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Whenever this time of year rolled around, Ferdinand tried not to make a huge deal out of it. He didn’t want to impose on anyone. His birthday was simply another number on the calendar. In fact, he did not tell too many people about the date. Yet, there was always at least one person spreading that detail around. It was not that he didn’t care for celebrations. He absolutely loved parties and surprises, but he preferred hosting them for other people. When he was a child, he adored being the center of attention and being showered with gifts. Nowadays, he attempted to be more modest.
However, his good friend Dorothea had other plans for the special day. She surprised him a week ahead of the date with a birthday card. When Ferdinand opened the card, he had been stunned to see two tickets to the Black Eagles’ concert in Enbarr. The thought of going to see a live band at Mittelfrank Hall was something the redhead had been hoping to do for years. While his outer appearance might not have aligned with his music taste, Ferdinand did enjoy the heavy metal or rock stylings of the Black Eagles.
Though, their music might not have been the only reason why Ferdinand would want to attend a concert. All of the members of the band were enchanting. Their lead singer was Edelgard Hresvelg, and she was short but fierce. Her vocal chords were powerful, and she could sing the sweetest melody or scream until causing eardrums to bleed. Her fashion matched the rest of the band: black, monochromatic, and full of spikes or piercings. Her bright white hair was a great contrast to the rest of her wardrobe, too.
Besides Edelgard, there was their guitarist Petra. She also had hair that was vivid with its magenta hue tucked in a tight braid. Plus, she had a plethora of tattoos across her arms and legs, most of which related to her home back in Brigid. Their drums were run by loud and boisterous Caspar. His hair was cyan and spiked in multiple directions. He also wore lots of torn clothes and was known for hyping up the crowd with his cheering. Accompanying the electric keyboard, Bernadetta also made guest appearances on tracks. She was not a full time member, but the fans adored her all the same. Despite her timid nature, she truly got into the zone with her fingers touching the keys on stage.
Then, there was him.
Hubert Vestra. The bassist of the group. Everything about him screamed danger; his jaded appearance was exactly what drew Ferdinand towards him. Growing up under a strict household, he couldn’t help but long for a taste of freedom. His heart yearned for the carefree and wild lifestyle that a man like Hubert possessed. He seemed so apathetic to societal rules and expectations, and Ferdinand envied that. His hair was black and shaggy, covering one of his pretty green eyes. His lips, tongue, nose, and eyebrow were all pierced. Plus, he had a few tattoos across his arms that caught the spotlight when he wore ripped shirts or vests. His jeans were always so tight and torn in spots, and his jewelry was studded or spiked.
If Ferdinand were to take Hubert home to his father back in Aegir, he was certain the old man would have a heart attack. Yet, that only made him more attracted to the classic bad boy persona.
Thus, the chance to meet his celebrity crush was accepted.
On the night of the concert, Ferdinand was perplexed about how to dress for the occasion. He wasn’t sure what to wear to the concert. He had a feeling his fashion sense would stick out like a sore thumb among the crowd. His wardrobe was full of soft pastel shades for business casual outfits. He often wore oversized cardigans, cozy sweaters, buttoned polos, ironed dress-shirts, and the occasional vest. His pants were often different shades of brown or tan, preferring khakis over jeans.
Tonight, he was going for a different appearance. Asking the advice of Dorothea, she got him set up with an outfit that was not too outlandish for his taste. He wore a cropped hoodie that was black with no graphics on it, showing a small patch of skin. A peek of his muscular abdomen was on display, despite the high waisted dark denim jeans he wore. His hair was pulled back with a scrunchy, and he slipped on a few thick bracelets and a couple necklaces to accessorize. His shoes were sneakers since he was going to be standing and jumping around most of the night. Applying a light moisturizer and flavored lip balm, Ferdinand felt ready for fun.
Before the show, Dorothea came around to pick him up and drive them to the venue. She greeted him with a massive hug and her third rendition of singing happy birthday to him. It was cheesy, but Ferdinand appreciated the sincerity of her words. Riding alongside her, he cracked jokes and laughed with her during the entire ride up to the stadium. Finding a parking spot was tedious, but they eventually paid and hurried their way to the doors. A line was already beginning to pile up around the front, but luckily people were quickly moving through the checking of badges and tickets.
Soon enough, the two slipped away to get a few drinks before the show started. Dorothea treated Ferdinand, ignoring any of his protests as they clinked their glasses and downed a pair of shots. It burned down the redhead’s throat, but he felt himself bouncing on his heels in excitement. Then, they got two beers to go in plastic cups, heading down to the pit for the show. Their seats were in a prime position, right near the stage. Ferdinand had never been this close to a performer before in any of the previous concerts he’s attended. A part of him wondered if there would be a chance for the band to notice him at such a short distance. His mind started to diverge down a path of romantic fancies, so he quickly buried the ridiculous notion away.
Next, the lights were dimmed and the crowd began to roar with excitement. The noise level went up dramatically, and Ferdinand’s ears were echoing with the sound of screaming and cheering. The anticipation was palpable within the air as the opening band stepped forward onto stage. Although he had never heard of them before, Ferdinand found himself enjoying their short set. It filled him with adrenaline as he hopped up and down with Dorothea. His beer spilled a little in his hand, but he quickly chugged the rest and felt any remaining nerves drift off into obscurity.
“Oh! I think they’re about to come on!” Dorothea hollered, watching as the stage was cleared by crewmembers and set for the Black Eagles to perform. A thick layer of smoke began to pour from the stage, and it filled the pit like a foggy, cold morning. Yet, there was no chill in the atmosphere tonight. Only a fire ready to blaze throughout the entire evening.
“Yeah! Look there—” Ferdinand pointed towards the stage as spotlights drifted down from the ceiling, illuminating the white clouds that covered the stage.
Suddenly, sparks flew up from the bottom of the platform and crackled like a firework. Pushing through the layers of fog, Edelgard stepped forward into the light. She grabbed onto the microphone from its stand, ripping it off and pressing it closer to her lips.
“Helloooo Adrestia! We are the Black Eagles, and we are here to play… All! Night! Looooong!”
Seconds later, the sound of pounding drums vibrated through the entire amphitheater. The lights flashed a few times before crimson bulbs underneath the stage all turned on and cut through the smoke. Each of the band members were now clearly in view. Caspar was already beating the drums in the back, starting to rile up the audience. Petra was on the left and began to strum away at her guitar, starting a slow rift to join with the percussion. To the right, Hubert was visible with his bass strapped across his chest. His fingers began to pluck at the strings, adding a rich harmony to the notes Petra was playing.
Inhaling deeply, Edelgard counted down out loud before letting out an ear-piercing shriek into the microphone. The crowd went ballistic, raising their arms and rocking their heads forward as the vocals started on their first song of the evening. The room was like an all consuming flame, burning up as the audience shouted, clapped, and stomped to the music.
At that moment, Ferdinand was lost in a haze. His pulse thumped steadily through his veins, and it grew faster as he realized just how close he was to Hubert. There were only two people before him, and they were standing on the right half of the stage. Staring directly at his longtime celebrity crush, he cupped his hands against his mouth and began to scream with the rest of the crowd. When Edelgard turned the microphone towards the audience, he sang with everyone else at the top of his lungs. It was exhilarating to feel a part of such an electric mentality.
The band smoothly transitioned into the next song, and Ferdinand felt swept off his feet. Their sound was even better in person. He felt like he was truly a part of the experience, watching as each member played their instruments with incredible finesse. Although, his eyes were tunneled on Hubert for the majority of the time. It felt surreal to be able to see sweat droplets running down his face as he stood under the scorching lights. Ferdinand was able to watch as drops gathered across his forehead, causing his shaggy black hair to stick in small clumps until he shook it out and tousled it again.
His green eyes were even prettier than he imagined. No photos caught their true elegance, nor the richness of their color. The bassist was extremely focused, too. His brows were furrowed, and he often was biting down on his pierced lip. His piercings were gleaming under the spotlight, and Ferdinand felt his curiosity rising. How did it feel to sing with the silver stud in his tongue? What was it like to speak with those snakebites sitting on his lip? Their metallic sheen was a beautiful contrast to the supple, pink lips that were pursed towards the microphone. His mind unraveled with countless, shameless thoughts about how that mouth would feel upon his own.
Getting lost in the sound, Hubert seemed to block out the rest of the world. His fingers moved flawlessly across his bass, and he leaned towards his own microphone stand when backup vocals were needed. No matter how many times they have performed live like this, he still felt the same jitters and rush of adrenaline. It was like the first concert all over again. He finally paused for a breath when Edelgard took a short moment to talk to the audience. She was a master at working the crowd, firing them up with her lively banter. Everyone wanted to follow her every command.
Letting his eyes drift from the center stage, he scanned across the sea of people. It felt like a fever dream whenever Hubert saw the sheer amount of fans supporting them. In his mind, he felt like he was still playing songs and rehearsing in Caspar’s garage with the rest of the gang. He knew that he was lucky to be discovered, so many talented bands never got their shot. He didn’t want to waste what time they had in the limelight.
Narrowing his gaze, Hubert made eye contact with a particular member of the audience. His eyes were gleaming amber, and he was staring directly back at him. In the low light of the pit, he could still make out the vibrant orange of his hair tied up in a high ponytail. His face was speckled with freckles, and he had a wide grin on his face filled with shiny white teeth. He also had a fist raised up in the sky, following the instructions of Edelgard as she asked them to cheer. Yet, this mystery fan froze in place as he caught his attention.
Hubert was not the type of man to believe in superstitions or ridiculous rumors. However, he felt a strange magnetic tug between the two of them. A spark ignited within his chest, and he felt a peculiar yearning to kindle it further with this stranger. He had a handsome face, strong features with kind eyes. Everything about him screamed warmth, and that was something Hubert still lacked within his life despite the fame.
As Edelgard wrapped up her short speech, Hubert quickly sent a flirtatious wink in Ferdinand’s direction. Then, he mouthed the words: ‘This song is for you.’
The Black Eagles burst into their next track, and Ferdinand felt his heart explode from his ribcage. His legs felt like jelly, and he almost fell to his knees. However, Dorothea grounded him with an arm around his back, rocking him back and forth like a wave motion with the audience. She might have been speaking to him, but he couldn’t hear anything. His mind was scrambled by the fact that Hubert Vestra had winked at him! If his crush had been bad before, now it had doubled in intensity. He couldn’t tear his eyes off of Hubert for the rest of the night.
The entire concert was full of explosive entertainment. The stage presence of the Black Eagles was powerful, drawing in every person in the building. No matter if a fan was in the front row or in back of the bleachers, the music lifted everyone out of their seats. It was truly the best show Ferdinand had ever attended, and his ears were still ringing when the final song came to an end. Edelgard signed off, and the rest of the band all waved and thanked their fans for their endless support. Gradually, the crowd began to disperse and head towards the parking lot to exit.
Except Dorothea stopped Ferdinand from leaving with the rest of the audience. She grabbed his shoulder and flashed a mischievous grin. Reaching into the crossover bag she had strapped across her chest, she pulled out a set of lanyards with lamented cards attached to them.
“Not so fast, birthday boy! I have another surprise for you,” She flashed the card towards Ferdinand, and his eyes widened as he read the VIP BACKSTAGE ACCESS text across it. “We are getting to meet and greet with the band! I miiight have a little connection, so let's hurry up!”
Without waiting for a response, she grabbed his hand and yanked him forward. Dorothea led them towards security, and the two were escorted into the backrooms of the venue. There were lots of doors all locked as they headed down the long hall. Most were dressing rooms that were not currently in use. Reaching a black door with a golden star across it, the security member reminded them of the rules and time regulations of the visit. Then, they opened the door and brought them into a lounge where the band was resting after the show.
The room had a few leather couches and a large coffee table full of refreshment. Plus, there were some miniature fridges against the wall for holding cool beverages. All of the members were sitting down and chatting about the concert, but stopped and looked up as the door swung open. Instantly, Edelgard stood up and greeted the two guests with a pleasant smile.
“Welcome, it’s a pleasure to meet you both,” Edelgard spoke, stepping forward to shake each of their hands. “I thank you on behalf of all of us for attending the show. Was it to your liking?”
“Absolutely! It was an awesome performance, Edie!” Dorothea exclaimed, going to pull the lead singer in closer when she went in for a handshake. She wrapped her up in her arms, giving a tight squeeze. The familiarity between the two women threw Ferdinand for a loop.
“A-Ah, I told you not to be so casual when I’m working. I-I do not want anyone finding out about us and sending ugly paparazzi after you.” Edelgard pouted slightly, but she returned the hug and rubbed at the taller woman’s back. She traced over the mesh of her shirt, savoring the moment for a few seconds longer before pulling apart. “Apologies to your friend. I am assuming you haven’t told him anything, right?”
Dorothea shook her head, giving a rough smack to Ferdinand’s back. He yelped and grew flushed rather quickly. His freckles were suddenly glowing with a pink hue, and he awkwardly gawked at the news of his best friend’s hidden dating life.
“Excuse me, but… are you telling me you have been seeing Edelgard Hresvelg, and NEVER told me?” Ferdinand looked a mixture of baffled and upset. He crossed his arms across his chest, trying to keep his eyes facing forward. The urge to look back towards the couches where Hubert was sitting was difficult to ignore.
“Sorry, Ferdie! It had to be a secret! Edie here made me promise not to say a word for both our safety.” She explained to him, slipping an arm around the lead singers’ waist as she spoke.
“Truly, it is my fault, Ferdinand. I am sorry our first meeting is so, ah, awkward. However, I cannot risk the public learning about Dorothea, or else her life will never be the same. If it’s any consultation, we have only been seeing each other for a few months.”
“Mhm, I met her in public during my vacation this past summer. Who would have thought, right? But we hit it off so well!” Dorothea smirked, drawing little hearts upon the waistline of her girlfriend. “It’s all good, though. You know the truth now, and you get the chance to meet your favorite band!”
Ferdinand was unable to find the words to speak. It seemed like everything was going by so quickly. He wanted to pinch himself to see if he had fainted during the concert and was now in some weird dream. Alas, the small pinch to his arm did nothing to wake him up. He was standing before the Black Eagles, eyes wide and blinking like a deer in headlights. He rubbed at the bridge of his nose and took in a long, deep breath to calm himself.
“Alright, let me get this straight. You two are dating and because of this, you were able to score backstage passes for my birthday?” Ferdinand asked, pointing towards the two ladies.
“Pretty much, yeah. Happy birthday!” Dorothea beamed, and the others in the room also wished him a wonderful birthday afterwards.
One by one, the band members stood up to greet Ferdinand. Petra came first and offered a gentle handshake. She wished him well on his special day and told him he could take a seat if he wished to relax with the rest of them before she sat back down. After her, Caspar rushed up and almost broke his back with a hug like a bear. Ferdinand gasped and tried to return it with his crushed arms, thanking him for the birthday wishes.
Next, Hubert stood up and approached him. Their eyes met again, and that same spark was like a lightning bolt coursing through their veins. Ferdinand’s body felt like it was thrumming with life in the presence of Hubert. He realized then that there was the tiniest height difference between them, and that thought sent a slight shiver down his spine.
“Happy birthday. I’m hoping you enjoyed the music, yeah?” Hubert was a little monotone, or perhaps simply calm was a better description for his voice. It was deep and resonated low in his chest.
“I-I did. I uhh, I… really appreciated the song you um, played for m-me.” He spoke quietly, afraid for the others to overhear. His comment did cause a grin to spread across Hubert’s face.
“Oh? You understood me then? Good to know,” He hummed, looking at him with a tender gaze. He lowered his voice and stepped closer, pushing some of Ferdinand’s hair back to whisper in his ear. “Strangely, you stood out to me tonight. If I was a man who believed in fate, maybe I would say the universe brought us together like this for a reason, pretty boy.”
Stepping back, Hubert shoved his hands in his pockets and went to take a seat. Edelgard got up to properly introduce herself to Ferdinand, but her words were going in one ear and right out the other. It was as if hot steam was pouring out from both his ears after that one little comment Hubert made about him. It had his blood pumping wildly, and his body felt increasingly hot.
He tried to drink some water to cool himself, but his body felt like it was scorched by a fever. Feeling ashamed of how titillated he became, Ferdinand tried to excuse himself for a moment.
“Uh, I would like to visit the restroom. Could someone point me in the right direction?” He asked, surprised by how small his voice sounded.
“It’s down the hall to the—” Caspar’s voice was cut off.
“I’ll take him. These halls can get confusing,” Hubert spoke up, walking over to the door and holding it open for Ferdinand. “Come on.”
Ferdinand’s heart skipped a couple beats at that announcement. He stumbled over to the door, quietly exiting and giving Dorothea a final look. His eyes were filled with anticipation, while Dorothea looked back at him with encouragement to follow his fantasies. He tried to find his courage as the two of them left the lounge and began walking down the halls.
Hubert had not been lying about how confusing it was to navigate through these corridors. It was probably the best idea for Ferdinand to have followed him, taking a few turns and ending up in front of the restrooms. Stopping, Hubert gestured towards the vacant private room. It was a one person bathroom instead of a large room filled with multiple stalls.
“Go ahead. I’ll wait out here.”
“Thank you.” Ferdinand mumbled, slipping into the restroom. He closed and locked the door, then stared right at the mirror in front of the sink.
He bent over the sink, quickly turning on the water. He kept it cold, then scooped up enough to splash his face. Another test failed. Ferdinand was fully awake and conscious. This entire evening had not just been some weird figment of his imagination. No matter how much water he splashed against his face, he was still in this bathroom with super star Hubert Vestra waiting outside. He tried to do a set of yoga breaths to soothe himself, but it was having little effect. Lifting his head, he stared back at his reflection in awe. He gripped the sides of the sink, feeling the weight of the situation sinking in.
It was his birthday, and Hubert Vestra had literally flirted with him just a few minutes ago.
Turning off the water, Ferdinand grabbed a few paper towels to wipe off his face when he heard a knocking at the door.
“Is everything alright in there?” Hubert asked, waiting for a response.
“Oh! Yeah, I uhh, I am just finishing up…” He wasn’t sure what to say, but he reached for the doorknob. As he turned it and pushed the door open, he only got a single foot out the door before Hubert moved in closer.
Out of instinct, Ferdinand began to step backwards into the bathroom. He was pushed up against the sink as Hubert entered the room, letting the door close behind him. He reached to lock it again before looking back at Ferdinand with an amused expression. His hand extended forward, brushing over the other’s cheek with the back of his hand. It felt hot to the touch. He found the sight of Ferdinand with his face drenched in red to the tips of his ears captivating.
“H-Hubert?”
“Your name was Ferdinand, right?” He asked, tracing over his jawline before grabbing his chin between his index finger and thumb. “I’ll be blunt. I’m attracted to you, and I can tell the feeling is mutual. So, why not let me offer you a nice birthday present, hmm?”
Ferdinand’s lips parted to speak, but no sound escaped them. He just stared at Hubert in astonishment. Never in a million years would he have imagined his celebrity crush to return his feelings. He knew it was a foolish fantasy to go after him. After all, it was not usually in Ferdinand’s nature to go after fleeting passion. Yet, his body and mind were both screaming at him to accept this gorgeous man’s request already. Slowly, he nodded his head to offer his consent since his words were trapped in his throat.
Without hesitation, Hubert leaned forward and pressed their lips together. He moaned as their mouths moved roughly against one another, not wasting time to be slow or soft. Instead, he slipped his hand onto the back of Ferdinand’s head and pulled him in closer. He tugged at the loose copper curls that had fallen out of his ponytail. A breathy whine left Ferdinand’s lips, and his hands rose to grip onto Hubert’s back. He held onto the leather jacket he wore, trembling against his body.
All his questions were being answered. It felt fantastic as Hubert kissed him with his snake bites pressing against his bottom lip. He also shuddered when his tongue slipped out, teasing him with the silver stud. He swiped it across his lip before Ferdinand opened his mouth. It was sloppy as their tongues rubbed together. He didn’t fight back as Hubert coated every part of his mouth with his unique taste. It was an honor to be smothered by him. Even his scent, which was a mix of pungent sweat and musky cologne invaded his nostrils while they kissed.
In the back of Ferdinand’s mind, he wished to stay like this all night. His lungs were bruised and begging for breath, but he didn’t care. He mewled as he felt Hubert’s tongue practically down his throat, saliva dripping down both of their chins. His ponytail grew too loose, and the scrunchy fell to the floor as Hubert’s hand dug into his scalp. He dragged his fingers through his luscious hair, pulling just hard enough to make his fan’s breeches grow a smidge too taut around his groin.
“Hahhh, H-Hubert…I have dreamed of this, hnngh with y-you.” He admitted, trying not to let his embarrassment get the best of him. His chest was rising up and down rapidly as he took in quick, short breaths of air.
“That’s very cute, birthday boy. Must be a dream come true then,” Hubert hummed, tilting his head forward and nuzzling into his neck. He traced over it with the tip of his nose before his lips pressed against the soft skin. He lavished his collar with a few faint kisses, whispering against his shoulder. “...I feel quite lucky to have met you, tonight.”
Pressing a hand to his mouth, Ferdinand had to silence himself as Hubert sucked upon his neck. He began to kiss and sink his teeth into his flesh, taunting him with no regard for modesty. Their hips bucked against each other, and one of Hubert’s hands pressed against his abdomen. He traced over the ridges of his muscles, fondling him and brushing the tips of his fingers against the bottom of his cropped hoodie.
Suddenly, Hubert bit down. Hard. The sting made Ferdinand whimper, but he was soothed by the lavishing of Hubert’s tongue across the mark. A prominent hickey would be left in more spots than one. Pushing the boundaries farther, Hubert’s hand slipped beneath his hoodie. He glided his touch across his chest before squeezing at a firm pectoral. He kneaded as the muscle, listening to his partner babbling incoherently in pleasure.
Pushing the hoodie up, he was about to pull the shirt off of his chest…
“HEY! GET OUT OF THE TOILET! I NEED TO GO LIKE NOW!” Caspar’s voice was screaming from the hallway, banging at the door with zero patience.
The loud voice startled both men, and they pulled away from each other. Attempting to behave like a normal human being, Ferdinand picked up his scrunchy and slipped it on his wrist. Then, he pulled his top back down and looked to Hubert with pleading eyes to get them out of this situation. To which, the bassist was also looking a bit frazzled, but mostly annoyed. He groaned and ran his fingers through his hair before opening the door.
“Lower your voice, Caspar. I’m getting out.” Hubert muttered, stepping forward and dragging Ferdinand with him.
“...Wait a second. Why were you both in there?” Caspar narrowed his gaze, then made a fake gagging noise. “You are freaky, Hubert. Please get an actual room. I have to use this bathroom, man.”
“Shut up.” The bassist closed the door on the drummer, then turned to Ferdinand who looked like a volcano about to erupt from embarrassment. “Relax, honey. You’ll be fine. He won’t tell anyone.”
The comment didn’t seem to calm Ferdinand very much, but he walked beside Hubert stiffly on their way back to the lounge. The older man stopped before they reached the door though, pulling out his phone. He opened up his contacts, then shoved the phone into Ferdinand’s hands.
“Put your number in if you want to do this again. We could also go out if you want, but… my options for public appearance are limited. It’s not as bad as Edelgard trying to go out in public, but still I’d rather avoid paparazzi.” He explained, fiddling with the bracelets on his arm.
“Oh.” Ferdinand inputted his number and handed it back to Hubert, then offered his phone in return for Hubert to do the same. Nothing felt real anymore, but he was going with the flow. “I-I uhh, I would like to see you again.”
“Of course. We’ll make it happen.” Hubert then leaned down and pressed a kiss to Ferdinand’s cheek. “Now, let’s get back inside before they suspect something.”