Wheels Meets World | A Glee Fanfiction
Title: Wheels Meets World
Characters: Artie Abrams, Tina Cohen-Chang
Rating: G
Spoilers: N/A
Summary: When Tina poses a question about the stability of their relationship, Artie assures her in the only way he knows how: the nerdy way.
Word Count: 426
Disclaimer: I don't own Glee.
"Artie, we're not like that, are we?"
I look up from my sheet music curiously, glancing sideways at my best friend-slash-girlfriend. "Like what?" I ask interestedly. She doesn't answer, her eyes fixed on the far side of the room. I follow her gaze and see she's watching Finn and Rachel, who are arguing yet again. "Like them?" I ask and she nods. "Of course not. Why would you think that?"
"I just - we do argue a lot," Tina says.
"Well sure. Everyone argues," I agree. "I mean, look around. Finn and Rachel sort of speak for themselves. Puck and Quinn are constantly at each other's throats. Kurt and Mercedes aren't even dating and they still bicker almost constantly. And don't even get me started on the crazy dysfunctional mess that is the Mike-Matt-Santana-Brittany thing. Your parents argue. My parents argue. We argue. Couples argue; it's just a fact of life."
I look around the room and Rachel happens to choose that exact moment for a ritual Berry storm-out. Finn throws his hands up in exasperation, but a half-beat later he goes after her. Shaking my head, I continue, "The difference is, when we argue it's about real things. That argument was probably about sharps and flats. Our fights are at least about things that matter."
"So we argue a lot and our fights are real," Tina says slowly, like she's clarifying the facts to herself. "Somehow that doesn't sound like a good thing."
"It is though," I insist. "It means we're a real couple. We don't get caught up in shallow and superficial things. Which means when we face real problems we'll be better at getting through them. While everyone else will be being all dramatic and dysfunctional, we'll be sort of like that couple that's always together. You know, like the Cory and Topanga of the Glee club."
Tina gapes at me for a minute and then she laughs. "Did you seriously just Boy Meets World our relationship?"
I feel heat creeping over my face but I smile and shrug off-handedly. "Yes, I believe I did."
Tina nods, looking thoughtful even as she tries not to smile. "Just checking." All the same, a minute later she reaches over and takes my hand. When I glance over at her she smiles, that sweet, mischievous smile only I ever get to see, and she says, very pointedly, "You're such a nerd."
I just laugh and squeeze her hand, because we've got all the time in the world to argue and I know how to pick my battles.