(no subject)

[shes_biochem]

She'd had to bribe Bobbi to take her off the ship with a whispered insistence that she is not up to no good, she doesn't need protecting, and if she really must know, she's seeing a S.H.I.E.L.D. approved entity, given that Sam had helped immensely with everything that had happened when HYDRA had surfaced. Bobbi had given her a strange look, but had taken her where she'd needed to be, which is where Simmons is currently waiting on the sidewalk, holding her clutch in her hands a touch too tightly (maybe because she's got an icer in there and she's not sure she wants the host to find out when he takes it away).

She's dressed casually for this, a black shirt and jeans, but she can't help but feel nervous for some reason she can't exactly put her finger on, but she knows that it's making her slightly anxious, and she hardly does well when anxious. She tries to tell herself that it will all be perfectly fine. It's just dinner and a drink or two. There's nothing wrong with that, now is there? Besides, it's DC and there are agents all over.

And she slightly suspects that Bobbi isn't going to leave her alone tonight until she's sure Simmons will be okay.

Comments

[shes_biochem]

"A long time?" Simmons echoes, not entirely sure she had seen it coming for a long time, but she certainly doesn't want to dissuade him from liking her, for a long time. "I've grown to like you very much too," she says. "For a long while, I didn't see it or think about it, because of Fitz, but I started to allow myself to think of it, too."

"And I do like you."

[on_your_right]

"So, we'll see where it goes? I'm happy to just take it easy and get our feet wet," Sam says. He's hopeful about this, encouraged by Jemma's response, and he hopes she won't let fear get in the way of what looks like it might end up being a very good thing.

"We can go as slow as you want."

[shes_biochem]

"I like the idea of taking this slow and seeing how it goes," she admits, feeling relieved that they're not going to rush into anything. "Besides, I could really use this escape," she goes on, knowing she's on the cusp of rambling, but she keeps stopping herself. "With everything that's been happening, I need that more than anything."

[on_your_right]

"I'm all about being that escape for you," Sam promises. "As much and as often as you want to get away, I'm your man."

It's been a while since he's felt this strongly about anyone and he's glad that Jemma seems to share some of those feelings.

"You want to get the check and get out of here?"

[shes_biochem]

"Or maybe one more drink," she hopes to persuade him, because she's enjoying her company with him and she doesn't want to get up too quickly. At least, not when they still have so much time to relax. "It can't hurt, can it?" she wheedles, offering Sam her best flash of teeth and hopeful smile.

[on_your_right]

"I'm never going to turn down a drink with a beautiful woman," Sam says, relaxing and waving down their waitress to order two more.

"That would be operating against my own interests."

[shes_biochem]

"You know, I think you're the first person since Tripp to be so flattering," she says, mustering up his name as she works to get past the grief that lifts to even think about him. "I miss him a great deal," she confesses to Sam. "Did you know he was the grandson of a Howling Commando?"

[on_your_right]

"I didn't," Sam openly admits. "But that's a hell of a record. I'm glad to be compared to someone like that. Even if, you know. I don't want to be compared, exactly."

He worries about the comparison, mostly because he doesn't want to come up wanting.

[shes_biochem]

"He's not really around anymore," she says quietly, given that Tripp is gone and that's the reason for all of this. "We were just friends, by the end," she clarifies. "Things in our lives were too messy if we were to get involved, but I was happy for his friendship."

She reaches out for his hand, squeezing it lightly. "I don't mind getting a bit messy now, though."

[on_your_right]

"I'll cheer to that," Sam says, squeezing her hand back. He thinks if things are going to get messy, he wants an amazing woman like Jemma by his side while they sort through it.

"I think it's going to be good, Jemma. You just have to trust me."

[shes_biochem]

"I can do that," she says, even though there had been a time when she hadn't been able to trust anyone thanks to Grant Ward, but those times are long past now and she's moving on. She's more than ready to move on.