The Devil You Know - Part 7
The Devil You Know - Part 7
By: mercurial_muse
Fandom: The Devil Wears Prada (film)
Pairing: Miranda/Andy
Archive: Oh, I'd be flattered, but please ask first.
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: These characters are owned by Lauren Weisberger and 20th-century Fox, not me. Please don't sue me. Seriously... I'm too poor for it to be worth your while.
Summary: Miranda Priestly has become the most successful woman in the fashion industry, but at what cost?
Previous Parts:
Part 1 Located: http://mercurial-muse.livejournal.com/2535.html
Part 2 Located: http://mercurial-muse.livejournal.com/2585.html
Part 3 Located: http://mercurial-muse.livejournal.com/3006.html
Part 4 Located: http://mercurial-muse.livejournal.com/3110.html
Part 5 Located: http://mercurial-muse.livejournal.com/3421.html
Part 6 Located: http://mercurial-muse.livejournal.com/4046.html
Author’s Note: First of all, I'd like to thank kitnkabootle and grdnofevrythng for the late night chats and words of encouragement that saw me through a nasty little bout of writer's block. Thanks also go out to all you readers who have waited so patiently for this next part. Finally, I want to thank all of my fellow writers. Your stories have been the source of countless smiles and endless inspiration. I'm so grateful to have found this community and hope it keeps going strong for a long, long time. Keep those stories coming, everyone!
----------------------------------------------------------
Miranda shoved the car door open before Roy had even brought the vehicle to a complete stop in front of Andrea's apartment building. Dead leaves crunched beneath the fire-red soles of her boots, making something akin to a sizzling sound as her weight shifted and she climbed out of the back of the town car with a fluid grace that was almost otherworldly. A gust of unseasonably warm wind caused her cape to sweep out behind her with an audible snap. The effect of her makeup was only enhanced by the intensity that hardened her features, and the moonlight glinted off her silvery hair, bringing the dark red devil horns into sharp contrast.
She paid no attention to the small group of trick-or-treaters who quickened their steps to hurry past her as she stepped up onto the sidewalk, nor did she notice their father who, unlike his young charges, slowed down to take a better look at the dark and ethereal being who'd crossed his path. His eyebrows arched up towards his receding hairline as his gaze latched on to the leather-clad legs that were revealed when Miranda's cape billowed again. He was looking so closely- ogling rather disgustingly, in fact -that he failed to see the lamp post in his way until he crashed into it with a loud and resonant clang.
Miranda was oblivious even to that, too absorbed in her own self-loathing and frantic thoughts to focus on anything but her goal. After striding up the concrete stairs, she jabbed her finger into the buzzer for Andrea's apartment, the plastic shield covering the tenant directory giving a squeal of protest as it was raked over by a fingernail painted in mortician's red. She released the buzzer, waited impatiently for all of two seconds, and then pressed it again. There was no response. Frustrated and refusing to back down, she rang the buzzer repeatedly and, when that still didn't yield any results, she simply leaned on it.
It seemed wrong to give up after only a minute or two of trying to find Andrea there, but no amount of buzzing- no matter how obnoxious -would make her suddenly appear if she wasn't home. Sighing dejectedly, and with her heart sinking in her chest, Miranda trudged back down the steps and towards the car. She heard the muted sound of the building's inner vestibule door creak open as she reached the curb and, using the reflection in the car door's window to peer behind her, she took in a sight that froze her on the spot. Her muscles tensed and the breath seized in her lungs. The only part of her that seemed to move at all was her heart, which set to racing the instant she saw Andrea.
Miranda spun on her heels to face the trio exiting the building and the intensity that had been burning in her eyes softened while a quiet gasp escaped her lips. Andrea stood perfectly framed in the outer door's glass pane. She wore a white, ankle-length sheath dress that didn't hug her body as much as it flowed over its alluring curves. Its neckline plunged low, revealing the flawlessness of Andrea's pale skin and the gentle swell of her breasts. Long sleeves began to flare out just below the elbow so that the fabric pooled around her wrists and fluttered gently in each breath of wind. It looked like she might take flight at any moment and the wings secured to her back, their straps expertly hidden by a long and wispy wrap, only added to that illusion. She wore silver Manolo Blahnik sandals on her feet and a matching halo over her head. Her hair spilled down in elegant ringlets, framing a face that had been subtly made up to bring an extra glow to her naturally beautiful features. Andrea was absolutely striking, and if Miranda's heart hadn't been aching, it would have been swelling with pride and desire.
Miranda's view of the girl was obscured by a flash of vivid purple and blue and, a moment later, a good-looking guy dressed as the Mad Hatter stepped out and held open the outer door. Andrea moved to exit the building, coming to an abrupt halt when her wings got jammed in the door frame. After letting out a surprised cry, she grinned sheepishly while her gentleman friend and another woman who appeared behind her burst into laughter. Even Miranda found the corners of her mouth tugging up into the hint of a smile.
The happy sounds of chuckles and good-natured teasing echoed down the street as the friends worked to remove the finely feathered angel wings from where they'd become snared in the door frame. There was a feminine whoop of triumph when one wing was freed and, as it settled into place, it revealed the woman who was standing behind Andy. Miranda couldn't see much of her, but the high white boots that stood out against beautiful chocolate-brown skin and the round mod sunglasses that were perched atop a head piled high with teased-out curls suggested that she was dressed rather convincingly as a go-go dancer from decades past. The editor had seen this woman before and, although no name came to mind, she was certain she was a long-time friend of Andrea's. And judging by the icy glare the woman was shooting her over Andrea's shoulder, she was a close enough friend to have heard more than a few stories about what Miranda had done.
With her jaw clenched and face coloring in barely contained anger, the woman ducked under the wing and stood so that she blocked Miranda's view of Andrea. She seemed to collect herself quickly and, rather than bringing attention to Miranda's presence, she turned her back and set to work freeing the other wing. When the man dressed as the Mad Hatter spotted Miranda, he looked mad indeed, with his eyes growing impossibly wide in shock and his mouth working silently at words that wouldn't come. Obviously, he wasn't quite as skilled at reigning in his reactions as his companion had been, and it wasn't long before Andy noticed and stood up on her tip-toes to peer over her friends to see what all the fuss was about.
When her gaze met Miranda's, happiness lit in Andy's eyes, but was quickly clouded over by hurt. She stood flat-footed again, lowering her height so that her eyes were blocked behind the go-go dancer's shoulder. Unable to see Andrea's face, Miranda focused on the shiny halo that was suspended over her head and, when it dipped forward and began to shake almost imperceptibly, she knew the girl had hung her head and started to cry. With her own heart breaking, Miranda strode forward, intending to go to Andrea. She didn't know what she would say when she got her, but she would not just stand by and watch her hurt any longer. It seemed she wouldn't be getting to Andrea without going through her friends first, though. When the Mad Hatter protectively took the girl into his arms and the go-go dancer spun around to stomp down the stairs towards her, Miranda wasn't sure whether she should be more frustrated or impressed.
The woman came to a stop on the bottom step, putting herself in the perfect position to sneer down at Miranda as she spoke. "You need to leave," she snapped, planting her hands on her hips for emphasis. Miranda couldn't help but to notice that those hands were balled into tight fists. Pretending not to be fazed by the woman's open hostility, the editor moved to step around her, only to find that she shifted over to block her path.
Miranda's breath hissed out from between clenched teeth in a frustrated sign. "I just want..."
The other woman lifted a finger in front of Miranda's face and actually had the audacity to waggle it as if she was scolding a child. "Huh uh... no. You already took everything you wanted from her and then, when you decided you'd had enough, you shoved her away like she was nothing. Where do you get off treating her like that, huh?"
Miranda found that she couldn't hold the woman's gaze, refused to let her see the shame that flooded into her eyes. But when she averted her eyes, Andrea's outspoken friend roughly cupped Miranda's chin in her hand and tilted her face up. Miranda slapped the woman's hand away, but forced herself to meet her steely glare with one of her own.
Lily's gaze never wavered as she continued on. "Andy gave you all the time she could spare, more affection than you ever showed her, and she even gave you the benefit of the doubt when you broke her heart. The the very least you could have given her in return was five fucking minutes to state her case. You acted like this was solely your relationship to end, like Andy's feelings didn't matter, and you were so busy shoving her away that you seemed to miss the fact that, even after everything, she still found you worth fighting for. She loved you... although only God knows why."
Inwardly flinching at the painful truth of those statements, Miranda stood there in silence and took in everything the other woman had to say. Shame welled up inside her far stronger than before and, although her pride called for her to seek some solitude in which to lick her wounds, she stood her ground. The same could not be said for Andrea and, with a muffled cry, she pulled herself from the circle of the Mad Hatter's arms, bolted down the stairs and took off down the street at a run.
Miranda moved to follow Andrea and her friend hopped down off the step to block her path once again. The older woman resisted the urge to shove her out of the way, fearful that it might start a physical altercation, one that she wouldn't win and didn't have time to deal with in the first place.
"Now you listen to me," she began, her voice soft, but trembling with emotion. "I deserved every bit of that tirade and more, but those were Andrea's words to say, not yours." She straightened shoulders that had been slumping in defeat and tilted her chin up defiantly. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go find her and, as you so eloquently put it, pray that she gives me five fucking minutes to state my case." And with that said, Miranda Priestly shoved her way past the other woman and took off down the street as fast as her three-inch heels would take her.
To be continued...
By: mercurial_muse
Fandom: The Devil Wears Prada (film)
Pairing: Miranda/Andy
Archive: Oh, I'd be flattered, but please ask first.
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: These characters are owned by Lauren Weisberger and 20th-century Fox, not me. Please don't sue me. Seriously... I'm too poor for it to be worth your while.
Summary: Miranda Priestly has become the most successful woman in the fashion industry, but at what cost?
Previous Parts:
Part 1 Located: http://mercurial-muse.livejournal.com/2535.html
Part 2 Located: http://mercurial-muse.livejournal.com/2585.html
Part 3 Located: http://mercurial-muse.livejournal.com/3006.html
Part 4 Located: http://mercurial-muse.livejournal.com/3110.html
Part 5 Located: http://mercurial-muse.livejournal.com/3421.html
Part 6 Located: http://mercurial-muse.livejournal.com/4046.html
Author’s Note: First of all, I'd like to thank kitnkabootle and grdnofevrythng for the late night chats and words of encouragement that saw me through a nasty little bout of writer's block. Thanks also go out to all you readers who have waited so patiently for this next part. Finally, I want to thank all of my fellow writers. Your stories have been the source of countless smiles and endless inspiration. I'm so grateful to have found this community and hope it keeps going strong for a long, long time. Keep those stories coming, everyone!
----------------------------------------------------------
Miranda shoved the car door open before Roy had even brought the vehicle to a complete stop in front of Andrea's apartment building. Dead leaves crunched beneath the fire-red soles of her boots, making something akin to a sizzling sound as her weight shifted and she climbed out of the back of the town car with a fluid grace that was almost otherworldly. A gust of unseasonably warm wind caused her cape to sweep out behind her with an audible snap. The effect of her makeup was only enhanced by the intensity that hardened her features, and the moonlight glinted off her silvery hair, bringing the dark red devil horns into sharp contrast.
She paid no attention to the small group of trick-or-treaters who quickened their steps to hurry past her as she stepped up onto the sidewalk, nor did she notice their father who, unlike his young charges, slowed down to take a better look at the dark and ethereal being who'd crossed his path. His eyebrows arched up towards his receding hairline as his gaze latched on to the leather-clad legs that were revealed when Miranda's cape billowed again. He was looking so closely- ogling rather disgustingly, in fact -that he failed to see the lamp post in his way until he crashed into it with a loud and resonant clang.
Miranda was oblivious even to that, too absorbed in her own self-loathing and frantic thoughts to focus on anything but her goal. After striding up the concrete stairs, she jabbed her finger into the buzzer for Andrea's apartment, the plastic shield covering the tenant directory giving a squeal of protest as it was raked over by a fingernail painted in mortician's red. She released the buzzer, waited impatiently for all of two seconds, and then pressed it again. There was no response. Frustrated and refusing to back down, she rang the buzzer repeatedly and, when that still didn't yield any results, she simply leaned on it.
It seemed wrong to give up after only a minute or two of trying to find Andrea there, but no amount of buzzing- no matter how obnoxious -would make her suddenly appear if she wasn't home. Sighing dejectedly, and with her heart sinking in her chest, Miranda trudged back down the steps and towards the car. She heard the muted sound of the building's inner vestibule door creak open as she reached the curb and, using the reflection in the car door's window to peer behind her, she took in a sight that froze her on the spot. Her muscles tensed and the breath seized in her lungs. The only part of her that seemed to move at all was her heart, which set to racing the instant she saw Andrea.
Miranda spun on her heels to face the trio exiting the building and the intensity that had been burning in her eyes softened while a quiet gasp escaped her lips. Andrea stood perfectly framed in the outer door's glass pane. She wore a white, ankle-length sheath dress that didn't hug her body as much as it flowed over its alluring curves. Its neckline plunged low, revealing the flawlessness of Andrea's pale skin and the gentle swell of her breasts. Long sleeves began to flare out just below the elbow so that the fabric pooled around her wrists and fluttered gently in each breath of wind. It looked like she might take flight at any moment and the wings secured to her back, their straps expertly hidden by a long and wispy wrap, only added to that illusion. She wore silver Manolo Blahnik sandals on her feet and a matching halo over her head. Her hair spilled down in elegant ringlets, framing a face that had been subtly made up to bring an extra glow to her naturally beautiful features. Andrea was absolutely striking, and if Miranda's heart hadn't been aching, it would have been swelling with pride and desire.
Miranda's view of the girl was obscured by a flash of vivid purple and blue and, a moment later, a good-looking guy dressed as the Mad Hatter stepped out and held open the outer door. Andrea moved to exit the building, coming to an abrupt halt when her wings got jammed in the door frame. After letting out a surprised cry, she grinned sheepishly while her gentleman friend and another woman who appeared behind her burst into laughter. Even Miranda found the corners of her mouth tugging up into the hint of a smile.
The happy sounds of chuckles and good-natured teasing echoed down the street as the friends worked to remove the finely feathered angel wings from where they'd become snared in the door frame. There was a feminine whoop of triumph when one wing was freed and, as it settled into place, it revealed the woman who was standing behind Andy. Miranda couldn't see much of her, but the high white boots that stood out against beautiful chocolate-brown skin and the round mod sunglasses that were perched atop a head piled high with teased-out curls suggested that she was dressed rather convincingly as a go-go dancer from decades past. The editor had seen this woman before and, although no name came to mind, she was certain she was a long-time friend of Andrea's. And judging by the icy glare the woman was shooting her over Andrea's shoulder, she was a close enough friend to have heard more than a few stories about what Miranda had done.
With her jaw clenched and face coloring in barely contained anger, the woman ducked under the wing and stood so that she blocked Miranda's view of Andrea. She seemed to collect herself quickly and, rather than bringing attention to Miranda's presence, she turned her back and set to work freeing the other wing. When the man dressed as the Mad Hatter spotted Miranda, he looked mad indeed, with his eyes growing impossibly wide in shock and his mouth working silently at words that wouldn't come. Obviously, he wasn't quite as skilled at reigning in his reactions as his companion had been, and it wasn't long before Andy noticed and stood up on her tip-toes to peer over her friends to see what all the fuss was about.
When her gaze met Miranda's, happiness lit in Andy's eyes, but was quickly clouded over by hurt. She stood flat-footed again, lowering her height so that her eyes were blocked behind the go-go dancer's shoulder. Unable to see Andrea's face, Miranda focused on the shiny halo that was suspended over her head and, when it dipped forward and began to shake almost imperceptibly, she knew the girl had hung her head and started to cry. With her own heart breaking, Miranda strode forward, intending to go to Andrea. She didn't know what she would say when she got her, but she would not just stand by and watch her hurt any longer. It seemed she wouldn't be getting to Andrea without going through her friends first, though. When the Mad Hatter protectively took the girl into his arms and the go-go dancer spun around to stomp down the stairs towards her, Miranda wasn't sure whether she should be more frustrated or impressed.
The woman came to a stop on the bottom step, putting herself in the perfect position to sneer down at Miranda as she spoke. "You need to leave," she snapped, planting her hands on her hips for emphasis. Miranda couldn't help but to notice that those hands were balled into tight fists. Pretending not to be fazed by the woman's open hostility, the editor moved to step around her, only to find that she shifted over to block her path.
Miranda's breath hissed out from between clenched teeth in a frustrated sign. "I just want..."
The other woman lifted a finger in front of Miranda's face and actually had the audacity to waggle it as if she was scolding a child. "Huh uh... no. You already took everything you wanted from her and then, when you decided you'd had enough, you shoved her away like she was nothing. Where do you get off treating her like that, huh?"
Miranda found that she couldn't hold the woman's gaze, refused to let her see the shame that flooded into her eyes. But when she averted her eyes, Andrea's outspoken friend roughly cupped Miranda's chin in her hand and tilted her face up. Miranda slapped the woman's hand away, but forced herself to meet her steely glare with one of her own.
Lily's gaze never wavered as she continued on. "Andy gave you all the time she could spare, more affection than you ever showed her, and she even gave you the benefit of the doubt when you broke her heart. The the very least you could have given her in return was five fucking minutes to state her case. You acted like this was solely your relationship to end, like Andy's feelings didn't matter, and you were so busy shoving her away that you seemed to miss the fact that, even after everything, she still found you worth fighting for. She loved you... although only God knows why."
Inwardly flinching at the painful truth of those statements, Miranda stood there in silence and took in everything the other woman had to say. Shame welled up inside her far stronger than before and, although her pride called for her to seek some solitude in which to lick her wounds, she stood her ground. The same could not be said for Andrea and, with a muffled cry, she pulled herself from the circle of the Mad Hatter's arms, bolted down the stairs and took off down the street at a run.
Miranda moved to follow Andrea and her friend hopped down off the step to block her path once again. The older woman resisted the urge to shove her out of the way, fearful that it might start a physical altercation, one that she wouldn't win and didn't have time to deal with in the first place.
"Now you listen to me," she began, her voice soft, but trembling with emotion. "I deserved every bit of that tirade and more, but those were Andrea's words to say, not yours." She straightened shoulders that had been slumping in defeat and tilted her chin up defiantly. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go find her and, as you so eloquently put it, pray that she gives me five fucking minutes to state my case." And with that said, Miranda Priestly shoved her way past the other woman and took off down the street as fast as her three-inch heels would take her.
To be continued...