Title: The Mech and the 'Billy
Author: clanket
Pairing: Callie/Arizona
Rating: T for language
Summary: A/U. Callie and Arizona meet in a dive bar and hit it off.
Disclaimer: All television shows, movies, books, and other copyrighted material referred to in this work, and the characters, settings, and events thereof, are the properties of their respective owners. As this work is an interpretation of the original material and not for-profit, it constitutes fair use. Reference to real persons, places, or events are made in a fictional context, and are not intended to be libellous, defamatory, or in any way factual.
As Callie walked into the dive bar her senses we assaulted with the sight of tattooed bodies sporting hairdos that must've taken hours to achieve and a lively atmosphere complete with wet music. The Matadors were being blared over the bar's sound system.
She was supposed to meet Cristina there to check out some hot new band on the city's underground rockabilly scene. Leave it to Cristina to find an underground rockabilly niche. The girl was clearly uncomfortable around the likes of normal society and Callie couldn't help but think how fitting it is that Cristina feels at home in a place that's considered 'underground'.
"Torres! Over here!" Callie snapped her head toward the sound of her name and, conveniently, toward the bar.
"Hey Cristina," she shouted over the thumping bass line of the music. "Is everyone else hare?"
"No, just Sloan. Teddy should be here in a bit."
"What about Owen?"
"I don't think he's coming. He's got that race tomorrow," she shouted over the music.
Callie nodded in understanding. She wouldn't be up for too much partying the night before going up against Alex Karev in a one-mile winner-takes-all showdown, either. Owen is a good racer even if he's a little quick on the clutch. Callie kept telling him to hit it just half a second later to really make it pop but he constantly pulled the trigger too early. That's also why he was in danger of losing some of his sponsors; no one wants their name on a loser, even if they're a loser by an inch.
"Hey Torres, you down for a round?" Cristina asked nodding to the tequila and beer in sitting in front of her.
Callie placed her helmet carefully onto the bar countertop and took the proffered beer.
"What, no shot? You goin' soft on me Torres?" Cristina baited with a lopsided grin.
Callie smirked. "Nah, I've got my bike," she replied as she nodded toward her helmet.
Just then, the music died down only to be replaced by a round of applause and hollers. Callie and Cristina turned around to eye the stage on the other side of the bar just as three people walked onto it.
"This is the band I've been telling you about, Callie. They're called The Dollhouse," Cristina explained over the roar of the crowd. Apparently this little band was quite well known in certain circles.
"They've only been playing together for about a year but they exploded as soon as they got a new singer," Cristina continued. "Trust me; you'd never expect that voice from someone like her.
Callie scrunched her eyebrows in Cristina's direction trying to figure out what she meant. All she saw were three men. Upon seeing her look, Cristina motioned to the stage with her beer. Just then a petit blond walked onto the stage and the crowd picked up its cheering once again. Her hair was in perfect ringlets and her bangs were parted in the middle only to be pinned back in two separate curls, one above each eyebrow. She wore a knee-length red halter dress complete with white polka dots and tulle to spare. The heart-shaped bust gave her ample cleavage. Callie didn't mind at all.
Scanning her eyes down the rest of the blonde's form, Callie took in toned imperfection-free legs until her gaze came to land on her white wedge heels, complete with a smooth button to match her dress, no doubt.
Callie enjoyed how her outfit was well put together and matched but not overly so – at least her shoes weren't red with polka dots. As Callie lazily brought her gaze back up to the woman's face she noticed a small white bow on top of her head right where the two front curls met at the back. Callie had never been into girly-girls but maybe she would make an exception for this woman. Callie's lips formed a grin at the thought of having her way with this woman that was nothing at all like her usual type. But seeing as she was still single, maybe 'her type' wasn't really working for her, anyway.
Realizing that she was grinning like an idiot, Callie quickly brought her beer to her lips but kept her eyes glued to the woman on stage who was just stepping up to the mic.
"Hello everyone," the blonde's voice rang out. "We," she gestured to the band behind her, "are The Dollhouse."
Another round of applause broke out through the bar. Callie looked around, not all that surprised at the reaction this little blonde was eliciting. As the applause died down once again, Callie heard a giggle echo through the speakers. She cast her gaze back to the woman on stage and, again, smiled involuntarily.
Cristina turned to Callie to speak but stopped dead in her tracks when she noticed the stupefied look on the face of Callie Torres. Callie's face should not be able to make the look it was currently forming, if you asked Cristina. Just as she was about wipe the grin off Callie's face a familiar voice broke into their consciousness.
"Hey guys, what'd I miss?" Teddy asked.
"Not much," Cristina replied, "They're just about to start. But you did miss wicked-awesome googly eyes from Torres."
Teddy smiled in Callie's direction.
"Great, I wouldn't wanna miss the band that has Cristina Yang gushing like a little school girl," Teddy said with a grin.
"Hey, did you see Sloan on your way in?" Callie asked.
"Yeah, he was hitting on some poor girl. She seemed into it, though. Too bad it'll be too late when she notices he's a wolf in sheep's clothing," Teddy joked. She accepted a shot of whiskey and a beer from Cristina just as the band played their first notes.
The crowd immediately started moving to the hard and fast riff emanation from the stand-up bass in the corner. It was soon joined by a simple but catchy beat from the drummer, only to be caught by the guitar's melody.
After a few introductory bars Callie heard a low, building growl. Her eyes bugged out when she realized where it was coming from.
"See, I told you you'd never expect that," Cristina said smugly upon seeing Callie's face. Callie merely nodded.
The blond intermittently growled notes into the music and hit sweet melodic chords. It took all of Callie's willpower not to blatantly stare at the enigma on stage. She could be complete soft and angelic one moment only to become rough and tumble the next, dictated only by the sounds of her band members.
After their set was over, the band left the stage. The sound system came back on and picked up where The Dollhouse had left off, giving the bar-goers a rhythm to sway to. Callie turned back to the bar, her beer having long since been drained. Cristina offered another round but Callie settled for a Sprite, instead. Even if she wasn't so aware of the injuries motorcycle accidents could cause, there was no way she would endanger her two-wheeled speed demon.
"Oh, Teddy, didn't you get your new tattoo the other day?" Callie asked.
"Yeah I did! Here, check it out," Teddy said as she lifted her shirt to reveal her tattoo. It was scene of several typical childhood toys spanning from just above her low-slung jeans, curving over her hip and terminating by her lower ribs.
"Holy crap, Teddy! That's some awesome colour work," Cristina lauded with wide eyes. She was definitely more than a little buzzed if she was openly admiring a picture three colourful teddy bears surrounded by building blocks and beach balls. Teddy and Callie just looked at each other and smiled as they shook their heads slightly.
"Nice jacket," came from behind Callie. As she whipped her head around she was met with piercing blue eyes. She gulped.
-XXX-