Title: Hello, Good Friend
Pairing: Tiva
Rating: K
Authors Note: This is a random piece of fluff that just popped into my head. Been in these weird little moods so I thought I would project it onto Tony, haha. [The title has nothing to do with the story, it's just a line in a song running on my iTunes and it's nice and upbeat so I decided to run with it.]
Summary: Tony just wants to wander, and invites Ziva along. One-shot. I own nothing.
A small smile played on his face as he walked up the street to the familiar apartment. Somehow there was a skip in his step, and his chest felt light. Work had gone as normal as he could ask. The day consisted of mostly paperwork, and yet somehow the hours flew by. Luckily the day had ended early. The sun was still out as he exited the building, which was a new feeling. He had gone home and as soon as he sat on the couch he felt restless. So he walked.
He was never the environmental type. Sure, he enjoyed a good game of pickup basketball, or football game with old buddies, but not just to walk and… enjoy the walk. So here he was, not sure where he was going when he stepped out of his apartment door, but as he got closer to his random destination he couldn't help but grin. He knew Ziva's neighborhood like the back of his hand, and yet here he was, hopeful but somewhat hesitant steps as he got closer to the stoop.
The sun was just setting over the horizon, leaving the D.C. street with a soft orange glow.
He knocked on the door and waited.
"Tony?" he heard from the other side. Ah, the underrated use of a peephole. The door opened slowly, with caution. "Are you ok?"
He just smiled in return and held out his hand.
"Do you want to go for a walk?" he held out his hand to his partner, a twinkle in his eye.
"…a walk?"
"Yeah, I heard it's catching on over on the west coast. You put one foot in front of the other and head down in a predetermined direction-"
"Tony, what are you doing."
His smile faltered for a second. He dropped his hand to his side and let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. "Asking you to go for a walk with me."
She stepped out and closed the door slowly behind her. "I can see that… but why?"
"I can tell you it's because I was bored. Or because my car broke down and I want company. But honestly, I just want to walk." He shrugged slightly, his guard completely gone. "The weather is great, the crowd is light, and my feet are itching to do more than carry me to the car. So, Zee-vah, will you walk with me?" He held out his hand once more. She looked at him skeptically before placing her hand in his. He led her down the steps and down the street. She lessened her grip as they reached the sidewalk, but he kept his fingers tightly laced in hers.
"I never gave you permission to hold my hand."
"I'm keeping you safe."
"Oh really?" She raised her eyebrows and laughed, "how do you see holding my hand as keeping me safe?"
"Because," he seemed to end his argument there, and though she allowed herself to be lead, she still could not understand this jovial, nearly giddy DiNozzo.
She squeezed his hand and he pulled her closer to him as they walked alone in silence.
"Because," he went to finish his thoughts from steps before, "I get to keep you close."
She looked up at him with soft surprised eyes and smiled.
They continued their walk, no real destination in mind, but they walked until the sun was gone and the moon was high. Their conversations wandered from the weather, to their most recent case, to Tony's current movie marathon and to things they wouldn't remember even mentioning the next day.
When he finally walked her back to her steps he thanked her for the walk with the most sincerest of smiles, kissed her hand and walked up the block.
It was then she realized how empty her hand felt without his.