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"Jazz Bata"Written By: t-shirt Disclaimer: Gundam Wing and its characters are
copyright to Sunrise, Bandai, Sotsu Agency, and associated parties.
I make no money with this fic. Rating: NC 17 Warnings: AU/Romance, Fluff, WAFF ^-^, Sap, mild
angst, mild language, mild lemon, ditzy Relena (background support/tiiiny
little part) Pairings: 1x2, indication of 5x6 Summary: A quite, young musician with a bright future gets his world rocked by a newbie vocalist. "Jazz Bata" Ch 1 Gracy ran across stage scooping up bits of litter from the previous performance, the audience of amused families, alumni and peers laughing when it took her two tries to snag a plastic cup that had gotten away from her before she smiled and disappeared into the wings. The lights flashed blue then green, red an orange before Kyle finally found the proper control and bathed the little, high school stage with deep purple light. Dr. J shushed his students as they returned to their seats in the first three, right hand rows, Martin Cross grinned into the crowd to wave enthusiastically to his Mother who whooped loudly and sent another happy chuckle through the room. It was a little chilly inside the new auditorium but the stage lights still felt hot when Hiiro silently took the stage. Unlike the awkward boy’s that had preceded him, their growing bodies too long in the arms or legs, Martin in particular was packing on a respectable amount of ‘baby fat’ this year making the formal, black bow tie and cummerbund seem preposterous but Hiiro seemed completely at ease in the attire. He was shorter than most of the other boy’s but had always been blessed with comfortable proportions that worked well with dress shirts and slacks of any style. He paused wishing, not for the first time, there was some way to tame his unruly mop of hair as Dr. J heaved a deep sigh upon seeing the chocolate mass bouncing and waving under the intense light. It almost made him regret agreeing to perform in this year’s talent show but the man had been adamant about it, as it was to be his last chance to show him off before graduation. Hiiro had always been happy to simply accompany the band. He had taken up the guitar at a very young age but it had nothing to do with any ambition to impress girls or make a name for himself. He had been no more than five and simply loved the sounds the instrument made when plucked or strummed in a certain way. The soothing vibrations had helped to ease his pain and distract his young mind after the loss of his parents giving him something positive to center his thoughts around. When his adoptive family had seen his single-minded determination they had signed him up for lessons and he had been playing ever since. He thought of Odin, his foster father and rolled his head to free the tension in his neck. The man had spent most of Hiiro’s life traveling aboard often dragging his ‘son’ along with him. However, it became clear to Hiiro at a young age that this had nothing to do with his actually wanting to spend time with him. He had performed for many of his ‘father’s’ clients easing the way for quickly signed contracts and promises of future business together. He swallowed a warm spot in his throat and felt the tightness of his tie not because the accessory was ill-fitting but due to his reluctance to play for any other reason but the sheer joy of the music. Dr. J flashed him a manic grin strengthening his resolve to see it through, the man had been good to him allowing him to retain his moderate accompaniment without pressuring him to take the spot light like so many of his peers. He felt he owed him this one little thing before his days with the band were over and he went on to get a real job. J turned his excitement toward the gathering that held no member of Hiiro’s family, no classmate that he would consider anything more than a passing acquaintance and a multitude of adoring, adolescent girls that sat in high expectation giggling brightly at the opportunity to finally hear their star guitarist play solo. The introduction was short, stuttering and delivered in an embarrassingly loud voice, especially his name, which upon hearing; he took his seat on the small stool at center stage and placed his beloved Fender on his knee. Kyle flooded the stage with white light blinding the lone performer for a moment as the crowd laughed softly then the purple lights returned narrowing to spotlight Hiiro as the surrounding lights were dimmed. If he dropped his eyes he could almost forget the audience and let the amative illumination bathe him in its smoldering tones. It was the one stipulation he had demanded during his performance and he let the soothing tranquility wash over and through him as the distance noises of the auditorium slowly faded away and he began to play. Gracy missed her cue with the backup tape that contained his rhythm but he easily compensated melting into the gentle seduction of an adagio piece he had once heard performed by Chuck Loeb and often played when he felt the need to relax. There was no doubt in his mind that the local groupies, mainly a high-spirited group of his female peers would be less than enthused by the soft jazz. However, this was the music that coursed through his veins and brought peace to his heart so regardless of their impending disapproval he breathed deeply and let his fingers weave the delicate notes into a tapestry of intoxicating sound, the gentle tenor drawing him outside himself and into another world where nothing existed but the musician and his song. He wondered if it hadn’t all been a mistake when the last notes drifted over the heads of the silent assembly, the lights making it hard to discern their expressions. Dr. J stood quite still watching him with unseen eyes for a moment and he suddenly felt as if he would rather take a walk on the surface of the sun as remain on the stage any longer then an ear splitting squeal ripped the silence asunder and every seat in the house rose in tumultuous praise. J was grinning from ear to ear, the old cyborg’s cheeks wrinkling gleefully around his metallic eyes as he tucked his conductor’s baton under his arm and clapped his hand against the wrist of his clawed, right appendage. Uncertain of what he was supposed to do in the face of such unbridled gratitude Hiiro rose tucking his guitar under his arms and bowed respectfully but the action only elicited a wave of elation. His eyes sought out his instructor only to find him as enamored as the rest of the people as the girls that formed his fan club tossed roses on the stage at his feet. He looked again to J but quickly concluded he wasn’t going to be of any help bowing again before turning to leave but such a roar went up that his feet stalled. “ANCHOR! ANCHOR! ANCHOR!” began in a steadily growing demand bringing his questioning gaze back to Dr. J who had responded with enthusiastic waves indicating he should return to his stool. It wasn’t what he wanted, indeed, being the center of such an enthusiastic outburst was not something he was suited to but it seemed rude to walk out without thanking them for their praise. The roar of the crowd intensified greatly when he turned back toward center stage forcing him to wait until Dr. J finally calmed them to a point his music could even be heard. However, the energy in the room had not dwindled with the din leaving him feeling anxious and in need of ventilation. The power cord dangled lax in his fingers for a moment, his irritation at feeling exploited and used sparkling in his eyes as a tremor ran through the audience when he reached, topped out the volume on his amp across the board and jacked in with a high pitched whine that sent the auditorium into a fit of animalistic exhilaration. The roar escalated ten fold when he stood and kicked his stool off its legs ripping into a righteous rendition of Michael Kelly Smiths ‘Long way to live’. It was a lively, rock solo he’d learned the summer before during a period of apprehensive perplexity when he came to understand certain things about himself that had not as yet been a consideration. The music was the essence of rock and roll, something he enjoyed from time to time but seldom played with any regularity, this piece having been added to his song list in a fit of anger that needed a proper release in order to vent. The people screamed as loud as the music feeding him their energy, his mind soaking it in, redirecting it so that it flowed freely from his hands and into the instrument held loosely in his grasp. Every note that ripped from within him lashed out infusing the crowd and so the circle was complete. It was most exhilarating in spite of his reluctance to perform a public solo as he moved about the stage, the relentless need bubbling up inside him until he and the music had become one with the people. Nancy Drummel, a cheerleader for the school football team and head of his fan club screamed at one point trying to throw herself on stage. Hiiro felt the grin tugging at his lips as he used his music to reach out and touch her, each screaming note he played pulling at her like the strings of a puppet until it was all Dr. J could do to hold the frantic girl at bay. Kyle had abandoned the sultry, purplish light early on and Hiiro’s mind fed on bright flashes of red and gold, the light glinting in the stark, white surface of his guitar until he felt as if he had absorbed the perfectly polished instrument into his body. They were as one, he, the music and the people, the melody allowing him to connect to those around him in an almost intimate way that left him breathless as he fell to his knees, the last notes of the song wailing over the wild din then suddenly the strings were cut and he was looking out into a mass of utter chaos. Girls were screaming at the top of their lungs while teachers did their best to keep them from storming the stage, his peers crowded forward in their excitement in an attempt to get closer to the source of their elation. Everyone was shouting, cheering, tossing things on stage. Lighters flickered here and there making his brow crease in alarm, his heart hammering hard in fear that someone would get burned or trampled while his chest ached with guilt and anxiety. A quick glance at Dr. J who was trying his best to help the other teachers hold the manic student body at bay granted him a frantic jerk of the man’s head indicating he should vacate the stage and he did so with great haste. He cursed himself all the way back to the band room knowing full well it had been his fault the last concert of his senior year had been turned into a riot. Once away from the insanity his feet took him briskly down the brightly lit halls, the double doors of the band room slamming open as he burst through and went straight to his guitar case. He cursed grumbling to himself about how stupid and irresponsible his performance had been while he tucked his beloved guitar safely away but when he jerked the case to his side and turned to flee the school he was suddenly confronted by a pair of blue/grey eyes. “Nice,” the woman smiled casually stepping forward but she stopped curtly when he backed away. “My name is Lucrezia Noin.” Hiiro glared disapprovingly not being familiar with the name but she was dressed in a professional manor and respected his reluctance to share his personal space so he remained. “Dr. J asked me to come have a listen to you,” she explained, her smile growing deeper on one side as Hiiro’s interest was growing. He had never seriously entertained the idea of making a living with his music, it was something he enjoyed, an intricate part of who he was and how he expressed the things his heart was unable to share so he had little idea what to think when her smile widened and she asked, “Ever dreamed of being a rock star?” ** Pops wasn’t much different than any other weekend head banger den. The air hung with smoke in spite of the open air amphitheater, high fences decorated in crude graffiti holding most of the night breeze at bay. What little wind moved vainly cut through the mill of undulating bodies crowding the stage, the center of which bounced in timely unison as the mash pit roared their approval of the screaming vocalist as he belted out the hard driven lyric’s to some song no one could make out anyway. The lead guitarist, a blond man with wild hair, a head band and more holes than jeans on his jubilant legs let loose a horrendous, screeching lead that was quickly followed by a perfectly timed drumbeat sending the roaring crowd into an electrified frenzy. Once again the lyricist took the spotlight and for a moment everything seemed to still as he hit and held a clear G6, his voice rich and true until the music wrapped back around and the demonic rasp once again ground from his throat. “You’re kidding right?” Zechs chuckled tolerantly leaning into the back fence beside his reluctant counterpart. “Not everyone can manage that kind of power,” he defended watching the singer dance effortlessly in the bright strobe lights. Hiiro squeezed his eyes shut against the vicious feedback when the guitarist got to close to one of the huge speakers but the raging music that followed wasn’t much better. “The guy’s armature at best. I doubt he’s been playing more than a couple of years.” “We didn’t come to hear the guitarist,” Zechs reminded him. The tall blonde’s smile grew smug as Hiiro’s eyes turned back to the stage but he couldn’t contain his snort of a laugh when Hiiro offered, “The drummer’s pretty good.” “And the vocalist?” Zechs chuckled leaving no room for his friend to avoid the subject of their visit any longer. Once again Hiiro considered the stage, his eyes taking in the smooth, fluid movements of the figure dancing there. He snorted to himself wondering what sort of person would parade around in public in skintight, black leather with deep purple accents. His eyes watched the color winking from the folds of ebony skin unable to deny that the outfit was attractive to the eye, especially when wrapped so tightly around a frame such as this guys but that was irrelevant. So he had a look, he certainly lacked anything more that would justify any further investigation. “He sounds like some shoved a cat down his throat.” Zechs laughed so hard tears rolled down his cheeks but he didn’t push the subject any further until the band finally said goodnight with a flourish and a good deal of impressive fireworks making way for the next in line to take the stage. “Let’s go,” he said pulling Hiiro along behind him until he finally followed willingly but he looked anything but happy about the prospect of meeting the band. They were momentarily detained by the staff until their affiliation with GW Records was established, whereupon they where ushered through as if someone had placed a crown on their heads. It didn’t take long to push their way past those who were privy to the nature of their visit and once again they moved swiftly through the corridors of the small building that backed the stage. “This is a waist of time,” Hiiro groaned trying desperately not to touch a young woman that passed dangerously close to him in the hall, her black lips grinning under lifeless eyes that clearly did not see anything within his realm of reality. “You said you liked the drummer,” Zechs reasoned tugging him along again as a man in feathered drag attempted to pin him to the wall as he passed. “Nothing is worth…” Hiiro began but paused when the sound of singing came to his ears. It was distant and overshadowed by the thrumming beat from outside but the tenor was clear, a sound so true he wondered if the blond had finally learned to tune his guitar until his mind confirmed that the sound was defiantly a human voice. “What is that?” he asked curious if someone was perhaps playing some prerecorded music for the after party and Zechs smiled as he let him pass. The sound grew louder becoming more intriguing with each passing moment. Hiiro had never felt the desire to collaborate with a vocalist finding most to be more of an intrusion than an asset to the song but something about this tone was making him wish he had his guitar. Zechs stepped up stopping him from opening the door that separated him from the melodious song, its allegro tenor seeping through the thin wooden door but only when the blond man chuckled and raised his hand to knock did Hiiro understand. His heart skipped a beat when the song stopped knowing he might never know who the beautiful voice belonged to but his curiosity was suddenly overshadowed by the sudden burning in his neither regions when the door opened to reveal a pair of sparkling, violet eyes. “Hey, Zexy! Pops said you might drop by tonight,” the guy smiled giving Hiiro a look that flared hot in the Japanese boy’s thighs. Long ago he had come to the understanding that women were not on his list of desirable things. The summer before graduation he had come face to face with this reality and it had almost torn him apart resulting in his resolution to simply find his road alone but looking at the sexy, vibrant lead singer still dressed in that skin tight outfit was seriously shaking his resolve. “Good show,” Zechs smiled pushing past Hiiro where he stood frozen in the door. “Pays the bills,” he smiled looking the Japanese boy over again. “This is Hiiro,” the blond man informed him chuckling lightly when Duo’s smile brightened as he stepped forward. “Nice to meet you, Hiiro.” “Nice… um… you too,” Hiiro replied cursing himself for loosing track of his thoughts when the guys warm hand slipped into his. “I’m Duo.” “You can be anyone you want,” Hiiro breathed utterly unaware of how he was slowly gravitating forward until Zechs hand landed abruptly on his shoulder. “Slow down, Loverboy,” the man laughed and Hiiro snatched his hand back and tried to pretend his ears hadn’t ignited. “Where’s Wufei?” Zechs asked ushering them inside a room Hiiro only just noticed was crowded with people. Duo tossed a manic grin over his shoulder that only served to make Hiiro even more uncomfortable as he followed them inside. Something in his chest tightened unpleasantly as he took in the odd assortment of partygoers. Some were clearly stoned out of their minds while others appeared to be working on packing up equipment or keeping people from having sex on the floor. It was so strange, like a scene from another world and one he certainly didn’t want any part of but Zechs seemed perfectly as ease, so much so that he had draped his arm around Duo’s shoulder as they moved through the room. Hiiro felt his teeth grind together when one of the black clad young men with a blue Mohawk and several piercing’s in his face grabbed Duo’s ass but he quickly found himself decorating the floor and Hiiro grinned widely down at him as he stepped over the groaning figure. Duo flashed him a smile that left him wondering if this place had a back room but the quick efficiency that the violet-eyed boy had demonstrated in dealing with his overzealous guest made him push that thought out of his head. It was quickly dominating his thoughts again however, once the beautiful boy had turned and Hiiro was confronted with the tantalizing tip of his three feet long braid as it dangled temptingly just below the cleft in his perfectly rounded ass. “Hiiro!” “What!?” he snapped fighting the crimson tide as Zechs laughed and motioned him forward. It was clear from the furtive looks being cast his way the blond man had called him more than once but there was nothing he could do about it now. Beside, Duo was smiling so it seemed there was no harm done. “Wufei!” Duo called to a guy Hiiro only distantly recognized as the shirtless drummer that had accompanied him on stage. He wore a dark blue tank top now but was considerably more intimidating up close. Hiiro could easily see the discipline in him that it takes to deliver such expert timing. “What do you want, Zechs,” Wufei grumbled going back to wrapping up some cable he had been working on. “I missed you too,” Zechs teased snatching his hand back from his attempt to pinch the Chinese boy’s cheek before he lost it. “No love for the weary scout,” he sighed feigning injury. “Scout my ass,” Wufei countered. “That attitude will not get you signed with GWR,” Zechs countered haughtily. “Neither will sucking up to a charlatan like you,” Wufei grumbled turning his back again. Hiiro was mildly shocked to catch Zechs eyes wandering the Chinese boy’s lean frame having never discussed sexual preference with his co-worker but from the way he waggled his brows when he caught Hiiro watching him ogle Wufei’s ass he was fairly certain on which side of the fence his interests lay. Duo’s burst of laugher seemed a promising reaction that left him with a glimmer of hope he wasn’t quite sure what to do with.
“You wound me,” Zechs sighed dramatically. “And after I brought Treize’s new golden boy all the way out here just to meet you.” Wufei’s eyes regarded Hiiro for a moment before Duo took the conversational ball and put a wicked spin on it. “You mean it!?” the braided boy cheered excitedly. “Really!? He’s finally pulled his head out of his ass?! Man, wouldn’t it be great to get out of here!?” he grinned to Wufei diving on his neck where he hung intimately wrapped around the other boy as he turned to Hiiro. “When do we start? Gods, I can’t wait to see what a pro recording booth sounds like!” “Just the drummer,” Hiiro commented realizing only belatedly the weight of the words as Duo’s face fell. “What?” “What?” Zechs echoed seemingly equally dismayed. “Uh… Hiiro… can we talk for…” “Who the hell is this guy?” Duo suddenly demanded in a tone that made Hiiro’s eyes grow wide. “Wait…” “Don’t worry about it,” Wufei tried to sooth but Duo slipped out of his grasp. “It’s no different than any other time this idiot’s shown up…” “You just want… Wufei?” “I’m not going anywhere without you,” Wufei cut in. “What?” Duo’s eyes were having trouble focusing on any one thing as his mind raced to catch up with what was happening. “No… you…” “It’s a package deal,” Wufei stated stubbornly. “Come on, Fei. You can’t throw your chance away just because this wank doesn’t know a good voice when he hears it.” Wank? “I’m sorry,” Hiiro cut in curtly matching Duo’s amethyst eyes glare for glare. “But I didn’t hear anything worth signing off on. Wufei has a natural ability that could compete in the big league but I’m afraid you’re never going to…” “Get him the hell out of here!” Wufei growled pulling Duo back protectively to his side. “Hiiro, listen,” Zechs interjected. “You don’t understand…” “What the fuck do you know?!” Duo spat shrugging off his band mate. The anger and hurt in his eyes cut into Hiiro’s chest like a knife but the statement had been made. Duo wasn’t professional material and he believed he never would be. Sugar coating it and setting him up for a fall wasn’t something he was willing to do. “Forget it,” Wufei soothed. “He’s just an idiot…” “What makes you so perfect?!” Duo growled breaking away from Wufei again. “I have a natural ability…” “Hiiro, listen…” Zechs tried again only to be cut off by Wufei. “You have natural nothing! I wouldn’t play with you if you were…” “No, Wufei!” Duo snapped with a challenge in his eyes. “You go…” “Not without you.” “Then neither of you then,” Hiiro supplied. “Hiiro…” Zechs almost whined but there was no way he was giving in just because Zechs had a hard on for the drummer. “If you’re so naturally fucking talented prove it!” Duo snapped. Hiiro looked around but didn’t see a guitar handy. “All right,” he agreed in calm resolution coming up with a plan he hoped would get Zechs what he wanted, put a talented new drummer on the payroll and give him a chance to show Duo he wasn’t just blowing smoke up his ass. “Come to the studio next week. Wufei can discuss a proposal to negotiate a contract and I’ll give you a demonstration of the sort of competition you’d be up against in the pro sector.” “Deal!” Duo barked so fast no one else had a chance to even open their mouths. ~ * ~ tbc... |
