Wheelsy AU ~ Tire changing

[noteasytobepink]

"You know Bill..." Clarice drawled cheerfully. "When you said you wanted to show me the nearest 'city' I thought you meant we'd actually get there." She took her hat off and fanned herself with it, the ballcap doing little to stir the hot, damp air, but at least it was better than glowering.

"And yeah, that really does look like dry rot in the spare there. Never seen it in a tire before but I've seen it in other materials..." She wasn't even sure why they had headed out. A better bar where no one expected him to fix their problems? A place she was suppose to get fitted for a civilian aid uniform? Who knew!

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[no_andy_taylor.insanejournal.com]

Slogging out of the creek, Bill dragged himself onto the bank and sat in the grass.

"Probably, since we'll be walkin' the rest of the way," he laughed. No one liked soggy hitchhikers.

Untucking his shirt, Bill rang out the bottom of it. His blue jeans would probably stay damp all evening, though. Darn denim.

[noteasytobepink]

She joined him on the bank, still grinning cheerfully. "Maybe. Coudl always run into someone with a truck who'll let us ride in back." Optimism was fun?

"Besides, you look good soaked. You can just lounge beside the road and some caring lady will stop!"

[no_andy_taylor.insanejournal.com]

"Maybe."

Picking up a few rocks, he started skipping them across the water.

"I do, huh? Think you're just set on makin' me blush."

[noteasytobepink]

"Nah, I just figure you haven't hear tell that you're an attractive guy enough in your life so why bother restraining myself?" She watched him skip rocks and...didn't join in. Instead she picked up a stick to doodle in the mud.

"And since you are, to use the terminology of your world, 'Hot' and soaked to the skin I'm pretty sure folk would stop."

[no_andy_taylor.insanejournal.com]

And now he was blushing, but he was also smiling at the compliment and thought behind her words.

"Well thanks. But you ain't worried 'bout me growin' an ego?"

It could happen. Probably not.

"So you want me t'flaunt myself t'get us a ride?"

[noteasytobepink]

"Everyone should have some ego Bill, keeps you healthy." She nodded easily. "There's only a problem if it gets big enough to mess with your head." And she didn't see that happening! Bill was a well grounded person.

"Oh, would you? Flash a little leg, swing a little hip?" Oh yes, teasing teasing teasing.

[no_andy_taylor.insanejournal.com]

"Well I promise not to let it, then."

His next rock plunked into the water instead of skipping over it as he began to laugh.

"I will not. I'm just gonna stick with the thumb, alright?"

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"Awww, where's your sense of adventure?" She tried to look indignant and failed, falling into laughter so hard she tumbled against his side. "Thumbs it is. That way neither of us needs to be rescued from an earthier sort."

[no_andy_taylor.insanejournal.com]

When she knocked into his side his arm wrapped around her, and he held on as he kept laughing.

"It would be just my luck to attract the wrong sort tryin' t'flaunt it."

[noteasytobepink]

Oh oh oh, wrong sort! She was just going to keep giggling for a bit okay? Finally though, finally she lifted a hand to wipe at her eyes and peered up at him afterward. "I have to know who the wrong sort would be Bill, else I'll die of curiosity!"

[no_andy_taylor.insanejournal.com]

Swiping stray beads of water, and maybe some laughter tears, from his face, he shakes his head.

"I'm afraid I'm gonna have t'let you keel over, 'cause I ain't gonna say. 'Wrong sort' covers a lot, though."

[noteasytobepink]

"But Billllllllll..." She mock-whined. "How will I know the wrong sort if you don't tell me what to watch out for?!"

[no_andy_taylor.insanejournal.com]

He grinned at her in mirth, and finally realized his arm placement.

Unwinding from her as casually as he could to hide embarrassment, he shook his head at her again.

"I think you've got enough world hoppin' experience t'know the wrong kind."

[noteasytobepink]

She didn't comment on the arm at all, nor seem to mind when he withdrew. It seemed best not to make a fuss either way after all. "But those are villains Bill, true blue evil I can just kick in the head immediately. What if the wrong sort in your world are more subtle?"

[no_andy_taylor.insanejournal.com]

"The villians are blue where you come from? Well that's handy."

He was being a brat, yes.

[noteasytobepink]

"Only some of them, and I'd hate to get them confused with my teammate TJ, who is a nice, dark blue and furry." Mild, milllld reply!

[no_andy_taylor.insanejournal.com]

"Ah. So I guess it ain't so easy then. Oh well."

He shrugged, glanced behind him to make sure it was clear, then flopped out onto his back.

"Y'know, maybe we shoulda just planned a trip like this in the first place. Who needs the city?"

[noteasytobepink]

"Weel, if it was easy everyone would do it." She waved a hand airily. "The challenge keeps out the riffraff."

Oooo, grass. "Creeks are inherently more interesting than cities, though a bar with a pool table and the possibility of a bar fight is appealing too."

[no_andy_taylor.insanejournal.com]

"True. Guess that makes you an' your friends special for bein' heroes." He glanced over at her to give her a smile, then stared up at the sky again.

"Here I thought I was the only one who felt that way. I dunno, was just never drawn to city life. I mean, it's fun once in awhile, but who'd want that all the time when they could have somethin' like this?"

Clear skies, fresh grass and a babbling creek, that was much better than smog, trash and traffic.

He did give her a sideways look on the fighting, though.

"I wasn't goin' into Columbia t'look for trouble, y'know."

[noteasytobepink]

"Well...I'd say eccentric more than special I think." She twirled her stick in the bank mud some more then whipped it almost sword like in front of her. "Special implies, well, I believe Morph called it the 'shortbus'?" Not that she'd ever seen one but!

Mmmm, countyryside. "Always be prepared for a fight when you go to a bar. To do otherwise is foolish, besides, a fight can be a great stress reliever!"

[no_andy_taylor.insanejournal.com]

He cracks up at the short bus comment.

"Okay, I guess in this case eccentric is better'n special."

Resting his hands behind his head, he shakes it.

"The beer is the stress reliever. Fightin' is just a good way t'get your nose busted an' spend a night in lock up."

[noteasytobepink]

"Eccentric and badass, naturally." Because she had her pride to maintain! Really she did!

"Ah, but think on it Bill. Beer lowers inhibitions and eases muscles tension, that means when temper get short and the fighting starts, blows don't cause as much damage. You bruise less with some alcohol in you. Plus you have a focus for honest anger and adrenaline instead of the nebulous, gut churning anger you can't find a target for."

[no_andy_taylor.insanejournal.com]

"Naturally," he agreed.

Watching a cloud float by,he listened to her argument.

"I happen t'be a happy drunk in bar situations,an' ain't got any 'gut churnin' anger' to channel. D'you?"

[noteasytobepink]

"I didn't say you'd be starting a fight Bill!" Nope, he was just the sort who'd try to help when it started getting out of hand! "And of course you do. Your jaw's been going tight anytime anyone in town looks at you like they might be worried or sad for you, you had to get out of town, and the object of the initial anger isn't anywhere near here and you aren't the type to take it out on her anyway." Which was why Clarice had been scathing to Starla really.

"Also? That one looks like a frog. With wings." Pointing!

[no_andy_taylor.insanejournal.com]

"I'm not angry, I'm... " he thought about it and settled for, "I'm bugged. I don't need people feelin' sorry for me all the time. Besides, it ain't like we were ever together an' she dumped me."

People were just reacting like that was happened.

Bringing his hands down to his sides, he frowned.

"An' I ain't mad at her. I'm hurt," and that was the first time he'd admitted as much, "I figure I deserved at least a chance, but she didn't feel it, how can I hold that against her?"

Looking up at the cloud he tilted his head and nodded.

"Yeah. I was thinkin' more like a turtle in a Stetson."