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A cold breeze descended upon the Gildstar parking lot as the sun began setting, the expected winter season had arrived and November started. It had only been about 2 months since Shifty- or rather Disco had started his desperately needed job at Gildstar and more notably, 2 months since he had met the well-known microphone now walking next to him in the near deserted parking lot, Mike Raffone.
Mike was…interesting to say the very least. Confusingly, Disco had found him to be the hardest and easiest to talk to. Mike was a charismatic, ready to shine star who’s light was alluring yet painful to eyes, at this, Disco shifted a little farther away from Mike as they walked beside each-other. Mike was blabbering on about how parking farther away from a building can actually be beneficial for one’s cardio. Despite being uninterested in the topic, Disco didn’t interrupt Mike’s ramblings, he clung onto the hollow, small talk because whether he knows it or not, the next thing Mike says could actually be important, this trait of Mike left a dichotomy that Disco had recently discovered.
Disco was able to flow seamlessly from segment to segment talking on the radio, but with Mike it was like all kinds of things were being thrown at him with little pattern or order. A doubtful voice inside Disco considered maybe this was a sign that he wasn’t ready for this new, unpredictable, fame indulged world…another one proposed that maybe he just wasn’t ready for Mike, whatever that meant.
“Disco, you with me?”
“Huh?” Disco quickly turned his face towards Mike, who was now looking at him with a perfectly-rehearsed disappointed look, though Disco couldn’t help but feel a little guilty despite knowing Mike wasn’t actually disappointed.
“Come on, don’t tell me you were drifting off just as I was telling you about my car’s spectacular paint job I got done yesterday, I was getting to the good part too!” Mike stretched his arms outwards, enunciating how “good” of a part he was gonna get to.
“Ah, my bad, mind’s been busy I guess.” Disco replied before pulling a playful smile, “But since you’re so eager to yap, why don’t you explain to me just how you went from talking about improving your cardio to describing the flashy, new paint job on your car.”
Mike was quick to defend himself; “That paint job is worthy of a description of essay length, plus, it is my job to dish out compelling stories, this one of course fitting the bill. Y’know it takes skill to be able to flawlessly switch topics, a skill that maybe you just haven’t got.” Mike stated with fake pity, arms resting behind his neck as he continued to hold a carefree rhythm next to Disco.
Disco chuckled softly “Yeah well, let’s hope I do have those skills, ‘cause they’re gonna be put to the test next week, with that high profile guest coming in on the radio, Minnie has certainly been occupied with it, makes me…I dunno, worried I guess?” Disco looked away from Mike, a semi concerned look replacing his former playful look.
“Well if Minnie’s busy with that, I’m just happy she’s going to be off my back for once.” Mike mumbled before promptly shifting his focus. “But hey, I was just teasing you, you’ll crush it.” Mike lifted his hand to rest on Disco’s shoulder but Disco took a step away from Mike, now facing the bench accompanying them in the parking lot, his worries clearly leading his mind to other places.
“I just- this business- it’s…“ Disco attempted to find words but alas none could be found, Mike came next to him, gesturing at the bench before them.
“We can go ahead and take a seat if you really need to bud, after all I’d rather hear whatever troubles you have now than hear them while I’m actually showing you that fantastic paint job.”
Again, Mike showing up Disco, being able to articulate his words for him, albeit in his own special way…
—
The two sat on the bench, the parking lot becoming darker and darker as the sun went down, the bench was only being illuminated by one streetlight. Mike stayed waiting for Disco to speak, he had wished he had just disregarded whatever problem Disco had, not because he was uninterested in his coworker’s qualms, no, but because he, himself had worries of his own that he simply didn’t want to deal with while supporting Disco. Worries that raised the question of whether the disco stick sitting next to him really was his coworker, or something more.
It started off really simple, really, it did. Mike would only get closer to the new radio host for his own gain, spreading his influence and whatnot.
But soon the line started to blur between close co-worker and friend, a true friend, and Mike didn’t know what prompted this. Sure, Disco had that seemingly natural pizzaz on air, but that wasn’t what drew Mike in, and conversely, Disco off air wasn’t anything write home about either. Looking at him now, he was fumbling with his dollar sign chain with eyes that darted not so subtly between Mike and the ground. He was certainly a work in progress, not quite a nervous wreck but not too far from that either, an easy read for sure. Overall Mike really had no reason to associate himself with him, little to gain and as Mike feared, much to lose.
So why did he find himself here in this near-empty parking lot, consulting his “maybe” coworker?
Disco finally spoke, facing Mike. “I guess if I’m going to be honest, I’ve been worried for a while now.”
Mike’s interest was piqued. “About..?”
“Well, about me being here, at Guildstar, I’m sure I can do my job well, hell- I am doing my job well.”
“2 months in and you already have a special guest coming on the show.” Mike quipped.
“Yeah, but…is this really gonna last? Can I keep this up? I mean, do you ever get worried that…I dunno, that soon it won’t be enough?”
Mike faced Disco squarely and scoffed, “Buddy, I don’t get worried. I know what the people want...” Mike gestured towards himself, “…and I deliver. You seem to be doing the same so I really don’t see the issue.”
Disco looked down for a moment, getting lost in thought again before replying, “That’s not…exactly what I meant though..”
“Hm?”
Shifty looked away from Mike, eyes squinting as if the words were painful to say, “I’m worried that soon I won’t be enough for…someone.” Disco ceased the squinting. “a fan I suppose.”
Mike felt a conflicted expression cross his face and saw that damned line start to blur again. It was like every interaction with this god-forsaken disco stick sent his mind debating on what was right or wrong when 2 months ago everything was clear and simple to him. There was no benefit to indulging in Disco’s feelings, in fact he would be better off just leaving him here in this cold, dingy parking lot. Yet something within Mike couldn’t give Disco up despite letting so many others down, so many others who had much more importance. It tore Mike up from the inside, he just needed a break from this torture.
Mike sighed and scooted closer to Disco “Well no matter who this fan is..” Disco pivoted his view back to Mike as he felt his hand in his grip.
“Their expectations of you shouldn’t really matter.” Disco looked on in confusion as his hand drew near to Mike’s mouth.
“Because I think you’ll always be enough for me.” Mike said softly as he planted a kiss on Disco’s hand, his eyes fluttering closed as he did so. Disco felt his face heat up to temperatures that could’ve seriously melted his makeup right off him.
After a second or two Mike withdrew swiftly, leaving Disco’s hand between them as Disco took a minute to recollect his thoughts and to truly take in what Mike just said to him.
Mikey piped up, “Or what I’m really trying to say is, don’t sweat it! You’re meeting my expectations, and that’s saying something.” He gave Disco an endearing smile.
“S-sure it does..” Disco quietly replied, finally pulling back his hand while staring longer than he should’ve at it.
Mike gave a deep breath, finally given a break from those conflicting thoughts, he stood up from the bench. “Now thanks to you, it’s now much too dark to take in the beauty that is my car’s new paint job.” Mike grumbled. “So let’s just head to the car and uh, I’ll drop you off at the subway station?”
Disco stood up from the bench, tucking a hand behind his neck “Yeah, sounds good...and uh, thank you, Mike.”
“No problem Disco, like I said, I’m willing to give you a hand here and there.”
Apparently so am I, Disco thought to himself.
So am I.