Keeping up
Author: wanderingsmith
oct 7, 2015
Summary: "Why didn't you ever make a
move?"
Rating: PG13
Disclaimer: I ain't got no money, and
nobody'd be daft enough to pay me for this. As
it is thought, so let it be said; you make the
toys, I play with 'em..
AN: Wrote this a while back.. still
not sure if maybe more chapters might appear,
so I'm posting as it's own story rather than a
fic bit... However, muses aren't talking to me
at the moment so.. yeah. That's all I gotta
say
The tail end of a team night when everyone else
has headed out; Lee hunched and staring into the
flickering flames of the fire in Barney's small
yard, mind kinda blank. Then slowly he rises to
consciousness and the awareness of a familiar
feeling.
And looks up, catching Barney watching him:
half-closed eyes just barely catching enough
firelight to shine, slouching low in his worn
adirondak chair, twin to Lee's, snifter of whiskey
held against his chest. Ghost of a smile on his
lips.
It's familiar. But this time Lee stops and
actually pays attention. And opens his mouth
without letting himself think too hard, muttering
just loud enough to beat the crickets and the snap
of the flames in wood, "Why didn't you ever make a
move?"
The tone was idle enough that Barney's only
reaction was to fully open his eyes and give him a
curious look, "Move on what?"
"On me."
Wasn't until he heard his own words that Lee
really finished the thought that had started the
question. And then immediately doubted himself.
But Barney's sudden stillness wasn't denial.
Wasn't fear; but wasn't the flustered denial Lee'd
have expected if he'd been wrong.
Then the man's shoulders eased back down to normal
and he gave a half-shrug, still meeting Lee's
eyes, though his expression was a little on the
blank side, rather than that relaxed fondness
Lee'd gotten so used to seeing that he'd never
thought twice about it until tonight.
"Didn't expect it'd be welcome," the smile was
real this time, though ironic rather than its
softer, ghostly, cousin, "Mostly don't imagine I
could keep up with you."
The first part he could understand, but even
taking a minute, Lee still shook his head,
straightening in his chair to frown at the man
across from him, "Way I remember it, *I*'m the one
that keeps having to 'keep up' with *you*!"
Barney snorted lightly, smug smirk wider for a few
seconds before fading back, making Lee frown
harder at the feeling of resignation he got, even
in the dim flickers of light. "I don't mean in the
field."
"Not in the- Then wher-" Even as he asked the
question, the only possible answer, however
unbelievable, was there. Still took a few breaths
to actually wrap his head around the idea.
Once he was sure, though, he set his glass on the
grass and got up to take the couple steps over.
Barney had straightened when he got up, but
otherwise stayed in his seat, watching him come up
to his and crouch down, hands on the chair arms,
elbows almost brushing Barney's jean-covered
knees. "I've had, what? Two? Maybe three
girlfriends in the years we've known each other?
If I had some overactive libido, wouldn't I've had
a fucking revolving door o' partners?" he shook
his head, smiling a bit now, "Hell, Barney,
there's more to intimate relationships than sex..
Even if by 'keep up' you mean you can't, I'll damn
well keep using my hand. Doesn't mean we can't...
be closer.. have a life outside work..." Lee's
voice trailed off, frowning down at his hands, not
sure what he was trying to say, really.
Only half noticing the hand lowering a glass to
the ground on the edge of his sight, he wasn't
expecting a heavy, calloused hand he was used to
feeling against his own, suddenly hesitantly
coming to rest on the side of his jaw, pulling his
attention to the present and the shadowed eyes
watching him. "Just mean don't expect can keep up.
And why the hell would you settle for that,
Christmas?"
Lee rolled his eyes, "Because it's not settling.
If I'd paid attention instead of giving myself
crap for being an idiot all these years, I'd have
made a pass at you years ago." Tired of looking
up, he stood and crowded closer until he could
nudge a knee between Barney's enough to rest it on
the chair, and then leaned forward, not reading
any resistance from the soft smirk on Barney's
lips; let along the hands that came up to rest at
his waist. He was close enough that it'd only take
a tilt of the head to kiss... "Whine until you
cook: just for me. Nag you to relax when you need
to. Go to sleep holding each other. Your head in
my lap while you read and I watch TV. That sound
like settling to you?"
It was Barney that shifted until they just about
touched, breathing against Lee's lips as he
answered quietly, "Sounds like a piece of
Heaven."
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