americas_son | Sunnydale AU: simple words

"Yeah. Fine. No one got hurt."

He summons another small smile, this one more on the genuine side.

"I didn't mean to freak you out."

"It's okay. I'm getting used to being in a surreal state of being when I'm with you."

Cal laughs a little.

"Anyway. I bet Peter investigated Sherlock extra hard after that."

And he must have been okay with whatever he found, since he never tried to intervene.

"So if they investigate me, they'll tell you everything? Like where I live?"

He looks at her a little more closely.

"Only if I ask."

He takes her hand, cupping it in both of his.

"I won't ask," he promises.

She looks down at their joined hands. She trusts Cal. She doesn't think anything she says will chase him off, but it makes her a little sick to admit anyway.

"No, it's just- I live in a crappy neighborhood in a rundown complex, and it's embarrassing. Oh, and I work at Hot Dog on a Stick, and you can never come to the mall when I'm in my fucking awful uniform. I'm, like, the typical girl from the other side of the tracks. Literally. You cross tracks to get to where I live."

"I don't care about that stuff. If I did, I wouldn't have said anything to you in the first place."

He knows most of that stuff without having to ask. If her family had money or status, he'd at least know about them even if they'd never officially met. He doesn't know a lot about clothes, but he can tell hers aren't designer. And he's pretty sure he's caught a faint whiff of hot dogs from her once or twice before, when they passed each other in the hall. None of that matters.

"I guess I care."

She picks a non-existent piece of lint off her skirt.

"But if you don't? I guess it doesn't matter."

She smiles again, biting her lip while she does so. This isn't a dream. It's real.

Cal nods.

"Don't worry about it."

The door opens again and Danielle enters with a tray, which she sets on the table in front of the couch.

"Will there be anything else, Mr Chandler?"

"That'll be all, Danielle. Thank you."

She nods and departs.

"Is she an assistant?"

There are sliced cheeses and crackers on the tray, along with some pita chips and hummus. There are grapes and sliced apples, too. So fancy! Best after school snack ever!

So healthy. Anthony's new assistant must be in the kitchen today.

"She's on the housekeeping staff."

The word "maid" is really un-PC these days.

"Oh, okay."

She starts in on the pita chips and hummus. She loves hummus.

"This is great. Way better than microwave popcorn. Not that there's anything wrong with microwave popcorn."

Cal stacks together some cheese and crackers.

"There is if you forget and burn it. Which I always do." Mainly because he's always been high when he's tried to make it before.

"Burned popcorn is the worse thing ever. I'll take over making it when you're around."

Cal grins.

"Good plan," he says approvingly.

"'Cause it is nice to have popcorn with movies."

She picks up a small bunch of grapes and tears one off. She pops it into her mouth and grins at Cal. Her nose wrinkles in an adorable way.

- Cal totally forgets about the cheese and crackers in his hand.

"Yeah. It is."

She glances down, shy again, but pleased. Very pleased.

Cal reaches over with his free hand, sliding a strand of her hair back behind her ear.

She can't quite meet his eyes even though her smile widens.

He lets the strand slip between his fingers as it settles into place, then runs his fingertips gently along the curve of her cheek.

She closes her eyes and ever so slightly leans into his touch.

This is... so sweet. Like something out of a book or an old movie.

He smiles slightly, watching her for a few seconds longer, then leans in and kisses her.

Tina makes a tiny gasp, but after a brief moment of surprise, she kisses back.

She reaches out to rest one hand on his shoulder.

She's not pushing him away. That's good.

He lets his hand stay on her cheek and concentrates on kissing her.

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