InsaneJournal

Who: Peter & Kate
When: Thursday Afternoon
Where: Coffee Shop
What: Drinking coffee, making friends.
Rating/Warnings: None probably
Status: Complete!



His groggy morning seemed to be everyone else’s mid-day and even pushed into the hours of the evening by the time he was showered and felt less like he’d been run over by a truck. Spending what might be more than necessary time on the computer he’d at least managed to be social and even have someone to drink a cup of coffee with. Could this Kate girl possibly be a serial killer luring in Peter as a helpless victim, quite possibly, but if he lived to tell the tale then it’d be one hell of a story to hear.

He grabbed for his converse and his hoodie and was out the door with skateboard in hand and moving through traffic while being honked at in no time. Sure, he had a car but why waste money on gas when most of the time this was just as fast. That, and even at the age of 28 he still loved to go skateboarding, he figured if Tony Hawk could do it then he could. Just, with less broken bones. Hopefully.

Looking down at his phone he followed the GPS to the address she had given him, and there was already a grin on his face. He tried not to look too eager though, toeing the board and hanging on to the front wheels in one hand he’d look down at his phone and then around wondering if maybe he was a minute or two early - not that they had a set time but it hadn’t been that far for him to go either. He’d find a table inside and take a seat while he leaned back looking over to the menu on the wall figuring out just how much sugar and coffee concentrate he wanted to pump through his system at the moment.

***

Kate was out of coffee at home. She really should look into one of those services that delivered once month, because then she wouldn't run out. Or, more honestly, she'd be less likely to run out. Sure, she could go over to Clint's place and brew a pot there, but she thought Clint was working today, so she didn't want to bother him. Or get Lucky excited about going out, because she didn't have time to give the dog a walk before work. A quick cup at a local cafe she could fit in before she had to go put in time at the club.

She was wearing her work clothes when she headed to the cafe, a thin hoodie hiding her top, and black, dress pants underneath. Normally Kate would have worn something a lot less formal...ish... but she was technically on her way to work. She'd dreamed about Billy and Teddy last night, and she missed them a lot. Was it weird to miss someone she didn't actually know in real life? Strange. She was having Dream repeats, and that was no fun. Maybe it was time to make some more friends in this world, so she didn't have to depend on the Young Avengers in her Dreams to keep her company.

She headed into the cafe and glanced around, wondering which one of the customers was this Johnny Peter guy. There was a guy with a skateboard, who was sitting alone. That was her best bet. She headed in his direction, looking somewhat hopeful.

***

After starring at the board for entirely too long, which might have been a few minutes, he still had no idea what he was really going to get. Probably just coffee, regular coffee with double the sugar and cream which was how he likes it on days like this. It definitely wasn’t one of the black with nothing type of day, that would come Monday when he had to wear the tie and look professional again himself. For now it was just some jeans, a comfortable red plaid shirt since red happened to look best on him and the blue hoodie he wore just about everywhere. It currently covered the ‘fluffy’ brown mess of hair atop his head at the moment, glancing around again to see if anyone happened to look like they were trying to meet someone else here.

There was a woman walking in his direction and instantly a brow was raised in curiosity. Lips pursed out as he wondered whether or not this was her. There was only one way to find out though, getting up from his chair he left his board under the table and out of the way for the most part. “Hey, hi. I’m actually looking for a serial killer that’s supposed to meet me here and lure me away to a dark alley and slaughter? She’s using the alias of Kate?”

Was it a little cheesy of him, and possibly disastrous of him to go up to a complete stranger and say that? Yeah, of course but what was life without having a little fun. If anything, she’d turn out not to be Kate and he would probably just go on to look like a smacked ass. He hoped that just wasn’t the case and he may still look like a smacked ass but that typically happened anyway throughout the day.

***

Kate was surprisingly awake, considering she didn't have any coffee at home. She had to be, really, to dress and put on make-up and get ready for work. Hers was one of those jobs that she had to look good for. The feminist inside her wanted to rant and rave, but the realist in her knew that tips were about a hundred times better when she unbuttoned the top button of her blouse and wore mascara. Dudes sometimes sucked, but she couldn't argue with it. She'd done the research. Tips were better when she was pretty.

And then there was the guy standing in front of her. She took in his face, the clothes, and her smile spread. This guy wasn't a threat. She didn't need regret leaving her bow in the car.

"Kate. Right. And I'm looking for a homicidal maniac? Pete?" She played along. It was fun, and he was obviously a big goof-ball. She found it endearing. "Who's offered to buy me a cup of coffee. Let's not forget about the coffee."

***

A bow in her hand would have definitely tipped him off as her actually being some sort of killer or at least psycho to the point of bringing in a weapon while getting coffee. Then again he was how old, and still traveled by way of four wheels on a board? He could use it as a weapon should he need to, but then it’d break and a bow would certainly go through it.

“A homicidal maniac? Really? Here? Do they congregate here or something?” He grinned as he looked over his one shoulder and then the other way around a bit enthusiastically. “Oh well this is kinda crazy. I’m Pete.” His hand placed on his own chest as though it was a matter-of-fact statement to be made.

“Gotta say even if this homicidal maniac guy doesn’t show. I’ll be the Pete to buy you that coffee.” Winking as he shook his head, he wasn’t sure how long he could keep up the goofiness - probably forever if he wanted to though. Clearing his throat a little he’d outstretch his hand in her direction now, “It’s nice to get to meet you in person.”

***

Kate was grinning. The whole thing was amusing--carrying on the ruse from Valarnet into real life. She reached forward to shake his hand. "It's good to meet you, too, Pete. Even better when you give me that promised cup of coffee." She was teasing. Smiling. Amused.

Her hand withdrew and she motioned toward the cash register. "I take it black." Another tease. C'mon, Pete, get with the program! "Homicidal maniacs need their caffeine hits, you know."

***

“Black..of course. I should have known by this point in our intimate connection here.” He shook his head, a hand palming it for a moment. “Okay you sit here, whatever. I’ll run and go grab us two coffees. Be right back..promise.” Grinning over at her, it was rare that Peter could take himself or anyone else too seriously unless he was forced to, so being goofy was more like a first nature rather than a second.

Running up to the counter he’d end up ordering her the black coffee and something with extra extra sugar in his, because there was no better way to wake up then to crash hard later on. He was quick about it though and was walking back to the table double fisting coffee’s in no time.

***

“Jeez, Pete, pay attention.” Kate teased. She was the kind of gal who really liked to play. A big smile was on her face as she interacted with Peter. He seemed like a pretty cool guy. But when he told her to sit, she did so. Kate slid into the booth to wait for him to come back with the coffee, pulling out her phone to check the time as she did so. Then she got distracted checking Valarnet and Facebook.

When he came back she clicked her phone off and gave him another smile. “Coffee?”

***

Serious wasn’t something that happened all that much with Pete, sure maybe when he really needed to now and then but even at those times it could be a push and shove type of deal with him. With those coffee’s in hand he had a nice big grin on his lips. “How’d you guess?!” He mocked amazement at her ability to guess what it was he was holding.

Sliding into the booth, across from Kate he would slide her cup over to her and pulled back the top on his own and let it cool down a little. “Alright so now that it looks like we’ve established at least neither of us seem to look like a mass murderer, let’s move on to the first meeting rounds of questioning where I ask you to tell me about yourself. Sound good?”

***

Kate actually snorted in response. It was a very un-ladylike sound, and she lifted a hand to cover her nose and mouth after it escaped her. Oh well, she’d done worse things in her lifetime than snort in front of a near stranger.

“Thank you,” she added, reaching with grabby fingers for the cup, then drawing it in close against her body. She inhaled deeply, and gave a little sigh. “All right. You bring me coffee you can ask me anything you want,” she added, teasingly, and opened her eyes to look over at him.

***

He couldn’t help but cheese a huge grin at the fact that she had snorted. It might have been the highlight of his entire week, honestly. It might have just been a snort, but it was pretty damn attractive coming from her. Shaking his head a little he just grinned and let out a bit of a chuckle.

“Anything I want? You sure, I mean cause that could go a bunch of different ways. That’s not something you get to take back once it’s on the table for good you know.” He snickered some, looking to his own cup and wondering how bad he would burn his tongue if he attempted to take a drink from it already. He went in for the small sip but he ended up regretting it and pulled back quickly. “Ahh..shit that’s hot. That’s..yeah.”

***

Kate would have said she was pretty damn attractive to begin with, but those thoughts went unsaid. At the moment she was a little sheepish from the snort incident. When she lowered her hand, there was still a tinge of pink along her nose and cheekbones.

"I wouldn't have said anything if I didn't mean anything," Kate teased. She was in it for the shock factor sometimes, and being an open book shocked a lot of people. Her eyebrow raised gently when he burned his poor mouth, and she frowned gently. "...yeah, like a good wine, hot coffee's gotta breathe." She proceeded to blow across the top of her cup, waiting for his questions about anything.

***

He licked at his lips, that numb and yet he knew the tip of his tongue was still there, feeling had managed to throw him off a little. Not enough that he hadn’t caught the blush along her cheeks though and it managed to keep him smiling all the while. “Alright, then anything it is…” He had to sit back a little though, this required some thought.

“I guess, first off I should be slick but also cautious. There isn’t going to be some angry boyfriend or anything that’s going to eventually try to take my head off because I asked you out for coffee, is there?” His brow arched curiously, grabbing at one of the stir straws he’d set on the table and began cooling his coffee before he made another go at it. He knew it might have been a bold way to start, but they both seemed light hearted and pretty easy going. What good was having all that and not being able to have a little fun he figured, and she had said he could ask anything.

***

Kate was probably being a tease. It wasn't fair, but it was just part of her personality. Funny how that all came across in the Dreams more than it did in this world. She was jumping from boy to boy there--though she was a bit younger in her Dreams than she was in this world. Strange how it felt like going back to relive her teenage years would be such a nightmare, and yet her Dreams weren't that bad.

"Slick but also cautious?" She repeated, then grinned a bit brighter. "There's a man in my life. But he's not the jealous type." She lifted her own cup to blow across the top again, then sipped. Hers was piping hot, so she had to sip very carefully. "What about you? You've got a girlfriend, or no?"

***

He nodded, and his caution had panned out quite well if you asked him. Peter would still grin and look over his shoulder as though he were trying to pick out some peeping tom boyfriend or something to that nature. “Ehh..not the jealous type. That’s good at least.” Snickering he’d attempt another go at his coffee and take just a little bit more, not that it would matter at this point. His tongue was already numb with pain and being burnt.

“Me? No...nah.” Peter hadn’t been social long enough to really have anyone special in his life. Not to mention that if he had even held an interest in someone, it would just get complicated quickly. His life wasn’t a simple one, or a safe one at that. He snickered though, not dwelling on the fact that he was pretty much doomed to always be alone. “I can’t even remember the last time….but that doesn’t say much for me now does it?” Chuckling some he had to look down at his cup for a moment, he could feel the heat in his ears.

***

Kate put on one of those airs of wealth, playfully of course, sticking her nose up in the air and drawling out her words as she spoke--sounding something like Parker Posey in Best in Show, if you catch the reference. “We’re both really adult about the whole thing, you know. My lover and I. There’s a level of trust in our relationship that precludes jealousy.”

Then she broke into a grin, giving up the snobby air. “Don’t be silly, homicidal maniac Pete. You’re smart and freaking adorable. You should be able to snap up the first girl who comes sniffing around.”

***

He raised a brow and watched as she toyed with the sorda accent, but all he could do was grin. He had almost forgot his coffee tongue was still an issue, taking another small sip before wincing at least on the inside at how hot it felt in his throat. “Oh yes...sounds very...mature of you two. He isn’t geriatric is he?” He made a playful jab of course and shook his head, he could imagine the guy was impossibly good looking and perfect in every disgusting way. He tried not to notice that tinge of sudden and random jealousy there.

Shaking his head, “See there’s where the problem is.” He pointed at the table as though it had the answer, though all it had were a few napkins. “I should, but I can’t and it doesn’t help that no girls actually coming sniffing. I must smell bad or something. Think I should see someone about that sometime?” He jokes on his own inability to get a girl interested, or hold interest because what else could he do really.

***

Kate laughed. “Not quite.” That’s all she’d say about Clint. It was a little weird talking about him to some guy she’d just met. Some guy she hoped didn’t slip anything strange into her coffee. Speaking of, she took another gulp. It’d cooled down enough that she could wolf the stuff down and leech the energy out.

“I don’t smell anything,” Kate added with a shrug of her shoulders. “Then again, maybe there’s something wrong with my nose, too. You get your smell checked out, and I’ll get my nose checked out, and we’ll reconvene and compare notes.”

***

Nodding his head, “ There could be, you’d have run the other way. That’s typically what happens.” Unless it was that crazy chick, Gwen. She just creeped him the hell out though. Taking a bigger drink from his coffee now he sat back more and relaxed. “I’m not...keeping you or anything like that am I?” He raised a brow, his skateboard slid a little beneath the table but he’d shuffle his feet around and place them on the board so it didn’t roll out and hurt anyone.

“I’ll let you know what happens with my possible B.O. problem though.” He chuckled again and shook his head, he needed this coffee more than he had realized. He had however realized that he probably sounded like a smacked ass for the past 30 minutes but it was too late now. “You know though..now that you mention it...it does look a little crooked..” He said pointing a little toward her nose but then quickly backing up in case there was a smack coming his way. “Kidding! I kid! I promise!”

***

“Good. Keep me posted.” Kate said, nodding and smirking. “Because there are few things in this world that I care more about than your BO.” She lifted the cup for another sip, smirking at him over the rim. It was fun being silly and sarcastic. Kate thought this Pete guy was pretty awesome.

“What? Hey!” She lifted a napkin from the holder at the edge of the table, crumpled it, and tossed it at him. It took far too long. She laughed. “There’s absolutely nothing wrong with my nose, I’ll have you know.” Another grin.

***

“Ahh hey, hey.” He tried to dodge the napkin throw, but he had been hit. His hands coming up to his chest as though she had somehow managed to actually hurt him. Grinning he had to shake his head at their silliness. Most people got annoyed with his antics after a while, but here she was. Still managing to hang in there and even keep up with him. He was impressed, as well as relieved to have someone around that could be just as goofy.

“Are you sure? I mean have you had it professionally looked at? I think it turns up a little there too at the tip...ya know. Something to tell a doctor if you ever..” He continued with the playful jabs at her nose until that point and finally quieted himself with his cup of coffee, taking a drink of the warm energy that he probably didn’t need.

***

“Now now, don’t be a dick,” Kate laughed, shaking her head and brushing his jabs away with a wave of her hand. “We’ve only just met. You should save the dick-ness until the second or third cup of coffee.” There could definitely be a second or third cup of coffee. Kate thought Pete was a great guy.

Her phone started to buzz. “Ah, shit,” she said, digging the thing out to turn off her alarm. “I gotta get going. Work calls, y’know.” She sighed. “If only people paid me to be awesome. I wouldn’t have to have a damn job to pay my bills.”

***

“Alright, alright. I’ll ease up. Obviously you can’t handle it as well…” His words drifted away when her buzzing phone took her attention and he waited there with another sip to take up the time. Nodding when she had told him about having to get to work. “Ahh yeah, I know how that is.” He should be getting off to his own work too, luckily for him it was a night time gig besides the other one he had set up for commision.

“Crazy, that’s actually my job. Awesome photographer, who’d have thought?” He chuckled but soon rose to his feet. “Anyway, I don’t want to end up being the reason you’re late for work. Then I really would be a dick.” Smiling over he held out his hand,”We’ll have to get together for another cup of coffee sometime. Maybe not when it’s actually trying to wake me up from a coma too.”

***

Kate stood as well, and grinned brightly when he mentioned his job. She cupped her coffee between her hands, nodding once. “Hey, it’s great to be paid to be awesome.” Then she reached out to shake his hand. Hers was pretty warm from holding the coffee in it.

“Hit me up sometime. I’d love to do this again. But only because I wait until the second cup of coffee to get my serial killer on.” Smirking, she released his hand to head for the door. “I’ll see you soon, Pete.”

***

His own hand was warm as well, albeit a slight clammy as well. Peter would never admit it but what just happened in the last hour or so had probably been the most ‘normal’ interaction that wasn’t forced or awkward in any sense of the word, with a woman. At least, one of a respectable nature but that’s where he became a slight shade darker than most around.

“Sounds like a challenge! I’ll do that though, I’m always up for a challenge.” He snickered and shook her hand, letting go and watching her head for the door. He wasn’t ready to go skating with coffee in hand so he’d take his seat while she left the place. “See ya!” He grinned a bit and just went back to the rest of his morning and everyone else’s afternoon.

END