Ye Olde Standby: More itunes fics
Sadly, I have been low on inspiration and motivation to finish anything lately, despite the kind encouragement and beta services of my pals Xander and chainofclovers . I am in a rut. So what do I do when I get into a rut? Write useless itunes drabbles, because they require no commitment and are generally fun even when they’re not very good.
Thus, I present my latest round of itunes fics. They are a shade longer than most itunes fics, because I listened to the songs at least twice. No, I don’t consider it cheating. :D And I felt free to skip one song (too depressing), and about three Italian lessons that came up in the mix.
Title: 5 iTunes fics
Author: chilly_flame
Pairing: Andy/MirandaRating: PG
Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Devil Wears Prada. Unfortunately.
Windows - Tema d’amore per Nata, Ennio Morricone, Cinema Paradiso
Miranda pulled the fur more tightly around her shoulders. Even though there were heaters strategically placed outside Lincoln Center, they couldn’t warm every cubic inch of ground between the tents and the curb. The wind was almost painful as it blasted against her face, and Miranda turned to escape it. There, directly in her new line of vision, was a lovely pair of women nuzzling together in the cold, laughing and smiling as they shivered. Miranda tilted her head and watched them. There was something about the one on the left-
The woman turned toward Miranda and met her eyes, just as the other leaned in to kiss her neck. Dark eyes widened in recognition, and Miranda felt a strange twist in her belly as the familiarity of the pale skin and rosy cheeks coalesced into a memory. The memory was of a kiss shared on a gloomy Paris morning, when the gray light from the hotel windows had done nothing for either of their complexions. But Miranda recalled not minding that Andrea’s eyes had been rimmed with specks and smears of mascara, nor that she reeked of men’s cologne. Rather, she remembered how her mouth had been soft, and open, and wet, and something about it made Miranda melt during that brief time that they’d pressed together.
Miranda saw Andrea’s mouth drop open, and without saying a word to her companion, she rushed forward. Even in heels she took the steps quickly, laughing. “Miranda,” Andrea called. But Miranda turned away as the town car rolled to a stop in front of her, and she got in, shutting the door. The glass was mercifully dark on the exterior, but to her great dismay, this did not prevent her from seeing Andrea’s expression of misery. It also didn’t hide the shape of a hand as it pressed against the glass the moment before the car pulled away.
Most Beautiful Light - Not Now but Soon, Imogen Heap
Andy grins at the sound of pounding footsteps. They pass the bedroom door in a rush, heading for the steps at a rapid clip. She thinks they still have a few more minutes of peace before it all starts up.
The lump next to her does not stir, the covers pulled practically over her head. They’d been up past four, because the supremely ungrateful Cassidy did exactly nothing to help put that damned bicycle together. Nor had Jason, who is useless in Andy’s estimation, but at least he’s sweet, and nice to Cass, and that’s all that matters to Andy now. She’s seen Cass through plenty of shitty boyfriends; she deserves a good husband, and she finally got one. Even if he is dumb as a box of hair.
One positive: his genetic material combined with Cassidy’s had produced a gorgeous specimen of girlhood, the results of which burst into the bedroom, nearly putting a hole in the wall as the door banged against it. Apparently her estimation of “a few more minutes” was significantly off.
“Gramma, Nana, get up. Santa was here! I saw it. There are presents!” The girl leaps onto the bed, and Andy takes hold of her before she can yank the covers off Miranda. That would not be good for any of them-Andy wonders what exactly they were thinking when they decided to fool around at five in the morning. She blames Miranda, who fell asleep first, not bothering to pull her nightgown back on. At least Andy is still wearing her Bengals t-shirt.
“Good, honey. Nana and I will be right down, okay?” She heaves the girl down, and thankfully, she scampers away, joining her brother who is likely already looking through the ridiculous pile of presents.
A few more inches of Miranda’s head become visible, including one bleary eye.
Andy shrugs. “Don’t blame me. They’re Priestlys. Mostly, anyway. I don’t think your DNA allows for much compromise.”
Miranda drags the covers back over her head.
When You’re Not Around - City of Blinding Lights, U2
Andy drove fast, ready to get away from the city. She knew she should have left earlier, but shit happened. Miranda knew that better than she did, but that still didn’t make it right. Work didn’t come first for Andy, but sometimes things just happened, and she got dragged into meetings that it was either too embarrassing or too stupid to skip out on. The news room was a fast place to be, and with changing technology, it was only moving faster.
But not this weekend. For Friday, Saturday, plus two more days, Andy was going to slow down so much she’d practically stop. It had been on the books for three months-the kids were with their dad, Fashion Week was over, and Miranda was officially on vacation. That meant Andy was too.
The tires screeched a little as she turned the corner into the long driveway, and Andy smiled at the thought of the black marks she’d left behind. At the top of the hill, she parked her little hybrid next to the baby blue Lexus. She yanked the bag out of the trunk and sprinted up the wooden steps before unlocking the door and dropping her things on the floor of the entryway. Quietly she moved through the house, stopping to pour a glass of wine from the open bottle on the counter. The back door was open, and moths bounced against the screen silently. Andy turned the kitchen light off and eased outside, where Miranda waited on what was undoubtedly the most luxurious lawn chair made in the country.
“Hey,” she said, nudging Miranda to the side and stretching out beside her. “Whatcha doing?”
“Waiting for you.” Miranda didn’t offer a kiss, but Andy leaned over and took one anyway. “You’re late.”
“Yeah, yeah.” She leaned back and slid her hand into Miranda’s, resting her cheek against the cool softness of a silk blouse. “Lots of stars out tonight,” Andy sighed. It seemed like thousands of lights sparkled above, just for the two of them.
“Mm.” Miranda’s foot nudged against her, and their legs tangled up in darkness.
Not the Way - Love Moves in Mysterious Ways, Julia Fordham
“I’m not sure,” Andy answered. “I mean, I saw her, and something was different. Everything was.”
Lily groaned, and leaned her head in her hand. “You sound like a nutjob. I mean, you are a nutjob.”
“You don’t have to rub it in.”
“Somebody’s got to. You don’t really think this is going anywhere, do you?” Because it’s not, Lily thought. She’ll eat you alive, and not in the fun way.
“Lily, I-she’s not a bad person.”
Lily tried extremely hard not to let her eyebrows crawl off her forehead. After listening to Andy bitch for more than six months about her boss, the fact that she could even suggest that Miranda was anything but horrible seemed insane. “Honey, you know I adore you-“
“Then stop with the nay-saying. I’m telling you because I care about you, and I care about Miranda, and I want you to be fine with this. Because she’s not going anywhere. So you can either get over it or there’s going to be a problem.”
Lily leaned back, anger flaring up. “That’s a little harsh. I’ve been around a lot longer than Miranda Priestly.” And I’ll still be around when she’s gone. “You never acted like this with Nate.”
“That’s because Nate fit in with you, and me, and Doug. He was right for all of us, not just me.”
That was certainly true. Lily had never had a boyfriend who she was embarrassed or afraid to introduce to her friends, other than Roger, who was probably a shade too out there for most of humanity to relate to. His unusual nature eventually got to be too much for Lily too; he lasted three months before she realized that she couldn’t have a normal conversation with the guy. “So what do you do about bringing Miranda around? Do you never do it? Do you keep your whole life divided into parts, and never the twain shall meet?”
Andy shrugged and looked lost. “For now, I guess. We’re not exactly out to anyone else, besides her kids. You’re the only person I’ve told. I don’t think she’s said anything either, even to Nigel.”
That sounded really sad. Lily kept the thought to herself.
Say I’m the Only Bee in Your Bonnet - Birdhouse in Your Soul, They Might Be Giants
“This is ridiculous. Turn it off.”
“I will not.”
Miranda pursed her lips. “You’re acting like a child.”
Andrea glanced over her shoulder. “You and I both know I’m no child. Remember Tuesday night? When I--”
“That’s enough,” Miranda said, cutting her off and hoping the flush she felt racing up her neck wasn’t too obvious. Andrea certainly had been anything but childish on Tuesday night. She chewed the inside of her mouth, cursing her traitorous body. The memory of it made her twitch between her legs. “I don’t like this music and I want you to turn it off.”
Andrea turned back to stir the concoction sizzling in the sauté pan. “Honey, you don’t like any music, and music is good for the soul. It soothes the savage breast. And your breast is pretty savage.”
“This--” Miranda glanced up at the ceiling in exasperation--“is likely not the music Congreve was referring to when he said that.”
Andrea grinned and nodded her head eagerly. “Congreve! I’m impressed. I only remember because it was a question on the GRE, and you know, I didn’t take the GRE very long ago--”
“My god, you are on my last nerve!” If there was one thing Miranda hated, it was to be teased. And to be teased while being forced to listen to silly music was taking her over the edge.
“Oh, you love it. Come here, now, just taste this-“
“I’m not hungry.”
Andrea rolled her eyes. “Please. Taste this right now or you’ll regret it-“
In a huff, Miranda stalked forward. “Fine.” Andrea held out a spoon that contained a small , steaming shrimp. She blew on it gently before placing it in Miranda’s mouth.
Flavors exploded on the first bite; she picked up garlic, wine, exceptional olive oil, red pepper, and other, more subtle tastes. “Mm,” she exhaled, and the sensation was one of relief. No matter what she said, she was hungry. Starved, in fact. Lunch had been eight long hours ago, and the last round of coffee had been cold, and therefore undrinkable.
“See,” Andrea murmured, nudging her hips up against Miranda’s. “I’m good for more than just teasing.” She leaned forward and took Miranda’s bottom lip between her teeth, sucking lightly. Miranda’s nipples tightened in anticipation as Andrea put the spoon down. “I always, always follow through.”