Title: Cinderella Nottingham
Author: Silver Sabine D.
Rating: PG 13
Summary: The three fairies of Disney's Sleeping Beauty grant Ian three wishes, Chapter one
Disclaimer: ....Witchblade........blah bla bla bla....Top Cow......bla........TNT.........and so on and so on (wish I could say it belongs to ME sigh)
Spoilers: nope....
Cinderella Nottingham
Chapter 1
"Ouch…!" A voice shouted in the dark.
"Shhh, be quiet!!" A second voice hissed from beneath the first voice.
"I am quiet!! I was merely uttering a soft remark about the pain I just suffered!" Answered the first voice.
"Oh, beg your pardon! You wouldn't mind suffering SILENTLY the next time, would you??" The second voice asked sarcastically.
"Very well, if you want me to suffer again! You do wish me to be hurt, don't you? You are such a mean person….!" Voice number one this time definitely sounded insulted.
"I am not mean! I only wanted to tell you to be quiet! We don't want to wake him!" The second voice became louder with every word.
"Would you two please shut up at once? I can't stand your whining any longer! We are here for a special purpose AND we don't want to scare the boy. So please, could you two at least try to behave according to your age?" A third voice announced and this voice showed that the owner seemed to really not be amused at all.
"I am sorry, Rosemary Elisabeth, it won't happen again…" The person with voice number one sounded, as if she whished to be very very far away from voice number three, from which we just learned it belonged to a Rosemary Elisabeth.
(To makes things easier, we will call her RE from now on. I am a lazy author….)
RE sighed. "All right then, Catherine Marguerite, but please remember to be silent now and watch your step so you keep from hurting yourself again."
Now voice number two started to speak. "Catherine Marguerite, you really think you can fly around this place without getting a cut from those swords over there?" Voice number two asked teasingly.
"Where are swords? Oh, Marian Brigitte, you mean these fine…. Ouch!!!"
"I knew it…." MB muttered.
"STOP THIS AT ONCE!!!" RE exclaimed angrily.
(Note by me (I am the AUTHOR), did I already mention that I am a lazy person? So Marian Brigitte will from now on be MB and Catherine Marguerite will be BA. Ok ok, just kidding…we call her CM. By the way, who gave those lovely ladies these stupid names??)
The three ladies slowly approached the bed that was standing in the room. The person in that bed was stirring around, the face showing distraction. So maybe that person heard their quarrelling, although it was unlikely. They were only tiny little flying fairies, none of them being larger than 2 inches and so their voices were not more than a low whisper of the wind.
But for a trained bodyguard even wind was seen as a potential danger, especially when it suddenly appeared in a closed room.
Ian Nottingham did not open his eyes, he pretended to be still sleeping so he could figure out what was going on. He soon heard that whisper again and because of his enhanced hearing he was able to decipher words from it.
"Oh my god, RE, you woke him up!" CM uttered aghast.
"Naaah, the boy is still sleeping. See, his eyes are closed!" RE spoke these words, but she seemed not to believe them for herself.
"He is not a BOY!" MB was furious.
"Yes he is!" RE answered.
"No he is not!" Came back at once from MB.
RE frowned, what was it with MB today? "Look MB, that boy is just a little older than a toddler…"
MB interrupted her at once "RE, you only have to look at him to see that he is not a boy! He is an adult, a grown man!"
"MB, what is your problem? Why are you so possessed with him being a grown man?"
RE shot a stern look in MB's direction.
That was the time for CM to give her great performance. "RE, I think I know...Well, MB, you already looked at him, right? MB watched him in the shower yesterday…. Sooooo, MB, is he really a grown MAN?" Her voice sounded like the purr of a cat that just managed to gobble down delicious cat food with a topping of cream on it. With a plop she vanished, when MB bolted in her direction to kill her right away.
Watching the ceiling and desperately counting from 1 to 10 to remain calm, RE was the first to notice, that Ian has opened his eyes and was staring at them.
"Ähm…Ladies…he's awake now…"
All three of them turned in his direction at once.
"Who… What are you?" Ian seemed to be bemused.
"Well, young lad, we are the three wise fairies and we are here for granting you three wishes!" RE was flying nearer, so he would be able to get a better view of her.
Ian only stared at her.
"…Aahhhhmm..... Hallo? Did you hear what I just told you?"
No answer, Ian was still staring.
"RE, maybe he is sleeping again." CM flew beneath RE, watching Ian cautiously.
"I know a way to wake him up!"
Before RE or CM could react, MB was already flying straight in Ian's direction and stopped directly in front of his face. With a vicious grin she kicked Ian right between the eyes.
"Oh oh..." RE and CM were shocked.
But nevertheless, the kick worked. Ian started to blink his eyes and slowly looked from one fairy to the next one.
"Fairies? But..... They belong in tales, you know, in FAIRY tales!! You are not supposed to be here!" Ian's voice was hoarse. His mouth seemed to be as dry as the Gobi desert.
"Ah well, here we go again. MB, tell him the truth." RE said, obviously not in a truth-telling mode. They had played rock-paper-scissors before entering Ian's room and MB had lost. So now she was the lucky one to tell a story about people loosing their faith in all things mystic, supernatural, and esoteric. And about the fact that they could only 'work' for one really special person every year.
"....That person had to be honest, faithful, caring and sexy...."
"MB, stop it AT ONCE!" RE was furious. Next time she would be telling the story again.
"Well Ian, see, it's like this: You are the chosen one for this year, so we have the opportunity to fulfill three wishes of yours. Think wisely, young man, for the wish can not be taken back without using another wish for that reason!" RE put on her most solemn face as she spoke.
Ian was stunned. And amazed. And proud. He was chosen! He was special! He had never even dared to think of himself as something special. He always knew he was different but that 'different' had a slightly negative touch. He was no normal man and Irons never got tired of telling him that he had been created and was only there to serve him and that he was unworthy of even being paid attention to.
'But, nevertheless. Fairies? Like elves and gnomes and dwarfes and unicorns? And even dragons? They all do not exist in reality! Well, the black dragons do, sort of....As well as a mystical bracelet turning into a gauntlet and a Blade....oh boy...the fairies could be real!'
And now these wise fairies told him he was special! His thoughts were whirling around.
'If only his fair lady Sara could hear this... If only... Wait! That's it!'
"May I express my first wish now? How should I do this? Do you wish me to say any essential phrases for the wish to be granted?" Ian's looked expectantly at the three fairies.
"You have to start with the words 'I wish...' " CM explained . She was really looking forward to learn what his first wish would be.
Ian cleared his throat and slowly started to speak. "I wish that Detective Sara Pezzini finally sees me as a man! She shall not visualize me as Irons pet, or a bodyguard, and certainly not as a stalker!" Puh, that was done. The first wish was on it's way.
"Oh, that is soooooooo sweet!" CM said with a sniff as she discretely wiped a tear from her eye.
Making herself really really huge (nearly 2 and a half inches now!), RE spoke as loud and dramatically as possible while lifting her arms in Ian's direction. "I now declare the games..."
"RE, wrong text!!!!"
"...Ooops, sorry lad, my memory is like Swiss cheese when I'm excited..." With a sheepish grin RE started over again.
"Ah... As I told before, I now declare this wish fulfilled!" And with a loud poof and a little bit of mist the three fairies vanished into nothing.
When Ian woke early the next morning, he wasn't sure anymore whether the three fairies had only been a dream or not. Well, he had no time to speculate about mystic persons. He had to go and watch Sara get up, go to work, stay at work, come back home after work, and rush to bed after doing a workout and watching a little bit TV. It sounded utterly boring, but Ian loved to watch over Sara. He loved her yawning in the morning. He loved the way she was stretching right after leaving her bed. He loved her running around with her toothbrush in her mouth and looking for things in her whole apartment. And he especially loved her happy smile when she put on her helmet and patted her Buell before rushing off to the 11th precinct. He was really looking forward to watching his beloved lady today.
With a satisfied smile Ian settled himself on the fire escape next to Sara's kitchen window. This was the place he stayed for hours every day to watch the wielder and to protect her when necessary.
Sara was still fast asleep when Ian reached her place and peeked into her room. Today, he wanted her to have a special day. Maybe the three fairies did only appear in his dream, but if so, maybe that dream had a meaning? Maybe that dream wanted him to start to feel confident. Or maybe that dream even wanted him to show Sara his love for her! Either way, it did not matter. Today, Ian wanted her to see him as the man he was – with emotions, feelings and even passion.
Slowly he opened her window and slid into the room. He went to the bed and stared at the sleeping figure that was lying there peacefully. Sara really seemed to be relaxed this morning. Ian carefully took off his gloves and put them into one of the pockets of the black coat he was wearing. Ever so carefully, he touched Sara's lips with his right hand, wishing for once that he would be allowed to kiss her.
Drifting away with his thoughts, Ian nearly jumped out of his skin and out of the window when Sara's alarm suddenly went off with the hammering drums of a band he remembered to be called 'Nightwish'.
(The author (that would be me) wants to announce, that 'Nightwish' is a wonderful Gothic-Rock-Band from Finland.
"Well, Sabine, you had your announcement. Could you go on with the story now?"
"Oh, MB don't stress her"
"I'm not stressing her!"
"Yes You are!"
"SHUT UP!!!!!!!!!!!!")
As every morning Sara nearly demolished her alarm clock before yawning and stretching and shuffling off to the bathroom. Being halfway to the bathroom her brain started to work properly and gave her the picture of something she had seen but actually not seen at the same time. Whirling around, she looked back to her bed. Lying there, next to her bed, was something black. Something that definitely didn't belong there.
Today was a special day. Today, Sara only needed 3 minutes to brush her teeth, comb her hair, and get dressed before she left her apartment. Today, she did not smile happily while mounting her Buell. No, today her grin was menacing like 'I-am-totally-pissed-so-don't-you-dare-to-even-look-at-me'. 'Who gave him permission to walk into my place any time he feels like it? He acts as if my place was fucking grand central station!' She thought to herself. Wasn't it enough that he followed Sara around always and everywhere? And that he visited her apartement now and then to annoy her with that stupid cryptic drivel? What the hell was Nottingham doing in her apartement while she was sleeping? How often had he been here before without her knowing of it? Watching her, maybe even....touching her? With a loud roar Sara made her bike jump to the street and nearly flew along the asphalt with the maximum speed that was possible on NY's streets.
"Where is he?!"
"Detective Pezzini, what gives me the pleasure of such an early visit from you?" Kenneth Irons asked, acting innocent as usual, his smile as arrogant and devious as possible. Sara barely withstood the urge to strangle him.
"Where is your little lapdog, Irons? Where is Nottingham?" She was furious and nearly spat his name in Irons direction.
"Sara, what has Ian done to earn such aggressive behavior from you?" His grin widened with every word he spoke.
Without a word, Sara held up the black glove she found in her apartment earlier. Irons smile became a little unsteady. "Where did you find that?"
"In my apartment!" Sara's voice was stone cold.
"IN your apartment?" Now Irons was fuming, Ian was absolutely forbidden to make contact with Sara without Irons telling him to do so. "Follow me Sara. Ian has something to explain!"
Irons paced so fast that Sara nearly had to run to be able to follow him. They went around several corners and through long halls and Sara soon lost orientation. She nearly bumped into Irons when he suddenly stopped in front of a wooden door.
"Ian!" Irons hammered his fist against the door and entered the room without waiting for a reaction from the inside. The room was empty. Looking around, Sara saw Ian's coat hanging from a coat hanger. Irons saw the coat as well.
"So, he is at home now..." He muttered to himself.
With a menacing smile, Irons darted forward and ripped the door to Ian's bathroom open. Sara followed him at once and stopped short, her eyes getting huge at the sight she saw in the bathroom.
Ian was standing there, dripping wet, right now using his towel to dry his hair.
Sara wanted to leave the bathroom, but she was unable to move. She felt a little... funny. For a splitsecond she saw a flash of lightning in front of her eyes, but it was gone before she even realized that she had seen something. Strangely enough, she felt the urge to step closer to Ian so she could touch those fine chiseled muscles of his chest, and his abdomen, and.... 'Oh my god!' Her mind was going crazy 'Breathe Sara... in... out... in.... out... in.....' How could such a gorgeous man hide himself under so many layers of black?
Sara's thoughts were interrupted, when Irons started to shout at Ian. "Ian, do behave yourself as you are trained! Position yourself in a proper way immediately!"
Ian blushed but did at once as he was told. He straightened his back, threw down the towel to clasp his hands behind his back, put his feet apart and dropped his head.
Sara was horrified. She never really noticed the way Irons treated Ian. Her anger at Ian vanished. Instead, she wanted to kick Irons right through the window, but she didn't dare. Suddenly, she realized that Ian would be the victim as well. In that single second before dropping his head, Sara saw Ian's eyes. She had seen a glance she hoped she would never see again.
It was the glance she had seen when looking at abused children and at thrashed women.
Ever so careful, Sara sneaked out of the bathroom and went to Ian's coat. Without a second thought she pushed the glove into the pocket with the other glove. Quietly, Sara moved herself away from the evidence and waited for Irons to finish his speech for Ian.
"...Don't you dare to lie into my face. I will prove this at once!! Show me your gloves right away!" Irons was fuming more and more.
Sara could nearly feel the embarrassment radiate from Ian as he walked to his coat to get the one glove as he tried in vain to hide his manhood behind his hands at the same time. He knew he would be punished hard this time; there was no way Kenneth Irons would allow him to disobey his orders.
Ian noticed at once that there were two gloves in the pocket of his coat and he had to force himself not to start smiling, for Irons would see that and jump to conclusions.
Slowly, Ian displayed the pair of gloves to Irons. Irons gaze was frozen! As he approached Sara, he had regained his self assurance again. "Detective Pezzini, I am really sorry, but as you can see, Ian is not the man you are looking for. Ian, I have to go to a meeting immediately, be so nice to walk Ms Pezzini to the door. Good bye Detective." And with that, Kenneth Irons rushed out of the room.
Sara turned around at once to look at the wall while Ian retreated to the bathroom to grab the towel he so desperately wanted. After wrapping the towel around his hips he started to speak with Sara.
"Sara, I thank you for not telling on me. Mr. Irons would have punished me for...." Ian's voice trailed off as he started to look at the floor again.
Sara slowly turned around to face Ian, getting angered again at the sight of him not daring to look into her eyes.
"Ian, stop looking down. Please, look at me" Carefully, Sara came closer to Ian. She was afraid that a sudden movement would scare him away like a shy animal. Gently, Sara placed the index finger of her right hand under Ian's chin and pushed his head up so she could look into his eyes. Into his beautiful, but sad, eyes. How come she didn't notice Ian's beauty before? This Ian was so different from the Ian she remembered. He was no menacing stalker right now and there was no way to see him as an emotionless creature anymore. He had a soul and a heart and feelings.
"Ian, I am so sorry for every.... Word.... For always yelling at you. I hurt you so much.... And I didn't even notice!" Sara felt terrible.
"Sara, please, it is me who has to apologize. You are the wielder now and that is a great responsibility you carry on your shoulders. I am there to protect you, to cover your back and to look after you. That is why I watch you all the time. But I was not supposed to come near you and to talk to you without being ordered. It was my duty to stay in the shadows. But I did not stay there.... I wanted to be near you, Sara. I am sorry for allowing my.... Feelings to disturb you. It will never happen again." Ian's voice was nearly inaudible now.
"Ian, you don't have to stay in the shadows. Maybe it would be a good idea to meet and to talk. I would like to learn more about the protector of the wielder. I want to know who Ian Nottingham really is..." Sara looked in Ian's eyes, eagerly waiting for his reaction. Would he accept her peace-offer?
"You really want to talk with me?" Ian didn't trust his ears. Minutes ago, Sara was ready to kill him with her bare hands and now she offered him the chance to show her who he really was! She wanted to see the man inside! So the three fairies really did fulfill his deepest wish! His fair lady Sara started to see Ian as a man. He never even dreamed of such a wonderful thing to actually happen to him! Ian couldn't stop a happy smile appearing on his face.
"Ian you should smile more often, it really suits you." Sara smiled at him as well. This seemed to be a good start for both of them. "But now, I'm afraid, I gotta go. I'm already late for work!"
"Then will you please turn around while I get dressed?" Ian's smile became deeper when he noticed Sara to blush after his questing. She was so beautiful when she blushed!
After her turning around, Ian quickly rummaged in his closet to grab underwear, socks, and what else he needed to get properly dressed and put it on.
"I only have to comb my hair..." With that, he disappeared into his bathroom again to return not much later with his locks neatly trimmed in a ponytail. Only one streak was framing his face, giving his appearance a somehow soft impression.
Minutes later they stood in front of the building, next to Sara's Buell. Sara turned to Ian and looked into his eyes, this time he did not withdraw his gaze. "Ian, how do you always know where I am? Did you bug my bike? Or my cell?"
"Sara, the wielder and the protector are always connected. I can feel where and how you are." Ian answered sincerely.
"WHAT?" Sara's good mood has just disappeared. "You can actually feel me? Like some kind of freaking radar?"
'Oh oh, Ian, you are in deep trouble now...' Ian was devastated.
"Yes, I can. You could feel me as well... I could show you how. And I could show you how to block your mind...." Right after pronouncing his offer, Ian was shocked by his own daringness. He was not allowed to show this to Sara. Besides, Sara would be even more angry at him for offering her such 'mystical mumbo jumbo', but maybe she would smooth a little bit by getting the chance to ban Ian from her thoughts and feelings.
"I could really learn to feel where you are? And you would show me how to block you from invading my brain?" Sara looked expectantly at him. Although she was still fuming over Ian's confession, the thought of actually learning to feel where Ian was, and how he was feeling at the moment, was absolutely thrilling.
Hmm? No yelling? No harsh comments? It must be Ian's lucky day! She was really interested in learning something from him!
"Yes Sara, I can show you how to do that. It would be an honor for me to teach you." Ian was so happy now, he didn't even care anymore that he wasn't allowed to teach Sara things without Irons knowing about them. He could deal with the punishments later.
"Ian, why don't you do your evening-wielder-watch from the inside today? You could watch me while sitting on my couch instead of on my fire escape." Sara's smile was sincere, she was actually looking forward to seeing Ian this evening. Maybe she would cook a little bit, or better, she would order something nice. She knew she was a horrible cook.
"That seems to be a good idea! I will be there. Farewell, my lady!"
With that Sara mounted her bike, but now her happy smile had nothing to do with her Buell. Now, her smile came from the black clad figure she could watch in her rear-view mirror until she drove around the first corner.
Ian slowly walked to the garage. He would follow his beloved lady with a little less speed. Actually, he would not follow her at all. He knew where she was heading to so he only had to drive to the 11th precinct to meet her again.
He could not wait until the day was over and his first peaceful meeting with Sara was to start. The three fairies made him the happiest man on earth already and there were still two wishes left....
Whistling a little tune he once heard in the radio, Ian left the estate to do his daily routine to watch over his fair lady Sara, the wielder of the witchblade.