A/N: So…I wrote another thing. Yes, it's AU and comes at Kensi and Deeks' relationship from an angle I've never fully explored. I hope you enjoy!

"Marty, did you pack your lunch? Finish your homework?" Roberta Deeks asked her son, securing her hair with a handful of hairpins while she spoke.

"Yes," Deeks answered, holding up the worn lunch bag he'd had for the last few years. "And it's the week before finals so we don't have any homework."

"Oh, that's right." Roberta roughly pressed her free hand over half her face, wincing. "I'm sorry I keep forgetting."

"That's ok, mom. You've been busy. I gotta go; I've meeting Kensi before first period." He grabbed his backpack and lunch bag, dropping a kiss on his mom's cheek as he passed. "Have a good day at work."

"Don't get into any trouble," Roberta called after him. "I love you!"

The battered screen door swung closed behind him as he jogged down the short and narrow sidewalk leading from their tiny slab of a house.

"Dad, I'm leaving!" Kensi called out, running down the stairs from her bedroom. The bathroom door opened as she passed, her dad's head poking out. A thick layer of shaving cream coated his lower face and neck, aside from a single stripe that was clean-shaven.

"Kensi, I thought I was driving you today," he replied.

"I decided to walk with Marty Deeks today," she explained. "I thought I told you."

"Hmph." Don ducked back into the bathroom to continue shaving, but kept one eye on Kensi through the mirror. "I swear you'd climb Mount Everest for that boy."

"It's not that far, dad." Kensi rolled her eyes, fixing her dad with a look before he could comment anything else.

"Ok, but be careful."

It took Deeks about a half hour by bike to reach Kensi's street. He found Kensi waiting for him a few houses down from her own, and slowed to a stop, rolling his bike onto the sidewalk.

"Hey, I thought you were gonna stand me up," she greeted him.

"And good morning to you too. I just rode like 5 miles to get here," he reminded her, panting slightly as he slid off his bike.

"Sorry. Well, when I get my driver's license next week, I can pick you up and we won't have to worry about riding or walking," Kensi said, tucking a few strands of hair behind her. A light breeze blew them straight back into her face,

"Ooh, somebody has high opinions of her driving skills," Deeks teased as they started walking together, him pushing his bike to his side. It wasn't the most efficient way to get to school, but it gave them plenty of uninterrupted time to chat. Especially now that it was warm enough to take their time.

"Hey, I passed my drivers ed course."

"Yeah, but I've been driving with you and it's a little scary. That poor squirrel." Deeks dodged Kensi's elbow, laughing in delight at her outrage.

"I did not hit a squirrel!" she protested in a loud whisper. "And you cannot let my dad know I've been in a car without him. He would ground me or ban me from driving until I'm 30 or something."

"My silence might cost you a couple pizzas," Deeks said, and Kensi rolled her eyes.

"You know, this whole problem would be solved if you got a car."

Dropping his head, Deeks fiddled with his left hand-break. He knew there wasn't any judgment or malice behind the comment, but he felt a hint of shame run through him.

"Yeah, might be a while before that happens." He dragged a hand through his hair, brushing a few pieces off his forehead, then replacing them. He offered Kensi a smile that probably didn't come off as naturally as he hoped. "You know, I'm saving most of my money for my college fund."

And bills, he added silently.

Unlike him, Kensi would have her own car within a few weeks of taking her test. It wouldn't be a flashy car, because the Blye's weren't rich by any means, but it would be nice enough and suitable for a cherished teenage daughter.

Kensi didn't comment on that, which he was oddly grateful for. He didn't think Kensi knew the extent of his financial situation, but she seemed to realize that money and anything associated weren't favorite topics.

After a few minutes, when some of the awkwardness had faced, Kensi knocked into him, her backpack swinging into his side.

"So, are you going to Casey's party on Saturday?"

"Nah, I have a shift."

"You're not going to keep your bad boy reputation if you keep skipping out on parties and working all the time," Kensi said.

Ah yes, his infamous rebel image, acquired the day Deeks had walked into Welling Middle School with a handful of transfer papers and a dozen rumors attached to his name. Though he'd been short for his age, and didn't look the part in any way, 12-year-old Marty Deeks was treated like a juvenile delinquent, and not a kid freshly escaped from a abusive environment.

To this day, that reputation followed him. Most people didn't avoid him like they had at first or whispered behind his back, but there were a few teachers who still held it against him. Or girls who thought he was "dangerous".

Thankfully, Kensi made it a lot easier to joke about.

"I guess I'll have to sneak out in between stocking shelves to steal a couple cars," Deeks drawled.

"Or just taking the opposite side of Mr. Cook in debate class. It makes it seem like you enjoy defying authority."

Deeks grinned to himself, imagining Cook's pinched frown every time Deeks raised his hand or volunteered to partner up for a debate. "Hey, you know I don't do that on purpose."

"Uh-huh."

"Ok, it's about 70-30. It's really hard to behave myself when he refuses to listen to anyone else's point of view," Deeks defended himself.

"It also helps that Rebecca can't keep her eyes off you the entire time," Kensi said, and Deeks scoffed at her observation.

"She's too busy looking at the football players to have any interest in me," Deeks disagreed. Not to mention, he'd heard her same some nasty things about a kid with dyslexia last week.

His stomach chose that moment to growl particularly loud, which distracted Kensi from further grilling him about any possible crushes.

Kensi silently reached into her backpack and pulled out one of the prepackaged pastries of which she seemed to have an endless supply. Today it was a black and white striped cake. Personally, Deeks didn't get her obsession, but he was hungry enough to take it.

"Thanks." He tore open the wrapper, and nodded to Kensi's bag. "You run out of Twinkies?"

"You know I ration those," she said with mock seriousness, beyond the point of caring if he teased her about her eating habits. "I've got more and granola bars if you get hungry after gym."

Deeks smiled, but didn't say anything, feeling a weird mixture of shame and gratitude.

They reached the front entrance to Bailey High School and walked in, heading for their lockers. Deeks grabbed his geometry book, and shoved the rest of his things inside the locker, waiting across the hall while Kensi checked her hair and grabbed what she needed for her first class.

"Are you still coming over dinner tonight?" Kensi asked, dodging between passing students to join him. She had a lit book tucked under her left arm and an apple in her hand as they started walking in the general direction of their first period classes.

"Eh, I might be picking up a shift for Ray at the shop," he answered with an apologetic shrug. "I'm not sure I'll have time before that." Kensi slowed to a stop, throwing him a concerned look.

"Deeks, we have finals next week. When are you gonna study if you keep picking up all these extra shifts?"

"I'll study when I get home." He shrugged off her concern. He could manage a week or so without much sleep; he'd done it before and been fine.

Sighing, Kensi turned, getting in his path so he had to stop. A few students glared at her when they had to veer around the sudden blockade they created.

"I know you want of save money, but it's not going to do any good if you're too tired to do your best on tests. Don't pick up that shift, ok?" Kensi begged softly, her soft concern almost enough to make him give in. "Besides, my dad's making lasagna and breadsticks." She added the last part to sweeten the deal, and Deeks rolled his eyes, reluctantly nodding.

"All right. I'll tell Ray I can't. But only because your dad makes really good lasagna.'

"Thank you. I'll see you in biology," she said, squeezing his arm before hurrying off to her English class.

Deeks sighed as he watched her go, hair swinging behind her. At least he wouldn't have to worry about finding dinner tonight.

A/N: Thoughts?