Rocker and the Mechanic - Chapter 12

Rated: T

Spontaneous

Chapter Summary: Ash has an epiphany and there's no way in hell she's letting Johnny's dream die if she has any say in it.

Ash, frozen from where she still knelt in front of the open (and messy) guitar case, stared at the small offering dangling from the mechanic's long fingers…her keys.

She didn't have the money to pay him... and yet, Johnny was handing her the keys.

"W-W-Wait, I…" she stuttered slightly, clearing her throat before she felt comfortable enough to continue speaking, "...Are you sure?"

"Well, yeah. Don't want ya be late for your concert. I - I trust you'll come back." His words were so annoyingly genuine, it had her tense shoulders deflating.

Ash stared quizzically into his far too kind eyes before blurting out, "You really are way too trusting, Johnny."

In hindsight, it may not be the wisest thing to say. Hell, she might as well have blurted out that she was seriously considering ditching this place and never coming back to pay him, but the words came out anyway.

"...I know. I've been told." he chuckled softly, smile small but authentic. "But let's just say I 'ave a good feeling about ya."

Ash wasn't even aware of the fact she'd turned her palm out and within a second, Johnny had gently dropped them into her awaiting hand.

"'ave a good night, Ash," he muttered softly before turning away and walking back to her motorcycle. Effortlessly kicking up the stand before rolling it out the door it had entered only a mere hour or two ago. How long had she been here anyway?

Ash watched in bated breath from the small vantage point of the open door as he put it back in the street before walking back in the shop.

Johnny didn't speak, merely flashing her a pleasant smile pulling at the corners of his mouth before gesturing to her motorcycle awaiting her.

The spell seemingly broken, Ash pushed herself to her feet; closed and locked her guitar case before carrying it out the door without sparing the gorilla another glance. More afraid of him changing his mind than anything as she approached her sparkling clean red bike. Lifting and depositing her guitar case on top before locking it into place; she was prepared to pull herself on it and drive away as quickly as possible but something stopped her.

Conscious holding her back, Ash swallowed her pride and turned around to at least say 'thank you'…

…but he was gone.

The door closed behind him with a gentle click and in the sudden cold breeze rushing across her quills, she was already missing the warmth that seeped through the windows. So lost in her thoughts and the regret that pulled in her stomach, she didn't even notice the rain had stopped.

Unlike the dozens of times before, when Ash put the keys in the ignition, it roared to life beautifully. The engine purring like new and all Ash could do was chuckle, a smile pulling at the corners of her lips as she adjusted on the seat. She had to hand it to him - while he deserved to sing for a living, he was a damned good mechanic.

As she sat there, grasping the handlebars; her index barely touching the gas, she knew right then that she could easily leave; push the gas and never have to see this guy again. She would of course have to come back and pay him though, because unlike Lance, she wasn't a heartless bitch who took a favor for granted. It simply wasn't in her nature to step all over other animals with the purest intentions.

Yet the need to frantically hurry to her gig seemed to taper away, leaving her thinking about Johnny - as much as she told herself to stop. Crisp beautiful voice still ringing in her ears and all of a sudden, just as she planned to push her motorcycle forward, a sudden idea had her hand frozen on the handlebar, a single press away from the gas. There she remained; an invisible anchor keeping her foot rooted to the ground and her hand un-moving. For a second she got lost in her head; the annoyingly persistent thought of her manager's frenzied text still in her mind was ignored for only a moment as she sat there prepared to leave.

Ash glanced back over at the 'J's Mechanic's' sign. Worn paint and chipped wood near the edges so unassuming to the animal residing inside.

The strangely wonderful events of this night playing like an annoying record on loop in her head. Troubled mind awash to waking up to Johnny singing; voice so potent and powerful as if he had been training his whole life but annoyingly, was just a gift. As natural as breathing was to him and it annoyed her at first but as she sat here prepared to leave, it beckoned her like a lighthouse to a ship lost at sea.

Perhaps it was because she was not able to pay him financially for his work tonight, but there was still some way she could at least pay him temporarily…

The second the idea sparked, Ash instantly knew her plan was outrageously stupid, but for once - she didn't care.

'…Aw, what the hell?' was her only thought before she kicked up the stand before approaching the small, unassuming mechanic's shop once again.

"Johnny! Open up!" she shouted, knocking frantically on the door.

The gorilla opened it more than a minute later (way too damn long Ash thought); confusion obvious by the slant of his brow and agape mouth. His breathing was a bit frantic and his eyes wide and wild as if he'd been running.

"What's wrong?" he asked; not even bothering to hide the annoyance in his voice at the fact her bike may indeed be broke but she quickly stepped in. "Aw bugger, is it acting up again? It should be running fine!"

"No. The motorcycle is running - has never run better, but that's not the thing, j-just… come with me!" she said and damn, even as she stuttered, it sounded demanding (and slightly perverted in retrospect).

Thankfully, the innuendo went over his head; instead, the gorilla looked at her blankly before he uttered a soft, "...What?"

Aw fuck, why did such a look of befuddlement crossing his features have to be so damn endearing? Normally a look of cluelessness would irritate the fuck out of her, but with him…

"Don't ask questions. You have a car, right?" Because he sure as hell would collapse her motorcycle.

Johnny stalled for a second before uttering, "Uh, well, yeah. M-My truck is parked in back."

"Perfect! Let's go." she demanded, proceeding to step past his legs and walk towards the back of his house without even being invited in.

The strangeness of the situation seemed to dawn on him and he blurted toward her retreating back. "J-Just wait! Wait just a second."

Ash stopped and gave him her attention; as fleeting as it was; her legs itching to leave.

"W-What - Jus' what the bloody hell is going on?" Johnny asked, gesturing helplessly; his words laced with exasperation as he stared at her in utter confusion.

"Isn't it obvious?" Ash on the flip-side acted like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Johnny's face told her that she had lost him the second he opened the door.

Johnny chuckled mirthlessly, hand brushing back his spiky hair, "What are ya talking about?"

"My concert. I want you to go with me."

Running a quick hand down his face before answering, "Eh, I-I'm flattered you asked - really I am. And don't get me wrong, I'd love to watch you perform, but… ya see, I-I have a packed schedule tomorrow and a very demanding client is gonna be here early and -"

"You're not gonna watch." Ash interrupted; hands now on her hips and foot tapping impatiently. She was already deeply regretting this but she was way too far in to back out now.

Johnny's eyebrows quirked, "…I'm not?" he asked, pulling nervously at his uniform.

For the first time since she ran back in the shop, Ash now only noticed how his uniform had been zipped half-way down his sternum and the closer she looked, noticed his hair was rather mussed. The thought that he was probably about to get in the shower or undressed obvious; his uniform nearly off of him before she slammed her fists on his door. He must have not had time to zip it back up before answering made her swallow thickly; throat painfully dry as a parched desert and her face was just as hot.

Johnny seemed to realize what she'd noticed and zipped it up with a nervous smile.

Ash frantically shook her head, pulling her eyes away from all that alluring (taut and firm) gray skin of his chest, she met his eyes and said what she came here to say in the first place - consequences be damned.

"I want you to perform with me."