#a premontion of love

[gothsuguru]

suguru fucking reader in front of sukuna? 🤔

this was in my drafts and i forgot if this was supposed to be a Drabble or if you just wanted my thoughts so i will be giving my thoughts i hope you don’t mind :3 (i don’t think the person who sent this is even reading this rn but if you are thank you for indulging in my sugukuna antics 🤭)

first of all. RAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I LOOOOOOOOOOOVE THE IDEA OF THIS IN AN AU OF “PREMONITION OF LOVE” (i really need to get back to this story and start writing it 😭) thank you for indulging in me i know you saw my sugusukusatoreader snippets

but omfg…….. yes…….. i think it’s in sukuna’s nature to constantly rile up those around him and suguru CERTAINLY is no exception <3 i think sukuna also deeeeeeep down doesn’t know if his feelings for reader (and in turn suguru) are something that’s True or if he’s just horny so he does what he does best . push sugu’s buttons and throw himself all over you

i’m talking feeding you delicious desserts at his pastry shop, wiping off the frosting from your lips and licking it off his fingers, putting his arms around your shoulders etc… all while making FERVENT eye contact w suguru. it’s funny bc suguru & sukuna both know you’re just taking it as sukie being friendly but sugu is soooooooo perceptive and he sees through sukuna’s charade…….

at the end of the day sukuna is a brat (a spoiled disrespectful one at that and suguru believes that sukuna needs to be punished for it for flirting w his girlfriend)

what better way to do that than get up and put his arms around both your and sukuna’s waists? sukie freezes for once in his life and you’re just melting into sugu who looks at you so softly, and then he gazes at sukuna and sukuna sees the fire blazing in suguru’s eyes (is it anger or desire or a bit of both? no one knows…)

under the guise of just hanging out suguru brings both of you back to his apartment and he takes BOTH of your & sukie’s hands and brings y’all to the bedroom………… now you don’t know that freaky shit is abt to go down but you certainly aren’t mad at the Vibes rn like……… being in a room w two bad bitches? a win for reader fr <3

but sugu gets out his kinky handcuffs and twirls them around his finger and smirks at you both…….. you think sugu’s gonna cuff you and sukuna thinks the same and he’s excited, “you’re real fuckin’ kinky geto, you want us to cuff her and fuck her together?”

suguru just gives sukuna his Practiced Smile and just wants to slap the smirk of sukuna’s face.

so he does that.

sukie and you both look at suguru in shock and before sukuna knows it, he’s being pushed down on the loveseat near the bed and being cuffed behind his back. suguru quietly brings one of your panties (hidden ones he keeps in his drawers… sugu you PERV… and stuffs it in sukuna’s mouth.)

suguru lightly applies pressure on sukuna’s dick with his foot, essentially stepping on it while telling him to “be a good boy and pay attention, hmm ryomen?”

and he takes you on the bed while sukuna is breathing heavily and moaning… he so badly wants to get up and join… maybe even be put in his place by suguru… sukuna doesn’t know what he’s feeling he’s never felt this way before so he’s both Hard and Confused and Horny :3

(yeah basically :3 okay wait this is giving me ideas………. lmk if you want a continuation of this NDNDNDNDND)

[last-night-is-a-blur]

Edited.

Sooo

If we ignore the comics, what kind of powers would you give the Charmed One's children?

Chris and Wyatt's powers have already been confirmed in the show, but what about the others?

I have 3 versions in mind

Nr 1

PJ would have telekinesis, parker cryokinesis (just to shake things up. in my head it is a "mutation" of molecular immobilization), and Peyton molecular immobilization. PJ would eventually develope levitation as an extention of her telekinetic powers, which would then develope into full scale flight. As half cupids, they also have a sixth sense regarding love. Not real empathy, but more like a strong and accurate intuition.

The twins have have molecular immobilization and combustion respectively, like in the comics, and orbing, but not telekinetic orbing, since I hc that only whitelighter-witches who were supposed to inherit telekinesis as as their active power, possess telekinetic orbing.

Henry Jr. is adopted like in the comics. He is a witch practioner, and/or gains a some kind of magical talisman at some point. Or he just gets a job at some bar or store for magical beings and keeps his family informed and helps them get access of magical supplies they might need.

Melinda I would give premontions. Eventually she would develope empathy as well, and after some time it would get to the point where she could use psychic reflection, like Phoebe did in "Morality Bites", though it would take many years before she could inflict nearly as much damage as Phoebe did in that episode. Instead Melinda would just use that power to momentarily distract her enemy by inflicting them with an wave of emotions intense enough to briefly catch someone off guard. Later on she would either develope astral projection naturally or learn it. I go back and fourth between deciding if she should ever become powerful enough to use her active powers while astral projecting. She would have no whitelighter powers.

Nr. 2

Everyone is the same as in scenario 1, except Melinda and Henry jr.

Henry jr. isn't adopted, and has orbing (but not telekinetic orbing, for the same reason as the twins) and premonitions. I feel like it's a power that is normally associotiated more with women, so giving it to one of the boys would be cool. Eventually he would develope astral projection. Not just astral visions, but also astral projection, like Prue (i know it was an extention of telekinesis in prue's case, but imo it could also be an extention of premontions, since premonitions could be considered projecting your mind through time and space and we have seen Phoebe have astral visions).

Melinda would have telekinesis and eventually develope astral projection.

Nr. 3

The twins have premonition. One of them sees the future, the other the past, and they both can see the present. One developes empathy, the other astral projection.

Henry jr. is adopted and a mortal, while Melinda has molecular immobilization and combustion.

The cupid-witches are the same as in the other scenarios.

[aggresivelyfriendly]

Angry Hada Kiss-Request

This clearly ran away with me! I imagine this is right before a theoretical second tour and about a year after Hada kissed for the first time. A couple years after the event of Tryst!

"How long were you with her?" Ada was seething. She was sure that if Harry wasn't floating on how excited he was about his tour and how it was coming together he would have noticed she was boiling. But he'd been boyishly excited. She almost felt guilty to ruin his mood. Almost.

He should have told her. It wasn't a lie, just an omission. It was impossible to ride his high with him after she realized.

Ada had been captivated too, when he'd told her his ideas for the staging. Still stripped back and musically focused, but with sentimental nuggets and images, she'd whole heartedly loved the idea. When the images started arriving, they'd spent hours pouring over them. The new album was less melancholic, he was happier. She'd felt a bit responsible for that. Felt warm all over about it; she could take some credit. They'd had a whirlwind year after the movie came out. They weren't living together, but they might as well have been. Things were good, she believed that.

She had nothing to worry about, right? So why didn't he tell her? Anytime between his request and now.

"Hey, we have a stage rehearsal, tomorrow, and I think my, like, tour family, will all be there," He'd pinked up in the way she loved he still did. Like she didn't know he was soft and lovely most places, but not in the dark. "Would you come with me, meet everybody? See the ideas realized. Tell me what you think, honestly?"

She'd been afterglowing on their morning lie in, in a silly mood. "Oh, am I known for sparing your feelings, Styles?"

He burst a laugh, "no, I suppose not." He took her hand. "But I value your opinion. And I want it to be great. And you have an eye and experience." She nodded, kissed his earnest nose, where it curved down when he talked. She loved that little nuance of him. She kinda wanted to punch him in his wiggly nose right now, hours later. She felt like there were a few other details he should have given her before they'd arrived.

That somebody else she'd have to meet, that he'd be around everyday, knew what he looked like across a pillow.

Ada would not have gone then though, maybe he knew that. She might have missed it. It had all been gorgeous and everybody lovely.

Speaking of lovely, the spritely little photographer hadn't registered immediately on Ada's relationship radar. They'd shaken hands, kissed cheeks, while Harry was engaged, no red flag widening of eyes on, what was her name, when they'd been introduced. She cast her mind back to and hour ago. Until Harry was oh so helpful.

"Helene?" Harry responded and that was what had peaked her interest. She wasn't the only small blonde. They were in LA after all.

It wasn't just the way Helene went from tiny and adorable to suddenly sexy when Harry was nearby. She hadn't done anything. Nothing discernible, really, but Ada read people, something about being the only black girl in most rooms, you learned who to talk to, avoid.  Helene, as Harry had helpfully supplied, had pouted her lips, jutted a hip, minutely.

And Harry. He'd been Harry, warm and lovely and affectionate. The touch, though, had been familiar. Lingered one second to long.

And his eyes had closed when they hugged.

That's when Ada had known.

He closed his eyes. The way she caught him doing in the mirror when they hugged, Ada and Harry. What did that mean? What were their feelings? Repressed? Explored? Rejected? All the things she didn't know were what made her madder and madder, more alarmingly insecure on the way home.

Could two women be more different?

"Yes Helene!" She huffed and threw her jacket and the Gucci purse he'd given her, that she sorta liked, on the floor. "But thanks for confirming!"

"Why are you upset?" She whirled on him and he looked sincerely confused.

"Because you've fucked her!" Her hands flashed up to her chin level where her shoulders were. His reaction would confirm or deny.

"Ada," he hesitated. Bingo! Her anger could be hot, it would flare then disappear, unless it was fanned. He was tiptoeing, it pissed her off. "Smokes!"

"Don't!" She warned.

"You know I wasn't a virgin when we got together babe, you know where I've been."

She figured he meant his fluidity, but in this case, specificity was the problem. "No, I actually don't! Which is the fucking problem! I know you fucked any willing tall, blonde groupie that one year, and a couple boys for your trouble. And your exes, Camille." Harry winced. She knew he could have loved that one. "Weren't you with her on tour? I didn't think you were a cheater."

He caught her hands, came close. "I didn't cheat, she wanted it open. That's not fair, Ada, what are you really mad about here? I'm lost. That I've had sex before? That I slept with two women concurrently, with their knowledge? That you had to meet a person from my past? You know Kendall already."

Fucking Kendall, Ada didn't love that they were around each other so much. Fuck, she didn't know she was such a jealous person, maybe she usually didn't give a fuck.

"I'm livid that you didn't respect me enough to give me a heads up that you were fucking your photographer before I had to meet her!" She pushed his hand away and he went to re-establish the connection but she balled her fist.

"Ada! I don't, it wasn't a relationship, I didn....how'd you even know?"

"Oh fuck you Styles! You meant to hide it?" She went to push him and grabbed his shirt instead.

"No, no, no, no!" He repeated over and over. "I didn't, I don't, I just didn't think about it! I've told you about my relationships, all of them." He looked scared and she softened just a touch. "I guess, because it was just a few times..."

"Harry, she may not have been a girlfriend, but you'll be with her all the time, on tour, and you fell into something before, and I feel...." she searched for the word. Scared. "Disrespected."

"I," he reached for her, lost like her, needing connection,  and she went to him this time. Anger still simmering. "I can see that, and I'm sorry. I just...you've nothing to worry about, Smokes, I love you. I love you so." He said it against her mouth, and she went banked, coals in a grate, the heat into his mouth, her breath still huffed. Even the kiss he graced her with wasn't enough to extinguish her fire. Her worry.

The kiss was soft, a press of his gorgeous omitting mouth to hers. All full lipped and minted breath. Tentative, he kissed, provided the gentle suction she loved on her top lip, bottom lip, then top again before his tongue slide against her own to tangle and distract.

He gave her a cursory gentle nip, on the third retreat and parry and that was it. She bit him back and grabbed his hair, missing the slightly longer locks he had just sheared. They would be good to pull. She yanked his neck back, and he rolled his eyes down to her, gentled his neck. Ada guided him down, not so gentle pressure on his neck. Harry went easy to his knees, kissed hers, then her thighs, between, as penance. Asked forgiveness with his eyes and gentle neck, obedience. "Lick me!" And he'd done until she said "stop!"

But it wasn't enough. Even when he let her tie him down, showed his belly and his ass in contrition. The marks on his ass felt right, he pinked up in a way she didn't.

It was an occasional reversal they played in. But it was more common after Ada met Helene, because she couldn't stop asking herself whether the photographer wasn't mentioned because she didn't matter, or because she did.

[decaffeinatedcatastrope]

@silverryu25​ long stufffff ~ thank goodness readmores work now!

Regarding Calibri punching people that deserve it:  Yeahhh thank goodness she has really good control of her intents.  It’s her philosophy that “you can’t learn a lesson if you’re dead”.  Most of the rumors of her killing random citizens are just that; rumors.  Now, maiming random citizens...

Regarding Cali growing up without her village full of skeletons:  Honestly, Calibri wasn’t all that effected by losing her village and family at such a young age.  Yeah, she was kinda sad when her bearer fell down, but she knew it was going to happen.  Not everyone died, some of them were like “wait isn’t she right most of the time?  shit we should probably leave.”  So she has some cousins around somewhere.

She was...kind of a weird, scary child, even before her village went up in flames xD Having the abilities for Judgment and Premontion aren’t...it’s not a good combination.  She’d often go around and knock on random people’s doors and just tell them straight up weird shit.  “OH, HELLO DEAR~” “hi.  stop cheating on Baskerville.”  “WH-WHAT.”  “and don’t eat your second bowl of soup tomorrow if you do not wish to die.  bye.”  “WHAT JUST.  WHAT.”

Its part of the reason why no one wanted to believe her when she predicted that the village was going to be attacked.  She was weird.

Regarding Vivaldi’s half-adoption of her:  Vivaldi was not prepared to be a dad, lmao.  Especially not to Cali xD He was still kinda mourning his brother and then Asgore’s mother basically dumped this smol orphaned skelechild into his giant treetrunk arms and said she’s to be the next judge, prepare her for it.  

And he’s just like wtf.  I didn’t sign up for this.  He was so worried she was going to destroy his books or break his baubles or something.  But she showed great respect for all the shiny things he collected and the memories they held for him.  He was really quite proud of her, even after her first Judgment, when she broke down pretty hard but managed to stay strong.  He never failed to let her know just how proud he was at her restraint.  

He definitely helped her stop being so weird and antisocial with non-skeleton monsters, and taught her blue magic and how to find enjoyment in the small things in life.  He told her to never hide herself, and that it’s not weak to ask for help.  Please child, never hide yourself if you are hurting.  

He also was very adamant that you do not punch they royal family.  Child stop.

Regarding her fears that she’ll lose herself to the LV and end up like Tempus did: 

I never said Storm the Sorrow took place in the UT universe.  :3c  Just that it’s set a long time before UT ever takes place.  

There will be a breaking point.

As for her LV, she refuses to let any of the guard take on EXP for any reason.  She wants them to go home to their families with light souls and bright smiles.  She takes that burden upon herself, if there is need for such force.  And as much as everyone would like to live in peace, there are still scuffles and skirmishes between the town and some human towns.  There are always thieves and bandits.   There are always reports of monsters going missing and their employers are to blame. It’s an era of uncertainty and strife. 

Think like, Skyrim levels of bullshit that she has to deal with.

Regarding meeting Toriel:

xD Yes, Calibri was very curious about the weird fuzzy monsters when her bearer brought her to the palace in a panic over the village.  She’d never seen any other non-skeleton monsters before.  Or humans.  She was very sheltered.  

The easiest way to Calibri’s heart:  standing up to her.  xD Tori was not having it when this strange little monster Vivaldi set down in the grass made a beeline to her from across the courtyard and immediately started touching her face.  Cali was like whoa she threatened me.  i like her.  Also Toriel is really soft and fuzzy so like.  Cali couldn’t stop touching her face.  It was kind of awkward.  (She basically did the same thing to Asgore when they first met but he just giggled)

And thank you for the compliment!  I’ve never drawn the goat family before so I needed to practice xD I’m honestly very happy with her!

Regarding punching Asgore:

They’d met before this point, she didn’t outright punch him when the first met.  But she’d kind of attached herself to Toriel’s hip at this point and little bab Asgore was a little jealous because he thought Cali was going to steal his betrothed.  And that she was a boy.  

He learned real quick not to assume.  Also, bones hurt.  Especially when they’re socking you in the nose.

Calibri felt kind of bad for making him cry, especially when he tried so hard to make up for it.  Like, he talked to Tori and then demanded his mother buy Calibri some properly fitted Ladies attire because if she was reacting like that he could only conclude that he wasn’t the only one to make that mistake.  Vivaldi could never make that mistake, so he just dressed her traditionally, and he just kind of forgot that other monsters don’t automatically know and it’s really hard to tell with baby bones.  A lot of skeletons don’t care, but like, Cali was absolutely appalled because her whole life everyone knew and suddenly everyone around her was very stupid xD

So basically Cali was horribly spoiled after that and she loved it.  

And yes, Asgore, Toriel, and Calibri are...really close.  <w<’’  When the two boss monsters started getting all lovey dovey, Calibri kind of had to shove her blatantly obvious crush on Tori under the rug so they wouldn’t feel bad.  Like, do your thing you two, I’ll be over here.  Guarding the door.  Not listening at all.

But they weren’t going to let her feel left out, either.

The three of them were basically inseparable, but Cali always kind of felt like a third wheel and as her LV grew, she started separating herself from them more.  By the time her and Gaster meet, she’s pretty estranged from them, although they’re not shy about welcoming her back if she needs them.  Sometimes she sneaks into their wing for cuddles at like 4am.

After she and Gaster started talking more she started getting that warm fuzzy feeling she once had for Toriel.  xD And she’s absolutely terrified, but couldn’t be happier?  Calibri was confused.

Gaster meanwhile had been living at the palace for a few years by then, on an invite that he’d been recognized for his infallible memory and with the passing of Archivist Vivaldi they would love to train him to be the new Archivist.  

He’d been totally shocked to see another skeleton monster in the court, even if she was twisted by LV and soul-shatteringly terrifying.  

Pretty much from the moment Asgore and Toriel met Gaster, they started shipping him with Cali.  And Cali fucking hated it.  

“are you kidding me, he’s a toothpick, if i breathe on him he will die let alone bed him, and i will NOT have that on my conscience!”

[ao3feed-vegebul]

by Bloodpatternblue

Vegeta always knew he was different. Fate had always led him through life, along with visions of the future. The feeling of being pulled to the new democratic country of Hudae, every day, until finally his travels lead him to the city of Kalie, where he meets an accomplished sorcerer who leads and entire army. "That moment you had me pushed against that dirt, I knew I was born to challenge you" Vegeta Purred. A/U set in ancient times, magic, fate, Gods and love. NO OCC.

Words: 19679, Chapters: 3/3, Language: English

Series: Part 1 of Premontions

Fandoms: Dragon Ball

Rating: Mature

Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Categories: F/M

Characters: Vegeta (Dragon Ball), Bulma Briefs, Android 18 (Dragon Ball)

Relationships: Bulma Briefs/Vegeta

Additional Tags: Historical Fantasy, Dragon Ball Multiverse, Alternate Universe - Fantasy, Alternate Universe - Historical, Alternate Universe - Human, Action & Romance, Vegeta being Vegeta (Dragon Ball), Awesome Bulma Briefs, bulma vegeta alternate universe, Alternate universe Dragon Ball Z

[nightmaretheif]

So this is my Picture for Pride ~ Love is always Love ~ ♡ You are Valid regardless is out and proud or safe and closested we love you, and you are safe here, all the time ~☆~☆~☆~☆ I used my Hurt Hero Babs Azriel and Toya. They are not from the same univurse (yet) but both have very tragic backgrounds and managed to turn, what was ment to be their future, into a giant fuck you to become the Heros they are today. Azriel needs more work on her, i know for a fact her and Toya would be besties, because Azriel littraly has no friends xD She was originally made to be in the XMen Vurse but now shes a stand alone oc, seen as she not realy a mutant, but is the child bettween Lucifer and Lilith, but was adopted at birth when Gabriel tock her thanks to The Fathers Word. Toya was treated like a devil child by her parents and was sent to a secret goverment run facility that premonted to cure those with Quirks, but imstead where turning them into goverment weapons. Hence why Toya has alot of problems controlling her Quirk and why she can occasionaly be seen to be emotionaly distraught Art (c) Nightmaretheif #pride2022🏳️‍🌈 #pridemonth #loveislove #youareenough #youarevalid #ocs #pansexual #lesbian #angel #demon #fanoc #bokunoheroacademiafanoc #myheroacademiafanoc #digitalart https://www.instagram.com/p/CekImpXoJ7N6jtqUbPtGpDzfEuWsBh_KoJnr4Q0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[compneuropapers]

Interesting Papers for Week 25, 2018

Deficits in temporal processing in mice prenatally exposed to Valproic Acid. Acosta, J., Campolongo, M. A., Höcht, C., Depino, A. M., Golombek, D. A., & Agostino, P. V. (2018). European Journal of Neuroscience, 47(6), 619–630.

Positive effects of neurofeedback on autism symptoms correlate with brain activation during imitation and observation. Datko, M., Pineda, J. A., & Müller, R.-A. (2018). European Journal of Neuroscience, 47(6), 579–591.

Psychopaths fail to automatically take the perspective of others. Drayton, L. A., Santos, L. R., & Baskin-Sommers, A. (2018). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 115(13), 3302–3307.

Strategy Selection Versus Strategy Blending: A Predictive Perspective on Single- and Multi-Strategy Accounts in Multiple-Cue Estimation. Herzog, S. M., & von Helversen, B. (2018). Journal of Behavioral Decision Making, 31(2), 233–249.

Reduced reward-related neural response to mimicry in individuals with autism. Hsu, C.-T., Neufeld, J., & Chakrabarti, B. (2018). European Journal of Neuroscience, 47(6), 610–618.

Auditory noise increases the allocation of attention to the mouth, and the eyes pay the price: An eye-tracking study. Król, M. E. (2018). PLOS ONE, 13(3), e0194491.

Avian learning favors colorful, not bright, signals. Lawrence, J. P., & Noonan, B. P. (2018). PLOS ONE, 13(3), e0194279.

What is the time course of working memory attentional refreshing? Lemaire, B., Pageot, A., Plancher, G., & Portrat, S. (2018). Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 25(1), 370–385.

Learning of hierarchical serial patterns emerges in infancy. Lewkowicz, D. J., Schmuckler, M. A., & Mangalindan, D. M. J. (2018). Developmental Psychobiology, 60(3), 243–255.

The anchoring bias reflects rational use of cognitive resources. Lieder, F., Griffiths, T. L., M. Huys, Q. J., & Goodman, N. D. (2018). Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 25(1), 322–349.

Atypical brain responses to auditory spatial cues in adults with autism spectrum disorder. Lodhia, V., Hautus, M. J., Johnson, B. W., & Brock, J. (2018). European Journal of Neuroscience, 47(6), 682–689.

GIT1 regulates synaptic structural plasticity underlying learning. Martyn, A. C., Toth, K., Schmalzigaug, R., Hedrick, N. G., Rodriguiz, R. M., Yasuda, R., … Premont, R. T. (2018). PLOS ONE, 13(3), e0194350.

Learning from one’s own errors and those of others. Metcalfe, J., & Xu, J. (2018). Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 25(1), 402–408.

Shared neural coding for social hierarchy and reward value in primate amygdala. Munuera, J., Rigotti, M., & Salzman, C. D. (2018). Nature Neuroscience, 21(3), 415–423.

Activity-dependent plasticity of presynaptic GABAB receptors at parallel fiber synapses. Orts-Del’Immagine, A., & Pugh, J. R. (2018). Synapse, 72(5), e22027.

Bats without borders: Predators learn novel prey cues from other predatory species. Patriquin, K. J., Kohles, J. E., Page, R. A., & Ratcliffe, J. M. (2018). Science Advances, 4(3), eaaq0579.

Insular cortex mediates approach and avoidance responses to social affective stimuli. Rogers-Carter, M. M., Varela, J. A., Gribbons, K. B., Pierce, A. F., McGoey, M. T., Ritchey, M., & Christianson, J. P. (2018). Nature Neuroscience, 21(3), 404–414.

Distributed representations of action sequences in anterior cingulate cortex: A recurrent neural network approach. Shahnazian, D., & Holroyd, C. B. (2018). Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 25(1), 302–321.

Causal Reasoning Under Ambiguity: An Illustration of Modeling Mixture Strategies. Shou, Y., & Smithson, M. (2018). Journal of Behavioral Decision Making, 31(2), 219–232.

Bayesian inference for psychology. Part II: Example applications with JASP. Wagenmakers, E.-J., Love, J., Marsman, M., Jamil, T., Ly, A., Verhagen, J., … Morey, R. D. (2018). Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 25(1), 58–76.

[bamby0304]

The Hart: Chapter One

Summary:  When Lizzie was just a few months old, she lost her father. Fifteen years later she lost her mother, and then her sister. Now in her early twenties Lizzie spends her days and nights hunting things and saving people. When the Winchesters meet the bright eyed and bubbly blonde they don’t realise what they’re in for… and neither does she…

Part Sixteen: God’s Will

Masterlist

Warnings: Back to nothin’, sorry...

Bamby

EPOV

"So you're interested in joining the parish?" Father Reynolds asked as we followed him into the church.

"Yeah, we just don't feel right unless we hit church every Sunday." Dean answered, sounding a little too casual.

Father Reynolds nodded. "Where did you say you lived?"

"Premont, Texas." Dean told him. Sam agreed next to him.

"Really?" Father Reynolds came to a stop and turned to us. "That's a nice town. St. Theresa's Parish. You must know the priest there."

Sam was stumped, but Dean was right there, answering with confidence even though he was wrong. "Sure, Father O'Malley."

I laughed, pressing a hand to his arm as I shook my head. "Excuse my boyfriend, he's a bit of a jokester. Father Shaughnessy found it amusing, though it took some time."

The look Dean gave me at the word boyfriend did not go unmissed by me. I usually used Sam as my pretend boyfriend or fiance or whatever, but this time was different, and Dean couldn't quite hide how he was feeling about that fact. The slight cocky grin lifting at the corner of his lips. The amused glint in his eyes. He was pleased with himself.

"Father Shaughnessy." Father Reynolds nodded. "I know him well."

My smile widened. "Then perhaps the next time you see him... could you tell him he's in the prayers of Elizabeth Hart?"

"Of course." Father Reynolds gave a nod, a small smile of his own on his lips. "You'll all be a welcome addition. We could use some young blood around here."

"Listen, I gotta ask you, no offence, but the neighbourhood..." Dean shrugged, leaving the sentence unfinished, knowing the priest knew what he meant.

"It's gone to seed a little, there's no denying that. But that why what the church does here is so important. Like I always say, you can expect a miracle, but in the meantime, you work your butt off."

"So true, Father." I nodded. "Though... we heard about some murders."

"Yes." Father Reynolds's face fell as he spoke. "The victims were parishioners of mine. I'd known them for years."

"And the killers said that an angel made them do that?" Sam asked.

"Yes. Misguided souls." Father Reynolds shook his head in disappointment. "To think that God's messenger would appear, incite people to murder. It's tragic."

"So, you don't believe in those angel yarns, huh?" Dean looked a little pleased to see someone agreed with him.

But Father Reynolds was quick to correct. "Oh, no, I absolutely believe. Kind of goes with the job application." he pointed to his collar.

"Father, that's Michael, right?" Sam gestured to a painting on the high walls of the church.

"That's right." Father Reynolds nodded. "The Archangel Michael with the flaming sword. A fighter of demons. And a holy force against evil."

As we all turned away from the painting, Sam spoke again. "So they're not really the Hallmark-card version that everybody thinks? They're fierce, right? Vigilant."

"I like to think of them as more loving than wrathful. But, uh, yes, a lot of Scripture paints angels as God's warriors. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, glory of the Lord shone down upon them-"

"And they were terrified." I finished. "Luke 2:9."

Father Reynolds turned to me again, smiling lightly, pleased with my response. "Exactly."

DPOV

As we walked out of the church, Sam and Liz stood either side of Father Reynolds while I stayed back. I was confused. How the hell did Liz know all of that stuff about angels, and the bible? How did she know Father Reynolds from Texas? As I wondered I noticed some candles and flowers by the steps of the church. It was like a shrine.

"Thank you for speaking with us, Father." Sam nodded to Father Reynolds.

"It's my pleasure. Hope to see you again."

Before he could leave, I stopped him. "Hey, Father, what's all that for?" I gestured to the shrine.

"Oh. That's for Father Gregory. He was a priest here."

"Was?"

"He passed away right on these steps. He's interred in the church crypt."

"I'm so sorry for your loss." Liz laid a gentle hand on Father Reynolds's arm. "When did he pass?"

"I'm sorry, as well. He was a good friend..." Father Reynolds nodded, patting her hand. "He died two months ago. He was shot for his car keys. I didn't even have time to administer his last rites. But like I said, it's a tough neighbourhood. Ever since he died, I've been praying my heart out."

"For what?" Sam asked.

"For deliverance. Form the violence and the bloodshed around here. We could use a little divine intervention, I suppose."

Sam and I shared a look then, both of us hearing the same thing in his words. With a smile back on my face, I nodded to Father Reynolds. "Well, Padre, thanks. We'll see you again." I shook his hand.

After he shook mine, then Sam's and then Liz's hand, he then headed back into the church, leaving us on the steps looking at the candles.

"Well, it's all starting to make sense now." I noted, moving to the shrine for the murdered priest. "Devoted priest dies a violent death. That's vengeful-spirit material right there. And he knew the other stiffs because they all went to church here. In fact, I bet because he was their priest he knew things about them nobody else knew."

Liz nodded, grabbing a photo that was placed with the candles and flowers. "I gotta agree with you on this one, Dean."

I gave a short nod. "Thank you."

"Then again..." Sam started. "Father Reynolds started praying for God's help two months ago, right? About the time all this started happening."

"Come on." I shook my head. I could not believe Sam. "What's your deal?"

"What do you mean?"

"Look, I'll admit, I'm a bit of a skeptic, but since when are you all Mr 700 Club? Seriously, from the get-go, you've been willing to buy this angel crap. I mean, what's next, you gonna start praying every day?"

"I do." he answered simply.

It took me a moment to realise what he said. "What?"

"I do pray every day. I have for a long time."

That was a shock to me. "The things you learn about a guy. Huh..." recovering, I gestured back to the church. "Come on. Let's go check out Father Gregory's grave."

EPOV

As we headed for the church crypt, I walked side by side with Dean in silence. Though the tension that had settled between us suddenly, spoke a million words. It wasn't about the sex, either. Something else was bugging him.

Finally, he turned to look at me. "How'd you know all that stuff about the bible? And who Father Shaughnessy is?"

"I did a job in Premont a couple of years back, and had some help from the priest. He knows me and what I do." I explained.

"What about all the bible stuff?"

I gave a simple shrug. "I'm from a religious family, Dean."

He looked surprised. "You're religious?"

"Well, no. Not really. I mean, I used to do it all. I went to a religious school, church every Sunday. Prayers at the dinner table before eating, and by my bed before I'd go to sleep." I looked down at the ground as we walked. "But once I started hunting. Once I lost everyone I cared about, I kinda just... stopped."

His surprise turned to curiosity. "Why?"

Shrugging, I looked up at him again. "Because I didn't have anything left to pray for."

There was a look in his eyes. A look of sympathy and understanding. Despite the fact he didn't know about my past and everything I'd been through, he still knew I'd lost my family. That's usually the way most hunters became hunters.

I knew about Dean and Sam's mum. I knew about their dad. I knew about their upbringing. I knew it all- or at least most of it. So I knew, the understanding and sympathy was not false, or a way to cover up pity. He really did know what it was like to lose people who you loved and cherished. So did Sam.

Speaking of which... he was being awfully quiet.

Turning around, I realised Sam wasn't following us anymore. "Sam?"

Dean looked behind us as well a frown forming when he noticed his brother was gone. Shaking his head, he headed back to find him.

SPOV

I felt someone shaking me as I lay on the cold, hard ground of the church crypt. It wasn't until I heard Dean's concerned voice that I woke up properly.

"Sam! Hey!" he shook me.

I groaned, looking up at my brother as he knelt by my side, looking down at me, his hands grasping my jacket. Sitting up, I took my time to regain my balance as I looked over at Lizzie who stood behind Dean looking equally worried.

"You okay?" she asked, voice small.

"Yeah." I answered, looking away as my eyes noticed that large angel statue in front of me. "Yeah." I repeated, smiling. "I'm okay."

"Come on." Dean stood and helped me to my feet. He made sure I was steady before we started to leave the crypt and headed for the chapel.

"Wait here." Dean told Lizzie as he directed me to a room off the side of the chapel. Once we were inside, he closed the door as he spoke to me. "You saw it, didn't you? Didn't you?"

"Yeah. Yeah, Dean, I saw an angel." I smiled, feeling perfectly fine. In fact. I felt great.

He didn't respond, he just stepped away as I took a seat, and pulled out his flask. "All right. Here." he offered me the flask.

I shook my head. "I don't want a drink."

With a shrug, he took a drink himself. "So, what makes you think you saw an angel?"

"I just... it appeared before me and me just... this feeling washed over me, you know? Like peace. Like grace."

"Okay, ecstasy boy. Maybe we'll get you some glow sticks, and a nice Dr Seuss hat." he joked.

But I didn't find any of this funny. "Dean, I'm serious. It spoke to me. It knew who I was."

"It's just a spirit, Sam." he insisted, moving to the benches in the opposite row and taking a seat. "Okay? And it's not the first one to be able to read people's minds. Okay, let me guess, you were personally chosen to smite some sinner. You just gotta wait for some divine Bat Signal? I that it?"

I gave a short nod. "Yeah, actually."

"Great. I don't suppose you asked what this alleged bad guy did?"

"Actually I did, Dean. And the angel told me. He hasn't done anything... yet. But he will."

Chuckling lightly, both amused and not, he stood back up. "Oh this is- I don't believe this."

"Dean, the angel hasn't been wrong yet. Someone's gonna do something awful and I can stop it."

"You know, you're supposed to be bad too, Sam." he countered. "Maybe I should just stop you right now."

I was getting pissed off and defensive now. "Dean, I don't understand. Why can't you even consider the possibility?"

"What, that this is an angel?"

"Yes. Maybe we're hunting an angel here and we should stop. Maybe this is God's will."

Sighing, he moved back to the benches. "Okay. All right. You know what? I get it. You've got faith. Hey, good for you. I'm sure it makes things easier." he took a seat again. "I'll tell you who else had faith like that. Mum. She used to say when she tucked me in that angels were watching over us. In fact, that was the last thing she ever said to me."

Now I felt a little guilty... "You never told me that."

"What's to tell?" he shrugged. "She was wrong. There was nothing protecting her. There's no higher power. There's no God. I mean, there's just chaos and violence. Random, unpredictable evil that comes out of nowhere, and rips you to shreds. So you want me to believe in this stuff? I'm gonna need to see some hard proof. You got any?" when I didn't respond, he went on. "Well, I do. Proof we're dealing with a spirit."

DPOV

The three of us were kneeling in front of Father Gregory's grave where a vine like plant was growing outside, above it and through the window to drape over it.

"It looks like-"

I cut Sam off. "It's wormwood. Plant associated with the dead. Specifically the ones that are not at rest." I looked around to the other graves. "I don't see it growing anywhere else, except over the murdered priest's marker. It's him, Sam."

"Maybe." he just wasn't going to let this angel thing go.

"Maybe?"

"Dean, I don't know what to think."

"Fine." Liz shrugged, standing up. "Then let's summon him."

Sam looked up at her. "What? Here? In the church?"

That's not a bad idea... "Yeah." I nodded, standing up next to her. "Yeah, we just need a few odds and ends and that seance ritual in dad's journal."

Sam laughed. "Seance, great. Hope Whoopi's available."

"That's funny, actually."

Liz just rolled her eyes at both of us. "Look, if Father Gregory's spirit is around then the seance will bring him to us. If Dean's right and its Gregory, we put him to rest. But if Sam's right and it's an angel, then nothing will happen."

"Exactly. It's one of the perks of the job, Sam. We don't have to operate on faith." I noted. "We can know for sure. Don't you wanna know for sure?"

EPOV

As I stepped out of the small corner store, I couldn't help but smile at Sam as he looked through the bag of things we'd just brought for the seance. "Dude, all right, I'll admit, we've gone pretty ghetto with spell work before. But this takes the cake." he shook his head. "I mean, a SpongeBob place mat instead of an alter cloth?"

"We'll just put it SpongeBob-side down." Dean shrugged, a grin curling up at the corner of his lips.

I laughed lightly, shaking my head as Dean and I continued for the car.

He looked over his shoulder to make sure he could speak without being heard by anyone else, before he gazed down at me. "I've been thinking-"

"About casual sex?" I grinned.

The look in his eyes, the way they darkened slightly, I knew my words had him instantly thinking about our morning activities. "God... you're going to be the death of me."

"At least you'll go out with a bang." giving him a wink, I bit my lip, drawing his eyes down to my mouth.

"You are so lucky Sam's here." was all he managed to mumble before his brother grabbed our attention.

"Guys, that's it."

We turned to him, but it was Dean who spoke. "What?"

Sam pointed to a man standing in front of a car and about to cross the road. "That's the sign."

"Where?"

I looked over, but couldn't see anything. "Sam, what do you see?"

"A light. A bright light. Right there. Right behind that guy. That's him. We have to stop him."

Right then, the man began to cross the street. Sam was moving in an instant, ready to follow the guy... or kill him. Either way, both Dean and I knew we couldn't let him go. Not when we weren't a hundred percent sure what he was going to do to the guy- or if the guy was even guilt, or what thing we were dealing with in the first place.

"Wait a minute." Dean grabbed Sam's arm, stopping him.

Sam looked down at Dean's hand holding him. "What are you doing? Let me go."

But Dean wasn't budging. "You're not gonna go kill somebody because a ghost told you to. Are you insane?"

"Dean, I'm not gonna kill him." Sam insisted. "I'm gonna stop him."

"Define 'stop', huh? I mean, what are you gonna do?"

Sam watched as the guy got in his car. Turning back to his brother, be practically begged. "Dean, please. He's gonna hurt someone. You know it. You both do." he noted as he looked to me. "Lizzie, please."

Sighing, I looked into his pleading eyes and nodded. "Okay. Let's go."

"Thank you."

Dean let go of him, the three of us stepping up to the Impala. Dean unlocked his door and got in, but left Sam's and mine locked.

Sam looked through his window to his brother. "Dean. Unlock my door."

Ignoring him, Dean turned the car on. "You're not killing anyone, Sam." he turned to me as I looked at him expectantly.

"Let me in."

Shaking his head, he put the car into gear. "I got this guy. You take Sammy, do the seance. Watch my brother."

Seeing no point in arguing, I stepped back and let him drive away as Sam watched him go. "Don't worry, Sam. He's not gonna let anything happen and you know it." I assured him.

Kneeling in the crypt, I found it more eerie at night. Especially with our candles glowing, and everything for the seance ready. I'd almost asked Sam if we could have the SpongeBob-side face up. Sam lit the final candle and grabbed his father's journal before he began to read the Latin incantation. As he came to the end, he lifted a powered we'd mixed together and sprinkled it over the black candle he'd just lit, extinguishing it.

"What are you doing?"

We spun around to see Father Reynolds standing in the door way of the crypt.

This is not good...

"What is this?"

Sam and I were lost for words. We couldn't manage any reason or excuse, but at the same time we knew we had to tell him something so he didn't call the cops on us. Just don't say witchcraft, ghost or seance...

Sam closed the journal and stood suddenly. "Father, please. We can explain. Um... actually, maybe I can't. Um…" for a moment I really did think he was going to save us. Walking closer to the priest, he tried again, "This is a seance."

Yep, we're screwed.

The priest was not happy. "A seance? Young man, you're in a house of God."

"It's based on early Christian rites, if that helps any." Sam shrugged, trying to get the priest on our side. It didn't work.

"Enough." the priest grabbed his arm. "You're coming with me. You too." he pointed a finger at me.

I stood and followed them as the priest lead Sam out. "Father, please, you have to hear us out. I can explain. Just wait a-"

A bright light filed the room, causing me to stop talking and causing the priest and Sam to turn back to the room.

"Oh, my God." Father Reynolds' mouth gaped open. "Is that... is that an angel?"

"No, it's not." Sam answered. As I looked to him, I could see disappointment written on his face. "It's just Father Gregory."

As if his words were a trigger, the bright light faded to reveal Father Gregory standing by the candles and journal we'd left on the floor next to his grave.

Father Reynolds could not believe his eyes. "Thomas."

"I've come in answer to your prayers." Father Gregory smiled kindly, until he noticed Sam. "Sam. I thought I sent you on your path. You should hurry."

Sam gently shook his head. "Father, I'm sorry, but you're not an angel."

"Of course, I am." Gregory insisted.

"No. You're a man. You're a spirit. And you need to rest."

"I was a man. But now, I'm an angel. I was on the steps of the church. And I felt that bullet pierce right through me. But there was no pain. And then suddenly, I could see... everything. Father Reynolds, I saw you praying and crying here. I came to help you."

"Help me how?"

DPOV

I'd followed the guy just like I said I would. First, he took me to a house where he picked up a woman and gave her the flowers he'd been carrying. Then he set off again. I had no idea where he was going, but I stuck to the job. Staying close enough so I could see him, but not so close that he'd notice me.

As he rounded a corner, I soon did the same, but the car was nowhere to be seen. In the brief time it took for me to turn into the street, he'd managed to disappear.

"Damn it." I hit the steering wheel out of frustration as I began to slow down and look into every drive way, needing to find this guy.

SPOV

Father Reynolds stepped closer to Father Gregory's spirit. "Those murders... that was because of you?"

"I received the word of God. He spoke to me, told me to smite the wicked. I'm carrying out his will."

"You're driving innocent people to kill." Father Reynolds tried to explain.

"Those innocent people are being offered redemption." Father Gregory turned to me then. "Some people need redemption. Don't they, Sam? Elizabeth?" his eyes swept over to Lizzie.

I had no idea what he was referring to when it came to Liz, but I was sure- when it came to me- he was talking about whatever was inside me. This thing in me that causes the visions...

"How can you call this redemption?" Father Reynolds asked.

"You can't understand it now. But the rules of man and the rules of God are two very different things." Father Gregory explained.

Lizzie stepped up. "Those people you offered redemption. They're locked up. They will be for the rest of their lives.

But no matter what we said, Father Gregory didn't seem to understand. "No, they're happy. They found peace, beaten their demons. And I've given them the keys to heaven."

"No." Father Reynolds shook his head. "No. This is vengeance. It's wrong. Thomas, this goes against everything you believed. You're lost, misguided."

"Father. No, I'm not misguided."

"You are not an angel, Thomas. Men cannot be angels."

Father Gregory's smile fell as his face turned to confusion. "But... but I don't understand. You prayed for me to come."

"I prayed for God's help." Father Reynolds corrected him. "Not this. What you're doing is not God's will. Thou shalt not kill. That's the word of God."

DPOV

By the time I found the car, it was almost too late.

The guy had parked in an alley way. I'd left the Impala at the other end so they couldn't hear me coming, before I closed the rest of the distance on foot. As I neared the car, I could see the guy grabbing at the woman, leaning over to her, a knife in hand. She struggled and screamed, trying to fight against him.

Moving to his window, I used the butt of my gun and smashed the glass. Grabbing the guy, I punched him in the face and slammed him against the steering wheel, knocking him out. Reaching in, I unlocked the door so the woman could get out.

She scrambled out of the car, crying. I climbed over the hood to help her, closing her door and grabbing her arms as I made sure she wasn't hurt.

"Are you okay? Are you okay?" I asked, sound more urgent the second time.

"Thank God." she cried.

The car started suddenly. I only had time to grab the woman and pulled her away from the car before the guy drove off in a hurry.

"Damn it." I needed to go after him. Turning to the woman again, I looked down at her. "Are you sure you're okay? Do you have a cell phone?" she nodded. "Call 911." I told her as I started backing up for my car. Once I was inside, I turned the engine on and sped off.

SPOV

I looked to Father Gregory with sympathy. He was confused, but he didn't belong here anymore. "Let us help you."

"No." there was fear in his voice.

Father Reynolds was gentle as he spoke. "It's time to rest, Thomas, to be at peace. Please, let me give your last rites."

Father Gregory didn't say anything. After a moment or two, he simply nodded.

With an answer, Father Reynolds began. "Oh, holy hosts above, I call upon thee as a servant of Christ, to sanctify our actions this day in fulfilment of the will of God." he made a cross in front of him.

Gregory began to flicker. The fear in his eyes grew. "Father Reynolds?"

Father Reynolds gave him a kind smile. "Rest." listening, Gregory knelt before him as Father Reynolds continued. "I call upon the Archangel Raphael, master of the air, to make open the way. Let the fire of the Holy Spirit now descend, that this being might be awakened to the world beyond."

Father Gregory was bathed in a bright light, and as it faded so did he.

DPOV

I was in the middle of chasing the guy through roads and around corners. This time I wasn't letting him get away. Not when I knew what he'd do. But as we neared some traffic lights that were green, another car that should have stopped- seeing as they were oncoming traffic- didn't. A pick up in front of the guy I was chasing swerved to avoid an accident.

As the pickup sharply turned, a thin and long metal pole came flying out of the back of his vehicle. It flew through the air, heading straight for the guy I was chasing. The pole penetrated through the window of the car, causing the guy to come to a stop.

Even though I couldn't see it, I knew... I knew the rode had killed him.

I slammed on the brakes, stopping beside the guy's car. Getting out of the car, I looked around at the scene before me. "Holy..." walking around, I peered in through the window to see the damage.

Sure enough, the rode had pierced right through him. He was dead.

EPOV

I sat on Dean's bed, looking down at my chocolate as Sam packed his stuff. I was already packed and ready to go. I'd gotten straight to it the moment we got back. Seeing as neither one of us had said a word, I actually finished faster than I normally would have.

There was a look in Father Gregory's eyes when he'd looked at me. I saw how he'd looked at Sam when talking about redemption, and how some people needed it. But as he turned to me, he looked exactly the same, as if whatever Sam had done or might do, I was the same.

The door to the room opened as Dean stepped in, taking one look at me before looking to his brother. "How was your day?"

Sam sighed, not looking away from his bag. "You were right. It wasn't an angel. It was Gregory."

Shaking his head, Dena pulled out his flask and took a drink. When he was finished, he offered it to Sam, who took it and took a drink as well.

Lowering the flask, Sam looked down at it in thought. "I don't know, Dean. I just..." he took a deep breath and sat down, "I wanted to believe, so badly I'd... it'd so damn hard to do this, what we do. All alone, you know. And there's so much evil out in the world, I feel like I could drown in it. And when I think about my destiny, when I think about how I could end up..."

"Yeah, well, don't worry about that, all right? I'm watching out for you." Dean assured him.

Sam looked up at his older brother then. "Yeah I know you are. But you're just one person, Dean."

I jumped off the bed and headed over to him. Placing the chocolate on the table I gave Sam a smile as I sat down next to him. "You've got me, too."

"Thanks... but I needed to think there's something else watching too, you know? Some higher power." Sam shrugged, giving a light laugh. "Some greater good. And that maybe..."

When he left it there, Dean asked, "Maybe what?"

"Maybe I could be saved." Sam answered, his eyes tearing up. I reached over and grabbed his hand for support. "But, uh," he laughed again, trying to lighten the mood, "you know, that just clouded my judgement. And you're right. We gotta go with what we know, with what we can see, with what's there right in front of our own two eyes."

Dean looked away. "Well, it's funny you say that."

Sam looked up at him confused. "Why?"

"Gregory's spirit gave you some pretty good information. The guy in the car was bad news. I barely got there in time."

"What happened?" Sam asked.

"Is everything okay?" I added.

"He's dead."

"Did you...?" Sam left the question hanging there.

"No." Dean shook his head. "But I'll tell you one thing. If... the way he died, if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I never would've believed it. I mean, I don't know what to call it."

"What?" Sam pressed. "Dean, what did you see?"

"Maybe... God's will."

Bamby

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Hi babes! Chapter 4 for you! It’s a biggie!

Eternally grateful to the tripod, without @dirtystyles -and @bleedinglove4h I would fall on my face- maybe into someone’s cleavage if I timed it right!!

Ski Da Yo- Chapter 4

It's silly really, the entire scenario that she's found herself in. Ada could laugh, nobody would hear it over the music. It's loud, and people are taking turns at the stage. Though She could go join the group, she should, rather than lurking in the corner like a weirdo, fixated on a previous performance. She's not laughing, even at herself. She'd kinda drooling, way more embarrassing.

But she just had to watch him.

He was in his element, relaxed, on, charming, lit up like a Christmas tree. Merry, bright.

She'd never seen him like this, in the flesh. Glimpses, in the interviews she watched and called research. She'd seen the fuss there, agreed to the picture partly on the strength of it.

She could see it, what the fuss was about. And it was the first real glimpse she'd had, besides those moments she felt she had to steal from him to get on film. She was beginning to think there was a limited supply of Styles' magic. Perhaps, that was why she was only able to get a precious few minutes a day.

Watching him now, that did not seem to be the case. Harry was incandescent and she felt blinded by the light. She could chalk that up to all of her rockstar fantasizes brought to life, but it didn't explain everyone else's rapt attention on him, their enthrallment. Maybe they all had a grunge fetish too?

When she walked in and she clocked him, even with the stupid glasses that obscured his face, festive she supposed, he looked different.

On set he looked, perfect was the word that came to mind, but not in the way people usually meant. Polished and made up and proper in his prince clothes.  Perfect, fake. And anxious, like the film was a bit of an albatross around his neck. Or maybe the pressure.  And he looked like it was heavy, all the trappings trapping him. Ada worried over it. Like, the movie made him regress. Maybe it felt too familiar. He said that a lot when they talked about scenes, when he was frustrated with himself.

"I know just how he feels."

Because he had been there. Is that why he had such a hard time getting the shot? Because it made him freak out a little, feel like he'd not called his own shots for years? But he'd made these choices. Had agency. Maybe she could help him see it as therapeutic. Because it was a way to safely rebel - a redo, no risk.

She'd talk to him about it. They needed to have that drink. She could order him one now.

Ada shook her head. Not tonight. She didn't want to kill his vibe tonight. It was too lovely to watch, and to live she guessed. No shop talk.

He looked light as a cloud, and as soft edged too.  Nothing perfect or fake about him. His skin was a little slick under the stage lights, the ridges near his nose were shiny especially. He had glitter on his cheeks, but not like highlighter, like the glasses he wore were cheap, and shedding tiny pieces of shine.

But he did shine.

And he had sounded good.

Not everybody could sing Nirvana, in a chest voice no less.

She was weaned on that. And really into indie rock, especially grunge, while her dad was fostering 90's slick hip hop. It was a silly means of rebellion, but she took her opportunities to disappoint Garner seriously.

She remembered her dad had called the cover of in utero obscene, which made her laugh as he had just put out a video full of nearly naked females in bikinis, but anatomical drawings were obscene. Okay.

She had snuck a new copy in after he threw the first one away and poured over the lyrics in her baggy jeans and crop top with a flannel. Had a giant crush on Kurt, May he Rest In Peace, and when she met Dave Grohl it may have been the only time she was really starstruck.

Well, she felt like she had been hit about the head by a celestial being currently. Harry had it, that was for sure. How had she missed it? The bushel basket he'd been hiding his light under must have been thick. There was something obscuring her view or his personality definitely. Not tonight. Star power was all over him tonight; that was the boy she had signed up to direct. Right there, from those red carpet clips she'd watched. Those sold her and then she had watched concert footage, shaking camera and all. Those were another level. This silly karaoke gig almost matched the wattage when he was bedecked and bantering on stage. He looked dashing, and like he could carry a movie on his thick shoulder pads all with a joke on his vibrant lips. That man was in this building, singing one of her all time favorite songs. It had an effect.

Wow, the rasp in his voice. God, she was still reeling and hiding out in the back like her crush was nearby.

Her eyes widened.

That's what was going on! She was doing what she had done with Danny Diaz in 10th grade. She wasn't teenage dream obsessed about him, really. But, she'd paid him a lot of attentions, clandestinely. He'd been so cool, and was really into raving. Which, in hindsight, made his post high school life a little clearer. But he liked music that had nothing to do with her dad and he was cute, had long bangs and a shaved head and he could dance! She loved to dance.

She needed to go, before this bloomed like a cherry blossom and she fell off in a great big clump to wait for shoe marks. Like 10th grade, only less poetic.

The pathway to the door was clear. Her heels on the floor made a click click click, though nobody should be able to hear it. She turned back to make sure nobody was following her, was watching, and her heel caught, right in a crack in the concrete floor.

"Shit!" Her ankle twisted and her heard a crunch, that was not good, but her trajectory to the ground wasn't either. Her hands went out to catch her.

He smelled good, like leather a bit, smoky, with a sweet tinge. And he caught her and hoisted her up like she was feather light. She never felt like that, because she was the tallest of her friends, not even tall, just taller, and she had never been small. She had that insta baddie body before it was popular. Grown up in the big titty, little hippy 90's. She always felt huge.

But not right now. He had her, was righting her before her weight came down and she properly broke something. This felt like that time she'd sprained her ankle jumping fences to go skating with the boys. Stupid heels.

Back to the rom com moment she found herself in. He's caught her under the arms. His hands span her whole armpit and his fingers curled into her scapula. Ada spared a thought for how sweaty her underarms might be. Yuck! But she should be ok, she'd gotten properly ready, lots of antiperspirant. She knew that, took a deep breath and then realized she'd missed something. He's staring at her expectantly. The rockstar with the totally revealed charm. Harry.

"What?" It came out with no finesse, like a burp.

"You ok?" Harry was kinda grinning and loose, left eye more hooded than his right, and his breath, definitely 80 proof. She heard the shift and he's no longer got her in a dip fit for a tango . She felt like she'd been whirled and thrilled.

"Um, I think I'm ok." She realized they were still locked in an embrace when she tried to check her foot. Ada looked down at the place his hands had migrated to, on her hips. She didn't really need to look, she could feel all ten fingertips, like little bruise marks formed from hope not pressure. It saved her from looking at her own hands where they were full of the muscular forearms she knew to be covered in tattoos beneath the green button-up he had on. It was a a stall.

But Harry released her the minute he saw her eyeing his familiar hands. She had him well trained apparently. Massive walls between them. They were massively out of place at the moment, regrettable. She wasn't balanced on her feet yet either. Ada nearly fell before he steadied her with a rebound hand at her hip. She caught it to stand on one foot, for safety.

Her ankle circled around ok. She felt a twinge of pain, but it was entirely manageable. That was good. She'd probably need to stay off of it, no treadmill tomorrow, and she'd need to elevate it. Ice too, she could ask the bartender for some.  She was plotting how to locate an ace type bandage, and who would be best to ask for that. They may have some in makeup - they'd used them to bind breasts on Wildflower, but she couldn't think why they'd have them for this movie. Harry had perky nipples, but they didn't need to be bound. Stop thinking about Harry's nipples. The lowlight would thankfully mask her blush. Wait, Maybe she could ask his friend, Masa, he owned a gym.

Harry. She could ask him too. And that would be really easy because he was still right there. Holding her hand.

They had laced their fingers at her hip. Ada looked at Harry, he had a huge lazy smile on his face. Pleased as punch. She was punch drunk, though she wouldn't say it. He looked so young and toothy. Though the gathering of sweat at his hairline, little droplets above his upper lip, made him real. Imperfect.

She shook herself and their hands unlatched. "I need ice I think?" Of course she needed ice. What was she talking about? Who even was she? Next she's start babbling, and tuck her hair behind her ear and duck her chin.

"Yeah, and a way to put it up." His head swiveled around and he nodded. "C'mon." He gently took her arm and looped it around his shoulder. He was just tall enough.

The table was closer than she would have liked, a walk under his arms was worth remembering, but it was good for her foot. Harry sat her in a booth and put both hands out in a straight stay there motion then grabbed a chair and propped up her ankle gently. The wrong one, but she went with it.

"Be right back." He tripped a little as he looped off to the bar.  Ah, that looked normal. The trip to the bar was only the chorus of the song too. He didn't wait long for the bartender. The whole place seemed to be filled with their group, pleasantly vibrant, but not busy. . It was a quick exchange, with a little sign language thrown in. He was big on hand talking on a normal day. Gesticulating when he described most things. He was very full body engaged and engaging before scenes, before he floated away on her.

Huh, she just thought about that, Henry wasn't gesticulative. A little more in the Akio scenes.

She hadn't noticed that Harry had layered physical control into his performance. She found herself nodding. That was good.  Made total sense for a royal.

He was walking back to her now with a thin white towel and he was crunching ice in it.  Oh shit - she hadn't switched feet, she'd been watching him.

"Cold!" She flinched, "a little warning Styles!"

"Sorry," he chuckled. "I figured me walking from the bar with a towel after I went over to get ice was warning enough." He curled his tongue a little at her and the ice gave her goosebumps.

Wow, maybe he needed liquid courage on set sometimes. All his nerves were gone.

"Usually someone tells you they are about to put ice on you, even nurses, unless they are trying to be little shits!" She arched one of her brows st him. They were her favorite feature and she used them to her advantage.

"You got me, just wanted to see you squirm, since you get to see me uncomfortable a lot." His slow cadence sometimes bugged her on set. It was another thing she could find irritating, during the literal 11th hour. Ada talked fast. She talked a mile a minute on set because they had shit to do and her brain was usually ten paces ahead of her mouth.

But it was kinda nice, the way he took his time.

"You sounded really good! When you were singing." Oh God he blushed. It was his job to sing, did he know that? "You moonlight in a Nirvana cover band often?" She flexed her foot where his hand was still moving ice around to find the sore ligaments, on the wrong foot. She followed the fire and ice.

He squawked a laugh. "No, just the one time, and only because Kunichi is so persistent. I think he could sell bad fish to a Tokyo chef!" He raised his eyebrows and Ada caught her hand just before she covered her laugh.

"So, it's not the song you've always wanted to sing? That wasn't you living out your teenage rock dream?" He shook his head, just hers then.

"Oh, it's a great song, I love rock." He moved his head like, obviously. His body of work spoke to that. "But I like a little more melody when I'm convinced to do karaoke," he made a drinking motion and she was laughing again. "I like disco divas and duets. And if there is absolutely nobody around to tell on me or god forbid, record, Britney Spears is a blast to perform." He'd placed his hand to block his lips from curious eyes and leaned in to tell her this secret. His lips were plump, they like to reach out and touch her faith.

She was thirsty.

Oh shit, did she just say that out loud? How much had she already had, while skulking in the shadows?

"Sure, what do you fancy?" Quicksilver grin, poisonous and enigmatic.

"Um," what had she already had? "A dirty martini!"

"How dirty?" He flashed his eyebrows.

"Very, three extra olives." She gave him her single brow, the one that she used to dare him when that was what he needed on set.

"Three olives!" He made a shocked face. "Well, I never." And he gave her the goofiest grin and went to grab her drink. He looked comfortable. Like a favorite hoodie she wanted to wear. She only got to really watch him one way. He was back quickly.

He sat by her when he put down her cloudy drink. She'd switched legs while he was away and thought she'd got away with it, but caught his eye as he was studying her legs and he smirked at her.

That was a damn good face. "You need to do that for the scene Monday, the one at the club." Ada segued seamlessly into shop talk. She was actually really excited about that one. It was set at a place she had frequented in her time here; she had really happy memories. She was feeling really excited too, this felt like an actual fresh start, she should have taken Harry up on his offer of a drink ages ago. He was a joy loose. This was the rapport they needed, him loose and smirky, handsome with a side of solicitous and cocky sauce. This was the Harry Styles she'd been waiting for!

🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵

Harry felt like he should get an Oscar for this performance. For his steady hands, that he was currently sitting on, and the confident smirk. It wasn't all an act, but the amount of times he'd had to turn this on like a lightbulb in an interview was invaluable right now. It was mostly fake those times, maybe even faker now. He had been relaxed and joyous, and then he had been so relieved to see her smile at him, he just went with it. But the minute he walked away from her, the first time, for the ice, the nerves kicked in. But he faked it, like a seasoned porn star, because she was looking at him, and touching him, and holy shit! Ada Scott was hanging with him. He would keep the action and make the moans believable.

Wow! Was this the way women felt all the time? When they had to put on some performance for the man they were interested in, or for the men they weren't, but couldn't offend?

It felt easier to relax tonight. The day had set him up for success. Things had ended so well on set, and he'd been in the best mood, and had gotten brave. He'd gone to her trailer. To invite her again.  Harry was excited about the evening at the bar and seeing music, though he wasn't sure what it would be like, because it wasn't a gig, nor karaoke, some hybrid he had been told. He liked novel nights out.

But everybody was coming. His whole Japanese network, including Jeff and Masa and his girl!

Everybody but Ada. So he'd put on his man panties and went going to ask her.  She needed to be there, and even though she'd turned down all of his invitations and returned the replacement shoes, he was going to ask her again.  For the whole cast. They had months left and needed to bond.

He needed to bond with her. It felt possible after their day on set, her brow wasn't creased and she didn't speed walk away. She slowed down enough for him to keep up. They'd had a conversation, not about a scene. He'd kept up and not drifted away on her voice. She walked and talked fast. He liked it.

Masa loved to laugh at him, and was doing just that while he psyched himself up to go talk to her. "Just go ask the lady." He'd arrived to take him back to the hotel to Harry stalling. Masa was giving him a look.

His grin was presumptuous. Harry didn't like it. It felt like he knew. Yuki knee, Masa might. Harry did, know, but he didn't think he was so obvious. Did she know?

"You need a tutu?" Masa heckled.

"What?"

"Your mind is like a dancer on drugs," he made a flitting motion with his hands. "you might need a tutu for making the decision. "

"Oh fuck off, man!"

"Just go ask her. It's a cast party, I haven't even met her and she's supposed to be the leader. She needs to come. A leader should." Masa's brow shrunk.

"She is the leader, she's the boss!" He was full of defenses for her. "If you were allowed on set you'd see."

"Oh, I'm not allowed." Harry had neglected to outright tell him that, just let him be distracted, that would run out when they had to go on location. Whoops.

"You'd make fun of me, I've been totally fucking up. So you aren't allowed. At all."

"Isn't the movie about a royal fucking up?" Masa said after catching his wheezing breath. He sounded like a dragon with hay fever.

Hmmm, Harry'd have to have a think on that. That was a plot point he should consider when he was flagellating himself. Maybe he could use it, all his self frustration. He shook himself and jumped up and down like he was going on stage, when he turned around to tell Masa he was going, he was laughing at him, again.

"What now?"

"Are you going to punch her?" He gulped the air. "You do that before you box."

"I just need to hype myself up." Harry shook his head out.

"She must be really pretty."

"Shut up." She was really pretty, but it had been an asset today, made the scene work and Harry had decided he needed exposure therapy. So he needed to be around her, more. He was gonna go talk to her, get used to her face.

He strode to her trailer and stopped cold outside before he could knock. For once, it was not over nerves, but his jaw which had dropped to the floor. That sound as coming from her trailer.

She was singing. Well!  To Mary J. Blige's Real Love. And he wanted to sit on the little steps up to her door and listen.

So she could have gone into the music business, had everything going for her there. Connected daddy, pretty face, hot body, and pipes. Wow, she could belt! He had goosebumps. Her voice was rich and evocative. Deeper that he expected.

And he could not talk to her.  Not now. Now she was even more impressive.

So he did what any brave young lad would do.

He asked his manager to do it.

Jeff smirked, but sent the text.  And like the magic 8 ball he could be, he made the face he did when the outlook wasn't good.

So Harry had resigned himself to Ada not coming to the bar.  He was disappointed, but also relieved. Those two feelings must be dating as often as he felt them together when it came to Ada. If she didn't come, he could relax and have fun, let loose, but not bond with her, or have another chance to impress her. Or throw up on her. There would be alcohol involved again. He needed to gain back the ground he'd lost when he spewed at her feet.

A second chance at a first impression.

But Jeff seemed to be right, as he often was. Ada was softer with him after the last cut because he had done a good job. He'd work that angle to bond.

He resigned himself to having another kick ass day on Monday for him and Ada, and having a great time tonight for himself, free of expectations. He was feeling buoyant, Kunichi had noticed right away, pounced and got him on stage. First on the drums, which he played like a 7th grader after a few lessons, and then on the microphone.

God, it was fun. So fun. And he felt the perfect amount of tipsy, like tomorrow he'd need two paracetemol and extra water, a good sweat and nothing else.

He felt extra intoxicated when he spotted Ada. In tight jeans and a slimmer t-shirt than normal, and high heels. He tried not to stare at her ass on a sneaker day, he was doomed with the thrust the 3 inches gave her curves. She looked amazing, but she looked like she was leaving. And he'd just realized she was there!

The social lubricant in his blood didn't give him a chance to think better of it. He was walking to Ada. He got there just in time. Her heel stuck in a crease in the floor, and he caught her. It was every rom com moment he'd ever sat on his mum's couch moon eyed over in one.

He got to help her. And he was able to talk to her like a normal human, and get her a drink. All in the span of 20 minutes!

She seemed relaxed, her shoulders pressed against her tee nicely, but were down, easy. And she smiled at him, a lot.

He was trying his best not to think, he'd spin out. When he went to get her ice towel and then the martini, god, she kind of flirted, right? People flirted with him all the time, or went mute. She didn't do either until tonight. And he was buzzing, more off the flirting at this point than the alcohol.

The little insecure boy inside, the one who was really loud in new situations or around new people, especially people he admired, was chiming in about the stage. The stage cast a spell on people, and he worried about people who knew him from it or expressed attraction to that aspect of him.

It's why he'd always held back with Helene, regrettably.

He didn't want to make that mistake again, he'd made wrong assumptions that cost him Helene's affections. He didn't want to do that here, wanted to do the opposite. Part of him wanted to dive in, head first, but he wasn't sure. Rejection hurt no matter who you were, and though he'd had his share, Harry's skin was still cling wrap thin. He wanted her to like him too.  He wanted this to be real. Which meant he had to be honest, and open. But he was rushing it, like he did when he was crushing.

He was going to let this night be what he hoped it would be, a beginning. And he was that guy, the one on stage, with the smirk, and the wit. He was also less commanding, and lost his cool at times, but she'd seen that guy. He just needed to show her more of his best side, tonight, and on set.

He caught Kunichi motioning to him. Ah, he'd almost forgotten his promise.

He leaned back, let his arm brush her shoulder while he relaxed. He'd turn on the charm for just a minute, he could manage that, he wanted something he'd been a little consumed with for the better half of this night. And he wanted it from Ada.

He flexed the dimple and titled his head to the side. "This smile?" He pointed his finger at his lips.

"That's a good one, but no. The cockier one!" Oooh, he really did love that eyebrow. Gave him tingles.

"I will do my absolute best," he smirked and her lashes fluttered. "If you'll come up and sing with me."

[aggresivelyfriendly]

Hi Babes! This chapter, well, she gave me trouble, but she’s written and we have progress! All my love to @dirtystyles and @bleedinglove4h! Long Live Tripod Writing!!

Chapter 5-Kekkou Desu

"No." 

Harry watched all of the color go out of Ada's face. His arm had been far from her realaxed shoulders. They were so high at the moment, he was nearly cupping one. But not in a good way, or with any comfort. Where a minute ago she had been open and easy, she had tightened up all over, gates slammed down, moats redug and walls reinforced. Everything was tense, the moment especially.

Harry had wandered into a trigger field, and his request had pressed a button he didn't know existed. Fuck, he felt like he'd just puked on her shoes again. This time without any of his usual clumsiness. She could sing, he'd heard her. Though that wasn't a requirement for this crowd, or the activity. Multiple people who had zero business had been up to sing, sometimes in a language they didn't know. Ada was clearly not going to sing, and it looked like she may walk right out on him and the rest of the night because he suggested she get on stage. The dance they had been doing was back to square one. He needed to say something, he usually cackled when he got this uncomfortable, or told a terrible joke, stunk up the air to clear the awkward fumes. Neither seemed the course of action here. "Ok," he cupped her risen shoulder lightly, ran his thumb over the knot he felt when she tightened and looked at her until she acknowledged him. It took several seconds, they felt biblical in length. Ada blew out a breath and lifted her wide eyes to him. He could still see tension at the corners, but she gave them to him. "You don't have to do anything you don't want to. Not with me. Just have fun. I, however, allowed myself to be browbeaten into singing, again. Will you be here when I finish?" Would she be?  There was a big part of her, huge, that wanted to fuck off to her hotel room and forget this night ever happened. She really had thought she was over the singing thing. It was a childhood and adolescent wound, deep, but she had therapy, talked it to death, til she thought her trauma had covered its ears and cowered. It was upsetting to find out how deep that bruise still lived.  She'd have to go see Dr. Shiny when she got home. Two months, would she even remember it had made her tense like that? Harry seemed like he remembered, though he was doing a good job of downplaying her freak out. Harry'd done nothing wrong, and his request wasn't that out of the ordinary considering the venue. Lots of the cast or crew had sang, Ayae was currently doing Material Girl. The band plodding behind her ah, ahs! She sounded so awful Ada was charmed. There was no reason to leave, this was a good time, and she was happy to be there, even post awkward over reaction, with him. Plus, She wanted to see him sing again. The last time had been a game changer. Ada was sure anything after Nirvana would be underwhelming.

The choice though, made her curious.

She wondered what he would chose next time. His album and band t shirts suggested good taste. She loved his mix, one day Bowie the next day Britney. She would stay. To satisfy her curiosity. Her head was nodding like a happy horse, she liked her decision, but imagined she should slow down the drinks that were basically straight vodka. Even if it would help her forget her. freak out "I'll be here. Sorry, I don't really want to.." She flashed her hands in a rolling motion hoping he would understand, she wanted to stay but not explain, She hoped he didn’t press.  Ada did not want to shot him down again. Especially since he had been so gracious. His grace shown again. "Don't, it's ok, you can tell me another time, if you feel up to it. Let me go see what Kunichi has cooked up for me . I have my own ideas, something simple." The last part he muttered to himself and she felt a little smile cross her lips at him walking off. His gait somehow like a baby giraffe before it gained confidence and became cocksure and hip full. Her head snapped to the side at that. Her eyes bugged at the next move. Harry was looking down at first, but then he swooped his hair off his forehead with a little shake and pushed it back, the long curls he’d kept on top. It was an innocuous move, but suddenly he took up more space in the room than before, than his physicality required. Though he was bigger than most people in the room, in the country. He caught her watching him when she made it to the stage. Her smile transformed into a very attractive attempt to catch flies once she watched Harry make a bemused face, say something to one of the other guys on stage that started conversation, then wink at her. Her anticipation ramped up a moment later when he looked at Kunichi like he might be a genius and kissed his forehead noisily then nodded with a 40 million pound smile. Whatever Kunichi had on the stove for him seemed to be amusing all of them, and she swore that his friend had looked at her, directly, which felt almost rude in Japan, since they were simply tangentially connected strangers.Very direct and she wasn’t on stage and nobody had caught Harry or Kunichi’s look, but she felt in the spotlight. Nerves all over. Ada was at a loss, but excited, all her hair was standing on end, and she was almost irritated she'd have to shave again so soon. Though why she had shaved when she wore jeans was curious, but she would ponder that when she was ready to consider implications, like in 3 years. A synapse fired and a memory started to materialize a moment later when a simple guitar cord was struck, and Harry swiveled his hips from one side to the other in a familiar but uncharacteristic manner. At once jerky and sinuous. Who did that remind her of? All her questions were answered when the old school train like riff entered and the drum was a dull thud instead of a crash. A few screams went up and Ada wondered if she was actually at the Ed Sullivan show. His hair was wrong, much to light, and he was a tad prettier, more feminine than the man he was channeling. But someone should tell that to his voice, and his hips, and her heart. Before Kurt in her heart, right next to James Brown was Elvis Presley. And her Babe Ruth was knocking a cover out of the park. This night was ridiculous, for a man who had fallen so short of her expectations for a month, he was blowing her mind tonight. Elvis, was he fucking kidding her?

And she'd always loved this song. Not her favorite, but a classic. She was all shook up too. The first time she had heard it, she was probably 8 and she'd told her dad the lyrics were stupid and simple. Her dad had scoffed but her mom had just worn a knowing smile. They were, until you felt those feelings, weak knees, and tied tongues. Music played in her house a lot and her mom got on kicks- it was during one of those dance it out phases, when she heard Elvis with new ears. Things had gone to hell at home, her dad had moved out ages ago, but it felt like a new ending that day. Her mom had been served papers, which meant dad had somebody he was his version of serious about. So her heart was tender, but she was pushing it down to buoy her mom’s fake cheer.. To top it all off, Peter Harris had made out with her and she was definitely all shook up. All mixed up. It was exactly how she felt her mom had been right. 13 year old Ada was not in love, though that was equally inexpressible, but definitely infatuated and her was body running amok. Her head thinking about Peter’s lips and her heart aching over her dad’s refreshed abandonment. It was confusing. The worst part about that feeling, those feelings were they didn't shut down when Pete told everybody that black girl's nipples were too dark and that she didn't know how to kiss. It was her third one, how was she supposed to know what to do? There wasn’t a class at the civic center on kissing.

But she always liked the song, even if she had weird memories to it. She had lots of memories to Elvis.

And tonight was a new one with Harry Presley. Her star was a sight. His clothes did not say Elvis. But his looks said performer in the throes. His hair was wild, it hadn’t been tidy, not scene ready, since she arrived by any stretch. The dishevelment now was on another level. Because he had one hair curling into his vision. It hung like a vine and she seriously wanted to George of the Jungle on it. Then she'd be in his vision, like he'd captured hers tonight. He had tried to blow it off after one set of Yeah Yas, and it had come right back over. He’d eyeballed it, and if looks couldn’t kill, they at least amused. Ada liked this frustrated look. It made her laugh. Theoretically, he should wear something like it while they were working, but this one was more bemused than defeated. He’d flip his head back like he was saying what’s up to somebody and the hair would give Harry a moment’s reprieve, before it was right back in his eye line. Eventually, when he couldn't make the hair wither with scorching looks, he left it. “Guess my hair has decided we need to look the part!” And there was some clapping, Jeff whistled. She sighed. It was perfect for the moment. The right thing to say in the moment. She nodded and he caught her eye and smirked before a body roll up on some mmm, mms.

Damn him. Her body was mirroring the lyrics, her heart beat a little faster. Her pulse throbbed appropriately. This was magic. It needed to make it into the movie. “Holy shit!” She was seriously wondering if she could add a scene with him dressed as Elvis. God, would he be willing to sing in a movie? Like a proper early superstar? He couldn't dance, so he wasn't a triple threat to anything but her cool.  He should sing in a movie. Their movie. She whipped out her phone and started planning. The schedule was packed. Ada wasn't even sure they had time.  She could make some, she knew.  It would be worth going over budget, especially if she could get him performing like he was tonight. This wasn't a performance, properly.  But it felt once in a lifetime. Jeff had once called him a clutch man. It was probably why he wanted to be more than just brother's from another mother with him. Harry loves to be praised. "When things start to fall apart, in an interview, or on stage, or if someone just says something that is awkward and off putting, you just have a way of changing subject, or charming the hell out of them." Harry figured Jeff found this to be a great asset for a client with ambitions like Harry. Maybe why he wanted to be more than brothers himself. Being able to roll with it, duck and dive, was useful in their business. Harry wasn't even aware of how big his ambitions were until someone handed him the moon and he suddenly wanted the stars. That first two years in the band were bewildering, but once he decided he wanted more, he started planning how. And being a good guy in a pinch had got him the manager. So, Harry was usually the clutch man. He came through. Not 100%. His batting average wasn't perfect.  If his nerves were up, things went one of two ways, he knocked the ball to the rafters, or he whiffed hard at air, even when the ball was crap. He had been doing a lot of whiffing, in clutch moments with this movie. He thought he had come through enough to not be absolute rubbish, but his ability to slide into home while everybody was watching kept alluding him, like why anybody played a boring sport like baseball let alone watched it mystified him. It felt different today, tonight. For tonight, was nothing, if not a performance.  Though he wasn't sure what was riding on it beyond his heart. But he felt like he was knocking it of the park right now. From the smile on Ada's face, it was a grand slam. She had been watching him since he caught her when she fell. He'd felt it when he walked away from her. Those big brown eyes on him. It was a change, he wasn’t exactly relaxed, but he was relieved. The secret, like Jeff said or course, was to "act good." Was that it? Which was the chicken and which was the egg? Did he act good, so she softened, or did she soften so he could act good? Harry was likely to think it was not him. She had been soft with him today on set, when she did that, was kind and quiet and direct, he performed. Hmmmmmm. It was her, she was soft pitching him today and tonight. Definitely tonight, soft beautiful eyes too. And it was making him hard. Which was unfortunate because he was on stage and the performance required him to draw a lot of attention to his pelvis.  He needed to think about the moves. Kinda, they were written on his hip flexors. He's done it a lot. When he was little he spent a lot of time, pre YouTube, he congratulated himself, watching his icons perform. It's why his Jagger impression didn't require to much work on SNL, and he was able to lay it on thick on stage with Niall. He’d been doing it for years, along with Freddie Mercury and Elton John.  Strangely after all the comparisons, not Bowie. Not David, but definitely Elvis! He'd been mimicking Elvis since his mom played him in the kitchen when she danced off bad days. She'd mimic the moves and Harry would copy her. He was about three. He reckoned when his mom found video of Elvis performing for him to watch. And then he had his own little Elvis impersonating ring, which got a surprising amount of business for a village the size of Holmes Chapel. He had at least 3 gigs. So he could do the gyrating thing in his sleep. People focused on his hips a lot, looking for that ever elusive bulge shot, he was happy tonight was a friendly get together and nobody was filming him. Well, Kunichi was, but chest up. He hammed it up when his hair grew a mind of its own and hoped that deflected pelvic attentions. It made him go down at least. He took several deep breaths and got ready for the crescendo of the song. He vocalized along, popped his lips and hips once more, and grinned, scanning the clapping hands. He'd been more focused with the eye contact that he usually was, a small familiar crowd. Ada. She hadn’t taken her eyes off him, until a lighbulb seemed to go off above her head and she’d been on her phone. She was looking down now and he wanted her attention back. He’d have to go get it. He shook himself of the persona and jumped down, taking a couple hugs on his way off stage. Hugs, from Japanese people, they were drunk. Well, that was good, worse video quality when these videos made their way to the internet and a delay without him asking for it. Bless hangovers. Harry was making his way back to Ada. He had a clear view of the table, pathway too, almost like it had been cleared. The light even seemed to illuminate the ground ahead of him. It felt like a movie moment. Her focus on him and the two fresh drinks in front of her. What a set up. The sense of inevitability he had had since he met her matched the moment and her eyes. He still saw green fields when he first looked at her on set each day, but sometimes, they were amber and dry by nightfall. Mostly because Ada did not seem to share the portent. He felt like he was destined to love her, and she didn't seem bothered by him at all. Well in the English way, she seemed plenty bothered by him in the American sense. Irritated. Not tonight, a flip had switched and all that karma for being the single minded devotion of so many when you felt not the same at all, literally didn't know they were alive, he thought had come back to bite him. He wasn't sure he believed in cosmic payback, but he knew sometimes his careless heart hurt those he cared for too. He'd sat up late one night looking at Instagram wondering if maybe he'd earned her indifference. Not directly, but because he couldn’t possibly adequately return or take all the love showered upon him. So, he’d somehow lost his claim to the love he wanted. Her indifference hurt. Some days indifference was a wish. Better than when he was afraid she disliked him. "Wow! Harry Presley! You just gave me a whole new idea for a scene!" She may not be on the same page as him, waiting for more, but she wasn’t indifferent and her grabbing his hand made him sure she didn’t hate him.  A new scene sounded exciting. And then she talked shop for an hour. It was a pleasure, felt like when somebody had a riff and he had a lyric and they fit, or vice versa. Except this time he was the instrument.  And he loved the way she played him. "So, there is already the rockabilly tradition and the karaoke tradition!" Her eyes sparkled, like really, it wasn't even the light or the make up. She wore little- her skin was just that good. Shit, pay attention. "So what if, they have a fight, like we already have planned, and to make it up to him, Henry arranges to meet Akio somewhere, more public than it should be, and he's dressed like Akio’s day dream." She paused there slightly more pensively, like her mind was already onto the next question while she posed this one to him. “And sings him an Elvis song!" He was dumbfounded, he liked it, movie magic. Licensing would be a bitch, though. She was staring. Oh, he’d wandered. He looked spacey when he was thinking. He wished he looked more like she did when pondering. "You will won't you, sing for the film?" She'd taken his hand. He's do anything then, but. "Yeah, of course”, he was already giving his truth and possible credibility. He'd sing, it bugged him the way singer‘s who acted got waved off. The other way was praised. And even Elvis’' cheesiest movies were entertaining and had great songs. She took her hands and clapped. She was a tough cookie, but she was currently fluffier than the slime he'd made with Arlo. So excited. "What song should he sing?" She eyed him, "all shook up?" "No," he pulled his lip while he thought, "it's not deep enough. Not a sorry.”

“Well, ‘Heartbreak Hotel’ could be cute, but still not a sorry, ‘Don't’ Be Cruel’ is a good one, but a little too inverted for the situation, ‘Return to Sender’?” He shook his head while he mentally ticked through the catalog. Ada's bit her lip and her brow curled and she looked at the table top. Suddenly, her large eyes were saucers, "Can't Help Falling In Love!" "No!" He almost yelled it. He didn't mean to react like that. But absolutely not. He couldn’t sing that song for this. "Oooookay," she side eyed him, but extended him the same grace he had to her. But he could see she would press later, had noticed she got curious. "That's probably a good call anyway, with Crazy Rich Asians and all." She let him off the sharing hook.

She tapped her lip. "’The Wonder Of You’? ‘She's Not You’? ‘Are You Lonesome Tonight?" She was muttering, mentally scanning through hits. But she’d missed the perfect one. He almost wondered if she was letting him come up with it to boost his confidence. He shared it anyway. "Love Me Tender." Harry said with finality and Ada slapped the table. “That's perfect!" She clinked her glass to his, a dollop splashing out, and took a swig. "Now we just have to find the time to film an unplanned scene. When we are behind." She looked at him.  level and more sober than her momentary spill had suggested. "So I need you to do better Harry. Like today, but everyday.  If you could bring whatever sauce you are on to set for the rest of the film. I think this scene may be one of those ones that people remember, like Molly Ringwald and Jake Ryan sitting on the table kissing over the cake?" "I love that scene!" Harry enthused. "Everybody loves that scene." Ada playfully rolled her eyes at him. "It's an iconic scene, so good we still talk about the movie despite the racism. It’s like you singing Elvis will be, without the terrible cultural illiteracy.” "I wish somebody hadn't already done the dirty dancing lift thing. Though I suppose I got the idea from the movie." The last bit he said to himself. "Wait? What? Like the Ryan gosling thing where he picked up Emma Stone in 'Crazy Stupid Love?' His move?" She was chuckling at him. He could feel the color in his cheeks- he might be the color of a ripe tomato. "Is it so cheesy?" He kinda knew it was, he could be a little cheesy. But most people liked cheese, it was the hardest part about eating vegan for him. "I mean, you could melt it on bread and call it dinner, but everybody likes grilled cheese. "Cheese toastie, “ he corrected. He liked the way she was biting her lip. "What?" "Does it work?" Her brows flashed, and she'd leaned into him closer.  "The move." Harry shrugged. He wasn't sure how to say the next bit without sounding like a total ass. "It's always worked for me, especially if the girl has seen the movie! What? Why are you laughing at me?" Ada took a full 30 seconds to get herself together. He thought he saw a tear at the corner of her eye. "Sorry, Sorry, it's just.. why do you have a move anyway, couldn't you just say 'I'm Harry Styles’' and get laid?" "It's really not that easy, and if it is I don’t want it!" He was a little offended, but he knew what she meant. Her mouth opened a little bit and he bit his tongue when she leaned in like she was gonna share a secret. He wasn't sure whose secret.   "You like the chase?" God her mouth was really close to his, and she tasted like vodka and verve. "Um," shit if he just licked his lips it might count as a kiss. "I like to earn it." He could feel how true that was, though he wasn't sure he could have articulated it before. Like learning an instrument, or winning an audition after a long process. He knew he could have most things he wanted, and he was a little insecure about why he got things, so he liked it when he knew, no shadows of doubt, that he earned them. He wanted to earn Ada, he thought he might have a shot now. Ada cocked her head to the side, pursed her lips and nodded. Then stood up and took her hand off his, "Well, then I’m gonna need a little less conversation and a little more action."  

He should have followed her out.

Her wink on the way out the door kept him rooted in the booth.