[AU] ... from the 'meet at a different time' meme

[freshoffthefarm]

After two years at the Agency, Annie's job hadn't gotten any better (or worse). Sure, it had it's downsides - namely, being shot at (or being shot), but the biggest one had to be the Agency parking lot.

She could never, ever find a parking spot

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[fakes_death]

Clay sent another email to Annie similar to the first only this time, asking to meet for drinks. He planned on picking her up this time.

He was surprised when he got the Agency auto responded. The surprise came mostly from the proximity of this mission to her deep cover op. So he'd have to put off drinks for another few days. It'd be worth it.

[freshoffthefarm]

Two days after he got her auto-respond, he got an actual response. This one said that she'd love to meet her for drinks and since he knew where she lived, she had no problems with him picking her up. He just had to give her a date and time.

[fakes_death]

Clay picked Friday evening and selected a classic cocktail bar, dim lighting, quiet environment and open late enough that if they wind up talking no one had to get up in the morning.

He arrived at her door and rang the bell, dressed in his usual suit, navy with a red tie.

[freshoffthefarm]

Opening her door, she couldn't help the smile she gave when she saw him in dressed in a three piece suit. Tilting her head, she gave him a long look over, then narrowed her eyes playfully. "It's a good look on you. Every suit I've seen you in has been very..." She trailed off and her voice softened far more than she intended it to. "This."

She obviously approved. Dressed in her red wrap dress and her signature Louboutins, she was all ready to go.

[fakes_death]

Clay couldn't help but check Annie out. He loved the red. "You look great."

[freshoffthefarm]

It was obvious that he was looking her over and she grinned when his eyes met hers again. "Thank you. I'm guessing we're taking the midlife crisis tonight?"

She teased because she liked him, obviously.

[fakes_death]

He just raised an eyebrow, "Upgrade not midlife crisis."

And yes they were, "Besides, you seemed to find it very comfortable a few weeks ago."

It didn't stop him from opening the door to the car for Annie, then getting in on his side, and heading off toward the bar.

[freshoffthefarm]

"Oh, God," she groaned, covering her face with her hands before she got in the car. Once he was in, she put on her seat belt. "That's right. I fell asleep in here, didn't I?"

She was a little embarrassed upon remembering and glanced out the window to hide it as best she could. As they pulled up to the bar, she raised her eyebrows. "This is a nice place."

[fakes_death]

"You did." Her embarrassment was rewarded with a smile. So at least it wasn't all bad.

"I like it here, dark, quiet, and open late." He parked the car in the lot then opened Annie's door to lead her to a quiet table near the back of the bar.

[freshoffthefarm]

Annie stepped out of the car with the steadiness of a woman who had practice doing so from low angles in high shoes. It also made her legs look amazing in her dress.

"You like the dark and the quiet," she said thoughtfully as he led her to the corner of the bar, "don't you?"

[fakes_death]

"I guess I'm just more comfortable that way."

He assumed it came from decades of being a company man. Though he had found himself smiling more since Annie rear ended him.

"Does it bother you?"

[freshoffthefarm]

"No."

She'd eased into the booth and taken in their surroundings before exhaling and finding herself comfortable as well. "I think it suits you and not in a bad way. It goes with the suit and the car and the job and..." She gave a small shrug and looked out over the room. "It's just you."

[fakes_death]

He nodded, "From what I've seen of your apartment it's a lot like you too."

Annie's apartment had a lot of light and was very open. He knew she had her secrets, but he somehow doubted she'd ever carry hers as long as he's carried his.

[freshoffthefarm]

"I guess it is." She thought about it and nodded a moment later. "I've always traveled, always liked traveling. Lots of mementos, lots of memories, lots of photographs of places not here. Lots of open spaces, lots of light..."

She trailed off and gave him a bashful smile. "Just always kind of been who I am."

[fakes_death]

They were complete opposites based solely on their environment. All his life, he dated women that he should date. They were his social status or from his mother's circle of diplomats and friends. The exception to that was Sarah MacKenzie, but he realized too late of course, that he was just a placeholder and sometime verbal punching bag.

Annie was different than all of that and since none of that worked out, this might have a shot.

"I guess we spend so much time not being who we are that we have to express it somehow."

[freshoffthefarm]

"That makes a lot of sense, I suppose," she agreed quietly with a simple nod of her head, still not really looking at him at first, then she turned her head and gave him a quick smile. "So. What do you drink?"