#hello 8am crowd i hope we’re all doing well today

[adhdandcomics]

moving to a city with public transport after driving your entire life & also having bad bad time blindness or whatever is wild because every time i go anywhere Without Fail i think i can move faster on the scheduled, consistently paced trains than gps says i can. and of course i’m wrong about this but maybe we should give it a go one more time

[queen-rogah]

Chasing Dreams - Part 10

A Queen AU Series

Series summary: In the year of 1971, you dreamed to be the best musician/performer that you'll ever be. And upon achieving your dream, you have met the four musicians that would surprisingly help you to chase your dreams. The story of you and the rising band is deeply life-changing, and even finding love would get in the way, but all you have to do in chasing those dreams is to always face the consequences...

In this chapter: You went to the record shop to meet Tommy, if he's still offering the job. Your first performance and Queen's comeback performance in Crown & Anchor will happen tonight. Freddie and Victoria brought all of you in a nightclub to celebrate. Roger asked you about something important...

Warnings: language, fluffs, mild angst

Word Count: 5.4k+ words

Note: I can't believe we're on part 10 and actually this series will be longer than I expected, but I'll still be making some small fics here and there :) And there will be slow updates by now since I'm back in school again and I need to study too (it's already my last year in high school) so yeah, I hope you guys understand :)

MASTERLIST OF CHASING DREAMS SERIES

♡♡♡ PART TEN: "THE PERFORMANCE NIGHT" ♡♡♡

"Thanks for driving me here Roger."

You hop out of the van while clutching your resume inside your hands. You closed the car door behind you as you looked at the record shop in front of you. Universal Sounds is the name of the record shop, and the best thing is Crown & Anchor is just blocks away from this record store.

"Hey love," Roger called, leaning over from the inside of the van. "Tell Tommy that he should come over by the pub tonight for the performance. I've never seen that bloke for a long time."

"Yeah, sure Rog." You smiled.

The blond drummer grinned at you, "Good luck out there love. Tommy is a great guy, I swear you'll be getting that job in no time." He said.

"Let's see if the job is still vacant, I really hope so. Now go, you'll be late for your Horticulture thingy." You giggled.

"See you tonight. Can't wait to see you on that stage Y/N, you'll bloody kill it." He playfully winked at you.

You're trying to hide your blushing cheeks from him. So, you just slowly stepped away from his van as you waved goodbye to him as he drives away from the street. You sighed deeply, exhaling all the inhibitions from your body and finally stepped forward, entering the shop. You heard faint sounds of music playing, seeing that it's from the studio where anyone can play and listen to any records that they like.

They're playing Elvis.

This place is like a wonderland to you, seeing every kind of records that you can't afford. Only the Hendrix records back at your home are only passed down to you from your older cousins before. You've visited record shops back in West Hampstead since you're a little one and those shops are just small shops, but this record shop. It's different.

It's so large and wide where almost every records are here.

You stopped looking through every aisles in this shop as you approach the girl in the counter, who's reading the magazine. You put up a toothy smile as you stood in front of her.

"Hi." You spoke. She just looked up to you with those tired, tired eyes. "Is Tommy Muller here? I need to speak to him."

"Tommy only gets to speak with people he knows, and I don't think he knows you. Hm?." She squint her eyes as she just gave you a straight smile, going back in reading the magazine.

She's rude.

"Well, his friend Brian May said to me that Tommy needs a new employee here in this shop. And I am that person that wants to talk to him because I just want to ask if the job is still vacant." Your voice raised until the end of the sentence. The girl just had her jaw agape at you as she puts the magazine down, going towards the door by the right side of this room.

An entrance to an office.

You've waited for a couple of minutes, tapping your nails on the counter while waiting. The song changed, replacing Elvis to The Supremes. Your head tilts up when the door finally opened, seeing a man--maybe around Freddie's age, wearing that brown velvet jacket and flares. He's too young to be a manager in this kind of business though.

"Hello, you must be Y/N Y/L/N." He approaches you, reaching out his hand to you as you happily shake it.

"And you must be Tommy. Nice to meet you." You smiled at him, not looking at the girl behind him whilst she is still eyeing you up and down.

It's like she's threatening you to step back from this attractive man before you.

"Brian called me earlier this day and told me all about you love," He said, pulling his hand from you, "It's been the second week that we are finding new employees here. You're lucky one of them left just by last Saturday..."

Your face lit up, "So that means, the job is vacant?." You excitedly asked.

Tommy chuckles, "It is. And probably we'll need someone to get behind the cash register and put on some price tags here and there, maybe sort records in their genres--"

"--I'll take it Tommy. I'll do everything that you just said. Maybe I'll start by Saturday, if you'll like--because I have uh...some performance every Friday nights, so Saturdays shall do fine..." You stuttered, wanting to convince him.

"Is she serious?--" The girl complained but Tommy lifts up his hand to shut her up. She did shut up. Her pesky little mouth zipped close for good.

"Can you please stop complaining for once Charlotte. It's our new employee we're talking to right now." Tommy smirks as he finally gave his hint. You gasp that you got in, without any exception. Without giving him your own fucking resume.

"D-do you need my resume? Maybe read my experiences? Or uh interview me or anything?." You vigorously asked him.

"This is just a small local record shop love, not a company with a huge building and hundreds of employees. You start Saturday, take the daytime shifts. Charlotte, take the night shift from now on." Tommy commands as you uncontrollably smile before him. Charlotte rolled her eyes as she groan in annoyance, but continues reading on her magazine while holding that cigarette between her fingers. Ashes falling down the laminated wood of the counter.

"Thank you so much Tommy. And actually, Roger invites you to come by in Crown & Anchor to watch us play. He misses you though." You grinned.

"Hm, I miss that blondie also. I'll see if I'll come by tonight. Best of luck to you also for your performance. But remember, 8AM sharp by Saturday, you'll be accompanied by another employee. I forgot her name already, but you'll meet her tomorrow." Tommy babbles his mouth as he adjusted his coat.

"8AM on the dot, I'll be there."

...

"I got the job!." You exclaimed when you soon stepped in the flat, just to see Freddie sitting by himself in the living room watching the telly.

"You did?," He beamed, standing from the sofa and immediately gave you the warmest hug. "Good for you darling! When are you going to start?." He asked.

"Tomorrow at 8, and Tommy is such a nice guy. I can't believe he's so young to manage that place." You said while getting your coat off and put it on the wooden chair by the window where Freddie would sit and write some songs by himself sometimes.

"I remember Tommy before when he first saw us perform for the very first time. He's so close to Brian, more like brothers already. He's also supportive back then, but when his father died and he became the heir of the record shop business, he stopped going to pubs and just think about the shop." Freddie stated, finding his way back in his seat again. You also sat on the sofa and sadly smiled.

"That's just great because he's still making sure that the record shop is still alive, for his father, of course." You replied, staring blankly at the telly with a random tv show playing.

You and Freddie slowly sighed deeply as you both fell into an awkward silence, never having an idea to bring up another topic. Only the ticking of the clock was being heard between you two.

"So? Where's Vicky? I thought the dresses will be done by now so that she'll come with us tonight?." You asked him.

You heard him sigh. Deeply.

"She's working to the bone. I tried calling her at work but she's not answering. Maybe too busy." Freddie replied. You sighed too as your hand dropped on his shoulder, patting him for the comfort.

It's just so sad to see Freddie feeling sad about the person he loves be so busy that their time together is already limited. And that thought just made you remember of Jonathan, where you still haven't talked to him in days. From those countless days that you've been spending with him before have turned into nothing now.

"Hey, don't be sad now Freddie. I'm pretty sure she'll come by in the pub tonight. I really want to see her too since it's my first performance." You chuckled. Then you see him smile now.

He looks at you with that same warm smiled on his face, "I'm lucky to have you as a friend darling." He replied.

You heart softens as you clutched your hand on your chest like you've felt the wave inside of your ribcage.

"And you too Fred."

...

Roger, John, Brian and Rosalie came by in Freddie's place in hours before the performance tonight. They talked about their setlist and also your own setlist. You're all here in the living room, Brian and Rosalie are sitting far away from each other as you realized they have not interacted that much today, maybe had another fight again. John was playing Freddie's acoustic guitar while sitting on the floor just beside the sofa. You and Roger are both on the sofa with your legs rested on his lap while he paid attention to what Brian was saying. You're writing down and editing your setlist. Putting on songs from Elton John by now, the same from The Beatles and obviously from Hendrix. You're still thinking about putting on your own songs. Maybe the crowd won't like your songs and have second thoughts about you. Maybe they'll just judge you.

Your worst nightmare.

"I can't believe this is the first band discussion as Queen." Freddie entered the room with the lemonade he's been making for minutes from the time the boys went in.

"So, we still keep the same setlist?." Brian asked as he tapped the pencil on his lap. You also caught him glance at your sister who's being silent.

You're suspicious.

But you just kept your mouth shut, minding your own business.

"What about this?." You spoke, leaning over to Roger as you gave him your journal with your songs. He looked at it and watch him write on the paper. You look over to see he put Hendrix as your opening song, the same song you've sang back at your father's pub where the boys heard and saw you perform before.

"Always start off with a song that everybody is in love with. I know Tiny Dancer is one of those, but the tune is too soft to be the opening song." Roger said and you agreed. Ever since you heard Tiny Dancer on the radio, you automatically fell in love with that song. It's just two weeks since it's release but you already memorized the lyrics.

"And also put your own songs. It'll be a waste if you don't." He suggested.

Of course you shake your head.

"No. That will never happen." You laughed, snatching your journal from his hand and again lean back on the armrest of the sofa, your legs resting on his lap again.

"How can you be the perfect performer if you don't have the confidence to share your own songs?." Roger defended his side. Your eyebrows raised.

"I'm not the perfect performer Rog, and I'm scared about the audience. What if they won't like my song? That'll be an embarrassment." You replied.

"No it won't." Roger again interfere.

"Yes it will."

"No it won't."

"Yes it will--"

You and Roger soon stopped arguing like little children when the others are looking at the both of you. Silence was created among them as your cheeks turn into a red shape as you see Freddie smirking like crazy between the two of you.

"Aren't you two adorable? Arguing like a real couple." Freddie teased as your blush became worse.

"Shut up Fred." You broke off a laugh as you push him away. John and Brian was also laughing at your blushing face. Only Rosalie was silent, but had a smile on her face as she watches you and Roger blushing.

...

Only two hours left before the performance will happen. You all are already in Crown & Anchor, waiting for your turn. Queen will perform first before you, so after their performance they can guide you while you're on stage in front of strangers with their eyes only on you as they listen to you sing your songs. The others are standing by the stage as they watch the performers finish their gigs too while you're outside, here in the payphones with your guitar in your left hand as you're holding the phone with your right.

You're speaking with your father again, luckily Jonathan was there with him back home.

"I'm hearing loud noises in your background dear. Are you already preparing on stage?." Your father asked, the excitement in his voice was present.

"No, their phones are actually outside the place but it's just so amazing that you can still hear the band playing inside." You chuckled. "And in just two damn hours, I'll be standing on that stage already as I sing the songs in front of them."

You fell into deep silence and deeply sighed.

"I don't know if people will like it or not." You added. Your back soon lean back on the wall, the cord of the phone is already dangling from it's case.

"They will love it Y/N, just like how the people did here. Remember when you're just a 17-year-old girl who wants to perform on stage?." Jonathan spoke, already missing his voice. You can't stop smiling as you let out a dry chuckle.

"Yeah, I remember..." You replied. Your eyes soon became glassy as the small tears rolled down your cheeks. You can't explain what emotions have you been exerting right now if it is happiness or sadness.

Maybe it's just in between.

"Now you're there, in a place where mostly people doesn't know you. You will perform well, like you did back home. If you ever feel the doubt about yourself, just think of the stage there as your small stage in the train station before, only with a bigger crowd." Jonathan stated, trying to comfort you. It's really true that he's the only one that can comfort you with only his words. And you're lucky to be his best friend and someone that is important in his life.

"God, I miss you so much Jonathan." You snifled, wiping away your tears as you start laughing to let out the sadness out of you.

"I miss you too Y/N, when will you come home?." He asked. Again.

You took an intake of breath, "Soon Jonathan. I'll come home." You replied.

The back door soon opened to reveal Roger looking out then see you here in the payphones, "Y/N, you need to come inside now and check the stage." He said.

"Okay, hold on one sec--Hey Jonathan, I need to go, take care back there and always look after mum and dad. Love you and miss you so much." You replied fast.

"Take care also Y/N, love you--"

The payphone already cuts off the phonecall.

And you didn't wait for Jonathan to reply earlier. You just left.

...

You're already behind the stage, hands tightly gripping your guitar. The boys are there for you, motivating you so that you can't overthink about the negative side of your upcoming performance in an hour. They will be the first to perform before you, so that's why Deacy is already holding his bass, Brian on his red special, and Freddie with his own mic.

Roger is missing in action.

"Just remember darling, just enjoy the performance later just like you did in the your stage back in your hometown. You'll be bloody amazing." Freddie said while gripping your shoulder. You smiled at him and appreciated his comfort.

"Thank you Freddie, now go and wow the crowd." You chuckled as you playfull pushed him away from you. Your heart warms up when you see his teeth--his additional incisors, in view in front of you. He put on his fashionable leather gloves on as he took his mic again, inhaling and exhaling all his inhibitions on stage.

You turn around, only to meet Roger holding his drumsticks and see that he had changed to his stage clothes. Which made your eyes widen up and your heart skipped a beat.

He's standing there, wearing that floral top, all buttons undone where you can see his chest, slightly glistening with sweat since it's a bit hot in this pub. Those tight leather pants aren't helping either, you can't stop looking down south.

Until you snapped out of yourself when you the band that is performing earlier went back here as their voices boomed in, congratulating themselves in their successful gig. The boys are already up next. And then you'll be up next.

"Ready boys?." Freddie spoke as they nod their heads. You watch them enter the stage one by one.

But Roger left for a second, feeling his hand drop on your lower back. Chills ran down your spine.

"Wish me good luck." Roger said as you nod your head in response, tongue tied because of his breathtaking aura. He soon entered the stage as his appearance swoon the ladies in the crowd. Hearing them squeal in happiness to see the Roger Taylor again in the stage of Crown & Anchor.

"It's good to be back here again in Crown & Anchor. For those who didn't know, this is the place where we had our first gig as a band and a few of you knew us as Smile, right?," Brian spoke in his mic as he heard several people agreed to him, smiles plastered on different faces. "And now, we are here tonight to introduce ourselves as Queen. Our new name."

"That's right." Freddie proudly interfere.

"Let's do this," Brian said to the boys as they played their first song. Watching them with awe like the very first time that you have seen them on stage. Still have that glitter and that strong stage presence.

You enjoyed their music while hanging out backstage throughout their performance. And you didn't felt nervous ever again when you're hearing the people enjoying the songs. You just remember their words to you before you will go on stage. Just like Freddie said, imagine that you are on stage of your father's pub in front of the people you knew while performing.

You know you could do it.

In the middle of their performance, you peek out again to watch them perform and suddenly see a familiar face watching from a distance. You heard his howls as he bangs his head and dances with the heavy tune of the beat.

It's Tommy, together with a friend who wrapped his arms around him in pure excitement when Queen ended another song--and they have a bunch of good-looking girls around them.

He's having a time of his life.

Several minutes later, they finished their gig and heard the people applauded them and finally see them got backstage again, looking haggard and worn out by playing. You stood up from the amplifier that you're sitting on as you took your guitar again.

"We'll be down there to watch you darling, see you in a bit." Freddie said as him and Deacy left backstage, with also Deacy wishing his luck to you.

Roger and Brian left behind.

You can't explain how awkward you're feeling right now.

"Good luck out there Y/N, give the people what they want." Brian smiles at you, then suddenly felt his hands took a hold of your shoulder.

"Thank you Brian." You said, almost like a whisper as you watch him left the room too. Following Freddie and Deacy.

Then again you faced the blond drummer, "Wish me luck also?." You playfully smirked at him as he chuckles.

He approaches you, never stopping him in putting his hands on either side of your hips. He held you there like your body belongs to him. "Good luck love." He said and he winked at you before following behind the others.

Now you're all alone and you think you're all set. You took a deep breath before stepping on stage, finally facing these unknown faces in your whole life. You stood in front of the mic, lightly tapping it to test if there's sound, but the loud hissing sound from the speakers annoyed the audience as you mumbled sorry.

Some people are already leaving the pub, some aren't paying attention.

And yet you still sang, because it's your beginning and you need to start it with a positive vibe from the audience.

"Oh, remember the mocking bird, my baby bought. He used to sing for his supper, baby..." You softly sang the first verse, hands also softly strumming the guitar.

Your rendition tonight was slower than you did before and more emotions have been exerted. You look around the crowd--the crowd that became lesser than earlier. You can also see some people grew interest to you as they stayed behind while drinking on their usual drinks.

Then the other verses came, your energy revved up as you played the guitar with the original groovy beat of the song. Hips swaying around as you watch the people now smiling up at you on this stage. You saw the boys watching you in the audience with proud hearts. You have seen Roger who have his eyes only locked at you, watching you once again do your passion--back in the old pub, back in your small place in the train station.

You finished the song with the people clapping their hands to you. You took a deep breath before gripping the mic, pulling it close to your mouth again.

"I hope you all are having fun tonight, so here's a song that's been my favorite at the moment..." You spoke as you strummed your guitar again. You have practiced the chords of this song as you feel the deep stares of the audience as you skillfully played the guitar.

"Blue jean baby, L.A. lady, seamstress for the band. Pretty eyed, pirate smile, you'll marry a music man..." You sang with your soft voice again and suddenly heard them sang along with you on this soft melodic song.

You got in the chorus part, seeing the people sway around with the melody. The people who just came in joins into the crowd. You look over to the boys--who are gazing at you while you're slowly shining up on-stage. You also saw Robert joins in with them as he fix his eyes on you, then a smile soon came up his lips.

You finished your song. Never expecting some people will clap for you.

You ended your performance, but didn't even sang your own songs.

...

"Oh darling you did so good up there!." Freddie soon embraces you when you join in with them in the crowd. The others also praising you as you thank them over and over. First performance of your life here has been a great start.

"Y/N...I--you did so good, you're perfect but," Roger spoke as he held your hand, pulling you with him to get a short distance from the boys. "Why didn't you sang your songs? You even put it on your set." He frowned.

"I'm too scared to sing it..." You sighed.

"That's not an excused. If you're scared to sing it in front of these strangers, then why did you sang your song to me comfortably before?." He asked.

Your lips closed in a thin line as you stare at the ground, then back up looking in his eyes again. "Because you're not a stranger to me Roger. I know you, that's why I'm comfortable singing my own songs to you."

You saw Roger's eyes softens as a smile breaks off his lips, he sighs and slides his hands in yours again. "You really are something Y/N." He whispers.

"Yeah?." You smiled.

He nods. Still have that smile on his face.

That tension between you and him thickens as you watch him slowly leans over to you, his hands that are holding your hand earlier went to your waist. You're feeling his warm breathing, inching closer and closer.

Until, "Y/N! There you are!." Someone interrupts the moment that causes you and Roger to jump away from each other.

It's Robert who's approaching. You look over to Roger who is visibly blushing before you, making a giggle escape your lips.

"Y/N, thank you for that wonderful set earlier. You're a hidden gem yeah?." Robert gave you a sweet kiss on the cheek as you blushed in his words.

"Oh shut up Robert. I'm just a medium talent. Nothing biggie." You wave off your hand to him.

"Enough with that humble-jumble. You are insanely breathtaking on that stage. Keep it up. See you all next Friday again." Robert eyed you and the boys before leaving you all here to talk with everyone else he knows in this room.

Before you can even talk to Roger again and wanted to finish off what you're both starting earlier, someone from behind suddenly picked you up off the ground as you squealed in shock. Your heart almost dropped when you heard that familiar laugh.

"Tommy, this isn't funny! You almost gave me a heart attack!." You squeak and he finally lets you go. You faced the man that happens to be your boss in your job and he have his friend beside him that's been with him earlier while you and Queen are performing.

"But you didn't and I'm proud of you love! even though we just met earlier this morning." Tommy said and gave you a huge kiss on the cheek. "And oh! How rude of me, this is William--or Will, one of my closest friend." He motioned on his friend beside him.

"Nice to meet all of you. You all had an amazing performance." He compliments as you all thanked him.

"Thank you." You all thanked him. Then Freddie soon offered Tommy and William a drink as they toast. You chose not to be intoxicated tonight since you're having your first job tomorrow morning. You don't want to suffer in that hangover.

But Tommy is drinking. You said in your mind.

"Hi everyone!." That familiar voice came in and see Victoria, who had her arms open. Freddie darted his look to her as he rejoiced, hugging her first then gave her a sweet and passionate kiss.

Your heart always warms up to the both of them.

"Vicky! I'm so glad you came! But you missed our performances though." You approach her as she pulls you in a warm hug.

"There will be another Friday night though, but still, I'm sorry I'm so late." She sighs.

"It's fine Vicky. We're still glad you're here, even though you're late." You grinned and again pull her in an embrace.

After celebrating for a bit in the pub, Vicky soon called you all in for another celebratory round in a nightclub down the street. Tommy and William with their girl-friends tag along too. The loud pumping beat of groovy songs envelopes the whole room filled with people in any age. Freddie and Victoria excitedly entered this nightclub and find some table for us. John came with Tommy and William as they chat away. Brian and Rosalie looked alright tonight, they have their hands tied as your sister pulled his boyfriend to Freddie and Victoria who found a round table by the corner of the room.

And you're all alone with the drummer again.

"So you're still thinking about not drinking tonight?." Roger asked. You face him and see his smirk on his face.

"I don't know Rog, maybe or maybe not." You chuckled. You both went to the table where they are and finally see the drinks have settled in. Each one of you have it's drink.

Roger turns his look at you, motioning you to take the drink.

And then you take the drink, smiling at them before you, "To our careers." You said.

"Cheers!."

...

You stopped at your third drink, even Roger stopped too. Just Freddie, Vicky and Tommy are wasted in the dancefloor. John, Brian, Rosalie, William and the girls are nowhere to be found in the nightclub. Maybe they have gone home, or just lost in the thick crowd. You're leaning against the bar counter, watching the people dance. Roger went to the loo.

The song changes up to Beatles. The crowd howls in happiness.

Glass Onion

Just in time Roger came back from the loo, your body itches to dance with the people in front of you. That's why you hold out your hand to him, a smile on your lips.

"Dance with me Rog." You said.

He shakes his head.

"I'm sorry love, but I don't dance." He apologizes. You frowned.

"Everybody can dance." You replied with your eyebrows furrowed at him.

"I don't want to embarrass myself in the dancefloor. Glass Onion is my favorite song actually but I really don't dance." He gave reasons. Now your hand lowered down, setting them on your hips.

"Suit yourself. You'll regret it someday." You teased him as he lightly chuckled.

You made your way in the dancefloor to Tommy who's enjoying his life while dancing with plenty of ladies around him. Such a ladies man.

"Tommy," You called him out as he whips his head to you, a drunken smile appeared on his lips. "Do you want to dance with me?."

He excused himself from the ladies as he took your hand without any word at all. He just spins you around and groove with the music. You laughed at his tipsy self when he's spinning you around because he's actually wobbling on his feet. Freddie and Vicky are living their own life. Happily in love.

"I think you need to sit down Tommy. Come on, off we go." You pat his shoulder as you help him lean over to you. You grip his waist as you led him to the bar where Roger is.

"What happened to him?." Roger asked.

"Too much alcohol. Obviously. And he have a record shop to run." You said. Setting Tommy down as you ordered water, then giving it to him.

Roger stared at you for a while. Watching you take care of Tommy, and how you are so concerned. He admires these little things to you. Your love of the people you care about it one of your best traits. And Roger saw that in you this instant.

"Y/N..." He mumbles. Under his breath.

And still you heard his mumble.

"Yeah?." You face him.

"Can I speak to you for a second? Alone? Tommy can take care of himself now." He said.

You looked at Tommy who already is sleeping on the counter. His hand still gripping the glass of water. You return your look on the blond drummer.

"Yeah, sure. I'll hear it."

__________________________ IT'S BEEN 3 MONTHS SINCE I EVER WROTE SOMETHING AND OH MY GOD IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME THOUGH.

But I can't promise you I will be updating the next chapter that fast because I'm still busy at most times at school and everything. But hey! I finally finished chapter 10 in 3 fucking months.

See you guys in a bit again!

___________________________

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@lilytalebi @luvborhap @ziggymay @kiwithekiwi @imgonnabeyourslave @deakysmisfire

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[thestanceyg]

@idontgettechnology, I hope you enjoy this mistaken identity ShieldShock!

Darcy’s entire life was her coffee shop. She had followed Jane to NYC when she had moved to Stark Tower, but less than a week after getting there, Darcy had seen the little shop for sale and couldn’t help herself. She still did some data entry and proofreading for Jane, but nearly every other minute of her time was spent in the shop. She kept odd hours, but that was part of why it worked. She opened at  8PM and closed at 8AM. She loved her late night crowd, usually students and couples, and her morning rush was full of busy people that always gushed about how necessary she was to their lives. She slept in the middle of the day, worked her butt off for 12 hours, and did it all again. Her night owls knew to ding the little bell when she was in the back with the roaster or doing her books, long ago getting over any anxiety about pulling her away from work. Which is also how she knew all of her regulars and their orders.

Johnny had started off as kind of a dick, but once he realized they were not going to ever go on a date, he had turned into a pretty decent guy. She was vaguely aware that she should know who he was, but she was pretty wrapped up in the coffee and Jane’s stars, so she didn’t bother learning. At first it annoyed him, but later he seemed to get a kick out of it.

“Darcy, I love that you don’t give a shit who I am,” he was sighing to her that night.

“Uh huh,” she said, focusing on her laptop screen. It was 3 in the morning and no one else was there.

“Seriously,” he said earnestly, which made her look up.

“What happened?”

“It’s just...I know where I stand with you.”

“Who hurt you, Storm?”

“Just another girl that was more interested in my name than me.”

Darcy frowned and got up. She pulled a brownie from her bake case and slid it toward him. “I can’t fix rude people, but I can give you brownies.”

“Are you sure you and I couldn’t give it a go?” He looked up at her, and the sincerity in his eyes stopped the joke she was about to make.

“Look at this,” she said waving her hand over the 600 square feet she called hers. “This is my entire life. I live in an apartment the exact same size because it’s directly above the shop. I never go anywhere because this is my everything.” Sometimes she wanted to get out, but her schedule and work ethic made that difficult.

“Why don’t you talk about life before the shop? I know you weren’t always here.”

“I can’t,” she said in a way that ended that line of conversation. Then, softer, she added, “Johnny, you like me because I’m safe, not because you actually want me. You’ll find someone soon.”

“Maybe,” he said, though without any real belief in the statement before pulling the brownie toward himself.

“I promise,” she said, thinking on Thor and Jane. “It will happen for you.”

“Could right now if you’d say yes,” he muttered to himself. She ignored it. She didn’t think he had meant for her to hear it. Whatever had happened must have been huge. She should consider dusting off her internet skills to find out what it was.

Two nights later he was back, but something was different.

“Hey Storm,” she called over her shoulder, already getting started on his regular toasted marshmallow latte.

His head cocked to the side for a moment, looking at her before saying, “Hi.”

She took the warm mug over to his usual table. He followed her and sat, an odd smile on his face.”What’s up with you today?” she asked. “You’re usually a lot snarkier than this when you come in.”

“Is that what you want me to do? Snark at you?”

Her eyebrows knit together. “I want you to be you, is all. Though I do enjoy a little verbal sparring. I’m convinced that is half of why you come by all the time.”

“Well, most people don’t expect me to be sassy.”

“Really?” she asked, incredulous. “Do they know you at all?” He shrugged his shoulders and she smiled before going back behind the counter. “You can bother me in half an hour,” she informed him. “That’s when I’ll be done with this data entry. Until then, enjoy your latte.” She could feel his eyes following her, which wasn’t new, but this time it felt different; warmer almost.

Thirty minutes later she emailed the data off to Jane and closed her laptop. Johnny hadn’t bothered her at all, which was a bit unusual, but not unwelcome. She was surprised to see him sitting at his table, latte forgotten to the side while he sketched. “I didn’t know you drew,” she called out to him. He startled and looked up at her. “Sorry!” she said, hands  up in a surrender pose. “I didn’t mean to scare you.” His cheeks had turned an adorable red. Since when had she considered a blushing Johnny adorable?

“I just got caught up in it.” he said shyly, motioning toward his notebook.

“Can I see?” she asked, not moving, but hoping he would say yes.

“Not yet,” he said, closing the book. “It’s not done.”

“But when it is…?”

“Sure,” he agreed with a crooked smile. “But I think I should warn you that most artists say their work is never done.”

“So really you’re saying no.”

“I didn’t say that.”

She laughed.”No, you just implied it.”

“I would have, if you knew what it meant for an artist to be done, but you didn’t so….”

“Jerk,” she said, balling up a napkin and throwing it at him.

He caught it and laughed. Her eyes were drawn to the pencil smudges on his hand, and she surprised herself by wondering what it would feel like holding hers. Would his hands be calloused? She turned away and busied herself with refilling the bake case. What was wrong with her tonight?

Whatever was wrong with her that night had been wrong all week. Johnny usually came in a few times a week, but it had been months since he had spent a full week with her. And every night she found something new that she was drawn to. One night it was his lips as he chewed on them while drawing, another night it was his thigh muscles that must have been poured into his pants. Later it was a wit that was more clever (and less vulgar) than she remembered, and last night it was his sweet embarrassment when her bra strap had snapped and she had pulled it out from under her shirt, cursing like a sailor. She didn’t know what to make of it, but somehow, in the course of a week, she had fallen for Johnny. Johnny who was walking in again tonight.

She smiled hello and started her hands working on his drink. “Umm,” he called out with an uncertainty that she hadn’t heard in his voice before. “I actually don’t want to drink that.”  Immediately her hand stilled. He was still near the door of the shop.

“Okay,” she said, unsure herself. “What would you like then?”

“I’m not who you think I am.”

“Yeah, I’m starting to get that, Johnny.”

He winced a little at his name before clearing his throat.  “I have a twin.” She wasn’t sure what to make of that, so she just stared at him. “Kind of,” he said, stepping a bit further into the shop. “We’re actually not blood related, but a lot of people mistake us all the time.”

“So you’re saying…” she said, then drifted off because she actually wasn’t sure what he was saying.

“I’m saying,” he said with guilt written on his face, “I’m not Johnny.” She opened and closed her mouth a few times, but couldn’t make words come out. “I’m so sorry Darcy,” he said, the words coming out in a rush now. “I lost a bet to him, and he made me come in and pretend to be him that first night. But it was only supposed to be that first night. But then you were so sweet and I couldn’t help but come back and I just let it go on much longer than it should have, and I told myself I had to make it right because I needed you to know this week has been one of the best of my life.”

He wasn’t Johnny. She hadn’t fallen for Johnny; she had fallen for this man before her now, which somehow made so much more sense than falling for Johnny ever could have.

“I thought I was going crazy,” she said softly. “I didn’t get why I could suddenly have feelings for someone who had only been a friend.”

“Have feelings…?” he asked delicately, stepping closer.

“I think so, especially now that I know you’re not Johnny.”

“I, uhm, wanted to show you this,” he said, licking his lips and coming up to the counter. He opened his notebook and turned it toward her, sliding it over. She looked down and it was her. She was beautiful. He had made her look like best version of herself. She could tell from the quirk of her lips that she had just said something funny and a little dirty, and that he could capture her so well she would know that was amazing.

“You made me so pretty,” she said, eyes still on the page.

“I just drew what I saw,” he said, tilting her head up with a gentle finger on her chin.

“I don’t know your name,” she whispered.

“Steve,” he said, his eyes dipping to her lips.

“Steve?” she asked.

“Yes?”

“Are you going to kiss me now?”

“Is that what you’d like?”

“Very much so.”

His lips slowly pressed to hers, soft and caste, his hands moving to her cheeks as her hands wrapped behind his neck, pulling him closer and deepening the kiss. She heard his sharp intake of breath before his lips parted and he enthusiastically enjoyed the turn the kiss had taken.

The bell over the door rang, and they sprang apart. Darcy peeked behind Steve and squealed. “Jane!”

Jane gave a big smile. “Sorry to interrupt, but you kept saying I hadn’t visited, so I decided to change that.” Suddenly Jane did a double take. “Oh hi Steve! I didn’t know you two knew each other.”

“Wait, you know Steve?”

Jane gave her a look. “Of course I do.” When Darcy still looked confused, Jane added, “He works with Thor?”

“You what?” she demanded from Steve.

He shrugged. “I do. Do you not know who Johnny is?”

“Johnny Storm?” Jane asked. “That’s the Johnny that’s always in here?”

“Yes? Why? What does that mean?”

“Oh my god, D,” Jane sighed. “You need to get out of here more often. Johnny is the Human Torch and Steve is Captain America.”

Darcy’s eyes grew wide. “Holy shit. So much stuff makes sense now.”