*DELETED SCENE* On My Knees, Baby

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A fun moment from Victory Era of Michael owning the f*ck out of his vitiligo.😎✨

~

Notes for myself:

1984

The Jackson's shot a music video for "Wait" off of the Victory album. Astoria helps direct as it's her favorite song off the album. She makes a comment during filming about how Michael is the best backing vocalist she's ever heard, he feins hurt and teases her. She later has to ask him to crawl towards the camera like he's trying to seduce her, because nothing else anyone has said to him has worked in their favor. It turns out to be the sexiest part of the video and it blows up on MTV, gaining heavy rotation.

Michael Jackson's title of "the 1980's biggest male sex symbol" grows because of this, and it's all due to his lovely wife who knows what the heck she's doing. No one questions his sexuality after this. At all.

~

"Ok, that's great. Widen the shot... Marlon, make eye contact with the camera. YES. Yes, like that!"

I stood behind the monitors that showed the footage the three cameras were currently picking up, watching with interest as the director spoke to Michael and his brothers, as well as the crew. We'd been shooting for about two hours now and still didn't have all the footage we needed, which was fine because we booked the warehouse out for today and tomorrow. Michael glittered in his outfit for the short film, capturing my attention almost constantly.

He'd caught onto my glances and winked at me in the way only he could throughout the day, making butterflies rise in my abdomen.

He's too much.

"Cut!" The direction called out. The music stopped, and the six Jacksons that stood on various platforms across the set stopped what they were doing. The director stood up from his chair, walking towards the guys. "Ok, that was great guys. But I think we need something, something... I'm not entirely sure what it is, why don't ya'll take a look at the footage." He waved a hand in defeat, moving slowly back to the three monitors where I was.

Randy and Michael hopped off set together, laughing like kids, but I only had eyes for Michael. I smirked. The set for the video we were filming was mostly my idea; we'd made light-up clouds from clumps of string lights surrounded by a structural body of thin wire, surrounding that with cotton stuffing for that 'cloud-like' effect. The set was surrounded by tons of these hand-made clouds, all lit up and in various sizes. It looks like a dream, a very bright, sexy dream.

Which is the point, I guess... A sexy dream.

The guys were all dressing in different colors, each Jackson being one specific color in the rainbow. That part wasn't my idea, that was all the guys. Tito had been set on having the brothers being in the color that coincided with their order of birth, meaning he would have been orange, Jermaine yellow, and so on... Michael insisted on red, so there he was all red and sparkly as he stood next to me watching the playback. I remember when I had asked him why his heart was so set on being red like a firetruck, he replied: The fans will love seeing me in red after Thriller, it just makes sense. Plus, red, is my favorite color.

With Michael in red, Tito still got to be orange to his satisfaction, Randy was in a sun-shiny yellow, Jackie was a brilliant vermillion green, and Jermaine was blue - cerulean, my bad. Then there was Marlon, in a shade of purple that would make Prince jealous once he saw the video for himself.

My eyes switched to the director as he talked through ideas with the guys. I looked around, realizing Michael had disappeared.

"What the--?" Hands grabbed my sides from behind, making me let out a short shriek in surprise. "Ah! Michael, you jerk!" He laughed in my ear and wrapped his arms around my waist. I leaned into him, putting a hand on his cheek. "You think you're so smart..."

"I am smart. I'm cute too." He explained in my ear, then let me go so we could face each other. "What do you think of the shoot?" We held hands and an idea popped back into my head.

Tell him, it's such a good idea!

"Uh. Well, it's good." He frowned a little.

"Just good?" I shook my head at his somber tone, his words triggering a memory form our past. A night spent in my worn out apartment back when bellbottoms and platform shoes were all the rage... Focus.

"No, no it's really good. But I think I know what the director is talking about when he said there's something missing."

"Tell me, mama."

"Ok." I shrugged and leaned in to whisper it in his ear, feeling a bit silly. Once I was done telling Michael my idea, his eyes became wide and that creative glint shown in his brown irises. He gave my hands a squeeze and went over to the director, telling him the idea. I stood back and watched the process as the crew figured everything out for the shot I had in mind, it was fun being on set for once rather than behind a booth. Maybe I was made for video? Naw.

The set adjusted for the new shot that would be incorporated into the video once the editing team go their hands on the footage, I took a few steps closer but made sure to stay out of the shot. Next thing I knew the guys were taking off their tops, baring their abs. I blushed because they all looked so good.

Fans would give so much to be looking at what I'm looking at right now, phew!

I fanned myself for a moment before feeling a tap on my shoulder, it was Michael. I smiled, seeing his shirtless chest. He held a small container of makeup in one hand and a couple makeup sponges in the other, looking at me from underneath his long lashes.

"Do you think, "He huffed and shook his arms by his sides, "Do you think I should forgo the makeup?" I frowned, realizing what he was asking my opinion on. He was asking me if I thought he should show his vitiligo to the world through the video—something that would forever be captured for all willing eyes to see from here on out... I couldn't believe he was asking me such a heavy question, the answer should be entirely up to him in my mind. I put a hand on his bicep, trying to find the proper words.

"Are you sure that's what you want? I'm not against you 'coming out', I guess is what you could call it. I think you're sexy no matter what, but... I think that decision is ultimately up to you, Michael." I looked at his torso, wanting to touch his pectorals and slowly move my hand down his abs. Now's not the time, stop it. Anyone with eyes could clearly see the discoloration and patches of skin that were lighter, the air was heavy with possibility. Everyone would know. He could own this disease, make it work in his favor and raise awareness as well as confidence in others who shared this autoimmune disease.

Coming to decision, I nodded reverently at him. Michael grinned at me, letting the container of makeup and sponges drop to the floor with a clatter from his grasp. His hands grabbed my face and brought my lips in for a fevered kiss. He's never kissed me like this before, I thought as our lips moved together. He was taking control of our movements, grabbing me to him, his lips harsh and needy against mine. Pulling away, I saw he stood taller, the epitome of confidence as he strode back on set, shirtless.

"Michael, are you r—" Jermaine had turned around just as Michael walked back into the cloudy scene, initially wondering if he was ready to begin shooting again, but now he knew—along with all of the rest of his brothers—what he was actually ready for. His mouth gaped, and he slugged Marlon who was standing next to him. Marlon made an expressionless face, knowing this could be a make-or-break moment for his brother's self-esteem ultimately. And he was right.

"Hey, Mike! You ready man?" Marlon asked him, acting like he didn't just notice the extent of his little brother's vitiligo for the first time. All the shock and awe was held back by all his brothers in this moment, as if they were all able to communicate without words, knowing exactly what they needed to do to make Michael feel comfortable and accepted. He held out his hand to Michael, who grabbed it. Their grip embraced in a Black Power grab. Randy gave Michael a slap on his upper back.

"Man, you look good!" Randy told Michael, smiling. My husband blushed, looking happy beyond words.

"Thanks, Ran. We all ready?" His brothers nodded and said words of affirmation at his question. Michael gave me a look from his spot on set. His eyes glittered in pure affection as they locked on mine for the billionth time, he was making an unspoken thanks very clear. One of my hands found my cheek, feeling the heated tissue beneath the pads of my fingers and palm. There was never a moment he didn't make me feel this way, make me feel loved, as if I was the air he needed to breath... as if I am his everything and more. Little does he know, he's mine as well.

Ϟ

I really loved this scene and I didn't want to cut it, but it wasn't 100% necessary for the plot. So, consider this scene canon to the story, except for the part where Ash and Mike are married at this point. lol Cause we all know that wasn't the case.

Tell me what you think!

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