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!

Comments

[no_andy_taylor.insanejournal.com]

"The once. An' that whole take off an' landin' thing ain't the best."

He did feel a bit bad for the whole twenty questions thing, though, and so when she made the portal appear he did his best not to blink or jump.

Looking at it, he even smiled, because he was impressed with her abilities.

"Wow."

Looking at her, he nodded, then faced the portal. He was tempted to stick only his hand through, first, but decided in this case taking a plunge was the only way to do it.

Steeling himself, he stepped through.

[noteasytobepink]

"Never did see the appeal of traveling wrapped in a tin can myself," she admitted, stepping up beside him so she could peer through the portal as well. Yep, right where she'd intended it to go.

Bill's kitchen was a private place, nobody was going to see them, and frankly she liked his kitchen.

Stepping through was exactly as she promised. A little tingly, but she was well rested, unrushed, and no one was going through at speeds that had to be compensated for.

"So...now what?" she asked softly when the were both through. Because if he was going to freak out it would probably be now?

[no_andy_taylor.insanejournal.com]

He held his breath and was braced for anything going through.
The tingling wasn't bad, and suddenly being in his kitchen was pretty surreal.

Looking around, he checked himself and then the room before looking back to her.

"Huh. That was... cool."

Very cool, actually.

[noteasytobepink]

She let out a breath she hadn't known she'd been holding and grinned at Bill. "Really?" There was so much relief in that one word that, well, it was obvious she'd been expecting some form of freaking out.

Possibly rejection.

Mutants had been hunted for less.

[no_andy_taylor.insanejournal.com]

He saw that relief there, and realized she'd been waiting on his reaction.

Smiling to reassure her, he nodded.

"Yeah, that's pretty amazin'. You were right, nothin' to it, an' now we ain't on the side of the road anymore, so I'm happy."

[noteasytobepink]

"Eeee!" She squeaked and swept forward to hug Bill tightly before finally letting the portal fade out behind them. Why yes she'd been leaving it open in case she needed a quick escape from a screaming Bill...

...yeah, his opinion was important to her. Incredibly important.

After the hug she stepped back and bounced on her toes. "So, now. We...call a tow truck? Or a cab? Still want to get to town?"

[no_andy_taylor.insanejournal.com]

He was getting used to being pounced by her, and so he just laughed and returned the hug.

"Well, I can just call Jeff and have him go out and fetch my truck. He'll toe it here an' I can work on it later. I'm still up for goin' into town if you are. Just gimme a minute to get changed."

Since they were home and all.

[noteasytobepink]

"Oh, yeah, getting changed would be a good idea huh?" Right! She could do that too! "Is it a dress kinda place you were thinking of of a jeans and tank top kinda place? Since I have the option now?" Yes, this was called down the hall as she headed for her room!

And then, then, she'd have to find reference photos of where they were headed!

[no_andy_taylor.insanejournal.com]

"Well, I had a jeans an' boots bar in mind, but if you wanted some place nicer... " He maybe should have asked her before.

"We could do a fancier place."

[noteasytobepink]

"I wanna go where you wanna go," she laughed. "Just figured I asked since I have clothing options here that weren't available in your truck!"

[no_andy_taylor.insanejournal.com]

"Alright. Well, maybe next time I'll let you drag me out in my fancy duds."

For now blue jeans and his customary plaid shirts would do.

Heading toward his own bedroom, Bill changed out of his wet clothes.

[noteasytobepink]

She was happy to throw on some hip huggers and a baby doll tee. Good enough for a boots bar? Totally.

"C'monnnnn Bill you're taking forever!" She caled laughing when she left her own room. Why not tease?

[no_andy_taylor.insanejournal.com]

"I'm comin'," he said, walking down the hall and finishing the last few buttons on his shirt.

"You still gotta get directions anyways, so don't be rushin' me." Buttons done, he straightened out his shirt and tucked it in, giving her a 'so there' look.

[noteasytobepink]

"Don't be rushing you? Want to go back to ambling along the road babe?" She laughed and struck a long suffering pose. "You haven't even told me the name of where we're going so how can I research? You cripple me!"

[no_andy_taylor.insanejournal.com]

"You threatinin' to zap me back to the middle of nowhere?" He was shocked, and properly (mockingly) afraid and compliant.

"Alright, it's Sam's Leaning Palmetto, in Charleston. Y'don't wanna pop us in the middle of the place, so somewhere down the street? I think it's on Asher Avenue."

[noteasytobepink]

"Nah, that'd just be mean." She admitted with a sigh. "Gotta set a better example than that." For mutants everywhere!

"Probably somewhere down the street since you don't want me advertising the popping thing."

[no_andy_taylor.insanejournal.com]

"It would be mean," he agreed, "So let's not do that."

Because he didn't feel like walking so much anymore.

"Sounds good to me. There's even a parking lot that's mostly empty after business hours." He figured the more space for landing the better.

[noteasytobepink]

"Some days I feel mean," she admitted cheerfully. "But not with you so yeah, no." Not doing that!

"Parking lot sounds good, still need a picture though. So, off to find a computer?"

[no_andy_taylor.insanejournal.com]

"I appreciate that." And even though they were joking, he really did.

"Computer, yeah. C'mon, you can do the internet thing an' I'll call about my truck." It was for the best he not be in charge of the computer part of this mission.

[noteasytobepink]

'Yeah, that's why I'm les smean around you," she grinned, totally teasing but hey.

"I can dash to the library then? Meet me there?" She could run there easy, it was almost the same distance away as the precinct.

[no_andy_taylor.insanejournal.com]

"Alright. It'll just take me a few to make the call, so I'm right behind you."

[noteasytobepink]

"Alright, don't make me come looking!" She grinne dand ruffled his hair before dashing out the door. What? She liked running!

The library ladies were nice?

And it wasn't hard to get satellite pictures of the nearby town either! Gotta love the internet and Google Earth.

[no_andy_taylor.insanejournal.com]

"Hey!" He complained good naturedly, smoothing his hair down with his hand.

It didn't take long to get the truck taken care of, and he was soon strolling down the road.

She might like running, he was more of a meanderer, given the choice.

[noteasytobepink]

She WAS going to get him running. She'd work him up to that , naturally, but she wanted a running buddy and he was it.

Unless he recruited one of the deputies to stand in for him or something! Wouldn't that be fun...

She was sitting on the fence across from the library when he arrived, chin in hand and obviously waaaaaiating for him..

[no_andy_taylor.insanejournal.com]

She'd have to do it by dragging him, but more likely than not, she would eventually get a running buddy out of him.

Maybe.

Walking up, hands in his pockets, he smiled at her.

"What? Couldn't meet me halfway?"