Work Text:
Tango sits on a stool at the bar, his back to the bar, his front to the stage where his boyfriend's band is getting set up for the open mic to perform.
The blaze hybrid slowly slips on a mocktail, eyes glued to the avian who's adjusting his guitar as the rest of the band gets settled.
Once that's in order, Skizz leans into his mic, "This is The Half-American Rejects, performing a cover of 'R U mine?'".
Jimmy hits a cord on his guitar, starting the song, followed by Joel's drums.
“I'm a puppet on a string, Tracy Island, time-traveling, diamond cutter-shaped heartaches, that come to find you four in some velvet morning. Years too late, she's a silver lining, lone ranger riding through an open space. In my mind when she's not right there beside me-”
"Wow." Tango hears someone say behind him, a little surprised, "That canary hybrid can really sing." they say.
"I know." Tango says, "He's amazing."
"Yeah." the bartender says, "I would love to get his number."
"He's sadly already taken." Tango says, showing his lock screen on his phone, eyes still glued on his boyfriend.
"Oh, sorry, but congratulations sir." they say, going back to pouring a drink for someone else down the bar a bit.
Tango smiles, looking up at his boyfriend, singing his heart out on stage, along with his band.
Gosh, Tango loves him so much.
The blaze hybrid thinks back to when he first met Jimmy.
-⬘♡⬘♡⬘♡⬘-
Skizz had invited Tango over to his house, having asked the blaze hybrid if he could take a look at a amp of his that had stopped working, and of course Tango said yes.
The angle hybrid had warned him that they had band practice today, but Tango had said it was fine.
Tango set down his tools, sitting on the floor in the corner, his back to the wall, to work on the amp, a little desk lamp helping him see better.
The blaze hybrid got lost in his work, completely distracted as other people entered the room, a light conversation going as interments were tuned.
Music started to play, but Tango neither noticed, nor looked up.
That was until a voice started to sing, almost angelic, perfect.
Tango looked up, seeing a canary hybrid singing into the mic, eyeliner, lining chocolate brown eyes, a tall, lean build under an alt-punk style.
Tango felt his heart skip a beat as he looked at him, completely lost in his beauty.
The blaze hybrid forgot his work, and ended up watching the band play.
When they took breaks for water, he would look down at his work, trying to get more of it done, but failing miserably.
Eventually, like all good things, it had to come to an end.
An alarm went off from the boy’s phone.
He pulled it out of his pocket, looking at it before announcing, “I got to go, I have uni classes in 30.” he said, moving to pack up his guitar. The canary hybrid set his interment down in its case, closing it before picking it up and leaving, “I see you guys later.”
“See you Jimmy.” “Goodbye.” Bye Jiggles.”
Tango tried to hide the fact he was watching the boy, Jimmy, but he feels his heart flutter as he leaves, Tango already is missing him.
After Jimmy left, the drummer, Joel, and keyboard player, Bigb both left, leaving Skizz and Tango alone.
Skizz set his bass down on its stand before walking over to Tango, sitting down across from him, “How’s it going Top?”
“Uh…It’s going.” He said, laughing awkwardly.
Skizz eyed him up and down and Tango tried to look down at the amp, trying to fix it.
“Did you get distracted?” Skizz asked, knowing how easily his friend can be distracted.
“Yeah.” Tango admitted, "I was watching you guys play.”
“Were you watching anybody in particular?” he asked, raising an eyebrow, “Was it Bigb?...or perhaps Joel?...or Jimmy?”
Tango’s cheeks heated up at the mention of the latter’s name, his fluff tipped tail sparking a little.
Skizz gasped, “You like Jimmy!” he said excitedly.
Tango looked up at his friend who was about to scream in excitement, he looked up at him in what could almost be called fear.
“OH MY GODS!” Skizz exclaimed, “He’s single like you, oh my gods, I’m going to set him up on a blind date with you!”
The angel hybrid pulled out his phone and Tango wanted to jump out and take it from him, but he knew it would be useless anyway, once Skizz is set on something, it always is useless.
Skizz jumped up, texting someone, most likely Jimmy.
Tango watched helplessly as Skizz did Skizz.
“You’r still free Saturday, right?”
“Uh, yeah.”
“Good, you’ve got a reservation for a date, saturday at 6pm.” he said, “I’ll text the address of the place.” Skizz said, “Were something nice too Top.” Skizz laughed, walking out of the room, “You want a Monster dude?”
Tango just sat there, in shock of what just happened, “Uh…Yeah.”
Well, it looks like Tango has a date.
-⬘♡⬘♡⬘♡⬘-
Tango anxiously bounced his left leg as he parked his car outside the restaurant.
He sat there for a second, taking a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves.
He picked up his phone, glancing at the time, ‘5:55pm’.
The blaze hybrid then looked down at his clothes, at his blue jeans, cowboy boots, and dark tan button up. He thought he looked presentable, with the proper attire for the county themed restaurant Skizz picked. (He wondered why Skizz picked this one, maybe Jimmy liked it.)
Tango took another deep breath before grabbing his keys, and opening his car door.
He walked inside, locking his car behind him, and walked up to the receptionist’s desk.
“Hi, I’m here for a reservation for two under the name Le’man.” Tango said.
“Ah, the other person in your party is already here, let me take you to them.” The waitress said to him, a smile on her face.
Tango pulled his tail close to his body, not wanting it to get in the way or stepped on.
He felt his nerves eating away at him as the server led him through the contrary themed restaurant, causing him to nervously pick at his black nail polish.
Tango looked up once the waitress stopped, “Your seat sir.”
Tango locked eyes with brown ones and his heart swoons in his chest. Jimmy looks good.
The blaze hybrid felt his eyes move up and down the canary hybrid, taking in his blue button up, a white shirt peaking out from under it, a tan cowboy hat over his fluffy blond hair, canary wings tucked between himself and the booth, a warm smile on his face.
Tango slid into the seat across from Jimmy, hoping his cheeks weren't too red, “Hello.” he said, awkwardly waving to the canary.
“Hi.” Jimmy said to him.
“Would you two like anything to drink before I go?” The waitress asked.
“I’ll take a coke.” Jimmy said, shooting her a smile, “What about you?” He asked, looking at Tango.
“A, uh, I’ll take a root-beer.” He said, trying not to blush, because he was sitting across from Jimmy, and Jimmy was looking at him.
“Alllright!” she said, “I’ll get that for you two gentlemen. Why don’t you look over the menu while I’m off.” She said before leaving them alone.
“Are you the guy Skizz had over on Tuesday to fix the amp?” Jimmy asked Tango.
Tango smiled awkwardly, “Uh yeah, I owed him a favor, but I also wanted to help him out, you know.
“Yeah, Skizz’s nice.” Jimmy said, “So I guess this means you’re my blind date.” he said and Tango nodded, “I was so nervous coming in here.” he said, "You know how Skizz is sometimes, I honestly thought him and Joel were pulling a prank on me or something.”
“Yeah, I’ve been the butt of his jokes a few times," Tango chuckled, the nervousness seeming to fade as they fell into friendly conversation, “I was actually nervous too.” he admitted.
The two of them continued talking as the night went on.
After the night was over, they exchanged numbers and went their separate ways.
Tango got back to his apartment later, going to his room to get changed into more comfortable clothes, a buzz with a high from the date gone well, coursing through his veins.
He changed out of his binder, throwing on an old band tee he stole from Impulse years ago, a dark hoodie over that, and a pair of pajama pants to complete the look, and he was ready to sit in bed and watch some youtube videos on his laptop before heading to bed.
A buzz from his phone had him grabbing it up quickly, going to see who it was from.
‘Jimmy <3:
I had a great night tonight,
Would you like to go out again with me?’
Tango felt his heart pound in his chest as he answered quickly, a huge smile on his face.
‘Me:
I would love to!
When works for you?’
‘Jimmy <3:
I’m free Wednesday night.’
‘Me:
Then it’s a date!’
‘Jimmy <3:
Same place? Same time?’
‘Me:
That works with me!’
‘Jimmy <3:
See you then!!! :D’
‘Me:
See you!!! :3’
Tango put his phone down, face red, he could not wait for the next date.
-⬘♡⬘♡⬘♡⬘-
The two of them went out on more dates after that, and Tango started to come to their band practices to watch them (Jimmy).
Tango started to also join them when they played, standing in the audience of the bars and open mics they played at, watching them, recording them when asked, and trying to be their hype man.
That’s how they got to the present.
The band plays their last song, and Skizz says into the mic, “We’ve been the Half-Amirican rejects, and you guys have been amazing!”
The people in the bar all cheer and clap as the band leaves.
Tango sits there, watching them leave.
He orders a few drinks for them, having the band's orders already saved on his phone from previous gigs at this bar.
He’s finished placing the orders, and paying the tab when he feels something crash into him, arms wrapping themselves around him.
The blazeborn twists around in them, coming face to face with his boyfriend of over two years now.
Jimmy leans in, pressing a long kiss to his lips, one that Tango absolutely melts into, the flames in his hair, and on his tail crackling as a deep blush starts to cover his freckled dusted cheeks.
The avian holds Tango close as he pulls away from this kiss.
“You did so well!” Tango says to him, leaning into his body more.
“Thank you.” Jimmy says, blushing, “Thank you for being here.” he says to Tango, “I love you so much.”
“I love you too.” Tango says, his tail wrapping around Jimmy’s leg, trying to hold him closer.