Two Parks and Rec mini-fics
The new episode got me itching to write, and I churned out these two little vignettes.
Title: In the Quiet of the Moment
Characters: Leslie/Ben
Rating: PG
Word Count: ~800
Summary: He's going to get fired for this. Post-Smallest Park.
He's going to get fired for this.
The thought doesn't hit him until about a half an hour after Leslie falls asleep. The room is quiet and peaceful, with only the soft sound of her breath. This is the first time he's ever watched her fall asleep. Sometimes he'd woken up in the middle of the night and listened to her sleep-mumbling, but he'd always been the one to fall asleep first. Until tonight.
That's how he knows just how emotionally draining this week must have been for her.
For both of them, really.
When he went to meet her in that park he'd never imagined that she'd throw caution to the wind like this. He'd never imagined she'd care about him more than she cared about Pawnee.
Yet here they are. He feels like his whole body rises and falls with the rhythm of her breath.
And he's going to get fired.
He knew this possibility existed the very first time he took her in his arms and kissed her. But she was worth the risk. And though he'd been uncertain at first, before the first month was out she'd told him that he was worth the risk, too. At least, the risk to her job. Though the risk on her part hadn't been as great as on his. Not that he'd ever told her that.
She never would have gotten more than a slap on the wrist. The rule wasn't created to protect bosses from being manipulated through sexual favors (that was one result of the rule, but not the intent). No-it was created to protect employees from bosses coercing them into sex with threats or bribing them into sex with special favors. And it existed to protect the government from corrupt bosses who granted favors based on sexual relationships.
It existed to protect employees. And the government. From bosses who had affairs with their employees. Bosses like him.
He'd never wanted to explain that to her. He still doesn't plan to. Let her have the comfort of believing they'll be treated-and punished-equally as they move forward with this.
No. When he first kissed her, the risk had mostly been his. He never would have done it, otherwise.
It had only been after a couple of months, when her nighttime mumblings became more than mumblings and he'd discovered that her ambitions of "someday" had morphed into "today," that he'd realized that she now had so much more at risk. More than she should have to risk. More than she'd be willing to risk.
And after a few horrible days of pretending that she'd still think he was worth it he'd started designing a campaign logo in his spare time and went shopping for buttons.
Yet, months later, here they are. In her bed.
God, he hopes she doesn't regret this in the morning.
He closes his eyes and takes a few deep, slow breaths. When he opens them, she's still there. It really did happen. She really did choose him.
What now?
Should he really have come here with her?
In the cold light of day, will she still choose him over city council? He's not sure he can forgive himself if he's what costs her the election.
Is this really worth it? Is it?
She snorts and stirs, and then her eyes flutter open as she gasps. Her eyes lock on his and she sighs. A happy, contented sound.
"You're still here," she whispers.
"Where else would I be?"
She quirks her mouth in a tight-lipped smile, but the lines around her eyes speak of pain. "I've been having dreams that we were together again. But then I'd wake up alone. It really sucked."
He holds his breath for a moment as his fingertips trace the outline of her shoulder and then graze along her jaw before coming to rest on the tip of her chin.
She's so beautiful.
"I think sucked is an understatement," he whispers, resolving never to tell her that he'd been polishing up his résumé just in case cutting off contact with the Parks Department wasn't enough to ease the pain.
Her smile is real this time, lighting up her whole face. Her eyes shine like fireflies. "I'm happy. Really happy," she says.
His chest tightens. He lets out his breath slowly, and his whole body starts to relax. Okay, then.
That's when he knows that he's in this. He's in it for the long haul. No more doubting. Time to move forward and face whatever's coming.
He's going to get fired.
Her campaign might be over.
But life is happening. The life he'd dreamed of when he took that chance and kissed her.
Come what may, they're in this together now.
"Me too," he whispers back. And he means it.
Title: Paying a Debt
Characters: Ron and ensemble
Rating: G
Word Count: ~750
Summary: Though most of her government positions also violate everything he believes in, this once he thinks he'll let it slide. During Citizen Knope.
"Okay, everyone," says Ann, striding into the department. "We've got to step up our game on this gingerbread model. Leslie is really depressed and needs some serious bucking up."
Ron clenches and unclenches his jaw, fighting the urge to stay the hell out of these emotional matters. He rises from his desk and steps to door to stick his head out into the common area.
Everyone is gathered around the cracker and candy thing on the table, asking after Leslie.
Ron frowns.
Ann is shaking her head. "It's horrible. According to the latest numbers she's only polling at one percent. And her campaign managers wimped out and quit. So her campaign is basically over. We really need to cheer her up."
Ron's mustache twitches as a deep rage builds in his chest that he normally reserves for people who restrict his access to meat and/or his ex-wives.
The government had no right to interfere with Leslie's private life in the first place. The media had absolutely no right to parade her love life around town-calling it a "scandal"-as if it were anyone's business but her own. And her pansy-ass campaign managers certainly had no right to punish Leslie for daring to fall in love. It violates everything he believes in.
Though most of her government positions also violate everything he believes in, this once he thinks he'll let it slide. Because he's finally found the way to cancel the enormous emotional debt that he owes her. Swansons always make good on their debts.
"No," he says loudly, ignoring whatever other inane chatter the group had been carrying on. "Leslie's campaign is not over."
Everyone stares at him with wide eyes and open mouths.
Andy breaks the silence. "But Ann just said it was over, because her campaign people quit."
It appears that Ron will have to explain.
"She doesn't need any fancy campaign managers. She's just running for city council. How hard can it be?" he says.
Ann frowns at him. "So are you saying she should just run her own campaign?"
"No. We're going to run it for her."
Donna raises her eyebrows. "We are?"
Ron meets her eyes. "We are. We all are."
He takes his time, meeting the gaze of each and every one of the group, staring them down until they all nod in silent agreement.
"Well," says Ann, "I think it's an amazing idea. I'm onboard one hundred and ten percent."
He knew he'd win. He always does. "Good." He nods firmly, his mind spinning with a new idea. He needs to head to his woodshop. About two hours should do it.
"I have a task to complete elsewhere," he says. He points at Ann. "Girl-do you have access to Leslie's house?"
A brief expression of irritation flits across her features before she replies. "I have a spare key-"
"All right," Ron interrupts. "Head to her house and see if you can obtain some sort of campaign banner from her stash."
The light dawns in Ann's eyes, and she smiles. "Got it."
"April." Ron points at her. "You supervise the completion of this candy model."
April nods, her lips curving into a smile.
"And all of you," he says, surveying the room, "start thinking up roles you can fill within Leslie's new campaign organization. We'll announce them to her at the department party tonight. I'll be back in a couple of hours."
"You heard the man. Get to work, people!" says April, clapping her hands. Everyone bursts into action.
Ron gives a satisfied nod. Yes. This will do the trick.
He pauses on his way out to pull April aside. "Do you think you can craft some sort of edible version of Leslie?" he asks softly, gesturing to the candy covered table.
"I'm on it, boss," replies April, with a wink.
Ron shakes his head as he walks out of the department. That nurse really got under his skin with this whole "cute" thing. He'll have to snub her more effectively in the future.
He passes Jerry in the hall, who is just now coming back from lunch.
"Jerry-we're taking over Leslie's campaign."
Jerry blinks in astonishment. "We are?"
"Yes." Ron nods. "The others can fill you in. Go get to work."
He leaves Jerry still sputtering in confusion and heads out to the parking lot.
Time to go build a model. It would be a shame to let that scale wainscoting go to waste.
Title: In the Quiet of the Moment
Characters: Leslie/Ben
Rating: PG
Word Count: ~800
Summary: He's going to get fired for this. Post-Smallest Park.
He's going to get fired for this.
The thought doesn't hit him until about a half an hour after Leslie falls asleep. The room is quiet and peaceful, with only the soft sound of her breath. This is the first time he's ever watched her fall asleep. Sometimes he'd woken up in the middle of the night and listened to her sleep-mumbling, but he'd always been the one to fall asleep first. Until tonight.
That's how he knows just how emotionally draining this week must have been for her.
For both of them, really.
When he went to meet her in that park he'd never imagined that she'd throw caution to the wind like this. He'd never imagined she'd care about him more than she cared about Pawnee.
Yet here they are. He feels like his whole body rises and falls with the rhythm of her breath.
And he's going to get fired.
He knew this possibility existed the very first time he took her in his arms and kissed her. But she was worth the risk. And though he'd been uncertain at first, before the first month was out she'd told him that he was worth the risk, too. At least, the risk to her job. Though the risk on her part hadn't been as great as on his. Not that he'd ever told her that.
She never would have gotten more than a slap on the wrist. The rule wasn't created to protect bosses from being manipulated through sexual favors (that was one result of the rule, but not the intent). No-it was created to protect employees from bosses coercing them into sex with threats or bribing them into sex with special favors. And it existed to protect the government from corrupt bosses who granted favors based on sexual relationships.
It existed to protect employees. And the government. From bosses who had affairs with their employees. Bosses like him.
He'd never wanted to explain that to her. He still doesn't plan to. Let her have the comfort of believing they'll be treated-and punished-equally as they move forward with this.
No. When he first kissed her, the risk had mostly been his. He never would have done it, otherwise.
It had only been after a couple of months, when her nighttime mumblings became more than mumblings and he'd discovered that her ambitions of "someday" had morphed into "today," that he'd realized that she now had so much more at risk. More than she should have to risk. More than she'd be willing to risk.
And after a few horrible days of pretending that she'd still think he was worth it he'd started designing a campaign logo in his spare time and went shopping for buttons.
Yet, months later, here they are. In her bed.
God, he hopes she doesn't regret this in the morning.
He closes his eyes and takes a few deep, slow breaths. When he opens them, she's still there. It really did happen. She really did choose him.
What now?
Should he really have come here with her?
In the cold light of day, will she still choose him over city council? He's not sure he can forgive himself if he's what costs her the election.
Is this really worth it? Is it?
She snorts and stirs, and then her eyes flutter open as she gasps. Her eyes lock on his and she sighs. A happy, contented sound.
"You're still here," she whispers.
"Where else would I be?"
She quirks her mouth in a tight-lipped smile, but the lines around her eyes speak of pain. "I've been having dreams that we were together again. But then I'd wake up alone. It really sucked."
He holds his breath for a moment as his fingertips trace the outline of her shoulder and then graze along her jaw before coming to rest on the tip of her chin.
She's so beautiful.
"I think sucked is an understatement," he whispers, resolving never to tell her that he'd been polishing up his résumé just in case cutting off contact with the Parks Department wasn't enough to ease the pain.
Her smile is real this time, lighting up her whole face. Her eyes shine like fireflies. "I'm happy. Really happy," she says.
His chest tightens. He lets out his breath slowly, and his whole body starts to relax. Okay, then.
That's when he knows that he's in this. He's in it for the long haul. No more doubting. Time to move forward and face whatever's coming.
He's going to get fired.
Her campaign might be over.
But life is happening. The life he'd dreamed of when he took that chance and kissed her.
Come what may, they're in this together now.
"Me too," he whispers back. And he means it.
Title: Paying a Debt
Characters: Ron and ensemble
Rating: G
Word Count: ~750
Summary: Though most of her government positions also violate everything he believes in, this once he thinks he'll let it slide. During Citizen Knope.
"Okay, everyone," says Ann, striding into the department. "We've got to step up our game on this gingerbread model. Leslie is really depressed and needs some serious bucking up."
Ron clenches and unclenches his jaw, fighting the urge to stay the hell out of these emotional matters. He rises from his desk and steps to door to stick his head out into the common area.
Everyone is gathered around the cracker and candy thing on the table, asking after Leslie.
Ron frowns.
Ann is shaking her head. "It's horrible. According to the latest numbers she's only polling at one percent. And her campaign managers wimped out and quit. So her campaign is basically over. We really need to cheer her up."
Ron's mustache twitches as a deep rage builds in his chest that he normally reserves for people who restrict his access to meat and/or his ex-wives.
The government had no right to interfere with Leslie's private life in the first place. The media had absolutely no right to parade her love life around town-calling it a "scandal"-as if it were anyone's business but her own. And her pansy-ass campaign managers certainly had no right to punish Leslie for daring to fall in love. It violates everything he believes in.
Though most of her government positions also violate everything he believes in, this once he thinks he'll let it slide. Because he's finally found the way to cancel the enormous emotional debt that he owes her. Swansons always make good on their debts.
"No," he says loudly, ignoring whatever other inane chatter the group had been carrying on. "Leslie's campaign is not over."
Everyone stares at him with wide eyes and open mouths.
Andy breaks the silence. "But Ann just said it was over, because her campaign people quit."
It appears that Ron will have to explain.
"She doesn't need any fancy campaign managers. She's just running for city council. How hard can it be?" he says.
Ann frowns at him. "So are you saying she should just run her own campaign?"
"No. We're going to run it for her."
Donna raises her eyebrows. "We are?"
Ron meets her eyes. "We are. We all are."
He takes his time, meeting the gaze of each and every one of the group, staring them down until they all nod in silent agreement.
"Well," says Ann, "I think it's an amazing idea. I'm onboard one hundred and ten percent."
He knew he'd win. He always does. "Good." He nods firmly, his mind spinning with a new idea. He needs to head to his woodshop. About two hours should do it.
"I have a task to complete elsewhere," he says. He points at Ann. "Girl-do you have access to Leslie's house?"
A brief expression of irritation flits across her features before she replies. "I have a spare key-"
"All right," Ron interrupts. "Head to her house and see if you can obtain some sort of campaign banner from her stash."
The light dawns in Ann's eyes, and she smiles. "Got it."
"April." Ron points at her. "You supervise the completion of this candy model."
April nods, her lips curving into a smile.
"And all of you," he says, surveying the room, "start thinking up roles you can fill within Leslie's new campaign organization. We'll announce them to her at the department party tonight. I'll be back in a couple of hours."
"You heard the man. Get to work, people!" says April, clapping her hands. Everyone bursts into action.
Ron gives a satisfied nod. Yes. This will do the trick.
He pauses on his way out to pull April aside. "Do you think you can craft some sort of edible version of Leslie?" he asks softly, gesturing to the candy covered table.
"I'm on it, boss," replies April, with a wink.
Ron shakes his head as he walks out of the department. That nurse really got under his skin with this whole "cute" thing. He'll have to snub her more effectively in the future.
He passes Jerry in the hall, who is just now coming back from lunch.
"Jerry-we're taking over Leslie's campaign."
Jerry blinks in astonishment. "We are?"
"Yes." Ron nods. "The others can fill you in. Go get to work."
He leaves Jerry still sputtering in confusion and heads out to the parking lot.
Time to go build a model. It would be a shame to let that scale wainscoting go to waste.