Guarded (Lloyd Hansen AU) 18+

7

Lloyd

"Morning sunshine! We're just about to land so best put on those sunglasses in case we've got some long lenses out there". I smirk as Bronte wakes up from a quick nap on the way.

She gives me the middle finger, and I now get prepared as we're heading straight onto the stadium for her to fuck around in rehearsals or whatever she does. Then she's heading out to dinner so it's gonna be a late one for me. I'm used to it though.

Rule 1 - keep her safe from whoever and whatever - whether she likes you or not.

The plane lands and with the air hostess sneaking her number to me, me and the team escort Bronte out to the waiting convoy of SUV's.

"I seriously can't wait for dinner later". She sighs as she looks out of the window. "Johnny's coming as well". She tells Dani who is sending an email.

"Who else?" She asks.

"Cressida, errrr, a couple of others. Curtis obviously couldn't make it". She lists them off. I engross myself in looking through my phone and ensuring that everything at the stadium is good to go. There's no fucking about in this job.

Now I have to sit through her dreadful music...live. At least I think she is. Maybe she's lip syncing some of it? I'll have to ask and probably risk death while doing so.

It's worth it just to find out the truth. Then if it turns out she isn't singing live, I can just use it against her when I wanna. 

Ass. 

"Move" I order as stadium workers move out of the way as we walk in. "Outta the way, hot stuff coming through". 

"Reaaaally?" Bronte rolls her eyes. 

"I could've said something worse sweet pea, just be thankful I didn't". 

She looks at me challengingly. "Like what exactly?" 

I'm gonna enjoy this...

"Like 'Outta the way, short ass bitch coming through to lip sync her way through the next hour'" 

Yep. I go there. 

Her expression turns stony. "I don't lip sync". She says slowly through gritted teeth, and it's clear I've hit the nerve right where it stings the most. 

I make a face. "Naw, c'mon hot stuff - not even a little bit?" 

"Hansen...I'm gonna punch you in the fucking face if you don't keep your stupid stache mouth shut. Just do your damn job and I'll do mine". 

I can't help but feel some satisfaction. "Yes ma'am", then directing the rest of security to their positions for the rest of our time here through my ear piece. No one's getting in without reasonable cause. 

I walk around for most of the time here, checking in to see whether everything's secure and half listening to Bronte whine on, sorry, sing. There's no way she's live for the whole fucking time. I can hear the damn backing track over her. "Hey, lower it" I tell the tech guy. "You can hardly hear her, or is that the point?" 

"Erm...I guess not..." The tech just blinks and then lowers the backing track. 

Ok, now I can hear her more. 

"Better". I nod, hands on my hips as Bronte sweetly struts across the stage with her dancers. "Seriously though, people like this shit?" 

The tech smirks. "You'd be surprised. She's a sell out". 

"Yeah, you got that right". I snort and head back round to join Court who's stood by the exit, hands behind his back. "Got any Vicodin? I have a migraine coming on just from the pitch of her damn voice". 

Court chuckles and produces the pills from his pocket. "That bad eh?" 

"You know it. She's a constant headache for me". 

"Could be worse, you could've babysat Fitz's niece". Court says as he scans the stadium while I knock back a couple of pills. "I swear it was 21 questions everyday. Bronte seems nice though".

"I've come across nicer". 

Another snort escapes Court and I pass him back the pills. "You want me on dinner watch tonight?"

"Yep". I reply, willing the migraine to leave before I have to wait for a few hours while little miss superstar has dinner and drinks. "You can keep me sane at least". 

"I didn't even think you were that". 

"After everything that's happened? I've been questioning it myself". I admit as the song comes to an end and I breathe a sigh of relief. 

Court just nods a little stiffly. "Can't be easy around this time of year though..." 

Yep. There it is again. All the talk of Ari. This week marks another year that's gone by since his death and of course the F1 world are digging shit up yet again. I don't know why they just don't erect some kinda statue and bow the fuck down to it if they loved him so much. 

I just shrug it off. "I just keep on working. I said what I said, I've made my peace with the people who needed it. There's nothing left to say. They'll just always see me as the bad guy in the story but whatever. We all need to move on from this shit". 

"From what?" Suddenly Bronte has manifested next to me and I turn to her. 

"Nothing that concerns you. I thought you were gonna be screeching away for the next hour or so?" 

She shakes her head. "That's all we need for today. I'm ready to head back and get ready to go out". 

"She's ready, bring the cars around, we'll meet you at the south door, back entrance". I tell the rest of the team through my ear piece and we escort Bronte out, with Dani following. 

We walk but Bronte soon pipes up, still clearly hearing the conversation earlier. "Sorry about your brother". 

"Step brother". I correct her, keeping my eyes and ears alert for any kinds of threat rather than to look at her and listen to her now go on about what a great guy Ari was. "And whatever, we weren't that close anyway". 

Thankfully this shuts her up and I open the door to the car for her once we get there, ensuring shes safely inside before closing the door and getting into the front passenger side. Hopefully she'll be too drunk to even talk tonight and I can have some peace - although I know that this probably won't be happening. 

And I'm right. It doesn't.