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]

They all watched the ball intently, heads turning in sync as it rolled, and holding their breaths as the two threatened to go down, but didn't.

Bill let out a whoop when she was in the clear and started to laugh.

Blake frowned, scratched his head, took another look at the setup, then finally waved his hand and shook his head.

"No, ma'am, I'm smart enough to know when I'm licked. Y'all have fun, I'm gonna go back to takin' these two clowns money."

He nodded to his two companions and took a step back away from the table.

[noteasytobepink]

"I'm not done with you yet," Clarice grinned. "We got a truck to fix." Simple as that really! "Not saying you need to keep playing...but do you know who we should play? Maybe some people who aren't very nice?" They were local they'd know!

She played her fingers along her cue, smiled, and cleared the table, giving the man and his friends time to think it over.

"Bill? Any idea how much we might need to get new tires?"

[no_andy_taylor]

Bill finished his mug and was well and truly on his way to being Drunk.

Smiling wide, he was busy humming the country song that was playing to himself while she cleared the table. Snapped out of it by her question he canted his head to the side and shrugged.

"Oh, I du-- I dunno. Five hundred bucks... maybe. What-- what's'a tire cost these days? Times it by four 'cause a truck has four. One, two, four. Each side."

Blake stroked his chin, and shook his head.

"You're lookin' for that kind of money you gotta play Mike an' his crew. But... they don't like losin'. At all."

[noteasytobepink]

"Bill, babe, you might want to switch to water or juice for a bit of we're going to play some tough guys." She slipped over to give him a rather deep kiss. Sue her, she liked how he tasted!

When she was done she slid a rather...feral...smile toward Blake. "Where can we find Mike and his? I've kind of been aching for a good game or a good fight myself..."

[no_andy_taylor]

"M'good," he insisted. The kiss was great, and he was all too happy to accept and return it. Licking his lips when she pulled back, he grinned. "M'real good."

That smile of hers made Blake chuckle, and he had a feeling he should be more worried about Mike than for her.

"Place couple blocks down called the The Scratch. They've always got the back corner claimed, but if you flash a few bills they'll let you play."

[noteasytobepink]

"Billl...I'm going to go play with some poor boy's head. And his gang's. That alright with you?" Best to ask before she went in intending to come out winning everything!

"The Scratch, gotcha. Want to come watch or just wish us luck and laugh into your beer when you hear about things?"

[no_andy_taylor]

"Hm? Sure, darlin', sounds great." Bill tended to get far more agreeable to things the more he had to drink. Right now, he'd gladly wander into a den of hustlers in a shady bar if that was what Clarice felt like doing.

Blake shook his head.

"Nah, I'm going to look for my own score around this joint, but look forward to hearing how it goes. Good luck."

[noteasytobepink]

"Babe, if we're doing this you need to be a liiiiiittle more sober." Clarice slid into Bill's lap and waved for a bottle of water. "Things could get nasty with this group and I don't want you hurt."

Granted, she could just sit in Bill's lap for a good long while and let him sober up slowly...she was amiable to that!

"If it goes really well Blake I'll come back here, buy a round, and play darts with you instead?"

[no_andy_taylor]

Bill waved off her concern with a 'Pfft.'

"M'fine. Little fresh air on th'way an' I'm good t'go. Told you, takes more'n a couple shots t'get Bill Pardy drunk."

"Sounds good," Blake agreed, "We outta still be here.'

[noteasytobepink]

"I'm sorry to tell you, Sheriff, but you've had a LOT of shots and some beers too." She nibbled his jawline a little, not budging an inch. They'd wander down to The Scratch in a bit.

"Thanks for the advice Blake, gentlemen. It was fun!"

[no_andy_taylor]

"So've you," he pointed out, tilting his chin as he liked what she was doing.

Blake gave a nod and a wave and left them to it, taking the other two with him back to their table.

[noteasytobepink]

"Yep, and I'm drinking some water too before I go ass kicking!" They could sober up together! "Plus, well, insane metabolism on my part. Genetic bonus." And since he liked the nibbling, well, she'd keep doing that!

All the way up to an ear if he let her!

"And here's our water!"

[no_andy_taylor]

Bill chuckled, low and warm.

The thing about drinking was, not only did it make him more agreeable, it also made it more likely for him to say what he was thinking and not blush about it.

"Hmm. You keep doin' that an' I might say we should forget the truck an' head on home."

Giving her a smirk, he took his water and had a drink.

[noteasytobepink]

"Why Bill, are you trying to distract me on our first actual date?" Yep, still nibbling his ear as a matter of course. "You'd regret it in the morning babe. You don't rush into things, I know that and I got you drunk." Yep, she kind of regretted knowing that really.

Maybe another time.

"Unless you want me to tuck you in cozy and warm and come back to finish things here?"

[no_andy_taylor]

"I've known you a few months now, that really count as rushin'?" he asked with a laugh.

Shaking his head, he had some more water.

"No, I'm comin' with you. Just let me settle up here an' we'll go."

He pulled out what she'd given him, and started to rifle through for enough to pay their tab.

[noteasytobepink]

"But not in a dating sense," she pointed out. "And if you tell me in daylight that it's better to be friends I won't cry at you you know." She...understood people changing their minds when alcohol wore off!

"I'll hope otherwise but you know," just in case, she'd make sure there was less for him to regret if he did change his mind! "And I'd have had a nice night of kisses and ear nibbles."

[no_andy_taylor]

"What?" Bill blinked at her. "Hey, just because I'm a bit buzzed don't mean I'd-- what kinda jerk you think I am?"

He looked affronted, and a touch hurt. As if he'd just dump her like that.

"I like you, okay?"

[noteasytobepink]

"I like to plan for most outcomes," she admitted softly, leaning her head on his shoulder. "Just in case. I don't think it's the most likely outsome but...just in case. People are...complicated. They do things I can't predict sometimes." For example...he liked her.

Go figure!

"And people not from my world have said I move really fast once I decide I like someone and that spooks people and if I do I'm sorry!"

[no_andy_taylor]

"Well I guess that's a smart thing t'do. Goin' in without a plan is a good way t'get hurt, I s'pose."

It's what had happened with him, he hadn't really prepared for rejection.

"I'm gettin' used t'your way of doin' things, I think. Takes me by surprise sometimes, but it ain't nothin' that's gonna run me off."

[noteasytobepink]

"Well, you haven't seen me get mad yet..." she pointed out almost cheerfully. "I can be intimidating. I don't have Mr. Creed's teeth but still, I'm scary rar!" Fear her!

[no_andy_taylor]

Bill laughed and shook his head.

"Nah-uh. After seein' all the kung-fu, ninja stabby things you c'n do, the last thing I'm gonna do is get you mad."

[noteasytobepink]

"Never did figure out the running on water and sticking to walls bit. I assume real ninjas are part spider." She did! A whole clandestine tribe of Peter Parkers made a lot of sense in some of the worlds she'd seen!

"And good, I"d hate to be mad at you." Naturally, because she'd said it, she'd end up in a world where Bill was the bad guy and they had to fight. It was inevitable.

[no_andy_taylor]

"You just need some suction cup thingies for the wall climbin'." Bill says.

Leaning in, he presses a kiss to her cheek, then pats her hip to let her know he's getting up.

The last of his water is drained, he drops the tab and tip on the table they've been using, and nods at her.

"Come on, I know you want t'go find another game."

And he'd drunk his water, so obviously was now sober enough to go with her.

[noteasytobepink]

"Suction cups don't do a damn thing on concrete," she sighed dramatically and slowly slid from his lap. That was her cue to drain the rest of her water and grin.

Yep.

"I do. Games are fun no matter how they turn out." Griiiin. "Though if you get hurt I'm taking people apart."

[no_andy_taylor]

Bill waved off her concern and hooked a thumb at his chest.

"Hey, I c'n handle myself. I don't need any bodyguard."

Offering her his arm, he started for the door.

"If anyone's gonna be doin' the escortin' here, it's me."