it's totally fake.]

[controlledvariable]

Don't act like you didn't know what you were getting into.

[He knew she was amazing before they started doing... whatever it is they're doing.]

[5055034455]

[Saul knew, but he had no idea.

The arm he has around hers tightens, drawing her in a little closer.

And since he's not quite sure what to say to that, the rest of the walk to Starbucks is silent.]

[controlledvariable]

[She squints at him a little suspiciously for a moment, waiting for a smart remark, but when nothing comes she's happy to shut up for a little while.

At least until they get inside, and then she just breathes in deeply, sighs, and mutters:]

I'm in heaven.

[because that's the appropriate reaction to Starbucks, right?]

[5055034455]

[That is the only appropriate reaction to Starbucks after months and months and months of not having set foot inside one.

Saul does the same, except it seems he's been rendered speechless.]

[controlledvariable]

[She lets them both indulge in that for a moment, before giving his arm another tug, leading him over to a table.]

People are gonna think we're weird. [no shit.] What do you want?

[Apparently it's her treat, since she's setting down the bag she brought with her and fishing her wallet out of her pocket; she still has money left from Baltimore, and she can pull small blls from her utility belt, so the coffee can be her treat.]

[5055034455]

[Do people not already think they're individually weird?

Saul goes where he's led, flopping into a seat and rubbing his hands together to warm them up while thinking. What does he want? EVERYTHING. And he won't even protest about Steph paying.

...not just because he's cheap, but because he thinks it's sweet.]

Um. Venti Americano?

[controlledvariable]

You're living on the edge there, McGill.

[Whatever!!

If he doesn't have any protests, she's going to practically bounce over to the counter and get them their coffees.

Watch her come back with some sugary monstrosity for herself.]

[5055034455]

[Sometimes he does!!!!

But sometimes he just wants something simple.

And if they're going to be here for a week, he doesn't want to kick things off with a diabetic coma. While she's at the counter, he pulls out his own wallet, rifling through to see what's in there. A Visa card, a Discover card, the $87 he hasn't spent in 7 months...

When she comes back, she'll find him staring at one of his own business cards.]

[controlledvariable]

[She's grinning as she sets his coffee down, but it gives way to a look of concern as soon as she sees his expression, and she reaches out to rest a hand on his arm.]

Saul?

[What's wrong?]

[5055034455]

Hm?

[He looks up at her, blinking.

Then he grins like nothing's wrong at all and offers her the card.]

Did I ever give you one of these?

[controlledvariable]

[She'd totally call him out on that, but then she actually takes the card, looks at it, and can't help bursting into laughter.

Or, well, giggles.]

Sorry, sorry, I just--

[Nope laughing too hard to speak she's just going to cover her mouth with her hand and wait for it to pass.]

[5055034455]

[Wow, that is so rude.

Saul's trying to look offended, but not smirking is really difficult.]

Excuse you.