She's still scary though... AU Allison takes on the mantle of Tex but didn't die

It wasn't always easy being North. He had his own struggles, his own daily routines of wrangling the other Freelancers along with his sister wore him down. But it was worth it, he thought, to be able to count so many of them as friends and truly trusted comrades. Better still when he could count certain ones above others.

Lately, he wondered if he was imagining that he spent a lot more time socializing with Texas than he used to. Maybe it was just a recent trend, a temporary thing, but it was pleasant enough. She wasn't the nicest gal in the land, but she didn't need to be. She was tough, smart, and quick on her feet, and he couldn't help but admire that.

Still, it was a bit of a pleasant surprise to see her in the locker room. The moment he saw her, he smiled, though he noted--belatedly--that she couldn't see it through the polarized faceplate.

"Nice work out there today."

And he just came breezing in, no swagger no strut. He just moved like a man who knew exactly where he needed to be. Texas leaned against the locker, one foot crossing over the other and her arms folded, she nodded to his compliment.

"I was about to say the same. I've never seen anybody handle two assault rifles like that at once. Made me a little jealous." There was a chuckle to follow that, but hell any guy who could lead with that kind of accuracy with the standard weapons could probably handle the bigger stuff too. It was something to envy.

"Is that a skill you were born with or something anyone can learn?"

Unassuming, occasionally humble to a fault, and always willing to let the team get a boost up. That was just now North did things. His easy attitude was contagious, or so he'd been told.

Taking up his place in front of his locker, he opened it and shuffled through a few items, careful to look back to Texas whenever he could. His helmet was off in short order as he spoke, good-natured and even somewhat amused.

"Don't be jealous. I've had a lot of practice. But you could catch up, if you wanted to. You've got the arms for it." And she did, too. He... noticed? Yes, noticed. Satisfied, he moved away from his locker slightly, stowing the helmet for now.

"You think?" Her head canted to the side, the helmet fixed on him and now it held an unwavering steadiness.

"Maybe you could give me some pointers on it, I'd be willing to buy you a beer if you were willing to talk a little shop." Ok, there it was, under the guise of the training program or no, she'd asked him out for a drink.

Still she could play it off it he turned it down, no harm no foul. Texas wasn't willing to take his easy going nature for granted. Or that soft looking hair, it probably felt like silk between the fingers--Whoa, focus Tex.

"Sure." It was a quick, easy answer. He didn't even need a moment to think about it. Talking shop with Texas? With the best of the best? Like hell he'd pass that one up when he was in full-tilt training mindset.

But maybe he could do one better.

"You know, you'll need to take your helmet off to drink beer, right?" Gesturing toward her locker, he smiled.

"Yeah, they never did quite figure out the filtration system on these things."

Ok, so he said he'd go and she could ease down a bit. She nodded and released latches and catches and felt the hiss of pressure release from the helmet.

She didn't take it off much, hell most of the people in the program had never seen her out of her armor, so this might be a shock. She pulled off the helmet and shook out her hair. She rolled her neck and a few loud pops sounded.

"Whoa, that feels good."

"Yeah, but don't tell Wash that. You'll break his..."

Oh. Well, that was distracting. He'd only caught a few glimpses of her out of the helmet in the past, and having the opportunity to take a long, solid look at her was something he didn't know he needed in life. Like a warm breeze. She had a near oppressive confidence in that armor, but the minute the pressure seal was cracked, she seemed like just another soldier. Not in a bad way, of course, but... somehow more human.

What was he saying? He was saying something.

"...heart."

And maybe Tex looked a little relieved, and maybe, just maybe, that was contagious. North could feel his own shoulders and neck relax just a little more.

"Did he fall for that again? Man.." She laughed as she worked on her armor, deft fingers sliding out of the gloves and moving over latches. It was second nature for her and she thought nothing of stripping down to the under suit without stopping.

His pause though did make her look up, once she registered it as an awkward one. "Planning on wearing the rest of your gear? I mean I know it makes you look all buff and everything but we all know it's the armor." She grinned at him and pulled the zipper on her suit.

The black suit gave way to her under clothes and the pulled on a pair of jeans and a blue t-shirt shortly after. And look..yes...those jeans went on one leg at a time just like anyones.

Edited 2013-06-27 03:58 (UTC)

"Right." A nervous chuckle punctuated that, and he turned back to his locker. Off went the gloves, and he flexed his fingers several times before moving to unlatch the rest of his gear. He didn't seem to be in any great hurry, but he never was when it came to this. Better to do it right.

...Or, you know, maybe he was just focusing too hard and trying not to notice that Texas was--pardon him for noticing--incredibly attractive. Honestly, it probably wasn't kosher to take a glance, so all he got was the peripheral vision, but it was enough to make him glad nobody else was in there. It was pleasantly quiet, and he tuned in to the sound of armor over armor, clicks and snaps as he removed his gear and stowed it casually away.

Then he took his own moment to relax, to roll his shoulders out and run a hand over his hair before removing the body suit. That was probably his favorite moment of the day, that time when he knew the work was over and he'd done a hell of a job, and yes, even in her company he decided he'd revel in it. And hopefully she wouldn't mind that he took his time changing. Civvies felt like a luxury sometimes. He managed to coordinate a loose pair of cargo pants and a button-up shirt, which he casually draped on over his undershirt for a few moments.

"I don't care how climate controlled the suits are. It's still nice to get out."

The lockers were coed, not like any of them were seeing things they hadn't seen variants of before. Maybe that was why it didn't effect her at all, it was just another function of being a soldier. Her mind was still stuck on that, until they stepped out of this room it would still be the soldier and soldier, not yet people. It was the social disconnect that made it easier to preform out there.

But he was attractive, she wasn't even going to deny noticing, and once she'd had herself dressed she had time to run a brush through her hair and study him without notice. He was intent on the process of getting out of his armor and she had nothing against that as it afforded her a pretty damn good view.

Well...maybe she had been wrong about it all being armor, he wasn't lacking in the build department. At least not from the glimpse she caught before he pulled that over shirt on. He looked good with it open, sort of that rakish sexy thing that guys used to to way back when.

"Huh? Oh yeah right. Feels like I practically live in that thing, I always have to stretch out and get my muscles relaxed after. Partly the adrenaline too I guess, but I always feel like... I don't know like when I wear it I'm always on." If that made any sense at all.

Co-ed was one thing. Getting to see Tex out of armor was like finding a white tiger or... something like that. A rare animal, indeed. And he wasn't going to take it for granted. Maybe he felt a little privileged to see her so relaxed, just like he felt when any of the others truly relaxed around him. Perhaps it was a bit selfish, but he did like being the dependable, reliable rock of the group. He would never dwell on it or over think it, but when it came up in moments like this, well... he liked it.

Not a shred of vanity was a apparent; no mirror in the locker, nothing really important in there but little knick knacks and practical things. He didn't bother to check to see if he was presentable, buttoning up his shirt and straightening the collar at a leisurely pace.

"I think I spend more time in the suit than I do in my bed." He glanced over at her before taking a seat to slip his shoes on. "But that's just part of the... let's call it charm. We go into that mode, that perfect sphere of concentration when we're in there, and, well... Some of us are different people when that helmet goes on."

Ohh white tiger, she would have loved to hear that comparison, but since she couldn't read minds the flattery went unknown. Thankfully he could either or he might be down right embarrassed by her own thoughts. Tex didn't do social, so when she made the effort there was a reason, and he was a pretty damned good reason as far as she could see. Already she was leaning toward liking him a whole lot more than just a teammate.

He was just so...so damn stable. It was like she felt like she could say or do anything and he'd accept her and not throw it back in her face. She liked that, and she found that she trusted him, which was just fucking rare for her.

"Now that is a criminal shame." Way to let your libido speak for you, she looked down to haul her boots out and let the length of hair veiled her face and she cringed. "You should be getting more sleep than that." Yeah, nice recovery, idiot.

She pulled on the cowboy boots and straightened her jeans over them, then stood and pulled her hair over one shoulder now that she didn't look like she might die of shame. "Not me, I'm always a bitch, haven't you heard?"

If he could have read her mind, he would've been surprised. He didn't really know how highly she thought of him, and perhaps that was a good thing. Maybe it was better if he didn't know, just in case something awkward happened. Though... hey, he could use a little flattery. Attentive as he buttoned up his shirt, he nodded at her words.

He wasn't sure if he should awkwardly laugh or genuinely be amused by what she said. A bitch? Tex? Let's be honest. Everyone called every hardass female in the unit a bitch. Tex was too strong of a personality for most of them to handle, too dedicated and almost a perfectionist in the way she tenaciously took on everything above and beyond the call. So if they called her a bitch, well...

"I'd say that's a compliment, at this point. People notice the work you do, even if they don't get that there's an incredible person under that armor. If they call you a bitch, it just means they're paying attention."

Was... that too far? He wasn't easy with compliments, but maybe he just felt like it was time that someone affirmed the good work she did. That someone let her know she was appreciated. Smoothing down his shirt, he walked over a little closer, a direction which just happened to be toward the door.

Oh yeah, she held him in esteem for several of his qualities but he was making a whole new impression on her now.

Sure they call all the women bitches, and they all were to one degree or another. It was just something that came with being female and being in this program, let along the military. You had to be twice as good, twice as hard as any man to make it.

But Texas was a special case, above and beyond the norm, and he just slid into that so easy and so smooth that she almost could accept that as how everyone might feel. But she knew it wasn't.

"So unfair." She looked at him and clucked her tongue. The she turned and shook her head while she closed her locker. "You got the talent, the charm and the looks...you didn't leave anything for South at all."

Let him move closer, she was getting more and more ok with that by the minute, in fact... Tex stepped up and leaned in to press a kiss to his cheek. "Thanks though, for saying that. I know what they say, and they aren't wrong. But it's still nice to hear someone who doesn't think I'm devil spawn."

Look, he dealt with South every day from the first day of his life. He knows a bitch when he sees one, and he knows the best qualities behind the label. He just... happened to feel like pointing them out in Texas.

Perhaps it was odd on some level, but she seemed to be warming up to him somehow, casual and friendly in a way he knew she wasn't with the others. And he couldn't complain. In fact, it was a pretty mighty hunch until she real compliment came out, and then he just... really hoped he didn't look like an idiot for smiling. Maybe it was a dig at his sister, but it didn't mean he couldn't take her words for what they really meant.

Instinct kicked in when she moved closer, and he put a hand out to faintly touch her wrist just as her lips brushed his cheek.

Yes. Okay. She had his full and immediate attention, now, and try as he might, the smile wouldn't go away. It was unexpected, to say the least.

"You're welcome. I wouldn't put too much stock in..." No, no, he couldn't quite finish that sentence. Maybe if he just...

"Can I ask you something?"

She did not envy him living with South, how he managed to maintain sanity let alone his completely chill personality was a wonder. But there it was and she was pretty thankful for it.

She was warming up to him, more than just a physical thing she honestly liked him. She liked how she felt when she was around him. She didn't have many..hell any people she could just be herself around and now worry about competition or reputation or whatever. Everybody always wanted something from her, except him. He just took her as she was.

His touch on her wrist was light, just enough to let her know it was there, an affirmation and not a demand. It still made her shiver pleasantly.

She pulled back, head tipping just to the side and creating a shimmering cascade of blond over her shoulder. "Yeah, I guess."

Suddenly, the whole thing had flipped a switch in his head, and being a risk-taker and a forward-thinking individual, he had to take this chance. Something was going on, if his automatic response to being close to her was wanting to be closer. Everything felt a little lighter, and he wanted to wipe the presumably useless smile off his face.

"I was wondering..."

How was he losing his nerve? Where did he get his nerve, anyway? What in the actual hell was going on?

Mutual admiration, perhaps. Something more? Respect. Appreciation. And if there was anyone in the entire project who could make the next thing he said not seem completely game-changing, it was North.

"...how hard you'd hit me if I tried to kiss you right now. Hypothetically."

Was it her imagination or was he leaning in closer? He seemed to be, then again he seemed to be wavering between saying something or not..doing something or not.

"Yeah?"

Was he stalling for something? Why did he suddenly look nervous, North never looked nervous.

Her lips curled and there was something about that look that should have been illegal. Her hands curled into the front of his shirt and she yanked him to her, close enough that she could whisper in his ear and maintain her grip on him.

"Not nearly as hard as I will if you don't. Hypothetically."

No, he was definitely leaning in just a bit... Maybe more than a little once she had his shirt gripped there, and yeah, it was about that time that he got really nervous. She looked aggressive, but not unpleasantly so. In fact, that look shifted his brain into high gear, and he smiled, giving his head a little shake. Her voice was right there, too close, and he couldn't help but react. With a short breath, he turned his head toward her, letting his cheek brush hers for a fraction of a second.

"I don't really know, but..."

Then he settled a hand at her hip and went in for the proverbial kill. No timidity, no holding back. He curled his fingers at her side and urged her just a bit closer as he pressed his lips to hers. Ever the gentleman, absolutely, but only for a moment. If she let him, he'd go ahead and make that one hell of a kiss to remember.

Yes she was aggressive, but had he backed away or not given her the in at all this wouldn't be happening. But if he is going to up the ante so to speak, who was she to argue.

He knew all he had to know apparently, because he moved in and she met him with her own advance.

She expected him to be passive, to let her kiss him or have her draw the kiss from him. She was ok with that, but he surprised her again. North had no hesitation, though he wasn't forcing anything on her, he did initiate and deepen the kiss and the soft sound from low in her throat signaled her appreciation of that effort.

Her fingers released his shirt and moved up to slide into his hair and oh god yesssss! It was every bit as silken as she'd imagined. Her body so easily molded to his, her hands content to stroke back through his hair and draw him to her for an even deeper kiss. If he was aiming for memorable, his aim was dead on.

Normally he might have been just a little more hesitant, just a little more passive, but the adrenaline high was still there from training, and she was incredible. He'd noticed it, but had he ever thought for one single solitary moment of acting on it? Not until now.

A hand stayed at her hip, keeping her close but not too close, an open invitation to be as comfortable and forward as she'd like. That he left up to her, that he waited for. But from his end, the kiss hung between them like a loaded question, a tension he wasn't eager to break. It seemed to build until he made his own soft hum of contentment, his own show of appreciation for her, and for this.

Of course, the hand in his hair didn't hurt. It actually may have helped a little too much, sending a little shiver down his spine and urging him to press in ever so slightly closer. The hand that wasn't at her hip rested against the side of her neck, buried in her hair and silently asking her to just not stop. Not yet.

Maybe the balance of her aggression and his reserve was what worked out so well. He toned her down, never going so far as to suggesting taming her, but he toned her down and she amplified him. It made them meet in a wonderful middle ground where that kiss was becoming something heated but not obscene.

He still allowed her the freedom to move and she took it. Turning enough to lean back against the lockers and pull him along with her. That support gave her the freedom to move in entirely different ways. Shoulder braced to the metal while the rest of her arched into him; bringing their bodies together.

She practically purred with the additional contact, one strong arm wrapping around his back to hold them together. The other hand very content to finger comb back through the softness of his hair and play over the nape of his neck/

She had no intention of stopping. not when it was this good, not when it had been so long since she'd even wanted to do this. She had a taste of him and she wanted more.

Well, then.

North let himself be pulled along, got caught up in the intensity she held and kept and that he didn't know he wanted her to share. None of this was expected, but now he wondered why he didn't think of it sooner. Maybe he did seem mild-mannered, kind, unassuming, but in truth, he was human just like the rest of them, and he wanted and needed little moments like this. They let off that latent steam and kept him from feeling like a pawn.

He could strongly recall the last time he let himself do anything like that, but he banished the thought from his mind because she was arching against him and pressing her body to his, and dammit he was pressing back. The hand at her side went to the small of her back, and he urged her ever so slightly closer. He let his fingers tangle in her hair, sliding them upward to cradle the side of her head.

The power shift was slow, but he let it happen. He may have started this, but he didn't mind letting her take some of the control. He didn't mind letting this burn as fast or as slow as she desired, because he had all night, and the beer would stay cold without them. But there were small little steps forward on his part, a quiet noise here, a shift of his body there, the press of his hand against her back. Nothing untoward, nothing suggestive, but enough to let her know that this was preferable to anything else he could possibly be doing right now.

Edited 2013-06-27 16:15 (UTC)

The odd thing about her, about this was that it was so free. There hadn’t been games or dancing around subjects, there hadn’t even been prolonged flirtation just this mutual agreement that they both wanted this. While it might not fall under the strict definitions of romance it was something she needed. It was being shared with someone she had never thought would remotely be interested in it, but once her lips had touched his there was no question of how right it felt.

The last time she’d been involved, physically had been…well it had been complicated. Things had ended badly and then lingered even worse. It had left a bad taste in her mouth regarding all things intimate and emotional, but the sweetness of North’s lips seemed to be sweeping that all away.

Her leg hitched up, thigh rubbing against the outside of his before wrapping around it. Her hands moved downward, one played over the breadth of his chest and the other the firm strength of his arm. The was a low growl in response, he was hiding one hell of a body under those mild manners. She broke the kiss just long enough to whisper against his lips, “We might want to think about moving somewhere more private, Freelancer gossip is the worst.”

For all the concern she showed about it her hands were still roving over him, her hips were still moving steadily closer and her mouth had yet to release his from a reignited series of kisses.

The intensity kept building, and North found himself somewhat surprised, not by the way she acted, but by how quickly she did. Somehow he was convinced she'd be a little less aggressive in her private time. But he was fine with it. He was fine with her. Unlike some people, he could handle it. And you know, with her body pressed close and her lips on his, he was pretty sure he liked it.

Of course being involved with anyone had happened so long ago for him that he wasn't entirely sure how he felt other than... Well. The usual feelings a man might have with an attractive woman all over him. And he was honestly okay with those.

But then there was a leg around him and he had a hand low on her hip and everything slid into place in ways he didn't really want to try to process because god was she hot and getting carried away seemed like a good--

Right, she had a point.

"If you want to, I'm good with that." Breathing was a little difficult for a moment, there, in ways it wasn't even in combat. So screw it, he was just going to kiss her again and wait for her to make that decision.

Texas hadn't wanted something with this sort of intensity, outside of the program, for a long time. It had taken her by surprise and she was grasping at it fiercely, who knew when this would fall apart? Who knew if a mission or an accident or even the whim of the program might make this simple act impossible?

For her there was no point in waiting, there was too much that could happen to make a someday into never. So she didn't hold back, aside from the suggestion of a more private place to continue. He'd agreed but then there was kissing again and her world became the feel of his lips, the taste of his mouth, the heat of his body against her and she damned near forgot where they were.

The harsh sound of a door, loud in the otherwise heated and still room, shocked her to her senses. She moved fast, poor North wouldn't know what hit him ...aside from her. Her body moved and even with his advantage of height and weight she managed to throw him. Catching his wrist to make the landing on his back far less harsh than normal and if he was quick he'd stop his own head from hitting the floor.

She was on top of him, not a less intimate position but her grin and voice rose as though not for his ears. "See? Not always about the physical size or the suit, it's skill." There was a shuffle of footsteps but anyone seeing them like that would just assume Texas decided on an impromptu lesson for the blond freelancer. It certainly looked the part...flushed faces, breathless heaving chests, her pinning him like that...

A soft chortle announced Wyoming and he shot a glance to them before walking off. She fell forward for a quick whisper. "Sorry about that, you don't need problems with them because of me so you can tell them I was being cocky and showed you a take down."

It was a good cover, though it put her in a position that she was loath to move from. Eventually she would have to, and a strong hand would help heave him to his feet too. "I could really go for that drink about now, you?"

He was happy to forget where they were, what they were, even who, but then that damn door had to open, and North readied to spring back from Tex with great reluctance.

Of course, then he found himself on the floor, staring up at Agent Texas, glancing over to Agent Wyoming, and just generally glad that he had presence of mind enough to look amused. He'd thought quickly, moved quickly enough to keep himself from any real sort of injury, and he was in a good enough position that he could turn the tables on her if he really wanted to, but instead he closed his eyes.

Did he just get cockblocked by Wyoming?

If it's something that extreme, maybe he shouldn't be doing it at all. The way he was thrown against the floor certainly made him think, even if it wasn't exactly knocking sense into him. Carefully, he tried to control his breathing, to just grimace and act like he was tossed down for some legitimate reason.

"Alright," he replied, loud enough for anyone else in the room to hear. "I get it. I'll stop poking fun at you for the whole helmet thing. Never again. Promise."

But he put a hand on her shoulder in a motion to ask her to stand, and himself pulled it together so he could rise to his feet. There was a somewhat professional distance, now, as he considered things. She was gorgeous. She was interested in him in some way. She was right here in front of him. He could still see the way her lips swelled ever so slightly, the way her eyes focused with uncommon intensity even as she tried to look casual.

Was getting a drink the right idea? I mean, she could excuse himself, no problem. Say he remembered he had somewhere to be. He could avoid the problem altogether. Her question, then, was met with a small smile and a moment's silence.

Something had changed, well aside from the fact that she'd just pinned him to the floor in an effort to make their physical connection look more like a confrontation. He'd played it off perfectly and Wyoming never so much as blinked, why should he? Texas had a reputation, this was nothing that would shock or amaze anyone. She was not just a bitch, she was the bitch.

Once they had found some relative safety again she looked at him, really looked at North again and that was when she saw it. There was something missing from the way he looked at her and it told her she'd blown it. Whatever she thought had been sparking between them must have fizzled out, and how could she blame him?

She nodded, he didn't need to say it. She could read the expression clearly enough. What surprised her was that it hurt, for everything else she hadn't expected North to be receptive to advances like that and now she probably screwed up one of the few friendships she had over a longing for something more. "If you don't want to, it's ok. No big deal."

She worked hard to make it sound nonchalant, but right now she was really wishing she was back in her armor. So much easier to lose herself that way and not worry about feelings.

Something had changed, but North looked her over for a few moments more, then decided to shake it off. It was worth more, honestly, to try to take some kind of chance with her than it was to question it. Of all the Freelancers, he could brush this off later. So he kissed Tex. So they were going at it up against the lockers. Who cares?

"No, I want to." One hand rubbed at the back of his head. "I really want to. You just surprised me." Because she was incredible, and she wanted something from him that he'd gladly reciprocate. He just needed a moment to process it. He shook his head, looked her over one more time, and stepped in closer again.

Whatever she wanted, he was willing to give it a try. Was he glad of the attention? Oh, sure. But did he feel something unique toward her, too? He wouldn't still be here if he didn't, wouldn't have made that move. Maybe he just hadn't thought of it before, but gears were turning and things were clicking into place suddenly.

He had a thing for Tex. She had a thing for him. And they were honestly considering doing something about it.

Weird.

Try not to freak about this, but that reaction? Yeah it had a smile dawning on her face, something simple and true and filled with surprised delight. It was the same sort of smile of a child who expected nothing for Christmas suddenly waking to find a pile of presents under the tree. It was a look with a certain degree of vulnerability that she rarely, never thus far around her team, showed.

“Yeah, I tend to surprise a lot of people. You’d be amazed the number of people who think I’m a guy until the helmet comes off.” No, he probably wouldn’t, but it always amused her. Mostly because she couldn’t care much less what gender people saw her as because it was a nonissue. She fought as well as any of them, regardless of her sex.

“But if you still want to I’m still offering to buy, somewhere out in the city maybe. I know a place we could actually talk, hole in the wall kind of thing. The food is greasy and the lighting is bad, but it feels broken in. It’s off the grid away from all this.” She waved her hand at the room but encompassed the entire training facility. They had some leeway when it came to downtime, they had freedom enough to at least get out of there and be just people for a while. She was actually really looking forward to that.

North stepped closer and there was little hesitation, but perhaps more reserve this time, she smiled still but less predatory and more sincerely. A hand rose to rest on his arm, just comfortable contact. Her thumb idly caressing the line of muscle above his elbow.

That was something he liked about Tex, the constant element of surprise, the way she was always unfailingly impressive. He admired her where others feared or envied her, and now that he could funnel that into real attraction, well... Generally speaking, he was completely screwed. That little moment of vulnerability in her eyes, on her features set something going inside him, a slioght tension that he couldn't describe. How damn privileged was he to see her like this?

Her touch on his arm set everything at ease, and he let himself honestly, broadly smile. Maybe it was a little foolish to be so happy with it, but if he'd thought he had a chance with anyone in the whole place, it certainly wouldn't have been her. But now it was, and hell, they were alone enough that he felt it alright to lean in and press a quick kiss to the corner of her lips.

"You know what? I think I like surprises." A chuckle. "And beer. Let's go."

She would never let him down in the surprise department, it was sort of a theme in her life. At least he seemed to take it well unlike the others who saw it as a point of pride or arrogance and felt she was just a peg to take down. Not North though, never him. He’d treated her with kindness and respect pretty much since day one. She knew he was different than the rest of the freelancers just by the virtue of his personality. She could trust him and she found she liked that, she liked it a whole lot.

And then that smile. Smiles like that were the sort of thing that frustrated female writers had put into lurid prose for decades. It was the sort of look that put you instantly at ease, instantly comfortable not just with him but with yourself. That smile was reason enough to justify giving things a chance just to be able to see it one more time. For some unfathomable reason she was so distracted by it that she nearly missed that soft, unassuming kiss. Nearly.

Her lips caught just the edge of his and returned the quick peck, her hand slid down his arm and fingers brushed the back of his hand light before she turned for the door. “You trust my driving?”

"Not in the least. If you drive like you fight, I'm probably going to die." But he smiled, and tapped her arm gently before gesturing toward the door. Already, he was trying to come up with a game plan, some sort of strategy for behaving appropriately--the easy part--and keeping things under wraps--the harder part. Of course, there was no guarantee that Tex wanted this to go beyond a little fling, but some little inkling just told him that she might want something more. And maybe he did too. If nothing else, he'd get to know her better, and from there...

Well, from there? Not worth thinking about. He'd see how a beer or two went before he even let himself entertain ideas of anything else.

As worked up and content as he was, he managed to pull off an easy manner, no different from walking down the halls and talking to anyone else. Small talk wasn't difficult, and he could hide interest better than almost anyone. He was full of questions, though, things he was going to ask a beer or two in because his curiosity was about to bowl him over. What the hell just happened?

It was a quiet enough walk to the car, and once they were away and out of sight, he let himself walk just a little closer to her.

"Don't be a baby." She grinned and followed him toward the doors; this was going to be, well it was going to be different. Different in maybe a good way though, a new way she was unused to.

Ok, there was a certain thread in the history of Texas, she tended to be attracted to a very specific sort of guy; the worst ones for her. Or maybe she just twisted the relationship until they were the worst for each other, whatever. But it always started out as a power struggle, as an antagonistic thing that she found irresistibly attractive. She would beg for the fight with words and sometimes deeds and they would inevitably comply. If they had nothing real to fight about she created something, but the tension, the simmering boil of emotion was always there ready to roil up and burn them both.

That was more or less the exact opposite of North, she never once had felt like he was digging for a fight with her. More importantly she never felt like she needed to instigate one, out side of training. She felt comfortable around him, like maybe she could let her guards down and just relax. For a woman who practically lived on tension and energy the difference was shocking.

She found she did want to know more about him, spend time with him. She wanted to see more of that smile and hear that laugh of his, the one that was rich and deep and just rolled so effortlessly out of him. She wanted more of those kisses too, but they could come later.

It was a lot to think about in the walk, and they managed to keep the chatter light and utterly bland throughout the complex until they reached the garage. Her car wasn't anything special, but it purred like a kitten. She liked cars, she liked working with her hands and old models let her do that. She eased behind the wheel and waited for him to be comfortable before she tore out of the garage with a warning glare from the guard post.

"You might want to hang on to something." She gave him a dangerous grin and dropped a hand to the shifter, things were about to get interesting.

North was glad to be the exception, and might have felt just a tiny bit of pride if he knew what she was thinking. He'd welcome the challenge of holding her attention, even if it was just for one night. Hell, even if it was just for a few hours. Something unique, something special. A sort of intensity only Tex could offer. He didn't know he wanted it until he had a taste, and... yeah.

But then they got to the car and he wondered if maybe, maybe that intensity was life threatening outside of the armor, too.

Oh, yeah. He was just going to... yeah. Hanging on wasn't an option, but cursing mildly and laughing certainly was.

"I should've known you'd drive like a bat outta hell."

Technically he had already held her attention for a while, she'd only recently taken a step to act on it. But now that they were going to give thins a shot, at least give something low key a try she was more forward.

He laughed, he had a great laugh, it was contagious and she chuckled along with him, toning the driving down to legally acceptable style. It was still fast and smooth and she glided through traffic and slipped from lane to lane like a shadow.

"What can I say? I like things fast."

"I'll keep that in mind."

Her driving skills were insane, but admirable. She knew her way around a car, around the road, and after another minute or two he learned to just relax and trust her. When he did that, the whole thing became damn near magical. There was something relaxing about being this out of control but making it work so smoothly that he couldn't help but enjoy himself.

And yes, admittedly there was something devastatingly sexy about it, too.If she was like this every--no, North. Stop that thought right there.

"It's not all I like."

She turned just long enough to give him a devilish grin and then her eyes were back on the road. She was as he said an insane driver, but there was method to her madness. Her choices were not erratic or uncontrolled, they were simply intense. Her hands moved deftly, her eyes flickered to mirrors and the side when she moved ensuring that they weren't getting into any accidents even with the smooth, sudden shifts of lane.

And that wild ride ended far out from the clean sterile lights of the complex. Beyond the sharply ordered buildings and structure of the main heart of the city. This was the outskirts, the places where shadows fell and concrete crumbled. It was nothing like the city and in that it was somehow far more human.

Texas rolled to a smooth easy stop and parked the car, getting out and waiting on him before she moved again, her hand catching his on the swing and fingers seeking to slide between his own.

Everything about her driving truly impressed him just as much as it terrified him and surely made some great racecar driver turn over in their grave. But god, once he started enjoying the ride, he wanted more. Not really thrill-seeker, no, but god was she good with her hands.

"I don't know if I can survive round two of this, just so you know."

But then they arrived safely, and he breathed a heavy sigh of relief, looking her over in appreciation, awe, and general horror. Tex was Tex. Tex was amazing. Tex was terrifying in every way. And he liked it.

He thought he couldn't smile any more, but once her hand slipped into his, well. He had to duck his head and cover his mouth discreetly to keep from looking like an idiot. And he gripped her hand back loosely, too. They... meshed. Fit. It was unexpected.

His easy nature suited their new surroundings, and he took the chance to lean in and kiss her cheek as they walked. It was tentative, soft, more of a test than anything.

"So... how'd you find this out here in the first place?"

She was good with damned near everything, but that really wasn't what he was thinking about..or was it?

She hadn't intended to terrify so much as shake him up, get him to leave behind the program and their team and everything that went with it. This was just between them and the distance she put between them intellectually was every bit as important as physically.

She hadn't missed that look though, the way he hid his reaction. It was a charmingly shy thing to do and all she could do was smile in return. She eased the grip a bit firmer and ran her thumb along his as they walked. He kissed her cheek and she leaned against him to rest her head on his shoulder.

"Back in the beginning I wasn't allowed to associate with the rest of the Freelancers, which also means I couldn't use the officers club or any of the social venues in the complex. I had to find other places I could go and, as the Director said, keep a low profile. So I was driving and found this place one night. After that I used to sneak out here a lot. It just felt really good to get away from all that and be me, not Agent Texas, just me." If he could even understand that. Maybe to him the pressure wasn't that big of a deal.

He actually was thinking about how damned good she was at everything she took on, and for a moment he wondered if perhaps she only took on what she was good at. Of course, that meant she was good at a lot of things, and well. He had limits way, way below hers. Why was she giving him the time of day, again?

Her head touched on his shoulder and he almost missed a step, pulling in closer and grasping her hand just a teensy bit tighter. So she'd know he was there, so she'd know he noticed, that he wanted her in this kind of a place, right beside him.

"You know, everybody just thought you were... kind of a snob. I held out for something better." He dropped his voice, but the tone was still warm, inviting. "I'm... really starting to be glad I did."

When they neared the bar, he paused, barely loosening his hold on her hand as he moved to open the door for her.

"Should... I be calling you Texas?"

Seriously? Did he open the door for her? If she hadn't been grinning wide like that she might have laughed. It was just so sweet and clearly automatic by the speed of his move that she knew this wasn't something he was doing to impress her, this was him.

She was kind of deciding that she really liked him.

"You can say bitch, I know what they thought. The Director thought it was a great idea to keep me sequestered until he was ready to let me out. And no better way to make a first impression than take down three of the top agents and half blind one for life, right?" She frowned with that, sounding truly upset about it. She hadn't intended for York to get hurt, if those idiots hadn't been screwing around with live rounds and real grenades on the floor it never would have happened. She was sore over it, mostly because she hadn't been able to do more to save York.

But being bitter about that wasn't going to make tonight better, her brow furrowed a moment longer but she let it go. Tonight was for getting away, and she planned on just that. "If you want you can call me Allison." She said as she stepped through and into the bar.

Of course he opened the door for her! He opens the door for everyone, honestly. It's just part of his charm. His parents raised him to treat people right, so he did. Scoring extra points with Tex was just a very nice bonus.

"I didn't want to say that. We kind of already went over that one," he said, offering up another smile as he shook his head. "I never really cared. We all saw what happened. Some people were just in denial about it." And as much as he talked to York, he knew when went down.

Letting go of her hand so she could walk inside, he frowned just a bit. He hadn't meant for there to be any sore subjects, and he counted this as one strike against himself. This was supposed to be fun, not business in any way. How could he make up for that one?

"Shane." Out of context, it doesn't mean much, but if she thought on it... Well, he and South kept a lot of secrets, and very, very few Freelancers knew his name. Now Allison did.

Once she seemed to select a seat, he followed. Bar? Table? ~~Somewhere on the floor?~~

He was a gentleman, which was getting more and more rare all the time in the world. Equality had long since come and the sexes no longer had to debate the merits of gender and suitability or strengths. But it was sort of refreshing to see someone who had that old fashioned common courtesy.

"It's ok." Was all she said and dropped it at that, no need to go deeper into it, after all they were here to have a good time right? Still it was nice that he had seen what she did and why rather than automatically blaming her for the outcome.

"Shane," She liked it, the way it rolled off her tongue and sounded soft but strong. It suited him, and if she recalled... "When I was young..before my folks died, we used to watch those old vids from back before holograms and all. Dad and I liked the westerns with cowboys." Some things never changed in Texas, no matter how far into the future you went.

"There was one about a guy named Shane, I think." She only vaguely recalled that, she'd lost pretty much everything fairly young. Which lead to why she had so many issues with people, though the comment had come as off handed it said more about her life than maybe she intended.

Allison nodded to the bartender, a squat grizzled man with frizzy dark hair and a beard to match. He lifted his jaw to a seat at the bar and she shook her head and just pointed over to a table by the window overlooking the city and held up two fingers.

She lead Shane over to the intimately small table, it was quite and a few bits of peanut shells littered the floor around it. It wasn't crisp or clean or neat but it was comfortable and two chilly bottles of beer arrived about half a minute after they sat.

She's still scary though... AU Allison takes on the mantle of Tex but didn't die

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