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shallyne · 10 months

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SJM Crackshipmonth: Bodyguard AU

Just let me do my Job

It's the third day of @sjmcrackshipmonth! Ship: Feyre x Manon.

Words: 3,358

TW: Violence, stalker, death threat

Feyre gets a death threat that her manager doesn't take lightly, although Feyre thinks it's a harmless prank. Her manager hires a bodyguard for Feyre, who takes her to a safe house

The only sound in the room was the clicking of Feyre's fingernails against the table, the ticking of the clock and, she was pretty sure, her heartbeat as Feyre waited for Amren's assessment of the situation. If someone was on her side in this situation, it was Amren. She trusted Amren's judgments and Feyre would do whatever Amren deemed like the best option. All her hope was on Amren but her hopes, for the third time that day, shattered when Amren put the paper down and said "No way!"

"Please!" Feyre begged. "It's the most important event in my life. This event will affect my whole career!"

"The exhibition won't take place, Feyre. This is non-negotiable!" She seethed.

Fine, Feyre would do almost anything that Amren deemed best. She's not some mighty being who knows everything, right?

Feyre leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. Amren straightened in her own chair, she knew Feyre's movements, she knew her stubbornness and she hated it. Amren braced her hands on the modern, black desk and took a deep breath. Feyre whipped her foot in rhythm to the tik, too, tik, tok of the clock and at last said "It's just a harmless prank."

"A harmless prank?" Amren said, so mad that she almost growled. She didn't yell but when Amren’s eyes became dangerously sharp, as they did now, people usually left the room as quickly as possible. Mostly crying. She picked up the paper again and read loudly, "Count your days, Archeron. You have 48 hours before I will kill you."

"See?" Feyre said. "That's a dumb way to threaten someone, it's most definitely a prank." Feyre was glad that was wearing a long sleeved shirt, she didn't want Amren to see the goosebumps on her arms. "I will go to that exhibition, Amren."

"Of course you will." Amren agreed. Feyre was confused but smiled nonetheless. Why did she ever doubt her? "Because we will postpone it."

"No!" Feyre shrieked. "You can't postpone the exhibition! So many important people will come, they won't accept another invite because some irrelevant asshole thought it's funny to threaten me!"

Amren sighed. "Can you drop thinking about the exhibition for a moment and just think about you?"

Feyre blinked. "I–" she blinked again. "I do! That's what I'm doing, I'm thinking about me."

"No you're not." Amren snapped. "You're thinking about your career but you are not thinking about yourself because if you would, then we wouldn't have this conversation. If you would, then you would know how dangerous this threat is and that you should not be so careless about that whole situation. Do you not have any sense of safety?"

"I worked so hard to be where I am–"

"I know that, Feyre. Trust me, I know. I will take care of the postponing and the guests and you will take care of you." Amren interrupted.

Feyre was about to argue but she knew changing Amren’s mind was impossible. So she scoffed, "Fine. Is that it?"

"Actually, no. You're getting a bodyguard." Amren said, again in that tone that didn't leave any room to argue.

Still, Feyre tried, "A Bodyguard? Why? I mean I get why but I don't get why, you get me?"

"No, I don't." Amren replied.

"I get why you would think that's a good idea but I don't think it's necessary to postpone my exhibit and assign me a bodyguard. It's either a bodyguard and the exhibition or no bodyguard and no exhibition." Feyre explained.

"Absolutely not, no. You're in no position to bargain." Amren said, then exclaimed "Come in!"

Feyre was about to protest again when a strikingly beautiful woman entered the room. Her white hair was put in a ponytail, complementing her moon white skin. Her expression was impassive as she gave Amren a grave nod and then fixed her attention on Feyre. She was dressed in all black, from her leather jacket, the black jeans to the black boots. There was definitely a gun in that holster. She looked stunning. This woman looked dangerous and for some reason, Feyre found that incredibly attractive. Maybe her mother was right and something is wrong with Feyre. Maybe something was wrong with Feyre because of her mother. Nope, she would not open that pandora's box right now.

"Hello," she said to the woman. "It's so nice to meet you but we don't need your help anymore."

The woman smiled at Feyre, a smile that was anything but friendly. "I heard your conversation, Archeron." Feyre opened her mouth but she hushed her. "Listen, I am not your enemy. I suggest you stop fighting about this decision and we can work as a team. I am here to protect you. You will not lie to me and you will tell me about any potential threat."

"And how long will you protect me?" Feyre asked.

"She's hired for the next seven days, for now." Amren explained.

"She will follow me everywhere for seven days?" Feyre asked incredulously.

"Yes and you will get used to it. Stop whining and get up, we need to get your stuff from your apartment." she said.

"Hold on, I don't even know your name."

"Manon Blackbeak. We're going now." Manon turned around and left the room. When Feyre looked at Amren, she just shrugged and pointed to the door. She groaned and hurried after her bodyguard.

"What do you mean, get my stuff? For what?" Feyre asked, heavily breathing. Manon walked fast.

"You don't think that you will stay in your apartment when there's a death threat on you?" Manon asked as if it was the most ridiculous thing. Yes, Feyre thought that because where else would she stay? As if Manon can read her thoughts, she explained "We will stay in a safe house for at least the whole weekend."

Well, that was indeed smart so Feyre kept her mouth shut and followed Manon to her car. Feyre's own car would stay here until everything was figured out.

The drive to Feyre's apartment and back was pretty much only silence, except for that one time that Feyre tried to turn on the radio and Manon slapped her hand away. Feyre cursed at her, mentally because she was not in the mood to risk that woman's wrath. When they reached the apartment, Feyre took everything with her that she deemed necessary, Manon only looked at the amount of painting supplies in comparison to the amount of clothes Feyre had packed and scoffed. Or maybe it was a snort that she tries to cover up with a scoff. Feyre didn't care what Manon thought, she needed to paint to not become mad in that safe house.

As Feyre hauled her bags from the trunk, Manon punched a code in at the security system at the door. Feyre grunted as she held onto her backs and closed the trunk. She only could take a quick look at the house and its surroundings before Manon ushered Feyre inside. The house looked more like a two story cabin. It was remote from the bustling city that Feyre was so familiar with. It wasn't directly in the forest yet but the house was built directly on a forest edge. Actually, it all looked very homely and Manon looked like an alien between all the coziness. Feyre bit down a giggle and followed Manon up the stairs as she pointed out different rooms. Kitchen, living room, powder room, Manon's bedroom, which was exactly across from Feyres and it was forbidden for Feyre to enter, and bathroom. If Feyre ignored the threat on her life, she really liked it here. Inspiration already began to strike between all the colors and forms and Manon. Yes, if she was stuck here she would use the time to paint.

"So," Feyre said, putting the bags on her bed and flipping her hair as she turned to Manon who stood in the doorway, watching her, "It's just you and me now, huh? If I get scared should I just call you or could I just come over?"

"I know what you're trying." Manon said, nonchalantly as ever. "You have to try a lot harder to make me uncomfortable and even then, you won't scare me away. What do you think happens then, by the way? You're free to go?" when Feyre didn't answer, Manon continued, "What will happen is that another will take my place. So stop acting like a brat and just listen to instructions."

"Fine." Feyre said.

Manon opened her mouth and then blinked. "Fine?"

"Yes, fine." Feyre snapped. "Nothing will get me out of her except just accepting my fate and staying here until it's safe to go, right?" Manon nodded. "Exactly, so instruct me. Do I get a weapon?"

"No." Manon instantly said. "Nobody will get into this house without my knowledge. I want you to keep me updated if you feel like you're in any danger and I want your phone." Feyre didn't argue this time and just handed over her phone, a flash of surprise flitted over Manon's face but she hid it instantly. "You can move around the house as freely as you want but you're not allowed to go outside."

"What about the terrace?" Feyre had spotted it when Manon showed her the living room.

"Only with me." Manon answered.

Feyre nodded. "Alright, thanks."

"Well, I'll leave you to unpack." she nodded to Feyre's bags.

—------------------------

When evening arrived, Feyre was tired. She would have painted if it wasn't for the sudden exhaustion that overcame her, the events of the whole day only then crashing in. In the living room, Feyre let herself fall on the couch and took a look around the room. The kitchen behind her was only separated by a half wall to keep the space more open. The big sliding doors to the terrace also opted as windows that now bathed the room in evening light, the seating area was sunken by only a step and a big TV decorated the wall across from where Feyre sat. She grabbed the TV remote and pressed a few buttons until she finally found the screen she wanted. As she was about to zap through endless shows to choose from, Manon entered the room so silently that Feyre wouldn't even have noticed she was there if she hadn't seen it and claimed a chair for herself, crossing her arms and staring at the TV. Her hair was still wet from the shower and she got rid of her leather jacket, now she only wore a white shirt and black pants. Manon caught her staring as she didn't continue to zap, "What?"

"Um," Feyre cleared her throat. "Do you have any shows you like to watch?"

Manon stared at her for a moment, raising her groomed eyebrow. "Interesting."

"What?" Feyre asked.

"You're not completely self-absorbed." she only said.

Feyre's heart stopped for a second. "Why would you think I'm self absorbed?" she asked. Was that the impression she gave her?

Manon only gave her a pointed stare and then looked back to the TV. Feyre didn't ask further questions, started gilmore girls and they both watched in silence.

"She wants to risk her education for a boy?" Manon broke the silence a while later, sounding disgusted.

Feyre giggled. "She's young and stupid."

"I thought the whole point about her character is that she's so smart?" Manon asked. "She just met him!"

Feyre's giggling turned into laughter as Manon continued to complain, "Lorelai asked her grandparents for the money for her school and she doesn't want to go because of a boy she just met! That's ridiculous. Stop laughing, I'm right!"

"Yes, you are." Feyre chuckled, wiping a tear away. "I agr–" Feyre abruptly stopped when a yawn escaped her. It was only a matter of seconds that Manon turned off the TV and grabbed the blanket that Feyre had wrapped around herself, throwing it to the side. "Let's get you to bed."

"Are you now my mother, too? So many talents." Feyre countered.

Manon rolled her eyes. "I'm not interested in being your mother–"

"That's exactly what my mother would have said." Feyre grinned but Manon looked weirdly at her, her expression was something between pity and disgust. Feyre cursed herself for not shutting her mouth, she hated pity. So she stood up and followed Manon upstairs, parting with nothing more than a short "Goodnight."

It took Feyre some tossing and turning until she finally fell asleep but she awoke again in the middle of the night to the alarm going off. She sat up in her bed and by the time she had brushed her hair out of her face, Manon already was in Feyres room. She held her gun in one hand, the other resting on the doorknob as she looked alert. "Lock your door." she said. "And don't open it until it's me, understood?"

Feyre jumped up, "Wait, what's going on?" She could barely hear herself over the alarm and the roaring in her ears. "Are they– are they here?"

"That's what I'm trying to find out but I need to know you're staying here, in your room." she hissed.

Feyre could only nod as she walked to the door. When Manon turned away, Feyre said, "Wait." Manon whirled around, about to say something but Feyre talked first, *Please, stay safe. Well as safe as you can stay, you know. Please."

Manon smirked at her, "You're not getting rid of me that easily, Archeron. Now lock the door." She turned and walked down the corridor. Feyre quickly closed the door, locked up and looked for anything could defend herself with. She found an abandoned broom Ina corner, good enough. She sat at the foot of her bed as the alarm stopped sounding and she waited for any other sound but she couldn't make out anything. Twenty minutes went by before she heard a knock at her door that made her jump and grip the broom tighter.

"It's me." Manon sounded. "It was a false alarm."

Feyre ran to the door and as she fumbled with the key, relief flooded through her. Manon walked past her, stepping over the broom that Feyre threw to the side and went to the window.

"False alarm?"

"Well," Manon said, "A bear triggered the alarm. Looks like he's already gone." She turned back to Feyre, who joined her at the window. "You look scared."

"I thought someone came to kill me, I am allowed to look a little scared."

"So you understand the gravity of the situation now?"

Feyre nodded. "Yes." she said. "I don't want to die."

"You're not going to die, I am the best in my–" she abruptly stopped and looked out of the window.

Feyre followed her gaze, "What?" she asked but in that exact moment, she saw a figure stepping out of the shadow and raising their arm.

"Down!" Manon yelled and threw herself over Feyre. She didn't know who shot first, she only heard two gunshots and the shattering of glass. Trembling, Feyre stared at the carpet when Manon asked, breathing heavily, "Are you okay?"

"Fine! I'm fine! Get him!" Feyre said. She didn't have to tell Manon twice as she jumped up, yelling over her shoulder, "Lock the door!"

She didn't have to tell Feyre twice. Stumbling, barely able to stand, she reached the door and locked it. Sliding down to the floor. They are here. They tried to shoot Feyre. The threat wasn't a stupid prank. It was real. Feyre didn't realize she was crying until a tear dropped down on her arm.

Manon. Manon knew what she was doing, she was trained. She knew what she was doing. Feyre counted the seconds, the minutes and when she didn't hear anything she slowly stood. What if Manon wasn't fine?

Quietly Feyre unlocked the door again, sneaking out, the brook gripped so tightly in her hands that her knuckles turned white. She wasn't anywhere upstairs, that much was pretty clear. Slowly, she descended the steps she walked past the powder room, towards the living room.

Heavy steps sounded, steps that definitely didn't belong to Manon. In a panic, Feyre squeezed herself into a cramped storage closet, leaving the door open a split to watch as the cloaked figure stepped into the room, a gun tightly gripped in his hand. It was a man, the statue was definitely a man. Tall, broad shouldered and muscled. A figure Feyre knew damn well. A silhouette that frightened the shit out of Feyre. That bastard. That damned psychopath. Tears blurred her vision but she blinked them away, watching Tamlins back. Maybe she could sneak to the kitchen and grab a knife. Maybe she would find Manon. He just needed to leave.

But he didn't leave. He stayed there, his back to Feyre and terror took over her when she looked towards the glass doors of the living room, the sliding doors to the terrace. Manon. Her back was towards them, just for a second. A second too long. A second that Tamlin took to raise his gun. Every thought left Feyre. Everything stopped existing, except Tamlin. She didn't see the terror in Manon's eyes the same that Feyre felt when she saw her on the terrace as Feyre pounced. She swung the broom as hard as she could at Tamlin’s head, not enough to keep him from shooting. That sound made her swing again, and again, and again. She hit his head, she heard the crack but she didn't stop.

"Feyre! FEYRE!" strong hands pulled her back. "Feyre, it's okay. You did it. He won't hurt you."

Feyre whirled around, looking at Manon's wide, gold eyes. She let the broom fall and started sobbing so hard that her body started to shake. Manon was okay, he didn't shoot her. Manon went stiff when Feyre threw her arms around her, only for a moment until she patted Feyre's back. "He won't hurt you." she echoed. Feyre didn't say that she was glad he didn't shoot Manon. Feyre had a suspicion that Manon wasn't really an emotional person.

Manon chuckled, did she say that out loud? Shaking her head she stepped back and looked at Manon. "That was…intense." she whispered, looking down at Tamlin. "Is he dead?"

Manon crouched down, putting two fingers on Tamlins neck. After a few moments she nodded.

"Don’t–" she said when tears streamed down Feyre's face. She stood again, taking Feyre's face in her hands. "Listen carefully, Feyre. You did what you had to do. He was armed, he shot at us twice. You protected yourself. You did everything right."

Feyre didn't know why but she admitted, "That's my ex-fiancé."

Manon's brows shot up in surprise.

—--------------------

"She cheated!" Manon exclaimed.

"Actually, Dean cheated. Rory was his side chick." Feyre corrected her and Manon glared at her over chicken, which made Feyre chuckle. "Admit it, you love gilmore girls."

Manon only growled, taking a bite of the chicken. "I don't get it." she said after she swallowed. "What does she even mean with 'my Dean'? He's engaged!"

"I agree, it was stupid." Feyre said as she collected all the take out trash and threw it away. Manon only shook her head in disbelief as her phone vibrated. She frowned at the message. "I have to meet my client in an hour." she looked at the time. "Which means I need to leave now, traffic is hell."

Feyre pouted, "I wanted to listen to you complaining about the show for the rest of the evening."

"Tomorrow." Manon promised and leaned forward.

Feyre smiled. "Fine." She kissed Manon. When she wanted to lean back again, Manon slid her hand behind Feyre's neck, pressing closer. It was over way too fast for Feyre's liking.

She brought Manon to the door, calling after her, "Kick some ass!"

"You know I will!" she called back, "I'll text you when I'm on my way back."

"Okay, be careful! I need you in one piece at my exhibition." Feyre said.

Manon turned back, "You're not getting rid of me that easily, Archeron."