"Try a Little Tenderness,"
Toby watched as Happy strode over to her work area, her feet dragging a little and looking like she was carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. She looked like she was overworked and needed a break.
Toby pursed his lips as he quickly tapped on his keyboard, and soon the beginning of a soft tune poured from the speakers.
Oh, she may be weary
Young girls they do get weary at
Wearing that same old shaggy dress, yeah yeah
But when she gets weary
Try a little tenderness, yeah yeah
Toby looked back over at Happy, who had suddenly paused. Her back was to him, and he could tell she was trying to cast a subtle glance over her shoulder towards him. Toby carefully tapped once then twice on the volume, making it just a smidge louder.
You know she's waiting
Just anticipating
For things that she'll never, never, never, never possess, yeah yeah
But while she's there waiting, without them
Try a little tenderness (that's all you gotta do)
Happy sat down at her work table, which was perpendicular to Toby's, tinkering with something, her shoulders losing some of the tension they had held. Her lips moved, almost indiscernible, silently singing the song to herself.
Toby felt emboldened enough to turn the music just a little louder, and he did so as he watched Happy fought to not smile.
It's not just sentimental, no, no, no
She has her grief and care, yeah yeah yeah
But the soft words, they are spoke so gentle, yeah
It makes it easier, easier to bear, yeah
Happy's head bounced just a little with the beat and it encouraged him even more. Channeling his inner Ducky from Pretty In Pink, Toby took a deep breath and decided to stand up and make his way over to her. He didn't so much as walk as he did dance toward her, swaying to the music and mouthing the lyrics as he relied on his charming nature to pull it off.
You won't regret it, no, no
Some girls they don't forget it
Love is their only happiness, yeah
But it's all so easy
All you gotta do is try, try a little tenderness, yeah
All you gotta do is, man, hold her where you want her
Happy looked up and saw the spectacle Toby was making of himself solely for her benefit. She blushed and dropped her eyes back down to what she had been working on, trying to seem uninterested and silently thanking that everyone else had already gone home. Once she realized she wasn't going to be able to get anything done, she shoved her work away with a huff and crossed her arms over her chest, looking up at Toby with her most unamused expression.
But Toby was not deterred in the slightest.
Squeeze her, don't tease her, never leave her
Get to her, try, try
Just try a little tenderness, ooh yeah yeah yeah
Toby reached out for her to take his hand, but Happy firmly shook her head no.
"Come on!" he insisted.
She shook her head again, but this time with a smile she was failing to fight back.
You got to know how to love her, man, you'll be surprised, man
You've got to squeeze her, don't tease her, never leave her
Toby wouldn't accept her refusal, so he bent over and lifted her out of her chair and over his shoulder.
"Toby, put me down!" Happy demanded as she hit his back.
"Dance with me!" Toby pleaded as he put her back down.
Happy groaned and simply stood there, staring at him like the idiot he was acting like.
"Come on!" he repeated as he picked up her hands and tried to get her to loosen up.
Happy bowed her head and shook it. He was impossible.
You've got to hold her and rub her softly
Try a little tenderness, ooh yeah yeah yeah
Toby picked her up in his arms, her feet a few inches from the floor, and spun her around. Happy, for as much as she wanted to fight, gave in and giggled at how ridiculous he was being as she held onto him, wrapping her arms around his neck and shoulders. He always tried so hard.
You've got to rub her gentle man, all you gotta do, no no
You've got to love her, squeeze her, don't tease her
Toby let himself laugh with her as he inwardly congratulated himself on successfully making her smile.
Gotta try nah nah nah, try
Try a little tenderness, yeah, watch her groove
You've gotta to know what to do, man
Take this advice
The song ended and Toby put her back down on her feet as she let go of him to stand on her own.
"See? That wasn't so bad. You smiled, you laughed a little. Everything is better, right?" he asked.
"Almost," Happy replied, grabbing his shirt and pulling him down to kiss him solidly on the mouth.
Toby was slow to open his eyes after she pulled away but quick to grin and even quicker to kiss her back again.
Happy pulled back and smiled up at him for a moment before her face morphed into one of seriousness. "If you ever pull that stunt in front of the team, I will skin you alive," she warned. "Now stop fooling around and get back to work,"
"Can't. Work day is done, time to go home. Speaking of, your place or mine, dearest?" Toby cooed.
Happy huffed. "Yours, you have the more comfortable bed," she grumbled as she put on her jacket.
Toby grinned and snaked an arm around her, steering her back to his work station to pick up his jacket, softly singing the song again to her on his own.
Author's Notes- Many thanks to Alaburn for betaing, I did not expect to get this back this quickly.
All rights reserved, no copyright infringment intended for the song lyrics. And if you listen to Ottis Redding- Try A Little Tenderness while reading it, it makes it that much more fluffy.
Ok, now this is to TRY to make up for the heart wrenching of the previous chapter.