Hey guys :
This is my first shot at a Hairspray fic. It's a Seaweed/Penny one-shot. I'm new to this fandom so I wanted to start out with something small and maybe invest in a bigger story later. Enjoy!
--Dru
thanks to EmmaMary for all her help
The painful thump of her heart as it beat wildly against her chest was the first thing Penny remembered feeling. The next was a nauseating dizziness in her head and then a metallic taste in her mouth as she cried out and started to sob.
The night had been so wonderful. Dinner and movies with Tracy, Link, and Seaweed before a quiet walk in the park. She could still feel the warmth of the summer breeze in her hair and the feeling of playful giddiness she soaked in from her best friend. Seaweed had nuzzled into her ear, whispering sweet nothings and driving her crazy with sensual touches to her waist and back. Link and Tracy seemed lost in each other as well, the light of the slowly rising moon leading a faint path home. After leaving Tracy and Link out of the front of the joke shop Seaweed grew playful and nearly knocked Penny over as he sped ahead of her.
"Seaweed!" she shrieked, loose wisps of hair falling over her eyes. He stopped and shot her one of the signature grins that made her belly go pleasantly funny.
"Come on baby!" he coaxed playfully, grin still filling his face. "I bet I could beat you home!"
Home.
Home no longer meant the house she had grown up with her mother. Home had been Tracy's for about 6 months after her mother had banned her, seeing her kissing Seaweed on Corny's show. After growing increasingly comfortable with Seaweed and Seaweed's family growing comfortable with her, Motormouth Maybelle had graciously offered their home to her. It had almost been a year since she had left her mothers and she couldn't have been happier with her new family. Because, after all, her new family did include Seaweed. She was more in love then she had ever been before. Sometimes the intense feelings would overwhelm her. But Seaweed promised he would always be there. If not as her boyfriend, always as her best friend.
"Come on! No fair getting a head start!" Penny cried, giggling most of the way. She caught up to Seaweed pretty quick. He had to slow down once they reached the bus stop. Penny pouted. "You ran away from me."
"Not away from you," Seaweed assured, locking his arms around her waist, kissing a slow trail down her neck.
"Seeeaaaweeed!" Penny whined. But it was all in good fun. Goosebumps had already risen on her skin and without realizing it her breaths grew more heavy and ragged sounding.
"Mmmm…you're crazy girl," he noted, lazily trailing his fingers up her arm. Penny almost wished the bus hadn't appeared near the sidewalk just then. Seaweed took her hand and together they clamored up the few steps, finding an empty seat. The bus had nearly no riders this late at night. Penny and Seaweed still got odd stares from time to time. Not everyone was willing to accept that the two looked past the color of their skins to be together. The ride home was 13 minutes long. Penny had clocked it many times, always falling between 12 and 15. She was constantly back and forth with Seaweed and Little Inez, the three of them spending a lot of time with Link and Tracy over the summer months.
Once at the front door Seaweed covered Penny's mouth with his, a quick gasp of surprise getting stuck in her throat. Hands were quick and didn't stay in one place for too long. The moon was still full and bright high above their heads, summer air warming their cheeks. It was all just too perfect. So wonderful.
A few hours later, Penny had her head propped up against Seaweed's chest, listening to the crazed pitter patter of his heat.
"I've never been with a girl who put the moves on me quite like you Penny. At least not those moves," Seaweed teased her, his pinky gently wrapping a curl of her hair around it. She leaned over to pluck a red colored lollipop off the bedside table, grinning her way through a blush.
"You still think I'm crazy?" she asked in playful curiosity, propping herself up on her arm to carefully unwrap the prized treat in her fingers.
"You know…," Seaweed watched with a sense of odd lusting as Penny stuck the lollipop in between her lips. "You shouldn't be eating those this late. You'll get nightmares." Penny snorted.
"Nightmares? Puh-lease. Not from a lollipop." She gently tapped his nose. But staring into his eyes she could have sworn she saw a glint of real worry behind them. She ran a hand carefully through his hair before taking a last sugary swallow then rolling the candy back up in its wrapper. He gave her a sleepy smile.
"See? Now I can sleep soundly," he planted a hand on either side of her head, lowering his face to give her one last kiss. She tasted like watermelon and sweet tarts. He knew his body was probably speckled here and there with the face glitter Penny had snagged from Tracy earlier in the night. They were all the things that had grown to give him contentment. He rolled slowly off of her, keeping a hand rubbing gently at her temple as her eyes slipped shut.
"I love you," Penny whispered, only seconds away from sleep. Seaweed grinned, snuggling down closer to his girl.
"I love you too."
Mentally Penny attributed the sweet metallic taste in her mouth to be left over from the lollipop. Sweat poured down her face as she took a quick intake of breath, it all coming back out as a shuttery sob. The images had been so intense and heartbreaking. Her mother had gone to the police. The police were taking away herself, Seaweed, and Little Inez, just beginning to corner Tracy and Link when Penny had shot out of bed. Her wrists even felt sore from where handcuffs had encased them just moments ago in her dream. The glaring red numbers from the clock on the bedside table read 2:57, only about an hour since she had drifted off to sleep under Seaweed's gentle fingers. The fear inside only seemed to intensify as new hands gripped her aching wrists.
"Penny?" Seaweed's voice asked, groggy and disoriented. Penny chocked on a wave of hysteria she hadn't even felt coming. Feeling ashamed and drained from the surreal experience, Penny lowered her head.
"Penny?" Seaweed repeated, fully awake now.
"Seaweed please," Penny begged, unsure of why she was pleading with him. His skin that felt so welcoming against her own only a few hours ago felt strange and foreign now as she struggled to pull herself out of her nightmare. She couldn't believe Seaweed had predicted it. Predicted the awful pictures in her head.
"You had a bad dream," he said calmly. "Tell me about it baby." He cupped her face in his hands, forcing her to stare into his deep brown eyes. Hers, usually so beautiful and full of life, were now full of pain and confusion but still beautiful all the same. He could tell her cheeks were puffy just from how they felt under the pads of his thumbs. Her cries were quieting now, breathing returning to somewhat of a normal pace. When she didn't answer him Seaweed was quick to grasp on to more words.
"I'm going to go get you some water."
He got out of bed and stumbled around until he got to the door, shuffling to the bathroom. He returned only seconds later with the neon green cup Penny usually used during dinner. He hoped the familiarity of it all would help calm her down.
"My mother," Penny squeaked.
"Hang on babe. I'm going to turn on the light," he warned in a quick whisper. He flicked it on quickly, hoping to get the initial sting over with as fast as possible. Penny squinted in the light and Seaweed had to hold back a gasp of surprise. She was so beautiful. The features that were so used to being in the happy position were twisted a bit, more sad and panicked. But her eyes were still so Penny. As he had predicted her cheeks were flushed and puffy. He crawled on the bed next to her as she took a long sip of the water he offered her. A painful lump was stuck in her throat. Seaweed squinted a little then touched Penny's cheek gingerly. On Penny's left cheek, right under her eye was a scar. It ran from under her eye down to the bottom of her mouth and Seaweed was shocked that he had never seen it before. He knew every inch of this girl. Or at least he thought he did.
"I was nine," Penny started softly. "Tracy and I were on our way home. We saw a little boy being bullied by a group of older kids. We got in the middle of it and I scratched my face on a branch when I bent down to pick him up."
Seaweed's hand fluttered up to her face again. After having time to calm down Penny felt herself returning. The fact that she instinctively nuzzled into Seaweed's hand when he leaned in to touch her was a good sign.
"It faded," Penny explained. "And when my cheeks turn red…it comes up." Now that she had calmed, the line had slowly disappeared. Seaweed moved his hand and gently kissed a remaining tear off of the cheek that had once clad the faint scar. In the moments that followed Penny told Seaweed what she saw in her dream. He took a breath and then stood up to turn off the light. Once he returned to bed he was quick to envelope Penny in his arms. She let a long sigh out against his chest.
"I can't believe you were right," she said in disbelief. She lifted her head a few inches to place a soft kiss to his lips. "About the nightmare nonsense."
"I'm always going to be here," Seaweed assured her. "I need you to know. Always okay?"
Penny nudged his chin a little, happy to find the sweet spot against him where she was most comfortable.
"Thank you Seaweed."
"Have happy dreams now," he whispered, stroking her hair and once again lulling her back to sleep. Penny would go on to have sweet dreams.
Dreams of being safe with Seaweed.