NEW! Hazard Pay - Chapter Two (ATWT fic)
Title: “Hazard Pay” - Chapter Two
Author: WillWork4Dean
Pairing: Noah/OMC shamelessly based on a RP
Rating: M for Language
Prompt: Action!Noah in action!
Disclaimer: Don’t own ‘em. Don’t make no money.
link
Everyone voted yes to continuing the story, so here is Chapter Two. Enjoy!
***
Chapter Two
Noah never thought he’d end up behind a news camera. But he clearly remembers the day he decided to try.
It was the end of the summer term at OU, and Noah was at long last graduating from college. He’d turned in his final projects and papers and gotten a form letter saying he would receive his diploma in the mail.
“You don’t get to march?” Ali asked, frowning. “Do the whole cap and gown, pomp and circumstance thing?”
“Nah, not enough people graduate in the summer. Or the fall,” Noah added. “They only do the big ceremony in the spring.”
“That sucks, man,” Casey remarked from the floor, where he was engrossed in playing Mario Kart. “All that work, and you don’t even get to party.”
“Whatever,” Noah shrugged. He sprawled on the couch and nudged Casey with his foot. “Scoot over.”
“You want in?”
“Hell, yeah.” Anything to change the topic of conversation.
“You are so going to regret that, my friend,” Casey cackled as he restarted the game.
“It’s not right,” Ali persisted. “We should at least throw you a party here.”
“I’d come,” Casey piped up.
“It’s all right,” Noah told her. “I have to work anyway. I took a week off to finish my last paper and I need to make up the hours.” He turned away, avoiding her eyes.
Ali sighed, but didn’t push. She knew what the real problem was.
Luke wouldn’t be there.
When Noah thought of walking across the stage to receive his diploma without Luke watching and cheering him on, he got a hollow feeling inside and wanted to throw up. So he tried not to think about it at all.
Graduation also brought up another issue, namely: What the hell was Noah going to do next? He’d managed to duck the question all summer by working himself to exhaustion, but he couldn’t avoid it any longer. His advisor thought he should go to film school.
“I want you to promise me you’ll look into it, Noah,” Dr. Harada told him a week later when he dropped off some DVDs she’d loaned him for his final paper.
“Yes, ma’am,” Noah looked down at his feet, which suddenly seemed huge. Even sitting, he still felt like a giant next to Dr. Harada. She was tiny, barely five feet tall, and had a whispery, almost babyish voice. Because of it, some students made the fatal mistake of underestimating her. They found out the hard way she was a ruthless and exacting teacher, with a reputation for making grown men cry. Noah was more proud of his ‘A’ grades in her classes than anything else in his entire academic career.
“I mean it, Noah,” she said sternly. “You’re good enough to get into NYU or Columbia. And you know I don’t say that to all my students. If money is an issue,” she added, “there are scholarships.”
“I know.” Noah shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “I just...I figured I should take a year off and just work, save up some money. For school or whatever.”
Dr. Harada frowned at him over the tops of her glasses. “Please tell me you’re not going the Hollywood route.”
“I honestly don’t know,” Noah said, feeling like an idiot. “I’ve been so focused on finishing I haven’t thought that far ahead.”
“Hmmm...” Unconvinced, Dr. Harada tapped her tiny manicured fingernails on her desk. Clearly, she knew there was more to the story, but she respected Noah’s privacy and didn’t press the issue. Instead, she graced him with one of her rare smiles. “So what did you think of Rhapsody in August?”
“Beautiful,” Noah enthused. “And so unlike what I expected from a Kurosawa film.”
“Exactly.” She beamed proudly at him. “That’s why I wanted you to see it before you wrote your paper. It’s an old man’s film, one a director could only make in the autumn of his life and career.”
“I can’t get the final image out of my head,” Noah confessed.
Dr. Harada nodded. “The old woman, walking down the road in the rainstorm.” She leaned closer. “What do you think it means?”
“I have no idea,” Noah confessed.
“Neither do I,” she whispered, then laughed. “Maybe we need to be as old as Kurosawa to understand it.” She stood. “I’ll miss our conversations, Noah.”
Noah scrambled to his feet and shook her hand. “Me, too. Thank you so much for everything you’ve done for me.” He knew her recommendation was the main reason the university had let him back into the film program after he got his sight back.
Dr. Harada clasped his big hand in both her little ones. “Wherever your career takes you, Noah, I want you to promise me one thing - that you’ll keep in touch.”
Noah felt unexpected tears prick his eyes. “Yes, ma’am,” he said.
Afterward, he wandered the empty halls of the university, past the familiar classrooms and offices, and found himself feeling an unexpected sense of loss. As an army brat, he’d gone to so many schools, more than he could even count or remember. He’d learned early on not to get attached to teachers or friends, people or places. But the years he’d spent in Oakdale were the longest stretch of time he’d lived anywhere in his life. He’d gotten attached, not just to the people, but to the town. The thought of leaving made him melancholy, but the thought of staying was unbearable. To be in the same place as Luke and not be together, to have to watch him be happy with another man...he’d managed to survive it this summer by burying himself in busyness, but now that excuse was gone. For the first time in months, Noah had nothing on his to-do list, and all those feelings he’d shoved deep inside him were bubbling dangerously close to the surface.
He was in such a fog that he didn’t hear Holden call his name. It wasn’t until Lily waved that he saw them and stopped walking.
“Noah!” Lily said, and laughed. “Honey, you’re a million miles away.”
“Sorry.” Noah apologized automatically, then blinked at them. “What are you doing here?”
“Looking for you, of course.”
“Why?” Noah frowned. “Is something wrong?”
Lily stared at him. “We’re here to take you to your party.” When he continued to stare, she patted his arm. “For your graduation.”
“My...what?”
Now it was Lily and Holden’s turn to look confused.
“You did graduate,” Holden said slowly. “At the end of this term, right?” He looked at Lily. “That’s what we thought. If you didn’t--”
“No, I did,” Noah said quickly. “I’m all done. But I’m getting my diploma in the mail. There’s no event or anything.”
“We know that,” Lily said warmly. “Which is why we wanted to throw you a party. At the farm.”
“You...” Noah’s brain still wasn’t working. “At the farm?”
“Of course. You worked so hard in school, and we’re so proud of you. We wanted to help you celebrate.”
Noah blinked again. He realized that not only was Lily was dressed up - which was nothing unusual, since she always looked fabulous - but also that Holden was wearing a suit and tie. Holden Snyder was wearing a suit and tie. For him.
“You didn’t have to do that,” Noah sputtered, even as his heart warmed. “Luke and I aren’t together anymore.”
“This isn’t about Luke,” Holden said firmly. “Like Lily said, we’re proud of your accomplishment - we’re proud to know you - and we wanted to celebrate that.” He put his hand on Noah’s shoulder, steadying him. “Is that okay with you?”
“Yeah.” Noah didn’t know if he was laughing and crying. “Yeah, that’s great.”
“Well, good,” Lily said. “Because the whole family is waiting.”
Noah couldn’t believe it. “They are?”
“Emma’s been cooking all morning.” Lily frowned. “But, honey, this was all settled a week ago. Luke didn’t tell you?”
Oh.
Noah felt like he’d been slapped in the face. He couldn’t breathe.
“Oh,” Lily said, reading his expression. Her eyes filled with tears. “He was supposed to call you.” She looked helplessly at Holden, then back at Noah. “Honey, I’m so sorry. I--"
“It’s okay,” Noah said quickly. He took a step back, pulling away from their touch. “I’m sure it just slipped his mind. Or something.” His voice cracked, and he fought for control. He still couldn’t breathe.
Lily twisted her hands. “I shouldn’t have said anything. I should--"
“No, it’s okay.” Noah took another step back, and found himself pressed against a wall, nowhere to run. “And thank you for...everything. It’s very kind of you but--”
“But you’ll still come, right?” Lily looked hopeful.
Noah stared at her. “I can’t.”
“Honey.” She took a step closer, boxing him in. “Please come.”
“I can’t.”
“Lily,” Holden put a gentle hand on her arm. “Just give him a minute.”
“But, Holden,” Lily wiped angry tears from her eyes. “I’m so furious with Luke. He promised me he’d call Noah.”
“I know,” Holden said quietly. “I’ll talk to him.”
Lily turned back. “Noah,” she said, and reached for him.
Noah flinched, holding up his hands as if to push her away. Lily looked like he’d struck her.
“Noah,” she said. “We love you.”
Noah was shaking so hard he had to lean against the wall. He rubbed the heel of his hand on his chest, trying to soothe the pain in his heart. He felt like he was dying. “I can’t,” he choked out. “I’m sorry. I can’t do this. It hurts too much.” His legs gave way, and he slid down to the floor and buried his head in his knees. “Please go away,” he sobbed. “Please go away.”
“Lily, honey,” he heard Holden say. “Why don’t you wait for me outside?”
Noah could hear Lily crying as she walked away. It made him feel like complete shit, but he couldn’t seem to make himself stop bawling and go after her. He felt Holden crouch next to him, felt his hand on his hair.
“Noah, I’m going to leave now,” he said. “But I want you to promise me something. I want you to promise you’ll call me later and let me know that you’re all right. Can you do that?”
Noah couldn’t speak, but he managed to nod. Holden rested his hand on Noah’s head a moment longer, then stood and walked away. As he did, he pulled out his cell phone and dialed.
“Luke,” Noah heard him say with quiet rage. “This is your father. Call me when you get this. And I mean immediately.”
Noah fought helplessly as a fresh wave of sobs came over him, drowning him in their depths. He tried every trick he knew - clenching his hands until his nails cut into his palm, hitting his face with his fists, beating his head against the wall - but nothing worked. The tears wouldn’t stop. Thank God no one else was on campus today, and he was alone in the hallway. Thank God nobody walked by and saw his shame.
Finally, the tears receded and Noah was able to breathe again, albeit in gulps. He felt exhausted and sore, as if his entire body had been beaten. His head hurt, and his face was a wet mess. He wiped his eyes on his sleeves and rested his head on the wall, gasping for air.
He had no idea what to do next. He couldn’t face Holden and Lily, or the family. Couldn’t bear to think of Luke. He couldn’t even make himself get up from the floor. He wished he really were a million miles away.
His eyes caught a flyer on the bulletin board across the hall, the one that held posters for film schools and announcement of scholarship contests. This one wasn’t a full-color image of happy film students working on their dream projects. This was just a plain piece of paper. Across the top were printed the words: WORK OVERSEAS.
Noah slowly got to his feet and walked toward the bulletin board, then pulled off the flyer. It was an ad from an independent news service, looking for experienced camera operators. Still in a daze, he pulled out his cell phone and dialed the number for the news editor, Trent.
Trent answered on the first ring. He sounded almost as young as Noah and incredibly harried. When Noah told him he was interested in the position, he barked a few basic questions about his experience. Noah stammered something about his internship at WOAK and subsequent degree at OU. He thought he sounded pathetic and under-qualified, but it must have been good enough for Trent, because he just snapped, “If you can get yourself to New York this week, you’ve got an interview,” and hung up.
Noah stood for a moment, cell phone still pressed to his ear. Then he shoved it his pocket, crumpled the flyer in his fist, and walked away.
To be continued
Author: WillWork4Dean
Pairing: Noah/OMC shamelessly based on a RP
Rating: M for Language
Prompt: Action!Noah in action!
Disclaimer: Don’t own ‘em. Don’t make no money.
link
Everyone voted yes to continuing the story, so here is Chapter Two. Enjoy!
***
Chapter Two
Noah never thought he’d end up behind a news camera. But he clearly remembers the day he decided to try.
It was the end of the summer term at OU, and Noah was at long last graduating from college. He’d turned in his final projects and papers and gotten a form letter saying he would receive his diploma in the mail.
“You don’t get to march?” Ali asked, frowning. “Do the whole cap and gown, pomp and circumstance thing?”
“Nah, not enough people graduate in the summer. Or the fall,” Noah added. “They only do the big ceremony in the spring.”
“That sucks, man,” Casey remarked from the floor, where he was engrossed in playing Mario Kart. “All that work, and you don’t even get to party.”
“Whatever,” Noah shrugged. He sprawled on the couch and nudged Casey with his foot. “Scoot over.”
“You want in?”
“Hell, yeah.” Anything to change the topic of conversation.
“You are so going to regret that, my friend,” Casey cackled as he restarted the game.
“It’s not right,” Ali persisted. “We should at least throw you a party here.”
“I’d come,” Casey piped up.
“It’s all right,” Noah told her. “I have to work anyway. I took a week off to finish my last paper and I need to make up the hours.” He turned away, avoiding her eyes.
Ali sighed, but didn’t push. She knew what the real problem was.
Luke wouldn’t be there.
When Noah thought of walking across the stage to receive his diploma without Luke watching and cheering him on, he got a hollow feeling inside and wanted to throw up. So he tried not to think about it at all.
Graduation also brought up another issue, namely: What the hell was Noah going to do next? He’d managed to duck the question all summer by working himself to exhaustion, but he couldn’t avoid it any longer. His advisor thought he should go to film school.
“I want you to promise me you’ll look into it, Noah,” Dr. Harada told him a week later when he dropped off some DVDs she’d loaned him for his final paper.
“Yes, ma’am,” Noah looked down at his feet, which suddenly seemed huge. Even sitting, he still felt like a giant next to Dr. Harada. She was tiny, barely five feet tall, and had a whispery, almost babyish voice. Because of it, some students made the fatal mistake of underestimating her. They found out the hard way she was a ruthless and exacting teacher, with a reputation for making grown men cry. Noah was more proud of his ‘A’ grades in her classes than anything else in his entire academic career.
“I mean it, Noah,” she said sternly. “You’re good enough to get into NYU or Columbia. And you know I don’t say that to all my students. If money is an issue,” she added, “there are scholarships.”
“I know.” Noah shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “I just...I figured I should take a year off and just work, save up some money. For school or whatever.”
Dr. Harada frowned at him over the tops of her glasses. “Please tell me you’re not going the Hollywood route.”
“I honestly don’t know,” Noah said, feeling like an idiot. “I’ve been so focused on finishing I haven’t thought that far ahead.”
“Hmmm...” Unconvinced, Dr. Harada tapped her tiny manicured fingernails on her desk. Clearly, she knew there was more to the story, but she respected Noah’s privacy and didn’t press the issue. Instead, she graced him with one of her rare smiles. “So what did you think of Rhapsody in August?”
“Beautiful,” Noah enthused. “And so unlike what I expected from a Kurosawa film.”
“Exactly.” She beamed proudly at him. “That’s why I wanted you to see it before you wrote your paper. It’s an old man’s film, one a director could only make in the autumn of his life and career.”
“I can’t get the final image out of my head,” Noah confessed.
Dr. Harada nodded. “The old woman, walking down the road in the rainstorm.” She leaned closer. “What do you think it means?”
“I have no idea,” Noah confessed.
“Neither do I,” she whispered, then laughed. “Maybe we need to be as old as Kurosawa to understand it.” She stood. “I’ll miss our conversations, Noah.”
Noah scrambled to his feet and shook her hand. “Me, too. Thank you so much for everything you’ve done for me.” He knew her recommendation was the main reason the university had let him back into the film program after he got his sight back.
Dr. Harada clasped his big hand in both her little ones. “Wherever your career takes you, Noah, I want you to promise me one thing - that you’ll keep in touch.”
Noah felt unexpected tears prick his eyes. “Yes, ma’am,” he said.
Afterward, he wandered the empty halls of the university, past the familiar classrooms and offices, and found himself feeling an unexpected sense of loss. As an army brat, he’d gone to so many schools, more than he could even count or remember. He’d learned early on not to get attached to teachers or friends, people or places. But the years he’d spent in Oakdale were the longest stretch of time he’d lived anywhere in his life. He’d gotten attached, not just to the people, but to the town. The thought of leaving made him melancholy, but the thought of staying was unbearable. To be in the same place as Luke and not be together, to have to watch him be happy with another man...he’d managed to survive it this summer by burying himself in busyness, but now that excuse was gone. For the first time in months, Noah had nothing on his to-do list, and all those feelings he’d shoved deep inside him were bubbling dangerously close to the surface.
He was in such a fog that he didn’t hear Holden call his name. It wasn’t until Lily waved that he saw them and stopped walking.
“Noah!” Lily said, and laughed. “Honey, you’re a million miles away.”
“Sorry.” Noah apologized automatically, then blinked at them. “What are you doing here?”
“Looking for you, of course.”
“Why?” Noah frowned. “Is something wrong?”
Lily stared at him. “We’re here to take you to your party.” When he continued to stare, she patted his arm. “For your graduation.”
“My...what?”
Now it was Lily and Holden’s turn to look confused.
“You did graduate,” Holden said slowly. “At the end of this term, right?” He looked at Lily. “That’s what we thought. If you didn’t--”
“No, I did,” Noah said quickly. “I’m all done. But I’m getting my diploma in the mail. There’s no event or anything.”
“We know that,” Lily said warmly. “Which is why we wanted to throw you a party. At the farm.”
“You...” Noah’s brain still wasn’t working. “At the farm?”
“Of course. You worked so hard in school, and we’re so proud of you. We wanted to help you celebrate.”
Noah blinked again. He realized that not only was Lily was dressed up - which was nothing unusual, since she always looked fabulous - but also that Holden was wearing a suit and tie. Holden Snyder was wearing a suit and tie. For him.
“You didn’t have to do that,” Noah sputtered, even as his heart warmed. “Luke and I aren’t together anymore.”
“This isn’t about Luke,” Holden said firmly. “Like Lily said, we’re proud of your accomplishment - we’re proud to know you - and we wanted to celebrate that.” He put his hand on Noah’s shoulder, steadying him. “Is that okay with you?”
“Yeah.” Noah didn’t know if he was laughing and crying. “Yeah, that’s great.”
“Well, good,” Lily said. “Because the whole family is waiting.”
Noah couldn’t believe it. “They are?”
“Emma’s been cooking all morning.” Lily frowned. “But, honey, this was all settled a week ago. Luke didn’t tell you?”
Oh.
Noah felt like he’d been slapped in the face. He couldn’t breathe.
“Oh,” Lily said, reading his expression. Her eyes filled with tears. “He was supposed to call you.” She looked helplessly at Holden, then back at Noah. “Honey, I’m so sorry. I--"
“It’s okay,” Noah said quickly. He took a step back, pulling away from their touch. “I’m sure it just slipped his mind. Or something.” His voice cracked, and he fought for control. He still couldn’t breathe.
Lily twisted her hands. “I shouldn’t have said anything. I should--"
“No, it’s okay.” Noah took another step back, and found himself pressed against a wall, nowhere to run. “And thank you for...everything. It’s very kind of you but--”
“But you’ll still come, right?” Lily looked hopeful.
Noah stared at her. “I can’t.”
“Honey.” She took a step closer, boxing him in. “Please come.”
“I can’t.”
“Lily,” Holden put a gentle hand on her arm. “Just give him a minute.”
“But, Holden,” Lily wiped angry tears from her eyes. “I’m so furious with Luke. He promised me he’d call Noah.”
“I know,” Holden said quietly. “I’ll talk to him.”
Lily turned back. “Noah,” she said, and reached for him.
Noah flinched, holding up his hands as if to push her away. Lily looked like he’d struck her.
“Noah,” she said. “We love you.”
Noah was shaking so hard he had to lean against the wall. He rubbed the heel of his hand on his chest, trying to soothe the pain in his heart. He felt like he was dying. “I can’t,” he choked out. “I’m sorry. I can’t do this. It hurts too much.” His legs gave way, and he slid down to the floor and buried his head in his knees. “Please go away,” he sobbed. “Please go away.”
“Lily, honey,” he heard Holden say. “Why don’t you wait for me outside?”
Noah could hear Lily crying as she walked away. It made him feel like complete shit, but he couldn’t seem to make himself stop bawling and go after her. He felt Holden crouch next to him, felt his hand on his hair.
“Noah, I’m going to leave now,” he said. “But I want you to promise me something. I want you to promise you’ll call me later and let me know that you’re all right. Can you do that?”
Noah couldn’t speak, but he managed to nod. Holden rested his hand on Noah’s head a moment longer, then stood and walked away. As he did, he pulled out his cell phone and dialed.
“Luke,” Noah heard him say with quiet rage. “This is your father. Call me when you get this. And I mean immediately.”
Noah fought helplessly as a fresh wave of sobs came over him, drowning him in their depths. He tried every trick he knew - clenching his hands until his nails cut into his palm, hitting his face with his fists, beating his head against the wall - but nothing worked. The tears wouldn’t stop. Thank God no one else was on campus today, and he was alone in the hallway. Thank God nobody walked by and saw his shame.
Finally, the tears receded and Noah was able to breathe again, albeit in gulps. He felt exhausted and sore, as if his entire body had been beaten. His head hurt, and his face was a wet mess. He wiped his eyes on his sleeves and rested his head on the wall, gasping for air.
He had no idea what to do next. He couldn’t face Holden and Lily, or the family. Couldn’t bear to think of Luke. He couldn’t even make himself get up from the floor. He wished he really were a million miles away.
His eyes caught a flyer on the bulletin board across the hall, the one that held posters for film schools and announcement of scholarship contests. This one wasn’t a full-color image of happy film students working on their dream projects. This was just a plain piece of paper. Across the top were printed the words: WORK OVERSEAS.
Noah slowly got to his feet and walked toward the bulletin board, then pulled off the flyer. It was an ad from an independent news service, looking for experienced camera operators. Still in a daze, he pulled out his cell phone and dialed the number for the news editor, Trent.
Trent answered on the first ring. He sounded almost as young as Noah and incredibly harried. When Noah told him he was interested in the position, he barked a few basic questions about his experience. Noah stammered something about his internship at WOAK and subsequent degree at OU. He thought he sounded pathetic and under-qualified, but it must have been good enough for Trent, because he just snapped, “If you can get yourself to New York this week, you’ve got an interview,” and hung up.
Noah stood for a moment, cell phone still pressed to his ear. Then he shoved it his pocket, crumpled the flyer in his fist, and walked away.
To be continued