trashchildren | For Joan

She smiles fondly, so charmed by his adorableness. "I think we can manage not to do that," she says, amused. She lifts her eyebrows mischievously. "If I'm hot and bothered after a game, I'll remember to get you home before pouncing on you. Is there anything you really like? A position? A way to be touched?"

Between the flirting and the questions, the blush is definitely increasing. He's not even sure if he has good answers, because a lot of the stuff he can think of is... so tied to Michelle specifically.

"I dunno, I.. like to be able to see you and make sure you're enjoying yourself," he answers, although right now he's not looking directly at her, cause this is embarrassing enough. "I mean. I've only had sex with five people, including you. It's... specific for the person, it's personal, it depends on what they like."

That is so deeply Ted, the one thing he can think of wanting being the pleasure of others. Her heart aches at how he's not looking at her, too embarrassed to talk about this to look her in the eyes. Joan is so used to sex being transactional, an arrangement for the exchange of pleasure, giving and taking so that each individual is satisfied. But this is different, and she feels it in the pit of her stomach. Consent is important, of course, as is communication, but this isn't a transaction. She loves him, deeply.

She gets up and goes to him, kneeling so he doesn't have to get up, and takes his face in her hands and kisses him. When she pulls back she gazes up at him, the love clear in her eyes.

"Let's find out what we like," she says softly. "Together."

Ted blinks when she gets up, and makes a small noise when she kisses him.

When she says that, his heart swells, just from affection and gratitude for her sweetness. He puts a hand on her wrist and strokes it a bit with his thumb, smiling emotionally at her, and nods.

He's usually better at talking about this in the moment anyway. Then they're already doing it, so it's less embarrassing, it feels less incongruous. Heck, if they want to discuss ideas or things more in detail, it might just be easier to do during foreplay.

That smile is heartbreakingly beautiful, and she mirrors it, nodding back at him, smoothing her thumbs over his cheeks.

Then she kisses him again, more passionately this time, making a small soft noise of want. She wraps her arms around him and presses in as much as she can. Their relative positions make it difficult, but she doesn't want to let go, doesn't want to stop kissing him.

Ted kisses back, though after a few moments he makes a muffled sound and then tries to get them both to stand up -- without necessarily taking a proper break in the kiss.

It ends up being not very smooth, and he laughs a bit into the kiss before pulling back a little, though instead keeping their foreheads pressed together. "I thought you said you wanted to talk in bed," he teases.

Getting to their feet while still lip locked is awkward in the most adorable way possible, and Joan is laughing into the kiss as well by the time they manage it. Her arms are still twined around him as their lips part, and she laughs at the tease.

"I didn't say that was the only thing I wanted to do," she teases back.

"Do we want to be proactive and responsible adults and brush our teeth and all that before we get carried away?" he suggests with a smile.

Not that he isn't eager to get into bed with her, but he has a feeling that once he does, he won't want to get up again.

Joan laughs. "You know, I think that's the first time I've ever had someone want to hit pause to brush their teeth." She kisses him, then smiles. "Whatever you want to do."

"Yeah, well, I just know I won't want to get out of bed again if I can help it," he answers with an amused shrug. And he enjoys just... being with Joan. Little domestic rituals are comforting.

Plus, this time he'd actually like to take his time. Pausing for a moment isn't really a problem. They'll have plenty of time to do what they want to do.

"Fair enough," she says with a smile. She kisses him one more time and then pulls back and heads to the living room where she put her bag. "Oddly enough," she says, rummaging through her bag. She finds what she's looking for, turns to face him, and holds up a toothbrush. "I came prepared."

Ted follows slowly after, and when she pulls out the toothbrush he chuckles and points at her with approval. "I'd expect nothing less from a seasoned detective such as yourself. What else you got in there?"

She grins and chuckles a little at his approval. "Mostly seasoned detective stuff," she says with a smile. "Evidence bags, nitrile gloves, lockpicks. I didn't bring a nightshirt, though, which I'm kind of regretting now."

"Well, we can solve that easy!" Ted answers immediately, then heads to his bedroom dresser. He returns moments later, and tosses her one of his Kansas City BBQ t-shirts, with a big grin on his face.

She catches it and holds it out to take a look, grinning. "Very you," she says with a grin. "And will work perfectly." Joan being as tiny as she is, the shirt is almost certain to come down to her knees.

She folds the shirt and drapes it over her arm, then gestures toward the bathroom. "Shall we?"

Ted gestures in a 'be my guest' kind of way, heading to the bathroom himself. There's of course still a tiny 'BELIEVE' sign on the mirror, matching the one in the team's locker room.

"Fun fact, the t-shirt's actually a mashup of four different barbecue places in Kansas City. You know, so you don't have to pick sides," he says as he's pulling out his toothbrush himself.

Joan sees that sign and can't help but smile. She's noticed similar signs hiding here and there, all little versions of the sign she saw in the Richmond locker room while she was talking with players for the case. It's really a testament to the fact that Ted truly believes, down to his core, the things he says to his players. He practices that which he preaches.

"Is it?" she says, amused, as she wets her toothbrush and puts toothpaste on it. "It makes sense...people take their barbecue seriously." She gives him a smile, indicating she's mostly talking about him, and starts brushing.

Ted gives an amused hum of acknowledgement, brushing as well. Since they can't really talk and brush as the same time he just loops an arm over her shoulder and leans slightly against her in the meantime.

Joan wraps her free arm around Ted's waist and leans against him as well. She would never thought that brushing teeth could be sweet and intimate, and yet here they are, holding each other as they perform basic dental hygiene. It's a lovely moment, and Joan reflects on how many perfectly ordinary moments have been made lovely by sharing them with Ted.

He's definitely actively rationalizing not wanting to floss right now though. He does want to get to bed with Joan sometime soon. (And he's pretty sure flossing is not a turn-on. Well, visually. Maybe the concept of a man who flosses is, who's he to say?)

Once they're both done, he starts peeling off layers of clothing. It's amazing how comfortable and domestic he already feels with her.

Joan feels comfortable and domestic with him, too, and it's amazing. As they both shed clothing, it's not sexual, but it is intimate. Like they're physically removing barriers that keep them separate, just to be together, as close as possible.

Joan sets the tshirt aside. She'll certainly want it later, when they're lounging together, but for the moment she intends to strip completely.

By the time Ted is down to t-shirt, boxers and socks, he does absolutely get distracted just watching her undress. It's a... very nice visual. And not because it's even meant to be sexy or arousing, it just... is sexy because it's so relaxed and comfortable.

She notices him watching, and smiles. She meets his eyes, and slows down her motions, letting it be explicitly sexy. She slips one bra strap off one shoulder, then the other. She unhooks the bra and slowly removes it, baring her small, soft breasts. She smooths her hands down her abdomen, to her panties, settling for a moment over her mons, then moving to hook her thumbs into the waistband of her panties. Her eyes still on his, she bends slowly to pull her panties down her legs. Then she straightens and steps out of them. She stands naked in front of him, her cheeks just slightly pink and her pupils just slightly wide.

Yeah, see, this is exactly why he was right to press pause as early as he did. If they'd gotten this far, he would've been doomed. (When was the last time he got a personal striptease? Several years, at least.)

He's just kind of staring as she does this, his eyes darting between her face and her hands. When she's naked, it takes about two long seconds before he just steps forward and kisses her, looping an arm behind her back and pulling her close.

She makes a sound as he kisses her, and reaches up to wrap her arms around his neck, pressing her body against his. She kisses him deeply for a long moment before breaking the kiss only long enough to murmur teasingly against his lips.

"You're a little overdressed."

Then she continues the kiss, her body gently undulating against his.

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