To Be A Rock Star:
Duo looks good.
No.
Duo looks hot.
I hadn?ft even realized that
earlier all because I was too busy wondering and getting upset over why Andre
was tagging along with him. But now, I have a very good and uninterrupted view
of his ass, which looks very snug and comfy in a pair of black pants that
aren?ft quite leather but isn?ft a fake imitation either. I want to reach out to
feel it, just to be sure of its texture, but whatever it is, it?fs doing a fine
job of molding well to the boy?fs backside and legs like it was meant to be. His
long braid moves ever so slightly behind him with each step he takes. I think
it must have grown an inch overnight because it falls a little below said
delectable ass. A black leather jacket with the words ?eThe Stoners?f written in
white Gothic letters and complete with the band?fs signature insignia of a
half-naked woman draped over a motorcycle and a huge white skull and bones
surrounded by flowers, hugs Duo?fs shoulders perfectly.
I think I have a jacket like
that, but I?fm not really sure of where I have it stashed now. I might have left
it at my parents?f house?c
?gYou okay, Heero??h he asks
over his shoulder. ?gWalk a little faster, will ya??h
Damn it. You don?ft tell me
what to do, Duo! Not with Mister Artist wanting to kick my ass for just showing
up!
But I dutifully obey and
quicken my steps, deliberating planting myself between the two men and
completely ignoring the quick glance that Andre throws in my direction. Duo
grins happily enough and then places an arm on my shoulder pulling me closer to
him. I hope I?fm not blushing at the ?efriendly?f act, but I withdraw my hands
from my pockets to wrap my arm around his waist with a light smirk.
Duo smells even better than
he had earlier. It?fs like a mixture of spring soap (the kind I use by the way)
and of course that familiar scent of his cologne that I?fve come to associate
with him. For a moment, I close my eyes and allow myself to be taken to a place
where only he and I exist just for me to hear this:
?gSo tell me, Heero?care you a
big fan of the Stoners??h
I open up my eyes quickly and
tighten my arm around Duo?fs waist as I glance towards Andre, since he had asked
the question. There is a polite smile on his face although I?fd be a fool not to
see the challenge in his eyes.
?gI am,?h I reply simply. ?gAre
you??h
He smiles and I want to smack
it right off his face, but its Duo who opens his mouth to cause even more
damage.
?gAre you kidding? Andre?fs the
biggest Stoners?f fan out there! Can?ft believe the guy even has their very first
underground recording in his collection!?h
?gYou?fve seen his collection??h
I say tightly as my arm begins to loosen its hold on his waist.
Andre laughs softly as we
finally stop before his car – if you could call it that. It looked like
something that had come out of from one of those really bad cop shows from the
past. If memory serves me correctly, this is a ?f67 Camaro. It?fs a red one with
two large white stripes on its hood and at first glance I can tell it?fs one of
the rarer models to be produced.
?gYeah, I?fve seen his
collection,?h Duo replies as he opens up the back door to usher us both in. This
seems to annoy Andre for he asks quickly.
?gI thought you were shotgun,
Duo.?h
?gOh, no. That was for getting
here,?h Duo explains with a wink. ?gBut now Heero?fs with me. I can?ft very well
leave him on his own. He might break something.?h
I?fm not sure if I should be
happy at that or if I should kick Duo?fs ass for making me feel and look clumsy,
but Andre?fs frown makes it all better for me and sliding into the quite
comfortable back seat, I eye its interior and try not to gag on the heavy smell
of acrylic and oil paints. If there was any question of Andre?fs devotion to the
Stoners, it was dispelled by the bumper stickers on his dashboard, several
bobble head dolls of the band on his backseat, a large skull like thing handing
from the rearview mirror and seat covers with the band?fs logos all over them.
Talk about overkill.
?gSee what I mean??h Duo whispers
in my ear as he moves closer to me. ?gThe guy?fs nuts about them. I was pretty
damn surprised. I thought I was a fanatic, but he beat me hands down.?h
I turn my head a little, only
to flush in embarrassment as our noses brush each other?fs for a moment. He
grins and I am treated to pearly white dentures with the teasing hint of his
pink tongue between. God, I want to kiss him so bad right about now?c
?gOuch!?h I have to hold onto
the front seat as the car gives a sudden jerk and the most god awful sound.
?gWhat the?c??h
Andre engages the brake and
says over his shoulder. ?gSorry about that. The car?fs not as young as it looks.?h
Young? Is he trying to be
funny?!
Duo?fs head falls upon my
shoulder and it takes me only a second to realize he?fs laughing softly against
my jacket. He lifts his head and makes a sign with his forefinger and thumb and
despite my desperate attempts to decipher its meaning; he shakes his head and
mouths ?eCrazy?f to me. I can only hope he means that Andre is the one who?fs lost
his marbles.
Thankfully, the car manages
to get going with no more hitches and I lean back on the seat only to sit
upright again with a small yelp as I feel Duo?fs hand begin to caress my inner
thigh. I glance at him quickly, my heart pounding so hard, I?fm sure mister
artist can hear over the cacophony that?fs his car engine.
?eDuo!?f I mouth frantically
but he gives me a small smirk and slides his hand even higher. With my face a
bright red, I clamp my thighs together and trap his hand between them which
causes him to scowl. I shake my head.
?eNot here!?f
?eWhy not??f
?eWhy not?! Because of?c?f
?gDuo!?h I say out loud as he
slips a hand beneath my t-shirt to seize my nipple. He gives it a light pinch
and I push him away quickly. Of course our little banter has attracted Andre?fs
attention and I catch his curious gaze through the rearview mirror.
?gEverything okay back there,
guys??h he asks around a laugh which I can tell is taking an effort out of him.
?gEverything?fs fine,?h Duo
replies as he uses the opportunity to push his wandering hand a bit higher. I
hadn?ft even realized I had parted my thighs a little and before I can protest,
his entire palm has covered the growing bulge within my jeans.
Oh fuck.
?gSo, Heero. Maybe I should
see how good you are at Stoners trivia.?h
Uumm?cI don?ft really think
this is a good time to ask me questions, Andre, I think frantically while
breaking out in a sweat as Duo begins to fondle me ever so gently. Damn tease!
?gAh?cokay?cwhat?cwhat do you
want to know??h
Oh god?cDuo?cdon?ft?c.
I close my eyes and bite back
a moan as I slide lower down the seat. My right hand clutches the seat
desperately as my left begins to move of its own accord towards those leather
pants that I?fve longed to touch. Duo willing parts his thighs for me and I?fm in
heaven. God bless whoever invented this material. I squeeze gently and Duo
buries his moan by leaning his head upon my shoulder and biting on my jacket.
He?fs lucky he?fs behind Andre because I?fm having a hard time trying to control
my own emotions.
?gDo you know the original
members of the Stoners? And I mean before their first major recording.?h
Easy?cif I can think straight
enough that is. ?gYes, I do. Eric Bass – lead singer. Dave Lynard – drums
although he was the first to leave the group. Andy Picks – guitar – died of drug
overdose in 1985. Bryson – bass.?h
I think that stumps Andre and
even Duo?fs impressed as he lifts his head to blink at me in awe. I blush at the
look and shrug lightly. What can I say? I know my rock bands.
?gGood,?h Andre finally agrees
reluctantly. ?gIt?fs rare to find anyone who knows who they were. Oh yeah?cyou
wouldn?ft happen to know some of the songs on their first album, would you??h
By this time, Duo?fs hands
have stopped molesting me, thank goodness and I?fve stilled my movements as
well. If Andre wants to test me then he?fs going to get his ass kicked in the
worst way possible.
?gFirst album was titled
?eBlack Roses?f. The tracks on that album from one to twelve. Black Roses,
Stairway to Hell, Wild Nights, Babes in
I smile at the tight
expression on his face in the mirror. Yes, Andre, you can throw anything at me
and I?fll more than likely know the answer to it.
?gWow?cI think he even knows
more than you do, Andre,?h Duo says around a smirk as he leans over the front
seat to watch Andre?fs expression, but it quickly becomes a grin of excitement
as he notices his surroundings. ?gWe?fre here, Heero!?h
He barely waits for the car
to come to a complete stop before he?fs placing a hand upon my arm and literally
tugging me out it.
?gWe?fll keep a space for you
in line, Andre!?h Duo yells through the window as he waves quickly and leads us
towards a line that seems to go on forever. Imagine if you will, a line filled
with die-hard Stoners fans. Ranging from the very obsessed who had made up their
faces to look like the lead singer?fs or any of the other band members, complete
with costumes that would have made the band themselves proud – to ordinary fans
like Duo and I, who were content in either our t-shirts with their names or with
leather jackets or tattoos here and there.
?gWanna get one, Heero??h
?gGet one what??h I ask already
beginning to shrug out of my jacket. It is getting hot after all.
?gA tattoo!?h
I raise a brow.
?gIt?fs temporary,?h he explains
quickly. ?gAnd look, the gates don?ft open for another two hours or so, we?fve got
plenty of time.?h
?gAh?cokay?c?h I have noticed
Andre making his way towards us and deciding that this would be a great time to
ditch him, I follow Duo as quickly as I can while hoping that the tattoo
artist?fs instruments would be hygienic enough.
There are actually about six
or seven tattoo stalls along with other band memorabilia stands and even some
refreshment stands which remind me of how hungry I am.
?gHmmm, this one looks good.?h
Duo points towards one with a guy who looks like he had just stepped out of a
Hawaiian catalogue. He?fs bald and dressed in a bright and rather ugly orange
Hawaiian print shirt. Brown shorts and matching sandals complete the picture,
not to mention the dark sunglasses on his face and his goatee of a beard.
?gAh, customers,?h he greets
with a flourish as he motions us inside. ?gHoward?fs the name and tattoos are my
game.?h
God save me from the
corniness of his lines. Since it?fs rather small inside and crammed with
everything from posters of various designs to the loud speakers that blare one
of the Stoners classics, I have to sit on a rather uncomfortable looking stool
as Duo?fs quick to make himself comfortable on the reclining chair. He sits up
again to take off his jacket to reveal the sheer mesh sleeveless shirt he?fs
wearing underneath. Grinning widely, he points to his upper arm.
?gStoners there
please?cinsignia and everything. By the way, the name?fs Duo.?h
Howard laughs – a dry,
cackling sound that?fs pleasing in an odd sort of way. It almost makes you want
to join him although one wonders what?fs so funny in the first place.
?gAll right. Stoners it is.?h
Duo gives me a thumbs up sign
and closes his eyes while I watch Howard begin his work with interest. I know
it?fs only temporary but I don?ft fail to notice the real needles and ink that
can be used for permanent ones and I am unaware that I am rubbing my arm gently
as if trying to prepare it for something that painful. Although I doubt it will
be.
Howard is pretty fast and in
less than fifteen minutes, Duo?fs sporting the familiar skull and bones with a
banner and the words ?eStoners?f written on it below the picture. It looks rather
good and I?fm about to comment him on it, but he sits up and says rather quickly
to me.
?gHey could you wait outside
for me for some time, Heero. I?fve got one more thing I?fve gotta do.?h
?gWhat??h I ask in confusion,
but he gives me an enigmatic smile and waves for me to leave.
?gI?fll be right out, okay? Now
move it.?h
Howard seems to be just as
confused. I?fll bet he?fs concerned on if he had done a good job or not, but I
have no choice but to obey Duo?fs request as I step out of the welcome shade and
back beneath the blistering sun. I decide to get myself a drink and as I begin
to walk away, I hear the undeniable sounds of a machine whirring. I shake my
head and decide it?fs just my imagination.
A good twenty minutes and two
cans of soda later, Duo finally walks out of the tent with a pleased grin on
his visage. He doesn?ft bother to put on his jacket as it?fs tied around his
waist now. It reveals his new temp tattoo and I have to admit it looks quite
good on him.
?gWhat took you so long??h I
ask as I get ready for mine.
But again he gives me a vague
smile. ?gJust wanted to get something extra done. Hey, hurry up and do yours!
We?fve got less than an hour.?h
I notice that the line?fs
already begun to move and Andre is now making his way towards us. With a quick
nod of understanding, I slip back into Howard?fs cool tent and notice him
clearing away items that were definitely used for a permanent tattoo. Duo had
gotten a permanent one? What for? And just where was it? I hadn?ft noticed
anything else on his arm or even on his chest or back. So where could he have?c
?gReady, Heero??h Howard asks
with a grin as he motions for me to lie down on the chair.
Hmm, a permanent tattoo.
It sounds pretty tempting.
But what can I get?
Howard?fs already rubbing my
upper left arm with the alcohol and I try to think quickly.
Something?cpermanent?c
?gWait.?h He stills his
movement and eyes me with wariness. Licking my lips slowly I try to say this as
nonchalantly as possible. ?gUh?cI?fd?cI?fd like a permanent one.?h
He doesn?ft seem surprised by
my request and instead places the needle brush down to ask with a knowing glint
in his eye. ?gAnd what would you like yours to be??h
I can feel my cheeks growing
red as I wonder how I can put this without sounding like I?fm helplessly
attracted to the boy that had just left the tent.
?gUuum?cthe letters DM and HY
interlocked or something,?h I finally blurt out quickly. ?gOh and please put it
in a place that he?cI mean that people won?ft be able to see so easily.?h
Again, and much to my relief,
Howard only gives me a knowing look and a grin before reaching for a sheet of
paper and a pen.
?gJust sign right here, young
sir,?h he says eagerly. ?gAnd we?fll get this baby started.?h
____
Half an hour later:
?gSo what did you get, Heero?!?h?h
?gUuum?cI changed my mind!!?h
He looks at me warily as we
both get shoved again. We?fre now in the thick of things or in the crowd rather.
And with most of the guys and some girls nearly topless or topless (the heat in
the dome is rather oppressing) I am more than tempted to do the same.
?gIt took you almost half an
hour to change your mind?!?h
We have to yell because the
opening band – The Killerz – are currently tearing up the stage with their
latest hits.
?gI was having trouble
deciding!!?h I yell back. Not much of a lie and I know he?fs not buying it. He
glares at me and I glare back. He has no right to complain since he?fs hiding
something from me as well.
?gWhat about you?!?h
?gWhat about me?!?h
Someone shoves me again and it
almost sends Duo and I toppling to the ground. He wraps his arms around me and I
do the same – more to steady ourselves than anything but I think the temperature
in the room has risen up a few notches. Everyone else in the room seems to fade
away as I stare into those dark blue eyes that gleam with a beauty that?fs
almost surreal in the chaotic mess we?fre stranded in.
?gWhat did you get
afterwards?!?h I ask.
But as usual, he ignores me
and laughs as the tempo picks up. He releases me and turns his focus to the
stage. The Killerz are done. It?fs time for the grand daddies to make their
appearance and for once in a long time, that takes my mind away from Duo or
from anything else but the four guys who I believe to be the greatest rock band
in the world.
__
I think I am high on
something. I?fm not sure if the band had sprayed a fine mist of some kind of
drug along with the cooling water that had been sprayed on us as we had danced
our young minds out.
But as we stagger out of the
doors, we are drenched not just with water but from sweat and pure adrenaline.
Our faces are flushed with excitement, eyes glistening with our giddy joy at
experiencing something this stupendous and amazing. I think I can even forgive
Andre for showing up and for daring to lift Duo over his shoulder during the
concert. But for a moment, I could have sworn I had seen a small white gauze
patch as Duo?fs pants had slid down his hips a little. It?fs like the one I?fm
sporting right now as I can?ft let my tattoo be exposed just yet. I had to give
my skin at least six to twelve hours to heal before removing the patch. So that
would mean that Duo got himself a permanent tattoo after all.
Damn! I wonder what it says.
?gWhoo! That was awesome!?h Duo
cries out as he leans heavily upon me. Someone had tugged off the small elastic
band that had held his braid together and now his thick tresses are half
braided half unraveled as he wraps his arms tightly around my neck. He?fs still
clutching onto a rather prized possession and I can?ft blame him. He had managed
to snag Eric?fs tossed t-shirt and I could see that he had no plans to let it go
no matter how much anyone was willing to pay him.
?gI?fm glad you all had fun,?h
Andre says. ?gBut I?fve got even better news.?h
He holds up two tickets and
we stare at him blankly.
With a smug look, he grins.
?gTwo backstage passes to?c?h
?gNO FUCKING WAY!?h Duo tears
his arms away from me and pounces for the tickets. ?gWhat the hell are we
waiting for?! Come on Heero?c!?h
?gAh?cit?fs only two tickets,
Duo,?h Andre interrupts firmly but loud enough for me to hear as well. I grit my
teeth and sink my hands into the pockets of my pants. He doesn?ft need to say
that twice. I know full well what he?fs thinking.
?gOh?c?h
I can feel the disappointment
that rolls off Duo like waves and I shake my head quickly and manage to muster
out as cheerfully as I can. Although the words sound like dry sand in my mouth.
?gYou two go. I?fll just wait out here for you.?h
?gHeero?c?h Duo begins but Andre
cuts in with a warm smile.
?gThanks Heero. I?fm sure we?fd
take pictures with the guys and get them to sign something for you.?h
Burn in hell, you asshole.
But I smile tightly and shrug
before turning away and walking towards the exit. It hurts. I won?ft lie and say
it doesn?ft. I would have loved to have met the guys but better yet, I would
have loved to be with Duo at this time. Andre has his cards played out
perfectly and at the end of the day, I am the loser.
I watch the crowds disperse
all still talking and laughing over their experiences. It?fs pretty late and as
I lift my heads to the dark heavens, I try to shake off my disappointment and
pain at being alone at such a time. Perhaps the tattoo had been a mistake. Duo
can never be serious enough to regard us as a couple. He is a fun-loving guy
who makes no qualms over who he?fd rather spend his time with and tonight I have
gotten my answer.
?gSo this is where you ran off
to!?h
I turn around quickly in
surprise to stare at a grinning Duo behind me. He?fs still clutching his Eric
Bass t-shirt but there?fs no sign of Andre anywhere.
?gDuo?c??h
He grabs my left arm and
slips his own through it before leading us away from the building. I turn back
in confusion but I still can?ft make out the familiar tall figure of the artist.
?gWhere?fs?c??h
?gHe?fs gone home.?h
I blink in growing bemusement.
?gI?chow?c??h
He smiles softly and lifts
his head, so I?fm given a breathtaking view of his profile highlighted against
the dark shadows of the evening. In that moment, I think I see a Duo that?fs
different from the others I?fve met. He looks so strong and sure of himself and
I feel suddenly self-conscious and in awe of his sheer charisma.
?gIt?fs a beautiful night,?h he
finally says as he lowers his head to grin at me. ?gWe can walk home together.
And besides.?h He rests his head upon my shoulder as we continue to walk. ?gI
chose you.?h
He chose me.
I?fm still not sure of what
that means, but whatever had happened back in there, Duo had wanted to be with
me. With me! I think being this happy
should be illegal but I can?ft help it. I open up my mouth to say something that
will make this evening even more perfect but nothing good enough comes to mind.
Sighing inwardly, I decide to let my actions speak for themselves.
I swear it was only supposed
to be a small peck on his lips but?c.what can I say?
Duo is delicious.
Now, if I can only muster up
the courage to show him where my new tattoo is?c.
~End Period Thirteen~