Chapter Text
Tony's life had never been that complicated. Easy to say when he wasn't adding on the adversities.
He was raised alongside his little sister by a loving mom and dad (who unfortunately passed when he was 10). Sure, he had been reserved and could have experienced more during his adolescence, but Jaime had been the highlight of his life. He was the one to crack open that shell Tony had been hiding in, and pull him from the dark and dull place called depression. Who needed a large friend group when there was Jaime, who was like the sun-beaming for the world to see? He had defined Tony's high-school years, and now they would spend adulthood together.
...That was the original plan.
Tony didn't mind playing lead guitar for a band he had been invited to, because he was alongside Jaime. The band was called Pierce The Veil. There was Vic and Oliver and him and Jaime....of course, Jaime. They had just disabandoned Trigger My Nightmare a year prior to—
"Helllooooo? Earth to Tone?" Vic broke through the haze of Tony's reminiscing (or what he preferred to call it,) "This is the fourth time this month you've stained a guitar with your blood!"
He startled, blinking rapidly as he returned to the world of the living. (ironic) Tony's knuckles briefly found their way to his mouth, but he caught himself and held the guitar meticulously. "Shit, I'm sorry! I was just lost in the strumming, y'know?"
The apology left his lips swiftly, although there wasn't much of a need for it. His fingers were BLEEDING from how intensely he had handled the guitar whilst zoning out, yet the pain was a dull ache. Pretty strange.
The other guitarist let out a sigh, trying to meet Tony's eyes before gently taking the guitar from his grasp. "Is something going on? You don't have to actually hide in a shell. I've never heard of someone subconsciously mutilating their fingers while playing guitar." Did Vic forget? He knew what hiding in a shell felt like. It was loneliness, but too familiar for him to entirely loathe. Tony rolled his eyes, still unable to find Vic's gaze. "Well, here I am." He quipped, almost bumping into a crate as he went backstage to the restroom. "I'll be right back!"
Ugh..practice. See, Pierce The Veil wasn't THAT famous yet, but have dropped their first album and got a few interviews (and even being a guest on a few tours?) Progress was already being made. He hadn't bothered to look up at Oliver, or even Jaime as he had retreated. Why would he? Oliver was judging him either way, and Jaime would be rightfully concerned, if not more than Vic.
The door went inward as he pushed it open, a relatively nice bathroom coming into view. Tony made a beeline for the sink, turning on the faucet and watching the blood dance down the sink as his hands went under the flow of water. He turned his palms up and over multiple times, the action seemingly entrancing due to the drainage of blood. Vic..he wouldn't get it, even if he tried! He wasn't Jaime, who'd read him as if he were a book at times. And he definitely wasn't telling VIC that he wasn't counting enough sheep.
The pat on his shoulder a minute later made him jump. "Hey-" the dude started, but was cut off by the swift physical response. Tony's head snapped to the right, the movement a bit too fluid. It was Jaime. The aforementioned chuckled nervously, yet the concern that Tony now observed deepened. "I didn't mean to catch you off-guard, but man, you were acting like you plugged shit in your ears."
He continued on, his eyes drifting to the bloody lines on Tony's fingers. "Did a number on those strings, bud." Tony gave him a stiff nod, the compliment settling rather nicely in his brain. A bit too nicely. Of course he was gonna hype him up, but....this compliment felt different. "Thanks." He responded curtly, drying off his hands with some brown paper towel.
"I THINK you flooded out Oliver's drumming. Oh boy, you should have seen his face." Jaime added, obviously attempting to change the subject and be silly like he always was. However, Tony wasn't exactly..in the mood for that positive behavior.
Jaime's cheery tone wasn't helping like it usually did. And mentioning Oliver didn't make it ANY better. "Yikes.." He mumbled, opening and closing the bathroom door. It slammed in Jaime's face, which wasn't very ideal. Or nice. But again, not even Jaime was going about his behavior well enough for HIM.
Did he MEAN to act so nonchalant and inattentive today? No! But he wasn't realizing that this behavior had been present all of this month. Excessively retreating into his thoughts, disinterested in conversations (more than usual,) and this weird fixation on watching and making his own blood spill.
Tony returned back to the stage, with Vic and Oliver both eyeing him. Their expressions ranged from concern to out-right suspicion. "Um...your hands are still bleeding." Oliver pointed out, setting down the drumsticks to oogle like a fucking weirdo. "Maybe that's a sign that you're not the right person for this." Vic gave Oliver an admonitory look, now seated on a chair. It was common knowledge that Oliver hated Tony's guts. Tony's jaw clenched at the comment, but he paid more attention to what Vic had to say.
"Tony...maybe its best if you go home. You're not like yourself." The advice from Vic wasn't patronizing, born from worry and slight alarm. He didn't bother getting up, still holding Tony's bloody guitar. At that, Tony just walked off the platform and towards his car. No goodbye or okay?? Yeah, he definitely wasn't like himself. They'd be okay without him though. He actually wanted to be alone right now anyway.
As he sat in his car and turned the ignition on with his key, Jaime caught his eye. His friend seemed hurt, talking to Vic while occasionally glancing to Tony's windshield. They were talking to each other about...him? (the sky is blue)
"He's acting REALLY weird, Vic. He slammed the door in my face after being short with words! Maybe I should have just asked him what was wrong."
"Jaime, it's nothing that you did. It's....him. Something is going on, but we're gonna have to let him tell us at his own pace."
Jaime shook his head, wringing out his hands. "I don't know if I can wait, man. I don't LIKE this! He's a total stranger right now, and I've known him for what, 8 years?!"
Tony watched, the gear still in park. He didn't care about shifting it and returning home, because his entertainment was RIGHT there. All Jaime was doing was conversing with Vic, but it seemed like the most intriguing thing he could do. He leaned the seat back a bit, getting comfortable whilst observing his best buddy.
The steering wheel grew damp with his blood, breaking him out of the creepy staring. He lifted the affected hand, the blood no longer just interesting to witness but tempting. It probably tasted like...something, perhaps pennies.
Tony shook his head, putting the car in drive and pulling out of the parking space. Why had it took five minutes for him to leave? Well...he had been curious and thoughtful. Driving home was uneventful, the radio playing songs that he wasn't that interested in. His mind wandered to the weather for some reason.
It was a nice cloudy Tuesday. No rain today, or even a chance for the sun to make a grand appearance. A bit windy as well. Perhaps it would be sunny tomorrow.