TW: Cussing, no no touching :(
The show that night had gone off without a hitch, just like normal and the chaos crew walked off stage, the band playing them off, they headed to their dressing rooms to change and go out for the stage door.
The crowd of fans cheered as the six of them walked through the door and they all separated to go meet as many people as they could. So far, Ari had talked with a few excited teenagers who explained how much they loved her song and its message. One of the girls said she loved the blue beanie Ari had on and Ari happily took a photo with them. The next person was a young man, probably around his mid-twenties. Ari didn't exactly like the way he was looking at her, but she ignored that feeling since he seemed nice enough, just asking for her to sign a poster that he said was for his girlfriend and a picture.
Ari smiled politely as the guy leaned over the bars to get a good angle, though it immediately dropped off her face as she felt the guy's hand slip down her body, which was nowhere near an accident.
Ari stepped back quickly, grabbing his forearm and throwing it off her as she took a few more steps away from him, her eyes wide and the man had a sickening smirk on his face.
"Excuse me—" Ari began, her mouth hanging open in disbelief as indignation bubbled up in her veins.
Anthony, though he hadn't seen the whole exchange, had seen his girlfriend tear away from someone and the incredulous expression on her face was more than enough to set off alarms in his head. So the blonde marched over to where the brunette stood and put a hand on Ari's arm, drawing her gaze back from a man in the crowd to him.
"Babe, is everything okay?" Anthony asked in a worried tone, his lips pursing as Ari shook her head.
"He grabbed me. He-he touched me." Ari explained, still in a state of shock but gesturing at the guy. Anthony's face hardened, his usually playful brown eyes darkened as he turned back to the man and for a split second Ari actually worried about his safety.
"What?" The blonde Asked in an uncomfortably low tone, jaw setting and staring at the man with such disdain and fury. He visibly shrunk under Anthony's glare.
"N-no, I didn't, she's lying, I didn't do anything, I was just taking a picture." He frantically tried to explain as he realized his grave mistake.
"No, I saw you grab her." A younger woman added who had been watching the whole exchange and the man's face paled as Anthony's eyes glinted with daggers.
"You did what to my girlfriend?" He seethed, taking a step forward, his hands clenched into fists.
"I-I didn't—"
Everything else happened very quickly after that, but to Ari, it felt like she was watching everything in slow motion. She saw her boyfriend's arm pulled back, ready to knock the man with a punch to the face before Jared rushed forward, grabbing the tall boy around the waist and dragging him away from the man. Anthony thrashed, trying to wrench himself free to teach that asshole a lesson but Olivia and Rei swiftly grabbed Anthony's arms to hold them still, restraining Anthony so he could only kick in the guy's general direction. Ari could only watch as she was frozen in place.
"You little piece of—"
"Anthony!" Ari warned. "there are children here."
"You know what he did right? He assaulted my girlfriend—your best friend Olivia, you're just going to let him—"
Olivia interrupted Anne's angry ramble and though she was equally as pissed hearing what that man had done to Ari, she knew causing even more of a scene wasn't the best solution (maybe the most deserved but not the best). "I know what he did Anthony, but this isn't the way to handle things, we can't go around punching and cursing people out."
"Okay, fine, how's this—" Anthony growled, his death glare locking on the man again as he yelled,
"¡Vuelve aquí maldito gilipollas! ¿Sabes que tienes tanta suerte de que haya gente aquí que me está reteniendo ahora mismo porque de lo contrario te patearía el trasero, entiendes? ¡Te destruiría! Voy a perseguirte y despellejarte vivo por lastimar a mi futura esposa, ¡lo juro por Dios! ¡Nadie toca a mi novia así, bastardo, y será mejor que reces para no volver a verme o te haré desear nunca haber nacido! ¡¿Me escuchas ?!!"
His rants and threats continued as the three other adults hauled him inside the theater, Ari following, eager to escape the crowd's eyesight. Though Anthony screaming profanities in Spanish did amuse her a bit.
"That's gonna go viral." Rei mused, finally letting go of the tall boy once they were all inside, who proceeded to rip away from his friends' grasp as soon as soon as their holds' loosened.
"Worth it." Anthony huffed, straightening his wrinkled coat as the security guard Rose had fetched during the ordeal walked up and they began to explain to him what happened. Ari stood back as Livy and Jared went to tell the crowd outside that the stage door was over for the night, a few moments later Olivia approached her, putting a comforting arm around Ari.
"Are you sure you're alright, mija?" Livy asked, concern still lacing her tone and Ari nodded.
"Just still a little shocked, that's all." Ari affirmed, though the woman was clearly not convinced, "I'm fine, I promise." That seemed to relax Livy's nerves, though she still looked pissed—and rightfully so.
"What did Anthony yell at him, anyway." Livy questioned, glancing back at Anthony who was still talking to security.
". . .I don't think I should say for legal reasons," Ari deadpanned, sending the tall blonde a small, wry smile after a moment and chuckling at Olivia's wide-eyed expression.
"Your boyfriend is crazy." Livy commented but with no real vice. She and the blonde boy may have started out on the wrong foot, but as time passed they grew closer and Livy knew there really was no one else worthy enough of her best friend's love.
"Yes he is." Ari smiled fondly at Anthony who was walking towards the pair.
"Don't worry, security is taking care of that guy, he's banned from the theater and the police were called. They're also gonna get the photo deleted from his phone and Jared ripped apart his poster." Ari chuckled at the image and Anthony planted a kiss on her cheek, sincere green eyes gazing back into brown, "are you okay? Can I get you anything? You know I will gladly find that asshole and beat him up, right?"
"I know you would, but I'm fine, I promise." Ari said, taking Anthony's hand, "I'm still a little stunned but I'm alright, love." Anthony nodded, his protectiveness still showing but he was just relieved that dick hadn't hurt Ari, at least not in the way people had hurt both Anthony and Ari before. Olivia gave Ari's arm another comforting squeeze before going off to give the couple some space.
Anthony wrapped his arms around Ari's waist, the queen obsessed dork melting into his touch, smiling warmly when Ragno pressed a gentle kiss on her lips. The couple drew away only for Anthony to pull the other girl into an embrace, their heads resting on the other's shoulder.
"You called me your future wife." Ari said a moment later, breaking the comfortable silence between them. The brunette moving her head from where it rested against Anthony's to meet a pair of amber eyes.
"I did." Anthony nodded, a soft smile on his lips before a look of worry and hesitance crossed his face, "I-is that okay?"
"It's perfect." And a true grin grew on Ari's face, her chest fluttering at the thought that Anthony wanted to marry her someday. Which she wanted too of course, out of all the things she didn't expect from this relationship—besides going from Anthony's mom to his wife—falling in love definitely was high up on the list. But then Anthony came crashing into her life like the wonderful, beautiful, chaotic whirlwind he is, and Ari hadn't even realized she had begun to fall until it was too late. Though it's not like she wanted to ever fall in love with someone else besides Anthony Doxx. "Thank you for defending me, babes."
The blonde beamed, taking Arianna's hand a kissing the top of her knuckle. "Always, chérie."
