Title: Bruised Tug 'o War
Characters: Pete Townshend, Cady Kersey, Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, John Entwistle, Roger Daltrey, Keith Moon
Word Count: 5132
Rating: NC-17 [alcohol, violence, sex, language]
Warnings/Spoilers/Summary: The Who play a NYE show in 1967. Of course all sorts of people are there. Oh the dramaz.


Slipping out of the car, Cady made her way to the club. Normally she would have just ridden along with Pete and the band, but as it was New Years Eve – her first with Pete – she wanted to dress up a bit more than normal. Rather she had kissed him good-bye and remained at home to get ready, slipping on a blue gingham a-line dress covered with shimmering translucent sequins. Once that was accomplished, she called for a car to take her to the Upper Cut Club in East London. Now arrived, she paid her fare and headed towards the club. With her name ticked off the guest list, Cady weaved through the crowd, making her way back to the stage. Before she neared the two security guards blocking the public from slipping back to the tiny dressing room, The Who took the stage. Giving up on getting backstage, Cady instead headed to find a decent place to watch the show.

Leaning against the bar on Pete’s side of the stage, Cady accepted a glass from the bartender before focusing her attention on her boyfriend and his band. His eyes did not search the crowd until there was a break between songs. Finding her standing beneath a light by the bar brought a slight smile to his face before he turned to focusing on their next song. Pleased that he knew she was there, she pushed away from the bar and headed into the crowd to get closer to the music.

Buried in the center of the crowd, Cady laughed and cheered as the band played. A hand touched the small of her back, drawing her attention away from the stage. Glancing over her shoulder, her blue eyes collided with dark gray. Not that anything she said could have been heard over The Who’s acoustics, so she merely smiled her greeting.

He leaned closer to her, “Evening, Cadence.”

“James,” she responded, not leaning away from his touch.

“Perhaps I could interest you in a drink?”

She held up her drink, shaking it enough that the ice cubes clinked slightly.

“Ah but it is nearly gone,” he remarked.

Glancing at the glass, she smirked and met his eyes again. Nodding once, she turned away from the stage. His fingers folded over hers, leading her back to the bar. Carefully guiding her to the far end of the bar, where the music was not quite as deafening and Pete would not be able to see them, Jimmy motioned to the bartender. After ordering Cady another drink, the guitarist turned to her with a smile.

“I have missed visits with you, Cadence,” Jimmy claimed.

“James, you know that we can’t–”

“Be friends? Why not?”

“Because Pete–”

He slipped her glass from her hand, replacing it with a full one, “Townshend has nothing to fear. We are friends, merely friends.”

“But–”

“Merely friends,” he repeated. “Perhaps I could convince you to have tea with me this week?”

“James, I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”

“Why not?”

“Because Pete–”

“By all means, bring Townshend as well.”

Cady looked at him for a moment before taking a sip of her drink, “Well, we leave for Australia at the end of the month so I suppose we could come over for tea.”

Jimmy smiled like a Cheshire cat, “Splendid. Tomorrow?”

Sensing some urgency in her voice, Cady eyed him suspiciously, “New Years Day?”

“Forgive me for seeming hasty,” he instantly apologized. “I have–”

“Well, well, well. Look at who we have here,” a voice on her right drew Cady’s attention.

Without thought, she stepped closer to Jimmy, his arm slipping protectively around her. Her blue eyes went to the dark man wearing a wide-brimmed dark hat. Had Jimmy not been there, with her, she likely would have set down her drink and hurried as quickly as possible as close to Pete as possible. Instead, the Yardbird guitarist instantly became her protector and bodyguard.

“Go away,” she muttered.

“Come one, baby, let me buy you a drink.”

“She already has one,” Jimmy spoke up, his dark eyes meeting the other. “Leave her be.”

He snorted, “And who are you to tell me what to do?”

“Bugger off, Hendrix,” he responded. “Leave my girl alone.”

Cady did not even blink or even give any indication that what Jimmy said was untrue. Instead, she weaved her free fingers with his, her eyes silently challenging Jimi. His dark eyes darted from her hand to Jimmy’s face before settling on her eyes. He smirked and reached for a bottle of beer, quickly sucking it down. Saying nothing, he finished the beer and set the empty bottle on the counter. Before either Jimmy or Cady could react, Jimi’s long fingers circled Cady’s drink, snatched it from her hand and set it on the counter. Her mouth opened to protest his actions but then his fingers circled her wrist and he pulled her forcibly from the bar. Her fingers tightened on Jimmy’s, dragging him from the bar as well.

Jimmy dug his heels in, his hand holding Cady’s tightly. His resistance forced Jimi to stop or hurt Cady. He turned slightly and glared at the other guitarist. Cady struggled to get free of his grasp, turning and pulling her arm but his fingers remained tight around her wrist. While part of her wished Jimmy would release her so that she could use her other hand to pry at the fingers around her wrist, she was ever certain if he did let her go, Jimi would pull her away. Her angry eyes looked around at bystanders, wishing someone would step in and end the insanity, but for the most part no one seemed to notice or care that a young woman was the rope in a tug-o-war game.

“Release her,” Jimmy stated darkly. “Now.”

The tone in his voice sent chills down Cady’s spine. Had she been the one holding onto another’s hand, she surely would have followed his instructions. Because of stupid courage or drunken ego, Jimi did not release her, but instead stepped forward and wrapped his arm under Cady’s other. His mouth smashed onto hers. Jimmy released Cady’s hand and moved to pull the other guitarist off her, dangerous anger filling his eyes. However as he reached for the other Jimi, Cady’s knee snapped up into his groin. His hand released her wrist as he groaned and stepped back. Before Jimmy was able to sweep her out of Jimi’s reach, Jimi’s hand darted out, hitting Cady across the face - twice.

A second did not pass before Jimmy pushed the other guitarist away from Cady. He growled a low threat to the other man before spinning about and slipped his arm protectively around Cady, leading her away. Neither cared that Jimmy’s intense path took them directly into Pete’s field of vision – nor perhaps that had precisely been Jimmy’s plan. However, Pete was far too involved in the song he was playing to notice his girlfriend, her cheek flaring red with a large handprint and her eye slightly swollen, hurried along the back of the small club with Jimmy. John noticed, but was not about to set down his bass mid-show to save Pete’s girlfriend or even inform the guitarist; he merely continued to play his part.

Leading her from the club, Jimmy escorted her to a bench, instructing her to remain there. Not about to argue, she sat down and watched him disappear back into the club. She had no idea why he retreated back to the venue, part of her wishing he would act uncharacteristically and beat the shit out of Jimi. She reached into her purse, thankful it had somehow remained on her shoulder in the fight, and pulled out a small compact mirror. Sighing she turned her face so that it caught the light from the nearest streetlamp. There was no way Pete would not notice her swelling face. And she could not see his reaction be anything other than uncontrollable anger.

“Cadence,” a soft voice drew her eyes away from her reflection.

As Jimmy sat down beside her, he held out a cold bundled cloth of ice. Half-smiling her thanks, she pressed it to her cheek. Without much thought, he pulled off his jacket and looped it over her shoulders. Keeping one arm around her shoulders, his lips touched her temple. Before she could stop herself, Cady felt tears run down her cheeks and she leaned into his embrace.

“Shhhh. He will trouble you no more, Cadence,” he declared softly.

“Oh, James, I wish I could believe that. He is nothing but trouble to me. Always.”

“He will bother you not again. I promise.”

They sat in silence for a few minutes before Cady pulled away. Though she spoke not at all, Jimmy understood and got to his feet. He held out his hand, motioning to her ice pack. Handing it to the guitarist, Cady looked up at him expectantly. Wordlessly his hand went to her chin, turning her face into the light. He frowned slightly.

“It’s bad?”

He leaned down and kissed her forehead, “There is no way that anyone who knows your beautiful face will not notice.”

“Fuck,” she muttered. “Pete’s going to be pissed.”

“Rightfully so,” Jimmy responded, holding out his other hand.

Slipping her hand into his, Cady allowed him to lead her back into the club. Her eyes instantly went to the stage. Pete’s eyes were closed as he played through his solo. Her gaze moved over the other members of the band, connecting with John’s. He merely lifted his eyebrows. She shook her head, but did not release Jimmy’s hand, believing it would protect her, as Jimi had to still be around. As her eyes left the stage, she spotted the guitarist, who in turn spied her and Jimmy. Knowing he would head back into confrontation, Cady tugged Jimmy into the crowd in front of the stage, hoping the crowd would protect her.

Jimmy released her hand as she came to a stop the closest she could get to the stage. He moved behind her, protectively slipping his arms around her waist. While she did not push away, she did not particularly care for it either. Pete could see them if his eyes ever left the stage. But then again Jimi was a few feet away and Jimmy’s arms around her were her best protection. The night was full of so much disaster; she wished she could close her eyes and wish it all away.

Closing her eyes, she attempted just that. Hearing the music end and feeling Jimmy tense, she knew the maelstrom was about to erupt again. Rather than pulling out of Jimmy’s arms, she bit her bottom lip and waited for the collision to happen. Feeling negativity headed directly to her, she wondered which would reach her first: her jealous ex or her jealous boyfriend.

The ex reached her first.

His fingers curled over her arm and he tugged her towards him. Jimmy’s arms tightened around her waist, holding her close. Cady’s eyes opened and she glanced in Pete’s direction, noticing John accompanied him. Her free hand instantly reached for her boyfriend. His eyes flicked to the arms around her waist back to hers before settling on the dark hand circling her wrist. He pushed forward, shoving aside members of the crowd who were trying to comment on the show they just played. Pete’s fingers briefly touched hers before he launched at Jimi. His grip on her wrist forcibly ended, causing her to sway in Jimmy’s arms. John considered restraining his mate for a moment, until Cady’s face turned to his and he noticed the dark shadows under her eye were not a trick of the light. The slightest hint of bruise was more than enough for him to not care to restrain Pete; in fact, he nearly reached out to hold Jimi so Pete could pound him.

Cady squealed and pulled out of Jimmy’s arms as Pete’s fist collided with Jimi’s nose. Leaping forward, her fingers circled his left arm, tugging and hoping to halt his actions. He punched again, his fist colliding with Jimi’s chin. The man moved to retaliate, but at that precise moment, the club’s security force circled him. Having watched him hit Cady earlier; the club owners instantly ejected the American guitarist, only verbally warning Pete against his violence.

After watching the bodyguards drag Jimi out of the club, Pete turned to Cady. He completely forgot about the fact she had been circled by Jimmy Page’s arms as he looked at her visage. Her eyes dropped down and she attempted to cover her slightly swollen cheek and darkening eye with her hand. Pete’s hand covered hers and he pulled it away, his concern eyes inspecting her face.

“Baby, did Jimi do this to you?” he asked softly.

She nodded, her eyes opening.

His anger-filled eyes darkened ever so slightly and his hand squeezed her, “I will… I will…”

“You already did, Pete,” she commented. “Can we… can we just go to the party like planned and forget this even happened?”

“But, baby–”

“Please, Pete,” she repeated.

His eyes held hers for a moment and he nodded, “All right. We’ll go. But I want you to tell me about everything on the drive to Keith’s.”

“Promise.”

Nodding, he turned her about to head back to the van behind the club. His eyes met Jimmy’s and he stopped. While jealousy still coursed through his veins at the image of Jimmy holding Cady, he realized the other guitarist had likely kept the other Jimi from doing far worse than he had. Rather than punch or warn the guitarist, Pete merely nodded his thanks before leading his girlfriend away. Jimmy Page was the least of his concerns now – and that was a bit more frightening than he cared to think about.

By the time they arrived at the Moon residence, Pete wished he had beat Jimi far more than he had. A few punches were not nearly enough for the cocky guitarist. A part of him wished he had done more to Jimmy Page as well, though Cady spoke of him protecting her when Pete could not. As she had also mentioned having tea with Jimmy in the near future, Pete pushed aside his regrets of the night with the decision of talking about the other guitarist about it during said tea. He was so lost in his reactionary thoughts that he nearly did not notice their arrival. It was rather good he had not been driving.

“Pete?” Cady’s soft voice called.

His eyes went to hers and he smiled slightly, “Sorry. I got a little… lost.”

She quickly kissed him, “Let’s go have a good time at Keith’s party and forget everything that happened at the club.”

“But, Cady–”

Her lips touched his again, lingering for a moment, “Please, Pete. I just want to replace those memories with happy ones with you.”

“Okay,” he muttered.

She kissed him again, “I love you.”

“I love you too. I wish I had–”

“Do not get hung up on wishing things were different. It’s the past now, Pete,” her eyes flicked to John as he climbed out from behind the steering wheel. “It’s over and done with. Let’s forget about it all.”

“I–”

Before Pete could continue, John pulled open Cady’s door, offering his hand to her. She smiled and slipped out of the car. His hand remained on hers, keeping her from walking away. Her brows knitted slightly, not understanding his actions. His free hand brushed hair from her eyes, looking down at the swelling.

“God, Cade,” he muttered. “If he ever comes near you again, I swear…”

“Just like I told Pete, please don’t make a big deal out of this. I just want to put it behind me as quickly as possible and enjoy the night,” she stated softly. “Please, John.”

“Cade, I know you want that, but… it’s rather hard to ignore.”

He released her hand and reached for her purse as Pete rounded the car. The bassist pulled her compact out and clicked it open. Turning the mirror towards her, he glanced at his best friend, concern just as bright in his eyes. Her eyes dropped down to her reflection and she gasped.

“Oh god.”

“It’s not… that bad,” Pete stated.

She looked up at him, “Not that bad? I am quite obviously a battered woman. My face hasn’t been this swollen since… a long time ago.”

John dug into her purse again, producing another compact he presumed was makeup, “Maybe this will help?”

Nodding she accepted the makeup and quickly tried to cover the bruises. Sighing, she clicked the compact closed, dropped it into her purse, and looked to both of the men. Pete instantly kissed her lips, commenting that she was beautiful. John nodded and slipped her purse onto her shoulder. Together the three turned and headed towards Keith’s front door. The night was likely to get even wilder once they crossed that threshold.



Seated next to Pete with a glass of wine in her hand, Cady watched as Keith’s friends chased each other about. No one had made any comments about the bruising and swelling of her face, though Pete had slipped her into the kitchen to ice it again. Keith skid to a stop in front of the couple and grinned.

“‘ow about a kiss?” he asked, holding up his camera.

With little pause, Cady set down her wine glass and turned to Pete. He too set down his drink, his hand gently cupping her face. His lips gently touched hers, but with minimal encouragement by the drummer, the kiss deepened. Though she knew Keith was clicking away with his camera, Cady eased into Pete’s lap. Keith instantly cheered and continued to photograph the two. Shaking his head, John passed behind the drummer and snatched the camera from his hands. Chuckling into the kiss, Pete pulled Cady a bit closer.

Wiggling in his lap, her lips left his, nibbling along his chin. As she reached his ear and suckled softly, Pete’s right hand slipped between them and cupped her left breast. His thumb traced around her nipple as she purred in his ear. His lips also sought her flesh, kissing her shoulder. She continued to wiggle and grind in his lap, feeling his pants tighten.

“Pete,” she purred, “I want you.”

“Oh, baby,” he muttered. “I want you too. Let’s go home.”

“Can’t. John drove us,” Cady pointed out. “No one is watching we can just–”

“No,” Pete instantly interrupted. “Not here.”

“But, Pete,” she pouted.

He kissed her quickly, “Let’s go find some place more discreet.”

Without another word, Cady scrambled out of Pete’s lap. She wavered slightly from the quick standing, the slight heels on her pale blue boots a bit problematic after drinking as much as she had. Pete steadied her quickly and led her from the living room. They passed the kitchen and the bathroom, avoiding any who tried to stop them in end-of-the-year conversation. Stepping to the side of the hallway, Pete evaded Roger who practically sneered at Cady and pulled her into Keith’s bedroom. He flicked on the light to make certain the room was clear, especially since Roger had just left it, before turning to lock the door. Feeling it safe, he pulled his girlfriend back to him and kissed her deeply.

Giggling, she reached behind him and flicked off the light. The pair kissed and hurried to undress each other before stumbling blindly towards the bed. Cady squealed as Pete picked her up, guiding her legs around his naked waist and collapsing onto the bed a moment later. His hands cupped and fondled her breasts as her fingers reached down to guide him into her. Pete groaned as their bodies united and she gently scratched her way up his chest.

As Cady’s hands rolled over his upper arms, Pete thrust into her body. His movements as well as his hands drew deep moans from her lips, causing him to change his pace. Grunting, Pete pushed deeply in her before pulling up to change positions. With his fingers circling the tops of her boots, he spread her legs wider and thrust quickly. Her moans changed as her hands covered her now uncovered breasts. With a few more quick thrusts, Pete sputtered deep inside Cady’s body.

But she had not orgasmed and he would not leave her unsatisfied.

Slipping out of her body, still partially erect, Pete released her legs and leaned down to kiss her. Beginning with a sweet kiss, he slowly deepened it as his hands once more caressed her skin. Leaving her mouth, he kissed down her throat, licking and gently nibbling upon her pulse. She gasped a moment later as his mouth treated her nipples to the same. Smiling against her breast, his left hand slipped between her legs and began to stroke her, not caring that his seed coated his fingers as much as her honey did. Cady moaned and arched towards his hand, her fingers clutching at the blanket beneath her.

Hearing her passion increase once more incited Pete’s body to react. His half-erection quickly hardened and he needed to feel her around him again. However, the urge to be in her fought with the desire to make her cum. He knew he could bring her with his fingers and mouth soon, but his own ache was increasing. It would not be fair to–

“OH GOD, PETE!” she screamed as her body tensed.

Feeling her body spasm around his fingers, he pulled his hand free of her sex. Her fingers circled his wrist and pulled his hand to her mouth. With her blue eyes on his, Cady licked and sucked his fingers clean of both of their orgasms. Watching that alone was more than he could handle and Pete thrust back into her still trembling body. She only allowed him three deep thrusts before her legs circled him tightly, keeping him still. As she finally released the fingers she sucked upon, Cady smiled and quickly rolled them.

“Oh, baby,” he groaned, his hands cupping her breasts as she leaned up.

With a smile, Cady began to ride him slow. Her hips moved in circles, first clockwise and then counterclockwise, drawing moans from his mouth as well as her own. Pete’s hands left her breasts, one settling upon her hip, the other wiggling between her petals to rub her clit. Sensing both of their second orgasms were close, his hands held both hips steady so that he could thrust quickly up into her. Pinching her nipples, Cady moaned breathily as Pete slammed up from the bed. Arching up from the bed and pulling her down at the same time, he groaned her name as her body tensed around his cock, triggering his second release as well. She slowly gyrated, pressing his hips back down, and rode out their simultaneous orgasm.

Leaning down she kissed him, “I love you, Pete.”

Before he could reply the sound of popping champagne bottles made him smirk, “Happy New Year, Cady.”

“Happy New Year, love.”

Pounding on the door accompanied by a muffled declaration of breaking down the door, instantly drove the couple apart. Both hurried to get dressed before Keith broke into his own bedroom. The doorknob jiggled and the door rattled on its hinges. Pete did not really care if anyone saw him in a phase of undress, but no one – especially Keith – needed to see Cady naked. Therefore, he reached to zip up her dress before finishing pulling on his own clothes.

“Pete, I can’t find my panties,” Cady muttered.

“I… nevermind about that. Open the door before he breaks it down,” he instructed.

Nodding in the darkness, she twisted the lock and pulled the door open just as Keith ran towards it, intending to throw his shoulder into it. With the door open, he flew into the room, colliding with Pete and knocking the guitarist back onto the bed. Cady flicked on the light while the two wrestled, Pete eventually extricating himself from the drummer.

Grinning Keith propped himself up with his elbows and looked at the couple as Pete moved to Cady’s side, “Ye missed the New Year. Come on and have a drink with me.”



Lying on the sofa with her head in John’s lap, Cady sighed. The bassist glanced down at her, his fingers gently playing with her hair. Pete had disappeared a few minutes before without explanation, leaving his best friend and girlfriend alone on the couch. Tired and definitely still drunk, she had easily pivoted to use John’s lap as a pillow, not at all caring that if she moved much more, her bare ass would be visible.

Keith, however, had noticed and his eyes focused intently on the bottom hem of her dress as he sipped his beer. Most of the party guests had left, including Roger and some bird he met that night, or were passed out in the house. Briefly, Cady wondered which of the two categories they would be. She supposed it was up to John, as he was the one with the car. But then again, if Pete had wandered off and passed out, she was not going to leave him if John was ready to go. Maybe the couch was a good place to be.

Turning slightly, she looked up at John. He smiled down at her, his other hand reaching down to pull her skirt in place so that Keith’s gaze was not successful. Cady thought nothing of his actions, merely searched her mind for the words needed to verbalize her thoughts.

“We gonna stay here?”

John glanced at Keith, whose eyes were dark with anger from the bassist maintaining Cady’s modesty, “No, I would think not. You and Pete should sleep in your own bed and no doubt my wife expects me home.”

“Ohhhh. Riiiiight. Her. Why does she hate me?” Cady asked.

“I don’t know, love,” he responded, his fingers playing with her hair again. “I don’t know.”

She sighed, “Where’s Pete?”

“I don’t know, love,” John repeated.

She sighed again, “Can we go, John? I want to go.”

“Soon, Cade. Soon.”

Pete shuffled into the room before Cady could sigh again. Her eyes connected with his and she smiled slightly, though she did not roll over to sit up. He did not seem to notice that his best friend kept her dress down, or if he did, did not care. Instead, he knelt before the sofa and gently touched her bruised and swollen face. Though still mostly covered with makeup, her injury was very apparent to Pete and looking at it pained him greatly once more.

“Holy fuck,” Keith suddenly muttered. “What the hell happened to you?”

“Hendrix hit her,” John answered.

The drummer jumped to his feet, “Where is he? I’ll fucking–”

“Not here, Keith,” he stated calmly. “It happened at the show last night.”

“Fucker. I’m going to find him and–”

“Sit back down, Keith. He was handled. You don’t need to worry about him,” the bassist declared.

“Pete? Can we go home?” Cady asked softly.

“Of course, sweetie,” he responded before kissing her gently and then getting to his feet.

As John pulled up in front of their building forty-five minutes later, the sun inched over the horizon, though unseen through the London fog. Cady embraced the bassist and kissed his cheek before turning to head up to their flat. Thanking his best friend once more, Pete shook his hand and then hurried to catch up with his girlfriend. 

On the tail end of their inebriation, both were more tired than drunk. Cady instantly shed her dress once Pete closed and locked their front door. He turned just as she bent over to remove her boots, a gasp catching in his throat. He easily recalled their sexing at Keith’s place, but was fuzzy as to why she wore a bra but no panties. It was unlike her to go without. Had they… lost her panties in Keith’s room? Shaking his head, he focused on the fact his girlfriend just removed the bra and was continuing towards their bedroom nude. Though nothing about her movements indicated arousal, Pete quickly shed his clothes and shoes and rushed in after her.

Leaning nonchalantly on the doorframe, Pete watched her pull back the blankets on their bed and crawl in. Rather than stop on her side of the bed, Cady did not pivot until she was in the center of the bed. As she sat in the middle of the bed, their eyes met and Pete could not help but grin. With a bit of a skip in his step, he hurried forward, crawling towards her.

Kissing her, he pushed her down onto the bed before asking, “Were you faking how tired you are?”

Her right leg circled his waist and she winked, “What do you think?”

Grinning, Pete kissed her, “If you just wanted to come home and make love, you could have said so.”

“You weren’t sober enough to get my hints,” she teased, her hand snaking down to circle his cock.

He groaned, “Baby.”

Stroking him to his full hardness, Cady guided him into her. He showered her shoulders with kisses before beginning to slowly move in her. His hands cupped and caressed her breasts as her hands tightened on his shoulders. Not content to love her like that, Pete withdrew and guided Cady to lie upon her side. Slipping behind her, he guided her left leg up and slowly slid back into her body. Only holding her leg up for a few thrusts, Pete’s arms circled her torso and held her closely to him. Her leg dropped down, wrapping around him. His lips kissed her shoulder, his fingers weaving with hers.

With no need to quickly love, they moved in a slow, languid dance. Their bodies did not slap together, but melded. Moans were soft as breaths. Their pulses and heartbeats synchronized. Only once every cell in their bodies became one did the crescendo of their song begin. They orgasmed together, their united bodies pulsing in syncopation. They were completely one entity in that moment.

Remaining connected as they were for as long as possible, Pete showered her shoulder with kisses until she turned slightly to meet his mouth. They kissed deeply as he slowly withdrew and eased her once more onto her back. Breaking from the kiss, he smiled down at her before shifting her over on the bed.

Cradling her in his arms, Pete whispered, “I will love you forever.”

“And I, you.”