A/N: This story will end up spanning about 24 hours, but I'll be posting it in page-long chunks every few days. Hope you enjoy.

Deeks used to be in a band.

Actually, he was frontman and creator of a band, something he is sure to interject whenever the subject comes up.

The subject comes up only in the dark recesses of a bar with a round (and not the first) on the table. Surprisingly, Deeks is never the one to bring it up; it's always Kensi, and she's always laughing at him. It's good-natured ribbing, something Deeks has never taken issue with, and he thinks being in a band is pretty cool, even if he was never quite the "rock star" Kensi has taken to mockingly calling him. (In reality, that is. Obviously Deeks is everything he's ever wanted to be inside his head.)

The Wonder Twins drag the team out to a bar on a Friday night. Well, less the team and more Kensi and Deeks. And less a bar; more a 'karaoke lounge' with 'private rooms and strobe lights.' The agents dig in their heels upon initial sighting of the neon signage, but the twins will not be dissuaded... and it's Friday night... and no one can make you sing, right? Plus there's alcohol. That always helps.

Thankfully it's a bit too ridiculous to rent a room for four people, although that also means they're in the main room and surrounded by strangers, but less chance of actually singing, right?! They get drinks. They laugh at diva performances (male and female). They drink more. Eric gets up and sings a song from Rent, because duh. Nell starts an under-the-radar campaign to get Kensi to duet with her. It's sneaky and evil and it totally works. Kensi loves Nell and they do brave things together and she's a liiittle bit tipsy and so, fine, she will get up and sing Pat Benatar and flip her hair and shake her butt. The crowd loves them and Kensi returns to the table flush with adrenaline and just a touch of why-did-stupid-Deeks-have-to-see-that-I-will-never-live-this-down embarrassment. He gets an (admittedly undeserved) glare for his enthusiastic applause, and Kensi gets another drink.

Despite constant goading, Deeks waits until later in the night to go up. Somehow he acquires a guitar, and ignores the karaoke business altogether in favour of pretending he's at an open mic night. He even finds a stool to perch on, and Kensi rolls her eyes so hard they could fall out of her head, though secretly she's insanely curious as to what he'll sing.

Looking down, Deeks strums out a few slow chords and begins to sing. Right away Kensi's stomach seems to flip over, and she presses a hand to the spot as she listens to the voice she knows so well. It sounds so familiar but so different; she feels it surround her and fill the cavity inside her chest. Halfway through the song, Deeks looks up and their eyes meet. Kensi holds his gaze for a moment and then looks down at the floor. She drops her hand and grips her chair on either side of her legs. Schooling her face, she tries to just look normal until the song ends.

She claps when it's over, smiling into nothing as Deeks returns to their little table. Eric stands up to give him a man-hug and Nell raises a hand for a high-five. When he sits back down next to her, Kensi flashes a smile his way and says, "Not bad, Deeks."

He nods, only half smiling.

Kensi spends the rest of the night pretending he doesn't exist and the shot glass is her best friend.

Next: In short, Kensi gets wasted.