Hello everyone!
Welcome to Day 6 of MidLu. I just have to say, if you haven't checked out the other authors MidLu stories...please do! I've had the privileged of reading some fantastic work thanks to those participating! And the response for this couple...you guys really do rock. And talk about rock hard!
This is the 3rd and final AU installment this week.
There is a song in this one so you might want to pull it up when you get to the lyrics in bold and give it a listen Smile by Sixx A.M watch?v=bdBcmLwiTmo
As always, I don't own Fairy Tail or the music but I do own the plot.
Makeup
Macbeth shifted nervously in the booth as he glanced up at the stage again. He knew he was next and it scared the shit out of him. It wasn't that he couldn't sing. He could, he knew that but it's why he'd taken up art instead of music. Stage fright had always gotten the best of him. It debilitated him to the point of anxiety attacks that left me thinking it just might be a heart attack. Shortness of breath, feeling like an elephant was parked on his chest. Chills, cold sweats, chest pains, shaking hands, erratic pulse. The whole nine yards and then some. And at that moment, it was no different. He was a single note away from just saying fuck it and walking the hell out. But he couldn't, not if he wanted to get her attention and fix things.
He'd fucked up. Royally and the pictures did not help. The only thing they did was remind him of the stupid crap he couldn't remember. Why had he drank that much? It was stupid and it being Bickslow and Erik's bachelor party made no excuse. He probably should have wondered how Lucy had even seen the pictures in the first place but what was done was done. He couldn't remember the stupid fucking lap dance or the kiss the stripper had planted on him. Thanks to Kodak, he got to see the missing memories in color. And Natsu. Can't forget that stupid little fucker for taking them. He shouldn't be angry with the tech-tard but truth is, he was. He'd hired the dancers. He was the one that was trigger happy with the camera. And he was the one that had left the camera at the club.
Now, because of one honest mistake that technically wasn't his fault, his relationship was hanging by threads. He'd come home from a gallery showing, in a foul mood to boot, to find her sitting in a dark kitchen waiting for him to come in. When he did, she'd been eerily calm as she slid the pictures across the table. Lucy was a screamer. When she lost her temper, all nine levels of hell heard her wrath. Perhaps her unflustered tone should have been a clue for him to shut the fuck up and just listen. Let her get it out of her system by asking the million and one or twenty questions she'd had and be done with it. But he hadn't. He'd allowed her accusatory words (she'd had more than a right to them given the evidence) to insult him and he'd blown up. He'd told her she was making a mountain out of a molehill.
"This is just outright ridiculous Lucy," He bellowed. "It was just a damn lap dance and as you can see, I'm not the only one!"
"No," Lucy said rather matter of factly. "But you're the only one with a stripper's tongue down your throat."
"It's not like I even remember it!"
"And that makes this ok?"
"No but come the fuck on, it wasn't like I went home with her."
She gave a shrug of her shoulders. "Did you want to?"
"What?" Macbeth glared at his girlfriend, unable to comprehend how she could even ask an asinine question like that. "Fuck, No! She's a stripper for Christ's sake!"
Her thin brows arched, a sarcastic smirk settling on her lips. "Midnight, you do remember what I did back in college right? When you met me?"
"Oh don't even fucking go there Lucy," he spat. "You were working as a damn cabaret performer. HUGE fucking difference."
"Why? Because I didn't go rubbing my lady parts on the customers? I certainly remember rubbing them on you."
His face fell as he gave her a roll of his eyes. "Now this is just getting beyond stupid. You're making a goddamn mountain out of a molehill."
"A picture of a practically naked woman in your lap with her mouth on yours is a molehill? And I'm being stupid?" She asked before quietly pushing back from the table and stood. "How about we table this until you feel like discussing it like adults. You can sleep on the couch till then."
His chair scraped the kitchen floor as he slammed it back. "Fuck that," he sneered as he moved past her and paused at the kitchen door. "I'll go crash at Erik's until you decide to untie the damn knot out of your panties."
Just the memory of how big of a jackass he'd been made him want to slam his head against a brick wall. How could he have been such a damn prick? She'd had every right to question him. It was no wonder that she hadn't spoken to him in two weeks. The first week had simply been his own fault. He'd refused to see reason, seriously believing she was making more of this than it was. He wasn't a cheater and the last person he'd ever start on was her. She was everything to him. In his eyes she hung the sun, moon and every single star in the night sky. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. But after the second week of not calling or hearing from her, it was becoming doubtful that he'd get that.
Which was why he was sitting in that booth in Freed's bar, on karaoke night, dreading his turn. He had devised a million ways he could start the conversation with her. He'd sent flowers to her work with no reply. The candy had come back as undeliverable. Erik and Bickslow now had a giant teddy bear dominating their living room because she'd refused delivery of that too. Not one fucking thing worked and he was coming to the end of his rope when Erik had finally sat him down. He and Bicks had told him that none of that crap swayed Lucy. She wasn't materialistic and she sure as hell wasn't stupid enough to let little shit like that make her swoon. She needed something that would speak to her. The minute they'd said it, music had popped into his head. But sending her a stupid CD wasn't going to work. He needed to make it personal. And then he'd heard the song on the drive home.
"Dude," Erik's voice cut into his thoughts. "You're up."
Macbeth slid out of the booth and glanced across the room. She was there. She had only glanced his way once when she'd entered with Laxus and Gajeel. But then she'd gone to the bar and engrossed herself with her trusty group of girls. It had hurt then and it hurt even more when she didn't even turn when they called his name again for his turn. Heavy chested, he trudged his way to the stage and up the stairs on the side. The guy Freed had hired to run the Karaoke night was a little on the eccentric side. What, with his sparkle laden white suit that didn't quite hit his hairy little ankles. The man couldn't be more than four foot tall, his ginger red hair styled to give him another inch or two. And his chin. He was sure the guy actually had his ball sack stapled there.
"MEN! You have such a lovely parfume," The little man smiled. "You're doing Smile by Sixx A.M correct?"
"It's cologne but thanks," he shivered. The nutsack midget's smile was creepy. His teeth were unnaturally white and he was pretty sure the glitter from the sparkle suit had managed to spread there as well. It was the kind of thing you expected to see on someone driving a white utility van, trying to give candy to little kids. Stranger danger! Stranger Danger! Macbeth pushed the warning bells out of his head and turned for the mic. The stage suddenly felt like quicksand and his mouth went completely dry as the spot light hit him. The only saving grace was that it blinded him to the audience. If he couldn't see them, they couldn't see him right?
The sound of a guitar and piano came from the speakers and he pulled the mic from the stand it was attached to. His throat fought him as he swallowed and he cleared his throat before bringing the foam covered device to his mouth. "Doll…this is for you." The lyrics appeared on the screen in front of him and he watched the counter count down to one.
As the light, washes over the morning rise,
You're still asleep, and that's all right,
I can be still, cause you look so sweet,
And beautiful, next to me.
His voice shook from his nerves and the small crack he heard made him want to cringe. He wanted this to be perfect for her. He needed her to know what she meant to him because he couldn't lose her. Not now, not ever. He let his eyes drift close and pictured her face as he allowed his emotions to take control.
And all my life,
I've been waiting for someone like you,
To make me smile,
You make me feel alive,
And you're giving me everything,
I've ever wanted in life,
You make me smile,
And I forget to breathe,
What's an angel like you,
Ever do with a devil like me.
You make me smile,
You make me smile,
You make me smile,
Smile.
Lucy stared at the man on the stage. No makeup, no braid nor was his two toned hair pulled back the way he often did when they were out, no suit and tie. It was just him, as he was when it was just the two of them. And he was singing. To her, in front of other people. She knew about his stage fright, it was why he'd forgone a music career and why he came home from every exhibit or showing in a bitter mood. He was exposing himself, allowing the most vulnerable parts of him be seen. All for her. Her eyes burned with tears that were on the cusp of falling. It took her breath away and made her chest ache with the desire to run up there to him.
It wasn't that she'd been angry when the pictures had arrived in her inbox. The sender had been unknown but it didn't take rocket science to figure out that it had been Michelle, his. She'd known the girl worked there and was still close friends was Natsu's fiancé, Levy. It had been made very clear that the girl wanted Macbeth back and the pictures were just a way of trying to break her and him apart. She was only going to tease him about it but then he'd gone defensive and had immediately started shouting. The anger hadn't set in until he'd left and then the hurt started when he refused to call or come home. He was supposed to know her, was supposed to be forever and yet something so minor had prompted him to say hurtful things and leave. What if those words had been the last he'd ever said to her?
Still in bed, sun is beating down,
In a hotel room, on the edge of town,
Wake up baby, it's three hundred miles to drive,
And the truck-stop preacher, well he says God is on our side.
And all my life,
I've been waiting for someone like you,
To make me smile,
You make me feel alive,
And you're giving me everything,
I've ever wanted in life,
You make me smile,
And I forget to breathe,
What's an angel like you,
Ever do with a devil like me
You make me smile,
Oh smile,
You make me smile, yeah.
His eyes opened and her breath caught when his unusual but beautiful ruby red eyes locked with hers. The cards, flowers and candy had only pissed her off. And that god forsaken giant damn teddy bear. She hadn't wanted any of that from him. She wanted him, home and in their bed. She wanted him to realize what he had and come back with a simple apology. But this, seeing the depth of emotion in his eyes; it was better than any simple sorry. The song had meaning because it was a song he'd only ever sung to her in the privacy of their home. He'd said it was his song for her because only she could ever make him smile the way she did. "You take away the dark for me, Doll." She watched as he reached up to wipe away a tear from his cheek and that was all it took to break the dam on her own emotions. A hand covered her mouth as a sob choked her.
This was why she fell for him. Only he could make her heart soar the way it was in that moment. A gentle hand squeezed her shoulder but she couldn't tear her eyes away from him. He was beautiful. Despite the tears, a smile rose on her lips and a small laugh slipped out when he gave a lopsided smile. Those dimples of his did her in every time and without the mask of makeup he usually wore, he looked like a boy. She saw him mouth the words "I'm sorry" and her chest almost ached with how much her heart expanded. That's all she'd wanted to hear but leave it to him to say in a way that would not only mend the hurt but make her fall all over again.
Well all my life,
I've been waiting for someone like you,
To make me smile,
You make me feel alive,
And you're giving me everything,
I've ever needed in life,
You make me smile,
And I forget to breathe,
What's an angel like you,
Ever do with a devil like me
You make me smile, you make me smile
You make me smile, you make me smile
You make me smile.
The moment the song ended, the spotlight died and he could finally see her. He hated to see her cry but she was never more beautiful than she was in that moment. A smile on her face, the one he never thought he'd see again, and her doe-brown eyes shimmering with tears. Ignoring the cheers and shouts of the crowd, he hopped down from the stage and all but ran the distance to where she was sitting. She didn't resist or pull away when his arms went around her and he buried his face in the soft, honey blonde curls of her hair. A choked sob slipped out when she responded by sliding her arms around his neck and pressed herself against him. "I'm so sorry Doll. So fucking sorry," he cried against her hair. "I know I'm a stupid idiot but please don't leave me. I love you more than life, I need you."
She pulled back enough to look up at him. "You are an idiot," she smiled softly as a hand dropped to brush against his wet cheek. "But you're my idiot, my Midnight and it'll take more than a picture of you drunk to make me leave."
"But-" She cut him off by pressing a finger to his lips and he could only stare.
"No buts," she said softly as she brushed her nose against his. "I was never angry over what was in the picture. You were wasted. Hell I knew the moment Gaj dropped you off that night and I had to help you crawl to the bedroom."
Macbeth blinked, perplexed by the admission. "Then...then why the inquisition?"
A soft chuckle slipped from her lips and she pressed herself against him, her arm going back around his neck. "It wasn't an inquisition. Had you not jumped the gun you would've known I was pissed because it came from your ex. You're an up and coming artist baby, she could ruin your career and us with a picture like that."
It was as if he'd been mule kicked, right in the fucking nuts. He'd been so blind by his fear of losing her and he could've, all because he was an ignorant jackass who didn't listen. She'd never been angry with him. She'd trusted him enough to know the truth behind the damning picture. But he hadn't trusted her enough to believe in the strength they had together. She was trying to protect not only them but his career. He was the self-centered pig while she proved yet again to be a guardian angel. "Punch me in the face with an iron skillet?"
The light hearted laugh he'd missed graced his ears and her lips pressed against the side of his neck. "I'll save that for when you really deserve it," She mumbled against his skin. "But you could come home tonight. It'd be a nice start."
He pulled back and brought his hands to her face. He didn't deserve her but damn him to hell because he couldn't let her go. "How about we head home right now?" He said hopefully. "I've got a whole hell of a lot to make up for."
"I love you, Macbeth."
He leaned in and slanted his lips over hers, allowing himself to sink into the taste and feel of her. Those three little words were often said too much and sometimes couldn't say enough. She was his light, the air in his lungs, the one saving grace in a world where he was damned...the one and only reason he smiled. "I love you more," he whispered against her lips before pulling back to smile down at her. "More than all the stars in the universe."
And there you have my rendition of makeup. I was going to go the traditional route there but then the song came on and inspired this.
Hopefully you enjoyed it as much as I did. Midnight WITHOUT makeup…sexy!
Stay tuned for tomorrow's final MidLu week entry – Halloween.
Don't forget…in just two days!
~BixLu Week, November 2015~
GemNika and I have officially lost our goddamn minds. So, we've created BixLu Week, and decided that it should begin on All Souls Day. What better day to give our favorite Seith mage some lovin'? The dates are from November 1, 2015 – November 7, 2015. And here are the prompts:
Day 1: Fix
Day 2: Hidden
Day 3: Home
Day 4: Doctor
Day 5: Vendetta
Day 6: Fluffy
Day 7: Space
Please let me know if you're planning on writing for either of these pairing weeks, so I can make sure to check out your stories! Get those fingers to the keyboard and get to work! I know I'm extremely excited to see what you all write!
As always, please R & R!
Till tomorrow…Big hugs!
Princess Nana