Disclaimer: This fan fiction is not written for profit and no infringement of copyright is intended. Not beta-read so all mistakes are mine.
CHAPTER ONE: THE (FORMER) BEAU
The first time they get into an argument over his notions of politesse, it's really about Luke.
They have ventured forth to a well-known tavern, The Blue Line, which is popular with law enforcement: One of the older members of the team is retiring and Abbie has decided that she wants to wish him and his family well. Since Ichabod has so little interaction with the other members of the Sheriff's department, and since so many rumours are being tossed around the office about them, she suggests that they go and get a drink with the men and women next to whom they may end up trying to halt the Apocalypse. Having no allies at work is less than helpful, according to Miss Abigail, and on that Ichabod agrees. So together they head into the tavern, Miss Abigail for once dressed in a lovely dark blue frock, so much more comely than her police uniform. Ichabod trailing rather unwillingly behind her, wondering whether his ability to get drunk on a thimbleful of liquor will be much of a handicap tonight-
They barely set one foot inside the door when Luke Morales sees them. Eyes narrowing as they take in Ichabod, then widening as they take in Abbie. The Lieutenant mutters something to the man on his right, downing his drink and then squaring up to Abbie-
He leans over, liquor on his breath, and spits a string of vicious-sounding epithets ay his former sweetheart, accusing her of untoward behaviour towards Ichabod, himself and the entire town of Sleepy Hollow.
And then, looking pleased with himself, he swaggers back to his chair.
It should be a small matter, no cause for discussion. As far as Ichabod is concerned, there is what is appropriate for a man to say to a lady of Miss Abigail's status, and there is what is wholly inappropriate and not to be borne. Any gentleman would be able to tell the difference, and since Lieutenant Morales seems unable to make that distinction, Ichabod will clearly have to educate him. Loudly and at length, with a great deal of gesticulation and no small amount of sarcasm. So before Abbie can stop him he marches up to Morales. Leans down and whispers what he's sure must be the most damning thing the other man has ever heard in his ear.
"How dare you speak to a former sweetheart, a woman you were once betrothed to, in such a manner," he mutters.
He makes a show of looking Morales over, his utter lack of admiration clear in his face.
"Now apologise to Miss Abigail, or I will surely make you pay."
For a moment Morales just stares at him, looking amused by the whole endeavour. Apparently he is unaware that in Ichabod's day, duels over a lady's honour were both surprisingly commonplace and usually lethal. And then he bursts out laughing, making to push his opponent over. Ichabod however, by virtue of having always looked like a scarecrow and spending an inordinate amount of time fighting hand to hand for the Revolutionary War, is not easy to knock down. In fact, he's quite the nasty fighter when he has to be, and he takes it upon himself to demonstrate that now. Luke's shove doesn't budge him, and the Lieutenant's attempt at a punch does little good either. Ichabod is sober and Morales is drunk and that fact evens their match out greatly; Crane simply sidesteps, allowing Luke to throw too much of his weight forward with his punch and nearly fall over. Once he's heading floor-ward Ichabod catches him and pulls him up. Planting a single, sharp punch to his belly and then slamming him back on his chair.
There's a moment of silence then, ugly and hulking with the possibility of retaliation. Ichabod becomes painfully aware that he is surrounded by friends of Morales, people who are frightened or suspicious of him and are thus likely to take the Lieutenant's side over his. Miss Abigail is watching him with a hand over her mouth, her expression somewhere between stricken and furious. She looks far from pleased with either he or her former sweetheart, though Ichabod can't imagine why.
And then, without the slightest fanfare, one of Morales' friends loudly asks the barman for another beer. The silence is broken, the tension with it, and when Ichabod looks back at his opponent, Morales is glowering into his cups, the chagrin clear on his face. Abbie marches over to him and hisses something, which he gloomily nods to before turning his attention back to his drink. It sounds like he's given her an apology, though to Ichabod's eye it appears lacklustre at best. But one of his friends, the one who broke the tense silence by requesting a beer, is distinctly heard calling Morales an "idiot," and most of the people in the bar seem to agree with him. So, honour satisfied, Ichabod follows Miss Abigail out the tavern door, trying to ascertain whether she is well or whether she requires more of his attention-
He finds her sitting on the hood of her car, shooting her firearm randomly into the darkening forest on the other side of the road to the tavern.
When he asks her what's wrong she lectures him about something called "sexism," for over an hour.
The next morning however, when he comes into the Archive, Morales apologizes to him too. And then offers to buy him a drink.