The day started out like any other day. Work as always, but then when quitting time came around, she didn't feel like going home to an empty house, again. So, instead of heading home, she walked down the street and caught a cab into the city. New York wasn't exactly a safe town, but then, no one would dare mess with her. She wasn't much to look at. 5'9, kinda on the heavy side but she hid it well, brownish-blonde hair dyed red that flowed down her back and sparkling emerald eyes that missed nothing. She might not look like much, but she knew how to handle herself. She decided that she needed a night out. Just time to herself, without the demands that came with being a cook and a bartender in a hole in the wall pub.
The cab stopped just inside the city center, where she got out, paid her fare and headed down the Boulevard. Hands in her pockets, neither looking to the left or the right. Just walking to release her tension and frustrations of the day. The twinkling of the lights about her, the hub of people coming and going did nothing to break through the wall she had built around herself. She was lost, in a sea of people. Alone, set adrift in vast sea of humanity. At times, she felt as if she were screaming and no one ever looked up. She needed to feel a 'part' of the world again, so she came to a stop in front of a smaller building, noting how the Club looked on the outside. The faded flashing neon letters looking like it needed help to stay lit, the faded painting around the trim of the building. It had historical beauty, architectural significance. She pulled on the handle and walked in.
Inside, after walking through a plain room where a bouncer checked her I.D., she found another room through some double doors shrouded in darkness and smoke. The layout was simple. A bar near the back of the room, some booths set up around the room, and what caught her eye was some booths set up to look like a Turkish bed. It had pillows all over the small booth-like space, where one could sit on the floor and relax, and it even had a pull cord that would close the curtains around the entire space. Only those enshrouded within would know what went on behind the curtain. A faint smirk played on her lips as she took these all in, making her way to the bar. She had come straight from work, so she wasn't dressed in a particular fashion. Just faded black jeans that hugged her hips just the right way, a black t-shirt that hung loosely, with a knitted rouge red vest over it, the color of blood. Her boots made no sound as she walked up to the bar and took a seat. Nodding to the bartender, she ordered a Glenfiddich whiskey and sat back to watch the goings on around her.
People were interesting creatures. She noted the ones at the bar beside her, though she sought to watch them subtly. Tilting her head just the slightest, she noted a pair of young lovers sitting so close they seemed as one, talking and laughing together. She smiled faintly before she looked to her right. The man beside her was nursing his beer, and the bartender was warning to cut him off. Poor man. Those on the dance floor seemed to undulate without a care, working out their frustrations and woes in another way. Some drunk, some not. Those in the booths seemed to enjoy each others company. A pair of what she took to be college sweethearts in one, an elderly couple in another. Those she actually smiled at, turning away before she was caught staring. What must it be like? To be that elderly couple? To love someone that much and to be together for that long? She could only imagine. But she wanted to know, more then anything. Picking up her drink, she slammed it and tapped the bar, to get the bartenders attention for a refill. Picking up the cup, wrapping her slender fingers around it, she swiveled her seat so she could take in all the view the bar had to offer. A few of the Turkish booths were taken and her eyes gleamed in the strobe lights, imagining what went on behind the closed curtains of a few. Leaning back in her chair, drink in her hand, she let her eyes roam freely, taking in every person, passing over them fleetingly, watching those who danced before moving on. She could feel her frustrations easing out of her system as she sat there, drinking up the humanity. She was about to turn away from all the Life that permeated around her when something caught her eye. Just a flash of something silver in the strobe lights, but it was enough. It was a chain necklace that had caught her eye, and that necklace was around the neck of an older gentleman sitting near the very back of the bar, alone as well. Normally, upon sating her curiosity, she would have moved on but there was something about this man that immediately held her attention. He was older, much older then her but that didn't matter to her. He was tall, lean and she actually felt her heart flutter as her eyes trailed over his face, saw his eyes. He was to far away to really see what color they were, but something in his gaze, even not looking at her, made her shiver. There was something sad, to his gaze as he watched the people around them. Not sad exactly, but wistful almost. A yearning she recognized all to well. He was beautiful, with his slightly grey hair tied up in a tight ponytail, his hand wrapped around a drink as he gazed over the sea of humanity, just as she had been doing.
As if sensing her stare, he shifted his eyes from the dance floor to where she sat, openly staring. That shocked her out of her rudeness and she immediately shifted her eyes from his a few seconds after their eyes had met and held. Though she tried to tell herself not to stare, she couldn't control her gaze, which kept returning to him, over and over. Dressed in a flowing black shirt and pants that seemed to hug him just right, he didn't seem to be out to impress anyone, just there to watch or enjoy the sensations of the moment. Though, he had impressed her already, and didn't seem to know it. Very much! She sipped on her drink, her grip tightening around it as she got up and moved from the bar to a booth off to the side so that she could see him without seeming to stare. She had never felt such fluttering inside her and try as she might, her eyes remained only for him. She tensed when she saw him stand and start to head towards her, but he passed her, heading to the bar to get another drink. Which he slammed and tilted his head a bit, to look back over his shoulder. So he was a master at subtly too? He was watching her now. Her smirk at this observation faded quickly from her lips when he finished another drink in the same way as the first, turned and headed towards her. This time no mistaking it. He was coming towards her. That walk of his seemed to scream self confidence, and yet shyness at the same time. The roll of his shoulders made her throat go dry as he moved steadily closer. His scent, a mixture of Stetson and Old Spice reached her nose before he did and closing her eyes for a second, she shivered at what that scent did to her. When she opened her eyes again, he was coming to a stop before her and she felt herself go ice cold and then flush with warmth all over in rapid succession.
"Hello there." Just that little sentence of acknowledgment made her flush again, made a small but true smile appear on her face. "I'm Billy." He held out one of his long, pale hands and she gulped before she was able to find her voice, taking the hand he offered and giving it a light squeeze.
"I know." She winced inwardly, and flushed deeply. Her pale cheek flared with the kiss of a rose. "I'm Becca." She finished lamely and kicked herself for her tongue being tied.
"Becca? Short for Rebecca, yes? What a lovely name. Pleasure to meet you, Miss Rebecca." His voice gravelly but strong made her heart flutter again, but nothing prepared her for when he took her hand, raised it to his lips and placed a tender kiss to the back of it. Raising his eyes back to hers as he straightened, he gave her a bright smile which left her breathless. So he was a gentleman. How refreshing that there were still some out there. "What brings you to a place like this tonight?"
It took her a moment to find her voice, and it hadn't escaped her that he had yet to let go of her hand.
"I got off work and decided to find a place to relax for a bit before heading home. It was a busy day and I needed a moment." She chuckled softly as she tilted her head up to look up at him. This close, she could see his eyes were neither blue, nor green, nor grey, but a mixture of those three colors. Like a sea after the storm, was her thought. He had beautiful eyes.
He gave a nod, as if agreeing with her, giving her hand a gentle squeeze again before letting it drop. His smile was soft yet there was still just a hint of sadness to the way his lips formed, to the way his eyes crinkled at the corners. What would make someone so famous as him, feel any sort of sadness, she wondered. But her thoughts were cut short when he began speaking again.
"Would you like to join me in the back booth?" He pointed at where he had been sitting before, turning his gaze once more to hers. Was that a hopeful look in his eyes when he asked? It only took a few seconds to make up her mind.
"I would be honored." She said, grabbing her drink and walking with him towards the now empty booth. She slid in on the side with its back to the wall, as he slid effortlessly into the other side. For a moment, they both were silent, unsure of what was to come next. Becca knew well who he was, for she had seen him in many of his movies and had enjoyed quite a few of them. But he was just a man, after all. A man that had needs too, and the fact that he was famous, made no nevermind to her one way or the other. Still, it wasn't who he was that had caught her attention in the ill lit bar. The moment her mind registered who he was, she had already thought him handsome and was already curious.
"So, what brings you to New York?" Billy asked softly. He sounded actually curious and that made Becca relax just that bit more.
"A job. I cook and bar tend on the outskirts of town." She answered effortlessly, taking a sip of her drink. "I grew up in Virginia, and wanted to see more of the world after school. Which I did. Military life provides for a lot, but not for what comes after." Her voice took on a snarky sound to it as she said this last part. "So, after flitting about between Cali, North Carolina, and here I figured I could handle these people here better then I could at home." She winked to show she was teasing. New Yorkers were tough, but then so was she. When people got rowdy in the bar, she only had to give them a warning for them to settle. She couldn't see herself telling people she personally knew back home to 'sit down and shut the fuck up'.
He seemed to listen intently to what she had to say. Seemed actually curious and that made her flush again as she wasn't used to someone actually listening, caring what she said. His laugh was like a rumbling, rocky purr and she felt herself melt just that little bit more. She liked the way his laugh sounded.
"I can well imagine." He said with a nod, taking a sip of his drink. "Military? Which branch? How long?" His eyes locked and held hers and for a second, it was all she could do to remember to breathe.
"Marines, and four years. Fun in some parts, some parts I would rather forget. But then, I guess that's life, right? Things happen for a reason and all that mess." She chuckled softly, finishing up her drink and sliding the cup out of her way as she settled back into the booth.
"Indeed. I agree." He slid back into his seat as well, raising a hand to call over the bartender to order them another round. When he head what she was drinking his eyebrows raised slightly in surprise but his smile never faltered. "Glenfiddich girl, huh? I never would have guessed."
Was he teasing her now? She stared up at him, her emerald eyes sparkling as a playful smirk alighted upon her lips. His own were turned up into a half smile, and his eyes had that spark that made her think of lighting on the seas. Gods, how could a man be so beautiful, so expessionable with just a hint of a smile?
"Well, there is a lot to me then meets the eye." She bantered back, wincing internally again. What was she doing? She had no recent experience with flirting and it sounded bad even to her ears. Wait! Was she trying to flirt now? With him!? He was famous, he could have any person he wanted, yet he was sitting across from her, smiling at her with that devilish half smile of his. Oh Gods...she melted again when realization hit her. She needed to stop over-reading into things. They were just talking. That was it, wasn't it?
"I bet there is." His voice, so soft and sensuous. Like silk as he all but purred at her. The way he said it, almost made her choke on her drink. Her eyes lifted to his and held. For a moment, only they existed, two people sitting in the dark, staring not into each others eyes, but each others souls. He broke the contact first, reaching for his drink, he took a sip before continuing. "So, the Marines? Bet you are tough?" He winked back at her as his grin grew just that much more. "What made you decide on being a cook or working in a bar?"
She shrugged slightly as she finished her drink and played with the now empty cup, for something to do. Otherwise she would be staring at him, and she tried not to be so obvious about it. "No tougher then the next person, I guess. They train you to be hard, but then, I already was by the time I joined." A soft laugh escaped her as she thought of how her not 'breaking' had actually scared her Drill Instructors. Everyone either quit or cried in Boot Camp. She had done neither. "I became a cook because I am good at it. I enjoy it, being creative in the kitchen. The place where I work, lets me make up the menus on the weekends. Some of our busiest times, so I can't be all that bad." She teased, but it was true. She made up all the menus for the weekend and she had never had a complaint. "The bar where I work, is off the outskirts, so it's kinda quiet at times. Little hole in the wall place. But the people are nice, if not a little rowdy. Keeps me on my toes." She paused and glanced up at him. "So what brings you out here, to a place like this?"
He thought a moment before he answered. He took his time, choosing his words that she thought he wouldn't answer her. "I needed a break." The way he said it, he didn't need to explain. She understood. "I have been here quite a few times. Nice place. My turn." He smirked softly. "Why Glenfiddich?" As he spoke, his right hand which was resting upon the table lifted and he gently ran the ends of his fingers over her left hand. He didn't seem to realize he had done this and if he did, he didn't react to it. So she didn't either, but she had to admit, his touch inflamed her, though she gave no outward sign.
"Are you kidding?" She teased. "Glenfiddich is the best whiskey around. It's good for you." She laughed softly, tilting her hand that he caressed into his touch. She didn't miss that his lips seemed to turn up just a little at her action. Like she would reject HIM!? "Why? What do you drink?"
"Not that, but a brand of whiskey that would burn a hole through you, to be sure."
He was an angel, haloed in the darkness. His silvery grey hair seemed to shine as he sat in the lone light that lit up their table. She was doing it again. Staring. This time, she didn't care. They talked for hours, about everything they could think of and when time for last call came around, she really didn't want to have to leave. She knew it was useless though. Every good thing had to end sometime. They finished their drinks and they both stood to leave but he stopped her. He had asked for a pen to sign his tab, and paid hers as well, even though she protested. He wouldn't hear it and she conceded, thanking him profusely. She even said that should they ever meet here again, the next drinks were on her. He laughed at that. His laugh rumbled around her and made her flush, but he nodded and agreed. Holding out his hand to her once more, she took it to bid him goodnight and good-bye. He whispered a soft good bye to her that almost left her blushing redder then before, leaning down to kiss her hand once more, but this time, his eyes never left hers. Straightening, he gave her a curt nod, a soft smile, squeezed her hand and then turned and walked out into the night. She was floored at her encounter with one of her favorite actors that for a moment, she wasn't aware of something in her hand. Blinking, she opened her hand to see a small sheet of paper in her hold. He must have written it when he paid the tab, and given it to her when he kissed her hand. Unfolding it, she felt herself tremble when she read what he had written. Just his name, and two phone numbers. Holding tightly to that tiny scrap of paper, she literally floated home on a cloud. Nothing could erase her smile, she was so ecstatically happy.