Disclaimer: I own Susana and Jason, Marvel owns Jono, and no one makes any money from this story

Disclaimer: I own Susana and Jason, Marvel owns Jono, and no one makes any money from this story.  Sue and ye shall be disappointed.  Janet Jackson owns the song "Doesn't Really Matter", and someone who is not me owns Second Story Books.


Notes:

sound
*thought*
} telepathic conversation {

Setting: Washington, Monday morning/afternoon

Jono stepped out of the Dupont Circle metro station and shaded his eyes while he waited for Susana, who had stopped to check the map she'd bought in a gift shop along their route.  She bounded up the stairs after him, then scanned the area for street signs.  "Do you see..." she checked the map again, "P Street?"  She eyed the map suspiciously, then looked up again.  Jono took the opportunity to flip the map open for a more detailed picture of the Dupont Circle neighborhood. 

}If we go this way,{ he pointed, extending an arm up the street, }and then turn right, we should be on the street.  What's on P Street anyway?{

"You'll see."  She grinned at him and headed off in the direction he'd pointed.  With a resigned shrug, Jono followed, his long legs allowing him to catch up without much effort.  They passed a park, chess tables buzzing with activity, and a few busy stores.  Jono glanced at the window display of a music store they passed, but when Susana asked if he wanted to go in, he shook his head and urged her on towards their destination.

}Too many blonde "pop tarts" in the windows.  They're nice scenery, but not music I'd buy.{  He ducked a light slap, capturing her wrist so she couldn't try again, and crinkled at her.  }Ok, I promise not to do that again.  Now, can I get a like promise from you?{

Her eyes sparkled as she imitated a nature show announcer's voice.  "Witness how the female Xavier's student is able to correct the male through the judicious use of a well timed bitch-slap.  Fascinating." She shook her arm loose and ducked under his arm, twirling as she continued to elude him.  "What's wrong, amante?  Wishing you'd joined Kurt and I when we were working the agility bit?"  She stopped, allowing her arm to be caught again, and they continued walking.  She looked up at him, then reached up with her free hand to smooth his hair back from his face.  With a little hop, she pressed a kiss to the space where bandages met skin, causing him to stop and look down at her.  She grinned.  "What?"

}Just thinkin'.{  He shook his head and walked on.

"Don't hurt yourself.  Or me...oww. Walk slower, please?"  He looked down in surprise, then crinkled sheepishly and slowed his pace. 

}Sorry about that.  We even now?{

"I suppose...yes, of course we are."

}So, where are we going?{ He raised an eyebrow inquiringly, and she glared at him.

"I told you...you'll see when you get there."  She shook her head and ignored him.

}Can't blame a bloke for tryin', can you?{

"Hmpf.  Yes, I can...but we're here now, so it's a moot point."  She stopped in front of a store front, and he looked at the sign. 

}Second Story Books.  Very cool.{  He said the last rather halfheartedly, and she almost didn't tell him the real reason they were there.  A glance at his eyes showed how truly bored he expected to be, and she took pity on him.

"Don't worry, we're not here for me to browse...follow me." She headed into the store, weaving between high shelves stacked with every kind of used book, traveling to the back of the store.  They reached a doorway set into a partition, and Jono stopped cold.

}Holy shite.{  He looked around the room and was amazed to find a selection of used records that rivaled the vinyl shop down the street from Susana's apartment.  After giving Susana's hand a quick squeeze, he began scanning the sections of the room, and his eyes lit up when he saw a sign for UK punk.  }I'll...see you later, ok, gel?{  He was obviously distracted, so she nodded and headed back into the main part of the store, figuring he'd send her a message when he was ready to go.  Picking a random bookshelf, her eyes flicked rapidly back and forth across the titles.  She pulled a book from the shelf and settled into an overstuffed sofa to read.  After about fifteen minutes, she felt someone watching her.  She looked up and met a pair of deep green eyes.  Her gaze flicked briefly up and down the watching guy, and she raised an eyebrow.

"Sorry...didn't mean to stare."  He offered a disarming grin, and she was mildly abashed that she couldn't stop an answering grin.  "Do you...ah...come here often?"  He winced, then continued.  "I'm sorry...that was such a line, and I really didn't mean it to be.  I'm Jason.  So, what's so fascinating today?"  He gestured to the book, which she was nearly finished with.

"Oh, nothing much...just home improvement stuff."  She shrugged, and let the book fall closed.  "I'm Susana...a tourist.  So in answer to your question, no I don't come here often."  She grinned at his sheepish expression, then continued.  "Do you?"

He nodded, and a strand of pale blond hair fell across his eyes.  He blew it away from his face, and grinned again.  "I actually work here."  He sank into a chair beside the sofa and leaned forward.

"Really?"

"Yep...and in my spare time," he accented the phrase with heavy sarcasm, and Susana laughed, "I'm a student at Georgetown.  Law.  Don't hate me!"  He held both hands up as if to defend himself, then lowered them slowly as she laughed.

"Don't worry about it.  This September I start the MBA program at Columbia University.  So I'm a soulless corporate wench, on about the same level as the "bottom-dwelling lawyer types".  And in my free time, I teach Spanish at a boarding school in New York."

"You don't look old enough to teach.  Not to be rude or anything." He raised a placating hand so she wouldn't take offense.  "And your accent...you don't sound Spanish..."

"Well, I've been speaking Spanish since...just about birth, actually.  My mama was born and raised in Mexico."  She shrugged.  "It's not so tough to teach it.  And it's the least I can do- I live at the school part of the time anyway.  For them to bring in another person to teach...or, God forbid, to give Ange the class, would be pointless.  The accent, though, is cause of where I grew up.  New Orleans, and Australia."  She flicked at a strand of hair that had fallen from her ponytail, then stretched, turning to see if Jono had emerged from the music room.  *Of course not.  You'll probably have to drag him out kicking and cussing.*  She turned back as Jason spoke.

"That's cool, about your accent.  So, tell me...this Ange a friend of yours?"  The emphasis he put on 'friend' made it clear that he wasn't referring to the innocent, platonic sense of the word.

"Well, yes, he's a friend...but not the way you meant."  His eyes lit up, and she hurried to get the next sentence out.  "My fiancée is around here somewhere...sorting through piles of dusty vinyl, no doubt.  He's, like, a complete music freak.  He's British, y'know?"  *God, could I possibly sound any ditzier?*

"Uhh...yeah, I know."  His face had clouded over, and she could sense his disappointment without even trying to read his thoughts.  She felt bad that he was disappointed...but what help was there for it?  Just then, she felt a hand on her shoulder.  She turned and greeted Jono with a sunny smile.

"Find anything good?"  She looked at the small stack of records he held in his other hand and snorted.  "Obviously so.  Whatcha got?  Oops...I'm being rude, aren't I?  Jono, this," she indicated the blond man, "is Jason- he works here, and Jason, this is my fiancée, Jono."  She turned to Jono and squeezed the hand he was resting on her shoulder.  "You ready to go, hon?"  He nodded, and she stood.  "nice meeting you, Jason.  Don't let law school kill you."

"Don't let those Columbia people kill you, either.  Enjoy the rest of your trip!"  Jason turned and headed into a back section of the shop, looking for a new customer to hit on.  Susana and Jono paid, then headed back out onto the street. 

Susana checked her watch, then looked up at Jono.  "Want to go back now?"  He shrugged, then turned and walked back towards the metro station, leaving her to follow at her leisure.  }Jono, you ok?{  She reached up to grab his hand, then drew back with a hurt look when he made no effort to slow down or make it easier for her to catch his hand.  She sent out a small telepathic feeler as she hurried after him, and was pained at the emotions it picked up on. 

*Geez, querido, try to feel something happy, will ya?  All I'm getting here is regret that you're not like boring book guy back there.  And he was...well, boring!  Hmm....*  She followed him down the stairs and into a nearly empty Metro car.  This particular car was set up with seats along each wall and bars for the passengers who stood.  Jono sat in a seat on the side opposite the open door, so Susana plopped down across from him, along the wall near the platform.  He didn't look up until the next stop, where he scanned the people passing by outside the train.  When they pulled out of the station, the car they were in was empty except for a teenage boy with a skateboard and a harried woman with a toddler; all of them were sitting at the opposite end of the car.

Susana began to hum softly, growing slightly louder until she was sure she had his attention.  She hummed her way through the chorus, wanting to give him enough time to place the song on his own, then she began to sing, softly but clearly.

It doesn't matter if they won't accept you
I'm accepting of you and the things you do
Just as long as it's you
Nobody but you, baby, baby

My love for you, unconditional love too
Gotta get up, get up
Get up, get up, get up and show you that it

Doesn't really matter what the eye is seeing
Cause I'm in love with the inner being
And it doesn't really matter what they believe
What matters to me is you're in love with me.
 

She looked up at him and grinned across the aisleway as she danced in her seat, bouncing to the beat in her mind and humming along to the tune.

Doesn't matter if you're feeling insecure
Doesn't matter if you're feeling so unsure
Cause I'll take away the doubt within your heart
And show that my love will never hurt or harm

More dancing in place.  She looked up and was gratified to note that he had an amused look in his eyes, and that he was definitely smiling.  The corners of his eyes were crinkling, and both eyebrows were slightly raised.     

Doesn't matter what they say
Cause you know I'm gonna love you anyway
Doesn't matter what they do
Cause my love will always be with you

}You ok over there?{  She tilted her head diagonally and watched him, looking for all the world like a curious puppy.  He crinkled more and tapped the seat next to him.

Susana glanced up and down the car, which was now quite empty, since it was a weekday and most people were at work.  With a devilish grin, she stood and crossed the aisle.  She planted her feet on the outsides of Jono's feet and braced her hands on his shoulders, then leaned forward until her knees hit the edge of the seat, her forehead bumped his lightly, and her nose was a fraction of an inch from his.

"Have your insecurities been sufficiently soothed, my dear?"  She lifted a hand from his shoulder and traced it lightly down his side as she asked the question. 

}Well, yes...but while you're doin' that, there's something else you could soothe....{  He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her against him on the seat.  }But I'm sure that can wait till we get back to the hotel.{

She nodded, then looked up at the map overhead.  "We're the next stop.  And, regardless of the words to that song, my eyes quite like what they're seeing.  You're the whole package...way more than just a pretty personality." She grinned impudently at him and brushed her lips against his wraps.  With a grinding protest, the train began slowing, and she slid off his lap and onto her feet.  Pulling him up from the seat, she crossed to the door and waited impatiently.  She was chanting something under her breath, and when Jono leaned forward to hear what she was saying, she turned her head and brushed a quick kiss against his ear, then whispered "playtime," and darted out through the widening gap between the doors.  Jono shook his head and crinkled indulgently, then followed her out of the station.