Prologue: Azure skies and heavy rain

She met him beneath the sapphire sky.

Leaning her against the beloved bronze statue of the boy who would never grow up, she looked up at the sky, marvelling at the blend of violets, indigos and navy’s streaking the sky. Puffs of white, wispy clouds were scattered randomly, the bumpy gravelled surface of the floor uncomfortable, but not unbearably so. She didn’t care - it was a perfect end to a too hot, humid, sticky day. A cool breeze blew through the park, over the immaculate grass, a mixture of olives and yellows. The gentle wind travelled over the park, weaving through the gates, between the trees, rusting the vibrant green leaves, spreading the faint, alluring smell of the flowers. It made its way over the various memorials in the gardens, disturbing the surface of the water, before snaking around her ankles.

‘Brilliant, ain’t it?’ he jerked his head upwards, cigarette in one hand, a nearly empty beer bottle in the other, crouching down next to her. Propping one arm on his knee, he rested his chin in the cup his hand made, the muscles in his back straining against his fitted t-shirt. His normally sullen stance was replaced with a peaceful look. The ground tickled his toes, as he wiggled them about in the too-small flip flops encasing them.

‘Stunning’ she whispered, entranced by the vibrant hues, reluctantly turning to look at him. Her heart jumped, her throat dry as her warm, earthy eyes fixed on his. Heaven…

‘You’re beautiful’ she blurted. Her eyes widened at the words that tumbled accidentally from her lips.

He raised an eyebrow.

‘Hmmm’ Clearing her throat uncomfortably, she smiled, eyes scrunching up in the corners, biting her lip. ‘Sorry. But you really are very good looking.’

He stared stoically, looking like she had just done something completely insane. Perhaps she had.

‘You’re bizarre’ his deep baritone voice rumbled shortly, face impassive. He turned his attention back to the sunset, occasionally taking sips of his drink. Gawping indiscreetly at him, the girl noted his soft brown hair, restraining her hand from reaching out to pat it. Her eyes swept over his eyes, his long eyelashes, his nose, his lips, and the muscle in his jaw, tensing and unclenching, the only indication that he knew she was watching.

Tearing her gaze away from him, a smile played softly on her face. They sat in silence, marvelling at the cerulean wonder before them.

In that moment, there was simply an understanding of strangers between them. No pretences, no facades, nothing more.

Just…an azure sky.

As time ticked by, black bled into the oranges and reds that had slowly dripped over the azure, taking over until all that could be seen, was darkness, the moonlight piercing through the dark veil. Stretching to placate her aching limbs, she scrambled up from the pebbled floor, turning to head home, her raven hair falling into her face. Taking one last glance at the beautiful, but stone cold boy pointedly staring in the other direction, she tucked the stray strands behind her ear, walking under the few twinkling stars illuminating the sky.

-x-

He kissed her in the heavy rain.

‘You.’ he uttered exiting the café, standing before the girl as she held up her light summer jacket. It was unsuitable for the horrid weather, but doing it’s best to provide a little shelter.

‘Hi!’ she called over the crashing of the heavy droplets. ‘I heard you playing – you’re really good. Like, uh, really, really good – and I mean, really, really, really good…I’ll shut up now.’ Wrinkling her nose, she tilted her head bashfully, shyly regarding him out of the corner of her eye. Gruffly muttering thanks, he made to go, a small amused smile threatening to break out.

‘Are you smiling?’ she stopped him with a small hand as he brushed past her.

His lips quirked upwards. ‘No’ he replied curtly. He failed utterly to compress his amusement. She also failed to conceal her outright staring.

Slowly, his face retuned back to its normal position, albeit with a worried look on his face. ‘What?’ He patted his face self consciously, disturbing the droplets that streamed down his cheeks, streaking his strong jaw. ‘Is there something on my face?’

‘No.’ You’re stunning, she thought, a smile spreading across her own face remembering his expression. ‘You should smile more often. You really are handsome.’ Scarlet creeped into his cheeks. ‘Are you…blushing?’

‘No.’ He batted her outstretched hand away. She smiled, pinching his cheek, nudging him with her shoulder as he ducked his head, rain matting his hair.

‘You are so blushing. Huh. A record in one day! Smiling and blushing. I am so good!’ she grinned excitedly, rocking on her heels.

‘Oh, hush’ he muttered lightly, eyes fixed on her glowing person. She radiated warmth, contentment, and a …bliss that he envied, and couldn’t quite tear his eyes away from, even in the rainy haze. His eyes lingered over her hair, the rain making it seem darker, tendrils clumping together. Hungrily, his gaze switched to her accidentally fuchsia-stained lips, pouty and inviting. Very, incredibly enticing.

Oh what the hell.

Making a split decision, he swooped to kiss her lightly on the lips, ducking under the cover of her jacket. His cracked, rough lips met her soft ones.

Both froze at the contact, the outside world vanishing. Looking at her surprised face, he titled his head, contemplating. Hesitantly, he leaned forwards again. She met him halfway, dropping her sodden jacket, eyes closing automatically as their lips joined, and he pulled her closer, her hands thrown up around his neck, their hips bumping.

It was a first true kiss, in all its innocent glory. A clumsy, knee weakening, glorious kiss.

Noses bumping, she broke their contact, flushing while sucking in air greedily through her lungs.

‘We’re going to get hypothermia.’ She gasped against him.

He agreed. ‘Mmm.’

Stroking her cheek tenderly, he tilted her head once more, exchanging sweet, fleeting kisses with her, relishing the sensation. Nuzzling her nose with his, his grip tightened, lazily smirking against her lips. She could barely think, the circles he was stroking into her smooth skin under her sodden shirt sending sparks shooting up and down her spine, ringing in her ears.

Perhaps it was the spontaneity, so unlike him, or the crazy weather that was to blame, but peering at him from under her eyelashes she made her own hasty choice.

Clawing his hair to pull him even closer, she sealed their mouths together once again. Running a tongue along her bottom lip delicately, he grinned as she opened her mouth to gasp, seizing the opportunity. Her eyes rolled inwards, as she moaned incoherently into him.

The rain stopped.

-x-

It was on a clear, sunny day when he wrote the song, and a grey, miserable day when it shot to number one.

‘Azure skies, heavy rain,

All I have to keep me sane.

I don’t need sunny days,

I don’t need to see your face,

All I need is azure skies,

And heavy rain.’

It was on a blustery day when she first heard it. On that very same day, she wept underneath the stars, the scent of freshly cut grass blowing softly in the wind.

He remembered her when it hit platinum; she remembered him when she wrote her own reply. And both remembered the azure skies and heavy rain.

--x—

Sorry! Just a repost, but I’ve decided to let it stand alone as a one shot. Kind of. Look out for the newly revamped London Calling soon (hopefully)