Disclaimer: I own nothing. Brendon Small and Tommy Blacha are gods. (And apologies for not including Tommy Blacha in my previous story disclaimers! I'm trying to fix this but can't quite figure out the edit thing yet...)
Gratitude: Starting this story I really got off on the wrong track! Thanks to Beta Reader (and sis) YvetteDel for giving me a swift kick in the a$$ and steering me back in the right direction ;) I could not do this without you! And huge thanks to everyone who has commented on the previous story (esp Vixie!) - it keeps me going, it really does! :D
Notes: This story is a direct continuation of another story called "Out of Darkness", and part of what hopefully will end up being a trilogy. "Out of Darkness" explains a few things such as how Charles went blind and subsequently found himself in a relationship with Nathan.
Warnings: Some strong language… but seriously, it's Metalocalypse, what did you expect? ;)
This story contains a slash pairing (Charles/Nathan) which had just been established at the end of the previous story.
Hope you enjoy and please let me know what you think! Feedback = Love :)
Staring At The Sun
Charles Ofdensen gazed at the sky. It was one of those days where all the clouds were full and perfectly formed. He was standing in a field, the tall grass rising almost to his waist, and just above the knees of the man who stood next to him. The stood close, but there was an unspoken distance between them- a distance that seemed unnatural for father and son. Young Charles focused hard on the clouds, which were slowly drifting, and shifting into new, yet still perfect, forms. Gradually a brilliant light was being revealed from behind the shapes and as it came further into view the child found himself drawn to it. His eyes widened even as he half-heard his father's stern voice, "Charlie, don't stare at the sun or you'll go blind!" But the warning couldn't make him tear his eyes away from the brilliant glow- the brightest thing he had ever seen. He stood, transfixed, as the light entered his eyes, filling his sockets, and penetrating his brain. He saw like he had never seen before- an impossibly bright white, containing faint traces of every color imaginable. The light grew brighter and brighter until it was more than a vision, it was a hot knife, slicing painfully through his head. But the pain lessened as the sea of light enveloped him, growing brighter, and impossibly, brighter still, until….
His eyes shot open, as he gasped for air. He lay there catching his breath and feeling oddly comforted by the darkness he knew would not leave him. As his mind recovered from the strange dream, he registered the heavily breathing body next to him, and snuggled in closer to Nathan Explosion. He inhaled deeply and exalted in his companion's musky scent. Staring at the ceiling of his room and seeing nothing but memories playing in his mind, Charles smiled broadly.
...
After encouragement from both Abigail and Pickles, Charles was confident that any advances he made towards Nathan would be well-received. But finding out that Dethklok was now unable to perform their scheduled press-concert had taken a big toll on his confidence, as well as his mood. When Nathan lingered after the rest of the band has left the conference room, Charles had been ready to send him away, telling himself that he just wanted to be alone. And why shouldn't he? He was used to being alone. Even in the few months since he had lost his sight, he was making strides regaining his independence and relying less on help from others. And now, after finding out that the boys' fooling around had lead to Pickles being stabbed in the hand, he was feeling like he couldn't rely on anyone anymore.
"Look," Nathan said from his place at the table, intruding on Charles's self-pity. "I know what this concert was for you, okay. I'm gonna make this right."
"Really," Charles replied skeptically. What are you going to do, Nathan? Charles thought bitterly, as he stood up and turned away from the singer. Good luck convincing the Associated Press that everything's fine while your drummer can't hold a drumstick.
Charles was aware that Nathan had gotten up and was approaching him. Soon he felt a hand on his shoulder steer him back around until he was facing Nathan. Charles tensed up to shrug the singer away but Nathan kept a firm hold and quietly spoke.
"We can't do the concert, but we can do something even better. I was talking to everyone before you came in about this and we decided… we're gonna make a new album. We'll announce it at what would have been the concert. Everyone will know that Dethklok, all of Dethklok, is back!" To emphasize what he meant by "all" he gently squeezed Charles's shoulder, but the manager was not yet impressed.
"And what did the others have to say about this?" Charles asked skeptically. He knew what it was like to try and get the band to work on an album when one was actually due. A spontaneous album was somewhat of a miracle, and Charles did not believe in miracles.
"Some of them needed a little convincing, but they're all for it now. And I didn't even have to threaten them."
How he would have liked to be a fly on the wall during that conversation. Or perhaps, once again he underestimated his band. He had certainly underestimated Nathan. A small smile permeated his serious features.
"What?" Nathan asked, regarding the change in Charles's expression
"It's just… you never cease to amaze me." Charles felt his frustration start to melt with the hope the younger man had so casually given him. There was no question about the truth of the statement. He knew that if Nathan said he had done it, he had done it.
"You convinced the band to do a whole new album? Do you know what it's like to try and get you guys to even show up for practice? You amaze me, Nathan."
Charles lightly gasped as the singer's fingers started to caress the back of his neck, ever so softly.
"You're not so bad yourself." Nathan replied soothingly. Charles felt Nathan carefully removed his glasses. Then, as he took hold of Charles's hand and gently lifted it until the manager's deft fingers brushed against his smiling face, he whispered, "I want you to see how you make me feel."
...
Charles flushed as he remembered Nathan's whispered words, the sensitivity behind them, and the kisses that had followed. He rolled onto his side, and propped himself up on an elbow facing his companion. He longed to watch Nathan as he slept, and wondered if he wore an expression denoting the same peace and contentment that Charles now felt. He focused again on the steady sound of Nathan's breathing, and gently moved to caress his slightly stubbled cheek, recalling how he had become well-acquainted with the singer's bold features the evening before.
...
Out of Darkness. Nathan had revealed the new album title in between tender exploratory moments. Charles could hear the pride in his voice, and he pulled the singer in for another kiss. This time it was gloriously unrestrained. Charles knew there were a variety of meanings the title could take on, the most true to the band being a reference to all the brutality that darkness could hold, but to him, at this moment, it spoke of the connections he had gained as he dealt with the loss of his vision.
As the two pulled apart he whispered breathlessly into Nathan's ear, "Out of Darkness… Comes Light."
As if he understood exactly what his manager meant, Nathan cradled Charles's head against his shoulder, and the two stood, embracing, for a long moment.
Charles was pulled back to the conference room as he heard the heavy door creak open.
"Good news guys, according to the doctors I'm not dying this time… oh! Well hey there! Uh, sorry to interrupt… We'll , uh, we'll just be goin' now…"
His body still being craddled against a shocked Nathan, Charles heard Pickles loudly whisper, "Right on!", but wasn't sure who he was directing it to.
" Thicsh better be conshcentual…" Murderface added in a mildly threatening tone, obviously resuming his "protective" role.
Sensing that Nathan was at a loss for words Charles cut in. "Ah, I promise not to force myself on him."
Pickles giggled. The boys had no idea that Charles was actually more than capable of overpowering the much larger man if he wanted to.
"Yeah, what he said. So fuck off you two!" Nathan growled, as he drew Charles closer again.
"Done!" he heard Pickles exclaim, as the two intruders shuffled out the door. Just as the door was supposed to close Pickles called out, "Oh, hey, do you want your tie back? It was already red so the blood stains don't show that much."
"What? No!" Charles yelled back, recalling how his tie had been used as a bandage for Pickles's bleeding hand.
"Can I keep it?" Muderface asked, adding, "It's brutal!"
"NO!" Nathan yelled back. And with that the intruders left and the two were alone together again.
"Oh my god, I thought they'd never go away!" Nathan breathed. Chares had to smile at Nathan's impatience, as the interruption had only been a few minute long. But he too was glad to be alone with the singer again.
"How did his hand look?" Charles couldn't help but be drawn back into his manager mind-set by the interruption.
"Bandaged, but clean… I mean no blood. Really? We're going to talk about Pickles hand now?"
"No, no, I, ah, just had to know that's all. Speaking of blood though, did he really bleed all over the place, because we might want to, ah, relocate, if that's the case…"
"Well, there's kind of a trail of blood leading here from the door, just drops, and some on the table… It's starting to coagulate…"
"Well then let's take this somewhere else, shall we? I'll have someone come clean up here."
"We could just leave it, it's pretty brutal…"
"What? No! Pickles's blood stains cannot remain in the conference room!" Then, more gently, he added, "Health codes, you know. By the way, why wouldn't you let Murderface keep my tie?"
"Were you gonna let him keep it? He might do voodoo on you one day or something! Besides if anyone gets to keep a piece of your clothing it should be me…"
"Well then I will get you a clean tie one of these days, and you can do whatever you want with it."
There was an unusual pause, but before Charles could ask about it, Nathan continued.
"Do I have the same permission when it comes to the wearer?"
"We'll see…"
Charles smiled back as he swept along the edge of the table with both hands, locating the folded cane but not the glasses.
"They're down here," Nathan started, and Charles could tell he was bending over to pick something up off the ground. "I guess we knocked them off the table."
Charles didn't recall brushing up against the table, but his mind had definitely not been on his surroundings at the time. He felt Nathan place the glasses in his hand. Charles slipped them on and unfolded the black cane as Nathan leaned into him slightly.
"So where are we going?"
"Somewhere private. You'll see."
Charles took hold of Nathan's arm, more to lead him than to be lead, and started towards the door, straying to the side opposite of where Pickles normally sat, in hopes of avoiding stepping on any blood on the floor.
When they reached the door to his office, Charles located and activated the unlocking mechanism.
"So… do you like have a mattress under your desk or something?"
Charles cracked a smile. He had often wondered about the popular perception of his living accommodations.
"Have you ever thought about what's behind that door at the end of the room there," Charles pointed in the direction he was heading.
"You live there? That's crazy! I just figured it was where you kept extra lamps or something."
"Lamps that need a palm-clearance to access?"
"Well, it's not like I lost sleep thinking about it…."
Charles smiled and turned back to Nathan. He reached out and retook Nathan's arm, sliding his hand down until their fingers entwined. It was a gesture meant more to reinitiate physical contact than anything, and Charles pulled forward, leading Nathan the several feet he knew remained between where they were and the door. Reaching out with his free hand, Charles easily found the wall and the palm-clearance panel, and the door clicked open.
Gesturing for Nathan to enter, he followed and closed the door behind them.
Hanging the cane up on a hook by the door, he turned towards the open kitchen in his small suite.
"Uh, did you always live in the Bat Cave or do you just like to deprive your guests of light now?"
"Oh… right!" Charles exclaimed. "Switch is next to the door, on the left. Guess I have gotten out of the habit. Not that I actually have guests. I have to say, besides my housekeeping staff, you're the first person to lay eyes on this place in… well, in a while. I hope it's tidy."
He heard Nathan flick the switch
"So this is where Charles Ofdensen lives."
"Indeed. Have a seat." He gestured to the living room area that was adjoined to the kitchen, separated by a kitchen-island with bar stools on the off-side. "Can I get you a drink?"
"Sure, whatever you're having, as long as it's got alcohol. Wait, do you want me to get it…" Charles could hear him get up off the couch.
"No, sit, I've got it. I do this a lot you know."
But Nathan didn't sit back down, instead he started to look around.
"Is this a record player? That's badass. Billie Holiday? Who's he?"
If he wasn't in the middle of carefully pouring Brandy, Charles would have face-palmed until it left an imprint. His horror must have showed on his face.
"Oh my god, Charles, relax, I'm just fucking with you! I know who she is. One of the most important Jazz singers of all time. She's a legend.
"I'm impressed, Nathan. Do you want to turn it on?" But Nathan was already focused on other things.
"Oh my god, do you play?" Nathan's voice came excitedly from further across the room.
"Do I play what? Oh, you must be referring to my baby. Yes, yes I do…"
"This is is a '59 Les Paul! What a gorgeous guitar. You have to play me something!"
"Well, take her down, very carefully, and we'll see. There should be a step stool… somewhere around there."
The guitar was mounted in a glass display case and seemed to be the show-piece of the classically decorated living room.
As he made his way over to the couch, a glass of brandy in one hand, and the other outstretched to guide him, Charles listened to the sounds of Nathan procuring the treasured guitar. He put the glass down on the coffee table and headed back for the second one.
Upon returning Nathan took the glass from Charles and pressed the guitar into his arms.
It felt so good to hold this instrument again. Since his injury he had avoided taking it down from the wall-case, for fear of somehow dropping or damaging it… her.
After tenderly running his fingers over the guitar Charles gingerly plucked a few cords and then launched into a soulful rendition of the solo from "All Along the Watchtower" complete with masterfully executed Hendrix-style slides. When he was done Nathan let out an exclamation, in between carefully small sips of brandy.
"That was awesome, Charles! You didn't miss a note!"
"It's, well, it's a hobby. Feels so great to play her again though."
"Her." He could tell Nathan thought this was cute. "So does she have a name?"
"Sweet Lady Sadie".
"After a girlfriend?"
"After a dog, actually".
"Nice. Never saw you as a dog person… or a Blues man!"
"Who do you think hooked you guys up with ol' Mashed Potato Johnson?"
Charles gently handed the guitar back to Nathan and instructed him to find a folding stand that he knew was around somewhere, and stand her up in the corner, where she would be easier to access but hopefully hard to run into. On his way back Nathan handed Charles his brandy glass.
"Ever thought of getting a seeing-eye dog? You could get a bad-ass dog like a Doberman or something."
"It had occurred to me, briefly, but Mordhaus is not place for a dog." And the way things go around here, he added silently, it would probably attack someone out of the blue, or get killed in a random accident. He didn't need that.
Nathan grunted a reply and tapped Charles's glass.
"Drink. You have some catching up to do."
"I'm just glad you didn't spray yours all over my apartment!"
"I learned from that experience, thank you very much. You should see me, I'm holding it right and everything."
"Bravo, we'll be going to Brandy-tastings in no time."
"Cool, but Toki and Murderface cannot come, under any circumstances! Remember that wine tasting…"
"The one that got you guys outlawed from France for several months? Yes, I recall something about that. Okay then, no Toki or Murderface. Better yet, why not just the two of us?"
" I like that." Nathan reached in and slid Charles glasses up over his head.
"I miss your amazing eyes."
Charles raised an eyebrow. "I miss them too."
"Oh god, I didn't mean it like that… I just, I miss seeing them. They're awesome, you know." Nathan gently traced patterns along Charles's temples, carefully avoiding the sonar devices, all the while presumably looking into Charles's eyes. It made Charles uncomfortable, and he shifted his sightless gaze downward.
"Here, let's do this…Be right back." Charles felt Nathan release him and heard him walk towards the door. He heard a click.
"I just turned the lights out. Now we're both the same. It is really dark in here, wow."
"Blacker than the blackest night times infinity", Charles grinned.
"Motherfucking cock sucker!" Charles simultaneously heard a loud crack and Nathan's pained exclamation.
"That was my fucking shin and your fucking coffee table! How do you do this? Are you covered in bruises?"
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Charles asked playfully. "You just have to be careful… and if you run into something hard enough you tend to be more aware of where it is next time. Pain is a good teacher. But, here…"
Charles reached out to Nathan and guided him around the coffee table and onto the couch, as he sat down himself, right next to Nathan.
"Now, where were we… Oh, I believe we were gazing into each others' eyes…"
...
To Be Continued... :)