Another Chelley one-shot

"Why do you keep him?"

Chell paused, cocoa mug halfway to her mouth to cast a questioning look at the Adventure Core. Rick perched on the edge of her sofa, one ankle over his knee, the look on his face somewhere between curiosity and accusation. He shifted, recrossing his legs, before settling that intense stare back on her.

"I mean, I understand you getting us all out of there; you're a very thoughtful young lady. And I even understand you're setting us up in our own lives out here. And not wanting to rent another apartment until he can afford his own rent, but why do you let him stay here? Isn't he, like, a safety hazard or something?"

She sighed, putting down the hot chocolate she'd been so looking forward to.

"He could stay with Fact and Craft. They've got plenty of space in that flat of theirs."

She shook her head.

"What about Morality? Doesn't she have a condo now?"

Chell rolled her eyes. Yes, and she's renting to Rage and Curiosity.

"Even Space and I'd be willing to take him off your hands!"

Deadpan. You'd all murder eachother within a day.

"Look, Lady, I know you're one of the most selfless, giving people any core could ever hope to meet (and pretty to boot) but for once can't you think of yourself? If not your safety, maybe your happiness? I mean, how are you ever supposed to get yourself a real man, with him hanging around? He's ruining your chances!"

Her eyes sparkling with laughter, Chell did something she rarely did: she spoke.

"Wheatley? Could you come in here a minute?"

"Sure thing, luv!" He stepped out of the kitchen, wiping his hands on his apron.  "Something the matter?"

She shook her head, standing and crossing the room to meet him. Rick watched as she held her hands up in a silent gesture for the other core to wait a moment. And then…

...she reached up…grabbed the collar of Wheatley's shirt…and jerked him down into a kiss.

A very long, deep, kiss.

The Adventure Core fidgeted uncomfortably until Chell released her prisoner with a smirk.

Wheatley seemed a bit surprised and dazed, but not in the way of someone who was just kissed for no reason by someone who had no visible reason to do so. Even if they were living together.

"Um…w-will that be all, luv?" The nickname took on a new level of meaning in Rick's mind.

Chell nodded.

"Right, well, I'll just get back to…whatever it was I was doing."

"Baking," she whispered, brushing a smudge of flour off his (still far too close) face.

"Right, right, baking. Thanks, luv. You're a charm." He cast a glance at Rick, suddenly uncomfortable as he realized they'd had an audience, before hurrying back into the kitchen.

Chell lowered herself back into her chair and sipped her coco, ignoring the awkward silence for a full twenty seconds, before breaking it.

"Did that answer your questions?"