Au prompt #2: something like Usagi is an idol and Mamoru is her annoyingly hott bodyguard who she swearsssss she doesn't have a crush on. ;)
"I like my men like I like my coffee," Minako breezed, winking at Usagi over the steaming mug she was lifting to her lips.
Usagi stole a glance at their manager, who was sitting in an upholstered chair not far from the small table the girls were sharing in the private annex of the hotel cafe. Besides the two idol singers, he was the only other one in the room. The hotel had made sure their celebrity guests were given privacy. Kunzite didn't look up from his newspaper, and the slight movement of his ice-blue eyes wouldn't have been noticeable to most people, but was obvious to Usagi as an eye-roll.
"Strong and silent?" Usagi ventured, her eyes again stealing to Kunzite despite herself.
Minako laughed, shaking her head. "Every morning," she said, winking. Usagi flushed a little, eyes darting back to her hot chocolate.
"And you," Minako continued. "Go."
"I dunno. What would mine be?" Usagi asked, sipping her chocolate and studiously avoiding looking into her best friend's eyes.
"You like your men like you like your coffee," Minako grinned into her cup, "or should I say 'man' singular? You like your one specific man like you like your coffee: Insisting you don't like it when we all know better." And Usagi send a dark look at her friend.
"I don't like coffee."
"Uh-huh."
A knock on the door interrupted Minako's teasing, and their bodyguard, Mamoru, stuck his head in the door with a professional nod. "Driver is here," he said. "I'll accompany you ladies, when you are ready."
"You heard Coffee," Minako said, setting her mug down with a soft clink on the china saucer. "Time to go."
Somehow it'd leaked that they'd be rehearsing at the venue, and the paparazzi were out in droves as the car drove up. As they walked to the stage door, the calls were instantaneous. "Minako! Minako! Smile a bit for the camera!" Minako grinned, flashing a victory sign at the cameras. Usagi gave a quick smile, hands pushing her hair out of her face, and waved.
The calls got a bit more aggressive as they got closer to the door, and, sensing this, Mamoru moved to place his body between the girls as the cameras as they walked.
Tall and relatively slim, Mamoru carried himself with the polite professionalism afforded to his job as bodyguard for the Crescent Girls, but the power coiled in his shoulders and calculating stare revealed someone who knew how to fight - how to survive out on the streets. The Crescent Girls wasn't his first security gig, but his first as a bodyguard. Kunzite had arranged it, after years of friendship taught him Mamoru was not only good in a fight, but intelligent as hell, and rough edges polished considerably quickly. He trusted Mamoru to keep his girls safe - even as they amassed fans all over the country.
"MINAKO! MINAKO DID YOU GAIN WEIGHT?!"
"ARE YOU SLEEPING WITH YOUR PRODUCER?"
Minako answered the rude questions with a wink and hair toss, and Usagi tucked her head lower. Things like that didn't bother her too much - they were just trying to get a reaction - but being shouted at was never fun.
"THAT KID, EMI-something, DIE YET?!" someone shouted over Mamoru's arm, almost in Usagi's ear. She jumped and looked wide-eyed at the photographer - a paparazzo from a sleazy website, who was referencing a televised visit to a children's hospital Usagi and Minako had attended recently, where they sang to a little girl named Emiko, who was undergoing aggressive cancer treatment. Usagi had really bonded with the girl, sending her letters and postcards when she could - as far as she knew, Emiko was doing well, but to have it shouted in her face like that...
The man - on the short side but wide and muscular - tried to push his way past Mamoru to get more in Usagi's face. "DID YOU ALREADY FORGET? HA HA, I BET SHE'S-" Suddenly the man stopped short, as Mamoru fully stepped in front of his charges and leveled the man with a dangerous, ice-cold stare.
"I hardly think that's an appropriate line of questioning, do you?" he said, voice dark. He flexed his fingers a little, still staring down the photographer - while Usagi and Minako were ushered into the side door by Kunzite.
Mamoru turned and left the man sputtering. Mamoru hadn't touched him, but next time even the threat of assault charges wouldn't hold him back from reshaping the man's face. At least, that was the impression he made sure to leave him with.
Inside the sanctuary of the rehearsal space, Usagi gasped a bit for air.
There was Kunzite's calm voice by her shoulder, "They'd get more money for a shot of you angry or upset," he explained. "Try not to let it get to you." Usagi nodded, trying to blink back the tears burning behind her eyes.
There were a lot of things she really loved about being an idol, but moments like this... Suddenly, a soft white handkerchief was pressed into her hand. She looked up at Mamoru, and he put one strong, cool hand on her shoulder. "It's okay, Usagi," he said, that smoky voice of his by her ear. "I'll always be there." He squeezed her shoulder - just for a moment, something sparking in his eyes that was quickly extinguished.
The lump in her throat prevented her from answering, and she found herself touching the spot on her shoulder, watching him walk away. Somehow, Mamoru always made her feel safe - yes, it was his job, but more than that - the shoulder squeeze filled her with comfort more than the promise that her loyal bodyguard would punch a photographer for making her cry.
Minako cleared her throat, looking at Usagi with a knowing smirk that made the smaller blonde blush and hurry up on stage.
Dance practice wasn't Usagi's forte, really, but that day seemed to be particularly grueling for her, she couldn't seem to get her hips to cooperate. Their choreographer knew Usagi's talents lay more toward adorable (she had a sunny, gentle stage presence that complimented Minako's charisma and flawless perfectionism), and thus always kept the moves were simple - a shoulder shrug here, hand movements there, nothing too complex.
Still, the incident outside put her in a bad mood, and it was showing in her work.
"Take five!" Takashi said, with a sigh and Usagi grabbed a towel, swiping at the sweat on her brow with embarrassment. "We'll go over it one more time." He checked his watch, Usagi knew they were already over the allotted time.
"I'll work on it tonight," she promised. "By tomorrow, it'll be all set." Minako gave her a thumbs-up and grinned.
"I have no doubt, Usagi. We'll be on for this concert in a few days."
Minako and Usagi - The Crescent Girls - had catapulted into fame rather quickly, and were probably not destined to stay there long, but Minako was determined to enjoy every minute while she could. Usagi, too, enjoyed the perks. Although dancing to the upbeat hits was tiring, she liked singing the heartfelt love songs, her back-ups breathy and sweet to Minako's bold, rich voice. She also liked visiting with fans and especially loved fan events.
But, man. All the practices and time away from her friends and family, well. That part kinda sucked, she reflected.
Usagi pushed open the heavy side stage door, the cool outside air pricking on her sweaty skin. Mamoru was leaning against the wall, smoking a cigarette and chatting with Kunzite. His bright blue eyes looked over to Usagi and then back behind her, habitually taking in the surroundings.
Usagi wondered if she should feel self-conscious about her damp hair and white tank top sliding off one shoulder, that she was pink faced and breathless from practice, but she was past worrying how she looked around Mamoru, gorgeous as he was. As her bodyguard, the man saw more of her than her own mother did, at this point. There were times, still, though, when he looked at her in a way that made her heart flutter a little - but she was unsure if that was her imagination or not.
Mamoru's eyes slid back to Usagi, and he put his cigarette to his lips and smiled.
"Dance practice go well?" Kunzite asked, almost knowingly. Usagi gave an annoyed little shrug. She turned to Mamoru.
"Why don't you ever watch?" she said.
He smiled again. "I do."
Kunzite got the hotel to give the small exercise room to Usagi for her to practice her dance that night. Minako had gone with Kunzite to a new club opening, but Usagi had begged out. She gave the excuse of practicing her dance all night, but after about 45 minutes she decided she'd sweated enough and headed up back to her room.
It was close to midnight when there was a knock on the door; Minako must be back and stopping in to say hi before heading back to her room with whomever she managed to pick up at the club (or perhaps with her manager, Usagi never could figure out if they were really together or not) but when she opened the door, it was Mamoru who stood there.
He raised an eyebrow at the fluffy robe she was wearing - hair down and air dried in slight curls from her shower - the rental movie on the TV and the room service she'd ordered. She'd obviously been in the room a while. "Dance practice going well?" he said, a slight smirk pulling at his lip. She made a face and motioned for him to come in.
"I did work on it!" she insisted. He closed the door behind him and sat in a chair by the window, watching as Usagi pulled on a strand of her hair, twisting a bit around a finger. "How was the club opening?"
"Hectic," Mamoru said, "but it wasn't long before Minako was in the VIP section up top, which made it easier to keep an eye on things." She nodded, touching a strawberry from her room service plate. She motioned for Mamoru to help himself and he waved it off politely. "Minako left early out the back when the music turned a bit country for her taste."
She wondered about all the beautiful, scantily clad girls at the club - Mamoru was working, and difficult to distract, but she was certain they'd tried. She wondered why she'd never seen him bring anyone back with him (once he was off the clock, his time was his own of course). Perhaps he was just careful about it. Perhaps she shouldn't be dwelling.
"I came by to let you know I called Juuban Hospital earlier and Emiko is doing really well," Mamoru said. Usagi looked up in surprise and he smiled, a warmer one then she'd seen in a while. "I saw before you were shaken by that pap, so I wanted to ease your mind. She got your most recent postcard, too."
"Thank you," she said, feeling happy relief. "It reminded me to send her another one, too."
She looked at the way his fingers rested on his knee, his long legs stretched out in the front of the chair. On the car ride home from rehearsal, her knee brushed his in the backseat the entire way home. The silence seemed charged, suddenly. She lifted her gaze to his and he blinked, shifting his eyes and standing.
"Well, I'll see you tomorrow, Usagi." He grabbed a strawberry from the plate on his way out, giving her a quick wink that made her knees a bit weak.
"Wait-" she said, and he turned. "Do you-" Do you know what you do to me? "Do you want to see my dance routine?" She instantly flushed as his eyebrows raised a bit. "Maybe you can help," she added, lamely. What an idiot thing to ask, to say. But Mamoru smiled and shrugged a bit.
"Sure. Love to."
It felt a bit silly - she changed back into her work out clothes - leggings and tank top - and twisted her hair into twin tails which she tied at the nape of her neck, then went back out into the main room of the suite. "Okay!" she said, laughing at herself a bit. But Mamoru was smiling too, his gaze amused and happy and something else she couldn't identify. His usual intensity, she supposed.
It was actually kind of fun - the song was one of their upbeat numbers, cheerful and happy. "Love love girl and boy," Usagi sang, her voice light and airy against the recorded voice of Minako - stronger and in the lead. She thought she may have even had it down, but Mamoru shook his head, laughing a bit.
"You aren't stepping back on your left foot," he said and she looked up in confusion.
"What?"
He reached over and turned off the music. "Takashi wanted you to put your weight on your back foot while circling your hips, it will keep your balance better." He walked over and stood behind her. "See, I told you I watched," he added, and although his was tone light, there was something under his words that made Usagi's heart pound faster.
From behind, Mamoru went to touch her waist, but stopped when the brush of his fingers against her hips made her gasp. He pulled back a bit, then, "May I?" he asked, his voice soft and husky.
She nodded and answered, flustered, "Yes, sure. I mean... yeah. Yes." He laughed a bit, mostly air, and it tickled the small hairs by her ear.
He rested his fingers on her hips again, pulling back just slightly so she stuck back her left foot automatically, using it to press her weight into the floor. Then, muscle memory had her finishing the gyration, although she brushed against Mamoru's legs and flushed violently.
"Oh!" She laughed, turning and looking up at him. "I think that helped..." she trailed off at the look in his eyes, a dark intensity with what almost seemed to be affection dancing beneath the surface. "Thanks," she managed to whisper. He hadn't moved his hands from her sides, the tickle of his fingers as they brushed against the skin at the base of the shirt was sending goosebumps up her arms.
He sighed, then, shutting his eyes and leaning down so his bangs brushed against her forehead, black hair mingling with blonde.
Surely he could hear her heart pounding through her chest, as she tugged on his shirt a little and lifted her chin - a cue for him to bend his head, lips barely touching hers...
"This probably isn't a good idea," he murmured, and she wanted to kiss him so badly she could barely think.
"Why?" she whispered back, eyes wide. Wasn't the passionate affair with the bodyguard practically tradition for young pop stars?
But Mamoru just shook his head, "I don't think I'm good for you." But he didn't move away.
Unable to help herself, Usagi reached up and caressed the nape of his neck, the slight shudder of response through his body sending a thrill through hers. "Why don't you let me be the judge of that?" She said, tugging once again on his shirt and pulling slightly on his neck with her other hand, an obvious invitation to a kiss.
He let his lips brush hers slowly... once, twice... then they sunk into the kiss. His lips were warm and urgent, coaxing hers open and she was happy to oblige, deepening their embrace by sliding her arm around his waist, the other tangling in his hair. The hands on her hips tightened and pulled, pressing them closer together.
Usagi pulled back enough to look him in the eyes, now a dark, stormy blue like an ocean in a hurricane.
"Stay," she said.
"You are sleeping with Mamoru, aren't you?" Minako said as the driver closed the door on them.
Usagi blinked, and her eyes darted to where their bodyguard stood, talking to Kunzite. He was due to join them in the car on the way to the concert at any minute.
"Well?" Minako prompted, smirking a bit. "Told you you liked coffee."
She flushed, "Are we that obvious?"
Her friend grinned, and shrugged. She was obviously pleased at the situation, "I'm glad you are having yourself a fling, girl. You deserve it!" She gave Usagi's arm a friendly punch and the smaller blonde blushed again.
"We'll just have to play it extra safe at events," Minako joked, "So nothing happens to his cute little butt."
Usagi opened her mouth to answer, thinking about how horrible it would be if Mamoru got hurt and it was her fault - no laughing matter to her at all, despite Minako's dimpled giggle.
But then Mamoru opened the door and go into the car, and the conversation died except for Minako's smirking eyebrow wiggles the entire ride.
"I don't think you should be my bodyguard anymore," Usagi said later that night, coming out the side door of the stage into the cold night air. From where they stood they could hear the bass of the opening band, the cheering of the crowd.
"And why is that?" Mamoru said, stamping out his cigarette and looking at Usagi with a quirked brow.
"I don't want you in danger!" Usagi said. "My safety might mean you getting hurt! I mean, what if someone comes at me with a knife? A gun?!"
Mamoru's face was dark for a moment. "Then I'd hate to be him," he said, and for a second a chill went up Usagi's spine. She recovered quickly -
"But, I mean, I don't want you to... I don't..." She bounced a bit on the balls of her feet. Her costume (one of many) involved a short skirt and belly shirt and the night air was chilly. She could feel the layers of lipstick, and the glitter on her eyelids felt like a mask. "I know to you this is probably just... ya know... fun. A fling. But for me... I really care about - I mean -"
"Bodyguard or not," he interrupted with a wiry shrug, "I won't ever stop protecting you."
His eyes scorched for a second, as they look at her. His meaning was clear to Usagi - this was no fling for him, either. She swallowed and nodded her understanding, leaning back against the wall next to him. The back of her fingers were brushing up against his, and he stretched out his fingers - long, tapered, unusually cold, and curled them around hers. She squeezed and he squeezed back.
The night stretched out around them.
