Authors Note: I do not own any of the characters or plot of La La Land, and this story is posted in accordance with Fair Use. Sorry for such a long time without writing, but this movie inspired me to put this little plot bunny to paper. Enjoy, and please review! (Yes, even flames welcome.)
We'll Always Have Paris
Sebastian feels his breath catch in his chest as his eyes catch hers; eyes that he hadn't seen in five long years. Mia – with a ring on her hand.
His heart stutters. He should have known that this could have happened. After all, it had been five years since their last time together, on that park bench by the planetarium. She moved on, as did he. But that didn't stop it from hurting.
The heat from the stage lights felt more like a searchlight, having finally caught him in an unexpected moment. He sees her shift under his gaze, her form tense in nervousness. He is too- his palms gripping the microphone stand like it was a lifeline. Not knowing what else to say, he quickly said the first thing that came to his mind that she would understand was for her. ("Welcome to Seb's" – that was the best that he could come up with? What happened to the quick witted retorts that they had exchanged so easily?)
He moves slowly over to his piano, delicately placing his fingers of the ivory that had been his close companion. Sighing in resignation, he plays the only thing that he can… their song. He dares not look up at her, not when he's so engrossed in his music. He might lose his nerve and stop in the damn middle.
Sebastian imagines what it might have been like, had they stayed together. What if… that eternal question. What if he hadn't been such an ass that night she stumbled into the restaurant? God, if he had known that night what they could have been, he would have kissed her and never let her go. Would things be perfect? Hell no, and they never would have been. But at least they would have had each other.
In the end, they both ended up getting what they wanted. He got his club, and she got her career as an actress. But he still felt that they lost something of infinitely more worth.
He can feel the song (and his fantasy) ending, and he desperately dances his fingers across the keys, trying to keep that spark of another life alive. Please, he begs, don't let it end. But he knows the answer to that even before he finishes his thought. It has ended, and you can't change the past. Best move on before any more hurt can happen.
He let his fingers bring one last hopeful note out into the silent club, and then resigns himself to reality as his song ends. Life isn't a fairy tale, he notes remorsefully. You can't have that happy ending, not in this city. The stars may be glittering above, but only the lucky few reach them.
Sebastian looks slowly up, his eyes searching for hers across the dark expanse separating them. He only finds an empty seat. She had gone, and he hadn't even noticed.
He supposes this was how Rick felt when Ilsa walked into his bar in Casablanca. (He fondly remembers Mia pointing out the famous window ledge on the movie lot). In the end, they were always going to be separated. However, they would always cherish the time that they had together. "We'll always have Paris," the oft-quoted line stated. How funny that he and Mia had theirs separating them.
Sebastian prepares himself to start the next song, when he sees her standing in the door to the outside world. He stops, then smiles at her, silently thanking her for all that they had.
She gives him the slightest ghost of a smile, and then leaves to join her husband.
He fee;s at peace, knowing that they had that last moment that was only theirs. Now, it was time to move on. He motions to his band, striking up their next tune.
"We'll always have Paris…" Yes, he pondered. They most certainly would.