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]

"Oh, is it?" Warren chuckled. It kind of was, although he suspected that was also Devin's romantic sensibilities.

But he did go in and get a few of the doused candles, started to place them about the room on surfaces he figured wouldn't heat too much.

[killingsoftly.livejournal.com]

Devin watched him with a little smile and went to fetch a few things from his bag with a slightly wicked grin.

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

It didn't take long to move the candles, the most time consuming part was putting them all out. He could light each cluster with a fingertip and a careful extension of energy.

Then he turned and gave Devin an inquiring look.

[killingsoftly.livejournal.com]

Devin just took his hand and led him to the bed, where he'd turned down the covers. He refilled their wine glasses, and then stretched out on the bed

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

Warren stretched out next to him, sliding his fingertips along Devin's palm, over his wrist. He was still curious, but this was all right too. Warm and comforting and soft. And just the two of them.

[killingsoftly.livejournal.com]

Devin shifted a bit onto his side, smiling. He kissed Warren briefly, tasting the wine on his lips.

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

Warren's fingertips brushed down his cheek as he kissed him back, all shy again.

[killingsoftly.livejournal.com]

Devin smiled at the shy, then shifted, breaking the kiss and tucking Warren's head against his shoulder where he could still drink his wine.

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

He was more than happy to snuggle up, one hand sliding over his chest. Though he did take a few more sips of wine.

[killingsoftly.livejournal.com]

Devin encouarged the wine drinking by sipping at his own with a contented sigh.

"I'm glad we did this. Came here."

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

Warren's voice was soft and wondering. "Yeah..." He smiled. "It's..." Something. Nice wasn't the word.

"It's perfect."

[killingsoftly.livejournal.com]

Devin sighed a little, smiling. "I'm so glad you think so."

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

Warren smiled softly, snuggled into him a bit as best he could without dislodging their wine from their glasses.

"It's all..." No, still no words. His voice went quiet for a moment, and serious. "It's more than I'd ever really hoped for, or guessed. Different, too." Small little rueful smile. "And just.. more."

[killingsoftly.livejournal.com]

Devin nodded, understanding. "Yeah, a lot more, really. It's ... I never really expected to be with someone again. And certainly never expected it to happen with you."

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

Warren blushed a little. "Pretty much the same on the second part..."

He set his glass down, turned so that he could run his fingers through Devin's hair. "I still don't know how it happened. It's... weird. Just sort of, one day we were hanging out and things had changed when I wasn't looking."

[killingsoftly.livejournal.com]

Devin nodded a little, leaning into his touch.

"I know what you mean."

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

His fingers played in Devin's hair, winding it a little around, as much as he could anyway, then letting it slide through.

"It's weird. Still weird, I mean, with ..." Warren shrugged. "I still don't play that way. But you're..."

He grinned.

"You're something special."

[killingsoftly.livejournal.com]

Devin smiled. "I like being something special..." As long as the special lasted and wasn't just a phase, but he pushed that thought aside.

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

Warren leaned in and kissed him, smile fading into something not unhappy but intense.

"My something special," he murmured.

[killingsoftly.livejournal.com]

"Yours," Devin said, just as seriously before kissing him back.

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

His fingers played up and down along Devin's spine, sighing into his mouth.

[killingsoftly.livejournal.com]

Devin set his glass aside, leaning into him a bit more, fingers tracing up his side.

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

It made him shiver a little, and he let his hand rest lightly over Devin's cheek, kissing him softly.

[killingsoftly.livejournal.com]

Devin kissed him a moment longer, then shifted back a little.

"I think as you were so kind to help me relax, I should do the same for you," he said with a wicked grin. He snagged a bottle of warming oil he'd brought and wriggled it. "Roll over and let me rub your back?"

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

"Ooh." Warren grinned, did so. "I like the sound of that."