Chapter Text
In a place where others go after work for a drink, a bar filled with the smell of alcohol, smoke, food that's fried to absolute hell, moldy fries that has been left since 1983, an absolutely depressing atmosphere. Yet on that small stage, there's a guy wearing a plain white shirt is playing his bass while singing songs that nobody ever heard of but still listens when there's no other entertainment worth watching around. "Thank you for listening! Avery Parr out!" He shouted into the mic before going down the stage and taking the box he left on the table closest to the stage so that people who likes his performance can give a little reward. "Hm... not bad for tonight. I can work with 10 bucks.." Avery then sat down on one of the stools facing the counter.
"Yo unc! The usual."
"Avery, how many times do I have to tell you-"
"Tell me to use your name? Nah, I like calling you unc more than Jacob."
Jacob rolled his eyes as he makes Avery's usual combination of cheap beer and soda ice cream and sliding it across the counter.
"On the house. Consider it a reward for a killer performance."
"Oh. Are you dying?"
That statement alone made Jacob choke on his own saliva as he looked back at Avery who's drinking his beer nonchalantly like he didn't have rent to pay.
"What the hell Avery?!"
"Just a question bro. It's rare for you to treat me a beer."
"Can't a guy be nice to his buddy for once?"
"No."
"What a jackhead."
Avery just shrugged before drinking his beer. A treat well deserved after a performance in his eyes. As he drink, he looks around the familiar bar. Not comforting but welcoming with those weird paintings, questionable choice of wallpaper and one big sign that wrote 'Cursed Mangoes (open every evening)'. Suddenly, Jacob asked
"Ever thought on trying to find anyone to be a team?"
"Your point?"
"I mean, your bass skills are good solo but... it feels empty y'know? Like food without salt."
"So you're saying that I need to have a team?"
"Not necessarily. Maybe a partner. It's just a suggestion."
Avery hummed. The beer has long finished. A team? He prefered solo. He needs to prove to them that he can truly survive with music alone and for that, he can't have a team.
"That's stupid. I'm leaving."
"Wh- so soon? Is it something I said? Hey, Avery!'
Yet Avery paid no mind to his friend his bass case and went out from the bar.
Outside is still lively. It is still 11 pm though. Starhill City sure is always live in a constant movement, no time to rest as he navigated the streets. Messy? Check. Filthy? Check. Filled with musicians? Also check. Avery always enjoyed watching others play. Sometimes he'll leave them a few bucks for their performance. "Hm, everyone is doing well... Hold on-" A sound of electric guitar filled the air, so loud that it may be deadly to the ears. "New person? Never seen them before in the street... but gahdamn is his guitar sounds like screams" The player also looks like his sound. Chaotic, like someone that just crawled up from hell. Messy raven hair with electric blue streaks, wearing a hoodie and his ears are pierced. His skin is so damn smooth that even Avery feels like he wants to steal that guy's face. "Damn, a face like that yet he plays electric guitar? Should've been a model." Avery huffed before leaving the street. Oblivious to how the raven haired guy is eyeing him while playing. Specifically his bass.
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The apartment door is opened harshly before getting slammed (poor door) as Avery flopped on the sofa. "Am tired..." he whined before opening his phone and checking Whatsapp. His family didn't message, like always.
"Ugh... It's not like music is taboo yet they cut me off like I just canibalized.. Whatever..."
Avery closed the app before opening TikTok to doomscroll until 3 am. Life feels shitty like always. When morning comes, (sleep-deprived) Avery woke up, get dressed and go to work. Boring as ever. Until...
He heard the same guitar a yesterday.
"Wh- this guy is already playing in the middle of this morning?! In front of the shop too?!" Avery looks around the store, the other workers haven't arrived and the manager is up at her office. He groaned and sighed. Getting ready to get his mood soured before going outside.
"Hey, you can't play that guitar here."
The guy stopped playing before looking at Avery, really looking with those coffee colored eyes.
"Why not?"
"Because, it disturbs the customers, our ears and majorly this morning atmosphere no matter how good it is."
The guy didn't even look mad, just intriqued.
"The bass really deserves you..." he whispered to himself which of course, Avery didn't hear.
"Excuse me, what??"
"No. Nothing. Just wanted to see you."
The guy then packd his things before getting up and leaving immediately while leaving Avery feeling flabbergasted.
"Huh?? Do I have a stalker now? La heck?!"
Sighing, Avery just went back inside his shop.
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The door to Cursed Mangoes creaked open as the familiar smell of the tavern hit Avery.
"Jacob! Got room for a performance tonight?!"
As if on cue, Jacob appeared from the store behind the bar counter, holding some bottles of alchohol.
"Yo Avery! Yeah, we have one for you but..."
"Hm? But what?"
Jacob pointed at some rando which is actually the same raven haired guy!
"He wants to play with you."
"Wh- You're that weird freaky guy from this morning! I knew you were stalking me!"
Yet the guy just drank his (3rd) shot of vodka while shrugging.
"Nuh uh,this is what we call coincidence."
"I refuse to believe that."
"You can believe what you want to believe."
"Why you smug-"
"Avery, I think you should do it."
Avery looks at Jacob with a betrayed look.
"Dude! Who's side are you on?!"
"Nobody. Just sayin. Give it a try Avery."
Jacob looks at the guy as he picked up one of the washed glass to wipe.
"Plus, I think this guy is serious about music."
Avery narrowed his eyes, thinking about Jacob's words. Maybe, just maybe, he needs to swallow his ego and try to play as a duo.
"Fine. New guy! I"ll humor you this time. We're going in 20 minutes. Don't you dare back away suddenly."
The ravenette smiled as he got up from his seat and slung his guitar case over his shoulders. Looking determined and focused.
"Of course. Also, call me Theo."