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“Isn’t it weird?”
Kevin looked at Nico. Confusion written in his face.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, we’re playing a gig. Look at all those people. And no one gives a shit.”
They both were looking at the crowd from the side of the stage. The roadies of the other bands were doing their work on stage. It was the break between bands. Main working time for the tech teams.
But this festival was small. There was only one main stage and the whole venue could barely hold a thousand guests. But they still didn’t regret their choice. When they got the invite from this Chinese festival, they definitely wanted to play it. They have never been to China before, and this was their chance for a new experience.
And it definitely was a new experience.
Since the big hype and success that occurred with Nico joining the band, they somehow got used to the bustle around them. They never wanted to admit it, but it really did turn into everyday business. It felt so normal being asked for selfies and to sign stuff on every single festival and everywhere they went. But here in China, the world was still different. They weren’t the centre of attention.
And even though it wasn’t familiar anymore, it felt like a big relieve. Like taking a break.
To prove his point to Kevin, Nico just said: “Look”, and started to cross the stage. While the roadies were still busy setting up the stage for the next band, Nico crossed the whole stage from left to right and back from right to left, without drawing any attention. No clapping, no whistling, no reaction in any form.
Fascinated Kevin and Nico watched the crowd from the side of the stage. No one seemed to pay attention to them, even though they were certainly visible. The people in the crowd were more focused on talking to each other, being on their phones or getting refills at the bar.
“That’ so surreal”, Nico chuckled, still staring at the crowd. “I mean, I’m not used to it anymore, but it’s somehow... nice!”
But he really wanted to know. He wanted to push the limit. He wanted to find out, how little the crowd really cared. And without a warning he turned to Kevin, grabbed his neck and pulled his face down into a kiss.
Nothing special, just the regular Castrop x Spandau stuff. But still no reaction. Kevin smirked at him, but then also turned to watch the crowd. Nothing.
They still didn’t know how to feel about this. Disappointed that they had to perform in front of non-fans, as it seemed, or if they should really embrace the break from their newly won celebrity status. While they were still looking at the people in front of the stage, they heard a familiar voice behind them.
“They don’t care”, said Danskimo and while Nico and Kevin were turning around to look at him, he already planted a kiss each on their cheeks.
“I even went down there to the bar to get some snacks.” Dan held up a little bowl of seaweed crackers to prove his point and then also looked down from the side of the stage. “It was very chill. Only one fan recognised me and we had a little chit chat. But no photos, no autographs. It’s like taking a break.”
And while Dan slipped back into the backstage area, a sneaky little thought crept up into Kevin’s mind.
“Too bad there’s gonna be no video of this,” he said, grinning broadly at Nico. And before he could even fathom what the taller one meant by that, he was already dragged out on stage by two more steps.
Without any further warning Kevin pulled Nico closer. One arm around his waist, one hand in his neck, he went right into the kiss. And Nico instantly knew this was different. This was non of their on-stage or front-of-camera kisses. The way Kevin lusting but gently pressed his lips on his, how he slowly but certainly opened his mouth and led Nico to the inevitable kiss he secretly longed for, for such a long time.
Nico never thought their first real kiss would happen like this. On a stage in front of a Chinese audience that didn’t even care. He didn’t care. He slung his arms around Kevin’s neck and gladly let it happen. Their tongues affectionately intertwined, caressing each other in honest love and care they felt for each other.
And then it happened. A single whistle. A second whistle. And some lonely wooing from the crowd. Then it was silent again.
Their lips parted again and for a second, they looked each other deep in the eyes. For a moment it was only them. No stage, no crowd. But the magic only lasted a blink of an eye, before they looked in the crowd again. On the stage they felt seen, but still private. And while they looked at the crowd, Nico suddenly noticed something. At the very corner of the room, in a poorly lit area, barely visible, there was one single smartphone. A single lens directly aimed at them.
“I guess, you still got your video”, Nico said grinning, pointing his finger at the camera.
The fan smiled the biggest smile and waved at them. They waved back.