A/N: Hey! These were all from JacKim week. I had a lot of fun with these and hope you enjoy them as well. First one is an AU where they are in college.

X

"Caramel Macchiato," the barista called out, and Jacqueline shot up from her seat, carrying her messenger bag heavy with books. Her shoulder cried out in pain and she contemplated switching sides, but the other shoulder was out of commission as well. No matter, she decided, she would just set her bag down later, though she knew that wasn't enough time to give her shoulders a break.

She graciously took the drink from the barista, whispering thanks before hurrying to the stage. The lights were dim and all that could be heard were mutters and sneakers shuffling backstage. There was still purple glitter on the floor from the performance last month- their first show here at Jacqueline's favorite coffee shop. Or, more accurately: the closest place to her dorm that also served coffee that could keep her up until four in the morning.

It was an odd nook, even in this college town. While most of the coffee places in the area focused on "in and out," this one presented a comfortable atmosphere and encouraged local entertainment in varying shades. On Friday there was an drag show, Saturdays it was burlesque. Sunday tended to draw in the crowd for "kinky Bingo." She wasn't sure what Monday and Tuesday offered as she had night classes those days, but on Wednesdays for the past month, there had been a magic show.

That first night they performed, her friends had joined her at her usual hangout for a study group session. Maka was skeptical about a live performance going on as they studied. Jacqueline had assured it wouldn't be a distraction- if anything, a little background noise would help. She couldn't stand to work in silence and sometimes her music player wasn't enough. She liked hearing snatches of conversation or being able to people watch. The scenery wasn't stagnant in that way and she didn't feel the threat of falling asleep like she did at her desk.

Soul welcomed the distraction- he was only there because Maka dragged him. Black*Star only came to sample their coffee and after two strong cups Tsubaki lost hope for any sleep later that night.

There was a small crowd, and even when the show started, the room continued to murmur about everything but the show itself. Jacqueline peered up from her notes, seeing a young man stand in the middle of the stage wearing a cheeky houndstooth suit and top hat. More eccentric than his suit was his hair- he was bald save for his sideburns which were styled into two separate spikes. Thanks to his garish appearance, Jacqueline stared for longer than she intended.

While she was able to hold back her laughter, Soul and Black*Star made no such effort, also pointing for emphasis. Their table felt the magician's gaze fall on them and Jacqueline put a hand on her forehead. She and Maka weren't sure who to feel embarrassed for: Black*Star and Soul or the magician with the weirdest hairstyle in history.

Maka pulled on Soul's ear, directing him back to his English homework. Jacqueline herself was prepared to return to studying as well, that is, until she walked onto the stage.

The magician had introduced himself as Ox and his lovely assistant (emphasis on lovely) was Kim. The first thing Jacqueline noticed was her long hair, dyed bubblegum pink and worn loosely past her waistline. She was dressed as eclectically as Ox, wearing a fluffy, pink-feathered cocktail dress with a matching headband featuring kitschy fake rhinestones. Unlike Ox, she made it work. Her outfit vaguely reminded Jacqueline of something one of the drag queens would wear for the Friday night show.

Jazz music played in the background, which Soul commented was the show's only redeeming feature. Tsubaki whispered that it reminded her of elevator music and Jacqueline had to agree.

The entire show, Ox floundered on stage. Sometimes his tricks wouldn't work or he would slur his words. Kim would slap him upside the head or knit her brows, hands on her hips. There were a few moments when she would perform a trick and it was clearly evident that she knew what she was doing. If she wanted to, Kim could easily do a solo act and Jacqueline wondered why she would put up with this mediocre show.

More pressing, when did she stop studying all together?

Jacqueline turned red, directing her attention to her books but not the words. Crap, she thought. She was falling into a puddle of goo over this girl who, was likely straight. Because they all were - or taken. Or both. That could be the only reason she could think of that Kim put up with Ox's terrible magic show.

However, as the month progressed, Jacqueline wasn't sure if that was so. Ox was obviously infatuated with his lovely assistant, but when they were together on stage she always brooded with her hands on her hips. On the occasion that he touched her shoulder or brushed his hand to hers, hopeful, she looked like a giant spider had landed on her shoulder.

After that night her friends didn't study with her on Wednesdays, unimpressed with her favorite cafe. They invited her to Tsubaki's dorm, but Jacqueline didn't take the offer. Her excuse was that she didn't want to drive out far, an obvious lie, she knew, watching Kim do sleight of hand, a dozen doves bursting through a satin pink scarf.

One of the doves landed on her book once and Kim ran over to pick it up after the show.

"Sorry," she muttered, scooping the bird up. Jacqueline nodded stiffly, head swimming. The only thing that brought her back to reality was the 'present' the dove had left in her book.

Deciding it was both sad and creepy to watch her crush from afar, she decided to take action. The caramel macchiato was still piping hot in her hands when Kim emerged from backstage, out of her poofy pink cocktail dress and into a casual steel blue tank top and ripped jeans through which fishnet stockings peeked out. In the span of short time Jacqueline had known her, she had shorn half her long hair. It was styled to the side tonight, bright pink waves tumbling over her shoulder.

Her eyebrows raised at the sight of Jacqueline. "Hey."

"Hi..." she replied steadily, holding the cup of coffee out to Kim. "Good job tonight."

Kim took the coffee, grimacing. "Oh, please. We sucked. We always suck." Despite her sharp words she was blushing slightly. "So, what did you buy me?" The brief flash of embarrassment was quickly replaced with a devilish grin.

"The barista suggested a caramel macchiato." Jacqueline bit her lip, hoping it was something she liked.

"Nice. Carla knew you were giving this to me, didn't she?" Kim popped open the lid, releasing the steam and breathing in deeply.

After a few sips, she spoke again. "You come here often."

"Yeah... I always study here at night."

"You're studying? Here?" Kim raised her brows, glancing sideways toward the stage where a new sheet of purple glitter was resting on the floor.

"Is there something wrong with that?" Jacqueline said crisply, confidently. "I like the background noise."

Kim tapped her pinky on the side of the cup, and then said in a low whisper, "I guess it helps to see a bigger failure when you're studying. Boost of self confidence." Immediately Jacqueline knew she was talking about Ox. She wet her lips, finding the opening.

"You could do much better." She meant the show, and something more.

Kim's answer surprised her. Maybe it was the acknowledgement that she was right, or maybe the carefree tone. Yes, that was definitely what caught her off guard.

"I know." She shrugged. "I'm only doing it because it's easy money. He gives me ninety percent of the earnings."

For a moment, Jacqueline felt sorry for Ox, more so than the countless times she had felt secondhand embarrassment watching him fruitlessly try to pull a rabbit out of his hat.

"It's not like I told him to do it." Kim said, reading her face. "He just throws money at me. It's not my fault if I take it if he chooses to do that on his own. The way I see it- since I'm the better magician I deserve most of the earnings."

"He loves you," Jacqueline said without thinking.

"As if that was a secret." She rolled her eyes. "Why do you care anyway?"

Jacqueline was grateful that her long hair was in her face, shrouding her shyness. She chose not to answer, a counter-productive move as it only gave away her reasons.

"Oh. . " Kim set the coffee down on the stage floor and stuffed her hands in her pockets. For a moment they stood there, eyes averted from each other, in an odd place, a limbo of being sure of the other's feelings, but unsure if they were just imagining things.

"Kim!" Ox called.

Jacqueline's spirits sank. Of course it was too good to be true. They were always straight. They were always taken.

"What's that behind your ear?"

She raised her head, not expecting Kim to still be there and of all things- leaning close to her, fingers running along the whorl of her ear.

Their eyes met and lingered as she pulled away. Jacqueline barely noticed the card Kim had produced, seemingly from behind her ear, and placed in her hands. Time had stopped, a cliche she thought only existed in cheesy romance novels. Kim's hands were soft and slightly cool to the touch. She felt compelled to cup her hands in the other woman's and warm her hands, but as soon as the thought came to her, Kim had to pull away, her name called again. After Kim ran backstage she looked at the card. It was a business card with a drawing of a tanuki on the front along with Kim's full name. She flipped it over to a phone number and email.

Not always straight.

Not always taken.

A little bit of magic.