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Homestar practically fell down the stairs into Strong Bad's basement. Well, not practically. He did.
“STRONG BAAAAD!” He yelped right before landing on his face. He immediately stood back up and shook the dust off himself, looking totally unaffected. In fact, he was smiling.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Strong Bad demanded.
“Guess what I just scored at Bub's concession stand! Guess, guess!”
“I dunno, and I don't care. Get out of my house.”
“I'll give you a hint, it's two concert tickets!”
Strong Bad's interest piqued at that. “Really? For what band?”
“You have to guess! You'll love it!”
“Oo, is it Taranchula?”
“Nope!”
“Limozeen?”
“No again!”
“Is it freaking Sloshy? I already told you I don't like them!”
Finally Homestar revealed the tickets. They were plain sheets of A4 paper with giant QR codes printed on them. “Ta-da!” Homestar sang. “They're for Blue Öyster Cult!”
Strong Bad was amused, mildly impressed, and skeptical all at the same time. “Are you sure those are real tickets, and not a couple of Rick-rolls?”
“Totally sure! They're a hundred percent Öyster!”
“Okay, I'll entertain that. But isn't Buck Dharma and everyone like, a gazillion years old by now?”
“I googled it, Buck is in his late 70's.”
“My point still stands.”
“Oh come on, Strong Bad! Vintage rock is like, waaay cooler than any other rock! And besides, these cost me about 150 bucks each!”
“Ha! You totally got scalped to see a senior citizen performance of Don't Fear the Reaper.”
Homestar snickered. “Tch, is that the only song of theirs you know?”
“Uhm, of course not! I know there's like, uh, Burning for You? Honestly, now that I think of it, as far as rock bands go, they're kinda lame.”
“No way! You can't say that if you only know two of their songs. Sit down, I brought CDs!”
Strong Bad rolled his eyes. “Whatever. I doubt I'll hear anything that'll blow my mind.”
Homestar laid out all of his CDs on the floor. He selected Spectres, and put it into the CD player. Godzilla began to play. “You'll love this one!”
Strong Bad sat down next to Homestar and paid attention to the song, nodding his head ever so slightly.
After the first chorus, Strong Bad shrugged. “It's alright. Nothing too special.”
“It'll sound so much cooler live, I promise!”
Homestar shuffled his CDs around, and switched to Club Ninja.
As soon as Dancing in the Ruins came on, Strong Bad's head bobbed a little bit harder.
“This one's not too bad!” He admitted.
“We're just getting started!”
When the song ended, Homestar switched CDs once more, to The Revölution by Night. Take Me Away played.
“Woah, okay. This one's pretty good.” Strong Bad admitted.
Homestar stood up. “So you wanna go to the concert with me?”
Strong Bad hummed. “Ehh, sure! Got nothing better to do… whatever day it's happening.”
“It starts in two hours! Get ready!”
“Huh!?” Strong Bad jumped and grabbed his bandana and leather boots. Homestar just jogged in place while he waited.
“You're just wearing your regular star shirt and propeller hat?” Strong Bad asked.
“What's wrong with that?”
Strong bad sighed. “You look lame. But whatever, we gotta get going, anyway.”
—--
Bubs, unsurprisingly, was the ticket inspector. When Strong Bad and Homestar showed him their tickets, he just glanced at them, said “You're good,” and let them pass.
The venue was a bandshell with no seating. Well, there were plenty of empty lawn chairs and picnic blankets scattered about, so Homestar and Strong Bad just raced up to the ones closest to the stage. There were about ten minutes until the band was supposed to get on.
“Do you want me to go get snacks?” Homestar asked.
“Get us some cold ones and popcorn,” Strong Bad suggested.
Homestar ran between the seats and concession stand, coming back with two cold ones and one large popcorn bag.
“Why only one popcorn?” Strong Bad asked.
“It's cheaper to get one large than two smalls.” Homestar handed him the bag.
The band made their way onto the stage and Buck addressed the audience.
“See, Homestar? Senior citizens,” Strong Bad teased with a whisper.
“Oh, just you wait until they start rocking them tunes.”
And the band began to play Burning for You. Strong Bad had to admit, it did sound much better live. It had been a long time since he'd heard this song, it really only plays on the radio every now and then. But it sounded much better than it ever had, and he was already almost thankful that Homestar invited him. Perhaps it had been too long since his last concert. He didn't think this one had topped any of the times he'd seen Taranchula or Limozeen just yet.
Buck's guitar was black, but it was so shiny and glossy that it almost looked like a mirror. Every now and then when he angled it a certain way, it blinded Homestar and Strong Bad with its reflection of light. Strong Bad had to admit, it was pretty cool.
When the song ended, Buck had to tune his guitar right away, which took a minute or two. He joked around as he did it, and played a sweet solo as soon as he was done. The audience was small, but cheered all the same.
The next song they performed was Godzilla. Most of the audience sang along the whole way through, including Homestar, who did his best attempt at headbanging. Strong Bad laughed, but Homestar could hardly hear him over the music.
Homestar lifted his head and looked at Strong Bad with the smile plastered all over his face. He smiled back, charmed. He sat up straight and leaned a little closer to his friend.
The band continued going through their set list, Dancing in the Ruins, The Golden Age of Leather, and so on, with Buck re-tuning his guitar in between most songs. When they played Take Me Away, Strong Bad roared out the lyrics along with the band, and even stood up to do a little bit of air guitar. When they played Extra Terrestrial Intelligence, Strong Bad finally had to admit: his mind was blown.
The sun was already setting when Homestar and Strong Bad arrived, but the sky eventually became dark.
Finally, for their “last” song, they played Don't Fear the Reaper. Strong Bad and Homestar sang along together.
Forty thousand men and women every day (like Romeo and Juliet)
Another forty thousand coming every day (redefine happiness)
Come on baby (don't fear the reaper)
Baby take my hand (don't fear the reaper)
We'll be able to fly (don't fear the reaper)
Baby, I'm your maaaaan
Homestar and Strong Bad swayed side to side. Somewhere along the way, Homestar slung one of his invisible arms around Strong Bad's shoulders, and Strong Bad leaned into it without noticing.
There were two encore performances, but Strong Bad could hardly pay attention to the band once he noticed the contact between himself and Homestar. He'd never felt Homestar's arms before, and frankly, he didn't think he had any. But here Homestar was, leaning in way too close, putting the weight of his arm around Strong Bad.
Strong Bad wanted to slap it away, or tell Homestar to keep his hands off, but between his thoughts racing, the music playing, and his heart strangely pounding, he couldn't bring himself to do anything.
Homestar smiled at him again, and pulled him closer. Not like he was squeezing him in place, no, Strong Bad could have pulled back any time if he wanted to. Well, he wanted to, but somehow didn't have the will to.
Strong Bad caught himself staring at Homestar, and his wide under-bitten grin.
He's so stupid, Strong Bad thought. Wait, is stupid the right word? He's kinda charming. Maybe even a little handsome. Wait, no, STUPID!
As soon as the thought crossed the wrestleman's mind, it was over. Not his facade of heterosexuality and pretending to hate Homestar, but the concert. Stadium lights turned on as the band bid their audience adieu.
Homestar stood up first and stretched. Strong Bad shivered at the sudden loss of contact. Had Homestar really been keeping him warm for the past fifteen minutes?
“You ready to head back?”
A little lost in thought, Strong Bad took a moment to respond. “Yeah, let's go.”
They threw away their empty bottles and popcorn bag and began trekking back to Strong Bad's house, with just the light of the stars, moon, and occasional street light guiding them along.
The summer night air was fresh and cool. Homestar hummed a slow tune as they walked along the sidewalk.
“What song is that?” Strong Bad asked. “It doesn't sound very Blue Öyster Cult-ish.”
Homestar gasped. “They didn't play it!”
“Huh?”
“My favorite song of theirs, they didn't play it!”
“Hey, don't worry. You can show me on one of your CDs at my house.”
Homestar seemingly pulled an iPod out of midair. “Actually, I could show you now.”
“Since when do you have an iPod?”
“Since Pom-Pom let me borrow it. Anyway, I don't think you'll actually like the song that much.”
“Oh, come on! I only just discovered how cool this band is today, and you're gonna gatekeep a song from me?”
Homestar smiled. “You really liked it?”
“I had an awesome time!”
Homestar seemed to blush. It must have been a trick of the light. The street lamps were awfully red, after all. He mashed a few buttons on the iPod. “The Cheat installed a speaker into it, check this out!” He pressed play.
A slow, dreamy tune filled the area around them and echoed ever so slightly. It didn't make much of a rock song, but it sounded good either way.
It sounded romantic.
“What's this one called?” Strong Bad mumbled.
“I Love the Night,” Homestar said gently.
And sure enough, the chorus confirmed it.
I love the night
The day is okay and the sun can be fun
But I live to see those rays slip away
They both slowed in their pace, enjoying the night atmosphere along with the song complimenting it.
It really wasn't the kind of music Strong Bad listened to. In fact, he wasn't sure if he'd ever tried listening to music like it before. It sounded almost gooey in its slowness, but the drums and guitar offered all the texture it needed. And the lyrics? Well, it was undoubtedly a love song. Kind of a post-heartbreak love song. It got Strong Bad thinking.
“So, how's you and Marzipan going?” Strong Bad asked.
Homestar shook his head. “We haven't been together in a while.”
“How long?”
“Oh, about three or four months.”
“Dang, you must have really peeved her off this time.”
“Nope. I broke up with her.”
“Three or four months ago? And you haven't gotten her back?”
“I haven't asked to get her back.”
“So you're like, for real done-zo?”
“Yep.”
“Hey, congrats, man!”
Homestar smiled. “You're the first person who didn't pretend to feel sorry for me. Thanks, Strong Bad.”
Strong Bad's heart pounded. Oh, now is so not the time. Play it cool…
“Yeah, well, anyone with a brain could see how that relationship was failing from a mile away. You're finally free from that, anyone who feels sorry doesn't know jack about shit.”
“Hey, you really get it. You know Strong Bad, I think you're really cool.”
Does it count as a victory if Strong Bad's stomach twisted at those words?
“Yeah, yeah, I'm awesome and everything. So… is there a lady in white in your life, so to speak?” Strong Bad asked, referencing the song.
“Well…” Homestar giggled. “More like a guy in red and black.”
Strong bad stopped in his tracks. He wondered if the concert had damaged his ears, because there's no way Homestar just said what he'd heard.
Homestar stopped too, and turned ever so slightly to stare at Strong Bad, like he'd surprised himself.
“Did I really say that out loud?”
What a stupid dork. Idiot, charming… IDIOT! Strong Bad froze up as he lost control over his thoughts. Years of repressed feelings were scratching, clawing, digging at his throat.
“Man, you're… so stupid.”
Homestar seemed to shrink. “Oh. It doesn't usually hurt when you say that.” tears prickled his eyes, but didn't dare fall. Somehow, he was still smiling.
Strong Bad was consumed with so many feelings. Anger, shame, and jealousy. How could that dork be so sincere and be able to keep himself from crying at the same time? It was so clear he was heartbroken. And it was Strong Bad's fault. But not really, he told himself, because I never wanted to like Homestar in the first place!
“I mean you're stupid for falling for a guy like me! I'm the worst! It'd be no different than when you were dating Marzipan, maybe worse. What makes you think I'd be a good boyfriend, huh? I'm a bully, Homestar. What's wrong with you?”
Of all the reactions Homestar expected, this was one he hadn't even conceived of.
“Well, I know that already! And I like you anyways. You don't have to talk about yourself like that, a simple ‘No thanks’ or ‘I'm flattered’ could have been fine.”
“Oh, you really don't get it!”
“I'm not that stupid, Strong Bad! I understand rejection when it gets all emotional and yells at me!”
“Well, excuse me! I wasn't the one who put on a stupid love song and let my dopey idiot feelings ruin what could have been a perfect night!”
“I said I get it! Will you forget about it already?”
Something snapped, and it wasn't a twig.
“NO YOU DON'T! You have not one iota of a clue about how I feel! You're the one who gets to be sincere, and wear your heart on your sleeve, and you've never had to grow up questioning, and going back and forth, and wondering who the hell you are, THEN finally figure it out, only to be forced into keeping all your feelings to yourself for the sake of respect! It's a whole twisted mess and you don't even know about it, or why it is the way it is! You CAN'T understand me!” Tears steadily dripped down Strong Bad's face. Oh, how he wished it were raining. He dropped down on his knees and covered his face. “But who the hell cares, anyway?”
Homestar sat down to level with him. “I do! And I could understand, if you let me!”
Strong Bad fully began sobbing. “Go away!”
“I'm not leaving you!”
“Then come here!”
Homestar didn't understand the command, but scooted closer to Strong Bad nonetheless. Strong Bad pulled him into to a tight hold and sobbed right into Homestar's shoulder.
Homestar's frustration melted, and he held him gently. “Hey, pal? You don't gotta tell me everything, but you're right. I didn't understand anything about what you were ranting about. But I want to. If you're ever ready.”
Strong bad continued to cry. That's when it started raining.
Homestar turned off the iPod. “Come on, let's get you home.” He grabbed Strong Bad's hands and stood up, pulling his sobbing mess of a friend with him.
Strong Bad hadn't felt this humiliated in a long, long time. But deep down- and he didn't even know he had a deep down anymore- he was relieved. Tears poured down his face like they were desperate for their release. His head pounded and he could barely breathe. He clutched Homestar's hand tightly.
“Deep breaths,” Homestar said.
“I'm trying.”
“We need to get you some water.”
“And aspirin.”
“And out of the rain.”
Eventually Strong Bad's crying slowed down, but his breath continued to shake.
They had made it back to his house.
“Go downstairs, get comfy. I'll bring you water and pills.” Homestar said.
“I can get them myself.”
“Right, sorry.”
Strong bad filled a glass at his kitchen sink and chugged it down with two pills.
He headed down towards his basement.
Homestar stood awkwardly, not knowing if he was still welcome.
“Come on,” Strong Bad sniffed. “Don't go home yet.”
Homestar followed him downstairs. They sat at the couch together. They left the overhead light off. Homestar turned on a small lamp.
Strong bad wiped his face one final time. “Look, man, about everything I said, well. You gotta know a few things before I let you go… which will have to wait until it stops raining.”
Strong Bad had never seen Homestar looking so serious.
“First of all, I didn't mean to reject you. I'm not saying I'm into you, either. Let's call that a maybe.”
Homestar nodded.
“Second. You wanted to understand what I meant when I was crying and stuff. I'm not gonna get detailed right now, you just can't tell a soul. My brothers already know, but you can't let them know that you know, too, okay?”
“Understood.”
“I'm trans.” He stopped there, waiting for a reaction.
“Oh, I see.”
Strong Bad sighed. “Just so we're on the same page, tell me exactly what it is you see.”
“I mean, you probably had to go through a lot to prove yourself. You probably had a lot of expectations to meet, especially with having two brothers. It was probably a lot more intense for you than for other guys. I can already tell you had to keep a lot of stuff bottled up for too long.”
Strong Bad shook his head in surprise. “How the hell do you know all that?”
“You're not the only trans person I know. Besides, it makes sense what with everything you said earlier.”
Strong Bad grumbled. “Ugh, I can't believe I said all that. I really lost it, didn't I?”
“No worries. Besides, this is probably progress, anyway. No more hiding all your feelings.”
“Eh, maybe.”
The two of them maintained eye contact until it made Strong Bad uncomfortable. He scratched the back of his head. “Thanks for being chill about everything tonight. I dunno. If I had to deal with someone else freaking out the way I did I definitely wouldn't have handled it like you did. You're not bad, Homestar.”
Homestar couldn't help himself, and he couldn't think of anything better to say, anyway. “You're not so bad yourself, guy in red and black.”
Strong Bad gave him a playful shove. “But you're not as smooth as you think you are!”
Homestar laughed.
Strong Bad's heart sped up again. “Let's go to another concert sometime. I'll show you how to buy tickets the right way. Maybe it can be a date.”
Homestar kicked at the air in excitement. “Do you wanna see Danzig?”
Strong Bad laughed. “You dope! Have you been looking up rock concerts for me?”
“Not everything is about you, Strong Bad! But yeah, pretty much.”
“Geez, that's embarrassing! How long have you liked me, weirdo?”
Homestar laughed again. “I'm not telling! It's stupid!”
“No, you gotta! Or else we're not going to see Danzig!”
“Okay, okay. Uhh, I think two years.”
“I'm telling Marzipan!”
Homestar wheezed and shook his head. “She already knows!”
Strong bad laughed harder. “Oh, God, you're really serious about me, huh?”
“What can I say? I really like you!”
Strong Bad's heart fluttered. Maybe that popcorn clogged an artery. All he knew was that Danzig couldn't come to town soon enough. He wanted to say it back. No use pretending, now. But he couldn't quite get it out. All he managed was reaching for Homestar's hand. He couldn't find it himself, but Homestar understood, and grabbed his hand for him. They sat in blissful silence, save for the sound of the rain. Once it stopped, Strong Bad finally spoke.
“It's really late. You can stay here, on the couch. I'm going to my room. Goodnight, Homestar.”
He stood up and Homestar laid down. “Goodnight, Strong Bad.”