Adult-FanFiction.org : Celebrity

Adjusting	By : Bia Category: Singers/Bands/Musicians > Eminem/Marshall Mathers Views: 7351 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. I do not know Eminem (Marshall Mathers). I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 23
- 24
- 25
Marshall leaned in the open doorway, watching as Josh curled up in his chair. He could sense the oncoming brood. "What do you think you’re doing?"

JC glanced up, grimacing at the familiar look in Marshall's eye. He just knew the man was having another one of those for-your-own-good moments. "What? You didn't really mean what you said earlier, right?" JC suppressed a shudder. Un-unh. No way he was leaving the house. The very thought was enough to send him into a panic. It was bad enough having to go out for the shrink visits but to deliberately put himself in contact with the general public. What if someone recognized him? Or worse what if it got back to Justin? Oh, hell no. He shook his head even as Marshall's gaze began narrowing. Before he could speak Hailie came bounding into the room.

"You ready, Unca Josh?"

Marshall hid the grin itching to escape as his daughter turned big eyes on JC. He lifted a brow at the frustrated man.

JC glared at Em sensing the growing smugness. He thought it was pretty low to use the kid to get his way. He ignored the fact that he'd have given in eventually, anyway.

~~~*~~~

As he waited for the clerk, Em watched Josh out of the corner of his eye. The younger man had been skittish since leaving the house. He'd been right to do this. It wasn’t like the kid could hide away from the world forever. Eventually Joshua had to go back to N'stink. He was going to make damn sure the kid could stand on his own two feet when he did. A lazy Sunday afternoon at the show was a good start.

Em tossed a few bills on the counter as JC and Hailie joined him at the concession stand. He shook his head as Josh reached for a wallet that wasn't there. "Just grab the stuff," said Em heading toward theater 9. Once inside he held the door open for the two. Taking the lead, he made his way to the nearest row of empty seats. Waiting for them to catch up he glanced back, and grinned at Josh being dragged along by his daughter. Like a terrier towing a greyhound.

JC came to a halt beside him and Em nudged the younger man down the aisle first. Hailie clambered into the seat beside her newest uncle. Em knew putting himself between JC and the rest of the world made the younger man feel more secure. While Josh was doing better, he was still as nervous as a kicked dog. Not that Marshall wouldn't have chosen to sit on the aisle seat anyway. Whenever he was out in public, without bodyguards, he always put himself between family and strangers.

~~~*~~~

JC slipped into the booth across from Em ignoring his self-satisfied grin. Sometimes the man's constant ability to be right was enough to drive him mad. He wondered if it was about everything or whether it was just about a certain boy-bander. "All right," he finally said. "I needed to get out."

Marshall just grinned wider and took a drink of his coke. JC's eyes drifted around the restaurant. Tracking Hailie's movements in the play place as he noted the lack of teenies. A good half dozen children scrambled over the play set. He watched her for a few minutes then moved on. His gaze paused on a tiny boy signing to his mother before returning to Marshall who was working on his fires. "Hey," he cried, slapping his hands over the sad remains of his French-fries.

Em shrugged, "Ya snooze, ya loose."

JC pouted unconsciously.

Em groaned at the sad-eyed look and dumped some of his fries onto JC’s napkin. The look was nearly as bad as Hailie’s, reminding the older man of a stray.

JC loosened up as they managed to each lunch un-accosted. He and Marshall talking about everything and nothing as Hailie dashed between the play set and the table. Scooping up a nugget or fries when she bothered to remember her food.

JC left Em to clear their table as he went to get Hailie. Inside the play place dome the tiny kid from earlier caught his eye. The child’s eyes were wide and tearing as he stared around the room. Parents and children made the area chaotic. JC looked around for his mother; the woman was waiting in line inside. As the dark brown eyes filled with tears, JC moved into the child’s line of sight. His fingers were awkward at first as Hailie skidded to a stop beside him. He hadn’t practiced in awhile but the knowledge came back fast. His movements grew graceful as he continued to sign to the child. The little boy gave him a bright grin and then signed a quick thank you before taking off. JC turned and nearly yelped as he walked straight into Marshall.

Em reached out instinctively, steadying him. "You're supposed to be the graceful one?" he joked. Pleased when Josh didn’t flinch, only giving him a half exasperated look of tolerance. “How’d you know how to do that,” he asked curious, tipping his head toward the child clinging to his mother as they headed out of the McDonald’s.

“Mickey Mouse Club,” said JC off-handedly as the he buckled Hailie into the back seat.

~~~*~~~

JC couldn’t believe Marshall wanted him to go in there. The theatre had been dark. McDonalds, fine. Most teenies didn’t do the play place. But this… no. “No. I’ll get recognized. I can’t handle that right now.”

Em sighed as Josh’s look grew belligerent and he began shaking his head. “You hardly look like Mr. N’sync,” snarked Em.

JC shot him a glare. Em snickered. “With the stubble and the long hair. Plus, the complete lack of sparkles. No one’s going to know it’s JC Chasez.”

JC glared harder, he could tell Em was barely refraining from making air quotes. He was far from convinced. Target was full of teenies.

“If anyone’s liable to get recognized it’d be me,” continued Em, tone almost coaxing. The kid really needed this. The places they’d gone today were small, not crowded. But with the lives they led that wasn’t going to be the norm. Josh needed to get out into the world again before he let his neuroses make him a recluse.

“Arrogant much,” snapped JC, mouth curving into a snarl. Em might think N‘sync was a joke but they were as big as Eminem was, if not bigger. And while Justin might be the one the media focused on, he was just as good. “I might not be the Diva--”

Em cheered silently when there wasn't even a wince; it’d taken the kid days before he could even say Timberfuck’s name.

“But I’m still N’sync. I’m just as likely to be recognized as you.”

Em took in the flushed face, heard the slightly biting tone and mentally high-fived himself. He was good. “Wanna bet? Either you don’t get recognized at all or I get recognized first,” growled Em.

Em’s tone gave him pause. He realized Marshall was different from when they were at home. He’d almost seen him slipping into the Eminem persona as they’d pulled into town but this was the man he’d first met. The one who did what he wanted and didn’t give a fuck what anybody else thought. Did he really want to make a bet with him? “Stakes,” JC, asked suddenly hesitant.

Em grinned, eyeing Josh. “Winner says, loser does.”

JC wasn’t sure this was one of his brighter ideas. He started to shake his head.

The older man shot him a smug look, “Thought not.”

Oh, no. “Yes,” JC snapped, without thinking.

Em held out his hand, JC took it. “Bet.” “Bet.”

A plaintive wail suddenly came from the back seat. “Can we go in now?” Hailie stuck her head between the front seats.

Despite the bet JC was nearly hunched over the buggy as he pushed Hailie along. Em moved beside them, occasionally wandering off and returning with sundry items. They’d been inside the Target for a good fifteen minutes all ready. How long could this take? When Em tossed the third hoodie into the cart, JC had to bite his lip not to scream in frustration. He couldn’t believe he was thinking this, let alone about to say it but he really didn’t feel like shopping. “Look, I really don’t need all this,” he said gesturing at the assorted items growing in the buggy. “It’s not like I’ll be going out.”

Em paused; a blue Nike suit in one hand, a black one in the other. “Josh, you’ve got a month off. If you think I’m gonna let you sit up in that house for a whole month, think again.”

JC groaned as Marshall tossed both tracksuits into the cart. Another twenty minutes went by before Marshall declared them finished. JC turned the buggy toward the checkout. Em snagged the end and aimed them toward the grocery section. “I thought,” protested JC.

“We’re here. Might as well get everything done at once.” Em tossed over his shoulder.

JC snorted but trailed behind him. He knew Em was just trying to get recognized.

An hour later JC was just about ready to start grinding his teeth. Marshall was actually bargain shopping. And while yes, he normally approved of being frugal… this was just goddamned ludicrous.

Em smothered a laugh as Josh’s jaw clenched again. He could see the snark simmering beneath the surface. But it was effectively keeping the kid too preoccupied to worry about being out. Josh looked like he was ready to blow a fuse, so he figured it was time to declare them done. “A’ight. That’s it for now,” he said dropping Hailie’s cocoa into the buggy.

“Thank god,” muttered Josh turning the cart toward the registers.

Hailie had been good. She was quiet and kept her hands in the buggy. Up until daddy said they were leaving. “Toy section,” she cried, arms crossing as a pout started to form.

“I’m sorry, sweetie. Josh is ready to go,” Em said quickly. Willing to use the other man as an excuse. He hated telling his baby no but he had no intention of raising a spoiled Hollywood brat. Sometimes he wished he could use the excuse Debbie had often used. He wondered what Josh would say if he tried to claim he didn’t have enough money.

By this time Hailie had turned sad eyes to her uncle Josh. “Toy section, please.” Her lower lip trembled.

JC glanced over at Em. Em scowled seeing the mischievous look in the blue eyes. “Of course, Hail. I didn’t mean before we’d seen the toys.”

Em mock growled, then stalked away. Josh and a chattering Hailie two steps and a buggy behind.

Moments later, Hailie raced up and down the toy aisles. JC and Em a step behind her the entire time. “How is this more work than following her around the back yard,” gasped JC. “It’s not even half the size.”

Em paused at the end of the aisle. Hailie had just skidded around the corner. “Some funky form of physics, I swear. Something about a child’s energy squared by the toys, doubling the space they transverse.”

JC gaped at the rapper. Em grinned at the look. Both heads shot up at another excited squeal. They hurried around the corner to find Hailie spinning in circles with some weird glowing globe.

“No,” said Em automatically.

“But daddy,” tried Hailie, lip beginning to pout.

Em shook his head. “You know the deal, baby-girl. Two things. No more. If you want it you have to put something back.”

Hailie sighed. She knew when daddy said no like that he meant it. She put the electro light back and lifted up her arms. Em swooped his girl up and carried her back to the cart. Josh joining them a few seconds later.

Em bagged their stuff as the clerk rang it up.

“This too, sir,” she asked as he filled the last bag. He glanced up, frowning as he saw the electro light. He looked at Hailie who gave him innocent eyes, then over at Josh. The brunette stood there with an unrepentant if slightly sheepish look on his face. Hailie bounced happily in her seat. Oh, she so loved uncle Josh. He could turn out to be just as good as uncle Deshaun.

“Yeah,” said Em finally. A tiny smile curved the brunette’s mouth. Em couldn’t help smiling back.

They were halfway to the car when it happened.

“It’s him.”

“No, it isn’t”

“It is. He’s so gorgeous. I’d recognize him anywhere.”

Em slowed his steps, glancing over his shoulder back at Josh a few steps behind him. The girls were a few behind Josh.

“It doesn’t look like him. Is his hair that long?”

“Look, I know it’s him. Let’s go.”

Em tensed; he knew Josh had heard the girls. He hoped the younger man could hold it together. The girls started running. Em stopped ready to turn back and help Josh.

The girls hurled past the cart, coming to a halt beside Em.

“Can we have your autograph, Eminem?” cried the blonde woman. Em blinked before a slow sly smirk bloomed on his face. He glanced up to see the look on Josh’s face. Only to find he’d vanished.

JC tensed as the footsteps grew faster, louder. He nearly passed out in relief when they dashed past him intent on Marshall. Seeing the women were preoccupied with him, he quickly pushed Hailie by. Wanting only one thing, to get to the safety of the car. Knowing any furtive movement was bound to attract attention he calmly settled the buggy by the car, tugged Hailie up and out. Thankfully he had the keys. He opened the back door and quickly settled her into the backseat. JC glanced out the back window, searching the parking lot for Marshall. The two girls had turned into half a dozen. He clambered in beside Hailie, closed the door and ducked out of sight.

Em was polite, for him. He signed the first few, eyes scanning the lot. His gaze landed on the sedan with the buggy full of stuff beside it. He couldn’t see Josh at all. With every signature he took a step towards the car. After a few minutes though his patience grew short. “A'ight. That’s it. Gotta go,” he grunted, turning away from the next piece of paper shoved in his face.

A chorus of awws filled the air but he was only a few feet from the car now. He could hear the muttering of the growing crowd; he hoped he’d have a chance to at least put the bags in the trunk. He could see it was all ready open. Coming to a stop beside the car, he rolled his eyes seeing Josh hiding in the back seat. He flipped the lid up and started to load the car. “Aren’t you gonna help,” he hissed.

JC stretched across the seat and inched the side door open. He glanced at the growing crowd. Then back at Em as if questioning his intelligence. “Not unless you’re calling in your marker,” he answered, voice tight.

Em growled, “No way. I’m keeping that bad boy in reserve.”

JC’s gaze snapped from the still large crowd to Em who’d just tossed the last bag in the trunk. “Reserve?”

Em smirked, climbing into the front as JC closed the door again. “Yeah. You never know when having a boy bander owe you will come in handy.”

JC snorted sliding down into the seat as Em pulled out of the parking lot.

“Thanks for sticking by me back there,” Em mock snarled as he pulled onto the freeway. He was actually surprised Josh was holding it together so well.

“Hey it was every man for himself,” said JC, sitting up. “Besides I knew you’d want me to get Hailie out of the way.”

Of course having someone else to worry about would keep the kid from falling apart. “Yeah. You did good Josh,” grunted Em turning the car toward home.
- 23
- 24
- 25
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Adjusting