A/N: Another fic you can blame GinnyW for!
Fic updates: Trouble is two thirds done. The last third is being a recalcitrant asshole. Oblivious update will likely be done tomorrow, Thursday at latest. Long Distance is in the capable of hands of MyOnlyHeroin who writes Bella's chapters. New Girl news! I was writing that fic with a partner who has defected to the Stucky fandom. I'm making it a goal to update that fic and finish it by the end of the month.
Okay. Enough of that. Onward to our new adventure.
Prologue
The first time Edward met Bella, he pushed her down a flight of stairs.
He splayed his hand wide over the center of her chest, gritted his teeth, and shoved, making a great show of using all his strength. He pulled himself up straight, watching as she tumbled end over end down a grand, marble staircase and landed in a heap at the bottom. She was still. He was still.
"Cut! That was great. Let's reset," the director shouted.
The set came alive, and Edward hurried down the steps just as the petite brunette was pushing herself up into a sitting position. He knelt at her side. "Are you alright?"
She raised her head, and he was met by brown eyes that sparked with bemusement. "Yeah, man. I'm fine," she said with a laugh.
He huffed and gave her a sheepish smile. "Sorry," he said, offering her a hand to help her up. "I know you're a professional. I'm just not used to it."
The woman glanced down, and only then did Edward realize he was still holding her hand. He let her go and took a step back. She quirked an eyebrow. "Come on. You've been starring in action movies off and on since you were my age. You're going to try to tell me you've never pushed a stunt double around?"
His lip twitched. "I was a little younger than you when I started, I think," he said, looking her over. The pretty roundness of her face spoke of youth, but her body was toned and muscular. It was hard to tell. "But I've never been the asshole throwing girls around like rag dolls."
"First time as a villain, huh?" She grinned. "It's a little different. She's not a girl in need of rescuing. She's the badass, and she's going to fuck you up royally later on." Her smile grew wider. "What do you say I look forward to that part, and we'll call it even?"
Oh, he liked this one. Suddenly, he found himself lamenting the fact the afternoon shots didn't require close ups on his face. It was likely she was going to be working with his stunt double instead of with him. "That's not how that works," he reminded her. "Then it'll be Alec instead of me."
"Ah." She waved a hand. "He clocked me in the face on the last set we were on. I owe him a good kick to the nuts anyway. I'll enjoy it just as much."
"Clear the set. Back to your your mark," the director said.
Edward turned to start up the steps. "So what's your name?" he asked as they found their positions again. He grabbed her by the front of her shirt, twisting his fingers in the fabric, bringing her up menacingly close.
She shifted, balancing herself. "Bella Swan."
"I'm Edward."
She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, stud. You're a goddamned superstar. I know who you are."
"Mark, and...action!"
A/N: My thanks for my team. Eleanor, songster, MoH, and Packy 2.0. I love these girls.
This fic will begin updating in earnest as soon as Oblivious is done (which might be as soon as next update… we'll see how that goes).
