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9leaguesofmirrors · 2 months

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Set Lists (a Ross Gaines x Joseph Lisgoe fanfic)

This is purely self-indulgent. Nobody asked for a Band!AU, but I love the idea of Drummer!Lisgoe, so we have a band AU!

If you wanna know the name of the song the band is playing, it's Jobseeker by Sealford Mods because the song slaps and I like irony

CONTENT WARNINGS: Smoking and car makeout sessions because that's the life of a rocker innit?

If there was one thing Ross hated about the bar he went to, it was the Open Mic that happened every Thursday night

It had gotten to the point where he was playing mental bingo just to keep his sanity:

"Open Mic Thursdays" set list

A girl screeching her way through My Heart Will Go On

A group of drunk milennials singing ABBA

Some guy with a guitar (bonus points if he plays Wonderwall)

A wannabe rock band

A couple that thinks they’re in a Disney movie

The theatre kid

The one that can actually sing and wants to make it everyone’s problem

The try-hard crooner

So far, he’d managed to tick off almost everything (tonight they had a couple that was particularly gushy and it almost made Ross want to hurl his guts up), and now he was scanning the room for those rock wannabes. It was slightly shameful, the child-like excitement this game gave him, but it was keeping his morale up. And after the day he had at work, it was the least he deserved

And right on cue...

He watched as a group of black-clad 30-somethings took the stage to set up. Surely there’s an age cap on when it’s acceptable to still be in a band was Ross’ immediate thought before turning to his whiskey

Ross could hear a voice through the microphone, but he wasn’t paying too much attention. It wasn’t until the sound of heavy guitar filled the air that he could no longer focus on just his drink due to the sheer noise of it. The joys of live music. Always a racket

What it did mean, however, was that Ross was finally able to see what exactly a bunch of washed-up rockers looked like

"Weird Rock Band" set list

The singer: A slightly weedy guy with shoulder-length hair and glasses who, in all honesty, stuck out like a sad little thumb

The guitarist: Girl in a black bomber jacket and some sort of weird, messy updo; she looked like she’d jumped straight out of an 80s music video

The bassist: Another girl. Undercut, lace button-down and a silver chain. Looked a lot like the drummer, speaking of which...

The drummer: Who was now slamming his drumsticks down on the instrument like it had done something to personally wrong him

If Ross had to pick, and he only ever would if he had a gun to his head, he’d say the drummer was perhaps the most convincing rocker. He certainly had the jewellery, and he had that look of intense anger that was very prevalent in the scene. Ross was slightly ashamed that he could recognise it

Even though he didn’t want to admit it, this band was one of the better ones. Not that it meant much, considering the last time a band performed it ended with the guitarist grabbing a drumstick and volleying it at someone in the back of the pub

In particular, something about the drummer caught Ross’ eye. He’d never seen someone give it the way he did. Despite there being four people on that stage, the drummer was the one clearly pulling focus. And it wasn’t the usual desperate pandering, he was just present in the moment. Ross was slightly concerned that he was going to put a stick through a drum, but at least he was interesting to watch

Well, he wasn’t sure about the rest of the audience, but he was intrigued

The song reached its end and recieved a generally warm atmosphere. Ross' eyes still found themselves on the drummer as he twirled his drumsticks around with his fingers. He'd hardly noticed the singer step forward until he started talking, much to the disappointment of Ross

“We enjoying ourselves!”

I was until you showed up

“I said are we enjoying ourselves!”

Clean out your ears

He spoke a little more, and the people watching were having a good time, but Ross only started really paying attention when he started introducing the band members

"Weird Rock Band" set list 2.0

The singer: Admittedly, even Ross didn’t catch his name. He just wished he’d shut up and finish the song

The guitarist: Ruby Louganis

The bassist: Jodie something

“And of course, last but not least,”

Jesus christ, this is dragging on

“Please give it up for our drummer-“

Can we wrap this up?

"-Mr. Joseph Lisgoe!”

... Joseph

Drummer of a rock band

And his name’s Joseph?

There wasn’t anytime to ponder this though, because the band had started up again, playing another song Ross didn't recognise. Ross went back to his drink, allowing the noise to fade into the background

The band weren’t up for too long, only about two or three songs, before they packed up and went off into the backrooms. Not emerging until a bit later, well, two of them did. The girls. Ruby and Jodie

The closer she was, Ross could really see the resemblance between Jodie and the drummer. It was strange, they looked so alike yet extremely different. Though that could’ve been due to the thick eye makeup she was wearing-

“Show’s over, cunt. Eyes on your glass.”

Damn it

“I was just wondering-“

“Bet you were.”

“Nothing like that! You just looked like your drummer, wondered if there was a genetic reason.”

Jodie gritted her teeth like she was about to launch at him, but was stopped by Ruby placing a hand on her shoulder

“We’ll take your word for it,” she said, zipping up her bomber jacket “Jodie and Joseph are twins.”

“Makes sense. How long have you been playing together?”

“We don’t.” Jodie piped up, still wary of whether she could trust Ross or not “This was just a laugh. I like guitar, he likes drums. Thought ‘fuck it, why not?’ and found out Ruby and Jezza were looking for substitutes. This is a one night only deal.”

Ross nodded and tapped his fingers against his empty glass. For some reason, his mind shifted to the drummer. He always thought twins were attached at the hip

“Does your brother not hang around then? Early night for Little Drummer Boy?”

It came out a lot more condescending than he’d intended, but it got a slight laugh from both of the girls, so at least it eased the tension

“He’s probably outside,” Jodie said “smoking it up-“

“Or having it on with someone.”

“I’ll break his fucking teeth if he is, I’m not staying after hours so he can get a quick shag!”

“And I’m not dragging you off him when the fight breaks out, so get a shot down you and ease up!”

Since Jodie and Ruby seemed to be enjoying their drinks, Ross figured he’d leave them to it. Besides, he needed some fresh air

As Ross approached the side of the pub, he noticed a figure wearing a vest top on the far end. Lanky, cigarette in hand, back against the wall. He couldn’t make out the face until he took a few steps closer

“Can I help you?” Came the figure’s voice, slightly nasal

“I can leave if you want.”

“Nah. Public place, innit?”

Ross leaned against the wall next to him, keeping a slight distance out of respect. Close enough to see the many tattoos that covered his arms, upper chest, and the one on his neck. Usually, Ross thought tattoos were either gross or a desperate attempt to appear intimidating. But he had to admit, the barbed wire that travelled up his arms, the black bird on his neck and what looked like a crack on his chest looked quite good

Obviously, by 'good', he meant objectively speaking

Once he saw the slicked-back hair and the hardened gaze, he recognised who the stranger was

“It’s Joseph, isn’t it?”

“Yup.” He threw the cigarette down and stomped it into the ground “Most people call me Lisgoe.”

“That a stage name?”

Lisgoe gave him an incredulous, amused look

“No. It’s my surname.”

“I’ve never known someone use their surname as a first name before.”

“Puts a boundary up. Helps with my job.”

Right thought Ross he’s not a musician

“I collect debts,” Lisgoe explained, as if he could read Ross’ mind “well, I mainly deal with desk stuff. But I deal with the more difficult targets. Ones that need an extra push.”

Ross thought back to his aggressive drumming and decided that he didn’t want to know how he convinced those ‘difficult targets’

“What?”

Ross snapped out of his thoughts with a soft “hm?”

“You went off somewhere, have you been drinking?”

“What? No! Well, a little, but I can hold my alcohol well. And I never get drunk.”

“Wowee!" Sneered the drummer "We're in the presence of Mother Theresa!"

"Was that necessary?"

"Yeah, I'd say it was."

After that rather snappy altercation, Ross was ready to turn right around and walk off, the only thing that stopped him was the sound of Lisgoe's voice

"You a regular then? At this bar, I mean."

"Yes?"

"No clue how, the drinks are shite and everyone that goes here is a twat."

"Like me?"

That, admittedly, came out as more of an accusation than a legitimate question, and he very nearly asked him to forget it, but that was stopped when he noticed the way Lisgoe was looking at him. As if he was taking the whole of him, really studying him. Reaching into his eyes and grasping his brain, taking it apart with a scalpel to see what was inside

In a word, it was exposing. But not in a creepy way. Ross was frozen in place. Under the watchful eye of Joseph Lisgoe, he felt both anxious and completely at ease. It was a strange feeling, not unpleasant but extremely unorthodox

It was the man's voice that broke him out of his thoughts

"Nah. Well, you seem a little stuck up."

Rude

"And you dress like a secondary school History teacher."

Rude, but annoyingly accurate

"But you're not a twat like most people are." He gestured vaguely with his cigarette "You go to bars and you see all kinds of people. The ones that try to fit in. The ones that think they're God's fucking gift because they don't fit in, the ones that are so desperate to fit in they'll do fucking anything."

"And where do I fit?"

"That's the thing," Lisgoe took a puff of his cigarette "you don't really seem like the kind of guy to fit any of those boxes. You're just... you. You wear your clothes, you drink your beer. And if you don't like the band that's onstage, you don't bother watching. Unless you're making eyes at the drummer."

That last part was accompanied by a playful smirk that made Ross roll his eyes

"I wasn't making eyes at you."

"Would you rather I called it 'gawking' then?"

"I'd rather you didn't exaggerate."

"Whatever," he waved his cigarette dismissively "my point still stands. You don't give a fuck about what people say, you don't seem like the kind of guy that bends to how people think you should act. It's pretty punk."

"I'd hardly call myself a punk."

"You don't look the part, but you're more punk than most twats that wear the badges."

There was something strange about Lisgoe. For someone that spoke so casually, with such a relaxed and colloquial atmosphere, he was strangely philosophical. Contradicting, that's how Ross felt it best to describe Lisgoe

As they stood in silence, Ross' eyes were caught by Lisgoe taking out his cigarette box. Well, for some reason, was specifically watching his hands. Clearly, he wasn't new to this, and his fingers were equally as skilled. That must've been due to his drumming hobby

Why he didn't just look away, Ross didn't know, he can't recognised he was staring until he was pulled out of his trance by Lisgoe's voice

"Did you want one?"

Ross just shook his head, suddenly finding the floor fascinating. Not fascinating enough to stop his eyes from darting over at Lisgoe as he let the cigarette stay in his mouth, stretching his hands down by his sides. The tendons fidgeted as he moved his fingers, bending and shifting in a way that was almost hypnotic

He had rings on. That was how Ross excused his fascination. Silver, some had small black gems, they were quite pretty. Suited him. Suited his hands

Those hands-

"If you want a smoke, I don't mind sharing."

"I was looking at your jewellery."

"Is that right?" Lisgoe's tone was smug and biting, cigarette still in his teeth "Just my jewellery?"

Usually, Ross would just deny it and move on. And he knew he was for the best. But he watched as Lisgoe moved to stand directly in front of him, slowly reaching to take the cigarette out from between his teeth. There was something about the way his canines caught his lower lip as he smiled that caught Ross' attention and refused to let it go

"What else would I be looking at?"

"Dunno," Lisgoe's right hand jolted out to grab Ross' left shoulder, standing in front of him as he brushed his forearm against Ross' throat, causing him to let out a strangled gasp "what else could have your attention?"

Well... this is new

The eye contact between them was thick and glowing like an ember. Ross' eyes darted towards Lisgoe's forearm and he made the mistake of glancing at his shoulder. Because he was instantly met with the sight of Lisgoe's hand tightly gripping it

And that made it incredibly hard to make rational decision

"I'm not a hook-up sort of person," Ross said softly, the way he spoke sounded more like a challenge than anything else "you'll have to do more than push me into a wall to convince me to spend the night with you."

"You may not wanna hook up, but you want something." This was followed by a hand slipping down Ross' back, resting on his ass "Something a little more hands-on?"

"And you're alright with acting like this in public? Where anyone could catch you?"

"No big deal," came the drummer's response as he pulled away, which caused Ross' more disappointment than he cared to admit "part of the fun. But you look like you don't get much of that."

The glare Ross gave him caused him to laugh, and he took another smoke of his cigarette

No fun, is that what you think?

He had the decency to wait for Lisgoe to stop inhaling the smoke before tugging him in by his vest. But, just as their lips brushed, he hesitated. It felt odd. Not bad, not at all. Hell, as he heard Lisgoe exhale the smoke into the tiny space between them, Ross could feel his head spin quite pleasurably. It just wasn't what he was used to, none of it was

Oddly enough, it was as if Lisgoe could read his mind through the web of thought he was tangled in

"Could leave you alone," he said casually "just say the word and I'll fuck off. The others are probably wondering where I am anyway." A pause. As if he were trying to work out how to speak without pushing "Or... if it's publicity you don't like, my apartment's free. Up to you really."

"Logical Things To Say" setlist

"No, I've just met you"

"I have work in the morning"

"This is a very bad idea"

"We could get caught"

"Not very decent, is it?"

Ross opened his mouth and responded with the first thing that came to mind

******************************************

After a long day at work, or a long day anywhere for that matter, Lisgoe often enjoyed sitting in his car, in some secluded area, accompanied only by his thoughts and the radio

This time, however, he was in his car, in some secluded alleyway

The radio off

And his tongue down someone's throat

What a fucking night!

*********************************************

Ross' brain had been yelling at him about his complete lack of dignity as soon as Lisgoe started leading him to his car. It had been somewhat quietened by the feeling of Lisgoe's hand massaging his thigh as he drove, but it didn't leave him alone until the car was stopped and Ross felt his chin being grabbed and his head turned to face the man in the driver's seat

The man he was currently straddling the lap of, in that exact driver's seat

"Making Out With A Guy You Just Met" set list

The buzzing in your stomach at the potential for getting caught, a combination of fear and thrill

Cramped spaces that aren't exactly comfortable, but makes everything feel that much more sensual

Jesus christ, I'm making out with a stranger in the front seat of his car

All of Ross' thoughts came through as static, every time he felt Lisgoe grip at his sides, tug his shirt, run his hands across his bare skin, the static got more intense until his head was completely empty of what had happened and what might happen next. All he could focus on was cold hands on warm skin, the sound of the drummer's breathing becoming more laboured and heavy

He didn't even realise he was making gentle sounds of his own until Lisgoe broke the kiss to tell him in a breathy tone

"You sound so fucking good."

"Do I?"

Lisgoe just nodded as he pulled Ross back in, as if replying simply wasted too much time. Time he wanted to spend completely melting into him, surrounded by the combining scent of cologne and cigarettes. Strange, but somehow added to the thrill. Made it feel more rebellious

"Just realised," Lisgoe muttered against Ross' mouth, unable to pull himself away for more than a few seconds "never got your name."

"Right."

"So what is it?"

"Um, Ross."

As Ross placed a hand on Lisgoe's chest, he could feel the way a chuckle rumbled gently through him

"You didn't sound too sure, that an alias or something? Are you a spy-"

Ross put a stop to the teasing by trailing his lips along Lisgoe's jawline

"It's Ross." He said gently in his ear "Ross Gaines. And I'm an auditor at the job centre, not a spy."

As he kissed down Lisgoe's neck, taking his time as he did with most things, he could hear his saying something under his breath

"Ross Gaines. Ross Gaines."

Each time his name was said, more heat started to pool within him. The way it sounded in Lisgoe's voice wasn't quite something he'd prepared for

"It's fun to say, 'Ross Gaines' all those s sounds." Lisgoe's lips moved to his ear, nipping at the lobe "Ross..." his hand slid up his shirt, digging slightly into his skin "Fuck sake, Ross Gaines," he grabbed the hem of his trousers, moving to undo his belt "you taste so sweet."

The hissing of the sibilance, combined with the feeling of the words hitting his skin, was enough to make Ross slightly dizzy. And the feeling of his belt being unbuckled was not helping his critical reasoning skills in the slightest. The words were bubbling up through his throat, arms wrapped around Lisgoe's neck as pulled him in, as if searching for a way to distract himself. To stop himself from falling off the edge

"Ross-"

"Wait."

Lisgoe pulled his hands away, holding them up like he'd been stopped by police

"You said your apartment was free?"

"I live alone, so I'd be fucking confused if it wasn't."

That made Ross roll his eyes, laughing a little. His hands made their way to cup Lisgoe's face, looking at him with considering eyes

"Do you do this often then?"

"Not as often as people think." Lisgoe answered, his hands on Ross' hips "Yeah, sometimes I like a quick one before I go to bed, but I'm not exactly a hook-up expert. I just get horny." His hands moved slowly up his sides, sending a chill up Ross' spine "You're the first one I've invited back though, I like your company. You're hot as fuck, but you're also easy to talk to. I respect that."

"I thought it was common decency to kick the person out of bed after you're done with them."

That got a gravelly chuckle from the drummer and he let his hand travel to Ross' ass, squeezing roughly

"I like spicing things up every now and then."

"Really?" Ross, in a sudden wave of boldness, leaned in and brushed their lips together "Because I think stalling things would make it quite boring."

The sound of Lisgoe's stuttered breath bounced in Ross' head

"Was... your fucking idea." He replied with a sly smile "You changing your mind, Ross?"

"I'm allowed." He bit Lisgoe's lower lip and god! The low, raspy moan it produced caused his hips to buck, which only drew another groan from the drummer's lips "Any objections, Joseph?"

"Say my name like that again and I won't be able to fucking talk, let alone object!"

There was no more time for set lists

#reece shearsmith #league of gentlemen #the league of gentlemen #joseph lisgoe #ross gaines #gainsgoe #gainesgoe

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pigeonwit · 5 months

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list of billie the kid moments that was the most memorable to u? 🫶🏼 so happy u got to see it btw !!

i'm going to make some nice in-depth notes for all the other billie fans here at some point, but those are for sure going to go into spoiler territory and also! i'm eepy. so instead we get my top ten most memorable moments of billie the kid. to be clear, most of these are paraphrased as my memory isn't perfect, and none of you get context.

10.

mary-beth having a romantic fantasy of elvis (as jesus) spiriting her away on a motorcycle to be his bride. yes, this is only number ten.

mouse: i'm sorry, you just realized you're gay and you're saying you DON'T wanna bump uglies with this EXQUISITE male specimen?!

david: ...

david: thanks mouse 😌

[and then he twirls]

peaches, full gremlin mode: OOOH secrets, secrets and LIES!!

mouse, even more gremlin mode: dirty, dirty CLOSET secrets!!

mouse: y'all know there's no starbucks here, right?

brodie: i know where the starbucks is, THANK YOU >:(

when gez and conway came up before the show to talk about how they became friends and created the show, but specifically this bit

gez: i would show conway my bad songs about the drummer in my band who didn't like me back- conway, dying: gez: and conway would show me their terrible beat poetry about the friend they didn't like- conway, DYING:

just all the love mouse got from their family. peaches calling them her brother, defending them from their bullies even if it means losing out on a sale - david constantly hugging, patting, hair-ruffling them as if they were his own brother, BECAUSE THEY ARE - brodie giving mouse little affectionate play-punches, two near-strangers bonding over their shared ostracisation - billie TACKLING them into a hug, so eager to love this kid the way they deserve to be loved - even milky abel drawing a line in his bigotry and saying 'tell the little one i'm sorry. this never should've happened.'

all of confederate fag, my new anthem, but especially this:

david: yeah, you can try and kill me [flips off everyone on stage] OHHHH but i got there FIRST!!! HAHA!!!

(i know i said no context but like,,, man. the way they have david reclaim his trauma. the long standing queer tradition of taking what's thrown at you and wearing it with pride. yeah, he nearly died. but none of you fuckers had the balls to do it. it was all him, baby)

olivia saunders' visceral scream during 'outlaw' - or, more accurately, how she went from viscerally screaming to riffing like a goddess in seconds.

mouse's entire solo during 'daisies'. that's me. that kid is me. that little fourteen year old trans kid reminiscing about playing with their action men and their barbies, staining the dress they didn't want to wear, plucking daisies from a field and wearing them like a crown for a king - they're me and i'm them and we are each other and that is eternal. daisies, baby. we keep rising up and there's no getting rid of us.

aaaaand my number one most memorable billie the kid moment is:

david: stick by your boyfriend. if he really is gay, he's gonna need all the help he can get. and besides [spoken with the bitchiest tone, the haughtiest head-tilt, and a cunt matched only by god herself] he AIN'T my type 🙄

[and then he twirls again]

#billie the kid #billie the kid musical #david frances #mouse harrison #peaches harrison #billie belle #milky abel #(god i hate that name. why milky. why.)#mary-beth gilbeaux #brody benson

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defleppardfan1 · 3 months

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Battle of the Bands

Rick Savage x Reader

Masterlist

A/N: Thank you to @elliotts-personal-property for the idea and the band name 💖

The local pub was hosting a battle of the bands next weekend and our lovely vocalist decided to sign us up. The fact that there was only one other half decent band in Sheffield meant that we would be up against some band called Def Leppard.

Our band Killer Clover was a rock band, like Def Leppard, but what made us unusual was that we were an all female band. Not many rock bands were all female and for that sole reason not much was expected of us.

Our lead singer Kari saw the poster for the battle of the bands and decided to sign us up. I wasn’t upset by any means, more worried that it would open us up to more ridicule. The rest of us consisted of Becca, the guitarist, Mimi, the drummer and me, the bassist. The four of us were trying to gather up enough money to hire out a studio to start recording our first album and the prize from the competition would help us to do so.

The afternoon of the competition, we had all gathered in the pub, getting set up. As it was two bands competing, we would have to share the small ‘stage’ area, we needed to leave enough room for Def Leppard to set up. Just as I was sorting out my bass, I heard a loud chatter coming from the entrance of the pub. Five men walked in, chattering loudly with each other. The man in the middle, was the tallest with curly hair and a contagious smile on his face. Surrounding him were three men with cases, presumably holding either guitars or a bass and a boy with drum sticks in his hands, he couldn’t have been much older than sixteen.

“I can’t believe it. Joe?” Kari called out as she glanced in the direction of the door.

“Kari?” Joe, I presumed, called back. Kari made her way over to where they all were and wrapped the man in a hug. When they let go she called all of us over. I was the last one to arrive and I stopped a short distance away, only for Mimi to grab my arm and drag me closer.

“This is the rest of my band, Becca, Mimi and Y/N.” Kari introduced us all with a smile.

“Well, this is Pete, Steve, Rick and Rick, or Sav” Joe pointed to each man with a smile that had yet to leave his face.

“We’re all just about set up, what about we get a round in whilst you’re all getting ready?” Kari asked. I couldn’t help but roll my eyes and notice how ‘Sav’ did the same.

“Sounds good right lads.” Joe agreed, not really taking in the opinion of his band mates. With that Kari moved us all over to the bar. As she ordered I noticed Becca and Mimi looking over at the lads setting up.

“They’re cute aren’t they?” Becca giggled, twirling her hair and sending a wink over when Steve caught her staring.

“Yeah they are. What do you think Y/N?” Mimi asked.

“Whatever.” I shrugged trying to keep my eyes off of Sav who I deduced was the bassist, based on the fact that it was a bass that he pulled out of the case.

“Oh come on. You have to admit they are all adorable.” Mimi nudged me.

“They’re alright I guess. They’ll be even more alright after we beat them later.” I started letting my competitive side take over.

“And who said you’re gonna beat us?” A smooth voice asked from beside me. I turned and saw Sav standing next to me.

“Hello to you too.” I spoke while going back to my drink.

“Oh hi guys, here are your drinks, next round’s on you.” Kari came back with a tray of drinks.

“Thanks love.” Joe said, grabbing his and handing out the rest. There was obvious tension between me and Sav as we were the only ones not engaging in one of the multiple conversations going on around the table.

I had completely zoned out at one point. I couldn’t see the point in having a drink with the band we were up against but everyone else seemed to be having a good time. It wasn’t until my name was called out that I was snapped out of my daze.

“...earth to Y/N.” Mimi was waving her hand in front of my face.

“Sorry.” I smiled sheepishly, trying to ignore the laughter that my daydreaming had caused.

“We were just talking about how Joe and Kari went to school together.”

“That’s great.” I smiled. I heard a small scoff from across the table.

“Yes?” I asked Sav as he rolled his eyes again.

“Nothing.” He shrugged before moving his attention to where Pete and Rick were talking to Becca.

“Do I sense some hostility?” Mimi whispered in my ear.

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“Don’t play dumb with me Y/N. The two of you have hardly said two words and when you do speak it is to swipe at each other.”

“Something about him irks me is all.” I reasoned.

“Sure, or it’s that you fancy him.”

“I do not fancy him.” I said a bit too loudly, gaining some attention.

“Who does Y/N fancy?” Kari asked from across the table.

“No one.” I told her wanting the conversation to come to an end. Mimi just giggled at my reaction and for the rest of the afternoon I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being watched.

It was finally time for the battle of the bands to start. There wasn’t a particularly large turnout but there were enough people to make me nervous. The less people, the more intimate and the more likely you are to pick a face out of the crowd. We were also going first so the pressure to put on a memorable performance was high.

Whilst we were playing, I couldn’t help but notice that Def Leppard were watching us intently. Still, we played to the best of our abilities and more, needing to win the prize to be able to afford a recording studio. When we finished the small set, we were met with applause. That was about it as we moved off of the ‘stage’ area and swapped with Def Leppard.

Their set went by and even I had to admit, they were good. The way that they all worked together, it was obvious to any fool that they were going to go places. I couldn’t help the smile that overtook my face as I watched them. The energy that Joe brought, the way that each of them were like a puzzle piece that fit perfectly together.

After they had finished performing, the rather unenthusiastic landlord came up to our shared table.

“I don’t care who won and neither does anyone else here. Split the prize between the two of you and we’ll sort out when you both can come back here and play.” Was all he said before he dropped the money in two piles on the table, one in front of Kari and one in front of Joe. Suddenly any tension between me and Sav disappeared. It was obvious that once the small competition was finished and neither of us lost, there was no need to be competitive.

“Sorry if I appeared standoffish.” I apologised to the man sitting next to me.

“Nah, it’s all good.” He grinned. His smile was contagious as I looked at him and I ended up having to look away from him to stop myself from looking like a complete idiot.

“Can I get you another drink?” He asked, tapping the table next to my empty glass.

“Sure.” I smiled.

“C’mon then.” He beckoned me to get up with him so that we could go to the bar together. I followed him over and Sav ordered both of our drinks. The two of us stood there talking for a while and we lost track of time.

It wasn’t until Mimi came over to us to let us know that everyone was leaving that I even realised how late it was.

“I suppose I best get going as well.” I told Sav as I stood up.

“Can I walk you home?”

“Sure I only live about ten minutes away.” I told him as we made our way out of the pub. The two of us continued talking as we made our way back to my flat.

“So this is me.” I told him as we stood outside my front door.

“Can I see you again?” Sav asked as he leaned against the doorframe.

“Sure. You free next Saturday?” I asked, feeling confident after spending the last few hours getting to know him.

“Yeah, I’ll pick you up at six.” Sav said as his blue eyes gazed into mine.

I felt myself move slowly forward in a sort of trance as did Sav. Soon enough his lips brushed against mine in a soft kiss. It quickly became more passionate and I gripped onto his curly hair to help ground myself. One of his hands found my hip and he pulled my body close to him. My other hand made its way to his shoulder. I was slightly worried we would run out of oxygen but I couldn’t find it in me to care enough to pull away.

There was something about him that was addictive. The two of us stood there for a while kissing and I was pretty sure that one of my neighbours walked past us. When we eventually pulled away, Sav brushed his fingers against my cheek.

“I’ll see you Saturday.” Was all he said before he stepped back and waited for me to go inside. Once I was safely indoors I made my way over to the sofa and fell onto it. Beaming to myself and thinking that Saturday couldn’t come soon enough.

#def leppard #rick savage #rick savage x reader #rick savage fan fiction #def leppard fan fiction

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x-heroesandvillains · 11 days

Text

Battle of the Bands ~ *Kwak Jiseok*

Summary: It's the Battle of the Bands and you are determined to take down Xdinary Heroes once and for all! Turns out, they had the same idea...

Pairing: Kwak Jiseok X G/N!Reader

Genre: Fluffyish Oneshot

Word Count: 1025

Warning: Rushed, vulgar language

Masterlist

Taglist: @samepoisonsamevine @kpop-will-kill-me

The two of you were currently staring each other down. You were twirling your drumsticks which made him scowl as you smirked. You knew you were getting to him, totally throwing him off his game. But it didn't mean anything as the winners still haven't been announced yet.

"Would you stop that?" Jiseok lunged to grab your drumstick, but you tossed it into the air.

With grace and ease, you caught it in your other hand. "You're so cute when you're all riled up."

He rolled his eyes. "Oh shut up, you're so annoying!"

"Loving the childish taunts. Can't think of anything more clever to say?" You bat your eyelashes at him with a smirk.

Before he can say anything, one of his bandmates wraps an arm around him and laughs. "Jeez, are you two fighting again? Can't you save it for when we're on stage?"

"Shut up, Seungmin." You snap back at him and stick your tongue out at him.

He touches his chest and rolls his eyes. "Ouch, so mean."

"Hey, both of you!" The sharp voice of their leader and drummer, Gunil, made the three of you snap to attention. "Quit messing around with the competition. It's almost time for them to announce the winners and I am not about to have to pull you out of a fight until after they're done."

"Oh my God!" You heard your own leader and band vocalist, Taeran, groan from behind you, before she grabbed your ear like one would a stubborn child. "Are you causing trouble again? Sorry, Gunil, she's too damn competitive for her own good."

You bat her hand away and rub your sore ear. "Hey! You're supposed to be competitive when it comes to Battle of the Bands! Not that we really need to, as Spectacle of Convenience is going to sweep."

"Like hell you are!" Jiseok shot back, Seungmin having to hold him back. "Xdinary Heroes completely demolished you guys!"

"In your dreams! All you did was blind the judges with showmanship to hide the fact that none of you can play."

"Hey, whoa, that's a low blow, even from you!" Seungmin piped up before he whipped his head around to Gunil. "Forget the team meeting from before about being nice to our competitors! We are not about to take this lying down!"

"Seungmin, no-"

"Oh cool, are we fighting with Sock again?" Jooyeon joined the fray with Hyungjun at his side.

"It's S.o.C. for your information." Your group's own bassist, Yeseul, came up from behind Taeran, who just groaned.

"Seriously, you guys. We are not fighting tonight. I told you this earlier!"

"I'm with Taeran. We're not fighting tonight, just like I told you." Gunil shook his head, before taking a step towards your leader. "I'm really sorry about their behavior. I'm sure it was Jiseok who started it, so I'm going to apologize on his behalf."

"I didn't start it!" Jiseok shouted. "Why do you always take their side?"

Taeran shook her head. "No, I'm sure it was our petulant drummer. I'll apologize on her behalf."

You fake gagged at her words. "Okay! We get it! You both love each other! Either make out and make us puke, or get out of the way so I can finally give Jiseok the black eye he deserves!"

"Not if I beat you to it!"

Before anyone could swing or hold anyone back, a voice over the intercom asked all bands to make their way to the stage for the winners to be announced. With one last glare at Jiseok and a hard shove, you join your band on stage.

The announcer makes a big deal of how everyone played very well and that everyone is a winner. You make a snide comment about how he must not have seen Xdinary Heroes play, which earns a snicker from Yeseul, and a smile from your guitarist, Seohyeon. Taverna has to elbow you in the side to get you to knock it off.

Finally the time comes to announce the winner of the Battle of the Bands. You hold hands with your bandmates and wish for all the good luck in the world to win. Your band deserves this. Spectacle of Convenience worked really hard for years to get to this point. There was no way you were going to let them or your fans down by losing to Xdinary Heroes.

"And the winner of this year's Battle of the Bands is..." There was the usual dramatic pause before the announcer said: "STATIC!"

"STATIC?" You practically scream over the confetti cannons and applause.

Sure they were good... okay they were damn amazing, but you really thought Spectacle of Convenience had a shot to win!

As your band is ushered off stage, Taverna pulls the three of you aside with an encouraging smile. "Hey, they were amazing. And we'll work really really hard to win next year, okay? We can do this! I know we can!"

"Yeah, our fearless leader is correct!" You pipe up and throw an arm around her shoulders. "We killed it out there! And we totally one-upped Xdinary Heroes, so we shouldn't hang our heads in shame. In my mind, we're all winners, like that stupid announcer said earlier."

The sound of slow, sarcastic claps makes you all turn around to see Jiseok with a smug smirk and an anxious Gunil. "Well, well, well, look who lost."

"Says the other band who lost." You shoot back, arms folding over your chest.

"Win some, lose some. At least you didn't beat us."

"And you didn't beat us! Your insults are weak, Jiseok! Do better!"

"How about this: you were off beat during your whole song and that's what cost you the win!"

"You didn't even play the right song!"

"I did too!"

"Did not!"

Gunil glanced at Taeran. "I guess this will never be over between them."

She sighed and shook her head. "No. That's why we'll never tell them how long we've been dating. They'll kill us if they find out the reason we both started a band was to impress the other."

"I agree. We'll never tell them anything."

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toomanykidsverse · 2 years

Text

Behold, the fabled stim post!

Stede

- The Classic, flappy hands <3

- rocks back and forth on his feet

- spins/twirls, especially to music

- walks on his toes if he's not wearing shoes

- bites his nails as a nervous stim

- stims with nice fabrics <3

- paces when he's nervous

- snapping/clicking his fingers

- shakes his fists up and down

- bounces

- drums his fingers on surfaces

- taps his feet against the floor

- give him some drum sticks and he'll go wild, the man is a drummer

- loves pressure stims. weighted blankets, getting Stede to lay directly on top of him, and the feeling of tight leather are some of his favorites

- also stims with nice fabrics, but most the ones Stede is wearing

Izzy

- Running his hands along Poppy's fur

- nail polish asmr videos

- draws on his skin and clothes with markers absentmindedly, specifically really likes drawing stars

- hums the tunes of his favorite songs when he's alone

Olu

- sort of specific one here: he pulls his knees to his chest and then pulls his hoodie over his legs

- fidgets with rubik's cubes

- yo-yo king, king of the yo-yo

- blows bubbles. really likes those bubble wands that look like swords

Jim

- This one is kinda specific, but I think they have one of those practice butterfly knives that they spin around a lot. They want a real one but they aren't allowed to have one just yet.

- cutting wood with their pocket knife

- rips leaves off of plants and tears them up

- popping the bubbles that Olu blows

Lucius

- Stim toys galore. Has more pop-its and cute squishies than strictly necessary, but uses them all often. aways has several in his backpack. He'll share with anyone who needs one

- chew necklaces that he matches to his outfits

- flippy sequins!

- claps his hands and bounces when excited

- calligraphy asmr videos. with the sparkly ink <3

- dances as a happy stim

John

- pulls his arms into his sweater sleeves

- has one of those 3D printed slug fidget toys that he carries around a lot

- swimming as a stim! the water feels nice

Pete

- stress balls! specifically those ones with the goo inside and the nets around them.

- punches at the air when he's excited

Frenchie

- Flappy hands with sweater paws!

- also has lots of stim toys! really likes fidget cubes

- slaps his hands against any surface. tables, walls, his own legs.

- always humming and whistling

Buttons

- bird sounds! he'll echo different calls that he hears

- just generally repeats sounds he hears

- animal stims. will pet any animal for long periods of time.

Roach

- slime!

- loves how soft flour is, will shove his hands in a bag of flour

- bites his fingers

- finger painting

- fidgets with those stretchy lizard toys

- rainbow groan tube

Swede

- bites the straw on his water bottle

- runs his hands along his favorite blanket

- vocal stims from his favorite cartoons :]

and now, shared stims!

- I think most of them, if they make a sound at someone in the house, the other will echo it back most of the time. if several of them are in one spot they just go on with this for a bit.

- Ed and Frenchie are the musical boys, and if one of them starts humming or whistling or drumming a beat, the other will probably join

- Ed and Stede both fidget with their wedding rings <3 (they also eventually catch onto this and think it's very sweet they both do it)

- Ed, Lucius, and Swede are the chewy necklace gang.

- watching stim videos is a family activity, they all give their input on which ones they like or don't like after each one

- Ed and Stede will hold hands and spin together, but they can't do it for very long. Very good stim for very high happy energies :]

please share with me any other stims you think any of them would have <3 or if you do any of these let me know!

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day0walkersdrafts · 1 year

Text

Benji’s back is to Xavier. He sits at his kit, leg bouncing as he goes through the motions of the sound test. He lifts a hand, twirls a drumstick easily, fluidly as he’s done a hundred times before, but Xavier’s heart still clenches at the sight of it. He wants it to be a heated feeling that spreads through him, makes him feel bothered and keyed up, because that would be more normal of a reaction, right? Benji is so good looking it hurts, but sometimes, watching him drum is less erotic and sometimes just beautiful. He just looks beautiful, sitting there, all the muscles of his back working and flexing, his strong hands holding the sticks and lovingly tending to his kit. For a moment, Xavier get’s stuck there, staring because it’s so easy to just stare at Benji.

Then he steps onto the stage. His hand lifts, fingers touching Benji’s shoulder blade first and then slowly cupping up around the nape of his neck. He can feel the drummer shiver, which makes him nervous that he’d spooked him by not announcing himself. But then Benji throws his head backward, his usually scowling face set in his Benji grin. The back of his head touches Xavier’s stomach, those brown eyes up at him with full force. Xavier’s hand slips around, dances over his throat instead.

Fuck, he’s so, he’s so. He’s just so—

“Uh,” Xavier laughs and then clears his throat. “Come with me, I got a surprise.” The grin gets a little mischievous, which makes Xavier feel a little warm underneath the flannel he’d thrown on. His hand is still resting at the base of Benji’s throat, his thumb drawing up and over his skin. He feels so good here, so warm. Xavier wants to lean down, kiss him. His lips and there, at the hollow of his throat.

The cymbal sound makes him jump a little and Benji snorts a laugh.

“For comin’ up behind me, scarin’ me,” he chides before he stands from the drummers seat. Xavier takes a few steps back to give him room, but somehow Benji gets into that space anyway, their chests nearly touching as he slides his way toward the back of the stage. “Surprise?”

“Oh, right. Yeah, on the bus,” Xavier laughs as he catches up, thought wise, because his hand is tingling and he’s still thinking about how soft Benji’s skin had been. Inviting, warm, needing kisses.

—

“Tada!”

Xavier stands in the bus with his arms thrown open wide, face split open in a wide smile. It had taken him and Matilda the better half of an hour to get the stupid decorations up. A large party string of the words HAPPY BIRTHDAY and also Mouse had been awful enough to make the rest of the birthday themed items dog related. They looked like they were for a four year old boy who loved Paw Patrol; but Xavier wasn’t complaining.

Benji stares for a moment, confused smile on his face as he reaches up and tugs down a helium filled balloon that says YAY on it. They both watch it slowly, lazily wind its way back up to the ceiling of the bus.

“S’not my birthday, Xavier,” he says.

“No, uh,” Xavier’s arms drop. He slides his hands into his pockets, shoulders bunching as his smile turns softer, maybe shy. “It’s—uh, my birthday.”

There’s a small beat of silence between them. Xavier feels a little kick of anxiety in his heart.

“Sorry I didn’t say anything—well,” he throws his head back in frustration, stepping toward with his hands still in his pockets. One of the balloons has paw prints—even the balloons, Mouse? “I wasn’t going to tell anyone, it’s just that Lark said he was going to make the audience sing me happy birthday tonight—and I was like no, dude, do not do that, but it’s Lark, so he’ll do what he wants. And because Lark remembered it’s my birthday, Mati demanded we do something—and I was like, no, really, like, it’s fine. Because, we’re busy—like a show tonight and then we have to leave immediately and drive so far and—”

Benji’s hand touches his side, slides his palm up and across his ribs (those ribs, the old injury reminds, not feeling pained, but soothed, somehow) and he sucks in a breath because he’d been rambling. Xavier slowly lets head fall back forward and then tilts to look at Benji as he tucks himself closer.

“You didn’t wanna do nothin’ for your birthday?”

“Well.” One of Xavier’s hands slip from his pocket, rise and cup Benji’s cheek. His thumb draws over it and for some reason, doing that reminds him of how nice his neck had felt—how right it felt, touching him there. Intimate. Only for him. So that hand travels down, brushes over his skin gently, softly. His hands rests. Just now, at the base of Benji’s throat, where there’s a little pretty hollow and he suddenly feels himself breathing in a little harder. “I told them that I didn’t want anything else, but,” its hard to tear his eyes upward, and even harder when Benji is looking at him. He has such long, dark lashes, that frame those brown eyes in a way that Xavier loses his train of thought. He has to flick his eyes back down to his own hand.

“Asked if we could have some, dunno, like, alone time on the bus before the show—just us.”

Just give me forty five, Xavier had told Lark. Even forty. He’d take snatches of ten minute intervals with Benji if he could—he’d take seconds. Because touring had gotten hectic. He’d genuinely forgotten it was the twentieth of May, because time wavered in weird ways around the tour. Weeks passed in blurs, and some days dragged on for whole weekends and some days he spent his time doing nothing but trying to catch up sleep on the bus. Some days he was so tired he could sleep standing up.

And he wasn’t even in the band.

Benji’s arms wrap around his torso. He’s sleight enough in comparison to his short boyfriend that they loop around easy. He does that thing he does, where he tucks his chin into Xavier’s sternum and makes him feel light headed and asphyxiated and lobotomized all at once. Because not only is he looking up at him, but he’s fucking pouting too. He’s got his face arranged in the most seriously morose pitiful look, exaggerated and would even be comical but Xavier can’t find it funny. Because it weaves all into his heart like a root and wraps up and squeezes. He just looks so cute it makes Xavier’s mouth dry.

“I woulda got you somethin’.”

“Hah,” Xavier’s laugh comes out breathless. His thumb draws soft circles around Benji’s pulse. “Dude, you’re like the best birthday present I could imagine.” Which is too corny, actually embarrassingly corny, into the realm of really bad and he expects Benji to snort and roll his eyes and maybe tease him. But instead he softens all over. Melts into him. Xavier wants to enjoy it, but a part of him is thinking, Benji, has no one ever told you that? Has no one ever told you that you’re the best fucking thing there is? Why has no one told you that yet?

So his hands raise and cup Benji’s cheeks and he bends himself over the way he has to in order to kiss him—and does. Kisses him with so much fucking force, with so much of himself. Slides his tongue across Benji’s that slips into his mouth to meet him. They kiss openly, hungrily, and Xavier’s stumbling backward with it.

Part of him worries sometimes. Like, will we get tired of this? Do you think we’re going to stop wanting to kiss like this all the time? Will we get bored?

But another part of him, the part that’s suddenly moving faster, is bending more with his hands suddenly running down Benji’s body, the part of him hooking arms up under Benji’s thighs and lifting him, the part that’s tumbling back onto the tour bus sofa and landing there with a whine because they’d stopped kissing—that part knows the truth. He’s never going to get tired of it. He’s never going to want to stop kissing this man—he’s never going to get bored of Benji.

“I am givin’ you a fuckin’ birthday present, Xavier,” Benji says, panting as his arms wind up around his shoulders.

“Oh yeah, I am—I am definitely—here for that,” Xavier’s laughing, but it’s also a little bit of a hiccup because of how intense Benji’s eyes look. Dark, lidded, focused. His hips grind forward against him, making Xavier’s gasp come out stuttered and wanting. His hands flatten to Benji’s lower back, slip past his jeans, hold him tight. “Birthday boy shit,” he laughs again.

Benji leans in then. Kisses his jaw, pushes Xavier’s head back with a tap of his nose to his cheek—sets in on his neck with more of those hungry kisses. And something pings up into Xavier’s brain, like the image of an actual exclamation mark, bright red and loud.

“Uh, I lied,” Xavier lips his lips, tilts his head to get Benji’s attention.

“If this is an elaborate lie about it bein’ your birthday to get me on the tourbus alone, I’ll make you sleep on the floor.”

Which actually just makes Xavier laugh, because it sounds so weirdly domestic. Make you sleep on the floor—kicking me out the bed onto the couch? And then, actually he shuts up thinking about that, because Jesus, dating is one thing. Imagining a brief fantasy where you live together and share a bed is something entirely different. Instead he shakes his head, bumps their noses together, smiling.

“No, I promise, it’s my birthday. I meant, I lied when I said I didn’t need a birthday gift. I have—” he sits up a little more on the couch, which makes him breathe in hard because their bodies grind together when he does. “I do want something.” Benji straightens. He leans back a little, even, hands on Xavier’s shoulders. When he’s like that, it really defines how broad he is—how thick of a built core he has in his abdomen. How strong he is across the shoulders. Xavier’s hands hold his waist, but he isn’t looking at his middle anymore.

His eyes roam Benji’s neck. He blinks, slow, looking and thinking.

“Let me—” Xavier says, pulling Benji by the waist just that much closer. His nose tucks into the crook of his neck and shoulder, brushes over his skin. He smells so, so, so good. It’s the same feeling as looking Benji in the eyes sometimes—bludgeoned all over. Head swimming with nothing but this smell. Xavier breathes out and then his teeth touch skin. It’s soft as first, just a little almost nip and then his mouth makes a hungry devour across Benji’s neck.

He hears the drummer moan. Benji’s head falls back, giving him so much more access, his whole body going tight on top of Xavier. His hands curl into his shirt, tugging the fabric a little, like it’s a reflex rather than something he meant to do. Xavier kisses again, moves to the base of Benji’s throat. His teeth grab once more, tug and then he pulls away. His hand buries into Benji’s long dark curly hair.

“Can I do this?” He’s breathing hard, his voice raspy and hoarse. He knows they can’t go public, right? They aren’t hiding, not necessarily. But being with Benji is different—he’s got all those fans, all those eyes on him, all these cameras randomly clicking. He’s got people tweeting about him, making Tumblr posts about him, he’s got Tik Tok fucking fan edits of him. He’s got people who have this parasocial bond with him that would hate Xavier simply for being there. Getting in the way of something.

Xavier gets it.

But he also thinks, I want people to know, even if they can’t know it’s me. I want them to know there’s someone. When they take their pictures of you on stage tonight, when they meet with you after and shake your hand and get a hug and tell you they love you and how much you mean to them; I want them to know there’s someone, there’s me. I want those pictures to have me in them, here on your neck, in dark marks. I want every guy whose ever day dreamed about you to know.

And he feels guilty because maybe that’s wrong. It’s not a competition, but, sometimes Xavier can’t help himself. He stands there, looking at all those people who yell his name, Lark’s name, Matilda’s—who stand in line for hours to meet him and Mouse and Ewan and—he thinks, but Benji is mine. You can’t have that one; he’s mine.

“Fuckin’—yeah, yeah, Xavier—ah.”

So he stops caring; leaves his guilt at the door and kisses Benji’s throat the way he wants to. Leaves a trail of dark hickies from under his ear to his fucking collarbone. He’s panting and kissing, not being neat. He’s being messy and ravenous. His hands knot into Benji’s hair, push his head back more, which make Beni’s hands scramble over Xavier’s shirt and tug harder and hold tighter. He’s making noises that Xavier could record and listen on repeat and never need another thing to get himself hard ever again.

Benji tastes good. He tastes so good; the sweat of his skin, the smell of him, brings saliva pooling up in Xavier’s mouth because he wants to keep doing this. Not just on his neck. He would put all these mouth shaped bruises on his chest and stomach and thighs. He’d put them everywhere. He doesn’t even realize that between every one he’s talking nonsensically.

“Benji—tell me it feels good.”

“Yeah—does. Really does, Xavier.”

He doesn’t even notice the words, just the vibration across Benji’s throat when he seals his mouth there again.

Xavier isn’t really satisfied when he pulls away, because there could never be some conclusion that makes him feel full of Benji. He’s never truly satiated, doesn’t know if he can be. But there’s enough of him on this dark brown skin that he finally leans back, panting and content with a smug smile. Benji’s eyes look glossy, pupils blown hard so his gaze is mostly just black. His fingers are curled so hard into Xavier’s shirt he feels like the fabric might never recover.

“Take your belt off,” Benji says, his voice a little dazed. His eyes punch into Xavier’s with such an intensity he feels a full body shiver run up his spine. “So I can give you the fuckin’ birthday present.”

“Oh shit, yeah, okay—yeah, hah, Benji—”

—

“Please,” Mouse begs Ewan with big, big eyes.

He’ll cave and she knows he will—because he always does. She doesn’t have to apply much pressure, just herself a little too close (because, boundaries; they got those now that they aren’t sleeping together) and her eyes really big up at him. Ewan sighs, looks down at her. Almost lifts his hand to brush back her hair, because he’d always used to do that for her, but stops himself. Mouse pretends a little piece of her heart doesn’t fucking eat itself.

“Yeah, a’right, fine. You steal ‘em anyway. All my clothes just yours now, yeah?”

“I just think your old leather jacket might look good on me tonight,” Mouse teases, dancing her way backward from him. She catches the way his eyes linger down her, she can see the cogs in his brain turning going, you would look good before he has to glance away. Strum his fingers up over the neck of his guitar. Fix his ear piece. Mouse glares at his back, half angry, half, well, understanding.

Instead of letting herself stew on that loss, she sucks greedily at the vape she’d purchased at the last gas station. Arms crossed over her chest, it simply dangles as she makes her way to the bus before she pauses. Ah, right. They were in there—weren’t they? Lark had given Xavier forty five minutes—no more or less because show would start soon. He’d gone through his dutiful routine of, water, everyone drink fucking water, everyone drink water and then piss before we go on stage, and no one argue with me, drink your fucking water and go piss.

Mouse is cautious as she steps forward. Doesn’t need to be, because the door to the bus bursts open.

Xavier tumbles down from it. His red hair is in every direction it can be and his flannel shirt is buttoned up the wrong way—a button had missed a hole somewhere along the row and now it’s bunched up funny. He looks absolutely ridiculous, but his expression is even worse. A little glossy in the eyes, smile all crooked and wiggly and bashfully pleased. He looks like he’d been mauled, completely eaten up with not a single crumb.

And Benji steps down off the bus after him, looking considerably more put together and very satisfied. He’d pulled his hair back with a tie. He notices her and gives a little two fingered wave.

“Alright, Mouse?”

“Ew,” she replies immediately. “Do not talk to me after you two just did whatever the hell it is you two just did.”

“Huh?” Xavier looks momentarily startled, like he’d not realized she was standing there.

“Happy birthday, Security,” she snaps, pushing his chest a little as she passes. He must be very unsorted because he does actually stumble somewhat, but he smiles at her. It is so endearingly genuine and giant, that it even makes her smile back at him. When she spares Benji one last glance before climbing up the stairs onto the bus, the lights catch just well enough for her to see the absolute littering of hickies across his neck. All the way to his shoulder even. There’s a dark one right there, on the swell of his bicep too. Like Xavier couldn’t stop himself and just kept going.

Benji glances back over that kissed shoulder to her. For a moment, she is absolutely caught off guard by how easy he looks. Relaxed and sweetened by all that dog’s attention. He looks, well, so happy. She swallows around that feeling, because she’s happy too. For him. Damn. Wishes she could have just held onto the jealousy a little longer, because it was easier. They make her wish—they make her want to talk to Ewan.

Mouse sticks her tongue out and darts back onto the bus to get that old leather jacket for herself.

#xavier #benji #xavier x benji #lil mouse ewan hehe #band au

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unknownjpegs · 1 month

Text

birthday boy

Fuck, he’s so, he’s so. He’s just so—

The cymbal sound makes him jump a little and Benji snorts a laugh.

—

“Tada!”

“S’not my birthday, Xavier,” he says.

“No, uh,” Xavier’s arms drop. He slides his hands into his pockets, shoulders bunching as his smile turns softer, maybe shy. “It’s—uh, my birthday.”

There’s a small beat of silence between them. Xavier feels a little kick of anxiety in his heart.

“You didn’t wanna do nothin’ for your birthday?”

“Asked if we could have some, dunno, like, alone time on the bus before the show—just us.”

And he wasn’t even in the band.

“I woulda got you somethin’.”

Part of him worries sometimes. Like, will we get tired of this? Do you think we’re going to stop wanting to kiss like this all the time? Will we get bored?

“I am givin’ you a fuckin’ birthday present, Xavier,” Benji says, panting as his arms wind up around his shoulders.

“Uh, I lied,” Xavier lips his lips, tilts his head to get Benji’s attention.

“If this is an elaborate lie about it bein’ your birthday to get me on the tourbus alone, I’ll make you sleep on the floor.”

His eyes roam Benji’s neck. He blinks, slow, looking and thinking.

Xavier gets it.

“Fuckin’—yeah, yeah, Xavier—ah.”

“Benji—tell me it feels good.”

“Yeah—does. Really does, Xavier.”

He doesn’t even notice the words, just the vibration across Benji’s throat when he seals his mouth there again.

“Oh shit, yeah, okay—yeah, hah, Benji—”

—

“Please,” Mouse begs Ewan with big, big eyes.

“Yeah, a’right, fine. You steal ‘em anyway. All my clothes just yours now, yeah?”

Mouse is cautious as she steps forward. Doesn’t need to be, because the door to the bus bursts open.

And Benji steps down off the bus after him, looking considerably more put together and very satisfied. He’d pulled his hair back with a tie. He notices her and gives a little two fingered wave.

“Alright, Mouse?”

“Ew,” she replies immediately. “Do not talk to me after you two just did whatever the hell it is you two just did.”

“Huh?” Xavier looks momentarily startled, like he’d not realized she was standing there.

Mouse sticks her tongue out and darts back onto the bus to get that old leather jacket for herself.

#writing #hj #xw #bp #bp x xw #band au #2023

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mqtsuno · 3 years

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IMAGINE TOKYO REV BAND AU !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DRAKEN serves as drummer. don’t try to argue with me on this one. drummers are typically the band's heart... and he, himself, has a big heart. he exudes 99 percent of the "i despise neighbors" drummer. his body is perfectly suited to play that massive contraption of noise production. would do crazy drum stick twirls.

MITSUYA acts as the keyboardist. imagine those delicate and pleasant hands playing the keys. he will provide harmony to the band with those hands, emphasizing each chord with the appropriate texture. aside from being the pianist, i believe this man is also in charge of harmonizing with the vocalist; he has a lovely tenor voice.

the lead guitarist is BAJI. usually, lead guitarists enjoy memes and other strange humor, that sounds like keisuke. would master all styles of guitar, but would specialize in electric guitar! that man will go insane while strumming his beautiful instrument (and has a name for it too). he becomes enraged while playing the notes, throws his head back as if having a tantrum, and removes his shirt on stage.

the bassist is KAZUTORA. the one member of the band who prefers to go unnoticed. the band's backbone. if he's strumming those strings, he's usually deep in thought. also has a habit of closing his eyes and letting his body take control, i mean, really focusing on what he is doing. does wicked bassline and secretly enjoys being rough with his instrument.

MIKEY as the rhythm guitarist. will likely do competitions with baji like those "lead vs rhythm guitarist" videos. baji and mikey playing the guitar will be such a good combo. he will definitely provide a good feel for the vocalist to sing over.

last but not least, CHIFUYU as the lead singer. dont even got me started on this. i imagined his voice is similar to jesse rutherford's voice. yes, a soft tenor! that angelic voice blends well with acoustic guitar but doesn't get lost in them. chifuyu's voice will kill you softly, in a beautiful yet sinful way. i could listen to him singing all day, yet i won't get bored of it one bit.

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collecting-stories · 3 years

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Book Club - 90s!Luke Patterson

Summary: Reggie books a gig at a suburban mom’s book club and Luke takes full advantage of the situation to flirt with you.

A/N: I’m literally writing two other Luke fics right now 😭😭

Julie and the Phantoms Masterlist

✰ ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰

The third Thursday of every month belonged to your mother. It was her day, when she demanded not to be bothered, when she spent hours out of the house socializing with the women’s group that she belonged to. And, out of all those Thursdays, there were always the very special few when it wasn’t her leaving the house but everyone else. The group rotated their meeting time, everyone for a blue moon meeting at your house, meaning, of course that you were expected to stay out. Staying out was not a difficult thing to do, in fact you relished the opportunity to spend a few more hours with your friends. 

It was one of those Thursdays, when all the ladies that your mother loved to lunch with were spending the afternoon at your house and you were making yourself scarce, that arguably the weirdest but maybe best thing happened. Your mom had told you before you left for school that morning that she expected you to stay out, and you would have, if you had remembered your wallet. But you’d left it in your room, on the edge of the vanity, and you didn’t want to be the one owing money when your friends went to lunch. A quick stop home should’ve been easy, the stairs were right off the kitchen and the side door was right there, giving you the opportunity to shoot upstairs and grab your wallet without her being the wiser to it. 

The whole thing would’ve gone off without a hitch except that when you walked through the side door and into the kitchen you came face to face with four boys from your school. You recognized them more for the fact that you didn’t hang out in the same circle; most of your friends held a certain level of contempt for the four guys that made up Sunset Curve. You didn’t necessarily dislike any of them, you didn’t necessarily even know them, though you would be lying if you said that the lead singer, who occasionally sat in front of you in math, was seriously making you rethink a deep dive into all this rock music. Luke, Reggie, Alex, and Bobby were standing in your kitchen. They were the Green Day/Nirvana worshipping, head banging rockers that ditched school regularly and got into worlds of trouble and they were standing in your kitchen.

Bobby was the only one who looked up from snacking on leftover hors d’oeurves, saying your name in surprise as the other three all stopped to look at you too. Alex gave an awkward little wave as he set down the small sandwich he was eating.

“Uh...what are you guys doing in my house,” you asked, looking between the four of them.

“Your mom tapped us to perform for her ladies club.” Luke explained, dropping his food on the plate and wiping his hands against his black pants.

Your mom had invited these four to sing for her conservative ladies’ group? You tried not to but you couldn’t help the smile that crossed your face when you thought about it. Whatever your friends said about the guys, you weren’t ashamed to say you had taken one of the free demos that Reggie handed out and had been listening to it on repeat for a while now. “My mom wanted you guys to play a gig for her and her friends?” You clarified.

“Until we started playing,” Reggie replied, and you couldn’t help laughing.

“I bet...you guys aren’t exactly...suburban mom rock.” You joked, “though I totally would’ve loved to see their faces when you guys started singing.”

The grin on Luke’s face was unmistakable though you missed it as you nabbed one of the sandwiches on the plate near Alex. It was probably some really stupid cliche, him liking one of the popular girls. Cute, cheerleader, future prom queen. You hung out with people who listened to Britney Spears and Spice Girls, any knowledge of the rock scene they might’ve actually had was only for the sake of making dumb jabs at him or his friends. Still, Luke had a massive crush on you and he wasn’t so embarrassed to admit it. Bobby joked that he wanted to “bring you over to the dark side” and maybe that sounded cynical but he thought he wouldn’t mind seeing you look a little less perfectly put together if it had something to do with him. Hearing you mention his music almost had him doing a back flip from excitement.

“So you’ve listened to our music?” Luke asked, moving closer to you, leaning on the counter beside you. Behind him, Alex rolled his eyes.

“Reggie gave out demos like...last month.” You shrugged, trying to play it off. You’d been excited to listen to their music, see if it was any good and had discovered that you actually loved it. They were talented guys and you felt surprisingly connected to the songs. “I might’ve listened.”

“I did!” Reggie piped up, “I gave demos to all the-” he stopped, mouthing instead, as if you wouldn’t understand him when he said ‘all the cute girls’.

“I hate to ask but...don’t you think like, actual clubs would be better places to promote your music? I don’t think the middle-aged moms are really a target audience, unless you’re into that kind of thing?” You said, peering down the hallway when you heard the familiar squeak of a floorboard. If the boys were still here than there was no doubt in your mind that your mom had told them to stay for some reason or another.

“You gotta start somewhere.” Luke replied, unfazed by the hint of judgement in your voice.

“My living room?” You asked, jokingly.

He smiled, “actually, we’re playing a club on the strip tomorrow night, we could, maybe, get you on the guest list?”

“We’re opening for someone else,” Bobby cut in, bringing Luke back down to reality, “I’m pretty sure no one’s ever even heard of the band we’re opening for.”

Luke glared at Bobby, sticking his finger in his mouth and then jabbing it into Bobby’s ear, a smile of success immediately lighting up his features when Bobby recoiled in disgust. “So what’d ya say?” Luke asked.

“I mean, I guess technically every band deserves girls screaming for them, so sure…I’ll go.” You agreed, eyes on Luke the entire time.

The last concert you had been to wasn’t even for you, your mom had dragged you to a Beach Boys concert up in San Francisco for her birthday weekend when your father refused to indulge her so-called ‘terrible taste in music’. “There are just some things we will never agree on and music is one of them.” He had insisted back then. It was the same thing you felt like telling your friends when you declined a party invitation in favor of heading down to the strip to see the guys play. You could’ve maybe played it off casually, as if you were heading down there anyway and Sunset Curve just happened to be opening but Bobby was right, you’d never heard of the band that was performing after them.

Not to mention Luke decided to show up for a least a quarter of the day just to mess with your head. You had spotted him in the hallway between classes and smiled when he looked your way, a split second before the sea of students scrambled to get to their lockers. Your own best friends appeared by yours, looking more and more like carbon copies of the Heathers every day. You kind of hated them, truth be told, but you didn’t have too many other options.

They were badgering you about the party as you tried to wrack your brain for an excuse that sounded convincing when Luke stopped, right in front of the three of you.

“Hey, I’ll see ya tonight?” He asked, whole body turned to face you and completely ignoring the looks of disdain and shock cloaking your friends faces.

You felt like a deer in headlights. Say yes and your friends would probably ostracise you, say no and you could just imagine the look on Luke’s face. Anything but this absolutely sincere and hopeful smile was something you didn’t want to be responsible for. You really liked him looking at you like that.

“Yeah, can’t wait.” You nodded.

When he stepped back out into the traffic of the hallway he touched your waist, as if he was anchoring himself for a second and you bit your lip, letting yourself watch him disappear before turning to face the firing squad.

“Luke Patterson?” Both of your friends spoke in unison, one breaking off to elaborate, “you’re ditching a party at Max Turner’s house for Luke Patterson?”

“His band is playing at some club on the strip.” You replied, shutting your locker and heading toward your next class. “They invited me to come watch the show.”

“And you’re going?”

You hadn’t been to anything smaller than a stadium concert before and the implication of a concert at a local club venue, right on the strip with all the ‘riffraff’ that were hanging around trying to make it big like their 80’s punk rock idols wasn’t exactly your scene but, Luke had looked so cute asking you to go and you had the tiniest, maybe delusional, feeling that he’d come to school just to remind you that tonight was the concert. How could could even consider some suburban house party to that?

“Yeah, why not,” you shrugged, trying to play it off like it was nothing, you could see your social status flashing before your eyes and your mom’s voice desperately begging you to reconsider. “Besides, Luke’s hot.”

“Did you have some kind of Freaky Friday switch when you woke up this morning? Luke is not hot.”

“Okay,” you drew the word as if disbelieving. He wasn’t some 90210 reincarnate but he was definitely one of the hottest guys in school, not to mention the sleeveless shirts were an added bonus. “Well, I said I was going, so I’m going.”

And, despite the continued protests of your friends throughout the day, you did go. You promised your parents you were spending Friday night studying at Terri’s house and took the bus down to the strip to wait in line for Sunset Curve and whoever was headlining. You stood there twirling your fake ID in your hands, listening to the two girls in front of you (who didn’t need fakes) talk about some drummer that wasn’t anyone you’d ever heard of and tried to look as mature as possible. If Luke, Alex, Reggie, and Bobby could play this venue, surely you could get into it.

Whether the ID worked or the bouncer at the front door just didn’t care, he let you through, admitting you into a pulsing crowd of people making their way through the small vestibule and into the venue. You slipped your way through the crowd until you made it to the front, pressed against the railing and inches away from another bouncer who seemed just as disinterested in you. The drumkit that was already on the stage had the Sunset Curve logo on it. You ran a hand through your hair and fixed your shirt, maybe it was silly but you were sort of hoping that even in the silhouetted lighting of the venue you Luke might see you. Maybe a little pathetic groupie on your end but he had invited you.

And he did see you. Halfway through Now or Never when he looked down over the crowd, he caught you, dancing along to their music, the smile on your face as you mouthed the words was infectious. It was the combination of seeing someone singing all the songs back to them and that person being you, mixed with the adrenaline of the performance, that had him pushing to give his absolute all. You’d actually come and he was determined to make this a great concert for you.

Alex was the one to announce that they would be in the vestibule during the lull between bands, they got the occasional straggler who dared to leave their post long enough to say hello or great job but usually it garnered nothing more than the four of them splitting some pizza and relaxing by their merch table. Tonight, as they headed off stage to an enthusiastic crowd, Luke chanced a glance back but he couldn’t find you in the sea of people. Reggie grabbed his arm, pulling him the rest of the way off the stage and throwing an arm around his shoulder, going on about how awesome the show was, Luke quickly returning the jovial compliment.

“We were fire, man, that sounded so rad tonight!” He cheered, following Alex and Bobby as they made their way through the small hall that wove back into the vestibule.

“It was insane!” Reggie agreed.

You had made your way back through the venue after Luke mentioned being at the merch table, slipping back passed the bouncer at the inside door, flashing your stamped hand. Their table was set up in the corner, a little way away from the headlining band’s. You stepped into the vestibule at the same time as the boys, waving at Alex when he looked your way. He nodded, reaching over to tap Luke’s chest with the back of his hand.

“That was incredible.” You admitted, walking over to their table. Luke’s smile instantly widened as he walked around to your side, not even thinking as he hugged you, your shoulders hunching at the feeling of sweat that encompassed you. “Ew.”

“Sorry, sorry.” Luke apologized, pulling away and putting his hands on your upper arms for a second before dropping them to his sides. “Still going off the adrenaline.”

“That’s okay,” you promised, “you’re cute enough to get away with it.”

“Yeah?” He leaned against the table, trying to look cool. He felt like he was grasping for words and he didn’t want to start stuttering or sounding dumb, Bobby would never let him live it down if he made a fuck up of himself. The other three tried not to laugh and ruin his moment.

You seemed to recover from the moment first, glancing at the other three before landing on Luke again. “You guys are totally a live band though...like that was so good.”

Reggie came in with a save, letting Luke off the hook for a moment, “Are you heading back in to see the headliner?”

You grimaced, “don’t really know them...not really interested.” You replied, keeping your eyes on Luke, hoping that was hint enough that you’d come just to see him.

It clearly was because, as a few girls stepped into the vestibule and looked like they were coming your way, Luke grabbed your arm, nodding toward the doorway for you to follow him. You did, walking with him into the hallway so that it was quieter, the sounds of the house music and the chatter of people outside being drowned out in the small corridor.

“So, uh, sorry I’m still wigging out that you came.” He admitted.

“I said I was going to, twice. Did you seriously think I was lying?” You asked.

“I mean, I heard your friends giving you a hard time when I walked away, figured you might back out.”

“Well, I’m glad I didn’t, seriously Luke, you guys are amazing. You’re so talented.” You replied.

“Guess I was right when I told Reggie to take that book club gig huh?” He said, fiddling with the rabbit’s foot on his keychain.

“Why’s that?”

“I thought maybe if I was lucky, I’d catch a glimpse of you...having you come here and watch us though? Better than I could’ve imagined.” He replied, grinning at you.

“You wanted to see me?”

“Yeah, don’t act so surprised.” He said, “you gotta know how insanely cool you are. And you look beautiful tonight, by the way.”

“Thanks,” you bit your bottom lip to try and keep your composure, “I uh...damn, you’re making me super nervous.”

“Yeah?” He stepped a little closer to you, his hands brushing against yours as if he was going to hold them. You couldn’t help wishing he would.

“I should probably let you get back to your fans,” you pointed out, glancing back out the door to where a few more people had gathered. If you stayed in this hallway with him any longer there was no way you were letting him back out.

“Hang out? We could grab some pizza or something after?” He asked.

“Yeah, absolutely.”

When he walked back through the door you followed behind him, hanging back so you weren’t hovering around them as they chatted with and signed stuff for the group of people that had ventured out between sets. It didn’t matter though, as he talked, he kept looking back at you smiling as if you were both in on some sort of secret.

#luke patterson x reader #luke patterson x y/n #luke patterson x you #luke patterson imagine #luke patterson fanfic #luke patterson fanfiction #luke patterson fic #julie and the phantoms fic #julie and the phantoms fanfic #julie and the phantoms fanfictions #julie and the phantoms imagine #jatp fanfic #jatp fanfiction #jatp fic #jatp imagine #collecting stories imagine

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kaz11283 · 3 years

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Main Attraction

Characters: Clint Barton, Loki, Thor, the Avengers

Warnings: maybe slight adult situations (if you squint)

Parings: Loki x Reader, Clint x Reader (I'm back at it with the Brother and sister pair!)

Summary: Each if the Avengers have their own way of winding down and keeping thier minds busy, yours just so happens to be performing with your brothers band sometimes.

"Are you nervous about tonight?" Loki asked as he sat on my bed waiting on me to get ready.

"No, not really. I mean it is the biggest crowd weve preformed in front of. But weve been doing this for so long it kinda get to were it doesnt bother us." You answered placing the second ear right in your ear. You had black leather tights on with an off the shoulder stone washed ripped shirt with a white tank top on, black ankle boots with fringe, both wrists had multiple metal braclets on, long dangle earrings, and three necklaces on. Your hair had been straighten stick straight and you had darker makeup on than you normally wore.

"Wow," Lokis jaw dropped slightly as you walked out and did a twirl for him. "I like this rocker look on you." You laughed leaning down to kiss him on the cheek.

"I know how uncomfortable you are around a bunch of people. Im just letting you know you dont have to go if you dont want to."

"Yes and let all those Midguardians fawn over you? No." He said rolling his eyes. "I want to go and see you in your element."

"Fighting is my element. Archery is my element. This? This is just a side hobby." He stands up and gives you a kiss.

"COME ON ROMEO AND JULEIT! LETS GO!" Clint yelled banging on the door. You laughed rolling your eyes.

"I dont like him." Loki grumbled pulling you back into him and placing another kiss on your lips.

"Hes not a really big fan of yours either Mr. Mind Control." You laughed walking to the door and opening it.

"Bout time. You look awesome by the way sis." Clint said throwing his arm around your neck. "We need to go ahead and head that way. Everyone else is gonna meet us there."

"Ok," you grabbed a hold of Loki and pulled him down to you. "I love you Daggers." You smiled kissing him.

"I love you too, arrows. Ill see you there."

~~~

Walking up onto the stage you could feel the excitement run through you as the crowds cheers echoed around you. You walked up to the mic and took a few deep breaths.

"You ready for this?" Clint asked walking up beside you.

"Always Birdboy, really just happy to be back on stage. Kinda like an escape from the norm." You smiled adjusting the mic.

"Well its a first time actually having the team in the crowd, not to mention Daggers." He saod making a kissy face.

"Shut up, your just jealous." You laughed grabbing your guitar.

"Oh yeah jealsous of you having such an adorable nickname Arrows." He laughed walkong tonthe front of the stage.

"Hey sibling rivalry, are we gonna perform or are you two just gonna banter back and forth?" Kane, the drummer yelled behind you.

You struck the first cord of the song and started singing, a deafening scream from the crowd started up. As Clint started singing the curtain raised showing you a packed out theater. The music flowed easily, like hopping back on a bike.

The lights came from behind you showing your silhouette to the crowd as you jump hitting a big note causing the crowd to go wild. Clint was getting more into the music as he started dancing and spinning on stage, this was one of your favoite songs to preform, not only did the band get into it but it was a good hype up song to kick things off. You walked to the front of the stage during your solo and looked down noticing Loki standing in the front row smiling one of the biggest smiles youve ever seen from him.

Walking back after the solo was over you went over to Clints mic with him and finished up the song. After an hour of straight performing and two encores you finally sat your guitar in its stand and walked to the back grabbing a bottle of water amd slapped Adam, the bass player, on the back telling him he had done good.

"That was an amazing opening." He said ruffling your hair.

"Thanks, I've been practicing." You said walking off to your group of people surrounding Clint congratulating him on the show.

"Of course, we cant forget how absolutly amazing Y/n looked up there." Thor yelled grabbing you in a tight hug spinning the two if you around.

"Ok, Thor, put me down now." You laughed giving him one more squeeze around the neck before he placed you back down.

"You were absolutly amazing, doll." Bucky said not looking at you but over your head to a group of girls standing just behind you.

"Yeah, yeah, go." You laughed pushing him toward them. "Where's Loki?"

Steve pointed toward the back were the dressing rooms were located. You walked to the one that had your name on it and opened it up being met by Loki shoving you aginst the closed door kissing you breathless.

"That was absolutly astounding my darling." He said finally pulling back alittle bit. "You were amazing up there."

"Thank you. You know we're going to have a couple more of these? You are more than welcome to come." You gave him a glance.

"I wouldnt miss them for the world."

"HOW COME EVERYTIME I TRY TO FIND YOU TWO YOUR BEHIND CLOSED DOORS?" Clint yelled from the other side. "Lets go! After party at the tower!"

"You would think by now he would get the hint." Loki groaned rolling his eyes.

"Come on, we dont have to attened the party. We can spend the rest of the night in our room." You winked opening the door and pulling him out.

~~~~~~

ANNOUNCEMENT: I'm back guys! I've taken some time off trying to get back in the right mind set and trying to get back to being me but I'm back now! I havent even opened the app till last night! But I am back. I am so excited because I am starting some classes tonight (furthering my education) and bettering myself! I am taking requests and asks so please send some in!

~~~~

Tag List:

@high-functioning-lokipath

@serpentargo

@drbaureid

@poetic-fiasco

@kgirardin

@sophlubbwriting

@supbeeches

@rosaline-black

@jesuswasnotawhiteman

@natandersonnla

@delightfulheartdream

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gifted-burnout-archive · 4 years

Text

The Other Side of Hollywood

PART FIVE

Word Count: 4.7K+

Author’s Note: So, this was going to be covering all of episode eight, but I got a bit carried away, and like, wrote too much? So, felt right to split it, the rest of episode eight will be in the next chapter (get the tissues ready). For now, enjoy some jatp au I made up!

Warning: brief discussion of death.

Part One is here, Two is here, Three is here and Four is here. The masterlist is here, and the moodboard I made for Y/N is aquí.

Y/N wasn’t the type to dream, but the more she tried to forget about music, the more she dreamed about… And the people linked to it. Her nights were restless as memories of the past few weeks stirred with flashes of things she couldn’t remember happening to her, often making her periods of sleep restless. It didn’t help that the flickering was getting worse, or that the one person she wanted to spend time with no doubt hated her.

Willie had been good enough to tell her what he had done: admitting to explaining everything to Alex, Reggie, and Luke. He didn’t plan on holding it back, walking straight into her room that night, a week ago, and letting it all tumble out before she could stop him. She just sat, glassy eyed as she listened, her focus somewhere else as she held herself.

“Y/N… Y/N say something…” Willie had asked, taking his hands in hers. Her eyes looked up into his, her forehead resting against his.

“You’re my family, Will… We stick together… I won’t tell Caleb.” She said simply, glancing around them at the mention of their boss.

“He came back, didn’t he? Yelled again?” Willie asked with a sigh.

“I’m fine.”

When Willie found Y/N at the bar the next morning, it was clear she had forgone sleep the night before. She was sluggish in her movements, but not without some sort of spirit in her, humming softly to herself as she straightened glasses on shelves. He sat down across from her on a bar stool, his elbows resting on the polished counter as he reached out a hand to catch her attention.

“Talk to me, Y/N. Please. You don’t look good.” Willie begged, not liking the sight of his closest friend in such pain. She had been getting worse as the week went on, almost like she was losing colour.

“There’s nothing to talk about, Willie… Have you seen Alex?” She asked, and Willie shook his head. He had been keeping his distance from the guys for his own safety, though it hurt not seeing Alex.

“I was planning to look for him today. Just now, actually.” He explained, and Y/N nodded.

“Then do that… I have somewhere to be.” She muttered, stopping when she caught her reflection, and sighing. She ran a hand through her hair, tidying herself up a little, and with a click of her fingers, she changed into better looking clothes. The perks of being a ghost…

“Y/N.” Willie said again, but when his friend started for the exit, he jumped from his seat and blocked her way. “You’re not well. You need to be resting, or something… Not disappearing every day and making Caleb more suspicious of you.” He whispered, holding her by the shoulders. “The plan doesn’t involve you dying, you know…”

“You help them… They cross over and all this nonsense stops…” She said softly, feeling a tear stain her cheek, that Willie quickly wiped away. “… Why do I feel like this?” she asked, catching Willie a little off-guard.

“Feel like what?” He asked, sitting her down at the nearest table. Y/N didn’t really talk about herself, how she felt… In the over a decade they had been friends, it wasn’t something that ever really came up.

“I feel…” She stopped, trying to describe it. “It’s like, heavy, everywhere’s heavy… And my stomach’s all knotted and there’s this fog in my head whenever I think about them…” She said in a hushed tone, rubbing the sides of her temple with her fingers, the black nail polish she had painted on them for that damned party last week now chipped.

“I… I think that’s guilt.” Willie said slowly, and Y/N opened her eyes.

“Guilt? You say it like I’m some sort of robot, Willie.”

“Well, before you met Luke… You sort of were.” He admitted, prompting a soft ‘oh’ to escape her lips. “I mean… You…” Willie tried to back track, but he couldn’t: Y/N needed to hear this. “No… Before a month ago, you were soulless. And considering that’s all you’ve got left…” He sighed, and Y/N just nodded in agreement.

“I just… I never felt like I was doing anything wrong before…” She confessed, her voice barely a whisper, and Willie nodded.

“Yeah… For a while, neither did I.” He agreed. This wasn’t their first time playing tempter and temptress for the club. It wasn’t the first time they had done bad things because they were told to, because they wanted to.

A jolt hit Y/N in the chest, causing her to groan and grip the side of her chair, Willie’s hands reaching out to help, but she shook her head.

“I’m fine. I’m fine.”

“So you keep saying, Y/N. And yet, here we are.” Willie reminded, receiving a harsh glare and weak punch in the arm. “I love you; I’ll see you later, alright?” He promised, and Y/N nodded gently, waving him off.

He glanced back once more, double-checking, but the seat was empty, Y/N already gone. It caused him to frown, but with Alex in his head Willie vanished from the club floor, landing in… A concert venue. Alex was sat on the couch beside him, twirling a drumstick between his fingers, eyes trained on the stage. He seemed to be lost in a memory, smiling softly to himself as his eyes lost focus. Willie flashed over, taking his place by Alex’s side with a sigh.

“Is this seat taken?” He asked, Alex looking over with a forlorn expression. He didn’t say anything in response, instead letting out a heavy breath and letting his legs swing for a moment, his eyes wandering over the room. Willie felt his hands clenching at the sight of Alex so sad, though he couldn’t do much about it.

“This whole thing sucks…” Alex softly said a few seconds later, the pair sharing a look Willie couldn’t hold.

“Yeah, I messed up.” He had been reminding himself of it over the past week quite often, usually in the company of Y/N. They would talk around it a lot, one time she had even offered some suggestions to getting their deal changed with Caleb.

“No, it’s like you said… You didn’t have a choice.” Alex reminded, both looking down at the stamps on their arms. “Caleb owns your soul, Willie…”

“No, still, I know what he’s capable of. I brought you guys right to him.” Willie’s eyes finally looked up at Alex. “When you guys asked me, I should’ve just skated away.” He said definitively, and Alex quirked a smile.

“I would have still followed you.” He responded, leaning closer to Willie for a moment before swaying back. “He would have found us one way or another… You’re not the bad guy, Willie…”

“Just friends with the people who are…” He sighed. “How… How are they doing, your friends?” He asked, and Alex rubbed the back of his neck with a sigh.

“Reggie is Reggie… Luke is… Angry? I think we all are but he… He’s spent the past week trying and failing at plans to help us cross over. I think he’s distracting himself.” He admitted to Willie, who nodded in understanding, no doubt in Alex’s mind that maybe Y/N had been distracting herself too. The bandmates all knew that this place, this was their end goal, but after Luke had made the connection last week he had been trying to find other ‘unfinished business’ options: something more attainable.

“Man…” Willie sighed, turning his body to face Alex better. “I would do anything to take back what I did to you.” It was a promise, even though the damage had been done, and Alex could tell he meant it. Another jolt coursed through Alex, his second that day, and Willie moved back in mild shock, watching the drummer hold his side. “I’m so sorry…” Willie muttered again. “I mean, did you guys figure out what your unfinished business is?” He asked, hoping for some good news, but was met with a tired scoff from Alex.

“It’s not like it’s going to happen…” He informed the skater, his eyes travelling around the venue once more, “We have to play here.” Alex finally revealed, and Willie looked around the room with Alex, not quite sure he had heard the boy correctly.

“The… The Orpheum?” He asked, deadpan, not quite sure if he was being serious: it was one of the biggest spots in Hollywood, alumni of the place were music royalty…

“Yeah, I mean, we were two hours away on that stage the night we died.” Alex pointed as he spoke, his hand dropping down as Willie uttered the following words.

“You guys were gonna be legends…”

“Yeah… We were…”

Willie’s concern for Y/N’s wellbeing was warranted: the jolts had been getting worse and more frequent, happening at least four time a day now; and she hadn’t spoken much about how she was feeling to him. Y/N knew Luke was angry, she was upset because of it, but tried her best not to show it. Last thing anyone needed was her teary-eyed and weak.

However, without the emotional outlet, Y/N had to find something else to do, find a distraction: find a new friend.

So, for the last week, Y/N had found herself at Los Feliz High School, quite literally shadowing Julie through the day. The first time, it had actually been a surprise to them both: Y/N had found herself wandering LA on Monday morning when she found herself at the steps to Los Feliz high: her own alma mater.

She walked around by herself for an hour or so, taking in how the school had changed in 25 years: there was certainly more than a coat of paint added, in fact the whole building had been renovated. Walls that were once dull greys and greens had become white, with splashes of red and blue scattered around. The ceilings had been opened up with skylights, making the whole space feel bigger; the cafeteria building was an entire new piece of infrastructure.

It was bizarre, to walk the halls and see smiling faces as if high school wasn’t the worst time of someone’s life… At least, for her it was.

Julie walked through her, actually, during lunch, as she and Flynn had headed for the music rooms to sneak in some practice. She had apologised to thin air, prompting Flynn to give her a funny look, and Y/N to laugh in response. After a brief explanation in the solitude of the band room, Julie insisted that she show Y/N around.

And that was how it had been, every day since. Y/N showed up to school around the same time every day, and followed Julie around her classes, allowed a look into a world she could barely remember being a part of. Y/N found Julie that day in maths class, appearing with a flash of light sat atop of Julie’s neighbouring classmate’s desk, sending the poor kid’s papers to the floor.

“Sorry I’m late, Willie held me up…” Y/N explained, receiving a smile in response. She knew Julie couldn’t talk back to her; she didn’t mind: more glad to be seen than anything. A glance around the room, students with their heads down scribbling furiously as their teacher paced at the board, make it pretty clear to Y/N that there was a test ongoing. “Oh… Sorry, I forgot about this.” She scolded herself for forgetting, Julie had mentioned it the day before, but with Luke and everything else on her mind, it had slipped through the cracks. “Did you study for this?” She asked Julie quickly, earning a quick shake of the head from the girl, who sighed and rubbed her temple in frustration.

Julie’s dad had told her that her grades needed to stay up if she wanted to keep singing with the guys, and Julie had been trying hard to balance it all: but it was math, and her teacher was horrid, it was only a matter of time before she showed up at home with a D in the subject.

“How about, I make up for intruding?” Y/N offered, and Julie glanced up with a raised eyebrow, curious. “Look, it’s a temporary fix, sure, but… You have an invisible friend, four in fact, you might as well use them.” Julie watched with wide eyes as the ghost girl walked to the front of her class, right through her teacher, and sat down at his desk, right where the answer sheet sat. “Oh wow, they really need to update their algebra exams… I’m pretty sure I did this exact paper in 94…” Y/N commented, and Julie had to stifle a giggle. “Wait… Is that Mr Norbert?!” Y/N exclaimed, looking back at the teacher. “He got fat… And bald… You know, he made this test to bump down kids’ GPAs…” She muttered, and Julie found herself clearing her throat. She wasn’t one to cheat at anything, but the test was impossible, and after Y/N clarified that it had been impossible since the 90s, the help would be more than appreciated. “Right, right… Make sure to mark some wrong, go for a… B+ average.” Y/N reminded, scooting the chair forward a little to start reading the answers, causing more than a few heads to look up at the noise. “Ok, number one is A. Number two is C. Number three is…”

Over the past week, Julie and Y/N had found themselves in a budding friendship.

It was unconventional, of course, but Y/N was sort of like the big sister Julie never had: Y/N 6 months on her alive and 25 years dead, so she was quite full of useful tid-bits, especially when she was looking for insights into ghost life, or insights into guys. And for Y/N, with Julie’s bandmates certainly hating her, and thanks to no-one wanting to give the girl bad news, she had the chance to make some proper girlfriends, both of Julie and Flynn, and still be connected to the guys, to Luke, even if it was second-hand.

The school day was coming to a close, and after Y/N’s help with her math test, Julie not only felt closer to the mysterious girl who had entered her life only a few weeks ago, but curious to know more: sure, the boys were dopey and a little reckless sometimes, but by the way Y/N talked, the way she dressed, it seemed to Julie that her newest ghostly companion was accustomed to bending the rules a little more than often.

“Hey.” Julie held her phone as she stood by her locker, sorting her books and essentials before the walk home, Y/N leaning on the lockers beside her, her fingers subconsciously moving through the air, like she was playing something no one but her could hear and see. “Y/N.” She said again, the girl knocked from her trance, looking over with a smile and a bounce in her body.

“Julie?” She responded, only for her face to change at the something behind her friend. “Julie.” She said again, gesturing for the girl to turn around. Julie spun on the stop, coming face to face with none other than Nick. She quickly dropped the phone from her ear, pretending to end the call and smiling sweetly at her crush. “You know, he looks better in daylight, and you really can’t say that about many people.”

“Mind if I get an autograph?” Nick asked with a smirk and a toss of his hair, earning an ‘awe’ from behind Julie’s ear.

“I’ll have to check with security.” Julie played along, glancing around, and doing her very best to not focus on the 90s grunge rocker girl ghost dancing around behind her in excitement: perhaps she was more like the guys than Julie thought. “Oh look, I don’t have any.”

“You say that, but after that performance last week, it’s pretty clear… You guys are gonna blow up.” He responded with a genuine smile, and Julie felt her heart flutter a little before reminding herself to not get big headed.

“It was just a garage party. Don’t go all crazy on me.” She dismissed his comment with a wave, but the smile was still there.

“He’s right, you know.” Y/N spoke from behind before circling the kid, pinching his denim jacket, and stopping for a moment. “You know, he looks like he’s in a modern Oasis tribute band. I like it.”

“Yeah, about that…” Nick pulled at the ends of his sleeves, and Julie couldn’t stop the blush rising to her cheeks. He had kissed her that night, and the pair hadn’t really had a chance to talk since. “Since we make such a good team, dance partners and all that, I was wondering if… If…” He laughed nervously, and Julie leaned forward a little. “Do you wanna maybe-”

“Yes.” Julie replied before he even finished the question, and Nick looked surprised.

“You-you do?” He asked. “You wanna go on a date?” He clarified, and Julie nodded, making sure her eyes didn’t drift to the celebrations Y/N was performing in the background. “Great! Uh, I’ll text you! We can schedule around the band practices, of course… Do you like Italian food?” Nick rambled a little, and Julie let out a sweet laugh.

“I do. But yeah, definitely send me a text.” She grinned from ear to ear as Nick walked off, a skip in the boy’s step.

“Uh, finally! I’ve been waiting a week for that kid to ask you out.” Y/N sighed in relief, watching the kid walk out towards the parking lot. It felt nice, for a moment, to not be focused on death and gloom and work, it felt nice to be a kid again. For a while, Y/N had forgotten what it felt like. “He’s been waiting to ask you for a while…” She said softly, and Julie tried to hide her blushing. Unfortunately for her, not only Y/N had noticed it.

“Well, that wasn’t just a what’s up…” Flynn saddled on over with an expectant smile on her face and the fashion sense of kings.

“Oh, that skirt…” Y/N stood by Flynn’s side, comparing the colour to her own skin tone as Julie watched on, amused.

“What? What’s happening?” Flynn asked, stiffening up. “Or are you just pretending one of them is here to avoid telling me what nick asked you?” She asked, still not moving, and Julie shook her head as she laughed.

“He asked me out, first off, and I said yes… And second, Y/N likes your skirt, so if it goes missing at some point.” Julie mumbled the last part, earning a ‘hey!’ from the ghost. “Come round after dinner?” Julie asked Flynn, who nodded, the pair embracing and parting ways, the former with a ghost tagged to her side.

“I’ll walk you to the door.” Y/N shrugged, sauntering beside the girl with a smile, reminding Julie of what she planned to ask before Nick had appeared.

“Do you want to come over?” She asked, earning an odd look from someone before quickly smiling and tapping her ear, pretending to be on wireless earphones. She quickly puled her phone back out and held it to her ear. “I mean, I’m sure the guys would want to see you…”

“Actually…” Y/N said softly, and Julie stopped to examine the look on her friend’s face. “It’s… Luke and I had an argument, the more I avoid the guys, the better.” She lied, but she had a knack for being convincing.

“Well, then I get you all to myself.” Julie said decidedly, and Y/N smiled weakly at her, that feeling for the morning returning: she felt guilty again, and she was half-convinced she’d have to ghost vomit, whatever that looked like.

Their walk home was refreshing, the first time Y/N had walked somewhere in a while, and comfortably quiet. Neither felt the need to talk much, Julie humming every once and a while to herself, both just enjoying the quality time.

They came round the garage to get to the house, Y/N’s eyes lingering for a moment on the doors before following Julie inside, only to get through the door and be walked straight through by Julie’s dad, who ran passed with Julie’s little brother Carlos on his heels, the second carrying two baguettes as he went.

“Dad?” Julie called after them, mouthing a quick ‘sorry’ to Y/N before following them into the kitchen, leaving the ghost alone in the entryway. Julie rounded the corner and raised an eyebrow at her dad and brother’s antics. “French dip?”

“Carlos found an old recipe; we think it belongs to the ghost haunting us.” Ry told his daughter with a wink, and Julie nodded quickly.

“Well, enjoy. If you need me I’ll be upstairs.” She informed with a wave of her hand, heading back for the entryway only to find Y/N stood at her dining room table, staring rather intensely into a box sat on the wood. “You… You all good Y/N?” She asked, the noise coming from the kitchen allowing her to speak freely.

Y/N’s head tilted, and her hand reached out to the CD sat amongst the box’s contents. There was something about it that seemed familiar, though she couldn’t place it, and as her fingers travelled through the object, she heard her name called.

“What?” Her head snapped up, and she smiled at Julie. “Sorry, sorry… In my own little world today. Meet you upstairs?” She suggested, disappearing before Julie could say otherwise. With a roll of the eyes, Julie climbed her stairs and entered her room, closing the door behind her and finding Y/N laid out on her bed.

“If Flynn and the guys weren’t enough, I need to worry about you stealing my bed too?” Julie asked with a laugh, Y/N propping herself up on her elbows.

“It’s a really comfy bed… Sort of your fault.” She shrugged, sitting herself up and crossing her legs as she sat at the foot of the bed. “You know, you’ve got a very… You, room.” She complimented, and Julie grinned.

“I’m a fan of butterflies.” She gestured around her, Y/N nodding as her eyes wandered: there had to be dozens of the creatures depicted in the room. It filled her with an overwhelming sense of déjà vu, something Y/N had felt a lot more often than she thought normal the past few weeks: but it was different…

Half of the time, there was nothing there to remember.

“You know, I had another friend who liked butterflies too… Rosalee.” Y/N said softly, the words unexpected. Julie sat on the bed across from her, grabbing a pillow and holding it to her chest, preparing for a story. Y/N had developed a habit of telling Julie tales about her best moments at the club, her best moments as a ghost, the reaction was reasonable. But Y/N was confused by the words, not quite sure what corner of her mind they had come from, though her lips kept moving. “Well, I called her Rosalee… Everyone else called her Rose. Her parents, our friends… But I had gotten her name wrong the first time I met her, and I couldn’t let it go… She looked like a Rosalee.” Y/N recalled, running a hand over her heart. “She was… So kind, and so funny. And she had this love of butterflies. They were everywhere: her jewellery, her clothes, her car.” Y/N let out a laugh at the thought of her.

“She told me about why she liked them so much once, something about her abuela telling her a story about them, that butterflies were this symbol of rebirth, resurrection, change.” And like that, Y/N came back from whatever place she had travelled to, glancing down at her hands: they had been moving while she spoke. “It’s funny, she was so stubborn… Maybe the butterflies were to remind her that change happens even when you don’t want it.”

“Were you friends with her when you…” Julie asked, speaking up for the first time in a while, but quickly trailing off, not wanting to be so blunt. The message was clear though, and Y/N answered her question with a nod.

“You know, I’d forgotten about her… You spend 25 years building a new life and you forget the old one.” Y/N said softly, sniffing as she thought, another image to her. “She wasn’t perfect, but she was pretty close… And my mom loved her.”

“Moms have that ability, don’t they? When my mom met Flynn, they hit it off right away.” Julie offered, lying back on the bed, Y/N following suit, so they were both staring at the ceiling. “It’s like some sort of sixth sense, picking out the good friends from the bad.”

“Tell me about her… Your, your mom.” Y/N asked, catching Julie smiling from the corner of her eye.

“She was my world...” Julie whispered, hugging the pillow tighter. “She always had energy, and she sang like… And had this heart that just loved everything and everyone it could.” Y/N closed her eyes and imagined Julie’s mom in her head, trying to picture her, though the image wasn’t clear. “She could write music too… We spent so much time together in the studio. She taught me piano, how to sing… She was the best. Sometimes I swear she’s still around. There are mornings… Mornings when I go downstairs and I can still hear her laughing with dad and Carlos, or late at night, I can hear her watching telenovelas in secret.” Julie blinked away the tears, turning to her side to look at Y/N. “What about your mom?”

“Ah… I wish my story were as nice as yours.” Y/N sighed. “I don’t really remember her anymore, and what I can is… Not very nice. I don’t think she was a bad person; I just think that once I had grown up a little too much, she started hating me… Everything I did was wrong, you know? And then they kicked me out, and I died… I don’t think she would have said that if she knew what was going to happen but…” Y/N shrugged. “I can’t really change it now… Both gotta deal with it.”

“Did you ever visit, after you died? That’s what Luke does.” Julie asked, and Y/N shook her head.

“Looked for them in the yellow pages once, but I think they moved out of LA after I died…” Y/N said, pausing for a moment as she processed the last of what Julie had said. “What do you mean that’s what Luke does.”

“Well, you both left on bad terms with your parents… He doesn’t think we know, but he goes to see them a lot…” Julie said softly, sighing. “He went on his birthday, Alex and Reggie took me along… He was just…”

“Luke’s birthday?” Y/N sat up, Julie giving her more and more to process.

“The day we played the bar downtown, yeah… Did he not tell you?” Julie furrowed her brow, and Y/N shook her head.

“Never came up…” She sighed, getting up and walking towards the window. How could she not have known about his birthday, about his parents? Of course, he didn’t know her, not really. “The song I like… Unsaid Emily?”

“About his mom, yeah.” Julie confirmed the thought for Y/N, who just nodded, moving away from the window after spotting movement, worried it might have been one of the boys. Julie watched her, racking her brain, and stopping on a thought. “I have an idea.” She announced, and Y/N looked at her from across the room. “Well, you’ve been helping me out all week, why don’t I help you back? Luke wrote out the song, I have a copy of it. What if I take it to his parents? Ask Luke to come with me, and when he asks, I tell him it was because of you. You two can patch things up, back to happy Luke again.” Julie proposed, and Y/N let out a sad laugh.

“I appreciate the gesture… I don’t think it’ll do much for me, but you should go anyway…” Y/N encouraged, watching Julie pick herself up off the bed to get ready. “Emily deserves to hear her song.”

Part Six is here...

Tags: @im-a-writer-right @elioelioeli0 @jenjen889 @walkingonshunshine @parkeret @lolychu @leahstypewriter @j-mar-memester @sunsetcurve-h @musicconversedance @gracefulpenguin @shae-is-not-ok @talksoprettyjjx @smol-book-nerd @lord-of-the-fried @siennanoelle01�� @deadpoolgirl23 @theatricalfangirl @deepsleepnat @hhyunj1n @lovesanimals @oswin05 @ifilwtmfc @crappy-unicorn @eries45 @noncannonships

#luke patterson #luke patterson x reader #luke patterson x y/n #jatp luke x reader #jatp luke #jatp #julie and the phantoms #fanfiction #fanfic #jatp au #reader insert #the other side of hollywood #luke patterson fluff #fluff #fantom

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storyofmychoices · 3 years

Photo

Taking the Stage

[Levi Schuler x Laura Day Masterlist]

Characters: Laura (MC), Levi Schuler, Lily (daughter), Luz Mendez Book: Mother of the Year [Levi x MC] Word Count: ~650

Synopsis: Levi is ready to take the stage at a major festival and he’s feeling a bit nervous. Prompts: @wackydrabbles #95: “You really do this every week” ; @choicesmaychallenge2021 sunset

A/N: The insta fandom is having an editing event for “Choiceschella” this weekend, so I was inspired to imagine Levi playing a big festival like that, so here is a little drabble about it~ Enjoy~

Levi shifted his weight between his feet, tapping his fingers against his thigh. He could hear the band on the next stage wrapping up their set. It was almost his turn. His heart raced, and a long sigh slipped through his lips. He had never played a festival this large before. He knew many in the audience weren't there for him, which meant more critics than he was used to. He ran through his setlist in his head, so distracted that he didn't hear her approach.

Laura's arms wrapped around his waist from behind. Standing on her tiptoes, she pressed a kiss to the side of his jaw. She rested her face against the back of his shoulder, nuzzling closer.

He tensed at the unexpected intrusion but quickly relaxed into the comfort of her embrace. He hummed happily, turning toward her.

"Nervous?"

His strong arms encompassed her, shifting her in front of him. Her dark eyes radiated with pride, eliciting a smile, despite his nerves. He nodded slightly, holding her to his chest. "Just a little."

"You're amazing, Levi." Laura ran her fingers through his hair, losing herself in his luscious locks. "They're going to love you."

He leaned forward, brushing a kiss on her forehead.

The setting sun warmed her features, bathing her in its golden-orange glow. He shook his head in disbelief at how just her presence calmed him. His heart still raced, but for a different reason; all worry and tension was gone. "The only person I need to love me is you."

Her eyes closed as her smile stretched across her features.

"I mean it, Laura." He cradled her face, lifting it to meet his gaze. His thumb caressed her cheek. "Every single song is for you. I could pen a thousand songs, and it still wouldn't be enough to capture how you make me feel."

"Lev—" the rest of his name was lost in his mouth as he kissed her deeply, letting himself get lost in her presence; his senses intoxicated with her.

The roar of the crowd grew as the previous band reached the end of their set.

"I love you, Laura. I couldn't do this without you."

"I love you, too, Levi."

"Give it back!" A deep voice called, pulling their focus.

There was a commotion behind them; feet moved quickly against the raised backstage platform.

Two young girls barreled forward, knocking into them.

Luz moved behind Levi, partially hiding herself.

"Girls, listen. I've tried to be nice. Now, give them back."

"No!" Luz stuck her tongue out. "If you didn't want anyone to touch them, you probably shouldn't have left them lying around." She twirled his drumsticks between her fingers.

"Luz!" Laura scolded, pressing her hands to her hips. Her eyes narrowed.

The girl sighed and held the sticks out to the drummer.

Hesitantly, he accepted them, waiting for more as if it were some kind of trick. "Just like that?"

Luz nodded. "She used her 'mom' voice."

"You don't mess with 'mom' voice," Lily added in agreement, handing over the pair she had borrowed at Luz's encouragement.

Levi chuckled and mouthed his apologies to his bandmate. The two girls never ceased to find trouble.

"It's time," the stage manager announced.

One by one, the members of his band walked out onto the stage to the cheering crowd.

"So—" Luz crossed her arms in challenge. "You really do this every week?"

Levi patted his hand on her head. "Nah. Not like this. This is something else."

"This is just the beginning." Laura pressed a kiss to his cheek, whispering in his ear, "You've got this, my love."

As the sound of the instruments crescendoed, the crowd grew louder, awaiting the lead singer.

Levi moved forward, waiting for his cue.

Lily quickly ran to him, hugging him tightly. "Good luck, Levi!"

"Thanks, Rocket." He kissed the top of her head. Then stepped out, taking the stage.

Choices Perma: @the-soot-sprite ; @princess-geek ; @gardeningourmet ; @katrinegrey ; @trappedinfanfiction ; @aleynareads ; @lucy-268 ; @xjustin-ethansgirliex ; @maurine07 ; @nikki-2406 ; @schnitzelbutterfingers ; @zeniamiii ; @tyrils-star ; @lilyoffandoms ;

MOTY: @lorirwritesfanfic ;

#levi schuler #levi moty #mother of the year #moty #levi x mc #levi schuler x mc #fan fiction #laura day #lily day #levi x laura #luz mendez

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nalgenewhore · 3 years

Text

masterlist - ao3 - last chapter - next chapter

☽ ☼ ☾

six years ago.

“I so am not going,” Elide shouted, gripping the slats of her headboard as her roommate pulled on her ankles. “I was at the shop all day, I’m tired.”

“Elide Lochan, get your bodacious bod out of bed and into something spooky,” Aelin commanded, bracing a high-heeled foot against the sideboard. “Get. Up. Now.” Elide groaned and flipped onto her back, blowing her bangs up with a huffed breath. They glared at each other, neither backing down. Aelin clicked her tongue, “Come on, it’s Samhain!”

“All the more reason not to go,” the dark haired girl said, crossing her arms across her chest. “It’s the sabbath - I will not go to your blasphemous boyfriend’s blasphemous party.”

“You know you love Ro-Ro. And c’mon,” Aelin whined, not above stomping her foot like a petulant child, “it’ll be fun!”

She sighed loudly and flicked her eyes upwards, “Fine. I’ll go.” Elide pushed herself to sitting and stood up. Aelin clapped her hands and collapsed onto the mattress as Elide slunk to her closet and flung the doors open. “I think… goth Barbie. Yes, no?”

“Yes, yes, yes,” her friend agreed, lounging about as Elide perused her wardrobe.

First, she pulled out her patch jeans. Not tonight. She looked at a corset dress and hummed, her head tilted to the side, “Maybe…” Elide unhooked a PVC pencil skirt and spun to Aelin, “Thoughts?”

Aelin propped herself up on her elbows, her brilliant eyes narrowed in scrutiny, “Ooh, with your new corset and the red top with the sleeves?” She made a vague gesture to represent the long sleeves. “Oh, wait, let me get you some shoes. I have the perfect boots.” Her long hair was a flash of gold as she launched herself up and out of Elide’s room.

Elide tossed her outfit onto her now vacated bed and sat at her vanity, fluffing her layered pixie-shag hair cut. She plugged in her hair straightener and as she waited for it to heat, she started on her make-up.

When the door was slammed open, Elide held her finger up. She filled in her wicked sharp eyeliner and used the tip of her ring finger to smudge some along her lower lash line. Then she stood up and turned, eyes landing on the red patent leather ankle boots. “Are those them?”

“Mm-hmm, how perfect are they,” Aelin asked, passing them to Elide. “I’ve been meaning to give these to you - they’re too small for me.”

“Ae, these are gorgeous,” Elide gushed, picking one up and running her fingers over it. “They’re beautiful, are you sure?” She hugged it to her chest, softly petting it.

Brilliant laughter spilled from Aelin’s glossy lips, “Yes, take them, please. I never wear them, I only bought them ‘cause they were, like, seventy-five percent off.”

“Oh, I love love love you,” Elide sang. She picked up her phone and opened her music, choosing a playlist at random. Her hips swayed to the bouncing beat of I’m Gonna Love You Too and Aelin laughed, singing along and dancing around.

Elide picked up her straightening iron and held it like a microphone, dramatically reaching towards her roommate, “You’re gonna say you’ve a-missed me, you’re gonna say you’ll a-kiss me…”

“Yes, you’re gonna say you’ll a-love me, ‘cause I’m a-gonna love you too,” Aelin sang, shimmying her shoulders.

Elide sat and hummed as she revamped her layers, curling them upwards into horn-like wisps. She clicked the straightener off and stood up, laughing and joking with Aelin as she got dressed. Once the underbust corset belt was snug and tied, Elide zipped her skirt up and smoothed any fussy wrinkles away. She twirled and popped her hand on her hip, “Well?”

Aelin studied her. Then she stood up and plucked the toy tiara Elide had once used in a costume and put it on her head. “There.”

Elide turned around and looked at herself in the mirror, fixing the tiara. “And now?”

“Be still, my foolish heart,” Aelin proclaimed, tapping her hand over her chest in an imitation of her beating heart. “You look absolutely ravishing, darling girl.”

Elide smiled and held her hand out, “Shall we? It’d be rude of the host’s girlfriend to be late.”

Aelin slung her arm around Elide’s waist and pulled her towards the door, “I thought I told you already, I’m never late. Everyone else is simply early.”

“Oh, yes, how could I have forgotten?”

“I haven’t the faintest idea, Elide,” she sniffed, primly turning her nose up. “Everyone should listen to what I say all the time. How else will the world turn round right?”

“You are my favourite person in the world, golden girl,” Elide laughed.

“I better be, I put a roof over your head and booze in your stomach.”

Elide laughed again and unscrewed the lid off the vodka bottle, pouring them both generous shots in the bottom of two random glasses. She passed Aelin hers and lofted her own, “To…?”

“Being, young, wicked smart, fucking hot and having zero responsibilities!”

☽ ☼ ☾

As he walked up the pathway to the creaking, booming house, he could feel countless sets of eyes burning into him. He rolled his shoulders and resisted the urge to glare at those staring. Honestly, he should’ve been used to it by now. It was either his height, his hip-length hair in a loose braid, or his… aggressive wardrobe.

Fenrys, the little shit, told him it was because of the frown on his face, but Lorcan didn’t believe him. He never had a shortage of offers, from whomever he so wanted and so chose. He thought it was because people considered him to be a challenge, a lost and wandering soul to tether.

Lorcan was just genuinely disinterested. That twelfth grade pipsqueak didn’t know what he was talking about. Lorcan regretted the day he ever agreed to let the high schooler’s band play a show at the club. The boy fell in love every single day with a new person.

Almost as if he had summoned him, someone familiar crashed into his back, lanky legs wrapping around his torso and reedy arms locking around his neck. Lorcan groaned and shook the kid off, “Fen, fuck off. Go home, you have school tomorrow.”

The dark-skinned boy hopped around to face him, a maniacal grin splitting his face in two, “No, sir, I got a pro-D day tomorrow. I’m up all night, all night, boy!” Fenrys howled and Lorcan shook his head at him, muttering something rude. Fenrys slung his arm around Lorcan’s waist, “Say, what are you doing here, Lor? I didn’t think the law students let anarchists in their fêtes, as it were.”

“See, my plan is to stay until they toss me out on my ass. I think I’m pretty unnoticeable, yeah?”

Fenrys laughed and slapped Lorcan’s back, over his patch jacket, “Yeah, thank the gods that you don’t have a huge red ‘A’ on the back of your coat or whatever.” Lorcan snorted. “I mean, you’re not all master of disguise like me.”

Lorcan eyed the spikes Fenrys had styled his kinky, dense hair into and chose not to comment. “How was your show tonight?”

“Dude!” Fenrys shouted, “It was crazy. I thought my arms would fall off.”

The boy started imitating playing the drums, violently, and Lorcan shook his head, “Come on, kid, let’s go.” He slung his arm across Fenrys’ shoulders and steered the drummer into the kitchen. Under the lights, Lorcan saw a flash of silver-blond hair, “Look, there’s Rowan, go talk to him.”

“Yo, Whitethorn,” Fenrys yelled, his hands cupped around his mouth. Lorcan rubbed his eyes, muttering something. Rowan turned around and smiled, lifting his hand to wave. He grabbed something and made his way over to them.

“Hey, man,” Lorcan said.

“Hey, guys, thanks for coming,” Rowan said, passing Lorcan a can of beer. “You just get here?”

“Yeah,” Lorcan said, “I had some stuff for class and Fen had a show.”

Rowan nodded, “Oh, you know what, you should tell me when your next show is so I can come.” He looked so eager, so earnest, Lorcan almost felt bad for him.

Fenrys roared with laughter and cuffed Rowan’s shoulder, “That’s fuckin’ funny, man, I’m going to go see if I can find Ashryver.” He departed, his head bopping to the beat of the music.

Rowan turned to Lorcan, his brows furrowed, “Funny? Why?”

Lorcan pressed his lips together to avoid smiling, “I think that Fenrys is saying that his music… it isn’t really your style, ya dig? It’s very nice of you to support him, but c’mon, Rowan. You went to one show last year and were scared to touch anything. Now we have to go find Fen ‘cause I’m not dropping him off at home wasted again. Emrys will beat me to death and cook me.”

His silver-haired friend laughed and they walked to where they could see Fenrys’ bleached-blond liberty spikes sticking above everyone else’s head. He was standing at one end of a ping-pong table, opposite two stunning women. The dark-haired one caught Lorcan’s eye and he stared for a moment, trying to figure out where he recognised her from.

“Salvaterre, do you want to keep drooling over my little sister or do you want to play?”

“I hope you choke to death on Rowan’s dick, Ash,” Lorcan replied evenly. He didn’t turn his gaze from the girl, who stared back at him, her eyes brazenly surveying him. Lorcan saw the challenge in her eye melt into heated appreciation. He ducked his head to hide his barely-there grin from Aelin’s hawkish glare and bounced a ping-pong ball off the table, “Are we playing or do you just want to keep guarding your sister’s virginity for eternity?”

The woman standing next to Aelin cackled with delight and leaned over the table, “It’s a little too late for that, but it gives her a sense of purpose now. I’m Elide, if you ever want to stop referring to me as ‘Aelin’s little sister’.”

He laughed quietly, “It’s nice to meet you, Elide. I’m Lorcan, this is Fenrys,” he gestured to the boy next to him. Fenrys gave her a toothy grin and a two-fingered salute. “So, are we playing or what?”

“That sounds like a challenge, Lorcan,” Elide mused. Lorcan arched a brow and slowly looked her up and down. The black skirt she wore clung to her sinful curves and the corset cinched her waist tightly. Against her pale complexion, the blood red, long sleeve top she wore made an alluring and tempting contrast, matching her crimson-painted lips.

“Maybe it is,” he countered, tilting his head to the side.

Her eyes sparkled with something and she kissed the ping-pong ball before tossing it. It soared in a perfect arch and landed directly in the cup nearest to him. Lorcan’s brows raised and Elide laughed a delicate, smokey and sultry sound, “I like a challenge.”

☽ ☼ ☾

“Come with me,” Elide said, holding her hand out expectantly.

Lorcan looked between her outstretched hand and her face warily, “Where to?”

“The kitchen,” she said, waving her fingers, “c’mon, my drink is empty.”

He stood and let her pull her behind him, laughing under his breath at her cockiness. Lorcan drained the last of his drink and tapped it against his bottom lip. “Where do I know you from? I feel like I’ve met you before.”

She turned and walked backwards, their joined hands hanging between them, “Hmmm… I don’t know. I go to the Vaults a lot, maybe I’ve seen you there?” she asked, referencing the local punk club near the university. Elide gave him a cheeky once-over, “You seem to be of that… persuasion.”

“As do you,” Lorcan replied, nodding his chin towards her layered, wisp-filled pixie cut. “Very Twilight of you, I must say, princess.” He reached out and flicked her tiara.

As they arrived at the kitchen, Elide dropped his hand and hopped up onto the counter beside the collection of various bottles of alcohol. His hand tingled at the loss of contact and he squeezed his fingers into a fist. “I love me some Alice Cullen. She was my queer awakening.”

“Ah, mine was Heath Ledger,” he replied back, smug. Lorcan grabbed the bottle of whiskey and poured a long, long shot into his cup. Then he got a can of Coke from the ice filled cooler and poured that to the rim. Elide chuckled when he bent to sip in case of a spill.

Lorcan pushed his hair back as he stood back up and watched her pour a sickeningly green liquor into her cup. “Damn, that’s… green, shit, Lochan.”

“Yeah, I like my tongue spooky colours,” she said with a shrug, putting the green one down and drowning it in vodka and Sprite. “Don’t you?”

He laughed, “Maybe. What kind of spooky are you talking about?”

Elide hummed coyly, taking a sip of her, indeed, spooky drink, “All kinds of freaky shit.” She patted his arm, “So, if you live with Ro, why do I never see you?”

“Oh, I’m- I’m a photographer so I’m not home much,” he said, drinking from his cup. “I go to a lot of concerts and stuff.” Lorcan leaned against the counter opposite her and lifted his leg to kick her foot. “So what do you do, hmm? Are you in the art program?”

Elide tilted her head to the side, “Well, I was. I dropped out first year for a tattoo apprenticeship and I’ve been doing that for a few years,” she said, scrunching her nose up.

“Y’know what, I think we had a class together first year. I think I… spilt coffee on your drawing.”

Her eyes lit with recognition, “Oh my gods, yes! I so remember you, I was so mad about that.”

He ducked his head, “I’m real sorry about that.” A lopsided grin spread across his lips and he looked up, “So, where are you apprenticing?”

“The Omega on Main street, you know it? Run by Blackbeaks, exclusively?”��

“Holy fuck, yes. I’m getting a tattoo there next week,” Lorcan said, his eyes wide. “Their tattoos are… amazing. It’s fucking art work.”

“I know! You know, if you know what you’re getting, I might’ve worked on it.”

“I’m getting an old school, traditional style raven on my chest,” Lorcan said, gesturing from shoulder to shoulder and down his sternum. “I got one of the freaky twins. Fallon, I think.”

Elide nodded, “Fallon is amazing. She’s actually hilarious when you’re with her one on one. She likes Enya and has her on her tattooing playlist, so prepare for that.” She hopped off the counter and hooked her finger in his belt loop. Elide pulled him, once again, and guided him towards a couch. They sat down, Elide’s legs haphazardly strewn across his lap. Lorcan’s hand splayed above her knee and he toyed with a rip in her tights.

Lorcan rested his chin on her shoulder and bumped his nose into her jaw, “So, what’s your Samhain declaration?”

She leaned backwards and regarded him seductively, “Hmm… to new things and new… people.”

Lorcan lifted his cup and said: “To new things and new… people.”

☽ ☼ ☾

Lorcan wrangled Fenrys, “Boyo, come on. I gotta get you home.” He sighed and tossed the bony boy over his shoulder.

Elide shrugged on her faux-fur coat - white with black hearts - and laughed at the sight as she fluffed her hair, “Aww, you take good care of your baby. Look at the little guy.”

He grinned and leaned against the porch column. “He sure is a champ in the morning. So perky,” Lorcan slapped Fenrys’ ass and chuckled when Fenrys whined, drowsily mumbling a protest.

She giggled tipsily and walked out, impressively straight given how much vodka she’d consumed. “I’m a Blackbeak, bitch. We bleed vodka,” Elide said, pronouncing the last word with the accent of her mother.

“Oh, shit,” Lorcan mumbled, “I didn’t mean to say that outloud. Whoopsies.”

Elide laughed and patted his cheek before she leaned in and kissed his face, “Goodnight, my darling.”

He laughed, the sound slightly choked, “G’night, princess.”

She clicked her tongue and walked down the steps, going to the cab she’d called. “Give Fenny Poo some meds and water and don’t call me ‘princess’!”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Don’t call me that either!”

“As you wish, princess.”

She scoffed and held her middle finger up high, “I loathe your existence, Salvaterre!”

“Oh, don’t be mean to me, please, gorgeous, I’ll fall in love with you,” he crooned, smiling wildly.

In retrospect, it hadn’t seemed so likely.

☽ ☼ ☾

an: i luv them 🥺couple notes: - aelin & rowan r three years older than elide & lorcan, fenrys is in twelfth grade ! - lorcan is anarcho-punk and elide is riot grrrl !

songs played in chapter: (by order of appearance) 1. I'm Gonna Love You Too - Blondie (cover of original by buddy holly)

@mythicaitt @werewolffprince @schmlip-scribble @the-regal-warrior @ladyverena @ttakeitbacknoww @shyvioletcat @alifletcher2012 @tswaney17 @ourbooksuniverse @flora-and-fae @thesirenwashere @queenofxhearts @maastrash @mynewdreamwasyou @cursebreaker29 @empress-ofbloodshed @b00kworm @hizqueen4life @silversprings98 @amren-courtofdreams @minaidss @superspiritfestival @sanakapoor @ireallyshouldsleeprn @spyofthenightcourt @thegoddessofyou @more-espresso-less-depresso-xx @claralady @neonhellas @darlinminds @readingismyonlyhobby @autophobiaxx @silversprings28 @myshadowsingeraz @aelinfeyreeleven945tbln @elriel4life @always-in-a-daydream @jlinez @ladywitchling @mariamuses @darklesmylove @adelzd-bookblr

#star-crossed & moon drunk #sc&md chapter two #elorcan #elide x lorcan #elide lochan #lorcan salvaterre #stella luna salvaterre lochan #isa writes #nalgenewhore

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ciaraloves · 3 years

Text

obscure things I love

(21 obscure things I love for the 21 years I've been alive):

people who go to gyms early in the morning.

the word "filthy".

people who quote religious passages and then add modern day slang for emphasis— yes I have actually seen someone do this. it was jarring and wonderful [mock eg: ciara 16:8 and that's the tea]

people who say "we should meet up for coffee sometime" and then actually make plans to do so and then go through with them.

watching myself in the mirror at the hair salon.

people who write really pretty and aesthetic study notes. taking the time to make something so otherwise mundane beautiful is so sweet and precious.

when I comment on a fanfic and the author comments back. my heart bursts.

people who are so absolutely sure of their movements. the drummer who twirls their stick in their hand and know without a doubt they'll be able to catch it and carry on perfectly. the person in six inch heels who walks like they cannot imagine falling. the player who catches the ball from a court away and continues as if it was as easy as breathing.

when you see family and friends you haven’t really seen since you were young and you slip into that really comfortable state you guys used to be in and you can feel the years between you but its not a chasm it’s a bridge and with every question, answer, story you take one step towards each other.

when boys roll their eyes.

people who procrastinate things to the literal last minute. y'all are absolutely wild and I'm in awe of you.

the word "bonkers".

when my best friend posts a song she's listening to on her status and mentions me because it's tied to a memory of us but she doesn't expressly tag me so I know it's not for me but that I exist as a part of her and she wants to show that.

watching people read. I cannot count the amount of times I've passed by a person reading, or sat at a coffee shop and watched them through sips of chai, or walked around a park and saw people lazing on their backs a book blocking the sun, and fallen inexplicably and irrevocably in love. I think it's the act of immersion and the softness of their features, so far away from this reality, that catches my breath.

pen marks and smudges on skin.

the first sip of a hot drink

when it's just peaking true afternoon and the house is lazy and nobody really wants to do anything and it's too hot for a fire but too cold to not be smothered in blankets so there's just this little bubble of everyone cocooning and reading or watching TV and it's so peaceful and you kind of just know that this is home

the burning ache in your hands and feet when you step into a hot shower after a cold day

when people duck their heads slightly when the car goes under the height barrier in parking lots like their heads are going to brush it through the roof of the car

people's organization tags

thirst traps. I love that you know you're hot and you want to show it.

#I love the world #Ciara is a simp for life again #Ciara's Convos

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salandition · 4 years

Text

Dizzy

Leon/Male!Reader

Summary: When you stop making the room spin, an unsettling whistle leaves your lips and Leon slowly backs away from you as you keep stalking toward him- and all of a sudden he’s aware of the feeling you’ve been giving him the entire night. Something intoxicating that makes him feel like prey.

Warnings: Rated T. Consumption of alcohol, making out while inebriated, and sexual themes, but no smut. Just a lot of tension and dancing.

A/N:My first Leon fic! Hoo hoo! I wasn’t sure how I felt about making my first fic a male insert, and I juggled with the idea of making it gender neutral instead, but the narrative of a male reader fit better. Plus. I am... very gay for Leon, and I wanted to indulge. SO i hope you all don’t mind the assigned gender in this fic!

--- --- ---

Maybe it was the drinks. Maybe it was the atmosphere- the dancing, the bodies pressing against each other, the neon lighting flashing in the dark room, painting everyone's skin with its fantastical colors. Maybe it was the music that Leon could feel in his core as he was tossed around the crowd, from person to person, his hair sticking to his sweaty neck that glowed pink and blue.

But something was happening. There was a certain energy in the air, buzzing around the entire bar, and it lit Leon aflame, stumbling and falling as he tried to keep up with it. Keep up with you.

You felt untouchable. You looked ethereal- your body and your voice that swayed with the lyrics you sang on stage, guitar in your arms strumming chords that Leon felt vibrate through his spine. Your eyes that trailed him up and down-

Everything about you was so intoxicating that it might be dangerous .

Raihan was the one that suggested they go out tonight. ‘To loosen up,’ his friend had said. Leon didn’t think he needed to loosen up, he felt just fine, but spending a night out drinking and relaxing with friends didn’t sound like a bad idea. And Nessa had insisted that she ‘knew a place’. The perfect place, apparently.

That’s what led Leon underground in Spikemuth, to a bar he had no idea even existed; and at first, it was fine. The group sat at their private little booth in the corner because Leon had a reputation of being seen and ruining the vibe with his fans, not that anyone would admit that out loud (besides maybe Raihan). But this place was special. It was dark in the bar, the only light provided was from the neon lamps placed on bar tables, the rings that people wore, and the poles and stands that were on the stage in the back.

When Leon asked what the stage was for, Raihan said they liked to play music. It wasn’t much later after that when things started to turn.

The drinks the bar served were full of flavor. Citrusy and sweet, lulling you into a false sense of security that you weren’t really drinking that much alcohol. They seemed to glow as well, leaving your teeth a sticky color, which Leon had laughed at when he first saw it.

It didn’t seem as funny when it was used against him.

The champion had gone to the bar alone, ordering the next round of drinks for his table. He was feeling confident with the dark atmosphere and the fact that no one had noticed or pulled him aside yet. The confidence seemed to falter when the bartender asked him what he wanted, and he realized he didn’t know the names of their glowy-type sweet drinks, and it was too dark to read a menu. If a menu even existed.

That’s when someone had slipped behind him. He could feel someone’s chest lightly touching his back as they leaned over, placing a hand on the bar counter beside him. The champion bristled but didn’t say anything as he turned around, expecting it to be Raihan messing with him-

Instead, he met your eyes, and that’s when the fire in his belly started.

You didn’t meet his gaze. Your teeth were glowing, like his, and your lips were stained and smeared with purple as you listed several words he wasn’t familiar with to the bartender, and suddenly the man was working, his hands busy as he whipped up several drinks.

That’s when you looked down at Leon, and he felt like his throat was suddenly drier than it should be.

“Are you new?” You asked him quietly, only for Leon to hear, and Leon felt the need to suddenly shiver.

“Ah- I suppose it’s obvious, isn’t it?” He laughs lightly, joking at his clear inexperience with the bar, and your teeth disappear when you smile at him.

“Just a tad. I don’t mind lending you a hand, though. You should have a good time, this place can get overwhelming,” you lean a little closer, making Leon feel the heat radiating off your body, and it’s making him sweat, “if you don’t know what you’re doing.”

Leon opens his mouth, but no words come out. Thankfully, he’s saved by the bartender, who places several different drinks on a tray and puts it on the counter. You smile again and push the tray toward him, and Leon looks at you in confusion before reaching back for his wallet.

You’re already close enough that you easily stop him by placing a warm hand on his arm. “It’s on me. Bring the drinks to your friends.” You lead his hand to the tray, and you finally take a step away from Leon, giving him room to breathe. Leon really shivers then by the sudden shift in temperature- he was suddenly much colder than before. “Have a good time, new boy,” you told him with a wink, and suddenly you disappeared as if you were never there at all.

Like a figment of his imagination.

Leon tried his best to shake it off. If you were real, you were certainly strange. The aura you carried and the way you talked to him-

No one ever talked to him like that.

But, again, he shakes it off. He brings the tray of drinks to his friends, all who holler and cheer when he returns. When Sonia asks what took him so long, he doesn’t know what to say, so he just hands her a drink instead.

Raihan gives him a look, and Leon ignores it.

Things start to fall back like they were before. Leon laughs, he jokes, he wrestles with Raihan. Ordinary things for a night out. And then, finally, people start to set up on the stage. Somehow it gets even darker in the club, but the light stands that surround the borders of the stage glow brighter.

You step onto the platform, electric bass in your hand, and you go right for the microphone in the center. Leon once again feels his throat dry up when he sees you, for reasons that he really can’t find the right words to explain.

Music starts to play, slow and sweet and alluring. Leon can’t help but ask because he can’t seem to tear his eyes away- “who is that?”

“Him? That’s ___,” Nessa replies, resting her head in her hand as she looks at the stage. Her body naturally sways to the beat. “Him and his band play here a lot. Not sure about the name of the band because they never really announce themselves. They don’t really have a schedule either. They just come up and play, and no one says anything. They’re really good, though.”

Hm.

The slow beat only lasts for so long. The bass players behind you and the drummer all start to amp up, and eventually, your voice comes through the speakers of the club. “It’s about time we livened things up, don’t you think?” The patrons of the clubs all woot and cheer, making you laugh. “Mm, I thought so. Alright. I want to see some of you pulling your best moves, then.”

You strum your guitar, and the mood changes.

Here I am, tied and bound,

Every night, feeling low,

Bad days come back whatever,

Raihan chuckles from beside Leon as his head starts to bob to the beat, and Sonia wiggles out of her seat. “We should get up and dance!” She suggests, and Nessa seems to agree as she leaves the booth.

Leon doesn’t want to dance, not really, but he’s basically torn from his seat and pulled into the crowd by his friends as they all begin to move with the beat. The lights on the stage begin to glow and change color, reflecting on the sea of people in waves, bouncing and sinking into sweaty skin as Leon keeps his eyes on you.

In the sun I bathe, in everyday light,

You draft me down for a split second tomorrow,

What am I supposed to do?

Somehow, your eyes find his. They stay on him, bore into him as you sing, even as Nessa twirls him around and laughs at how distracted he is.

I know you would make me happy,

Girl, I found my way out,

I found it at last now I’m sober

Oh-oo-oooo-

Your eyes practically shine as your head raises high,

Let’s go!

The bass guitars thrum loudly and everyone enjoys the rift, and Leon’s forced to tear his eyes away as he dances and laughs when Sonia nearly trips, falling into Raihan instead, and then he twirls her across the floor until she falls into Nessa’s arms and the two start to dance in sync together.

Leon distracts himself with the music. He tries to ignore the feeling of your eyes burning into him as the music continues, gets louder, vibrates through him just like your voice had done to him earlier. He lets himself enjoy the sweat and exhaustion that comes from dancing so much, the ache in his feet- he thrives in it.

You had told him to enjoy himself, hadn’t you?

His cheeks hurt from how much he was laughing and smiling, and he starts to forget about your purple-stained lips, but then you did something unexpected.

The songs you and your band made, easy to dance to, come to a quiet, and Leon had noticed how you removed your guitar and set it to the side. Music comes again as you walk up to the mic with a whistle, but the intense beat had him stopping in his steps to stare up at you. Slowly your hands went around the mic as you sing,

Woke up in the morning feelin’ cynical, typical,

Tryin’a rub the sleep out of my bloodshot eyes,

Did I just die? Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah,

You smile as you take the mic away from the stand, but your eyes remain somewhat neutral and cold as you look out to the crowd.

I’ve been feelin’ self-destructive, but I love it,

I can’t help myself- your taste is so seductive,

Leon’s surprised when you hop off the stage, the line of the microphone following behind you as you twirl the wire between your fingers, but no one else seems to think it’s strange. Maybe you do it often. Naturally, people move out of your way as you continue to sing, but Leon finds himself frozen in place.

I’m feelin’...

Dizzy dizzy dizzy dizzy- on my mind, can’t rewind,

Dizzy dizzy dizzy dizzy- all the time, that’s my life,

And you’re headed right for him.

Somehow, he felt like he should have predicted it from how your eyes bore into him as he swayed and danced to your voice. But now? Again he realizes he doesn’t feel like dancing, but you reach for his arm just like before and pull him toward you anyway, making him twirl with you, everyone’s eyes on the two of you.

He doesn’t see them, and neither do you. The two of you are too busy twirling, twirling, twirling.

Dizzy dizzy dizzy dizzy- on my mind, can’t rewind, you sing,

Dizzy dizzy dizzy dizzy- all the time, that’s my life,

When you stop making the room spin, an unsettling whistle leaves your lips and Leon slowly backs away from you as you keep stalking toward him- and all of a sudden he’s aware of the feeling you’ve been giving him the entire night.

Something intoxicating that makes him feel like prey.

Frontin’ about my day, I’m feelin’ criminal, habitual,

I try to hide my pain behind a broken smile, so out of style,

Leon keeps backing up until his heel meets a surface- the stage. He backs up as far as he can against it, and you reach for him again, your hand smoothly running against his stubbled jaw as you move in close. Close enough that he can feel that same heat from before, the kind that makes him want to shiver.

Your hand holds his jaw, keeps him in place as your chest's touch and the microphone is the only thing keeping you away from his lips as you stare deep into his golden eyes.

I’ve been feelin’ self destructive, but I love it,

I can’t help myself, your taste is so seductive,

The tension is left unresolved as you pull on him again, away from the stage, and once again, you spin with him.

I’m feelin,

Dizzy dizzy dizzy dizzy- on my mind, can’t rewind,

Dizzy dizzy dizzy dizzy- all the time, that’s my life,

Dizzy dizzy dizzy dizzy- on my mind, can’t rewind,

Dizzy dizzy dizzy dizzy- all the time, that’s my life,

At the end of your chorus, you wink at him again and send him flying, twirling toward the crowd and right into Raihan’s lean, firm chest. You meander around the crowd some more as you sing, but after that, you eventually hop back on the stage to finish your song.

Leon, to put it simply, is out of breath, but you don’t look affected in the slightest. Maybe because it’s your job. Maybe because you're from another planet?

“Holy shit, man,” Raihan laughs from behind Leon as he grabs the Champion’s arms, twirling him once again, and Leon thinks he might just vomit if someone makes him spin like that one more time. “What the hell was that?”

The song isn’t over, but he can’t even hear it anymore as he’s swarmed by his friends. Nessa looks blown away. “We can’t take you anywhere, can we?” She laughs.

“Apparently not!”

“Har har,” Leon groans, a hand moving to clasp his sweaty forehead. “I think that’ll be enough dancing for me.” Behind him, he’s mildly aware of someone messing with his hair, and suddenly it feels a bit cooler as his hair is tied up into a ponytail, away from his neck and shoulders. Half his mind still intact, he reaches behind him, clasps a hand that feels like Raihan’s and squeezes it as a form of thanks- and then he’s stumbling away, back to his booth where he can catch his breath.

Time swirls in his head unsteadily, his head throbbing with the beat of drums and electronic noise. Leon still feels so hot- a heat in his belly that’s swirling and twirling and making him woozy. Resting in the booth he undoes a few buttons on his dress shirt, just wanting to cool down, but his tight pants keep him constricted and sweating.

Cool down. Leon just wants to cool down.

Blurry visions of purple lips and teeth cloud up his mind, and his pants are so tight, and a painfully unfamiliar and alluring voice still bounces in his skull. He hardly even notices when imaginary becomes reality as you eventually sit next to him in the booth, your hand on his thigh, and your chest pressed against his arms as you flash those bright teeth at him again. Weren’t you singing on stage? When did you leave? Where were his friends?

Are you really real?

He wants you to prove it to him.

Your laughter rings out, and suddenly you’re closer than before, and his disoriented mind hardly cares when your hands wander around his form. Purple lips press softly against his own, probably stained another hideously lovely color, but Leon’s so hot that it feels like a fever as his body moves to straddle you and he kisses you again. Again.

Something pulls on the loose strands of hair spilling out of his ponytail, and he moans, and then his hair is pulled once more- harder- and there’s a tongue in his mouth that tastes like razzberries.

Are you real?

Your lips trail against his jaw, hands holding his hips firmly- when did you get under his shirt? Leon can feel warm breaths on his ear, and there’s a whisper that rings through his hazy, clouded mind.

“I’ll prove it to you.”

It sounds like music.

---

Waking up wasn’t pleasant when it felt like you were only waking up to a nightmare.

His dreams- he had barely dreamt- but his dreams were fuzzy and warm, pleasant. Nothing like the painful throb that he woke up to, thrumming through his whole body and his skull. The Champion doesn’t even have the pleasure of waking up in his own home.

When he opens his eyes, he sees that he’s in a living room of some sort, but he’s never been to this place before.

Which begs the question of how he got here at all. He has a feeling it’s not because of his horrible sense of direction- especially when he moves up from where he was sleeping on the couch and the blanket draped over him pools in his lap, letting him see the various marks that scatter across his body.

Hickies, love marks, predatory bites. Call them what you will.

There’s a lot of them.

“I see the Champion is finally awake,” a voice that’s only vaguely familiar cuts through his thoughts. Leon looks up, finding a blurry form of a body in a doorway. He can’t make out who it is, but when they step closer, his mind quickly catches up and does the math for him.

It’s you- that singer from last night. No longer bathed in neon lights, you look dramatically different- especially because you’re wearing a loose shirt and no pants, and Leon can easily see the bright marks scattered on you just like they’re on him.

He must have done that. To you.

“You know,” you speak up again, breaking Leon out of his thoughts. You move to sit carefully on the coffee table placed in front of the couch he’s on. You keep your distance, and the gesture is appreciated in the back of Leon’s mind. “I was surprised when I woke up this morning. I had no idea it was you.”

“You didn’t?” His voice is croaky and dry, and that’s when you hand him the glass of water that he hadn’t noticed you were carrying, along with two white pills that are probably aspirin.

“To be fair, the club is really dark. And I had already had a few drinks in me when I went up on stage.” You watch as Leon chugs the water you gave him. “But I was miles more sober than you were. I should have noticed.”

The information doesn’t make him feel better. There’s an uncomfortable feeling spreading through him from his gut, making his shoulders tense-

“We didn’t do anything,” you say. “Besides making out and all that. You were certainly tempting with how eager you acted,” you smile impishly at him, chuckling, “but I knew you were also out of your mind. Nothing happened besides some innocent grinding. You passed out on my couch, too, after a while. Woke up again and threw up all over yourself, but I cleaned that up. Should probably shower when you get home, though.”

Leon blinks once, twice, three times as he processes the information you gave him. There’s a chance you could be lying. The Champion hardly remembered anything from last night, just flashes. But when he looks at you, sitting half-naked as you twiddle nervously with your hands in your lap, he feels like he can believe you.

Especially the throwing up part. His stomach feels unsteady enough that he can certainly believe that part.

“...Thank you for doing that for me,” Leon murmurs eventually. “Do you… have any idea where my clothes are?”

“Ah,” you nod and stand up, hands on your thighs. “Yes, I had put them in the dryer earlier. Since you threw up on your clothes and all that. I’ll go see if they’re done.”

You leave for a separate room, leaving Leon alone in your living room. His head is still throbbing, but the aspirin is slowly kicking in.

As he slowly starts to assess the situation he’s in, the only words he can find to describe it is… odd. Very odd.

Getting drunk and making out with strangers isn’t like him. Especially male strangers. Especially coming home with said male strangers.

So what happened that made him so drawn to you, anyway? Leon honestly doesn’t know. You were attractive, that’s for sure.

Maybe he was lonely. Desperate.

He doesn’t get to think more about it because soon you walk into the room again- wearing some shorts this time- his clothes in your hand as you smile at him.

Your teeth aren’t glowing purple anymore, but there’s still a tint to them that makes him huff out a chuckle as he takes his clothes from your hand, murmuring a thank you as he does. You also hand him his phone, which he hadn’t even thought about until he saw it.

Turning the screen on, he sees a headache of messages waiting for him, so he turns it off for now.

“So where, uh… Am I, exactly?” He asks you as he puts his shirt back on, fumbling with the buttons. You sit back down on the coffee table.

“My apartment in Spikemuth, not that far from the bar. I know you’re pants with directions, so I can help you head back to Wyndon if you’d like. But I,” you look away from him again, and Leon notices how you twirl your hands in your lap again, “uh, I understand if you probably would like to head home by yourself, too.”

It clicks in Leon’s head then. For someone who acted so confidently last night, the confidence that lured Leon in to begin with- you were oddly cute once you were pulled into the light. It’s almost endearing.

Leon doesn’t reply in favor for shuffling on his pants instead- you glance away and hide your eyes with your hand as you do, which Leon audibly chuckles at since there’s not much for him to hide that you haven’t seen already, but he appreciates it none the less.

Instead of replying to your request, he asks a question. “What’s your name?” Your eyes meet his, and he smiles in a fluster. “I never really caught it last night. If I did- well- I forgot.”

“Right,” you nod and you don’t look like you mind. “The name’s ___.”

“___,” He tests the name on his lips. It sounds a bit familiar- so perhaps he did learn your name last night. “Well, ___. To be quite honest, last night was very unlike me. I’m a bit out of my comfort zone,” he says, and now his own hands are twirling around. “But I’d appreciate the invitation to get to know who I was smooching on last night if you’re willing to chat as we head to Wyndon.”

Your eyes light up in surprise- perhaps you weren’t expecting that. Again, the word ‘cute’ crosses his mind, especially when you smile at him. That was the most familiar thing- your smile and how you managed to still send anxious twirls in his stomach. It was odd…

“Yeah- that’d be nice. I’ll get changed and- well- you probably want to use my hairbrush. And maybe we can slap some make-up on your neck, too,” you laugh as you stand, Leon following close behind as you lead him to your bathroom.

Yes, the feeling you made him feel was odd… But not bad.

Not bad at all, really.

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