#26 + shelsey (“I didn’t intend to kiss you.”) or really any rarebuzzships that inspire you if you prefer!
(I finally watched the new Puppet History and got inspired! I checked @rarebuzzships for a name for this ship and failed to find it! Maybe Kahane? Shate? I don't know...but here it is)
"Woooow! This is so cool!" Kate Peterman breathes as she walks around the little 'studio' Shane set up to film Puppet History. Shane follows after her, lazy grin on his face, "Well, thank you kindly."
"Look, look, look!" she chirps in her excitement, "It's the little stage! The little curtain!"
"They are, indeed, little." He can't help but chuckle at her enthusiasm as she gingerly touches the curtain, runs one light hand over the counter he set as the stage.
"I can't believe I'm getting to see this in person!"
"Well, I figured as a many times returning champ, you deserved the honors..."
"Whoa," Kate breathes as she sees the stick puppets he has set to one side. The paper cut outs are sturdier than she would have thought and the details up close are so striking. She picks up the puppet of Jeanne De La Motte Valois and fancifully twirls it, much to Shane's amusement.
She hides her smile behind it - equal parts shy and, should he hazard, flirty? Probably not, but still...it's a nice thought.
And then that's when she sees it.
With a shocked squeal of glee, she runs up to the fuzzy blue puppet, The Professor, where he rests on his seat of honor. He has his own spot, aside from everything else, because of his inherent value to the show and Kate's eyes are wide with awe, "Oh MY gosh! The Professor!"
"Yup," Shane can't help but sound proud as he picks the puppet up and slips it on to one hand, easily channeling into the character as he directs it towards her, "Wellllll! If it isn't the lovely Kate Peterman!"
Kate blushes and twists about where she stands, giggling and clapping her hands, "Hello Professor!"
"And how is my best student today?"
"I don't know if I'm your best student," she demurs, "But I AM doing well. It's nice to finally meet you in person! Or-or in puppet?"
The added question makes Shane's heart thump a little harder, his own cheeks coloring as he clears his throat, "Either is fine, dear."
"Oh! I, ha-!" her whole demeanor becomes even more girlish with the endearment and she does a little hop before saying, 'Okay, I can't help myself!' and she veers towards the puppet, giving it a tiny kiss on the cheek.
Shane can feel the heat of her lips even through the puppet's blue fur and his voice breaks a little as he tries to re-center himself, keep the bit going, "My, my, my Kate! Trying to become Teacher's Pet, are we?"
"Maybe," she flutters her eyelashes and The Professor's little head shakes, "Still - not very appropriate! Don't want to get reported to the Puppet School Board!"
Kate bursts into delighted chuckles, head tossing back, and Shane repeats her 'Okay, I can't help myself!' in a little murmur and he goes to kiss her cheek.
To kiss her cheek.
Unfortunately when Kate's head comes back up, Shane's trajectory is off and he kisses her on the lips. It's a little kiss - a very, very quick one. But it's enough to suck all the levity out of the room.
Kate's eyes are wide, stunned, and Shane has the same look - sleepy eyes very much wakeful as he licks his lips and says, "Ahhhh...um, that-that wasn't-wasn't what I meant..."
Kate just stares at him.
He stares back.
Finally, in a quiet voice, she asks, "What did you mean?"
"I..." Shane looks at her and he still has the friggin' puppet on his hand. He carefully takes it off, returns it to where it normally rests before running one hand through his hair, "Uh, well, I mean..."
"I..." she looks away and then back, before softly confessing, "I wouldn't mind it."
Shane wipes sweaty palms along his jeans as her eyes lock with his, "If you...meant it. I wouldn't mind...that."
The 'that' while undefined, seems pretty obvious to Shane as he hovers over her, eyeing her mouth, "You wouldn't, huh?"
She shakes her head and breathes a 'no' even as he lowers his head, kisses her again. Another soft, sweet, light kiss. Nothing serious, nothing deep. But - once given - it's as if a red flag has been thrown and with it, Kate moves into action.
She leaps a little on her feet again, arms wrapping around Shane's neck and tugging him down for a much deeper, much more passionate kiss. One he heartily returns.












