Chapter Text
Bob told himself to stop looking.
You were only a few feet away from him, holding a glass of wine but never taking a sip, your hair tossed over your shoulder while you laughed softly at what Hangman was saying.
You'd glanced about the room during a lull in the conversation, your eyes landing right on him. Bob cleared his throat and leaned his elbow on the wall. You looked him over and just as soon as he raised a smile, you'd looked away again.
He half wanted to the floor to open up and swallow him, he wondered where the part of him that had the quiet confidence he kept for moments like these was tonight, if only he could muster it, he'd go over there and introduce himself.
From the second he'd seen you that morning at the base two months ago, his stomach started doing somersaults, you were so beautiful. Your smile came easy, no matter who you met, you smiled. So far, Bob had only managed a few words to you, a hello, a good mornin' and a 'how about that weather.' He'd kicked himself over that one.
Tonights gathering was when he'd planned to say more, he'd have to!
Fanboy had been egging him on for days, ever the supportive friend. Every time you'd pass each other in the hallway, Bob would nod in acknowledgement and die a little inside when you'd give him that smile.
Boy, what a smile you had. Bob shook his head a little, standing up straight when Fanboy appeared in his line of sight.
'Get your damn arm off that wall, Bob and go talk to her.'
'I can't, she's talking to Hangman.' Bob was moping now, wishing he could go home.
'He talks to everyone, don't pay him any attention, get your ass over there.'
'In a minute.' He needed some dutch courage.
Bob took a long gulp of his beer, too late to swallow though; you had suddenly turned around and were headed straight toward them. A small dribble ran down his chin, Bob quickly wiped it with the back of his hand before you noticed.
'Fanboy, that is a nice shirt,' your voice was deeper than Bob expected. Fanboy pointed to his black tee with the Star Trek Enterprise emblazoned on the front.
'I should have known you were a fan, Loot.' Fanboy motioned to Bob. 'This is Bob.'
That's it, that was in the introduction.
Bob was hoping his eyes said 'I'll kill you Garcia.'
'The quiet WSO.' You raised one side of your mouth into a knowing smile.
So she had noticed him. Bob lifted his beer in a half greeting.
'Nice to meet you....Loot?!'
Bob took the hand that was offered. 'Firm handshake.' She commented, looking to Fanboy, who winked at Bob and walked away towards another group of aviators.
'You're a pilot?'
Before you had a chance to answer, Bob's brain started glitching.
'Why, Loot? Sorry,' he grinned, 'I've seen you around, but I haven't had a chance to talk to you. I don't really know many people yet.'
'Yeah, I'm a pilot.' There was a softness in your tone.
Bob looked up shyly, meeting your gaze. You had a slight curl to your lips, as if you were enjoying how awkward he felt.
'My callsign isn't Loot, by the way, that's just something Fanboy calls me. He doesn't actually know my name. Just lieutenant...loot.'
'Oh shit, I get it.' Bob giggled. 'They call me Bob, cuz my name is Bob.'
His elbow was edging up the wall again, he couldn't help himself.
'I have noticed you around, you know. You're probably the only person who hasn't introduced themselves.'
'Ahh, I'm just a bit quiet, I like to hang back.'
'Quiet is nice, most people in our line of business love talking.' Motioning with your eyes to the throng of people surrounding Hangman.
'I saw a snack table in the other room, fancy getting a cup of peanuts, Bob?'
You said his name so goddamn sweet, your voice was like smoked honey. In a split second, he imagined you laying back on his bed, your hair across his pillow, eyes closed, his hands everywhere.
Bob cleared his throat, 'sure, sure. Lead the way.'
Glancing behind him as he left the room, he saw Fanboy giving him two thumbs up. Bob gave him a small nod, hoping not to lose you in the mix of bodies.
'Jackpot,' you shimmied through two tall men, who stopped their conversation to make comments to you that made the colour rise in Bob's cheeks.
'Does that bother you?' Bob had a pained expression, she noticed.
'No, it doesn't. It would bother me if you said it.'
Bob's mouth made a funny noise, he didn't really know what it was.
'I would never say that,' he responded quietly.
'Not the right setting,' you leaned in to him and smirked.
'Right,' Bob tried to hide a smile. Add that to the sinful mix of thoughts he'd had about you every single night.
Pretty smile, big eyes, hair that should belong to a Disney princess and a soft sultry voice. You were his dream woman. And you were a little bit dirty. Bob thought if he looked down at his pants, he might have the beginnings of a hard on.
Don't think nasty thoughts while she's here, it's not polite. He chastised himself.
'Nuts.' A cup of hot nuts were pressed into his hand.
'I need another...' You held up your glass. 'Oh, go right ahead.' Bob figured you were dismissing him.
'You want one?' Raising a perfectly shaped eyebrow while he stood there gawping.
'Uh huh,' was what he managed.
'Are you here with friends?' Bob had to shout to be heard.
You shook your head, 'literally just thought I'd come for one and go home. I'm only a few minutes walk away from my apartment.'
'I'm glad you came for one drink.' Bob tipped the neck of his beer bottle against your glass.
'I'm glad too,' for a second, Bob thought you might have looked a little bashful. It was these rare moments when Bob felt like he could take the lead, the quiet confident Bob finally rose from the dead. He wrapped two fingers around your wrist and tipped his head towards the open patio doors.
There were still a lot of people moving around, even out here on the sand. Bob let go of you as soon as you had started walking away from the crowd. 'I'm not bein' creepy, I just wanted to talk to you outside of...that' he gestured back at the house. The party had really taken off in the last hour.
'Reminds me of my college days.' You stopped at the entrance to the board walk, looking to him for the ok to keep going. There was only a short walk to the edge where you could look out across the water.
Bob was quiet again, his eyes on you but his head down a little.
'I get the feeling that if you think you look at me, I'm going to smash into a thousand little pieces,' you teased.
That received a chime of laughter. 'Nah, it's just that, you're real nice and I'm not great with this,' Bob pushed his glasses up his nose.
'That's the cutest goddamn thing.' Your voice suddenly serious.
'What is?' Bob fumbled again.
'Your glasses, man, have you not seen yourself'?
It was meant as a compliment, but Bob felt his body shrinking. People always teased him about wearing glasses, it was never something girls liked.
'You...like my glasses?'
A laughed bubbled up out of you. 'Not just them, you, Bob. I've seen you on the base. You walk around as if no one in the world ever sees you.' You sigh, biting your lip.
Bob saw himself moving in and covering your mouth with his own, but to his surprise, it was you leaning in, leaving a soft kiss on his cheek.
One slight breeze and he would have been knocked over onto his ass, such was his surprise.
A hope was rising in him, sure you'd spent the last half hour with him and only him but could he maybe ask to see you again?
'How about we meet sometime, that's not a loud party with a load of people I don't wanna hang with?'
Bob couldn't believe he had said it...and that you weren't laughing in his face.
'I'd like that.'
'Umm, can I have your number?' Bob reached into his pocket to grab his phone.
You saw the group photo of the dagger squad on his screen and felt yourself melt a little.
Bob watched you quickly type in your number and hand the phone back to him.
'Be sure to send me a message when you want to see me.'
You tucked a strand of hair behind your ear. Bob swallowed, his adam's apple bobbing noticeably.
'Sure,' he spluttered.
'Could you walk me home a bit of the way?' It was getting late and training wouldn't be delayed because of anyones sore head in the morning.
'I'll walk you home all the way, if you'd like,' Bob put his beer bottle on the ledge, his eyes on you, but he missed by a half inch. The bottle slipped out of his hand and landed in the water with a loud splosh.
Snorting a laugh, you joined Bob in leaning out and watching the ripples spread out until they disappeared into the dark.
'Let's pretend that didn't happen.' Bob looked a little panicked.
'I saw nothing,' you turned on your heel, hearing his hurried footsteps to catch up with you.
You weren't joking when you said you only lived a few houses down, Bob hadn't had time to start up a conversation before you were at your front door.
'Remember to call me, Bob.'
'I will absolutely do that,' he was smiling from ear to ear, watching you walk away from him, giving you a wave when you turned to say goodnight.
Bob didn't remember his feet touching the ground on the walk back to the party. Nor did he really remember Fanboy throwing his arm around his shoulders and walking back to their shared apartment.
He lay on his bed, his thoughts full of you, how you said his name; like it wasn't the most boring name she'd ever heard on the plainest man she'd ever met.
Bob did remember unlocking his phone and pressing the big green button next to the name 'Loot.'
You answered after two rings, voice heavenly to his ears in the new quiet of his room.
Eyes closed, he swallowed hard, finding the strongest voice he'd ever had, 'meet me for dinner tomorrow night.'