Saturday Night Live (original) (raw)

Title: Saturday Night Live
Author: Rebecka
Pairing: Amy/Tina (Amy/Seth)
Rating: PG
Notes: This is set somewhere in season 28. I don't really care when you picture this, but it has a very cute and bouncy Seth, as well as an Amy who can't really see herself doing Update.

Saturday Night Live

There was always a very dull and sort of silent moment right after the thank you's, right after the cameras had been turned off and the audience was heading home. Amy had always disliked that moment, because it felt as if a storm was coming and she was standing right where it was going to hit the hardest. They all knew that the after parties were coming, followed by the after-after parties, and sometimes, especially if Jimmy was around, the after-after-after parties. Amy loved when the first party was kind of boring, and Seth would suggest they move on (somehow, strangely, he was always the one wanting to hop bars). That's when the fun began. They usually headed for someplace familiar, someplace they all kind loved, like the UCB theatre or Jimmy's new apartment.

But right now, standing there waiting for that storm, Amy didn't feel home at all. A year had gone by and she'd gotten really close to a lot of the people at Studio 8H. Some, she had known from earlier, from doing improv and auditioning for comedy clubs. She'd met Jimmy through Horatio, and she'd heard about Seth back when she did Improv Olympic. Seth was now her best friend at Rockefeller. They had the same comedy, the same rhythm in their jokes, the same sort of nonchalant "I don't care what you think"-expressions. They argued a lot, but it was never out of anger. It usually just meant they were both so very passionate about whatever joke they wanted to defend, and it always (note: always) ended with a long, warm hug. A soft, tired smile. A few beers. Maybe a kiss if they were alone.

And then there was Tina. They'd known each other for what felt like 50 years, and though Amy had always known that Tina was going to someday write for a real comedy show, Amy herself still felt completely unsure of how she wanted to "make it in the real world". She loved comedy. Quick, smart, old school comedy. That's why she loved improv so much, it had taught her a new way to live. To listen and surround herself with inspiring people, and the SNL read through was her favorite. Even though it almost always ended up with her and Dratch half-asleep on a futon, Seth aimlessly walking around trying to write jokes for Weekend Update. He loved that damn desk. Amy didn't. She didn't like the way it put the spotlight on her as a real person. She didn't like the stand-up feeling that stupid Update desk gave her. Jimmy did it perfectly with Tina by his side, Amy was hoping they'd do it forever.

Standing in the silence before the storm, someone showed up right beside her and enlaced their fingers. "Come on, sleepy." Tina. Her hand was warm and she smelled of hairspray and that powder they used on her Greek silky skin. Amy closed her eyes and just inhaled. "Time to go," Tina whispered, close into Amy's ear.

Around them, people were starting to gather. The storm was coming. Beer cans were handed out, someone bounced to Amy's right. "Letsgoletsgoletsgo!" Stupid Seth. Amy looked at him and grinned. In her hand, she could feel Tina's heartbeat, strong and even and making her to turn her head and look at her brunette friend. And she did.

"Listen," Amy whispered, closing her eyes if just for a second. "The storm is here." Seth giggled like a little girl to her right, pulling at the sleeve of Amy's jacket, and suddenly they were on the move. Suddenly Tina's hand slipped out of hers and Amy mourned the loss of her warmth. They all headed for the elevators and pressed together like canned fish, giggling. Amy let her head briefly rest against Tina. She could hear Jimmy laughing, loudly, and she smiled to herself. These were her people.

These were the few moments of Amy's Saturday night that she both loved and hated. When she'd run out of energy from putting everything into comedy. She was left with this. The dull and subdued aftermath, the complete bliss of having Tina's arms wrapped around her as the elevator took them down. She could feel Tina kiss the top of her head, just like she always did, whispering something, anything into her blond hair.

The night would get better. Amy would get her energy back as soon as they entered the first party. She and Seth would laugh together, loudly, without care, and whenever she felt like it, Amy would sit down next to Tina, who liked sitting still, drinking slowly. Smiling heartwarmingly when Amy stumbled down next to her.

This was simple. This was honest and real and these people were her friends. This was Saturday Night Live.

End.