Chapter 1: Chapter 1
Disclaimer: The author of the fanfiction (babbler) does not, in any way, profit from the story and that all creative rights to the characters belong to their original creator.
Lights, Camera…Magical Lyrical Nanoha
The criminal had disappeared into a strand of trees. From her position in the night sky amongst the clouds, Fate could see nothing but a black mass below her. She descended slightly beyond the last vestiges of cloud and looked intently below her.
"Do you see him?" Teana asked breathlessly, Bardiche relayed the message without opening a window. It was dangerous to emit any light to give away her position.
"He ran into a forest."
"Can you cut him off somehow?" Teana panted, still trying to catch up to Fate.
"He's fast and the woods are expansive so I have no idea where he…"
Suddenly Fate was face to face with the cyborgs ugly misaligned face. Glowing red eyes stared into her own red, albeit, not glowing eyes.
"Should have stayed with your partner." He dropped back to the ground.
Something warm was running down Fate's thighs and even in the darkness it contrasted greatly with her ivory skin. She fell like a stone.
I had seen the event unfold through Bardiche, which was miraculously undamaged. It was lucky really that Bardiche's fail-safe saved her from a hard impact after a nearly mile long fall.
Fate was resting peacefully now. She had been restless earlier, contorting her face and writhing beneath the blankets whenever anybody so much as touched her. It was somewhat comforting that she had settled down but the blinking lights on the heart monitor screen and the tubes reaching under the thin sheet covering her, made me a little queasy.
"How did it cut right through her barrier coat like it wasn't even there?" Teana asked, arms folded, eyes closed.
"I have never witnessed such abilities before. It is perhaps fortunate that you were not closer to Fate when it happened or you would now be indisposed in a similar manner." Signum stood motionlessly watching Fate.
"W…w…w…will she be okay." I was hard to speak without breaking completely down into a crying wreck.
Shamal looked thoughtful for a second and then gently ran her fingers through my hair. "We still need to do more tests but I think she'll be fine."
"na…na…nanoHa?" Fate spoke, eyes still tightly closed.
"I'm here!" I slipped my hand under the blanket to hold hers. I leaned in close.
"i'M….goInG…. tO be fiNe."
Hurt this much and stoned out of her trees from the pain medication and she still tried to reassure me. "I know you are."
"CUT!" the director bellowed and I fell back into my chair. The huge stage lights were finally mercifully turned off and my coworkers walked off yammering to themselves.
"Nanoha are you okay? Your face is red and you looked flustered." The first odd thing you notice about this little production was that they used our real names for the characters. The people making it had a little spat with the author after the first season had been filmed so they changed some scenes, used our names for the characters, and some how that was legal enough; though the original author wasn't happy. Now my name was in the title.
"This uniform and the stage lights exhaust me." I thought about wiping my forehead but thought better of it. I had on about a cubic foot of make-up and I didn't want that smeared all over everything. We had switched to CG and green room rather than outdoor shoots for this season, so I never had a problem with the heat before.
"I see. Maybe we could get the those things in a lighter material or make them breath better somehow." He stroked his stubbly chin. "Good work today all the same. I appreciate how much effort you put in day after day."
Fate slipped out from under the covers assisted by some stagehands.
"That goes for you too Fate." He slapped her on the knee and walked off behind the set.
Fate was sitting on the edge of the hospital bed with the rail down rubbing her arms where the adhesive for the tubes was attached. Our eyes briefly met and I quickly looked away.
"What is it?"
"Nothing…hahaha…just wondering how you managed with that sheet over you and all those blazing stage bearing down."
"I'm fine." She hopped off the bed and walked away without looking back; naked feet slapping their way over to her dressing room next to my own. A crewmember gave her a cursory "Good job" and walked off not expecting a reply. Teana, having grabbed a bottle of water, froze to the spot instead of crossing her path. She only finally moved again after Fate was inside her dressing room with the door between them.
I finally pulled myself out of the comfy chair and walked to my dressing room. The others, besides Fate, were in the common room laughing away. Sometimes I wondered how they changed clothes so fast. I thumped myself on the head. I'll have to make a visit tonight since I went straight home last night.
My changing room was nothing more than a shower, a rod to hang up my clothes, and a chair. I hear Fate's has a couch but she only ever opened the door wide enough for herself to slip in and I doubt anyone as actually been in there. I can't begrudge her for her couch though, neither one of us spend much time in our dressing rooms.
I didn't want to stick around here all night so I quickly showered and put on my street clothes. I'd have to wash the uniform since it was drenched in sweat but I had spares so I could do that tomorrow.
I had my purse and my keys so I turned off the light and closed the door behind me.
Thump. I jumped a little as Fate's door closed.
"Goodnight." I waved at her.
Throwing her small duffle bag over her shoulder she walked by me without a word. I usually got at least a little wave or a nod or something, but she just kept on walking. She had a leather jacket thrown over one arm and the most perfect pair of black hip hugger jeans gripped her backside. They just looked so comfortable and flattered her form like nothing else. She turned almost a ninety-degree angle and walked into the kitchen. It were almost as if she felt my gaze intently on her and had jumped in there to avoid it. She didn't seem like she was in a good mood tonight. After working with her awhile you start being able to tell…or I can at least. I don't think the others have figured her out yet but I can't pretend I have either. She's always so frosty to me even though we've been working together for almost a year.
Sigh. I walked the rest of the way down the hallway and stepped into the common room. There were two sofas and a loveseat squeezed into the small space along with a coffee table in the middle. The room was separated from the kitchen by an island about ten feet long with stools on either side. I could see the top of Fate's head on the other side of the divide as she foraged around inside the fridge.
"Nanoha what the hell did they put in your hair?" She stared at her hand. "It took about ten minutes to get the crap off and my hand is still icky."
"I don't keep track of what they put in there." I plopped down on the sofa besides Signum.
"I was cracking up when Nanoha said that last line. That camera guy kept making funny faces. Oh god I didn't want to do that scene over again." Teana let her self sink back into the couch.
"I didn't mind that scene…though I wasn't in it hehe." Hayate giggled. "I hate the scenes where we gotta be all touchy feely. I mean hugging a friend is one thing but holding hands and all the soft caresses stuff just makes me sick."
"Think about how Nanoha must feel. Her character performs the brunt of those types of actions." Signum looked at me briefly before glaring at Hayate. There wasn't a doubt in anyone's minds why Signum was cast for the role. Her posture rivalled that of the royal guards at Buckingham palace.
"I'm just saying jeez. You don't need to have a canary," Hayate pouted.
"This is a lesbian series…yet none of us are lesbians. That's seems wrong somehow," said Shamal looking perplexed.
"This is just the way it turned out in casting. They'd want the best person for the role so it doesn't matter if they're a lesbian or not." My voice felt so tiny with them looking at me. I wish I had the first season's actors back.
"But they use our names for the characters so whenever I'm out and about they think I'm a lesbian and I keep getting invited to gay bars. It's gross. I really hate that all those people think I'm gay." Teana slapped her hands on her knees.
"…Teana you are exaggerating." Signum glared at her.
"Imagine if one of us was a lesbian. They'd be feeling someone up all the time." Teana returned Signum's glare.
"Come on guys this isn't soft core porn! A hug isn't feeling each other up all the time." Signum was watching me out of the corner of her eye but that intense glare didn't lock onto me like it so often locked onto Teana.
"Nanoha you have it worse of all. Could you imagine if Fate were a lesbian? You'd be looking into each other's eyes longingly and she'd be fantasizing about you. Then, after the scene is over, she'd go home and rub one out screaming your name. It's disgusting."
Crash! We all looked toward the kitchen. Fate's hair seemed to stand up on end from the sudden noise.
"Sorry," Fate said invisible behind the island counter.
"How did we even get on this topic?" I sighed. "I have to go. I'm pooped."
Signum bopped me on the head, her special little way of saying goodbye, and the rest all quickly said their hasty farewells and went back to discussing lesbians. I'd hope I could diffuse the topic.
I quickly left through the back door just as a taxi came to a stop. "Someone likes me up there." I whispered staring up into the sky.
Tap tap. I knocked on the driver's window. "You waiting for someone or can I jump in."
"Yes yes. Jump in! I give you ride." I couldn't quite place his accent. It sounded Russian, but I've been wrong before. I got into the cab and buckled up.
"Same place as always?"
"Eh…yeah. That's right….You're the guy from last time!"
"Been here same time every night for weeks so I would say so Nanoha."
"Haha. I'm an idiot."
"No you are not idiot. I'm idiot. Have three degrees yet drive cab for change on dollar. You smart and beautiful AND successful. No you not idiot."
"You have three degrees? Why…"
"Japan not count degrees as equal to Japanese degrees. Need prove that I have them but have family so not have money to prove degrees so I drive cab."
"That's awful."
"I try not to complain." He eyed me in the mirror. "You do not look vell."
"Just a little depressed that's all."
"It make me mad to see pretty girl who make big money say they depressed! Vhat hope do poor cab driver have if pretty girl actress not be happy? What kind of system is God running if he can't get that right?"
"Haha."
"What the matter. I am not some dumb hick you know. Only reason keep thick accent is Japanese people tip nice-funny-accent man better."
"…I can't really talk about it. It be bad if anyone found out."
"Who I tell? Some tverp from news beat? Make good money bringing you turkeys around town. More money in long run then some chump change for story. My taxi like confessional. Only outside body privy to conversation is God and he not tell anyone."
"I sorta don't get along with my co-workers. I thought that it would just take time but they bring new people in and others leave and I…I still don't feel close to them."
"I see. So all the talk on news about hit series with good chemistry all for show? You and striking blonde girl with red eyes not get along?" He briefly looked back at me. "Vorld turned upside down. I not sleep tonight!"
"Hahaha. It's not just Fate. It's like I don't fit in there."
"Continue to do what you do and bring this old man intoxicating glimpses in to forbidden Sapphic love. If they not get along with you then there is something wrong with them."
"I don't mind them one on one but when were sitting in the common room they make me feel uncomfortable."
"You may not have heard this but sixty years ago German people prove that big groups can be arseholes because they say and do what they think the group want to hear and not what they feel in muscle that beats in chest….Like I said, anyone not get along with you…what is saying….elevator got go all the way to top."
"Some people charge a lot of money for advice like this."
"Some people are big idiots who not get along with girl who brighten old cab drivers day."
My apartment building was up ahead. This half hour cab ride was the fastest I I'd ever had. I usually just spent it sulking and feeling sorry for myself so the trip just seemed to stretch out forever and ever…or maybe the other cabbies were giving me the run around… He pulled up alongside the front entrance.
"Here you go." I slipped the money through the little slot in the lexan sheet.
"Don't be stranger." He slipped a card to be with his name on it and email address. "If you have troubles I'm always happy to talk."
"I really do feel a lot better after talking to you. I can't thank you enough."
"I not do it for altruistic reasons. I sound like broken record. I like pretty girls who also like pretty girls."
"Bye."
"Goodbye!" I watched him drive off until he was out of sight. Somehow I felt lonely now that he was gone. All the girls complain about the cab drivers but other than Signum I rather have a meal with…Mikhail then anyone of people I work with. If they don't like the cabs so much they should take away their expense accounts.
I slowly climbed the stairs and unlocked my door. Careful to make sure no one was near me, I slipped inside and dead bolted it. One of the security people was saying I shouldn't attempt to open my door unless I was certain I could get inside in time to dead bolt it before they reached me. At least then you had a door between you, otherwise, it's better to scream and run. Personally I'd place my bets on the metal door than my running skills.
With that lovely topic out of the way I collapsed onto my big leather couch. Immediately another topic struck me in the face.
I had a big poster tacked to my wall of Fate and myself holding hands in our barrier jackets and looking like we're about to kiss. A knot grew in my stomach. After Mikhail spent all that time cheering me up…back in the dumps I go.
I have a ginormous crush on my co-star. It's almost embarrassing how much I've fallen for her. That ass, those lips…I'd give my right hand to have those lips on me. If I could just run my fingers through her hair while she did something to me…anything to me. Licking, slurping, kissing, groping…anything.
If only she weren't so frigid. Who am I kidding? She makes frigid look like a sunny day at the beach. I thought I'd gone past the stage where I fell in love with beautiful bitches. It's not like back when I was fourteen and my hormones were raging and I lust after anything on two legs that had a set of breasts but it's always the bitches that attract my attention for some reason.
I wonder what would happen if I just kissed her on one of those longing glances on set. After all, there were enough of them that I could definitely sneak one in. Maybe play it as getting too into character.
…Who am I kidding…she'd probably pummel me into the ground. I heard she haymakered Teana pretty good after a practical joke. I'd get my kiss but I wouldn't be pretty no more.
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