AN: C'mon guys, lacking powerstones.
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Four days later, the set of Mr. & Mrs. Smith was busy as usual. Nearly eighty percent of the movie was in the can, and the pace had been perfect. Alex and Angelina's chemistry translated so seamlessly on screen that most of their scenes were wrapped in single takes. No retakes or wasted hours. The crew loved it. Thanks to that saved time, Lexy was able to use it to shoot other scenes.
For Alex, the rhythm was perfect. He shot all day, spent a few hours taking care of his business, and then spent time with his girls.
Some evenings were Angelina's: dinners at quiet spots, conversations that stretched past midnight, a closeness that was still evolving, still dancing on the edge of something more. Oh, and they had sex, but not a whole night marathon since the shoot was still ongoing and they didn't want to reach the set exhausted.
Other nights were Halle's: intimate calls, teasing exchanges that flared into full-blown sexting, sexy photos that carried heat across the distance. She sent him shots of her in lingerie, bikinis, and at Alex's request, she even sent him her butt photos. Then, she wanted the full view of his front. So, he sent her his full frontal nude pictures. All in all, the heat between them kept increasing with each passing day.
Everything was balanced, smooth, under his control. For now.
Today's shoot was the mall sequence.
The set had been transformed into a two-story shopping complex. Storefronts with fake brand names lined the walkways. Then there was some green screen around the place. Alex double-checked everything personally and coordinated with the FX team. Then he talked with the junior artists who are going to play the role of agents and explained to them the scenes in detail. Plus, they had a practice run before the main shoot.
Alex adjusted his grip on the pair of pistols holstered under his jacket. Dressed in a fitted suit that flexed with his movements, he looked every inch the deadly John Smith. Across from him, Angelina stretched her shoulders. She was into Jane's character.
"Ready to destroy this place?" she said, twirling one of her prop knives before slipping it back into its sheath.
Alex smirked. "I was born ready. Let's give it our all."
The slate clapped. Cameras rolled.
"Action!" Lexy yelled.
The scene exploded into chaos.
Alex and Angelina moved like predators through the mall, a perfect synchronicity of violence and rhythm. He drew his pistols in one smooth motion, firing at the stunt agents charging down the escalators. Glass shattered above him. Angelina vaulted over a counter, her leg snapping into a stuntman's chest before she emptied a clip into another.
The choreography was brutal and beautiful. Their bodies crashed against each other as much as the enemies, sometimes using the other for cover, other times shoving each other out of the line of fire only to return back-to-back.
A stuntman lunged at Alex with a fake blade. He twisted, caught the man's arm, and snapped it across his shoulder in a clean stunt move before firing two rounds point-blank. The blanks roared, smoke curling from the barrels. He didn't miss a beat before sliding across a table to join Angelina.
"Is this your idea of date night?" he growled in character.
She ducked behind him, reloading with a wicked grin. "You're the one who wanted the mall."
The gunfire reached a fever pitch, extras screaming as agents dropped left and right. Sparks flew from rigged squibs. A storefront window blew out as Alex spun, shielding Angelina with his body while firing over her shoulder. The two of them moved as one, a destructive duet of bullets and steel.
They paused the scene to add some fake blood and adjust a tilted camera. After that, the scene resumed. There were a total of fifteen shots for the entire scene, which took hours to perfect. Since this was the climax of the movie, everyone wanted it to be perfect.
The director finally called cut.
The mall fell silent, the haze of smoke still lingering. Crew members broke into applause. Alex lowered his guns, sweat dripping at his temple. Angelina brushed a strand of hair from her face and laughed, breathless but exhilarated.
"That," she said, "felt good."
Alex rolled his shoulders, giving her a quick nod. "I loved the way you slid over the table and did that side flip."
The director was grinning ear to ear. "That was insane. Perfect. Absolutely perfect. You two are monsters."
Angelina smirked. "We try."
Crew members were laughing, buzzing with relief and excitement after nailing such a heavy scene. Cameras were packed away, props returned to carts, and the lingering haze of smoke slowly drifted out of the air vents.
Alex clapped hands with a few stunt guys on his way to wardrobe, still running on the adrenaline high of the shoot. Angelina pulled her hair out of its tie, shaking it loose as she grinned at him.
"You know what we need after that?" she said.
"What's that?" Alex asked.
"A drink. Maybe three."
He chuckled, wiping sweat from his brow. "Funny, because I just booked us an entire barbecue joint downtown. Drinks, ribs, the works. Crew included."
Her eyes lit up. "Now that's how you end a day."
...
Later that night, the barbecue place was alive with laughter and clinking glasses. The entire Mr. & Mrs. Smith crew filled the space. Platters of ribs, brisket, and wings sat on long wooden tables, the smell of smoky meat filling the air. Bottles of beer and whiskey made the rounds as people let loose, swapping stories from the day.
Alex mingled, making sure everyone had what they needed. He wanted his crew to feel appreciated. Without them, none of this would have been possible.
Eventually, he spotted John sitting at a corner table with a glass of bourbon. His expression was calm, almost too calm, and Alex remembered their conversation from the night when John asked Alex's permission to go and see his wife. John told him that his wife is sick and in a private hospital in LA. She was going to have surgery.
He slid into the seat across from him. "How's your wife?"
John gave a small nod, his voice steady. "The surgery went well. They put in the implant. Doctor says she's stable, recovering as expected."
Relief washed through Alex. He raised his glass slightly. "That's good to hear. So why the hell are you here instead of by her side?"
John's eyes flickered with something unspoken. "Because this is my duty. You're my responsibility. I made a promise, and I can't break it."
Alex frowned. "Promise or not, fuck that. She just came out of surgery, man. She needs you by her side. And I'll drag you to the hospital if I need to. And no, it's not up for debate."
Then he stood, glass in hand, and turned to the crew around them.
"Alright, everyone," he called out. The chatter died down. "Quick toast. To every single one of you who worked your asses off today and made that mall scene look like a masterpiece. So eat, drink, laugh, and don't hold back. Ah! I almost forgot. I've ordered the kitchen to pack up enough food for your families. Take them before leaving. And don't think too much. This ain't a charity, just a helping hand from a guy who knows what struggle is and lived it. So, yeah... Just enjoy the night."
Cheers and whistles erupted as glasses lifted. Alex clinked his against John's, drained it, then set it down.
Angelina appeared at his side, curious. She noticed a subtle change in Alex's expression. He looked a little angry. "What's going on?" She asked.
He lowered his voice. "John's wife just came out of surgery. He hasn't been to see her yet. To him, duty is more important than his wife."
Her expression softened instantly. "Then what are you waiting for? Go. I've got things covered here."
That was all Alex needed. He clapped John on the shoulder. "Come on. No more excuses. I'll go with you, that way you won't have to worry about guarding me."
Before John could protest, Alex walked out of the restaurant and toward his car. And as John's duty, he followed him. But instead of getting into his car, he took the driver's seat in Alex's car.
John started the engine, the city lights flashing by as they pulled out into the street. Alex shot John a sideways glance. "You're going to thank me later."
John said nothing, but the tightness in his jaw eased just a little as the car sped toward the hospital.
...
The car pulled into St. Augustine Memorial Hospital, an upscale facility tucked into the hills above Los Angeles. John and Alex went inside. John made his way toward the private room while Alex followed him.
'Interesting,' Alex thought as he noticed the nurses, doctors, and workers. They looked like regular hospital crew, but he could tell that each one of them was trained and dangerous. Not to mention, they were carrying hidden weapons. 'The High Table people, huh?'
At the door to Room 517.
John stopped.
"Go in. Stay with her. Don't come out until she opens her eyes and you've spoken to her. That's the only job you have tonight. Understand? I'll be just outside. That way, you get to do your duties together," Alex said as he gave John a pat on the back.
John finally gave a small nod. Without another word, he pushed through the door and walked inside.
Alex exhaled and walked back to the waiting area.
The lobby for the private wing was quiet, only a scattering of cushioned chairs and a vending machine humming faintly in the corner. Alex dropped into one of the chairs, stretched his legs out, and settled in. His phone buzzed more than once with messages from Lilly and Caroline. He replied to them and had a nice chat before saying good night to them.
After that, he closed his eyes, taking a little shut eye.
Hours passed. Nurses changed shifts. The hallway lights dimmed, then brightened again.
[Morning]
Alex freshened up a bit and bought a cold coffee from the vending machine. He sat back on the chair and took a sip.
It was close to seven when John finally appeared. He looked worn, his tie loose, his jacket folded over his arm. But there was something softer in his eyes.
Alex straightened up. "She's awake?"
John nodded. "Yeah. She woke up a little after six. We talked. She's tired, but she's… she'll be okay." He let out a breath, then stepped closer. His voice was low but filled with weight. "Thank you. For forcing me to be here."
Alex shrugged. "Some duties outweigh others. Next time, just ask. Oh, and you're suspended for one month."
"What are you..." Before John could finish...
Alex spoke, "Since Rachel is with me, I'll be fine. Take this time, be at her side, and don't argue. If anyone got a problem with that, send them to me. And not to worry." He patted John's shoulder. "I won't cut your pay cheque."
John's eyes went toward a nurse behind Alex for a second. She simply gave him a nod.
"Thank you, Alex," John said with a rare smile.
"Wow! So, you do smile, huh?" Alex said with a little chuckle. "Anyway, I gotta go. You take care of her. If you need anything, call me."
With that, he walked out of the hospital.
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[POWERSTONES AND REVIEWS PLS]
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[8 advance chs] [All chs available for all tiers] [No double billing.]
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