New York (LoW prompt: Bubble)

[killingsoftly]

The first couple of days had been like in a dream of pure joy. He still had to pinch himself to make sure he wasn't actually dreaming, that it all was real. That more than just the fact that Warren was with him, that Warren loved him. That he ... even in his head he stumbled over the word, but he managed it...loved Warren.

There was fear there, too. Always fear, of what he could do. Of what he'd done before. That Warren would wake up one day and realize just who and what he was in bed with. That Warren didn't know the worst of it. The lives he'd taken knowingly. Purposefully.

That the full knowledge of him would burst the bubble of happiness they were floating in.

He pulled on his leather pants and shrugged into his silk shirt. Earring in, just one, shirt half unbuttoned. He added a touch of eyeliner, something to draw eyes to his. Nothing too elaborate. Nothing like what he'd paraded around in the years of Glam. But a touch. He was tousling his hair, adding in gel when his cell rang.

He glanced at the number and sighed. He almost didn't answer, but he finally did. He wondered how she'd known he was in town.

"Brenda."

"Devin, darling," her voice was always so chipper and yet refined. "You naughty boy, you didn't call and tell me you were in town."

He continued to fuss with his hair. "No, I didn't."

"I thought that was our arrangement."

"It's not? I call when I need work, luv, but currently I'm doing just fine." He wasn't, really, but his investments would hold. He'd saved well. He could afford to not have to work for her for a while.

"Devin..." She sounded like she was chiding him. "Kathryn saw your poster. She'd like to see you after the show."

"Not possible." He slapped on the aftershave a little too vehemently.

"And why not?"

"I have plans." He swallowed, closing his eyes as he prepared to cut the ties. "Rather permanent ones."

There was a long pause on the other end. "You're quitting?"

He took a deep breath. "Yeah. I am."

"You can't do that. You're my most successful..."

"Everyone quits at some point, Brenda. You did."

"You're at your peak!"

"I'm done." For now.

"Devin...you've always said..."

"I know." He leaned against the counter.

"You're the best."

He sighed, closing his eyes. "Yeah. I know." It was his particular gift. "I'm still done, at least for now, okay?"

Another long pause and then a sigh. "She must be something."

He smiled a little. "He is."

She chuckled at that. "Kathryn will still be there tonight."

"I'll deal with her."

"She's a very important client."

"I'll deal with her nicely."

"If you ever..."

"Yeah, I know. I'll call."

She sighed one more time and then he heard the click. He set the phone aside, closing his eyes again and rubbing his temples.

He'd need to book more gigs, for the energy and the money. Cut new CDs and push them. Maybe actually put up a website with ordering. Something to bring money in to keep them going. And he'd have to make these phone calls in most major cities in America.

It wasn't going to be easy, but he just...he didn't know what Warren would say. Didn't want to find out, if it disappointed him. Didn't...He wanted them to stay as happy as they were. Whatever it took. He'd just have to pull more from the audience. Take from them what he couldn't get elsewhere. He could make it work. He gave a resolute nod, and reached to work on messing his hair up just a bit more.

Comments

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

Warren laughed, climbing in, starting the van. "Your wish is my command." He sketched a little bow, then drove them back, stopping at the drive thru on the way.

[killingsoftly.livejournal.com]

Devin smirked at the comment, and was wired and bouncing most of the way back in contrast to how quiet he'd been on the way there. If bouncing on the bed hadn't been a bit undignified and not the suave and sexy he was going for, he probably would have done that, too.

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

He had to laugh, just watching him bounce all over the place. Or try not to, and fail at least part way.

It was good to see.

[killingsoftly.livejournal.com]

"C'mere..." Devin held out his hand appealingly.

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

Warren smiled, took his hand, and did so.

[killingsoftly.livejournal.com]

Devin tugged him close, hands sliding around his waist.

"Hi."

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

"Hi, yourself."

His arms slid around Devin's waist as he leaned in until they were nose to nose.

[killingsoftly.livejournal.com]

Devin smiled, fingers tracing up and down Warren's spine.

"I've been waiting all night to get you all to myself..."

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

His breath caught, because it still amazed him that Devin felt so deeply about him.

"Hey," he smiled softly, teasing. "I'm not the one with a club full of fans."

[killingsoftly.livejournal.com]

"Not yet," Devin said with a grin. "But someday, and then I'll have to fight for a piece of your time."

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

"Never," Warren told him with a smile, fingertips stroking lightly over his sides.

[killingsoftly.livejournal.com]

Devin leaned into him. "Never?"

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

Warren cradled him in his arms, kissing his temple.

"Never."

[killingsoftly.livejournal.com]

Devin smiled, hugging him close.

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

Warren slid his fingers through Devin's hair again, this time making no comment on the hair gel and sweat mess. His arm tightened a little around Devin as he sighed softly.

[killingsoftly.livejournal.com]

Devin leaned into that embrace with an echoing little sigh, not wanting to move beyond it.

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

Warren kissed his cheek again. "Tell me what happened tonight?" he asked, soft.

[killingsoftly.livejournal.com]

Devin frowned a little in confusion. "What happened?"

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

"With Kathryn?"

[killingsoftly.livejournal.com]

Devin flushed, just a little. "Oh."

He should tell him, but it terrified him to think of Warren thinking less of him.

"She wanted me to take her home. I said no. She wasn't pleased about that."

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

Warren frowned slightly. You didn't kiss someone like that and then slap them over refusing to take ...

Well, Gwen might have. But Gwen was psychotic.

"Dev..."

[killingsoftly.livejournal.com]

Devin looked at him, and there was definitely wariness in his eyes, fear behind that.

"Yeah?"

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

Warren sat up. He didn't like that look at all.

"You don't hide very well, Dev. What's going on?"

[killingsoftly.livejournal.com]

"I just...why does it matter? It's over and done." He just wanted to go back to the part where they were holding and being happy.

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

"Are..."

He bit that off before it started. It sounded like something his father would have said, and that was enough to give him the knee-jerk reaction not to say it.

"Are you in some kind of trouble?" he temporized, to finish it.