Archive of Our Own

Celina looks at the dress she's wearing.

Is this.. too much? 

It's a simple black V-neck, exactly like the one she wore on their first date. She couldn't quite wear the one she wore that night, since she wore that the night of the gala, and well, it didn't survive the night.

Elena still doesn't admit she's a freak in the sheets, which every time she denies it, Celina can't help but laugh.

7:00.

They would see each other out of work.

They could do something other than talk about the newest Task-Force case. 

(It would just be easier if Elena was an Mid-Wilshire Officer for them to see each other, but it hadn't mattered to them.)

They could be themselves. 

Finally. 

-

Her phone pings twice, as she finishes her eyeliner.

Honey Bun 💗: almost ready baby?

Honey Bun 💗: i miss youuu

She smiles at the text, shooting back a photo and a response.

Celina: [image attachment]

Celina: mhm, are you?

Honey Bun 💗: damn, send a warning next time, but also yes i am

Celina: Do I get to see???

Honey Bun 💗: Nope. You'll see when we are at the bar 

Honey Bun 💗: i have to finish my makeup, but love you and i'll come 'n pick you up <3

Celina: Alright, love you!!

She sets her phone down.

6:41, that's enough time to finish right?

(Elena lives 5 minutes away.)

She fixes her mascara, humming along to whatever song was playing through her phone.

A knock interrupts her mini-karaoke.

"Coming!" She yells from the bathroom, 

She puts on one of her heels, before tripping over a different shoe, falling into the door.

She somehow opens the door as she fell, Elena immediately swoops in to the apartment to help.

"Baby..."

Celina looks up to Elena, her breath catching.

She's beautiful- her sleeveless dress catching her curves just right.

The scent of her perfume fills the room.

Vanilla, with a hit of white chocolate.

Celina's profound favorite.

"Celina, are you okay?"

Celina smiles shyly, "I'm fine, I just-"

Celina winces as Elena's dress swipes her ankle.

Elena notices, putting her full attention to Celina's ankle.

"Elena..."

"Let me check." Elena says, looking at Celina worriedly.

Celina doesn't argue, but she does reach for her other heel.

"Leave it, you are not going in heels."

"But-"

"No."

Celina smirks, sliding closer to Elena

"What are you doing-"

Celina lays her head onto Elena's shoulder, her ankle pulled out of reach.

"I'm fine, sweetheart. I promise," Celina whispers softly. 

Elena sighs, grabbing Celina's hand softly, "I just want to make sure..."

Celina squeezes Elena's hand, "I know."

Both of their phones buzz at the same time. 

Date at 7:00 is in 15 minutes.

"Baby, we have to go." Celina stands, grabbing the other heel and sliding it on with no problem, "See? I am fine."

Elena studies her before standing.

"Come here." Elena deadpans.

Celina steps forward toward her timidly.

Elena just scoops her up which causes Celina to blush deeply.

"Uh- how- Elena!" She stutters as Elena carries her out of the apartment.

"Have fun with your date, I guess?" Miles sighs, walking past them.

"Thanks Miles." Elena sighs.

An awkward silence fills between them. 

"Why are you carrying her?"

Elena shrugs.

"I fell and she's worried I hurt my ankle." Celina grumbles.

Miles tries to hold back a laugh, before Elena carries Celina away.

"Bye Miles!" Celina yells back, settling herself into Elena's arm.

---

Celina sings along to the song playing through the radio, and Elena listens quietly.

God, she loves her.

Celina notices Elena's small grin, and finally says something.

"I never realized how strong you were." She chuckles, "What were you planning to save it for?"

Elena shrugs, pulling into the parking lot.

"Really? All I get is a shr-"

Elena pulls into a parking lot, and both notice the man yelling at the much younger woman.

Elena and Celina shift silently into gear. 

"Hey!" Elena yells, getting out of the car, "Back away from her."

The Mans attention turns to Elena, then Celina as she walks next to her. 

"What are you going to do about it?" The Man slurs, stumbling slightly toward the two.

They flash their badges, and the Man groans closing closer to them.

The Woman runs to her car, starts it and leaves the lot.

Elena puts herself in front of Celina, as he closes the little space between them.

His breath reeks of whiskey, but Elena doesn't break her stance.

Face things head on, put her first.

"Elena-"

"Just stay behind me." Elena whispers, not looking at her.

Celina opens her mouth to protest, but The Man swings at Elena- landing a punch on her jaw.

"Hands behind your back, sir." Celina deadpans, grabbing his wrists and slamming him against the car behind them, "You are under arrest for assault on a federal officer."

Elena nods at Celina, backing away and spitting onto the concrete.

"I'll call for someone to get him." She mutters quietly, pulling out her phone.

Celina moves The Man off the car and sits him down on the sidewalk.

 "What's your name, sir?" Celina asks, noticing Elena calling dispatch.

"Phil McCracken." The Man chuckles to himself.

Celina sighs, walking away from 'Phil' and over to Elena who is standing by the entrance to the bar. 

"Dispatch is sending someone over to get him, how is he?"

"Distracted by the dirt on the ground." Celina sighs, noticing the forming bruise on Elena's cheek, "Cariño..."

Elena winces at the touch, "Babe, I'm fine."

Celina studies her, noticing that The Man somehow stood up and is chasing a moth.

Elena notice Celina is still favoring her left foot- setting a hand on her shoulder.

"I'll get him." She smiles, letting her heels click as she walks toward him.

The Man trips just as Elena reaches him- and she has to hold back her laugh. She was standing in front of a drunk man on her date night, and both her and Celina were hurt- god- this will be an odd story for later.

" 'I predty laddy..." He slurs, letting himself sink on the concrete.

Elena just stares concerningly at him, just as the officer comes into the parking lot.

She waves him over- then notices who the driver is.

Smitty, of course. 

"Oh, dear god..." She mutters, pulling The Man up off the sidewalk.

Elena could swear the universe hates her right now, but she doesn't- only due to the fact that she already knows.

"Selena!" Smitty smirks at the sight of her, "What are you doing here?"

"Elena." She corrects.

Smitty just blinks.

"I was waiting for you to get here," She continues, pulling the Man off the ground, "Arrested for assault on an Officer."

Smitty notices the bruise— surprisingly – and gives her a thumbs up, taking the other Man from her.

"Bad date?"

Elena stares at him, "... you know I'm dating Celina, right?"

"Oh yeah."

"Mhm."

"So, who's this guy?"

Elena sighs, "A drunk guy that thought harassing a woman, then punching a federal officer was smart."

"She's pretty, right?" The Man slurs, tipping forward, "Also, are you my Uber?"

Smitty just shoves him into the Shop.

"Well, see you later." Smitty opens the driver's side door, climbing in, "I'm going to get some snacks."

Smitty slams the door before Elena can say anything else.

Celina perks up as she sees Elena, noticing the confusion-with a gallon of disappointment.

"Who got stuck with the drunk guy?" Celina asks a Elena wraps her arm around her.

"Smitty." Elena deadpans and the two walk into the crowded- and very noisy bar, "I need... tequila."

They slide into a booth and a female waiter comes straight over.

"Hi sweetheart, what can I get you today?" She asks, way too cheerfully, but mainly directed to Elena.

"A tequila and..." Elena looks at Celina, before turning to her phone.

"Oh! Um, the Pumpkin Pie martini." Celina smiles at the waiter who is giving a deadly side eye to her.

Her smile falters as the Waitress walks away.

"She was nice." Elena shoves her phone into her bag.

"To you." Celina sighs, "She just glared at me."

"Oh." Elena's face hardens slightly.

Celina smiles, "But it's fine! She clearly likes you so–"

"That doesn't matter, no one gets to treat my girlfriend like that." Elena says, crossing her arms.

"But–"

"But nothing, Celina. I only love you, I promise." Elena softens, grabbing her hand.

The Waiter comes back with just Elena's tequila, setting it in front of her.

Elena frowns, "Her martini?"

The Waitress smile flips straight into a frown. "Why do you want that?" 

Elena raises her eyebrow, "Because I want my girlfriend to get the drink she asked for politely?"

The Waitress scowls walking away from their table.

Elena looks over at Celina, "How do you want Pumpkin Pie flavored stuff when it's summer?"

"You know why." Celina smiles, "Fall flavors should be all year long, like this bar has!"

Elena laughs as a couple slides into the booth in front of them.

Celina notices, squinting her eyes at their faces, before recognizing them.

"Sergeant Bradford and Chen?" Elena asks.

"Lucy!" Celina squeals at the sight of her former roommate.

Lucy turns around and looks into their booth, her face lighting up.

"Babe, Celina and Elena are here!" She whips her head back to Tim before standing up and sliding into the other couples booth.

"Double date?" Celina smirks, the question towards Lucy.

"Finally!" Lucy sighs, just as Tim slides into the booth.

Tim and Elena mod, knowing their partners are going to probably get drunk tonight.

Elena takes a sip of her tequila, the taste just wrong.

She sets it down, giving towards the middle, and Lucy takes it immediately, not even hearing the reason why.

Tim just shakes his head and chuckles.

A new Waitress comes over to their table, handing Celina her martini. 

"Can I get you two something?" She asks, looking between Elena and Tim.

Tim orders a beer, as does Elena.

Tim stares at her, "How do you go from tequila to beer?"

Elena shrugs, "Don't know, Sarge."

Tim chuckles again, "Please, just call me Tim, Flores."

Elena nods, her hand steadily tracing circles on Celina's thigh– her often normal anchor when she's nervous.

Celina doesn't flinch and continues her conversation with Lucy.

This is probably going to be a long night...

---

Lucy and Celina are three drinks in before they decide to walk around the bar.

Elena and Tim just stare at them.

Elena decides to break the silence after a few minutes.

"How did you propose to Lucy? The second time, at least."

Tim turns to look at her, taking a swig of his second beer, "I just asked her in the parking lot after we were rescued."

Elena groans, her face sinking into her hands.

"You thinking of asking?"

Elena nods, "I have everything except a plan on how to ask."

Tim shrugs,"Just do it when it feels right, I guess. Not after an argument, but just do it. It doesn't have to be fancy, it just has to be... y'know, you."

Elena nods, noticing the other two stumbling over.

Celina notices Elena, smiling like a little kid.

"Hiiii." Celina stumbles into Elena's arms, "Have I ever told you that your pretty?"

Elena smiles, "Yes, you have many times."

"Wait, are you my girlfriend?" Celina smiles, drunkenly.

"Yes, I am."

"Wow... is our sex as good as I think it is?"

"And..." Elena slaps a fifty onto the table, "We are going home. Say bye to Lucy."

"Bye, Lucy!" Celina giggles, "I might be getting lucky tonightt."

"Okay, you are not," Elena turns back to Lucy and Tim, "Good luck Tim, and goodbye."

Lucy waves wildly, and Elena practically has to drag Celina out."

Celina sniffles as she steps outside, stopping both of them.

"Babe, what's wrong?" 

"Ankle." Celina chokes through fresh tears.

Elena picks her up, again, and carries her to the car.

She sets her down into the seat, buckling her– since Celina somehow fell asleep on the way over.

Elena smiles, setting a soft kiss to Celina's hair.

She hops into their car, driving straight out of the parking lot.

---

Celina's head pounds as she wakes up.

Hangover, shit.

Elena walks into the room, handing Celina water and some Tylenol.

"Drink."

She does, just as Elena climbs into their bed, snuggling into Celina's side, smiling.

"Love you baby." Elena mutters.

Celina smiles, her head still pounding.

"Love you too, Partner."