Work Text:
Another day, another night where Eli had to get ready for her performance. Feathers, diamonds, colourful outfits, different makeup palettes being passed around..and so much more.
Eli was dressed in a sparkly dark green dress, her hair was styled in a slicked back look. One of the performers helped her with the accessories in her hair.
And soon she was ready and all glamoured up, just some touch ups..and soon she heard the familiar voice of someone calling her.
“Are you ready to go, Eli?” It was no other than Malleus, the bodyguard assigned to her.
Every showgirl had one or two bodyguards assigned to them…and Eli got pretty lucky with hers. She could joke around with him before she had to go on stage or sometimes he brought her some snacks during her breaks.
She heard some horror stories about the other performers and their bodyguards being far too stern.. i mean nothing wrong with taking the job seriously…but come on..you can at least talk a little.
Well back to work.
Eli opened the door, she was always one of the few that took her time with getting ready.
“Yes, I’m ready!” She said with a smile, stepping out of the dressing room. Malleus offered his hand, which Eli took without a hesitation, what she didn’t notice was his eyes raking over her. In his mind he was fighting the urge to just take her far away from here. Eli was to him, like a prized possession the dragon in a fairy tale wanted to shield from preying eyes.
“How was your day malleus?” Eli asked as she walked beside him, usually bodyguards walk a few steps behind the showgirl…but Eli insisted malleus walked the way from the dressing rooms up to the stage floor beside her.
“Very quiet, and yours miss eli?”
“Well, pretty much the same…getting up, eating and then getting ready for the show..” Eli answered “I really hope, that everything goes well..we had some trouble with some newer recruits…the manager was once again far too harsh!” She added, playing around with the bracelets on her arms.
Some staff rushed past them both, and well, Eli wearing high heels, with a tight dress, had some trouble when one of them bumped into her on accident. But before, the thought occurred that she might fall, a steady hand wrapped around her waist, holding her up.
“Are you alright? Your dress is still alright right? Nothing broke?” Malleus asked her, his large gloved hand wrapped around her waist.
“Oh, no..I’m..fine. Yea..” Eli answered a little caught off guard, it wasn’t the first time that happened, but one of the first where his hand was around her waist..How scandalous!
Soon she was back on her feet..without his help. How lucky she was that her performance makeup had a lot of blush… or else he’ll worry too much.
But now, it was time for the performance, everyone got on their positions, Eli took a small glance at malleus while she retouched, he gave her a small smile and nod, standing there with his crossed arms.
“Man, is he even aware what his presence does to everyone here..” Eli thought, and before she could do anything she was already on stage on her spot.
She quickly switched to a professional smile…and then the grand red curtains opened, and a loud cheer erupted…mainly from a male audience…
Oh how Eli disliked that part, her eyes scanned the crowd hoping to see some female faces…
Don’t get her wrong, she loves performing, but nobody likes being stared down by some older men…probably with wives waiting at home.
But well, life is hard, rent and food doesn’t magically gets paid in Eli’s life, so she does everything in her power. Even if it meant, smiling a whole evening for men.
Of course there were some desperate men, trying to get their hands on one of the woman they took a liking to. But those were soon taken care of.
Sometimes, Eli saw a glimpse of Malleus taking care of some troublesome costumers.
Soon, to the showgirls delight, the show ended. Most of them had taken off their clothing, like jackets and so on. And so did Eli…now she had a glittery bodysuit on which she had under her dress.
When she finally reached the end of the stairs, she was wrapped in a light blanket.
“Are you doing okay?” He asked, giving her a bottle of water.
“Yea..I’m doing fine..wait.” She stopped him, holding onto his arm, taking off her high heels..
“Now, we can go…” she said with a soft smile.
Malleus looked at her…before shaking his head “there’s no way, I’m letting you walk barefoot here..”
“Huh-, why not, I’ve done that million time-“ she wanted to answer, trying to take the first step, when she got lifted off of her feet.
“No chance, sweetheart” he said with a chuckle.
And so he carried her back to the changing rooms, it was nothing out of the ordinary to be carried by your bodyguard after a show, but you did get some grins and giggles from some of the other performers and staff members.
“Thank you” Eli answered a little embarrassed.. “no worries…I’ll be on my way then.”
“Right..yea..ah wait! Will you wait again till i’m finished..?” Eli answered, stopping him.
“If you wish so..then yes, i will.” Malleus answered with a soft smile..pulling up the blanket over her shoulders.
“Okay…then I’ll try to be quick-“ she said, and soon disappeared into the changing rooms.
“Okay, I’m finished!” Eli called out, holding her bag, she was finally out of the tight outfits and the 1 kg of makeup and hairspray.
Malleus also had the opportunity to change into his clothing and out of the suit, he had to wear.
“Good, then we can go?” He asked, taking the bag from her, guiding her out of the building.
Malleus often accompanied Eli back to her apartment, due to some weirdos, that kept on disturbing her on the way back. It became a routine for them, sometimes they even went out to eat.
She could never imagine having another bodyguard, malleus was a real sweet guy. Eli would be lying if she said that her heart didn’t jump whenever he was around.
Fast forward, Eli said goodbye to Malleus at her doorstep, waving at him and soon Eli opened the door to her familiar apartment, being greeted by her orange cat, her friends had found abandoned in a alley.
And right on cue, the two friends arrived from their rooms. One, looking like she had just woken up from her daily nap, and the other ones eyes glistened, Eli immediately knew they found something cool in their games.
Life was hard, but with her two friends all the worries escaped her mind.
The love she had received from them, was the most precious thing to Eli.
Of course they knew of that one bodyguard from Eli’s workplace.. she did tell them everything.
“And??? Did something happen?” One of them asked, with a knowing grin after their hug..
“Well…he did carry me after the show..”
“HEEELLLLLLYEAAAAAH” both of them shouted, while Eli was unpacking her bags..
“But there’s no way, we’ll ever get any closer..we’re just work buddies” she said with a sigh “and i bet, he’s already taken.”
What Eli didn’t know, that malleus stayed at her apartment door…trying to calm his beating heart..
“I can’t concentrate at all…oh what are you doing to me Eli..”
chapter 2
After a slow morning, Eli finally decided it was time to go to the Theater, where she worked.
She packed her bags and soon, she was on the subway. She didn’t need to worry about some weird men approaching her, cuz most of them worked during the early lunch hours.
Well, finally she arrived, being greeted by some staff and other members, some of the bodyguards gave a quick nod, before getting back to their jobs.
Eli’s eyes drifted around, trying to find one certain individual.
“maybe he’s still not here..” she mumbled. When she existed her changing rooms she was lost in thoughts..
She was thinking about malleus, about rent and her friends and the new cat they had adopted, when finally the director had interrupted her train of thoughts.
“Dear, are you doing okay? I wanted to ask if you wanted to be the main attraction in the upcoming events.”
“Huh, oh yea sure..”
Eli was taking a break in the lounge…when someone called her..
“There you are Eli..” the familiar voice said.
Malleus had finally arrived at the theatre.
“Malleus! There you are!” Eli said with sparkling eyes, giving him a quick hug, after rushing towards him.
“I already thought how I’ll manage without a bodyguard” she said chuckling.
“Do not worry, there’s no way I would’ve left you with those crazy men. I heard that you’re the main attraction at the new event?”
“Mhm..i mean, im glad that I finally get a big role.. but i really don’t want to see any weirdos yuck..” she answered with a big sigh.
“You really think that I’ll let you handle those men all alone?” He said with a soft grin, his arms crossed over his chest.
“What kind of bodyguard would i be…don’t worry, I’ll take care of those…so just give it your best and look dazzling on the stage, Eli” he said, walking off with a waving hand.
Eli just stood there, confused…and then it clicked, Eli’s whole face went rosy red..
She tried to compose herself, but nothing of her usual methods worked, so there she was in the lounge with all of her feelings
“WHAT THE HELLY” Eli sat there, immediately texting her friends…
But before any of her friends could answer, the director called..
“Eli sweetheart!!! Let’s go we gotta get you ready for the shooting!”
“Oh, yes im coming!” She answered, standing up and following her director.
Every showgirl that would be the new attraction at the newer events, had to do a photo shooting.. dressed in the most extravagant clothing and with sparkling makeup.
Eli could swear her body would be glittering forever… her friends jokes about her glittering would never stop..
The makeup artist rushed around her, asking her about her favourite things, and so on.
When one finally started asking about her bodyguard..
“So Eli, i heard that you got a real sweet bodyguard hm?” A newer stylist said..
“Huh-“ Eli said confused, but before she could actually answer properly, one of the older stylist spoke up.
“Don’t even try- we all know how a yearning man looks like…and trust me, that man is head over heels!”
“Haha..there’s, no way, that is all just work, plus he for sure has a girlfriend, there is just no way.” She answered, playing around with her fingers.
The stylist wanted to press some more things out of her, but the director shot them a glare, so they just kept quiet and did their work..
Soon Eli was dressed in a beautiful, light pink dress, her makeup looked extra glittery, and the accessories weight more than she thought.
And soon she was standing in front of a blank wallpaper, a big camera pointed straight at her. The director gleamed with ideas on how she should pose. Eli did everything they wanted without a second thought.. her mind though was somewhere else. This time not worrying about rent and her friends wellbeing, but rather on a certain person, she hasn’t seen since the lobby…
Days went by, Eli hasn’t seen him since forever.. did he quit? Did she do something to upset him? She wasn’t sure, she couldn’t even text him, they never exchanged numbers. And if they somehow exchanged glances, she was dragged far away from him by the director and stylist. And he never approached her..
Eli never thought that being one of the Main Attractions would take him much farther away than she could ever imagine.
She dreamed of finally being one of the pros, that could never be reached. But in her dreams, malleus, was always by her side. He would protect her from the creepy men, give her the water bottle and her favourite snacks. So why? Why isn’t he right there where she always dreamt of having him?
A certain day, Eli woke up finally having enough of the distance between them. Her friends tried everything and even managed to cheer her up during the times they spent together, but once Eli was alone in her bed, or the apartment the loneliness crept back to her.
So she stormed the directors office right after searching everywhere for malleus.
“Oh! Eli my sweetheart! What brings you here ?” He answered with a soft smile.
The director was a sweetheart, he took great care of each of his showgirls and thanked the bodyguards with every day.
“Where the hell, is my bodyguard.” Eli said, her hands gripping the purse On her arm.
“I haven’t seen him since weeks-“ Eli continued, trying her best not to seem too upset. But she was upset, she could start sobbing right there on the spot.
“Wait- did the management not inform you?” The director started..his smile, not so bright anymore.
“Malleus isn’t your bodyguard anymore. They assigned him to another showgirl..”
eli couldn’t believe it, without a second thought she stormed out of the office, the director tried calling out to her…
But she just ran, pass all of the stylist and other performers. What a cruel thing, this whole life was.
Finally she had someone she wanted to spent her life with, even if it was only the showgirl life. He was taken away from her. Why didn’t they tell her? Why didn’t he talk to her? Were all his words just lies?
Question after question flooded eli’s mind, she ran out of the Theater..
While Eli ran past, the crowd, someone had noticed her running with tears in her eyes..Malleus was talking with his new work colleague, a young woman that started fresh into the showgirl business, she was all giddy and nervous… after all, malleus didn’t look like any other guy she had met…
But before malleus could excuse himself to ran after Eli, the young one stopped him..
“Oh malleus! Could you escort me to my studio! You have to, no denying!” And so she tried grabbing his arm.
Malleus just sighed..glancing back to the direction Eli ran off to..
Chapter 3
Finally, it was the grand day of the first performance of Eli being the Main showgirl. That would be her Debut, and yet she didn’t feel like partying at all. The thing with malleus messed with her, she hid every time she saw him in the Theater, she also greeted the girl, he was now assigned to.. and she was pissed.
She was mad at Malleus not telling her that they wouldn’t be together all this time.. and her new bodyguards, well they’re were not the best at their job.
Nothing went like she wanted it to… the director felt sorry for Eli but she kept on calming him down, trying not to worry him too much.
But there she sat, in her own studio, stylist and makeup artists all around, Eli even had her own designer that designed the outfit, outside stood her incompetent bodyguards.
Even though, the music was full of laughter and music.. Eli felt alone. There was nothing in the room that could lighten her mood. She was pissed, actually fuming with rage…the new showgirl was a troublesome girl.. she didn’t concentrate at all during practice and just kept saying how great she was…
She even had the audacity to say that she would do a much better job than Eli as the main showgirl.
And worse of all, she couldn’t do anything on her own…she treated malleus like a butler and kept dragging him around.
But there’s nothing Eli could do, it was Showtime!
The lights were all on, the other performers on their point and in the middle, there stood the main attraction..
Dressed in a sparkly outfit, feathers all around her…she looked perfect and soon the curtain fell and a really loud cheer erupted, Eli just smiled and did her part, during one of the routines, the newer showgirl tried to do something out of her routine…trying to mess with Eli and let the attention focus on her instead…
But a overconfident woman is fated to fall one day, and her day came rather early.
She had slipped, but the show must go on…and even though she fell all the eyes were on Eli..when the showgirl looked over to see, if at least Malleus had a worried expression, she was soon met with disappointment.
His green eyes were sparkling…the black slit, in his pupil was almost rounder than the moon…but that expression wasn’t meant for her…when she followed his eyes, she let out a scoff. His dilated pupils were focused on her, the only person that mattered in the room. And it was no other than Eli.
His most prized possession… which he let go off so easily…he didn’t even notice how the girl he had to protect, left the stage…
He needed to talk to her right after the show, tell her everything and apologise…
He looked towards her bodyguards, which were too busy on their phones…one was even flirting with a guest..
Oh it made his blood boil…
As soon, as the curtain went back up, and Eli had left the stage, he rushed backstage, trying to reach her in time…but to his dismay, she stood there, against a wall, with one of the higher paying costumers…
Malleus immediately noticed her uncomfortable stance… her eyes not facing the rather old man..
“Where the hell are her bodyguards..” Malleus thought, his head turning everywhere to find them. But he didn’t.. did they even take this serious?
And now he wasn’t even allowed to intervene..so he had to watch how Eli was being taken away by some old creep…
Eli had noticed malleus the second he appeared…but the pride inside of her kept nagging that she shouldn’t even think of accepting his help..