Authors Note: Thanks to everyone for following and supporting this story! I appreciate all the comments and reviews on how much you are enjoying it. If you wish to request a one shot based on a pairing then just comment on the story or private message me. Just a slight warning for the story below is that there is some adult themes mentioned throughout the story. This is also quite a long chapter. I hope you enjoy it!
"Alright guys so this week's assignment is, drum roll please Finn" Mr Schue grinned as Finn rolled out a loud drum roll in the choir room. Both Rachel and Jesse had to fight the urge to roll their eyes but kept their best show faces on as they watched their coach write on the board.
"Alter-Egos" Mr Schue announced, spinning around to find a lot of confused faces staring at him.
"And what is the meaning meant to be behind this lesson?" Rachel asked, trying not to panic herself as she really did not have an alter ego, she had always preferred to be herself, no matter how many times she got slushied or bullied for how overconfident she was. She had just never felt the need to hide behind a persona that she didn't need.
"Thank you for asking Rachel" He smiled at her, "This weeks lesson is all about finding yourself and appreciating the different quirks and oddities that makes you, well you. I want you all to get out of your comfort zone, show us your alter ego if you have one or if you don't, then create one. It's all about showing your creativity and honing your skills as an artist. I want you all to have fun with this, and then at the end of the week we'll have a showcase of everyone's alter-egos. I want you all to surprise me"
With that the class finished and everyone slowly made their way out of the classroom, Rachel had grew worried and for once she was at a loss at what to do. Jesse, who had his arm wrapped lovingly around her waist felt her growing tense as they approached her locker. "Rach, you okay?"
Rachel sighed, he always was so observant. "Not really" She admitted, "I don't know what I'm going to do for this week's assignment. I don't have an alter ego Jesse. I'm just me. I wear my heart on my sleeve and I proudly show off that I'm a high maintenance, bossy and overconfident diva who knows she's going to be on Broadway one day. I don't need to hide behind someone I'm not"
Jesse stared at her for a moment before chuckling, "Rachel, you'll figure it out. I can help you if you want. You don't need to hide behind another personality because you're already amazing as you are, you don't need to change or be someone different. And I love you for that, I love how you're not afraid to show off who you are and you shouldn't be. Plus, as Mr Schu said if you don't have an alter ego then you can create one"
Rachel smiled her heart swelling with love as Jesse tried his best to reassure her. "Thanks Jesse, you're the best" She leaned up and pressed a chaste kiss to his lips, giggling as she pulled away quickly and saw the pout on his face which confirmed that he hadn't wanted a slightly longer public display of affection.
"Tease" He pouted
"I try" Rachel grinned
The next day Rachel made sure she was at school before Jesse, usually they arrived at the same time so they could spend some time together before the beginning of their classes. But this time, she needed help from some of the girls of Glee and she wanted to make sure it was a surprise for Jesse. She had taken his advice to heart the previous day and now she was putting it to good use. She quickly made her way to the choir room and found the three people she had been looking for: Quinn, Santana and Brittany.
"Why did you need us here so early Berry?" Santana yawned.
"Because I need your help" Rachel admitted to the surprise of the three girls, "Look, I know that I usually don't ask for help and I assure you this time it won't lead to another Run Joey Run fiasco" She shivered at the thought. "I want to transform myself, I want to add another dimension to Rachel Berry and to do that, I need your help. You three are the most stylish girls at school and you all have…" She paused, her cheeks flushing red and for a moment she didn't want to say the words. But she had to, and she needed to become more mature and refined, she didn't want to be getting teased for not being able to say rude words.
"Are you going to carry on or just continue standing there looking like a confused Hobbit?"
"Santana" Quinn hissed, giving her friend a disapproving look
Rachel blinked and rejoined reality, "It's okay Quinn" She smiled. "And I was going to say that you three all have sex appeal and then I got a bit embarrassed but I need to get over that for what I want to do. So can you help?"
Quinn and Santana glanced at each other, the same wicked glint in their eyes as they realised they were finally going to be able to give Rachel a makeover that was long overdue. Meanwhile Brittany was too occupied with playing a cat game on her phone, occasionally making a few purring noises but Rachel knew that when it came to helping her find a new fashion sense that Brittany would pull through.
"We'd be delighted too" Quinn grinned
The week passed by in a blur for Rachel, between shopping and rehearsing her performance for Glee with her three new friends, rehearsing her and Jesse's duet for Regional's and still getting all of her homework done, time seemed to pass far too fast. Now it was Friday and It was almost time for Glee, she was standing in the girls bathroom staring down at her new outfit, not feeling as confident as she had when she first bought it.
Santana who sensed the younger girl hesitating was quick to remind her why she was doing this. "Don't freak out on us Berry. You look amazing in that outfit. If I didn't have a girlfriend then I'd want to tap you" She smirked as Rachel blushed in response.
"What I think Santana is trying to say" Quinn interrupted. "Is that you can do this Rachel. Jesse is going to love it, you're going to show him a side to yourself that he didn't know you had. Heck, you didn't even know you had it in you. We've rehearsed the song and dance a hundred times by now so take a deep breath and relax"
Rachel smiled at the two girls who were trying to calm her down. "Thanks. I've just never felt this...vulnerable before, I guess" She shrugged, slipping on a coat over her outfit so she wouldn't get too many stares in the hallway. "And as you said Quinn, this is a side I never even knew I had and I'm not ashamed to say that I quite like it"
"That's a girl" Quinn beamed. "Don't be afraid of your femininity or your sexuality Rachel. You have to embrace it and own it. Now, I'm not saying that you have to go out and sleep with Jesse at once, but just let yourself live a little more. Don't be so uptight. Just allow yourself to have fun and explore the things that make you feel good. But I can guarantee you one thing though" She smirked
Rachel quirked an eyebrow at her. "And what's that?"
"Jesse is going to go out of his mind when he sees you"
"That's what I hope for" Rachel smirked
Safe to say there were various looks and costumes for the performances today; Santana decided her alter ego was an Angel complete with wings and all. Brittany, was of course being her usual self and decided her alter ego was a cat. Puck was dressed as a Rock star complete with his Mohawk standing tall and proud. Quinn went back to her dark days of after she gave Beth up for adoption, she even had her hair dyed temporarily pink again along with her fake nose ring. And Jesse, well he decided to go tongue in cheek for after everything he had done to Rachel, he was currently dressed as a sexy devil, complete with tail and horns. But it wasn't because he was mean, it was because he had a bit of a naughty side, one that Rachel was yet to see.
But as Jesse took his place in the front row as usual he frowned as he didn't spy his girlfriend in the room at all, usually she would be the first one in and waiting to be first up to perform her song. Mr Schue then walked in, clapping his hand in excitement like he usually would, to Jesse it seemed to be his signature move. "Okay everyone! You all look wonderful and I'm glad you went all out for today. First up, of course, is none other than Rachel and she's assured me that everyone is about to see a completely different side to her today" He grinned and took his place to the side of the room, not noticing the smug looks that Santana and Quinn shared between them, they were now eagerly awaiting the reaction of none other than Jesse St James and what they had cooked up with his girlfriend.
Jesse perked up in anticipation as the music kicked in, he recognised it instantly as Holding Out For A Hero. The drums and piano kicked in with the band also singing the backing vocals for the time being. His eyes were fixed on the door and when Rachel finally made her entrance, he felt his jaw drop open in surprise and awe.
At the door to the choir room, there stood his girlfriend dressed in a complete black, latex outift paired with black heeled boots but they weren't high enough that she would risk falling and injuring herself. As his eyes roamed over her body drinking in the sight of her, his own body reacted with such desire that he was close to getting up from the chair, sweeping her off her feet and leaving school for the day so he could have her all to himself. But his hands were now glued to the side of the chair which was holding him in position. From behind Jesse, both Quinn and Santana smirked in delight, he had reacted exactly how they had thought he would.
Rachel stormed into the room, as her eyes met Jesse's all her worries and nerves faded away, all it took was one look from him to make her feel at ease. It also helped seeing just how effected he was by her sudden change in appearance, and she couldn't help but smile in delight. She positioned herself directly on front of Jesse, winking at him seductively just like she had practised with Santana.
"Where have all the good men gone
And where are all the gods?
Where's the street-wise Hercules
To fight the rising odds?
Isn't there a white knight upon a fiery steed?
Late at night I toss and turn
And dream of what I need"
As the first verse kicked in Rachel fell to her knees and crawled to Jesse, sliding up between his knees and rose slowly so she could stare in his eyes for a quick moment; the lust and desire that was buried beneath them gave her all the encouragement she needed to continue. She spun around and moved behind him, she leaned towards Sam, who was dressed as his alter ego 'Football Man', she slowly slid the black tube from around his neck and brought it with her back to the floor.
"I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night
He's gotta be strong and he's gotta be fast
And he's gotta be fresh from the fight
I need a hero (New Directions: hero)
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light ('til the morning light)
He's gotta be sure and he's gotta be soon
And he's gotta be larger than life, larger than life"
At this point both Santana and Quinn left their chairs to join Rachel on the floor, they danced and twirled seductively around the piano as Rachel sang. Each time the beat of the drum hit Rachel would crack the black tube as if it was whip.
"Somewhere after midnight
In my wildest fantasies
Somewhere just beyond my reach
There's someone reaching back for me
Racing on the thunder and rising with the heat
It's gonna take a superman to sweep me off my feet (oh!)
I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night
He's gotta be strong and he's gotta be fast
And he's gotta be fresh from the fight
I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light
He's gotta be sure and he's gotta be soon
And he's gotta be larger than life
I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night"
Rachel cracked the tube again right on front of Jesse's chair, he raised an eyebrow but smirked at her, not noticing how Puck and Mike who were sitting either side of him had slid their chairs away out of fear of being hit. He didn't know what had came over Rachel or how she had discovered this alter-ego of hers, but he liked it. He loved her how she was of course, but discovering a new side to yourself was always fun, and this sultry and seductive side to her was definitely a side he could get used to. But right now in the middle of the classroom he had to shuffle ever so slightly to adjust himself as his body reacted to her performance, he could feel knowing eyes on him and glanced to the side to see Puck smirking at him. From behind him he could feel angry eyes glaring through his back. If looks could kill, he thought and turned back to see none other than the zombie dancer glaring at him with anger. He winked mockingly at him before he felt a small, warm hand on his cheek, bringing his attention fully back to her.
"Through the wind and the chill and the rain
And the storm and the flood
I can feel his approach is like a fire in my blood"
Rachel slid her new prop around Jesse's neck, grinning as his attention once again fixed on her, she licked her lips teasingly, trying to test just how far she could push him while they were in school. Her knee was placed ever so close in between his legs, she practically felt the heat radiating off his body as he fought the urge to control himself or to give in to desire. She didn't know which one was winning but thought it was awfully fitting that he himself had decided to perform as a naughty devil. Maybe they really did think alike after all.
"Like a fire in my blood, like a fire in my blood
Like a fire in my blood, like a fire in my
Blood, blood!
Oh!
I need a hero (hero)
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night
He's gotta be strong, and he's gotta be fast
And he's gotta be fresh from the fight
I need a hero (hero)
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light"
Santana and Quinn both took the prop from Rachel's hand, using it to twirl themselves in and out of intricately while singing back up for Rachel, who was now dominating the floor as usual.
"He's gotta be sure, he's gotta be soon
And he's gotta be larger than life
I need a hero (hero)
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night
He's gotta be strong, and he's gotta be fast
And he's gotta be fresh from the fight
I need a hero"
With that last verse Rachel placed herself in between Quinn and Santana, all three posing as the last chords of the song rung out. It took only a moment for the club to compose themselves after want they had just witnessed, and without another hesitation they burst into applause. But it took Jesse slightly longer to rouse himself from the fantasies he was creating in his head, especially the one which involved a real whip. His thoughts came to an instant stop as he heard the bane of his existence begin to speak, he immediately knew that Finnderella was going to make this about himself and claim that Rachel was singing to him.
"Wow Rachel" Finn grinned. "That was amazing. And you look amazing. I could definitely tell you were singing it to me, I appreciate that"
Rachel rolled her eyes as she felt the happiness of her bubble burst at his words, instead a rage was burning up inside of her and she didn't know if she could control her temper this time. "Thank you for your candor Finn. But you are one hundred percent mistaken in thinking that I was singing this song to you"
Finn frowned, "But you were totally looking at me!"
"No, I was not looking at you" Rachel corrected, "I was looking at my devilish boyfriend sitting the in the front row. This performance was for him and only him"
Jesse shivered with delight at her words, the first time they had been together she had never publicly defended him or sung to him but now here she was doing both. He didn't know what he had done to deserve her but he just knew that he was not going to let her go again. "And judhing by how quiet he is, I think my performance worked charms" Rachel stated, her voice now slightly husky at the sight of Jesse who was now breathing heavily on his seat, he was really fighting his urges to just passionately kiss her on front of their class, but he would save that for later.
Instead he rose from his seat, making sure to inconspicuously 'fix' himself before he dared face the rest of the class, he could hear Puck and Mike barely containing there laughter behind him, but he didn't care. All he cared about right now was Rachel. He crossed the room in barely two strides and picked her up in his arms. "Thank you" He whispered into her ear, grinning himself as he felt her body react against his with a shiver. "Thank you for defending me, thank you for singing to me and only me. And thank you for loving me. I don't know what I would do without you Rachel but I promise you, I am never going to let you go again"
Rachel felt her eyes brimming with tears, she raised her head from where it had been placed on Jesse's shoulder to stare into his eyes. "I love you too Jesse, so incredibly much. And you don't have to worry because I am not going anywhere" She grinned, placing her lips on his to give him a passionate kiss, only stopping when they heard the group muttering in disgust about public displays of affection.
"That performance by the way" Jesse smirked. "Was titillating. You drove me crazy during the whole thing. I just wanted to take you into my arms and have my way with you" He whispered breathlessly into her ear, smirking as he saw the blush tinging her cheeks. "I see you have definitely found another side to yourself Ms Berry"
"Why Mr St James, I think I have" She winked, surprising herself at how much more confident and free she felt, she threw a grateful smile to Quinn and Santana who were now beside the piano with proud looks on their faces. Santana gave her a sultry smirk, as if predicating what she knew was going to come next. While Quinn gave her a friendly smiled and muttered something to herself, which Rachel definitely thought was 'use protection'.
But she didn't focus on that too much, what she did want to focus on was her boyfriend now standing beside her beaming with pride and love at how well her performance was. What she didn't expect was the words that then followed.
"I think we should trade that tube in for a proper whip, what do you say?"