It Began with Wicked -A Tom Hiddleston
One Shot
A/N: A one shot based
on the prompt Tom performing in Twelfth Night and falling in love with the
actress playing Viola sorry that there isn’t actually much Shakespeare in
there. For Britt. Hope you enjoy reading and that I have done the prompt
justice, darling. <3
Britt had always loved the theatre, ever since she was a
little girl. Her father used to take her up to London
most weekends to see the latest West End
shows.
She knew she wanted to be an actress ever since she first
went and saw Wicked; she had completely fallen in love with the acting, the
set, the lighting, the costume, everything. She wanted to be up there getting
that applause and standing ovation at the end of the performance. She loved the
theatre. She always had and she had a feeling she always would.
Her mother had passed away when she was seven of breast
cancer. Britt was too young to understand what had happened but her father had
explained that she was looking down on her and was now an angel in heaven. It
was then that her father had decided that taking her to go and see Wicked would
be a good idea, a chance for her to escape and not be upset for a few hours.
Britt loved it so much that it became a regular occurrence going to see a
different west end show everytime they were in town.
Britt constantly took part in all of the school productions,
enjoying performing and the applause and smile on her fathers face. It didn’t
matter if she was the lead or just had a minor role, seeing how proud her
father was of her was one of the best feelings in the world. She longed to
perform and make her mother and father proud.
Her love of acting continued long into secondary school
where she took all of the performing arts subjects that were available
including dance and drama.
She still continued to act in the school productions,
earning the role of Maria in West Side Story in her final year.
Britt also enjoyed English, especially when she studied
Shakespeare, she loved how romantic and old fashioned it was and longed for men
to still be how they were in those days. Unfortunately men and these days
didn’t seem to know the meaning of the word chivalry.
She remembered her father taking her to see Twelfth Night
when they first began going up to London.
It was one of the first plays she saw. Although the first time she saw it she
didn’t really understand it as she was only seven, she fell in love with the
language and costumes all the same and to this day it had remained one of her
favourite Shakespeare plays.
After leaving secondary school Britt went on to study
performing arts at college before getting accepted into RADA. It was during
this time that Britt’s father passed away of a heart attack. He had always had
problems with his heart but it had recently begun to get worse. He died in his
sleep. That was really hard on Britt, not being there when he had died and not
being allowed home to organise the funeral due to her timetable. It was instead
left in the hands of her uncle, which she was glad about as she was only
nineteen at the time.
She went home for the funeral. It was horrible having to say
goodbye to her father, having to see him dressed in his favourite shirt and
black trousers looking asleep when really he was dead. A weird feeling. She
could now see why her father hadn’t allowed her to go to her mothers; she
didn’t wish death on anyone especially if it was this painful. She felt as
though her heart had been broken and shattered into a million little pieces.
For a while Britt considered not going back to RADA. Acting
held too many memories of both her mother and father. It was because of them,
her father especially that she had begun acting in the first place and now that
neither of them were here it felt pointless to continue with it.
After a few months of moping around during the summer she
finally convinced herself to go back to RADA and fulfil her dream, not just for
herself but for her mother and father too. She could hear both of them telling
her not to give up on her dream just because they weren’t with her anymore, it
didn’t mean that they weren’t proud of her or didn’t love her; they would
continue to support her wherever they were.
Once back at RADA Britt threw herself back into her studies,
auditioning for countless roles and shows and singing and dancing every waking
moment of the day.
It was during her second year at RADA that she discovered
Tom Hiddleston. She was browsing the boards of previous students when she came
across his name. She recognised him to look at more than by his name. He was
very handsome. She thought nothing more of it and continued her way through
RADA graduating with a 2:1 in performing arts.
Now three years out of RADA at twenty five Britt was now
standing outside The Apollo Theatre, the very theatre where she had over twenty
eight years ago seen Twelfth Night for the first time. It was like dejavu and
as though she was seven all over again.
Instead of going to watch the performance however she was
going to be acting on the same stage playing Viola, the role she had longed to
play for years, opposite one Tom Hiddleston.
She had seen him audition for the role of Orsino when she
went to audition, he was amazing, he saw her too stealing a few glances and
smiles at her here and there but nothing more as when she thought about going
to say hello he was getting up to leave. Maybe I’ll see him again she thought.
She was right and when she had found out he was her co-star she had gone home
and watched all of his filmography. With every performance he got better and
better and to think he started out at RADA, the same stage school she went to
was just amazing. Britt wouldn’t have said she was a fangirl as such, she
wasn’t one to reblog all of his pictures on Tumblr or read fanfiction, she did
however follow him on Twitter. His tweets were so inspirational and she had a
feeling inside her that made her believe that Tom was one of the people who
inspired her to continue acting and fulfil her dream.
* * * * * *
It had been years since Tom had done theatre. His last on
the stage was in 2008 when he had starred as Cassio in Othello opposite Ewan
McGregor. He had always enjoyed theatre. It was like going back to his roots.
Since his name had begun to get recognised however Tom hadn’t
had a chance to go back to theatre, he missed it and was just waiting for the
right role to arise. That role came a few months later when his agent had
called him letting him know that Twelfth Night was being performed at the
Apollo Theatre and the part of Orsino was up for audition.
Just because his name was now getting recognised and because
he was becoming famous as a film actor rather than a stage actor he still had
to audition like everyone else. Tom made his way down to the Donmar Theatre
where the auditions were being held dressed in his dark jeans, grey t shirt,
black leather jacket and brown cowboy boots. Walking into the theatre bought it
all back for Tom, why he became an actor in the first place, The Donmar really was
like home, he hadn’t been here for a good five years, the last time being when
he played Cassio.
Tom walked into the theatre where a group of people were
sitting in the isle seats waiting to audition. It was there that he saw her,
one of the most beautiful young women he had ever seen. She was beautiful,
dressed in black leggings, brown knee high boots and a purple and white striped
jumper her brown locks cascading down to her shoulders. He was smitten.
He didn’t manage to catch her name or find out anything
about her as he had to leave before she got the chance to audition as he had a
meeting about a new film project.
Tom loved Shakespeare and was uncontrollably excited when he
landed the role of Orsino. He wondered who would be playing his Viola. He hoped
it would be the mystery girl he first saw at the audition. He was about to find
out.
* * * * * *
Britt arrived at the theatre dead on 9am. She was never one
to be late especially for her first day of rehearsals. She was one of the first
to arrive, followed shortly by the rest of the cast and the director, John. Britt was talking with John when Tom walked
in. The whole cast stopped talking as soon as he walked in and John turned to
face him.
“Ah, Tom, great to see you again” John said. Tom walked over
to where he was standing holding out his hand. “You too, John. Thankyou for
offering me the role of Orsino I really appreciate it.” He replied shaking his
hand. Tom turned to face the girl who was standing next to John and was met
with the most gorgeous big brown eyes. He smiled at Britt. The young woman from
the audition. “And who might this beautiful young woman be?” Tom asked
extending his hand.
“Your Viola” John
replied.
“Britt. Britt Adams” Britt replied taking his hand.
“Tom. Tom Hiddleston. It’s a pleasure to meet you darling.”
He replied turning her hand over in his and placing a delicate kiss on the back
of it before smiling the most beautiful smile that reached his eyes. Britt
giggled, she didn’t realise he would have this effect on her.
“Fair maiden, may I escort you to your seat so we can get
started with rehearsal?” Tom bowed beginning to get into character. Britt
laughed again. “You may, kind sir. Thankyou” she replied. Tom laced her hand
through his elbow escorting her to sit next to him in the front row of the
theatre so John could do a quick introduction before rehearsals began.
John introduced himself and gave the cast a general idea of
what would happen explaining that it was a 16 week run 7 shows a week, one
every weeknight and two on a Saturday and a bit of information about the
theatre before beginning the rehearsals.
The first day was generally spent getting to know each other
and pairing off those who would end up as couples throughout the play. Tom
spent the morning with Britt and the afternoon with a girl called Megan who
would be playing Olivia.
A bond was immediately formed between Britt and Tom. They
found out that they shared the same taste in Shakespeare plays and film. Britt
thanked him for inspiring her telling him about finding his picture at RADA
which they spoke about for a while and how much fun they both had had. Britt
felt like she had known him for years.
“You know I follow you on Twitter” she told him casually. “I
have to say how inspiring your tweets are and Thankyou for reintroducing me to
bands and artists I haven’t heard in a long while aswell as new ones.”
“Ah, do you now, darling, I shall have to follow you when I
get home” he replied before thanking her about his inspiring tweets swapping
phone numbers, kissing her on the cheek and bidding her farewell for the
morning.
Tom was smitten; Britt couldn’t have been more beautiful or
down to earth. It was nice just to be himself rather than Tom Hiddleston the
actor. He felt he could just be Tom around her which he felt he hadn’t been
able to be in a long while.
He spent his afternoon with Megan getting to know her like
he had with Britt that morning, he quickly found she wasn’t as interesting as
Britt but still smiled and made conversation with her stealing casual glances
and smiles at Britt throughout the afternoon. At one point Britt was so caught
up in conversation laughing and giggling with the actor who would be playing
her brother, Sebastian that Tom found himself wishing that he could make her
laugh like that. Even though he had made her laugh quite a few times that
morning it just didn’t sound the same. She had such a beautiful laugh he only
wished he had caused it.
Britt had had such a great day it was a shame that it had to
end. Tom was lovely, she felt like he had known him forever; it was nice to
know that they had quite a lot in common. She hoped they would continue to
become closer. Joe, who was playing Sebastian, was also lovely but not in the
way Tom was. Britt could see Joe as more of a brother, whereas she hoped that
throughout the next few weeks her`s and Tom`s relationship would grow into
something more. If it didn’t however she would still be happy to have him as just
a friend.
Tom caught her on her way out. “Hey, Britt, Britt wait up”
Tom called out to her just as she was about to exit the theatre. “Would you
like to get a coffee with me? I don’t want today to end quite yet”. Britt
smiled.
“Ofcourse Tom that would be lovely” he smiled linking her
arm through his like he had done earlier that morning escorting her out of the
building.
It had begun to rain quite heavily when they made their way
out of the theatre. Neither of them had thought to bring an umbrella with them
with it being spring. Tom was in a white t shirt, jeans and cowboy boots with
his leather jacket over the top whilst Britt was dressed in a pink and black
spotted skirt, pink sun top and black cardigan.
As soon as they stepped out of the theatre Tom took off his
leather jacket and placed it over both of their heads taking Britt’s hand and
running with her until they reached the nearest coffee shop. They were both
breathing heavily when they reached the coffee shop.
Tom couldn’t help but think how nice it would be to cause
her to breath as heavy as that. He then got this image in his head of their bodies
tangled up together, heavy breathing and moaning coming from both of them. Tom
coughed to get the thought out of his head. He couldn’t be thinking like that
especially when he had only just met her.
Britt went and found a table near the window so she could watch
the rain patter against the window onto the streets of London. It was just beginning to get dark; the
rush hour was just starting to kick in as it had just hit 5, men and women in
business suits walking down the wet streets eager to get home, shoppers running
into the nearest shop to keep dry. Britt loved London she was so glad she moved here once
she finished RADA.
Tom came back with their coffees sitting in the chair
opposite her at the other end of the table. He placed her coffee down next to
her. Britt was still looking out of the window. “Here we are, darling, a nice
hot cup of coffee” Britt jumped hearing his voice. There was such a long queue
that she didn’t expect him to be back so soon.
“Sorry, darling I didn’t mean to make you jump. Are you
okay?”
“Hmm, yeah...what?”
“You looked lost in thought, what were you thinking about?”
Tom asked taking a sip of his coffee. She watched him intently. Once he had
finished she took a sip of hers, Tom mirrored her previous move watching her
before asking her again what she was thinking about before he came back with
her coffee.
“I was thinking how much I love London, especially in the rain, it’s
beautiful.”
“It is, I love London
too. I get to travel the world being an actor but nothing beats London. London’s home.”
“It is for me too. Well it felt like it before but even more
so now that I officially live here. I used to come here a lot as a child, every
weekend infact-“. Britt cut herself off not wanting to bore Tom with her life
story or about her mother or father.
Tom took her hand in his across the table. “Please continue
darling, I’ll listen by all means I find you very interesting. Tell me about
your childhood”. Britt hesitated looking at her hand in Tom`s and the way it fit
so perfectly. She loved the way her hand felt in his. She couldn’t help but imagine those perfect
talented hands all over her body. She coughed to get the thought out of her
head taking another sip of her coffee before telling Tom about her childhood,
how she had always loved performing ever since she went and saw wicked, how her
father thought it would be a good idea to take her to a show to take her mind
off her mother’s death. How it had worked and how she had been in love with the
theatre and wanted to become an actress ever since. How she took part in all of
the performances at school and the look on her fathers face, how proud he was
of her, about her time at college and being accepted into RADA, her father
passing away and how she almost gave up and quit but then saw his picture and
how much of an inspiration it was to work with him and how nice it was to meet
him.
Tom listened contently nodding in all the right places and
saying the right things, how sorry he was about her parents and how proud they
would have been of her, wiping her tears away when she spoke about her father.
It broke his heart to see her cry and he promised himself that he would never
make her cry and promised her that he would always be there for her and never
hurt her.
Britt then changed the subject saying that it was enough
about her and for him to tell her about himself. He did, telling her about his
family, how his mum and dad had divorced when he was thirteen and how he threw
himself into acting as an escape, a lot like she did. He told her about his
sisters and the plays and films he had worked on, what it was like working with
Stephen Spielberg and Woody Allen and all the amazing actors and actresses he
had gotten to work with but also how he sometimes got lonely and how he wasn’t
too keen on going back to an empty hotel room when he was away or an empty flat
when he was at home. It was so nice to be able to talk to her and tell her how
he was feeling.
They had lost track of time ordering another cup of coffee and
chatting the evening away. Before they knew it the coffee shop was closing and
they were being told to leave.
The rain had subsided by the time they got outside; the city
was beginning to be lit by the street lamps. London was most prettiest at night. Tom
offered her his jacket slipping it around her shoulders. “May I escort you
home, darling I would hate to know you were out alone in the dark” Tom asked
Britt. In truth Tom didn’t want to leave her, he had thoroughly enjoyed her
company and he didn’t want to admit it to her but he was falling for her. Fast.
She looked reluctant but eventually gave in as she didn’t want to leave him,
either.
The two walked along the wet streets of London
arm in arm for around half an hour before reaching Britt’s apartment in Covent Garden. He bid her goodnight at her door pulling
her in for an embrace. She smelled like heaven, a mixture of strawberry shampoo
and perfume. Britt couldn’t help but cuddle up to him closer, she loved the
smell of his Armani aftershave mixed with the hint of Tom. She could get used
to this. He held her tighter not wanting to let go. Was it really possible to
fall in love with someone so quickly? Both felt as though they could be
themselves around the other. She finally let go offering him his jacket back,
he told her to keep it giving her another quick embrace and kiss on the cheek
before biding her `a thousand times goodnight` and walking back down the
streets of London to his flat.
Britt found a text from him when she got inside. She smiled
to herself before reading it:
Thankyou for such a
lovely day darling, I have enjoyed our conversations and look forward to
spending the next sixteen weeks with you. A thousand times good night my dear
sleep well and I shall see you tomorrow. Tom xxx
She smiled to herself thinking of how to reply to that. Did
it need a reply? She thought it would be nice to text him back but she wasn’t
sure what to say. She checked her Twitter in the process to find out he had
infact followed her on Twitter as promised and that he had tweeted a new tweet.
@twhiddleston:
Exceptionally fun time at the first day of rehearsals for Twelfth Night here’s
looking at you @BrittAdams. Blessed to have such a lovely co star and can’t
wait for you all to see it.
She smiled for the millionth time that day. Was this the
effect he had on her, constantly making her smile? If so she could certainly
live with that.
She typed a quick text back:
No, Thankyou Tom, I
haven’t felt like I can be myself around someone in such a long time. I look
forward to seeing you tomorrow. Good Night. P.S Thankyou for keeping your
promise and following me on Twitter and for the lovely tweet. I too am blessed
to have such a handsome and absolutely lovely co star. I shall see you
tomorrow. Britt xxx
You’re more than
welcome, darling, sweet dreams. Tom. Xxx
With that last text Britt smiled once more, turned off her
light and fell into a deep sleep, dreaming of becoming Viola and falling in
love with Orsino, in this case, with Tom.
* * * * * *
They were now a month into rehearsals for Twelfth Night. Tom
and Britt continued to get closer, most nights ended as the first day of
rehearsal had, with going for coffee or dinner and Tom escorting her home. The
more time they spent together the more they liked each other and became closer.
Neither could keep the smiles off their faces when they saw
the other act or when they had scenes together. Britt melted everytime she heard
Tom read the opening scene, the `If Music Be the Food of Love` monologue.
Their relationship developed as the play progressed. Tom
couldn’t take not telling her how he felt about her any longer and asked her to
be his after a theatre date to see Wicked. He had surprised her with it after
one of their rehearsals.
They arrived outside the theatre and saw the sign saying
Wicked at the top of the theatre; Britt couldn’t help the tears that fell from
her eyes. She hadn’t been to see Wicked since her father had passed and just
seeing the sign bought back so many memories.
“Oh my gosh, darling `I`m so sorry I didn’t mean to make you
cry... I... I thought you’d like it” Tom stuttered looking down at his shoes.
Britt felt really bad for crying but she didn’t know how to tell Tom.
Once the tears had finished falling she cupped his face in
her hands “Tom, Tom look at me” when he finally did a smile appeared on her
face. He smiled weakly back but it didn’t reach his eyes. “I`m sorry for
getting upset it’s just...It’s just... I…I haven’t been back here since my
father passed. Really it’s the nicest thing anyone has every done for me, you
listening and remembering the first show I saw and bringing me back here is
really the loveliest thing and I cant Thankyou enough.”
“Are you sure darling because we don’t have to go in if you
don’t want to?” Britt smiled.
“No. No I want to” she replied taking a deep breath “I`m
sorry if I cry though”
“Darling, please don’t apologise for crying its only
natural, atleast I know its not because of me that your upset, that’s the last
thing I would want, I will never hurt you, I need you to know that.” she smiled.
“I do, Tom, I do” he smiled kissing her on the cheek. “Now then fair maiden,
may I escort you into the theatre and back to the land of Oz?”
“You may” Tom linked her arm for the millionth time since he
had known her and escorted her into the theatre.
Britt cried at the scene where Glinda and Elpheba sang `For
Good`, that song reminded her of her father, she always used to say that her
father had changed her for the better. Tom saw the tears rolling down her eyes
and grabbed her hand stroking the back of it and using his other hand to wipe
her tears.
After the performance had ended they found there way back
outside. They stood there for a while looking at the night sky and the Wicked
sign lit up.
“Thankyou for such a lovely day, Tom well actually Thankyou
for the last few months, I’ve never felt so close to someone in all my life and
I really appreciate it.” It was now or never Tom thought. It had been a perfect
evening and the only thing that would make it better would be if Britt agreed
to be his.
“You’re more than welcome, darling as I said, it’s my
pleasure and I love how I can just be myself around you. I love how close we’ve
become over the last few months, I love the way you smile, the way you laugh,
your eyes, your hair, the way you cuddle into me more when I embrace you”.
Britt smiled. Tom took her hands in his leaning in to whisper in her ear “And I
think there’s the slight possibility that I’ve fallen in love with you” he said
before looking down at his shoes. He tended to do that a lot when he was
nervous. Britt stood there for a while trying to comprehend what he had just
told her. She smiled squeezing his hand. He looked up at her. “There’s a
possibility ive fallen in love with you too, Tom, ever since that first day I
saw you and got talking with you, the fact that you just listened whilst I
spoke and told you everything, that meant a lot and then when we got to know
each other more and began acting with each other. You’re a born talent Tom and
I know I’ve only known you a few months but I feel it too, the jolt of
electricity hits me everytime I see you, everytime you laugh, everytime you
smile, I laugh and smile with you, the way I feel when you hold my hand, quote
Shakespeare to me, just everything Tom. You really are everything, Tom. I love
you” he smiled the biggest smile, a smile that reached his eyes, the smile she
had grown to love so much over the past few months. He leaned into kiss her
placing kisses on her head, eyelids, nose and cheek before kissing her on the
lips, a passionate kiss full of emotion, the emotion he felt for her and had
felt since he had first laid eyes on her. He loved her and she loved him.
“I love you, Britt” he told her”
I love you too, Tom” she replied.
To think when he had first bought Britt to see Wicked
earlier that evening she had gotten upset and to see her face now, a huge smile
on her face made Tom`s heart swell.
Wicked had always held a happy place for Britt, the place
she knew she wanted to be an actress and memories spent with her father, although
those memories wouldn’t be forgotten, Wicked now held a new memory, the place
and night Tom asked her to be his.
