It's been some time since I updated this one, but this season has given me plenty of inspiration for Kensi, et al. This will be the first of three ficlets featuring Kensi and Deeks directly inspired by recent episodes. Since this is my drabble thread, I'm going to stay away from multi-chapter fics. That said, I'm sorry to those who were looking forward to a continuation of the last chapter.

This chapter was inspired by the opening scene of a recent episode where Deeks and Kensi were about to play paper football.

Football

Kensi watched intently, chin in hands, as Deeks carefully folded a piece of printer paper into a tight triangle. She knew the little white triangle well; had played the game many times over the years. Paper football was a game that children enjoyed, little boys more often than not, where one player is the 'kicker' and the other, 'the goal posts'. One player would place the 'ball' on the table the flick it with their index finger to make it through the uprights, provided by the other player placing their thumbs together and pointing their index fingers toward the sky.

Kensi had dominated her block as a kid; her accuracy a thing of legend. In fact, her inability to lose had caused a few fights in which her gender was mistakenly overlooked and more than one kid went home with a bloody nose.

Deeks met her eyes, waving the football in the air. "Wanna play?"

"Of course," she replied, as if it were understood. "It wouldn't be as satisfying watching you play with yourself."

"Hardy har har," he droned at her joke. "But satisfaction comes with victory. You expect to win?"

"I am undefeated," she answered confidently.

"A strange thing to brag about," he said, shrugging off her proclamation. "But okay. It seems you have a history with the game."

She narrowed her eyes and became suddenly serious. "Yes, a history of broken souls left in my wake. Some actually cried when they left the table."

Meeting her gaze with equal intensity, Deeks replied: "That won't happen here."

As her partner lined up his first shot, Kensi was suddenly conscious of the white shirt she was wearing as well as the mischievous machinations of the man opposite her. Her shirt was just low enough to provide an attractive target and given that his attraction to her was no secret, he would surely try to hit the bullseye. Thought he had never confessed his attraction in any serious way, she knew. And, if she was honest with herself, the feeling was mutual. With that thought in mind, she raised her 'goal posts' squarely in front her chest and grinned.

The detective's eyes went wide, but he was already committed. He flicked the triangle too high on its base and sent ball in a line drive which hit Kensi's left thumb and fell to the desk in front of her.

Kensi's eyes followed the ball as it fell, then turned them to Deeks. His look of disappointed disbelief was like a boy who had blamed for something he didn't do.

Kensi stood up and rounded the desk to come to his side. She leaned down and whispered in his ear: "Don't cry, Deeks. You're in good company…so to speak.

Deeks just nodded at her provocation.

"Another game?" Kensi whispered in challenge.

"Oh yeah," her partner replied, coolly, turning so that their lips were mere centimeters apart. "It is so on."