Fan Fiction ❯ Love Song ❯ One-Shot

~

The lights were blinding. Kigai stood quietly on the brightly lit stage, listening to the reporter drone about him over the PA system. He'd never actually met the woman, but he thought he hated her. As if she knew anything about him, or Shima, or even Heiwa Inori. As if she could ever understand the importance of this song. The stage was empty behind him. Rather than risk live musicians, he'd opted to record the music separately, earlier, playing the two most important instrumental parts - the guitar and the piano - himself. Playing it over and over until he was satisfied... The reporter finally finished her spiel and Kigai took a deep breath. He didn't lie to himself. This was going to hurt.

~

Seta leaned against a wall backstage, positioned so he could just see Kigai, alone in the wash of stagelights. He'd learn to read his sometimes-lover so well in the months since they'd met that the subtle tension present in the curve of Kigai's legs and shoulders were clearly visible to him. Funny how vulnerable these hardasses always turned out to be. Even the smart ones.

Kigai, he knew, had been working on Love Song nonstop for over a month. It had taken him over to the point where he had been willing to ask Seta for help. In fact, Seta had helped him write the bassline, then played both bass and percussion for the studio recording. During the recording session, he'd also added a few personal flourishes, very distinctly his style. Kigai had either been too wound up to notice or he hadn't cared. But Shima would notice, Seta knew. Probably not right away - he'd be too focused on Kigai - but he would later, replaying the song in his head, and every time he heard it afterwards. The song may have been written for Shima, but Seta's mark was all over it.

The lights dimmed and the music started, insidious, creeping along Seta's bones the way it was meant to. Whatever Kigai's motivation had been in writing it, it was a damn good song. Kigai's voice filtered in as the introductory bars faded, haunting and low. He glided through the slow opening verse, eyes closed, hands cupping the microphone tenderly. The words fell from him like tears, luminescent and shimmering. Seta felt himself shiver involuntarily as Kigai entered the first chorus, voice velvet, seductive. Arousing. He smirked. He wished he could see Shima's face.

The song progressed almost unperceptibly, rising slowly, filling the performance hall. Tension built invisibly, quivering in the air, waiting for a spark. Then the drums kicked in full force at the end the second verse, the tempo quickening. Kigai followed them into the crescendo of the bridge, both volume and intensity rising, the subtext pulsing beneath the melody like a latent river plain to anyone who knew enough to read it. Kigai swayed, voice and body caressing notes and words whose meanings were more than the sum of their parts. In passing, Seta wondered if Satori was crying yet.

Chorus again, after which a musical interlude provided brief respite, a minute for Kigai to gather himself for the last verse, a moment for the audience to relax, to think it it had escaped his grasp. The final verse still lulling, a temporary return to the opening tempo, misleading and gentle. Then the closing drive like a kick in the gut, the instruments climaxing and Kigai's voice, rich and raw and deep, going on and on and on... Seta watched him though slitted eyes, rubbing an idle hand over his groin as the throb of Kigai's anguished voice settled between his legs. The man was so fucking sexy when he was suffering.

But then it was over. Silence - a full minute before the crowd erupted, a wordless roar of approval. Kigai seemed frozen, still draped over the microphone, breathing hard. His eyes were closed. He unfolded suddenly, backed away from the mic, eyes opening wide and blank. He stared sightlessly at the audience for a startled moment, eyes dialated to a green slivers surrounding great dark pupils. Then he turned and swept off the stage, steps steadily becoming faster, brushing past Seta without seeing him.

Seta pushed off the wall and followed, hands shoved deep in his pockets, looking for all the world like he was only stretching his legs. He knew where Kigai was going. Shima would know, too. Well, he'd just have to make sure he got there before him. Not that it was likely to be a problem. Shima would have to untangle himself from the exec box (and his father, and the press, and Inori) before he could follow. Plenty of time.

~

When Seta entered the parking garage, Kigai was braced over the hood of his car, arms stiff and shoulders shaking. Seta sidled up behind him, pulled him back against his half-aroused body. Kigai knew it was him without turning and allowed it, head falling against Seta's shoulder. Seta stroked the firm flesh of his stomach, soothing the younger man's trembling. He nuzzled his neck, finding the sensitive spot just behind his left ear lobe, moving down to press a gentle kiss against his shoulder. Kigai's breathing evened out gradually as he slowly relaxed beneath Seta's minstrations. Time passed silently and indeterminably, both men focused only on the body against his.

Faint but rapid footsteps sounded in the connecting hall. Kigai was still too caught up in himself to notice but Seta heard, and he knew who it was. He pivoted smoothly, turning Kigai to face him at the same time, shifting so that he leaned comfortably against the car, Kigai cradled between his legs. Kigai buried his face in Seta's shoulder, slowing tears soaking into his shirt. Seta eased him closer, faintly amused at the other man's total loss of control. It wasn't often that this side of him appeared. He pressed an absent kiss against Kigai's forehead, hands sliding softly through the other man's hair, listening to the approaching footsteps. Not long now.

Shima appeared in the doorway. Kigai chose that moment to tilt his face up, pulling Seta down for a long, desperately hungry kiss, all tongue and teeth and suction. Perfect. Seta slid his hands under his shirt, rubbing his back tenderly. Kigai made a soft gasping sound against his mouth. Breaking the kiss, he moved to the front of Seta's half-buttoned shirt, laving the exposed collarbone. Then just laid his head against Seta's shoulder like he was waiting for something. And, Seta supposed, he was.

Seta looked Shima. Kissed Kigai's ear. Very deliberately bit the vulnerable curve of Kigai's neck, hard enough to leave marks. Ran a slow apologetic tongue over the indents, eyes locked with Shima's the entire time. Kigai only shivered slightly, tightening his arms around the taller man, used to the oft-repeated idiosyncrasy. Shima knew what the gestures meant. Seta's gaze dropped to Kigai, bending to whisper hotly against his skin, knowing Shima couldn't hear, knowing he would invent all sorts of words for him. Kigai laughed softly in response, pressed even closer. Seta met Shima's eyes again, a possessive hand sliding into the small of Kigai's back. He smiled.

END.

Notes: Err. Okay, this is my first attempt at writing Seta. I kind of like the snerky bastard. Anyway, if you're wondering why I didn't include the lyrics to Love Song... Well, it's because there aren't any. Maybe I'll write them someday (I do have a good idea of how it starts) but for now, I want you to make it up on your own. I'm sure you all have a good idea of how it goes.