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The first time Gallagher noticed the Halovian outside one of his shows he was curious. He looked far too up his own ass to enjoy the kind of music his band played. He was a handsome fellow, sure, but he didn’t look like he fit in to the usual crowd that followed him and his band around.
He watched him from the corner of his eye, breath hitching when the man who didn’t belong smiled at something a slightly younger girl next to him said. They looked similar to one another, sibling like. Gallagher gave a small hum, that was probably it, then. She dragged her brother to a show, now dragging him to get the barest of looks of Gallagher and the rest of their band.
He found it amusing how someone that looked so innocent could find interest in the music his band made. They weren’t mainstream by any means, nor were they popular in the genre they performed, but they had devoted fans, good ones at that. She was probably one of those fans, one of the ones that found comfort in their music and kept it to herself, only sharing with her brother who she brought ‘round to see the show.
He fully looked back to where their usual groupies and “super-fan”’s were to get a better look at the two. The older one, the brother, stood tall with his back straight and a hand carefully placed behind his back. He wore a perfect suit without a wrinkle or crease in sight, perfectly symmetrical and in place. His eyes were turned slightly down, but neutral all the same. His sister, in contrast, looked excited and more at ease, like she belonged somewhere like this. Her dress flowed fluidly with her movements, moving like waves around her waist.
Neither of them were all that bad looking, so, when he caught the brother’s eyes he gave a small wink. Gallagher watched as his face changed shades under the dim lighting of the alley, his wings moved to partially cover his face and he very visibly turned his head from him.
He couldn’t help but smile at his obvious shyness. When he flustered people, especially people who’d been dragged along to see them play, he got excited. He wanted to go grab the shy Halovian that didn’t quite fit in with the rest of the crowd and break him right then in there, but he had places to be and more important things to do than a pretty Halovian man.
He wondered briefly if he would see him again, but sorely doubted it. He would be leaving the city of Penacony after this and doubted someone dressed as properly as the two of them would take on following him and his band city-to-city. An old dog could hope though, couldn’t he?
The second time was a month or so after the first, he hadn’t been expecting to see the siblings here. He was in a completely differen’t city days away from Penacony. He was more curious than ever, the want to know more about them building. He wasn’t sure what typical Halovian culture looked like but he knew damn well following some shitty rock band around the continent wasn’t apart of it.
His eyes lingered on the brother, stiff as a board. He didn’t seem to want to be there, his sister moving side to side to the closing band, her dress waving at him from where she was.
Tonight’s venue wasn’t all that special, a small venue in the middle of Belobog some place unknown. He felt secure enough in it that he decided to head to the bar of the place, which was when he spotted them in the crowd, distracting himself in a way he didn’t previously think capable.
While he watched their demeanor he accidentally bumped into someone and caused them to spill their drink all over his shirt. A deep sigh came up from his throat and he gave a quick apology before heading to the bar to get some napkins and a drink.
He ordered whatever was the special for the night and sat at in one of the bar stools, eyes finding the strange siblings again.
Gallagher watched as the brother’s face lit up with all kinds of colours and a light, airy smile. His eyes were closed and the lights bounced off his face in a way that illuminated his features and made him look like something more. Something that didn’t belong to this world. A god, perhaps.
The light bounded off his halo and his earrings, shooting off in different directions in the room, a rainbow of colour exploding from around him. He hadn’t seemed to noticed but Gallagher had and he was staring intensely at the way he looked. More peaceful than he had been moments ago when Gallagher spilled someone’s drink over himself. He wanted to walk up to the Halovian man, but decided against it. His band would be leaving in their bus soon.
Maybe he would see him again.
By the fifth time Gallagher was sure it was the sister dragging her brother across the continent to see them live. She always seemed more energetic and excited to be there than he did. He assumed they were both groupies at first, but his estimate was that the sister was the groupie and the brother was just along for whatever ride he’d managed to allow her to get him into.
He was sorely mistaken.
Tonight was the night he decided if he saw them he’d personally allow them back where they got ready. He wanted to know the brother and he was curious if his theory was correct or not.
He searched the crowd for them, but to no avail did he find them. He was stuck searching with his eyes, because tonight was a bigger venue of fans that actually knew who they were seeing live. They were closer to Penacony than before; he hoped they hadn’t decided to head home. He was just about to turn from where he could see into the crowd when he spotted the familiar headwings of the siblings.
He looked around the small area for something that could disguise him and when he found a small reusable face-mask he slipped it on and hurried through the crowd to introduce himself over the noise of filler music that always played before their concerts actually began. When he reached them he was at a lost for words. Each of them had their own distinguishable features to each other, yet looked so familiar to their sibling.
The brother had a softer look to him up close than Gallagher had imagined. His jawline was sharp, but rounded, his eyes wolf-like and analytical, but soft, his hair was that of a dove’s — soft gray that faded to a darker colour at the bottoms. His halo had points, almost thorn-like. His suit fit perfect to him and his soft curious gaze to Gallagher made him pause and stare at his honey-coloured eyes.
The siblings had most certainly noticed him, but he was dumbfounded.
The sister, she was just as beautiful as her brother was. Her eyes an enchanting shade of different colours shining brightly up at him. He smile soft and open. She had a slightly chubbier look to her face- as if she ate more than her brother. Her hair was more of a light, soft blue that framed her face perfectly. Her halo was delicate and held flowers on the tips of them in different shades.
He stumbled over his words when he spoke, “Hi-“ it came awkward and unsure, “My name is Gallagher, I’m the lead guitarist of the band The Bloodhounds if you choose to believe me, that is. I’ve just noticed you at nearly ever show we’ve had since Penacony and was wondering if you would like to come hangout with the band?”
His curiosity was getting the best of him, he didn’t know these people, he didn’t know what their motives were or what they could or couldn’t do to him— but for someone so… intriguing he couldn’t resist letting the curiosity win a little. Plus, they have security guards for a reason.
The brother’s face flushed and he hides behind his headwings, the sister shot him a large grin.
“We would love to! Don’t mind Sunday, he’s been excited to come to these things this whole time. He didn’t think you’d notice him at all.”
How could he not? Sunday was mesmerizig and intriguing. He felt a pull towards him he hadn’t felt in… well he couldn’t remember when he’d last felt it.
Sunday clears his throat and moves his wings from covering his eyes, “Don’t be so open, Robin. I simply enjoy the music, that is all.”
So his theory had been proven wrong. It wasn’t the sister- Robin bringing the brother- Sunday along at all, it was him this whole time. But if he’d been so invested why hadn’t he seemed insterested at any of the venues? Why had he closed his eyes and bobbed his head quietly to the beat? Why had he seemed so stiff.
“You two could follow me and come back out here when we go on,” He nodded his head behind him, “Band won’t mind all that much, and I think we only have about 15 minutes anyways.”
The two gave a nod in affirmation and let Gallagher lead the way. It was hard navigating through the bodies of people without fearing he’d lost them, but when he made it back to the spot to head back stage he saw they were still behind him. He gave a quick nod to the security guard and they were through.
“So, you two have been following my band around or one of the other ones?” He asked out of nothing but curiosity.
“We’ve been following yours around,” Robin answered easily, her tone holding a lilt of teasing in it, “My brother has liked your music for a while and once he heard you live he wanted to again… and again… and again-“
“Robin.”
A roll of her eyes told Gallagher that she was the bubblier of the two, “He’s just annoyed that we caught your attention, he’ll get over it.”
Gallagher led them out a back door to where the rest of his band was, he didn’t feel like introductions so he led them to the back of the room and sat down in one of the large chairs.
“Hard not to notice standing so stiffly in the crowd of a concert,” He stretched his neck to get rid of the kinks in it, “Plus, the way the light bounces off your halo,” He gave a nod to Sunday, “It look nice.”
Sunday sat down next to his sister on the sofa in the back, he was stiff in doing so, hands placed carefully on top of one another in his lap. He was trying to keep his composure. Gallagher could tell; he’d been there before when he still cared what producers thought of him.
“I’m not saying it’s a bad thing you’re so stiff, just a bit confused I guess.”
Sunday hummed, his fingers curling a bit, almost like he wanted to make a fist.
Robin responded for him, “He doesn’t like being in crowds like that, never has, really. There’s a been few times I’ve dragged him around for my own shows and he’s been the same. Believe it or not he really does enjoy the music here, he just doesn’t like the crowd of people.”
Gallagher’s eyes drift back over to Sunday, he was pointedly staring at his hands, headwings beginning to curl in on his face to hide it.
“Would it help if you stayed in that back area we walked through? That way you can enjoy the music and be away from the crowd.”
Sunday’s eyes shoot up to meet Gallagher, “That’s quite alright, we don’t need that. Robin I think it’s time we head home. Father is probably quite worried.”
He felt a pang in his chest, had he said something wrong? Sunday was standing within a few seconds of his sentence, pulling Robin with him.
Gallagher stood too, “Wait- you don’t have to. I was just offering it.”
“It’s alright, goodbye.” Sunday’s words were clipped and rushed.
It’d been over a year since he last saw the Halovian siblings. He thought about them time to time, Sunday, to be more specific. He was curious about why he’d been so quick to leave and about why he’d not seen him since. If he liked this music he would have gone to their last two shows; if they had he didn’t see them either time.
That was why he was in Penacony now. The city was huge and he didn’t expect anything to come of him being here, but he needed to know if he could find him or not. He needed to know more about him and this was the best way for him to do that.
He asked around at first and got a few weird looks back from the question. When he finally gave in and checked the internet for “Sunday + Penacony” he froze.
There was no mistaking those honey eyes are hard gaze. Sunday was Sunday Oak, head of the Oak Family. The family of politicians that ran the city. His heart found its way into his throat. How had he not seen that he was that Sunday before. That meant his sister was someone he’d met before.
How could he be so fucking stupid as to not realize Robin was the same sweet girl he’d met at that award show a couple years back? He remembered Sunday there too, standing over his sister as protectively as he could.
He needed to sit down, cool off, something that wasn’t a wild goose chase or some politician.
He didn’t get to do that.
“I heard you were looking for me,” His voice was cold, but it was also unsteady. Gallagher didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.
“And pray-tell, how did you know that?”
“I have my ways.”
“Spies in the city, you mean.”
Gallagher had never been a big fan of Penacony, he lived there for some time when he was a kid, before he gave up his life to travel the continent as a part of his band. He always felt watched when he lived here, he felt watched now.
“Would you have a drink with me?”
“If we go somewhere we aren’t being watched, sure.”
“We’re not being watched now.”
“You know we are.”
Sunday sighed and looked away, seemingly considering something. His hand was behind his back, similar to how he was at his concerts. He was less relaxed now.
Gallagher waited, if Sunday told him no, he’d leave Penacony and he’d never come back. He didn’t want to come back if he was going to met like this. Watched and cornered. He felt like a dog with no bite left. He didn’t want to leave like that but if he had to he would.
After a few moments of silence Sunday softly spoke, “Fine, I know somewhere we can go where we won’t be watched, but there are still people there. If that’s acceptable for you, Gallagher.”
He mulled it over, before he gave a nod, “Lead the way.”
The way to the hole in the wall bar was filled with awkward silence. He wasn’t sure what they could talk about, they hardly knew each other. Gallagher knew he liked his music and he knew he was a politician that was it.
When they were seated and away from prying eyes or ears, he risked a question:
“Do you still listen to my music?”
“Sometimes. I’ve grown out of it.” The answer was quick, sharp; Gallagher didn’t believe it.
“Then why are you entertaining this?”
“Maybe I’m just as curious as you are.”
He hummed.
Sunday ordered some strawberry drink for the both of them before they had sat down, he sipped on it now. Gallagher didn’t think to touch his. He wasn’t in much of a drinking mood.
All he could think about was Sunday. Why was he entertaining this, he didn’t know what Gallagher was looking for him for, he didn’t know that Gallagher used to live in Penacony, he didn’t know he so badly wanted to press his lips to his.
“Why were you looking for me?” Sunday asked, breaking the silence.
Gallagher waved his hand, “I was just curious why you left in such a hurry last time we saw one another.”
“That’s all?” He almost sounded disappointed.
He looked down at the drink that sat in front of him, before lifiting it and taking a small drink of it. It was sweet, he could hardly taste the alcohol in it.
“That’s all,” He confirmed for him, eyes falling.
Maybe if they drank enough Gallagher would get what he wanted, maybe if he could find it in himself to be honest he would get what he wanted.
He doesn’t tell him anything further.
He stayed in Penacony for a month. He hadn’t intended to stay for so long, but he had people and places he wanted to visit while he was there. He didn’t regret the length of his stay, his only regret was pushed against him and breathing heavily in the back of some dim alleyway.
Sunday’s breath mingled with his own, cautious and unsure. He pushed his hands up the sides of Sunday’s waist, rough lips crashing with soft ones.
He had been just about to get in his car and drive off when Sunday Oak came waltzing up to him, confident in himself and pulled him along to the nearest alley-way and pushed him against a wall.
He hadn’t expected him to be so… dominating over him, but really, Gallagher didn’t mind at all.
When they pulled a part, Gallagher grinned down at him, eyes full of need, “Didn’t want me to leave without a goodbye kiss or something?”
Sunday’s confidence deflated in an instance and his headwings covered his eyes, seemingly embarrassed.
“C’mon, I’m just teasing, Birdie.”
“Don’t call me that,” He stiffened and straightened his suit out.
“We could make this a thing, you know.”
“Could we?”
“We could if we wanted,” Gallagher answered easily, “I wouldn’t mind coming back here every so often to see my Number One Fan.”
A sly grin spread across his face at the reddening of Sunday’s face, “Fine, whatever. Take my number and be off. I’m sure your band misses you.” He shoved a card into Gallagher’s hand and stormed off.
He could see himself getting used to this.