Chapter Text
Lucy sat at the bar, twirling her beer bottle between her fingers, watching how it turned on the surface of the dark wood and left a spiral of moisture in its path.
She’d been in her new job with NCIS for four weeks now and days like today she couldn’t help but feel like she’d maybe bitten off a little more than she could chew. It hadn’t been a total disaster, but she’d had to be de-briefed by Tennant over her decision making during her pursuit of a suspect. Tennant knew that her heart had been in the right place; that she’d just been trying to do what was expected of her. But Tennant had been right - she should’ve waited for Jesse to get to her before she’d detained the guy. She was technically still being mentored in the field... The suspect was essentially cornered. He couldn’t get anywhere and her decision to immediately grab hold of him and try to grapple him to the floor had blown their cover sooner than they’d initially planned.
Lucy sighed as she internally mused that they still reached the right result. Tennant wasn’t mad, nor Jesse. They’d both just been worried for her which was a nice thing she guessed. A small part of her still couldn’t help but feel like she’d let them down though, and days like this reminded her that she still had so much to learn.
Lucy scanned around the bar. It wasn’t that busy given that it was a Friday evening. There were a couple of guys sat at the longer side of the L shaped bar. They were watching the TV above the bartender. Lucy couldn’t see what it was showing but it sounded as if a baseball game was being broadcast, the loud cheers of the crowd audible in the background.
In the far corner, the pool table was engaged - a guy and a girl, probably a couple, laughing at the guys inability to accurately hit any of his own balls. There were the usual locals, a couple of families with teenage kids in the booths eating dinner beyond the bar.. An older chap sat in one of the comfortable chairs to Lucy’s left. Lucy deduced that he must spend all of his time here. She didn’t come here often but when she did, he was always in the same spot. She finished her beer and set the bottle down, pushed the sleeves of her black top up to the elbows on both arms, interlinking her fingers and leaning forwards onto the bar.
Nate, the bartender approached, smiling “another?” He asked. Lucy glanced at her watch. It was only a few minutes past seven. “Sure, thanks” she replied, returning the smile. Within 2 minutes her replacement beer arrived and she took a sip.
As she set the bottle back down on the bar, Lucy noticed the entrance door open. It was situated about halfway up the longer side of the bar, more or less directly in front of the TV and the guys that were completely engrossed in the game. The new patron entered, a tall, slim blonde. Her hair pulled back into a neat ponytail, a white sleeveless button up blouse with a collar, tucked flawlessly into smart black pants, secured by a black belt. Sensible, low heeled shoes.
Lucy noticed the woman slide her hands casually into the front pockets of her trousers, scanning the room briefly to take in her surroundings before approaching the bar. Lucy couldn’t tear her eyes away. Where on earth had this goddess appeared from? Where, also, did she find her ridiculously perfect jawline?
Lucy knew she was staring but thankfully, the focus of her attention was too busy picking up a menu to notice. Lucy swallowed, still captivated as the blonde scanned the list of options on the card in front of her and the bartender approached. Lucy couldn’t hear what she ordered to drink but watched as the bartender turned to retrieve two wine bottles, showing each of them one after the other to who now seemed like the only other person in the bar. The blonde made her selection and thanked the bartender as the wine glass was placed in front of her. She leaned forward slightly, pointing at something on the menu before the bartender nodded and gestured towards the booths on the other side of the room. The blonde nodded back, saying something in acknowledgement before she slid onto a bar stool and took a sip of her drink.
The bartender took payment from the blonde and from what Lucy could make out, he mouthed something about 20 to 30 minutes. She watched the blonde thank Nate again before relaxing into her seat a little more, glancing up at the TV before taking another look around her surroundings and.. oh.. shit. Looking directly at Lucy who may as well have been drooling. Lucy averted her gaze immediately, picking up her beer and taking a swig. As she cautiously glanced back, the blonde was still looking intently at her. She smiled and Lucy did her absolute utmost to return it in the smoothest - least pervy way possible. Lucy felt her stomach flip, suddenly very self conscious and wishing she had at least made a slight effort to make herself more presentable before coming here.
The bar wasn’t a dive, but it certainly wasn’t one of the nicest options in the area and Lucy had learned that she was unlikely to bump into anyone from work. It just so happened to only be a 10 minute walk from her apartment which served as an added bonus for the odd occasion when Lucy felt like having a blow out. What she most certainly hadn’t bargained for, however, was for a stunningly beautiful woman of this calibre to strut into a joint like this before her very eyes.
After around 15 minutes of Lucy stealing awkward glances at the blonde, the bartender approached her. She appeared to now be reading something on her phone. He pointed towards the dining booths and the blonde said something in response, smiling and shifting off of the bar stool to walk towards an unoccupied one. Thankfully, the one closest to the bar so Lucy wouldn’t completely lose sight of her. She couldn’t help but glance at the blondes ass as she strode casually over to the booth. The pants she was wearing fitted perfectly in all the right places. They must be tailored, Lucy surmised as the blonde set her drink down on the table and slid into the seat which still faced Lucy’s direction - thank you god. If she’d chosen the other side Lucy would’ve barely been able to see her thanks to the dark wood and glass surrounds which gave the booths a bit of privacy from the rest of the establishment.
As she sat, the blonde almost immediately rose of her seat. Lucy groaned in frustration internally, thinking that the target of her attention had decided against sitting on that particular side. The blonde didn’t sit on the opposite bench though, and instead appeared to scan around the room with her brows furrowed. She looked as if she needed help with something. Lucy had an internal debate with herself momentarily, before deciding to jump off of her stool, grabbing her beer. ‘Fuck it. This is your opportunity’ she thought to herself, walking in the direction of the lavatories which conveniently meant that her path would cross with the woman who had captivated her for the last 20 minutes.
Lucy approached, one hand in her front pocket and the other grasping her beer casually. “You look lost, need something?” Lucy asked, as nonchalantly as she could. “Uh.. yeah, thanks. I’m looking for silverware.. or do you all just eat with your hands here?” The blonde asked teasingly. Lucy laughed slightly. “Well if you’re expecting it to be silver you’re gonna be gravely disappointed. But it’s down here..” Lucy motioned with her beer bottle, pointing towards the opposite end of the booths.
She walked and the blonde followed her path, as she reached her destination, Lucy set her beer on the table and picked up a napkin whilst the blonde selected a knife and fork from the trays in front of her. “Two sets or..?” Lucy asked, about to grab a second napkin, not letting on that this was her instantly improvised ploy to find out whether or not the other woman was expecting company. “Ah, no, just one. Thank you” the blonde smiled, taking the offered napkin from Lucy.
“Really??” Lucy asked, hoping that the disbelief in her voice was evident - a subtle compliment. The blonde smiled again “I’m just here for the weekend - work meetings” Lucy’s eyebrows raised slightly, an “Oh” of understanding leaving her lips.
“How about you? Are you local?” The blonde enquired. “Yeah, I live a couple of blocks away. I don’t come here that often though” Lucy tried to explain, conscious that this probably wasn’t the standard that the perfectly presented beauty in front of her was used to. The blonde didn’t really react but her gaze held Lucy’s before her mouth opened, a reply about to leave her lips.. Lucy’s attention was broken by the bartender setting a plate down on the table of the booth that this stunningly mysterious here-for-the-weekend individual had selected. Lucy pointed back in the direction of the booth and said “I think your food just arrived” “Oh” the blonde seemed to slightly awkwardly shake herself back to present time. Interesting.. Lucy thought. Lifting the knife and fork encased in the napkin “Thank you.. erm?” The blonde enquired, holding her free hand out slightly. “Lucy” the smaller woman replied, not completely sure if that was what the blonde was trying to extract from her but providing the information anyway. “Lucy” the blonde replied, smiling, placing her hand back down by her side. Lucy returned the smile as the blonde turned to head back to her table.
Lucy pursed her lips as she grabbed her beer from the table and headed towards the bathroom, not that she really needed to utilise it, but conscious that it would be too obvious to just head back to the bar, advertising the fact that she had only really walked in this direction for one reason.
As Lucy exited the bathroom and sauntered back towards the bar, the blonde turned to catch her gaze as she passed. Lucy smiled “How’s your food?” glancing at the miserable looking avocado salad set on the table as she passed slowly. “Have you eaten here before?” The blonde asked with a slight smirk. “Once. That was enough” Lucy said, consciously looking over her shoulder to make sure the bartender wasn’t within ear shot. “Thanks for the warning” the blonde said, a subtle grin crossing her lips as she side eyed Lucy. Lucy laughed, approaching the table to stand directly next to it, leaning over to eye up the meal “Oh c’mon, I’ve seen worse” Lucy teased. The recipient of the meal shot her an incredulous look followed by an unimpressed smile, eyebrows furrowing as if Lucy had come out with a load of bullshit. She kind of had. The salad did look particularly shit.
Lucy noticed that the blonde had hardly any wine left in the glass set to her right. “How about another drink? Make it go down easier?” she suggested, reaching towards the glass slightly, awaiting a response. “I don’t think there’s enough wine in the world..” the blonde mused. “But I’d like that, thanks” Lucy collected the glass, holding it between her fingers alongside her almost empty beer bottle “Sure..uhmm..” Lucy held her palm out, gesturing towards the blonde, a quizzical look on her face. “Oh..sorry, Kate” the blonde pointed towards herself. Lucy nodded “Kate” before turning towards the bar and ordering another drink for them both.
Thankfully, the bartender remembered what Kate was drinking. In her nervous haste to get her a replacement, Lucy had completely forgotten to ask. The bartender set the drinks down as Lucy decided to order some fries and grilled halloumi, hoping that this would marginally make up for the disappointing avocado salad that Kate still appeared to be picking at with her fork.
Lucy approached the table and set the wine glass down, a lop-sided smile fleeting across her face “Thank you” Kate said as she set down her fork. “Looks like your seat’s been taken” she glanced over towards Lucy’s original post at the bar. Lucy turned to look. Indeed, a strange looking guy with a receding hairline and specs was sat looking gormlessly at himself in the mirror at the back of the bar. “Unless he’s here for you” Kate quipped, struggling to contain a smirk as she brought her glass to her lips, an eyebrow raised. Lucy glanced at her, a slightly disgusted look crossing her face before shooting her eyes sideways in the general direction of the male, “Yeah, I’ve been waiting all evening.. just can’t get enough” she replied sarcastically. It earned her a laugh from Kate.. and my god, Lucy decided there and then that she was going to make it her mission for the rest of the night to keep making that happen.
“Feel free to sit here, y’know.. if you want to play hard to get” Kate suggested, glancing back over at the man who was now picking his fingernails over the bar. Lucy accepted the invite, sliding onto the bench opposite Kate and setting her beer onto the table. “Thanks, hard to get is totally my style” Lucy said, shrugging her shoulders and nodding. “Could’ve fooled me” Kate said, serious now, but with a small smile playing at her lips, glancing up from her wine glass to Lucy’s face briefly as she made the observation. ‘Shit’ Lucy thought. Had she been that obvious? Was she that easy to read? Apparently so. She didn’t even know if Kate was gay. Lucy had her suspicions from the way she held herself, the way she strode into the bar and slipped her hands into her pockets, the way she had just this second let her eyes settle on Lucy’s lips before reconnecting with her eyes. Shit.
“So, the outstanding food aside, how come you don’t come here that often?” Kate asked. Lucy took a sip of her beer before responding “There are much nicer bars around - a little further out but worth the extra distance. I only come here when I don’t feel like getting changed to go out or when I just want a quick drink after work. It’s more convenient than anything” Kate nodded, acknowledging her response as a bowl of fries and a small square plate of grilled halloumi and sweet chilli dip were set down in front of them. “Thanks Nate” Lucy said to the bartender. Kate looked at the latest additions to the table as Lucy picked up a fry. “Lesson number 1 - come to a place like this Kate.. carbs and cheese. It’s the safest bet” Lucy motioned to the food in front of her and pushed them further towards Kate, moving the plate of salad out of the way. “Who orders salad anyway?.. help yourself” she added. Kate chuckled, raising her eyebrows and carefully selecting a fry from the bowl. “And lesson number 2 is?”
“Oh, that comes later” Lucy explained casually.
“I see” Kate mused.
“So how long have you lived here?” Kate asked.
“A little under a year. I’m from Texas originally”
“I thought so” Kate nodded.
“Is my twang that bad?” Lucy asked, her nose scrunching
“It’s subtle but it’s definitely there” Kate responded, a soft smile playing at her lips.
“And how about you silverware Kate? Where are you from?” Kate smiled “DC” “Ah” Lucy nodded. “Figures” Kate gave her a quizzical look and Lucy continued “You look.. important. Like someone from the capital would” Kate let out another laugh, her nose scrunching and eyebrows furrowing. Butterflies in Lucy’s stomach coming to life.
“What?” Kate asked, genuinely bemused. Lucy shrugged her shoulders, taking another sip of her beer “you just look.. official. In a good way” Lucy added, a smile tugging at her lips.
”Okay” Kate replied, smiling back, eyebrows raising slightly.
Lucy took a piece of halloumi, dipping it into the sweet chilli sauce before bringing it to her mouth. Just before it met it’s destination, a small drop of sauce fell onto her chin. She chewed the mouthful as she used her index finger to quickly clear it from her skin, taking the edge of her finger into her mouth slightly to trace her tongue over it swiftly. She had hoped that Kate hadn’t noticed, but when her gaze drifted upwards she found Kate looking directly at her mouth and the finger that was leaving it to return to her beer bottle. Kate swallowed thickly as Lucy cleared her throat and adjusted her position, her leg accidentally brushing against one of Kate’s as she did so. Lucy met Kate’s gaze again and was rewarded with a small smile, a glint of something in her eyes which shot straight to Lucy’s centre.
“So..do you get any time to do some sight seeing whilst you’re here or is it strictly business?” Lucy asked, running her finger up and down the neck of her beer bottle. “I had meetings today. Another tomorrow lunch time and then that’s pretty much it until my red eye back to DC Sunday night” Kate replied, taking another fry from the bowl and placing it delicately into her mouth.
“And you’re saying nearby?” Lucy asked. Kate nodded. “The hotel is nice actually. I should’ve stayed there for food” Kate glanced at the abandoned avocado and lettuce on the plate beside her.
“But then you wouldn’t be spending the evening in my exceptional company” Lucy quipped, a cheeky smile accompanying her statement, popping a fry into her mouth as she spoke.
“Oh come on, no need to be so modest” Kate joked. Lucy laughed “Kidding” she said in response.
“Any sights you could recommend?” Kate asked, placing another fry into her own mouth and looking directly at Lucy. “A few..” Lucy responded, eyes flicking from Kate’s eyes, down to her mouth before returning to their original focus. She didn’t elaborate, but felt Kate’s leg shift against hers slightly under the table. She couldn’t work out if it was intentional or not, but either way, it made the hairs on her arms start to stand on end slightly.
Lucy’s train of thought was interrupted by Nate approaching the table to take her almost empty beer bottle from her. “Another?” He asked, moving his finger between Lucy and Kate. Lucy looked at Kate as she shrugged her shoulders and said “Sure, thank you” Lucy nodded “thanks Nate” and handed him her card. Kate had been reaching into her pocket “I would’ve got those” she said, drawing her card out and setting it onto the table. Lucy shrugged. “You can get the next round” Kate smiled, eyebrows raising at Lucy’s assumption that there would be more drinks to come.
The wine was already taking effect and she was pretty sure that by the end of another glass, she’d need to draw the line.
“Want to head outside? There’s some seating through there” Lucy pointed towards some open doors at the far end of the bar. The sun was setting, the evening air warm and welcoming. “Sure” Kate agreed, smiling. She collected her card and phone from the table, rising as Lucy approached the bar to grab their drinks from Nate. Lucy turned to hand Kate hers and suddenly realised just how tall her companion was “Were you this tall earlier?” Lucy asked teasingly “Maybe the nutritious dinner triggered a growth spurt” she mused, answering her own question. Kate laughed again, a full, toothy, beautiful, light-up eyes laugh and Lucy felt it vibrate through her, gripping at her chest and sliding down into her stomach, making her feel slightly giddy. Kate shook her head, taking the glass that Lucy was offering her.
Lucy led the way outside and stopped in front of a rattan couch style seat. It was big enough for two but didn’t leave much room to put any significant distance between them. “This okay?” Lucy asked. “Yeah” Kate answered with a smile, looking out at the sunset which was glowing behind the skyline.
Kate sat first, placing her glass onto the small table in front of them. Lucy settled beside her, conscious not to make too much physical contact, but briefly brushing her upper arm against Kate’s as she got comfortable.
They sat for an hour, talking about how long Kate had lived in DC, where she had grown up and how she’d run track, representing her respective schools from a young age. Lucy was intrigued by her, she was genuinely interested in knowing more.. The nice thing was that Kate seemed genuinely interested in her too, quizzing her about her upbringing in Texas, her reasons for moving to Hawai’i.. which led on to the subject of work. “I have one rule when I come here” Lucy explained, motioning towards the bar. “It’s my escape from work. Nobody I work with comes here, I can just forget about it” Kate nodded, unfazed “I get that. No work talk” she agreed, and that had been as far as they’d got on that particular topic.
Lucy had been curious about Kate’s job. She’d thought up a number of careers for Kate in her head.. defence attorney? College lecturer? A doctor, maybe? She was clearly intelligent, sharp witted and serious at the same time. Her expressions could be harsh.. but in the most alluring of ways. Lucy lost herself in thought before catching herself staring again. She broke her gaze to take another drink of her beer.
“So you didn’t have plans tonight?” Kate enquired.
“Nope” Lucy responded, popping the ‘p’ as she did. “Just a couple of drinks to unwind and then home” Kate nodded, gazing out at the sunset. “I’ll buy you another before I go, but I won’t have any more after this. I’ll be anyones” Kate said, retrieving her glass from the table, shaking her head slightly.
“Oh?” Lucy asked, a grin pulling at her lips “in that case, sure I can’t convince you?” Jesus. Where did that come from? Did those words actually just leave my mouth? Lucy thought to herself.
Suddenly, she felt a finger grazing across the top of her thigh. Fuck. Kate chuckled lightly. “I wouldn’t need convincing. Or another drink” she said huskily, eyes meeting Lucy’s as they turned to look at her. Lucy swallowed, “Oh really?” She asked quietly, receiving only a silent nod in response. She hesitantly reached up to trace the underside of Kate’s jaw lightly with her fingers, eyes fixed on Kate’s lips as she leaned closer and tilted Kate’s face towards her, her lips slotting perfectly between Kate’s, a soft sigh from the blonde puffing air lightly against her top lip. Their lips moved together for a few moments, Lucy gently taking Kate’s bottom lip between her teeth and tugging, earning her a soft moan, barely audible but definitely in existence. Lucy smiled as she pulled back, her teeth then sinking into her bottom lip in an effort to contain it.
Kate cleared her throat, forcing her eyes shut for a second to try and regain some composure as Lucy traced lazy circles on the inside of her forearm with one finger. She could feel the goosebumps forming under Lucy’s touch, her stomach fluttering with anticipation. She moved her arm back so that she could capture Lucy’s hand in hers, stilling it’s movements. “You can’t do that here” Kate whispered. “What? Touch your arm?” Lucy questioned, a satisfied grin on her face, her other hand then gesturing towards Kate’s slender fingers still lightly touching Lucy’s thigh as if to say ‘but what about this?’ Kate ignored the silent reference to the current location of her hand and kept it there.
“Not like that. I don’t think your date would appreciate me jumping you in front of him” Kate flicked her eyes back through the window in the general direction of where the new occupant of Lucy’s original seat was positioned, squeezing Lucy’s thigh lightly. “Probably not” Lucy agreed, shrugging her shoulders, desperately trying to ignore the rush of arousal that the pressure of Kate’s hand had just sent straight between her legs. “So.. should we head out?” She asked, thumb tracing over the back of Kate’s hand. “I think that’s a good idea” the blonde replied, eyes fixed on Lucy’s, dark with desire. “C’mon” Lucy took one last swig of her beer before rising from her seat and tugging Kate up by the hand, leading her off of the small balcony and down onto the gravel path which ran around the perimeter of the bar.
Suddenly the 10 minute walk to Lucy’s apartment seemed unreasonably long. As they rounded the corner of the building, Lucy turned to push Kate up against the wall, hands bringing her face down to meet Lucy’s again, noses making brief contact before Lucy kissed Kate, more urgently this time. She felt Kate’s hands grab at her waist, drawing her closer before one came to the back of her head, finger tips weaving through her thick black curls to scratch lightly at her scalp. Kate pulled away for air for half a second before descending on Lucy’s lips again, tongue tracing lightly across her bottom lip, seeking permission to enter. Lucy didn’t hesitate, and responded with a soft moan of her own, pinning Kate against the wall by one of her shoulders before travelling down to grab at the loose fabric of Kate’s sleeveless blouse. Kate pulled away, resting her head against the wall, breathing heavily as Lucy started to place light kisses to her neck. “Oh god..” Kate whispered, strangled slightly. Lucy pulled away long enough to ask “How far is your hotel?” Before continuing her ministrations against Kate’s neck. Kate clutching at Lucy’s back and shoulders responded “about 3 minutes.. this way..” she grabbed Lucy’s left hand and moved herself off of the wall, causing Lucy to put a halt to the things she was doing with her ridiculously talented mouth.
Lucy had hoped it would be the closest one and based on the direction that Kate was leading her in, it was.. she followed eagerly, walking swiftly to keep up as Kate let her hand go and she took the opportunity to rest it briefly against the small of Kate’s back, scratching playfully with her nails.
What the hell was happening? How had this even come to be? Lucy couldn’t help but smile to herself, anticipation and excitement swirling in her stomach.