Work Text:
‘New Home; The biggest city in the underground. Gray spires stretch out as far as the eye can see, uncountable specks of light illuminating the city. You almost forget that each one represents a person…someone who's led a life that's probably just as long as yours. Though I bet none of them have had to deal with the troubles I've had.’
‘As I look out at the city from the comfort of my balcony, smokes in hand and a grim expression on my face, I think back on my long career I've had as a detective. Things have been tight these past couple of months- finding a job has been like trying to find shade in the dunes. Anything I find is either too dangerous, or a trick of the light.’
‘Sometimes I imagine if this is really what fate has in store for me. If all I'll be is just a random light among a sea of stars…beautiful and unique, but lost among a sea of others just like me.’
‘The door opens behind me, as if fate herself came to answer my question. Though, I guess in this case it'd be more fitting to say him self. I don't even need to turn around, I can recognize the dancer by the weight of his footsteps at this point. He always manages to bring me a sense of comfort, even when it's nothing but trouble every time he dances his way into my office…or my heart.’
“Erm…hello, detective?” Bailador says with an out of character awkward tone in his voice. Starlo can hear the slight shuffling of papers behind him, as well as a light clacking sound, and lets out a small sigh of disappointment.
“C'mon, Hun-” Starlo began to say, turning around and letting the new, 25G trench coat he bought flutter in the wind while keeping a hand on his fedora, “Yer actin’ all stilted! Y’gotta come in here with a dangerous attitude! Like a Black Widow waitin’ to pounce!!”
Bailador stood there in his, honestly very well fitting, blue flapper dress and wedges. He was holding a sheaf of papers in his hand and trying to read them with a slight amount of difficulty. After a moment longer, he looked up towards Starlo with a slightly embarrassed smile.
“No offense, Mi Estrella…but I can't exactly read these all too well- you have very… distinct handwriting-”
Starlo gave Bailador a small frown, flicking the candy cigarette he bought away and down to the streets below.
“Well I ain't really needed to write much until now-! That detective flick we found in waterfall done inspired me, honey! ‘s the whole reason we came out here for vacation anyhow– I wanted to try and get my creative juices all flowin’ again!”
Bailador chuckled a bit at his boyfriend, walking over to his side and putting his hand on one of the star's shoulders.
“And that's very good…but maybe we should actually take a moment to enjoy the sights before we get any sort of juices flowing–”
“Y'know what I meant, c'mon now–!”
Now it was Starlo’s turn to chuckle, dropping the Gumshoe facade and letting himself lean into his big boyfriends touch. Bailador responded to this by pulling Starlo into a hug, the smaller man very much enjoying the ability to feel the squishiness of his partner’s chest again; a not so guilty pleasure of his.
“How about this,” Bailador began, “We go out on a walk and actually get to see New Home…maybe try to find a show to watch so that you can get some inspiration? Then we can come back to this after I put the script on paper again.”
Starlo looked up at Bailador with a surprised look on his face. “You got pretty handwritin’?” This caused Bailador to blush slightly, turning his face away in embarrassment.
“I pride myself on my calligraphy skills– I'm the one that writes posters for the club!”
“Don'tcha hand out like…a couple dozen posters a day?”
Bailador chuckled a bit, the chuckle leaning off into a bit of a sigh.
“It's…fulfilling work. If not a bit tiring–”
Starlo smiled at this, giving Bailador a kiss on the cheek before pulling away and nodding.
“Then a walk on the town sounds like a perfect thing to get yer mind off it! We can go right after we get changed-”
Bailador huffed with fake indignance, pulling the dress a bit closer to him.
“You mean after you get changed, policía. I happen to enjoy this dress!”
“Is that a bit, or do y'wanna keep the thing on?”
Bailador stood there for a couple of moments, the blush that was already on his face quickly spreading.
“...Crossdressing is an enjoyable pastime–”
Starlo snickered a bit at his adorable boyfriend, walking forward to give him another kiss on the cheek while he took off his coat.
“I'm glad y’like the dress then, because I don't think the shop I got I from offers returns–”
“Where exactly did you get it from?”
“...Mooch.”
The two of them marinated in the silence that came after that answer, a feeling of dread looming over the both of them.
“...She's never going to stop bothering us about this, will she-?”
“Nah, prolly not…but you do look pretty in it!”
Bailador smiled a bit at that, giving Starlo a small curtsy.
“Buenos Gracias, Mi Estrella
Starlo's points lit up at the…compliment? Appreciation? Starlo kind of forgot what that meant but took off his hat and bowed as well, trying to respond in kind.
“Well…Buey-nos Grace-yas to you too!”
This got a good laugh out of Bailador, letting Starlo know that the rest of the night was probably going to get filled with just as much joy. Even if he wasn't able to fulfill his detective hyperfixation just yet, it'd be nice to enjoy some actual alone time with Bailador.
Maybe see him under the dress if he was lucky?
…
Nah, that was prolly pushing it.