Set somewhere between Inca Mummy Girl and Lie to Me
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Jenny isn't sure what to do.
If she were dating anyone else, they'd have at least shared a kiss by now. She's not bothered by going slow; she and Rupert will continue with whatever pace they're comfortable with. Their attraction is mutual, it's clear to her, so she has no idea what's holding either of them back. She's almost tempted to kiss him to see what happens.
Their dates have been filled with gore and screams. They're intense, full of adrenaline and it's leaving her with a heady feeling to basque in. She wants to know if she's reacting to the situation or him.
When they're alone afterward, he's sweet and kind and endearing in ways she's never appreciated before. She likes his differences from her exes. His quirks, his intelligence. She likes it when he opens doors for her and offers her his arm. She likes his sarcasm, dry and disguised by his accent and the words he uses, whether she's on the receiving end of it or not.
Even when they were at each other's throats – bad choice of words for this town, but hey – she enjoyed fighting with him, otherwise she wouldn't have bothered. Hell, she has almost as much fun fighting with him as she does flirting with him. And flirting with him is fast becoming her favourite pastime.
They've had a quiet week which led to a quiet weekend and Rupert surprised her by inviting her to the movies. Standing in line for cinema tickets on Saturday afternoon, Jenny thinks it's the first time she's seen him in a sweater and slacks without a jacket. It's not the same as seeing him at school, or after a long night of research when he's removed his jacket to make himself more comfortable.
Sunnydale is small and there is only a family-run, two-screen theatre. Most of the week they show the latest blockbusters, while every Saturday afternoon there's a classic matinee showing. Rupert suggested the matinee of Strangers on a Train because she's never seen it and the alternative is an Armageddon-action film that had pissed her off when she saw the trailer because it gave too much of the plot away about the computer hacker who was supposed to save the day. She doesn't want to spend her afternoon pointing out inconsistencies and poking at plot holes while scowling into her popcorn.
"I'm going to get snacks, what do you want to drink?" Jenny asks, touching his arm. "Before you ask, I think the only tea they have is iced."
"I doubt they're Long Island ones either," Rupert replies, making her smirk.
"We could always make our own later," she suggests fairly certain she has most of the ingredients at home before tacking on, "If you don't have any other plans."
"My evening is free unless Buffy calls with an emergency," he declares. "If you don't have other plans, that is."
"Only catching up online, which is much more entertaining with you reading over my shoulder and questioning the validity of other people's research."
She's slowly trying to introduce him to her computer; mostly by finding the sites herself with him beside her and they'll discuss the merits and if it's worth further consideration or a load of rubbish. He tells her computer that in no uncertain terms which she finds hilarious. She finds his exasperation much more adorable when it's not aimed at her like when they first met. Now, it's a fond exasperation when he does aim it at her.
"Sounds like fun," Rupert agrees as he steps forward as the person at the ticket window finally finishes booking their seats.
Jenny enters the theatre, greeted by décor which was last updated in the late Eighties. Her life seems to be in a perpetual queue as she eyes the selection of bagged sweets while she waits to be served at the concessions stand. She eyes up the mini Reece's cups and salty popcorn so she can the balance of salty-sweet just right for the movie. When she gets to the front of the queue, she orders two peach iced teas to go along with the snacks.
Rupert joins her, hovering at her side while the server scoops popcorn into the large container. "Iced tea?"
"Non-alcoholic, unfortunately," Jenny confirms.
Rupert huffs, throwing her a tender expression. He takes the drinks as she pays and picks up the chocolate and popcorn. He holds the theatre door open for her and she offers him the open carton of popcorn. He shakes his head.
"We can sit anywhere we like, they aren't busy."
Jenny looks over their options. There are clusters of other patrons, including the cinema film club which is their version of a book club. They would view the matinee screening and then adjourn to the coffee house to discuss the film's merits.
She tends to talk to the screen during films, in the same way Rupert talks to a computer, when she thinks something's stupid. So she wants enough distance from the club so she can argue with the film without getting shushed. Because that won't end well and she doesn't feel like getting banned from the only cinema in town today. Therefore, when the film club favours the seats closer to the screen, Jenny chooses the back row.
Jenny quirks her lips as she slides her free hand into his to lead him towards the corner. Her smile widens when his Adam's apple bobs as he swallows. She loves teasing him and is fully aware the back row is an ideal place to spend the afternoon making out with him if she wants to test her theory about kissing him. She wants it to happen organically though and she won't force a situation.
They settle into their seats and she tucks the popcorn into the side of her seat between them as he passes her drink. She crosses her legs at the knee, angling herself towards him. She feels the slight breeze from the vent nearby from the efficient aircon system on her bare arms, thinking a short-sleeved top and rip-worn jeans weren't the smartest clothing options. It's not uncomfortable but a distinct contrast to outside where a warm Californian sun is beating down on the town. She curls into the arm of her chair, as close to Rupert as the armrest allows.
"You alright?" He asks, noticing the goosebumps on her arm.
"A little cold," she replies, snagging some popcorn.
"I don't have a jacket to offer you today, but I can…" Rupert trails off when Jenny looks at him curiously. Instead of finishing his sentence, he lifts his arm to wrap it around her. "Is this alright?"
"This is good." Jenny settles into the nook of his arm, her head coming to rest on his shoulder as they share body warmth. She places her hand over his as it finds a place on her waist to reiterate that she wants his arm around her. Rupert's arm adjusts to cover hers again. Jokes about copping a feel or a move feel redundant to her because that would make him withdraw and it would take too much time to coax him back when she already has him right where she wants him.
The lights dip as previews start to run on the screen. Soon, their faces are awash in flashes of colour from the screen as they look towards the screen. Absently his fingers start drawing an invisible design on the back of her hand, a spark following the sensation along her skin. She hums quietly, enjoying his touch when it interchanges between the pad of his finger and the occasional scrape of his nail, wondering how it would feel on other parts of her body.
The movie starts to roll, music following the main characters as they arrive at the train station interspersed with train tracks. Jenny follows the black-tipped white wingtip Oxfords as they walk through the throng. So far so good…and Rupert's fingers are distracting her in the best kind of way.
She sighs quietly, pressing back against his arm as it curls around her. Enjoying the warmth from him, transferred through his soft sweater. His aftershave isn't overpowering in the recently applied sense but she likes it. His finger continues to draw the patterns on the back of her hand; he doesn't try to touch her anywhere else, she can easily move away from him if she becomes uncomfortable or if she doesn't like his fidgeting. Somehow his fidgeting is quelling her need to do the same. She feels the cool band of the ring he wears on his little finger against the underside of her hand.
She wonders if she's the only one tempted to test the boundaries of their blossoming relationship. Rupert is perceptive and sensual without being overly so. She can't be the only one of them trying to find the right time to make a move.
Jenny rolls her head against his shoulder to look up at him, finding him a bit more fascinating than the screen. Sensing her gaze, he tips his chin to look at her. Their eyes meet, green to brown, searching, connecting in the darkened theatre. Her eyes drop to his lips, parted to ask a question that doesn't get voiced.
They linger for a second before shifting closer at the same time. Jenny angles her head to meet his lips. Her eyes flutter closed as his lips rest against hers for a beat before pressing more insistently. Rupert eases the kiss into something deeper, eliciting a murmur of approval from her. Jenny's free hand blindly reaches for the back of his head to hold him in place as her mouth opens beneath his.
When they pull back, their eyes hold as they share a soft smile before she tucks herself into him as close as the armrest will allow. He kisses the top of her head. Jenny slips her hand from under his; her fingers taking their turn to trace his hands and fingers, strong and elegant.
Later that evening, there's a pitcher of Long Island iced tea sitting on her coffee table. Wrapped around each other on her couch, She can taste tequila and rum spiked with cola, lemon and lime on his lips. They exchange kisses that are sweet and exploring, enjoying the moment with an air of intimacy without any rush. The furthest his hands wander is under the back of her shirt when he toys with it. It's been so long since she kissed someone for the sake of kissing someone.
Jenny pulls back, her nose grazing his as she gives him a contemplative smile. Physical curiosity satisfied, she realises she had known this relationship was different from any she'd had in the past. She should stop treating it like it is.
Rupert is different. Kind and caring, with a quiet confidence hiding beneath a tentative presence. She'd like to know what happened in his past that caused him to hide that from people. Maybe one day they'll share their truths.
Not today.
Today, she wants to kiss him without worrying about the past or the future.
Notes:
So, I have a question for everyone…when do you think their first kiss was? Was it the shy peck of lips in The Dark Ages or before? For me, it changes with every rewatch of Lie to Me and The Dark Ages. That flirty little scene when he says he puts himself in her hands and she says that sounds like fun then his little sigh and head bob suggests they both know what happens when he's in her hands whereas the onscreen peck had a definite first kiss vibe. Or was that just because of the impending stampede of students? Opening this up to everyone as it's been the cause of serious contemplation for my mind this last week.