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“You’re up in 1…2…3! Go! Go! Go!”
“I know you’re on a break but can you come over in the morning? I need you to record something for me,”
“Faster, you can move faster than that, come on, Evan,”
“Brighten up, the fans aren’t here to see you looking half-dead. They want pretty boys, not zombies. Come on! Let’s go!”
“I love you,”
“If anything can make it all worth it, it’s that. The long days, endless performances, and concerts, it’s all worth it in the end. Because thanks to this, I have him.”
“Wake up! Evs! Up! Up! Rosie, Love, Sweetcheeks!” Barty’s smooth voice cut through his thoughts, his painted nails digging into Evan’s shoulder.
“I’m up,” Straightening his back, he raised his head up from the messy vanity table, products scattered all over its surface. Barty’s gorgeous face with the clear skin and hazel eyes comes into view, his hair a mess of curls on his head. His eyes light up when he catches sight of Evan’s face, smiling widely at the boy.
“Helen is looking for you,” he smiles as he speaks, brushing his hands through Evan’s hair. The blonde boy just smiles at him, fingers intertwining with Barty’s free hand. His thumb rubs circles into the tattoed rose on his wrist, eyes sparkling.
“Let’s go then,” his voice barely a whisper, he pulls himself up, tucking himself into Barty’s side, soaking up his Gucci cologne. He could stay right there forever, he thinks. They walk to Helen like that, Evan tucked into Barty’s side so close they might as well be merged at the hip. He hears Albert chuckle as they walk past, the bodyguard trailing behind the couple.
The thing about being in one of the biggest bands in the whole world–the next Beatles if you asked the right people–is that cuddling up to your boyfriend isn’t something you get to do a lot. Not with the late-night recordings, endless performances, rehearsals and paparazzi lurking on every corner on every street. So who can blame them for using every second of fresh air they get to cuddle up together? No one whose opinion Evan gives a fuck about. So yes, he will cuddle up to his boyfriend.
“The Queen Sleeping Beauty is now entering, all rise!” Barty declares loudly, putting on some fake accent so bad Evan can’t put a finger on what the inspiration might be.
“Yes, yes, all rise for me! Evan Astanine Rosier the first and only,” he does a little curtsy once he is in front of Helen, smiling widely at the woman. “You requested my presence?” He mocks Regulus’ posh accent as he speaks, grinning more when Barty claps a hand around his shoulder. “I will entrust my darling to you, Helen! Doll him up nicely for me, will you?” Barty leaves the room at that, but not before smacking a kiss onto Evan’s cheeks.
Their stylist rolls her eyes, guiding Evan to a nearby chair and getting to work while listening to Evan ramble on and on about some “dramatics” for the performance. She stopped sharing her opinions 30 minutes in when Evan got offended when she said “I don’t think you need all that, you provide enough drama for us all already.”
Eyeliner. Mascara. Lipbalm. Blush. Glitter. So much glitter. She works her magic behind him, using product after product to turn him into the “Most Cutest Boybander Around” as most tabloids have dubbed him. Barty still hasn’t let it go yet, teasing him day after day about how “adorable his little rose is”. It’s only slightly annoying. The sparkle in his hazel eyes is enough to make it endearing for Evan. “Done.” Helen takes a few steps back, turning the chair about to let him check himself out.
“Thank you, Helen, you’re a gem!” He kisses her on the cheek quickly before dashing out, in search of Barty (and Regulus) to prepare for their concert.
“3…2…1…Go!”
“Good evening, London!” Evan rushes out on stage, Barty following behind him, electric guitar in tow. The bright lights are blinding, bright and hot as the loud cheering of fans floods the stadium, teenage girls and boys screaming their names at the very top of their lungs.
“How are you tonight? Good? Yeah!” Barty’s voice soon joins him, velvety smooth and flowing like silk. Stop staring Evan, they’re gonna post this if you do. Shit am I doing heart eyes? Fuck, look away Rosier. “Today, we’ve got a little surprise for y’all if you’re cooperative so…” Regulus starts, taking position at the mic, face as passive as ever. The fans scream even louder at that, causing a chuckle to escape from Barty.
From the corner of his eye, he sees Barty getting ready, the band playing the starting the instrumentals for Dress.
Our secret moments in your crowded room
They got no idea about me and you
There is an indentation in the shape of you
Made your mark on me, a golden tattoo
Regulus starts them off, his soft voice filling the stadium. Evan takes a few steps back with the mic, angling it such that he could stealthily sneak glances at Barty. Not like some fan wouldn’t notice and post a video on it no matter how conspicous he is.
All of this silence and patience, pining in anticipation
My hands are shaking from holding back from you (ah, ah, ah)
All of this silence and patience, pining and desperately waiting
My hands are shaking from all this (ah, ha, ha, ha)
He sings next, Barty helping out with the “ah”s. He never understood why anyone would think Barty doing that part, while his boyfriend is in attendance was a good idea. Just cause he was asexual doesn’t mean Barty isn’t fucking hot like that.
Say my name and everything just stops
I don't want you like a best friend
Only bought this dress so you could take it off
Take it off
Carve your name into my bedpost
'Cause I don't want you like a best friend
Only bought this dress so you could take it off
Take it off
He does however, agree that he deserves a duet with his boyfriend, after all the stunts and hiding in the closet. The fans seem to agree too, alway keeping quiet at this bit, letting them have their moment.
Inescapable, I'm not even gonna try
And if I get burned, at least we were electrified
I'm spilling wine in the bathtub
You kiss my face and we're both drunk
Everyone thinks that they know us
But they know nothing about
His eyes are trained on Barty’s hands as he strums the guitar, his rings shining in the light while Regulus sings his solo. Barty and his guitar are the only thing he looks at here though, or any part of the song for the matter.
All of this silence and patience, pining in anticipation
My hands are shaking from holding back from you (ah, ah, ah)
All of this silence and patience, pining and desperately waiting
My hands are shaking from all this (ah, ha, ha, ha)
Say my name and everything just stops
I don't want you like a best friend
Only bought this dress so you could take it off
Take it off
Carve your name into my bedpost
'Cause I don't want you like a best friend
Only bought this dress so you could take it off
Take it off
Only bought this dress so you could take it off
Only bought this dress so you could take it off
Barty and Evan join Regulus at this bit, their voices blending nicely with each other and the fans. Evan couldn’t care about how they sound though. Just Barty and his stupid jawline that looks so good in the light, his hazel eyes shining just as brightly as they always do.
Flashback when you met me
Your buzzcut and my hair bleached
Even in my worst times
You could see the best of me
Flashback to my mistakes
My rebounds, my earthquakes
Even in my worst lies
You saw the truth in me
And I woke up just in time
Now I wake up by your side
My one and only, my lifeline
I woke up just in time
Now I wake up by your side
My hands shake, I can't explain this ah, ha, ha, ha
Evan’s eyes don’t leave Barty even as he sings his solo, his thoughts circling around the boy and only the boy. His stupid buzzcut when they first met, the times they held each other. When he confessed.
Say my name and everything just stops.
The lights dim as is routine, the entire stadium quieting. And then.
“Evan.”
A deep british accent says his name, the entire stadium screaming. A pride flag get’s thrown on stage, fans trying to calm down for the last 45 seconds or so of the song while the boys sing, Barty leaving his mic to sing to Evan instead.
“I love you, Rosie,”
“I love you too, Bartemius,”
The fans cheer loudly, Regulus clapping in the corner, the smallest hint of a smile ghosting his lips. He’s out. They’re out. They’re out . No more stunts, no more models. Just Barty and him.