Author's Note: While listening to 'We're Okay' ten times too many, it occurred to me that Joanne is really insecure about Maureen, at least in the beginning of the show. And I reckoned it would be cool to see her connect more with Mark over that, a la 'The Tango: Maureen'.
So yeah. This is my only RENT fic so far that I actually like. Please do tell if you like it, too!
Oh, and it's set post-RENT, written in Marky's POV…
Disclaimer: Thank you, Jonathan Larson.
"I think she's cheating."
"Who's cheating?"
"Maureen's cheating!"
"Really? Fuck…"
"Note the use of think, that is to say I do not know. I need your help…"
Joanne strides over the threshold, her corkscrew curls trembling, her wide eyes gleaming, her gloved hands balling into little fists. Mark cannot help but think that she bears a passing resemblance to a rabid poodle. He pinches the back of his hand discreetly to keep from smiling…
"What makes you think she's cheating?" he asks when her tongue seems to be tied in fury.
"What made you think she was cheating?"
Mark is not particularly keen on sorting through all his discarded memories, but it seems dangerous to deny her anything at the moment.
"Well…she'd lurk by the phone, like she was waiting for somebody's call...then she'd leave the loft for hours, without an explanation…sometimes she'd come home smelling like aftershave. Not mine. I could never afford..." He remembers that this is not about him anymore and clears his throat. "Sound familiar?"
Her shimmering gaze suggests that it does. Mark feels mean all of a sudden.
"But um…that was a long time ago. You can't be sure…" he drifts off, blue eyes roaming their cluttered apartment. His cluttered apartment, since Roger moved back in with that pretty young thing they called Mimi…
"Well, I can't not be sure." Joanne asserts, swiping away tears with the sleeve of her coat. "I have to be. So as of now you are my P.I, and you're working pro bono because only yuppie scum do this kind of thing for money."
She gives him that look he used to get from Ruby Flint before being shoved into a broom closet for refusing to do her homework. History will not be repeating itself today.
Author's Note: So yeah. I'm hoping to keep this short and sweet. And it's sort of an experiment as far as writing style goes. I know the RENT archives can be kind of sleepy, but if there's anybody out there right now, please be so kind as to review : -)