Chapter Text
A VFW hall just outside of Chicago
The rain was pouring and they were giggly
Stashed away backstage
Late enough in the evening that the sun would soon come back out
But for that moment they were happy like they’d never been before.
A shy confession cut off by an eager kiss.
Tangled up and laughing because it had been both of them the whole time.
The perfect cliché.
William’s brother had known this guy in this band and William had just finished high school
Fresh faced and reckless.
He needed something to do with his life
And then it all spun around and the moment he blinked he was wrapped up in a cramped van full of gangly legs and cardboard boxes
Setting up a stand every night and pretending he could sell things, that he wasn’t too busy being lost in it all that he could hardly think
It was louder than anything he’d ever seen before and it was so much fun
It was drinking and watching the sun set and fooling around
He felt so naive
A sweet summer child
But for once in his life he wasn’t out of place
Building up a life where he felt behind but still moved forward
Determined to be something
He’d found his people
And a band
And a specific lead singer he spent a lot of time ogling
Gabe was everything.
He was confidence and cool and everybody you’ve ever known
He was the scene
He was their king
Threw himself into every moment
He was a rocket
And people couldn’t help but watch
He was electric
A live wire with legs a million miles long and a loud laugh so dry it made your throat hurt just hearing it.
Gabe made him feel like so much more
Gabe made William feel like he could do anything
When the sun came up neither of them would have their lives anymore.
It was the night of the last Midtown show,
That chapter had closed
No longer merch boys and scene kings,
What would they do now?
But for a few hours they could be a part of something that was theirs alone
And Gabe kissed him like he doesn’t kiss anyone else
Gabe kissed him sweet and simple like Bill was the most precious thing in his life
When they met Gabe was on his back
Haphazard and enthusiastic from the beginning
William walked into his house the morning after a party,
Exactly 15 minutes early
He’d meticulously packed only the essentials
Crammed them into a backpack and a duffel
When he finally found Gabe after wandering the house and having to lift his feet to avoid stepping on passed out strangers and mysterious puddles, he stood in the doorway and giggled
The ‘king’ he’d only heard of had ridiculous bed head and was only waking up to the sound of movement in his house.
He sat up and stretched his arms above his head and yawned before turning to notice william when he heard his little giggles
he was the cutest thing he’d ever seen
gabe was probably too old for him
William was everything sweet and good in this world
He made Gabe feel like maybe he could be a real person one day
Be more then a cardboard cutout of a king
William was the first person to see through him
William was smart and determined and so so hopeful
William let Gabe see his life with fresh eyes
Realizing everything he did might be Bill’s first time seeing someone chugging beer from a keg upside down
He wanted to keep him all to himself
He made life feel fun again
And then after months the bittersweet ending came
And neither of them had any idea what to do next
But that could be put off
When Gabe managed to ask Bill to stay.
That he needed him there that night.
That he wasn’t as strong as he seemed.
It could be put off when William had grabbed his face, and whispered the words he was afraid of
“I love you.”
He was ready to run
But then Gabe pulled him close
Placed their lips together sweet and filled with the last of the secrets they hadn’t told each other
Squeezed him tight and led him to a dark corner where no one would notice that they never left
And William never wanted to be anywhere else ever again
“You and me against the world, Guillermo. I promise.”
Gabe had the best pillow talk.
It was like he forgot that he wasn’t meant to be an artist anymore when his inhibitions had been sucked out of him through his dick.
What a romantic.
William liked to pretend that that was the version of Gabe that only he got to see.
Gabe couldn’t pretend that Bill wasn’t the reason that that part of him was still alive.
They brought each other (back) to life.