Battle Cries Chapter 8 - Henry Cavill/OFC
TITLE: Battle Cries
CHAPTER NUMBER: Chapter 8/?
AUTHOR: Cinderella1181
WHICH Henry/CHARACTER: AU Henry Cavill /Juniper Denholm
GENRE: Romance/Comedy
FIC SUMMARY: Henry Cavill is the fourth son of the Lord and Lady of St. Helier. He is also now 37 still living at home and has no plans to move out. His father, recently retired, is forcing Henry to live on his own. Set up nicely, by his parents Henry has to find his place in the world and find real love for the first time with a girl he didn’t necessarily think he would even like.
PREVIOUS: Chapter 7
RATING: M (sex, language)
WARNINGS: Um, nothing yet.
AUTHORS NOTES: Sorry for the great long absence! It will be a lot like this until next summer. Work has started again and a lot of times this very tired teacher just wants to come home and sit on the couch.
Thank you to @ladyaudiophile for checking this!
Taglist: @omgkatinka @peakygroupie @demivampirew @thethirstyarchive @littlefreya @mary-ann84 @losille2000 @honeybournehippy @carriebee1 @oddsandendsfanfic @xxxkatxo @pinkiepicklehead
Henry ran his head over the head of the dog that sat at his feet. It was a Sunday, and like most Sundays he sat at Joey and Madeleine's table. The roast would be out of the oven in just a bit, which simply gave him more time to tell them that their idea was not going to work.
“I’m not going with you,” he said. “Juniper and I are never going to be a thing, we don’t even really like each other and I am sure as hell not going to meet her parents.”
Joey sat down next to him and looked at him. “Henry…”
He shook his head. “I’m not going. End of argument,” he said.
Joey looked exasperated at Madeleine. “She’s your best friend. Please encourage my best friend to come with us, so he is not sadly alone!” He got up and headed from the kitchen. Henry almost felt bad that Joey was so upset. He and Madeleine heard from the other room “HE’S BEING A WANKER!”
Madeleine reached over for Henry’s arm. “Look, I know you think this between the two of you won’t work, but, I have been her best friend for a very long time. I know she’s hard on the outside, but inside she’s a good person who just needs someone who is going to challenge her in a good way.”
“Well then good luck to her, I can’t be dating someone who doesn’t like the fact that I am of the aristocracy .I can’t help how I was born.” He said quietly. “And I’m not like that, you know that.”
She sighed. “I know you’re not, I know you are a good kind heart, but, Juniper, just...I think it’s because Juniper is just, I don’t know. Sometimes she is so much like her dad, stodgy and very very British and a lot more of the time, she is like her mum, and a free spirit and a warrior.” She put her hand on his arm. “She will reconcile herself to the fact that you are a great guy and that you deserve a chance.” She stood up, wrapping her arm around his neck hugging him. “She is just a tough nut to crack, but once you have, you’ll see Joey and I are right about you two being together.” She stood back up. “You're coming with us. End of discussion.”
Before Henry could say anything, she had left the room. He sighed. Joey could have said the exact same thing to him, until he was blue in the face, but, it was somehow different from Madeliene. There was no questioning her. Henry resolved himself to his fate of having to go and see her again.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to see her. He did, desperately in fact, but he couldn’t resolve himself to the words that Juniper said. He couldn’t help but feeling picked on. He knew how he was raised, he knew how his father and mother raised them. Yes, they were gentry, but, they were expected to go to school, and to go to university. He was the only one who didn’t really have a career path laid out for him. Even Charlie, who was younger, had decided to do something.
He sighed and reached down to pet Kal. Henry heard the words she had said, over again in his head. He was part of an institution that she didn’t agree with. She wasn’t wrong, he was a part of something that was old and outdated, but it was a part of who she was, a part of what he was brought up to believe in.
He looked up from the dog, as Joey walked back into the room. “I am glad you’ve decided to come.”
“Only because I have too.” He sighed.
“I promise you, you are going to love it. Have you ever had an American Thanksgiving?” He asked.
“I have not, but I have heard good things.” He replied.
“Oh. it’s incredible.” Joey said. He paused a moment and put his hand on Henry’s arm. “I know that you think Juniper is whatever she is. And I guess I will stop trying to get you two together. I just thought it’d be great for you to be with her. She is pretty amazing. She just needs time. I’d like you to at least be friends with her.”
Henry nodded. “I am okay with being friends if she wants it. Honestly I am. I know that if I am going to be around for the considerable future, I need to make friends with her if she will let me.” He sighed. “And that is a big if.”
Joey nodded. “I appreciate it.” He smiled a little at him. “I fully expect you to be my friend for the rest of our lives, and because of that you are going to have to interact with her, since Madeleine is not going to give up her best mate. The four of use can just be mates together.”
Henry reached out and put his hard on Joey’s shoulder. “I will try.” He smiled. He stood up. “I am going to be heading out. What time do I need to be here?” He asked.
“11 am, we have to drive up to Oxford.” The reply came. Joey smiled a little. “Feel like letting us take your big ole fancy rover?”
Henry looked at him and shook his head. “That’s why you want me to go, so I can drive, and you don’t have to take the train.” He raised his eyebrow. “If I do agree to it, I am bringing Kal with me.”
Joey laughed a bit, and nodded. “Fortunately, Juniper’s mum and dad are animal fans unlike Juniper.” He grinned. “I think it will be good for you to bring him.”
Henry smiled, stood and walked to the counter. He picked up his keys, and Kal’s leash. “Tomorrow at 11 then.” He headed towards the door. “Bye friends.” He called back into the flat and let himself out. He looked down at Kal and shook his head. “I can’t believe we agreed to this.”
Kal looked back up to him, and cocked his eyebrow. He let out a low “Boof” and trotted ahead of his dad, ready to head home.
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Good News?
The next chapter of Digital Get Down is complete and sitting in Google Docs.
Now, waiting on the approval from @cinderella1181 to post and also to write the next chapter.
We know it's been a while... but hey, it's something!
Hope everyone is doing as well as they can! Have a great week!
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New Year Tag List Cleanup!
Hey guys, it’s been a year for me posting my stories here on Tumblr and I think it’s time to do a taglist clean up in honour of the new year.
My list is extremely long and it takes time to tag everyone, where I’m never even sure if you got the tag thanks to Dumblr. However I noticed that some people never interact or just stopped long time ago and while I don’t force people to constantly read and reblog (because not all stories are for everyone’s liking) if certain people never interact I don’t see much of a point in tagging them, it just makes me feel like I am either tagging people against their will or harassing them.
If you want to remain on the list please feel free to DM/send an Ask or comment this post (I wont remove people who normally engage unless they ask me to remove them)
If you wish to be removed please DM/send an Ask or comment this post, there is no harm done.
If you never asked to be tagged and for a reason unbeknownst to me you ended up on my list please let me know so I won’t tag you against your will.
If you are not on the list and want to be added, jump right in!
I’ll update the tag list by January 10th. If you never interacted but didn’t asked to be removed I will assume you don’t want to be on the list and just don’t want to hurt my feelings by asking to be removed.
I can always add you back so no worries. 🖤
Tag list under the cut. If your name is crossed out it’s because I can never tag you. :/
@pandaxnienke @luvinhenry @henry-cavlll @sciapod @dancingwendigo @thiccgeralt @dammjimiamabloggernotadoctor @anakindoesntlikesand @ladycavillry @hows-my-hair @modernscarlett @turkish276 @centaine @ohjules @ly--canthrope @peakygroupie @shortstacks-blog @hcfavoritegal @hclovers @intototaloblivion @evnscvll @lifeisingrey @mytbel0st @goliveeasy17posts @wondersofdreaming @curlylovingwitch @naya-neneya @itsreigns @brexrif @sofiebstar @magdelen69 @honeychicanawrites @laketaj24 @maggotzombie @winchwm @itisjustwhatitis @leylaxhanusa @mary-ann84 @cleodoramer @suueeeeeee @mdemontespan1667 @sapphirescrolls @helenaellie @maeleeme @xuxszx @daniig95 @beiroviski @badassbaker @mitzwinchester @jesseswartzwelder @dearlybelovedluke @hell1129-blog @taytayize123 @ladyreapermc @savaneafricaine @krazycags01 @littlemissthistle @violetidk @constip8merm8 @carlya65 @geralt-of-baevia @eiluned @princess-of-riviaa @luclittlepond @keiva1000 @05alyaly12 @shadesofarrogance @lestersglitterglue @omniaismail45 @radaofrivia @itsjusttaralove @omgkatinka @aphrodites-punch @thekingstachemademedoit @stillreadingfantasy @obsessedwithcavill @cherrybloomn @harambelovedchristmas @deep-in-my-thoughts13 @valkavill @littlemissthistle @sunflowersstan @watermeloncavill @yoursecretsmutblog @trippedmetaldetector @la-vie-en-diva @jdm-traash @artandotherdelights @wanderinglunarnights @the-mechanical-angel @penwieldingdreamer @toomanystoriessolittletime @hidden-treasures21 @secretlyactivated @yespolkadotkitty @eevee-of-rivia @artandotherdelights @geraltsbottomsbottom @grumpygeralt @secretlyactivated @ellixthea @aaescritora @sweetlybigdragonn @desperate-and-broken @imintosomestuff @living-in-the-darkness @marvelingfordc @grecianlune @kittyslove @madbaddic7ed @tsukuyomi011 @wanna-do-bad-things @lovemylife2618 @toomanyfandomsshreya @thatdumbassbitchh @snowbellexx @pampampanic @the-soot-sprite @migirl323 @starlite13 @msblkfire84 @shewritesinthethirdperson @chamomilebottom @vikingsbifrost @agniavateira@henrythickcavill @lux-ravenwolf @badoopwoop @radkesgirl83 @brinschk @elixasays @laruefizonfyre @cavillhoney @clockworkgraystairs @fishcustardandclintbarton @gian-giannina @onlyhenrys @wolvesandhoundshowltogether @halfbloodwanheda @clockworkgraystairs @aquahogcodes @stars-meets-the-sunlight @madelinelina @momowhoo @fangirl199812 @lifeofrileyp @mylittlepartofthegalaxy @wednesdaybraids @forthebrokenheartedthings @sultry-rachael @howaboutashave-blog @notyourtypicalrose @jolly-polly @forthebrokenheartedthings @aletheladyinred @persephonehemingway @captainbigdy @yoyoanaria @thetaoofzoe
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Share 3 things you love about your current WIP! (optional: send to 3 other authors who need some positivity!
(thank you for this opportunity! xx)
So, so many WIPS – I had a difficult time choosing! It’s like asking a parent to choose their favorite child. *sighs* But let’s try and make a start, shall we?
The One That Got Away – an AU featuring my favorite Actor and an OFC, inspired by a one-shot I won in a tumblr contest.
The play within the story is The Taming of the Shrew, staring OFC Vicki (Virgilia) Gordon and Benedict Cumberbatch (aka: Theatrebatch 😉) as Kate Minola & Petruchio, Gentleman of Verona.
1. As the one-shot was written to meet my request (me, getting to play opposite BC in a theatrical production of one of Shakespeare’s plays) the OFC unabashedly represents me—although she’s soooooooo much more than I am! My best self, I suppose, if I had the talent, drive, and hutzpah to pursue my dream of a career on the stage. Dust to Dust (by @cinderella1181) is gorgeous and angsty and hits all the perfect notes of unrequitable love. And within hours of reading it (repeatedly) I realized that I couldn’t let go. I needed to tell their story in full—not only what came before, but what comes months and even years along for Vicki and Ben. I wrote several chapters in rapid succession; I was so inspired that the words flowed freely, and I felt that I couldn’t spill them onto the page fast enough.
Eventually, I asked the Author (and now my friend) if I could take up telling more of the story. She had been toying with the idea as well but was willing to let me try. She had me send her some samples of what I’d already written and gave her approval once she was satisfied that I could do her vision justice. And though I haven’t updated in two years, this story lives in my blood.
2. I love the theatricality of the language these would-be lovers use. Absolutely over the top dramatic—no surprise as they’ve both lived their adult lives drenched in the elevated language of Shakespeare and that of similar playwrights—but also indicative of their perfectly matched intellects. Even their feelings/musings/reactions/subtext are richly, lushly expressed, as that is the truth of their natures.
I have several additional original characters, and their language is also quite smart. I think that sometimes Readers may find that off-putting; like people don’t speak that way in real life. To that I can only say that’s simply how my mind works, and the story is a fantasy anyway, so why not indulge?
3. I absolutely adore knowing what is going to happen, even though it’s taking me forever to get there. All along, I’ve written bits and pieces of things to come, out of order and as they have occurred to me. Of all my WIPs, I have the clearest vision of how everything is to play out. I even wrote the Epilogue already--and shared it with my dearest online friend because it’s such a perfect way to end Vicki & Ben’s story, and I needed someone to squee about it with me!
BONUS: I actually met my online bestie (she’s just about my real world bestie too, though we have never met in person) because of TOTGA. Several years ago, she had come across the WIP on AO3—I think it was about eight chapters in—and she loved it so much that she reached out to me on tumblr. We hit it off immediately, bonding at first over our shared love of all things Benedict Cumberbatch—and as she’s a talented, published author in her own right, over all things writing. In retrospect, we look back and just know that we were meant to meet, by miracle of this modern world technology, for she lives clear across the country from me. We have become yin to one another’s yang and Thunder Buddies for life.
@ocfairygodmother - thank you again for giving me this chance to gush about this story! xx
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Send this to the 12 nicest people you know or who seem to have a good heart and if you get 5 back you must be pretty awesome. 💘 @rosepetals-flyingbirds
Thank you @rosepetals-flyingbirds ♥️
@supernaturalvikingwhore @youbloodymadgenius @toomanystoriessolittletime @promptandpros @lisinfleur @ly--canthrope @dogshemp @cinderella1181 @somethinginthewayiam @inkinterrupted @badassbaker @badwolf-in-the-impala
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Thanks for the tag @viking-raider and @the-soot-sprite
Rules: Tag 10 followers you wanna get to know better
Name: Hannah
Sexuality: Straight
Hogwarts House: Gryffindor or Ravenclaw, can’t remember
Cats or Dogs:
Current time: 9:37 p.m.
Favorite animal: wolf
When I made this blog: February of this year (my main was in like 2013 or 2014)
Reason for URL: I am a thirsty hoe and proud and I wanted to have a sideblog where I could just thirst all day
I’m Tagging @cinderella1181 @singeramg @happyhenners @peakygroupie @yespolkadotkitty @ly--canthrope @demivampirew @oddduckthatgirl @hell1129-blog @thiccgeralt
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I was tagged by beautiful @bbcbluebell
The task is to answer these questions with the first initial of your name and tag 10 people.
A four-letter word: Envy
Something you shout: Ey!
A boy’s name: Elijah
An occupation: Engineer
Something you wear: Evening gown
A color: Emerald
A food: Elderberry
Something you drink: Espresso
A place: Egypt
A movie title: E.T.
An animal: Elephant
A type of car: Escape (from Ford, there’s no car brand that’s starts with E :/)
Title of a song: Endless Dark - HIM <3
I’ll Tag @losille2000 , @cinderella1181 and... welp that’s it.
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Battle Cries - Prologue (Henry Cavill/OFC
TITLE: Battle Cries
CHAPTER NUMBER: Prologue/?
AUTHOR: Cinderella1181
WHICH Henry/CHARACTER: AU Henry Cavill /OFC
GENRE: Romance/Comedy
FIC SUMMARY: Henry Cavill is the fourth son of the Lord and Lady of St. Helier. He is also now 37 still living at home and has no plans to move out. His father, recently retired, is forcing Henry to live on his own. Set up nicely, by his parents Henry has to find his place in the world and find real love for the first time with a girl he didn’t necessarily think he would even like.
RATING: M (sex, language eventually)
WARNINGS: Um, nothing yet, a little language, but that is all.
AUTHORS NOTES: So yeah.. starting something new.. Here’s hoping it sticks.
Prologue
Simon stopped the car in front of the manor and smiled a little. Outside there was a truck packed with boxes. He wondered how many people his parents had enlisted to pull off this plan while the brothers were off on their weekend trip. He looked over at his younger brother and sighed. When his parents had summoned them for lunch that afternoon they had not been expecting what was told to them. However, once his parents explained their reasoning, it was simple to see that this was in fact going to be a good idea.
Henry looked at the truck. “Huh, I wonder who is moving?”
Simon shrugged. “Yeah it’s a mystery.”
The brothers exited the car and walked into the house, the hundred pound dog bounding up to them, tail wagging. “Kal, my boy!” Henry said, as he squatted next to the giant dog. Kal began to whine and lick at his papa.
Simon sighed, the feeling of nerves starting in his stomach. “Mum, dad, we’re home, your other three chicken son’s aren’t here.” He called out into the massive house.
Lord St. Helier and his wife came in from the back of the house and smiled. “Happy Birthday son.” He said smiling. “How was your trip with your brothers?”
Henry stood up and smiled. “Great dad! Thank you!” He went over and wrapped his arms around him, moving next to his mum giving her a kiss. “It is always fun to go to Calais.”
Colin looked at his son and smiled. He turned to his wife, who was wringing her hands. “Why don’t we go sit down for dinner.”
Henry smiled. “Is it ready? Okay let me go put my things upstairs.” He said, taking the steps two at a time.
Before Colin could say anything else his fourth son had disappeared around the corner. He looked at his wife. “Well, are you ready for this?”
Before Marianne could answer there was a bellow from deep in the house. “What the FUCK!”
“Well, he figured out who was moving.” Simon said. “I love you both, I’m going home now.” He turned and went out the door.
Henry appeared at the top of the steps. “Why is my room empty?”
“Well son, your birthday present is in London…” Colin said.
“Birthday present?” Henry asked.
“Yes dear, a lovely little starter home, in the Mews, in Kensington.” Marianne smiled at him. “It’s all decorated, and I made sure you had a space for your computers and comic books.”
Henry looked hurt. “But, I live here.”
“Look, son, I love you. Your mother loves you, but you can’t be a confirmed bachelor living in our house anymore. Do you know we’ve not been alone for over forty years?” Colin said. “You need to move the hell out.”
“Colin!” Marianne looked at him.
“What? It’s true!” He shook his head and sighed. “Look, we have it all set up for you. You will have a monthly allowance, but, find a job that you enjoy. Become your own man. Henry, please, just move the hell out of my house.”
“Colin!” Marianne shouted. “Look, you know you can always come home if you don’t like it.”
“No you can’t.” Colin stated. “You can visit, but you are going to London, end of discussion.”
Henry looked at his mother. “Mum…”
She sighed. She looked at her husband for a moment and then back at her son. “I am sorry my dear, I agree with your father. This is going to be good for you.”
Henry sighed. “You didn’t even ask me.”
“Would you have said yes?” Colin asked.
“No,” Henry replied.
“Exactly Hen, now, you get out there in that truck with your things, you take yourself to the ferry and you go and start your new life!” Colin said. “Go my boy, be a free little bird, go into the wilds.”
“Not funny dad.” Henry replied.
“I wasn’t being funny, I was being serious. Go.” Colin replied and pointed. “See you at Christmas.”
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If you’re interested...
I run a few side blogs that contribute to my procrastination:
@glitzglamourgeorgina: All things fashion, especially if it’s sparkly. Occasional lifestyle aesthetic posts.
@sparkle-rocks: Rocks that are shiny, ie gemstones, jewelry and tiaras.
@butlerdiditpub: Writing help, tips, tricks, and prompts.
@cindersandroses: Writing collabs with @cinderella1181
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Digital Get Down, Chapter 5
AUTHORS: cindersandroses ( losille2000 and cinderella1181)
CHAPTERS: 5/?
PAIRING: Actor!Henry Cavill/ Plus-Size OFC
GENRE: Romance/Fluff/HUMOR
FIC SUMMARY: When SuperHank met OrcPrincessPeach on the World of Warcraft message boards, it was love at first raid. Now, almost a year later, they’re ready to take the next step and meet in person. Half a world away from each other, both decide to meet in Atlanta for DragonCon, since she was already going to be there for her work as a game designer at Blizzard… never mind that she is a devout nerd. They both have to face the fact that reality is very different from a digital world.
RATING: Mature
WARNING: Mentions of assault.
AUTHORS NOTES: Love you all!
Also on AO3!
Chapter 5
Opal turned to the side as she looked at herself in the full length mirror on the back of the closet door. She smoothed the front of her dress over her rounded belly and picked at the slight ruching that was meant to help hide her imperfections along with the black color of the dress, but it did neither. There’d be no hiding anything. This was about as bodycon as one could get, and indeed she bought it a long time ago because she thought she looked hot in the form fitting silk. As soon as she got it home, though, and really looked at herself wearing it in the harsh light of day, she put it away, in the back of her closet with the other beautiful clothes she’d bought but never found the courage to wear.
That was changing. Now. Today. Okay, not today. But as soon as she walked back into her house. She planned to go straight to her closet and pull them all out and wear each of them as soon as she had the right opportunity or occasion. Considering that most of them were on the fancier side of things, meant for dates, she figured she’d have more chances to wear them now, anyway.
Even though she and Henry would literally be halfway across the globe from each other after this weekend. She couldn’t dwell on that fact, though. If she did, then the sadness set in. She refused to let that particular emotion claw its way back. They’d make it work if it was going to work. It wasn’t like she couldn’t just take her computer places and work there.
If she could convince her boss to allow frequent trips.
And it wasn’t like he didn’t also spend part of his time in Los Angeles.
Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.
Henry walked by behind her, drawing her attention away from those troubling thoughts. He fumbled with the cufflink on his left shirt cuff. She was going to make a quip about it, but the words died on her lips when she noticed he looked at her like a fat kid looked at cake. He licked his lips, smiled, and walked into the bathroom.
She couldn’t help but blush. She never would’ve believed he was truly stealing glances at her, but that notion had been squashed earlier at the spa. In fact, now she was hyper aware of his long, molten stares.
And it was all because of the wonderful esthetician who completed her facial after their massage. What had started out as a traumatic experience ended up making her feel the most confident she’d ever felt in her own skin, thanks in part to Jessa the esthetician’s enlightening conversation.
“He’s looking at you like you are the purest water and he’s just had some hot sauce.”
Opal giggled, and blushed, looking at the woman. “I just keep thinking he’s going to be like, ‘Ugh, not my type’ and leave, Jessa.”
“Girl, please. You got one of those peach bottoms that men love to get a handful of. You already got him eating out of your hand, he’s not stopped glancing over here this whole time,” Jessa said, putting her hand on her hip. “And if he does do that, I got a handful of fine brothers who would eat that peach bottom up. So you just let Jessa know and I’ll hook you up.”
The comment made Opal laugh loudly, disturbing the serenity of the spa and resulted in a few perturbed glares from other clients. Henry had glanced up, one eyebrow raised in interest. She smiled at him sweetly and he went back to his shave. Opal smiled. “Thank you, Jessa. I’ll keep you updated.”
Opal had made sure to slip Jessa an extra tip, even though she was sure Henry had tipped everyone well. Stingy wasn’t really a word she would use to describe this man, not materially or emotionally.
Or physically.
Definitely not physically. He liked touching. Being affectionate.
She did not; or, more aptly, she was not used to it in the romantic sense. But she wasn’t even that affectionate with her family. There were a few hugs here and there as a child, but they weren’t overly huggy. And then there was the other thing he didn’t know about, because she never talked about it, that prevented her from initially enjoying his touches.
It was getting easier, though, the more he touched her. She found, with some relief, that she actually quite liked being close to him in that way. Perhaps there was hope for her, after all.
Opal moved away from the mirror and followed his trail to the bathroom. She rested a hip on the door jamb and watched him finish his grooming. He saw her in the mirror and smiled.
“Like what you see?” he asked, that insidious brow raised.
“Nah,” she said with a grin. “I was just thinking about how you use twice the product I do.”
Henry rubbed his hands on a hand towel to remove the remnants of whatever moisturizer he’d used on his freshly shaved jaw. “That’s because it takes a lot to make me look this good. You’re already bloody gorgeous, so you don’t need it.”
Her cheeks heated and she shifted her weight awkwardly on her bare feet. Why were compliments so difficult to take?
“And as an answer to your question, I do like what I see,” she replied. “I appreciate your efforts. But I also love getting to just observe each other. That’s what we were missing over the last year.”
Henry stopped and smiled at her. “I watched you getting ready, and that’s why I’m so behind. I couldn’t stop watching you. You are enchanting,” he whispered.
The air caught in her lungs upon hearing the deep gravelliness of his sentiment. He closed the distance between them. The hunger, the lust, the pain, the joy, the need, all passed across his face. He leaned down and brushed his lips across her temple. “We’re going to make a hell of a couple tonight, Princess.”
“Yes, we are,” she replied breathlessly.
“Let me finish getting ready. You are distracting.”
Opal giggled. “Pot, kettle.”
She moved away from the door and went back to the bed to struggle into the sky high heels she had thought would be great to wear, but now she regretted the decision to pack them. Her feet were going to ache by the end of the night. But--the minx inside her reminded--that could possibly lead to another massage. This time, just with Henry.
As she finished up the last buckle on the strappy things and stretched her legs out to check how they looked, she noticed Henry watching from across the room with a glazed look in his eyes. She laughed at him, because it was the exact same look she’d had as he secured the waistcoat around his trim torso. “This… me putting on shoes shut you down?”
Henry reanimated with a shrug. “I have a thing for really high strappy, almost slutty, heels. Nothing like…” He stopped and blushed slightly. “Uh, never mind.”
Opal stood up and went over to him, just barely shorter than him now, and grinned. “I will have to remember that for later,” she replied.
“Oh, god, please do. Bonus points for silk stockings and the whole belt contraption,” he murmured.
She giggled. “You know, men and women are so different. You want the littlest piece of clothing on me, but I’d rather see you in a three piece suit.”
“I can fuck in a three piece suit just as well as I can without,” he teased.
His comment, and the harsh word, caught her off guard. Taking the opportunity, he went over to grab his cell phone. He beckoned her with a crooked finger. “Come here.”
She didn’t ask for clarification or even think about it; her feet in their dangerous footwear moved of their volition. When she reached him, he wrapped his arm around her and kissed her head, all while snapping a quick picture. He looked at it, smiled, and turned it around for her to view.
Her cheeks were high with color. Her skin glowed; her eyes sparkled. Her smile showed almost every one of her teeth. Everything about it made her seem so vital, so alive, so… beautiful. She had never seen herself so happy. Simply being near him made her want to beam from ear to ear.
He smiled softly. “Now you see what I see when I look at you.”
“I don’t always look like this,” she protested.
“You do,” he replied. “Let me send this to you so you can send it to Amber.”
Opal shifted uncomfortably. She’d completely forgotten about sending Amber a picture. What kind of friend was she, anyway?
“We can’t bring our phones tonight,” he explained. “Something about making sure nothing unflattering gets out.”
Opal looked up at him and nodded. “Okay. Let me just send Amber a text telling her I’m going out for the night.”
She saved the picture to her phone and opened up the text stream with her friend. She took the picture, sent it, and wrote, “I don’t think I ever expected my Hank to be this real. Going out for the night. Talk to you in the morning.”
She plugged her phone in, stood up, and took Henry’s hand. “Okay. Let’s go.”
~~~
Opal stood in the atrium of the Georgia Aquarium and sighed. She was enchanted. She’d been here a ton of times before at previous cons, but never on a night specifically designed to be an intimate cocktail party with all of the con’s celebrity guests.
What actually was her life right now?
Henry talked to Dany and Dwayne, and she couldn’t get over the fact that she was standing next to The Rock. How many times had she sat next to her brothers while they watched this giant man wrestle? If someone had told her this was going to be her life when she left Los Angeles the night before, she’d have told them they were lying. It was all a little surreal.
Dany smiled at her, obviously picking up on the fact that she had zoned out and had literal stars in her eyes. “So, Opal, what do you do?”
Opal hummed and blinked at her. “Yeah, sorry. I’m a designer and programmer for Blizzard. I have been there, oh gosh, almost ten years now. Best job I have ever had.”
“And you live with?” Dany inquired.
Opal understood Dany’s reticence to accept her into the group. Dany didn’t want anything to harm the business, and even though she seemed tough, she clearly cared deeply for both men as friends. Still, though, Opal didn’t think she gave off a crazy fan vibe.
“My best friend, from like middle school,” Opal said, moving to stand closer to Dany. She leaned in to speak quietly. “I know you’re worried about me using him, I get that, trust me. If I was in your position I would, too. But honestly, Dany, I didn’t even know he was him… until this morning when I arrived. I just thought he was a dorky British guy named Hank. That was it. In the months leading up to this I just got to know his heart and who he is, not Henry Cavill, God’s gift to women. I knew SuperHank, the cleric who runs around healing people, because he is that guy. I got to know the Hank who was shy and loved to cook and gets excited about Warhammer and new fantasy novels. Who tells me constantly that I am worthy and beautiful.”
Dany beamed at her. “That’s just what I wanted to hear.”
“And frankly, you scare me a little bit, so I won’t do anything untoward,” Opal said.
Dany laughed and flexed a bicep. “Don’t you forget it.”
“I won’t.”
“But seriously, Opal,” she said and grabbed Opal’s hand. “He needs someone he can love with his whole being, and I’ve never seen him happier than when he has spoken to me about you.” She squeezed her hand. “It’s not going to be easy, but I promise to make sure you’re okay and safe, and that you can be with him.”
Opal grinned. “He is pretty special.” She looked beside her, expecting to find him there. “And... gone, apparently.”
Lauren smiled at her. “He and Dwayne went to get some drinks.”
Opal felt her stomach clench. She tried to smile, but before she could muster one, Henry was back by her side. He handed her a flute of champagne. “Here, Princess.”
Opal took the glass from him and didn’t say a word. Her jaw clenched and it took everything in her to stop her hand from shaking.
Henry frowned. “Is that okay? Do you want something else?”
“Huh? Oh, no, it’s fine,” she replied and tried to smile again. Even though she couldn’t see it, she knew it came off as more of a grimace because of the expression Henry returned. He knew something was wrong, but the words to explain it to him failed to form on her tongue.
Not that she really had the chance to say anything, anyway. A loud, booming voice rang out across the atrium, “LITTLE BRUDDA!!!”
Opal spun around and watched in abject horror as two grown men raced towards each other and chest bumped each other like drunken frat boys.
Dwayne shook his head. “Seriously, you two? We’re in public.”
Henry came back and smiled. “Jason, my man, this… is Opal.”
Jason looked at her, his eyebrow raised. “Well, hello there, beautiful. I’m Jason…” He took her free hand and kissed the back of it. “If he gives you any trouble, let me know.”
Opal blushed. “Thank you. I will.”
Dazzled once more by the Man Also Known As Khal Drogo, Henry startled her with a hand on the small of her back. She looked up at him, still holding the flute from which she had not yet had a drop of champagne.
Henry leaned down into her ear. “Do you want me to get something else for you?”
She shook her head. “No, I just, uh… I’m going to get my own drink.”
She excused herself and headed over to the bar, trying to convince herself that she wasn’t running away from him and running away from the conversation she should have already had with him, even before they both decided to meet here in Atlanta.
She wasn’t in line long when she felt his presence behind her.
“Are you okay?” he asked again, concern written all over his face.
“I am, honestly. I just… well… it’s stupid. I don’t drink anything that I don’t see poured myself, and I very rarely drink alcohol in public. I should have told you. It’s just my hang up and, gah... I’m sorry I freaked out a little bit.”
Henry’s eyebrows knit together. He nodded, but he clearly wanted more.
“Let me get my drink and we’ll take a walk and talk, okay?” she asked, hoping to smooth things over.
He nodded and stood quietly with her. Even though he was clearly confused and maybe a little angry, his presence was still one that calmed her and she found herself resting against his sturdy bulk as they waited. Opal ordered her cranberry juice in a martini glass. To anyone other than herself and Henry, it looked like a Cosmo. It was her fallback when she wanted to hang out with the cool kids but didn’t want to do what the cool kids were doing. Because that one time she did what the cool kids were doing? She lived to regret it.
She took his hand and started to walk through the first exhibit. Opal paused at a tube enclosure in the middle of the room full of jellies. A black light shone down into the water, illuminating the sea creatures as they performed a graceful, haunting dance around their tank. She stood quietly, Henry standing next to her, silent, thinking.
Finally, she cleared her throat from the heavy emotion making it difficult to breathe. “I was drugged.”
Henry’s fingers curled into her back. Though he tried to mask the sharp intake of air, his gasp was still audible. “Opal, why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because,” she said, just barely above a whisper. “It wasn’t just that. Amber and I were freshmen in college and I wanted to fit in. We went to a frat party. A guy we had art history with invited us.”
His anger was palpable; it wasn’t anger directed at her, though. Somehow, she knew that, as she stared at the gelatinous orbs bobbing through the water. She took a sip of the cranberry juice before moving on.
“I woke up the next morning, head fuzzy, in a room I had never seen before, and my panties around my ankles.” She braved a look up at Henry, to gauge his reaction. The sharp line of his jaw was set, his rage evident.
For some reason, it was cathartic to share this secret with another human. Amber knew, of course. Amber had nursed her back from the brink after they got home from the hospital.
“It’s the reason I pull away sometimes when you touch me, and the reason I am so unsure of myself. I’m sorry I never told you before, but you have a right to know.”
Henry didn’t speak; he looked at a point beyond her, staring in stony silence for the longest time. He finally tore his focus away from that point and gazed down at her. His face spoke volumes, even before his words did. He rested his chin on her head and wrapped her in his arms. “You know I would never, ever do that.”
“Oh, no, I do! I just… I want so badly for you to touch me, to be yours, I just need… time,” she said. “I don’t even know if I’m actually a virgin or not. I don’t know what they did to me. The next morning, Amber took me to the ER and a rape kit was done, but it was inconclusive. I’m sorry if this changes the way you feel about being with me.”
Henry pulled away from her and put his drink on the floor. He took her face gently in his hands. “I never, ever would feel any different about you. I just… I understand now.” He kissed her forehead, but didn’t move his lips from the spot they’d touched. His next words were muffled, but the meaning behind them was everything. “My promise to you is that I will not hurt you, and it’s all going to be at your pace.”
She smiled and pushed his hands away from her face. With her free hand, she reached up and let her hand rest on the nape of his neck. “Well, then, we can do this, cause I’m very ready for it.”
With little strength, she pulled him down to her and kissed him. It wasn’t passionate or chaste; it was somewhere in the middle. A reassurance. A promise. Her promise to be as open with him as possible. His cue that she was okay with him pushing her boundaries. And she loved him for it.
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Dust To Dust
by cinderella1181
I asked for a Theatrebatch story, and that’s exactly what she gave me ♥ ♥ ♥ Daring you now not to cry.
WHICH BEN/CHARACTER: Actor Benedict/OFC
GENRE: Unrequited Love / TheaterBatch
FIC SUMMARY: Vicki has a long line of broken hearts and an ex-husband to prove it. She wants to love Ben, but she can’t because of so many terrible circumstances. Well, at least there is the cat.
on AO3
"And place your hands below your husband's foot: in token of duty, if he please, my hand is ready: May it do him ease." Vicki said casting her eyes down counting the beats before the deep boom of his laugh rang out.
"Why, there's a good wench, Come on and kiss me Kate!" He said grabbing her, pulling her in to his arms, encircling her and kissing her deeply. The kisses stopped being chaste long ago. The night he had taken her home; she had invited him in. Yes, after that night the kisses had stopped being staged and became real.
But, it didn't make any sense, the woman he dated, lived with, shared his life and sadly his bed with was playing Bianca. Vicki watched him wrap his arm around her every night, give her a glance over his shoulder and leave out the door, the wound in her confused heart grew every time. She wished she knew exactly what was in his mind, in his heart but she didn't.
He pushed away from her, completed his lines and exited off stage with her, his arm still locked around her waist. It was only a few more seconds and the roar of the crowd was deafening. He smiled down at her as the supporting cast took their places for their final bows. "Only four more performances, and then you'll be done with me."
"And what a terrible day that will be Ben." Vicki smiled a little at him.
"Nah, I am sure you'll be glad to be rid of everything that comes with me, I'm constantly stepping on your toes, bruising your side. How many times have I hit you in the head with a prop?" He grinned.
Before she could reply, he pulled her back on stage, as they began taking their bows. She couldn't help but steal further glances at him, finally linking her hand into his. He smiled and kissed the back of it and after the final bow and the curtain coming down the last time, he pulled her in to the back in to the wings. By this time, everyone in the cast was in that post show euphoria that came with a well rehearsed well received performance. She simply allowed him to lead her around by the hand, feeling the warmth of his palm on hers.
Viola came over and grabbed him by the sides of the face and kissed him soundly. "You were smashing tonight darling, simply smashing."
He laughed a little, his hand still threaded in with Vicki. He gave it a little squeeze and pulled her in a little closer to him. "It's not hard to be a good Petruchio when you have such a wonderful Kate to play to share the stage with." He smiled. He looked at her, the smile on his face reached the absolute corners of his eyes. "I have never been so lucky when it comes to female co-stars! She makes it all so simple."
Vicki blushed and pulled her hand away. Viola watched, and something flashed behind her eyes, but she simply smiled sweetly and nodded. "She is a wonderful big sister to my Bianca, I have no complaints at all."
"You’re both two kind. Really, it's not hard to be a crazy bitch when you are one in real life." Vicki smiled at them. Both of them laughed as Viola moved, placing herself between Ben and her. Vicki stepped away and smoothed her dress down. "I think I am going to change, and go get stage door done before it gets too late."
"That sounds like an excellent plan. Come on Ben, let's go, I'm starving. We can get dinner on the way home." Viola said grasping his hand and tugging him down the hall towards the dressing rooms.
Ben nodded and followed behind her, but then before he disappeared out of sight, he looked back at her and simply smiled. He wasn't talking to her, he knew it but, he certainly was looking at her, with what in his eyes she wasn't sure. All she knew was that it ripped a hole in her heart.
She finally made the long trek to the door of her dressing room and began to go through the ritual of getting undressed. She carefully began to pull the pins on her wig and setting it on the head. She then worked on the fasteners on the dress. This was one of her favorite parts of the evening, the part where she got a chance to decompress. She could think about things and she could put a little space between her and Ben. She wanted nothing more than both Ben and Viola to be well gone before she headed from her dressing room. It always made the rest of her night messy when they ran in to each other. But sometimes, that was inevitable, he made sure that they did. She hoped and prayed tonight was not one of those nights.
Her trepidation grew when there was a knock at her door. “Who is it?”
“Me.” A tiny feminine voice came from the other side.
“Entra-vous” Vicki replied breathing a sigh of relief.
Ophelia walked in and smiled at her. “You did really fantastic tonight. I am super thrilled for you.” She grinned, flopping herself down on the couch. “How do you think you did?”
“I pay you to say nice things like that Phe, and as for the night, well…” Vicki shrugged a little. “It was one of those magic nights close to the end of the run. I am sad that it is almost the end of the run, I love my job.”
Ophelia raised her eyebrow at her. “Yes, you pay me to be your dresser, wig master and chief compliment-er, but honestly, you were great. And that kiss at the end there. Yowsza.” She fanned herself. “What’s going on there?”
“Nothing.” Vicki replied maybe a little too quickly. “There is nothing going on there.”
Ophelia raised an eyebrow at her and nodded. “Okay. If you say so.”
“I do say so, so please leave it alone okay. Nothing is ever going to happen so there is no need to even think about it.” Vicki said.
Ophelia sat up and looked at her. “You are absolutely right that nothing is going to happen, this isn’t going to be like the other times.”
“Phe…” Vicki started.
“Oh no, don’t Phe me, no. You are finally making it. You are finally at a place in your career where your name is getting recognized for the amazing actress you are on your own, not the person you are co staring with. You will not go down this road again Virgilia!” She said. “You have an employee now, you realize I write myself a paycheck every two weeks, I get paid, and you sign it! I don’t work for free anymore.”
“You only worked for free because you are my sister and I swear, there is nothing, and I mean nothing going on with him Ophelia Regan.” Vicki said pulling out her full name. “As much as I want something to be going on, it’s not going to happen, it’s just…not going to.”
“Damn straight it’s not going to Virgilia Imogene!” Ophelia replied back. “And you deserved that one, low shot with the full name.”
Vicki laughed. “Truce on the names?”
“Fine. I just…I don’t think I can handle seeing you go through another Tom or worse another David.” Ophelia said and folded her hands in her lap.
Vicki hissed at her sister. “No! No talkie about the ex! You know the rules!” She said and recoiled back, deeper in to the chair. She sighed and relaxed and rubbed her face. “Nothing is going to happen. Nothing, because he has Viola, and I am not the girl that he wants. Just remember that okay?”
Ophelia got up and walked over to her sitting on her haunches, looking up at her sister and played with the hair that was coming out of the bun that had been tucked up and hidden in her wig, “And really, it’s a shame. You are so much more of a whole then the sum of her parts. He would be lucky to have you. You know that right? Don’t get down on yourself. It’s his loss if he wants to stay with her.”
Vicki reached out and touched her sister’s hair and nodded. “I know. Thank you.”
“Okay, I am going to go and get these things back down stairs and ready for tomorrow. Are you going to be okay getting home? Do you want to wait for me?” Ophelia asked standing up and picking up the wig stand and the discarded dress.
Vicki shook her head. “No, I am going to go and face the public and go home and cuddle up with Hero.” She smiled.
“Oh yes, that sounds like a terribly lonely plan.” She laughed, heading to the door. Ophelia stopped and looked back at her older sister and smiled a little. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” Vicki said, waving her on.
Ophelia left the room finally leaving Vicki alone with her thoughts. She slowly pulled down her hair, brushing it out. She got dressed, sure that enough time had passed since the end of the show. Ben and Viola surely had gone and taken the largest part of the crowd with them. She would hopefully have very few people, allowing her to simply slip home.
She left and headed to the stage door, signing out on the back board and smiled at Frank as she did. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” She said with a smile.
“Night, young lady.” He replied, waving a little as he did.
She took a deep breath and stepped in the cool autumn London air and was met with a great many more fans then she had hoped to see. They were very soon all calling her name clambering for her and all of her wishes and dreams of it going quickly this evening were out the window. She smiled, promised them she would see them all and started at one end of the line. She spent brief moments with everyone and finally someone asked the question she dreaded to hear. Is Benedict coming out? He and Viola had not been out yet. Damn! This what not what she had wanted to hear.
“I am sure he will be out any time. Viola Scott will be out then also.” She said and smiled.
“Oh, we’ve already seen her, she’s gone already.” The fan said and pointed to her little piece of paper. “See, she signed right there.”
“Oh, well, I am sure he will be out any moment then.” She smiled and went on, trying desperately now to get finished before he got out there. She didn’t want to face him, she didn’t want to see him. She couldn’t. She got three more people done before he came out. DAMN! Damn!
She wanted to just be swallowed up by the ground, wanted to disappear, but clearly that wasn’t going to happen. She was going to be teased by him and how incredibly sexy he looked in his jumper and jeans with the turn ups. God, he was trying to kill her. As he signed for people and took pictures, they began to disappear one by one. The girl that Vicki was standing by asked if she could get a picture with both of them, Somehow Ben heard it, nodded and said just for them to wait, he was on his way. Damn him! Damn him and his kindness!
She made small talk and before long he was standing next to her and smiling. “Now about that picture.” He inserted himself between her and the girl, his arm wrapped tightly around her, pulling her in closer to him. She could hardly breathe, the air caught in her chest, staying there strangled and clawing to be released. He should have let her go when they were done, but instead he stayed just the way he was, a casual arm around her, keeping her close to him. She was drowning in the feelings of joy and despair he was giving to her all at the same moment.
Why was he doing this to her? What had she done to deserve this kind of sick cruel punishment from him?
She somehow managed to get through the rest of the fans. How, she wasn’t sure it was a blur. Everything was a blur when he was beside her. Everything seemed to stop. Time, space, her heart. All because of him.
“Do you want to get a drink?” His deep baritone rumbled in her ear.
She looked up at him, and before she knew what she was doing, her head nodded. She walked with him, his arm casually slung around her waist. “Viola going to meet us?” Vicki asked. Good job, bring it back to the girlfriend, that’ll clearly keep your head on straight and not make you think about kissing him.
Ben shrugged. “I don’t know. She and I had a bit of a row, she went home in a tiff.” He said quietly. “I was hoping to give some space between her and I before I came out to do the stage door and lucked out and found you. Someone I would much rather have run into.”
“Oh, you’re simply being friendly.” She replied, suddenly feeling very sheepish.
“I’m not.” Ben said. “You’re the reason we got in the fight.”
Vicki stopped their forward motion and looked up at him. “Wha…what?”
He nodded. “You heard me.”
“I did, but it doesn’t mean I quite believe it. What on earth…”Vicki looked up at him, the shadows playing across his face from the streetlamp. “Why would you get in an argument over me with her?”
Ben reached up and pushed her bangs from her eyes, a finger caressed down her cheek. “You really don’t see it do you?”
“I see that you are in love with her.” She said. “I see that I am not much more than an afterthought sometimes for you.”
He made a noise at her and shook his head. “You’re bright and vibrant. You make me laugh when I am feeling the lowest on my darkest days. You touch me and my soul sings a little. You kiss me every night and say those words to me and yet, those words are what I feel about you…”
“No! Stop!” She said. “Just stop! Why are you saying these things?”
“Because I feel them, I feel this way about you. I look at you and it is like looking into a mirror, into the other half of my heart.” He said simply.
She could hear from his voice that he was simply stating the truth, and each and every single word cut her like a knife. Why was he saying this? What was the catch in all of this? She stepped in closer to him. She looked at him, studied him in the low light and watched him. “What is the catch in all of this? What is the problem?”
Ben looked at her, the building to their right had a low set of steps that he went and sat on. He rubbed his face and looked up at her, she was sure she saw tears in the dim pale orange light. She stood there unmoving unsure of what terrible catastrophe was coming next. The words that left his mouth were not the ones that she was expecting to hear. “She and I are getting married, she is having my child.”
Vicki felt all of the air leave her body. She wasn’t sure why exactly she felt like this, she wasn’t even in a relationship with this man. She was simply his costar but she felt like she had been hit by a thousand pound weight directly in the center of her chest. She took two small steps back and then began to walk down the road, the frayed pieces of her heart, fraying even more. She was sure she was going to die. She knew she shouldn’t feel like this, this man was nothing to her, she tried to tell herself, to make this all better, she was simply going to go home to the cat and die. This man was in no way the man she had fallen in love with other the last few months.
“Vicki, please, please don’t walk away.” He called after her and followed using his long legs to catch her. “Please talk to me. Please.”
“What is there to talk about Ben?” She asked and looked at him. “Nothing, your marrying your longtime girlfriend, with whom you are having a child, and I am going to go home and die alone with the cat. There is nothing for us to discuss.”
“Don’t be dramatic.” He said.
“I’m not, I am simply stating facts. I am just simply telling you what is going to happen. My heart will just continue to shatter in a million pieces and you will go on and be happy. I will go on and maybe get a couple of more cats.” She said and hastily wiped tears from her eyes. “God, I don’t even know why I am reacting like this, it’s not like we were anything more than co-stars to each other. I just, this is ridiculous. I am thrilled for both you and her. You are going to make a smashing husband and a fantastic daddy. I know it.”
Ben grabbed her up and kissed her soundly, she was sure mostly to shut up her ramblings. She resisted for a half a moment and then settled into his arms and allowed herself simply to be kissed. This was different than onstage. Thus was real, true, and passionate. She wrapped her arms around his neck, threading her fingers into his curls and moaning a little.
Finally her good sense won out and she pulled away, stepping back as if she had been burned by fire. “What, what are you doing?”
“I had to kiss you, to see if you felt the same way.” He said.
“You could have asked!” Vicki said her voice raised in ire. “That would have worked just as well!”
“Vicki…”He started.
“No, Ben no.” She said holding up her hands and taking another step back. Her feet felt like lead weights. What was she thinking running from this? “This, whatever you hope this is, is not going to happen. I can’t, I won’t let it happen. I refuse to be, whatever it is that you want. And trust me, I want you, so badly, but in self-preservation, I can’t do whatever this is.”
“But it is you I want…”He said.
“Then show me, don’t do what is right for the people around you, do what is right for you, because as much as I want to believe all of this, I just, I can’t, I have been hurt to many times in the past and I won’t be hurt again. I refuse to be hurt again.” She steeled herself. She knew she should be proud, but she was simply dying.
“How do you expect me to show you?” Ben asked.
“I don’t know, I just know that I won’t allow myself to get hurt.” She said. “I refuse to.”
Ben sighed and ran his fingers into his hair, pushing them across his forehead, an action he did a million times a day, and let his shoulders drop. “I won’t leave her, or my child. I am not that man. I was raised to be a gentleman.”
Vicki nodded and stepped in, closing the distance between them. She looked at him and touched his face, her fingers tracing the line of his jaw, memorizing the feel of it. “I know, that is part of what I love about you Benedict. That you are a gentleman. One of the few left in the world.”
He sighed, a small hitch in it at the sound of his full name on her lips, she imagined and pressed his face in to her hands. “If we had only met sooner, we’d be a little less Romeo and Juliet.”
“I wouldn’t exactly call us star crossed Ben.” She laughed, chocking back a sob. “We are far from two teenagers in love. There has to be a better set of Shakespearean lovers.”
“Let me know if you find a pair.” He said quietly. “There is always Desdemona and Othello…”
“You are killing me.” She said quietly. “Someday, if this, us…if we are meant to be together, we will be, I am a strong believer in fate, I have to be, because if I don’t believe, I’ll die of this broken heart. But, I refuse to be anything more then what we are now. Do you understand that? I have to protect myself, my heart. I can’t be anything more than your friend.” She said the word, wanting nothing more than to vomit because of it. She slowly built the walls around her heart, one stone at a time as they stood there.
Ben took her hand from his face and kissed it. She could feel the warmth of his lips on the back of her hand, on the cool part of the knuckles. He looked at her and nodded, tears unmistakably glistening in his eyes. “I understand.”
She took her hand from his, turned around and walked away. The steps she took from him, were the hardest steps she had ever taken in her life. She got to the end of the street and stopped, looking back, just before she turned. He simply stood there silhouetted in the light of the lamp. She allowed herself just a split second to watch him before turning the corner and heading home. Once he was out of her sight, the tears finally fell down her face in a cascade. She hoped she had done with right thing, but she would never know.
She knew that this would never happen, there would never be any she and Ben. He would stay with Viola for the rest of his life. He would go through the motions, they would see each other occasionally, maybe even be in a production together. He would look at her a little too long and her heart would break anew. She knew this even before it happened, because he was going to the one that got away. The one who she would always love. The one she would always want and could never have and she was heartbroken over it.
Vicki wandered the streets for what seemed like hours. Maybe it was, the colors of the night had certainly shifted by the time that she finally made her way back to her flat. She walked up the steps of her building, unlocking the door and letting herself in. She slowly made her way to the entrance to her tiny modest abode, entering and setting her things down on the table. Vicki hoped that the numbness that she was feeling would go away; that she would be able to shake this now that she was home, safe and finally warm.
But there was no such luck. She felt herself sink to the floor and begin to cry, the tears streaming down her face. The distant tinkle of bell getting louder as it came closer to her the only thing other than her sobs she was aware of. Hero curled around her brushing up against her and mewling loudly, wondering, she was sure, why she was crying and not feeding her. She gathered the cat up in her arms and held her close to her. The rhythmic purring and cuddled helped stop her tears but only a little. It was then that she was able to speak the words that she had been holding back this entire time. The words that she know once she said she would have to live with for the rest of her life. She scratched Hero behind the ear and said quietly. “I have let the man I love more than any other slip away. And there is nothing I can do about it.” She stood and went into bed, knowing only that the next night would bring more pain.
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The One That Got Away - chapter 17
an AU fan fiction featuring Theatrebatch by sobeautifullyobsessed
Chapter 17 on AO3: “...at the length, truth will out...”
Chapters 1-17 on AO3
tagging under the cut
@adaline-hiero @thehiddenlawyer @tsukuyomi011 @haipiranha @arc-reactor-powered-dragonz @garuda-dreams-of-rain @bamcrux @isabeau13 @88thparallel @randombiochemist @battledress @aikibriarrose @damselindeduction @splunge4me2art AND @cinderella1181 whose short story Dust to Dust started me in this journey to begin with--thought you might like a peek at how I’ve fleshed it out! xx
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cinderella1181 said: Really? Not the dwarf prince? I mean I loved him in Being Human, but….as the dwarfling Prince…My heart.
Oh, don't get me wrong, I love Kili (although, I was quite busy with his uncle and the resplendence of Thranduil). But Being Human was the first thing I saw him in a few years before The Hobbit, and he kind of grabbed my attention straight away, that's why I referenced that rather than The Hobbit (and DR, which I recommend if you haven't seen it and love the Pre-Raphaelites as much as I do, him playing my fave one of them all on top of everything sigh). It was just waiting to happen... ;))
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