As promised, my responses and other things you should know will be at the end of this chapter.
Read and enjoy!
As they pulled up to the valet outside St. Charles Academy, Vega glowered at the tall pristine structures, knowing that there was marble upon marble once he stepped inside. He remembered trudging up those stairs so many times, and it was daunting to think about doing it again. No matter what he'd said about it not being so bad, he was pretty sure he'd been completely wrong. He was brought out of his brooding at the hand that covered his on the steering wheel, feeling Angie squeeze before she opened her door, motioning for him to do the same. He did, handing the valet his keys as he made his way around the car. He met Angie on the sidewalk, taking her outstretched hand, as he got closer. He gripped her hand as they made their way slowly inside, stopping to check in her jacket while he held her purse. He let out a low whistle as he helped her out of her jacket, handing it to the person checking coats with a smile as she grinned triumphantly. He let his fingers graze her right shoulder until they reached her hand, picking it up and lifting it as she spun in front of him for the second time.
"I'll admit, I did not expect this"
"Well, I said I'd have your back, and I always keep my word. Well most of the time, but always when it comes to you. Is it distracting enough for your classmates?" she said smiling, biting the side of her lip as he shook his head dumbfounded.
"Yeah, that's an understatement. Who knew you even owned something this…"
"This…what Vega?" she raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms against her stomach as she stared him down.
"This hot, for the lack of a better word" he replied as he scratched the back of his neck, it heating up in embarrassment as he started to wander down the hallway with her in tow. She reached out patting his left shoulder, letting her hand slide down his arm as she intertwined their fingers.
"Oh honey, that was a fine description. Now stop stalling, lets get this show on the road"
They walked inside, and Angie had to contain her jealousy at going to such a beautiful school. Sure Oscar made it clear that he'd hated it, but it didn't negate the absolutely gorgeous architecture. She felt him drag his feet, trying to slow them down as she pulled him farther into the hall that looked like it belonged in a hotel, not a private school. She looked around, pulling him towards the check in table, laughing lowly at the groan he let out when they saw an overly excited blonde woman in an…impressively colorful pantsuit. He looked up at the ceiling, hoping Angie would do all of the talking for them. He was sadly mistaken as she released his hand, pushing at his shoulder to walk up to the table first. He sighed sending her a look that she was clearing failing him tonight.
"Hi, I'm here to check in, my name's-"
"Oscar Vega, oh my god! It's been too long; do you even remember me? I mean, I know we had AP English together freshman year, but I never forgot such a kind soul. Oh sorry, I probably haven't even told you my name yet, I'm Emily Jansen. I take it the Catholic Church is treating you well?"
They both cringed, Angie putting her hand on the space at his neck, her fingers curling around to rest on his right shoulder. She absently stroked her thumb across the back of his neck, reminding him that she was there for him despite her amusement at his discomfort up to this point. He reached his left hand to slide from her right hip around her back, resting his hand on her left hip as she tipped her head to rest against his shoulder. Her even breathing calmed him enough to reply with as much sincerity as possible, the sarcasm almost nonexistent. Almost.
"Actually I'm a Detective now, changed careers to what I guess was my true calling"
"Oh, that's really great. I'm so glad you decided to come tonight. Is this your partner?"
Angie looked the woman up and down; surprised she was purposely mistaking their closeness for anything other than what seemed to be a romantic relationship.
"Actually, I'm his girlfriend Angie. It's really nice to meet you Emily, Oscar's been looking forward to this all week. Do we need name tags, or can we just go right on in?"
Emily smiled thinly towards her, handing them each safety pin nametags that they wrote their names on in permanent marker. Angie grabbed Oscars once he was done, taking it between her fingers to carefully pin it into the pocket of his suit jacket. She smoothed her hands over it and his shoulders, watching as she gave him her nametag to do the same. He ran the edge of his right index finger high up against the skin of her collarbone, slipping it between her skin and the dress as he cautiously pinned it in place. She relaxed, putting her right hand under his jacket against his left side, letting her warmth seep into him. They were treading dangerously, and she could see the challenge in his eyes as he slipped his right hand up behind her neck, pulling her head down towards him. She let out a sigh of relief as he kissed her forehead, rubbing his thumb against the skin behind her ear as he released her, feeling her hand fall back to her side as he stepped back.
"We should get inside Angie," he murmured, his voice deeper as his eyes met hers.
"Yeah, let's do that"
Angie stood by the open bar, waiting on her and Oscar's much needed shots of bourbon as she watched him back away from a rather loud man that kept slapping him on the back every few minutes. Men…sometimes they baffled her. She ran her finger over the edge of her scotch glass as he strode over to her, his eyes softening as he saw her tired smile.
"You trying to get me drunk Ang?"
"Yeah, a shot of bourbon and two fingers of scotch are going to knock you on your ass, you're onto me. Having a good time?"
"No, no I'm not. The former JV quarterback was too wasted to realize I didn't actually play on the team with him, so he just kept calling me Alan. Please tell me we can leave soon?"
"No such luck partner, seems like your admirer has her sights set on you"
He looked behind him discretely and indeed saw Emily heading straight for him. He looked at Angie casually sitting on a stool with her back leaning against the bar, her scotch halfway to her lips as he slipped the glass from her fingers. She looked at him like he'd lost his mind, but allowed him to drag her off her stool and onto the dance floor. He'd discarded his suit jacket at a table near them about twenty minutes ago, so when he pulled her closer, her hands rested on the collar of his dress shirt. He placed his hands on her hips, flexing his fingers into the muscle of her back as he led her across the floor.
" I take it Emily isn't your type Vega?"
"Angie…" he murmured warningly, letting her know she was being ridiculous.
"Sorry. What about that woman you were talking to earlier, the one with long dark hair"
Oscar could hear the slight…interest in the woman Angie noticed him talking to earlier. She wasn't fat or ugly, but she was indeed the woman that didn't even glance his way in high school. Sophia Caine…it made him feel 16 again, but their conversation was nothing short of pleasant and impersonal. She wasn't his crush anymore, and he'd honestly put all of high school in the past once he gradated.
"Well she's still beautiful, but also still vain…her name's Sophia"
She nodded her head, letting that particular line of questioning go as she tightened her arms around his neck. He brought her in closer so they were brushing together from waist to chest; Angie deciding that was the perfect moment to lean her cheek against his. He froze for a second, but held her close as he returned the pressure, letting their heads lean together as they swayed.
"You know, if anyone from the precinct saw us…"
"They'd make inappropriate comments and have us split up in a heartbeat, I know Ang. It's not like no one's ever insinuated it, but Mark obviously wouldn't appreciate it given your history"
"You know Mark and I have been over for like, a decade" she muttered, hating that he was still partially right.
"I know that, but it doesn't mean he wouldn't enjoy making our lives hell just because he could. Remember coming back from my dad's wedding?"
She had to agree, knowing Mark's tendency to cover his own ass first. Plus, everyone commenting on their get up wasn't exactly helpful. The fact that him and Oscar only ever seemed to see eye to eye when it came to her was painfully obvious. She'd tried her best to run interference, but after Samantha's death, Mark and Oscar did their best to avoid each other at all costs. She couldn't blame him, she was part of the reason Oscar got caught in the crossfire; she let her emotions for her grieving ex override her common sense. She would still be beating herself up over it had her and Vega not already settled it a couple months ago.
They continued to dance, content in the silence as they observed the other people in attendance. Angie tried her best to avoid looking at Emily, but that woman kept them, in her sights. It bordered on creepy, but she couldn't bring it upon herself to care. Oscar had decided that murmuring the lyrics to the song playing must be a better distraction than anything she was doing at the moment. He was completely right. He let his voice trail off, talking a breath before he spoke.
"Angie…"
"Yeah?"
Oscar paused, making her look him in the eye and realizing that was a huge mistake. They were exactly the same height, so her nose almost brushed his as she turned to stare at him. Whatever it was that they kept doing tonight was making everything complicated. While she wanted to move one way or another, she wasn't quite ready to make that leap just yet.
"What-" he was interrupted by a few of his intoxicated classmates, breaking the spell between them as they took a step away from one another. He ran a hand over his jaw in irritation as they apologized, waving them off as they stumbled away. By the time he circled back to Angie, she just patted his shoulder, telling him whenever he was ready to leave she was too.
"Yeah, just let me grab the car and we can head out"
"Okay, I'll meet you out front in 5?" she asked cautiously, studiously ignoring the sudden tension.
"Sure, sounds great"
Like it? Think you know what happens next? Give me some feedback, it's definitely helped me keep them relatively close to their individual characters (as much as you can in an AU kind of thing).
OH, I wanted to do a oneshot inspired by a song or an idea, anyone have one? I'm drawing a blank :/
On to the lovely reviewers!
jackandsanforever : Long time no see! haha, thanks for always reviewing, you've been a huge help. I've tried my best to keep the banter as interesting as on the show, but them being more touchy will be circled back upon as we get a little farther in :]
Marnie : Glad you like it, and thanks for letting me know! I'm glad that warmth and familiarity translated well, I worried about it quite a bit.
MellyMc : Thanks, I'm glad you're looking forward to more! I think this one has 4 chapters to it, unless I get comments that spark an entirely new perspective. Happened to my Person of Interest AU a lot.
Skylarcat : I'm glad you're back too! It's funny you called it date night, but I can't really get into that until a little later ;] I'm glad you love this fic, your enthusiasm actually sparked a different turn for my story I hadn't expected, so thanks!
