She Will Rock You
Glimpse
The charm of podgy cheeks, brandy coloured curls, and even the way her little hand gripped so tightly around the crayon as she diligently crossed over the doggy's black outline was hard to deny. The little girl herself was rather pleased with such a fun activity, and although prone to a tantrum or two she found the comfortable lap of the stranger highly agreeable. In fact this strange new lady was quite considerate in the toddlers task, for she actually held down the paper so it didn't jostle as much across the glass table they sat at, which was quite a treat in itself!
Careful hands kept the little one secure, attentively changing position to suit the child's whimsical need, be it altering the angle of the picture for easier crayon attack, or supporting her side should her large head decide for a sudden swing in that direction.
The mind of the mysterious lady was elsewhere however, for she was busy contemplating the varied consequences of murdering the child's father.
"Did you hear me? Do you need me to stay?"
She gave the question minute thought, her eyes fixing upon the tiny hands reaching out for a new colour.
"Yes I heard you. And no, after you let him in, you can wait outside."
A quick and low chuckle, there was hardly any humour in it, and the young man took to scratching his unshaven chin for distraction.
"…After I let him into his own house…" Hazel eyes glazed over as he watched the pair at the table. "…Are we really doing this Nat? In his own home, in front of his own family?"
Natalie finally pulled the yellow crayon packet closer to the girl, just in time to stop a grizzle. Sharp green eyes turned on the fair-haired man.
"Our family are crying out for retribution Harvey. What else is it you expect me to do?"
"-To not repeat history?" Harvey hissed through his teeth, his attempt to not startle the tiny girl had failed, her bright blues watched him warily. She wasn't as keen on the tall blonde stranger.
Natalie rubbed over the toddler's back gently, and spoke soothingly, almost sweetly towards Harvey's form, but she faced the child in her arms.
"Do you think it was hard for my Father to make these decisions? Or for my Mother? …I don't think it was Harve… I think they just knew what they wanted and took it. Regardless." Natalie tore her gaze away from that of her niece, and spoke with serious weight, "Robert is the same."
Harvey let out a long sigh, reaching inside his jacket pocket and pulling out a tobacco tin, which held within five cigarettes he'd pre-rolled earlier for emergencies. As odd as the situation may have seemed, he didn't truly deem it a reason for panic. Natalie had already thwarted his plan to save his brother's life, though not because of his certain death, but rather Harvey ultimately found little need to act. His sister's raging blood thirst had passed and left her quietly thoughtful, distant and calculating, but considerate nonetheless.
As much as Princess hates to admit it, she has a conscience. He lit up and took a much-needed drag, I wonder who she got that from?
He became more alert when the humming of a cars engine announced a new arrival, and with a nod towards the boss he made his exit through the archway, and stood ready to welcome his little brother home.
Miss Durant was cold, beautiful and cunning, and she handled Genevieve's silencer like it was her very own.
Presently
The wall was pleasantly chilled upon Natsuki's cheek, the room around her still dark, so her tired eyes examined the little chips and cracks in the plaster as she wriggled her too hot body closer.
A dust cloud tickled her nose when she breathed out heavily, and something shinny bounced off the wall near her face. It jumped and stuck there, so she poked it gingerly with a finger, expecting to find it glued somehow. But she was able to flick it away easily before more crystals bounced closer to her face, she blinked wanting to shield herself, afraid they would cut her.
They weren't real crystals of course, she recognised them from her Gran's chandelier; little hexagon shards that were very pretty to look at but everyone knew were glass.
The world tilted, all too suddenly Natsuki felt gravity hit her stomach and she had the dull comprehension that she had fallen from a high place. It was not a wall she was against, but the floor. Her eyes pierced into the darkness, willing away the gloom to see someone else nearby; they seemed just as pinned to the concrete as she was.
She surprised herself by calling out for her uncle, only then was she able to make out his form. He shook on his knees, hunched over spitting out teeth and glass.
"Charlie..?" She crawled to him, black fog trespassing across her vision making his image blur, but it had to be him, she knew that grey suit and moan of agony. She could never forget.
What she wasn't prepared for was the twist of his neck - a shock of green hair and sharp metallic eyes turning on her!
The bluenette jolted violently, nearly careering right off the bed and terrifying a somewhat peacefully sleeping blonde next to her. Shizuru's first instinct was to catch hold of Natsuki before she really did end up on the floor. She held her by the arm and waist firmly, as her mind was not awake enough to trust Natsuki wouldn't fall should she let go.
"Are you alright?" Shizuru asked in concern, scanning around the room quickly.
"Y-Yeah! I…I just fell…" Natsuki wiped the sweat from her forehead and glanced at sleepy dark eyes full of worry, "…t-tripped in my sleep." - A pathetic fib, though believed with relief.
Shizuru let out a small sigh of understanding while Natsuki eased away her grip, settling the Kyoto-girl back down to the bed.
Natsuki was grateful for the care, in her own bemused way, but she felt sticky and irritable. She wasn't the kind to be bothered by dreams, however anyone would feel uptight after having Tomoe's scowling troll of a face invading their head. Natsuki decided this one could definitely be classified as a nightmare.
She let out a huff through her nose and watched as Shizuru snuggled herself deep into the pillows surrounding her. Her hand came to rest by Natsuki's leg, and fingers unconsciously gripped the cotton of her pyjamas. Damn she looked cute.
The bluenette mumbled her quiet excuses and slid away to the bathroom, pulling the light on by the dangling string and closing the door as gently as she could. Unfortunately there wasn't a window she could draggle her body out of to cool, but she heard the little fan up in the corner faintly buzz to life and circulate the air.
She stripped off the t-shirt that clung to her back horribly and draped it over the towel rack.
It was a small job full of maximum effort to wash off her own grime, but she managed it with an ever-present frown and a growing headache. Nightmare aside she did not feel well rested in the slightest.
The girls hadn't been asleep long, and in between movie watching and candy eating, had been talking at length way into the night.
What it was that had been revealed in their discussion was still something of wonder to the bluenette. The outcome of Natsuki's careful probing left her feeling rather uncertain, as whenever she came close to a definite answer, Shizuru withheld just enough information to make it all a bit shady. Natsuki's chest would grow tight and she would lose the nerve to ask further.
And yet, she could be sure of one thing; a familiar sensation that coiled itself around her core, a kind of ache of obligation she had felt before, though it pained her a little less. It was certainly the same complicated emotion.
Her friend had professed admiration, which could either grow or tear down her happily aloof, sometimes cheeky pedestal. And Natsuki had become rather fond of it up there; so far away from anywhere she used to be.
It's all befuddling… She would find herself thinking in a typically posh English voice that always supplemented itself in her most exhausting moments.
With a few groggy movements Natsuki wrapped a towel around her bare torso and abandoned the bathroom. Her eyes took their sweet time adjusting to the dark space before her, so holding out an arm to the wall she slowly made her way back to the bedroom.
Logically, the black outline of something sitting on the bed shouldn't have suddenly petrified her, but it did.
"FUCK-SHIT!"
"Pardon?" was Shizuru's startled reply.
Oh, how the bluenette was glad her friend couldn't see her that well. In her fright she had thrown her fluffy protection against half-nakedness, and then rolled backwards into the hallway, before springing to her feet with her arms up protectively!
"What are you doing?" The blonde asked removing the towel from her head. "Trying to smother me at a distance?"
The Bluenette stood stunned, for just an instant she had expected sharp objects skimming past her eyes, but there was nothing.
…No danger, nobody emerging from the dark… it's only Shizuru, she reassured herself, dropping her guard with an awkward gesture and stepping into the room.
"Sorry! I ah, didn't think it would hit you so…squarely." Natsuki let out a brief little laugh and ducked down to her rucksack.
"Oh I see…" Shizuru couldn't quite see the other girl, her navy hair blending her into the darkness of the night, so Shizuru could only follow the dim glow of her white arms digging about.
The Brit made no further explanation and simply pulled on an oversized T-shirt before plopping onto the bed. She squirmed herself beneath the duvet, waiting for Shizuru to get comfortable beside her.
"Sorry for waking you." Natsuki apologised, rubbing at her forehead and willing away the tension in her head like it didn't exist.
Shizuru just smiled in response as she softly laid her head back upon the pillow. She watched the bluenette for a short while; she looked to be in pain. And then hesitantly reaching over and biting her lower lip, she touched Natsuki's face.
"You have a cute nose." Shizuru whispered.
"…No…" Natsuki answered just as quietly, with a whine.
Shizuru meanwhile stroked delicately up the bridge of Natsuki's nose, and down again to the adorable button tip. "Oh, yes you do," Shizuru smiled contently, less nervous now of overstepping and possibly upsetting Natsuki with her rather intimate act. "…And you know, it flares so endearingly when you're angry."
"Not true" The girl murmured.
"So very true."
"…But, no"
The whispered conversation continued until Shizuru seemed to have soothed away the headache and Natsuki could no longer argue her non-cuteness.
The morn
Sunshine beamed through the needle width parting of the cream curtains, coincidently at the perfect angle to stab at sleeping eyes. It had been a warm night, and appeared to be the makings of a hot day to come.
Shizuru had woken lonelier than she had expected to. She would have preferred to doze away the early morning with the girl beside her, close enough to feel that little shield of warmth radiating around them. She frowned upon the realisation that Natsuki was not there.
Mercifully the disappointment didn't last long.
(Dream Lover ~ by Bobby Darin)
The bluenette swayed in the kitchen, absentmindedly watching a stewing teabag slowly bleed out its flavour into the milky water within her cup. Physically, the bluenette was knackered, not unbearably so, but her dreams had been filled with people and places she had consciously forbidden herself from thinking of. And mentally, Natsuki subsisted…overshadowed by a dream.
She watched her spoon play with the little used sack of tea bits and leaves, a part of her knowing to brood and regret would do no good. But that was why she had started playing music, it soothed her entirely, and she knew enough of the words to slowly bring her out from her stupor.
Natsuki had hardly noticed when Dream Lover had started playing, she was already humming along before she recognised the beat and smiled.
~'cause I want ~
~A girl ~
~To call ~
~My own ~
Natsuki threw the wrung teabag in the bin and sang,
"~I want a dream lover, so I don't have to dream alone~"
The subtle brush of slippers on carpet betrayed her friend's presence. So Natsuki was not startled by the little tap of footfalls on the lino tiles, nor by a pair of arms loosely encircling her waist from behind. Shizuru likes to do that.
"You're up."
"Mm, good morning," Shizuru yawned endearingly onto Natsuki's shoulder, making it warm. "Have you been up long? You should have woken me to make you some…decent tea." She said wrinkling her nose at Natsuki's steaming beverage.
"This is builders brew!" Natsuki turned holding the mug of tea, making Shizuru release her hold and give space between them. "But it's fine, you must have needed the extra hour. I just have a horrible time sleeping in the summer… or winter…" She sipped at her drink nodding a little, "…or any other night with varying temperature."
Shizuru chuckled, gliding to open the high cupboard. The song playing faded away and Shizuru wondered briefly at the words of it, perhaps it has special meaning to her?
"What would you like for breakfast?" The honey-blonde asked, closing the cupboard door again and crouching to gaze into the refrigerator.
"Hm? Oh, I don't mind."
"Well would you like something savoury or sweet, hot or cold?" Shizuru pushed, looking up at Natsuki.
"I'm really not fussed."
"Ara, how unhelpful." Shizuru half-heartedly slammed the fridge door as she stood. A sexy smirk caught between frustration and amusement. She moved closer to Natsuki, like the unintentional panther she could be, head lowered and red eyes intense upon her prey.
Hearing a nervous choke slip out of Natsuki staggered her though. The blonde was unprepared! She hadn't meant to act so brazen, so unthinkingly! Shizuru's breathing stopped as she considered whether she might have just ruined things, dooming their entire day to awkwardness.
Natsuki remained close, hands encircling her cup of tea to her lips. Her cheeks burning rosy as she carefully flicked her green eyes up to meet Shizuru's.
"I…am not breakfast."
Oh thank god! Shizuru laughed. "What a shame." She spun away and began preparing her own hot drink.
Natsuki meanwhile continued to lean back against the counter, quietly watching Shizuru and pretending to listen to whatever music was playing now. The suspenseful feeling of the previous night returned to her fully and she allowed her eyes to traverse over Shizuru's form, judging behind the safety of a mental barricade where she could think objectively about her friend.
Shizuru was filling the kettle, using one hand to hold back the sleeve of her silk dressing gown. It drew the emerald gaze to Shizuru's fingers, which were long, strong looking and already a little tanned like the rest of her arms no doubt. That led her over Shizuru's shoulder blades, a flicker down her back and up again to a glimpse of slightly paler neck. Shizuru's golden honey hair was mainly hanging over the other shoulder, and partially tucked under the collar of the gown. Natsuki resisted the urge to pull it free.
Objectively, her neck did appear inviting. And her experience of Shizuru's body thus far told her that perhaps she wouldn't mind it if her friend wanted to…feel more occasionally.
Natsuki tried to quash her jitters and gulped down what was left in her cup. Why am I thinking like this? How perverted. But of course the bluenette knew exactly why she felt the sudden desire to evaluate her friend; Shizuru had blurred the line irrevocably.
"Your soul is the most beautiful to me."
An echo that still had her heart double skip. Yet what did it mean? What promises hid within it other than the sheer obvious; Strife, Natsuki thought bemusedly, for surely it would take great effort to fight through her walls and see anything of a silver of beauty. It's also something yearning; yet committed, not quite like worship of course, but… …Loving.
Natsuki trembled, Love? Her green eyes tore away into the half blinding light coming through the kitchen window. Perhaps her best friend had spoken too soon, it had to be a collision of misunderstanding. After all, denial is safer than believing her wonderful, intelligent friend Shizuru, could claim true affection over a 'soul' she could not know.
Love. Natsuki breathed steadier, leaving her companion at the island counter and walking over to the lounge side of the room. She plopped down on the settee and let the morning sun warm her face.
…I don't know what to do with Love.
Shizuru was saying something to her, and the Brit decided being an introvert was no fun at all.
"Sorry, I couldn't hear over the kettle, did you say something?" Natsuki achieved to ask in a carefree tone.
"Ara, I was just wondering how Natsuki has managed to go all morning without playing on her electric guitar?"
The bluenette gave her a tiny smile, "I didn't want to wake you, and it's your guitar…I thought I should ask first."
"How adorable," Shizuru beamed. "Please go ahead whenever you wish, I am clearly quite awake now. And it is still my gift to you." She replied, coming over with her tea in hand.
Natsuki withheld a grimace. She does so much for me. Am I taking advantage of her?
The bluenette rolled off the settee and busied herself with setting up the amplifier, retrieving a long blue lead from her bag and connecting it with the polished PRS.
After some tiny deliberation in her head Natsuki chose to sit on the floor, close to her amp where she could adjust the knobs more freely. A brief glance at the wall clock told her it was quarter past eleven, anyone still sleeping deserved a wake up call about now.
She battled the deep urge to stand up and power chord the world to death, for fear of embarrassment. This was a beautiful instrument that needed respect and care, Natsuki's fingers were still soft and she noticed even the string spacing was just slightly different to what she was used to. She wanted to take her time and get to know this shiny work of art.
Slowly she allowed her middle finger to grip and turn the volume knob, quickly releasing the wavering electrical hum that would only intensify if she let it grow.
Natsuki noticed a little frown from the corner of her eye and decided not to drag out this introduction.
Holding down a couple of strings, she flicked her wrist and the plec stroked over nickel, producing the most clear and deeply resounding growl that had ever passed through her amp.
Natsuki actually groaned.
"Well, hello there…" She greeted in English. Totally albeit briefly forgetting about her company.
Natsuki stretched the fingers of her left hand, cracked a knuckle or two to really loosen up and commanded them to practice some Blues scales. She began tentatively, letting the notes hang in the air. Natsuki had no problem ignoring the little sting on soft fingers, but the thought of slipping off a string would be mortifying. In fact, now she remembered, just playing in front of Shizuru was nerve-wracking! She paused for a moment chancing a glance at her friend.
Shizuru sat frozen, caught between choking and needing to breath. She chose to do neither due to having a mouthful of tea. Her face and neck felt hot, feverish all of a sudden, and the tickle of butterflies assaulted lower than she could cope with right now.
"N-Natsuki?" The blonde cleared her throat behind a hand.
"Shizuru."
She smiled, lowering her cranberry eyes to the floor, "Perhaps you could be more aware of your effect on people…" Shizuru let her finger run around the rim of her teacup, and let loose a little smirk.
Natsuki threw back her head on the seat of the sofa and laughed, "You know I was just wondering why it feels so weird playing in front of you."
"Weird?"
"Your pervy-ness verifies everything."
Shizuru laughed, somewhat pleased they were back to their old banter. Did that mean Natsuki accepted her admission last night? Whatever that was. Shizuru hadn't been able to go all the way, and she still hated herself for how scared she had felt.
Airing her frustrated feelings of jealousy had spilled into gushing about how wonderful she thought Natsuki was. Ara…it's a little embarrassing really.
She was looking into her cup, which held a droplet of tea left inside and she played with it for a moment, letting it run around inside the china. When she lifted her gaze she found green eyes still watching her, a curious little expression with a touch of shyness and a dainty blush to her cheeks.
Shizuru was surprised considering her earlier tease had been rebuffed well. But the green eyes couldn't keep contact and flickered over her, only daring to peek at her briefly before pulling away to the floor, or hiding behind lashes. Shizuru's heart thumped when Natsuki became redder, and they both managed to share a timid smile before Natsuki turned her head away.
Shizuru was grateful for that as she could feel herself growing pink just as Natsuki started fiddling with the strings.
The entire moment had felt like having belts pulled too tight across her chest, seizing muscles that ached to run and yet skin that died to be touched. Aahh, what was that? Shizuru sucked in a breath as discreetly as she could and stood. She had always been a supreme actress of impartiality and used this to get away.
She had brought both cups with her to the kitchen, bending dangerously close to Natsuki to retrieve them. And now at what she'd decided a safe distance away she could glance back at the girl she was falling for.
The Bluenette had begun to strum less randomly, settling into a more relaxed rhythm. While Shizuru pretended to prepare food, she stared with longing and nerves trembling through her hands.
Things aren't the same, they both thought.
The teen rocker wasn't sure what compelled her to study Shizuru so openly. It felt like conducting a test and now she wasn't sure she could process the answer. Something had simply just screamed inside Natsuki to find out whether the tease was in jest or…actually true! Could Natsuki seriously effect her best friend… in that way?!
Natsuki couldn't claim to know too much about any of that, but Shizuru would be eighteen soon, it was quite likely, being older and all, that she felt more mature feelings like…being aroused by me playing guitar? Ehhhh, I don't know! Just because Shizuru said she likes my sparkly soul doesn't necessarily mean I should take her jokes seriously!
And yet when the bluenette had dared to look, she found herself transfixed by her honey-blonde friend. Shizuru was staring down into her tea, but was unmistakably flustered. A small smile still played on her lips where she had laughed, and then she bit her bottom lip, turning the cup in her hands, her chest rising and falling quicker than Natsuki believed to be calm breaths.
Do you…like me?
Suddenly red eyes where staring straight back at her, deep and penetrating, sending a new and raw feeling swirling in her stomach. It felt something similar to diving down a rollercoaster, but these kinds of butterflies were too many, flew too low, quickened the thump of her heart, and when it sent a pulse between her legs that was it. She could not look at Shizuru anymore.
Oh Christ…
What was that? What is with me!?
Why did that happen?!
…
Do I…I like her?
Shizuru had come close to her then before drifting away, her dressing gown flowing out behind her. Natsuki realised she'd taken her empty mug and quickly returned to examining the guitar in her lap, she played unthinkingly, using her efforts to fight away the confusing sensations still echoing in her body.
I-I can't even understand this right now…it felt like – like I wanted her to touch me, for a moment I thought she was going to. But…Goddamn I was thinking like that earlier too!
…It's…probably just a physical thing, I've taken her jokes too seriously lately, at least unconsciously I have. And…and so I'm a goddamn animal… a perverted pubescent invertebrate jelly! Who is just thinking of wanting sex! And Shizuru happens to be the only candidate right now…
…What makes her a candidate?
Oh shut up BRAIN!