This story is a combination of the show Leverage and the movie "Love Song" that starred Christian Kane (who played Billy Ryan) and the R&B singer Monica (who played Camille Livingston). It's a really cute movie so look it up on YouTube.
The song used in this story so far is Angel of Mine by Monica so if you play it, it does match the story and that is voice of the character Camille. And in case anyone is wondering, this is not a song fic. Music played a big role in the movie "Love Song" so it is fitting for it to be in this fic. Thanks for reading
-Original Max A
Eliot smelled the sweet spice in the air that made New Orleans one for the most unique places on the planet. Whatever French he had picked up and retained, he had learned from here. The last time he had been in New Orleans, it had been for a job. There wasn't enough time for him to get nostalgic.
He went by some of this old hangout spots, the gas station he used to work at and some of his favorite clubs. Although it had been 4 years since Katrina, there was still evidence that things had never completely returned to normal. Xaiver University, a historically black college across the street from the gas station, still housed some of the prettiest girls this side of the Mississippi, but it looked like a third of the campus was still not operational.
Eliot walked on and decided to run by Thelma's, a blues club where he used to play under the name Billy Ryan. He missed those times, in the late nineties, when most people knew him as an up-and-coming blues musician. Many people, including several local legends, complimented his talents and soulful performances. Back then, he didn't have any fame or influences outside of a few block and bars, but that was how he liked it. The New Orleans music community was small, but full of creative energy that pulled from a variety of genres and cultures, just like the city itself.
In those days, his guitar was his best friend as opposed to his fists that were just occasional allies. He had started his retrieval career back then also. He only worked part-time, taking a job or two every few months. It was just enough to keep him afloat when music and mechanics wasn't paying the bills.
He turned up the street and didn't see the sign that he had been expecting. Instead, over the door where he heard music sweetening the air, he saw his name. Or what used to be his name. The sign "Billy's Blues Bar" swung in the wind.
Although he was surprised, Eliot took sure, confident steps to the entrance of the bar. After being frisked for weapons (they didn't include his hands and feet), Eliot froze as he looked at the singer on stage. She was beautiful. Her smooth caramel skin gave her a warm radiance and she sang her heart out. Her defined arms gave her dance moves power as she grooved across the stage in her zebra-striped high heel boots. Her hair was short and styled… just like he remembered. The woman in front of him looked so much more at peace than the one who had broke his heart so many years ago by marrying another man.
She finished her song and Eliot joined in the long round of claps that let her know that her work was appreciated.
"Thank you," she said to the crowd, "I appreciate you all coming to Billy's. I'm Camille. I'm gonna let open mic night start in a minute, but can I sing one more song for you?"
The crowd roared in approval.
"Alright. This song is about one of those runaway romances. The forget-your-troubles, all-night, all day, I-only-go-to-sleep-so-I-can-dream-about-you kinda love and take it from me. If you ever find a love like that, don't let it go," she finished.
The music started with horns making themselves known followed by the bop of the drums. With her eyes closed, Camille nodded her head to music. She turned to face the audience. When she opened her eyes, she locked eyes with Eliot and missed her cue. Her band members looked at each other confused. Camille's dedication was legendary and she never gave anything less than a perfect performance. They started the intro again. Camille raised her hand up, silencing the band. She looked at them.
"Thank you," she said and looked back at Eliot, "But I think I'm going to do this own my own."
She cradled the microphone and let her soft, but powerful alto voice flow over the audience as she sang for the country boy with long hair in the back.
When I first saw you I already knew
There was something inside of you
Something I thought that I would never find
Angel of Mine
Eliot thought about the first time he met Camille Livingston. She had pulled into his gas station late at night with her girlfriends. She had started to pump her gas herself, but he saw her and walked over to help her out. It had been a long day at the garage and he still needed to play a gig that night, but he had been raised to be a gentleman so he wouldn't feel right about leaving a girl at his station by herself even if he had been ready to call it quits an hour ago. She was pretty so he couldn't help flirting with her a little bit, but his heart wasn't really in it at the time.
I look at you looking at me
Now I know why they say the best things are free
Gonna love you boy you are so fine
Angel of Mine
Later that night they ran into each other at Thelma's Blues Bar and he found out it was Camille's birthday. He had washed all of the grime off from the garage and reintroduced himself to Camille. He also played a song and dedicated a song to her that night, trying to get her to dance with him. He was feeling better so he thought it was a good time to make a better impression. She smiled at him more and he could read the slight dilation in her eyes so he thought he had accomplished his mission.
How you changed my world you'll never know
I'm here for now, you helped me grow
You came into my life
Sent from above
When I lost the hope
You show my love
I'm checkin for you
Boy your right on time
Angel of Mine
He had saw her again with her boyfriend as he was playing a gig at the same place where they were having a date. Her boyfriend waved him over and complimented on him on his playing. Eliot invited them both to see him play later in the week and he happily found out that Camille's boyfriend was going out of town for a week.
Nothing means more to me then what we share
No one in this world can ever compare
That night the way you moved is still on my mind
Angel of Mine
What you mean to me you'll never know
Deep inside I need to show
She came to his show alone and he spent the next week showing her the world. And he found out she had a killer voice and they shared a love for music, blues, jazz, salsa and everything in between. Every night, she got lighter, freer and he saw how her smile got brighter as they spent more time together.
I never knew I could feel each moment
As if they were new
Every breath that I take
The love that we make
I only share it with you
You, You, You, You
When I first saw you I already knew
There was something inside of you
Something I thought that I would never find
Angel of Mine
Although, they were great together, Camille had made it clear that she wasn't going to do anything that would jeopardize her relationship with her boyfriend, Calvin, and her parents loved him. So Eliot convinced her to sing with him to channel their obvious chemistry. They practiced and performed together and after one performance, Camille pulled him to her and kissed him. She had decided to be with him.
How you changed my world you'll never know
I'm here for now you helped me grow
Two days later, he had been expecting her to come by his place to rehearse with the band he had put together. Instead, she came with an engagement ring and a prepared speech about how happy her parents were. They fought and he never saw her again. He lost some of his love for music and took a job that he had been sitting on to Bolivia. The Camille he knew that been so closed and concerned about what others thought he couldn't believe it was the same woman who was singing to him right now. But it was her and she was radiant.
I look at you looking at me
Now I know why they say the best things are free
Checkin' for you boy your right on time
Angel of Mine
Quiet tears fall from Camille's eyes as she left her exposed heart on stage. The crowd was silent as she walked down the stairs to the audience floor. She bumped by the people until a hand clasped hers. She looked up. Eliot looked at her in a way that warmed her spirit and rebuilt the connection that they shared. Her eyes softened and shoulders relaxed as she looked into his eyes. She smiled, soft and sweet with the aura of a sudden and beautiful revelation, like the first time she kissed him.
"Billy," she said softly. Eliot pulled her in close to him, unsure if he was every going to let her know that the man she fell in love with and loved her in return never really existed.
