Popstar Bodyguard

6- Sleepy Time

When they arrived at the set of the meet and greet, Ace held up a hand. "Hey, uh, Blaine? Could you step out a sec? I just need to ask the boss lady something."

When they got to the set and the boy asked his question, Blaine's immediate response was, "No." But she paused, then exhaled softly. "I will use the restroom." Her eyes narrowed on him, voice growing authoritative. "Do not leave your manager's sight. Do not get close to anyone you don't know. Do not enter a dark corner or hallway alone." She paused to let that sink in.

Blaine placed a hand upon the boy's head between his furred ears and gave the slightest ruffle. "Don't do anything stupid, Kid." She then raised her eyes and looked for the bathroom. There. The guard walked for it, entering the women's bathroom. She stepped in and unzipped her fanny pack. Blaine shook out a pill from the bottle and popped it in her mouth, dry swallowing it quickly. Once that was away, she used the toilet, washed her hands, and exited the restroom. Immediately her eyes sought out the boy.

The popstar smoothed down his hair with a grin as Blaine walked away. The manager clicked her tongue and went to help him. "Honestly. How much do they think your hair costs?" she chided.

"About as much as the car in a year, I guess. Hey, so I was thinking-can we do something about how Blaine is sleeping in my hotel room? Not that it bothers me-they're super serious about their job-but they got freaking stabbed yesterday and still slept on a cramped little couch." Ace gave his manager the business with his puppy eyes. "Can we do another bed in the hotel, pleeeeeaaaase?"

********

Ashton looked inordinately pleased with himself as Blaine returned. He waved emphatically. "Still alive!" he announced happily. "Feel better?" It seemed Blaine's discomfort hadn't gotten past the kid, but really, the bodyguard was stabbed less than a day ago.

The guard looked at the kid with a slowly raising brow. Two hands propped on her hips, the other two crossing over her chest. Blaine's eyes narrowed at the teen. "I feel like you're up to something, Kid," they said suspiciously before looking around. "Did you invite a friend over without telling me?"

Ace put one hand behind his back and lifted the other. "I would never! Scout's honor."

The manager rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. That kid's damned nice to them. The grump. "So long as you keep your eyes peeled, we shouldn't have any more 'friends'. We should get in there. Ace, you'll have a few minutes to cool down, take a breath and fix up your hair." The manager was nothing if not punctual and that generally meant being early.

Ace turned the swear into a salute. "You betcha!" A bounce in his step, the wolf star made his way inside.

Blaine's brow remained quirked at the star's antics before snorting and following after. "It should be impossible for one person to have so much energy." Still, her eyes trailed after the boy with mild affection. Damned little bastard is growing on me, the guard grumped with a chuckle and roll of their eyes.

********

The guard stayed a safe distance from their charge and those swinging dancers as he sang and moved along to his choreographer's instructions. As the teen went about his practice with the same energy and enthusiasm he always had, Blaine found herself thinking the kid adorable. She blinked. Shit I need a smoke. But she was indoors and there was no way the guard would leave their charge for a cigarette. So she waited. As her eyes followed the singer about the room, Blaine's usual irritation at denying themselves a smoke didn't seem to bother the guard quite as much this night.