Fic: Not Exactly a First Date (Lorne/Parrish, Starving Artists AU, PG-13)

[wickedwords]

Title: Not Exactly a First Date
Author: Rachael Sabotini (wickedwords)
Other Info: Lorne/Parrish, PG-13, Starving Artists AU, 3080 words
Summary: It was lame. It was stupid. It probably wouldn't work, but Evan didn't see any reason not to try.

A/N: Many thanks to elynross and z_rayne for their betas; all the remaining errors are my own. Elyn also gave me an idea for this story, and once she'd mentioned it, I just couldn't let it go.

Follows Starving Artists 1: Starving Artists



Not Exactly a First Date


Streetlights were just coming on as Evan packed up his white truck with the last of the unsold paintings and slammed the tailgate shut. Leaning against the bed of the truck, he pulled out his to-do list and marked off yet another item. Chris was going to take back the rented awning, so Evan didn't have to do that. He grimaced, looking at the black chicken-scratches that covered the paper. All that was left was the accounting.

Giving the gravel lot one last look over--Chris had taken the garbage, too--the place looked in a lot better shape than it had when he arrived at the butt-crack of dawn. He stretched, his back and neck crunching as everything slid back in place. He opened the driver's-side door and put his foot up on the sideboard, wincing as his hamstring reminded him that it wasn't supposed to take this sort of abuse. After four years, a torn muscle had no right to still be bugging him, yet after being on his feet for a day, his leg had a completely different opinion.

Evan climbed in, slamming the door shut, and leaned over to dig an Advil out of the glove box, but it stuck. Evan tugged harder, twisting in his seat to get a better angle, and then the latch finally let go, spilling brown and white napkins all over the floor. "Oh, crap." In his haste to pick them up, the pile of checks and credit card receipts slid from his lap onto the floor to join them.

Ignoring the mess, Evan rooted around in the glove box until he located the first aid kit, his bottle of Advil having gone missing. At least the kit still had a few of the tiny packets of generic "non-aspirin pain reliever" inside. He tried to make out the details on the label--not that he really cared, but he liked knowing what drugs he was taking.

Expired. Of course. Ignoring the date, he ripped it open anyway, following the two capsules with a swig from his water bottle, the water warm from spending most of the day in the truck. Grimacing, he flexed and straightened his foot until he felt comfortable enough to drive. Then he worked at putting all of the napkins back and sorting out the checks.

Evan paused when he got to the last two--one yellow, with Dilbert on it, and the other a sedate, bank-issued blue. He looked at the yellow one, with the name 'Katherine Brown' scrawled over the bottom of the check. That was the woman who bought the cat picture, he realized. The one with the really hot friend.

Trying hard not to listen to the little voice--okay, big voice--that whispered "Stalker!" Evan copied down the information into his notebook, then closed it and tossed it on the floor next to a few remaining napkins. Maybe tomorrow he'd see if she was listed in the phone book, and maybe he could talk her into giving him the phone number of her friend.

Evan snorted to himself. Yeah, that was a whole hell of a lot of maybes.

***

Two weeks later, Evan finally dialed the number. He'd found 'K. J. Brown' listed in the phone book, along with the given address. He wiped his hands on his jeans as he listed to the phone ring. Maybe she had caller ID and didn't take unknown calls, or maybe she screened or something. In his head, he composed the message he'd leave--"Hi, this is Evan Lorne, and I worked at the Starving Artists sale at the first of the month..." and then he'd go into asking for her friend's number so he could invite him out for coffee.

It was lame. It was stupid. It probably wouldn't work, but Evan didn't see any reason not to try.

Of course, the minute the answering machine clicked on, and Evan introduced himself, he couldn't remember a single thing that he had planned to say, and so ended up winging it. "...anyway, I got your address from your check, and I had to track down this number--"

The phone picked up mid-sentence-- "Shit. Did the check bounce? I am so, so sorry about that."

"No, really, it's okay--"

He could hear her fret over the phone."I never have these sorts of problems. I am so embarrassed."

"It's fine, really. The check didn't--"

She wasn't listening to him. "Do you want me to send you-- No, no. Of course you don't want me to send you a new check. The old one bounced, so why would you want a new one. Are you anywhere near downtown? Tomorrow I can give you cash."

"No, listen, see I'm trying to--"

"I am so sorry about this."

"It's fine. I just wanted to know--"

"Fine. Right. My check bounces and you're fine. I suppose I could drive to your place--"

"No! Don't do that. Downtown's fine," Evan said, giving up trying to get through to her. He could explain this better in person, anyway, and maybe it wouldn't feel so strange. "Where would you like to meet?"

"Well...." She finally took a breath and gave him an address in old town. "Come to the front desk, and ask for Katie Brown. I can meet you out in the lobby, say around ten."

With a sinking feeling in his stomach, Evan wrote the information down as Katie hung up, muttering about her on-line banking system. He could already tell he was setting himself up for disaster.

***

The sculpted sign in blue and green confirmed his sense of foreboding: Atlantis Celestial Teas, the biggest dog of the specialty tea shops, upscale and intimidating. And if the hot guy worked for her, that whole 'coffee' idea might have to change. For some reason, he'd just assumed that the guy had worked for a greenhouse or nursery or something, and imagined him working in jeans and a flannel shirt. This...this was a lot more imposing than Evan had expected.

With a shake of his head, Evan walked through the brass doors and into the sculpted lobby. He'd worn khakis with a long-sleeved black shirt, as he thought he should dress nicely, but now he felt underdressed and distinctly out of place.

At least the receptionist looked to be dressed just as informally. "I'm Evan Lorne, and I'm here to see Katie Brown."

Evan got a brief smile, but the guy was all brisk business. "May I see your ID, please? And if you'd sign this form--it's a standard nondisclosure agreement for a visitor's pass."

"An NDA just to stop in? That seems a little extreme, doesn't it?"

"We're very concerned about our company's technology. All applicants are required to sign one before they interview."

With a mental shrug, thinking it was weird and wondering what kind of tea secrets he might have to keep to himself, Evan pulled out his driver's license and handed it to the guy, who typed the name in and cross-referenced it with something on his computer screen before handing the card back. As an escort-required visitor pass printed, Evan took the opportunity to check out the guy's nameplate: Chuck, no given last name.

"You'll need to fill out one of those forms if you brought a car," Chuck said, pointing to the end of the reception desk where a pile of white sheets and a metal can filled with fake flower-topped pens perched on the edge.

Evan shrugged. "I took the bus. Parking's a bitch around here."

"Excellent!" Chuck smiled brilliantly. "Make sure to mention that in your interview. Alternative transportation is a big company plus."

Evan laughed and shook his head. "Look, I'm not here for a job interview."

"You sure?" Chucked frowned at the computer. "You're listed as a job applicant on her schedule."

"Positive." Evan leaned on the counter. "Maybe that's what she always writes down."

Chuck tilted his head up a little, rolling his chair forward, reducing the distance between them. "Well, we do have some openings if you want an application--"

Just then, Katie strolled through the security door and made a beeline for him. "It didn't bounce."

"Okay..." Chuck said, turning back to the computer system after one glance at Katie. "You are on your own," he muttered quietly.

"Ms. Brown." Evan politely held out his hand, and Katie took it, giving him a firm but polite handshake. "I'm Evan Lorne."

"Thanks for coming." She pushed her hair to the side and frowned. "I checked my bank balance, and the check cleared just fine." Chuck seemed to take a lot of interest in his computer screen right then; Katie grabbed his arm and lead him to a quiet corner of the lobby. She motioned for Evan to take a seat on the uncomfortable-looking but elegant sofa. "I don't know what this is about, but I'm not giving the painting back. It's really brightens up my office."

The sofa was a lot softer than Evan expected. "I wasn't planning on asking you to give it up." Evan felt himself flush and looked down at the carpet, hands dangling between his knees. Taking a deep breath, he looked back up at her. "It's just-- I had your address on the check, and--"

"Are you asking me out on a date? That's so strange. I didn't-- I thought you liked--Huh." Katie stared at him incredulously, her eyes wide. "Are you...stalking me?"

"I am not a stalker," Evan said reassuringly. Words rushed out of him, pushed by all the tension he'd been feeling since he first placed the call, and his embarrassment, because he'd thought it was maybe a bit stalkery, himself--she just wasn't the intended stalkee. "I'm not trying to harass you or anything. I just--" He took a deep breath. "Look, this is going to sound weird, but I want to get hold of the guy you were with, and I thought asking you face to face would be better. That, and you wouldn't let me get a word in edgewise when I called."

Kate looked at him blankly.

"The hot guy, taller than me? Gangly, with all the plants?"

"You wanted David?" Katie pursed her lips. "Yeah. That's more in line with what I thought. It's just weird--"

"It's not weird! I just want to ask him out!"

She arched an eyebrow at him. "Stalking me seems a rather peculiar way of going about it."

"I'm not stalking you!" She grinned a little, and he realized she was jerking him around.
"I just...you know. He was kinda cute, and he seemed interested...and I didn't have his phone number, or his name, but I had your check and--" Evan rubbed his hand across his face. "I'm making a total mess of this, aren't I?"

"Yes." She nodded solemnly. "Particularly the part where he went from 'hot' to just 'kinda cute.'"

"Now you're just messing with me, aren't you?"

"Yes. Yes, I am messing with you."

"Thought so." He stood up and wiped his hands on his pants, and held one out to her. "Okay, anyway, it was lovely to meet you."

Katie cracked a smile. "Well, now that I know you aren't stalking me, it's probably okay. Besides, if anything were hinky, Chuck would have already called security on you."

Evan blinked. "What?"

"Standard procedure. Security is a big concern around here since the bombings last year, so we need to make sure everyone is who they say they are." She gave Chuck a little wave and a thumbs up. "You would not believe the people-- Anyway, I'm sure David will think it all quite charming. He's an odd sort." She nodded at the security door, separating the lobby from the rest of the building. "Why don’t you come with me to the café? I'll ring David's office and get him to join us."

"Well, see, I'd been going to ask him out for coffee."

She leaned in and whispered softly in his ear, "We don't advertise it, but our coffee is pretty good, too."

Evan smiled. "Okay. That's great then. Thanks."

***

David was puzzled when Katie insisted that he join her for coffee, but he trotted down the four flights of stairs from his office to the café. He spotted her right away; she was waiting between the staircase and the elevators, the edge of her pale-green sweater wadded up in her fingers, something she did when she was excited. She ran a twenty-person department, and yet she was giddy as a schoolgirl whenever they got ready to launch a new blend.

"Katie?" David said. "What's up?"

"I thought you might want to interview the graphic artist I'm hiring for the Rainy Day blend."

"Oh." David blinked. Normally they never asked him to interview the art staff. Someone must have canceled out at the last minute. "Do you have a resumé?"

"No, not this time. I figured we could just chat over coffee."

David rolled his eyes. Typical. Katie wasn't a believer in a documented process unless the government required it. "Tell me there's a portfolio, at least."

"I think you might be familiar with his work already." She linked her arm through his, and swung around the elevator bank into the café proper. "May I present Evan Lorne?"

David was utterly dumbfounded. The guy from the Starving Artists sale was sitting near the espresso cart, and he gave David a little wave.

"Good luck," Katie whispered as she gave David a shove.

***

David was desperately uncomfortable. "This is awkward, isn't it?" he said as he shook Evan's hand. "I had no idea you had an interview here." He was so going to kill Katie when this was over.

"Well, I don't exactly have an interview."

"You don't?"

"No. Apparently, that was some sort of thing that Ms. Brown set up, once she figured out that we'd, uh, miscommunicated." Evan took a large swallow of his coffee. "Frankly, I think she was going to use the time to chew me out."

David pursed his lips. "She is subtle like that." Sometimes. When she wanted to be. When she wanted to fuck with people's heads.

He couldn't get over that Evan was really here. After he'd been at his sister's for awhile, he'd decided that the offer to come back to the site, or for David to call him, was a matter of simple charm and not something he'd honestly meant. David wanted to ask him about it, but didn't really know how--and with him right here, it didn't seem all that necessary. He could feel the tips of his ears turning red.

"Yeah." Evan muttered. He glanced over at David, smiling slightly. "Listen, you're going to think I'm crazy, but I was wondering if you'd like to get a drink after work sometime. I was going to invite you for coffee, but...." He held up his cup, and gestured at the room.

"You're asking me out?"

"Uh-huh." Evan hitched a thumb at the reception area. "Chuck's already cleared me, if that means anything."

David's mouth twitched. "I see."

"I can give you the brief summary of my life, if you want." Evan's eyes glittered with suppressed mirth.

"I would. Just a second." David walked over to the espresso cart and ordered a tall skinny mocha, swiping his key card through the payment slot. While he waited for Adriana to steam the milk, he kept glancing back at Evan. While he'd been cute in the cargo shorts and sandals when they had first met, now he displayed a more ruggedly handsome look in his black shirt, scruffy beard, and nicely-fitted khaki's. He was entirely edible. "Now I'm prepared," he said, sliding into the chair next to Evan.

"Not much to tell. I grew up in a small town in Montana, and when my folks divorced about ten years ago, my mom got a job for the city, project coordinator for the senior center. I was in the Air Force at the time. Then four years ago, I ducked when I should have dodged, and nearly lost my leg. Uncle Sam and I parted ways after that, and I decided it was a good time to work on my MFA."

"You were in Iraq?"

Evan shook his head. "Just missed it."

"Ah." David took a sip of his mocha. "I'm afraid I'm nothing very special. I was born in Nebraska, and got a PhD in Botany when I decided that being a medical doctor wasn't for me. I was on the debate team in high school, and I played the occasional pick up game of soccer, but I have never been athletically inclined. I do run, though."

"Where do you go running?"

"There's a path through the park about a mile from here. I usually run there after work."

They chatted like that, intimate and casual, until David realized that the lunch crowd was beginning to gather. "Crap," he said, looking at the clock on the cafeteria wall. "I have to go."

"No problem." Evan stood up and extended his hand, once eyebrow arched suggestively. "So, are we on for later?"

David swallowed, and shook Evan's hand. It felt nice, rough and strong, just the way David liked. "Yes, yes we are."

"Might work better if I had your number, don't you think?" Evan said, shoving his hands in his pockets and rocking back on his heels.

"Oh." David felt a bit silly about forgetting that. Again. He grabbed a napkin and wrote his name and home phone on it. "Here." He shoved it at Evan. "Saturdays are usually better for me."

"Perfect." Evan rolled up the flimsy paper and stuffed it into his pants' pocket. "I'll call you about next weekend."

"That...that would be great."

Giving a casual nod toward the lobby, Evan said, "You gonna walk me out?"

"I suppose...." He grinned at Evan. "Just so Chuck doesn't call security." He watched from the inside of the lobby as Evan did a little Gene Kelly impression when he stepped out into the rain. How did he survive the military with that irreverent, silly streak that he seemed happy to display? David was looking forward to finding out, and did a little soft shoe himself before he returned to the main building, and Katie's inevitable questions.

The End

Comments

[unmisha.livejournal.com]

*handflap* Lorne's a stalker! Hee!

And the specialty teas thing just made me beam like a kindergartener with a new puppy.

[mardahin.livejournal.com]

Hee! I love your Katie Brown, and the guys are just adorable. Good times ^_^

[diluvian.livejournal.com]

::glee::

[writerlibrarian]

Happy dance.

Thank you for adding to this AU. Loved it.

[bkwyrm.livejournal.com]

Awww. They're so CUTE.
(There will be more, right? With sex and stuff? Pretty please?)

[sarspasm.livejournal.com]

*GLEE!!!1!* I loved the first installment, I love this one, and I know I'll love any additions you have to this AU.

Also? The Lorne in my head is from Montana. He wasn't in Iraq? So, Afghanistan? And the Gene Kelly bit at the end was delightful. And am I seeing things, or did Chuck kind of hit on Evan a little at the end? Oh, Lorne, you're so hot. Your Katie is so much more awesome than the on the show.

So, um, yeah. Please to be writing more so?

[sarspasm.livejournal.com]

So, um, yeah. Please to be writing more so?

*facepalm* soon. I think I need to lay off the caffeine for the rest of the day.

[skidmo-fic.livejournal.com]

Your first Starving Artists story was the one that made me give Lorne/Parrish a chance. Couldn't see what all the fuss was about before that.

Also, I love, love, love (did I mention love?) that your Lorne is from Montana, as it's my own native habitat. :)

This is really cute. More please?

[egiggle.livejournal.com]

*loves!*

Though I noticed that you seem to have two characters named Chuck...

[wickedwords.livejournal.com]

Yes, it's true. I do. I was thinking of making all of the ancillary characters named Chuck, but I suppose that would be too silly after a while. I should probably go back and change the first one to like Connor or something.

[wickedwords.livejournal.com]

Changed! And thank you for mentioning that.

[foxxcub.livejournal.com]

Aww, this is adorable! I can't wait to see more. :)

[bethynyc.livejournal.com]

Lovely! I really enjoy how you are writing this relationship, starting out nice and slow and letting things grown naturally. This is a great scene--I especially loved how Katie never let Evan get a word in edgewise!

[wickedwords.livejournal.com]

Oh, cool! I thought it would be cool if Parrish did something commercial with his botany degree, rather than just being an academic. I'm glad you liked it.

[kimberlite.livejournal.com]

This is wonderful. Lorne is so cute with his interaction with Katie and Chuck and David and all. :)

[shrewreader.livejournal.com]

This is (of course, it being a Sabotini fic) a delight. I love Chuck giving Evan interview hints. And Atlantis Tea!!! I want it! Do they do tours? Are they in Boulder??

Please, Miss, might we have some more?

[casspeach.livejournal.com]

I don't think I ever commented on the first fic in this 'verse (which was very naughty of me!) but I liked it a lot, and I like this even more. I suspect you are aware of my feelings on Lorne and Parrish, so I'll just say I am loving Katie in this just heaps, and can't wait to read the next bit.

I adore a nice slow build.

[nataliadarimini.livejournal.com]

Ooh! I really like this. There is not only artsiness, but also *tea.*

[wickedwords.livejournal.com]

I love that they are so flexible. *g* Thanks!

[wickedwords.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[wickedwords.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you liked it. Thanks!

[wickedwords.livejournal.com]

I am thinking about a third part. I do think they should get to have sex, but I can't say when it'll happen, 'cuz I'm mean like that. *g*

Thanks!

[wickedwords.livejournal.com]

'Soon' is kinda relative, but I am thinking on doing a third piece. And Chuck was totally hitting on him. *g*

[wickedwords.livejournal.com]

I'm working on a third story, never fear. But as anyone can tell you, I'm kinda slow with that. So it's gonna be awhile. Thanks!

[wickedwords.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I seem to be stuck in a 'cute' mode at the moment. I'm glad you liked it.

[wickedwords.livejournal.com]

Well, it'll be a bit. I'm not a regular poster by any stretch of the imagination. That said, I'm glad you like it. Thanks!

[wickedwords.livejournal.com]

I'm trying to go slow with them, but the boys really aren't all that interested in putting on the brakes. *g* Thanks!

[wickedwords.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I have a lot of fun writing him.

[wickedwords.livejournal.com]

Yes, they do do tours. But be careful in the mint room! All that peppermint oil can really clear out your sinuses.

Thanks!

[wickedwords.livejournal.com]

Lorne and Parrish are so much fun to write. I'm not sure what to do for the next section, but I'm sure I'll figure something out. I just have this concept of a longer romance that I'm trying to work with...

Thanks!

[bethynyc.livejournal.com]

Just realized that you are the one who wrote "The Spare" which is definitely one of my SGA comfort reads when I need one.

::hugs you tight:: Thank you so much for ALL of your fic!

[wickedwords.livejournal.com]

Why should coffee get all the SGA love? *g* Thanks!

[wickedwords.livejournal.com]

I loved writing 'The Spare', and I think it might be my favorite story of mine in this fandom. {{hugs}} It's so nice to feel appreciated.

[mos-self.livejournal.com]

This is most enjoyable! In addition to the fact that it features one of my favorite pairings, I really love the prominent characterization of Katie and the appearance of Chuck. I'm looking forward to the next part.

[wickedwords.livejournal.com]

It may be a while, as I'm slow, but I'm glad you like it. Thanks!

[of-evangeline.livejournal.com]

I love it! More please! There aren't nearly enough Parrish/Lorne fics out there. :D

[wickedwords.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure when it will happen, but there will be another story in the series at some point. *g* Thanks!

[adafrog.livejournal.com]

Great story. Thanks.

[wickedwords.livejournal.com]

I really like playing with Lorne and Parrish. They're the "B Team" of the fandom. *g* Thanks!

re: Starving Artist AU

[gsyh.livejournal.com]

I'm so happy to see that he used to be in the military too.

...and Gene Kelly! Adorkable!