Stay with Walt

Walt sighed putting his head in his hands. *Well I don't know how but I sure screwed this one up. Congratulations soldier. Mission fail.*

"Wow. Congratulations fella. I don't know how you screwed that one up! Epic fail!" *Pop* said a perky young voice from behind with a slightly annoying chewing sound and bubblegum smell that explained the popping sound.

A slight creaking of the seat signaling someone had just taken Penny's seat. "That wasn't very tactful, Jubilee. Accurate perhaps but not tactful. Here's your drinks by the way. Sir, are you ok?"

He looked up through his fingers at none other than She-Hulk across from him and Jubilee leaning over his shoulder from the booth behind. He chuckled ruefully. "That's accurate. And thank you I could use a drink." He frowned at his beer. Which might as well have been water for all the good it'd do.

"Want something stronger, pops?" Quiped Jubilee.

"Want to get out of my head, brat? Since when could you read minds anyway?", he snapped in irritation.

Jubilee actually smiled. "Don't need to, bub. Working here you learn a lot about people. Plus you kind of remind me of someone. A little less cranky but you old-timers tend to act similarly."

Hearing a slight snort he looked over to see Jen covering her mouth. "Something to share, Ms Walters?"

Straightening her face she she said,"She might be rude about it but she might be right."

"What?"

"Ugh!" Jubilee climbed over the seat to sit next to you. "Look dude. It's pretty simple to see that the problem is not something you did do, but something you didn't. She's new right?" Walt nodded. "Brand new?" Walt nodded again. "And let me guess you've been super sweet to her, yeah?" Walt nodded some more and Jubilee gave him an exasperated look. "Look grandpa, speak up so I know you ain't lost your words or having some kind of stroke, 'kay?" Walt growled in irritation, "I can speak." Jubilee gave him a rather strange look but shook her head sitting up straighter. "You basically as good as rescued that girl, right? Well, she's already developing a crush."

Walt blinked slowly, opened his mouth to laugh or say something but before he could Jubilee interupted and said, "And you already noticed it, didn't ya?"

Walt grabbed his beer and took a long pull before muttering "Maybe."

"Yeah. Classic X-drama. Don't gotta be mind reading baldie to see that... Look dude you need to acknowledge whatever feelings you all have going forward. So do you like her?"

"Yes."

"You willing to stand by her through whatever happens?"

"Of course"

Jubilee looked him in the eyes. "Do you think there's any possibility of returning those feelings if they develop?"

Walt didn't look away but that question was a lot harder to answer honestly. "I don't know... it's... complicated."

Jubilee narrowed her eyes and wasn't going to have it. "Is. It. Possible. Yes. Or. No?"

Walt took a long moment, thought about his feelings for Penny in such a short amount of time and said,"Yes... it's... perhaps... possible..."

Jubilee held the stare for while longer then grinned. "I was wrong about you, Pops. You're better then him." She quickly darted forward putting a pink lipstick kiss on his cheek before sliding across the table, landing on her feet and quickly skipping away. "Look me up if it doesn't work out with the princess!"

Stunned Walt stared at the retreating young lady before turn to the laughing Jen. Who shut his mouth and grabbed a napkin to wipe off the lipstick. "Lets just say that she has a type and you fit it. Doesn't hurt that you passed her little test. She's a surprisingly good judge of character even if her other judgment is a little skewed." Jennifer smirked, kissed the napkin so it had a green lipstick mark to go with the pink one and folded carefully into Walter's pocket. "She picked me also." She shook his hand with her right, shut his jaw again with her left. "Come see *us* if it doesn't work out with the princess, ok...?"

It took him a moment to swallow and say,"Walter Stark. Walt to my friends."

Jennifer smiled. "It was very nice meeting you, Walt."

"The pleasure was all mine Jen."

Jennifer Walters let go his hand turning to walk away and throw a wink over her shoulder.

(("Boss? Your heart rate jumped again. Seriously, should I be concerned? I can have a medical team dispatched to your location in..."))

"Friday. Shut up."

(("Shutting up. Sir."))

*What the hell kind of restaurant/club is this place, anyway?* Walt thought to himself