Archive of Our Own

"What do you mean they're not coming?"

Mal sighs a very deep sigh. "They apparently had gas station sushi last night and now half the band has food poisoning, there isn't a chance in hell they're playing tonight."

Cory starts to argue, as if you can argue puking away. Roy ignores them and takes out his phone.

It is a long shot but hey, he's good at long shots. Who else is a professional drummer and internationally competitive archer? Nobody, that's who.

Roy looks up to see the band in various stages of frustration. It is too last minute to organize much. Great Frog has a pretty unique sound which makes finding fitting support acts really hard. If it wasn't for that one party last year where Dick had shown him a video of his brother playing Roy wouldn't have tried.

A quiet ping draws his eyes down.

"Shut up! I might have a solution,"Roy yells at his bandmates and then calls the number immediately. He puts it, on speaker, on the coffee table in front of him.

There is a tense moment of anticipation as all of them stare at Roy's phone.

"Hello?" a drawn out and clearly sleep-addled voice rings out of the speakers.

"Hi, I'm Roy, a friend of Dick's. Sorry to wake you. I'll make it quick. You are on speaker with me and my band. We need an opening act, I know you are A) in town and B) make alright music. Can you guys play tonight?"

The rustling noises on the other side of the line are well in line with someone sitting up very abruptly.

"What? Uh-"

"It is a paid gig and we can get our guy to get you guys a contract or whatever. Just. Can you?"

"Wait. Roy. You guys are Great Frog. Jesus."

Roy can't help the snort. "Not Jesus, just Roy. We are. I need to know if you are in or out Jay."

"In. In in in in in." There is a crash of someone running into furniture on the other end and a muffled "Fuck!"

"Cool." Roy gestures at Corey. He looks at him puzzled until Roy mouths 'go' at him and he's off. "I'm going to give your number to our tour manager and they are going to hash out the details. Thanks for being available on short notice like this."

"Thank you for thinking of us. Holy fucking shit."

That done Roy finished the call and texts Jason's number to their tour manager. He's very glad that figuring out all the logistics is not his problem.

"Okay…" Mal starts, "are you going to tell us more about this opening act you just networked together for us or…"

Roy grins. "Well. I've heard them only a handful of times, but they make satanic doo-wop and they are pretty alright live. So that seemed like the best case scenario for a last minute opener for us."

Meeting Embrace the Pyre is rather interesting. For one, Roy hadn't know that Kori was their front woman now. She still gives great hugs.

They're a tight little group. Kori on mic and rhythm guitar, Dick's brother Jason on lead guitar and backup vocals, a large guy of very few words called 'Biz' on sax and keys and a very tall lady called Artemis on drums and with a second mic for backup vocals. It's impressive that all of them can manage multiple roles like that. Roy has enough to do with just percussion.

Mal comes to stand next to him as all of them watch their long shot warm up and check that all their gear made it intact. The entire Great Frog's team seems to let out a breath they were holding when Embrace the Pyre starts playing and lives up to the promise of sounding good.

"That was a great call, Roy. They fit."

Roy nods. "We got really lucky. Any other town and this would've been impossible."

He accidentally makes eye contact with Jason, who simply raises a single eyebrow as he keeps playing.

The concert goes well. Roy isn't naive enough to think there are no complaints over the missing original opening act, but that is for their management to solve.

He's sweaty and exhausted and still filled with the jitters of having so many people thrum with energy with your every move. It makes him very glad for the opportunity to chug a water bottle. That is Roy's big excuse on why he doesn't notice Jason at first. The man is looking at him with heavy intensity in his gaze that Roy can't immediately place.

"You guys were very good," Roy offers.

Jason smirks. "Thanks. You guys were too."

It is very hard to miss Jason's eyes trailing some spilled water that is rolling down Roy's throat and down into his shirt. Roy can now place that previous intensity.

Good to know he still got it. Not that tonight is the right place or the right time to return that gesture. Too big a chance that Jason would feel like he owes Roy something and that is no fun at all. Besides, with someone like Jason Roy would much rather be chased.

So he sets his bottle to his lips again and makes eye contact as he smiles around it and then chugs the rest of the thing. Jason swallows.

"Have a good night Jason," he calls out before he walks away.

When Roy risks a glance back he sees Jason watching him, his own water bottle slightly crushed in his hands.