(no subject)

[wheelsy_sheriff]

Bill is downstairs after some breakfast. He sits down at the counter, and before he can even ask, Bar provides him with a loaded plate; eggs, bacon, sausage, hashbrowns, a short stack of pancakes, a cup of coffee and orange juice.

Bill grins at the offering, and is about to say thank you when a newspaper appears. Looking at the front page headline his smile falls.

Mardi Gras in Miami

It's not really the headline, but the part underneath that tells how the Saints defeated the Colts 31-17 in the Superbowl that's just killed his good mood.

Bill lifts the paper and shakes his head.

"Aw, c'mon, no. I didn't even know they were playin'."

Comments

[justdidntseeit]

"Nothing?"

The echo melts into a laugh when he's suddenly close enough to wrap his arms around her.

"That's not nothing."

Tilting her head, she gives him a defiant smirk without budging another centimeter.

[wheelsy_sheriff]

Her stopping is unexpected, and makes him stop as he tries to figure out what she's up to.

Studying her warily a moment, he puts on an easy smile.

"C'mere."

[justdidntseeit]

That gives her pause.

"Is this part of your honey versus vinegar plan?"

[wheelsy_sheriff]

"My whu?"

He eyes her, growing more suspicious.

"What's your plan?"

[justdidntseeit]

"You know the saying, you draw more flies with honey than -- "

A pause, and her eyes narrow.

Carefully, "I don't have one."

[wheelsy_sheriff]

"Oh. Right. That wasn't my plan."

A beat.

"Not that I had a plan."

Another beat, and his voice is just as careful.

"Y'sure you ain't hatchin' one?"

[justdidntseeit]

She lifts both hands out of the water, palms up in mock-surrender.

"No plan."

A beat.

"And you?"

[wheelsy_sheriff]

He holds up his own hands, and shakes his head.

"I don't. Just wantin' that swim you mentioned earlier."

[justdidntseeit]

She studies him for a moment, then nods.

"Okay."

Inching closer, her leg brushes his beneath the water.

"Truce?"

[wheelsy_sheriff]

"Truce."

He gives a short nod, hand reaching out for her shoulder as he closes the rest of the distance.

"Glad we got that settled."

[justdidntseeit]

Her eyes narrow slightly as she keeps her gaze trained on his face.

"So you're not up to something."

It's not quite a question.

[wheelsy_sheriff]

"What? I'm not, I promise."

He shakes his head at her, appearing wounded.

"Geez, Kate, we just called a truce."

[justdidntseeit]

"Okay, okay," she says with a chuckle, edging closer to press an apologetic kiss to his jaw.

"I'm sorry I doubted you."

[wheelsy_sheriff]

He could.

But, he shouldn't.

He could.

But... he shouldn't.

He'd never get away with it. He'd be breaking her trust and it's silly and childish and--

He accepts the kiss and gives her a smile, and then suddenly he's dunked her and is swimming away for dear life.

[justdidntseeit]

Her eyes fly open underwater, and she winces at the sting, immediately wishing she hadn't.

When she surfaces, she slicks back her hair and rakes water from her eyes and cheeks.

She spots Bill two heartbeats later and lunges after him, her body cutting through the water with swift, sharp grace.

Grinning to herself, her hand closes over his ankle and she tugs hard.

[wheelsy_sheriff]

He knows she's closing, but just as he's looking back to see how close she is, his ankle is snagged and with an undignified, "ULP!" he's stopped and pulled under.

There is splashing and spluttering as he tries to get himself righted.

[justdidntseeit]

She's laughing when he breaks the surface, and she slings an arm around his shoulders, treading in place with her free hand, her feet kicking in a slow, steady rhythm.

"Now we're even."

[wheelsy_sheriff]

He tenses when her arm goes around him, bracing for another attack.

When it doesn't come he starts to laugh, nodding and eager this time to call it even.

"Yeah, I'd say we are."