Work Text:
The atmosphere at the bar was cosy. It seemed rather relaxed too, mixing all generations and without a particular dress code. The lights were soft, a nice orange hue emanating from several spots surrounding the small stage. There was a piano on it, a beautiful black one, with its lid open.
The stage was empty at the moment. It was probably normal, knowing the night had just begun and most of the clients weren’t there yet.
Steve sat down and waited for the people to trickle in and someone to appear on stage. He asked the waitress for a beer and looked at the bar’s decoration more carefully.
His musing were interrupted by someone making irruption next to the piano and declaring, “Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome James Barnes!”
People cheered and Steve’s attention narrowed at once to the man who walked to the stool. He was young, rather tall and slender. His caramel hair was cut short on the sides, and the longer strands curled atop of his head.
Steve was instantly drawn to the pianist, although he couldn’t explain why.
Half an hour passed with the brunet playing without interruption, mostly melancholic and classic songs. At least, Steve estimated it was half an hour -purely based on the number of songs. In reality, time seemed to pass in a blur. There was a clock on a wall, and he could have checked his phone, but Steve’s eyes never left Barnes for more than ten seconds. The pianist’s fingers danced on the keys, and he didn’t even seem to need his partitions. He truly was captivating.
A few songs later, Steve understood why time didn’t seem to exist outside of the bubble. He understood why he was so captivated in the middle of Barnes’ rendition of Sound of silence. It was the melancholy that transpired in Barnes’ music, the heartbreak he gave off.
Steve had never seen anyone look so sad while playing.