Chapter Text
2000 | Sacramento, California
July
“… and that was the best money could buy,” Lisbon says, pointing to the right, her left hand keeping hold of the steering wheel.
Jane follows her gesture, head turning as the car keeps moving to try and get a better view of the rundown motel.
“That?” he asks with a hint of disgust in his tone.
Lisbon frowns, pinching his thigh in annoyance before her hand rejoins the other on the wheel. Jane winces goodnaturedly, watching as she expertly weaves them through the midday Sacramento traffic, their newly acquired groceries sitting in the backseat.
“I don’t like the thought of you living in that,” he says.
Indeed, the thought of her living there for the lesser part of three months makes his stomach turn. He can practically smell the trouble off of it, and can easily imagine the less-than-suitable acts happening within the dingy walls.
“Well, I didn’t like it much either, but it was that or my car, so..” she trails off with a slight frown.
Jane hums a non committal response, turning his attention to the radio. The song playing he recognizes but doesn't really know. It’s got a catchy bass line though, so he turns the volume up.
The apartment they’re renting comes into view a few songs later, and Lisbon guides them through the parkade into their awaiting parking spot. She shuts off the ignition and climbs out, pocketing the keys as Jane does the same. With both of their arms loaded with grocery bags, they traverse the stretch of underground parking and slip through the elevator doors. The car dings as they reach the third floor, and it’s not much further until they’re standing before their door and Jane’s digging through his pockets for his own set of keys.
Lisbon chuckles as she watches him struggle. They must be snagged on a loose thread or something, so she offers; “Use mine.”
He sighs in defeat, shifting the bag on his arm as he reaches out. She pops her right hip to meet him halfway. His fingers dip, nudging her jacket out of the way before abruptly changing direction and copping a cheeky feel.
“Jane!” she squeaks, choking on a surprised laugh as his hand grasps her ass. “Front pocket!”
“Oh, my mistake,” he says apologetically, though the smug look on his face does nothing to convey any sort of sincerity.
He slides the keys out of her front pocket without any further fuss, and unlocks the door, allowing her to slip through the threshold first. It isn’t an altruistic move, Lisbon knows, but she’s secretly pleased nonetheless so she gives her hips an extra sway for his amusement. The look he gives her when they finally set the groceries on the counter is answer enough.
On her own, she’d never have been able to afford this place. But Jane had money put away from his carny and con days alike, and he’d waved off her protestations about splitting the rent equally. To be perfectly honest, he did not want to live in whatever slum going halfsies on could afford. No offense to Lisbon, but he had some standards.
The apartment itself was a convenient fifteen minute drive to the CSU campus, making their impending separation a little bit easier. Lisbon would be attending classes full time come September, but Jane would only be there in the evenings, when she was already done for the day. They weren’t codependent— thank you very much— but they were pretty close.
Anyhow, it was much nicer than Lisbon’s previous digs, and though it was pretty sparsely decorated, it was somewhere that they could both call home for the first time in a long time. In the month since they’d signed the lease, they’d managed to thrift enough furniture to furnish the place; a scratched-up table and a couple of rickety chairs sit against the empty kitchen wall, the cupboards filled with an assortment of mismatched dishware. An old wardrobe and night table set surround a recently recovered bed frame, where they’d repurposed Lisbon's own boring grey bedding, despite the fact that it barely covers the new double mattress that they’d splurged on. A brown leather couch that has definitely seen better days faces their tiny TV, and a bookshelf stocked with Jane’s beloved tomes sits in the corner, gathering both knickknacks and dust.
It isn’t much, but it’s theirs.
Jane dutifully passes Lisbon the contents of the bags, and a burst of fresh air greets her as she pulls the fridge door open. She puts the vegetables in the drawer and milk in the door, and Jane puts their respective caffeinated drinks of choice side-by-side on the middle shelf of the cupboard— the one that Lisbon can’t reach.
“I’m gonna miss this,” he says suddenly, fingers releasing the box before he turns to face her.
Lisbon pauses, the fridge alarm dinging in protest. She ignores it, meeting Jane’s melancholy gaze from around the open door.
“Miss what?”
“I dunno,” he says, pushing his hands into his pockets. “This. Us. Our freedom.”
Lisbon laughs.
“Jane,” she says. “We’re not going anywhere.”
He huffs. “I know, it’s just… I’ve gotten comfortable, is all.”
The fridge dings again and Lisbon shuts the door. Stepping up to him, she coaxes his hands from his pockets.
“One more year of school for both of us. And then I graduate, and you get your teaching certification, and then we figure it out from there. Together.”
His frown twists into a tentative smile.
“I promise I’m not insecure,” he mumbles, pressing his lips into the smooth skin of her dainty fingers. “I just like having you all to myself.”
Lisbon hums amusedly. “Smooth talker. You put the rest of the groceries away, and I’m all yours.”
Jane visibly perks up, his likeness that of an excitable golden retriever puppy; so happy she can practically see the tail wag in her mind’s eye.
“You‘ve got yourself a deal.”