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The end of the Licensed to Ill tour was odd.
After that night before they went on stage, when Yauch… helped Adam, they didn’t speak about it ever again. Hell, they hardly spoke to each other at all. They had to, of course, but most conversations they had alone ended in awkward silence.
The tour already wasn’t great. The situation between Adam and Yauch was the cherry on top of the worst sundae you’ve ever seen. Everything sucked, no pun intended. No one said it out loud, but they all agreed that they didn’t know if the band would survive this.
When Adam left for Los Angeles, he didn’t make a big deal out of it. He told Yauch and Mike about it and they wished him luck. He and Mike hugged. Yauch waved goodbye.
Adam has been doing his own thing for a while. He doesn’t really know what Mike is up to. Mike calls him up sometimes and they chat a bit but nothing of substance, really. He definitely doesn’t know what Yauch is doing. When he starts to wonder, he drinks instead. Thinking about Yauch too much makes him feel weird.
He’s been drinking a lot in LA, actually, whether it’s Yauch related or not. Smoking a bunch, too. Tonight is one of those nights.
For once, Yauch is actually not on his mind. He’s out with some friends at a bar; they’re trying to pick up girls. Adam isn’t trying per se, but he wouldn’t complain if he went home with one. The bartender approaches and Adam’s about to say he’s good on drinks for now when she tells him someone’s on the phone asking for an Adam Horovitz. Confused, Adam follows her to the phone.
“Hello?”
“Hey,” the raspy other end says.
It’s Yauch.
“Wanted to call and see how you were doing.” They haven’t spoken in literal months, and Adam can tell through Yauch’s tone of voice that he’s well aware of it.
Adam pauses. He very much could hang up on Yauch right now. He has the right to, he thinks. And yet.
“I’ve been good,” Adam replies.
“That’s good.”
“What’s up with you?”
Yauch hesitates on the other side of the line. “I’m in LA, actually.” Adam’s posture straightens. “Just for a bit.”
So that’s why he called. Adam was wondering why Yauch called the bar he was at so late at night instead of waiting the next day. If Adam’s being honest, though, he doesn’t entirely mind it.
“Yeah?” Adam says because he doesn’t know what else to.
“Yeah,” Yauch says.
They haven’t seen each other in forever and Adam would be a damn liar if he said he didn’t miss him. He’s trying to figure out how to ask Yauch to meet up without it seeming weird when Yauch asks, “You busy?”
Adam looks back towards his friends. “I mean,” Yauch continues, “I know you’re out right now but—“
“I’m not busy,” Adam cuts him off.
Yauch’s smile is audible. “Wanna drop by?” It’s a stupid question, Adam thinks. Of course he does. “130 Southside.”
Adam repeats the words in his head so he won’t forget them. 130 Southside. “I’ll see you in a bit.” 130 Southside. He hangs up the phone. 130 Southside. He probably should say bye to his friends. 130 Southside. Or thanks for covering his tab. 130 Southside. He doesn’t, though. 130 Southside. He’s in no condition to drive. 130 Southside. He hails a taxi outside the bar. 130 Southside. He gets in. “130 Southside,” he tells the driver.
Adam’s legs are bouncing nervously the entire ride there. This is definitely a bad idea. He’s drunk. They haven’t spoken in months. But, God, he misses Yauch. He tells himself that he’s just going over to hang out but he knows deep inside himself that that’s not true. Adam sighs to himself in the back of the cab. Fuck it, it’s fine.
When Adam gets out of the car, Yauch is leaning against the frame of the open front door waiting for him. Yauch smiles at him and Adam thinks about how it’s been forever since he’s seen that smile. He smiles back.
He makes his way up to Yauch, and once he’s in front of him, he stops. There’s a loaded silence. Yauch looks backwards awkwardly. “You wanna come in?” he asks.
Yauch turns back towards Adam and Adam can’t stop himself. He’s thought about this moment for weeks and weeks, late nights filled with only the thought of Yauch. Adam grabs the back of Yauch’s neck and pulls him in.
Neither of them hesitate as their lips crash together. Yauch immediately lets his mouth open for Adam’s tongue, like he was waiting for this to happen. His hands hold either side of Adam’s face and he stumbles backwards into the house. Adam kicks the door closed behind them.