Chapter Text
The doorbell chimed cheerily as they entered.
"Hey Jayce, how's it going?" The music shop owner, Dave, looked up from the glass case filled to the brim with all manner of guitar strings, from Ball to D'Addarios.
"Really well!" Jayce felt revived after taking a much needed nap.
Vi stepped around him, looking at the stage lighting setups and controllers. The smell of polish and woods permeated the space, and warm florescent lighting radiated over the shining instruments.
Dave watched him slow as he passed the new arrivals, a few with complete pearlescent bodies. "You lookin' for a new lady?"
Jayce reached out to feel the smooth body of a green electric guitar. He turned and patted his heavily stickered case, emblazoned with "ZAUNDADS" and "TiMeBoMb" and a few other local bands' emblems. "Nah, she's all I need right now, but I might talk to you later about some more work on her, though!"
The luthier's eyes sparkled at that. "You bet! Tell Ximena I said hi!"
"I will, catch you later then!" Jayce waved and approached the glass door, but hadn't been noticed yet.
He watched Ekko keeping time with a finger swishing in the air, while Viktor's lips were pursed, either singing or whistling along. The slim man had one leg fully extended, resting on a stool next to him.
Vi poked his shoulder, then finally, he pressed on the metal handle and let himself into the practice room.
Ekko and Viktor looked up from roughly sketched sheets of music, hastily scribbled onto hand-lined paper. Vi entered behind him and crossed the floor to where the bandmates sat.
"Hey! It's been so long I almost missed you guys!" Jayce greeted enthusiastically.
Ekko gave a pitied chortle while Viktor's eyeliner-smudged face was deadpan and drawn, but managed a small smile.
Jayce's shoulders drooped slightly. "Just kidding. I uh, I'll get my stuff set up, gimme just a minute."
He plugged in the switch, pedals, and amp. Jayce bent and adjusted the volume down to reduce the feedback in the small room. Trailing the long cord behind him, he unbuckled the side of his case letting it fall open, revealing his instrument. Viktor watched with curiosity.
Vi settled next to Ekko in one of the open chairs, dapping him up as if they had known each other forever. "Great show last night! It was my first concert of yours that I've been to, sounded great!"
"Thanks! Maybe soon we'll try something new, there's a song that we've been working on," He flapped the blue and black sheet music and beamed. "It's a newer rhythm and style. Kinda excited to try it out!"
Jayce finished plugging in and walked over to where the three were seated, moving past the resident drum set and guitar racks. "Can I see?"
Ekko offered the few sheets of scribbled music, Viktor shifted in his seat, trying to find a comfortable position in the chairs clearly designed by Satan himself. The tall man took the sheets and scanned them.
"Can't wait to hear it! But. I have to know, why is it written in pen?" Jayce grimaced.
"There are no mistakes in music." Viktor said simply.
Jayce nodded, considering Viktor's words.
Viktor watched Jayce's oversized hands travel up the neck of the Les Paul guitar, the bright sunburst design on the body was a shock in the plain practice room. Switching on the pedal with his foot, he picked the first few notes. He nodded to himself, standing and facing the three of them. The pickups--custom to be sure--sounded through the amp, oozing with warm, comforting grace.
How?
He seemed to fill the room with himself, larger than life. Viktor watched his tanned fingers caress the strings, threads of concentration etched into his face. His short nails bit into the fret board, the notes singing out. Jayce was surprisingly dexterous, able to hold chords with his large hands without dampening the other strings. A thought came, unbidden, and Viktor's mouth suddenly went dry. He quickly choked down the thought and concentrated again on Mr. Talis.
Where did this man come from?
Ekko eased back in the metal folding chair, Vi next to him. She exchanged a glance with him. He mouthed a simple 'what the fuuuuu' and she shrugged and simply gestured, as if saying, 'here he is'.
Viktor struggled to stand, gathering himself up from metal chair and shuffled to Jayce's side. The muscles in his forearm tensed from holding the pick away from the guitar. He listened to the last few notes fade as the amp echoed out.
A bead of sweat trickled down Jayce's brow.
Was he nervous? Why?
"You," Viktor began, his mouth working to find the words. "Have a photographic memory? On top of improvisation skills? But the song is different it's more..."
Jayce released the guitar and let it lay against his hip. Was the smaller man crying?
"I'm sorry I changed it! Thought it sounded more, I guess--rounded--this way? I wanted the triplets because I wanted them to feel heavier," He reached into his pocket for a polishing cloth in lieu of a kerchief and offered it. "Wanted to show you more how I feel it, in my heart? I guess."
Viktor's eyes widened. He reached up and felt the wet corner of his eye. Clearing his throat he waved away the cloth and scrubbed the tears away.
"So. You said you can sing?"