Post-Ep, 6x08 The Grey Man.

Sometimes, it's just the thought that counts. With Kensi's cooking, that is always the case. Deeks is pretty sure the Chef Boyardee Spaghetti and Meatballs that she cooked (microwaved) is going to leave a permanent orange film on his teeth. Hell, it managed to stain the can it came in. A can. And the expiration date is at least five years from now. There is no universe in which this is a healthy meal.

But she looks so damn pleased with herself, and seems to find this pseudo Italian delicatezza absolutely delicious. If this garbage makes her that happy, he would probably be content to eat it for the rest of his life - however long or short it may be.

She grins a toothy, orange smile at him and asks with her mouth full, "Good?"

"Oh yeah," he lies, taking another bite. It's not the worst thing he's ever eaten in his life, he guesses. Kensi narrows her eyes suspiciously, and he remembers her earlier statement that he was unable to fool her anymore. Maybe she was right, maybe she wasn't. Lying had always come easily to him, just like jokes and deflection. Somehow none of those things are as easy with her anymore. It scares him, just a little bit.

"Sorry it's not homemade, like Sam makes it," she says, pouting too much for it to seem sincere.

Deeks takes another bite of his dinner. "The company is better." Not a lie, not at all. She meets his eyes in the way that makes him uncomfortably excited and nervous and horny and elated all at the same time.

She opens her mouth, and he's sure she's about to make some sort of comment about his own less than stellar cooking when he interrupts her. "About earlier, when I…feigned ignorance. It's not that I didn't want to know. But I don't want you to feel obligated to tell me anything that you don't feel comfortable talking about."

She fidgets with her plastic spork. "I thought you said partners don't keep secrets?"

True, he did say that a few weeks ago. It was a rather hypocritical statement on his part, but she was visibly upset and he can't stand to see her upset. Kensi is the strongest person he knows, and just being around her makes him stronger. "You know, I have this theory about you."

"Really."

"Yeah," he muses. "You are an actual real-life superhero."

She scoffs loudly and food almost flies out of her mouth. "Hardly. And you have a serious obsession with superheroes, just saying."

"Hear me out." He takes a swig of water, but it doesn't wash down the slime of canned tomato sauce. "Superheroes all have to face some sort of obstacle, right? Well, the cool ones anyway. Take Superman, he has a weakness in kryptonite. But he's still awesome and saves the world, just like you. So just because you have things about yourself that you don't think are your best qualities, it doesn't mean that you're not still Badass Blye. Those things help make you who you are, and make you more badass than if you were perfect."

That whole spiel didn't really come out as well as he wanted, but he still thinks she understands the point he is trying to make. She tilts her head, her expression warm and soft - a far cry from the hardened look she gave the charred man with the meat cleaver before she blew him away. This is a look Deeks sees from her more and more often now, and he thinks maybe she saves it just for him. "Thanks. But you know I don't want-"

"Not sympathy," he interrupts. "Just truth."

"Okay…" she trails off. "Since we're being so honest today."

"Yes, this tastes like shit," Deeks says, making a face as he puts his bowl down on her coffee table.

"Ugh, shut up." Kensi tucks her feet under her legs and leans back on her couch cushions. "I like it just fine."

"Obviously, you ate a whole family size."

"Again. Shut up."

Deeks settles next to her on her cushion, placing a hand on her knee. "I'll shut up. But I'd love to hear all about Badass Blye: The Awkward Teenage Years."

She curls her nose up, maybe in an attempt to cover the flush on her cheeks. "You might be in for a long night."

"Nowhere else I'd rather be."