ACROSS THE UNIVERSE - A Petrigrof AU! (Simon Petrikov x Betty Grof)

Something about this guy...

Knock.

Knock.

Knock.

This was the sound of Simon knocking on his own bathroom door to practice how he'd knock on Betty's door. It had to be just right, just like how—in his opinion—everything else about himself was just right about his own appearance. He'd spent hours in the mirror styling his hair just right, picking out the right clothes, making sure he smelt decent.

He turned to face the mirror and winked at his reflection. "Lookin' fresh, Simon. You've still got it." He said, and he meant it wholeheartedly. He hadn't felt this attractive in years.

Just then, he looked down at his watch and noticed the time... 6:47. He was going to be late! How had he let the time pass him by? He quickly grabbed his keys and speed walked to his car.

**BETTY POV**

Betty was at her house, impatiently awaiting Simon's arrival with her friend Babette. She'd spent the whole day talking all about this Simon guy she'd just met. She kept insisting that there was 'Just something different about him,' but Babette wasn't buying it.

"You don't know what his intentions are." She said, crossing her arms firmly. "What if he takes you back to his place and harvests your organs? Or worse, what if he's just in it for the clout?"

"You don't know him like I do!" Betty retorted, to which Babette pointed out that Betty didn't know him at all.

"There's just—" Betty started.

"...Something about him, I know." Babette finished.

**READER POV**

Simon knocked on Betty's door at exactly 7:00 sharp, yet was surprised at how fast she'd opened the door. It was almost like she'd been waiting behind the door, which was technically what he'd been doing, so he was in no place to judge...if that were the case.

There in the doorway stood Betty, all fancied up for her date, with a scowling Babette behind her.

"Hi Betty! Hello Ba... Betty's friend." Simon choked a bit on the last part of his sentence to stop himself from calling Babette by her name. How would he explain how he'd known her name...?

"Are you ready to go?" Simon asked, holding out his hand for Betty to take like a gentleman.

"Of course! See you later, Babs!" Betty said, waving at Babette while taking Simon's hand.

"Don't come crying to me when you get your organs harvested." Babette yelled after Betty in a half joking way as she closed the door behind her.

_______________

The karaoke club was colorful and full of drunk people. Not exactly Simon's scene, but he was happy to be anywhere so long as Betty was by his side.

Betty held Simon's hand every time she had the chance. The club was more lively than most karaoke clubs, especially since there had been rumors that Betty would be there tonight. Surprisingly no one had come up to her and asked for an autograph... yet.

"So," Betty said as she crossed her legs and leaned on the bar counter. "I assume you already know enough about me, so tell me about yourself. What brought you to my show?"

"I uh... love your music? And I'm your biggest fan." Simon replied, not sounding quite convinced of his own lie. Betty's music wasn't exactly for him, but she didn't need to know that.

"Is that so?" Betty questioned, not sounding convinced herself. After a few seconds she added on, "Well, not that I necessarily doubt that someone... like you would enjoy my music, I'm confident that I make good stuff. It's just that you're not... exactly..."

She looked Simon up and down...

"My usual demographic. It's usually just teenagers, only time I see someone who's around your age at my shows is when they're there with their kids."

"Well... w-what can I say, I've got a... uh... young spirit....?" Simon said, smiling nervously.

Betty stared for a few seconds, causing Simon's heartbeat to quicken. He was sure that if his terrible lying skills didn't give him away, the sound of his loudly beating heart would.

"...Well, I like a guy who's in touch with his inner child!" Betty finally said, smiling warmly at Simon, completely oblivious to his anxious state.

The two ordered drinks and talked, well, mostly Betty talked. She felt very comfortable around Simon for reasons she couldn't comprehend, while Simon was mostly just nervous. He had to choose his words very carefully, lest he say something that would make Betty think he's insane.

A few more shots later, Simon was starting to feel himself loosen up, but before he could say anything he would regret later Betty interrupted him.

"Look! It's... *hic* one of my songs!" Betty said, pointing at the big screen that showed what song would be played next. "And no one's on stage... now is our chance!"

Before Simon could object, and before he even knew it, Betty pulled him up on stage in front of a crowd. There were so many eyes on him—which wasn't normally something that would make him nervous, but he was about to sing a song with an idol, and in truth he didn't know any of her songs by heart.

Then, the song started. The tune was... familiar, it was one he'd recognize anywhere.

It was everything in you.

In this universe, Betty must've written the song. It made sense.

The two sang together, both knowing the song by heart. One because of his tragic past, and the other because she wrote it herself. A crowd of Betty's drunk fans gathered around the two and sang along.

When the song was over, Betty pulled Simon away before the crowd could get them.

"That was... amazing. You're very talented!" Simon said, though he couldn't help but feel bittersweet after singing that song with Betty, something he thought he'd never get to do again.

"You're not too bad yourself!" Betty replied with a smile. "But I think we should head home now. It's getting late and I'm... like, really d...drunk." Just as she finished her sentence she stumbled forward into Simon's arms.

"Yeah, I'll say..." Simon snickered, quiet enough that Betty didn't hear. "Let's get you back home."

Simon walked Betty to his car and opened the door for her like a gentleman. "I've never had someone open a car door for me." She said, but she wasn't complaining.

"Never?" Simon asked, though he was more worried about the fact that he'd be driving drunk in a minute.

"Not even once! You'd think that with all the fancy limousines I've been in someone woulda... wait, no, someone has. I just remembered."

"Betty, I think you... may have had one too many."

"Mmmm yyyeaaahh, I know..." Betty slurred, slumping back in her seat. "I feel like I'm floatin'..."

"I can tell." Simon replied, leaning over and fastening Betty's seatbelt for her.

Simon drove Betty home, but when he got to her house she was asleep in the back of his car.

"Betty. Wake up, dear." He said, covering his mouth promptly after calling her 'dear.' It was an accident. At least she wasn't awake to hear it. "Curse you, drunk mouth..."

After a few minutes of unsuccessfully trying to wake his date up, he gave up and got back in the car. Was she really that drunk that she'd passed out? Or was she just tired?

Either way, he did what he thought was the next most logical thing...

...And took the sleeping woman back to his house.