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 smiled at her too, grateful, and a little pleased inside that this was working. That he was contributing, even if he had been already, it still felt better after that woman earlier.

And he thought he remembered, or at least he hoped he did, that Magenta was into the web-coding and computer languages. Warren surfed and checked his school e-mail and that was about it.

[killingsoftly.livejournal.com]

She looked thrilled that he'd remembered his name, but also got a shy look in her eyes about saying much more.

"I'm happy to. I'll see you Wednesday, then!" And with a little wave, she retreated, a blush staining her cheeks.

Devin chuckled a little, and leaned into Warren again. "That was a really good idea, to have her do that. I haven't done as much as I should have with all the new technology."

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

Warren snorted. "New technology. I grew up with this stuff," he smiled as he hugged Devin lightly, leaned back against the bar to relax with him.

"I think I can get Magenta to show me how to maintain a website and a mailing list. Since, you know. New technology."

He was going to tease Devin about this for weeks.

[killingsoftly.livejournal.com]

Devin wrinkled his nose. "I can use a computer, and I have my email. I just haven't ever....thought about really using it to promote myself."

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

"Too much of the new-fangled technology?" he imitated Devin's brogue at its thickest he'd heard for a moment.

Then hugged him lightly, turning at least somewhat serious. "It's relatively cheap, easy, and if we get mailing lists from every gig we'd be able to reach a lot of people. Might as well start."

[killingsoftly.livejournal.com]

Devin nodded a little, leaning in to him. "I need to make some calls, get the cds burned again, too."

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

Warren nuzzled Devin's cheek very lightly, slowly.

"We could see if there's an inexpensive place to get t-shirts done. Or stickers, hand out at the door."

[killingsoftly.livejournal.com]

"T'shirts?" Devin sounded slightly amazed. Not unsure. Not upset, just.

"I've never done a lot of marketing." He thought about it. "Do you think people would buy them?"

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

Warren smiled slightly. "I think teenagers are impressionable and they'll buy anythign that's within their budget and gets them closer to you."

[killingsoftly.livejournal.com]

Devin grinned, leaning into him. "Are they then?"

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

Warren laughed, hugging him gently. "Yes. They are."

[killingsoftly.livejournal.com]

"Just to be near to me...?" His voice was very suggestive.

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

"Mm-hmmm." His voice was low, rolling over Devin's cheek.

[killingsoftly.livejournal.com]

Devin nuzzled at him a bit more.

"Let's go back to the room..."

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

"Works for me," he murmured against his cheek. Kissed his cheek softly.

"After we break down and stow everything."

[killingsoftly.livejournal.com]

"Well...yeah." Devin stepped back with a sigh. "We should do that, then."

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

Warren smiled. Turned Devin, gently, hands on his waist, and kissed him softly but thoroughly before releasing him.

"Come on. It won't take that long."

He was already heading towards the stage.

[killingsoftly.livejournal.com]

Devin blinked, smiled, then followed him packing up his guitar first when he got there.

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

Warren chuckled softly, starting to unplug things and coil up wires, tossing them in their box.

[killingsoftly.livejournal.com]

Devin loaded the equipment that had cases into them.

"I'll pull the van around back. Be right back."

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

"'kay." Warren finished tidying up the last of the gear, nodded good-night to the sodden and weary back-up.

[killingsoftly.livejournal.com]

Devin was back in a couple of minutes, taking a minute to thank the guys and confirm Wednesday before he grabbed some stuff to haul out to the van.

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

Warren started hauling too, timing it so that he and Devin were crossing paths, no one leaving the stuff alone for more than a minute or two.

[killingsoftly.livejournal.com]

Devin smiled at the organization of it, shoving things back in the van where they'd be secure, but not hard to get out for the next gig. When he saw there was the last bit left, he waved goodbye to the bartender and waited for Warren at the van.

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

The last few things thumped onto other things in the back, and Warren shut the doors.

"Ready to go?"