Hello, my lovelies! I am super busy with classes, but do not fret! I will continue 'Time to Shine' soon, though I recently became reacquainted with Gerard Butler and his gorgeous talent this month. Let me tell you something, I am set on marrying a Scot! This recent fanfic was just begging me to write it, I have it outlined right this time, though the ending is still in progress. It's based on the 2013 movie "Olympus Has Fallen" and BAM! I have an OC! I love the idea and I just want to shove the outline in your faces to read, so you can see why I am so excited! I hope you like it!
A.N.-This is the beginning of the beginning, a sort of prequel to how they met etc. I expect this to last for about 3 chapters before we get to the juicy, juicy bits of drama! Especially if you know of Mike's current relationship status…dun dun duuuun…..
Chapter 1- And Then There Was Light
1997- Kingwood, Preston County, West Virginia
Persephone Tolenni, a curious girl of 18 surrounded herself with all sorts of books regarding world cultures and traditions at the local library. Her dream was to learn all she can about the world and it's inhabitants. Being born of two European parent she was lucky enough that they encouraged her to learn both of their mother tongues, Italian and Russian. Sighing with longing, Percy, as she liked to be called, shifted in her wooden seat trying but failing to find comfort, after all, 6 hours in the same position would make anyone uncomfortable. Brushing back her long black hair, she lazily glanced at her watch, shooting out of her seat like a rocket at seeing that she was late for dinner she almost fell over Mrs. Stafford, the head librarian.
"Oh! I am soo sorry Mrs. Stafford! I didn't see you there!" Percy apologized meekly, a rosy blush staining her cheeks, she widened her eyes to appear more innocent in the aftermath of the near crushing of the 65 year old woman. With a stern glare that softened at the innocent eyed teenager, she merely replied with, "Be careful Percy, I'd like to see my 66th birthday if you don't mind," she reprimanded and in a tired voice for one her age, said, "Your father called, he's expecting you home in 30 minutes and to bring dessert from Steph's Bakery. He said you'd know what to buy."
"Yes, ma'am, I'd quite like to see you 66 too." With a grin she quickly sidestepped the soft slap to her hand for being 'a cheeky thing'. Percy gave a word of thanks and swiftly put the books on the cart to be put away later, after grabbing her backpack she gave a peck on the cheek to Stanley the security guard and husband to Mrs. Stafford. 'Their love is one for the ages' she thought to herself.
Looking at her watch, now 6:46 in the evening, for a February night it was snowing slightly and darkness came earlier. She had 28 minutes left to go to the all night bakery and pick up an apple pie. A tradition in the Tolenni household when one or the other is going to be late for dinner, they have to pick up a pie. Pie is practically the way to their hearts. With a slight chuckle and a shiver, Percy zipped up her coat and unlocked her bike from the rack, turning on her headlamp she peddled under the blackening sky.
After leaving the bakery and putting it in the handlebar basket, she noticed the snow picking up speed, at times like these she wished her parents would have bought her a flip-phone for her birthday last December. The snow began to grow and make her peddling difficult, with a groan of annoyance she dismounted her bike and began to walk. Percy busied herself with thoughts of pie and getting home as quick as she can, not bothering to notice that she was being followed.
With the sudden influx of soldier boys at the nearby army base, Camp Dawson, most of them have taken to exploring her town rather than visit the big cities and spending all of their paychecks on overpriced amenities. For some the small town atmosphere was a welcome feeling, since many of them are small town boys missing home. Such a boy was 19 year old Michael Banning or Mike to those that knew him well. Coming from a small town in Pennsylvania, Mike was used to the cold and constant snow weather. He was born to a single mother who worked her way from being a substitute teacher to a full-time teacher. As for his father, Mike's mother, Patricia, told him that he was a pilot in the Air Force named Michael who died in a routine flight check, Mike knew she missed him deeply because after the accident she never married again. He knew from an early age that he wanted to see the world, not to stick around a town that would always stay the same, so the next day he left law school and signed up with the Marine Corps. His mother was distraught not wanting to lose another loved one, but later came to understand her son's desire to do more and be more, so she kissed him goodbye and made him promise to write and visit.
Just as he promised he decided that this freezing February evening would be a great time to mail his letter home along with a belated birthday present so it wouldn't have to wait another week to be sent. By the time his cab pulled up to the post office and left, he stuck his letter in the mailbox and gave his package to the UPS driver just as he showed up to collect the mail. With a quick word of thanks, Mike jogged to the opposite side of the street to go to the local dinner a few blocks down for a quick bite to eat. Breathing warm air onto his hands he looked up to see a girl about 18 muttering to herself about pie, not taking notice of the shady stranger a few feet behind her. When the figure began to hasten his steps Mike saw a gleam of silver reflect the light of the streetlamp, with a speed that only an adrenaline rush can give Mike ran to save the unsuspecting girl.
While deciding which part of the pie to eat, Percy finally heard crunching footsteps speed up behind her, her neck prickling in a primal instinct of defense, fear began to freeze her veins and stiffen her limbs. 'Crap', was the only word to enter her mind. With a hard jolt she forced her body to calm down, remembering what her father told her, 'fear is a superpower Percy, use it'. Before she could use her bike as a weapon a dark blur pushed her away from her attacker, landing on her butt she quickly took in the larger form trying to disarm the small blade from the stringy attacker, 'a junkie most likely' she thought taking in his dirty appearance, gaunt face, and glassy eyes. A loud cry forced her out of her thoughts and saw the smaller figure clutch his arm to his chest before the other man, yes, he's a man, knock him unconscious and dial 911.
With wide eyes, she took a closer look at her rescuer, a tall, tall man with wavy short brown hair the color of malt whiskey curling at his nape, she knew that if it was longer it would be curly, he had eyes that looked like washed jade, and that voice, it held a hint, a tiny hint of a Scottish brogue! The words 'apprehended' and 'self-defense' never sounded as tantalizing as it did when he was on the phone. In one word he was beautiful. In that instant she knew she should have read her friend Amy's Cosmo magazine, Percy regretted rejecting it for the reason of it being a 'blatant over-sexualization of the female form', the "How to Talk to Alphas" article would have come in handy now. Percy reprimanded herself, she was not like the average damsel in distress, and she would not throw herself at him, but merely admire his heroics and good genes. A quick 'thank you and good bye' would do, she was sure. But the nagging feeling that he wouldn't just leave and disappear without a few words made her feel unsure yet happy. Her pie now squished on the snow-covered pavement next to her, forgotten.
Mike closed his phone after informing the local police dispatcher of the situation; she notified him that the police were on their way. With a relieved sigh he rubbed his hand over his face to calm down from the sudden rush, before he turned to inform the girl of the situation. As he turned he spared a glance at the still-unconscious attacker and finally looked at the girl. In that one glance he knew he was done for. She was looking at him with wide eyes, he couldn't tell the color since she was in the dark and he was in the light, but from what he could see she had waist length black hair, the color blending into the shadows, long legs, and full lips open in surprise? Fear? Is that…interest? With a quick shake of his head, dispersing his thoughts he stepped over the curb to help her up from the frozen ground. He held out a hand, which she took in a hesitant fashion. Picking up her fallen pie, he handed it to her, with an apologetic smile. He found to his surprise only a few people out, no surprise since the snow was falling in a steady drift. Lifting up her bike, he noticed that the headlamp was shattered, with a look of dismay she noticed too.
"Terribly sorry about your bike, miss. I…I can get you another lamp once the hardware store opens." Mike scrambled for words to convey his regret. To his surprise she grabbed for his hand, the one not holding the phone or pie, and squeezed it in understanding before hastily speaking, " No worries! Спасибо большое!" Mike gave her a confused look, licking his lips he was about to ask her what she said when she instantly turned a bit red, and not because of the cold. With an amused chuckle Percy introduced herself, "Percy Tolenni, Russian/Italian American troublemaker at your service, Mr?" she questioned pulling his hand closer so she could get a closer look at him. "Umm..." feeling a bit embarrassed at being manhandled by a girl half his size, Mike was lost, "My name is Mike, Mike Banning, Miss Tolenni." A smiling Percy let go of his hand before taking her bike to lean it against the street lamp, still clutching the pie, while doing so she explained to him that what she said was Russian for 'thank you very much!'
"Ah. You're welcome, Miss Tolenni. I hope I didn't hurt you too much when I pushed you?" Mike questioned her with a look of concern in his eyes, his eyes flickering over her body trying to find any wound or harm of some sort. "It's just that I am a bit bigger than a little thing like you, and why are you out so late?" He asked her with a gravitas of a disapproving parent.
"Why are you out so late?" said Mr. Big and Bad. Ugh, men. Percy let out a rebellious huff, answering with, "I am an adult, if you mind. Possibly the same age as you! I JUST WANTED PIE!" she declared with a bit of fire in her eyes. Percy was not one to be confrontational to strangers, unless provoked or her integrity has been insulted and since her height of 5'6 is apparently small to this hulking mass of male flesh. He looked a bit taken aback at her outburst. With his wide green-blue eyes staring at her in disbelief, she started to giggle which turned into full-blown laughter with him joining in as well!
"I-I-I-I-hah-ha-I am sorry for the 'crazy', but most adults think that just because I am young I can't handle myself or be responsible, except my parents, they raised me right." She explained to him, with a quick peek through her lashes she saw him taking in every word with a quiet understanding. "And what about the pie?" Mike asked with a hint of a smirk at the corner of his lips. Tilting her head back to look up at him, she flashed him another beaming smile, but before she could answer back, flashing lights of blue and red.
The officer in charge, Sgt. Kendle was questioning Mike about the attack and his partner Lt. Wiggs was cuffing the attacker and putting him inside the police car after he roused him to consciousness. After writing Percy's very detailed statement, Mike snuck a quick glance to see her gesturing wildly, pie in hand, describing the attack. Some statements from nearby witnesses we also taken, they took some photos, and bagged his knife.
Before leaving, Sgt. Kendle looked to Mike's arm and back at his face and saying with a stern voice, "You better get that wound cleaned up young man, you never know what was on it before. Since you're not pressing charges, which I think you should, he'll be taken care of. Other than that I'll contact you C.O. to notify him of you involvement and hopefully get this squared away before Monday." With a nod of his head, they left.
At hearing the word 'wound', Percy whipped her head around to look at Mike searching for a wound, scolding herself that he was hurt and she didn't even notice. Seeing the guilt in her eyes and the concern Mike tilted her head up with his left hand, as his right arm was sliced a bit from the knife, and made her stared into his eyes, "Percy," his voice saying her name brought her out of her distress, "It's fine, I would do it again if it meant keeping you safe and unharmed. Besides it's just a scratch," he said with a shrug of his shoulders. A slight shiver wracked her slender but curvy frame she inherited from her Italian side of the family. At this he leaned a bit closer, flicking his eyes at her lips and eyes when they heard a slight crumpling of cardboard and plastic.
With a soft chuckle, Percy looked at him and whispered, "Mike, I do believe you crushed my pie." At this teasing comment and with the twinkle in her eye, he felt in his being that she was going to be his world, with that thought he leant in and whispered "I'll buy you another one," and softly pressed his lips to hers.
